Brittany Priess - Live in Him. Love like Him.

Replacements

Fri, 12 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Replacements(n): An exchange; a person or thing that replaces another.

Recently the Lord has been teaching me about replacements; it started a few weeks ago. Do you ever think about situations, and assume the negative? My thoughts have power, they affect my attitude you know? Do you remember as a child dreaming? I remember dreaming of ways the Lord would move, imagining the miracles that He would do. At some point that changed, there is a shift in our thinking. Where life gets to us; it wears us down and we begin to be more "realistic". I believe that the Lord longs to take us back to that place of trust, He desires to dream with me about what He desires to do in my life. He desires to replace the lies of death with abundant true life.

"This day I call heaven and earth as witnesses against you that I have set before you life and death, blessings and curses. Now choose life, so that you and your children may live and that you may love the Lord your God..."

Deuteronomy 30:19-20a

He has set before me life and death, day by day I am challenged to choose life so that I may love the Lord.

                                                                                                                       Life replaces death.
                                            Love replaces stress.
       Hope replaces despair.                   Hallelujahs replace grumblings.
                      Truth replaces lies.                 Freedom replaces silence.
         Innocence replaces guilt.              Sincerity replaces image.

Life replaces death, death never replaces life.

Over the past two years the Lord has been teaching me about love, true abundant love. The love from the Father. The kind of love that breaks through the highest and strongest walls. The kind of love that calls us to obey. The kind of love that beckons me to a life where God receives all of the Glory. The kind of love that not only reaches in and pulls us out of the pit, but the kind of love that can destroy the pit! Love and life go hand in hand, love brings life, and life is not really life without Love. Think back to the imagination of childhood...and take it back, it's yours! Take back the dreams, take back the trust. I am called to faith and trust that risks and I am taking it back!! God is Love, and today I expect that He will do abundantly and exceedingly more that I could ever dream or imagine because of His great Love.

"He called a little child and had him stand among them. And he said: "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven."
Matthew 18:2-4

Take it back friends. What needs to be replaced today?

Real Life team in Kenya

Sat, 6 Mar 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hello everyone, this is a story of one of the peeps on a Real Life trip that's in Kenya right now. I am working in admissions for the Real Life program with AIM and I wanted to share with all of you a story from the field. I am really enjoying working in the office and helping future participants be placed and prepare for trips. These peeps are binging Kingdom, revealing the Love of the Lord to the people all of over the world. This is why the Lord has me doing what I'm doing.

"God has placed this vision in the group about doing something greater in the IDP (International Displaced People) Camps; something that will be lasting, something that will bring the Kingdom of God down to that place after we leave in 2 months. When you go to this place there is no hope; these people have no hope of getting out and you can feel the despair when you get there. It is almost as if they are there for the food and that is it. So our group sat down and prayed about the vision that God has for this place. And we knew that it was something greater than going there every Saturday to hand out a bag of ugali and feed the kids a bun.

Discipleship. I have been reading a lot of Paul's writings about discipleship and the significance that it has on people. Coming along side of someone, investing and teaching someone until they can go and do the same to another person. Holli made a good analogy: it is like you are holding the hand of God in one hand and the hand of the person you are discipling in the other and you are there until that person can eventually hold the hand of God themselves. That is what it is about. Guiding people, helping them understand the greatness of God, and coming along side of them so that you can grow God's followers.

So God has given us this vision of discipleship for the displaced people. Now how do we go about fulfilling what he has called us to do? I think it means taking one step at a time and building those relationships so that the people truly interested in spreading the word of God after we leave will have been invested in by us. There is so much need in that place, so much hurt and so much despair. There is no way that we can fix everything while we are here, but God has given us a vision of something bigger, something greater than ourselves, something that will be lasting; now we must step into the fear of the unknown and act. While it is going to be hard and frustrating at times, It is exciting that God has given us the ability to carry out something that He started in us. God is so good.

"For we know, brothers loved by God, that He has chosen you, because our gospel came to you not simply with words, but also with power, wit the Holy Spirit and with deep conviction. You know how we lived among you for your sake. You became imitatiors of us and of the Lord; in spite of severe suffering you welcomed the message wit the joy given by the Holy Spirit. And so you became a model to all the believers in Macedonia and Achaia. The Lord's message rang out from you not only in Macedonia and Achaia- your faith in God has become known everywhere. Therefore we do not need to say anything about it, for they themselves report what kind of reacetion you gave us. They tell how you turned to God from idols to serve the living and true God, and to wait for his son from heaven, whom he raised from the dead- Jesus, who rescues us from the coming wrath." I Thessalonians 1:4-10" Blog by Jenna Ghizas, picture by: Katie Duff

To read more about what's going on with our other Real Life trips you can check out their blogs at:

Kenya, Africa: http://kenya.adventures.org

Swaziland, Africa: http://swaziland.adventures.org

Andhra Pradesh, India: http://india-ap.adventures.org

Delhi, India: http://india.adventures.org

Phone Calls and Post-Its!

Tue, 23 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

Hello friends I just wanted to post and update everyone on what is going on here in good ol' Gainesville GA. I took some pictures of my work area here...

Fun desk where I can make phone calls to people interested in trips, and answers e-mails and all that fun stuff!

Pictures of friends and family from back home as well as my sisters from FYM :)

My wall of trip info, and the urban word of the day sign! Yesterdays word was "Mondaze" we need to update that!

COLOR CODED PENS!!!

