Let the transformation begin!

We just officially kicked off the Winter 2010 quarter with all the opening celebration events for the new students! I have always enjoyed these nights because it gives us as staff the opportunity to make the students feel as loved and welcomed as we possibly can! :) I personally have to take advantage of these opportunities to pour into the students because my current job limits the time I have to interact with the students. This is due to conflicting schedules and because my main job responsibilities are geared toward the staff and mission builders. However, I am really challenging myself this quarter to try to seek out opportunities, even if I am tired after a full day of work! I could definitely use prayer in this area! It is so easy to become "numb" for a lack of a better term, because after being here almost 2 years on staff, so many people come and go and it becomes a fact of life. It really is hard on the emotions to get to know people deeply and to pour into their lives, just to have them leave a few months later. Sometimes it just seems like it would be easier to numb down the emotions so it doesn't hurt so much to have people constantly torn from my life. I know that is not the perspective or attitude the Lord wants me to have however, so I am going to try to walk out in the opposite spirit!!!

The student's first week here is full of exciting surprises that are truly packed with significant purpose; not merely for the enjoyable shock value for us as staff to witness! We begin this amazing journey for the students with, well - Opening Night as we call it. This year we set it up a bit differently in an attempt to help the students get better acquainted with how all of our departments are set up and so they can get to know the people in these deparments quicker! :) It had a coffee house theme to it and the students would rotate from table to table and talk for several minutes before moving on to the next. Other events of the evening included the traditional Hawaiian welcome where we presented each student with a lei and our base director and school directors spoke to the students about the program that are entering into. We ended the evening with an amazing time of worship altogether as this new, larger family! Then the students were promptly informed that they will be heading off onto an Exodus of their own early the next morning. They are provided with a very short packing list and were told they were leaving at 6 a.m. - other than that, they are not sure what journey marks their paths ahead.

For those of you who have not heard my own personal stories about Exodus, to sum it up - they spend time away camping in the wilderness of Maui, eating Ramen noodles and Oatmeal, away from shower facilities where they end up getting really smelly and dirty. You may be wondering - What on earth is the purpose behind this? While it may just sound like a terrible form of hazing, let me assure you that this is just one of the most crucial and beneficial parts of our program. The students come here generally quite nervous, not knowing anyone or really what to expect. This Exodus has proven time after time to accelerate the process of breaking down walls, opening up hearts and building up amazing friendships very quickly. As they are away from all the comforts that this world offers us, they have an opportunity to share their testimonies with each other, worship together and really get to know each other from the start. Once we see the students at our Love feast, they already seem like totally different people who are now excited and anxious to see what the Lord has in store for their lives during this time!

So I mentioned the term Love feast above; this is such a fun event! All of the staff spend most of the day prepping for this by decorating, setting up, tearing down and cooking a delicious feast for these students to enjoy after consuming only ramen and oatmeal! How this goes down is the students "stop" at a church en route to their next camping spot to use the restrooms, only to be surprised by all of the staff jumping out and cheering for them, leading them to the amazing set up we had prepared for them! We quickly cut right to the chase and allow them to start digging in to this meal that they cannot wait for! Afterwards, the staff is dismissed and our Base Director shares a short message on foot washing and then we file in, finding the students/new staff/mission builders that we have spent time praying for; getting an encouraging word for. We wash their very dirty feet (as you can see from the picture!) and then we spend time praying over them. It is such a special time and for those who have never experienced this before, they are generally very moved by this act of love and humility.

We had a great time of worship afterwards. I personally was very moved because I realized that it has been over 3 years ago already that I decided to come out here and go through the D-School. I was one of those students who really didn't know why they were here, but I knew that I wanted a change in my life. I could do nothing else but thank the Lord for how far He has brought me and for all of the many blessings He has abundantly gifted me with. I feel like I really don't know the person that I used to be, I currently feel such amazing joy and freedom in my life and it is the Lord who receives ALL of the glory for this victory! Ahhh. I can't even explain the magnitude of grace He has extended to me in my life, He is so good. I can confidently say that I will never go back to who I was before, I have been transformed and I have come to know the Lord in a very real and personal relationship - what I was lacking before!

May this be a year where we all experience more of this personal intimacy with Christ! :)

"If we have been united with him like this in this death, we will certainly also be united with him in his resurrection. For we know that our old self was crucifed with him so that the body of sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin - because anyone who has died has been freed from sin." - Romans 6:5-7

My White Christmas in Maui...

