tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-88977198844868780722024-03-13T20:04:46.123-07:00Love Like CrazyMari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.comBlogger270125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-69585137350879530162016-03-11T07:27:00.001-08:002016-03-11T07:27:09.186-08:00Lives of El Salvador: GiovanniNew blog post up today over at the <a href="https://marimarks.wordpress.com/">new site</a>. Please <a href="https://marimarks.wordpress.com/2016/03/11/lives-of-el-salvador-giovanni/">click over here and meet an incredible man</a> with an amazing story. And please subscribe over at the new blog by email so that you don't miss anything!<br />
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Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-16797064753316663032016-02-27T08:07:00.001-08:002016-02-27T08:07:26.168-08:00New Blog, New PostNew blog post over at the new site: www.marimarks.wordpress.com<br />
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Please go visit and subscribe with your email over there, or I will miss you all!</div>
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Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-68411601153585860402016-02-24T05:02:00.002-08:002016-02-24T05:03:15.930-08:00I'm in the process of moving over to a new, more professional website. I am starting on a new blog series called <a href="https://marimarks.wordpress.com/2016/02/24/power-of-story/">"Lives of El Salvador."</a> Same blog, same posts, new look.<br />
www.marimarks.wordpress.com <br />
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Please click over and subscribe to the new page so you don't miss a single thing!<br />
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<b><i>photo credit: Loren Noyes</i></b></div>
Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-33370294862907245692016-02-12T15:57:00.000-08:002016-02-12T16:01:58.096-08:00Start AgainWhen I moved to El Salvador I really thought I was going to be writing ALL the time. I had big huge aspirations of writing beautiful words, accompanied by fabulous meaningful photos, that would make you feel all the things.....Life just doesn't quite happen like you think it might. For me, writing got pushed to the corner. I have a lot of reasons for stopping, but a good friend I've had since the 7th grade, told me to just write. It can be scary and overwhelming, but that's not a reason to stop.<br />
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I just looked at my last post date and it was in October y'all. So it got me to thinking about this little old blog of mine. Its gone through quite an evolution. I started out "journaling" and keeping long distance friends and family up to date with my babies. </div>
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Then I went through a phase of recipe blogging. Included in this was party planning ideas for families on a budget, and how to make special traditions and memories. I am not kidding you when I tell you I have a draft sitting in my bank of writing, solely devoted to 90's music. Boys II Men, Mariah Carey, girl bands and boys bands. </div>
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Soon after this I became involved in Adoption and Orphan advocacy. Fundraising for friends' adoptions and starting orphan and foster care ministry at my church became a focus and I started attending seminars, holding planning meetings and going to the Christian Alliance for Orphans Summit every year. (Really going to miss going to Orlando this year!) I met so many incredible people and made great connections. </div>
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As my writing drifted away from my family and more towards social justice, I began to creep towards a journey that would forever change me too. An enormous life change happened and we moved to El Salvador. We worked with the local church on sharing Jesus, and community development to combat that severe poverty, gangs and lack of hope. Writing was pushed aside for a number of complicated reasons. This brings us to today. </div>
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As you can see, if you have stuck with me through all of that time, I've added ring, upon ring, upon ring to my tree of life. And I'm not even done yet. God is not done with me yet. I'm working on adding another ring, that is big and bad and scary.... and essential.<br />
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I'm really hoping to resurrect this blog, but for me that involves fear. And insecurity. Why would people care about what I have to say? What do I even have to say? For a writer, its kind of like putting a piece of art in a museum that no one stops to look at. Then I saw this quote from F. Scott Fitzgerald on Pinterest:<br />
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And my favorite fan is my Grandpa, so I know he will continue down this path with me. What else could I possibly need? Plus <a href="http://www.juliermasson.com/">Julie</a> says to go for it :)</div>
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<b><i>So I invite you to come along, be encouraged, learn something new, meet new people, feel new things, and as always, to Love Like Crazy.</i></b></div>
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Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-26324979233583526442015-10-07T11:33:00.000-07:002015-10-07T11:52:07.293-07:00First Trip Home. Home?When I was a kid, my family moved all over the place. I was born and lived my first 11 years in Oregon. All my family is there, minus my sisters. So every Summer we would take a trip back to visit family, camp, see the beach etc. I so vividly remember being missed and loved by my clan. In their love, adoration and eagerness, they would often repeat, "When are you moving back?" "We miss you so much!" "Tell mom and dad you want to come home." Huh..... home.... Oh my, they were so sweet and loving, and I understand completely the heart behind the questions. <br />
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For no fault on their part, my brothers and sisters and I would feel wracked with guilt. Guilt that through no fault of our own, we had made Grandma and Grandpa sad. Guilt that... we <i>liked</i> it where we lived. We had school, friends, memories, youth groups, it was home. I was absolutely jealous and still am, that my cousins can go see my precious grandparents whenever they want. I love and adore my grandparents, aunts, uncles, cousins. I'm TOTALLY jealous. But I've lived away for 20 years. Home is a tricky thing, and for us amidst the joy at returning was pain and guilt that we were gone in the first place. </div>
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So when Alex and I moved overseas with our four kids, I knew exactly what they were going through, minus the language barrier. The concept of home is difficult for kids who have been transplanted. I think it is exceptionally difficult for a third culture kid. Moving to another country with missionary parents, presents extra challenges. When we first moved a lot of their statements began with: "Remember at home...." "At home this is....." "In our house..." "I want to go home because...." But now, those statements are directed towards our El Salvador home. </div>
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Now, almost 2 years in we are preparing them for their first trip "home" tomorrow. These are not the same kids in their souls, that we brought down here. Two years taller, two years wiser, two years with other people, in another home. Every one of them considers this place home. They love their school, their friends, their people. They even love our tiny home. More and more they are speaking the language, they are familiar will all of the roads, the routine, the places and the change in lifestyle. They are adjusted to tropical climate, so much so that when its 72 degrees in a restaurant, we are shivering. </div>
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Alex and I were talking yesterday and decided that missionary years are like dog years. You know, how if a dog is 1 he is really 7? We think missionary years are a 1:10 ratio. So for those missionaries out there who have been at it for 15-20 years!! Holy mackerel, we stand in awe. Its definitely been a missionary 2 years for our kids we think. They are such different little people. And not so little anymore. And right now this is their home. Its familiar, and comfortable, and they love it. It feels like 20 years to us.</div>
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Yesterday, my most sensitive child, was getting teary. She came to me and told her that she is feeling sad that she is leaving. I was shocked, because a few months ago, she was REALLY missing the U.S. But she has come to love her teacher at school, her classmates and it is for sure reciprocated. Apparently her teacher started to cry because she is going to miss Addison so much. We will only be gone 3 weeks and her teacher knows this, but that's how it is. She just feels so caught between two worlds.</div>
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I know that my kids are overcome with excitement right now to go back to the U.S. We all cannot wait to be able to flush our toilet paper. Donovan said the first thing he is going to do is drink water out of the kitchen sink at Grandpa's. I am going to eat all of the pumpkin things. And all of the apple, cinnamon Autumn goodness. All of it. And consequently, also do a lot of running in the cool, not sweaty weather. Oh my goodness, the family and friend time we are about to have!!! </div>
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But they are going to struggle, I know its coming because I know their hearts like I know my own. Or rather, I know their hearts, like Alex knows mine. So much is different. They are different. The people there are different. Everyone's lives kept on steadily moving forward. Some things will be the same, and somethings never will be. Some places will feel familiar, yet strange all at the same time. Maybe they will feel guilty that they are so happy to be back, maybe they will be sad, maybe they will just be joyful. I don't know. Home is a tricky thing. </div>
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So if you ever come across a third culture kid, here is what you can do to help their hearts. I know you love and miss them, we {missionaries} feel exactly the same about you. But please do not use these phrases:</div>
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"Do you like it better here?"</div>
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"Do you miss living here?" ---this one causes inside guilty feelings when the answer is very complicated in their hearts</div>
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"When are you coming back for good?" </div>
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"Do you want to move home?"</div>
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We are so so so so so stinking excited to have the opportunity to come back. Some very, very, very kind people made this possible for us, and we are over the moon excited. We have missed our other home so much. Being in our country of birth and language is going to be so comfortable and easy. Familiar. Words cannot even express how I am longing to hear the word of God taught in my own language. And I am so sorry if you are sitting next to me during Worship, because I will probably be sobbing at the ability to do so in my own tongue! I am going to have to buy waterproof mascara. </div>
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To sit and have deep heart to hearts, in our language, with our friends and family is something that I am desperately anxious to do. I have missed my friends so much, like an ache down deep in the bones. To laugh uncontrollably and just <i><b>be </b></i>with you all is such an incredible gift. {Yes I'm talking about you Tim Gamble}. And I'm not going to lie. I am totally going to Target and buying a suitcase full of Multigrain Cheerios!!!!!!!!!</div>
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One more day!</div>
