And the Triumph

Hey everybody! Didn't think you'd hear back from me so soon did ya, eh?? 

We just finished a time of worship and prayer and encouragement and giving as a school, and man! People have been so incredibly generous to me. I've been given to by my classmate's family members for goodness sake! God has been blessing me and affirming me so much today, and I am immensely thankful for that! It is easy to feel downtrodden and anxious as the pressure mounts with our deadline for finances just one day away. Yet God is not distressed, and He says do not be anxious about anything. Tonight He spoke, "I adore you my beautiful and obedient daughter! Are you ready for me to blow your mind? Grace I will not fail you! You are mine! Just trust me." 

I imagine that thought process a child goes through when she jumps off a ledge into the arms of a parent. She knows her Father is trustworthy, He is capable, He is ready and waiting. It is safe in His arms. But still as she leaps off that platform, for a moment she is caught in the rush of a free fall. The ground she stood on before is no longer firm beneath her soles. It's exhilarating and causes her stomach to do a flip. But she knows her Father will catch her. Because He promised. Because He's done it before. Because He loves her.

Throughout this entire week God has been portraying my journey (in regards to finances) through pictures like this. A father and his child. Indeed, a father could simply grant a child's request, no questions asked. Dad, can I have 20 bucks? Yes. Dad, can I spend the night somewhere? Yes. But what is loving? What is caring? I would say that it is more exciting, more growing, more beneficial for the two to work together. It is indeed a journey, and the parent wants to make the most of it for the child. He wants the child to grow and mature in understanding, for the child's heart to be right, and for the two of them to grow closer because of it. That is what this is, folks! God is stretching me immensely during this time and bringing healing into many corners of my heart.

It's been a bit of a bumpy road, as I have been trying to see what this all looks like for me, trying to press into Him deeper, trying to challenge myself to be more proactive and prayerful, trying to just be myself, trying not to try. I have let go of my instinctive need to perform many times. But is it any wonder? A daughter longs to please her father. Daddy, look! Daddy look at me, watch me run, watch me dance, watch me grow. She longs for the attention and the approval of her dad. Yet we serve a God who is unlike any other, who is far greater than we can comprehend. And He says: daughter, look! Look at this rainbow I painted to brighten your day. Look at the wonderful family of people I have created to be your support. See the way I am weaving every circumstance of your life together for your good? Daughter, see how I love you?

Time and time again, I try to do it all on my own. I take burdens onto myself that I was not meant to bear. I complicate the simple and oppose the good. But my Father knows me. I picture yet again a father and his child, and the way he knows how his daughter has habits that are disobedient to him. He told her not to try to balance on that tightrope because he knows that she will fall. But when she does, he simply rushes to her to comfort her and hold her close. He is not thinking of punishment, of why did you do this? how could you, yet again? He knows her. And my Father knows me. He sees the way I can get so "full" of, well, everything. He knows me. I see Him pick me up tenderly, squeeze me tight, and let it all seep out. He just wants me to come to Him, to let Him. He just wants me to look into His face and not at the obstacle before me. He wants me to come to Him as I am, to be real, and to let Him take care of me. 

And how well does He take care of me! He has been providing thousands upon thousands of dollars for me and my classmates. It may not be the how we expect, but He still makes a way. Our total outreach fees cost per person went down by about $900 as there was a change in our outreach schedule. We are no longer able to go to Ethiopia due to issues with our visas and being given permission by the hospital. This was a bit disappointing because we were all growing in anticipation for Ethiopia. But! We will instead be going to Hyderabad, India for 4 months and then to Calcutta for the last 2 months. We will still go to Zambia first, as scheduled, for 2 months. I can't wait!!

Our deadline for finances is September 11th. I have $5,900 AUD left to go. And I know He will do it. So come, let's do this together! Let's see the miraculous and mighty way that our Father provides.

Grace

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Okay I just want to update this! I forgot to mention that I saw $525 come in last week just from the walk-a-thon! I went for about 8km. Praise God!

