update

Hello Everyone…

Week two, I think, yes, from Bamenda. We have spent the last week working in the hospital, taking assessments nearly every night and of course preparing for our nearing holidays. It has not been an easy transition here. As I shared last week, we really feel like Go*d has something incredible for us if we are facing so much difficulty.

During inter*cession this week, we spent some time “warming our engines”. We received a picture of lubricating an engine, de-icing a car, waiting before we hit the freeway for our team. As we pra*yed into this, I understood more. We cannot just begin spending full days at the hospital. I will not immediately understand how things work at the base and what I can help out with or immediately be in great relationship with the staff. Someone described this time as “plowing the fields”. This time is imperative and will play into the harvesting. I need to be flexible and working hard at observing, asking questions and observing some more. I am so anxious to dive right into it all, but I think that would be a recipe for disaster, like the Booklets Baking Boo-Boo.

A couple of the team experienced what is happening this week in the spiritual realms during birth. A woman and her baby were rushed through an augmented labour and the baby was hardly breathing when he was born. Immediately our staff lead out in resuscitating the wee-one. The hospital had no equipment except for a bulb suction. We carry stuff with us in case these things happen. After 45 minutes of fighting in pra*yer and action, the baby was taking 8 breathes per minute, not ideal, but they were able to transfer him somewhere that they could give him oxygen. I do wonder what would have happened to the child if we had not been there to fight for him. Some of the staff shared that sometimes the midwives haven’t seen someone fight for a baby in pra*yer and that is something we can bring.

This next week will include two times at the hospital and then our Christmas break. Yay! This will be our first break since we arrived in Perth . I don’t know what I will do with myself!

Bless you all. I hope you are all enjoying the snow! I can’t imagine what it looks like! Merry Christmas everyone!

i am in cameroon!

Hello everyone! My team is alive and together in Cameroon. I am SO happy to share this with you. After the weeks of trials and testing, we have found deep encouragement in words from family and friends praying over us. We know that the enemy would love to keep us out this place where we are going to impact the spirits of darkness.

Just yesterday, our team had our first two deliveries. What a beautiful day it was...

We are staying with a Y-base here and they are an amazing family a staff, primarily from South America, what a nice twist!

This is quite short, but it will take me about ten minutes to upload it, so I need to save time for that! Thank you for all your prayers. I am asking that you continue to lift up our team's unity and we face a staff transition in the next couple weeks. Thank you guys!

from Kenya

Hi friends. The past week has not been smooth travel at all. Hahaha. I laugh at the adventure that we have had. One night in the airport here, one washed passport there, one asthma attack here, another cancelled flight there. We are almost to Cameroon and I cannot wait. We are however, separated from some people on our team. Three girls stayed back in Hong Kong because one of the students has bronchitis. It is a great need to be reunited and we know that as soon as she is healthy enough and cleared to travel she will come. A week of traveling is rapidly coming to a close and we continue to see God's provision in it and we will continue to guard ourselves with the Armour of God. Thank you for all your prayers, may they continue for the remainder of our travel time (which will end on Friday...we hope).

hrmph...

Hi Friends. Just a quick update. Today we were supposed to fly to Bangkok. Due to a little uprising and air control towers being taken over that won't be possible. Tomorrow we will fly to Kuala Lampur for a couple hour layover, then to Hong Kong for a couple of nights and then to Nairobi for a while and then to Duola for a a bumpy busride to the north.

These last couple days have been sheer pandemonium for our wise leaders. I am expectant of smooth travel. When you think of us, feel free to pray.

Happy Thanksgiving America!

a hard day.

We wandered off the street and ushered ourselves down sandbag stairs until we lost sight of the road and had a clear view of the murky river carrying trash to it's next unwanted destination. I saw the bridge. I put one foot in front of the other and made my way into the "under-the-bridge-slum". Two stories. Darkness. Random light bulbs. And this is their home. A complete community whose life is embodied by the cars' safe transport over the river.

I felt overwhelmed. I was done seeing suffering. No more injustice.

And we were invited into someone's house before I soak in anymore anger.

We stared at the women sitting across from us. She began telling us about the friends they had made with a previous wave of "buleh". We inquired about who was related to who, shared about our time here and stared some more. We learned that the young woman had moved here temporarily because her house is flooded. She smiled at us meekly as she shrugged off the weather of the city, accepting that these are the conditions she lives in, and that is that.

Soon we began to ask if they knew Jesus. They shared that they had heard about him and were beginning to know him through a Bible that the mother of the young woman had. She is forboden to read it by her husband. She smiled as she shared she is reading through the book of John. Shortly a man appeared in the corner. Our local friend told us we could no longer talk about Jesus because he was a Muslim.

As we invited him into the circle we asked about his life. He is 36 and lives with his mother. He hasn't left the house lately but needs to get a job. We started to share about a Provider that we know of. Little by little we told the story of a Jesus who loves us and only has good in his heart. The man seemed puzzled and uniterested. We piped up about the vastness of his grace. "I am a sinner and you are too. He died for you. He died for me." No convincing is necessary, we could tell he was waiting for more though. When we asked him if we could stop and pray for God to open his heart to recieve he said that he wanted to know Jesus today. One prayer after the other, he met Jesus. I will not easily forget the questioning in his voice when he closed the prayer and said "I feel...free?...It is like the dark has been wiped off my eyes."

The story goes on...some of it I am still working through.

This much I wanted to share though. Earlier, I felt that the world had abandoned this corner of the city. How could we have let such a quaint city build itself up under the bridge? Surely this isn't where God has intended for people to live? And I believe that still. However, it was through this man, his release of dullness and embracing of freedom that brought forth the kingdom that day, it has brought to this lost city. Bit by bit, Jesus is breaking through.

Salvation bears hope.

Hari ini, Hari ini...

On Saturday we had the chance to reconnect with a family whom had met the previous Saturday. They live in another trash sorting slum that we are new to. To find our way to the house we waded through piles plastic bottles piles and rickshaws of decomposing wood and scraps. Waiting for us was a family at the end of their rope.

The man has been sick for three months with TB. However, the pussing boils that covered his body all the way to his nearly gangrenous hands and toes made us think otherwise. The man was so weak and tired that he could hardly speak. The wincing in defiancy to the pain he had breathing was the only noise we heard out of him as the wife began to explain the situation.

Earlier in the day they had visited a witch doctor and previous to that they had spent 6 million rupiah (60 US$) on a doctor's visit. He had continued taking medication, but nothing was helping. They could not afford to return to the doctor and were getting by one day at a time. We had no advice to offer them, but they were happy to have us pray.

We spent our afternoon there, praying, singing, battling. Soon, we had an open door, we asked the man if he believed in Jesus. With his breathfilled words, he sighed "yes". Bit by bit, he recited a prayer that he believed in Jesus and it would be Jesus who healed him. We continued to pray and some felt lead to have him stand up. With a group helping him, he was able to stand up briefly.

The hours passed much quicker than anyone realized and we left in a hurry. On the way out, the man's wife was deeply moved and she herself accepted Jesus as her healer.

This family remained in our heads throughout the week.

On Saturday we rushed to see them as soon as the taxi halted. We stood in awe as reached the front door of the home and the gentleman was sitting up eating a mango. It was him, but maybe in a new body? His face looked rested and at ease, his body showed traces of healed boils, his feet had the normal colour and circulation that they should have. What could we say but "God is good!" His wife smiled endearingly as she shared that he has an appetite and eats everything that she cooks and wants more. He is able to get up to use the toilet and shower. She was happy to tell of the progress throughout the week and especially her neighbors' responses to it all.

The man said, "I just want to go to church so I can sing Hallelujah!" So we had church together, sharing stories from the Bible, testimonies and singing together. We told them that next week they can invite their friends and we can have a church all together.

