This week I started full-time at the daycare across the street from us. It’s actually the same one that Josh has been working at, though he is helping lead the day camp which takes place at the community centre just 5 minutes away. 
For now I’ve left the food industry and have entered the world of soothers, story books, and change tables. It is a refreshing change I must admit. I’m such a doer and love to keep busy, so it is a challenge to slow it down and sit on the floor and play with children for most of the day, rather than filling my time with prepping food, wiping down counters and serving long lines of customers. I do believe though that being in a situation where I do need to just slow down and not rush is going to be beneficial to my personal growth. I also like getting the experience of what a mother may go through, as I care for the one year olds. There seems to be many a time where I’ll be changing one of them, heating up milk for another, encouraging the one pulling on my pant leg to go play, and hearing the cries of another one just waking from their afternoon nap, all while ‘farmer in dell’ jingles in the background. Even as I feed them yogurt or roll a ball back in forth to another, I already feel that I'll look back at this time later and count it as a precious and enriching.

We praise God that we were able to finish paying off our car which means we could start saving up for our anniversary vacation and then our next mission trip. The men’s Bible study are finishing up the letters of John and the girls and myself just read the last chapter of Galatians and we’ll be moving onto 1Peter. We’re also helping our friends to organize some youth nights: tomorrow night is a Bible study on Colossians with ice cream sundaes. It’ll be a splendid finish to a busy work week.

The fresh smell of summer has invaded the air. It’s that kind of sense tingling aroma that for me inspires long walks, playing outside with kids and a craving for ice cream. Our little apartment at the Sunny King Motel has continued to serve us well. We still haven’t put up our own pictures, and we’re both fine with the likeliness that we probably won’t get around to it. Josh is working full-time at the day care, taking care of the 1 year olds this month, and then moving onto doing the summer program with school aged kids. I’m still baking bread and spreading vegetables on sandwiches at the Subway down the road, which has been turning into a full-time job.

Our Bible studies have begun. Josh leads one for the men on Monday nights and the girls and I get together on Tuesday nights, in our cozy apartment. I’ve found it be a source of encouragement to come together with other girls and dig deep into Galatians. It’s so easy to take for granted here in the west, but it is an awesome privilege to be able to meet with those who love Jesus, get to know each other outside of a Sunday morning, and learn from one another. Plans for a youth night have also been formulating between a few of us, and that is something to surely be excited for. This Friday we’re planning on kicking off the summer with a bonfire.

Yesterday, Josh spoke at Community Worship Centre, a deeply convicting, passionate message about the world’s poor in which he told stories of his experiences on the mission field and spoke some hard sayings which also took the form of some startling statistics. It was the best message I’ve ever heard on missions, and has left me all the more compelled to dedicate my life to Jesus, living a life of sacrifice where real joy can be found in Him. It was one of those heart messages that just stirs you right on the inside and imparts a longing and passion for intimacy with Jesus. It was definitely a great morning. And Russia continues to beckon.

Our time in Prince Edward Island is difficult but very good. It’s difficult because we miss the foreign mission field, but our time here has already been very valuable and beneficial to us and hopefully to those around us. I feel so much a part of our church family at FaithWorks Centre. Pastor Bill and Debbie have loved on me big time, and I’ve been able to get to know so much better, the friends who I’ve met on previous visits to the island. It feels like home. Another plus is that we have our own car which has allowed me to greatly improve my driving.

 I am excited for what is taking place now, and I probably say this a lot, but I am excited for what is to come. I figure whether we’re on the island, overseas, or in the slums of a city as long as God has lead us to this place, our hearts can be glad knowing that His love and interest in us never wanes. He doesn’t tire of working on our hearts and transforming us more and more to become like Him; to become who we really are. His Spirit upon us empowers us to be the hands and feet of Jesus where ever we go. I’ve realized how callings differ, because we are the body of Christ, rather than just one part. Not everyone is called to be a missionary, pastor or street preacher, but we’re all called to give up our lives.

