What are we taking for granted?

I saw this today and it truly spoke to me.  My main job when we move to the Dominican Republic will be offering more services at our children's health clinic.  So I have been doing research on many different classes we could offer because I believe that education is key to changing our habits.  I found some wonderful brochures to give out to the parents that I currently use in our community.  I was thrilled to discover that they are offered in Spanish.  The thrill quickly vanished when I began reading the topics and the reality of our differences soaked in.  My heart began to break over how some of the world has the basic needs covered and a large part still lives without.

Here are some of the topics that made my heart break even more for the parents that love their children just as much as I do but have no resources to help their babies like I do.

1. "You Children's Mental Health:  What is Essential?"   For good mental health, you children need-

• a safe place to live and play
• the right amount of health food to eat

What factors might contribute to a young child's mental health problems?

• Illness
• exposure to lead, mercury or other environmental poisons
• abuse or neglect
• natural disaster that disrupts family life
• difficulties related to poverty

2.  "Fight Germs!  Wash your Hands!"  They live amongst contaminated water that must be boiled.

3.   "Importance of Vision and Hearing Screenings"  The children in these villages rarely see a doctor.

4.  "Your Babies Dental Health"  Most of the children in these areas do not even own a toothbrush.

5.   "Say Yes to Healthy Snacks!"  They are fortunate if they get 3 meals a day.

6.    "Keeping Your Children Safe in the Car"  Cars are extremely expensive. 

So I am choosing to embrace all that the Dominican children are blessed with.....the love of each other in their community, the freedom to run and play without distractions of electronics.  :)  Their desire for education and their sweet personalities.....but I am determined to provide the basic health care that should be every child's right.

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him? Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth." 1 John 3:17-18


Will you consider partnering with me to Make A Difference???? 

www.gomadministries.org -  Click on Make a Donation.  On the 'Program Designation' drop down box choose "Brian and Jenny Bland.

What if He Meant You?

Sometimes, we find it easiest to look the other way.

Sometimes, we believe He isn't talking to us.

Sometimes, we figure someone else will do it.

Sometimes, we blow it off as someone elses responsibility.

But what if... God meant for you to do it?

As we were talking to someone the other day about support for our mission work we heard the all to common comment of 'go ask this church- or go ask that church'.

But what I sometimes think we forget is WE ARE THE CHURCH.

And often times we use the church as our excuse to not have to do what we are called as individuals to do.

We hide behind the title 'the church' and forget the church is made up of individual Christ followers who are all to do their own part.

Because after all, He is a personal God.

Personal to me- and personal to you.

While the church as a whole is powerful enough to knock out poverty- it's going to take all of us to do our part to make it happen- or it never will.

And yet all too often we sit and we wait...

For someone else to take care of the problem...

For someone else to give...

For someone else to serve...

For someone else to do something about it...

And we excuse ourselves of our individual responsibility.

When perhaps He was talking to us all along...

In the past I have talked a lot on my blog about our ties to money- and what the Lord has been teaching us. As we are raising funds for missions, more than ever before, our eyes are being opened to our cultures connection to the almighty dollar.

And more than ever before- I see how clearly it is the one thing that is bringing us, as a nation, down.

Our love for things...

and our love of self...

Over our love for Him.

I came across this picture the other day and I felt like someone punched me in the gut. I wondered how someone could just look the other way and go on without doing something to help?



But then it hit me..

Aren't we, in essence, doing this exact thing when we- choose that $6.00 latte over giving to missions?

When we choose to take a family vacation instead of giving our tithe?

Choose to have a pedicure over sponsoring a child in need?

Choose to look the other way as the homeless man sits on the corner begging for our help?

Choose a bigger house over adopting a child?

Choose to do nothing- when we could do something?

Choose not to respond.

Roman 14:12 tells us "Each of us will give an account of himself to God."

Belonging to a church isn't enough.

Each one of us, individually, are accountable to God for what we have done for the poor, the helpless, the widow and the orphan.

I once heard someone say the only thing worse than being lost- is being lost and knowing there is no one looking for you. As the body of Christ I believe the Lord is calling each one of us- as individuals- to open our eyes and LOOK. Look for the need and act.

Give.

Serve.

Love.

Take it personal-

Because He does.



Written by my sweet sister....Amy Block.

"Live Simply....So Others Can Simply Live"

 While in the Dominican Republic I was reminded how the kids are exactly like my kids.  They LOVE baseball and hanging out being a kid.

