A Beautiful Example of Christ...

The following is from www.breakpoint.org. I have followed this story and been moved by this man's testimony and example during a time more horrendous than I can even imagine...

Christmas and HopeA Testimony Amidst Tragedy
Chuck Colson
December 24, 2008

Dong Yun Yoon of University City, California, will never forget this Christmas. Two weeks ago, his family was killed when a Marine F-18 Hornet fighter jet lost power and crashed into his home.

In an instant, this season of joy become a time of unimaginable sorrow for Yoon. However, his response to the tragedy can only be described as a great gift to all of us.

The plane’s engines failed during a training flight off the U.S.S. Abraham Lincoln. The pilot, Lt. Dan Neubauer, tried to reach Miramar Marine Corps Air Station in San Diego but wound up safely ejecting from the plane about two miles from the station.

The plane crashed into the Yoon’s just-moved-into home. Young Mi Yoon, their daughters Rachel and Grace, and her mother were killed.

While the tragedy was front-page news, what happened next captured the imagination of the country. The next day, an understandably devastated Yoon told reporters that he didn’t have any “hard feelings” toward the pilot and that he knew that the pilot “did everything he could.”
Not only that, Yoon said, “I pray for him not to suffer for this action,” and called him “one of our treasures for the country.”

Having embodied grace and forgiveness, Yoon then told reporters what made it possible: “I believe my wife and two babies and mother-in-law are in heaven with God,” and he prayed with other family members and friends.

Yoon’s words and actions reminded Adrian Hong, a human rights advocate, of the circumstances surrounding the writing of the hymn “It Is Well with My Soul”—in both instances, tragedy and sorrow were turned into a great witness to the power of Christian hope.

There’s another hymn this episode brings to mind—“Hark the Herald Angels Sing” by Charles Wesley. In the last stanza we sing that Jesus was “born that man no more may die” and “born to raise the sons of earth.”

While we may not associate Christmas and the Incarnation with our Lord’s victory over death, the Church fathers did. In “On the Incarnation of the Word,” Athanasius wrote that it was because all of us were “under penalty of the corruption of death” that the Word took “to Himself a body capable of death.” Since the Word “by His one body has come to dwell among” us, “the corruption of death which before was prevailing against [Man] is done away.”

As a result of what Athanasius called “His gracious coming among us,” “the way up into the heavens” is “made ready” for those, like the Yoons, who put their faith in him.

This “new beginning of life for us” and the graciousness that makes it possible is at the heart of the Christian hope. It consoles us and enables us to be gracious even when our world is falling apart. It is this hope, born on the first Christmas, that Peter tells us we must always be ready to explain.

Dong Yun Yoon certainly was. For that he has my gratitude and prayers.

A December Weekend...

Late nights turn into early mornings...
Long drives, snowy mountains, honest conversation...
Homecomings, Christmas traditions, difficult decisions...
ACT tests, errands with the family, preparations...
Sisters talking, muffins baking, carols playing...

Lord, may the routine and the special,
the difficult and the wonderful,
may it all be done to Your Glory.
May we live for You alone.
Forever and ever.
But especially during this Advent weekend.
Come, Lord Jesus. Amen.

A Beautiful November Day

Today is one of those days that are worth remembering.

The blue sky is amazing. Only a few wispy clouds on the horizon.
There are a few stubborn red and gold leaves left on the trees in our yard.
They survived a fairly strong windstorm this morning. I'm impressed.
The air is cool and crisp. I walked to the mailbox in a t-shirt. In November.

The twins are coming in an hour to spend the evening with Roy and I.
Since they were here last, Halley learned to clap her hands. And Avery said, "Mama."
They have each gained a little weight and are both just over 13 pounds.
They've discovered each other and it is delightful to hear them giggle together.

I spent some time in the Word this morning. That in itself has made this day good.
Reading about the life of Abraham and the faith that he had in God is inspiring.
How many of us would really GO if God told us to leave everything, everyone and just
start walking, not telling us where or to what we were headed? We can learn from
Abraham's obedience and faith. I have much to learn. I am thankful for the journey.

And I am thankful for this beautiful November day.

The following encouragement is from my friend, Luanne Van Werven's site (http://www.lvanwerven.com/). Thanks, Luanne!

A Little Spine-Stiffener From Winston Churchill:

Winston Churchill, October 29, 1941:

You cannot tell from appearances how things will go. Sometimes imagination makes things out far worse than they are; yet without imagination not much can be done.Those people who are imaginative see many more dangers than perhaps exist; certainly many more than will happen; but then they must also pray to be given that extra courage to carry this far-reaching imagination.

But for everyone, surely, what we have gone through in this period ...this is the lesson: never give in, never give in, never, never, never, never-in nothing, great or small, large or petty - never give in except to convictions of honour and good sense.

Never yield to force; never yield to the apparently overwhelming might of the enemy.

Thanks to Red State for this post.

Soccer Balls and Stolen Childhoods

Being a former soccer mom who enjoyed many Saturday mornings in the rain, fog and cold at Bender Fields watching my daughters play, my heart is broken this morning as I read of these children who are paying the price for our recreational pleasure. Is soccer on a Saturday morning (or any other day) wrong? No. Should we consider making sure our soccer balls are as "fair trade" as our coffee and are not stealing the childhood of children in India and other countries? Absolutely.

What are your thoughts?

The following article is from www.breakpoint.org.

Stolen Childhood
How Your Kid’s Soccer Ball Is Made
October 13, 2008

Note: This commentary was delivered by PFM President Mark Earley.

The next time you are watching your kids play soccer, I would like you to think about some other kids, halfway around the world, and their soccer balls. Because unlike your children, for whom the ball is a symbol of childhood, for children in India the ball is often a symbol of stolen childhood.

Gurmeet Kumar is a 10-year-old boy living in one of India’s poorest areas. Earlier this year his baby brother got sick and needed medicine—medicine his poor mother couldn’t afford. So she borrowed the equivalent of less than $100 from a local soccer ball maker, using Gurmeet’s freedom as a kind of collateral. Gurmeet, whose story was told on HBO’s Real Sports, works 10 to 15 hours a day stitching together soccer balls to pay off the debt, which he probably never will. The soccer ball makers charge “exorbitant” interest rates that double the size of the debt every few months. Barring the unforeseen, Gurmeet’s children and perhaps even their children will have to work off that debt.

By the way, Gurmeet’s baby brother died.

What some people call “debt bondage”—and what decent people call “slavery”—is an important part of how many of the world’s soccer balls are made. Many of the rest are made using child labor. Indian children, instead of going to school and playing, are paid five cents an hour to sow together the balls’ panels, including the one that tells buyers that the ball is “child labor free.”

The panel is there because this isn’t the first time that soccer balls were found to be made using child labor. In the 1990s, the child laborers were Pakistanis. The controversy caused sporting goods companies to adopt a code that banned the use of child labor and certified the moral bona fides of their products.

Oops! Industry representatives told HBO’s Bernard Goldberg that they didn’t know what was happening in India. Goldberg took their word for it, but pointed out that he and his crew, working without any help from Indian authorities, had no trouble finding many instances of child labor and “debt bondage.” It makes you wonder just how hard the companies really were looking.

