July '14 - Return to Oz & the July '14 DTS

Hello Friends & Family!
It’s been a couple of months since I’ve written because I was able to go home and give most of you an update in person about the ministry here. My time at home with my family was amazing! After being in Australia for a year, being home with my family was exactly what I needed before going into staffing a 3rd Discipleship Training School. I was incredibly blessed by my being with my church and getting to meet with so many people to catch up and talk all about what God has done. 

 My time spent with the CCW Missions board and their families was especially rewarding as we were able to talk about missions and what’s coming next, as well as just being with familiar faces! It was a much needed time to rest and re-center before diving back onto the mission field again. My church also had a fundraiser for me while I was home to help support me while I'm in Australia. As most of you know, I do not get paid for being on staff with YWAM, rather I pay for all of my living expenses, outreaches, insurances, visas, etc. God is so good in how He not only allowed me to be encouraged and uplifted by my church family at home but He provided for ALL of my needs during that time. I am so grateful to all of you at home for  your generosity and for being willing to invest in the mission God's called me to and the ministry at YWAM Toowoomba! 

July 2014 Music & Worship DTS

I returned to Australia July 7th, and the next few weeks were spent in preparation for the upcoming July DTS to start and also welcoming 4 new staff onto the YWAM Staff Team. As of July 25th, our July ’14 DTS students have arrived and we have officially started the Lecture Phase of the DTS! This is a smaller school than we've had in the past, which is really exciting for the season YWAM Toowoomba is in; and also works out well as it's looking like the January school will be quite large compared to schools we've run in the past! All of this is incredibly exciting!
 This week the topic is "Inductive Bible Study Method" which is teaching the students how to deeply study the Bible rather than just reading it. This is an awesome subject the start off with as this will stay with them through the duration of the school and throughout their lives as they read God's word and spend time with Him. 

Next week we have a speaker from New Zealand coming to speak on Hearing the Voice of God! Which during this week we will also be announcing outreach locations, giving students the chance to pray and let God tell them where to go for their outreach! Next week we also will be diving into local ministry with local churches and organizations in town to reach out to the community!

Something that we could use prayer for here is the sickness that's making its way through the base. Many of our students and staff are sick, myself included, and prayer for healing would be much appreciated! 

YWAM Toowoomba Staff Team - July 2014

More updates soon to come! Thank you everyone for your prayers and words of encouragement! It's so good to be back on the mission field that God's called me to. Lately God's been rocking me with just how powerful He is! I'm currently reading through 1 Samuel & Luke, and the fear of the Lord is overwhelming! He is so good!

"He raises up the poor from the dust;

He lifts the needy from the ash heap

to make them sit with princes

and inherit a seat of honor.

For the pillars of the earth are the Lord's.

and on them he has set the world.

He will guard the feet of his faithful ones, 

but the wicked shall be cut off in darkness,

for not by might shall a man prevail.

The adversaries of the Lord shall be broken to pieces;

against them he will thunder in heaven.

The Lord will judge the ends of the earth;

He will give strength to his king

and exalt the horn of his anointed."

~ 1 Samuel 2:8-10