The River…part two

The most amazing, wonderful, angels singing kind of moment happened in the river just a couple days ago. Our girl Nayu-belle asked for and received a water baptism. Standing on the river stone shoreline , we witnessed an important moment in her journey of healing, discovery and peace with herself and God. Sure, it’s been many long hours, fervent prayers and lots of love, but the manner in which God has blessed this girl, ultimately can only bring praise to Him and the gratitude of grace from our hearts. For those of you who have been praying, thank you so much. Now let’s keep on keeping on !

This morning the Nest feels strangely quiet. The “ world race” team have departed, and so to have the 20 youth that arrived a week ago for their mission work. We send them all off with thankful hearts for their efforts and sacrifice of time, which we pray will bless them into a future where generosity towards others becomes a priority and a way of life.

Thank you so much to the Cityview church team for their donation of 13 brand new computers which we in turn will be gifting 10 to the local high school. As the Nest continues building and reaching into the community, we are excited to see where God will lead this path in the years to come. The other 2 computers will be used in our new after school program, where more and more kids are arriving each day after school for a healthy snack and some help doing their homework. The last computer we reserved for “ you know who”. Nayu stayed up late these last few nights , diving into the what’s, how’s, and whereto’s of her new computer. She really likes it!

Vanilla bloom update?…..nope, not yet. so let’s keep on praying. Karina and her vanilla farmers will be traveling to a few other vanilla producers from different regions to see, learn, and prepare a best practice for our Nest market vanilla. Karina is rarely just standing still and hoping. No, she prays while she’s on the move.

The Nest is a 100% pioneering project, which requires a lot of creativity, dedication, and actively engaging with a faith that cannot be seen, touched, or even felt at times. Frankly, it all seems completely overwhelming and beyond human ability quite often. As Christians I know that all things are possible with Him. In faith, I believe that, but experiencing the gap between the limits of my own human efforts and His immeasurable power, I am prone to fatigue, despair, and collapse. I have to go back again and again to verses like these,

“But he said to me, 'My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness.' Therefore, I will boast all the more gladly about my weaknesses, so that Christ’s power may rest on me.”

‭‭2 Corinthians‬ ‭12‬:‭9‬ ‭

“So do not fear, for I am with you; do not be dismayed, for I am your God. I will strengthen you and help you; I will uphold you with my righteous right hand.”

‭‭Isaiah‬ ‭41‬:‭10‬ ‭

At the end of the day, I have a list as long as my arm for the needs of the Nest ministry. All of them valid and beneficial. But the absolute greatest need is something all the time and money cannot give me. That thing is peace. I plead with you, Oh God, for your strengthening, refreshing, renewing peace. Settle over my heart and mind, blanket your peace and presence over the Nest like morning dew, and that’ll be enough, Lord. That’ll be enough.

Lastly, to close, I’ve been mischievously keeping you in suspense as to what happened to the truck in the flooded river( the river..part 1). Well, it fired right up without any damage or issues. I drove it immediately to a shop to have it all deep cleaned and thankfully, there haven’t been any problems. But my goodness, that particular lesson, in the classroom of “life” was NO fun! I am now shopping and praying for the funds to install a snorkel on the truck because the only thing worse than making mistakes is to repeat them again.

With love and gratitude

James Beach