Amost 50% done.

Confidence is the key and the thing Satan attacks the most. Once we realize who we are as sons and daughters of Zion and stand firm in that nothing can stop us. Getting to that point where we know and don't look back and listen to the whispered lies is the battle of a life time. 

That has been a huge battle this whole DTS but mainly this last two weeks. I am just now starting to see/hear in my heart what the staff here have been saying, which of course means attacks have been happening. We had Holy Spirit week last week, it was really good ministry time and God was doing a lot of healing in me, also gently rebuking me for not walking as the Woman he made me to be but also speaking so much love and filling me with a confidence to be that woman. Really asking me to trust Him and to trust other people and not to be as self-reliant.

We are almost done with the first phase of the DTS. We have 2 weeks left in lectures, the topic are Spiritual warfare and Missions/biblical world view. Then Christmas break! I will be going down to Coffs Harbour for our Christmas break to spend it with my boyfriend and his family.

After Christmas we will facilitate a local outreach here in Byron called Impact Summer it is a evangelism camp the base does every year. We then will leave for Turkey January 16th! Our team still needs a couple thousand dollars in order for everyone to go and eat while there.

 

Hope you all had an amazing Thanksgiving! We were involved with a  local outreach called Red Frogs during Thanksgiving. I LOVED it. I was tired by the end but enjoyed every minute of it, even while standing in the pouring rain. Red Frogs is a ministry to keep the High School graduates safe during a week of partying. It was crazy and I don't know how to explain it other then a mix of the film Project X and Spring break in America all with 17 and 18 year olds.

I LOVE JESUS.

Lordship and Fear of the Lord.

That was our topic this week. What does it really mean to have Jesus as Lord of our lives? Do we even have him as Lord of our life? So often we turn to comforts as an easy way out when things get hard we turn to idols. It challenged me to think of what I really hold closest to me, is Jesus really Lord of my whole life? During a 14 hour ministry day on Friday I can say: Yes, Jesus is Lord over my life! I have given him everything, my future, my family, my friends, my stuff, my future family, my life. I laid them all down to Him I gave him everything. I totally and completely recognized that he is Lord. Don't get me wrong he has always been Lord over my life, I just hadn't given him EVERYTHING, part of me gave Him my life, my future etc, but part of me was still thinking "No, I can do this better." It was a lack of trust in Him. A lack of trust in the great I AM, the Alpha and the Omega, Creator of this world. How stupid of me, to think that I would know better then my God who created me. It hurt to know that I hadn't given Him my all and my best, thank goodness for His grace. I am completely open to how God wants to use me, I trust Him and the plans that He has for me. In all this I knew I needed to make a commitment. SCARY but I had to I needed to. I needed to trust God. Since I got here I knew I was meant to stay here longer then just 2 schools, but I never made hard core dates I just said oh yea I'll stay longer. Now I have committed to 2 years at YWAM Byron Bay. The peace that came with that! Being obedient to God and what He has been saying to me the last 3 months. Committing to building community here in Byron and community with the greater YWAM bases. Committing to seeking ways to walk out a calling I have in my life. I committed to God, and committed to the people here. The truth is I don't know when I will see my family again, or friends, or even be back home. My eyes are on Jesus though and when my eyes are set on him all the worries fade away. They don't disappear but I know that Jesus will get me through ANYTHING as long as I keep him the center of my life. I still don't know what the next 2 years will hold for me. I am still praying about what school to staff next, learning how to be a disciple and disciple people at the same time, getting ready for out reach, and learning how to live life in community. It is by no means a cake-walk and easy all the time but I can always run to Jesus and He will get me though it all.

Glass Case

Crazy but we are already halfway through the lecture phase of the school. I can’t believe how quickly the first 6 weeks have gone by. We have three more weeks of lecture then we do part of our local outreach “Schoolies” then our last 3 weeks of lectures. After that we will do the other part of our local outreach “Impact Summer” then off to Turkey! Each week I have been learning so much. Here are some highlights:

Week 1: We activate things with are words. What am I using my words to create? I am the chosen and adopted child of God. Never let anything someone has done to  me be bigger then what Jesus did for me.

Week 2: Was on hearing Gods voice, a bit hard to put into words but I will try..God is always speaking to us in many many different ways. Are we listening? We should know his voice better than our own mothers, best friends, sibling, voices.

