I leave in twleve days for the Philippines.
Absotuvily-ridonkuously-obnoxiousilly-but-not-really-bonkers.
And I still haven't gotten everything I need.
Yay for me!
Thanksgiving holds a lot of memories for me. Some fond, some freaky, some nuts-o-crazy-omg, some life-transforming. But more than anything, it is truly the one time every year where I am reminded of how thankful I am for that which has been given to me and that which I have undergone.
Thanksgiving is the time my extended family got together and everyone was happy and (for the most part) drama free. Thanksgiving is the night I spent four hours straight praying and praising late into the night and early morning. Thanksgiving means it's finally time to start decorating the house and getting into the Christmas spirit. Thanksgiving is the time my family comes together to praise the Lord with thanks repeatedly. Thanksgiving is the time we open English crackers and see the quirky gifts inside (and bad jokes). Thanksgiving was the time my brother-in-law asked my parents permission to marry my sister. Thanksgiving is the time I was faced with the life changing question: Will you stay or will you go? And this Thanksgiving is the time I will be embarking on the greatest adventure of my young life thus far.
The last two Thanksgiving's have been the most transitional portions of my life-ironically. In 2009, it was the time when I was faced with (at the time) the hardest decision of my life-will you stay or will you go?
Background info: I was living in Reno going to school at UNR but I was spiritually and mentally messy. I see now that it wasn't directed at anyone in particular, and no one was at fault for the state I was in other than myself. Sure people have influence, but the ultimate X-factor was that I was spiritually very far away from God by my own choice which ultimately affected my life physically and mentally.
Thanksgiving 2009 my parents told me they thought it would be best to come home-of course, in my mindset, this was the dumbest thing I could do. I was fine on my own! I was doing just fine, but I knew they were right... Sadly, it took a few major incidents and a near mental breakdown for me to realize, "Ohhh, maybeh I should go home..." That same Thanksgiving was the day my brother-in-law asked my parents if he could marry my sister. (That weekend was a roller coaster for my family to say the very least.)
A few weeks later I moved home, and was totally rocked by God, and he delivered from my inner demons. Shortly after this, I heard about YWAM and moved to Kona to take part of their Discipleship Training School where I was rocked even harder, then moved to India for three months to finish my DTS schooling. I spent Thanksgiving 2010 in Mumbai, and was pretty much lying on my back in awe of our awesome God.
The team of 2 staff and 5 other students and I decided to have a prayer night in which the girls would go for 4 hours and the boys would take the last four. We didn't start until 3 AM because our friends wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving with us and it took us a long time to get from downtown to our home. Very few times have I felt the Presence as heavily as I did that night, and even fewer times have I felt so empowered and fearless. I don't even remember what I was interceding for, or what I even prayed, but I felt like I was in the Throne Room with the King Himself.
While the healings and deliverance in late 2009 early 2010, and my time in my DTS in Hawaii and India totally changed my life around and turned me upside down, nothing can touch my upcoming trip in 12 days. Nothing.
For those of you just joining my journey, I am leaving for the Philippines on Thanksgiving for 16 days-four of which will be lost traversing the international date line or on a plane. I have dreamed of going to the Philippines when I first met my contact, Pr. Jerome Ocampo, almost eight years ago. He started a fiery revival & reformation, Nazarite training program called "Jesus Revolution Now (shortened as JRev)" about 10 years ago with the mindset of bringing fiery revival to the nations starting in Asia by uniting the older and younger generations as one faith. And in 12 days, yours truly will be partaking and helping with the 10th anniversary! (Commence joy bombs and excitement!!!!)
But, I am not going alone nor am I going with any other YWAMers. I will be joined by my life-long, church buddies Jesse & Summer (they're brother-sister). We all have been wanting to work with Pr. Jerome for a while now, and this year we feel like God is saying the timing is right and we have His blessing. The irony of it being right for all three of us at the same time is just an extra awesome blessing.
Each one of us has been feeling, and hearing, the Lord say that he has something HUGE in store for us. Something that we can only experience and hear while we are there. So, do I know what I am doing there? Not really, I have details but they are sort of vague-which is fine with me because this means there is more room for God to move without me getting in the way by trying to control the situation.
Regardless, this is going to be an amazing, life-transforming trip like none other! How do I know? Well, for starters I already have all of my money, and then some. I have several confirmations that this is the next step God wants for me to take. I have my parents permission and blessing, I am supported by my church and work--I even got the two weeks off which count as ministry which means I still have my 12 vacation days available which can be carried over into 2012 (right on!!!). I could go on, but I will spare you-this blog is long enough as is, lol!
As you can see, Thanksgiving holds a lot of special memories and good times in my life, and I know this years can be counted to that list! May the Lord bless you all and remind you of his faithfulness this Thanksgiving and everyday after that! If you think about us, Summer, Jesse & I would really appreciate your prayers-we leave at about 6:00 p.m. (Yay! I can see the Macy's parade! (; It's a family tradition...) And we will be returning home on December 8, just in time to catch some Christmas spirit!
Absotuvily-ridonkuously-obnoxiousilly-but-not-really-bonkers.
