No words can describe...

So - i'm pretty much the happiest girl in the world since Thursday, November 20th at about 6:30 am.... i found out that my man (who lives in Kenya) FINALLY was given a visitor's visa to Canada. We have been trying to get him over here for about a year now. This past time was the 5th time he's applied. He was turned down four times. I don't know what made the 5th time so special...all i know is that this is no one else's doing except God. He gets all the credit on this one! And he's just amazing me! I'm so thankful, there aren't even words to describe what i felt when i read that txt message on Thursday morning. We have been apart now in total almost a year and a half (with a three week break when i went to Kenya to visit in April). I am so excited about this next reunion....and the best part is --> it's only two weeks away!!! He arrives on December 6th...and i'm so happy i can barely concentrate on anything - including sleep - it's currently 2:08 am....

Anyways i thought this was "post-worthy" ... definitely MORE to come...

*Beyond excited*

jade

PREACH IT! ...

Hello all!

So I spent this past week in North Bay, taking an intesntive course - Homiletics - or the "science of preaching." It was very intense (which i suppose is to be expected seeing as how you are trying to finish a course in 4 days....) but it was VERY good. I actually enjoyed it much more than i thought i would. I really enjoyed the discussion and the practicality of how we talked about preaching and teaching. I learned a lot and i can't wait to put it into practice. I think i may...have discovered a new passion for preaching, i'm just exctied to keep working on my communication and teaching, so that people are truly challenged by the Bible and how God wants to transform our lives to make us more like Him. I think i probably enjoyed this course more thani thought i would because i realized that it wasn't anything like what my pre-concieved ideas were about it. So even though the timing of this course was kinda crazy, and it's making me CRAZY busy for the next few weeks (because i'm adding it to working full time at church, and another online course....) i'm really glad i took it.

It was very refreshing. Even just learning how to look at God's word in a new light. God is so good, and there is so much in the Bible for us! Everything we need. There will always be something new to learn, but also many times i learned the challenge is learning how to present something known or familar in a new and fresh way as to remind and encourage people. So basically i'm really looking forward to continuing to learn so i can be the best communicator of God's message i can be. - All the while - completely relying on him - cause without that - i know i have nothing.

I think one of the biggest things i learned is - BE TRUE TO YOURSELF. God's message will be filtered through YOU> your experiences, your personality - and that's a GOOD thing -don't fight it - don't try to be something you're not - because that will not communicate or connect with people. Authenticity is SO important. And preaching/teaching is more than just standing up and talking to a group of people, yelling a bit, you know the deal. Preaching is a way of life - a lifestyle, and it happens all the time, whether it's one on one or to a group of people, or to a church. Somestimes we put it in a box. But why on earth should we limit God and his message to man? God is bigger than our traditions. Let's get out of our comfort zone, and PREACH IT!

So what's your take on "preaching?" What are your pre-conceived ideas? Think about it. Learn. Change. Live it.

Until another day...

This way to "Happy"...

I love this picture. It just get's your attention doesn't it? I found it while i was preparing my discussion for this week at Remix. We're talking about Appreciating the Little Things, and realizing what a gift life really is.

Everyone these days is looking for happiness. They're searching everywhere for it! But the fact is many people remain unhappy, unfulfilled. They wonder why they seem to have everything they want, but still aren't satisfied. I think many people have forgotten that it's about relationships not stuff. You can have all the material possessions in the world, but if you haven't got someone who loves you, or someone to love and share it with - what have you really got?

I'm asking my kids (no - i don't have kids yet - my kids at Youth) some tough questions tonight like, If you lost everything you owned - if it was gone in a minute, would your life still be worth living? Would you be trying to replace everything as soon as possible? If someone asked you what's the most important in your life, what would you say? And more than that - would your actions - how you live reflect what you stated as your priorities? These are some things i believe it's good to think about every now and again, just to sort of do a check up on our values.

I am constantly reminded that it's the little things in life that make it great to be alive. You know - hitting the snooze button and sleeping in that extra 10 min. - seeing the smile on someone's face as they open their Christmas gift from you -laughing and being with those you love - It's not where i live, but who i live with. It's not what i have but what i can give to someone else. It's not how much money i have, but how i choose to use it. No matter what circumstances i find myself in - whether lovely or challenging, whether happy or sad - i am always trying to remind myself to look for those little things, those precious things that remind me what a gift my life really is.

So think about it. What does your search for happiness include?

i wish...

Well it's been an interesting 24hours for me...

I've felt a range of emotions over a range of different circumstances. My sister Abbey got home last night. She has been in Kenya for the last two weeks. (She arrived home to Canada on Saturday, but then stayed a couple days down south - so she arrive HOME last night). So i was very excited to have her home, and to hear about her trip, at least a little bit - she was tired. She also brought me some letters and things from Julius, so that was really special. So i was super excited, and just happy to have her home, and to hear how people are over there, and to hear about people i know, and places i'm familar with and things i miss. it's sort of a bitter-sweet thing for me when i talk about Africa, more specifically, Kenya. i LOVE to talk about it, because i just love it there. it's so different but it's like my second home. But of course it's bitter-sweet since i miss it, and more than missing the place itself, i miss the people, and more than the people, i miss a person incredibley. So i was excited,happy, sad, nostalgic....i'm really happy that some of my family was able to go over for a visit. It feels like part of me was there in a way.

