Nicaragua Journal Entry Day #3... El Porvenir

Encouragement for today...

"And whatever things you ask in prayer, believing, you will receive."  Matthew 21:21-22

Lord, I ask today that we might impact some lives today, including our own!  I pray for safety, and for our ability to love the needy unconditionally!!  I hope our day can go smoothly.  I can't wait to shine your light :)

Wow!!!  The most beautiful and amazing day :)  We drove to the community of El Porvenir, about 15 minutes from our hotel in Chinandega.  We drove down a dirt path to get there.  My heart was full of sadness upon arriving and seeing the poverty.  The animals are all bony and skinny.  The houses are made of trash, long plastic sheets, and aluminum roofing.  However, when we got out of our van, the community people gathered all around to watch us while we were introduced to the FH staff.  Then, we broke into groups to begin our mission of planting lemon and orange trees for the families.  Our group (Pete & Anna with us) went to our first house.  Braydon and Bryce planted our first tree for a dad and his son.  The families had to decide ahead of time where they wanted their tree and had to have a hole dug and ready for us.  

While the boys were planting the tree, we were talking to the dad.  He told us his son's name was Wilberth, sounds like Wilber.  Im thinking... "What are the chances that this is OUR Wilberth?!?!?!"  We began asking questions about his sponsor.  The dad walked away and went into his home and came out with some tattered and dirty letters... they were OUR letters!!!!!  I was SO excited!!!  The Lord had this all planned... our first stop!!!  I realized at that very moment just how important our letters are.  They have very little but it was obvious that our letters meant something special to this family.  I prayed with Wilberth and his dad.  

We presented the tree to them as a reminder of our friendship and God's greatness of life.  Praying the tree brings much fruit to them physically and spiritually!  Wilberth and his friends followed us the rest of the morning... SO special!!!

We continued to plant trees for other families.  I was so proud of Braydon.  He did all the planting and pushed the wheelbarrow through the community.  Both boys were so loving to the people, it made my heart happy :)

At noon we went to the FH feeding station, which our last ECC team helped build. 

There is a team of moms that come to the station to cook food on two stoves for the kids.  FH has done an amazing job of beginning to equip this community to work hard for each other.  

The kids started showing up, each with a bowl and spoon.  Most of the bowls were dirty.  Jairo asked the ECC kids to serve the community kids.  It was beautiful to see our children serving in this way with such joy!

Once the kids were done eating, we started our VBS programming.  I hung out with the craft team to work on learning the names of the kids from the name tags that they were creating.

Helping Wilberth cut his puppet :)

We left the community to head back to the hotel for the kids to swim for a few hours before dinner :)

We gathered at 7pm for devotions.  We talked about what poverty means...

...God's concern for the poor is a central theme in the Bible.  Over 400 verses, sprinkled throughout every genre of scripture, speak about God's passion for the needy and His desire that His followers share that passion.  Whenever we are passionate about something, we talk about it often.  God, through His word, speaks frequently about the poor and needy.  Poor = Those whom lack both the material necessities of life and suffer from low social status and vulnerability to oppression.  He displays "tender mercies" to the poor and needy, desiring that they find refuge, protection, and provision.

"Blessed is he who has regard for the poor."  Psalm 41:1

Nicaragua Journal Entry #2... Arrival in Managua and Chinandega

Encouragement note for today...
Relax... "Be still & know that I am God." Psalm 46:10

A fairly good night sleep.  The TV went off at 4am from a previous guest setting the alarm.  The hotel alarm clock went off at 6:30am... grrr!!!  Luckily, we fell back asleep until 9:30am!  We are preparing for more travel today.  Leaving the hotel at 10:30am for the airport.  Flight is at 12:45pm...

At the Miami airport, again!

This plane is much nicer :)  Trying to understand all the turmoil we've had but holding onto my encouragement from my prayer partner today.  The bookmark she had for me was perfect!  Keeping these words close to my heart today...

Listen! Be Still!
He is God.  Your refuge, your fort, your continued help.

