God is still in the business- Zoe's healing

Matthew 16:18-19 On this rock I will build my church and the gates of hell will not prevail against it! I will give you the keys to the kingdom of heaven and whatever you bind on earth will be bound in heaven, and whatever you loose on earth will be loosed in heaven!!
I thought it would be beneficial for me to put this online, and let the world know what happened last night. I pray for forgiveness for doubting what happened, and waiting until now to post this, but I am only human. It started a little while ago, Zoe was complaining that she was hurting, as we soon figured out, she had some sort of bladder infection, or something like it. We were wanting to take her to the doctor, but because of the money, or lack thereof, we decided to wait until we got home where she could go to TISA and therefor be way more affordable. Well, she kept complaining about it, and then last night it came to a head. She was awake most of the night complaining about it. We decided that we would take her in on Monday, irregardless of what it cost, and we would figure out how to pay for it later. It went from a nuisance, to bad in literally a day's time. I was sitting up with her and just rubbing her back in the middle of the night last night, and began to pray. I told God that He needed to take care of them, because there is nothing that I can do! I don't remember everything other than I was really sincere! I began to pray for healing for Zoe as she sat there and whimpered. This is quite possibly the worlds worst feeling, knowing that there is nothing that you can do for your child!! I poured out my heart to God, and kept asking Him to just touch her. Then I began praying for His peace, and comfort to fall on her. I noticed that as I was praying she first began to cry, then within 5 minutes she fell fast asleep. I prayed a while longer then stumbled back to my bed and fell asleep. Zoe slept in this morning and I just waited to see how she felt. She got up all chipper and I asked her if she was still hurting and she laughed at me and said no. I was shocked, this was the first time she had said no since all this started!! Then as the day went on I asked her a bunch of times about it, and she just kept telling me that she was fine!! No pain!!! Thank God, He healed her when there was literally nothing that we could do for her!! We serve a big God, that cares enough to comfort us no matter what we are going through. That is the reason that we are doing what we are doing, waiting for His return, with eternity on our mind!!! We do not serve a god made of feathers, or a rock that just sits there, or a god that might strike us down with fire at any moment, we serve a loving, kind God that is always there for us no matter what!!! AMEN

IMF missions application

We have officially submitted our application to International Ministerial Fellowship and we are awaiting an answer. Thank you to all of you who sent in references for me. We should have an answer by the time that we get home for spring break. Thank you to all of you who have been supporting us in prayer, and everything else while we are here.We now have the church covering, the ministry covering, we have been showered in prophecies, and we are very excited to go!! To explain it best, I feel like a caged up animal ready to get out. God now is just teaching us patience! God is really doing good works in what we are doing, we are seeing lives transformed in the youth that we are teaching, and the students that sit in class around us. We are not the same people that left home, and neither is anyone else that sits here with us. God is still in the business of changing and transforming lives, and I am blessed, and humbled to be apart of it. I am continually excited to see the growth of the Holy Spirit in the lives of the youth that we are teaching. We are studying the history of the ancient church and looking at how God directed His disciples, and how He worked in the lives of the early people, and it is so exciting to see Him doing the same thing today!!!! We will be sending out an update letter so if you want to send us your mailing address to receive this please let us know, otherwise it will be online hopefully by Monday.

back again- few days off, or on??? Not sure!!

Hello, It has been a few days, I have been sick again. I just slept, and slept, and slept. Then as soon as I got better, Mandy left for 3 days to go to a ladies retreat, and the girls and I stayed home. We had fun, we went to a dog adoption deal where they were giving away all these dogs that were abused, and taken away from there owners. Then we went and hit a bunch of pet stores just looking around. We got to play around with some birds, and bunny's and other stuff. As I sit here at Caribou Coffee this morning reflecting on the week-end I am not sure how Mandy does it everyday, but that was a blast!!! We are blessed to have 2 of the best kids in the world!!! We are going into Isaiah for the next three weeks now, so this should be interesting, and informative. I also have to meet with the church here in Minneapolis today and see what they decided about being able to take us on with the administration details. This will be a turning point for us, once this is complete, we will start to push hard on our immigration details, and getting this done. I will keep you all updated as God keeps pushing us, and stretching us in the direction that He pushes. Thank you all for the prayers that have been prayed for us, God is hearing you!!!

Leaving on a Jet Plane

The last few day's Mandy and I were blessed to have one of our friends stay with us for a few days. She was flying back home and we told her that she should stay with us for a few day's, and she accepted. We had fun hanging out, and visiting, and just relaxing together for the last couple days. She left this morning from the airport, and it was hard to say goodby, but we know she will be blessed, because she is following in God's direction. We stayed up late, and had to get up before 5am, so this day is going to be long day. It was worth every minute of it!
Please pray for us as I meet with a local church tomarrow about using them as a conduit to be able to funnel our funds to Canada. We need a local church to handle the donations in America, and then pass them on to Canada, because the church up there can only accept funds from another church to pay its employees. I know that Bethany Church is wonderful when it comes to helping out missionaries, so I dont see a problem, we just need to pray for everything to go through. Thank you to all that have been praying for us, as God has really been opening doors, and pushing us in His direction.

