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!!