Being at Stockton was off the Hook. And I almost didn't go last weekend because it was so last minute. But thanks to God giving me Peace and Joel encouraging me to go, I went. Yeah it took 6 hours but it didnt' seem that long on the way there.
I was able to stay with my closest friend Toni. Who has four wonderful fun Teens. Well 3 are teens the youngest is almost a teen. Yikes. Go Toni.
But Church, that is where I got my PRAISE ON. Oh I was so refreshed. I got my Praise on like no other. I hadn't got my praise on like that in a long time. I Praise God So hard that by the second service, after the second praise and worship with singing, I stank. I mean I was so sweety. I was a mess and I could smell myself. I felt bad for the people around me. My shirt I wore was drenched in sweet and I drank most of my water bottle by first service. It was that good. I can't wait to go back and I can't wait to move there some day.
The message was awesome. I love Pastor Rufus's Preaching. The message was "The Crowd" There was two parts. One you can be outside the crowd and they can try to contol you. The example was the blind begger yelling to Jesus but their was a loud crowd making noise around Jesus. And the begger yelled, "Jesus son of God have mercy on me." But the crowd hushed him, telling him to be quiet. SO what did the begger do he yelled louder and again. Jesus son of God have mercy on me. So when Jesus healed the begger the man got up and started following Jesus and priasing God. So what did the crowd do, they stopped making noise and started praise God. So to learn from that. The crowd can be your friend or foe. And if you don't do what the crowd wants you to do they will try to control the situation.
Second crowd example is that the crowd can blind you and keep you from seeing what is around you. Like when zechias (spell?) was trying to get to Jesus but he was short and their was a crowd around Jesus. So zechias climb the tree and called out to Jesus and in the end after zechias talked with Jesus and said he would do right Jesus said "Salvation has come to your house now I am going to go to your house and dine with you" Well the crowd didn't like that and said "That is a sinner Jesus is going to eat with"
SO Pastor Rufus put us in Jesus's shoes. That the crowd was blinding Jesus from zechias. And that as christians our "christian" clique can blind us from those that are not saved and need God. And some times we have to pull away from the crowd to reach out to the unsaved because we are way to comfortable in our christian "clique"
It was good and it ministered to me. I needed that message. I realized even more that I let the crowd control some of my actions when instead I need to step out and do what I feel the Holy Spirit is leading me to do.
So Church was awesome I didn't want to leave. And I pretty muched cried the entire time I was in church because I was so happy to be there. Praise God he gave me a chance to visit.
Well that is all. Love ya'll
Be Blessed and Don't Follow or be blinded by the Crowd!!!!
Friday, August 24, 2007
Sunday, August 19, 2007
Home Alone
Hi Everyboby,
Well, i'm writing for a change. I'm writing mostly because Dess is out of town for the weekend and i'm bored. I've been playing my computer game for hours on end, and now i need to do something more productive, like write on the blog.
First off, i want to mention the fact that no one has commented to Dess' latest posts. We need some feedback and input from you guys to help us know that writing on this blog is worthwhile. So we appreciate any sort of encouragement to write that we get.
Like i said, Dess is gone for the weekend. She left for Stockton, CA on Saturday morning. It was last minute but planned at the same time. She had been trying to get to Stockton for the past couple of months but stuff kept coming up. Then this weekend she had hoped to go but we found out short notice that we were having some visitors to the warehouse. So the visitors postponed on Friday evening saying they would come later in the week and Dess decided she would go to Stockton. She may write and post some pictures about it when she gets back.
I haven't been doing a lot. I bought some cheap old roller blades from Salvation Army last weekend, so i've turned the 3rd floor into a roller rink. I've got a decent sized oval track that i can do laps. I even take Dynamite with me and he follows along, biting at a piece of rope i drag behind me. It's a good work out for him and it's fun for me.
Dess mentioned about how things have been tough. It's been an emotional fatiguing time for us. I've been numb to the world around me lately and i need to get back in tune with things.
I don't really have much to write about right now, so i'll sign off.
joel
Well, i'm writing for a change. I'm writing mostly because Dess is out of town for the weekend and i'm bored. I've been playing my computer game for hours on end, and now i need to do something more productive, like write on the blog.
