everyday, something new

Well, when you think it can't get any worse...think again!

So, my car's power-steering light has been on since I got the car. We (the previous owner and I) thought it was just a matter of filling the fluid. Unfortunately neither him nor Sergio could find where to put the fluid. Yeah, really strange.

Yesterday while at Grandma and Grandpa's I asked Olivier and Grandpa to see if they could find. No luck! Then Grandpa decided to check online. He found this one discussion thread that mentioned a "capteur d'angle d'attaque" and "300 euros." Now do people see why I just want to go home to what I know?!?! I mean every freakin' day is something new.

We only checked one source, but I was so fed up last night that I didn't want to do any more research on it. I just spent 410 euros fixing the timing belt and some other belt.

That's the latest news...the pic is from the wedding most of us went to at the end of June. This is Nath goofing off. The kids in the youth group did most of the serving of the appetizers and drinks.

Leuven

It has been 10 days since my last blog. Please know that I attempt to add a photo to each blog because I LOVE PICTURES! With that, blogger loves to malfunction when I have something really good to say or a picture to go with it. Anyway the pics give you a better idea of what is going on.

This past week Mary, Angie, and Anjanette came to visit. We did so many things! It was great to see people from home. The best part was that they got to see how and where I am living. They were able to see the little things that are frustrating. Boy am I glad a few people know what I'm talking about now.

The picture from above was from Leuven! It is an awesome town :) So cute. Since I can say I'm still in my third month of culture shock..I must add one bad thing...there was one thing I was missing...a boy. Yes, that's right a boy to walk around with, to hold my hand, for some smoochy smoochy! LOL. Hey I didn't say I didn't appreciate it how it was. I'm just being honest and putting out my feelings right here in this blog :) One day, One day!

ga ga ga GRADES!

Attention folks!!!!!! for those of you who know how long it took me to get my butt into gear after packing, moving, and transition, you will be glad to hear that i got an A- and a B+ on my papers!! wahooooooooooooo.

im a little frustrated with my grad work that is ahead of me. it isnt clear to me what exactly and how i need to be doing things. please pray that i receive guidance on that. im hoping that i can just take the YL courses while im over here and then i can resume my education when i get back to the US.

p.s. ITS SUNNY AND WARM HERE!!! (for now)

back from Switzerland

so i'm back from Switzerland! we arrived late on saturday night. it was a fun time, but the trip there and back was long. we drove about 9hrs both ways.

most of our time was spent in the rain....blahhhh. but whats new? our last two days of camp (thursday and friday) were the best! it was excellent. and saturday was a beautiful day to return home. we drove through france, germany, and luxembourg.

this is a picture of one or our hikes. it was drizzling in the mountains but raining down in town.

im excited to say i actually got a tan. BUT who knows how long it will last because im back in belgium.

the biggest news is that in 10 days ill officially have been here for 3 months. definitely feeling the downhill of culture shock which i have expressed to many of you. yeah basically everything sucks and i just want to go back to what i know. not very many people are understanding me, i cant be myself, i have no friends, i cant just hang out, i have to worry about money all the time. i wonder if this is how life is supposed to be.

there are a few things that keep me going (besides God and my relationship with Christ)... some friends are coming in to town at the end of this week. wahoooo!!! people that actually care about me, that will rely on me, that need me, that support me, that know me. second, im still going home in December! amen for that! i am dyyyyyyyyyiiiinnnnnnggggg to see my friends and family. i want to go back to the life i know. i life i spent so long building. the place where i can help others and others can help me.

most of you know this is a little out of my element since im always chipper, happy, and excited about life. id really like to see myself out of this somber state, so if you need something to pray about, this would be a good thing. thank you :)

NEWS and Updates

• Let me clarify....we are not staying that that ginormous hotel in Gstaad. It would be nice, but it isn't happening! I just wanted to give you the link for you to check out the surrounding area and read a little history about the hotel. It's pretty interesting.
• I have SEVERAL emails I still need to reply to. Please bare with me again as I respond. Sorry to keep you waiting.
• I'm going to a wedding on Saturday morning then going to babysit until Sunday. This Sunday I hope to go to Liesl's church to check it out.
• There is this cool thing going on here next week called Serve the City. You can check it out at www.servethecity.be. I might volunteer one day. If so, I'll give you the scoop on it.
• The house deal is 100% official!!!! I'm gonna get it :) wahooooooooo Now I'll just have to stay put until I can move in. I can't wait to be there!

Birthdays

Blogger never works when I want it to. (Well at least the uploading a photo part) This was really supposed to be up last night. Technology...sheesh!

