Undefined

What a week, I was just talking with a friend of mine and he was saying how peaceful this past week was. Thinking back it really was a peaceful week, but it was weird. I had my days all mixed up. One thing I learned this week is that I suck at hiding my emotions. I just feel blessed to have some good friends around me that sit and listen. Or rather I have one really good friend who is persistent and makes me talk about why I was feeling that way..... Anyways everyone has bad days and interesting days we are aloud to have those days, they keep us sane. Lets see, I have a roommate now which I'm totally stoked for she is amazing. We were students together and she staffed this past year. One of the head ladies in charge is gone and Jeremy our main man is gone as well. So that means there is added responsibility on a few of us for what needs to be done and who's going to do it. It's good though, I was at least prepared this time for what I need to pick up and leave alone.

Let me just say that I love small towns!!!! They are amazing!!!! Granted small towns are different here than back home. In the sense of culture and the people there. We had a fair thing today for the people from Christchurch to come out and enjoy some games, free food, and a chance to see the country side! So I was helping the chick in charge, in other words the second go to person. We as in YWAM volunteered to run the games and such and to cook the 4000 sausages that were donated. When we started it was fun, running around and checking on everyone, getting the prizes. For the skate competition I gave them some chocolate but the boys wanted something a bit more so I went to the supermarket where I know the owner and I asked him if we could get some Ice Pops for prizes. He looked at me and said "Courtney, because it's you, follow me..." I was like ok, not really knowing what to think. "Here there's about forty, no charge, if you need more just come see me..." Thanks!!! Building relationships with local businesses really rocks! Yesterday I forgot to order meat for the weekend and Friday was a holiday so they weren't open, anyways I called down and they were like giving me a hard time but that's just because they know me so well. They hooked me up pretty well! It reminds  me of home and how local business if you know them well enough will help you out when you need help. I never realized how many people I knew from town until today. It really does feel like home with how amazing the people are. Even more so because at home it takes a little longer to build that relationship unless if you are a big business.

So what's been on my heart lately.... My future, big surprise that's probably on everyone's heart. But really what to do or where to go. The one thing with YWAM is that it changes so much that you have to be flexible in your plans. From day to day and month to month. You could decide one thing in the morning then it will change by 4pm. Honestly it's crazy! I did have one revelation this week and that is, back in June - August I was really praying to be a woman after God's own heart. Just like David, I was really pressing into David and his story and how he lived his life. In some ways I feel like David. Most of the time I think to myself, "I'm small but I'm mighty!" I like surprising people because all that stuff doesn't matter, whatever you put into it is what you'll get out of it! Anyways to get back on topic, David was a leader among the people, he would come alongside people. He was over them but he gave all the authority back to God, therefore he was blessed even more. The people loved him because he didn't demand things over people but let God speak through him. So what I realized is that when I have people in the kitchen or wherever I am, I come alongside them and work with them. Sure I do all the dirty work that they do because if they have to do it then why don't I. I like working with them. That's how I learn best, when people come alongside me and show me how to do things. I don't do well when people come and demand things from me. That's from years of learning though.

So after another great week we start another week tomorrow. I'm still on the worship team which pumps me up for the week. I love slapping the base Monday mornings. It's one way I worship God, I can bring glory to him by playing the base. Anyways folks I think that's enough rambling for one day... Love to you all!

yeppers

So I am sitting on my bed eating an orange thinking about my past few weeks and my day. Honestly it felt like I blinked and the day was over. Where did it go? Anyways with a little Taylor Swift rocking, I suddenly thought man, I haven't listened to country music in like a month. I went on a country music fast and didn't even know it! Home has been on my mind lately, when I think of home I think of lakes, canoeing, green trees, and fresh air. Since my parents moved to MN that's where my mind goes. Until tonight when I switched on the country music all the thoughts of tractors, fields, and the amazing smell of cow manure came back in my mind. It'll do that to you I guess. Fathers heart is the topic this week. I am sitting in on Thursday lecture, I'm super stoked! Get some lovin' on!
So I'm not gonna lie, so far this school it has been a real growing experience. I have some major growing pains but you know God always delivers and gives me more strength than I know what to do with! He takes what I can't handle and helps me with the rest. Like in cooking people ask me all the time "How do you do this when you're only 21? & I don't know how you do this?!" My answer is always the same, I just do what I can and God blesses me in the rest. Most people think I'm older than I am, not by how I look but by how I act. It is a compliment when people are like I thought you were 25. But I think I'm at the age now where it's good to be my age, I don't want to be younger or older just content with where I am. It is amazing how God uses people though, when I think of the people that are in the different positions here and how most of us have little to no experience. Which is good because that's where the grace for one another comes in. When you're all in the same boat you might as well embrace the fact that we all have our learners plates on!
Anyways folks these are just random thoughts on my mind.... scary I know... (not really)

Organized Mess?

Well what can I say but it has been a while since I last blogged. This week has flown by without a doubt. I feel like I have just blinked and boom, it’s gone! The title of this blog hit me when I walked into my house and a pile of messy dirty dishes were waiting patiently in the sink. With 6 girls in the house you are guaranteed to have this problem. I was thinking, while washing them that “hmm, none of these dishes are mine, what if I just organized this mess and left it for the people that they belong to!?” Then I got my senses back and figured no Courtney, they would do the same for me. It has been challenging this week with day to day things but also more earthquakes happening, the one in Japan was 8.9 one of the biggest recorded. All these natural disasters are terrible but I feel, looking on the brighter note, that they do bring us closer together. It brings a sort of love between people that can’t really be explained. It touches my heart the way God uses these type of things to show people love and what to be grateful for.

