Hitting the Ground Running

As much as I would love to use detail to catch up every single thing that has happened so far since I have arrived, that is simply not within my mental capabilities. This is of course, entirely my fault, I recognize, as this would not have been difficult had I blogged from the beginning, but alas, what is past is past. Here are some major things you should know.

There are currently 2 DTS' on base along with staff for a total of about 70 people. There is an Urban Compassion DTS (Discipleship Training School) with 7 girls in it which is running at the same time as my Performing Arts DTS with 12 girls. Our two schools are in the same classes with similar schedules everyday of the week except for Fridays when we do things related to our focus and Wednesdays we split up for evangelism (see previous post for a link to a youtube video). But when outreach time comes in December Urban Compassion will be ministering to India and Thailand while Performing Arts (including myself) will be flying off to South Africa.

So yes: it is all girls. Nineteen of them to be precise. There are 10 girls bunking in my room, with the rest next door. My room is considered the "party room." Meaning that while the other room always has the light go out on time (10 pm, 11 pm on weekends) and is quiet and considerate of other people's sleep, my room isn't. Our light is NEVER out on time, and it is loud for quite a long time after it is finally dark. However I love my room. We have such a great mixture of people. I am on the top bunk right by the door, which is perfect for me. My bunk buddy Katelyn is perfect for me. We get along really well and have gotten close. We are the only girls in our room (and possibly in the whole school) who have boyfriends and are fangirls (as far as I can tell). It honestly took me a while to get used to the amount of estrogen around and about me consistently, but I've come to love it and am grateful for all these sisters in Christ God has placed in my life. I've gotten to have deep conversations with several people which has been grand. I now have a couple prayer partners who I love dearly. 

I've settled into life here, waking up at 6 am most days (since I have breakfast duty), doing chores, sitting in class, skyping people back home (and in Jamaica <3), spending hours of quality time with God and doing homework the day before it is due like always. I'm learning so much through the classes and through life here. People are pouring so much into my life and I've been able to give out a ton as well. The best part has definitely been everything God has been speaking to me about, but that is definitely too much for this blog post. 

Evangelism

So I'm currently working on a blog post that will bring this more up to date... but in the mean time enjoy this short video of our latest time as the Performing Arts DTS evangelizing in the community! Live for Joy!

Faith's Flight

This is the tale of a girl named Faith. I had the pleasure of encountering this lovely lass on my 12 hour flight from the dreaded LAX to Auckland, New Zealand. For the record, I am not one of those people who feels it is my Christian duty to evangelize everyone within a 3 seat radius of me on a plane, but this was a divine appointment, and I do like to keep my eyes open for those. She was seated next to me, so we promptly ignored each other for the first couple of hours, each watching our own chick flick on our own private screen like the 21st century young people that we are. But guys, there were free movies and everything for the entire flight; it was really exciting for my life. On the next flight I watched The Fault In Our Stars... again.

Anyways, eventually the flight attendants began serving dinner, so we paused our movies. At this point in my journey I was keenly aware of the fact that I was going on this trip for God and wanted to make myself available to be used by Him even before arriving at my destination, so I began a casual conversation by asking if Auckland was her final destination. This opened the door far wider than I ever could have imagined. She is in her early twenties and we hit it off really easily and, honestly, during the few hours that we talked only about 10 minutes was superficial conversation. We talked about the preconception in America of needing to attend college directly after high school and how limiting that can be for young people. We talked of the importance of experiencing many different cultures and how one can learn from each. Then we talked about relationships, which obviously led to me talking about my beloved Timothy (see what he's up to here: swingprayer.blogspot.com) and how while I'm in Australia he is doing a similar program in Jamaica. Which prompted the obvious question of, "how did you two meet?" And that is how it all began. (This is not the first time someone asking that question has begun a life changing conversation, just ask my good friend Andrew the Direct.)

Side note, one of my favorite things about my relationship with Tim is how talking about him so easily leads to talking about God, and vice versa. I am convinced this is the way things should be. But back to Faith.