We arrived in Managua at 1pm.  However, our luggage was not at the airport.  It came earlier and was placed in an American Airlines building.  Jairo, the Food for Hungry director and our partner, met us at the airport with a bus and a van.  Off we went to look for our luggage.  Yes, yet again, another obstacle to our travels.  They wouldn't release the luggage because of all the vitamins that we brought.  Since it was a Sunday, there wasn't anyone in the office to help us.  We waited in the van for about an hour and a half.  Finally the moms and kids loaded into the van and were taken to the Nehemiah Center Facility to play for a bit.  This is the Christian organization that Jairo works with.  It took another hour to get there.  The culture outside our windows was so different.  Children and people were standing/sitting in backs of trucks, entire families on motorcycles with babies and no helmets, vehicles packed to the gills with people, no car seats anywhere, lots of bicycles with multiple people riding on them, and there was trash everywhere!!!  The kids saw the houses that looked nothing like their own.  Thew were intrigued by the 3-wheel cars :)

Coca Cola and Toyota was everywhere!

It was a long drive but we made it!  The Nehemiah Training Hut was beautiful!  Hammocks surrounded the outside of the hut... the kids loved them!!!  There was a corner filled with rocking chairs.  The FH staff had a lunch awaiting for us.  Our first Nicaraguan meal.  I was so hesitant but it was delicious!!!!  The potato was awesome!!  The kids were able to walk around the beautiful grounds.  There was a tiny park to play at and chickens, dogs, and birds were roaming all over.  It was certainly a refreshing few hours!

Nehemiah Center

Braydon enjoying the hammock :)

We left there and drove an additional 3 hours to Chinandega.  I was told that one of my luggage pieces was missing and it had my CPAP machine in it.  On the long drive, I began praying... feeling very defeated with all the hurdles we've endured and now I don't have my sleeping machine.  I then realized that all of our daily encouragements from our prayer partners were also in that luggage.  Is this another attack?  Trying to remember... Be still and know that I am God!  I then, tell the kids what else was missing and Braydon says, "Mom, I got that suitcase at the airport!"  I completely doubted him... I had checked and we only had 4 of our 5 suitcases.  The one that was missing was the one that we plane-side checked.  But sure enough, we had it!  Truly thankful for this answered prayer at the most perfect timing... when I was crying out to Him!

We arrived at the hotel at 8pm Nicaraguan time.  It is gorgeous!  They had a cart of lime tea for us... amazing!  I don't like tea but this was delicioso!!!  We were poolside with refreshing drinks in hand while Jairo was getting us checked in.

We made it!!!

Bonito (Beautiful)!!!

Our room is wonderful.  The kids love the walk-in shower!!  The tropical greenery here is gorgeous.  This looks nothing like the rest of the country that we've seen thus far!  Grateful to be staying here.  We had dinner at 8:30pm... we felt like royalty.  Again, I loved the potato dish... yummo!

This is where we ate all of our meals.

We just took showers and everyone is finally in clean unders from our two day travels without luggage.  Off to bed we go at 10pm.  We head to the community tomorrow... yay!  Our backpacks are packed and ready to go.  We've conquered so much to get here.  The Lord must be rejoicing in our efforts to unify for His glory... nothing is going to dampen our spirits!

Nicaragua Journal Entry #1... Travel Day

Left at 6am to depart for Nicaragua.  Very painful good-bye with Rylan.  He was so very sad, which broke my heart!  Mom and Bill were at the church to see us off too.  Mom and Jeff had tears which made it even more difficult.  My heart is so very heavy for Rylan.  I've never seen that kind of sadness from him before :(

Deuteronomy 31:6
Be strong and courageous.  Do not be afraid or terrified because of them, for the LORD your God goes with you; he will never leave you nor forsake you.

Nicaragua Family Team

Now awaiting our flight.  Been waiting a long time!  The boys have been very patient waiting for their first airplane ride.  We are a bit anxious about the flight because our seats are not together.  The boys are very nervous.  We're being put to the test!

While emotions are high, we opened our ENGAGE partners, Jim and Becky Cates, daily encouragements.  They were perfect!!!  All about Trust!  "When I am afraid, I will trust in you."  Psalm 56:3... I am now wearing the trust bracelet as an amazing reminder and encouragement :)  Thank you Becky for blessing us from afar!  The boys are wearing their necklaces... so cool!

