Passing Days

It's been quite some time since I last wrote and since then it seems much has passed. Session ended and we had at least 70 people come and support the graduates! It was a wonderful thing to witness and be a part of. As a special presentation Quentin, one of the staff here, made little paddles to present to the graduates painted with a word and a bible verse to encourage them as they moved on to a new part of their life journey. A surprise twist revealed that Quentin had also made paddles for each of the staff and asked the graduates to pick a word and a verse for each of us. It was a touching surprise that they had thought to honour us for our service to them.

There was a work crew that came in the morning of the graduation from a church called The Train Station. That evening after the graduation they had a sing song just praising and singing to the Lord. Their joy and humble hearts reminded me a lot of my own church and in that reminder my heart was so blessed and filled with love for these wonderful people. It's amazing the connection God can bring forth in worship and service. As I am writing this I cannot help but smiling at the thought of these kind-hearted people.
However before I knew it everyone had left and we were in a lull. I spent the week after session painting inside my house and trying to sort out everything I had gone through in my heart and mind. Not an easy task, on both accounts. Since then work groups have been in and out. When Maple Ridge Christian School came for a week of work I had such a great time seeing them and catching up with my friends(this is the group I have come with the past three years prior to moving here). By the end of their week being here I was ready to go back to my parents home and have a breather from life at Esperanza.

Spending the time at home with my family and close friends really rejuvenated me. My birthday came a went on April 1^st and by the time I was heading back to Esperanza I realized that with my time away I had started to feel like myself again. Release is an amazing feeling when you didn't even realize you had been holding onto things. Now that I have returned to Esperanza I feel much more equipped to handle things but even so I cannot do anything without the Lords guidance and strength.

I was reading my bible when I found a letter my best friend had written me and in it she had written this verse for me:

“The Lord is my strength and my shield;


in him my heart trusts, and I am helped;

my heart exults,


and with my song I give thanks to him.”

Psalm 28:7

It reminded me to continue praising God in all circumstances. As the next session approaches rapidly Please pray that we all had the right amount of time to rest ourselves and be restored so that we we may be all that God has intended for this upcoming session. Also pray for protection physically, mentally and spiritually. There has been much to go on in the past weeks and in all of it God has been there. Just as he is there with you now. We are all united as the body of christ all working in different ways.

Be blessed in this reminder! 

Not so different.

After finishing a busy morning looking after children I came outside to see a few of the women in session racing towards me. As they frantically ran past they shouted at me, “Whales!! Come see the whales!” With excitement rising I ran to follow and see these mysterious creatures. It was awe inspiring to watch these majestic mammals rise out of the water to release a spout of water before disappearing once again. I was in amazed at the depth of emotion rose in me when I caught glimpses of the killer whales (three of them, just so you know). I found myself tearing up and realized when I looked at the other people on the boat that I was not the only one. The kids were balls of excitement and joy while the adults were glowing with emotion. I’m not sure what it was that brought such emotion forth for anyone else but for me I think these killer whales are the ultimate pictures of freedom. Living at peace in their surroundings they go about their business with out worry or fear. Seeing them was a reminder that in the same way I am free through Christ. His death and my choice to follow Him allows me to roam without worry or fear because I know God is watching over me and nothing can separate me from his love, not even death.

“35 Who shall separate us from the love of Christ? Shall trouble or hardship or persecution or famine or nakedness or danger or sword? 36 As it is written:


“For your sake we face death all day long;
we are considered as sheep to be slaughtered.”


37 No, in all these things we are more than conquerors through him who loved us. 38 For I am convinced that neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither the present nor the future, nor any powers, 39 neither height nor depth, nor anything else in all creation, will be able to separate us from the love of God that is in Christ Jesus our Lord.” Romans 8.

Since that day, about two weeks ago, two people in session have gotten baptized in the ocean being reborn into freedom, which is SO exciting and another participant has chosen to be baptized with her son following graduation of the program! However these victories make our spiritual battle continue on in intensity. Please pray for protection over these newly baptized lives and the rest of participants as well as for us on staff on the front lines trying to show God’s message of love and freedom through Christ.
Seeing an eagle fly is beautiful and you can imagine what it would be like to fly but until you truly do you’ll never know. Please pray for a hunger in the people here to not just see God in others but to pull him close and allow Him to enter hearts. God is so good and his creation is beautiful.

