Witaj (it means "hello" in Polish)

Once again, aplogies for my absence from the blogosphere. I can't claim the excuse of being terribly busy, just lazy and consumed with trying to watch the entire first season of Lost before Sept. 5 (when season 2 is released). I have a whole series of thoughts on Lost, but I'll save those for another post.
I've been waiting until I received my "official" assignment in the mail to post about Poland, but I received it late last week, so here we go!
Shortly before I graduated from college I began to sense that the Lord was calling my life into some sort of ministry as a career and I freaked out, to say the least. I absolutely shot down the idea, said "forget it!" and got myself a job and moved to Huron. To me, ministry as a career seemed way too insecure and scary and not at all what I had planned for my life. While the Lord has been so gracious and has really done some awesome things these past four years, He continued to change my heart and draw me closer to Himself, to a place where I began to truly know Him and trust Him. Even as I think back on this right now, I'm amazed at His grace and kindness to me to patiently show me that I could trust Him and believe Him. I definitely didn't deserve it! Anyways, throughout the past four years He continued to lead towards spending some time overseas serving Him, but I never really thought about actually acting on this. I just assumed I'd wake up one day in another country and there you go! However, back in early January, He really made it clear that this was the time. I began the application process to be a part of a program called the Journeyman Program through the Southern Baptist International Mission Board. The program is for people who have graduated from college, are single, and are not yet 30 and is a term of two years spent overseas. The application process in and of itself was awful in a great way. There were lots of steps including an intensive and extensive health questionaire, VERY personal questions to answer (the Board says they know more about you than your mom, and they're probably right!), references, and lots of other information. Honestly, after finishing the application process, I figured "if I still get accepted, then I know it's the Lord!" Well, I did get accepted and went to a Screening Conference the beginning of August where the Lord really seemed to be opening a place for me in Poland. I got to spend a week last summer in Poland with the man, Sean Stevenson, and his family who started my church here in Huron. So, I will be living in the same town and working with him and his family, as well as another girl about my age (Amber) and a retired woman named Patsy. There is a university in the town we're in, so Amber and I will primarily be working with college students. The young people in Poland are a lot like young people here in that they are tired of "religion" that doesn't have any real meaning in their lives and are hungry for something that is real and that applies to their daily lives. We'll be doing lots of building relationships and just loving on them that way and hopefully pointing them to a real, living relationship with God through Christ.
Let's see...other details that you might want to know...I've been able to take a leave of absence from school; the name of the town is Olsztyn and it's in North Eastern Poland; the family I'll be working with has three daughters named Abby, Cara, and Becca; I'll most likely live in an apartment with Amber; I leave October 24 for training down in Virginia, will be home Dec. 14-28 and will fly out for Poland on Dec.28 for two years; I'll get about three months of survival Polish language training, but most of the college students will want to practice English with us and that will be a big way we'll get to meet people; yes, it's very cold in Poland; no, I don't think they appreciate dumb Polock jokes; I don't know if they tell dumb American jokes...hmmmm, if there's anything else, feel free to ask, but that's all I can think of right now.
So, there you go! That's what's going on in a nutshell. For right now, I'm just working on getting things situated and tied off here and spending time with people. Oh, and watching my new best friends on Lost.
Here is a link for the Northeast Poland website. It's not been updated for quite a while, but at least it may give you an idea!

How Do You Spell ABC's?

Ok, this is for the cousins =) I've definitely enjoyed reading all of yours!

A is for age: 26
B is for beer of choice: Does Diet Pepsi count????
C is for career right now: ummm....used to be Elementary School teacher...now, employed by the International Mission Board to be a missionary!
D is for your dog's name?: Louie, may he rest in peace
E is for essential item you use everyday: my computer
F is for favorite TV show at the moment: Deadliest Catch!!!!!!
G is for favorite game: Catchphrase
H is for Home town: growing up--Mansfield, Ohio; now--Huron, Ohio
I is for instruments you play:flute and shakers and tamborine (don't ask)
J is for favorite juice: Ruby Red Grapefruit
K is for whose butt you'd like to kick: anyone who hurts children
L is for last food you ate: scrambled eggs and a piece of toast
M is for marriage: nope
N is for your full name:Jessica Renee Gordon
O is for overnight hospital stays: none, aside from my own birth
P is for people you were with today: spent some time with the Lord this morning; haven't seen anyone else yet today
Q is for quote: "Are you drinking 1% milk because you think you're fat, because you're not. You could drink 2%"
R is for Biggest Regret: I'd also say high school---I walked around thinking I was too good for everyone, but that was really my safety wall because I was so insecure. I could have cared for and known a lot more people.
S is for status: single, but content
T is for time you woke up today: 8:45
V is for vegetable you love: Corn on the cob cooked over a campfire
W is for worst habit: twirling or playing with my hair
X is for x-rays you've had: Teeth
Y is for yummy food you ate today: the eggs (with ketchup) were pretty good!
Z is for zodiac sign: Taurus

Isn't She a Beauty?

