Happily ever after...

Happily ever after...

Tuesday, August 9, 2011

...I'M BACK!

Hello all my faithful friends,
Here I am (again) after another umpteen months of not being a faithful blogger! I owe you all a big ...SORRY! Ever since I've been back I have been travelling here there and everywhere! Next stop? But of course, Michigan!!! As you all know, I'm OVERJOYED to say I'm a "HAPPILY ENGAGED" women, so that's why I'm heading back to Michigan where my "prince" resides! After that, my next stop shall be Missouri, where I will be visiting my sisters. I believe I will be "quite" busy, from working on wedding plans to trying to visit all my friends and family. I hope to have all of this accomplished before the next "exciting" chapter in my life begins!!! So, that's the "microwavable" version of my blog update in a nutshell! Stay tuned and hopefully I won't be so laaate until my next update! =) 

Love you all! Your friend, acquaintance, family, etc ~Jessica

Sunday, June 5, 2011

hola amigos!!

Hello again!

I saw my last update was in February! Wow! I guess I skipped a whole month! Well, May was a bit crazy busy anyway so I have a good excuse this time!! ..lol I wanted to update one last time before I head back to the United States of America.

So, here I sit on a nice smelling bus (..those don't come around everyday) ..so I learn to count even those blessings! Us 3 amigas (Haley Rosa and I) are on our way back to Erandique. We picked Haley up at the Mission house in Pena on Friday, and u can be sure we were just extatic to see eachother again (we both nearly fell to the floor while squeezing eachother so crushingly tight)! ;). Right now, As I glare across the bus, I see our dear Haley looking much like one of those animals that climb trees with the bushy tail! Yesterday, at the dentist, she got much work done in her mouth (many cavities filled, 2 wisdom teeth pulled, and a cleaning), to say the least, she's a lil' sore today ..oh yeah, and a bit puffy!

So, our next stop will be La Esperanza which will take us on one more bus to Erandique then after that we have plans to get back onto another vehicle to head up the Mt to Dannies for supper! Whew!

I think I'm really gonna miss my Honduran life here! ..full of excitment and changes! (Flat tires, electricity shut offs, and I can't forget ..the bumpy roads)! Just messin! ;) but, I will miss it here, I'll miss the people, life in the clinic, my missionary family and the tranquillo cultural social life! But, I am ready to end this season and go on to the next (the fall leaves are beautiful in fall, and the pumpkin pies are delicious, and the hay rides are fun but drinking hot chocolate, sitting by a fire, breathing in the crisp winter air with the moon shining on all the white individual snowflakes that shimmer across the fields are also nice..and cozy!) So,I will learn to be thankful for all things and always count my blessings! I don't know exactly what my plans are when I get back but I'll just allow the wind to blow me wherever it chooses. I can say one thing though, I can't wait to see all my MUCH missed ppl!

I guess I'll end this for now and wish you all a blessed day and life! ..adios! I'll see you soon!!! ;)

Love, ~Jessica

Saturday, April 23, 2011

Hello to all!

Here I sit on a nice green lawn while relaxing under the sun (that keeps trying to peek out from behind the clouds)! ..not sure if I'll see it's face anymore or at least for the rest of the day because the clouds keep piling up! We just got done eating a good meal with our new friends!

Well Rainy season is approaching and here that means we'll have more electricity outages, more cold showers, mildew threats, sour clothing, flooding in the house and on the streets, more windy days and chilly evenings, termites, mice, spiders, scorpions, and all the other pests I forgot to mention, slippery roads and mudslides! But really I'm not complaining ..there's always a good side to things as well, eh! ;) We get no more dusty roads, and with all the rain we could also have fun travelling adventures (slippy slidy all the way home!) ...;) Oh yeah ..and we get to pull out our unbrellas and puddle boots! We get to have candlelight dinners, hot soup and chili here we come, get to whip out the hot chocolate and soft cuddelie blankies, we'll have beautiful flowers of all sorts dusting over the land, prettier sunsets, and juicier fruits!!! So, we leave one season and go unto the next! That's how life is here on the Mission field! Tash (my sweet old roommate and friend) left a couple weeks ago, and the entire Kornelson clan just left this Monday! Now we have a new family that came to take their place, and their a lot of fun! Dannie and Marilyn plan to have their sisters come for a visit in a week and there's also a prayer group of youth that have plans to come out in May sometime. The next people that will be leaving from the mission will be Rosa and I (In June). See what I mean? ..People come and go and seasons change!

