Videos to Watch by Judah Smith - A GREAT PERSPECTIVE!

Judah Smith 

- Jesus is loving Barrabas 

(http://youtu.be/RwX_EpNR4CA)

- Jesus is turning around

(http://youtu.be/v_9yRg6ATNo)

-Hosea and Gomer

http://youtu.be/r1DxoJqdopY

- Jesus is our advocate 

(http://youtu.be/nZvf_-331t0)

Will Just One Prayer Do?!?!

Luke 18:1

"Then Jesus told His disciples a parable to show them that they should always pray and not give up."

(Parable found in Luke 18:1-8)

How often do we think one prayer will do?  That if God doesn't answer it the first time we pray, He won't answer it at all?  How often do we overcomplicate prayer by thinking that with everything we need prayer for - ourselves or praying for other people, that talking to God once about it will suffice?  How often do we think we're becoming a burden or being a nuisance by constantly praying, asking, seeking God on a topic or two?

I know I've often thought and believed this, but oh how it is a lie! 

God wants us to ask! 

Does it not say is Matthew 7:7 to ask, seek, and knock?  Ask God.  Seek Him.  And talk to Him about it using His Word and continually knocking until the door is open?  Did Jesus not provide a parable for His disciples to not give up on praying and seeking God and His will no matter what?

If we gave into fully believing the lies earlier written wouldn't we in some ways be taking the control that we're trying to surrender to God back into our own hands? God wants us to continually commune with Him. He wants us to keep asking, seeking and knocking. Sometimes it is not the first prayer answered, but the hundredth. The fervent prayer of a righteous man availeth much - persistent in all their ways. 

*Amy, the women's Director and a growing friend, whom I'm respecting more and more each day, here at Strong Tower, often says how thankful she is that her mum prayed the whole 10 years she (Amy) struggled with her addiction and didn't stop praying for her after nine years. How that we too need to hold steadfast in the Lord and trust in Him   Continue asking, seeking and knocking at His door. 

Pastor Michael Adams, the founder and pastor of Strong Tower, recently shared in class about how prayer isn't duty-bound, but that it's faith.  

Prayer is abiding in God and trusting in Him. Trusting that He'll answer our prayers and believing that He hears us. 

Romans 8:22-27 (NIV)

"We know that the whole creation has been groaning as in the pains of childbirth right up to the present time. Not only so, but we ourselves, who have the firstfruits of the Spirit, groan inwardly as we wait eagerly for our adoption to sonship, the redemption of our bodies. For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what they already have? But if we hope for what we do not yet have, we wait for it patiently. In the same way, the Spirit helps us in our weakness. We do not know what we ought to pray for, but the Spirit himself intercedes for us through wordless groans. And he who searches our hearts knows the mind of the Spirit, because the Spirit intercedes for God’s people in accordance with the will of God."

Prayer motivates our spirit and it gives permission for God to move. 

It is and can be a great struggle but it's also a great privilege. No matter how hard it is we should always continue to pray and hold onto God. He is our Rock and He's always listening.  He just wants us to open up to Him.  Why not start now?

NOTE (26 December 2013) 

* Amy is no longer at Strong Tower - this also means she is no longer the women's director either. Keep her in your prayers. 

Plugged In?!?!

(Saturday 20th of July 2013)

Sometimes in life we forget we need a main power source until we try to use an appliance or tool and wonder why it's not working. 

This happened last week with Audrey, Robyn and I. 

Whilst sanding on Thursday we realised that one of the sanders wasn't working and after a quick inspection we noticed that it wasn't plugged into the power point (outlet) inside. This was fixed immediately and sanding of the crosses was endeavoured by all three of us again.

 

How similar is this to our walk with God? We often get so caught up in the busyness of life that we don't stay connected to the Father, in every day happenings, and it's not until something that's out of our control or something that overwhelms us that we go running back to God and seeking His powerful and wise hand in our life.  Seeking His help. 

But this is not what it should be like. Not really. Because without staying connected to God, we try to use our own battery-powered abilities, instead of allowing God to charge us fully - who's waiting for us to plug into His source of life. 

