Jarrett's Jabbok

Thursday, June 30:
Rice and black beans for breakfast! Packed up and left the hotel today! It was a great place and I will miss the coffee every morning! First stop, the clinic provided by El Shaddai ministries. Great location for anyone in Chinandega who cannot afford the hospital. They see 3000 people a month!
After our tour, we went to another feeding program in a barrio. We went to a small school in the barrio were the teachers are volunteer and the government pays them a stipend $30 a month. Teachers are mostly college students and do it for the love of teaching. They had 75 students in the small room. we gave them all the school supplies we had!
We walked down the street and witnessed to a man that accepted Christ! It was a blessing to see a father come to Christ and now be able to lead his family to Christ. We connected him to the church and pastor in the barrio.
The next house, found a 10 year old girl who had a severe infection on the leg. She needed medical attention immediately so we connected her to the clinic that we had just toured that morning. The doctor said that if she had not received medical attention when she did that they would have had to remove her leg. Her treatment to clear the infection will take 10 days and require 16 injections! We decided to cover the cost because they couldn't even afford .50 cents for the taxi. It a small price to pay to save a life and I'm glad the little girl will be ok now.
Lunch was the best today of all in my opinion. We had fried chicken, black beans and rice, something like a potato, fried plantains, a special thing I call crunchy rice. It's the fried, brown rice that sticks to the bottom of the pan. After we ate, we said goodbye to our cooks and hosts for feeding us and providing for us all week.
We hit the road for a 2 hour bus ride back to Managua. About 30 minutes out of Managua, we had 2 flat tires! So that's 4 so far this week! But we arrived safely for supper and everyone just loves the new guest mission house we are staying in. It has a wonderful homey feel and great accommodations.
Tonight has been relaxing for the team, but tomorrow holds new challenges. We will visit a special needs orphanage. In the morning, eat lunch at Pizza Hut, and visit a barrio in the afternoon. We have black plastic to cover 20 roofs and we will plant a fruit tree at these homes. Tomorrow is our last ministry day and the team is doing great! Continue prayers! Check my fb page for pictures!

Thursday, June 30, 2011

Nicaragua2011

Wednesday June 29:
Breakfast was French toast and a slice of bacon! Great way to start the day! We headed to the second feeding location at 8:30. When we arrived, the food was ready to be cut and prepped for cooking. Some kids were already coming with their bowls or whatever they had to carry the soup. As we finished preparing the food, the team arrived from the radio station. We split into two teams and walked through the barrio (community) so we could witness and pray for families. We met a man who was cooking bananas into a sugary candy treat. Look on my facebook page for the picture. He cooked items like this to sell on the street. It's the way he earns money to provide for his family.
Along the way we were met by a tv crew from the local station covering our activities. It was nice to see them doing a story on Gods ministry in their community. After walking the neighborhood, we returned to serve the soup. We fed 200 people and ran out of food, turning some people away. It's hard to have to do but only a certain amount can be prepared each day.
Each day we returned to pastors house for lunch and supper. We have been treated with great hospitality and generosity by the nicaraguan people. It feels strange to walk into someone's house each day and just start eating food but it's always good and plenty of it! Tonight we had one of my favorite sides, plantains!
After lunch some men went back to the construction site which where we will do the third and finally feeding program on Thursday. The women went back to get ready for the prostitutes conference. This was a opportunity to help women who had been involved wight prostitution and was seeking to be delivered from this lifestyle. Many women were blessed by this conference!
After lunch, mark and I went to the tv station to do a broadcast designed for a teenager audience. It was a great chance for me to speak on issues that teens face. It lasted about an hour and then I turned around and did a radio program for an hour. I spoke on the need for fathers to love their wives as Christ love the church. It went well and I was able to pray for people who called in with prayer requests.
After supper, went to the town of Corinto, on the coast. It was about 15 minutes from Chinandega. We led a worship service in a church. When we arrived they had already started worshipping. As soon as we came in we noticed a bat was flying around inside! Sometimes it would lite onto something and rest but other times throughout the service, it flew around, swooping down over our heads! It caused quit the distraction but it didn't stop the Lord from touching people's lives. Julie sang, Brandon and Jim gave testimonies. They did a wonderful job! Tony preached the message and allowed the Lord to use him is an awesome way! Many people came forward for prayer and our team was able to pray with them as they came forward. I am super proud of this team of missionaries from PSBC! Everyone is working hard and allowing God to use them in many ways to accomplish mighty things!
We returned at the hotel to debrief the day and prepare for tomorrow (Thursday). We will check out after lunch and return to Managua tomorrow night. I might not have wifi so this could be my last blog. We are preparing to say goodby to our friends here and our translators.
In Managua we will be staying at a mission house. On Friday we will be going to a special needs orphanage in the morning and going to repair roofs with plastic on Friday afternoon. Saturday is a sight seeing day. Sunday we worship and preach in an English speaking church and fly home that afternoon! We should arrive in Atlanta by 7 pm. Continue to pray for God to work through us as we continue on this trip!

