God Rocks!

Thanks for your prayers! God is doing so much as we work in the barn! We're having more and more opportunities to tell people about the love of Jesus every day, so please keep praying that the the Holy Sprit touches their hearts!

Here's one example of my day in the barn: There's one 14 year old tough guy name Peter who I run into quite a bit as I work. I'm trying to teach him about the truth of Jesus, which I don't think he really hears about much in his church. I keep calling him "King Peter," jokingly but completely serious at the same time;) I told him that he is royalty as a son of the God who created him, and for that reason I treat him like a king and not just kid working in a factory. Every time I say "Hey King Peter!" he tells me, "No man, I'm not a king, I'm just a box maker," with a bit of a smirk. He's a kid I know has taken a liking to me, cause he watches my every move, so pray that the glory of God touches his heart, and that he truly receives a revelation of the Father who loves him!!

A quick something God convicted me of and I want you to be blessed with:
Revelation 2: 4-5 "Yet I hold this against you: You have forsaken your first love. Remember the height from which you have fallen! Repent and do the things you did at first. If you do not repent, I will come to you and remove your lampstand from its place."

I was actually very convicted by the entirety of this letter to the church, but this section stuck out. So much of the time when we read through the bible and we come across a rebuke or a correction we tend to push it to the side and say, "You know, I think that's for someone else. I've been doing pretty good in that area of my life so God probably has another correction for me." This statement may have truth to it, but it is easy to let this become a habitual response. We often form and a mindset of indifference to God's correction- and I think it is often because we don't really understand the INCREDIBLE reward of repentance to these convictions. It's all to bring us deeper into the POWERFUL glory of God and intimacy with Jesus!!

Jesus is speaking these words to the church, and I am the church. Yes, "we" are the church. But I'm not taking ownership of these convictions enough if I forget about the "I" aspect of the church. Why am I complaining about complacency and lack of passion in the church when I myself am not overflowing with an unquenchable fire for Jesus? I must take up this conviction in my heart and let it move me to act. I must do this if I am going to step out in confronting the church and correcting those in the body of Christ. I gotsta walk the talk!!! Amen. We all need to return to our first love-to never stop pursuing a deeper passion for Him. Be blessed in your pursuit because Jesus says "To him who overcomes, I will give the right to eat from the tree of life, which is in the paradise of God." Haha, PARADISE!!!

My prayers are with you all! Because I freizenheizen love you all with the love of Jesus!!!

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!