Fall Update
"Come to me, all who labor and are heavy laden, and I will give you rest. Take my yoke upon you and learn from me, for I am gentle and lowly in heart, and you will find rest for your souls. For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light."
-Matthew 11:28-29
The Lord has been so good to continually reveal to me my habit of self dependence. I cling to Jesus, only to so quickly run off thinking, "I've got this." When I do this, I end up feeling tired, frustrated, stressed, and impatient. Jesus whispers to me to take my eyes off all I am doing, off all the needs for a moment and to put my eyes back on HIM and to rest in Him. Am I doing what HE is asking me to do? And am I doing it FOR Him or am I doing it WITH Him?
Jesus, I pray you will help me and these supporters, family, and friends of mine to joyfully serve you as we learn from you and throw off all the pressures we put on ourselves and take up your yoke that is easy and burden that is light. I pray we would rest as we leave the results up to you.
Simple Living
16 Day Camping Trip
Late September to early October my class spent 16 days in the woods! It was a lot of work prepping, planning, and building our houses, but it was also a blast. We learned a TON about teamwork and more about ourselves as we were faced with difficult tasks where we were forced to rely on one another. We worked closely on a team which is reflective of the small teams we will work with in the future for church planting. It was so good to practice pursuing unity and dealing with conflicts as they arose.
Some classes we had out there:
Teamwork
Leadership/followership
Chicken/pig butchering
Water and plumbing systems
Vehicle and small engines
Cooler houses in the tropics --- housebuilding tips for proper insulation
Culture and Language Learning Practicum
Throughout training, we have been learning how to learn a language, culture, and worldview or way of thinking that is so different from ours. Lately, we have been practicing implementing these principles and methodologies in the context of a simulation of a real people group. The staff has spent countless hours studying this culture and then taking part in bringing it to life for us in a village setting that we go into in small groups where we have been building relationship, making cultural blunders (sometimes repeatedly!) by mistake, and asking questions about their culture to learn their way of thinking so that one day we could share God's Word to them in a way that makes sense to them. This people group actually has an established church now which is so amazing and when we are done we will hear an update on how they are doing and praise God at all the amazing things he has done among them and how His Word has brought transformation to their way of thinking!
My practicum team before going into the village.
Virtual Campus Visit for Bible School
My job on campus is with the mobilization department. Typically, what that looks like is planning and putting on visits for people who are interested in checking out the training center and learning more about Ethnos360. Since Covid, the in person visits have been cancelled but we came up with the idea of putting on a virtual campus visit for our Bible school that is up in Wisconsin. We have had one technical difficulty after the other getting this put together, but praise the Lord it is finally done! It will premiere live for them on December 1st. We will have times they can sign up to meet virtually with us the weeks following the event where we can answer any questions they may have. Please pray that it will go smoothly and that God will use it to stir people's hearts for the unreached people groups in the world and that he would raise up laborers through this!
Happy Thanksgiving!
I am thankful for each one of you. I am thankful for God's amazing grace and care for me. I am thankful for my identity, worth, and purpose all found unshakably in Him! And I am thankful for the gluten free, dairy, free, sugar free pumpkin pie I plan to make (I have been on a restrictive diet lately) but Pinterest recipes for the win this season! What are you thankful for this year?
Praises:
For God revealing to me my attitude of self-sufficiency and growing me in humble dependence on Him.
For my roommates and all God has been teaching me through living with them about loving and preferring others
For all God has been teaching me about team work this semester through classes and my work detail.
For the virtual visit video getting done and all those who God has sent to help us with the issues that came up
Requests:
Please pray for a family on my training team - The Whatley's. Brandt got in a motorcycle accident last week and has been in the hospital and is getting surgery. Pray for his recovery and for comfort for his wife and 2 boys. Praise the Lord that his life was spared.
For God to continue growing my team as we finish up our culture and language learning practicum. That He would continue to teach us and equip us through this for our future ministries.
For the virtual campus visit. That God would use this to raise up more laborers.
For wisdom and guidance in future plans and that I would trust him with the unknowns.
A soft heart towards the Lord and an ever growing walk with Him.
How can I be praying for you?
You can let me know by shooting me a text or an e-mail!
With love,
Jess