I guess I am just stunned at God earnestly seeking people. He loves when we finally choose his love that has always been there, there is freedom to choose otherwise and when would do choose to embrace the love, God dances over us with excitement. I experienced a piece of fellowshiping with God's joy on Saturday.

untitled no. 1002

Creator, is your heart not broken for your J*kartans?
You have pursued them and still they have hid their faces.
You hold the answers with an open palm
And your tears continue to puddle for you long to play in the streets with the barefoot, you long to sit a child in your lap to take a ride on the waterslide, you long to reroof the home that flooded.

How long will I have to wait? I am ready today.
I will continue to dream over you while I look lovingly upond you. My creations inspire me.

Come mothers, come fathers, children. You have been degraded enough.
I will sew the patches on your uniform,
I will pay your remaining school fees,
Daughter, throw off your head covering, let me see those beautiful eyelashes I crafted to compliment your dimples.

I hear your labour pains daughter, I am with you.
Do not fret, for your husband is here to hold your hand.
Yes, have more children, you will be fruitful and I will provide.

Rejoice over your newborn, wrap him tightly in your batik.
He is smiling over his redemption.
I have told him of the lies that no longer remain.
He will know fresh water from the sink
He will crave bok-choy and spinach
He will dance in the streets free from garbage and pollution.

Your curiousity will bring the answers
I am in the wind.
Hear my voice J*karta, I am speaking to you. I yearn for you.
I will be here holding your newborns until you are ready for rebirth.

Finally, geez wiz.

Packing up our home in Perth, in style. These are our "doctor suits" (dubbed this name by Becca's little sister Lizzy). I think you will get used to seeing us in these. :)


It looks like a lot of stuff, I agree. Considering though, 8 months, 14 people (homeschooling work included), well I am impressed.



Labok Balus is a garbage sorting slum. One of those places you don't really believe exists until the stench meets you a mile up the road. Again, not the way God intended for anyone to live. This is our family, we will start small, just by teaching, and the rest, well, it's up to us.


And for the first time ever, I would like to introduce to eggs besides the ones you use to make omelettes...what an amazing moment. These women are inquisitive and ready to learn the minute we arrive in their community.


No slum is complete without the view of a western mall.


Mowhawk child, there is no other. He is actually the chunkiest baby in the community, thank you breastmilk.


Lectures are never complete without group time, usually a time to remember. Can you tell what we are doing? Our staff are so creative.


One of our faithful mothers in the Mampang community.


"We are the crabs, your..."


This is Tenan Abang, the same slum with the view of the western mall. Don't step too far out your front door, you might get hit by a train. We are really connecting with the women of this slum, they are thirsty for teaching and love to be prayed for, they are an important and overlooked piece of their society.

what to say...

Okay, I think it would be easier if I made more time during the week to update my blog and then it wouldn't all pile up once a week. Now if only I could get this through my head...

The past four days have been divided with lectures and ministry. In fact, in about 15 minutes we are beginning lecture on inserting cannulas and catheters. I am SO excited.

Well recapping on this week, I have had time to reflect a lot of our ministry. We currently have four women's classes, a maternal hospital visit and church/day of Compassion weekly. This week though, it seemed like I just had more time to sit and process. I am reading the book called "Irresistable Revolution". Just one thing that he has been talking about is the fact that many of us know the teachings of Jesus, but we don't live them out. We know of Jesus, but we don't know Jesus. Jesus loves the poor, but we don't even know the poor. I have been tossing these thoughts back and forth. He shares a quote from Rich Mullins, ("there is thunder in his footsteps and lightning in his fists) "You guys are all into that born again thing, which is great. We do need to be born again, since Jesus said that to a guy name Nicodemus. But if you tell me I have to be born again to enter the kingdom of God, I can tell you that you have to sell everything you have to give it to the poor because Jesus said that to one guy too, but I guess that's why God invented highlighters, so we can highlight the parts we like and ignore the rest." Now, I ultimately am still processing this. I don't know about context and studying which Hebrew word was used for which word, but I am fully enveloped by this thought. I guess I am just really entranced by the life that Jesus offers us. The richness of life comes from meeting palpating bellies in dimly lit rooms and drinking green apple jolly rancher juice while hearing about different ways to mop houses. This is what is bringing God's kingdom. There are seeds waiting to be planted, fruit waiting to grow, sweetness waiting to be tasted...

I want to know the poor, I feel really challenged. I don't want to let go of this.

This week we again taught in the railroad slum. Nearly eight feet off the tracks are where the houses begin. I know this isn't how God intended for anyone to live. Sarah was waiting for an antenatal check to finish up and she watched a boy stand in the meter wide walkway and pee all over himself onto someone's house. This week began the rainy season, the slums will begin flooding up to a meter high. We must be wreckless hopers and lovers.

I am meeting God here. He has gone before us.

I have really had to fight to write this blog. I don't know why, I guess I don't want it to sound like peaches and cream (yum), but God is bringing beauty from ashes and is meeting us in the mountains and the valleys.

What is going on in America? Election time is coming...
Miss you guys. Thanks for reading friends.

Teaching Time.

We have been here for 16 days now. It feels like much longer. A lot of the time we have been going into the slum communities and getting to know the women. Getting to know their education, birthing practices, schedules...Yesterday began it all.

Although we have taught one time ("Breast is best"), yesterday was one of the most mind boggling experiences of teaching yet in my life.

Before we headed into Mampang slum, we spent an hour sorting out what God was saying. We highlighted past impressions and words from God about what we felt for the women. Then we entered into a new prayer time. The final words were; "life", "anatomy" and "reproductive system". So, the plan was set, female reproductive teaching for our first lesson. We all took a piece of the teaching and planned it in a half hour.

We waited for our friends from the church and our translator Anita to come. It is our goal to connect with women from the church we have been attending and have them do outreach with us. We don't want this to just be a burst of evangelism and then die after we leave. It would be amazing if we could find two dedicated women in the church to come in with us weekly and then keep the teachings up after we leave. This is still something we are seeking out. We did however, have two men from the church who are committed to working with local slums come with us. They say that it is hard to break down the barrier between the rich and the poor. Kind of reminds me of everywhere else in the world.

Anyway, flash forward, ten Muslim women, no circulation and one dark room later...Melisa begins sharing about our bodies being fearfully and wonderfully made from the "Holy Scripture". I was the first to teach. I introduced "Anatomy of the female reproductive system" and the women nodded their heads. As I pulled out my teaching aid of a uterus and ovaries, the women zoomed in. I asked them if this was something familar, they shook their heads. I then asked them "Have you ever seen this before?" and they shook their heads. In a city where malls are bigger than Safeco and Quest put together, times four, there are still women who have never learned about their reproductive system. Unbelievable.

The time continued with the women eager to learn and open to ask questions. It was a lovely time that we will get to take part of each week.

God is using education to empower and love women. He is renewing the value that the world has stripped them of. I don't really know what to expect after that, but I am anticipating great things to come of our time spent with the women. Jesus loves His little children, all the children of the world.

Is once a week too infrequent? Is "infrequent" even a word?

This past week has contained several moments of wondering, "How did this all happen?", "Why am I allowed to be a part of this?". There are plenty of moments to reinforce my questions and ultimately the answers come back to God giving me the desires of my heart, more than I even understood that these were the desires of my heart, God knew and He gave them to me.

1. Yesterday while walking through the slums, I able to sit with a woman who was searching her friend's hair for lice. I was blessed by hearing her story of coming to the city. Including being married at 17, delivering her only son at 7 months and selling herbal tea to make ends meet. She wants to learn about preventing diarrhea and fever because her family gets sick during the rainy season since the slum floods during the rainy season.

2. I played hopscotch with 20 Indonesian children who were practicing their english while we waited our turns.

3. Asking a gentleman if I can hold his baby and having him light up that I would want to. She was three months old and had a rat tail.

4. Going to bed knowing that there are 7 other girls in the room who are committed to unifying themselves with me and Jesus. We remind ourselves of the disciples: Ministry together, cook together, clean together, sleep together, hehehe.

5. Each morning coming downstairs to a oatmeal and a secluded courtyard. Following, a time of spirit filled worship and then a couple hours of lecture on obstructed labour with experience filled leadership.