Were just ending what they call Semana Santa (which means Holy week for the Catholics). Businesses take a week off and friends and family get together and have fiestas (the whole town just takes it easy while the ninos play on the streets with their amigos and primos and others feast! They also have many, what they call, processions! It's basically when the Catholic churches and most of the town get together and sing mournfull songs through out the streets while one will be ahead carrying a cross or a tomb of Jesus and others hold up St. Mary. St.Paul, and one of the other Saints (I forget which one). They do this while many sit outside of their houses to watch on. But, it seems sad to me because they lift up a lot of Jesus' death but put lil' attention onto his resurrection and life! I pray God would show them that He's alive today!!! ..that He can be their friend and Father, He can send them grace in time of temptation, comfort while in sorrow, strength when weak, and cleansing of sins and softening of hearts! He is alive today and forever! Thank you Jesus!!! This is the way I will celebrate His resurrection!!!

Well, I realize as time keeps ticking, as of today, Rosa and I have a total of 7 weeks left!!! So, my prayers have been geared, lately, that God would allow me to be a light in this dark world and Jesus' hands and feet to the needy, that I would pour out my life for others, and give my time, prayers, and love to any who pass my way! Sometimes it's not easy but ..oh, the glory and joy to see someone who lacks be filled and whole again!

Well, I should go for now (life calls)!! Love you all and adios for now! Oh yeah! ..and Happy Resurrection day!!!

With love, Jessica

Sunday, April 3, 2011

"Hello" and "Goodbye" I guess! Sorry, this post has to be so short but I said last time that I'll try to post more then every 3 months so... But, I'm here right now in Pena Blanca and it's hooooooooooottttt to say the least (hot enough to fry my brain from being able to put up a good ol post)! I can't wait to get back to Erandique (is all I can say)! Yep, were planning to head back today.

Well, Tash is gone and were surviving! Rosa and I worked in the clinic (with out her) on Friday of last week and we did pretty good! Rosa has been a great blessing with not only working in the clinic with me but also being my room mate, prayer warrior, cooking companion, :) friend, and sis in Christ!

Ok, gotta go, sorry sooo short but that's kinda how it goes.

...will keep you posted all my blog friends!!!!!!!!  ((huggs!))

Saturday, March 12, 2011

Embracing my lemons...

I know, such a long time has passed since I wrote a real nice long "Jessica-style" update!  I'm gonna try and give it a shot without the absence of too many "fun" details!
So, here it is!
There's never a dull  moment around here in Honduras-to say the least! Life always keeps you on your feet!!! A good motto comes to mind recently...but a bit more than usual, because now I've had to put it to the test:

"
When life offers you lemons then ...make lemon aid!"
Yes. I am a firm believer now--this is the best way to live life! From
getting eaten alive by mosquitos or having a monstrous moth
about the size of your head, (well, that might be stretchin' it a 'lil'!)
maybe more like the size of your hand "opened, try to attack while taking a
shower with a sharp, cold breeze blowin' at the same time, I'd say it's
kinda like "lemons" ..wouldn't you? Or having a baby snake slither by for
a visit (in the living room to be exact)...right at mid-day without an
invitation! Yup. That would probably be considered *another* lemon! Or what
about having your kitchen plagued by neighborhood cats, or  "worse"
...taquasins!!! (Opossums in English). They are so polite too...they never
forget to leave us a nice gift...usually a trash-mess or half eaten food
trails for you to clean up (bright & early in the morn) before work. And
then I can't leave out the regular, boring pests like spiders, June bugs,
moths, flies of all sorts, no-see-ums that love to bite, ants ...oh yes!
And I can't forget..dreaded scorpions!!! But even with all these "lemons",
I've been learning good life-lessons! For instance, every time I come across
a scorpion I take it as an opportunity to "thank" God (literally) that I
didn't find it anywhere on my body!! And through my contact with all the
other pests I mentioned earlier, I've been learning the valuable lesson of
endurance and to never take for granted a pest-free home!!! Or a bug-free,
breeze-free shower!

