There's no place like home!

Hi everyone from sunny and not so hot New Zealand. It is the perfect temperature here, the students graduate tomorrow, there are 4 BLS students starting this next monday and I now live in a log cabin in my own room with a rap a round porch that overlooks the base and has a fridge, stove sink bathroom and grapes growing on the fence!!!! I'm in HEAVEN! I'm also heading off on Saturday to Coromandel with the other base staff and then dropping them off in Auckland on the 3rd of March. Things are moving rapid fast, This week has flown by so quickly- there are now about 16 or so students arriving in 2 weeks time- there is very much to be done, but that's all good, I'll be talking to the base director soon about everything, I'm now assisting staffing the next DTS, which is huge for me and I'm very excited, this outreach was tough, but they are always hard, and NOTHING compares to the other outreach group! So it's all good now. God is faithful. Thankyou all for your e-mails and skype, I hope to come into more time in the following week to come, so I'll be able to write and call. All my love,
laura

Time Out

Week 7: February 10-16, 2009

Tuesday started off nice and slow, until Chad gave the base a scare and we rushed him to a clinic. We still made it to the basketball courts for only a few hours. Mary, Courtney and Rebekah all got ill as well. The rest of the team carried on the focus groups- we had three separate ones running because We got into Southern Christian Academy and ran a wonderful group there.  We also had an opportunity to hang out with the SCA kids at their rugby games on Saturday as well as go to the Yigo fiesta. Sunday three of the team went to help lead worship at Touch Point and the rest went to Zion.  

 This is a nice way of saying this week was HELL. Everybody got sick, or into a sick/ passive/ check out mentality. One of our team members got really sick though, and scared me really badly. He threw up so much that he had what the doctors think was a panic attack and his muscles seized up really badly. Fever, chills- the works. It was not pleasant for anyone- but he is a real trooper. Things are winding down here, the next blog I'll be posting will be from NZ. We have a 12 hour lay over in Seoul, South Korea. I'm very excited to go and explore that city of 10.5 million in 10 hrs! It was featured in this month's National Geographic, and I'll be there within the week! That's never been a possibility before!

Team dynamics and shepherding haven't been my strengths on this team. Every suggestion that was sent to me mid outreach I had already done, so I have done everything in my power to make things happen for this team to the very best of my ability. I have seen huge gaps in my leadership- but God is big enough to restore any damage that my inexperience has caused, and I feel that over all I have been able to do more for the team than just live my faith and hope they'll get the hint. Another thing that I've learned is that I should never build up outreach beyond the students' capacities. Evangelism is so exciting, but if they've never been pushed on lecture phase, what made me think that they would be able to dive in on outreach is beyond me. I was terrified to go and talk to people, let alone tell them about Jesus! It's still hard, and I think until I really get a better understanding of Christ's love for others and for me, I will hesitate. But God's way is truth and logic is not foolish to the ones that He has called- and He calls everyone. I gave a short (and messy) testimony this week at a bbl college and it was on this passage, that has really impacted me and I've taken it to heart.

1 Cor. 2:2-4

Dear brothers and sisters, [fn] when I first came to you I didn't use lofty words and brilliant ideas to tell you God's message. [fn]

For I decided to concentrate only on Jesus Christ and his death on the cross.I came to you in weakness--timid and trembling. And my message and my preaching were very plain. I did not use wise and persuasive speeches, but the Holy Spirit was powerful among you.

That's tonnes for now. All my love, and a very happy Valentine's day!

Laura

Week 4: January 27- February 2, 2009

 

We ended the week by taking the Zion Church service- it was amazing: great worship, great break through for some Oasis clients, and after we all ate and celebrated pastor Ron’s birthday! Then we went to Enaronhon for Sunday night BBQ and met a girl named Crystal and Lamia.  We Hit up the Basket ball courts for some soul patrol and danced twice with the Hula dance troop. St. Pauls’ north and centre ran the first sessions of their focus groups and as well we all did a car wash and made 200$. We also went to Tabitha’s 19^th birthday and helped decorated and make food for her party. During our Saturday night fire spinning session the boys prayed over the Latte stones at Latte park. Wednesday night we took over the kids service and the rest of our group sat in on the Truth project- and apologetics video series made by focus on the family.

