The Next Step

A lot has happened since I last wrote. And a lot is still to happen, hence why I thought I should let people know.
I came back from doing my DTS with YWAM, a changed man. It wasn't always obvious but deep down I knew I was, and I hope it showed. I came home for three weeks for a bit of a rest from the whirlwind ride and to see people and hang out. Hanging out is so good. Then I went back to Newcastle for three weeks to do a Staff Training school.
The STS is basically a leadership school gearing you up to be a leader in full time ministry, specifically in Missions. We learnt about developing character and how important that is for leaders. We got to help run an event called Not for Sale, which raised awareness and gave tools to help fight human slavery, which still exists and is SO prevalent today.
We also went away for a week to a beautiful place called Tahlee. It is an estate in the bush where we are going to run schools in the future. It was a good place to spend some time alone and think and pray on what our future holds and best to serve as we go into staff.
So then I came home, and have been home for the last 6 weeks or so. Its been a good time of rest, and especially of building relationship and getting to encourage others. I also spent the time telling people about what I have been doing and especially what I am planning to do.

Which is?
Well, I feel called into full time missions overseas at some point in my future. But I want to make sure I am prepared for this, as well as gain experience in missions and in leadership along the way. Also, I felt I grew so much on my DTS that I want to encourage others and help grow them to know God more, and I feel like I have the skill set to do this.
So with this, I am going back to YWAM Newcastle on staff for at least a year, to grow myself and to bless others. Its been a challenging journey. Everyone in YWAM relies on support, which means we don't get paid and rely on people who believe in what we're doing to support us to continue doing it. And that in itself has been hard to accept, and then to act out on to ask people for this support. But that has grown me and stretched me.

I hope for whoever reads this (all 3 of you) you can understand just why I am doing this, and I would love your support in any way. I can't do it without you! Literally. I hope you can think about supporting this ministry, in any way! And I hope you will be willing to come along on this journey with me.

Yours in Christ.

Beginnings of Ends

Our time here in India draws quickly to a close. I write this only days away from leaving this vibrant country for the cooler climate of newcastle. And as excited as I am to see everyones friendly faces, I know I'm going to miss this country in an amazing way. Its so different, and yet the same, even sometimes the colours seem to be different shades. And the energy and hospitality exuded from everyone can't be matched. And this last week of ministry is not going to help, as it was amazing.
On the tuesday Grayson led the team in a ministry where a little led to a lot. We were given 10 rupees and asked to get as much as possible with it. We ended up pooling our money and buying water and food for some poorer looking specimens.
On wednesday we went to a leper colony which we had all been waiting for for a long while. We got to hang out with them and speak to them through translators. Their stories were amazing, and for many, their faith was even more so. On Thursday we helped clean out a building to be used as the site of a future orphanage. It was actually a lot of fun.
On friday and saturday we worked with a church in holding some open airs. We danced and sung and drew crowds, although I suspect that it was mostly due to our skin colour rather than anything else. Then we usually ended with a gospel message. Many people came up to us afterwards for prayer, and I have faith that they will be healed, even if we don't see it.
This last week we have been chilling and winding down, we were supposed to go to a zoo, but Indians love to strike at inopportune times. We have debriefing to go, and then we leave.
And I'll speak to you then!!
Love you all!!

A Normal Week??

