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Wednesday, July 26, 2006

Hello all and what\'s the crack? (N. Irish slang for \'what\'s up\')
I\'m in Ballymoney now and working in a drop in center with my Summer Serve team. Basically we\'re putting on programs with games, testimonies and dramas and hanging out with the kids each afternoon/evening from 3 to 10 p.m.
The teens here are great! We\'re having a blast with them and they seem to be warming up to us pretty quickly.
Please pray that God would stir in their hearts and that we could communicate the gospel even more with them. They\'ve had many Summer Serve teams here in the past and we hope it will be a time of harvest.
Secondly, pray for continued unity within our team. We\'re all getting along fantastically and everyone seems to bring something unique and wonderful to the group. Pray for God\'s hedge of protection over us.
Lastly, please pray for my allergies. I don\'t have them back home, but I\'ve had a pretty bad case of hay fever while I\'ve been here. A friend has given me Claritin, but now I have to wear my glasses which is a bit awkward. Pray for God\'s healing.
See you in a few weeks!

Thursday, July 13, 2006

Beyond

I want to know strength in weakness
Of victory in the midst of seeming defeat.
I want to know rejection's sweet reality-
His Words sticking to the wounds and
Stinging the pride that tries to fill the emptiness.
I want to know love in its depth
Clarity in confusion
And trust despite the unknown.

Take me beyond this skin,
Til I can trust in myself no more.
Wake me out of this earthly slumber,
Cleansed down to the core.
For I am nothing without your strength
Though I'm everything in this world.
I am just a shell of your appearance
Your creation unfurled.
-j.p.-

LADIES' NIGHT JULY 2006


Tia and Me at Cosmic Bowling
Say "hello" and "welcome" to the newest member of our Vineyard Family- Miss Tia from N.Y.! She'll be helping out with the teens and I'm sooooo excited!





"Peace" Northern Ireland-style :)

Susie, Hannah and DD


Tia gets a Strike!!!!


DD contemplates "strike" strategy with Hannah

Getting ready to use the strategy.....

Yes, as you can tell, our group of five girls had a FABULOUS time for Ladies' night. First, we hit Applebees and scored a free appetizer (for being charming, of course!) and knocked out appetizers, a few drinks, entrees and even a dessert! Then it was off to Starbucks to chill until our late-night date with Cosmic Bowling at AMF in Chandler.

It was a very late night filled with "Baby Got Back" requests, sing-alongs to a popular Queen song and of course, who can forget that time DD tossed the bowling ball backwards? (don't worry, it happens to the best of us!)

Lots of our wonderful ladies from group were missing, but still, we had an awesome time! We'll plan to do this at least every few months.

Welcome, Tia! You're one of us now! :)

Later people, I'm off to Northern Ireland...

PEACE out- (guess what sign I'm using!)

Wednesday, July 12, 2006

The countdown continues!
Less than five days until we leave for Northern Ireland, can you believe it?
For whatever reason, it still hasn't completely sunk in that we'll be there in just a few days and scattered all over the country. Sure, my bag is packed (c'mon, you know me!) and I've been doing my journal entries in my notebook and praying like crazy, but it's still not reality. I suppose it won't be realized until we're touching down in Belfast. I'm pretty sure Harry and Rhyss are going to meet us there (Rhyss mentioned he missed my chocolate chip cookies--so I guess I'm baking on Saturday!).
Though it will be hard to be separated from Obadiah for 2 weeks, I'm not worried or dreading it, quite honestly. I know that God uses those times especially to grow us because it takes away any possibility of dependency on others we normally seek for comfort.
I'm not sure what my abilities will be or how effective I will be about communicating the Gospel, but I continue to pray that God will just breathe on me, and breathe into me the words he wants those I come in contact with to hear.
All I can do is be obedient and step out in faith. I'm realizing that more and more each day with each action I take in that regard. It's hard to put yourself out there sometimes, but I truly hope this trip will create more of a boldness in me to share my beliefs even with those who seem opposed to listening.
Anyway pray for us! We'll be gone for a while!