God is working- part 2

Sorry its been a while. It always takes longer than anticipated before having time to sit down and type. So here's part 2...

Lots has been happening and is yet to happen in these last 3 weeks! I can hardly believe we've only got 3 weeks left here together in our tight little community- goodbyes are going to be hard!

Work is going well, still extremely trying but God is definitely giving me the strength to get through these last few weeks with optimism and genuine love for my co-workers. If nothing else (and there is much much else) I've learned just how much God loves these women and how sinful and judgmental my heart is when it isn't being controlled by the Holy Spirit!

My co-worker Natalie, whom I've had many opportunities to hang out with- and even had some great convos about God with- quit at the daycare we were at (for many reasons, but mainly it's a very difficult place to work- drama-stress and more drama!) But she has gotten a new and better job in Calgary which I know will make her much happier. So right now, I'm a bit discouraged as she was the only one I'd every really had convos with other than my boss Sharon. I'm just trusting God that He'll still make a way for me to meet up with her and talk with her more. I've really come to love her and we have a great friendship which is so encouraging, but I really want to share the full gospel with her before my time here is up, so she knows exactly where I stand and what means the most to me. Please pray that I would be bold in doing this and depend on God for the timing and words to speak his truth in a loving and genuine way.

We're planning a coffee house for Tuesday July 29th to invite our co-workers to. The theme is soul cravings- which looks at what our hearts really desire - love, relationships, satisfaction, joy- and how all these things can be found in Christ. I'm going to invite Natalie so please pray that she'll come and through it she'll come to better understand how much God loves her and wants her to know Him- and God willing she'll accept His gift of salvation. Pray for the night in general as well as I'm sure its going to be a great night!

Jesus Loves you has been going great, hard to believe we only have 2 more Tuesday nights there. I've definitely learned so much through this opportunity to share God's love in such a practical way for these women and children, and it's something I want to continue to do upon my return to Ontario. I think so often we (I know I do anyways) get so caught up in our own lives that we fail to see the soo many hurting people around us just crying out for someone to love them and share God's love with them.
Tonight we had the opportunity for 2 girls to share their testimonies in the women's time after dinner and there was lots of great discussion around God and the girl's story, which is very exciting and encouraging as well as motivating for our last few weeks. Next week 2 more girls will share and the following week another girl and I will share our stories and how Christ plays such a huge role in our lives. Please pray for all of us as well as the women who will be there, that we would speak words of truth in clarity and love and that the women would be open and able to relate to our stories.

Thats about all, other than our training which has been going great, I've learned so much this summer I don't know if I'll ever be able to remember it all let alone apply it to my life. Thank God for journals! Can't wait to share all I've learned with you upon my return so you too can be built up to strengthen your relationship with God and better reach those around you. I know I'm really excited to apply these things and grow closer to my heavenly father and allow Him to mold me to become more like Christ.

As these last few weeks fly by I'm taking some time to see God's beautiful creation out here in the west. This weekend I'll be camping in Banff with Sarah Roy, a friend from my home church and the next weekend I'll be camping with a bunch of girls from project. I'm really looking forward to some great bonding time with these girls before we all head home. Please pray for safety and a great time of refreshing, bonding friendships and connecting with God through His creation- and pray we don't meet anyone of his big brown creations aka BEARS!! haha

Our last weekend will be debrief (camping yet again) to reflect on all thats happened (and still will happen) this summer and how were going to take what we've learned and make it part of our campus ministry this coming year and our lives in general. I hope to update more in the coming weeks to keep you all up to date on what God is doing in these last few weeks here- I think and pray it's gonna be BIG!

I'll be coming home on August 4th and look forward to seeing and/or sharing with you!
Thanks again for all your prayers and support- its so encouraging to know I'm not in this battle alone. I thank God for each and everyone of you!
God Bless,
Emily