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!