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this was one of the best days of my life!
watching the villagers of Mt Olivos join us in making this video was such a thrill!!
Sunday, March 24, 2013
we made it and it is just a smidge hot here!
WOW! 105 degrees has never felt hotter! I cannot believe the progress that has been made the past year! The last time I blogged about Honduras, we had built a well and one house. Now there are 16 houses and they are FABULOUS!!! Yesterday we spent the day building houses. We dug ditches for the footing of the houses, tied rebar, mixed concrete and poured it...needless to say, we were dehydrated and absolutely EXHAUSTED by the time that we made it to Copprome childrens home for our Easter egg hunt! We made the mistake of allowing the older children to hunt with the younger ones and they filled their bags and left none for the little ones! AND they were NOT going to share what they found, so we had to open a few more bags of candy for the little bitties!
Kim Nunn (the master story teller) shared with the children how they would hunt for the eggs in the grass ( little hidden treasures) but that THEY are a TREASURE to Christ! you could see the light bulbs go off in their heads as she spoke of His love for them..it was a sweet sweet blessing to my heart.
While in Olivos i has the blessing of visiting a man that just had surgery. He just returned from 5 days in the hospital from hernia surgery. As he lay on his bed in his new HOUSE, tears stung my eyes as i thought how much easier his recovery will be in a home where rain will not pour in on him and the heat will be less from the cool concrete instead of hot metal panels propped against each other. As we prayed over him, I could feel the Holy Spirit in his house. My heart felt so full.
I have only been here a day and a half and I am overwhelmed with gratefulness that God has allowed me and my family to have a small part in helping here in Honduras. The compassion that I feel in my heart for these families is SO divine. Compassion is not one of my gifts ( i will freely admit it:() BUT, when I am in the village working alongside these people and holding a child on my hip, I LOVE them and it can only be divine because I do not KNOW them.
Joshua is doing great. He has been REALLY HOT, but other than that, has has made many friends. I was lecturing him on the way here about how he has to stay close so I do not lose him and he very bluntly said " mom, dont worry! Ill be the little brown boy running around!" now that we are here, he has discovered that there are quite a few "brown boys" running around!!
We are now heading to the pool with all of the children from the childrens home...pray that we will continue to minister to the families in the village and that we can give these children of Copprome long lasting love!
Kim Nunn (the master story teller) shared with the children how they would hunt for the eggs in the grass ( little hidden treasures) but that THEY are a TREASURE to Christ! you could see the light bulbs go off in their heads as she spoke of His love for them..it was a sweet sweet blessing to my heart.
While in Olivos i has the blessing of visiting a man that just had surgery. He just returned from 5 days in the hospital from hernia surgery. As he lay on his bed in his new HOUSE, tears stung my eyes as i thought how much easier his recovery will be in a home where rain will not pour in on him and the heat will be less from the cool concrete instead of hot metal panels propped against each other. As we prayed over him, I could feel the Holy Spirit in his house. My heart felt so full.
I have only been here a day and a half and I am overwhelmed with gratefulness that God has allowed me and my family to have a small part in helping here in Honduras. The compassion that I feel in my heart for these families is SO divine. Compassion is not one of my gifts ( i will freely admit it:() BUT, when I am in the village working alongside these people and holding a child on my hip, I LOVE them and it can only be divine because I do not KNOW them.
Joshua is doing great. He has been REALLY HOT, but other than that, has has made many friends. I was lecturing him on the way here about how he has to stay close so I do not lose him and he very bluntly said " mom, dont worry! Ill be the little brown boy running around!" now that we are here, he has discovered that there are quite a few "brown boys" running around!!
We are now heading to the pool with all of the children from the childrens home...pray that we will continue to minister to the families in the village and that we can give these children of Copprome long lasting love!
Sunday, March 3, 2013
Hey y'all! It's Grace here. I know it's been awhile since I've blogged, so I'm not really sure where to begin but I'll go ahead and give it a shot...
Lately, I feel like God has laid the word "contentment" on my heart. Ever since my first trip to Uganda when I was in 7th grade, I've learned to be content with what I have. The things I've seen and heard and experienced there have caused me to, whenever I find myself complaining, step back and think about whatever it is that's wrong, and 99.9% of the time I'll realize that it's about something that is SO irrelevant in the long run.
What's hard for me now is being at home in one of the wealthiest counties in the country, where people complain when their slightest needs are not met. Whether it's about a flaw in their billion dollar schools, their friends, family, houses....the list goes on. It's hard for me to sit here and hear that, when all I can think about are my friends in Uganda's smiling faces, so happy with the little that they have.
