Merry Christmas!

Well we've been in the Dominican Republic since Monday and it's been amazing!!

The weather here is great, it's over 30 degrees every day. The base is small, but quite homey. There is an outreach team here from YWAM Denver as well. There's a pool on base, but that's mostly to keep cool from the heat!

Every day we have been going to different places to do ministry. I have never played with so many beautiful black kids in my life!!! Every day that we do ministry there are a ton of kids that just want to be loved. We have a bit of a schedule, one day a week we go to a specific place and do ministry. The kinds of things we are doing includes kids ministries, with games, songs, stories and crafts. We have done dramas in the streets, testimonies in the streets, and lots of ministry. Several people have come to Christ simply because some members of my group have stopped and followed the leading of the Holy Spirit and talked to someone on the walk home to the base. Lots of children have heard the name of Jesus because of the work my team has been doing for Him.

I want to wish you a very Merry Christmas from the beautiful Dominican Republic. Be sure to take lots of ti to enjoy your family this Christmas season - because in my case, once you're away from your family during the holidays, you realize how much you miss them.

I love you all and thanks for checking out my blog :) Outreach pictures will be on my Facebook page. God bless you.

Prayer Request.

Hey team.

In ONE DAY team Panama/Costa Rica is leaving. One of their members, Becca, still needs around $1000 and is faithfully relying on God to provide.

In TWO DAYS Team Chewbacca (AKA Domincan Republic and Oaxaca) are leaving and Cory still needs about $1300 as well. Stubbornly, faithfully believing God will provide. Both have been busy calling people they know and trying to do some last minute fundraising.

Stirring your heart strings at all?? Send me a message. I can walk you through the steps to help my bro and sister. If you can't help financially (and it's totally fine if that's the case.. this is not a guilt trip!) Please continue to be in prayer for both teams! Things are winding up in Mexico, packing and cleaning are in full swing. So soon both teams will be embarking on such an adventure for Christ. Thanks for following my journey thus far.

PACKING PACKING PACKING

AAAAAAAAAAAAAAUUUUUUUUUUUUUGHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!

I can't believe people are packing. Lecture phase is OVER. Today is Thursday. Panama/Costa Rica team is leaving on Saturday, and my team (Dominican Republic/Oaxaca) leaves on Sunday morning. 

We fly out of Los Angeles Airport on Monday morning at 7:45 AM. My dorm room is a distaster right now. Clothes and suitcases litter the floor. Ten days til Christmas... but no White Christmas for me this year, unless you count the white beaches in Dominican Republic. ...That made it sound like a holiday. It won't be.

This outreach is looking like potentially one of the hardest things I'll do in my life. The DR is going to be HOT and muggy all the time - it doesn't get cooler than 24 in the evenings and gets up to 37 or 38 in the day, with about 50% humidity. Oaxaca.. well I've heard horror stories about the food there!

Super excited, super nervous. Your prayers are appreciated!!!

Week 11 - Jeff Pratt/Final Week!

I'm still reeling at the thought that lectures are over.

 I'm currently sitting on the roof, basking in the sunshine, watching the tide come in, listening to Sigur Ros. My fingers still on the keyboard; I'm at a loss for words. How to explain how the last eleven weeks have changed me? The English language seems grossly inadequate to encompass what this school has meant to me. 

Jeff Pratt week was the perfect way to tie this entire school together. He spoke on the Father Heart of God. I'm sure most of us have been told "You're a son/daughter of the King" many times in our lives - but have we taken the time to unpack that? Jeff Pratt spoke on God's ridiculous love for us and we can only have enough passion in our lives as we realize God has for us (1 John 4: 19) It's important to realize as well that our Father has been pursuing us since before we were born. He's had a plan for my life from the point that I was a thought in God's mind and a dream in His heart. 

The more we realize who God is... the more we worship Him and have passion to pursue His calling over our lives. Sometimes this passion is stilted or cut off by wounds in our lives... "Our past needs to be reconciled so our present can be filled with power, and our future with hope"  Jeff spoke also of seasons of captivity. Sometimes we walk through difficult times. We walk through what feels like hell. Our society is one that is driven by comfort, and when things get difficult we immediately get mad at God and ask WHY. The treasures stored up for us in Heaven are not for casual lookers but those who desperately seek God's face in seasons of captivity. Jeff said something that really stuck with me... "Don't just accept your captivity, embrace it. Realize God in it" What a message to wrap the school up with! Everything Jeff said resonated so deeply with me. 

And now. 9 days left in Mexico. Several of those will be spent in Tijuana at the base for a conference and possibly a day in San Diego. I have a sermon to write, skirts to alter, student loan papers to re-do (FJL:JSLAFHJ:SDFJL"L:J GOVERNMENT WHYYYY) and lots of people to talk to. Please please let me know if you want to Skype with me in the next 9 days. I'm missing people from back home right now. Let's talk. 

Prayer Request!

Hey friends, family and followers.

Just want to throw out a quick prayer request. In 12 very very short days my team flies out to the Dominican Republic. In 10 very very short days the other team flies out to  Panama. There's a few people still struggling with raising money for this trip. Last time I checked, my DTS on the whole needs about 12 000 dollars still. That number may have decreased a bit in the last few days, I'm not sure. Anyways, if you are looking for a ministry to support, consider supporting one of my brothers or sisters!! Please contact me if you're interested and I can send out giving details.

Also, please pray for our teams as we make final preparations for this outreach. We have 12 (or 10) days to finish books, write journals, write sermons, write book reports, pack, clean, conference in Tijuana, and say our goodbyes. A lot of work is being put into this outreach and a LOT of hours of preparation each week. Pray that we finish strong and rest up before embarking in the most intense two months of our lives!

Thanks!

Week 10 - Tom Bloomer Week.

Swiss chocolate, princess stories and a very wise man blessed me very much this past week!

Tom Bloomer from Switzerland brought a new perspective to our DTS. He is an older gentleman from Switzerland who has been serving with YWAM for 39 years!!! His wisdom blessed me. At the beginning of the week I admit I was a little skeptical. He started off by telling a princess story on Monday and I wondered where the week would go.

To my delight, Tom blessed me immensely with his knowledge. He continued on to speak on hope and faith and really inspired me. I took diligent notes and Friday rolled around in no time. That evening, we went to Bajio's and blessed the people in the red light district. I practiced my Spanish a lot that night, conversing with a group of prostitutes and two gentlemen as we handed out soup and tea.

The weekend was quite intense for me emotionally and mentally. And I tend to think over things at night time - when I should be sleepin' (like right now). Prayer warriors, please pray against the spirit of insomnia. Its wearing me down, and I have 2 weeks to minimize this sleep debt and rest up beforeeeeeee.... DOMINICAN REPUBLIC. Lots of work to do before then. Sermon. Finish book. Write book report. Christmas parties. One week of lectures left. Pack. Write. Write. Write. Bless people. Hang out with God. Two weeks.

It Is Well.