India

Ive made it to India where speed limits and signals mean nothing and horns mean everything. FYI a 10 hr taxi ride is not smart for weak stomachs. Slowly adjusting to heat. Loving the pol here, locals and travelers alike. God definitely went ahead and prepared the way as we face open doors and meet pol really easily. A highlite for me wad blessing 2 indien children with Hacky sacs and planning with them. Merry Christmas all!

which hand?

So. In 5.5 hrs my team and I leave for India. Our first bit consists of a van ride, 3 flights, a long layover, most likely crashing in an airport, a 5ish hr train ride, and then who knows. I'm so so so excited to go bring the light that is Christ to these people and just pour out His love on them. I've been eating with my hand nearly all week in preparation, and just cuz it's so fun, and contemplating whether or not it's possible to go 8 weeks without toilet paper (some of you may be shocked to find out the left hand is quite useful for wiping in India. And even more shocked to know I'm so going to try it!) and cutlery. I shall find out shortly.. .more seriously though, my team has been having some sweet prayer times together. Some things we've been praying is that we're really spirit-led and that God gives us enormous hearts for India. I'm stoked to see what God has in store for these next 2 months and can't wait to hear everyone's stories when we get back to base in February. Next update coming at an unknown future time from another country!

But first, another bone: "I finally understood what true love meant…love meant that you care for another person’s happiness more than your own, no matter how painful the choices you face might be."

Content and Contemplative

PRAISE REPORT : Dave's knee still isn't really bothering him, and he's really beginning to think there might be something to this prayer stuff. Please keep him in your prayers and really pray for friends and family to surround him and bless him this holiday season-he's definitely a lonely guy.

So I still fail at regularly updating my blog. Whatevs...MAJOR PRAISE REPORT: so 2 weeks ago there was still heaps (at least to the human mind-to God it's pennies) of moolah needed totally over $21,000 NZD ($15,900 CAD). With God as the Almighty Provider, as of today the needed money is in and everyone is able to go on outreach!

Alot of prayer went into this as well as some fasting. I was really stretched during my fast and am figuring out how to go about a lifestyle of fasting. I learnt that God meets you even if you decide to fast without His leading. I learnt that my body is stronger than I thought. Sleep is always important, but I really realized how important it is while fasting. I learnt getting a good friend whom you respect alot to keep tabs on you is key. I experienced God's grace and love alot. It was cool to just be real with God and just go to Him unsure and taking my weak faith and holding onto it with my everything, and saying, "Lord, help me."

I'm leaving for India in 6 days to spend 8 weeks there travelling and living life for God, reaching out to anyone and everyone we meet. My team's vision? "To submit ourselves fully to God with reckless abandonment, and to show His love in everything we do." I'm excited to really push myself as a leader and have a blast with my team. I'm also really excited as this week God confirmed that I will be making a second trip to India sometime in my life. I'm not sure when or how, but I'm so excited! I'm sure I'll love India. I hope and pray that I head-on embrace everything this experience entails. I have been practicing eating with my hand and after 2 days of it I'm ready to throw out my fork forever! I'm so excited for my first train ride, authentic Indian food, among other things. And how could I forget squattie potties! Yup, this trip is going to be an experience to say the least...

Last but not least a meaty bone to chew on..."The way to be hypocritical is to only do what you feel like doing! The believer does things because they’re right. In the world you do things because you feel like it. In the kingdom you do things because they’re right and then the feeling follows.” - Bill Johnston

by all means paint

"if you hear a voice within you say 'you cannot paint', then by all means paint, and that voice will be silenced." -Vincent Van Gogh
Wow, what an amazing quote. So glad I stumbled across it. I've been learning this week that as you "painting" gets easier and easier each time you do it.

Anyway...

PRAISE REPORT...remember Dave (the fish and chips dude whose knee I got to ask God to heal?). God is in process of healing it! I couldn't go in to the city yesteray so I asked my friend to check up on him on my behalf, and Dave said his knee wasn't bothering him too much, just a couple times that week. And he was beginning to think that maybe this prayer thing is working. God's totally got a hand on him, so keep praying! I'm so excited for the day his 5 years of arthritis is completely healed.

Learning, learning, learning...that's pretty much my life and I love it. I feel like I've learnt so much and there's still so much to learn! These last few weeks we've studied the father heart of God, spiritual warfare, and other things. One question our speaker asked this week was, "What things are you doing that aren't drawing you any closer to God?" What a question that totally needs to be asked on a regular basis, eh?

This weekend has been really relaxing and awesome. I've been a weekend warrior with 4 students which meant we got to clean, cook, and look after the base. It's been sweet to hang with these students and learn our way around the kitchen together. Yesterday we learnt that grilling tortillas directly on the elements here does not work. There may or may not have been a bit of smoke involved. I'm off to go prep lunch-wonder what I'll learn today...

outreach!!!!!

Alas the news is out! Come mid-December I will be heading to INDIA for 2 months along with my co-leader Kent and 4 students (Mary Lloyd, Wyatt, Phil, and Erik). I'm so excited and God's really given me a heart for this country. Don't you just love when what you want happens to be in tune with what God wants?!! I can hardly wait and will let you know more as I know more. In the meantime, prayer point for all you prayer warriors out there (you guys are wonderful, by the way!):

-please pray for unity and bonding among the the team as a whole
-pray that we are open to hearing where God wants us to go in India
-pray for good co-leadership between Kent and I

God Bless You!

