Greetings earthlings!
Here I am--laying on the floor in my loft overlooking the pacific ocean. (well, I can't see the ocean from here just thought it'd sound cool.) Anyways, I just finished my last bit of packing! So I'm enjoying a slice of pizza and a root beer. Trying to savor the taste as long as I can! Pretty soon it'll be rice going to my hips and curry to who knows elsewhere. All I know is in less than 31 hours I'll be on a plane to the beginning of a life changing experience. So many people have been asking me questions--so here are some answers!
How am I feeling? A cluster of excitement, butterflies, thrills, and nerves all as elephants tramping in the pit of my stomach.
Am I ready? A question to your question--can anyone really be 100% "ready" to live in a foreign country for 3 months time? All I know is that God will give us the strength to do whatever He's asked us to do if we are willing to remain obedient to Him.
What am I bringing? Medications, vitamins, sanitizing wipes, and most important of all--beef jerky.
What will we be doing in India? The first two weeks we will be running a children's VBS in Mumbai. From morning to lunch we will teach classes, then we have work duty where we will get dirty and clean stuff, then from 4-8pm we will have "outreach" where we will lead street ministries, preach in churches, and more! Then finally at the end of each day my team and I will debrief and prayer/testimony time. Our schedules are likely to change but that's just an idea of what it will be like for the first couple weeks at least.
Will I be able to keep in contact with y'all? I am hoping to catch some Internet access on my phone once every week or two so I can blog or post photos of what God's doing.
What am I doing after outreach? Idk! Who knows where God will send me next. Whether it be staffing a DTS school here in Hawaii, moving to the rivers of the amazon, doing a medical DTS in London, or move back home. There are endless possibilies and open doors. Just praying God closes the ones that are not for me. Only God knows right now! I asked Him to reveal to me what to do, but He said to just finish this first, then He'll tell me what's next when I need to know. I trust Him, no worries about the future. 😌👍
How can y'all help me? PRAYER. Pray over my team's health. Pray over our safety and traveling mercies. Pray over our friendships. Pray over the people of India that we will be in contact with. Pray that God will give us mercy and favor to the ministries and places we go. Pray for us to have supernatural energy. Pray that we will cope with the culture shock. Pray for peace, opportunities, and personally pray against the spirit of fear to be broken off of me. I want to be BOLD to be obedient. Thank you! 🙏❤
Phew- that was a mouthful. I am feeling quite emotionally and physically drained. We have been busier than ever these past couple weeks. Yet at the same time I'm STOKED. I don't even know what else to say-- the next time I post it'll be from India! I love y'all and thanks for all the prayers and support.
You're so special and appreciated.
Blessings,
Xoxo
Monday, March 26, 2012
Tuesday, March 6, 2012
Tik Tok Tik Tok
This week so far has been bomb! Funny-- it's only Tuesday. Our speaker, Chad Lamen from Bethel church has been lighting a fire and excitement in all of us. My health this week has been under the weather a bit, but I'm dragging myself literally out of bed (picture that) to hear this man of God impart his stories, experiences, and faith in me. Some of the stuff he's been saying is just too good for me not to share, so I'll point out some of the main things I've gotten between yesterday and today..
ONE PERSON in agreement with God is enough to change a NATION.
Fear can paralyze you and keep you from walking into your
destiny. Fear will always knock on the door, but it's up
to you whether or not to ANSWER the door.
WHAT you FOCUS ON is what you GET.
"My desire to see His face out data my desire to live."
--> God wants to reveal Himself to you far greater than you
desire to see Him. And it's in the outpouring that His face is REVEALED.
Un-Forgiveness/Offense
keeps us from
walking in our destiny.
What people do on the outside reveals their core values.
Man's perspective on success is results.
But when you TAKE RISKS
that is Heavens idea of SUCCESS.
It's when we STEP OUT of the boat
and TAKE RISKS
that we learn about the SUPERNATURAL
The more you GIVE
the more you NEED to receive
that is why you have to be HUNGRY
God wants to cultivate YOUR OWN WELL
where you can DRINK and never be THIRSTY
We first need to encounter God
The greatest message you will ever preach
is
YOUR OWN LIFE.
What you EXPECT from Jesus
is what you get.
