I've been kind of failing at my goal of blogging once a week at least. Hmmph. My apologies, friends. Here's to the New Year! 2011! I'm interested to see what this year holds. What's God want to do this year? hmm, there's something to ponder.

The base is pretty quiet at the moment. For those of you who haven't read my newsletter.... myself with 5 other girls have taken on a project that has turned out to be a bit bigger than we were initially expecting. We're moving to live in another flat on our property. We had Monday off work because of the New Year and so we took the long weekend are re-painting the place.. Now, it's not a big flat. It's a 2 bedroom, 1 bathroom cute little flat but have you ever tried to paint stipple ceilings before (not sure if that is the correct terminology) but that bumpy textured stuff that takes forever to paint and a heap of paint to properly cover? Ooooh, man. It's been a good-bonding time.

I'm glad to say that we're hoping to be moved in this weekend! All of us are looking forward to just sitting in our new place and I'm really excited to get settled!

 I think for this post, I'll leave it at that. I'm getting ready to skype maa daddio here in a few minutes:-) And just in case anyone was wondering, yes it has been raining a lot over here and yes, some flooding has been taking place in certain places in Australia but Townsville has been fine, no floods here:-0

Would love to hear from YOU! Sending my love xx

 



 
 

So who is looking forward to Christmas? Can you believe it is next Saturday already? I hardly can. I'm excited though! We have a Christmas Eve party next Friday night and then will be eating a yummy, big meal together in the air-conditioned auditorium on Christmas Day:-) The girls I live with and I will probably eat breakfast together and do our Secret Santa exchange together Christmas morning, too. OOhhh, fun:)

It's really crazy how often things change around here. At the moment, the current October DTS, is getting ready to go to Papua New Guinea for outreach a few days after Christmas. Along with the School of Music and Missions (SOMM) and Introduction to Primary Healthcare (IPHC) who are also going to be going on outreach come a week and a few days or so.

The January quarter starts in about, oh...just less than a month! Then we'll have a new wave of 60ish students coming through for either the Classic Discipleship Training School, Injustice-focused Discipleship Training School, and also the Bible Core Course all starting mid-January. Man! :-)

This means that things in the office will change as well, as 3 of my friends here in Registrar will be staffing one of the DTS's this January. Losing three...gaining one. I'm thinking it may be a busy time, but I'm also wanting to be expectant and see what God is wanting to do in this new quarter... and new year.

Lots of love to you all:)

xxx

Ted is a teenage boy who comes to the youth program we run at YWAM Townsville each Saturday. A few months back there was a youth camp down south a ways that was a get away and a chance for the crew who are involved with Youth Street to learn more about God and have some fun with friends while doing so.

Over the few days, Ted's one mate wanted to buy a hat but didn't have enough money on him, so Ted lent him some money, with the understanding that he would be reembersed.

Fast forward to last week, and Ted still was not reembersed and it had started to become a semi-big deal to these guys. Ted wrestled with whether or not to let it go or chase his mate to get reembersed. He had been talking with a youth leader about all this, when she simply said, " well, if I was in your shoes, I'd just pray about it and ask Jesus what to do, and remember it is always better to be generous"

So about a half an hour later, Ted texted her back saying "So, I've been praying about what to do, and I just think Jesus wants me to let it go and give him the hat."

Cool, hey? Ted was able to bless and give to his friend. Jesus does cool things, and this story is your story just as much as it is mine.

• We have a christmas tree now, and I am a big fan of it
• 50c cones at mcdonald's rock
• It's not as hot and it's way more rainy
• skype is a genius invention
• I actually enjoy settlers more than I realized
• god's grace is sufficient, this is true even when I don't feel like it is
• I'm grateful for new friends and getting to know new people
• the past week has been quiet b/c the different schools were all camping
• I went to Magnetic Island for the first time yesterday, very beautiful
• i miss chilling with my brothers
• I did eat pumpkin pie on Thanksgiving
• i have the work phone this weekend and no one called in the middle of the night!
• I'm the April and October Registrar
• mosiquitoes suck
• worship night on the ship was awesome the other night
• i'm excited for holiday festivities to begin
• i'm so thankful for my family and friends
• i had one of my favorite work phone conversations this week!
• I got my Aussie license but haven't driven yet. Manual? Left side of the road?
• i reallyy like working in registrar and i really like the people i work with
• I'm reminded recently of how I need to trust God
• the july dts is back from outreach for a week before graduation
• I want to get involved with a church here in Townsville
• god is faithful and god is patient
• We have frequent cockroaches who visit us at home
• after two weeks of not doing laundry... i now have clean clothes again
• I really enjoy rain
• i tie-dyed a tank top last weekend
• Milk really does expire, around the expiration date at that
• from what I can see.. today will be a low-key sunday.
  

Bit of a new style of an update, with a little bit of this and a little bit of that.


