Wednesday, March 2, 2011

Round two: where you go, I will go!

As of Feb. 16 2011 I have received my acceptance letter for going back to Australia for 18 months! This time I will be going as a volunteer leader. The break down of the 18 months will be one Beach 2 bush starting in August 2011. Some of the responsibilities I will have are leading a small group of 3-5 girls. We will meet once a week in a group and one on one to pray for each other, encourage one another, and just to process what God is teaching us. Along with small group, a few of the tasks that could be given for the first 6 months are: kitchen manager, finance receipt person, or equipment person. Also toward the end of the 6 months I will be co-leading a group of students to a different country for a missions trip. After we get back from the mission's trip there will be paper work galore to finish up so the students can graduate from their Discipleship Training School. After the first school I will go on the phase 2, or logistical phase. I will be helping out the YWAM Brisbane community by being kitchen manager for the whole base, receptionist, hospitality for our guests on base, or maintenance. Really it's where ever the base needs help! The logistical phase will be around 6 months long. Then I will volunteer lead another school starting in August 2012. I will be doing the same thing as the first school but with different students! There is so much more that goes into this process but this is just the brief overview to get yall updated.
A few things I want to clarify:
I'm going back to Australia but this is NOT a vacation.
This is not a job, everyone at YWAM Brisbane raises their own support.
I raise my own support because I trust this is what God wants for me and I trust HE WILL PROVIDE.
I am in need of prayer support. There is a lot of emotional stress that goes into this and I would love to know people are standing by me praying and fighting for God's will in my life.
I am also in need of financial support. I am needing $4,000 for visa, airfare, and insurance before I leave in June, but because I will have room, board, and food while I'm staying on base I am required to pay rent. I will be needing approximately $600 a month.
I have been praying about how to ask people to support me and I really feel like I need around 24 people who will pledge me $20 or more a month for 18 months. That way it's not a large sum coming out of one person's pocket.
Asking for money is always a humbling experience. I believe God will provide the money, but it's hard to balance when to find a job and when to trust. I am willing to babysit, petsit, or clean house to get a few extra bucks before June.
Please pray and ask how to support me in the next step of my life.

I want to just take a minute and thank you for those who supported me last trip. It was seriously one of the hardest most rewarding things I've done in my life. God showed himself to me in ways I could not of imagined and gave me comfort and hope. I am absolutely in love with our Creator and I'm grateful for the opportunity to serve Him in this way, again. I could not have left my family and my comfort zone with out knowing I support from my friends and family back home. Thank you for praying for me, sending me emails, letters, and money. Even the smallest things go such a long way.

Many of you know that I just had surgery on the 28 of Feb and will be having another one in about 2 weeks. That gives me a lot of time to dwell on what needs to be done and even more time to stress! One of the things I have been meditating on to help me not freak out is Psalm 34. In verse one: I will bless the Lord at all times; His praise shall continually be in my mouth. Verse 7-9: The angel of the Lord encamps around those who fear him, and delivers them. Oh, taste and see that the Lord is good! Blessed is the man who takes refuge in him! Oh, fear the Lord, you his saints, for those who fear him have no lack!

God is good, be blessed by Him today!

Thank you for taking time out of your life to read what God is doing.

If you have questions let me know!

Thank you again!