here in Juarez we have one more day of minisrty. Our two week seminar is coming to a close and our students are presenting there 3 minute final projects. They have all worked so hard. Sometimes the students were frusterated about the dance classes but all of them tried there best. This is such an act of spiritual warfare. When people step out of fear and try new and werid things it is a stand against Satan. The enemy wants people to let fear hold them back, some of the students were well over 60 but they were doing all the hip hop moves and trying the break dance moves. This is such an awesome act of faith and trust in God I am so encouraged by their faith and confidence in God they truly depend on Him and trust He can carry them through anything. I will be so sad to say goodbye next week but I believe God has used us to bring a new and refreshing view of the arts to this base. During this weekend we will be debriefing about the school and doing a few more bonding activities together before we go out to our homes all over the world. Please pray for our students for tomorrow that they would continue to step out in faith after we have left and work in the performing Arts. Also please pray for my many friends in this school that God would give them clear direction in the next part of their lives to get specific please pray for.... Chan Min, Gohoon, Jen, Hannah, Sarah, Lizzie, Bryan, Vanessa, Sebastian, and Daniel. Many of them are unsure of the future and have the whole world at their feet. Please pray for guidence and Gods will in their lives. I love them very much and I am so blessed to have traveled down this road alongside such humble and willing brothers and sisters in Chirst!
Maryland here I come!
Thursday, May 26, 2011
Sunday, May 15, 2011
Made it to Juarez
Yesterday we made it to Juarez. The plan for our time here is to do a ten day performing arts seminar. I will be teaching about creating warm ups and 3 hours of hip hop training. The base here is very excited about learning and we have a lot to share. The base here also runs an orphanage so we will be spending time with the children ther and possibly teaching dance there as well. I am really relaxed here Juarez is really dry dessert and often they have sand storms, and even though that does not sopund very appealing, I love it here. We have a lot of land to wlak and the sky is full of stars at night. I enjoy city life but it here we feel the presence of Gods peace. we are alsoi really happy becasue we spen the last 3 weeks sleeping on the floor and here we have amazing cozy beds and my back is really happy. I am glad this is our closing time of outreach we are ready for God to keep growing us and as always change us to be more like him.
something interesting that happened today... We had a time of intercession this mornig about Juarez. people say this is the most dangerous city in the world with the drug cratel and murder rate, but I thought about it today, maybe the stats are against this place but I feel realy at peace here. During our prayer time I felt God reminding me to again, believe the truth, maybe because so many people over react and speak negativly about this city is influencing its citizens. When people talk about something enough it can sometimes become the truth, that maybe people act on evil impulse becasue it is what they are expected to do. So my prayer is to stop looking at the bad or dangerous but expect Gods good here and look at the beauty in this place and remember Jaurez is Gods city, His plan is very powerful for this place.
Living here and now, but remembering home in my heart....
something interesting that happened today... We had a time of intercession this mornig about Juarez. people say this is the most dangerous city in the world with the drug cratel and murder rate, but I thought about it today, maybe the stats are against this place but I feel realy at peace here. During our prayer time I felt God reminding me to again, believe the truth, maybe because so many people over react and speak negativly about this city is influencing its citizens. When people talk about something enough it can sometimes become the truth, that maybe people act on evil impulse becasue it is what they are expected to do. So my prayer is to stop looking at the bad or dangerous but expect Gods good here and look at the beauty in this place and remember Jaurez is Gods city, His plan is very powerful for this place.
Living here and now, but remembering home in my heart....
Wednesday, May 11, 2011
hello all. Mexico City has been a blast we have been doing performing arts seminars and evangelistic outreach performances for the past two weeks non stop. We have seen God do so much and people in Mexico really have a desire to learn more about the arts and using them as a tool to spread the gospel. Last week we traveled to Tulca Mexico and worked with a University there. We did a two day seminar teaching dances and children's ministry and then performed for a small community and government officials. we have been so blessed to be able to perform so much and be in contact with leaders of this nation.
On Saturday we are leaving for Juarez Mexico. We will be living on the YWAM base there and teaching in some churches in the area. The leaders have made it clear we will be really busy there so for the next few days we are taking it slow in the city. Today we did a prayer walk through the town and explored more of our community. we are living in a home.
Tonight some of our leaders are heading back to Korea and Hong Kong for a conference. Our team is losing 4 members, but we know God still has a plan for us in Juarez. God keeps changing the dynamics of our team and its keeping us flexible. we really go with the flow and keep fighting for God's will to be done in and through us.
On Saturday we are leaving for Juarez Mexico. We will be living on the YWAM base there and teaching in some churches in the area. The leaders have made it clear we will be really busy there so for the next few days we are taking it slow in the city. Today we did a prayer walk through the town and explored more of our community. we are living in a home.
Tonight some of our leaders are heading back to Korea and Hong Kong for a conference. Our team is losing 4 members, but we know God still has a plan for us in Juarez. God keeps changing the dynamics of our team and its keeping us flexible. we really go with the flow and keep fighting for God's will to be done in and through us.
Monday, April 25, 2011
One Crazy Day!
Today we went to a church about 45 minutes of of the city. We did a three hour seminar on performing arts. Some of our team taught children to dance and the other half gave a lecture. Me and two other leaders spoke on Evangelism. We talked about what it is why it is so important and the many forms and misconceptions that can happen while sharing the gospel. I was really nervous before I went on but God once again gave me the grace to keep going. After we had finished our teaching the church feed us some amazing food. The woman in charge of the churches event shared with us a little about that area of Mexico. She told us how grateful she was that we were there giving our time. She told us we could be anywhere in the world working for ourselves, but we have chosen to be there impacting their children. She told us that her passion is to make a Godly impact on kids lives before the drug cartel situation does. Apparently drug lords have begun recruiting children early so they can pass through the border with less trouble and security checks. She also told us how many children have been kidnapped in the area. They were so kind and so welcoming to our team. It really humbles me to be apart of making a Godly impact in this church and with these adorable children. We will be spending the rest of the week teaching and hopefully this weekend we will be holding a free concert to perform and evangelize.
On our way to the church today we faced many complications. We could not use on of our vehicles so we had 15 people in a 7 passenger van driving in the heat and traffic with no AC. We had a tire randomly come off the wheel of the car, we got lost on the way, and we had to drive through a really bad smelling construction site. We also had a few team members that were really sick. Also, on the way home we were stopped by a police officer. we turned on a one way street while we were lost. He pulled us over and threatened us saying he wanted a bribe or we would fine us and take us to the station. We prayed for about 20 minutes and then our school leader meet up with us while we were pulled over. She was able to speak with him and he allowed us to go free. This was a really scary situation and a perfect example of the corruption living in this country. We know all of these complications were an attack from satan. God has a great plan for us in this church and we can feel the strongholds breaking. We will continue to pray for God's power and provision to be on our team. I was a really intense day but we know the Lord is at work!
Ephesians 6;18
On our way to the church today we faced many complications. We could not use on of our vehicles so we had 15 people in a 7 passenger van driving in the heat and traffic with no AC. We had a tire randomly come off the wheel of the car, we got lost on the way, and we had to drive through a really bad smelling construction site. We also had a few team members that were really sick. Also, on the way home we were stopped by a police officer. we turned on a one way street while we were lost. He pulled us over and threatened us saying he wanted a bribe or we would fine us and take us to the station. We prayed for about 20 minutes and then our school leader meet up with us while we were pulled over. She was able to speak with him and he allowed us to go free. This was a really scary situation and a perfect example of the corruption living in this country. We know all of these complications were an attack from satan. God has a great plan for us in this church and we can feel the strongholds breaking. We will continue to pray for God's power and provision to be on our team. I was a really intense day but we know the Lord is at work!
Ephesians 6;18
Thursday, April 21, 2011
Mexico City
Today we flew out of Cancun and into Mexico City. God did so much good in us in Cancun! Our classmate Damaris works with Youth With A Mission Cancun so she is now back to serving there and will not be on the rest of outreach. We were able to pray for her and bring closer to here experience with us. I believe God will do more with her life and the performing arts. The rehab center we visited was amazing I was able to share my testimony and really encourage some moms who were there and pray for them.
Mexico City is little different from the beach. I really feel submersed into the culture here. We are going to be resting for the next two days and then I believe next saturday we are putting on a concert and showing all of our dramas and dances. I have also been asked to teach with my friend Jen in Evangelism. We spent a lot of time praying and were going to focus on why we should evangelize and the importance in sharing the whole gospel. A lot of times especially in my own culture we want to share with non believers only about God's love and desire for us, yet we leave out the reality of hell and the desperation we are stuck in by our own sin and human nature. It takes courge to share these things and to teach. I really want to speak God's message and not my own so we will see how it goes.
Hopefully I will be able to sned more updates about our time here! PLease pray for housing there are a few days towards the end of our time here we don't have a place yet, God met our needs in Cancun and we are confident he will do it again here. The last two days of Cancun we were able to stay with our contact who got us into the children's government home. The group has there own ministry and they work out od a mansion, so needless to say we know God is in favor with our work and wants to provide special things for our team.
May His love be seen in you today, tomorrow, and forever
Mexico City is little different from the beach. I really feel submersed into the culture here. We are going to be resting for the next two days and then I believe next saturday we are putting on a concert and showing all of our dramas and dances. I have also been asked to teach with my friend Jen in Evangelism. We spent a lot of time praying and were going to focus on why we should evangelize and the importance in sharing the whole gospel. A lot of times especially in my own culture we want to share with non believers only about God's love and desire for us, yet we leave out the reality of hell and the desperation we are stuck in by our own sin and human nature. It takes courge to share these things and to teach. I really want to speak God's message and not my own so we will see how it goes.
Hopefully I will be able to sned more updates about our time here! PLease pray for housing there are a few days towards the end of our time here we don't have a place yet, God met our needs in Cancun and we are confident he will do it again here. The last two days of Cancun we were able to stay with our contact who got us into the children's government home. The group has there own ministry and they work out od a mansion, so needless to say we know God is in favor with our work and wants to provide special things for our team.