Wednesday, June 29, 2011

Nicaragua 2011

Tuesday, June 28:
7 am breakfast at the wonderful hotel was eggs and ham with toast. The coffee is awesome! Left the hotel to do the radio interview. Julie sang in Spanish and gave testimony along with Nancy and Shirley. I prayed and we left. We met up with the other team members at the feeding program. Some were cutting and preparing the food. Others were going house to house to witness and pray for people. I joined in with the witnessing team. We saw heart-breaking stuff that words can't describe. We prayed for God to bless the people. Some received Christ!
After the feeding program, we ate and returned to the room to prepare for the evening service as the construction team went back out. We all rejoined for supper. We ate spaghetti with meat balls and veggies! It was great! After supper went to the circus but it really wasn't like our circus. This was a traveling team spreading hope and love to people. They performed entertainment acts and sang. Afterwards, I presented the Gospel and we returned to the hotel.
It's been a great day! The team is doing great. Everyone is working hard and enjoying the trip! Tomorrow we go to another location to feed more people and witness. We anticipate the Lord doing mighty things in all that we do! Keep praying!

Tuesday, June 28, 2011

Nicaraga 2011

Monday, June 27:
Awake at 5 am! Breakfast at 6. Arrive at airport at 7. Sitting at my gate by 8 am! Plane leaves at 10. Everything is going smooth. The only thing not going well is the tsa took my peanut butter in the security line! Apparently peanut butter cannot even be in your checked baggage. We arrive in Managua in 3 hours and gather all the luggage. Pile onto a small bus and head to lunch! Pizza Hut! Hit the road to Chinandega and 1 hour into the bus ride, the second blown tire in as many days. Not sure what God is protecting us from but we know that ministry can happen during these kinds of things.
We arrived in Chinandega about 6 or 6:30. Ate supper at the pastors house. We have a very nice meal: rice, veggies,mashed potatoes, and beef. Loved it! The circus was changed to tomorrow night!
We arrived at the hotel, which is great, and quickly prepared to go to the radio/tv station to share about the mission this week. I got to preach and pray for people calling in. It was a great opportunity to see how God is using this ministry.
We are very tired so I'm sure this blog is poorly written. Tomorrow, we will begin construction, feeding program, radio station, circus, woman's ministry to prostitutes, and door to door evangelism as well as a church service at night. Pray for strength, safety, weather, and people to come to know Christ!

More tomorrow Lord willing!

Sunday, June 26, 2011

Nicaragua 2011

Sunday June 26:
A group of 21 left from Poplar Springs about 3:30 pm headed to Atlanta. About 1 hour into the trip, just across the Ga. State line on I-85, we blew a right front tire. 3 hours later, we are back on our way and ready for supper! Following supper, just as the sun set God provide a huge rainbow in the sky! We know that God will have the victory this week and that we will face some challenges along the way, such as elevators being temporarily out of order and carrying all the luggage up to the fourth floor of a very nice hotel.
So the first day didn't go exactly as planned but the team is doing well and excited for what tomorrow brings! It's late and 5 am will be here soon. I will try to blog when I can get wifi. please pray because we need it! Our flight leaves Atlanta at 10 am. We fly direct to Nicaragua then travel 2 hours by bus. We will have supper, get settled into our rooms, and then off to the first ministry opportunity, a nicaraguan circus to preach the gospel! Should be a show stopper when God shows up and we believe He will deliver!

