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The Paw Paw Patch

8/31/2014

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I can definitely say that I have been in a “paw paw patch” for the past year and a half. 
It hasn’t been the most fun. 
It has been ugly.
It has been barren.
It has been challenging.
It has had great moments sparsely thrown into the mix.
Yes, I did mentally choose to be unhappy during this season several times.
Can you relate? 

This is a popular simple Southernism to insinuate that someone is way out in the “middle-of-nowhere”.  I forgot about this phrase until my momma used it in a sentence a few weeks ago, and I immediately could relate to it from life.

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Actual paw paw fruit.
The season started when my team broke up and decided to no longer go to South Sudan at the end of 2012.  I have been job hunting in Georgia since then for Health and PE jobs.  I do have a preference of area and age group, and maybe that’s a factor why I don’t have a job.  Yet, would you want to work in an area and group that is extremely difficult for you?

I have been able to get odd jobs from time to time, lots of substitute work, teaching tennis, and more.  Yet, still wondering “What the heck am I doing in life?”.  I believe deep down I see myself as an instructor for youth using activities and games.  Can you relate to a season/time in your life?  Especially when community is sparse.

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I got tired of waiting for schools to get back with me.  Again, and again, and again I have put my hope in applying to easily more than 100 applications resulting in 6 interviews and no job. 
Enough. 
Get me out of America. 

So, I skyped with G42 alumni in Ukraine in early June, bought a one-way ticket, and left at the end of the month to go to a place I’ve briefly been before to meet and work with people I’ve actually never met and lived with before. 

Finally.
Something.

After a crazy, awesome, relaxed, peaceful, and enjoyable time, I went to Mijas, Spain for a G42 Alumni reunion.  In the meantime I had applied and got accepted to co-lead a trip!  Finally!  Wait, what?! I was accepted for a position I applied for?! 

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The past month has been a whirlwind of God working in crazy ways.  For example: I was accepted and my entire Passport trip was paid for in a matter of a week and a half with the funds people believed and invested in me 2 years ago for an entirely different trip.  Now I share this while sitting in Nicaragua where I will be for the next 3 months.

My life is crazy!

What happened though?  What shifted?  God showed up. 
He has revealed to me people do believe in me, and it's wrecked my thinking and heart.  Yes, God.  The creator of the Universe, you, and me.  Who has and will never give up on us.  The one who has given me a slice of Peace and Joy I can hardly describe in words, but all my stress and worries of what I am to do in life is taken away with a blink of an eye.

I can look back and see the wilderness I was in.  Now, I can confidently look forward with a different outlook and eagerness to engage the day to day with a peace and love from God that overpasses all understanding. 

Where are you in life?

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A 14 year old dream fulfilled of visiting Gibraltar.
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Nicaraguan Passport Soccer Fundraiser!

8/9/2014

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Please continue reading through this blog to understand why I'm specifically sharing this video with you!
I am very excited to share with you wonderful people that I am co-leading a Passport Trip through Adventures In Missions this fall for 3 months to Nicaragua!  A Passport Trip through AIM are geared for 18-22 year olds.  My trip has miraculously been completely paid off, but that’s another story.  We will be working alongside Vision Nicaragua with many different opportunities including medical missions, village evangelism, and more.
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Short note, it is my Birthday on August 10th (woohoo!), but I don’t really have anything I definitely need.  Yet, I do want your help through this trip I am going on.  My specific purpose of this message is to share of an opportunity for you to be directly invested with the people and children we will encounter in Nicaragua.  My co-leader and I desire to raise separate funds over and above the cost of the trip to purchase soccer balls to take to Nicaragua with us.  Please hear me out before you shut me down of this opportunity.

Why are having soccer balls a way to invest in the communities we encounter?
-       Sports are an international language, and soccer/futbol is the most popular in this region.  It’s my language since I have a P.E. background.  Sports promote teamwork, communication, unity, discipline, and more. 

Why don’t we just buy cheap soccer balls down there and save money?
-       The balls we would buy are not top quality, and would realistically last only a few weeks.

What’s so great about the balls we want to purchase?
-       The One World Futbol is nearly indestructible by keeping shape and air even after being stabbed, ran over, rained on, bitten, and more. 

How is a donor connected with this by investing?
-       Your contribution goes toward a tangible piece of equipment that will last for years.   My co-leader and I are already funded to go to Nicaragua.  We truly desire your help to have this idea to become a reality.  We will share with you of each group to whom we decide to give the soccer balls. 


We're fully supported for the 2 packages we were raising funds of these soccer balls! God is working through so many amazing people.  I'm simply honored to share with you this news, and even more eager to see what God's going to do through us distributing the balls to kids and organizations!

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 If you have ANY questions about this or feel led to help donate to another part of this trip, please email me at [email protected].  Thanks!

Provided byFund-Raising-Ideas-Center.com

These words cannot share how excited I truly am about the opportunity of this trip, how you could help invest in the lives of kids and people I will work with, the equipment we're hoping to use and give, and simply LIFE in general!  I cannot go on without saying how Good GOD really is to us.  Thanks for stopping by!
One World Futbol is a brilliant business oriented to promote soccer around the world by providing these amazingly designed balls to people all over the world, especially for those in rough environments.  They do have a program set up where if someone purchases a ball, then they donate one to already connected needy areas within their network.

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You Know When You're In Ukraine When...

8/8/2014

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You see women wearing 4”+ heels with short skirts and dresses…while shopping for groceries at 10 in the morning.

An imitating restaurant called McFoxy is built right next to McDonalds.
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Men wear only short shorts/speedos near the beach. 

Unhappy/blank expressions are on many people’s faces.

The Ukrainians generally not do anything during the day, but once it’s around 6 PM, everyone’s in the local parks.
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They have futbol leagues instead of church softball leagues. 

“New” building projects last for more than 10 years to complete.
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Outdoor metal ping-pong tables and basketball courts with no rims in most school yards.

Anything can be climbed due to lack of security/care.
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The police don’t protect you from “bad people”, but rather more or less protect “bad people” from you.

A Lada is parked next to a Maserati.

"Planned” things actually happen 30 -90 minutes AFTER the appointed time…excluding trains, buses, and planes.

Poles are set up specifically to dust/beat rugs.

Soviet era military monuments are everywhere.
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You find massive churches with shiny GOLD domes surrounded by nothing for a few acres.
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You find apricot and mulberry trees everywhere so the homeless and pigeons don’t starve.

Designated places every few blocks where people bring enough beer bottles to cover the floor of your entire house…everyday.

The blue and yellow colors going up Everywhere showing more patriotism for the country amidst conflict.
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    Author: Brian Barrett

    After teaching and living in Denver for over 5 years, much of Brian's focus is on improving the lives of 3-5 year-olds and their community.  Hiking and travel breaks are often too.

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