The World Race January 2010 - Jessica Rietveld

The End is Near

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Dearest blog readers,

Today is November 19, 2010 and tomorrow my epic World Race journey comes to an end... Mixed feelings weigh heavy on me... Should I be happy?! Should I be sad?! Should I embrace this coming change?! ... I just don't know.

You see, the United States is chalk full of cellphones, wifi, and carpet. All things that I should be and kinda am excited about. But in my heart of hearts... I just know that what I've found on this race isn't even comparable to any of those "things". The things I've found this year are irreplaceable.

I've prayed over the dying, sick, and orphaned, I've held the hurting and the broken, I've seen joy in the eyes of poverty stricken families, I've been robbed and smiled in the face of my oppressors, this year I found God, and not only God but myself...

I've been pushed and pulled... shaped and molded... and ultimately changed.

I'm CHANGED.

and i'm gonna miss this...

but here's to a new and upcoming season that'll be exciting, fun, and adventurous!!

What I've Learned in 11 Months

Fri, 19 Nov 2010 00:00:00 GMT

The last few nights I have been waking up at 4:30 like clock work. I don't know why. Maybe after eleven months of traveling my internal clock is shot. Anyway, when I woke up this morning I think it really hit me for the first time that I will be on a flight to America in a week. This is the part that makes every world racer nervous. I remember being worried about acclimating back into America at training camp months before we left even. I think leaving America was much simpler than returning will be. There is just something about it...You can't really travel the whole world and not somewhat detach from your previous reality. I think ending the WR will be like starting over-taking a whole world of experiences and perspective and reshaping it into a better more enlightened version of myself.

In the WR community people generally refer to their life before the race as "real life" or their "former life" or "normal life". Regardless, there is something in this experience that feels completely disconnected from the way everything has operated in our lives prior to now, and we've been warned time and time again that it will be tough to go home. That people won't really understand us, which will frustrate us. And that we will share a life long bond with those who have taken the journey along side-the only ones that can truly understand. Our squad has formed it's own little world. A world where I never have to be alone if I don't want to. A world where sharing your heart is a daily practice. A world where conversations center around God, purpose, and the things that are real in life. It's an intimidating thing to step out of. One advantage of the WR is that things always keep moving and there is very little time to process. If we could process everything when it happened I think it would weigh us down. However, I have a hunch the coming months will afford me much time for processing. For the record, I hate processing.

Anyway, I wanted to share with you a few little gems that I have learned in the past 11 months:

-I'm not always right.

-You can get used to a squatty potty.

-The people in the world that are poorest tend to be the happiest and most joyful, and those with money tend to be the most unhappy and unfulfilled.

-There is no really good excuse not to adopt. The world is full of abandoned children. They are dying and they need families.

-There is no normal

-There is maybe nothing nobler one can do than redeem a life and give someone a future.

-Thai food is arguably the best in the world, not to mention economical (Pad Thai=$1).

-Most of the people that are keeping the world from falling apart aren't in the spotlight; they are the quiet world changers and they exist in nearly every village in every country in the world.

-Once you are enlightened you are responsible.

-In America we really underestimate the number of people than fit in any given mode of transportation.

-When it comes to fulfillment, purpose always trumps money and success.

-God hasn't forgotten about anyone. I think he's just waiting for more of us to follow his example, and stop forgetting about each other.

-Personal space and alone time don't exist in the 3^rd world.

-You can't ever achieve selflessness. It is a daily fight.

-People become much more attractive when they stop worrying so much about their outsides and

begin cultivating their insides (so please forgive us if we smell).

**This beautiful blog was written by Jillian Gale Hensley and totally describes my thoughts.

The Random Ramblings of Jessica Rietveld

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends,

So I'm laying in bed thinking on some things about life... and I thought since my blog roll is slightly lacking that I'd entertain you all with some of the thoughts running through my head...

I don't ever wanna pretend to be something I'm not just to please people or just to make them happy. God created me unique and I think I'm just gonna go ahead and be that haha.
Someday I wanna start my own prayer and healing house.... And when I say healing I mean limbs growing back, the deaf hearing, and the blind seeing. Healing is a huge part of Jesus that the church leaves out sooooo often... and I really believe that God is calling our generation into healing and miracles... Miracles still do happen today they're happening all the time!!! Check out Heidi Baker's ministry she's seeing people raised from the dead on a regular basis CRAZY!!! I believe it.
I know I haven't been an avid writer of blogs this year and I apologize....
To my supporters... you really have been the hands and feet God this year.... Thank you... you'll never know the ways you've loved me and others around the world ... you're so greatly appreciated!!
God created us as human BE-ERS not human doers.
I'm really loving romania thus far... it kinda reminds me of home... the smell of cow manure... and corn fields in the background who doesn't love that!!!

Well friends it's Midnight and I need to be getting to sleep, but hope you enjoyed some of my random thoughts!!!

A Day in the Life of ME in Romania.

Tue, 19 Oct 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Here's a tiny tidbit of my life in Romania...

7:00 A.M.

beep beep beep ... I hear Jessi's iphone ringing in the bed next to mine.... BUT we both roll over and fall back to sleep... this is a regular occurrence this month, normally we try real hard to get up and do God time, but for some reason this month it's been super hard to do.

8:00 A.M.

Eight A.M. rolls around and still nothing ... I'm still laying in bed completely out of it and if I'm lucky I've had another amazing God dream where God tells me all about the day ahead of me ( that only happens sometimes) ..... Then 8:15 rolls around and I start to wake up from my world race coma... which has become a regular happening... I think month 10 is weighing heavy on me!!

