When Sisters Come to Visit

Getting in comfy pj's, grabbing the chips, popcorn, cookies and milk and cuddling up to watch a movie. Sleeping in and then enjoying breakfast while reading the Bible together. Running a couple errands, grabbing Chick-Fil-A and Starbucks... visiting daddy at work because it's not too far. Swimming, playing Candy Land and making LOTS of silly faces! :) These are the things that happen when sister's come to visit :)
I even have pictures to prove it!

                                             See... I told you silly faces were involved! :)

 I recently moved into Austin to live with three other girls while I am a part of a GMC through my church. These days, it's the littlest things that bring joy to my heart :) if you know me at all, you know that my most favorite people in this world are my parents and brothers and sisters. 

I am SO grateful that God chose these people to be MINE! Of course, HIS and then mine ;) 

Two weeks ago, I picked up my two younger sisters laaatteee in the evening so they could spend the night with me, then have fun the next day and in the afternoon I was going to help them get ready to go see the traveling Broadway production of Beauty and the Beast with a friend!

Instead of going to bed when we got back to my apartment... we ate popcorn and chips and cookies with milk and watched a movie... because I am a very responsible adult/older sister. :) 

We had so much fun the next day! They're pretty sweet ;)

Almost uneventful - airport shenanigans

I have really been struggling with deciding where to start... which story do you tell first when you've been on such a journey as this?

So, I have decided that I will set up the story for you, with the very beginning. Hopefully it will give you a foundation of where I was at when we landed in Addis Ababa and help lead into the other stories and days. Bear with me, friends, as I try to convey this as clearly as possible! :)

December 12, at 6 o'clock in the morning, I loaded my one luggage case with my clothing and other belongings for the trip, and 1 tote with trip supplies into the car and shut the door of the trunk. It was chilly enough in Austin this morning, that I needed to wear a long sleeved shirt under my "Journey 117" team shirt to the airport. I could see the fog of my breath as I exhaled one last time before sliding into my seat. 

I had already said goodbye to my dad, my older brother, and two of my younger siblings at the house. My youngest sister, Sophia, came along for the ride as my mother drove me to the airport. 

I was about to begin the journey of a life time, and I knew it. This wasn't coming at me unexpectedly. As I had been praying for months before, first asking God if He was calling me on this trip, then taking the steps and pursuing it and seeing God open all the doors and push me through, and provide for EVERY single step of the way, I had no doubt that God was sending me to Ethiopia on this day, and that He was going to do great things. What I did not know, was how much it would bless me that He should allow me to see with my own eyes what He is doing and that I... little me... would get to be a part of that, even for just a short time. 

We got to the airport and checked my bags, then it was time for the last two goodbyes before I boarded my first plane (out of 3) of the day. I hugged my little sister and my mom tight and stepped into the security check in line. 

It had begun.

Now... my "real" first flight, was from Dallas, Tx to Washington D.C., where I would meet the rest of my team in person for the first time! The organization that I was going with, set up my first flight out of Dallas, rather than my home airport in Austin (that I had requested to be flown out of). I didn't know why, and I didn't question why - but I ended up finding a really cheap flight from Austin to Dallas and purchased that on my own. This was easier and cheaper and quicker than making the drive to Dallas. The only downside was that I would be sitting in the DFW airport by myself for 8 hours until my next flight.
The entire 8 hours at that airport was actually quite uneventful... unless you count the few times I "almost" fell down (and up...) the escalators as I tried to cleverly get myself, my back pack, my luggage (that rolls) and the storage container (that should never roll but certainly tried on more than one occasion) around the huge airport.

Then I remembered that there is a such thing as elevators.

Over the loud speaker they announced a prayer service at 12:15 in the chapel across from 32B. That's when I decided to "take a stroll" around the airport to look for it. I thought, "Hey! I'm in 39B, that's not too far." AND "I have 5 hours left with nothing to do, it's settled!"

32B was no where near where I was.

