A Ten Minute Catch Up!

Hey guys,

Right now I am sitting at Gloria Jeans, on Darby Street, in Newcastle, where there is actually great Internet, super hip atmosphere and just a calm feeling about the area, and I have ten minutes free, before I have to leave to catch a train home... but I thought I would use this ten minutes to let you know quickly what has been happening. It will only be short, and I will try and elaborate a lot more when I come back here, on my weekend, on Monday, but in the past month, the following has happened:

Health problems.
God's healing hand.
Doctor's appointments.
Medical Expenses.
Unknown/undiagnosable health problems.
Growing in God.
Confusion.
Trust Lessons.
Friendships.
Serving YWAM leaders from all over the South Pacific and Australia, at Tahlee.
All nighters.
Homework.
Life Lessons.
Random Moments.
Trusting in God when nothing makes sense.
Support Fundraising (still about another $1500 to go)
Some financial support coming in (thanks Owen, Kay, Andy, Sam and Laura!)
Sign Designing for Youth Street, AND painting it!
Video documentary to show you guys what I've been up to (this is still in the process of being made, as I've only got my camera, and limited video editing facilities, unlike what I have at home - but it's still totally achievable).

So this is just some of what's been happening in this last month. I'm also looking into MailChimp, so hopefully that will also be another tool I will utilise in keeping you guys informed... and maybe (joining my Mum on) twitter (shock horror, I know!). I will endeavour to give you a full picture on Monday, when I make the trip back here again, but until, God bless and have the best weekend!
GBUG
Kara

August 2011 Newsletter!!!

Dear friends and family,

How are you? Can you believe how fast these last few months have flown by?

I know I said that I would send a follow up letter in July, but with the announcement of Mum’s engagement to one very lucky Gordon Beckett, and their upcoming wedding before October; a friend’s wedding in October, in which as part of the bridal party there is a lot of tango-ing and twister-ing, in getting ready before I leave; wrapping up work at the refectory; moving house; getting in the quarter finals with the church soccer competition; watching and looking after my health; and fighting Centrelink, well let’s just say a lot has been happening and this letter has just taken awhile to be produced.

Thankfully God does not put us on the back burner when He’s busy. He always seems to have time for us and has our best interests in mind. For me, it’s been seeing God’s provision when things aren’t going as planned. To have, with your prayer and support, 39% of the full $8450 raised, without my follow up, is a God send. THANK YOU so much!!! It’s truly been a blessing and means I only need a further 8% ($648.55) before October 4, for the class/lecture phase, and then the rest (53%) by November 10.

Another thing God has been teaching me is conversational prayer and trusting Him; to not get caught on the nitty gritty bits in the Bible, as hard as that is for me.

So, for the next few weeks, these are my main goals.

• To learn to include God in everything. Telling Him what I’m feeling, when I’m feeling it.
• To trust, know and believe God will provide everything, including the remaining lecture fees ($648.55) before October 4; as is the same with the outreach fees ($4225), before November 10, 2011, whether that be through you, your prayers, or some other means, which only God knows, and in only God can I trust.

If you would like to support me, through prayer or finance, please let me know.

My email address is rakaah@gmail.com, this email is also my paypal account contact email. My

mobile number and postal address can be obtained from privately emailing me or leaving me a comment, with your forwarding email address. If you would like to directly deposit into my YWAM bank account please email me also for this detail.

Thank you for your prayers and support,

Until next time,
GBUG (God Bless U Good)
Kara Martin

Prayer and Praise Points (Friday 12th of August, 2011)

I'm wanting to create brief sections in my newsletters on prayer and praise points. Three points I need prayer on, and three praise points for either prayer being answered, or something else that has happened :)

For example, three prayer points for me at the moment are the following:
1. To have my heart opened, so that I can hear God, know that it's God, and accept that it's God. To also be still enough (which means being able to shut down my over-working ticker) and silent enough to hear Him.

2. To get my health in order - physical and mental. To be able to control my diabetes steadily and not have it do random psychotic abnormalities, as it is doing at the moment. To not have the fear of a hypoglycaemic leading up to YWAM and whilst I'm on YWAM... to be short, complete healing would be nice, but my faith at the moment doesn't see it being possible... Mentally, to get into a pattern of speaking words of life into my life, and not letting satan get such a grip of negativity, poor self-esteem, etc. To not allow the depression to take the reigns in my life, but God to be the master of the carriage!

3. To trust that God will have the remaining 61% come in. That the lecture fees I need before October 4th (which I think is around $900) will come in time, and that Centrelink stuff is sorted ASAP.


PRAISE POINTS

1. 39% of support has already been raised.

2. God has become more of a front runner in my daily life, rather than the 'thing' I turn to only once a day, or when things aren't working out.

3. I'm actually now more excited for YWAM... even though I'm a bit scared... I'm REALLY looking forward to seeing God's footprints and how, when and where He moves! (and also meeting some really cool people)! :P

So I'm hoping to have this section in each of the newsletters I send out, via email or snail, so that if you don't have time to read the whole newsletter, you can read the summary of what's happening and what needs to happen. You can also join me in prayer, if you desire... the more the merrier :)

If you have any prayer requests, please send me an email... I'm creating a 5 year old idea of a prayer chart which I'm hoping I can stick on my wall, or something, where it's there for me to see and pray whenever I have a spare second, and would love to know how you're going/what's happening in your life. Just a hello would even be nice :) Looking forward to hearing from you!

GBUG