Spring Break with Kellie!

In 1st Grade and we met and were immediately joined at the hip. Through the joys of childhood, the drama of junior high, the transitions of high school, and the refining of college we have stuck together, laughed together, learned from each other, and pushed each other on towards Jesus. I count myself so blessed to have such a precious friend as Kellie. This past week, like a dream come true, we got to gallivant around the island together and make many new wonderful memories.

There is so much to see and do on the island, I feel we barely scratched the surface of the magic of the Big Island. There couldn't have been more perfect timing for Kellie to visit.

We went sight seeing at the Hilton.

Snorkeling in the bay

Wildlife hunting at the beach.

Sunning on the beach.

Hiking in the jungle

Poking around in lavatubes.

Scoping out amazing views

A luau in town had actors dressed as Hawaiian royalty.
 It was so fun to see them acting.

Family dinner.

Just before we said our "see you laters" at the airport, we stopped near the beach to see the sunset. 

Aloha, Kellie! I'm sure Hawaii hasn't seen the last of you! 

Debrief Week and Graduation

After we arrived back in the US, for the last week of our DTS, we were able to spend time with our school at Island Breeze, YWAM owned property in Makapala. Rustic, jungle-like, raw, beautiful, and intimate, it was the perfect location for our school to bond and share all the wonderful things that the Lord had done in the past 2 1/2 months since we had all dispersed around the globe.

It was the perfect week to catch up on sleep and get over jet lag, while rekindling the friendships we had made during our lecture phase in Kona. As you can see from the pictures below, we enjoyed a few "mild adventures" consisting of cramming in 15 passenger vans, climbing up steep, muddy trails, and drinking deeply of the beauty Hawaii/America has to offer.

Graduation Day!

After 6 months of discipleship training, I can say that my mind has definitely been transformed by the power of the Holy Spirit and the reading of the Word of God. I have seen God do amazing miracles in front of my eyes. I have felt Him give me the patience and wisdom and love to conquer difficulties and challenges that come with living with a group radicals that love Jesus more than anything while in a foreign country. I have watched Jesus transform their lives as they surrendered everything to Him and seen the incredible change unfold before my eyes.

This day was a day to celebrate. To celebrate what God has done to bring us to this point. To celebrate what He will continue to do in our lives. To celebrate the goodness of the Lord we have seen. To celebrate the revival that is spreading across the world. To celebrate the SURE HOPE that we have in Jesus. HE IS SO GOOD!!

Our last group photo as a team

My beautiful Swiss friend, Myriam

My sweet Jessa!

My rock, my hiding place, my true love

Danika, speaker of LIFE!

Miss Molly, what a joy!

Feb 23-March 1

This past week we have been working with Advantage Elder Care. The guys have been doing yard work, Jaima and I have been chopping vegetables in the kitchen, and the rest of the girls focusing on visiting with the elderly folks that live here. Most of the folks here are quite educated and speak English very well, so it has been so fun for the team to enjoy conversation and hear tales of years gone by. Jaima befriended an elderly man and spent the rest of the week playing guitar and singing with and for him. Jessa and Odessa befriended a 28 year old girl that has been paralyzed for almost 10 years due to an accident. They read the Bible for her and prayed with her.

This is our last week of ministry, and it is so hard to believe that the weeks have flown by so quickly. Until next time!

Feb. 11-22 (ACCEPT)

Lately we've been working with a organization called ACCEPT (Aids, Counseling, Care, Educatiion, Prevention Training Society). Here is their website so you can check them out for yourself.

They give medical help to adults and children whose lives have been affected by the HIV/AIDS virus, and provide a safe and nurturing home environment for the children who have either been ostracized from their communities or lost their parents. I have learned a lot about this virus that I didn't know before as it is a very misunderstood disease. ACCEPT is seeking to give information and clear up misconceptions concerning HIV and AIDS.

We have been doing simple chores to help ease the burden around ACCEPT. I'm so glad that we have been able to help around the campus in some small way. We have been painting, raking, weeding, washing laundry, cleaning rooms, washing dishes, and cooking with the wonderful folks that run this orphanage/hospital.

