Wednesday, April 21, 2004
Update on Greece Outreach. All the students on DTS were told their outreach fees last night. Those going to the Phillipines had things pretty close to what was expected, those of us heading to Greece had a little bit of a suprise! Suddenly the weak dolar doesn't work too well in my favour...
So - please pray for me! I was learning about intercession this morning and from I learnt I can tell you it's pretty powerful! I haven't had too much experience of it first-hand, but considering the way things are the moment I'll get a full demonstration of it's power of it by the end of the fortnight!
Things to pray for: 1) That I meet my first payment deadline by the end of the fortnight, 2) That I meet my final payment deadline two weeks after the first, 3) I make the right decisions about collecting finance, 4) I have peace throughout the next few weeks. I've been told God can do anything, I know God's awesome but this still, to me, seems like a big thing! Is this what people refer to as, 'Outside one's comfort zone?!'.
One more thing - if you want to know why it's biblical to interceed, let me know. I've been taking notes and there's loads of verses on this in the bible. That's another thing I'm finding. There's usually multiple references in the bible for things that are important to God. Cool, huh?
Until the next time :)
So - please pray for me! I was learning about intercession this morning and from I learnt I can tell you it's pretty powerful! I haven't had too much experience of it first-hand, but considering the way things are the moment I'll get a full demonstration of it's power of it by the end of the fortnight!
Things to pray for: 1) That I meet my first payment deadline by the end of the fortnight, 2) That I meet my final payment deadline two weeks after the first, 3) I make the right decisions about collecting finance, 4) I have peace throughout the next few weeks. I've been told God can do anything, I know God's awesome but this still, to me, seems like a big thing! Is this what people refer to as, 'Outside one's comfort zone?!'.
One more thing - if you want to know why it's biblical to interceed, let me know. I've been taking notes and there's loads of verses on this in the bible. That's another thing I'm finding. There's usually multiple references in the bible for things that are important to God. Cool, huh?
Until the next time :)
Monday, April 19, 2004
So it's been 10 days since I left home. No TV. No Radio. No news. Weird cars. Funny trees. Warm Water. Vans that need new brakes urgently. Having the time of my life :)
Things here have now almost settled down into the routine to which I'll become accustomed to over the next 11 weeks. Cleaning rotas have been issued, school timetables been written down and 'prep' has been assigned to us. Nice. I'm also getting to know some amazing people here. There is a broad spectrum (albeit mainly Americans) of people both on the DTS course, and on base staff here. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience that can be picked up from so many people and most are more than eager to pass their findings on. Everyone here has a common goal and so it feels like we're all running in the same direction, I've never had that before I'm 'stoked' (hehe - local word that's used way to much over here!) to be in this place.
So in my last update I mentioned my choice of outreach destination. I came to my conclusion, submitted my decision to my leaders and waited. We didn't have to wait long, the next day in fact. So... come July I'll be jetting off too... Greece and to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Those of you that know a little of YWAM know that the Olympics has been a focus point for the organisation over the years. Ever since the 1972 Olympics in Germany, YWAM have sent teams every 4 years to 'Make God Known' to the many thousands of people that flock to the games. For me personally, I felt that God was challenging me to test my faith and conviction by going to Greece. The Phillipines were an awesome alternative, but I know that the battle has already been taken there and I wanted to be part of a front line initiative. I've heard so many great things about the Phillipines, but for me it would be more of a challenge to stand up to my faith in an environment more akin to my own culture. I don't want to post much more on this, but if you'd like more info. please e-mail me and I'll do my best to answer :)
Anyway, that's a ways off and I've have loads of great stuff happening here to look forward to. We've had some awesome times of worship and I'll post some of my experiences on this subject in the near future.
Until the next time friends.
Things here have now almost settled down into the routine to which I'll become accustomed to over the next 11 weeks. Cleaning rotas have been issued, school timetables been written down and 'prep' has been assigned to us. Nice. I'm also getting to know some amazing people here. There is a broad spectrum (albeit mainly Americans) of people both on the DTS course, and on base staff here. There is a wealth of knowledge and experience that can be picked up from so many people and most are more than eager to pass their findings on. Everyone here has a common goal and so it feels like we're all running in the same direction, I've never had that before I'm 'stoked' (hehe - local word that's used way to much over here!) to be in this place.
So in my last update I mentioned my choice of outreach destination. I came to my conclusion, submitted my decision to my leaders and waited. We didn't have to wait long, the next day in fact. So... come July I'll be jetting off too... Greece and to the 2004 Olympic Games in Athens.
