Moments.

Today i watched the last episode of the new season of the real world on MTV. Such a stupid but entertaining show. Basically its a bunch of random people from everywhere that come together, live together and work together for 3 monthes. A being the last episode its all about the memories and the emotional goodbyes. And today this reminded of our goodbyes....

I am just amazed at how wonderful the Father is and how every single moment fitted so perfectly together to make our hearts come alive and beat as one, with each other and the Father. Everything came in perfect timing.

Every moment of laugher, every moment of pain, every physical injury, every tear that was shed, ever hide away moment, every contemplation, every surfacing memory, every late night, every breeze, every rock thrown in the lake, every candle lit, every word in our journals, every vision seen, every word heard, every battle fought, every word screamed, every fist pounded, every song sung, every dance danced, every touch given, every car ride driven, every stride through the field, every stroke of a paint brush, every drum beat, ever cry heard, every declaration voiced, every prayed said.

Everything was created in perfect harmony to create a special love and a solid family bond that will never be broken by changes or time.

Today i remember.

If you wanna be cool, come to this.

So you'll look a lot like this rabbit if you come to this. Now i understand many of you are living in Australia and Peru and such places as these, but thats ok because we wont judge you for not coming. You already look like this rabbit any way.

All of you are invited to come to the grand state of Georgia with us in october to the next World Race Training Camp. Its gonna be rad. We would really love if all of you that can make it would come. Cause we love you. Here is some of the general information and if you have any other questions I will put my email adress at the bottom, don't hesitate to ask me anything.

-Date- Friday Oct. 15- Tuesday Oct. 19

-Location- Cartersville, GA....Same place as last time

-Cost for the Food, Lodging and Travel will be $30 person

-Meet at the farm Friday night at 8 pm for coffee, desert and connect time.

-If you can't be here Friday night that is fine but you must be here by 8:30 Saturday morning, we will be leaving at 9am.

-We will be leaving "APFTH" around 9:00 AM on Saturday Morning

-We would get back to "APFTH" around 4:00 on Tuesday Afternoon

-Everyone will be responsible for food on the way down to the retreat on Saturday and for the food on the road trip back. We will stop for Lunch and Dinner on Saturday and we will stop for Breakfast and Lunch on Tuesday. You will be responsible for 4 meals total on the road, and any extra coffee breaks.

-WE MUST HAVE AN RSVP BY October 8, 2010.

-This trip will look the same as our last trip so please bring the following:

>sleeping bag

>towel

>clothes

>toiletries

My email is stevens.jake09@gmail.com

Im looking foward to seeing all of you!

Email me for other questions.

I love all yousins!

face your fears!!!

Hi everybody. This is just a bit of a journal entry from a little while ago, that I think would be a good thing to share with you all. I was feeling a bit lonely one day, and just about ready to shut down, but I got my journal and had out with it. Here it is-

August 25th, 2010
I will not hide from this loneliness.
I will not cower at the sight of its face.
I will not fear it as an imminent doom. For you see- I have been shown the truth of the matter, and the truth of it is,
I am created for friendship. Friendship was created for me. I will not walk alone the rugged face of this earth- the hills and valleys, the desserts and oceans. I was created for the joy of friendship, the extravagance of community, and I will not walk alone.
So loneliness, I remember your face. I knew you, once I knew you well. But I have said to you my sweet goodbye- you will not be my companion any longer. I let go of your hand at apple hill. I left you there on the shore while I climbed into my Papa's arms and let him sail me away and show me the truth-
I am loved by love.
I am love.
I am more than I could ever imagine.
And I will not walk alone.


And then, on August 28th I was just sitting down to create something of some sort, and I wrote this little blurb-

I can feel the beauty of words, as they mush around inside and slowly leak through my fingertips, onto the page.
I can feel the beauty of words as they saturate my hands and start to drip onto the floor.
I can feel the beauty of words as I slosh around in this puddle I've created,
I can feel the beauty of words.

There was a cool picture that went with that one, of a hand being pulled out of water and dripping.
I miss you all an immense amount.
Thank you for being my family and helping me to face my fears.
I love you all.

& Did our hearts not burn within us?

