Hey guys!
A lot has happened since the last time I wrote.
Team Barranquilla finally went to Barranquilla for the weekend, and we are now back in Cartegena. Our time spent in Barranquilla was a really big blessing. We had air conditioning, awesome food, american movies, free calls to the United States, and internet in our rooms. Also, at one open air we performed and shared the gospel, thirty people got saved!!!!!!!!! God is SO good. His timing is always exactly what we need! It was amazingly encouraging and awesome to hear that our work has not been in vain. Also, we recieved a letter from the Pastor in Santa Ana sharing with us how much we had effected their island for the better. It is just the right time for us to hear about the responses of seeds we have planted.
Now, we will be in Cartagena for a week, and then a week and a half in Santa Marta. We only have three weeks left in Colombia! I know God is going to do a lot in our team and the people here in Colombia. I am excited to see what is going to take place.
God is still teaching me about diligentes and perserverence. He is my constant companion and comfort when I feel alone. I´m so ready to come back home and share with everyone all that God has taught me, and shown me in this time. But until then , you are all in my prayers, and I love you all!
Friday, May 8, 2009
Tuesday, April 28, 2009
Boom, Roasted.
Hola everyone!
It has been so long since I have written that I do not even know where to begin.
We have been to two carribean islands which were both good and different in their own way. We are currently back in Cartagena, and I am very glad to be back in the city.
Our plans have changed slightly since I last updated you guys. The Baranquilla team is now going to Baranquilla this weekend, and only spending three days there. Instead of going to Baranquilla for a month, we are going to Santa Marta for a week and a half, and we will be spending more time in Cartagena.
Our ministry time has been really great. Our team is usually on the same page, and we work well together. Most of our ministry has been working with children and doing street performing. We have all been looking for ways of us to bless the people we are staying with, and ways to encourage the missionaries that are here for the long haul. The food here is awesome. The people in colombia really spoil us ¨Gringos¨. We have been able to go to some amazing beaches in our down time, and we were all really sunburned for awhile. I think our hosts felt sorry for us because we were so miserable after one paticular day at the beach.
Although this trip has not been easy, God has really been teaching me a lot. He has been teaching me about a daily and real sacrifice of my life, about a daily diving into his word, about a daily surrender to HIS will, and a daily choice to have a good attitude and a remembering of why I am here. I have come to admire and respect the missionaries that are here forever. They have such a heart for hurting and lost people that they are willing to give everything. Giving everything always sounds good on paper, and even to say out loud, but when it comes down to real life, it is much more difficult. I keep asking myself if I have what it takes to do this; to be a missionary for the rest of my life. To sacrifice being close to my family, my southern culture, the USA comfort, my time, and my desires. I have wrestled with this thought for awhile, and I always seem to come back to the same simple solution: What I have witnessed here in Colombia, and what I now know about the character of God, I cannot turn my back on. So, whatever God has me do, whether that is returning to college and living in the States, or whether that is living in the jungle for the rest of my life...I will do it, because I refuse to settle for second best when it comes to my relationship with God. I want whatever God wants.
Adios Amigos!! Until I write again!!
It has been so long since I have written that I do not even know where to begin.
We have been to two carribean islands which were both good and different in their own way. We are currently back in Cartagena, and I am very glad to be back in the city.
Our plans have changed slightly since I last updated you guys. The Baranquilla team is now going to Baranquilla this weekend, and only spending three days there. Instead of going to Baranquilla for a month, we are going to Santa Marta for a week and a half, and we will be spending more time in Cartagena.
Our ministry time has been really great. Our team is usually on the same page, and we work well together. Most of our ministry has been working with children and doing street performing. We have all been looking for ways of us to bless the people we are staying with, and ways to encourage the missionaries that are here for the long haul. The food here is awesome. The people in colombia really spoil us ¨Gringos¨. We have been able to go to some amazing beaches in our down time, and we were all really sunburned for awhile. I think our hosts felt sorry for us because we were so miserable after one paticular day at the beach.
Although this trip has not been easy, God has really been teaching me a lot. He has been teaching me about a daily and real sacrifice of my life, about a daily diving into his word, about a daily surrender to HIS will, and a daily choice to have a good attitude and a remembering of why I am here. I have come to admire and respect the missionaries that are here forever. They have such a heart for hurting and lost people that they are willing to give everything. Giving everything always sounds good on paper, and even to say out loud, but when it comes down to real life, it is much more difficult. I keep asking myself if I have what it takes to do this; to be a missionary for the rest of my life. To sacrifice being close to my family, my southern culture, the USA comfort, my time, and my desires. I have wrestled with this thought for awhile, and I always seem to come back to the same simple solution: What I have witnessed here in Colombia, and what I now know about the character of God, I cannot turn my back on. So, whatever God has me do, whether that is returning to college and living in the States, or whether that is living in the jungle for the rest of my life...I will do it, because I refuse to settle for second best when it comes to my relationship with God. I want whatever God wants.
Adios Amigos!! Until I write again!!
Saturday, April 11, 2009
Our Time Is Short
Hola from Colombia!
Sorry It has been so long since my last post; we have been super busy.
Colombia is amazing!
When we first stepped off the airplane onto Colombian soil I was immediately soaked from my own sweat. We drove about thirty minutes to the YWAM base, ate lunch, and had a short meeting. I´m not going to lie, I was pretty miserable. I was missing the Salem base, I felt like I had the flu, I had been use to weather of around sixty degrees, and I didn´t understand a lot of what was going on. I am pretty sure that my team mates were feeling a lot of the same feelings from looking at them.
My room is shared with four other girls and is possibly the hottest room in the house. Every night I wake up three or four times to go splash cold water on my face. Also, I share my bed with tiny black ants that thankfully do not bite...yet. The food here is delicious. We have been most blessed to only have a couple girls get sick from it. God has really been looking out for me because I have been doing great with the food.