Soccer balls are only one of many consumer goods being made by child labor. As the business magazine Forbes put it, “That garden stone, handmade carpet or embroidered T-shirt you just bought was probably made by child labor.”

Nonetheless, the only way sporting goods companies will live up to their promise is if we hit the where it hurts: their bottom line. Every soccer mom and dad should refuse to buy balls made by companies with a “don’t ask, don’t tell” attitude toward child labor and “debt bondage.”

So please visit our website, BreakPoint.org, for more information on soccer balls and child labor.

In the meantime, we Christians should be setting the example—indeed, lead the way. The abolition of slavery and laws against child labor were largely the product of Christian efforts, and we should sustain those efforts.

William Wilberforce asked his fellow Britons to think of the slave as a “man and brother”—so I’m asking you to imagine your children robbed of their childhood, making balls they can only dream of playing with.

Faith and Gender

I had the privilege of spending part of the weekend in Seattle attending Quest Church's "Faith and Gender" conference. Author, speaker, professor, amazing person,...Lauren Winner was an excellent person to, with Quest's lead pastor, Eugene Cho, begin a conversation on the role of women in the church, in society, even in home and family relationships. Friday night's presentation of the importance of mutuality, humility and respect in relationships as exampled by the three Persons of the Trinity was thought provoking and soul stirring. Saturday's discussion focused on "Lessons from Dead Women." (Lauren, admittedly, is still working on the title of her forth-coming book.) Looking at the lives of Mary (mother of Jesus), Mary and Martha, the Desert Mothers (completely new to me), and others, we are able to acknowledge again the value that God places on women throughout history.

Being a woman who has heard (and responded to) God's call to ministry, I appreciate the opportunity to hear affirming words from the body of Christ. As Leah (another of Quest's pastors) shared on Saturday morning, as a woman, one may question whether God "got the wrong number" when we hear His call on our lives. But God does call women to serve Him and minister to a broken, hurting world in ways that only He can gift us to do.

It was an excellent conference and what I hope is only the beginning of some wonderful conversations both inside and outside of the church...

100 Years...and New Beginnings...

This morning we celebrated the 100th anniversary of the Nazarene denomination. Roy and I traveled to Seattle to join our friends, the Chambers at their church in Seattle's Highland Park. It was wonderful to hear David preach a sermon on being a Holy People (1 Peter 2:9-10). The call to holy living, living a life set apart for G-d, has resounded from Nazarene pulpits for the last 100 years. Praise G-d for a church, a (huge!) community of believers around the world, that could celebrate as ONE all those things that G-d has done for us in the past...and anticipate together all He will do in us and through us in the future.

Tonight we visited our friends at missioDei in Bellingham. In contrast to the morning's celebration of a century of ministry, we were able to share community with a very young church who is still seeking to understand and pursue all that G-d is calling them to. Sitting with the pastor and getting to hear a bit of his heart, we are encouraged and blessed to pray with him and for him for this ministry that G-d is calling him to. My heart is encouraged because of the time we spent at the Parks' home tonight.

May G-d continue to challenge us to draw closer to Him, to know Him more, and to share Him more boldly...and more frequently.

Phantom

Amazing. Passionate. Heartbreaking. Soul-touching.

Best Note: "be" (Phantom)

I wish I could see it again. Alas, I will have to be satisfied to watch my dvd. Over and over.

But I am incredibly grateful for the experience.

Summer's End...

We are having a late "summer's end" at our house. Nicole starts school at Whatcom C.C. on Monday and we are squeezing every bit of summer fun we can out of these last few weeks.

We spent about 5 days last weekend (ha...a very long weekend) at Beach Haven on Orcas Island. It was a fabulous time of good family adventures, good friends, beautiful views...it was everything Beach Haven #9 has always been...and then some. Here are some highlights of things that were a bit different this year...

*We went in September instead of June. Sadly there were no baby geese to feed. However, we discovered that the jelly fish grow REALLY big over the summer. The biggest one I saw was probably about 15" in diameter. Nicole and Becky (Nicole's friend who joined us since Jenna was...sadly...at NNU) actually had a deer come up to them at Cascade Lake. They fed it and pet it. Pretty amazing. The weather was perfect...sunny, warm and beautiful.

*Roy and I decided to take our clubs along and play the little golf course on the island. We talked Robin into joining us and had a great time playing 9 holes on Monday. I was pretty happy with my game considering it was the 2nd time I've played in about 3 years.

*Since we were there over a Sunday, Yuki and I chose to attend the most beautiful little Episcopal church. The setting is incredible (note to friends and family: either one of our daughters may decide to get married in this lovely little setting.), the service wonderful, and the Priest was delightfully refreshing and enthusiastic. I wondered if he wasn't just like Pastor Tim would be like in "The Mitford Series."

*We had two (count them TWO) opportunities to watch Orca whales swimming and playing in the channel from our back deck. This is the first time (in 11 years) that we have ever seen whales and it was so exciting!

All in all, our trip to Orcas Island was wonderful. Coming home was wonderful too as we only had to wait 2 days for Jenna and Andrew to come home for a long weekend! This is Andrew's first time to our home and we are thoroughly enjoying having him here. We visited downtown Lynden this morning and they are at Fairhaven this afternoon. We have a fun weekend planned in Seattle which will include seeing "Phantom of the Opera" at the Paramount Sunday afternoon before we have to put them back on the plane to Boise Sunday night. (None of us have ever seen "Phantom" live and some of us are more than a little excited for the experience!)

Yes, we are squeezing as much as we can into our last days of summer. And I am so thankful as I think of not only all we have gotten to do, but all of the wonderful people G-d has filled my life with to share these experiences. He has been more than good to me!

Remembering...

9/11.

Just saying it brings a look of recognition and understanding from just about any person in our generation. A day that shook not only a city....not only a country...but the world.

Many bloggers have talked about memories today. Many radio shows have done the same. We all remember "where we were when we first heard..."

I remember turning on the morning news and wondering why they had a movie showing at that time of the morning. Then I realized it was real. I worried about whether I should tell the girls; whether I should send them to school. I wanted my family close. But in the end, Roy stayed at work and the girls went to school and we got through the day. I remember a couple of friends coming over to watch the news and pray together. I think I was pretty much glued to the news stations for days on end. Somehow life kept going while a large part of my heart...and our nation's heart...stopped. We lost so much that day. We lost friends and loved ones. We lost brave firefighters and policemen who ran toward danger in order to save strangers. We lost a sense of "innocence" that my generation (and the ones that follow) had always had. We had always been safe and had come to expect that nothing bad could or would ever happen to our country. We were wrong. And we had to, in many ways, grow up.

Now here we are, 7 years later. Have we continued to grow up? Have we learned from this most devastating day? Are we living our lives differently than we were...before 9/11?

To those families who lost loved ones in the attacks, I remember. And I pray for you today. To those who ran to help, thank you again. For those who are still hurting, you are not forgotten.

To those who are even now fighting for our freedom at home and around the world, thank you so much. We appreciate all that you do and remember to pray for you and for your families. Thank you for keeping us safe from harm.

May we continue to learn and grow from the memory of the horrific events of 9/11.

May we never, ever forget.

Homeless

For literally the first time in my Christian life, I am without a church "home."