First off, i want to mention the fact that no one has commented to Dess' latest posts. We need some feedback and input from you guys to help us know that writing on this blog is worthwhile. So we appreciate any sort of encouragement to write that we get.
Like i said, Dess is gone for the weekend. She left for Stockton, CA on Saturday morning. It was last minute but planned at the same time. She had been trying to get to Stockton for the past couple of months but stuff kept coming up. Then this weekend she had hoped to go but we found out short notice that we were having some visitors to the warehouse. So the visitors postponed on Friday evening saying they would come later in the week and Dess decided she would go to Stockton. She may write and post some pictures about it when she gets back.
I haven't been doing a lot. I bought some cheap old roller blades from Salvation Army last weekend, so i've turned the 3rd floor into a roller rink. I've got a decent sized oval track that i can do laps. I even take Dynamite with me and he follows along, biting at a piece of rope i drag behind me. It's a good work out for him and it's fun for me.
Dess mentioned about how things have been tough. It's been an emotional fatiguing time for us. I've been numb to the world around me lately and i need to get back in tune with things.
I don't really have much to write about right now, so i'll sign off.
joel
Thursday, August 16, 2007
Check out our Flickr site!!!!
Hey AlSO!!! Check out our flickr site. www.flickr.com/photos/butlerboy
Joel just put some new photos up. SO Check them out!!!
Joel just put some new photos up. SO Check them out!!!
Pure Gold for Jesus!!!
The saying is true that you should be careful what you ask/hope/pray for you might just get it. (in my case I prayed and got what I wanted but not in the way I thought it would come)
So God has seemed very distant lately. I blamed myself mostly. I mean there is only two things that can keep us at a distant with God.
1) Ourselves. We can get distracted, our thoughts can be so horrible it can keep us from the presense of God, our actions, so you get the point
2) Then there is God. Some times or as Kippin likes to say some "Seasons" God will draw back from us to grow. Kind of like when you are learning how to ride a bike. My Dad would hold the bike while I was peddling and at one point he let go so I could learn on my own how to ride the thing. I freaked out and nearly wrecked when I found out he wasn't holding my bike any longer. Some times God will let Go so that we can walk out whatever the thing is in our lives to grow more.
Well lately I have been crying out for more of My heavenly Father. He has just felt so far away. So dry. Even when I worship with music I don't feel his presense.
My First reaction is to blame myself and I would say for the most part it has been my (Dad butler saying) "Stinkin THINKIN" I have been moody with my thoughts and complaining. Goodness. I am like the Israelites in the desert. Complain complain complain. As Joyce Meyer's would say. Complain and Remain. Praise and Be Raised. SO true. Sounds like it is so nerd thing to say but I can't tell you how true that is.
So things have been hard with Joel and I. Who knows why, it just has. But it has brought me to my knees. I casted my cares on Jesus. My Marriage, my dreams of marriage, and I casted Joel. For it takes two but I can't control Joel and he can't control me. So just to give my marraige over to Christ instead of me trying to take the wheel and screw up. So Here Lord I give it to you.
Also it has been hard at the warehouse. People are offended here. There is nothing we can really do about it but again it is to my knees these situations bring. I take it to the cross where Jesus conquered all. You know some times I don't feel like "more than a conquerer" but we are. That is what the bible says so it must be true and it is true. Again I cast my cares on you father God for you care for me.
Then there is interpersonal communication. (aka interaction with other people) Yikes again more casting it to God. Giving him my thoughts and actions. Praying he would help me put all my thoughts under CHrist control so I do not screw up my mood.
Because this is how it goes. You first have your thoughts. Which create an emotion which then lead to a behavior then the results.
So 1) Thoughts 2) emotion 3) behavior 4) results. Well I made the 4th one up I forgot what I was taught but the first three are true. SO inorder to put my actions pleasing to God I must first commit my thoughts to God. Then the rest will follow.
So things are hard here lately but I praise God they are because for the first time in who knows how long I feel closer to God. On Tuesday I went to church and for the first time in a long time when we worshipped with Music I could feel the presense of God again. So I do thank him for Trials. They aren't fun but they are worth all the Gold in the world for that is what happens when the refining fire (Jesus) comes, it makes us into pure gold for Him.
