What if you didn't know...

So I am in amsterdam... I arrived here two weeks ago. My team and I have been on the ground moving every day. We are staying with the ywam base and I continue to fall in love more and more with europe and its culture! It is spring time here and man is it cold. By the locals standards we are having beautiful weather. The sun shines most days and the air is crisp and cool. Such a change from the weather that I have been in for almost the past two years, which is hot, dry, hot, and hottier! =)
The city is BIg and full of people. So many different people. We aren't just dealing with the dutch here but people from all over the world.

One of the ways that we plan our schedule is as a team, were able to sit down and ask God what He wants us to do for this city. My co leader and I had 5 areas that we were able to pick out in the city and the team spent an afternoon listening to what God said about the areas and what ways we could break into communities or serve. We got things from chalk drawing on side walks, playing chess with people, to cleaning up trash in areas, and then all sorts of ways to proclaim truth in places and to people. We have also been able to really get involved with a local church that my co leader has been apart of for many years. It is her home church and since we are in her home city it has been a huge encouragement and blessing to be involved with them on sundays and also during the week!

Today we went to a place called museum square. It is a big square that has all sorts of different museums around a flat, grassed off open space. When we prayed for this area we really felt like God was telling us to publicly proclaim the gospel, so today that is what we did. Before this, last night, we did a little bit of evandalizing (bahaha) (evangelism mixed with vandalism) we took our side walk chalk and prayer walked the area writing down scriptures and words that God gave us for the people and area. (don't worry, it wasn't illegal) Then this morning we went back and performed what we at ywam call an open air. A series of different things like songs, dramas, sharing testimonies, and gospel messages. Usually you do something ridiculously silly at the beginning to draw a crowd and then you can go into different things to show/tell people about Jesus. The great part is that people that are interested stop and watch and the people that aren't keep walking. So after everything is finished you have people around that have stopped and are generally interested in what you were talking about.

After we did our open air we have four highschool boys that had watched the whole thing. Some of the guys and myself included went over to talk to them. They were all around the age of 16, and had never heard the gospel message that we shared with them that day. When we asked them if they believed in anything they all said no. No. They didn't believe in anything and that was okay...
I was blown away at this. maybe at first because in america, i feel like most kids that age would at least profess to believe in Jesus or christianity or something. That we have this understanding that you have to believe in something. So living it out or not, people will answer, and not want to say nothing. These guys, had nothing and that was okay.
I found myself so consumed with desperation for these guys. I kept asking them things like well what is life about then? What do you want to do? What do you look forward to? If you don't believe in anything where does that leave you?  After listening and sharing more with these guys we were able to find out what they wanted to be when they finished school, heard about some medical problems one of them had, and really encourage them to ask God about their life. Ask Him for help, ask Him to show them He is real. Tell them more about His character, who He is, Who Jesus is and share life experiences with them. They even let us pray for them at the end of our conversation. It was a great time and I know God is working in their lives.
This is a little taste of what it is like here. Lots of people who are very knowledgeable, but that have no understanding. We have over a week left here... I have more stories but will wait a few days! God is so good!

You are blessed to be a blessing.

West Papua

A short summary and some stories of West Papua.

We spent three weeks living on a YWAM base with some amazing christians in a town called Santani. We jumped right into visiting as many people as possible. We were able to go to a school that ywam started about 8 years ago and do dramas, teach, and play games with the kids. The story of this school starting and growing is amazing. The teachers and leaders have really trusted and seen God do miracles to see those buildings be raised up and now they have about 200 kids that they teach from grades k-6.

A few days after that, my team and I traveled by boat to a village where we were able to teach about forgiveness and the power that it brings to your life. We also where able to share about who God is and more about His character. We were able to pray for many people, and really see God bring understanding through these messages and through prayers. The people of this village claimed to be christians but were without the discipleship to really know how to live out being a follower of Jesus. There was one man that was so excited about the message on forgiveness and the impact it had on him. In his eyes, you could see the spirit of God moving and touching his life. They sparkled and there was a renewed hope.