 

Oh, how I enjoy making plans. I get that good, responsible adult feeling and it’s simply fun to fantasize about the future. I have to remember even on those Monday morning walks to work when I’m daydreaming happily about the future, that all I really have is right now. The present is so precious and loaded full of God’s goodness, opportunities for growth, and budding friendships.

Also, Josh and I have had plans that have changed almost weekly. I know my dad has tons of Facebook messages from me that give evidence to this. I wouldn’t say that we’re sporadic people, but there have been events that have taken place that neither of us had expected. I believe that there have been times where if we would have stuck to our plan instead of changing it according to new situations and opportunities, we would have actually been outside of the will of God.

I think that in the Book of James when he writes “Look here, you who say, “Today or tomorrow we are going to a certain town and will stay there a year. We will do business there and make a profit.” How do you know what your life will be like tomorrow? Your life is like the morning fog—it’s here a little while, then it’s gone. What you ought to say is, “If the Lord wants us to, we will live and do this or that.”Otherwise you are boasting about your own plans, and all such boasting is evil”(4:13-17), he is speaking of the need to be led by God and willingness to not set our plans in stone. When we are flexible with our plans we put ourselves in a place where we can be led by God and respond in obedience to Him when He speaks to us.

I don’t believe there is anything wrong with making plans. Even God makes plans since Jeremiah 29:11 tells us that he has plans for us. But our well-intentioned plans must not become a substitute for hearing from God.

Sometimes God may change our direction altogether, and he may tell us to do something that seems totally contrary to what we believe He said before. Does this mean we’re hearing from Satan instead? Not all the time. In one of his writings, Pastor Rick Joyner of Morning Star ministries uses a story from Abraham's life to illustrate the importance of continuing to listen to God. In Genesis 22:1-24 Abraham made no hesitation in going about sacrificing his son Isaac when God told him to do so, but just as he was picking up the knife an angel of the Lord told Abraham not to kill Isaac, for this had been a test from God. If Abraham hadn’t continued listening to God even when His instructions changed, he would have killed Isaac. I think one of the lessons that we can glean from this story is that we must continue listening not only to God but also to the guidance of our spiritual authority and Godly people in our lives. By not listening to advice that may oppose what God has said to us, means the possibility of not heeding his further instructions. We must be willing to consider that even though God may be saying something different to us today, it doesn’t necessarily mean that we weren’t hearing Him right before. Perhaps like Abraham He was testing us or providing an opportunity to grow-who knows!

The only thing I really know is that God has plans and I’m so glad for that. I’m glad that I’m not running my own life because I’d surely make a mess of it. What a beautiful, divine realization that God is with us right now in the present, wanting to love on us and be with us. Day by day we can be led by Him even in what seems to be the smallest of decisions, for it is God who knows whether they actually are small or not.

Today I turned 23! It's almost hard for me to believe that '22' is gone and of course next year is ''24' and how time goes by so fast, but it's been an incredible year. I realize that looking back at each year, especially after I became a Christian, none has been just drab or seemed pointless like I was just 'living life'. Each year has contained lessons and events that I believe have been so crucial to where I am now and the opportunities that God has so graciously entrusted to me so far and for whatever is upcoming. I've been challenged, inspired and absolutely called to come closer to God and enjoy Him, and I have no doubt that age 23 is going to be another year of awesome in which 'deep continues calling out to deep'.

Today,I  worked from 6am-2pm and then for supper Josh and I went to the Gahan House; a rustic brewery in, downtown Charlottetown. I really liked the rustic atmosphere of the restaurant, and the fish and chips was the best I've ever tasted, and was quaintly served in a brown paper bag. Josh ordered the club sandwich and we both had sweet potato fries with jalapeno mayo.