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Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-23486529569315734932015-08-21T06:32:00.001-07:002015-08-21T06:32:23.073-07:00all things working together....<blockquote style="-webkit-text-size-adjust: auto; font-family: UICTFontTextStyleBody; font-size: 17px;" type="cite">
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<span lang="EN-US">I was thinking about the story of the Samaritan woman at the well today. When Jesus encountered her, he did two things that were frowned upon. He spoke to a woman, when it was not appropriate to converse with a woman, and she was Samaritan. But Jesus had something that she needed more than the water. So he defied culture and spoke to offer her eternal, satisfying, living water. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">Last week we had a similar experience. A family of one of the nutrition center kids, had their home burn to the ground. This family could be likened to the Samaritan woman. The mother lives in an area, and is in relationship with people that most others here would not have gone out of their way to help. But she came to the church knowing that the pastors here would be open to her need. While she waited for the pastors we were able to see to the immediate needs of her baby girl and young son. We gave them all peanut butter sandwiches, drinks and made a makeshift bathtub for the baby to get the ash and dirt wiped away. Alex ran to the store to buy a baby bottle, diapers and wipes. Because of the great plan of God, we already had in stock baby formula, shampoo, clothing and food. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">She came for water, but she received so much more. Pastor Giovanni went to the house to access the situation and while he was there, he lovingly brought up to her, the need for something far more lasting than another home. As they stood examining the destruction, he shared with her about Jesus. And as she cried there, with literally nothing left in the world, she prayed and KNEW Jesus that day. She will yet have needs in this world, but “The water that I will give him will become in him a spring of water welling up to eternal life.”</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">That same day we were able to send them home our last beds that we had in store. Seven months ago, when churches raised money for beds, for unknown persons, who deserved the dignity of a bed, God knew. When women from a church in the U.S. requested specific needs 3 months earlier, and then purchased hundreds of dollars of baby formula, God knew. In December, when this woman came looking for a place for her son to go, to be fed and be safe during the day, God knew. When a school in Ohio did a clothing drive, and clothes arrived a month ago, God knew.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">For the last 18 months, Alex and I have had moment after moment where God has taught us that he does in fact have a plan in mind for us being here. To be very honest, there are very human moments when we wonder about our job or our presence here. There are connections that we have “coincidentally” made, or times when a project we have been working on, comes to fruition months later. To give you another example of God working His plan, I can tell you about two weeks ago when we had a dentist here. But I need to start at the beginning. When we first arrived here we made a connection with the USA Navy. That first squadron we worked with brought us two old dental chairs…. And we always take what we receive and hope that someday down the line we can use it. Six months later a World Race team arrived. One of the men on the team, has a dad who is a dentist. So we skyped with him to find out if the chairs were usable. This man, had been going on dental missions to Costa Rica for many years, and was just at that time praying about ways God could use him more. He said the chair would work for someone, some day. So we held on to it. This World Race member, months later after traveling in 11 countries, was led to stay involved here in El Salvador. So he spoke with his dad about coming back with him. A plan was set in place, and it was decided that just basic exams would happen, because getting all the necessary dental equipment to do procedures and cleanings into the country would be very complicated. The very first morning, Dr. Morgan explained to Pastor Ivo that he would not be able to do any kind of extractions because he didn’t have a suction machine. Our nutrition center kids were badly in need of extractions! Pastor Ivo declares “I have a suction machine!!” and runs from the room to one of the storage closets and pulls out a box with a perfectly clean and functioning suction machine!! We are still really unclear, how or why Ivo came to be in possession of it… But God knew. Ivo had had it for years. It survived all of the various cleanings and purges that occur in any home or church. And Dr. Morgan was able to pull many, many decaying, painful teeth that week. Oh, and he just so happened to pack anesthesia injections, knowing full well that he likely wouldn’t use them… but brought them just in case. And boy did he use them! Five seemingly random events, over the course of years, brought us to a point where we were able to minister to the physical needs of close to a hundred people. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">He came the week before the family’s house burned down. And because the woman had been in to see the dentist, I was able to chat with her and get to know her. The following week, when her world crashed down around her, she came to us. I was able to give her a hug, to comfort her and let her cry. She came to us, because she knew at this church, people cared.</span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">As Alex and I were thinking and pondering over every minute detail that all played into each other, we continued to trace back how many different people had been involved, completely oblivious, to what would all unfold. The mysterious suction machine, the chairs, the Navy, the World Race team, dentist with mission experience, the bed project, churches donating beds, baby formula, clothing donations, Giovanni being laid off last year and coming to work as a pastor… the list just got longer and longer. Until finally, our thoughts landed on you all. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">When Alex and I dismantled our life and moved our here, we did so with the blessing and prayers of many people. You may not have known what your prayer support and financial support would lead to, but God knew. Over the last 18 months, God had used our ability to speak English and make connections, carpentry projects etc. to fulfill his plans. And we could not be here to fulfill those plans without our financial supporters. I can tell you pretty certainly that there are very few missionaries in the world who enjoy raising support money. It’s a difficult thing to humble ourselves and to ask others to make sacrifices, so that we can be in other parts of the world doing Matthew 28. But what we have to come to realize is that God is using you too. When you give to a missionary, are in other parts of the world too. You are fulfilling Matthew 28. And all of those “coincidences,” the puzzle pieces that come together so that one family may know Jesus Christ, you are an integral part of that too. </span></div>
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<span lang="EN-US">El Salvador is one of the most dangerous places in the world. But that is not the entire story. What you read in the news is not the daily acts of bravery, of love, kindness, Godly men and women fighting for their country. We would like to continue on, until the Holy Spirit leads us back home, but we need your help to do so. You will be a part of something that you may not fully see until some distant day in the future. But if you read Mathew 25:31-40, you may yet get a glimpse. If you would like to prayerfully consider helping us to live and work here, we would love to give you information on how to do that.</span></div>
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Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-41842479062170531802015-08-19T10:29:00.000-07:002015-08-20T08:35:44.672-07:00Missionary Kid LifeWhen we moved to El Salvador, we really had no idea what it would entail for our kids. The impact it would have on them, the sacrifices they would make, or what kind of life they would have here.<br />
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There have been many times when I have wondered if we are seriously screwing up our kids. Many days have been a little unfair. Many days they are left out because they don't speak Spanish fluently. Many times they get dragged along, to go to various places. Many experiences they are losing out on in the United States. </div>
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However, many days they have had adventures that they will remember for the rest of their lives. For all of the hard days, there have been people who have loved them, adored them, and gone out of their way to spend time with them. My little caucasian children are so well loved by the people here, and by the visitors. The most incredible thing to watch is the way the people who live here and the visitors always love them in such a genuine, heartfelt manner. No one will ever be able to convince me that the teens and young adults of this world are all selfish, difficult and self involved. Because I have witnessed so many amazing young adults who CHOOSE to serve, choose to love and choose to have fun with my kids, without being asked. </div>
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I have one kid who never wants to move away. </div>
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I have one kid who feels like they are in a lose-lose situation now, because in the U.S. are people we love and want to be near. And likewise in El Salvador there are people we love and want to be near (I did explain this is win-win). </div>
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I have one kid who thankfully still wants to be wherever Mommy is!...... okay, I think everyone knows that one is Donovan!</div>
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I have one kid who longs for their life in the US, but still says, "How are you and Daddy ever supposed to stop doing this job? You can't!"</div>
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When I think of all of things, people, experiences that they have given up to go on this ride with us, what always pops into my head is, what they have gained. </div>
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There have been missions teams who make it a priority to make sure they have a wish list from my kids, so that they can pack an extra suitcase for them! And holy smokes have they been spoiled with favorite snacks from home. I could have included 50 more pictures, of people we adore right back. </div>
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So I just want to send out a gigantic thank you!! Its hard to be an MK. Really hard. So thank you, to all of the people who have loved on, cared about, laughed with, wrestled, tickled, sang with, made them a priority, sent a care package and hugged them. You have helped to make a very different life, more Okay-ish and even wonderful!</div>
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Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-55906411623889783242015-06-26T20:19:00.000-07:002015-06-26T20:20:04.579-07:00Esperanza Sewing Project Update and the Best Tuesday EverIf you walked into the sewing room at Iglesia Gran Commission last week, you might have seen fabric strewn about.<br />
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You would have noted the threads on the ground interspersed with discarded scraps of fabric.<br />
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You definitely would have seen chairs askew, scissors misplaced and bolts of fabric on the cutting table, not nicely folded. <br />
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But let me tell you a little bit about what I saw (before I cleaned it up).<br />
