An Adventure Worth Sharing

I am incredibly behind on blogging. My apologies friends and family. But it has definitely not been for lack of things and thoughts to blog on. Very much the exact opposite. It has been a whirlwind since arriving back in Germany from our outreach in Finland. I jumped quickly back into lecture come Monday morning, along with staff meetings, work duties and steps toward future stuff. God has so much good stuff waiting for me and for YWAM Herrnhut! Shoot, He has such wonderful things waiting for the nations!

For this blog post. I actually want to share a very unexpected adventure I found myself in this past weekend. During my DTS I became friends with a wonderful German angel named Evelyn. Seriously, she’s an angel, with the voice to match! I am so thankful to get to hear what God is doing in her heart daily and the music she uses to communicate that. I was pumped to be able to join her along with our other MOTA friends to photograph a fundraising concert she did to raise funds for outreach. It is easy to see where she gets her gentleness and beauty once you meet her parents and experience her home. So I was extra pumped that she invited me to re-visit her home with six other friends for her delayed family birthday visit.

We were all excited for a lovely weekend of amazing homemade German food and rest. Only ten hours of train rides across Germany was standing in our way. Because of recent flooding in East Germany where we live our train was delayed by more than an hour. And if you aren’t used to traveling by train, this meant that our whole schedule was wrecked! We prayed about it and went on in faith. We just felt like God wanted us to continue on this trip for some reason. We were a very lively group, singing, laughing and looking for opportunities to make new friends in every car we sat in. Half way through our trip we had to make a decision of whether we would take the six hour delay that was created by the first train delay or we could hop off early and figure out a different train route. We prayed and asked God what He wanted us to do. We all got some sort of picture or word that seemed like different puzzle pieces. So we kept our eyes peeled and continued to ask God throughout our travel what He was leading us to. We had no idea what we were in for.

Our next stop as the train came to a halt one of the guys with us spotted the round blue sign with a  white arrow pointing to the right just like he saw when we prayed. In excitement we sprinted out the train car and down the road the sign pointed. I confess that I was thinking how ridiculous we were, but as we continued down this vacant road we stopped, looked to the right and saw a teenage guy sitting on the curb of a cobble stone parking lot drinking and smoking. As I said before we are always up for making new friends. So all eight of us wondered over to this guy and struck up a conversation. He was excited to meet Americans ;) A few minutes later his other friend joined him. It didn’t take us long to realize a couple more of the puzzle pieces we had received while praying were right in front of us. While praying one of us also received that we should worship by the fountain on the cobble stone. Check on the cobble stone. And right across the street stood this large hotel that in German read “come to the good fountain”. I mean we were thinking an actual fountain, but our God has a sense of humor and always meets us in unexpected ways. Coincidence? You can say that, or you can believe that our God is a personal God that speaks to us and leads us to amazing opportunities to be used by Him to reach the lost. So we continued to hang out with these two guys. The guitars came out and they played a few songs they enjoyed for us and we did the same. Our songs just happened to involve the name of Jesus =)  We shared how Jesus changed our lives and how he wanted to do the same for them. The next puzzle piece and confirmation to us that we were in the midst of a divine appointment was realized when one of the guys text tone went off. It chirped like a bird. One of us had a picture of a bird when we prayed. We were getting along great with our new friends and asked them if they would allow us to pray with them/for them. Even though neither really believed in God they agreed. We began to pray for our new friends, asking God to reveal himself in a personal way to them both. Not far into our prayers the first guy we met urged us to stop. “stop, stop, stop” he said. “I have this picture in my head. I see this picture in my head.” We asked him to describe what it was. He said that he was sitting by a fountain. That it was perfect and so peaceful. That he had this feeling, like something bubbling in his stomach. We were all so in awe! We told him “That’s God! That’s God.” Then our friend went on to repent. Asking God to forgive him for saying bad things about Him and not respecting Him. We all continued to talk and answer questions they had for us about this God. At the end of the night our friend that had the vision wanted a relationship with God and asked Him into his heart and the other continued to ask more and more questions.

