A year of favor and blessing from day 1

January 1st of 2011!!!

We wake up early and together, with YWAM-Australia, pile into the AHF van and truck to start a year of serving the Lord - beginning with an HIV/AIDS children's home!

Nikki''s Place: Agape Home is an orphanage for children that opened in May 1996 as a response to the plight of children impacted by the spread of HIV/AIDS across Thailand. All of the children who go to the Agape Home to live are, or are at risk of being, HIV positive. Many of them have already lost their parents to AIDS, and there are no other options for their care. They have a nursery for the babies and a Preschool where the children ages three to five attend school daily and are cared for by the staff and volunteers. These are the kids we get to spend the first day of the year with - just playing around and loving on!

On our way there we all were bubbling with excitement and anticipation, not really knowing what we were about to face, but looking forward to it none-the-less. Upon arriving there were no kids outside and we sat in the pagoda waiting and praying for what was about to happen. While we were waiting a little girl probably 4 years old came out the door, caught eyes with me and hurtled herself into my lap. I am nearly moved to tears just by her desire to be held. Scooping her into my arms I hold her close, nearly moved to tears just by the love that was transferred through touch.

A few minutes later her nanny came to take her away as 30 kids show up and sit before us. All of them staring with wide eyes, pointing and laughing at a few of us as we made faces at them - waiting for the Home's staff to clear things with ours... some of the boys in front of me were playing a hand game where you race to get your fingers into this pretzel or a knot the fastest. I was intrigued and let them teach me how to get one finger wrapped around the other, this one over, the other one under and then these finger tips touching that one while your thumb sticks out straight - it took a good deal of practice and some pain, but eventually they found my attempted playing acceptable. With only about 30 kids to play with, we all got "picked" and spent the rest of the day being a personal playmate with one or two kids.

One of the little boys I'd been playing the Finger-Knot-Race with, named Lachan, picked me and whisked me away to the play ground where we adventured for the following hour. Lachan, a young boy about 6 years old, had an IronMan mask that he carried everywhere! And if he wasn't wearing it, I was carrying it for him- such a privilege! ;) He loved to "fly" like IronMan and would have me "fly" him to every piece of jungle gym equipment. It was so much fun with kids and friends everywhere playing on the lawn, in the mini club house, on the jungle gym, giving piggy-back rides, swinging them around and playing a large game of duck, duck, goose. After an hour or so we gathered them all together and did some sack races, singing and distributed oranges to everyone. Sitting in the grass with Lachan on my lap and another little boy so close he was practically on me too, eating oranges and being completely in love with the kids I reflected on the life of Christ. How He held the child in His lap in Matt 9:36-37 saying, “Whoever receives one such child in my name receives me, and whoever receives me, receives not me but him who sent me.”

An older boy came by with a little baggie of pills for my boys, and as Lachan stuffed his little bag into his pocket I came back to the reality of why he was sitting in my lap at Agape Home. Again I am nearly moved to tears, feeling that the life of this little boy in my lap has been anything but easy and feeling God's compassion and love for him even more. As he finished his orange in my embrace I sat interceding for him - broken with the thought of his condition and ever thankful for Christ's example and His promise.

Gathering everyone for a photo I gave Lachan the last piggy-back ride and held up his IronMan mask for him. Swinging him down from the jungle gym we ran back to the pavilion and before I knew it I was back in the van with my teammates driving away from Agape Home. While most of the girls told about their kids and funny moments they all had, all I could do was pray for those children, my heart broken for the injustice of their situation and how much God loves each one of them. He is so good, and I am pulled into a greater love for Him just knowing that He loves them more than I ever could, and His desire for justice for these children is greater than mine.

When we arrive back at Abba House we spend the afternoon playing with the girls and then crash into bed exhausted. Sweet restful sleep in a bed, with a roof overhead, walls closing out the pests of night, blankets to warm, and friends surrounding.

Lord, thank you for your favor. For your blessings. And for allowing me to take part in blessing others just by being a vessel. I am so honored that You chose me and cannot fully express what love captivates my heart for You.

So begins the first day of a new year.

The year 2011.

Love Always

The Start of a Journey

You have seen it briefly in the news, movies tell it like a story, and you have probably read about it, but something changes when you witness it. Your heart breaks for those without the hope of justice, the hope of Christ. Human trafficking, child soldiers, genocide, poverty, AIDS, children living on the streets – these are only a few of the injustices that millions face every day. In the last several years God has been calling my heart and softening it towards these people and now the time has come for me to take up this incredible opportunity that God has presented!

But first, a little background into where I am at now: I have just finished my freshman year of college at Lee University. At this remarkable school I gained a year of liberal arts credits and joined hearts with a solid group of brothers and sisters in Christ. Over winter break, however, I felt God’s pull towards a discipleship program far from Cleveland, TN. After a few months of praying and many confirmations not only of my prayers, but also those of my parents, I applied to Youth With A Mission’s (YWAM) Justice Discipleship Training School. A few weeks later I received a letter of acceptance and I can hardly begin to explain how thrilled I am!

So this means that on September 29th, I will fly to Kailua Kona, Hawaii where I will attend a Discipleship Training School designed to train those who refuse to stand on the sidelines and observe the atrocities of our world, with a set of skills, deeper knowledge and understanding of God.

This school will run for 24 weeks, starting on September 30, 2010, and ending March 11, 2011. The first 12 weeks will be spent in an intensive lecture phase where I will be taught by the mothers and fathers of world missions. They will encourage me in furthering my relationship with God by teaching on:

• the character and nature of God
• listening and communicating with God
• effectively communicating God's Word
• a biblical world view
• prayer, intercession, and spiritual warfare
• reconciliation
• spiritual gifts
• God's heart for the poor and needy
• missions and evangelism

During this time, I will also learn many skills that will increase my outreach effectiveness. Some of these include:

• learning how to build water purifiers and water tanks to help fight the water crisis that kills two million children every year
• life-changing educational opportunities for young people in developing countries; to assist in eradicating poverty through education.

The second half of the program will be spent on field assignments targeting areas of poverty and injustice in both Asia and Africa. During this time I may end up in Cambodia, Thailand, Togo (West Africa) and Haiti (these may change but are the current options). And depending on the outreach this will mean either working in teams of 10-12 people in orphanages, with street children, trafficked and sexually abused women or AIDS victims. These are only a few of many possible places God will lead me to over the course of the last 3 months of this adventure.

I am so excited about the opportunities and experiences that God has in store for the coming year and I hope you see the value in what we will accomplish. As you can imagine, a trip like this requires financial support from a number of people. Fees for the 12-week lecture phase of the school (approximately $4,300 with room, board and tuition) are completely covered. Thanks to God for providing $4,300 in excess scholarship money I received this past year from Lee and the State!!! However, cost for the 12-week field assignment (which includes airfare, food and housing) is estimated to be $5,000-$6,000 needed by mid-November.

Oh! And I just bought my plane ticket from here to Kona, HI and after much searching got a one-way for just over $400! Wow- Great Deal! This I was able to raise this summer with my temporary job at home working for my mother's faux finishing business, LADesign. I also am working part time at a local pottery painting business, called Hotsy Potsy, and of course taking up the occasional babysitting opportunities! ;) Praying in the funds is something I have never had need to do before but am so enjoying the way He provides so faithfully! I hope to keep this blog updated with the developments of this next phase of life and hopefully you will get to see a greater change in my life than ever before!

Thank you for your constant prayers and encouragement during all this!

Love Always