Lately I have been catching myself saying "kiwi" words in the kitchen. I worked with an american lady this past week when I am used to working with a kiwi lady. Lets just say I am a confused individual right now. It's hard to switch back and forth like that! With all these new students in it's great getting to know them all. In some ways I feel I have an advantage because I get to see them all twice a day in the lines for food. In many ways each school that comes through here are similar, in the first couple weeks everything is new and foreign in some things. For me when I watch from my sanctuary, it's like they are all these new shiny things that everyone likes to play with and wants to play with. It's like on base staff when we get a new base staff member we all just want to get to know them and hang out with them. Sooner or later the newness wears off and you become comfortable with the fact that they are on your team and that they are family. All the students or "new shiny things" will become part of the family in their own time 

This turn over was pretty quick, I would have really liked another week or so between the schools. Although I do feel that in this season, it is one that God has been preparing me for. Which is good but I have some major growing pains, as do we all in our own timing. It's good though, with everything that's happening around me I feel very content. I feel like there are tornado's around me and I need to remain calm and content for the sake of others. It probably wouldn't be a good idea if I started spinning around. That really wouldn't be an organized mess. 

Anyways, I hope everyone at home is doing well, praying for you all! 

 This is Cathedral Square, the centre of Christchurch. What it used to look like

 

We used to do ministry here every Friday night

Now this is what it looks like.....

I wear a demeanor made of...

Oh my goodness, thinking today at how horrible it is that I haven't updated you guys! I'm sorry!!!! Things are going pretty good, the first week of the school is over! Thank the Lord! 100 people are in my back pocket for feeding, it's pretty easy just another pot or that's my thinking. Other people stress about it and I just go with the flow of what needs to be done instead of thinking about it just do it! One of the backpacker girls stayed on, for this past week as well so we bunked up in my room which really made me miss a roommate. It was so great having her. We dropped her off at the airport this morning at 4:30 we left and she had trouble with her flight issues so we didn't get back until 7am. I slept for 2 hours then got up and started working. Thankfully everyone was in Christchurch today helping with clean up so it was like a ghost town around here, which not gonna lie was so nice! Isaac leaves tomorrow which is sad because I feel like I'm loosing my little bro but I wish him the best and I know we will stay in contact. That's the key eh, just to stay in contact with everyone sure people come and go but you have to keep that line of communication open no matter how busy you are!
Starting next week I will be alone in the kitchen which will be interesting but it will be good. A good chance to grow and be stretched. It was like Christmas day today because I received my glass cups for the dining room and my coffee cups and my shiny new spatulas! Then the best present of them all.... wait for it.... my new GAS oven!!!! I now have 3 huge ovens!! I'm so stoked! A few days ago I had to bake birthday cakes in the staff apartments because I ran out of room in my kitchen! I told them that if this is how it's gonna be, we might as well fast the rest of the time I'm here. That got them on the ball of getting a new oven!!! It's amazing and all coming together. When I walk in my kitchen now I feel like it's a control panel because of how it's lined up ready to go!
The students on these three schools are amazing so far. Usually before a school I like to pray for those students that I should get to know the best or the ones that I can pour into and encourage the best. So far God has put 5 students on my heart and boy oh boy let me tell you he sure delivers. The 5 that I got are the ones that have come up to me this past week which I thought was real interesting. I love them all though. Especially with so many girls it is a great opportunity to pour into them and to be the example of how God uses women in certain situations. I'm super psyched for what this season holds.
I live in the South Pacific and it really does feel like home. There is just something about New Zealand and how it feels so right. It's beautiful in every aspect. It's weird when you get in that mindset of where you are, like when I'm home I can just pop to Chicago, but when I'm here I can just pop to Australia. It's funny but so awesome! When you spread your wings and fly, there are no limits on how far you can go! God has no limits which is amazing. I was thinking and questioning why New Zealand you know? Why not the states or Canada? I know I shouldn't question God but he answers so why not... What I got was that you know, I just need to stand on my own two feet and not be dependent on my parents, or my old job, my friends, my surroundings but to be taken out and for God to make me rely on him. God didn't choose me because I'm strong but because I'm weak. I have been dwelling on this the past week, really digging in and seeking it out. It blows my mind, then I thought of the people in the bible and I'll use David as an example that he was the smallest and didn't have a great appearance but God chose him. David was a man after God's own heart because he was weak and humble. I wrote the word weak on my hand everyday just to remind myself that God chose me because I'm weak and therefore wants me to rely on his strength. I am strong through him but I'm nothing without him. He is the one that stands beside me in the kitchen giving me the strength to get through each day and each meal. Sometimes we need that reality check to keep us in line and to keep us humble. So just have a think about that and let me know what you think.
In April I am taking a long weekend and going to the North Island with my friend Scott. We are visiting some good friends of ours that we haven't seen in months! I am super excited to see them and cannot wait for a break. The norwester has been in, that means high warm winds from the north. When we get southerlys they are cold and rainy. Weird but I'm used to it!
The title of this blog comes from a song by Brooke Fraser called Something in the Water. Thinking this week as well as being weak, what demeanor do I give off. I would hope it's one of love and joy which it is in most areas of my life. Have you ever thought of that? Courage is another strong one too, I love seeing courageous people, they inspire me to be bold and step out more! Like watching snowboarding movies, they just charge me and energize me because they have such a passion for what they do and they love it, they love everyone and accept everyone for who they are. I have acquired the snowboarder steeze (mentality) along with some backpackerness left in me it is more snowboarder that I give off. Which that is who I really am so that's good that I show my true colors!
Thank you for your continued prayers about the earthquake, if you are looking for a way to help I would suggest donating to the earthquake funds. There are a lot of victims this time and it's not over yet, they predicted another one soon to come. Who knows what God is going to do. Hopefully something amazing, actually it will be amazing you can count on that! Anyway friends, I am going to bed and sleeping in! Praise the Lord!!!!