College Continues

As my journey at Corban University continues, I grow to enjoy it more and more. Homework is bearable, and sometimes even a little fun. Sometimes. ;)
Not living on campus, I'm definitely missing "the campus life", but at the same time I'm enjoying living at my Aunt and Uncle's house. I spend time on campus hanging out with friends, going to chapel, sports events, etc. oh yeah, and going to class. haha. But here at the Baker's house I can have quiet time to study, be in my room to relax, hang out with my cousins, and even fall asleep on the couch, like I did last night.
This past weekend, my friend Kelsea and I left right after class on Friday and went up to the Tri-Cities, Washington where my grandparents live. The rest of my family decided to go and spend a week with our relatives, and I wanted to come too! I couldn't spend the whole week up there, so we just made a weekend trip. It was so much fun to see my grandparents again, and hang out with my family for the weekend, as well as forget about homework and just enjoy the weekend away!

One thing that has really helped me in the process of adjusting to life here in Oregon again is memorizing Scripture. Adapting to life here again has been far more difficult than I thought it would be. Life has changed a lot, and I guess I just didn't think it would be so emotionally draining for me. It's a hard change, but I know it's a good change. To be honest, when I think about some stuff that's happening or that I know (or maybe don't know) will happen, scare me. But the adventure, new experiences, friends, and things ahead excite me as well. I'm learning day by day, as each new thing becomes more and more real, to completely trust God. It's really hard sometimes, but like I said, I'm learning. And He's been teaching me soooo much!

In the process of everything, God has been teaching, comforting, and providing for my needs and broken emotions in so many ways. One thing that has helped me incredibly is my friend Chloe and I are memorizing Bible verses together. This week we are memorizing Galatians 1:10. It says:
"Am I now trying to with the approval of men, or of God? Or am I trying to please men? If I were trying to please men, I would not be a servant of Christ."

I love that when I feel at my weakest, God shows me how strong He is. I don't know what I would do if I didn't have my never-failing Savior to depend on, and the peace that with my family and friends that I love and care about, but can't always be with, Christ is my connection to them, and that is one thing in life that will NEVER change. God will always be faithful, and when I'm going through a hard time in Life, I can completely trust in Him, and He will work everything out for HIS glory in HIS timing. And He will give me the strength to endure it.
God is so amazing!

Life here in Salem is fun, and I'm beginning to find my place, and trying to figure out the new ways God desires for me to be used here. The things I can do for His glory.

College Beginnings

I've been in Salem for almost two weeks now! I've been crazy busy with lots of stuff since I got here, which has left me with little time to write. :/
I've settled into my new home here at the Baker's house, and am enjoying my room. There are currently 16 people living here, which makes things really fun. There's always something going on! :) My family will be going out to stay in Jefferson at our shop there in the next few days, and will stay there until they return to Mexico on October 9th.
I began my college classes at Corban University on Wednesday! So far things have been going great! I'm loving being a college student, with the exception of all the homework that will be taking up a rather large sum of my time. haha. I'm taking Bible Survey and American Thought and Culture this semester. Along with my two high school classes.
It has been so great to reconnect with my friends here in Salem, as well as begin to meet new friends out at Corban.
So, it's mid August, the nicest month of the year here in Oregon, and today was the first day since I've been here that I haven't been cold. What is up with that?! It finally got up to 90 today, it was so nice. It was probably the first time this whole year that I actually was okay with being hot and sweaty.

For those of you that have been concerned about my health issues...
If you read my facebook posts, you will know that I went to the hospital last Tuesday night. I spent most of my evening there, and they did a CT scan. They found out that I had a kidney stone.
Thursday I went to my new general doctor for a follow up. After explaining everything that's been going on since May, she believes that the kidney stone is not the only thing that's been going on. She thinks there's something else too, maybe several other things. She ordered some tests, and we're pretty much starting from the very beginning, even though I had some testing done in Mexico. She wants to start from square one. I have another appointment with her in two weeks, and I should have some test results ready by then, and then I can start with the next ones she wants me to do.
I pray that it won't be another 4+ months before we figure out what's going on. I will update you all again when I get more answers. Thank you all so much for your prayers as I go through all of this.

I would also appreciate your prayers as I am still in the process of adapting to being back in the US, the "newness" of college and everything that brings with it, the sad thought of not being with my family much longer, relationships, my spiritual life, etc. etc. It's a lot to take in and try to process all at once, and can be quite draining and just all around tough at times. So I really thank you for your prayers and support through this!

Psalm 37:4-6
"Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart.
Commit your ways to the Lord, trust in Him and He will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun."

