God is good, all the time.

Airlie Beach:

We are currently staying with YWAM Whitsundays at a beautiful house in the rain forest of Australia. A few of my class mates went to the Great barrier Reef. There are pictures on facebook, just proves our God is beauty and creative.

I have all my money for outreach and I leave on November 29th. Last week we were in Chinchilla. It is an outback town. We stayed in the church and we participated in the community youth-group. We played on a huge piled of mud and water slide. Myself and two other people spoke. (rewind) when we were planning the Saturday message we were praying and everyone said that they felt Dusty, Meagan, and Shannon should share. I was a little skeptical so we prayed again and I asked for God to confirm who was supposed to speak. I asked for that familiar tingly feeling...as soon as I was done praying I got that feeling!! So I prayed about what I should talk about, I looked through my journal, and prayed some more. I was stumped at what I should talk about. So I ask my outreach leader, Jen, what I should do. She asked if she could pray for me and I said yes. After she prayed she told me just to go spend time with God and not to worry about it. So I did just that. As I was reading through Luke I read the parable of the Farmer and the Seeds that were sown and I realized that that was my life! So I prepared a testimony based off the 4 "seed growths" of my life. It was such a testimony of how God can provide practically!

Another amazing thing is that one of our students was healed and completely watched over by God in an incident. I can't go into much more detail as of right now, but I will update asap!

God has been teaching my forgiveness. How He is jealous for me.

A revelation that I had while I was sitting on a rock watching the waves crash and spray mist:

A few weeks ago I was talking to an amazing women of God and I was telling her, Christina, that I thought it was going to be boring when we went to Heaven because worshiping for forever MUST get old. She shared with me that she believes we were created to worship Him in everything so the things we are good at are the things we will do for him for eternity. So as I was sitting on a rock over locking clear blue water, wind blowing, and waves crashing I realized that the ocean was created to worship God. All it does, 24/7, is crash. Over and over and over. It glorifies God by simply being. It never gets boring to watch. It never stops. It is amazing to look at it and its an aw factor. So I realized that I have more value to God then the ocean and I was also made to worship Him by simply being. Doing the thing that HE created to do will never get boring. So I am now pleasantly pleased to say that I am EXCITED to go to heaven and forever do amazing things for my God and Creator. But even better then that......I GET TO DO IT HERE!!!!!!

There is so much else He has done but it's too much to write here.

Thank you for reading and supporting.

Love you guys!!!!!

Overview of life of a YWAMer!

Okay, so this is week 9 of my Discipleship Training School and I have not written anything to you guys. So I will give you an overview of what leaps and bounds I have made and what the next three months looks like!!

The first week was "The Character and Nature of God". Which just means we learned about Him from the beginning. We reviewed what He has done for us and wants to do for us. This week was good for me because I realized that God is a personal God. He wants to converse with you. He wants to have your whole heart. One of the biggest things that I learned was that I am no better than anyone else. I have no right to judge. I have no right to withhold forgiveness because the God of creation forgave me!!!

"Partnering with Jesus" was another topic. This week was just a challenge to take ownership of the things God gifted you with and walk forward with them. Don't sit and wait and say "Oh God, open doors for me while I sit here doing nothing". I have to be consistently pursuing the gifts and talents I was made with. And when we have gifts we shouldn't segregate ourselves but we should work to the top because when we use our God given abilities it's ALWAYS the best!

"Father Heart of God"- this week was very exciting! Everything that an earthly father has done, didn't do, or half heartedly did is NOT the way God is! He gives us the best, all the time. He never fails. He disciplines us at the right times. This also addresses any authoritative issues you have. I have a great earthly father, but he's not God. I'm very blessed to have an earthly father who supports me, corrects me, and tells me to go for my heart's desires! There is just something about the GOD OF THE UNIVERSE being interested in me. My life. My heart. Relationship with me! So mind blowing!!!!!

"Fear of the Lord"- This phrase is so often tossed about. What does that even mean? To fear God is to walk in awe of Him. (Rodney Atkins "I've been watching you" is a perfect illustration of that. How we do that is by obeying His laws and walk in Him. And walking in Him looks like not gossiping, not slandering, not lying, not stealing. Which are all typical "Christian" things to not do but if we are honest with ourselves..it's STILL something we do!