So, this weekend we celebrated Anthony's birthday. We went to his Aunt Franca's house to have lunch. We got there right after church at noon. We had appetizers, then a break, then lunch, then a break, then cheese and bread, then coffee and dessert. It was a great time of being with family and having good food. I am glad that I can be a part of a family celebration. The night ended at 7:30 p.m. The only bad thing about the get together was it was on Sunday...and Dad, you know what we like to do on Sunday afternoons after lunch ;)

Last week we celebrated Sarah's birthday. The picture is from her birthday evening last Saturday. Photographed above is Sarah(21), Anthony(19), Priscilla(13), their little cousin, and their childhood friends Jem and Ben.

The best part of these meals is that I get to help cook! I love cooking and it is great that I can cook for a lot of people.

Please pray: car

I don't know who reads this or when you read it, but....

The car situation is in discussion. We are working out the transaction. Will you please pray for guidance in making the right decisions. For wisdom, that God gives me the right words to say. For the long term situation, expectations, etc. BIG BIG issues to deal with. Feeling lots of negativism, not towards me, but not liking it at all. PLEASE PRAY!

Feeling strange and unsettled,

Jessica

Evermore

(eating paella at Euroferia)
hey again...I should really be working on my papers :0

Club on Friday was great! It was a "light" Club where the kids take a break from studying for exams. We watched Freedom Writers and then discussed it. Two of the girls from Study Camp showed up!! Wahoo.

Praying for a car and finances with that situation. Here is an excerpt from an email I sent someone which sums it up.

:::Right now I'm praying for a car that is reasonably priced and in good condition. There is one that I will most likely purchase but it $1500 over what we had originally budgeted. Everything is so expensive here and the exchange rate is hurting me. In any case, I know the Lord will provide! He has brought me here, so He'll get me through the difficulties. :::

Thanks for reading this and for your prayers. Be encouraged by this song!

Evermore by Hillsong
Lost for words with all to say
Lord you take my breath away
Still my soul, my soul cries out
For you are holy

And as I look upon your name
Circumstances fade away
Now your glory steals my heart
You are holy
You are holy
You are holy Lord

Evermore my heart, my heart will say
Above all, I live for your glory
Even if my world falls I will say
Above all, I live for your glory

Euroferia Brussels 2007

Liesl and I FINALLY got to hang out this past weekend! Wahoooo :) It was so much fun. We went to Euroferia Brussels 2007. You can google it and check it out online. There were several Brasilian boothes. Yes, I was so in my element. Salsa music, Spanish, Portuguese, latin food, Spanish food....hmmmm!

We also stopped by the Grand Place to pick some things up. Saturday night Liesl cooked a yummy dinner. Boys: currently accepting applications... please take a number. On Sunday we went to the International Protestant Church of Brussels. It was good, but I've begun to feel right at home in the all French services.

This weekend was an incredible confirmation of where I need to be. I could go on and on and on about it. Wow, God uses everything to teach us and show us His will for us.

Pressing on,

Jessica
Listening to Evermore by Hillsong. It is a beautiful song. I thought I would include the words for you. See next post...

the right time

I got a letter from a good childhood friend of mine in the States yesterday. She said that she has been reading my blogs but was waiting for more details. I think I'm getting better at giving more details about my feelings, but would love some more input. Please let me know. As for now, I think this blog will be the most interesting.

Well, I guess this is an excerpt from my testimony aka life story...

Once I got to college I told myself and others that I wanted to be married by September of the year I graduated (now now, you know I don't share my age, so just go along with it). Ummm yeah!??! That did not happen. When I graduated I knew that I was not ready for marriage. All I wanted to do was get my life in line. So I worked, which was awesome! (he he he Viv gets annoyed with that word) Then all I wanted to do was get to Belgium.

During my time working in corporate America and the year I spent fundraising, God taught me a lot about myself and who I want to be. Yeah, I thought I knew. I wouldn't be who I am today if I hadn't gone through what I've been through. He teaches me everyday.

Now that I am in Belgium I feel even more a desire to be married. No, it isn't because all my friends are married. I know it isn't gonna happen right now, but I feel like I've gotten to where I need to be. Not really sure how to explain it. Maybe like running a race. When you get to the finish line and you take a few strides in a circle and then you put you hands on your knees, hang our head down and breathe heavily while you try to catch your breath.

Anyway, I know there is an incredible amount that God is still teaching me. I can't wait! Will He send me a mate?

