As I sit...

First off I want to thank you so much for your prayers. They really are moving things and I am so grateful that your praying. THANK YOU! Most of my blogs or updates or emails are being written through my iPod and sometimes it has a mind of its own in correcting my wording and I don't catch it until its too late... so thanks for hainging in there when the wording gets a little confusing.

In the past week or so I have had an infection on my leg from a boil, at least that is what the doctor said. It has been a very humbling experience. For the first week I discovered my infection, I could not stand because the pain was so unbearable and my hearing would start to fade... I was often asked the question by doctors "Do you have diabetes?" Every time this made me worry... actually more than worry...more like freak out because diabetes runs in my family and I pray that I will never get it.  I had gone to 4 doctors and 2 hospitals and had my antibiotics changed on me more that I can remember.  My leg after 4 or 5 days finally started to drain with puss... too graphic for you??? Well it was nasty and very very painful. One doctor had stuck something in my leg to help it drain... and no numbing agent there... what an experience... I could not really get dressed without help... I realized how hard it is for me to need help from others. Humbling... definitely! I am learning a lot. I have been so grateful for this family we are staying with. They have taken such great care of me. They have changed my bandage for me, served in every way possible, and kept me in prayer! I am finally getting better but the last hospital visit I was commanded strict bed rest, no walking! So yesterday, my team left back for Mumbai while I stay here in  Wardha with one of my teammates until Friday so I can rest and heal.

We have been so blessed to stay here and be a part of this ministry DinBandhu (friend of the poor).  This past week we were able to be a part of a pastors conference where we got to worship and pray with them. Honestly I just feel humbled to be doing all that we are doing.  Our team really desires the fullness of what God has...but as I meditate on this... I am faced with the reality that the fullness comes with a cost. I want to be willing. I want us to be willing. This is a lifestyle not just a season. We have about a month left here in India and I want to finish strong. We then will be headed back to the states.

Please continue to pray for health and protection over us. Pray that we will grab a hold of all that God has for us. Pray for provision as well... I still need monthly supporters and I am continuing with this non profit ministry for the next 2 years.Thank again for all your prayers and support. I honestly cannot do this with out you. I have more and more of a deeper revelation of what the body of Christ looks like with each passing day. We need each other. So Thanks Family!

A letter to myself and any whom may listen

Here we are. All meals made for us everyday. We walk around the home and suddenly I feel like I'm queen. Open those double doors, take one step, there you will be on a balcony that overlooks beautiful country side. Water buffalo, cows, goats, dogs... Here I am in India! Go up top and watch the sunset; it takes my breath away every time. God why do you love me so much!? I am but poor and needy but this is the life you allow for me... We are beyond blessed! I have never seen so many people recieve Jesus first handedly in my life. It's a season of the harvest and it's not even because we are good presenterst or powerful leaders of the faith...it's only because of Jesus. I want my heart to stir more.
To never stop burning with excitement about what what He is doing inand through me!
I want my mind to always have heaven perspective. I want walk out everything that groans in the deepest part of my soul! I long to see a generation rise up with no compromise, that are marked by his Holiness. Our team has been battling sickness off and on for over a week now. I currently am fighting off an infection on my leg and taking antibiotics. For those of you listening please pray for protection and immeadiate obedience to his voice. We need all the covering we can. I've realized how much prayer moves things in the heavenlies. We have so much authoirty in what we say. Pray that we will be over taken by His overwhelming joy that NO circuimstance can get in our way!!! God created me to have much joy but somehow Satan sneakly steals it from me! We have victory! We Win!

Trains...taxis...chaos... love it

We are here in India its been a little over a week. Internet is not easy access for us. Its been amazing and I cant believe that I get to live this life. We are all so extremely blessed!!  We leave tomorrow for a 10 hr or so train ride to central India where we will be staying for the next month and then return to mumbai. I am currently getting over a cold, crazy I got sick first week... We are staying in a house no one lives in. No running water so bucket showers every day and you constantly feel sticky from the humidity but I love it. I don't enjoy being sticky but I feel like a queen. Last week, we had the priviledge to be a part of a youth festival.  

Running hard to Burn!

Today we had 3 teams leave... its hard to say goodbye but this is the beginning of something God is longing to do...send us out to burn for HIM. Whether we feel ready or not God is going to rock our worlds.  He is longing to set our hearts ablaze and delight in us as we choose to GIVE IT ALL away! Thats my deepest heart cry... it almost hurts.... I long... I YEARN to OPEN my MOUTH, to give all that I am away for Jesus because of the Love that he has poured out into our hearts. Oh to Love JESUS with all our hearts, minds, souls, and strength. God has spoken so many crazy things he wants to do through us, but our main goal is to run into his heart. Fall in love Jesus and move out of that place; reaching the people were encounter. I long for us to so abide in Gods heart that as soon as people look into our eyes they see and fall in love with Jesus. Here is a video with my team and Chase my co-leader explaining a little bit of what we are looking forward to. Please be praying for team unity, a passion for Jesus where we CANNOT keep silent,  divine encounters, and that we will be sensitive to the Holy spirits leading, go where he says go and speak when he says to. Love you all. Excited to share with you what God does when we come back December 11th.

