UPDATE!

Hello everyone! I am really sorry it has been so long s ince I have wr i t ten a newsletter. To be honest I am extremely humbled as I write this. So much has happened in the last couple months that its hard.

As most of you already know, life has taken me on a bit of a roller coaster ride. When Pablo came to Swan to meet my family I realized it was not meant to be. It was a rather awkward situation since he was still here in Canada for awhile after the brake up, but it was for the best.

This made me realize once again I had tried to take things into my own hands. It

also made me realize I had a lot of insecurity to deal with. This left me rather fragile.

I beat myself up for awhile, not always handling it in the best way. During this time my parents also sold the house they built when they first got married 30 years ago. So already being in a very emotional state, I said goodbye to the place I grew up in and knew as home.

Everything I thought was secure in my life was being taken away. This gave me o p p o r t u n i t y t o r e a l l y reevaluate and to look past present circumstances for my security.

Af ter g iv ing mysel f some time to recover and extending myself a lot of grace, I realized missions still had my heart and

that there’s nothing I would rather be doing.

I looked at a few options but quickly felt that I should go back to YWAM Los Angeles to continue on staff. Not sure what my role will look like (depends when I receive my visa). Possibly staff another Discipleship Training School or be involved with their new summer youth program.

My stay in Canada has turned out to be a much (continued on back)

MELISSAINMISSIONSN E W S L E T T E R

Even if we have not responded to all God has called us to, His grace is

enough to recalculate.

longer stay than I expected. Getting a visa to go back to the states is a long and somewhat frustrating ordeal.

I have been blessed to have a place to stay at Jake and Doris Reimer’s, a couple in my church here, who have been a great encouragement to me.

This summer I built decks and fences with my dad as well as waitressed at a local restaurant. My dad and I finished our last fence on December 21, wear ing snowmobi l ing gear and shoveling our way through the snow. I have very much enjoyed being able to spend time with my dad doing physical labor which I love.

I was also able to spend Christmas with my family at my brother’s house in Airdrie, Alberta. It was nice to be together again after missing a few Christmas’ in the past.

I also finally decided to sell my beloved VW golf to upgrade to a still used but newer car. With the finances

from selling my old car and the money I made working for my slave driver dad : ), I am very excited to have new wheels.

During this waiting period, I w i l l be wa i t re ss i ng a t Timberland. Some shifts as early as 6 in the morning so if you are anywhere near Swan, come visit me for breakfast!

I am also planning to start a young girls bible study. I would like to go through a very well known teaching in YWAM, Dean Sherman’s series on Relationships. I am really looking forward to it. If you know any young girls who would benefit from this, let me know!

This has been a season of many changes: parent’s move, breaking up with my boyfriend,

and staying in Canada longer than expected. I must admit I am extremely anxious to get back to LA to do what I love so much. I also know that God works in mysterious ways so even though I have no idea what He’s doing, He does.

In saying that, I know this will continue to be a challenging time for me as I am getting extremely lonely here in Swan missing my friends and ministry so much. I feel so helpless just waiting for my visa to go through. My biggest prayer request right now would be patience during this waiting season.

Thank you again so much for partnering with me through the good and hard seasons.

Bless you!

FAILURE IS ONLY A TEMPORARY CHANGE IN DIRECTION TO SET YOU

STRAIGHT FOR YOUR NEXT SUCCESS. ONLY THOSE WHO DARE TO

FAIL GREATLY CAN EVER ACHIEVE GREATLY.