Au Revoir

It sucks, but I just keep having to remind myself that it's God's will. I have decided to leave Europe, and my team and go home. I have been in Paris for a week and I have experience great and beautiful things. I have been to the Eiffel Tower and Notre Dame twice, both very overwhelmingly beautiful places. I prayed around and in both areas, and really got the sense that Europe needs the Lord on a whole new level, along with the people here in this nation, it's intense, and kind of scary but so needed and it can happen, and it will with my team, but just not with me.


Being here this last week I have really thoughtfully, prayerfully considered and processed, with the help of my leaders, this hard decision. Being here I've realized and learned that in whatever and wherever you are in life, especially in ministry areas, you need to be whole heartedly, full on commited. And it's something that the Lord decided to bring me all this way to learn, and I'm totally okay and at peace with it. My heart is not whole heartedly involved and happy being here in Europe doing the ministry that we've been doing. And coming face to face with that and processing that I can say has been top 5, one of the hardest things I've had to deal with and process. And it's also grown me, once again, in a sense to completly trust the will of the Lord, and sit back and be at peace with what He has decided, even if I'm like WHAT THE HECK IS GOING ON!?

I know it may come as a shock, it is to me as well, but it's something that I feel that is best for myself, and my team. I will never forget the times I had during my training in Perth, or the times I've had during a week's time in Paris. I have learned, and grown into a new woman during my time with YWAM. I am so thankful and blessed to have met the people I've met, to have endured the things I have endured, to learn the things I've learned, and to have strengthened my relationship with the Lord, like I have.

Of course a part of my heart aches, because all of this means I have to leave my team, the 4 students, and 5 staff that have gone through these last few months with me. The team that has seen me at my absolute worst, and have seen me at my absolute best. They all have been a true blessing in so many different ways. They are people I will never forget, and will hold a special in my heart always. I am not a Hallmark card, but I speak nothing but truth!

I leave tomorrow, my 19th birthday, ha who knew! Can't help but smile, but what a 19th birthday! It will probably be a mix between the best birthday, (who can say they had their birthday in the morning in Paris with an amazing group of people, but also had their birthday in Minnesota, home.)and the most not so awesome birthday because I'm going to have to say goodbyes to people that I don't know when I'll ever see again, or if I ever will.


Oh life, what will I make of you? Excuse me, oh Lord, what will you make of my life? Haha, whatever it is, I know I have a new out look on life, and have teachings under my belt to do whatever it is. I'm excited, yet scared to see what is next. For now, it's my last day in Paris, and I'm content with that.

See those of you at home, see you very very soon :) and those of you who I have just met during this season-I bless you to the max. and I pray and hope to see you one day soon in the future!

'However Jesus did not permit him, but said to him, 'Go home to your friends and family, and tell them what great things the Lord has done for you, and how He has had compassion on you'.'

-Mark 5:19

Love you all-xo

Destination=Reached

Finances=Reached in not even 24 hours. That's a testimony in itself. I am so blessed and grateful for all of my friends, family, and strangers who blessed me with money so I could get here to Paris. Once I got all of my money I didn't even know what to do with myself except tell everyone, and tell them what a great God I have!

So it was on :) plane tickets bought. My packing had been done for a few days, which was just reassurance that I was going to get my finanes...soon..and get to Paris...soon. So I didn't have much packing to do. Itinerary read=Flying out of Perth, connected to Sri Lanka, Dubai, then to my final destination=Paris!

Our first lay over in Sri Lanka was about 8 hours. & boy was I the minority! The whole time being there I think I saw about 6 Caucasian people. It was very interesting watching how Muslims live, even just seeing them in an airport. They couldn't help but stare because of my white skin, or maybe it was because I looked like I hadn't showered in days, or that I was curled up on the floor in a sleeping bag trying to get a couple hours of sleep before we were off to Dubai! Dubai was a quick layover which in the time I sniped up some Mickie D's and boarded the plane to my final destination, Paris.

I arrived last night. I was hot, sticky, and SO ready for a shower! It was about 10pm and it was still super light outside. Paris looks just like the movies, beautiful buildings, busy streets, mo peds, small fruit/veggie shops, and of course the shimmering Eiffel Tower which is only a hill down from my apartment where I am now living with my team. I like Paris so far, and I've only seen what is outside my window. I could fall in love....