Unto you Be all the GLORY

Hiedi Baker was here about a week or so ago over a weekend to and come speak to us. She shared so many stories. I loved it.  Shes known for being consumed by the Holy Spirit and seeing miracles and healing happen as a normal part of life in Mozambique, Africa, where she is a full time missionary. I honestly want to be like her. She gives an example of what it can look like to truly abide and commune with God in every moment. Although I didn't have a crazy encounter with the Holy Spirit, He is teaching me a whole lot through that. I guess you could say that is an encounter but its just not what I thought it would look like. He wants me to seek his face. He wants me to seek him not what he has to offer even though that just comes with who he is, but He wants to be known. The first commandment is Love the Lord your God with all your heart! I think I lost sight of that for a moment. This entry will be short and sweet and Ill update right before you leave on outreach, which is next week by the way. Ill upload a video just to give you a glimpse of what a night looked like. God is so much bigger and I hope that everything that I have ever said over these blogs and through emails have spurred you on to run after Jesus with all that you are. I hope that you see Jesus through it all. Keep looking into His Eyes that Burn.

Full of worship

"God is spirit, and his worshipers must worship in spirit and in truth." John 4:24  Recently I have been praying for new perspective and revelations. I love that God is faithful and he answers prayers! :) I don't fully have this figured out but something that has been stirring in me is the idea of worship.How do we worship God? The automatic thought is we all get together and have "a time of worship." We organize a few songs, maybe mix it up a bit. Put together a format to worship the lord...not necessarily bad, but God has called us to worship in spirit and in truth. What does that really look like? When I am singing a song I want to make sure that I am truly focusing on him and WORSHIPING him and not thinking about I how feel when I am singing or what I look like but giving him glory. What did it look like for Abraham and the men of old to worship God? Did they put together a program? Did they just sit and sing a song they made up to Him? These are just some of the things stirring inside of me. I do not want any religion in my being... and its a process to fully get that out and just have a true genuine relationship with God.

We leave for India September 24th! That's in about 3 weeks! Its coming so fast! I am learning a lot while putting together this outreach with my co-leader.  We will be flying into Mumbai and staying there for the first week possibly working on Bollywood sets and then we will then be taking about a 10 hour train ride to a village where we will be able to do some church planting and sharing about Jesus. We then are planning to go back to Mumbai and do some ministry in orphanages, slums, and possibly the red light district ( with prostitutes). My heart cry is to see God have his way. I do not want any dullness in our hearts but to be fully alive with the BOLDNESS of Christ. We believe God has placed on our hearts that he is going to physically heal people! This excites me very much. Many people in India what have diseases are unable to go to a doctor because or money or transportation. When they have diseases for instance like leprosy they are then considered untouchables and are basically no good in the eyes of the people their. Imagine you coming down with a disease maybe even as simple as having acne... this may not be the case but I'm just painting a picture. Your seen as dirty and cast into a village where people never touch you or love on you because you are now vile. I keep seeing this picture in my mind... I am praying for a woman that has leprosy and has lost her fingers... as I pray her fingers immediately grow back!!!! God has healed her leprosy and and restored her body! It changes her life completely. Now she can live Life More ABUNDANTLY! What freedom that would bring! What life restored back to her! And in that she will finally know God has he is to be know and follow him! It just breaks my heart. It breaks God's heart that people so dear to his heart have to suffer and are treated less than when they have just as much value! So we are expectant that God will work through us.

This past week was about world view. How we as Christians should view the world. Our perspective. We desire to have Heaven Perspective. Keeping our eyes on the King and knowing what is on his heart and what is on his mind. What is he saying? I see our students growing and learning and drawing closer to the Lord everyday. I desire to see and believe that God is raising up a generation of people that are going to be so madly in love him that are not afraid of anything and are going to desire nothing... NOTHING of this world and be completely abandoned to him. I desire to be a part of that people! I will soon be putting up a few testimonies on what has been happening in their lives since they have begun DTS.

If you feel compelled to partner with me and what God is stirring you can be praying and interceding for our unity, for boldness, God would always be the center and reason why we are doing what we are doing, and favor. You can as well donate using the paypal donate button on page or by sending checks to the address in my contact page. If you have any questions please feel free to ask and if you are in need of prayer don't hesitate to ask.