BUT, the good news is...I've had a solid 4 years to learn patience (it is indeed a virtue) and I have learned how to keep my calm instead of getting frustrated and going on a rant about how good we have it here. And hear me out, I'm not saying everyone's life is perfect and there's never anything to complain about. It's just the little, unnecessary petty things that could use some perspective.
It's also hard for me to be content here when I have so much more joy when I'm in Uganda. I don't know what it is, but something about serving over there, not distracted by petty problems or social media or materialism, connecting and forming long term relationships with people that CRAVE that interaction and appreciate it just causes you to be so simply content. One of the coolest things for me is to be able to talk to my friends over there (I email 2 of my friends, Agnes and Prossy, on a regular basis) and to think that we've been friends for FOUR years...and I consider both of them two of my very best friends. And, to know without a doubt that we can continue to be friends and they can know that I'm coming to visit them (Lord willing) every year.
Although it's hard, God has shown me that it's WORTH it. Over the past four years, I've learned that I can be a light here in Brentwood as much as I can in Uganda, even if it looks different. I can encourage my friends and family and love people to the best of my ability. It's in our human nature to long to feel loved and cared about, and the way I see it, if someone feels loved enough they shouldn't have a reason to always be complaining, right? Although I fail Him on a regular basis, Jesus calls us to love like He loved us and that's what I strive to do.
Speaking of loving others, I'd like to present an opportunity to all of you to show ME some love on my birthday. On March 14th, I turn 17! I know alot of you have probably seen on Gwen's blog where Elijah did this for his birthday, but if you didn't, here's what I'm trying to do...
As most of you probably know, 147 Million Orphans is building a medical clinic in Gressier, Haiti, and I'm trying to raise at least $1,500 to help build it. It's really easy to donate. Just go to http://grouprev.com/graces17th?saved=1 and click on GIVE NOW on the right side. It only takes a minute and even if you only give a little bit, you're still helping make a difference in honor of my birthday!
And remember, the deadline is March 14th. Thanks so much!
Til next time,
Grace
Tuesday, February 19, 2013
Intimacy...a foreign word these days
I always seem to blog about controversial topics. I'm not sure why, other than I typically blog about what burdens my heart.
I led a class on intimacy at a conference awhile back. It was actually quite comical. As I looked into the crowd of women sitting in front of me, the faces were filled with an abundance of emotions. Some shaking their heads "as if to say YES! Amen to that!" Others with a complete blank stare as if to say "i think I am in the wrong classroom?!" and the rest with a perplexed look as if to say "are you SERIOUS?"
I will never forget the week of my wedding my mom gave me a great analogy that I will never forget. With a smile on her face, she explained,"Your marriage is like a package to be sent in the mail. While it might be FULL of many wonderful things, it will go nowhere without the postal stamp. The postal stamp represents the intimacy in your marriage, while it seems so small and insignificant, it will never reach the potential that it is capable of without you keeping it a priority"...in other words...your marriage is going NOWHERE without that stamp!" For 20 years, her words have rung in my ears.
How can it be that something God created IN us, can seem SO foreign? Our world, culture, and sin nature make it seem wrong or forbidden or just downright difficult. God created it to be wonderful and make us feel closer to our spouse than we could ever imagine, so why does it seem to be what keeps us apart at times?
I am not a marriage specialist. However, i have lived with the same man for 20 years and juggled 7 children in the midst of my marriage and can still say that I feel closer to him now than I ever have. After a few children come into your life the juggle begins. Many things begin to strain your relationship and make you physically tired. The problem that we face is forgetting to "pursue" each other. Your marriage becomes comfortable and the ones we love the most seem to get the least from us. life just happens...
Kevin Leman writes the best books on marriage. He often says: what do men need? 1) to be fulfilled 2) to be respected 3) to be needed. What do women need? 1) affection 2) communication 3) commitment to family. His second list consists of what we REALLY LONG for. women long for: 1) intimacy, security, being known and loved unconditionally, feel like she can be whomever she wants to be, being freed from trying to please everyone. men long for: 1) a 12 month football season, 2) a pocket satellite dish, 3) a wife who is assertive and aggressive in the bedroom, 4)a soul mate ( someone who really understands how he feels when he dares to share his feelings, 5)a wife who needs him ( not others, just him)
One of the most significant things that I have learned is that Mike would rather have me (with vericose veins from 4 children, cellulite from adding the extra weight, wrinkles on my face (more each day) and dark circles under my eyes) DESIRE him over a perfect looking young lady laying next to him that has no interest in him whatsoever. Men long to feel desired. The world tells us that men are visual (which they are) and that outer looks trump all and that is not the case. They need to know that you think they are still handsome, that you think about them during the day, and that you are SO thankful that they help provide for your family. I know many of you have lost touch with your husbands and just the basics no longer stand true. if this is the case, then i want to challenge you to talk with him. tell him that you want to start over. you want to date again. make "courting" a priority. Make an effort to call several times in the day to check in. In the beginning it might be a little awkward, after all, you have to get to know each other again. Keep at it. DO NOT LET satan win! He wants your marriage. He will whisper lies in your ears...commit to each other to rebuke him and put each other first.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
I led a class on intimacy at a conference awhile back. It was actually quite comical. As I looked into the crowd of women sitting in front of me, the faces were filled with an abundance of emotions. Some shaking their heads "as if to say YES! Amen to that!" Others with a complete blank stare as if to say "i think I am in the wrong classroom?!" and the rest with a perplexed look as if to say "are you SERIOUS?"