Going after God--
we cannot care what PEOPLE THINK
about us
A lot of times God will give us
the OPPORTUNITY for
BREAKTHROUGH when it's most INCONVENIENT
to see where our priorities lie
in fear of man OR breakthrough
You don't have more authority by the
VOLUME OF YOUR VOICE
but because JESUS
lives inside of you
We have to get to the place where
we come to the END of OURSELVES
"Don't focus on yourself
or your insecurities
or the things you can and cannot do
Focus on ME." -God
Mindset change: What if people don't get
healed when I pray for them??
No. What if they DO get healed!
We have been preparing ourselves for outreach by taking a basic Healthcare class. As you know before we were doing the Justice Water course, so we have now finished that one a few weeks ago and began this Healthcare one. We have this class every week until we leave on March 28th. We've been learning all of the above about healthcare so we can help not only to spiritually heal people, but physically as well. Everything from education about clean water, dehydration and washing hands, to infections, diseases and sicknesses. All of the above! It's getting me excited to leave, I can't wait! The anticipation is growing and the elephants in my stomach are racing to see what God is going to do and how He will move through our team. I know God will use all 7 of us in divine ways, and each person on my team brings something different and unique to the group.
PS- I love the Holy Spirit. He is my bestfriend.
I have posted below some pictures from this past week. Enjoy!
So many good stories and revelations being imparted.
Haha practice dummy, don't choke Cat! ;)
Learning is fun. Especially since we will be doing all of this on the mission field.
Saving a life!
Took a while for the light to go from red to green (which means the person is now breathing). Looks like I need to hit the gym in these next few weeks;).
The clock is ticking!!!
Keep my team in your prayers! Also my health please- I want to be awake and alert these last few weeks I have to seek and prepare. Please pray that I stay focused and spend extra quiet time with Him. I'm afraid our schedule gets so busy that I forget or just don't feel like doing that--which I believe is most important. We have no more free weekends so our schedules are piling up with even more work and classes! One more thing--please pray we have no more complications getting our Visas! We have been having lots of trouble with the applications and are praying we get them back soon and APPROVED. We want to be sure we actually make it to India.;)
Love and miss y'all! Blessings.
-Xxx
Thursday, March 1, 2012
WOAH JOY WOAH!
I am sitting at the Banyan Tree cafe in the dusk of the night listening to live worship from passionate Ywamers. What more could I ask for? But to be surrounded by Holy Ghost fire seeking young adults. I honestly don't even know where to begin on catching y'all up, considering it's been a while since I've posted, my apologies.
Basically ever since the pure heart week I told y'all about, I'd been struggling with temptations even stronger than before I had given them to God. It was like a attack of the enemy as soon as he saw I was putting up a fight. I was constantly tired, weary, groggy, struggling with my thoughts and desires for past behaviors and habits.
Specifically--last Friday I was being tempted big time with these things. I was just weighed down, dry, and hopeless. All day was a struggle to conquer my flesh and by come the night I was ready to just give in when the Lord reminded me of a worship night that was happening on campus. I felt I needed to go, though that was the last place I wanted to be after feeling just gross.
It came 8:30pm when the worship time began, I closed my eyes and God spoke to me to just give a little and He would take it and run. So I entered into worship and prayer and before I know it it's 2am and I'm on my face experiencing the Holy Spirit in such a tangible way.
I went to the worship nights Saturday and Sunday following this night and God began to use me to pray for others as well. It felt so good and I could feel that fire begin to spark again!
Monday, I had a great day. Even though I got no sleep over the weekend from work and staying up in the night worshiping, I was more than energized. The Lord is awesome.
Now here's where things get WILD--Tuesday, yesterday. Specifically last night in the prayer room. I wish I knew the words to describe to you what took place in those 3 hours of worship...I'll try my best.
It all started with us making a human "Joy Tunnel". You know- where people run through it and the Joy of the Lord knocks them out and everyone gets drunk in the spirit, no big deal, right? No. It was freaking crazy. I was at the beginning of the tunnel praying/touching people who went through. The Holy Spirit came over me and as soon as I would lay my hand on people, or even motion toward them they would fall over in laughter and deep joy. Some would go into what looked like a seizure...rolling around, screaming, laughing, kicking, falling over, Holy Spirit DRUNK. He kept filling me the rest of the night. It was like God and I partnered up. He would tell me exactly who to go pray for or touch and HE would work His magic.
It was hilarious! God told me to touch one of my friends, and when I did--she fell over in laughter. Then He told me to help her back up and touch her stomach again. Every time I did this she would fall over again and again and again. He did this to several people with me. God has a sense of humor!
