well, I leave for Jakarta and Nepal in less than two days and I'm filled with this overwhelming desire to squeeze everything I can out of every minute that I have there. It is going to be unbearably hot and humid and rainy, not to mention the fact that we have to wear long sleeves and pants to protect us from mosquitoes. I know the tendency will be to give in to my emotions regarding the circumstances, but I just don't want to. God has promised so much if we will just press in, push through. I want to squeeze everything that He has for me out of this time.
I was just thinking the other day about what amazing friends I have. I have friends that are changing the world because they choose to go out of their comfort zone and stay there for the sake of others. Love motivates people to do crazy things. I have a friend who is romping through the most dangerous parts of Africa right now to bring tangible, practical aid to people who literally have no hope. He spent his Christmas eve night riding in an open air truck through Rwanda, picking up a pregnant woman in labor and rushing her to the hospital. How crazy is that? It's not comfortable, for sure, but it brings more joy than I'm sure he could ever imagine sitting at home watching TV. My friend Joey spent his entire summer in Uganda fighting for the rights of the forgotten. Loving people deeply, experiencing something completely outside of himself. My friend Chelsea spent a few weeks in Zambia this summer loving the ultimate of the unloved. Children who never had a childhood, AIDS orphans, rape victims. I love that I serve a God who is infinitely more broken-hearted about these people than we ever will be. I love that He entrusts us with the task of reconciliation. My friend, Zach will spend the next six years serving in China. Building up the church there, and telling people for the first time, "You're not a hopeless case. There's a God who loves you deeply, He wants to heal your wounds and give you a life that you couldn't imagine even in your wildest dreams." That's amazing. I'm realizing more and more the heart of God for this broken world. I'm realizing more and more the desperateness of the situation. The things that I worry about, my momentary concerns are secondary. God is looking for people who will say, "Yes I've been hurt, yes, it sucked, but God has healed me, I'm going to get over it. I'm not going to let my past dictate my future. I choose to see the rest of the world around me and I choose to do something about it."
So as I get ready to leave for outreach, I'm preparing myself mentally to push through despite all odds. The more uncomfortable, the better. When I'm trekking through the Himalayas and I don't think I can make another step, I will choose the see the faces of the people in the next village, and I will keep moving. I do not want to come back the same. I want to rock these cities, these villages, with the authority and the victory that Christ won for me when he died on the cross. The blind will see, the deaf will hear, and people will be REDEEMED, reconciled, their lives reversed.
Friday, December 28, 2007
Saturday, December 22, 2007
recap 2007
sorry guys for the absence of new updates. I'm not sure if it's even possible to convey the busyness of life here on base. but, all that aside, I thought I'd give a quick recap of 2007. it has been pretty monumental.
2007 did not start off well. I was completely lost in every aspect of the word. I had no direction, I was spiritually hungry, and I was totally disconnected from God, even to the point of wondering if He existed. I couldn't understand why none of my plans for myself were working out. eventually I had an emotional melt-down. even as I was bawling my eyes out, I was journaling my thoughts on my life. they were not nice ones. I was angry with God because I felt deserted and I couldn't hear Him. the next morning I emailed a close friend of mine and attached the whole journal entry to see what he thought about my situation. He wrote me back and said he has prayed about my email and got a specific word from the Lord for me. basically God was telling me, "the reason none of your plans are working out, the reason you can't hear me, the reason you have no direction is because I love you too much to let you settle for a life that you're not called to. you were made for missions. you were made to go to the nations."
fast-forward three months and I am applying for the DTS here in Perth. there is no way to describe the feeling of being in the center of God's will. it's like a huge weight has been lifted off my back. I can move forward. I have no idea what the next step is, but the doors are open and God will tell me where to move.
here's a revelation I got earlier this week: basically, it's really easy to stay inside your own little bubble of "me". constantly worrying about the things you need to get done, the things you need to change in your life, etc. And not all of this stuff is necessarily bad, but I was challenged to look at the bigger picture. I feel like I am a character in some grand story. and my adventure is that for the rest of my life I get to plumb the depths of a limitless God. He is mysterious and HUGE and I will never know all of Him, but I get the spend the rest of my life, in every experience, getting to know a little more of His character. kinda brings you out of yourself for a little bit. The God that made the stars and the universe and Mount Everest and humpback whales, I know Him! it's just bizarre.
anyways...I have no idea what the next step for me is. but I am seriously looking forward to 2008. I will start off the year by spending 3 months in Indonesia and Nepal, trekking through the Himalaya's with a Sherpa, to tiny villages. what more could you ask for?
