Fatikchuri-The Exciting Village Life!

      Those first few days flew by in Dhaka, and then we headed out for our first outreach location : Fatikchuri! After around 8 hours of bus and C&G rides, we finally made it! Let me tell you, it is definitely not easy traveling with 12 people and the amount of luggage we have in Bangladesh! We have had some pretty interesting travel experiences, and we as a team have gotten really good at learning how to squish and into small spaces to fit more! 

     The closer we got to the village, the city life faded off. behold! the simple life was our life! About an hour or two before we got to the village, there was barely any lights except in a few markets, and then soon there were no cars to be found. Finally we arrived as the moon was high and giggling was outside all around us. We were met by candles which was super cool. And we followed them and hiked to our hostile in the dark with our headlamps; It reminded me of outdoor school. <3

     Because we were so tired from that day, we crashed pretty quick after managing to grab out what we needed for our sleeping. In the morning we woke to the sun coming in from the windows. Children’s hands grabbed the iron bars in the windows and said their hellos. IT was so cute! We were in a real hostile! When we got a better look at the place we could get a good picture of where we were actually staying. We had managed to fit 12 girls into a very small space in the house, i’d say about 14 x 9 or something with just a curtain at shoulder height for a little bit of privacy from the front door and boys side, while the boys had the other side. 

     I walked outside and the sweet breeze of fresh air filled my senses and I felt like I was in a whole other country! It was so different than the Dhaka that we had just experienced. and i was ready for this adventure. We learned fast that this village was Hindu and that they spoke Tripura. In Bangladesh there are three main tribal groups- Tripura, Chakma, and Marma. Each with their own language and culture, so I learned quite a bit  of the language in the ten days that i was there for, more than the bangla that I know to date. For the majority, many of them had never heard of Jesus before. It was so cool to be the first to plant seeds!

       The mornings were usually a little chilly for most but by the afternoon, the blazing sun peeked through the fog and it was so warm! We were surrounded by fields, and hut houses on the outskirts. There were always goats and cows and chickens just running around everywhere. Usually everyday we would catch the women coming home with baskets over their heads coming home from a days work. The dress in the villages are a lot less conserved than the cities. 

       The children were very shy at first and you could tell that not many people had come through to play with them. Language barriers are tough! I remember feeling like this when I had been to the orphanage in Nicaragua: wanting to say so much but actions HAD to speak louder than words since that was the only way you could really communicate. Half way through the week the kids really became a lot more open and playful with us. out of everyone of our team, they knew my name the most because to them it sounded a lot like Chocolate! Sometimes i couldn’t tell which word they were calling out, but it was so cute waking up to the kids at our windows yelling out: JAclyn! Jaclyn! or Chocolate, Chocolate! haha I had my favorites that would always be wanting to play and hang out: Especially two girls that I still remember and love Ennie and Carpa. Carpa tried to teach me her language as she took me for a adventure walk pointing out different plants and objects and telling the word. Gosh I miss them!

        Our ministry consisted mostly of doing house visits to the different parts of the community as well as children ministry. I was never told how many people were in the whole village but I was told that there were around 900 children! We split up into three different groups to cover more ground. 

       I loved those house visits and I really loved the opportunities to speak out and take leadership in my groups to tell the gospel to people through a translator. The people were soo grateful for us to come and wished they could have given us food but because of the extreme poverty in the village, they were not able to which was totally okay! We saw so many different situations and houses. It makes you definitely be thankful for what you are blessed with. 

Vivian and I with our goats!

     ON one of the many occasions I had the incredible opportunity to lead a old man with tuberculosis to the Lord with the holy spirits help:) It was so beautiful it brought tears to my eyes! I believe that was my first time that I had ever walked through that before with someone. What an honor and privilege that God allowed us to be a part of this! One of my most favorite memories of outreach for sure!

     I was put in charge of making the Christmas program so I wrote out a musical and at the end of our time we performed it for a crowd of around 75 people! It worked so well and even the shepherds used live props for their sheep!

      Another exciting thing and favorite memory in the village was that girls were allowed to play soccer! Don’t worry! we still wore our sawra camis, but we just tied our scarf in a more active way! Me and my friend Hannah took full advantage of this and played whenever we could! We were the only girls! I’m sure for some of them, it was the first time they’d ever seen a girl play before! We would usually play before the sun set and one time we had a chance to go take a shower after and me and Hannah were pumped because sometimes we would just have to use wet-wipes since we were not allowed! Also, my bear one time got stolen by the children that had seen though the window. Don’t worry! I got him back! 

      OH I forgot to mention we got to bathe in the river! So fun and free! YEs this was the most simple life I have ever experienced. The village was mostly all uneducated people, not knowing how to read. There was no electricity, no clean drinking water, and the sleep was sometimes hard, but I loved Fatikchuri so much. I wish i could go back.