People have prophesied JOY over me....but I'll be honest...I wasn't expecting this! I was thinking He would use me to simply make a person smile or laugh. But no there's so much more! Like literally people experiencing the Joy of the Lord DEEP in the pits of their stomaches and hearts that over takes their beings and overwhelms their souls. WOAH! *Heidi Baker head-whip and voice*.
God spoke to me while all this was breaking out. The first thing I kept hearing over and over in my head was "Finally!". In a relieved breathy happy voice. God was saying He was so happy He could finally use me in the way He'd been waiting to, there was such a sense of relief. Also, He said that if I hadn't of listened to Him when He told me to wear leggings under my shorts that night He couldn't have used me to the fullest because the lack of complete modesty would have been a barrier. Especially since I was all over the place, holding people up, and falling over myself. He also said "This is just practice. A glimpse of what I have for you coming. This is how I want to use you". God was also telling me the whole time not to be afraid. Just go to the people He says to go to, do what He says, and HE will do the rest. And boy did He! Who knew God could use someone like me? I didn't....Until now!
It's funny how God will meet us where we're at. For me--in a state of hopelessness, confusion, temptation, and weariness. What a magnificent, powerful, mighty, victorious, loving, joyful God we serve. I never want the spirit to leave me after I've experience Him in this deep and passionate way. My heart is whole and my mind is set on the things of Christ. I will continue to face temptation because by choosing the Lord I have immediately made myself an enemy of Satan. As long as I stay rightly related to God and others I will subdue evil. "The birds will fly over your head--but don't let them make a nest."
Do you think I'm crazy yet?! If so--GOOD. Because I think I might be just that.
Goodnight all.
Xoxo †
Basically ever since the pure heart week I told y'all about, I'd been struggling with temptations even stronger than before I had given them to God. It was like a attack of the enemy as soon as he saw I was putting up a fight. I was constantly tired, weary, groggy, struggling with my thoughts and desires for past behaviors and habits.
Specifically--last Friday I was being tempted big time with these things. I was just weighed down, dry, and hopeless. All day was a struggle to conquer my flesh and by come the night I was ready to just give in when the Lord reminded me of a worship night that was happening on campus. I felt I needed to go, though that was the last place I wanted to be after feeling just gross.
It came 8:30pm when the worship time began, I closed my eyes and God spoke to me to just give a little and He would take it and run. So I entered into worship and prayer and before I know it it's 2am and I'm on my face experiencing the Holy Spirit in such a tangible way.
I went to the worship nights Saturday and Sunday following this night and God began to use me to pray for others as well. It felt so good and I could feel that fire begin to spark again!
Monday, I had a great day. Even though I got no sleep over the weekend from work and staying up in the night worshiping, I was more than energized. The Lord is awesome.
Now here's where things get WILD--Tuesday, yesterday. Specifically last night in the prayer room. I wish I knew the words to describe to you what took place in those 3 hours of worship...I'll try my best.
It all started with us making a human "Joy Tunnel". You know- where people run through it and the Joy of the Lord knocks them out and everyone gets drunk in the spirit, no big deal, right? No. It was freaking crazy. I was at the beginning of the tunnel praying/touching people who went through. The Holy Spirit came over me and as soon as I would lay my hand on people, or even motion toward them they would fall over in laughter and deep joy. Some would go into what looked like a seizure...rolling around, screaming, laughing, kicking, falling over, Holy Spirit DRUNK. He kept filling me the rest of the night. It was like God and I partnered up. He would tell me exactly who to go pray for or touch and HE would work His magic.
It was hilarious! God told me to touch one of my friends, and when I did--she fell over in laughter. Then He told me to help her back up and touch her stomach again. Every time I did this she would fall over again and again and again. He did this to several people with me. God has a sense of humor!
People have prophesied JOY over me....but I'll be honest...I wasn't expecting this! I was thinking He would use me to simply make a person smile or laugh. But no there's so much more! Like literally people experiencing the Joy of the Lord DEEP in the pits of their stomaches and hearts that over takes their beings and overwhelms their souls. WOAH! *Heidi Baker head-whip and voice*.
God spoke to me while all this was breaking out. The first thing I kept hearing over and over in my head was "Finally!". In a relieved breathy happy voice. God was saying He was so happy He could finally use me in the way He'd been waiting to, there was such a sense of relief. Also, He said that if I hadn't of listened to Him when He told me to wear leggings under my shorts that night He couldn't have used me to the fullest because the lack of complete modesty would have been a barrier. Especially since I was all over the place, holding people up, and falling over myself. He also said "This is just practice. A glimpse of what I have for you coming. This is how I want to use you". God was also telling me the whole time not to be afraid. Just go to the people He says to go to, do what He says, and HE will do the rest. And boy did He! Who knew God could use someone like me? I didn't....Until now!