Fruits of the Spirit

Its been about 2 weeks since I have wrote a blog. Life has been busy here on campus. In about a month or so we will all be heading out to our outreach destinations. The details are slowly but surely coming into place. Currently we are trying to tackle the visas. Not an easy task by any means, thankfully I have an amazing co-leader to be working with and getting most of those done! This past week was about missions and laying down our rights. It was such a good reminder. I am not my own, when I accepted Jesus into my life he became Lord of my life. Life is not about me but about Him; I do what he does, I say what he says. He is so worth it. Sometimes living in this western world I get so caught up in me, me, me. That's what I so admire about non western countries, they are so community oriented and are so servant hearted. This past week we also had a money deadline for the students. About 5 or 6 students needed their $2000 for the down payment for outreach. Within an hour and people obeying the Lord. God provided for every single student!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Basically turned into a dance party and rejoicing to JESUS!

Tomorrow is the beginning of week 7 (sheesh already!!) our speaker is Joseph Avakian and the topic is Worldview. God is going deep into everyone, he is stirring up everything that needs to be shaken so that he is the only solid rock in our lives. I truly believe that when we go out into the nations God is going to move in ways that we never thought possible. Its hard to even put that into words because its a way I CANT think POSSIBLE... God is preparing a people that will be living a life completely abandoned towards him that nothing else matters but to eagerly wait and prepare for his return. God has spoken about our team bringing Gods Healing to many people throughout India. We will see hurting people restored and filled with LIFE! People will find true love for the FIRST TIME! Its not by our own strength but only because we have fallen in love with God who created the universe and he wants to work through us that others may do the same! Please be keeping us in your prayers, we cannot do this alone. We are the body of Christ and we need those prayers to build us up in unity and strength that we may have the boldness to do what we are set out to do.

On a slightly different note...God has been stirring this revelation inside of me about the Fruits of the Spirit. Throughout scripture God speaks about us bearing much fruit or good fruit or bad fruit. He is the vine and we are the branches. Please as I am writing this I feel compelled to give you the freedom to give feedback about this or your revelations on it. It may seem so simple... but God moves in simplicity with power. As we surrender to the Lord, we start become like him. We become what we look at. The fruit we begin to bear is patience... we as Christians should be becoming more and more patient when we walk with HIS spirit. We bear love...it becomes easy to love people... give up our lives for people because we have been walking in his spirit. We should becoming more and more joyful because walking his spirit bears JOY! Peace...our spirits are at peace... not anxious or worried because walking in his spirit forms a solid trust in him so we are at peace... a peace that surpasses ALL understanding... whoa! We start becoming faithful... in all we do. People of integrity. Loyal. Trustworthy! How often do we not trust people? We should be the most trusted people... Walking in by his spirit. Gentleness, we are becoming people of compassion; being gentle with others,caring for them, and being understanding. And then there is Self control... I think that may be the hardest one... maaaaybbbeee... self control... in what I eat...what I think... being able to say no to certain activities... or movies... self control possibly meaning disciplined...in everything I do. Knowing whats right and having the self control to choose to do that. Along with that one I think goes with having a steadfast mind. We have a healthy way of thinking and are strong enough there to control giving into emotions or peer pressure. Being firm, solid and steadfast. Its so interesting how in Galations 5:19 and on, it paints a picture of what we are without Chirst... our sinful nature-sexual immorality, impurity, and debauchery; idolarty, and witchcraft; hatred, discord, jealousy, fits of rage, selfish ambition, envy, drunkenness and so on. But when we follow after Jesus we get his fruit. The GOOD fruit! Ah! :) Thank you for taking the time to read this; a lot of it is in my mind still processing. Jesus is just so GOOD!

One Thing

We have already finished week 4!! Time is just slipping by and our schedules just keep getting fuller and fuller! I enjoy the business but I just want to be real with you for a moment... God has been doing so much in our lives and I've come to find myself in need of him more and more everyday. Sometimes I like to think I have it all together, but in reality I don't. I'm just as broken and imperfect as the next person. God has called me to great things and has given me so much to give away but when I start to think I can do it all on my own, I fail miserably. We are all on this journey to know God and cry out and wait for his return. I'm tired of just going through motions and every day life and not seeing REAL God in our daily lives. I just want JESUS. I want him to consume all of me! I want to gaze upon his beauty all the days of my life because nothing in this world can compare to it. I want to count all else as rubbish compared to KNOWING HIM! So I am here...working with YWAM. Its not always the easiest actually as the days go by it gets harder. God is worth it. God is using us as staff to champion the students that chose to come here to fall deeply in love with Jesus and into their God given destinies. When I see a student get blown away by Gods goodness...my heart jumps with a joy knowing that God is moving and will soon get the glory and honor he deserves.

