Students are seeing God do so much through the local outreaches in the youth center here in Toowoomba, they go Friday and Sunday nights and are making such an impact on the lives of these kids - most of whom are from dysfunctional and financially struggling families.
In 4 weeks, the school will begin outreach phase - which will be 2 weeks working alongside Easterfest - the largest Christian music festival in Queensland Australia, then after Easterfest they will go overseas on outreach. We now have the students split into 3 outreach teams: Malaysia, New Zealand, and East Timor. They will be going on outreach for 1 month with 2 staff leaders doing various ministries such as street evangelism, music ministry, preaching in churches, door to door evangelism, jungle ministry, ministry in schools, and more! I will not be going on outreach with the teams - this is because of the visa that I currently have. I’m learning that Visa’s are quite a complicated and difficult thing to work through as a missionary outside of my own country. It was difficult at first to not go on outreach again, however I know God is sovereign and I will be able to continue doing His work here in Toowoomba. I will be apart of the team of staff here at YWAM that will be hosting DTS Workshops, and hosting 2 other DTS schools from the Brisbane base for 1 week each - which is totally exciting and a great opportunity!
I am working our base director about applying for a new visa in about a month that will not restrict me from going on outreaches, etc. If I get accepted for this new visa, I will be taking a team on outreach for the July ’14 DTS, and possibly the following Jan ’15 DTS, Lord willing.
Please be in prayer with me that I will be able to require this new Tourism 600 Visa which will allow me to stay in Australia for another year with no limitations, while I work on applying for a Religious Workers Visa in the year 2015.
It is my hope to remain here at YWAM Toowoomba for the next 2 years or so, until the Lord calls me elsewhere to do His work.
I am still in prayer over Africa, Lord-willing one day I will be there long-term :)
Personally, I am doing very well. I’ve found that living in community for so long - living alongside the 29 students I and the staff team are discipling and ministering to daily, requires me to constantly be relying on God as my only source or else I get drained spiritual, emotionally, and physically within a week. It’s quite intense, challenging, but so incredibly good because I’m having to live out everything I preach. I am growing spiritually and being stretched. I’ve always been an all or nothing girl, and the Lord knows that so well. God has been taking me on an amazing journey spiritually and I feel so blessed.
Also, I can feel the spiritual covering over me through all of the prayers of family and friends back home. Thank you for all of your prayers - I could not continue to do what I do without prayer.
God is Good!
An example would be last week. Last week we had a lot of ministry time (prayer, repentance, claiming the truth and promises of God over their lives, basically fighting for each student individually) as a school that lasted about 9 hours the first day, then another 5 hours or so the next day, then with doing small groups and talking with students one on one to follow up on what God’s doing, and more. Needless to say, after that - I literally had nothing left to give. I was completely drained and my only prayer was “Lord move, speak, and work through me.”
At the end of the week, I was in my room with my roommate who had just gotten back from the Chiropractor after having X-rays done, with the news that she had partial scoliosis. She had severe back pain and couldn’t sit, stand, or lie down for longer than 20 minutes at a time, it had been like this without relief for weeks.
I was sitting there with her on the floor of our room as she was telling me all that the doctor had said, both of us completely exhausted, and I heard the Lord say so clearly, “Pray for healing.” He was reminding me of promises He’d given, His power, and that now is a perfect time because although I had nothing to give - He did. So we prayed for about 50 minutes. After about 15 minutes of prayer, the pain in her neck ceased, after 30, the pain in her upper back ceased, after 50 minutes, all pain was completely gone! That happened over a week ago - she is completely healed!
I share that story to say that God is good, God is all-powerful, and never gets drained even when I feel like I am!
Prayer Requests:
1. My visa situation
2. The students to continue to grow in God
3. Boldness for the students when on outreach to preach the Gospel and see God move!
4. Warren and Kerri (the Base Directors) - in general and for grace, peace, and favor over their ministry and family.
5. The outreach teams going to Malaysia, New Zealand, and East Timor.
Incredible praise report!
God has completely provided all of the monthly financial support I need to continue on here at YWAM!! God is SO FAITHFUL and I am so thankful for those who have stepped out in faith to support me in the YWAM ministry God's called me to. I am incredibly humbled and honored that the Lord would entrust me in this way and I am confident in God's sovereignty to continue the work He has began with me here in Australia
I am so grateful for all of the prayers and support - I could not be here doing what I’m able to do without the support of the body of Christ. I will always be so incredibly thankful that I am blessed with a team of people back home who support me in this crazy calling God has given me. It’s for His glory that I came, and for His glory that I remain here pressing forward to see lives changed for God!
Thank you and I dearly love you all.
I will be coming home over the summer for a couple of weeks between DTS’s, and can’t wait to meet with everyone personally.
May God bless you all!
With love in Christ Jesus,
~ Chelsea Ritter
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