The answer to that question is, "worship night." Now until this point I had attempted to more or less leave God out of the conversation in order to not be that annoying person who cannot have a conversation without talking about the love of their life. However, I'm really bad at that. This was clearly an open door, so I waltzed right through it. She asked if I was religious and I said that I honestly considered it to be more of a relationship. 

Then, while being clearly guided by the Holy Spirit, I proceeded to detail all the exciting things God has been doing in my life right before my departure. Including Andrew's testimony about his radical come to Jesus thanks to asking that exact question while swing dancing. She was fascinated by my living relationship with Jesus and all the amazing things He has done in my life and the lives of those around me. It is so true that us simply sharing our stories of how God has shown up in our lives is the most powerful thing we can tell anyone. From what I could tell she had never before met someone who was genuinely in love with Jesus, which really saddens me that there are so many people in the world who have yet to encounter Jesus or someone who can reflect Him well. But I was glad that I had been able to be that for her on that flight. 

I had the privilege to pray blessing over her and gave her a LOT to think about. At one point she asked me if I thought she was going to hell. "Well, yes." I had no choice but to reply, "I wish that wasn't true, because I really like you a lot as a person. But you deserve to hear the truth, and the truth is not always convenient. The thing is that in the Bible it says that when Jesus denies people entrance to heaven He says, 'Away from Me, I never knew you." The point is that Jesus wants to KNOW us, and for us to know Him. He wants a relationship. At this point, He has done everything to extend an invitation to you, and you have been rejecting Him. Why would He want to spend all of eternity with someone who not only didn't want to get to know Him and spend time with Him, but rejected Him straight up? That is what it would be like if God let you into heaven because you 'were a good person.' But right now the invitation is still available. He loves you and is in a relentless pursuit of a relationship with you. What is your response going to be?" 

Now it would be super awesome if I could tell you that then and there over the Pacific ocean she chose to enter into relationship with Jesus, but that isn't the truth. And sometimes the truth isn't convenient, even for me. But I made a friend that night when I felt entirely alone in the universe, and I am so grateful. It was a beautiful start to my adventure for God to use me so much to reach out and show His love before I even arrived down under. We exchanged emails so we can stay in contact, and I've been praying for her. She heard a lot of new information, and it was a lot to process. But I have faith in Faith, that she'll get to experience for herself how amazing it is to be in the most fulfilling relationship ever. Please keep her in your prayers. As well as me obviously. I'll take all the prayer I can get.

Here we go!

“I’m going on an adventure!” -Bilbo, The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey 

This is an attempt to document the adventure I’m going on with God. The beginning of a journey that I’m sure will take me to unexpected places. This is exciting. This is terrifying. But then I remember who my Travel Companion is, and I’m not afraid anymore. I feel alone, but then am reminded that I am anything but. “The safest place is in the center of God’s will.” And that is where I am right now. God is always with you, but even more so when you are following Him in faith. 

I am currently beginning to write this while on layover in the Auckland, New Zealand airport. I’ve flown 2 out of 3 flights, and cried on each one so far. My goal emotionally is to do this in a healthy manner. To realize that it is acceptable to be upset at leaving the only life I have ever known for something entirely unfamiliar. That it is good that I have close relationships that I will miss being in the same timezone with. It is okay. But I also am excited! And it is normal to have mixed emotions. I’m excited because I’m going to Australia; how awesome is that? I’m going to be doing a program that incorporates many of my passions: God, performing arts, school, people, missions, new experiences and opportunities, which is exactly what I want. 

God is being very gracious to me in things going smoothly and giving me divine appointments. Granted, I now know that I hate LAX. That airport makes no sense to me. But I have been able to sense God’s presence with me, being my anchor. And I have already gotten to minister to someone! That deserves it’s own blog post I think… 

[originally written September 4th, 2014, but then I got busy and didn't create the blog until now]