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
 

Live Boldly!

A friend of mine shared this on facebook last week and it truly spoke to me. 


"To be “called” means you’ll always be moving from something, toward something. If what you’re doing isn’t working, seek God for fresh instructions. If your goal is to fit comfortably within the framework of where you started and make no waves, you’ll never enjoy what God has for you up the road. You can’t pray for growth and resist change. Do you know why Jesus healed blind people in different ways? So we’d never be able to say, “This the only way.” Acknowledging that keeps you sharp, keeps you humble, and keeps you credible as a leader." ~ Jentezen Franklin


We are all called. We were put on this Earth to help each other by Jesus example.   Changes are scary.  Changes are hard.  But stepping out in faith that God will walk along side of you wherever you are is when you grow the most and how you help other's grow. 

There is no right or wrong way to serve God.  No excuses....no regrets....make your waves....dare to be bold.....lead as many people to an eternal life in Heaven as possible.

         

Matthew 5: 14-16       

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden. Nor do people light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on a stand, and it gives light to all in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, so that they may see your good works and give glory to your Father who is in heaven.

During the hard times.

   Praying for all of us who have feelings of hopelessness, pain, anxiety and fear creeping into our lives.  Cling to the promises of His Word.  We may never know what's going on behind the scenes but without faith ....all we have is despair and sorrow.  I NEED to trust that God's plan is better than anything I could imagine even if I have to wait until I meet Him face to face to understand.


When it seems all hope is gone......For I know the plans I have for you. declares the Lord, plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. — Jeremiah 29:11


When the pain is too much to bear....  Seek the LORD and his strength;  seek his presence continually!  1 Chronicles 16:11


When you aren't able to find your next breath...  I can do all things through him who strengthens me.  Philippians 4:13
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When you are afraid.... fear not, for I am with you;  be not dismayed, for I am your God; I will strengthen you, I will help you,  I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.  Isaiah 41:10


When you aren't strong enough on your own.... Have you not known? Have you not heard? The LORD is the everlasting God,   the Creator of the ends of the earth. He does not faint or grow weary; his understanding is unsearchable. He gives power to the faint,   and to him who has no might he increases strength. Even youths shall faint and be weary, and young men shall fall exhausted; but they who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength;   they shall mount up with wings like eagles; they shall run and not be weary;   they shall walk and not faint.  Isaiah 40:28-31

My "I Just Need a 5 Minute Pity Party!" Post

I feel bad for even writing this because there are so many people with so many bigger problems in the world....trust me....I see them daily.   But today....in my head....it is going to be a hard Mama/Wife day.....I'm not going to lie....it's going to suck.  And if I hear one more person say, "God never said it was going to be easy"  I think I'll scream.  We knew none of this would be easy.  We would have been slightly delusional if we thought moving away from all you know would be EASY!  But today is an especially "not easy" day.  Brian and Maddie are flying back to the States for a not yet determined amount of time.  We have never been apart more than a week.  Sydney is getting married in December.  We couldn't be happier.  This is an amazing new chapter in all of our lives.  But first....we have to get there.  Our current funds are not enough.  So Brian is going to leave his job on the mission field and go work in the States.

I woke up this morning feeling panicky.  Tears were coming but thankfully my brain told me to PRAY.  Instantly God took me out of my "selfish" thoughts and pointed me to His gifts.

I am so grateful to God for......

• My families health.
• Brian's former boss Dave for allowing him to come back to work whenever needed.
• For Nana to fly Maddie home with Daddy so she can see her friends and family she misses.
• My husband being willing to do whatever it takes.
• For Go MAD's understanding when we have to leave our jobs for awhile.
• For Mario to stay home and be the man of the house and protect his Mom.  :)
• For Sydney and Mark who are so understanding that a wedding can be beautiful and low cost.
• For Raegan flying here for a week to see her Mom and keep me from going insane.
• For Tyler to host her Sister and helping her with Homeschooling.
• For my parents and Maddie's friends who host her.
• For all our friends who are hosting Brian with your sofas and extra bedrooms. 
• Nana and Papa for picking them up at O'Hare and the use of your truck for Brian.
• Churches for having him share what we are doing here.
• For the staff/interns here to fill in the void while he is gone.
• For my friends here that are keeping me sane.