I will never forget the week of my wedding my mom gave me a great analogy that I will never forget. With a smile on her face, she explained,"Your marriage is like a package to be sent in the mail. While it might be FULL of many wonderful things, it will go nowhere without the postal stamp. The postal stamp represents the intimacy in your marriage, while it seems so small and insignificant, it will never reach the potential that it is capable of without you keeping it a priority"...in other words...your marriage is going NOWHERE without that stamp!" For 20 years, her words have rung in my ears.
How can it be that something God created IN us, can seem SO foreign? Our world, culture, and sin nature make it seem wrong or forbidden or just downright difficult. God created it to be wonderful and make us feel closer to our spouse than we could ever imagine, so why does it seem to be what keeps us apart at times?
I am not a marriage specialist. However, i have lived with the same man for 20 years and juggled 7 children in the midst of my marriage and can still say that I feel closer to him now than I ever have. After a few children come into your life the juggle begins. Many things begin to strain your relationship and make you physically tired. The problem that we face is forgetting to "pursue" each other. Your marriage becomes comfortable and the ones we love the most seem to get the least from us. life just happens...
Kevin Leman writes the best books on marriage. He often says: what do men need? 1) to be fulfilled 2) to be respected 3) to be needed. What do women need? 1) affection 2) communication 3) commitment to family. His second list consists of what we REALLY LONG for. women long for: 1) intimacy, security, being known and loved unconditionally, feel like she can be whomever she wants to be, being freed from trying to please everyone. men long for: 1) a 12 month football season, 2) a pocket satellite dish, 3) a wife who is assertive and aggressive in the bedroom, 4)a soul mate ( someone who really understands how he feels when he dares to share his feelings, 5)a wife who needs him ( not others, just him)
One of the most significant things that I have learned is that Mike would rather have me (with vericose veins from 4 children, cellulite from adding the extra weight, wrinkles on my face (more each day) and dark circles under my eyes) DESIRE him over a perfect looking young lady laying next to him that has no interest in him whatsoever. Men long to feel desired. The world tells us that men are visual (which they are) and that outer looks trump all and that is not the case. They need to know that you think they are still handsome, that you think about them during the day, and that you are SO thankful that they help provide for your family. I know many of you have lost touch with your husbands and just the basics no longer stand true. if this is the case, then i want to challenge you to talk with him. tell him that you want to start over. you want to date again. make "courting" a priority. Make an effort to call several times in the day to check in. In the beginning it might be a little awkward, after all, you have to get to know each other again. Keep at it. DO NOT LET satan win! He wants your marriage. He will whisper lies in your ears...commit to each other to rebuke him and put each other first.
Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres. Love never fails. But where there are prophecies, they will cease; where there are tongues, they will be stilled; where there is knowledge, it will pass away. 1 Corinthians 13: 4-8
Tuesday, December 25, 2012
Merry Christmas!
i find it comical that i am awake before my family on Christmas morning. I just couldn't sleep.....thoughts kept swirling in my head.
We went to my mom and dad's last night. Once again, I was reminded of how precious family is. My dad turned 80 in November. I can't believe it. You would never know that my parents are as old as they are......their energy is astounding. My brother, his new wife, and family moved to Montana, so they were not there. It just wasn't the same. Our family has been so close my entire life, when someone is absent, it leaves a gaping hole. I left my moms house thankful that my brother has found someone to love and while they were not at my moms, he is still in my heart.
There were multiple times last night when my 3 littles were bouncing off the walls, that I thought "i will not miss these days." The struggle of wrangling them 24/7 is not for the weak:) before we opened gifts, Joshua quoted Luke 2 for the family. As I sat with a smile on my face and love in my heart for this little boy, I couldn't help but think of Mary and the difficulty she felt in her lifetime rearing Jesus. (all of a sudden, mine seemed VERY small) They went from door to door just trying to find a place for her to deliver Jesus. Not to mention, the ridicule she was under her entire pregnancy. Can you imagine how the women in her community gossiped about her? And for Joseph, people thought he was just plain ole' stupid for putting up with a cheating girlfriend....not for the weak.
