10.September.2009
01:49 Posted In crazy conversations with God , fall , next steps , summer Edit This 2 Comments »
so this was initially an email to send out to people, but knowing myself, i thought it would be best if i included it here too, to try and actually just get it out :) so many posts and emails get stuck in dusty corners of my mind. if you can come, please do!
So here goes the letter...
It’s late afternoon. The rain taps heavily against our thatch roof. Fifteen feet above ground, our round covered platform keeps us dry in the hours-long rain. Geckos chirp from the wooden beams. The heavy tropical heat has been lifted for a bit as the wind whips rain into our open-air house. We sit here on our sleeping mats, preparing our talk for the village gathering this evening, absent-mindedly slapping at mosquitos amidst the giggle of half a dozen children sitting at the top of the ladder, waiting to see what we’ll do next. I translate another question…
I’ve had the priviledge in the 3 months since the end of my Discipleship Training School with Youth With A Mission Panama to be a translator for YWAM, assist in marketing and all-around support for an international arts & cultural festival called Una Voz (one voice) (http://www.unavoz.net) held on July 18, and working alongside a photography Discipleship Training School from A Voice for the Voiceless (a human justice focused branch within YWAM) whose heart is to utilize their photography as a means to advocate for those who are suffering injustice, such as human trafficking, sexual slavery, child prostitution & pornography. For 2 months I had the priviledge of working alongside this group as they shared a passion for speaking up for those who are silenced, many times speaking to groups who dealt with heavy struggles facing silencing of their own. We were approached by so many people inspired to share their own stories and their desire to find ways to reach out to those outside of their sphere, discovering strength in the power of God to transform lives.
It’s been a busy summer! Something God has been growing in my mind and on my heart has been the need to learn more about community development. Something’s brewing on his mind about where he’d like me to serve him, and all I can see are the many people and circumstances he has brought up in the last 4 months highlighting his next moves. I graduated from San Diego State University with loads of details of development of children & families (my major) and have had so many questions in my mind as to how to walk with him with my field of study, and at times during my Discipleship Training School with Youth With a Mission this past spring wondered if maybe I had misheard God when choosing my major in college. He laughed, shaking his head slightly, “No, you ridiculous girl, I’ve been guiding you all along through a preparation pathway you could never anticipate. Just wait for it, I’ll let you know. Keep seeking me.” He would say this over and over.
Finally, he confirmed his upcoming plans for my walk with him. I will continue with Youth With A Mission, but this time I will be going to the San José, Costa Rica YWAM base, going through a school called Foundations of Community Development. After a little over 3 weeks in San Diego, I’ll be flying out September 23 to begin 6 months of training both in lecture and field practice, learning to meld my training in child & family development with the broader focus of the community, and the need to disciple a community and walk with them in applying biblical principles before any changes of expression of foundational worldview become lasting in a community.
Please pray with me that God would raise friends who will commit to long-term prayer and financial support, that I can raise the funds needed for the school while I am still in San Diego, and that I may be able to sell my car for a fair price.
I’d love to share more with you and hear about your lives as well. Those of you who are available, I will be hosting a get-together at my mom’s house on Saturday, September 19 at 1:00pm to share some more about what’s been going on and where I’m headed off to. Please let me know if you are able to come.
The details:
Saturday, September 19, 2009
1:00pm
La Mesa, CA
RSVP: 619.414.0582
If you are able to come, please bring a small side to share. I will be providing drinks and entertainment.
If you are not able to come, please pray for our time together, and be well. And send me an email or facebook message, I’d love to hear from you.
So here goes the letter...
It’s late afternoon. The rain taps heavily against our thatch roof. Fifteen feet above ground, our round covered platform keeps us dry in the hours-long rain. Geckos chirp from the wooden beams. The heavy tropical heat has been lifted for a bit as the wind whips rain into our open-air house. We sit here on our sleeping mats, preparing our talk for the village gathering this evening, absent-mindedly slapping at mosquitos amidst the giggle of half a dozen children sitting at the top of the ladder, waiting to see what we’ll do next. I translate another question…
I’ve had the priviledge in the 3 months since the end of my Discipleship Training School with Youth With A Mission Panama to be a translator for YWAM, assist in marketing and all-around support for an international arts & cultural festival called Una Voz (one voice) (http://www.unavoz.net) held on July 18, and working alongside a photography Discipleship Training School from A Voice for the Voiceless (a human justice focused branch within YWAM) whose heart is to utilize their photography as a means to advocate for those who are suffering injustice, such as human trafficking, sexual slavery, child prostitution & pornography. For 2 months I had the priviledge of working alongside this group as they shared a passion for speaking up for those who are silenced, many times speaking to groups who dealt with heavy struggles facing silencing of their own. We were approached by so many people inspired to share their own stories and their desire to find ways to reach out to those outside of their sphere, discovering strength in the power of God to transform lives.
It’s been a busy summer! Something God has been growing in my mind and on my heart has been the need to learn more about community development. Something’s brewing on his mind about where he’d like me to serve him, and all I can see are the many people and circumstances he has brought up in the last 4 months highlighting his next moves. I graduated from San Diego State University with loads of details of development of children & families (my major) and have had so many questions in my mind as to how to walk with him with my field of study, and at times during my Discipleship Training School with Youth With a Mission this past spring wondered if maybe I had misheard God when choosing my major in college. He laughed, shaking his head slightly, “No, you ridiculous girl, I’ve been guiding you all along through a preparation pathway you could never anticipate. Just wait for it, I’ll let you know. Keep seeking me.” He would say this over and over.
Finally, he confirmed his upcoming plans for my walk with him. I will continue with Youth With A Mission, but this time I will be going to the San José, Costa Rica YWAM base, going through a school called Foundations of Community Development. After a little over 3 weeks in San Diego, I’ll be flying out September 23 to begin 6 months of training both in lecture and field practice, learning to meld my training in child & family development with the broader focus of the community, and the need to disciple a community and walk with them in applying biblical principles before any changes of expression of foundational worldview become lasting in a community.
Please pray with me that God would raise friends who will commit to long-term prayer and financial support, that I can raise the funds needed for the school while I am still in San Diego, and that I may be able to sell my car for a fair price.
I’d love to share more with you and hear about your lives as well. Those of you who are available, I will be hosting a get-together at my mom’s house on Saturday, September 19 at 1:00pm to share some more about what’s been going on and where I’m headed off to. Please let me know if you are able to come.
The details:
Saturday, September 19, 2009
1:00pm
La Mesa, CA
RSVP: 619.414.0582
If you are able to come, please bring a small side to share. I will be providing drinks and entertainment.
If you are not able to come, please pray for our time together, and be well. And send me an email or facebook message, I’d love to hear from you.
2 comments:
I am so excited to hear what God has been doing in your life! I love the way you expressed how He takes our doubts and confusions about ourselves, recognizes our silliness because He knows we know He has been working but we are so silly we forget, and then puts us where He wants us to grow His kingdom.
You are a wonderfully silly child of God that makes so many people love God and enjoy you. Keep dancing in His arms!
alan johnson
congratulations on your wonderful work. I thought that you and your readers might like to know about a simple way to support YWAM whenever you're "online." Just use YWAM's yahoo search page at http://www.freelanthropy.com/search/ywam. YWAM earns money when you use this instead of google or other search site. If you like it, there's also a YWAM toolbar to add to your browser to make it easier to find it (and stay connected with YWAM news). Very best wishes for the visit home and the next trip.
Post a Comment