What's been happening in our lives~

In May we traveled to Malibu to attend the Pepperdine Lectureships. We attended classes and were encouraged by our brothers and sisters in Christ. We also reconnected with good friends.

In June we traveled to Washington to visit Jewel's family. We spent a week hanging out with her brother and his family and their dad. Jewel's dad retired from commercial fishing in March. So, we spent some time helping him with his new hobby~ gardening. We were inspired to someday start our own organic "farm" in order to help those in the church and in the community. And if we're able to increase our income in this way, then we're excited for that as a bonus, too!

We also got to spend some time with other married couples in the church for a weekend. We spent some time encouraging each other and building relationships.

In July, we stayed around the area spending time looking for our own place. We were staying with Steve's parents. So, thankfully, so friends connected us with a lady just outside of Grass Valley and we moved into our new apartment August 1. It's a small studio apartment, but it's within our budget and our landlady is a blessing!

August we celebrated Steve's dad's birthday and Steve's niece's birthday. We had a good time celebrating life with Steve's family.

It's now September. Jewel had her 33rd birthday. Or rather she celebrated her 21st birthday for the 12th time. :) And we'll soon celebrate Steve's mom's birthday this week.

In that time Steve's been teaching the high school class on Sunday mornings. Jewel was co-facilitating the Wednesday night gals' class as well as working at a boy's group home. Steve is still teaching, Wednesday night classes have been postponed for the time being and Jewel has since quit her job and found a new one. Jewel's job was very stressful and taking a toll on her emotional and physical health. So, God has since blessed her with another job for the time being. It's only seasonal, but it's something with less stress and pays about the same.

In all of this, these last few months we have been walking by faith. Some days it seemed hard. Ok, most days it was hard. But throughout all of the difficulties, we were reminded by friends how God is faithful and never gives us more than we can handle. So, we continued to walk by faith and God still stays faithful.

...Under the Sun

Solomon said there was nothing new under the sun. He concluded Ecclesiastes with

"Fear God and keep his commandments,
for this is the duty of all mankind.

For God will bring every deed into judgment,

including every hidden thing,
whether it is good or evil."

But not everything is meaningless, although these last several months have been hard for me (Jewel), I still serve a good God. Since losing most of our support last year, I got a job. I finally got a full time job working as a type of caregiver for teen boys who have experienced some emotional and/or physical trauma that requires some mental health care. It's been mostly a stressful job with some rewarding conversations about Jesus, salvation and baptism. But I think the time has come to find another job. The stress that comes with this job has taken an affect on my health. I've put in a position transfer request at my work, but I think I just need to find a new place to work. I know the boys need Jesus, and I've had those conversations with them.... I just think I am not in a place myself to give to these boys when I need to be taking care of my own emotional health first. If I'm not healthy, then how can I truly help others who need it? (Thanks to my sister for reminding me of that and thank, Miss Betty for sharing that with the ladies you teach and mentor)

So, what's not healthy about me? I've been struggling with my self-esteem and depression for a while. Basically, attacks from Satan. It seems like in January there was just major disappointment after major disappointment--you know, culture shock. And not feeling connected to the church didn't help. Since having actually moved to Grass Valley, I'm feeling a bit more connected now that we're closer in physical proximity.

So, what about West Coast Missions? Well, we didn't start our first class this fall. We really need another family/couple to move here to be a part of this ministry. It's just too much for us and the Hooper's to take on. So, WCM is on hold until we can get some more people out here to help us. We've thought about moving forward with just the 2 families, but we believe it's the wiser decision to wait until we have the necessary people to be in this with us so we don't overwork ourselves. So, we've been praying that things will "fall into place" so that we can have a class next year. We do have students interested in WCM, but we want to be able to give them the best of ourselves and give out of the overflow rather than overworking ourselves.

So, in the meantime Steve has been preaching when needed and he also teaches the youth on Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings. I've been helping teach on Wednesday nights, but that's going to be put on hold since not many people have been coming on Wednesdays and with the days getting shorter, even less people come.

Steve and I have been reading through the Book of Romans together each week and being reminded of God's grace and love and how we can apply those scriptures and principles to our lives. I miss being fully involved in ministry like we were with AIM, but I know that the Lord has plans for us and that each difficulty and joy that we go through will be a blessing to us and a benefit to others. Thank you for being a blessing to us through your words of encouragement, your financial support and more importantly through your prayers to God on our behalf. This ministry wouldn't be possible without your help (and of course, without God!)

