At the welcome assembly in Corinto – some of the children did beautiful traditional Nicaraguan dances

Our team singing to the kids and families in Corinto – we sang “How Great is Our God”

Meeting Milagro and her father

These streets had sewers but they were open and ended right in the yards of the people we were visiting

The cooking station at one of our home visits – she was cooking for the returning fishermen

The other half of her kitchen

The bed their family of five shares in her brother’s house

Her husband holding the baby – he was such a loving dad!

The kids back at the Compassion program

Singing with the kids at the school

Blowing bubbles with the children at the school

Bringing in the afternoon meal

Yum! Chicken corn soup with plantains

There were dogs absolutely everywhere, and you could tell by their posture it was really hot

To view larger images of the pictures, just click on them.

The next morning we got up and went to the church partnership in Corinto. This was especially interesting because it’s a new program here. The ones we had seen in Managua were well established and had many graduates, but this program had only begun 8 months ago.

Corinto is on the Pacific coast, and most of the population are fishermen. The church we were with had been trying to get Compassion there for several years, and the pastor was so happy that they had gotten the program started! Although it was rural as opposed to urban, the neighborhood felt similar, and we would learn the same truths about it – poor but decent housing surrounded on the fringes by a double layer of true desperation.

One of the problems that we see everywhere we go in developing nations is water. These people had no clean water at all. But the problem is very different. When we were in Kenya, there was no clean water, but there was no water at all. People were walking 8 miles to dirty water everyday. That is a serious problem. Here, there was water everywhere – they were living on an ocean just feet above sea level and dirty water was running through the streets. They had no access to clean water, and also no way to get away from the dirty water – no sewers, no filtration system, floods every time it rained bringing sewage and trash with it right into their homes. Opposite ends of a desperate problem with water.

We got to the church and they had a special assembly with all the kids and a lot of parents to welcome us. Since this is a new program, we were the first visitors other than the staff in Nicaragua, so that made us an oddity. 🙂 The kids did a beautiful program including some singing and traditional Nicaraguan dances and then we sang for them too. Afterward we went out and saw the classrooms and heard from the school administrator and pastor about how the program was going and how it was impacting the community and the families.

As we were listening to this pastor, something struck me that I had never realized before about this program. This pastor was also so passionate about helping these kids and families and he knew every one. This was his neighborhood, these were his neighbors. He had seen the problems and his church wanted so much to help, but lacked the resources. I thought about how heartbroken I would be as a Christian if I saw obvious needs around me that I could not address, and I realized that not only are we helping the children and their families, we are enabling the Church to be the Church in a way that would not be possible for them without support. This is a double blessing we are giving!

The pastor’s wife here was amazing! She loved the children so much, and she was with us for a lot of the time we were there, mostly because we were going to the homes of children in her class and she was so proud of them, she wanted to introduce us and show us how special they were. The mothers of kids in her class told us she visits every day, just to check in and see how they are doing, if they need anything and are doing their homework. It was incredible! These are the people we are supporting in ministry!

While at the school I got to meet a very special child named Milagro which means “miracle.” My scheduling coordinator and good friend, Donna, asked me to find a child who needed a sponsor while I was there and meet her for Donna’s family so they could sponsor her and feel like they knew her situation personally. Donna already sponsors three boys, so she thought it was time for a girl!

Milagro is the youngest of three children and 7 years old. Her father is a single dad, and our translator, Carlos, told me that he thinks her father is “a very brave man.” He told me that the culture does not see caring for ones’ children as being masculine, so if the mom leaves (Milgro’s mother is an alcoholic and abandoned the family) most dads would abandon their children. Milagro’s father told me many times how much he loves his children, and that he could not imagine giving them up. He drives a bicycle cart and supports his family that way. Milagro also has a 15 year old brother and a 9 year old sister named Amanda who has some neurological issues. Amanda was having testing for that the following week and the dad asked us to pray for her with tears in his eyes. She is able to have the testing now because she is also sponsored through Compassion, and he is hoping they will finally get some answers and medical help.

