Oh, boy. I am back on Guam! After what felt like a million hours of flying, stopping at home for three fabulous days, and flying a million hours more, I am back. It's really weird to be here without my team, actually. But it feels good-- especially after freezing for three days in Portland! It's warm here, but not overwhelming. And I'm staying at my friend Carrie's house, which has air conditioning, which is a luxury for a girl like me! AND hot showers! Will wonders never cease?
Everything has changed since I left Guam a few weeks ago. A Kiwi couple (go NZ!) has come and joined the YWAM Guam leadership, and actually are kind of saddled with some hefty decisions, as the previous leadership is taking a break. Decision one was to quit the building that was being used as a base for YWAM Guam. It's just too removed from the centre of action here, and as you may remember, had no power or phone or Internet not so long ago, and is heading that way again. So, I feel like that is a good decision. Most of the staff are planning on heading elsewhere, so this will encourage them to make their own decisions a bit more quickly, I think.
Decision two is to cancel the DTS that I came here to run. That is a bit disappointing, but really makes a lot of sense. There were no definite numbers or even completed applications from prospective students, and it was getting down to the wire. Frustrating, but it feels right. Which leaves me kind of wondering why on earth I am here... but I still feel very much like this is where I should be right now. I got a phone call from the regional director the day I left NZ basically offering to release me from my commitment here. And I prayed about it, and immediately felt like, no, I need to go. I think that God wants me to learn some things here, and I really want to serve this place and help things get a good foundation built here for different ministries. So... here we go! It's kind of exciting/scary to be in this position. And here I am.
We'll be running some discipleship seminars for a broader range of people than a DTS commitment really allows, so that's one thing that's happening. I've spent the week since I've been here communicating with speakers and just getting rested up. Today I hung out all morning on the beach, which I really can't complain about! Seriously, I do live in a tropical paradise... sometimes it seems a bit ridiculous-- my life is so great.
Okay, I'm off to enjoy the Air Con.
Saturday, March 21, 2009
Tuesday, March 10, 2009
Autumn
Okay, so time is going WAY too fast. I am only 30 years old, at least for another month, and I really feel that things should not be moving at the rate they are.
Today was a really amazing day in the North of New Zealand. It was one of those perfect early autumn days, where the air is still warm, but the air is really clear, and the leaves are starting to turn, and there are acorns everywhere (this place is called Oak Ridge for a reason), and there are apples on the apple tree, and it just feels all cozy and nostalgic. I said goodbye to most of the rest of the staff, who are headed off to a YWAM NZ meeting for a few days. That was sad, and so I was definitely down with the nostalgia in the air after being left here for my last couple of days pretty much alone.
My house is still a shambles, but I'm thinking I will finish packing and cleaning tomorrow, and be ready to hop on a bus to the airport by Thursday. I hate packing and cleaning. I may have mentioned this before. But I especially hate it this time, because I'm actually moving out of this house, which I love, and moving on to what feels pretty unknown a lot of the time. Secretly I am terrified. (I guess it's not a secret any more!). But I know I need to go-- I know that God is up to something and I want to be a part of it. Not that he's not up to something here, too... it's just not for me right now. Hopefully I will be able to come back here after Guam; I definitely don't feel finished here yet.
I've been spending the last week or so helping with staff training for the next DTS here, as well as trying to plan out staff training for my Guam DTS and trying to get my head around schedules and speakers and stuff. A friend of mine in Guam has found a car for me to use while I'm there, which is an unexpected blessing. Although, I did pray a lot for a car while I was there, so I maybe shouldn't be surprised. But I am VERY grateful. And I'm grateful for my time here, and for this house while I've had it, and for the people who have made my life richer while they've been in it. I think God's been reminding me, even while I am sad to say goodbye to people and places that I love, that he gave me all of that. Instead of being sad that I don't have it anymore, I want to be thankful that I had it in the first place. And look forward to whatever is coming... which is coming quickly!!!
On that note, I have to go enjoy my last NZ full moon for a while. It's unbelievable how bright that thing is!
Today was a really amazing day in the North of New Zealand. It was one of those perfect early autumn days, where the air is still warm, but the air is really clear, and the leaves are starting to turn, and there are acorns everywhere (this place is called Oak Ridge for a reason), and there are apples on the apple tree, and it just feels all cozy and nostalgic. I said goodbye to most of the rest of the staff, who are headed off to a YWAM NZ meeting for a few days. That was sad, and so I was definitely down with the nostalgia in the air after being left here for my last couple of days pretty much alone.
My house is still a shambles, but I'm thinking I will finish packing and cleaning tomorrow, and be ready to hop on a bus to the airport by Thursday. I hate packing and cleaning. I may have mentioned this before. But I especially hate it this time, because I'm actually moving out of this house, which I love, and moving on to what feels pretty unknown a lot of the time. Secretly I am terrified. (I guess it's not a secret any more!). But I know I need to go-- I know that God is up to something and I want to be a part of it. Not that he's not up to something here, too... it's just not for me right now. Hopefully I will be able to come back here after Guam; I definitely don't feel finished here yet.
I've been spending the last week or so helping with staff training for the next DTS here, as well as trying to plan out staff training for my Guam DTS and trying to get my head around schedules and speakers and stuff. A friend of mine in Guam has found a car for me to use while I'm there, which is an unexpected blessing. Although, I did pray a lot for a car while I was there, so I maybe shouldn't be surprised. But I am VERY grateful. And I'm grateful for my time here, and for this house while I've had it, and for the people who have made my life richer while they've been in it. I think God's been reminding me, even while I am sad to say goodbye to people and places that I love, that he gave me all of that. Instead of being sad that I don't have it anymore, I want to be thankful that I had it in the first place. And look forward to whatever is coming... which is coming quickly!!!
On that note, I have to go enjoy my last NZ full moon for a while. It's unbelievable how bright that thing is!
Sunday, March 1, 2009
The end: take ten
Well, the last few weeks flew by at an out-of-control speed, and now the DTS is over, and I am... well, I am sad. I'm kind of giving myself a day to hang out in my pajamas and watch movies and let my tiredness catch up with me, and then tomorrow it's back to work.
This DTS has been a really good one for me-- I have been so encouraged over the past five months with what God is doing and what young people are really capable of. It felt like we really sowed into some lasting things on the island of Guam, which was pretty cool.
My future is kind of scaring me, as excited as I am about it. I'm excited because I know that I'm going to be challenged and that I am going to grow. And that's scary, too. Because it could very well be difficult. But I can't think too much about it at this point, because I am just too tired. I'm pretty much finished as far as my capacity to think clearly about anything, so I'm not really even trying. Maybe tomorrow.
Anyway, I am so grateful for what God has done and is doing, and so thankful to all of you who have been praying for me and helping me out along the way.
This DTS has been a really good one for me-- I have been so encouraged over the past five months with what God is doing and what young people are really capable of. It felt like we really sowed into some lasting things on the island of Guam, which was pretty cool.
My future is kind of scaring me, as excited as I am about it. I'm excited because I know that I'm going to be challenged and that I am going to grow. And that's scary, too. Because it could very well be difficult. But I can't think too much about it at this point, because I am just too tired. I'm pretty much finished as far as my capacity to think clearly about anything, so I'm not really even trying. Maybe tomorrow.
Anyway, I am so grateful for what God has done and is doing, and so thankful to all of you who have been praying for me and helping me out along the way.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)