Renewal

Hi everyone! This week has taken it's tole on me. It's a learning experience for sure!!! Prayer in my side has been scarce; time and scheduling has sucked much of the joy out of Outreach. Miscommunication and miss understandings make this all the more challenging, however renewal has come and I thank all of you who bared the frenzy of my panic. :) I have so much to learn, patience, understanding and spiritual endurance, not to mention HUMILITY. Sometimes I get very tired of not knowing what's going on and taking responsibility for it each time something gets changed. My focus has been hard to nail down and I feel very much out of touch with our vision. I'm hoping to regroup, delegate and move forward as one unified force. It's funny, I feel like the majority of my adult life will be spent finding out what I don't know. :) I wouldn't trade this for the world. all my love,

laura

Week 4: Jan. 20-27

The Focus Groups have finally taken form this week! We have set up approximately 3 in both the centre and north schools. After 2 meetings there has been a clear understanding of what is needed!  This is a renewal week and it is fairly exciting to see what is going down. We have had to come around together and redirect our focus and our pace. After our meetings on Thursday we went to the beach and did evangelism and worship. Friday the girls danced hula again and the boys went to the b-ball courts. The weekend we were taken to caves that were lit by candles and was filled with fresh crystal clear water. Then we went to the Sonic flood concert. Sunday we put on a BBQ and had people come from both the Zion and Touch Point Churches. 

It's BREAK FREE week!

Hey friends and fam, this outreach has been quite stretching in so many ways, but for right now things are moving right along! Here is a report of what was happening last week:

Week 2: January 4, 2009- January 11, 2009

The week began talking to pastor Rob of the Zion, and from there history to be made!!! We are now working on an anti drinking campaign for Guam. We are working with a rehabilitation group called Oasis, which aids and assists women with addictive and abusive histories, and empowers them through Christ to move forward in their lives. God provided a free van, food, and space to work and worship. It’s a central location here at Zion, and many opportunities are opening up almost hourly!. We have made a website, e-mail and facebook groups dedicated to YWAM Guam as a tool to inform and connect with Guam’s youth. We are also working on Zion’s web site to update it and facilitate staff to continue the work. We also did street evangelism on Wed night at the Chimmoro village. Thursday the team worshiped with the Oasis women and facilitated a class with them. Friday we helped with the First Church of God youth group and on Saturday we met or neighbors; we facilitated a combined youth group called the safe house at Zion. Sunday we helped out at two churches leading worship and taking Sunday school for special needs children.

It was tough this last week, there wasn't much for the students to do, there was a lot of down time in the middle of nowhere, Guam. They didn't feel like they were making much of an impact- plus they were not properly trained in the concept and practical application of street evangelism. (Partially the base's error in not stressing it enough) But as staff, we didn't push it as much as it should have been stressed. Anyways, I'm taking the students a few at a time and working on changing their ideas of what that needs to look like- it's a huge "fear of man" issue that is being challenged. :) I love you all and hope to hear about YOUR lives too- it makes me feel more connected to home, so thanks to those who are writing!

All my love,

laura Yemen

laura.ywam@gmail.com (new f-book address too-if you join the ywam guam group you can see pictures!

Hafa Adia!

Hey everyone! Well We made it! It's been a crazy as few days-8 to be exact. We have been off to a slower start- There is a bit of a crunch on the YWAM Guam base. Here's my weekly report

We arrived in Guam on Tuesday Dec. 30 at 2:30 in the morning after we had been flying for 17 hrs. We were blessed by a surprise breakfast as we waited for our contact Judy to arrive. (Who was four hours late) Thank heavens because getting through customs with two Canadians and a South Korean was especially hard. (but we were blessed by an awesome customs agent who made sure that we got through!) We slept for most of the first and second day. We went to see fire works for new years. New Years day we went to a beach and did beach evangelism (volleyballJ). Friday we went around most of the Island and landed in an ocean oasis! Back at the base some of the boys invited the local kids back to play Frisbee on base. Saturday we did a 11 hr car wash and raised over 700$ For the base! (there previous record was 400$)

 

Rom. 8:28 And we know that God causes everything to work together for the good of those who love God and are called according to his Purpose for them.  

This week is good, but I don't know what's happening until only minutes before. So... yes. It's not stressful yet- I'm very thankful Mary, the DTS leader is also here with us as support. Guam is very beautiful- it would fantastic for scuba and snorkeling! There are many opportunities here and God is leading me by the hand the whole way. All my love,

laura

Only 72 hrs to go!

Guam Ho! Well friends and family- Christmas has come and gone once again- and now I'm super stoked on NEW YEARS in GAUM! This holiday season was one to remember from beginning to end- I got to help cut down my own tree, cook half a pig (and it was AMAZING) So delicious. This last week was outreach prep and it's been more of a down time for our teams, we've practiced skits and journal entries, last minute details and fun times. Tonight was a battle of our favorite spider Jordan vs. (what ever was found in the laundry room) Jordan, our resident lounge spider lost out to our new reigning champ, Charlotte; such is base life. Thank you all for your phone calls, letters and gifts- they were very much appreciated over this Christmas time. 

Another team from NZ arrived back from 4 weeks in Suva Fiji and are staying the night. Sometimes the base bubble can become so restricting- and having a new team come in was fabulous and refreshing. It is inevitable that the YWAM world becomes your life, however perspective is everything, and I have to keep reminding myself that there is much more moving on in the world than just lecture phase and outreach. Anyways that's enough processing for now. The next entry will be from Guam!

Much love,

Laura Yemen