When I was 14, I was invited to El Cajon Church of the Nazarene where, by God's prevenient grace, I began a relationship with my Lord and Savior, Jesus Christ. El Cajon church was my first church home and I am thankful, eternally thankful, for the people that invested in my life.

After 8 years (during which I met and married my husband) we moved to Kent, WA and immediately found brothers and sisters in Christ at Kent Church of the Nazarene. We were part of an amazing young married's class led by Jamie Johnson, the pastor's wife. The 6 1/2 years we spent at Kent church were wonderful years of growth and maturity in my life.

The last (almost) 18 years have been spent at Lynden Church of the Nazarene. We raised our daughters in this church. Jenna received her call to missions in this church. I responded to my call to ministry and served in many different areas, most currently (7 years) serving as youth director and 2 years ago receiving my Local Minister's License. Our family has been blessed by so many people and experiences in this church, and I am so thankful for the years we invested there.

This summer God has opened the door for us to leave our church family at Lynden Church of the Nazarene. In doing so, I (alright, "we" but I am speaking just of my feelings and experiences, not for my family necessarily) have ventured into uncharted territory. We have attended 3 different churches in the last 3 weeks, none of them being Nazarene. We have visited with a couple of different pastors of these (and other) churches and I have this strange, uncomfortable feeling that God is stretching me in ways that I have not known before.

I admit that I have always wanted to spend some time wandering from church to church, checking out ministries and seeing how other people "do church." And in some ways, it has been as exciting as wonderful as I had anticipated. I love checking out the tables in the foyer and reading pamphlets on what is important to the church family. What ministries are people involved in? How are they impacting their communities for Christ? How do they run their service? Do they allow women to answer their call to ministry?

What I didn't anticipate was the profound sense of loneliness that comes with being without a church home. After 32 years or so of being part of church families...knowing people and being known...knowing how the church service works...knowing what to expect...I am the visitor. It is uncomfortable and a bit unnerving to be the visitor. Will people shake our hands or greet us during the greeting time? Do we stay standing or sit down?

While I anticipated gleaning all kinds of wonderful ideas for ministry, I am coming to realize that God has an even bigger lesson for me to learn first.

One day (I hope in the not too distant future) I (we) will settle into a new church home and get to know a new church family. We will find new ways to serve the Lord. We may even find opportunity to use some of the ministry ideas that we have gleaned along the way. All that will be wonderful and I look forward to it.

What I hope I will always remember is what it feels like to be a visitor in search of a church home, a place to belong.

Yes, God is stretching me. May He continue to enlarge my capacity to see. And love. And serve.

Governor Sarah Palin - Again!

Barack Obama, Meet Your Nightmare.

Yet another great article out this morning, reflecting on Sarah Palin and the incredible speech she gave at the Republican National Convention last night.

Gov. Sarah Palin

Roy and I watched a little of the Republican National Convention last night. There were some great speeches that led up to the greatest speech of the night (maybe in a very, very long time):

Gov. Sarah Palin

She was magnificent - and even that is too small of a word to describe the enthusiasm, character, work ethic, and hope that she brought not only to the Republican convention last night, but to living rooms across America, indeed, my very own home. We were encouraged and challenged by this delightful woman. and have a new excitement about the future of our country. And probably what surprised me the most, was the pride and excitement that welled up inside me as a woman. Anyone who knows me would know that I am not even close to being a "feminist." But seeing Sarah take the stage, command the crowd and win the hearts of MANY really took my breath away as I thought of what she has accomplished as a woman. I was filled with joy and hope for my daughters' generation, and generations to follow. And at one point I thought to myself, "I am listening to the (future) first woman President of the United States." She was brilliant!

I read the following article this morning, from the Wall Street Journal. John Fund sums it up quite nicely, I think.

JOHN FUND ON THE TRAIL
She Shoots, She Scores

Is there still an enthusiasm gap?September 4, 2008 7:52 a.m.
St. Paul

Twenty years after Ronald Reagan left office, Republicans who have long missed him may have found a future Margaret Thatcher. If John McCain wins, conservatives may find one of the most enduring accomplishments of his term will have been what he did before it started: helping to fill the Republican Party's future talent bench with such a fresh and compelling figure.

Sarah Palin is a conviction politician, a naturally compelling speaker and someone who can relate to her audience on very human terms. America has just learned why Mrs. Palin enjoys the highest approval ratings of any governor in America.

Liberal commentators glumly noted the thunderous applause in the convention hall last night. But they could do precious little to attack. Even Keith Olbermann, MSNBC's official attack dog, could muster only this as commentary on Mrs. Palin's performance: "People who like this sort of thing will find this ... the sort of thing they like."

Mrs. Palin accomplished several things last night. First, she introduced herself and her story to the American people in a compelling and warm manner, complete with effective pictures of her proud family. Secondly, she praised John McCain's leadership, service to country and independence in a way that made him come alive. Thirdly, she effectively deflected the media and liberal criticism of her by saying they really represented an attack on the small-town and suburban values she grew up with. Lastly, she skewered Barack Obama with gusto but without meanness. Her line about her job as a small-town mayor being "sort of like a 'community organizer,' except that you have actual responsibilities" brought the hall to its feet in a frenzy.

Some hard-bitten political observers I know were uncharacteristically impressed with the Palin speech. Hal Stratton, a former Attorney General of New Mexico, wrote to me as follows: "That's what we out west call openin' a whole can of whip a— on your opponents."
Other observers were more restrained, but still impressed. "She passed her first major test, and if the reaction of the crowd in the hall is any indication, with flying colors," says Peter Brown, the deputy director of the Quinnipiac Poll. "So much for the comparisons with Dan Quayle, who couldn't have given that speech if his life depended on it. Obviously, Sarah Palin probably went down better in Warren, Michigan than she did in Washington, D.C. -- but that was the whole point of her speech and her candidacy." Indeed, while Mrs. Palin certainly won't swing any deeply blue states in John McCain's direction, she may have an impact in swaying independent voters as well as boosting GOP turnout in swing states such as Colorado, Nevada and Michigan.

One of the standard operating theories this Election Year is that Barack Obama and the Democrats are much more energized, excited and willing to work hard for victory in November.

After Sarah Palin's remarkably effective speech, I don't think any pundits or politicians will be able to count on a decisive Democratic enthusiasm edge. Sarah Palin electrified the hall, and from what I can tell from my e-mail inbox that excitement is being replicated in living rooms across the country.

It All Belongs to Him

Reading in Luke 12 this morning, I am once again amazed by G-d's love, faithfulness and care for me...as well as His very clear instruction as to how I am to live my life...how all who are believers are called to live their lives.

12:6-7 "Are not five sparrows sold for two pennies? Yet not one of them is forgotten by God. Indeed, the very hairs on your head are all numbered. Don't be afraid; you are worth more than many sparrows."

12:15 "Watch out! Be on your guard against all kiinds of greed; a man's life does not consist in the abundance of his possessions."

12:22-23 "Therefore I tell you, do not worry about your life, what you will eat; or about your body, what you will wear. Life is more than food, and the body more than clothes."

12:25-26 "Who of you by worrying can add a single hour to his life? Since you cannot do this very little thing, why do you worry about the rest?"