                                                                            

 

 

Hey friends. Hope things are just peachy with you all ! :-) I've been enjoying this work week thus far. This afteranoon we had a registrar prayer time, which was cool. It's a unifying thing to come together to pray and I think it is exciting to know and realize more and more that God does hear and answer prayers.

One thing you guys could be joining with us and praying for, is simply that enquirers who God wants to come join us here, will really realize it is right for them to come. Myself along with Maddie, here in the office, seem to be talking to quite a few people who are currently waiting on God as to whether or not a Discipleship Training School is something they should pursue in the near future.

It's exciting to think of how God confirms things though, and I'm excited and hopeful to hear stories from these guys. I know God does speak and confirm things. It's cool to think back to before I came over here for DTS and how God confirmed "Australia" to me time and time again. I saw Australian things, pictures, etc all over the place! Pray for them to recognize God's voice and for His peace to guide them in these next few weeks and months.

Phone calls are getting better for me as well! I think I mentioned it before, how it is not necessarily in my comfort zone, but I'm glad to be in a position where I am stretched. And I love when I have a good connection with someone on the phone! It's the best!

I have very much an office job that entails heaps of phone calling and emailing but I truly do love it! And I love the people I work with as well. Brits overtake this office (well, there are only two), one Aussie, me the American, and our leader is South African. Fun times:-)

I'd love to hear from you guys! I wish I could have comments on these blog posts, but aw well. Shoot me an email if you'd like, that'd be awesome!

Lots of love!

Several different things have been going through my mind a lot lately and honestly, I've been feeling like I'm a bit on a roller coaster, up and down, and a tad "bleh". 

But Jesus knows what I need. It is amazing how much God uses good friendships and His timing is just so great. I walked to the park today with my friend, Katy and had a little one-on-one, which was very much needed. Man, I love that girl.

Thank you Jesus for amazing friends, meanwhile conversations, and laughter.

Matthew 6: 11 "...Give me today my daily bread..." 

 God knows what I need, today, and He knows what I need tomorrow, and the next day, etc. :)

This week really has flown by. Weird how that seems to happen sometimes. This week in the office has been a good one over all.Registrar has potential to be an extremely busy area to work in but I haven't been feeling overwhelmed with my work load at all yet, probably b/c I am still in a transition stage.

I'm loving it for many different reasons. I know God is wanting to grow me in this time, and give me more of a heart for others. I'm loving that I'm in a postion where I can help, encourage, and pray for people as they feel God is leading them into missions!

It has been a crazy few weeks around this place, as I've mentioned briefly before I believe. We've had a few different seminars happening on base so there has just been many extra people around. The majority of people leave this weekend, so next week will go back to being a bit more normal.

The medical ship has returned from PNG! Last night we had a celebration night and invited people from Townsville to come celebrate with us. We were able to share with them some stories, videos, etc.

If you get the chance, watch this recap video from the medical outreach. I love it! And guys, your support in my life goes way beyond just what I am doing on base. When you think wholistically, these stories become your stories as well!

Well, that's all for now, friends. Got to save my computer battery's life so that I can skype my mom in the morning from home! Yay:))

I climbed the hill tonight! Castle Hill is about a 5 minute walk from base, now, when I say hill, I basically mean mountain. :) But I really just needed to get away and be alone with God. So good. I was panting a little bit and at times, didn't feel like walking all the way to the top but pushed through anyways and made it. SO nice and so peaceful, breezy and all.

I think a lot of times with the journey of life, I try to go go go and get to the end point or whatever, and then feel disappointed when I don't get where I want to be fast enough. But if I focus so much on that then I will miss what God is doing throughout the journey.

I think it's important to look at how far you have come and keep pushing on and through. It's about getting up when you fall down, and not letting discouragement stop you.

One thing God has been speaking to me recently is from Joshua chapter 1, in the Bible. "Be strong and courageous, for the Lord is with you wherever you go."

It's a promise that I want to more and more let be a truth that settles in my heart, not just something I know in my head.

Here's a little update on the youth aspect of ministry here in Townsville. Youth Street is a program run every Saturday afternoon- into evening, for the local teens in the area. I love it and last weekend, reminded me of this!

I'm on the Sports team. Which means that every Saturday afternoon, myself, along with a few other staff members get to spend time with a bunch of teens, playing... what do you know... SPORTS!:) It's so much more than that as well though, it's about encouraging them, and building relationship with them as well.

This past week we had all the teams together for an afternoon filled with a water balloon tank war! Check out these photos.. ..




Lots of fun!

Til next time
xx

Registrar! We found out our work areas yesterday. For at least the next few months I will be working In the Registrar Office. This will be meaning I will be working with prospective students, and inquiries... Making a lot of phone calls, emails, answering questions, encouraging future students, and being excited with them!

I'm excited and can see God's hand in this placement! I think it will be stretching in some ways for me, but I am looking forward to it! And excited for my fellow-workers in the office; I'm sure we will also have our fair share of fun!