In about 2 months I will again be leaving for India. Me and another leader will be taking a team of 7 students. We are looking forward to what God has in store! We believe God will bring healing, salvation, and restoration to many people while we are there. Please keep us in your prayers as we prepare and we would have deep unity. We have much to get done before heading out. I am also in urgent need of support. We have a deadline coming up this Thursday. I need the first $800 of outreach fees.

Rushing Water

Last week we had Aaron Walsh speak. He runs an International House of Prayer in New Zealand. He brought so much revelations and power into lectures; we left all fired up. All the students were just rocked; thoroughly enjoying the week.

God has been putting these burdens on my heart. I would pray for them feeling the anguish of His heart and then Aaron would speak them out. GOD MOVES when we PRAY!!! Gods presence has been so thick on this campus. I just walk around and feel the goodness of the Lord. I'm not sure I can describe it better than that. He has been going deep into peoples hearts, bringing healing to areas that have plagued them their whole life; including myself. I feel like I am on the surgery table and the doctor just made a large incision...it hurts and all I can do is just lay there letting him take out all of the hurt. God is so good, so gracious, so compassionate. There is so much to say but yet I'm not even sure how to formulate how to say it. I am falling more in love and more in awe of God everyday. In Psalms 27:4 it says One thing I ask from the Lord this only do I seek: that I may dwell in the house of the Lord all the days of my life, to gaze on the beauty of the Lord and to seek him in his temple. We have been seeking to see his beauty, to know him more. So that we may abide in him!!! God delights in when we choose to delight in him. My heart has known this for a while but when I truly ask to see his beauty there's something about it that seems too simple and my mind wants to make it more complicated. Last night a few of the girls that I am staffing with felt like there were angels in the room. So we just asked the Lord to reveal his beauty and whatever he wanted to show us. I was a little nervous to be honest because it was SO REAL! I felt the fear of the Lord rising up inside of me. He is so real, so Holy, and so BEAUTIFUL. We just felt his presence there. We would put our hands up and our fingertips would tingle, it almost felt like someone else finger tips were touching mine. Our hands almost seemed to disappear in this cloud type thing above us. My legs would get warm and tingle and then cool. We were just experiencing God. Just simply delighting in him. At one point we looked up and there were like little balls of light, it was almost as if we were looking at the stars or in space itself. We could even scoop it up in our hands and I could see this light. It didn't feel like anything but I was seeing something. I am just simply amazed. The more I learn about God the more I realize that I hardly know anything. I feel so humbled. We serve a powerful, awesome and beautiful God. I probably say the phrase "I don't even know" more in the last couple of weeks than I probably ever have. I am ready for this next week which is about Prayer and Intercession.

Psalms 42:1-2 As the deer pants for the streams of water, so my soul pants for you, my God. My soul thirsts for God, for the Living God. When can I go and meet with God?
42:7-8 Deep calls to deep in the roar of your waterfalls; all your waves and breakers have swept over me. By day the Lord directs his love, at night his song is with me-a prayer to the God of my life.

Childlike

We are two weeks into this DTS and God has done things beyond expectations!!! The first week was about hearing Gods voice and the second, Fear of the Lord. We have had some powerful and thought provoking speakers! Monday of Last week we watched a movie called "Finger of God." Its a documentary about all the crazy things that God does; the supernatural things that might scare us or things that we just think are plain odd. We were going to announce the outreach locations to all the students but God had other plans, which I am so completely grateful and in awe of! As Andrew was about to bring up the announcement a student sitting in complete bewilderment had GOLD DUST all over his arms! Everyone immediately rushed over to see what was happening! We were all a little bit in shock! Is this really happening?!?! What on earth are we supposed to do with this??! This is AMAZING! We then decided to just pray for anyone that needed prayer. So a few people went to the front and people began to pray! I stood back and watched everyone and most people were so engaged and proactive! And this was only the FIRST DAY OF THE SECOND WEEK! This doesn't normally happen! God what are you up to ?!?!! I was FILLED with joy and excitement, I couldn't stop jumping! As people began to pray for healing, GOD came and HEALED PEOPLE! Right in our midst!! God healed scoliosis, knee pain, and all sorts! He grew a girls leg out and now can run and kneel as normal! WHOA!!! We were all so filled with faith that night! God has been setting the stage! Hes called our dts the AWAKEN DTS and he has only begun! Hes doing all this now and I believe will begin to do even more in the nations as we go out! HE is making himself known, he warned us but we truly have no idea what he wants that to look like! The one thing he keeps repeating to me is having childlike faith. A young child is so dependent. They always believe and trust that they can do anything! They aren't critical, they just walk and follow what their parents say or do. He wants us to just trust and follow. He wants our minds to return to that child like faith, we CAN DO ALL THINGS THROUGH CHRIST! ALL THINGS... not just what we think but ALL THINGS! Lets challenge ourselves to think that way.