Paris looks like the movies, but as we all know appearance isn't everything. Paris, but France in general is a very dead country. With a sky rocketing statistics, and numbers, France has a very high risk of divorce, sexually active teens (age lowest as 13), depression, loss of jobs, poverty, and so much more.

It's why we are here. To be the hands and feet for the nation, to bring hope, to bring the Word, simply to be a Light.

I am excited to see what God has in store for my team, the cities we'll be visiting, and for myself. God has already planted this seed in the last however so hours I have been here, a quiet spirit. I am usually not a quiet spirited type person, usually all over the place, always something to say, but I'm curious to see why the Lord has planted the seed.

This morning when I woke up I was so at ease and peace. Didn't really have anything to say, but thanks God. Thank you for the fiances, the view, my team, this city, this experience to come

.....for everything.

Miss you all-xo



P.S.-God is so good.

My God is an awesome God

A week's time to raise a little less than $4,000 for my outreach to Europe.

SPAZ, no sleep, stressed, daily surrendering to the Lord, trusting He will provide, doubting Him, repenting, highs and lows. All this diminished this morning during base worship. Every Monday the base here at YWAM Perth get together and have an hour session of worship, then usually listen to announcements. The Holy Spirit took over this morning, and our base leader insisted that we battle and pray for the finances that about 30 or so of us still needed to see. So me included, needing a little less than $4,000 stood praying for everyone around me. Those of us who are still trusting for finances had a piece of paper with the amount we needed and then people who already had their finances or people who aren't going on out reach (staff) started blessing left and right! The Lord lead heaps of people to give money. The Lord provided $1,672.45 for me!

It was such an amazing Monday! The Lord totally refreshed me in so many different ways! I was uplifted, and made me eager and excited to get the rest of my finances which is about $2,300. I am needing the rest of my finances by Wednesday night, and I'm totally trusting the Lord that He will provide in miraculous ways as He did this morning!

This has been a huge part of growth while being here. The spiritual battle for finances are a tough one, cause sometimes He'll hold the money til the last minute. Who knows maybe that will be my case, if it is, I will still give Him all the praise!

Europe..so soon :)

I don't sleep at night

It's true, I don't seem to sleep at night anymore. Could be because of numerous reasons.

-Excitement that I leave for France very very soon

-I miss my friends, family, home

-It's so flipping cold (it's winter here in Australia FYI)

-I need $4,500 in a week

-Curious about the future

-I've been sick lately :(

It's been a rough last couple of days. Probably cause I am tired, and I do miss home a lot, and it seems to be crunch time with finances due in a week. My feelings are all over the place. Some days I'm ready to pack up and go home, and other days I'm like ARE YOU CRAZY, I wouldn't have life any other way! I just have to bring myself back to His promise. God's promise, when He spoke, 'You'll go, you'll go back into the nations.' It's such a comfort knowing that the God of the universe took the time to speak to ME of a promise. Who knew that His promise would first lead me to Australia for a three month long intense discipleship training school, then send me to Europe, to fulfill a destiny that He had planned out for me even before I was born.

Paris, France is where I will be for my 19th birthday. How awesome is that :)

Thank you Lord for blessing me with a promise. Xo

It's been how long?

Time is a crazy thing. In some cases it flies and in other cases it creeps. With my time here in Perth doing my DTS somedays I feel like the day is just creeping, and I look at the long run and I won't be in Europe for another 3 or so weeks, and I won't be home for another 3 1/2 months. But at the end of the day I feel like I've only been here for a few weeks! And it's been a little over two months! And if you have been keeping up with my blogs, I hope you can tell and sense that God has been doing amazing things here, and in my heart during my short time here. They say that the material, teachings, applications, and everything in a 'normal' time it would be like 5 or so years of going to church every Sunday, and by the time I leave for Europe I would have gone through it in only three months.

Intense

Only word I can think of ha! I am excited to get to Europe. I've never been and I'm excited and eager to see what the country is like. Even more excited to see what is going to happen, who my team and I are going to meet, what kind of testimonys we will come home with, how many salvations we will see, how much more I will grow..

I keep having to repent of down sizing God thinking, okay I've grown this much and I've gone through that, I think I'm done and there's not much more God can do! But he proves me wrong everyday. Some days God takes me, or speaks to me about something a lot more easy than the day before, but either way He's speaking and I am continuing to grow!

I bring myself back to Jeremiah 18, in a couple of sentences it's just God asking,

'Can I not do what the potter does?'

