Jehovah-Jireh

So...
I meant to post a while ago but keep completely forgetting!

These past couple weeks have been great.
I’ll do my best to quickly catch you up.

Four weekends ago I had some friends come here to OMS to attend a small missions conference. I was SO happy to see them even tho I had only been here for two weeks. That same weekend is when I started hanging out with my new friend Sarah. Ever since then, her and I slowly started hanging out more and more, and we hang out basically everyday now. No joke! I really appreciate her. HA

The weekend after that, I was in Columbus, Ohio to attend the Simply Youth Ministry Conference. It was such a good weekend! God blessed me in so many ways. I was able to see some of the youth leadership team from NJ, and it reminded how thankful I am to have them in my life. I love them so much. 

The girls.

The guys.

I also got to see Rich who was a summer intern at SUMC in 2012. He is like a brother to me, so to see him at the conference was so awesome! I almost forgot how cool he is!

We got to eat at BD's, which is a very rare thing in Jersey.

So fun to watch.

During the conference, I took an 8 hour training called Building a Ministry that Builds Disciples with Duffy Robbins who is a professor at Eastern University. The guy is SO funny. Like seriously hilarious. I almost wish I were him... The group of people I sat with during the training were great too. We had some good conversations before and after the sessions, and I thoroughly enjoyed the atmosphere during training. Overall, that weekend was amazing. My face never hurt so much from laughing so hard.

We ate at Buca di Beppo. It's a family style restaurant, but the pictures on the walls did not reflect that...

And we celebrated Tanya's birthday! So glad I could be there with her for that!

Ray trying to win a prize during the pre-session games.

Of course he got the whole thing. There was about 10 book, a huge frog and a football all wrapped up in that saran wrap.

Skit Guys.

"Would You Rather..." One of the many reasons why I love SYMC.

He's so pretty.

The conference ended on Monday, so I made my way home (only a three hour drive!). Then Tuesday I started some training at OMS. The training was put on by Medical Ambassadors, or CHE (Community Health Evangelism). I wasn’t quite sure what to expect from the training. I had absolutely no idea. I tried looking up what it was and couldn’t find much about it.
When I got to the training on Tuesday (I missed the training on Monday), I learned some of the basics about what CHE is. Throughout the week, I slowly fell in love with the “CHE method.” I feel like it’s training every missionary, or even Christian should have. It’s basically about figuring out the root beliefs of those in whatever community you’re working in, development in the community, evangelism, community ownership, and teaching health. The training was from 8 - 5:15ish everyday with a couple of short breaks. I’m pretty sure I took more notes in this training than I did in my 4 years of college. I didn’t want to miss or forget anything! The concepts taught will also be great to use within Hope61, which was one of the reasons Tonya and I went. 

This past friday night, we had “Crock Pot and Craft Night” which happens once a month at OMS. This was my second time going, and I actually did a craft this time! I painted some sun catchers to hang on my window.

They're obviously not on my window yet.

Afterwards, a couple of us went to a family’s house here on campus to roast some marshmallows. However, I didn’t partake in the festivities. I just watched.

I know. I’m boring.

The smell of the fire totally reminded me of home and times with my family and friends. Fire has so many memories.

Saturday morning, I went to a local park with my neighbor, her friend Jordan, and Sarah. We walked around the trails, laughed, got kind of lost, Sarah sang, and then somehow found our way back. Then we played on the playground, which I enjoyed way more than the trail somehow. I love pretending to be a kid.

I also went to some outlets about a half hour away. It was really nice, but way to expensive for me. They’re not like the outlets in Lancaster that’s for sure! But I did buy some Neapolitan popcorn and chocolate covered potato chips, so it was worth it! Then later Saturday night a couple of us went to a fast food place called Culver’s. I’m still trying to get over the fact that there are so many more fast food burger places than just Burger King, McDonald’s, and Wendy’s.

On Sunday after church, a couple of us went to get some frozen yogurt and then we watched frozen (how fitting?). I saw half of the movie, because I was too busy being kissed by Paul.

Oh yeah..Paul’s my new boyfriend.
He’s 4.
We’re getting married.

The past two weeks at work have been fun. I’m finally working on some Hope61 stuff in the communications department. I’m currently working on a book that is at a very low reading level that raises awareness about human trafficking, and also tells about how much God loves us. The book (only about 6 pages) will be used in other countries (directed more towards children) so it must also be easily translatable. There will be a ton of pictures in it just in case children cannot read very well and have no one to help them. Hopefully, the pictures will be able to help them understand what the book is saying. 

After the CHE training was just about finished, the facilitator, Galen, decided we would all take communion together. He went on to say that the next time we'll all be in the same room together again, will be when we're in heaven. It was kind of emotional, but a great reminder. Then I started thinking about how I've made some great friends here, who don't want me to leave  (I don't really want to leave either) but I have to at some point. I've also been thinking about all the wonderful people I've met here at OMS who have surrendered and dedicated their lives to Christ, and have story after story of how God has worked thru them. It's crazy to think that one day we'll all be in heaven together again. Even if I leave OMS and never come back, I will still see all these amazing people. Or even if I never went back to Jersey ever again, I'll be able to see all my mentors, friends, and youth co-leaders again, and thankfully, most of my family. It's an awesome thing to remember! It's a great reminder of just how short this life is and to make the most of it so you can see more of your friends in heaven with you. 

That is the only thing that lasts beyond this life anyway.
Plus, sharing the joy of Christ with others is just fun.

In conclusion, I have been really enjoying my time here. 
God has provided for me in so many ways this past month that go far beyond friendships.

 
Thanks so much for all your support.
I wouldn't be here without you, and I thank God for you!

I will forever be grateful for His faithfulness and love.