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I see opportunity. I see the chairs where Gaby, Kimberly and Leslie worked so hard to make extra scarves and some special orders two days last week. I see where Sylvia was sitting, smiling and sewing with precision.<br />
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I see all of the donated machines, and the donated fabric, buttons, thread and so much more.... that makes me smile so huge.<br />
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Once in a while, I get to be a part of something so completely amazing.<br />
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Last January, I told you about an idea... to find our girls in La Libertad a way to go to the University someday. </div>
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In less than 48 hours you fully funded our Sewing School. </div>
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In March, 6 girls earned 1 month of tuition each by sewing infinity scarves and selling them to a church women's ministry in Toledo, Ohio. </div>
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In June, they sold more scarves to visiting short term missions teams. I haven't done the math yet, but it was about 20 more scarves. </div>
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In September they have an opportunity to fill an order for another church in the U.S. </div>
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Last week I shared with them what had been put into the account for them, and their jaws dropped. And oh the smiles and looks of increduality!!!!!!!!!!!!!!</div>
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Because of your generosity, a local woman and member of our church is earning a little bit of money to teach our girls important sewing skills. </div>
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But Tuesday was one of the very best days ever in ministry. All along, the idea has not just been for the girls of our Development Center to be able to go to college, but also to minister to the women in our community as well. </div>
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Tuesday I invited a woman I know, to come in and learn to sew bed sheets for the bed donation ministry. In a nutshell, people from anywhere, can donate the funds for a bed. In that bed donation is the money for the materials to build a cedar bed, a mattress, pillow, sheets, small stipend to a local we trained to make the beds, and a small stipend to someone we train to sew the sheets. </div>
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Yes, we could go to a store in San Salvador and buy sheets and pillow cases. We could also buy a bed. But we want to help more people than just the bed recipient. We want to hire three people in the process :) </div>
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So Tuesday arrives, I have a game plan. I made a list of words I would need to know to teach her sewing skills. (p.s. Senora Clifford of year 4 Spanish... my education in did NOT include sewing terms, you might want to consider adding it to the curriculum). </div>
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I am all prepared to teach her basics and maybe get to the fabric later on in the afternoon. She comes in, and after I briefly introduce her to our machine, I take her over to the cutting table to show how I cut, and pin the fabric. </div>
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She asks me if the pinning process is really necessary. I say yes. </div>
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She asks for a scrap of fabric to try out the machine. I say yes. </div>
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She expertly folds and doubles the fabric to create a beautiful hem..... as she guides it through the machine.</div>
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I think "so when you say you've sewn a little in the past, what you really meant was I'm an expert seamstress and I'm about to knock your socks off."</div>
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So I worked on some fabric cutting, and she commenced sewing.... for 5 hours. I forced her to take a break for lunch. By the end of the time she had sewn 9 sheets and 7 pillow cases. </div>
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In one day at her regular job, she makes $7/day. For 12 hours of work. In 5 hours of sewing, and because we pay per item, she earned $45. And she was proud. I oooohhhhed and awwwwedddd and gushed over her meticulous work and then I took her to Pastor Giovanni to tell him, and gushed to him about her. </div>
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I cannot even begin to tell you all of the feelings about seeing her face and her pride in her work that day. </div>
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When you sponsor a child here, or you sponsor a bed, you are not just feeding a child. You are not just putting a person into a bed off a floor. Those 2 things alone are HUGE!!! But you are also creating opportunity for God to do abundantly more with your sacrificial gift. Having a child in our program means them learning skills to help them earn a college education. Having a bed donation means hiring 3 local people who desperately need a good, fair job. That is what your gift does. That is what God accepts and stretches and grows, and molds into His ultimate plan. </div>
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And as Alex would say "How the hickity heck do we beat that?!"</div>
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Oh, and that incredible woman who will return Saturday to do more fulfilling, well paid work? Her sweet daughters received beds last week! So there is that too :) </div>
Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-58197460467922707082015-05-08T18:48:00.002-07:002015-05-08T18:48:56.627-07:00Its ComplicatedHello to you from El Salvador! I didn't realize when we moved, that I would write less.... I guess what I didn't factor in was going from being a stay at home mom/wife, to being a part time employee and full time teacher (homeschool), in addition to still being a wife and mom.<br />
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I've had a lot of people ask me recently how we are doing. How are the kids doing? How is it living in another country for almost 18 months now? Are you coming back? Are you staying? Do you miss the United States? </div>
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I don't know that I can ever fully answer these questions. It is nearly impossible to help you understand all the feelings involved in all those questions. </div>
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If I say I miss the United States, that implies that we don't also love it here. </div>
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If I say that it is difficult to live here, that implies that it is easy in the United States. </div>
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If I say the kids are very happy, that doesn't explain just how very complicated it is for their little hearts. </div>
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We were recently having a family meeting to discuss how everyone is doing. And my little Addison put into words what no one else could. It was incredible to me that she could analyze her feelings so succinctly. </div>
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"No matter where we live now, I'm going to be sad. If I live in the U.S. I'm going to be sad for missing our friends here. If we live here, I'm going to miss my friends and family in the U.S." </div>
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We are of course going to try and help her see that it is a win/win, not a lose/lose. For to be loved in multiple countries is a great thing, and not a sad thing. But how do we do that, when we often feel the same way as her???</div>
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Here is truth. This isn't an exotic vacation. Its the tropics, and its beautiful, but its hard. Glennon of Momastery uses the word "brutiful." That's what this is. Beautiful and brutal. </div>
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We live every day with the hearts, histories, tragedies and triumphs of people in our hearts and minds. Some things are hard to let go of. So we try to let God be the God of those hard things. Because who can live with all of that in our heads all the time? And at the same time, we desire to have them let us into their hearts and minds, to be able to bear part of their burden for them. To know that someone cares. </div>
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Some days it is as simple as wishing I could just go into Target and find what I need at a reasonable price. Or waking up and thinking, wouldn't some nice, cool, Ohio, Autumn weather be nice right now???? Or wouldn't it be nice not to sweat today?? Or, how amazing would it be to hug my nieces and nephews and have coffee with my grandma today? I cannot even speak of being in the same room with my siblings and my parents without tears. Or holy Moses what is with these enormous beetles all over our door???!!!! Tarantulas.... there are no words. Don't even get me started on bike rides and libraries with millions of books!! And pretty puhleeeeezzzeee stop posting pictures of your Disney World trip on Facebook! (just kidding we are happy for you and not the least bit jealous... a little). Oh Bath and Body Works how I miss you and your coupons, (I never had a shoe or purse vice, I had B&BW). And then there is imagining watching Donovan in Little League, or Addison in dance recitals.</div>
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As you see, its complicated. Feeling many things, at the same time. Ha! That all just spilled out suddenly :) The thing is we live here. This is life right now. So to answer your questions:</div>
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The answer, as much as we can figure, is to find the joy. If this is a short season, or a long season of living here then we find the joy. The joy in today. </div>
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*I can think of our friends. I visited one of my closest friends last night. Just for a bit. She is a gift to me, and her husband is a gift to Alex. Two people that in 13 years of our marriage, we feel closer to, than almost any other people. I love her baby, and she loves my kids, without reservation. I said three times that we had to go home to bed, and she told me 3 times not to say that again and stay. So to have that in our lives..... </div>
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*The puppy that has been a healing balm for my little girl who struggled with this more than the rest. </div>
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*The daily sunshine. </div>
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*The little boy I gave birth to who is the most hysterical person I've ever met. His facial expressions, booty dances, taunting sisters with nakedness, laughter, schemes, hummed theme songs, teasing his dad, the way he says so many words fantastically wrong... the list goes on and on. Joy.</div>
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*Last night it was in the car, "Mom, I have a lot of 'uhspicion' that Layla is going to try and scare me while I'm sleeping tonight."</div>
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*When I miss church due to a migraine and I receive 10 texts from people wondering where I was. </div>
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*Pupusas</div>
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*Avocados 6 for a dollar. Helloooo guacamole every day. And on a sandwich, and with rice, and with eggs... just yum. </div>
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*Fresh Papaya. </div>
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*Worshiping in Spanish, which always makes me think of Heaven where we will all worship in different languages.</div>
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*The adorable little boy Christopher, who just giggled uncontrollably in my arms as I picked him up and swung him around. </div>