It's through His word, the Bible, and talking to Him daily - surrendering every aspect of our life to him, that He is able to be a part of our life and it's the best thing we could do to surrender our lives and allow God to be Lord, Saviour, provider, strength, encourager, lover and healer, who has blessed us with an electrical current that nothing in this world could ever replicate. 

It's through Him alone we should find identity. And I know it is only Him that I need in this life alone.  He's my electrical current I'm going to continue to plug into, is He yours?

Daniel 10:19 TLB

God loves you very much... don't be afraid!  Calm yourself; be strong - yes, strong!

 

(An encouraging verse I found on the bottom of a scrap piece of paper)

A Blurred Reality

(Friday 12th of July 2013)

In coming to America I was adamant that I'd never transition to the American of words. That I'd always keep the Australian-United Kingdom spelling with the included 'u'(s) and 's'(s) instead of 'z'(s). 

At first this was fairly easy to maintain, in fact I often became a little poignant when I saw an American spelt word and yes a little excited and prideful when on the rare occasion I saw an Australian spelled word. However over time the clarity of recognising and even writing the Australian UK words over the American spelled words began to blur and became harder to distinguish. 

When realising and pondering my immersion into American culture, including spelling, I began to realise how similar this is to our walk in life and our battle with temptations and sin.  When we first see something wrong or sinful we can clearly distinguish the right thing from the wrong thing. We try to justify it, realise it, and try get around it. But deep down we know it's sin. We know it's wrong but the moment we do it (sin) the less we can clearly distinguish and recognise the difference. 

The Australian Youth With A Mission's Dean of education (a position in YWAM's University of the Nations) Mark Brokenshire shared with the class I was sitting in when I was at YWAM Newcastle (New South Wales, Australia) in 2011, that sin was like a cliff edge.   

We try to see how close we can get to the cliff edge, wanting the excitement, the adrenaline, the view, but then getting super close to the edge, we take a wrong step and then we're gone. 

We can do that with temptations and simple things too. Trying to see how much we can dabble in in it - how close we can get to the edge of a cliff, thinking we're not really doing that bad a thing.  It's not as bad as something else, that someone else has done and as a result, we don't realise the cliff edge when it comes. 

We are so busy comparing ourselves to other people and trying to rationalise and justify that what we are doing isn't that bad, is that different to other peoples actions that we hit the cliff edge and before we know it we're going falling to our deaths. 

The more we sin, the more blurred the clarity of right from wrong becomes and the harder it will be to hear God as well.  It's like James 1:19 - 20 says 

"My Christian brothers you know everyone should listen much and speak little. He should be slow to anger. A man's anger does not allow him to be right with God."

Romans 6:12-13 also reiterates this with "In the same way count yourselves dead to sin, but alive to God in Christ Jesus. Do not offer the parts of your body as instruments of wickedness, but rather offer yourselves to God, as those who have been brought from death to life; and offer the parts of your body to Him as instruments of righteousness. 

Got does not want us to sin, therefore should we be tempted to even gamble with what is "sin" and what is not? 

It doesn't matter if other people are doing it, if it doesn't line up with God's Word, the Bible, and the Holy Spirit, or our conscience convicts us of it, even if it's only a little, - we should not even partake in a second of it. 

God asked us to be like Him and to be pure of heart and if we truly love Him and fear Him (out of reverence, respect and honour) we should obey Him and His directions whether it's from Him personally or a spiritual leader in our lives e.g. Pastor, teacher, law-enforcement, parents etc. 

They are all in leadership for a reason and as in Ephesians 6:1-9 says they have our best interest in mind and we have the responsibility to honour and a pay them with respect and reverence. 

It's truly our choice but Romans 6:12 says one brings life and one brings death. It's all in our hands. I know which one I'd choose.  How about you? 

Further readings - Matthew 7:13-14; Matthew 19:16-30; Proverbs 21:16

Blog posts handwritten earlier in the year...

I'm finally getting around to uploading some of the posts I handwrote earlier in the year now... Most of them have dates so you can see when it was written but I'll make sure my latest update, after these, will be dated with the current date. Merry Christmas y'all. 

ROAD TRIP!

Hey y'all. 

So I haven't been online in a long time, which has meant a lot of you haven't heard from me.  So I'll give you a quick update...