     Here was also where I picked up my old love and tried to teach myself what I remembered of the guitar. I got to lead worship for the first time un-expectantly one night which was so awesome! I want to continue with this gift! 

     OUr team definitely had it’s hard times here. For many this life was so different that it was hard getting used to. Everyday we had to cross a stream, and together we would have to carry sometimes people over it which was fun. Side note: Jenny and I had both felt like we should help build a bridge for the people, but we were not the first apparently to have this burden and there are complications that don’t make it “that” easy. So we are continuing to pray for what God’s plan for this could be! Sickness first plagued many members of our team here. People were hit hard, and throughout outreach there has not been a ton of meals where we have all come to feeling great. Fortunately, I have not been bed sick yet ptl. But it definitely weighs on the team a lot. So if you could pray for this as well for disunity to not break our team apart- very big prayer requests, but with God all things are possible. Food sometimes haas been hard as well, in Fatikchuri the food was delicious while other people sometimes had a hard time. Breakfast (again) was my favorite! There was a tea shop that we went to every morning for some delicious milk tea and these pancake thing that puffed up in delicious goodness, haaha i couldn't get enough. All while the “men’s group” would be watching us from outside the shop. haha

     One of the things I miss most of the village was the team there that helped us. There were 7: Onjo, Rafiel (Raf), Shagor (Shogar), Gabriel (Gabe), Newton, and Mark as their leader. We got so close to them as they were like a family. We had so much fun playing cards and just getting to know them. What fun and witty personalities, gosh it’s hard to say goodbye, and the last night was filled with tears and discussions of the fond memories we had. They had a good reminder: if we won’t get to see them again, at least we will see them in heaven! 

     Those ten days flew by so fast, and I could not believe it came when it did, but the memories will always last from Fatikchuri! Always will i remember the deep talks  with my team and relationships I built. I loved having Jesus time in the field and then being swarmed with children wanting to braid my hair all the time and listen to my ipod. 

    God bless Fatikchuri!

BaNgLaDeSh 2012 -Getting Situated

      Nomaskir! Hello everyone! I’m so sorry! It has been such a long time, but hopefully this post will help you understand what I’ve been up to! I’m going to split up these blogs so then it will be easier to read them and follow with me as I inform you how life is going!
   So Here I am! BANGLADESH! When you first arrived, it was like nothing I had ever experienced before! Coming off the plane already a crowd of people swarmed us like we were famous, just staring hahha this is something we have definitely had to try to get used to! (although you never really do) ;) And even though I know their culture is a lot different, I kinda don’t blame them. The odd time we see a white person it’s like you are in another world! They are so scarce, I think with the outreach being a little over half done I’ve seen 5 total who aren’t on our team! 

     Wow to say that outreach is half over, man where has the time gone! I cannot believe it, but we have already done so much! 

     We stayed in Dhaka for the first three days getting situated and adjusting to the culture. All right I’ll d my best to try to explain the city life of Bangladesh. One word: CRAZY! One of the first things that I saw was the traffic differences. Basically, they have no rules of the road. Hahah there are no lines on the road, no lights, motorcycles are the kings of the road! They squeeze through the tiniest spots. The fastest form of transportation though for groups however are these things called c&G’s. Anyone ever been on the zipper before? Okay you are literally in that zooming past all the buses experiencing near death situations and close calls constantly! Hahah I have yet to see an accident though! I just don’t understand! But it is like a “dry” culture and they always drive very aware! You don’t even need your license driving those things! I love it though! 

    There are a million buses, and people are packed as much as they can, including hanging on the roof! 

     In some respects, it reminds me a lot of when I was back in Nicaragua; But completely different at the same time. However, they both have a commonality with the pollution. I think Dhaka has more though, garbage surrounds the streets, and some of the plants even have a layer of dust over them! I wonder how photocynthesis happens sometimes.. Haha I’ve gotten used to the hacking that is a part of the culture here, and although we weren’t in Dhaka very long, we saw many beggars with many deformities. It was so sad and broke my heart. 

    I’ve been very warm pretty much my entire outreach! There was a few cold mornings in the village but hahah I always seem to be warm though;) 

     On almost every street corner is a tropical fruit stand which I love (ps: it’s kinda like a jungle climate;) ) and you kind find markets to malls. 

right off the plane in the airport people stare

     Everyday, I wake up and get to put on my Princess Jasmine outfit! I actually love it, and I’ve gotten some made for me! My everyday outfit is called a shawir camis. But there are also saris and tribal dresses that we can wear on special occasions.  Because of this being the culture tradition moreover many women are still under Muslim influence as Muslim is the main religion here. But it’s fun seeing normal men stores here while there are Bangla women stores only to be found for girls fashion! I love it though and I bought my first tribal dress the other day that I’m pumped about! 

