November 28, 2010

Dear friends,

Recap:
I have been back in Seattle since mid May now. In June I was able to find a place for my dad called Bayview Manor in Lower Queen Anne. In the same week I found an apartment for myself one block away. Also the Lord opened the door for a job at Christian Veterinary Mission on the CRISTA campus in Shoreline. Everything in coming back has “fallen into line”.

As many of you know, being closer to downtown Seattle I started going to Downtown Cornerstone Church in the heart of the city. We are a small Acts 29 church plant. Currently we are meeting once a week as a launch community to study God’s word, worship and pray. Once a month we have a “preview gathering” for the services we are preparing to launch, Lord willing, early next year. It is very exciting to be a part of a church plant. As evidenced at the "Seattle Harvest" a few weeks ago at the Key Arena, God is really moving in the Seattle area! I went on the Friday night and saw hundreds give their lives over to Jesus! I was teary eyed thinking of all those people then streaming out into the streets of Seattle and being a light for all to see. God is doing amazing things!

Even though I am back I know I have not been able to see many of you very often. With work, time with my dad, church, fellowship and times of rest, I have been seeking the Lord for His balance and will in all these areas. Through all of this I have learned the true meaning of saying “Lord willing” with every presumptuous statement! Coming back was not on my agenda but I have seen God's wisdom and fruit. At my dad's convalescent center I see my dad testifying as to why I am back and God is getting the glory! There is so much that we can have planned for our lives that we let God’s still small voice get muffled and chocked out by the white noise. By His grace I am growing, as we all are, and purposing to lay myself on His alter and be transformed by the renewing of my mind; not being conformed to this world, that I may prove what is the good and acceptable will of the Lord. (Rom. 12:1-2) We are all in this walk as one body in Christ.

It has been an honor to be a part of Christian Veterinary Mission. As their Outreach Volunteer Coordinator I am helping to mobilize people for Christ's cause through CVM to get people engaged in the areas of their gifting. As a mission our focus is to challenge, empower and facilitate veterinarians to serve other through their profession, living out their faith in Christ. We work with veterinary students, vet techs and professional vets. We encourage vets stateside to shine their light for Christ through their profession. In America we have some serious animal lovers! Our focus is not to give an animal a better life (while that may be a byproduct) but our focus is people coming to know the Lord through veterinarians as a vessel. In the majority world we send missionaries to share and teach animal healthcare and animal husbandry that people may have a sustainable way to help their family and communities. We work in the name of Christ and we have seen many come into a relationship with Him through the 2 Tim. 2:2 principle - teach others who will in turn teach others!

As time permits I am hoping to start writing a bit. Lord willing I will start taking a class early next year along with others as an arena for practice and to proclaim God's goodness and grace through the written word.

If you are looking for a way to give this Christmas I would ask you to check out two programs: "Give a Kid a Kid" program in Haiti (http://www.cvmusa.org/GiveAKidAKid ) and World Concern's Global Gift Guide (http://www.cvmusa.org/page.redir?target=http%3a%2f%2fwww.worldconcern.org%2fglobalgiftguide&srcid=26195&srctid=1&erid=789489 ). Give a gift that has holistic sustainable development in mind. When you give a goat to a child in Haiti they learn animal husbandry and have a sustainable way to help their families! The program incorporates biblical teachings and creation care, providing the children a way in which they will see the saving grace of Jesus in their lives and also, be able to take it home to their families!

If any of you would like to chat or say hi please email anytime. If any of you need one more person to come alongside you in prayer I would love to be there.

All to His glory,

Tiffany