May His love be seen in you today, tomorrow, and forever
Friday, April 15, 2011
Cancun part 2
What a blast! Cancun is a really beautiful and busy place. We were able to go back to work with the children in the government program. We made a Hip Hop dance for them and they really enjoied learning it. Even though our team was not permitted to share the gosple with them we were still praying for them and showing them love and encouragement. One little boy gave us a certificate of recognition when we were leaving and he shared with us that now he loves dancing and wants to keep dancing thoughout his life. We also were able to be there when the director of the agency was visiting she was very happy with our program and YWAM is no allowed to return and work more with the children. It was so great one of the days we were there we performed for a group of elderly people visiting they loved our dance and then showed us a dance they had been learning. We all danced together and had a blast. I think maybe 10 elderly women kissed me that day. They were so much fun! It is amazing to be able to bring joy to others through dance and to receive it back! Again God is good.
My health has improved as well. My infection is gone and I no longer have a fever. I am really glad to be back to almost 100% my back has been a little sore, but we have been performing a lot. Some other people in our team have been sick or have had old injuries flair up again. I firmly believe this is a spiritual attack God has such powerful things planned for us and Satan wants to keep us back, but we are going to press through and learn when to rest and when to fight.
Last night we gave a three hour workshop on different areas of the performing arts and how they are used to display the gospel. We were invited to a church by the pastor. The church is a very famous and large church thoughout Mexico so it was a big honor to go and teach. We were really encouraged by how excited they were to learn. While we were leaving they talked about starting a new ministry in performing arts. That would be so amazing in Cancun so many people from all over the world come here.
Personally I had a revelation the other night about an area I am growing in. During the lecture phase I sometimes struggled with gossip and not using wisdom with my words. I can see God really helping me to speak only what lifts up others like in Ephesians 4: 29 So it is great to see this change in me, but now the challange is taking every thought captive and removing the thinking negatively. But in God we never stop growing so it is great to see when we overcome our struggles through the Lord.
Today we are planning on going to a park and doing an open air performance. We have been praying a lot about this show and we haope to meet many people and talk about God with them and that our dramas and dances would envoke emotion about the truth of the Lord Jesus.
We have been very busy and tired, but knowing people are reading and praying helps so much in the times of trial. Thank you and know this is not my work but ours in the kingdom of God. Be blessed and enjoy your day. I pray wherever you may be that warm weather meets you and God tells you a way you have grown and you would in turn give Him praise!
Pressing on....
My health has improved as well. My infection is gone and I no longer have a fever. I am really glad to be back to almost 100% my back has been a little sore, but we have been performing a lot. Some other people in our team have been sick or have had old injuries flair up again. I firmly believe this is a spiritual attack God has such powerful things planned for us and Satan wants to keep us back, but we are going to press through and learn when to rest and when to fight.
Last night we gave a three hour workshop on different areas of the performing arts and how they are used to display the gospel. We were invited to a church by the pastor. The church is a very famous and large church thoughout Mexico so it was a big honor to go and teach. We were really encouraged by how excited they were to learn. While we were leaving they talked about starting a new ministry in performing arts. That would be so amazing in Cancun so many people from all over the world come here.
Personally I had a revelation the other night about an area I am growing in. During the lecture phase I sometimes struggled with gossip and not using wisdom with my words. I can see God really helping me to speak only what lifts up others like in Ephesians 4: 29 So it is great to see this change in me, but now the challange is taking every thought captive and removing the thinking negatively. But in God we never stop growing so it is great to see when we overcome our struggles through the Lord.
Today we are planning on going to a park and doing an open air performance. We have been praying a lot about this show and we haope to meet many people and talk about God with them and that our dramas and dances would envoke emotion about the truth of the Lord Jesus.
We have been very busy and tired, but knowing people are reading and praying helps so much in the times of trial. Thank you and know this is not my work but ours in the kingdom of God. Be blessed and enjoy your day. I pray wherever you may be that warm weather meets you and God tells you a way you have grown and you would in turn give Him praise!
Pressing on....
Tuesday, April 12, 2011
Cancun Part 1
It has been a super intense past week. We left Ensenada last week for Cancun. We spent about two days traveling. I was quite sick with an infection in my body so honestly I don't remeber much. My team was really helpful though and we all made it safely. I went to another hospital here in Cancun and they gave me the right antibiotics so I am slowly recovering. I find with my back injury and now this God is cahllanging me to rest. My whole life I have tried to rest very little, but now that it is forced on me I am gainging a new focus. I am reading my bible more which is something I habve been craving for a long time but can't sit still long enough to read it. So I have been seeing new parts of the Old Testimate I've never read before. I also have a weakness for thinking about my body too much then wanting to work out and being sick that cannot happen so I am learning true rest in this time.
Aside from the health world, we are really busy here in Cancun. We went to a center for children last week. The kids there are in transition and will then go to foster parents. Sometimes they are there for a few days other times a few years. So God gave a the chance to go and perform with them. We then lead a workshop on Hip Hop. The kids were so fun and happy and really sweet to us. That was our first day of ministry so I was still felling very sick, but with them I was fine. God really sustains me when He needs to . We are making up a dance and editing a song fo them so when we go back tomorrow we can give them a dance that is just theres. We want to give them a joyful memory and a dance to keep.
Another exciting ministry time was this past Sunday. We went to a local church and did our hip hop dance and a drama we have about the many doors and paths in life. The pastor was really great and we met a lot of other YWAM teams in Cancun. The church was a giant tiki hut that had once been a strip club, but went under and this pastor came in and God was able to redeeme it into a beautiful facility to spread the gosple. We had an awesome time of fellowshp and encouragement from other YWAMers. I thought it was so funny there has never been anyone from Maryland in many areas of YWAM, but when I do meet other YWAM teams there are always people from Lancaster, PA.... what is that? Its like, come on Maryland someone else join the missions team YWAM....
Anyway, we also lead some dance workshop. Here in Cancun there is a DTS running and we went to the students and taught about 8 hours durning the week on dance, theater, and fitness. It was really great to encourage them. As we were showing them techniqes for the first time I was reminded of how I looked the same way 14 weeks ago when all this began and how God really can change you if your willing to be stretched. The Dts is a gret group of young people and they really love our team. It will be sad to leave on the next phase of outreach, but I think we are looing forward to les humididty in Mexico City.
I hope to blog again soon, butthe web is limited to us so here are some prayer points I would really apperciate you sneding up to the big guy...
-safety in Mexcio
-People wouold come to know God
-Unity in our team
-Wisdom for our leaders
-Smooth transportaiton
Thanks agsin for readung it is so important for me to know people at home are on this journey with me.
God Bless!
Ash
Aside from the health world, we are really busy here in Cancun. We went to a center for children last week. The kids there are in transition and will then go to foster parents. Sometimes they are there for a few days other times a few years. So God gave a the chance to go and perform with them. We then lead a workshop on Hip Hop. The kids were so fun and happy and really sweet to us. That was our first day of ministry so I was still felling very sick, but with them I was fine. God really sustains me when He needs to . We are making up a dance and editing a song fo them so when we go back tomorrow we can give them a dance that is just theres. We want to give them a joyful memory and a dance to keep.
Another exciting ministry time was this past Sunday. We went to a local church and did our hip hop dance and a drama we have about the many doors and paths in life. The pastor was really great and we met a lot of other YWAM teams in Cancun. The church was a giant tiki hut that had once been a strip club, but went under and this pastor came in and God was able to redeeme it into a beautiful facility to spread the gosple. We had an awesome time of fellowshp and encouragement from other YWAMers. I thought it was so funny there has never been anyone from Maryland in many areas of YWAM, but when I do meet other YWAM teams there are always people from Lancaster, PA.... what is that? Its like, come on Maryland someone else join the missions team YWAM....
Anyway, we also lead some dance workshop. Here in Cancun there is a DTS running and we went to the students and taught about 8 hours durning the week on dance, theater, and fitness. It was really great to encourage them. As we were showing them techniqes for the first time I was reminded of how I looked the same way 14 weeks ago when all this began and how God really can change you if your willing to be stretched. The Dts is a gret group of young people and they really love our team. It will be sad to leave on the next phase of outreach, but I think we are looing forward to les humididty in Mexico City.
I hope to blog again soon, butthe web is limited to us so here are some prayer points I would really apperciate you sneding up to the big guy...
-safety in Mexcio
-People wouold come to know God
-Unity in our team
-Wisdom for our leaders
-Smooth transportaiton
Thanks agsin for readung it is so important for me to know people at home are on this journey with me.
God Bless!
Ash
Friday, April 01, 2011
The Next Phase
Well we just finished our last lecture and rehearsal at the dance studio. It is hard to believe all that has happened in the past three months. our team is preparing for departure to our first location on Tuesday. The general schedule for outreach is 2 1/2 weeks in Cancun, 3 weeks in Mexico City, and then a final 2 1/2 weeks in Juarez. we now prepare to say goodbye to Ensenada and our four classmates not attending outreach. Our group will go down to 11 but we are all excited for the challenge.
We can only take a few items on outreach and we can only leave 1 bag behind with the remaining supplies. SO please pray we make space. We also will not be coming back to Ensenada for our debriefing that will be held in San Diego. Because of the weight limits of traveling we are not bringing computers only a few staff members will so I will only be able to send updates every couple weeks. Thank you so much for reading and praying with and for me. I will try and blog in each location sharing more of the goodness God is doing in Mexico. We have total of 8 performance pieces along with the final projects from each student. Please pray we will have wisdom on what and when to perform for the people of Mexico. I am so excited for the things God will real in this time and the change to spread the gospel by the means of art. This is apart of my vision for my life and I am excited to see God bring it into being. Pray for open hearts of the people of Mexico and safety over our bodies.
