Ready to fly away.

This September I will be staffing at 360 Maine!! 360 Maine is a Youth With A Mission (YWAM) affiliate but is a little different, working closer with the local church. Visit their website to learn more.

You may remember I did my YWAM DTS (Discipleship Training School) in Wisconsin over a year ago. The directors of 360 Maine were there at the same time training under Madison’s director. I have seen their heart for this mission and after much prayer have decided to join them for a two year term. Some of my responsibilities include mentoring students, other various tasks, and a two month outreach overseas. God has laid this passion on my heart and I can’t wait to see what He has in store! 

Here's the story of how I got here: Ever since I returned home from my DTS I had this restless feeling. I struggled with it, looking for a job only finding a few temporary positions. I kept feeling like there was something else. For months I fought and tried to bury that feeling but it wouldn't go away. 

So I finally asked God about it. He gave me the word "Youth." I wasn't quite sure what that meant, so I continued to wait on God to make it clear. At that same time I was asked to help lead a girls weekend, it reminded me a bit of a mini DTS. I LOVED it!! It was so amazing, it was all the things I love; God, youth, and worship. It also gave me more confidence in my leadership skills. 

I continued to search for a job and get involved at my church until one day I saw that 360 Maine was looking for staff, and it just dawned on me! God gave me this passion for youth, He's been involving me in things to help me prepare to staff, He hasn't led me to a job for a reason. What do I have to lose?

So I applied and here I am! 

I realized that I tried to go back to "normal" life after my DTS because being a full time missionary honestly scared me, I didn't think that was something I could ever do.

But God has been teaching me more about myself and who He's created me to be, and what He can do through me. 

God has given me a passion for youth, but I didn't known what to do with it. I guess was been trying to do what was "expected" of me, but it just never felt right. But now that I've applied and been accepted I am beyond excited! I'm not scared anymore. I can't wait to see where this crazy adventure with God will go next! All I know is it will be great because He will be there, and that's all I need. He makes me brave!

"You make me brave, You called me beyond the shore into the waves, You make me brave, No fear can hinder now the promises You've made."

Slave

Something that changed me on outreach was in the form of a sweet little girl we called monkey.

Going to India I knew I had a heart for children, but going to the brothels scared me. When we walked into the brothels for the first time it was crowded, smelled bad, and the stairways up into the building where we would be teaching in were steep, small and dark. When I went one morning for ministry I didn't know what to expect, we arrived to teach preschool and a little girl walked in the room and changed my life. She, in the midst of one of the darkest places on earth has this amazing joy about her. We called her monkey because she loved to be held so much she would basically climb up you to be there. I remember the first day I met her she took my hands in hers and began to jump, I would pull her up so she would fly higher. She laughed and never wanted me to stop. She always sat in our laps, and she loved to kiss our cheeks.

That sweet little girl in an Indian brothel stole my heart forever.

The sad part of her story is that she is still in the brothels. She is neglected by her mother, each time she came for preschool she was hungry, thirsty, and needed to use the restroom. She always came in with the same dirty clothes. Growing up in the brothels her destiny is to be a prostitute.

We are God’s plan to save children and woman like her. Maybe we can’t go, but our prayers are just as powerful, and God is still at work in their lives. 

Around 27 million people are enslaved around the world. It's time we stopped pretending that if we don't know about it, it's not happening. That's a lie! It's going on right now! Here and around the world!

Here is one of the many ways to get involved. http://www.enditmovement.com/ 

"Together we must shine a light to every of the globe and help build a world in which no one is enslaved." -Hillary Rodham Clinton

Outreach part 2: India

Day Twenty-eight:
After some days spent in a closed country and some travel days, we are now in India! We're working with a YWAM base doing different things. Today I went with a small group to a slum and met some older widows. We sang with them and told them a story. We, then, handed out rice. There was a really sweet lady there. She wanted us to come to her house and wanted pictures with all of us (coming soon). Our translator told us that she was 105! They told us that she was recently baptized and when they dipped her in the water she loved it so much she wanted to go again! :) We, also, went to a small village and got to meet with the only believer in that village.


Day Thirty:
We're now in Pune! We are staying in a guest house and rotating between three ministries for three weeks. We're working with a rescued street kids home, an HIV/AIDs home, and in the brothels.

