A Serving Heart

Hebrews

2010-09-21T15:04:00.000-07:00

Hebrews class was amazing! I learned so much about my Lord. This book talked about how Jesus is supreme over everything. It gave me a new perspective towards my God and King. I realized that Christ is Lord over my life and deserves to have that position in my life. Another thing that Paul wrote about was "Faith Rest". This is trusting everything, our whole lives in the hands of God! We can rest in Christ knowing that he is in control of our circumstances. We should be walking in faith with God and not walking by faith. A life of faith is trusting in God and His certain word. A life of sight is trusting in self and circumstances. Another thing that really impacted me was that we could go boldly before the throne of God. "And so, dear brothers and sisters, we can boldly enter heaven's Most Holy Place because of the blood of Jesus. By his death, Jesus opened a new and life-giving way through the curtain into the Most Holy Place." (Hebrews 10:19-20) We who would have been killed if we dared enter into the Holy Place now because of Christ's death can come boldly unto God's throne without fear. This was so amazing to me to realize that we don't have to be afraid to approach out King, we have been covered with the blood of Christ.

James

2010-09-21T13:06:00.001-07:00

The book of James...wow, I have so much to say! I have learned so much from this book. One thing I learned from this book was that I need to find joy in trials, "Dear brothers and sisters, when troubles come your way, consider it an opportunity for great joy. For you know when your faith is tested, your endurance has a chance to grow." (James 1:2,3) I know often that I will look at trials as something to dread. I usually complain and grumble about how difficult my life is, instead of finding joy in my trials! When we find joy in our circumstances it grows our endurance, which makes us more like Christ. I know that I want to be more and more like my Savior, so finding joy in my various trials will grow me in my walk with Him. This will be an extremely valuable concept when I am eventually in ministry. Being in a tribe brings along many trials. Even everyday ordinary life brings along trials. When we find joy in trials it will be easier.

Another thing that I was really convicted of was controlling my tongue. It's crazy how plainly James put the fact that we need to control our tongues. "But a tiny spark can set a great forest on fire. And the tongue is a flame of fire. It is a whole world of wickedness, corrupting your entire body. It can set your whole life on fire, for it is set on fire by hell itself." (James 3:5b,6) James says that the tongue is like a tiny spark that can light a whole life on fire. It can set a life on fire for the good, but it is mostly used for evil. When we start wagging out tongue and not caring about what the effect is unto others it is like a flame straight from hell! "People can tame all kinds of animals, birds, reptiles, and fish, but no one can tame the tongue. It is restless and evil, full of deadly poison." (James 3:7,8) No one can humanly control their tongue! We need to trust God to give us the strength through Him to be able to tame our tongue. I have realized that I need to take every thought captive and replace it with God's truth. This makes me think a lot more before I speak.

I loved the book of James, it totally exposed so much need in my life. I am also grateful to Rex Gutwein for teaching the class to us.

Summer!

2010-09-04T15:33:00.000-07:00

I had a really awesome summer! I can't believe how fast it was over though. I was able to spend a lot of time with family and friends, and just have a wonderful time to relax. God taught me a lot over the summer. The main thing that he taught me was patience and trusting Him with everything in my life. I had trouble finding a job for the summer so money for school wasn't coming in as I would have liked. I was able to get a few babysitting jobs and that was really nice. By the time the first payment came around though I didn't have enough money to go back to school. I knew that if God wanted me back at school he would provide a way. I put all my trust in God and decided that I would act like it depended on me but know that it all depended on Christ. Not even a few days later I had some friends give me enough money to get me back to school! It was amazing! God had provided. I was so excited! I am now back at school and am thoroughly enjoying classes.

Spring Break

2010-08-08T14:36:00.000-07:00

This year for Spring Break I went with some friends to the MTC in Canada! It was gorgeous!

Sophomore Semester

2010-08-08T14:32:00.000-07:00

Here are some pictures from my Sophomore Semester!

