Dear Lord, 

I LOVE what I am doing, but sometimes I don't know WHAT I'm doing. Please help.

Amen.

Soo.. that’s a little imagery of what my heart has been going through these last 4 weeks of being a part of this school. The good news is that God has answered me every time, and has just continued to give me patience, strength, comfort and peace every day.

Every day is so full-on, starting at 5 am and not stopping until about 11 pm on a regular basis. I am finding that the hardest part of the day is choosing to get out of bed. Once I am out, I have fully committed, and I’m ready to roll and just give everything to that existing day. I haven’t completely mastered it yet, but I am getting there. 

So these last few weeks we have been learning as a class SO many different things.

On the second week, our class had teaching on God’s character. I remember sitting there last year as a student not really knowing why this was an important week, but I have realized now that it’s actually SO key in one’s relationship with God to understand WHO He really is--- there is nothing more important for a Christian to know than this very thing. Throughout the week, our speaker Rod, talked about the different misconceptions of God that people let their minds think because it’s what they have been brought up to believe about who God is. This brought such greater understanding to myself as well as the students, and I actually feel to share them here: 

-          Father Christmas ---- God is not our “fluffy toy” or magic genie lamp. He doesn’t just give us whatever we want, but He disciplines us because He love us so that we may bear fruit and greater holiness later on. Hebrews 12:5-11

-          Distant God ---- God is not far away!! He is SO involved, and He wants to be in the details of things.  Ephesians 2:4 -18

Rod told this story about how his little daughter lost her precious plastic ring, and she was really upset about it. So in his efforts to help her find the ring, he sat down with her and prayed and the two of them asked God to show them where the ring was. He said that God told her exactly where it was and he watched her as she went to look in that exact place and find it there. This speaks volumes to me about how much He cares about our smallest problems.

-          Trickster God ----- He doesn’t play games with us and He doesn’t have any evil.

Psalm 145:17

James 1:13 – He never tempts—if something is too hard God has not brought you there and He does not bring evil things upon us.

-          The FORCE ---- God isn’t some “mystical creature or “cloud” – Genesis 1:26-27

God really has given us an idea of what He is like--- What we see in Jesus is what He is like.

It was really great to have those misconceptions cleared up because so many people have been hurt in the past because they have though God was an angry slave driver God, or just indifferent, or that He has inflicted pain into their lives, and to really realize that we do not serve a God like that can bring restoration and healing to ones’ heart.

After He went over who God is NOT, He went over who God IS.

He is:                                                                                                                                                                                                    

1.        Lord

2.        Uncreated & eternal

3.        He is Spirit

4.        He is infinite

5.       Wise

6.       Just

7.       Merciful

8.       Patient

9.       Gentle

10      Good

11      Kind

12   Truth

1     Compassionate

I loved being able to connect one on one with the 6 girls that I am mentoring at the moment about this week. A lot of them were really just loving the idea that God is so for them and has no intentions but the best for their lives, as well as wanting so badly to be in relationship with them.

On our 3^rd week, we had a week about learning what REPENTANCE and FORGIVENESS is.

Our speaker was Ari, who is a highly respected Dutch leader on our base. His testimony is one that really reveals God’s mercy and grace to it’s fullest as He has been through so much rebelliousness until He came to the place of surrendering His life to the Lord, and God has transformed Him leaps and bounds over the past 13 years that He has been a part of YWAM Perth. Throughout the week He talked about the Ten Commandments in a deeper way, and basically covered each type of sin that is possible to commit. He also talked about how sin separates us from relationship with God, and how we can’t be in right relationship with a perfect God as an imperfect being. And then He talked about why God wants us to repent of our sins and consistently turn away from sin so that we may be more like Him. I think this really challenged the students to try to see sin how God sees sin and to seek to make a lifestyle of making their selves right with God. In the bible Jesus teaches a lot about repenting and turning away from sin, yet it seems likes such a foreign message to Christians, even ones brought up in the church. But by the end of the week , I think the students all really understood the impact their own choices have made on their lives, and how they have had an impact on their relationship with God. They were all asked to take some time and ask the Lord about these sins and were challenged to apply this new thing of “repentance” to their daily lives. Another thing that I felt was key is that we don’t actually have to sin. We have a choice, and God has given all of His followers the same authority that Jesus had to walk away from temptation when it faces us.