This week has been a week of challenges in my personal life, and of construction in our ministry.
We spent most if this week at an old persons home painting. I felt it was a good team bonding experience and we really got a lot done, whilst in our breaks we had Narnia adventures and explored the sights of India. I was also sick for a couple of days, which wasn't good, but I really used it as an opportunity to seek God on a lot of things and read and then hear from God. I'm so happy I serve a living God who speaks and excites and dreams with me. And then he reminds me that I am a partner with Him and these big, strange, scary things hes showing me will not be done alone but he has given us His spirit to go out and do amazing things.
I've been reading the book of Acts, and got inspired by the things the early apostles did. But then I got to wondering, why don't we see that any more? And more importantly, why shouldn't we?
I believe God wants to do greater things through us than what the apostles did. We have the same Spirit, the same power in us. The only difference is that they were willing to give of their all.
I read a book this week about the Chinese church and the Back to Jerusalem movement. It got me stirred up inside. Why do we fear our message of the gospel being rejected, and our feeling ashamed, when it is nothing compared to prison, torture or death that the chinese believers, and the early apostles went through.
I am challenged to be different. To not sit back and wait for "others" to do something. God wants to partner with you. He will be with you in everything you do, if you are serving Him. And if you empty yourself, amazing things will happen when God is able to fill you..
I'm going to make this a public declaration that I don't want to live a comfortable life. I don't want to be complacent. I want to grasp the fact that people are lost, dying and hurt and WE have been charged with saving them, and that persecution only means the enemy is upset with us because we're building the Kingdom of God. I want to see God work miracles of salvation in people the world would see as hopeless. I want to have God work powerfully in this world, and if thats through me, then good, and if not I'm fine with that too.
Our God is with us always, and all we need to do is let Him work. But He can't do that if we have our own agendas. Plus, I can guarantee, Gods agenda for you is infinitely more exciting than what you can dream of, after all, He is the one who invented imagination, and ours is only a shadow of what he can dream.
I love you all, and look forward to seeing you soon!!

Hallelujah (hallelujah)

My time in India is drawing to a close, we're now past the halfway point. I am looking forward to going home and seeing everyone, but I know this is an amazing opportunity here. Although I'm certain not the only opportunity ;)
This week we got to see a few cool touristy things amongst our ministry. We helped at yet another VBS on the monday, and met and prayed for the pastors. We did a few prayer walks around our local community as well as the fisherman village. We even got to play cricket with some of the kids. On Wednesday we also got to go and see an old temple from the time when India still had kings. We saw the old Kings bath, stone wall carvings and a giant rock that they claim the "Butter God" sat on.
From Friday to Sunday we have been helping out at a local crusade. Its pretty cool. They have a giant open air stage and they sing funny high energy Tamil songs interspersed with prayer by guest pastors. Then they have a guy speak for a (long) while, and usually we leave partway through because its late. Apparently he performs miracles though, which is sweet. We got to perform one of our skits on the stage, in front of I dont know how many people. We invested a lot of prayer into the services and I know they were effective. I just hope anyone saved can truly walk in Gods grace and know their life is changed.
On Saturday we also got to go and visit the supposed tomb of St Thomas the Apostle, one of the 12 disciples who was the very first missionary to India and was martyred there. There were a lot of Catholic relics there, and it was really interesting to see. And Kyle even bought some holy water for 30 rupees!! Now we can really bless people :)
It was a good, although kind of disorganised week because a lot of things were cancelled and moved around. I'm hoping this week we might get to visit a leper and gypsy colony which we were supposed to go to this week.
As always, I thank you for your prayers and ask you continue to pray for us as were over here. Whether you believe, see or know it or not, your prayers are making a difference!!

Neil Diamond

This week was a good week. A ridiculously sweaty, dirty, but good week.
We went back to the old person/mental home all this week and spent our time doing hard physical labour, as well as some not so hard physical labour. We cleaned out rooms whilst dodging wasps nests, threw sharp metal sheets off the 2nd floor, narrowly missing motorbikes and people and in the meantime met some awesome people. And it was good. Like Elizabeth, who runs the school there, the school which started with 60 kids and now has 600. And Maxwell Vincent aka "Love from above" who was a dementia patient there who told amazing stories and serenaded us with John Denver and Neil Diamond tunes, the latter of which he says has the best voice ever. Australia represent.
Then we helped build a road. Without asphalt, or tools. It involved us sorting through large rock piles to create an even rock surface which they will cover with sand. In the Indian heat. Ive never beaded so much in my life. But it was good.
Then we helped prepare their prayer room for painting by sandpapering the walls. Then we actually did the forementioned painting. And as always happens when painting with other people, we got it all over ourselves. And it was all good.
So in summary, blessing others is good. Especially others who have devoted time, effort, money and their lives to helping the "least of these." Pray for the home here, that God can provide more money and staff and a continued passion to serve for everyone there. Also pray for our team that we can continue to bless people in our ministry.