This was the most beautiful thing that I have ever been a part of.  Besides us having a little faith that our Father speaks to us and us chasing after what we felt was being spoken, it didn’t have too much to do with us, Everything else was Him orchestrating details for a meeting with these two guys and inviting us to be a part of Him encountering them. What a beautiful thing to be a part of His kingdom and given the invitation to invite others into our family. Like I mentioned earlier, I was skeptical at first of running in the direction of a sign that we had no idea where it led to, yet God still used me. We don’t have everything figured out and we aren’t perfect, yet God is still able to use us. How good is our God! We weren’t “officially” on outreach, but that didn’t mean that God wasn’t more than ready to use us to reach out to those who don’t know Him. Unexpectedly in this small German city God showed me just a little clearer how passionate and relentless He is when it comes to His children knowing His love for us. 

These are our two new friends we met.

If you look really closely you can see the hotel to the left that reads "...come to the good fountain" in German.

May Instagram

I can't believe that a month has passed! In the last month I settled back into the Y.W.A.M. Herrnhut community, explored a new city in a different country and made my way back to Germany. It blows my mind that this is my life. Enjoy!

Back to community living | Exploring the fun in work duties with friends | Indulging in teachings about prayer and intercession | Catching up with friends | Hopped on a plane to Finland | I was on a boat that traveled to a fortress island | Learned about spiritual mapping from Mark Erickson | Shared the good news on the streets | Prayed in key places of Helsinki | Explored the streets of Helsinki | Met and enjoyed the music of Benny Prasad | Made new friends in Finland | Got fancied up to pray inside the Finnish parliament | Jumped in the Baltic Sea | Prayed ALOT | Made the travel back to Germany

Back in Action

Greetings from Deutschland!

I am excited to share what I have been up to since I have been back at YWAM Herrnhut!

I am sitting on the floor of the girls’ shower room as one of my good friends plays her guitar and writes a new song as a part of the school of worship. We couldn’t find a quiet place in the castle. Ahhhhhh it is good to be back at YWAM Herrnhut! =)

This week has been insane! So many logistical things to work out, a couple of great friends from DTS visited, jumping into SOIP lectures, taking on the title of staff, overwhelmed by the beauty of Germany, worship, prayer sets, ultimate Frisbee and basketball games, picture taking and new opportunities popping up! I can’t wait to see how our Father will be faithful with everything He has already begun this week!

As most know I used to live in a flat in town and would walk 20 minutes or so to the class for lecture when I was in DTS, but I now call the castle home. I live in a room with 9 other girls. It is quite hilarious and entertaining with so many different nationalities and personalities in one room.  Currently at YWAM Herrnhut there are a few different schools going on. The Revive DTS: A discipleship training school focused on Revival… duh and 3 secondary schools. The kingdom school, School of Worship and the School of Intercessory Prayer. I have to admit it was very weird being in such a familiar place with so many new faces. It took some adjusting of perspective and attitude, but it really has been great! From just the little that I have got to get to know the new faces I am very excited for this season in Herrnhut. It has also been so great catching up with friends I made in DTS who are now on staff with YWAM Herrnhut or in a secondary school.

So much to tell it is ridiculous!

There are 17 students in the School of Intercessory Prayer. I now have friends from Hong Kong, India, Holland, Australia, Sweden, more Germans, more Americans. Man, so many different cultures and personalities. I am excited for what God will call us to as a school. The first week of lecture we did not have speaker come to speak to us, but our own staff shared their individual walks through prayer and what God has shown them through it. It has been great to get to know the 6 different members on staff and have our faith built up and excitement stirred inside listening to how God has grown them as His children and in prayer.

The heart of SOIP is that we be awakened to the power and excitement of prayer. That we learn how to partner with God and really connect with His heart in prayer. That prayer wouldn’t be a time we beg for God to give us things or list off things in our life we want from Him, but an intimate time with our Father where we feel what He feels and we pray what He wants us to pray by being lead by the Holy Spirit to see His kingdom come to this earth here and now.

I’ve been thinking a lot about prayer, naturally. Before SOIP prayer has seemed so boring and such a chore most of the time. Every now and then I would really “feel” like praying, but most of the time I just wasn’t super passionate about it. And I think it is like that for a lot of people and churches these days. In many places of the Bible we are told to pray without ceasing and to not lose heart, but to continue to persevere in prayer. If it is repeated so much than it must be important. So why is it approached with such a lack of excitement? And I’ve decided that it is because Satan is really good at His job. Satan knows the power of prayer so He has done everything He can to make us indifferent about prayer and neglect it. So, I am excited to walk against indifference and really find out the magnitude and honor it is to partner with God in prayer and intercede on behalf of the people around me and nations in our world.