Week 3: Evangelism is all about LOVE. It’s about relating and not a transaction. There is a difference between being an evangelist and evangelism.  This week was amazing I really enjoyed it, lectures were challenging and I loved the speaker this week. * I have loved them all but really enjoyed Dave*

Week 4: Probably the most challenging week in thought for me. I was in and out lectures for various reasons which made it a bit hard to track the content. The main notes I have are we are called to live a holy life. We are only as holy as out thought life. When you hear truth but don’t apply it, it leads to a hard heart. Godly sorrow leads to repentance, worldly sorrow leads to regret and trying to find ways to do it again w/ consequence. Sin is short term fulfillment with long term bondage. God asks for short term sacrifice in exchange lifelong freedom. We ended the week with 6 hours of ministry time, which was beautiful.

This week is Identity and Destiny, I loved this week on my school and hope our girls love it as well. Next week we will travel north to the Gold Coast base and join with them for a week on Lordship and Fear of the Lord with Mark Parker who is a legend in YWAM.

These photo are from the lounge wall on base. The triangles go all around the room and are a count down till our Turkey outreach. 76 days! The taped off area is our "family wall" we just put pictures of our community in it makes it nice a homey for all of us. :)

The Great Provider

This is just a quick update.

Where to start the story..the beginning I guess will do.

Oct 10th Mel and I went to Flight Center to look at tickets for Turkey. We wanted to look at them now and hopefully book them while the cost was not to bad, and have time to get outreach fees in. We spent a good amount of time chatting with the travel agent Vanessa to get the best deal. By the end of the conversation we had tickets booked with one small hiccup we had to pay for them by the 15th or we would lose the great flights that we had. It was already after 2.30pm so we needed...

20,498.00 AUD in a little over 4 days

We went home and told the team and asked them to call/e-mail their parents/pastors to transfer funds. Sounds easy enough but most transfers take 3-4 days sometimes up to 5. Also it was Canadian Thanks-giving over the weekend so the banks toko a long weekend. Myself and another girl were making daily visits to the ATM (which sometimes was not nice to me). I had complete peace that it all would come in, but still we were praying. 

Monday morning we still did not have all the funds we needed. I still have faith that God would provide for the flights.

Today at lunch out lovely base director announced to us all that....

We all have flights to Turkey!!!


This is a season of learning and knowing in my heart without a doubt that God will provide for me when he has called me somewhere. Since my arrival time and time again He is showing me that I don't have to worry He has it all.

I hope you are well!

Adventure location is.....

I know you all have been waiting with great patience to find out where our adventure location is. I am very excited to let you all know that we will be going to…. TURKEY!

 It was a blast telling the girls. We printed out an unmarked map of Turkey cut it into a puzzle and the words “your” “adventure” “is” individually and stuffed it all in balloons. The girls then had to pop all of them I think out of 25 balloons 16 had papers in them, then had to put it all together. We had morning tea right after and I make a cake to resemble the Turkish flag. Watching them figure it out was like watching children open presents on Christmas morning.

This week our topic is “Hearing the Voice of God”. It is a pivotal week for the school. God speaks to everyone, we just have to tune into his voice and when applicable speak out to an individual or group what he has said. The girls are learning how God speaks to them in different ways and he cares about everything going on in their life. It may be through a feeling, or a picture, or an audible voice.

Prayer/praise points:

• Provision for the staff for outreach fees. 4,000 each.
•  Praise God all our students have outreach fees.
• Stronger relationships within our school and the base.
• Clear direction for me as I seek Gods will in certain areas.
• For the July school that is currently on outreach in Papa New Guinea.

Here is our school :)

A Fathers Poem

I tend to write more just the facts of life here on my blog and not the heart stuff. This blog will be full of heart, very open and personal. My friend got this word in July and felt like it was meant for me. It is a letter from God  to me. 

"I love you my beautiful daughter. I love you because I love you because I love you because I love you. There is nothing you have ever done or can ever do that will make me love you less. Whenever you have felt sad I have been crying. When you have felt joy I have been dancing in the heavens. You are my daughter in whom I am well pleased. The plans I have for are going to be great, they are going to be wild, they are going to be full of me. Take peace for I know that thoughts that are in your head. I understand your wants and desires. Have no fear, love and trust in me. I am perfect love and perfect love drives out fear. Through me your shinning light can be. I love you my beautiful daughter, through thick and thin remember these words, I love you and you are beautiful." 

How beautiful is our God, his love is so great. This is the fathers heart for not only me but all his sons and daughters. 

