Going to California

I want to share a bit about Los Angeles and why I'm so excited to be moving to the city of Angels.  

But first, a little retrospect.

I have worked with Youth With A Mission for nearly 10 years.  I have lived in cities and I have lived in villages.  I have lived with electricity and without.  I have lived in houses without walls (Fale in Samoa) and I have lived in dorms without kitchens.  I have traveled to and lived in 16 different nations with no salary.  I rely on the Lord to provide my financial needs, and most often he does this through my awesome friends and family - people who see what I do as valuable and worth supporting.  There have been years where this has meant trusting God for enough money to buy toothpaste and there have been years where I've had abundance and have been able take friends out for dinner.  

But what keeps me going?  Why am I still in YWAM after all these years?  

It comes down to me truly believing that what I do makes a difference in this world.  I admit I'm not perfect (surprise!) and neither is YWAM.  But as I serve in my area of YWAM (Staffing in the SBS - School of Biblical Studies) I believe I am making a difference in my students' lives and I'm also playing a part of a much bigger production that is making a difference in the lives of many.  YWAM is a big movement.  Over 1000 operating locations in over 180 countries, with a (all volunteer) staff of over 18,000?  It's a little crazy.  But I am part of this crazy big movement.  I have former students that I have mentored (we call it discipleship) who are now serving in Papua New Guinea in the area of primary health care.  I have friends in Kona who are working to advance the Gospel through marine biology!  We do everything from straight up Bible teaching and evangelism to meeting practical needs like sustainable clean water projects.  I am still with YWAM because I have seen lives changed by this movement, my own life included.  

So... why Los Angeles and why SBS?

It's my part to play.  I believe the Bible has the power to transform individuals and societies.  I believe Christians need to know what the Bible says in order to communicate the Gospel message to the world.  And the School of Biblical Studies equips Christians to know the Bible.  And while the SBS is run all over the world, I am excited to move back to Los Angeles and work with the Chronological SBS there because of relationships I have there.  Let's face it.  Working relationships can make or break a job, right?  It's no different in Christian ministry.  Even in the Bible there were a couple guys who didn't work well together and parted ways because of a disagreement over another colleague's involvement in their ministry.  I'm not going to LA because I think it superior in beauty to Hawaii!  I am going because I believe God is calling me to serve at YWAM LA... and because I believe the working relationships there will be more fitting for me, and therefore, I will be able to serve in a greater capacity.  That's why I'm excited to be moving to Los Angeles!  It's the people!  And the order... I love studying and teaching the Bible in Chronological order.  It just makes the story come alive!  Oh, and LA is such a mix of cultures!  And it is closer to home than Hawai'i!  And... the list goes on... but the main thing is, God is totally behind this move.  I feel such peace and excitement in going to LA.  Even the thought of smog doesn't deter me!  

There is a lot happening with YWAM Los Angeles, and I encourage you to check it out and see how you can get involved.  

www.ywamla.org 

  

PS.  Washingtonians:  Come to Hockinson Community Church this Sunday, August 26th!  It's my last Sunday before I leave for LA and I'll be there with my ukulele!  :)

Whirlwind

 whirl·wind n

1.            a column of air rotating rapidly around a core of low pressure

2.            something that happens very quickly, or a rapid succession of events (often used before a noun)

That is how I feel these last few weeks have been.  I have embarked on three different trips in less than 3 weeks:

            From Oahu back to Big Island

                        From Big Island Back to Washington

                                    And I’m currently en route from Washington to Montana!

OAHU

            I left Oahu at the end of the New Testament portion of the Honolulu SBS (School of Biblical Studies).  Our students are already deep into the Old Testament having finished Genesis and gearing up for more.  Though I am not going to be staffing their Old Testament term, I will continue to pray for them and would ask you to join me!  Studying the Bible is not a minor task… not only is it a lot of work academically, but spiritually as well!  Pray that they might not be discouraged, but would endure to the end!

BIG ISLAND

            I spent two weeks in Kona visiting with my roommates, friends, and neighbors… And packing up all of my belongings to move back to the mainland.  Scuba gear, guitar, ukulele, clothes… my bags were not light! 

