Here we go!

So much has happened in the past few weeks! We ended lecture phase learning about fearing God, relationships, and cross-cultural communication; I got to go home for Christmas; and we’ve spent the past week getting everything ready for outreach!

To fear God means to be in awe of Him, to live in reverence to Him, and to honor and praise Him. It is such an intimate thing and it points to His desire for a relationship with us. One of our speakers said, “God gave everything to have a relationship with you, so what’s holding you back from giving everything to have a relationship with Him?” This is an idea that has been expressed to me over and over again over the past few months, and though it is not always easy, God has showed me how His love and desire for me is unrelenting, and how He is so worth it. 

I really cannot express how much this first part of DTS (the lecture phase) has changed me and deepened my relationship with God, but I am so, so thankful for it. 

I loved being back in California for Christmas! I missed the sun and the mountains and the beach so much! I loved spending time with my family and catching up with my friends :)

This past week has been busy preparing for outreach. I am excited and nervous and anxious - I have such a big mix of emotions! I cannot believe we’re already leaving tomorrow, but I am so ready to see what God has for my team and I! :) Please continue to pray for my team, and the 5 other teams, as we’re on outreach for the next 6 weeks. 

I don’t think I’ll be able to post anything while I’m gone, but if you would like to receive my team's updates (and the other teams) you can subscribe at the link below :)

http://blog.ywammadison.org/2013/12/27/sign-up-for-outreach-team-updates/

Outreach!

At the beginning of the new year I will be heading to Nepal and another country for outreach! (Feel free to message me or text me to find out the second country! :) ) I am so excited for the things God has in store! Our team has so many ministry opportunities in our countries! A few include throwing "spoil-the-kid parties" for street kids and orphans; teaching skills, such as knitting and English, to at risk women; spreading awareness of human trafficking in hill tribes; and teaching in churches and home fellowships. I cannot wait to see all the things God is going to do!

Earlier last week our team went on a retreat to get to know each other better and to prepare for our trip. I love my team! It is so cool to already see how God has handpicked each of us, and I am excited to continue to see His purposes for us.

Please keep our team in prayer as we continue to prepare for our trip. Please pray for financial provision, for visas to be approved, for protection, and for the trip itself.

Thank you so much for sharing in this adventure with me!

Road Trips and Going Deeper

The past month and a half have been so busy, but so, so amazing!

A few weeks ago we took a two week road trip down to Missouri and Arkansas. We spent the first week at the GO Conference in Missouri. At the conference we learned a lot about missions. One of the speakers talked about missions in cities. He suggested that God is bringing the diversity that is in cities today to fulfill His plan of every nation hearing the gospel. This perspective was new to me and so inspiring! 

We spent the second week of our trip at the Ozark YWAM base in Arkansas. We spent three days getting search and rescue certified. We had to go to a class and take an exam and then we got to do a mock search and rescue. I am so thankful I had this opportunity and for the way it has equipped me. For class that week, we learned about spiritual warfare. The speaker shared a powerful truth with us: We don’t just fight for victory, we fight from victory. Living life and facing difficulties from this stance is life changing. My favorite part of our time in Arkansas, though, was our day off which we spent hiking in the Ozark Mountains. We started by a lake, hiked a couple miles, stopped and had lunch beside a beautiful waterfall, continued our 6 mile hike up steep, steep hills, and ended up at a lookout that overlooked the forest. God showed our team a lot about endurance during that hike. For me, I realized how that hike is much like life. There will be normal times, beautiful times, and very challenging times, but in the end, if you endure through all those times of life, God will give you moments that take your breath away. 

After our road trip we jumped right back into our “normal” life here in Madison. These past few weeks have been exhausting! We have learned so much and God has done more in my life than I can even begin to describe. In class we have learned about the Holy Spirit (if Jesus, who was fully man, yet God, had to be filled, led, and empowered by the Spirit, why should we think we don’t need to do the same?); roots (our family plays a big role in how we view God, Jesus, and the Holy Spirit; unforgiveness and bitterness keep us in bondage and gives the enemy a foothold; and bringing darkness to light brings so much freedom); and destiny (the purpose, plan, and call of God on our lives, and the importance of our heart in everything we do). At the end of each of these teachings we spent hours in prayer as a school. God really moved in all of our lives every time. We have been broken, encouraged, convicted, and inspired. I am so thankful for this family and these ways we get to experience God together. Personally, God has shown me that His main purpose for my life is for me to have a relationship with Him. He has taught me that I need to trust Him with every part of my life. He has reminded me that I cannot serve two masters−that I need to live in fear of Him, not in fear of man. These are things that I have always known, but God is showing me what these things look like in a more full way. These are hard and scary things to do, but I am excited to see where God is going to lead and what He is going to do as I go deeper in my relationship with Him.

If you would like to pray for us, please pray for us to be able to focus and get everything out of our classes that God has for us, especially since a lot of us are so exhausted; pray for health; and pray for safe travels over Thanksgiving break. 

Thank you (: 

 

Life in Wisconsin

       

      

       I can’t believe that it has already been 3 weeks since I left California and moved here to Wisconsin! It has been so fun adjusting to this life that I get to live for the next three months. My new home is in the country, miles away from the city, and surrounded by cornfields. I live with (and do pretty much everything with) 45 other people who are all passionate about children and human trafficking. Our typical day consists of quiet time, worship, class, community responsibilities, workouts, and many laughs and games and heart-to-heart conversations. Living in such a big community gets a little crazy at times, but I love it! 

       God has already moved in some big ways in my life and in the lives of the other students. Each week in class we are taught by a different speaker about a different topic. So far we have learned about hearing the voice of God, identity and destiny, worldview, and clean conscience. We have been challenged to step out of our comfort zones and connect with God in new ways. We have had some very deep and intimate times with God, both as a group and individually. I am so thankful for this new family that I get to do life with.   

       Personally, there were some things that I was really struggling with as I came here, and though I am still wrestling with some of those things, God has eased my mind and I can feel Him doing some big things in my heart. He has definitely made it clear to me that He has me here at YWAM, during this not-so-easy season of life, for a reason. I have been shown how great God’s righteousness is−how sometimes He breaks us, but only for the intent of us turning to Him−and how His love is unrelenting.

       One of my favorite parts of YWAM so far was our “survivor” camping trip last week. The goal of the trip was for us to get a glimpse of some of the injustices people face around the world. Even though our trip was cut short because of some rain and snow, I learned so much! For me the best part of the trip was when my 12 teammates and I were huddled under the shelter we made with tarps, eating our beans and rice, as the rain pounded down. We were cold and wet and covered in bug-bites. As we sat there and joked around about how our night was going to go, God reminded me of the purpose of the trip. It broke my heart to think that some people live under those conditions daily, and that those conditions were even better than what some people have ever known!

       

       I am excited for the next 6 months and to see everything that God is going to do! Please be praying for the DTS−for our hearts to continue to be open to all that God has for each of us, for protection over our hearts as we seek God in such big ways, and for guidance in our outreach choices.