It is an insane honour that God has called me here and now to staff. With that I have felt so completely inadequate to staff, not because it is true but because that is a lie Satan has been trying to get me to believe. To believe that my past is too much and I can't staff. It is an easy and basic tactic for Satan to use to bring us down. Jesus didn't come and die for me so that I could drag my past around with me though, he came to restore the beautiful relationship we once had in the Garden of Eden with our heavenly Father, to wash me clean, he came with grace unforced flowing over my life, with joy, with hope, with salvation, with life.

Micah 7:19 "You will cast all our sins into the depths of the sea." God separates me from my sins and casts them into the depths, Satan tries to get me to sink with them. "I refuse to sink" I have that stamped on the inside one of my rings I always wear. I refuse to sink into my past, into the lies he tries to speak into my life. On the outside is an anchor, Hebrews 6:19 "We have this hope as an an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain, where Jesus, who went before us, has entered on our behalf." My life is anchored in heaven, in Gods inner sanctuary, in his throne room, not in the depths of the sea where there is no light and life. 

That said, I rocked up to a base without knowing any one and have been met with so much encouragement that I can staff and am able to; I have a whole community believing in me and cheering me on. Most importantly though I have my heavenly Father right here with me cheering me on, speaking words of life into me, holding me, never leaving me. The storms may come but my anchor is in heaven. I'm ready and excited for this season.

Flourish

The girls are here! The girls are here!!

Sorry for the lack of updates, in the final time of preparing for the school and welcoming back the July DTS, hosting the July DTS from the Gold Coast base, and other base matters. To say the least it has been full of ups and downs for myself and the base.

We have 8 lovely women now on base for the Sept school. Us as staff are super excited they are here. It has been enjoyable watching them get to know each other and open up. The weekend was laid back for them (if walking into a YWAM base is laid back). This week so far has been getting them used to the base and how we function as a YWAM, as Base, a family, and a school.

The students are from 4 nations. There are 4 Canadians, 2 Finish, 1 South Korean, and 1 American. Aged 18-21 (I think). I am so excited to see what God does in this time for them and am privileged to walk along with them in this journey.

Very VERY soon I will be able to tell you our outreach location :)

• Things to pray for:
• Unity in our school
• Openness and vulnerability
• Health (a few of us are feeling ill) 
• The July DTS as they enter their last week before outreach to PNG.
• Monthly support for myself I am still at 150/800$
• Praise God because he is so radically amazing!

I hope you all have a great day! If you need prayer please let me know :)

Circles are silly.

Things have been quiet around base. The July school was gone last week up at Gold Coast for lectures, was home for the weekend and now is in Tasmania for 2 weeks for a mini outreach. I miss them, but we are able to get a lot done with a quiet house. Last week we got a lot of staff training done and rearranged/decorated the baseJ.

This week is more meetings and staff training, as well as next week. The final week before students get here will be more practical work such as cleaning the preparing their dorms and such. We have been learning about a wide variety of topics, but I am beginning to feel well equipped and have the tools to staff. It also helps that Mel our school leader is very encouraging about my capabilities to staff, as well as the base leaders. Everyone here is so encouraging and sees the best in us and the great potential that we have.

We have spent time praying for our students and the school in general. God has given us amazing verses, images, and words. Lecture phase will be a pivotal time for the school our speakers and topics are as follows:

1. Orientation
2. Character and Nature of God with Chris and Jill Twinn
3. Hearing Gods Voice with Sean Naus
4. Evangelism with Dave Bartsch
5. Forgiveness with Caleb Brownhill
6. Identity with Kerstin Schmidt
7. Lordship/ Fear of the Lord with Mark Parker
1. This week we will be traveling to YWAM Gold Coast and joining them.
8. Worship with Chris Adams
9. Relationships with Darcle DelaPorte
10. Holy Spirit with Phil and Maria Mason
11. Spiritual Warfare with Lael Piteau
12. Missions with Neville Strachan

I am so excited to see what God will do in our students’

lives, as well as how he wants stretch and grow me. We are still praying about an outreach location but will inform you as soon as I canJ.

Since it has just been a lot of training I thought I would give you a bit of information about Byron Bay.

