Hiya. Thank you all so much for your prayers! They are much needed! I am feeling better, but and not back to full strength. I can hear out of both ears!!! That is a HUGE victory in my book. I still have a smoker's cough and laugh from my congestion. That may be because for the last several days I have been a little hectic and gotten like only 6 hours of sleep and accidentally skipping meals, so basically blatantly defying Jessie's advice. But other than that I have been trying to take care of myself and did get some good sleep last night.
The insurance issue still isn't sorted. It would cost 900 pounds to put me on the insurance plan this year. We haven't got that kind of money. So I need to look around and see if there is another option. So, please, keep praying about this situation. I'd like a miracle here.
So, we have a few potential ladies who want to move in the house. One is older and from Newport the other is homeless and we haven't met her yet. The one from Newport really seems like she is keen on moving here soon, so please pray that she would be able to. She needs to sort out some issues with her previous living situation before she can move in, so please pray that God intercedes there and has it all just be taken care of swiftly. This woman could really use a lot of prayer, so pray for her safety and her peace and self-control and whatnot.
The other lady I may have the opportunity to meet on Friday. So be praying for that meeting. From what I have heard she is very introverted and withdrawn, so be praying that God would help me to find out a passion of hers and be able to ask her about it. I really feel like that is a beautiful way to help get someone out of their shell and to help built trust. So yeah, she seems to be in a dire situation too. I believe she may be homeless. So be praying for her and her situation.
Let's see. Other than than I have started going to Rhiwbina Baptist Church. It is really far away and kind of a hassle to get there, but the people there seem to be very giving in that I have gotten rides to and from there ever since the first time I went and arrived 30 minutes late because I missed the bus. After church on Sunday some lovely girls invited me to go on a picnic with them and I did. They seemed really nice and really interesting. One of them did like an internship or something with Jackie Pullinger, which I just think is WAY awesome.
Last Thursday I went to Swansea again. Didn't find Libby but got some good praying in, listened to several sermons on my iPod, started writing in the journal I bought for her, and got to have lunch with John Derek Rees. After I came home from that Jess really wanted to go to bingo, so I went with her to that. It was fun bonding with her, but bingo is a serious drag. It is just some dude quickly saying numbers in monotone and you looking for them, and if you talk you get shushed. Not my idea of a fun night out of the house.
Friday, of course was Jamie's wedding. It was beautiful! Then a bunch of the girls hung out at the bay to chill out after all of the wedding prep and tear down stuff. It was really fun and Becky and Kerrie got feisty and stated daring one another to be obnoxious, which was fun to watch.
Saturday Kerrie, Rachel, Jess, Mel, Leona, and I all went to the beach. That was fun. Leona gets really excited about the beach. So does Jess.
Jess and I are going to maybe get more into cooking and cook something a little more extreme or complicated once a week or so. I think it will be fun. Tonight is roast Turkey breast. Jess is going to teach me how she makes it.
Tuesday, June 29, 2010
Tuesday, June 22, 2010
Sinus angerment
Hiya, sorry it has been a while. I am going to start out this time with prayer requests.
As I have mentioned earlier, I left the US in June 8th. The plane made the situation much worse, and unfortunately even now have sinus pressure, fatigue, chest congestion, way too much mucus, and cannot hear out of my left ear. Please pray for healing. I have been taking antibiotics, decongestants, and just recently starting taking allergy and hayfever meds. Because I wasn't responding very well to the decongestants and antiboitics, I thought maybe I came here with weakened health, but am allergic to the allergens here and thus things have spiraled out of control. I started my first round of antibiotics the day before I came over. After waiting a few day and my congestion getting worse I realized that even if my sinus infection had healed I probably had one again so I put myself on a second round. I am sure I am a doctor's worse nightmare for my self-treatment, but I don't have international insurance, so I don't know exactly what will happen if I go to a doctor here but I think it will cost me an arm and a leg.
Another prayer request is for me to be covered cheaply with car insurance for the firstfruits car. IT turns out I am not covered by the current insurance plan because I am not 25 or older. This means that there is no one currently living in the house that can drive the firstfruits car. After meeting with a potential mommy to move in the house, we decided that I need to go up to Newport by train and taxi once or twice a week to create a bond with her so when she moves in she will feel comfortable. This would be a thousand times easier if I had a car I could use. So please pray for this need. We are contacting our current and other insurance agencies to see our options.