I'm truly mean every word from the bottom of my heart....but I am writing this down and should probably print it so Mario can read it loudly to me when I go into a full blown panic attack.  ;)


Philippians 4:13
I can do everything through him who gives me strength.

Thank you Jesus!

Why I think EVERYONE Should Do The Ice Bucket Challenge!

  The ALS Ice Bucket Challenge has been a HUGE success!   I can say with 100% confidence that whomever started it NEVER could have imagined such a response.  Praise Jesus because ALS is a horrible debilitating disease.  They deserve to have research going on to give HOPE and a CURE!

  I did the Challenge....but as bad as this sounds, I had mixed emotions.  I am a missionary working on the field seeing people having to have limbs removed because lack of funds for medical care.  I see starving children almost on a daily basis.  I see woman working as prostitutes because they have no other way to provide food for their families.  So my heart was saying....BUT what about all the other's in the world that need help too!  But the Nurse in me is saying, "But ALS sucks!  They need attention too!"  I have said it before and I will say it again...be careful when you ask God to break your heart for what breaks His. 

  So it boils down to this...there are SO MANY of God's children that need your help.

  Now the reason why I think everyone SHOULD do the ALS Challenge is because we need to get a small taste of what it's like to be uncomfortable....even for just one minute.  And then become ADDICTED to that feeling!   We need to do WHATEVER it takes to step outside of OURSELVES and our COMFORT AND GIVE TO OTHERS.  I am praying that you will WANT....to EVERY SINGLE DAY...do something that hurts....whether it's do without that Starbucks Coffee....pack a lunch instead of eating out....downsize your house, cars, entertainment fund, start your own fundraiser for a cause near and dear to you,  or WHATEVER God lays on your heart and GIVE because you LOVE JESUS that much!  Because EVERY CAUSE deserves to be a SUCCESS. 

Matthew 16:24-26 (ESV)

Take Up Your Cross and Follow Jesus

²⁴ Then Jesus told his disciples, “If anyone would come after me, let him deny himself and take up his cross and follow me. ²⁵ For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it. ²⁶ For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world and forfeits his soul? Or what shall a man give in return for his soul?

I CHALLENGE YOU!

We're all in this together!!!

If you live in Sosua, Dominican Republic chances are great that you have met Benito.  Benito works at a very busy area downtown where all the shops are including where we bank.  He is quick to point out a good parking spot and keeps a special eye on our car so nobody bothers it.  He always has a smile and kind words.  He never complains and is always quick to give God the glory.  So when Brian told Maddie about the condition of Benito's wheelchair, Maddie quickly new that she wanted to spend some of the money she was blessed with from Pastor Steve (see previous post) to bless Benito.

 

He was literally in tears and what REALLY touched my heart was that as we left he told us he would be praying for Landy to fully heal.  CAN YOU SAY AMAZING??!!!

 

 

 

2 Corinthians 1:4

who comforts us in all our suffering, so that we may be able to comfort others in all their suffering, as we ourselves are being comforted by God.

 

 

Sleep well Nelson!

I seriously LOVE working with people that have a heart for children!  The staff at Go MAD's Firm Foundation Children Center may be little but it is MIGHTY!  Every time we have a family come in with special needs they jump into gear and pull out whatever is needed, including their own food for lunch, clothes, etc.   So it was not surprising to me when one of our employees, Tania, brought a young neighbor to the clinic for treatment because his mother is 8 months pregnant and was sick in bed.

  His name is Nelson.  He is Haitian and he suffers from albinism.  He is the sweetest kid you will ever meet.  Tania brought him in for help because he has a bad rash for over a month.  We need to get Nelson to a dermatologist in a nearby town so we paid his mom a visit today to see how we could help.  I am so grateful that we did. 

