June '14 - From AU to NZ to USA!

 Hello to family and friends around the world!

It's hard to believe that the January DTS is coming to a close. In 2 weeks all 29 students will be graduated and sent out into the world to make God known! Some will return to their homes, churches, and communities to be apart of what God's doing there, others will continue on with YWAM either staffing at a base or continuing their training to do mission work. 

New Zealand...
 

As you know, the week of May 14-21, myself and my co-staff Hannah joined the outreach team in New Zealand to finish their last week of outreach & debrief. I appreciate all of your prayers during that time as it went great! The team was doing so well in their ministry and it was really encouraging to be able to be there with them that last week. A majority of ministry they did was evangelizing in Auckland and Tauranga and they did amazingly! God really equipped them and encouraged them with boldness and zeal as they shared the gospel and prayed with people. A few people did accept Christ and many were encouraged! God used the team in an awesome way to reach people and students themselves grew in the Lord as well! The team also got to do ministry in youth groups and YWAM gatherings. 

Worshiping in Tauranga

Leading worship at the YWAM Gathering.

 









  

DTS Foundational Workshop...


The week after all of the outreach teams returned to Australia, YWAM Toowoomba hosted a DTS Foundational Workshop for YWAM Staff/Leaders across Australia. The purpose of this workshop was: (1) Encourage and spiritually strengthen each DTS staff and leader. (2) Further equip and empower you to effectively disciple others in their spiritual formation journey in fostering real change. (3) Help understand what a YWAM DTS is and what it is not. (4) Network and mutually encourage others working with the DTS. 

There were staff/leaders from 8 YWAM bases in Australia! It was an incredible time to learn and grow amongst other staff and leaders who had the same vision and purpose for DTS's and seeing young people encounter God. God's Spirit was so tangible and everyone who attended was greatly encouraged in the work God's called us to. 





DTS Local Outreach Part 2:

 This week our students are doing their final week of outreach here in the city of Toowoomba! They will be involved in all sorts of ministries such as City Women, the Base church, homeless ministry, Gospel for Asia, the Salvos (Salvation Army Church), street evangelism, and other local churches in town leading worship and helping out with the services!
As a staff team, our involvement in this ministry is limited this particular week as we are in the process of preparing for the upcoming DTS that starts in July! Only 7 weeks until we get a whole new group of students to train and disciple for another 5 months!

Which leads me to my personal bits of news...
First of all, I have a huge praise report recently regarding my Visa! As you know it's been a process and the Visa I had was very restricting in what I was able to do while working with YWAM. I had to delay applying for a new Visa that will last 1 year until I had the funds to do so; but a few days ago I was able to submit my application. The next day I received notice that my Visa had been granted!! Praise the Lord! 

Also, my biggest news...
I'm coming home for 3 weeks!! From mid June to early July I'll be in Wilmington to visit my family, my church, and my friends! I'm so excited to tell everyone in person what God's been doing here and what He's enabled me to do--also to tell what lies ahead for me at YWAM Toowoomba and as a missionary. I am truly blessed to be apart of such an awesome mission! 

Thank you for all of your prayers and your support! I would not be here without you and God's perfect grace and favor over my life!
 

YWAM Toowoomba Jan 2014 Staff Team