Friday, May 3, 2013

PNG♥

I'm so sorry that I haven't been able to update this in the past two weeks- we have been extremely busy back at base! There is a National Leader's Meeting being hosted here this week(meaning that there are YWAM leaders from all over Australia here) and on Thursday morning our Medical Ship set sail for PNG! Very exciting stuff- God is moving through and blessing this base immensely! We've also been in normal lectures- with homework and ministry placements- and I've been sick with a cold for the last week! But, all in all, I am doing well and excited to head out to PNG this weekend!

We head out in just over 24hrs to PNG, where we will be for 5 weeks on outreach!

Not much to say, I'm just super excited for all that God has for us in PNG. We will arrive there on Sunday night and will spend two days living in Port Moresby as we prepare to head out to remote villages for the duration of our time there. So far we have confirmed 4 villages(some of which probably  won't show up on any maps): Hisiu, Waima, Pinupaka, Delena

"Keep a firm grasp on both your character and your teaching. Don't be diverted. Just keep at it. Both you and those who hear you will experience salvation." -1 Timothy 4:16(The Message)

"The their comes only to steal and kill and destroy; I have come that they may have life, and have it to the full." -John 10:10

Just as it costs us students thousands of dollars to live here, to serve here and to head out on outreach as we are this weekend to PNG, there are hundreds of people on staff here at YWAM Townsville that live completely off of sponsorship and their own money as they volunteer full time. Some of them work in reception offices, some in accounting, some staff schools, some are captains on the ship, some do hospitality, some with local youth- understandably it can be difficult to comprehend why so many people would give up their time, money and lives to do jobs that they could otherwise be paid for anywhere else. But when lives are changed, impacted and consequently saved it makes sense. Thursday morning was one of the greatest examples of why we do what we do. Our ship(that mind you, another YWAM base gave to us) set sail to PNG, where it will spend the next six months offering free medical care to remote and unreached villages. And that ship is just one of many many incredible things that happen because so many people are here willing to give their lives to God, and to impact nations. We want to teach, we want to keep at it, we want to see everyone experience salvation, and we want to bring nations to our God, a God that truly gives us life to the fullest.

I love my life. I love being here. I love YWAM Townsville, and I love God and am so thankful that he has so much favor here right now. I'm 23 years old, and I'm a part of a group of less than 200 that God is using to impact an entire nation and that is the nation of PNG. I"m excited to be there, and to be part of everything God is doing through YWAM Townsville to the nation of PNG. And one day, I plan on returning here and going on the YWAM Medical Ship, but for now, I got this outreach to focus on.

Keep us in your prayers, I know that we will need them. Most likely, I will have no contact for the next five weeks- so don't be worried about me- I'm just in the middle of nowhere in PNG!

Oh& I have a bit of nasty cold and could use prayers for quick healing!

Thank you all so much for your constant support! I am so thankful and blessed by you!

Here's some pictures from the last two weeks just for your entertainment!
The theme of Youth Street this weekend was thug life- and of course I dressed up!

My thuggish friend Allie- one of the people I will be staffing Youth Adventures with!

On the art team at Youth Street we did "dart art"

"Dart Art"

On the two year anniversary of Deanna's death, there was this beautiful rainbow in the sky. RIP D

Some of the girls on my team during outreach prep wednesday night- we learned skits for PNG

Getting prepared... bug spray, survival blankets, life jackets and of course mosquito headnet. Not to mention registering with both the US and Australian Embassy, getting a typhoid shot and taking Malaria medication. 

One of my best friends here, Hannah from Texas felt that it was right to go home for personal reasons... it was so hard to say goodbye but we enjoyed staying up all night hanging out and heading to the airport at 4am. Love and Miss her!

Me and Ying at the ship at 6am on thursday morning- waving it off!

...and there it goes, the Pacific Link is en route to PNG!

packing my life jacket...you know... for dingy transportation


Love and Blessings,
K