Friday, February 20, 2009
The Balls Rollin'
So Ive been preparing to share at my church and visiting old Friends this last week and a half, and today I signed up for some classes at FCC! I'm really happy yet, terrified. My tuition is paid for, but the transportation is still unknown. It's times like these where trusting the Lord can be so difficult. I just have to remember my time is not His, my plans are not always His, but He is going to do what's best for me! It is really exciting and stressful. One minute I'm crying in fear and the next he's answered my prayer in an unthinkable way. An extremely intelligent friend of mine reminded me of the Israelites walking through the parted sea. That must have been such an unexpected answer for an escape plan! How much faith it must have taken to take the first step onto the dry sea floor seeing that all the millions of gallons of water could smash into you from both sides. God is unexplainable and unexpected. I can't wait to see how He parts the sea for me or if he sends a boat, whatever the transportation looks like, It will be for my benefit!
Thursday, February 19, 2009
One week Back
So it has officially been one week since I returned home. It has been an interesting experience. I think I expected people to have changed as much as I have on some levels, but I'm realizing that's not the case. I have to keep reminding myself to be understanding. For the most part I've really enjoyed seeing old faces and visiting others. soon I will be presenting about my adventure to my church and other Christan groups. I'm asking the Lord to show me what needs to be said. I'm trying to be sensitive to the Holy spirits leading.
The future looks so endless right now. I am currently working on getting a vehicle and a job. I really want to continue working with children, but not in the position of a personal nanny. Tomorrow I'm going to Frederick community college to try and get in asap. The long I'm not in school, the harder it will be for me to go back. I really want to keep my schedule simple and active. I don't think I'm going to stretch myself as thin as I was before I left. My first focus is the car, work, school situation and the other plans will fall into place.
I'm having a really hard time being at home. It's really nice having alone time, but it;s getting old quickly. I'm trying to keep myself busy with preparing to speak at my church, and sending out my final newsletter. There is so much on the horizon and once again I'm lacking patients. I had some amazing one on one time with the Lord and I know he'll keep me productive. I need to appreciate this time of rest and delight in the stillness He's given me.
1 Peter 4; 19
I'm trying to have a memory verse each week!
The future looks so endless right now. I am currently working on getting a vehicle and a job. I really want to continue working with children, but not in the position of a personal nanny. Tomorrow I'm going to Frederick community college to try and get in asap. The long I'm not in school, the harder it will be for me to go back. I really want to keep my schedule simple and active. I don't think I'm going to stretch myself as thin as I was before I left. My first focus is the car, work, school situation and the other plans will fall into place.
I'm having a really hard time being at home. It's really nice having alone time, but it;s getting old quickly. I'm trying to keep myself busy with preparing to speak at my church, and sending out my final newsletter. There is so much on the horizon and once again I'm lacking patients. I had some amazing one on one time with the Lord and I know he'll keep me productive. I need to appreciate this time of rest and delight in the stillness He's given me.
1 Peter 4; 19
I'm trying to have a memory verse each week!
Wednesday, February 11, 2009
Bye Ja
Well, I have some time to kill while waiting for my flight in the Montego Bay airport…
WOW….
It’s over…
My friends are home…
My school is finished…
My plane is getting ready….
My future is limitless…
My heart is full…
I am so very happy to have successful completed my Discipleship Training school. I am so excited to see what’s next. These are some ideas I’ve had. I’m in the process of seeking confirmation from the Lord.
-Serving my church (in whatever means available)
-Joining a small group
-Evangelical trips into Frederick
-Community College
-School of Performing Arts (Belize/India 2010)
-Staffing a youth camp in Jamaica this summer
-Taking a dance class
-6 week leadership school in Australia (2009)
These are just a small fraction of the millions of ideas and activities floating around in my head! Above all these I will be spending more time in the presence of the Lord/realizing I’m in His presence. The best part about all these desires is that I’m not doing anything until I hear fully and completely from God. By surrendering all these things and hearing from God, I can ONLY do His will. Though I may want to reach the World, God may have different plans. I’m ok with doing His plan because it’s so much better for Him and for me. I know His protection and guidance will give me the grace to respond in obedience.
WOW….
It’s over…
My friends are home…
My school is finished…
My plane is getting ready….
My future is limitless…
My heart is full…
I am so very happy to have successful completed my Discipleship Training school. I am so excited to see what’s next. These are some ideas I’ve had. I’m in the process of seeking confirmation from the Lord.
-Serving my church (in whatever means available)
-Joining a small group
-Evangelical trips into Frederick
-Community College
-School of Performing Arts (Belize/India 2010)
-Staffing a youth camp in Jamaica this summer
-Taking a dance class
-6 week leadership school in Australia (2009)
These are just a small fraction of the millions of ideas and activities floating around in my head! Above all these I will be spending more time in the presence of the Lord/realizing I’m in His presence. The best part about all these desires is that I’m not doing anything until I hear fully and completely from God. By surrendering all these things and hearing from God, I can ONLY do His will. Though I may want to reach the World, God may have different plans. I’m ok with doing His plan because it’s so much better for Him and for me. I know His protection and guidance will give me the grace to respond in obedience.
Thursday, February 05, 2009
The Debriefing Week
Well, everyone has arrived safely back in Jamaica from outreach. Our team is here from Guadeloupe, my other classmates made it safely from Antigua, and the School of Performing Arts just got back from Belize. This week has basically been a long, but helpful series of meetings. We’ve been practicing how to write a news letter, learning about other YWAM schools and opportunities, figuring out how to reenter our home life, and recapping outreach.