Thursday, July 15, 2010

Midweek reflections of FUGECamps @ PCB

Fuge @ PCB is like no other in my opinion. I have had the opportunity to experience several fuge locations and I do not intend to demean others but for our group, God has used this place to really meet the students in a unique way.
This week, our group has been excellent (so far)! I could not ask for a better group of students. Tonight, church group devotion revealed a maturity and spiritual depth in our students that we have prayed for. I am watching new leaders bud right before my eyes. We are seeing lost students come to Christ! The majority of the students in the mission track are from our church and they are learning how to witness on the beach! My seniors are receiving special perks (from me) and they love it!
A cool thing I am doing to connect parents to camp is streaming live video clips to this blog, my facebook profile, and posting links to the videos on twitter. I have received such great feedbback from parents! They love it! It has allowed me to give them a portion of what we are doing here but more than that is the long term effects of strengthening our trust relationship between parents and the student ministry. Its amazing how something so simple can do so much! I look forward to partnering with parents as we equip and empower them to be the primary spiritual developer of our students.
Parents, thank you for the privilege of serving the Lord in this role. I cherish these days!

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Friday, June 25, 2010

summer 2010

Powerplant Atlanta 2010! I am so excited for our students who went on this mission trip. Besides tge great time we shared together, we experienced some great things on the streets. Our task was to work through the streets of East Point informing residents of a newly started church. In the process, we met people who were from different faiths, economic status, and ethnic backgrounds. At times, people were open to us and were excited that we were there. Other times, we were ignored, rejected, or refused. Since our trip, I have heard from church planter and has reported that our efforts have made a difference and that many contacts that we made are now starting to show interest in coming to church! I am so proud of our students for their hard work, great attitude, and most of all allowing God to use them in difficult situations. The things we have learned from this trip will make a difference in us for years to come!

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Monday, September 21, 2009

KNOWN SS Parent Discussion Guide- Nov 09

Family Matters
A Study on Family

A Guide for Parents

Note: There is a free KNOWN Parent Podcast available at www.lifeway.com/known—just follow the podcast link. You can subscribe to the podcast for free or just listen online.

Use the following information and questions to reinforce the truths of this month of Bible study at home. Use one or two of the discussion starters to begin a conversation. Look for teachable moments—at home, in the car, or at a game. Pray and ask God to provide you opportunities to have spiritual conversations with your teenager(s).

Session 1
Family Is God’s Idea — Genesis 2:18-24, Deuteronomy 6:4-9
THE QUESTION
Why did God create the family?
THE POINT
The family is God’s unique environment for nurturing our development.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
What’s the purpose of a family anyway?
When did God decide that family was a good idea?
What are the benefits of being a part of a family?
On a scale of 1-10 (10 being the best/very close), how close do you feel to your family?
What could we do as a family that would help us grow closer?
What could we do to help us (and you) grow spiritually within our family?
What role does following God’s will play in your family?

Session 2
Planned For You — Romans 8:28; Genesis 37:1-11; Genesis 45:4-15
THE QUESTION
Why am I in this family?
THE POINT
God is working out His purposes through your family circumstances.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
What do you think is God’s plan for our family?
What do you think is God’s plan for you within our family?
How has God used difficult situations within our family for good?
Is there such a thing as a perfect family? Why or why not?
What are some difficult situations we have faced as a family in the last year?
How have you been able to see God working through those situations?
How have you seen God bring restoration within our family?
What relationship within our family do you feel you need God’s help with right now?

Session 3
Your Responsibility — Ephesians 6:1-4; Exodus 20:12; Genesis 4:1-10
THE QUESTION
What are my responsibilities to my family?
THE POINT
God calls us to honor and respect family members.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
As a teenager, why is it important for you to obey your parents?
What does it mean to honor your parents?
When do you stop obeying your parents?
Is there ever a time in life when you stop honoring your parents?
What do you think the Bible means when it says you will live long if you obey your parents?
Why is it important to show respect to other family members?
What does it mean to you to show respect?
What are some ways you can show respect to family members?
In what ways can we show respect on a daily basis to our family members?

Session 4
Choices Matter — 1 Samuel 2:12,22-25,31-36; 2 Timothy 1:3-9
THE QUESTION
Do my choices affect my family?
THE POINT
Your decisions have lasting impact.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
How could the choices you make affect our family?
What are some choices you have made that had the opposite affect on our family than what you thought they would? What happened?
What are some choices that we make as a family that could have a negative impact on our family?
What are some choices that we make as a family that could that have a positive impact on our family?
What do you think we could do to help us make good choices so that our family is affected in a positive way?
What are some of the choices we have made as a family that have had a positive impact in your life?

From Living with Teenagers
Healthy Families
The strength of the home will not exceed the strength of the primary caregivers in the home. When faith is not rooted firmly and deeply in the home, the enemy is winning the battle to keep us away from God. We must re-establish the home as the primary place where faith is nurtured because God’s idea for passing faith to the next generation is through the family.

