The Wanderer's Adventure Continues: Virginia Times: Worship Monday Night

I finally got some pictures from the prayer meeting we had on Monday night, and I thought I would share them with y'all so you can see it. As you can see, the FOFs (Michelle, Emily, Tim, & I; see TEAM: Africa 2008) are back together again in VA. But we are joined by a bunch of new friends we met while there, and I would like you to "meet" some of them! However, I don't remember everyone's names, just the ones I've hung out with more since then (so bare with me if I don't mention everyone in the pictures!)

Above (L to R): David, Shannon, Dee, and Michelle Hartley...Don't you just love that stained glass window? Too bad there isn't a full picture of it!

Below is Paul playing guitar. He worships spontaneously, like Tim, and it's great!

Above is Faith, who is a great leader and friend with a heart of gold and solid after God!

Below, on the bench (L to R) is Dee, Michelle Hartley, and Me. On the floor curled up in a tiny ball is Shannon, then two guys, then Emily Ingole and Tim Wright...I would've been on the floor then too, but Em had just beat me to the last spot I could slide off a bench to.
Above is that row of worshipers on the floor again, but all of a like mind. Pretty cool picture, eh?

The Wanderer's Adventure Begins: Traveling South

So, Sunday I found out my friends, Emily & Michelle were headed to Virginia Beach to meet up with Tim Wright and hang out. Well I wanted to go too, not only to be with them but to see me long-time college friend "Sooki" too (I haven't seen her in a year and they have an adorable little girl now). But the plane tickets to meet them were out of my price range, and I felt at peace with God--if that makes any sense--so I just went to bed figuring God knew what I wanted and if He wanted it for me, He's work it out. After all, I have also been dying to go down to Lakeland, FL too, but that will have to come in His perfect timing too...

Anyway, I woke up early yesterday morning at what I jokingly call an "un-Godly hour in the morning" (I'm a night person). While laying in bed, feeling quite peaceful and having had one of the most restful nights of sleep in a while I thought briefly of VA. Then had an odd thought: "wasn't there someone I knew going down?" I tossed the thought aside, and then it persisted. And with a name: Christopher!

Now I don't know why I had not thought of it sooner, he had been with us for the weekend and was leaving to go home soon! So I jumped up, asked Aunt Deb if he was heading out today and going straight through. She said "Yes" and that he was leaving in an hour. Well, I juggled my cell phone trying to get a hold of my friends--make sure they were serious about me staying with them in the their hotel room, and see if maybe they could get me back home later--while packing exceptionally fast!

Then another thought hit me fast. A friend of mine, Erin, in Lisbon OH, had been begging me to come and stay with her and her family. Her mom (Erin's a younger friend) had said she would drive out and pick me up and take me back later. So I called them up quick to ask if I got a ride back up there later this week, if they would get me back to Olean next week sometime...I got another voice mail.

I finished packing, asked Chris for a ride and we left shortly afterward. Thankfully, Erin got back to me just before we left so I knew if Emily & Michelle would take me home with them when they returned to OH, they could get me to Erin's (who lives near Emily's parents) and sometime Erin's mom would get me back to Olean.

I've never done anything so spontaneous in my life! and I still had not got a hold of my friends who were in VA when we left! And we were near DC before they finally called and said it was fine with them! My response was "Well, I sure hope so, 'cuz I'm on my way already!"

So last night, Chris dropped me and my small bags off on the Regent Campus where I met up with my friends in the Library's Prayer room where I then met several more cool people and had an awesome time of prayer, praise, and fellowship well into the AM hours. Then we went to a restaurant and hung out longer. And now, I'm off to bed and a wonderful time with my friends in VA till late Thursday night when we leave for OH...

I'm finally traveling on the road, on my own, just like me dream! Like Aunt Deb said: "and you thought you needed a car to do that?"

Time Flies...

Oi! It's been a while since I posted anything and a lot, and I mean a LOT, has happened!

MAY 13-14:
There was a leadership conference going on back in Lima at EBI for a few days, and my Uncle Fred wanted to go up and meet with a few people he knew would be there around then. And I had been trying to figure out how and when I could get back up there to see my sister Becky before she left and moved to the YWAM base in Idaho. So together, Fred and I went to Lima Tuesday and Wednesday. Fred stayed with my dad an hung out with whoever it was he went to meet with--something about video bible school's making, etc--and I stayed with my Mom and both sisters.

Of course, they were both working like crazy in the cafeteria of the school, but they did have off a couple hours in the middle of the afternoons, so I made it a point to be around then. Sadly, we only got one picture in of us together, and on the last day, but hey, at least we got one, right? We swapped our missions trips scrapbooks, found out awesome stories about each other's new friends (ones not even posted on blogs, so yeah I've got one over on all y'all! Muahahahaha!)

I did have a blast the whole time I was up there. Got to see a few people I hadn't seen in a while on campus, talked about the awesome things God's been doing in and through my friends and I, handed out a couple newsletters, etc. Ended up talking to my old, and close friend Sister Debby Krueger for longer then originally intended, but who ever regrets about talking with her? And it was such an incredible blessing! Isn't she great? And yes, all you former EBI kids, she's is still up there punching away at her computer and praying for all of us (she still has all our pictures on her same old cork-board!).