I'm still at Strong Tower Ministries (www.urmystrongtower.com) and am now a serving leader, known also as an intern (whilst being a student - graduating the student part in April/May 2014). This has meant a huge shift in perspectives and a reality shift. 

My address is still the same at 

7801 Burns Street

Hitchcock, Tx 77563

USA

So if you have time, drop a line - I'd love to hear how you're going and get in touch again. 

It also means I'm helping with the weekend (and sometimes weekday) fundraisers. Here we sell crosses (that we've hand made) and ask for donations - often in front of Walmart or Sam's Club, rain, hail, snow and shine (for around 10-12 hours each day). 

A privilege though has been being allowed access to the internet on my downtime on the weekends (only when I'm leading a crew - which doesn't happen too often). So I'm going to try to update y'all with what's been happening when that opportunity arises. --> I've only had that chance 3 times in the past 2 months though so it doesn't happen too often and is probably around an hour total. But I do want to keep in touch - so snail mail is the best way, as I don't have too much time to reply to emails or Facebook and also don't want my phone internet to become a distractant from my walk with God. 

But the last two days a couple girls and I were fundraising just down the road in Santa Fe (Texas) and arriving back at Strong Tower tonight, was told we had to pack our bags immediately to join another crew, and now we are heading to Nebraska City and Lawerence (Nebraska) and Hiawatha, Kansas. It's a 13 hour drive, but it's an opportunity to represent God and ST and provide an open door for anyone wanting help to break free of their problems, whether it's drugs, alcohol, depression, domestic violence, homelessness, or wanting a fresh start after prison or jail - any life controlling issues. 

So if you could pray for safe travels, weather and unity and selflessness that'd be great. 

We are also leaving Monday to go on our Christmas break, many of us with flights and bus trips that we have to make - so if you could pray that we make it back before our flights that'd be great. 

Merry Christmas y'all too!!! Know that I love you and am so thankful for your support. 

I miss these beautiful women of God!

Merry Christmas to the best small group ever!!!

Today's Fundraising Escapade - Arlan's Market, Santa Fe (Texas)

Zuri and I enjoying the warmth of the sun and the rare blessing of fundraising on the inside with seats :)

This is today's layout. Usually we are set up outside walmart, rain, hail, snow or shine, but God blessed us by having us indoors today. 

Melissa and Missy next to the table. Arlan's even provided us with chairs :) BLESSING!!!

Some of the handmade crosses we make - ranging from $5 up to the usual $50, with an $80 cross also in this mix as the trophy piece. 

Here's a few more :) a good day overall. 

Pray for the lost, forgotten and rejected and abandoned, that they will see the light through Christ's disciples and will not run but pursue. That we, as Christians will be holders of that light, stepping up out of this world, as true representatives of Christ, never sinking in our flesh but clothing ourselves (by Christ's hands) in Christ's robes. 

Devotional by Stellar Kart

http://youtu.be/VTCi9avy5QM

Never Left Your Side

"Never Left Your Side" is a song that talks about God's unfailing love, even when we can't see the big picture. I was reading about Job and how God took everything from him, just to return to him more than he had in the first place. God ultimately rewarded Job's faithfulness, but He allowed him to go through extreme hardship to test his character and devotion. God's plan is perfect. He wants us to believe in Him and trust Him, even when we can't see the end goal. The lyrics say, "The sun's still shining through the night, the stars still burn in the daylight, sometimes you just can't trust your eyes. I never left your side." I need to be reminded of this constantly. God doesn't promise us that life will be easy. He doesn't promise that it will be fair. He doesn't even promise that we'll ever understand why we go through what we go through. He does promise that He is always with us, and that is all we need.

