Lately

I feel like I haven't blogged anything of worth in a long time. Truthfully, not much happens around here! I work, play with my girls, eat, and sleep. In that order.

I could tell you about some of the odd clients I have...but that wouldn't be professional. :P Not that designers have client-designer confidentiality..but in a way...we do! I'm doing some....err...interesting (??) books lately. Kinda humorous. It's a really interesting job, I have to say. Oh, and this week, I invoiced my 500th bookcover design. Doesn't that seem like a crazy big number? And I still have 26 books on my 'wall'. (Each book gets a docket sheet, and that sheet gets put up on the wall so at a glance I can see what stage of production the book is in.) This week was tricky, as out of the 26, I had 2 Ron's, 2 Deborahs, and 2 other men with virtually the same first AND last name. I kept hoping I wouldn't send a comic book sample to the family who is doing a memorial book of their mother! :P So far, so good.

I've been working on my new company idea too. I branded my first company this week (Starshine Cleaning). And I also started a website/logo design for my new venture. But today, I noticed that each time I looked at my work regarding the company, I got a knot in my stomach. Something isn't right. Maybe I'm not actually happy with the name? or the logo? or maybe the Holy Spirit is trying to tell me to wait. So I'm gonna put the brakes on, and slow it down. No hurry anyway, right? I'm gonna keep playing with it in my spare time, but try to figure out just what the 'knot' is about. All I know is that I don't feel right. My first impression was to think "Are you scared?" But honestly...no. I'm not scared. I really find new ventures exciting, not scary! But as excited as I am about the whole idea, I still have the knot. A kinda nauseous feeling. That's not good...I know that for sure. So yeah. Time to pause and pray about it.

In other news, Exodus Cry Canada had their launch, and has had 2 prayer meetings since then. I haven't been able to go because of babysitting issues, but hopefully next week I will. Jason is so encouraged by the attendance and the ownership people have begun to take. We also had some really great news last week regarding the freeing of some girls who were being held as sex slaves in a Canadian city...but because of legal investigations and the girls safety, we can't say more then that. Pretty hard for this girl who likes to share her life on her blog!! In this area of our lives, we have to be careful what we say. So you won't hear alot about it on this blog.

On a personal note: Last month I went through a really hard time here in Ottawa. I'd say I was depressed for a couple weeks. I think I scared a couple of my friends too. Just feeling so down...so hopeless...so frustrated. I would work the minimum amount, and crawl back into the saftey of my bed. (My bed is so huge, comfy, and fluffy, that I just love being in it! It's become my 'safe place' when I feel sad.) But I was able to really dig deep and figure some things out about myself, and what I need to do to survive this transition. I didn't expect the transition to take so long...certainly not 2 years. But we're coming up on 2 years in August, and sometimes I feel as lost as ever. Then I hear from people that Ottawa is like that: It takes a few years to feel like home. Crap! Not the news I want to hear!!

I think what I miss the most is just being surrounded by so many amazing friends. Not that I don't know great people here (cuz I know 2 particularly great girls here!)...but when you have years and years of friendship with people...it's so solid feeling. I miss outings with my girlfriends. No one around here does stuff like that really. We did that alllll the time in Wpg...but ....maybe it was ony that way because I was the one who planned many of them! Last week, a friend said "When you left Winnipeg, you took my social life with you!" It seems no one took the "social planning mantel" when I left. :P

I'll have to admit that when I moved here, I really assumed there would be an "Yvonne" type person here that would help jump-start my social life. haha. Jason jokes that the bad news is : I've found out that I have to be my own "Yvonne" here in Ottawa. Do you know how much that sucks!!?? :P I really wanted to rest from being the Yvonne. The social coordinator. I did it not becuase I loved coordinating, but because I was so desperate for the social interaction with groups of girls! And now...I've come to the conclusion that I can't put that hat away here and coast. I have to suck it up and create my own social environment in order to have one that meets my demanding standards!! Heck, I want to love and be loved...so if it means I have to put on my bossy-hat and make it happen...so be it! (okay..well, maybe I never did take off the bossy-hat..but you know what I mean...)

So instead of crying in my bed about all that's lacking here, I have to attack the problem and be my own solution. But I have to admit...that I have alot of fear that even if I do that, I'll have created some great social systems, and still feel a lack of connection with people. Because true....I can be curious and inquisitive about people...ask them questions...but will they ever want to know about me in return? In the last 2 years...I haven't found that here. And I'm afraid I won't. But alas...I'm gonna have to risk it. Love is just that way...

Exodus Cry Launch

Last night was the Exodus Cry Canada Launch/Vision night.

The National House of Prayer (NHOP) has opened their doors for us to meet there once a week to pray. So that is where we were last night. It's such a blessing...as NHOP is loved by all the churches in the city (every denomonation)...and seen as neutral ground. We couldn't have a better place to call 'home'!