Surprisingly enough, we are definitely bombarded with that blasted white stuff here in Maui... Feet upon feet of it. That darn sand can become such a nuisance sometimes... I tell you what. HAHA. ONLY KIDDING!!! Hopefully you all can find it in your hearts to forgive me and continue reading this blog entry. ;)
So yes, I will be spending my Christmas here in Hawaii this year. I'm not expecting ANY sympathy at all... from anyone. haha. Regardless of the fact that my feet are staying planted on a beautiful island...my heart will definitely be back with all of you on the East coast... It's not quite the same not being with my family and friends back home that I love so dearly. --And honestly - it's not the same without the snow! (I'm definitely missing the skiing and snowmobiling and all that fun stuff!) Plus.. it is so hard to listen to Christmas music here when they are singing "let it snow, let it snow, let it snowwww!" haha...how silly! :)

Currently, there are only 6 staff members remaining here on base and will spend the duration of our break here (The office re-opens on the 28th of December). We are trying to make it as enjoyable as possible by planning different events and activities to prevent us all from missing home too much during this time. So far, I really haven't experienced much of a break at all... actually my workload has significantly increased. With so many of the staff who have gone home for break, it has left several positions unattended that still require attention. That's where I come in. hehe. I really don't mind though... the days sure are flying by as I am keeping myself occupied with different duties, floating from desk to desk. There are several things that need to be taken care of before this next group of students begin to arrive on January 6th. God has been so good in preparation for this next school by spontaneously providing new school leaders and staff after the intended school leader was not issued a Visa to enter back into the US from Thailand. I always had a peace about the situation, knowing that God would come through as we were faithful to pray about these issues.

If you could please be in prayer for this upcoming school as we have all rookies filling these school staffing positions! (Grace, wisdom, and full dependance on the Lord) Also, because I am responsible for placing staff in all the positions, I am currently in a slight bind, trying to fill a few voids that have currently been opened by exiting staff members. (Prayers for wisdom and insight from the Lord would be great!)

I hope and pray that all of you are enjoying your Christmas season and that you are experiencing the presence and the love of God more than ever -- He is the reason we celebrate! :)

Merry Christmas (Mele Kalikimaka!) and Happy New Year (Hau'oli Makahiki Hou)!!!!

I just had to throw in the Hawaiian lingo for you all.) ;)

Constant Transition

It is so hard to believe, but just as one school has recently returned from their outreach two weeks ago, this current school is getting ready to head to Asia this Friday! We are commissioning out 3 different teams (Nepal/Bangladesh, Indonesia and C) in great expectation that the Lord is going to use each and every one of them to touch lives and further His kingdom!

I will be posting team reports and prayer points as I receive updates from the nations! :) Until then, it would be great if you could pray that the Lord would be preparing hearts to receive the good news that these groups of young people are bringing to them! Also, prayers for team unity and fruitful ministry would be very helpful! Thank you!

On a more personal note, to update you on the current happenings in my life... :) Hmmm... so lately I have been keep quite busy preparing for the upcoming quarter - trying to place all of the staff in department positions, making sure everything is covered. It is very challenging here at our base, since we are all so young, the turnover rate is pretty rapid. We are constantly moving onto something new - which is great and exciting... However, it presents the constant challenge to my position of trying to find staff who are able to fill higher leadership positions when most of the staff here are all new to the base. The Lord is so faithful and always takes care of us and fills the voids of our inadequacies! There is no way our base would still be running if it wasn't for the Lord's provision and His grace in our areas where we are lacking skills, resources and experience. I have been soaking these issues in prayer and because of this, I have been able to be at peace and have complete trust in the Lord. He has NEVER given me a reason not to trust Him, there is no reason not to, no matter how big or small the issue is!!! :)

Starting this week, most of the staff here are going to be heading home for Christmas break. I will be one of 6 people to be staying here on the base for the break. I'm sure it is going to be a time filled with bittersweet feelings. I will finally have the opportunity to catch up and work ahead on a few projects that I have calling my name! I am bummed at the fact that I won't have the chance to sit down and visit and catch up with all of you during this time off. However, I am at peace because I know this is where the Lord has me for now, even if these fleshly feelings rise up inside of me, making me feel anxious and craving a change. I trust Him, I really do. He has promised good things to be and I know He will fulfill these promises in His time, which I am always thankful for His impeccable timing that I could not have EVER arranged any better! :)

"He has made everything beautiful in its time. He has also set eternity on the hearts of men, yet they cannot fathom what He has done from beginning to end."

-Ecclesiates 3:11

(Out of the chapter titled: A Time for Everything)

Thank you again for your prayers, love and support. Please feel free to email me with requests of how I can be praying for you as well! God bless!

FULL House!

