The Traveling Vagabond

I found this Franciscan Blessing in my journal yesterday and the words spoke right into my soul...

May God bless you with discomfort at easy answers, half truths, and superficial relationships, so that you may live deep within your heart. May God bless you with anger at injustice, opression, and exploitation of people, so that you may work for justice, freedom, and peace. May God bless you with tears to shed for those who suffer from pain, rejection, starvation, and war, so that you may reach out to comfort them and turn their pain into joy. May God bless you with enough foolishness to believe that you can make a difference in this world, so that you can do what others claim cannot be done. And the Blessing of God who creates, redeems, and sanctifies, be upon you and all you love and pray for this day, and forevermore.

I have been home now for a couple months and to be honest the adjustment has been a little difficult. I tried to enter back into the life I lived last year, but my life now isn't the same as it was then. There have also been anxieties over making plans for the future...and let me tell you, this state of histeria was completely foreign to me...I mean usually it is my LACK of worry that concerns others (and by others I mean my mother :) I love you mom).

I was feeling stuck...and I also was getting really comfortable...I mean having my own bedroom and only having to share a bathroom with one other person instead of 19 people....how could you not get used that?! While being back in Richmond has been great (seeing old friends, and being at the church I love so much), life has been lacking something, and I realized it was purpose. Right now I am sure you're asking, "How do you fix this lack of purpose in your life?" Don't worry, I'm about to tell you....... You pack up all your belongings into your car and you go to Boston, duh. :D

So going on a long term road trip has been something I've wanted to do for a couple years now, but I never actually thought it was feasible. So when God told me to chart the map during the new year, my response was "I don't really know what you mean by that." Plus I had this internship to Russia to focus on. So it wasn't until I hit my breaking point a couple weeks ago that I decided the right next step was to go. But I did wrestle with this...I wondered whether it was a wise and responsible thing to do (see how much change this DTS has changed me!!)

But then I read some words written by my friend Josh about a conversation he had with his mentor Jon....in response to 1 Tim 4:12 "Let no one look down on your youthfulness, but rather in speech, conduct, love, faith and purity; show yourself as an example of those who believe." :

Jon said "youthfulness could be synonymous to foolishness, but that foolishness isn't based on wisdom but on faith. When people see your faith they are prone to think you are weird and foolish. But let them". (Josh speaking:) The fact is I felt that God was asking me to quit my job, leave my home and go overseas. That calling not only shocked me, but it shocked the adults in my life who thought it was foolish and irresponsible. But I'm in good company if people start thinking I'm foolish by the world's standards.

This was what I needed to hear in order to feel released to take yet another risky step in my life. So the plan is to get in my car and drive, listening to the Lord and being obedient to what He asks...go where He asks, pray for those He shows me, and just enjoy this amazing life that I get to live. Russia is still on the horizon, I find out next month if I have been selected for an internship in Moscow....but until then it seems as if God is allowing me to pursue the desires of my heart, which is just another reason why He is so awesome and totally worthy of all honor and glory. So get ready America!!! haha

Circus

So yesterday my parents and I took my niece, nephew, and cousins to the circus. "Every kid needs to experience the circus just once," they said. This wasn't just any circus, this circus was supposed to be EXCITING and full of ENERGY...smoke filled the room and multi-colored lights zoomed across the arena, lighting up sections of the audience. There were clowns, men on stilts, loud music, tigers, elephants, zebras, horses; sumo wreslters did graceful acrobatics, women dressed in sparkling attire twirled while suspended in the air with rope, they lit a person on fire and shot him across the room like a cannonball....it was like being in Johnny Depp's Alice in Wonderland. It wasn't just a show, it was a PRODUCTION. We were thrilled that the kids were getting to have this amazing experience. Can you imagine the looks on their faces as these stunts were being performed live right in front of them?! This was the kind of excitement you didn't want to miss, right?? The show had been going for only 15 minutes when my 6 year old niece crawled up into my lap, layed up against my arm, and fell asleep haha. "Wake her up, she's missing the action!" "How on earth can she be sleeping through all this noise?" But I couldn't do it; I couldn't wake her up when she was sleeping so sound and peacefully there in my arms. I actually enjoyed just getting to hold her while she rested, with all the exciting events carrying on down below. She slept through nearly the whole thing. Today's church service discussed the fact that through Jesus we have become children of God. Romans 8:16 talks about this. During worship the song How He Loves Us played, and the thought occured to me that our Father doesn't care whether we are enjoying the circus, or resting in His arms, He just wants to be with us.

