The weeks leading this school have flown by. It's hard to believe that in 3 short weeks, I will be going with 11 other girls to Thailand for 2 months. It seems like I was just in Uganda. Whitney and I have been blessed with a great school that is hungry for God. Our staff team has been amazing and jumping in to help any where they see a need. I've definitely been learning how to lead people even more now that I'm leading the DTS. You have to be completely selfless, patient, gentle, wise, and an over-communicator. I've learned that you really have to sit down with people- talk things through. I love how God keeps guiding me and showing me things about my character that He's trying to work on. I love how He continuosly puts situations in front of me that I can grow from. There have been a couple different instances these past weeks where I'm reminded of that verse "God makes all things work together for His good".... It's a simple phrase that provides so much peace and freedom.

Just around a week ago, we realized that the team planning to go to Uganda still needs thousands of dollars for the whole team to go. Tons of questions and doubts arose within the students and even some staff. Why would this happen if God wants the people there to be reached? Then I'm reminded of that verse above, and am able to trust completely that God sees the big picture, and will use this situation to grow the faith of that team. Whatever ends up happening with them, I know that God is in control, and He can use that team wherever they go. We'll find out if they will be going on Wednesday because that is their deadline to get the money in.

This past Sunday we held our first ever in YWAM Sunshine Coast history, Outreach Olympics. One of the base leaders gave me and Whit the idea, and we decided to have a go at it. We had 9 different events- from eating brains and heart to swimming into the ocean to memorize a code off of a floating bottle. The whole time our teams had to wear 10 lb. backpacks and points were taken off if anyone complained. It was a great simulation of some outreach situations. It helped us staff see how our team works together and pointed out how different people react in stressful situations! It was awesome! Team Uganda ended up winning the $75 prize that will go towards a team party on outreach.

I would love if you could stand with me in prayer about all the things needing to get done before we leave for Thailand, for my staff team to stay united and not get burnt out, for finances for our Ugandan team, and for continuous revelation from God.

Much Love!

Outreach Olympics- Team Thailand

'I'm here, Beloved.'

You ever feel like you're going along with the motions? For the past week that's how I have been feeling..I've never 'gone off the rails' or completely back slidden, but I realized a couple days ago how very completely comfortable and dry my relationship with God has been..and it's completely because of me. This past Sunday night at church, the pastor left time at the end to spend in worship and prayer. I always love worship, but I've realized that I really have become comfortable looking 'Christian.' Not that I'm not worshipping God, but I just expect the same thing every worship time. I don't think I've been giving God room or time to speak during those times. As we were singing, I decided to just sit down and be quiet (which is really hard for me at times, because when I hear music, I can't help but dance!) I started talking to God and telling Him that I miss hearing from Him, and that I'm sorry for not giving Him time to speak. I asked God to speak to me, because I've felt more distant from Him lately. I asked for any revelation, something to refresh my spirit. I was a bit desperate. As I sat with my head in my hands, I heard just a still, small voice in my head, "I'm here, Beloved." Right away I was flooded with joy, peace, love, to an extreme that I can't even express. I lost it. I was weeping and couldn't control it. God will never leave me. He's so patient and loving. The thing that broke me was the word, 'beloved.' There's something about that word that just blows me away. It is such a sweet word to describe how God feels about us. It's how a father would speak to his child with unconditional love, it's how a lover would talk to his love.

God is so good to me. I'm so blessed.

The DTS I'm leading started 2 weeks ago, and I'm blown away by God's grace and power. During our staff retreat, we prayed for the school, and some of us got prophetic pictures. One of mine was about a dam that exploded from the water that built up on the one side (this was a picture of how the Holy Spirit would pour heavily onto our school). One of the students confirmed this picture with the same one during prayer time. Another staff had a picture of a light speed light that brough brighteness quickly (this meant that the students would grow, step up, be broken quickly). This has definitely been happening as students have already been stepping up and sharing things on their heart the first week. Our school already feels so close and united.

Things have come up like all of our work/plans for the school (that was saved on the computer) being deleted the night before we needed to share it, and our speaker for next week breaking his leg and emailing me this morning saying he probably won't be able to speak (although he is currently praying for a miracle). Even though these things have come up, God has somehow given me and Whitney divine peace and calmness. Not once have I felt stressed or worried. We are trusting in God for everything and know He will not let us down.

"Welcome to Australia Night" - Students learning the nut bush dance

DTS Staff Team!

Small Group- Picture Scavenger Hunt (We won!)

Thanks so much for all your prayers. God is moving in all the student's and staff's lives. Can't wait to update you guys again soon!

A Whole New Season

Hey Everyone!


It's been a little while since I posted. Can anyone tell me why time flies so fast? I've already been back in Australia for 3 and a 1/2 weeks. We started staff training this past Monday... and the September Waves Discipleship Training School starts in a week!

God has been teaching me so much about leadership already. It's such a full-on position leading a DTS. In normal paying jobs, you pretty much hone in on 1 skill that you are good at. Leading within YWAM is a whole different story. You are put in charge of anything from administration, cooking meals, counseling people, coming up with a skit, to cleaning houses. I've been given a bunch of chances to get better at speaking in front of people. There's just so much freedom to try new things (and possibly fail) here.

So my friend Whitney and I are leading the upcoming DTS: 29 students, 9 staff, and 19 amazing weeks of God moving in people's lives. If you would have told me 1/2 a year ago that I would be leading a DTS, I would have laughed in your face..But God has changed my heart. He's taught me how to be willing and open to anything He puts in front of me, and because of that, He is using me in such big ways.