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*Friends on missions team coming to serve and visit. And insist on me giving them a wish list for my family.</div>
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*The girl in our sewing program who used to be angry all the time, but now she is smiling all the time. She is incredibly proud of her sewing accomplishments, and I am even more proud of her. </div>
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*All of the beds going out to families who may be sleeping on the ground. </div>
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*Tiny little people who right this very minute are eating a plate full of healthy, delicious food!<br />
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*Hugs from tiny people who yell "Mari!!!!" when I come into the nutrition center.<br />
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So I don't have the answers. Not short ones anyway. I don't know when we are coming back. I don't even know how I feel from 1 minute to the next. But I do know about joy. </div>
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Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-45313242730586578072015-02-28T08:52:00.002-08:002015-02-28T09:10:44.168-08:00To Offer HopeI've been a little quiet on here as of late, but for good reason! A friend asked me yesterday if being a missionary was everything I had hoped it would be. Many things are. Many things are not. And I'm still working through all of the rest! How is that for vague? You just can't imagine unless you've lived it.<br />
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What I do know is the God of the Bible who promises hope and a future, will fulfill his promises. It doesn't always look like what we thought it would, our future, but there is hope. </div>
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And with that in mind, I want to share with you something so, completely, out of this world exciting. Someone once said "Fight the evil in the world, by putting more good back in." We want to help put more hope in. </div>
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Let me tell you a little bit about La Libertad, El Salvador. We serve a community of beautiful, hard working people who are trapped in a cycle of destitution. People who are generation after generation being held down economically by the gangs who control everything. </div>
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To make money, many of the people do what their parents did, what their grandparents did, and so on. Which usually means, fishing, making tortillas, cleaning fish, selling coconuts, and walking the streets selling bags of sliced mango and papaya. This is all they know to do. It is a very, very hard life. To know that no matter how many hours you work, you will never stop the hunger in your children.</div>
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So the children and the families do not place a high value on education. Many do not complete high school, and instead drop out to help work for their families. </div>
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But we have this group of children. We LOVE them. We are trying in every way we know how to keep them out of the gang's reach. The main ways we can do that are through their relationship with God. And by being God's hands, in providing that hope and a future, through their education. I'm talking about a demographic in La Libertad who will never, ever have the opportunity to go to the University. Never, ever have an opportunity to break the cycle of poverty. But what if there was a way?</div>
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It started with a little dream. And then a bunch of people dreamed it together. And then the Holy Spirit kept whispering "YES!" And then the hearts and generosity of people started moving. Then the light of hope started shining in "my" girls' eyes. </div>
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We thought, if we can sew some simple, but beautiful items, like so many organizations that have come before us, we can sell them, put the money in a trust, and our girls can go to the university...... they can go! Drawing on inspiration from Noonday Collection, Ordinary Hero, Project Tesfa, Amani and Amazima, we have begun a Girls Center at Iglesia Gran Comision!!!!!!! </div>
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Here is the plan and the goals:</div>
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*Our girls from the nutrition and development program, take a sewing class each week.</div>
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*Gradually as they learn and become more skilled, they will sew items, available for sale in El Salvador and through direct sales in the United States. </div>
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*While we are all very sweaty here, it is not in any danger of being a sweatshop. For our girls will receive ALL profits into a trust fund for their education. (profits as defined after material and energy costs). And it is completely voluntary!</div>
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*For their efforts, they will be offered a small payment from each item, to have or contribute to their families. In this way, we hope to help the families, as well as teach about saving. Think, keep 10% save 90%. </div>
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*Our girls range in age right now from 10-15 in this particular class, so they have a solid 5-10 years to save for their educations. </div>
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*Working in conjunction with the Bed-Carpentry project, they can earn money by sewing the sheets for the donated beds.</div>
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*Our long-term goal is to also invite the mothers of the children in our nutrition program. To help empower them, offer them hope, and minister to them in addition to their children. </div>
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*Ultimately, to impact as much as the women and girls as we can. Studies have shown that when a girl or a woman is educated, she will change her whole community. </div>
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I can't even begin to tell you the stories I know of abuse, and trauma and poverty.Desperation leaves the people susceptible to the gangs. So what if we can take the desperation out of the equation?!</div>
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A month ago, we quietly discussed the dream with some friends. Within 2 weeks we had 5 sewing machines donated from home churches and from friends stationed here in the U.S. Navy. </div>
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Three weeks ago, we began the sewing lessons. It is no coincidence, that already on our nutrition center staff, is a woman who studied fashion at the university. Beatriz is incredibly skilled, very loving, and has the patience of a saint as she teaches. She is generous with her time and ready to volunteer extra weekend hours to the girls and moms. God knew. </div>
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There is nothing I can say to make you care about these very real faces. If only each and everyone of you could have seen their eyes, when I explained what was going to be possible. That when I read to them from the Bible, and showed them that when Jesus said that with him all things are possible, they could actually believe it. That was a moment in time that I will never, as long as I live, forget. </div>
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Here is where you come in! Here is where the fighting evil with good happens. We need some start up funds. Our church works on a very limited bit of money. They do not have the money necessary to provide us with the initial costs of fabric, thread, and various sewing materials, shipping, etc. We have an opportunity to sell some of our Esperanza (hope) products in April at a women's conference, but we need to buy fabric to make this possible!! If you would like to be an initial donor to help get these girls off the ground, please follow this Go Fund Me link: http://www.gofundme.com/esperanzagirls</div>
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<object classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" height="338" title="Click Here to donate!" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" width="258"><param name="movie" value="//funds.gofundme.com/Widgetflex.swf" /><param name="quality" value="high" /><param name="flashvars" value="page=esperanzagirls&template=2" /><param name="wmode" value="transparent" /><embed allowScriptAccess="always" src="//funds.gofundme.com/Widgetflex.swf" quality="high" flashVars="page=esperanzagirls&template=2" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" wmode="transparent" width="258" height="338"></embed></object>Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-35772646503474309822015-01-26T14:32:00.000-08:002015-01-26T14:37:40.970-08:00Just a Snap Shot and an Oldie But (humiliating) GoldieI haven't written anything of significance in quite a while, and that might be reason for my current funk. Or it could be homeschooling four children, all of varying grades, or the fact that I willingly underwent surgery on my deviated septum in a foreign country. Or it could most definitely be linked to feeling all of the things, about the people, poverty, and country where I currently reside. I'm vowing to get back on the writing, little things, big things, funny things.<br />
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For instance, presently I feel like my 6 year old son should have a tape recorder (do those exist anymore???) in his pocket all day. Because he is the King of Random and hilarity. Like this gem, not 5 minutes ago. " Remember when Evelin was teaching us Spanish (a year ago), and said the word "Pepino?! That was sooooooo funny."<br />
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Retold as if it was the funniest moment in our family's history. He didn't appreciate the cricket chirps that followed. And whenever this happens, he does his very own<br />
"Bu dum chhhhhhh.... Bwahahahahahahahah!" About 15 times a day.<br />
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Like he's Brian Regan deserving of a drum trill. Later I will tell you his thoughts on blacksmiths.<br />
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That's not the point of all this. I don't feel like writing because Sunday will be one year here, so to say that I have a lot of feelings and thoughts is an understatement. While I figure out the state of my brain, I thought you might enjoy a repost of an old blog, to dip my toes back into writing.<br />
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It is in no way a literary masterpiece, for it was written while I was still ashamed to be amongst other talking, calm, collected, adults. So read it for what it's worth. :-)<br />
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So click on over to the <a href="http://marileemarks.blogspot.com/2011/02/meeting-ree-drummond-pioneer-woman.html#comments">most embarrassing moment</a>, when I went to Ree Drummond's book signing. When she was famous, but pre-television famous.<br />
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And for all my new friends in Columbus, please forgive the post-trauma disdain for Columbus. I didn't know there were such awesome people there. :-)Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-58852133223819063812014-12-17T21:32:00.000-08:002014-12-17T21:39:42.394-08:00Then There Was Addison<div style="text-align: center;">
I think that God knew the world would need an Addison Jane. </div>
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I think He knew that such a spirit of love, joy, compassion, with such pureness of heart would be necessary in this crazy existence.</div>
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For to know her is to hold a gift so dear. </div>
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To have her smile upon you is a treasure for always.</div>
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To experience her love is coveted by all. </div>
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And she is mine.</div>