Our big family up here in Haiku just got a little bigger this weekend! The Summer D-School just returned from their outreaches to Indonesia and Bangladesh on Saturday. Despite their extreme jet lag, the teams were in high spirits and their excitement and the joy of the Lord was evident in their smiles and stories. It is always such a blessing to hear the amazing reports from the teams who are fresh off the field. It is so powerful to hear time and time again how the Lord is moving in the nations and how He never ceases to show His faithfulness to every team we send out!

The Indonesia team was quite excited to take a regular shower instead of bathing in the rivers as they spent most of their outreach in the remote jungle villages in Borneo. Although they endured a physically challenging outreach, they were blessed with the chance to witness firsthand several miracles and signs of the Lord's incredible power! They saw some people become healed and others delivered from demon possession. The main theme they speak of is how the Lord always came through for them, especially when they responded obediently to His promptings. One student recalled being full of fear and feeling unsure of what to do as he was praying for deliverance over a demon-possessed man. The Lord comforted him and instructed him as to what to do - this student totally surrendered and let the Lord fully use him as a vessel to minister to this inflicted man. Because of this act of complete obedience, the Lord was able to release this man from the powers of evil and bring him peace AND salvation!

The Bangladesh team faced intense spiritual heaviness daily due to being in a country smothered in oppression of almost every form. They stood firm in the authority that the Lord equips us with as His own. They took a stand for Christ and did not back down - knowing that they are more than conquerers because our Father victoriously conquered death! This team consistently spoke about the importance and the power of prayer and how the Lord met them in their places of brokenness. The spiritual atmosphere brought about apathy and depression among the team members, but by their prayers of faith, the Lord brought them renewed joy and a love for this country and its people.

Please pray for these students as they return home this upcoming week. It is always a pretty tough transition to return home after the intensity of outreach, especially when they may possibly be returning to a place where they will be surrounded by people who cannot relate to them or share the same excitement that they are filled with. Please pray that they will have countless opportunities to share with their communities about the things that the Lord has done in their lives and what the Lord is doing in the nations! -- Our mission field is WHEREVER we are, people EVERYWHERE need Jesus... Not just overseas! I hope and pray their ministry continues and even expands once they leave here!!!

But I have raised you up for this very purpose,

that I might show you my power and that

my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.

-Exodus 9:16

Passing through the valleys..

Well... this week is certainly off to a great start! I always used to dread the culmination of the weekends... However, the Lord has brought such a great amount of joy into life since I've chosen to follow Him and surrender my entire life into His hands. Now each new week only means a new opportunity to hear what the Lord wants to speak to me and in turn to learn and be challenged and encouraged by His words that beckon transformation.

Last week, however, I was faced with several forms of hardships...It is so hard to see the positive aspects of these situations in the midst of them. Nearly everytime I finally make it through these valleys, I can look back and see what I have gained from the experience. I can always reflect and see my own personal growth and the wisdom I have gained, which can be useful for my own benefit, but hopefully even more to others that I can now speak life into those areas when they face similar struggles.

Lately, I have been reading a book called "The Barbarian Way" by Erwin R. McManus... I highly recommend it. It poses several challenging statements, but it really puts the call of a life fully surrendered to Christ into a very clear perspective. One of the opening sentences states:
" The invitation of Jesus is a revolutionary call to fight for the heart of humanity. We are called to an unconventional war using only the weapons of faith, hope, and love. Nevertheless, this war is no less dangerous than any war ever fought. And for those of us who embrace the cause of Christ, the cost to participate in the mission of God is nothing less than everything we are and everything we have."

He goes on to say: "This is the simplicity of the barbarian way. If you are a follower of Christ, then you are called to fight for the heart of your King. It is a life fueled by passion - a passion for God and a passion for people.....The barbarian way is about love, intimacy, passion, and sacrifice. Barbarians love to live and live to love. For them, God is life, and their mission is to reconnect humanity to Him. Their passion is that each of us might live in intimate communion with Him who died for us."

I have been challenged lately to seek outside opportunities to get involved and to minister to others outside of our little bubble up here in the jungle. I am speaking to local churches to see how we can get involved within and with outside ministry. I am also currently working on trying to establish mentorship for all the staff who are willing to receive it. Our base is one of the youngest in Y. and we are lacking the constant availability of valuable wisdom and life experience from those older than us. I have found that there are so many older couples in the churches who would absolutely love to meet with us and disciple and mentor us in our relationships with the Lord and in life in general. It is absolutely amazing how the Lord equips our base to run so efficiently regardless of our extreme youthfulness! It is only through HIM that we are operating! Thank goodness for that! We currently have 39 staff members and 34 students split between 2 schools and about 4 main departments. (Kitchen, Hospitality, Office, School staff) This current group of staff works together so well and the unity on the base is quite strong! I wish you all could come and see what we do and how everything runs here! :)