Faith
Hope
Love...
Ashley
We can only take a few items on outreach and we can only leave 1 bag behind with the remaining supplies. SO please pray we make space. We also will not be coming back to Ensenada for our debriefing that will be held in San Diego. Because of the weight limits of traveling we are not bringing computers only a few staff members will so I will only be able to send updates every couple weeks. Thank you so much for reading and praying with and for me. I will try and blog in each location sharing more of the goodness God is doing in Mexico. We have total of 8 performance pieces along with the final projects from each student. Please pray we will have wisdom on what and when to perform for the people of Mexico. I am so excited for the things God will real in this time and the change to spread the gospel by the means of art. This is apart of my vision for my life and I am excited to see God bring it into being. Pray for open hearts of the people of Mexico and safety over our bodies.
Faith
Hope
Love...
Ashley
Tuesday, March 29, 2011
Graduation!
Here is the web address to my graduation. We are completing the 12 week lecture phase here in Ensenada and next week we are off to Cancun for our first outreach location. Thank you so much for the prayers and support. We will be having a time of sharing and celebrating and streaming our time on the web. We will be sharing a few performances and I would love to have you all connected! Thank you again for reading ad following God has been doing a mighty work and I look forward to the closing of this chapter and the opening of the next. Hope to see you! The streaming will be Wednesday March 30th at 10 pm Maryland time. Thanks again and may God bless you and remind you of how wide deep and great is His love for you!!!!
http://www.ywamensenada.com/
http://www.ywamensenada.com/
Thursday, March 24, 2011
One week in Ensenada
What an amazing week. Our new teacher is a Korean woman named Soo Lee she is so beautiful and kind and the lecture topic is focused on inner healing. I have experienced this a little when I was in my discipleship training school. It was an excellent time for me to identify the issues I had been struggling with. SooLee has been doing various exercises to help us gain an understanding of the hurt areas of our lives. We have been talking about forgiveness towards ourselves and towards others. One day we were asked to draw a tree, then we were asked to change the tree so it represents us. My tree had many holes in the bark along with many of small leaves all individually drawn. SooLee thought a lot about my picture but the basics were, that the holes were places I needed to let the lord into, places healing needed to come to, and the leaves were a representation of my future. I have so many desires, I have several career path interest, I have so many places I want to visit, I have so many people I want to spend time with and be a blessing too. I Honestly have so many dreams I don’t know where to begin. I am excited to see the places God will take me especially in the next 5 years to come.
We have also been speaking a lot about realizing the roots of our struggles. SooLee gave a great example of having to get to the source of our addictions. She has a thorn bush growing in her yard. So she cut off the branches and most of the tree, but a few days later it came back. So she went back out cut it down and then began to dig. She made a huge hole in her hard pulling up all the roots until she had to stop because the thorn bush was coming from a neighbor’s yard. Our sin and addictions works the same way. Many of you know that in the past I suffered from and purging my meals when I would eat to much. I desperately wanted control in my life and controlling food was an easy way to feel like I was in charge. On my discipleship training school God allowed me to conquer that sin It has been a long time since I have done that and I believe that the power of God has kept me healthy. But something I am realizing here is that I really deeply struggle with self confidence and being comfortable with myself.
So to relate this to SooLee’s teaching… the purging is the branches and trunk of the tree. It is the clear representation of my sin and hurt. It is visible, but what I am learning now is that the purging came out of self confidence roots. With God’s divine love and faithful teachers like SooLee I hope to further look into these roots and really remove this habit of self hatred from my lifestyle.
I am also realizing new weaknesses in my life. I sometimes try to play God especially in my family. I so desperately want them on the right path, or what I think is right. I try and give my opinion way too often and it comes across as judgment. I am learning to surrender the people I love, and that maybe I want to do something that is good but it is not the right timing. I want to speak at the Holy Spirits prompting not just hand out my own advice all the time.
In other news, my back is almost 100% I am able to do almost all my dances. It has been really interesting seeing life from the non physical I was forced to be in bed when I wanted so badly to participate but just as God told Daivd he was not to build the temple, I was told those projects were not for me to dance in. There is a time for everything as the bible says in Ecclesiastes chapter 3….
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
I am learning so much about when and how to do things in life. I pray that this maturity would continue in the life of my classmates and me.
Outreach!!!!! So we are leaving next weekend. We have fun into some financial issues with other students but we are praying for God’s work to be done in last minute fundraising. It is really hard to believe that lecture is coming to an end! I am so thrilled for the adventure of outreach and the times of ministry and teaching ahead. Please be praying for our safety and team unity.
Thank you again for all of those reading, praying, and supporting. This has been a very intense journey and I look forward to the growing to come in outreach.
It is starting to warm up here in Ensenada and we have been able to walk on the beach during the weekends when we finish our homework. I walked the other day with my good friend Chanmin. She is a peppy hilarious Korean girl. Please pray for her both of her parents tragically past away a few years ago and she is battling with a tremendous fear of man. She feels it is too difficult to create dance pieces here. Join with me in prayer for her and for her to receive freedom from this spiritual bondage.
We have also been speaking a lot about realizing the roots of our struggles. SooLee gave a great example of having to get to the source of our addictions. She has a thorn bush growing in her yard. So she cut off the branches and most of the tree, but a few days later it came back. So she went back out cut it down and then began to dig. She made a huge hole in her hard pulling up all the roots until she had to stop because the thorn bush was coming from a neighbor’s yard. Our sin and addictions works the same way. Many of you know that in the past I suffered from and purging my meals when I would eat to much. I desperately wanted control in my life and controlling food was an easy way to feel like I was in charge. On my discipleship training school God allowed me to conquer that sin It has been a long time since I have done that and I believe that the power of God has kept me healthy. But something I am realizing here is that I really deeply struggle with self confidence and being comfortable with myself.
So to relate this to SooLee’s teaching… the purging is the branches and trunk of the tree. It is the clear representation of my sin and hurt. It is visible, but what I am learning now is that the purging came out of self confidence roots. With God’s divine love and faithful teachers like SooLee I hope to further look into these roots and really remove this habit of self hatred from my lifestyle.
I am also realizing new weaknesses in my life. I sometimes try to play God especially in my family. I so desperately want them on the right path, or what I think is right. I try and give my opinion way too often and it comes across as judgment. I am learning to surrender the people I love, and that maybe I want to do something that is good but it is not the right timing. I want to speak at the Holy Spirits prompting not just hand out my own advice all the time.
In other news, my back is almost 100% I am able to do almost all my dances. It has been really interesting seeing life from the non physical I was forced to be in bed when I wanted so badly to participate but just as God told Daivd he was not to build the temple, I was told those projects were not for me to dance in. There is a time for everything as the bible says in Ecclesiastes chapter 3….
There is a time for everything,
and a season for every activity under the heavens:
a time to be born and a time to die,
a time to plant and a time to uproot,
a time to kill and a time to heal,
a time to tear down and a time to build,
a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance,
a time to scatter stones and a time to gather them,
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing,
a time to search and a time to give up,
a time to keep and a time to throw away,
a time to tear and a time to mend,
a time to be silent and a time to speak,
a time to love and a time to hate,
a time for war and a time for peace.
I am learning so much about when and how to do things in life. I pray that this maturity would continue in the life of my classmates and me.
Outreach!!!!! So we are leaving next weekend. We have fun into some financial issues with other students but we are praying for God’s work to be done in last minute fundraising. It is really hard to believe that lecture is coming to an end! I am so thrilled for the adventure of outreach and the times of ministry and teaching ahead. Please be praying for our safety and team unity.
Thank you again for all of those reading, praying, and supporting. This has been a very intense journey and I look forward to the growing to come in outreach.
It is starting to warm up here in Ensenada and we have been able to walk on the beach during the weekends when we finish our homework. I walked the other day with my good friend Chanmin. She is a peppy hilarious Korean girl. Please pray for her both of her parents tragically past away a few years ago and she is battling with a tremendous fear of man. She feels it is too difficult to create dance pieces here. Join with me in prayer for her and for her to receive freedom from this spiritual bondage.
Thursday, March 17, 2011
Another week down!
So this week has been all about our final projects. We have been practicing and refining are pieces some people have started all over and changed completely. It has been a really good week, but I have noticed the art in this school is not the challenging part for me. What challenges me the most is my spiritual growth.
I have come to terms with my hatred of confrontation. In my mind it is always bad to confront and the few times I have done it I always cry. But luckily I have leaders around me who see that and are challenging me to grow. it was so bad that I was approached about making a mistake that I actually did not make. But because I hate confrontation I just said sorry and went away sad. I was that afraid of people I couldn't even defend myself or share the truth. I think this is the root of so many issues I have. It can be so hard for me to trust people. I think in my mind I assume everyone will let me down. This negative thinking has really distanced me from the leadership here. But thankful we had a meeting yesterday and I threw out all my emotions and concerns.
again, I am learning that being upfront is the best way to honor a relationship. I then approached people I had been talking about and fortunately they were all very forgiving. it is so hard to share sometimes, but I feel so much more free after having just been truthful. Please pray I continue to express my heart and that I would not just follow the crowd or keep things pent up in my heart.
We are graduating from the lecture phase in a few weeks and I believe we will do a live streaming of the ceremony so those at home can watch. I will make sure to get all the details out to you awesome readers. I hope to perform my final project so I can share it with you all! Oh and a special thanks to the people at OST, where my dad works. I know you guys are enjoying my blog and it really encourages me to know your reading and praying! Thanks again!
Oh and another special prayer request. This is a photo of my good friend Wen ji and I. She is from Malaysia and is planning to join the ministry team in Hong Kong. Before she can go she has to raise the funds and find monthly supporters this is really had to do in Malaysia. In her culture the children are expected to care for the parents once they have reached adulthood. SO for Wen ji it will be hard to have consistent support. She has a vision to minister to people in the arts and spread the gospel to famous artists all over the world. Please keep her in your prayers!!