• It is the most Easterly point of Australia.
• More than 1 million backpackers pass through each year.
• It is one of the most expensive places in Australia. (I heard our grocery was the most expensive in Aussie)
• After 10pm it is in the top 5 of most dangerous places in Australia (don’t tell my Mum).
• There are no traffic lights in Byron Bay, only roundabouts.
• It’s known for its festivals.
• People are drawn to Byron Bay seeking spiritual answers. Because of this there is a lot of warfare over the city, a battle between darkness and light.
• We as YWAM Byron Bay strive to be a lighthouse for lost souls here in Byron. 

 Random facts:

My new favourite drink is brown rice milk.

I have one box of Mac-N-Cheese.

Circles are my least favourite shape.

I am going to learn to drive on the left side.

Cars have right of way here, not people. According to Carlee I do not leave enough room between the car and my body.

Also some photos since I haven't put any up..

 Bon fire my first night here

 At the light house

 Light house still..

 Hammock time! One of our favorite things to do with free time.

 Wheres Wally?

 The sign says it all..

 We are beautiful people.

 Cherie, Hannah and I at the beach.

Carlee (my roommate) and I.

Blessings!

Colour the world with love.

This last week we were blessed to have Steve Aherne the national director of YWAM Australia come to the base to speak to the July DTS. YWAM Australia is very large, we were super blessed that he was able to come spend a whole week with us! The whole base sat in on lectures when able to. The topic was evangelism. Not an area I would consider my strength and prior to this week really had no idea how to be effective in it. Steve was able to give the whole base effecting tools to communicate our stories and the gospel to everyone. Which I am excited to put to use on a road trip to Canberra next month. (more on that later). Outside of phenomenal lectures Steve would also talk to the students and staff and take the time to get to know us. Steve Aherne is an amazing gracious man of God. I am confident in YWAM Australia and where he wants to take us. He has a father heart for each and every person at the base. On Friday morning we had a time of giving and an early Christmas. The giving was to raise money for the July DTS outreach. At the end of the giving time over 5,000 dollars had been raised, some students saw all their outreach fees come in! Keep them in your prayers though, there are still some needs J. The early Christmas was a joyful occasion. We prayed Thursday night and asked God if there was anything we felt we should give away to someone on base. I gave a few things away to some of the July DTS students and to the September DTS school leader. The really amazing part was that earlier in the week I had been really thinking how I wished I had packed my coloured pencils to mark my bible with and colour in my journal. During early Christmas Steve (the crazy awesome national director of YWAM) came up to me and said he felt led to give me his coloured pencils that he used to mark his bible with. There I was in the middle of the lounge wanting to cry because of some coloured pencils. This week the base is very quiet, the July DTS have gone to Gold Coast for lectures this week. Leaving only 5 of us on base all girls! A good sneak peak for how life will be with an all girls school. Needless to say there will be a girl’s night this week. The school will be back for the weekend then off to Tasmania for a mini-outreach. It will be a nice calm before our school starts. 

The road trip.

Sam is going home for his sister’s wedding and driving his car home. The September staff (Carlee, Mel, and myself) are flying down to Canberra on September 11^th to meet up with him. On Friday we will be speaking at his church’s youth group. Then leaving right after to start the drive home and shall be back at Byron Sunday some timeJ.

Our students start arriving on the 20^th of September, between now and then is more meetings, staff training, and practical work of getting the base ready to absorb 8 more people.

Random facts:

I saw a whale on Saturday while are the Byron Bay light houseJ.

Red bell peppers are called capsicum here.

Saturday Cherie and I are going to learn the flying trapeze.

Just a quick update for you all!

Love.

160 hugs from God.

I suppose this story should start on Sunday night at church. 

Sunday night at church God was moving in massive ways. People were praying for me and it was great. During that time of prayer a YWAM staffer Sam (who was a stranger then) felt led to give me a hug  while he was praying for me which if you know me I am not a huggy person especially strangers, but now we are friends. Any ways it was really just like a hug from God, tears were flowing all over the room and even from me! First time I’ve cried in a while, it really does help heal and release emotions. I don’t know if I will ever be able to fully explain what God did that night, but I am so thankful that God loves me with unfailing, relentless love.

Back to the story.