Even though I have done a DTS already God has been working on my own heart! Its not the easiest process but God is so worth it all! He has been putting certain burdens on my heart that literally burn inside of me. I asked for his heart and hes giving it to me. Its not what I thought it would look like...go figure that one! His heart aches for his people! I wish I could explain to you all that God has been showing me and doing here on this campus! I fall more and more in love with him everyday. And I pray that these blogs encourage you and challenge you to RUN in complete abandonment to Jesus.

Prayer
-I have some sort of infection on my legs that has been there for about 2 1/2 weeks. I'm praying for healing but in the mean time I need money so I can see a doctor.

-Outreach fees:the exact amount right now is unknown, pray that every need will be met

-Pray for unity amongst the staff as well each individual outreach team. With out being in one heart and mind we loose the boldness to move out in power

-Fall head over heels in love with Jesus without that all of what we do is done for nothing

I apologize to any of you that have been waiting for my Pay pal missions account to be available to you. I have had some difficulties putting that together. I'm trying my hardest to get that set up this week.

I pray for you that God would encounter in a way that you have never known before! Every doubt or fear would be wiped away and replaced with HIS POWERFUL love! I invite you to come walk this journey with me because it is that best adventure that has ever occurred on this earth.

One Accord

There is fire in my inmost being! I wish I could take out this feeling and give it to you so you know what is truly going on! THERE IS SO MUCH!I have been just meditating on this verse Rev 1:14 "His head and hair were white like wool, as white as snow and his eyes were like blazing fire." His eyes of fire are penetrating into everything that comes to HINDER! Today was our first official day of the DTS! God has been speaking about how he is AWAKENING us to his love! As some leaders have prayed, God began to speak of HIS Tsunami of love that is coming to this campus! I believe whatever he is bringing to this campus will be multiplied and carried out into the NATIONS!! You guys there IS NOTHING LIKE HIS LOVE!

Every Monday morning we have morning worship. Everyone from campus comes to one place to worship our KING. His presence was so thick this morning. I am so in awe that this is only DAY ONE and he showed up! THIS IS ONLY THE BEGINNING! WE were completely surprised and blessed to have Mike Bickle, Allen Hood, and Lou Engle come and prayer over us! I don't even know what God has planned all I know is that its big and its coming! As we worshiped I was reminded of a dream God had given me about how holy he is and he is COMING BACK! I just see a generation that will rise up with the fear of the Lord and in them will lack nothing!

I am so stirred right now! God has put this burden on my heart, my heart truly breaks every time I look around and see any sort of division in the Lord. I am so SICK of lukewarmness! I am so tired of walking into a room of Christians and have a disagreement on a belief in who God is, his ways and character!! I TRULY HATE IT WITH ALL MY HEART! I long to see a people group rise up in holiness and just run after Jesus. I'm not perfect and not there yet... but I strongly desire to see the day where we are all in ONE ACCORD! As Phil 2:1-3 says "If you have any encouragement from being united with Christ, if any comfort from his love, if any fellowship with the Spirit, if any tenderness and compassion, then make my joy complete by being like minded, having the same love, being one in spirit and purpose. Do nothing out of selfish ambition or vain conceit, but in humility consider others better than yourselves." Please stay posted as there is so much more to come! Please come and be a part of what GOD IS DOING!

Guys Jesus is coming back and I want to be ready!

Field of Flowers

I dont even know where to begin! God! WOW! He brings me to my knees and then lifts me up again in joyful laughter! Everything he does just SCREAMS "I LOVE YOU!" Why do we doubt his goodness!?! Everytime I commit to something there is always some sort of anxiousness and fear. Why would I be fearful of giving Jesus my life?! Why would I be afraid of taking that next step in faith, when hes always been good? Always been faithful? When he has the BEST in mind? Every time I fall of that cliff with him, I fall more deeply in love with him. My heart, the deepest part of me yearns and hungers more for him! Ah the day I get to just BE in his arms, to gaze in his eyes...oh my heart aches for it!

Free Falling

Free falling... that's what my life seems to feel like lately! Living a life for Jesus definitely dares you to live on the edge! That is the best I can explain it, jumping off a cliff and just...free falling. Its all in faith. Trusting Jesus. God has made it clear he wants me to stay and staff the Summer DTS. This is an exciting season but one that requires ALL of Jesus! I will be having one on ones, girls I will be discipling and pouring into! I am so so excited for that! I then will be going on outreach with a team. This is going to be very stretching but I am eager to grow! I am so in awe of Gods plan, its so much better than my own. He fills my hearts desire but STILL uses what I LOVE for his purpose and glory! But I am still falling...falling...falling...into his perfect plan with faith that he will provide and take care of me.I am looking forward to this school, I believe God is going to move in powerful ways! He is doing something new in the earth and am excited that we get to be a part of it!