 
       And then in an instant I get a reality check of the differences between my daughter who is blessed enough to get an education.....



and the vulnerable young girls that have no choice but to step into the dark world of prostitution to help provide for their family.

 

   It was in that moment......I thanked God that He gave me the desire to give this up......





to help these beautiful babies..... know that they are precious children of God.

 

 

       

In all things I have shown you that by working hard in this way we must help the weak and remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how he himself said, ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’”
Acts 20:35

This Wild Ride!

    I don't know about you but I love theme parks.  We went to many as a child and even during my adult life!  My favorites of course were when we went to Disneyland in California.  That was an amazing trip.  We drove to California with the Bell family which were dear friends of our family.  We camped all the way there and had picnics at local parks all the way there.  I highly recommend it for anybody wanting to give their children AWESOME memories. 


   

     One of the funny moments I remember was when we were on Splash Mountain.  I was about 10 years old and I was sitting in the front.  As we chugged along in the dark tunnels inside the mountain and banged from side to side I remember Vic Bell saying to me, "Jenny, you got this?  You are in the driver's seat.....you are in control!"   At that moment I was petrified!  I can't remember what I was holding onto ....maybe it was just or bar or perhaps it was a steering wheel.....but I felt like nothing I was doing was making this an easier ride.  Yep.....and then we dropped.  I remember laughing and being so scared all at the same time.  I'm not sure when I realized that I really wasn't in charge or if I pretty much knew I wasn't the whole time.   All I knew was that it was really cool.

    So here I am....today.....on the biggest ride of my life....heading onto the mission field and for the first time in my adult life depending on other's for our full financial support and leaving all of our comforts.  I am having the same feelings of thinking I'm in the driver's seat but everything I try to control isn't making this an easier ride. So I am the one that says, "God, you got this?  You are in the driver's seat...You are in control".

I am no longer petrified.  I am still human so I have a constant battle with myself to not get nervous but to sit back and ENJOY the ride, SEE the miracles, EMBRACE the hard lessons, deepening my FAITH and NEVER EVER forget how COOL this ride is!!!!

Psalm 28:7
7 The LORD is my strength and my shield; my heart trusts in him, and I am helped. My heart leaps for joy and I will give thanks to him in song.

I saw Jesus!

   I have learned so many things throughout this journey to the mission field.  One of the biggest things is that your should NEVER fail to see Jesus in every detail.  If you do ...you are missing HUGE blessings.  God has planned every step of our way but we tend to look at these steps as coincidences and not perfect strategic lessons thought out by our Savior. 

   Noticing Jesus in the encouragement, prayers and donations from friends and family is what keeps you going.  I have been so blessed with so many that I ask or don't even have to ask and they give without fail.  And I am not using the word "blessed" lightly!!   They are ALWAYS there for me!!!!  AMAZING! 

   A recent act of generosity in a fun way that shows you that God even uses facebook to bless others...haha.  One of my "friend's friends" saw that we were taking school and medical supplies with us on the little ticker in the corner of facebook that passes by quickly.  She contacted me to give us supplies to take. Her sweet mom also gave me a check for the EXACT amount we needed for an additional luggage charge to be able to bring more with us.  I LOVE when I see Jesus in those moments.  He uses a complete stranger to ease my worries.  I especially love that I consider that stranger now as a friend. 

So my lesson in this journey is to not overlook even the smallest detail as Christ's work!  If I do then I've missed the greatest gift!

 This was a special stuffed animal that my new friend's daughter wanted me share with someone who needed some love and to know that people care.

 It felt like Christmas as we unloaded just this portion of what my friends sent for school and medical supplies.

Hebrews 10:24-25         
And let us consider how to stir up one another to love and good works, not neglecting to meet together, as is the habit of some, but encouraging one another, and all the more as you see the Day drawing near.

100 Partners In 100 Days...Will you be 1????

One of the scariest parts of going on the mission field is that we have to quit our paying jobs and have to rely fully on the support of others.  It's really funny because we have already gotten the stares and questions like, "Now is Brian staying in the US working and you will go without him?"  "Can you work in another country?"  "How will you make money?" 

I completely understand that many people have many questions because this is so out of the ordinary on how the vast majority in the United States lives.  So here are my answers some great questions starting with the definition in the dictionary:

 
mis·sion·ar·y

n. pl. mis·sion·ar·ies

1. One who is sent on a mission, especially one sent to do religious or charitable work in a territory or foreign country.