Okay, I actually have to go, but I will update you later! Thanks for your prayers!
As I have mentioned earlier, I left the US in June 8th. The plane made the situation much worse, and unfortunately even now have sinus pressure, fatigue, chest congestion, way too much mucus, and cannot hear out of my left ear. Please pray for healing. I have been taking antibiotics, decongestants, and just recently starting taking allergy and hayfever meds. Because I wasn't responding very well to the decongestants and antiboitics, I thought maybe I came here with weakened health, but am allergic to the allergens here and thus things have spiraled out of control. I started my first round of antibiotics the day before I came over. After waiting a few day and my congestion getting worse I realized that even if my sinus infection had healed I probably had one again so I put myself on a second round. I am sure I am a doctor's worse nightmare for my self-treatment, but I don't have international insurance, so I don't know exactly what will happen if I go to a doctor here but I think it will cost me an arm and a leg.
Another prayer request is for me to be covered cheaply with car insurance for the firstfruits car. IT turns out I am not covered by the current insurance plan because I am not 25 or older. This means that there is no one currently living in the house that can drive the firstfruits car. After meeting with a potential mommy to move in the house, we decided that I need to go up to Newport by train and taxi once or twice a week to create a bond with her so when she moves in she will feel comfortable. This would be a thousand times easier if I had a car I could use. So please pray for this need. We are contacting our current and other insurance agencies to see our options.
Okay, I actually have to go, but I will update you later! Thanks for your prayers!
Tuesday, June 15, 2010
Meetings, Wanderment, and First Trip to Swansea
Hiya!
Honestly, I feel like a day in Wales is the equivalent to 2 or 3 in Oklahoma. They are so packed.
So, Monday morning we had the Glenwood staff meeting. That was lovely. Then Cerys (a delightful woman from Glenwood who has a baby who is about half a year old) picked me up and took me to the bay where we met up with her parents and another mother and all went on a tour of a Tall Boat. We then ate on a different boat. It was lovely and she is lovely.
She drove me home but I didn't have a key and no one was home so I texted Jamie to tell me when she got home and set off to see if I could find my way to town. I did. It was good to get my bearings and do some exploring. I wandered about for about 2 hours. It was good exercise and good fun and I do feel like I made at least one or 2 divine appointments, even if they did seem trivial. I also checked in on a gym about a block away from my house and I think I might join. I have really bad hips and knees and really need to elliptical in order to keep building cartilage and strengthen my ligaments. While I kinda feel bad spending the last of my graduation money on gym membership while I don't yet have enough sponsorship to cover my stay yet... I need to just get over that and try to be a good steward of my body. I am a pretty bad steward of my body and can use prayer for it.
Speaking of spending money, I spent some while I was out. Another ought-not-feel-guilty pleasure: I bought some canvas, paintbrushes and 3 colors of paint. I really prayed about it before buying it and really felt like I ought. Painting is really a blessing to me. I do it when I am stress and it really calms me down and while I paint I usually do some deep praying. And I know God is a creative God and delights when I use the gifts He has given me. Dunno what I will paint yet... maybe a dragon for Wales... Maybe not.
I came home and recouped and helped cooked dinner and then we all went to a meeting to draw up a legal support document for Jess's stuff. It was in a coffee shop and the World Cup game was playing so we had to talk over it. It was a relaxed environment and it was great brainstorming together. I think we drew up quite a blessed document. Then it was home and then to bed.
TODAY - That is Tuesday
Today I got a late start... partially because I prayed longer than I had expected, which is a real testament to the Holy Spirit, because I am AWFUL at setting out time for the LORD and really focusing on HIM. So I took the train to Swansea and got there and settled by about noon. As I mentioned in my last blog. My goal for the day was to sit and pray for Libby and pray that she would come.
I called Derek when I got there. He was with 2 of the girls from his church so after I prayed and waited for an hour I went and had lunch with them. For those of you who don't know, Derek is a 23 year old pastor who founded a new Welsh Baptist Church in Swansea about 9 months ago. So he and the ladies came down and we had lunch for about 4an hour or so. It was lovely. We also were able to get some business done. By that I mean Derek was able to fill me in on some information my dad needs for the Mission trip HHBC is doing next month.
