Things I want my teenage son to know.

Things I want my teenage son to know.

 

I will NEVER stop loving you.

God will NEVER stop loving you.

Being "right" doesn't make you worthy.  Being YOU means you are worthy.

When I correct you it means I love you enough to spend time making sure that you are learning better ways to do something and growing into the man God intends for you to be.

You will always be a SUPERHERO to me for enduring things you did as a child.  I have not walked in your shoes or do I think I could have stood as firm in them as you did in them.

Always be HONEST.  Regaining TRUST is one of the most difficult obstacles a person will endure.

It's okay to mess up.....that's when we learn to rely on God and experience GROWTH!

Remember even though you weren't from my belly you were placed in my heart the minute I saw your picture.

You are an IMPORTANT piece of this CRAZY puzzle we call FAMILY.  If a piece is missing we are incomplete!!  God put us all together to make a beautiful picture!

RESPECT your parents, siblings, teachers, coaches, pastors, friends.  Treat them how you want to be treated.

Leave this world a BETTER place than how you found it.

I am PROUD of you!  You are my LIFE!

Mom

Food Trailer Drive

I will FOREVER be AMAZED by God's AWESOMENESS!!!!   HE has placed the coolest people in our lives who want to join our efforts to make sure NO CHILD GOES HUNGRY.   We are super close to being able to purchase this food trailer to REACH people who are in the greatest NEED in Las Vegas!   Still in AWE over being blessed by receiving a $5,000 MATCHING GRANT, this will be a REALITY for our ministry.

Help us by clicking the Matching Grant Button on the top right side of this page to help us educate, share the gospel and FEED the HUNGRY both PHYSICALLY and SPIRITUALLY!

Don't ignore what you are feeling.

I've gotta keep it real so once again I'm laying it all out there......all the things that are going on in my heart and head.   Here's what I am struggling with.  Even though I have moved from Illinois to the Dominican Republic to Las Vegas doesn't mean that I stopped caring DEEPLY for friends and family and friends that have BECOME family. 

Recently my heart is BREAKING for a former student and former co-worker from Illinois.  Sweet, brave Tommy has been diagnosed with Stage 3 brain cancer.  He was a former classmate of my daughter Maddie's.  I have no doubt this tough kid is going to kick cancer's butt.  His family is filled with God's strength, love an determination.  My former co-worker who happened to be one of my older children's favorite high school teachers was diagnosed with kidney failure after being born with just one kidney.  Coach Meyer is the coolest guy, witty, smart, kind and an awesome father.  Our little town of LeRoy is pulling together to do benefits to raise money for the obvious unforeseen medical bills that one top of everything else these families are dealing with, now have that to contend with.

I feel so helpless being so far away......so I pray.  I believe prayer is the strongest tool we have.  But don't stop there.  Do something.  For our ministry Goodness Gracious Ministries is all about feeding the hungry in Las Vegas.  We want to help children and the homeless, especially homeless children.  I order to reach the most people we want to buy a food truck.  We planned a 5K "Run for Their Lives".  You run wherever you are in whatever city or state you live in.  As I was promoting this I have been feeling a sense of guilt because I felt like I was taking away something for all the efforts in my hometown as they raise money for these two amazing families.  Guilt is something ugly I am working on with my Savior right now. ;)   During my prayers this morning He reassured me not to feel guilty but to be an encourager.  So that's what I want to do right now.  God gives us hearts to break for others not to sit by and do nothing.  He gives us hearts to break to DO SOMETHING.  What ever God has laid on your heart whether it's helping someone to get through an illness, feed hungry kids, fight human trafficking, care for orphans and widows or whatever it may be.  That burden He gives you to not just say, "God why aren't you doing something?" but for you to say, "God with your help I WILL do something!" 

So this Saturday, July 18th is Goodness Gracious Ministries 5K "Run for Their Lives".  Isn't it ironic that the name for the  5K that God gave me could cover all those worthy causes I just listed above?   So if you don't feel called to feed hungry kids in Las Vegas, I still invite you to run/walk this Saturday, share what you are raising money for with all your friends, family and co-workers and give to that cause.  If they ALL break your heart.  Raise money for all of them. 

