50 Below!

Myself, Jenn, Chastity and Christina singing at Karokee this summer(one of Jen's favorite things to do).

Hello my dear friends,

I'm once again sorry for the lack of updates lately. Second semester profs just throw you right into school work. yikes! But it's been a great semester so far( -the several 50 below days that we've had recently...its a tad chillie out here...springs on the way though). I love all my classes (even poetry) but I'm definatly getting excited to be done so I can go into full time ministry. The first month back was actually a pretty hard month for me. Two girls from Joe's Place passed away at the beginning of January due to lifelong sicknesses. The one girl I had become friends with over the past few years, her name was Jen. She has been really sick for quite a few years now as she had kidney failure and had been on dialysis for years. On THursday January 10 she decided to stop her dialysis as she was going blind and her quality of life was deminishing. I had the opportunity to go Friday night to spend some time with her and her family. Jen had put her trust in Jesus and she was confident in where she was going, and therefore told me she had such peace about her decision of discontinuing her dialysis. I watched her mom tuck her into bed that night and Jen slipped into a comma later that evening. Many of our staff at Joe's Place were very close to Jenn and were able to sit by her bedside Saturday and be a support to the family. Sunday morning Jenn passed into eternity. Her family tells us that as she took her last breath a smile appeared on Jenn's face and then she passed away. When her sister told me this at the funeral Wednesday I got overwhelmed with thinking and imagining "What did Jenn see?? Did she see angels? Did she see her saviour? I don't know but I do know that although we all miss her greatly she is no more pain and that she is in the presence of her God dancing and singing like she loved to do here on earth but without pain. Joe had the opportunity to do the funeral for Jenn and it was such a great opportunity to share with her family who do not know the Lord where Jenn's strength and peace came from and where are hope lies.

Our youth have been thinking a lot about death lately because of Jenns passing and also with this other girl, Hanah passing away. please continue to pray for our staff as we learn how to minister and comfort our youth who have lots of questions and are hurting.

January was a hard month because of Jenn passing but also in just feeling as though I was in a dry time with GOd. Although its been hard and confusing it has been so good because it has caused me to press into God so much more and seek Him out and not give up just because I'm tired and weary and can't feel Him. Love is a choice in times when you feel distant or disconnected from the person you love. I know that GOd is faithful and He has proven Himself to be so much this month as I have learnt to meet with Him even when He is silent and I don't feel HIm.

I'm getting really excited for the end of this month as it is our annual youth conference here at Briercrest called youth quake(Feb 22-24) Last year we were able to take 65 youth from Joe's Place and several of them made life changing decisions to follow Christ and it has been so amazing to watch them grow this year and walk along side them as they have begun this journey of with God.

We have the opportunity to once again bring our youth to Youth Quake and we are in the progress of raising support inorder that we can sponsor kids to go. We have dozens of new youth who have been coming out this year who have never been before who are excited about going and we have dozens of youth who have been in the past and who are also psyched about going again this year . We intereviewed our youth and asked them why they want to go to youth quake and here are some of their responses...

"It sounds like fun!"

"To meet new People and have fun"

"Last year at youth quake was the most powerful experience ever!"- Nadine

"It all started at youth quake for me last year, so I want to go back and learn more about Christ". - James

"I want to learn more about God and spend time with people"-Scott

"I've never been before but it sounds like fun". -Kierra

"I love worshiping GOd. Many go just for the fun, I go for God!" Klea

Please pray for our students who we are taking this year. Please pray for their hearts to be softened by the presence and love of God. If you would like a list of the kids going so you can pray for them by name I can get that past on to you. also if you would consider sponsoring one of youth to go this year that would help make it possible for us to send more youth.

It is $134 per student for the entire weekend. If any of you are interested in sponsoring one of our Joe's Place youth to go this year please contact me mmmgusgus@hotmail.com and I will email you the youths picture, name, age and interests, of the specific youth you will be sponsoring to go. I also email you Joe's Place address so you can send cheques directly to them.

Thanks again for all of your love and support. I love getting letters and emails from all of you and I thank GOd everytime I think of you because your prayers and support are making a difference in the youth in Moose Jaw and it's my hope and prayer that you are experiencing God's presence as you continue to pray for us and our youth .