I love teaching my kids. I love learning along with them. There are somethings that I don't feel comfortable teaching though, and writing is one of them. Andrew is taking a couple online classes for school and language arts is one of them. For his class, he has to write some poems. So he wrote one on Pearl Harbor. I LOVE IT!! I love it so much, that I decided to post it here. He reluctantly is letting me, but it showcases his talent. I hope you enjoy it as much as I do.
Pearl Harbor
by Andrew Buczynski
The ships were terrified,
To see bombs coming their way.
For in the harbor,
They wanted to stay.
Saying goodbye to the loved ones
Who were on the ship that now departs,
Is like a rainy day that will forever
Linger in their hearts.
Some spirits are lifted,
When they hear,
That a tiger lays in waiting to pounce
For revenge on the deaths of their loved ones so dear.
Some others are troubled
because this could mean war,
But others are eager
to even the score.
Like a lioness stalking her prey,
our land was attacked
The talk at the capital is
its time to fight back.
This is what happened
On that fateful day.
December 7, 1941 changed Pearl Harbor
In a whole new way
Here is another one that he did:
Successful
a. If you want to be successful,
b. There’s one thing you can do.
c. Always remember,
b. And wear your right shoe.
a. Don’t forget your left one,
b. Or they might thing you’re dumb
c. Or you could step in a puddle,
b. And have you’re foot go numb.
a. If you want to be successful,
b. There’s another thing you can do.
c. Ill tell you about it later,
b. First go home and put on your left shoe.
Homeschooling can be sooo much fun!!!!
Friday, March 25, 2011
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Nairobi withdrawl
I was driving to our homeschool science co-op and got to thinking. For the last year and a half or so, the journey began in December 2009, my life was filled with getting prepared to go to Nairobi Kenya. Going to Kenya was something that I had dreamed about since I can remember. At first, it started off wanting to just visit Africa. Then, as I got older, I wanted to do something life changing and join the Peace Corps. I figured, I would help change lives for the better. Then, I became a Christian and I knew that someday, I wanted to do a mission trip to Africa to help those who never heard about Christ and transform their life of poverty and hopelessness into one of joy and happiness. Crossway (my home church) was finally going to Kenya! I couldn't believe it. When I heard our Pastor talking about it, I just knew that it was where I was supposed to go. For a long time, a close friend of ours had been trying to get the both of us to the Dominican Republic. I didn't have any desire to go. I knew where God was calling me and it wasn't the DR. So when the opportunity came, I jumped on board right away. So began the planning over the next few months. I signed the application and dreamed about what it would be like. I had no idea! Mike was all for me going. He knew that it was where I was supposed to go. So I was extremely surprised when he told me that he was going to go with me! What an amazing thing to be sharing my dream with my husband! Thus began our journey to raise money and have the both of us head to Nairobi and do all of the training together. From January 2009 to October 2009, we met once a month with our team. We had a weekend of training from CMF of CHE which is Community Health Evangelism. This is an amazing concept that I just fell in love with. It teaches people (communities) how to teach themselves in their community to live a better life. And as we teach them, we use biblical concepts and hope as our foundation. There is so much to learn. CHE had such a big impact on both me and my church that I went with another friend to Indiana for a weeks training in CHE concepts and am now a CHE trainer. I teach others about the CHE concept and its impact. What an amazing thing! God has brought me so far and has had me stretch so much, that I am even amazed that I can do so many things through HIM! Anyway, we had our trip in October 2009, which was frightening and amazing. You can learn about that on one here http://www.crosswaycckenya2009.blogspot.com/
When we got home, decompressing what we saw was very hard. But we got through it and changes were made. Then, in November 2009, my journey began again. We had our Kenya information night and then Kenya informational meetings. I felt God was not through with me in Nairobi yet. I had to go back. I wasn't done. So began my journey again from December 2009-October 2010. I went through training with a new team and this time I didn't have my husband. It was very different and I felt sad that he wasn't going with me. But I knew that this was where I was supposed to be. So my months were again filled with preparing for a vacation bible school, teaching CHE and getting to know the new team members. I was also asked to sit on the Global Ministry for our church and that entails interviewing any applicants for the Kenya trip. That was a lot of fun to do! I had an advantage in knowing who was going! :-) Fun!
