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!
Thursday, August 28, 2008
Wednesday, August 27, 2008
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!
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!
Monday, August 25, 2008
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.
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.
Wednesday, August 20, 2008
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 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?
Sunday, August 17, 2008
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!
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!
Thursday, August 14, 2008
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.
Tuesday, August 05, 2008
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.
Sunday, August 03, 2008
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.
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.
Monday, July 28, 2008
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.
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.
Friday, July 25, 2008
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.
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.
Tuesday, July 22, 2008
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?
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?
Thursday, July 17, 2008
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...
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...
Tuesday, July 15, 2008
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...
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...
Thursday, July 10, 2008
not my computer...therefor very quick!
I am alive! I have been blogging on my computer and will upload them as soon as my computer has YWAM Internet. I appreciate everyone's emails and comments...Soon you will know what is going on here!
Tuesday, July 01, 2008
i suppose you could start the hourly countdown...but please don't.
I'm leaving on a jet plane.
Last night I was able to say farewell, Bon Voyage, Bis Später to several of my friends...What an out of body experience it is to imagine not seeing people for a year. To not be in my house for a year would alone be life-changing, let alone living in another world. For now, I expect to have my heart broken for the preventable death of babies. I expect to meet people that will reflect Jesus in a way I have not see yet in my life. I expect to see babies raised from the dead through God's power and women come to the Lord. I expect to pray knowing every second of every life is in God's hands.
It was joyful to be connected with all the people I care about at once and watching them connect with one another gave me the urge to be a fly on the wall and listen to their conversations.
Thank you Lord for surrounding me with people who love you and love me.
Last night I was able to say farewell, Bon Voyage, Bis Später to several of my friends...What an out of body experience it is to imagine not seeing people for a year. To not be in my house for a year would alone be life-changing, let alone living in another world. For now, I expect to have my heart broken for the preventable death of babies. I expect to meet people that will reflect Jesus in a way I have not see yet in my life. I expect to see babies raised from the dead through God's power and women come to the Lord. I expect to pray knowing every second of every life is in God's hands.
It was joyful to be connected with all the people I care about at once and watching them connect with one another gave me the urge to be a fly on the wall and listen to their conversations.
Thank you Lord for surrounding me with people who love you and love me.
Monday, June 23, 2008
long car rides and too much Ben and Jerry's...
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.
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 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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