Lately, I have been thinking alot about the promised land.  What is my promised land?  What is our promised land?  What has the Lord given us that we haven't taken a hold of yet?  And what is keeping us from taking a hold of it? 

For me, going to Colorado in faith is symbolic of that.  People ask me, "What are you going to do there?!"  I'm not sure.  I don't know.  But I know like I knew that I was supposed to go on the race, that I am supposed to go.  All I know is that God dropped it in my lap when I was in Swaziland and that He has confirmed it repeatedly.  So here I go.  After a month at home, I pack up my stuff a-la-World-Race style, except maybe slightly more than a backpack full of stuff to head out west into the land that God promised me. :)

I've been reading in Joshua about how the Israelites got their promised land.  They couldn't just sit on the other side of the Jordan and wait for God to give it to them.  They had to cross over the Jordan and TAKE it.  It says, "He has given you this land."  It is already theirs, it was given to them, promised to them.  But they had to take that wild step of faith and cross over with their own two feet.  God stopped the Jordan river from flowing, but they had to walk across.  So what the heck is the promised land?  It is a future, a hope, its our inheritance, a physical and spiritual "land", a land flowing with milk and honey...look in the Word for yourself, find out what He says it is. 

Even when they got there, there were people that they had to conquer, to route.  It wasn't enough to just cross over and say "ok, we're here."  No, it was this active process or truly making it theirs.  There were actually people living there on their "promised land".  And these people knew that the living God was with the Israelites, and they were scared out of their minds.  In the same way there are things from the enemy that have set up camp in our inheritance that try to rob us of what is rightfully ours.  We have to take it and make it ours by routing and casting out all of those things that try to rob us...fear, doubt, the past, worries, anxieties, spirits of depression of anger, people's expectations, generational curses, etc. 

Here I go into the land that God has promised me...and oddly I feel like I am finally going home out to the big beautiful ROCKIES!  Pray for safe travels, for my car and my bro's car to make it there. 

Life moves really fast in the States, I forgot how fast.  The day after I got back, I got in my car and was taken aback by how fast everyone drives everywhere.  What's the big rush?!   But then, here I am 4 weeks later, wondering what the hold up is when I'm stuck behind someone that's driving like they are out for an afternoon ride.  

So, what is next for me? 

The Lord has given me bits and pieces, which is all good.  Because, I'm realizing that knowing the whole picture isn't as much fun.  The bits and pieces are this:  the Lord has lead me to move to Colorado, I will be working on an online business selling products from different ministries around the world, and I will be helping to lead a group of teens on a missions trip to the Dominican Republic in July.  So basically now that I have unpacked my bags, done some laundry, had some welcome back festivities...its time again to repack and go. 

The thing with Colorado is this: I've never been there.  I can count the number of people I know out there on less than one hand.  But there is something about the unknown with Jesus that is unlike anything else.  I feel more alive than I have ever.  And people ask, "aren't you scared?", and I'm not.  For some odd and bizarre reason, there is such peace, joy, and love in this next step.  The crazy part is that usually I am preparing for the worst, not trying to get my hopes up, so I won't get disappointed.  That way if its really great, then its kind of a pleasant surprise, but if it sucks, then I'll be prepared.  You know the whole self- defense mechanism game that people play.  But for the first time in my life, its just pure, unabashed excitement.  Let's go Jesus...TO THE ROCKIES!!!!

Also, in the next month, I am going to be working with two former racers to get this crazy dream that God has given us for an online business off the ground.  In our travels, we came across some phenomenal minstries that reach out to the poor, the prostitutes, the homeless, the imprisoned, the sick, the list goes on.  These different ministries also have business to help support and provide the artists and artisans with an income.  So  the three of us were personally given this fire, this hunger, this desire from the Lord to be used by Him to bring the Kingdown to earth to His people in this way.  If you are interested in finding out more and becoming involved with us please contact me.  

