2008 Can you believe what God has done!!!!

Wow so here we are again on the brink, on the edge of a New Year. You can't help but look back on this year as well as wanting/longing to get a peek of what is to come.

Last year at this time I was with my Family while Joel stayed at the warehouse to work.
This time last year God gave Joel the release for him and I to leave Friend Ships in May and start a new adventure in life and it was ABOUT this time last year that Joel and I got an email from Joi wondering if we were keeping Dynamite:

"Hey Guys! Any chance that beautiful dog needs a permanent home? My brother is looking for a good dog. (A dog that is NOTHING like Buddy!!!) let me know if he is a good dog...you can email me cause I don't check blogs very often! Would love to hear from you! -joi"

Before that email we were making all the plans and arrangements to keep our pets. But after reading that email from Joi the Lord spoke to me saying He wanted us to give up our pets.
I bawled like a baby.

So from January to May Joel and I spent our last few months with Friend Ships in Los Angeles at the warehouse. Making arrangements for our pets, getting the warehouse ready for us to leave, and other odds and ends that goes with closing a huge, life changing chapter in our lives.

It was at Friend Ships I became born again and found what having a true relationship with Jesus Christ was all about. It was a Friend SHips Joel and I grew and matured in our walk with God and it was at Friend SHips that Joel and I met, fell in love, and married. Joel had been with Friend SHips for just one month shy of 8 years and I had been a few months over 5 years.

We left Friend Ships May 1st and gave up our three cats in that same day. Wow what a big first step. Joel and I stayed with my family for 2 and 1/2 months. We volunteered for a Women and Childrens Free Restaurant that provided groceries once a week and a lunch 3 days a week. We only volunteered Friday.

After that Joel, Dynamite, and I went to Virginia to visit our dear and wonderful (ex-Friend Ships crew) friends who love God just as much as we do. During that week visit is when we gave Dynamite over to Dan and Mary. They are the best couple for Dynamite and God was so gracious during this transition.

We then headed up to Canada to spend 2 and 1/2 months with Joel's family and seek God where He wanted us next. It wasn't until September with much prayer and tears and joy that we took Mom and Dad Wendles request to take their 3 churches for 3 months so they could have a time of rest and seeking God.

So that is where we are now. Over three churches (one in Idaho and two in Montana) Our time ends after the 1st weekend in Febuary and as of now we are praying and seeking God what is next for us.

I do wish God would give us a little peek for the year to come but we have options and are praying for God's perfect will for our lives. That we would present our bodies as a living sacrfice and that our words and actions would be pleasing to Him.

SO as you rethink this past 2008 we hope that it was joyful for you with some struggles but above all else you will see clearly where the hand of God has been.

May He, our Lord, richly bless you this year with His peace, joy, and love no matter what you go through. For we are all more than conquerors in Christ Jesus.

Blessing to all,
Joel and Dess

Just before the 3 Christmas eve service.
(I know we look super pale but it was the flash of the camera.
No really. No really really.)

Joel and Flowers

I totally have to brag on my husband. He is the most wonderful man I know. The biggest problem I have is that since we spend every minute of every hour of every day together I tend to take Joel for granted and forget just how wonderful he truly is.

So this week I hurt my back. I have had back pains in the past but this is and was just to painful to do anything. It was so bad that Joel had to put on my boots for me because I couldn't do it myself.

This brought us to the point that Joel had to do the craft fair all by himself and he was more than willing. Telling me if he didn't love me he wouldn't do the craft fair at all especially by himself. And you know what is even more of a heart twister no one bought anything the first day. (As I write this Joel is by himself on the second day of the craft fair)

Then yesterday Joel brings home a dozen roses for me because he loves me and wants me to get well. What a man. I love that guy.

SO this blog is all about Joel and how great he is and how much I appreciate him. Thank You God for my man whom you have blessed me with.

There are tons of other things that Joel has done that are just awww moments but it would take to long and I am sure you would get bored. SO I will keep it short and sweet.

Thank you Joel for being a wonderful man and treating me like a Queen.

Loved by Jesus and Joel,
Dess

Joel with Smokey the Bear (My brother-in-law, Forrest in the bear suit)

My Dozen Roses (I just couldn't help trying to capture their beauty in the snow)

A piece of pie can bring peace!!!!