So we had our meetings and went on the trip. You can learn about that here http://www.crosswaycckenya2010.blogspot.com/
When we came home, I had to decompress again and that was harder. But I had my husband to help me through it, because he had been there. Then in November, we had our informational night again. And we also talked about how we were going to send a team of teachers, as well as others, to Nairobi in July of 2011. This meant that we had to get the ball rolling really fast in applications and interviews. Thus went the process of interviews from November to the beginning of January. The team is now meeting and my work is mainly done. Wow! What am I going to do? So much of my time was devoted to preparation and the like. I am so excited for this new team and I don't feel called to go again, yet. I know that I will go again, for sure. When, I don't know. I hope to go again with my family. I am praying for this new team and for what they will accomplish. God is amazing in HIS WORKS. One of my favorite songs is by Leeland called Follow YOu. It talks about following you (God) into the homes of the broken and doing His work. That is my desire. To continue to do Gods work and use my hands and feet as His. But for now, I will do that at home in my community. I will go through Nairobi withdrawl right now and know that someday I will return. God bless Missions of Hope and what they are doing and may we bring some of that here.
When we got home, decompressing what we saw was very hard. But we got through it and changes were made. Then, in November 2009, my journey began again. We had our Kenya information night and then Kenya informational meetings. I felt God was not through with me in Nairobi yet. I had to go back. I wasn't done. So began my journey again from December 2009-October 2010. I went through training with a new team and this time I didn't have my husband. It was very different and I felt sad that he wasn't going with me. But I knew that this was where I was supposed to be. So my months were again filled with preparing for a vacation bible school, teaching CHE and getting to know the new team members. I was also asked to sit on the Global Ministry for our church and that entails interviewing any applicants for the Kenya trip. That was a lot of fun to do! I had an advantage in knowing who was going! :-) Fun!
So we had our meetings and went on the trip. You can learn about that here http://www.crosswaycckenya2010.blogspot.com/
When we came home, I had to decompress again and that was harder. But I had my husband to help me through it, because he had been there. Then in November, we had our informational night again. And we also talked about how we were going to send a team of teachers, as well as others, to Nairobi in July of 2011. This meant that we had to get the ball rolling really fast in applications and interviews. Thus went the process of interviews from November to the beginning of January. The team is now meeting and my work is mainly done. Wow! What am I going to do? So much of my time was devoted to preparation and the like. I am so excited for this new team and I don't feel called to go again, yet. I know that I will go again, for sure. When, I don't know. I hope to go again with my family. I am praying for this new team and for what they will accomplish. God is amazing in HIS WORKS. One of my favorite songs is by Leeland called Follow YOu. It talks about following you (God) into the homes of the broken and doing His work. That is my desire. To continue to do Gods work and use my hands and feet as His. But for now, I will do that at home in my community. I will go through Nairobi withdrawl right now and know that someday I will return. God bless Missions of Hope and what they are doing and may we bring some of that here.
Friday, February 11, 2011
Nairobi 2010
I finally have been able to actually sit down and write about my trip. Truth is, I wrote this when I got home, but just now was ready to post it. I hope you enjoy reading a little bit about my trip. I don't have any plans to return this year as we have had a pretty rough couple of months since I got home. I will write about that as well. I need to be with my family for a while and take care of them. My focus for a while has been all about Nairobi and I want to focus on my family. My youngest has informed me that he wants to know when he will be old enough/able to go with Mike and I to see Doreen(our sponsored child) and help the children in Mathare. I told him, as soon as I feel you can handle it. He would be so good.... I hope you enjoy my reminiscence.
As I sit here and type my thoughts down, I can’t help but think about the changes compared from last year to this year. I think that is what I want to focus on in this letter. When Mike and I toured the Mathare slums last year, we were devastated. It was nothing like we had ever seen before. Even though our team was prepared wonderfully, the smell was something you could never prepare enough for. It was like nothing I had ever smelled. The same for the sights. I knew what to expect, but I was still amazed at how poor the conditions really were. It was the first time I had ever seen something like that in person. Sure, I saw it on television, but to see it in person is something totally different. This year, I was so incredibly excited to return. I couldn’t wait. I wanted to see the progress made in one year. When we first walked through Area 1, Pangani, I noticed right away that there was a difference already. To me, it looked “cleaner” than last time. Garbage was getting moved to a central area. This time, I could look at the people of Mathare. I was not looking at the area and how unsanitary it was, I was focusing on the men, women and children of Mathare. Their spiritual and physical health was more of a focus for me this time.
In Area 2, our sponsored child’s area and the area where we worked, the changes were amazing. We were greeted by gorgeous, smiling children singing and dancing with us. Last year, this wasn’t even a thought. The children had only been in the school for a week the last time we were there. They barely knew their names and any english. What a difference a year makes! Singing, smiling, talking, dancing, calling out the team member’s names, all in one year. I cried. As I walked into the school, the first change I noticed was the guard shack. They have to have a guard shack incase any outsiders try to get in. This is common. As I walked in, there was a new kitchen, and two new classrooms. This other picture is of me with our sponsored girl, Doreen. She is beautiful. She would run up to me every time she saw me and pinch me yelling “Jenn!” It was so neat. This is a child who a year ago didn’t know her name.