Sunday- The day of rest

Well, today was the day of rest, with a house full of friends, and food. We had a friends birthday today, and we made some food and invited a few people over. The next thing I saw, was a house full of people, and a table full of food. We are so blessed to have all the things that we get on a daily basis. God just multiplied, and multiplied, until everyone is happy, and full. People just showed up at our door with food in there hands. Thank you Lord for blessing us. It was humbling to sit here and watch people laugh, and talk, and play with the kids. I feel like I got a taste of what Sundays are supposed to be. Mandy got to relax and enjoy baby Jonah, and baby Jada, and just have fun. We have been sick, and locked in this house for about a week, so this was nice to have the windows open, fresh air, fun people, and good conversation. The conversation went towards the end time's and I got a book that I am going to read, I will let you all know how it is going as I read it. Thank you to all the people that have been praying for us, as we are still seeing God move in our behalf while we pursue our trip to Thunder Bay. Thank you all, and good night. Ross

Our Flickr account

For those of you who want to follow us on our photo journey, we have finally made a flickr account. I will post a link here, but if you go to www.flickr.com and do a search for rossandmandy you will find it as well!!!
I do not have to upload many of them, so I will do it as I have time. Check back often.

Thanks and love you all!!!!!!

The J's

THe Link: http://www.flickr.com/photos/rossandmandy/

God opens doors--HUGE UPDATE

wow, I do not know where to start. I have been sick with the flu the last few days doing nothing but sleeping, at the same time God was moving miraculously in front of us. I got an e-mail on Wednesday telling us that the missions agency that we were going to go through is going to shut down, because there is not enough American interest in it anymore. They are moving to Europe, because there is more of what they need there. On Thursday I contacted my teammates in Thunder Bay asking them about what options we had for moving up there, that were still available. He said that he would talk to the church that he is going to start pastoring, and get back to me. He got back to me on Thursday night and told me to call a lady by the name of Pauline on Friday or Saturday night. So, tonight I called her and we started talking. She had heard about us, but before we could even tell her our story, she started telling us about how people that she knew from all over the world had prophesied from weeks earlier about us coming up to Thunder Bay to help her, and the church. We had already known that Thunder Bay was our calling, but this was just another boost to clarify what we are to do up there. We are still going to have to raise support because there is no money in the church. This is a recently new church plant, and it is just trying to maintain financially. We will be there faith based financially, and any money we raise after our living expenses, will go to the church to help build the life skills center. The church is in an area of Thunder Bay that has no Bible believing church's in the area. Anyway, Pauline told us how we can come under her and work on the streets, and have accountability, correction, and approval of what we are doing. She will take both Mandy and I together as a team, and not just one of us. With the Bethany class's and one year of hands on training, we will receiver out license as pastors. Both Mandy and I will be licensed, and also we will be running the life skills center, under Sky and Angie. This is exactly what God has placed on our hearts since we have been here at Bethany!! God closed one door, but opened a huge door for us to walk through. The church has pledged 100% help in not only providing a covering for us, but also help with all the paperwork, and legal stuff that is needed to get us into Canada as permanent residence. That is the only way that we are guaranteed to not have to walk away from our ministry, because of legal issues. We could get a temporary visa, but that would have to be continually renewed, this was we can just settle in, and make a home in the community. We also will be in charge of the summer teams that come up, to help do projects in the area. She has teams from all over the world that come on one or two week missions trips, and Mandy and I would oversee all that, and make sure they are producing positive, acceptable, results while increasing the knowledge of the team, and producing lifelong results for the beneficiaries. God's hand is moving, and now I just sit back and marvel at what He is doing. I am humbled that I am chosen to fulfill this calling that God has placed on our lives. I pray that I am willing and able to persevere in the face of trials, as Satan also knows what a willing vessel, in the hands of God, can accomplish

Relief & Development

We are two days into Relief and Development and we are seeing how this is a big issue in our christian church. I never realized the difference between them before. I am thankful for the teaching that we are learning, but the God encounters have been amazing! I had been struggling with some internal mental attacks, but through the grace of God I have been delivered. Now I know what it feels like to have the freedom in Christ that the Bible talks about. Every time that something hard happens I look at the scriptures and remember what the Lord said about the correction of His children. The Lord desires the very best for us, and a lot of times that takes spiritual correcting for the Father himself. I now feel the presence of the Holy Spirit in my body, and I can feel the love of the Father, and the presence of Jesus around me and my family. As the psalmist David said, "My soul longs after you" I know what that longing feels like. There is no place on this earth that can fulfil that longing, except in the presence of God. I just pray this love, and fire is never quenched in our souls.

another week

Well, Dad and the family made it to the train, He only grabbed for the seat about three times while I drove through the traffic, I must be getting better. Last time I drove my passengers closed there eyes and laid down because they didn't want to see what was next, he he! This driving thing is great, especially in the snow, because then I have an excuse!! Oh well, the kids were happy to see grandpa and Lynette, now that is over, and back to school. Human relief and development is next so pray for me. I know that there will be allot of anger issues to deal with when learning about the oppression of people that are just innocent people trying to provide for there families. If any of you would like to hear what we are studying about just e-mail us and ask us, at rossandmandy@yahoo.com. I better get to bed, I have to get up early. Later all.