It was difficult but we were able to sit together!!!  Grateful for that answered prayer!  Due to mechanical issues, our flight was considerably delayed.  Therefore, we missed our second flight... ugh!!!  We waited at the rescheduling booth for over 2 hours in Miami to get 26 new seats on a flight for tomorrow along with hotel and food vouchers for all 26 of us!  Got our vouchers at 10:30pm.  Everyone is SO hungry and tired.  We grabbed dinner and took a shuttle to a Comfort Inn and Suites.  It once again, took forever!!!  We got to our room at 11:45pm.  This has certainly been a LONG day...

Surviving at the airport!

Waiting for our hotel key!

Although this was a difficult day, I believe it unified us as a team!  We are ready to impact many lives this week... we are strong and courageous!!!

Prayer Requests :)

The packing is complete!  It took a lot of rearranging for all of our suitcases to weigh less than 50 pounds!!!  Our luggage is on the bus and ready for departure at 6am tomorrow morning.

At this very moment I am filled with so many emotions... enthusiasm, fear, giddiness, anxiousness, joy, sadness (leaving hubby and Rylan), and yet feeling blessed with calmness and peace.  We have seen God's mighty hands in our preparations for this trip.  I am certain that this is what and where he has called me and my boys to embark on.  I am honored to have this opportunity and I can't wait to love on the people in Nicaragua.  As with any work on the mission field, there comes some fears.  If we are not willing to experience some fear in life, then we won't have the opportunity to feel the exhilaration of true joy!  For all of my prayer pals out there, will you join me in prayer this week?  I am praying that the Lord would plant the Holy Spirt deep into the souls of our mission team so that we might impact the world for the good of Him!  More specifically, my prayers are...
Braydon - A physical prayer for Braydon is to not get sick during travel.  He gets motion sick very easily.  I have Dramamine packed and ready for the drive and on the plane.  Spiritually, I pray that his heart will be transformed from a "me" perspective to a bigger picture.  That he would be able to love on this community as willingly and easily as he does on children here in our own community!  My biggest prayer is that Braydon sees Jesus in everything we do!  That he grows closer in his personal relationship with Him.  That when he returns, he will shine God's light in middle school!

Bryce - That he would come home and not be so concerned about what we have/don't have.  That he would be impacted by the poverty of what we see and that his view changes on materialism.  I pray that he will be able to overcome any fears that he may have during this adventure.  He's my anxious one :)  I'm concerned about his tummy.  He has a weak stomach and the food concerns me as well.  He's not one to be outdoors due to extreme allergies.  The allergist stated that it will be tough for him in this environment... prayers that he physically feels well enough and sustains the stamina to keep going each day.  Lastly, I pray that his relationship with Jesus will also deepen during our time away.  I hope that he bonds well with Wilberth, our sponsored child, and begins passionately praying for this young boy.  My greatest desire is that Bryce would grow deeper in his faith journey.

Shandra - Where do I begin?  Ha!!!  I am praying that first and foremost, I relax and enjoy loving on the people in Nicaragua.  That everything I do there is kept in line with what Jesus has in store for me!  This is for Him, not me!  I'm praying for stamina during the heat... I don't like being hot!  When I get super hot and am in the sun for great lengths, I get extreme migraines that make me nonfunctionable!!!  I'm praying that I can lead well... with a constant smile and nurturing spirit for our team... I tend to get frustrated when things don't go according to plan and I understand that flexibility is key but when I'm hot and tired, my smile tends to drift... praying that the Lord intervenes and gives me more strength and patience than I even knew possible!!!!  I get tired very easily due to my thyroid and I am praying for the Lord to shower me with much energy!!!  I'm a pretty fickle eater... praying that I can eat with a thankful heart!  Emotionally, I am going to need lifted often that my spirits stay strong during the heart ache of leaving my husband and youngest at home.  I've been gone so much lately as it is that I am already missing them terribly!  And to know that I won't have much contact with them while I'm gone is difficult to think about.  On top of that, I need to be lifted to stay emotionally strong for my two boys that will be with me.  Without having my husband to help lead the way for my boys, I need to stay strong for them.  I pray that I can be a Godly example for my own children!  