Whoa, of course you can Lord! It makes you step back and be like yeah, I trust that you can do what the potter does, and EVEN MORE! You can do better than the potter, you can create better than the potter, you can shape better than the potter, you can mold better than the potter! It's a great thing to stand on, and something I definitely need to humble myself in and trust in Him that He is going to continue to do marvelous things with me and for me in the next few weeks here in Perth, and continue to do so in Europe.

Love and miss you all :) Blessings.

Father Heart of God

This week in lectures we are being spoken to about the father heart of God. How to look at God as a father and how to reach Him as a father. It's been a great week so far and I already feel like God has been revealing Himself in a couple ways.

A lot of people on my team come from great families, yet very broken in the areas dealing with their fathers. Including myself, I come from a very loving, caring, supporting family, yet lacked any relationship with a earthly father. Growing up I didn't know anything different, and not til I got older did I realize how much it affected my life. While here in Australia, during different weeks I've been allowing God speak into my life about my situation with my father. I have learned a lot of God's character and how it is everything a father should be.

One thing I felt God speak to me today even, is that even during those times when I was younger, while growing up, and even today that an earthly father should have been there, my true and ultimate Father was there all along. I'm not that father less little girl anymore, I am a woman who can run to her Father like a little girl with a child like faith, and He will treat me like daughter in every way possible.

O Lord, you have searched me and known me; You know when I sit down and when I rise up, you discern my thoughts from afar.

You search out my path and my lying down and are acquainted with all my ways.

Even before a word is on my tongue behold, O Lord, you know it altogether.

You hem me in, behind and before, and lay your hand upon me.

Psalm 139:1-6

He was there in all the past times with His hand upon me, and it will continue to be there in the future. It's a weird feeling, but so comforting at the same time. I am curious to see how the end of the week turns out and what else He will reveal to me..

I encourage you all to look at the Lord as your Father. If you have an amazing earthly father you are blessed! And praise Jesus for blessing you and your family with such an amazing man! Or if you share simliar backrounds with me and didn't have a father present growing up

--Know: He loves you, He cares, He cherishes you, He delights in you, He is waiting for you, and that He was always there, and He still is.

Love and miss you all! Blessings :)

He's so faithful

Ohhh it's a fact :) Haha! I'll make that quite clear first-HE IS SO FAITHFUL!! & loves to bless us!

The last couple of weeks have been pretty intense. Intense in a good way though. Every week we learn something new in lectures, and it's already week 8! 1- I can't believe it's already week 8! and 2- I can't believe God is still revealing Himself in so many new ways not only in lectures but just through out the day

These last couple of weeks I have really given the Lord complete control of everything. I realized that I was holding onto a lot things, thinking I was in control. Noooope! Guess I'm not, and I'm so okay with that now. It's good to have such a big God that will take on all your worries, past, issues, and the 'impossibilities'. It kind of makes you take a step back and think.

Currently, my team of 9 and I are trusting and giving control to the Lord for our finances we need to see come in by the 9th of June, for our out reach to Europe! Each of us needs $5,500. It's a lot of money, yeah. But I've never felt so confident, and faithful. I am actually excited to see what's going to happen with the fiances! I believe it's going to be an amazing testimony that I will have to stand on to tell friends and family back home. I've already seen great things having to do with my fiances personally. It's great.

Europe is so soon. About a month. I have no clue what to expect, just like coming here. No clue. But I'm excited to see what God is going to do to me, and the nation while we are there. Please be praying for my team and I, Europe, and our fiances!! Missing you ALL at home heaps!! Love and blessings xx

If you feel led to help support me financially please:

go to www.ywamperth.org.au click on “donate/pay” and follow the instructions on the page. Just click on outreach fees and make sure to note it is for my outreach fees.

Thank you heaps!!

What do you see when you think of God?

A piece of blank white paper, nothing came to mind. Well I shouldn't say nothing came to mind, I thought of Jesus, long dready dark hair, white robe, beard, standing with a staff haha, that was my first thought. 1- I couldn't draw that, a talent I wish I had but I don't (awesome drawing skills) 2- I felt like it should be more personal than just drawing a man standing there. I sat with my blank piece of paper, slightly annoyed, because the activity reminded me of something that would be done in treatment.

Treatment=Blank piece of paper 'Draw your feelings guys! Don't hold back!' and everyone draws black and red holes of how terrible their lives have been. Ha, maybe it was just me but it's how I felt when asked to do this activity, but with totally different subjects and motives, Praise Jesus.

