Let's get real.

Hey all!

Well this weekend has been really relaxing and a good chance to get to know everyone, although communication and planning things with a group of 30 people is quite a task. I'm definitely going to have to make an effort to really get to know the girls that live in the other house, and the guys too since they live in a different house.

We went back to GoodLife this morning... I really miss my Living Waterians! :) haha what werid label. I know that everytime I walk into that gym and sit in those chairs I am going to think of you guys, which is definitely a good thing.... hopefully it just doesn't make me cry once I realllllly start to miss you guys! Oh well. Cool thing though, we ran into the guy who sang 'Macho Man' in our aerobic video yesterday!!! How neat is that? GoodLife is his church. And even cooler, he remembered us!... I mean it would be quite difficult to forget crazy foreingers from YWAM doing aerobics on a coffee ship balcony! [pictures to come, I promise!].

Tonight we're having a birthday party for one of the staff here so that'll be a good time to just hang out and "have a chat." Australian's "have a 'everything'"... have a coffee, have a go.... so don't be surprised if I come back saying a few quirky things! I'm integrating :)

I really just wanted to take this chance [now that I have some free time to myself.... everyone's at the beach. Not me, because I got a little more lobster-esque than I had planned yesterday :P] to really share some 'good stuff', some good God stories and what He's laying on my heart these first couple of days, rather than give you random details [not that they aren't interesting!]

I found this verse a few days before I left, and I really wanted to share it with everyone the Sunday that Laura preached, but I just couldn't find the strength to get up there, so here it is:

2 Corinthians 9:6-9 & 12-15
6"Remember this: Whoever sows sparingly will aalso reap sparingly, and whoever sows generously will also reap generously. Each man should give what he has decided in his heart to give, not reluctantly or under compulsion, for God loves a cheerful giver. And God is able to make all grace abound in every good work. As it is written:
"He has scattered abroad his gifts to the poor; his righteousness endures forever."

12This service that you perform is not only supplying the needs of God's people but is also overflowing in many expressions of thanks to God. Because of the service by which you have proved yourselves, men will praise God for the obedience that accompanies your confession of the gospel of Christ, and for you generosity in sharing with them and with everyone else. And in their prayers for you THEIR HEARTS [mine <3!] style="color:#6600cc;">

I can't imagine being here not having that support of an amazing, loving, and supportive church FAMILY. Surely, God is so pleased the way Living Waters show their love to one another :)
It was just really on my heart to share that with you all!

I know that I mentioned the wide array of stories and lives here, but I wanted to share with everyone what I have learned [and AM learning] by hearing all of them,
This sums it up: God can not be contained in a box.

I think too often, especially living in the culture and society we live in in Lancaster County, we try to make God make logical and neat sense. But He is waaaayyyyy to big for that.

To be honest, I kind of thought that I would have like the most "radical" [and I say that now laughing... almost histerically] life story. I had assumed that most everyone here would be straight from highschool and with stories maybe of having partied a little or something of the sort but for the most part definitely not being graduated college, having a career as a probation officer, having ALMOST been married, etc., etc. And no one really does, but there are so many people here with some really awesome stories of how God did big things, not the same big things as what He did in my life, but big things nonetheless.

And He is not done for sure. There are people here who don't even know Jesus....... yet :) That blew me away. And made me super super excited at the same time.

Mostly everyone here was raised in a Christian [I use that term lightly] home... going to church, praying, etc. There are only like three of us who haven't been. Which has really made me think, A LOT.

Some of the people here are kind of "falling back" on that foundation. Which is totally awesome. But they've gotten to a point, mostly a point of high school graduation, or had a "job" and needed more, so they're here! For some unknown reason I thought that for someone to apply for a DISCIPLESHIP TRAINING SCHOOL, they would definitely be in a place where they have just had some major realization of how Jesus really wants them to live their life. You know, just like me... But God was like "Umm, excuse me Jade. Please don't try to contain me in a box I don't belong it." [hah, that's what I translated it to :] But seriously, He has definitely opened up my eyes to a major truth.

People are continually searching.

Not just when they know Him and He does big things like save them from making huge "not so good" decisions. But always. And sometimes even when they don't even know that's what they're searching for :)



Well, now that I've taken a good half hour of your day... THANKS FOR LISTENING/READING! I hope you've enjoyed my realness. I just couldn't cheapskate God on the real good stuff that's been going on in this 'ol heart of mine :)

Feedback is more than welcome! My e-mail again, is JLeh108@yahoo.com.

<3 color="#cc33cc">Jade