"Hearing the Voice of God"- This term scared me. haha. Hearing God's voice?!?! Whooooooo I don't want to experience that! But it's not just an audible "Shannon you need to do this" type of thing. He speaks to us through the living word! The bible. Typical and cheesy, yes. But SOO true.

"Intercession"- this means to pray for others. To stand in the gap for people who don't know how to or didn't know they needed to. Moses does this on behalf of Israel. Moses goes up the mountain and the Israelites fall away and "God's anger is kindled" (I don't even want that in my life let me just say!!!!) and so Moses begs God to not just smite them all!! So amazing. And so I've developed a passion for asking God on the behalf of others! To ask God for His heart for a person or nation. In this I've also learned the power of speaking words out. If you say "I like Shawn" then you are going to think in your head that you like Shawn. Because the more you talk about it the more you've created a relationship in your mind with someone. And so the more we speak things of encouragement and fighting for other people it does things!!!

"Missions & Worship"- Wow. Such a good week. Our speaker is a 28 year old man that has let God do so much in his life. He is currently in Indonesia learning the language and ministering to the locals by living in awe of God! In this country it is very illegal to preach the Gospel! And this was our first lecture on the beach! So beautiful. This week really just showed how much God cares about the nations. He wants us to be fruitful and multiply. He says that if we follow Him He will bless us and our future generations. SO good. awalskdfjasldkfjas!!!! And so this week I was challenged with knowing "All NAtions" that God talks about in the great commission. I didn't know many of the countries! There are a lot. (that sounds dumb, I'm aware!!) And the thing about missions is that it exist because worship (personal worship) does not exist! So mind blowing.

That is just a very brief overview of the subjects we are learning about. I can't even begin to describe what it's like to live in community, more specifically live with 11 other girls, my personal walk with God, and the passion I've developed for reading the Bible!

This coming week we are talking about making Jesus Lord. Our speaking is Mark Parker. He is loud. And one of the most passionate people I've ever met! So exciting. If you could just keep me and my team in prayers this week that our hearts would be open to hearing why Jesus should be Lord in our lives would be great!

Next Monday (12th?) we will be leaving for 5 weeks and I will be out of contact. If you have any questions before I leave feel free to ask! During these 5 weeks we will be making a 15 hour bus ride! woooot! Once we get back from our 5 week road trip we are on base for 2 weeks and then we leave for our 7 week outreach and then come back to base for a debrief of a week and then GRADUATION!!! January 21st is that day. Then I leave on the 22nd and arrive the 22nd. (messes with your mind!)

I can not even begin to describe what I've learned since I've been here. So much to tell not enough words!!! Thank you all for your support and prayers and just being there for me! I greatly appreciate it!

I love you all,

Shannon

Faith of a Mustard Seed?

Tomorrow I will be leaving for three weeks on a mini outreach. During that time I have a book report due, outreach funds due, and weekly homework due. I'm turning in my funds for outreach right now and after that I have no money. Literally none. I have faith God will provide but I have to do something towards getting it also. If you are lead to help me in this manner let me know. I still need prayer as well. Prayer more than anything. I love it here but when you say "God break me" you better be prepared!!! (:

You can send donations here to australia or to my home address.

youth with a mission

Shannon Baxter

671 Samford Road

Mitchelton QLD 4053

or

Shannon Baxter

58 Arrowhead Drive

Stafford Virginia 22556

I'm sorry I haven't talked to a lot of you. We have a pretty busy schedule. If you want a more specific update, message me!!

Thank you for your time and prayers.