We were also able to travel up a mountain to this very remote village and spend a week there. We stayed in a pastors house, across the yard from his church. During the day we were being driven by motorbikes to various villages to teach about God, His character, being in unity, and we did lots of dramas (mostly in the dirt, outside a bamboo hut - it was great). At night, we met with the church and where able to teach them, encourage them, and get to know them. The pastor of this church is amazing. Humble, loving man who has been serving this community for years. He travels to many different villages, miles away, to preach because they don't have a pastor on top of all the work he does with his own church. This is just one thing that we learned that he does to see God's kingdom come in that place. One day we were able to meet with all the women of the church. Before hand, team prayed and we felt that we were to share on the women's value, beauty, and the purpose God has for each one of their lives. After that we felt to wash their feet to show them how much God loves and honors them. When we got to the feet washing the holy spirit fell in that room, and these women were having healing, and anointing by the holy spirit. It was one of the most powerful moments I have been apart of. Those women will be the voice and lives that change that village.

The last week we spent speaking and sharing at many different youth events, in different towns and churches. We also were blessed one night to get to go have pizza hut. This was a real treat after eating rice for the previous three weeks. During the evening, we took notice of another white family across the restaurant. It is funny how when you are in a country that white is the minority you become really curious about other white people when you see them. So we wanted to go talk to them, but laughed and thought that would be silly, but then the dad came over to us because his daughter was so curious about us she wouldn't leave him alone until he came to talk to us. Of course we all died laughing. We became instant friends with their family, we found about about them and that they were missionaries in that town, and we shared about what we were doing and where we were staying. A few nights later, this dad and his daughter show up at the ywam base looking for us. It was great! The daughter is interested in coming to ywam, we were able to share with her, and she wrote us a note and gave it to us. She really encouraged our team by speaking about how she could see the love amongst our team from across the pizza hut restaurant. That we were a bright light that she just was drawn too. So cool how God brings people together.

Thats a brief summary... here are some pictures from the stories above! I am determined to become a blogger again! No more 3 months rest periods!

You are blessed to be a blessing!

We are in full swing. I started staffing the school about three weeks ago and I can't believe how time is flying! I am getting to be apart of 18 different students lives from 9 different nations. I am excited that the students have just dove in head first into this time with God.

We have just finished week three of lectures. With each new week my desire for transformation in these guys lives grows. It has been so funny for me to see how my personality leads me to take on these students as like the mother hen. Wanting to keep them safe but also wanting to teach them so much about God, His character, and see them really experience it within their spirit. In that, I have see even more of God's heart for each individual person. That as much as my desire is to see this, He desires is 100 times more than me, and thankful His spirit can actually bring revelation and see this change happen in the student's heart! It is amazing hearing the feedback from the students, reading their journals, and hear how they are taking away so much truth about God from the lectures! It just blows me away still how much Jesus loves us, and how much He pursues us.


I think one of the biggest theme's that we have seen through every week is freedom. We have talked about hearing God's voice, the character and nature of God, and repentance and forgiveness. Through every speaker, the thing that caught my attention the most is how much freedom we can have through our relationship with Jesus. Freedom from sin, burden, hurts, confusion, and so much more. We have a beautiful message of Jesus dying on the cross for us and the even more exciting part is that it doesn't stop there! There is freedom awaiting us, a kingdom that God wants us to be building right now, here on earth. We don't have to wait for heaven for things to be better or to experience joy, peace, love. It is the rest of the message Jesus has for us.... it can happen here, now. I have thought for a long time that their are just certain things, or that are reigning with Jesus is waiting to happen until we get to heaven, that He died for us so we could go to heaven but that I will just be a sinner down here on earth until I die or until He comes back and we go to heaven, Nope! It can happen right now. If we start creating with God, and walking in the truth that we are free and have the authority that Jesus had on earth right now then we can bring God's kingdom. We can see change. I am getting really excited about these new understandings!

Well just a little glimpse of more than just class is that one of my responsibilities with the school is leading morning exercise every morning. The students have an early wake up call of 6 am! They get to come see me for thirty minutes for a nice work out! I have so loved this, but I am afraid my students don't share that same love! haha.. I promise I am not a drill sergeant. You don't need to pray for mercy for them =) They just don't like waking up so early! It has been fun for me to bring something that I love, exercise, into our daily routine!

