'MERICA!

It's been an awesome 2 weeks since the students left...not necessarily because they left, but because it was finally a time where I could exhale.  As much as I love them, loved being with and around them, leadership and the leading of 13 lives comes with burdens and struggles and weight.  Once they were back into the care of their families and friends I could exhale and honestly I woke up one morning and felt lighter...literally.  I had no idea how much I had been carrying until I didn't have to carry it anymore.

And I know this is the same with our sin...

(just a thought to stir your heart because it just stirred mine as I type, but I'll leave that topic for another day).

I was lonely for the first few days after they left, then I started easing back into life.  I started planning for next year while things were still fresh in my brain.  I finished budgets and manuals, calendars and job descriptions.  I journaled, processed, and "retreated."

The Villa that we stayed for our retreat

loved getting to know these women better!

In three days I will be heading back to America (or 'Merica as the kids like to say).  I've tried to plan and anticipate what it will be like stepping back onto State soil and back into life.  But I really can't.  I do know some of what's waiting for me, time with family and friends, nephews and nieces, living out of a suitcase and on couches..but there are still things that are up-in-the-air, or completely unknown.

I struggled when trying to figure out what I should do this summer.  Should I get a job? Not get a job? Stay in my duplex? move out? keep my car? sell it? Travel? Stay home? Earn money? Raise money?

I realized that if I spent a week with family and good friends whom I haven't seen in 9 months, that would take up the majority of the summer, and because this is the only time I'll get to have quality face-to-face time with them I have decided NOT to get a job this summer.  Not a full-time job anyways.  There was no way that I would be hired and then me turn around and ask for 5-6 weeks off!!

Please pray for odd-jobs, baby-sitting or house-sitting opportunities, needs for pictures, portraits, or sports pictures where I can earn some extra gas and food money.  

And if you know of any please let me know!

I was struggling to decide whether or not I should keep my duplex in Cheektowaga. I would be great to have a place I could still call my own, but I'd be paying with money I didn't have for a place to live for half the summer.  The Lord did make it clear that I should give up the duplex and circumstances confirmed the decision. The plan was to have all of my stuff out by May 31, but my awesome parents already went up and moved my stuff out so one less thing I have to worry about....SO SO SO GRATEFUL! My parents house will now be my home base (and my permanent address).

I will also be selling my car at the end of the summer.  It can't stand another winter being idle...and in the words of my parents "you never really liked that car anyways"...which is true...I still love my Outbacks!  I have a few people interested in buying my 2009 Subaru Legacy, but if you know of anyone have them get a hold of me. 

Please pray that in the next 3 months that nothing goes wrong on my car that I will have to get fixed!

I guess with all of these more "permanent" changes it officially makes me a missionary, or a "missionary apprentice" as the home office likes to call me.  It's still weird to say, and I'm sure for some of you even hard to hear/read/understand.  And because I have said YES to God and am choosing to follow the present path He has me on, I'm looking to HIS PEOPLE for help.

I have tried to make the necessary decisions and steps to live as simply as possible while in the States.  I am willing to work hard when I'm available to earn some money.  But I anticipate that the money that I will spend while at home, will be greater than the money that I will make.

So with that I am starting to ask for support for this summer and for this fall into next year when I'll be back in the Dominican Republic. 

There are many ways that you can help support me:

• Through Prayer
• Financially
• Donating Sky-miles for flights home
• Opportunities for work over the summer
• Gift Cards for gas, Target, Wal-Mart, Amazon, iTunes, Starbucks

I am confident that the Lord will provide all that I need.  And I will learn how to sacrifice some things that I've never had to before to be the best steward of God's provision. 

I officially have a profile up on the SCORE website where you can make a one-time donation or commit to supporting me monthly...those donations through the site will be tax deductible. 

In the mean time, if you would like to donate anything please comment below, facebook me, or email me at jaima927@me.com

Thank you in advance for prayers, for support and for being a part of my journey!

To GOD be the GLORY!

And the Journey Continues...

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I have tried to start this post so many times.  There were times when I felt like I had nothing to say, times when I had so much to say that I couldn’t choose what to put into writing, times when I was so exhausted that there was no other option but to sleep.  I’m not a writer, I’ve never claimed to be…I’m not good with words, not good at expressing what I’m feeling.  But there are times when I have to share.  Share the good and the bad, the Truth and the lies, the progress and the set backs of this Dominican Republic missionary journey that I’m on, and will continue to be on. 

Yup…you read that right…CONTINUE TO BE ON.   