End of A Wonderful Year

2010-05-30T18:01:00.000-07:00

Wow...I can't believe that one year is already over! It has flown by...and it has been packed full of learning.
One thing that has really impacted me is that I am going to have to give up my freedoms in order to serve others. Just as Paul did in 1 Corinthians, the freedoms that we have in Christ aren't necessarily going to help someone...in fact it might even cause another believer to stumble! Going into a tribal setting is all about giving up. Giving up income, the American Dream, the typical family dream, the big house with the white picket fence, having your family close, the nice cars...everything! This is something that I had to come to grips with. Going through 1 Corinthians has really tipped my upside down. I realized that the freedoms I have been given in Christ are no longer mine. I have to give up so that I can further the Gospel.
This year had many trials...I had to learn to let go and lean on Christ...no matter what happens. I have now realized that this is the best way. Its so hard to leave everything in His hands...I want to take it back all the time, and I do...but then I have to stop and readjust and give it back. Its a continual process, but a very rewarding process. I have found myself leaning on Christ more and more and have been able to find peace...as my teacher Rich Bruce would say...just rest in the hammock of God's sovereignty!
This year I also had a wonderful roommate get married! She was a beautiful bride inside and out! I will miss her slumber parties :D But I know that she will have a wonderful time as a newly wed!
I'm super excited to be going back this next school year! Please pray that God will provide the finances for me to be able to go back, and also that he would bring opportunities for me to encourage and share with others!

New Eyes

2010-04-21T14:45:00.000-07:00

One thing that the Lord has done for me this semester is given me new eyes...by this I mean that I see people in a new light. I don't see everyone as just something that is in the way...or that is just there. I know see them as lost, without a savior, in a world full of sin. They have no hope of eternal life...they are going down a path of desolation and most don't even know that there is another option. My Bible Basis of Missions class has really opened my eyes to this. I thank the Lord every day for this new found "vision". I can't tell you how excited I am to go to the people groups that have no knowledge of Christ!

What I Have Learned From Acts

2010-04-21T13:22:00.000-07:00

So I just finished up Acts...it was AMAZING and very eye opening. I loved learning all about Paul and his journeys. I realized how hard it was for him and all the issues he had to deal with. It was also encouraging to see that Paul was so faithful in his missionary work. I also saw how the Gospel went forth despite of the opposition of the Jews. This was waaaaay encouraging too. Just knowing that any opposition that I will face out on the field won't stop the spread of God's word! Acts also is a transitional book and showed the transition from Jew to Gentile. It was amazing to see that a God who loved me so much would give us the gospel. :D

Patience

2010-03-05T23:09:00.000-08:00

One thing God has really been teaching me since I got here to bible school is patience. It's so hard for me to wait and finish what I have to do here because I want to be out there soooo bad! I just want to get to those people who have never heard and tell them about Christ! We had a special speaker in Chapel this week that really put it into perspective for me. Lane Sanford...a tribal missionary to a tribe in Venezuela, he spoke of the tribe and all the time that they had to put in to get to the point they are at now. I realized then sitting in the extremely small seats in chapel that were meant for five foot middle schoolers, how important it was to have a firm grasp on the scriptures. These tribal people have so many messed up world views and how am I supposed to show them the true word if I don't fully understand it? In those moments with my legs squished up against the chair in front of me I realized that I don't need to be so anxious to finish, but that I just need to slow down and really dig into what God has right here in front of me...I need to have patience in what God is doing with me here. Lane Sanford also spoke about all the time they had to put into learning the language. I also realized if I can't be patient while I'm here in bible school how am I going to be patient enough to learn a tribal language without getting frustrated that it's taking too long or it's not getting done fast enough. I have become way more content now that I have taken a step back and looked at the whole picture. I still can't wait till the day I step off the airplane onto my foreign mission field...but until that day I will be patient and do what God has for me in store here!

Change

2010-03-05T22:42:00.000-08:00

This past year I have seen a lot of growth in my life...I remember being totally against God and not wanting to follow him. I have since put my life in his hands. It's always a hard thing to do and a struggle all the time. Some days are easier than others. I always wanna take my life back and do it "my way" which I have learned is never the best way (and yes this is through experience)! I look back now and realize how selfish I was being, everything was about me, I wanted to go to nursing school for my benefit, I wanted to do what I wanted to do and not what God wanted me to do. Christ so many times rebuked the pharisees for making everything about themselves. I don't want to be like that and I am praying that God will keep working in my life to change that about myself.

