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!