Alas my friends! Another long overdue update! So...since my last post we have had a lovely woman down from the North Island to teach us about the Holy Spirit. There was lots to learn and lots of ministry time which was sweet. If I wrote you everything I'm learning/doing/God's doing here/crazy stories it would make a book, not a blog. Thus, I shall attempt to keep it short and sweet. A morsel of Holy Spirit week...
-I loved when our speaker talked about worship and the Spirit. Mostly because I love worship. She challenged us to have be sure to have personal worship time with the Lord each day. I think this is a great idea.
-She also showed a clip of trapeze artists doing there thing. Think of trapeze artists, the flyer and the catcher. The flyer must do nothing, the catcher does everything. The flyer must just let go and wait to be caught. We are like flyer’s, we need to let go and wait to be caught by God. This is scary to us. Nobody can let go for us, we must do it on our own.

This past week we had the dynamic Dalton Lifsey down from Tauranga House of Prayer up on the North Island. It was awesome to have him teach on Pursuit of the Knowledge of God. I love his teaching style and how he brings the Bible to life, got really inspired hearing him speak, and my life just continues to get even more wrecked for God which is awesome. A few highlights:
-talking to him one-on-one was awesome, God definitely has a hand on him and spoke thru him. One thing I said was how impossible it seemed to get to know God as there's so much to God. Dalton pointed out Matthew 5: 3 "Blessed are the poor in spirit, for theirs is the kingdom of heaven." When you feel like it’s impossible to completely know God and feel that ache, you are blessed! This is good news to me!
-The true knowledge of God is knowing that He is so great and you have no idea who He is. I think that's a solid-as summary.

I could easily keep going but like I said, this is a blog, not a book.

This past week for outreach prep we were challenged to really step up and out more, especially during Friday nite evangelism, but also in everyday lives...so I went up to this guy Dave who sells fish and chips in the square everyday and got to pray for healing for his knee. He has had arthritis for 5 years, but I have faith God can heal it. Please take a minute to pray for him. I can't wait to check back with him on Friday. My friend and I were also doing some open worship in the square and got the attention of many Asian tourists, who seemed to like the music and getting their picture taken with us. Please pray the songs we sung touched them.

Okay, this post is probably on the borderline of getting long. Henceforth, I leave you with a quote from one of my heroes, Mother Teresa: "I just want our work to be a work of love."

How's the King today?

Coca cola. It means delicious happiness in mandarin (at least so says the internet! :p). Current mood? Indeed, it is happiness, of the delicious variety of course. This last week has been A-MAZING! Some highlights...

We had the lovely Jamie and Kim down from Australia to bless us with their passionate, engaging teaching on backpacker ministry. This included an overnite trip to a hostel to give the students a taste of what backpacker ministry is like. My team didn't meet alot of people, but it was still a nice time off base, bonding over food and crazy adventures. One adventure involved us seeing penguins, including one close up sitting on eggs! Our other adventure involved finding an abundance of sheep roaming about, some beautiful horses, and of course a  magnificent view of the ocean. Nothing like getting lost in a good book in that setting, and enjoying lunch amongst sheep manure!

Friday the students got the opportunity to walk and have some processing/debriefing time with God as they walked to the top of a look out, and as they walked up staff had the opportunity to pray over them and give them a backpacker Bible to bless someone with. I loved our students from the moment I met them, but never had I been so proud as I was in that moment. I can learn so much from them and I know they are going to accomplish great things in their lives. (all these thoughts after only 2 weeks with them!!)

In the evening we split up to do ministry in the city. I was on the square ministry. At the beginning of the day, though quite unsure of what the "official ministry time" was to look like, I was excited, this continued through my walk to the square. Once we hit the square however, a bit of nervousness hit. Well, with prayers lifted up to God we were off. I tell you, God was really moving and it was amazing!!! A brief glimpse...

My friend pointed out this street preacher that is often in the square and I knew I wanted to talk to him-I was already curious about him when I heard of him last year. However, not quite feeling bold enough to walk up and talk to him, I was kinda relieved when I glanced over and noticed him packing up for the day. So, I played it safe and started writing in chalk.
   Before I could finish the first letter, this guy wanders up to me (out of everyone in the square he chose to strike up a conversation with me. Coincidence? I think not!) and stops, and asks, "Hows the King today?"
   I heard, "How's it going?" So smiled and answered a soft, friendly, "Good."
   He leaned in closer. "Who's the King?"
   I was a bit taken aback. I mean, that's quite the ice breaker. "Sorry, what?"
   "Whose the King?"
   "Well, that's God."
 I then asked him what he had been up to in the square and asked him what he was carrying when he told me he was preaching. He set it up to show me and I ended up talking to this guy for at least an hour, until it started drizzling and his friend came. The contents of our conversation could probably make up a short book, and he was really hard to follow. Anyway, I hope to see him again and talk to him more-there is alot to discuss, and I will definitely be doing some research and prayer to figure out where this guy is coming from. I've definitely already found evidence against some of what he told me.

