Tuesday, July 10, 2012

Playing Catch Up...

Two weeks later. . .

I'm not gonna lie, I have had no desire to update this blog over the past 14 days. However, I know that I will truly regret it if I discontinue my writing altogether so here is a last ditch effort to start this back up! Nothing like a 2 week holiday from the blog!

The past couple of weeks have been challenging and definitely busy but I think the closest I've been to the Lord since moving out here.

I don't see how it is possible to give a detailed update so I will do my best to fill you in on all of the major events and things that have happened.

HAPPY 4TH OF JULY! My first fourth away from home was pretty much like any other day. I put up my flag (given to me by one of the teens) and listened to my USA playlist on repeat. . . but that was pretty much it. No BBQ, no apple pie, no fireworks. :(

Happy 4th of July!!!

The past two youth services were amazing! Pastor Cecil spoke on the 28th and Alan spoke last week! Things are beginning to shift in the atmosphere - I can feel it! Street Reach has been going really well! The last two we had nice (as in not rainy) weather! Always brings more people into town and also eliminates excuses the kids give for not coming in.

Gemma and I
Jenn and Aaron
Woody w/ his hot chocolate

Last Friday we went to CFC's worship night. They have one every first Friday of the month (This is mine and Emma's second one to go to) We got there for the last two hours. The place was anointed! God was speaking to both of us loads! Good thing I had a notebook with me! He gave me a specific word that I have been reading daily ever since to encourage me that He has everything under control.

"I am the creator of all the universe. I am intricate. Beyond the galaxies man sees, I am greater. I am vast. I am majestic, marvelous, magnificent. Awe inspiring. Nothing is impossible for Me. Nothing is impossible for Me. I have it all in my hands. Trust in me. Abide in me. You will bear much fruit. Ask of me and receive it. The time is now."

Adopt-A-Block has been good with the most exciting news coming last week! Mr McCrae is back home!!!! We hadn't heard from him in over 3 months and last heard he had been rushed to the hospital after having a stroke. We had pretty much assumed his passing when Vinny texted me last Saturday saying he was home! We went over to visit immediately and found him lying contently on an easy chair. He looked cozy lying there with a blanket all the way up to his chin, a smile contentedly on his face. His daughter was with him and explained that she had found him in a coma 3 months prior and rushed him to the hospital where he slowly recovered before being placed into a care home. Unfortunately he fell while there and broke his hip needing a hip replacement. After all of that he wished to go home, so his daughter had the house redecorated to create a fresher and more peaceful and relaxing atmosphere and a couple days ago he moved home. She now lives with him and is pleased to have us continue our Saturday visits. God is just so good!

Went to Alan and Rachel's Sunday after church and stayed through until this morning. I love them so much and am so blessed to have them in my life!

Something else exciting that happened on Sunday was my younger brother got baptized! One of my friends told me and I was so shocked to hear it I immediately phoned home and heard straight hand from my dad and then later from my brother. I was in tears. When you trust God with your family He always comes through! My brother, Jeremy, and I are extremely close and this is something I've been praying and believing God for for some time now! I'm so overjoyed with the news!

On a lighter and slightly creepier note. . . meet Elvira. Yes this is what I had to live with the past few months! I was finally brave enough to take a pic of the life size doll!

Meet Elvira

Though the past couple of days have been amazing, today was one of the roughest. I found myself piled under mounds of work and realized around noon that not one bit of it related to the Dream Centre. I find this often to be the case and today it frustrated me more than normal. Then in the middle of recording with Alan, Hannah brought the news that the house we found last week, viewed, and fell in love with was gonna fall thru. I was and still am devastated! Both Ems and I feel like it is THE HOUSE. The one the Lord has for us! Pastor Cecil had gone to sign the papers this morning only to learn of a clause that wasn't gonna allowed the three of us (Rique, Emma, and I) to live together. That broke me and I knew that I needed to meet with Cecil. Not really about the house situation cause I trust God knows what He is doing but more so with the work load. When working in ministry you MUST be fulfilling your passion, your calling, or you will burn out quicker than a match covered in hairspray! The meeting went fairly well. . . alot of changes need to be made but what better timing than now. Nearly the one year mark for me, and right when DCB is doubling in staff.

Emma is over tonight. We had a really good chat and are just trusting Jesus with this house and with everything far and in between. I've been reading in Judges lately (LOVE that book! Who knew it was full of the craziest of stories) and we read through a chapter tonight and it led us to another passage, 2 Corinthians 4 which has become our newest anthem.

Rique comes out tomorrow! Ready for a turnaround! Cant wait until we have the whole team together! I better head to bed though as we have an early start into Dublin! Praying things come together on this house! God knows!

Hope you are having a wonderful evening wherever you are!

xo xo
-J

ps Happy 18th Birthday to my little sis, Emily! Hard to believe you are so old! Cant wait to see you!

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