JOB 23:8-14

“But if I go to the east, he is not there; if I go to the west, I do not find him. When he is at work in the north, I do not see him; when he turns to the south, I catch no glimpse of him. But he knows the way that I take; when he has tested me, I will come forth as gold. My feet have closely followed his steps; I have kept to his way without turning aside. I have not departed from the commands of his lips; I have treasured the words of his mouth more than my daily bread. “But he stands alone, and who can oppose him? He does whatever he pleases. He carries out his decree against me, and many such plans he still has in store. (Job 23:8-14 NIV)

JOB 42:12-17

The Lord blessed the latter part of Job’s life more than the former part. He had fourteen thousand sheep, six thousand camels, a thousand yoke of oxen and a thousand donkeys. And he also had seven sons and three daughters. The first daughter he named Jemimah, the second Keziah and the third Keren-Happuch. Nowhere in all the land were there found women as beautiful as Job’s daughters, and their father granted them an inheritance along with their brothers. After this, Job lived a hundred and forty years; he saw his children and their children to the fourth generation. And so Job died, an old man and full of years. (Job 42:12-17 NIV)

HEBREWS 11:1-40

Now faith is confidence in what we hope for and assurance about what we do not see. This is what the ancients were commended for. By faith we understand that the universe was formed at God’s command, so that what is seen was not made out of what was visible. By faith Abel brought God a better offering than Cain did. By faith he was commended as righteous, when God spoke well of his offerings. And by faith Abel still speaks, even though he is dead. By faith Enoch was taken from this life, so that he did not experience death: “He could not be found, because God had taken him away.” For before he was taken, he was commended as one who pleased God. And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him. By faith Noah, when warned about things not yet seen, in holy fear built an ark to save his family. By his faith he condemned the world and became heir of the righteousness that is in keeping with faith. By faith Abraham, when called to go to a place he would later receive as his inheritance, obeyed and went, even though he did not know where he was going. By faith he made his home in the promised land like a stranger in a foreign country; he lived in tents, as did Isaac and Jacob, who were heirs with him of the same promise. For he was looking forward to the city with foundations, whose architect and builder is God. And by faith even Sarah, who was past childbearing age, was enabled to bear children because she considered him faithful who had made the promise. And so from this one man, and he as good as dead, came descendants as numerous as the stars in the sky and as countless as the sand on the seashore. All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance, admitting that they were foreigners and strangers on earth. People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own. If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return. Instead, they were longing for a better country—a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them. By faith Abraham, when God tested him, offered Isaac as a sacrifice. He who had embraced the promises was about to sacrifice his one and only son, even though God had said to him, “It is through Isaac that your offspring will be reckoned.” Abraham reasoned that God could even raise the dead, and so in a manner of speaking he did receive Isaac back from death. By faith Isaac blessed Jacob and Esau in regard to their future. By faith Jacob, when he was dying, blessed each of Joseph’s sons, and worshiped as he leaned on the top of his staff. By faith Joseph, when his end was near, spoke about the exodus of the Israelites from Egypt and gave instructions concerning the burial of his bones. By faith Moses’ parents hid him for three months after he was born, because they saw he was no ordinary child, and they were not afraid of the king’s edict. By faith Moses, when he had grown up, refused to be known as the son of Pharaoh’s daughter. He chose to be mistreated along with the people of God rather than to enjoy the fleeting pleasures of sin. He regarded disgrace for the sake of Christ as of greater value than the treasures of Egypt, because he was looking ahead to his reward. By faith he left Egypt, not fearing the king’s anger; he persevered because he saw him who is invisible. By faith he kept the Passover and the application of blood, so that the destroyer of the firstborn would not touch the firstborn of Israel. By faith the people passed through the Red Sea as on dry land; but when the Egyptians tried to do so, they were drowned. By faith the walls of Jericho fell, after the army had marched around them for seven days. By faith the prostitute Rahab, because she welcomed the spies, was not killed with those who were disobedient. And what more shall I say? I do not have time to tell about Gideon, Barak, Samson and Jephthah, about David and Samuel and the prophets, who through faith conquered kingdoms, administered justice, and gained what was promised; who shut the mouths of lions, quenched the fury of the flames, and escaped the edge of the sword; whose weakness was turned to strength; and who became powerful in battle and routed foreign armies. Women received back their dead, raised to life again. There were others who were tortured, refusing to be released so that they might gain an even better resurrection. Some faced jeers and flogging, and even chains and imprisonment. They were put to death by stoning; they were sawed in two; they were killed by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated— the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, living in caves and in holes in the ground. These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect. (Hebrews 11:1-40 NIV)

Psalm 27:7

Hear my voice when I call, Lord; be merciful to me and answer me.

