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