Our ministry consist of the same sort of work every day. We go out in the mornings and perform a program for people around the town, and pray for them, and in the afternoon that is usually repeated. The heat is sometimes hard to handle, but it is definitely bareable. There is a cool breeze sent from heaven pretty consistently which makes the muggy air feel much better.
The people here are so accepting and excited to have us here... Many of them are giving me spanish lessons at night after we are done working.
Next week we will be going to the Island of Bocachica, so I most likely will not be able to get on the internet, or the week after that because we will be going to another village. I am really excited to see what God is going to do, and I thank each and everyone of you who is praying for our team. Please continue to do so! It is greatly needed!
I´m sorry if this is all in very bad or simple grammar, as a result of always having to speak in spanish my english has become really slow. I mean, not to say I am fluent in spanish by any means...it is just that my mind is slow right now.
I love you all and I miss you!
God bless.
Sorry It has been so long since my last post; we have been super busy.
Colombia is amazing!
When we first stepped off the airplane onto Colombian soil I was immediately soaked from my own sweat. We drove about thirty minutes to the YWAM base, ate lunch, and had a short meeting. I´m not going to lie, I was pretty miserable. I was missing the Salem base, I felt like I had the flu, I had been use to weather of around sixty degrees, and I didn´t understand a lot of what was going on. I am pretty sure that my team mates were feeling a lot of the same feelings from looking at them.
My room is shared with four other girls and is possibly the hottest room in the house. Every night I wake up three or four times to go splash cold water on my face. Also, I share my bed with tiny black ants that thankfully do not bite...yet. The food here is delicious. We have been most blessed to only have a couple girls get sick from it. God has really been looking out for me because I have been doing great with the food.
Our ministry consist of the same sort of work every day. We go out in the mornings and perform a program for people around the town, and pray for them, and in the afternoon that is usually repeated. The heat is sometimes hard to handle, but it is definitely bareable. There is a cool breeze sent from heaven pretty consistently which makes the muggy air feel much better.
The people here are so accepting and excited to have us here... Many of them are giving me spanish lessons at night after we are done working.
Next week we will be going to the Island of Bocachica, so I most likely will not be able to get on the internet, or the week after that because we will be going to another village. I am really excited to see what God is going to do, and I thank each and everyone of you who is praying for our team. Please continue to do so! It is greatly needed!
I´m sorry if this is all in very bad or simple grammar, as a result of always having to speak in spanish my english has become really slow. I mean, not to say I am fluent in spanish by any means...it is just that my mind is slow right now.
I love you all and I miss you!
God bless.
Sunday, March 22, 2009
Paper Planes
Hey ya'll!
I'm sorry I have not written in awhile; things have been super busy here being that we are getting ready to go to Colombia in two weeks! We have been working on dramas, skits, songs to perform, and having a lot of prayer times to intercede for Colombia.
This week we had Colleen Milstein come and speak to us about our worldviews. At first, I was not looking forward to learning about worldview because I was certian that mine was as christian as it needed to be(Silly me :) ). However, I was greatly mistaken, Colleen brought out SO many amazing points and insight that I had never thought about. Colleen is from South Africa, and is currently living in Switzerland working with the YWAM base there. Her passion to see change in the world is truly inspiring. Here are a few quotes from Colleen:
"We Love Jesus sincerely, and we believe he is real, but we keep him in our pocket and do not know how to relate him to everyday life."
"Nowadays, Christians live in a christian "ghetto" and we have lost our relevence to society"
"We see Jesus as Lord of the church, but we don't see Jesus as Lord of ALL."
"In today's society, we have so many options of what we are to do with our lives that those options feed a fear of commitment."
"The question isn't "can I do it?", but "Am I willing to do it?"
"Any place in your worldview that you have not consiencely examined and changed to match a biblical worldview is probably conforming to the world's way of thinking." Ex. ROMANS 12:2
"How much of our christianity in the U.S. is merely a "culteral package" rather than a REAL realationship?"
"Geographic location is not the problem with Christianity, I can change geographic location and be no more of a light to non-believers than I was back where I first started."
I hope ya'll enjoyed these quotes. The quotes were just a tidbit of all that Colleen shared with us. We learned that so much of what we count as truth is simply what the world has been telling us is truth. I would like to challenge you all to go back to the Word, and really examine your beliefs on education, family, government, science and technology, and other world topics to make sure that they line up with what the Bible says.
As the time is drawing closer to Colombia, I have a rough itinerary of what we will be doing while in Colombia:
April 6th: Fly out to Houston Texas and from there we will fly out to Colombia (cheaper then flying straight out of Portland)
April 7th to May 10th: we will be at the YWAM base in Cartagena working and serving the base and city anyway that we can.
May 10th- through duration of our time in Colombia: Our group will again split and half will go to Bogota to work with slum ministries, and the other half will be going to Baranquilla (which is where I will be going) to live with families there and create a kid's camp.
* this schedule is subject to change due to change in God's desire for what we are to do while in Colombia, we are also looking at going to an island and doing some church planting, but we are still praying about that. We don't want to go so many places that we are not effective, but also we want to reach whoever God wants us to.
Thanks SO much everyone for your prayers and support, I am thrilled to pieces at how generous all of you have been! My trip is pretty much paid for, and that makes me so proud of that southern hospitality that I have bragged to everyone here about! I always talk about how loving and giving my church familiy is, and I pray for you guys a lot! I know God is doing amazing things back in Greenwood! I am so excited to come back home and see all of you!
Again, thanks again, and God bless!
-Hali
I'm sorry I have not written in awhile; things have been super busy here being that we are getting ready to go to Colombia in two weeks! We have been working on dramas, skits, songs to perform, and having a lot of prayer times to intercede for Colombia.
This week we had Colleen Milstein come and speak to us about our worldviews. At first, I was not looking forward to learning about worldview because I was certian that mine was as christian as it needed to be(Silly me :) ). However, I was greatly mistaken, Colleen brought out SO many amazing points and insight that I had never thought about. Colleen is from South Africa, and is currently living in Switzerland working with the YWAM base there. Her passion to see change in the world is truly inspiring. Here are a few quotes from Colleen:
"We Love Jesus sincerely, and we believe he is real, but we keep him in our pocket and do not know how to relate him to everyday life."