http://bible.com/111/psa.27.7.niv

As Kara's Mum she has asked me to write the following blog for her.
"Hi can you make a donation."
How these words often disgruntled our senses, scare us or intimidate us to walk as far away from the asker as possible. We commonly treat these people of charities, shopping centre mini stalls / booths like the Jews and Romans 2000+ years ago treated the lepers. Unclean...Diseased...Dirty... As if one ingle acknowledgement, whether it's a glance, gesture or word is going to stricken us to our death beds. Yet what I've realised, with the tables being turned this is not the case at all!
Sad to say, in Australia- even though we have the rule of charities and stall holders not being allowed to talk to you unless you make eye contact with them first, I was one of those people who walked as far away as possible from the organisation. If they spoke to me, I might softly say 'no thank you' but often I pretended I had never heard them, and after being with Strong Tower Ministries for the past 3 months, I've come to realise how wrong my behaviours were around these organisations. The people that asked for donations or for you to have a look at their products, are people too! They deserve our respect, care and love! All they are asking for is a few minutes of your time to share and represent their organisation. This is their lifestyle - this is their job and it is really no different from a 9-5 job, a shift work job, or a telemarketers job. As much as we often treat each of these people with different levels of respect, purpose and worth, we really shouldn't. Each person has the exact same worth, no matter what their job is, or their background.
God taught me something similar to this 6 weeks ago with James 2:1-13, where it talks about a pauper and a lord being shown different forms of privileges, based on their status and how we should not discriminate or show favouritism, for all are equal in God's eyes and deserve the same love that we show ourselves , which God has shown us first. God taught me on my first fundraiser run, standing outside Walmart 10-12 hrs a day for 3 days straight - doing something I'd swore I'd never do, nor wanted done to me - asking for donations;  that whether the person you ask blesses you with a donation / buying a hand made cross, or blatantly ignores you, gruffly says 'no' or swears at you, you have to treat them the same. They are still valuable and of intricate worth whether they donate or not. They are God's children, his loved ones!
After all these weeks of standing in the rain, hail heat and shine I know I will never treat another donation asker the same way I used to. They are doing what God has asked them to do, or to put food on the table for themselves and / or loved ones. Who am I to judge their worth based on their occupation, body shape, popularity status, disease,vocabulary,religious beliefs (and how they walk them out) or addiction / life controlling issue? I am no one. I have no place to judge and God has blessed me with a valuable worth, so who am I not to see the worth God has placed in every single other person around me (past, present and future). When it comes down to it we are all of equal worth. We are all equal in his eyes. We are his beloved children, adopted into his kingdom, and paid for by the sacrificial blood of His son.
"Father I ask you today to help me see everyone of your children (whether their walking with you or away from you) as you do. Open my eyes to the beauty you have given them, instead of seeing the sooty ashes. Help me not to judge them with my preconceived ideas and world views. Thank you for loving us all so much that you sent your only Son to die for our sins; so that we may have a relationship with you! Let us all grow closer to You and have You as our Strong Tower, rock and refuge; our daily bread and living hope. In Jesus name I pray. Amen

Same Direction, Different Location

With only having just arrived back from Houston on Friday, God made it clear to both 'School of New Beginnings' leaders' Christian and Emily, and to me, that I was to be back at 'Strong Towers' Houston, so as of today I will be in Houston under the care of 'Strong Towers'.  It's the same basic rules of no Internet, and minimal phone calls... but in someways it's a lot stricter.  But as I posted on Sunday, God is moving so much there and I am excited to see what He does and how He becomes more of a personal lover to me than a religious leader and to know Him inimately as time goes by and follow Him and the calling He has placed on my life.  This also means my address has changed...

Which is...

Kara Martin
Strong Towers Ministries
7801 Burns Street
Hitchcock, Texas 77563
USA.

I would love to hear from you and I will endeavour to reply as soon as possible.  From what I have experienced, the 'Strong Towers' Ministry is very fast paced and in common terms it would come across as a bit militaristic but it is a God driven base and it is where He's called me to be at this present time.

If you would like to see what the organisation is about, here's the web address...
www.urmystrongtower.org

I would love to hear from you whenever you're free and keep in touch with you.
May God bless you and keep you safe!
GBUG (God Bless U Good)
Kara

Matthew 9:38 - "Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His Harvest."