Hugs not a huge fan, sometimes I like them mostly I do not.
As you know I been worried about finances, it’s not a burden on my mind but I am aware of the fact that I have bills to pay. God has slowly been helping me trust him more and more. In prayer the other day I just prayed very simply Lord I need to know that it will all be ok, I don’t want to go into debt with being a missionary.
Later that day or the next (they are blending just a bit) I was outside reading and chatting with friends Tiff (one of the base directors) comes over and tell me that someone had just made a donation to me for my staff fees. In that moment I was so surprised, shocked, full of praise, and joy. God really does have it all together! I don’t need to worry, I need to work and do what he calls me to but I do not need to worry. It was like when you are a little kid and you are worried and your father comes over gives you a hug and whispers in your ear “don’t worry my child I have everything under control”

BAM

Two hugs from God in 2 days. Life is pretty good people.

In other news.

We went to a town called Ninbin today with a DTS who is visiting from Sunshine Coast, it is known as the drug capital of Australia. One of the July DTSers was offered weed 3 times in a 15 minute span I think. That all I heard about, I’m sure there were more offers. We went to give a free BBQ just to love the people of the town and the visitors. I spent a good portion of the time cooking the onions and saying hello to people on the side walk. Then I switched and went with some of the team to the skate park down the street. We just hung out and talked with the locals there, we did some handstands in the park with a little boy named Jackson (but he like to be called Jai) and I learned to skate! It was a good time of just loving the people and telling them about Jesus!!

Random facts:
I do not have to wear shoes here, it’s like a dream. Not at home, not on base, not in town, not in the supermarket.

It’s winter and I get to wear dresses sometimes.

I got a tan line on Tuesday.

I miss my family

My bed squeaks when I move, thankfully my roommate Carlee does not mind.

New beginings

Sorry for the lack of an update. We do not have internet at the girls’ staff house where I live, only at the base.
It has been an amazing adventure so far.
The feeling here is family right off.

Saturday I arrived to the base was here for about 40 minutes then left for the girls staff house dropped my stuff off and met up with a friend (Carlee) of Andrea’s and I, after Andrea dropped my back off and I unpacked. Carlee is now my roommate, it is absolutely lovely to be roommate with her.
Sunday we woke and went to a church that YWAM Byron Bay partners with a lot, including lending their building to us for base worship and lecture for students. The afternoon was free then in the evening we went to another church with some YWAM DTS students and another fellow staff member.

It was an amazing time of worship, message, and a ministry time. It hard to explain everything that happened, except that the Sprit of God was there and moving in big and great ways, in myself and everyone else in the room.
Words were spoken to me that brought healing, faith, renewed life, energy, and growing faith. The next week is a lot of preparation and learning how things go around here. Training, training, training, meetings, meetings, and meetings about sums it up haha. It’s all good and great though.

Monday we had base worship and then the base prayed over Carlee and I. Once again God built both of us up, with awesome words from people. 

Outside of meetings and training, the people are really fun. It is so refreshing to be around people with their whole hearts and minds focused on God. I got a good portion of the base to play the game Set with me J so happy. I will try and keep you up to date as best I can. I’ll try to write at home and then post them when I am on base. In the mean time feel free to write and e-mail or post a cardJ.

Love,
Katlin N. Gillott 

Flying like a bird.

Just a quick update.

I am here in Australia after many hours of travel. I knew from geography Australia was far away, but after flying here it became VERY real how VERY FAR AWAY I am from everyone/everything I know. God keeps gently reminding my mind and heart that He is here with me and smooths my fears and worries. A bit crazy and overwhelming that I am finally here. I arrived on 2/8. Everything we smoothly, even got a window seat for both flights :). It has been lovely so far! I am currently staying with my best friend who moved here in January. It has a been a nice time of transition into Australia and attempting to fight off the jet lag. We went to saw some koalas one day! Apparently they sleep 22 hours a day, but when we were there they all were awake and moving around, as well as many other great adventures.

I'm excited to go to my new home on Saturday and meet everyone. A bit intimidating walking into a community, but imagine it's a bit like the first day of school then after that the butterflies go away. I'm excited to live in community again, a community so full and rich with God loving people.

I am still in need of monthly support. Its scary but I am trying to trust God.

Prayers as I continue to raise support and move onto the base would be greatly appreciated.

Love to you all!!

 

Praise and punches.

Birthdays, cars, frustration and visas.

I’m 23 now getting old..

First off I had a great birthday, it was just super. Food, family, laser tag, more food and good memoires.

I cannot wait to see what God has in store for this year to come.

Now down to business .

Let me say this I am not the most patient person ever. My mother kindly reminded (after I got out while the car was still moving) me to stay in the car with my seat belt buckled until the car has stopped.

To say the least I have been frustrated with trying to sell my car and waiting for my visa.