A lot of what we have been learning is very foundational, but so so good. God asks us to come to Him directly and ask bold things of Him. Before we can do that we must know that we have the authority to do that. To know our authority is to know our identity and to know our identity is to know our Father. So we have been learning about our Father and what He thinks of us. How in love He is with us. How pleased He is with us. How He longs for relationship with us. Already in just this first week I feel like God has reminded me of key truths, challenged me to step into deeper intimacy with Him and fall into new things He wants to give me. It is going to be a great season as a part of the SOIP!!!

Besides the excitement and newness of all that SOIP is I have also officially stepped into the staff team at YWAM Herrnhut!!! This means I am like a full time missionary. Woah, didn’t see that one coming a year or so ago. Haha. It is so great! I attended my first staff meeting this past week. All of the current staff laid hands on the new staff members and prayed. I felt like such a little kid because I was in such awe that I could call myself a staff member just like many of the people that I so greatly admired. It was such an honor to be in the same room as incredibly passionate people and fierce lovers of God. I am so excited to be able to pursue God in such a radical community! Be poured into by a great family and bring all that I have to pour into them. Because I am in a secondary school and leadership of YWAM Herrnhut really wants us to focus on our schools I do not have much responsibility as a staff member just yet, besides attending staff prayer every morning.

So these days my daily life looks something like this…

6 am prayer two to three times a week. Breakfast at 7 am. Staff prayer at 8am. Lecture 9am to 11am. Coffee and fruit break at 11. 11:30 to 1pm, more lecture. Work duty at 2pm until 4pm. Usually lecture from 4 to 6. Dinner at 6pm. After dinner I usually dive deeper on my own into what we learned in lecture, read, take a walk, run or play sports, hang out with friends or catch up with family and friends back home.

Wow, I can't stop smiling thinking about how faithful God is. I hope to share with you guys soon a little more about how He has provided to get me back to Germany. But for now  there’s a little about what I have been up to. It is really surreal to be back in Herrnhut doing a secondary school. Did not think when I started DTS that I would be here now, but God’s plans are always so much bigger and better than my own! Thank you for all of your support and love!

I missed being around such amazing artists!! 

 First day of SOIP!

Coffee & fruit break

Old friends

The beauty of Herrnhut

 Walk down slow death from 6am prayer!

Emma. My Dutch friend. We will meet in Florida.

Keila & Evelyn. MOTA 2013 friends!

Work duty. Intense pile of leaves we raked.

First Staff Meeting.

Here We Go Again

Hey there family and friends! I am in awe that I am back in Europe writing this. It feels like just yesterday that I hopped on my first plane out of the country. Actually, DTS (Discipleship Training School) seems like a dream that never happened. But it definitely happened and I was definitely changed by the way I encountered God this past year here in Herrnhut, Germany.  

Just a week ago I hugged family and friends goodbye in the airport once again. People ask me if it was any easier this time around, but I would have to answer that it wasn’t easier at all. I don’t think good byes are ever easy. Especially when you have been blessed with an incredible community of family and friends. My heart was heavy as I left. I don’t enjoy knowing that the people who love me worry and miss me. I do not enjoy the fear that gripped me before I went through airport security just as it did the first time, but I know above all that following what my Father has called me to is completely worth it and I pray that the people back home are blessed by the strength God has given me to follow as he leads.  

The weeks I was home flew by so quickly! I apologize if I didn’t get to catch up with you while I was home or didn’t spend as much time as I would have liked with people I did see. I am not perfect and am still learning how to manage time for fundraising, catching up with family and friends and time to relax with a limited amount of time home. But I am doing my best! Your patience, support, grace, encouragement and prayers are incredibly appreciated!

Here is a short look at what I was up to while I was at home through Instagram.