Now those pests already make quite the set of lemons! But wait, there's
another set! The microbes...*yuck*!That's right! microbes, amebas, protozoa,
parasites..etc! I've learned to NEVER take for granted having a good
digestive system with plenty of "valiant" fighting antibodies! But, when the
microbe (or whatever other microscopic creature, I've forgotten to mention)
wins the battle, then that's when the lemons come in with full
force! But even with these kinds you can, (believe it or not)
still learn valuable, life-long lessons!
You can learn to be compassionate toward others who suffer...learning
endurance "again" takes place, appreciating the "true" blessing of a
pain-free body and a good digestive system! :)

Even though those may sound rough there's yet another lemon that I've been
becoming acquainted with! The adjustment to culture. In the culture here it
is very normal to show up with your whole family, during *any* time of the
day and especially during "meal time" (with out a notice or invite). There
are some  things that we just don't realize about ourselves until we're put
in a situation that has the ability to stretch us (waaaay past our comfort
zone!) There's a saying I read the other day that really rings the message
of truth...
I think it's what I am trying to get at too...

"Problems don't make you who you are. Problems only reveal who you are!"-Don Erbie"
Very, very, very, true!!!!
Without Jesus and His work in my heart ..I am nothing but a miserable,
selfish creature! 
My brethren, count it all JOY when ye fall into DIVERSE
temptations; knowing this, that the trying of your faith works patience.  But
let patience have her perfect work, that ye may be perfect and complete,
wanting NOTHING
James 1:2

So, I thank God for all these lemons! Every single one of them! God gave me
the complete peace to come here, and I knew before I took that first step on
the plane, that He desired to do a good work in me. I did not know all that
it would entail but I'm so grateful to Him that He's been working on
answering my prayers...one at a time!!
..I can be Jesus' hands and feet where ever I go! As these trials have caused
me to look deeper in the chambers of my heart, they have also made me
realize how much grace I need to overcome and gain victory in my "natural
tendencies". So, I've also been learning the act of faith as well! In
the past, when I would notice a stirring of aggravation, irritation, or
frustration toward people or my circumstances then I would just go
about...grinning and bearing it! But now, God's shown me a more excellent
way! That He has the saving power to not only have us "grin and bear" but
soften, mold, and transform us into His image-Jesus Christ! After
approaching God in this more positive way, I have been experiencing true
heart changes! And I give Him all the glory for it because it wasn't me! I
know "all too well" how I am without Him.
Here's an example:
I started feeling a stirring of annoyance toward someone the other
day...then as I was crying out to God to forgive me for it and to help me
overcome, He did another thing instead. He reminded me that He answered a
prayer that I totally forgot about. The prayer and situation was very
similar but with a different person. Not
only can I just "bear" the person anymore, but I actually really like them
and even like hanging out with them! God is amazing!! The more I know Him
and get to learn His personality the more I'm convinced that He has ALL the
power to change and make us like Jesus...to cleanse, heal, and soften our
"mere human hearts"!
"He gives power to the faint; and to them that have no
might he increases strength. Even the youths shall faint and be weary, and
the young men shall utterly fall: But they that wait upon the Lord shall
renew their strength; they shall mount up with wings as eagles; they shall
run, and not be weary; and they shall walk, and not faint"
Isaiah 40:29.