Hello wonderful friends, First of all, I have to say ... those videos are amazing! What talented dancers you all are ;)But Anyway, I leave for Norway on Monday [Sept 6] and I just wanted to give a little update before I head back to the crisp Norwegian air sweetly kissing my cheeks. (The fall season has just begun there!) Being home has been really good and although it is hard to get things done without a car, I have so enjoyed being with my family and I have realized how deeply I love each of them, but more importantly how much Jesus loves them. God has given me new eyes to see them only in a state of grace, and like my tattoo says- Grace finds beauty in everything – it makes beauty out of the ugly things. I also realize how much I miss each of you; it seems that no matter where I am, I am in a constant state of missing someone... somewhere....somehow. But like Jessie said, it is such a gift to miss someone. I am so loved by so many people & I have friends ALL over the world; it is remarkable. What a gift from God... to be so loved by so many.

Tonight was quite comical. About a week ago, as I was attempting to raise support, a local missionary contacted me and asked if I could speak at his church on missions night. I was in the newspaper about a month ago... they wrote an article on my travels and that is how he found out about me. But anyhow, I agreed to speak at his church, but let's be honest, I mainly did it because the man said we would take up an offering. I arrive at the Baptist church and was greeted by some nice Southern women who talked their bouffant-haired heads off about how I was doing such a wonderful thing. At that moment I was so overjoyed and felt the love of the Father. What a privilege it is to do what I love. From a young age I have wanted to travel and tell about the love that I have encountered so strongly. Culture, language, hearing peoples stories,traveling, history, really loving & not judging... those things are what I live for! My call is so different from so many others and how blessed am I to be able to pursue it. So after a BBQ and a few good ol' hymns, I got up on that stage and told them about the love of the Father and what it has inspired me to do. I spoke about all the things I had learned in my DTS and the things I will be doing; that was the first time I really really verbalized all of the things I learned. I talked for thirty minutes straight and probably could have talked all night because I had so much to tell and it was burning in my heart so strongly to tell someone. I didn't realize how much I wanted to tell my story until I told it. I want to go my whole life telling people all the awesome things God has done through my life and I am just glad He is my story, and I want to tell that story until the day I die, because when I tell the story... I come alive. Also, I raised over $1,000.00 and that is such a huge deal! I only am in need of $700.00 more for my tuition. Praisum! After the service, I went to the back to shake hands (I just laughed inside my head when they asked me to, but I gladly did so, of course!) and people were so supportive of what I was doing and the truth is, I didn't know any of them, but I loved them.

So as I embark on another adventure I will surely hold each of you in my heart. Maybe I will send some post cards around when I findthe money... one at a time, I guess. I miss you all and truly adore each one of you. I wouldn't mind if you kept me in your prayers and sent me a kind letter or email every now and then either ;) I will put a picture of us on my wall ...if David ever posts the group photo or the one the dig. Photography elective did - In the words of Josh/Miriam “take your time”.

Love you/Gla i deg!,

Cassie/Mama Cass/Cassandra/your semi-Norwegian friend

for your viewing pleasure

Hello my fellow journeymen (and women) I put a couple of crazy vids up on youtube, here are the links.

Enjoy....

Dance off....

Wallace and Grommit throw down...

Much love,

           David

Who's coming to Worshipfest Greenville this Saturday?!

Hey Chilhood!

The following are thoughts, prayers, journal entries, etc. since I left the Farm. Know that I miss and love each of you.

-On Sunday, August 1, 2010 I felt like I was in mourning. Especially since it was a gloomy, rainy day in Sophia. Missed you guys.

-Training at the Greensboro Pregnancy Care Center with MK: a lot to learn, but the Lord is amazing and has made me capable. Work starts this coming Monday, August 23!

-The movie Inception is insane. So so so good. What is your reality?

-You must subscribe to the Bethel Church i-tunes podcasts. These sermons--mostly Bill Johnson--will change your life. Listened to the sermon entitled "Transformation Series Really Saved" on 6/28/10. Listen, we are DEAD TO SIN. ALIVE IN CHRIST. Whoa. Say it out loud. Several times. Do you believe it?

-Laura Hackett's new album (from IHOP-KC) is the bomb.com!

