Update

Well where to begin? I should really blog more regularly so I don't feel like there is heaps to tell.

So for those of you who don't know I leaving Australia again over christmas. I'm going to Nepal through teen missions for just over a month to help build an orphange, which means I've been working hard and alot to try to afford it but I know it'll happen. Also my sister is pregnant again. She is due pretty soon actually, the 24th of June (which is my mum's birthday) I'm still single and determined to stay single till at least the end of the year. I need to work on God and I before bringing a third person into the relationship. I got a new tattoo, it's on my wrist and it says 'yhwh' which means God. I wanted something that I would always see that would remind me of God always and with the stuff I've been going through in the last few months I thought it would be a constant reminder that no matter what God is always there, good times and bad. I've moved house again (my 4th move since coming back from the states in september) I'm now living with two amazing women that go to my church. We all like to be a bit random and get along really well. I don't know what else to fill you all in on but the next time I write (which will be soon) I'll write something that's not just an update

Time has pasted

Now I know that I haven't blogger in what seems like for ever and I'm sure no one even reads this any more but I still feel like I need to be writing this. Since coming back to Australia I haven't been me. I drifted away from church and chose a guy instead. I did somethings that I'm not proud of but the other day I decided to chose God instead of ignoring and turning my back on him. I've quit my job so I can work more convenient hours so I can be more involved with my church. I've chosen not to use any drug of any sort anymore and I have even broken up with my boyfriend so I can get back on the right track, God's track. I'm hurting at the moment because of all this so I would appreciate any prayer.

I pray that the next time I blog, I will be stronger and have words of encouragement and life.

Blessings

Graduation

So on Friday night I had my graduation from "The War College- Revolution Session 2006/07"

To be completely honest I didn't think I would make it and I'll also admit that on a couple of occasions I almost didn't but it is better to be in the Lord's will (even when it gets crazy at times) than to be in your own will and out of touch with God's divine perfect plan.

On Thursday I gave my final presentation where I spent an hour summing up the year and through this year I have been impressed with the maturity and growth of both Leo and myself. We know scripture better, we are able to hear the words of God himself, we even know how to relate to each other now. We have learned a lot but although that has been an astonishing thing it has not been the high light of me year nor would it come close to my purpose of being in Charlotte , North Carolina for an entire year.

What I comes down to is the people. The Lord has commanded us in Matthew 25:35-40

'For I was hungry and you gave me something to eat, I was thirsty and you gave me something to drink, I was a stranger and you invited me in, I needed clothes and you clothed me, I was sick and you looked after me, I was in prison and you came to visit me.'

"Then the righteous will answer him, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you something to drink? When did we see you a stranger and invite you in, or needing clothes and clothe you? When did we see you sick or in prison and go to visit you?'

"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'

Those who are usually forgotten I have feed, clothed, given water, visited them while they are sick and taken people to there court dates in support. But this is not to glorify me but to glorify God who gave me these things in the first place to share with others.

So I encourage you and challenge you to do the same. Share what you have even if it is little. Sponsor a child even through the Salvation army because what is $20 an month really. In the past I've spent more than that on junk food for a friend and I to have in one night and what's one night of eating things that we couldn't be eating anyway as apposed to give a child food, water, shelter and education for a month. Bless others up with what you have been blessed with.

Much love and grace
Jesse

Back in Charlotte

So, I arrived back in Charlotte on Sunday to everyones surprise because I didn't tell the kids I when I was coming home. I missed them soooooo much. I love my kids. Some have moved out of my hood though before I got to say goodbye which is really heart breaking for me but they left me letters and I cried so much when I read them last night. There was a letter in particular from Donta (who was the first kid that I had a strong friendship with here) saying 'Thank you for believing in me. I wish you could be my mom.' I lost broke down over that one especially since he has now been taken away from his mom.

I was very blessed to have everyone remember me. I was prepared to have my little Dede forget me because she is 2 but she's my girl. She remembered me and was if I had never been away. She was playing the same games with me and played with my hair to go to sleep. My hair amuses her because it 's a totally different texture than anyone else's around here (being one of the one white people). It was so cool that no one has forgotten me. I feel so loved.

Facing reality

So I had the absolute pleasure of getting the morning and afternoon off yesterday and the morning off today. For the entire time I was just thinking and praying and listening to God because he has revealed some stuff to me that has thrown some of my plans out of whack, which is cool though because I would rather live in God's amazing perfect plan as appose to my own in which I would have to do it in my own strength (which isn't that much) and fail as to who God wants me to be.

I was doing an essay on Tuesday about Commissioner Emma Booth-Tucker in which I had to read her articles in 'the officer' (a Salvation Army magazine) from the years 1893-1895 and write on her views on international mission, which I will admit hit me really hard. I had this plan of going to university, getting a degree, settling down, have a home and a family, you know all that normal stuff which I believe would be an incredible life but God has something else in store for me which I have known for a while now but never wanted to admit it because I didn't want somethings to change.