After meeting Milagro (we were going to visit her at home the next day), we went for another home visit to one of the families in the program. This neighborhood was slightly better than the urban one in that it had open sewers running alongside the street rather than sewage running in the street. Unfortunately, the sewer ended where the pavement did, which was right where the houses we were visiting started, draining all that was running through the sewer right into the backyards of these homes.

The father of the family we visited was a fisherman, and he had been out fishing all night, but asked to be woken when we got there because he wanted to see us. We got there and talked to mom, dad, the three kids, the sister-in-law, and nephew. They lived next door to mom’s brother which had turned out to be a real blessing. There was an earthquake two weeks earlier, and now their house was tilted about 30 degrees off vertical. It was too dangerous to sleep in there (we went in for a few minutes and I was seriously uncomfortable just being inside it because it was so obviously unstable), so her brother had taken them in, and now there were eight people sleeping in one room about 10 feet by 14 feet, with one twin bed holding her family of five and her brother’s family sleeping on the floor. They had no mattress – the bed frame was lined with rags – and they were hoping to do something about the situation because at the full moon, the tides shift and usually flood their homes monthly. She was not sure how they would get all eight of them in the bed when the floor flooded.

It’s hard to describe how difficult it was to be at this home. The smell was incredible as there was running sewage in the yard, and the mud flats behind the home are exposed at the low tide which makes everything smell like fish. There were flies and insects everywhere. It was very hard to keep anything or anyone clean with the mud everywhere. Mom makes an extra $2 a day by cooking for the fishermen when they are coming in after work, and the whole time we were talking, she was working, cooking chicken that had had no refrigeration in 98 degree heat all day, using one knife for the chicken and vegetables, with no water and no way to clean anything, dripping chicken juices all over her work surface. It was difficult not to react.

We sat and talked with them for a long time. Dad works 15 to 24 hour shifts. He gets 1 Cordoba for every pound of fish he catches. There are 26 Cordoba to 1 US Dollar, so that’s 26 pounds of fish for him to make $1. She said on his best days, he catches 200 pounds of fish, making just under $8, and about half the days, he will work those very long shifts and catch nothing. She cooks for the fishermen and also cuts wood, rowing 3 hours to get to the place where they can cut it, bringing it back in the boat, and selling it for 40 cents per 100 pieces. If she still doesn’t have enough money to feed the family every day, she will go and rent a bicycle cart and drive people around until she earns enough to make a meal.

People have said to me that poor people just need to work harder or make different choices. Poverty is so much more complicated than that. These people worked harder than I ever have, often not sleeping at all because they are chopping wood during the day and fishing all night. If you have no money, you can’t move to a place with more opportunity because you have no means to get there or money to stay somewhere when you arrive. When you have to work every second of the day just to eat, you have no time to attend school to change your future. When you have no hope of things ever being better, you don’t think about the future – you are always focused on what you need right now.

There were people making bad choices, just like Milagro’s mother, but there were many more doing everything they could to provide for their families. There are people making bad choices at every level of society. The difference is that when you have a little more, you have options. And what I saw Compassion giving was the hope of Christ, so people knew they could have a different future, and then the means to realize that future.

We went back to the school and played with the kids for a while. We had brought some candy and some bubbles and other things to play with. It was a relief really to get back to the school and see the happy faces of the kids. We served them a meal (Compassion helps with nutrition, education, Christian nurture, medical care, and many other things) which they do every day before the kids head home to make sure they have dinner. This school was sunny and bright and clean, and the kids were so beautiful and happy, it was jarring to realize what they will go home to everyday.

And yet, I want to make sure that I say, these parents were amazing. They loved their children! They loved them so much, and they worked so hard with what they had. They had dignity, and they wanted so much more for their kids. That was what I heard over and over – they were so proud that their kids were going to school, that there might be something different for them down the road. Generational poverty is very hard to see beyond, but these parents had a glimpse of what could be, and they were hopeful to see where it would take their children.