HAHAHAHA sorry I just wrote that last sentence because it rhymed. Seriously, will He send me someone? Do we ever really know when it is "the right time?"
P.S. The picture has nothing to do with this blog besides ME! Me being happy drinking green tea :)

latest news..........drum roll please

yes yes, it is true! i am going to move in to the house that we have Club in!!!!!!!! Yippeeeee :) Not sure exactly when but sometime before October 1st.

I know many of you have been praying about this for me. I appreciate it! God answers our prayers according to His will. My team here has prayed A LOT about the situation, but we have been praying for His will to be done. We prayed specifically for it in a Leadership meeting on Tuesday and we got word of the news on Wednesday!!!

I'm thrilled and will have plenty of room for guests =p

WE CALL. HE ANSWERS.

correction and EXCHANGE RATE!!!

hi there :)

correction on the blog below the 10,50 euros is round trip so really it is 5,25 euros each train ride.

mom let me have the few euros she had left over from a previous trip and that is what i've been using. i don't have that money anymore so i finally had to exchange dollars for euros. (we've been waiting for me to get a bank account)

i got $50 exchanged and got back 35 euros!!!! that is so bad! i'm gonna be so poor by the time i leave here. you know what i could do with $15?! oh my goodness. i don't know how long it will take me to get over this shock.

have a headache today and really need a tan! have a good one

I took the train by myself

For those of you who have emailed me within the past two days....

I was at another staff couple's house and their computer crashed. Please be praying that they can get everything back. It is such a time consuming matter and Teddy has a class he is teaching tonight that he must prepare for. Anyway, I couldn't check email.

Bare with me as I reply to all the emails while I was not connected to you virtually!

I took the train for the first time yesterday!!! Wahooo that was great. I'm slowly integrating, making this my home, and being more independent. I'M EXCITED! But, I am so thankful for the Murrus and all they do :)

P.S. It is so incredibly expensive here. I took the train to Braine l'Alleud from Charleroi and it would be 10,50 Euros. That is like $12 for one freakin' train ride. How ridiculous?!?! So, visitors please take note of the ginormous price difference. (I got a pass which turns out being 4,50 Euros per train ride anywhere throughout Belgium)

skyblog like myspace

Missing these girls and so many others. XOXO

Picture taken at my going away party.

Not photographed Ann Marie, Danielle, Jill, Kimera, and Kelly.

Here in Belgium the kids do this thing called skyblog. It is kinda like myspace/blogging. Below is a link to one of the girls' skyblogs. The link takes you to the page with some of her pictures of Study Camp. They are on this page and the few pages after. P.S. the words are in internet slang. Don't get confused, French isn't really like Dutch!

http://tokiohotel6280.skyblog.com/10.html

For just one interesting picture click on this link!
http://tokiohotel6280.skyrock.com/photo.html?id_article=960703002

Enjoy :) comments welcome...

Other stuff

Here is a picture of Elise studying at Study Camp.

Summer Camp is only 5 weeks away! We have so many kids coming that we are praying that God provides more vehicles for us to take the kids in. We are still praying for a few more key girls to come.

Roselie and I started discussing room assignments, but we will have to wait and see if there are a few more girls that really need to come will come.

I'm listening to Kari Jobe and HIGHLY recommend you checking her out. Listen at www.karijobe.com. My favorite is Pure (the first song that plays when you go to the site). GO LISTEN!!

Other updates:
***No policeman yet...boooo. We are still waiting.
***We haven't discussed car issues in a week or more. Don't know what is happening with that. It's in God's hands.
***Still don't know about the living situation for September. Keep praying!

Study Camp May '07

This past weekend was Study Camp! It was great :) I was able to meet a lot of kids. After breakfast the kids would study for 90 minutes then have a 30 minute break. That is what they did for the entire 3 days. During breaks, us leaders spent time with the kids. We played soccer, ultimate frisbee, badminton, volleyball, foosball, cards, ping-pong, and just chatted with them.

I was very excited that the kids warmed up to me and I didn't have to feel like I was being an annoying American. They wanted to see pictures of America, so I showed them a few slideshows on my laptop. The best part was that I spoke a lot of French and asked the kids to correct me. We figured out words that we were unfamiliar with in both languages.

When everyone arrived I was intentional about meeting or at least saying hello to most of the girls. I didn't get a chance to say hello to everyone. However, the last girl I said "hi" to was Angelique. She looked so down, upset, tired, and not happy to be there. I even mentioned it to Anthony, another leader.

