Homeward Bound

Hello again, dear friends and family. This is, intriguingly enough, my last blog post of 2008 written from here on the Island. Crazy to believe that I fly out towards prairie flatness and snow-storms in just 3 short days. I am rapt with anticipation and excitement; unexpectedly, I feel ready to head home. Yes, these past months have been incredible; indeed, I look so forward to returning for second semester; sure, I know I will miss this place and these people within moments of stepping off the plane, but in this limbo stage I am restless, exhausted and ripe for a break. It will be good to be home: to see familiar and forgotten faces, to celebrate the birth of our Lord, and to rest and be refreshed while seeking some new perspective and direction. I am ready.

This past week was wonderfully heart-warming and wrenchingly heart-breaking all at the same time. We participated in all the typical pre-Christmas festivities which, to me, make up the bulk of the joy we derive from the season. These were tremendously enjoyed, yet brought on a new wave of homesickness I had not yet experienced, and awakened me to this restless yearning for a break involving true holiday spirit reminiscent of my childhood. At 18, I'm feeling like I'm getting old and nostalgic with the simple mention of tree decorating, or Christmas baking, or snow-sledding. Crazy. So anyways, this week consisted largely of Christmas-related activities: tree hunt and decorating, the watching of the Muppet's Christmas Carol, serving at a Senior's Christmas banquet in town, carol sing-alongs around the piano, and a talent show to boot. Much of the week outside of this was fairly void of activity. Lots of opportunity for homework, right - needless to say, this oppotunity has yet to be taken advantage of. We also enjoyed a girls/guys night, with us ladies enjoying a day hike, hot-tubbing, specialty coffee, kebobs, worship and sharing, story-telling, sense and sensibility, and a decadent brunch. These times of solely female interaction have become dear to me, and as we approach going our separate ways for the holidays, it is monumental knowing there are 15 ladies who love you like a sister that are sincerely devoted to praying for you. Wow.

Anyways, before we have to break out the Kleenex box... to close things off there were some final commitments to be had at Cobblehill. Friday's arrival brought with it a sense of dread, for what else did we do that night but.... go polar bear swimming! In December, for Pete's sake! We went to Lake Shawnigan with the youth, jumped in, and scooted out in what I'm sure was record time. Two words for this experience: ridiculous and invigorating (and therefore, not entirely negative. I may be convinced to participate again). We followed this with hot cocoa, tim tam slams, and an outdoor fire. Sunday, then, involved myself singing and playing the piano with the worship team for the morning church service, and planning and leading a year-end Christmas-oriented Bridge service. It was a full, but nonetheless satisfying day. With that, I am looking greatly forward to what the new year has to bring in this ministry opportunity.

Gosh, I'm feeling like this post is scattered and rambling, so for that I apologize and will now promptly close. The Lord has been screaming redemption to me over and over again lately, but that is an avenue I lack the focus to truly devote to right now, so more on that next week. I look forward to seeing many of you within a week, so maybe I can better communicate myself then. I love and miss you all! Sincere thanks again for all your support and prayers.
- Jess

Tis the Season to be Jolly...

Well, what to say this week? Christmas lights are going up all around, carols are evading the radio stations, and the stores bustle with avid shoppers looking for that special something for their loved ones. Yes, I am ushering in the Christmas season. I love the holidays. I love that feeling you get in the pit of your stomach when you skate amongst evergreens with the snow falling and tangling in your eyelashes and all is right in the world because it's Christmas, or when you snuggle up by the fire in an ugly, knit, reindeer sweater to drink cocoa and listen to good ol' Michael Buble croon "I'm dreaming of a white Christmas", or when the scent of freshly baked gingerbread mingles with that of holly. I am a sucker for the stereotypical romantic holiday season, right down to the mistletoe hung above the door. This year, for the first time, I can whole-heartedly, with clear understanding, sing "I'll be home for Christmas." I can long for the snow-covered fields of Saskatchewan. And I can look forward to seeing beloved people I haven't seen in three months. My heart is yearning for the full experience that is my childhood's Christmas, but my heart is warm and my heart is full.

The festivities of the season began with a Thursday evening at the Ladysmith Festival of Lights. There was a parade, fireworks, and a kiss on the North Pole for good luck. Here is where I missed snow the most prevalently of my entire life. I could have cried for want of the fluffy, white stuff. There's something that just isn't the same without it. Friday brought an evening of hand-held skating with the ladies and a couple gents on rented blades. And Saturday, in all its glory, involved a splendid, and successful, day-trip to Vic for banquet dress and gift shopping. Moreover, I've broken out the hymn book and made a crease on the Christmas section. Carol sing-alongs... here we come!

Of course, Christmas was not the sole focus of our week. "Foundations of Church Ministry," as taught by David Lee, was where we committed our day-time hours in the last course of our semester. Oh sad day when we realized this was so. But anyways, here was an intriguing and informative few days. The church has long been a topic of much frustration, passion, and love for myself, and so, this class was monumental in my understanding of the issues and in prompting me to work out my thoughts on them. Dr. Lee offered an encouraging, passionate, and knowledgeable perspective, which I found very helpful, and, in general, I can claim now that this was among my top two classes of the semester.

The week was finished off with the typical Sunday routine. Church in the morning, home for a couple hours in the afternoon, and back to Cobblehill for practice and leadership of the Bridge. Again, an encouraging turn-out was had. With every single new person with which contact is made, I feel an inspiration for the next week. God is pushing and challenging me in this role, but I am learning to love it. To say there aren't days when I am tired and defeated would be lying, but I can feel the Lord working, in me, in this ministry, and in my peers. He offers the most fulfilling and sustaining encouragement I need. And so, resting on this, I continue, content and at peace, while also challenged. This is a good place to be. My love and prayers are with you all, dear friends and family. I look forward to seeing many of you very soon. Thank-you for your support and sincere love.

Blessings,

Jess