This made me laugh...

This cracked me up....A little insight into the YWAM world....


You know you are A YWAMer.
your vocabulary consists of an unlimited great many multitude of acronyms: YWAM, DTS, SOS, SOFM, SOE, KKI, ESL, SOPA, SBS etc. and only you and every other YWAMer on the planet know what they mean.

you never cease to be amused by acronyms like these:
Young Women After Men
Yes, We Arrange Marriages
Youth With A Meeting
Youth WithAut Money
You Will Always Move

your goal in life is to “TO KNOW GOD AND MAKE HIM KNOWN!”

you think it’s perfectly normal to drop what you’re doing to go to another country without exactly knowing why because you know that is where God wants you.

you give away something you need because God has led you to do so.

you are quite happy to accept that your future husband/ wife is probably in a different country.

you need time to “process” everything.

at the airport you set your bags on the waiting room chair and sit on the floor.

you’re watching the Simpsons, Ned Flanders comes out, and you say Dean Sherman.

you know that “every problem in the world is a problem of relationships. every relationship problem is from pride. so pride is the cause of every problem in the world” (Dean Sherman)

you have bathed in a river for a mininum of 5 days straight, and have gone a minimum of 5 days straight without bathing at all!

pooing and peeing in a hole doesn’t phase you the way it should.

in any sort of social situation you are no longer ashamed to talk about having diarrhea. You won’t refer to it as an upset stomach, you can call it what it is.

you cant afford to be scared of spiders, bugs, rats, etc.

if someone mentions a friend or family member that is with YWAM and your ears perk up and you have to immediately ask which base and see if you have met them.

you get something pierced or tattoed before returning home.

when the word “flexible” takes on a whole other meaning.

you are fully aware that anytime you sit in a vechical you must sleep because who knows when you will sleep next.

you know the full meaning of the word ‘transition.’ It defines your life.

you actually MISS the food in your outreach country.

you’re praying in the airport because someone is having trouble with their passport.

you go to a non-YWAM retreat and you think it’s weird you don’t have meal prep and clean-up.

you know how to ENCODE emails written in Muslim or Communists countries so that it doesn’t sound Christian.

you start counseling all your friends to go on a DTS.

you’ll sleep on any ground, anyplace, anytime.

“base” is a word that means ministry center.

you think of calling a (YWAM) friend, but don’t know what continent they are on.

you know God already said GO… you need specific instructions to stay.

you slept on the floor in a room smaller than a closet with 6 other people (and you kind of miss it sometimes..)

on your birthday you know to expect a construction paper card signed by everyone at the base.

having a flush toilet is the pinnacle of technology, and dishwashers are a true extravagance.

you know what vegimite/marmite is and tried them.

comfort is a luxury.

you have an unspoken bond with anyone and everyone who has done a DTS.

you leave with a total non-denominational view of Christianity and get really annoyed over petty Christian bickering.

you know that everything in life is a “heart issue”.

one week you can’t afford to buy coffee, the next week you’re in another country on outreach.

the leaders of the organisation have time for you personally and you don’t have to put them on a pedestal.

you watch National Geographic specials, you see people you’ve met on outreach.

if you’ve eaten dog meat or fish eyeballs the size of golf balls, and you don’t find anything odd about that.

stuffing 10 people in the truck bed on outreach is THE way to travel

you know how to give your testimony in 5 minutes

you hear the bell rings and it’s time for WORK PROGRAM

after meal you wash your own dishes

you have a place to stay anywhere in the world because someone you knew knows someone who knows them

you’re no longer surprised at money turning up randomly and anonymously, just in the nick of time.

you know you’re a YWAMer if you start saying “Go God” whenever something really cool happens

you can ride in the most dilapidated vehicles or sleep in the most dilapidated rooms and it’s all just part of life

you know you’re a YWAMer when you can say “base food” and everyone knows what you’re talking about.

you know you’re a YWAMer when you meet someone that’s done a DTS and you feel as if you’ve known them forever.

…health insurance? What health insurance?!

if the world seems significantly smaller to you than it does for other “normal” people

you randomly find foreign currency in your pockets.

some needs $1500 in 3 hours and your like “no problem”, and they get it all in, in 2 hours and 58mins

your primary ways of communicating with your best friends are internet-related (e-mail, Skype, Facebook etc).

you miss lots of people all the time.

you left your heart in another country.

the show Fear Factor occasionally made you nostalgic about the good ole days.

you still live out of your suitcase for months after returning home




 - You are blessed to be a blessing.