Well, until next week... thanks for reading.. and if you could keep the following points in prayer:
*For the current teams on outreach right now in Bangladesh and Indonesia - for health and for perserverance during their last 3 weeks in the field.
*For Tik, the current summer school leader; who recently got deported back to Thailand - that her Visa situation would work out smoothly so that she can return here without any issues.
*Personally - for the vision and the drive required to see positive changes come to pass here!
--- If it wasn't for the Lord encouraging me and spurring me on, I could see how it would be easy for me to become quite complacent in my current position -- being in the office all day, away from the school.

When thinking about the potential of becoming complacent, this quote really strikes me -
"Jesus did not suffer and die so that we could build for ourselves havens, but so that we might expand the kingdom of His love. Because invisible kingdoms are at war for the hearts and lives of every human being who walks on the face of this earth."
This really hits me hard when I realize that I have begun to solely focus on what I can do overseas and totally become blinded to endless opportunities in front of me! - Please pray that I will see these opportunities and not let them pass me by!

Settled in...

I have been back here for almost 2 months already since my last visit home and since I received the opportunity to see most of you! Since arriving back, I have been trained into a totally new position on base and I am finally feeling pretty settled in and have gotten into the flow of things.

I am the Personnel Director here, which probably doesn't mean anything to those who don't know what that entails, so allow me to inform you! :) My main duties include taking care of the staff and volunteer mission builders who serve here at the base. I help them from the beginning application process all the way through to their commitment end. The details in between range from: processing the applications, conducting interviews, setting up housing and logistics, getting them plugged in to our base and community events, meeting with them one on one, assigning department positions (kitchen, hospitality, office, maintenance, intercession, etc.), conflict resolution and being the go-to person for base communication. There are so many random other duties that I must cover, but I have to say - I enjoy the variety that my job offers...there is always something new everyday! When I initially accepted this position, I did not see it as a natural fit for me and my personality. I love to organize and to be the catalyst behind the scenes, so when I knew that I would have to take on responsibility in higher levels of outward leadership and take on issues of confrontation, I was a bit intimidated. However, the Lord spoke clearly to me about how He wanted to use this time to grow me in the areas of boldness and confidence. Also, I felt Him tell me that this season will be one of preparation of things to come. God has put a very strong calling on my life for the nation of "C" and I really feel that I need to be a wise steward of the time I have now to pray into this, pursue HIS timing and HIS plans...not my own!!! I am currently trying to work out logistical details with support raising and forming a solid support group behind me who wants to partner in this vision with me, providing me with a covering of prayer. (More details to come as I am released to share!!! :)!!! )















Thanks for reading :) I am going to continue updating this blog weekly.. so check back in to stay informed on my life from week to week! :)
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I would greatly appreciate it if you could keep me in your prayers, they are so powerful and they are heard by a very faithful and loving Father. :)

*That the Lord would give me wisdom and guidance in my position and responsibilities here and to help me to make the greatest impact possible on the staff and students here!

*That I would be a good steward of my time and that I would be sensitive to what the Lord is calling me to accomplish day to day and for my long term vision.

THANK YOU!
Jessica :)

The Far East..

Ni Hao! (That's hello in "C-ese"!) :)

First of all, I have to apologize for the lack of updates I provided for this last outreach. It was partially due to security reasons since this is a closed nation, but also it is partially due to my personal neglect to maintain this blog, which I am so embarrassed about -- I am so sorry!!!

However, my excitement has not worn off even after being home from "C" for over 2 months now! This nation has absolutely captured my entire heart and it still grips it so strongly that it brings me to the point of tears in longing to be back there.

I was blessed with the opportunity to lead a team of 7 students with my Co-leader Andi through this amazing adventure. The Lord doubly blessed me by allowing me to not only see lives in a foreign country be touched, but I also was able to journey alongside 7 young adults as their lives got radically transformed by the power of Jesus Christ! If you would have asked me a few years ago if I could see myself fit to do this, you would have heard a firm "No, never." - without hesistation. However, the Lord has poured His grace to the point of overflowing in my life these past few years and has allowed me to find my identity in Him, finding that I am capable of anything that He calls me to do, by His strength, --through Him! :) This has been such an incredible growing experience for me as well as I sought total dependance on the Lord daily under the realization that I am responsible for leading 7 young adults through an intense spiritual battle in a nation so highly oppressed. -- Not to mention, neither my co-leader or I have ever been in this country before.. However, the Lord saw it fit and had the confidence in us to handle the task placed in front of us!