It's funny how God will meet us where we're at. For me--in a state of hopelessness, confusion, temptation, and weariness. What a magnificent, powerful, mighty, victorious, loving, joyful God we serve. I never want the spirit to leave me after I've experience Him in this deep and passionate way. My heart is whole and my mind is set on the things of Christ. I will continue to face temptation because by choosing the Lord I have immediately made myself an enemy of Satan. As long as I stay rightly related to God and others I will subdue evil. "The birds will fly over your head--but don't let them make a nest."
Do you think I'm crazy yet?! If so--GOOD. Because I think I might be just that.
Goodnight all.
Xoxo †
Wednesday, February 8, 2012
Like a Mushroom
I wasn't going to share this for the sake of it being a "private thing God is doing in my life"... but what is a testimony if it is not shared for others to experience the healing truth as well?
This week we are going through sessions called Pure heart week.. in my words, a no makeup spiritually emotional physically draining tear fest surgery of the heart. It has been......excruciatingly, painfully, and wonderfully freeing. We have been addressing areas in our lives that are and have been in the secret. Those private shameful sins. Also, we have been bringing up un-healed hurts from the past. One's we didn't even know were there God has been revealing. Regrets, fears, abuse, everything...
I've learned that hiddenness is like mushrooms growing in the dark...it will just keep growing unless revealed to the light.
I'm learning that when these painful memories and hurts journey out of us, we feel it because we've ignored it for so long.
Crying over it is good... it brings healing, and let's it out!
Obvious statement: We ALL have sinned.
The definition of sin is to miss the mark. i.e.: like in a bulls eye playing darts.
But the good thing is this: in 1 John 1:7 it says If we claim that we experience a shared life with him and continue to stumble around in the dark, we're obviously lying through our teeth—we're not living what we claim. But if we walk in the light, God himself being the light, we also experience a shared life with one another, as the sacrificed blood of Jesus, God's Son, purges all our sin. (The Message Version)
MORE GOOD THINGS: When we deal with hurt and pain in our lives, we will find greater strength to resist the enemy in those areas that owned us before.
God stops and looks at those with a broken heart..
God spoke to me--
He said He was always there. He was always with me. Even when cruel, painful, and wicked things happened to me. Things I couldn't have helped and things I had pretended was but a dream, a nightmare of one. He says He felt my sorrow, my burdens, my fears, my pain, and my confusion. He was with me in my closet sobbing. On my pillow weeping, crying out. He knew my loneliness and depression. He gave me freedom today. HOW? Because I spoke them out. I acknowledged that I have been hurt, and I let myself feel the hurt. To do this I had to become transparent. This was a painful process of accepting my past and letting myself become un-numb to my feelings. I confessed not only my sins but my hidden hurts to my school leader. She prayed for me, washed my hands and face, and anointed me with oil. I felt his presence immensely washing me clean, both heart and mind.
The outcome? Freedom.
These things are not holding me back. These experiences don't define me. I am not the names I have allowed the enemy to define me as over the past 11 years.
I am clean. I am pure. I am sanctified. I am beautiful. I am a princess. I am loved. I am wanted. I have a purpose. I have a testimony...and I won't be ashamed to claim it.
I am sitting in the prayer room listening to Loft Sessions by Bethel, and I couldn't be more content. It is now 11pm and I came in here over 2 hours ago. Feels like 10 minutes ago. God has given me such pure joy! It must have come with the freedom.
I encourage you...Please.. if there are things you have kept hidden in the dark, let them out. If you don't, they will just build up over time (take it from someone who knows) and eat you away on the inside. But once exposed in the light, they will die out. Confide in someone you trust, or even your parents. I called both my parents today and shared everything with them and I feel so light and free having those things off my chest and in the open. It brought heeling and restoration.
WOAH! God is good. I just want to get up and dance like a child... Maybe I will do just that!
-xxx, goodnight.
Monday, January 23, 2012
Loving God with all our strength
Wow! I am feeling an overdose of exhaust from today. Both physically and spiritually, but in a good way! This week we have combined classes with the fire and fragrance DTS in the ohana court. There will be a few different speakers, today we had Darlene Cunningham. And one day this week we will have HEIDI BAKER! Yes, the Heidi Baker. I'm stoked.