Shannon Baxter

Amiss weekend

Well I have been here for 5 days.
Friday we just hung out and went to Brookeside(mall) about four times. Saturday we did "Go Day" which is just outreach into the community. My group did waterways. We picked up trollies(shopping carts) and rubbage(trash) out of the drain pipes. Later on Saturday we left for our "bonding weekend". We went to Hosanna Farm stay. (campground essentially) The first night we had dinner, amazing worship, and shared our testimonies. We have 20 students and 6 leaders so we ran out of time. So on Sunday we had a family breakfast and shared more testimonies. We broke for lunch than went on an optional hike. Out of the 26 people 24 went. We went to Mount Warning. It takes about two hours up and two hours down. At the top there is a chain to get up the rocky peek. The pictures are amazing and I will update later. On the way down rolled ankles occurred. Nothing serious. Once we were all down it was dark and we realized not all of us were at the bus. Four people were missing. Ironically they were the firsts one down. So we drove up and down the mountain looking and honking. To no avail. We drove to a Bed and Breakfast and sat in the game room. Which it was more like a trailer hookup. And we sat and waited and prayed for two ish hours. Kim (our leader) took all the students back to Hosanna and they called the cops and they sent out the search team. The four people just ended up making a bed with palm trees. They got up and started following the river and ran into the search team. That specif team had just gotten off the road. God timing! They were out in the wilderness over night. It was very bonding very quickly. God has big things planned for our group. Please keep us in your prayers.

When we got back to base Luke and my baggage finally got here!!!! It was awesome!
We had some girl time and brushed each others hair and talked. (: but now I am having talks with Dusty and Hannah. Thank you for reading and I will post pictures sooon!

Love you all.

65 and cloudy

After the wrong airport, a making out couple next to me, delicious airplane food, and a numb booty I am here. It smells great. It's cold. And I don't have to wear SHOES! I walked to the mall without any on. THEN I walked INTO the mall!!!! Fanfreakintastic. I need to talk to mi mama. :(


Prayers are still needed. My bags never left DCA!!

And on a side note, I can feel that God brought each one of my fellow students here. Ahh amazing.

Ready, set, row.

Shannon Baxter
Youth With A Mission
671 Samford Rd
Mitchelton QLD 4053 Australia


letters, letters, letters!!!
(:

I am leaving in 27 more hours. AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH

Zippers

After much procrastinating, frustration, and force my abnormally sized duffle bag is packed. Zipped. Bulging. Heavy as a cow. I have a few more items to shove in a void space tomorrow.
God is amazing for a few reasons but specifically for these: 1) I have FIVE more days until I have to leave and I'm PACKED! 2) He provided a backpack through my friend, Krista, who went to DTS last year(duh Shannon why not ask her FIRST?!). Which means I have some more room! (: I'm determined to wear every piece of clothing I bring, if I don't I will be burning it before I come home.


On Monday my family is having dinner. Madison, Greg, Brianna, and Dana to be included in that. I'm beyond excited.

I am arriving at the airport at 1115 on Tuesday if you want to see me off. Dullas.
Email me for more information!
Hugmemore08@gmail.com

Wedding Pictures from July 17th

Nails

Tids and Bits: Today was my last Sunday at church. Hearing my name in a church announcement just is a sickening feeling. I also realized that God has been working in my heart for over a year to do this for Him. It's been a long process but I'm glad it's almost go time! Chris told me I get to share what I did when I get back. Start praying now, I dislike public speaking! (surprising I know)

I took Monkey out for her birthday. (It's actually in September) She is very sensitive to missed special days so we got our nails done! I am really going to miss her.

The wedding pictures are done being edited (http://picasaweb.google.com/110267846782333409556/StarredAndreaAndPaul#), I'm ordering camping stuff tomorrow, Krista is helping me pack tomorrow, and I have awesome sunburn. I went out on a boat with my partner in crime, Ms. Anna-Marie-Elise Langwasser. ahh I'm going to miss her.

Prayer Request: My relationship with certain people here aren't too hot.
I talked to an good friend that I haven't spoken to in a while. This friend had life changing news that was being received as joyous. I'm so proud of them and love them dearly. Please pray for this person: strength and wisdom.

Praise: God is providing the funds and emotional strength to get through this.

I must go chase a foreign thing called sleep.

8 days.

T minus 11 days

-wedding pictures
-picture album
-clothes shopping
-packing
-spending time with family
-buying camping gear
-fire class

The list goes on and on!


I just received the "two week destination" email! It makes me nervous but it's happening and God has in under control.
In a few days I will be posting my flight information, feel free to come to the airport to see me off!!