Another highlight was that the German girl on my team got to talk to a German girl for a while (which was cool, because that day I had prayed that God would send German people across her path...can you say ANSWER TO PRAYER?!!!!)

Today involved climbing, sunshine, and ice cream. A solid end to a solid week.

Gerber Daisies

Stepping into the checkout line, my roomie Katie and I leisurely waited, in no rush. A lovely woman stepped ahead of us, failing to see us in her rush. Of course, when she realized what she had done she was a bit flustered and profusely apologized. Typical kiwi-they're so friendly down here! Katie reassured her it was fine. The great thing is Katie's got an American accent-a dead giveaway we weren't from around here. So this began a real short conversation about how long we were here for and what we were doing here. Turns out this woman was on her way to a Christian camp and that's why she was in such a rush. Thus, with a "Bless you guys!" she hurried of to camp without further delay...or so we thought. Later Katie went to pick up the pictures she had ordered, and the woman behind the counter passed her 2 individually, beautifully wrapped gerber daisies. Turned out in between the time we left and Katie came back, this stranger we had briefly talked to had still felt kind of bad and henceforth purchased the flower and left them for us. And that is the icing on the cake of yesterday.

Jesus-friend of sinners

"If Jesus came to Amsterdam, He would go to the discos. He would know the names of all the bartenders and He would be friends with all the prostitutes. The Bible tells us that Jesus was a friend of sinners; but we may say, What about my reputation, my witness?


I told the story of how my wife had struck up a friendship with a particular girl with whom she talked about Jesus. “The only way she could see her was to go behind the window and talk with her, while I waited on the street. Men would walk by and think that Jodi was also a prostitute. This made me very angry. But if my wife was going to show God’s love to that girl, she had to be willing to be mistaken for a prostitute. If you are going to reach lost sheep, you are going to have to be willing to be mistaken for one yourself. Just like Jesus was. He was called a glutton, a drunkard, and a sinner. Why? Because he loved them so much he was willing to be mistaken for one himself." -Rock Priest

While Jesus was having dinner at Matthew's house, many tax collectors and "sinners" came and ate with him and his disciples. When the Pharisees saw this, they asked his disciples, "Why does your teacher eat with tax collectors and 'sinners'?" On hearing this, Jesus said, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. But go and learn what this means: 'I desire mercy, not sacrifice.' For I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners." -Matthew 9:10-13

I've just really thinking about how cool it is that Christ was a friend of sinners. He'd hang out with prostitutes, criminals, drug addicts, and everything in between. How many of us would be willing to do that without fear of being scorned?

Ode to God

I am unworthy and unable.

God, You are more than worthy and more than able.

I am beneath it all.

You are above it all.

I am weak.

You are strong and powerful.

I am afraid.

You are fearless.

I am tired.

You are willing to carry me. You are my caffeine.

I think I can’t.

But I know You can.

You are awesome.

Amazing.

Never changing; You are my constant.

Omnipotent and omnipresent.

Merciful.

You abound with unfailing love.

My saving grace.

Compassionate.

Shelter.

The rock.

The answer.

My almighty provider àJehovah Jireh

Humble.

More precious than silver and gold. Treasure.

Comfort.

Gentle.

Righteous.

Living water.

Peace.

Forever.

Wonderful.

Majestic.

Holy --adonai elohi kedoshi (the Lord my Holy God)

Messiah.

King of Kings and Lord of Lords

Prince of Peace

The Lion and the Lamb

Yahweh Rapha -the LORD who heals.

Master

Redeemer

Saviour

Friend

Glorious

Alpha and Omega, Beginning and End

A good listener

Intelligent

Creative

My everything

Funny

Father

Spirit

Son

A miracle

Beautiful

Faithful

Protector

Passionate

in good company

"A friend is one who believes in you when you have ceased to believe in yourself." AMEN! I've just been thinking about how great my friends here are. Matter of fact, they're more than friends-they're my family. This last week as been great because after being away from each other for a few months, we are reunited. Most of us already knew each other, and God brought us a new member as well, an amazing woman of God who has heaps of experience. She fits right in! We've been getting to know each other even better through sharing testimonies and praying for each other. This last week has been a fairly relaxed orientation week, just getting learning more about YWAM and general things here at the base. This week we're learning more about our school and stuff. Today we got to practice driving on the left side of the road! Such a trip!

One highlight from the last week and a half for me is when we got to get dirty. We had the privilige of heading into the city and shoveling sand mixed with sewage that ended up on driveways and yards during the earthquake. It was cool to see how many people turned out to help, and how in general everyone was in good spirits. Me and my friend also re-encountered the woman who blessed us last year when our van overheated. Totally God.

Another highlight was one morning when we got to do a prayer walk around our quaint town that is Oxford. Me and my friend came across a lovely elderly woman. We got to talk to her a bit and found out she was feeling a bit overwhelmed after the earthquake as Christchurch used to be her home, and now she was worried about a relative over there. She was so open to letting us pray for her which was awesome.

Be blessed! Until next post!

ON MERCY (a dialogue written by yours truly)

ON MERCY


Tish: “Alright God, what’s my challenge today?

God: “Be merciful, as I have been merciful to you.(excerpt from Tiger Lillie) ”

Tish: “Mercy, eh? What’s that?”

