GIRLS night.

OH ISRAEL.

God will provide. He always does.

-Mary, our new homeless friend

 .this is her response when we asked her if she needed anything.

Friends & Family.

As I write this, I am in complete AWE of the Lord. Today I received an email from Hume Lake, a camp I worked at for 4 summers. In 2008 I did not cash a check for $512.54, and they would like to get my address and resend it to me. I cannot even begin to  express what perfect timing this is. I am taking online classes through UCSD extension to renew my teaching credential, and did not know where I was going to get money to pay for my next class. I also was in need of some new running shoes, and was figuring out how I could put all my gift cards together to buy some. 

God will provide. He always does.

Today we entered into Judson High School to fill out volunteer forms. These forms be will processed in the next 48 hours. This means by Wednesday morning, after breakfast tacos with our students, we can join them at school. This also makes us open to tutor, join with the Fellowship of Christian Athletes, and start community recycling projects. All this happened within one hour. Four days prior God really stirred within our team a longing to bring ourselves back onto our knees, giving up what we thought we could do on our own. We worshiped and then when we felt God say we were ready, we prayed. During prayer we felt called to pray around the school. So we did. During that time, our youth pastor was in a meeting with the Judson school counselor where she said she would personally set up a orientation for us.

God will provide. He always does.

In the beginning of October we as a team signed up for specific Sundays to teach a lesson to the Middle School and High School group. I signed up for Romans 8, and felt God calling me to involve students. My host brother, Christopher, is 15 and has natural leadership qualities and a zeal for the Lord so I of course asked him! As the weeks of preparation went on, he began to take the lead. This past Sunday, Christopher lead the entire teaching for both services. As a result students have already approached the youth pastor about possibly teaching as well. His sister, Amanda, loves the Lord with such an amazing passion. She does not pray out loud, even when it is just the family because she is really shy. God called me to ask her to pray before Chris spoke. She did! For both services, she got in front of the entire youth group and talked with her creator with such boldness.

God will provide. He always does.

Two weeks ago we had a Girls Night that combined all the Oak Hills churches. Over 200 girls arrived, and at Journey Fellowship we brought 30 girls. That is the biggest amount of kids that have ever signed up for a youth event. One of our junior high students heard about the Lord's grace and mercy, and became a Christian that very night. We also had a sleepover with our girls which brought honesty, vunerability, and irreplaceable conversation. Through this God opened doors for me to start a small group with four girls that want to give out of the overflow in their life, but recognize that they first must be filled.

God will provide. He always does. 

"In repentance and rest is your salvation, In quietness and trust is your strength....."

ISAIAH 30:15

 The part that I often want to leave out is the end of the verse that says, "But you will have none of it." The Lord is reminding Israel of where true strength lies, yet they want nothing to do with it. I am Israel. So often I try on my own. I feel the need to make things happen, and move onto the next. Yet my strength should be quietness and trusting. If I am reading that correctly, none of that involves me making something happen that I think should. God does not change. His promises are always true. In those moments when I trust. I see strength. In those moments I am quiet. I am at peace. IN THOSE MOMENTS. I see.....God will provide. He always does.

Your prayers are treasured deep within my heart. Your notes of encouragement reach further then you will ever know. Thank you for sharing in the wonderful works of our Father. Please continue to pray for discernment as students let us into their lives. Pray for total and utter reliance on the Lord as a team and individuals. 

Holy. Holy. Holy is the Lord God Almighty. 

Jess

(If you would like to check out my blog http://jwonser.blogspot.com/  I will upload a small video of Christopher teaching and post pictures of Girls Night.)