Here's a few pics to describe my day in a nutshell! Listened to the word, had life changing worship, made water filters under the boiling sun, more worship, and now homework! Weee what a amazing day. Tonight we had worship in the prayer room and God showed himself in a tangible way. I could feel his presence thick in the room. We couldn't help but dance and sing praises at the top of our lungs. I felt the joy joy joy deep down! What an amazing experience, and it's only Monday! Woo this week is going to be a good one.
Until next time-- XOXO
Here's a few pics to describe my day in a nutshell! Listened to the word, had life changing worship, made water filters under the boiling sun, more worship, and now homework! Weee what a amazing day. Tonight we had worship in the prayer room and God showed himself in a tangible way. I could feel his presence thick in the room. We couldn't help but dance and sing praises at the top of our lungs. I felt the joy joy joy deep down! What an amazing experience, and it's only Monday! Woo this week is going to be a good one.
Until next time-- XOXO
We might have finished last, but we finished strongest!! Definitely learned endurance with making these pipes today. We wanted to give up so bad, but we finished to the end!
Working hard pumping hard.
Monday, January 16, 2012
Let's get practical
This afternoon was our first session of justice water classes. Every week we will be learning how to build water wells and filter dirty water to be clean for drinking. This is a practical thing that we need to know so when we disperse into clean water deprived parts of the world we can teach the villages how to filter their dirty water to be sanitary for drinking. It's so simple, we used things like a pipe, sand, rocks, and a jug. More people are dying from contaminated water than in war. We learned the science of filtering water and the simplicity of how to build these filters. It felt so nice to lean something so simple yet genius that will save villages all over! Just a few simple steps and we can have clean water for these people. Next week we will get more into the building and practicing making these filters. So excited there's actually something practical I can do to help save lives!!
Saturday, January 14, 2012
Growing Anticipation
TONIGHT. Tonight I had to make what seems like the most important decision of my YWAM journey. What was that decision? Where to go for outreach. For those of you who don't understand, when we students arrived here we had no clue where our mission trip options would be. They just revealed it to us tonight about an hour ago. They wrote the options on a large paper and revealed to us the options. When they did so, we were not aloud to talk to each other. They gave us 10 minutes to go pray and write down the location God tells each of us individually where to go. I wrote mine down immediately, hoping it was God giving me the unction. I will not tell y'all till Monday night what I wrote down, because nothing is set in stone till then.
Maybe keep me in your prayers this weekend... and if God speaks anything to you please feel free to share. I am confident in the place I chose, and know that wherever God sends me it will be life changing. I'm so excited to find out which of my friends will be in my team.. I won't know till Monday night for sure who all will be going to the same place as me! It's a growing anticipation for this weekend. I'm not sure I will get much sleep tonight. But Lord know I need it because we have work duty at 6am tomorrow morning! We'll have to work in the kitchen for 5 hours on Saturday and 5 on Sunday. But other than that, my weekend will be mostly full catching up on homework, mandatory journal entrees, and mandatory reading assignments. I say mandatory, but I'm hoping to enjoy these books and writing reports on them.
PHEW! That was a lot to get off my shoulders. Time for some relaxation. I think Homework and any kind of THINKING can wait till tomorrow, haha.
Maybe keep me in your prayers this weekend... and if God speaks anything to you please feel free to share. I am confident in the place I chose, and know that wherever God sends me it will be life changing. I'm so excited to find out which of my friends will be in my team.. I won't know till Monday night for sure who all will be going to the same place as me! It's a growing anticipation for this weekend. I'm not sure I will get much sleep tonight. But Lord know I need it because we have work duty at 6am tomorrow morning! We'll have to work in the kitchen for 5 hours on Saturday and 5 on Sunday. But other than that, my weekend will be mostly full catching up on homework, mandatory journal entrees, and mandatory reading assignments. I say mandatory, but I'm hoping to enjoy these books and writing reports on them.
PHEW! That was a lot to get off my shoulders. Time for some relaxation. I think Homework and any kind of THINKING can wait till tomorrow, haha.
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Today: Restoring.