And I still haven't gotten everything I need.
Yay for me!
Thanksgiving holds a lot of memories for me. Some fond, some freaky, some nuts-o-crazy-omg, some life-transforming. But more than anything, it is truly the one time every year where I am reminded of how thankful I am for that which has been given to me and that which I have undergone.
Thanksgiving is the time my extended family got together and everyone was happy and (for the most part) drama free. Thanksgiving is the night I spent four hours straight praying and praising late into the night and early morning. Thanksgiving means it's finally time to start decorating the house and getting into the Christmas spirit. Thanksgiving is the time my family comes together to praise the Lord with thanks repeatedly. Thanksgiving is the time we open English crackers and see the quirky gifts inside (and bad jokes). Thanksgiving was the time my brother-in-law asked my parents permission to marry my sister. Thanksgiving is the time I was faced with the life changing question: Will you stay or will you go? And this Thanksgiving is the time I will be embarking on the greatest adventure of my young life thus far.
The last two Thanksgiving's have been the most transitional portions of my life-ironically. In 2009, it was the time when I was faced with (at the time) the hardest decision of my life-will you stay or will you go?
Background info: I was living in Reno going to school at UNR but I was spiritually and mentally messy. I see now that it wasn't directed at anyone in particular, and no one was at fault for the state I was in other than myself. Sure people have influence, but the ultimate X-factor was that I was spiritually very far away from God by my own choice which ultimately affected my life physically and mentally.
Thanksgiving 2009 my parents told me they thought it would be best to come home-of course, in my mindset, this was the dumbest thing I could do. I was fine on my own! I was doing just fine, but I knew they were right... Sadly, it took a few major incidents and a near mental breakdown for me to realize, "Ohhh, maybeh I should go home..." That same Thanksgiving was the day my brother-in-law asked my parents if he could marry my sister. (That weekend was a roller coaster for my family to say the very least.)
A few weeks later I moved home, and was totally rocked by God, and he delivered from my inner demons. Shortly after this, I heard about YWAM and moved to Kona to take part of their Discipleship Training School where I was rocked even harder, then moved to India for three months to finish my DTS schooling. I spent Thanksgiving 2010 in Mumbai, and was pretty much lying on my back in awe of our awesome God.
The team of 2 staff and 5 other students and I decided to have a prayer night in which the girls would go for 4 hours and the boys would take the last four. We didn't start until 3 AM because our friends wanted to celebrate Thanksgiving with us and it took us a long time to get from downtown to our home. Very few times have I felt the Presence as heavily as I did that night, and even fewer times have I felt so empowered and fearless. I don't even remember what I was interceding for, or what I even prayed, but I felt like I was in the Throne Room with the King Himself.
While the healings and deliverance in late 2009 early 2010, and my time in my DTS in Hawaii and India totally changed my life around and turned me upside down, nothing can touch my upcoming trip in 12 days. Nothing.
For those of you just joining my journey, I am leaving for the Philippines on Thanksgiving for 16 days-four of which will be lost traversing the international date line or on a plane. I have dreamed of going to the Philippines when I first met my contact, Pr. Jerome Ocampo, almost eight years ago. He started a fiery revival & reformation, Nazarite training program called "Jesus Revolution Now (shortened as JRev)" about 10 years ago with the mindset of bringing fiery revival to the nations starting in Asia by uniting the older and younger generations as one faith. And in 12 days, yours truly will be partaking and helping with the 10th anniversary! (Commence joy bombs and excitement!!!!)
But, I am not going alone nor am I going with any other YWAMers. I will be joined by my life-long, church buddies Jesse & Summer (they're brother-sister). We all have been wanting to work with Pr. Jerome for a while now, and this year we feel like God is saying the timing is right and we have His blessing. The irony of it being right for all three of us at the same time is just an extra awesome blessing.
Each one of us has been feeling, and hearing, the Lord say that he has something HUGE in store for us. Something that we can only experience and hear while we are there. So, do I know what I am doing there? Not really, I have details but they are sort of vague-which is fine with me because this means there is more room for God to move without me getting in the way by trying to control the situation.
Regardless, this is going to be an amazing, life-transforming trip like none other! How do I know? Well, for starters I already have all of my money, and then some. I have several confirmations that this is the next step God wants for me to take. I have my parents permission and blessing, I am supported by my church and work--I even got the two weeks off which count as ministry which means I still have my 12 vacation days available which can be carried over into 2012 (right on!!!). I could go on, but I will spare you-this blog is long enough as is, lol!
As you can see, Thanksgiving holds a lot of special memories and good times in my life, and I know this years can be counted to that list! May the Lord bless you all and remind you of his faithfulness this Thanksgiving and everyday after that! If you think about us, Summer, Jesse & I would really appreciate your prayers-we leave at about 6:00 p.m. (Yay! I can see the Macy's parade! (; It's a family tradition...) And we will be returning home on December 8, just in time to catch some Christmas spirit!
No matter what your situation, I pray you are thankful this year and spread the joy with your family & friends!
Thanks-joy-bombs-giving Everybody!
Saint
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