I finally grabbed the pink, orange, and yellow colored pencils. And drew God as I saw fit. My outcome was a sunset of pink, orange, and yellow. Heaven. When we were asked to define our drawing I just said, well when I think of God I think of these colors, and as weird as it sounds I feel these colors as well.

'Why do you think of these colors?'

I sat and remembered my first encounter with heaven, and God for that matter. Taylor. When my good friend Taylor died, her favorite color was pink so every time I saw a pink sunset or sky I thought of her and that was her in heaven. Doing this project things got broughten up, feelings that I hadn't felt in a long time came about, and I cried for the first time in a while about Taylor. I cry heaps because I am an emotional person of course! But I usually don't cry about her anymore. It felt good.

God is currently working on this area in my life, it hurts, but is good. It's crazy how He will bring up things from the past, both hurtful and joyful, to work through something that is currently happening in your life, if that makes sense?

This past week was one of my harder weeks, but again God is working on me. It hurts, He's stretching, and molding so it's expected to hurt, right? The cool thing is God doesn't stop, He doesn't stop stretching and molding. As much as it does hurt and suck sometimes, it's always worth it. Miss you all at home, blessings xoxo

To be in Roch..

To be in Roch right now would be awesome right now. I'm missing my friends and family terrrrribly. Especially my mum on this great day called Mother's Day! Today was just one of those rough days. I miss home, and would love to be there right now. Good thing I'm getting a double wammie talking with my wonderful mother, and my wonderful friend, Tori Utley. I am very thankful that Tori is a computer junkie (sorry Tor) because she seems to be on quite often, and always raises me up, or reminds me of what is waiting for me at home! I love it.

But there are just somedays where I would love to be laying in bed with my cat, picking my mum up for her lunch break, sitting at my good friend's the Ewing's on the kitchen floor reminissing with my dear friends, or just sitting in my car windows down heading to the unknown. Stop feeling sorry for yourself Josie, that's what I usually try telling myself, this is a great experience and God is doing amazing things, He already has.

I sit in awe and amazement at what He has already done in my life so far here in Perth. And it's a crazy, semi scary, exciting feeling to think of what else He's doing to do in the next few months. That's what I need to keep reminding myself when I have crap days like today. It's also great to know that I have people back home praying for me :) and just knowing that they are back home, and when I go home, whenever that might be-they will be there. Missing you all, Love xo

P.S.-Could of shout outs that are on my heart, because they mean so much to me!

Mum: Happy Mother's Day mum, I miss you so much. You mean the world to me, I don't know what I would do without you. My cup runneth over, always... xo

Tori Lynn Utley-What the heck would I do without you?

My Boys- You know who you are, wow can you imagine what kind of trouble we would be getting into this summer? GET IT OUTTA HERE! Praying that WIT blows places out of the water, remember to sing it out...sing it out loud.

My family-Missing you all so much, family is foreverrr. Something that I have realized 10x while here in Perth. Thank you all for your support.

Everyone that I looove back in MN- Blessings and love to you all. XO

Carrot, spinach, banana, and OJ smoothie

Just delighted myself in a delish smoothie! So so good

Back to another week of lectures-this week's topic=Spiritual Warfare. More about that later this week, it's only Tuesday! The weekend was nice :) Saturday a group of people went into the city and shopped in the outlet centre, where I found a few great deals- always my thing! It was a pretty chill Saturday. Sunday a big group of us went out to City Beach for a buddy's birthday. The weather was amaze, and the ocean was even more amazing! Aqua and teal water...can't beat it. The waves were quite rough though, I still feel sore from getting bashed around, all in all it was a beautiful day :) And not to mention, I actually got some color!

But like I said it's a Tuesday afternoon, just got home from a time of prayer. It's not too exciting of a day, kinda been an off day but they are expected here and there. About to head to work duties soon, decorating birthday tables is what I seem to do best :) Tonight=coffee shop time for some fellowship, always nice and relaxing. Just wanted to do a quick little update on the weekend is all-Miss you everyone xoxo

Intercession & Worship

What a wonderful week it has been! This week in lectures we have been learning about intercession and worship. We were blessed with an amazing speaker, Cora Dawson. I was impacted by her teachings, and presence. She is a true woman of God, so amazing!