A Settling Soul

(Saturday, 4th of May, 2013)

It’s been 4 weeks that I’ve been here and I don’t really know what to say… I’m hoping you’ll get to read this sometime soon, when I get access to upload this to the Internet, but let me tell you about the past month that has passed.

This past month has been a road of ups and downs, and a time of a lot of revelation.  Some of which I’ve been able to grasp, but sadly some of it has not been as easy to grasp, which is okay, because it means I get the perfect opportunity to work on it right here, right now, and it’s going to stick this time – for good, with God and the amazing people here that are helping me to smooth out the rough ruts that have rutted in the wrong direction and start new ruts in the right direction!

In the three weeks I’ve already had classes on the ‘Nature of God’, ‘Character of God’, ‘God’s laws’, ‘Satan and his strategies’, ‘Truth verse Lies’, ‘Other Religions’, etc.

This last week was a bit different however, in which we went to a ministry called ‘Strong Towers’ in Hitchcock, Texas and let me tell you… WHAT AN AMAZING WEEK I HAVE HAD!!! It’s a super strict ministry, but it’s a clean ministry and God is doing amazing things there.  As I was only with the women, I can only account for my experience with the women, but they are amazing women of God.  They are so full of fire it is crazy!  A lot of them have had similar pasts of myself, friends and family I have known, but a lot of them have had completely different stories but the amazing thing that God is bringing them back to Himself and the plans that He has had for them before they were born.

Travelling to Hitchcock, Houston.

I only really spent three days with these beautiful ladies (about 12 in total) but it felt like years when I had to leave.  They became my family so quickly and saying goodbye to them was not and is still not easy.  The good news is however, that School of New Beginnings is partnering with Strong Towers and so I should see them more often than not.

Strong Towers is devoted to bringing people out of the world and back into the life of Christ…  so this means that people that have struggled with addictions of drugs, alcohol, homelessness, violence, etc. have a place for them that welcomes them and wants to help them get their lives in order.  They also provide an open door for people with depression, and just people that have somehow found they are walking in the wrong direction, whether these are people that have just gotten out of prison or are lost physically, emotionally and spiritually.

The good thing about this ministry is that it’s Christ centred and truly only in having Christ as the foundation are we really free from the chains of addictions.  They don’t ask for money (to provide for their students, staff or interns), but instead they sell handmade crosses from Cyprus wood, and other woods.  Each day consists of a work duty, which is often making these crosses, or fish, hearts, shield, or a combination of all of them, chopping boards, necklaces, etc. and then on the weekends they go out and fundraise all around America… it also allows the students to evangelise and share with people what God is doing in their lives and also have a physical time to see how God is moving and how they’ve grown themselves.

It is hoped that School of New Beginnings too, will be involved in the cross making industry and fundraising, but as a secondary outlet of Strong Towers, in that students that have finished at Strong Tower, if they’re not ready to merge back into normal civilisation, they can come to SONB and work on the freshly laid foundations for another six months and follow God’s call, whether that may be to do a DTS (Discipleship Training School – like what I have just completed in Denver) at one of the many YWAM (Youth With A Mission) bases around the World, or stay on at SONB or Strong Tower or return to normal life or really anywhere where God opens that door and directs them to step forward in obedience and trust.  But I am so excited to see where these women (and men) go and how God unfolds the beautiful petals around their lives to let the world see their true beauty in Him!!!

My dear sister at 'Strong Towers Ministries' - Robyn! I love her a lot!

I HAVE A POSTAL ADDRESS AND A PHONE NUMBER!!!

Hey all,

So I just found out that you can send me mail and if you need to get in contact with me, in an emergency of something, there's a number you can call too...

ADDRESS:

Kara Martin

4301 FM 773

Canton

TEXAS   75103

USA

PHONE:

If you're from outside of the USA

1-903-279-8547

If you're in the USA

903-279-8547

So here it is... and hopefully I'll hear from you sometime soon!

Updated Newsletter: What I am doing now!

