Thailand Outreach

Pray for Thailand!

Praise the Lord, he provided for all our funding this week and we leave for Thailand in 4 days!  Please pray for us and for the women and children we will be ministering to there.

Thailand Here I Come!

I just got back last weekend from camping 2 weeks in a place called Hidden Valley (no they don't make ranch dressing there, actually ranch dressing is uncommon in Australia) with my DTS students. Wow, it was such an exhilerating experience! There is something about Hidden Valley that it seems easier to meet with God, probably because of the beautiful nature scenery and getting away from all technology. The first week of lectures for the students was on Lordship, laying things down at the foot of Christ and in turn picking up things that he has called you to and trusting him completely. It was an extremely intense and amazing week with God that resulted in 15 students getting baptized in a swimming hole down the road. The second week we were in Hidden valley, we learned about godly relationships for part of the week, and the staff got the opportunity to share with the students as well. I shared different stories and testimonies from my life and what God has been teaching me for a little over an hour. It went really well and I am excited to continue growing in my public speaking skills.
This past week, I have been preparing to take my team that I am co-leading with my friend Steph to Thailand. We will be there for about 6 and 1/2 weeks, 2 weeks will be spent at a place called Agape Children's home, 2 weeks with an organization called the Tamar Center, and 2 weeks in the hill tribes. The Agape Children's home houses over 100 children who are mostly Karen children from Burma. "The purpose of Agape Home is to provide each child the opportunity to learn in a healthy, supportive, Christian environment."  (http://www.ywamthai.org/outreach/locations/) We will be working with the kids, doing programs, teaching English, playing with them and simply loving them. 
The Tamar Center is a ministry that provides help, care, and jobs for woman looking for hope beyond the sex industry that is rampant in Thailand. We will be going out to the bars, talking to the woman stuck in this industry, loving them and encouraging them that there is hope for their lives. We will also be teaching english amongst many other things.
In the hill tribes which are the more rural village parts of Thailand, we will be doing programs about everything from the hope that we have in Christ to health awareness and awareness of human trafficking. These village people are the most vulnerable and targeted people to human trafficking because they are poor and seemingly hopeless to a positive future. 
As we prepare to leave, I am so excited to get to do the very work that Jesus did, reaching out to the poor, the orphans, the prostitutes. I never thought I would be leading a team of 10 DTS students on outreach to Thailand for almost 7 weeks to be doing this kind of work. God continues to prove to me how much greater his plans are for my life and his dreams are so much more amazing than I could ever imagine! I would appreciate your prayers this week as we still need to purchase plane tickets and take care of some last minute logistics. Please pray for our team, for health, unity, perseverance, and protection. Also pray for a positive attitude for all team members as a 6 and 1/2 week outreach can be extremely challenging and draining spiritually, emotionally, and physically. Lastly, me and my friend Steph who I am co-leading the team with still are in desperate need of finances for this trip. We really don't want to have to send our team to Thailand without the 2 leaders so we would greatly appreciate your prayers for breakthrough in finances! 
Thank you all for your prayers and support! You are greatly appreciated and I am so thankful for your love! I couldn't do this without you all!!!

I survived Cyclone Yasi!!