I have come to terms with my hatred of confrontation. In my mind it is always bad to confront and the few times I have done it I always cry. But luckily I have leaders around me who see that and are challenging me to grow. it was so bad that I was approached about making a mistake that I actually did not make. But because I hate confrontation I just said sorry and went away sad. I was that afraid of people I couldn't even defend myself or share the truth. I think this is the root of so many issues I have. It can be so hard for me to trust people. I think in my mind I assume everyone will let me down. This negative thinking has really distanced me from the leadership here. But thankful we had a meeting yesterday and I threw out all my emotions and concerns.
again, I am learning that being upfront is the best way to honor a relationship. I then approached people I had been talking about and fortunately they were all very forgiving. it is so hard to share sometimes, but I feel so much more free after having just been truthful. Please pray I continue to express my heart and that I would not just follow the crowd or keep things pent up in my heart.
We are graduating from the lecture phase in a few weeks and I believe we will do a live streaming of the ceremony so those at home can watch. I will make sure to get all the details out to you awesome readers. I hope to perform my final project so I can share it with you all! Oh and a special thanks to the people at OST, where my dad works. I know you guys are enjoying my blog and it really encourages me to know your reading and praying! Thanks again!
Oh and another special prayer request. This is a photo of my good friend Wen ji and I. She is from Malaysia and is planning to join the ministry team in Hong Kong. Before she can go she has to raise the funds and find monthly supporters this is really had to do in Malaysia. In her culture the children are expected to care for the parents once they have reached adulthood. SO for Wen ji it will be hard to have consistent support. She has a vision to minister to people in the arts and spread the gospel to famous artists all over the world. Please keep her in your prayers!!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
I have to say it has been the most unique week thus far of my trip. On Monday evening we performed at the carnival festival here in Ensenada. We got to do a really big production with a large stage, lights, and a fog machine. It was really funny because after we took our opening places on stage we saw the fog coming out at us. we all looked around at each other in excitement. We had a great performance and a wonderful turn out. But I pulled my lower back muscles during the middle of the show. I kept going till the end but by the time I got back to the changing area I was in tears. My muscles we seizing and severely strained.
My teammates quickly gathered around and all laid hands on my and began praying. I was then taken to the hospital and had some x-rays done and was placed on an i.v. It was kind of funny because they tired to put the iv in and it wouldn't take so the nurse was digging the needle into my arm. I could only feel the pain. I was unable to see what was happening because I was on my back. But I was really shocked when she moved to my other hand. Eventually the i.v. went in and I laid on a stretcher for about 45 mins. The staff was so nice and my leader Vanessa sat with me the whole time. They brought me home and I have been in bed since.
Shockingly enough I have not been too bored. The pain comes and goes but slowly I am on the road to recovery. I have been able to pray more and gain some solitude that I really needed. On Tuesday the team went to rehearsal and they reworked the dances without me and performed that very night at carnival. During there second performance a woman rededicated her life to Christ. It is so cool to be able to pray and still feel so apart of this group even though I am not physically there. And its great because all I have wanted to see is someone changed or saved. God is showing me the importance of being behind the scenes and having the ability to let go of my situation. Yes seeing people lead to Christ is an amazing thing, but we are called also to disciple one another and most times I find that a less important command and it's not so.
It was ironic because we do able study and every week we have to create a performance to reflect our readings. This week our team chose to create a dance to a song by Hillsong called, "Still" and literally I had to do that this week. I cannot dance for a few weeks. I could not even get out of my bad the last three days, but God is using this ti remind me that He is God. The girls came to my bedside and showed me that dance and it made me cry. It really looked so much better without me, and I don't say that to out myself down, but God made me being absent help them to create something beautiful. It is so humbling to be forced to be still. To be once again reminded of how real and powerful prayer is. I look forward to learning to be patient in healing.
Oh and we also know where we are going on outreach. I am very excited because we will be traveling to three different areas of Mexico. We will be teaching in school, working with children s homes, performing, and of course spiritual warfare. We will be spending two and a half weeks in Cancun, Mexico City, and Juarez. Each one of these places has an amazing history and very intense past in Mexican culture. We know God has big plans for us and we look forward to seeing Him provide.
When the Oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with you above the storm. Father you are King above the flood. I will be still and know you are God.
Powerful words. Powerful God. My prayer is that in anything you are burdened with you would rest in Him. Let Him provide.
My teammates quickly gathered around and all laid hands on my and began praying. I was then taken to the hospital and had some x-rays done and was placed on an i.v. It was kind of funny because they tired to put the iv in and it wouldn't take so the nurse was digging the needle into my arm. I could only feel the pain. I was unable to see what was happening because I was on my back. But I was really shocked when she moved to my other hand. Eventually the i.v. went in and I laid on a stretcher for about 45 mins. The staff was so nice and my leader Vanessa sat with me the whole time. They brought me home and I have been in bed since.
Shockingly enough I have not been too bored. The pain comes and goes but slowly I am on the road to recovery. I have been able to pray more and gain some solitude that I really needed. On Tuesday the team went to rehearsal and they reworked the dances without me and performed that very night at carnival. During there second performance a woman rededicated her life to Christ. It is so cool to be able to pray and still feel so apart of this group even though I am not physically there. And its great because all I have wanted to see is someone changed or saved. God is showing me the importance of being behind the scenes and having the ability to let go of my situation. Yes seeing people lead to Christ is an amazing thing, but we are called also to disciple one another and most times I find that a less important command and it's not so.
It was ironic because we do able study and every week we have to create a performance to reflect our readings. This week our team chose to create a dance to a song by Hillsong called, "Still" and literally I had to do that this week. I cannot dance for a few weeks. I could not even get out of my bad the last three days, but God is using this ti remind me that He is God. The girls came to my bedside and showed me that dance and it made me cry. It really looked so much better without me, and I don't say that to out myself down, but God made me being absent help them to create something beautiful. It is so humbling to be forced to be still. To be once again reminded of how real and powerful prayer is. I look forward to learning to be patient in healing.
Oh and we also know where we are going on outreach. I am very excited because we will be traveling to three different areas of Mexico. We will be teaching in school, working with children s homes, performing, and of course spiritual warfare. We will be spending two and a half weeks in Cancun, Mexico City, and Juarez. Each one of these places has an amazing history and very intense past in Mexican culture. We know God has big plans for us and we look forward to seeing Him provide.
When the Oceans rise and thunders roar, I will soar with you above the storm. Father you are King above the flood. I will be still and know you are God.
Powerful words. Powerful God. My prayer is that in anything you are burdened with you would rest in Him. Let Him provide.
Saturday, March 05, 2011
Ouch....
Sometimes growing can be so hard especially when it is in an area you feel mature in. This past two weeks has been so hectic for us. we are trying to finish our final project pieces, we have media homework every night, along with our very intense daily Schedule. Honestly I am so run down, but we have to keep fighting to finish. with four weeks left in the lecture phase and no final outreach destination, I am sure you can imagine how we feel.
I have been very challenged to watch my mouth this week. Gossip is a very easy habit to slip into, especially when your under a lot of stress.Plus I am learning so much about confronting this is a time to put that into place. I have some questions and concerns and I soon hope to meet with the leadership. I have such a hard time sharing with others about certain issues that I usually cry. Honestly not that crying i bad but I believe I do it out of a fear of man. I ask you to please pray for healed relationship and wisdom in our team.
Along with all these things we have almost every student paid in full for the lecture phase. this means no one will be in debt with Youth With a Mission and our focus can be outreach. Money came to us in amazing ways. God is definitely receiving the glory for that. As a few people may not be going on outreach our team dynamics will change, this and all of our performances will have to changed. We have been very flexible with whatever comes our way so I am sure we will be guided through the changes by grace....
But today!!! today is very exciting. The yearly Mardigra or Carnival festival is happening in Ensenada and we are planning to go two nights this weekend and dance and do some ministry. The base here went and set up a skate park for some kids to use and through that ministry wo young men were saved. We just want to serve people and display God's love in a place that it would not be likely to find. The base has a great chance to disciple these two young men. Ahhh it is so good to hear that happening it really lifts my spirits that God is being made known in a positive and comforting way, He is the God of all comfort.
So yes, God is moving and continuing to work, thank you for reading and praying and partnering with me in the work of the Lord. May He bless and keep you.
I have been very challenged to watch my mouth this week. Gossip is a very easy habit to slip into, especially when your under a lot of stress.Plus I am learning so much about confronting this is a time to put that into place. I have some questions and concerns and I soon hope to meet with the leadership. I have such a hard time sharing with others about certain issues that I usually cry. Honestly not that crying i bad but I believe I do it out of a fear of man. I ask you to please pray for healed relationship and wisdom in our team.
Along with all these things we have almost every student paid in full for the lecture phase. this means no one will be in debt with Youth With a Mission and our focus can be outreach. Money came to us in amazing ways. God is definitely receiving the glory for that. As a few people may not be going on outreach our team dynamics will change, this and all of our performances will have to changed. We have been very flexible with whatever comes our way so I am sure we will be guided through the changes by grace....
But today!!! today is very exciting. The yearly Mardigra or Carnival festival is happening in Ensenada and we are planning to go two nights this weekend and dance and do some ministry. The base here went and set up a skate park for some kids to use and through that ministry wo young men were saved. We just want to serve people and display God's love in a place that it would not be likely to find. The base has a great chance to disciple these two young men. Ahhh it is so good to hear that happening it really lifts my spirits that God is being made known in a positive and comforting way, He is the God of all comfort.
So yes, God is moving and continuing to work, thank you for reading and praying and partnering with me in the work of the Lord. May He bless and keep you.
Wednesday, February 23, 2011
Computer...
