The last month...
Well, this last month of June was pretty crazy. Three weeks of staff training, a retreat, and getting ready to launch our school. For staff training we had a few speakers come in to train us in discipling, which was incredible. They really helped to prepare us for this season ahead. Besides that, we spent time praying for the students and the school, receiving applications, making sure everything is made for arrival day, etc. There was an incredbile excitement and anticipation for the students to get here! We spent a lot of time as a staff together to bond. There are about 27 of us total staff. We had the chance to go to the other side of the island to a retreat center for a few days and hang out. It was so good to get away from the business and just be with each other. All of us shared our testimonies and I really saw the beauty of every person's heart. I can't express to you how amazing my co-workers and friends are. They are the most hungry, fiery, compassionate men and women of the Lord I have ever met.
A new launch!
I am so excited to tell you all about a new thing that AWAKEN is starting. After many meetings and prayer, we have decided to produce and release an Awaken magazine (online and print) in December!! Awaken has been wanting to incorporate more media into the ministry aspect and this is one of the ways the Lord has been leading us. One of the things we have been thinking about is how there are so many stories that we hear about how God is moving and we want a way to spread these testimonies to people not directly in our school or YWAM. This publication is going to be filled with testimonies our lecture phase in Kona, the nations we are sent to, and other ministries we are connected with. We also want to champion the students to send in art such as drawings, paintings, poems, songs, and photos around what God is doing in their lives and the lives around them.
Media is one of the biggest influences on a culture and we want to use it to further the kingdom. We want to bring hope to the world through these stories and art centered around God!!! Personally, this is so exciting because I feel like God has prepared me for this through working as a yearbook editor in highschool and gifts he has put in me. I use to say I wanted to work for a missions organization in media and design and I can't believe how God has slipped me into this. I am so blessed to help head up this project with my friends Calvin and Taren. This last month has been spent dreaming about and creating this magazine with the Lord and it is going to be incredible. Something I get to share with all of you! So that is one of the bigger things that is now in the works.
The start of something new!!!
Awaken DTS 2012 has officially started!!! On July 5th, last Thursday, 74 students arrived in Kona for the school. I am so in love with this group of people already. It is so cool to see people already so hungry for more of Jesus! The last week has been filled with orientation, meet n' greets, and staff testimonies. Oh man...hearing staff testimonies again just made me so overwhelmed with the goodness of God! He has brought so many of my friends out of darkness and completely redeemed them. To hear them tell of the love of Jesus in front of 100 people has made me want to cry more than once. I know this week has been so impacting for the students. So many are receiving breakthrough in areas they have been in bondage in for years. The Holy Spirit is without a doubt already moving just after one week! More testimonies to come in the next letter...
And now for outreach...
That's right, folks. I will be leading a team of 9 students to BRAZIL!!!! At the beginning of June, all us staff got together to pray about where we will be taking outreach teams of students to this fall. After a long process (and being the last team to be decided) the Lord has called me and a fellow staffer/friend, Ryan, to co-lead a team into Brazil. I am bursting with excitement!!!! Over the last year or so, God has been giving me a heart for Central and South America and it is so rad that I get to go there this year. As of right now, we are not sure where in Brazil we will be going. Places are being prayed about and we are justing wanting to go where God wants us. Soon I will have more details! We will be leaving at the end of September and coming back in the beginning of December. God loves Brazil and this is so exciting to partner with his heart for the country to bring hope and restoration to the lost!
Please be praying for our future team's unity, for Ryan and I in the planning process, and for our eyes to be fixed on what God has for us in Brazil!
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