Here she is...my valiant chariot in all of her glory. Know anyone who might be interested in a 2001 Pontiac Grand Prix with 92,000 miles and a new starter? I'm so not kidding. Give me a call 419-602-0111!

2006 Tour De Western Ohio

Here are the final reports from the 2006 Tour De Western Ohio:

The Tour began Friday shortly after four (only slightly over one hour past the intended departure!) and consisted of an exciting drive down rt. 4 to a hotel in Blufton, Ohio *(don't ask!)* where I met up with four friends from college. Great time.
After a short rest Friday night (and I do mean short!!!), the Tour resumed down rt I-75 to Dayton, Ohio where I got to spend some more great times with the friends (aside from Jenn, who had to leave early Saturday morning for the annual tractor pull--not kidding). There was a sense of anticipation in the air Saturday evening as the Tour came back to the parking lot of Apex Community Church (returning from enjoying some good dinner after the Saturday night service)...only to find the chosen valiant chariot for the Tour (otherwise known as the Grand Prix) COMPLETELY UNWILLING TO START!!! The whole future success of the Tour was in jeopardy!
Ok, so it wasn't that dramatic, but special thanks to Amanda's roomate Laura for the ride back to their house!
After some phone calls and a really great time with Amanda (including Panera bagels and coffee at a park), the Tour continued on Sunday with the assistance of Uncle Tom who came to my rescue and picked me up and continued the next leg of the tour up to Urbana, Ohio.
Monday was spent eating, shopping, and visiting with my cousins Kara, Rylee (Kara's ADORABLE daughter), Lori, and my Aunt Barb. It was great.
Tuesday ushered in the reunion between me and my valiant chariot (complete with a new starter...who would have guessed! It wouldn't start, so it needed a starter!). Before pushing hard for the finish of the 2006 Tour, I got my hair cut by Lori and it is so cute! I can't wait to style it myself tomorrow. She did a fabulous job!
So, I'm home now, with the 2006 Tour De Western Ohio in the books. You may be wondering what I'm going to do now...? I'm going to Disney World!

I Love Lisa's Laptop

Hey! This won't be a long post, but I just had to blog for a moment. I'm hanging out with my friends Lisa, Sarah, Jenn, and Natalie and talking to my friend Amanda on the phone. Lisa has her laptop here and we're having good times. I'm getting pathetically old though and need to go get some coffee to stay awake anytime beyong 11:00. SO, I think we're going to head out and find some coffee and I'll try to update at some point later this weekend.

Still Need a Laugh?

I've never watched 24, but these crack me up anyways.

Jack and Jill went up the hill. Only Jack came down. Jill was a terrorist.

Jack Bauer once forgot where he put his keys. He then spent the next half-hour torturing himself until he gave up the location of the keys.

1.6 billion Chinese are angry with Jack Bauer. Sounds like a fair fight.

Killing Jack Bauer doesn't make him dead. It just makes him angry.

There were originally five horsemen of the apocalypse. Jack Bauer said he would travel by foot.

Jack Bauer sleeps with a gun under the pillow. But he could kill you with the pillow.

When life hands Jack Bauer Lemons, he kills Terrorists. Jack Bauer hates lemonade.

Jack Bauer doesn't miss. If he didn't hit you it's because he was shooting at another terrorist twelve miles away.

After running out of ammo, Jack stood in the line of fire, took 3 shots to the chest, and used them to reload.

A Priest, a Rabbi, and a Minister walked into a bar... and Jack Bauer is going to find out why...

Superman has Jack Bauer pajamas.

Jack Bauer is the reason Waldo is hiding.

Jack Bauer has been to Mars. That’s why there's no life on Mars.

Upon hearing that he was played by Kiefer Sutherland, Jack Bauer killed Sutherland. Jack Bauer gets played by no man.

On Jack Bauers Tax Returns, he has to claim the entire world as his dependants.

Jack Bauer killed 93 people in just 4 days time. Wait, that is a real fact.

Jack Bauer's favorite color is severe terror alert red. His second favorite color is violet, but that's just because it sounds like violent.

Lets get one thing straight, the only reason you are conscious right now is because Jack Bauer does not feel like carrying you.

When you open a can of whoop-ass, Jack Bauer jumps out.

Jack Bauer does not sleep. The only rest he needs is what he gets when he's knocked out or temporarily killed.

Jack Bauer literally died for his country, and lived to tell about it.

While being ‘put under’ in the hospital, Jack Bauer can count backwards from 100 every time. This annoys the doctors.

Jack Bauer can watch all 4 seasons of 24 in 24 hours.