Life is busy busy right now. Mostly because of all the responsibility with the school. I love being busy and it hasn't been to overwhelming. I battled a bit of a cold/flu thing last week, which made the week a bit harder to keep up with. I feel much better this weekend, and have taken most of the weekend off to fully recover - gotta gear up for next week! 

You are blessed to be a blessing. 

A new year...

Can you believe it, 2011! I am sitting here about to welcome in the new year thinking it can't possible be the end of 2010....

Thinking back, God has taken me to some pretty amazing places, and I have been privilege to meet some amazing people. Today we had a worship time to welcome in the new year and one of the main things that was being prayed out was how incredibly privileged we are to be used by Jesus and to really know Him. It was such a beautiful time and a perfect way to enter into a new year; with memories of why my life is so amazing. Its because of Jesus... (just in case you didn't pick up on that)  =)

I just finished up my last week working in the kitchen! I must say I am a little glad to be out of there because I think I put on about 5 lbs (or 10 kgs - depending on your country) from eating so much! We have an amazing kitchen staff that know how to cook... so prep for lunch and dinner was all about the taste testing! Most of the time... =)

Next week I am jumping into a whole new world. I am going to be staffing a school of about 20 students. The school is called a compassion discipleship training school. So it is the entry level school to youth with a mission and it has a focus on what we like to call mercy ministries. SO things like health care, child trafficking, children at risk, families in crisis... ect. I love this because it fits in so well with working along side people in their situations. Bringing God's kingdom through His love in words, and actions! I like to help people in a practical way so they know that God is in all parts of their lives.

So this school is 6 months long. I start the staff training for it next week then on Jan. 9th the school starts! We will spend three months in perth in a lecture phase. Bringing in speakers to teach us on topics like hearing GOd's voice, Character and nature of God, SPiritual warfare, intercession... and many more!

Then we will head out sometime in March to go on a outreach to a location that has not been announced yet! Be excited, because I am!

I am really looking forward to learning the new role as a staff, as well as teaching and learning how to disciple the students! I am really hoping to see more health care opportunities be worked into our outreach portion of the school and am really excited to see all these students hear what GOd has to say about their individual part to play in this world. Where does God want them and how can this next six months facilitate God's precious call that He has for all of them!

So I am posting some pictures. I had a super amazing christmas! The base went all out and was so blessed by tons of donations from different companies and people in Perth. We ate like KINGS on christmas! It was beautiful and full of laughter and fun! It was busy busy and I felt like I needed a day off from my day off ! We (the base) went to the beach from boxing day (all you americans that is just the day after christmas - referred to as boxing day... don't know why) It was a beautiful day, sunny, hot, and the wind was blowing off the shore. So there were actually no waves.. the water was so calm, and made swimming amazing!

Well enjoy your new years! Be blessed and have lots of fun moments!! Ask God what He has in store for you this year! I bet it will blow you away!

You are blessed to be a blessing.

Just about life...

I thought I would just update you on life back in Perth. I am settling into the base life for the next four months until I have another adventure, outside of this city any ways... =)
I live in a house with 10 other girls. They are great and it has been so nice getting settled into one house. When you aren't presently involved in leaving to go on an outreach, then you usually get placed on base somewhere to help the whole base run. So for the next four weeks, outside of prayer and worship times then I am in the kitchen. I help prepare lunch and dinner for around 300+ people everyday! Exciting eh? It is taking my little cooking skills to a new level. It is amazing to see how many people give and contribute every day so that all of us on base can simple live and eat. So most days I come home smelling like food... =)
The base puts on a annul carol by christmas lights program. It is help in a local park. An outdoor, come and go event where we have kids activities, drinks, and a program with a choir, speakers, and other different entertainment from people on base. This event happened last weekend. I was able to participate in the choir and it was a blast. I forgot how much I loved being in choir when I was younger. This choir was a bit less dramatic than my earlier years when we performed broadway shows but still made for good entertainmen,t I think for the city of Vincent (this was the area the park was in).

Christmas is in 11 days and I have been busy busy getting together little gifts and cards! Hope everyone is having a great holiday, with lots of JOY~

You are blessed to be a blessing.