If you missed the email...
Here's the latest newsletter:
http://us4.campaign-archive2.com/?u=0fde805d5ce7d447204d4d67e&id=d7444fbf80&e=f8254fd023

YWAM YPDTS 2012 (Denver and Colombia)... A Nutshell of a Summary ;)

Where does one begin to explain an experience that was only six months long but felt like 5 years stuck on fast forward?  I guess the only place one can truly begin is at the beginning, but that may take awhile so I guess I’ll start midway.

A new friend shared in his sermon a few days ago that good does not mean easy, but it is good.  This friend, Gabriel, shared how his journey of obeying God meant uprooting his family from their family home in South Texas and travelling 8 hours north to the YWAM base in Tyler Texas, but it was good, whilst really challenging, because it was God directed. 

I, too, have this same opinion… people have said that it looks like I am having a good time in America and at first I struggled to grasp this concept of “good” because good in my eyes, until recently, meant that I was enjoying my time… when in fact it had been one of the hardest, most life stretching times I have experienced to date.  But when discovering this new meaning of good, I would have to agree with Gabriel.  My time in America has been and is good!  God has been doing so much work… in me and around me!  Whilst I cannot see all the work God is doing at this very moment, I do know He is working!

So going back to Colombia and beyond…

My time was amazing, but challenging.  I, with my team mates (totalling 14 of us) were the last team (from the Young Peoples Discipleship Training School at Youth With A Mission Denver –YPDTS at YWAM Denver) to depart America.  We flew from Denver International Airport to Miami, to Bogota, Colombia.  When we arrived in Colombia, we boarded a bus and drove 8-12 hours north to the city of Pereira.  This city is known as the city of South America, and also the world, that trains up Satanists and produces the most prostitutes from South America.  While we were here we mainly focused on street ministry – evangelism in the plazas, helping local churches, ministering with the children and youth, feeding the homeless and doing a lot of prayer walks. 

We also met some amazing people while we were here.  A few of the special people we met are:

Yury, Sebastian, Steve, JD and Juan Diego, who were the main people ministering with us and translating for us (from YWAM Pereira):

Yury: 

Sebastian:

Steven:

Juan Diego:

Jesus David (JD):

Sara and Tati (two girls that I met at a youth group that have a thirsting love):

Lina is a young lady we met on our first day of ministry, but she ended up becoming more like a sister to us than just a friend:

(Left to Right: Emery, Kelci, Kara, Alex, Lina, Jenna, Maria) 

Lilo, Meir, Carolina, Saudi, Kevin, Josue, Natalia, Laura, and several other people we met (who were from youth groups, churches, YWAM Bogota, etc.) whilst we visited and did local outreaches and evangelism in Pereira and the surrounding cities.

There were plenty of other people who impacted our lives in Pereira, but after celebrating Christmas and New Years, and spending just under two weeks here, we packed our bags, boarded the bus again and travelled back to Bogota, to fly down to Leticia.

The majority of our time in Colombia was spent in Leticia.  This city is the southernmost city in Colombia, the capital of the Amazonas region and borders Peru and Brazil with the Amazon River running through it. 

While we were here a lot of our time was spent helping out with an organisation called Medical Ministries International (MMI).  This ministry focuses on providing medical care to some of the poorest nations around the World and making a long term relationship with the nation and its people rather than just short visits. 

In helping with this ministry, the first week and a half was spent taking fliers out to surrounding villages of Leticia, Colombia, Peru and Brazil and doing a bit of evangelism at the same time.  We then spent a few days cleaning the school up and getting classrooms set up for 1000+ people to be examined daily.  The next two weeks, as we could not speak Spanish, we were put in charge of children ministry… providing activities for the children, whilst their parents waited in line, and collecting them when they (the children) themselves needed to be examined or have surgery. 

During this time, we also got to take a few afternoons to travel over to an island, just a stones throw away from the Leticia dock, in the Amazon River, called Fantasy Island. Here we made friends and spent time playing mud soccer, doing dances, dramas, plays/skits, and just spending time with this forgotten island.  A lot of the villagers here provide for their family by making dug out canoes and providing a taxi service to people wanting to go up and down the Amazon, to Peru and Brazil, as well as fishing and selling their catches.

Our last week in Leticia was spent in a little village, accessible by travelling up the Amazon River only, called Santa Sofia.  Here we spent a lot of time connecting with the locals and building long term relationships.