6. A couple of girls being able to meet a woman who was paralyzed from a stroke. She lays on her bed in a dark room because she is embarassed of what the community will think. After praying over her they asked if she would like to come to our teachings. She was fully blessed.

Our life is a gift. God wants to use us. There have been several challenging moments this week, but at this moment of typing to you all, I want you to know that we are blessed to be breathing and knowing our Saviour. When God asks us to obey, it is because He has the absolute best in mind for us. God is bringing healing to our nations.

One last story...
As Robyn, Anna and I headed to Bible reading last week, we had the chance to stop and pray for a man who had a burn on his right leg. He was belssed that we asked him. As we began to pray, heaven opened and we were asking for healing. Before our eyes, the brown skin moved into the pink skin...as we walked away, we knew we had seen God's hand.

Praise God!

“Thank you God for my roommates…”

It has been a while since my roomies have heard me talk in my sleep. I am convinced it is because they are used to it. This was the muttering from my tired mouth last night as I crashed just after midnight.

We arrived in Indonesia on Wednesday afternoon after 24 hours of travel. Although Indonesia is a four-hour flight from Perth, we took the scenic route. In the midst of our stop in Bangkok we were informed that we had to actually enter Thailand and re-check our luggage for the next flight. 7 hours later, we were in line with our bags to check into our flight to Indo. Being the first in line, we seemed to be on top of things. I wasn’t worried about getting all the bags checked through since we had breezed through in Perth. As a team we were allowed 325 kgs, we had only 309! That is incredible. Everyone intentionally packed. Anyway, long story short, we were on a budget flight which only allowed 15kgs per person. As Becca later put it, “That is just too hard for our team”. She is right, although nearly everyone’s personal bags were under 15 kgs, the team bags compensate for the light weight. We have probably 70kgs of supply. All of this to say, they weren’t going to let it slide. After an hour of repacking, divvying up new carry-ons, layering our clothes the airline wasn’t budging. They informed us that we only had 30 minutes to catch our flight. Becca ended up dashing to an ATM and paying a fee and we were able to lug our way to customs. We “exited” Thailand, headed to security. In the change of carry-ons, we carried on my bag since it was only 9.8kgs. Mind you, it was packed to be a check-on. Hahaha…I didn’t have any back space, so Robyn was lugging it, along with being a mom to 4 children. I was ahead of them and as I sat down on the plane I realized, “The liquid…wait, oh, no, they are going to have to repack the whole thing…” I made my way to the check in counter and asked the gentleman to wait for my teammates, I boarded the plane, free seating. It took me back to backpacking Europe. Easy Jet/AirAsia. No food. No drink. No leg room. Absolutely exhausted from travel, running on two hours of sleeping under chairs, hauling though the airport and heaps of spiritual warfare, Melisa and I sat and waited for everyone else.

We made it. All of us made it on the flight. Praise the Lord.

Later when we recapped, we talked about any discouragement people felt, like “Where was God?” Some shared about doing spiritual warfare over themselves because they felt like we needed a miracle and God didn’t come through. As they shared the revelations they had, I think we were all encouraged. We really fought our hardest. Whether in silent or group prayers, singing, everyone took part in the battle. Becca shared that we did see miracles, like all of us making the flight, especially when they asked her to unpack my bag and she knew that she only had 5 minutes to make the flight. Or that they let one “carry-on” team bag get through with piles of medicine and syringes when they probably should’ve confiscated it all. Finally, I think the best part was we saw a new depth of unity. We were all scrambling at the ticket counter, loading carry-ons until they weighed more than our check-ins. Carry each others stuff, submitting to the leaders in whatever they needed. We did not labour in vain.

Anyway, we are now in our cozy home. The past two days have been spent in orientation, Bible reading and organization. There is a lot of settling to be done. Before we do ministry we will read the whole Bible aloud. We are in 3 hours shifts. As of yet, we are into 1 Samuel. I am up next! I think the truth is cutting through to the southern region.

I will put up some pictures soon.

Some prayer requests:
-Sarah, one of our leaders is in the U.S., she will be coming to meet us in a couple days.
-Communication, whether with our regional coordinators or Perth Coordinators, we want to be on guard of any miscommunication.
-Opportunities in mother and child healthcare would continue to open up.

Thanks Guys!

so the room is packed, and we leave in less than 24 hours. :)

We have had a wind down time these past couple days. Grades are in, final evaluations have been done and yes, the bags have been packed. I am busting proud of all the girls and the weight of our bags. I will let you guys guess how much they weigh.

This afternoon Becca planned some team times for us. After our Indonesian lesson, we were to meet in the laneway at 1:30. The sunshine was high in the sky, summer is coming (and we are leaving)! Becca asked us to go into the front lawn and partner up. Then she proceded to blind-fold one of us and give the visionary free reign to dress the blind mouse in any outfit of Salvo clothes (salvo bin is a place for people to put their clothes in when they don't want them anymore, in other words, a treasure box). It was then our goal to lead the person down the bike path to the river, just by the leading of our voice. I dressed Connie in a yellow towel fabric dress. I think it is something that you would slip into after you had showered. Not so attractive. I then fashioned a stretchy cloth into a mini tube top. Since her sunglasses hid her blindfold, she looked pretty goofy meandering down the bike path like a lost child. After the swap, Connie saw what she was wearing and let out a shriek. We were inside a tunnel. Afterwards we swapped and Connie made sure to run me into a couple bushes, off the bike path and into the opposite traffic. Bikes much?

Tonight we are headed over to Becca's house for tea.

Our last hours at the base are slipping away...I am really excited to go!

it has happened.

Our room is a MESS. It is packing time. Bags sprawled amidst the dusty floor, mattresses stripped of their belongings and clothes being tossed from hand to hand. As we face this time, I can't help but feel the joy bubbling up inside me. I am leaving without the difficult good-byes, going to a place I have never seen, anticipating God's miracles.

In the meantime, as the Salvo clothes find their new owners, as old "your leaving" cards are read, Sarah is reading. Together we are listening to "A Severe Mercy". Chapter Two is beginning.

6 days.

In less than six days I will be in Indonesia. I feel ready to take off. I picked out all the clothes I am taking last night. I originally thought that everything I brought here with me had to go on outreach, but thanks to a little shed behind someone's house, I get to leave things like my winter jacket. As a team we have several suitcases that we will haul along in compensation for our 13 kg backpacks. Personally, I was assigned the job of bringing a ceramic, expensive water filter in my carry-on. No pressure. Anyway, we will be taking off at 4:30 pm on Tuesday and then staying overnight at the Bangkok airport. Yay Thailand!

Today we had a commitment time as a school. We spent time waiting on God about what we were fully commited to for outreach. I saw Him surface some stuff that I hadn't even thought of. It was a powerful time of unity as we prayed over the person on our left after they shared. Those moments of vulnerability are never easy for me. Today I was thinking about it as I was about to share and then came to, and realized, "hey, this probably isn't easy for anyone". Haaha... Self absorption. Lame.

These next days will be spent busily cleaning the base, our classroom, bedroom, etc. We had our final speaker on Tuesday, and we will have one more inspirational speaker on Friday.

It seems to be the next step to be leaving Perth. I really like Australia. It won't be the same when I return.

Recap. Rewind. Past couple weeks.

They saved the placenta for us to observe on our visit to the hospital. It was so exciting to finally get our gloved hands on one that wasn't made out of yarn and a mozzie net.

We learned newborn resusscitation. The baby was so slippery, I suppose that is what happens with plastic.

We definitely took ahold of the hospital experience...so many tubes and gadgets.

There are different ways to hold the bub during resuss, Sarah is excitedly demostrating thumb-over-thumb.

Let me introduce you to a dilly-sucker. Used to suck out the fluids from a newborn's mouth, or the spit that resides in Rachel's mouth. Dilly bars anyone?

This is at Market Night. I am displaying the ring that was gifted to me and how to properly execute a kitty stab. Please notice our awesome sign in the back, probably part of the reason we won the market.

Becca and Bekah. Staff and student. Friend and Friend.