4 Days - I Love You, Mom!

Ican't believe that in four days from now I will have said goodbye to all my friends in Autlan, loaded up my suitcases in the car, and be boarding a plane to Portland, Oregon.
As I've been packing and preparing to leave this week everything has really become real to me. I've known this day would be coming before I knew it since the summer began, but the summer really did fly by, and I can't believe that it's now just four days away!
Last night I was in my room packing and my mom came in to tell me something. As I was taking down some posters on my wall she asked me if I was excited, and then began to talk about how different it will be when they come back to Autlan in October and I won't be with them. She wasn't able to word very many of her thoughts before she began to cry. My heart instantly began to hurt as I really understood how hard this all is for her. Even though I know it's impossible for me to take away the motherly feelings and how hard this all is for her, I wanted to so badly! As I walked across the room and hugged her for a very long time, the emotional part of it all finally began to hit me as well. I'm excited to go to college and see what God has in store for me as I begin this new chapter, but it will be extremely hard to be away from my family. I am going to miss them so much!!
I'm so glad that they will be with me in Salem for the first 6 weeks! I think it'll help us all. Then once they come back to Autlan, it will only be 2 months before I have Christmas break and come back to visit them. And in the mean time, thank God for Skype, emails, facebook and phone calls. :)

Mom- I love you beyond words and I am going to miss you so, so so much when I leave. I admire you and look up to you in more ways than you know. You are an amazing mother, and an incredible woman of God. Thank you for teaching me all that you do, and for always being there for me every single time I need you. Thank you for being my friend when I feel lonely or need someone to talk to. Thank you for being a role model for me and how to live my life for Christ. Thank you for teaching me how to change diapers, and cook, for teaching me to read, and to be confident in the person God created me to be. The list goes on and on, and I could never thank you enough for all that you've taught and will continue to teach me, the person you've been and will forever be in my life. I don't tell you enough how much you mean to me, and how much I love you. Thanks for being the best mom I could ever ask for....I love you Mom!!

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Good Day

Sometimes I get this feeling inside me, that when people ask how I am or how my day ways, I honestly can't tell them with words. I feel like they can't understand how it really was if I tell them with words, even though I wish so badly they could understand and feel what I feel. Today was one of those days.

This week was a very difficult one for me. I've been having some health problems since May, and this week it really hit me hard. I had to go to the hospital and it has all just worn me out. We are still uncertain of what I have, but we are in the process of trying to figure it out. So the majority of this week was spent with several doctors, specialists, lots of resting, medicine, and lots of blood drawn.

I spent the majority of the week resting and pretty discouraged not knowing what exactly I'm sick with. Today's Saturday, and God blessed me with a great day to end the week.

La Roca church spent the day together in fellowship at a small water park in Autlan. We had such a fun day! It was great to cool off from the hot, Mexico sun in the cool water, play basketball, go down the water slides 50+ times, smile, laugh and joke around with family and friends, have a delicious mexican lunch, and just enjoy the day with brothers and sisters in Christ.

About five o'clock we left the water park, went home and took a quick shower, and headed out to the center for youth night. Sunburnt backs, tired bodies and still with smiles on our faces.

Not really sure what youth night would be like this week, I was definitely surprised. There were 27 kids there tonight! Praise the Lord! A lot of them were younger kids, more middle school aged, which we've been trying to reach out to high school aged kids more, but we are glad they came, nonetheless.

We hung out and played some Kajabi can can, when about 7:30 we were blessed with a great surprise. Isai was at the gate. He had come for youth night!! Everyone immediately stopped playing and made their way towards the gate. He was swarmed with hugs, and smiles filled the faces of everyone there. His was so big, I could tell from the very second I saw him that he was absolutely extatic to be there. SO AMAZING! We talked and joked around for another half an hour, and everything felt so natural, so normal. With Isai there, lots of kids, everyone having fun and talking with each other, goofing around....I could feel God there. He truly blessed us beyond words tonight.

After a while we headed up for worship time. Isai was the first to make his way up, and I followed behind him. Brent was already up in the breeze way praciting the guitar. He was just playing some chords, not singing or anything. But as soon as Isai heard him playing, he started singing. Isai knew exactly what song Brent was playing and exactly which part he was at. As he sang, I wanted to cry. It was so incredible! I couldn't help but allow the giant smile that Isai has given me so many times cover my face. I joined in and started singing with him. I looked at him, and we both smiled. He was so happy!

The past few weeks at youth night different people have been sharing their testimony instead of having a lesson. Tonight Barbara and Rosa were going to share. Before they got up to speak, Isai came to the front and shared a few words with the group. He told us that he was in a very bad car accident, but that God has been very faitful. That He has showed him a lot of love and that He wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for Him. He told us that God is amazing and that He has done a lot in his life, that he has a lot to be thanful for. He said that he was very happy to be with us, that he had missed being at youth night a lot.

It made me very happy that he went up and shared. He shared very little, but he shared with his heart, and I know that seeing him and hearing after all he's been through how much he still loves God with His whole heart and gives him ALL the credit, imapacted a lot of the kids. It for sure impacted me.