Be Blessed.

Time flys.

 I have had such a busy time here already. I’ve only been living in Esperanza for almost a month but so many things happen in one day that it seems like I’ve been here way longer than that. However at the same time all I can think is, “Whoa, time has flown by.”
We are just ending the second week of the six-week session here in Esperanza. I’ve never been involved in a session here before but from what I’m told this has been one of the most intense first couple weeks. There has been so much spiritual battle for these people’s souls. There have been days where I’ve been so anxious or uneasy but nothing has been wrong with me personally. “For we do not wrestle against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the cosmic powers over this present darkness, against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly places.” Ephesians 6:12
Please pray that as a staff we are united under a banner of love and grace. Pray against the enemy and his lies that have festered in the many hearts here. God is a good and powerful God full of grace, mighty and majestic and through Him we can do all things. Pray that we remember this as all times and rely on His strength and not our own.

As well as the session God has really been working to refine me in the fire so to speak. I’ve never felt more vulnerable and insecure anywhere ever but I’ve also never felt so at peace knowing that this is where I’m supposed to be. I’m learning to be content just doing what I can for the Lord and accepting the things I can’t. Please note that I said I am learning and still have many moments where guilt sneaks up on me and begins to nag at me saying I should be giving more however I always hear a still small voice whisper that all I am is enough. I’m realizing more and more that life with Christ is quite the journey!
^“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! According to his great mercy, he has caused us to be born again to a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead, to an inheritance that is imperishable, undefiled, and unfading, kept in heaven for you, who by God's power are being guarded through faith for a salvation ready to be revealed in the last time. In this you rejoice, though now for a little while, if necessary, you have been grieved by various trials, so that the tested genuineness of your faith—more precious than gold that perishes though it is tested by fire—may be found to result in praise and glory and honor at the revelation of Jesus Christ.” 1 Peter 1:3-7
Please keep myself, the staff here and the participants working through the brokenness we all have in your prayers as we continue to fight for God’s kingdom to be advanced and for these people to experience His amazing grace and love that he offers to every person.

Be blessed.

less then 24 hrs

I just had an amazing time with friends saying hello catching up then saying goodbye. I don't think it fully sunk in, until I was saying goodbye to the last person to leave, that this will be the last time I see these loved ones for quite some time. It's a bittersweet move but one I'm willing to make. Tormorrow is my last day in maple ridge.
Oh God, may Your kingdom come on earth as it is in heaven.

He's teaching me.

God is our rescue. That concept is new too me. Not that he is our saviour but that He is out rescue. There is a difference. In the past while I've been so stressed out about the up and coming to move that I let myself get caught up in it. I don't know how the realization He can rescue me came about, but it did and what it showed me was that wether I am flipping out with anxiety or not, God is still there and He's still going to extend His hand for my benefit. Slowly but surely He's teaching me to let go of my life. To release the wheel to Him and let come what may. A wise woman once told me that god will never give me second best. I'm tired of choosing it for myself. I'm worth more than that. It amazes me everyday that God is teaching me so much and I haven't even entered my time in Esperanza. These lessons He's teaching me are not easy lessons to learn however when I begin to feel as if I'm slipping God is always there to catch me He's truly rescuing me, every second of everyday and in time I'll be able to pass this token of hope on to someone who may need it just as much as I do. With al these things God is growing in me I know He's has a plan for them to be in use in Esperanza.
You're plan is the best one for me God.
Thank you.

The Beginning

Hello all,
My time at Esperanza draws nearer everyday; There's only two months left! I still have a lot of fundraising to do so thank you for the support you've already given or will be giving! I'm becoming very excited but with that has also come nervousness. However despite anything I am feeling I know that I heard God call me too this and if it is truly in His will He will make a way. Everyone who has given me support wether it be financially, spiritually, or emotionally has been such a blessing to me. It amazes me that God would bless such an underserving person as myself with such beautiful people to help me carry out the calling He's placed on my life. Thank you.
Much Love and Many Blessings,
Jasmine