 Josh gave me some really sweet gifts: a cactus from the Superstore (I've been really wanting one!), a Betty Crocker vanilla icing scented candle, that Celestial Bengal spice tea that I've been craving, a compact NLT bible, a box of green tea and a 'mean, green recycling machine' Oscar the Grouch tee.
 It truly was a great day and a nice beginning to ‘23’.

With its strong theme of joy which the apostle Paul encourages in the midst of his own suffering, his letter to the Philippians is one of my favourites in the New Testament. Some think that the Philippians were one of Paul’s favourite congregations. Paul had supported himself and refused assistance from other churches, but he accepted support and encouragement from the Philippians. He refers to them twice as his beloved and nine times as his brothers and sisters .This is amazing when we realize that these Gentiles were the very ones who years previous, Paul would have called ‘blasphemers’ and dragged them out of their homes to be killed. In his letter composed from prison Paul calls the Gentiles his beloved brethren and his joy.

In 4:1, Paul also calls them his crown. At this time, there were a few different crowns that Paul may have been referring to. There was the crown made of wild olive leaves won by an athlete at an event. There was the crown which guests of honour were crowned with by friends at a banquet. A crown can also denote a trophy. Paul didn’t long for money and possessions to make Him feel rich and his life worthwhile. Rather it was the people who he invested himself in that he considered to be the sparkling jewels of his life. They were his reward. Paul held them up as proof that his service was effective and his life was fruitful. He was encouraged by their love and their worshipful lives, and he only wanted to see them to continue to do well, live in harmony together, persevere and grow closer to God. Paul loved these people whom he had brought to Christ and his words express a closeness to them like that of family. It is in that very context of love and commitment that Paul writes to them and calls them his crown.

Are there people who we could call our crown? Are there those who we have poured ourselves into for the sake of them growing in their walk with God? Perhaps not yet, but even today we could make decisions that would set us on such a path of selfless love. We could pray for God to put people in our lives who we could help and encourage, and to open our eyes to the people he has already placed around us. Most of all, we could pray for the desire and divine help to love people over ourselves and over things.

Sun poured in through the pastel coloured stained glass windows of the small chapel room of  the retirement home 'Andrews of Stratford'. A pianist lent her time to us as Josh, myself and small group of the residents gathered together on that Wednesday afternoon for a church service. We sang from hymn books and the song 'in shady green pastures' reminded me just how powerful the words are in so many of those old hymns. 
We had rushed in late after first going to the Andrews of Charlottetown and aside from being the fragrance of Christ, I was sure that I was also carrying the strong scent of Subway, but the smiling saints singing to God were the picture of contentment. Our friend Lindsey also arrived and joined us in singing hymns and visiting with the residents and their eyes gleamed with the pleasure of what they would later express as 'having some young people visit, us old folks'
Being under the impression that we were going to have communion today, Josh had prepared a message about communion. When the pianist told us that the communion would actually be next week, that definitely put a change to our plans. Josh then spoke about prayer and serving others. Following the message and more singing we visited with the residents meeting the Hazels and Pearls of the group, and then said our goodbyes until next week. 
While we were praying at the end of the service and I gazed at the group of seniors,I felt like I was almost realizing for the first time that 'God isn't finished with us yet.' Even for those who have spent many years on this Earth, God is still pruning and guiding and transforming them to be more like Jesus. He still reveals to them the secrets of His hearts and those things about Him and life that they never knew before, and continues to display His loving kindness and compassion for them every day.He still speaks to their hearts and joyously invites them to come closer still.Thank God, that He is not finished with us yet!

 It feels good to have a car that we can call our own. We just recently bought a used 98 Corolla and so far so good. She drives pretty smoothly! This Easter was one of those ‘cute little family Easters’ that you miss when you’re away from home. Our niece Malone had her first birthday and we celebrated with a party on Easter Sunday, and then Josh’s mom hosted an Easter dinner on Monday. I know that this is far off from what Easter is about but I have to say that I really do like seeing all of the bunny stuff in the stores though it makes me miss my fuzzy little friends at the Double H Happy barn.