Post-Its=necessary

So all of that said I am enjoying helping out in the office, I love getting to talk with people who are interested in trips and helping go through the process of getting on the field. I learn something new pretty much everyday and it's good for me! Anywho I hope all is well y'all :)

The Holy Spirit Lives in you and He Wants Out.

Thu, 11 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

"Is this not the fast that I have chosen: To loose the bonds of wickedness, to undo the heavy burdens, to let the oppressed go free, and that you break every yoke? Is it not to share your bread with the hungry, and that you bring to your house the poor who are cast out; when you see the naked, that you cover him, and not hide yourself from your own flesh?"
Isaiah 58:6-7

Father what does it mean to loose the bonds of wickedness? Show me what it is to undo heavy burdens. I long to hear chains break as the oppressed go free! The Holy Spirit is the great liberator and a God of redemption and reconciliation. Do you know that the Holy Spirit lives in you? I remember being told "The same power that raised Jesus from the dead is in you." I hear that a lot. But it's even more than that...

"Then Peter stood up and addressed the crowd...'In the last days, God says,
      I will pour out my Spirit on all people.
   Your sons and daughters will prophesy,
      your young men will see visions,
      your old men will dream dreams.
Even on my servants, both men and women,
      I will pour out my Spirit in those days,
      and they will prophesy.
I will show wonders in the heaven above
      and signs on the earth below,
      blood and fire and billows of smoke.
The sun will be turned to darkness
      and the moon to blood
      before the coming of the great and glorious day of the Lord.
And everyone who calls
      on the name of the Lord will be saved..."
Acts 2:17-21

The same Holy Spirit that inspired Peter to address the crowd and preach at Pentecost lives in YOU...

"When Jesus landed and saw a large crowd, he had compassion on them and healed their sick."
Matthew 14:14

"Be quiet!" said Jesus sternly. "Come out of him!" The evil spirit shook the man violently and came out of him with a shriek."
Mark 1:25-26

The same compassion and power that was in Jesus that drove Him to heal and cast out demons is in YOU...

"Heal the sick, raise the dead, drive out demons. Freely you have received, freely give."

This is a command from Jesus Christ to His disciples...brothers and sisters I am a disciple. You are a disciple. There is example after example in scripture of how we are to live as Christ did. We have freely been given the Holy Spirit; we have been given hope and LIFE. I know that this may be a bit crazy but I am taking this literally, I believe that the Lord is going to use me to heal the sick, to cast out demons, and to raise the dead, not because I can but because HE can. And you know what, it's not a matter of IF...if He will raise the dead or heal or deliver. The question is, how many?!?! Haha!! I have been accused of being a little crazy and maybe I am, but again I ask, how many??? I am asking the Lord, how many people do you desire to raise from the dead today? How many divine appointments for healing do you have set up? How many broken hearts do you desire to mend and whose chains of oppression are You going to break today? He wants to use me, He wants to use you. The Holy Spirit lives in YOU and He wants OUT!

Thing I don't expect...

Fri, 5 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

On my team blog for the World Race we were ask to make a post about our expecations for the trip, I just thought I could share what I posted. :)

I do not expect to be in the United States for 11 months.

I do not expect to get a hair cut.

I do not expect for my knowledge of the National Anthem to be tested.

I do not expect to know where I will be living along the way.

I do not expect to paint my face like a lion for Halloween

I do not expect to see my family or friends back home for 11 months.

I do not expect to have a cute little boyfrannnnn.

I do not expect to go office supply shopping.

I do not expect to learn how to ride a unicycle.

I do not expect to get any new tattoos.

I do not expect to have a pet rabbit.

I do not expect to ribbon dance for a large crowd of Romanians

....the list could go on....

I should know exactly what to expect from the race, but if there's one thing I have learned over the past year and a half it's that things change, and nothing is ever what you expect. I have thought about writing this blog a lot and have thought about my expectations quite a bit. I expect the Lord to show up. I expect that I cannot do this, I know that I cannot do this.

So you also must be ready, because the Son of Man will come at an hour when you do not expect him. Matt 24:44

I expect to be surprised.

Real Life training camp 2010

Tue, 2 Feb 2010 00:00:00 GMT

After the night in the ATL they came here to the training center in Gainesville. It was 3 days full of learning about the Holy Spirit and empowering them in their faith. Each team was given a blank black piece of cloth they were told to pray and paint something that represented what their time wanted to be about or work towards while on the field...

It is so great to be a part of these training camps, to see these peeps have new realizations of their faith and who the Lord has created them to be and what He has created them for; to see them come alive. It is so special to be there for those moments. The moments when they realize that the creator of the universe created them and created them to go to Kenya or Swazi or India at this time. I learn a lot from them, their passion is inspiring.

What's on the horizon?

Thu, 28 Jan 2010 00:00:00 GMT

"The Spirit of the Lord is on me,
      because he has anointed me
      to preach good news to the poor.
   He has sent me to proclaim freedom for the prisoners
      and recovery of sight for the blind,
   to release the oppressed,
    to proclaim the year of the Lord's favor."

Luke 4:16-19

For this blog I would like to share with all of you what it next for me. In June I will be leaving on an 11 month trip called the World Race. Over the 11 months I will have the opportunity to travel to 11 different countries and learn how to minister in these different cultures. This will be an opportunity to develop my leadership skills, and learn even more about what it is to love the way Jesus loves. He has given me hope abundantly and joy that surpasses all understanding and He has put in me a desire to share that with the people around the world...

He loves you, because He loves you.

Wed, 30 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

But God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us.