We will start with my visa. I applied July 3^rd. It is supposed to take 6 days on average. On July 7^th I got an e-mail requesting a copy of my High School diploma. Normally not a big problem, but I was homeschooled. It’s not impossible for homeschoolers to have diploma, there are plenty of home-schoolers with nice diplomas and pretty stickers in the corner.  

I was not one of those. Not fault to my parents, my mom probably tried to which my answer was most likely “Why kill a tree for a silly piece of paper” I just wasn’t interested in a piece of paper that told me I graduated. Australia feels different, they wanted a copy.

Bless my Dad, he made a diploma for me (no shiny stickers though) and we shot it right back to the Australian department of immigration, then we waited….and waited and waited..

 

In the mean time I was trying to sell my car. I love my car it has been good and faithful to my and journeys.

I’ll be honest I probably had the word out there for maybe 2 weeks, but when I was already exerting all my patience waiting for my visa those 2 weeks felt like a life time. I had lots of people interested asking questions but no one really wanted it. It ended up on craigslist. More waiting, but this time it wasn’t bad.

July 16^th I get an e-mail from craigslist; someone was interested in Luke (my car) and had also done a DTS! We decided to meet at Costco. I left a note for a family friend that I was leaving and if I wasn’t back by the time she got home then “maybe she should get worried”. I called my parents who were heading to Denver and told them I was meeting someone and would text them when the meeting was over; I don’t think my Mom was overly excited about this plan.

Kind of a fear of mine, meeting a stranger from the internet all alone. But hey I needed to sell my car and them seemed interested.

We met at Costco, and all I can say is WOW. This coupe is just a blessing and an answer to prayers. He took Luke for a quick drive around the lot and I chatted with his wife. He came back and said he would like the car and would give me my asking price! A HUGE blessing, so sweet and kind even are allowing me to give them the car this Saturday.

I called my parents and told them the good news and was full of praise.

Things were coming together. Now I just needed my visa. Ticket prices have been going up when I dare to look.

Still full of praise I was praying and thanking God for all he has provided, at the same time expressing my frustration with the delay in my visa.

I was full of so much praise but so much frustration at the same time.

My praise was expressed by dancing through the house and singing to our chickens, I’m not sure they enjoyed it or the neighbors, but God sure did!

My frustration was expressed by stuffing/punch my sleeping bag into its compression bag.

God and I worked it out and I felt better after my chat with him about the good and the bad.

 Back to the visa I had e-mailed the visa department a few days ago with no response. Today I decided to e-mail a staffer at Byron Bay just to see if they had any tips about my visa.  She was going to talk to a friend and get back to me.

BAM

Her friend was able to look my application up in a magic system and my Visa has been granted. I should get the official notification by tomorrow. I’m currently waiting for my parents to get back then book my plane ticket.

It’s getting real.

 God knows me inside and out,  my ups and downs and how many times I checked my e-mail to see if I’d gotten my visa. When I finally relinquished all my anxiety/fear/frustration and put my trust in him I had peace; A peace straight from heaven to my heart. Be at peace my child, I feed the birds of the sky. I have called you here I will make your path and provide for you.

When I put all my trust in my God and Father life is full of peace, it may not always be sunshine and butterflies but he sure does make AMAZING rainbows when its sprinkling.

Today was full of unexpected blessings which I am bubbling over with joy from.

P.S. I just watched the movie Soul Surfer. I really enjoyed it and if you are looking for something to watch give it a shot!

Laying down my pride.

PRIDE.

 Pride is a sneaky little thing. So sneaky I didn’t realize I had so much pride until God started opening my heart to see it. It hurts I never wanted to be pride filled, but I am so thankful that God has been showing me so that I can give my pride up to Him. He can come in and fill the now empty areas of my heart and I am full of much more life because of it!

I thought pride couldn’t hurt me physically, but I was wrong.

I got hurt at work, fairly bad. I began hurting in November of 2012. I told myself everyone else is hurting too, you can stick it out Katlin there are only a few months left in this costume. Then it got to the point where all of us girls were counting down the weeks 6 weeks, 5 weeks, 4 weeks..and so on. Girls started to drop out left and right. I kept telling myself you can do it, just finish out the time and you’ll be fine. The guests need you there aren’t enough left to fully staff, the company needs you they can’t fill shifts. Part of this was just having a strong work ethic, but the other part was pride. I didn’t want to have to admit that a pair of FAIRY wings had hurt me.

