We’ve been here for a few months now. We know how to get to the grocery store without google maps, found our favorite park to take Zion, and are constantly searching for fun new places to eat and explore. Maybe we are still in the honeymoon stage of living here, but the weather hasn’t gotten to us, we enjoy the rain and the gray skies, and all the beauty the Pacific Northwest has to offer. Or, as I like to think of it, we are right where we are supposed to be.
“I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my loving eye on you.”
Psalm 32:8
The church planning is moving along. We have our website, hopenorthwest.org, and social media instagram and facebook pages up and running, which was an exciting start! Our goal in these first couple months is to learn the area, find out what the needs are, and meet people. Nick has been meeting with lots of pastors from both Vancouver and Portland and learning a lot about the spiritual needs up here. I’ve met a couple moms with young kids at the park and pool. I feel like a puppy in a pet shop when I go places…looking around smiling just hoping someone will talk to me! God has opened up doors for us to randomly meet other Christians and people interested in our church. Between the four of us, we have connected with people and planned coffee, lunch, and dinner meetings to get to know the people them. For now, each Sunday we visit a different church. We haven’t found one we love which I guess is a good thing or else we may not want to pursue starting our own church.
We already had plans to spend the holidays back in California. Even though it felt like things were revving up, we spent almost 2 weeks in LA at Thanksgiving, then two weeks later we packed our bags again for an almost 3 week trip at Christmas break.
Both trips were great and we were so thankful to see family and friends and catch them up on how things are going. I value my time with my family knowing I won’t see them as often anymore.
To my surprise, after the first trip, I wasn’t sad and didn’t have any feelings that I missed living there. It was such a great confirmation for me personally. Towards the end of our Christmas visit, I was ready to go back and start our new life together. Although I haven’t fully fallen in love with my new home, it feels like home and that is an exciting feeling.
A few takeaways from our first months up here: the food is great no matter where you go. There are so many amazing fun coffee shops to try. People are really nice up here, especially the pastors and church members we’ve met. They have been so encouraging, supportive, and excited when they hear we are starting a new church. Life definitely moves a bit slower. The vibe is not the same as LA and I’m enjoying that. Lastly, it is so dang beautiful! The changing of the leaves was beautiful but even in the dead of winter it's still great. Apparently this is a good winter with more sunny days than usual, but we won't focus on that right now and we'll just keep enjoying it!
Even though I was sad to leave my family and friends, I am excited to be right where the Lord wants us to be; doing His work in a beautiful place.
“Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind. Then you will be able to test and approve what God’s will is—his good, pleasing and perfect will.”
Romans 12:2
Jess T.
Prayer Requests
Romans 12:2
That we would follow the instruction and prompting of the Holy Spirit as we make decisions and move forward with this church plant
That we would focus on the positives of living up here, especially when the sadness kicks in
We would continue to meet people and make an impact for the Kingdom
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