As parents, we are role models whether we like it or not and our faith is caught more than it is taught. So how do we strengthen our home in a way that has a positive influence on our children?

This is a preview of the full article available in the November 2009 issue of Living with Teenagers magazine.

Living with Teenagers is a monthly magazine designed to provide relevant information, practical ideas, and biblical encouragement to parents of teenagers. Go to www.lifeway.com/magazines and click on the Living with Teenagers link under "Parenting.”

KNOWN SS Parent Discussion Guide- Oct 09

More Than A Feeling
A Study on Joy

A Guide for Parents

Note: There is a free KNOWN Parent Podcast available at www.lifeway.com/known—just follow the podcast link. You can subscribe to the podcast for free or just listen online.

Use the following information and questions to reinforce the truths of this month of Bible study at home. Use one or two of the discussion starters to begin a conversation. Look for teachable moments—at home, in the car, or at a game. Pray and ask God to provide you opportunities to have spiritual conversations with your teenager(s).

Session 1
Got Joy? — Proverbs 14:13; 1 Peter 1:3-9; Galatians 5:22-23
THE QUESTION
What is joy?
THE POINT
Real joy is more than just a happy feeling.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
What in life brings you happiness?
What in life brings you joy?
How would you describe the difference between joy and happiness?
On what do you think joy is based? Explain.
How is real joy found in Christ?
Why can it only be found in Him?
What did Paul mean when he said that we are given joy as the fruit of the Spirit?
What does (or should) joy look like in our lives as a part of our character as a believer?

Session 2
Joy and Contentment — Philippians 4;10-20
THE QUESTION
What is the relationship between joy and contentment?
THE POINT
You can be joyful and content when you completely depend on Christ.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
What does it mean to be content? Are you content?
In what ways can we experience joy as a result of being content?
Why can’t we be happy and content?
On what kinds of things do many people base being content?
On what do you base being content in your own life?
What circumstances in your life this past week caused you not to be content?
How are joy and contentment found in the power that only Christ can give?
Why is it important to know and realize that real joy and contentment can only be found in God’s provision for our lives and not just from the provision of man?

Session 3
Joy In Tough Times — James 1:2-4
THE QUESTION
How can I be joyful when times are tough?
THE POINT
Difficulties are opportunities for spiritual growth.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
What trials have you recently faced/are facing?
What was your attitude like when you were facing those trials?
Was joy even a possibility for you to consider as you faced them? Why or why not?
Why are trials inevitable in life?
What benefit can trials bring in your life?
Looking back at the last trial you faced, in what ways did you grow as a result of it?
While you were going through the trial, how was God strengthening you?
What encouragement could you share with a friend who is going through a trial today?

Session 4
Take A Look Around — Romans 5:11; Proverbs 17:22; Psalm 118:24
THE QUESTION
Why should I be joyful?
THE POINT
God has been so good to us.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
In what ways has God been good to you this week?
About what can you be joyful in your life?
How joyful are you about the salvation that you have in Christ?
How is being joyful beneficial to your own health? Why?
Since everyday is a new day and opportunity for God to bring opportunities for joy, what have you discovered that is joyful today?
Have you taken the time to share the joy of the Lord with anybody today? This week? If so, in what way? If not, why not?

From Living with Teenagers

Joy in the Journey
None of us are being asked to sacrifice our children as burnt offerings, but Abraham’s story from Genesis 22 may not be as foreign as we think. We entered parenthood on an emotional high, unable to express the awesome realization that life will never be the same and the firm conviction that we’re good with that.

But before we know it, the journey takes a twist. Our heads know it’s coming, but our hearts put it off. We have to let them go. It’s not walking up a mountain, but the pain and confusion can be just as profound. It’s a sacrifice, and the joy that had been a regular companion on this journey seems more like a distant relative.

This is a preview of the full article available in the October 2009 issue of Living with Teenagers magazine.

Living with Teenagers is a monthly magazine designed to provide relevant information, practical ideas, and biblical encouragement to parents of teenagers. Go to www.lifeway.com/magazines and click on the Living with Teenagers link under "Parenting.”

KNOWN SS Parent Discussion Guide- Sept 2009

Do You Know This Man?
A Study on Jesus Christ

A Guide for Parents

Note: There is a free KNOWN Parent Podcast available at www.lifeway.com/known—just follow the podcast link. You can subscribe to the podcast for free or just listen online.

Use the following information and questions to reinforce the truths of this month of Bible study at home. Use one or two of the discussion starters to begin a conversation. Look for teachable moments—at home, in the car, or at a game. Pray and ask God to provide you opportunities to have spiritual conversations with your teenager(s).

