White as Snow

Springtime in Minnesota is something more than a little bi-polar. Yesterday afternoon I was walking across the grass in flip-flops and capris, looking forward to a warm -- relatively -- Easter weekend.
I woke up at 6:30 this morning to find this.

The world had been coated in a thick, fluffy layer of snow. The weatherman's "possibility of 1 - 3 inches of snow" turned into closer to twelve inches by the time it stopped coming down, late this afternoon.

My planned, all day, excursion down by the river was shortened to about two hours before I came in and hid away in a storage room to enjoy the peace and quiet.

Word to the wise:
"Springtime in Minnesota is like trying to pick flowers that have been painted onto a brick wall. By the time you get close enough to grab them, you have already jammed your knuckles."
--thank you Peter Burr

Jessica Mac <><

1 Corinthians 12

Just Around the River Bend

How is it that things can be so beautiful from a distance even while they are nasty and mucky up close?


Everything is melting and turning to mud, but the vistas down by the river are incredible.

The weather is finally starting to warm up around here -- although the natives tell us that it is probably a false spring -- and it is gorgeous. I went on a walk and took pictures after work today, and I couldn't help but feeling like God had painted the sky just for me.

I am nowhere near skilled enough with a camera to do the beauty of it justice, but some of the better pictures are here in an online album.

Blessings,
Jessica Mac
1 Corinthians 13:1

Kenya Team 2009

The following crazy people will be spending 16 months together in Kenya starting next January.

Me Melissa Myers
Esther Byington

Jason Wong

Warren Sterling

Rebecca JohnsonAshlet Stewart

Sarah Richey

Heath BrownLaura Stocks

and Natalie and Waylon Clemmons

Yeah, we're an odd bunch. Lol. What can I say?

Kenya '09

The 2009 Kenya internship team

ME

Jason Wong
Laura Stocks
Ashley Stewart

Warren Sterling

Sarah Richey

Melissa Myers

Rebecca Johnston

Heath Brown

Esther Byington

and Natalie and Waylon Clemmons

The True and Utter East

Why is it that life always seems to make so much more sense when you're surrounded by people you love and your heart says that it is home? There is no place that I would rather be in this moment, and I can only praise God that, in His great mercy, He has brought me home for this time. It seems that everything we have been striving to achieve on the BCOM campus already exists here. The presence of God rests heavy on this place, and the lives of the youth show it. Even in the church body as a whole, large as it is, the remnants of His mercy can be seen, hovering around, clinging to people even after the service has ended.

The something that we have been anticipating, waiting for and watching God prepare our hearts to receive, for all of these years, is finally here. This is by no means the end, but it is the beginning of the end. If we continue on this course, we will soon enough reach the true and utter east, where our land collides with that of the Emperor Over the Sea, where the water tastes sweet, and where Aslan dwells.

My soul is content, and my spirit rejoices to receive this confirmation of all that His Spirit has told me regarding this place. His mercy is great and His glory shall not be denied.

May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of His sufferings.

Jessica Mac <><