When we arrived at an old run down abandoned resort, climbed a make shift ladder......

 and then to the roof of the building this is what we found. 





                                                     This is where Nelson sleeps.

I will give you a closer look.....

This is where his mother makes his meals....

 

 
 

 

 

 

 

This is Nelson's good buddy.

 

 

 
 
 
 
 

The really cool thing is God knew Nelson needed more buddies.  He actually orchestrated a pastor in a small town of LeRoy, Il to have a enormous heart for missions AND children.  This amazing pastor had given my children both $100 and told them to find a mission of their own in the Dominican Republic.  So both Mario and Maddie have been praying about how they can make their $100 grow to make a HUGE impact.  But what God showed us today was.  It doesn't have to be HUGE to many.  Sometimes being HUGE to one at a time is enough.

 

 So with part of Mario's gift from Pastor Steve we sprang into action! 

 

We made a special delivery to a special child of God....he was so cute...he just kept scratching his head in disbelief! 

Thank you God for the heart of Pastor Steve Ward.  Thank you for the heart of my son Mario.  Thank you for allowing us to delivery Nelson a soft comfortable place to sleep tonight.

 1 Sam. 2:8 He lifts the poor from the dust-- Yes, from a pile of ashes-- And treats them as princes sitting in the seats of honor. For all the earth is the Lord's And he has set the world in order.

The Good, The Bad and the Ugly and Some Ridiculous!

    As we get ready to celebrate our 1 year anniversary of entering the mission field I thought it would be appropriate to share my emotions on this crazy roller coaster ride.  I would LOVE to say that these are feelings I have had throughout the year occasionally but the reality of it is....I experience MOST on a  DAILY basis.  I would be lying if I said this has been easy.  The only absolute I can tell you is how much I have to rely on God for strength and sanity!  So here are just a small portion of my thoughts through the day and quite literally how quickly they can change.

• LEARNING A NEW LANGUAGE IS SO HARD!!!!!!!!!  I want to crawl in my bed and throw the covers over my head!

• I feel like I made some really good choices today!

• Man.....I screwed up!

• Thank you God for using me to save a life today (either physically or spiritually)

• The ugliness of sin from abuse, greed and sexually immortality makes my heart shatter into a million tiny pieces.

• I really miss fast food drive thru's!!!!

• I'm not doing enough!

• The beauty God shows me in the hearts of people and on his earthly creation literally makes my heart feel like it's going to burst.

• Just curious but why did you invent mosquito's and allow such high humidity?

• There's so much need and I am just one person.

• Why me???  Why did I have to move so far from my family that I adore?

• I love it here!!!

• I want to go home!!

• Thank you Lord for the AMAZING people you have placed in my life.

• Can I not do anything right???

• I am so proud of my family for being so strong.

• Stop asking me for "things"!

• Please someone invent a microchip to insert into my brain so I can be instantly fluent in Spanish!

• It's so awesome to work along side of my husband!

• I am with my husband wayyyyy to much!

• Thank you Jesus for leading me here.

• I am blessed! 

• Use me Lord!

I am grateful for every single one of these thoughts and feelings because when we are pushing ourselves out of our comfort zone....that's when we grow closer to God. 

 

Bring on the CARBS!!!!!!!!!!!

   

 

 

    Pastor Megan has been preaching a wonderful sermon breaking down the Lord's Prayer, sentence by sentence.  I seriously love this because one of my pet peeves is reading prayers aloud from memory and not truly taking the time to think about what we are praying about.  Recently she spoke about "Give us this day our daily bread".   Pray for what is a necessity...not just our desires. And to especially notice it says, Give us not Give me.

