around the world in 80 days: AW80...part two!

The fact that this is my first update this year is just sad.
That might give you a hint of how busy I have been as full time staff of the Around the World Discipleship Training School of 2014.
What does that mean? Ha, let me just fill you in a bit.
January: Staff training. Weeks full of lectures, questions, learning, growing, praying, preparing, bonding. Fine-tuning our hearts and minds to walk with the Spirit so we could lead with grace.
February-April: Students came. The first few weeks were about diving in deep to building trust and relationship with each other, with Papa, and learning how to honor each other in community. We got excited for our call to missions. Then God wrecked us with revelation of His Father's heart. Sonship. Adoption. Forgiveness. So much goodness. Then there was the part where everyone got set free from shame and guilt. And we stood beside each other as we dedicated each part of our broken lives to Jesus and honored Him as Lord. We learned that life is all about relationships--first with Him, then with others. This week our minds are being completely blown away by His character and nature, and how He designed every part of history to glorify Himself and to bring us back to this lovely relationship with Him. Our eyes are being opened to the importance and significance of Jewish culture and the Bible. It's so. good.
Each week has brought a new aspect of God. And it just doesn't stop. His love is something we will never be able to fully grasp! I love this Love!
This Love which transforms and inspires. This Love which brings truth and hope and acceptance. This Love that saves us. This Love that so loved us it payed a price we can never repay. This Love is the most precious, beautiful, holy, captivating, life changing gift. This Love is why we go. It's our motivation. The world has to know this Love!

As staff, I have grown faster than I could have imagined possible. I look back to when I was a DTS student, and I am so thankful for how far God has brought me. I like who I am today. She's beautiful. I know this past year of serving in YWAM Oxford has built my character better than anything could have. Everyday I am giving, giving, giving. The only thing I expect in return is Papa's love and grace filling me up so that I can keep going. His grace is sufficient!
I have been thinking this week about how thankful I am for who He is.
He is perfect. He is truly everything we need. Each day I see my weakness, and in the times I feel so stretched I am about to break, I rejoice because HE is SO perfect! He wants me to be weak so that HIS strength can be glorified, trusted in, and given away freely. He wants us to receive it. He wants us to completely rely on it. He wants us to come to Him because the thing He desires most is a real relationship with us. Wow. If that's where the joy in life is found, I'm all in. I find myself always saying God, you can have all of me! Every part! I choose to be used by You because I desire to walk close to You. You are everything. Nothing else can satisfy. I hate these worthless idols that consume our lives. I hate pretending that things like technology or food or even other people are worth comparing or are better than knowing this perfect God who has been and always will be ridiculously, mindblowingly satisfying. Above and beyond satisfying. He speaks and stars come out of His mouth. He breathes and life is made. He thinks thoughts toward us which outnumber every grain of sand on earth. Shoot. I don't know about you, but I'm getting addicted to knowing who this God is. WHO IS THIS GOD?! Don't you want to know?? He's so fascinating!!! He's so worth it! That's why I'm giving up my life at home, my ability to choose my own way, my comforts, my stability. I'm throwing myself at Him. He can take me wherever, whenever. I want the world to experience His incomprehensible love and beauty. It's overwhelming. It's extravagant. I could go on and on. I'm forever blessed and grateful to give my everything to Him in pursuit of this relationship.

Anyways... I haven't talked much about what I actually do here as staff. But I feel like that doesn't matter so much. Long story short, I have so many responsibilities it can be quite overwhelming. Discipling students, helping run a school, planning for outreaches, and preparing to lead a group safely through Asia to share the gospel...to name a few... are things that keep me very busy. It's a rare treat to get a day to myself (let alone a few minutes...). I can see all the ways in which the Lord was preparing me all of last year for such a time as this. I am able to lead well because I know I can't do it in my own strength. Literally the only reason I can do what I'm doing is because He's my help. Thank you Jesus.

The Lord told me one day "pressure makes diamonds." I looked up how diamonds are made and, basically, it's from extreme high pressure and temperatures. Once the heat gets hot enough and the pressure is strong enough (and something to do with carbon :), the earth makes a diamond.
He told me that this is what is happening with me in this season.
Although I am under lots of pressure, it's only creating beauty.
So all of the stress, all of the missed sleep, all of the giving until there's nothing left and yet somehow finding more to give...all of it is making diamonds. It's worth it. He makes beautiful things out of us.

So there's a little update. I could write a book with all of the things He has taught us and all the fun times we have had every day for the past few months, but this will have to do!

In 10 short days we will be off to Auckland for a Circuit Rider's conference which will kick off our outreach! I cannot believe how quickly this lecture phase has gone. I'm so excited for the things God is going to do during outreach. If you want to know specific details about the outreach I will be leading, please email me at stephotography@live.com. I'd love to keep you in the loop :)

Specific prayer points!

F-I-N-A-N-C-E-S...... our school collectively still needs $60,000 (I personally still need $6,500 for my outreach) Yeah, it looks like a big number. But when you compare the number to how big God is... psssh. It's whatever.
That the Lord would continue to set up specific ministries for us as we head into Asia. Provision for places to stay, people to meet, etc.
Team unity
Protection from sickness/spiritual attacks, and safety as we travel
That above all we would remember it's all about love and not what we DO. We want each day to begin with thanksgiving and praise. We want to operate out of love and not religion.
My NZ visa ends in 2 weeks, so I will be flying to Singapore alone to wait for my team. Pray for protection and financial blessing as I'm there...also peace and rest during my few days alone (praise Jesus for that blessing!)

NOW what you've all been waiting for....PICTURES! yay.

Some art I did for our school shirts. Around the World. Our call. Matthew 28:19. Psalm 2:8.

After 14 months of living here, I am just as much in awe with New Zealand as the day I first arrived. I can't get enough. Its breathtaking beauty makes me fall in love with the Creator more and more every day. All creation proclaims His majesty!

Community living is the best. I love these ladies so much--my sisters and my friends. Susie, Sophie, Judy, and Mandi. <3

My small group--the 3 ladies I get the privilege to lead and pray for and encourage every week. Caitlin, Natalie, and Catherine. They bless me so much!