YWAM: a DTS experience

So you may already be aware that I have returned home from the Philippines. Spending time in Belize and the Philippines for the last 5 months has been a journey full of joy, adventure, and growth. I'd love to recap what all God has done in the lecture and outreach phases for all my supporters.

Leaving behind everything familiar in order to spend 3 months learning about God and growing in my relationship with him in the beautiful Carribean was a wonderful time in my life. I have felt my faith tested and it has grown tremendously- just in witnessing God's faithfulness and provision. I am so convinced of His goodness and love towards humanity. It was also amazing to see God at work in the lives of the other students on the DTS; so many people had breakthroughs with the struggles they were going through. Not to mention the island life was pretty amazing, being right next to the shore, scuba diving and spear fishing...yesterday I even bought plantains because I've definitely missed the Belizean cuisine.

The outreach phase, which consisted of various ministry opportunities in the Philippines, gave me the chance to really experience life as others experience it, in a nation much poorer than my own. The last week of our outreach we spent time in an orphanage, holding and feeding disabled children. We also visited a home for the dying, where we were able to sit and talk with the elderly, letting them know they are loved. And we worked with a human trafficking ministry called Renew. There we visited the sex bars and were able to observe and learn about what really goes on behind the scenes. Our hearts broke for the girls who had been kidnapped or deceived and brought to the bars to be sold. In the two months that our team spent there we learned what sacrifice meant- yet it didn't even feel like sacrifice when I looked at those around me. Serving in the Philippines matured me in a way that I didn't expect. I met some amazing people who really shined Jesus' light, love, and joy. I never want to forget the people and their condition.

The journey isn't over yet. The last leg of the DTS includes an internship phase, and for that I will be going to Russia to work with a Christian ministry. The details are still being worked out and I need to raise support for travel and living expenses, but I am so excited to see what God has for me in this time. If you could please be praying for God's timing and provision for the final phase of my Discipleship Training School, I would surely appreciate it. If you would like to help just message me and I can tell you how. I will be sure to give updates on how the Russia situation progresses!

Love,
Amanda

Manila Christmas

So Christmas has come and gone, and I must say it's kinda weird having a hot Christmas. We celebrated with banana pancakes and pizza! Being away during the Holidays makes me miss home dearly, but I'm sure I will never forget the year I spent the Holidays in the Philippines.

This week has been so packed and lots of fun. Last night I went with three others to have a sleepover in the Pulo slums. This area is a remote province of people who live very minimally. Their homes are constructed out of wooden poles and typically are comprised of one room. They live right on the seashore and to make a living they produce coal by heating up wood, because of this the beachy area is covered in black ash. There is no water or electricity- water has to be brought in through a man made path of plastic and soil. Despite the conditions of living the people are so friendly and full of joy.

We have spent many days doing ministry in Pulo- giving out Christmas gifts, leading Bible Studies, praying with families, bathing and washing children, feeding children, and the sleepover I mentioned earlier with the youth that included a bonfire. The youth night was awesome, we played games and had bonding time with many of the teens. The night was chilly, so I was super thankful when a street dog came and layed at my feet. :) We slept by the sea under the stars, it was truly unforgettable.

I'm hoping we will get to work with sex trafficking soon...I will be sure to keep you all posted on the happenings here in the Philippines!