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<span style="font-size: xx-small;"><a href="http://www.pinterest.com/search/pins/?q=shakespere&term_meta%5B%5D=shakespere%7Ctyped">(source)</a></span></div>
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And the truth is, we need her.</div>
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Because the world can be an ugly, dark place.</div>
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And she makes it all brighter. Every day.</div>
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This world better watch out, because one day this girl is going to take her precious love, and change every thing.</div>
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And we will all say, that we knew it was coming. We saw it in her eyes.</div>
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Because God knew the world would need Addison. Like He knew I needed her. </div>
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Happy 8th Birthday my sweet angel.</div>
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Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-54969334701660973222014-12-10T15:59:00.002-08:002014-12-10T15:59:54.228-08:00Seasoned Mom Top Christmas Gifts Toddler- Young KidsHey Everyone! I'm am all about buying meaningful gifts for the special people in my life. I am also about simpifying, buying less, being thankful and not litterally <i>buying</i> into the American culture of excess. Living where I live, and knowing the people I know, it is impossible not to change my mindset about how I have thought and spent my money in the past at Christmastime.<br />
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For me, I had two choices to make. One, turn a blind eye and forget the abject poverty around me. Then continue to spend in the same way. Decorations, new outfits, food, snacks, clothes, lights... the list goes on and on. I am so ashamed. All the things I thought were <b><i>necessary</i></b> for a happy Christmas... The second choice was to simplify, buy meaningful gifts, do less. And most importantly, give more. My family needs nothing materially. Nothing. </div>
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I'm not saying at all, that we are throwing the giving of Christmas gifts to our kids out entirely. But we are doing less for sure. I love blessing my kids. But it is now primary to Alex and I to teach our kids that a material Christmas is entirely contrary to a Jesus filled Christmas. </div>
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Friday I will share one of the ways that we taught our kids to make Christmas about other people this year. It was indescribably awesome!!!!!!!! So come back Friday. </div>
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But for today, let me share with a few gift ideas that my kids loved and didn't just toss aside. I was huge into getting hints from the more experienced moms before me, and I hope that I can be that for some of you. Part of having a more Jesus filled, simplified Christmas is not throwing valuable money down the toilet. And that means gifts that will get thrown into a corner creating a mess a week after Christmas.</div>
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So without further ado, here are my kids top favorite gifts that they loved/still love:</div>
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Toddler Years: Hands down this gift. It was my kids favorite, and every single kid who visited my house.</div>
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Preschool Years:<br />
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Shopping Cart. Hours upon hours of fun. They loved using the real (non persishable) food from the kitchen. Kids are all about imitation, and Melissa And Doug is such a quality made product.<br />
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And puzzles, lots and lots of puzzles.<br />
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Young Children:<br />
Books, books and more books. I could have made this entire post about books. But I held back. Literacy is so important to little ones. Please read to your kids! Here are my very, very favorites:<br />
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Any book in the "Fancy Nancy" series, hard back, paper back, they are all fantastic... magnifique!<br />
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And for the little boy in your life...<br />
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And for family reading... Henry Huggins series and Ramona Quimby. This boxed set is an incredible value.<br />
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I'll be back with Older Kids another day soon!!! I hope these ideas help.Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-91026638980271280672014-11-23T12:27:00.000-08:002014-11-23T12:27:04.512-08:00Christmas Help From a Seasoned Mom- Babies Thanksgiving is in 4 days. But lets not pretend that you aren't already thinking ahead to Christmas. You are probably feeling the stress of shopping lists for your family and friends. If you are anything like me, you really want to buy someone a gift that they will actually love for more than 5 minutes. And that adds to the stress. Finding the perfect gift is so hard! Who wants to spend hard earned money and have it be wasted time, money, effort and thought? No one.<br />
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Yesterday, Alex was telling someone the ages of our kids and I about choked on the ginger ale I was sipping. Long flight, new pilot, different story... But it hit me rather suddenly, that I have been a a mom for 12 years. That's a really long time. Wow. And so, it occurred to me that possibly it is my turn to be the mentor, instead of the men-tee.</div>
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In one month my children will be 12, 10, 8 and 6. Holy Guacamole! How did I get here already! I have toddlers and preschoolers don't I??? Don't I? Weeeeeellllllll. No. And in an effort to move on, I'm going to embrace my new title of "Seasoned Mom" and hopefully share a few helpful gift buying ideas with you. </div>
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So over the next couple of days I'm going to share with you toys and games for different ages. Starting with babies, because they are my fave! And maybe I can save you from the heartbreak and cost of buying a gift that is not touched again after opening it. </div>
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I can also save you from yourself. </div>
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For example. Turn and walk quickly in the other direction from drums, tambourines and maracas. Just trust me on that one. Walk away. They will forever be known as migraine makers and weapons (if you have a boy). Inevitably they will be pulled out to play with when you are on the phone, when another child is having a nap, or during an important conversation. Let them discover that they want to be in a rock and roll band as teenagers, not toddlers. </div>
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So without further ado.... My top, all time favorite baby items. Tested and true.<br />
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1. Books! Lots of board books. Read, hold, cuddle and repeat. Even if you don't make it through a whole book without little hands turning the pages or flipping to the end. These are the most precious memories and I can't even begin to share all the scientific data on bonding and brain development. My very favorites are by Sandra Boynton, "The Going to Bed Book" and "Snuggle Puppy." My kids and I also really love the classics like Dr. Seuss and Eric Carle. You cannot go wrong with these books.<br />
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Babies have 4 goals in their tiny lives.<br />
1. Eat<br />
2. Sleep (usually when its impossible to put them down to bed)<br />
3.Chew on things. EVERY thing will go in their mouth. And when teething comes along... every thing goes in, and obscene amounts of drool come out.<br />
4. Dump things out.<br />
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So with that in mind, and from my years of baby handling, here are my top picks for those 4 very important baby activites.<br />
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1. Gerber Puffs. I will regret to the end of my life that I didn't buy stock in Gerber when these things were first released. They saved me from numerous shopping trip, middle of church, meeting, restaurant meltdowns.<br />
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2. This blanket. Like a cloud, Has a satiny edge that my babies loved to rub on their adorable little noses as they fell asleep. Donovan is almost 6, and still falls asleep immediately with this blanket. His is navy blue and I'm not going to lie.... If D isn't around and his blanket is.... well I just may have a little nap on the couch with it too.<br />
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And for the car seat- I had a little mobile that wound up and played music, but these are super adorable little birds and would probably distract baby into sleep in the same way.<br />
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3. Chewing<br />
These balls are awesome for little babies. My sister gets one for every baby shower she attends. They are soft, pliable, and the little bitty fingers can really hold on well. Its the super, most adorable thing in the world when a baby has their tiny fingers gripping it, and then they try and chew at the same time and then they get their bitty tongues sticking out too.. oh those baby days.... So cute.<br />
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This version is super fun too, the Oball shaker<br />
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4. Aside from just letting baby have a go at your pots and pans, or tupperware drawer. This toy was hours of fun for my kids. Cheap, simple, colorful, but very entertaining.<br />
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There you have it! These are my absolute favorite baby items. Throw in a pack of the world's best pacifier and you are good to go. If I had been paid on an hourly basis for all the time I spent searching for a pacifier I would be a very wealthy woman. And for my babies, there was no better pacifier than a classic Nuk. And by, "as for my babies" I do also mean, no better pacifier for me.<br />
Happy baby, happy mom.<br />
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<i>(I used affiliate links. This is not sponsored. All ideas and opinions are my own. I'm just trying to help you all out! And lets face it, if you like an item, want to buy, and it helps your friendly- international-missionary out at the same time, every one wins.)</i>Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-60353197255703509112014-11-07T18:02:00.001-08:002014-11-07T19:23:29.834-08:00This Christmas can mean so much more....<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="https://www.youtube.com/embed/QbLj7nRJSXk" width="480"></iframe><br />
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<i>{excuse the poor lighting please... they have no lights or electricity}</i><br />
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Christmas can be so much more than giving more, and more and more, to ourselves, friends, relatives and our kids. It can be giving a gift that will never be repaid this side of Heaven.<br />
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Email me at marilee.marks@gmail.com if you would like information on how to provide a bed to a child this Christmas.<br />
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(Song Credit: Audrey Assad)Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-35003280960414072092014-10-30T14:16:00.000-07:002014-10-30T14:16:09.781-07:00She Asked For MeI want you to think a moment about your kids' or grandchildren's sports, choir, band, dance, karate, school, drama, orchestra and end of school year awards events.<br />
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You spend weeks ahead of time helping them practice, making sure that they have all the supplies, clothing, equipment they might need. </div>