So, after a lovely lunch, I went back to my spot and prayed some more. I called mum and dad and filled them in on the Missions info for a bit, while keeping an ever watchful eye for Libby. After a couple hours I listened to a sermon on my ipod whilst praying and watching. IT was lovely listening to a sermon while literally on the mission field. IT was one of those sermons that gets you fired up and makes you want to act, and here I was but a glimpse of a face away from pouncing into action.
She never came, but I did get several hours with the Lord and several hours of prayer in for her. I think that if I do this vigil again I will bring a journal with me and write in it to her about how much I love her and God loves her so that when I do find her I can give it to her and she can really see how much time I have spent on actively loving her even though she hasn't been able to see it, and maybe that can be a picture God's love. I dunno, we'll see. Maybe next time I will try to make Derek go with me and see if we can find out how to get where she lives.
At about 5:20 Derek picked me up and drove me back to Cardiff because he was going to go there anyways. As soon as I got back we went to Mel's and she had made curry for us. then she had to run. So we tidied up.
Then Rachel came over and she and I had our first little check in meeting. It was so delightful!!! She is really an amazing woman! I cannot speak highly enough of her.
Everyone agrees that is seems like I have been here much longer than I have been. I really do feel like I belong here. Huzzah for God's plans!!!
Honestly, I feel like a day in Wales is the equivalent to 2 or 3 in Oklahoma. They are so packed.
So, Monday morning we had the Glenwood staff meeting. That was lovely. Then Cerys (a delightful woman from Glenwood who has a baby who is about half a year old) picked me up and took me to the bay where we met up with her parents and another mother and all went on a tour of a Tall Boat. We then ate on a different boat. It was lovely and she is lovely.
She drove me home but I didn't have a key and no one was home so I texted Jamie to tell me when she got home and set off to see if I could find my way to town. I did. It was good to get my bearings and do some exploring. I wandered about for about 2 hours. It was good exercise and good fun and I do feel like I made at least one or 2 divine appointments, even if they did seem trivial. I also checked in on a gym about a block away from my house and I think I might join. I have really bad hips and knees and really need to elliptical in order to keep building cartilage and strengthen my ligaments. While I kinda feel bad spending the last of my graduation money on gym membership while I don't yet have enough sponsorship to cover my stay yet... I need to just get over that and try to be a good steward of my body. I am a pretty bad steward of my body and can use prayer for it.
Speaking of spending money, I spent some while I was out. Another ought-not-feel-guilty pleasure: I bought some canvas, paintbrushes and 3 colors of paint. I really prayed about it before buying it and really felt like I ought. Painting is really a blessing to me. I do it when I am stress and it really calms me down and while I paint I usually do some deep praying. And I know God is a creative God and delights when I use the gifts He has given me. Dunno what I will paint yet... maybe a dragon for Wales... Maybe not.
I came home and recouped and helped cooked dinner and then we all went to a meeting to draw up a legal support document for Jess's stuff. It was in a coffee shop and the World Cup game was playing so we had to talk over it. It was a relaxed environment and it was great brainstorming together. I think we drew up quite a blessed document. Then it was home and then to bed.
TODAY - That is Tuesday
Today I got a late start... partially because I prayed longer than I had expected, which is a real testament to the Holy Spirit, because I am AWFUL at setting out time for the LORD and really focusing on HIM. So I took the train to Swansea and got there and settled by about noon. As I mentioned in my last blog. My goal for the day was to sit and pray for Libby and pray that she would come.
I called Derek when I got there. He was with 2 of the girls from his church so after I prayed and waited for an hour I went and had lunch with them. For those of you who don't know, Derek is a 23 year old pastor who founded a new Welsh Baptist Church in Swansea about 9 months ago. So he and the ladies came down and we had lunch for about 4an hour or so. It was lovely. We also were able to get some business done. By that I mean Derek was able to fill me in on some information my dad needs for the Mission trip HHBC is doing next month.