So this past week I got the opportunity to experience my first ever cyclone! Category 5 and apparently the size of Texas, cyclone Yasi hit the Queensland coast on Wednesday night of this week. I must be honest, I was quite nervous but unsure of what to expect as we had a cyclone warning (Cyclone Anthony) a few days before and hardly got any rain. Some people were scared and some were not too concerned so I had no idea what to expect. On Wednesday, we began preparing for the storm, bringing loose objects from outside (like lawn chairs) indoors, taping windows to keep help stop the wind from shattering them, and stocking up on water in big jugs. We moved out of our house and spent the night in the mission base because we didn't trust the stability of the house (it's kinda old and the walls are paper thin). So we all gathered indoors for the night at about 3 p.m. on wednesday as the storm approached. It started out with rain and strong wind and stayed that way for several hours. We lost power at about 9 p.m. and as the night progressed the winds got intensely strong. It's hard to explain the sound of the wind but it was almost like a deep, far away thunder. I went to bed at midnight curious as to what I would wake up to the next morning. That morning we were allowed outside by about 10 a.m. It was still windy and rainy but nothing compared to the night before. As we explored around town to see the extent of the damage, it looked like what you see on t.v. on a news report, almost surreal. The building across the street lost a wall, trees were down everywhere, signs blown off, trees that hadn't been blown over were still tilting in the direction of the wind as if they were frozen in time. Sand had blown off the beach covering the streets. Huge trees blocked off roads and power lines were strewn across lawns and streets. Yet in the midst of this, there was minimal structural damage to the buildings and houses around town, and for all of the trees that blew over it had to be a miracle that they didn't blow into houses and smash cars. God truly protected us during this massive storm, when the worst was expected. There has been worse damage up north, so please continue to pray for the families that have been more greatly affected by this cyclone. Also pray that as we help others clean up their yards in the community that it would be an opportunity to share God's love and salvation with them.
A quick update on the Discipleship Training School I am staffing, we are entering week 4 of lectures, and preparing to go on outreach in 6 weeks. The lecture topics so far have been Hearing God's Voice, Clear Conscience, and Identity in Christ. God has been moving amongst the students hearts, bringing freedom and healing in incredible ways. We have split up the 17 students into 2 outreach teams, one will be going to Papua New Guinea and one will be going to Thailand. I am co-leading the team to Thailand with my friend Stephanie. We have a team of 12 awesome people who I am so excited to be go to Thailand with. Please pray for me and Steph as we begin to plan what the outreach will look like. We have many opportunities offered to us and want to make the most out of the 7 weeks we are in Thailand. We are going to be planning the budget this week for our stay and ministry in Thailand. Please pray for wisdom and discernment as we do this and also for a release of funds specifically for myself and Steph as we are leading the team. We both need approximately 3-4 thousand dollars for this outreach to cover travel expenses, food, transportation, accomodation, and whatever else comes along the journey. Thank you all so much for your prayers!!!

Recommended Links

This link gives a summary and some pictures from the Stable on the Strand Ministry I volunteered at.
http://www.abc.net.au/local/videos/2010/12/23/3100559.htm?site=northqld

This is the website for the organization called Not For Sale whom we are partnering with to do a themed Discipleship Training School starting January 16.
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/


This link will open your eyes to the child sex trafficking happening at home in Phoenix, Arizona.
http://streetlightphx.com/news/my-fox-phoenix-news-10-arizonas-child-sex-trade-nightmare/

A New Season

Wow, what a year. So I ended the year by staffing a week long summer camp called Impact Summer for kids ages 12-17. The camp consisted of lectures on the book of Ephesians, practicing praying for eachother, fun games, free time, worship, and outreach at Stable on the Strand, a Christian Christmas Festival. The kids volunteered in different areas like acting in the Christmas story play, painting children's faces, picking up trash and more. The Stable on the Strand reaches out to thousands of people with the story of Jesus' birth. The youth were really challenged in their faith and putting it into action.
So now I am beginning staff training for the January Not For Sale Discipleship Training School (DTS). A DTS is a six month training course for young people aged 18-30. It consists of 11 weeks of lectures on topics like identity in Christ, missions, lordship, spiritual warfare and 9 weeks of outreach doing things like speaking at churches in Papua New Guinea and doing school programs in New Zealand. This DTS is themed after the organization called Not For Sale that fights against modern day slavery, including everything from forced labor to sex trafficking. Injustice issues like this are very heavy on my heart and I am passionate to see them eradicated from todays society. We have about 17 students attending the 6 month school from all around the world. The school starts on January 16 and goes until June. I did my DTS in July 2009 and am so excited to get to staff a school. Please pray for the students as they begin arriving soon as well as for my personal finances. I need to raise about $3500 for our 9 weeks of outreach during this school, to cover travel, food, and accomodation. Thank you for reading!!! I hope you all had a Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year and would love to hear your plans for the new year!

It's the Holiday Season....

