Hello loved ones!
As I'm sure you know, I'm not the most keen on blogging; I made no promises to blog before I left (although I figured it was inevitable). Turns out, as a part of my Discipleship Training School we are required to keep supporters/family/friends updated, and this is the easiest way for me to do that! So alas, here I am again.
Let's get started with the basics! Currently I am living in the city of Perth, Western Australia, to complete training with the international missions organization called Youth With A Mission (YWAM, pronounced "why-wham"). I am a part of a Discipleship Training School (DTS) called "Compassion," as it centers on how we can practically aid the needy in areas where injustice prevails. My schooling will consist of 12 weeks of excellent teaching here at the base in Perth -- learning exactly who God is, how to hear His voice, and respond to Him. Then we set off in teams to various nations for the next 12 weeks to apply all we've learned of His character and personal calling on each of our lives. See
here to learn more!
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| City of Perth |
Lord willing, after I complete my six-month DTS I will be staying in Perth to continue my training. I would like to attend the Birth Attendant School that is based here, and it starts just about a week after I finish my DTS! It consists of three months of class instruction at the base and eight months of outreach in developing countries. My schooling will equip me in basic midwifery skills and take me across the nations to the oppressed and needy, to deliver babies in Jesus' name -- I am so passionate about this! God is so tender, and His heart breaks for these precious infants! See
here.
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| City to the left, YWAM base on the right |
The first two weeks of my DTS have now come to an end! I have spent much time getting acclimated to the base, learning lots (
lots) of new names -- did I mention YWAM Perth is the 2nd largest base in the world, next only to their base in Kona, Hawaii where YWAM was founded? Who knew!
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| YWAM Perth base! |
Anyway, week one of lectures focused on hearing the voice of God and having daily, set apart personal time with Him. How amazing that God is initiating conversation with us. All throughout the Bible, and in our own lives, He has proven that
He is pursuing
us. And He is continually speaking! Whether I "hear" Him or not, He is speaking. He will not withhold Himself from me when I seek Him, He will not just be silent in everyday revelation. The God of the universe. Ravenous to commune with little humans. !?!!!?!
Week two of lectures centered on the nature and character of God. Woof. Can I just type out all of my notes? It's so good. God is all-knowing, and He is
knowable! One thing that really struck me is that as an all-knowing God, He knows what is best for me. And I know it sounds cliche, and I know I could repeat it all day, but it's true. Yet I haven't been living like that. I like to tell God about MY perfect plans for my life. I have been holding back from Him because I've been afraid that He will lead me into some difficult, misery-stricken life where I don't get anything that I want. I've been content to serve Him half-heartedly, secretly hoping that if I gave Him this time in my life, if I did all this "good stuff" for Him right now, He would just let me come home to my reward. I've been selfish! How can I question His motives, how can I think
I know better than the Wisest One? He DOES know what is best for me, and He is
actively working towards my good. He is faithful. I need to let go. I have such conflicted desires for my future -- part of me wants what I think God wants, and part of me just wants normalcy. I struggle with this whole not knowing how my future will turn out thing. It's very inconvenient.
But God, in His goodness, has spoken that He will knit together His purposes for me. They will be intertwined, tethered together, as one. My divided heart will be mended, my purpose and my pleasure united. Oh, is He good.
I want to end this post (finally, I know) by saying a big thanks for embarking on this journey with me! Whether you have prayed for me or supported me financially, or simply read this post :). I thank you. And thanks be to Jesus, I have paid off my fees for my 12 weeks of lectures! I have a good deal towards my outreach fees as well, but if you would like to support me in that or my costs for the Birth Attendant School this July, you can donate
here! You are truly such a blessing to me. And since I will most likely turn into some misshapen Aussie-American, I shall say cheers mate! (I fully expect to return home saying "rubbish" instead of trash and "heaps" instead of tons).
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Sup! Comin' atcha right now as I type this. Didn't want anyone to see me cheesin' at my
computer screen. Because if you know me, you know I cheese pretty hard. |
Okay bye for real!