Day Thirty-one:
Today we started our ministries! My team went to the HIV/AIDs home. The kids are so sweet and really smart! We played with them, did crafts, and helped with homework.


Day Thirty-three:
Today we took the kids from the street kids home to the park! I was paired with a sweet little girl. Her favorite thing to play on was the spring horse. Then we had a picnic. Later that evening we went to a Pune Futbol Club game. PFC!


Day Thirty-Eight:
This past week my team was at the brothels. We helped at the pre-school. We teach them ABCs, 123s, and animals or birds, then we would sing motion songs with them and play games. During the day we would work with the women. We would go to their home to visit and pray with them. One day we got to pray for a young girl who was having headaches and nightmares. One of the girls praying was filled with the Holy Spirit and started praying over the young girl and she was delivered from a stronghold of the enemy! Then in the evening we would host an after school program for the older kids. We would tell them a Bible story, do a craft, and sing some songs with them. The kids are so sweet. They just want to be loved with nothing expected in return. They loved to sit on your lap and play clapping games with you.

Day Forty:
This weekend we took over the rescued street children's home! We sent the staff away and we watched the kids. We planned a party on Saturday with games, presents, and finished off with cake and ice cream! It was a lot of fun!

Day Forty-five:
This week my team was at the rescued street children's home. We would go when they finished school for the day and help them with their homework. They would have free time  and we would have worship and a Bible story, we would eat dinner,  and then bed time. On Tuesday we worked with some street children, we bathed them and fed them lunch. We told them a Bible story and did a craft with them. They were tough but great kids.


Day Forty-six:
Today we have two parties! The first is for the HIV/AIDs home. We went to a park and played, had a picnic and gave them gifts! They we're so happy.
The next party was for the ladies and children at the brothels. We played games, danced, and ate together. Both parties were very different but equally fun!


Day Fifty:
For the last two days of ministry we prayed about where we should go. God told me to go back to the brothels preschool so that's where I went! It was great to see those sweet little faces again!

Day Fifty-one:
Today we are heading home, it's bittersweet. I'm excited to see my friends and family at home, but sad to leave all the great people we've met.

1 mission

2 months

3 counties

4ever changed

♥

Thank you so much to everyone who has supported my with money or prayers. I truly couldn't have done this without you! 

In Christ,

Much love,

Emily ♥

Outreach part 1: Nepal

Day one:

After 48 hours of traveling we arrived in Kathmandu Nepal! Stepping out of the airport was so surreal. I felt like I just stepped into a movie. It smelled like trash, people were staring at you, street dogs were barking, having to dodge cars and people. Part of me wondered "What am I doing here?" Then God brought to mind Isiah 61:1-2 

"The Spirit of the Lord God is upon me,
because the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor;
he has sent me to bind up the brokenhearted,to proclaim liberty to the captives,and the opening of the prison to those who are bound;
 to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor,and the day of vengeance of our God;
to comfort all who mourn"

Tomorrow we have cultural orientation, then my team splits into two teams and we head to separate ministries.


Day Four:
After a 15 hour bus ride, my team is now in the jungle! We are staying at a church for five days in a very small village. It's very peaceful and pretty here. We are staying and working with another YWAM team! While we're here we will be going to house churches, working with kids, and a blanket distribution. 

Day Six:
Today we went to a nearby school and walked with the kids to a sports event they had. It was kind of like a children's Olympic event. We were asked to sing a song. We thought the song would be for the kids but it turned out to be for the official leaders of the area! We sang "How He Loves" and it was awesome because we weren't supposed to do any religious acts there and we got to do that!



Day Seven:
Here is a taste of living in Nepal: the power is only on for a few hours each day, when greeting someone you put your hands together and say "Namaste" or if greeting a Christian you say "Jaimise". At night there is spiders in the squatty potty and the killer bees next door will suck the water from your wet clothes on the line.
Today we handed out blankets to families, and toys and clothes to kids from a nearby village. They came to the church we were staying at and we sang some worship music, gave testimonies and a sermon. We, then, handed out toys and clothes to the kids. Then we handed out really warm blankets to the families. The blankets were a huge blessing to them because hundreds of people in that area die each year because of the cold temperatures each year. It was so great to see the look of happiness in the eyes of the children, and the relief on the woman's faces when they received the blankets! God is so good.


Day Eight:
Today we went to a nearby school and we brought sports equipment and played with them. It was so fun and they loved it so much!