Tuesday night I went to the Lilac festival with a friend from my old home church, Christine, and we surprised another friend when we met up there--the second friend didn't know I was going to be in the area! Then Wednesday morning, at one of those unholy hours (I'm a night person, can you tell?), I got up and Christine picked me up before picking up another friend to take her to the airport. So I got to surprise to long-time and dear friends that weekend! And I had a blessed time telling them, also, all the cool stuff been going on with me--and making them a wee bit jealous, apparently...I also got to talk with my pastor's wife, the beloved Jeanie, for about half-hour on the phone as she was just getting back from visiting her new grandchild. Sadly, I didn't get to visit with her, but maybe next time I'm up?!

Wednesday evening, then, I went out with Mom and her fiancée Roy Libby to Ruby Tuesdays. That was a little interesting. It wasn't bad being with them, just different--and for me, too soon--having mom with someone else in her life...For all you who are wondering, they are engaged, and the wedding is set for the end of August with only the kids present. Thankfully, I'll be back from Honduras shortly before that! ...Anyway, back to the meal. During and after the meal, I had a good chat with Roy. About what I'm up to, what God's been doing, and about his two children (who are about 7 years younger then mom!). I'll get to meet them the day of the wedding, so we'll see if they are as great as they sound!

Shortly after that, Fred picked me up and we drove back home to Olean. And it was nice to crash for a little while!

MAY 16-17:
Friday, Deb and I cooked up a storm in preparation for Angie's wedding shower the next day. Then in the evening, the church had its usual bi-weekly coffee house, but I didn't go. Instead I stayed at the house and finished up the cool Jello creation Deb and I were working on for Angie's wedding shower the next day, while dancing and watching the Florida Revival live on God.tv. (It was a great service, as always--can't to go myself!)...Anyway, you should see that Jello thing! Not too many people ate it Saturday, but we had a good turn out and a great time! It was themed of a Luau because their honeymoon is planned for Hawaii...Oh, and the Jello was blue Jello in a wide vase-like thing with gummy fish and other sea creatures in it. Then Dad rigged up a paper boat for on top and put it right next to a large fish I had managed to get stuck in there with his nose out of the water! (if I get a chance to download a pic from my phone, and figure out how to format it differently, maybe I'll add it...with a pic from the Lilac Festival, and one of lovely Angie at her shower!)

MAY 18:
And today, at church, was incredible! I felt God so strongly I had a hard time standing straight. At one time I was bent over my guitar and eventually had to put it down and get on my knees for several minutes! Once again, I'm not sure what God did, but I know every time He is stronger in my life, and that I grow less and less--I care less about what people think now!--He does something! I did feel a stronger tingle in my hands and up my arms while kneeling and speaking in tongues; a sense that I am told, and beginning to believe, is what God does when His healing power in strong on my hands...time will tell what He does with that. And what I do with it! For now, I will try and be more in tune to His directions and begin to see things happen!

That's about all for now, but God bless! And I pray I encourage you to step into what God has for you too!

Christ's love to y'all!
<>< Hannah Joy

Feast...

I just had a vision of a feast table, set before His people. He's standing at the head, arms spread wide and inviting, and saying "Partake."

I believe God is saying this anywhere, everywhere, no matter what we are facing at the time. It's not just for Sunday mornings and Wednesday evenings, it's for all times. And all of His children. When we came into his Kingdom as a child of His, we gained free access to Him and all He has for us. We can enter His presence with boldness and confidence (Ephesians 3:12). In fact, everything we seek is in Him & as a part of Him, it is Him.

He did not ask us to be cup, poured out for others. Then to come back under the faucet to get refilled and refreshed. He asks us to remain under His fountain, to remain in the place where we will forever overflow. And the great thing is, that fountain is wherever we go. There for us to partake and continually partake of as often and wherever we are. Where a normal fountain is stationary, God is everywhere, just waiting for us to remain and continually cry out for more...Also, as we remain under the fountain, we overflow over all the sides of our cup, our vessel, (us, as a temple). Where as, if we were to go out, then come back to be filled up; if we were to continue to pour out, tip over, we only pour out on that one side for one person. Rather then effect all those around us continually. As God intends.

We can have as much of God as we want. We can have all of Him. We can do greater works then Jesus did (John 14:12). We can be so consumed with Him, continually drawing from His never-ending source, that even that which we think of as dark--like our shadow--can be consumed with His glory and used by Him! ...I can remember a little girl I knew long ago, who used to be terrified of stepping on someone's shadow. In fact, she was afraid of her own shadow for a while and hated to see it following her! Yet that which can terrify, can be redeemed for His glory! Like Peter, our shadows could heal those we just pass by (Acts 5:15)! Or, we could do even more mind-boggling and greater works then that!

Praise God!

"This is my body, which was broken for you..." (1 Corinthians 11:24)
Do not stop partaking of Him, and all He has for us! Drink up! Soak in!

Christ's love to y'all,
<>< Hannah Joy