Last lecture week in Byron Bay!!

This week has been pretty irregular as far as schedule and lectures go. There was a mis-communication between our first lecturer and our second lecturer wasn’t planned to come until Wed.
On Monday, we worked on our workbooks during the morning, had lunch and work duties, then headed to the beach and downtown Byron Bay. I laid on the beach and continued working in the workbook because we had 3 sections to finish and I hadn’t started until earlier in the morning. It was not too productive, seeing as there was a beach behind me beckoning that I come. I really enjoy Byron Bay beaches the best out of the 3 I’ve experienced so far. (I don’t remember if I wrote about my time last weekend at a beach near the Gold Coast, it was fun, but definitely had intense waves. I don’t know what the actual beach was called.) Monday night we had dinner and then more hang-out or workbook time, so you can guess what filled my evening.....

Tuesday was a very chill day. It started out with Intercession and Worship as normal, and during that time one of our staff handed me a sealed envelope and told me to open it after Int./Worship. I continued to worship, we then were instructed by some fellow students to break up into our outreach groups to pray and discuss the strengths we thought each of us brought to the group. As we were ending I noticed the absence of staff in the room. I then opened the envelope and read, “Please read aloud for everyone”- “WELCOME TO NO STAFF DAY”.... with a list of particulars. They gave us $82.50 to spend on food and whatever else we might need. It also said to be productive and some other things we had to follow. I don’t remember exactly, but basically we had a day to relax and just make sure work duties were done and making meals for ourselves. At first, there was some chaos about who was going to do work duties because they took our work duty sheet that already had it planned out, but most of us already knew what we were on that day. Our meals turned out really well actually, about 6 ppl volunteered to do the shopping and they split themselves and the money up for lunch and dinner.
I think the staff wanted us to learn some profound lesson from it, but honestly being that I’m 27, it really wasn’t that big of a deal. It’s not like we couldn’t function as a group, I mean sure, at the very beginning I observed some people wanting to take control and “lead,” but in the end we didn’t have any huge specific task to achieve, so it wasn’t an issue.
Though we didn’t do anything particularly productive as a team, it was a day we all needed. I finished our DTS tshirts, chatted with people, and rested. Throughout the day I reflected a lot on leadership... specifically my transition from leader to student and then that day where I felt a bit empowered by being given the envelope to read.

During the time I led the youth, I grew a TON... starting out, I was very insecure. All I could remember was how much I LOVED my first small group leader and the impact she made on me. I wanted to be that to my small group girls, to show God’s love through me, but in the beginning I tried way too hard. My first few years were some of the hardest and I almost threw in the towel. I was persuaded to continue, and started back with a new fresh group of 7th graders. During the 6 years that followed, I went on a journey... through leadership, but of course just through life, which in turn affected the way I led. I learned that it wasn’t always what I said that mattered, but being present and available to listen and pray is what meant the most. I finished leading last spring with a confidence that I couldn’t have spoken of 9 years previous. It was a hard thing to leave, but my time of leadership was coming to a close.
Going back to being a student here was(is) hard, while talking to a good friend here who is also a bit older than the rest(25), we laughed about how we sometimes catch ourselves acting un-characteristically immature. It’s a strange phenomenon, but I think has some to do with the fact that I have no responsibility to anything besides me, my own personal space, and my work duty(which, lets face it, is a pretty simple thing for me). To not have anything outside of myself to be responsible for is a bit debilitating. At first, I had a hard time knowing where my place was, but time and again I was reminded that my time here is to be a student. Another reason for the struggle is that the last time I was a student, I was in high school. Being a student as an adult is different, not to mention the age of most students here is between 18-21. These girls (and a few guys) still struggle deeply with their identity and comparing, etc. It was a bit of a “culture” shock for my system because though I do have my own issues with comparing, they are not on the same level as the freshly graduated from high school girls.
So, all of that to say, I struggled with the fact that I had just come from a pretty confident place of leadership, to this new world of being a student amongst these majority of freshly graduated students and no "stated" place of authority or leadership. I'm having a hard time explaining myself, but think my point about saying all of this, was that on Tuesday, I had a small taste of the leadership aspect again.

This post is getting rather long, and we have a busy week before heading to outreach. So, I'm going to wrap up the rest of the week very quickly. On Wed. we had lectures both morning and afternoon, and in the evening we went into town and had coffee with our small groups(well, some of us did). It was a nice, relaxing time to just hang out and chat. Thursday, we had lectures in the morning and team building activities at the beach... this was awesome... especially because THE CZECH team won!!! Woo Hoo... and I must add that we are all female (besides one of the leaders)- so it was pretty sweet!



