Hmmmmm.....wow

First of All I want to thank all of you for your continued prayers and support during this crazy period of my life!!

Unfortunately I am still in the states. Who would have thought that I would be around an extra 7 and a half weeks now (and counting). I think that this past weekend might have been the hardest period of my wait thus far. Why??...well this weekend was the SU Retreat, where the Senior SU went away for a weekend retreat. The downside is that I was supposed to be the speaker for it. So it was a bummer to face the reality that I didn't make it back for that.

However, I still continue to keep hope. Nearly every day I remind myself of the verse that is starting to become my life verse - well for this period of my life at least! Psalm 24:1 "The Earth is the Lord's and EVERYTHING in it...!" Sometimes things just don't make sense, but that's because we are not God and we cannot fully grasp the infinitely awesome plan that He has for each of our lives. It's usually after the fact that situations begin to make sense. That's probably what is happening right now with me. I have no clue why He doesn't want me over in N. Ireland at the moment, but I know that it's for a reason and a purpose. So I just need to continue to trust and put my hope in the reality that my God is sovereign and knows what's best for me!!

So, in light of that, I continue to wait. I just wrote a letter to the British Consulate here in Chicago asking for a status update on what is going on and when I should expect to hear something. I ask that you would continue to pray about my situation and especially for this letter...that God would grant me favor in the eyes of the British Government and that they would be willing to grant me the VISA so that I can get back over to Northern Ireland. Also, pray that I would continue to trust in God's timing....it definitely has gotten frustrating at times, but I need to continue to trust in God and truly rely on His Grace.

May we all continue to keep our eyes on Christ!

Yearning for Christ and Longing to return to Northern Ireland!
Jason

6 Weeks!

Tomorrow marks 6 weeks - it was 6 weeks ago that I was originally supposed to be heading back to Northern Ireland. I am continuing to wait and trust in my Sovereign God, who I know has a perfect plan and purpose behind me being here. I am tremendously grateful for His Word, which continues to encourage me and give me hope to trust in Him - I don't think a day has gone by where I haven't reminded myself of Psalm 24:1 and the reality that "The earth is the Lord's and EVERYTHING in it!." I am also thankful for worship songs. One in particular that has really been encouraging is Everlasting God by Christ Tomlin. It opens up by saying "Strength will rise as we wait upon the Lord." How true is that!!! He truly is the Everlasting God!!

I changed the main picture (above) today. It is a picture of the Ebenezer that we built this past summer on the shores of the Irish Sea in Annalong, Northern Ireland. We built it because an Ebenezer is a symbol of God's help and faithfulness. God showed up and showed off while we were in Ireland and we wanted to thank him for that just like Samuel did in 1 Samuel 7:12.

I recently read a book called The Prodigal God by Tim Keller...it reminded me that I live for a a Great God! Every now and then as I sit around waiting to go back to Ireland, I sometimes think that somehow I deserve to go back because everything was going so well and God was using me to further the Gospel and to encourage the youth there. However, the reality is that I never deserve anything!...well except one thing....hell. It is by God's Grace that I am able to do what I do. He is the one who puts me in situations and places where I can bring Him glory. He is the one that rescued me and sustains me. I've come to realize how great God's grace is and it is great! So even though I am not back in Ireland yet, I am thankful that I have the one thing that is more than enough for me...and that's Jesus!

I want to thank all of you for your encouragements during this period of waiting...its been great! I urge you to continue to pray that I would get my VISA soon and be able to return to Kilkeel. God has a plan and a purpose! May you continue to keep your eyes on Christ!

Yearning for Christ and Longing to return to N. Ireland!
Jason

Still Hoping

Well its the start of a new week, and there is no new news yet. I am still hoping and praying that I will find out something soon. In the mean time I have just been chilling at home hanging out with family and friends around the Chicagoland area. I have had a couple opportunities to go up to Minnesota to visit friends as well and that has been really good.

I continue to ask you to pray for God's mercy and grace upon the situation, that way we can get things figured out. May we continue to keep our eyes fixed on Christ knowing that He is indeed sovereign over everything!

Yearning for Christ,

Jason

4 Weeks...........

Well, 4 weeks ago today I was originally planning on being back in Northern Ireland. I would have never thought it was going to take this long to get the VISA. Every day I wake up hoping and praying that it will be the day that my VISA comes in the mail. The hardest part about waiting and being patient is that I have no clue what's going on with it. I just continue to hope that it will come, and come soon!

I continue to ask for your prayers. Pray that God would not only grant me favor in the eyes of the British Consulate, but also that He would expedite the process so that I will be able to return to Northern Ireland soon and continue the ministry that He has tremendously blessed me with.

Yearning for Christ and Longing to return to Northern Ireland,
Jason

Hope...

"Nevertheless, I am continually with you;
you hold my right hand.
You guide me with your counsel,
and afterward you will receive me to glory.
Whom have I in heaven but you?
And there is nothing on earth that I desire besides you.
My flesh and my heart may fail,
but God is the strength of my heart and my portion forever...

...But for me it is good to be near God;
I have made the Lord GOD my refuge,
that I may tell of all your works."

Psalm 73:23-26,28

Yearning for Christ,

Jason

Nothing yet.....

Just wanted to give you a quick update and let you know that I am still awaiting word from the British Consulate pertaining to my VISA. It has been about a week and a half since I sent in my appeals information, so hopefully they will be coming to a decision soon. I am hoping that I will hear something towards the beginning of next week. I ask that you would continue to pray. Pray that I would find favor in the eyes of the Consulate and that they will issue a VISA...soon :-)! Also pray that I would continue to have patience to trust in God's timing. It has now been a little over 3 weeks since I was originially supposed to go back...so if I wasn't antsy before, I definitely getting to that point now. I thank you for your continued prayers and support!!!

Yearning for Christ and to return to the ministry He has blessed me with in Northern Ireland,

Jason

Still Waiting....Still Trusting

Well earlier this week I finally was able to send in my appeal application along with further supporting documents from both Mourne and Bethlehem. So now I am waiting again for a response from the British Consulate in Chicago. I am hoping and praying that they will look at the new evidence and decide to overturn their decision and thus issue me a VISA.

So as I continue to wait, I ask that you would continue to pray for the situation. It has now been two weeks since I was supposed to go back over to Kilkeel. In it all, I continue to trust in my King knowing that it will be in His timing that I will go back. Thank you all for your prayers and support during this craziness! As soon as I find out anything I will let you know.

Yearning for Christ,
Jason