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On the day of, you feed them a healthy meal, have them take showers, get a good night's sleep. </div>
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You drive them where they need to be, loaded with water bottles, snacks, gear...</div>
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You get there on time {or early} so that you are certain not to miss a moment. So that your child KNOWS without a moment's doubt, that their PERSON is there. Someone looking out at them from that audience/crowd LOVES them. Triumph or Failure, someone out there loves them, and thinks that they are the stars, the sun and that the moon all put together. Win or lose, there will be hug waiting. </div>
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But what if a child has no one? A child whose family has done the unthinkable to them. A child who will look out at an audience jam packed with families. Moms, dads, grandparents, aunts... everyone there with someone who loves them.... A child who diligently goes to school, but returns home to a bunk among 60 other bunks. Not alone, but alone. A child who will go to bed with no one to celebrate them. As if she never achieved anything. </div>
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That wasn't the story last night for a girl I love. Something beautiful happened last night and it was an honor I will never forget with my "Jane." When I came for a visit last week, she told me there was going to be a dinner show for her school. She begged me to come and said "I really, really, really want you there." She's 17 years old, an age when many teens don't want to even admit they have a mom, let alone be seen with one. But she needed a mom, a family to celebrate her last night. We came, we ate, we sat on plastic chairs for 4 hours of traditional El Salvador dances, singing, comedy we didn't understand, an unusual raffle process and the crowning of a 2nd grade princess for the year.</div>
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It was all worth it for the moment she saw me waiting at our table. </div>
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"They said you were here and I could hardly believe it!! I ran right over to see you! I can't believe you came! I am so, so happy!!!"</div>
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She has been let down her entire life, and of course she expected nothing from me. Of course. </div>
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"I'm so nervous" she nervously said with a shake in her voice.</div>
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"You're going to be fantastic" I assured her. "You've practiced so much, and I will be watching. I'm so excited to hear you sing!!!"</div>
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Simple words, that come naturally to most moms. Simple words that hold a lot of weight when you normally have no one to say them to you. I told her she looked beautiful, and that I was so happy to be there with her. </div>
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And when she took to that stage I had butterflies in my belly for her just as I would for my flesh and blood kids. And I snapped picture after picture, with a huge mile plastered to my face. We all clapped louder and harder at the end than anyone in the audience. </div>
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And when she saw me from the stage...... with a huge grin on her face....... oh my. </div>
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Honor. I was so honored that she asked me to be her person. When the Bible says to care for the orphan, we often think the command solely means </div>
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"care for their physical needs."</div>
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But what if it means so much more than that? To love. To show up. To be a family.</div>
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What if doing just one is not enough. What if Jesus asks us all someday, did you care for the orphan? And we say "yes, we fed them and clothed them Lord."</div>
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What if He says, </div>
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"What if I only fed and clothed you?</div>
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What if I didn't sacrifice a happy, perfect life, for people so un-deserving of my sacrifice?"</div>
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What if I didn't die to make you my family?</div>
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She asked for me. My heart will never be the same. </div>
Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-87156483164163142492014-10-24T09:44:00.001-07:002014-10-24T10:03:45.709-07:00Return to InstaFriday!Its been a long time since I posted a simple, care free blog post. To take the time to remember the little, happy, peaceful moments that needed to be snagged (on instagram) is so important. I think this is my first <a href="http://liferearranged.com/2014/10/instafriday-162/">InstaFriday</a> from El Salvador. Man life was different when I first started joining in on <a href="http://liferearranged.com/2014/10/instafriday-162/">Jeannett's idea!</a> I'm marijmarks if you want to follow along on our adventures. Plus, Jeannett reminded us all this week that we don't have to have a perfectly crafted blog and/or post to be relevant. Plus my Grandpa has been missing the regular stuff.<br />
Last week was a whole lot of recovering from chikungunya for Izzy, a nasty bronchitis for Addison, and the usual stomach things for the rest of us. So it feels good to take a look back at some happy. Plus I got to see my <a href="http://marileemarks.blogspot.com/2014/06/why-you-support-us-here-janes-story.html"> "Jane"</a> at the orphanage yesterday. Which is always good.<br />
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We got a HUGE shipment of spanish books from my sister's Kindergarten class in Minnesota. The students each added a Spanish version of a book to their Scholastic Book orders and blessed our Nutrition and Development Center kids immensely!!! Kids in the U.S. + Kids in El Salvador = Awesome. Now they have books to read for the fist time ever. I'm serious. First ever. There are no libraries and no books stores. None.</div>
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Banana Smiles :)</div>
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Hello gorgeous. </div>
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I love our movie nights. I love <a href="http://godsnotdeadthemovie.com/">"God's Not Dead"</a> in Spanish. I love how excited they get about free popcorn. Sharing Jesus. Its the why in all of this craziness.</div>
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Because El Salvador. That's how we roll here... with little blond heads out the moon roof and little boy tushy in my face....</div>
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Except only when we are stuck for an hour behind a parade. He thought he was pretty awesome. And didn't draw a bit of attention..... in case you were wondering, his little blond self is ALWAYS drawing attention. Its hard to miss an uber white kid, who is always in the middle of some sort of Star Wars/Avengers/Ninja Turtle battle.</div>
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And then he was tackled by some guys from our World Race team, his sister and some friends. Which is Donovan's love language. And in case you were curious, there were 10 people in this 6 person SUV. </div>
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Have a wonderful weekend!</div>
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Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-57267381428749097492014-10-03T08:40:00.000-07:002014-10-03T08:45:33.570-07:00Beautiful MomentsMy kids are having what can only be described as a wildly crazy, adventurous, hot, sweaty, hard, sad, once in a lifetime experiences.<br />
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We knew when we started out that this time, how ever long, here in El Salvador would be something that would stay with them for a life time. But we didn't quite realize how much their world would be shook. Their world view had been shattered, and a new one, a better one, wider one, grander, has replaced it. Children in the United States grow up in such a bubble. I am so thankful that my kids have this opportunity to have their eyes really, truly opened. I think their hearts have grown 3 sizes, they understand poverty like never before. They have an understanding and willing hearts to sacrifice of themselves, serve and give to others.</div>
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So this post is devoted to my kids. You've seen my perspective, so now you get to share in some of the experiences that have popped up in between doing ministry. Please do not go away from reading this thinking that we are on some sort of long term vacation. Because we ABSOLUTELY 100% are not! When you all sacrifice of your paychecks to give us support money to do ministry, it goes 100% to doing just that. </div>
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Tomorrow's post will show you some of the fruits of our work, but this one is about the little blessings that have popped up for our kids. Because they gave up a lot moving from the U.S., God has proven himself faithful to my kids. </div>
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When you live in a place that is home to ancient civilizations, that is near the equator, you naturally have access to all kinds of new adventures in the down time! Every once in a while I take a step back and marvel that they are having these crazy awesome experiences!!</div>
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We had to leave the country to renew our visas, and it coincided with my cousin's wedding at the YWAM base in Belize. My littlest daughter and son literally spent 3 days playing with sand. No buckets, toys etc. Just sand. Sand.</div>
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What can only be described as a middle of nowhere-jungle/swamp hotel-opening scene in a horror film where idiot family wanders deep into the jungle in search of a hotel.... where everyone watching is yelling "STOP! How can you be so dumb! Go back!!!!!!!"</div>
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Spoiler alert- it turned out okay and we did not disappear forever in Guatamala like I feared would happen if we went down the above pictured bridge. I will tell you the story someday.</div>
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We were on our way back from Belize when we happened upon this particular life event. And in so doing, discovered that there was a for real castle near by. It was build by Spanish conquistadors, in order to fend off pirates who might want to steal the gold that they were stealing from the Mayans! How cool is that?! Well, probably more cool for us than for the Mayans.</div>
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Then there was that time we went on a hike with only 3 water bottles because it was billed as a 3 km hike to a beautiful waterfall.....</div>
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6 hours, and a police escort later we emerged from our "relaxing" hike to a local La Libertad waterfall, a little dazed and confused.</div>
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There have been armadillos...</div>
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Volcano hikes... minus police ....</div>
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Magnificent Colonial time cathedrals and Mayan ruins, watching giant waves crash, times with friends, swimming and finding blue and purple coral reefs, but none of that holds a candle to yesterday.</div>
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Visiting the home of two of our girls. Nothing holds a candle to seeing my children in that setting. Overlooking the stark, destitute house of this family. The distended bellies didn't matter to them, the bare feet or the naked little ones. They ran and played, and rode a bike, held hands, held on laps.... just loved.</div>
