Its almost 830pm on Wednesday here in San Diego and I thought I would write a quick update on whats been happening.  The letter is done and out in the hands of friends and family around the country and the globe.  Just under 100 people got the email copy while another 100 got the paper one.  I still need to send more letters out because I ran out of response forms.  I am also finishing up my application for financial support as a career missionary application for my church.  That should be done tomorrow so I can drop it off after work.  Now that letters are out and the application is in doesn’t mean I am just going to be sitting around waiting for something to happen.  There is lots to do!

I am working on a video presentation that would share my passion and desire for Kosova through words and pictures as well as a book that would do the same thing.  Both of these things should help in spreading the passion and vision for Kosova.  Besides the video and book, I am also looking for new contacts to send my letter to.  I am looking to expand my list and get as many people involved in this ministry as I can.

In the midst of all this planning for Kosova, something happened last night that got me all excited about living life with God.  Studying the Bible at one of the many local starbuck’s, myself along with two friends had the chance to share the Gospel with a new friend we met there.  It was amazing!  Even though decisions were not made last night, I do know another seed was planted!

That’s it for now.  Keep checking back and I will keep posting on the news of me and Kosova.

Earlier this morning the final corrections were made and the letter was finished.  After church today its off to Staples to make copies and print labels.  Then the letter can get out.  Soon I will have a copy of it here so others can view and find out what the plan is and why I am off to Kosova.

The winter 2008 edition of “a note from Jon…” is through the rough draft phase and almost ready to be sent out.  Corrections have been made, I just need to change the letter slightly and then print it out.  I am already getting excited for this letter and how God is going to use it.  Keep praying and I will post when it is finally sent out,

Things are moving forward as far as my winter trip to Kosova is concerned.  Right now I am sitting in Starbuck’s working on my large Passion Iced Tea and the latest prayer letter.  The tea should be finished soon and the letter will be in the mail by the end of the week.  I like the tea but am more excited about the letter and all that will come from it.  Although I have been writing prayer letters since October of 1999, they don’t get any easier!  Especially when it comes to introducing a new ministry opportunity and inviting people to join in the work God is already doing.  Starting the letter has been rough but I just might be getting on a roll.  We will see how long I stay here.

Its shortly after 7am here in beautiful San Diego and I am just about done with breakfast and my morning cup of coffee.  Soon I will be getting ready for another amazing day and all the wonderful things God has planned for it.  What will today bring?  I have no idea but I do know that like yesterday and tomorrow, God is going to be there through it all.  

Its been a while since anything has happened on this page because to be honest not much has happened until now!  Just the other day another door in my journey opened up and I have begun to walk through it.  The open door is an opportunity to return to Kosova in February 2009 for three months.  During that time I will be immersed in the culture and country as I build relationships and connect with all I meet.  The final details of the trip are still being worked out and will be posted once they are confirmed.  

New happenings in my life as far as Kosova is concerned have me looking back a few posts ago to what I wrote about faith.  Faith is key and this weekend I was reminded to have faith like a child!  What a concept and what a picture this is to remind me of that.  So, I sign off with this picture…

Waiting is something we all do a lot of each and every day.  Whether its waiting for a light to change green, the coffee to finish or for our ever important Starbuck’s drink of the day…we all wait.  As far as waiting goes its not a matter of if we wait but rather when!  The big question with waiting is, how we respond to it.  Are we the kind of people that are so angry we try to coax or yell at the light to turn green?  Or are we thankful for the opportunity to slow down our morning commute for  few seconds?  

This topic of waiting has been on my mind as I have been sitting here, waiting for what God has next for me to do.  Full time career missions overseas is what I believe it is and I am so close, but I sit here waiting.  So, again I think its not about if we wait because we will, its about how we wait that is the key.  My goal right now is to wait for God with faith like a child.  What does that mean?  To me it means waiting, anticipating God is going to work in an amazing with the faith/trust a child has in their parents.

God is the one in control and in the midst of the unknown, I need to have faith in Him like a child!  That is my goal, that is my plan.  Its a hard thing to do when the unknowns creep up like cars breaking down and that kind of stuff, but its what I have to do.  Its what we all have to do.  So, in the midst of this crazy life, wait and have faith like a child!