I am praying super hard for the 29 people that committed to the 5K already and for the 11 "maybes" that their schedule clears to allow them to join in.  I pray for the 1,000 other friends that were invited that they are already joining in with other causes so they don't miss out on the amazing feeling when you bless other people and trust God with what He has blessed you with.

Yesterday morning at church we discussed this piece of Scripture.  It was perfect as I prayed for Tommy and Coach Meyer.

1 Peter 5:8-10
⁸ Be alert and of sober mind. Your enemy the devil prowls around like a roaring lion looking for someone to devour. ⁹ Resist him, standing firm in the faith, because you know that the family of believers throughout the world is undergoing the same kind of sufferings.
¹⁰ And the God of all grace, who called you to his eternal glory in Christ, after you have suffered a little while, will himself restore you and make you strong, firm and steadfast.

Let a ketchup packet be our reminder.

   I remember years ago watching an evening news show like Dateline and there was a principal talking about how many students in her school were homeless or at least at risk to be soon.  She said when she first started working there she noticed the students sticking packs of ketchup into their pockets.  When she asked someone why they said it was because they would take it home to make ketchup soup!    I remember at the time just being shocked that we have children living in the U.S. that desperate for food.  It literally broke my heart.  I never forgot that story although I forgot what city this school was located. 

   Brian and I came to Las Vegas after feeling God brought us here to feed people....ALL people....anybody who NEEDS food.  We just can't imagine ever living without the security of knowing where your next meal is coming from.  To be starving....seriously starving.....not just I haven't eaten for 4 hours kind of "starving", has to leave an unimaginable loss of hope.  EVERYONE needs HOPE!  God sent us here to give hope and security in HIS love and promises.   So when we arrived in Las Vegas we immediately began searching for schools that needed our help.  I placed a call to Whitney Elementary which just happened to be 5 minutes from the ONLY house that didn't already have several people applying to rent it.  (The housing rental market in Vegas is a bit competitive!)
I spoke with the principal who has a HUGE heart for her students.  She even started a non-profit called Village of Hope Las Vegas who's name held a special place in our hearts because my sister started Village of Hope Guatemala.  (Not related at all but sentimental just the same!)  The kids that attend VOH Las Vegas are very high risk kids because of their family dynamics of drugs, abuse, poverty, prostitution.  Some are what we consider homeless which could mean they are in temporary housing with friends or family that could change at any moment.  Several live in the projects with no supervision and more pressure to live and act a certain way in their neighborhood.   Several know not to go into their home when certain people are standing at the door because of activities going on inside.  But when they are at the Village of Hope....they are kids, sweet kids, respectful, creative and caring with hopes and dreams.  The big problem that Village of Hope was still experience was not enough food to serve and send home with the kids.  Some of the kids were going through the garage grabbing out what other's had throw out so they could take it home for later.

  We have the privilege of being able to make sure these children have lunches and snacks everyday this summer while they are there.  We will also be working with them on a wide range of activities like education in  bullying, hygiene, Christianity, doing crafts, sports, and even going on field trips.  Most of these kids haven't even been out of their neighborhood to see what all Las Vegas has to offer.  We are working on being able to send home bags of food for the weekends and give them cooking classes since most have no guidance at home.    Please join us in praying for each one of these children to accomplish all their goals and open a place in their heart for Jesus to live full time!!

 

  And now for the GOOSEBUMPY part of this story.  After I spoke with Sherrie, the principal at Whitney Elementary that started Village of Hope, I was looking on the web and noticed several news channels had done stories on this school before.  When I began watching some I realized.....THIS was the "Ketchup Soup" school that God had laid on my heart!!  Isn't that just like HIM to plop us down just blocks from where He wanted us to serve and planted that seed so many years ago??  I can not wait to see how He will use Goodness Gracious Ministries in the neighborhood.

Me and Serenity

Mario playing games with the kids.

 

 

MOST UNIQUE SIBLING NAMES EVER!!!  