And I spent the next hour of my 5 hours looking for it. After 45 minutes, I didn't really have any hope of finding the prayer service in time... but did I stop looking? Nope... because WHERE THE HECK IS GATE 32B??? I was ready to go the airport staff and inform them that they had a gate missing. Instead, I just walked up and asked where it was. Apparently it is the ONLY gate number that you actually have to be checked into and passed security for. The man at the information desk could see that I was a little out of sorts by this time... he asked to see the information for my next flight. I showed it to him and he told me that I needed to go down the elevator (he made sure to point out right where that was for me) go outside, get on "THIS" bus (he had a card with a picture of the exact bus I needed to get on), and go to terminal "E". I thanked him and started in that direction. I assume he is used to seeing frazzled young women in need of very detailed and specific information.
On more than one occasion, I had random gentlemen offer to help me - they had this look in their eyes and I knew I must look quite helpless to them. Each time, I kindly refused the offer with an, "I'm okay, thank you so much though!" then thought to myself that I probably should have accepted. But considering the fact that I didn't even know quite where I was going (I had literally just walked the entire length of the terminal I was in... twice) I wouldn't have even known where to tell them to help me to.
As I step outside into the frigid 20-something degrees, I see my bus. Another man tries to help me and I try to tell him that I'm fine and I'm heading to that bus right there. He asks to see the bus card I'm holding and I stop to show him. He looks at it and says, "Oh! Go to that bus right there."
"Yes, thank you sir... I'm heading over..."
"Do you need help?"
"No thank you, I'm okay. It's just right there." I say as I'm walking towards the bus.
"Are you sure?" I turn to reply as I keep walking, "Yes sir, thank you very much!"
When I turn back around, the doors of the bus are closing.
"No wait!" I try to start running... but with all that I am carrying, I fail. I have a box, on top of my "roley-bag"and a very heavy back pack on my back. I ran to the very edge of the sidewalk, and waved to try and let the woman driving the bus know that I needed her to wait.
This was about to be a scene from a movie when the exhausted girl who is all alone with all her luggage, watches the bus that she needs to take her to her next flight, drive away. Then she sits helplessly on a bench in the freezing cold until the next bus comes in 35 minutes. I saw it playing out before my very eyes.
Fortunately, the woman saw me, and although she looked quite annoyed that I needed to get on HER bus, she stopped to let me get on. After a 25 minute drive (that should have taken 10 but madame bus driver missed her exit and almost took us out of the airport completely) I made it to the appropriate terminal.
At this point, I still have about three and a half hours left before my flight... leaving an hour and a half before I even needed to check in. I decided to go and just ask how early I could drop my bags off so that I didn't have to carry them around anymore. I got the nicest older woman helping me and she made my day and blessed me by everything she did.
FIRST, sweet woman told me that I could drop my bags off right at that moment, no more need to carry them around!
THEN, she asked me for the information for my next few flights... she looked at my itinerary and told me there was no way that I would be able to check out of the D.C. airport to get my luggage, AND get checked back in in time for my next flight. Sweet woman says, "Honey, you've got all the right information! I'm going to check your bags ALL the way to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. You don't have to see them again until you get there." - see... day. made. (I had a brief moment of being concerned that my bags wouldn't end up with me. But that left quickly and I was just glad I didn't have to lug them around any longer)
Then she adds, "Oh, I'm also going to print all of the boarding passes you will need for the entirety of your journey."
I was ready to jump over the luggage scale and give her a hug and cry. But instead I just smiled and thanked her profusely.
Guess what I did next? I walked the entire length of that terminal. Looking for an outlet so I could plug my phone in, which was practically dead. 45 minutes later I was standing in the security line and made it through quickly with no problems and my gate was right in front of me. I was down to the last two and a half hours before my flight would leave. I sat down to write a little bit, then decided to find something to eat and ended up buying a neck pillow as well (since I had forgotten to bring one that we own). The time passed relatively quickly and they finally announced overhead that our flight was beginning the boarding process. At this point, the fact that I was actually on my way to Ethiopia became a little more real, and my excitement doubled. I wouldn't fully believe it until I finally stepped off the plane and onto Ethiopian land, but it started here. This was when my life was beyond anything that I had planned or been a part of and I was stepping into something that God had led me to.

That flight was completely uneventful. I don't even remember what I did for the 3 1/2 hours.

This was the point where my journey alone ended, and the story continues with me joining a team. From this moment on, I am with 11 other people who became my family. God brought us all together with our unique gifts and skills and passions to serve Him and love the orphans and the people of Ethiopia, and it was so incredibly beautiful. 12 random people around the world - 10 of us on our own and a married couple. Praying and pursuing this trip, thinking about what God could have in store for us in a country far from where we live. For months we continue to pray and pursue and raise the funds for a trip that will change our lives. Then one day, we all come together, each from our separate parts of the continent and as I look back I see that the question changed from, "God, what do you have in store for me?" to "God, what do you have in store for us?" 12 people, unique and incredibly different - but our common ground was the Lord. Our unity came through Christ and what He has done for each of us, and through that our desire to serve Him and share the gospel with the nations. He hand picked our team. He brought 12 people from around America (and Canada :) ) - and He joined us as the Body of Christ to serve Him.
And I am left utterly speechless.