"Nowadays, Christians live in a christian "ghetto" and we have lost our relevence to society"
"We see Jesus as Lord of the church, but we don't see Jesus as Lord of ALL."
"In today's society, we have so many options of what we are to do with our lives that those options feed a fear of commitment."
"The question isn't "can I do it?", but "Am I willing to do it?"
"Any place in your worldview that you have not consiencely examined and changed to match a biblical worldview is probably conforming to the world's way of thinking." Ex. ROMANS 12:2
"How much of our christianity in the U.S. is merely a "culteral package" rather than a REAL realationship?"
"Geographic location is not the problem with Christianity, I can change geographic location and be no more of a light to non-believers than I was back where I first started."
I hope ya'll enjoyed these quotes. The quotes were just a tidbit of all that Colleen shared with us. We learned that so much of what we count as truth is simply what the world has been telling us is truth. I would like to challenge you all to go back to the Word, and really examine your beliefs on education, family, government, science and technology, and other world topics to make sure that they line up with what the Bible says.
As the time is drawing closer to Colombia, I have a rough itinerary of what we will be doing while in Colombia:
April 6th: Fly out to Houston Texas and from there we will fly out to Colombia (cheaper then flying straight out of Portland)
April 7th to May 10th: we will be at the YWAM base in Cartagena working and serving the base and city anyway that we can.
May 10th- through duration of our time in Colombia: Our group will again split and half will go to Bogota to work with slum ministries, and the other half will be going to Baranquilla (which is where I will be going) to live with families there and create a kid's camp.
* this schedule is subject to change due to change in God's desire for what we are to do while in Colombia, we are also looking at going to an island and doing some church planting, but we are still praying about that. We don't want to go so many places that we are not effective, but also we want to reach whoever God wants us to.
Thanks SO much everyone for your prayers and support, I am thrilled to pieces at how generous all of you have been! My trip is pretty much paid for, and that makes me so proud of that southern hospitality that I have bragged to everyone here about! I always talk about how loving and giving my church familiy is, and I pray for you guys a lot! I know God is doing amazing things back in Greenwood! I am so excited to come back home and see all of you!
Again, thanks again, and God bless!
-Hali
Sunday, March 1, 2009
Pura Vida
Hey guys, sorry it has been so long, it has been an intense couple of weeks!
This week we were blessed to have Jerry Praetzel come and speak to us about healing and forgiveness. Not only did he give us some amazing new concepts and ensight; he also gave us an opportunity to confess past sins, and forgive past sins done against us. This was done in a very sensative and safe environment, before we did confess sins and forgave, we were in prayer and asking the Holy Spirit to convince us of what we needed to share. Also, we recieved a lot of teaching beforehand...I am explaining because I do not want it to come across like a chaotic time of sliming eachother with past sins.
Here are a few things that Jerry taught us:
"What sins we bury from the past, we don't bury dead, we bury those sins alive"
"God will not bring past sins up in your life that he will not redeem and take care of"
"God is more committed to you than things that come out of you, and he will do whatever it takes to get to you."
"You are are a LOUSY redeemer, give people in your life, and past and present sins to God: The Ultimate Redeemer"
"The enemy is not after just pain, it is what he wants you to become as a result of pain that he is after"
"Forgiveness means this person is no longer going to pay a price for what they have done to me"
"The blood of Jesus only covers, what I uncover"- I think I might have said this one before...but it is SO true!
This was just a little bit of what we learned about this week. We all went through a LOT of healing through confessing our sins, and really getting rid of the denial of those specific sin's effect on our lives. I'm sorry if some of this doesn't make sense, I am really tired right now! I love all of you, and I hope you are doing amazing!
-Hali
This week we were blessed to have Jerry Praetzel come and speak to us about healing and forgiveness. Not only did he give us some amazing new concepts and ensight; he also gave us an opportunity to confess past sins, and forgive past sins done against us. This was done in a very sensative and safe environment, before we did confess sins and forgave, we were in prayer and asking the Holy Spirit to convince us of what we needed to share. Also, we recieved a lot of teaching beforehand...I am explaining because I do not want it to come across like a chaotic time of sliming eachother with past sins.
Here are a few things that Jerry taught us:
"What sins we bury from the past, we don't bury dead, we bury those sins alive"
"God will not bring past sins up in your life that he will not redeem and take care of"
"God is more committed to you than things that come out of you, and he will do whatever it takes to get to you."
"You are are a LOUSY redeemer, give people in your life, and past and present sins to God: The Ultimate Redeemer"
"The enemy is not after just pain, it is what he wants you to become as a result of pain that he is after"
"Forgiveness means this person is no longer going to pay a price for what they have done to me"
"The blood of Jesus only covers, what I uncover"- I think I might have said this one before...but it is SO true!
This was just a little bit of what we learned about this week. We all went through a LOT of healing through confessing our sins, and really getting rid of the denial of those specific sin's effect on our lives. I'm sorry if some of this doesn't make sense, I am really tired right now! I love all of you, and I hope you are doing amazing!
-Hali
Monday, February 16, 2009
LoveloveLoveloveLoveloveLoveloveLove
Hey Ya'll,
Sorry it has taken me so long to write. The internet has been down for awhile.This week we had the privelage of hearing from Dean Sherman. Our topic for the week was relationships. We learned so much about love and how relationships should be according to the Bible. Some of what he said was difficult for me to process in the sense that it was really different from what I had always thought about God and relationships. Here are a few quotes from the week:
"I can't love God, if I can't love people"
"Love is greater when it jumps over more barriers"
"Sinners are enemies of a holy God, and Jesus was always around sinners, therefore Jesus loved his enemies."
"The Cross=Love"
"Don't fight selfishness, replace it with holiness"
"Unity is simply corporate humility"
1 John 3:17-18"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in Him?"-Love is practical, what you do dear children. Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.
