what you've all been waiting for...

I know you have been on the edge of your seat. I sure have been! In about 5-ish weeks, my co-leader Seth and I (pictured below) will be packing our backpacks, gathering our three students and heading for Thailand!

That's right folks, I'm spending my Christmas holiday in a country that is like nothing I have ever been in. Pad Thai and tea, Thai people and the beach.

There will be more to come when the plans and such start coming together. Seth and I are excited! Sorry, but it is time for bed.

Life itself is the most wonderful fairytale of all.

I have a confession.

I love stories. I love the art of story telling. It is an art, you know. If you are acquainted with me, you always hear me ask you to tell a story. You learn so much about a person when they tell a story. And what person doesn't love to talk about their life and the funny, hurtful or amazing things that happen? That is one reason I love writing a blog, although I wish it wasn't just me writing. This thing isn't about me. It's about sharing, and as my roommate here in New Zealand says, "sharing is caring." That's some good wisdom there.

Do you have a good story to share? Well come on, tell us! Write it in the comment area.

God made man because he loves stories. —Rabbi Nachman of Bratzlev

If you keep telling the same sad small story, you will keep living the same sad small life. —Jean Houston

sheep feel funny

Many of my posts remark on how quickly time flies. It is true though and it somehow always amazes me. Think about it. What were you doing a year ago? How many people hadn't known one another or the idea of another? Babies, future husbands/wives?

Well this week I had the wonderful privilege to step into the shoes of most Kiwis and feed baby lambs. Here are some pictures below taken from one of our students named Natalie. Good eh?

We have learned so much this week from a man who helps run the Tauranga House of Prayer (ever heard of the International House of Prayer; this is the New Zealand branch). This guy is unbelievable, here is his blog. I will see if I can put up some of the mp3's of his lectures. It will make your heart and mind explode. He talked about the mercy of Jesus in Peter's life. Have you looked at His mercy? He desires it. How can the Son of God desire mercy when so much of what we do involves an epic fail? I consider myself truly blessed to be doing what I am doing (even if I can't have Mexican food every day).

I'll leave you with some Coldplay lyrics. Music speaks so much to me about life, about God, about His love, and people.

And high up above or down below
When you're too in love to let it go
But if you never try you'll never know
Just what you're worth

Fix you by Coldplay

to keep you up to speed

It seems some don't understand why I am here in New Zealand. If this is the case, e-mail me! I love talking about the organization YWAM and what our focus is in volunteering our life away. Why are we laying our lives down to have an adventure with Jesus?

*Pause, I just felt another Earthquake. Yikes. Anyway...

It has been a fun week. Our lectures this past week have been focused on the Holy Spirit. A highly debated part of church life. It was really wonderful to get more of a grasp on how the Spirit of God moves and how we can hear Him.

On Friday, my team and I headed for the park to do what Kiwis call a sausage sizzle. It is similar to a bbq from back home, minus the yummy hot dogs. Kiwis don't know what a good hot dog is like, but a sizzle is a great way to meet people.

This morning, the pastor at the local baptist church we attend, talked on Jesus being the Author and Finisher of our Faith and because of this fact our hearts should not be troubled. We start to freak out when we take our circumstances into our own hands. Hopefully, when things get crazy, you and I can remember this. If this isn't clear or you have more questions, let me know.

I like pictures.

I think pictures can be better than words sometimes. Here are a few pictures of life recently.

Above is a picture of my small group and I. We already know how to have fun. Mary Lloyd is on the bottom, then Laurie and me.

Here is our group that went to stay in a hostel together. We were learning to live our life with Christ and how to love backpackers and travelers.

I hope you all are well. Please just pray that our lives keep getting wrecked for anything else but Jesus.

God the barista, huh?

It is that time again. My Friday the 15th has come to a close, but for my best friend Andrea back in Tulsa, it is just starting. Today she is getting married. She is a major reason as to why I am in New Zealand. Her encouragement pushed me onto the plane through many tears. So, happy wedding day Rea (Andrea's nickname)!!!

The school has come into full swing. The students are just beginning to see how BIG God is. They are just scratching the surface of His love for them and every single person on Earth. It is fantastic to watch. I had my first small group time with my two lovely, American girls, which was something I got really excited about when I found out I was coming back. It is a time for a few ladies to get together, pray, talk, and share some food. So what did we do? We made s'mores of course. I learned this from the best!

We also visited a hostel to learn to live life intentionally. God showed us He is bigger than what we say or do. It all is on Him.

With all this said...I am not sure when I am coming home. My life is getting wrecked. I may be doing things with YWAM for a long time. Have you ever had a really good cup of coffee, say a latte, but when you drink it from a place that doesn't do it the way you enjoyed it...it just isn't as good? It isn't that it was bad, it was good, but you have tasted something better. UH-OH...my life is the latte and God is the amazing barista (I promise that I have not had too much coffee and written this). We shall see where life takes each of us. but until then I am off to bed and you are waking up for a wonderful Friday in America.

goodnight for now.

haven't you always?

I am happy to update that all our twenty students are here! From the get-go these lovelies have been ready to go for it. I am so excited to be a part of this, to watch them grow, to become more free and to fall more in love with the One who made them. God is so cool!

I can not put into words how thankful I am of you, my friends and family, who support me to be here. It is an honor to represent Christ at the Ends of the Earth.

More to update soon, but I will leave you with a song by my all time favorite band, waterdeep.

"Haven't you always wanted to know | how it would feel just to let it all go?| Haven't you wondered, in line for a ticket| whether you'll get in to witness the show?

The Main House (which is where I live)

That is my friend Laura gardening. She is amazing and I wish you could know everyone.

Fellow staff member and roommate (we have a bunk bed), Deni. I used to always want a bunk bed as a kid. Who knew I would be sharing one at twenty three? Love it.