9:00 A.M.

After a delicious bowl of cereal and an apple the team is out the door to begin construction on a house for some of the Caminul Felix children that are now older and need their own house to stay in.

10:30 A.M.

I'm growing tired of shoveling rocks into the foundation of the house sooo Sarah Hoffman and I crack jokes back and forth about who's the better shoveler haha. (and other unmentionable jokes hahaha)

12:30 - 1:00

YAY it's LUNCH TIME I make my myself a tasty sandwhich grab some chips and head to the room for an afternoon break.

4:00 P.M.

Head over to our Caminul Felix houses and love on some kids... this often involves getting grass thrown at you, pushing kids in swings, being schooled by the amazing Romanian soccer players, giving a couple piggy back rides, oh and last but not least being a human jungle gym...

6:30 P.M.

One of two things can happen here I either begin helping cook our elaborate extremely American dinners... or I sit out and grab a shower, both being very beneficial options!!!

7:30 P.M.

Chow down on yummy food such as burgers, stir fry, pizza, spaghetti... mmm yum!!!

8:30 P.M.

I thank God for this wonderful day that I had, I then put on some fluffy comfy pj's and sit and watch an episode of Glee with the girls, it's my favorite time of the day where I just get to sit in our cozy room and enjoy the company of really good friends!!

11:00 P.M - 1:00 P.M

Curl up in my bed pray for good dreams, and a happy tomorrow ... All in all it was a wonderful day on the world race in ROMANIA!!

Dreaming Big

Sat, 11 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

My thoughts as I sit looking out over the black sea:

We're constantly told that things in this world are impossible and that they're out of reach.... BUT what if thats not true?! What if everything is at our fingertips?! What if our reality is that we can do anything that we put our minds to?! What if dreams really aren't just meant for fairy tales?! Wouldn't you dream big, and aim for the sky!? Luke 1 vs 37 says "For nothing is impossible with God." I do believe my friends that this verse says nothing.... mmmm life with God is simply brilliant!!!

Follow hard after him and seek the dreams that he's laying on your heart.

Do pobachennya (goodbye in Russian)

Life After the Robbery

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

It's been almost a month and a half since the unlikely events of July 14, and I can honestly say that the craziness of that day has made me 100 percent more on fire for God!!! Theres something about going through a hard time or a traumatic experience that draws us so close to the Father heart of God.

When you are faced with the question "am I going to live through this" a lot of things go through your mind... Have I lived a life worthy of God our Father?! Have I served him well... have I lived every moment to it's fullest?! My honest answer to these questions is no... now rather then getting upset and focusing on the fact that I havent taken every opportunity to live joyfully, I can change my reality. I can choose joy instead of pain! I can choose love instead of hate. I can choose grace instead of anger.

Truth is we have one life to live. And as I walk a way from the robbery, I realize that God's giving me a second chance to come alive!! And to write a story full of love, adventure, and excitement!! I mean come on, we have one life to make our passions and our dreams come true. We have one life to forgive those who have hurt us one life to let go of bitterness and give way to love, pure love that God so willingly gives. We have one life to write a story that's worth living and telling. But its your choice, it's my choice... God gives us a choice every new day!! I just wanna encourage you to write your story because God's giving you the pen and the blank pages are waiting for you.

Awakened

Fri, 3 Sep 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I'm currently sitting in Dublin, Ireland processing after an amazing conference... the awakening 2010!!! It's been a week of crazy praise, worship, and teaching... God's done so much!!! I honestly feel like a different person... I feel so refreshed and renewed!! I asked God to do a miracle in me this week and I truly believe that He has. I know that He's inside of me... and simply waiting to get out of this body that I sometimes contain Him in. Gosh God's soooo good..... I know this is short but I plan on posting more about this crazy amazing weekend soon.... Lots of Love ... From Ireland.

Robbed at Gunpoint... the Unlikely Events of July 14th

Wed, 21 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Robbed at gunpoint... the Unlikely Events of July 14.

July 14th began like any other day... I awoke to the noises of our contact Martin shouting outside our window in Swahili... I wasn't particularly joyful to be awake at 7:30 in the morning, but what do you expect?! I stumbled out of bed slowly, and struggled to make my thoughts come together, I grabbed my book and bible and plopped myself on the couch in the living room. I prepared myself for the day nearing my presence. As the time passed one by one my teammates staggered into the room. At this point I can't particularly say that I expected the events that would unfold that day, but I went willingly as it came.

Recalling back there wasn't very much that happened that was out of character for our ministry in Tanzania except maybe one or two things. One being that my teammate Jessi wasn't feeling good, and two she wouldn't be joining us for door to door evangelism that day. So before leaving we prayed for healing, and as the team prepared to leave Jessi grabbed my arm and asked me to pray over her room... I of course replied with an immediate yes!! I walked into her room knowing that all power and authority were mine in Jesus name. I prayed a pretty simple prayer stating that no evil was allowed to enter the room and that the windows and doors were sealed from evil in Jesus name. And that was that.

Door to door was powerful that day... It's crazy how God's so faithful to be your strength when your weak. I went into ministry lacking joy and energy but WOW God really came through. You see for some time now many have told me I have the gift of healing but I have lacked the boldness and faith to go out on a limb and ask God for His help... which He so willingly gives us! That day I got to pray for a woman named Asalma... Asalma was suffering from partial paralyzation in one of her feet and it sometimes caused her pain. By God's grace I got to ask for her healing in Jesus name... seconds later she was dancing on her feet and saying that her pains were leaving!! How cool!! I then got to lead her in the sinners prayer and she proceeded by asking Jesus into her heart!!!! I remember thinking YES I finally have something blog worthy to write about!! Little did I know the events that were going to occur later that evening.