God: “Well, Mercy is defined as “compassion or kindly forbearance shown towards an offender, an enemy, or other person.” But in plain English, mercy means being nice to people and stuff like that, even if you don’t like them or they don’t deserve it.”

Tish: “WAIT WHAT? Being nice to people sounds pretty simple, but being nice to people I don’t like? Seriously? That’s like impossible!”

God: “Impossible, eh? That word is not in my vocabulary. In fact, the Bible clearly states that with Me, all things are possible. Remember how you’re made in My image and you’re supposed to reflect Me and all that jazz? Well, I have been merciful to you! How about you challenge yourself to reflect Me in being merciful to others today, especially that certain someone you just can’t stand?”

Tish: “I don’t know, I mean I really think that’s a lot to ask.”

God: “I know, it’s hard, but I know you can do it. Know why? Because I know you love Me. And the perfect way to show how much you love Me is to reflect me. Remember that verse in the Bible that talks about loving your enemy?”



SUPPORTING BIBLE VERSES:

“Thus says the LORD of hosts: Execute true justice, show mercy and compassion everyone to his brother. Do not oppress the widow or the fatherless, the alien or the poor. Let none of you plan evil in his heart against his brother.” -Zechariah 7:9-10


“Jesus looked at them and said, “with man this is impossible, but with God all things are possible.”” -Matthew 19:26


"You have heard that it was said, 'Love your neighbor and hate your enemy.' But I tell you: Love your enemies and pray for those who persecute you.” -Matthew 5:43-44

earthquake!

I suggest turning up your sound for the first part...

earthquake hits south NZ!!!

Validation

This video is a must see! It's so inspiring and always makes me smile...

VALIDATION

How amazing would it be if everyone would go around giving compliments to random strangers?

On Dance Worship-not my writing!

dance worship

Prayer

I'm reading a book called "The Power of  Praying Woman." It's amazing, and it's taking me so long because it's so in-depth and I want to completely soak up a section I've read before moving on. That's why I'm only on Chapter 3! Here's an excerpt from the book I love:

Do you hunger for a greater sense of the Lord's presence in your life? Do you desire to know God in a deeper way? Do you want to serve Him better and more completely but don't feel you have the time, energy, or opportunity to do so? Do you need to spend more time with Him in prayer? Do you want your prayers to be accompanied by greater faith so that you can see greater answers to them? Do you need a more complete knowledge and understanding of God's Word? Do you ever just long to throw your arms open and embrace Jesus, white robes and all, and feel His embrace of you? The good news is that this is the way God wants you to feel. God wants you to long for His presense. He wants you to find your fulfillment in Him and nothing else. He wants you to walk closely with Him. He wants you to increase in faith and knowledge of His Word. He wants you to put all your hopes and dreams in His hands and look to Him to meet all of your needs. When you do, He will open the storehouse of blessing upon your life. That's because these things are His will for you.
    But none of these things happen without prayer.

Ever since I received the gift of tongues I've been more passionate about prayer. But I feel like my prayer life could be so much more intense and passionate. Being at camp, I get to be involved in corporate prayer each day, but something I'm realizing is that I really want to develop my individual prayer life. I was thinking hypothetically today...say someone were to drop you off somewhere remote-like an abandoned island or some barren desert. There's no civilization around, no cell phones, no facebook, no books. Pretend there's no physical need to eat, so there's no food around to distract you. You're stuck here infinitely like this-just you and God, and the only thing to do all day is talk to God...IS HE ENOUGH? While in my head I know the obvious answer is of course God is enough, I feel like I have so much growing to do before I can answer this with a confident YES!!!

Some things I'm praying for are humility and humbleness. These are 2 characteristics I want to keep as priorities as I continue to grow as a leader. I was reading a sweet blog post the other day about qualities of a good leader, and they were submission, patience, accountability, and self-discipline. I really agree with this and so those are in my prayers as well. (see the blog post here: http://www.courtneytodd.blogspot.com/). And of course my trip back to New Zealand is coming up, and with that comes the Backpacker's Discipleship School! Apparently in my excitement to head back I majorly miscounted and today it is actually 18 days til I fly out.

And by the way speaking of prayer here's an answer to prayer...my visa application was approved within one day! God is so good!

In other news, I decided to get involved in the Threads of Hope Ministry by selling bracelets...so if you're interested in buying some or know someone who is let me know, and check out the video and consider getting involved by buying/selling/praying!! Threads of Hope

Last, but not least, I leave you with a sweet quote I found today..."Don't pray when it rains if you don't pray when the sun shines."

Be blessed!

18 days til NZ!!!

