Week 3 Update

I am incredibly appreciative of everyone who has been praying for me and supporting me. I am seriously unbelievably blessed to have my God family love on me in such a Christ-like way. I'm amazed at the generosity of God's heart, because it is made so clear by the actions of all of you! Thank you- I love you all so much and pray for you as you come to mind- which is often!

This is my second week in the asparagus pack-house barn. It’s tough! My average day is about 12 hours. We don’t really have a set end time but we start at 7AM every morning. The job I was given is super physically demanding which I asked God for...but it definitely requires much leaning on the Lord! I’m the “floor collector” so I take all of the finished pallets of packed asparagus and move them into the cooler, which I call the mines of Moria. Every time I think of Lord of The Rings I think, "man God, I want a crazy adventure like that." Praise the Lord that EVERY day of our lives with Him is a powerful risky adventure with the Maker Jesus Christ!!

We’re working with more or less all employees that are Mennonites from Mexico where many of the women aren’t allowed to leave their houses, education is pretty much looked down upon, and love and affection is minimal to none in all the families. It all stems from a very religious type of Christianity and only a SMALL fraction of the 300 have a personal relationship with Jesus. So all to say, our mission starts here, we pray for our coworkers every day, and are doing all we can to follow the Spirit in how to supernaturally love and serve and reach these extremely sad hearts...seriously, so many of them look so broken and sad. So pray for God encounters in their lives and more opportunities for us to effectively show Jesus Christ. They know we’re Christians and many know the story of Jesus, but to KNOW Jesus Christ is eternal life. Amen Hallelujah- “of the increase of His government and peace there will be no end” !! LOVE YOU ALL SOOOO MUCH!!!

Lake Erie sunset. Yes, I am very much being blown away by His beautiful and powerful glory.

Life in the grand ol' Port Burwell!

My first time flying in a jet plane in about 8 years was pretty grand! I figured it was pretty cliche to bring God encounters to people in an airport/airplane, so I invited God to do so! Had some great encounters with people where I got to pray and/or talk with them about life with Jesus. It was a great start to the summer! Arrived here in Port Burwell at midnight on Saturday, April 27th. I kind of feel like I'm in Kansas or Nebraska or something. It's kind of the middle of nowhere. The land is flat and filled with plots of fields and wind turbines...but it's SO beautiful. And I'm already sunburnt by the wonderful weather! We're literally a five minute walk away from the shore of Lake Erie which is BEAUTIFUL and sandy.

All the people on my team are fantastic! 6 guys and 8 girls. Four are students from Trinity Western University, my friend Claire and I are from UBC in Vancouver, and the others are pretty much from around Ontario. As we've begun to tell our testimonies and get to know each other, all the team members have been encouraging me in Jesus so much!

We've been receiving discipleship from our amazing team leaders Christoph and Katrina. Our pastor, Jacobo, from down in Guatemala is up here with his wife for the week just to teach us. We're having 2 teaching sessions a day with this PASSIONATE man who serves about 20 different churches in Guatemala, pastoring and preaching full-time at the one which we will be attending in El Tizate. Thus far, biblical teachings Pastor Jacobo has taught us include "Powerfully encountering God: truly knowing God", "Identity In Christ", "Developing Our Spiritual Lives", and "Prophetic Acts". GREAT stuff. We are all being extremely challenged to seek God with greater fervor and to abide in His heart so we can supernaturally effect those around us with the Kingdom of God; that we may truly walk more like Jesus did! Oh- we're also doing a lot of shouting HALLELUJAH!!!

Tomorrow (Monday) we start work in the largest asparagus harvesting and packing facility in the country. But I'm quite excited to see how the Lord fills me and uses me during that time as well! Reading "Practicing the Presence" by Brother Lawrence which should get me ready for the monotonous work in the packing plant! I'm expecting powerful encounters with the Lord even during the next couple months as I work and get to love on the 300 other employees here. Love you all SO much!! Blessings! More to come soon!

Around the "Ark" (our team's home!) and Places Around/Near Port Burwell

First arriving in Toronto. My first 'kind-of-east-coast' sunset!!

Looking out front of our property.

Jesus time out by some old tobacco buildings on our property.

Lunchtime!! We are blessed with amazing cooks...that cook for us. Wow!

Trip for IceCream! in Port Rowan.

To my friends and family:

You are all an unbelievable blessing in my life. Thank you SO MUCH for taking the time to read my letters and for supporting me in prayer and fundraising!!!! I've been praying for all of you as I have read your responses to my letters and from your notes and cards to me before I left. And thank you to all who came to my going away party and helped send me off on my flight to Ontario. I've been so blessed by all that you've written me and encouraged me with!! May you be blessed by the powerful gracious spirit of Jesus Christ! I'll give a financial update soon! Hallelujah! May His Kingdom come in your lives!