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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