Jack Bauer's family threw him a surprise birthday party when he was a child. Once.

Everytime Jack Bauer yells "NOW!" at the end of a sentence, a terrorist dies.

Don't ask what Jack Bauer would do for a Klondike bar...

Need a Good Laugh?

This is just bloggin' hillarious. Enjoy and I'll talk to you later!

These were selected by Chuck Norris as his favorite Chuck Norris sayings:

* When the Boogeyman goes to sleep every night, he checks his closet for Chuck Norris.

* Chuck Norris doesn’t read books. He stares them down until he gets the information he wants.

* There is no theory of evolution. Just a list of creatures Chuck Norris has allowed to live.

* Outer space exists because it’s afraid to be on the same planet with Chuck Norris.

* Chuck Norris does not sleep. He waits.

* Chuck Norris is currently suing NBC, claiming Law and Order are trademarked names for his left and right legs.

* Chuck Norris is the reason why Waldo is hiding.

* Chuck Norris counted to infinity - twice.

* There is no chin behind Chuck Norris’ beard. There is only another fist.

* When Chuck Norris does a pushup, he isn’t lifting himself up, he’s pushing the Earth down.

* Chuck Norris is so fast, he can run around the world and punch himself in the back of the head.

* Chuck Norris’ hand is the only hand that can beat a Royal Flush.

* There is no such thing as global warming. Chuck Norris was cold, so he turned the sun up.

* Chuck Norris can lead a horse to water AND make it drink.

* Chuck Norris doesn’t wear a watch, HE decides what time it is.

* Chuck Norris gave Mona Lisa that smile.

* Chuck Norris can slam a revolving door.

* Chuck Norris does not get frostbite. Chuck Norris bites frost

* Remember the Soviet Union? They decided to quit after watching a DeltaForce marathon on Satellite TV.

* Contrary to popular belief, America is not a democracy, it is a Chucktatorship.

The one I wish he’d had pick:

* Chuck Norris’ tears cure cancer. He has never cried. Ever.

* Chuck Norris can divide by zero.

* Chuck Norris and Mr. T walked into a bar. The bar was instantly destroyed, as that level of awesome cannot be contained in one building.

Red Purses and Burning Bushes

Well, once again, it's been a while friends. And oh so much to fill you all (as in both readers) in on! My friend Amanda does lists a lot on her blog, so I think I'll take that approach tonight. So, here goes:
Things That Have Happened In The Past Two Weeks That Would Take All Night to Write About

1)My cousin Lori has one of the funniest blogs I've ever read. Check it out at http://blog4lola.blogspot.com/
2)Had a great weekend at the end of July with my dad's family coming up on Saturday, then my mom's family coming up on Sunday. Family is great. I'll try posting a few pictures and see how it goes!
3) My church voted a pastor in on Sunday July 30. We're still waiting to hear back from him. Pray for us! We need a pastor!
4)I bought a new cute purse from Wal Mart Monday July 31. It's red pleather and just so fun! It brings me joy to carry it. I would wish such joy on all the women I love.
5)I went to a conference in Virginia to pursue the next step in going overseas to tell people about Jesus. I will post another entry (hopefully tomorrow) about all that, because it really deserves much more than just a mention on #5...but, think Kielbasa.
6)I found out my grandma Davis was admitted to the hospital for dizziness. I got to visit with her and my mom and Aunt Barb, Uncle Bill and Aunt Jeni for a night. She's doing well now and it's nothing serious. However, they'll have to make some serious decisions in the near future about where she'll live and driving and all that. Yikes. I don't want to be around for that conversation! It should go over like a led zepplin.

And, last but not least, the coolest thing that's happend within the past two weeks....drum roll please...I saw a burning bush today. No joke. Only, this time no one spoke to me out of it (a la Moses and the burning bush), but the fire department came! I'd have to imagine that Moses' burning bush wasn't surrounded by mulch in professionally designed landscaping next to Key Bank. I know you're dying to know the story, so here goes...I was up at church picking something up and saw smoke coming from beside a nearby building. As I got closer (yes, closer to what could have been a raging fire. Good idea, huh?) , I realized that it was this little bush that was burning down at the base. So, I thought to myself "Self, this is a little bush that is burning down at the base, what should you do?" I answered myself that I should go back to the church and get a pitcher of water to put the smoldering little bush out. So, obeying my self, that's what I did. Yeah, so that pitcher of water achieved absolutely nothing. After cursing myself for telling myself to do it, I got back into my car just as a police car drove up. I asked if anyone had called about the bush and he said that the Fire Department was on its way. As I pulled away and saw the fire truck tearing down the street with its lights flashing, I felt slightly sheepish and realized that clearly my pitcher of water was no longer necessary! And then I found five dollars!

So, there you have it. The past two weeks in a nutshell. Good times.