Its Sunday evening and I am here watching the Sunday Night Football game thinking about this upcoming week.  What an exciting week this could be!  Getting rid of one car, trying to find another one, work and ministry!  What could make this upcoming week any better?  I can’t think of anything right now but we shall wait and see at the end of the week.  Last week I wrote the thought / challenge for the week as defining myself not by my sin but by who God declares me to be.  What a concept to live by and have in our minds.  My challenge is to keep this thought in memory as I add another one to the list.

The thought to think about this week speaks of making an impact in this world.  As a follower of Christ, my goal is to make such an impact in this world that the glory of God is spread to the uttermost parts of the earth.  The thought of the week tells us how this is done.  

“We cannot profoundly influence others without maturing.”

If I am to impact this world and spread the glory of God to its uttermost shores than I need to grow myself!  That is the thought of the week!

The week is wrapping up as I am in my room listening to the neighbors have a 50th birthday part complete with live band and all.  Lets just say I can hear every word!  Another week has passed and what a week it was.  Here are a few highlights…

I began working at a center for refugees helping the kids with their homework and learning English.  This is looking to be a great ministry to be involved with that meets on Mondays, Tuesdays and Thursdays.  This last Monday I helped a few kids from Myanmar with their homework.  Who would have thought that I would be helping them here in San Diego?

My car broke down and has been declared dead!  Apparently it is going to cost more to fix the car than its worth right now.  So, my life without a car began and that changed the rest of my week.

I went and observed a high school youth group for the evening.  I am doing this frequently now because youth work is something I want to do overseas and so observing how people do it here can help me in the future.

Throughout the week I did some work here at home.  This ranged from pulling weeds to mowing lawns to cooking and cleaning up dinner.  Cooking was my favorite and it turned out pretty good to say the least.

Finally and perhaps my favorite was that I met with and hung out with friends to talk about life and God.  All of those meetings were great!  Its always good to hear what God is doing in the lives of people you know.

So, this week is ending and the next one is already upon us.  What it will bring us is still a mystery but one thing is true, God is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow! 

Having a car means great freedom.  Freedom to move wherever you want whenever you want to.  At the same time though it also brings great responsibility.  So, what happens when one becomes car-less?  What happens with the freedom they once had?  Well, from my current personal experience life gets less complicated in some ways but more complicated in others.  For example, yesterday for work I had to get a ride from a coworker and then was stuck at home for the rest of the day with no “freedom”.  Today, I need to get a ride to work from my brother and then home from work with another coworker.  To get anywhere takes a great deal of planning and preparation on my part.  At the same time though, it does save a lot of money!  I have not used gas in over 24 hours!  I have not been able to stop for a quick snack or dinner out somewhere.  The way this is going I will be saving money a lot in the coming days.  So, is being car-less worth the trouble of arranging rides and planning ahead?  Is saving money on gas and pointless other expenses worth it in the end?  For right now I would say YES!  

Losing my car for a spell (or maybe forever) is not an easy pill to swallow for me.  I used my car so much and most of it was to be a blessing for others.  Now that the car is out of the picture I am kinda stressed about the future.  There are certain things I have been saving what little money I have for and fixing/buying a car was not one of them!  But at the same time, God is still on the throne and in control.  What a feeling of peace that brings me at this time.  So, I may be car-less in San Diego but I am not God-less!  

Ever had you car break down and die on you?  Well, as of yesterday I joined the club as my car decided to die in the middle of Main Street El Cajon.  As I was on my way home, the check engine light of death came on an then everything stopped.  BUMMER!  So, I am sitting in my car with the hazard lights on and nothing is happening.  It was supposed to be an easy day as I was on my way home from tutoring refugee children and was going to drop the car in the shop the next morning.  OOPS!  The amazing thing was that as I was waiting there for an idea of what to do next, a car full of the kids I just tutored drove up to help.  It must have been a sight to see as I was cruising down main street with three Karen Refugee children (a people group from Myanmar) pushing my car.  

So, there you have it, my exciting broken down car story.  Currently the car is at El Cajon Ford waiting to be looked at this morning and I am off to work in an hour or so.  Am I bummed that it happened to me last night?  Yeah kinda but at the same time if it did not happen than my cruise down main street would not have happened and my talks with those I met ( the tow truck driver and others) would not have happened either. The car is dead and is going to cost money to save, but sharing the love of Jesus with the tow truck driver, refugee kids and others made it all worth it in my book.  After all aren’t we here to spread the glory of God all over this place?