Turning into Pure Gold for Jesus,
Dess
So God has seemed very distant lately. I blamed myself mostly. I mean there is only two things that can keep us at a distant with God.
1) Ourselves. We can get distracted, our thoughts can be so horrible it can keep us from the presense of God, our actions, so you get the point
2) Then there is God. Some times or as Kippin likes to say some "Seasons" God will draw back from us to grow. Kind of like when you are learning how to ride a bike. My Dad would hold the bike while I was peddling and at one point he let go so I could learn on my own how to ride the thing. I freaked out and nearly wrecked when I found out he wasn't holding my bike any longer. Some times God will let Go so that we can walk out whatever the thing is in our lives to grow more.
Well lately I have been crying out for more of My heavenly Father. He has just felt so far away. So dry. Even when I worship with music I don't feel his presense.
My First reaction is to blame myself and I would say for the most part it has been my (Dad butler saying) "Stinkin THINKIN" I have been moody with my thoughts and complaining. Goodness. I am like the Israelites in the desert. Complain complain complain. As Joyce Meyer's would say. Complain and Remain. Praise and Be Raised. SO true. Sounds like it is so nerd thing to say but I can't tell you how true that is.
So things have been hard with Joel and I. Who knows why, it just has. But it has brought me to my knees. I casted my cares on Jesus. My Marriage, my dreams of marriage, and I casted Joel. For it takes two but I can't control Joel and he can't control me. So just to give my marraige over to Christ instead of me trying to take the wheel and screw up. So Here Lord I give it to you.
Also it has been hard at the warehouse. People are offended here. There is nothing we can really do about it but again it is to my knees these situations bring. I take it to the cross where Jesus conquered all. You know some times I don't feel like "more than a conquerer" but we are. That is what the bible says so it must be true and it is true. Again I cast my cares on you father God for you care for me.
Then there is interpersonal communication. (aka interaction with other people) Yikes again more casting it to God. Giving him my thoughts and actions. Praying he would help me put all my thoughts under CHrist control so I do not screw up my mood.
Because this is how it goes. You first have your thoughts. Which create an emotion which then lead to a behavior then the results.
So 1) Thoughts 2) emotion 3) behavior 4) results. Well I made the 4th one up I forgot what I was taught but the first three are true. SO inorder to put my actions pleasing to God I must first commit my thoughts to God. Then the rest will follow.
So things are hard here lately but I praise God they are because for the first time in who knows how long I feel closer to God. On Tuesday I went to church and for the first time in a long time when we worshipped with Music I could feel the presense of God again. So I do thank him for Trials. They aren't fun but they are worth all the Gold in the world for that is what happens when the refining fire (Jesus) comes, it makes us into pure gold for Him.
Turning into Pure Gold for Jesus,
Dess
Wednesday, August 08, 2007
Just wanted to Check in
Hey Ya'll,
Things here are really good. It is only the beginning of the week and we have 5 pallets of Pomagranet Juice, 1 pallet of artichokes, 1 pallet of radishes and 3 tri-wall boxes of plums. Tomorrow are getting 3 to 4 pallets of Yogurt.
This is exciting. To get all this free food to give it freely to the churches so they can freely give it to those in need and share Christ love. I love it.
But you know there is a downer (some of the time) Because I want to be the one praying with people and giving the food to those that need it and making sure I am Kingdom building. But that is not what JOel and I are called to do (at this moment) So we pray and trust that the churches are not just giving food out but are praying and loving on the unloveable. Those that have been rejected by society. Or just those that are in need in this season in their life. That aren't rejects but have hit a few bumps on this road called life which God has given to us as a free gift.
And who knows when we have our own food ministry that we won't have a group of our own volunteers go out and pass out food as well as other groups or organizations or individuals passing out food. You never know. IT has been in my thoughts that we could have people from around the area from different churches be trained by us and they would be considered "our" volunteers who would go out and show the love of Christ but would also invite them to their church as well. It is just a thought. Whether it is my own thoughts or a promting from the Holy Spirit, I don't know. Because the Holy Spirit does give us ideas at times. So that we might do good work for Christ which has been planned ahead of time for us to do. (paraphrase to the max, but you get the point)
YOu know I am learning more and more that there are three factors to our thinking. There is us (of course) there is God giving us thoughts, and there is Satan. Some times we don't know if it is God's doing or Satans doing until time has passed.
