Updates from Community Ministries
Sis’s Story - Shannon
Hello from Sisak. We have spent 3
days in both of the libraries. Day 1 was Rachel talking about “Sweet 16” and
prom. Day 2, Heidi spoke about housing. Day 3, Haley spoke about US landmarks.
The turnout has been INCREDIBLE. The city library in Sisak has averaged about
50 kids every day. That is DOUBLE what we had last year. The attendance at the
suburb library has been about 20 everyday. That is also an increase. We had
planned crafts for 60 kids but God provided abundantly. When I was unpacking
the craft supplies I realized I had packed more beads and crafts than we first
thought was necessary and as always God knew better!
Monday we did scratch art
at the city library and beaded necklaces at the suburb library. Tuesday we
decorated picture frames at the city library and Blake taught the kids how to
do Rainbow Loom Bracelets at the suburb library. Today, Wednesday, Haley taught
the kids about US landmarks and we had planned to make travel journals so the
kids could write about which landmark they would like to visit. I was hoping to
have enough journals for both libraries and I am sure it won’t come as a
surprise when I say….WE HAD 2 LEFT OVER!! God provided exactly what we needed.
I am so thankful for that! God always provides for our every need. The God that
created the universe even cares about travel journals. AMEN! Tomorrow, Robert
and I will be talking about transportation and making foam airplanes. We have
90 of those…can’t wait to see those fly around the libraries! Friday we will be
celebrating 4th of July with Marde and a talk about US Holidays and
afterwards, we will make USA necklaces. Please keep the rest of our program in
your prayers. I guess we will plan for 100 next year! It has been a blessing to
spend time with the librarians as well!
Tuesday we visited the SOS Village
(orphanage). We played football, baseball and soccer outside with the kids and
inside, we made parachute cord bracelets.
They were a huge hit! Once the kids caught on, they couldn’t stop making
bracelets. When the kids outside playing saw them, they ran inside to make one
for themselves. This was so much fun. I have never had 2 hours pass by so
quickly. We had to shut it down with the promise to bring the supplies back on
Thursday. Tomorrow, July 3, we will be back at the SOS Village from 9-11. We
will play games, make parachute cord bracelets and Blake will teach rainbow
loom again. Everyone is so blessed by this ministry. There never seems to be
enough time but we are grateful for the time we can spend there. Our hearts are
always touched by the kids and their stories. Jake fell in love with a football
playing 8 year old girl named Christina. It is difficult for us knowing these
children don’t have much of a chance to be adopted but we love the time we have
to spend with them and shower them with God’s love!
Thank you so much for your prayers.
We couldn’t get by without them.
Love from Sisak,
Sis (a.k.a. Shannon)
July 5, 2014
The rest of the library program and
the last visit to the orphanage were AWESOME. July 3, Robert and I spoke about
transportation. I talked about how we get our driver’s license in the US and
Robert talked about the different kind of cars and vehicles that we use. The
kids loved the pictures of the art cars. We made foam airplanes. They didn’t
fly very well but we had a great time making them. We had about 70 kids attend
both programs.
On July 3 we also had the opportunity to visit the orphanage
again. This is always so special to us. We are drawn to those kids. Blake
showed the kids how to make rainbow loom bracelets and we made more parachute
cord bracelets. All total I think we made about 125 parachute cord bracelets.
Some of our team played sports outside with the kids. Praise God, we have been
invited back for next year. We had to promise the kids that we would bring back
more parachute cord! Blake did a great job! This ministry is very special to us
and it is always hard leaving the kids.
July 4th was the last day of
the library program. Marde spoke about US holiday. Fitting as is was the 4th
of July. We made USA necklaces with the kids. Both libraries touched our heart
as they both surprised us with a 4th of July surprise. The city
library held up paper that spelled out Happy 4th of July as
fireworks and music played on the screen behind them. They all yelled “thank you
for everything and happy 4th of July” when we walked in the door. It
was SO COOL!! The suburb library bought watermelon and stuck sparklers in it. I
was very moved by both libraries thoughtfulness in celebrating the 4th
of July with us and for us.
God is growing this ministry and I look forward to
next year! Everyone on the team did a fabulous job preparing and presenting
their topics. I appreciate each one of them! Every day we saw God working
through these opportunities. We saw HIM provide for our every need and even
multiply crafts when we didn’t think we would have enough. No detail escapes
His attention. We have formed friendships with the kids and librarians that are
just so precious. Every laugh, smile, handshake, hug and conversation just
fills my heart with gratitude and joy in knowing that God is working here and
through us. God is forming friendships that no one else could have brought
together. Friends that love so deeply that the distance of 6000 miles and 365
days cannot break the bond that HE has formed. When you haven’t seen someone in
a year and they hug you so tightly that you can feel it in your soul, you KNOW
that only God could do that!! My friendships that I have made here have forever
changed me. When I am back in Texas and I think about the incredible people I
have met here and I am fortunate enough to call friend, the thoughts consume
me. Not a day goes by that I don’t think of someone in Croatia. Words just
don’t seem to do justice to the gratitude that I have that God would choose to
bring me here and fill my life and heart this way! So, thank you for your
financial support that sends us here, your prayer support that keeps us here
and your friendships that mean the world to us.
In HiS name,
Sis
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