The rest of the day didn't surprise me in all its normalcy: lunch, church, bananagrams, and a little P90x. However, the moments to follow are ones that will remain painted in my mind forever.

Everything about the night seemed ordinary minus the silence that had fallen over our little slum village. Around 8:00 that night a very unlikely event occurred. As I was about to sit down for dinner there was a VERY loud large bang at the door... I didn't think anything of it at first, so I continued what I was doing, then all of the sudden I heard another extremely loud bang, by this time I had realized that this wasn't the simple knock of someone selling girl scout cookies. But someone who had a very different agenda!! I think by the second or third knock Jessi had yelled THEY'RE BREAKING IN!!!! I watched panic wash over my contacts faces, they took off scrambling for a place to hide. I remember thinking this is it... they're coming in and there's nothing I can do to stop it. This is it, I might not come out of this.... I ran to the front door looking for some escape from the oncoming predators, finding the door was locked I looked for an alternative place to hide....

I ran to my room and dove behind my bed where I tried desperately to find comfort under it!!! I covered my eyes with my head to the floor, praying the men would disappear and that Jesus would protect us. I was shaking so bad at this point, fearing they had come for our lives, as the days before we had preached the gospel to many Muslims in our village. There was so much banging going on in the rooms around us... I could hear the threats upon my teammates "money or I'll kill you." I held on to who I thought was Jessi so tightly while the robbery was happening but when a man tapped me and asked for my watch I noticed that the figure I was grabbing onto was one of my contacts... I hadn't even noticed it was him. I then also realized that Jillian was huddled up with us to, I grabbed her wrist, trying to hold on to some kind of comfort. After a couple of minutes of ravaging the house. they left. I later found out from my teammates that there was about 15-20 men in on the crime and that they had come in with a shotgun and many other clubs and beat sticks. Upon entering the living room I found my friends, I was beyond ecstatic they were safe, no one was hurt!!! PRAISE GOD!!!

My eyes searched Jillian and I's room... clothes, journals, change... was strewn everywhere across the floor. I searched for my belongings... my big pack gone, my tent gone, sleeping bag gone, my laptop, clothes, small book bag, my phone, it was all gone. But at this point none of that stuff mattered, that could all be replaced!!! We were all safe, and that was all that mattered!!! God is and was so good he protected us and kept each of us safe from harm!!!

The robbers had dumped out my purse all over the floor and because of this they failed to notice my ipod, and left my passport lying on the floor for me to find. I was so grateful. Had they simply decided to take my purse I would've lost both of those things. Next my eyes scanned to a table where they had knocked everything to the floor, and I then noticed another thing that was strange... there sitting perfectly in the same place was my camera!!! Right in plain view... they had knocked everything off of the table and gone to all the trouble to leave my camera sitting right in its same spot!!! I lost almost all of my travel stuff but I still had my ipod, passport, and camera... I know it might not seem like much but to me at this time I praised God.

One of the craziest God things in the event was the fact that the robbers were unable to enter Jessi and Jenae's room so for the most part they didn't have the bulk of their stuff taken... but the sweetest thing about this situation is... if you recall earlier that day we had prayed that no evil could enter the room in Jesus name... and the robbers weren't able to get in!!! Gosh what a cool miracle!!

The moments after the robbery each of us lifted our praises and thanks to God we were ok... we may have lost a good majority of our stuff but God had protected us and was with us the whole time... Praise God!!!

This is Africa

Sat, 17 Jul 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Dearest Friends,

So I'm sure most of you are wondering where I am... seeing as I haven't blogged in 2 months.. so heres the scoop...

The past month and a half I've traveled the beautiful continent of Africa... and grazed my presence in Kitale, Kenya last month, and this month visited the shore side city of Dar es Salaam, Tanzania. Both of which are absolutely gorgeous and so full of God's joy!!

The month of June in Kitale consisted of door to door evangelism, construction of a church, and more.. during the month we saw over 100 people come to Christ... and every single house we went to God proved himself faithful and would give me so many different words for people. Overall it was a good month and God did so much!! Oh yea not to mention that I got my toenail kicked off, another good experience :)!! In general Kitale, Kenya left a mark on my heart that will not fade any time soon.

Dar es Salaam, country number 7, has proved to be one of the most memorable and interesting months of the race thus far. I'm sure many of you know why but i'll post more on the issue at a later date. God's really taught me so many unique things this month, and I've had so many amazing opportunities in the 2 weeks I've been here... many people have come to Christ, I got to see someone healed, and I even got to assist in the baptism of Jessi in the Indian Ocean! God is good ... even in rough, ruggid Africa!!

Beauty Unveiled

Tue, 1 Jun 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Picture it, blue sky, fluffy marsh mellow clouds detail the atmosphere above, a gentle breeze blows through each perfectly placed and numbered hair on my head. I stop my thoughts to glance at the sun setting, casting a reflection on the mass of water in front of me, it glimmers in the sunlight as if to show me how beautiful it is! I sit on these hard rugged stairs in Thailand pondering God seeking His council, as the shadows of trees dance around me. It's beautiful. It's a little sliver of God's beauty right before me. I sit here tears pouring out of my eyes asking God to reveal my own beauty...