Fun times with Lilly | Ran into Tim Tebow | Lubbock, TX. Color Run with my Roomie | Congresso 2013 | Photo shoots & fundraising for YWAM SOIP | Family Easter | laughs with my Grandpa Felix | Got to know my youngest niece Leiah | Visited my old university and good friends | Spoke to WT NSAC team | Hugged friends | Spoke at WT FCA & good times with best friends | Share my experiences with YWAM at Palce Coffee | Family time | I have a boyfriend =) | Said good bye

This first week that I was over seas I was so excited to spend some time with one of my best friends I made at YWAM. It was a beautiful few days of relaxing and catching up. Exactly what I needed! I am now in Herrnhut where SOIP (School Of Intercessory Prayer) will begins today. God did such awesome things the first time I took a step in faith to attend YWAM, I know He will be faithful to do the same as I focus on growing closer to Him in prayer the next few months. I can not thank everyone enough for their support for me to get back here and continue in missions!

Much love!

-Allie

Next Step

Welcome home photo by THE Betsy Lackey =) 

Well folks I have been back in good o’ West Texas for almost three weeks now! It has been so good hugging those I have missed the last 6 months, sharing and catching up on all that I have missed. New jobs, weddings, engagements, babies, graduations… man o man life is good =) 

Going through a DTS (Discipleship Training School) was absolutely life changing. It is hard to sum up in just a few sentences. I would love to hang out and share more of how God changed my heart and used me to change others’ hearts as well. More photos on my blog will soon come.

But as far as the next step, God definitely used this experience to allow me to dream big and in this season built up my faith to be able to take steps toward the dreams and visions He has placed inside of my heart. Growing up I remember my dreams consisted of being a collegiate athlete and earning a degree. I have been blessed to be able to achieve both, but heavily relied on my own strength. After this season in DTS God has transformed my heart to stop thinking so small and so self focused and invited me to allow Him to open my eyes and dream with Him for His glory.

So after much prayer and really thinking of what I am passionate about and what gets me excited, I have chosen to commit to full time missions with Y.W.A.M. Herrnhut (Youth With A Mission). I love pouring into others and stirring them toward Jesus just like others cared enough to do for me. I love the influence art, media and sports can have on this world. I love pursuing God whether it is in Ralls, Texas or across the world in Herrnhut, Germany, but I feel like the next step is to go back to Herrnhut, Germany. Right now I am in the middle of praying and raising funds to attend what we call a “secondary school” Secondary schools are schools offered after you complete your DTS to further invest and grow in your relationship with Christ. There are many different secondary schools with specific focuses. The one I have chosen to be a part of is the School of Intercessory Prayer (http://soip.ywamherrnhut.com/) The school will be in Herrnhut, Germany where I did my DTS. I feel like this school will allow me to grow even further in intimacy with God and give me more vision for what is to come.

After SOIP (School Of Intercessory And Prayer) I hope to join the Y.W.A.M. Herrnhut staff in the United States. Y.W.A.M. Herrnhut is starting a satellite base in Florida and beginning discipleship training schools in January 2014. As a staff member I would help with logistics around the base as well as disciple students who are in DTS and lead outreach teams to different parts of the world.

Another thing I feel like God has put on my heart is how sports are such a huge platform to share the Gospel and disciple believers. There may be an opportunity for me to help in pioneering a discipleship training school focused on sports through Y.W.A.M. Herrnhut. That is just a dream right now, but I know God loves for us to dream big with Him.

Thank you so much for reading my updates and praying for me throughout this journey! It is so beautiful how prayer is a way to be a part of what God is doing in each others’ lives. I hope you will continue to want to be a part of what God is doing in my life and partner with me in bringing His kingdom =)

Welcome home photo by THE Betsy Lackey =) 

Me Encanta Espana!

It is so weird writing a blog post knowing that I will be home in Texas in 4 days. I am currently in Herrnhut getting ready for our last week of school! The base is crazy getting ready for report back night, final exhibition, graduation and so many new things Y.W.A.M. Herrnhut is pioneering. So much excitement!

For now I want to share just a little about what my friends and I were up to in Spain! Oh my goodness I absolutely loved Spain. The beautiful architecture. Spanish speaking everywhere. The diversity of the people there. Beautiful weather. It was great. Such a privilege to share with Barcelona what God did in us and through us the last 6 months of discipleship training school.

And that is exactly what tour is. Y.W.A.M. Herrnhut’s heart is to really focus on stirring passion in Europe for God and His people, so our school broke into 13 different teams to go to 13 different locations in Europe.

My team in Spain spent a week speaking to college small groups, church congregations, and youth groups. We even held an exhibition in a restaurant located in the heart of Barcelona. It was such a beautiful thing. We simply stood up and told our stories of how we have come to know God and how we have seen Him change lives. We displayed our art with small descriptions and people asked questions. We didn’t do anything special, but make ourselves available and open with how we have been radically changed by God. And God did so much.