Day Nine:
So remember how we sang How He Loves for the area officials? Well, they invited us to their house for tea and briskets. They told us they've been receiving calls from people saying how much they loved our song and they asked us to sing more songs for them! We sang some more worship songs. God is amazing!


Day Thirteen:
After a couple days of debriefing we are now in Kathmandu valley staying at a YWAM base. Today we will be walking around evangelizing there. I got to share the gospel at a brick factory. Thank God for the Holy Spirit for giving me the words to say! My team also got to perform the Everything skit for the workers there. It was quite the experience because the music stopped right at the most insistence part of the song, but we were able to finish without the music. :)

Day fourteen:
We did more evangelizing today, and we went back to the brick factory. They were so happy we came back, and wanted us to do another skit! We sang some worship songs for them, too. We left some children's clothes with our translators for them to give to the kids there.


Day Eighteen:
For the past three days we went to Beauty For Ashes  http://www.beautyforashesintl.com/wordpress/ . It was awesome!!! Beauty For Ashes is an organization that gives woman, who have been in prostitution, jobs and a Christian environmental to be in. We did devotionals with them, and we helped with other things like sorting beads, tagging things, and whatever else needed to be done.



Day Nineteen:
We went to a church today and did the Everything skit, then we did the children program. We did motion songs, a puppet show, and a craft.
Tomorrow we leave. I'm really going to miss the people we worked with, seeing the mountains everyday, and the peacefulness of the village and the valley.

India here I come!

YWAM: Week 12

This week the teaching was on relationships. No, not just that kind :) We also talked about relationships with everyone around us, and we broke down 1 Corinthians 13 to see what love really means.

We also had our first real snowfall here this week!

Next week we will have four days of outreach prep and team bonding, then a weeklong break for Christmas, then at the end of this month my team and I leave on outreach to Nepal and India!!!!! This will be the last update until when I return in February. Pray for my team and I as we visit places to serve that ranges from the jungle to the mountains, cities to the countryside, children’s homes to the red light district. Pray against sickness and attacks from the enemy. Pray for team unity and boldness as we share the love of God with the people of India and Nepal. I am so thankful for your prayers and support, and I couldn’t do this without you!!

In Christ,

Emily

YWAM: Week 11

This week our speaker was a man who works at a street kids ministry. He came and talked to us about his ministry, and stories of the children there. He also gave us guidance for working with street children.

In Christ,

Emily  

YWAM: Week 10

Sorry for no update last week, we had a short break for Thanksgiving! Before we left we all dressed up, had dinner together and shared testimonies of what God has done in our lives.

Coming off of Thanksgiving break, this week was about destiny. We talked about how God has a plan for our lives, and that when you follow the will of God it will be good, because God is good, not because of your circumstances. We also got to pray for each other and learn how God sees us.

In Christ,

Emily

YWAM: Week 9

This week we learned about the Holy Spirit, who he really is not just what we think he is. The Holy Spirit is our greatest weapon so the enemy does the best to distort the true person and character of him. Friday we had a time set aside were we just soaked in the presence and were refilled. My small group went to the Wisconsin Dells, we had a blast!

In Christ,

Emily

YWAM: Week 8

This week we talked about what roots have been established in our lives, good and bad. Things we were aware of or not. Experiences from our past that make us react the way we do. We also talked about forgiveness, and grudges we may have buried inside and have caused us to react in certain ways. We talked about how God forgives us so we can forgive others.

We also got to spend some time at a Farmer’s Market on Saturday!!

 



In Christ,

Emily

YWAM: week 7

This week we went to Cincinnati for a missions conference, we had some problems getting there! First the bus broke down 6 miles from the base, after a couple hours we were able to get it fixed and were on our way! Then we got stuck in traffic for an hour, but we finally made it there! During the week we had worship and teachings. We learned a lot about unreached people groups and how we can reach them.

God spoke to me personally a lot this week, showing me a glimpse of how much he loves me.

 

In Christ,
Emily

YWAM: week 6

This week was about Spiritual Warfare, and it was Spirit Week! The Rescue Ops team was gone camping so it was only girls here at the base. It was great to look at spiritual warfare biblically, and how much authority we have over the enemy!!

Next week I will be back in the beautiful state of Ohio!! Our DTS is attending the Finish the Task conference in Cincinnati :)

 

(Twin day)

 

In Christ,

Emily

YWAM: week 5

This week we learned about the character of God. We looked throughout the bible to see from interactions what it says about God’s character.