            In this time I had the opportunity to serve with Deep & Beyond on one of their Snorkel Days for people with disabilities and one of their Adventure Camps for disadvantaged youth from the Kona community.  This Three-day biology “day camp” is designed to teach youth Biblical life principles alongside lessons on Marine Biology.  For example, on Day Two we took the youth on a hike to Kiholo Bay where there are several brackish caves.  They learned that life couldn’t grow when there is complete darkness.  Plants need sunlight for photosynthesis and animals need plants for food.  So we swam as a group to the back of a cave and turned off all of our dive lights and Annamari, my friend who founded Deep & Beyond, shared that we need the Light of Jesus to have Life. 

            I also had to let go of my car after I discovered it had a blown head gasket and starter.  I was able to sell it for $100 on Craigslist, but it discouraged me for several days.  When I prayed about it, I felt God kept reminding me that He’s got me.  He’s got this – my lack of a car or finances to buy one on the mainland.  And I felt challenged to write down some of the blessings and ways God has provided for me over the last 10 years.  I wrote down only a few things for each year since 2002 and I could have kept writing for much longer!  Why should I be discouraged, why should I doubt?  He has always provided for my needs, and I can trust that he will continue to do just that.  He’s faithful even when I’m not… when I worry or stress out about minor things, He’s still faithful. 

            Last thing I want to share about my time in Kona… I was able to go diving one last time with my friends, Annamari and Stephanie and Annamari’s husband, Jeff.  We went to Puako, one of my favorite dive sites, and swam through arches and caves.  We saw moray eels, snowflake eels, a crown of thorns starfish, a titan’s trumpet sea snail, honu (green sea turtles), and all sorts of beautiful marine life.  But the best part was finding two perfect reticulated cowry shells next to each other at the mouth of a cave. The problem was one was kind of behind a pencil urchin and hard to grasp with my dive gloves.  So I just grabbed the one that was easier to grasp and swam off, afraid I was making my dive buddies wait for me too long.  But as I swam off I thought, “Wait a minute, I want both of those cowries!”  So I went back and took off one of my gloves and grabbed the left-behind cowry and put it safely with the first in my zippered BCD pocket.  As I put it in my pocket I felt like God spoke a promise into my heart, as clear as I’ve ever heard.  He said, “I will not leave you alone.”  Isn’t that an amazing promise?  Thank you, Jesus, for that reminder!  With you we are never alone!

WASHINGTON

            I had 1.5 days with Mom & Dad in between Kona and Montana, so Dad decided to make the most of it… we went wakeboarding both days!  Then I repacked a quick carry on bag and Mom & Dad made me a packed lunch for the train and Dad dropped me off at the Amtrak station. 

MONTANA

            I will be attending the SBS North American Hub Boost – a Conference for (just as it sounds) giving SBSs in North America a “boost.”  SBS Leaders and Staff are gathering to discuss and learn what works and what doesn’t, why we do what we do, how to improve grading and tests so they teach and not just assess, etc, etc.  I’m so excited to get to spend one week connecting with other SBS staff and leaders who have been doing this longer than myself as well as other newbies like myself.  I love that we are gathering and seeking ways to constantly be growing and improving!  I think all ministries and individuals need these sorts of times… at least I know I do. 

AND BEYOND!

            After this conference in Montana, I head back to Washington for two weeks!  If you’re in the area, I would love to see you at that time! 

            After Washington I head south to LOS ANGELES to staff the Chronological SBS.  I am not sure how I’m getting there yet, but it will be sometime during Labor Day Weekend that I make my way South. 

            Thus ends my rather long and tedious update.  Bless you all… and if there’s one take-away I’d like to share with you is this:  God is your provider (always was and always will be!)  So…

            “Count your blessings, name them one by one.  Count your many blessings see what God has done.”

Three-O

Yep, I'm only two days away from my 30s!  Awesome!  And weird!  

