For Freedom I Have Been Set Free, Lets go!!

The last week has been craziness! I feel like I have been in three different places at once. Last week of SOIP. Outreach and looking toward the future aka the United States Of America! All so exciting!

This past week I stood in front of a filled dining hall at YWAM Herrnhut for SOIP graduation. I was chosen to give a short testimony of my experience in SOIP.

Just days before I sat in that dining hall listening to my friends teach on revelations that they received throughout the school. Now, I am the type of person to always see how I could have done something better before seeing what was actually accomplished in me and through me. This last week with my school God was faithful in completely crushing my thoughts of shortcomings by illuminating the growth seen in my friends and myself. He tore down walls, shined light on gifts, revealed our authority to trample on lies and freedom in standing on truth!

I stood in front of my classmates, leaders, staff members and my friends, as well as family and friends watching online and it sunk in more than ever before. I have been set free. One of the first lectures we had in SOIP I remember our speaker saying, “You didn’t come to this school to learn more about prayer. You will learn more about prayer, but you came to this school to know the Father in a deeper way”. He was incredibly right. I mean I guess he would know what comes out of the school after doing it for countless years. But he was REALLY right. Haha. And in knowing the Father, there is freedom. I think the day that it really clicked was when I was reading the book we were reading as a school, Intercessory Prayer by Dutch Sheets. A man was telling a story about an experience in Guatemala and how he was super nervous about praying for this little girl to be healed in front of so many people. What if God doesn’t show up, he thought. Well God showed up, the girl was healed, revival was started and it was great! That day he recognized that there was no need for him to be nervous or fearful. He only had to be obedient as he heard God leading him and the rest was out of his hands. The statement that was carved into my heart from this story was this.

We don’t have to produce anything, but rather we distribute, as the disciples did with the loaves and fishes. (Matthew 14:17-19) Our calling and function is not to replace God, but to release Him.

And just because it impacted me so much he went on to say.

It Liberates us from intimidation and emboldens us to know that:

The Producer simply wants to distribute through us.

The Intercessor wants to intercede through us.

The Mediator wants to mediate through us.

The Representative wants to represent through us.

The Go-between wants to go between through us.

The Victor wants His victory enforced through us.

The Minister of reconciliation has given to us the ministry of reconciliation.

My entire life it has been far too easy for me to be the most critical of myself without any grace. Far to easy to beat myself up and kick myself when I was on the ground because I didn’t measure up. Especially when it came to my relationship with Christ. A lot of times it didn’t look like much of a relationship at all. It was Christ finishing the work on the cross and me trying to re-do the work in my own strength, but failing and failing and failing. I realized this pattern before, but never seemed to shake it. And not to say that I won’t struggle here and there, but the truth, for freedom I have been set free, has been rooted the deepest it has ever gone in my heart and I know it is my Father’s will to continue to deepen this truth, to deepen His gospel in my heart and yours. On the cross He has completed the work, He only wants a relationship with us because He loves us and the consequence out of this intimacy is the release of what He has completed. Through prayer it finally clicked. Pressing into this secret place of intimacy with my God I was able to claim the freedom that was freely given when Jesus Christ died and resurrected. The best part is this lives within me. This is above circumstances and situations of this world. Nothing can touch the freedom I have in Christ. I can’t really explain this freedom fully, but because Christ lives in me I am able to release this freedom to others. For freedom I have been set free, not only freedom for myself, but freedom for others as well.

A great way to try this freedom out is on outreach with friends, meeting strangers, and introducing them to the same freedom that was won for them on the cross. This overwhelming freedom that you really can’t keep to yourself.  As most may know I am on outreach now. Traveling throughout Germany, not to work or to produce anything, but to release to others what was so freely released to me. When we recognize the treasure that Christ is in us we have the power to set others free just as Christ has set us free. No striving, no measuring, simply being. Freedom =) 

Gotta Get Out

I have spent 3 wonderful months learning about prayer and getting to know God so much deeper. I am at the beginning of my last week of SOIP (School Of Intercessory Prayer). Today I was incredibly blessed to hear what others have learned throughout the school and teach on it. I also gave my teaching today! It was a thrill man! I will share more on that later and maybe you will have a chance to hear the recording of my teaching for yourself =)

Yes so I am pumped to take all that I have learned to the streets of Germany! I will graduate this Thursday from SOIP and be saying bye to all my friends that I have come to know the past few months. Because most had prior commitments we will actually not be going on outreach as an SOIP school. As I prayed about outreach I felt like God was really excited to show me a different perspective of outreach and really give me a deeper meaning of what outreach is. So I searched and prayed for opportunities to go out even if my school wasn’t. Excitingly, the School Of Worship has a few extra seats in their van and has invited me along for the ride! I am really excited to get to know my friends from the SOW even better! Not only will I be joining the SOW, but we are also teaming up with the School Of Evangelism from the YWAM base in Tyler, Texas. YES! TEXAS! =) It shall be good! 

The Tyler School Of Evangelism and the School Of Worship have actually already started outreach this week. I will join them after I have graduated at the end of the week. Here is a short look at our schedule over the next month.

July 14-19 Augsburg, Germany

Lead worship, intercession, small groups and ministry time at local youth camp.

July 20-26- Dillinghen, Germany

Street evangelism, ministry at local hospitals, lead morning prayers and an all night prayer watch.

July 27-August 4- Ludenscheid, Germany

Lead worship and evangelism times at local youth camp.

August 5-10- Freiburg 


paPartner with local prayer house, all day prayer sets, practically helping with new local YWAM base, lead worship sets.

August 11-20- Heidenheim

Lead an all week worship conference.

I am very excited to see what God has in store for these next few weeks! It is a complete honor to collaborate with different schools and really work as one body for His glory!

NOW, HOW YOU CAN HELP!!
PRAYER!!!!! Prayer is the beginning of every thing we do. We can always use prayer! I would do my best to keep you guys updated with specific prayer requests.

Also, FINANCES! I really believe God is leading me to step out in faith and go on the outreach despite the lack of finances. The total cost of the outreach will be near $1000. I have seen God provide faithfully for me prior to this outreach and I believe He can do it again. I look forward to the testimonies I will be able to share and experience with you of His provision and faithfulness!

If you would like to help me in my outreach you can contribute directly using Paypal! My email account is alliereyna1108@gmail.com (If this isn’t convenient please feel free to contact me and we can work something out)

Also, if you are interested in becoming a long term supporter and giving on a monthly basis (tax deductible) I would love to chat and send you more information!

It has almost been a year now that I have been completely dependent on God to provide. His character never changes =) 

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!