"Love is a CHOICE more than it is a FEELING"
"Preaching the gospel needs to be done in a loving way , at a loving time, so that the gospel will be heard."
Sorry it has taken me so long to write. The internet has been down for awhile.This week we had the privelage of hearing from Dean Sherman. Our topic for the week was relationships. We learned so much about love and how relationships should be according to the Bible. Some of what he said was difficult for me to process in the sense that it was really different from what I had always thought about God and relationships. Here are a few quotes from the week:
"I can't love God, if I can't love people"
"Love is greater when it jumps over more barriers"
"Sinners are enemies of a holy God, and Jesus was always around sinners, therefore Jesus loved his enemies."
"The Cross=Love"
"Don't fight selfishness, replace it with holiness"
"Unity is simply corporate humility"
1 John 3:17-18"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in Him?"-Love is practical, what you do dear children. Let us not love with words or tongue, but with actions and in truth.
"Love is a CHOICE more than it is a FEELING"
"Preaching the gospel needs to be done in a loving way , at a loving time, so that the gospel will be heard."
-We learned so much more this week about love and what loving people TRULY is, but it would be a lot to write. This Valentines day was also really good because the guys here put on a dinner for all the girls. We got to dress up and have a really nice time. I hope everything is going great at home. I love you all and am praying for you!
Friday, February 6, 2009
Matthew 8
Hey guys,
I am writing a quick blog before our 1:30 worship time because I wanted to let you all know about some things happening in Zimbabwe, Africa.
Right now, as of January 31st, over 60,000 people living in Zimbabwe have died from a cholera epidemic that is all over Africa. As a result of the lack of fresh water, and broken, dilapitated sewer systems, there is no way to prevent the disease from spreading. Cholera symptoms include, extreme diarrhea, vomiting, extreme thirst, and leg cramps.
Health workers in Zimbabwe are exhausted and quickly running out of supplies. There are not enough workers, not enough space, and inadequate amounts of medicine.
What Zimbabwe needs right now is people to send money, and to go and help with relief.
I am asking you guys back home to prayerfully consider practical ways that you can raise money and awareness to help the suffering that is so prevelant in Zimbabwe.
What is upsetting about the spread of this disease, is that it is SO preventable and treatable!
Right now, prayer alone is not enough, as Christians, we are called to act. We need to be the answer to our own prayers, and we also need to be willing to be the change that we wholeheartedly long for.
Many people become ineffective for God because they cannot to everything, so they simply do nothing. Let us not be the generation of apathy and boredom. Let this be the generation that rises up and acts. Let us not be ineffective, but let us listen to God, and do what His will is for our lives!
Matthew 25:40-45 (New International Version)
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
I am writing a quick blog before our 1:30 worship time because I wanted to let you all know about some things happening in Zimbabwe, Africa.
Right now, as of January 31st, over 60,000 people living in Zimbabwe have died from a cholera epidemic that is all over Africa. As a result of the lack of fresh water, and broken, dilapitated sewer systems, there is no way to prevent the disease from spreading. Cholera symptoms include, extreme diarrhea, vomiting, extreme thirst, and leg cramps.
Health workers in Zimbabwe are exhausted and quickly running out of supplies. There are not enough workers, not enough space, and inadequate amounts of medicine.
What Zimbabwe needs right now is people to send money, and to go and help with relief.
I am asking you guys back home to prayerfully consider practical ways that you can raise money and awareness to help the suffering that is so prevelant in Zimbabwe.
What is upsetting about the spread of this disease, is that it is SO preventable and treatable!
Right now, prayer alone is not enough, as Christians, we are called to act. We need to be the answer to our own prayers, and we also need to be willing to be the change that we wholeheartedly long for.
Many people become ineffective for God because they cannot to everything, so they simply do nothing. Let us not be the generation of apathy and boredom. Let this be the generation that rises up and acts. Let us not be ineffective, but let us listen to God, and do what His will is for our lives!
Matthew 25:40-45 (New International Version)
40"The King will reply, 'I tell you the truth, whatever you did for one of the least of these brothers of mine, you did for me.'
Sunday, February 1, 2009
"Hope, is a terrible thing to lose"
That simple phrase tumbled in and out of my mind as we walked outside of the swinging door late that night. As two of my friends walked out the door I heard yelling and screaming. I rushed out quickly to investigate the noise, and was quickly pushed to the ground with the others. Four men were surrounding us with big guns yelling "Get on your knees! Now!". Those who resisted were roughly thrown down; gentleness was not an attribute for these men. "Get on your knees you scum!" they continued to yell. Although we easily outnumbered the four men who had us captive, they held the deciding factor in our thoughts of escape. The big steel pieces of metal gleamed in the moonlight threateningly as we sat huddled on the ground together. The men jeered and poked us with the ends of their guns, and one man broke away from the pack and went towards a white van. The other three men threw blindfolds at us and told us to put them on, or they would shoot us. Obediently, we put the blindfolds around our eyes and began to try and gather even closer together. However, as soon as we had the blindfolds secured around our eyes, we were jerked up to our feet and herded like cattle towards the white van. We were poked and prodded onto the vehicle, and by this point I did not know who was next to me, only that she was as scared as I. As we were all squished into the back of the van, I thought that maybe escape was possible, if they just left us in the trunk alone. Sadly, I heard the loud clank of the door, and a soldier sitting in the back with us was jeering and trying to scares us even more.
As the car bumped and rolled along slowly, I began to wonder "Why had they attacked us", "why were we singled out?", and worse "what were they going to do with us?". As the van slowed to a stop we all lurched forward on top of one another, but had no time to recover. Already, we were being dragged out of the van and onto squishy, wet ground. I clung to the person beside me, not able to see their face, or even ask a name; we simply held onto one another, realizing we were in this together.