Session 1
The Visible God — Colossians 1:15-20
THE QUESTION
Who is Jesus?
THE POINT
Jesus is God in the flesh.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
In what ways do you see God?
How is Jesus the image of the invisible God?
What is your understanding of how Jesus is God?
What role did Jesus play in creation?
What does it mean to you that Jesus is the Creator?
What does it mean for Jesus to be Lord?
How is His role as Lord different from that as Savior?
What does it mean for Jesus to be head of the body of Christ, the church?

Session 2
The Caring God — Mark 2:1-12
THE QUESTION
What did Jesus do while on earth?
THE POINT
Jesus showed us the heart of God.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
Why did Jesus love teaching the people?
What did He teach them?
What has Jesus taught you?
What is Jesus teaching you these days?
Why did the crowds gather each time Jesus taught them?
What was so important about Jesus healing the sick?
Why did Jesus get so much criticism for healing people?
Do you think Jesus was being rebellious against the laws of the day? Why or why not?
In what ways did Jesus challenge the way the people thought?
What are some teachings today that are challenged by Christ’s teachings in the Bible/

Session 3
The Saving God — Matthew 26:36-46; John 10:14-18; Colossians 1:21-22
THE QUESTION
Why did Jesus have to die?
THE POINT
Jesus died to reconcile us to God.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
Based on what you know or have been taught, why did Jesus have to die?
Why was Jesus so obedient in doing His Father’s will?
What was God the Father thinking in this process of sending His own Son to die?
Did Jesus have a choice in the matter? Explain.
Why did He choose to die for us—for you?
Why were we in need of a Savior?
Why couldn’t we just reconcile our relationship with God ourselves?

Session 4
The Living God — 1 Corinthians 15:12-23
THE QUESTION
What does Jesus’ resurrection mean for me?
THE POINT
Jesus defeated death to give us purpose and hope.

DISCUSSION STARTERS
What does the resurrection of Jesus mean to you?
What does His resurrection provide to you?
How does it give you purpose?
How does it give you hope?
Why is there no purpose or hope without the resurrection of Jesus?
What does the resurrection of Jesus guarantee us? Why?

From Living with Teenagers

What to Know About Jesus
“I am an historian, I am not a believer,” English author and teacher H.G. Wells once wrote, “but I must confess as a historian that this penniless preacher from Nazareth is irrevocably the very center of history.”

Fellow historian Kenneth Scott Latourette agreed with Wells’ assessment: “As the centuries pass, the evidence is accumulating that, measured by his effect on history, Jesus is the most influential life ever lived on this planet.”

Those words can stir the hearts of believers. But the challenge for parents comes in helping teens understand not just the influence of Jesus, but also the power of Jesus. That challenge begins with us because we can’t pass on what we don’t personally embrace. What do we need to know about Jesus? Here are four key truths.

This is a preview of the full article available in the September 2009 issue of Living with Teenagers magazine.

Living with Teenagers is a monthly magazine designed to provide relevant information, practical ideas, and biblical encouragement to parents of teenagers. Go to www.lifeway.com/magazines and click on the Living with Teenagers link under "Parenting.”

Wednesday, August 12, 2009

First Day of School for Romans 12 Academy

It's official! On this day, August 12, 2009, Romans 12 Academy has officially begun! This marks a new day in the life of our family. Julie has been preparing over the past several weeks for this day as we have decided to home school Alex(5th grade), Jonathan(3rd grade), and Caroline(1st grade). We awoke this morning to the smell of breakfast casserole! Alex said the blessing over the food and Jonathan and Caroline helped to set the table. At the table we talked about the irony of Romans 12 Academy and starting on Aug 12th! We didn't plan it that way but God worked it out. God works all things together for those who love him. As we finished breakfast and I left for the church, I prayed a prayer of blessing over the school and the start of a new school year.

As we begin down this road, our goal is to provide the very best Christian education that we can for our children. We believe that the Lord has led us in this direction and that he will see us through to completion. As in Romans 12, we believe that we are called to be transformed by the renewing of our minds...that is the work of the Holy Spirit in our lives daily. Through this process, we will know what God's will is and we will seek to please him by doing what he calls us to do.

Our children may not understand this right now but as we train them they will! We know that this journey will have it's own set of challenges but that's ok...we are expecting God to work in a powerful way this year! So pray for us as we answer the call of God to lead our family in this direction.