Down Under!

Hello!
   First of all, I need to apologize for not posting in a while. I've been incredibly busy since I left.

   The flight(s) all went well and travel was good. Of course I wasn't able to sleep at all on the flights but surprisingly wasn't that jet-lagged or tired the next day. I got right into the swing of things here.

   We are actually staying on the medical ship that YWAM Townsville is using because they are not able to house us on  campus yet. I don't mind the ship though, it feels like home! I guess I just can't get away from boats no matter how hard I try, haha.

   This first week was lots of orientation, getting used to the city, and getting to know everyone here including staff. The last two days, once we finished orientation we had some lectures on 'Hearing God's Voice'. I really don't like calling them 'lectures' haha.. that makes them sound so boring and strict. They are really awesome times to learn about what God has in store for me and to learn a little more about myself as well.

   Yesterday we had an exercise on hearing God's voice where we were all handed a scenic picture and asked to spend some time with God and listen to His voice and hear what He speaks to us about the image. I received a picture of a desert in Australia with hills. I thought of the following passages in scripture; Matthew 5:14-16 and Psalm 121. You can go read them yourselves, but the one is about looking to the hills and asking where your help comes from, it comes from God. The other is about being a city on a hill, not hiding your light under a basket.

   Ok, wow, I'm at base right now in the cafe and IT IS SO HOT! Ah! I need to go outside in the breeze for a while after this.

   So yeah! Saturday and Sunday are 'free days'. Today they had three buses. One going to the beach, one to the mall, and one here. I'm not a beach person and don't want to spend 5 hours there, I didn't want to go the mall because I'm trying not to spend money and again.. 5 hours!? So I decided to come here and blog, work on my journal & workbook, and I was also able to Skype my family which was unbelievably wonderful since I can never seem to find time to talk to them during the week.

   Next week we should be finding out what our 'Outreach location' choices are. I will try to share those with you as soon as possible so you can join me in prayer about where I should go.

   One of the things I love about things here is the worship. During worship we often feel the need to pray for each other. I've felt the need to pray for a few people, and a few have prayed for me as well. It's amazing because what they have prayed over me and into my life has been so relevant and encouraging.

   So my days during the week pretty much look the same day-to-day. A few days we have morning worship added on, or we have a focus group. Wednesday nights we have 'Family dinner & Family night' where everyone on campus, staff, DTS students, and other students all have dinner together, and a time of worship.Then Saturday & Sunday, like previously mentioned, are free. So normally, we are up for breakfast at 6:15 AM on the ship. We leave the ship at 7 AM for the campus. We then have until 8 AM to have quiet time, work on homework, use internet, etc. before lectures start. At 10:30 AM we break for 'morning tea' which is one of the worlds greatest things and I'm bringing that tradition home with me. We have coffee, tea, fruit, sausages, and other snacks and food and talk and have a break. It's awesome. Then we go back to lectures until 12:30 for lunch. After lunch I have 'ministry placement' from 1:30-3:30 PM. I clean all three levels of 'B Block' on campus with two other girls. We sweep, mop, vacuum, clean washrooms, wipe windows, etc. I then have two hours free until dinner at 5:30 PM. Then I usually take the first shuttle at 6:30 PM back to the ship if nothing else is planned.

   There is still so much more to say about everything here, but it would take forever and no one wants to waste their time reading all of that, haha. I am already feeling closer to God, I'm maturing spiritually, and I'm getting to know some great people who are really on fire for God.

   I will try to continue to post once a week like this, usually on Saturday or Sunday.

   Thanks for reading! Please continue to keep me in your prayers, and also my family.

First post, update, and 4 days until a new adventure!

   This is the 3rd time I've changed this blog! After 5 years of having it, things change however.

   From now on, you will find this blog filled with updates on my travels and work in missions, alongside some daily musings, thoughts, rants, and whatnot.


   For those of you who don't know; I have been in full-time missions with my family for over 14 years. From working with a non-profit evangelizing to motorcyclists, to overseas operations in China, to a current sailing ministry in the Caribbean since 2010, and now an adventure of my own of which I will share with you in a few short moments. When I am not with my family of seven crewing Emmanuel (our sailboat) and bringing aid to islands in the Caribbean, I can be found in the city of Red Deer in Alberta, Canada. I spend my summers and sometimes fall and winter there working as a barista at Starbucks.

   Fall of 2012 I decided it was time for me to embark on an adventure of my own. To find what really makes my heart ache. To become closer to God and see my faith become stronger. I had been serving with my family in their missions endeavors for my entire life and although the work was/is fulfilling I don't feel like it is my heart or my vision, but that of my parents. I feel I need to focus on God and see if He perhaps has another plan for me, another place He needs me to be, another need that I can fulfill elsewhere. I will forever see myself being available to come alongside them if need be. I will always be found spending time with them and aiding them in whatever ministry avenue they find themselves in. That's just me, that's my heart. We are a unit, and a team, and that will never change. I cannot however ignore the feeling God has another plan for my life. Impossibly long story short, in just 4 days I will be on an international flight heading to Townsville, Australia to join YWAM (Youth With a Mission) in a Discipleship Training School (DTS). This DTS focuses on human trafficking and slavery which to the shock of the nations, is larger now than ever before. This nearly 6 month course consists of lectures and classroom work along with two outreach phases where our group will travel within and/or outside of Australia to put what we learnt in the classroom into practice. Previous outreaches have traveled to places such as Thailand, Cambodia, Fiji, Central Australia, and more. To say I am excited about this new adventure would be a severe understatement. I simply cannot wait to see the ways God is going to move, not just within others lives, but within my own. Who knows what is in store next, once I arrive home.

   My family and I are currently in North Carolina. They have had mechanical and fundraising issues that have held them back from being able to continue to Key West. I originally booked a flight out of Miami because naturally, we all thought we would for sure be there by now. We are now having to rent a van to drive to Miami to pick up my older sister who is joining my family from Alberta and to drop me off. Repairs are all proceeding in a timely manner and hopefully my family will be on their way to Key West not long after sending me on my way. In the next coming days I'm finishing up some last minute things, packing, etc. We leave here Tuesday morning to be there Wednesday, and my flight leaves bright n' early Thursday morning.

   Please continue to keep my family and I in your prayers. I will continue to post updates via this blog and will discontinue my posts via Facebook. I will still post links to this blog however. Remember, if you have any questions or need to get a hold of me for any reason, or would like to help me financially as I'm still short a large amount of my outreach funds, you can e-mail me personally or send me a message on Facebook.

Blessings!