FYI

I realized something today and i feel like i must apologize...

i seriously take no care of the grammar i put forth on this blog....see i treat it like my journal....i don't do that as much as i used to now that our world is so full of this machine called a computer....

i started journaling in the 6th grade...lets think...that means for 17 years i have journaled, here is the thing....i never focused on spelling, grammar or punctuation...i just write...it may not make sense to anyone except me...but i am OK with that....its really just good for me to write it out.... helps me process the things God is doing through the seasons of my life....

so yes reading my blogs must be hilarious at times as words are misspelled and .... is a regular period, but it is what it is...i figure not many read it so it doesn't matter all that much anyway.... this blog really is for me... since my paper journals are mainly for taking notes in church, time i spend with the Father and of course doodling.....

thanks for your grace it often shows how Gods grace is forever abundant...

Natalie

This girls got it... full of the kingdom... watch this....



what a challenge to live by... may my acts be extraordinary...

i am constantly reminded how honored i am to be one of the many people standing with the invisible children. what a blessing to get to be one of the anonymous extraordinaries behind the scene fighting the battle to end Kony's war...

i am so excited to see what God does from the 25 event- speak out without speaking- for more on this event click here...

1 step closer

Junior & i went to Orlando to renew his passport at the Haitian consulate there...the ladies that worked there were so wonderful...we somehow got into our story with them and they were so amazed....started speaking creole with me, laughing and such....granted i still missed a lot when they started talking over each other as Haitians are known to do...but it was a good experience and they were very helpful.

junior's passport will arrive in 7-10 days!!!

it was also a blessing because junior was able to see an old friend that now lives in Orlando. his friend, Robenson, from the neighborhood where he grew up...they both couldn't remember the last time they saw each other... it was a sweet reunion, so beautiful to see junior in that moment...

and he took me out for sushi....and he doesn't even like sushi...he's such a sport, so good to me!

so we are 1 step closer to Haiti... PTL (praise the LORD)

25-speak out with out speaking

As many of you know I try to always take the opportunity to be an activist when i can...especially with things that pull on my hearts strings... slavery in our world today is something that continually pulls on my heart and i continue to be broken over this injustice in our world....it is completely unacceptable that children are forced into being wifes, sex slaves, soldiers, you name it... no one should be forced and held against their own will...

many of you have heard of the invisible children (www.invisiblechildren.com)... they are a group that has started a movement and i am honored to say i have been able to be a part of it in many ways....

they focus on ending Africa's longest running war, the Lords Resistance Army, a rebel group made up of 90% children that have been abducted and taken away from their families, forced to kill or be killed.... it is horrindous and invisible children has been working the last 8 years to fight for peace and an end to this war of 25 years and i believe they wont stop until they do.

in 2005 they had the global night communte, in 2006 they had the dispace me event, in 2009 they had the rescue me and this year they are going to have 25....this event is 25 hours of silence to speak out against 25 years of war.... i know sounds confussing...how can you speak out with out speaking.... but this is how...you buy a kit which has a t-shirt and a neclance with 50 cards to carry explaining why you arent speaking...you also get to letters to write to your senaters and government officials to encourage them to end the war. then you make a fundraising page...this is where YOU come in.... click here to see my fundraising page & donate a few bucks to help end this war!

they are asking each participate to raise $25 dollars to help fund the protection plan. click here to see more on the protection plan.

here are a few videos to give you more of an idea about this war and about who invisible children are....

who we are video

global night communte: i got soul video

rescue me aftermath video

25 event details video

thanks for reading this and thanks for the ways in which you might participate to be an activist yourself!

God Bless you!
Natasha Jovin

ps-feel free to pass this on!

Greencard Appointment

It will be 7 weeks tomorrow since when we did our green card appointment up in Atlanta, a 5 hour drive from where we are in Georgia. We were blessed to be able to stay with Beaver's parents right outside of Atlanta in Marietta. They were so sweet to us, showing us their beautiful land full of life...plants flowers, projects...reminded me much of Beaver & Kathy now. His parents have been married over 50 years with a beautiful story that we were blessed to hear!

We left Monday after I closed the shop a bit early and headed to Marietta, spent the night there and the next morning traveled to the immigration office...i know there is a much fancier word for this building, but i cannot remember. we took with us a huge portable file folder thing filled with stuff we had been working on with our lawyer since August- 6 months worth and that's actually making really good time. it was funny junior was a bit nervous, even though he wouldn't admit it...i didn't feel nervous, but as i realized during the earthquake apparently i am a nervous pooper- lol-sorry for the TMI, but its simply the truth....so i didn't feel nervous, but i did feel like i had to go to the bathroom, even though i knew i really didn't.

oh and here is the side story you must know... our lawyer was not going to come with us, would be an extra $500 for us to do that and it was too much for our budget but the week before when we met with him to finalize things to make sure we were prepared...he said "oh by the way i have to be in Atlanta for another case so if you would like me to come i will be available, and it will only cost you a little over $100" we talked it over and figured it was probably a God thing....praise the Lord!