So, after a lovely lunch, I went back to my spot and prayed some more. I called mum and dad and filled them in on the Missions info for a bit, while keeping an ever watchful eye for Libby. After a couple hours I listened to a sermon on my ipod whilst praying and watching. IT was lovely listening to a sermon while literally on the mission field. IT was one of those sermons that gets you fired up and makes you want to act, and here I was but a glimpse of a face away from pouncing into action.
She never came, but I did get several hours with the Lord and several hours of prayer in for her. I think that if I do this vigil again I will bring a journal with me and write in it to her about how much I love her and God loves her so that when I do find her I can give it to her and she can really see how much time I have spent on actively loving her even though she hasn't been able to see it, and maybe that can be a picture God's love. I dunno, we'll see. Maybe next time I will try to make Derek go with me and see if we can find out how to get where she lives.
At about 5:20 Derek picked me up and drove me back to Cardiff because he was going to go there anyways. As soon as I got back we went to Mel's and she had made curry for us. then she had to run. So we tidied up.
Then Rachel came over and she and I had our first little check in meeting. It was so delightful!!! She is really an amazing woman! I cannot speak highly enough of her.
Everyone agrees that is seems like I have been here much longer than I have been. I really do feel like I belong here. Huzzah for God's plans!!!
Sunday, June 13, 2010
First Half-Week
Hiya!
Thanks for your thoughts and prayers! And comments! I love comments!!!
There isn't much of a story about the cream. The girl just had half a cup of cream and was holding it out to get coffee or something and she just accidentally overturned it on me (she was window seat and I was aisle seat). And if you skype me I'll tell you about the bruise. It was out of a fool-hearty concern for my cat that I bodyslammed the corner of the kitchen table.
Anyways, so I told you about Wednesday. Thursday was rather chill. I went with Jamie to the GoingPublic gap year Christian Leadership Academy that was from like 9-1 or so. IT was really good and refreshing The lesson was about the church and leadership styles in the church and being culturally appropriate. Some fun stats I learned was that 3% of Wales is Christian. Out of the teen to 24 demographic only 2% are Christian. Also, 2 of the students gave presentations and one of them was about spending time alone with the Lord that was quite inspiring. I must admit that spending time alone in the Word has not been my strong suit lately.
Then Jamie took me home where I lay around hoping my luggage would come and trying to recover physically. Got to Talk to mum, dad, and Jasper on Skype which was great. I called about the luggage but never got to talk to any humans, and in the end the luggage didn't come. That night at dinner Jess and Mel's older sister Penny came and ate with us, which was very amusing and interesting. She has got a fair amount of sass in her.
Friday my luggage came at 10:30, which was almost exactly the time I woke up. I unpacked (words cannot describe how great that was) and showered. Then Jamie and I met up with Troy for lunch (whom we have worked with in the past, especially dad). Then we went on errands including getting me a local simcard for my cell phone and a bank account. It took forever to get a bank account. about an hour. But I think I made a new friend in the process. My bank teller was a dear.
Then I met up with Derek at Starbucks. That was swell. Then we came home and had dinner. That night it was just Me, Jamie, and Jess staying home so we went out to Blockbuster and rented some movies and looked around for stuff to do facials. We couldn't find any but Mel bought us some so when Becky came home we all did them. Later when just about everyone had gone to bed, Jess hung out with me in my room and we talked for a long time. It was delightful.
Saturday we had to be in Haverford by 9 for the Crisis Pregnancy course. IT was from 9-4 with a 30 minute lunch break. It is really intense and I think I am going to learn a lot and I like the people there. I have loads of homework from it. Becky went to so we may have a homework party later in the week. That night was the World Cup game between England and the US. So, we went over to Cath's and watched it. She had cooked a lovely dinner so we ate and watched. For those who are totally out of the loop, it was a tie 1-1. Most people around here were rooting for USA because the hate the English so, but out of the girls watching they were not as anti-English. Then we played the boardgame the Big Taboo. It was a delight. It was good to get to know some of the girls from Church on Saturday both through the course and watching the game.
Today we went to Glenwood Baptist. It is a delightful church. I was made to go on stage though, which was quite a surprise to me. They were doing an announcement about the changes and Firstfruits and they mentioned I was new and taking Jamie's place and the next thing I know they ask me to come up there and in short time I am talking in Russian to the audience. Kinda surreal when looking back on it. they prayed for me, which was swell.