    Dhaka is nuts! Bangladesh is one of the most densely populated nations in the entire world. I need to look it up, but in Dhaka alone there are around 15 million people in the city at once. 

      The Food is amazing as well! The food here is spicy and super sweet! But my tastebuds have not been having a hard time! Rice is a tri-daily dish usually, with either a chicken, beef or the odd pork currie. I love daal! dall? Not sure how to spell but so good! And because it is more-so the vegetable season, we usually get many vegetables.   So many potatoes that I love! Breakfast is my favorite especially when we were in Dhaka! Naan and Purata galore! Oh, and I forgot to mention that we eat with our hands! Usually our right hand: because of the culture! 

     I couldn’t wait was in store for me and my team! How God was going to use me and what I was going to learn about him. But already I had fell in love with the country and I couldn’t wait to get to our first location: Fatikchuri. We met our translator, Trishna, she is so tiny! Even smaller then Suzy back at the base! It’s funny how I feel tall in Bangladesh! 

Me in my Unlucky sawra camies!

in a cng!

     The hotel we stayed at in Dhaka was fun. Man I’ve almost forgot what sleeping on a real bed feels like since we were there! We had a balcony that overlooked into an alley and we played worship outside overlooking the busyness going around us from afar. I prayed that God would open doors for us and prepare a way for us to speak to these people. Taylor was just starting out with leading worship and we were just getting used to our new jobs! I also learned there about the importance to always making sure you have your orna (scarf) with you!

      So many opportunities awaited our team! Soon we would discover what God had in store for us!

A Whole New World! A Hundred Thousand Things to see!

Sunset in Lahaina!

       Where has the time gone! I'm writing from outside of my house as the sun is reflecting on me, i am reflecting on my time here.  funny hahah. It is a week and a half away until i leave here for my next mission in Bangladesh! (I leave on the 7th of December)

Manny's Moustache Marathon!

    I haven't wrote in a while, but life has been super busy! about a week a ago we had a media fast for a week a monday to a monday which was really good! I'd highly encourage everyone to at least try it sometime. you really realize how much time you spend on the computer and it is crazy how much wasted time it is!

on the boat to Molokini!

    Catching you up previously to my last entry, that same weekend I did a snorkling/sailing adventure with my school! One of the old staff gave us a really good deal and it was such a good time!
    We had Ben Cordy come in and talk about different worldviews. So interesting! and we aslo focused a lot about apologetic stuff to apply it not only to our outreach locations but when we get back home with one of the biggest movement beliefs around today: atheism. It makes me sad for my friends who have bought into Darwin's theory and also or the school''s who claim this is a fact. I could go really deep into this stuff since iIm super passionate about it, but i will leave that for another time. It makes me sad that people believe in evolution where really it doesn't have any proof. They just want to believe something so bad so that they won't turn to God. Romans 1:18-21 God desperately wants His people to come know him and many today are so ignorant to their creator. Yeah, but i just loved that week! That week on Monday, I also had a chance to lead worship for the hour on monday morning, with my friend Juice! It was really awesome! I am also excited because on my bangladesh team, I am coleading being the worship leader with my room mate kelsey!
     That saturday, you've all probably seen the video or pics but I also was a part of the ywam coffee house and talent show! I was i two acts! So you can probs guess but had worked on them both the day of all day. ONe of them i did with my friends Kashanna, Hannah everett and Kylie. We were called the glocals- haha funny;) We were glow-stick people and the room was all dark and all you could see were our glow-sticks dancing around! i think there is a video of me on my page if you want to check it out! It was awesome!

Juice and I with some props from the evening!

      The second one was like a dream come true! For those of you who don't know, i am a major major Disney girl.! hahah so i ended up doing a four song disney medley with Justin again! We started off as lions for The lion King, then transformed into Pocanhontas and John Smith for the Colors of the Wind, Then he was ariel and i was Flounder, and finally we finished with the classic A Whole New world as Jasmine and Aladdin! So fun! and we worked so hard on our costumes! It really paid off and it was so fun! When it was over, although it was around 7 min. long after it was over it felt like a musical had finished and i didn't want it to finish! It was so fun! Our whole school was pretty creative with other acts including lots of deece vocal skills and par -core routines, hillibilly twang, impersonations of wisconson, thriller, chinese and Emmy (one of the leaders here) dedicated a song to us called YWAM Maui Girls where she used the tune of california girls by Katy Perry.
     Then on Sunday, we had Invisible Children come to Waipuna and present. It was so moving and I really hope I will be able to see the day that Joseph Kony is found and put behind bars!

My Bangladesh Girls at Twin Falls after Cliff Jumping one day!

      LAst week,we had meredith from our base talk about spiritual warefare for 3 days. It was her first time ever speaking at Dts and she did great as well! Learned a lot once again, It is awesome to know that  we are on the winning team. God has already won! Also it was a good reminder that God is not on the same playing field with Satan. He is a lot more powerful with no limitations while Satan is a jerk that knows he is going to lose. We also learned a lot about Lucifer's history as being an ark angel of the worshipping angels.