You see, this month I found myself so broken in front of God, feeling like I was the most un beautiful ugly person... like God chose to not make me beautiful... in some way... like he forgot to give me something, something crucial. I remember crying out to God!! God help me see myself as you see me! God show me what real beauty is. Help me Father, I need you to show me my beauty.

And here's what he revealed to me. Beauty isn't having perfect skin, the best clothes or the prettiest body shape. Because honestly what's beauty with a heart that's made of stone. I'm sure most of you would agree that true beauty isn't living in sin or striving all the time to make yourself appear more beautiful but instead it's living effortlessly and letting the gifts God's given you come out.

Now before I go any further I need to make one thing clear and it's that I'm not talking about the cliche statement "inner beauty" that so many Christians use as a crutch. Because I think that beauty is so much more than what's on the inside. Truth of the matter is that God's made each of you in His image!! Let me repeat that... your made in HIS image. WHOA holy revelation!!! That means that each of us are beautiful not only on the inside but on the outside too! YAY!

Beauty isn't exclusive and it embodies each of us... simply because God made it that way. We exude beauty out of our pours because God created us in HIS image. His beauty is unfathomable, it's something to be celebrated and marveled at. Some of you need to wake up like I am and realize that true beauty flows from the heart to the outside! True beauty is comforting someone who's hurting, it's reaching out beyond yourself to help someone out, it's embracing your unique quirks (like eating all of the pickles from the pickle jar in one sitting ), It's wearing that big bow in your hair even if everyone says it looks ridiculous, It's stating your opinions because YES they really do matter, It's every grey hair that you've accumulated over so many amazing memories or maybe even some hard ones. And most of all, It's following God with your whole heart and not letting anything or anyone stop you from doing so!!

He's created us to dance to our own rhythm and move to our very own very unique beat. So I sit here on these very rugged stairs in Thailand, and I look out over the water and I'm captivated at this glimpse of God's beauty that he's letting me behold, that he's given to me as a gift!!

Thailand at a glance

Thu, 20 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Thailand at a glance...

I hope you enjoyed a quick look at Thailand

Happy Mothers Day Mom

Sat, 8 May 2010 00:00:00 GMT

To the most amazing mom in the world

Mamma here's to all the times you've helped me through

heres to all the times you've made me laugh

here's to the times we've enjoyed a good cry together

here's to the times you've given me advice

here's to all the times you've been patient

and the times you fought for the good in me

I'm so thankful for every single moment.

if it wasn't for you I wouldn't be where I am.

so here's to you mom.

I LOVE YOU.

HAPPY MOTHERS DAY

May God bless you and keep you.

The Holy Itch

Wed, 14 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What an unusual occasion...

Location: Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia.

Scene: 8 mattresses lying on the floor of a second floor "underground" looking church. It sits above a restaurant, where the gospel is shared on a regular basis. This is our home for the next month.

Time: 2:54 A.M.

Participants: Team Seven, Tara Stephenson, and Krissy Whaley

2:54 A.M. our squad leader Tara taps me on the shoulder... wake up Jess we need to pray for Trev, she continues to Jessi, Jessi wake up we need to pray for Trev, she continues to Tyler, Tyler wake up we need to pray for Trev.

You see... Trev had woken up from a terrible itch and God telling him to get the team to pray for Him. And so it began. At 2:54 in the morning we started one of the most Holy Spirit led prayer sessions of my life. (I feel this is a normal occasion on the race haha)

Now to set this situation up a little bit my team and I had been having a super hard time feeling unified for the past 3 months... it seemed like there was always something wrong, or some kind of conflict. It was hard to ignore. There were moments I almost lost hope in us as a team, each of us were desperate for change... even if that meant changing teams... but God had a different plan.

At 2:54 that morning God answered all of our prayers. We began praying for Trev and his "Holy Itch" ... immediately the Spirit fell upon all of us so heavy. And when I say heavy I mean every single one of us were getting pictures and hearing from God about different people in very perfect timing. The gift of leadership was spewing out of Trev, the gift of knowledge was flowing out of Tyler... and then it comes to me. God gave me a distinct vision of a demon clasping my throat trying to get me to stay silent. And at that second I told the team what I saw... They immediately began rebuking the Evil Spirit and telling me to speak out using my voice. I spoke ... they prayed. I felt such a spiritual release almost as if my words weren't my own at all but the Holy Spirit speaking through me. Such a freedom came upon me as I spoke.

After they finished praying for me we began praying for another person, the Holy Spirit continued to move. As some of you know I've had a prayer language for quite some time... but on this particular occasion I believe I received 2 or 3 more prayer languages all of a different tongue and dialect. God also told me that at some point this year.. I was going to have one of my tongues recognized by a local tribe, and translated. A little bit crazy but I'm ok with that because it was all God.

Our little prayer session continued for 2 hours... I repeat 2 hours... in the middle of the night!!! God's so crazy ... but amazing ... I feel so unified and close to my team now... and so ready to battle the enemy. I feel like God's going to move in a powerful and a very supernatural way. I'm expectant. I can't wait.

God is ALWAYS faithful to Heal

Thu, 8 Apr 2010 00:00:00 GMT

I never cease to be amazed by God... tonight Peter our contact spoke to my team about divine healing!! Which first of all is crazy because when asking God at the beginning of the month what He wanted me to focus on in Malaysia He said divine healing. Two words that I had never even thought to put together!! CRAZY!!!

So after the talk feeling completely energized and ready to take the sick by storm, I felt God lay a specific man on my heart that I had walked by numerous times in the days before. Then my teammate Jessi spoke up and said that God was laying the same man on her heart and that we should go pray for Him after dinner!!! I immediately felt the Spirit leading me to fast.... So I did.