Well, I plan to be out here in Pena Blanca for the weekend. We just got in
last night around 11:30, managed to get one flat tire on the way--what a
surprise! And it worked out perfectly because there happened to be a large
truck stalled right across the road from where we pulled off. It worked out
great!  God presented the perfect opportunity to jump the car and before we
knew it...we were off again! It was one of those "God things"...you
know...when He hits a flock of birds and with one stone they're
gone! So, today I get to take it easy ..while it's drizzlin' outside. The
mission house has a few visitors this weekend (including our wonderful Jr.
Troyer) so we have plans to all get together throughout the weekend and have
meals together and nice fellowship. Then, tomorrow evening we plan to head
out to San Pedro Sula to pick up my very dear, sweet, friend Rosa!! For her
to even be able to come was a direct answer to prayer! She's coming to take
Tash's place and keep me company while I have the rest of my time here. It
looked impossible at first, but God worked it all out! But this will still
be "bittersweet" for me because Tash is leaving even though Rosa is coming!
Tash my awesome friend, roommate, co-worker, and sister in Christ, will be
leaving me in 2 weeks!
:( It will be sad...yes! But I will never forget how thankful I am that God
put her in my life! Many of the things I shared earlier about the "lemons"
Tash has played a large part in living them out right by my side! And by seeing
it lived out in her, it has inspired me to live it out myself, for all I
meet, and for the sake of Him--the true lover of my soul! As I have seen the
example of Christ in her, I also desire to have...
*selflessness* take the place of selfishness,
*giving* take the place of getting,
*longsuffering* take the place of frustration,
a *huge smile* on my face take the place of an exhausted one,
*thankfulness* take the place of complaining,
*forgiveness* take the place of holding a grudge,
*a tender heart* take the place of a hard one,
*to suffer* for someone rather then have them suffer,
and to always *give *others the first and best "pick" and myself the last!
That is Tash's heart in a nutshell for ya! Now you see why I'll miss her so
severely!


Well, I was planning to write more but this (I'm afraid) has gotten plenty
loong! So, I'll just leave this for now, and hopefully I can finish the rest
of my series another time. ;)

Till then ..I miss you all TREMENDOUSLY!!!

~Jessica

Friday, March 4, 2011

Here I lay on a thin foam mattress finally having the time to update my blog! I lay here awake with the beautiful chorus of mosquitos filling the air ..they're symphony has the sound of a distant "frieght train"! Tash and I are having a sleep over at our sweet "old lady" friend, Nina Albia's house! Were here cuz tomorrow it's her birthday! ..she's turning a big whoppin' 82! We have a surprise "mariachi" planned for the morning at 5am and we also have a birthday party for her tomorrow. ..it's gonna be so much fun to see her happy! She's so sweet and poor, yet she has Jesus! ..so, what else does she need??! The custom here is, on your birthday you supply your own b-day cake, food, and throw your own party. Nina Albia told us tonight that she prayed God would help supply her enough money this year so she can have a cake with all her guests on her bday so she saved up (all year) and God was faithful to answer that sweet 'lil' prayer! I have a thing or two to learn from sweet people like her! ..that is content and thankful even though she has sooo little. And she's also very generous even though she has to depend on God (every day) for her every meal and He's been faithful in that, as well! I think He likes it when were so dependent on Him and it pleases him to honor those prayers!

Well, I'll go for now, since the "mariachi" is planning to come in the am, but I hope to be a "lil" better with updating! Sorryy!

Miss u all! love u all!

Truely, Jessica

Tuesday, January 11, 2011

I'm back!!!

Hey u all ...I'm back!!!  I really wanted to post picts today but I'm afraid I can't due to limited time. Were all plannin to head back to Erandique at around lunch time today. The weather is absalutely beautiful again!!! I hope to post picts next visit to the mission house which will probably be in a month or so. But that's ok, cuz then I'll have more picts to post! ...theres always a bright side to things, right! ;)   Just wanted you all to know that I had an awesome (GOD BLESSED) visit back at home and I miss u all tremendously already!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!    But, I'm also glad to be back and reunite with all my clinic family here, as well. God has been good and my provider in so many aspects of needs that I've had (and have) and I'm greatful to Him for it, He is such a loving Father to me!!!! Thank u to all who donated toward my needs I truely pray that He bless u abundantly for it ...that he would bless u with the realization of knowing how much He loves you and cares for your every need (Not tryin to be fancy or fake in words thats just my prayer.)!       And one more thing, as I was crying out to God the other day for grace then right as I picked up my head in the midst of prayer the words "Jehova Jireh" were written right on a cracked window in front of me on the bus and it made me burst out and say, "Amen!"  Because that has been the theme of my walk with Him thus far and my time out here as well!  Well, God bless u all till next time and not just with sips of water cuz He has an ocean He DESIRES to give you!!!!!!!!  ..never settle for less!      (((HUGGS))) ~Jessica