The first speaking engagement I met a girl in her first year of university who decided right on the spot that she wanted more of God and wanted to do MOTA. I got to know her even better throughout the week and was so moved by her willingness to chase after God despite setbacks. At that same meeting after a friend shared his story of seeing a man healed of multiple sclerosis we invited those in need of prayer to come to the front. A woman walked away healed of her shoulder pain that bothered her for years. People told us that we brought so much joy and passion wherever we went. It blows my mind that so much came out of us doing what we love. Art and sharing about God. When we are faithful in using the passions He has placed inside us to worship Him it is unbelievable what he produces.

See you soon friends and family! Can't wait to share more in person. Your support and love is always so appreciated!!

Enjoy the photos!

Life After Outreach

I cannot believe that the past few morning of mine have been spent walking through the snow covered forest in Herrnhut, Germany. Just last week I was in Thailand.

Woah.

The last few days have been filled with jet lag problems, unpacking, hours of conversation with missed friends, so much laughter, tour planning, debriefing our time in Thailand and looking ahead to what’s next! I cannot explain how filled with joy my heart is being back in Herrnhut. It feels good.

So here is to catching up!

I arrived back in Herrnhut from Thailand Friday morning. It was a long 62 hours of traveling by bus, train and plane. God did so many amazing things through our team in Thailand! I can’t wait to share stories with everyone when I get home! It wasn’t so fun saying bye to our friends we made in Thailand, but it is so great to smile as we look back and see just how big God moved in our time in Thailand. The weekend was spent catching up with dear friends and catching up on sleep.

But there was little time for hanging out. We are already in the full swing of things here at Y.W.A.M. Herrnhut!

We just finished up debrief sessions as a school and as individual outreach teams. It is so surreal to sit and really process all that we did and saw on outreach. Debriefing has been so effective in really taking a step back and looking at the big picture and really see how God moved. My team had a wonderful outreach. God built up so much faith in us and grew us in bold obedience. Hopefully time will permit me to post a blog sharing way more about outreach. So many crazy stories filled with His glory!

While celebrating the victories and walking through what all happened on outreach our school is hard at work pulling together the ATOM. The ATOM is a magazine that compiles photos and stories of our experiences throughout DTS and outreach. Putting together a near 100 page full color magazine in less than a week is an insane task! I cannot wait to show everyone the finished product. Until then you can checkout the last MOTA’s finished product here!

On top of all this we are all also getting prepared for tour! Tour is essentially a week we take to travel to our fellow European classmates communities and share our experiences throughout DTS and outreach. We have a total of 13 different tours going to 13 different locations. Most are here in Germany, but I will be heading to Spain with 12 other of my friends!!! I am so incredibly excited! God has already been so faithful in providing the finances we needed as a team for transportation and food. I am so excited to see what He does when we are actually in Spain! We will be sharing what MOTA is, our experiences throughout DTS and our art to multiple churches, college groups and youth groups around Barcelona.

I seriously cannot believe that DTS is coming to an end. It seems like just yesterday that I walked through the forest for the first time, but in 17 days I will be back in Texas! It has been a beautiful journey and I know God has so much more just around the corner with tour and a beautiful celebration on our graduation night. And I have a feeling that this past 6 months is just the beginning of what He has in store for my life and His kingdom coming.

Thank you so much everyone for all your encouragement and prayers! I know I say it a lot, but I can’t express how much the support is appreciated and how it directly effects not only me, but it directly effects the people I have encountered throughout this time.

Our God is a big God family and friends. And He is able to do far more than we can imagine! I have seen this and personally experienced His faithfulness in this the last 6 months.

Until next time!

Much love! xoxo

Sawadeeka Chiang Mai

Outreach is officially over.

What the what?! I am not quite sure how this happened. It seems like yesterday that I would spend hours trying to work up the courage to cross the road without getting hit by a moped. For the record now days I walk the streets of Chiang Mai like a boss!

Today we will catch a night bus to Bangkok. Hangout there for a day and then begin our journey back to good o’ Herrnhut, Germany.

Wow outreach is over. I am going to be cliché and just say life flies by, embrace every moment.