I want to take you all back through the indescribably amazing 3 month adventure the Lord took my team and I through back in April. We began our journey spending a week in Hong Kong, going through culture orientation which allowed our team to get adjusted a little better before heading out into the countryside. My goodness.. I wish I could describe our next venture well enough to make you feel like you were actually there with me. Unfortunately, I know I will fall short at that... I think most of you could just about fall over laughing if you could see some of the things I experienced -- (knowing how I was before, you could almost be in total disbelief that this is the same girl you knew just years previous.) haha Moving on.. Our team traveled by a rickety, smelly, packed out local village bus for about 6 hours into the middle of nowhere "C". So let me explain a little shift in culture here -- the "C-ese" have no regard for personal space...at all. Haha. Needless to say, our team had to adjust rather quickly as we had dirty, wrinkly (but oh so cute) old "C-ese" farmers practically sitting on our laps, shamelessly staring us down. :) Once we arrived at the village bus stop, we had to hike up and over mountains for 3 hours to get to our first location. My goodness, was I not physically prepared for this trek...but by the grace of God I made it! Haha. Let me tell you, this temporary pain was more than worth it as my eyes gazed over the beauty of this village. I cannot express the joy in my heart as I witnessed the most precious kids running out into the streets to greet and welcome us as we made our entrance into their village. During our 3 week stay, we taught at a middle and grade school. We were called here to love on the children whose parents are forced to leave them in order to find work in the cities. Most of the children are left with their grandparents who are generally very old and feeble. Needless to say, these children lacked the love and attention that they deserve. Our ministry restricted us from sharing the Gospel as we needed to protect our contacts and future ministry in this village. There are no believers in this village currently, but I'm optimistic that this is sure to change very soon! We were blessed with the opportunity to spend time with the teachers here and you could evidently see the curiousity burning inside of them. Though the Lord is not outwardly receiving all the glory and praise He is due in this place, the Holy Spirit is actively stirring in the hearts of these people! We actually had a teacher make the comment - "I don't think it is by accident that of all the people in the world, I am here and you are here at the same time. It must be, (pointing upward) ...God. Hallelujah!!! :) Praise God for this awareness and acknowledgement of His sovereign power! Our team was so encouraged by this! We prepped the team ahead of time that our ministry has the potential to cause discouragement if you lose perspective... eternal perspective! It was vital for our team to trust that more was going on under the surface that we can see. Thank the Lord that He works in ways we cannot see and operates in depths we cannot fathom! We just need to trust!!!

We then hiked to and stayed at a very primitive village en route to our next location which was the most physically challenging for our team. There was no shower and our squatty toilet was simply two boards we had to balance on... next to a pig sty! I personally enjoyed this place so much and I was able to have some pretty amazing experiences here. I woke up early one morning and went out on a walk to have a quiet time with Jesus. Along a path I was walking down, I ran into a feeble old woman who smiled and started speaking to me in "C-ese" without a care that I didn't understand a word she was saying. :) She grabbed my hand and walked with me and she eventually led me to her humble little home where she introduced me to her grandchildren. She had me sit down and asked me if I had eaten yet (I could actually understand that... haha) I saw what she was intending to feed me as she pointed at dead snakes hanging up to dry and I quickly informed her that I had already eaten breakfast! I really enjoyed just sitting in their company conversing to each other in totally different languages, not understanding a word, but loving it! On my way back from this visit, I came across an old woman whose eyes were full of tears of pain. She pointed to her back where there was a massive tumor and she took my hand and laid it upon it, and folded her hands together. I took advantage of this opportunity to pray healing over her back and asked the Holy Spirit to bring revelation to this woman. I only hope that I can travel back to this place someday and find that the Lord has completely healed this woman!

We travelled to village number 3 where we spent 3 more weeks teaching at a school and forming friendships. After this, we left the villages and faced culture shock as we headed into the big city. Our ministry switched up a bit as we were able to be a bit more open with friendship evangelism. We held English corners, Bible studies, Cultural Exchange nights and we attended the underground churches, which was absolutely heartbreaking. Our team was able to see much breakthrough as we established awesome friendships in just 4 short weeks. Several young "C-ese" lives were introduced to the love of Jesus Christ and we trust that He will finish the good work that has begun in these lives!

I could go on and on.. I know this is incredibly long already and I have tried to sum it up as much as possible! haha. Thank you dedicated readers for sticking with me thus far! I hope you feel encouraged as you read about the countless ways that the Lord is moving in the Far East. Please keep this nation in your prayers as the number of conversions here are at a record high!!! Praise God!!!! :)