Fred Rogs

      I feel I should begin by informing you that I am currently listening to Christmas music in shorts and a tank top, dripping sweat. That's different. Now on to the important stuff....
     This past week was one like I have never experienced before. Schoolies. This is a week long graduation party for all the "school leavers", all up and down the coast of Australia. It is pure insanity. The schoolies rent out huge party houses or campsites and go on a week long drinking binge. A group of us YWAMers hit the road and ended up in Byron Bay. It is a small, ultra hippie, super spiritual, beach town. Oh and it is crawling with schoolies, ages 14-19. We partnered with an organization called Red Frogs(commonly mispronounced by drunken sillies as FRED ROGS). These guys are slowly making their way around the world. So, as a part of this group we went out every night and walked drunk kids home, held hair while they vomited, handed out candy, set up a pancake and water station, broke up fights, chat with the kids about Jesus if we got the opportunity, and basically did any grunt work that needed doing. Needless to say it was a challenge but such a blast. So at night we would work on just loving on these kids and building relationships then we would have them book an appointment for the next morning and we would go to their hotel rooms or houses or tents and make them pancakes and clean up around their place some when they are too hungover to even function. This is where the real ministry would happen. We got such awesome opportunities to share Jesus' love with kids who were just begging for it.
     Our group also got to partner with the YWAM base in Byron Bay and host a barbecue in the park for backpackers. We were able to dance and sing some for some really neat people from all over the world. Just so you get an idea of what Byron is like, I encountered an older lady who had fallen out of the tree (odd) and when I went to go check on her she was talking to the spirits in the tree. Then she told me the tree told her what "us people" were doing there and she bolted away. It was such a bizarre moment in my life. Funny. But so strange.
     Anyways, although I slept on a roach infested floor every night, probably stepped countless piles of throw up, and went without a shower for the entire week it was one of the most rewarding weeks yet. Sorry is this post is a little dodgy. I am pretty wiped. Looking forward to a new week, however!

Here are a few photos for your enjoyment :) 

Beautiful Byron

Jodie and I at the lighthouse at the most easterly point in Australia

Oh, you know....

Ministry in the park

Dancing my testimony

My lovely team

Я нуждаюсь в деньгах

Я нуждаюсь в деньгах

     That's right. I'm going to Russia, more specificaly Vladivastok!!!!! I found out last night that I am so lucky to be part of an 8 person team traveling yet again to another continent. I cannot wait. I am 150% positive this is where the Lord wants me. He has already completely broken my heart for these people. I will be leaving in February for 7 intesnse and exhilirating weeks. Not to mention freezing. Oh and did I mention it's going to be absolutely freezing.
     On a slightly different note, it is also going to be rather pricey. For my ticket, visa, and general cost of living for 7 weeks, it is going about $4,000. $2,000 of this is due within the next two weeks! Yikes. No worries though beause this is where I am supposed to be and God is faithful. If you guys and gals would prayerfully consider giving toward this mission, it would be immensely appreciated. If you do find you want to give you can make the check out to Helping Hands Ministry with the memo line left blank. This will ensure tax credit.
     This is such an unbeleiveable chance to continentally be the Lord's hands and feet and just share the revelation of His love I have personally experienced. I am beyond grateful. The financial aspect is simply a small practicallity that He is in control of.

Did I mention how pumped I am. Also, if you were wondering what the rando Russian lingo at the top was, it simply states, "I NEED MONEY".

LOVE YOU ALL.

Mess Into Bless

     When Mr. Jason Solari asked for volunteers, I was jumped up out of my seat before I even knew what I was doing. And so it was. I was off to Redcliff. Redcliff is a town just outside of Brisbane and I was most certainly called to go. A team of five of us piled into a van with our backpacks and were off. Honestly, I had zero clue what to even expect.
     We drove for about 45 minutes until we were sea side. One of the staff members is originally from Redcliff, and his precious family has started a small youth gathering that meets every Friday night on the beach. What a dream. After about a million team building games, another team member and myself shared our testimonies. This was such an awesome experience. There is not much better than sitting along the sand, waves gently crashing in the background, and sharing how the Lord is moving in my life.
     The next morning, the team split into two groups. One went hiking up a mountain with a youth group and the rest of us stayed back to clean and work on the mission house at which we were staying. That night we had the opportunity to lead worship at a local church and then hear a lovely message from a friend of YWAM, Matt. Oh and I forgot to mention the tasty sausage sizzle we took part in. Yep, when they say barbecue here, they aren't talking hamburgers and hot dogs. They are strictly sausage.
     Sunday morning was without a doubt the reason I felt a leading to go on this trip. We attending the above mentioned staff member's church for the morning service. I took a giant leap of faith and danced my testimony. Yeah, that's right, the testimony I finished literally 30 minutes before the service started. Despite my teams encouraging words, I felt it went pretty horribly. I'm talking an utter mess. This was until the end of service. A lady approached me, literally with tears in her eyes. She began to tell me how much my dance ministered to her and how she just wept through the entire thing. She let me know that it touched on the exact things the Lord was speaking to her. So blessed. This just completely blew my mind. I am just so thankful that the Lord continues to turn the mess into bless.
     So, that is about it for the weekend! It was definitely eventful and extremely rejuvenating. And oh yeah, WE FIND OUT OUTREACH TEAMS TOMORROW. Stay tuned to find out where I will be off to in a few short months. Also, I almost had a minor heart attack when I realized we were in double digit November and that T-Giving is right around the corner. Holy turkey. Freak out.