After dinner we sought God in prayer asking Him to fill us and give us just what we needed... we marched forward in faith.. Knowing that in Jesus name ANYTHING could happen!!

We searched for the man that was implanted in both of our minds asking God to guide us. A few seconds later we found him.

Now in Malaysia it is illegal to preach the gospel to Muslims, and upon seeing the man (we'll call him James) with swollen legs we realized he was a Muslim... Fear tried to creep in to both Jessi and I... but we cast it out in Jesus name and continued forward. When we first sat down James and a couple of people around us proceeded to tell Jess and I that he once had perfect stability on his legs and was even a pilot!!

Apparently he had contracted diabetes and his family had disowned him. After a while of praying and talking to James a huge crowd had gathered around us... Jessi and I again became fearful again... Knowing that there was a small possibility that we could be sent to jail for praying for this man. But we prayed so hard for fear to leave and for this man to be healed!!!

By the end of the prayer James was praising God... How COOL a Muslim man was praising GOD thee God!!!

God even spoke to Jessi and I that the next time he would go to the doctor he would be completely healed of diabetes!! He even confessed he believed he was healed. How cool!?

PLUS ... the huge crowd around us that all knew the guy... are gonna know that Jesus healed there friend!! Gosh God is good!! His plan is better than any that I could ever think of!!!

A Sacrifice.

Sun, 28 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Here I sit in my room in the Philippines... I sit here knowing that I leave tomorrow and that God will begin a new journey in my heart and teach me so many more things.

I sit here and feel completely moved by God and what he's done in my heart this month... through holding sick orphans, feeding the hungry, touching the untouchable, and more. I step away from these things and feel a liberation in my heart... I've found God in a whole new way, simply because of all these people who showed me God through their joy, happiness, and their poverty.

My heart aches thinking about goodbyes in the hours to come... but for now I sit here and wait... wait on God... and think about the many things He showed me this month.

One of the most cherished things I learned this month is that God wants to be intimate and close to me, in a way that I cannot fathom... and even when I try to fathom it... I feel completely weak with love for Him. I can barely stand when I think about His love for me... I'm constantly moved to my knees... because I know His love is covering me. I feel the weight of His heart upon me. Every second of every day I'm thinking how can I be closer to you Father.. How can I be with you at every second of everyday... I'm hungry for more of you God... so hungry... my very innermost part of me wants MORE. I need More. I can't stand just a little part of you God... I want every part of you. If that means I must sacrifice my life... that would be a worthy cause... because just to know you brings my life its very own completion.

I offer my heart completely to God... and His ways. I offer my life to the crazy situations that He might want to use me for. I offer everything I am ... my soul surrendered... all I am is God's.

So if you're reading this take 10 minutes to get alone with God... fall on your knees... with your heart surrendered to a Father that wants to love you. Gosh guys He's so big... I'm overwhelmed by His love as I type this. He wants you to know that despite your pains... your struggles He is with you always... He will never leave you nor forsake you... He has you, and He wants to love you.

All glory to you Father.

Remembering.

Sun, 21 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Today I was sitting outside listening to God speak... I was asking him about life... and telling him sometimes that I thought it moved to fast, telling him that I'd even forgotten the many blessings he's given me, and allowed me to live through...

So often I think we forget the blessings that God gives us... we should remember them.. because it shows us how amazing, how great, and how much truly bigger He is then we are.

So here goes I wanna remember:

Some of the most memorable moments of my life thus far:

I went skydiving over the royal gorge in Colorado
I've walked along the Great Wall of China
I've hiked Pikes Peak a 14,000 ft mountain (TWICE)
I've been rafting on class 4-5 rapids and watched my dad fall out of the raft
I survived a shooting at New Life Church in Colorado Springs
I danced like I've never danced before in a little dirt church in Mexico finding freedom from my past
I hiked Colorado's sand dunes all the way to the top
I got baptized under a waterfall in Mexico there my joy was restored
I Watched thousands of high schoolers worship the Father at the Desperation Conference in Colorado it was beautiful
I've climbed mayan ruins
I Went on tour around the U.S. sharing God's love
I went on a 5 day backpacking trip in the Rocky Mountains
I've repelled sheer rock faces
Tossed a coin in the Trevi fountain in Rome
Celebrated Christmas in July in Rothenburg Germany
Ran a Marathon 26.2 miles
I biked through Paris, France
I've eaten cow tomach, bulut, raw octopus, chicken feet, silk worms
Taught Hondurans rock, paper, scissors
Survived a week long missions training on 8 hours of sleep

and sooooooooo much more...

I can assure you that life with God is NEVER boring.

Thank you Father for the blessings you give me each passing day.

Be very careful then, how you live not as unwise but as wise making the most of every

opportunity, because the days are evil. Ephesians 5:15-16

I'll Never Forget

Tue, 16 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Have you ever been so moved to tears you thought your heart might burst?! Or have you ever felt even for a single moment that your heart was beating with the very Father heart of God?! I have.

This month I've had the amazing privilege of being a dita (cousin) to 20-30 amazing Filipino children who live at the New Faith Family Orphanage. And while each moment I spend there is a memory I never wanna forget... there's one moment that sticks out even more then the rest.

The night began with Team Seven heading to the orphanage to do devotions with the kids. Upon arrival we found out that one of the volunteers that had been there for a while was leaving and that this would be a time to say goodbye and to spend in worship.

