New Beginnings!

Dear Friends and Family,

A New Year brings new beginnings; a place of starting over, cleansing, and re-growth.  In nature, new beginnings and re-growth are commonly associated with fire, flood or storm.  Amazing to think that a devastation such as that would be required and healthy for the process of regeneration.

The new year has brought new beginnings for us at the Adventure Learning Centre after the visit of Hurricane Matthew in October. (See previous blog post for details) While we are thank ful structural damage was minimal, we lost most of our shade and fruit trees.  Many of them were completely uprooted while others partially left in the ground. From the initial analysis it would be assumed permanent loss but as we spent weeks lifting logs and burning debris there was still signs of life. 

Almond tree.   Middle of November                             Almond tree.  End of December

Encouraging to see that even in the midst of adversity there is life found from within.  The roots are still grounded enough to receive the nutrients and water that the earth offers.  If nurtured and given the right care, often these trees will grow back stronger than before the storm.  Likewise for us as Christians the wind and storm can topple us over but as long as we are anchored to the source of life- Jesus, we have life within to weather the storm as well as the after affects.  I want to grow stronger than before the storm. 

This is the season for visiting family and friends followed by returning and beginning a new year.   This year, like the almond tree, I will be undergoing “New Beginnings”. I have decided to extend my time here in Colorado for the purpose of recharging and seeking the Lord. I thank God for the many evidences of His grace over the course of this past year as I took on additional responsibilities at the ALC & Camp, however, there has been a growing weariness and I'm experiencing signs of burnout.   It is a humbling process to admit this as my natural response would be to “keep on going”.

I do not have an answer for how long I will be gone, but I’ve prayed and received counsel to be intentional in the process.  I am very aware of responsibilities that will be carried for me and relationship building that I will miss out on; however, the Lord is revealing that this is a necessary step I must make in order to come back refreshed with a hunger to continue what he has called me to do.   It is His ministry, not mine and He will provide what is needed.

Please reach out to me individually with any questions that you have concerning what I've written here.  Id be happy to share more details with you then.  Your prayers for me during this time are critical. Please email or send messages through whatsap, Facebook, or email.  

Lesson from the All Spice Tree 

 A wise woman recently shared a word from the Lord that served to encourage me. Sue walked observantly up to the hurricane damaged All Spice tree, took a dead branch from it, and walked away.  All Spice is commonly used in cooking and baking and known for bringing flavor to food.  So what purpose does a dead leaf on an all spice tree have?  These were her words:

“The Holy Spirit uses life experiences, (a bruising, breaking, rubbing) to release His fragrant presence through us. The Lord uses each of us to look beneath the outward appearance of others (dead, lifeless, or broken) to touch and affect each other so that His fragrance is released, enjoyed, savoured.     – Sue Bryant

Praise Reports:

• The same God who shifted the wind and seas during the hurricane and spared us from total devastation  is the same God that will move in my life during this time of rest.
• I am thank ful for the blessings of people and their generous practical gifts to promote rest and healing.
• I am thank ful for God's mercy and grace that is more powerful than guilt and shame.

Prayer Requests:

• Pray for rest and healing physically, mentally, spiritually
• Pray for focussed time with the Lord and seeking His face.
• Pray for plenty of opportunities to get into the mountains.  (It is not the mountains which give me strength but my strength comes from the one who made the mountains.  It is a means in which the Lord uses to refresh and refill.)
• Pray for provision for a vehicle while I am here.
• Pray for Adventure Learning Centre & Camp staff and board of directors with the many responsibilities and decisions going into this year with hurricane related repairs.
• Pray for ALC facilitators (teaching staff) as they get back into curriculum training and begin teaching. (They have not taught much with with the hurricane and the government putting a hold on all field trips)
• Pray for those that will be covering responsibilities of mine in my absence.

Thank you again for your faithful interest in my life and in the life of the ministry,

Together for Christ,

Jen