On Friday night as we were preparing for bed, one of the girls Clementine (13 or 14), from another room came in to say goodnight to everyone and told us that Angelique (15) was talking on her phone with her boyfriend and had some pills with her. Apparently she took several pills and the girls saw, then they didn't know where she went. So, we had to try to find her. Luckily she was just outside smoking. Phewwwff! Yeah, apparently she had just spent a few days in the psych-ward for depression...I don't know the complete story. She met her 35 year old boyfriend there.

She slept in on Saturday and then came out to start studying. Angelique had told Teddy (one of the leaders) that she did not want to have anything to do with God and she was going to go to her room during Club time. During our first Club she went to her room and then came back out to study. On Sunday during Club time she stayed at her table "studying." The studying tables were right next to where we have Club, as a matter of fact, in the same room!!! Yeah :) So, God was definitely working in her. By Monday Angelique was smiling, chatting with others, laughing, and almost able to be a 15 year old girl.

At the end of camp I got everyone's MSN address. It has been so cool to have the kids IM me! I haven't initiated any conversations yet. God has definitely been using me to be in contact with these kids. It has been neat to hear some of them open up with me as well!

Please be praying for Angelique and the other kids here that are unable to just be kids. Many of the kids lives are filled with crap and there is no running from it.

**Picture of the entire group including leaders and some teachers.

food for thought

Many of you have asked about the police man....no he hasn't come yet :/ booooooo
I'm reading a few books right now, but I'd like to share a little bit about one in particular. This is for "churchies" and "non-churchies." So don't stop after you read the title of the book!

I'm reading Philip Yancey's "The Jesus I Never Knew." In his chapter on the Beatitudes, he lists Monika Hellwig's "advantages" to being poor:

1. The poor know they are in urgent need of redemption.
2. The poor know not only their dependence on God and on powerful people but also their interdependence with one another.
3. The poor rest their security not on things but on people.
4. The poor have no exaggerated sense of their own importance, and no exaggerated need of privacy.
5. The poor expect little from competition and much from cooperation.
6. The poor can distinguish between necessities and luxuries.
7. The poor can wait, because they have acquired a kind of dogged patience born of acknowledged dependence.
8. The fears of the poor are more realistic and less exaggerated, because they already know that one can survive great suffering and want.
9. When the poor have the Gospel preached to them, it sounds like good news and not like a threat or a scolding.
10. The poor can respond to the call of the Gospel with a certain abandonment and uncomplicated totality because they have so little to lose and are ready for anything.

I love how Yancey sums this up. He says "[...] poor people find themselves in a posture that befits the grace of God. In their state of neediness, dependence, and dissatisfaction with life, they may welcome Gods' free gift of love." NOW try to substitute the word RICH for poor.

Next, he asked himself if his own attitudes more resembled those of the poor or of the rich. I challenge you to question yourself as well.

1. Do I easily acknowledge my needs?
2. Do I readily depend on God and on other people?
3. Where does my security rest?
4. Am I more likely to compete or cooperate?
5. Can I distinguish between necessities and luxuries?
6. Am I patient?
7. Do the Beatitudes sound to me like good news or like a scolding?

Finally, he states “Dependence, humility, simplicity, cooperation, and a sense of abandon are qualities greatly prized in the spiritual life, but extremely elusive for people who live in comfort.”

Be blessed today! P.S. This beautiful picture was taken with the awesome camera my small group gave to me as a going away gift! Love you guys XOXO the flower is about the size of my thumbnail!!

This weekend

This weekend I went on a church retreat. The first ever in Belgium or US. It was a great time. James Moore was the speaker for the weekend. He is an American who has lived in Canada for the past 30 years. I'm not sure how he got connected with the Wavre Church in Belgium.

After the first session on Friday night, I taught the kids how to play NERTS! If you don't know this card game, YOU MUST LEARN IT! They loved it :) Saturday we had breakfast (le petit dejeuner) then the morning session. It was REALLY long. I'm doing OK with my French, but not for too long. My brain blows up when all I hear is French. That leads me to say that I don't like watching T.V. in French. OK back on track....after the long session we had lunch and then a walk/scavenger hunt type thing. It was really neat and very well planned. We probably walk 6 or 7 miles looking for the places that matched the little photos we had. That is was our map! At a few places along the way we had activities to play. The activities were for adults and kids :) At one we had to play this bowling-like game and then call out all the capitals of European countries. At another we had to walk with and egg on a spoon. At another we had to look at a tray of things for 30 seconds and try to remember everything that was on it. Then we had to taste test food blindfolded, while listing all the ingredients of the food. At the end we had a sac race, some snacks, and then we hiked all the way back through the woods! SO FUN :) They did an incredible job.