The worship music began playing as the kids ran up to the volunteer giving her big hugs and weeping as they said their goodbyes. My heart ached for the children, another solid person in their life was leaving... I couldn't even imagine what that was like. My teammates and I sat on the floor with the kids and held them as they cried... trying to comfort them the best we could... I remember thinking Father this isn't fair... how is this fair... Who will love them... when no one else is around?! And I remember getting my answer in a very unique way. I dunno how many of you have been in a room with 20 - 30 orphans singing worship and praise to God at the top of their lungs. But it's one of the most powerful things I've ever experienced in my life time.

There in that little room that night, I got my answer... as the little boy in my arms belted out, "Heal my heart and make it clean, open up my eyes to the things unseen, show me how to love like you have loved me." With tears running down his face... he sang out to God with all his might. I knew in that moment how much God loved these kids, and how He watched over them at every second. They were His... He was there only solid thing. That was the answer. It was beautiful.

Brighter Than Sunshine

Wed, 10 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Can you see the LIGHT in their eyes!?

Matthew 5 vs 14 says: You are the light of the world - like a city on a hilltop that cannot be hidden.

What's your struggle?!

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

What's your struggle?!

I was afraid and insecure.

But God helped me overcome.

I was complacent.

But God helped me overcome.

I was overwhelmed.

But God helped me overcome.

I wasn't bold in my walk with Christ.

But HE helped me overcome.

The bible says: we will overcome by the blood of the lamb and the word of our testimony... EVERYONE overcome. God doesn't call some to overcome their problems, vices and addictions. He calls EVERYONE to overcome!!

Revelation 1 vs. 5 says All glory to Him who loves us and has freed us from our sins by shedding his blood for us.

We are FREE. Don't wait to overcome... Give your struggle to Him now!

We've made it to the Philippines!!

Mon, 1 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

We finally arrived in the Philippines after a few long days of traveling which included a stop in Malaysia. For those of you who don't know we are no longer heading to Malaysia for safety reasons but staying in the Philippines instead!!!

Upon arrival in Manila, we found out we'd all be staying in this sweet building with bunk beds, mattresses, cooks, sheets, towels, and more!! I kinda feel spoiled but it's really nice to have a little break from sleeping on the floor!! I'm constantly reminded of God's blessings mmm he's so good!!

Across from the building we are staying in I see hundreds of little shanty houses, and trash everywhere!! Little kids are running barefoot, and roosters are constantly crowing. The market is always bustling and busy. This is my life, I LOVE IT!!

There's a big white orphanage across the street, and God continually puts it on my heart, the kids have already stolen my attention, and captivate me!! Sometimes it's hard for me to sleep because I feel so burdened to pray for them. God has some good things in store for those kids I can already tell!!!

This month my team and I will be spending lots of time getting to know some of the kid's at the orphanage, and doing different ministry's such as feeding flood victims, building houses in the community, passing out vitamins and much more. Pray that my team and I would clearly hear the voice of God speaking to us in these different ministrys, and that God would begin a huge move in this place!!

The Night I Fell Out.

Thu, 25 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Tonight I'm new... completely new. Undignified for Christ, I can dance without chains holding me back, I can sing even if it's off key, I can even fall out in the spirit... WHICH happened tonight!! I'm not exactly sure of everyone's view on this topic but I wanna share part of my experience with you anyway.

I was always the girl who felt the Holy Spirit moving inside of me but resisted him in my life, I knew my heart wanted more of him, but I never really knew how to find him or how exactly to receive him, and to be completely honest with you I was scared to death of what could happen if I truly let the Holy Spirit take over.

Well tonight it happened... the whole N-squad was receiving prayer for more of the Spirit, when I closed my eyes to pray and lifted my hands up in worship, I could already feel the Holy Spirit moving in me, making me feel light and at peace. Then someone came up to me and put their hands near my head... and I guess from friends telling me I started to shake violently and fell to the ground. I actually don't really remember shaking but I still think it's crazy!! God's so cool!!! So anyway, while I was on the ground I was thinking OMYGOODNESS I can't believe I'm on the ground right now, I never thought Id be one of these people... and for the first few minutes I would try to get up and move but the Spirit was so heavy on me I couldn't move!! Then I began to feel like my whole body was twitching and tingling, and a girl on the squad began praying for me and I could feel the Holy Spirit coming off of her, and I began to hysterically laugh, uncontrollably laugh!!! I felt chains being broken, joy being restored, and God telling me that he had his angels singing over me, and that he was going to bring lots of my joy back.

I honestly feel like a new creation... I feel like God's started something completely new in my walk with him. I'm just so in awe of who He is. He's so beautiful, so big, so mighty!! And I'm so in LOVE with Him!!!

So I have no idea where you are in your walk with Christ but I just encourage you to be bold and let the Holy Spirit take over!!!! Trust me, it's the best thing I've ever done!!

Hitch Hikers Guide to Byron Bay

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hitch Hikers Guide to Byron Bay

Here in Byron Bay hitch hiking is a precious commodity, as walking to town is a 50 minute ordeal!!! People are friendly, kind, and lets be honest it's a hippie community, so everyone's all about LOVE.

So when you find yourself stuck in Byron here's the official guide to hitch hiking!!

1. Be Confident.
2. Smile Big but Authentic.
3. Stare the on coming driver right in eyes.

4. Put some sweet stunner sun glasses on.

5. Act Friendly... but normal.

6. Stop what your doing and focus on the task at hand.

7. Put your arm out at chest height.

8. Throw your thumb up as high as it goes.

9. Grab a friend, never go alone.

10. Pray for protection!!

When you successfully hitch a ride, make conversation, find what people are about, what they believe, what they're doing in Byron, get their story!!