After 5 weeks in Leticia, we flew back up to Bogota and spent the last few days helping YWAM Bogota with building a sewerage canal and placing the pipes inside the trench, as part of their ‘Children at Risk’ program (http://www.childrenatriskcolombia.org/) and cleaning their facilities where they hold children activities and provide accommodation periodically.

After 8 weeks in Colombia, we flew back to Miami and the rest of the adventure can be found on a previously posted story called On Solid Ground in the USA (http://kara-followinginhisfootsteps.blogspot.com/2013/02/on-solid-ground-in-usa.html).

This was the five months I spent with YWAM Denver’s YPDTS of 2012.  I have learnt many things and God has shown me so many things and done such an amazing job.  A lot of revelations and a lot of ideas for the future… and now is where I’m starting to walk out in the missions He has called me to.  Missions like making Denver home, doing Phase 2, also known as School of Ministry Development (http://www.ywamdenver.org/school/schoolofministrydevelopmentphaseii), and being a missionary.  I do not know how this will look yet, I don’t know if I will ever know before I get to each phase of the plan God has for me, but I do know He loves me. 

There is so many more stories of that I can share during my time away, and some day I hope to, but for now I am obeying God in what He tells me to do and this involves me getting better in my psychological health.  In doing this, as my update letter describes, I am doing a school called The School of New Beginnings (www.schoolofnewbeginnings.org) and this is just one step in which I’m hoping to know God more, and be restored and able to carry out the full calling God has called me to do, as part of His Kingdom of World changers and Kingdom shapers!

Thank you so much for all your support, love and care.  I love you all and miss you heaps and hope to hear from you all.  Please keep the people of Colombia in your prayers, and may God bless you good. 

Until next time,

Kara

Denver, Colorado and Colombia, Peru and Brazil... A YWAM YPDTS 2012 Slideshow!

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On Solid Ground in the USA!

Hey all,

After an adventurous 33 hours of travel, an extra 20 hours on top of my team mates, I have safely made it back to the United States of America.  Thank you to those who prayed for my travel, and the process of customs and border patrol/protection – I really needed it. 

Being the only Australian, and non-US citizen on my team, I was separated in Miami where I needed to explain why I was there and wait on their approval and decision on how long I could stay in the USA.  This somehow turned into me being escorted to another room, where 80+ people had been waiting from 0 to 6+ hours, without any explanation of why we were there and what we were to do, other than sit down and be quiet.  Thankfully I only had to wait 3 hours, after explaining several times that I had a connecting flight that left within the 2 hours from when I first arrived at the airport, with a group of 13 other people (who they denied being able to contact and inform of my location), and was allowed to leave, with permission to stay in the USA until August 7^th (another 6 months, compared to my original documented departure date of March 26^th). 

My gracious leader Jenna had also missed the flight to ensure that I got back to Denver safely.  Due to a historic severe blizzard in the north east, most flights that went to Denver (layover-ing in Chicago, Dallas, etc.) in the morning were not recommended as thousands of flights were scheduled to be cancelled or delayed (the Africa team, who were supposed to arrive on the same Friday that I was now arriving, were caught in this predicament at their layover in Chicago – they’re now scheduled to arrive in Denver today, Saturday), resulting in us catching the only available flight at 5pm. 

Both of us thankfully had no extra plane ticket fees to pay – I was told I was exempt but I wasn’t sure if Jenna would have a free flight as well and having a bit of team money left over, we were allowed to stay in the Airport hotel and get a good night sleep with a complimentary breakfast.

After a 4 hour flight, I arrived in Denver and Jenna and I were reunited with our team, and some close YWAM friends, one being my small group leader, Amy.  It feels so great to be back and I am truly grateful for all of you who were praying.  I am writing this on the blog as I hope to give multiple accounts of what God did, and what the team did, and what God did through the team, whilst I was in Colombia, what I am doing next, and what I envisage God is directing me to, etc. and I have a feeling it would be too large for a newsletter – because a lot happened! Praise God!!!

But this is my quick heads up and I hope you all have an amazing weekend!

Love you all lots and GBUG (God Bless U Good).

Kara

“Pray ye therefore the Lord of the Harvest, that He will send forth labourers into His harvest”.  ~Matthew 9:38