CLASSIC AND LYRIC 

 

 

Brian helping with computer issues.  ;)

 

Josh who wants to be a basketball star.  He has come so far with behaviors and has set goals to go to basketball camp.  One board member is making his dream come true this summer. 

 

 

Psalm 22:26
The poor will eat and be satisfied; they who seek the Lord will praise him.

To give to Goodness Gracious Ministries go to :  http://www.cmnetwork.org/donate/  Be sure to write Brian and Jenny Bland in the box.

KICKING OFF OUR FOOD TRUCK DRIVE!!!!!!!!

    Do you want to be part of something powerful this summer??  Goodness Gracious Ministries is hitting the ground running in Las Vegas.  We see a huge need to feed hungry children and the homeless in Las Vegas.  As our mission statement says we want to feed the hungry both physically and spiritually.  The best way to do this is to go to them.  What better way to show them God's love than to meet them where they are and tell them God sent us! 

 

 

   In order to do this we need to purchase a Food Trailer like the one in this picture.  Not only will we use it to feed people but we will use it to educate students who would like to learn how to work in the food industry but can't afford to go to school.  We will also teach them how financing and hold Bible studies.  In return those same students will serve their communities when we join efforts with local homeless ministries. 

   So let's see how creative you can be this summer.  Would you be willing to get your whole family, your church or small group to host a garage sale, a car wash, post items or food on our online garage sale on facebook, a bowl-a-thon, a 5K, go door to door or WHATEVER God lays on your heart to help us raise $30,000 by the end of this summer???   No effort is too small when it comes from the heart!!

 Yes....it's a BIG GOAL but we have a BIG GOD!!

  Our family is so excited to be able to do a fundraiser in Las Vegas to sell fireworks from June 28-July 4th.  We will be in a stand 12 hours a day for 7 days straight including the 4th.  Friends with another ministry did it last year and said it was HUGE!  Please pray for great results for us too!

  We need to get the thermometer over on the right rising with the summer temperatures!!!  Let's turn up the heat!!! 

 Thank you for being a part of making a HUGE difference in the life of a child!

To partner with us just click here and follow the step by step instructions.  When you write Brian and Jenny Bland in the box you may want to include "Food Truck"!  Thank you in advance for your gift!
  http://www.goodnessgraciousministries.com/#/make-a-donation

Angel on Earth

Have you ever met someone that you were just drawn to?  That's exactly what happened to me when I was at a homeless ministry in the park in Las Vegas last Wednesday.  I couldn't help but notice this lady who was helping because she has a larger than life personality.  Like seriously.....she has the most contagious laugh, she verbally confirmed everything the pastor was preaching, sometimes before he even said it and you just felt energized being around her. 

Allow me to introduce you to Cheryl....

As soon as the sermon was finished I stood right down and sat down beside her.  The pastor had mentioned she was battling an extremely rare form of cancer.  I introduced myself, asked her how long she had been going through chemo.  She quickly grabbed my hand and NEVER let go.  She explained to me she has a super rare cancer.  Her skin had literally fallen off her body over the last 3 years.  She now has to fly to Texas spend two weeks out of the month doing chemo.  She isn't always able to be up and walking around but she's having a good week.  We talked for a long while like we had known each other forever.  AND GUESS WHAT???  That's exactly what God wanted us to figure out.  I told Cheryl we were from Illinois, she nonchalantly said, "Oh we used to live in Bloomington!"   WHAT A SMALL WORLD!!!  Then I nonchalantly said, "I used to work for Dr. Henderson.  Cheryl's eyes got HUGE!  He was her obstetrician.  Come to find out I was probably one of her nurses during the time she had both of her son's.  We laughed and hugged and laughed and hugged. 

I just love how God connects us, especially when it is to someone as special as Cheryl.  I couldn't stop smiling the rest of the night.  And not just because of the irony of our past connection but because of how Cheryl made me feel.  She truly makes you feel like you are the most important person in the world.  She doesn't dwell on her sickness or her appearance.  Her smile and confidence and beauty on the inside makes her beautiful on the outside.  She literally SHINES God's light from every inch of her body.  She gives you hope. 