It's a blast, It's life here Byron.

So try your luck at hitch hiking, who knows you might be a pro!!

Does She Know?!

Tue, 16 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Does She Know?!

I see her walking down the street... short shorts, hair back, beautiful!!
She's put together, she has it all together.

People watch her as she walks she's the pinnacle of beauty.

They think they see her, know her, can pin point her, figure her out.

But I see sadness, emptiness, fatigue, anxiety.

I see her soul.

Black, Dark, Faded ,Tired.

For so long she's strived for perfection, but fallen short.

For so long she's cried out for help with a timid voice.

Finding no answer, Finding no reply.

Who will help this sad down trodden daughter.

The weight of the world on her shoulders.

Does she know the Man I know?!

The Answer.

The Solution.

He'll hold and take the burdens she feels.

Does she know that she can dance without holding back.

Feel freedom, without shame.

Does she know Him.

God Bring Freedom For the Captives!!

This Present Darkness...

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends...

I have made it safely to Australia and I'm currently living in Byron Bay, Australias most eastern point!!

Byron Bay is a home to travelers and backpackers from all over the world. With it's beautiful sandy beaches, and enormous waves... surfers, hippies, and vacationers come from all over the world to enjoy weeks or even months of fun. The atmosphere is chill with smiling faces, pretty tans, and lots of hippies!! I love it here... I'm intoxicated with the people I meet and casually walk by on the beach.. everyone comes from somewhere... everyone has a story.

The blog that I'm about to write and share isn't an easy one ... but it's what's on my heart, and I feel like it needs to be said.

Rape: The crime of forcing another person to submit to sex acts, especially sexual intercourse. The act of seizing and carrying off by force; abduction. Abusive or improper treatment; violation

Byron Bay captivates my heart... it's beauty leaves me stunned and in awe of God everyday... but what goes on behind closed doors here breaks my heart!!! During the day the beaches host hundreds of people but at night it's a different story. Rape. The act of forcing another person to submit to sex.

A while back my team and I talked to a homeless woman who lives in Byron... with fear in her eyes she told us, "stay away from the beaches at night, women get raped." I could see and feel the fear coming off of her... has this happened to her...did someone hurt her... is she hurting...? I didn't know..

Rape. The act of seizing and carrying off by force; abduction. God I just pray you would bring light to this present darkness...

Byron Bay... some say it's like heaven... I say Byron Bay needs an all knowing, all loving God, who wants to comfort those who've been raped.. hurt... and broken. Byron Bay needs God more then anything. Pray that God would send hope, to the women who've experienced hurt here. Pray God would save Byron Bay ... a present Sodom and Gomorrah.

Rape. Abusive or improper treatment; a violation.

We need you Father.

Oh New Zealand how I love thee!!

Mon, 25 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

January 3, 2010, my team and I packed up all of our belongings and headed to the Los Angeles airport. Destination one... NEW ZEALAND!!

So far life in New Zealand has been pretty easy... I haven't had to see to many heart breaking things or experience a giant amount of brokenness, but as much as I'd like for those things to happen... this month was and is about community!!! You see, my team and I have been working for a Christian camp called Narrows Park. We've been doing mostly manual work such as painting, cleaning, weeding, and building while we are here!!

(Sadly leaving tomorrow)!

And while manuel work might not always be fun.. This month we've been extremely blessed with mattresses, our own kitchen, hot showers, a pool, and ice-cream.. PRAISE GOD!!! (Below are our amazing ministry contacts.. family for life :) and my team.) But because of the comforts that we' ve had I really feel like my team had the chance to get to know one another.. it's been awesome!!! Not always easy but always good!!

One thing I've been constantly reminded about this month is how blessed I am that God put us here... simply because we haven't had to worry about the "little things" and comforts we might be missing out on back home... but instead we get to focus on developing relationships and uniting our team together, Which is such a blessing!!!

God is just SO GOOD and he truly knew what he was doing when he put the 6 of my team mates together!! Each of us.. so different... but every one of us brings something so powerful and unique to the team!!! I've already learned so much from being around them for such a short time!!

The only thing I can even think to do right now is praise the Lord for what he's done and is doing... Praise God for my team and thank him for his many blessings!!! There may be challenges this year but for some reason I know I'm right where God wants me to be!!!

P.S. Dearest New Zealand... I will never forget you.. i'll be back someday!!!

Speak.

Tue, 12 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

If YOU keep quiet at a time like this, deliverance and relief
for the Jews will arise from some other place, but you and your relatives will die.

who knows if perhaps YOU were made queen for such a time as this?!

Esther 4 vs 14

Such a time is this to...

Set the captives free.

Speak up in boldness

Trust in God.

Love a hurting and broken generation.

Hold nothing back.

Then the Lord reached out and touched my mouth and said,
look, I have put my words in your mouth!!

Jeremiah 1 vs. 9

now SPEAK.

Open up your mouth and speak the good news.

He is alive and coming SOON!!

New Zealand!!!

Mon, 4 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Dearest friends and family,

I MADE IT TO NEW ZEALAND TODAY YAY!!!

And so day 1 begins....

We officially arrived in New Zealand this morning around 5 or 6 ish (For those of you who don't know I'm a day ahead of all of you in the States!!) Crazy I know! It's January 5^th here and Ill sadly never get to live January 4^th 2010 as we simply skipped over it on the flight J... New Zealand is absolutely beautiful and it turns out that the place we are staying till Saturday is close to hobbit town in Lord of the Rings... I'm hoping we get to go visit the shire sometime soon!!!