After church we arte sandwiches in the park and then I cam home had such a long sleep I guess you could call it a mini-coma. Then it was time for dinner to we went to wetherspoons.
So, that is my week!
Things you might pray about: Pray for Jess very hard this week. She is a dear!
On Tuesday I am planning on going to Swansea and sitting in City Center and praying and hoping that Libby will come. Pray that she comes, and that she remembers me and that we are safe and able to talk and that I am able to feed her. Pray for Libby in general.
For those who don't know, I met Libby last year on mission to Swansea. She is a heroin addict who is forced by her abusive boyfriend to sell herself to make money for both of their habits. Please pray for her. She is so sweet and maybe more than anyother heroin addict I have ever met she seems to have a decent head on her shoulders. She really needs love. From what she has told me about her life, I don't know that anyone has ever really looked as anything beyond an object that they can use. Pray that God's selfless love really shows through me and that His truth reaches her. And that I get to meet her! Okay, that is all for now!
Wednesday, June 9, 2010
I live in Cardiff, Wales
Hey all! By the grace of God I have arrived. This is of course despite many technical difficulties both on the part of the airlines and 2 of the 3 planes I rode on. Also despite getting cream poured on me on my long flight and then having my luggage not arrive in Amsterdam.
It has been an interesting 30 or so hours. On the sweet side, I had just about the most wonderful send off ever. I had a little family goodbye thing the night before, and then Jasper, Caroline, and my parents saw me off at the airport Tuesday morning. Back to the unsweet side I have a bruise the size of my fist on my thigh and I rode on planes for about 15 hours with constantly changing cabin pressures, with a pretty bad sinus infection that was quite painful and I have not fully recovered my hearing over 9 hours later.
Jamie picked me up. We called the luggage people to give them my address since I had forgotten it. then drove home. Here at Firstfruits was the whole gang pretty much, including Jess, Melanie, and Melanie's little daughter, Leona, who is probably the cutest kid in the entire world. I would post a video or photo, but I think you would just have to meet her to grasp her full cuteness. Also, Jess had made a welcome sign for me! Made me so happy! It was very sweet.
Today was busy, we ate lunch, dropped Jess off, did some errands (including money exchange) and then Jamie and I hung out and talked at Starbucks. Then we came home and the above mentioned gals plus Becky and Rachel all ate dinner. They are an ABSOLUTE DELIGHT! Then we went to a Glenwood Baptist praise event. By that time I almost fell asleep during the sermon (though it was a good service) just out of sheer sleep deprivation.
Pray that they send my suitcase tomorrow! I am sleepy! I am sleepward bound!
GOD IS GOOD! I HAVE SUCH PEACE.
It has been an interesting 30 or so hours. On the sweet side, I had just about the most wonderful send off ever. I had a little family goodbye thing the night before, and then Jasper, Caroline, and my parents saw me off at the airport Tuesday morning. Back to the unsweet side I have a bruise the size of my fist on my thigh and I rode on planes for about 15 hours with constantly changing cabin pressures, with a pretty bad sinus infection that was quite painful and I have not fully recovered my hearing over 9 hours later.
Jamie picked me up. We called the luggage people to give them my address since I had forgotten it. then drove home. Here at Firstfruits was the whole gang pretty much, including Jess, Melanie, and Melanie's little daughter, Leona, who is probably the cutest kid in the entire world. I would post a video or photo, but I think you would just have to meet her to grasp her full cuteness. Also, Jess had made a welcome sign for me! Made me so happy! It was very sweet.
Today was busy, we ate lunch, dropped Jess off, did some errands (including money exchange) and then Jamie and I hung out and talked at Starbucks. Then we came home and the above mentioned gals plus Becky and Rachel all ate dinner. They are an ABSOLUTE DELIGHT! Then we went to a Glenwood Baptist praise event. By that time I almost fell asleep during the sermon (though it was a good service) just out of sheer sleep deprivation.
Pray that they send my suitcase tomorrow! I am sleepy! I am sleepward bound!
GOD IS GOOD! I HAVE SUCH PEACE.
Thursday, May 20, 2010
Wanna support me?
Hey Bloggers!
