Random Facts

 I was able to go to a wedding today, and as usual it was loud, full and fun! The groom's family are friends of ours, actually some of my closest friends here.

Being foreigners we have A LOT of attention that we don't want. They have camera men taking vidoes of the whole wedding, and because we are different they really enjoy taking videos of us. They seem to find it amusing to take videos while we eat.....I am not sure why, but they do. :) The bride and groom do not look as happy as my own sister and brother-in-law did on their wedding day. That makes me sad. The bride looks very sad and the groom doesn't smile during the whole wedding. It makes me want to pray for them, they need Jesus.

I thought I would tell you all some random facts about this country :

1. They drink tea all year, even during the summer when it is REALLY hot.
2. You can't sweep towards anyone, it is insulting the person because you are pushing the dirt towards them.
3. You can only eat with your right hand.
4. They love trying to make us dance at parties and weddings :)
5. You become more important than the father once you enter their home as a guest.
6. They guys hold hands (it just means that they are really good friends)
7. They love using oil for their hair. A LOT!! I thought i used a lot of hairspray, but they use more oil than I use hairspray.
8. They love to pinch my cheeks. It hurts!!!!
9. They don't smile for pictures.....unless you ask them to or say something funny right as you take the picture.
10. They try to fatten us up by making us eat a lot of candy and cake....and by drinking a lot of tea.

I think 10 random facts is enough for now, enjoy.

Jaynie 

Learning to Love the Poor

As I have returned to living in this country, I have been convicted of sin that has been in my heart. I have had a disdainful attitude towards the poorest of the poor, the ones whom we call “beggars.”

 In the last two weeks I have been trying to understand God’s thoughts on this matter.  I have seen that I have not loved them as I should, as my Savior Jesus has commanded me to. I have given them the money they ask for, but it has been with an unhappy heart. So I have been searching the Scriptures to see what God Himself says about this.

I found in James 2 this passage:

1“My brethren, do not hold your faith in our glorious Lord Jesus Christ with an attitude of personal favoritism. 2 For if a man comes into your assembly with a gold ring and dressed in fine clothes, and there also comes in a poor man in dirty clothes, 3 and you pay special attention to the one who is wearing the fine clothes, and say, “You sit here in a good place,” and you say to the poor man, “You stand over there, or sit down by my footstool,” 4 have you not made distinctions among yourselves, and become judges with evil motives? 5 Listen, my beloved brethren: did not God choose the poor of this world to be rich in faith and heirs of the kingdom which He promised to those who love Him?”

This passage really convicted me that I have been treating the rich better than I have been treating the poor. I have friends that are “richer” not RICH but not beggars either. I have spent time and effort at being with friends with them. But when it comes to the beggars I have not tried to show to them the true meaning of the Gospel. I find them hard to be friends with, because all them seem to want is money. I have not been loving to them. I give and RUN!

If the King of the whole universe can love the lowly, why can’t I? I am not any better than they. They have a soul that needs salvation just like I did until God give me salvation. I can’t just look at them as though they are not important, because they are very important. I need to stop turning my nose up at them like they are less important just because they have to beg for money. I have also had to beg. I need to remember those days as an orphan, begging for my siblings and me, and I need to use those memories and to love like I would have wanted to be loved.

I want to show to them the Gospel like it was shown to me by my parents. I want to show them that there is a hope and a future if only they turn to the right source. I want a love and a passion for the poor just like Jesus did. I want to make an impact on them in such a way that they can’t do anything BUT turn to the “truth, the light and the way.”

I will continue to search the Scripture for more understand in how to love the poor in a more Christ-like manner. Please pray for me as I ask God to teach me and fill me with His understanding and love.

Jaynie

More Pictures:



It was such a blessing to travel with my two favorite men EVER!!! I loved having them there to see all the places I would live and what my life would look like. I will miss traveling with them. They kept me laughing and happy on the way to my new home.

Jaynie

Returning!!!

I am getting ready to return to Central Asia in 5 days. I am both excited and sad at that thought. Much of me is really joyful to be returning and other parts are sad because I know that I will be leaving my wonderful family once again. It has been SUCH a blessing  to be home and to be able to spend the last weeks with my family. It has been a great reminder of what God has done in my life so far.

As I get ready to return I thought that I would post some pictures of my first trip. God was so faithful and gave me the gift of returning all of my pictures from my broken computer. So now I will post some of them for you all.

This little guys was one of my English and art students.

These two boys are cousins and REALLY good friends.

I fell in love with this little girl right away.

Jaynie



366 Project : #10

Something Greater Band

366 Project # 6-9

Jaynie

366 Project - 5/366

Bell

366 Project

Dear friends who have started a band and have asked me to be their photagrapher.

Sisters

Rose

Flowers

Back Home- Christmas

God is good. I returned just before Christmas from the Central Asian country where I have been serving as a homeschool teacher for two American families for the past five months. I'm so happy to be home. It is really good to reconnect with my family members and once more be actively part of a family. I lived in my own small apartment in the same compound (behind very high walls) with one of the families for whom I worked, so I am re-learning how to interact with my 13 family members. However, God is forever faithful, and He is really helping me.

Our family Christmas was lovely. We had much joy and laughter. The only sad part of our holiday was that my older sister Anna, who was married in March, was not here. It still seems strange to me that my family won't be all together all the time because we are getting old enough to begin  to follow our own paths.

My youngest sister was really happy with this gift from her parents.

It is so good to be back with my sisters. I have missed them SO much.

 My sisters are my best friends, so it has been really hard not to be with them. I am grateful to God for the relationships that we have, and am delighted to be with them once again for about a month.

Natasha was overjoyed when she received this cowgirl's hat from John.

I relished watching the beautiful faces of my brothers and sisters as they both opened gifts and gave them.

Alexander was, as usual, surrounded by girls. :)

We had some very dear friends over on Christmas night. We had a blast.

As you can see, I had a great Christmas with my family. God was good to let me to be home for Christmas. Thank you all for your prayers and support during my time away. I will always be grateful.

Jaynie