The whole group of racers are staying in a little town called Crystal Springs, Matamata... and it is without a shadow of a doubt one of the most gorgeous places I've been in my life, and the weather is absolutely incredible (hot with a nice breeze)!!!

I'm doing decently well... I'm trying my best to process some crazy emotions!! One second I'm so excited about the adventure that I'm going to head on and the next I'm missing everyone back home!! But that's what this is all about having to rely on God in everything.. And in this very moment I'm having to rely on God to get me through ... While I'm super excited for this journey.. I'm super sad and missing you all so much!! 11 months away from home is so long!!! God get me through!! Right now we have very limited internet access... and unfortunately I'm not able to individually email anyone at this time L But know I will be in touch as soon as I get the chance!!!

For those of you who are prayer warriors... I could really use a prayer.. I'm homesick already and I miss all of you!!! But I'm sending my love hugs and kisses!!

Cast all your anxieties on Father God because he cares for you ... This is a verse that keeps coming to my mind... and sadly I don't remember the reference right now!!! But I hope it encourages you in your walk with Christ... Cast everything... every emotion... happy praise, sad thought, home sick feeling on God!! It's getting me through... I really hope it can get you through too J!!!

Much Love

until my next post

Jessica

Crushing the evil one!

Mon, 30 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dearest my amazing friends and family :),

I hope this blog finds you well...

The past few days have been extremely hard for me, satan has been attacking me non stop!! He's been bringing up my past, and reminding me that it's so easy to fall back into the sin I once inhabited!!! I found freedom from an eating disorder three years a go, and all of the sudden I found myself in the midst of it once again!!! Insecurity, and hatred towards myself plagued me!!! Needless to say I cried a lot haha!!!

But 2 days a go God sent me an "angel"... she's not a real angel but I know that God sent her to me because she came at just the right time!!! She works with missionaries and assured me that Satan would be attacking me more then ever as I got ready for the trip!! She prayed fiercly for me... and I found relief from the schemes of the evil one!!!

Now, I'm not one to let Satan stick my head in the mud and bury me.... I think we all need to come together whether your going on the race or just supporting me.... we need to fight harder for the countries my teamates and I are going to and fight for our freedom now!!! SATAN IS UNDER FEET.... lets put him there!!!!

So starting December 1.... I wanted to invite you guys to fast for 11 days... focusing on a country each day!!! I believe this would truly shake the gates of hell!!!!!

Not only would we fight for the countries we would go to... but we'd fight for the battles going on in eachothers lives!!! I LOVE YOU GUYS!!!! And I pray with everything in me that God is working in you even now!!!

Lots of LOVE and blessings!!!

May the God of peace be with you!!!

Training Camp... Healed!!!

Tue, 27 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Dear Friends and Family ...

It's what you've all been anxiously waiting for ... my Training Camp BLOG!! YAY!! :)!

For me, the past 10 days have been every kind of emotion a person could ever feel!! I've been happy, sad, nervous, excited... but most of all anxious with anticipation!! What would God do in me?! Who would I meet?! Would I actually wanna do the race after this camp!? These thoughts plagued my mind, and left me overwhelmed. Thankfully so, camp was an incredible experience in which I truly met God... and survived not mention :)!!! However, I can't say that it was all easy, and that there wasn't brokenness... because there definitely was!! But I tell you this, I found freedom like I never had before, and even better, I found God like I never knew him before! He's all I need, all I want, my everything, and I would give everything to serve him!!

One of my favorite memories from training camp went like this ..... !

It was the second or third night of training camp and our director had just finished speaking to us, after he spoke we were asked to seek prayer if we needed freedom, and I had wanted to receive freedom from fear for such a long time, so I took this opportunity and I asked for prayer... all the while the right side of my back was in excruciating pain (I've had an offset rib that tended to bother me for a few years). I remember thinking God if you really speak and are moving in our generation today, have someone pray for my back!! So I sat down after I was prayed for and I began to write in my journal, I titled the journal entry Healing... little did I know what was coming!! My entry talked about how I felt I was free from fear and that I no longer had to walk in a spirit of timidity but one of boldness. Anyway right in the middle of me journaling an alumni walked up to the front of the stage and said that he was having a terrible pain in the right side of his back and that he believed God was telling him to pray for whoever else was having this pain. I hesitated ... but went up despite all the thoughts in my mind telling me not to. That night I truly 100 percent believe that after receiving prayer my back was healed. I haven't had any pain since, God is so good!! He's still healing today!!

Matthew 10 vs. 8 says: Heal the sick, raise the dead, cleanse those who have leprosy,drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give.

Lets walk it out in faith...

Expectations of my Mission Trip

Thu, 30 Jul 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We were asked to write a blog about how we felt before leaving on this mission trip. Here is what I'm expecting...

I'm expecting:

to be really home sick
to miss my favorite foods
to grow a ton spiritually, physically, and emotionally!
to fall in love with people all over the world
to have my heart broken for hurting people
to want to return to many of the places
for it to be hard
to make amazing new friends
to eat yucky food and not fully enjoy it :) haha
to not take showers, and feel gross lots of the time
to feel uncomfortable
to be really excited to go somewhere new but sad to leave people I've met
to be fully broken
to see miracles
for God to move in me like never before
to have the best time of my life!!

I'm expecting a whole lot from this trip, and believing that God is bigger then any of my expectations, and that he will do what he wants through me :) !! My prayer is that he'd use me to my fullest :)!!