12:31-34 "But seek his kingdom, and these things will be given to you as well. Do not be afraid, little flock, for your Father has been pleased to give you the kingdom. Sell your possessions and give to the poor. Provide purses for yourselves that will not wear out, a treasure in heaven that will not be exhausted, where no thief comes near and no moth destroys. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also."

12:48b "From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked."

Everything I have, I don't. These earthly possessions that seem so important, are not. They may be in my possession, but they are not mine. Because I am not mine. I belong to G-d and everything I have is His. This, my friends, is a very good thing. In fact, it is the best thing. Because in realizing that nothing belongs to me, not even my life, I recognize that in Christ, I have everything I need. I have more than I could ever imagine. He requires everything of me, yet gives me far more than I could ever give in return. So why do we try to hang on to the earthly things that entangle us? Possessions, relationships, decisions, everything belongs to Him and we are always better off when we surrender it all to G-d.

As I look around at my house filled with many more comforts than I need, I am reminded that it is all His. There is not one material thing that I am not willing to give away if that is what G-d asks of me. As I think of relationships, I must also be willing to put them all in His Hands. This gets a bit harder, and I sometimes stop and question. But I know that He is right and His ways are best and so I will surrender each of these to Him. Decisions? Yes, even the smallest of these belong to Him. I want the Holy Spirit to guide me and be so large in me that it is His Will that makes every decision in my life. In order for this to be true in my life, I must be in constant communion with Him; praying, seeking, listening for His voice.

So as You have shown me, O G-d, let me live my life today. Let me seek You with all of my heart and let me not hold onto anything, but surrender it all to You. Amen.

Nampa

We are thoroughly enjoying our family vacation in Nampa. Before you give me a bad time about our vacation location, you must know that it has been in the mid-90's since we've arrived...a delightful desert dry heat that warms me all the way to my soul. And it makes me incredibly happy.

So does spending time with my family and friends. I delivered an antique wheelchair to a couple here in Nampa for my friend Luanne. What a joy it was to meet Tina and Bert! I have two new friends in my life and will look forward to visiting them when we come to Nampa again! We have also enjoyed spending time with Andrew. The first time I met him I got to play a nalgene bottle (with a wooden spoon) at his house and eat pizza at the Pie Hole. This time we've floated the Boise River together, hiked Jump Creek (well, kind of...he was very gracious about my phobias), and ate out alot. And he made me a great latte @ Starbucks. We will spend more time with friends tomorrow when we fix a big dinner at the Brick House. How fun it will be to hang out with some of Jenna's friends as they are all returning to school this weekend.

And speaking of Jenna, we love being here with her. Kudos to Johnny for giving her a couple days off to spend with her family. We are having a wonderful time together! She loves her new car and new bike.

I will be sad to leave my bike with her. I have a new fancy one at home that Roy promises I will like better. I have become quite attached to this bike, though, and will miss it. I hope she has as much fun riding it as I have this summer!

We have 2 1/2 days left in Nampa. I want to enjoy every minute. And I will.

To live as Christ...

I am a Christian. A Christ-follower. A believer. Jesus Christ is my Rabbi and my Teacher. My desire is to not only learn from Him, but to do what He does, think what He thinks, say what He says. I am a very slow learner and I make a lot of mistakes, but I am thankful for His faithful, consistent teaching and guidance.

In Mark 12:14 the Pharisees and Herodians talk to Jesus, once again trying to "trip him up" and find a reason to arrest/kill Him. But even in their hatred and jealousy of Him, they recognize the person that He is as they say, "Teacher, we know you are a man of integrity. You aren't swayed by men, because you pay no attention to who they are; but you teach the way of God in accordance with the truth..."

I am moved, challenged and inspired by this. Jesus led such a perfect life that even those who were plotting to take His life recognized His integrity and faithfulness. Can people say this about me as I try to live like Jesus? Can they say it about you?

May we become more like Jesus today.

Ecclesiastes

I have been touched by the thoughts in Ecclesiastes this weekend. Some of the verses that have me pondering are:

3:11 He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity in the hearts of men; yet they cannot fathom what God has done from beginning to end.

4:6 Better one handful with tranquility than two handfuls with toil and chasing after the wind.

5:1 Guard your steps when you go to the house of God. Go near to listen rather than to offer the sacrifice of fools, who do not know what they do wrong.

5:7 Much dreaming and many words are meaningless. Therefore stand in awe of God.

7:13 Consider what God has done...

7:18b The man who fears God will avoid all extremes.

7:20 There is not a righteous man on earth who does what is right and never sins.

and finally...

12:13-14 Now all has been heard; here is the conclusion of the matter: Fear God and keep His commandments, for this is the whole duty of man. For God will bring every deed into judgment, including every hidden thing, whether it is good or evil.

Thank you, Lord, for the privilege of reading Your Word. Help us to not only read Your Word, but to consume it in the deepest parts of our spirits. May it transform us into the image of Christ. Amen.

The Beauty Around Me...

Thank you, Lord, for the beauty that you have poured into my life...

A wonderful weekend of camping at Baker Lake ~

Your creation is majestic. Driving up Baker Lake road, turning the corner and having the mountain right there in front of me, filling up the entire view...breathtaking.

The joy of time spent with friends who have become family. Walks to the boat launch and the dam. S'mores and memories around the campfire. I appreciate the beauty of relationships.

The privilege of singing in the Bellingham Festival of Music this weekend ~

The joy of completing the task set before me...learning Beethoven's 9th symphony...in German. And being able to sing it with some amazingly talented people from around the community.

The awe of rehearsal on Saturday morning when we first rehearsed with the professional orchestra and soloists. Music is definitely one of your most beautiful gifts. Thank you.

Last night's performance...the nerves, the excitement, the beauty of performing in front of a sold out concert hall. The joy of knowing that Roy and Nicole were in the audience, cheering me on. The fulfillment of one of my life goals, to sing in a choir like that. It was definitely a breathtaking moment in my life!

The joy of caring for Angel, Carlos, Elizabeth, Gloria and Idania ~

These little people are every bit worth getting up at 4 a.m. to spend my day with. Watching them learn and grow is priceless. Knowing that I can protect them and care for them while their parents have to work brings great joy. Beauty is found in outstretched arms, beckoning me to pick them up, trusting that I will love them and meet their needs.

What a beautiful reminder of the love and care offered to each of us by our Heavenly Father.

Thank you, again, Father...for the beauty around me.

Won't You be My Neighbor?

I had an interesting conversation today. Much of what was said confirmed a decision that Roy and I have made.

We have decided that after almost 18 years, we are going to seek G-d in a different direction. We are going to change churches. Yes, our pastor recently resigned. No, we are not leaving because he left. We do wish he and his family all G-d's best as they continue to seek after His Heart. We are not mad at anyone. We just feel a great sense of release and an opportunity to follow G-d's Heart in a different direction, down a new path. This is both exhilirating and terrifying at the same time. We feel like we're "leaving home." We pray for those we are leaving behind that they will continue to seek G-d's will for their lives and for the church.

So...the conversation. Here are a few of the comments that were made:

...We sure need you around here.

...There's a lot of old folks left. You need to minister to them, encourage them, lift them up.

...There aren't many people who work as hard as you.

