The Good, and the Bad!

Hello Family and Friends,

It has been about 6 months since I’ve moved to Salt Lake.

There have been relationships built here that are growing.

Some have seemed detrimental and have ended, but have been a learning experience for me. There is a culture here that I am learning to know more with time, that could be easy for me to not like at all, in human regards.

There have been circumstantial trials in my life that have taken place here that have seemed unjust (fired from job, car impounded, ect). Might I remind you also, that the first week out here I paid two visits to the emergency room!! Things of the like are hitting my two roommates as well, so please keep them in your prayers in this way also. I have to say though, that despite these things have happened the Lord has still taken care of me. Within 2 hours of losing my job, I was offered another by a woman I know! A week after this, my car was impounded, but I had the means to pay for this, which has been all in the Lord's provision for sure. It has been cool to see him working things out during the unexpected "hard times."

But Jesus is fighting for me. He has blessed me in very exciting ways. His provision of Christian friends out here has been abundant. He has sustained my health. He has opened a few clear opportunities of LDS friendships taking place. The most recent blessing that has surprised me by far has been the fact that Emily is planning on moving out here in June. I would be so encouraged to have her out here by my side! I am just blown away by the Lord's goodness to me. Also, every Sunday night I attend a class led by former Mormons who are now Christians. It's a powerful 10-week class, and I'm enjoying learning a lot from this older, married couple. They are missionaries here in Utah being used my the Lord to share the truth.

There is one LDS relationship in particular that has developed quickly and naturally; it has been very apparent to me that I am supposed to be in this friendship by the way it has been brought into my life. She is actually one of Emily’s best friends from high school (College Park). She lives out here in Utah, and ironically I ran into her at the 24 hour fitness when I first moved. Ever since, she and I have become great friends, as she invited me over to dinner with her husband (she just got married this summer). It was funny when I went over to her house because Emily was in her wedding, so I had already seen a lot of their wedding pictures. We talked non-stop and ever since have been going to yoga once a week, and random get-togethers. She is starting up a book club and recipe night that I am going to be a part of. This relationship is growing. Please keep this in your prayers! She is such a sweetheart and so fun. It will be fun when Emily gets here too, because then the three of us will get to hang out. God is so cool! =)

My dad was out here yesterday for business and we had lunch. It was good to see him. I gave him a miniature tour of Temple Square, so I've included some pictures from our little adventure. =)

As far as status, I am still single, for those at home who are wondering. I am seeking the Lord in that area of my life right now, and so far it seems that this is how it is supposed to be for the time, but it is still confusing in different ways. Pray for my heart!

As far as future plans, I am looking into going back to school and finishing, starting classes either this summer or fall. The University of Utah is in the prospects, majoring in mass communications with an emphasis in news/editorial. So basically I would like to be a journalist. I am excited to have some direction in this area.

I will share this quote with you, because the Lord has a lot of work to do in me concerning this area!
"When Christ calls a man, he bids him come and die." - Dietrich Bonhoeffer
I must die to myself daily for Christ to shine in this dark area as much as possible. This is a struggle for me, so know this when you think of me so you can pray for this.

Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. I have no words to express how much I need them, because I know that I am so weak without the Lord. Please know that I still believe very strongly that this is where I am supposed to be. I am hoping to come home for Stacey's baby shower in March! I can't wait to meet my nephew, and hang out with my niece again. I miss Audrey SO much!

Please feel free to email me to keep in touch! That would be the easiest way. I never turn down mail =)

Also, here is my new address:
654 Ely Place
Salt Lake City, UT 84102

And, my new phone number:
801-512-3240

Family and Friends!

Again I return with an update of the last few months. First of all, your prayers have been heard! What a better way to start a new update than to bring you the good news of a friend of mine coming to accept Christ as Lord of his life!

