Encouragement - “thank you” to everyone that has mailed me a letter, sent me a message on facebook, sent me a video through facebook, or left me little comment on my wall on facebook (yea for facebook). It’s great to receive it from you and it’s wayyy encouraging! Merci!
Food - every other week I go to Beth’s house to cook two or three gluten free meals. It’s fun to experiment with new recipes. It will be nice when I am able to have everything available in my own kitchen (nothing against your kitchen Beth).
French - learning the French language is coming along. I can understand pretty much everything!!!! Yea! It’s a lot more fun being with french people when you can understand what is going on around you. Speaking is a lot harder for me, but it is coming ... slowly but surely. We still go to french services Sunday morning, french chapel, french bible class Wednesday afternoon, and a french “small group” with our french church. Oh, and did I mention that we LIVE with french people, eat with french people? To sum this french section up - there is lots of french here. And to clarify that sentence - lots of french is good!
Dwight - I love, love, love being with Dwight. We usually go out once a week to our favorite coffee place and just talk for awhile. It’s a joy being part of his life and learning more about him. In 74 days I am going to marry Dwight and I cannot wait! I am absolutely in love with you Dwight.
“Christian Direction” - Last month Dwight and I met with Glenn Smith and his wife. Talking with them we decided that Dwight and I would like to work with Christian Direction. From there we started filling out applications. Then, this past week we had our first interview with them. As far as we can tell, we are “in” without being “officially in.” Really exciting, it’s great to see God open that door for us!
Acts29 - Acts29 is a network that helps with church plants (Mark Driscoll is the founder). Dwight and I would love to work with Acts29 in the future. Jesus opened a crazy door for us this past week: (to make a longer story shorter...) Dwight heard about a boot camp with Acts29 in Seattle in March and so connected with Geoff Wright and Mark Gedicks and they started making plans for Geoff and Dwight to go. Geoff got a job Friday morning (woop!) so he was no longer able to go. However Mark thought I should go with Dwight since Geoff couldn’t. We kept making plans and this past Sunday Dwight’s home church, Windham, took an offering for Dwight and I to go to Seattle. Our God is amazing - yet another door open! He used the people of Windham church to bless Dwight and I!!! We won’t have to pay a cent to go to the boot camp with Acts29. Amazing. March 7 we will fly to Seattle and we will return March 11!
House - Dwight and I have an “apartment” to live in this summer while we are in Maine! A couple from his church have a house with an apartment in the back of it. We won’t have to sign a release (which is great because we don’t know for sure how long we are going to need to stay there). Once again, another open door, another way people are blessing us, another incredible thing! Oh, and did I mention that it is super close to the ocean!?!
Wedding - wedding plans are coming along great! It is not as fun having to plan a wedding super far away, but I have amazing family and friends back at home helping me out. All the clothes for the wedding party are set, flowers are decided, cakes are decided, decorations are set, our rings are set, we’re in the process of working on ceremony details, and most of all - Dwight and I are WAY ready! 74, 74, 74 days!
Visit - I am going to have visitors here in Sherbrooke! Yes, that is right, visitors. I just found out last week that my parents are going to come visit for a whole weekend!!! (I know I think they are crazy too!) I am so excited!!!
Gym - yes, you read that right, “gym.” Dwight and I have been going to the gym since Christmas. We try to go at least 4 or 5 times each week. Most of the days I love it and most of the days my knee/foot doesn’t hurt me. (Favorite part - listening to Mark Driscoll’s sermons while I work out.)
Grace - I am learning so much about the grace of Jesus. “It was grace that brought us safe this far, and grace will lead us home!”
“We must delight in God. And only God can change our hearts so that we delight in God. We are thrown back on God utterly. The Christian life is all of grace” (John Piper).
Keep on keeping on!
Know that you are prayed for and missed and loved.
Longing to be “a rock that doesn’t roll.”
- Jess