Romans 5:8

Back from Busia

Mon, 21 Dec 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hey all!! So I am back from Busia Uganda and happy to get to spend some time with family and friends for a bit. My time in Busia was short, but rich. We had the opportunity to visit a church in the bush and minister to the people there. There is a strong spirit of religion in Busia, this "performance" based faith, so it was good to speak into that a bit and empower the peeps (Jesse and I decided to call the students "peeps" ha) to speak out against it. The peeps will continue visiting other bush churches as well as doing ministry in town, with house visits and what not.

I just really want to take a moment and tell you all how much I love these teams. Alison, KC, Tara, Brittany, Nadia, Kathleen, Kyle, John, Jenessa, Tara, Cherise and, Jess, they all have a very special place in my heart. The Lord has used these people to teach me more than any of them will ever know, I was very sad to leave them but I know that the Lord is doing big things in and through them. I will keep y'all updated on the team as I get updates :)

I'm home until all of my support is raised, so I don't know exactly when I will be heading back to Georgia but hopefully mid January. I will post another update about what next year may look like, I will working with AIM stateside for a while, then who knows. God is good, three years ago I never would have pinned this as my life. I thank God for what He has dreamed up for me.

^"The wind blows wherever it pleases. You hear its sound, but you cannot tell where it comes from or where it is going. So it is with everyone born of the Spirit."

John 3:8

The equator, bikes, and squatty potties.

Fri, 27 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Oh hello all!! We left for Uganda on Nov 23 and arrived in Busia on the 25th, it was 50 hours of travel, 23 of which were in the air, oh boy! It was good though and we have arrived safely. Busia is beautiful, it is very green and quite rural. Walking around town yesterday I was comforted by the friendly African faces I have missed so much. It's great to be back on this continent, it's amazing how different it is from Jeffreys Bay but it's great to be here.

We are a mere 30 degrees from the equator, and I am already quite "sun kissed" haha! Time to slather on the SPF holla back! One of the first things we did when we arrived here was got bikes for the team, that's how everyone gets around here. We live right near a village and close to there is town that is lively with market stands for fruits, vegatables, fish and other meats. I am learning a great deal about the culture here in Uganda and am excited to learn more. Okay: NEWS FLASH! I had my first squatty pottie expierience! For those of you that don't know what that is, it's a hole in the ground used as a bathroom, just think Slumdog Millionare :) All I have to say is between the biking and squatting we are all going to have some sweet let muscles! BAHAHA!

The team is doing really well, we are still getting rested and recovering from jet-lag but all is well. We have started learning some songs in Swahili that we will use along with testimonies and dramas to minister to local church plants here in Busia as well as some in the bush areas. We are working with a ministry called Helping Hands Ministries, they planted the churches and we will be assisting them in some furture church plants.

That's a bit about what we are up to, I love you all so much and miss you! I don't think I will be able to recieve mail so feel free to send me e-mails at brittanypriess@gmail.com or comment on here.

I will post some pictures asap :)

Grace and peace brothers and sisters!

Starving for Words.

Thu, 5 Nov 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Here I am humbled by your Majesty
Covered by your grace so free
Here I am, knowing I'm a sinful man
Covered by the blood of the Lamb

Now I've found the greatest love of all is mine
Since you laid down your life
The greatest sacrifice

Majesty, Majesty
Your grace has found me just as I am
Empty handed, but alive in your hands
Majesty, Majesty
Forever I am changed by your love
In the presence of your Majesty

Here I am humbled by the love that you give
Forgiven so that I can forgive
Here I stand, knowing that I'm your desire
Sanctified by glory and fire

Now I've found the greatest love of all is mine
Since you laid down your life
The greatest sacrifice

Tonight we worshiped in song under the stars. This song about His majesty, sitting under His majesty spoke to me. God is SO big. Tonight sitting under this blanket speckled light I meditated of this idea of light, the fact that we are light. I am at a loss for words. Light has no matter, no real existence. It never stops. A little bit goes a long way. As children of God, we are children of light, exposing darkness to light.

For you were once darkness, but now you are light in the Lord. Live as children of light. Ephesians 5:8

So simple so sweet, "live as children of light" what an honor, what a life! That is it. Be light. In Texas, Tennessee, Africa, Mexico, India, ANYWHERE! If there is just a little bit of light in a dark room you can see it, and maybe with that little bit of guidance you can get close enough to the light to catch some of it, and so it grows.

Sweet things about the stars...some stars are dimmer than others, at times they struggle to shine. Others are brighter and more noticeable in the dark sky. God created both and has a purpose for both, He receives glory from both. This gives me great hope. Also, have you ever noticed that the longer you look at the night sky the more stars you can see? The more I look at the life of Jesus the more He shows me, the more I'm challenged in the way I live. The more I learn, the bigger He gets, the more I cannot wrap my head around Him. I love it.

You are the light of the world. A city on a hill cannot be hidden. Neither do people light a lamp and put it under a bowl. Instead they put it on its stand, and it gives light to everyone in the house. Matthew 5:14-15

To pray, to sit, to smile, to stare, to spin, to just be.

Fri, 23 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

I saw the Lord seated on a throne, high and exalted, and the train of his robe filled the temple. Above him were seraphs, each with six wings: With two wings they covered their faces, with two they covered their feet, and with two they were flying. And they were calling to one another:
"Holy, holy, holy is the LORD Almighty;
the whole earth is full of his glory."

