Hello Everyone! This is my September update letter I send out every four months along with some other YFC stuff to everyone who signs up to receive it! I decided for now that because there are alot of you who follow this blog but aren't yet signed up for this letter that I will post it here! however I am undecided if I want to make this exclusive to those who signed up or just post it a week after I send out the letters...
For those of you who have already signed up, a letter is in the mail so quit reading so you don't spoil it! :D
For those of you who have already signed up, a letter is in the mail so quit reading so you don't spoil it! :D
If you would like to sign up to receive my YFC letters please email me your name, address including postal code, phone number and email to
ryan.russell@yfccanada.org
thanks for reading!
Dear Friends:
In my latest blog posts I have often talked about being at the point of asking God why? Why is it that all these “negative” things keep happening to me? And I usually hear Jesus reply “because Ryan you choose to follow me” but also the same can be said about the really awesome blessings of God... “Why is it that you are so good to me God, why do you chose to love me so much... even when I fall short? “ And again I here Jesus say “Because Ryan you chose to follow Me.” I would like you to keep this in mind as you continue to read this letter.
Since my update I had just finished Lifeteams. The transition from Lifeteams to Calgary has been a rough one. For now I have gotten a job at Superstore working nightshift to make ends meet for now. This job for me is a double bladed sword, on one end I get great pay and it’s a pretty good job but on the other had Its been a huge frustration for me because I am working in a very worldly environment, and some days I am so tired that I wake in time to start work again. I have to be very honest; it is so maddening to me to not have started my cart yet. But right now I am in the mist of planning assorted routes, doing research, and meeting with various different youth organizations/shelters. So In short the plan is to have Tracks out and running by the end of October; so this really exciting!
Time for story’s! So a couple months ago I got a call from another YFC staff which I thought was a prank, apparently a couple who had read about what I was going to be doing had come into the office with a check in their hand for 10,000 dollars, yeah you read that right! I have never met or seen these people but it is so awesome to know God is with me and brought some more awesome people to partner with me! (Though It’s important to know I will still need regular monthly donors secured before I can officially start) I feel like the days of old where God would move and shake things and make a way for his will to happen and I am just along for the ride; and I am so privileged to be!
In late July I was asked to be a leader for something called DEMO Crew. It's a life changing opportunity for youth to explore and experience homelessness, poverty and social justice issues. While I was there I asked God what was my purpose there that week was, and He showed me. One time that sticks is where I was sitting by inside the mustard by myself in the corner and a homeless man sits beside me. He proceeds to tell me that he needs to talk to me. Now I have never seen or met this individual before but I was intrigued to find out why he needed to talk to me. Let’s call this man “Chris”. Anyways Chris starts to pour out all that’s on his heart, how he recently lost his job, his wife, his kids stuff like that and how he is just so completely overwhelmed with life and then starts to tell me things he has never shared with anyone, things that he should be seeking professional help from not some punk twenty one year old. I felt so unequipped I remember asking Jesus while I was talking with Chris “what do I say? Jesus this man needs you in his life so badly!” all I heard in reply was just “Listen to him.” So that’s just what I did. Then I prayed with him, Chris had never prayed to God before so he asked me how and asked if I could do it for him so I prayed with him and while I did I had tears streaming down my face, I feel such a deep compassion for Chris I could really feel this man’s hurt and pain. After, he told me that I had showed him more respect than anyone that worked at the mustard seed. I don’t really know what I did that day besides listen to him. I think though that this man had really seen Jesus and not me that day and felt God’s deep love for him; A divine appointment. Please continue to have Chris in your prayers!
Opening days of August Aug 4. My father had passed away. For this letter I don’t want to get too in depth with what I said about my dad or what the funereal was like if you want to know about that stuff go check out my blog (http://streetlighttrackscalgary.blogspot.com/2011/08/this-battle-is-not-mine-but-battle.html) what I want to talk about what I learned though the experience. When I first saw my sisters again (the first time in two years I think) I didn’t even really know them. They were so different then I remembered. One of the realizations that I came to was that, like my father I hardly knew them at all. What If this was a funeral for one of them? What would I be able to say about them? This thought scared me. Life doesn’t work out the way we think it will, in a flash everything can change. This is why I need to build a better relationship with them. I also with every part of my heart want them to know Jesus! I often look at a youth I’ve seen or know, and I see my sister’s in them, how they keep retuning to wells that are dry just like “the Samaritan woman at the well” The wells that the world provides that will yield only stale unmoving water, and you know the amazing thing I noticed in that story, once that woman experienced Jesus, after she left with Him she left her jar at the well! It’s really amazing. Another thing that is incredible about that story is that even when Jesus knew this woman, I mean really knew her all her flaws and “sins” He met her where she was at and still offered her the “wellspring of life!” This is my heart for this ministry that every single youth we come into contact with would experience the same feeling of the Love of Christ though what we do. I want them to have a chance to “Live”. A good friend of mine says that true Homelessness is lack of relationship. I pray that they would experience a true relationship with Jesus that they too would cast away their jar, go to Jesus and “never thirst again”
Well that’s all I have to say for now, and I hope it was an encouragement to you! If you want to become a part of this movement, right now I am looking for monthly supporters to partner with me, so that I can totally engage into what God has called me to do, and that is full time ministry! If you feel like this is something the God has laid on your heart feel free to fill out the enclosed support cart! (or click here!: (http://www.canadahelps.org/CharityProfilePage.aspx?CharityID=s41154) Because of you, you make this, my dream possible! I thank you all for continued support and prayers Thanks for reading and don’t forget to keep checking out my blog I might have some exciting news coming soon! ;)
Love in Christ
Ryan Russell-Timbrell