Feb. 4-10

This week we focused on the college as it was our last week with the students there. We were not able to spend as much time at the pre-school because it was a testing week for the students and I quickly saw that our presence was a big distraction for those kiddos.

Monday: College in the AM then we were off for the rest of the day. A group of us got to climb up the hill to see the windmill and check out the amazing view. A couple of local boys joined us on our excurtion J It was so nice to have a physical outlet.

Tuesday: College in the AM. Later that evening we were invited to several students homes. Someone on our team mentioned while at the college that we loved to eat jamin, and so while we were at the first house that evening we were pleasantly surprised with some delicious fried donut holes swimming in syrup (jamin). Several people on the team helped themselves to more than one bowl of the delicious confection. The next 3 houses all presented their best versions on jamin, so by the time we reached the last house that had prepared dinner for us; we were so full of fried carbs and sugar we had a very hard time eating their delicious chicken.

Wednesday: We had a really good time in worship as a team. Ryan lead us in having 30 minutes where we just listened to what God was saying to each of us. We came back together and shared what we had heard. God showed me something special during that time.

~A dark cloud like shield has settled over India as Hinduism and Islam has blinded the Indians from the truth of the gospel. Each Christian has the power to bring light in Jesus name to their part of India, like little campfires being lit. As India gives herself to Jesus the light will over come the darkness. Every time we are brought into a home, we are given the opportunity to set off flares of light in Jesus name. Soon the darkness will have to flee because of all the fires and flares being set off. The chains of the caste system will be flung off far away. India will come out of its dark ages and into the age of spiritual awakening and prosperity because of the light they can now see by. India will be a beautiful gen of God’s story of grace, mercy, and love.~

Each of us has struggled with the fact that we never get to see the fruit of our prayers and testimonies in the lives of those we touch in the villages because we never return to the same places we visit. This vision helped bring things in perspective and give me a little extra gas on the reasons behind our seemingly random visits to houses and villages.

That evening the guys brought us to a local zoo/sculpture park to walk around and enjoy a change of scenery. We thought it was pretty funny that they had a bunch of statues in place of the animals and then an “authentic” scene of a Neanderthal community. We were amused with the trip.

Thursday: College in the AM. That evening we went to a pastor’s house church, just a few streets away,  and shared our testimonies and listened to his. We agreed to visit his church on Sunday. 

Friday: The college threw a goodbye ceremony for us. They made nice speeches, sang songs, and gave us gifts and many thanks. Then we each were able to thank them for the opportunity to teach at the school. We ended our morning with many many pictures with our classes, faculty, then the entire school body. That evening we were able to call into the the conference call with the rest of Comm. Trans. It was so good to hear they voices and what God is doing in their outreaches  It was a good reminder of who we are partnered with and that we are not doing this all alone. Then we had a team time of worship, and jumped into the Burn for the next 24 hours.

Saturday: We each took 2 shifts of 2 hour prayer times to cover the entire burn. God met each of us in such special ways. In the morning though, the girls went over to the pre-school where the kids had all dressed up for us to say goodbye. We took pictures with them and sang many songs. That evening we shared what God had told us during our times with him and them we called in again for the conference call.

Sunday: We went to the Pastor’s church that we met earlier this week. Each of us had an opportunity to speak. After the service, we meet a bunch of college girls that speak English. Three of them were not believers, but were interested and therefore attending this church. Another Christian girl approached me with a serious burden on her heart and I was able to pray with her on this issue. God knows everything and orchestrates our steps perfectly, and there is so much rest in that fact alone.

Jan 25-Feb 3

We are coming into our final months here in India. My hope is that God has big plans to increase the effectiveness of our ministry. We are becoming a bit sentimental because this place has been starting to feel like our home, and we have only a week left in Chitradurga. Between traveling to and from the college and villages, our ministry is widespread. Some of the students from the college have opened up and asked us to come visit their homes. One Christian girl in particular. In class she is so sweet and sincere. She recently lost her father and God opened the door for us to begin pouring into her. In fact tonight she invited us to visit her house! Remember her in your prayers please.