A few things I picked up on outreach:

Beast player of the game of Frogger, real life version.

Mastered-ish the game of pool.

Never underestimate the versatility of eggs.

How to barter.

How to start conversations with absolute strangers.

When in doubt or any other emotion, smile.

Gangnam style.

How to outrun dogs in alleys.

How to photograph while hanging off the back of a moving vehicle without dying.

Chinese freeze tag is a favorite in Thailand.

Keep cameras away from waterfalls.

Be aware of monk r&r at waterfalls.

Experienced squatty potty user.
Always be on your toes during movie previews in theaters.

Seriously though, outreach has helped me become more aware of how I fail every single day and how good God’s grace is. I’ve learned how to fight; fight for people and fight to overcome feelings and emotions. I’ve learned to be a friend. I’ve learned how to ask for God’s heart. I’ve learned a little more about being a leader. I’ve learned how I cannot comprehend the power of His presence. I’ve learned how unfair life can be and the reality of how desperate the world is for a solid, overwhelming, all powerful, all loving God like mine.

So since I am not much of a writer, here are a few photos. Enjoy.

Oh and yes…. 27 days until I see your face America =))

Photographing in the Red light district.

My friend Joy dancing in the Red light. It was a beautiful thing inviting His presence through our art into a place so heavy.

Our little friend who sales flowers in the red light to help support his family. We often buy flowers from him, feed him and play pool together.

       

One of the many slum kids that captured our hearts.

I love their little feet. A team from Arkansa joined us this past week in the slums and brought new shoes for quite a few of the kids.

Most of the children were shy and very reluctant towards us at first, but it was amazing how much they have opened up from day one.

One Saturday we set up a white sheet and our cameras to make a photo booth for the kids. We printed the photos out and gave them to their families.

The area we visit the children is in the process of being cleared out for the city to build a market. Most families houses have been deconstructed and moved to a different area.

I know we aren't really supposed to have favorites, but this kid is kind of my favorite. I miss him already!

The Big B

Today, my team made a run for the border. We needed to get visa logistics taken care of. 

That just happened to involve crossing into Burma.

The 4 hour trip there and 4 hours back was definitely interesting with a songtao full of 13 Americans.

We kept ourselves, as well as our Thai driver entertained.

It was absolutely beautiful passing through more rural areas with rice fields and breath taking mountain scenery.

We enjoyed our squatty potty experiences and favorite snacks at 7-11. They are everywhere here!

As I sat in the songtao looking out the window at everything flying by I kept having "just pinch me" moments. I was sitting in a songtao driving through Thailand.

I crossed into a new country today.

I've been more place the last 4 months than I have my entire life.

Never in my wildest dreams could I have seen this one coming. 

With so much time on the road the question of "what's next"(after DTS) of course came up more than a few times.

So many hours to think and pray and I still have no idea.

Like the scenery flying by, so has DTS.

Especially outreach.

Never in my wildest dreams did I picture this.

I wouldn't be too happy with myself if I left unanswered questions steal what has been given to me right now.

I have no idea what's next, but with my God leading me I bet you it's more than I can fathom.

Burma,Thanks for the lessons in escaping market vendors, dodging mopeds and the opportunity for another awful official document photo.

Maybe one day we will meet again.

Life in Thailand

Well hello friends!

I always rack my brain attempting to come up with some insightful blog post that really communicates outreach, the beauty of Thailand and everything going on with the ministries I am a part of, but I am really not that great with words. So I will just write what comes to mind and post a few photos.

Outreach is a struggle. It sucks sometimes. It is hard. It is tiring. I have learned so much about myself. Outreach has easily revealed so many ways I fall short every single day. It has shown me just how little I have seen of this world and how unfair it can be. Some days I don’t want to pick up my camera at all. I’ve struggled with seeing value in my own images. I have struggled with seeing how I could possibly make a difference in the lives of the people here at all. Sometimes I just want to give up, pack up and head back home. Outreach is rough. But I have learned that these days of uncertainty and doubt are so temporary compared to other days. The days I struggle are so worth it when the days come that I am able to see the beauty in the struggle. When I am able to walk into the red light district and the bar girls call me friend or when the slum kids cling to my neck until the very last second before I leave. When God allows me to encourage my teammates in love and he allows me to see him a little more clearly, the moments of struggle are more than worth it. It is so easy for me to sit here and think about how little it seems like I am doing here in Thailand, but He is showing me that the tiniest things can have such a big impact. Who am I to limit God? He doesn’t work on my timing or in the ways that I want. His ways are so much better and so far above my understanding. The days of struggle are rough and yeah they suck, but the beauty comes when I choose to press on because I know He is greater and has so much in store. The point is that I am growing in Him for His glory. 