so back to the story...nervous pooper and man in denial enter the building excited and so ready to see God at work...we believe in the FAVOR He has placed upon this....

finally after waiting a bit- we go in with our lawyer.... who has told us it could take anywhere from 15 minutes to 2 hours depending on how your interviewer feels and probably how his day has gone so far.... however ours only took 10 minutes....

and YES we were APPROVED!!!! Holy Holy Holy!!!

it was great having our lawyer because i seriously have never had somebody ask so many questions, turn pages so fast, and check things off so fast in my life....by the time i found what he asked he had already asked 4 more questions and i was flustered...in fact at one point i corrected him on my birthday and said the wrong date...junior then corrected me with the right date and then our lawyer said..."way to know your wife's birthday junior" it was hilarious.... but having our lawyer there seriously was a blessing because the guy would ask a question and then our lawyer would say its on page such and such of the packet we sent you...so HUGE.....

Anyway we were able to share with the interviewer about much ministries and Haiti and a tiny bit of our heart...when we where leaving Junior encouraged the guy to go to our website and get involved...the guy asked why junior felt lead to do so...junior said well you had compassion on us, you seem like a man that would want to help those around him struggling and that he seemed like a generous and caring man... the man said he REALLY appreciated that....

we left feeling blessed and full of favor and honored to maybe give that interviewer a moment of peace and rest and vulnerability and positivity...as he may often be lied to and experience a lot of negativity....

it was good....

HERE IS THE GOOD NEWS.....TODAY....

WE RECEIVED THE GREEN CARD IN HAND! HOLY HOLY HOLY.....we are totally done for now....

in DEC. 2012 we will reconnect with our lawyer and start the process to get the 10year green card...this one expires in 2013....

NOW WE CAN GO TO HAITI!!!!!! PRAISE GOD!!! i cannot begin to tell you how ready my husband is to see his family there...its been more than 3 years....

we are so so so so excited....thanks to our Lord who always takes care of us.

thanks also to those that prayed for this situation we are ever so grateful!!!

love the jovin's!

a rambling of ...

hey everybody...or mom, manda & sarah beth...i know i haven't written on here in forever...but as probably know...the brooks...aka beaver & kathy have been out of the country...which mean... my role steps up in the market place and its busy busy busy...and also...sometimes i don't exactly know how to write about the things that are going on...

hard things, but also beautiful things....

Poutchino went back to Haiti...still don't know how in the world to write about this... just keep telling myself...Gods plan is better than any plan i could ever make...HE is always good!

junior & i...had our green card appointment in ATL... i think i wrote about this but i cant even remember...but if i haven't i know i need too.... good stuff...

we finally have a countdown to Haiti...

we are trying to repair his moms house in Haiti...i definitely need to write about this too...okay...just rambling...

one day i will get on here... promise.

may is grace be evident all throughout your day... peace to you...

25 Hours

I know that i am not consistently active with invisible children as much these days with everything going on at the market place as i work with much ministries...but this is so my heart... a big piece of it anyway...

these children need a safe place, these families need peace...and this war must stop....justice is calling... lets spread the word.

i have been involved in every single one of their events

2006 i helped organize the global night communite in Kansas City
2007 i participated in displace me in Kansas City
2009 i organized with the help of many a group to communite to the Tallahassee Rescue Me with Much Ministries...it was amazing!

this year...i plan to participate as well. please watch the video and join me...stand up for those that need us...we are one human family!

25 Event Details from INVISIBLE CHILDREN on Vimeo.

Georgia Times Union

Check out this article that the GTU newspaper did on Poutchino... he's actually had a few stories written in newspapers already, but i think this one is the best so far...they did a really great job!

click HERE to read the story online!

on bended knee

So if you follow my blog at all you know the story of sweet joyful Poutchino...the boy of many miracles...

the last post i wrote about him was that we desperately were working to find a family for him...realizing the time of his visa was coming to an end...

we have worked hard...many people, especially Nancy Brickell... people have been making flyers...connecting with newspapers telling churches and friends, but most of all praying praying praying....


in the process there have been several families that have showed interest, but for the most part they arent procactive...or it wasnt a right fit...all probably God ordained...but it has been rough at times, wanting so desperately to find him a home so he can stay stateside where he will recieve the attention he needs...there have been times of discouragement, tears...praying together, trusting in God and deep breaths...but also moments of MUCH joy and laughter in it all...

Dorothy's is a great place, but even before the earthquake and his medical visa to get here we prayed one day he would find a home...

today i write this to say God has answered our crys for him to have a home...

a family has come forward and decided that they want Poutchino to be a part of their family.

we know they are commited...

check out the following:

they have contacted the hospital to extend his free medical care and the hospital has agreed
they have applied for a home study, which you need before you can adopt a child--- home studies usually cost at least $1,500
they are meeting with Nancy tomorrow night to meet him and to gather all his paper work
they have an appointment with an international adoption lawyer on friday to review and move forward on what needs to be done

God telling us He's got this:

THEY LOVE THE LORD....
the mother has medical experience and isnt afraid of his siezure condition
her & her husband have 3 boys, all of helping age...i think about 11years old and up
she is a stay at home mom and does homeschool... good for poutchino...

the bonus miracle:

the familiy literally lives 5-10minutes away from Nancy in Jacksonville florida. how amazing is that?!!!!

