KONA

This past week I was able to travel to the big island and spend four days in Kona for Corporate week. It was definitely an experience, but it also made me realize how thankful I am for what I have here in Honolulu. The University of the Nations has about twelve DTS schools going on, as well as countless other upper level courses and seminars. There is around one thousand people on their campus daily. Whereas here at home, our base has around seventy to eighty. It was quite a large upscale. While at Kona we had a three hour lecture every morning and had the privilege to hear from Loren and Darlene Cunningham, the founders of YWAM. It was interesting to hear all about their life and their travels all over the world spreading the gospel. And as a bonus, I was able to see two girls who I went to high school with. It was like a little bit of home for a few days.

When I wasn't on campus, I was down near my room at YWAM Ships. It was really cool because it was right next to the water and it was near a bunch of little shops. Being able to walk straight to the beach in less than two minutes was a nice perk of not being on base. The whole week was pretty relaxing. One of the only downsides was that we had quite a hill to walk up to base if we happened to miss the shuttle. I missed it a few times, but was able to hitchhike with a few other people. It was quite an interesting experience.

All in all, my time in Kona was pretty fun, but I was very happy to come back home to Honolulu. The night we came back, I received a few letters and a care package. To those of you who mailed me things, I thank you so much! It was such a blessing to be able to know that people are thinking of me and praying for me back home in Michigan. Still overwhelmed by how lucky I am to come from such a great community. 

Life is hard

"The Lord gave and the Lord has taken away. Job 1:21

Yesterday morning I awoke to four or five text messages regarding a teacher from my high school, South Christian. As it turns out, he passed away in a car accident only a few hours prior. To be this far away from my South Christian community during this rough period is incredibly hard for me to deal with. There are few things that I want more than to be able to go home and be with my school. With my community. Sadly, I am unable to do so. Mr. VanDyke was never my teacher, but that does not mean that he did not know me. That he did not call my name when he saw me in the hallways. I cannot imagine South being without those interesting golf pants that he so often wore. Heaven gained an amazing angel yesterday. Life is hard but I know that we will be able to get through this.






I would appreciate prayer in this area specifically, but also for my sore throat. I've been sick for about five days so far and it has not been healing. Not only that, but also my finger was jammed when playing dodge ball last weekend and that is taking a while to heal. Thanks to all of you for your prayers! 

Exciting news!

As many of you know, I went into ywam unsure about where my outreach location was going to be. As of yesterday, it is no longer a question, but instead there is an answer! On December 14, I will be headed out on a journey to India and Sri Lanka. I am so excited to be able to go on this journey for 2-2 1/2 months with this amazing team.

I could not have been blessed with a better team. The Lord is amazing and I cannot thank Him enough for this opportunity in my life. 

Yesterday evening I was able to evangelize. Every Tuesday night I will be going to China Town and Hotel street to evangelize to the homeless with a group of about thirteen people. Last night was our first time and it was definitely difficult to say the least. It was pouring rain and it was a lot of our first attempts. I met a man named Bob. He was such a rad man. One of the people I was with prayed for him, and then he turned around and prayed for us. I thought we came out there to bless those who we were evangelizing to, but instead I was blessed. This morning I went to Ho'maka Hou with two other students to teach people who were trying to get back on their feet. I have the privilege of teaching algebra to this wonderful lady named Sarah. Which if you know me, math was not my strong subject in high school. It will be interesting to see how the next two months will go with the math considering Sarah caught on very quickly and I do not understand much math past Algebra. At least not well enough considering it's been five months since I was in a math class and what I do understand I am unsure how to teach it. The Lord will provide for me.

Tonight I had the privileged to worship for two hours. In those two hours I was broken and made new. It's a bit complicated to explain, but the Lord works in such mysterious ways. I know I've said this again and again, but I KNOW that this is where I am supposed to be. I feel such content from learning my location outreach and I have learned so much in the past week than I have in my fourteen years of schooling. I am blessed to be here. I am so utterly blessed and I cannot even explain how much it means to me.