As we were praying for finances we prophetically came up with "power signs" that represented us seeing breakthrough in finances. We all did our power moves when we were introduced on commissioning night. Mine had to be altered since I was wearing a dress. However, it still held the meaning, breaking through selfishness and on guard on the enemy's lies of doubt. It was the perfect match for "Eye of the Tiger". Can you feel the fierceness? Imagine, this is only a picture...

Here are all the lovely BASers, fully commissioned!

This is my one-on-one/school leader, Darcy. I love her heaps. Stevie jumped in the photo, uninvited I may add. I like candid shots.

Here are the fearless staff!

My scandinavian friends.

If you can't get all the way in the photo, atleast get a body part in. "I'm in the picture!"

shimblie bimbles

I am feeling deeply unispired. We'll see how this goes.

Yesterday, we had planned a night together with all the roommates. Some of us were feeling pretty disunified. Even when we live, sleep, school, eat, teach, shower within inches of eachother, we still have to be intentional about the time spent together. A lot of ugly confessions came out, as well as new revelations from God about what He has been speaking and of course fun times giggling together. It was nice to get caught up with everyone. It's not easy to always be in such close quarters with everyone, but this is definitely how we learn. I think we all caught on that we have to choose to love one another, even in everyone's "annoying habits", we have to choose love. To finish off the deeper-than-planned-evening, we all took communion with soda water and the snack of choice. I chose a strawberry. About a month ago, when we finished 24 hour worship, we came together as a base, and then divided into 20 groups with 20 different fathers leading us in communion. Pete shared that communion is a cornerstone event where we all recognize Jesus' sacrifice and that we are striving to be in right relationship with him. Along with that comes the committment to be in right relationship with one another. So similar to the time that we had as a base, we come back together, confessed and brought light to any other issues that darkness needed to flee from, and then prayed together. It turned out to be quite the evening. Afterwards, I ended up sharing about high school dances, I don't know how we diverged that way. Anyway, all the girls were quite impressed with Charlie's creativity. They all thought that stuff "only happened in movies".

Hehehe!

Okay, it is time for me to one-on-one...Love you family!

I hope I haven't left anyone hanging too long.

Today is Friday. We are all pretty exhausted. I have wanted to update since Wednesday but the Aussie internet wouldn't allow me too. Anyway, the page is loaded, homework is done, Friday night meeting is over and it is so late that I get the whole couch to myself. Oh wait, Callie just got on skype, this might have to wait...

MMkay...So Tuesday night ended with me writing a final update and blog. It really feels like forever ago...Anyway, I tossed and turned the whole night, just being in anticipation of what the next day held. I woke up too early, but being on the top bunk, my computer conveniently rests on top of a huge closet. Without waking anyone up, I was fully able to get in contact with the world. I opened my painfully slow Yahoomail Classic (I have been spoiled with lightning email and the all-new Yahoo mail at the Dinneen house)...and low and behold, my total of 3800 had decreased to 3000. Praise God. It was hard to contain my bouncing, even with my mummy bag zipped fully. Without too much time passing, my roommates all had woken up and I was able to contact my mom and share the incredible news. As soon as I contacted her, we rejoiced over the money that had come in on Tuesday and Wednesday, my number of 5800 had basically been cut in half. It was perfect timing really, my mom was actually on the way to the bank, and was depositing some final checks for me. As we added it all together, little by little, my total was falling. Before we knew it, I was totalling zero. ZERO. No more money. I needed zero more dollars. Oh God, you are good! I let out a cry of rejoicing and yelled it to my roommates. How incredible. God's timing is more than perfect.

This was just the start of the day...Melisa also recieved her money before we went to class. Praise God!

So we went into our classroom that morning, praising God for His work and then headed to Hollie's house for small group. Darcy encouraged us to be sensitive. If there was anyone God was laying on our hearts, anything He was telling us to give away, random people we were to wait for on the street, to just be sensitive, to put actions behind our faith. And so we did, probably 20 phonecalls were made, clothing was redistributed, zillions of emails sent and recieved, several SMS's sent via Skype and with each dollar we received news of we praised God. We were all in faith that by midnight, we would have a total of zero. The day was a quick one, stories were scattered from school to school. All the schools had their finances due and each one had their epic tales of anonymous-unheard of-donations.

After dinner time, we all filed into the classroom. We looked at the decreased number, now 15,000 from the morning's 20,000ish. We had already seen God's generous heart that day. It was set, we wouldn't leave the classroom until all of the money came in. We started out by doing some prayer marching. You know the usual, singing "Father Abraham", "I may never march...", "He's got the whole world...", marching seven times around the outside, acting out the story of Jericho. It was a fun time in our groups and prophetic. Again Darcy brought us back together to encourage any final people to contact that God was laying on our hearts. We continued to pray, some people called, others emailed. The hours passed, people came in and out of the classroom. At one time we entered in with the DTS for a time of worship, what a testimony to see them all worshiping, on their faces, praying for eachother, fully relying on God, so much change in such a short time! Around 9pm, we all gathered for one final time. We praised God together for all the people who had donated to our pool, and finally were told how much there was. We had 7000 in the pool and 9000 remaining. BAsically, we need 2000 more dollars. We entered into a time of hearing from God, singing, and then before anyone could do anything, the number became zero. ZERO! ZERO! Who is our God? The creator of the universe, author, perfector, creator. My dad. I am his daughter, and he has provided 120,000 for my whole team to go on outreach. No mountain is too big, no heart is too hard and no amount in any timespan is too big for my God.

We saw God breakthrough. Absolutely.

Thank you for your prayer, your support, your love. Rejoice with us. God is good!

the past couple days...

We just finished yet another prayer time, and yet again, God met us. The latent phase has finished and we are transistioning into hard work in these last hours before our finances are due. We have been focusing a lot of 2 Chronicles 20 since yesterday, it feels like so much longer than that... Jehoshaphat and his army were up against unlikely odds, but rested in God's words that were spoken through people. Tuesday mornings are usually base intercession time, but today Darcy and Becca felt that we were supposed to prophetically walk through the passage. When Jehoshaphat heard that there was a strong army waiting up against him, he went to the Lord and proclaimed a fast for all of Judah. Then together the people seeked God. Jehoshaphat stands in front of the people and declares God's character "you rule over all the nations and kingdoms", "power and might are in your hands and no one can withstand you"...it continues on. In his closing phrases he shares "O our God, will you not judge them? For we have no power to face this vast army that is attacking us. We do not know what to do, but our eyes are upon you." I really took heart in this bit, all day it has been the cry of my heart. God, I have absolutely nowhere to turn but you. Then the underdog, they quote like 5 generations before him to accredit him, says "Hey, this is God's battle, don't be afraid! You aren't going to fight, but you need to prepare and stand firm. The Lord is going to deliver you. Face it. God is with you." With that all of the people of Judah and Jerusalem fell flat on their faces in worship. Finally, moments before they went out, Jehoshaphat tells his people to have faith and worship as they go out. It was in their time of worship that God sent out ambushes, the enemy was annihilated. The reward was great, and the fear of the Lord succumbed surrounding nations. They rejoiced for their God had delivered them.

I am looking forward to Thursday, the celebration, the deliverance, the worship. It will be beautiful. Until then, we continue to labor, the first 4 cm have come, we are joyful, the waters are broken, but the transitional phase is just beginning, the last hours are going to be difficult, but the one who will deliver us rules over nations and kingdoms, power and might is in his hands.

24,560 dollars to go.

for callie

Hi callie-

I love you friend. I need 5,881 more dollars.

Bek

5 days remain.

Today Hollie recieved all her money. Breakthrough!

We are at 32,132 dollars. Zero, here we commmmmmeeeee!

I talked to my mom today.

