Co-mmitment

COMMITMENT = NO OTHER OPTION

I've been pondering this the past week or so. When we were at the whanau hui (family gathering) this grandpa of YWAM stood up and said this. He has been married almost 50 years and he is 84. He said when you see something or when you are called to something you need to commit to it. Hence his definition of the word. I was looking at the word and breaking it down. Co means a coop, two people a cooperation of two people. So therefore in this ministry or really in my life with YWAM it is a commitment to the Lord. I know this word can really scare some people. But it's co meaning you're not alone. I was a bit worried a few years ago when the Lord asked me to come to New Zealand. I was worried because I knew I would be here for a while. So in my worry while I was still home before I came I was making plans for after to work or do something in the states just to secure my spot. Ha, I laugh now but at the time "Are you serious!" was going through my head. So I paid the price and dealt with the consequences. But honestly it was the best decision he made for me. I was afraid of commitment because I couldn't see how it was going to work out. I guess that's the beauty of faith. 

Hebrews 11:1 says:

"Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see."

 I guess this verse says it all. It's hard to believe when you can't see the near future. It is sweet though to not really have to worry about the future or what will happen. Because we can plan every aspect of our lives down to a T but in the end things can happen that are unexpected, and our lives are made up of choices. 


I've been spending a lot of time in Hebrews 11 this week. I'll highlight the verses that have been speaking to me:


v.9b - Like a stranger in a foreign country.
v.10 - For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God.
v.13 - And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth
v.15 - If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
v.34b - Whose weakness was turned to strength


These verses are pretty sweet because I've been thinking about my time here and the opportunities I've had in this country along with feeling at home here.  As well in Luke 9:58 - Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." 
Being a missionary is not an easy task. Whether you're in your home country or in a foreign one. Being a stranger to people that are in your home town feeling like a foreigner in your home country. It's fun because after a while people don't really know where you come from and guess something crazy like South American (I get that a lot). But on a more serious note, I never wanted to be a missionary because I would have to give up my comforts of home and living the "American Dream". But now my life is lived out of a suitcase and building relationships wherever I am. Everyone is a missionary in my opinion. It's just your choice to build relationship or not. No matter where you are. sometimes you're called to a place, people group or just one person. Whatever it is or whoever it is just do your best to reach out. 


So back to commitment, I realize I got kinda side tracked.... Committing to this country or even to be a missionary has been a bit of a struggle just because I say yes God I'll go where you want to whoever you want, but with that it's a lot of unknown. Which can be fun but also scary. I guess in this season and what I'm trying to live for is to dive into the unknown, but having the faith that it will all work out.....

Commitment = no other option 

Something new

Starting a new season always makes me reflect on the past ones. I use the word season in a way of describing a few months at a time. It helps me focus on what's in front of me. We had commissioning today and it really made me think of how I came to the place I'm at today. So without further ado a picture show of the seasons I went through...

For one thing I cannot believe I was in India for 5 months. This little boy is Jay, he belongs to the base directors for YWAM Jaipur. He is three and I am the first girl staff he took a liking to. I think about him whenever I think of India. I miss this kid. He's full of life and he was my shadow the whole time we were there. India was such an amazing place. I would go back only for a short amount of time. 

This is Skyler he made me a cupcake while we were on outreach in Queenstown. It was such a privilege to lead a team to amazing locations. I'm enjoying hearing where all my students are now ending up! 

This is a kitchen in Queenstown at the house we were at. I miss cooking a lot. More than I thought I would. I feel God has given me a clean canvas to be able to paint a picture for the future. Cooking always brings me joy. Especially when I can teach others how to cook as well. It's so much fun to just make a mess and have something beautiful turn out of it that feeds thousands. 

And we have the school that I hold dear and close to my heart. They are champions and warriors. I was so stoked when they asked me to staff. 

This is the family I live with now. They are amazing and ever so wonderful! 

This is Jane, she is Australian. (I know right?!) Anyways she is one of my best friends. It was such a joy to serve next to her. I remember cooking in the kitchen and she would come in to get a hug because it had been one of those days. I am blessed to have such an amazing friendship with such a wonderful woman! 

And lastly, my parents came to visit. It was great having them come stay for two weeks. I haven't seen them in quite a while. 

So as this new season starts and new things arise. I am grateful for the seasons the Lord has brought me through. All the things I learned in each one of them. All the growing I've done and I'm still classified as short. I guess the Lord just has a good sense of humor. 

So this commercial is on tv here and it is just so cut and funny. As well it shows the rivalry between NZ and Aus. 

T - 0

Today is the day folks! I start the internship at THOP this afternoon we have orientation. I'm real excited! For the next three months it's going to be a grand adventure! I'm pretty stoked to hear what the Lord has to say! In some ways I can't believe it's here already and in other ways, I thought it would never get here. There are only 8 students. I am the only North American. The rest are from mostly New Zealand, a few from Australia and one from the UK. It shall be interesting since I've never been out numbered before. I guess I'm pretty much a local now though.
Abandoning expectation..... 

The ULTIMATE Whanau

So I'm going to let you guys in on a secret that is well kept here in the YWAM Whanau (f-a-now is how you pronounce that word). It means family. Every year twice a year we have a Whanau Hui which means family gathering. Where all the leaders and staff of bases around New Zealand get together for 3-4 days. We pray, catch up, cry tears of joy and sadness, dance, eat and look ahead to where we are headed this year. For me since I'm doing the house of prayer internship this month it was really more of a catch up to go and see everyone. It felt like a massive family reunion. I loved every minute of it. Even if you don't know someone by the end of it you're family.

