A Life Unexpected

So here I sit on a bed in a room in Jamaica while a group of awesome evangelists, pastors, intercessors, prophets, and friends in the making are just below, playing in the ocean. The realization of what is going on in my life just stopped me in my thoughts and I just want to share it with you too.

Just over a year ago I was traveling the country saying my good-byes to family, friends and new acquaintances as I made my way to the US' furthest state, Hawaii. Witnessing God's provision and pleasure as I crossed the miles, I was headed into a life that, come to find out, wasn't really my own. My Discipleship Training School in Kona, Hawaii was a turning point in my life as I unknowingly entered the largest missions training and sending organization in the world! It sounds so funny, but really I had no concept that Youth With A Mission and the term "missionary" were such friends, and I think that had I known that I wouldn't have gone. That aside, I am still learning and growing into what being a missionary is having spent time working in Thailand, Haiti, and now currently in Jamaica. (Photo: Releasing 122 baby Horn billed sea turtles, a severely endangered species, into the Caribbean! Yes, I did get to hold them prior to release!)

It has been a whirlwind of a year with so much to process still. I have spent the last year learning more about God's love for me, His abounding grace, and also that my identity truly does lie with Him. Working with all different peoples, cultures, languages and backgrounds has been a lifetime of experience right there. I never expected to face some of the challenges that I did, nor did I ever think I would be in some of the places and situations that I have found myself. But God is faithful and He has been preparing me from a young age exactly for such kingdom work. There are moments that I look back on the last year and still it hurts what I've seen and experienced, and then moments that I can still hardly comprehend the glory and awe of what they were. 

In the last year I had Thanksgiving in Hawaii with over 150 Christians from over 50 nationalities, all ages, and all walks of life. Spent Christmas Eve worshiping and encouraging believers in a Thai mens prison with 8 sisters in Christ. I spent my birthday in a red-light district, becoming friends with prostitutes.  Have had my heart ripped out seeing trafficked children, and walked as a lantern of hope through streets of complete darkness. I have had the joy of seeing the affect that months of ministry as well as what a single hour of ministry can do in working with my God. He has led to spend the summer in a place still living in destruction as I went to staff the school in Port-Au-Prince, Haiti. Seeing slabs of concrete hanging from a single rebar strand as people walk under it over a year after the earthquake hit. Have been in the center of mobs trying to gain entrance into a national football (soccer) game that sold over 2,000 tickets more than could fit into the stadium. God has shown me true poverty, learning that all the aid in the world cannot save them, nor give them what they really need. And now seeing a nation that has receives it's recognition because of it's culture of music, partying, and drugs. All the while facing strongholds of fear, lust, pride, addiction, unforgiveness, false doctrine, poverty, religiousness, anger, judgement, bitterness, mockery, death, and confusion and learning how God smites them. Also practically learning how I can use my spiritual and physical gift set to further His kingdom wherever I am; being the ambassador/tool of hope, love and freedom in Christ to multitudes! (Photo: My sweet 15 yr old friend from Myanmar/Burma who works as a vendor in Thailand)

... I have to pause, thinking about all the places I have been; wondering where He is going to lead me this coming year; and just Praising Him for all of it...

In just a year I have come to realize how much I don't want to control my life, rather desiring God to take all of it and run with Him for the rest of my days here. Some would say I've lost it, and they're right. I have lost my life to my beloved, and I have never been happier!  I am so not worthy to be used, to be taken to all these places. Not worthy to be here now, leading a team of 9 amazing young people in their first international/missionary experiences. Just a year ago I freaked out at the term "missionary" and would have told you it was not something I was interested in ever doing. And He has so gently opened my eyes to the calling I have to be an ambassador of His kingdom in the world - wow... I am humbled. Tears fill my eyes in joy and honor of my God, for He is So Worthy of all of me, all of us. 

Speaking at a missions conference in Mandeville, Jamaica

It is my honor and joy to tell you today that as I've been praying about where God wants to lead me come the end of staffing this quarter with YWAM and I believe that He has called me to commit 2 years to stirring His glory in Ireland. I'll expand more on this later, but should it continue to be His will I will be headed to Europe come the spring time. At this point there are very little plans with where I will be staying, who I'll be with, and what I'll actually be doing (outside of street/community ministry, prayer and spiritual warfare for the nation and building relationships to disciple/mentor in His ways) there. For now I am not worrying about it yet, hearing Him say to focus now on what's at hand and let Him put together the details of our trip there. Just Him and I walking together, I in faith and Him in His glory.  

If you read this and He is speaking encouragement, confirmation, or challenging you; or if He shares a word for me I would LOVE to hear it! In Revelation 12:11 it says that we "have conquered [the enemy] by the blood of the Lamb and by the word of [our] testimony, for [we] loved not [our] lives even unto death." May it be so in my life!

Love Always

JAMAICA!

That's right, I'm in Jamaica now! Loving the people, sights, and food! To keep it brief the team of 9 have been living at YWAM Mandeville for the past week and honestly all feel somewhat like we're living in a resort! It's a beautiful campus that we joke about being a little Europe in the Carribbean. Some things that we are thankful to have here:

• running water!
• toilets that can flush toilet paper
• delicious food
• beds! I am actually sleeping on a mattress on a bed frame
• cooler weather, I don't wake up at night sweating
• English speakers to minister to
• AND an INCREDIBLE team!!!

We arrived Monday morning on a private chartered plane - it was the cheapest/best way to avoid transiting through the states with our Haitian team members. For many of them it was their first experience flying and the hour and a half flight was monumental for them! Tuesday and Wednesday we spent working on the base helping them out because they are severely understaffed. We spent the mornings painting, raking mown grass, weed-whacking, pulling weeds, hacking vines with machetes and much more! It was wonderful to get our hands dirty and feel like we were really getting some good work in! Thursday we took the team out to do a prayer walk along the road/city a little off of the base and also some house-to-house evangelism. It was a great time of stepping out of comfort zones and sharing the gospel as well as building faith as we prayed for many people throughout the morning.
Friday afternoon we went into the city of Mandeville and explored a little bit, treating the team to a sweet shop where they got way too much sugar lol.  This is truly a beautiful island and while there has been some culture shock felt by Americans and Haitians alike in the last week, it's been spectacular!

Stones Hope YWAM Mandeville Base - looking at "The Great House" from the staff housing.

We've had many great moments of bonding as a team in the last week and each day I fall more in love with these people. Sharing our testimonies with each other last week was so good and really got us all on the same level of understanding one another. I feel so honored and humbled to be serving God in Jamaica with this team, and while there's plenty of room to continue growing in tighter unity - we are a solid group, ready to take on whatever faces us!

This week we'll take the team out to do ministry in children's home, army retirement home, rehab center, private school, again on the street/house-to-house and then we'll be presenting at church in the morning! A very busy week that needs plenty of prayer covering! We are willing to be used and excited to have such opportunities but are also aware that there is some resistance in the spiritual. Please continue to hold us up in prayer and if you get a word from the Lord for us feel free to send it our way! I would happily share it with the group/leaders with appropriate timing! :) There'll be more pictures to come soon! Until next time, God bless!

Love Always