In the evening we had a praise and worship night. I recorded some on my camera, but it is too big of a file! I can't figure out how to compress it so that I can put it on youtube. Can anyone help me???

So, I mentioned a little about Isabelle. To recap: She is a 15 year old girl who is the youngest of three. Her mother passed away when she was 5 years old. Her brother and sister, who were 11 and 12 at the time found their mother in her room. Isabelle’s father was cheating on her already depressed mother. He also had a history of hitting her mother and siblings.
....she doesn't go to JV because her cousin Rebecca goes. Yeah, who cares? right?? Well, her dad! Apparently her brother ran away from home sometime and didn't have a place to stay. His Aunt (Isabelle's maternal mother's sister) let him stay with her. When her dad found out he was very upset. Isabelle says he won't forgive her Aunt and that they don't speak. She said, if I went to JV and my dad saw my Aunt, I would be in big trouble! grrr that is so sad. Why do kids have to suffer because of their parents issues?

Before lunch Isabelle said she was sad about leaving camp/the retreat. She didn't want to go home because she doesn't like it at home. She said she doesn't like the physical home because it is old and not well taken care of, but also she doesn't like the atmosphere. I'm not 100% sure, but I think they still live in the house their mother died in. Plus she has a step mother that she doesn't like very much.

Well, all in all I am SO glad I was able to meet Isabelle and get to know her. I told her we could hang out some more. We exchanged numbers and messenger addresses. What a sweet girl! Praying for her family situation, her father letting her go to JV, and her faith. So, far I think she has a good head on her shoulders, but she is only 15..so much could happen.

my weekend...the end <3<3<3

P.S. I didn't mention beer in my update because I HATE beer! But, yes everyone drinks beer here. It isn't a faux pas....even at church events..its very different...its just a drink not a substance.

I'm going to be an AUNT!!!!

yeah :)

Elizabeth is pregnant!

CONGRATULATIONS

to her and Dennis!

The best part=

I'll be in the States for

the birth.

fingers crossed ;)

Belgium, Belgium, Belgium

So far everything is great! Friday night I went to my first club. There were about 15 of us. We played in the park for an hour then returned to the house we have club at. Then had a little snack, sang some songs, and heard a talk about Jesus and the leper. Everyone was very welcoming. Even in that short time I felt as though I got to know the girls pretty well. A couple of the girls are crazy and outgoing like me. There are a few that are shy but very nice.

Next weekend we are going to a church camp. A few of the girls that I met last night will be there. They are so excited that I am going to be there. Apparently the accommodations are for them to stay with their parents. They really don’t want to be with their parents. One girl, Tatiana, who is 15, said she wanted to be with me! How cool is that!??! She doesn’t even know me! We’ll see what happens. We might just have a slumber party with 6 girls in our room of 3.

After club we took some kids home. That is why I need a car. The public transportation is only good in the city. Wavre is NOT the city. It is more like a big Nokesville. Cows, that nice farm smell, green pastures, and open air. Beautiful nonetheless! Anyway…on the way home I asked a girl how she found out about club. She said she was invited to a ski camp and then started going to club. She said that ski camp was the FIRST place she ever heard about God! I think she is 15 or 16. She goes to school in Charleroi during the week and goes home on the weekend. Apparently, she and her father don’t have a very good relationship. She comes by here (the Murru’s) on Wednesdays. I’m excited about spending some time with her!

Everything has been wonderful. I just pray that this “wonderfulness” continues and is not just the honeymoon phase of culture shock. God has definitely prepared me and the group here. I feel so at home here.

So…this house that we have club at. This is the place that I could potentially live in. IT IS PERFECT!!! It is in walking distance of 2 high schools! The story on this house is so cool. There is a woman, Anne, who used to be a leader back in the day. Now her kids go to club. She bought this house to use for meetings and clubs. She is renting it out, but her ultimate goal is to use it for Jeunesse et Vie. Basically it is a JV house. Right now Jean, a Wavre JV leader lives there. He might be moving out (let’s pray). If he does, there’s been talk about me moving in. How cool is that?!?! I could have kids over for lunch (well the ones that are allowed to leave during lunch time). It is a great opportunity for contact work!

Please pray that if it is God’s will for me to live there everything will work out….
***Jean will move
***another couple that might need a place to stay won’t need this particular place
***that Anne will be ecstatic about renting it to me
***if I’m supposed to have a roommate she will be the perfect one
***if it is His will for Liesl to live with me it will all work out.

Also pray for nice weather on Tuesday. It is Labor Day here and we are having a Committee/Leader cook-out in appreciation to all those involved in JV.