pics

Okay. These are just ones that wouldn't work yesterday, just friends. :)

way too long...Pole Sana!! (i'm very sorry!)

Okay. Sorry it has been a while again… for those of you who still have hope that one day I will post, and keep checking, you finally got your wish today. ;) I am truly sorry it has been so long. That’s what happens when I go on break here. I have little access to internet, and I am extremely busy doing different things, visiting different people. I’ll try to give a brief update. Basically I had a wonderful break for the month of April. I went to the Coast – Mombasa. It was great. I went because there was a PAOC Missions Retreat, and I was asked to run the Children’s Program. It went very well and I had lots of fun. It is VERY hot there - VERY humid. But it was nice. I swam in the Ocean – that was cool. So that was five days, the second week of my break. (The first week I just hung out – had fun though just with friends and different people.) I got home, had one day and then Kirk, Shelley (Principal of the school and his wife – they are Canadian) Christa (my roommate) and I traveled to a place called Kisumu. We flew up, because we were only staying for the day. We went to visit a PACC Graduate and his wife that have started a really cool ministry up country in Kisumu for widows and orphans. It was awesome. So then in the evening we went back to the airport to catch our flight out – back to Nairobi. Their was a storm, but then it passed so we thought we would be fine. We boarded the plane, took off, and the first few minutes were fine, then it started getting scary. There was lots of turbulence, like crazy turbulence. We were flying into the storm that had passed over us and it was apparently like that all the way to Nairobi. The storm was so bad that it knocked out the plane’s radar system, so the pilot was basically flying blind. The plane was getting rocked around, and it was probably the scariest thing I have ever experienced. I was sitting beside the emergency exit door, praying that I wouldn’t have to use it! Shelley, Christa and I were holding hands trying not to scream, and just praying, and Christa and Shelley were trying not to puke. It was awful! Anyway, the pilot decided to turn around and head back to Kisumu that was the safest bet. So we ended up saying the night there, we weren’t prepared at all but it was fine. We were just happy to be back on the ground! Needless to say, I am very happy and relieved that I am not flying again for over a couple months. J Now especially after hearing on Saturday about the plane that crashed. So, yes that was my near death experience for the break. Lol. I am happy it’s over. The rest of my break was spent hanging out with friends, visiting different people. I enjoyed myself. I started school last week, so this is week two in my final term in Kenya. I honestly cannot believe it. I cannot believe that I only have 2 and a half months left here. Everyone always asks if I’m excited to come home, or what I’m feeling, and honestly my feelings are everywhere. I am SO excited to come home and see my family and friends. I miss everyone a lot. And I miss things about home too. I miss going out for coffee with people. I miss going out at night at all (because here I never do, it’s not safe), I miss driving, I miss church in Canada, I miss leading worship and tons more. But at the same time I love it here, I really do. It’s completely different, but it’s funny what you get used to. The people here are amazing. I will miss them. I have made many friends and it will be hard to leave them. I will miss tons of little things about living here. When you live somewhere for a year, you get attached, it’s hard not to. It just gets to you. Well Africa definitely got to me. This will NOT be the last time I am here. I know that for sure. But it’s still hard to leave. So I am torn. I’m in the middle. Some days I don’t know what I feel at all. It’s very confusing. But I know that God had me here for a year for a reason, and he also has me going back to Canada in July for a reason, so I am just trusting him for my future, it’s in his hands. So there you have it. I miss you all, I hope that you are doing well. Let me know! Talk Soon.
Love, Jade

The pics are just random....from over my break. :) Actually it seems as though the other pictures aren't working....i will add them later when it's working.....sorry.

wow, it's been a while...

Hey Everyone!

sorry that it has been SO long. i have been very busy lately. i can hardly believe that it is already the middle of march!! that means i only have just over four months left in Kenya!! it's crazy!! well i have mostly been busy with school. Exams are in a week and half and then i will be done the second term, and on break for the month of April. I am going to the Coast for part of the break, i am really looking forward to it. :) i will take lots of pics and put some up. :) Also on the break we are trying to make a trip up to Kisii (up country) again with some friends. i can't wait, i really hope that it works out, it was SO FUN. SO hopefully there will be another road trip. And I will also be visiting a couple people's houses, as well as going to visit people in a hospital in town. :) so April is quickly filling up! but i am looking forward to all of it! i will be sure to write about all of my experiences. ;) Other than that, there is not much new with me. I'm enjoying the HOT weather! it's getting so hot here, we really need some rain...not tons but some. i hope that it's starting to get slightly warmer in Canada.

i've included some pictures, they are just random of me and people on campus and stuff.. ..