Anyway, we spent our time doing a medical clinic on Monday and then on Tuesday through Friday, we did a vacation bible school in the mornings. In the afternoon, we either did “Bring in the Light” or “Healthy Homes”. “Bring in the Light” was when we put plexiglass into the dark homes and shared the gospel message as well as talk to them about how important light is to them and just talking to them about the way they should keep their homes. “Healthy Homes” was about HIV/AIDS and explaining to them, as we looked around their homes, different ways that they could keep their homes “clean”. We taught them about sanitizing water, which they can do with a plastic bottle and sun as well as how they should not keep stagnant water in their homes and how cooking in their home is so dangerous and should be done outside. One grandmother told us that she has trouble cooking outside because she is afraid that if she does, someone will come up to her home and steal all the stuff she is using to cook. So sad.
I could talk about so much more, but needless to say, I will stop here. Mathare Valley in Nairobi Kenya has a piece of my heart and always will. It was an amazing trip and I am hoping to go back sometime in the near future. Let me leave you with this: 1John 3:16-17
“This is how we know what love is, Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters . If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Let us not love with words or speech but with action and in truth.”
Thank you in the name of Christ,
Jenn Buczynski
As I sit here and type my thoughts down, I can’t help but think about the changes compared from last year to this year. I think that is what I want to focus on in this letter. When Mike and I toured the Mathare slums last year, we were devastated. It was nothing like we had ever seen before. Even though our team was prepared wonderfully, the smell was something you could never prepare enough for. It was like nothing I had ever smelled. The same for the sights. I knew what to expect, but I was still amazed at how poor the conditions really were. It was the first time I had ever seen something like that in person. Sure, I saw it on television, but to see it in person is something totally different. This year, I was so incredibly excited to return. I couldn’t wait. I wanted to see the progress made in one year. When we first walked through Area 1, Pangani, I noticed right away that there was a difference already. To me, it looked “cleaner” than last time. Garbage was getting moved to a central area. This time, I could look at the people of Mathare. I was not looking at the area and how unsanitary it was, I was focusing on the men, women and children of Mathare. Their spiritual and physical health was more of a focus for me this time.
In Area 2, our sponsored child’s area and the area where we worked, the changes were amazing. We were greeted by gorgeous, smiling children singing and dancing with us. Last year, this wasn’t even a thought. The children had only been in the school for a week the last time we were there. They barely knew their names and any english. What a difference a year makes! Singing, smiling, talking, dancing, calling out the team member’s names, all in one year. I cried. As I walked into the school, the first change I noticed was the guard shack. They have to have a guard shack incase any outsiders try to get in. This is common. As I walked in, there was a new kitchen, and two new classrooms. This other picture is of me with our sponsored girl, Doreen. She is beautiful. She would run up to me every time she saw me and pinch me yelling “Jenn!” It was so neat. This is a child who a year ago didn’t know her name.
Anyway, we spent our time doing a medical clinic on Monday and then on Tuesday through Friday, we did a vacation bible school in the mornings. In the afternoon, we either did “Bring in the Light” or “Healthy Homes”. “Bring in the Light” was when we put plexiglass into the dark homes and shared the gospel message as well as talk to them about how important light is to them and just talking to them about the way they should keep their homes. “Healthy Homes” was about HIV/AIDS and explaining to them, as we looked around their homes, different ways that they could keep their homes “clean”. We taught them about sanitizing water, which they can do with a plastic bottle and sun as well as how they should not keep stagnant water in their homes and how cooking in their home is so dangerous and should be done outside. One grandmother told us that she has trouble cooking outside because she is afraid that if she does, someone will come up to her home and steal all the stuff she is using to cook. So sad. I could talk about so much more, but needless to say, I will stop here. Mathare Valley in Nairobi Kenya has a piece of my heart and always will. It was an amazing trip and I am hoping to go back sometime in the near future. Let me leave you with this: 1John 3:16-17
“This is how we know what love is, Jesus Christ laid down His life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers and sisters . If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother or sister in need but has no pity on them, how can the love of God be in that person? Let us not love with words or speech but with action and in truth.”
Thank you in the name of Christ,
Jenn Buczynski
Wednesday, July 14, 2010
Wild Olive Tees
Wild Olive Tees is an awesome website for women's scripture tee shirts. It is run by three mom's with awesome ideas. They have a heart for God and for sharing his word. These make great gifts!