Isaiah 6:1-3

This is the glorious place we are invited to when we speak to our Father. Often times it is easy to for me to start to pray and get ahead of myself with my words or requests, it's nice to just sit and be in His presence. What a beautiful thing to walk into a room carpeted by His robe and just smile at Him, just take Him in with every breathe.

We got to go and spend time at a hospital this week. We waited with the patients familys outside the emergency room. I met a girl, Annie, she's 16 and she was waiting with her 3 year old sister Andy (cute names I know!) they were waiting for their mom who was inside with their brother Carlos. I went after asking their names and ages (almost the extent of my Spanish) and sat down with them on the sidewalk of the hospital. I just sat with them, we spoke a bit in my broken Spanish and Annies bit of English, but for the most part it was an exchange of smiles. And then little Andy began to spin and giggle and it became a giggling outpouring of the love of Christ. The simple joys of children get me every time. One of the students who spoke better Spanish came and prayed, and then they had to go. It was a beautiful and refreshing fellowship with someone who I found out was a fellow believer, and I saw Christ in the smiles and the surrendered spinning.

It is sweet to just be. To just be who you were created to be in the presence of The Creator.

What is Happening?!?

Thu, 15 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Greeting all! So, this week has been a great week so far! Tuesday was a my birthday and it was complete with an authentic pinata and SO much fun with great people! I am so excited for my twenties...I have a good feeling about them :)

I am learning so much, and to be honest I don't really know how to write what the Lord is doing in me. What I do know is that I love this team. Love. That's something He's teaching me a lot about. The depth of it, the thickness of it, and what it looks like in everyday life. From loving the girls on the Uganda team, to loving the children around here, to loving women in a local prison. There is so much need for people to be loved. I am learning to moment by moment ask the Lord how He desires for me to spend the love He has given.

Dear friends, let us love one another, for love comes from God. Everyone who loves has been born of God and knows God.
1 John 4:7

This is the base we are staying, we do teachings and everything here. There is a near by community and each team has a family that they visit daily, building relationships and helping out. AIM has a lot of land on this base and this week we have been learning about organic gardening. We have stared a compost and each team is grown carrots and radishes. This is a great skill for us to be educated in and be able to take with us to the places we go.

So that's what I've been up to this week, I hope all is well! If any of you have prayer requests feel free to shoot me an e-mail!

Grace&peace,

Be the one

Fri, 9 Oct 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"The Lord wants those who belong to Him, to be brave

and fearless. He himself shows how weakness of the

flesh is overcome by courage of the Spirit."

-Terullian-

Leader lesson #1:

Nothing I do is legit unless Christ makes it legit. I am not good, I can do no good. God is good, ALL good and it is through Him and Him alone that anything I say or do is good and pure. This concept of "when I am weak He is strong", that cheesy song lyric and wall poster has come alive for me over the past two weeks.

But he said to me, "My grace is sufficient for you, for my power is made perfect in weakness."

1 Corinthians 12:9

"I am the true vine, and my Father is the gardener. He cuts off every branch in me that bears no fruit, while every branch that does bear fruit he prunes so that it will be even more fruitful. You are already clean because of the word I have spoken to you. Remain in me, and I will remain in you. No branch can bear fruit by itself; it must remain in the vine. Neither can you bear fruit unless you remain in me.

John 15:1-4

This image of the vine directly feeding into the branches and giving them life is one that brings me great comfort, and blows my mind. That the Father takes time to reveal things that I need to change and rid myself of, but also prunes and grows me more towards Him is so humbling and so sweet. God is good.

UPDATE!

Alrighty so last week I found out that after the NOVAs training in Mexico I will be going with the all girls team to Busia Uganda! They will be there for 6 months traveling about the area of Uganda and Kenya helping for ministries and loving of Gods people. I will be with them for the first month just to help them get settled into traveling with one another and encourage them and using this training here as they go out into the nations. I am so excited for this opportunity, I will post more about the team and picture when I get one :)

This is a map of Uganda, Busia is located near Mbale.

Support Update:

Alrighty friends, the true the story is I can't do this without your support. What that means is you all play a vital part in me being able to lead these students and walk in the calling that the Lord has given me. Will you join me on this journey? Could God be calling you to partner with me in this mission? God has been faithful, my goal is $800 monthly and the Lord has already provided monthly supporters that have me at $300 dollars a month. That puts me $500 a month away from my goal. God continues to show me His faithfulness in His timing. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with me in this? If 10 people gave $50 a month I will be fully supported. I believe God has a list of people who He desires to support me and I just want to let you all know where am at and what I need so that if the Lord is stirring something in you, you have the opportunity to respond.

I also want to thank everyone for their prayers, we can feel them here and I consider myself so incredibly blessed to have such an amazing support base at home.

I love love love you alll!!

Grace&peace,

Address

Tue, 22 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Today I wake up in Matamoros Mexico. This morning I read a prayer that I wrote exactly a year ago, I'll share it with y'all:

"God, do what You want with me. Lead me where You want. Call me to do as You desire. Teach me. And I will do my best to respond."

And I wake up today in Matamoros Mexico. The Lord has been taking me on this journey for almost twenty years now and I am in awe of His work.

"Call to Me and I will answer you and tell you great and unsearchable things you do not know."

Jeremiah 33:3

I shutter to think what the Lord has in store...:)

Here is my address in Matamoros:

Adventures in Missions
C/O: Brittany Priess
PO Box 130

Los Indios, TX 78567

Time to Mexigo-go!