How God has moved today: this morning we all brought things to class that God is moving in our hearts to burn or throw away. I wrote names of people I was choosing to forgive and areas of sin in my life I needed to get rid of on a small piece of paper. We all wrote "forgiven" across the front and threw them in the fire. Afterwards we took communion and invited the Holy Spirit to move. It was a heavy class, but a good heavy. A relieving heavy. It hurt and most of us were brought to tears trying to let these soul ties go, but God really moved in our hearts.
A little of my day: Been struggling with sinuses this week so I finally went to the store and got some goods!! Definitely going to be feeling better now. :)
I went on a walk tonight and finally found the beasts that have been baa'ing outside the window....goats! Haha too funny and lots of them.
And right now as I blog I am sitting in a sermon listening to Loren Cunningham tell us stories and preach. He is so full of wisdom, and a very good story teller.
One word to describe today: restoring
A little of my day: Been struggling with sinuses this week so I finally went to the store and got some goods!! Definitely going to be feeling better now. :)
I went on a walk tonight and finally found the beasts that have been baa'ing outside the window....goats! Haha too funny and lots of them.
And right now as I blog I am sitting in a sermon listening to Loren Cunningham tell us stories and preach. He is so full of wisdom, and a very good story teller.
One word to describe today: restoring
Sunday, January 8, 2012
FEARLESS-JOY-LOVE
So it's now Sunday night, 8:30pm and I am just going to skip the details of earlier in my day and DIVE into the prophetic words spoken over me tonight. It all started with a huge group of my friends and I going to getting frozen yogurt at coconut grove market street. After we got yogurt about 20 of us walked along the beach and found a good spot to sit and talk. I was fellowshipping with my friends teasing each other about our many accents as usual, when 2 guys (1 middle aged and 1 around my age) I have never met before walked up to me and asked if we were apart of ywam. So it struck up a conversation between the 3 of us and I soon found out they were also apart of ywam, but a different school. They were telling me about how last night their school was prophesying over each other and they asked if they could do the same for me. Of course I was happy for them to pray for me! So they began, right there aside the beach beside on-coming traffic and tourists walking about. God immediately started speaking through them. There were many visions they got of me here are the few I remember most:
1st vision: they saw me with long dreads (yes, the awesome hair style I've always said I like) and I was "whipping" them on people. It sounds funny, but they said that as I shook my hair that the love of God was splashing on people. All kinds of people. It was like a radiating joy and love spreading through my hair.
2nd vision: they saw things in my childhood and resentments and hurts that have built up over the years. Many things that I had buried away and "forgotten" about. They literally started naming them one by one and every one of them hit the bulls eye. For example, they spoke about resentment issues, self image issues, not feeling I have anything to give, and many many many other things. They said I would start seeing myself the way God does when I look in the mirror and also healing...etc. As they did I literally felt a lifting and releasings. It was relieving. Weight I didn't even know I was carrying was lifted off. I feel like I could fly! (well, you know what I mean..)
3rd Vision: they saw the word "FEARLESS" written across my forehead. Those of you who know me very well know how spot-on that word was! I have always let fear control everything I do in life, especially when it comes to spiritual things. He said he saw me walking into "scary" places of the world and spreading God's love. And that when I left those places people would ask me if I was scared because of the dangerous people I had just come from, and I would always reply with "afraid? it didn't even occur to me to be afraid." And he said that at those places I went to I was spreading God's LOVE and JOY to the people and they were receiving it.
4th vision: they saw me holding a baby. Then they saw me laying my hands on children's heads praying over them. He said God was using me to reach, love, and spread joy to children.
5th vision: they saw Jesus literally standing in front of me right there with His hands open. Jesus was wanting me to hand everything to Him. They also heard God saying how much He loves me, and how he is not ashamed of anything I've done and that everything in my life has been for a reason. They said that God was saying how when He looks at me He feels JOY. They said they heard God saying how much he "likes" me. That God likes everything about me! Everything! Even the things I feel week in, they were saying that God was telling me I am strongest in THOSE areas... Wow!
6th vision: They said they saw God giving me direction. They said that he was showing me who I am, who I truly am. And how God was showing me my path and what I'm supposed to do with my life and His plan.
There were 3 very specific words God was speaking over me through both of them and they said they saw these words written across my forehead: 1. Fearless 2. Joy 3. Love
Reminder: These guys know nothing about me!! They have never met me, they hardly know anything about my past. I'm am seriously tripping.