For an example parable whatever to help get your mind wrapped around what I am saying. Lets say I am trying to get pregnant (Which I am not, please keep in mind this is an example and not my life) So lets say I am trying to get pregnant. One day I get sick. I throw up. And I keep throwing up. I start to think am I sick or am I pregnant. Only time will tell. Same with God and Satan at times. Because Satan does mimick God . . . .. . . A LOT. Is this God or is this Satan. SO any way. I am just rambling but this is what I have been thinking about lately.
Well that is it from me. It is not much. But there is not much going on.
Be Blessed My Friends and Fam.
Dess
Things here are really good. It is only the beginning of the week and we have 5 pallets of Pomagranet Juice, 1 pallet of artichokes, 1 pallet of radishes and 3 tri-wall boxes of plums. Tomorrow are getting 3 to 4 pallets of Yogurt.
This is exciting. To get all this free food to give it freely to the churches so they can freely give it to those in need and share Christ love. I love it.
But you know there is a downer (some of the time) Because I want to be the one praying with people and giving the food to those that need it and making sure I am Kingdom building. But that is not what JOel and I are called to do (at this moment) So we pray and trust that the churches are not just giving food out but are praying and loving on the unloveable. Those that have been rejected by society. Or just those that are in need in this season in their life. That aren't rejects but have hit a few bumps on this road called life which God has given to us as a free gift.
And who knows when we have our own food ministry that we won't have a group of our own volunteers go out and pass out food as well as other groups or organizations or individuals passing out food. You never know. IT has been in my thoughts that we could have people from around the area from different churches be trained by us and they would be considered "our" volunteers who would go out and show the love of Christ but would also invite them to their church as well. It is just a thought. Whether it is my own thoughts or a promting from the Holy Spirit, I don't know. Because the Holy Spirit does give us ideas at times. So that we might do good work for Christ which has been planned ahead of time for us to do. (paraphrase to the max, but you get the point)
YOu know I am learning more and more that there are three factors to our thinking. There is us (of course) there is God giving us thoughts, and there is Satan. Some times we don't know if it is God's doing or Satans doing until time has passed.
For an example parable whatever to help get your mind wrapped around what I am saying. Lets say I am trying to get pregnant (Which I am not, please keep in mind this is an example and not my life) So lets say I am trying to get pregnant. One day I get sick. I throw up. And I keep throwing up. I start to think am I sick or am I pregnant. Only time will tell. Same with God and Satan at times. Because Satan does mimick God . . . .. . . A LOT. Is this God or is this Satan. SO any way. I am just rambling but this is what I have been thinking about lately.
Well that is it from me. It is not much. But there is not much going on.
Be Blessed My Friends and Fam.
Dess
Friday, July 27, 2007
Has it been Since May 18th, GOODNESS
So it really has been too long since we have blogged. For one thing I have talked myself out of blogging too many times using the excuse that no one is going to look any more since we haven't blogged in forever. But then one of our good friends told us he still looks to see if we have written on our blog. So this is for you man and for those that are faithful and still look at our blog.
Yeah it has been three months and everything and nothing has happened. So where do I begin. Well the food ministry has been awesome and frustrating. It has been awesome because we are getting in more food per week and have accepted more churches to come and pick up from us. Frustrating because I feel dry and redundent in my prayers every week that we pray with each group that comes and picks up from us. I almost feel like I am not doing my job since it feels like the same prayer every week. I need a refreshing in my spirit. I need God to fill my cup to overflowing. I need a good blast and filling of the Holy Spirit. I just need more of God and less of me. CAN I GET AN AMEN!!!