In January 1893 Commissioner Emma Booth-Tucker wrote:
"Yes, this is our field. Wherever on earth there is a soul, there, in measure must beat the heart of The Salvation Army''
So that's where I'll be. I'm going to become a solider. Not just one who is doing it because they feel it is their next step as a Salvationist but because God has been calling me to it for a long time now but I didn't want it to be something that was taken lightly. I am already a solider of God, I now just going to make it better know and wherever the Lord leads me that's were I'm going to be from here on out (Don't stress Mum I'm still coming back to Australia in 4 weeks) Love you all and be prepared

Blessings

Galatians 1:10 'Am I now trying to win the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were still trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ.'

About time

It is now getting towards the end of my summer placement which I've been traveling all over Georgia for. To give a quick run down of what went down where I'm going to give an outline.

We arrived mid afternoon on Friday and were put to work about 2 hours after being together. Commissioning was happening in Atlanta and we were helping with the teen venue. I was blessed to run some activities that open up kids minds spiritually. That was for our first weekend together. Sunday evening we went down to camp Grandview (salvation army summer camp grounds in GA) to do our orientation. We worked on mimes, songs, puppet training, spiritual development, everything really. Training was for 1 week.

Week 1 of placement was Albany where we were mainly focused on children's ministry. Our first day of VBS (vacation bible school) we had a grand total of 12 children. After doing out reach we extended our numbers to over 40. I did another sermon here and although we faced a lot of challenges this was definitely the place that we will all remember because it was all totally done in Gods strength.

Week 2 of placement was Marietta where we were more of the helpers this time not the organisers. Week 3 was split with Cartersville and Rome where we did ministry with the elderly in nursing homes. Week 4 was Toccoa which was another challenge but all in all it went pretty well. We then had 2 days of debriefing.

Then Shelbie (1 of my team members and 1 of the most amazing people in the world) and I went to Atlanta for 10 days to do apartment ministries in a Latino community. Now I'm still in Atlanta but am no longer with a team. This week I'm helping out all over the place with ministries that Lakewood corps is involved in. Next week I help out with Lakewood's VBS and then I'm back to Charlotte to graduate. I'm so excited, it's only a little more than a month till I go home to Australia. 5 weeks today till I fly out, 5 weeks on Thursday till I arrive home.

Miss you all and I'll write again really soon

PS Congratulations to Karyn & Jon and Joel & Lycey on their weddings
Mwah

Training

So the team has been together for a whole week now and we are getting along so well (a little to well at times that we can get distracted from our work). We are leaving for Albany on Sunday and will tell you all how it goes once I get on the feild

Atlanta

This once again is just going to be quick because I have like 2 minutes before we go to church.

Well I arrived in Atlanta Georgia on Friday and have been working with my team (called the E-team) at the teen venue at commissioning and we have pulled together as a team so quickly and so well. My team consists of Eman (team leader), Jason, Shelbie, Erica and myself. We are an awesome team and we get along so well already. God totally had his hand on this when the team members were getting decided on.

Today we go out to camp and we are staying there till Friday (I think) to do our orientation and team building.

Gotta go. I love you all
Blessing

Info.

This blog is just to inform everyone of what's been happening and what is about to happen.

A lot of warfare (spiritual attacks) have been happening lately but some are best not mentioned. Last Saturday we had a break in at the community house (for more info go to Rob and Heathers blog- 614 Charlotte) which was frustrating but God prevailed in the end so it was all good. We had one of our air conditioners stolen the Wednesday before that and other stuff has happened.

Leo left for his summer placement last Thursday and I miss him already (he is definitely the comedian among us.)

Matt from Vancouver war college came here 2 weeks ago and I leave today for my summer placement. I'm not sure how much internet access I'll have (if any) so I'll be communicating through blogger mainly.


*Special note*
HAPPY BIRTHDAY Holly sorry it's late and that I didn't get to call, it's been really busy here. Love you.

What's real

How can one feel that they are so alone while there are so many around them,
Never getting away from it all sucks the life from me.
Suffocation, lack of air.

So many words are said but all I here is silence,
Entangled by the ways of the world, empty as can be.
Suffocation, lack of air. Dehydration, lack of water.

Bound by the chains of media of what will make me full,
Immersed by commercialism, what will set me free.
Suffocation, lack of air. Dehydration, lack of water. Hunger, lack of food.



How can I be concerned and consumed by the ways of the world while people go hungry, die of because they have no water or have drunk water that is carrying a disease, while people are being smothered by things they can not change.

We all need a reality check