Friday morning was an early one, as we were ready to go to the Lighthouse for worship at 7:30am. It's so beautiful there, although it was raining when we first arrived it stopped by the time we were done. This was great because then we all walked down the path to the beach where we had the baptism service.
It was pretty informal, really, so to say "service" sounds a bit funny. We all gathered in a circled cluster and listened for a few minutes to Gunny talk about baptism. When he was finished each of us getting baptized shared a bit of why we made our decision. Gunnleik then prayed and one by one (there were three of us), we went into the water and "got dunked" (as I like to call it). I really don't know what I was "expecting," but when people asked me how I "felt" I couldn't really respond. It wasn't like there were fireworks or butterflies or anything, and really I don't think it mattered. It was a statement and act of my faith being put into action and a declaration in the physical and spiritual realm. After the three of us all came back out, we stood in different spots and people prayed over us. That was the most impacting time for me, just sealing it all in prayer.

Thank you all for your continued prayers as outreach creeps closer. The next two days we have outreach simulation where they take you through many ridiculous scenarios to prepare you while travelling. (saying ridiculous, knowing that it's not at all far from reality)...
It should be a good time.






Also, if you think of it... the school needs prayer for finances to come in. The total for our school that is needed is $59,000... i think Australian, but still, that's a lot of money. Not more than God can provide though, so if you think of it send out a prayer. And if for some reason, God lays it on your heart to give, email me as soon as possible. I personally have my lecture and outreach fees paid. But, I did miscalculate and didn't leave much room for money to use for things like toothpaste, shampoo, etc. I am using money of my own, but if you feel led to give extra, please let me know. Or, if you attend Open Door, you can fill out a blue card at the missions table put it in an envelope and drop it in the box. (just make sure you fill out my name on the blue card) I strongly hesitated writing this last bit, so please know it comes from a place of humility to ask.

Baptism

Tomorrow morning I leave for Byron Bay again.. this time just for a lecture week, our very LAST one, actually! In two weeks I'll be in transit to Czech Republic, and I am sooo excited!
I really loved Byron Bay, so I am really excited to be going back. One thing I am looking forward to is that I am being baptized there this week.
It may come as a surprise to some of you that I have not yet been baptized, but it is indeed true. No reason specifically, I just hadn't felt a strong pull to take the plunge...(pun intended). It really has a lot of symbolism for me here. This journey that I'm on right now is a turning point in my life... full of new revelations of God's love, restoration, and renewal. It just seems right to mark it with a choice of commitment to go deeper into His love and be baptized. It is something I have been thinking about for the last year, and then when we were in Byron last time I saw a student from the base there get baptized. It was such a beautiful thing that took place, I remember thinking to myself, "why haven't I done this yet?"... and I believe God spoke to my heart and said something like "well, no better time or place." Okay, so I don't remember the exact words... but I just knew in my spirit it was time.
I just wanted to let you know before it happens... I'm not sure what day it will be, it might actually be one of the mornings.

Take care this week, bloggers!

Miracle and Lordship

I am meaning to update you on last week's lectures and goings on, but first I must report an amazing story, actually I'll call it what it is, a miracle.

At this YWAM base there are multiple DTS groups going on at one time, they all begin and end at different times and have different durations. When our MAD (Music, Art, Dance) school started, there was also another school starting called Frontiers. Though not in our same school, I've grown to know a few of the students on that school and consider them part of this YWAM family. Their outreach phase starts tomorrow and lasts until after we get back from our outreaches.
For the past month or so their outreach teams have been fighting for their fees to come in and knowing this I decided I wanted to give. I withdrew money the other day and prayed about who should get the support.
This morning(written on monday) we had our community meeting and there was a report of how much money was still needed for the Frontiers. I should mention that if all the money doesn't come in before they leave, they don't leave (or the individuals don't leave... they wait until it comes in). They had two teams going, one to India and one to Thailand, and three weeks or so ago they needed around $30,000 as a whole. The report this morning was still $8,000 to go for the India team (thailand received all of theirs)... and as I said earlier, their flights leave tomorrow.
One of the elders on the base suggested we take an offering right away, not pray and give during the day, but take time right then to pray and then go and get the money you have right away. I knew then it was time to just put in what I had to give. Many people went to their rooms to get money, and put it in the box... I did so, and then just prayed continually as others put theirs in that it would be multiplied. We all were praying and praising God as a few people gathered and counted. A few people had some words to give to the team and some from the team spoke some as well. As they finished the total was told to us.... $7,500+ ... PRAISE JESUS...
Honestly, I believe it was a miracle... this was a room full of ywamers, students, missionaries... I fully believe that God did multiply the money. Later we found out the total rose to $8.000+...
I thought it was worth blogging because I have never witnessed such a huge need being fulfilled in such little time. What a testament to God's faithfulness, love, and peace. He comes through and blesses in ways we cannot comprehend. It gives me that much more faith that He will provide for me in all of the ways I need as well.