I've realized that in the last two and a half years of my involvement in YWAM New Zealand I have come to know some really amazing people. I don't know how much some of you know about the history of New Zealand and YWAM but it was one of the first bases established by Loren Cunningham way back when YWAM first started. It is a special place in all of our hearts, for those of us that have served in this great organization for years on end. What I love though is that it really doesn't matter what "rank" you hold, it matters about who you are and what you bring. All the elders that were there this weekend I had a chance to sit with most of them and receive the wisdom they have. As well I was able to make new friends and catch up with the old ones.

We had the privilege of John Dawson come and speak to us about Aotearoa (New Zealand) and the history in which the base was established. I learned more about Aotearoa this weekend than in the last few years. I feel so connected to this land in such a special way. How it is so rich with passions and dreams of the future. Being in Tauranga has been so great these past few months. Although admittedly I do miss the south island somewhat. This Hui taught me that it's about my generation rising up to take the challenge and walk on the paths that have been paved by our mothers & fathers & grandparents in YWAM. It's our chance to show what God is doing.

We had a night when all the younger generation or my generation of under 35's knelt in the middle of the room. We needed to lay down our dreams and passions for this country. Then we had the elders come and roar over us. They roared like lions. Saying yes, we believe in you and what you have in your heart. The amount of joy that came from that was incredible. We danced and danced for the Lord. I love dancing for the Lord. In all the worship times I had with my amazing snowboarders dancing and the amount of Joy it brought all of us was something really special!

Saying goodbye to everyone today was like saying goodbye to family. I will miss everyone and since I'm not directly on a base I don't know when I'll see them again. There are some truly amazing people here that are full of wisdom and have stories to tell. I remember John saying that we all have a story to tell, and right now we are writing it. As well Ben & Helen Applegate were here to share their story. They were the first ones on the mercy ships. Loren Cunningham wrote about them in his book "Is that really you God?" They live in Napier New Zealand. They are in their eighties and still as sharp as ever! It's amazing and inspiring to see the pioneers that had a calling upon their lives and listened to that calling.

I love Aotearoa and all it's beauty. I feel like my seed is planted deep in the land here. I don't know the future plans for myself but I do know that this country is my home. I feel truly blessed to be here in this time and place. We have family wherever we go. Thinking back two years ago when I came here not knowing anyone to now where I have a big family. It's amazing the relationships you make and the people you meet. I love how you can just pick up where you left off with everyone. Sure there are a few people I didn't get to catch up with but I know we will someday. That's the beauty in whanau, they love you no matter what! 

Whanau Hui

Well what is there to say. 9 days and I start the internship. I have mixed feelings about it. I'm in one way looking forward to it and in another way I'm thinking to myself how can I sit for 4 hours a day? Then I snap back into reality and tell myself if God wants me there he will give me the strength. I know it's going to be incredible and so extremely amazing! This weekend we are having the YWAM New Zealand Family Gathering or Whanau Hui (Maori). It is like having a massive family reunion. I am loving every minute of it! Catching up with people that I haven't seen since last year is so great! It really is family and you realize how long you've been around when you know most of the people in the room. For the session tonight we went to the House Of Prayer and prayed for New Zealand and calling the younger generation forth. I love it because it's like two worlds colliding. How they intermingle is incredible.
I will always be a YWAMer. That is something that once you're in YWAM you are never out of it. I love the people that God has placed in my life since I decided to do my DTS back in '09. I also love how New Zealand is such a small country and it is full of so many amazing people. It's a rich abounding country. It may be small but it won't go down without a fight. At the gathering we have different sessions where different people share. It is so great to hear how other people are and what they are up to. I always get excited about pioneering. I'm not sure what yet but I feel something in the future that God will have me take up.
This season of my life, I know is going to be a very hard one. Compared to last season when I was still cooking and getting ready for the Snowboarder DTS. I have come to realize that I miss cooking a lot and I miss snowboarding and being on the mountain around the people as well. There's just something about being on the top of a mountain in the middle of winter looking out over the scenery and just saying God you're pretty much the coolest then hearing him whisper through the wind. It gives me a sense of Joy and peace knowing that in that very moment nothing can happen and nothing can change that.
I heard this quote today that I quite liked:

"Once you give your heart to the Lord, WE ARE ALL UNDER CONSTRUCTION."

I had to stop and think for a minute. It makes so much sense though. No one is perfect and no one is complete. We are all 'under construction' we are all working on our issues and problems. We are all in this TOGETHER. That's what I love about the brothers and sisters we have around the world constantly praying for each of us. I have four very close friends that are constantly praying. We send around a traveling letter to each other and each write and update then send it to the next person. We've been doing it for about two years now. It is full of encouragement and words from the lord. Anyways back to the construction. I had to stop because the season that I'm ending right now and the season I'm beginning are two very different ones. It's hard to know what you're doing when you're in limbo and when you're waiting to see what's going to happen. So with this quote it helped me because I understand that I'm continually being worked on and continually being chiseled. Which is sooo cool! The Lord's work is never done! He cares about us so much and just see's the potential in us that he wants the best for us!
So with that I'll close since it's past my bed time and I'm feeling sleep deprived! Bless you all!