She asked me if I had received 5,000 dollars already and if I hadn't been updating them. Although it was her misconception and my undescriptive phrases that teamed up for confusion, it was comforting to hear that my mom is teamed up right along side me. In the end, I clarified, "I am counting down, I still need 5,800, it was just a change from the six thousands." and she responded with "Oh, I bet everyone else got that, they probably aren't as dense as me." Hahaha. All of that to say, there is power in team work. I usually say thank you in my blogs or emails, and I mean it! So once again, thank you, for teaming up in finances and prayer. I am not alone in this. It is unifying as we have prayer times together as a school and just as powerful when I get an email from someone at home telling me what is going on in their life and that they are partnering in prayer with me and the school.

Six days until finances are due. Woooooot (that's for you Charlie).

Tonight instead of Thursday night evangelism, we are having base worship. I think we are going to be interceding and worshiping for the city of Perth, possibly praying for people we have met previously and doing some spiritual warfare for them. I can hear them across the laneway getting set up....I'm excited.

The weather is taking a change these past days. Slowly the scarves are being pealed off and the three-quarter length sweater is a usual part of my outfit.

Anyway. Dinner and singing telegrams are calling...

and now...market night...

Tonight was a beautiful night of community. We have the market night to raise money for outreach, which may seem counter productive since six schools are headed on outreach, so where is the money going to come from? The heart of our evening was to bless the other schools with our creativity, and money seemed to just be a biproduct. As Becca put it "we are going to win the market night!". We went into the evening joyfully and with the right heart to bless the other schools.

The BAS set up quite the spread including: base-famous peanut butter fudge, chocolate and peanut butter balls, crocheted headbands and cell phone covers, cards, and an old fashioned "fishing" game where you could win any of our homemade goods. Some of the crowd drawers were "watch-Dave-make-sushi" bar and the absolutely-irresistable-hot-off-the-griddle-Norwegian-waffles. Most unique, profitable and hilarious was the Singing Telegrams. You could decide who you were selling it to, what song you wanted, how many people and what those people are wearing. Just to give everyone a taste, we began a slow clap in the middle of the market bustle, one by one we formed into a line and then it began, "Lean on me, when you're not strong, and I'll be your friend...", then came the silence, the staring and the all time favorite, beat-boxing. What a crowd stopper and knee slapper. We have four more acts sometime this week. I am anticipating the shock when 12 girls dressed in salvation army clothes knock on the door of an unsuspecting recipient. Hehehe!

Anyway, God is so good. We saw nearly three hundred dollars come in tonight, where it came from, who knows? I believe that in the changing of hands, God is multiplying the money. Amen.

So, since Saturday, when we were at nearly 49,000 dollars, we have seen 12,000 dollars come in. Praise God! Personally, I broke into 5,000s today! I saw almost a thousand dollars come in. God is pushing me and I am learning. This is the time for faith to grow. I believe as a school and as a base, trusting God for finances is a pillar in community-building. As we were in a huge lunchtime prayer today, I got the song from High School Musical stuck in my head, "We're all in this together...". Zach and Gabriella, I like them. Anyway, I really feel like our coming together is bringing power, breaking strongholds, keeping the enemy at bay.

Thank you for all your prayers, I believe the flow of generosity from the carwash and the market is due to prayer beforehand and during the fundraising hours.

Please email me any prayer requests that you have or just drop a comment to say "hi", I really like those.

God is good.

thank you for praying...

World's most successful carwash, $830. Who even makes that much money at a carwash? We did. We also had $850 of donations towards the school's account as a whole and were sponsored at 27.50 per car and washed 52 cars. When you add all the numbers together it is approximately 3,000 dollars. Wow, God, thank you! We all saw our numbers come down. Personally, I had about $600 dollars come in this weekend. I am now sitting at 6,137 dollars before I am sitting on a plane to Indonesia. Thank you for all your prayers and emails and contact.

Today Robyn shared about Jesus and Suffering for our Jesus Devo. The world clearly states, keep yourself safe, hide from the bad. I mean, I change the channel when the "feed the children" commercials come on, it is uncomfortable to see others in pain. Robyn shared that Jesus was greatly moved and then embraced the pain. There were times in his suffering when he would draw away in the suffering, we are allowed to feel the pain. I think this is something I haven't embraced. It is not natural to want to feel pain.

On Wednesday we are headed to a private hospital! All week we are learning newborn care. So far we have only gotten up to pulling the placenta out, and now we actually get to think about caring for the baby and watching the mum and bub (the aussies shorten anything they can) connect. We will have the chance to palpate a placenta and learn recessatation. We are on the edge of our seats.

Cool.

Tomorrow Sarah and I present the need of Swaziland to the class. 47% of the country is infected with HIV/AIDS. It is estimated the country will die out by 2050. 70% of the people live on less than a dollar a day. I had no idea until about three weeks ago. God be the solution.

Well fam and friends, I hope to hear from you. It really makes my day.

it will be multiplied!

as of today, we are washing cars for $19 each! (aside from the money we will get from the car owner!)
paula-$2
melisa-$6
rachel-$7
connie-$4

praise the lord!

the last winter cafe is tonight!

I feel silly again writing a blog about how revolutionary the teaching has been, but it is looking that way again.

I think as long as we have a teachable heart, as long as we are open to recieve, as long as we are filtering people's views through the Bible, we will always be learning more and more.

This morning we had our final testimony shared. Over the past four weeks, each of us has shared our life story at small group. It has been in this time that we have seen breakthrough in one on one times (staff and student meetings), lectures and relationship. It also has to do with the progression of time, but there has been more depth and understanding coating the classroom as we learn about people's lives. I have rejoiced in my friends' redemption (and mine) endlessly. God is good. Amen?!

Anyway, I want to ask something of each of you. Would you be willing to sponsor me for our carwash this weekend? I am excited to have my friends involved with raising money for our outreach. Currently, we have seen 70,000 dollars come in, and now we need another 50,000. All of our money is due September 10. So far we are washing each car for 9 dollars! Yay! I want to see this quadrupled...atleast. Whether you can give 10 cents per car or 5 dollars per car, each bit counts. Please feel open in asking any questions!

In our financial prayer, it is often brought up, to be the persistent widow. To give of what we have, to be faithful in the small. I am convinced we will see our needs provided for, someway, somehow. We must be in a place of needing a miracle in order to see one happen.

One quick story before I post. About two weeks ago, my power adapter for my computer starting acting funny, you know, melting the plastic, smelling like you had put Glad-Ware on the bottom rack of the dish washer. It was actually so hot to touch, that I was avoiding plugging it in. I was imagining it exploding and then blasting out my computer screen. Anyway, Saturday morning, my cord spliced a three inch hole in itself. After the initial shock, I didn't know what to do. There is no Apple store, perhaps I could send it to Sydney? I wasn't sure if it was even worth the cost. Anyway, one of my roommates asked a fellow Mac user...and it turns out, a four minute walk away, is a store that honors Mac warranties. I walked over there on Monday, and by this morning had a brand new adapter. Thanks Jesus.

Anyway, guys, God is moving in Perth. How about the rest of the world? I would love to hear from you all! Thank you Sarah Park for your prayer request!

Just another day at the beach.

Yesterday was Sarah's birthday. It has gone around the other schools, that if you want a party, go to the BAS. Most of it has to do with the fact that we are the smallest school, less of us to get to know, lots of love to go around...

I am feeling unispired as I begin to hack away at my computer...

This week we have the Base Leader's husband is speaking. I guess the "base founder" would be a more concise way to decribe him. The topic is "Spiritual aspects of birth". We began the week by talking about death and suffering, most of which I am still pondering.

The problem with our incredibly deep lectures, is that I am still processing by the time another week rears its head too early Monday morning. Dr. Panter last week invested his heart into our classroom each day last week. Each morning he would begin by talking about what God has laid on his heart for the morning. Most of the week we talked about running the race, and finishing well. What struck me about Dr. Panter was his zealous heart for the Burmese people. It seeped into nearly every lecture, from Women in developing countries to S.I.D.s. His passion to bring change to Burma is invigorating. He has thrown off passivity and will not let even the hardest of the hard stop him.