...No church needs you more than this church does.

Here are a few comments I wish I had heard, and hope to remember if ever in a similar situation:

...How are you doing? Feeling?

...What kind of ministry are you looking for?

...How can we help you to grow?

...Is there a way we can come alongside you? Can we help you?

...We sure would miss you around here. Not because of what you do, but because of who you are.

The person I had this conversation with told me they love me...and I know they do. Or they think they do. Because how can you love somebody if you do not take the time to get to know who they are and what is important to them? "Love your neighbor as yourself." Jesus said this was the second greatest commandment.

It's time for me to get to know some new "neighbors."

I have spent some time reading in 2 Chronicles today. In truth, it is not a portion of the Bible that I spend a lot of time in, but I am thankful for a discipline of reading that I am experiencing this year. Often I have found that the things that I go through in my life are not so different than what so many others have experienced before me. In this there is comfort, in knowing that I am not alone in my experiences. In this there is community, even with those who have gone before me. In this there is learning. And most importantly, in this there is G-d, Who I want to know above all else.

Anyway, in the 30th chapter of 2 Chronicles, Hezekiah decides that they will all celebrate Passover in a way that has not been done in awhile. Seems that with each generation there is an ebb and flow in their understanding of and faithfulness to G-d, and the things of G-d. In verse 17 it states that there were many that came to participate in the Passover celebration who, for whatever reason (I believe it is because the did not know to.), did not consecrate themselves properly, according to the Law. I have witnessed great grace extended as Hezekiah prayed, "May the Lord, who is good, pardon everyone who sets his heart on seeking God-the Lord, the God of his fathers-even if he is not clean according to the rules of the sanctuary (30:18-19). Verse 20 says that G-d heard him and healed the people.

Now there is a gracious leader. And a gracious G-d. How many would flock to "the church" if they were extended such grace? How many times, in our pursuit of perfection, have we placed unfair expectations on others? Have there been unfair expectations on us?

May we, like Hezekiah, cry out to G-d and ask pardon. May our hearts seek G-d. And may we see other hearts that are set on seeking G-d and do what we can to point them to Him, no matter what they look like or act like. And may we, above all else, love G-d with all our hearts, and love all of our neighbors.

Amen.

my heart hurts...

have you ever had one of those days when you are just weary and sad? when you just can't see how "good is going to come from all of this?" that is where i am today. i am just aching to see G-d in the different circumstances that i am thinking about right now. more than anything, i want His will to be accomplished in my life, in the lives of my loved ones, and "on earth as it is in heaven."

celebrating mother's day with halley and avery (may 2008)

pray. please pray for two beautiful twin girls named halley and avery. they are 10 1/2 months old and are at children's hospital in seattle. basically, they aren't thriving...or growing for that matter. there is something pretty serious wrong with them and the doctors are continuing to do testing this week to confirm their diagnosis. please, oh please, do not let it be what they think it is. i know my G-d can heal these two beautiful baby girls. i want Him to heal them and make them grow into beautiful children, teenagers, young ladies. how is it that Jesus was able to pray in Gethsemane, "...Yet not as I will, but as you will." (Matthew 26:39)? i need His strength in order to pray that prayer for these precious babies. their parents, grandparents and family need His strength to pray that same prayer. we trust you G-d. we really do. i really do.

so. a couple of weeks ago our pastor resigned from our church. life is not very good right now for our little body of believers. i don't think some of the things that have happened are very pleasing to G-d. i know some of my attitudes have been less than what He wants for me and i have to keep confessing them to Him and asking Him to fill me with more of Who He is. i don't know where i belong. we don't know what we're going to do. i struggled to get through the service this morning...trying my best to honor G-d with my thoughts, words and actions. then after church i talked with halley and avery's great-grandma.

wow. my problems, my concerns, my opinions...they are nothing compared to what these babies and their parents are facing. G-d, again, we need You. please come with Your Healing, Your Comfort, Your Peace that passes my oh so limited understanding. amen.

early mornings and summer evenings...

Today was finally the day when we welcomed the children to Head Start. My alarm went off at 4 a.m. and I was at work and ready to take care of babies by 5. These poor kids...they get put on the bus some time around 4:30 a.m., ride with perfect strangers to a strange place, are greeted by more strangers and are ushered into new surroundings. All before 5:30 in the morning. Let's suffice it to say there was a lot of loud verbal complaining going on this morning.

I am part of a team that cared for 4 infants. One is 4 months old, two are 7 months old, and one is 9 months old. They spent a good portion of their day reminding us that we are NOT their moms and this is NOT their home...persons and places that they missed very much. We did our best to love them and comfort them and we did see some small signs of acceptance of their situation as the day progressed. It is fun to speak Spanish to them. And it is definitely a blessing to get to do my best to make them as safe and comfortable as possible while they are away from their moms.

I am enjoying the work I do at Head Start (Washington State Migrant Council). I appreciate the people that I work with and am looking forward to building trusting relationships with my 4 new friends. I also enjoyed taking a little bit of a nap when I got home this afternoon.

We had some friends over for dinner tonight. BBQ chicken, red potatoes, fresh fruit, deviled eggs, jello and homemade lemonade. Oh, and strawberry shortcake. :) The food was great, but even greater was time spent with friends that G-d has brought into our lives. Sitting on our patio on a warm summer evening, I found refreshment and encouragement. I am thankful.

G-d is very, very good. He is faithful and He knows everything that is going on in my life...and in yours. We can trust Him today...and tomorrow. And for that I am very, very thankful.

women of faith & fun in seattle

i had the privilege of spending a couple of days in seattle with a dear friend (and a few thousand other ladies). we went to the women of faith conference at the key arena.

some of the highlights from the last two days:

*beautiful weather!!! there is no place like seattle on a warm, sunny, summer day!
*pike street market. ice cream, people, sweet peas, sugar snap peas and the gum wall. (props to ian who found the gum wall in may.)
*the streets of seattle...i love the city. the smells, the sounds, the sights, the people, etc.
*a very nice hotel downtown. and late night talks with yuki.
*benihana's...hooray for coupons, chopsticks, two bowls of ginger sauce, and sprouts. note to self: next time ask for the steamed rice instead of fried rice. it was good, but too rich.
*the monorail...it is just plain fun to ride the monorail. it's getting expensive though...$4 round trip. i remember when...never mind.
*eating sandwiches today at the international fountain in 75+ weather...and ice cream.
*Women of Faith conference...it's been 7 years since i've been. some highlights were:

• my favorite moment...hearing nicole c. mullen sing "my Redeemer lives" live...she even signed the entire song...well enough that the deaf interpreters were sitting down! i admit that i wept through the whole thing.
• hearing sandi patty sing and speak. she has been through a lot and has a strong testimony to G-d's faithfulness in her life. and she can still hit some amazingly high notes. oh...favorite song: "The Prayer" duet with her husband. more tears. i mostly loved watching yuki enjoy watching her. she bought 2 of her cd's today. fyi: yuki can hit those high notes too. :)
• listening to patsy clairmont. she can talk about the most mundane task and turn it in to a fascinating, funny, captivating tale...and share deep truths of G-d in the midst of laughter.

these were things i liked. there were more. these were just the top 3.