Hey everyone,
Sorry I haven't updated you all in a while. Things have been pretty crazy around here. I have had everything from Aus Life Training to First Aid training in the last month. Aus Life is a christian seminar that we can bring into public schools around Australia with things like games, teaching, and application. I also got the opportunity to speak at Youth Street Live on Saturday night to about 70 youth ages 12-17. Public speaking is a fear of mine, and I get butterflies and all shaky whenever I have to do it. I tried to get out of it but my friends wouldn't let me so I took the challenge and spoke on God as a defender, warrior, and lover. I surrendered my nerves and trusted that God would speak through me and what do ya know?? He did! I wasn't nearly as nervous as I usually am, and though I could definitely use some more practice, God gave me the strength to conquer my fear. Several youth came up to me afterward and told me that my talk really blessed them which was a lovely confirmation from God that I had done ok. I am learning to trust God in my insecurities and He is blessing me with more and more opportunities to practice my strengths.
This week I am staffing a summer camp for 35 youth called Impact Summer. I am excited as I love camps!!! and I love working with youth. We will have games and fun activities like a food fight as well as a study on the book of Ephesians and outreach opportunity at Stable on the Strand. Stable on the Strand is a live Christmas stable run every Christmas at a field along the beach in Townsville. We are expecting around 50,000 people to attend this huge event. There will be all kinds of activities and programs the whole week before Christmas and the presenting of the Christmas story in a public setting. We are taking our youth to help out at this event in any way they need assistance. I am excited to see these kids lives changed and will update on how the camp goes soon!!!! Thank you all for your prayers and support this year!!! I couldn't have done any of this without you all back home!!! Have a Merry Christmas!!!

The Fruits of Our Labor

So I have been thinking about the past 5 months I have spent in Australia, working with youth, discipling them, encouraging them, planning activities for them, praying for them, listening to them, believing in them, loving them, hanging out with them, the list goes on. I have been going over in my head the results and fruit I have seen since I've been here. Though it is not guaranteed that you will always see the fruit of your labor in the body of Christ in this lifetime, God has definitely been giving me glimpses into the changes that are happening because I am here.
There is a young girl who comes to Youth Street who I look forward to seeing every Saturday. She is a beautiful, talented, fun, outgoing, bubbly, and pleasant young girl, but she doesn't see herself as any of that, but rather the complete opposite. I've been able to relate to her in a really personal way as I myself have battled and continue to battle identity issues. She is searching for God, and desires a relationship with Him, but is still not sure what that looks like for her. She has told me several times, that the support and love she gets from myself and Youth Street in general has pretty realistically saved her life. She has been coming to the Biblestudy I co-lead pretty regularly and is remaining pretty faithful at the challenge I gave her to read a Psalm a day from her new Bible she received on 5 Day Escape. Because she doesn't quite open up a lot about her view on God and spiritual things, it has been challenging to know where she is at and how I can help her understand what a relationship with God looks like, but I know that God is working in her heart, and I hope that the way I live and love her is an example to what a true relationship with God is like. Like so many young people these days, this beautiful young girl doesn't recognize the potential for greatness that God has placed upon her life, but is falling victim to the lies and  cruelty of this earth yet God is holding on to her dearly. Satan will not have this girl's life, it belongs to God, I am completely sure of this, and I have been privileged to see the lover of her soul grasp her heart. Please pray for her to begin to understand this love and feel it every day and pray for wisdom for myself as to how to best help her understand what a relationship with God is.
I miss you all. Thank you for your continued prayer and support.

More thoughts....

Father you are the reason for my waking each morn,

You are the hope in which my heart will rest,

I hang my head, reflecting on my past with scorn,

But you lift my chin up off my chest,

Erasing all stains from my slate,

Making it brand new,

You changed the outcome of my fate,

I owe all my thanks to You.

I have a lover who is always there,

Listening with open arms,

He is always just and always fair,

He protects me from all harm,

He will never leave me and never lie,

He is ever faithful and true,

I am the apple of his eye,

His bride and princess too.

He will never cheat or hold a grudge,

No secrets He keeps from me,

Slow to anger and merciful judge,

My lover has set me free.  

My Jesus

My prince I thank thee for thy love,

I don't deserve thy favor,

Yet every moment I spend with you,

I will forever savor,

I thank thee for thy attention,

its worth more than gold,

The greatest feeling in the world,

is to have your hand to hold,

My charming prince I love thee

You are my one desire,

In my heart there burns a love,

Thriving on love's fire,

I cannot live without you,

My dear beloved friend,

My heart longs to be with you

Always to the end.

Come, meet me here tonite,

Take me by my hand,

You are my guiding light,

By you I will always stand.

I am your lovely daughter,

Take me in your embrace,

I dance for you day and night,

in the light of your sweet grace

My Father, I sit down at your feet,

and give you all of me,

With you alone I wish to meet,

Your beauty I wish to see,

Your kind eyes give me hope

Your peace fills my soul,

Without your love I could not cope,

Only you can make me whole,

Father I sit upon your knee,

Hold me close to you

In your presence its clear to me,

Truths I never knew,

I am beautiful and precious in your sight,

A princess of the King,

In my soul dwells the power of your might,

Power to change any thing.