I’ve been making an effort lately to try and slow down and learn to relax. I’ve been very much the kind of person who feels a great sense of worth from what I do, and I feel terrible inside when I don’t feel like I’m doing enough. This year I feel like God has been speaking to me about learning to rest and to feel valued because I’m His child and He loves me, not because of things that I do. I’ve felt the tender longing to just sit and cherish His presence, and get in touch with the things I enjoy doing. I’ve received a few house plants and I’m surprised by how much I really like them and enjoy taking care of them. Though I was at the library reading a book on houseplants and was nodding off between every page turn, so I’m not sure what that says about my interest level!

My job at Subway is continuing to go well and weirdly enough, I think its fun to make the sandwiches and I like making the ‘hinge cut’ on the breads. Also, there’s something kind of cozy, homey and ‘under doggish’ about this Subway since it’s in a small, quiet town-but I like that!

It’s also looking like we’re going to have some good times coming up at a nursing home in Charlottetown. Please pray for us that we’d just simply allow God to do whatever He wants with us!

  

A constant theme I see in the New Testament is the joy of investing in others. A great example of someone who made it their vocation to impart unto others was the Apostle Paul. We can see in his letters to the young pastor Timothy, that Paul cared for him as a son and he put great effort into giving him guidance and spiritual counsel. Paul recognized a gift from God in Timothy, and he encouraged him to move forward in his gifting and to continue fanning a flame of passion and service for Jesus. (2 Timothy 1:4).

Paul had led Timothy to faith in Christ, mentored him, and brought him on missionary trips. Paul commissioned Timothy to stay with the church in Ephesus to help the congregation discard the false teachings that were sprouting up.

 The responsibilities that Timothy took on in shepherding the flock in Ephesus and protecting them from false teachers, may have been intimidating for a young man with little experience in a full-time pastoral role, but Timothy was not left to just try and make it on his own.

Paul’s letters to Timothy, and the way he speaks highly of Timothy in letters to the other churches, are all evidence that Paul made a place in his heart for this young man who he saw so much potential in. Paul made himself available to Timothy the best that he could and encouraged him in his calling, recognizing the greatness God bestowed on him and helping him take every opportunity to apply his gifting and live a life uncompromised for Jesus.

Let’s think about the people who God has placed in our lives: at work, at school, in church, etc. Let’s consider the person right in front of us. To have influence in someone’s life is an incredible honor. Couldn’t God use us to see the gifts He has placed in people and bring attention to them? Couldn’t God use us to encourage someone to pursue their passion?

 Everyone has weaknesses and flaws. It’s easy to detect these things in people, and even to bring those things to light. But God has called us to a greater mandate.

God has given us the Holy Spirit so that we may look beyond the natural and into the supernatural. The supernatural are things that pertain to and are caused by the intervention of God

 This means that instead of just noticing short comings, we are able to see the capabilities and talents that God has put inside of people. We are able to see the craftsmanship of God in the personalities and characteristics of people. We are able to see not only the person as they are in the present, but what they could be in the future because of their potential.

I believe that as people of the kingdom of God, we have been chosen and equipped for the building up of the body of Christ. We haven’t received gifts from God so that we may just enjoy them and benefit from them for ourselves. We have been given gifts for the purpose of equipping the saints. We are the right people for the job. We have been called for this Holy purpose of investing in others.

 I think about what a joy it would be to come to the end of my life and count myself rich because of those lives who I’ve invested in and those individuals who I helped thrust towards greatness.

I pray that God would help us to see people the way that He sees them. I pray that we would see greatness and potential in the person right in front of us and that we would take the opportunity to invest in them and draw out and encourage the gifts that we see in them. Help us to give ourselves to others and for this to be our joy, as we all run this race together, fixing our eyes on Jesus.