 I mean really FAIRY WINGS.

But they did hurt me and I was getting worse and worse every day. It got to the point where I couldn’t hug the guests, I could BARLEY sign an autograph, I could just stand on set in near tears because of the pain. At home I couldn’t lift a tee-shirt, I fell over multiple times getting dressed because the pain/numbness was so great I would collapse on the ground(now I know where they get the  saying pride comes before a fall). But I wouldn’t admit that I could not work anymore, or function outside of work either. Then finally January 21^st (yes, I started hurting in November I was stupid) I said enough I can’t do this anymore with tears in my eyes I went to the Doctor on site. I’m still recovering to this day from that injury, which probably wouldn’t have been as bad if I had not been so prideful and refused to admit I needed help. When people ask what happened I have to lay my pride down each time and tell them a pair of fairy wings broke my back. I’m beginning to get to the point where I can laugh at myself and how foolish I was.

The best part about all this is GOD. God has been so good and faithful the entire time. He was gentle about revealing my heart to me. He has been showing me where I need to give more to Him; never forcing me to do anything but guiding me, showing me the way, leading me into a relationship much deeper with him. 

What does this have to do with missions?

Part of the journey was to leave Disney and become a full time missionary.

SCARY.

A full time missionary.

I’ve had a job since I was 12. I love to work. It’s a struggle with pride. I like to be able to pay for myself, not have to ask others for money.

Surprise Katlin! Full time missionaries don’t get paychecks.

 I have to ask friends, colleges, family for support. I am having to lay down my pride and ask for support. Not an easy thing for me, but once again God has been gracious with me. I cannot express how thankful I am to my heavenly Father and how he just wants the best for me!

Right now I have 20/860$ monthly support needed.

I have to lay down my pride and ask you for help and support.  5, 10, 20 dollars any amount will help!

If 42 people commit 21 dollars or if 80 people commit 11 dollars I will reach my goal. Nothing is too small; you will be blessed for helping HIS kingdom.

You all are my friends and family I want to keep you up to date on what is going on in my heart and what God is doing; Also because I need people who will partner with me on this journey. I need people will who commit to praying for me and the work I will be doing with YWAM. I need people who will financially support me. I have to lay down my pride and admit that I cannot do this without you. I know that God will provide, I am trusting that he will provide. If you partner with me through prayers or through monthly support it will be a huge blessing to me! I believe that those who would like to partner with me in anyway will be blessed as well! Without your support I would not be able to go. If you would like to commit to a monthly gift or a onetime donation you may do so here:

World Outreach Ministries

The fastest way is to make an Online Donation-- and select Katlin Gillott from the list. The system can process USA & International cards. You can also set up automatic monthly Gifts with your credit card if you choose the "Monthly" option. Or simply mail your check to: World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Katlin Gillott #244.

All donations are tax deductible also :)

 

I pray that everyone has a great day!

My visa is still pending, after that gets approved I will buy my ticket to Australia. If you could please pray for a decent priced ticket, and that my visa will get approved soon I would be very thankful.

 

Love,

Katlin N Gillott

Prep.

Where to start.

I have made it home to Colorado where I will be for 4 weeks before I leave to go to Australia. My Mum flew out from Colorado and then we had a mini road trip back home. Let’s just say I’ve seen enough of my car that I am ok taking a break from diving right now. Before we drove from California to Colorado I went on a mini road trip of my own to visit family/ DTS family up north. It was a great trip and am so thankful for the time that I got with each and every person I was able to see. On the way to Colorado my Mum and I stopped in Indio to visit our cousin and see her at work. She is a teacher for deaf and hard of hearing kids. It was a blast! I *tried* to teach them phonics/reading…not an easy task with these children but I enjoyed it VERY much. You all know I LOVE heat I just love it! I am sad that I will be leaving a beautiful summer here in America and going to winter in Australia but I will survive. I bring heat up because it was 122 in Indio! My poor cousin and Mum were melting. Next we stopped in Arizona to visit dear friends that really are family. Guess what!! It got to 124; what did I do in that crazy heat? Well I stayed outside in it for 5 hours with my best friend! Needless to say we were a little warm when we finally came inside. Next we drove to New Mexico and stopped over night in Santa Fe to rest up and then finished out journey home the next morning. It was been a very busy last couple weeks, even just being home has been filled with things to take care of. Since getting home I have applied for 1 of 2 visas’ I will be using in Australia, sent out for a FBI background check, filled out more paper work and trees that sometimes I wonder if missionaries are the reason for de-forestation; with still more paper work to come.  Not everything is rainbows and butterflies though. It was hard to leave my friends and family in California and will be hard to leave my family here as well, but I know that this is where God has called me and will give me peace in my heart to say goodbye.  My support is not where I would like it to be with less than a month away from leaving. Right now my monthly support total is 20 out of 880 dollars. I am trying my best not to get discouraged but to trust God and that he will provide. I’m currently trying to sell my car as a way to help raise funds and hopefully pay for my ticket to Australia. There is a quick summary of what’s going on as I begin this journey. As always feel free to e-mail and call or snail mail J. If you have questions about what I’ll be doing ask me! Or have a prayer request I’d love to pray for you. Some prayer point s right now are
                That I can get everything straightened out and I don’t feel like a chicken with it’s head cut off.

