fun fun fun!

Here are some videos of the lovely rain here :)

Raining and pouring in Brisbane

 &

flooding

And here is an old video of the snake we saw on our weekend trip in the beginning weeks of the DTS

Snake and Birdies

Also, here is a fun Australian version of "Jingle Bells"

Aussie Jingle Bells

Father Heart of God and Holy Spirit

Last week, lectures were on "The Father Heart of God." Sooo good :) I learned so much. I think this was my favorite week so far. Did you know, that before we did anything for God, He was pleased? That He delights in us, and that is something that we can't earn. God is so awesome and loving and such a great Father to all of us. I am still so happy and excited about that. It was always something that I learned, but it was head knowledge, and I never really accepted that gift from God. And accepted the fact that I don't earn His love, but He loves me unconditionally. Soo cool!

The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing. -Zephaniah 3:17

 

We also helped out at a mental institution (don't know the proper name for it, sorry) and talked to the people there. It was actually so sad, and really dirty there. Everyone was just staring off into space with grim faces. It was so good though, near the end of it people were chatting and laughing. We brought out a guitar and people were singing. It was so good to see how God's love can outshine darkness and gloom :)

This week, we just about finished "Holy Spirit" lectures. It has been really good. I'm learning a lot. Also learning to read more and more of the bible and about what God says about all of these topics. Its cool to be able to refer back to something that has all the answers when I have a question. But ya, asking lots of questions and learning tons. Its been a really good week all together :)

Last Sunday I went to one of the local churches (Lifeplace) and that was really good. It was nice to be at church, and everyone was so loving, and it felt more like I was at home. It seems so simple, but it did make me feel more like I was back at OCF. haha weird. I miss you all by the way! Just want to throw that out there. 

Oh ya, we also had a practice outreach team bonding thing.. We went to a very nice man's house who prepared us authentic Indian food. I know I'm not going to India, but let's just say it was a very interesting experience, that will definitely prepare me for outreach  

We also had a Christmas Party! Ahh it was so much fun. We put up a Christmas tree and decorated our community room and ate yummy snacks and drink hot chocolate (Milo Hot Chocolate). It was so fun. We all sang Christmas songs. It made it less depressing to have to be away for Christmas.

Ya... I think that is about all of the highlights. God has been teaching me so much :) and I am really thankful to be here.

Prayer: 

-financial provision for some of the people for outreach $$$

-continued spiritual and physical protection 

-to continue to grow in humility and to surrendering to what God wants to teach us

Praise:

-Remember that one guy I told you who had such bad allergies that he couldn't even sit and listen to lectures inside our room? God is healing him and he is sitting with us in our lectures and making soooo much breakthough. Its been so awesome. Thanks for praying.

-People who's 2nd language is english have been way less stressed and frustrated. They are learning and growing in english with much more patience and better attitudes :)

-God has been teaching our whole group so much and has watched over us :)

THANK YOU ALL SO MUCH. I really appreciate your love, encouragement and prayer. It means sooo much to me. Love you all!

Home Sweet Home in Brisbane

Hello!

We just got back a couple days ago to Brisbane, after an awesome week in Byron Bay. It was actually a bit different than expected. There was a day crew and night crew, and we were the day crew, so we didn't actually stay out until 3 in the morning every night. We visited kids in hotel rooms in the mornings and cooked up delicious pancakes. We also did cleaning for some of them, which they super appreciated. We then would do optional sports down at the beach in the afternoons and would invite people to join us. That was fun as well, except I didn't really know how to play footie.. So I just watched :)

At night we would set up a chai tea and pancake tent down near the beach. We made batter that would cook about a thousand pancakes! It was so much fun, because everyone would be so excited for free food. These nights were my favorite, where we just talked to people and formed relationships. We would usually be out from like 11:30 to 1:30 in the morning, and would then crash and sleep until like 8am.

I learned so much this week. I learned more about humility and selflessness, and the importance of having God's heart for people, and seeing and treating them as He would. I also realized and was challenged by how many opportunities we have everyday to just be an example and light to this world, and treat people with love and respect. 

It was definitely a challenging week, but was so awesome and a big learning experience. So many great things happened this week, and it was awesome to share God's love and truth for people through simply serving them and loving them like God would. 

At the church where we stayed

My team (we had about 5 teams for the day crew)

Where we would set up the tent at night, and also usually where we would set up sports on the beach

 

 

 

 

 

 

My lovely team leader!

Update!

