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Hey I am back in Minnesota!

I have been back a few days now; long enough to enjoy Buffalo wings, Chipotle and a home cooked meal at my parent’s house. The last week has been quite a roller coaster ride. I went from saying good-bye to packing, to saying hello and unpacking in 48 hours. It was a real mind bender.

I remember lying in bed last Friday night and thinking, ten hours ago I was in The Netherlands. It was so surreal. Now that I have had a few days to settle in and get my bearings again I can start to sort through my thoughts and try to get a grasp on where I am.

It has been great being back. I haven’t been able to see a ton of people, but just being here, going to a lake and seeing my family this has been enough. I am looking forward to catching up with more friends and having a good Minnesota summer, but right now it’s nice to be home for a while.

Leaving The Hague was not as hard as I thought it would be, I attribute that to the fact that I will be going back in four months. Also, though I think that it is a tribute to the friendships I made there. They are the kind of friends that you could leave for four months or a year or more and when you saw each other again, it would be like you were never apart. I really will miss the church and my friends in Holland over the summer, but also I take comfort in knowing that our friendships have gone deep and are grounded in each other and that means a lot to me.

While I have been back I have been on my computer non-stop trying to write and finish all these support raising materials, Business cards, photo books, brochures and blog updates… It has been fun to think about the last year and also to think about how excited I am for the coming year. I am getting more excited each day and with each conversation, because each time I talk about Holland I see more clearly all the things God did, how much I have grown, and what is coming on the horizon. I am very encouraged for the future.

This past Sunday I went to my home church (Woodlandhills Church). It was such an encouragement, to be in the service, see my friends and just feel home again. I was able to see several people that I hadn’t seen since Christmas and even met some new folks as well. I was very encouraged when I spoke with our Worship Pastor Norm. Norm and I have a special relationship. Norm is about 6’6” and a big guy, with a heart of gold and a smile that could light up Manhattan. Every time Norm sees me he gives me a huge hug, I feel like a raggedy Anne doll, but its one of the highlights of being home. I don’t know what it is, but when Norm gives me a hug it’s like God is just pouring goodness all over me. I love it. I don’t know how else to explain it. When I saw my family, walked around a lake and got a hug from Norm, I was officially home.

I know this is a short update, but I have been typing for three days straight already…yes, excuses. I will be in touch with all my supporters, but if anyone else wants to sit down and talk let me know (jascut@mac.com).

Prayer requests:
1) Support Raising – there is a lot to do. I am aiming at getting 100/100. 100 people to give me $50 a month for 2 years and 100 people to pray for me once a week for 2 years. Pray that God would connect me to them.
2) Energy – I want to see everyone, it’s who I am, and pray that God would give me the energy to spend the time reconnecting with folks back home.
3) Pray for my sister’s wedding, I am officiating in July, ahhhh, pray for me that I can do this. Also, I am graduating!! Never thought the day would come.
4) Pray for my family and me, it weird thinking I will be leaving again at the end of the summer, pray for our relationships.

I want to thank you all again for reading, sending comments and encouragements, it means a lot. I will be staying in contact with Crossroads Church over the summer to I will try to keep and update about them in the blog as well.

Take care,
Jason