Making perogies!

      Loretta the head cook had me prepare 300 perogies! Such a process! But it ended up working out really well! I taught 3 others to be my helpers-there was flour everywhere and I'd say for my first time ever making perogies ever bymyself without Grandma's help, they were fantastico! It was funny how much i felt the pressure to make them perfect! I wanted my Grandma there so bad to help! I guess that is what it is going to feel like to be a mom one day! I wanted people to really like them, since they are my favorite food and all!

Me with Martin and Ingrid from Norway! They brought me some
Norweigan chocolate!

My Bangladesh team and I at Thanksgiving!

         Then it was the weekend! I feel like i am recapping so many weeks and weekends, so I apologize if you aren't able to keep up with my life! It was a four day weekend! Just what i needed!  Wednesday was our Thanksgiving dinner! I love how much everyone loves dressing up here! Every time we get the opportunity to dress up, all the girls get crazy! it is quite the experience having 26 closets to choose from! Surprisingly, I don't think I have lost any clothes! wooohoo! The meal was incredible! The cooks went all out! we had yam with marshmellows (just like my mom makes them), buns 9yum!) steamed vegetables! gravy (fort those that like it) , and then homemade pumpkin, banana cream and almond pie for dessert with icecream! I was stuffed! There is soo much good food here! so many days I am just overwhelmed with the goodness of it, but with the fact I got to go on more runs! We took lots of pictures, did some sing-alongs, and every country represetned with their national anthem. Some of my favorites, besides us north american countries were Norway, Finland , and China. So cute! We ended the night with everyone all of the SBFM and DTS watching Elf! My favorite!
         This weekend Laura and I were self-designated fun extraordinaires! We took it upon ourselves to plan outrageous stuff for our second last weekend here! Not once this whole weekend i didn't sleep in  past 8:00. Thursday as plans were changing, we had a more lazy day. At 1:00 in the afternoon we decided to have a movie Marathon! By 1:30 in the morning, we successfully watched the three, extended versions of The Lord of tHe Rings! It was so epic! Also it was quite ironic because the boys had to leave the girls house by 11:00 so it was like 15 girls left in the end just watching Frodo finish the ring good and for all! Some of the boys went camping out a beach in Kihei and they were watching Twilight!

On Saturday! we went crazy over this rainbow!

Sunset in Lahaina

        Friday, I planned a trip to Lahaina and got 12 girls in total to come with me! We managed to get to the bus stop each by hitching in groups of three all arriving there just in time with two minutes to spare at 9:17! I planned the bus routes (when to get on, where t switch where to meet up) My dad's good planning adventure skills were definitely inhierited into me! With it being Black Friday, we did some shopping in Whaler;s village, in Kan'napali then  went to Lahaina to the beach and then for supper at Cheeseburger in Paradise! So many memories came back to my head from when My mom and dad took my sisters and I! I could even point out the exact table! Inside i was able to even find a Saskatchewan license plate! woo! go roughriders! although i heard their season was awful! that is too bad! Then I stayed on the beach and watched one of the prettiest sunsets ever! The oranges and pinks filled the skies and reflected magically over the ocean water! After that we had it perfectly planned out to  meet up with the town run vans in Kahaluli and i ended getting a sweet deal on a Justin Bieber DVD at Walmart! Gotta love it! unfortunately his christmas album has not yet gone on sale yet so I am going to wait on that but I want it so bad!  the motto for the day that Kaley gave me was "When you want something done, Kozan gets it done!"

Road to Hana shot

Road to Hana

        Saturday around 20 of us drove in trucks to Hana! I would for sure recommend this to everyone that comes to Hawaii! it was so cool! All along we did some steller cliff jumps as a group, saw some amazing sights, waterfalls, and more! I didn't do the big jumps that day but i was content with what I did:) We also swam in these black sand rock beaches which were really fun. One time i def thought i was done for! This ginormous wave from Poisidon came and like enngulfed us! thank goodness i was able to get out! haha We also did this one excursion where you swim in a black cave! One of the scarriest things i have ever done for sure! But again- worth every minute! The road was maybe my favorite part! One moment you were in an amazing rainforest scene to Mars to Africa! Being in the back of Tim's truck with ma gurls was so fun! We saw the most amazing rainbow ever! i was "wowing" ever minute at what I was seeing before my eyes! The rainbow was like 3 quarters full of a circle! I am not sure how to describe it but parts went into the ocean and then in the trees, and it was the most vibrant thing ever! i could actually see tons of purple in it! On the way home it was pouring! I was just in my bathing suit for a long time because honestly i was not that cold, then the sun went down and i started to feel it but kept telling myself i wasn't! the other girls thought i was crazy but i was such a fun ride back! we were singing songs into the rain like :Wannabeee by the Spice Girls, some Disney classics  etc . On top of that Kaley and I both had our own personal pan pizzas from Pizza Hut!