Hey guys! So since my last update I've been keeping busy with camp all summer. I've gotten to wrangle most weeks which is awesome, I'm learning so much about horses and still have tons to learn. My favorite part is when kids (and sometimes even staff!) overcome their fear of horses, and end up having so much fun they can't wait to come back. God is so amazing for creating horses-huge, beautiful beings that could kill you if they wanted to, but in general they're just the sweetest things ever. Doing actions in chapel is another highlight, it really refreshes me and sometimes I end the day with an extra 24 hrs worth of energy. Cool how God just keeps pouring into us when we need it most, eh? It's been busy with camp and getting ready for NZ. I basically always keep my suitcase open-packing and unpacking is my life. I finally submitted my visa application today, so I'm really trusting God for that. Hard to believe that in only 18 days I will board a plane to NZ once again, where I will settle in and call home for a little while. Right now, I'm trying to keep most of my focus on camp, and trying to keep trusting God that my visa goes through on time. Kind of a big deal. Good thing God gives us what we need as He sees fit! It's hard to believe camp is almost done for the summer, and we're already over halfway thru. I'm alright with that though. I'm gonna enjoy my time left at camp, and then I'll enjoy my time in NZ. I'm so stoked to see a bunch of my friends from last year who are heading back as well, as well as meet new people. Be blessed!

Awakened Heart

After I got home from NZ, being inspired by a prayer room in a church we came across on outreach, I made a prayer wall in my room. For prayers, quotes, whatever strikes me. I came across some different terminology on IHOP one day and wrote some of them on my prayer wall. The first thing i saw this morning when I woke up was this:

Awakened heart: a state of living and being in God in such a way that your spirit and emotions are alive and responsive to Him

Isaiah 61:1
The Spirit of the Sovereign LORD is on me,
because the LORD has anointed me
to preach good news to the poor.
He has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,
to proclaim freedom for the captives
and release from darkness for the prisoners

I love this! I'm definitely going to try and put this on my mind more often...I wanna be so responsive to God and in Him always, not just hopping from one spiritual high to another, but finding him in everything. I love music, and for some reason lately everything makes me think of songs. Today, I am reminded of this song...

Awakening

my inspiration for my prayer wall

So there's this guy...

That I'm hopelessly head-over-heels in love with. We've been together awhile now and somehow it just keeps getting better and better. Just when I think He can't be any more amazing He pulls off something crazy and wows me. Words can't describe how awesome He is. Not only is He beautiful, He's strong and has a HUGE heart. He loves all my crazy friends. He's always there for me, night and day. He gives me butterflies and challenges me in life. He's so easy to talk to, and pretty wise too. I learn alot from Him and hanging with Him is pretty sweet. This song is how I feel...

Divine Romance

i see your face in every sunrise

Last night i was leisurely meandering back to dorm when I saw it. A breathtaking reddish orange sunset. One of those that you don't even bother pointing a camera at, or trying to paint on paper, because you know there's no way you can even come close to doing it justice. It made me remember how much I love God's creation. Creation is one spot I feel closest to God. It brought back YWAM memories and how we would always this song in worship:

beautiful
BEAUTIFUL by Phil Wickham

I see Your face in every sunrise
The colors of the morning are inside Your eyes
The world awakens in the light of the day
I look up to the sky and say
You’re beautiful

I see Your power in the moonlit night
Where planets are in motion and galaxies are bright
We are amazed in the light of the stars
It’s all proclaiming who You are
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful

I see you there hanging on a tree
You bled and then you died and then you rose again for me
Now you are sitting on Your heavenly throne
Soon we will be coming home
You’re beautiful, you're beautiful

When we arrive at eternity’s shore
Where death is just a memory and tears are no more
We’ll enter in as the wedding bells ring
Your bride will come together and we’ll sing
You’re beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful

I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, You're beautiful, You're beautiful, You're beautiful
I see Your face, I see Your face
I see Your face, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful, You’re beautiful


You should check this song out. It's amazing!

Message from God!!!

 

You are beautiful. I know because I made you that way. ~God

New Zealand here i come!!!

Hey guys!!! So a couple days ago I found out I got accepted for a Basic Leadership School run by YWAM in Oxford, New Zealand. So this means I get to head back out there in 3 months!!! It's gonna be crazy trying to get everything organized and everything. I feel like the definition of my life is packing and unpacking. And I love it. I'm so happy!!! Can't wait! I'll post more details, and check the sidebar for a link if you would like to financially support me! Blessings!

Questions

Questions I think everyone should be asking themselves...

-What is a true worshipper?

-What role does the Holy Spirit play in your life?

-What would you do if you had to renounce your faith to live?

-Do you welcome the chance to prove what God can do thru you?

-God has given you every moment of your life as a gift. How are you living this gift?

-Do you believe in the power of God to heal?

-Do you praise God in everyday life? How?

-Do you know who you are in Christ?

-Do you often consider the incredible suffering of Jesus Christ?

-Do you regularly meditate on scripture and apply it to your life?

-Have you been dying to self lately? How?

-What does being the "fragrance of Christ" mean to you?

Think about these. Comments welcome.

You Are Beautiful!

http://www.operationbeautiful.com

Please please please check it out! It's amazing.

A Collection of Travel Quotes

The world is a book and those who do not travel read only one page. -St Augustine.

Our battered suitcases were piled on the sidewalk again; we had longer ways to go. But no matter, the road is life. -Jack Kerouac

A traveler without observation is a bird without wings. -Moslil Eddin Saadi

2 roads diverged in a wood and I-I took the one less traveled by, and that has made all the difference. -Robert Frost

A good traveler has no fixed plans and is not intent on arriving. -Lao Tzu

If you reject the food, ignore the customs, fear the religion, and avoid the people, then you might better stay at home. -James Michener

I have found out that there ain't no surer way to find out whether you like people or hate them than to travel with them. -Mark Twain

What you've done becomes the judge of what you're going to do-especially in other people's minds. When you're traveling, you are what you are right there and then. People don't have your past to hold against you. No yesterdays on the road. -William Least Heat Moon

When you travel, remember that a foreign country is not designed to make you comfortable. It is designed to make it's own ppl comfortable. -Clifton Fadiman

You may fill your backpack, but have you remembered to bring an open mind?