My mom wrote such a sweet post on Facebook yesterday:

30 years AGO--which is a long time when you think about it--a REALY long time--I was HUGE--well actually I was pregnant --but HUGE all the same--It was hot outside and I had a 2 1/2 year old to tote around too--in those days we didn't have the option of knowing the sex of the baby--Stan had picked out the name of Joseph Bradley as we figured another boy was in our future but somewhere in the back of my mind--I hoped for a girl--a squishy, dress in pink, little sweetie--I had picked the name Jillian Esther if I was so fortunate to have a girl--- and I spent my days waddling around, entertaining the 2 1/2 year old and floating in Jeff's wading pool face first with my belly in the inner-tube while he splashed around. I was grateful no one could see me as I looked like a whale and felt like one too--little did I know--that 3 days later a VERY special someone would greet me with a YELL! I was actually due in July but of course the Doctor doesn't REALLY know--he just guesses--so as I approach the 28th of june--I think about my special someone who has made my life complete--love you Jillian E


Sweet, right?  My parents are pretty awesome.  But birthdays for me have been a little weird ever since I passed my brother in years.  (He was 27 when he died in 2007.)  I'm not really depressed or sad when I think about him... more so reflective... a bit nostalgic perhaps.  I find myself listening to 90's alternative music and remembering rides to and from school with Jeff - good memories, not sad memories.  Music was a big part of our lives.  Playing music, listening to music, writing music... when I think of the music we enjoyed, I remember good times.  It's funny how I can hardly remember the bad times... I remember we had them, but the details have grown fuzzy as the years have passed and what's remained is the good times.  That is such a gift from God for which I am so grateful.  But when I think of being my parents' first kid (or only kid) to turn 30, that still feels wrong - out of sorts.  It's weird that I miss him but I'm not sad.  And I don't really have guilt for not being sad like I once had.  I feel like I'm doing okay.

I guess this is a random sort of birthday post.  But... then again, I'm rather random.

I've come to the conclusion that life is too short to remember and dwell on the bad.
So...
Here's to living life to the fullest and remembering the good times!
Cheers!

Cheese.  

A Bridge...

What do you call a Kiwi, Swiss, Chinese and American hanging out around a pink floatie ring?  YWAMers.  

Kesia and I chillin at Yokohama Bay - We miss Big Island, but O'ahu's not too shabby.  :)

I will miss Hawai'i.

Our students have finished Luke, Acts, and all of Paul's letters leaving only 11 books in the New Testament!  I am especially looking forward to this coming week where Ron & Judy Smith, will be teaching Matthew and Hebrews.  They will complete their study of the New Testament on July 15th after the last book, Revelation is taught by Steve Gregg, author of "Revelation: Four Views".  I will head back to Kona on July 18th for 2 weeks of packing, fellowship, and all the details a move like this entails.

Transitions are always bittersweet.  I can't help but pray this is the last transition I make for a while.  I remember thinking in my early YWAM days, "I hope I always travel, always see new places in the world... I never want to stay in one place!"  And yet... here I am, turning 30 on June 28th, and more and more wanting to be settled and have a place to call home.

There's been a picture God has given me over and over throughout my life:  that I would be a bridge for others to get into missions.  And as much as I've fought this at times (bridges get walked on, after all) I've come to realize that I find so much joy and peace when I am that bridge - who God has created me to be.  When I see another dedicate their life to missions, for the sake of the Gospel... and know I had a part in their becoming a missionary (however miniscule a part) I think, "This is why I do what I do!"  This is what it's all about for me.  This is why I'm still serving in YWAM after 9 years.  This is why I work the long hours.  This is why I teach the Bible, why I grade homework, why I lead  worship, why I attend meetings, why I cook meals or prepare snacks... because I'm investing in the lives of world changers who will take the truth and hope of God to the nations.  

So when I'm tempted to throw in the towel and just return to the nine to five because I'm not on the "frontlines" of ministry 24/7, I hear God quietly remind me that my role as a bridge is just as vital as the roles of those who would walk over this bridge into their calling.  And hopefully this bridge will be stationary for the next few years.   

What about you?  What is the role God has called you to fulfill?  Are you doing well?
If you are weary in your role, I pray God would strengthen you and give you rest.
If you feel unappreciated, I pray God would encourage you.
If you are unsure of what God has called you to do, I pray God would bring clarity and peace in how you can serve him right where you are right now.

May you be so encouraged and blessed, dear friends.  

Ch-ch-ch-changes...

Just finished teaching Colossians, my last teaching for the New Testament portion of the Honolulu SBS.  I really love our students and staff, this is such a great group of people hungry for the Word of God!

But, the title of this post is changes, so let me address the changes that are taking place in my life.