As you may know, I just graduated! Huzzah! I am very excited that God has blessed me by enabling me to graduate with Honors from OU in just three years with a Bachelor’s degree in Russian and a minor in History in addition to my Associate’s degree in Substance Abuse Counseling from OSUOKC. At this momentous time in my life, an amazing opportunity has come up that I really feel passionately about: to serve through a charity in Wales caring for young pregnant women and new mothers!
How did all this happen? After I went to Wales last summer on our church’s mission trip, I felt I might be led back there. Then this new opportunity threw itself at me. There is a charity in Cardiff, Wales called “Firstfruits” which provides a safe environment for two to three young pregnant women or new mothers and their babies. Two “House Mums” minister to the women and one of them, Jamie Howell, is leaving in June and was looking for a replacement. I really have a heart to care for women who are trying to rise above difficult backgrounds or addiction issues. This charity really seems like a perfect fit and I cannot wait to get over there and start helping! I was just offered the position a couple of weeks ago, but I am expected to report for duty in early June. Now that I have graduated, all of my attention is directed towards this endeavor.
How can you help? “Firstfruits” charity is only about a year old and does not yet have the financial support to pay a salary for its House Mums. The good news is that they will pay for my accommodation and some food expenses for my one year of service. I will only be responsible for finding support to cover living expenses which are estimated to be about $750 per month (not including airfare).
I am so grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement from friends and family since I have told them about this new endeavor. It really seems that God is in this thing. Please consider joining with others as they support this charity. Even a few dollars a month could make all the difference. More important, though, is your prayer support. Once I get over there I will update my blog regularly so you will be able to see how best you can pray for this great work.
You can send donations to me directly through the Paypal account here on my blog (look left) or send tax deductible donations by using the form below and sending it with any financial contribution or commitment. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me! My email is DeahJo@gmail.com . Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers!
Sincerely,
Deah Jordan Rice
Tax deductible donation for: Going Public (Firstfruits), Wales, Deah Jordan Rice
I would like to make a:
One time contribution of _____
Monthly contribution of __________
If possible, please indicate day it will be given (ie-1st, 15th) _____
Make checks payable to: Henderson Hills
Memo: Wales, Deah Rice
Send to: Henderson Hills, Attn: Missions
1200 E I-35 Frontage Rd.
Edmond, OK 73034
A little more about Firstfruits
Background
Firstfruits was birthed after Rachel Cooper recognized through her involvement at crisis pregnancy centers that housing, independent living, education, and employment were common needs that came with unexpected pregnancies. Rachel’s church, Glenwood Faith Community, adopted Firstfruits as one of their community projects. In April 2008, a house owned by a church member became available and was leased to Firstfruits at a low rate. In the following months, volunteers furnished the home. It can accommodate up to three women at a time, with space for one baby per mother.
Mission Statement
“And I will provide a place for my people…and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed…” 2 Samuel 7:10
Aim
“To improve the lives of vulnerable, pregnant women and new mothers, helping them to develop their physical, mental, social and spiritual capacities.”
Objectives
1. To provide a safe and secure living environment
2. To offer emotional support through trained counselors
3. To offer practical support in the development of life-skills, particularly those most relevant for new mothers.
4. To provide accurate and timely information on education and employment opportunities.
Website:
http://www.first-fruits.co.uk/
As you may know, I just graduated! Huzzah! I am very excited that God has blessed me by enabling me to graduate with Honors from OU in just three years with a Bachelor’s degree in Russian and a minor in History in addition to my Associate’s degree in Substance Abuse Counseling from OSUOKC. At this momentous time in my life, an amazing opportunity has come up that I really feel passionately about: to serve through a charity in Wales caring for young pregnant women and new mothers!
How did all this happen? After I went to Wales last summer on our church’s mission trip, I felt I might be led back there. Then this new opportunity threw itself at me. There is a charity in Cardiff, Wales called “Firstfruits” which provides a safe environment for two to three young pregnant women or new mothers and their babies. Two “House Mums” minister to the women and one of them, Jamie Howell, is leaving in June and was looking for a replacement. I really have a heart to care for women who are trying to rise above difficult backgrounds or addiction issues. This charity really seems like a perfect fit and I cannot wait to get over there and start helping! I was just offered the position a couple of weeks ago, but I am expected to report for duty in early June. Now that I have graduated, all of my attention is directed towards this endeavor.