My Church group at Waipuna!

inside Waipuna

    Sunday was awesome too! It was our last church service at Waipuna! :( I really am going to miss them! I loved having the opportunity to serve and love on the kids. The church prayed for us and released us as well! After church we had our weekly gathering free sample stop at Cost-co and then we went to Paia Bay! The waves were a ten foot swell and swimming in them was so fun! I found a way where i didn't die every time they came! I became very good at swimming underneath the waves! (pro-surfer) ;) Then a group of us ate out at Flatbread Pizza Company to conclude this amazing long weekend!
      So that brings us to today! man where has the time gone. I can;t believe i have only a week and a half here left and then it is off for a new adventure.. This week is the final week of our lecture phase and we have the pleasure of having Ron carlson speak to us on Post Modernism! We get to be with the SBFM for this week so toay i got to sit with Ingrid and Emmiline and Catherine form Scotland! It looks like it is going to be a great week!
    Here i am not wanting to look in the future even though I am excited. Time is going by so quickly and I am pysched for the Plans Jesus has for me, but i have a feeling that this week is going to be super long, busy and emotional as we are all departing into our new homes. If you could continue to pray for us over this week that we are able to get everything done this last week and not feel the stress, but to also cherish each other's company so much! Also for God's blessing over each of our lives that He reveals to us what He wants us to pursue even after february because there are some people who are worried about that! God is gracious and good:) I am Yours forever. Take me as you find me as Your daughter to be your vessle on this earth living out your will for me:)
   Love you all! thanks again for your support! have a great week! -jac
  



 

My identity in christ!

      As the rain is sprinkling overhead, the beauty of the evening sets in. The sun falls down over the rain-forest. It falls quietly and quickly giving each of the trees a chance to say goodnight to the Maui island. The stars approach patiently above each waiting for their special time to reveal themselves. Stars fly, sparkle, twinkle and encompass the night to light up my vision. God is beautiful, vast and an artist.
    Hahaha the little poet inside of me;P

purple!

 My oh my my friends, where does the time go by! i can;t believe how fast this time is going by! Aloha! so another week has gone by! I just finished the Holy Spirit week here, which was really awesome as we had Maria Daughtry for a second time come. I learned a lot!

me and my roomies! 

   The week before was a great week, i only wish I could have wrote about it earlier. We FINALLY had our first Canadian speaker! hahah It's funny how half our school is made up of Canadians and we hadn't had a canadian here at all yet! His name was Dave Overholt from Hamilton, Ontario:) He is such a sweet guy and a wonderful refreshment.
    These weeks have been filled with crazy content and emotions that I had not had a ton of time to process. Dave was such a funny guy! The whole group was overjoyed to find out this wouldn't be such an emotional week:)
     He talked about the 5 identities we have in Christ which were:
 1. I am a child of the King
2. I am His ambassador
3. I am an alien
4. I am a Temple of the Holy Spirit
5. I am his Bride
     Dave is a pastor of Church of the Rock, where the average age of his church is around 24. He has a passion and gift working for young people, and his energy and love for disciplieship definitely showed. God for sure spoke through him and energized us all with his humor and funny jokes. God really showed the father-heart of himself through Dave with the way he talked about the love of his daughter It was such a special week and loved every minute! It was really hard saying goodbye to Dave because He really connected with all of us:)
    At the end we did a little mission statement this is what i wrote
  
     I am a child of the King,
his daughter to GO and bring
joy to His children, for He has
 accepted me as I am. I am called
to be MORE than of this world
But to be a history maker. <3


such a great week:)


    This week we had Maria Daughtry come back for Holy Spirit week, and I learned so much about the Holy Spirit it rocked;) we had such amazing times of worship to hear and be open to the Holy Spirit works and it was really cool to see God move through the room. It was a hard week, but God has really been speaking to me and I will continue to pursue that. I love worshipping though; it is the best!
   My friends Juice, Melissa and Kaley have been helping me to learn the guitar a little bit more so I am loving that.
     Last weekend, a group of four of us went on an adventure in the Kula (cool- er , haha get it!? But it is also the towns name- area of town) We got dropped off by the lovely Martin from Norway at a pumpkin patch. Unfortunately for us it opened at 11:00 and it was 9:30! uh oh i hadn't done my homework lol. We had some time to kill. Luckily I had remembered that people had talked about a lavender field that was nearby. So we got a car to pull over for a hitch and he drove us there. This was probably one of the squishiest hitches i've ever had but it was a lot better than the 3 mile up hill hike we would have had to do in the blazing Maui weather!

my trip to town:justin bieber's new cd! please mom!

in the lavender fields!