He is a co-worker of my roommate and as we had been getting to know him, my roommates and I could see how the Lord had been trying to get a hold of him prior to our friendship with him. He grew up in the church (Mormon) but as of about a year or so ago, had made a decision to leave (upon his own opinion that there was no peace or satisfaction for him involved with the church). Looking back on that part of his story, I can see how maybe this was the sure beginning of God's "evident" faithfulness to Jon's salvation. We could definitely see how the Lord had been bringing other believers into his life also, as in Utah, Christians are such a minority here, and how in Jon's life somehow his best friends and other relationships "happened" to be strong followers of Christ.

Through a few conversations with Jon (he's a deep thinker), both my roommate Cat and I agreed that he was "so close" to what would seem a semi-understanding of God's place in his life.

God has been SO FAITHFUL in bringing Jon to Himself. I can see that. I was so excited to hear a few things Jon had to tell me in one particular conversation also. It was late one night, and the beginning of a conversation about God opened up. He started to ask me a few questions about God. I knew that some of the things I had to tell him were Spirit-led, as I realized what I had actually said after it came out of my mouth. So cool! =) But what he began to tell me towards the middle of our conversation was that when he first met me, he "knew" that he was supposed to learn something from me, but didn't really know what that meant. How priveleged I felt that God would do something like that through me! Jon said he felt very sure and confident about this. To me, I could see God's faithfulness to Jon through this, but also a blessing to me of letting me see how he was using my obedience to follow where I believed He was leading me (Utah). I thought this the perfect opportunity to tell Jon a little bit of my story of the process of God's specific direction of my coming to this place, hoping that this might encourage Jon of God's love for him, being that God definitely had our paths cross while I am out here, and the timing of us meeting (I happened to be able to meet him when the seeds had already been planted) I was hoping he might have picked up on the idea that maybe he was one of the reasons God placed me in this area. We all know that God would do that for the love of one person! =)

About a week after this conversation, my roommate told me that Jon had communicated to her (they are close friends) that he had made a decision to submit his life to Christ. eeeeeeeeeeeee!!!

"Thank you God for giving me opportunites to share and privileges of serving You!"




Please pray for Jon, as he is now going through some questions and emotional trials in his life. Does this surprise you? Please pray against the attacks that are coming his way.



I ask this to be your prayer of me:
2 Thessalonians 1:11-12
"11With this in mind, we constantly pray for you, that our God may count you worthy of his calling, and that by his power he may fulfill every good purpose of yours and every act prompted by your faith. 12We pray this so that the name of our Lord Jesus may be glorified in you, and you in him, according to the grace of our God and the Lord Jesus Christ."



Please continue to pray for my energy level(which prayer has definitely been answered for that), and also please pray for encouragement in the Lord for my roommates walk and building of relationships here (as there purpose for moving to Utah has also been the same as mine).





Much love, with a grateful heart,
Your friend, daughter, granddaughter, niece, sister....

Jill

I'm alive!

Hey guys,
I'm finally getting access to the internet again! Just wanted to give a quick update. Since I have last written, much has gone on.

1) The opportunity opened for me to attend General Conference here in Salt Lake (a semi-annual LDS church meeting). Attending that has given me opportunities of conversation with a few of my LDS aquaintances, and it also got me "in the know" with what the church is claiming. You can watch it online if you are interested.

2) Just this last weekend I was able to attend a student conference with those from azusa pacific, biola, colorado christian, wheaton, and fuller schools along with those from BYU, and colleges here in utah. Professors were represented from each viewpoint, and dialogue about our faiths were carried on very respectfully (whole new movement here in utah...) It was a very long weekend, but good for me.


I am learning more and more as I am living here. The relationships with my co-workers are growing a little....I am so interested to get to know the people here. This next week I am moving out of the Hornoks and in with 2 girls my age into a duplex downtown. There is much more detail I would like to share, but I am running out of time here on the library computer and just wanted to let y'all know I'm alive!!

**I would ask for continued prayer in my walk with the Lord, my treatments for Lyme, and relationships here!**

THANK YOU!!!!!!