So then today - i obviously have Africa on the brain...(which is pretty much the usual, but today it's a little more intense then some days)...and i've been thinking about people, my friends there...and just remembering the good times, hoping that they are doing well. unfortunately, earlier today i got an upsetting email. A very good friend of mine, Christa (she was my roomate while i lived in Kenya and is like the older sis i never had)....is dealing with some hard news. I actually didn't hear from her yet, but from another friend. Christa used to teach in one of the slum school's in Nairobi, and she still keeps in touch with several of her students from there. (She now teaches at another school, but still lives in Nairobi.) The last year or so she has really been trying to help out one family. One of her students, Esther, had a very sick mother, among other problems and hardships that come with living in the slums, and in their situation. Her mother needed heart surgery i she wasn't going to live much longer. Christa really felt compelled to help this family, and so she contacted everyone she knew, asking for prayers and financial donations in attempts to raise enough funds for this women to be able to go for sugery. After several months of fundraising and really pouring a lot of herself into this project, Christa and all her supporters raised enough money so that Esther's mom could go for this operation on her heart. God really worked some miracles in raising this money. She went for the surgery, and everything seemed to be going well, she was recovering. That was the last i heard. Until today.

Apparently she came down with some sort of post-surgery infection, and passed away very recently. I am still a little bit in shock. I just don't understand these things at all. it causes me to ask many questions, and just to cry out to God - WHY? Why would you move people and put it on their hearts to give, why would you miraculously raise the money needed, have this women able to get this life-saving surgery, only to die of an infection shortly afterwards? This mother that died, she left behind a family, children, who have nothing. How can you be glorified through this situation i wonder? How will you work this out for good?

So that's sort of where i'm at. I haven't been able to talk to Christa as of yet, but i know she is probably really hurting right now, and very confused as well. Christa is the kind of person that pours her heart into projects. She never gives up, she's extremely determined and movtivated, and this news i know will be crushing after all she went through for this lady and her family.

When i hear about things like this, after i get over my initial WHY'S!!?? - i am only reminded that God is God and i am me. it's that simple. i dont' understand why he allows such things to happen, but i know somehow, some way whether now, or years down the road, he will be glorified through this awful situation. And above all - no matter what happens - He is sovereign. He reigns, and He is still LOVE.

Please pray with me for my friend Christa, and for this family during this intensely sad time.

i wish....i never had to hear bad news. i wish i never had to lose someone i love or watch someone else lose someone they love. i wish there weren't children starving, and soldiers dying, and people finding out they have cancer. i wish that there was no hurt or pain or suffering. But in this world, in this life, that is an impossibility. Trials will come. Hurt will happen. Loss in inevitable. That's all we're guarenteed. But i also know a God who is bigger than this world - who has overcome this world, who IS love. No matter what happens in this world, in this life - HE is enough for me. HE will see me through. HE will lift me up. And I will praise Him FOREVERMORE, because despite all the bad things that happen, he has saved me, i owe him my life. And he is worthy of my adoration. Because i know he loves me beyond what i can even fathom. And i know he can work things out for good - in ANY situation, because i have seen it time and time again.

Wishes are great - but faith is better. I don't have to wish...I know.

Hebrews 11:1

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

The Skype Date...

Let me tell you about the "Skype Date." It's pretty awesome for those of us who are in long-distance relationships. It's pretty much the best it can get, without actually being in person with your special someone. It's better than the phone, because if you have a web-cam you can actually see the other person, as well as hear their voice, and the best part is ----> it's FREE. No crazy phone bills, etc.

I am very thankful for the invenor(s) of skype. I never would have imagined it would become such a regular thing is my life....but such is life...i find most of what i expect, never happens, and most of what i plan doesn't turn out the way i planned. It's definitely an adventure. God is keeping me on my toes, waiting for the next move - cause most of the time i have absolutely no clue! i'm getting used to it, but as i am not naturally a very felxible person....it's been challenging to say the least. Every day i learn how to trust God a little more, and how to lean on my own understanding a little less.

Anyways, back to skype :-) Today i was able to chat a while with my hun, Julius, and it was great. We always talk and wonder where the times goes - we'll be talking for an hour and it honestly feels like we haven't even begun...which i feel is a good sign :-)

We miss each other LOTS, and we're hoping this phase of being so far apart is shortly coming to an end...so we continue to trust God, try to be patient, and go on as many "Skype Dates" as possible.

So today i am VERY thankful for Skype. It makes my life a litte easier.

Until another day....

-jade

A day in the life...

Well...
i've decided to start blogging again...for no particular reason.
I have many friends in many different places around the world, and it's always a good way to get updates, etc. It is also a way for me to get my thoughts out, to share what i'm doing and what i'm learning day to day. (although i can almost guarentee i will NOT be writing every day...lol) - i will try to keep it fairly regular.

i originally started this blog when i was living in Kenya as a way of keeping in touch with people back home and updating everyone. I have been back in Canada for over a year now...and a lot has happened since then....a lot of good things....
-i am now living in Sudbury (and i like it - for the most part ;-))
-i finally am together with my family again after a somewhat dis-jointed and odd year of all of us living everywhere but together...
-i have been working at New Sudbury Pentecostal Church here in Sudbury for over a year now - i started as Secretary and volunteer youth leader and now i am officially over Children, Youth and the Arts at church - so that's been challenging, and fun all at the same time.
-what else - oh i am the Queen of long distance relationships - mine goes all the way from Canada to Kenya...:-) - the love of my life is over there...we've been apart now for almost a year and a half...and we're working on getting in the same country - we're praying for Christmas this year....so pray with me!

Oh so much more, but that seems like enough for an intro and for now...

more to come...


~jade