I also learned so much from going to the Philippines! I now know that I want to go into foreign missions...where at I don't know yet, but am letting God lead me in that also. I learned what it was like in a foreign country. God gave me an opportunity that most people don't get! I am so blessed to have an amazingly supportive church behind me that made it possible to go there. After being here in college the benefits of going have made themselves clearer and clearer! I can take so much and be like ya been there know what that's like...Which will help me immensely as I continue on with my journey.

Then being here in school God has grown me in soooo many ways. He's opening my eyes to things that I never even thought about and made the scriptures way more clear to me! I am thoroughly enjoying my time here in God's word...I have two whole years to invest just in the study of God's word! How awesome is that!

Freshman Pics

2010-02-28T22:06:00.000-08:00

Heres some pictures from my freshman semester! Sorry the music is a lil messed up...but I don't know how to fix it! lol!

I'm a Sophmore!

2010-02-13T16:17:00.000-08:00

I have now entered my second semester at New Tribes Bible Institute! It is Awesome! I am learning so much. Right now I am taking classes on the Prophets, the Life of Christ, and a class on Man and Sin. Prophets is my favorite class right now! It has opened my eyes to so many different things. I have seen how merciful our God is! Israel sinned again and again and even though God was pronouncing judgement upon his people he always told them that if they would just repent he would forgive them! I know that I would not have had that much patience and I would just squish them like a bug! I love being here and have made lifelong friends! Keep praying that God will grow me in my walk and that I will learn as much as I can! I love you all and miss everyone!

Elizabeths Late 21st Birthday

2009-09-21T17:54:00.000-07:00

A bunch of us girls got all dressed up and gave Elizabeth the 21st birthday she never had the day before she turned 22! :D

More College

2009-09-21T16:30:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics I have taken so far here!

COLLEGE!!!!!

2009-08-16T20:57:00.000-07:00

WOW! It is sooooo exciting! I am New Tribes Bible Institute! I LOVE IT! I've met lots of people and it's only my second day! I am so excited thinking that these people here will be life long friends! I arrived yesterday around five pm. Michigan time...so like 2pm for all you calli people. :D I got off my plane and was flippin out cause I couldn't find my baggage claim! Well I was walking around in the airport and all of the sudden I see these crazy people in blue shirts jumping up and down and waving their arms! Well I took a closer look and realized that they were NTBI students waving a piece of cardboard with my name written on it! I was like sweet I like these people already! LOL! So I get to the college and find out that my dorm is named the "Dungeon"! It is the best dorm EVER! We are one of the only dorms fortunate enough to have AC! Ok so your probably thinking why is there AC? Well it is still hot here! Not only is it hot it's humid! So I am so blessed to have AC! So today I signed up for all my classes...can't wait to start! But now I really need to go to bed...as it is late and I must get up early tomarrow....

Back Home

2009-07-02T21:33:00.000-07:00

Well it has been about three months since I have been back from the Philippines. It was great seeing all my family and friends again! I am happy to be home but at the same time know that if I get the chance I will do it all over again! As I look forward to my future I am filled with joy knowing that this is what God has in store for me! I can't wait! I leave for New Tribes Bible Institute in a month now...and I am so excited as my journey of being a missionary goes onward! I am so thankful that I was given the opportunity to go to the Philippines as I have first hand experiences now!

The Filipino Market

2009-04-17T20:06:00.000-07:00

This is the market were most Filipino's buy their food and close and such. It is fun, sweaty, and smelly! Haddie and I went with Ate Suzy and her kids.....it was a great first experience for Haddie and I........Haddie didn't know what to think of the pigs head.........don't know if she will remember it or not! I had a great time!

Divine Sweets

2009-04-17T19:52:00.000-07:00

Here are some pics of us at a yummy coffee house called Divine Sweets.

Beach Side Restaurant

2009-04-17T09:18:00.000-07:00

When Reuben came down we took him to a nice seashore restaurant. It was absolutely beautiful! The view was awesome......right on the water.......litterally........you walked across a bridge and the restaurant was up on stilts and right on the water! That is what I call a beach side restaurant!

The Rides at NCCC

2009-04-17T08:54:00.000-07:00

Haddie loved the rides that they have at NCCC (the big store in Puerto Princessa) Jo didn't really like it so she sat with me while Haddie rode.