there were things that i didn't like as much, or wished would have been different. it seems that when women gather (this is definitely a generalization, but it was the same this weekend as it was when i attended several between 1998 and 2001) at these events, it is understood that most everyone who comes has a hard life and is struggling with some past or present issue. why do women always have to have "issues?"

here is what i would say if they asked me to be a speaker at a women's conference: quit worrying about if your needs or being met or not. if you are happy or not. if you have issues or not. live for G-d today. be obedient to Him. find someone to whom you can minister to. share the love of Jesus. focus on Him and what He wants to do in you and THROUGH you. if you focus on Him and on others, all other things, like those issues in your life won't seem quite so overwhelming.

well, i probably won't be getting a call anytime soon to speak at women of faith. i'll have to work on my presentation...you know, adding the funny stories and pithy phrases to make it more appealing.

in the meantime, i want to take my own advise. and i want to love G-d, and love others. i want to be obedient to Him. today, tomorrow, and every day until Jesus returns or calls me home.

amen.

good gifts

"If you, then, though you are evil, know how to give good gifts to your children, how much more will your Father iin heaven give good gifts to those who ask Him!" Matthew 7:11

i received a e-mail from a friend today. she sent me a video. i have seen it before, but as i watched it this time, Matthew 7:11 kept running through my mind. our Heavenly Father loves us even more than this man loves his son. He carries us, pulls us and helps us, even when we are not able to help ourselves.

the last 10 days have been difficult, to say the least. i have been crying out to my Heavenly Father for His comfort, wisdom and guidance. may i learn to sit still and allow Him to do the work. may we all learn that.

jenny

i cannot figure out how to post a video on this page. i am pretty sure i should be able to, so if you have any advise, let me know. maybe this video is too big? i don't know. anyway, here is the link. please watch...and be blessed.

http://www.godtube.com/view_video.php?viewkey=8cf08faca5dd9ea45513

sunsets

tonight i happened to look out to see the most amazing sunset. i just went out and stood on my front porch and thanked G-d for His wonderful gift. does it ever just take your breath away when you suddenly realize just what an amazing Creator He is? where have you seen G-d recently?

i just chatted with a friend who missed tonight's sunset. she was disappointed. i reminded her that He is already planning tomorrow's show. i can't wait to see where i will see Him tomorrow!

beautiful feet.

"...Everyone who calls on the name of the Lord will be saved. How then can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, 'How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!' " Romans 10: 13-15

i want to have beautiful feet. i want to be sent so i can preach so they can hear so they can believe so they can call so they can be saved.

the truth is i am already sent. i am here where G-d wants me. and the question is what am i going to do with this day, this gift He has given me? i hope i can in some small way impact this world for His Kingdom. i hope my feet (and my life) will bring His good news to someone.

what are you going to do with this day He has given to you?

Learning Daily...

I am learning so much lately and am so thankful for the opportunities that the Lord is providing me! One surprising way I am learning is through a new blog that I came upon recently. As I read the author's thoughts I am challenged deep in my spirit. The older I get, the more I realize that there are very few authors who truly challenge me deep in my spirit. There are plenty that I enjoy reading and I can certainly grow and learn from their writings. But just as the Spirit inside me jumps as I read something in the Scriptures that the Lord wants to point out to me, so the Spirit has jumped as I read the aforementioned blog. I am grateful.

I have also been learning at my new place of employment. I was hired to work for Washington State Migrant Council this summer. I will be helping in an infant classroom, helping care for 5 babies who's parents' are working in the berry fields for the summer. I had three days of training last week in which I received my First Aid/CPR card - for the first time ever - as well as HIV/Aids training (pleased to say that G-d raised my level of compassion as I gained understanding), and, um, how to take care of babies.

I have not worked at a place of employment (my 7 years in youth ministry has been volunteer) since before Jenna was born. I also learned that I must be willing to be under someone else's authority. I am kind of an "in charge" person so while this is a bit uncomfortable for me, I am looking forward to the lessons that I will learn (and have already begun learning) in humility, obedience and patience. May G-d use this experience to make me more like Jesus. And may I be Jesus to every person I work with as well as every baby I care for. I think it is going to be a great 8 weeks!

My daily Bible reading is also helping me learn. I have committed to a reading program that will allow me to read the Old Testament once, the New Testament and Psalms twice, and Proverbs 12 times, all in one year. It is very important that I remain disciplined as when I fall behind in my reading, it is difficult to catch up. I am reading portions of the Bible that I have not read in awhile and am learning more about Who G-d is...and who i am in Him.

I am learning as I work in the church. I am learning to seek G-d for every decision. I am learning to love and allow Him to love through me when I can't quite do it. I am learning to be patient, quiet, and to perservere. And I am learning more what it means to be the family of G-d.

Today I get to learn from Nicole as we have an entire day to spend together. We are going to go learn about some of the quirky shops down in Bellingham...learn about a new place to have lunch...and be reminded of how great it is to have a wonderful mom/daughter relationship. Oh, and we're going to learn how to put clothes on consignment at Labels. This should be a fun day of learning!

May we learn more of Who He is.

Short Visits...Crazy Youth Events...My Life...

I wasn't sure if I would use this blog after our Mexico trip in March, but I thought I would just write an update...clear my head of some thoughts...just in case someone actually reads this still.

Jenna came home on May 8th. I drove to Seatac to pick her up and we enjoyed a few hours in Seattle (Pike Street Market, Fremont) with some of her friends from NNU. We were surprised to find Chelsi at the Market and treasured the short time we had to visit with her. I took lots of pictures of Jenna and friends on the Troll under the bridge. And then we headed home.

While Jenna was home we:
...drank coffee together every morning.
...had a great family evening at the Mariner's game (vs Padres...Mariners lost.).
...enjoyed an afternoon in Fairhaven prior to attending Daniel's final recital.
...had a fabulous Memorial Day camp trip at Fort Worden. Kristin joined us and the entire weekend was just delightful. Meandering through Port Townsend was lovely.
...discovered Labels, a great consignment store in Bellingham.
...watched the final week of American Idol...so happy that David Cook won!
...planned and had a wonderful bridal shower for Kendall (Joshua Stewardson's fiance).
...babysat twins.
...chatted with each other on Facebook while sitting next to each other.
...watched chick flicks.
...stayed up way too late.

Last Friday I took Jenna back to Seatac. She flew back to Nampa and has begun her internship at College church there. She is starting a new chapter in her life and it is in Nampa, not in Lynden. This, I keep reminding myself, is a good thing. I am thrilled to see God working out His plan in her life and I know it is best. I just miss that girl. Thank you Jesus for cell phones and Facebook chat.

Saturday I took 12 teens and 2 college students to Big Splash down at Wild Waves/Enchanted Village in Federal Way. The rides were great. Hanging out with the teens was a blast. Hearing Ruth, The Afters, Falling Up and Superchick while sitting in a grassy amphitheater under a sunny sky was amazing. Watching Garret be so excited about buying a Ruth cd, and then watching him get it signed by them and get his picture taken with them was a hoot! Spending time with teenagers and getting glimpses into their hearts...I truly love that.

