Would you like a 16 or 20 ounce?

This question is probably the most common phrase to escape from my lips these days. But working at the Aloha Cafe on the U of N campus in Kona has been quite a good fit for me. I really do love my job! Not only do I work in a place on campus where people like to go, but I also I get to work with two great Swiss girls, Diana and Sarah. We have a lot of fun together, and listen to good music at the same time!

Working in the cafe is an opportunity for me to serve the people here. I also love the opportunity to connect with many people I've never met before. Many staff and students, as well as visitors, come into our little cafe for meetings, use it as a spot for a quiet time, or just a place to hang out with friends. It's really special. Plus, I get to use an espresso machine and an incredible blender *and* I smell like Kona coffee constantly.

Well, just thought I'd update you with how I feel about the Aloha Cafe!

Goodnight.
-j

Engagement Party of the Century

This was such a special night for John and me! Thank you to all of you who were a part of this great celebration. We love you!
Jeff and Beth, you are SO good to us!

It's been a while...

Hi! I'm back!

It really has been a while since I've added anything here. Sorry!

Well, I'm in Kona, Hawaii now. But before getting out here to work with YWAM again, a few fun things happened. John and I got engaged! I was in England for a couple weeks in May, and John was there for a month to visit his family. We had a great time together, and then I came home with an engagement ring. That was pretty incredible.

While I was home, from April through June, I also started substitute teaching again. That was really, really fun. I know that teaching is something the Lord has given me a passion for- it is a blessing when I get to be in the classroom. Although I'm not currently teaching out here, I'm going to look into the possibility of subbing in Kona.

Well, just a mini-update will have to do for now. I'll be better, though, about keeping this Blog updated!

Love you all!
-j

I love my staff!

This is the staff I've been working with in Kona!

(A break-down of all the staff in the top photo)
Samuel-from Finland, and one of my good friends from DTS last year
Kelsey-one of my beloved roomies, from Oregon
John (whom I like to call "Juan")-personally, my favorite staff member (but don't tell anyone)
Jenni- straight from San Jose, California
Clint-from Texas (but born in Indonesia!), who often goes on 6 mile runs with Juan
Jo-our other "Brit" and another dearly-loved roommate
Mo-born in Mali, Africa now from Seattle, Washington (and another good buddy from my DTS last fall)
Cliff-Kelsey's big brother and an aspiring entrepreneur
Cynthia-our Native-American-blooded sister from the Western side of the USA (various states including Arizona and California)

Last weekend, the YWAM base had a staff "Love Feast", which was a special dinner held in honor of all the people that work on campus...I think over 300 people were there! It was incredible. Of course, we like to take advantage of any opportunity to get dressed up, gussied up, done up, or decked out...and this night was no exception. For this particular occasion, John and I went for a retro theme, while others chose more modern attire for the evening. We ate delicious food, had thoughtful attention from students (who had volunteered their time to make the evening happen), and also got to do some dancing. Honestly, we could not have asked for a better way to be blessed as a staff. Have fun looking at the pictures!

Love you all so so so very much...

Send me

Tonight was so significant to me. God is definitely calling me to step beyond what I think is possible, and actually mean it when I say "Here am I! Send me," (Isaiah 6:8). We had our Thursday Night gathering tonight, a weekly time when everyone from campus gets together for worship and also to listen to a speaker.

Tonight we had the privilege of hearing from a woman named Susi Childers. Her message to us was so profound, yet so simple, and it really made me think. She challenged us with a story about a group of people being changed by the influence of one person, and reminded us that God is using ordinary people to change the world. There is so much hurt and destruction in the world; am I willing to be sent to those places? Will God be able to use me?

Susi and her husband, Paul, are part of a ministry called Voice for the Voiceless. She has a tremendous gift for photography, and travels around the world to take photos of people. She's got an amazing ability to capture the deepest emotions in her subjects, and she uses the photos to give a voice to those who are voiceless. This is a little blurb from her bio:

"I love people, not just taking their pictures, but spending time with them. I'm not an evangelist but I use my camera to approach people. I'd spend two or three hours with one person and I'd hear their stories and that was the part that changed my life. There are so many people out there who are suffering and nobody knows about it. That's why we call this whole ministry a Voice for the Voiceless. I believe that's what God called me to be, to use my photography to speak out for those who cannot speak for themselves."

If you have a minute, you can explore this website a little bit. I'm trying to track down a more recent site for the Voice for the Voiceless, but haven't found it yet. But go here for now:

http://www.ywamconnect.com/sites/childers/a%20voice%20for%20the%20voiceless

I love you all. Blessings to you!
-j

Waipio Valley on a Quad

Just a couple pictures from an ATV adventure in Waipio Valley. I know you might not believe it, but I went 4-wheeling, along with Johnny, my Aunt Jeanie, Uncle Mike, cousin Scott, and his girlfriend Allie. I pretty much think that if 4-wheeling was an olympic event, I'd be getting the gold medal at the next Olympic Games. Johnny would probably get gold for the men's division, but Uncle Mike would give him some fierce competition. We also swam in a frigidly cold waterfall. Seriously, don't mess with us.

Swing

So, tonight, John and I just took our first dance class together. There is a married couple on base, Rebecca and Gabriel, who are teaching a six-week Swing class. I'll admit, I am a little uncoordinated, but I had such a great time it didn't even matter. Something that was so unusual to me about the class: there were more guys there than girls! That's right...the ladies were totally outnumbered. I guess the class they teach on Monday night has the opposite problem...too many girls and not enough guys. For me, it's fun to have fewer girls because then there's more opporunities for me to dance and get good practice. Instead of Johnny and I dancing together the whole night, everyone in the class rotates so we develop as versatile dancers. Our teachers, Rebecca and Gabriel, are so great and very patient with us. I'll keep you posted on how our Swing-dancing-skills progress.
Goodnight everyone!
Love,
-j

back-to-school

Even though it's my second time around, I'm getting so much out of what's being taught...I feel like I'm a DTS student again. I'm learning so much from our speaker (who was actually a speaker during my DTS last year). David Bryan, who is teaching us about spiritual warfare, has been sharing radical testimonies with the class this week, and backing up what he says with truth from the Bible as well. It has been increasing my faith, but also challenging me to really take a second look at what I believe. Do I really believe that, with God, all things are possible? Really? ALL things? Can people with physical sickness, like cancer or diabetes, be healed in the name of Jesus? Can people be raised from the dead? Are unexplainable miracles happening today? Yep, with God all things are possible. It is so incredible. For so long, I have put my own limitations on God, without realizing it. My concept of God has been so small, and so minimizing. He is capable of all things. He is also loving. I want to keep me eyes open to see His miracles, but I also want to be a part of them. Think about that: God wants to give us a part in His miracles. That blows my mind! I hope those of you that actually read this little Blog are also presently being blown away by the unexplainable power and love that God has. Be blessed as you ponder these back-to-school thoughts I'm having!
Goodnight!