Rosa was very nervous to share her testimony, but she did great! Rosa has only been a Christian for four months, but God has changed her life in SO many ways since then. She has truly become a different person than before, and she is growing like crazy in her walk with Him. It is SO amazing to watch, and I am so blessed that God has blessed me with the opportunity to not only lead her to Christ, but to disciple her as she begins to grow in her walk with God and discover more about His love. In her testimony she talked a lot about me and Isai and the impact we've had on her life. That we taught her by example and by explaining the questions that she had what true faith in God is. She's only 14, and is a very new Christian, but she is on fire! She lives a very difficult life, but through it all, as she learns to turn to God in the troubled times, she is growing so much! It's incredible to watch, and I'm so thankful that God has blessed me with her as a close friend in my life. She is and will continue to grow to be an outstanding servant of Christ. Hearing from her tonight; her sharing her heart and listening to her as she spoke of her genuine faith in Christ meant the world to me. As she finished her testimony, she thanked Isai for showing her how important it was for her to live her life FULLY for God. Then she looked at me and said "Jess, I wouldn't be here today if it wasn't for you. Thank you." In that moment I realized how much God has really used me in Rosa's life, and I feel blessed beyond compare. God chose to use ME in her life for HIS glory! That right there is why I am a Missionary. Just that one sentence and with all the meaning it has behind it, makes every sacrifice or doubt I've ever experinced for being a missionary dissapear. I was able to be a part of the changing of Rosa's life. It wasn't me who changed her, but God used me to help her change and understand His love, and grow in Him. I am so blessed to serve such an incredible God!

--I love you, Rosa! I'm proud to call you my sister in Christ, and I can't wait to see as God continues to unfold His plan for your life. I know that you are going to make an incredible difference for His kindom, for His glory! Your smile and fun-loving spirit always brightens my day, and knowing that we will forever be connected through Christ brings me more peace and joy than you know. You're amazing, never stop giving God 100% of your life, your joy, your energy and your heart.

Barbara, wow...where to start! I know no one like Barbara. She holds such a special place in my heart, and I love her so so so much. She is such an inspiration in my life, and I admire her so much. The love and joy of Christ shines through her every day, all the time. No matter what. She's been a follower of Christ for three years now, and has grown more than you could imagine. Her heart is like none other, and I love her so much! Tonight as she shared her testimony with us, she was also nervous because like Rosa, it was her first time sharing it with a group of people. But of course, she did great! She shared her heart, and she talked about accepting that God forgives your sins no matter how bad they are. And that once we decide to follow him, we have to cling to his love, John 15:5. She talked about the difficulties that were brought along with her choosing to give her life to Christ.

--Barbie, you're amazing, simply amazing! I am so thankful that God has blessed us with the close friendship that we have. I look up to you for so many things, and I love you more thank you know. I will miss you dearly my friend when I'm away at college, but I know that our closeness will not change, especially because of our faith in Christ that we share. The way you work with the kids at the migrant camp, and the passion you have to serve God...Ah! It's amazing. I love you!

Afterwards everyone ate snacks and hung out, having a good time. I'm SO thankful for the amazing night God blessed us with tonight. I know that He was there with us, and that all the great, impactful, surprising stuff that happened tonight was all Him.

When I got home tonight I was filled with the joy that words cannot fully describe. I walked in the door and told my mom about my evening; I was glowing as I told her with the excitement and joy I was filled with. I turned on a Christian radio station in my room when I got home, and have now been listening to it for hours. Almost every single song that has played has fit in PERFECTLY with what I'm feeling and thinking. I love it! The same with Bible study this week, God is just speaking to me in every way! I absolutely love it, He is teaching me so much!

Lord God, I give you thanks for the day that you blessed me with today. For the little things that you did, for the happiness and surprises that you gave me. I thank you for giving me joy and happiness even during the hard times. I thank you that Isai came to youth group tonight and that he was so happy to be there. I thank you for Barbara and Rosa, for their testimonies about the great things you've done in their lives, and that they shared that with us tonight. I thank you so much for the opportunity you've given me to share your love with Rosa and to be the person that I am in her life. I know that part of the reason you brought me to Mexico, is to share your love with her. Thank you, God.

Heavenly Father I pray that our youth group would continue to grow, and that the youth there would be hungry to learn more about your love. That their hearts would be open to your love, and that they would allow you to become part of them. That they would see they need you, Jesus.

I love you so much, and again, I thank you for giving me a good day. Thank you for reminding me that with you there will ALWAYS be joy, even in the darkest times. That you will help me no matter what kind of trial or hard time I'm going through, no matter what I'm feeling, no matter what joy I'm experiencing, you'll be there. I am proud to be called your daughter, your servant, a tool for you. I'm proud to say that my heart, soul, mind and body belong to you. I stand in awe in all the ways you work, and can't wait to see the many more things you have in store for the future. I love you Jesus. Thank you for being who you are. For loving me and everyone as much as you do. In the name of your precious Son I pray, Amen.

When I got home tonight I was filled with the joy that words cannot fully describe. I walked in the door and told my mom about my evening; I was glowing as I told her with the excitement and joy I was filled with. I turned on a Christian radio station in my room when I got home, and have now been listening to it for hours. Almost every single song that has played has fit in PERFECTLY with what I'm feeling and thinking. Same with Bible study this week....I love it!!