Prayer request

Hey Guys! just thought I"d drop yu a quick line and let you know that I'm going to far east Asia on outreach, so keep me in your prayers! thanks Jaim.

We're doing a lot of prayer for finances here on the school, we're short $123 900 for outreach fees, but apparently we're doing better than most schools. I'm not asking for money but to help out with prayers, and God will provide. Anyway, I'll let you know about that miracle when it happens. That's a lot of money to be provided when we're in school. My team has all payed, but I'm excited to see where the rest of the school's outreach fees come from. I hope things are well at home, and I miss you all very much. Take care, Jaimie 

First outreach In Christchurch

OK so today a lot of interesting things have been happening. First of all it was my last day to deside where I want to go on outreach. Here were my choices:

AFRICA
> south africa,
> Kenya
> Ghana
> Madagascar
> Tanzania
> maybe Australia
>
SOUTH AMARICA
> chili
> Argentina
> Peru
> Spain
> Morocco
> maybe Columbia
>
SOUTHEAST ASIA
> Indonesia
> Vietnam
> Cambodia
> Thailand
> India/Bangledesh
>
> MIDDLE EAST
> Hong-Kong
> Phillipeans
> India
> Jordan
> Egypt
>
EURASIA
> Singapore
> India?bangledesh
> Latvia
> Russia
> Turkey
> maybe somewhere else
>
FAR EAST ASIA
> phillipeans
> Tiwan
> China

 > Mongolia
 > Nepal myabe
 > maybe PNG
 
in all these places I'll be doing work in orphanages and working with street  kids, in the middle east its more drug rehab ministry and quiet  lets-not-get-thrown-in-jail-stuff. Africa and South America is more teaching. Asia we'll be doing some english teaching. I've narrowed it down, it was an interesting test to see the prayer and support that you all gave me back home so thank you so much. I was glad that I finally got to include you in something majour that was happening to me here, out of my personal journal that I'm a little uncomfortable putting onto the internet.  The lectures here were incredably helpful for myself to hear Gods voice, so I didn't have too much of a problem narrowing out a few choices, and I have enough confidence that I will choose what God wants for me. It was nice to confide in you all especially because its forbidden to talk about it on base, because we might influence each other out of Gods will.

So that was the first part of today. The second was a trip to Christchurch that was my very first encounter with interacting with other cultures and religions.

We all packed into vans this afternoon, and we were going to go sing in the square. It was really nice because we wern't forcing our faith on everyone in the square, but somethinge interested people would wander over and sing with us or tourists would snag one of us for a picture.I've already had someinteresting conversations with some very interesting and friendly people.

Today though, was a little different though.

We went to the square  and after a short trip to a music place that I almost got us thrown out of and the Christ Chrusch, we all met in the square to worship. As we were getting organized a  group of Harnal Chrisna dancers and musicians came parading through the square. I can't spell that let alone say it, but they were dressed in a very traditional hinduish garb with shaved heads and the women in the back of the procession, all playing bells and strange drums and chanting in a forign language. Everything about me twitched at their happy faces too, something about it just gave me the willies. and My first reaction was QUICK! GET OUT A GUITAR AND PLAY LOUDER. haha I'm such a tool.

so we got our stufgf out eventually after they had passed and played. the leaders even looked a little baffled as to how to handle the situation. But we worshped anyway.

So back come the crazy dancing parade after a few minutes, and don't you know it they came dancing towards our little circle around a tree and surrounded us singing and chanting that atcually rang in my brain and was physically painful. I remember the feeling of SING LOUDER and anger that they were mocking us, and that we had to show them up if they were going to be so bold. And then it hit me like a ton of bricks. I should be talking to these people. Jesus didn't try to preach louder, he knew God would fight his battles for him. So I reelazxed a little, and went to go talk with them or someone else szomewhere, just egnore that they were mocking us in the square and that people were starting to wonder what we were going to do about it. Eventually they left. Later Cesar told me that the leader had told him we will worship god together, and he answered that we were worshiping Jesus, so they took off.

As they were walking away, I was regretting my horrible thoughts of competition and whatnot, and I got the feeling of " I will wash the square clean and I will protect you and fight my own battles" (thats the best I can describe it anyway, it was more of a feeling) The clouds opened up right then. It rained like I have enver seen it rain here, and believe me, living on an Island surrounded by ocean, it rains A LOT. I was just standing watching the square by myself under a tree, but it was incredable. The parade hung around for a little while, and then made a mad dash for their van parked in the square. At the same time, my entire team went to play in the rain. It was incredable. Needless to say, I was a little impressed.