It was very cool to learn about.. even a second time around, I felt like I gained a ton more from the teaching.

Which brings me to our 4^th week. This past week, our classes had teaching on prayer and worship--- another thing that we don’t normally think about too deeply. But there is so much that God shows us about both of these things. First of all Prayer.. have you ever wondered why God wants us to pray for things if He could just make them happen Himself?

-          This brings up such an interesting perspective. Our speaker, Cliff said this about that very question and it will forever remain in my mind because it makes sense: “From the beginning of time, God has wanted to use us to make things happen on this earth”.. not only physically by doing things, but also by praying. And when you think about it, it seems so logical because if that were not true, then there would be no point to us praying in the first place at all. 

The main point of the week was that our prayers actually matter. Things HAPPEN when we pray, and when we are in tune to what the Holy Spirit is leading us into praying for, MAN that can be so powerful. And He told an incredible story about this very thing. There was a team that was on outreach in the nations and they were praying and spent some time waiting for God to lead them in what to specifically pray for. They felt like they were supposed to pray for a man named Emmanuel De Costo (who they had never met before and had no idea if he was even a person) but they felt they were supposed to pray that He would discover Jesus, and receive salvation and turn away from drugs. Not long after they prayed, the next nation that they went to serve in they met a man named Emmanuel De Costo who had just recently became a Christian and had turned away from drugs. If that doesn’t send chills up your spine I’m not sure what does. OUR PRAYERS MATTER. And it’s an incredible thing to be able to partner with God in the place of prayer and actually enter into a “battle” for the world. Thid week really inspired me to keep being a fighter on behalf of the nations and my own friends and family because there are things that God does that are because we pray. And I even have a quick example of that today. We had a sausage sizzle over in the city with our class and we sold hot dogs outside this hardware store to raise money for our outreach. We were doing alright, but then it started down pouring and blowing a lot of our stuff away. And it was getting pretty frustrating, but then I just looked at my group and I said “guys, we should pray”. So we grouped together and just asked God that the rain would stop and that He would bring more people in to buy hot dogs. Not even 30 seconds later I looked up and the rain had completely lifted and a group of people walked up to our stand to purchase some dogs. How cool is that? It such a testimony to everything we had talked about this last week, and that God really does care about the little things.

And now my final thing… I found out this last week that I am going to be leading an outreach team with my dear friend Kate into the nations of Burma, Thailand, and Southwest Australia.

This thought literally makes me want to throw up, and jump for excitement at the same time. Never in my life would I have thought at age 19 I would be leading a group of young people across the world with the mission of sharing the gospel. I am so excited, but I think it is still sinking in my mind that it is all happening. I have confidence in the fact that God has appointed me to do this, but it is going to take some massive preparation and perseverance to be able to carry this task out.  

You can pray for me for that! =)

I remember praying for a word from the Lord before this Discipleship Training School started and I saw this passage in my head "Philippians 2:3" and so I looked it up and it read "Don't be selfish; don't try to impress others. Be humble, thinking of others as better than yourselves." What a perfect scripture to go back to when I need help doing this because that is the only way I can make it through each day.It's such an incredible way to serve others.

But even in writing this, I am just reminded of how incredible of a blessing it is to be a part of these people’s lives in such an influential way, and be able to care for them, counsel them, love them, and walk alongside them and cheer them on as they discover God for themselves. I couldn’t think of a better job at the moment, and I am so thankful once again to be able to do what I am doing.

This is a little idea of what has been going on here in Perth, Australia lately. I am exhausted constantly, but somehow there is always grace provided to be able to counsel, sit in lectures, and carry out tasks I am asked to do as an overseer of the students. I am being so stretched and challenged in so many areas, and it is incredible to be able to have an opportunity like this to rise up and go for it and grow in the process.  And I think that one thing I have found is that not only is there the grace to be able to do all of these things, but to actually do them all with joy is another key thing and I feel that is something God has been showing me lately. And I have learned that God is always faithful in giving that when we ask for it.