Sat, 19 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

So, friends and family on Monday morning I will be on my way to the Atlanta airport to hop on a plane Harlingen Texas and then will be driving over the border to Matamoros Mexico. My time in Gainesville has been a great time of refreshing fun and a time of being poured into by my community here. Speaking of my community here I would like to use this blog as an opportunity to introduce you all to the 5 other leaders I will be leading with as well as 2 amazing "bosses." Okay first up is...

Becca! Oh Becca, she's from Arkansas and she's awesome. She has lead trips with AIM before and actually lead a trip to Jeffreys Bay South Africa over the summer so it's great to get to talk to her about it and share stories. Over the short time I have known her I have seen her heart for the oppressed and overlooked people all over the world, including America. She inspires me to seek justice, and to seek the Lords heart in that.

This is Jesse, he's funnnnnny! This is a picture from when we were playing putt-putt after camping. Jesse has a huge heart for discipleship and for bringing truth to the light in students lives. He has a great passion for the Lord and a great passion to fight evil and stand up for those who can't. He encourages me to seek the Lords heart for descsipleship for all of the students we lead.

Tana Turner! She's great; she is such an encouragement to me all the time. Life and truth flow out of this girl, she did the World Race and has since lead trips with AIM. She has such a compassionate heart and is so easy to talk to; I can't wait to see how the Lord is going to use her in Mexico. She inspires me to to seek people out, and get to know people on deeper levels.

Mr. Blair Nightingale, he did FYM with me and went to Swaziland the second semester. He is so fun to talk with about anything, His knowledge and love of the Lord and the Word is inspiring to me. The Lord is using his story to reach out to His people, and it's awesome to see the Lord work through him. He encourages me to dig into the Word and think about how is applies to me now, today.

Katie Katie bo batie fa-nanna-nanna-fo fatie KATIE!! She is so fun and she has such a heart for the students we lead. Homegirl is never afraid to speak the truth in love, and above all seeks to please the Lord. She has a passion for children and I can't wait to see how the Lord is going to use that in Mexico. She asks hard questions that make us all think and I love it. She inspires me to listen for the Lords voice and act.

And this is Tag Thompson the director of Real Life and Novas Project, my boss, teacher, and friend. Tag along with his wife Holly were some of my leaders in Jefferys Bay last year. Christ has given him a passion for the Kingdom of God and for teaching young generations of it's glory. Over the past year I have learned a great deal through him. He encourages me to seek out truth.

This is Kayla. She washed my hair in the crikkk. :D She's great. Kayla has been working with AIM for a while, her role now is "leader care" she does so much for us and for the whole program. The Lord is using her to be an amazing encouragement to so many leaders on the field, she is a GREAT encouragement to me already, she is such a blessing. Kayla inspires me to always keep my eyes on the Lord.

Okay there's the crew. Now when I mention them on here you can put a face with a name :) They are so amazing and I am extremely humbled to be a part of this group. I have a great deal to learn from all of them, the Lord has put an amazing group of people in my life, and I'm very thankful for each and every one of them. It's crazy moving to a new town with a whole new crop of people, but the Lord has been so good in it all. I have a great community back in Texas and feel so grateful to be part of one here.

I always thank God for you because of his grace given you in Christ Jesus. For in him you have been enriched in every way-in all your speaking and in all your knowledge- because our testimony about Christ was confirmed in you. Therefore you do not lack any spiritual gift as you eagerly wait for our Lord Jesus Christ to be revealed. He will keep you strong to the end, so that you will be blameless on the day of our Lord Jesus Christ. God, who has called you into fellowship with his Son Jesus Christ our Lord, is faithful. 1 Corinthians 1:4-9

Sep 8th

Tue, 8 Sep 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Okay so I have been in Gainesville for about a week now and loving it! The day after I arrived there was an office wide bowling event so that was a fun thing to do to get to know this group of people that God has me building community with.

The leaders for the Real Life trips going out arrived last Friday and we headed out to go camping. We headed up into the mountains for a two night campout complete with trees, prayer, and naturally...sessions on leading trips. It was a great time for me and the Lord helped me to realize my need for solitude.

He makes me lie down in green pastures,
he leads me beside quiet waters,

He restores my soul.
He guides me in paths of righteousness
for his name's sake.

Psalm 23:2-3

It was also a really fun time, Kayla washed her hair in the creek and then she helped me wash mine.

It was a good time!!! Now the students have arrived and it's game on, we are helping run this traing camp, with the cooking and what nog. Today I had my first bulk grocery store shopping experience, it made me appreciate my dad and Kim a whole lot more haha! It was a HOOT!

So, exactly a year ago today I was leaving home for the first time and coming here to training camp. It is so bizarre to be here again and to be on the other side of things. God is so good and has taken me to a place I never could have imagined. Thank you all so much for your support, please continue to pray for me and the leader team as we prepare to leave for Mexico in a couple of weeks, as well as lifting up this group of leaders and students about to head out from camp in the next couple of day.

Sorry this post was kind of all over the place, just wanted to give y'all and idea of what I've been up to...and it's kind of been all over the place. An amazing "all over the place"

Grace&Peace

Thoughts from the jail cell...the fluffy comfy jail cell

Sun, 23 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Alright. So a couple of days ago I went to the local jail to serve time to take care of a ticket that I didn't have the money to pay for (don't worry Grandma it was a minor traffic ticket, my inspection was out.) Anyway I was only there for two days, but there's not a lot to do but sleep and read a bible that's provided and...think.