We all felt the spirit so strong and I couldn't help but cry. Y'all have no idea how much this meant to me tonight, it was exactly the confirmations I was needing. God was working very deep in my heart and all at once! He was bringing out EVERYTHING and it was so overwhelming and I don't even have the words to describe what I am feeling right now. To be honest, I haven't truly felt the presence of God like I did tonight in over 4 years. I am now excited to see where God is going to take me and what's going to happen next! I am in awe of His power. Trying to let it all soak in.
Goodnight friends!
1st vision: they saw me with long dreads (yes, the awesome hair style I've always said I like) and I was "whipping" them on people. It sounds funny, but they said that as I shook my hair that the love of God was splashing on people. All kinds of people. It was like a radiating joy and love spreading through my hair.
2nd vision: they saw things in my childhood and resentments and hurts that have built up over the years. Many things that I had buried away and "forgotten" about. They literally started naming them one by one and every one of them hit the bulls eye. For example, they spoke about resentment issues, self image issues, not feeling I have anything to give, and many many many other things. They said I would start seeing myself the way God does when I look in the mirror and also healing...etc. As they did I literally felt a lifting and releasings. It was relieving. Weight I didn't even know I was carrying was lifted off. I feel like I could fly! (well, you know what I mean..)
3rd Vision: they saw the word "FEARLESS" written across my forehead. Those of you who know me very well know how spot-on that word was! I have always let fear control everything I do in life, especially when it comes to spiritual things. He said he saw me walking into "scary" places of the world and spreading God's love. And that when I left those places people would ask me if I was scared because of the dangerous people I had just come from, and I would always reply with "afraid? it didn't even occur to me to be afraid." And he said that at those places I went to I was spreading God's LOVE and JOY to the people and they were receiving it.
4th vision: they saw me holding a baby. Then they saw me laying my hands on children's heads praying over them. He said God was using me to reach, love, and spread joy to children.
5th vision: they saw Jesus literally standing in front of me right there with His hands open. Jesus was wanting me to hand everything to Him. They also heard God saying how much He loves me, and how he is not ashamed of anything I've done and that everything in my life has been for a reason. They said that God was saying how when He looks at me He feels JOY. They said they heard God saying how much he "likes" me. That God likes everything about me! Everything! Even the things I feel week in, they were saying that God was telling me I am strongest in THOSE areas... Wow!
6th vision: They said they saw God giving me direction. They said that he was showing me who I am, who I truly am. And how God was showing me my path and what I'm supposed to do with my life and His plan.
There were 3 very specific words God was speaking over me through both of them and they said they saw these words written across my forehead: 1. Fearless 2. Joy 3. Love
Reminder: These guys know nothing about me!! They have never met me, they hardly know anything about my past. I'm am seriously tripping.
We all felt the spirit so strong and I couldn't help but cry. Y'all have no idea how much this meant to me tonight, it was exactly the confirmations I was needing. God was working very deep in my heart and all at once! He was bringing out EVERYTHING and it was so overwhelming and I don't even have the words to describe what I am feeling right now. To be honest, I haven't truly felt the presence of God like I did tonight in over 4 years. I am now excited to see where God is going to take me and what's going to happen next! I am in awe of His power. Trying to let it all soak in.
Goodnight friends!
...and it’s only the beginning
Friday January 6: DAY ONE
So here I am! It’s the second day and I’ve already made Godly uplifting friends to last a lifetime. Now for remembering all over 500 names! What else could I ask for than to be surrounded by people striving for the same purpose? Yesterday, (Friday January 6) we woke up around 6:30am to walk down to the an outdoor breakfast that consisted of 3 kinds of cereal, Oatmeal, Papaya, and Greek Yogurt. A nice variety. There are several different DTS schools, and I am apart of the one called Engage. I have 42 classmates that I have grown very fond of these past few days. After breakfast yesterday, we (the 42 of us) had class until lunch time. During those few hours we did brief introductions, went over island safety rules...etc. We went to lunch together, which consisted of sticky rice, some sort of chicken potluck, and PB&J for backup. It was filling, but most of all I enjoy fellowshipping with people at meal times. Looking for people I don’t know and sitting with them is so fun. Won’t take too long till I have met everyone that way! After lunch we met back in the classrooms, which is quite a walk with lots of hills from where my room is, good for the fitness, Not for the makeup or hairdo, haha. In our evening class we had some small group time and we prayed for each other, it was very bonding and it showed me that these people from all over the world are all here for the same reason. To learn about God, grow spiritually, and make a complete U-turn from dirty old habits. We’re all growing together, and cleaning up our acts together, which means lots of accountability and up-lifting! We did this until about 4:30 when we went to dinner. For dinner we had more sticky rice, chicken, and PB&J. After dinner we had the Hawaiian welcoming ceremony held in the outdoor covered arena sort of thing, where they presented all the flags of the countries represented here. You wouldn’t believe all the different cultures I am living with! There are people literally from everywhere, I love the diversity! At the ceremony, they also had hula dancers perform, and a man dancing with fire! After all the excitement of introducing us to their culture, Lauren Cunningham, the founder of YWAM got up and spoke about the founding and building of the campus and program. We ended the ceremony with heart-throbbing worship. After this, a few of my new friends (Saida, Destiny, Ben, and Ricky) and I walked to the nearest Walmart, my pepper spray in hand at all times, haha. It was about a mile up-hill, we had a good bonding time. After picking up a few necessities we walked back in the rain and stopped by the outdoor market-place on our way back to campus. We looked around and the sat by the water and listened to the waves for a moment. It was dark out, but still breath-taking. Saida is one of my 6 roommates, and we made it back to our room a little after midnight. But it felt much later keeping in mind the 5 hour time difference. Needless to say, I crashed on my pillow almost immediately. And that was the end of the first, very long yet exciting first day!!
