What a Year! Hearn Family Update 2011

Two thousand and eleven was a great year for the Hearn Family. We are certainly hitting our stride and beginning to flourish in our roles as quasi-missionaries/NGO directors. Here are the highlights:

The Family

Hearn Family SpainThe kids are growing smarter and more beautiful everyday. Ben started preschool (in all-Spanish public school) this September, and is comfortable and making friends and learning muchas español! Emma just turned double-digits and is getting taller and smarter by the day. Her entrepreneurial streak is still going strong and she is still doing well as the proprietor of the leadership academy’s snack bar. Gabriella is still our precocious, outgoing one–she has made best friends with our new neighbors and walks their dog every day after school. She is doing excellent in school and was recently asked to help tutor another Spanish student in her grade.

 

 

G42 Leadership Academy

Dave Hearn teachingOur primary job (outside of raising a family) for me and Bec is running the G42 Leadership Academy. It is a 6-month discipleship/leadership training program located in Mijas, Spain. Our role includes everything from fixing water heaters and shopping for bunk beds to teaching and coaching.

2011 has seen G42 grow from a leadership academy to a multi-faceted worldwide family. We’re also proud to be stretching and growing our capabilities and vision. The leadership, staff, interns, and alumni of the 42nd Generation have had an excellent year as we serve the needs of Mijas, Spain, and the world.

In 2011, the G42 Leadership Academy trained & commissioned 29 leaders into various fields around the world, taking the total number of alumni to 71 people. Alumni are running non-profits, anti-trafficking organizations, serving at children’s homes, managing retreat centers, and leading missions trips (Just this year, they’ve led 9 short and long-term missions teams, including over 200 participants, to places such as Uganda, Puerto Rico, Swaziland, Thailand, Guatemala, and India)

English Classes

Teaching English in "El Epicentro"The greatest surprise for us since we moved to Spain has been Rebecca’s Clases de Inglés. What started as a favor for a friend has now turned into a daily after school program for over 40 students! In 2011, Rebecca became an official autonomo (self-employed) so she is official and we are enrolled in the Spanish national health system. This saves us buying insurance from the states, but it means she has to pay into the tax/social security system.

These classes are our best connection with our neighbors, and helped us to integrate a little more into the normal life of the village.

G42 Africa

G42 Africa Christian Leadership TrainingWe are proud to announce that G42 Africa will be launched in February 2012. G42 is partnering with LightForce International on their self-sustaining village in Lira, Uganda to provide leadership teaching and training to African leaders & church planters. This is the realization of our dream for “kingdom planters” around the world to provide a place of life, learning, and love to a community, and to disciple a new generation to start the cycle over again. Armand & Rebeca VanDijk, Leadership Academy graduates from September 2010, are the full-time leaders in Uganda for this project.

Anyway, enough for now… let’s get on with Twenty-Twelve!