So our pets are growing up. They are so cute. Dynamite is only three months and he is well over 20 lbs. The kitties are growing up as well but no where near as fast as Dynamite and Dynamite thinks they are a chew toy. Poor kitties, but they take it like a man or uh cat. Then Ms. Bird well she just wants love and attention like any other cockatiel. (Don't know if I spelled that right)
So we have been picking up more and more, this week we had a total of 39,000 lbs. Just for this week. We picked up 6 pallets of Pomagranet/Blueberry Juice, 2 Pallets of Tomatoes, 2 Pallets of Mushrooms, 3 Pallets of Yogurt, Goodness that is just some stuff I can't remember all. It is such a blessing to have the churches Kingdom build. We are all just doing our part as the body of Christ.
I love driving my Truck. I feel like a big bad trucking Mama. WEll I can say that since I am not driving it at this moment. When I am on the road I pray like no other asking for protection. That God would protect me from reckless drivers and that God would protect other drivers from ME. Hehehehe.
Well it feels like in less than a year that Joel and I might be leaving. Can you beleive it. Now this is not in stone but we both feel it is coming down to the wire. Do we know where we are supposed to go. Not as of. There are plenty of things we could do but which one does God want us to do. What good work has God prepared ahead of time for us to do. That is the question. Joel and I are no longer our own. We don't get to chose where we live and where we work. Yes God has given us a free will and we can deny anything he has for us but we don't want to. And yes we can serve God in many ways but we both feel God has something or SOMETHINGS very specific for Joel and I. I especially feel that after Friend Ships I will start other food ministries. For the past 4 years I have been put in the food ministry and back in the food ministry over and over. Some times I TRIED to get out of it but I was always put back. And now doing the church aspect of it I love it even more. It is what I want to do for the rest of my life. What I feel God is preparing me here at Friend Ships to do now and later. BRING IT ON.
So what else. Well Joel and I were able to "JUMP SHIP" and suprise my mom and dad for their 40th anniversary. Both my sisters would be in the same area as my parents so my oldest sister flew Joel and I up just to suprise Mom and Dad and celebrate as a family. It has been about 2 years since all of us girls have been together. All my neices and nephews were there and both my sisters and brother in law. It was so much fun. I didn't want to leave. I am getting more and more close to my family. Which hasn't been, so Praise God what He is doing with my family.
So that is about it. We love all of you, sorry it has been so long. We are going to be writing more.
GOD's LOVE,
Dess
Yeah it has been three months and everything and nothing has happened. So where do I begin. Well the food ministry has been awesome and frustrating. It has been awesome because we are getting in more food per week and have accepted more churches to come and pick up from us. Frustrating because I feel dry and redundent in my prayers every week that we pray with each group that comes and picks up from us. I almost feel like I am not doing my job since it feels like the same prayer every week. I need a refreshing in my spirit. I need God to fill my cup to overflowing. I need a good blast and filling of the Holy Spirit. I just need more of God and less of me. CAN I GET AN AMEN!!!
So our pets are growing up. They are so cute. Dynamite is only three months and he is well over 20 lbs. The kitties are growing up as well but no where near as fast as Dynamite and Dynamite thinks they are a chew toy. Poor kitties, but they take it like a man or uh cat. Then Ms. Bird well she just wants love and attention like any other cockatiel. (Don't know if I spelled that right)
So we have been picking up more and more, this week we had a total of 39,000 lbs. Just for this week. We picked up 6 pallets of Pomagranet/Blueberry Juice, 2 Pallets of Tomatoes, 2 Pallets of Mushrooms, 3 Pallets of Yogurt, Goodness that is just some stuff I can't remember all. It is such a blessing to have the churches Kingdom build. We are all just doing our part as the body of Christ.
I love driving my Truck. I feel like a big bad trucking Mama. WEll I can say that since I am not driving it at this moment. When I am on the road I pray like no other asking for protection. That God would protect me from reckless drivers and that God would protect other drivers from ME. Hehehehe.
