reflections of lecture phase!!

I have just completed phase 1 of a mission school in Hawaii, and I am basking in gratitude and joy.

Being here has absolutely changed my life for the better and God has transformed me inside out. Through a personal relationship with the living God, he has revealed his heart and mind, and my worldview, perspective and purpose are now from him. 

In March 2020 late at night, as I was crying out to God about not knowing my calling and what to do next, God spoke to me. God gave me a vision where I was on the ground and a big blue bird was flying at me, it picked me up and took me to unknown ground, while I was absolutely terrified, as soon as I was placed down, everything just clicked. I was no longer wrestling, and I knew that I was supposed to be there, not where I was. And I would never have gone had the bird not picked me up and turned me around. And I had no idea what this meant really or where God would take me. 

In January 2021, during a Sunday night prayer evening, God gave me a picture of the traditional Hawaiian helmet. I then stumbled upon Ywam Kona, a 6-month mission school in Hawaii, and the many visions and pictures God had given me over the year clicked. 

And while going to the other side of the world on my own, to go to a school with strangers that was thousands and thousands of dollars would have seemed absolutely terrifying in any other circumstance, I felt so much peace.

HOWEVER, I still had a year of school, study and exams left, AND I could not get into the country without being fully COVID-19 vaccinated. Yet I still had complete faith that this was where God was sending me, and while I had my weak human moments, for the most part, I did not doubt or become worried about this. I felt God telling me to not get the vaccines, and so I stuck to being obedient, and waited for the rules to lift. I applied anyway, got my visa (which took me a good 10 months, hours of paperwork and a trip to London), booked my flights, worked my absolute hardest to get the funds and was ready to leave at the drop of a hat. I moved my start date 3 times- which ended up being 1 year later and prayed and prayed that the borders would open, despite the open date being moved twice. I laid down my plans and timings and knew God would be faithful. 

AND FINALLY, in June 2023, the borders were opened!!! PRAISE GOD!!! And I was ready to go!!

The Lord was so faithful and good throughout the 3-year process! I can clearly see him in the wait and preparation and know I am here in his timing. Stick close to Jesus and listen to what he is saying! He kept me close, provided me job opportunities to be able to save money (in which I was able to make more than I needed which means I’ve been able to give money to people who weren’t fully funded!) and kept speaking to me as I drew close to him.

Truly what I've learnt, is that no.1 God is so good beyond comprehension. And also that quite literally all we need to do is be obedient, like nothing else matters, we just need to be obedient to his commands and what he tells us to do. Because he talks to us!! And he tells us what to do and where to go!! Nothing else matters!! Money, career, and possessions mean NOTHING, it’s his love and goodness shown through obedience that does. And as we are obedient and lean into him, he provides, speaks, makes a way, and gives us the desires of our hearts.

Last night I was praying, and found myself praying for myself again, about plans and dreams and so I repented for being so self-centred, but he spoke to me. He gave me a vision of me trying to share my heart with him and placing it into his hand, and as he grabbed it, it turned to dust, and the wind whisked it away. He then shared his heart with me, which was a big, bright emerald, and glowed inside me. I then looked at it and my dreams were playing on it, I then repented again for dwelling on my dreams and desires and asking for his. He then reminded me of Psalms 37:4 “Take delight in the Lord, and he will give you the desires of your heart.” As we delight in him, share our heart, desires, worries etc with him and invest in a deep, intimate, personal relationship with him, he gives us the desires of our hearts. This is not striving, we are not doing anything to please God or gain rewards, but everything is relational. ‘Delighting in the Lord’ is not about just enjoying his blessings, but delighting in the creator who gives gifts. There is so much joy in the Lord!! And while he would never compromise his character to give us these desires, and does not give us everything, we can trust that he loves and cares for us beyond human scope!

On Tuesday we had ‘giving day’, as a school we needed $1.2 million to go on outreach. We were leaving in 4-6 days and many people were still praying and fundraising for God's provision - $70,000 was needed to pay off all tuition. So we worshipped and interceded until every penny was provided! We believe God provides, he has called us to spread the gospel to every nation and tongue – and as missionaries, we follow where God calls us, even when we don’t have the funds, skills, knowledge etc. The full $70,000 was raised in just over an hour!!! PRAISE GOD!! HE IS SO GOOD!! This was provided by the living breathing God!!... through a bunch of 18–25-year-olds, the full $70,000 was given from inside the room! People were giving whatever they had and everything they had- grocery money, savings, emergency money, outreach spending money, God spoke to every person about how much to give! As Christians our money is not our own, we surrender our lives and finances to God and the Great Commission. We then went over to join Endeavour DTS (another school) who were praying for $40,000, to intercede with them. GOD PROVIDED IN 2 HOURS THE FULL $40,000!! Some people went in needing $4,000 for outreach and left with no debt! God is so good!!!           

It was so touching to see this community of believers give whatever they could, to make sure others could go on outreach to spread the gospel! It reminded me of the early church that “sold property and possessions to give to anyone who had need.” (Acts 2:45) Truly we do not need anything when we have Jesus providing and calling!! There was so much faith in the room, no one doubted the faithfulness and love of Jesus!

This week has been quite challenging for a lot of people- the enemy has been trying to work in and stop us- bringing in doubt, fear, anxiety, sickness and problems. A lot of people have encountered issues, HOWEVER, in Jesus' name we cast it all out. We are not giving up!!

We’ve been having practical mission and evangelism classes this week, preparing us to go! I am so excited to leave for outreach, I am so expectant for Jesus to do wonders in the nations, and people will be saved, healed, and delivered!! May the unreached be reached by the gospel and love of Jesus!

I would love it if you could pray for me and my team!!

Prayer points:

-       The Holy Spirit will lead us to the right people and places!

-       The Holy Spirit will ready the people we will speak to, they’ll be expectant for the gospel- people will get dreams and visions of a man in white and our team!

-       The enemy has no way into our minds, hearts, and bodies- there will be no doubt, fear or disunity, only good discernment from the Holy Spirit!

-       People will be healed in the name of Jesus!!

-       People will be saved, and we’ll be able to leave a group of believers to do church together- worshipping, preaching, praying, and spreading the gospel with their communities. 

 And now, to the nations!!

Jesus loves you and I love y’all so much! ❤️❤️ 

If anyone has any questions, please let me know!!