Enjoy!

LAter

Jay

Let's Lose Some "Wight" - I Think I've Found the Perfect Diet...

Colossians 3:3-1 -->
"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. " (NIV)

Wow. I was reading this today, and it really challenged me and got me thinking, so i thought i would share it with you. This verse tells us to set our hearts and minds on things above, not on earthly things. For we are with Christ now, we don't need to think about the things of this world. It goes back to another place where it says that we live in the world yes, but we are not of this world. We are heavenbound, and therefore our thoughts need to be heavenbound as well. Sometimes i think we can get easily caught up in thinking about earthly things. Just think about your every day life. So many times i get caught up in thinking about me. About what i have to do, who i have to see, my future, etc. And since i'm trying to think about it and figure it out all by myself (thinking i'm real smart) i just end up feeling stressed out, overwhelmed, confused, and worried, none of which is cool at all. These verses tell me i need to re-focus, get back to Christ. Get back to thinking about God and let him figure out the rest. I mean he says he'll take our burdens, why is it so hard for us sometimes (it definitely is for me) to let him? i mean why do we want that extra weight? Why do we want to hold on to those things so badly? It really doesn't make sense. i don't know about you, but when i read this, and then looked at my life, i came to the conlusion that i am a little bit burden-fat. And it is all because i am not fully relying on Christ. My thoughts are not focused on him, and on things above all of the time. Instead i always seem to want to think on things below! -- and it never gets me anywhere. I'm like a little kid who always forgets the same thing. I need constant reminders from God, to put my trust in him, and stop thinking so much. Thank goodness he is so patient with me. He will never let me down no matter how much i let him down. He is so faithful. So i thought, it's time for me to lose some earthly weight. i'm getting a little chunky, and i don't like it. I don't feel good. So i'm going on a diet. A less of me and WAY more of Jesus diet. it's like when you cut out a certain type of food, in some diets, well i'm cutting out me. me is done. it's over. no more me. beacause me doesn't work. Jesus works. So this is my challenge of late, join me if you want. Let's lose some "weight." Are you ready to feel lighter? I'm in, are you?
~jade

update on me and some other things....

Hello everyone! Hope that you are all doing wonderfully. i am attempting to update this thing more often, but i keep having to remind myself, things just get busy and i forget so i apologize. first of please continue praying for Kyleigh, she was doing better and was taken out of hospital, however after only one day out she had to go back in because her wounds were leaking, they had to perform another surgery, and if it doesn't work they will have to do it again! so she's going through a lot. so please continue to pray. also please pray that God would just take care of her long term since the doctors have no way of removing the tumor. And please pray for her dad, Ryan, who is sick with a fever right now. Thanks. Prayer works, so thanks so much for praying with me on this.

As far as me. well i've been busy lately. This term at school is a little bit more work, but i am loving it and learning lots. i go at least one day a week to happy life, (the children's home) to help out there, and then on thursdays i go with Christa to her school is one of the slums here, to help with her students. i help students that need extra attention, i read with some students, and this week i will be talking to her Class 7's (grade 7) for a little bit, sorta like a motivational/bible study thing. so please pray for me. but i am really excited to have that opportunity available to me. God is so good. I've also been going to one church regularly now, and am starting to get involved there, beginning with being a part of an out-reach/evangelism/mission team. So i am really excited about that. so when that gets under way i will have stories for you i'm sure. Overall i am doing really well, and enjoying every minute of being here. i'm officially half way through! which is a little bit hard to believe. i look forward to the many experiences that are ahead of me in the next 5 or so months. Thanks so much for all of your prayers and support.

love, jade

xoxox

ps- i'm inlcuding some pictures of the kids at happy life...they're so cute. please pray for them too! and for the home itself. they are doing an awesome ministry what prayer is always needed.