WE STILL NEED TO BE IN PRAYER

God has answered our prayer for a family to come forward...but here is the thing....his visa ends on the 12th of March and this is very soon....

it may not be likely for the family to have a home study done by then or to have his medical visa extended...there is much paper work that needs to happen for everything to be set in place....but again nothing is impossible with God....

so please continue to be on bended knee with us in prayer

pray for all the details to get worked out...

pray for Nancy and the brickells as they will have to transition and adjust to live without Poutchino there on a daily basis

pray for this new family as they create space for a new memeber of their family...for the paper work to the intimate day to day things

pray for Dorothy and her ministry as i have no doubt they miss poutchino on a daily basis still and as they might need to open up their home again to caring for him...they will do their very best....i have no doubt....

pray for the adoption agency and lawyer that will be involved that all the intericate details would fall right into place...


ps: this Sunday we are celebrating POUTCHINO at the Market Place here in Waynesville.... it will be a lovely day....and all are welcome!

a life is a life...

I don't know if you have heard, but there was an earthquake in new Zealand recently and the disaster was bad, as of right now 75 people have died and they have declared it one of the worst disasters to hit new Zealand. to read more on the quake there... click HERE

after watching the news about this and reading a few articles...i have come to realize something... i compare every disaster, natural disaster to Haiti's earthquake of January 2010 and comparison is never a good thing...because all things are relative...

see everything doesn't seem as bad beacuse i believe Haiti was probably the worst natural disaster of our time...how can loosing 75 lives compare to over 200,000...

then i think well maybe its because i was there...and that experience was so intense...but then i think why wouldn't i be more compassionate...because i understand what it is like to be there...to be in that state of crisis...to understand the earth moving beneath you and all the chaos that comes with that...

surely i would have more compassion and not comparison...

surely i would be more like my Father in heaven and LOVE....

surely i would be moved to pray harder because of the empathy in me literally knowing what that experience is like...

but i have found that i don't...

i do at moments, but generally i compare and then i am angry...

HOW COULD ANYONE FORGET HAITI...

do they realize the gravity of what is still going on in Haiti because of that earthquake...

do they realize the shape this country was even in before the disaster...

i want to say stop looking at this disaster and be reminded of Haiti's and that it is still struggling in ways most of us could never even fathom...

i know it is wrong of me to feel this way in a sense...for the Lord tells us to have compassion on one another, to pray and show HIS LOVE...

see whether it is 75 or 200,000.... 1 is 1 and a life is a life... i pray for more compassion...but at the same time i think it is okay for me to be angry...

of course, only if its a JUST anger for the nation of Haiti because the situation it is in...

most of it's struggle imposed on the country not because of Haitians, but the countries around them for years taking advantage of them...

despite their strength...

all this to say...sometimes i don't understand my inner reactions to the disasters i see in the world...

i miss Haiti...

i cry for Haiti...

i pray for Haiti...

my heart is for Haiti...

but...

A LIFE IS A LIFE...no matter how many....

God's timing

Check out this recent blog i wrote on the MUCH Ministries website....

its just some thoughts i wanted to share...

CLICK HERE

Prayer Requests

I have touched base with some of you, but know that lists & messages help me to remember things, so no doubt it is probably that way for you as well.

i know we all have things going on and junior and i pray for you daily...but i also know sometimes its great to know the specific needs. Feel free to tell us what is going on in your life...we would love to hear.

We thought we would tell you 4 specific things that Junior & I would love our family & friends to be in prayer with us about...

1. Junior & I will be in ATL tuesday for our interview with immigration at noon. It is the last step in the Greencard process that we have been working on since August of last year. Pray with us for FAVOR & the right person to interview us!!!

2. Junior's sister Marie runs an orphanage, school & church in Haiti and for the last several weeks has been getting phone calls threatening her that she will be kidnapped for ransom, $100,000 to be exact. She runs her ministry mainly through donation and definitely does not have that kind of money. pray with us for PROTECTION, PROVISION, & PEACE... no fear.

3. Poutchino- that the right family comes forward to adopt him and that he can get an extention on his visa for the process--- that he is completely healed from the brain damage that has happened because of the hydrocephalis. An interested family has come forward this week- pray for their descernment and clarity in the decision making to have him join their family. FAVOR & PROVISION in all of the things revolving around this situation.

4. Junior & I along with anyone willing are trying to rebuild his mothers home in haiti. it has been more than a year since the earthquake and his mother, in her 60's and living with arthrisis is still sleeping outside. We hope to fix her home before we go to visit this summer... hopefully even before. Pray with us for the FUNDS to be able to do this...

Okay- i could probably talk all day about each of these topics...so i hope i didnt give more information that you need...but would love for you to join us in prayer.

thank you for all you do and how you each have been a part of our lives...Junior & I are blessed to know you, call you our friends & family.

may LOVE & GRACE be abundant in you today.

Natasha & Junior Jovin