Serve Asia Pre-Field Prep

Hi Praying Friends! Just wanted to write to ask for prayer for all of us (especially me, as I am coordinating this pre-field prep time for our short-term missionaries)... that God would reveal Himself to all of us corporately and individually; His affirmation for going out to the missions field (East Asia) would be realized; and that we would be worshippers in all that we do... here and beyond!

Here is the schedule for those that are interested in praying more specifically:

Friday:
4:00pm - Arrivals/Icebreakers
5:00pm - Introduction to OMF International and Serve Asia
6:30pm - Dinner
7:30pm - Biblical Basis for Missions (Pastor Sean Huh)
10:00pm - Bed (zzzzz)

Saturday:
9:00am - Morning Worship (Collin Owen)
10:30am - Crossing Cultures & Culture Shock/Stress (Dave & Kathy Cook)
11:30am - iPod Etiquette (Mel Tan)
1:00pm - THE AMAZING RACE (Part I, II, III, IV)
4:00/5:00pm - DISC personality Tests
5:00/6:30pm - Team Time (logistical planning, etc.)
7:30pm - Movie Night ("Please Teach me English")
9:30pm - Free Time (Fireworks? Ontario Place and/or Ashbridges Bay)

Sunday:
9:00am - Morning Worship (all)
10:30am - Re-entry & Beyond...
11:30am - Church Service/Commissioning (Angus & Maryanne Smith)
12:30pm - Lunch/Departures

Thanks to those of you who are and will be praying...

Jess

Paul & Cynthia's Wedding

Paul & Cynthia's wedding on Saturday was pretty awesome! Great laughs and great dancing :) So cool, yet so weird to see one of your peers tying the knot... Julie and I were both recalling in our grade 11 summer missions trip (Paul, Martin, Sayah, Randy, Steph, Anne, Julie and myself) and how young we all were... now Paul (one of us) is married! Can't believe it...
Everyone looked so beautiful! The flowers, the food, the wine, the music were all pretty amazing... I got to really chill with Jules and Hannah on Saturday (playing around with our hairs) before the reception and danced the night away during it. Bonnie caught the bouquet (makes sense, because she's the next in line)... Hannah took some (I mean a lot) of pictures, so I'll post some on here

It's pretty clear what God wants to teach me these last couple of days and weeks. This whole notion of what Grace truly means are surrounding me (my thoughts, sermons, songs, scripture). You know that scene in Bruce Almighty... when Jim Carrey is sending Jennifer Aniston all these signals to make her love him? I feel like God is sending along pretty obvious signs and signals that are pointing me towards His Grace. What do I need to learn? Where do I begin? How can I practically apply Grace to my life? hmmm... so "I" centered I must say. What does God want me to see, learn and experience? in order that I may share this truth to others that I meet? in Indonesia and beyond...

Grace is an undeserving gift. It is not "an undeserved gift, because the gift is given to us continually (or at least it's offered... it's a matter of accepting and being a beneficiary from the ultimate Benefactor). I've been listening to Dr. John Piper's sermons on my way to the office and gaining some insight on what it means to live in Future Grace (I'm taking this book with me to Indonesia to learn more about Future Grace)... I'm still boggled by some of the things Dr. Piper speaks about (ie. Debtor's Ethic) and how to practically live day-to-day (daily grind of things) under His Grace. I thought I'd learned it all... but I guess living it out is more difficult than I have ever imagined. Not relying on my own skills, my own strength, my own power is harder and more difficult than I ever imagined. It leaves us paralyzed and unable to proceed ahead, binding us to leave us completely at His mercy... for Him to do whatever; whenever...

I guess when we realize our need, recognize our sin (our lack of acknowledging God)... He gives us clear direction as to what He wants us to do. This is a scary notion, because it means giving up the things that are easy and do-able (with our own strength) and taking on something that is beyond ourselves... in order that He alone take the glory! What an awesome, yet terrifying thing :0

When He gives us clear guidance and direction of where He wants us to go and do, then we respond and obey accordingly. I guess that's when our own strength and skills come into play? As long as we acknowledge that God is the one that has blessed us with those skills and gifts in the first place... Why is it that I know these things, yet have to be reminded time and time again? I guess in each circumstance and lifestage (especially as we get older and more set in our ways), the lessons are guised in a different light and God is creative enough to shape those lessons that need to be learned and lived out (so that we can be an effective witness) in a different way...

