Shdidly

I have no idea where that title came from.

Anyhow. So this week I realized why exactly it is that people want to get on the plane sooner. Up to this point in my life, I was ignorant of it. In my opinion, I'm going to be sitting in one spot for the next 45 minutes to 15 hours, depending on the flight. Why get on as soon as possible?

BECAUSE there are the overhead-bin hoarders. Trying to move around other people's luggage to accomodate your own, while not dropping things on people's heads and not holding up the aisle is a complicated and awkward task for a short person like me. And what's more, you have to store your luggage in some other row which means you can't get off the plane quickly.

Normally, when I fly, I check the minimal amount of bags possible and take only a bookbag, which neatly fits under the seat in front of me. Everything I want and need for the flight is in that bag. Board the plane relatively last (but not so last that I have to "pardon me" my way through to get to my seat, which is always a window, by the way). On that note, if you wait too long, people CLEARLY ignore their seating assignment and take yours and pretend that it's really their seat.

However, I won't say anything unless the flight is going to be longer than 3 hours. It's not a big deal, but personally, I won't change my seat until it is clear that that person is NOT going to be boarding. Say around... 30,000 ft.

This week, I used those frequent flyer miles and flew myself to make a promised visit to some friends, who I hope will return their promised visit. Ahem. I got some needed refreshing and really enjoyed my time with these friends. We talked about different topics around the world and in Christian life and I got to put all the Japanese history skill that I've acquired to the test.

It was nice.

So, I'm still super super praying about funds for Japan. Sometimes it's so easy to take it into my control and say, ok, what else can be done? But, God has really been challenging me on various levels of relaxing and trusting Him instead of saying that I trust Him and covering all details myself under MY control.

Not so easy as it sounds. It's so easy to snag the line and run with it.

Kinda on that note- there will be a Supporter Appreciation/Interest Ice Cream Social coming up in early October. More coming out about that in the next week and a half. But, I can use your help in this. Know people who have a heart for Japan?? Invite them to come find out more and join the team! It'll be a great night!

Also coming up, though sooner-- A garage sale at K. Jordan's house with proceeds going to Japan! Plus-- be sure to check it out-- I'll have some things that I've made there.

If there's anything that you can be praying for, it's that God will awaken the hearts of those He's asking to be part of the team to reach Japan with His love.

It's coming up soon guys!

Thoughts on an August Evening

St. Louis, MO -- Oops, it's been longer than I thought since I last posted.

Mostly, I didn't think that I really had much to post about... after all, it's no longer that I climb mountains everyday. :)

However, I have had a few things that keep coming across to me. It's funny how lately every time I think of something, God sends something my way to remind me of His truths and His faithfulness.

It's not funny really... but rather, amazing. Like that song we sang this morning in church. I really thought what Demond said so fit in with everything, and what Pastor Debbie said too. It kinda confirmed for me my observations that I've been thinking about.

Last week was VBS... and on the side, I've had my neice with me for a few days. Children are funny and say the oddest things, and I really enjoy them. But what struck me the most was how kids are so simple and so basic. It's enough for them to know that Jesus loves them and keeps them safe. They have such a simple joy in that.

To me, as we get older (I hear the scoffing now), we tend to get caught up in details. We make things complicated. And while we KNOW these things that kids know, we also know a WHOLE LOT more. What about this? What about that?

That's my personality there. I tend to look at every angle of a situation and ask those questions, as well as 50 other. I propose questions/situations to myself, think through those hypothetical situations, and finally come up with the best plan possible. For me, simplification is difficult.And yet, I watched these kids and just their simple joy and natural reactions to Jesus. I watched them and thought to myself-- Janine, why do you get caught up in everything? Let it go and just be a child with Jesus.

That's a lot harder than it sounds.

Tonight, as I was typing in this address to blog, I was thinking about this whole fundraising endeavor. I know that you don't always immediately see the fruits of your efforts, it's usually as you're leaving that you see it. But I always tell God I'd like to know ahead of time, even if it's just a little, I'd appreciate it.

Next month I start the visa process, full of paperwork. Probably by October/November time it'll be processed and then I'll have 3 months to get to Japan. Which of course means that in December, I need to be operating as if I were in Japan (with funds coming in, so WIM will approve me to go). That's really NOT that far away.

Anyway, I was thinking about it, thinking- ok, what do I need to be doing? Am I being too lax? What more can I be doing? "You know, with the economy the way that it is, and so many stories of difficulties, this isn't the SMARTEST time to be trying to raise $3500 per month..."

So, I log in, and you know how when you log in, there's a new verse (which often corresponds to me) on the home page for you?

Mine today was Proverbs 16:3-- Commit to the Lord whatever you do, and your plans will succeed.Really. Really?? One of those moments that you just KNOW that it's for you. And there have been so many of those lately... which is good... I've needed it.

I've really been impressed by the beauty of God... how extraordinarily complex and gigantuous; yet how simple He deals and how personal He is. He's not an idea or a force, as many people think. He's a Father. A Friend. He has emotion like us. He loves and taught us what love is. I like that I can relate in a miniscule scale to how He feels; I can interact and react. And while I don't have the answers to all those millions of questions I have (and generally try to answer on my own), and sometimes I'm worried because I'm not sure of the best route, I know that He has the answer. I know if I just run to Him, I can get all those things relieved.

Just like a child.