Some updates/praise reports/stuff to ponder ..

-There are a number of YWAMers from Latin America with visions to build a spiritual bridge between S.America and the Middle East.. one of the interpreters/DTS leaders here, Alejandro Flores and his wife Naomi, are planning on moving to Afghanistan in the near future. Their dream is to tell people who Jesus is, build up communities spiritually, teach English, encourage churches, etc. They are an amazing family who dedicate a lot of themselves to help students in each DTS encounter who God is and what His calling is for each student –while raising their two beautiful children are Joel (3) and Elizabeth (1). Alejandro and Naomi are hoping to live in the US for a few months later this year to prepare for their move to Afghanistan, speak at churches about their projects for support, and so Naomi can learn more English. If anyone knows anyone who has a heart to open their home up to one amazing family committed to serving the Lord with everything they have, the Flores are looking for a place to stay in the states sometime soon… spread the word, tell your church, ask God if you’re part of His story in the middle east in 2009?

-As we’ve been praying for Israel, Afghanistan and the Middle East, God’s given us some really beautiful visions about His work there: visions of a dry, barren desert land that is so spiritually dry it breaks God’s heart (this is the land where Jesus was born, lived, walked, taught, died!), yet the colorful contrast of the flowers there draw attention to their beauty. They may be few and far between, but God has already planted the seeds long ago, and He is faithful to water them with the rain of our prayers falling over and over on the dry land. Keep praying! We also have a couple from a church here going to Egypt soon to open a restaurant they want to use to (illegally) tell people about Jesus. A vision we had for Egypt was about chains and a reversal of the bondage that God’s people experienced there – now the people of Egypt are in bondage, especially intellectually because Egypt is called “the mind of Islam” – and God wants to reverse that curse and free the nation that is now part of His family too.

-A good quote: “A vision without commitment is pure illusion.” Dreams take hard work to become reality.

-YWAM Pichilemu is planning on building a school here to transform the community even more to grow in TRUTH – they are hoping to build the school within the next 14 months, already have the land, and are working on government/building code logistics, drawing up plans, and getting money and materials ready. The ministry YWAM has in Pichilemu with the Pura Vida swimming pool has done some amazing things in the community and in so many individual lives here, and a school would bring even more kids and families to know God’s power and love… change one family at a time and the whole town can follow! If you have any interest in supporting, through money, prayer, or coming down here to work on the school, let me know – they are starting to get ministry teams from churches in the states together for short-term work trips to help build, and it would be a privilege for anyone to come down here and be a part of what God is doing here in a practical way. Plus you could surf a lot.

-We had a time of dedicating something that represented our country of origin the the throne of Jesus, as well as pray over a map of the nations and dedicate them all to the Lord. It’s easy to say “You are King over all the earth Lord!” but harder to lay down your own credit card and say “You are Lord over every single dollar and blessing you’ve given me, You can rule every detail of my life.” It was a beautiful time of praying in all languages for all nations, declaring God as Ruler of all.

- We also prayed blessings over all the nations of the earth, and put our names on the map over countries we feel God has placed in our hearts to bless, in individual and unique ways. In Galatians 3:13-14 it says we have inherited the blessing of Abraham, which is a calling and promise to bless EVERY nation (Genesis 12). In other words, every Christian has already been given a seed of blessing for every single nation to bless those people in a unique, beautiful way. Whether that be through missions, supporting missionaries, schools or ministries there, adopting kids from that nation, hosting exchange students from there, telling people there who Jesus is when you travel there on business, or praying as hard as you can for God to bless that nation, God has a specific way YOU are supposed to bless EVERY nation in a way no one else in the universe in all of history can do. Only YOU can fulfill that individual calling, no one else will or can do it for you. How cool is that? When you see how big and sovereign God is, you see it as a blessing, not a burden.

-We found out where we’re going for our outreach! My group is going to Lima, Peru, and another town in Peru called Ariquipa I think. I am soooo thankful because almost all of the girls I am closest to here are in my group. Thanks, God! Except for Maia and Daniella, who I will miss so much.. We are am hoping to get Daniela out to CA soon! But my group is amazing, and all we know is we are going to Peru, we leave here sometime between March 17th -20th, we have to take a 3-day bus trip to get there, and we will be working with YWAM people and churches but not on a YWAM base. We also know we will be 5 weeks in Lima, then 4 weeks in Ariquipa. So like our mini-outreac h, we don’t have much info beforehand but it’s more fun and definitely more YWAM-esque that way. One thing I have learned about YWAM in general is that overall, they’re not the most organized or well-planned out bunch, but they know God so well, follow His voice so closely, and serve Him so fully that it’s usually better they don’t plan everything out because God changes their plans anyway! I like their style, and it’s been so cool to have speakers from YWAM all over the world come teach us, tell us their incredible stories and testimonies to God’s faithfulness, and see how much God has done through this organization. Do a DTS!

-This week has been a time of such grace and joy in the Lord - He has been moving in BIG ways in everyone's lives in the DTS as we finish up these last couple of weeks (only two left!). For some, this is a time of extreme trust in God for finances for the outreach, since it's really expensive for many people who live here, and for others it's a time of figuring out what God wants to teach them and use them for on the outreach. For some people it's a letting go of finances as God asks them to give more to help a classmate go on the outreach. This is something God asked me to do, and I've been learning how true it is that you can never outgive God - He will always bless you so abundantly if you take the challenge to give Him your all, whether that be financially or with physical resources, or with the joy and contentment of knowing you're serving such a big and such a good God!

-HUGE praise report - So many of you have been praying for my migraines and physical health, and we have been praying over it here, too... and God is the Ultimate Healer! Relying on Him for my strength is enough, but He also answered my prayers and I havent had migraines for this past week. Seriously now I can actually sleep and pay attention in class. Thank you for your prayers and encouragement, it really does mean so much to me.

-Keep my Reality home group in your prayers as well, they meet on Wednesday nights and I wish I could be there! Last season was such an amazing time of new friendships there, good time together in the Word, some fun bbqs and potlucks, a Thanksgiving dinner in the park for the homeless, and some intense spiritual growth for our group. I am there in spirit, guys. Keep me updated and keep sending me prayer requests :) Save a seat for me for when I come back. Also pray for the Lord to keep doing His work in the girls of the Monday night prayer group from Reality - they are prayer warriors and taught me how to pray last year. I miss you girls, keep me updated on what's going on with everyone.