2 weeks ago a decision was made to keep the Hawaiian Islands SBS in Honolulu for the entirety of the 9 months, rather than return to Kona for the Old Testament.
My commitment to SBS in Kona finishes in August, but I was going to staff the whole school since I'd return to Kona and I have sort of built a life there.  I have great roommates in Kona, I have a car there, and I have really grown to love the land and sea surrounding this part of Hawai'i.
When the decision was made to stay in Honolulu, I felt like God was releasing me from staying in Honolulu.  I haven't had the easiest time here.  Not because of anyone, just how it goes I suppose.  Some places you click and some places you don't.

So, I will finish my commitment to stay in Honolulu until mid-July at the end of the New Testament.  I will be leaving at that time to return to Kona.  But because I won't be staffing SBS in Kona now, this has opened the doors for me to look beyond Kona as well.  I know it will be hard to say aloha (for now) to my roommates and neighbors and friends in Kona, but I believe God is calling me onwards from there.  I'll be there for 1-2 weeks at the end of July to sort out packing up things and saying "see you later."

I still am passionate about teaching the Bible in SBS and want to see Pacific Islanders equipped and sent out into worldwide missions.  With that in mind and in my heart, I am going to attend the North America SBS Conference in Montana in August, and then I will be relocating to YWAM Los Angeles to work with the Chronological School of Biblical Studies for the next 2 years.  I would like to eventually see SBS re-pioneered in the Pacific, but I am not ready at this stage to be a part of that vision.  Los Angeles is a lot more accessible to Washington than Hawai'i, and I feel that is also important.

This isn't a rash decision, but one I've made with much council from my leader here in Honolulu, the director of SBS in Kona, and also my pastor in Washington and friends and family.

But it is a change and I would appreciate your prayers that I would make the next two months here in Honolulu the best they could be, and that God would prepare the way for a smooth transition from here to Los Angeles and everywhere in between.

Thanks so much!

Famiry

I realize I haven't posted much about Honolulu.  I will soon.

But this week I am visiting my family in Washington and being reminded of how much God values family.  I know I'm not one to talk... My parents live in Washington and I live on an island that is really accessible by plane only (unless you have money and time for a cruise.)  That flight is 5 hours if you get a direct flight... which you probably won't.  I realize I'm not the greatest example of living close to family.  But, family is family and when times get tough, what family does is pull together.  So here I am in Washington.

I flew home for a few reasons this May...

First, my brother died on Mother's Day, May 13th, 2007... and that day is still hard for myself and for my parents.  I wanted to be there for my mom.  It has been five years but we still remember and miss our Jeff.

But secondly, my friend's mom is dying from cancer.  This same friend was there for me when my brother died... I just want to live out what I said above: when times get tough, what family does is pull together.  I want to be there for my friend like she was there for me and my parents.

And lastly, my grandmother is also battling cancer and she lives on my parents' property.  She is an amazing woman who has had much influence in my life.  I am happy to be able to take her to her radiation appointments and spend time with her on the drive there and back.  I also helped her with some gardening today.  :)

Sometimes I feel guilty because I'm the person who is always taking "vacations" to go home for one thing or another.  And other times I feel guilty because I'm not home enough.  But I guess it all boils down to family.  God gave me an amazing family in Washington.  He's also given me amazing hanai (kind of like "adopted") family all over the world.  But when times get tough for one of my families, I'm going to do whatever is in my power to get to that family and be there.  Be it skype or in person, God is teaching me to value and be there for my family.

There is much more I want to write.  There are some changes on the horizon for me (in regards to my work with YWAM) but I cannot make them public just yet.  Please keep me in your prayers in the meantime.  This has been a difficult and dark season for me.  But I am starting to see the sun on the horizon and I know I'll get through this.

Looking forward to a sunny and even brighter tomorrow,
Jillian

Around Honolulu

Me and my little friend, Ella!  Her parents are staffing the SBS with me :)

3 Tables (North Shore, Oahu)

Krista, Jessica, Kesia, Jae In, and Jess making Chinese Dumplings... Soooo tasty!

Hetty and I at Manoa Falls

Ayumi, Celine, Milda, Hetty, Jonna, and myself - Hiking to Manoa Falls