So this week marks a change in our school. We are now focused on the media portion of the school. We spend about 3 to 4 hours a day using photoshop and other tools for design. Please pray, we have many people that are first time users and we are all trying to adjust to the new programs, plus I really miss dancing and being active. But, we are learning the importance of profession design in the mission field and how being professional is important when sending a message. We all look forward to using these skill in other areas of life as well. It is amazing how much we can do to an image without having really expensive tools.
Our school is half way through, six weeks to go, and we have begun to also focus on the outreach portion. Outreach is an option for the school, but we would like to see everyone attend, this makes our team more powerful especially in our stage presence. There are several possibilities for outreach; Chile, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and possibly Haiti. We know we will be in more than one country during outreach so we will be hopefully booking flights next week. Personally I am all for Chile. I have always had a special interest in that country. I think God has a great sense of humor. Our school originally was planning to travel to Asia for outreach. I have such a passion to visit and minister in the eastern part of the world, but during prayer the Lord lead in a different direction. And funny enough most of those directions were in the Caribbean. Not that I am not super excited to be back in the Caribbean but I was hoping to see more of the world. it is so interesting where we may be taken. We all know God has big plans for us.
The Lord has granted us so much favor and power especially in the area of prayer. We have been praying for people to be healed, and it has happened, we have been praying for relationships and they are healed, we are praying for finances and we are confident the rest will come. I am learning so much about how important prayer is, especially for different countries, like America.
Being here has allowed me to see the United States from an outsiders perspective once again. I realize how many things really distract me there. Our country is so blessed and so very rich compared to the rest of the world. Not that technology is bad, but it has the potential. After not sending a text for two months I can safely say I don't miss being attached to my phone. It should be used to bless and not text about gossip. I realized how I text sometimes out of frustration instead of using it to be a way to pass along prayer or an encouraging word. I ask you, what are you using to waste time that you could be using to further God's kingdom? I know for me I am seeing all the silly idols I have in life. God honors our obedience, so maybe write a note or make someone dinner, or change the way you see the things you enjoy, how can you bless someone?
Here is a picture of our beach outside of our base. Most of our weekends are spent doing homework, but we made it a point to venture out and see more of Mexico. I had a great peace fall over me before I took this, I hope it transfers to you too.
Our school is half way through, six weeks to go, and we have begun to also focus on the outreach portion. Outreach is an option for the school, but we would like to see everyone attend, this makes our team more powerful especially in our stage presence. There are several possibilities for outreach; Chile, Dominican Republic, Cuba, and possibly Haiti. We know we will be in more than one country during outreach so we will be hopefully booking flights next week. Personally I am all for Chile. I have always had a special interest in that country. I think God has a great sense of humor. Our school originally was planning to travel to Asia for outreach. I have such a passion to visit and minister in the eastern part of the world, but during prayer the Lord lead in a different direction. And funny enough most of those directions were in the Caribbean. Not that I am not super excited to be back in the Caribbean but I was hoping to see more of the world. it is so interesting where we may be taken. We all know God has big plans for us.
The Lord has granted us so much favor and power especially in the area of prayer. We have been praying for people to be healed, and it has happened, we have been praying for relationships and they are healed, we are praying for finances and we are confident the rest will come. I am learning so much about how important prayer is, especially for different countries, like America.
Being here has allowed me to see the United States from an outsiders perspective once again. I realize how many things really distract me there. Our country is so blessed and so very rich compared to the rest of the world. Not that technology is bad, but it has the potential. After not sending a text for two months I can safely say I don't miss being attached to my phone. It should be used to bless and not text about gossip. I realized how I text sometimes out of frustration instead of using it to be a way to pass along prayer or an encouraging word. I ask you, what are you using to waste time that you could be using to further God's kingdom? I know for me I am seeing all the silly idols I have in life. God honors our obedience, so maybe write a note or make someone dinner, or change the way you see the things you enjoy, how can you bless someone?
Here is a picture of our beach outside of our base. Most of our weekends are spent doing homework, but we made it a point to venture out and see more of Mexico. I had a great peace fall over me before I took this, I hope it transfers to you too.
Saturday, February 19, 2011
Waiting, Hoping, Wishing, Thinking
So I am going to keep giving you all my journal as an update from this week. We had these amazing teacher Jeff and Natalie. They spend there life teaching people how to dance and training up teams to travel the world and bring the gospel through the arts. It was such a joy to be around them and to learn from them. I have been praying a lot for people back home, a guy in my grad class committed suicide, so I have been praying for his family especially, also for my church. I feel there are some areas that need growth there but are not being nurtured. I also am learning a lot about waiting on God and trying to remember that his plan is so much better than my own. I have had a lot of ideas and exciting thoughts about my future so all in all I need to surrender my own ways, but that is just a little of what is on my heart, here is my weekly breakdown.
New – I learned a lot about the Levites this week and the great things God had them do in the bible. I never heard to story for Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. In this the Levites go before the soldiers’ going to battle, God calls them to dance and praise Him before the victory happens. God promises victory to His people and they honor Him and believe Him by giving Him praise before He actually fulfills his word. The worshipers of God were put on the front line. I always like hearing Old Testament stories from different perspectives. Jeff and Natalie also taught in a really unique way. They almost did dance, preaching, and words of affirmation in one. They praise God and apply His word and ways to the time they are teaching dance. They don’t separate lecture and studio time they combined them together making dance a really intense worship experience. I was moved this week during dance and open to worship freely while learning the movement and praising God all at once. It was an awesome experience they have such a passion and joy for God.
Confirmation- I was so encouraged by Jeff and Natalie and the passion they have for the Lord. When Natalie spoke on Thursday she confirmed several things for me. I have been growing in my quiet time and I always want that to me more of a priority in my life at home. I think it is so important to have that time alone with God seeking only Him and not having the distractions that are at home. Natalie confirmed the importance of time with God in her testimony about how she moved to California and really grew in her knowledge of the Lord and was strengthened in her relationship with Him. I believe God is doing that in me now, but I still need to me searching harder and spending more time in His presences. I don’t have the responsibilities of home around me know and I believe that is so I will not be distracted from pursuing a better devotional time with the Lord.
Practical- Something I have wanted to work on is my mindset during dance. Jeff and Natalie are both very different but they praise God with there movement and they take the time to explain how movement can be a representation of scripture. I want to apply this to my final project I want my movement to clearly show what God has done in me. This week has encouraged me to be more diligent in my dance moves for my project. There is a part in my dance where I begin to realize I am caught in Sin I want to find movements that clearly show my struggle and pain.
YWAM Value 2- The base here has an amazing Homes of Hope project. Not only do they build homes for families but they share the gospel while blessing others. Many times the team puts up a house in 2 days and is able to share the gospel and lead people to Christ. They are not only making God know through creating housing, but through building relationships with the families in need and explaining what YWAM is all about, making God known to His people. I would really like for our class to be apart of the building process on weekend before we leave. I think it would be awesome way to bless and be apart of something that would partner us more with the base here in Ensenada.
Personally- I am doing well. I was so moved and motivated by Jeff and Natalie. They spoke so much encouragement to me about dance and worship. They were both understanding and challenging. I liked that we did a little acting in our dance about “Lust, Witchcraft, Greed, and Anger. I like these theatrical dances we have for our team. I also really feel like we are to go to Chile on outreach I don’t know why, but I have always had a special place for that country in my heart. I am excited to focus on outreach too. I am a nit nervous about the media weeks of the school. I like to be up and moving so I may get fidgety but I know I have so much to learn with work on the computer so it will be fun to create at a more professional level that way. I was really blessed by the devotional that Lizzie presented the other morning. She spoke about having confidence in God and I know I lack in that area, on of my prayer request is too stop over analyzing my body.
New – I learned a lot about the Levites this week and the great things God had them do in the bible. I never heard to story for Jehoshaphat in 2 Chronicles 20. In this the Levites go before the soldiers’ going to battle, God calls them to dance and praise Him before the victory happens. God promises victory to His people and they honor Him and believe Him by giving Him praise before He actually fulfills his word. The worshipers of God were put on the front line. I always like hearing Old Testament stories from different perspectives. Jeff and Natalie also taught in a really unique way. They almost did dance, preaching, and words of affirmation in one. They praise God and apply His word and ways to the time they are teaching dance. They don’t separate lecture and studio time they combined them together making dance a really intense worship experience. I was moved this week during dance and open to worship freely while learning the movement and praising God all at once. It was an awesome experience they have such a passion and joy for God.
Confirmation- I was so encouraged by Jeff and Natalie and the passion they have for the Lord. When Natalie spoke on Thursday she confirmed several things for me. I have been growing in my quiet time and I always want that to me more of a priority in my life at home. I think it is so important to have that time alone with God seeking only Him and not having the distractions that are at home. Natalie confirmed the importance of time with God in her testimony about how she moved to California and really grew in her knowledge of the Lord and was strengthened in her relationship with Him. I believe God is doing that in me now, but I still need to me searching harder and spending more time in His presences. I don’t have the responsibilities of home around me know and I believe that is so I will not be distracted from pursuing a better devotional time with the Lord.
Practical- Something I have wanted to work on is my mindset during dance. Jeff and Natalie are both very different but they praise God with there movement and they take the time to explain how movement can be a representation of scripture. I want to apply this to my final project I want my movement to clearly show what God has done in me. This week has encouraged me to be more diligent in my dance moves for my project. There is a part in my dance where I begin to realize I am caught in Sin I want to find movements that clearly show my struggle and pain.
YWAM Value 2- The base here has an amazing Homes of Hope project. Not only do they build homes for families but they share the gospel while blessing others. Many times the team puts up a house in 2 days and is able to share the gospel and lead people to Christ. They are not only making God know through creating housing, but through building relationships with the families in need and explaining what YWAM is all about, making God known to His people. I would really like for our class to be apart of the building process on weekend before we leave. I think it would be awesome way to bless and be apart of something that would partner us more with the base here in Ensenada.