I sat in the cell and read the Word, and slept and read more and slept and read and thought I started to get bored...PATHEDIC! God quickly brought to mind a book I have been reading called The Heavenly Man, it's about a man named Brother Yun who suffered greatly under the Chinese government for the sake of Christ. Now I was not in jail because of my faith, but being there made me realize how fortunate I am. Yes I was in jail, but I was not being held against my own will, I chose to sit my ticket out. I was not being tortured; I was being fed 3 meals a day and had a mattress to sleep on complete with two blankets. I had no right to be bored. Then I thought, "What if" What if I was put in prison against my own will and tortured and held from my family and friends for an unknown amount of time...all for the sake of Christ. Brutal thought I know, scary thought I know but this thought is not far from others reality.

NOVAs camp

Tue, 11 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

So the students left this morning from their training camp. It was a powerful week of breaking down walls and abandonment.

They arrived on Thursday evening and we met them at a homeless shelter called Eagles Nest in downtown Atlanta. After a bit of teaching we led them in 5 different team of 5-8 students each into the heart of downtown Atlanta. It was not until then that they realized how we would be spending our first night; on the streets on Atlanta. Each group had their own area of the city that they were to function in, and each team had two leaders with them. Our role was just to make sure they stayed safe, other than that they were on their own. This night was for them to surrender the trip to the Lord, to experience a bit clearer what it is to be solely dependent on the Lord, without food or shelter, even if only for a night.

Jesus replied, "Foxes have holes and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has no place to lay his head." Matthew 8:20

The team I was with was a group of four girl and four boys, they spent the first part of the night being very vulnerable with one another; sharing their fears, giving up expectations, and bringing things from darkness to light. One very important lesson they were able to learn was that while on the mission field we are not able to meet every persons felt needs. As homeless people came and asked us for money they had nothing to offer but prayer and encouragement. All of their money and cell phones had been left at the shelter, all they had to offer was themselves.

For whoever wants to save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for me will save it.

Luke 9:24

As the night went on the group decided they wanted to try and find a place to sleep, we were kicked out of two different sleeping places before we found a place to lay our heads for more than an hour. Personally, I only slept for about 15 minutes, 15 sweet minutes. We made it back to the shelter around 7:30AM the next morning and had some time to debrief and sleep before heading back to Gainesville around 10AM.

The rest of the week was full of teaching on identity and freedom in Christ. It was amazing to see the growth in these students, they are so passionate and hungry for Christ, I am blessed to be a able to minister to them.

Over the course of the week they learned about prophecy, and speaking life over one another. They shouted out the windows battle cries for their nations. They carried burdens in the form of heavy logs to a fire pit where they were burned forever. The week was full of the presence of the living God!

Commit your way to the LORD;
trust in him and he will do this:

He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn,

the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.

Psalm 37:5-6

Can I get an amen?

There's not much I'm certain of...

Tue, 4 Aug 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"There's not much I'm certain of, but I am certain of Christ"

Oswald Chambers

I find great comfort in this quote. Coming out of my FYM time in South Africa there is a whole lot I don't know. But I walk towards Christ, knowing He is calling my name.

I'm here in Gainesville Georgia and the past three days have been full of rich, thick teaching. It's been great. Tomorrow we will get last minute things done for the NOVAS students to arrive on Thursday. There are six of us coming onto staff with AIM and I'm so excited about this group, I'll post more about them later, just know that I'm surrounded by a great community here and the Lord is moving.

"I know the plans I have for you," Declares the Lord,

"plans to prosper you not harm you,

plans to give you hope and a future."

Jeremiah 29:11

I have read this verse so many times, seen it on many poster, tattoos, and bumper stickers. But just reading it tonight and realizing that the Lord declares something about me, about you.

His love is strong...

Fri, 20 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Heavenly Father
You always amaze me
Let your kingdom come
In my world and in my life
You give me the food I need
To live through the day
And forgive me as I forgive
The people that wronged me
Lead me far from temptation
Deliver me from the evil one

I look out the window
The birds are composing
Not a note is out of tune
Or out of place
I look at the meadow
And stare at the flowers
Better dressed than any girl
On her wedding day

So why do I worry?
Why do I freak out?
God knows what I need
You know what I need

Your love is
Your love is
Your love is strong

The kingdom of the heavens
Is now advancing
Invade my heart
Invade this broken town
The kingdom of the heavens
Is buried treasure
Will you sell yourself
To buy the one you've found?

Two things you told me
That you are strong
And you love me
Yes, you love me

Our God in heaven
Hallowed be
Thy name above all names
Your kingdom come
Your will be done
On earth as it is in heaven
Give us today our daily bread
Forgive us wicked sinners
Lead us far away from our vices

And deliver us from these prisons

My friend Lucia had her baby! YAY!

Maybe I'm crazy, maybe I'm crazy...probably

Fri, 13 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

"Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

before you were born I set you apart;

I appointed you as a prophet to the nations."

Jeremiah 1:5

Okay let me just say something...the creator of the universe set me apart...set you apart...WHAT!!! Listen...that's dang tyte! Not only that we are set apart but He knew us before He formed us in our mothers womb! He has created us all for specific purposes and all of that was planned out before I even came into existence. I realize this seems a bit obvious but it blows my mind how much God loves me and takes time to care about my life now, but to think that before I was even made God thought about making me...and He chose to make me...God chose to make you!

"This is the God we serve; the God who knew us before He made us.

The God who promises to remain with us and rescue us.

The God who loves us and longs for us to love Him.

So why when we constantly and are so unlovable and unloving,

does God persist in loving us?"