One story that Dr. Panter shared has stuck with me. As he was overlooking the water, close to his home in the England, he humbly thought about the blessings in his life. He had completed his medical training, opened a personal practice, brought a new baby into the world...life was good...many people had told him and he agreed. He was truly helping people, whether during his 9-5 shift or on a Sunday morning while playing the organ at his church. As he gazed upon the waves, God asked him, "What do I think of your life?". This became a cornerstone for Dr. Panter. As he reinterated to us, God sees our motivations, God does not care about societal values, God cares about you living a life for Him.

I feel changed by this. I am still trying to take hold of it all.

On September 10, all of our outreach funds are due. Please continue to pray for strategy and release. And please, contact me with any new prayer requests.

I miss you, church family...you guys are the bestest.

the harvest is here. the kingdom in near.

What would happen if I no longer viewed the world through my own eyes but through God's lense? First off, things would look different, more specifically, I would have a broken heart, I would hate sin, I would that it was destroying relationship, hate that was it was destroying individuals...often times I forget to do that, when that happens, the Lord's Resistance Army (LRA) becomes sheer evil that needs to be eradicated, I forget that they too are God's people, they too have the promises from our God, they too are seeking to know "Is there a God? Does He love me? Is He Good? What on earth am I doing here? Why do I have to face this pain?". I forget that God's heart is for these men who rape children of their innocence, I forget that God's heart is in pieces for them because they chose to shot another women who refused to become a sex slave, I forget that God is pursuing them, just as hard as he is pursuing me.

And in my pride, I weep. Weep for our broken, broken world, that has been absolutely destroyed, that has absolutely turned its back on God. I weep because He has not stopped pursuing us, no matter how far we have gone.

We are meant for joy. Yet it is a rare occasion that people are filled with happiness and much more likely chance that we are stressed, overworked, tired and weary. Where is the joy? Where have we hidden it? Why have I traded such pitiful emotions for the smiles He delights in?

In my lamenting I have begun to challenge these thoughts, do I dare look at my life in the way that God looks at it?

and we are at the beginning of a new internet month.

:)
I am way past due for a blog update. I did send out an email update last week, does that count for something? The thing I don't like about missing an update is because I miss details, and that seriously agitates me when I can't share all the details.

This week we had an incredible teacher. Not only was he a guy (it is nice to get some testosterone in the classroom every once in a while, although it is more work because we have to put all our models away and turn over all the posters) but his heart is beating for the lost. He presented evangelism to us as a lifestyle. I have been longing for this, but I have not seen it lived out thoroughly. When I think of it as a lifestyle I start to think, "if it is a lifestyle, how will I ever have time to do anything else?" To Danny, we must be lead by the Holy Spirit. As he put it "Jesus walked through the crowds and didn't talk to everyone".

Danny began to softly share his story with us. His parents radically became Christians when he was seventeen. He had grown up hearing the stories of Jesus because his parents forced their kids into Sunday School each week since they wanted nice kids. This transition shook Danny up and he began to push it all away. All he ever wanted was a wife and babies he said, he ended up doing his nurses training and in his early twenties his girlfriend got pregnant. When she decided to abort the baby and rejected his proposal, he went over the edge. Long story short, Danny was doing intravenous drugs for six years. At the age of thirty he came to know the Lord, and essentially has dedicated his life to making God known.

Of course it is these powerful testimonies that people think are "real testimonies", but Danny rebuked those lies, and shared how each of have a different flavour of God in our lives. What we view God as, is what we will share God as. If we see God as our source of joy, that is what people will see God as, if we haven't spent time with God in two months, that is what people will see God as. On Thursday, Thursday night and Friday afternoon, as we proclaimed to the city of Perth, I saw each of our 31 Flavours (ok there aren't 31 of us) come out.

Anyway, we saw two people come to know jesus on Thursday night. Go God! And probably fifty people prayed for...Amen.

On Monday of this week, we had a woman from Denmark come to the base and share about herself. She challenged basically everyone's thinking. What stood out to me was "the Kingdom of God will violate the world". Evangelism is not normal. Going up and talking to people, is not comfortable. Telling people that "God talks to me, I believe he thinks you are beautiful" is not a light conversation. I need to be shaken from my cozy hide. I believe this began to happen a bit more this week. I want to be a violater.

Okay, thank you for praying for our carwashes. Last week, we made $510 and this weekend $770! Go God! We really saw a release of finances.

In the headlines of this week. Drumroll please...we will be headed to Indonesia for 2 months, Cameroon for 4 months and then Sudan for 2 months. Thank you for all your prayers! We are all VERY excited for our locations and KNOW they are ordained by God.

This has been a week of the Holy Spirit moving. God is so cool.

Some prayer requests:
-I have about a fourth of my outreach fund! Praise God! I need approximately 6,000 more dollars. Pray for a release.
-We need to submit our base fundraiser sometime this week...it will take some time to compile it. Please pray for ideas, motivation and a release!

and so it is...

That Australia has limited bandwidth. Therefore, it takes forever to upload anything. My plans to blog when I have time have been crushed quickly with the slow dial-up speed internet, that seems a bit oxymoronesque, quickly with slow...hahaha. Now when it is moving, I don't have time. Eeek. Anyway, soon and very soon I will have time to write when the internet is moving along. Just to drop you a line though, I am alive.

Just Photos...Thanks dad, I recieved the camera cord.

This is in King's Park! It is comparable to Central Park in New York...it is gargantuan.

We trusted God for $1200 for twelve new mattresses at the base. Between us and two other schools we raised all the money needed! Go God! God spoke to Sarah and asked her to cut her hair and sell it. She received $120. I got the last brush in just minutes before the chopping...

This is me becoming Australian. Robyn is a genuine Aussie, she is here completing the school with 5 of her 6 kids, mother and student. Her husband homeschools during the day and she covers the afternoons.

Sarah (with short hair!) from the U.S. via Peru, Melisa from B.C., Canada, Sarah; one of our staff, from Connecticut, Connie, from Norway.

This is my birthday table. Micah is the wee-one, child of Darcy (she is staring at him) our school leader, then me, then Melisa, then Connie, then Anna from Sweden and Guatemala, then Robyn, then Sarah.

Connie and I consuming Snapper and Chips...I thought halibut was everywhere. I am so ethnocentric.

Apparently Anna doesn't like being seen with us...she is in none of the photos. I promise, we love and include her.

Yahweh...

This week was rather heart-wrenching. As we pursued the topic of "unity", each person seemed to walk away feeling like we have a ways to go in order to attain this Biblical unity. We explored the relationships that we have and are just beginning. I am afraid my life will continually consist of people sharing information with me and following, I will feel as if I have lived a lie for the previous twenty years. Allow me to explain a couple tidbits...

Independence: This is something I have viewed as strength, wisdom and of the utmost importance. Lie number one is revealed. Our society has been feeding me these lies, and let me tell you, I have been chewing on them for years and years. I was awakened to hear that me pulling away, wanting to complete tasks on my own were destroying unity. I have thought it to be efficient to complete jobs on my own, but was reminded there is power in works being completed as a family. So although it may not be quick, it is against the ways of the enemy...revelation...convicting...Another note on this, alone time. Let me direct our attention to Genesis 2:18, "it is not good for man to be alone..." This shook me, not only is it not a good thing for me to be alone because I wasn't created this way, I don't have a right to it. I catch myself saying "I just want to be alone", "I just need God and me time", "If I could just find a few moments...", when really, this is part of taking up my cross, letting go of myself, I do not have any right to have alone time.

Sharing Burdens: I have consistently viewed this as weakness. As Colleen shared with us, again I felt convicted. By me, holding onto whatever it is I am gripping, I am not allowing others in, therefore slowing down any chance of people getting to know me, therefore not letting them feel like they can open up to me...viscious cycle. I found this well illustrated in a quote;

"You will ever understand the other person unless they reveal themself to you. They will never reveal themself to you unless they trust you, They will never trust you until they know you. They will never know you until you reveal yourself to them." -Tom Marshall

I think this is part of being weak so God can be strong.