So today is the 11th, and I wanted to let you know that a beloved friend and classmate has purchased all my plane tickets for me!! So that took off about $3,030! What a day. My new total need is $2,600. So close! Anything and everything helps my friends! Thank you so much for all you have been giving :). God wants to see these midwives sent out to the nations. Hallelujah. Bless you all and thank you for praying and partnering with me!

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Actually JUST KIDDING, an hour after I wrote this I went to the accountants office to pay in $480. I asked what my new total need was, and he said that as a matter of fact I was $560 OVER what I owed. So somehow in the span of today somebod[ies] paid in the rest of my fees!!!! HE DID IT!!!

Take Wing

Why do I always take the picture with my mug? Well it's a faithful friend anyways I suppose.

Oh hey! Don't know why I'm starting this post with a picture...but I still don't have a camera so it looks like selfies is [are?] all you're gonna get for awhile. Yikes. Anyway, this is me and my tea in a coffee cup with chunky milk (expiry date May 9th...but at YWAM we freeze it, you see) right after I had woken from an almost two hour nap on the classroom floor. I dreamt about making white brownies to the tune of "I Will" by Dean Martin. Don't see a better time to blog than after that!

Here we are, the dawn of September! I had every intention of getting two posts in August. I apologize! I know that most judge themselves by their intentions and others by their actions, and I am certainly sporadic in the realm of updates. Thanks for sticking with me. I pray for consistency!

We are about to begin week 9 of lectures. What! I don't know if it's because I missed the first two weeks or what, but the months have simply zoomed by. Even faster than before. Is that possible? We leave for Zambia on September 29th, a mere four weeks away! We have been taught about being godly midwives, malaria and HIV and diseases in the developing world, prenatal care, nutrition in pregnancy in developing nations, normal labor and delivery, grief, administering drugs, fear of the Lord, administering injections (we all gave each other a practice shot in the stomach and the bum...and survived!), spiritual dynamics of birth, and probably other things I forgot to mention. This week we will be covering postnatal care, breastfeeding, and contraception. Our lecture phase actually goes beyond these three months in Perth; we will have a second, applied lecture phase while in Ethiopia, which will propel us into being a tertiary level school. The learning never stops!

As you may know, I am trusting the Lord for quite a bit of finances before September 11th when our leaders will purchase our tickets. This has been a journey in all respects. I have found that it is not simply an issue of belief; having faith for funds has been stretching me in every way. As I go, issues from the past rise to the surface and bubble over. Not saying that they have overcome me, but I have learned that God gives you opportunities to walk out the areas you have become free from. This can be testing! I am confronted with old thinking and must continually go back to the Word and to what God has spoken to me. When my mind settles down and I am back in the place where God is good, and sovereign, and trustworthy, I can see it clearly. He has called me to complete this school and go as a midwife to the nations. He has met my every need thus far. Sometimes I feel like I'm simply talking the big talk, but the bottom line is, I shan't expect anything less.

Taking her by the hand he said to her, “Talitha cumi,” which means, 

“Little girl, I say to you, arise.” And immediately the girl got up and began walking... Mark 5:41-42.

My current need is $7,900 AUD. In the flesh I am daunted by this, and I worry and toil and doubt. Yet I feel God leading me not in the opposite direction of "what can I do?" but instead bringing me face to face with the reality of "what has He already done?" Jesus delights to bring the victory when we see none. And right now, the victory is not in my line of vision. But I will look to the horizon, I will look to where my Help comes from, and I will yet trust Him.

Ladies and gents, I bring you Hyde Park. Right down the street from my house.

This Wednesday our school will be putting on our very own walk-a-thon fundraiser at that very park. Every loop around is about 1km. Would you consider sponsoring me? I would be blessed by a one-time donation or by any amount given per/km! And of course, donations for my 8-month outreach will be celebrated by squealing and dancing and most likely weeping by yours truly! The link to donate to me is: https://www.ywamperth.org.au/007/payonline.asp. You can select "student payment," "outreach fees" "Birth Attendant School," for "someone else," then my name "Grace Eveleth." Or, if you prefer, checks can be sent to my parents who will deposit them for me. Let me know if there's any more details I can supply you with, or if you want to know more about anything! I am happy to share more and answer any questions. My email is graceeveleth@gmail.com. Fire away!