Intercession- I wasn't quite sure what it really meant at first. This past week I was taught what TRUE intercession is. Finding your quiet place with God, letting Him come and speak to you in any way He wants to, whither it's with a picture, vision, scripture, or His voice. This can happen during worship as well.

Most of us knew what it was to worship God. Stand there, shout praises, sing beautiful songs that were written about His glory, lifting our hands to Him, and feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit. Yes, worship is all of that, but a key thing I learned this week is that when you begin to worship the Lord, you need your whole being in it. Your heart, soul, spirit needs to be engaged, and then your body. Your whole being, you know? I never looked at worship in that way. After a couple of days of these teachings about what TRUE worship was about, getting your whole being intact I really tried to go into class worship time yesterday with that mentality, and boy did I have an amazing time during worship and connecting with the Lord! He gave me visions, and prayers that I shouted out to Him that I knew He heard and that I trust He will start working in the prayers I spoke. I am so thankful for this week's teachings, because it's really showed me different and more impactful ways to reach the Lord. And it excites me because I know it excites Him as well!

It's been an amazing week, from last week's repentance and forgiveness I've just had a complete turn around. It's a great feeling, He made me clean and white as snow. I am jumping around with nothing but a smile on my face because He is making Himself to present and known in my life right now, and I trust in so many different ways that He will continue to do so, even during the nights that I miss my family and friends at home. I've noticed that nights are the hardest here, when the night starts to wind down I sometimes just wish that I was in my own bed at home, cuddling with my Seymore :) and having my mom walk in and say, 'What do you work tomorrow?' Haha, or my step dad yelling, 'You didn't wash your dishes!'. During those times I just cuddle to my quilt and give praise to the Lord for my family, the day, and just ask for comfort and strength.

The weekend is almost here, and like I've said before I love weekends in Perth. Nice and relaxing. This weekend some of my friends and I are going to a great outlet place, and Sunday I'm going to a church I haven't been to before.

Keep the prayers comin! They are working!! The Lord is sooo good! Remember that, that He is good.

There is NO evil in Him!

Amen to that ;) Love and miss you all xoxo

Quick prayer request:

-Europe

-My team

-Visions, dreams, hearing His voice (more of it!!)

-Financial outreach needs

-Family and friends

Keepin it simple, but the impact of prayer is never simple! It's always huuuuuge.

Empty

I've been wiped out, cleaned, purified, forgiven, and made empty. Empty is usually not a pleasant way to describe yourself, or your heart.

emp.ty-[emp-tee] , adjective, noun, plural,

--adjective

1. Containing nothing; having none of the usual or appropreite contents: an empty bottle

2. Vacant; unoccupied: An empty house

3. Without cargo or load: An empty wagon

This past week our lecture topic was repentance and forgiveness. It was an intense week, defiantly emotionally draining, and eye opening. During notes we were given a list of all the different sins set in different categories- the list seemed endless. Anything from disrespecting your parents, anger/rage, drug/alcohol abuse, horoscopes, selfishness, pornography, like I said the list is endless. After being given this list we were asked to make a list ourselves of all the sin that we have committed on the list, to repent for, vocally, to the class but most of all to God. We were also asked to make a list if people that had ever hurt you in your life and simply say I forgive _____ for ____. At first I was very annoyed by the idea, Why does my past need to be brought en up? Is this really necessary? But little did I know, my past was still my present. As I sat down the night before we were to share with the class, I began my 'pen vomit', everything was spilled on to this piece of paper, which turned into pieces of paper. My repentance and forgiveness list is what seemed to be endless. I questioned throughout the day and night if I was really going to get up and share. The last one to go, I got up there, bawled my eyes out, repented, and forgave. After, burned all the papers.

And Let It Go.

A part of me was scared to let go of all the papers because it was apart of me for so long, it's what I knew, and even if it was baggage I was willing to hold onto it because it was mine. It's not mine anymore, it's the Lord's. It's been a couple days since our repentance and forgiveness day, and like I said I feel empty. A good kind of empty. I am forgiven for all my sins, and I've forgiven. It's an amazing feeling, and I know God is ready to FILL me up with His love, compassion, heart, likes, feelings, and I'm so excited. I wish all of you at home could have been here with me during this last week! I encourage you all to sit down and make your own list of past sins that you've never repented for, and people that you need to forgive. Say them out loud, repent, and forgive. And burn. You'll feel the emptiness, but that good kind of emptiness. Miss you all xoxo

'When Christ came in, that feeling He gives you the gift of understanding life. Which is everything is created for Christ and by Him and we are created to be with Him. It's the most incredible feeling because you are where you belong and contentment is given to you in life because you don't have to look anywhere else, and you're exactly where you need to be, and the question about life is answered.'