They sneak up...

Well its just another normal week except that it is my birthday this week. Umm. I love birthdays, when they are not mine. =) Only because of the whole getting older thing. Seems like they keep sneaking up on me. I will be 25 this year. Seems monumental in a small kindof way... (oxymoron?!)... Maybe I am just being a bit dramatic but I feel like I will be 25 in two days and haven't had time to think about it! Maybe thats a good thing.
I would love to wait on the Lord a bit and get some fabulous words for this coming up year and all the things He wants to do! I always get a bit torn on my b-day about whether I should be reflecting, looking back on the year that was or being excited and looking towards the year to come! Maybe I will do a day of both! Because I live in Australia, I have the privilege of having two birthday days. Since I was born in America and they are a day behind. It works out perfectly for those of us that like to prolong good things (like attention because it is your special day!) =)
I am also planning a party for myself... wahoo... I would love to get to know more people around in the community that I live with. So I guess having a big party is a great way to do that. SO if you are reading this and around perth... my house, saturday night! Fire pit plaid party! Yes.. we will be roasting marshmallows and having a good time.

I have a prayer need... the house that I live in is currently up for sale. My roommates and I have been put on a month to month lease while they try and sell the house. The base is looking for a new house to rent to put all of us in, but sadly have not found one yet that is in our price range or that will be okay with 12 girls living in it. So we are in a waiting period. Not sure when we will have to move out, currently don't have any where to go, but know that God is faithful and His timing is perfect. So if you think about, I would appreciate some prayer help! We have a gorgeous house and have been so blessed to live here, and I believe we are going to get an even better house to live in! Yah God's blessings! So we are waiting and will be quickly transitioning soon.

okay well that is it for now.

You are blessed to be a blessing!

Random pictures from working in the kitchen...

Making Fish and Chips for dinner... I hand battered like 300 fish that day!

 I love to receive packages! =)

 Yes we feed lots of people..

 Random pic's from my mom and my road trip!!

A new season

Ever had God tell you to do something so far out of your comfort zone that your not even sure where to start? I feel a bit like that these days. I was home just a few weeks ago and spent some time alone, all alone, for a few days and just was still before the Lord. That is a good thing, mixed with the emotions of scariness because God speaks and in this time spoke something new and asked me to do it.

One of my biggest questions for God throughout my time on the mission field has been, God why does this stuff happen. Especially during the time I spent serving as a midwife in certain countries and the death was just unreal, I would often wrestle with where are you God. Nobody knows this is happening, nobody knows this baby was born on the floor or that one alone in the crib. God gave me such a strong word during that time about how He sees. He took me to Genesis 16 and the story of Hagar. She was Sarai's maidservant and when Sarai couldn't conceive, then she gave Hagar to Abram to build a family through their marriage. After Hagar fell pregnant than Sarai began to mistreat her and Hagar ran away. As she was running she was met by an angel of the Lord who said to her "go back and submit to Sarai." and then he made her a promise. Her reply was, "I have now seen the one that sees me."

God spoke so clearly to me after I read that.  He sees the babies born, the ones that aren't, the ones that live short lives and the ones that go on to live long lives in horrible conditions. He sees women, men, countries, and situations. He reminded me that He sees them and He is using me to be witness to their lives as well. To add, contribute, and bring God's kingdom to them. He wants to use many more of us.

So from all that God spoke during my quiet time to start a non profit organization. It is called "I am seen." It will be used to bring awareness of the ones that aren't seen, to incorporate photography and music to raise money to support those that go and serve the ones that aren't seen, and to bring God's kingdom.

If you are trying to start something like this on your own with no business experience what-so-ever, it seems oh so frightening. Luckily God already told me I would need to seek help. I have started by building my board of directors. I shared my vision with my sister in law and asked her to join in. She immediately started crying because God had spoken the same vision to her earlier this year! I love the way the Lord works. So the two of us have our work cut out for us.

I am also working in new areas on base. New ministries that stretch me in new ways. Free time to build relationship with the people on base (which also stretches me major!) I guess I am just taking it one day at a time. I read this verse the other day that was so exciting to me. In 1 Corinthians 10:31 "so whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God."

You are blessed to be a blessing.

Time at home...