Our Trip to Barangunan

2009-04-17T07:05:00.000-07:00

This was a great experience. I got to see how the Inglvolstad's and Bendir's worked with tribal people and how they lived daily life.

Haddie and the Cat

2009-04-17T06:29:00.000-07:00

Haddie loves cats! Here is the Puerto Princessa cat.

Bargain For Mango's

2009-04-17T06:23:00.000-07:00

The cool thing about the Philippines is that you can barter and bargain for a cheaper price. Here we have a good example of Kuya Russ bartering for mango's.

The First Butiki In Palawan

2009-04-17T06:14:00.000-07:00

This is the first Butiki we caught in Palawan! He tasted YUMMY! Just Kidding!

Our New Home

2009-04-17T02:20:00.000-07:00

This is what the Puerto Princessa guest house looks like outside.

The Manila Guest House

2009-04-17T01:13:00.000-07:00

Here is were we stayed for the first month while we were in Manila.

How to Eat a Burrito

2009-04-17T01:01:00.000-07:00

Here in the Philippines it is not common to find Mexican food. Well when we were in Manila we found a cute little Mexican food restaurant. Some of the food was a little mysterious but for the most part it was really good! But I guess since Mexican food is so rare here they need to remind us how to eat a burrito!

Haddie and Joanna

2009-04-17T00:52:00.000-07:00

Joanna was so tired and she just lied down on the couch and was out like a light bulb in like two minutes. Then Haddie decided that she wanted to give her a kiss! It was so sweet!!!!!

Girls and their Babys

2009-04-17T00:44:00.000-07:00

All girls love pretending to be little mothers even Joanna!

The Ball Pit

2009-04-17T00:17:00.001-07:00

One day while we were in Manila us girls decided to take the girls to a little playground in the mall. The girls loved the ball pit the most!

The MRT

2009-04-04T05:08:00.000-07:00

When we were in Manila we rode on the MRT. It was fun.....if you aren't claustrophobic!

Fun In the Pool

2009-03-22T00:32:00.000-07:00

Since we were able to fix the pool all the kids had ton's of fun in it!

Fun Times Together

2009-03-06T22:04:00.000-08:00

Here are some fun pictures I have taken so far!

Pizza Hut

2009-02-25T04:39:00.000-08:00

Today we went to the mall to get groceries and stuff and we went to Pizza hut to get lunch. It was really good. The pizza was just made and it was so good! I thought their takeout number was funny!

The Mango Tree

2009-02-25T04:32:00.000-08:00

This is the mango tree right outside our complex. You can even see mango's on it!

Pretty'n'Pink

2009-02-25T04:27:00.000-08:00

Haddie looked so cute in her pink outfit and her little braids so I thought I would post the picture so that you all could see it!

My First Cockroach

2009-02-25T04:12:00.000-08:00

On Monday night I found my first cockroach! I was watching the girls while Kuya Nate and Ate Megan went to get coffee. So I was all alone and all of the sudden this big old cockroach came running right at me! The cockroaches here are crazy and like to scare you! So I jumped up ran and grabbed a shoe and squished the guy! He probably stood at least a half an inch off of the floor and was at least an inch long not including his antennas! Sorry he is squished in the picture...it was either get a picture while he was alive and let him get in my bed or squish him and then get a picture!

Putting What We Learned to Practice

2009-02-25T04:04:00.000-08:00

At Church this Sunday we learned to help out our brothers and sisters like the good Samaritan. So when we had the chance we put it into practice! We got some little snack at the store and gave it out to the little street kids that would come and tap on your window for money or food while your car is stopped in traffic. Then on our way back to the compound these people asked us to buy from them so Kuya Ed said yes and they got some place mats.

At the Store

2009-02-25T03:55:00.000-08:00

After Church we went to the mall and did some shopping. You think the Westfield Mall in Escondido is big, just wait til you see a mall in the Philippines! They are HUGE! So we got Brie some school stuff and then we went to the grocery store that was also in the mall. As we were checking out we thought the cardboard on this ladies hat was funny so we decided to take a picture with her! We still can't figure out what the advertisement on it was :-)!