Well it feels like in less than a year that Joel and I might be leaving. Can you beleive it. Now this is not in stone but we both feel it is coming down to the wire. Do we know where we are supposed to go. Not as of. There are plenty of things we could do but which one does God want us to do. What good work has God prepared ahead of time for us to do. That is the question. Joel and I are no longer our own. We don't get to chose where we live and where we work. Yes God has given us a free will and we can deny anything he has for us but we don't want to. And yes we can serve God in many ways but we both feel God has something or SOMETHINGS very specific for Joel and I. I especially feel that after Friend Ships I will start other food ministries. For the past 4 years I have been put in the food ministry and back in the food ministry over and over. Some times I TRIED to get out of it but I was always put back. And now doing the church aspect of it I love it even more. It is what I want to do for the rest of my life. What I feel God is preparing me here at Friend Ships to do now and later. BRING IT ON.
So what else. Well Joel and I were able to "JUMP SHIP" and suprise my mom and dad for their 40th anniversary. Both my sisters would be in the same area as my parents so my oldest sister flew Joel and I up just to suprise Mom and Dad and celebrate as a family. It has been about 2 years since all of us girls have been together. All my neices and nephews were there and both my sisters and brother in law. It was so much fun. I didn't want to leave. I am getting more and more close to my family. Which hasn't been, so Praise God what He is doing with my family.
So that is about it. We love all of you, sorry it has been so long. We are going to be writing more.
GOD's LOVE,
Dess
Friday, May 18, 2007
It's Been TOO long.
Hello Hello Hello,
I doubt any one is reading this any more. But you never know. I don't even know where we last ended. It has been crazy. We haven't been in the same place for more than a month since December.
So at the beginning of December Joel and I were supposed to go on vacation and see our families but things happened with the ship coming back from Israel so they flew Joel and I to the Canary Islands to meet the ship there and to help sail it back to Louisiana. We were at the Canary Islands for a week with the ship and then three weeks sailing. It was so hard and wonderful all at the same time. Hard because we were in vacation mode and then awesome because most of the crew on the ship were leaving Friend Ships right after the mission so we would not have been able to say good-bye had we been on vacation.
So we were sailing from December to January. Then From January to February we were asked to go to the Los Angeles Warehouse to take a look around and see if we wanted to stay at the warehouse perminatly. So for four weeks we stayed helped out and looked around and in the end felt it was where God was calling us next. So then we still needed to go on vacation.
That is when we drove back to Lousiana from California and then flew to Canada where we stayed with Joel's family for 4 weeks then 3 weeks with my family in Idaho/Washington. It was hard but restful and we were ready to conquer the world well the warehouse in LA.
So in April we were back in Louisiana got our Class B trucker license. Drove a big truck (not semi) to California. And have been here since the end of April beginning of May.
What an adventure eh? The funny thing is God gave me two words for my birthday. (I ask every year for God to give me a word for the year) This year it was Spontaneous Adventure. Hit that one right on the nose (But of course He did He is God)
It has been hard. Leaving our Friends and Family God provided for us the past 4 years in Louisiana. But we have stayed busy. We haven't had a weekend off since we got here. Which isn't any thing to brag about we have just been busy. The cool thing is God provided everything we needed to come down her to LA.
When we got married we didn't need anything because we lived on a ship and food was cooked for us, our laundery was done for us, and everything else a new couple starting off would need to do and have. So we recieved money instead. But it was always in the back of my mind. God some day we are going to need dishes and towels and all that other fun stuff that people start out with. Well you know what God provided once again. Should I be suprised, NO. But I am astonished how He provided. One of our best Friends Chuck and Janet had moved to Lake Charles and left everything in California so they had to buy all new things to live on. Dishes, towels, etc. Well they got everything from California to Lake Charles and they gave all their stuff they had bought in Louisiana to us. Just when we needed it. Then a friend of mine was moving from Houston back to Montana and she and her wonderful man gave us stuff we needed too. God is so awesome. He has been providing right and left. There are plenty of other testimonies but I might go into them later. Also people here are starting to get to know us and they have given us things we needed and we didn't even ask. There are days I just think and say hey we really need this and then Wam bam God provides it the next day or week with me not even asking. What an awesome God we serve.