-B.H.W.

John 3:16

New week in Perth. New lecture topic- Repentance and forgiveness. I've heard from other YWAMers, and staff that this third week, and this topic is the most difficult, intense, and uncomfortable topic to hear about and to put in effect. I reckon it will be a week full of hurt, yet break through. It's only Tuesday, but I can already tell it will be an interesting week. We've been talking a lot about sin, and how much it not only effects ourselves, those around us, but most importantly Jesus. In last night's lecture I got a grasp of how much pain we put our Father in when we sin, big or small. I've only felt overwhelmed, and thought about God's pain in a real way once, and it was when I watched The Passion of Christ. I remember sitting there being in shock, thinking how in the world would, or could someone take on that much physical pain.

In last night's lecture we were told a story to try and get our heads wrapped around the idea--

There was a family, a mom, dad, little boy, about 5 years old. One day the mother told the young boy that they were going to the grandparent's house. The little boy was excited, like most children who know they are going to see their grandparents. The father placed them on the bus and sent them off. You'll probably agree, but young kids know when something is wrong, their little spirits can tell if a person is happy, sad, or angry just by standing next to a person. The young boy could tell something was wrong with his mother. He reckoned it was because they had just said goodbye to his father. The young boy said to his mom, 'It's okay mama, daddy will meet with us soon.' It was then did the little boy's mom break down, and told the young boy, that they wouldn't be seeing daddy anytime soon because daddy found a new family. Abandonment & Rejection-pain.

In later years the boy had problems with his feet, he had cleft feet. When he was 8 years old he had severe surgery to try and fix his cleft feet, which left him with metal spikes/stilts. After surgery, the boy woke up, slightly confused where he was, didn't know what was going on. He was thirsty. Without knowing what were in his feet he got out of the bed and slid off the bed to walk to get a glass of water. The spikes/stilts were pushed into his freshly surgical feet.

Wounded & Scarred-pain.

We all winced at the story, but I know my heart winced when we were asked, 'Sure, the boy had never felt so much physical pain before in his life, but which pain do you reckon he would have rather endured over and over again?'

I don't think we could ever fathom the kind of physical pain Jesus went through during the crucifixion, which left Him wounded and scarred. Better yet, I don't think we fathom the kind of pain which leaves Him feeling rejected and abandoned, which He endures when we stray away from Him, when we chose the world over Him, when we turn our backs on Him, and when we sin.

Ask yourself, which pain do you think He would rather endure over and over again?

Weekends feel good in Perth

I haven't been so happy for the weekend to be here since I was in like year 11, ha! It was a long draining week here in Perth. Since Monday I had learned of two more deaths back home. I was more in shock that in three days I can get three different pieces of crap from back home. At the beginning of the week I felt attacked emotionally, mentally, physically, and spiritually. I just wanted to be at home with my friends and family. And a couple of times really asking God, 'Should I be here? Should I leave? Why am I here?' I should have known better, because of course, like He always does, He shows up in the midst of it all, even when you are refusing it and/or not wanting it.

Thursday night, after another long, draining day, like every Thursday night the whole base went to the suburb of Marabooka. Marabooka is a slum type suburb, where a lot of refugees live, and isn't the best area in Perth. Here is a pic of a BEAUTIFUL Marabooka baby's bottom :)

As a base, we've been praying for the area, and trusting God for miracles, salvations, and just light over the whole area. So on Thursday we all packed in the base vans and headed to the area we usually do worship out in the open, but because of the rain we were forced to do evangalism in the vans! Yes, it's possible :) We drove around in our vans and drove throughout the city, and tried our best not to look sketch as, Ha! It was very hard to concentrate and pray on the van, and I thought that I was going to get nothing out of the experience, than just silently praying for the area to myself. BUUUUT, of course God had a different plan.

During what I call 'popcorn prayer', I felt the Lord place Isaiah 51 on my heart. I was super confused and taken off guard, I just kept seeing Isaiah 51 over and over in my head. I had never read the chapter in my life, and it had no meaning to me! I asked around the bus for a bible, since I didn't bring mine (mine is the size of America, I swear. I need a little purse size one) and borrowed a friend's. I opened up to Isaiah 51. And sure enough there in verses 1-8, were all the hopes, prayers, and words the Lord wants all of the people of Marabooka to know and rely on! I couldn't believe it. The Lord had just spoke my first direct bible verse to me. I read it out loud to the bus, and with tears I was in awe of how intense and present He is. It was an amazing feeling, that I hope and pray the Lord blesses with me again.

