chicken casserole:-)
you know what.. i just love how God is.. he is soo awesome. Tonight we had about 20 people at our house for house church fellowship that we have on Sunday nights and I really wanted to make chicken casserole for them.. something that reminded us all of home. But well frankly you can’t get any of the ingriedients for that here. So.. i asked God to show me which ingridients to get that would make it taste like home. And we made a vat of chicken casserole, along with some crazy made up jenn potatoe receipe.. and it tasted just like home.. even though I had to make the sour cream. I just love how God cares about the big and the small details!!
This has been an incredible week! I think since I got over my second wave of culture shock that I had in the village I have seen and experienced God’s love in a whole new way.. he is romancing me like crazy.. therefore it has been so easy to pour out love on all those that I meet! An incredible week!! Wednesday night at my ladies discipleship group 20 woman came.. a few non christians!! Wahoo.. I was expecting a small group because I had been gone for three weeks, but we had 20 woman piled into our living room as we studied God’s word together. I simply taught them what God has been teaching me.. soul satisfaction! As I looked around the room I could not believe that God was allowing me to live this life and do what I love.. build relationships and talk about him! The rest of the week was filled with going to nepalee’s homes, restarting discipleship up with Sita and restarting language. God has even given me a whole new love again for this language.. and I still find myself suprised when I can open my mouth and communicate.
Then on Saturday I got to speak at my friend Hari’s (grossie to you hari.. hehhee) youth group and go to his church. It was awesome to get to speak to those youth…. I asked God what he wanted me to speak about and he gave me 2 Corinthians 5:17.. if anyone is in Christ he Is a new creation, the old has gone and the new has come. That morning as I was having my coffee date with Jesus (with blueberry cobbler creamer.. thanks James) I was reflecting on the newness God has given me. Not just at salvation but everyday. Lamentations 3:23, his mercies are new every morning. I am soo grateful for that. It’s been so incredible to wake up these past few weeks with a new spring in my step as I feel God has taken a huge burden of my back.. the burden of trying to be the perfect “m”, the burden of trying to love on my own, communicate on my own, live in another country far away from my wonderful family on my own! He took that off and said, come to me, don’t be weary and heavy laden.. I want to give you REST! and as I rest in him he is making me a new creation.. not just at my salvation point, but EVERYDAY!
ok.. on a funny note.. i have been really preachy lately huh.. today I took my scooter (I mean motorcyle.. i wont let anyone around here call it a scooter or scootie (hari).. they must call it a motorcyle or the purple pleasure!) out for the big run.. to the grocery store. I knew I would have to cross the big road twice. I knew it was going to be the first time I took a brave passenger.. leah.. my amazing teammate who I love a lot and would never want anything to happen to especially as I was driving the purple pleasure. But I put on my purple helmet and my bright pink jacket (no one was going to miss us), grabbed my princess warrior keychain and off we went. It was hilarious. We got to this huge hill and apparently the purple pleasure did not take to much pleasure in going up that hill with the weight of both of us on the scooter.. So here we are.. everyone staring and laughing as leah and i put our feet out and try to push up that hill.. hilarous. The good news.. we made it to the store.. (we only had to pedel the pleasure twice) and back home again.. groceries and all!
It was so good to get to talk to you today. It was great that you called when we were all together where we could all talk to you. Miss Martha Stewart making your own sour cream and cream of chicken soup. You are amazing. The story about your motorcycle is so funny I can just see the two of you pushing it with your feet. I know your are a site to see with your purple motorcycle, purple helmet and pink jacket like anybody could miss the blond white girl without all that color. I love you so much and miss you. We are proud of you and so is God I know. Look forward to talking to you again soon and getting to see you. Love Mommy
Jenn: I love the story of you writing your purple pleasure! I can see you on that purple motorcycle now! It is so cool and you will enjoy that motorcycle even more this summer. I bet those people in Nepal wonder if all American’s act like you! Ha! Ha! I cannot believe that you have learned to do all of this cooking! You got that great talent from your Mom! You have turned into a regular Martha Stewart! We miss you so much, but we are so thankful that God has blessed you and that you are such a great witness for all of Nepal. My sister Margaret mailed a box to you this week. So in a couple of weeks you will have some good American food at the post office. Well, Please continue to post. Is your computer working yet or are you using Leah’s computer? Take care and God Bless you…….Momma Ellis
you are too precious jenn hand! your post encouraged my self-absorbed heart and pushed my anxious thoughts toward Jesus this morning. thank you, so SO much.
🙂
Jenn,
I cannot believe I actually get to post before Sandra lol. It is neat that God has given you a supernatural abilty to cook while in Nepal. I hope you still have it when you return to America, I guess cooking is more your deal than feeding lol. If I can name a squrriel given to me by Mark Childress” Nuts” then you can name your motorcycle Purple Pleasure ha. I’m glad you enjoyed your casarole. Survior has nothing on you!
I talked to your mom today, she told you are getting a new cord for your computer soon, that rocks!
I’m excited Brainerd Hills raised over 600 dollors for AAA. God is so good! I love you girl!
Jenn,
I am so happy for you and all the adventures that you are on! You look so radiant and beautiful in the pictures! You are truly a blessed princess.
Love,
Leanne
Hey Jenn,
T.J. may have posted a message before me, but I’m the one who told her to check your blog because you had put up a new posting. So there!
As I was reading this entry, Jenn, I found it so amazing to consider the fact that you took up your cross and went to Nepal because God placed a call on your life to leave home and a heavy burden on your heart for the people in that country. Then when you get over there, He gently says, “Now, my child, let me take that heavy burden of adjusting to a new culture, of missing your family and friends, of living in less-than-ideal surroundings and of finding the best ways to share my love with the Nepali people, and let me carry it for you. Your shoulders weren’t made to be weighed down by such a heavy load.”
I’m so glad the Lord has given you rest. I desire to enter into that kind of rest more and more and to let go of all my anxious thoughts. Thank you do much for sharing that lesson with all of us.
Love you bunches,
Sandra
Jenn, I’m amazed at the places you find God’s voice. I miss you a whole bunch. Thanks for the prayers, the gifts and most importantly your service to our Risen One.
Your brother,
Todd