Personally- I am doing well. I was so moved and motivated by Jeff and Natalie. They spoke so much encouragement to me about dance and worship. They were both understanding and challenging. I liked that we did a little acting in our dance about “Lust, Witchcraft, Greed, and Anger. I like these theatrical dances we have for our team. I also really feel like we are to go to Chile on outreach I don’t know why, but I have always had a special place for that country in my heart. I am excited to focus on outreach too. I am a nit nervous about the media weeks of the school. I like to be up and moving so I may get fidgety but I know I have so much to learn with work on the computer so it will be fun to create at a more professional level that way. I was really blessed by the devotional that Lizzie presented the other morning. She spoke about having confidence in God and I know I lack in that area, on of my prayer request is too stop over analyzing my body.
Sunday, February 13, 2011
Journal excerpt
So Each week we have to create a journal. It not only has to meet the written requirements, but the media technique is also held to a certain standard. We have to answer various questions about the weeks topic and speaker and then create a design to express an artistic approach on our past lesson. Our leaders have asked we not share the media portion of the journal, but I thought a great way to inform my supporters is to share the written portion.....
Confirmation- Our school has been taught a lot about our gifts/talents/dreams. I feel as though each speaker has encouraged us to follow God and continue working on the raft he has given us. This was again confirmed in Randall’s teaching, on Monday he opened his talk explaining about how God will excel us when we not only practice, but accept the gifts he has given us. This is really one of the bigger foundational lessons in our school. I was also confirmed in the fact that God has blessed me with dance abilities, when our team met together to practice the material from the mentor crew I had not forgotten. This was really exciting I want to continue to honor our teachers, and God allowed me to do that and encourage me about hip hop dance technique.
New- I feel as though I learned some new technique, but mostly I feel I have gained an entirely new look on the spiritual side of God’s thoughts towards the arts. Our speaker Randall clearly has God’s anointing over his life’s work. I love that Randall not only has an amazing testimony, but he also really knows and studies the bible. One thing Randall helped me to see is God’s desire to bless. In Psalm 23 it talks about how God prepares a table before us. Randall emphasized how God wants us to partake of the blessings he has made. He does not want us to suffer for no reason. He is our father and wants to see us blessed and happy. Sometimes I get caught up in sacrificing to God for the sake of sacrificing. I don’t believe God wants us to live that way. He simply asks us to follow and receive at His prompting. It was also interesting learning mime techniques. I would have liked more focus on that area, but I found it really neat learning how to imitate fire with our hands ands how to move our arms as water. Dan taught us different ways to move our hands and how to create different actions through pulsing our bodies. I feel like a small child in the world of dance, I am having so much fun. I feel like a child with a new doll to play with.
Practical- One teaching that really felt practical for here in now is Randall thoughts on the contents of art. Art does not have to be religious to have Christian value. God created all things and gives us the ability to create works of art that go outside the boundaries of nature. One way I can see this is in our dances. Our dance is this week was about the four elements; earth, wind, fire, and water. Those things alone are not necessarily Christina topics, but God created them and we can use our dance to represent His creation, and not praise the creation itself, but the creator. This one of the ways we are free to open our art forms instead of having someone play Jesus in all our dances and dramas.
YWAM Value 10- We had a great chance to function I in a team this week. Our speaker gave us homework where we had to create 2 minutes if dance where we reflected and represented “wind.” We had a team of 5 people and about an hour to create. We had some disagreements and varying opinions of what moves to do, but in the end it worked out. We did forget one of our formations, but as team we felt more comfortable creating after the exercise was over. It was challenging when someone had an idea but the other team members did not agree, but we all were humbled and came together in something we were unfamiliar with and that clearly demonstrates YWAM’s value of teamwork.
Personally- I am feeling much better than I did at the beginning of the week. I had a great talk with Faby about some of the things I am processing at the moment. I have noticed a lot of frustration in me lately. I think I am in survival mode so I just want to succeed at the school and I sometimes am not taking the time in prayer before I do things. I want to think more about God in what I do throughout the day, especially in dance. I want to be able to pray and dance at the same time. The more comfortable I get with the movement, the easier it will be to speak and hear from the lord while in motion.
Confirmation- Our school has been taught a lot about our gifts/talents/dreams. I feel as though each speaker has encouraged us to follow God and continue working on the raft he has given us. This was again confirmed in Randall’s teaching, on Monday he opened his talk explaining about how God will excel us when we not only practice, but accept the gifts he has given us. This is really one of the bigger foundational lessons in our school. I was also confirmed in the fact that God has blessed me with dance abilities, when our team met together to practice the material from the mentor crew I had not forgotten. This was really exciting I want to continue to honor our teachers, and God allowed me to do that and encourage me about hip hop dance technique.
New- I feel as though I learned some new technique, but mostly I feel I have gained an entirely new look on the spiritual side of God’s thoughts towards the arts. Our speaker Randall clearly has God’s anointing over his life’s work. I love that Randall not only has an amazing testimony, but he also really knows and studies the bible. One thing Randall helped me to see is God’s desire to bless. In Psalm 23 it talks about how God prepares a table before us. Randall emphasized how God wants us to partake of the blessings he has made. He does not want us to suffer for no reason. He is our father and wants to see us blessed and happy. Sometimes I get caught up in sacrificing to God for the sake of sacrificing. I don’t believe God wants us to live that way. He simply asks us to follow and receive at His prompting. It was also interesting learning mime techniques. I would have liked more focus on that area, but I found it really neat learning how to imitate fire with our hands ands how to move our arms as water. Dan taught us different ways to move our hands and how to create different actions through pulsing our bodies. I feel like a small child in the world of dance, I am having so much fun. I feel like a child with a new doll to play with.
Practical- One teaching that really felt practical for here in now is Randall thoughts on the contents of art. Art does not have to be religious to have Christian value. God created all things and gives us the ability to create works of art that go outside the boundaries of nature. One way I can see this is in our dances. Our dance is this week was about the four elements; earth, wind, fire, and water. Those things alone are not necessarily Christina topics, but God created them and we can use our dance to represent His creation, and not praise the creation itself, but the creator. This one of the ways we are free to open our art forms instead of having someone play Jesus in all our dances and dramas.
YWAM Value 10- We had a great chance to function I in a team this week. Our speaker gave us homework where we had to create 2 minutes if dance where we reflected and represented “wind.” We had a team of 5 people and about an hour to create. We had some disagreements and varying opinions of what moves to do, but in the end it worked out. We did forget one of our formations, but as team we felt more comfortable creating after the exercise was over. It was challenging when someone had an idea but the other team members did not agree, but we all were humbled and came together in something we were unfamiliar with and that clearly demonstrates YWAM’s value of teamwork.
Personally- I am feeling much better than I did at the beginning of the week. I had a great talk with Faby about some of the things I am processing at the moment. I have noticed a lot of frustration in me lately. I think I am in survival mode so I just want to succeed at the school and I sometimes am not taking the time in prayer before I do things. I want to think more about God in what I do throughout the day, especially in dance. I want to be able to pray and dance at the same time. The more comfortable I get with the movement, the easier it will be to speak and hear from the lord while in motion.
Wednesday, February 09, 2011
Been a while
Well a lot has gone on in the past week...
Our Amazing speakers from the Mentor Crew left last week. We all fell in love with them, they were like our parents. They showed us so much about discipline and dance. They were really unique people. Above is Silver and Joyce and myself. I hope God plans for us to reunite on day. I look up to the way they are a married couple serving God with their talents. I think that is the theme of our school. To serve God in the best way you can and to keep training yourself in your talent.
This week we are focusing on more modern dance. It is so different for us all. We are under less physical pressure, but we are learning a lot about God in the arts during our lecture time.
We are also growing in our student responsibilities. Every week we have bible study meetings and performances. So once a week we have to create a piece about what we are learning. We also are creating final projects which are really detailed, along with weekly devotionals and worship session, we have a few book reports and weekly media journals. Needless to say we are hitting the books hard.
Our scriptural principle for this week comes from 1 Corinthians 2;9
9 However, as it is written:
“What no eye has seen,
what no ear has heard,
and what no human mind has conceived”
the things God has prepared for those who love him.
The Lords will is so exciting. I think we sometimes make life harder for ourselves, we take on the martyr mentality, when really God wants to bless us. He prepares a table for us and desires us to eat and be joyful, there is no need to starve. This week is encouraging me to remember God's promise to bless.
Monday, January 31, 2011
Anybody feeling the Spirit?
As you all know, my school here is very multicultural. We have students from; Madagascar, Korea, Malaysia, China, Germany, America, England, Canada, Mexico, El Salvador, and Guatemala. We have all heard God's call and have stepped out in faith to be here in YWAM for performing arts. Some people were financially stable to come here and others we not.
I was very blessed to have the funds needed to be here. Unfortunately other students did not have the same ease I did in the areas of fiance. Some students have lecture fees, but not outreach fees and vis versa.
We all know and believe that God designed our school for this specific time and season. We all want to be here and are trusting in God to provide the rest. I humbly ask for your prayers. That God would affirm our desire to serve and keep us all here. In a few weeks people that have to paid fully will be asked to leave. I believe this is not God's best for us. After prayer if you are feeling a call to help us then please move. we need around $5,000 to stay together!
If you go to www.ywamsandiegobaja.org...you will see on the bottom right corner a section labeled "donations and payment" from there you choose the "make a contribution" button. You simply follow the instructions listed. Under the section entitled "Your payment is for..." Please pick, "Tuition payment or product purchases" and underneath you can explain the donation is for the IMP School in general concerning outreach and lecture fees.
First pray! Thank you for reading and praying for us it is highly apperciated!
I was very blessed to have the funds needed to be here. Unfortunately other students did not have the same ease I did in the areas of fiance. Some students have lecture fees, but not outreach fees and vis versa.