Not where you are, but what you are.

As I was having prayer time today I started to study into the subject of following God and how we are supposed to live our lives for Him. He told me that He was far more concerned with how we live our lives, and not where we live our lives. I have always looked at the Matthew 28 and thought that I was supposed to travel to the other side of the world, and then I would make a difference, but that is just not the case. I was praying and God gave me Isaiah 41:9-13 and it all became clear how some people are definitely called to do this (mission field), but others are not. I have heard it said many times that in order to follow God we must sell all our things and follow Him. This is true in one aspect, we do have to be willing to do that, but in another aspect God called us where we are, and not where we should be. He did not call us and say, "come over here to find Me", actually He runs to where we are! Then I was directed to Ephesians 4:1-2 and I realised that we all have different callings, some are missions, some are workplace, and some are living in the garbage dumps with the bums. The fact is that there was a savior that took upon humanity, became flesh, walked this earth, was beaten, bruised, kicked, mocked, shamed with the highest shame, and died naked, wounded, and marred so that we could have an eternity of joy and peace with Him. I just pray that I live a life worthy of the calling that is placed on me by Him. Never again will I look at someone and question whether the are living the life that God intended for them. I fear that too many times it is preached, that if we are not across an ocean, we are not following God's plan for us. I also fear that because of the person at work that is dieing on the inside, and is overlooked, and may spend eternity without Christ because I was too busy making my plans to go leave here, and change the world. I caught a glimpse of this the other day when I was sitting at a red light rushing from one place to another for the college when I saw this guy holding a sign next to the road saying "Homeless, need food, please help" and I thought to myself "If I only had time" and then God humbled me and asked me if I was in too much of a hurry training to be a missionary to help the helpless? We need to have a transformation in our church's and lives. The first step is to seek God with all we are, and realize that missions starts within OUR hearts, then it expands to the person standing next to us at the grocery store, or our 9 to 5. We just need to share our faith with those around us, and if it is our calling to do missions let's be willing, but if it isn't, don't look down at yourself as any less of a person, because the kingdom of God starts in the hearts of those who are willing to take the time to listen!
Sorry about going off on this post, I just feel like there is someone out there that needed to hear this as much as I did.

Sis This Ones For You

Hey, sorry I have not been writing lately but here is a little story that I owe to my sister so here I go. There once was a princess that had the coolest sister in the world. This princesses name is Kim. Kim said "my sister Mandy is so cool I am going to buy her a huge amount of chocolate because that is her favorite". Well after that Kim said " O coolest sister when are you going to send me that sweat shirt you owe me?" Well the cool sister Mandy said "o in good time." Then they had Indian tacos and that is the end of the story. HAHAHAHAHAHAHA This was a inside joke. If you are not Kim please realize that we really are normal it just might not look that way!! Or maybe you need to look up normal in the dictionary and you will see a picture of Mandy the cool one in there. OK here I really go. God has been doing such amazing things in our lives. He has shown me what real love is. He has shown me His love. I never really understood this before. It is like He and I have gone to a whole different level in life. Please pray that I can show this kind of love to everybody. This is what friends are for, to hold each other accountable in all areas of their lives. If you are to ever hear me talk against someone or not give them a benefit of a doubt please confront me. Because I also as a friend have to confront you. We are all called to love the Lord God with all our heart, soul and mind. Then to love our neighbor as our self. These are the greatest commandments. Mathew 22:37
The girls are doing amazing, they are busy being little social bugs around campus. All the students say that they bring life to the campus. I will take that as a compliment. They are very busy and loud but then I guess that is exactly how we are so they never real had a fighting chance to be normal. But remember from the story what the definition in Webster says about that!! HA HA I am very proud of my husband there is nothing more attractive than to see a man that is searching after God like he is. When the man of the house does this all family life just falls into place (thank you God for your perfect order). Well I must go I have to go to the never ending chore of laundry. Chou Mandy
(I am not the great "I Am" (Exodus 3;14) " but by the grace of God I am what I am" (1 Cor. 15:10)

Snow, Snow, Snow

We are starting to feel the effects of winter! Last weekend we got around 8 inch's of snow and nothing shut down, no school closings, no business's closed, not really anything except a lot of wrecks. I was shocked, and assumed it was done, but now round 2 is starting!! They are expecting somewhere between 16 to 18 inch's more. We got lots of rain last time, this time it is snow. We are having thunder snows?!? Thunder and lightening, and snow!! Crazy. Well, I better get to class, I will post later.