Life so far...

Hey guys,

So I've made it out here to Utah and wanted to thank you for the prayers for my travel safeties! I want to let you all know that the internet is only available to me about once a week right now, but I am doing the best I can to get the updates to you!

I am living with an emty-nester 50-something couple, (Ken and Marcia) who have been so welcoming to me. I have been getting to know them better the past few days, and am now being referred to as "Jillybean" by them, so you could easily say that the living situation has been "great." Last night they took me up to the Canyons along with some of their family and friends for a BBQ, and has been one of the highlights with them so far. Ken is a pastor at a local church, Midvalley Bible.

The work situation has been interesting, but I see good potential with the relationships there, and my patience is already being stretched =) The position I have is a teacher's aide, working with 7th and 8th grade students (with behavioral disorders). The class is 11 boys with either ADD, ADHD, or have been abused in some form. So like I said, the patience is being tuned up! Both the teacher of the class and one of the behavioral specialists are L.D.S., and because of my relations with them, I have been able to understand the L.D.S. culture on a daily basis, and definitely on a different level than I knew before.

The other part-time job is working at a wellness center in Salt Lake. I will be doing front desk work there, and the girl I am working with is L.D.S also. I start training with her tomorrow, so you can pray for that relationship as well!

I still don't know exactly what is in store for me here, but the first night I arrived, I was greeted at T.G.I. Friday's by Cat (who I'll be living with), Heidi and Daniel. I came to find out that Cat, Heidi, Daniel, my other friend Bethany, and myself all moved out here to Utah within the same 4 weeks, and at the time did not know of each other's plans. I came to find out that we all have been feeling this draw for the past 3-4 years. Do you think this timing has anything to do with coincidence? I don't think so. God has some plans going on for sure! You are just as much a part of this work for the kingdom by praying for me! Keep that in mind! I need it!

You can email me at jrlewie85@yahoo.com

Love you all so much!

Jill

Prayer Requests:

Physical Health
Building relationships with co-workers
To be Spirit-filled on a daily basis

Moving to Utah

Hello dear friends and family,

It is exciting that the Lord has been strengthening my body from Lyme over the past two years of being at home. Thank you for all the support you have given me through PRAYER, cards, hugs, and simple words of encouragement that got me through. My heart could not be more grateful of how far I have improved to even have the opportunity to be out on my own. There was a day when I did not know if that was ever going to be in the future for me! Thank you Lord!

As many of you know, I am moving to Utah this friday. Many of you may not be surprised for the fact that you know I went on a mission trip there in 2005. God clearly used a scripture (with his timing) to direct me to go on that trip. Since that trip, I have been struggling through this ongoing health trial, especially the past two years of being at home. But throughout those hard times, in different ways, God was STILL confirming direction for me to this land (and has twice used that same scripture in his timing as part of his direction!)

Although this seems like a quick move, the specific prayers of moving out there started after my trip to Idaho/Utah early June this year while visiting Andrew's family. And this culture has been on my heart ever since the trip in 2005, and during the recent trip my heart was still there. After visiting the Utah area for a second time, I began to pray that if this was truly somewhere God wanted me, that He would start providing my needs. Within two weeks, prayers were being answered in unbelievable ways. The connections that began from the girls I am going to be living with, to where I am going to be working, to churches and family friends of the Powells, have all been nothing less than amazing....and all these connections came through other people, but started with me praying! I have been blown away by the connections that the Lord has provided, and I am not exaggerating. Those answered prayer stories will be blogged when I have more time to write! I just wanted to get this blog out to let you know where you can check for updates on all that the Lord is doing in that land, and so you know how to pray for me!

You are all so very dear to me, which is one of the other main reasons I have this up, and I extend sincere apologies for the last week or so where my mind has been very preoccupied!

I'll keep you posted,

Jill

Prayer requests:

travel safeties

host home where I am staying for at least a month

spiritual protection

health