After the torential downpore was no more fuin to play in, we all went and started talking to people standing around listening to our music. I got talking to these guys from Saudi Arabia atcually, who were studying here. Needless to say my first instinct was to run, but instead I sliped my ring onto my ring finger and stroled up to help out my rather nieve australian friend who was talking to them by herself. We got tlaking about Saudi arabia, and the language there, and the one guy has a brother in Kingston Ontario. Crazy. and their famlies. Nothing religious, I love how I still am not forcing anything..(phewf) so I got to know them pretty well, and they want to come back and see us again next week. So its great to start meeting people and getting to know the people around. Sarah needless to say was a little offensive, but they still hung around, and are coming back, so living in Canada's mulitcultural London did do me some good after all with cultural sensitivity. It was really interesting.

Anyway, I have to go turn in my desition paper and finish writing a sermonette, so I better get off the computer. I just wanted to share this amazing experience with you. I hope everything is going well and  know that I miss you very much. Love and Prayers, Jaimie

Westport New Zealand

Hey Everybody!

I'm all moved into school! Hurray! It's great fun, My first week of lectures went smoothly, last week was on Worship and interseccion and Hearing Gods voice. The staff did an initation Haka for us, its a traditional Maury "chant" topless and a lot of wierd noises and tongue faces....I have to admit, I was starting to wonder what I'd gotten myself into.

The people here are amazing! My best friend here, Nat, is from England, and theres a couple from Portugal, a girl from Australia, one from NZ, some guys from Holland,  Switzerland, Lots from the states, and about 7 from CANADA (ya baby!) and some other random places like Scottland and Alaska.

I live with 10 other Girls and a cactus in a place called the Ghetto, which is code for the girls dorm on campus. The Guys live upstairs in the main house, and there is a place called the High street house where our library is. The rooms are a little smaller so theres only like 5 in a room, but the ghetto is so much more fun.

The first weekend here Nat and I wand a bunch of people Took the most scenic drive ever to the west coast, to the tazmanian sea, and stayed ina hostel there for the night, right on the ocean. Weswam and had a bonfire, courtocy Justin and the 3 of us went splunking (soo awsome). We also saw the pancake rocks, and Justing and TRevor are MANIACS and climbed over the guardrail to explore the waves crashing against the beautiful razer sharp rocks.  crazies. And Janelle and I went exploring in the caves as the wtide was coming in, and I got attacked by a crab (after I fell into a tibepool. stupid sheep)

The base is so much fun. I've learned to walk a typeroap for concentration on deep things, everyone here thinks I have some kind of death wishg, but really I just like the challange and getting really dirty. I also have taken up skateboarding and trampoline flips, and am taking "crhistian" salsa dancing with Sarah from Australia. Last night we had a spontanious dance party in the classroom, and watched the patcures from a picture scavanger hunt we did last week....hillarious. Aarons Haca was AMAZING. I laughed SO hard. and I got dunked under a FREEZING tap. totally submerged. and we didn't even win. friggin llamas.

The lectures are really challanging. Last week like I said was on Worship and Intercession, and I have joined the worship team. thats pretty powerful here. I'm also doing to "harp and Bowl" for my "sermonette" (a project we have to do). the leader sounds like the lead singer from jars of clay, so thats cool. This week the lectures have been on the importance of having a clean conscience when your in a ministry position, and needless to say I had a few things to clear up, but now am feeling quite wonderful atcually. The team is really close, and now even moreso. My small group leader, Trevor, Is absolutly hillarious, I so lucked out. everyone else does these little poiw wows in the dorms, but trev takes us out last week hedge climbing, and this week to ashle y Gorge and to a waterfall, where we got some really awsome pictures and swam in the freezing cold mountain waters. Everything here is so beautiful, its amazing to wake up and marvel at Gods creations.

 Thank you all so much for your prayers and such, they really mean a lot to me. I am really being streched here, I havn't killed myself doing stupid things and I've grown so much even just being here for 2 weeks. I miss you all very much and I hope to hear from you soon. Take care, and keep smiling, Jaimie

Day 3 of this grand adventure

Hi Everybody!