The Lord has made it clear that my time serving Him down here is not over, and in obedience I have committed to another year as GAP Director.  I know that most of you thought it was a 9 month commitment, and I was right there with you.  But God has called me to more, to longer.

It was almost exactly a year ago that I said ‘yes’ in my heart to God when this opportunity was presented to me.  The Lord had been stirring my heart for something more, something bigger… I had no idea what.  BUT GOD DID.

It has definitely been a rollercoaster.  As much as I like to stay neutral, even, consistent, this year was one of trials, struggles, refining, humility, joys, sorrows, triumphs, surrender, rejoicing, and so much more.  All of this, GOD KNEW, I wouldn’t have gone through if I would have stayed in Cheektowaga, NY.  

Looking back now, my faith was growing, but I had hit a ceiling.  Living in Buffalo was a time of healing for me.  In the midst of life, I had a lot of time to myself and along side an amazingly wise mentor and best friend we were able to figure out and correct heart issues that I had been stuck in and struggling with for so long.  But once I was set free from those, God knew I needed more.  I needed different.  I needed a place where I had to completely rely on Him, not comforts of home, not friends or family. Him. ONLY HIM. A place where I was FORCED out of my comfort zone because He knew that I would never choose a place of discomfort on my own. 

(I wonder if any part of my story is hitting your heart….

where is God asking you to get out of your comfort zone?)

And talk about out of my comfort zone?  I’d been to the country once for a week. I knew no one. I didn’t know the native language (I took French in high school).  I was not a teacher.  I was not a mom.  I am an introvert at a place where 6,000 people come through every year.  No cable. No Starbucks.

But by the grace of God the transition was easier than expected.  I love God with all my heart, soul, mind and strength and have learned that He TRULY DOES know what’s best for me.  That when I choose to obey Him and His calling that HE WILL WORK EVERYTHING OUT.  It’s also great to have perspective.  I struggle here…BUT I’d be struggling more in Buffalo, NY right now because I was living in disobedience and out of God’s will. 

(Are you struggling right now because you may be in a place of disobedience?)

And just last week when most of the students had left, I was reflecting on the year, seeking God, reading through Romans, and I opened to chapter 5:

“We can rejoice, too, when we run into problems and trials, for we know that they help us develop endurance. And endurance develops strength of character, and character strengthens our confident hope of salvation. And this hope will not lead to disappointment. For we know how dearly God loves us, because he has given us the Holy Spirit to fill our hearts with his love.” v.3-5

As I’m sitting at the end of one year, I can reflect and this verse hits my heart.  Because I have endured this year, endured the problems, the trials, the fights the confrontations, the mistakes, the late nights, the broken hearts…I can see that I have new strength IN CHRIST, renewed character IN CHRIST and am now confident that no matter what next year looks like, I will get through that too.  My faith is stronger.  I have seen God come through on so many prayer requests, change so many hearts, meet people where they’re at and bless them.  I have been prayed for, provided for, encouraged, lifted up, and taken care of. 

All of the students and those who loved, taught and supported them at GRADUATION!

There are so many more things to write about, to reflect on, to process through…and I’ll be doing a lot of that while I’m back in the States this summer.  I’d love to share all God has done and is doing with you, and I’m sorry that my words on these pages don’t exactly do my heart justice.  Maybe a face to face meeting would be easier…I’ll meet you at, say, STARBUCKS??? (Hey, a girls gotta make up for lost time!)

If you’ve made it to the end of this post, then you truly love me and I appreciate that! And now that I know you love me…would you take some time to read and pray for the following requests? Thanks!

Please pray for:

- The students that finished the program and are now back in the United States…the transition back to American living is hard! For their lives to reflect all God has taught them and how He has changed them over the past 9 months, and that their new knowledge and experience can help glorify God and bring people to Him.

- The incoming students of GAP 2014-2015 (right now we have 10).  For their hearts to be softened, for their support to come in, and for them to begin and continue to follow Jesus in all that He’s calling them to.

- The SCORE Missionaries, Interns and Staff here.  The summer is the CRAZIEST, BUSIEST time for them.  Please pray for rest, strength, patience, endurance and peace.

- The short-term groups coming down. That their hearts would be humble, their plans will be flexible, their agenda will be God’s agenda and that they will do what is NEEDED to best serve the Dominicans.

- Me.  I am now in a new cycle of raising support, moving out of my Cheektowaga apartment, and spending time with friends and family.  Please pray that I use my time wisely, that I have time to reflect, and process the good and bad from this year and learn what God would have me do this next year. That I will be disciplined in my quiet time and in learning more Spanish!