A few things...

Well I wanted to share some stories from India. I wanted you guys to know a bit of the excitement that we had while we were their!

Our seminar consists of many different people. We have a mercy ministry team, a team from an NGO, a grassroots team, and then we also have several individual women coming from the local community we are reaching out too. Several of the women coming are illiterate and have had little or no schooling in their lives. They are so amazing and diligent. Two of the women have returned and were apart of the first seminar that we put on here in April. It has been reported to us from the mercy ministry team that lives here, that God has changed these women just from attending the seminars. One of the woman, Lalita, who barely would share or speak has become one of our boldest speakers. She will get up every chance we offer for volunteers or to share testimonies! God worked through this seminar to build her confidence and she is now a voice in her community. The other woman, Anju, has become known in the community as the ORS (oral rehydration solution) woman.  Last April, we taught the group how to prevent dehydration with ORS, and since then anju has made it a goal in her community to spread around this hydrating drink. She has made herself known and now people come to her when they have diarrhea or are dehydrated! She is changing her community one cup at a time!  

Praise the Lord for perseverance. Upon our first visit to Siliguri, we met a family that consisted of grandparents and a mental and physically handicap child. We had members of the team that were persistent in prayer and fasting and bringing in the long term team to help pray for and share about Jesus with this family. When we arrived here for our second visit last week, we were over joyed to see the family again and hear about the consistence of the team here in visiting them, praying for them, and helping them understand about Jesus. Today the grandmother came over to tell us that she had thrown away all of her other gods. That she knew that Jesus was the only God to serve. She is hungry to know truth and so dedicated to her family. She has been coming almost everyday to get prayer for her grandson. Her and her husband were going to have a few more discussions about Jesus and asked for the team to come back on Sunday so they could share about their finally decision whether to fully follow only Jesus. We are so thankful for Jesus and His persist longing for us all, and how He gives us the strength to pray for persistently for others! I am believing to get a report from the team about the families decision to only serve the one living God! Jesus! 

Our time was so full of God and His spirit. He was really raising the people up to see their lives changed and the lives of the people that they know. I think I love this so much because usually in my head when I think about God's kingdom it has to be on the most grand scale. I often tell people it is like I have a motion picture running in my head constantly. The best movie with the biggest effects, the one that wins the prize. I love Jesus and have seen the magnitude of what He did in my life, so I guess I always want to use the biggest and most amazing way to present Him. I learned a lot by going out into the villages and teaching. Standing in a house that was about as big as some people's closets teaching these people about washing their hands or how to get ride of a fever. Praying with them and feeling God's presence so strongly in that one room house. I knew as I stood their, this is the kingdom of God. This is His love and heart being poured out into this family. It was beautiful and so real. So much better than any big picture plan that I could create in my head on how to share God. 

Well I am back in Perth. Getting ready for christmas. We decorated last friday for the holiday season. I am getting more in the spirits of things although when I leave my house in the heat I somehow loose all the christmas spirit.. It just doesn't ever quite feel the same. Praise the Lord their is still the same meaning and importance for this holiday. 

I have plans changing and new things happening. I will write more later. Have a good week! 

You are blessed to be a blessing!  

Incredible India

Well we are finishing up our third week in India.
I am now in Hyderabad. I don't know why but India has been so amazing the second time around. Everything just seems to be striking a new cord in me these days! Love it!
I have eaten about a ton of rice so far. My friend Katie and I decided that we feel like 13 yr old boys when it comes to eating rice. Let me explain. You eat a HUGE amount of rice for lunch and then three or four hours later.. you are starving again. I think this must be what it is like for a guy growing. Or at least in my experience with my brothers, they would eat tons and I would always think where does it go? And now I am asking myself that same questions. Where does all that rice go?! =)
We have an amazing group here in Hyderabad. They are an NGO (non government organization) that works mainly in HIV/AIDS, but they have developed a branch of primary health care workers. So we are training their workers. They are quick and smart and love Jesus! Praise the Lord. Testimonies to come.
Well today is a special holiday, Diwali, where every one sets off crackers (fireworks) So I am going to attempt to walk home now without being blow up!

You are blessed to be a blessing.