Of course, safety for all three of us is heavy on my heart as well!  

I leave tonight with this planted on my heart...

Matthew 25: 34-40

³⁴ “Then the King will say to those on his right, ‘Come, you who are blessed by my Father; take your inheritance, the kingdom prepared for you since the creation of the world. ³⁵ For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, ³⁶ I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.’


³⁷ “Then the righteous will answer him, ‘Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? ³⁸ When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? ³⁹ When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?’


⁴⁰ “The King will reply, ‘Truly I tell you, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers and sisters of mine, you did for me.’

An Upcoming Adventure!

While in Cincy last weekend, I worshipped with my Aunt and Uncle at their church.  I'm certain that it was no coincidence that I was meant to hear that sermon!  It was titled... Adventure!  The sermon took us to an amazing adventure in the Bible with Cornelius and Peter in Acts 10.  Cornelius wasn't a believer in Christ, but he was seeking God and was reverent and generous.  Therefore, God sent Peter to tell Cornelius about Christ.  During this adventure Peter was called to the table with Cornelius.  According to Jewish law, certain foods were forbidden to be eaten.  The food laws made it difficult for Jews to eat with Gentiles without risking defilement.  In fact, the Gentiles were often seen as "unclean."   Peter had a vision that meant he should not look upon the Gentiles as inferior people whom God would not redeem.  Before having the vision, Peter would have thought that a Gentile Roman officer could not accept Christ.  Afterwards he understood that it was his responsibility to go into a Gentile home and tell Cornelius the Good News of salvation in Jesus Christ!

Like any great adventure story, there is always conflict just around the corner.  When Peter brought the news of Cornelius' conversion back to Jerusalem, the disciples were shocked that Peter had eaten with the Gentiles.  Can you imagine the reaction... "What in the world has Peter done now?" "What trouble has Peter generated for us?" "Who does Peter think he is?"  Moving into Acts 11, we see that even the disciples couldn't believe Peter would gather with the Gentiles.  These were people that had walked with Jesus!  However, once Peter began to explain, the Holy Spirit took root.  When they heard his story, they too believed that even those impure, unclean, contaminated people could come to Christ and be saved!

As I thought about my upcoming trip to Nicaragua, these were the words that were pressed on my heart during the message...
Peter's dream was inviting him, challenging him, to be different.  God was asking Peter to move from comfortable to courageous.
When we go out of our comfort zone, it can be exhilarating!  If we are not willing to experience some fear in life, then we won't have the opportunity to feel the exhilaration and joy!  
If we always choose to stay in the safety mode in life, we'll never experience what it's like to live an adventure.    
We need to be willing to take the seeds that the adventure provides for us and be willing to allow God to use them deep in our hearts to help them begin to grow our character... to change our lives for the better, to look more like Him!
We love adventure stories because an ordinary person is willing to step outside their comfort zones, strap into the ride of his/her life, somehow through all of that, the world becomes a better place!!!

The sermon concluded with these questions...
Who in your world is that unwanted, impure, or unclean person or people group?
Who in your world is God calling you to pray about, to think differently about?
What adventure is God asking you to go on?
Will you step out?  
Will you take a risk?  
Will you move from your comfort zone to see what God wants to do in your life?


Wow!  The Lord is preparing me to head off to the mission field!  For those of you that don't know, I am co-leading our first FAMILY Missions Team to Nicaragua from August 4-11th.  Braydon and Bryce will be going with me to serve in the community of El Pourvenir, and yes, they were sitting next to me during this sermon!  The exciting part is that we will be meeting our sponsored child, Wilberth!  As the date is nearing, I have many emotions... yet I am so confirmed that I am doing exactly what the Lord has called me to do!

We would greatly appreciate your prayers during our ADVENTURE!  If you are willing, please pray that we would be willing to step out of our comfort zone and into the adventure that He has waiting for us.  That He would plant the Holy Spirit deep into our souls so that we might continue to change and impact this community for the good of Him!  Thank You!!!

We are also seeking financial support to take the three of us out of the country.  If you feel it on your heart to support us, please send donations to...
Emmanuel Community Church
c/o Shandra Hathaway
12222 West Jefferson Blvd.
Fort Wayne, IN  46814

We'll keep everyone posted along our ADVENTURE...