Dear Lord,

I thank you for the fact that you are who you say you are. That you don’t give us more than we can’t handle. Thank you for the joy that comes from serving you. And even in times where it seems we are in over our heads, you ALWAYS provide a way to persevere. And I also thank you that we are so not the point. It really puts things into perspective when I really remember that. I pray that in all things I may give You that glory, the honor and the praise, because you’re the only one worthy of it. I love You.

Amen.

Jesus, Be the Center

It’s funny how in the midst of so much chaos and busyness, the times that we cherish the most are those little quiet moments of stillness and rest. For the past 2 weeks I feel like this is a perfect description of how I have been feeling. 

                                              This is the Music DTS 2011!

 

Well, our school has officially begun. We kicked off the starting of it last Sunday night with an awesome “meet and greet” hang out time where all of our Music DTS students had a chance to bond for the first time as a group. We played games, had snacks and chilled out and it was an awesome time. However, the preparations to make all of that happen was a different story. Last weekend, we had to pick 30 students up from the air port at different times.  I will briefly share about this experience just to get an idea of what we were dealing with. So on Thursday, there was a girl named Abigail arriving from Texas. I walked into the airport with my “Youth with a Mission” sign and held it up. It wasn’t long until a girl approached me introducing herself as Abi. I would have been tracking on the same page, except for the fact that there was an older man standing next to her looking at me as well. I was really confused. Then he introduced himself as her father. And then I put the pieces together. I immediately welcomed them and made a quick adjustment in my head so that they didn’t think I wasn’t prepared for them. But in reality I had no idea that her dad would be coming with her all the way to Australia . I think the leadership knew of this, but forgot to communicate that with us, who would be picking him up. We got her and her dad back to the dorms and then I explained where she would be staying and after that John (her dad) asked “So… where is Dad gonna stay?” I looked at him with the thought in my head “That’s a good question..”, and I think I may have responded “I will get to Adam about that because I don’t know, but we definitely have a place for you” Even though I had no clue if that was true or not. Dan Crook, one of my co-staff and I rushed over to the guest flat and prepared John’s room for him and then took him over after dinner. All in all, we recovered alright, but I wish I could explain the anxiety going on inside my head throughout this whole dilemma, because I had no idea how to make some of these things happen. 

Another story happened last Saturday night. On Friday night I was told that I would be moving out of my staff house (which is nice and cozy) into the girls dorms down the street. I was okay with this, but bummed with the fact that this dorm doesn’t have internet, and that I had to pack all of my things up and then unpack it again. But I had a good attitude so it’s alright. This was my project Saturday night, and I was up at my house in the middle of packing, and I get a call from one of the other leaders on base saying there is a guy at the airport that is saying he is from the Music DTS and there was no one there to pick him up. She had called our leader, but he hadn’t answered his phone because he was out watching a game of rugby. So panicked, I immediately called Dan and asked what to do.. and his response was “Well, it looks like we’re going to the airport”, so him and our other staff member John, jumped in the car and were on their way to save the day. They ended up finding him, which was a miracle, but just the communication and unawareness in the whole situation was pretty comical. On top of these “UH-OH” moments, we were asked to do a lot of things to get ready for the school as well. So finally, Sunday night arrived and we could finally relax a little bit. I don’t tell these stories to say “Woes me”, but to say how I am learning to become adaptable and flexible in any situation. I think it’s good that I am learning this right from the beginning because I think there are going to be lots of moments to come where I will need to rise to the occasion and into a position of leadership, even if I have no idea what is going on. 

A funny little story-

At the start of the week the students had some time to hang out a little bit and some of them decided to play volleyball so two of our guys went looking for the ball. It just so happens that these two boys have a lot of energy and excitement; especially when they get together. They walked into the office looking for the volleyball and discovered this little trap door that led to a sort of “secret garden” that we have in that building, which is surrounded by walls on all sides, but open at the top. They went through  the dor and entered the garden and Dan, one of my staff mates thought it would be really funny to lock them in there.  In their hopes to get out of the garden, the boys decided to scale the wall of the building and get up onto the roof of our buildings and then jump down. I heard that they were doing this because one of the other student came to tell me, and I ran in trying to find them in time… but by then I already saw two sets of legs coming down the roof. I ran over to one of the other staff members named Luke, and I was like “Okay, sooo in this situation, what am I actually supposed to do?” At this point I think I just had to laugh. They were definitely not supposed to be doing that, but I gotta hand it to them for their creativity. 

