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easternskies
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Name: Jessi Jo
Country: Tuvalu
Metro: Funafuti
Gender: Female
Interests: classical literature, history, music, old movies and musicals, kung fu, basketball, traveling, languages (esp. chinese), football, cross-cultural experiences, and loving and sharing about Jesus Christ
Expertise: none - however, since coming here I have become an "expert" on everything from English grammer rules and British Literature to American culture and the Manhattan Projects
Occupation: Education/training
Industry: Education/Research
Message: message me
AIM:  easternskies05
Member Since:
11/21/2004
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| Last night a massive storm ripped through the northern half of the DFW metroplex. It forced tons of motorists along highway 121 to get out of their cars and huddle in ditches for shelter. It caused the first NASCAR qualifying round race cancelation in the past ten years. It took the roof off of a minyards and demolished all but three walls of a Baptist church in Holcomb city. I am almost never in that part of DFW - once a year tops - but I was there last night. We were in the Grapevine mall for a photo scavanger hunt as part of a purity retreat I was co-leading. We had no idea anything was going on until all of the stores started telling everyone to get out and closing their doors. My sister called me in the middle of that to inform us that a tornado was coming straight up highway 121 (which runs past the mall). So we were herded into tornado tunnels - aka. the interior tunnels of the mall - until the sirens stopped sounding. The craziest thing is that the girls I was with weren't even scared! We've all been through so many tornado warnings that our reaction is just, "Okay, when can we get back to shopping?!"
We did get out after a little while and the rest of the weekend went really well. I think that the girls really enjoyed the retreat and it seemed like they got a lot out of what we were presenting. I am so glad I got to be a part of it and that God taught us all more about patience, grace and flexibility as well as purity this weekend!
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| Beaver's Bend is over and it was - as I knew it would be - wonderful. We nearly froze Friday night, but other than that, the dire predictions about the weather were a lot worse than the reality turned out to be. :D It's incredible how the Lord can meet you with something new and precious in a place that you're been to so many times - even in the familiar He reveals fresh truth and light. I marvel at His goodness and graciousness to me.
This year is flashing past too fast. The reality that my sister is getting married in a little over a month hasn't really hit me yet. Looking back over the past 23 years we've spent as sisters, tears threaten to spill over and I know that I'll miss her more than I can imagine now. When did she transition from mean older sister to pretty cool sister to one of my best friends? What a family I've been blessed with... I am so grateful to have them, but it sure makes letting go harder.
Step out... step out... but where is the path?
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| Oi! MannaFest was really quite exhausting. And I was just driving people back and forth, keeping track of Jade and Grace, staying up way too late and getting up too early. I can't imagine how it must have been for the people who were actually speaking at it or attending seminars all day long! It's good to have a day off and just rest.
Beaver's Bend is this weekend. I am so excited about this camping trip. Every time I go to Beaver's Bend the Lord meets me there and it's wonderful. I'm sure that I'll post about that next time. Maybe I'll put some pictures up...
David's back at the AFA. I didn't get to see him at all during his last three days here. I miss that guy.
That's about it from here...
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| Since I last updated...
Work started again for me. I really love those kids. But I am increasingly sure that it's time to move on...
I went to a Josh Groban concert with my mom and sister. If you have never heard any of Josh's music, go out and buy his "Awake" CD (and get the extended edition if you can find it!). His voice is one of the richest and most amazing you will ever hear. The concert was by far the best I have ever seen.
My brother came home from the Air Force Academy for his spring break. That's been a lot of fun. Brothers and sisters are a precious thing - having an abundance of them, I have not valued them individually as highly as I should have. That's changing.
I played capture the flag on prayer mountain on Saturday night. I thought we were playing in a somewhat open field. We were playing in a thorn-filled wooded area. I wore shorts. My lower legs look like Jesus' back in the beating scenes from a passion play. Next time I'll remember to wear jeans.
That's all I've got for the moment...
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| Wow - a lot has happened since I last updated.
The trip to China was amazing. got to see a lot of my friends and traveled to several new places with Alison. I also had chances to share the good news with several of my friends there. It was an all around amazing trip.
me with five of my former students at the earth forest in Yuen Mo: aileen, me, joanna, karen, ginny and alison.
playing in the Golden Sand River in northern Yunnan with friends
with one of my best friends, Alison, in her sister's village.
alison's nephew, Wu Zeng Yun, (aka. Ying Ping) and me in the village.
ginny and her adorable niece in JiYi - Ginny's village
Lui Ying and me at her home in Chuxiong
with several of my former co-workers at CNU @ Margaret's house in Chuxiong.
crowded around the table at the birthday party on my last night in chuxiong.
me, rachel, yurri and alyssa - we're displaying the cherry stems we tied with our tongues!
christina, me and serenity being interviewed by a chuxiong TV reporter in the Yi village.
me and my dutch "sister", Henriette in Kunming.
there's are about 400 more pictures i could put on here, but i think this is enough for now! as you can see, it was amazing.
Since I came home...
My brother left for the Marines on March 11th.
I turned 23 on March 12th.
slow down, life! slow down...
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