Immearsurably More Than All We Ask Or Imagine

It's December 14th on the day I am writing this. That means it's 10 days until Christmas! It's hard to believe. Tonight Brad and I will be writing our Christmas Cards and sending them out this week. If you have not gotten your mailing address to us this week is the week!

[We want to do better than February this year ;) ]

We also posted on Facebook last week that for our donors we have an original art print of Eustace Scrubb. That will be sent out along with our cards. If you have made a pledge to donate to IVCF get it in before December 31st!

This year we decided to go with a Narnia theme, dress up like it was the war times buy a little Aslan stuffie (One which Olive has claimed for mother Russia) and take some photos for our Christmas cards! Brad and I have a tradition to read a Narnia book every Christmas and this year we have started the Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe. It is easy for us to relate Mr.Tummnus' complaint at the start, "Always winter never Christmas!" However, Aslan is coming. As Lewis writes, when Christmas comes it is a reminder of hope in this fact. Aslan is on the move. Jesus is on the move. He has not abandoned us.

On that note, here are some ways Jesus has been on the move as Brad and I have been fundraising for IVCF during the last few months.

Thanks to the support of others I am currently at 58% of my needed funds!

This is a huge praise for us and with the help of others, there is a high chance I will be able to go on campus next semester! My goal is to be on campus for the start of the winter semester.

Here is a quick link if you would like to set up giving this month (And receive some fresh art ;)

IVCF Donate

Over November, Brad and I have been travlling across Western Canada visiting old friends and new. While the goal of these visits has been to raise funds, we have seen God do "immeasurably more than we ask or imagine" - Eph 3:20.

Our first trip to the Bulky Valley began with a spiritual heaviness. Obstacle after obstacle seemed to come up as we did what we could to get ready for our trip. As we drove through a snowstorm to Smithers, we both decided to pray against the spiritual attack we were feeling. After asking for prayer, much of the spiritual heaviness had been lifted and we saw God move in so many ways on our trip.

One of the ways we saw God move was by building connections with people in Northern BC. We realized that when a young person leaves the Bulky Valley, many of them go to UNBC yet a bridge has not been built yet for them to plug into a Christian Community in Prince George. We were able to build some of those bridges and connections with churches on our trip.

But the best part for myself was the healing that God gave to my heart. While we were praying with a couple, the Lord spoke and said, "Cristyn, these people are in your corner." Before the trip, I had asked people with anxiety and with an apologetic tone. That what I was asking was a great burden on others. Yet, in that moment of prayer, the Lord helped me understand why I felt so anxious and the truth I needed to hold onto as I continued to raise funds.

After that prayer, I truly felt free and started to enjoy raising funds! So many we meet with were friends after all. We shared many laughs. The trip to Smithers and Terrace proved to be an incredibly memorable one.

Our second trip to Grande Prarie was just as eventful yet more restful. It was the first time we were back to connect with our friends from Bible School and those who supported us during those years. We picked the brains of our old professors on the pandemic and enjoyed more laughs!

God was so kind to us on that trip. The very Sunday I was speaking at a church was the same Sunday three of our old Bible School friends got baptized! I couldn't help but repeat myself during that trip, "Our God is so kind to us!" to have these dates line up. After I had shared what we were doing with IVCF, I cried and cried over God's kindness as we worshiped and celebrated. Afterwards, I had people come up to me, share words of encouragement and offer their time to pray for me. What a blessing!

Again, more laughter ensued as we ate pizza and played board games with close friends. The time was refreshing as it also helped me gain strides in my fundraising.

In Ephesians Paul writes,

"Now to him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us, to him be glory in the church and in Christ Jesus throughout all generations, for ever and ever! Amen." - Eph 3:20-21

I'm reminded of this as I look back on the last month and ask for prayers of petition from our ministry partners.

Last Thursday, Northern Health announced that we can open up churches again BUT those that come will need to have a vaccine passport.

I'm thankful for Brad as he was not as frazzled as myself when I heard of this change. We have lost sleep over this and prayed for wisdom. Last Friday the board meet on how to handle the change to these restrictions.

I have even more thankfulness for the unity of the Spirit in that board meeting.

However, we do ask for prayer not just for our church but for all churches in Northern BC. All churches in Northern BC have been placed in this place where whatever choice is made will result in division. However, as Paul reminds us in Ephesians, God cares deeply for His church, His Bride.

Ways to Pray for us this Christmas

• Pray for wisdom for Elders as they work through this

• Pray for unity in the Church

• Pray for Lakes as we prepare for our outreach event on Christmas Eve. Pray that people would know the hope and light of Christmas when they come through our Drive-Thru Nativity.

• Pray for myself that I would get enough funds to get onto campus this January

Another Prayer that goes with an Olive update, if you could pray for sleep for us. While we

Olive found new plants growing in the middle of Winter.

have lost sleep from stress our other cause of lost sleep is our dear Olive.

She has been waking us up a 2 am the last few nights despite our desperate pleas she would have mercy on us. She's still pretty cute, but her cuteness only goes so far as we take her out on cold winter nights. It is preparing us for kids in the future I suppose.

Thank you for your prayers during this season!

We are deeply grateful for the chance to have seen many of you over our trips!