Keep your eyes on the reward my friends. the reward is relationship with God, not the land.
I was able to spend copious amounts of time with my family this weekend. We sailed to Friday Harbor of the San Juan Islands on the Washington State Ferry and resided in a one bedroom loft that was nestled above Farenheit 48 (I thought 451 would have been a better number choice). The highlight of the weekend was wandering aimlessly amidst a breathtaking island on a tandem bicycle, entrusting my life into my fearless 15-year-old brother.
Last night, while bowling the worst game of my life, I broke down in tears. My dad was poking around some casual questions about my preparations for leaving. After he got up to bowl, my mom intuitively asked me what was wrong. In the instant I heard "Wh--", my lacrimal puncta were overflowing and I was bawling.
It makes my dad distraught to think of me leaving, yet I know he would not want me to deny the plans of God. We must obey. Even when it hurts. There is no doubt that I will get on that plane in nine days, but I need to work on understanding how it would feel if someone who was part of my daily life, up and left, like Pat or my Mom, or Dad, for one year.
I am excited. I shared my year of itinerary with my neighbor's tonight. God is good, he is moving. He is moving in Pioneer Trails.
I love you family. Tomorrow marks the start of VBS and a slightly exhausting week at the Dinneen house. w00t!
P.S. Claire and Elsie are here. Upon bringing them to the house, Mom called (to see how close we were to being at the house). Elsie and Claire wanted to take turns talking. They were passing the phone back and forth (sharing nicely) leaving mom confused at the rapid conversation changes. At one point mom said "Claire...." and recieved the response, "This is not claire, this is Elsie.......(long pause)...i love you forever......here you go sister" (hands claire the phone) Oh I adore them.
Monday, June 23, 2008
Monday, June 16, 2008
shimbliesssss...
If you would like to recieve my updates/blog updates, send me your email! I leave for Australia (and other various countries) for about a year, beginning on July 2nd.
Sunday, June 15, 2008
simon and sheldon
I just returned home from a trip to Sea-Tac. Tonight I was able to spend time with Sheldon and Simon. It is so special to be re-united with friends and meet new ones, especially when you already have so much in common. Simon was leaving tonight for a trip to Minnesota to spend time with friends before heading to Colorado to meet his outreach team. He described the team as his new family, although he has never met them. These are the people that he will be living and working with in Afghanistan for the next two years. 8 Adults and 4 kids, the oldest being 5. Go God! I am so proud of Simon.
Anyway, this was a fun evening full of laughter, reminising, Genglish and too many chocolate chip cookies.
Thank you for my friends Jesus.
Anyway, this was a fun evening full of laughter, reminising, Genglish and too many chocolate chip cookies.
Thank you for my friends Jesus.
Wednesday, June 11, 2008
My First Support Letter
My Dear Friends…
I hope this letter finds your family in a time of realizing God’s powerful love. This year has come and gone packed full of excitement, growth and adventure. I must tell you; it feels like I just got home from Herrnhut, Germany last week.
I returned home from my Discipleship Training School (DTS) through Youth With A Mission (YWAM) late April of 2007 and since then have been in school full-time to complete Nursing School pre-requisites. I have also been involved in youth and prayer ministry at my home church and working at an assisted living facility. Most importantly, I have enjoyed each day with my family. Molly and Auston were married just a couple weeks ago, which was a special day for all.
Allow me to catch you up from life this past year…It was while I was in Germany and then in the Democratic Republic of Congo that God began to show me more clearly where I could go with my passion for health care, Africa and unjustified treatment of women, just to name a few. I began the process of learning that as long as I had dreams and was willing to surrender them, they would be fulfilled. God has given me these passions because they are also His passions. He is using all of us to carry His passions through the earth. Somewhere in the many perspective-changing lectures, I was introduced to a YWAM school where the students went throughout the world and assisted in the birth of babies. Then, as I was in D.R.C., I actually had the chance to work with pregnant women and connect with them in this delicate point in their life. Not only was I learning about birthing and the challenges of newborns, but also the mistreatment of women and the rate of rape in Sub-Saharan Africa. These facts and experiences fanned the flame and peaked my interest in this “midwifery school” someone had mentioned to me.
I returned home a bit over a year ago, and this school, which I now know is the Birth Attendant School (BAS), has never left my thoughts. It is offered only at the Perth YWAM base in Australia. It consists of a 12-week lecture phase; another 12-week lecture phase and then two 12-week field assignments. After I learned more about the actual topics of the school and that is exists to establish mother and child health clinics while reaching women through prayer and their pregnancy, I was ready to apply. The past year has been spent praying over this school and in March I received my acceptance.
My estimated budget for the next year is $10,000. Between flights, living expenses and school expenses, the dollars add up. To ask for your financial support, as humbling as it is, is one of the most adventurous things I have done yet. At this point, my next year is completely in the hands of God. God has laid out the steps for me to go to Australia. He provided a job for me this past year, He provided a flight, and has provided a church that is behind me and committed to supporting me with prayer and financially.