Update on Kyleigh.

hello everyone, i just wanted to thank you so much for your prayers for Kyleigh. she is doing much better. They did a surgery to re-route the blood supply in her brain and it went well. she is home now, and doing better. For all the details, if you are interested you should check out Ryan's blog (her dad) at : http://community.elevate-k.ca/blogs/index.php/ryan. So check that out, for updates, pics, and all that. Thanks again for your prayers, and please keep praying, for Kyleigh long term.
love you all
jade

Please Pray

Hello Everyone. This is a request, not on behalf of myself, but on behalf of some very good friends of mine, and my family, their names are Ryan and Amber Morgan, and their daughter is Kyleigh. A few days ago, Kyleigh (who is not yet 2) was taken to hospital because she was vomitting and very sick. Shortly after she was rushed to Sick Kids in Toronto, because of Pressure on her brain. Before they could even figure out what was causing the pressure, they had to do an operation to relieve the pressure, it went okay. Then they ran an MRI and found, what they are saying is a non-cancerous tumor in an inoperable spot on her brain. They are having (or might have already done it) to do a surgery to insert tubes to re-route the fluid so that the pressure does not build up again, and i am assuming that they are running more tests on the tumor. Basically it is not looking very good right now. I wanted to ask all of you to please pray for Kyleigh, she needs a supernatural touch from God. As well, please keep Ryan and Amber in your prayers, and this is a devestatingly hard time for them. Thank- you, i really appreciate it. The more people praying the better. I have included some pictures of Kyleigh and one of Ry and Amber. I will try and keep you updated.

Thanks Again.

God Bless,

Jade

Birthday Fun In Kenya

Well My birthday was on sunday and it was good.

....oh sorry! - you wanted more detail????haha :)

well....i celebrated my birthday on saturday with some friends, we went to a movie and then at night a bunch of people came over, (which was a surprise to me) and they had a cake for me, and it was really nice. Just a good time of hanging out with friends. I will put some pictures up. :)

other than that, i am doing okay. Now i say only okay, because the last few days have not been the easiest of my time away. i have felt very home sick lately for some reason. More home sick than any other time on my trip, and i'm not sure why. Everything here is great, so it doesn't really make sense, but maybe it's not supposed to. I would however really appreciate your prayers, and also please pray that i beat this awful cold i have! i don't feel the best at all. Thanks in advance. i know that this will pass, and i'll be back to having a blast in Kenya ( not that i'm not....) but it is just hard to go through.

anyway, so i am 19 now. i have officially begun my last year of my teens. crazy. for me they went by very quickly. It wasn't a bad experience though. i really enjoyed my teens, i have had so many opportunites, and friends, and experiences that i know know many people don't have. i feel SO blessed. i look forward to what this next year will hold, as i continue to trust Jesus.

well i unfortunately have to go. i am hoping to update this thing a little more frequently!!! so bug me if i don't!

love you all

~jade

ps- so there is a group pic (but not everyone is in it..), one of me and my cake, and one of me and Christa my roomy:)

oh man.........long time no write....

WOW! it has been forever!! i am so sorry. but i have been very busy, and without access to computer or internet for a while. but i am back! i hope that everyone is doing well and had a very nice christmas and a happy new years!!! it's 2007!!! wow. that's hard to believe.

well i had a very nice holiday. i went up to Kisii and of course that's in my previous blog, then i went to Germany for two weeks to visit my friend Anika. (Who i met in Canada a year and a half ago when she came to stay and go to school for 6 months). It was really nice to see her. I spent Christmas there with her family, and it was really nice. Very odd not to be with my family, it didn't quite feel like christmas, but it was nice nonetheless. But i did miss kenya! i was so happy to be"home" when i got back. :) i missed everyone from here, and just everything. it's odd what you get used to. and it was nice to be back in the warm weather! i was cold the whole time in germany!!!!!!!!!! (what will i do when i come back to canada????!!! LOL) Now i am just preparing to start a new semester here at PAC. and i am very excited. i am anxious to get into a routine again. and it is awesome to see everyone back at the school. This term i have two days off i'm pretty sure, where i have no classes, so i am hoping one of the days to work in the Infant Orphanage and the other, to go with Christa (a teacher here) to her school in the slums and help her with the students there. so i am very excited about both of those things!

well i can't seem to think clearly right now about what i wanted to write about, so i will write more this coming week, so be on the lookout!!!

love you all!

~jade

ps- the pics are of me and my friend Anika, and her Christmas tree:)