Saturday January 7: DAY TWO
I woke up with morning around 5am due to the jet lag, so I laid in bed and rested until 7. We went to breakfast and waited in the longest line I have ever seen, luckily it moved pretty quickly. After a short breakfast my class met up and went on a scavenger hunt! We broke up into teams of 6 and were given a list of 19 pictures to take at different places in creative ways. I had a blast! My team was awesome, we had 5 girls and 1 luck guy;). So basically we had some pretty fun a goofy stuff on our list, for example-- take a picture of the whole group IN the campus fountain, a picture jumping off the pier into the water, and climbing a tree..etc. It was so fun, but very hot! I’m hoping I got a little sun on my negative vitamin-D skin. We finished our game at 12:30 and went back to our rooms for a little free time. I took a refreshing shower, although the power went out while I was in there, of course! My class met again at 4pm to go grill-out on the beach!! Thess few days have been fun and full, but I know starting Monday things will get more intense and even crazier! It’s just the beginning of a long spiritual journey that I am so blessed to be apart of. I know I am where I’m supposed to be, and God is already beginning to soften my heart towards Him and bring people in my life that are in the same season as me. I couldn’t be happier.
Why am I attending YWAM?
WHY am I attending YWAM?
I know that I am just one person… And I honestly don’t feel I have much to give. But all I do know is that I’m broken, used, confused, and very much damaged. I do know that I want to help people and I also know that I have a calling bigger than merely focusing on “me”. And I do know that joining YWAM will help me to get my focus off me and on others. I got accepted a few days ago. When I had applied they were already full for the January team, but they prayed about it and also felt I needed to be there, so by God’s grace they pulled a few strings for me!
Fun story—last week when I was packing up my dorm room at the University of Mary Hardin Baylor, I found a fortune cookie fortune behind the dresser. I thought it was weird considering I hadn’t eaten any Chinese food all semester! It read: “There is always time to find a new path in life”. This was comforting and sort of a unique conformation for me that it was okay to leave school and join YWAM. I had been a little nervous about it bearing in mind this will be my third year in a row to switch colleges, and thought maybe I should just settle down. But this cookie made things a lot better. ;-)
What’s NEXT?
I leave for the main training base in Kona, Hawaii January 5th! I will be there for three months working on my degree as well as training for the mission field. I took a sneak peak at the schedule, and they are keeping us very busy! Breakfast in the early morning, bible studies, small groups, numerous classes, and in the afternoon we will do some sort mission work on the island. After the three months, my team and I will take a three-month missions trip to a foreign country and do ministry work. I will keep you guys posted on all that is happening and where I am. I want all my friends and family to be involved in what God is doing in my life and those around me.
How can YOU help?
Your PRAYERS are most appreciated. Lord knows I will need them. Being overseas for such a long time away from my family and comfort zone, your prayers and support will be most appreciated. I will post my exact address before I leave so if you’d like to help out in any way you feel led and send me letters I would love to hear from you! I enjoy hearing from my family and friends and want more than anything to stay in contact.
Like I said, I will keep you all posted on where I am and what’s happening as often as possible!
“I have but one candle of life to burn, and I would rather burn it out in a land filled with darkness than in a land flooded with light.” --John Keith Falconer
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