How can you help? “Firstfruits” charity is only about a year old and does not yet have the financial support to pay a salary for its House Mums. The good news is that they will pay for my accommodation and some food expenses for my one year of service. I will only be responsible for finding support to cover living expenses which are estimated to be about $750 per month (not including airfare).
I am so grateful for the outpouring of support and encouragement from friends and family since I have told them about this new endeavor. It really seems that God is in this thing. Please consider joining with others as they support this charity. Even a few dollars a month could make all the difference. More important, though, is your prayer support. Once I get over there I will update my blog regularly so you will be able to see how best you can pray for this great work.
You can send donations to me directly through the Paypal account here on my blog (look left) or send tax deductible donations by using the form below and sending it with any financial contribution or commitment. If you have any questions, feel free to ask me! My email is DeahJo@gmail.com . Thank you all so much for your thoughts and prayers!
Sincerely,
Deah Jordan Rice
Tax deductible donation for: Going Public (Firstfruits), Wales, Deah Jordan Rice
I would like to make a:
One time contribution of _____
Monthly contribution of __________
If possible, please indicate day it will be given (ie-1st, 15th) _____
Make checks payable to: Henderson Hills
Memo: Wales, Deah Rice
Send to: Henderson Hills, Attn: Missions
1200 E I-35 Frontage Rd.
Edmond, OK 73034
A little more about Firstfruits
Background
Firstfruits was birthed after Rachel Cooper recognized through her involvement at crisis pregnancy centers that housing, independent living, education, and employment were common needs that came with unexpected pregnancies. Rachel’s church, Glenwood Faith Community, adopted Firstfruits as one of their community projects. In April 2008, a house owned by a church member became available and was leased to Firstfruits at a low rate. In the following months, volunteers furnished the home. It can accommodate up to three women at a time, with space for one baby per mother.
Mission Statement
“And I will provide a place for my people…and will plant them so that they can have a home of their own and no longer be disturbed…” 2 Samuel 7:10
Aim
“To improve the lives of vulnerable, pregnant women and new mothers, helping them to develop their physical, mental, social and spiritual capacities.”
Objectives
1. To provide a safe and secure living environment
2. To offer emotional support through trained counselors
3. To offer practical support in the development of life-skills, particularly those most relevant for new mothers.
4. To provide accurate and timely information on education and employment opportunities.
Website:
http://www.first-fruits.co.uk/
Monday, March 29, 2010
Ezekiel played with homemade legos... kinda.
Ok, so I am a crazy charismatic that sometimes does things strangely just because I am weird, but I sometimes do strange things because God tells me to. A good Ruth of mine says that my life reminds her a lot of the Old Testament. I guess that is part of way I get a good deal of peace when I read through the books of the prophets. Right now I am reading through Ezekiel (which might I add I have been TERRIBLE at spending time in the word recently so feel free to pray that God makes me do it. The last 2 days in a row God woke me up long before my alarm. On days like that I have no excuse to not read the Bible. It has been really nice.). Today in Ezekiel 4 I read something that I found really encouraging and joy producing.
Ezekiel 4:1-3 (NASB)
1"Now you son of man, get yourself a brick, place it before you and inscribe a city on it, Jerusalem.
2"Then lay siege against it, build a siege wall, raise up a ramp, pitch camps and place battering rams against it all around.
3"Then get yourself an iron plate and set it up as an iron wall between you and the city, and set your face toward it so that it is under siege, and besiege it This is a sign to the house of Israel."
Okay, now I realize that the average bloke might look at this as very straight forward and pretty suckie for the house of Israel. I see that, but I also like to look at the relationship between God and his prophets. Sometimes God has be kinda do stuff like this and I don't get why until later, sometimes he'll tell me to do stuff like this and reveals why as I am doing it. Since God has him write Jerusalem on it, it is pretty clear Ezekiel got the picture right away. But still, God basically told this grown man to get down, presumably in the dirt and "play" with bricks and plates, and make walls and ramps and pitch little miniature camps and "play" war. This act was profound, because it was a stern warning and prediction, but the way God chose to display it was very kinesthetically geared and almost child-like. I am having trouble putting words to why I find this encouraging and blog-worthy, so forgive me if I am not conveying it very well. I strongly believe that God communicates with everyone of His kiddos in the way that is best for them. there is evidence for that in just the ways he speaks to the prophets and speaks through them. Some of them do a lot of talking, whereas others like Ezekiel do a lot of miming and strange physical representations for things, etc. God seems to talk to me like He is with Ezekiel here. Part of me wonders how much Ezekiel had to wait to find the answers to each of the metaphors and how many were instantaneous, and how silly he felt making siege ramps and little tents up to attack a brick while he was sitting in public on the dirty ground (or at least that is how I picture it).