Sorry its been so long since I've given an update! Its been very busy, but I'm learning so much :)

We just finished 3 weeks of lectures-1.Character & Nature of God, 2. Hearing God's Voice, and 3. Spiritual Warfare! I have learned so much. All of these were so great, and have helped me grow a lot in my understanding of God as well as myself and who He created me to be.

Character & Nature of God was so good, and really focused on understanding the truth (based on bible) of who God is. It sounds simple, but so many times we can start to believe lies about God's true character, based on circumstances in our life, or just Satan messing with us. We had an activity where we identified one of the lies we had allowed ourselves to believe about God. We prayed and declared that a lie, and asked God to heal our hearts in that issue, and to move on from it. It was really good :)

That week just really focused on tearing down the old foundation of our faith, and allowing God and His truth to build it up so much stronger.

Hearing God's Voice was awesome. Chris Twin (Pastor close by) was our speaker. Sooo good. I took pages and pages of notes :) He just really emphasized how important it is to know God's Word, because in order to understand God's voice you have to understand who He is. The problem is not receiving God's voice, it is recognizing it. He also taught a lot on living by the spirit first, above our mind or body desires.  I learned so many new things that week. I also finally learned to take my head knowledge about this stuff, and fully apply it to my life. 

Spiritual Warfare was also really great. There was an activity I really liked. We learned about gates that we sometimes give Satan keys to. And the main ones are like 1.Mind/Thoughts, 2.Attitudes/Emotions, 3.Relationships, and 4.Words. And we had to pray about a gate we had given Satan authority to come into, and then come up with a practical way of stopping this. This was so good for all of us, and just a cool time to see each of us growing and moving forward in our faith and walk with God. 

On top of all this we do a weekly bible study on Acts, student led worship, and a TON of other stuff :) Every Wednesday there is "Sport in the Park" where we just play soccer or ultimate frisbee that is open to the local community. So much fun! Also, every Friday we go to a school and put on a sports program for the kids. Aww they are precious! 

Also, we are leaving this Friday to be volunteer chaperons at "Schoolies" in Byron Bay. This is kind of like our spring break but much crazier, because it is their graduation and usually when they are 18 (legal drinking age). We went to a training for it the other night, and it sounds like it is just a huge time where kids gather on certain beaches and drink, do drugs, and go crazy. They said we will be visiting rooms and talking and hanging out with the kids.  They said most of the people love us there because we hand out free candy. Kids can also call our help line, in which we will be sent out to tend to a certain situation. This could be anything from hanging out with a lonely kid, to someone who has gotten alcohol poisoning or has been abused. We also will make pancakes for the kids in the mornings and just simply show them love and care. That is the main thing of this week, is to really show them God's love for them. So ya, I leave Friday and get back the following Friday I believe.

I also found out my outreach location.......

Cuzco, PERU!!!!!!!!

hahaha I know, and back across the world again I go :)!

But I prayed a bunch about it and talked with the daughter of the family we will be staying with, and I am so pumped to go. Part of the time we will be staying with a family who has started an orphanage there. They have about 50 kids now, that have been rescued or have been given to them by the government or desperate mothers in hopes for a better life for their child. Also, we will possibly spend some time in the Amazon jungle, because that family is starting another home there, where they will be taking in children that have been affected by sex trafficking. That is a HUGE issue in the jungle and most girls are pregnant by 14. So that is in the works, and we might have an opportunity to work with them setting up that. Also, there is a couple from here actually that is going over to start a YWAM base in Peru so we will be helping them as well. We will be there in the very beginning stages of it, which will be cool to see and contribute to the process of really starting from the ground up. There will probably also be trips into the villages to do evangelism and serve the people in those communities.  They all speak spanish where we will be, except in some of the villages they speak quechua. I am very excited to finally put all of those spanish classes to good use! 

That is all! So much going on and so much to come :)

Thank you all for your prayers. They really have helped. If you could keep praying for:

-time management

-spiritual protection

-protection & wisdom @ Schoolies. & energy b/c they said we will probably be done around 3AM every night.

-Also, healing for one of the guys in our group. He has SEVERE allergies, where he has to sit at the open door when we do classes, and is allergic to like dust and stuff. At this point, unless he is healed, he cannot go on outreach with us :(. We have been praying for him almost daily, and it would mean a lot if you guys could pray too. 

-also, for these poor girls who english is their 2nd language. One of the girls in my small group broke down & started crying when we asked her what she thought about this passage in the bible that we were reading, because she was so frustrated because she couldn't completely understand what we had read. Its sad to see because these are smart girls that just want to learn and grow, and so prayer just to not let this get in the way of that. 