Summer Schedule!

It's summer time!!!  And that means that the summer calendars have started for the Hathaway Family!  For the past three summers, I have been very intentional about my time together with my kiddos.  This year will be a bit different for my boys because they will be with a "sitter of very mature boys" three days a week.  I am not rigid about these calendars... they are just ideas if needed each day.  Some days we'll do them, some we won't.  I have had many friends ask for a copy of the calendars.  So, I tried to download the calendar documents onto this blog.  After several hours and lots of frustration... technology beat me to a pulp and I gave up.  If you are interested in a copy, send me your email and I'll get it to you.  Although it isn't the calendars, I did make a list of all the websites for the activities below.  Here you go friends... Enjoy!!!

FREE Kid Movies at Foellinger
http://www.fortwayneparks.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=117&Itemid=182

Rave FREE movies
http://www.ravecinemas.com/ffff_2012.aspx

Kids Bowl Free all summer (ProBowl West - 2 free games a day!)
http://www.kidsbowlfree.com/

FREE Summer Activities at the Aboite and Main Library
http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/kids/pdf/Programs2012.pdf
http://www.acpl.lib.in.us/kids/pdf/SRP%202012%20Prgms%20by%20PlaceDate.pdf

Lowe's Build and Grow FREE Saturday Workshops
http://stayathomemoms.about.com/od/activitiesandfun/p/lowes-build-and-grow-workshops.htm

Behind the Scenes Day at the Embassy Theatre
http://www.fwembassytheatre.org/behind-the-screen.htm

Letterboxing... Treasure Hunt... oh so fun!!!
http://treasuringtimetogether.blogspot.com/2011/05/letterboxing.html

List of Farms around IN to pick different berries (strawberries, blueberries, raspberries, apples, etc)
http://www.pickyourown.org/index.htm#states

Reading Log from Barnes and Noble (earn a free book)
http://www.barnesandnoble.com/u/summer-reading/379003570

Buckner Park - Playground and Splashpads
http://www.fortwayneparks.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=293%3Abuckner-park&catid=38&Itemid=33

Fox Island Summer Pass (swimming at the lake, hiking, environmental center)
http://allencountyparks.org/wp-content/uploads/2008/01/annpassbrochure2.pdf

Fox Island Day Camp
June 25 -29  Fish ‘N Fun Camp
Rig a fishing pole, catch bait, learn to canoe, fish, net a tadpole, frog or turtle along with other fun stuff at this camp!!   http://allencountyparks.org/programs-day-camps/summer-day-camps-2012/   

Camp Michindoh... Church Camp
http://www.michindoh.com/program2.htm

Three Rivers Festival Activities

http://threeriversfestival.org/index.php/events

Fort Wayne Museum of Art - FREE admission on Sunday and Thursday's

http://www.fwmoa.org/

Zoo Membership
http://www.kidszoo.org/informat.htm

Fort Wayne Firefighter's Museum... my boys LOVE this museum... stop by sometime while you are at the downtown library... it is right next door :)
http://www.fortwaynefiremuseum.com/

Preparing for the Last Day

My life keeps moving faster, stealing precious days that pass.  I want to hold on longer, I want to recognize your lasts...Let me hold on longer, God, to every precious last.   Karen Kingsbury

The year went by so very quickly.  I will send my children off today as a kindergartner, third grader, and fifth grader.  They will return home as a first grader, fourth grader, and MIDDLE SCHOOLER!!!  I plan to savor this last day of elementary school with Braydon.

I am so very grateful for all the teachers at Haverhill that worked so hard to make the transition to their new school as smooth as possible.  I appreciate their investment in my children's emotional and academic being.  I put together some fun gifts for those special people today!

For the classroom teachers :)

For all the special area teachers that also poured into my boys this year!

I switched my day off this week so that I could be part of this day with my children.  I'm looking forward to taking them Subway for lunch and enjoying Zesto's after school with some close friends :)

Friends savor today!  Take time to celebrate and hold onto this day with your children!  As you look ahead and dream of days that haven't come to pass, don't miss today's sweet precious last!!!