As we were dragged further on, I began to hear screams and shouts. The screams were from two women saying "NO, please, don't do this!" Tears begin to stream down my face out of the fear of the unknown. We were again forced to our knees, all the while the soldiers screamed insults into our faces. I could hear the soldiers discussing that they wanted "a small, scrawny one" and again fear enveloped my being. As the soldier roughly grabbed my arm, I began to shake uncontrollably from being afraid. I was pulled closer and closer to sound of the screaming women and finally forced to a halt. Their screams were terrifying, "No! Please! We haven't done anything! Please don't kill us!" they continued to cry. I felt something cold and heavy being shoved into my hands, and I could hear the soldier telling me to "pull the trigger". Numbly, I pushed the gun away, and it was immediately shoved back into my arms. I could not understand what they were saying. "Pull the trigger!" the soldiers screamed. "Who do you think you are?! Pull the trigger!!" one soldier yelled over and over. I began to struggle against the gun, pushing it away again and again. In the midst of the struggle, I heard a resounding "POP", and it was then that I heard a scream that would resonate in my nightmares forever. I heard the crying of the other woman asking "why?" and I heard the laughter of the four men. It had all happend so quickly; I could not comprehend what had happend. It was then that I realized my hand had been on the trigger, and it had pulled back in the midst the fight. I began to sob uncontrollably. The soldiers laughed at my dismay, enjoying the pain that they had inflicted on so many. I was quickly pushed back with the rest of the group and I could hear another person being dragged up to where the last woman was left screaming. I could hear the soldiers screaming at the person to "pull the trigger!",I could hear the captive struggleing against the gun, I could hear the screaming of the woman over and over, begging for mercy, I could hear the resounding "POP" of the trigger, and finally I could hear the deafening laughter of the soldiers.
*This story was a dramatization that we as a YWAM group were put through Friday night. Although some details of the this story are dramatized, children are forced into the military reguarly. The men were not nearly as rough or mean as I made the story sound, but it was still convicting notheless.
Here are some facts about human trafficking:
Human trafficking is the world's 2nd largest criminal activity after drugs, earning up to $39 billion per year.
App. 900,000 people are trafficked across international borders
80% are female and up to half are minors
Nearly 200,000 people live nslaved at this monet in the US and an additional 17,500 new victims are trafficked across the borders each year.
Modern slaves are expendable. At about $100 a pesron, it ismore costly to care for the enslaved than to replace them.
I debated on whether or not to put this story on the internet. I got the idea of putting this into a story form from one of the dts girls here named Kristi. I did not put it on here to scare you, or to be dramatic, I do so because there needs to be awareness about human trafficking. Sometimes, you have to face things that are hard to deal with. Sometimes you have to put a face to suffering, because that is what will push you into action. I love you guys, and if you have any questions or want to get into action but are not sure how, you can email me at haliE_but101@yahoo.com thanks so much!
That simple phrase tumbled in and out of my mind as we walked outside of the swinging door late that night. As two of my friends walked out the door I heard yelling and screaming. I rushed out quickly to investigate the noise, and was quickly pushed to the ground with the others. Four men were surrounding us with big guns yelling "Get on your knees! Now!". Those who resisted were roughly thrown down; gentleness was not an attribute for these men. "Get on your knees you scum!" they continued to yell. Although we easily outnumbered the four men who had us captive, they held the deciding factor in our thoughts of escape. The big steel pieces of metal gleamed in the moonlight threateningly as we sat huddled on the ground together. The men jeered and poked us with the ends of their guns, and one man broke away from the pack and went towards a white van. The other three men threw blindfolds at us and told us to put them on, or they would shoot us. Obediently, we put the blindfolds around our eyes and began to try and gather even closer together. However, as soon as we had the blindfolds secured around our eyes, we were jerked up to our feet and herded like cattle towards the white van. We were poked and prodded onto the vehicle, and by this point I did not know who was next to me, only that she was as scared as I. As we were all squished into the back of the van, I thought that maybe escape was possible, if they just left us in the trunk alone. Sadly, I heard the loud clank of the door, and a soldier sitting in the back with us was jeering and trying to scares us even more.
As the car bumped and rolled along slowly, I began to wonder "Why had they attacked us", "why were we singled out?", and worse "what were they going to do with us?". As the van slowed to a stop we all lurched forward on top of one another, but had no time to recover. Already, we were being dragged out of the van and onto squishy, wet ground. I clung to the person beside me, not able to see their face, or even ask a name; we simply held onto one another, realizing we were in this together.
As we were dragged further on, I began to hear screams and shouts. The screams were from two women saying "NO, please, don't do this!" Tears begin to stream down my face out of the fear of the unknown. We were again forced to our knees, all the while the soldiers screamed insults into our faces. I could hear the soldiers discussing that they wanted "a small, scrawny one" and again fear enveloped my being. As the soldier roughly grabbed my arm, I began to shake uncontrollably from being afraid. I was pulled closer and closer to sound of the screaming women and finally forced to a halt. Their screams were terrifying, "No! Please! We haven't done anything! Please don't kill us!" they continued to cry. I felt something cold and heavy being shoved into my hands, and I could hear the soldier telling me to "pull the trigger". Numbly, I pushed the gun away, and it was immediately shoved back into my arms. I could not understand what they were saying. "Pull the trigger!" the soldiers screamed. "Who do you think you are?! Pull the trigger!!" one soldier yelled over and over. I began to struggle against the gun, pushing it away again and again. In the midst of the struggle, I heard a resounding "POP", and it was then that I heard a scream that would resonate in my nightmares forever. I heard the crying of the other woman asking "why?" and I heard the laughter of the four men. It had all happend so quickly; I could not comprehend what had happend. It was then that I realized my hand had been on the trigger, and it had pulled back in the midst the fight. I began to sob uncontrollably. The soldiers laughed at my dismay, enjoying the pain that they had inflicted on so many. I was quickly pushed back with the rest of the group and I could hear another person being dragged up to where the last woman was left screaming. I could hear the soldiers screaming at the person to "pull the trigger!",I could hear the captive struggleing against the gun, I could hear the screaming of the woman over and over, begging for mercy, I could hear the resounding "POP" of the trigger, and finally I could hear the deafening laughter of the soldiers.