The village ministry is going well too. God blasted the village we went to on Saturday. Things started out slowly but we soon found that God had some serious plans. Odessa and Ryan, filled with the Spirit, shared the gospel and personal testimonies. Following that many healings started happening as we prayed over people. Many people said they felt their headaches leave and different kinds of joint and back pain be healed. It was great, until our leader told us that we needed to leave immediately. We all were back in the bus headed out of the village when they told us that several people had been upset and even angry that we were at the village. They had called people from different villages to come against us, and relayed the message that we were about to have some trouble on our hands. Our leaders had used great wisdom as they took us out of harms way. God, in spite of man's worst intentions, did what he wanted to do. Please pray for the people of India, as persecution is still a very real part of their lives. We are so blessed to have religious freedom in America.

Thank you for praying for our health needs. We are so happy to say that we are all well rested and healthy! Continue to pray that we keep our eyes focused on Jesus in the many adventures and challenges we have yet to face.

Much love to you all!

Jan 20-25

What an amazing week we have had. We are blessed to have had Esther with us, she is from the team we connected with at the retreat. She is very gifted and has been an amazing addition to our team for this short time period. Well, we made it to Hospet and had an incredible time there in ministry. It is the hometown of one of our guides here in India. We were able to see some healings over the past week, most notably was an elderly woman who was basically deaf had her healing restored. God is so good! While in Hospet we were all stretched by God. It helped us further develop team unity and it also brought inner healing for some of us. I feel that God is challenging all of us to go deeper with him. I hear him saying we have barely scratched the surface of what He want to do with us here in India. 

Keep us in your prayers. We truly feel ourselves being stretched further than we have before, and Jesus is always so faithful to give us just what we need when we need it.

God bless you all!

Devadasi Retreat

This week has been very intense with the devadasi (temple prostitute) retreat. The schedule is very rigorous—but has been full of fruit. We have been working with a group from a church in New York and New Jersey. For 3 days, we have been hosting these women and their children at a convent so we can love on them and show them who Jesus is. Everyday they are feed by the word and get to worship with a famous gypsy worship leader named, Vinkatesh. Then we get to sit with them and do a little chatting (mainly through interpreters or body language :). We went to a village the day after the devadasi retreat to meet with 3 women, who all asked Jesus into their hearts.

Some Highlights: 

• We were able to wash the women’s feet and feel the tangible presence of the holy spirit.
• I held a woman who was sobbing into my arms prayed healing over her, that her broken heart would be mended.
• Praying with the women who just received Jesus as their savior.
• Playing games with the kids outside, and teaching them through drama and stories. 
• Many women and children gave their hearts to Jesus this week! 
• A cow walked in the living of the house in Chitradurga…highlight of my life…haha.

Quotes from the woman

“I have never experienced this kind of love before. I want to leave my
sins and follow Jesus.”

“I have experienced such kindness and love from these Christians. I
pray God continues to give me faith as I follow him.”

Jan. 13-19

India is a land flowing with milk and honey. I love how relational the people are here, warm and inviting, always opening up their homes for us. Along with that, I have come to realize that making plans for things is almost futile. We have all come to accept the fact we may not know what's happening up until it's about to happen. That mostly pertains to our ministry though.

This week has been mostly consistent as well as eventful. We are focusing the daytimes on teaching English at both the college and the preschool. We come back to the house for lunch in the afternoon, then the evenings are dedicated to village ministry.At some of the villages we visit, it is very peaceful, others are a little more exciting. We are either despised by some or admired by all.

We received breakthrough with the preschool teacher today. She finally invited us to her house. She is Hindu and our prayers are that she sees the love of Jesus radiating through us. I can't wait to see what the Lord does.

I ask that you keep us all in your prayers. 

Team India, over and out.

Dec 29-Jan 5

It has been another wonderful week with team India. Our YWAM leader and the trail blazer team left on Tuesday night. Wednesday was Ryan’s birthday. Thursday was Jennifer’s birthday. This week was full of celebration and a real test of our team unity. I am really beginning to see Gods handy work in the knitting of this team. We are all blessed to have each other as teammates!