McDonalds and SlumPrayer

Hey everyone!

Just wanted to give you a quick recap of the outreach thus far.....

Water Taxi from Belize to Chutemal, Mexico- 1.5 hours

Bus Ride to Cancun- 7 hours

Overnight stay at YWAM base

Flight from Cancun to New York- 3.5 hours

Layover in JFK airport- 22 hours

Flight from New York to Tokyo- 13 hours (Thanksgiving day)

Layover in Japan- 1.5 hours

Tokyo to Manila- 6 hours

Overnight stay in Manila

Ferry (Titanic sized) to Cebu- 22 hours

= Final Destination in 6 days of travel

We are working with the Cebu Missionary Foundation, which has ministries in various places throughout the city. Today our team split up into groups to do outreach in various places...some went to help in the schools, others went to feed those in the cemetery where people who can't afford housing live in the tombs, and my group went to the slums in the garbage dump, where we visited people's homes and prayed for them. Many asked for prayer for their health and for God to protect and bless them. Some needed prayer for illness and some awesome miracles happened- a lame woman was able to walk and a man said he could feel his sight being restored. Then Mari, Katie and I played some basketball with the guys from the slum and we won! I think they let us though :)

We will be doing bible study in the Women's Prison and working with schools later this week. Some of us will help in the clinic, and pretty much where ever there is need we will get to help. Day to day life if different from home...but the foundation is close to a McDonalds which is a special treat. But typically our diet consists of bread, which we have for breakfast and lunch most days. If you all could be praying for the health of our team that would be awesome, also for unity in our team as well. Here we are each other's family and even though we have only known each other for 3 months we have to depend on one another for support when times are hard. Miss you all and thanks for all your support and prayer!

Love in Action

So this week we did outreach in the town of San Pedro. We spent the majority of our time in a place called San Mateo, which is one of the poorest areas in Central America. The people of San Mateo live in squalor. The houses are built on stilts above the swamps because the families have no other place to go. Just this year two children died from minor cuts which had been infected from bacteria in the water...my heart felt for them.

Each day our team went to the Holy Cross Anglican School, where we got to teach in the classrooms. I worked with 8 and 9 years olds, teaching language arts and creative writing. Needless to say, I fell in love with the kids. Yesterday we did community service in the park. As I painted benches on the ocean front, listening to my iPod, there was a moment when everything felt so surreal...and I had this realization that life is so much more than what I know it as.

In the evening we went on a prayer walk and something REALLY cool happened. I was with two girls, Racheal and Katie, and we walked to the end of a street which lead us to a resort on the beachside. I was captivated by an illuminated tree- it just looked so cool and I really wanted a picture of it...so we walk over to it and I am snapping some photos when a woman walks up telling us how the resot is going to decorate the place with these awesome looking trees. Her name was Stacey and she was the manager there. We left that place and were saying a prayer for Stacey when I felt God laying things on my heart for her...Racheal felt like we were supposed to go back...so we turned around and went to hunt Stacey down in the lobby's office. She was a little surprised to see us again and I began to share with her how God feels about her and loves her, at this point I am tearing up and she is tearing up and it was just a beautiful moment of God pursuing this woman. And what is even MORE awesome is that Stacey told us right before we had met she was working in her office when all the sudden she felt like going outside to look at the tree at the exact moment that we stood there taking pictures of it. This, my friends, is what it's all about... God totally set it up.

So if it couldn't get any better, we closed the night with a celebration in the park for the kids, with face painting, water balloons, soccer, and balloon animals. It was a blast and I am super excited for outreach in the Philippines!!

Much love.

Overwhelmed by Generosity

There are two weeks left here at the Belize base before we leave for outreach and as of today I still owed $1,700. After the group of YWAMers learned about this, within about 20 minutes all of my outreach fees had been covered. WOW. I really have nothing else to say so, yeah. These people are amazing, can't believe how they sacrificed so that I would be able to go to the Philippines.

Heck yeah.