Praise!-I have been doing much better with time management and have felt WAY less overwhelmed with everything. I also have felt way more refreshed. So thank you for praying for those things :)

THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS AND ENCOURAGEMENT! It means SOOO much to me. I cannot thank you enough :)

Also, I will attempt to update this more often so these don't have to be epically long!! :)

LOVE YOU ALL!

Pictures from last weekend!

Weekend retreat and 1st day of lectures!

Hey!

Last weekend we went with our Frontiers group and spent a couple nights in the mountains. It was soooo beautiful and there was great weather. The first day we shared testimonies and focused on 4 main aspects: 

1. Challenges we've faced

2. Greatest and most important moments/times with God

3. Passions and talents

4. Why we chose to go on this DTS and what are our goals and expectations for this time

It was really a powerful time because our group was very honest and open. There were many sad tears and happy tears in hearing and telling our stories. Despite the challenges that we heard from people's stories, it was really awesome to see how God has used that to bring good. Many of the challenges in people's lives, and mine as well, have lead to the greatest moments and growth we have had with God.

God has been showing me a ton through all of this. I think a big lesson that God has been teaching me, especially through the weekend, is just to see people in the way that God sees us. Also, to really remember that I have NO idea what someone has been through, and I should not make any judgments or assumptions about them. People shared very painful and surprising stories, and I just would never guess they had been through that. My daddy always emphasized that I must treat people with love and respect and how I would want to be treated. So simple and something I have always known, but hadn't always lived out as I should. I think this environment, with living with so many different people from different backgrounds and cultures, will teach me to see everyone more in the eyes of how God views us, with love and compassion and care for them. 

Anyway, that's just one tidbit of what God has been doing in my heart. 

He has also been revealing to me just how powerful prayer is. I unfortunately, have slowly allowed myself to forget how real and powerful God really is. Its awful to say, but I think through being honest with myself about that, God can start to really change my heart. It has been really encouraging to hear so many people's stories of how God has been faithful and answered prayer. It was also really cool to see how God has spoken to them through prayer (not necessarily verbal, but in other ways, such as pictures or words, etc). I just have been getting this sense of how much I need to really LISTEN and WAIT on God for direction and in all aspects of my life. I am sure I have missed many opportunities when God has been speaking to me or leading me in a certain direction, and that sucks, but I want to change that. I want to really learn to hear God's voice more and not forget to include him in big decisions and even small things in my life. It is cool though, to see that God has already been growing me in that area, because going on this mission trip was really a process of me waiting on God and allowing Him to lead. I honestly have been praying about doing something like this for almost all of high school. There were so many times during this process, when I was SO close to turning back on all of it and ignoring where God was leading me. I thankfully have listened, and really believe that God wants me to spend this time here. 

Anyway, sorry this is very long but it is very exciting to me. Its also cool to look around and see that God is really moving and changing the hearts of the people around me too. 

Oh ya, the first day of lectures were today and that was really great. This week's focus is on the Character and Nature of God. I took many notes, and will try and update you more as the week goes on and I learn more and more from the lectures.

God is doing great things here :)

I want to give some prayer requests though please if you could remember to pray for:

There has been a lot of information and the schedules have for the most part been very non-stop. I was talking with many of the girls, and we just got an awful feeling of being very overwhelmed with everything. Everyone, especially tonight, seemed soooo exhausted and stressed. Because there is such a lack of free time, if you could just pray to learn a good balance of our time and energy. Also, renewed energy and strength. I have already found myself having to drink some coffee tonight to pay attention during a bible study. So that's not good. This next one is soooo important. Pretty much every girl in our group got a feeling of some demonic force working against them today and especially tonight. I know for me even, I got super anxious and negative and scared and wanted to go to sleep just so I wouldn't feel that anymore. Many felt the same, and some more serious than others. However, we all had a great prayer time and really felt God's presence after. This is such a place for growth in God and the devil hates and fears what is going on here. So if you could pray for protection against any spiritual warfare during this time.

Thank you soooooooooooooooo much. Your prayer means sooo much to me and the girls here. 

Sorry that this is so incredibly long! I love you all and will try and update again when I can. I had pictures I was going to post from the weekend but they won't load :(

Here safe and sound!

Hey! Sorry that I haven't updated this yet. It has been kind of crazy and I didn't have much access to internet. I had a great stay in Melbourne with my cousin and got to explore the city a bit. I got to the YWAM base in Brisbane yesterday. The weather and everything is absolutely beautiful! Melbourne was very cold and so it is nice to have some beach weather like home.

