charity:water

Check out Charity:Water. They are changing the world for so many people and we can help. The founder came to the Mayan to share last night and it was unbelievable.

http://www.charitywater.org/

Here is the organizations blog

http://www.charitywater.org/blog/

Goodbye Truck....

Luke totaled his truck this month. He is okay, but clearly the truck was not!! We got a fair offer from the insurance company to buy a car. So we are in the process of figuring that out! I would say that I am getting used to "unexpected" things happening to us. I didn't say "bad" things, because although all of the crazy stuff that has happened has seemed "bad" at first it turns out to be a huge blessing. Lets review...

1) Water is out at our first apartment and we have to pack up and move out for a week (bad) THEN we stay with Mike and Christina Belke in the house that they live in with an elderly lady named Kathie. We learn that communal living is totally possible and gain a closer friendship with Mike and Christina. AND my mind is sparked towards their FREE housing from the Fuller list (good)

2) I loose my job with the family that I was working for when we first moved here (bad) THEN I realize I didn't like the job that much AND I get a new family who I actually enjoy working for (good)

3) Our old apartment gets infested with fleas (very bad) We find out that fleas are almost impossible to kill and that the cats who are causing them from across the street are not going away (even worse). THEN my mind forces me to look into the Fuller Housing List where Mike and Christina found their FREE situation. We find a FREE option that puts us in our own space in a guest house on the back of the property (good) with a couple who don't know Jesus and need some positive interaction with people who follow Him(even better)

4) Luke gets in an accident (bad) the truck is totaled (very bad). THEN we get the offer from the insurance company that is more than enough to buy a great used car (good) AND a car that has better gas millage (very good). Side note: putting gas in his truck in LA was killing the funds!

There are a few more things like these, but I will leave it at the big ones for now. It shocks me to think that all of this has happened in just 4 months. WOW. I have so much more to say, but I have to get to work. Thanks for reading, caring, and praying.

Much love from CA,

Jess

Engaged!

So Sarah Beth and Cameron came to visit severl weeks ago. I know I am late blogging about this. But we had such a great time with them exploring our new state and celebrating their ENGAGEMENT!! Here are some pictures...

We are so excited for SB and Cam! I know she will enjoy every bit of the planning!! We were so glad to gave our first GA visitors in town and show them around this place we are growing to love soooo much! On the way to the air port I wondered how I would feel as they left... Would I want to get on the plane and go to GA? I was a bit afraid of what emotion I would feel. What I learned is that I was sad, but not because I wanted to hop on the plane with them. I was sad because I want them to stay. The best way I can describe the feeling is that I wish I could bring all the people that I love from GA to CA. I learned that I am not dieing to go back, but I do miss people. So if I could just pack them all up and bring them the CA, that would be perfect. At first I thought "wow. Kinda selfish". Then I realized that it is a true view of how I feel about CA. I love it here and just wish everyone that I love from GA could experience it with us! My parents and sister are coming to visit in 50 days!! So I am totally jazzed about that, they will be here for Christmas... I feel some fast paced fun coming on. That is how my mom and I roll! Dad can keep up, but Haley and Luke may lag behind :) The two free spirits of the bunch, gotta love them!