We also learned more about our outreach! I am going to India! We will be visiting Indore, Bhopal, Pune, and unreached villages. Some of the things we will be doing is: visit the Hope Of Glory Home, rescued street kids we get to parent! Santvana, a home for kids with aids or parents have died from aids. Caring for street kids, working at a preschool in the red light district and the brothels. In the villages we will be working with the unreached, and church planting.

I’m sooooo excited! I have a great team, and I’m looking forward to being a part of what God is doing.

 

In Christ,

Emily

YWAM: week 4

This week we learned more about the character of God so that we can have a fear of Him. We learned that fear of the Lord is described in Psalm 25:14 as: confiding, secret/counsel/intimacy, and a friendship (depending on what version you read).

It’s been a hard week, sicknesses and deaths are happening in some of the students families and friends. Please pray for us in this time of questions and that we will turn to God for comfort and strength.

In Christ,
Emily

YWAM: Week 3

This week was different from the rest, we went survivor camping! We loaded a bus Wednesday afternoon with one backpack filled with supplies from a very strict packing list and sleeping bag each. We were grouped into four different teams, I was on Forest. After a four hour drive it was now dark, we arrived… we stood in the middle of the street waiting for instructions. Then the spy came to help us, he gave us a map and wished us luck. So we walked for a long time until we found customs, there we met the corrupt government, they were very angry and unjust. They checked our bags and passports, some got things taken away and some had a hard time getting through. Then they gave us our meal of raw beans and rice that we had to cook for ourselves, and a dab of toothpaste and a few squares of toilet paper. Then they took us to our campsite where we given instructions for our first team building game, capture the flag. Aside from the game itself we had to watch out for the government because if they saw you, they’d stop you and give you a hard time. After the game we went to bed. Then in the early morning  we awoke to screams then people came running yelling “hide the children!” “they're coming!!” then we heard firecrackers. In the morning we got called together with the other teams and we went to the DTS safe zone where we had worship and no more corrupt government. We learned that the night raid was to give us a taste of what it would be like to be in Africa where they live in fear of being taken or killed in the middle of the night by Kony. After worship and teaching we went back to our campsite, made lunch and had our mission. We were to try to convert the other tribes and the government, by learning about them and telling them a bible story that is relevant to them, then we would tell the spy who would let us know if we told them the right story. Then we had more team building games, and given our supper, then just as we were settling down for the night we were told that one of the girls had an asthma attack, we all collected our stuff and slept inside because it was really cold and windy and there had been too many accidents. They made the call to head home a day early because of everything that happened.

Although this trip was cut short, I know I learned a lot!

What it’s like to lay down my rights and not just assume that I’m suppose to be treated fairly.

What it’s like not to have a home to sleep in.

What it’s like to be hungry, and not have much food to live off of.
What it’s like to not have many possessions.
What it’s like to live in fear of being harmed or killed.

I survived! :)

In Christ,

Emily

YWAM: week 2

The second week of YWAM is now completed! We had our regular schedule this week. It’s starting to feel a lot more like school now, we have geography tests every Wednesday, and teachings every morning. Then, in the afternoon, we have responsibilities around the building (cleaning, dishes, ect.). My favorite part is quiet time and then worship in the mornings!

This week’s teaching theme was “The Father Heart of God”. We learned about God’s heart and who He is. Because if we don’t know who God is, then we don’t know who we are, and we give a distorted image of God.

Here is a video they played for us one day:

In Christ,
Emily

YWAM: week 1

I’m here at YWAM! This week has been a lot of getting to know the schedule, each other and the purpose of YWAM. It’s a lot of adjusting to new things and learning more about God. Lifelong relationships are being built, walls are coming down, and chains are being broken! It’s amazing to have our schedule built around God 24-7. I was surprised how close I’ve gotten to my fellow YWAMers in just this short time! The classes have been amazing, and we’re reading some really great books. The food has been really good and everyone is super nice! I can feel God all around. This coming week we’ll be getting more into a regular schedule. I’m looking forward to getting to know everyone better, growing closer to God and becoming everything He wants me to be! Thank you for patiently waiting for my updates, we don’t have Internet at the base for the moment. Within a couple weeks the Internet should be up and I can keep in contact with you better :)

 

In Christ,

Emily

Youth With A Mission

For those of you who don't know starting September 16th I will be a part of YWAM (Youth With A Mission)! I'm doing to Children At Risk program. Basically it's a 6 month mission program. The first 3 months are spent going through seminars and getting to know each other. Then for 2 months I will be overseas spending time with Children with aids or have been orphaned and loving on them, and showing them that God cares for them. You can check out the YWAM Facebook page here. From there you can go to their website if you want to know more.