In all of this, I am compelled to fall on my face. In all my shortcomings, God is wooing me. He has bestowed hope within me. He wants to change the world with me. God's character is beaming through all the darkness. I have messed up with friends, he brings hope. I have broken communication, he gives hope. I have hindered unity, he is offering even more hope.

His glory cannot possibly be contained. The mountains will bow at his feet. The oceans will roar. My friends, I have fallen deeply in love with My Lord.

Breaking into a new decade.

This weekend I turned twenty. Who would have thought I could get this old? I feel much more mature now saying "I am twenty". There is a difference between 19 and 20. Probably it's that I no longer have to say nine-TEEN. The world's perception of teenagers has made me excited to no longer be coupled with "bad drivers" and "irresponsible-credit-card-holders". All in all though, age is more something for a driver's license than anything else. If I have learned anything in my years of living, it is that age is only a measure for statistics, and should not ever hold us from what we want to do or God is telling us to do.

The morning of Saturday, July 26th, began with an exuberant girl waking up and tearing open an envelope from a certain someone who had sent a certain something along with a certain Bekah before she left a certain day. I couldn't wait! I had stared at the envelope pinned up to my bulletin board for 23 days before I was allowed to even consider opening it. Although, I must confess, I did think about opening and resealing...it was only briefly, and then I remembered how my mom snuck into her parents room before Christmas one year and had to fake that suprise when she "saw her gifts for the first time". Anyway, for the record, I couldn't even tell what was in the envelope by the time I had opened it because my eyes were still REMing. After a quick dash to the loo, I came back and stared at the lovely photo from my dear friend. I called him to tell him how thankful and excited I was for his artistic ability, and he didn't answer. I think he is screening my calls. My roommates wouldn't let me leave the room, so I thought, "I will call my family!". Hahah, after no one answered their phones, I called my dad's cell phone. Old faithful. Even if we can only talk for ten minutes, it was better than not talking to them at all. The conversations with Dad and Sarah began with "What are you doing today?" and I explained, "well, it's my birthday." The time change, never gets old. Once I was released into the base, I smelled a tantalizing fragrance, that can only be described as chocolate chip pancakes. A little taste of Saturday mornings at the Dinneen household, only complete with mom saying "Please make a couple without chocolate chips." What lovely friends. They had decorated a table with items from the Salvation Army bin (one man's trash is another's treasure). We had an abundance of breakfast and we were able to share with our Sports DTS friends. Slowly we were a group of 13 surrounding a six person table. It was a morning to remember. Later in the day Melisa and went into the city for bubble tea, then we had my dinner table, dessert at Darcy's house and then a sleepoveer.

The highlight of the day was after lame-non-Seattle Bubble Tea. Melisa and I rushed back to the base to meet all of our school mates and staff. We were headed to Kangaroo Island. It had been described to me as "a fenced in area with kangaroos roaming". I thought it sounded interesting, I probably would've described it as a marsupial zoo though. Anyway, we arrived at the island, which actually was a peninsula, and began filing into a fenced area. I was thinking "Okay, it is a fenced area, doubled fenced so that kangaroos don't get out". While I was discussing my brilliant revelation with someone, someone shouts "hey, there's one!". I look for the other fence...and then I get it. "Wait, are WE fenced in WITH the kangaroos?" Slowly we started closing in on the 100 meters between us and the roos. I was fascinated, taking video of little specks hopping around. We were able to get closer and closer, I was shocked. Soon we were nearly 10 meters away. I was snapping photos, posing like them, simply enamored. This was not like the zoo at all. One by one, people were getting within a meter or two of them. I was started to get a bit leary...Thinking back to Animal Planet, watching the stupid tourists attract Kangaroos with dried banana chips, and before you know the get slapped acrossed the face and are out $30,000 for plastic surgery bills, not to mention they were only able to enjoy Australia for 12 hours. So I was not planning on getting any closer. Robyn had a different plan. She grabbed me by the hand and lead me to the grazing kangaroo. Before I knew it, I was letting it sniff my hand and then stroking it's cuddly fur. Who would have thought? I practically embraced a kangaroo the first time I ever saw one. Woah...I am almost Australian.

Anyway, a memorable day nonetheless...I guess I am stating the obvious at this point.

i was thinking i should not tell you what the stench was...but then again...

I thought about exaggerating my story, but that would be lying. So in lieu of a legendary story, it was mildewed clothes. I do insist, none of us had smelled clothes this bad. They had been placed in a plastic sack, soaking, for 4 days, then taken out, left in a corner until our discovery. It is strange, Anna is rather mother-like (in the most nurturing way possible) and makes sure our room is tidy and swept. So sometime between the morning room checks and tea break, Sarah's younger sister had dumped her revolting pjs in our room. A dead rat would have been just as exciting, I was just as positive as Steve that something such as a rat or marsupial had died.

This week has been nothing short of world-shaking. Monday we did A&P of the Pelvis and then Tuesday A&P of the Placenta. How powerful it is to learn God's detail through the lense of God's eyes, not an overworked Professor's eyes. I have appreciated my year of sciences at EvCC, but to sit in a classroom, where the five other students are just as fascinated by the function of the Chorion being God's provision as I am, is incredible. Often in conclusion of lecture, we will talk about God's Character in pregnant women. The way women change, how their brains know exactly what is going on and being changing the body, I come to a loss for words, it is an awe summoning image of God bringing new life into this shattered world when a baby is developing in the woman.

This week for two days, and our first week of lectures, we have had Jules speak to us. Jules graduated from med school at the age of 22 from the UK. Either she is brilliant or the system is slightly different, probably a combination of both. She came into YWAM at the age of 24, and since then has been involved with the healthcare focus here at YWAM Perth. She believes that doctors can specialize in missions and this October will be pioneering the DRS, Doctors Reaching School. I have been blessed in the way that she humbly imparts her wisdom and love for healthcare to us. At the end of her lectures, she would ask us, "What have learned about God's character?"

Since Wednesday we have teamed up with the July DTS (Discipleship Training School) as they have been learning about the character of God. Chris Adams leads the School of Worship here at Perth, he reminds me of my cousin Keith. Some people giggled when they heard we had just been learning about the Placenta on Tuesday and then God's Character on Wednesday, but we BASers just looked at eachother and smiled, knowing we have been learning about His character since day one, just in a bit more of an anatomical perspective.

I feel awoken. We are in a broken world. All of our sins are affecting the people around us, who then sin because of what we have done to them, who then hurt others, who hurt their kids, who hurt their grandchildren. God is divinely patient. Waiting to bring us to heaven. But giving us a chance to witness to the world. Arise church, there is urgency. Shake yourself from your cozy little hide. There is urgency. This is the now. Love people like you have never loved. Reach out. Sow generously. I must know God and make Him known. These past three days have been tearful, exhausting, yet this is the beginning.

In a couple hours we have Friday Night Meeting. This is another all-base time, where we meet as the base and invite the community, essentially a church service. I look forward to these times, to open the doors, worship together. The wash machines are now available for use, so I am off.

Family and Friends, thanks for your comments, I look forward to reading the tidbits. Please keep me updated on you.

Oh right quick, a couple of prayer requests.
-Our speaker for next week cancelled due to sickness, she has been battling Typhoid recently.
-Outreach fees are due Sept. 10 (a bit sooner than I expected, but God knew all along).
-I am a cold sore mess, please pray against sickness.

Palpation Station.

I can't believe this is it. I am here. I am in Perth. I think it is finally real. Tonight we watched a moving clip with women in India and Kenya. They shared about lives that had been lost because of no skilled attendant to help their mother, aunt, sister. 600,000 deaths occur in pregnancy evary year, 98% in the developing world. These 8 minutes brought me "to", I am here. God, I will see this changed.