That being said, this Sunday is my last Sunday as Youth Pastor at our church. We are in the process of hiring my replacement but the process is taking longer than I would like. I must daily turn it over to the Lord. I know that this is all part of His plan and can rest in that. We will celebrate Daniel and Bethany's graduation this Sunday. I am working on their senior video and, as it does every year, it brings tears as I see pictures of them growing throughout the year. Again, I am so thankful to have the privilege of investing in the lives of teenagers.

What is next? I am still going to continue taking classes at NBC...working toward ordination as a deacon in the Church of the Nazarene. I am remaining on staff at my local church. What that position will ultimately look like is still a secret...to everyone except God. I am taking a sabbatical this summer...possibly working for Headstart (rocking babies all day...what a wonderful job!)...
and loving on my family. Nicole will be working as a CNA at the Christian Healthcare Center. I am so proud of her! Roy is planning his annual golf trip. And we will go see Jenna in Nampa in August.

I am ready to go to Mexico again...just not sure when the Lord will have me doing that. Working at Headstart this summer, practicing my Spanish, will be good training.

There are things that trouble me. There are issues that are pressing and can be downright overwhelming if I allow them to. I am keeping my eyes on Jesus and trusting Him for each and every day. He is faithful.

home...

The Gomez family...Nani, Cheryl, Charlie, Vicente,

(Ivan is not there) and Anali

Jenny, Cheryl and Anali @ the beach

our team with Regina and family

there is nothing like tacos @ smokies!

this was a great afternoon w/charlie y vicente

welcome to vicente guerrero, girls!

Roy and I arrived home yesterday after a blessed and uneventful trip up the west coast. I am thankful that Roy loves me and doesn't mind my tears as we turned our van towards the north. It always happens. It always feels like a piece of my heart has been ripped out and left behind.

I spent some time on the trip contemplating and praying. What is it about Vicente Guerrero, and the people in Mexico, that leave me feeling like I just left home rather than am going home? I am asking God to continue to reveal Himself to me in this. I know that He will...He already is.

Thank you for praying for our team. I think it was a good trip for each of the girls. I saw God working in their lives and it was so wonderful to get to spend time learning about each one.

Many people (both here and there) have asked, "When are you going again?" I don't know the answer to this yet...and I am trusting God to work out all of those details. I am His and will do what He wants me to do, and go where He wants me to go. I do, with all of my heart, hope that His plans include many, many return trips to a little colonia called Vicente Guerrero.

I posted some pictures above. I have many more. Let me know if you'd like to see them and hear more stories. There are always stories to tell...

Live blessed.

Jenny

He is risen indeed!

Happy Easter!

He is risen! He is risen indeed!

After enjoying our last days in Vicente Guerrero, we arrived in San Diego last night around 9 p.m. We enjoyed a wonderful celebration service at Mission Valley Church of the Nazarene this morning and were part of a large group (25 people) who shared a delightful dinner at Jim and Elizabeth Bergherm's home.

Some highlights from the last couple of days are...

...mopping up the new Jabes Skate Park in San Quintin. Cesar is responsible for this new facility and the program has great potential to reach many, many teens. Yes, I tried skateboarding and no, it was not pretty.

...carrying palm branches to the skate park. They are going to make a shaded area and use the branches as the roof.

...going to the radio station and watching Nani, Cesar, Cheryl and Jetro put on a live radio show talking about healthy ways to resolve conflict in families.

...going to the beach and finding LOTS of Mexican families celebrating the holiday weekend.

...cooking dinners at the house and relaxing with Nani, Cheryl and their kids...and a few others. Celebrating birthdays and celebrating friendship.

...saying goodbye. A wonderful time of prayer and sharing on Saturday morning was the perfect send-off for our team. God blessed our time in Vicente Guerrero and I am so thankful for all that He did in our lives there.

...a fun trip to Ensenada with Deborah and Jetro in tow. Finding our way around town and eating delicious tacos at La Comadre. I even had a big bite of Jetro's "cricket" taco. A delicacy in Mexico. It tasted...crunchy. And a little salty. Not too bad.

...a short line at the border...thank you so much Jesus! I got lost in Tijuana...again. So have found yet another way to get to the border. The girls just pretended like I was taking them on a tour. They were very gracious.

Seeing Roy and Nicole last night in San Diego. I love my family.

Tomorrow we put all the girls on planes to head to NNU. And Roy and I will be beginning our roadtrip home.

I am so thankful for the time that God has given me in Mexico. I am so thankful for all He has done. He is our Risen Lord who has redeemed us from the grave...Praise His Name!

Dios Les Bendiga!

Jenny

Live Big...

Yesterday I celebrated my 46th birthday here in Mexico.

We worked up at the new youth center in Tricci, cleaning a new soccer field of rocks and weeds. We then spent 2 hours serving saltines wTuna, cookies and juice to about 90 wonderful elderly people. They all sang me happy birthday and I received a beautiful hand sewn cloth. Several ladies rushed up to wish me Feliz Cumpleanos and one told me she was 82. She told me I have many more years to ¨Live Big.¨I like that. It was a great time of visiting with all of them, praying over them, and listening to Nani share with them.

In the afternoon the girls were challenged to use the new soccer field and play against a Mexican team of girls. 5 on 5. It was sooooooo much fun even though we lost 8 to 5. Actually, we were thrilled that we got the 5! Lots of laughter and fun times...we finished the night with homemade tamales and quesadillas and a great time of fellowship with Nani, Cheryl, Charlie, Vicente, Anali and Jose (who lives next to the youth center). OHHHH...my morning started at 5:45 with Cesar sticking his head through the living room window (literally!) and singing me a traditional Mexican song of celebration at the top of his lungs. After being scared out of my mind that a drunk man had somehow gotten into our house, I heard ¨cumpleanos¨and knew that it must be a friend. And what a good friend he is. He was on his way to Ensenada and wanted to celebrate my birthday. I am blessed.

So yes, yesterday was a good day, but so were the others previously! Some things we have done are...

Worked at Padre Kino camp twice...just love those kids there!
Worked in the Outreach Kitchen at the Orphanage.
Moved and stacked 700 chairs from the concert. (Yes, we´ve gained muscle!)
Visited families.
Went on outreach-child evangelism with the mission.
Cooked homemade meals for our friends.
Taught our friends ¨Mafia¨and played many, many games of it.
Learned that we can survive the week with bucket showers of cold water.
Learned how to cook on a propane stovetop, change a propane tank, and buy water containers at the store.

The Lord has blessed us this week. Our hearts and our lives are changed and we are thankful. We are going to Smokies for tacos tonight and enjoying a night of visiting friends. Those who know me know that my heart is becoming heavy thinking about tomorrow being our last day here. Please pray for us as we invest in lives here...and as we leave, leaving yet another part of our hearts behind.

I will write more this weekend when we get to San Diego.

Dios les bendiga!
Jenny

A Great Weekend...

Buenas Dias!

God blessed us with a wonderful weekend of preparation, rest and ministry.