                For monthly prayer partners and for monthly supports.

                That I can enjoy this time with my family that I know will be so precious to me once I leave.

 

Blessings!
Katlin

P.S. - if you want to support my ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via www.WorldOutreach.org/donations -- and select Katlin Gillott from the list. The system can process USA & International cards. You can also set up automatic monthly Gifts with your credit card if you choose the "Monthly" option. Or simply mail your check to: World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Katlin Gillott #244.

To all my lovely family and friends,
I hope that 2013 has been good to you thus far! I know it has been a challenging yet exciting year for me so far. After finishing my DTS (Discipleship Training School) in the end of June 2010 I returned home to my Sister getting married on July 15! In the fall I returned to college for the semester and in the new year of 2011 I felt like I was called to move to California. I packed up all I could in my car and moved to CA and have been living here with my Great-Grandma ever since. The Lord blessed me with an incredible job during my time here.
 For the last 2 years I have been working for the Walt Disney Company at Disneyland Resort portraying a variety of characters. This was truly from God and was a dream given to me during my DTS in January 2010. It has been an incredible season in my life and I have grown so much through the ups and downs of it all. Over time God began to prepare my heart for the next season in life. After much prayer I knew that I was meant to go back into YWAM (Youth With A Mission). I decided that I should apply to a YWAM base in Byron Bay, Australia. I am very excited to let everyone know that I was accepted as staff member and will be moving to Byron Bay this August! I have committed to be there until December 2014. It is a big step of faith for me! I will be staffing the September 2013 and the July 2014 DTS.
 During this time I will also be in a BLS (Basic Leadership School) to help build up leadership skills while staffing the DTS. As a DTS staff member I will help facilitate the daily lectures, lead a small group, hold one-on-ones with students for the 3 month lecture phase and be a leader for an outreach team to a location that has not been decided yet. I am so excited to see all that God has in store! This all has happened very quickly -- but in God’s perfect timing. Due to the speed at which I will be leaving and how long I will be gone I will need prayer and monthly financial partners for this season. I have a bit of savings but because of my injury at work I have been unable to work the last couple months, so most of my savings will go towards initial fees for visas, FBI background checks, airfare, baggage, moving expenses, securing insurance, etc.
 If God puts it on your heart to support me financially through a one-time donation or a monthly commitment please see the note at the end of the letter. All donations are tax deductible. I have also enclosed to communication card that I would love for you to fill out and send back to me so I can keep you up to date on my journey! I also would love to hear from you while I am away! If you have a funny story, a word of encouragement, need prayer, or if you would like updates by email you can reach me at: Katlin.gillott@gmail.com (Probably the fastest way to communicate)
Snail-mail (who doesn’t love it )
Katlin Gillott c/o Youth With A Mission
35 Johnston Lane Tyagarah,
 NSW, 2481, Australia
I will also be keeping my blog updated as much as I can: http://katlingillott.blogspot.com/. I could never express enough thankfulness and gratitude for all the support you have given me through the years it has been a blessing beyond understanding.

  Thank you all for your support and love! Love, Katlin N. Gillott


P.S. - if you want to support my ministry, the fastest way is to make an Online Donation via www.WorldOutreach.org/donations -- and select Katlin Gillott from the list. The system can process USA & International cards. You can also set up automatic monthly Gifts with your credit card if you choose the "Monthly" option. Or simply mail your check to: World Outreach Ministries, PO Box B, Marietta, GA 30061 and designate for Katlin Gillott #244.