Francis Chan

DAAAAAAANG!!!! Brutal! These are two things that have been convicting me/blowing my mind this week. God is crazy. For real, it is beyond me why He continues to love me and pursue me. When Jesus walked this earth He love people, really loved people. And He loved everyone even those who were difficult to love and even those who did not love them back. I can only imagine comments from on-lookers, "What a fool to eat a meal with a woman like that!" "Who would He waste the time of day on that man?" "Those people are hopeless." "Why is He speaking to children, they cannot understand." People on the outside must have thought He was an idiot loving those He loved and as deeply as He did. I want to love as radically as that; to learn how to love by the one that did it the best.

These are just some things I have been thinking about this week and thought I would share them with y'all. :) I hope everyone had great weeks, I don't have any updates on my friend Maurice but I will let you know as soon as possible. God bless!

The bus stops here smell like urine and cigarette smoke

Fri, 6 Mar 2009 00:00:00 GMT

It is my human nature to want to see results, to feel accomplished. But when Jesus left this earth is left it hated. He had to trust that The Father had used His time here. Granted He's Jesus...but still. The clinic is a lot of just being. Just being with the workers. Just being with the patients. Just being available to help. Working there has helped me to learn the balance between just being, and pursuing something you know God has for you. A balance of both is crucial in ministry and in any kind of relationships. This week in the clinic I worked the front desk with the patients, talked with the patients and workers, swept and mopped, cleaned bathrooms, prayed with a guy for his foot and weighed pregnant women to help Sister Thelma with her work load.

I cannot do anything. God can do anything. How cool :D

You are the God who performs miracles; you display your power among the peoples. Psalm 77:14

I love you all!! Also I want to update everyone on my friend Maurice, he is going into surgery on Tuesday, so if you you could just keep him in your prayers that would be greatly appreciated. Thank you all for your prayers!! :D

Proverbs...holla back!

Fri, 27 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Do not set foot on the path of the wicked
or walk in the way of evil men.
Avoid it, do not travel on it;
turn from it and go on your way.

For they cannot sleep till they do evil;
they are robbed of slumber till they make someone fall.

Proverbs 4:14-16

How many times since I accepted Christ have I slept without sharing the love of Christ with someone?!? Are the wicked pursuing wickedness more than the righteous pursuing righteousness?

Just a thought from this week. Ministry is going great, one of my friends here just had her baby so that is exciting!! I love you all!

The Clinic

Fri, 20 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Hello all! Today I just want to write a blog showing some pictures of where I work and tells some of the stories that go along with the place that has won my heart. Ladies and Gents, this is the Pellsrus Clinic...

This is the tea/break room. It is in this room that the Lord has opened many doors to get to know the workers and volenteers. Tears, laughter, dancing, and tea are all memories that I will forever affiliate with this room.

This my friends is the waiting room. This area is generaly packed from wall to wall with patients waiting to see one of the 3 over worked nurses. I have met many people in this area. Sometimes they talked with me, other times we sat in awkward silence, but at least they weren't waiting alone.

Oh this room!! Haha!! This is one of the rooms where the nurses see patients. In this room I learned how to give shots in bum. The Lord has given many opprotunities to learn new things. The nurses work so hard in these rooms and I have leared so much from them.

This is the so called "emergency room" but as you can tell it is very small and not a lot equipped to handle some of the emergencies it has seen. Children have been born in the room, people have died in this room, wounds have been bandaged. I will never forget praying with a womans family as they sat with their mother as she slipped into acoma. You can feel the heaviness when you walk into this room, we pray life over it.

This room has a very special place in my heart. This is the TB waiting area. It was in this area that God put a woman in my path that was in great need of prayer. She is a believer but as we spoke she shared with me that she was feeling bound by things in her life and is was at the table on the right that she was set free! When we were done praying she said "God sent you here to meet me". There has been healing, maybe not physical healing but an eternal healing amen!

Well that's a bit about the clinic, I hope that gives you all a little bit more of an idea of what God is doing here. I have a prayer request also if you don't mind...I have a friend Maurice here, he is a car guard, we pass him everyday going to the clinic and coming back and we have become very good friends with him. (I would go as far to say he has become my best south african friend here) He is crazy and has a crazy love for the Lord to match. Anyway he is sick with cancer and will be going into have some lazer surgery in about a month. If you could just pray that he would keep his hopes high and keep his eyes fixed on the Lord through all of this. We trust that the Lord is going to do a great work in his life through this. If you could just remember him in your prayers I would greatly appriciate it and I know he would as well.

I miss you all tons and you are all in my prayers :) God bless!

Mini

Fri, 13 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

We tucked Mini into her hospital bed last Thursday afternoon, we visited with her a bit, prayed with her, then left her to get some rest. Monday morning I called the hospital to see if Andrea and I could go visit her again. The woman simply said, "That woman died this morning around 5:30am". They couldn't give me any more information because I'm not family.

My breathe was gone. I thought my heart was going to jump out of my chest. This hurts. When I opened up my heart to Mini I knew she was sick. Yes I knew she would eventually die. But we will all eventually die. However we will not all leave behind 4 children. 4 more kids orphaned due to HIV/AIDs, thank God for willing grandmothers. I thank God that we had the opportunity to pour into her life, but more than that I thank God for the courage to do so. Mini may have died but I will never forget her and what she meant to me.