Greetings to ya'll,

Since writing the last blog so so sooooo much has happened in events and what God is doing on the inside of Joel and I.

Captain Jake was able to come up and preach at the three churches. He was our guest speaker so we took him around to each of the three churches. Joel and I did everything but the message and it was wonderful!!!! The message was off the hook and it was nice not to have to preach on Sunday. I love being fed the word of God. Joel and Jake had a great time with "GUY/MALE" bonding. Joel and I also took Jake around our cabin to show him the sights and what this part of the country had to offer. Thanks Jake for such a wonderful time. He will be (God willing) back in January to do another round of preaching at the three churches.

Being over the churches is a stretch for Joel and I. WE have never done this kind of thing before, EVER. It really is overwhelming and mind blowing at times but with God leading and guiding us we can look back on each day and see where the Hand of God was in each situations. WHICH IS AWESOME!!!!!

One of the things that makes me chuckle, laugh, giggle and is a challenge all in the same breath is that in Clark Fork across from our church we have a baptist church. Rumor has it they don't like us, which I find fun, funny, and a challenge to kill them with kindness. I love it I love it I love it. I wave to them and say good morning in a very girlly high pitch voice. (Not to make fun of them, I feel if I were to do it in a serious voice and they were to not respond I would feel rejected. I am being very serious on the inside with wanting to greet them!!!) Some have greeted me back very suprised. Others have turned the other way.

The other day was so much fun. WE (the church) after service put up Christmas decorations. on the inside and kind of on the out side. WE put up the tree on the inside and Mary, Joseph and Jesus on the outside. A man from the church started yelling at us or "evangelizing" Saying we shouldn't worship a Catholic holiday, and we shouldn't go to bars and he was going to sit there and preach the gospel to who would ever listen. Well being we were the only one's on the street besides him my guess was he was preaching to us. Hehehe so fun, RIGHT? Me being the adventurous one and wanting to conquer with kindness I went inside grabbed a piece of pie we had had from "fellowship" time and went out to give it to him. Every one else had gone inside by this time. I really didn't know what the man was going to do. He could have thrown it back in my face or threw it on the ground and stomped on it. All of these scenarios were playing in my head as I approached him. I said "Hello sir would you like a piece of pie" He looked at me smiled and took it. Just before I turned away to walk back to the church he said "Thank you and God Bless you" I was so pumped you wouldn't even believe it. A few minutes later both Joel and I got in our car to leave and the man and I waved at each other and said Good bye to one another. I was loving it. Thank you GOD!!!!

Other things have happened with the three churches. Joel and I both felt really really really strongly to start a prayer meeting at each church. We find it so important to cover the church, the people, our loved ones, community, and anything else on our hearts in prayer. There have been a few who have came out. One woman had never been to a prayer meeting and asked what happened at a prayer meeting so we explained it to her. It really is great to pray as one body with the saints!!!

We had a death in the church. A lady lost her life to Cancer. That was really hard. I cried and cried. I don't really want to go into details or talk about it but God is good and has been speaking peace over me as Joel and I mourn. Please pray for her husband as he grieves over her death.

Bible studies have been good. We have homework every once in a while. Last homework we had was "Do good people go to heaven" "Did Jesus sin" "Is questioning/doubting God sin" You know even when Joel and I have answers to the questions we like to have homework so everyone can go and study the bible on our own and seek out God. I love it.

One last thing to praise God for. I was really wanting some girl friends that I could talk to that I knew and they knew me. I prayed to God asking for this and within 30 minutes if not less Kippin my best friend called. We talked and I felt better and over a course of a few weeks I have had at least 5 girls from around the country who I know through Friend Ships email or call me saying that God had put me on their hearts or that they had been really wanting to talk to me. Thank you God for providing what I need when I need it. Thank you for answering prayer!! You are a good and awesome God!!!

Well that is it. The following pics are from being in Idaho and from our "American" Thanksgiving we had at my parents place. I love family. It is so good to be with loved ones.

WE love ya'll very much and miss all of you that are far away from us. May God richly bless your day. And know that Jesus came to give us life and to give us life in Abundance!!! Amen

God's love through Jesus,
Dess

Joel and I

My Sister Tammie, Mom, and I

My Nephew Dean and I