We all know and believe that God designed our school for this specific time and season. We all want to be here and are trusting in God to provide the rest. I humbly ask for your prayers. That God would affirm our desire to serve and keep us all here. In a few weeks people that have to paid fully will be asked to leave. I believe this is not God's best for us. After prayer if you are feeling a call to help us then please move. we need around $5,000 to stay together!
If you go to www.ywamsandiegobaja.org...you will see on the bottom right corner a section labeled "donations and payment" from there you choose the "make a contribution" button. You simply follow the instructions listed. Under the section entitled "Your payment is for..." Please pick, "Tuition payment or product purchases" and underneath you can explain the donation is for the IMP School in general concerning outreach and lecture fees.
First pray! Thank you for reading and praying for us it is highly apperciated!
Saturday, January 29, 2011
Thank you Lord for Saturday!
Man I am so tired we have been dancing at least 6 hours everyday. Our teachers are professionals so we are being pushed so hard and it is really paying off. No we are not perfect, but we are giving it our all and I believe God will do great things with us artistically on outreach. Still no word on where we might go...
I have been hearing a lot about listening to God. Hearing the small still voice. I was encouraged to pray and not just speak to God about My future, My problems, My fears, My joys, but to listen and spend more time praying for others and especially the lost. I have not been diligent in praying for people who do not know the Lord. I have been caught up in school work and dance moves that I not taken a minute to remember I am doing this so someone later may see Christ reflected in our work. Do you pray for the Lost? Are you now Lost?
I have been hearing a lot about listening to God. Hearing the small still voice. I was encouraged to pray and not just speak to God about My future, My problems, My fears, My joys, but to listen and spend more time praying for others and especially the lost. I have not been diligent in praying for people who do not know the Lord. I have been caught up in school work and dance moves that I not taken a minute to remember I am doing this so someone later may see Christ reflected in our work. Do you pray for the Lost? Are you now Lost?
Tuesday, January 25, 2011
The body is just a vessle for the Spirit
I have had so much go on in the last few days. Our amazing speaker Mary Jane went back to Tennessee and she is deeply missed. She brought us so much hope about redeeming the arts for Gods glory.
I also found out I have a fungus in my scalp. I feel like God is teaching me a lot about myself as He tends to do when I am in YWAM. Over the past maybe two years I have gone under many physical issues; I was misdiagnosed/healed from a sickness, I had to have surgery on my foot, I had lice for a while without knowing it and because I had it so bad it came back a few times, and now I am itching violently because of a fungus from who knows where…. Along with these physical issues I have always been very critical of my body and how I view my appearance. Those of you closest to me are well aware of my self confidence issues and may I take a moment to apologize because it is such a waste of time. So all this is happening and I have felt clarity about all the illness I have had.
It seems that God has been teaching me, yes it is important to take care of my body but physically I need to be less critical. I need to stop believing the lies that I look fat, old, or that I am too tall… the list goes on. I have struggled so deeply with these lies and I am really seeing how it is disagreeing with God. He created me and he dose not make junk. I have been continually sinning against him by my thoughts attitudes, and the attention I have spent analyzing myself.
I had a leader of mine pray over me last Friday. I was very stressed out about the media work, completing my assignments, working on my art project, balancing a full day schedule, and on top of it having a fungus that may spread. So my leader was praying and I was reminded of a time I prayed on DTS and it was very sincere and real. Basically I had a prayer time and felt that God sees me as a purple flower. That I am God beloved flower in His garden, He looks on me with love and sees the beauty he gave me. Having that memory really tied all this together. I feel He is teaching me to love Him more and in turn love myself more. I am His. I started to feel bad because I have wasted a lot of time and energy on being really hard on myself, but this is not about living in the past it is about changing the future and the Lord is showing me how to be comfortable in my own skin.
On the school side of things are teachers are so amazing we have about 6 hours of dancing a day and we have learned a dance to the Mary Mary song “shackles”. It is really fun dancing for the lord and doing it well. Hopefully I can put a video up soon but I need permission first. Please pray for the team we are all being pushed this week and we are all growing in different ways, the people who don’t dance are a little discouraged, but standing strong.
Again, thank you for reading!
I also found out I have a fungus in my scalp. I feel like God is teaching me a lot about myself as He tends to do when I am in YWAM. Over the past maybe two years I have gone under many physical issues; I was misdiagnosed/healed from a sickness, I had to have surgery on my foot, I had lice for a while without knowing it and because I had it so bad it came back a few times, and now I am itching violently because of a fungus from who knows where…. Along with these physical issues I have always been very critical of my body and how I view my appearance. Those of you closest to me are well aware of my self confidence issues and may I take a moment to apologize because it is such a waste of time. So all this is happening and I have felt clarity about all the illness I have had.
It seems that God has been teaching me, yes it is important to take care of my body but physically I need to be less critical. I need to stop believing the lies that I look fat, old, or that I am too tall… the list goes on. I have struggled so deeply with these lies and I am really seeing how it is disagreeing with God. He created me and he dose not make junk. I have been continually sinning against him by my thoughts attitudes, and the attention I have spent analyzing myself.
I had a leader of mine pray over me last Friday. I was very stressed out about the media work, completing my assignments, working on my art project, balancing a full day schedule, and on top of it having a fungus that may spread. So my leader was praying and I was reminded of a time I prayed on DTS and it was very sincere and real. Basically I had a prayer time and felt that God sees me as a purple flower. That I am God beloved flower in His garden, He looks on me with love and sees the beauty he gave me. Having that memory really tied all this together. I feel He is teaching me to love Him more and in turn love myself more. I am His. I started to feel bad because I have wasted a lot of time and energy on being really hard on myself, but this is not about living in the past it is about changing the future and the Lord is showing me how to be comfortable in my own skin.
On the school side of things are teachers are so amazing we have about 6 hours of dancing a day and we have learned a dance to the Mary Mary song “shackles”. It is really fun dancing for the lord and doing it well. Hopefully I can put a video up soon but I need permission first. Please pray for the team we are all being pushed this week and we are all growing in different ways, the people who don’t dance are a little discouraged, but standing strong.
Again, thank you for reading!
Wednesday, January 19, 2011
Your Dream!
We have an amazing speaker with us this week. Her name is Mary Jane Miller and she is speaking on acting and teaching us techniques in pantomime and editing scripts. She is courageous and spoke primarily today on what are dreams in life may be.
We all have a dream whether or not we know now what it is. God is leading us towards it or we have a foundation in knowing the things we love to do, the things we feel created to do, whatever your dream may be I hope you read this and feel encouraged.
we are all unique and along with that we each have a unique dream. Many people have decided not to pursue their dream and say that it is now too late. Let me say this; Never ever is it too late to stop what you are doing and answer the longing in your heart to pursue your passion. Our God is loving, he would not give you a desire and passion to then take it away. Things will never happen instantly. We have to struggle to get where God has placed us, it makes us ready and capable to fulfill His will.
I was so inspired by this today. I don't know if I have a specific dream yet, but I do know this. I love to perform either dance, drama, or music. I love kids of all ages and levels of development. I desire to have a family. I love camp. Now I don't have a specific dream that incorporates all these things, but I will continue to practice and work at these passions. God has given you a passion and a talent. To not practice and fall into the ordinary of this world is dishonoring the giver of your gift. So go back to what you love. I am not saying to abandon your responsibilities. You are where you are now for a reason and God has blessed it, but to be doing what you love, what you were created for, is God's best.
I hope this is making sense. I just know a lot of people who feel stuck or feel like they are not serving God. You can serve God anywhere, but you can also make the choice to follow the passion He has placed in your heart. I hope you are blessed and that you leave the mediocre and choose His Will, the love and talent He put into your heart is there for a reason. If you let it pass by I have good news; It hasn't passed. You can always change, it may not be your original dream, but it will be close. I pray He blesses you and enriches your life with His Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 1;26-29
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Christ is our redemption. Do what He has made you to love. The worlds opinion is worthless. God uses the unlikely.
We all have a dream whether or not we know now what it is. God is leading us towards it or we have a foundation in knowing the things we love to do, the things we feel created to do, whatever your dream may be I hope you read this and feel encouraged.
we are all unique and along with that we each have a unique dream. Many people have decided not to pursue their dream and say that it is now too late. Let me say this; Never ever is it too late to stop what you are doing and answer the longing in your heart to pursue your passion. Our God is loving, he would not give you a desire and passion to then take it away. Things will never happen instantly. We have to struggle to get where God has placed us, it makes us ready and capable to fulfill His will.
I was so inspired by this today. I don't know if I have a specific dream yet, but I do know this. I love to perform either dance, drama, or music. I love kids of all ages and levels of development. I desire to have a family. I love camp. Now I don't have a specific dream that incorporates all these things, but I will continue to practice and work at these passions. God has given you a passion and a talent. To not practice and fall into the ordinary of this world is dishonoring the giver of your gift. So go back to what you love. I am not saying to abandon your responsibilities. You are where you are now for a reason and God has blessed it, but to be doing what you love, what you were created for, is God's best.
I hope this is making sense. I just know a lot of people who feel stuck or feel like they are not serving God. You can serve God anywhere, but you can also make the choice to follow the passion He has placed in your heart. I hope you are blessed and that you leave the mediocre and choose His Will, the love and talent He put into your heart is there for a reason. If you let it pass by I have good news; It hasn't passed. You can always change, it may not be your original dream, but it will be close. I pray He blesses you and enriches your life with His Holy Spirit.
1 Corinthians 1;26-29
26 Brothers and sisters, think of what you were when you were called. Not many of you were wise by human standards; not many were influential; not many were of noble birth. 27 But God chose the foolish things of the world to shame the wise; God chose the weak things of the world to shame the strong. 28 God chose the lowly things of this world and the despised things—and the things that are not—to nullify the things that are, 29 so that no one may boast before him. 30 It is because of him that you are in Christ Jesus, who has become for us wisdom from God—that is, our righteousness, holiness and redemption. 31 Therefore, as it is written: “Let the one who boasts boast in the Lord.”