I know this is long but there is more. SO at the warehouse we have stray Cats. Yikes they are making a mess. Pray that God will take care of them. So any way we found the first week we were here 3 kittensand then two days later we found 3 more. So we gave the latter 3 away and kept the first 3. Goodness. So we have 3 cats, one bird (that we brought with us from Louisiana, and one Dog that is a warehouse dog. Well two days ago we had a chance to get a puppy and guess what we did. Dynamite is his name and mutt is his game. Lame I know. SO we have a mutt named Dynamite who we want to train to come with us on our truck runs. I really want him to come to be a protector. I know God protects but I like having a big big dog with me. Did I mention Big he is going to be huge. His mom is half wolf half german shepard and his dad well I don't know what his dad is couldn't tell.
SO yeah that is our life in a nut shell. Crazy or what. Well there is so much more but that will be for another blog.
Love you all.
God is soooooooooooo good,
Dess
I doubt any one is reading this any more. But you never know. I don't even know where we last ended. It has been crazy. We haven't been in the same place for more than a month since December.
So at the beginning of December Joel and I were supposed to go on vacation and see our families but things happened with the ship coming back from Israel so they flew Joel and I to the Canary Islands to meet the ship there and to help sail it back to Louisiana. We were at the Canary Islands for a week with the ship and then three weeks sailing. It was so hard and wonderful all at the same time. Hard because we were in vacation mode and then awesome because most of the crew on the ship were leaving Friend Ships right after the mission so we would not have been able to say good-bye had we been on vacation.
So we were sailing from December to January. Then From January to February we were asked to go to the Los Angeles Warehouse to take a look around and see if we wanted to stay at the warehouse perminatly. So for four weeks we stayed helped out and looked around and in the end felt it was where God was calling us next. So then we still needed to go on vacation.
That is when we drove back to Lousiana from California and then flew to Canada where we stayed with Joel's family for 4 weeks then 3 weeks with my family in Idaho/Washington. It was hard but restful and we were ready to conquer the world well the warehouse in LA.
So in April we were back in Louisiana got our Class B trucker license. Drove a big truck (not semi) to California. And have been here since the end of April beginning of May.
What an adventure eh? The funny thing is God gave me two words for my birthday. (I ask every year for God to give me a word for the year) This year it was Spontaneous Adventure. Hit that one right on the nose (But of course He did He is God)
It has been hard. Leaving our Friends and Family God provided for us the past 4 years in Louisiana. But we have stayed busy. We haven't had a weekend off since we got here. Which isn't any thing to brag about we have just been busy. The cool thing is God provided everything we needed to come down her to LA.
When we got married we didn't need anything because we lived on a ship and food was cooked for us, our laundery was done for us, and everything else a new couple starting off would need to do and have. So we recieved money instead. But it was always in the back of my mind. God some day we are going to need dishes and towels and all that other fun stuff that people start out with. Well you know what God provided once again. Should I be suprised, NO. But I am astonished how He provided. One of our best Friends Chuck and Janet had moved to Lake Charles and left everything in California so they had to buy all new things to live on. Dishes, towels, etc. Well they got everything from California to Lake Charles and they gave all their stuff they had bought in Louisiana to us. Just when we needed it. Then a friend of mine was moving from Houston back to Montana and she and her wonderful man gave us stuff we needed too. God is so awesome. He has been providing right and left. There are plenty of other testimonies but I might go into them later. Also people here are starting to get to know us and they have given us things we needed and we didn't even ask. There are days I just think and say hey we really need this and then Wam bam God provides it the next day or week with me not even asking. What an awesome God we serve.
I know this is long but there is more. SO at the warehouse we have stray Cats. Yikes they are making a mess. Pray that God will take care of them. So any way we found the first week we were here 3 kittensand then two days later we found 3 more. So we gave the latter 3 away and kept the first 3. Goodness. So we have 3 cats, one bird (that we brought with us from Louisiana, and one Dog that is a warehouse dog. Well two days ago we had a chance to get a puppy and guess what we did. Dynamite is his name and mutt is his game. Lame I know. SO we have a mutt named Dynamite who we want to train to come with us on our truck runs. I really want him to come to be a protector. I know God protects but I like having a big big dog with me. Did I mention Big he is going to be huge. His mom is half wolf half german shepard and his dad well I don't know what his dad is couldn't tell.
SO yeah that is our life in a nut shell. Crazy or what. Well there is so much more but that will be for another blog.
Love you all.
God is soooooooooooo good,
Dess
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