     
     So this got me thinking.   Last year when we were preparing to step onto the mission field and serve the people in the Dominican Republic, it was an extremely scary time to sell and give away everything you thought you worked so hard for.  And then QUIT your PAYING job....you know, the one you have "control' over.  The one you trained for and interviewed for and negotiated and accepted a certain salary that you could live on, buy cool things put some in the bank and prepare for you retirement!  But you know what is even BETTER???    I may not even have realized this until after about the first six months....but it is fundraising.  I know that sounds absolutely NUTTY but let's think about this.  I put God in control of all my finances.  Can you think of anyone better to do that?  He is my provider, my boss, my CEO of my life!  I am literally on my knees praying GIVE US EACH DAY OUR DAILY BREAD.  I get to witness the miracles of the people He places in my life to physically send us money to live on and let me tell you.... It is AMAZING!!  Because it gives us all a chance to become what we are put on this Earth to do.....Work together, Share the Word to those who don't know God, serve those who can't help themselves, reach out to other's who have no hope.   I get to witness family, friends, churches and complete strangers saying Yes to God's call.  It's SO COOL!!!!  And all along I feel closer to God than ever before because I  LET GO of doing things my way.  I know you have heard this so many times but it's TRUE....God's way is always way more awesome than what our human minds could come up with.  I have said this many times and I will keep saying it.  Fundraising was (and still is) the BIGGEST faith growing time of my life.  It is constant communication with my Father, receiving reassurance and valuable lessons from Him to keep walking in faith and only look at Him for my next step.  He shows me how to help others, and reminds me to TRUST even when times get hard.  He provides the resources to make it all possible.

    So I will keep praying for us ALL to have our daily bread.  And I thank Him for guiding me to a situation where I can witness that each days meal is TRULY provided by Him.   I have NEVER been so aware in my life that every single item, my car, my home, every can in the pantry down to the carton of milk in the refrigerator has been provided by my Heavenly Father.  It's not mine....none of it.  It is a gift to share.  None of it is something I deserve but it's what has been entrusted to me to further His kingdom.  So I will continue to use all the resources I have to GO and SHARE and MULTIPLY it all for our King.

  Please, if God has been pushing you to step out of your comfort zone, to let go of some of your control and put more trust into following where He is leading you.  Don't resist.  It's the greatest gift you can give yourself and your family and above all.....HIM. 

  If one of those ways you would like to help is by partnering with us on the front line of fighting human exploitation.  We would be honored and faithful with your gifts.  Your support means that we are in this TOGETHER.   I will be praying for you! 

www.gomadministries.org   Click on Make a Donation in the bottom left side in the yellow box.  Next click the drop down box that says, "I want my donation to be designated toward..." and choose Brian and Jenny Bland.   Thank you! 

  

  
    

Sharing HOPE to the Naysayers!

It isn't the first time and I'm sure it won't be the last but a few days ago we had the misfortune of hearing a man in our community sputter the sentence, "Sure...they post pictures of the ocean and then come home to fundraise."  So I would just like to take a moment to address the person I will refer to as "Mr. Crabby Pants".  

Mr. Crabby Pants, I want to tell you about the typical day in the life of a missionary.  We go to work just like you.  We are faced with SEVERE poverty.  Not just, "Oops I don't have enough money to pay for my car this month." kind of poverty but "I can't FEED my kid even ONE MEAL TODAY or I can't pay for my child to the treatment for a life-threatening disease so they can breathe.." kind of poverty.  So we pray with them, we ask AMAZING people back home who are also being the HANDS AND FEET of Jesus and they GIVE unconditionally and they TRUST that we are all working together to help families who were born into a less fortunate circumstance.  Mr. Crabby Pants....that is just one days example.  But it occurs every day with slightly different events.  It's HARD to face, it's DIFFICULT to understand, it SADDENS us to our CORE.  Sometimes we feel like we didn't even help at all that day. We are on a limited budget.  We can only do so much.  It heartbreaking.  But we can pray and we can plant the seeds.
 
And we wake up and we do it again the next day. 

So Mr. Crabby Pants....I would like to tell you why the OCEAN is so important to us and why we like to share ocean photos.  It's a sign of HOPE.  And we know EVERYONE needs HOPE!  When we look out at the ocean we see how MIGHTY our God is!  We see the BEAUTY in His CREATIONS!  We understand that HE is in CONTROL of EVERY detail in our life.  We see that Our Savior's DEPTH is BEYOND anything we could ever comprehend.  Through the CEASELESS motion we realize His LOVE for Us is NEVERENDING.