This season of nannying has been such an amazing season! As it comes to a close, I look back and see how richly God has poured blessing into me! He has constantly been changing my paradigm and giving new revelations! I thought I knew what a relationship with Jesus looked like but hes taking that so much deeper! I asked for all of my religion to be gone and its as though my eyes can see farther into the distance than I once was capable of. We say its all about relationship, but do we truly believe that we are in a seriously deep relationship with GOD!?! He is real! No SERIOUSLY! Think about it! YOu have friends, relationships in this world...and GOD desires a relationship with us! He wants to be in constant communion with us! I cant even put into words how deep this revelation to me was. I could hear Gods voice and pray and read his word, but there was still something blinding me. It seemed like a "real relationship" but I was forgetting that I'm INTERACTING with GOD! God who has all POWER. GOD who literally died and rose again for me! THAT'S FACT! Whoa Im not just falling love with God but am compelled to worship him in a whole different way. If I do not give my life away I WILL loose it! This life here on earth has NO other purpose than to prepare it for Gods kingdom to come! And that is why I am here at YWAM KONA; to build up others in Jesus so that we may tell more about Gods Kingdom! If that doesn't change how we live I don't know what would! Its not the most comfortable thing when we enjoy our lives but that is the reality. I want my heart to be fully aligned with Gods truth.

I am falling, loosing all control. Gods wind is blowing me in the ways in which I should go. Please pray for me as I venture on this journey. I want to be led by the Holy Spirit and his truth to be always on the tip of my tongue. Pray for Provision. I strongly believe that God WILL provide for my every need. Please pray about partnering with me. I need monthly supporters as well as one time donations. You can send money to the address that is in my contact information or in my previous post. As I get more information about better receiving money, I will update ASAP. If you have any questions please feel free to email me or call me. If there is something I can pray for you about please let me know!

school dates: July 8 2010-December 17 2010

YWAM KONA

Hello ALL! This DTS is already hit the halfway mark! Which means, the season of my nannying is almost over. I have been seeking God on what his next step for me is and I believe he is calling me to stay on as staff. What particular staffing position? I am not sure of that yet. Either way I will be needing support financially and in prayer! I just found out to live on base is $350 a month and I believe that includes food. Although I will still need to buy my own toiletries and personal needs, so it would be a bit more. God wants to set the peoples hearts on this base on fire for HIM. If you would like to partner with me in in pouring in to those around me to dive deep into Gods heart and power please call or email me. You may also send checks or cash to the following address


Shawna Schlenker
University of the Nations
75-5851 Kuakini Highway #430
Kailua-Kona, Hawaii
96740-2199 USA

God bless YOU!!!

~Shawna~

He is the ALL consuming FIRE!

It has already been a month since we have arrived!! Whoa! It feels like its been so long but yet so short! I have thoroughly enjoyed being here.

God is on the move! He is doing so much in people and around the world it blows my mind. God is truly so much bigger than my mind can even dream up!!! In the past couple of weeks we have heard Mike Bickle and Lauren Cunnigham speak. They have been able to bring a bigger picture of what God is doing and going to do worldwide! HE'S not just a western world GOD! He is the King of KINGS and LORD OF LORDS!!! My mind cant even be wrapped around that thought! Hes soo big, soo powerful and yet so gracious! I have so many sporadic thoughts running through my mind, so I will try to narrow them down to the revelations and experiences I have been encountering.

Every Tuesday one of the schools on base have a specific time set out to spread Jesus in the community. I have been able to join them the past couple of weeks, but last week turned out a bit different than I was expecting. I was walking with 3 other people and we were waiting for the spirit to lead us in any direction that he pleased. We came across two ladies that were looking after their shops downtown, so we said hello. They were friendly of course because they wanted customers, but they knew already who we were and what we were doing. (YWAMER's tend to have that vibe about them.) They pretty much let us know that they didn't want anything to do with Jesus. I was trying to discern the situation and continue to linger and talk or to move on. We all chose to stay. We found out very quickly that one of the women was a "good" witch and had 9 children. This woman was very critical of anyone that walked by, filled pride and had false sense of power. This woman was very broken. We continued to listen to her talk about her family and what the tattooed pentagram on her arm meant. To be honest I had no idea how to respond to her. She didn't want anything we could offer her. So we just listened hoping that she would begin to see Jesus in us. She said that we were all very sweet and that she liked us but when someone in our group asked her if she needed prayer for anything, she very confidently said "no I dont need anything, I'm fine." This woman was very clearly deceived because she hasn't encountered the TRUE love and power of GOD! As we were about to leave she got up and hugged us and kissed us on the cheek. When she got to me she held on to me and began to curse me! It may have seemed innocent but it was very very demonic. She began to tell me how I was a closed off person, I dont trust people, Im a shy person, and that its ok for me to be cautious because I can't trust everyone. WOW I felt like firey arrows coming at me. I was almost in a shock sort of state. It was the most awkward situation! The people around me were trying to protect me but yet she just kept going. It was good to know and understand that Satan tries to use sensitive areas and slight truths and twist them to try and defeat us!

