Hello All,

I'll start with an apology. I'm sorry for not keeping my biweekly schedule that I had originally aimed for. I have always aimed higher than possible or underestimated how long something will take (right mom). Well, you learn something new everyday.Let's update.Three months down, and life is busy (wow is that an understatement). Godīs doing his thing, and it feels real good at times, and it makes me want to hide in a corner at other times. Many of you know that feeling.

Family

Things are good, at times frustrating, but over all good. I'll explain a little, at times I feel like I could parent the kids better than there parents, and there are other time when I know I could. the problem is that it's not my place, therefore I make myself shut up, those of you who know me well know that's a very difficult thing for me to do. Anyway, I could use prayer in that area, just that I would keep those relationships healthy.The last twenty days have been fairly interesting though. My family went on a vacation to the Dominican Republic, so I've had the house to myself, PARTY...just kidding (take a breath mom). I was told I could have friends over and stuff like that as long as it wasn't out of control, and come on am I ever out of control. They haven't arrived yet, but they should be getting back pretty soon.

Work

This is where my life is most right now. We lost one of the key player of our missionary team (Kristen) to vacation in the states for six months. This means more work for me. I have officially been moved to the position of ESL teacher, that's t-e-a-c-h-e-r teacher. Hello! where did that come from, I haven't a clue how to teach, especially my own language. English was my worst subject, go figure.Needless to say, it's kept me busy just soaking up as much of Kristen's knowledge and wisdom before she left this morning. It isn't going to be easy, but it's going to be. Life never has been and never will be easy on this earth, I might as well learn that earlier in life rather than later. I am also doing the basic errands for Dale here and there, so that fill up a few spare hours here and there. I do still have time to hang with the kids in the street a little though.

General

Life is all but dull. I imagine my life as a big lottery ticket, the kind you have to scratch with a coin to reveal your winnings (or all too often your losings) Whether you lose or win is unsure until the picture is uncovered. There is only one person who knows what the picture is a head of time, and that is the person that created the ticket. The efficiency and effort that I put into discovering what the big picture is is up to me, I was given the tools I need to do it, however instead of a coin of some sort I was given a needle to do the scratching and discovering. I don't know if that makes any sense, but that's the way I feel, I want to know what the whole picture is and want a quarter instead of a needle. I have to learn how to use the gifts given me effectively, and that is something that takes time.

I also have been a little preoccupied mentally as well, that never helps in doing your job effectively. I have been wanting and even planning on going to Trinidad for a week with the HEARTS group from the PRC, to put on a drama camp and stuff of the sort. This has been on my mind a lot, and I just found out that it isn't a week trip it's a two week trip. It is impossible for me to go for two weeks, and I am in the process of praying about how possible it is for me to even go for a week. one week would cost about 600 and some dollars after it is all said and done, I don't have that kind of money. I am already short on support for my mission here in Braque. I want to go, because part of me is very much attached to the mission and the message of HEARTS, and the other part of me wants to see my friends on a tropical island. However, I am have a spiritual battle of sorts, because there is a part of me that wonders whether God really wants me to go. I have a job here in Venezuela, and I feel like I should focus on what I'm doing here. However, I was a part of the ministry with the PRC as well, what to do what to do?

Health

I feel good (danananana) I knew that I would yeah...Whoa! I'll stop there, I was just singing that song, and I don't know where that came from. But it's true, I feel good. I don't have any weird diseases or any thing ( gracias a Dios) Although before Kristen left I told her that I had stomach cramps, and she told me that I might have worms or some sort of thing like that living in my stomach. What a pleasant thought. she gave me this plastic spoon and carrying case, and told me that it was a way to test whether or not I had some thing living in me, I won't spell out how to go about using the spoon, I probably said too much already, but if your really curious you can drop me line and I can go into more detail for you. I hope that made you smile, that is what I was going for.Prayer- I am still on the road to learning the language, although a little further down the road, it is still frustrating at times. I would also like prayer for my Trinidad dilemma, I'm trying not to dwell on it, but it's driving me nuts. I also am short on my financial support, I know that God works in mysterious ways, so I leave that in his hands. Also the baseball clinic is coming up in a few months and they want me to be a translator, scary but not impossible. I have also had some pretty rough emotional moments, whe I just broke down and cried. It's been pretty hard, but it's harder sometimes emotionally when I get letters or stuff from the home land. I got an e-mail today from my brother that hit the heart (I love you Samuel more than words [no matter how they're spelled] can express.) Please keep me in your prayers, even just general prayer for health and safety is always appreciated.

Thank you for your prayers. Please write when you have a chance.

In his hands,
Jesse
3:39 AM