I guess it helps me feel like I am not alone in my... originality. :) Not alone in my strangeness. And it reminds me of some good times when God spoke and I understood, which gives me hope for those complicated and life-involving metaphors that haven't been explained to me yet.
Wednesday, March 3, 2010
Update
Hello World!
I haven't updated this in FOREVER! I am back in Oklahoma, as I presume you all know. I am graduating this year from OU. 70 days until graduation!! :) Praise GOD! This has been a bit of a rough semester, but regardless it will be over soon and I have gotten closer to and met a lot of people here. So that is a blessing.
One thing God has really laid on my heart is this new program thingy calle Rahab Rehab. It is a local female version of the Sampson Society which was founded by Nate Larkin. I highly advise everybody to read his book. It is DEFINITLY geared towards men, but as a woman I got a good deal out of it. Sampson Society is a group of men that meet together as fellow-travelers and are open with one another to support eachother and find support in a non-BS, manly, Christian environment. The focus tends to be in dealing with sexual temptation, but seriously we talk about anything and everything. It is kind of set up like an AA meeting. It is hard to explain how freeing it is to go to one of these meetings and be open and know no one is going to give you feedback or advice or judge you. They just listen and share their life. During the sharing part of the meeting a word is hosen to be a center peice of the discussion, but you can deviate from it if soemthign in your life seems more pressing. Words might be "betrayal" or "contentment" or any number of things there is always plenty to say about any given word (in my experience). Then whoever wants to shares for a few minutes each. Then we close in prayer. There are other aspects to the meeting, but I consider this the hightlight. Anyways IF you wanna know more google Samson Society or Nate Larkin or email me. God had me write a little thing for women about Rahab Rehab that kinda mirrors Nate Larkin's book, so if you want a copy of that I can email it to you. : )
In other news I think God wants me to live in Wales next year...
Some possibilities for this would be to do a baptist gap year internship OR maybe work for First Fruits. Check it out. : )
I haven't updated this in FOREVER! I am back in Oklahoma, as I presume you all know. I am graduating this year from OU. 70 days until graduation!! :) Praise GOD! This has been a bit of a rough semester, but regardless it will be over soon and I have gotten closer to and met a lot of people here. So that is a blessing.
One thing God has really laid on my heart is this new program thingy calle Rahab Rehab. It is a local female version of the Sampson Society which was founded by Nate Larkin. I highly advise everybody to read his book. It is DEFINITLY geared towards men, but as a woman I got a good deal out of it. Sampson Society is a group of men that meet together as fellow-travelers and are open with one another to support eachother and find support in a non-BS, manly, Christian environment. The focus tends to be in dealing with sexual temptation, but seriously we talk about anything and everything. It is kind of set up like an AA meeting. It is hard to explain how freeing it is to go to one of these meetings and be open and know no one is going to give you feedback or advice or judge you. They just listen and share their life. During the sharing part of the meeting a word is hosen to be a center peice of the discussion, but you can deviate from it if soemthign in your life seems more pressing. Words might be "betrayal" or "contentment" or any number of things there is always plenty to say about any given word (in my experience). Then whoever wants to shares for a few minutes each. Then we close in prayer. There are other aspects to the meeting, but I consider this the hightlight. Anyways IF you wanna know more google Samson Society or Nate Larkin or email me. God had me write a little thing for women about Rahab Rehab that kinda mirrors Nate Larkin's book, so if you want a copy of that I can email it to you. : )
In other news I think God wants me to live in Wales next year...
Some possibilities for this would be to do a baptist gap year internship OR maybe work for First Fruits. Check it out. : )
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