We walked away and immediately began to break off curses and anything else she tried to put on us while we were talking! I still was battling the idea that I was shy since Ive been told that for years. But I know God did not create me to be that way! So I kept reaffirming truth over my life! As I mediated on this, God began to give me revelation! He has created all of us with an original design and Satan is out to steal it away from us! God came to restore WHAT was lost! I may have come across as shy or closed off in the past but that was never what God has intended for me! Satan tried to STEAL my boldness and confidence through situations in my life since I was a baby!! BUT GOD IS RESTORING THAT!!! This revelation blew my mind!!!

Satan is a LIAR!!! Its so simple but yet so profound! I've heard over and over again how he came to kill, steal, and destroy. But I have never understood it this clearly! He is so evil! God would never ever say anything like that to his children! He knows who we are but Satan sees what he has stolen and declares those failures over us! JESUS IS GOOD!!! The SPIRITUAL BATTLE IS REAL!!! Wow! I am so thankful that God is in me!! Ive grown from this experience! If God wasn't working in me then Satan would have no reason to come and attack me! Praise JESUS!!

I am getting so excited what God has next! His plans far exceed what I can fathom! And I know he has something great for me! Although I am in Hawaii, it may seem like easy paradise but the battle is just as real as it is in the darkest places. God wants to set the Islands and this base on FIRE for him! He is doing a new thing! So we are singing a NEW SONG!

I have heard the insults of Moab and the taunts of the Ammonites, who insulted my people and made threats against their land. Therefore, as surely as I live," declares the Lord Almighty, the God of Israel, "surely Moab will become like Sodom, the Ammonites like Gomorrah- a place of weeds and salt pits, a wasteland forever. The remnant of my people will plunder them; the survivors of my nation will inherit their land." This is what they will get in return for their pride, for insulting and mocking the people of the Lord Almighty. The Lord will be awesome to them when he destroys all the gods of the earth. Zeph 2:9-11

Ohana

Time goes by sooo fast! Let me clue you in on my life in Kona!

I am living in a dorm room with 6 other girls! WOW I thought when I first found that out... I've never had that many roommates in one room before. Well I guess I did on outreach but that was a bit different. So far its been good, we have been getting along without too many hiccups. I am excited to see how God is going to move in their lives over the course of the DTS! As he already has. One of my roommates named Sarah needed $700 for the remainder of her lecture phase fees, her school had an offering for those who still needed money. Amongst the poor YWAMERs at least $3000 was given and all of Sarahs lecture was paid for and a bit left over to go towards outreach! PRAISE THE LORD! I really believe that God multiplied that money! Being in YWAM means that you need to live on a low budget and for that much to be given is a miracle!

As you all know I am here to nanny for a family doing their DTS. It has been an interesting ride. I have worked with kids and babysat plenty of times but nannying is like becoming a part time mom. I am learning a lot and have found a whole appreciation for active mothers! I find myself quite tired around 8:30pm and bed always sounds amazing! :) Its not always the easiest but I am really enjoying my time here. I feel like the Ords are a part of my family or I'm a part of theirs. And Ohana from the Hawaiian culture means family whether adoptive or blood related. I am being forged into this YWAM family as well as the Ords. Its about community and growing together in Chirst and I LOVE IT!

God has spoken about this season being about Gods love. I havent been able to share my experience that I had with God while in India, so here is just a slight overview. My DTS wasnt the easiest experience, it was actually quite rough. But God met me while I spent time with him on the roof top in India. For the first time I had ENCOUNTERED his love for me! There is NOTHING like it! HE CHANGED my life through it! I truly started to understand when he said that PERFECT LOVE CASTS OUT FEAR! So I am beyond grateful that he wants this season to be about receiving, learning, and going deeper in his love! He has already given me kisses last weekend by letting me see spinner dolphins in the distance, turtles, and fish swimming by my feet.

Although I am supposed to be here for 3 months while my family does their dts, I feel in my spirit that God wants me to stay longer. I will be praying about either staffing one of the next schools or doing a secondary school. In the mean time I am trying to soak up all that God has for me. I want to be able to bless the Ords, encourage girls that are here on campus and be a light to those that work in the shops downtown. So please keep me in your prayers and if you would like to support me for my future endeavors or support me now (which would go to personal toiletries,personal needs as I do not have an income, and towards blessing those around me) please feel free to contact me through email, phone, or the address shown in my contact section. Thank you for keeping updated and I truly hope that you are encouraged by what God is doing through me on this adventure.