The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new landscapes, but in having new eyes.

The traveler sees what he sees, the tourist sees what he has come to see.

We must go beyond textbooks, go out into the bypaths and untrodden depths of the wilderness and travel and explore and tell the world of our journey.

Travel teaches toleration.

I travel alot; I hate having my life disrupted by routine.

When preparing to travel, lay out all your clothes and all your money. Then take half the clothes and twice the money.

There are only 2 emotions in a plane: boredom and terror.

He who would travel happily must travel light. -Antoine de Saint-exupery

Don't listen to what they say. Go see.

Riches

It hit me today just how rich I am. I was blessed unexpectedly today and I thought back to this article:

1. If you have food in the refrigerator, clothes on your back, a roof overhead and a place to sleep, you are richer than 75% of the people in the world.

2. If you can attend church or a synagogue meeting without fear of harassment, arrest, torture, or death you are more blessed than 3 billion people in the world.

3. If you have never experience the danger of battle, the loneliness of imprisonment, the agony of torture, or the pangs of starvation, you are more blessed than 500 million people in the world.

4. If you have money in the bank, in your wallet, and spare change in a dish, you are among the top 8% of the world's wealthy.

5. If you woke up this morning with more health than illness, you are more blessed than the million who will not survive this week.

Ok, so reading this again gets me pondering, just how rich am I? Let's see...
1-Check! At home the fridge is always overflowing and most of it gets thrown out anyway because we choose to make more food. I not only have clothes on my back, I have a closet and dresser full as well as 2 sisters who are more than happy to share. My roof overhead is more than a roof, it is a home. I love my house! And my bed which is topped with more blankets and stuffed animals than I need, just because I enjoy these material pleasures.

2-Check! Matter of fact, where I come from, you're more likely to get harassed if you don't go to church!

3-Check! These are things I only hear about/read about/watch on the news.

4-Check! I'm so well off now that I think about it...let's see I took off too NZ for 5 months and came home with money left over. During school, I was blessed with some monetary gifts which I didn't even need. Upon arrival home, I found more money waiting for me. Just today, I was making small talk with a my dad's customer at my dad's shop while cleaning, then left to do an errand. When I got back, the guy had left but had left a $20 for me and my sister "just because." Well, she didn't want any so in a roundabout way I got $20 from a stranger!!!

5-Check! I don't even remember the last time I was sick...

On top of that, I have a job! While scrubbing the back of a filthy shop focusing on everything that's never been cleaned isn't my favourite thing, I'm more blessed than the however man (lots I'm sure) of unemployed people struggling to make ends meet.

Besides, that, I got God!

Letter from God

If you never felt pain, then how would you know that I'm a Healer?

If you never went thru difficulties, then how would you know that I'm a Deliverer?

If you never had a trial, then how could you call yourself an over-comer?

If you never had sadness, then how would you know that I'm a Comforter?

If you never made a mistake, then how would you know that I'm forgiving?

If you knew all, then how would you know that I would answer your questions?

If you never were in trouble, then how would you know that I will come to your rescue?

If you never were broken, then how would you know that I can make you whole?

If you never had a problem, then how would you know that I can solve them?

If I gave you all things, then how would you appreciate them?

If I never corrected you, then how would you know that I love you?

If you had all power, then how would you learn to depend on me?

If your life was perfect, then what would you need Me for?

Life Is...

I came across this quote today and love thought it was definitely worthy of it's own blog post. Hope it inspires you like it did me!...enjoy:

Life is an opportunity. Benefit from it.
Life is beauty. Admire it.
Life is a challenge. Meet it.
Life is a duty. Complete it.
Life is a game. Play it.
Life is a promise. Fulfill it.
Life is a sorrow. Overcome it.
Life is a song. Sing it.
Life is a struggle. Accept it.
Life is a tragedy. Confront it.
Life is an ADVENTURE. Dare it.
Life is luck. Make it.
Life is a fight. Fight for it.


Be blessed today! Later!

home sweet home

After a long journey home as each flight was delayed, I arrived in Winnipeg last night to a posse of my family waiting for me. I stepped outside to a brisk winter air, which was apparently not cold at all (I did this in chacos for the record!) and was whisked away to get my well deserved A&W fix. Mozza burger, how I love thee so. After being driven home on the right side of the road I showed my family a Tim Tam slam and made sure they tried some of NZ's finest biscuits. My family all look sick, they're so ghostly pale and think I'm so dark, my hair is so long, and apparently I now have highlights in it. Late last night I enjoyed getting to sleep in my bed again. My parents were smart enough to know not to expect anything of me today and I got to sleep 14 hrs which was glorious.Later on I took my baby bro (who is now as tall as me and heavier! He's grown so much!)to hockey...back to the usual chauffeur role I guess. Oh, all you mennonites out there I also enjoyed some comsborscht again! Oh, how I missed mennonite food. It's such a strange shift to back home but it should be good. It's good to be at home where milk is cheap and plentiful, and there's always real hot chocolate in the cupboard! On a more serious note, I was reminded of a few good points as I looked through some lecture notes today:

-your passion, what drives you should be rooted in God
-Give God full on, don't just go through the motions
-it don't matter if ppl disagree with you and your opinions, just know why you believe what you believe. You best be able to explain yourself.