-GRAHAM COOKE IS GOING TO BE IN HIGH POINT this September 10-12 for a conference!!! Who's going with me!? P.S. Who's finished the book? I'm halfway through. I try to read it every morning. This morning in the book, Graham dropped this nugget into my heart: I DO NOT LIVE IN MY CIRCUMSTANCES. I LIVE IN CHRIST.

-I bought a car today. Oh praise Him! 2007 silver Honda Accord. Whodathunk buying a car would be so overwhelming. Had a slight meltdown. It was necessary. And then the Lord worked everything out. He always does that.

-Whenever I mess up, sin, forget who I am, whatever...I say to myself Hebrews 4:16. "Erin, take the mercy! Accept the help!" Man, we really really need Him. We really do.

-Josif Walters did a perfect re-enactment of Papa Ken singing last night (Anyone remember "There's a place...in my heart..."?) and it was the funniest thing I saw all week. It made me laugh and think fondly of Papa Ken time with all yall. Bless.

-There's going to be a Chilhood Reunion this Saturday night at Worshipfest Greenville b/c Johnny's leading worship there. Who's in!?!?

what a privelege it is to miss another.

so the other night I went to the farm late to move out my stuff. no one was there. like literally, johnny, mel, the kids, the boys, ken and linda, all gone. just me on the land where God has consistenly found me and spoken tenderly to me, convinced me I was worthy of His affection, and wrapped the arms of friendship around me.

I decided to take a drive around the lake before leaving. as I drove through the woods, my headlights highlighted a lovely white mushroom. I started to drive past it, and thought of josh. I stopped my car. I wasn't going to get out, but then I felt the Lord whisper,

"Who will look at my mushrooms now?"

I got out and looked at it. I let it judge me. It was clean. it appeared as a tall white round table, cloaked in a crisp white lace table cloth, it seemed ready for company. I had never seen one like it the whole summer. it was beautiful. complete. it told me I had completed my summer here, and it was beautiful, intricate and worthy of notice. I was clean. I was to begin my next season bearing no guilt or shame, but instead cloaked in the lace of my Father's pleasure.

He has hidden secrets inside the small things, not to keep us away, but to pull us close. drink up the small things. they will be a well in the desert and a kiss in the garden.

I asked God what it was like not having anyone there, thinking He would say something about his heart still existing in the land or just some profund statement of rest. instead He said,

"I miss everybody. I like it better when they're here."

to miss, means you have loved. what a privelege to know that we have loved and that He has loved.

I was in Nashville this weekend visiting some friends. I was sitting at a table with a group of people, some I knew, some I didn't and I felt strange. I felt a longing in me that I had not felt for the past 2 and a half months. People at a table, carrying conversation, moving from one to the next, eating food. I tried to introduce myself to this one person, he happened to get up from the table at the very moment I turned. totally akward moment one of my other friends saw. he laughed. I felt like a total dork. I just wanted to be known, to be understood. The revelation of the gift I had been given, of being in a place where people knew me, loved me, fought for me, and believed the best in me washed over me. I missed you guys so much. I also then remembered that if I felt that way, I bet everyone at the table felt that way. I got a new "history book" a week or two ago. Its just for august and september. its thinner, but same great paper. anyways I was doing a creative entry and I just thanked Him so much for letting me be known and help make others known. The He encouraged me that although that season was and is amazing, at the end of the day, I am known by Him. He holds my hand, He holds my heart. and He reminded me to not let insecurity engulf me, but to instead help them find their voices, help them feel known. The next day was totally different. and at the end of the night, a person shared a song he wrote and then offered th guitar up, a room full of amazing musicians, none of them really wanting to share their songs. I took a deep breath and said, "I'll play a song." I closed my eyes. wrapped myself in papa's arms and sang the song that says, "and you, you know me well, you hold my had, you hold my heart..." was itn't perfect by any means, but is was me. God came in that room. I know it. anyways after that other people started playing songs and it just lead to this joyful music time. but that wasnt the point. the point was that God helped me remember that I play because He loves it. its good do things He loves. it changes seemingly unchangable situations.

always remember, God knows you. let that security overflow and watch it cover the insecurities of a generation longing to be known. He had told me that morning " Your Beloved is by your side" and indeed he was. indeed He is.

and I miss you guys because I love you.

jessica denise stafford of Jamestown North Carolina. lover. misser.