On Our Way To Church

2009-02-25T03:47:00.000-08:00

This Sunday I went to Church with Kuya Ed, Ate Deb, and Brie. On the way there we saw a huge parade. So Ate Deb, Brie and I decided to get out of the car and take pictures and stuff and then just walk to church. They were doing a Happy Walk for downs syndrome. It was really cool!

The Butiki

2009-02-25T03:37:00.000-08:00

These little lizard are all over here! They get in our house and everywhere! They are fast as lightning too! So if they do get in our house they are really hard to catch!

The Pool Episode

2009-02-25T03:11:00.000-08:00

Since it's been so hot out lately Kuya Nate went to go get a pool for the girls to play in. So we decided that we would blow it up and put it on the patio next to the jungle gym kwan (kwan means thingy :) I love using that word!). So first we had to sweep with the stick broom so that there wouldn't be anything to pop it underneath it. Well Kuya Ed got the idea to put some of the leftover silver kwan that they had leftover from the heating ducts to further prevent anything from putting a hole in the bottom. So he puts the silver kwan over the pool to cut it out and he looks up really quick and has this guilty look on his face...and we are like what? Then he told us that he had cut it! Now Kuya Ed can be a bit of a jokster so we didn't really believe him at first. Then he showed us the hole and we just laughed really hard. He felt so bad! But we were able to fix it with a bike tire patch.

Chili's

2009-02-18T16:29:00.000-08:00

Last night for dinner we went to Chili's. Kuya Nate and Ate Megan wanted to treat their last helper Ate Hilda to dinner. It was good!

Missionary Women

2009-02-18T16:23:00.000-08:00

These are some of the missionary women staying here at the guest house.

From left to right:

Ate Christina, Ate Dana, Ate Jonie, and Ate Debby

Hunter

2009-02-18T16:18:00.000-08:00

The guest house here in Manila has a cute little Kitten named hunter. Everyone loves the kitty! Sadly the poor kitty has a broken tail. So I told Haddie that the kitty had a broken tail so she goes around telling everyone that the poor kitty is broken!

The Clinic

2009-02-17T01:11:00.000-08:00

Kuya Nate, Ate Megan, Haddie, and Jojo at the clinic before their Rabies and Typhoid shots.

Living Statue

2009-02-17T01:04:00.000-08:00

Me and Jojo with the living gold statue. He would sit there and then when someone sat down he would move and scare them! It was funny!

Waikiki

2009-02-17T00:57:00.000-08:00

The view of the beach and Haddie playing in the sand and Joanna eating it!

Jojo and the Sunglasses

2009-02-17T00:53:00.000-08:00

Joanna on the plane with Nate's sunglasses

View From My Window

2009-02-17T00:45:00.000-08:00

This was the view from my window in the plane!

I'm Finally Here

2009-02-17T00:22:00.000-08:00

Wow! I am in the Philippines! It's so exciting! The flight was a long one but it was worth it. We flew five hours into Hawaii and had a layover there for about two days. So that was cool! Ive never been to Hawaii and it was absolutely BEAUTIFUL! We stayed in Waikiki. The beach was only like four blocks away from us, it was wonderful to just relax and revel in Gods glory and creation! We swam, surfed, and built sandcastles with Haddie and Jojo. It was a nice time to adjust and get ready to go to the Philippines. The last night we went to "Cheeseburgers In Paradise" for dinner, our last cheeseburgers for a while. They don't have cows in the Philippines so that means not very many cheeseburgers! They were the best burgers ever! If you are ever in Waikiki you should definitely go get a burger! Then we had to say goodbye to gorgeous Hawaii and get back on the plane for ten hours to get to Manila. We got to Manila at six pm on Saturday. The traffic is interesting because there are no traffic laws! So that has been fun! It is very hot and humid here. Yesterday it was one-hundred percent humidity so you just had to stand outside and would start to sweat! It was gross...but oh well I am learning to deal with it. Lots of showers. Yesterday I went with Kuya Nate and Ate Megan (Kuya and Ate are like terms of respect that you use with people older than you here) to get their Rabies shots and their Typhoid shots at the clinic. Poor Haddie started crying as soon as she saw the needles but was brave and let them poke her. They need Rabies shots for if they get bit by a rabid dog or bat on the island it will give them more time to get to the hospital. That was interesting. Well I am going to go and eat! :)