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We have tears. And hard days. Sometimes we want to come running back to the U.S. Some days my kids want their old lives back. So do I. But this is the great big "Why" of it all. Its so my kids can be Jesus with skin on. So I can hug a mom and become friends, like you do when you share a moment in your home. So we could look past everything they didn't have and just see them. So that Alex could chat with a man fighting for the survival of his family. That's the why.</div>
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These beautiful moments.</div>
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Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-77111104073360205602014-08-28T12:38:00.003-07:002014-08-28T12:38:58.144-07:00"Without You I Fall Apart"<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/iaVPupbNFAo?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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In case you are in need of this reminder today like I was...Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-59778143853122814752014-08-14T09:22:00.000-07:002014-08-14T09:22:24.436-07:00We All Need Some Good News<div>
<i>****The media is inundated with terrible news right now. Its unrelenting. If you are weary, this news is for you.*****</i></div>
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You guys! If you could just see everything that is going on here through my eyes! Warning, this post will be filled with absurd amounts of exclamation points.<br />
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Three little girls who have trouble with attachment because of home lives, now run to us, call us by name (which is huge) and make sure that they will see us tomorrow!!!</div>
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Pastor Ivo's wife Marielos is now working with us!! She is a natural teacher, and her love for these children is something to behold! This is a huge answer to prayer.</div>
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Yesterday and today over 100 people will/have received medical care from a <a href="http://totalhealth.org/home/">Total Health</a> team visiting!!</div>
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Very soon we are going to open up a second computer school at a different location to reach a new group of people!</div>
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In September we will be welcoming into our nutrition program another 10 children!!! Children who right this very minute go to bed every night hungry, who are malnourished, distended bellies.... and then in October another 10, and in November, another 10!!! </div>
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In 10 days 2,000 fortified food packets will arrive!!!!!! 2,000! Free! Because of the generosity of <a href="http://thechildrenarewaiting.org/">A Child's Hope International </a>and friends who donated shipping costs to Florida. And The United States Navy who will then ship to us for FREE, we will be able to minister to and feed not only the children in our center, but their families as well!!!! In addition we will be able to bless the other members of our community with much needed food and vitamins. This is huge!!! Hundreds of people being fed, can you even grasp it?!!!!</div>
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Thanks to the very kind teachers and friends of my sister in Minnesota we will soon have over 50 paperback books to read to the children, and to teach with. In the U.S. literacy, libraries, story times and book stores are almost considered a human right. Here in La Libertad, there are very few books in stores (other than school books), no library, and no bookstores. The books that are here, are way out of the price range of anyone that we serve. A friend from the Navy donated a couple of bean bag chairs, and as soon as the rehab on the CDI kitchen is done our little reading nook will be opened up to the kids!!!!</div>
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On August 30th we will have a movie night for the whole community. We will hand out invitations to the community, no one will be left out. We are going to serve popcorn and refreshments and project<a href="http://godsnotdeadthemovie.com/"> "God's Not Dead"</a> onto our screen!!! This is going to kick off regular movie nights for our community and sharing of Jesus. He is everything. He is surely Alive. </div>
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You guys, I turned on my Yahoo news page today and its was streams and streams and streams of bad, really bad, worse and horribly devastating. Its tempting to think that God has turned his back on mankind. But if we look carefully, we can see that mankind is in fact the one that did the turning. The promise of Heaven to those who put their lives in Jesus' hand is as real as you and me. One day, all of this tragedy will be at an end, and He will return. People are dying for this truth. </div>
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But He didn't leave us. He is here, and he is at work through millions of people fighting evil with good in the name of Jesus. This is all we can do. We must make a choice to not turn a blind eye. To not continue about our rich, egocentric, entertainment lives, but to reach out and help. If we say the world is ugly, and evil, it is because we have allowed it. We have a choice to make each and every day, a choice to follow Jesus and to do good, because he did the ultimate good for us. </div>
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God is surely alive. And He is at work my friends. I see it every day. The story of Central America is not made up of the picketers you see on your news feed. Its is not all gangs, and poverty, and people sneaking over the border. Here in El Salvador, the local church is fighting every day to raise up the people, so that they can change their country. A friend I met this Summer described it like this. "We must all be the tide. Because the tide can raise up a fleet of ships in the harbor." If we educate, feed, and above all, teach the gift of God, the people will change their country.</div>
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Be the tide. It takes sacrifice, yes. But it is so, so worth it. Not everyone can move to El Salvador, but you can sponsor us to do the work here. You can advise. You can share with your church, and bring a team for a week. You can sponsor the salary of a second pastor to bring on staff. We are so incredibly thankful to be here. And that is only possible with you guys. </div>
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For more information on how you can be involved, email me at marilee.marks@gmail.com</div>
Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-82938998992272319072014-08-07T09:29:00.003-07:002014-08-07T09:29:54.062-07:00A Letter to My GrammieDear Grammie,<br />
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I'm laying here, in what feels like the other side of the world. It may as well be. And you lay in a hospital bed fighting colon cancer, pneumonia, heart attack.... I'm comforted to know that you are surrounded by your children. I'm struggling to not be near you. But do you know what? I feel you. I'm lying under the quilt that you made for my high school graduation. I look down and see the hundreds of individual pieces that your arthritic hands carefully sewed together. You remembered a picture that I loved as a child, and saved up that image in your head all those years, waiting for my graduation. Then months ahead of time, you spent countless hours choosing and arranging all the different fabrics. You told me that Grandpa was your advise council. He would help you decide where to put each color. Then you wrapped it up carefully, and flew with it to me, to celebrate with us. </div>
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We took you to Niagara Falls, and I will never forget your face as you beheld it. You remarked at how when you see that kind of beauty you see how much God loved us, to give us this amazing creation. </div>
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I love you Grammie, for so many reasons. Tho we have spent too many years apart, your legacy of love is felt as if we live together. </div>
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I want the world to know that you are a fighter, a survivor, a mother, a wife, a grandmother, a great grandmother. The early years in your first, abusive marriage could have broken you. You could have turned to bitterness and hate. And few would have blamed you. It was a hard life, and you were sometimes hard. But you had to survive didn't you. For your kids. No one is ever perfect. But that isn't a requirement to love. </div>
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We cherish you. We cherish the memories of camping trips, crafts, fishing, the never forgotten birthday cards, picking goose berries, chasing your ducks, your sugar drawer that you would "accidentally" drop strawberries into! While I didn't cherish them at the time, I am thankful for the clothes you made me when we couldn't afford any. Even the Precious Moments applique sweatsuits, with the puff paint.... I cherish the baby blankets that you sewed for each of your great grandchildren. My kids love them until they fall into tatters.The way you held my babies, your great grand babies. Such love and pride in your eyes.</div>
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But those things are not your greatest legacy Grammie. Your five children are. Who all know their Savior. Your 60 years of service to your church are your legacy. And all of the lives you touched there in that vast span of time. Your 5 children, 20 grandchildren and your 43 great grandchildren are your legacy. All being raised to follow God. </div>
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As we were passing through Guatemala the other day, we were temporarily waylaid at a jungle hotel. I kept taking pictures of every tropical flower. And I was laughing heartily on the inside, shook my head in the sunlight and sighed. Because I'm more like you than you know. I don't know how many thousands of slides and photos you have of the flowers of Oregon, but I'm starting my own collection to rival yours. Someday my children will tease me about it too. We love flowers Grammie. We love God fiercely and will not compromise on that. We love our children. I am so proud to be yours. Time and God softened you into the woman that now lies in a hospital bed, hundreds who love you dearly.</div>
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If anyone deserves to be in the presence of Jesus, forgiven, redeemed and loved, it is you. Not because you have paid the cost, Jesus did that for you. But you hold on to Him. When the world fights to steal your heart for 80 years, you hold on. When the world whispers promises of earthly pleasures, that are fleeting, you hold on. When the world turns time and again, and tries to twist His words, you hold on. You hold on to the promise of a future, eternity indescribable. You hold on to the love of Jesus, so deep, so vast, so faithful. This world steals health, loved ones, and tries to steal our souls. But you hold on. Soon you will be with your parents, with a fresh, strong body, you will get to hold my child before I do. You will be with your other grand children and greats that went on ahead. And they will rejoice to have you. And yet......</div>
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I'm not ready for you to go yet, I want you to continue to fight, to get strong again. I hope you have a lot of years left, to continue to lead and serve. Fight Grammie, because you have lessons and love yet to give to this world. </div>
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I remember a year or two ago, when I taught you about ring tones on cell phones, sitting on Dad's sofa together. And your face lit up when I told you that you can have any song in the world you want, <span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman', serif;">when your phone rings.
And so without hesitation you said you wanted "How Great Thou Art."