*This story was a dramatization that we as a YWAM group were put through Friday night. Although some details of the this story are dramatized, children are forced into the military reguarly. The men were not nearly as rough or mean as I made the story sound, but it was still convicting notheless.
Here are some facts about human trafficking:
Human trafficking is the world's 2nd largest criminal activity after drugs, earning up to $39 billion per year.
App. 900,000 people are trafficked across international borders
80% are female and up to half are minors
Nearly 200,000 people live nslaved at this monet in the US and an additional 17,500 new victims are trafficked across the borders each year.
Modern slaves are expendable. At about $100 a pesron, it ismore costly to care for the enslaved than to replace them.
I debated on whether or not to put this story on the internet. I got the idea of putting this into a story form from one of the dts girls here named Kristi. I did not put it on here to scare you, or to be dramatic, I do so because there needs to be awareness about human trafficking. Sometimes, you have to face things that are hard to deal with. Sometimes you have to put a face to suffering, because that is what will push you into action. I love you guys, and if you have any questions or want to get into action but are not sure how, you can email me at haliE_but101@yahoo.com thanks so much!
Sunday, January 25, 2009
Stand.On.Your.Head.
This week we had the pleasure of hearing from Jim Stiers at the beginning of the week and from Mekiesha Smith again at the end of the week. Jim as a young man started YWAM Brazil and was once the president of YWAM. He is an amazing example of how we are to live our lives in obedience with God. Here are some quotes from this week:
Jim Stier:
"In this world, any kind of satisfaction we get; the price of that satisfaction will grow and grow, while the satisfaction will diminish."
"My depression was not a fixed temperment, just an emotional habit."
"We try to punish ourselves into purity, when in reality that doesn't work. Punishing ourselves creates inside of us an empty feeling, feeling ashamed, neediness, and our refusal to forgive ourselves. Guilt doesn't purify anything.
What works: Focusing on the character of God. As we focus on Him we begin to feel full, full of hope and God begins to purify us."
"Emotions make very bad leaders, but very good servants."
"Am I content to be a good "culteral" Christian with mediocre existents who is dried up, or am I going to endure the stretching and molding of God in my life?"
"Love is the constant sacrificial giving of ones self, regardless of return."
Mekeisha Smith:
"This God we have made and because we have made Him; because we have created HIm, He can never surprise us, never overhwlem us nor astonish nor transcend us." -A.W. Tozer
"Truth has the power to effect your life; but your perception of truth effects it more."
"We should not judge God's character by other people. One should look at the original"
"Many people believe they can't do everything, so sadly, they just do nothing."
"Where are we?! Because, God is not missing in action! HE is calling and we are not responding! We are allowing everything to distract us from the heart of God! When we do this we are saying "I don't care about others, and I don't want to feel the pain that others feel" As Christians, if we refuse to act in this world, people are left with no representation of Christ."
" People can watch horrible suffering and while they watch they will say "oh my god, that is horrible" and go back to eating there dinner."
"Condemnation is NO motivation, the only motivation we should have is God. We don't have time for condemnation, just conviction and CHANGE. Feel the pain, and then let if fuel you for service."
"We should be praying for a call to stay, because we clearly are called to go." -Keith Green
"May the Lamb that was slain recieve the reward of His suffering" -Moravian Missionaries who sold themselves into life long slavery so that they could minister to slaves (This was the last thing they said to there families as they were shipped off to the island to live as slaves and never see their families again.)"
As you can see we have learned SO much this week. Not only are we all convicted, but we are ready to act! I pray that we will REMEMBER all that is being taught to us. Now that I am aware of these things, I am held to an even higher standard, because I know the truth! I am praying for everyone back home, I hope you all are well! I love ya'll.
Jim Stier:
"In this world, any kind of satisfaction we get; the price of that satisfaction will grow and grow, while the satisfaction will diminish."
"My depression was not a fixed temperment, just an emotional habit."
"We try to punish ourselves into purity, when in reality that doesn't work. Punishing ourselves creates inside of us an empty feeling, feeling ashamed, neediness, and our refusal to forgive ourselves. Guilt doesn't purify anything.
What works: Focusing on the character of God. As we focus on Him we begin to feel full, full of hope and God begins to purify us."
"Emotions make very bad leaders, but very good servants."
"Am I content to be a good "culteral" Christian with mediocre existents who is dried up, or am I going to endure the stretching and molding of God in my life?"
"Love is the constant sacrificial giving of ones self, regardless of return."
Mekeisha Smith:
"This God we have made and because we have made Him; because we have created HIm, He can never surprise us, never overhwlem us nor astonish nor transcend us." -A.W. Tozer
"Truth has the power to effect your life; but your perception of truth effects it more."
"We should not judge God's character by other people. One should look at the original"
"Many people believe they can't do everything, so sadly, they just do nothing."
"Where are we?! Because, God is not missing in action! HE is calling and we are not responding! We are allowing everything to distract us from the heart of God! When we do this we are saying "I don't care about others, and I don't want to feel the pain that others feel" As Christians, if we refuse to act in this world, people are left with no representation of Christ."
" People can watch horrible suffering and while they watch they will say "oh my god, that is horrible" and go back to eating there dinner."
"Condemnation is NO motivation, the only motivation we should have is God. We don't have time for condemnation, just conviction and CHANGE. Feel the pain, and then let if fuel you for service."
"We should be praying for a call to stay, because we clearly are called to go." -Keith Green
"May the Lamb that was slain recieve the reward of His suffering" -Moravian Missionaries who sold themselves into life long slavery so that they could minister to slaves (This was the last thing they said to there families as they were shipped off to the island to live as slaves and never see their families again.)"
As you can see we have learned SO much this week. Not only are we all convicted, but we are ready to act! I pray that we will REMEMBER all that is being taught to us. Now that I am aware of these things, I am held to an even higher standard, because I know the truth! I am praying for everyone back home, I hope you all are well! I love ya'll.