To sponsor a child today, please visit Compassion following this link!

Compassion International headquarters for Nicaragua

The man in charge of letters from sponsors showing us the letters he will check in and get translated that day

Nathan meeting the pastor at the one of the programs in Managua

A classroom at the Compassion program in Managua

The folders kept for each child in the program with their educational, medical, social, and letter history

“Let the little children come to me, and do not hinder them, for the kingdom of God belongs to such as these.” Mark 10:14

A boy welcoming us to the second Managua program reading to us from his Bible with Mario translating

The nicer streets with just a little water running today – it hasn’t rained for a week.

Our first home visit – mom shows us her home

With the children out front

Nathan walking down their steps to leave – this is the “stream” of sewage the children jump every day to get to school and it’s low now

A washing station at one of the homes we visited

One of the kids we played with most back at the school

To view larger images of the pictures, just click on them.

If you’ve been following us for a while, you’ll know that we’ve always been very passionate about children’s welfare and poverty relief. We’ve been working in conjunction with several organizations to protect and nurture the most vulnerable children in the world through sponsorship and awareness of issues like poverty and trafficking. Next to people knowing Jesus, this is probably the thing I would most like to share with the world and over the years we’ve gotten hundreds and hundreds of kids sponsored in developing countries.

Most recently we’ve partnered with Compassion International and this past week we had the privilege to go to Nicaragua with them. It was a hard, amazing, educational, eye-opening, overwhelming experience all rolled into one. I knew that Compassion was an organization with integrity, that they have an outstanding reputation and are one of the top rated charities in the world, but to see the program in action really took it from paper to reality for me. It was truly an incredible trip!

We flew out of Columbus on Monday, and met up with about half the team in Houston. There were several other artists on this trip, all going to see Compassion’s work in the field. Unfortunately, we had no idea what anyone looked like, so while we knew they were on our plane, we didn’t know who they were until we got to Managua! We got in, got introduced and went to the hotel for dinner and to wait for the other half of the group who were coming through Atlanta. There were 16 of us plus 4 Nicaraguan staff members (who rocked by the way! Thanks, Corina, Milagro, Mario, and Carlos!!). It was a very diverse group with artists from around the US and all different genres and audiences, and yet, God is a common denominator. What a fun group of Christ followers! It’s like going to camp – we may have only spent several days together, but you come back bonded. 🙂

The next morning we started very early because they wanted to show us a broad spectrum of the work happening in the country and we didn’t have much time. We started with the national offices where there are about 50 people on staff. Compassion has 45,000 children in its programs in Nicaragua, and we were so incredibly impressed by the efficiency and professionalism of this office. What was more impressive, though, were the hearts of the people working there. Over and over we heard what a privilege it was to serve children and families in the name of Jesus, and it was obvious in everything they did. I especially loved learning how the letters come in and get processed and translated and sent to the field. They do 10,000 letters per month just in Nicaragua! And speaking of which, if you sponsor a child, please, please write to them! Everywhere we go we hear from the kids how important their sponsor’s letters are to them, and sadly, we hear from many who never get a letter, even when they write asking for one. Please know how much your letters mean to them, and get writing!

After the headquarters, we went to a church partner in Managua to see an urban program. Compassion always works through church partnerships, and the pastor of this church welcomed us with open arms. He touched my heart so much – he was very animated when we got there telling us about his programs and the church, but as soon as he started talking about the children, he got so choked up he couldn’t talk for quite a while. These children aren’t just pictures in a folder to him – these children are his children. They are real, and this program is so invested in their future!

While there, we saw the whole program, met the staff, and got to see the level of detail and involvement they have in the kids’ lives. They keep a record for each child of the school history, help needed, medical history, even their dreams and plans for their future and a plan the staff has worked out individually with each child to help them reach their goals. It was incredible! These folders were 5 inches thick, and they have one for each and every child in the program worldwide. One of the greatest needs of people everywhere is to be seen, to be known, and it was very obvious that what this staff was saying to these kids was, “I see you, I know you, you are valuable.”