We have all been really emotional and blessed in this time. Coming back to Jamaica was so nice. It has become a second home for us all. The new DTS students are here and we’ve been having a wonderful time making them feel welcome and familiar with life on the base. I’m so excited to keep in touch with them and hear how God will grow them. They all seem very dedicated and mature.
My team met with the directors of the base and our outreach leaders. We were able to express our encouragement and constructive criticisms about the leadership during our time in Gwada. I was able to honestly express my concerns. I’m so happy I didn’t hold back, that God gave me the boldness to speak truth. We talked about when our other team member left and the affect it had on us all. We were really stretched emotionally on outreach. We had extended forgiveness to our team member and attempted to make him feel included, but we faced many hardships. This individual really caused the team to suffer. He did not accept our attempts towards him. He distanced himself from the team and became very inactive. We shared all this with our leader and he understood that by keeping this person as long as he did, he was not doing what was best for the team. Even though he could have left sooner, we were all pushed emotionally unlike never before. I’m glad my outreach was hard. I will carry this life lesson with me as I continue working with others in a team setting.
We had a lecture about coming home and realizing that a church and a mission base function differently. I was afraid of being over critical, but my questions were answered and I have some great tips on getting involved and serving again in my home church. I am excited for home and I’m trying to soak in the Caribbean while I still can. We have begun preparing for graduation and tomorrow we will have our final assessments. Our assessments are an overview of how the base staff feels we succeeded and struggled during our time in DTS. I’m looking forward to this time. I know I’ve come a long way and I still have a long way to go, that’s the beauty in following Christ, we are never done learning, lives are spent becoming more and more like the Lord and getting closer and closer to him.
Last night we had our community meeting this is were the base meets together and hears from that week’s speaker or someone of the base. It’s a fun night because those that home school or travel throughout the day can meet with the rest of the schools. All of YWAM Mo Bay comes together. We were privileged to share about outreach and hear from the other teams. My team shared our skit, gave a testimony about our prison ministry, sang a song we learned in French, and made a slide show highlighting our ministry in the nation. We had such a great time and the group was really receptive to our stories and struggles. It was fun for us to share. Sandra led the opening in French and I translated into English, just to give the crowd an understanding of how we had to communicate in the nation. It was so cool to hear what God did in and through the teams in Antigua and Belize.
Have an amazing day, week, and forever. I can’t wait to see what’s next and trust God completely for His leading and direction. Lose your life in Him, So that you can find it!
Oh, I forgot! We came back from outreach one day early so we went into the city in Montego Bay and performed our mimes. We had a large crowd people clapped when we were finished. It was so scary at first, but God is good he gave us the strength and courage to creativly minister to the town. After we let go of our fear. We didn't care about what people thought we were performng to the Lord and asking Him to toch lives. It's never us its always Him.
We have all been really emotional and blessed in this time. Coming back to Jamaica was so nice. It has become a second home for us all. The new DTS students are here and we’ve been having a wonderful time making them feel welcome and familiar with life on the base. I’m so excited to keep in touch with them and hear how God will grow them. They all seem very dedicated and mature.
My team met with the directors of the base and our outreach leaders. We were able to express our encouragement and constructive criticisms about the leadership during our time in Gwada. I was able to honestly express my concerns. I’m so happy I didn’t hold back, that God gave me the boldness to speak truth. We talked about when our other team member left and the affect it had on us all. We were really stretched emotionally on outreach. We had extended forgiveness to our team member and attempted to make him feel included, but we faced many hardships. This individual really caused the team to suffer. He did not accept our attempts towards him. He distanced himself from the team and became very inactive. We shared all this with our leader and he understood that by keeping this person as long as he did, he was not doing what was best for the team. Even though he could have left sooner, we were all pushed emotionally unlike never before. I’m glad my outreach was hard. I will carry this life lesson with me as I continue working with others in a team setting.
We had a lecture about coming home and realizing that a church and a mission base function differently. I was afraid of being over critical, but my questions were answered and I have some great tips on getting involved and serving again in my home church. I am excited for home and I’m trying to soak in the Caribbean while I still can. We have begun preparing for graduation and tomorrow we will have our final assessments. Our assessments are an overview of how the base staff feels we succeeded and struggled during our time in DTS. I’m looking forward to this time. I know I’ve come a long way and I still have a long way to go, that’s the beauty in following Christ, we are never done learning, lives are spent becoming more and more like the Lord and getting closer and closer to him.
Last night we had our community meeting this is were the base meets together and hears from that week’s speaker or someone of the base. It’s a fun night because those that home school or travel throughout the day can meet with the rest of the schools. All of YWAM Mo Bay comes together. We were privileged to share about outreach and hear from the other teams. My team shared our skit, gave a testimony about our prison ministry, sang a song we learned in French, and made a slide show highlighting our ministry in the nation. We had such a great time and the group was really receptive to our stories and struggles. It was fun for us to share. Sandra led the opening in French and I translated into English, just to give the crowd an understanding of how we had to communicate in the nation. It was so cool to hear what God did in and through the teams in Antigua and Belize.
Have an amazing day, week, and forever. I can’t wait to see what’s next and trust God completely for His leading and direction. Lose your life in Him, So that you can find it!
Oh, I forgot! We came back from outreach one day early so we went into the city in Montego Bay and performed our mimes. We had a large crowd people clapped when we were finished. It was so scary at first, but God is good he gave us the strength and courage to creativly minister to the town. After we let go of our fear. We didn't care about what people thought we were performng to the Lord and asking Him to toch lives. It's never us its always Him.
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