I send my love out to each and every one of you. The road has begun to feel slightly long, and I
find myself hungering for the familiarity of home and wishing I could have every laugh, every growth spurt, every birthday, every milestone missed given back to me. But God is good, and I am joyful in the place that He has me. Just know you are thought of fondly, and often :).

Grace

Begin Again

Hi everyone!

I am here now at the base in Perth surrounded by wonderful new friends from the BAS :). After almost 4 weeks in Indonesia, my visa was granted and I received my passport back from immigration on Wednesday and flew out the following day. I arrived here on the night of July 18th. Moved into a chilly house full of warm faces and expectations of the laughter that's to come.

It is so magnificent to finally be here and be learning! The first week back was definitely full on, but as of last Sunday night when I made up the last test, I am officially caught up! Amazingly, there was another girl who also arrived for the BAS on the same day as me, so we were in it together! I am so thankful for that. We completed about three weeks worth of work in one week + weekends. Thanks be to God! Now I am really feeling good, and had a free afternoon to sit here and write to all you lovely people.

My school! There are 21 students and 11 staff (they take shifts for our 8 month outreach).

Since I have been back here, God has shown me again and again how much He wants to take care of me. I realized that I was in faith that He would provide for things like school fees, but I didn't trust Him with the seemingly infinite little details on my shopping list. I was on my own for those. In an intercession time we had, I repented of my unbelief. About an hour later, one of my friends approached me and said that God had spoken to her, and that she would like to buy a coat for me. A few days later someone gave me a notebook to use for class (and it was perfect for me!). I even got given hair ties by one of my housemates. Little tiny things that one could easily disregard, but for me it was that unmistakable whisper of Someone saying: I see. I know. I care. What a kind and tender and attentive Father we have. He is devoted to His children.

I cannot tell you how delightful it is to be together with my school. It is the largest BAS to date, and I must say we have an anointed school! I am not the only student who struggled to make it here, and the enemy is not making it easy for many of us to stay here. There is much opposition, but our God blesses us even in the midst of the battle! He prepares a feast for us in the presence of our foe. I firmly believe that God going to show us favor regardless of the assault. I have already seen God's outstanding provision in my life, and I am confident He will continue to provide. This is where He wants me to be.

As far as lecture fees are concerned, I am able to pay in the roughly $1,100 that I still need. My parents transferred some money to me, and the American dollar is higher than the Aussie dollar right now so that always helps. Woohoo! Your dollar goes further my friends, it is a good time to give :). We have not been given exact numbers for outreach expenses, but it is going to be from $7,000-9,000 AUD. My outreach expenses are due on September 11th. We will stay overseas throughout the entire outreach, going from Zambia (Thanksgiving and Christmas will be interesting!) to Ethiopia to India. There are some other costs that I was made aware of upon my return. I will need to purchase some equipment before we leave, specifically a blood pressure cuff ($30), a stethoscope ($30), thermometer ($12), mosquito net ($25) and also labor room shoes and a nurse's watch. We are also required to have missionary health insurance which costs $514 for 11 months, but with a YWAM Perth discount it comes to $335. Would you be willing to support me for one or more of these expenses? It would be such a blessing to me! I am ever grateful for the finances that keep coming in! And of course I always, always, always covet your prayers. Thank you.

I have immensely enjoyed my lecture content. We are motorin' right through, covering anatomy and physiology, antenatal care and abdominal palpations, malaria, HIV and community development (the doctor who taught us had worked with Mother Teresa in the past!). This week we are going to delve into nutrition and pregnancy in developing nations. I am loving it. But I do really miss home and all the lovely bodies that inhabit it, so, any and every type of mail/ communication is much appreciated :).

Much love,

Grace