I have also recognized - throughout the week that the students are watching. They see how I respond to things and my attitude really shows through. So I really want nothing more than to be sweet spirited and have a consistent positive attitude these next 6 months, and to be the best leader that I can. 

 

Just so you have an idea…

Our week went a little bit like this:

Monday morning, we had orientation day where the students got introduced to who we are as a mission and got a little better idea of what we do, and how we function. Tuesday we had registration day, where everything was signed, and taken care of as far as finance, books, pictures, tours, medical insurance forms, etc.. all that fun stuff. Then in the afternoon, we had a little adventure day planned for them which was a scavenger hunt throughout the city to find a lot of our main attractions, stores and things like that so they would be a little more familiar with the area. Wednesday was our first day of lectures, and our topic was “Hearing God’s voice”. The students seemed really ready to receive truth, and were very excited about what our speaker had to say. And for the rest of the week this was how our schedule went. Jess Erikson, our speaker, did a very good job of inspiring each student to really seek after God right from the beginning. She did this by comparing knowing God to knowing one of our closest friends.. and she challenged them to not just know ABOUT God, to know Him personally. I feel like I needed to be reminded of this as well, and I even felt more motivated at the end of the week. When I really stop and think about it, I have no greater desire than to KNOW my creator, the one who knows me better than I know myself, and the one who LOVES me more than I will ever be able to comprehend. My prayer is that each student can have this desire as well, and that it would drive them to set aside time so that they can know their creator as well on a personal and intimate level. It’s amazing that this is the reason we were created; to have a real ALIVE and deep relationship with God. It moves me so much when I think about this.

On Friday we had a time of worship with the school, and there were some very genuine prayers that were prayed by some of the students. It’s so cool to see what is going on at the core of their hearts, and seeing that they are here and ready for what is next. I can’t say that for all of the schools that have come through this place, and I can’t even say that for myself when I was a student last year, but I am so excited to see them all gain revelation and to walk with them as they look to God as their teacher.

On Saturday, we all dressed up as singers and went to IKEA for breakfast, and then we hung out at the beach until lunch time and had a great time socializing, running around, and playing games. It has been really really cool to see how the class has bonded and gotten to know each other in just one short week.  I think it’s important for this to happen, because they are going to be spending the next 6 months together. So all in all, it was a great first week. We had a good staff training and preparation week before hand where we all learned a little more about our roles as leaders and I think that week really helped me see that I am a leader, and that I have such an important role in the lives of many. 

Sometimes I get overwhelmed with my position of leadership right now. On the weekdays, I wake up at 5 or 5:30 and have my quiet time, and get ready for Morning Prayer at 7:15. We are committed to praying for our students every day and fighting for God to intervene. And then the day starts at 8 am with all of the activities until we are done which is not until about 8:30 pm. And on top of that we have to be ready to aid the students when things come up, which has already happened a couple times. A couple of the girls have had a few struggles where they are not doing so well, or need support and I love being able to be there for them and pray with them. But sometimes I don’t actually know what to say, so it can be challenging.  I often ask “Why did God call me to do this? I am not a leader, and I’m definitely not ready to take on something this big”. But what I know in the middle of all of these things happening at once, that God is consistent. He never changes, and all I need to focus on is continuing to put Him in the center. He is the source of all wisdom, comfort, patience, grace, love, and strength—everything we need only comes from Him and He is enough to carry us. He always is. It’s an incredible feeling to know that I don’t have to do all of these things alone. It’s almost like a weight being lifted off of me, and I can breathe a little easier. God isn’t expecting me to be perfect at this job; heck, I have already made plenty of mistakes. But I know that when I look to Him for guidance in every single step, He is so faithful. He will never let me down, even if I let myself down. And it’s because of Him and everything He gives me, that I feel like I am able to give of myself to these students.

So that is my last 2 weeks in a nutshell. I am learning SO much, and I am so excited to learn more. This is going to stretch me more than I will have ever been stretched before, and I couldn’t be more pumped about that. God is so good, and all I want is more of Him each day. Can’t wait to share more with you as this new season starts unfolding more and more!

P.S. Here are those pictures from the wedding back in May that I said I would post!