     Once we got there it was absolutely gorgeous and excellently free! We went on a scavenger hunt and then got a prize of lavender shortbread cookies (interesting) We had some awesome photos! what a view. Then it was time for the patch. We easily found a hitch down the hill from a paraglider who was really cool but he had a really quiet raspy voice, which was weird.
     The patch was so pretty too! There was a sweet corn maze, ponies, horses, delicious pumpkin smoothies and pretty views. I got two pumpkins and we had such good hitches! Then i got to surfing! not for very long but it was the first time that i actually had luck with tries and it was good waves! I stood up- haven;t really got a wave yet, but I'm going to try again tomorrow! Kelsey from SBFM took me out-she is super nice!
     After surfing, I went to the weekly soccer, and then after soccer we had worship on the beach! It was so cool! Random people came by and we got a chance to pray for them or just talk to them. However, by being in Paia of course we have those people that are just a lil weird come over- we had one guy ask if he could play Juice's guitar and sing a song. So we let him play and he said that he wanted to play a song  of this one christian guy that was really inspiring and everything and then he played and it was about this guy leaving his wife.. hahah it was a random moment but God allowed us to focus right back in on him after that all occurred. There is such power in worship. It goes hand in hand with this book we read called Fire and fragrance by Andy Byrd and Sean Feucht. Now we are reading Crazy Love which i've heard is super great! i've had a hard time trying to find time to read. Reading has never been a big thing for me, but I'm trying to be diligent!

Me and Laura getting festive with some halloween rings

        Through that worship though, i felt God put this thought in my head that the sound would spread into the town like a dog whistle where we can't hear it but they will from a distance:) it made me laugh! On monday it was halloween and we didn't do anything to celebrate but me and my roomates got finished with other weekly cleaning chores so we ended up getting to watch The Great pumpkin! it was sweet and super funny that I would highly reccomend it.
       Then on tuesday we had our weekly Intercession at 8 in the morning and this time i got to do a presentation on Canada with two other girls and our Dts base prayed over all the areas of education, governement, buisness, family, church and media (including justin bieber) ;)
     It's occured to me that perhaps some of you are wondering what a usual day looks like for me-yeah? well if you want to know here it is! if it doesn't interest you then you can skip over this part!
    Monday
7:30- vans leave for worship (worship starts at 8:00 in haiku)
9:30-chapel talk( thoughout the lecture phase of DT, we all have to do a chapel talk on anything that we want to talk about, for mine i talked about the joy of the lord a few weeks ago)
10:00-lecture
12:30-lunch
1:15-laundry run in Paia
5:00-dinner
5:45-House Cleaning
7:00-team time


Tuesday
8:00 -Dts intercession (prayer over a topic)
9:00 Jesus Time
9:30-chapel talk
10:00-lecture (our lectures are 2hours and 15 minutes usuallt with a break or two!)
12:30 lunch
1:30-work duties (can be kitchen duties, hospitality (making snacks and blessing people), maintaince, office work, babysitting)
5:00-supper
7:00-outreach prep


Wednesday
8:00:-Apologetics
9:00- Jesus Time
10:00-Lecture
12:30-lunch
1:30-outreach to the community - (we have helped out street evangelize to people around the island, have gone to highschools, we run a skate-park ministry as well)
5:00 supper
6:30-town run


Thursday
8:00- base intercession
9:00-chapel talk
9:30-Book Study
10:00-lecture
12:30- Lunch
1:30-growth group
5:00-Dinner
7:00- lecture till 9


Friday
7:30-worship in Haiku
9;30 Chapel talk
10:00-lecture
12:30- lunch
1:30- work duties
5:00-supper and evening off


Saturday
Freeeweeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee
 Sunday
9:30 - leave for church at Waipuna chapel and then we get back at around 1 :30
supper at 5:00!


so yeah on top of that we have ur weekly homework and duties but the days are packed! it's great to have this downtime on the weekend! the girls are watching maid in manhatten in the next room so I might go join them soon!
   Anyways I LOVE recieving mail and packages so if you would like to send me some that would be delightful! also if you want a postcard, give me your mailing address! love you all guys! God is great!

pictures of the first weeks!

 my whole dts!

miss you guys!

 my roommates!

 my send off crew~ <3

 me and matt in the vancouver airport

my group in exodus hitching around the island!

