In this post you will hear some exciting news from my bride Carla on our families next journey in Christ and how you can help.
Isaiah 58:8-12
Dear Friend,
When I was a child I would see the bloated African
children on TV and the injustice would rise up in the pit of my being. I would turn
to my mom and say, “someday I will help them and build my own clinic.” I had no
idea how this would all happen as we were barely getting by some days on our
own with my mom’s small income, but I carried this in my memory and heart. I still
carry it as I type this letter to you. When Ian and I were courting and would
walk around the campus at Grand Canyon University, I shared my dreams of a
place where we would care for orphans, those in prison, the sick, the starving
and the dying……not just those dying physically but spiritually. My dreams
became our dreams. We would love people right where they were and live life alongside
them, embrace them as they died and yes even play soccer with them. As we journey into our 15th year of marriage the Lord has brought us to this moment. Along this journey we have had 2 losses through miscarriage, Aidan and Malachi. We have been blessed with 3 amazing sons…Tobiah, Jaidan and Gideon. We have experienced in a very deep way the loss of both my parents to cancer within 2 years of each other. As a family, we cared for my mom the last 6 weeks of her life. We have been blessed with many friends, great jobs that have provided financially along with health insurance and children that are sick only once a year. We have had so much fun, so many laughs. Through this we have wrestled with our faith, with our emotions, and with our purpose as a family on mission in this world. We have taken the path of homeschooling our children not to protect them but to allow them to thrive in their gifting and strengths. As God leads us into this moment, I find myself looking up and saying……”Mom, my someday has come.” BUT GOD has given me such a beautiful gift as I am not alone and it is no longer just my “someday”. We are all in! Ian, Carla, Tobiah, Jaidan and Gideon! And God is leading us…..Where you ask?
MOZAMBIQUE, AFRICA
-The
life expectancy rate is 50 years old.
-There
are 74.63 fetal deaths/1,000 live births and 490 maternal deaths/100,000 live
births.
-18.3%
children under the age of 5 years old are underweight.
-0.03
physicians available/1,000 people
-27%
unemployment rate (the US is at 7%)
-1.2
years is the mean years of schooling (of adults)
-Ranked
185/186 on the UNDP Human Development Index (the US is 3/186)
-Mozambique
has the higher Multidimensional Poverty Index (MPI) value because it has the
highest intensity of deprivation. This looks at the overlapping deprivation in
health, education and standard of living.
We know
the risks that come with living in Mozambique, but as Ian said last week……we
can stay where we are and risk being complacent and comfortable or we can risk
being obedient and move when God calls us to. There are many of you reading
this letter that have a different faith then us or maybe believe in no God at
all but we all have the same desire to live a life bigger than ourselves, we all
know we have purpose and we all desire to live it out. I meditated on the words
of the song below this week as it tells of how Jesus only did what He did
because of the Father. I share these words so you can catch a glimpse of our
hearts and why we are choosing the risk of being obedient.
“Jesus only did what He saw You do; He would only say
what He heard you speak…
He would only move when He felt You lead, following Your
heart, following Your spirit…
How could I expect to walk without You, when every move
that Jesus made was in surrender…
I will not begin to live without You, for You alone are
worthy, You are always good, You are always good…”
Our
hope is that you will embrace this risk of obedience with us. I will be
traveling to Mozambique alone with Tracy Evans, the Founder of the organization
we have chosen to partner with iReachAfrica.
I leave 3/29/14 and return 4/18/14. During my time there I will meet the team
that is currently working in the many areas such as the clinic, Recovery Center
(hospice), preschool, prison ministry, leadership training, and education. I
will work alongside the nurses and experience the day to day living routines
such as what they eat, how they interact and will also see where we will be
living….yes living! The goal of my trip is to establish relationships with
those currently working in the community so that Ian and I along with the boys
can prepare for our move as a family at the end of the year. We will be
modeling a healthy family while immersing ourselves in the community, culture
and language while using our giftings to serve the clinic, hospice, prisons,
leadership training and discipleship programs.
We have
prayed, fasted, sought counsel, talked with our boys, and most of all….we have sat
in silence and heard His voice, His Spirit. We only move because we feel His
lead. During this time we have outlined the details of our budget and we also
have felt we should not sell our home in Phoenix but use it to provide for
those in need here. We are working on the beginning stages of transforming it into
a “safe house”, a place where those in need are able to transition for a few
weeks or for those that need a longer respite.
We
again ask that you think on or pray on how you can embrace this risk of
obedience with us. We will be living out this mission on the full financial
support of all those in our community of family, friends, peers, and leaders.
Financially we are asking for $5000
per month. This will cover our food, shelter, security (especially since we
have young children), passports, visas, vaccines, Malaria treatment (as ALL
people get Malaria there, it is just a matter of when although we are praying
now for strong health), mortgage, health/traveler’s insurance, life insurance,
school curriculum, and emergency flight funds. We know that there are some of
you that are not able to assist financially so we ask for your support through
prayer, emails, care packages for the boys, and simply your emotional support
as we live out the love you have imparted to us to the least of these in
Mozambique. Financial support can be monthly or a onetime gift.
We
would like to meet with any of you that would like more details or information,
so please feel free to call one of us to set a time to connect. Ian can be
reached at 602-703-0245 and Carla at 602-451-8957.
Thank
you so much for your consideration in journeying with us in partnership.
The
Gennaris- Ian, Carla, Tobiah, Jaidan, Gideon
____________________________________________________________________________________
Please
select your support gift below or if you are receiving this electronically you
can click on the link to contribute.
Checks should be written to: Hope Church (include
in memo line Gennari Mission Fund).
Send mail to: Hope Church, 2530 W. Happy Valley Rd, Suite 1273 Phoenix,
Arizona 85085
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$10
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$20 ____ $100 ____ $5000
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Onetime
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