Love, Rest, & Slowing Down

He is jealous for me, Loves like a hurricane, I am tree,

Bending beneath the weight of His wind and mercy,

When all of a sudden,

I am unaware of these afflictions eclipsed by glory,

And I realize just how

beautiful You are,

And how great Your affections

are for me. And, oh,

how He loves us, oh

Oh, how He loves us,

How He loves us all.

A few Sundays ago, we sang this song during worship. As I closed my eyes and started soaking in the words, tears began to form, and I slowly felt them fall down my face. It was at this moment, with my eyes closed, that I saw the faces of children. Did I recognize these precious faces? No, but my heart swelled with love for them. I could see them so vividly, standing in a little group and grinning from ear to ear. I was moved to the point that I could not sing—I wanted to, I wanted to sing this song from my heart, but my voice was too shaky. So instead, I continued to take in this “picture” of these children. Through that picture, I felt the Father impressing my heart, not the love that I have for children, or how His love compels me to love others, BUT the love He has for me.

“Oh, Jessica, how I love you. How I love you.”

In this season that I find myself in, where so much has slowed down for me, I have realized that this is one of the things that the Father wants me to dwell on, that He wants me to bask in…His love for me. He wants me to rest in it and, by doing so, be rejuvenated through it. Through His love, He desires for me to find even more healing from the season that I just walked through and grieve where I have yet to do so. Before I even moved to Georgia, I knew that this place would hold something more for me than just ministry, and so to have more "clarity" in this area is genuinely refreshing.

I have struggled with accepting that things have slowed down, probably because I'm used to being "on the go," and especially after the busyness of these past few years, I don't know any different. I'll admit I have felt guilty that my schedule does not "look" like that of my co-workers, and I still struggle at times with being back in the States. But, I have also realized (and have entirely accepted) that this season of slowing down and basking in His love is just what I need and is crucial for the season to come because when it does come, I'll be running...

Praises, Blessings, & Updates:

• If you haven’t already heard, I moved into my little place on the 1st of September! I love it and am enjoying the parks that are nearby. It feels great to be settled. If you fancy a visit, I have an extra room--my parents will be my first visitors in October.

• I have started volunteering, one day a week, at the Path Project, which is our only U.S.-based partner project. Their mission is to empower children growing up in mobile home parks to find their path to high school graduation and God’s plan for their future. On Wednesdays, I spend time with a group of 2nd graders and assist them with their math and spelling homework. They are a super sweet but energetic group. I am thoroughly enjoying it! Unfortunately, due to the privacy policies, I will not be able to take any photos but may share a story from time to time.

• As the Orphans & Vulnerable Children’s Coordinator, part of my role is to help orchestrate partnerships for our programs and partner projects when a particular need arises. For example, through Ontario Christian Gleaners and our Canadian Office, we could supply many of our partner projects in the Philippines with boxes of dehydrated veggie mixes. This is a massive blessing as many of these partner projects, who minister to street kids and families in squatter communities, sometimes struggle to provide a much-needed nutritious meal that these kids so desperately need.

• I will be going to the Philippines in November (leaving the day after Thanksgiving) for about three weeks! I will help lead our Christmas Party team and then stay back for another week to spend more time with our programs and partner projects.

• The school year has officially started in Ecuador, so our After-School Program is in full swing with 44 kids! Likewise, the kids at the Dream Centre in South Africa are starting their last school term for the year. They will be on school break come mid-December. Please keep both of these ministries in your prayers. Pray for the staff as they go about their busy day and for the kids they pour into.