There are people from EVERYWHERE. It is so cool. I am the only one from LA and I think there is one other girl from CA but very far north. It is so cool to learn about other people's cultures and ways of doing things. We have not started official classes yet (I think we do next week). We have been doing orientation today, and just getting the run down on rules and EVERYTHING we should know. We are actually leaving tomorrow for a retreat in Mt. Tambourine or something like that. Both schools (MAD and Frontiers) are going, but to different areas.

Everything has been so great so far. The people here are so sweet and so on fire for God. Last night we had great worship and this morning we had a great prayer time. We broke up into groups and prayed for missionaries that came out of YWAM and who they support. I think they said that this specific prayer time (they call it "intercession") which we do consistently (not sure yet how many days a week) will focus on praying for things happening around the world, or local things. It will have a specific focus each time. It was very cool.

I have taken some pics of the place because I know a lot of people want to see pictures! So I will try and post some now and will probably post more later.

First disgusting insect sighting!

Outside of our room where we stay. We live on an upstairs thing with 3 rooms and a bathroom. The guys live below us, and I believe there is one more dorm area where more girls are staying, somewhere downstairs.

This is my room. I think there are 12 in my room. It is actually really nice! I thought I would have to live out of my suitcase for the whole time that I was here, but there is actually space to hang things and a set of drawers and shelves. Really cool.








My fabulous bed shelf thing!
I didn't know I would have a place for pics and stuff, so I didn't bring a ton. So send me some!!!! :)
and I can show you off to my foreign friends!

work out room!

Inside dining hall and hangout area.

Kitchen and area where you line up and get food

Outside patio where people hang out or eat. Also there is a fire pit where some of those girls are gathered around.

"Community Room"-worship and events

Library and computer room.
Where I am now actually!















Love you all! Update you again soon hopefully!

Off to australia!

I'm flying today to Melbourne! I am going early to see my cousin there.  I will spend a little less than a week with her, and then (for my bday present) she is going to be flying me to Brisbane where my program is. Please pray for safe travels!

God Provides!

We made close to $1600 at the garage sale!! God truly provided.  Thank you so much to all who helped!!! I really could not have done it without you guys.  Your support is truly appreciated. 

Also, I have officially reached my financial goal so PRAISE THE LORD!  I cannot thank you all enough for your prayers and financial support.  I have been greatly blessed with amazing and selfless people in my life.

Friends!

I just got in contact with a ton of people on facebook, who will be going to the Brisbane base in October as well. Some are doing the Frontiers DTS, which is what I am doing. This one has a focus on reaching undeveloped areas and people groups who have never heard the gospel.  I also was able to get to know a bunch of people who will be there at the same time doing the MAD DTS (music, art, dance).  Everyone seemed very sweet and loving! This helped to calm my nerves a bit and I am now getting even more excited about going :)

Garage Sale fundraiser!

I am collecting items for a big garage sale fundraiser!

The garage sale will be Saturday, Sept.25th at 7am 
in the large parking lot on 13405 Inglewood Ave in Hawthorne.

3 ways you can contribute:
 

1. You can drop it off in the back of the Oceanside Christian Fellowship parking lot
(shouldn't miss the bright sign) this Sunday (9/12) and the following Sunday (9/19) any time of the day and I will collect it all that night.

2. If its a large item that you need a truck for or if you just need me to get it from your house, let me know and I will gladly pick it up.

3. You can drop it off at my house. Just send me an email and I will give you the address.

Also, if you would like to help me set up or work the garage sale let me know as well and that would be awesome!

Thank you so much! I cannot tell you enough just how thankful I am for all of your help!

Time to raise the funds! $$$

Now that I have been accepted, its time to start raising money! The whole trip will cost about $8,000.. This does include the flights, and will vary somewhat depending on where I will be sent to for the 3 month outreach phase. I am currently working at Cold Stone Creamery, which should help lower the cost a little at least.  I am putting all of my graduation and future b-day money (in September) towards the trip as well. Also, instead of going on the yearly church camp to Hume Lake, my mom has offered to put the cost of that in the Australia fund.  All of that should hopefully add up a bit and make the cost not too overwhelming.  I am sending out support letters as well as doing fundraisers, and am really trusting in the Lord to provide. I know that God is ultimately in control, and will pave the way to me getting there. Thank you all who have already started contributing. I cannot tell you how blessed I am to have such amazing people in my life!