Hurting People

In my internship, over the past 3 weeks, I've had the honor of serving in the Pastoral Care offices at HPC. Its an understatement to say there is a need in our community. It would be very easy to be overwhelmed at the volume of hurt that passed through that office in a given week.

What I've learned already is that Jesus is the ultimate answer. I've also learned that if we rely on our own abilities to help the hurting people in our community, we will fail miserably. There is no way I or any of us in our office can meet the need adequately. Its just not possible. Not one of us has the amount of love, mercy, compassion or grace required to comfort the people who are hurting in our little community. It has to be all about Jesus.

I believe there is value in the trials and struggles we go through. The greater value is the ability to let Jesus bring us through our seasons. If we are able to let Jesus be our Savior for our eternal life and especially our everyday life, we are able to let God's Spirit work through us to minister to the hurting people in our little community. That's the only way we can hope to bring hope to hurting people. We just do not have what it takes to help these people. It has to be all about Jesus.

We are inadequate. We are incapable. We must decrease, so He, Jesus, can increase as we minister. We would recommend works and deeds to make it through the valleys. The Truth is, Jesus is the ultimate answer. Our suggestions and recommendations may help them through the moment. But, Jesus will truly heal the hurt. Eternal healing. It simply has to be all about Jesus.

Happy Anniversary X's TWO!!

Tuesday September 4, 2007 was our One Year Gotcha Day & our 14 Year Wedding Anniversaries. Its SOOOO cool to have these two life changing events to celebrate on the same day!

We went to Melbourne, FL to visit Nick & Christi Seaward, a couple that went to China with us and adopted their daughter Isabel. Jada & Isabel shared an orphanage together in Behai, China.

The Seawards were such AWESOME hosts. Gave us a room and bathroom all to ourselves, barely let us help cook or clean, had 3 square meals a day ready for us, wouldn't let us pay when eating out. The utmost in generosity! We loved spending a couple days with them, getting to know them better and letting Jada & Isabel spend some time together.

So, here are some pics.

Anniversary dinner at Chinese Resteraunt

Jada's First Trip to the Beach!

She ain't SKEEERD.

Have to be related, huh?

Stylin'