I hope things are going well, I'm here! New Zealand is a beautiful place, there are mountains and sheep and giant farms streaching as far you can see. Currently I'm staying in a small rural comunity called Glentui, about an hour outside Christchurch, which is on the South Island. The farther south here you go, the colder it gets. Antartica or some crazy reason like that.

I atcually landed in Auckland, which is a more northren city on the North Island. It's a quite a bit more tropical there, the trees looked like something out of a prehistoric movie. I really would have toasted there, hurray for fair skin. Luckily it's a little cooler here, and even though the sun is intence, you don't really feel it. It's sumer here so everythings green, except for the snow caps on the mountains.

I'm staying at Patti and Stephens place for now, it's a beautiful farm, with sheep and race horses. I fed a baby lamb called dork yesterday (some things never change), it was pretty cute. The room I'm in right now has a big bay window at the base of a mountain range, that I'm pretty excited about possibly climbing when I get over some more jet leg. It's spectacular. there's a deer farm on it, and every so often theres a crazy goat or two that goes darting through. Oh and Shelley, I saw a llama farm today. Pretty frekkin a.

I'm coming home with an accent John, hopefully it sticks. Maybe you'll notice some on the video that I'll put on here eventually. I'm stilll [butt]-kicking, and I did remember to pack my towel. Thanks for reminding me.

I saw YWAM today, the campus looks a lot like a farm house in Canada, with a shed kind of classroom behind, and a couple more buildings for the office and whatnot. It's pretty tiny, so I'm glad I packed relitivly light. I still have to buy a skirt though, I'm thinking that's going to explode my bag permenently.

The plane was really cool. My mind was a whirlwind of what the heck have you gotten youself into this time for a few hours, but finally I calmed down. I was kinda spoken to, I suddenly got the feeling that I couldn't force God to work in my life over this trip, so I should just mellow out and enjoy while I can. It's the experience of a lifetime.

I miss you all. It was really hard to say goodbye. I have however been laughing hystarically at the notes you've written in my book and pillow and all over my various other stuff that I brought. Your blesings and prayers mean more to me than you know, goodness knows I need them the way I tend to get myself into trouble. I hope you're having a wonderful new year and I'm loooking forward to hearing from you.

Atcually about that: please leave me a message!  Either sign the guestbook or there is a message space somewhere on here as far as I know.  Also, if you want this page emailed to you when I write a message there is a subscribe button to the left here, click that and voila!

anyway, I'm being told to go have a nap, and because I'm so tired I don't have the energy to argue. SO I'm going to go wrestle wit my jet leg, keep smiling and I'll talk to you later. with love always, J 

- 20 days calmly :)

OK so I was just reading all those old enteries and if you havn't already guessed this, I have a rather darkish side, and all the complaining about not telling you stuff is likely even more darkish, however it's time for some happy news on Jaimie's Xanga! It is exactally 20 DAYS TODAY that I leave for New Zealand. For all you who need an initinarary here you go:

January 1st: hop on a plane, fly to LA, then Auckland and then Patti's (talk about getting the new year off                       to a good start!)

January 12th-ish: Move into RES (AH JAIMIE"S GOING TO RES! finally...it's about time....)

        school, more school, the odd trip to ooo say a hotspring or surfing and whatnot....maybe some missionary street stuff, all sounds pretty boring to me ( AHHHH I WANNA GO NOW!)

End of March Sometime: hike 'er off to some unknown destination like Africa or South America or maybe even indeonesia, I havn't really gotten a go yet, but those are what are on my heart. Etheopean food is pretty fabulious though...I'm not gooa lie...I'm completly kidding, I'm not going to base it on the food...although it's a large factor...haha no

Then about 3 months later, I go to Isreal, where we have a debrief session with our class, and a bit of a tour around Isreal. So CHAOS, that means I get to walk around where Jesus did, and then graduate on the Mount of Olives. That's significant  because thats where Jesus told his desiples to "go and make desiples of all the world"

Then July 5thish I hop on a plane and come home. Well maybe. I might go to Australia and visit Gary and Dianne, Heather and Christeen, depending on how tired I am after all this.

So thats my story, Please ignore anything below this message, it's me on bad days that I need to vent or am lonely or whatnot else that really isn't important now. What IS important is that you come here regularily and read what is now happening on the trip. kapiesh? leave me a message please, anytime, it will be good to hear from home. If your an AYMer, I love you and miss you greatly, and I'm sorry I suck at keeping in touch. Please take these as letters to you for now. I miss you  everyone, friends and family, have a merry christmas, (l) JT