We had lunch with the staff there (yes, it was only lunchtime!!) and then headed to another urban partner church to see their program and play with the kids. We also had the opportunity to have some home visits. They split the team up, and our smaller group got to visit two homes where sponsored children live – they were next door neighbors. It was very sobering. We walked just a few blocks from the church down charming, poor but nice houses painted in bright colors. The worst part was the sewage running through the middle of the dirt streets, but it wasn’t too bad. We walked one block behind those houses though, and entered a different world. We saw the “stream” where are the sewage was headed. It was wide enough that I literally had to jump over it, and when I did, I realized that we were in the front yard of our home visit house, and it was a shack made of tacked together plywood and pieces of tin with rusty barbed wire hanging at head height being used as a clothes line. The small children living here had to jump that river of sewage every day just to get to school. We had had 5 clear days, so it wasn’t high when we went, but they had had flooding so bad the week before that it ran through they house and washed their lavatory down their hill. Their mother had her hand bandaged because she had cut it with a machete while gathering firewood the week before, and she’d had to dig a new latrine in their yard with her damaged hand.

It was a terrible situation. But after getting past that for a few moments, I realized that what was most striking about this was that even in spite of the poverty and desperation of their situation, this mom had such dignity and joy. She was proud to invite us to her home, and she had dressed in her best dress. She had a son and twin daughters, and they were obviously wearing their best clothes, and she was clearly proud of them – they were all so loving to each other. Her house was neat and as clean as she could make it with a dirt floor. One of the twins has some special needs, and her brother and sister both treated her kindly and hugged her continually – they were obviously friends. She told us how much she appreciated the education and medical care her kids were receiving, and what a difference it was making in their lives. We asked how we could pray for her, and she asked for prayers for her husband’s safety – he was away in the army – and that her children would have a different future than hers.

The second home was similar. Two things stood out here – when we asked if the children received letters from their sponsors, the mom pointed to her son and daughter and said, “He writes and gets letters, and she writes but gets no letters.” It was so sad. The other thing was when we asked the little boy what he would want to pray for, he said, “Food!” He is six, and how I wish he’d never had to wonder if there would be food. I was so struck by the fact that when we asked the parents at all of our visits this week what they wanted most or what we could pray for, they did not ask for what I thought would be obvious or for things for themselves, but instead asked that we pray for a different future for their children. As a mom, that really spoke to me.

After that we drove about 3.5 hours up the coast to Chicandega, checked into our hotel, and basically collapsed. It felt like a week’s worth of experiences in one day, and it’s going to take us a while to process everything we are seeing.

To sponsor a child today, please visit Compassion following this link!

The Christian Post is doing a 4 part series on my right now and the first installment came out today – hope you enjoy them! Let us know what you think. 🙂 You can find those here.

With Meagan Gillan, head of Women Ministries for the Evangelical Covenant Denomination

With all the presidents of regions for women’s ministry

Isn’t it great when you think you’re going to serve others and give, and then you realize that while that may have happened too, God had something just for you? Last Friday, Donna and I left bright and early and drove to Chicago. I was invited to do some worship and just meet with the women’s leadership for the Evangelical Covenant denomination at their annual meeting. We got there Friday night and met them at The Compassion Experience, a traveling experience that takes you into the real story of a couple of kids who have been sponsored by Compassion and tells you their story and where they ended up – it was fascinating and moving and I immediately looked up where it will be this year when I got home. I want to take my kids! If it’s anywhere near you, don’t miss it – it’s free too, which is always a plus. 🙂

We had dinner together and frankly, I was a little intimidated by this group as they run women’s ministry for all of the US and Canada for a whole denomination, but I had no reason to be – what incredible, Godly, sweet, humble, funny women. We had a blast getting to know them!

Saturday morning I did some worship and music for them, and then they were going to do a discernment exercise, basically guided prayer where you are seeking God’s will and direction for future ministry by praying together. They invited me to stay, and I did it with Donna about my ministry. What a wonderful God we serve! He made several things so clear to me that I have been praying about and wrestling over for some time. It was so sweet of Him, and it really touched my heart. I felt like I had come to do this ministry for these women, but God had me there just to speak to me about our direction!