Wednesday, July 7, 2010
July 7, 2010
Today is a big day for my little guy. Zach turns 7 today. We had an incredible 4th of July weekend. We went to Six Flags in Agawam Mass on Saturday and then on Sunday, we went to the Basketball Hall of Fame. It was just fantastic all in all. The kids were awesome, the day was great and the family time spent together was priceless. We were so tired on Sunday night that Mike and I decided that we were just going to stay at home and watch the Boston Pops on the TV. It really was fun.....We did miss the fireworks in Nashua but we just couldn't get our butts off of the furniture to go. Time is passing by so quickly and I cherish every minute that I have with my kids. They are so precious to me. I love having them home and watching them grow. Their father is an inspiration to me as to how he has handled this whole job situation. We don't know where we will be in 3 days or even 3 months from now. We are taking each day as it comes and as a gift from God. I am preparing for my return trip to Kenya. The new team is great and we are planning a VBS. It will be different without Mike, but I know that I am doing God's work and that he has something big for our team planned. There will be over 131 kids there this year. That is amazing! It will be wonderful to see what he has done in the year since we have been there. I am so excited to see what HE has done!
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
June 2010
I was just watching a video that was made from our trip to Africa. So many memories came flooding back. Happy and sad, joyful and anger...just a few of the things that came to me. I am preparing to go again with an incredible group of people. Sadly, Mike isn't going on this trip. I am so sad to not have him with me and I know that it will not be the same, but I take comfort in knowing that he will know exactly what I am feeling and will be able to help me get through the tough times when I return. Life throws curve balls that only God knows where they will land. The hard part is not knowing where they will land. I feel so blessed to have my family and I feel so loved by them. I get so mad at myself for the lack of patience I feel at times and the bickering that the siblings do with each other. It seems so petty to me. I try so hard to get them to remember WHO they represent and that I expect more of them. But then I remember that we all have issues and we all sin and we all aren't perfect. They are great kids and so loving and they love being at home and I absolutely love having them home. I have a few friends who are going through such a hard time. Three of them have cancer. One has a cyst in her brain. One isn't sure what is wrong with her, just something is wrong with her body physically. I look at them and they are such testimonies. Their outlook on life is incredible. If I could have the joy that they have, it would be awesome. I just read a book called, "same kind of different as me." What an inspirational book. I highly recommend it. It has become one of my favorites. Denver is a homeless man who meets Debbie. Debbie is an incredible woman who changes the lives of many people, Denver in particular. If even one of us could have the effect on one person, what change we could all have in the world. I want to do God's will and be the best wife and mom that He would want me to be. Life is short so don't waste it......I don't have a lot to give, but I want to give all that I have.
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Update
Seasons have come and gone and time has surely flown since my last trip to Kenya. Busy as ever. The kids are in new seasons of life. Andrew is now almost 13, Alyssa just turned 9 and Zach is almost 7. We are doing great with homeschooling. Andrew is finally really putting a lot of effort into his school. I am trying new things. I just started making bread, so we will see how far that goes. Mike is still out of work and looking real hard. He is running for our town Budget Committee. This is something he has wanted to do for a while now and we found our opening and he decided that it was time. We have the election this Tuesday the 9th. We are so excited! He is running for the 1year term uncontested. But we are so excited just for the experience in itself! The kids are having fun with it.
I am headed to Kenya again in October. I will be helping lead a team of 12 to Nairobi. Unfortunately this year, Mike is not coming. I am very sad about this. I wouldn't want to share this experience with anyone other than my husband. With his job situation, we just don't see it happening, but then again, if God has other plans, he will make it happen!! We had toyed for a while about actually becoming missionaries in Nairobi. That isn't out of the question, but for right now, there are no openings with CMF. I am headed to Indianapolis at the end of March for CHE training. I am going to learn more about this program and then hopefully will become equipped to train others going to Nairobi or other mission trips and then who knows. From there, I may be able to use it in the community! It is exciting. But I am so looking forward to be heading back to Nairobi. We start our team meetings this coming Sunday and I love it!
I am headed to Kenya again in October. I will be helping lead a team of 12 to Nairobi. Unfortunately this year, Mike is not coming. I am very sad about this. I wouldn't want to share this experience with anyone other than my husband. With his job situation, we just don't see it happening, but then again, if God has other plans, he will make it happen!! We had toyed for a while about actually becoming missionaries in Nairobi. That isn't out of the question, but for right now, there are no openings with CMF. I am headed to Indianapolis at the end of March for CHE training. I am going to learn more about this program and then hopefully will become equipped to train others going to Nairobi or other mission trips and then who knows. From there, I may be able to use it in the community! It is exciting. But I am so looking forward to be heading back to Nairobi. We start our team meetings this coming Sunday and I love it!
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)