Telling the rest of the story very soon!
Until then my friends :) So much love to you all!

Love led thee to bow thy head in death

*WRITTEN FEBRUARY 15* - Late post

Here we are, 9 minutes away from February 15. 9 minutes until the end of Valentines day, and I MUST blog because the Lord reminded me of some beautiful truths and in a way that I hadn't let them move my heart in quite a while... and it's too long for a Facebook status. Therefore, I blog. (That's how most of my blogs happen) :)

I'm currently struggling through something called "7-in-7", which is an event that I am required to participate in because of a class I'm taking. This "event" is 7 days (who would have guessed?!) and it involves writing 7 songs (Another shocker) ;) Let's put this simply - you are challenged to write 7 songs, in 7 days. This was created and is put on once a semester by a local musician and artist to challenge other artists/musicians, to stretch them and to encourage them to write beautiful music.
I love the idea of this challenge. I think it's amazing what lyrics and music others come up with. A lot of the other participants are friends of mine... and it's incredible to see how insanely talented these people are. Literally, all of them. I am inspired by each song I listen to.
But, coming into this, surrounded by these creative and amazing artists, I feel SO completely unqualified and inadequate.
I have never written a song before. Ever. I mean, lyrics and music - the whole thing. A complete song.
I have tried before - admittedly, I did not press too hard. I decided that song writing was not a gift I had because it does NOT come easily to me.
So, I probably did not get the best start to this - knowing amazing people who write music that I can't even dream of creating something close to, knowing that I cannot do this, and terrified that I have to.

Here is the most beautiful thing that the Lord has taught me in this so far, these first three days.

I am inadequate. I don't qualify. I cannot accept and complete this challenge - without Him. Without Him I am hopeless. Songwriting is just not a gift I have. The Lord was so gracious to reveal this to me before even day 1! Knowing this, I am so excited at the prospect of writing even one song. Because that one song that I write - has to come from the Lord. I am constantly praying throughout the day and through this whole process. Because I cannot do this, I need Him to be my strength. And I am reminded of 2 Corinthians 12:9 "And He has said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for power is perfected in weakness," Most gladly, therefore, I will rather boast about my weaknesses, so that the power of Christ may dwell in me."
My biggest prayer, my strongest desire is that whatever song comes from my lips will be glorifying to the Lord. Not that I will be praised for writing a "great" song - but that He will be praised because He is worthy and deserving of ALL our praise.

Tonight (the evening of day 3), I have actually had some really good inspiration and had some beautiful time in the scripture and in prayer. I'm sitting on the floor in my room with my Bible and notebook and pen and was praying and praying - then just started writing as words were popping into my head.
I found myself stopping shortly after I'd written lyrics that were just truth from scripture - doubting my ability to continue, fearing that I would mess up what is meant to be written. I came to a stopping point. Words weren't flowing anymore - I still didn't have a full song, about 17 lines. I felt like I needed to read for more inspiration. So I picked up one of my all time favorite books, called, "The Valley of Vision" - which is a collection of puritan prayers and devotions. And prayed that God would give me words, that He would continue to spark inspiration and create a song through me. I prayed out loud, in a whisper, "What words? What words God?"
I "blindly" opened the book. A random page - page 290 to be exact - which is titled, "Love" (Yes, I acknowledged the appropriateness of this title according with what day it happens to be :) And as I began reading - I realized that "Love" is the entire point of the song that I am writing. Love.

Just read these next lines - they are from the prayer that I read.

"Love brought thee from heaven to earth,
from earth to the cross,
from the cross to the grave."

"Love led thee to bow thy head in death.
My salvation is the point where perfect created love
and the most perfect uncreated love
meet together."

When I am incapable...
When I am weak...
When I am breaking...
My face to the ground,
desperately reaching
clinging to all that is left
My last ounce of hope
That's where I find You.

Nothing else left for me to see
But a beautiful God
Whose love covers me.

The Hospital Waiting Room

I was sitting in the Dell Children's Hospital waiting room today, and Sponge Bob was playing on the TV. I'm sitting in a chair, which is next to a small couch, facing the door as well as the TV. After a few minutes, the door to the waiting room swings open and in runs a little boy of maybe 6-years-old with his mother trailing behind him. Immediately this boy runs to look at the TV as his mom walks to the sign in desk. After seeing what is playing, he promptly walks back to his mother and says, "Mom, they're playing a TV show that you would not approve of." Then, he proceeds to run over and jump on the couch and sits right next to me, leans over and whispers, "My mom would NOT approve of this movie."

