To Have the Brain of a Croc

"These crocs have a brain the size of my pinky finger (holds up hand to show). There isn't enough brain power there for them to be confused by zig-zag evasion maneuvers." --Tour Guide at Billabong Wildlife Sanctuary

Sometimes I wonder if we haven't been done a disservice by having brains larger than that. I mean, I don't need to keep my head so that I can snag a zag-zagging meal as it runs away, but my brains do a lot more thinking and worrying than they should. 

Some of you may have heard the story, but I will tell it again. . . 

Friday, our school was informed that $1200 of our outreach money would be due in one week's time. I freaked out. I had no way of paying that. In the next few hours I had sent out 16 emails, multiple text messages, updated my facebook wall, and also updated my support page and a few group walls so that people would be aware of the need and might help me financially or in prayer because of it. 

So much praying later, Saturday night I recieved a text from my dad saying that Joshua had given him $1000 to deposit to my account. Praise the Lord! I checked the account to see if it was there and found $20 more I couldn't account for. Texting Natalie, my sister, I asked if it was from her. No, she said, but she had paid $500 to the school for my account! (The $20 turned out to be a check that Dad was a bit late in depositing)

This is just another time where God has shown up on time and provided in excess. I don't know when He will get it through my thick skull that He is providing for this...

One of the girls on my DTS felt to give me this verse the other day:

Then He said to Thomas, "Put your finger here; see my hands. Reach out your hand and put it into my side. Stop doubting and believe." --John 20:27

What that said to me was, "look, here is the evidence. See it? Now believe it!"

For All He Has Done

For all He has done, I need to say thank you. 

He has shown me who I am. 

He has Loved me. 

He has convicted me. 

He has forgiven me. 

He has provided for me. 

He gives me the little things...
-letters from home 
-friends who care
-awesome best friends
-amazing family

He has priveleged me immensely. ((I am here in Australia. I get to spend time with people from all over the world. I get to sing with islanders from all over the Pacific. I get to learn in a place I may never have gone from people who may well be the best people to teach me the specific things they have taught.))

He gives me flowers. 

He gives me sunshine. 

I received three letters today. 

I don't have a migraine. 

The breeze is beautiful. 

The stars are amazing. 

And even though things are rough, I have to believe He is still there, still looking out for me, and will still provide for me. 

(: On that happier note, I need $1200 if I'm going to be able to go on outreach. And it needs to come within the week. Prayers for this would be awesome. 

Also, if you are able to make a donation in any amount, I would be so blessed. 

www.ywamrto.org/payments/ 

Life and Plans in Townsville Australia

I realized today that I haven't updated this page since things started moving uphill... Apologies to everyone who has been worrying for me. I'm ok (:

Life here is crazy, but it's good. Last week, as you know, was Identity Week. This week lectures are on Clear Conscience.  The speaker is good, though confusing at times. He makes us think. A lot. Rarely is an answer given when a question is asked. It's a new learning style for most if us, but I think it is especially appropriate for this topic.

Additionally with lectures we have homework, reports, devotions, and testimonies and sermons to write. Meetings to attend, people to talk to, songs and dances to learn, outreach to prepare for, and ministry placement duties to fulfill. Free time hardly exists.  But that schedule? It only stays this way for two weeks. Then we leave for camping in Hidden Valley. One week there and Pacific/Trailblazer is off to meet the ship tour in Cairns. Once on the ship we add to all that business with two or three school out reaches each day and running groups through ship tours on the weekends. (In other words, any free time that exists in the equation resulting in "no free time" will be squeezed out and filled with more responsibilities.). But it's all good!

The ship, YWAM Townsville's second medical ship, is called Ammari. She will be outfitted with clinics, class rooms, operating theaters, and a large lecture hall. We will be using her as we did the Pacific Link to sail up rivers into  PNG. Once there, we will be able to access more remote communities than even with the last ship, spreading our aid to 500% more people and services than we had previously reached. They will be brought access to dental care, glasses, immunizations, hand washing and birth clinics and so much more. Things we basically take for granted that these people have often never heard of.

The tour is to raise awareness, collect volunteers, services, and donations, and to spread the message of Jesus as we go along.

Once we finish the ship tour, we come back to base, continue lectures, and at an unforeseen time continue on to do more outreach.

So much learning. So much growing. And we all need so much prayer.  Thanks!