| | Tis the seasonMerry Christmas Everybody!
I hope this season is full of old traditions and new beginnings for all of you!
I love the holiday season. Its my favorite time of year. I love wrapping gifts, and even more I love watching the people I give them to unwrap them. THE BEST FEELING. I love the colors and the lights and smell of the tree. I know that it is just an arbitrary date that we celebrate Jesus's birth on, but I would have to say we celebrate it well. The commercialism of Christmas shouldn't be there, but at least with my family, the heart of it what Christmas is really stands out. I love that. This year has been extra special, because there is an extra special person in my life. I haven't really told many people, but I have been dating someone for approximately four months now. And I feel so blessed that he is in my life. I am boggled daily about how this happened, or what to do with it. But its going really well, and I thought that it was about time I shared with all of you. It just a big thing that going on for me, and I want to guys to know whats really up so you will be able to pray for me. I have known him for over 2 years and we were good friends for a long time before we started to date, and now he is my boyfriednd. crazy huh? I feel like such a girl writing all this, but its exciting and I do want to share that with my close friends. God is totally working in my heart because of it. I feel like I am being stretched in my faith, to learn more about being selfless, and about what love is. Please pray for wisdom and guidance, and for me to remain thankful.
ALSO!!!
I wanted to let everyone know that I am headed to Oaxaca Mexico for a week in January. Instead of re-writing all of this I am going to copy and paste part of my prayer letter below. Please keep me in your thoughts and prayers January 7-14th. Thanks!
Greetings!
I hope this Christmas season is bringing you and your family much joy!
I am writing this letter to let you know that I am headed to Oaxaca, Mexico for a week in January!
I am have been given the opportunity to go to the town of Zacatepec with a non-profit organization called Growers First. (www.growersfirst.org) Growers First’s primary mission is to reach out to the indigenous coffee farmers in the mountains of Oaxaca. Their efforts are targeted at long-term sustainability for the Mexican people, meeting their health and economic needs. Through micro financing, environmental planning, and organic certification, Growers First aims to equip the farmers enabling them to be successful. The church I have been attending for many years now, The Church by the Sea in Laguna Beach, has committed to partnering with Growers First to help meet both the practical and spiritual need of the families in Oaxaca. I have been eager to join with this organization for many years, and I am very excited to be going from January 7- 14th to help in the effort.
There are nine of us who will be going down to the small town on the Guatemalan border. The main focus of our trip is to help beautify a church in the community. The church was built a few years ago, and is widely used by pastors in the entire Oaxaca region. However, it has never been painted or decorated. We would like to bring the artistic talents of the citizens of Laguna Beach to Zacatepec in order to help make the church a point of pride in the community. We will be there during peak coffee harvesting season, so there are bound to be many other ways for us to get involved with the families. How exciting, I will get to be a part of the harvest!
After the summer I spent in East LA two years ago, I am increasingly aware of the need for people to step out of their comfort zones, to care for those less fortunate in our world. I am going with expectations that God is going to teach me more about his heart for the poor. I truly believe that I am going to be ministered to equally as much as we hope to serve the farmers.
I am so excited to see the fruit that comes from this trip. While I realize our time in Oaxaca is limited, I am confident that our efforts will have a long lasting impact on the community and the church. I also know that it will be a life changing experience for me.
Thank you so much for keeping me in your prayers during this time.
Again, I hope this season is a wonderful one for you and your family.
With Love and Best Regards,
Jenette
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| | Posted 12/23/2006 6:19 PM - 0 comments
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