I held in a laugh, but couldn't help but smile.
"He's a sponge." he says.
I smiled again and said, "Yes, he's a sea sponge."
And his last reply in a very "well duh this is so obvious" manner was, "The's why he's called Sponge Bob."

Of course, that makes all the sense in the world... right?
His mother came to sit down while she filled out some paper work and we talked a little bit. She commented that he was going in for a twelfth MRI that day. I didn't find out what for, but I know that this little boy is a trooper. A ray of sunshine in the midst of whatever it is that is going on in his and his family's life, and he made my day. :)

So what's next for you?

That's a good question!
If you didn't know or happen to be wondering, this last semester, the Spring semester of this year, was my final semester in high school... ever! That's right, I was a senior. And as you know, if you've ever been a senior, the question that you hear NON-STOP from January until August is, "So what are you doing next?" And really, I started hearing this question when I started my Junior year in fall 2010 (that sounds SO long ago!)
What am I doing next?
As of Spring or Fall 2011, I would have responded with whatever I had most recently been dreaming about or excited about. I would have told you that I wanted to be an actress in musical theater and then go on to be a high school theater director. Or I would have told you that I wanted to go over seas on missions.
When my senior year started, the pressure really started to weigh down. People keep asking. What am I REALLY going to do? What am I supposed to do? I need to act quick. I have to start applications and interviews and I need to save money. I need a car. On and on and on.
But around January... possible February, I realized something. Maybe college, or immediately leaving my family and my home is not what God has in store for me this year. I don't have to jump out of high school and run into college head on just because everyone else is doing it.

So here's the point, I know a couple of things that I would love to do, things I am open to and ready to be called to, but maybe it's just "not yet".
So what's next for me is this:
Diligent prayer asking God to show me what His plan is for me. To ask Him to lead me and open doors and to give me an open heart, to give me boldness and courage and faith to trust Him in whatever His plan is for me.
Also, I will be staying home to help my mother teach my youngest siblings. Jordan is turning 12 and going into 6th grade, and Sophia is turning 8 and going into 3rd grade. I am really excited for this opportunity as God has recently been revealing to my that my first "mission field" is my home. He has been showing me that I need to give my family more attention, to show them His grace and His love everyday!

He has also been teaching me recently, through my own situations and through my family and friends, that His timing is absolutely perfect. Any plan that I have for myself, that I think will bring me happiness or joy, that I will be content with - How much MORE fulfilling will His perfect plan be in His perfect timing. Though we don't always understand when we are in a moment of trial or in something that we don't like or are uncomfortable with - He has a plan and we need to rest in that plan and trust Him because He. is. perfect.

So I am trusting and waiting and praying and in that time, through all of that, I hope to be able to be more involved with my family, with ministry at church. I want to serve and love and live in such a way that I am displaying a Christ-like lifestyle to all that I come in contact with. But the only way that that is possible - is through the love of Christ Himself. Without His love we could not love. Without His grace, we would not extend grace to others.

So that, is what's next.

Grace and Peace to you, my brothers and sisters in Christ!

Christmas Eve 2011

*Written on Christmas Eve of 2011*




My heart is so full tonight. Full of an overwhelming gratitude because of God's grace and love. So often, as of late, the Gospel has just really, really gripped me and messed me up (in a beautiful way). Especially now, so close to Christmas, it has been constantly on my mind... the birth of Jesus, which was the beginning of God's promise to us. Without His birth, the Son of God, born to a virgin through the Holy Spirit to become a son of man, we could not be called Children of God. And I don't think that that had ever really sunk in until just recently.We are children of God because of Jesus and only Jesus, who lived the life we couldn't live and died the death that we deserved.

Tonight at the Christmas Eve services, one of the songs we sang was "O' Come All Ye Faithful" and something really stuck out to me from one of the chorus' "O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, O come let us adore Him, Christ the Lord."
We are blessed; privileged not only to adore Him, but to be free to do so and to sing about it.
For several months I've been considering what is to come after graduation (June). Many things have crossed my mind. Three of the top things on my "list" in the past 6-8 months have been:

1: Performing Arts - to become a Highschool theater teacher
2: Joining the 100 People Network - to be a missionary
3: Speech Pathology - to work with children who have speech disabilities.

Speech Patho was the first I was interested in, but I didn't pursue it very intently.