We ended the weekend talking to a pastor’s wife about a ministry event who also happened to be one of Donna’s oldest friends. Can’t really have a better meeting than that – she was so much fun! We even got to stop by Donna’s alma mater, Wheaton, to see how everything had changed. Add to that the spectacular color on the trees the entire way home, and that was a pretty amazing weekend.

Ministry Best Practices has republished my article “Why Has My Congregation Stopped Singing?” They did a slightly abbreviated version of it – you can check that out here!

Andy and Katie listening to the toasts

On a personal note, I just had to share that I gained another (my third!!) sister named Katie yesterday. My brother Andy got married this weekend and we are just thrilled for them. Welcome to the family!

At the Missionary Churches retreat

I had the great privilege to do the women’s retreat for the East Central District of the Misisonary Church this past weekend, and what fun to be back with them! I had done their retreat a couple of years ago, and so many of these women are people I’m excited to get to hang out with in heaven. Just a blessing to have more time with them here on earth! We learned about God’s power to transform us into people He can use, and it was wonderful to hear all the feedback about how God was speaking to people that weekend. Hope to be back with them soon!

It’s Sensory Awareness Month! Many of you know that we have been through SPD with our son, Toby, and that is the topic of my book “Life Not Typical: How Special Need Parenting Changed My Faith and My Song.” This month there are several places featuring an article I wrote and my video for special needs families called “Your Child.” Here’s a link to one of them – I’d love to hear what you think of the article!

At Old Fort Church

This past weekend was a lot of fun and beautiful too! I was up at Lakeside Chatauqua in Ohio with the women from Northside Christian Church to do their women’s retreat. It was such a fun group because they are a smaller church and had done this together for years. There were so many solid friendships and it was just a pleasure to get to know them. It’s not a bad setting either! Lakeside is just beautiful and super quirky as well. The houses are historic and it’s so fun just to walk around and see all the different styles and the beautiful lake! We had a great time learning about the life of Peter together. Apparently I forgot to take pictures there – so sad because it was gorgeous!

On Sunday morning my mom and I got up really early and left for Old Fort Church in Tiffin, OH. Their music director, Mike, has done sound for me on a couple of women’s retreats up in that area, and when I told him I was going to be at Lakeside, he invited me to do some guest worship and music on their morning services. It was a God appointment morning, really. This congregation just had some extremely sad and difficult news, and I had planned to sing “Someday” which was pretty spot on for what they were going through. I’m so glad I got to bring a little encouragement from the Lord and I am praying for that whole situation – it’s tough.

This weekend was contrasts for me – one beautiful and fun event, and one deep and hard event, but both places it was so clear that God was working. I love that He lets me come along for the ride!

Just a couple of things happening around here lately. First, I’ve been commissioned to write several sets of Scripture memory songs for kids (18 to be exact) this year, and also to produce and manufacture them. We will combine these sets with the previous sets and put them on on one CD, so it will be a total of 30 Scripture songs and 9 other Christian kids’ songs. We do these for Adventure Week (aka VBS) at a church here in Columbus. I’ll let you know when they’re done, and for all of you who have danced to the famous “Elvis Does Philippians” song in one of my concerts, you know they’ll be good. 🙂 You can find all of our previous kids’ songs in my store.

Secondly, we’ve just finalized plans to go to Nicaragua with Compassion this November. We’re super excited to see their work first hand in the field! Many of you know this is a relatively new partnership for us, and so far we are thrilled with all we’re learning about them. I’m sure I’ll have lots of pictures and updates when we get back! Interested in changing a life forever? You can sponsor a child here.

And finally, the video for our song “Your Child” just keeps going! It celebrates families dealing with disability, and last week sometime we hit over 50,000 views when I wasn’t even looking. 🙂 Have you shared it yet? You can find it here.