Lectures last week were on the topic of Lordship, which we defined as having a heart like Jesus... surrender, yielding, obedience, releasing and empowering, giving up our rights to Him, It was good stuff... and it's commonly labeled the "intense" week because it's a time to examine the things/areas of our lives we put in place of God... or things we want to control or feel we value more than Him. On Thursday we learned all about the tabernacle and the meaning of each area. If you don't know much about the old/new covenant and about the old and new covenants, etc. It's really interesting, something I had never really studied before. If you haven't, I'd suggest reading Hebrews, that's where these things are explained. On Friday we were brought through the "tabernacle"... our meeting room was set up as such and we entered the the gates with thanksgiving and His courts with Praise! When we finished with that we went on to fellowship offerings... which were things like career/future/family/money... and then to burnt offerings, which were repentance, asking forgiveness or forgiving someone, confession of sins.
This was a very powerful time of brokenness before God. For the first offering I brought my laptop and paint brush as a symbol of my future career/plans. And then also later I realized that I hold on to my family (specifically my sister and her kids) and sometimes I worry too much about them. The burnt offering was harder... I know God has been showing me the ways I have an inferior pride.. about my artistic abilities and not feeling like I could ever compare to the designers I deem the best, and also in the spiritual sense I compare myself to other christians in my age group and see how much I think they are more spiritual because of this or that and somehow see them as better than myself. I also decided it was time to speak out loud forgiveness of my grandma on my dad's side.
There are many of you who don't know my family history, but to make a long story short, issues were revealed and she chose to not believe them and somewhere in all the crap we (mom, dad, sister) haven't spoken to her since I was about 12 years old(except maybe 2 or 3 conversations my dad had with her). What hurts the most is that I feel she picked death over life. It's hard to say that, because I have no idea where her heart is or the other family on that side is either. I don't think they are a lost cause, I just see how much life there is when our immediate family with Karen, Pat and the kids are altogether and having fun, I see all that she's missing out on and wonder what my grandma was thinking.
You can imagine the things that our whole DTS were bringing... it was a day of victory over darkness... strongholds being broken and new life being breathed over everyone. After the offerings we prayed over the individuals who had confessed sexual sins (either done or been done to them) and then prayed over others around us. And then, we were anointed with oil by the staff.... had a time of communion and then ended again with praising God for the things he had done that day.

What I've been learning lately is to hear God in the ordinary times, when I'm not overwhelmed with emotion. Not to say it's bad to move on emotions, but sometimes my emotions get in the way of what He really is trying to say to me. I don't know if that makes sense, but as in life as well, we can't just always make decisions based on our emotions.

Czech Republic Outreach Prayer Requests

In just over 3 weeks my outreach team and I will be embarking on our journey to the Czech Republic. This just blows my mind, the lecture phase has flown by so quickly!
We leave February 2nd... our first destination is Plzen (a city in the western part of Czech) and from there we'll be in Prague for the rest of the outreach... our debriefing will be in a small town in Germany that one of our leader's parents lives in. Apparently it is fairly close to Rothenburg, a town with a Christmas Gift Shop that is open year round and is well known for it's affinity to elf culture. (bahaha... okay, that last line is actually from the movie ELF, I have no idea it's affinity to elf culture :)) I've actually had the honor of knowing about this store because of a valued client at Vision Van Gogh... his name is David Young, a man who can play two flutes and once. It's pretty cool, even though it may sound a bit odd at first. :)

On to the prayer request points:

• Finances- I have my outreach fees taken care of, but the three leaders are still in need of their finances to come in. I'd love for you to join with me in prayer for my team, that the money would be released and brought in. I am taking this on because we are a team, and it's just as if I'm the one needing the money.

• Team Bonding/Unity- We haven't done a lot of "bonding" yet... having times to just hang out and have fun getting to know each other deeper. We're a group of all girls and one young married couple the couple and one girl our our leaders. I feel like we're sort of a mixed bag of artists and musicians. I'm pretty close to two of them... one musician and one artist... the others I know pretty well, but it could be better. SO... I feel I a rambling, so I will leave it at that... the song that keeps running through my head is "Bind us Together"...

• Passion for the people of Czech Republic- I feel like I'm behind in praying for the desire to have a passion for them... to really want to know the history, trials, etc. of their nation. I want to be informed about the place I'm going into... but facts and history have never been my strong point, so research often turns me off. I know it is important though... so yeah... passion for them... and for the Holy Spirit to speak into the places and things we should be praying about.

