Enagaged

It is true. Sorry Haws...I really am.
I will post more details, pictures etc when I get back from North Carolina!

Downey

Hey,
Well its time for my bi-monthly update, I sitting in my living room at home chillin after a fun and busy Christmas break. I will be on my way back to the terrific Camp Q tomorrow morning. This fall slash winter was good at Qwanoes. I'm having a great time working gaining experience in a different camp setting. Its been great to get to know the Staff as well as many of the Kaleo 5 kiddies. Its insane for me to think that this is Kaleo 5, It seems like just the other day that we were in the vans gallivanting all over the island. I have been having fun with the students too Just before i left for home about 10 of us went to a Switchfoot Concert in Washington also for all your Sask people i got to hit up Mount Washington a few weeks ago. Well i have been looking into more disaster response program as well and oversees missions programs at different bible schools and universities. At this point it looks like i will be at Prairie Bible College next September finishing of my BA In Inter cultural Studies. I've also been keeping my eye on a Disaster Management Program thats just starting up this year at Canadian Mennonite University. Anyway im gonna keep this short so you guys dont have to read but loads of ramblings.

Merry Christmas!

Here's my present to you this morning (not a lump of coal, since you are all so nice): I have signed up for Facebook. Don't gasp - it is only a trial run, and if it doesn't go well, I'm gone. But I thought I would give it a try. Now what do I do with it?????

Hope you are having an excellent time at home or wherever you are! Miss you tons and hope to see or hear from you soon!

A Christmas Poem: By Jason Derkson

So it’s Christmas Eve, the 24th I believe, the night before the dear Saviors birth. What are you doing? Shepard’s travel from afar, the Wiseman likely old followed His star and laid on him Gold. Incense and myrrh also present became gifts for a King. Mary relieved and Joseph achieved what the angel of the Lord had said. Immanuel, Immanuel, God with us. Presents surround us, decorations and cookies a must, but what about His presence? Westward leading or western living? Which one describes us? No crib for a bed, and do we even bow our heads? Joyful Joyful, do we really adore Thee? Happy birthday to you, happy birthday to you...and many more on channel 4 and Scooby Doo on channel 2… What is it that causes us to forget the real Joy of the season? Are we spending more time listening to our iPod than hearing the whisper of our Savior? Let’s not avoid our Savior and fill this Christmas with everything but Christ, rather let us share His love for us and abide in Him with great delight! Happy Birthday to You Happy Birthday to You Happy Birthday dear Jesus Happy Birthday to You!

Trousse Pour Maison De Pain D'epice

I'm back, friends! I don't have time to post, but I want to update you all soon!

I love you all and because I am cheap and lazy...this is your Christmas card from me!

MERRY CHRISTMAS, ALL YOU YAHOOS!

Love,
Me!

again.... the jaarsma household.

Hey everyone... our house was broken into yesterday, they took our tv, wii, my laptop and our camera. We have been procrastinating getting insurance for a lone time and was finally getting it today.... so they came a day too early I guess. I got really physically sick from being invaded and the stress I guess, I was throwing up and I still really don't feel good, but if you could pray for us. Both of us are kinda upset that our stuff was taken, but it's just stuff. I'm going to miss my laptop the most though. We had so many pictures on there and we were planning on sending out our thank you cards for our wedding and it was all organized on there and so now I have to start all over. We have all the serial numbers for our stuff and so we are really hoping the stuff goes into the pawn shops and they can track it so we might get it back. God has been really teaching me about loving people, and I do think this is part of that lesson although I am just feeling really sick and invaded. If you could pray for us.... and that perhaps we would get at least my laptop back, that'd be great. Thanks guys...