Well, I am about finished with my time at home. Hard to believe that 5 weeks passes by that fast. I have been able to see almost every one I hoped to see. I was able to take a few days to really have "holiday" and went to San Antonio with my mom for a few days. It was so much fun. We tried to float the river in New Braunfels and got half way down the river and it started pouring rain! Texas has been in a heat wave with no rain for months and months and the only day we go to float we get big lighting, rain storm! We ended up literally swimming the last half mile of the float because I was afraid we were going to get struck by lighting! Ha.

I was able to spend a week in San Angelo. It is so good to be back there. I saw lots of people and was able to spend lots of time with people from the church. I have been so overwhelmed by the blessings that come out of the church. Any one need a church, go to Paul Ann. I kept trying to bless them but every time I turned around I felt more blessed than they did I think.

It is always kind of sad gearing up to leave, because there never is a return date in mind. I hope a year  from now, but it is really up to Jesus. He did a pretty good job of planning out and giving me this trip, so I definitely trust Him! I was thinking about last year being home and how different that time was. I came off of a really intense 18 month spout overseas and was ready to be home to "relax". Last summer was one of the hardest summers and I felt more attacked spiritually than I did on the mission field. I realized looking back how much I had to clinge to Jesus to make it through that summer, and without the attacks my mindset was to "take a break" from ultimately Jesus and His work. God taught me and was showing me, you can't take a break from me. That isn't how this relationship works. I have been so thankful looking back, and thinking about that time. Although it was super hard and I didn't understand it, I know now that I learned one thing (among many that summer) that I never want to think I can "take a break" or "relax" from my relationship with Jesus.

My older bother is graduating this weekend with his masters in music education! He is such a stud! So we are planning, cooking, and cleaning to get all ready to go. I should also be packing but uhhh haven't started that yet! =) I look forward to a blow out party weekend with the family, a few days to pack(?) and then a long plane ride back to Perth!

You are blessed to be a blessing.

DTS 2011

Here is a wrap up of the last six months of DTS. Enjoy! 

Home

I made it home! It was crazy how quick all my flying went! I couldn't believe it almost. I had no lay over in sydney and literally walk through the airport and got on my next flight.

I have been home almost a week, which I don't like to think about because that means that time is flying by. I have been so excited about this trip and even being here everyday I just get joy from being home and hearing God speak about friends, family, and things to do here. I think last year when I came home it was right after my BAS school, which was a really intense school, and I thought coming home would be such a relief. It wasn't, in fact I think I was under more spiritual attack at home than I had been during my BAS. It was crazy and made me exhausted, but I had such good support from people here. They really held me up, when I felt like falling. This year coming home has been such an opposite feeling. I feel like I can be the one holding people up, and encouraging them. So I am eagerly meeting with people, and ready to be used to encourage.

I have spent the last week in lubbock and am headed off soon. I will be traveling up to angelo to speak at my church, then off to san antonio for nothing but fun! An unexpected little holiday travel with my mom. We are going off to spend a few days together hanging out in the blistering heat of san antonio!

I can't believe how fast a year went by. It doesn't even seem like a year since I have been home, and here I am again catching up with old friends. I still haven't seen half the people I want to, but the time will come. I will be camping out in san angelo in a few weeks!
I do love and miss cheap American shopping, star bucks, and mexican food. I am not over doing it but am definitely enjoying. =)

You are blessed to be a blessing.

God's timing...

Well I have just finished a four day weekend and now it is time to go back to work! I had a few days off at the end of last week and it was such a time of rest, relaxing, and letting God speak. While I was taking to my sister in law on skype, God started putting ideas in my head about going home. It was so funny because I hadn't planned to go home until November but God had a different plan and I've come to learn that His is always best. So after a whirled wind of praying, talking to my leader, and then getting approval, I started planning to come home!
I will be flying in this weekend on the 9th! I am so excited! There are so many little details that are coming together and I can tell that this is the perfect time. My older brother will be graduating with his masters from  university and some other little secret family things will be happening (ugh mom turns 50!!)
I am now in a frenzy getting ready to leave this home and go to another. I am planning to spend a lot of time traveling back and forth from Lubbock to San Angelo, so please let me know if you live in either of those places when we can meet up! I want to see every one I know!
In the midst of getting ready to come home I have been fearlessly working on some homework from a class I am taking here. I told myself I wasn't allowed to do any preparing for home until my homework was done. That lasted most of the weekend but I finally broke! I  am so excited the planning for home is much more fun to do than the homework! Oh but the homework needs to be done before thursday when I get ready to leave! I hate being a procrastinator! =)
I'll write more soon! Praying for safe and quick travel home! Join with me in that!

You are blessed to be a blessing.