Jason expected 15 people...but set out 30 chairs because we're classically optimistic. Well...we filled all those chairs! Many of our friends called to say they couldn't make it...which at first was discouraging. But now we know that the people who were supposed to be there...were there. And who knows if we would have had room for any more!! :P

Jason did a presentation that (I thought) was incredible. He clearly explained ECC, and explained the ins and outs of human trafficking and how we need to respond as the church.

One amazing lady drove 6 hours to be there. We had an instant connection with her. She and her husband run a safe-house for victims of abuse, and I got really excited!

See...we can try to help get girls free from trafficking in our city...but where do they go? We need safe-houses...and ideally...we need them far from Ottawa (Saftey for the girls, so that the pimps can't find them) How amazing!! The idea that we can rescue these girls, and then sneak them off to a loving place where they can hide, be introduced to Jesus, be loved, and find healing...well...it's just a dream come true!

Jason is an intercessor. I've always known that. He finds great delight and authority in the place of prayer. Kinda like a duck in water. He feels a call to attack problems in the heavenlies...and see God move. Of course, I love times of prayer...but it's not the place where I flourish. I'm gifted differently. I like to see a problem, and find a solution. (In business, or just in life!) I like to do stuff. Sometimes the only solution is prayer...and I've felt the burden of intercession fall on me in those times. Pacing the floor, and not relenting until I see a miracle happen. But often, I seem to just get the energy and creative ideas from God of how to attack a problem, and see it solved.

That's how I feel about trafficking. I want to find these girls...get a contact in the RCMP....and have a part in raids that rescue these girls. I want to drive them to a safehouse, hang out with them until they feel comfy...and then go and do it again. I want to find ways to raise money here in Canada, and see tonnes of money sent to Cambodia and Thailand to aid in the rescue of children.

Jason says that even tho I don't see it...that what I just typed here IS intercession. (To Intercede means to act on behalf of another person) So maybe I am one after all. Who knows!


But it gets me excited. I think in this, Jason and I are a neat combination of giftings. I look forward to what God will do.

Lots to think about...

Not much to say really. Lotsa work lately...keeping me busy. I'm also reading a book called "The Natasha's" about human trafficking. Heartbreaking....

We're slowly trying to find our way through the setting up of Exodus Cry here in Canada. The non-profit status stuff...lotsa legalese. In the meantime, Jason and I are working our way through a library of books on the topic of human trafficking. It's unbelievable that this is happening all around us. Not just far away, but in our city. In your city...

I used to say the old phrase "If what I'm doing helps just one person...then it's all worth it." Now, I have a different perspective. I don't wanna just help one person...c'mon now...this is far beyond 'one person'. I'm not giving my life, and my future for the sake of 'one peron'....heck no....I wanna change the world! At least, that's the perspective I wanna have. Helping one person isn't acceptable to me in a world where the most unacceptable things are occuring. Sure...lets start with one...and move forward from there.

Exodus Cry

Kansas City

Well, this is our last day in Kansas City.

Jason and I flew here on Friday for a series of meetings. We've not made it public yet, but now I guess it's official.

Here's what we're up to:

www.exoduscry.ca

Exodus Cry is a community of intercessors focused on praying for the ending of Human Trafficking & the Sex Trade. They also work to rescue girls from this life, and see them put into safehouses, and restored. We're not talking just about adult women. In fact, most of these girls are just that. Girls. Little ones....4 years old. Twelve years old.....just children.

A couple months ago, I walked into the livingroom to find Jason weeping as he cuddled with Aila on the floor. He looked up at me, and said "There are little Ailas kept in cages in parts of the world and used as sex slaves. They are forced to service up to 40 men a day. How can that be okay? And what wouldn't I do to rescue Aila out of that life??! There isn't anything I wouldn't do!! I'd give my life for it. But Yvonne, my heart just doesn't distinguish between "those girls" or my girls. They ARE my girls...those are my Ailas...and I HAVE to do something."

So this is what we're doing.

Some people may ask "What good is praying?" and our answer is this: Unless Angels and Demons move, nothing is going to change. Justice is empty without the power of God behind it. So we are starting there.

This has been breaking our hearts lately...

Jason became aware of a ministry called "Exodus Cry" a couple months ago. Exodus Cry is a network of intercessors focused on praying for the ending of Modern Day Slavery. There are more videos on their site that you need to watch.

What hit Jason were the stories of girls Aila's age, kept chained in cages, and used as prostitutes. And most of their 'clients'?? Men from the USA and Canada who are on a 'sex tour'. Jason held Aila in his arms, and the thought of a little girl somewhere being used and discarded made him weep. His heart couldn't take the thought. And now, he needs to do something about it. Most ministries overseas that are working to save these girls ask us westerners for one thing more than anything: PLEASE PRAY FOR US!

"Unless Angels and Demons move....
nothing is going to change..."

The video below is not suitable for children. This is a documentary that Hollywood is producing on the issue of Human Trafficking...