Oh, and a P.S, it was my birthday Friday!! It was a good day, I got some sweet books to read, we went out for subway for dinner and I got slightly awkwardly but warm-on-the-inside affirmed. Thanks Team, and everyone at home for your wishes, and prayers!!

Serving Love

Three weeks have passed us by already. It's gone so quickly, I know that before I even realise we'll be heading home. Which is a sad thought because I'm really loving it here and I want to make the most of my time here.
India is such a strangely beautiful place. Its colourful and vibrant, the buildings are tall, twisting and usually brightly colored. The people are also energetic and friendly and in a sense they too, are colourful. The food is a lot of the same, rice, rice and rice, but with enough difference in curries and sauces to make it delicious and exciting to see what we get to eat each day.
This week was a hodge-podge week of minstry. On tuesday we went to an old person/mental home. Initially when we walked in and I saw the conditions I was a little worried about what I might see. Indian homes are a lot different to western ones. We were shown to a dorm-room where some mentally challenged ladies stayed. It was a bit awkward at first, but it turned out to be really fulfilling. The ladies were so friendly and funny and I know they were genuinely blessed by our presence. I know some of the team got to pray with some of the ladies towards the end.
On Wednesday we had some meetings, which is nothing exciting to talk about..
Friday ans and Saturday we helped out with some other VBS's. They were Tamil speaking, so it was interesting to say the least. When we arrived we almost caused a riot as the kids would jump up and swarm us for hand shakes, high fives and even autographs. It was difficult to get them to pay attention to what we were saying and not imitating us or shaking our hands. The kids were so funny though, the leaders would put some music on and the kids would immediately get up and start grooving. It was hectic.
Yesterday we went to yet another church. We performed another skit, (The clincher) led worship, and Kyle spoke a sermon on radical love. Then we sat in on their Tamil service which was, to be frank, a little boring when you don't speak the language.
This week will be another week of unknowns, but I'm excited to do more of Gods will, and show more of His love. Thinking of you back home in the cold.

High-Fives are Super Effective.

Another busy and amazing week here in hot, hot India.
All last week we were involved in a Vacation Bible School. It was a lot of fun but very tiring. The kids were so cute, usually were very difficult to understand, and also had endless amounts of energy. Me and another girl were involved in the bible deck, where we taught them basic bible stories. I got to act like an idiot and teach them sea facts. Acting like an idiot is fun. The culture was different, so there were a few things taught/done that I didn't agree with, but I'm learning to accept and fit in to other cultures so I think it was a healthy experience. At the end we performed some funny skits for the kids as a tasty cherry on top of the week. To conclude the week, I would say I learned one main thing. Indian kids love high fives. You high five them and smile at them, they are your best friend for life.
On sunday we went and helped out a church run their service. We performed the everything skit for them and then...

I spoke my very first sermon ever;

In a foreign country to people who don't speak my language, speaking about Lordship. It was really cool, I was so nervous beforehand, but as soon as I walked into the church instantly I was fine. Gods peace was all over me. I began, and had to be patient as everything I said was translated for them. My prepared message went about 30 mins, but I thought it was too short, so with a liberal helping of the Holy Spirit, I spoke 15 mins more.

It was amazing to speak to some of the indian youth afterwards (who are the most amazing, friendly people. They held my hand and laughed and claimed we were good friends already and India was "our country")
They said they were amazed I had never spoken before and I think my message really spoke to some of them. It made my faith soar, God was with me every step of the way and none of it was in my strength. Especially seeing as I was sick for it and the two days prior.
I have no idea what we're doing this week. In typical YWAM style we'll do it on the fly. But I'm not nervous because God is with us and we are doing what he asked us. And He will provide in abundance for those who obey Him. I'm excited for what's going to happen and the stories we will have.
Continue to pray that we will walk in obedience and the hearts of people will be open to what we're saying or doing.
Miss you all, look forward to seeing your fabulous faces soon!