Love and miss you all!

The World Is MAD

Got outreach options today. Now I'm trusting the Lord to reveal where he would have me go.
Australia

India

Russia

Germany/Czech Republic

Peru

Japan/Saipan

God break my heart for the things that break yours. 

Ain't Nothin But A Heartache

Here is a collage of the lip-syncing competition. It's long but you have to watch the whole thing!

Enjoy. Courtesy of the lovely Lucy Mills. 

Breakthrough. Ministry. Fellowship. Opportunity. Culture.

The past few days....

What a blurr it has been. I am officially starting my second full week today and that is a little hard to beleive. The journey so far has all ready been one of laughter, tears, creativity, hard work, fun, worship, challenges, intercession, tasty treats and so much more than I could have ever imagined. And I am without a doubt thankful for every aspect of it.

So, the past few days have been full of exciting adventure. I was able to perform my testimony and share what I feel the Lord is doing in my life which was such an encouraging experience. Breakthrough.

We had sport in the park on Wednesday where we were able to get out and run around some and enjoy the unbelieveable weather here in lovely Australia, all at the same time, minerstering to the locals who chose to join the fun and games. Ministry.

Yesterday, we all took a shift and volunteered at a local Fate (festival) at a primary school just down the road. It was such a nice break to be around the locals kids and just a great time to be goofy and play games and eat some delicious food. Side note: the kids here are so fashionable. Fellowship.

This week was also a week full of birthdays. We had Friday night off so we hit the town to celebrate two of the girls. Downtown Brisbane at night was one of the most beautiful places I have been. The streets were filled with tents and mini shops selling little treasures. The smell of all the food was blending to create a sensational aroma. It was such a treat to all the senses. This is where I discovered the most tasty chocolate eatery of my life, Max Brenners. I am talking chocolate coma. Downtown was also where we met what would be the most interesting part of our weekend. A group of us, six or so girls, were walking on the beach (smack in the middle of the city, odd) when three guys popped up out of nowhere. They orginally approached us to ask us to join them at a party they were headed to but we ended up talking to them for about an hour about why we were in Australia and Christianity. If they happened to wake up the next morning and remember any of what was said, I think there may have been some really cool seeds planted. Such a fun night. Opportunity.

This brings me to today. Because we go to church in the evening here, a bunch of us woke up this morning  and hit the sreets. The farmers market that it. Every first Sunday of the month here all the locals come out and flood the streets with all their produce, meat, and hand made things. I got a bucket of strawberries and some apples. I would say it was quite a success. Culture.

Here are some pictures to sum up the week.

At Max Brenners

One of the guys we met on the beach

Kaeli and Froydis "working" at the fate

Rachael, Sarah, Lucy, Courtney at the Farmers Market

Farmers Market goodies

More Farmers Market goodies

I Think Yall Are Ready To Daaaance!

Let's hear it for today. For today is a new and wonderful day. Well not exactly considering I am writing this at dinner time. But you get the idea. Second day of lectures. Done. First day for our Art Focus. Done! If you didn't know this about me....I kind of like to dance every now and then. So, naturally, I could not have been more pumped when they said it was finally time to dive in. Until I heard the next words. 6AM. How exciting. But it all honestly, it was absolutely worth the early morning. A time to relax and stretch and move our bodies for the first time in a while was desperately welcomed.

There are so many exciting things up ahead for the next six months. Improv, group and solo choreography, ministry. However, the first assignment on the list is dancing testimonies. This particular assignment is slightly frightening for me and always has been, for the simple fact that I don't feel as though my testimony is exciting enough for any amount of choreography. This was until I took a step back and remembered what the word "testimony" truly means to me. It is not about the never ending story of my past, while that is certainly a piece, but more about how I see the Lord working and moving in my life today. To look for His hand in my life today is a much easier a task for me.

I will let you know how it goes. Sorry I don't have any fun pictures for today.