My Testimony

2009-02-04T20:34:00.000-08:00

I trusted in Christ at the age of four. I remember sitting with my mom in our living room down next to the coffee table and her telling me about Jesus. It was really cool! I was so excited! When I was six I got baptized with some of my best friends Erica and Cassandra. It was a Great memory. Ever since I was four I had wanted to be a missionary. My best friend forever Erica and I would even pretend that we were missionaries. When I was about eleven I finally realized what being a missionary entailed and I was afraid that I would get attacked by the native people like some of the missionaries I had read about. I was really frightened! So I told God NO!
I went on with my life like I had never heard Gods call on my heart. Sure he kept knocking but I wouldn't answer the door. So when I started high school I directed my schooling towards becoming a Registered Nurse. My parents and I had already picked out my College and everything. Well summer of '08 I went with my youth group to Wildwood Discipleship Camp. When I went there I kind of felt like I didn't have anything left to learn. Boy was I wrong! That whole week God was really convicting me of telling him no and not trusting him. I was still in denial till about the third day. I remember standing on the ropes course forty feet in the air and thinking to myself why did I get up here?! I was freaking out and I remember my pawn Chris saying "You need to trust the ropes like you trust God!" It hit me like a ton of bricks. How can I trust these ropes that are holding me forty feet in the air if I can't trust God! I realized then that God wanted me to trust him with my whole life. So through some of the pawns Kari, Chris, Emily, and Robbie, and through Kyle and Rich speaking on trusting God with everything, God was breaking ans molding my heart. Despite all of the excuses I made God showed me that this is what he wanted me to do! I was also so glad to have friends there that stood by me at my breaking point. Friends that were understanding, loving, and most of all loyal.
I got home and told my parents that I wanted to be a missionary, and they were pretty much shocked. I remember standing in the office with my mom and the look on her face! It was actually really funny! My dad was harder to convince, But through a lot of prayer they said that they also believed this was the right path for me. I was so excited! I had finally listened to God's voice and everything was falling into place! So then my parents and I contacted our elder of missions at our church and he and his wife came over to go over our churches mission policy with us. They explained that according to the bible it was churches responsibility to send out and support their missionaries. He also asked me to start meeting with his wife for discipleship regularly. So we started meeting every other week. Which has been great! She is such an encouragement to me. He also told my parents and I that we should get me enrolled in Bible school. So we started searching for a Bible College that was reasonable and offered what we needed. We prayed that God would lead us to the right one. One day we were online looking at New Tribes Bible Institute, and I felt that all to familiar knock at my heart. I had to learn the hard way the first time and I did not want to do it that way again! So I looked up at my mom and said that's the one! She looked back at me and was like are you crazy, and said we haven't even looked at all of them, what if there's a better one, and it's in a different state! I just looked at her and said I know that this is the one! So she was like whatever we'll look at it. We started looking and the knocking got louder and louder, then we got to the cost and me and my mom were amazed! It was like seventy-five hundred for a year and it included my dorm room and my meals! She looked at me and said you were right! I couldn't stand myself! I was so excited! So we enrolled me for the school year of '09 after I graduated high school.
So while we have been looking for colleges the GO team at our church has been searching for a place for me to go and serve in the mission field. Since I'm home schooled I'm able to be flexible with my schooling and all I have left for my senior year is a math class that I can take anywhere with me. So the go team knew that I could pick up and go even in the middle of a school year. God provided an open door for me when our missionaries in the Philippines Nate and Megan and their little girls Hadassah and Joanna, came back on furlough. They told the GO team that they needed a young girl to go back with them to help Megan with the girls while Nate went back and forth to the island Barangunan to build their house. So the GO team gave them my name and told them I was available to go all they had to do was ask me if I was willing to go with them. The GO team had told me that there would be a possibility that I would be sent to go with them before they came back but it was all up in the air at that time. So Nate and Megan called and wanted to know if I wanted to go with them and it was about four weeks before they left. So we prayed about it and there was God knocking again, saying Jessalyn are you gonna serve me? I told him that I always would and we told Nate and Megan that I could go! I was so excited! I was leaving in four weeks to go to the Philippines! So here I am five days away from leaving to go, I am so happy that God worked in my heart at camp, and I am so happy that I finally answered that door.