Digging In...

Hello Again!

 Wanted to give you all an update. Life is just lovely here...been perfect weather and more than that, we've been building our relationships with others more and more. We are trying REALLY hard not to fall too much in love, as we do have to go home to AL. But if God opened up a door for us here, I can't say we would jump on it (if God told us to that is!) If God told us to go anywhere in the world we would. That's definitely been solidified in me since being here... wherever in the world God sends us, we will be surrounded by family (bros and sis in Christ) and he WILL provide for us. We've said before, God has eliminated that "gap" of fear for us when it comes to new places and insecure circumstances. This time has only solidified that even more.

Jonathan is at "Man's Camp" right now about 4 hours away at Pandori Dam...having the time of his life rolling in mud, grilling on cinder blocks, and not bathing. I'll take my cup of coffee, homemade honey oat bars and time to do my nails any time! BUT there are several teen and young adult guys there that Jonathan has been building relatioship with. I'm excited to see how God opens up deeper conversation and opportunity to speak life and truth into them while he is gone. No better time for digging in to someone's life than around a campfire!

This coming week is going to be packed full. We have a presentation with City Women called "What's Happening to Our Girls" on Thursday. This will present the horrible and sickening effect that our culture has had on girls in Toowoomba and the world at large. Addiction, depression, abortion, drop-out, STD's, plastic body parts...its what our world teaches women to be. City Women (particularly Bella programs) seek to be a counter-cultural force, restoring value, worth, and the understanding of TRUE BEAUTY to these hurting girls. It's such a privilege to be working with Bella Chicks (a youth group for these girls meeting at the local movie theater), Bella Magazine (a magazine seeking to counter the horrible stuff found in things like Cosmo), and others to bring Jesus love, acceptance, and truth to these girls. In March I will be going to Bella Camp as a leader. There will be 25 girls who deal and face such issues as mentioned above. I have been asked to give me testimony of depression and anorexia at Bella Camp, and I can't wait to see how God uses it! Please pray for me and for the girls..that I could dig in to lives that they would be changed eternally. This Friday I will be going to a local school to be on a Q&A panel for teen pregnancy and STDs. High School girls will be asking questions all about these issues, and I will get the chance to make a lasting impression on girls that could be at a pivotal point of decision about the direction of their life.

Jonathan is still doing an amazing job with Easterfest...learning ALL ABOUT what it takes to put on such an event. So far we've sold around 120,000 tickets and expecting thousands more. It will be an awesome awesome event celebrating the Easter message...incense rising all over the city! Jonathan has mentioned half joking half not joking about applying to be CEO of Easterfest (the current CEO is leaving after this year). At first I was like "what in the world?? NO WAY are we qualified for that!!" But who am I to say what God has and hasn't qualified us for. I support my husband in whatever God tells him to do. It's so refreshing to follow....

I've mentioned before that we are helping with the church's youth group. Last night was an "all girls" night, and it was just awesome. At one point the leaders presented each girl with a special card telling them a character quality that is admirable in them. You could see the power of "words of life" spoken over those girls. It's so important to speak life over people...especially teens...for some of those girls it could have been the first time in a LONG time someone encouraged them personally. All the youth have attached to us...I think its the accent personally haha! However, at least one girls last night wasn't so attached...she pulled the chair out from under me only to discover four bleeding scrapes down my spine. Bless her heart, so was so embarrassed and upset later. What a great time to tell her she is loved :)  It does hurt a little though....

Finally, I did want to mention quickly about the flood situation here. While it has lost news coverage now, the impact from the floods here in Toowoomba were DEVASTATING! Hundreds are living in tents on their once thriving farm land...owning nothing but their pride. The city and church (as in body of Christ) has rallied so much to help, but there is such anger, bitterness, despair, and deprivation that has engulfed so many of the flood victims. Please continue your prayers for the recovery here. While some have been open to help from the church, others are just angry at God and man.

If I'm failing to write about some major point of interest for you, please shoot us an email or comment! We'd love love LOVE to hear from you there....

Family Shout Out: I miss my momma :) I love you mom!!

Blessings