I have been reading a book recently, talking about why missionaries need to ask for money and what would happen if we just instantly got a check from Microsoft for the exact amount that we needed. The author talks about the relationship that is built between two people when one person is entrusted with the other’s earnings. No longer are they just friends, but they have built a new bond, you begin to pray for them differently, you want to update them, you know that you are supported by them and they want to see you deliver the word of God to the lost. Through this connection, prayer becomes habitual and the body of Christ is built up. All in all, God is glorified. Since Australia is where God has the next chapter of my life planned out, I believe, someway, somehow, the financial support will be provided. I believe going away is not just about midwifery training, but learning and growing in faith, depending on God for my daily bread, and this money thing is the first part.
Although money will play a role in my time away, prayer is what it is all about. More than any amount of money, I covet your prayers. It is through prayer that the world begins to change. Prayer is where it all starts. As Charles Bent stated, “The real end of prayer is not so much to get this or that single desire granted, as to put human life into full and joyful conformity with the will of God.” We must become weak so He can become our strength.
I will be leaving for Australia on the second of July. It is approaching rapidly! If you want to commit to be a partner in prayer, please email me with your commitment. If you want to commit to be a financial supporter, you can email me with your commitment or you can send your one time donation to my home address. There are more specifics in the margin.
Thank you for the time spent in reading this letter. I am so thankful for the people that God has placed in my life, and excited that you are all here with me as I begin this next adventure! Please keep in contact!
Your friend,
Bekah Dinneen
I hope this letter finds your family in a time of realizing God’s powerful love. This year has come and gone packed full of excitement, growth and adventure. I must tell you; it feels like I just got home from Herrnhut, Germany last week.
I returned home from my Discipleship Training School (DTS) through Youth With A Mission (YWAM) late April of 2007 and since then have been in school full-time to complete Nursing School pre-requisites. I have also been involved in youth and prayer ministry at my home church and working at an assisted living facility. Most importantly, I have enjoyed each day with my family. Molly and Auston were married just a couple weeks ago, which was a special day for all.
Allow me to catch you up from life this past year…It was while I was in Germany and then in the Democratic Republic of Congo that God began to show me more clearly where I could go with my passion for health care, Africa and unjustified treatment of women, just to name a few. I began the process of learning that as long as I had dreams and was willing to surrender them, they would be fulfilled. God has given me these passions because they are also His passions. He is using all of us to carry His passions through the earth. Somewhere in the many perspective-changing lectures, I was introduced to a YWAM school where the students went throughout the world and assisted in the birth of babies. Then, as I was in D.R.C., I actually had the chance to work with pregnant women and connect with them in this delicate point in their life. Not only was I learning about birthing and the challenges of newborns, but also the mistreatment of women and the rate of rape in Sub-Saharan Africa. These facts and experiences fanned the flame and peaked my interest in this “midwifery school” someone had mentioned to me.
I returned home a bit over a year ago, and this school, which I now know is the Birth Attendant School (BAS), has never left my thoughts. It is offered only at the Perth YWAM base in Australia. It consists of a 12-week lecture phase; another 12-week lecture phase and then two 12-week field assignments. After I learned more about the actual topics of the school and that is exists to establish mother and child health clinics while reaching women through prayer and their pregnancy, I was ready to apply. The past year has been spent praying over this school and in March I received my acceptance.
My estimated budget for the next year is $10,000. Between flights, living expenses and school expenses, the dollars add up. To ask for your financial support, as humbling as it is, is one of the most adventurous things I have done yet. At this point, my next year is completely in the hands of God. God has laid out the steps for me to go to Australia. He provided a job for me this past year, He provided a flight, and has provided a church that is behind me and committed to supporting me with prayer and financially.
I have been reading a book recently, talking about why missionaries need to ask for money and what would happen if we just instantly got a check from Microsoft for the exact amount that we needed. The author talks about the relationship that is built between two people when one person is entrusted with the other’s earnings. No longer are they just friends, but they have built a new bond, you begin to pray for them differently, you want to update them, you know that you are supported by them and they want to see you deliver the word of God to the lost. Through this connection, prayer becomes habitual and the body of Christ is built up. All in all, God is glorified. Since Australia is where God has the next chapter of my life planned out, I believe, someway, somehow, the financial support will be provided. I believe going away is not just about midwifery training, but learning and growing in faith, depending on God for my daily bread, and this money thing is the first part.
Although money will play a role in my time away, prayer is what it is all about. More than any amount of money, I covet your prayers. It is through prayer that the world begins to change. Prayer is where it all starts. As Charles Bent stated, “The real end of prayer is not so much to get this or that single desire granted, as to put human life into full and joyful conformity with the will of God.” We must become weak so He can become our strength.
I will be leaving for Australia on the second of July. It is approaching rapidly! If you want to commit to be a partner in prayer, please email me with your commitment. If you want to commit to be a financial supporter, you can email me with your commitment or you can send your one time donation to my home address. There are more specifics in the margin.
Thank you for the time spent in reading this letter. I am so thankful for the people that God has placed in my life, and excited that you are all here with me as I begin this next adventure! Please keep in contact!
Your friend,
Bekah Dinneen
Sunday, June 01, 2008
i love my church.
friends. love. community. all of the above. to be part of northlake is something special.
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