Tuesday, January 20, 2009
"A Time For Everything"
Hey guys!
Well, another week has started, and it has been great! We have a new speaker and his name is Jim Stier. His teaching style is very different from Mekeisha's, but he still has some very good topics and points. In my next blog I will give ya'll some quotes of what we have been learning about! This weekend was very relaxing and fun. We visited a non-denominational church called "Church on a Hill". It was different from what I'm use to because they had many different speakers preach. My favorite part was the worship and the coffee shop :). After church we went to play soccer, which was a lot of fun. I unfortunately am VERY out of shape...so it was a bit challenging. It is tuesday and I am still unrealistically sore from playing. As a result of realizing how out of shape I am, me and my roomates were going to get up early this morning and run, however, that plan fell through due to being SO tired! It is sunny today, and everything is green and pretty! I am enjoying it here so much, and I thank God that I have this opportunity to set aside so much time to get to know my creator!
I love you all, and I miss you.
More to come SOON...
Well, another week has started, and it has been great! We have a new speaker and his name is Jim Stier. His teaching style is very different from Mekeisha's, but he still has some very good topics and points. In my next blog I will give ya'll some quotes of what we have been learning about! This weekend was very relaxing and fun. We visited a non-denominational church called "Church on a Hill". It was different from what I'm use to because they had many different speakers preach. My favorite part was the worship and the coffee shop :). After church we went to play soccer, which was a lot of fun. I unfortunately am VERY out of shape...so it was a bit challenging. It is tuesday and I am still unrealistically sore from playing. As a result of realizing how out of shape I am, me and my roomates were going to get up early this morning and run, however, that plan fell through due to being SO tired! It is sunny today, and everything is green and pretty! I am enjoying it here so much, and I thank God that I have this opportunity to set aside so much time to get to know my creator!
I love you all, and I miss you.
More to come SOON...
Saturday, January 17, 2009
Love.Worship.Obey.
Greetings ya'll!
Today was a really relaxing day. We had class from 9:30 to 12:30 and after that we had free time! A group of girls from our team decided that we would go to a Ukranian restraunt and eat, and then we would go the mall. It was really nice to be able to walk around and hang out.
We have been learning so much from class, and here are a few quotes we have been learning:
On Hearing God's Voice
"If your frustrations in your life serve their highest purpose, they will chase you into the throne room."
"When God speaks: Universes are created, stars are born, laws are put into motion, nations are created, angels hush, and so much more."
"However God chooses to speak to you, do NOT make Him shout."
"When we learn to hear from God ourselves it removes the middle man, so you hear exactly what God intended."
What Keeps Me From Hearing God
1.lack of recognition of God's voice
2. Sin (believing what I hold in my hand is more important than God)
3. Spiritual Warfare
4. God is silent
5. Our unwillingness to ask questions
6. Our unwillingness to wait
All For Christ
"Our question in life should not be "where will I go when I die?" but "who will I love while I'm alive?"
"I believe that God has called enough men and women to reach all of the unreached tribes of the earth. It is not God who does not call; it is men who do not respond."-Isobel Kuuhn (Missionary to China and Thailand)
"When you get closer to the heart of God you learn how to take up your cross and join the fellowship of suffering"
"Live your life so fully for God, that your life is useless for anything else."
"Missions exists, because worship doesn't"-John Piper
"God has not called us specifically to martydom, but he has called us to be a living sacrifice"
"Jesus is our DAILY bread; yesterday's quiet time is not going to get you through today's trials"
"A gift withough a heart behind it is a bribe. God asks for our heart, not our gifts." -Samuel Chadwic
"If a commission by a king is considered an honor, how can acommissioin by the heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"-David Livingstone
Sorry if these quotes don't make sense, these were just some of the ones that I felt like should be put on here! I love you all, and miss you bunches!
Today was a really relaxing day. We had class from 9:30 to 12:30 and after that we had free time! A group of girls from our team decided that we would go to a Ukranian restraunt and eat, and then we would go the mall. It was really nice to be able to walk around and hang out.
We have been learning so much from class, and here are a few quotes we have been learning:
On Hearing God's Voice
"If your frustrations in your life serve their highest purpose, they will chase you into the throne room."
"When God speaks: Universes are created, stars are born, laws are put into motion, nations are created, angels hush, and so much more."
"However God chooses to speak to you, do NOT make Him shout."
"When we learn to hear from God ourselves it removes the middle man, so you hear exactly what God intended."
What Keeps Me From Hearing God
1.lack of recognition of God's voice
2. Sin (believing what I hold in my hand is more important than God)
3. Spiritual Warfare
4. God is silent
5. Our unwillingness to ask questions
6. Our unwillingness to wait
All For Christ
"Our question in life should not be "where will I go when I die?" but "who will I love while I'm alive?"
"I believe that God has called enough men and women to reach all of the unreached tribes of the earth. It is not God who does not call; it is men who do not respond."-Isobel Kuuhn (Missionary to China and Thailand)
"When you get closer to the heart of God you learn how to take up your cross and join the fellowship of suffering"
"Live your life so fully for God, that your life is useless for anything else."
"Missions exists, because worship doesn't"-John Piper
"God has not called us specifically to martydom, but he has called us to be a living sacrifice"
"Jesus is our DAILY bread; yesterday's quiet time is not going to get you through today's trials"
"A gift withough a heart behind it is a bribe. God asks for our heart, not our gifts." -Samuel Chadwic
"If a commission by a king is considered an honor, how can acommissioin by the heavenly King be considered a sacrifice?"-David Livingstone
Sorry if these quotes don't make sense, these were just some of the ones that I felt like should be put on here! I love you all, and miss you bunches!
Thursday, January 15, 2009
The Oregon Trail; More Spiritual Growth Then Expected
Hey from Oregon! The internet has been down for awhile, and I have been aching to update you guys on what has been going on!