If I could only be with you, I would hold your hand and sing it for you. I
think it would help clear some of the fog that is trapping you right now. </span><br />
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We love you dearly Grammie. All of us. Your vast family. Sewn together by you, like the quilt that covers me. Piece by piece, held together by our love for you, and yours for us. And the common thread that you made sure to use, the love of a Heavenly Father.</div>
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Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-24321979059745960892014-06-26T16:26:00.000-07:002014-06-26T16:26:49.608-07:00Why You Support Us Here- Jane's StoryLast Summer, I distinctly remember long lazy days. I remember cobalt blue skies, the sound of lawn mowers, my kids laughing and shrieking in joy in the tree house. I remember hurried texts late in the morning from friends wanting to meet up at the splash pad. I remember late evening walks with my family and dog, and the kids darting in and out of neighbors yards to catch fire flies.<br />
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This is what childhood <i>should</i> be. </div>
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I have a friend. We'll call her Jane. Because its my middle name, and she is part of me now. I can't share her name or her picture because she is in protective custody. But she did give me permission to share some of her story. Not because I want you to feel sorry for her, but because she has a faith in God that rivals any person I've ever met. And I told her that I would be honored to tell her story of trust in God. She proves that shitty evil happens, (sorry for the language) and you can hold onto God. You can hold onto God, He will hold on to you, and you can come out victorious on the other side. </div>
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Josue, if you are reading this, I just want to say thank you from the very depths of my heart. And I'm so sorry. I never thought to learn the Spanish words for the horrors that you had to translate for me yesterday. That you sat through that with me, so that Jane and I could go deeper in our relationship, it means the world to me. I hope that her faith touched you too.<br />
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Yesterday morning I was sick as a dog. I've often noticed that on days I'm headed to meet with my special friends, my body seems to go under attack. I laid down on the cool tiles of the church office, to still the dizziness and the stomach that was not calm as it should be. I lay there and prayed. I prayed for healing just long enough so that I could get to the kids for the day. No way was I going to miss it. I had specifically told them that I would be back in one week. I was not not going to let them down. I need them to trust me, trust that I love them. I can't do that if I don't show up. Jane and a few others were waiting for me specifically. </div>
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Jane is a beautiful spirit. She is a teenager who's face shines with inner joy. She has incredibly long eye lashes that surround gorgeous black eyes. She loves Jesus.</div>
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I've been spending time with Jane for a while now. But yesterday, she trusted me with her story. I held onto her, as she shared. </div>
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Jane's father was killed while she was a small child. She was left with grandparents, a step-mom, brother, uncle and aunt. These adults, who should have been protecting and raising this sweet, helpless, grieving child, did the unthinkable. </div>
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Torture</div>
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Rape</div>
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Molestation</div>
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Fear tactics</div>
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Strangulation</div>
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Beatings</div>
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But one night after she crawled back to her bed, she heard a voice. A kind, unrecognizable voice. "Don't be afraid, I'm with you. You will be okay." The voice made her feel strong and brave.</div>
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Soon after Jane's uncle told her that she was going to be his wife and that they would be moving to the United States. She was not to talk or tell anyone that she was his niece. This terrified her, and she yelled for help. She yelled until a neighbor came and took her to the police. The loving voice went with her.<br />
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The police took her to her biological mom. Where a fresh new hell awaited. I just cannot even go on.<br />
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Jane was removed again, but took that voice with her once more. She was taken to a safe place, where many other girls with similar stories live. In this place she discovered the source of the Voice.<br />
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I asked her how it is possible for such a young girl to cling onto and trust God after going through the suffering she had. Her response was this, "Because He stayed with me. And I know He loves Me. Because I'm safe now."<br />
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Jane bears a story that isn't even fathomable to most of us. But she refused to let go of God in her storm. She held on, and God led her through it. Now that little girl is lovingly caring for other little girls and ministering to them. She told me that she has peace now.<br />
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When Jane isn't by my side at the home, I watch her as small children run up and hug her legs. I see her sit to lunch at the end of the line, as others are served first. She is the last one to wave goodbye as our van pulls out of the gate. Her tragedy does not define her. It doesn't control her, it hasn't turned her towards bitterness, anger, despair. Her relationship with Jesus defines her. Her sweet smile, and shy eyes show who she is.<br />
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Jane's favorite time of day: Bible class. Because she can read her Bible all she wants.<br />
Jane's favorite kind of music: Praise music to God<br />
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I hugged Jane for a long time. And as is often the case she remained by my side for the rest of the<br />
day. I love this girl. If I could be her mom, and change her story and experience with "moms" I would do it in an instant. I get to be mom, when I go through those gates.<br />
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So it isn't lost on me, that the reason that I can do that, the reason that I can hold the faces of those girls in my hands, and hug them like crazy, love them like crazy, is because of the people back home. Because people sacrificially give of their paychecks, I can give real love. So thank you. A million times, thank you.<br />
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Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-48811562217560590812014-05-04T10:39:00.000-07:002014-05-04T10:46:01.767-07:00100 Days in El SalvadorWe can hardly believe that we have been here for 100 days.<br />
100 days of life change.<br />
100 days of language change.<br />
100 days of peace... well almost :)<br />
100 days of serving.<br />
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There have been a lot of moments of joy. There have been a lot of goose bump moments when I can see the progress and the very exciting, near future when little lives will be welcomed into a space just for them. Little lives that will have security, love, joy, fun, full bellies, Jesus! Tangible Jesus. I cannot wait for the grand opening of the new Child Development house!!!!<br />
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Sometimes doubt, like an evil monster creeps in. Its sneaky and quiet, and seeks our destruction.<br />
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"What are you doing here?" "Who do you think you are?" "This isn't worth it!" "You say you're serving, but what did you do today?" "Remember your old paycheck? Wasn't that nice?"<br />
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In those moments I cling to what I know to be true. Jesus did not choose his first disciples out of any seminary. He didn't pick the most talented, or the best selling authors, or even the best looking. And its no different for Alex and I.<br />
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He simply said "Say yes to me. Choose a radical new life. I have things for you to do that I designed for you to do before the earth was even formed. I knew you, and knew that I wanted you to be in this place, to do this thing. My power is in you, to do infinitely more than you can do alone."<br />
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Me. He wanted me. He planned for me. But I had to say yes. And I have to keep saying yes. Many times.<br />
So I do. Because I've chosen a radical faith. If it was ordinary it wouldn't be very special would it? It wouldn't be hard. So I breath out the yes, every day. And I breath in purpose.<br />
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Some days are hard. We miss our people.<br />
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But these little faces are worth it. I'm here for a purpose. There are seriously exciting things coming up. I am so excited to tell you about it in the next few days!<br />
I am easily overwhelmed by the immense need surrounding me. Countless children, the little old lady sitting day in and day out on the curb in town, the homes with aluminum patched together to make walls. Its overwhelming. So I let the Holy Spirit remind me every day to just do the one thing he asks, for today.<br />
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<b>Highlights from our first 100 days:</b></div>
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<b>1. Dedicated children's ministry space</b></div>
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<b>2. 6 month supply of Children's vitamins</b></div>
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<b>3. Opportunity to go to Honduras to meet and learn from other churches</b></div>
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<b>4. Incredible partnership with deployed sailors from U.SA. Navy!!!!</b></div>
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<b>5. Deepened friendships and new ones for our children</b></div>
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Donovan's new best friend is 17 years old :)</div>
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<b>More about each of these in the days to come.....!!</b></div>
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<b>The next couple of months are going to be very busy with many missions teams arriving that we will be working with, Grand Opening of the new CDI with brand new kids, graduation for Computer Center students and more! Please help cover us in prayer as we enter a very busy season of our time here, and for the people of El Salvador.</b></div>
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I will leave you with one of my favorite quotes from David Platt:</div>
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">“If we were left to ourselves with the task of taking the gospel to the world, we would immediately begin planning innovative strategies and plotting elaborate schemes. We would organize conventions, develop programs, and create foundations… But Jesus is so different from us. With the task of taking the gospel to the world, he wandered through the streets and byways…All He wanted was a few men who would think as He did, love as He did, see as He did, teach as He did and serve as He did. All He needed was to revolutionize the hearts of a few, and they would impact the world.” </span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">― </span><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/author/show/846687.David_Platt" style="background-color: white; color: #666600; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px; text-decoration: none;">David Platt</a><span style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;">, </span><i style="background-color: white; color: #181818; font-family: georgia, serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 18px;"><a href="https://www.goodreads.com/work/quotes/9657002" style="color: #666600; text-decoration: none;">Radical: Taking Back Your Faith from the American Dream</a></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: purple;"><b>If you would like walk this path with us, there is a button up at the top! We are infinitely grateful to our financial supporters and cannot afford to say "Yes" without you. Thank you, Thank you, Thank you, Thank you. We cannot say it enough times. If you already are a supporter, would you consider passing along our information to someone you think would like to join us? </b></span></i><br />
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<i><span style="color: purple;"><b>Love, The Marks in El Salvador</b></span></i>Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-49931514664731146472014-04-12T18:04:00.000-07:002014-04-12T18:04:22.749-07:00Room to GrowOne of our primary goals in La Libertad is to help feed and share Jesus with as many kids as we can. How does a child understand the love of a Father God if they do not understand the love of an earthly father? In many cases, for kids that are in our program, their lives are empty bellies and empty hearts. Not all cases, but most of our kids come from very painful homes. <br />
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We strive to be a place of safety, love, and to be their anchor.<br />
Of course we want to bring as many kids into our program as we can. But as we grow and bring in more children, love more children, feed more children, that means we need more space.<br />
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There is a tremendous opportunity to rent the adjoining building to our church, that will allow for a more expanded ministry to our community. It allows us to embrace more children, and minister to their families as well.<br />
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This is a big goal! We need $330 a month in rent... that's a lot. But nothing is too big for our God. We are trusting and praying. It is always so incredible to start with a dream, pray a lot and watch how it unfolds! We believe that Jesus is going to take our loaves and fishes, just as he did in the Bible, and multiply it, and then multiply our numbers.<br />
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The first video is from when we went out to sign up kids and the second is to show you our exciting new space!<br />
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<br /><iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='320' height='266' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/tCoSpeHBFeg?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
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Please join with us in praying for this building and for the little lives that will soon be joining us every day.<br />
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<a href="http://s923.photobucket.com/albums/ad71/alexmarimarks/?action=view&current=signature.png" target="_blank"><img alt="Photobucket" border="0" src="http://i923.photobucket.com/albums/ad71/alexmarimarks/signature.png" height="44" width="320" /></a>Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8897719884486878072.post-49286876522325876832014-04-06T20:33:00.001-07:002014-04-06T20:39:25.317-07:00Just BecauseOnce upon a time, I only wrote to chronicle the funny things my kids did, and to share their everyday lives with my one single reader, Grandpa. So here's to my most faithful reader, My Grandpa Maris. Whom I love dearly.<br />
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I like to call this video, "I'm running in a circle with Brando." You'll see why.<br />
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Have a great week. :)<br />
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<br />Mari Bryant- Markshttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05871804237840954565noreply@blogger.com0