I am set FREE oh oh oh oh!

    well hello everybody! how are you all doing>! so again the weeks are just flowing by! i can't believe it. there is always just so much info and things we do that it is just hard to process! Last week, (i'm not sure where exactly i left off, BUT it was called Hearing the Voice of God week and it was awesome! we had a woman named Maria Daughtry, and she was so good, it's been funny because the last three weeks have been women speakers, 2 of the speakers are woman around the age of 41, the first one reminded me (FAITH DUtton) reminded me so much of my mom. She would be sweet to speak here sometime i think:)
     Anyways, last week was awesome. Maria, is always trying to listen to the Lord speak and will listen to see if someone from our group is being highlighted to pray over right in the middle of lecture. The very first day this happened, and one guy named Martin was prayed over and it was crazy like he screamed, and was crying and shaking. God's present was sooo crazy present in the room. Some people were really scared though, but it was awesome and Martin told us the next day what God was saying to him and explained it so people calmed down. :) I learned a lot and it became clear to me that throughout my life, God HAS spoken to me, I just haven't recognized it. We went through a list of about 14 different ways He can reveal things to us, and it was crazy to see just how God wants intimacy with us. He talks to everyone differently by going with what you'd connect with! that is crazy!
     God spoke to me a lot and I had some great new revelations and freedom over my life from things that were holding me bondage! Last thursday night, we also had a giving night and it was so awesome. Between our group, the people that had to still raise funds for their outreaches totalled over $20,000, and at the end of the night we had raised over 10,000! it was incredible! We just allowed God and the Holy spirit to work in us and it felt so good. There is DEF a reason that God asks us to give! it is awesome! I laid down things in my life that were keeping me and my home-boy Jesus  from growing deeper in a relationship.
     We also did some fun ways to experiment hearing the voice of God by trying with our friends to allow God to speak prophetic words through us. We were asked by Maria to come to the front and be blindfolded and then a person came in front of them and they were asked to seek God to give them a word fro the person in front of them. It was so cool! everybody had something that  spoke to them. For me, a guy named Dillion gave me a word that really connected with me, it had to be God! it was so cool, he said that i have a passion for music on my heart and that he could see guitar and singing and to just keep playing for the Lord. i've never had anything that personal, and it was what i had been praying about so it was sweet! it was a great week and i learned so much!
    This week was called NEw Hearts and our speaker was Janet. I just am so happy with all that i am laerning about God's character and who is to me. New Hearts focused a lot about going deep with the issues you had in your life and cutting away the root that is holding you back from going deeper with God. At first i had the attitude that i had dealt with everything already in the last two weeks. I mean they had been really emotional! But i just came with a open heart and allowed the holy spirit to do some more work in me! We had two nights out of the week were prayer ministers came from around Maui and prayed for us, and it was just so amazing to see God just work through the room. I am going to try my best to walk out what i have been taught and remember that the doors have been closed! I am set free oh oh oh oh!- sons and daughters- such a good song! (look it up!) pretty much sums up how i feel!
     This last weekend was so fun but jam packed with things we did! We volunteered at a marathon and were at a water/gatorade stop at the 2 mile stop at the 10 km run! the only tough part was that we had to leave the base at 5:30 in the morn, but it was worth it. The night before was a meteor shower, so i stayed up till oneish watching and i saw my very first shooting star! it was beautiful! and i didnt feel tired the whole day. we got free t-shirts and snacks, and me and and a few girls decided it would be fun to wear some fun outfits! we went to savers-which is the american v.v. and you know me, i like to go all out! so i had to get some fun  stuff to wear at this event! so i got purple stripped tights, suspenders, and purple eyeliner, OH and i black out my teeth with some black tooth wax that i got for 99 cents there so it was worth it. in the morning, i put my hair up with a bottle in it like cindy loo-hoo. I HAD to dress up, it's in my blood! and i am super excited for this other marathon that is coming up which is just between ywam, called manny's mustache marathon and we get to dress up super 80's.
       I loved helping out though! we had so much fun at the water station, we were the most enthusiastic one they had ever seen! there were five of us girls at this one and we had about an hour before the runners came by the time we got everything set up- so what did we do? what we do best-rapped, made videos, planked, laughed. it was so good! and there was this one leader on a green quad that came by and everytime we would chant his name, kirk! kirk kirk! kirk! every biker that came by before the race, i had to ask them if they were world renown, and there were a few! jk they were local but some of them had done the ironman. Lots of the runnners were from all over the world! believe it or not but lance armstrong was there! we didnt see him but he was preparing for the triathalon that was on sunday! pretty cool hey?!
     Sunday was a sweet day and church was really good! i go to waipuna hope chapel and sat in the service this week instead of hanging with the kids, but a missionary spoke to us about being beacons of light to the world and it was sweet. And then we went back with my bangladesh team at night to hear him talk about muslims and how they are not all the same. We need to treat each muslim with love, and there are differnt degrees to today's muslim people. under 7% of them take violence as a means to deal with stuff. He really challenged us to look at the news differently with new eyes, and not judge. It was super encouraging as well as we watched furious love tonight and that just made the fire grow inside of me for the excitement to really do something with my faith! I'm so pumped for Bangladesh!
     Oh yeah! and i also had given my chapel talk on tuesday! it went super well and i talked for 20 min on the joy of the lord as our strength (neh. 8:10) it went awesome!
     Man i am just falling more and more in love with jesus and i can't wait to see what else God will do with my life! for now, i am just sitting in Paia, waiting for my laundry to dry. have a great week! talk to you soon!