 

 

Q.  Do you have to sell everything? 

A.  We don't HAVE to sell everything but most missionaries sell most everything, for several reasons.  1. It costs a ton to move things overseas.  2.  Because they want invest their time and attention into helping people learn about God's love. 

 

Q.  Can you work for a paycheck?

A.  Missionaries can't work overseas for a paycheck because it takes jobs away from people that need them.  Also because we are so busy volunteering our time in free clinics, women's shelters, schools, street ministries, etc. 

 

Q.  Is Brian staying in the U.S. to work and while you go?

A.  No....This is going to be hard enough leaving our adult children.  We want to show the people in the Dominican what a healthy marital relationship with love and respect looks like.  We will definitely need each other's love and support while we are there. 

 

Q.  Do churches send you?

A.  Churches do play a part in the financial support and with the emotional and prayful support.  But mostly financial support is from individuals.

 

 

Q.  ARE YOU SCARED????

A.  Yes...and excited because I fully believe that God is in control of how every aspect of our serving will play out.  His plan completely!  I have had my human moments that caused nervous flips in my stomach like the other day while driving and talking to Him, thanking Him for all His provisions but doubting for a quick second...what if we won't have enough supporters??  He told me, "100 partners in 100 days!"  WOW....I love that!  I know it was Him because it popped into my head and if you really know me I am never quite that quick of a thinker...haha! 

 

Even though I hate the thought of asking for money...I do feel like when we make a financial donation, it makes us feel more invested.  I TRULY WANT TO BE PARTNERS, I want to feel your presence with us.  I know this sounds strange because we need to survive but I truly don't care if it's $25 or $1,000!  I want it to be an amount that you can commit long term.

 

 So....I am asking you now to please start praying about becoming one of our partners that will make a commitment to send a monthly donation, to pray for us whenever you think of it, to share our story about what we are doing to fight Human Exploitation in the Dominican Republic, to email or facebook or write letters of encouragement.  And hopefully visit on a missions trip!

 

100 sponsors in 100 days will begin Feb 1st - May 11th.  I can't wait to see God's work in and through all of us to be the change!

 

 

 

God...please continue to show us your plan for our lives.  We want to fill out the dream you have for our lives.  We want to be faithful with all you give us and all the lives you want us to touch.  Please give our future partners a desire in their heart to invest in the eternal lives of the woman and children being exploited in the Dominican.  We love and trust and cherish our relationship with you Father.  Amen.

 

What Can Happen When Jesus Takes The Wheel

  I just reread my last blog post and smiled.  I can't believe the blessings that can happen when we truly let God be in the driver's seat and just not our co-pilot! Sounds like....duh...of course Jenny.  But seriously how many of us say we will follow what God plans for us and then we end up taking control ourselves?

  We have been sitting back and praying and asking God "Where?"   You see I know that God has called us to serve...there has NEVER been a question in our minds about that.  But when we planned to go to Guatemala it just seemed to make sense since part of our family was serving there.  Besides...it was all we knew.  We had gone on missions trips there and there is a huge need.  Doors kept closing, uneasy feelings were nagging away at us and we were not completely at peace with how we fit into the picture. 

  So we surrendered our thoughts, our ideas, our wants and we prayed and we prayed and of course, we prayed some more.  Now we are so excited to have opportunity to visit a ministry that we fell in love with after reading about, skyping and emailing back and forth with.  It's called Go MAD Ministries (which is really kind of funny considering the title of this blog. :))  It is in the Dominican Republic.  We are going to visit them in the beginning of January.  We are blown away by how every single detail is falling into place.  We know how and where we want to serve and then I'm sure we will get there and that will all change...haha!  But we are excited, we are willing and we are ready to Go MAD (Make a Difference). 

   Now...this is not a done deal.  The co-founders have got to fall in love with us in person!  :)  So feel free to leave a comment on here about how great we are!  LOL!!  No really....I'm serious.  :) 

  Please check out Go MAD's website at: www.gomadministries.org to see how they are helping the desperate young women not even begin or turn away from a life of prostitution.  They fight against Human Exploitation with teaching of God's love and teaching skills they can use to get other jobs.  They have 2 schools, a safe house for women and a medical clinic for children.

 I can't wait to see how God plays this all out, this chapter in my life. Will we be serving in the DR? What kind of difference can my family make on these beautiful people?