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Jesus.
He is it!
He is all there ever was and all there ever will be in this world.
I am moving into a season of being romanced by Jesus.
I cant describe Him.
But I love Him.
In other news September school is going great. Our team is amazing! Oh and as an update we are actually the Thailand/Philippines team! I couldnt write about it before because it wasnt 100% sure, but ya we felt like God was actually calling us to both countries. So we will be heading to Philippines to start and ending in Thailand.The timing seems to be perfect and in liu of the recent tsunami it looks like we will get to be a part of the restoration of homes, churches and hearts of the Filipinos.
Lectures wise, God has been doing a ton of inner healing in staff and students alike. We had two straight weeks of just going through our past, looking at wounds, lies we believe about ourselves, vows, courses, and judgements. How has our past shaped who we are now? Who do we need to forgive? What do we need to let go of? What generational sins do we need to break off? What behaviour issues are a result of all these things and what do we need to change? It was a draining time, dealing with stuff i never really thought was a big deal , and then working through stuff with the students all the time. But the results are so rewarding and i loved it!
This week we have been learning all about the character and nature of God. Its been a good switch from looking inward at the very core of who we are to looking outward to the very vastness of who God is.
Kauai prep is going well. I dont get to be a part of every Kauai meeting just because of the time conflicts with DTS stuff, but thats okay. In November we are taking a trip over to the island for a few days to scope it out and im really excited to actually get to see where im going!
And for your viewing pleasure here are some interesting team time pictures:
We took our students to this beautiful Pali lookout and got rained out.
Then we dressed up like cowboys for no other reason than me wanting to play dress up. We were doing trust games, ie guiding each other around blindfolded. I figured since they already had to bring bandanas, why not complete the ensamble? Haha it was fun!
Stay tuned for next week when we dress up like....
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| For four consecutive weeks this year, May/June, i was in four different countries, from Indonesia to Thailand to the USA to Canada. Its crazy! One moment i was responsible for the safety of 8 young adults in a third world country. The next im back at Wheatberries responsible to make sure the creme on a customers americano looks just right. Its always good being home, i had a great summer of weddings, camping trips and riding my bike to work everyday. But it was also hard just dealing with homesickness for my life in Hawaii. God is in control though and i know it was good for me to have that three months in Gibsons just to simply be still for a bit. I finally had time to process my experience as a staffer over the last two schools, and I spent allot of time just journaling and working through what it means to be following Jesus when im not in my Ywam bubble. It also gave me time to pray and consider two options that were given to me by my leader Raquel.
The first being whether i felt like God was asking me to lead an outreach this quarter. The second whether God was calling me to join her and the team that was heading to pioneer a Kauai base in January.
On both accounts i felt God releasing me to reply "Yes!"
So i find myself here in Hawaii once again, this school i am co leading a team of 7 students with Mr. Samuel Suh to the nation of Thailand! To be completely honest, when God whispered Thailand in my ear during worship a few weeks ago i thought either i was crazy or He was because i had absolutely no desire to go on outreach there! I wanted to go to Nepal, wear a sarwar, eat with my hands and do open airs. Not do prayer walks and friendship evangelism in a second world country. But Gods ways are soo much higher than mine, and ever since i said "okay God i will go" He has been soo faithful in giving me a heart and filling me with excitement for Thailand!
The main thing God has been teaching me since being here is simply INTIMACY. Intimacy, intimacy, intimacy. Every outcome i can possibly imagine (freedom, desperation, gifts of the Holy Spirit) all are birthed out of an intimacy with Christ. I really just feel like God is beckoning me into a deeper relationship with Him. Ive never felt so strong an urge just to spend time alone with Him! I feel like after years of doing quiet times out of obligation i am finally crossing over into that place of enjoyment. Ive been studying Song of Songs, and daily just being blown away with the fact that God is so desperate for me. He has been, is, and will always be relentless in his pursuit of me. He has been, is, and will always be recklessly in love with me.
With that said i am beginning to see how Thailand fits into all this. Its like God is saying, "Let me draw you away from whats comfortable for you- so that you can rely on me."
Following Thailand i will be joining the team over in Kauai. There is a ton of unknown attached to what my life pioneering a new base will look like, but its gonna be great.
Its an exciting time to be alive!
Joyful, joyful, we adore Thee, God of glory, Lord of love;
Hearts unfold like flowers before Thee, opening to the sun above.