• Our "Production"- I don't know what to call it yet, but we've just started brainstorming and first beginnings of writing a production that includes music, art, drama... a kind of personal narrative that uses an individual's life story. At this point we're basing it around a girl in our group's testimony of trials and tribulations and ultimately finding God and redemption etc.

This last point is really a big one on my heart right now... I'm excited about it, but nervous because there are only a couple of really strong leading personalities on the team. We're such creative types, so at times it is hard to figure out if everyone is on the same track creatively and working in the same direction. I don't know how to describe it well. But, I just know that this could be very impacting if done right... and it really excites me because it's a tangible way I really know I'll be able to create on the outreach. Before now it was never really explained what we'd be doing with our art, besides maybe setting up and painting while the musicians play at a coffee shop or something, even then I didn't know if that would've been possible. So, we have that production/narrative thing and also we found out we'll be leading an Art Workshop for some artists while we're in Plzen. I know there will probably be other opportunities, so I guess just pray that other opportunities will arise as well.

Thank you all for all the prayers you've been lifting up on my behalf. I am so encouraged to know there are even many others who I don't even know who read this blog. To all of you I say hello and bless you!!

Happy New Year at Coff's Harbor!

This post comes out to you tonight (this morning) in Coff's Harbor... and it's New Year's Day! It's the beginning of 2008 and I'm living in the first hours of it before any of you in the United States (assuming only Americans are reading this)... Boo yah! ...

On this outreach we have what is called "The Chai Tent" where the musicians jam, dancers perform, and the artists create and possibly sell their paintings. All the while, passers-by have the opportunity to come in, grab a free Chai Tea (served cold in the day, and hot at night), chill-lax and converse with others in the tent.

Today was very windy and a tad on the cool side of things... I have to be so very careful saying it's "cold" because most of you are currently in lands of tundra. But, being that I'm in Australia, it's not the typical weather... in fact last week on Christmas they set a record for the coldest one to date! I couldn't tell you the official degree, especially because they use Celsius instead of Fairenheight (sp?). Why does the U.S. have to do EVERYTHING different from the rest of the free world?! That's a WHOLE 'nother can o' worms though.
On to the day... besides being cold, it was SO windy, I was pretty sure the tent could blow down. Upon getting to the tent (we sleep at a church in nearby.... the tent is set up just off a creek that flows into the ocean), we went on prayer walks around the park that surrounded the tent and then came together again to worship. It was a powerful time, I felt like God led me to pray (during the walk) for the people of Coff's to be able to see the glory and beauty of God's creation. I thought about how easy it would be to take for granted such a beautiful place if you're living in it day to day. I'm the first to admit I rush through the day without enjoying the beauty He has created, even at home in Minnesota. So, I prayed that His beautiful creation would draw them closer to the one God who created it and us all. The cool part was when another girl shared that she too, had the same leading. Some would write that off as just a coincidence, but I believe that it really was God speaking into what He desired us to pray.
After our worship time we opened the walls and began the day reaching out to onlookers, etc. I intended on painting, and ended up adding to a painting I had started yesterday by just drawing with pencil what I was going to do next. It ended up that I never did paint over the pencil because lunch was soon and then after lunch i never made my way to the art corner. Instead I decided to sit down by the "kids corner" and from that moment on I was captured by the attention of Gunnleik's daughers (the school leader), Linea (5) and Rose (9). We colored in a coloring book for a good 45mins/hour and then I had my arm "tattooed" with art from Rose, she did very well for her age! Such sweet girls... they are norwegian and know both their native language AND english, but have an australian english accent... it's quite funny(the aussie accent). That time was pretty much the highlight of my day... sounds a bit strange as I sit here and read that, being that I'm an adult and it is New Year's.. the fact that it brought me back to being at home with my niece and nephew could have a slight bit to do with it.... but really it was finally being able to be with kids again as well. For 3mos. I hadn't had much contact at all with little kids and had started to wonder if I'd ever!
We had a big party for New Years Eve, the best part of that were fireworks on the beach. They were far away, and the end was very anti-climactic, but better than nothing... I can't say I've ever watched fireworks over the ocean before. There were some really cool ones, too, that looked like lava shooting out of a volcano! I tried to take videos, but whenever I'd start recording something that looked cool, it would end because they didn't have it timed very well.

So, what will 2008 bring my way? Hmm... well, this whole DTS thing is one big new beginning for me.. not to mention that I've had many people speak words of newness over me... which relate to many aspects of my life. It's not like I'm going to have a whole new career or anything... but new creations and ways to create and blend together the passions that are inside of me.

Another year I dedicate to the Lord... I believe that you will do great things in me and those around me.... Amen