PRAYER REQUESTS:

• For a new/different job for Jewel
• Jewel's emotional health
• For a fixer-upper house to buy
• SUPPORT!
• A family/couple to join the West Coast Missions team

Light Shining in Darkness

“You are the light of the world. A town built on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. In the same way, let your light shine before others, that they may see your good deeds and glorify your Father in heaven.

~Jesus

Matthew 5:14-16

What kinds of good deeds to you do that are different than those around you?

I (Jewel) recently got a job working at a boys' home for at risk boys ages 11-17 (to supplement our income since we don't have much support right now). The boys I work with are 11-13 years old. To qualify to be a resident there, each boy has to be diagnosed as Severe Emotional Disturbed (usually as a result of some trauma/abuse they experienced earlier in life). There are generally secondary diagnoses that the boy also has (ADD, and/or Conduct Disorder, etc) and the therapist and staff work with the boy to remove those filters and modify his way of thinking to modify his behavior (aka character building). All of these disorder diagnoses are things that can be eventually eliminated to where the boy can be "normal" (whatever that is).

The goal of the home is to help the boy modify his behavior so he can be reunified with his family (if that's the best and safest option for the child) so that he can be "successful" in the world--that is, behave according to societal norms.

The hardest part for me isn't hearing them swear, watching them have meltdowns (tantrums) or even telling me they hate me when they have to do something they don't like. It's hard to be angry with a child who's been put through some things that no one should ever have to experience--ever. The hardest part is knowing that an adult hurt them and forced them to create unhealthy coping and defense mechanisms just to survive.

The other hard part is trying to be Jesus to them. Most of the other staff are kind and very helpful for the kids in being positive and yet firm when needed.

But sometimes it's hard to be a light in a dark world. But I press on and let it shine.

But what makes me different from the other staff? I want to show the kids that I am different because of what Jesus did for me. One kid I've gotten to know just got out of juvenile hall. I can't tell you much because of confidentiality laws. But what I can tell you is that he is a good kid. He's smart. He's fun. And he's just a kid.

But a kid that needs Jesus, too. A kid that needs to know he has a Savior who will never abandon him, who will always love him and who will always accept him back. For this kid, Jesus came. For this boy, Jesus lived. And for someone's son, Jesus died. And I want this young man to know that.

So while other staff are setting the lines and boundaries (which are needed)...I am giving him affirmation and positive feedback. And just having fun with him. (He told me twice that "I'm cool" and I believe it's because I love him and treat him with respect--like Jesus would.) Oh, I get to give the instructions and tell them to stop doing things, too. I set limits and boundaries. But I do it in a firm and loving way.

I love that at least for a time while they're working on their program to get out of there.... they do get to be kids. And I am blessed to be apart of their lives to make a difference.

So, how do I let my light shine?

I smile. I tell cheesy jokes. I show them respect. I listen. I seek to understand. I show them that I get excited about little things. (I did get excited the other day because we ate burgers and french fries for dinner one night.) I'm trying to help them see the positive and focus on the good.

But it's not about me. It's about what God is doing through me to reach them.

These boys have had it rough. It's been hard for them to enjoy life, even at the group home. So, my goal is to show them how they can enjoy life despite the non-fun things they have to do (becaus we usually have to do it with them--like clean, chores, etc). I want to help them see from a different perspective and to tell them about our God who loves them and even though they went through some awful stuff, our God is the Father that they have never had. That our Jesus is the best brother ever!

And that no matter what we've done- we are forgiven. And that no matter what we've been through, our God and Father loves us and will never leave us. I can't wait for the day I get to verbalize that to them. For now, I have to show it in action. And I hope and pray it opens more doors to discuss this with them.

My "goal" is to give them a reason to hope (1 Peter 3:15), to let my gentleness be evident (Philippians 4) and to share the joy of life with them. And to share how wonderful and awesome our God is!

Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Roman 12:12

Rejoice always, pray continually, give thanks in all circumstances; for this is God’s will for you in Christ Jesus.

I Thess. 5:16-18