Isaiah 46:11
From the East I summon a bird of prey, from a far off land, a man to fulfill my purpose. What I have said, that I will bring about, what I have planned that I will do.

Living Aloha

Alright round 2 for the blog! We have been here for a little over a week! We are getting well into the start of this DTS. I am so blessed to be here. My heart yearns for the fullness of Christ everyday. Even if I have a rough day my heart still burns for the nearness of him! I still am amazed how he created me for tropical places and is fulfilling those desires!

On the day they officially welcomed all of the students, they had a group called Island breeze do traditional Hawaiian dancing and welcoming ceremony. It was amazing, I love that kind of stuff. My heart jumps with excitement! They greeted us with an Aloha and described it full meaning and I was amazed and wanted to share some of that with you! Since I did not write down what they had said I looked it up to the best I could find...

this is my source(I only copied bits and pieces)
http://www.huna.org/html/deeper.html
For those who follow the path of Huna, or are fortunate enough to live in Hawai'i, it is common for us to use the word Aloha. We use it in greetings and farewells and in expressing love. But the word means even more, it is a way of life.

The spirit of Aloha was an important lesson taught to the children of the past because it was about the world of which they were a part. One early teaching goes like this:

Aloha is being a part of all, and all being a part of me. When there is pain - it is my pain. When there is joy - it is also mine. I respect all that is as part of the Creator and part of me. I will not willfully harm anyone or anything. When food is needed I will take only my need and explain why it is being taken. The earth, the sky, the sea are mine to care for, to cherish and to protect. This is Hawaiian - this is Aloha!
A, ala, watchful, alertness
L, lokahi, working with unity
O, oia'i'o, truthful honesty
H, ha'aha'a, humility
A, ahonui, patient perseverance

The kahuna David Bray interprets this code as "Come forward, be in unity and harmony with your real self, God, and mankind. Be honest, truthful, patient, kind to all life forms, and humble." He also stated that to the Hawaiian of old, Aloha meant "God in us."

WOW That was powerful! This YWAM base so far has been such a blessing to me! The worship that flows is amazing and I can see that the leadership here really desire to KNOW Christ! I am a worshiper and its such a blessing to worship along side others that desire Jesus' heart! There is also a 24/7 prayer room,which I haven't been in yet, but am really thankful for it! The food is a plus and of course the beach and all that is in it.

There is much more to update but I will keep that for the next post! Thank you all for your prayers! They are much needed!

A new seaon! A new day!

I am officially beginning my first blog! There are so many of you that I want to update on this crazy adventure that God has been leading me on. As most of you know I did a DTS (discipleship training school) with YWAM (Youth With A Mission), in Australia last year. When I came home I had no idea what God had for me next, with the exception that he had given me a vision of speaking in churches after I came back from doing missions. I had the opportunity to speak at two different churches while I was home but once that was said and done I was left wondering, "what now?" I prayed and thought of so many things and places I could go. I tried to move back to Tacoma but the Lord had shut those doors. I was confused, frustrated, a bit depressed, and just felt plain stuck. One night about 2 months ago now, I went to a church service where an on fire for Jesus Indian preacher who I met previously going to Australia/India, was speaking. Excited to see me, he asked what I was up to. I plainly said "I have NO IDEA what I am up to", so he prayed for clarity and God spoke through him saying I would get a phone call and I would know what I am to do. Thankful for that word, I had some doubt not knowing how on earth someone would call me since I had just activated my phone that day and no one had my phone number. So I kept praying hoping God would give me clarity but all he would speak to me was that HE had a plan for me, not to worry about it, and everything he does is strategic. I was a little bit frustrated since all I could do was WAIT no matter how hard I tried! About a month went by and I had met with Ronda and we talked about a possibility of going to Kona and being involved with the YWAM base there. I had such peace about going but still had some reservations thinking I was done with YWAM. So I had went home and prayed about it and the Lord clearly spoke, "GO TO KONA." So in response I said I need you to confirm this so I know that none of it was of me and you will have to provide. The next DAY I get a message from Ronda telling me that a couple from our church need a nanny while they do a dts in kona! NO STINKING WAY! The Lord let everything fall into place from there and I am now a nanny for the Ords and enjoying a place Ive always dreamed of going to, Hawaii! I have been so blessed beyond words, I am brought to tears of how good God is and that he would choose to bless me in a such a way. We have been here for a week getting acclimated and enjoying our surroundings. I have loved getting to know the Ords, they are becoming so dear to my heart! I am excited for this season and to see what God is going to do and what this will lead into! Praise JESUS!

plumerias after a down pour on base