Mondays are quite busy for us, worship, lecture, lunch, work duties, assessment, dinner, presentations. Before presentations last night though, we had a special treat for some exhausted students, a pregnant woman! It seems as if our school studies about this species all the time, but we never actually seem them. When Marika walked into the room, we were all but shrilling. Darcy demonstrated palpation techniques on her. We listened to the fetal heart, guessed her gestation (we were two days off!) and learned the dos and don'ts of it all. Ahhh, it was a moment I will not forget. Palpation will be something we regularly do while holding antenatal clinics. Late last week we conducted a "clinic", including testing urine/haemoglobin, millions of questions, vitals, nutrition education, and much more. It was like adding the missing puzzle piece to have a real fetus and mother and see the palpation. I was on cloud nine.

Every Tuesday and Friday we have base intercession. This morning as we seeked out God's heart for us to pray, there was unity in our small group of four to pray out protection, declare victory and repress the enemy. I am just in awe of the power and authority we have in Christ. To see what happens when we set aside time to seek God for his heart. We had a beautiful time of declaring God's Character over the world, Australia, Perth, us. Seek first his face.

I think it should be at the end of next week when we find out where we are going on outreach. For sure, we will be going to Jakarta, Indonesia. The other places are still unclear. We are waiting on communication stuff.

Yesterday, I walked into our room and immediately had to leave. What had died in our room? I was positive Tod Packer had sent us a mystery parcel. Throughout the day, during breaks, we walked into the room with our shirts over our faces. We would search for the stench as long as we could stay in the room. Finally, before dinner, we found it. "It". Perhaps I should wait until the next post...Any guesses?

Paper plate night!

Tonight we had Thursday night evangelism. I have learned about YWAM Perth, that every hour of the day is organized. Organization is not a bad thing, no, not at all, in fact it is necessary when you eat gourmet lunch and dinner with 250 people. I imagined Perth being upwards of a 1000 people, although it is one of their goals, they (we) are approximately 500 people. That is including those on outreach, staff, etc.
One of my favorite things that the base does is functioning as a community, like I mentioned, everyone, families, students, staff, eat lunch and dinner together. We choose a table by subtracting the number of people in a family, example Jones-3, from the number of seats at the table. Every night you can sit with different people, different families. It is spectacular. Along with functioning as a community, at 8:00am every morning, those who do not have biological family that they are living with, meet at their assigned chore, and we clean for thirty minutes. Every morning, I clean the girls at 228's toilets. We serve one another and also keep the base tidy.
After paper plate pasta (delectable), we went to a shopping mall. It was the most diverse mall one has seen. The people I met were from India and Somalia. I feel like this will be a powerful evening, every week. God wants to bring life to so many of these people who have been displaced or are refugees. How beautiful it is to say "God loves you" to a nine month pregnant Somalian woman and see her light up. I wonder, why haven't I done this more at home?
I want to write some more, but it is bedtime and my Peruvian roommate is restless, probably because of the keyboard clicking...Goodnight all...

56K.

This is a post from a couple days ago. As for today though, I will now be a regular blogger, and on Thursday we will even have wireless speed internet. Woooooohoo!

Allow me to catch you up on today's events, we had intercession, learned about hemoglobin and then I answered two phone calls and took the mail to the post office. Besides enjoying the rainy bike ride, it gives me joy feeling like the mailman on Mr.Rogers Neighborhood, plus I can imagine Elsie and Claire yelling "when it comes it makes me yell, MAILLLLLLL!!!"

9. July. 08

Hehehe…We are listening to Regina Spektor in the classroom of Birth Attendants. I started telling the girls about how big Regina’s hair has the potential of becoming. Something in that moment clicked and Connie(a Norwegian roommate of mine) told me that she liked my hair. Molly, we are meant to be in that video. You are right…

I have decided to write my update right now even though I am sure when I will be able to upload it.

I have felt quite disconnected from home all week, it has been interesting. Yesterday, when I tried to pay my school fees I was rudely awoken when the transaction didn’t go through, I remembered that I had used my card without contacting the credit union. Anyway, they freeze it when there are unauthorized international charges. Not too short after I realized internet cost twice as much as I had expected. After I put two and two together I figured that I need the internet to contact the Credit Union to thaw out my account, but I won’t have internet until I have to cash to buy it…Catch-22? The day that I am able to upload this will be an exciting one! I am hoping to use a roommate’s computer tonight or tomorrow, but the internet has been down since they connected everyone yesterday. What an eventful day!

Traveling for 36 hours to Perth was the lengthiest plane travel I have succeeded in so far. I have included excerpts from my journal.

Wednesday, 2. July. 08, 6:15pm
“…The tears didn’t stop stinging my face until I put my stiff Toms back on after security. My stomach was growling for more than food than a butterless waffle. I settled for a Bagel Shop near the D1 gate. How strange it is to be in the Domestic Flight gate.
I am momentarily distracted by Camo man who is disturbed by the blocked gate. Heightened Security. Shocker. Patience is invaluable in airports. I don’t think he wants to hear this right now.
Anyway, Bagel Shop, as I settled to eat my crispy, Spotted Cow-esque, cheesy creation, I couldn’t really think about the recent good-byes. I knew I had cards to read, but I feared that would make it worse. I am avoiding the ugly cry at all costs. After a youthful business woman sat down to share my table, I coaxed my mouth to chew for the benefit of my stomach.
A half-a-bagel later, I was yearning for the notes in “my” bag. I packed up my uneaten lunch and headed to where I am currently sitting. One by one, the tears creeped through. The rush of memories, reminders of people who love me and words that pierce my sadness. I enjoyed the photo of Callie and I. It seems so long ago that we were the students. You are right Cal, Auston is definitely staring at Molly…I will have to let that one go now…
I unbuttoned my jean pocket and pulled out the words of my cherished sister, I felt the immediate encouragement and love that I had just left.
“today surprisingly, I feel joy and adoration. Our need of you staying is purely selfish and that is a sin against God. Today is the beginning of a great journey, a lifelong one.”
It would be selfish of me not to go, Lord, you called me.
“Our hearts will hurt only for a season. My bed will be cold only for a few days. I will be lonely only until I get brave and make friends.”
There is so much comfort in this reality. God, you have asked me to leave and I am ready. I am passionate about it. I often wonder how it will be when I leave. You know God. I am walking in your plan.
“Go and be free little lamb, God is waiting and so is the world of mums and babies…”
Lord, this family of mine. I entrust them into your hands. I am free.
Part of the airline crew sat down next to me, mid-journal. He shared that the security breech was most likely because an 8-year old kicked an emergency door. Hehe…I wouldn’t tell that to Camo man.”

9pm…I think?
"Friendly Stewardesses. Outgoing Neighbors. Claire-stare-bear seat mates. LA artists. Warm Gingersnaps. 2% Non-Smith Brothers. Faux-Athletes. Comfy “boxer briefs”. God’s peace. Heart burn. Cat nap. Stunning sunset. Wandering worries. Am I there yet?"

3. July. 08
“Happy birthday Sister Sarah! I have spent this 16-hour flight pretending to be left-handed. The man sitting next to me has daddy-long leg arm hairs. Even when I thought I had escaped them through ambidextrousness, he would take over the armrest and painfully tickle my shy forearm. The plane was quite stuffy when we boarded which was keeping me from my tendency to fall asleep before take off. Despite the humidity of the carrier, I shielded myself with a wool blanket; it seemed to be the lesser of two evils. The foot long arm hairs were invading any chance of rest, it was completely necessary to take up my guard.
Later I learn he is friendly. He calls me “love” everytime I get out of the aisle seat for him to stretch his leg. I’m guessing he is in his early 70s, traveling with his wife and her mother. I can’t imagine traveling with my residents…
Molly, I am thankful for these boxer-brief-esque underwear…even though they are made in Macau. Oh, and I have a bruise on the dorsal side on my hand from hitting my hand on the door handle. Do you feel bad for laughing? Probably not…
Guess what? We are landing, and “I keep bleeding, I keep keep bleeding love…” is on. Hahaha! We are in Sydney. Surprise! We didn’t have enough fuel to make it to Melbourne. The writing is difficult with turbulence and no tray table…daddy-long legs is crawling.”

Okay guys...I know it is just a snippit, and I haven't yet written anything about the Base or my school...there is so much to tell, and blog post by blog post it will come...