I am fully funded, THANK YOU GOD!!! And thank you to everyone who has donated. Your prayers and encouragement are greatly appreciated!

I'd also like to add a HUGE thank you to my mom! For supporting me and making sure I have everything I need before I leave. I honestly don't know what I'd do without her! LOVE YOU!! ♥♥

Stay tuned to my blog for updates while I am at YWAM. THANK YOU!!!!

This is my story.

So I thought I'd let you readers get to know me better by sharing my testimony, so here we go! :)

I was raised in a Christian home, I was homeschooled so all my friends were from church, and my parents always pointed me toward Christ but never forced anything on me. Then when I was 8 I was listening to a cd, and at the end of the last song they recited the "Christian ABC's" (Most of you know what I mean!) "A. Admit you are a sinner and that you need a Savior. B. Believe in your heart that Jesus Christ is Lord. C. Confess your sins, and commit your life to Him." Then they added one more letter that really spoke to my heart. "And D. Don't wait until tomorrow." Because not one of us is ever guaranteed tomorrow! So I opened my heart to Christ, and asked for forgiveness for my sins. Later that year I was baptized. Looking back now I know that was a God-think, because I'd always stopped the song before they said the ABCs, but for some reason (God :)) that day I let it play until the end.

A few years later (I think I was 11 or 12), through sermons at church and God at work in me, I began to realize that I welcomed God in but didn't let Him change me, I was living the same way I was before I opened my heart. So I began to pray more and more, read my bible, and I fully surrendered my life to Him and His will. I told Him "God you're in charge of my future, I'll do whatever You want me to do."

Around that time a new Christian band came out made up of three young woman who were strong crusaders of modesty but still being fashionable, giving God full control of your life, and praying for your future husband. So as a young girl I totally looked up to them, I thought they were so cool!  So I began to pray for my future husband too. It started out as short prayers before I went to bed every now and then, but one day when I was at church out of nowhere "Future husband" popped into my head, and I had "butterflies" and my heart started beating faster, and before I had a chance to think, I started praying "God fight for him" over and over and over. So I wrote it down in a notebook (and still do! :)), and over the years I've gotten more and more prayer requests for him from God, and I'm really excited to see how God used me to fight for my future husband before we've met!

When I was 17 a YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Children At Risk team came and shared at my church. The stories and faces of the children pulled on my heart like nothing ever had. They gave us prayer cards for two little girls to pray for, because their parents took them out of the safe children's home and back into prostitution. So I began to pray for them and I still do today. When I was a freshman a youth pastor told me that she believed God was calling me to missions, and my mom did too. So I began to pray and seek God, but I wasn't hearing anything, so I started asking other people to pray for me and everyone was getting words like "not yet" and "just wait". So I did, and let me tell you it was the hardest thing I'd ever done! I kind of felt like God had left me, then one day I was lying face down on the floor searching for answers and crying out to God, then I felt two hands tough my sides! No one was there, I believe it was God reasuring me that He has never left my side and never will. Over my time of waiting and all my 4 years of high school God has placed wonderful woman of God in my life to mentor and guide me, I'm so grateful He did! Then then next year I felt a stirring that wouldn't go away and the things from YWAM kept coming to me, Then the song Let The Waters Rise by Mikeschair came on and I just knew I need to do this, and I felt such a peace. So I will be doing YWAM Children At Risk in September! ♥

I'm still falling more in love with God all the time, and growing more in my faith! He's opening my eyes more and more through songs, books (Radical is amazing!! You should really read it!), reading the bible, people around me, prayer, and when He speaks His truths and love to my heart. I still have worries, fears and problems, but I face them with strength from God every day. Right now some of my favorite songs are Well Done by Moriah Peters, Ready Or Not by Britt Nicole, You Lead by Jamie Grace and Give Me Faith by Elevation Worship.

But that is not the end of my story, this is just the beginning...