I want to encourage you Mr. Crabby Pants to stop being a NAYSAYER and get out and help someone.....EVERY SINGLE DAY.  It's the reason why we are put on this Earth.  And then....my prayer is you find your "OCEAN"....the BEAUTY in something that God created!  Stand in AWE of HIM....BE INSPIRED.....  AND GUESS WHAT?????    IT'S FREE!

Now for the LARGE PRINT.  We know that the negativity of a few does not represent the entire community....I just had to speak from my heart because it's like what my Mom says, "Part of being a missionary is raising awareness!"  So now you are fully aware of the ugly side.  :)    It is SERIOUSLY because of you all that we are able to do what we do.  THANK YOU TO ALL OF OUR FRIENDS AND FAMILY FOR YOUR LOVE AND SUPPORT. YOUR HUGS WILL CARRY US THROUGH ANOTHER YEAR!  GOD BLESSINGS TO YOU ALL!

Isaiah 43:16

            

Thus says the LORD, Who makes a way through the sea And a path through the mighty waters

Best way to start the day!

Ok....so along with living in the Dominican Republic, which I believe is one of the most beautiful places on Earth, and having the privilege of meeting the kindest, most grateful families to serve, I also have the fortune of attending a truly God loving church.  And the icing on THAT cake is we have a sweet Women's Bible Study.  We are studying a book now called, "What Happens When Women say Yes to God" by Lysa Terkeurst.  But don't let the word "Women" stop you from continuing reading this or the book!  It's true for all of us!

I wanted to share one of my favorite parts (so far anyway).  It is the prayer that she says EVERY MORNING before her feet hit the floor.

         God, I want to see You.  God, I want to hear you.  God, I want to know you.  God, I want to follow hard after you.  And before I even know what I will face today, I say yes to you.

Now I absolutely love this prayer.  BUT, I and I am sure most of you are so guilty of just mumbling the words and not TRULY meaning them.  So for myself I break it down sentence by sentence to remind myself that I am talking to the Creator of this Universe.

God, I want to see you.....in every face of every person I meet, in the eyes of a child and in the beauty of the world.

 

God, I want to hear you.....in the fears of a mother's voice, the cries for help, in the sounds of laughter and in songs of praise.

 

God, I want to know you.  I want to know what makes you happy, how you want me to live my life, what plans you have for me.  The  way I can do this is by praying and listening and by studying the Scripture so I know what pleases you.

 

 

God, I want to follow hard after YOU....not after the TEMPTATIONS of the WORLD....but after YOU!

And even before I know what today brings.....I will say YES to You!   If you ask me to GIVE AWAYS all my POSSESSIONS, give a CHILD a HOME, FACE my worse FEARS, LOVE the UNLOVABLE, FORGIVE the UNFORGIVABLE,
LEAVE my SECURITY.... NO MATTER WHAT!   JUST as YOU did for ME!  And because I LOVE you that much!

Turning 14!

Tomorrow is my sweet baby girl's 14th birthday!  I can't believe what a blessing she is!  I can't imagine how quiet and how much less laughter there would have been in our home without her.  It would probably surprise most of you that know her what a comedic side she has.  She has the biggest heart and truly wants to make people happy.  So tomorrow we celebrate Maddie! 

But for so many in the world, age 14 is not a celebration.  In some areas is the age where orphans are no longer adoptable.   I have said before that when you ask God to break your heart for what breaks His, you have to be able to handle the sorrow that follows.  So I pray and ask God for answers on what I can do.  Use my life Lord!  Help me provide a home, provide love, provide awareness. 

My dream is that every child has a place to call home before they become an adult.  Can you imagine not having a family to call to celebrate a new job, buying a home, an engagement, a new baby?  Give us the desire Lord to do as you ask. 
          

John 14:18                    

“I will not leave you as orphans; I will come to you.