Yesterday our team heard from a lady named Mekeisha Smith. This lady speaks with amazing passion and TRUTH. When I have my journal with me next time I will write some quotes of what we have been learning...it is truly life-changing material! Here is my schedule:
7:15-8:30 AM : Wake up, take shower, eat granola bar do devotions
8:30-10:45:Class time (This week Mekeisha Smith Spoke on "Hearing God's Voice)
10:45-11:00:Break time (Coffee and donated starbucks baked goods available)
11:00-12:30: Class (Mekeisha Smith)
12:30-1:30: Lunch, Break time
1:30-3:00: Class (Bible Meditation, or Some other class)
3:00-5:00: Active Work Service ( I work in the Childcare and take care of Staff members kids, lots of fun:) )
5:15-7:00: dinner, break time
7:00-whenever: Outreach, YWAM values...or occasionally break time
This is just a rough schedule, sometimes we do different kinds of things. Yesterday we got to do a rope course, and it was really team building. It was awesome to see a group of strangers work together to get everyone through the course, and also see strangers putting other strangers needs before their own. I have discussed with many of my team members and we are all amazed at how fast we have all bonded. We all decided that obviously it is Christ that has made that possible! I am keeping you all in my prayers, and the verse at the top of my blog describes everything I am feeling at this moment! I love every single one of you, and I miss your beautiful southern faces!
Yesterday our team heard from a lady named Mekeisha Smith. This lady speaks with amazing passion and TRUTH. When I have my journal with me next time I will write some quotes of what we have been learning...it is truly life-changing material! Here is my schedule:
7:15-8:30 AM : Wake up, take shower, eat granola bar do devotions
8:30-10:45:Class time (This week Mekeisha Smith Spoke on "Hearing God's Voice)
10:45-11:00:Break time (Coffee and donated starbucks baked goods available)
11:00-12:30: Class (Mekeisha Smith)
12:30-1:30: Lunch, Break time
1:30-3:00: Class (Bible Meditation, or Some other class)
3:00-5:00: Active Work Service ( I work in the Childcare and take care of Staff members kids, lots of fun:) )
5:15-7:00: dinner, break time
7:00-whenever: Outreach, YWAM values...or occasionally break time
This is just a rough schedule, sometimes we do different kinds of things. Yesterday we got to do a rope course, and it was really team building. It was awesome to see a group of strangers work together to get everyone through the course, and also see strangers putting other strangers needs before their own. I have discussed with many of my team members and we are all amazed at how fast we have all bonded. We all decided that obviously it is Christ that has made that possible! I am keeping you all in my prayers, and the verse at the top of my blog describes everything I am feeling at this moment! I love every single one of you, and I miss your beautiful southern faces!
Tuesday, January 13, 2009
Oregon:True Life
Hey Ya'll!
It is my second day here in Oregon, and I thought I would give everyone the run-down on what has been going on here!
Monday morning I took my flight from Charlotte at 6AM to the Atlanta airport. It was probably the shortest flight ever, and I arrived in Atl at around 6:45AM. I had no trouble at all finding my connecting flight because I only had to walk down the hall and I was at the gate that I needed. I got on that flight and had the pleasure of sitting by a Woman named Ginger who was a Christian! She prayed for me before we landed, and we had a really pleasent flight together. Although, we didn't realize until five hours into the seven hour flight that we could watch the movies on our individual screens for free (we thought you had to pay, and had been making fun of our seat partner for watching them and "paying" so much) I landed in Oregon tired, but excited to be on the ground. From there, I met two "YWAMER's" who helped me get my bags and drove me to the base. At this point in time everything was pretty much a blur (due to the constant tear flow, and jet lag). I met all the people who were extremely nice, but I was still really homesick. I ended up going to bed really early that night. I woke up at four in the morning freaking out and wanting to come home, but I texted my mom and she got me through it. The next morning I woke up still crying and I still wanted to come home. Fortunately, I went to the morning class (after devotions) and I got to hear everyone's stories of how they came to YWAM and what life was like before YWAM. It was SO encouraging. After that, I had class three more times, with work duty (in child care) and lunch and dinner in between. The most exciting thing I did today was going to downtown Salem and "street evangelizing". What I really liked about their type of "street evangelizing" is their focus on building relationships first, before overwhelming people with evangelizing to them. It was really interesting to just talk to people and see what their views were on different things.
Sorry this is so gramatically awful. I am in a hurry!
BUT I love all of you and miss you SO much!!!
It is my second day here in Oregon, and I thought I would give everyone the run-down on what has been going on here!
Monday morning I took my flight from Charlotte at 6AM to the Atlanta airport. It was probably the shortest flight ever, and I arrived in Atl at around 6:45AM. I had no trouble at all finding my connecting flight because I only had to walk down the hall and I was at the gate that I needed. I got on that flight and had the pleasure of sitting by a Woman named Ginger who was a Christian! She prayed for me before we landed, and we had a really pleasent flight together. Although, we didn't realize until five hours into the seven hour flight that we could watch the movies on our individual screens for free (we thought you had to pay, and had been making fun of our seat partner for watching them and "paying" so much) I landed in Oregon tired, but excited to be on the ground. From there, I met two "YWAMER's" who helped me get my bags and drove me to the base. At this point in time everything was pretty much a blur (due to the constant tear flow, and jet lag). I met all the people who were extremely nice, but I was still really homesick. I ended up going to bed really early that night. I woke up at four in the morning freaking out and wanting to come home, but I texted my mom and she got me through it. The next morning I woke up still crying and I still wanted to come home. Fortunately, I went to the morning class (after devotions) and I got to hear everyone's stories of how they came to YWAM and what life was like before YWAM. It was SO encouraging. After that, I had class three more times, with work duty (in child care) and lunch and dinner in between. The most exciting thing I did today was going to downtown Salem and "street evangelizing". What I really liked about their type of "street evangelizing" is their focus on building relationships first, before overwhelming people with evangelizing to them. It was really interesting to just talk to people and see what their views were on different things.
Sorry this is so gramatically awful. I am in a hurry!
BUT I love all of you and miss you SO much!!!
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