Quick Overview of ministries I am involved in:

Love Acts

The main ministry I am involved in is Love Acts, which is bar ministry. Basically, a team of us goes out at night into the red light district where all the bars are at and hangout. We pray and worship in the area to invite God’s presence into all the darkness that covers the area and we form relationships with bar owners, bar girls (prostitutes) and tourists that we encounter. I know, I know you are probably thinking, how the heck is this ministry? But these bars are filled with brokenness, loneliness, bitterness, anger, confusion etc. These are the people who need to hear about love, hope and joy. Jesus has really been showing me these people through His eyes. These are the people who are looked down on by society. It is a beautiful ministry. So many times I have walked in their expecting to teach and show others love, which I do usually, but often I walk out learning something new about God’s heart and see Him in a new way in the people I meet.

Slum Kids

Every day I get to walk a few blocks from where we are staying and go hangout with the “slum kids”.  Our team pulls out a piece of tarp to sit and do art with the kids. We also teach Bible stories and English and play games. Oh my goodness I have fallen in love with these kids! We are literally play in a pile of trash for two hours a day as their houses that are made out of scraps of wood and metal are being torn down and relocated to make room for a market. Yet these kids are always so overjoyed to see us. So much joy! I love love love it! They love to learn, dance and eat. Haha So it is a perfect ministry for me! Haha Unless the translator follows me every where I go we aren’t able to communicate too well with the little English they know and the next to nothing Thai that I know, yet we have such great relationships with them. It is seriously so much more of a blessing to us to be able to see these kids every day than we are blessing them. It is funny that I titled this “slum kids” because Jesus has really been showing me that often we refer to people as a specific group like “bar girls” or “slum kids”, but it is crazy how big and how intimate our God is that these aren’t “slum kids” to him. They are beautiful individual children that he has put unique likes and dislikes, dreams and passions in them. He knows each one by name and each ones family situation. Exactly what is in their hearts.  It has been great to see just a little bit of our creator in each kid.

Wongen Kafe

The ministry café’s goal is to reach out to university students. Every day we have a team that goes to the university across the street, make friends and invite them back to the café to hangout. I don’t get to actually go out to the university because of my involvement in the other ministries, but I do help out in other ways. It has been such a cool opportunity to help with the café’s marketing and advertising. In DTS I really felt like God was reminding me of my love for my degree and really planted the idea that through media we can speak truth and really influence our culture for his kingdom and I get to do it here! The café also offers English tutoring, a place to stay and gives jobs to the girls that choose to leave the bar lifestyle. When I do have a free evening I get to go to the basketball courts at the university and play ball!

I hope this gives you guys a better idea of what I have been up to! Your prayers and support have been incredibly appreciated! Feel free to contact me if you have any questions or just want to chat!  I love hearing from everyone back home.

Until then, enjoy the photos!

This is Lo-soh. One of my best buds in the slums. 

 These sweet girls we met last week when we were asked to do a conference for the youth of Cadence International.  Missionary families reaching out to the military around the world. It was so encouraging to hangout with english speakers and meet youth that were really pursuing God's heart.

This is one of the many mechanic garages that I walk by every day. I love them and take photos of them every day! haha I think I love them so much because they remind me of my daddy. The Thai people are all such hard workers.

 This is Ben. Also a friend from the slums.

Toi loves posing for the camera. Such a great guy! I always play hacky sack with him in the slums.

You can always find Bop with his bike. He has the cutest rat tail! haha Such a tiny little guy. When I hold him I feel like I am going to break him, but he loves spinning around and being tickled.  

We pass this dad and his baby sitting here every day we go to the slums.

This is a beginning image of a series I am doing here in Thailand. It is so easy for me to get caught up in the chaos of traffic, noise and people. So easy to be distracted and not really see simplicity and truth that is right in front of. I really want to challenge myself to too wade through the chaos and grab on to what God is showing me. In my walk with Him as well as my photography.