Here's your bone to chew on for the day:
I think you're beautiful. Yeah you! Actually, I KNOW you're beautiful! Know why? Cuz God made you that way!

Have a spectacular day! And God Bless!

new season

Graduation is over. I now have one more certificate than I did a couple hours ago. But I have so much more than a piece of paper compared to 4.5 months ago. I've gained more appreciation for life, and realized I can live on alot less. I'm so very rich and blessed with what I have, and I definitely have been taking it for granted all my life. I've gained more understanding of how big and amazing God is, and I know He's Lord of my life and totally worthy of my everything and then some. I definitely still have alot to learn though. I've learned that our greatest fears are like tissue-paper thin, and a single courageous step would take us right through them. And taking that step feels amazing. I've obtained so much joy which I don't even know how to begin to put into words, and I'm just stoked for life. I've learnt I'm capable of so much more than I realize, and to just go for it. So as I go home, that's exactly what I'll be doing...JUST GOING FOR IT! Living life to the fullest, for God. For now this means serving at home, and I've applied for Basic Leadership school back here in Oxford, so hopefully 6 months down the road I find myself back here. Here's your bone for the day: You already possess everything necessary to become great. God Bless!

Happy Valentines Day!

Team NZ/Fiji arrived back in Oxford safe and sound last nite and found ourselves wide awake upon arrival at base to run out and greet our sisters and bros we hadn't seen for 8 weeks and excitedly sharing a zillion stories and realizing there's still so much more to share. Our last week in Fiji we moved to a different resort. After demanding new beds we enjoyed the air conditioning, tried our haggling skills at a market, saw a Fijian dance/fire show, went on a day cruise, met an English guy who wanted to learn everything about Canada, and met 2 Canadians. Jordan and I also got to pray over one of them and we have faith God will heal her. We also celebrated the end of outreach together at Hard Rock Cafe where we ate good food and too much of it. This morning getting the rest of our stuff out of storage and having options of what to wear and more than 1 clean shirt was such a blessing. It's wonderful to have it cold enough to use a sleeping bag again too. I can't emphasize enough how I learnt how little I can actually live on during outreach, and will definitely be reassezing my closet when I get home. This past week our team also watched a cool short video about the amount of noise in our lives. Here are 3 questions that stuck with me after watching the video:

-Is there such a thing as visual noise?
-Is there a connection between the amount of noise in our lives and our inability to listen to God? -Do you really believe God's voice is more interesting than the voices around you?
-Also Deuteronomy 27:9 is huge: "Then Moses and the priests said to all Israel, "Be silent, O Israel, and listen! You have now become the people of the LORD your God."

After this we split up to have some quiet time just listening to God which I really enjoyed. Here's what God told me:
-Come into the great wide open, I've got an ocean of opportunities for you
-Just jump! You already know how to swim, you'll be fine
-You have no idea how big I am. You haven't even touched how big I am
-I'm going to show you miracles

Later on in Fiji my outreach leader got a picture of me running all over the world nonstop...so thats cool, cuz I definitely think God wants me to see more of the world.

So it's definitely stuff I'm keepin in my prayers now. I'm just stoked for life, ready to go back to Canada for a bit before hopefully coming back to New Zealand. That's all for now. God Bless!

vinaka!

Sunday we attended a Fijian church which was completely in their native language. It was so weird to be the only white people there, but I really enjoyed it. We were warmly welcome and while I honestly couldn't understand a word being said, I could see the passion/fire for God and feel the Holy Spirit's presence, and also really enjoyed the music. Another interesting thing we did this week was ride to town on the back of a really rickety pickup "taxi"...apparently that's how it's done in Fiji if you get tired of waiting for the bus, as in Fiji time, there's no guarantee if/when it will come. This week also had a little excitement as a farmer started a fire just over the hill for us, and do to the dry brush from not enough rain it soon turned uncontrollable. When it got too close too the resort for comfort we packed up and left our bure and joined the crowd watching mesmerized. However, before dinner we had prayed for rain, and as we watched it began to rain, which put it out. Good thing too because the fire truck got stuck in the sand on the volleyball court! Only in Fiji! Now God's showing His skill cuz it's rained the last 2 days as well, which is definitely needed here. Soon we moved back to our beds and slept well knowing God had things under control. We also boated down a river to a beautiful village one day, where we were escorted in by a Fijian warriour, welcomed with kava, and shown around. After a great lunch we were privileged to watch some dances by the warriors and ladies before being pulled onto the dance floor. We also swam by a beautiful waterfall, props to God yet again. Also we rode on a bamboo raft a bit. Cool to try, but slow moving. Tomorrow it's off to our next resort for a week. Later!

Bula!