And finally, in July, I have been given the awesome opportunity to serve in the Dominican Republic with a youth team that I'll help to lead.  Which is particularly exciting, because it was there that I asked the Lord to call me out of a life of comfort, complacency, and faithlessness.  I'm looking forward to our time there with the beautiful Domincans!  If you want to partner with and support me, please contact me.   

Its more than a month ago, that I was serving with the Cinco Che sisters in our music ministry.  And there is one visit that has been chiseled into my memory that I want to share with you all about. 

It was called Casa Esperanza, House of Hope.  This ministry was run by a single woman, April Havlin, and her heart was for the women and children in prostitution in Managua.  We had no idea what to expect, which means it was just another day on the World Race.  But I woke up that morning with the Kingdom on my mind, and just prayed, "Jesus have us bring the Kingdom to earth today."  We set out with our two guitars, took a bus, took a taxi, took another bus, and arrived at this beautiful plot of land.  It stood on a hill, surrounded by trees.  There was this incredible sense of peace and I could immediately sense the presence of the Holy Spirit.  We tuned the guitars, introduced ourselves to the 80 or so women, and began worshipping. 

Some women sat in their chairs, entertaining their babies, others sang along.  The women ranged in age from their teens to their 40's.  But, all of the women came with one thing in mind...cards.  April's ministry is also a micro-enterprise.  Women come once a week to make handmade cards and are able to make some income to support themselves and their families.  The women came for cards, but God had something else in mind that day.  As the time or worship came to a close, I asked the audience for volunteers.  Earlier that week, the Lord put it on my heart to have them speak His promises to them over each other.  The women were shy at first, few wanted to read in front of others.  Slowly, but surely women came up and began to declare the truth, the Lord's very word to them that day to each other.  It was beautiful.  Then Brown (aka Jenny) shared a message, followed up by Gabe.  Brady shared a song that the Lord had given her that she had written and composed earlier that week. 

Women came up to recieve prayer, and several of the women were yelling and manifesting.  Jumping, screaming, laughing.  Their lives were radically being changed as they realize that they are daughters of the living God, the King.  They were in such bondage and captivity, and have been brought out of the darkness into His marvelous light.  So, it makes sense that it is being manifested in such intense ways. 

Its just beauty for ashes.  Ashes are worthless to anyone else, they are worthless, burned, charred, marred, sooty, and dirty.  And God out of His radical love, gives us beauty. 

 "But you are a chosen people, a royal priesthood, a holy nation, a people belonging to God, that you may declare the praises of him who called you out of darkness into his wonderful light. Once you were not a people, but now you are the people of God; once you had not received mercy, but now you have received mercy." 1 Peter 2:9-10   

I hate blogging.  In case there was any confusion about that.  Trying to capture things in words, gives me this feeling that I am committing an injustice to the people and places and situtations that have affected me.  But I seriously feel that I owe the Lord and you all some stories and blogs that I never had the chance to sit down and put on paper or computer or whatever.  So I'm going to do some retrospectives now that I have some time to sit and think and put my thoughts together.  So get ready and hold me to it. 

Being home for the past week and a half has made me feel like no time has passed in some ways.  Like when I walked out of my front door for the airport in June, the trees and flowers were all in bloom and then I come back 11 months later and they are still all in bloom.  In my room, there were clothes that I was too busy and rushed to wash before I left, and here they are 11 months later with the same food stains!  My desk drawers are as cluttered as I remembered.  

The thing that's funny is that I remember at several points during the race thinking, 'someday...when I'm home, I'm going to wake up in my bed and feel like it was all a dream.'  The reality though is that I wake up and wonder, 'Am I home?'  What is home anyways?  In South Africa, my first week in, my pack lost in transit, living off of my squadmates with none of my "things from home" feeling discombobulated.  And my Father in heaven tap tap tapping me on the shoulder saying, 'Jane, I am your home.'  There are so few constants in life, if any.  But, He remains always.  Thank God, especially in this weird in-transit-state that I am in.  Because I'm at home with Him.

 
the Kim family. (minus Jeanie, the sister)


the AWAKEN family.


the Squad C family.