When God created humans, when He formed us, He did not create us to hear "your friend is dead" or "your mom died." In Gods original plan there was no death. Cancer and HIV were not in the Garden of Eden. He did not create us for this kind of pain. But thank God we can rest in Him, thank God that I can cry out to a God who's ear is not to dull to hear and arms are not too short to save. the only way I am able to love is by the grace and strength of the Lord.

"My sacrifice, O God is a
broken spirit;
a broken and contrite

heart. Psalm 51:17

The hope Jesus brings, thank you Jesus Mini was a believer and is just as God intended her to be. Well and living eternally with Him.

YEBO GOGO!!

Sat, 7 Feb 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is a random advertisement in Africa. "Yebo" means yes and "gogo" is what they call grandmas here. So I decided that when I'm a grandma I want to be Gogo Bobo! Anyway that's my story :)

This is the team that God put together for J-Bay this semester we are 10 strong with 2 fearless learders!! We are and all girl team and we're pumped to see what God is going to do with that. Anyway I just wanted to let everyone know a bit about the team

These are my leaders Aaryn and Amber I love them

I hope you all have a great week, this week was good. Please continue to pray for J-Bay, the clinic, and our team.

Love you all

The heart of a whore, faith like a child.

Fri, 30 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

Lord, give me the heart of a
whore.
The faith and trust of a
child.
Dependent and expectant of You
alone.
Let my body be just that, a
body.
A body to go where you send
always.
My spirit I like to think is willing...
but.
My flesh I think is what's holding me back...
but.
How hard am I really trying?!?
Do I live in the day that is here
now?
A whore washed your feet
God.
Gave everything she had, all her precious perfume.
Along with ratty tainted hair
Washed YOUR feet.
I deserve nothing you
give.
No place in Heaven, no spot in Your
heart.
Yet still You let me serve you.
Allowing me to love the best I can.
Letting me wash Your feet.
With my knotted dirty hair.
Lord, give me the heart of a
whore.
The faith and trust of a
child.
As a child knows that it will be provided for.
With an imagination full of
faith.
Untainted trust with no reason to not
believe.
A devotion and dependence on
You.
Lord, give me the heart of a whore.

The faith and trust of a child.

I hope and pray that every morning I will be reminded of my NEED for Christ. That I may go into the clinic with the same passion the Samaritan woman had as she ran into town after finding the living water and with that finding life and TRUTH!

I also have a prayer request...if you could be praying for the clinic. The clinic has a very special place in my heart and if you could all just be praying that the joy of the Lord would shine out the darkness of illness there and that His truth would resonate in the lives of these people louder than the lies. Thank you all for your support and prayers. This trip has a short 105 days left, I will be coming home tired but the Lord has not given up on J-Bay so we will continue to seek His heart for this place and these people everyday. I thank God for His plan and for all He is!

Nothing like the African sky

Sat, 10 Jan 2009 00:00:00 GMT

This is the story of how we begin to remember
This is the powerful pulsing of love in the vein
After the dream of falling and calling your name out
These are the roots of rhythm
And the roots of rhythm remain

And she walked the length of her days

Under African skies

In the morning, O LORD, you hear my voice; in the morning I lay my requests before you and wait

in expectation. Psalm 5:3

Good ol' Paul Simon. So on Monday Andrea and I head back to the clinic full time, I can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for these last four months. Even more than that I can't believe that I only have 4 months left here. 4 months left with this team. 4 months left with the clinic. 4 months left with this sky.

God can do a lot in 4 months. Game on, buckle up, bring it on! :)

I have a confession to make...

Sat, 27 Dec 2008 00:00:00 GMT

This is a pictures of a real sign posted outside of a restaurantaunt here in town. I took it. I am blogging about this only to show that injustice is very real, and is something to be raged against. I know some of the street kids that this sign references and I happen to think they are good boys who deserve a chance. God had created us ALL and His son has died for us ALL. Not just the rich not just the neat or well mannered, the poor and the messy and those of us who may be a bit more difficult to handle. He has given all of us a chance and no one has any right to take that away from anyone. It is not my place or the place of the people who made this signs place to define what "productive useful citizen" even is. Rather than not giving the poor food or money, and rather than giving them food or money think to talk to them. Give of our time and of our spirits, as God fills us let us pour back on people. Learn their stories and about their lives, their needs and then pray about how we can meet those needs. It is easy to throw bread and money at people. I am learning to throw my heart and soul.

"Keep falsehood and lies far from me; give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread." Proverbs 30:8

"Jesus stood and said"If anyone is thirsty, let him come to me and drink. Whoever believes in me, as the Scripture has said, streams of living water will flow from within him." " John 7:37-38

"What therefore is the task of the preacher(or the church) today?

Shall I answer: "Faith, hope and love?"

That sounds beautiful.

But I would say- Courage.

No, that is not challenging enough to be the whole truth.

Our task is recklessness.

For what we Christians lack is not psychology or literature,

we lack a holy rage.

The recklessness that comes from the knowledge of God and humanity.

The ability to rage when justice lies prostrate on the streets...

and when the lie rages against the ravaging of God's earth,

and the destruction of God's world.

To rage when little children must die of hunger,

when the tables of the rich are sagging with food.

To rage at the senselessness of killing so many,

and against the madness of militaries.

To rage at the lie that calls the threat of death and the strategy of destruction- Peace.

To rage against complacency.

To restlessly seek recklessness that will challenge and seek to change human history until it conforms with the norms of the Kingdom of God.

And remember the signs of the church have always been-

the Lion, the Lamb, the Dove, and the Fish... but never the chameleon.

A quote by Kaj Munk

PS Merry Christmas :)