After leaving our friends at Solscape with hugs, backpacker Biblers, and pictures we headed to Joanna's house which was such a blessing, as we had home cooked meals, laundry, internet, and beds, which we have learnt are luxuries. We are currently in Fiji, where "Bula"s and coconuts are in abundance, and staying cool is a failed art. We stepped off the plane to a shock of heat/humidity, especially for us Canadians! As we arrived at the resort we laughed at the "watch for falling coconuts sign." before being shown to our bure, a beautiful open air dorm with a thatched roof, then took a dip in the warm ocean to cool off...we snorkeled, played volleyball and soccer, and met some great locals and visitors. We partook in a kava ceremony which means we are now family at this resort. We later let down what has become our daily ritual of letting down mosquito nets and trying to sleep in the heat, usually a few shades darker than we had been upon morning. Yesterday we went to visit another island and enjoyed the small village. The people there welcomed us with lots of songs and some dance by the Fijian children, and kava. Some of us also enjoyed playing with a few of the Fijian children, who were shy and first, but fascination with our cameras soon had these cuties talking! It was cool to see how these people live with less than us and in not as nice conditions, but they're still smiling and willing to open their village to us. Today we enjoyed some fish in coconut cream, veggies, and lime juice during cooking class. I personally love the Fijian culture, and everything about Fiji. God really outdid himself in creation here! It's really something to eat fresh papaya and pineapple each morning while staring out at the gorgeous ocean. God's gorgeous, plain and simple. We've learnt that most of Fiji is Christian and we look forward to going with our friend Joe to his local church on Sunday. Some of us also got to pray for a guy who had boils on his leg and he is now healed, Praise God! Later!

Solscape!

On the way to Raglan we happened upon 2 hitchhikers named Dani and Keely who were trying to get back to Raglan. We asked them for good places to stay and turns out they work at Solscape, a beautiful hostel/campground deal just out of town. Totally God. We loved it as it was a small, close community kind of like Hangdog, and we ended up meeting great people there and having great discussions about what we believe and stuff. One girl even ended up becoming a Christian, glory to God! We gave our friends backpacker Bibles which they received well and another cool thing was when one of them shared mate with us (argentinian green tea). It's in this beautiful cup that you pass around and keep adding water to. I personally didn't like the taste, but was still priviliged that she shared part of her culture with us. We are currently at Joanna's house! (our kiwi friend/registrar) and it's such a blessing to be in a home after hosteling/camping. Denver (school leader) is here too and it's great to see him again. We're stoked to fly to Fiji in 3 days!!!! I'll be honest, it hasn't quite hit me yet...looking forward to some worship/intercession group time tonight. Oh yeah, I've been the "leader" this week, so that's been interesting. Definitely stretched me and given me more appreciation for our leader...next update will probably be from Fiji! Some quotes I've happened upon to give you something to think about today:

-no one can do everything, but everyone can do something

-act as if what you do makes a difference. it does.

-you already possess everything necessary to become great

Cheers!

ahoy mates!

This updates gonna be quick I'm short on time...after Nelson we stayed in Picton for a nite at Sequoia Lodge, which I seriously recommend. They serve free dessert each nite and free breakfast each morning. Then we headed over to the North Island via the ferry, which was interesting. We even got to go into the control room to take pictures. We spent a nite in Wellington and enjoyed walking around the artsy town before leaving early the next morning for Rotorua. We spent just one nite and we're now packing up/making breakfast before heading to RAGLAN! Can't wait for that...Natalie just informed me we'll see Denver and Joanna there so that will be awesome. I have to finish packing up my stuff. More updates later! God Bless!

Footprints!

Hey all! My team arrived in Nelson today staying at Footprints hostel which is right near the beach, great place to rest as we just finished the Abel Tasman, which is a famous hike in New Zealand. We did 4 days which were not as flat as we expected, but still full of amazing fews of the ocean and great beaches. A highlight for me was when our group did Bible study and intercession at the beach, the seagulls sounding in the background, the tide softly sneaking up, the little cove at the end was amazing, God's creation is so great. Here at the hostel we just met a girl who goes to school with 3 others we met at the water hole by Hang Dog. It's cool how it's such a small world. We had the opportunity to bless a hitchhiker with a ride today, it wasn't too long so we didn't get into big conversation, but I know he'll be in my prayers. One thing that's really cool to think about for me personally is all the people we've met. I've been writing down names so I can remember to pray for them, and we've come in contact with so many people, its so awesome to think God can influence them thru us...prayer request that our slightly sore bodies recover quickly from the hike. Hope you're having an amazing day as you read this! God Bless!

Hang Dog

Hey all! Just a quick update....after Queenstown we headed up the West Coast but didn't make it too Franz Josef as planned due to flooding washing a piece of the road away. We ended up staying in a marae (sacred Maori "church" building) and they blessed us with a free meal and free accommodation. The next day we headed to Franz Josef to pick up Leo (one of the cooks from base) who is hanging with us for awhile, which is awesome. After camping one nite in Lyell amongst sandflies we headed up to Hang Dog climbing camp near Takaka. So far it's awesome, the water hole is tons of fun and the people are really chill. Enjoying a day off checking out the town before diving into more ministry...amongst climbers! Stoked for that. Ps: family if you're reading this sry i don't have time to email you all right now...so this is the update, but i'm thinking of you guys! belated happy new years!