A year of significance

Before making another leap of faith into the great unknown that is 2025, allow me to find my footing on what is thoroughly done, 2024.

As is more often the case these days, my journey parallels that of the Nest. This last year I’ve been an eyewitness to incredible, over the top, abundant blessings for the Nest. Evidence that the ministry has found favor with the Giver of all good things, God himself.

In a sentence that is a bold yet very humbling revelation. The idea that the Lord of Heaven is watching over us, empowering us to walk in His will, makes each step deeply significant. Does that mean we’ve had angel wings and halos all of last year… ah! Hardly. But that’s the advantage of this time of year, with fresh beginnings and a rear view mirror perspective of what has happened in the near past. Like, what will be remembered years from now when 2024 is mentioned.

I’m currently putting the polishing touches on our yearly Nest newsletter so keep an eye on your inbox for that bit of news, it will literally be a downpour of encouragement for all of you who’ve been on this journey with us, so stay tuned.

But to give you a glimpse into 2024, you’ll find blessings of various shades of grace all with a theme of growth. Yes there’s been some amazing material things like a new truck and full solar electricity at the Nest, temporal to be sure but yet very much helpful.

Our self sustaining farm effort has brought the joy and pleasure of caring for our animals ( chickens, ducks, and sheep) not to mention our 6 dogs and 3 cats. Also our crops of banana, cacao, and coffee exploded in a happy but busy fruitful harvest. Our main crop of vanilla is quite healthy and showing the loving care of our attention, but she’s not yet ready for harvest…2025 should be the year.

But the blessings of a more significant nature center on God’s creative masterpiece, people.

Visiting short term missionaries and longer term interns have literally had the course of their lives altered as a result of serving at the Nest. And for Gods glory I might add.

We’ve witnessed an entire community rallying behind our cause of sheltering at risk children as we come out of our building frenzy to be embraced with a reputation of being a beacon on the hill, unapologetically proclaiming the immense love of Jesus over the BriBri nation.

And then there’s our BriBri staff, mostly all of them single mothers and which without whom the Nest would grind to a halt. These women are the backbone of our daily operations and they do their work with thanksgiving in their hearts. I’m going to throw in here a little pitch for them. If you’re not aware we have a fund campaign for our staff called the 33.33$. That’s only 33 bucks a month from your wallets to allow us to pay these God-fearing, hardworking single moms to help them raise their children. Our fund consists of finding 100 faithful givers at 33$ monthly apiece to pay their salaries. As of today we only have about 20 such givers. If you already support the Nest or Karina and I personally, please consider adding this opportunity to directly support our ground team. These people are super poor, and sometimes are climbing over each other to land a job here at the Nest, as the word is spread in the nearby communities. We only sign them up if they’re on board with our spiritual vision and purpose. So thank you for taking a moment to prayerfully consider and then please ACT on this big need.

That brings me finally to our most valued people… the little ones. This past year has seen hundreds upon hundreds of children come to the Nest for playing sports, bible lessons , learning new skills, eating healthy food, and simply coming here to feel safe. I’ll share much more of this in the upcoming newsletter.

Let me close with this thought. In the pages of scriptural history many times Gods people would face insurmountable difficulties, and hardship. They would shake their hands towards heaven and ask for mercy. Gods answer to them was often to simply remember. To remember the past, and His promises, His unchanging grace and love, His times of plenty to get them through times of need. For the Nest, 2024 will be one of those years to remember, like a polished gem in the pocket of our hearts.

And 2025 ??

Well let’s do it together again for sure!

And with Jesus as our shepherd, and let’s get deeply in debt to the love we all owe each other, a debt that should never be paid off. Paul made this clear when he wrote to the believers in Rome, “Let no debt remain outstanding, except the continuing debt to love one another, for he who loves his fellowman has fulfilled the law” (Rom. 13:8).

God keep and bless you all.

With love and gratitude,

James Beach