Christ is our redemption. Do what He has made you to love. The worlds opinion is worthless. God uses the unlikely.
Sunday, January 16, 2011
A quick Overview
Well, it has been a nice weekend. I have officially been in Ensenada a week. God has already blessed my relationships here and at home. I feel a little scrambled but I have a lot I want to share.
I have really been depending on God for patience. Their is a wide variety of cultures mixing here, along with a variety of personalities. Please pray for me in that. I need to relax. But, the families on the base have some adorable Mexican children. I hang out with them whenever I can and I seem to be on the same level of communication as they are. I can speak to the children in Spanish, but I sometimes get stuck when trying to follow the adults. I went on a walk on the beach yesterday and it was so peaceful. It made me really happy to be in a world free of talking just my ipod, the sea, and me. The tide was out so I could walk in a shallow part of the sand. I meet a nice older man walking his dog. We had a short conversation and I believe he is a christian. Our communication lacked a little because I couldn't follow his quick Spanish. But, we parted with a handshake and went about our days. I also saw a lot of families on the beach having picnics of playing in the sand. It was really great. I walked on the beach later that day with my friend Wenji. We had a nice time but we were offered drugs at the end of our walk. we decided it is better to go with more people or earlier in the day.
Our first speaker is teaching on theater. I am very much looking forward to see what skills I have retained from my past experience in this discipline of the arts. We have several projects and weekly assignment and one of them is to create an artistic piece. it can be a dance drama or song. I really am worried because this whole project is about listening to God and I don't know how much is my own influence and not being open to the Lord to show me what to do. This is a hard part in having faith. I have to listen to God and honestly sometimes I don't know if I am hearing from Him or it's me.
I have really been depending on God for patience. Their is a wide variety of cultures mixing here, along with a variety of personalities. Please pray for me in that. I need to relax. But, the families on the base have some adorable Mexican children. I hang out with them whenever I can and I seem to be on the same level of communication as they are. I can speak to the children in Spanish, but I sometimes get stuck when trying to follow the adults. I went on a walk on the beach yesterday and it was so peaceful. It made me really happy to be in a world free of talking just my ipod, the sea, and me. The tide was out so I could walk in a shallow part of the sand. I meet a nice older man walking his dog. We had a short conversation and I believe he is a christian. Our communication lacked a little because I couldn't follow his quick Spanish. But, we parted with a handshake and went about our days. I also saw a lot of families on the beach having picnics of playing in the sand. It was really great. I walked on the beach later that day with my friend Wenji. We had a nice time but we were offered drugs at the end of our walk. we decided it is better to go with more people or earlier in the day.
Our first speaker is teaching on theater. I am very much looking forward to see what skills I have retained from my past experience in this discipline of the arts. We have several projects and weekly assignment and one of them is to create an artistic piece. it can be a dance drama or song. I really am worried because this whole project is about listening to God and I don't know how much is my own influence and not being open to the Lord to show me what to do. This is a hard part in having faith. I have to listen to God and honestly sometimes I don't know if I am hearing from Him or it's me.
Wednesday, January 12, 2011
Class has begun
Today we had our first full day! Our schedule is going to be quite packed in in the next three months we will be spending approximately 105 hours in the dance studio! We also have weekly journals, presentations, book reports, and a big final project. I am sure I will have to make up a dance and that is a scary thought. But, I over and over again learn that in my weakness He is strong.
I also feel a lot closer to my fellow students. There are a few people that joke a lot and I cannot tell whether or not they are just that way, or they don't like me. Oh well, I will just keep being nice and pray for a change.
We had a discussion on cross cultural experiences and talked about all the different nations that tell jokes and dislike other countries. It was interesting to hear what stereotypes were sometimes true and false about different countries. I challenge you to be more aware of teasing another place or people group. I know for me I realized it was quite prevalent back home. Jokes about peoples customs, gender, or race are really disrespectful to the Lord and the different nations he has created.
on a lighter note, I have found a great little spot for some dancing and worship time. We have a rooftop with a nice tall railing so I have gone up there a few times to be a lone and get some sunshine. It is actually quite cold here and we are in a shaded area. I am rocking the layers all the time!
We saw a video about the Masters of Beauty Ministry or MBM. This group is our staff for the school here in Mexico they came all the way from Hong Kong to lead the school. My roommate Sandrina also showed me a really cool dance. I am going to post it on my facebook later, if you have time check it out I thought it was really nice.
I also feel a lot closer to my fellow students. There are a few people that joke a lot and I cannot tell whether or not they are just that way, or they don't like me. Oh well, I will just keep being nice and pray for a change.
We had a discussion on cross cultural experiences and talked about all the different nations that tell jokes and dislike other countries. It was interesting to hear what stereotypes were sometimes true and false about different countries. I challenge you to be more aware of teasing another place or people group. I know for me I realized it was quite prevalent back home. Jokes about peoples customs, gender, or race are really disrespectful to the Lord and the different nations he has created.
on a lighter note, I have found a great little spot for some dancing and worship time. We have a rooftop with a nice tall railing so I have gone up there a few times to be a lone and get some sunshine. It is actually quite cold here and we are in a shaded area. I am rocking the layers all the time!
We saw a video about the Masters of Beauty Ministry or MBM. This group is our staff for the school here in Mexico they came all the way from Hong Kong to lead the school. My roommate Sandrina also showed me a really cool dance. I am going to post it on my facebook later, if you have time check it out I thought it was really nice.
Monday, January 10, 2011
Town Pictures
These are some areas of the surrounding 4 to 5 miles we walked this morning. It is really similar to Jamaica which has given me this awesome feeling of being at home in some ways.
Made it!
Wow ok I have been in
I went to the airport and said goodbye to my loved ones. I did surprisingly well until it was time to say goodbye to Brooks (My incredible boyfriend). We both knew it would be significantly difficult to say goodbye for 5 months, but nothing could have prepared me. I was hugging him before the security line and I just felt my heart collapse. It was so hard to trust God and turn the corner out of sight.
I spent the first plane ride off and on crying and listening to music brooks had made me from some of our jam sessions and his beautiful solo work. I made it to my next connecting flight with easy, but still accompanied by a few tears as I was able to have one last phone call with Brooks.
I then caught my next flight and was
About 30 mins into the flight they offer complementary snacks and drinks. I again picked the yummy delta gingersnaps and slowly began eating. A little later the man next to me asked if I wanted anything else, he was offering to pay for my lunch. I kindly said no and went back to the cookies, water, and ipod. While I was slowly chewing and making every bite count the man next to me put a sandwich on my tray. It was certain he wanted to feed me, so I took off the headphones and said thank you. We then shared and meal and the reasons we were headed to
We flew over the
As I was waiting then man from the plane approached me asking, "Do you need money for your trip?" I replied, “If you would like to give you are welcome. I can give it away." He then handed me 40 dollars. We introduced ourselves and parted ways. What an awesome encounter? So with 40 extra dollars in my pocket I was picked up by one of my leaders Brain and a fellow student named Paul. We spent some time and
It was really cool this morning because the girl from
She really wanted to be at this school and was really worried about the money to get here, until the Lord spoke to her in a dream. She was dreaming that the Lord Jesus was standing in front of her holding her hand and she could feel His hand and the peace from it. The lord asked her why she feared money, then he showed her a picture of a lion seated in a field with tall grasses blowing in the wind, she felt peace and the next morning decided to answer the call, not fear money, and do everything to make it to Ensenada. She trusted God and I am so glad the man on the plane gave so I could give and she could be encouraged that she did the right thing and know that money doesn’t matter... let me say that again MONEY DOSN'T MATTER.
So yes it has been less than a day, but the lord is working. I plan to post a few pictures from our trip into town today. Thank you for reading and praying.
God Bless
Friday, January 07, 2011
Just a few Days!
Wow, God has made so much possible for me to go back into Youth With A Mission. I have had a lot of fun and exciting challenges over this past week. It is really hard to leave for a long time when you have such a big group of family and supporters, I didn't get to say goodbye to everyone, but hope they all know how grateful I am. God has blessed me so much that he always keeps me humble. I know the money going with me is not mine, but His, the things we will do don't deserve credit from us, but Him. I am excited for the blessings and growth that will take place in my own heart, and hopeful I may be used to clearly display the gospel in any situation. I want to go to see people accept the Lord, and hopefully become more devoted to Him in my own heart.
the only thing left to do is pack. You know how packing for the beach or a week long trip can be exciting? Well packing for 5 months is Stressful. You never know what exactly you need to wear especially when you have never been to the place your traveling, but again God gave me all the things I needed so I am sure He will pack the same way.
I am unsure if it's because of stress or what, but I seem to be developing a sore throat so if you find some time please pray I am 100% by Sunday I really don't want to travel and be feeling this ill, but I'm sure if I am God will use it for His Glory. thank you again for reading and praying. The next time I blog I will be in San Diego!
He is so Good!
Oh and I wanted to let those reading know about my new mail address! Letters are fun and it is a really cool way to stay in touch!
YWAM San Deigo/Baja
Ashley Guilday - IPM Ensenada
100 West 35th Street, Suite C
National City, CA 91950
USA
the only thing left to do is pack. You know how packing for the beach or a week long trip can be exciting? Well packing for 5 months is Stressful. You never know what exactly you need to wear especially when you have never been to the place your traveling, but again God gave me all the things I needed so I am sure He will pack the same way.
I am unsure if it's because of stress or what, but I seem to be developing a sore throat so if you find some time please pray I am 100% by Sunday I really don't want to travel and be feeling this ill, but I'm sure if I am God will use it for His Glory. thank you again for reading and praying. The next time I blog I will be in San Diego!
He is so Good!
Oh and I wanted to let those reading know about my new mail address! Letters are fun and it is a really cool way to stay in touch!
YWAM San Deigo/Baja
Ashley Guilday - IPM Ensenada
100 West 35th Street, Suite C
National City, CA 91950
USA
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