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| Dearest:
Indonesia came and went, simple as that! Two short months of my life (April&May) that will forever change me, and I pray continuously change the lives of every one we met. We spent around two weeks doing urban ministry in the city of Pontianak, Borneo. The other six weeks were spent in eleven different remote villages. The villages were nothing you can prepare yourself for! A typical day could include anything from teaching English in a school, eating frog legs, doing skits and dances, preaching, running from an approaching python, praying for the sick, playing volleyball with the local police, joining a wedding reception of a couple you've never met - to impromptu speaking at a funeral. It was physically challenging hiking to a new village every 2-5 days, setting up mosquito nets every night (yet still having 200+ bites on your body), and eating rice everyday. But God's strength was always revealed through our weakness (Isaiah 40 :31 was a huge verse for us). One of the biggest things the team struggled with was the spiritual warfare out there. It's something we had been taught on but didn't fully grasp until we entered these Animistic villages. we would wake up to hearing pigs getting sacrificed to some unknown god; the people did this in hopes of having a bountiful rice harvest. Or we would pray for the sick who had previously been taken to the witch doctor. It was intense, but God is soo much bigger than the fear satan tried to throw at us! And we definetly learned the power of worship and intercession. Personally, God was stretching me as a leader. He continuously taught me what it means to rely on Him, to walk in hunility and hand over control (which was rightfully His in the first place). I am now home working this summer and head back out to continue staffing in Honolulu in September. Until next time: "Tuhan memberkati kamu!"
God bless you!
   
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| dearest friends and family
I have to wake up in 5 hours and head to the airport.
Its kinda crazy when i stop and think of it logically: CJ and i have never been to Indonesia nor have we ever lead a team before yet 8 students parents are entrusting us to return their children to them safely.
Thus I have butterflies.
but really, God spoke Borneo to me 4 months ago and it is exciting to see that finally come into fulfillment. i know he is gonna give us the strength to rise to this challenge.
i am looking forward to getting out of my lil ywam bubble, where at times i can just coast along in my relationship with God, and out into the unknown where i daily have to rely on Him for everything.
it will be good.
i should sleep.
oh and on friday, the last day of lecture, there were still 4 students who needed $4724 combined to go on outreach. that morning during the course of only a few hours a combination of cheques came in amounting to $4723. Praise Jesus!
i love you all, write me sometime! | | |
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hi friends and family.
God is crazy and he blows my mind.
ive come to the conclusion that i should not make any promises in regards to how often i update you all on my life, that way i dont feel crummy when i dont follow through.
just cozy up with a warm cup of hot cocoa and enjoy this while you can.
i do not generally like writing with too much order so forgive the chaos.
some basic info in case you've not yet been informed:
I am living in Honolulu and have been since August 08.
I am under a 4 school/ two year commitment with Ywam.
I am in the middle of staffing my second school.
I am co-leading a team of 8 students (1 guy 7 girls) to Borneo
I leave April 1st and will be there for two months.
I am pretty much married to my co leader, his name is CJ.
Its like an arranged marriage where love is a choice not a feeling.
Where your suddenly given 8 children (ages 18 to 23) to care for, encourage, lead, confront and counsel.
There names are : Kaitlin, Miriam, Amy, Crina, Samantha, Jenny, Taryn, and Tyler.
Lord help me.
Somedays are hard, students ask tough questions: "Why did God let this happen?" ..."Why is God speaking to everyone else but me?"... "Is the Christian life worth it?"...."Why arent our churches teaching us this"... "What if i dont change when i go home?". I get to confront people on attitudes and actions that i can forsee will be a problem on outreach.
It is sometimes stressful. It is daily challenging.
I have to rely on Gods strength when i have nothing left to offer.
Thus it is good.
ahem.
as i was saying. God blows my mind. and the good always always always outweighs the bad.
So we are just over half way done lecture phase, and the school is going awesome! This school has had tons of teaching about Holy Spirit, prophecy, etc. And its amazing to see them so hungry for more, and putting what they learn into practice. For example one of our students Frank sprained his thumb on Sunday night then driving on the way to evangelism Tuesday night everyone in the van prayed for him. He took his splint/bandage off and his thumb had been completely healed! Go God!
I had the privledge of teaching a one hour breakout group on Identity in Christ for four weeks. Due to the fact that i freak out when having to speak in public, i feel a huge sense of accomplishment in having done it. Lets just say im really glad its over though!
CJ and i co ordinated and planned a fun "Ohana Night" last night. We went with a Friday Night Live theme. And the staff performed a bunch of SNL skits, mixed in with students sharing their talents. It all went smoothly and i had a blast. If youve ever seen the Family diner SNL skit with Will Ferrell, try to picture me as the mom. I only laughed once at the very end, which was a huge accomplishment for me!
( www.nbc.com/Saturday_Night_Live/video/clips/family-dinner/2908/ )
I honestly dont know if i could be more fulfilled in my life.
Please continue to keep mine and CJ's team in your prayers. We can use all we can get.
Meanwhile. Send me any prayer requests you may have.
And please tell me of your lives. I love hearing from home!
Love to all.
Kimberly
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