Those of you that know a little of YWAM know that the Olympics has been a focus point for the organisation over the years. Ever since the 1972 Olympics in Germany, YWAM have sent teams every 4 years to 'Make God Known' to the many thousands of people that flock to the games. For me personally, I felt that God was challenging me to test my faith and conviction by going to Greece. The Phillipines were an awesome alternative, but I know that the battle has already been taken there and I wanted to be part of a front line initiative. I've heard so many great things about the Phillipines, but for me it would be more of a challenge to stand up to my faith in an environment more akin to my own culture. I don't want to post much more on this, but if you'd like more info. please e-mail me and I'll do my best to answer :)
Anyway, that's a ways off and I've have loads of great stuff happening here to look forward to. We've had some awesome times of worship and I'll post some of my experiences on this subject in the near future.
Until the next time friends.
Wednesday, April 14, 2004
Arrived at my destination last Thursday to be greeted by two crazy girls, high humidity and... rain! Welcome to Maui!
So far things have been amazing! We were welcomed in to school on Saturday evening at the little chapel across the way, presented with my lei (flowers around the neck - man, those things are beautiful) and had a great time of worship. Things here are so good. I can't begin to describe all the little things that are so cool about it!
The guys in Shelby's (the house I'm living at) are the best I could have wished for. Jake from California; Tyler from Florida; Tim from Edmonton, Canada; and Josh from Cheltenham, UK. We're getting on really well and fast becoming best friends.
Just got back from Exodus. We went away for two days camping out at 4000 feet up Holi'okala (spelling?) the dormant volcano on Maui. We hitch-hiked (legal and accepted over here, no public transport) to a beach before meeting up with the group and heading up into the mountain. There we set up a tarpulin to keep the rain out and settled around the camp fire to share testimonies before falling asleep. I took the choice of sleeping out and was rewarded with the most beautiful views of the stars I have ever seen, sacrificing my comfort though as it rained on my cotton sleeping-bag! We worshiped on both days, in the middle of a forest miles from nowhere. Awesome! The views of the island from that altitude (rare due to the clouds) were spectacular too. The next day we read the book of Joshua from start to end, after a few tasks. By late afternoon we were all tired, wet and aching. We had minimum kit under strict instruction and things begun to look a little less fun....
But then we were taken to another place on the mountain we were suprisingly welcomed by the whole of the YWAM base into a beautiful church where they had a Hawaiian Love Feast laid out for us. The leaders washed our feet (which were in really bad shape from the mud and water of the last 48 hours) which blew most of us away. The genuine love that the staff have here on the island was so apparant and lots of us were close to tears. The Holy Spirit really turned up big that evening and the worship we had was, again, awesome!
Not enough time to write everything! But quickly, outreach destinations have been decided upon.... Greece and the Olympic Games, or Dugapan in the Phillipines. Please pray for me that I make the right decision for this, I have to submit my answer by Thursday evening this week.
Mahalo for all your prayers!
So far things have been amazing! We were welcomed in to school on Saturday evening at the little chapel across the way, presented with my lei (flowers around the neck - man, those things are beautiful) and had a great time of worship. Things here are so good. I can't begin to describe all the little things that are so cool about it!
The guys in Shelby's (the house I'm living at) are the best I could have wished for. Jake from California; Tyler from Florida; Tim from Edmonton, Canada; and Josh from Cheltenham, UK. We're getting on really well and fast becoming best friends.
Just got back from Exodus. We went away for two days camping out at 4000 feet up Holi'okala (spelling?) the dormant volcano on Maui. We hitch-hiked (legal and accepted over here, no public transport) to a beach before meeting up with the group and heading up into the mountain. There we set up a tarpulin to keep the rain out and settled around the camp fire to share testimonies before falling asleep. I took the choice of sleeping out and was rewarded with the most beautiful views of the stars I have ever seen, sacrificing my comfort though as it rained on my cotton sleeping-bag! We worshiped on both days, in the middle of a forest miles from nowhere. Awesome! The views of the island from that altitude (rare due to the clouds) were spectacular too. The next day we read the book of Joshua from start to end, after a few tasks. By late afternoon we were all tired, wet and aching. We had minimum kit under strict instruction and things begun to look a little less fun....
But then we were taken to another place on the mountain we were suprisingly welcomed by the whole of the YWAM base into a beautiful church where they had a Hawaiian Love Feast laid out for us. The leaders washed our feet (which were in really bad shape from the mud and water of the last 48 hours) which blew most of us away. The genuine love that the staff have here on the island was so apparant and lots of us were close to tears. The Holy Spirit really turned up big that evening and the worship we had was, again, awesome!
Not enough time to write everything! But quickly, outreach destinations have been decided upon.... Greece and the Olympic Games, or Dugapan in the Phillipines. Please pray for me that I make the right decision for this, I have to submit my answer by Thursday evening this week.
Mahalo for all your prayers!
Thursday, April 01, 2004
Musn't forget to dress smart in an attempt to get United to bump me up to First Class...