Whitney and I get reminded every day that we can't do anything out of our own strength. When we try, we get a really rude awakening. We're still figuring out how to lead together, and there's definitely been a couple times that we probably wanted to kill each other, but I know if we have a covering of prayer for our unity, God will keep us strong. We're so stoked for the staff that God has blessed us with. We leave for our staff retreat tomorrow, so please pray for us to bond! Then one more week of staff training and the students arrive!

 Trying to get over my jet lag quicker by climbing a mountain the day after I got back!

 Hanging out with Whit at Starbucks, dreaming about all the amazing things that will happen on our DTS

My home break!

Thanks for all your prayers! I'm so blessed to be here, and it's because of everyone's prayers and support! Much love!

Back in the land down undah

This past week has been crazy (and that's an under-statement)! Some of my family left 5 days before I left, so I was busy packing in an empty house. That Friday (about a week ago) I called the Australian embassy to find out what was taking my visa so long to be granted. (I was planning on leaving that coming Monday.) They pretty much told me I shouldn't have booked a flight without having my visa granted, and that I may not be getting on my flight that Monday. That day I was leaving to go spend the weekend camping with my friends since it would be the last time I would see them for at least a year, but in the back of my mind I was freaking out and stressed that I wouldn't be able to get back to Australia. I posted a bunch of freak out posts on facebook about praying for my visa to be granted and skyped a couple of friends after having 5 emotional break downs in one day.

Sunday night came around and as I was skyping with my friend Whitney, she suggested I call the embassy in Australia since they're in the future (yay!). I was holding my breath as I called them, this could make me or break me.. As I was talking to the lady, it wasn't sounding too good. Then she talked to my case officer who said they would verify my visa that day! Jesuuuus! I had another good cry right after. Next morning I got up and still didn't have an emailfrom them, but just trusted that God had it under control. On my way to the airport I called and they finally said it was granted. When I boarded the plane, I was praising God under my breath! It was such a relief. Thank you so much if you were praying for my visa. God really does hear us and answer!

Time flies--2 weeks left in the states!

My niece, Kaia, and I

I officially have a couple days over 2 weeks left in America. It's been amazing connecting with friends and being able to spend time with my family. It's crazy to think that next time I see my niece, I'll probably be able to have a full conversation with her. Working with YWAM is definitely bitter sweet. I love what I'm doing, but I love and miss my family too. God always reminds me of Luke 14:26, that we can't love our family more than we love Jesus if we want to be His disciples. That we are not worthy to follow Him if we are not willing to give up our family. 

I was able to speak at a youth group last night, which was a lot of fun! I'm going to be speaking at a  youth group my friend leads about 2 hours from here next week, so I'm looking forward to that! I've been able to send out a bunch of update newsletters and commitment cards, so I'm trusting God will put what I'm doing on people's hearts. I have definitely not met my financial goal for this upcoming year with YWAM, but I feel complete peace about it. I'm not nervous or doubtful, I know God is in control. I would love if you would remember to keep me in your prayers about this!

I'll also start the process of applying for my new student visa this week. Please pray that everything gets processed quickly and God provides the money for me to pay for it and the health insurance I have to get. :)

I'm in the newspaper!

This is the second time the Coastal Point local newspaper has done a story about the work I've been doing with YWAM in Australia. Awesome!

http://coastalpoint.com/content/local_missionary_continuing_outreach_trips_abroad_

So Blessed!

Check out my new video about life on staff with YWAM!

 

God is so good. I just hosted a dessert night to share with my friends and family what I've been doing this past year. I made a video, brochures, information cards...It was a lot of work, but it turned out really good! I had friends travel from 2 hours, 3 hours away just to hear what I had to say for a couple of hours. I love what I do, so sharing this with these people was such a joy. I truly feel blessed to have people in my life that encourage me and pray for me. 

Life with God is an amazing, surprising, crazy ride eh?

Culture Shock x2

3 weeks ago, I brought a team of 7 students from Canada, Denmark, and America back to Australia from Uganda. For the week after that, I had to keep pinching myself. How is it that I've been blessed with such an amazing job? For 3 months I live in Australia, discipling young people from all over the world, and then I take them across the world to developing nations to share the love of Jesus with everyone. I've seen young and old lives transformed by the truth of God's words. 

I've been visiting with my family back in Delaware until I go back to lead the September Discipleship Training School. I have to remind myself that the things I saw in Uganda were not a dream. Our team saw around 600 people devote their lives to Jesus. I saw first-hand God's mighty power as He healed a teenage girl's broken arm right in front of me and ripped a demon out of a man's body. While I was there I thought, 'this must be how the disciples felt in the book of Acts.'

I feel like one of the luckiest people in the world to be a part of these things. Am I living the American dream? No. I've found the more Kingdom work I do, the farther I feel and want to be from that dream. I will never have the riches of this world, and I'm ok with that. I know that I'm striving towards the prize-The goal that God has set before me. Life following after God is not easy, as soon as you feel like you have completed the mission He set before you, He places another one in front of you. Yea, it would be easy to give up right there and give into what the world calls us to be. But Jesus didn't say this life would be easy. He said we would go through struggles and pain. We're called to rejoice in those times, because Jesus endured the same hardships.

So this is me, a full-time volunteer, missionary, college graduate. I'm passionate about Jesus and reaching His kids. Come on this journey with me?