Then came the 100 People, and while I loved the idea, I wasn't sure where I would go, or if I was called to go, or if it just seemed exciting at the time.

Performing arts has been the latest of my pursuits, but I have always loved drama! I started acting when I was seven-years-old. A woman from our church (when we lived in California) had gotten a degree in performing arts, and yearly wrote, organized, cast, directed, and occasionally performed in our plays. I've always known that I loved acting, but when I thought about doing it as a career (musical theater) and teaching others to enjoy it, that was really exciting. So, I mostly began pursuing Performing Arts and have been up to this day, however, I have still been considering 100 People and praying about both.

Thinking about 100 People again, while I'm still not sure where I would go, tonight I felt called to go. I have been blessed and privileged to adore my King, the King of Kings, and so many people don't know Him or what He's done.
I know it isn't a walk in the park to leave your family and everyone else you know and love, to a country that is possibly dangerous, a completely different culture where they speak a different language and have different beliefs... and reaching out to those people isn't easy. But it is a calling from Christ that we should reach out to those who do not know Him and strive to further the Kingdom of Heaven. And although it isn't easy, with Christ it is possible and my hope is to be used by God in ways that I could never imagine, for His glory and to bring others the joy that I have so graciously been given.

Lastly, for the past two weeks, I have really been praying that this Christmas would be different from other years. That it would hold more meaning for me personally. And lately I've kept saying and thinking, "I can't believe Christmas is a couple days away. It doesn't even feel like Christmas." And tonight, it doesn't, because it doesn't feel like what I've only known in the past. I can't not wait to see what lies beneath the delicately wrapped, sparkly paper in a box. But I can't wait to celebrate that I have already been given the greatest gift that I will ever receive. And in hopefulness, eagerly anticipate His second coming with joy and thanksgiving, living through Him and for Him.

Y'all, have a Merry, MERRY Christmas! Celebrate Christ and His coming, in His perfection and with purpose. For YOU. He is the most wonderful and amazing gift.

The Great Refiner

Well my plan worked out well! Of course when I wrote that last blog I was getting into the last month of school before finals! And the month of a million birthdays for our family!
But this time... I actually have something to say!

A few weeks ago, while sitting in English IV, my teacher was going through the lecture as usual and to be completely honest, I wasn't tuned into what she was saying this particular week.
However, I caught myself just in time to hear the most amazing, picturesque, and descriptive story about one of God's ways of showing His great love to us that I had ever heard.
I loved it so much and really wanted to share it with all who might come upon it! So here it is, I hope you enjoy it as immensely as I did, sitting in class almost tearing up from the beauty of it!

A young lady reading her Bible alone, came upon Psalm 66:10. "For thou hast tried us, O God; Thou has refined us as silver is refined."

Curious as to the significance of God being called a refiner of silver and not some other metal or something completely different, the woman sought out and contacted a silversmith, asking him if she could come out and observe him while he worked for a day, not telling him the reason for her visit. He let her and she drove out in hopes of finding the significance.

Throughout the day she watched as he went about his work, until finally, he began the process of refining silver. He submerged it into the fire and continued about his work normally. The woman examined carefully, watching as the metal heated and began to glow. Soon, the unwanted impurities began to flow off of the precious metal. As this happened, the young woman questioned the silversmith, "How do you know when to pull the silver out?"
Answering her calmly, the man said, "I know that it is just the right moment to pull it out, when I can see my reflection in it."
As they say, the rest was history. (at least that's what my teacher said ;D)

This story ends here. But a much great story was told in this, one that I will never forget! In class, we were talking about trials and the fact that, as James says, we go through these trials for a reason. That reason is so that we will develop perseverance, so that we will press on for the goal of Christ. And it is in these times that we grow closer to God and learn so much! This example is so amazing, because it shows that God puts us in the "fire" for our good. It may not feel good at the time, but the outcome is irreplaceable; a relationship with God that fulfills all love and all joy.
But He also doesn't just leave us in the fire to try and get out by our own means, He breaks us, bends us, and molds us into His image. Burning off our impurities.

This was just so meaningful to me, I couldn't help but share it. In your time of trial or hardship, in any situation where you're worried or scared, think of God as your Refiner. Know that He is working in you to be more like Him. Glorify Him. Praise Him. He is SO much more than worthy!!!

I am overwhelmed by His love and grace! Speechless, and yet unable to keep it to myself. In complete awe of His glory!
I hope everybody is having a fabulous weekend and continues to do so!

Through Christ alone,
Jenna