While listening to scripture stream from Joshua's mouth i couldn't help but wonder where he would be. What would his life look like, but because God has a very special plan for him, he was standing before me with scripture streaming from his mouth....telling the story of Jesus, telling of God's special plan for Jesus's birth. What a celebration. What an HONOR to know HIM and know that HE has a special plan for each and every one of us. WOW. it's almost too much to fathom. Brings tears to my eyes at just the thought.
I hope you are filled with some of the same thoughts through this wonderful season. Merry Christmas from the Mayernicks!
Sunday, December 16, 2012
heavy heart at such a JOYful time
As i sit on my couch next to Michael and watch the lights on my Christmas tree twinkle, my heart is full of heaviness. I have fought it all day. I have been very intolerant and I have had the hardest time pinpointing my mood. I really think that I am feeling the oppression from Connecticut. We can place blame every day, all day long on this and that...the truth is...it's just plain ole' DEMONIC oppression. Anybody that can do something SO awful to innocent children/people is being led by other forces than Christ.
Scripture speaks of it multiple times. Satan is a deceiver. He deceives in the small things ( i.e. that this world can satisfy our needs) and in the BIG things (the death of a classroom of children). As believers, if we do not start calling him out on it....and rebuking against demonic oppression, satan is just going to receive more and more power. This is a must. the church has tiptoed around the subject of warfare for so many years. Satan is claiming our children and we are sitting back and watching it happen because we are afraid that people might think we are too "charismatic or cooky christian people" COME ON PEOPLE....we have got to claim these children in Jesus name and rebuke satan from claiming their hearts at an early age! People are asking "why God?" "how does something like this happen?" plain and simple : satan. That is who he is, how he rolls......as a culture, we are sitting back claiming that "this is a different generation and life is hard" rather than claiming ourselves for Christ. HE can overcome anything we face here on earth.... anxiety, homosexuality, divorce, sickness.
we are failing. we are failing. we are failing. as a nation, as parents, and as believers. If you don't believe it, just turn on your TV and watch the news.
We need a revival. people need to lock arms and hearts and turn this thing around. we can't do it, but HE can. If our children hear us claiming HIM over their lives with scripture/love/ and anointing, they will believe it also.
HE IS THE I AM. He can restore the Connecticut families. He can give HOPE, GRACE, LOVE and FORGIVENESS when WE cannot. thankfully, in the end, He will have victory. HE WILL.
More of HIM and Less of US.
He created my 7 children and I am determined that satan will NOT reign over their hearts and minds. I will rebuke him for the rest of my life...every single day if need be. Will you join me?
Merry Christmas from the Mayernick's!
Scripture speaks of it multiple times. Satan is a deceiver. He deceives in the small things ( i.e. that this world can satisfy our needs) and in the BIG things (the death of a classroom of children). As believers, if we do not start calling him out on it....and rebuking against demonic oppression, satan is just going to receive more and more power. This is a must. the church has tiptoed around the subject of warfare for so many years. Satan is claiming our children and we are sitting back and watching it happen because we are afraid that people might think we are too "charismatic or cooky christian people" COME ON PEOPLE....we have got to claim these children in Jesus name and rebuke satan from claiming their hearts at an early age! People are asking "why God?" "how does something like this happen?" plain and simple : satan. That is who he is, how he rolls......as a culture, we are sitting back claiming that "this is a different generation and life is hard" rather than claiming ourselves for Christ. HE can overcome anything we face here on earth.... anxiety, homosexuality, divorce, sickness.
we are failing. we are failing. we are failing. as a nation, as parents, and as believers. If you don't believe it, just turn on your TV and watch the news.
We need a revival. people need to lock arms and hearts and turn this thing around. we can't do it, but HE can. If our children hear us claiming HIM over their lives with scripture/love/ and anointing, they will believe it also.
HE IS THE I AM. He can restore the Connecticut families. He can give HOPE, GRACE, LOVE and FORGIVENESS when WE cannot. thankfully, in the end, He will have victory. HE WILL.
More of HIM and Less of US.
Merry Christmas from the Mayernick's!
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About Me
- suzanne
- I am a lover of Jesus. I have the most fabulous husband that anyone woman could ask for. The Lord has blessed us with 7 beautiful children. I started this blog so that friends and family could follow our trip to Uganda to visit Katie Davis. I have decided to keep blogging to help bring orphan awareness to the world around me.
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