66 books, 1 story!

    So another week has came and gone, and boy did that ever go by fast! It has been a busy week! The days were packed with lectures with our speaker Tom the base director about the bible overview! Holy molly, so much info! But I learned a lot and I am proud and excited to say that after that week of a total of 15 hours of lectures (2 and a half hours long), I have never been more excited to read the Old Testament; like it came to life! We really focused a lot of our attention on getting the beginning story of how everything started straight before we went on to the new testament.
    Before we studied, we took a test to let us know how well we know our Bibles, and there were lots of questions on it. A lot of them based on order and length of events. I bombed! haha I believe I got a 9 out of 32! For many others: the same result! I've been going to church pretty much all my life, and i know lots of stories and sunday school lessons but it was crazy to think, wow i actually have so much to learn. and i did!  It was pretty hard, but i bet if I were to take that same test again i would pass for sure!  The first three days we pretty much studied Genesis and Exodus in detail. We went over the short summary of the bible 1. Creation 2. The fall 3. Redemption pretty detailed and then all the stories. I know i have tried to promise myself to do it before, but i would really like to read the whole bible. I have never got around to it but I would really like to. Not only does it help you learn more about God's character, it gives you truth and spiritual nurturing for the soul. I had never really thought about it before but our speakers have challenged us saying if you want to evangelize to non-christians, be prepared and a common question or argument that they can throw at you is, "how can you preach on something that you haven't even read?" another analogy that hit me was something like "you don't just start a book from page 125 without feeling like you missed something." ouch. so i have realized just the importance of being able to know why i believe what i know and how.  Of course you don't need to read the whole bible in order to be a christian. Our faith should be much more than that of seeing how much we can learn. It's not about knowledge! It's about having a true and genuine, best friend, honest, open relationship with the Lord.
    Don't hate me if I fail, but I'm going to try to read the whole bible in the next year! and ya'll can keep me accountable of that!
    We also focused a lot on God's holiness and Love. From the week before I had learned so much about what God's love is and it's been really cool to have a whole new revelation on this. God's holiness shows up all though-out the bible and how he is a just God who is patient. Especially with all of the patience He had on The people of Israel. He picked them as his chosen people in order for them to bless the nations. In judges (the "yuck" chapters), it's crazy to think that God waited THAT long before pouring His cup of wrath onto the nations.
    On that note: the cup of wrath is such a crazy subject! I am glad we as believers don't have to fear that anymore! :D And for him to send all of those prophets, signs and teaches to get them to stop, wow they did some crazy evil stuff!
    ALSO i found it really cool to understand that with the 10 plagues that they weren't just random. God wanted to destroy one by one all of the egyptian god's Showing them that His power succeeded all!
    Looking back through the Bible it is so cool to see how God fulfilled His promises and covenants and how we are in this exciting time of waiting for Christ to come back! Gosh it was such a sweet week.
    Last weekend, one of my fellow friends here from the Philippines  got in an accident while we were at the beach. We were doing some body boarding and some of us were just swimming and the waves were sooo big. My friend wasn't looking when one of the waves came down on him and his chin/face hit first and then his legs kicked back. One of my other friends who witnessed saw him get out of the water right after it happened, they called out his name and he fainted into the water. Immediately 2 of my friends responded and got him  out of the water. He had lost conscienceness but thankfully we had our madeline a nurse from switzerland with us and she new how to handle everything. Someone called 911 and the whole shabbot was there almost instantly. It was scary but, i always knew he was going to be alright. Our group was praying for him the whole time: on the beach and after we left. Madeline got to go with them so that he would be able to have someone be familiar with him while he went and she could be used. His cousin is one of the leaders here so when he first got the phone call he was scared but immediately the whole base prayed. My friend, Ben from the Philippines ended up only having a few slipped disks thankfully and we were all happy, with a minor concussion. Praise God!
     This week is so exciting! It is the hearing the voice of God week with Maria Daughtry! already we had our first lecture today and it was sweet! one person was prayed over and you could really feel God's presence in the room. it freaked some people out but once we get more into the week, i think we will all have a better understanding of how God speaks to us. :) God is moving here in Maui!
    ALso another fun thing that is happening this week is that it is Angle/mortal week! so we al selected a name from the people that are here and we are like their secret santa for the week! any suggestions for cool gestures are welcome!
     God will def provide for everyone. We are getting to that time where we all need to make our payments, and many of us including myself have to still get some in. Ben had to end up paying for the medical fee which took the place of a lot of his outreach money, but it will all work out:) God will provide. If you could support any of us here with our outreach fees that's be amazing but waaaaay more importantly if you could keep us in your prayers as we are preparing our mind, body, heart and souls to be able to reach people on our teams. thanks so much! Love you all!