On New Year’s Eve we went to a midnight praise and worship service where we all sung for and with over 100 Indian  Christian brothers and sisters. Jaima, Jonathan, and Odessa all gave good messages on hope, faith and love. It was all very good. Tuesday was a recovery day from New Years as well as the formal send off of the trail blazers team! Love, prayers, and amazing prophetic words and visions from God through us for them. Ravi took Jonathan, Jennifer and Ryan out on a walk that night. It was good to get out of the house. Ryan saw a flashing cross and asked Ravi if he would take us to the church. It turns out that the pastor was teaching on spiritual warfare. The pastor even spoke English and was able to translate for us. 

Wednesday and Thursday we split up. Half of us went to the preschool and the other half went to villages sharing the gospel and loving on people.  Ravi also took us to see a historical site, a cave made over 4 centures ago, on Thursday.

Its Friday today and we are really starting to all come together. We are experiencing the joy that comes from giving and receiving repentance and forgiveness  We are taking the initiative to utilize joyful repentance. God definitely glories in our weakness, so His glory can shine through!

Dec 23-29

Dec 23-29

It's hard to believe that 2 weeks have gone by already. We moved to a small country town called Chitradurga. It is beautiful here. We are surrounded by boulder mountains that are steeped in history.What a blessing it is to be here.

Once again a lot has been happening. The people here are pretty open to the gospel, and they all seem to want prayer. Our village ministries are definitely bearing fruit!

We are all stepping out of our comfort zones, but God is right there beside us. A friend of ours, is taking us to all the villages he shares Jesus with.  As a a team, we cast evil spirit's out of one girl, in Jesus name. She began manifesting and a demon tried to maintain control of her, but our God is bigger, so she was freed.

Jennifer and Ryan, in the 2nd village we visited, shared stories to the children; after which Ryan, led by the Holy Spirit,asked all the kids if they wanted to know Jesus.All wanted to. So with the help of Ravi, our dear friend and translator, we led them in the sinners prayer.

We will be very sad to see our good friends in the Trailblazers school leave us this week. They have been so encouraging to us as we have adjusted together to the new culture in India.

All of us are having crazy God encounters and seeing how all the cultural idol worship in the temples effects everyday life.  We are all praying for the people in the villages individuality and seeing miraculous healings and hope transpire. We are speaking at churches, visiting schools and villages, and seeing much fruit. God is truly on the move in India. 

Dec. 16-22

Dec. 16-22

            It has been a hectic yet fruitful week thus far. Luckily for us we got to Bangalore Wednesday night around 8pm. So we were able to sleep and were unaffected by jet lag. We are fortunate to be partnered with a team from trailblazers for a short while, they are a wild bunch!

            As a group we have plunged into a couple different scenarios already. We have visited an orphanage and got to sing and play with kids. On Sunday, Jennifer Ryan and Brooke (a trail blazer) spoke in church. We also spent some time in a village. While visiting homes, we were praying for and seeing healings. We also brought an older gentleman into the kingdom; God is so good!

            That isn’t all though; we have the distinct privilege of spending Christmas here in India. Prakash set it up for us to do some caroling at 1 of the biggest malls in Bangalore.  It started off with us singing outside the main entrance off to the side with a group of Indians to assist us. Soon though the manager of the mall decided to put our group up on the main stage because of the crowds we were drawing. We got up there nervous and excited with a playlist in mind. Although once we got started the Holy Spirit took over. We worshiped and praised God for an hour on stage in front of hundreds of Indians. In the famous words of Dan Baumann “Go God!” God has so much in store, and I can’t wait to share more; until then go with God! 

Home at last!

We made it! We graduated from our Community Transformations DTS, and are better Jesus lovers for it! Wow, how do I even begin?

I think what I will do is post a series of "The Time When..." posts. That's the plan, and I think you guys will enjoy it.

Between internet failures, censorship due to persecution in the area, and communication blunders, our weekly newsletters that were faithfully typed up never made it to those requesting updates. Please accept our deep apologies for that, as we were deeply dismayed to find out they had never been emailed out.

So, here's to a series of posts of things that happened!