Update on the Jaarsma household

Hey guys, just wanted to give you guys an update with what's going on over here. Ummm there are a few things. Justin has been attending his first year training for his electrical apprenticeship, and he is doing wonderful. He hasn't gotten below an 83 on any of his test yet and he's only got two weeks left, so we are pretty excited that he is doing so well. My work is going well, I have been working at this place for over a year now and it's pretty rockin. My boss bought Justin and I a Wii for my Christmas bonus so we were both pretty excited about that. We've been playing non stop. We have been so busy with being involved in our church. Justin was baptized and we were both accepted as members in our church on December 2nd. So that was sweet. We're pretty busy being involved with kids ministry, youth ministry and small group. We have been asked to be leaders with a group of our youth that are doing a missions trip down to Brazil in August. We were praying about it wondering if Justin would be able to get the time off and God answered our prayers. Justin went in and talked to his boss and they saw this as a special occasion and he was able to get the three weeks off. We are so excited to go! that's what is new with us. If you guys wanted to pray for us we really could use it. Main thing, We are so lonely. We don't have people that call and want to hang out with us ever. And it's been really hard. We are missing hanging out with Christian people who really want to get to know us and what not.... (Downey, Justin is missing you so very much..... as am I) We do have the guys in caronport, but we rarely get out there and when we do.... they're all busy, and so it's been very hard on us. Also you could pray for our trip to Brazil. We are very excited to go with the groups of kids that we are.... and it will be so sweet to see God working in they're lives. We're are also anxiously awaiting my nephew who will be arriving in april! There is so much going on. Ya, we miss you guys. So glad to hear all the updates and what not. Hope to see some of you guys soon.... sorry if this is so random and all over the place I have so much to do in the next hour.... but ya, we miss you guys and hope you are all doing well.

Lake Cowichan

Hi could you all please pray for:
1: We have a young man named Wes who knows that there is a God and believes what we are telling him but some thing is holding him back from committing his life to Jesus. Also his older brother who he lives with is also really sick and in the Vic. Hospital, he has been in there for about a month. If you could pray that what ever lie is holding Wes back will soon be shattered and that his brother will make a full recovery and be able to go home to his wife, son and brother.
2: We have a young lady who will remain name less who has suffered greatly (thats all I can say)
3:We have a young lady who will remain name less who is suffering greatly(thats all I can Say)

I also ask that you will pray that the other leaders and I will have the wisdom to do what is needed.

This is my deepest cry out to God please make one of yours

Shout out from London

Well I have been inspired by everyone's semesterly updates and figured I best get on that....as it has been an awfully long time. I some how manage to always loose my passwords and then I randomly try and hack in and occasionally it works!!

I got to see most of you this summer which was sweetness and I definatly miss not being in BC. I had a fantastic summer working on the waterfront at Qwanoes..tough but rewarding. Then I flew back to Ontario and went straight to school. I am still at Western doing Kinesiology.

The first 2 weeks were an absolute gongshow with no hot water, internet, furniture, phone, a missing roomate and no cupboard space whatsoever. We stored our food in cardboard boxes (oh wait...we still do) but we now have furniture and it feels like homeish. The house situation as been the biggest answer to prayer as I am with amazing girls. I am so thankfull!! What a blessing. We had one random come in 2 months after school started and has been interesting.... it has challenged me to go out of my way to love and be an example Christ's love.

PS The pictures are of me and my roomates.

I am not lifeguarding at the moment as I am coaching gymnastics instead. I coach a boys group which is so hilarious and they all try and show me how strong they are (with the exception of this one rolley-polley chubster who can barely run!) so funny. I am in the middle of exams right now and just need to finish off anatomy, biomechanics and stats. I am so looking forward to a break and christmas time. I haven't seen my fam in so long and am super pumped to chill with them.

Well I do really wish I could go for coffee with you guys and catchup in person.... if you happen to be travelling across the country come visit me!!

Hope you guys have a wonderfull holiday

Ally

Hey Everyone!

I usually post once every school semester and because this semester is almost over...I thought I should post a little update. I'm still working on a BA in history at UCFV, which is going really well! The goal in mind is still teaching. I am no longer working as a life guard, but instead I'm making drinks at starbucks. It is a lot of fun and I love the people! I am living with Teri in a basement suite, which is also a lot of fun! Other than work and school, I've been helping out with the junior high youth at my church and have enjoyed seeing it grow! I've been growing a lot through the experiences at youth and have learned more about leadership. The semester has been very busy, but I am enjoying life a lot. It's great hearing about everything happening in all of your lives and I would love to hang out sometime! Give me a call or something next time you feel like driving to the Wack.

Love,

Jen