2007 did not start off well. I was completely lost in every aspect of the word. I had no direction, I was spiritually hungry, and I was totally disconnected from God, even to the point of wondering if He existed. I couldn't understand why none of my plans for myself were working out. eventually I had an emotional melt-down. even as I was bawling my eyes out, I was journaling my thoughts on my life. they were not nice ones. I was angry with God because I felt deserted and I couldn't hear Him. the next morning I emailed a close friend of mine and attached the whole journal entry to see what he thought about my situation. He wrote me back and said he has prayed about my email and got a specific word from the Lord for me. basically God was telling me, "the reason none of your plans are working out, the reason you can't hear me, the reason you have no direction is because I love you too much to let you settle for a life that you're not called to. you were made for missions. you were made to go to the nations."
fast-forward three months and I am applying for the DTS here in Perth. there is no way to describe the feeling of being in the center of God's will. it's like a huge weight has been lifted off my back. I can move forward. I have no idea what the next step is, but the doors are open and God will tell me where to move.
here's a revelation I got earlier this week: basically, it's really easy to stay inside your own little bubble of "me". constantly worrying about the things you need to get done, the things you need to change in your life, etc. And not all of this stuff is necessarily bad, but I was challenged to look at the bigger picture. I feel like I am a character in some grand story. and my adventure is that for the rest of my life I get to plumb the depths of a limitless God. He is mysterious and HUGE and I will never know all of Him, but I get the spend the rest of my life, in every experience, getting to know a little more of His character. kinda brings you out of yourself for a little bit. The God that made the stars and the universe and Mount Everest and humpback whales, I know Him! it's just bizarre.
anyways...I have no idea what the next step for me is. but I am seriously looking forward to 2008. I will start off the year by spending 3 months in Indonesia and Nepal, trekking through the Himalaya's with a Sherpa, to tiny villages. what more could you ask for?
Tuesday, December 11, 2007
it's time to fight!!
Hello Everyone!
I am writing to give a quick update on everything related to the outreach trip I will be leaving for in three weeks:
As most of you know, I was still in need of break-through in the area of finances. Specifically, I was lacking about $2600. The Lord has really showed up in the last few weeks and I got down to about $1500 that I still needed. Today, we had a meeting as a school and were given some news that was a little discouraging. Turns out, it is easier to get into Afghanistan than into the Central African Republic (where my team is heading). The good news is, we have secured tickets that will fly us into Chad, where we will disembark and head for the CAR by van. The bad news is, the tickets were extremely expensive. Our flight actually leaves from Jakarta, Indonesia (where we will be for the first month of outreach) and flies all the way to Paris (only slightly out of the way...haha), and then finally to Chad. Because of the price increase, I am back up to lacking about $2200. When our leaders gave us the news, they said they wanted to be wise and sensitive to the Lord possibly shutting the door on our trip to the CAR, but they wanted to pray about it with us. We went into a time of fervant prayer to hear whether or not we were to procede on with the orginal plan. All of us heard very clearly from the Lord, that the CAR is still our inheritance, and if we want it, we are going to have to fight for it. Satan does not want us to go. There has never been a YWAM team to go there besides the two YWAM contacts who are there now. This is a pioneering work in an area that Satan has made his home in. Our team is going to break down any walls it takes to get there. Whether that be finances, plane tickets, visas, etc.
The circumstances seem to be piling up against our team, in that we need to have all our money in by the end of this week. But the Bible says,
"But we have this treasure in jars of clay to show that this all-surpassing power is from God and not from us. We are hard pressed on every side, but not crushed; perplexed, but not in despair; persecuted, but not abandoned; struck down, but not destroyed." 2 Corinthians 4:7-9
The cool thing is, as soon as we found out the news, I was actually more encouraged than before. The situation is so absurd and the odds are so against us, that it is going to HAVE to be the Lord who moves. Would you join with me in prayer or even fasting, if the Lord leads, to see all the walls barring us from the CAR crumbled to the ground? I need YOU, my family to stand with me and fight for those who are waiting, who are inwardly groaning to hear the Good News of redemption for the first time. Would you also pray about giving financially to see my need met by the end of the week? Again, I cannot do it without you, my family, my brothers and sisters. I know a lot of you have already given, which I am eternally greatful for, but if what I am writing stirs your heart again, seek God out and ask Him if He wants you to invest again.
It's going to happen guys! The Lord has spoken, He has promised an inheritance and I am going fight until I get there.
P.S. if you DO feel lead to give financially, the easiest and fastest way is to do it is online. go to:
https://www.ywamperth.org.au/007/payonline.asp
-in the "payment type" box, click "other"
-put my name in the "recipient" box
-and put "October DTS" in the school/ministry box
this will go straight into my account
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