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Good day to all I suppose this is now my third update and it is also my third month of outreach. How appropriate. Our trip to Thailand was successful in that each person from the team felt God speak to them about returning to Thailand, and we all seem to have an idea of what that return might entail. I personally hope to make a three month sojuorn back to that area in about one years time with the intent of gaining a clearer vision of what I feel God has put on my heart, and receiving a better understanding of what area of ministry I would likely make a long term commitment to. 
 I am excited to report that yes, I did see personal growth this past month (fewf). One area of growth that I would like to share has to do with a girl named Brittany who joined our team for two weeks. She's one of those incredible people who is a people person, and I quite admire this trate because it is something I have to work on. As she happened to be my age and similar in several ways, we became good friends. In the short time I spent with her I was astonished to see how she became good friends with perfect strangers within a matter of minutes. Since, as I mentioned, I struggle in this area, and I had no idea anyone could to something like that, I decided that I was going to be her little apprentice. We did several prayerwalks around the city and as we did this we would talk to people and pray with them if they were open to that. There came a time when Brittany parted with our team and I was anxious to try out my newly aquired ability. On one of my days off, I was with Marsha (a teamate) and we were having supper on Walking Street when I got the urge to pray that God would use us to reach someone that night. As we went along on our merry way I forgot that I had prayed this little prayer and we meandered to a nice beachfront spot where we could sit and gaze at the ocean and stars in all their splender. When were walking up I noticed this forlorn looking man who was just sitting by himself, and I thought I glanced a tear or two on his face. I sat down nearby and I just had that nagging God-feeling that I was supposed to talk with him. I still felt kind of weird about the whole sit-by-a-stranger-and-start-talking thing but I mustered up the courage and sat beside him. It didn't really take more than 'hello' and 'what are you doing here?' (which should be obvious in a tourist town) and he started to tell me how one of his closest friends had just died of a heart attack and that he was really having a hard time with it. This made it obvious to me why I was even talking to the guy and I was able to sprinkle little things I could share about God throughout our conversation. I don't know what became of this man, his name is Adrien, but it was such a blessing to step out in this area. Thank you God. This next portion of our outreach we will be spending in Port Renfrew, which, for those who don't know, is a First Nations reserve isolated on the western end of Vancouver Island. When we got back from Thailand and were discussing our next two weeks I just about freaked out when I discovered that there weren't any plans for our time on the reserve and preparation of any sort was scant. I seriously considered going home early because I was wiped out as it was and didn't have the energy to throw last minute ideas together, but, of course, God intervened. In the amazing way that He lifts burdens off our shoulders, He relieved me of mine. I was praying about my idea of leaving early and felt that God told me it is best if I stay, which is obvious, but it took God himself to tell me that everything was going to be far and above just 'OK' because He is in control. Even knowing this, I still did not want to go because I just felt so drained and empty. In one of our prayer times I was able to release this tension in tears and God gave me Psalm 126 as a promise that if I went with my seeds to sow, even if I went in tears, I would come home with shouts of joy, bringing my sheaves with me. In this next lag of the race I would love prayer for: -Complete unity within our team -That this would be a time of refreshment for all involved (the First Nations community as well as ourselves) -That each day would flow with a natural rhythm -That we would all experience the fullness of joy and practice living God's love -And last, but most important, that we would all come to know God in a closer, more intimate way Thank you so much for your care and prayers. Love Irene |