I'm in kind of a weird place right now... since I'm surrounded by missions, missionaries, Christians... it's been really difficult to be aware of what God is doing (sounds a bit ironic doesn't it). Two years working in a Christian environment, hanging around other believers, going to a Christian school and so on and so forth... it's just been really difficult in various ways to recognize the "realities" of the world that we live in and bring others "further up and further in" (as C.S. Lewis would say) under the umbrella and power of His Grace... Whoah... I can go on writing on and on about this... but it's pretty boring, so I'll just stop now. I used to be simpler... I don't know what happened to me... ;)

J

Grace...

I've been pretty bad lately. Not focused and fairly distracted (or so I feel). Some of my actions, attitudes and words have reflected this (in my perspective). God really used yesterday's sermon to raise questions about what grace really means and how to practically go about applying this to everyday life. Morning devos (my utmost for His highest) also challenged me about grace and what it means to live in the "NOW" and not "later..."

There's been so many things in my mind lately (personal, work-related, family, friends, future, etc.) and it's been really difficult to sort through things and circumstances that come my way. Wow... it's so crazy to know that I still desire control and this seems to show more when I'm faced with situations head-on. Ugh! Frustrating to know there's still such a long way to go... God has been bringing some amazing and Godly people into my life and I'm ever so grateful and thankful for each one... These days, I've been putting prayer, alone-time and other reflective actions on hold so that I can do it while in Indonesia. I keep telling myself that I have no time to think about things now; I have no time to address some issues about my future now; I have no time to decide on some personal matters now; and so on and so forth... Funny how God reminds us that the time is NOW. Not later. NOW.

The grace you had yesterday will not do for today. Grace is the overflowing favour of God; you can always reckon it is there to draw upon. "In much patience, in afflictions, in necessities, in distresses" -- that is where the test for patience comes. Are you failing the grace of God there? Are you saying -- Oh well, I won't count this time? It is not a question of praying and asking God to help you; it is taking the grace of God now. We make prayer the preparation for work, it is never that in the Bible. Prayer is the exercise of drawing on the grace of God. Don't say -- I will endure this until I can get away and pray. Pray now; draw on the grace of God in the moment of need. Prayer is the most practical thing, it is not the reflex action of devotion. Prayer is the last thing in which we learn to draw on God's grace. "In stripes, in imprisonment, in tumults, in labours" -- in all these things manifest a drawing upon the grace of God that will make you a marvel to yourself and to others. Draw now, not presently. The one word in the spiritual vocabulary is NOW. Let circumstances bring you where they will, keep drawing on the grace of God in every conceivable condition you may be in. One of the greatest proofs that you are drawing on the grace of God is that you can be humiliated without manifesting the slightest trace of anything but His grace. "Having nothing..." Never reserve anything. Pour out the best you have, and always be poor. Never be diplomatic and careful about the treasure God gives. This is poverty triumphant.

Ahhhhh !!!!!!!!!!!!!

So much to do and so little time... that's how I've been feeling in the last little while. It doesn't help that my family is also feeling very neglected in this whole busy season of my life (which is more often the case than not). Why do I get myself involved in so many things? Anywho, please pray for more help. Seriously... I think I'm losing my mind a bit (if I haven't lost it already).

God is still faithful even when I'm a mess...

J

Car Wash!

The car wash that we had on Saturday was so much fun :) We had beautiful weather (a bit windy, but it was all good). We raised about $900 CAD for our local and overseas missions opportunities! Since it wasn't that hot on Saturday, I didn't think it was necessary to wear sunblock (I'm so stupid), but I regret it now... my neck is all burned and I have a nasty farmer's tan :0 I woke up on Sunday morning and I couldn't get out of my bed... I was sore all over! Today, I can't move around without bones cracking everywhere...

Enjoy some of the pics from Saturday!

Moncton, New Brunswick

Okay... I'm sitting in the library at the Atlantic Baptist University typing away at this random old computer (Samsung nonetheless). The Heart for Asia Conference is going well so far and it's great to meet lots of faithful prayer warriors in this area. Many have driven up to 3 hours to come here and learn about overseas work and everyone is so thrilled to meet me! I feel very humbled that they would give me an opportunity to speak to them (even though I probably have so much more to learn from them!). My session was at 9:15am and it went really well. I was very calm and relaxed, the powerpoint slides went smoothly and it was good to talk about the ministry that I'm involved in sending short-termers out to Asia :) The other sessions were very challenging as Greg talked about the ministry he is involved in (restricted places) and I was overwhelmed by the needs there are to send workers in those areas. I will remember to direct people that way if I ever encounter anyone that is seriously interested :) The dorm that I'm staying in is great and the view of the forest and the sky are absolutely beautiful... I feel like I'm in Green Gables! The numbers of trees here is fascinating and the air is crisp and clean. I'm probably the youngest one here and yet I feel surrounded by like-minded people... Lots of interesting conversations and discussions...

J