You Will Remain

"As I sit here again listening

To the resounding chatter of the kookaburras

The leaves rustling in the trees

See magpies gliding and soaring

I remember, I remember, I remember

Your holy mountain, Your promise to us

You will never leave us nor forsake us

I cling to You and I am free

From all that overwhelmes me

I choose love, I choose joy

For You are the only One who satisfies

Never will You leave us or forsake us.

You will guide us, restore us

Renew my mind and my spirit

I am not alone, for You are with me

The old will pass away, but Lord You will remain

Even if I am slain, You will remain."

"Kookaburra sits in an old gum tree"

This is a song I wrote a couple weeks ago after coming back to staff here and it sums up what I've been learning in the past few months. That God will never leave us or forsake us and that we can choose love and joy, every day. It's already inside us when we have the Holy Spirit and we get to partner with Him in love and joy. We are becoming more and more like Him every day. I love it!

The students arrived a week and a half ago and they are an amazing bunch of people. On their first day here a bunch of them started singing and playing whatever instrument they could play and more and more people joined in until it was a big worship party. I've never seen something like it and Holy Spirit's Presence was over the whole place. Mmm..

Their first week was on Identity; who they are in Christ. I love this topic. Everyone needs to know who they are in Christ; not what the world says they are, and walk out in that Truth.

Tim Tam slam night. Notice I'm the only one looking at the camera.

This last week for me has been business as usual. I've been typing away answering emails, paying bills, processing payments, writing articles for the YWAM Toowoomba website, figuring out how to update and reformat the risk management stuff they have here.

I played piano in worship on Monday and this morning at church; which was a blast. We have Intercession once a week where one of the staff will explain a topic or an issue and we will pray about it. This last week was on the sex trade; specifically with girls in Thailand and Cambodia. This issue is so close to my heart and I am so happy I will have the opportunity to partner with an organisation who rescued and loves on girls who have been in the sex trade. Thank you God!

The staff and students shared their testimonies with the group the last few days and I believe they are getting freedom from many things. God is showing many revelations to us all. 

This morning in church; the pastor got us to pray and ask God to show us our identity in Him; what He thinks of us and what our name is in Him. A few months ago; during outreach in Cambodia; the Lord had shown me what His name is for me. I'm His dear one, precious and a daughter of the King. So I asked God to show me more of who I am and what I can do with this revelation. God told me that I have been given authority and power to speak truth into other people's lives and show them that they are precious; they are God's dear ones; they are daughters and sons of the one true King. I've been thinking and praying about that for a while; but today when I was picturing me sitting in my Daddy's lap and talking with my heavenly Father; it felt so real to me. It's so great that God gets to bless us with good gifts and love on us and cuddle us in His lap.

A picture of our heavenly Father; mighty lion; protector.

The journey continues

Hello from wherever you hail!

I've been in Toowoomba, Australia for two weeks now and thought it was about time to write a blog to catch everyone up on my goings on.

On January 1st, early in the morning, I hopped on a plane to Australia. 3 plane rides, one bus ride and 36+ hours later, I was in Toowoomba. I got to talk with a wonderful lady on the bus ride from Brisbane to Toowoomba.

When I got here I found out that I will be doing Admisssions and accounts work for my ministry contribution. I'm so happy to be using my skills and gifts to bless this base!

I'm also going to be a part of the Freedom Project which I believe I've talked about in previous posts. We will be partnering with Destiny Rescue to raise money and support to rescue girls from the sex trade and bring them into homes where they will be loved and cared for and know more about Jesus and their identity in Christ. Then they will get training in a career they want to go into and be able to make a difference in the world. Our goal is to speak in 100 churches and raise $15,000 to support and rescue girls in the next two years. I'm so excited to be a part of this project this year.

I also will be helping out a bit with the rural and coastal project. I was with a team this Sunday in a little town called Cambooya. We led a church service; sang some worship songs, me and another staff spoke on identity in Christ, and we got to talk with the congregation members afterwards. They are so amazing and welcoming. I hope we can go there again.

Their goals are to evangilise and bring the kingdom of God through music ministry in rural and coastal towns of Australia. They are planning on doing ministry in Farmer's markets, schools, churches, street evangilism, basically wherever they can.

The students start coming on Thursday, so we are all getting ready for them in different ways. Part of my job is to get the registration table set up for the students when they arrive and get their last things they need done (like visas, insurance, trave info. etc) The DTS staff have been praying for each student individually and have been preparing their rooms and the base.

Us interns have been getting orientation and training in the last two weeks and have two more times to go for training. We've learned everything from leadership to conflict resolution.  During the week, we have worship and Bible reading to start our day and have a team building time once a week.

Also, it's been pretty hot during the week, so we have a scheduled time after lunch where we can swim in the pool (three years in the making and finally finished. Yay!) or just relax.

I haven't taken many pictures so far, but here's a few for your viewing pleasure. :)

                                        In Vancouver airport by the giant fish tank

                                                          View from dining hall

                        The view from my desk in the office (can you see the printer?)

                                                  Ouside view on a cloudy day

Have a great day and God Bless! Thanks for your prayers and support and I'd love to here more about your happenings. Praise reports, prayers, anything,  I'd love to hear from you.