But like I said boy do weekends feel good here in Perth. It's been a relaxing Saturday. I went to an airplane show down in the city on the beach, and made brunch with fellow YWAMers. Now off to dinner....fish and chips. Yes, I eat fish now. :) Miss you all. xo

Exodus 23:20

Coming here, I have had one major fear. Someone passing while I'm not at home. Today, after an already draining, tiring, struggle-some day, I found out a good friend at home lost her mom yesterday. I had met her mom once, and in one afternoon this woman felt like an aunt. We shared heaps about my walk with my faith, views on Christian relationships, school, dreams, Life. She was a very encouraging woman, and raised beautiful girls. I called my friend this afternoon, and she explained what had happened, and I just shared with her how great I thought her mom was. Of course this has been on my mind all afternoon, and probably will be for the rest of the week.

It's crazy how you can come in contact with a person once, or maybe even twice, and have the slightest impact on a person. I would hope to, to the people I meet. I guess it ties into the reason why I'm here at YWAM. To make impact on the world. I pray for the people that I haven't even met yet that I will meet in Europe. The lost, hungry, fearful, hopeless, young, old, men, woman, children, People of the nation.

Please be praying for my friend and her family, Europe, and for me. Missing you all. xox

I've made it

Yes, I have made it to YWAM Perth. There will be a couple moments during the day where I'll sit and think to myself, 'Wow am I really here?' Yes :) I arrived a week ago. The first week seems to have flown by, but I also feel like I've been here forever. This past week was full of orientations, meeting new people, getting used to the environment, and hearing/feeling/seeing God in a new ways.

Because of this being our first full week, we had a lot of orientation, and activities so starting Monday the base will be on a regular schedule which looks a little something like this...

6am-Morning work out, which is a jog or walk to the river and back to get us awake and ready for the day

6:30-Back home to eat brekie (breakfast) whatever you can find in the house to eat, and shower and get ready for the day, or have personal devotional time

8:00-Everyone meets on base for morning 'family chores'. Family chores is where for a half hour everyone on base is cleaning something somewhere. Currently I am cleaning the base's office, cleaning out trash bins, cleaning the bathrooms, cleaning the small office kitchen

8:30-Base worship on Monday's and Friday's

10:00-12:30-Lectures in the classroom

(small intermission in between for tea time, where we get fed HEAPS of tea and sweet bread/donut/treats and fruit)

12:30-LUNCH/free time

3:30-I head off to my work duty! Yes, work duty. Every student is assigned a work duty to help the base out. I am working in hospitality. In hospitality we bake cakes and make cards for birthdays, iron, wash laundry, take care of guest speakers, I basically call it the HOUSE MOTHER/WIFE of the base ;)

5:30-Dinner time. After dinner there could be free time, or we do stuff together as a school and/or base. Thursday nights after dinner we go into the community for evangelism and on Friday nights we have a service for the base and the city is welcomed as well.

It's quite the schedule, and since you know I am all about schedules and being on time, I think I will adapt well. It makes the days go by fast, and makes you appreciate your 'down' time. This past week in lectures we learned about hearing God's voice in different ways. So during my down time I really tried to hear God speak. And when I was doing my creative journal (our weekly homework) I really tried to ask questions, seek and hear Him. We had the same speaker throughout the week, and he did great. Even in the last few days I've seen and heard God through His word, and other people. It's awesome confirmation. In these confirmations He has called me His daughter, and once again which I've heard so many times being that I am a GEM (Isaiah 54:11-12). During the first few days of being here I was really discouraged, UN-motivated, not wanting to be here or wanting prayer, or wanting to pray myself. On top of it I was sick, super runny nose and con jested. Satan totally seemed to play off that and give me all those condemnation type thoughts. In the last couple days, like I've said God has shown up.

I miss my friends and family at home, I can even say I miss Rochester a LITTLE bit ;) It's not such a bad place after all... but it's a great feeling to know that during this season of my life this is where the Lord is wanting me. And at the end of a crappy or great day I know that's all the comfort I need.

More to come! Enjoy your weekend..miss you all! xo