Will you please join me in praying for this dear lady?  She is going through an experimental treatment right now.   I want to pray for her time she has left here that she feels good enough to continue doing exactly what she is doing now.....making people feel what I can only imagine is how we will feel when we meet Jesus.

When we left each other on Wednesday I told her I hoped I would see her Sunday at church.  She said, "You will probably hear me before you see me!"  So when I walked up to the church this morning I hear this HUGE laugh.  "I hear Cheryl!"  I looked around and there she was. 

She was right!

Our Next Chapter.....

 

  The Bland Family is thrilled to announce many exciting opportunities that our Lord and Savior is leading us to.   God has given us a heart to fight exploitation, and we will continue to do so.  He is sending us back to the United States in March to serve where we can be closer to our children, reach people at a deeper level with our native language, and have access to trusted medical care for some minor health issues that we want to keep minor.  We have chosen Las Vegas as our new home so we can be the light of Jesus in Sin City.  This new chapter in ministry allows us the opportunity to show the love of Christ to all as we work alongside food banks, churches & schools in providing food to children that have no food outside of school.  This season of ministry will also allow us the chance to engage with families within the community as we teach cooking/nutrition classes, provide job readiness training and serve food.  Las Vegas has a high rate of sex-trafficking; sadly, children struggling in poverty and food insecurity often turn to this as a potential solution!  Assisting children and families in finding resources to move themselves from poverty into a position of being self-sustaining as they walk with Christ is an opportunity we have been praying about for many years. 

The second phase of this ministry includes a mobile kitchen that will:
·         Provide job training skills to folks in need as churches and businesses utilize Kitchen on the Street’s Catering for Cause program
·         Will raise awareness on the issue of childhood hunger
·         Will raise funds to combat that hunger
In the coming months we will share more about the mobile kitchen and our efforts to secure the funds to make this dream a reality as we fulfill our calling in Las Vegas.

     Once again we are following a path that is different from the norm. :)   We know that God has called us to serve Him full-time.  We have also learned that when you give God control of your finances by living solely on support and allow Him to work through others, the result is a partnership with eternal results.  It humbles us to our core while allowing our ministry partners to serve in the area where God called them.

     Since moving to the Dominican Republic God has grown us in ways we never dreamed of.  Our faith has deepened, our marriage has become even stronger, our children have grown in their faith and in their confidence, we have witnessed lives being saved both physically and spiritually, and most importantly we have grown to trust our Father in Heaven to always use us when we are willing.  We know we could not have done this without your prayers, encouragement and support.

     We want to invite you to continue praying for God to use us.  We need your encouragement more than ever as we step away from the people we love and work with in the Dominican Republic.  Our hearts will always be with them.  We will continue to help the families that became part of our family.  We know God sent us here to make this a lifelong connection.

      While I was Nurse Jenny working in Le Roy, Il School District, I loved witnessing a local church putting together back packs with food for children on free and reduced lunches to help sustain them over the weekends.  In Las Vegas there are 150,000 children in one school district on free and reduced lunches with only several thousand receiving back packs at this time.  Those numbers are astonishing.  We must turn hunger into hope.

 We need your continued partnership!  Please consider coming alongside us in one or more of the following ways:
·         Pray-we need prayer above all else and believe it is the most important gift we can receive!
·         Serve-plan a “missions” trip to Las Vegas; give of your time and talent alongside us in serving the hungry and hurting of our community.
·         Give-continue to partner with us with your financially support.
·         Advocate-we need you! Help us raise awareness on the issue of childhood hunger.

 If you would like to partner with us on this new journey go to http://www.cmnetwork.org/donate/ and click the yellow DONATE button.    Make sure you write Brian & Jenny Bland in the box where it says "Add special instructions" to let them know it is going to us.
If you are already a monthly supporter you do not have to make any changes.

     One thing I love is making a video every 6 months or so to share with our hometown community.  It gives me a chance to reflect back at the lives we help change and the miracles we witnessed.  I cannot wait to see what our next video looks like!!!!!  Our God is truly an AWESOME God!!!


Jenny and Brian Bland