Saturday the girls slept in...much needed after a couple weeks of midterms, etc. We enjoyed having Anali (Nani and Cheryl´s adopted daughter) with us overnight while they were working on a concert up in Ensenada. We visited two different homes, and were able to pray with one lady (Regina) who is struggling with some health issues. We spent the evening working at and enjoying the concert in San Quintin. The artist was Lilly Goodman, a very famous Christian artist here in Mexico. Another band played before her and backed her up, but I can´t remember their name right now. The concert was held in a soccer field, and it was very cold with wind blowing. Right as the concert began there were a few sprinkles of rain. (Oh no!) However, it stopped and we enjoyed 2 hours of great worship (the girls all went down front to the mosh pit while I held seats and purses) before the Lord really brought the rain. It started pouring a hard rain and it was so fun to hear the Mexican people cheer and praise God rather than complain. They are in such desperate need of rain! Well, they cheered and headed quickly home. We had a great time tearing down a stadium full of chairs in that rain. It was great to be there and be able to help Nani and Cheryl with this huge project that they have been working on for several months. Hundreds of people were there, listening to and responding to the Word of God. Our group went for a late night dinner of tacos at El Pollo Loco...where we could sit inside and warm up a bit!

Sunday morning we got up and enjoyed a wonderful worship service at the Mission Church. It was good to see some old friends as well as Pastor Avitia and his wife. The worship was great! The two favorite songs of our group were ¨Yo te busco¨ and a song about moving the mountains. The girls all enjoyed worshiping with the Hispanic church. We had headphones during the sermon to hear the translation of Pastor Avitia´s Palm Sunday sermon. After church the girls cooked Quesadillas and relaxed. Cheryl and Anali came over and we had a good visit and made plans for the week. We then headed to the grocery store to buy fixings for a big taco dinner. Deborah helped the girls make homemade salsa and guacamole, and we cooked carne asada, beans and fresh tortillas. Cilantro, chiles, and lime topped the best tacos EVER. El Pollo Loco has nothing on us! :) We had the boys (Charlie and Vicente) join us for dinner, along with Cheryl, Anali, Manny, Freddy and Adriel. It was a great time of visiting, playing games and singing (and playing guitar and violin) together. It was a great time of encouraging our friends here and expressing our thanks for their amazing hospitality.

Today begins our work week. It is going to be a great week with a variety of jobs to do.

Thank you for your prayers and your support. God is using this time to grow us, and we are praying that He will use us to be a blessing to the people of the San Quintin Valley.

God bless you at home! We are praying for all of you as well!

Jenny

We´re here!

Hola from Mexico!

God granted us a wonderful trip down to Vicente Guerrero from SanDiego yesterday! Our hearts, and our van, were full! We stopped and did some supply shopping in Ensenada before meeting Deborah at her university. We arrived in Vicente Guerrero at 3:00 yesterday. Mexico hasn´t yet adopted Daylight Savings Time this year so we are an hour behind for the week. That, and a long day of travel, could be why a house full of college age girls went to bed at 9:00 on a Friday night! We are so thankful to Nani and the boys for letting us use the house. We even have a dog that guards the door! We feel very safe and loved.

The sun is shining and we are looking forward to doing some visiting today and then going to a concert that Nani has worked very hard to organize and promote. Please pray that we will be able to be a blessing to the community here!

Dios les bendiga!
Jenny

On Our Way...

Tonight we had our first group meeting with everyone here in San Diego! Flights were uneventful, as was my drive from Washington. I am so thankful to the Lord for His traveling mercies!

Our time here with Don and Jimmie Redmond has been absolutely wonderful. God's grace has definitely poured out of them...and covered us! Thank you Don and Jimmie for all you have done to pour into our lives!

We will (hopefully) be on the road tomorrow by 8 a.m. Please pray that our border crossing and drive will be uneventful.

Please pray also for the concerts this weekend in Ensenada, San Quintin, and Tijuana. Nani has put a lot of effort and prayer into these and we are praying with him that God will bless these events and many people will come to know the Lord. We will be attending the concert in San Quintin on Saturday night.

I will do my best to blog throughout the week, at least a few times. Until then...

Dios le bendiga! (God bless you!)
Jenny

Spring Forward!

Daylight Savings Time. I just love the long, light summer nights. I am not so fond of this weekend that we lose an hour. All is good though. We are safely in Bakersfield after a good day on the road. It has been a fun, relaxing roadtrip and I am so thankful!

Roy did well on his test this morning. Thanks for praying. He is also working on some projects for his mid-terms. He is making better progress than he anticipated so we are happy.

I talked with Cheryl and Anali today. They are so excited for us to be there next weekend! I find myself slipping into "Mexico Time" and feeling very relaxed. This is good. :)

Before Mexico, though, I will spend some time with family in Santa Monica and El Cajon. I am really looking forward to both.

Dios les bendiga!

Jenny

We're On Our Way...

We're on our way to Mexico!

Tonight we are in Cottage Grove, OR. It was a good afternoon/evening of driving. We stopped in Vancouver, WA and met up with Kylie's mom to pick up Kylie's passport. It was so great to meet her!

I read the 4th chapter of John tonight (we have a cool little reading light for the van now!). I just love the story of Jesus talking with the Samaritan woman. "If you only knew..." If WE only knew all that He wants to do for us and in us! May we drink of the Living Water and allow Him to overflow into (and out of)our lives.

Please pray for Roy as he will be taking a test for one of his classes tomorrow morning at the hotel (on-line), before we get on the road. We'll be driving to Bakersfield, CA tomorrow.

Dios les bendiga! (God bless you!)
Jenny

Needs Met!

I was so excited the other day to get to order two cases (20 reams) of paper for the youth centers! That means that kids can come to the youth centers, do their homework, and print it out without charge! There are two youth centers now...the one in Vicente Guerrero that we know well, and a new one in Trique. This new center is very exciting because it is surrounded by three communities and there are many kids who will be able to use it. There are a lot of gang/drug/alcohol problems in these neighborhoods so a safe place to hang for the evening is a great alternative!

Thank you, Lord, for providing the funds to order paper for the youth centers! I even got free shipping! He is faithful!

In His Grip,
Jenny

Welcome!

Welcome to my little corner of cyber-space. It may take me awhile to figure it all out, but hopefully someday this will be a great place to express my thoughts, share what the Lord is teaching me, and communicate with friends near and far.

I've set this up in time to be able to send some updates and journal my upcoming trip to Vicente Guerrero. You know, I love that place. I love the people there and I love the freedom of serving people and serving God there. This trip I am traveling with a group of students from NNU. It is going to be one great Spring break! We'll be picking up Deborah in Ensenada and she'll get to spend the entire time with us! I am so excited!

Some prayer requests as we prepare to go:

*finances (the Lord has always been so faithful...we are trusting Him.)
*language (that we would use our limited Spanish well...and not say anything too embarrassing.)
*ministry (Nani and Cheryl are organizing a great week of ministry...please pray for them.)
*travel (students flying from NNU, driving our van from home, travel in Mexico...)
*participants (Jenna, Kylie, Kristin, Charlene, Deborah, and Jenny...that God would speak into our lives and use this time away to draw us closer to Himself.)

I'm sure there are other requests. Please know that I appreciate your prayers so much!

Some needs that we still have:

*Spanish Bibles (I can order in bulk on-line for $83.88 for a case of 24, which is $3.49 each)
*Paper (reams of white paper) for the youth centers.
*Treats (preferably non-candy) for the kids at the camps.

Thanks for stopping by!

In His Grip,
Jenny