Week 3 in a blog post...

The sunsets continue to be gorgeous. :)

 Hmmmm....how to sum up this past week in one blog....there is really NO WAY, but I will try. First off here are a couple of pictures from my work duty and team. We are cleaning out the new YWAM buildings and currently clearing land for other buildings to be added in the future. I actually like this job a lot....I have been sweeping out the dirt in empty  new buildings this past week, as well as pulling and raking weeds. My work duty team is a lot of fun to work with, especially because there are a several different nationalities represented. I work with a couple of Canadians, Norwegians, several Koreans and a some from the United States, and I love them all! Learning to work together with some language barriers has been a challenge but is getting better...and I'm even learning some Korean in the process! :)

Here I am sweeping out the building!

Rachael cleaning...in shock I think... :)

Gyuho having a little too much fun cleaning :)

Hong-Jin sweeping up!



HUNGRY AND THIRSTY FOR HIS WORD!!!!
This entire week's lecture topic was on hearing the voice of God and understanding Him as our heavenly father and what that all means. This was taught by John Bills, an exccelent and wise man of God. I cannot put into words all that has been taught this week...it has been so amazing but yet overwhelming at the same time. To have someone come and speak on hearing God's voice in numerous ways, and then practicing that and living it out has been amazing. I was (and am) challenged to really focous on hearing God's voice...to put in an effort to really try to hear Him instead of ignoring or pushing it off as something else. John also spoke on how important it is to get into the word...not only just by reading it to myself but to others, out loud, and memorizing. This has been an ever constant topic in our classroom (something that has never been taught on so much before, I'm told) and has caused me to really sit down and focous on His word. Never before have I had such a HUNGER and THIRST for his word and time with Him!! It is amazing. I have had different small times in the past where I've gone through a hunger and thirst "phase" but never as this before. I am excited to see what happens as I dig into His word more. Also I am challenging myself to memorize a whole book of the Bible (!!!) perhaps Ephesians or 1 John...we shall see.




FAMILY TIME
Now that I have passed my 3 week mark of being gone away from my "home" it has marked the longest time I've ever been away from home on any kind of trip. Needless to say it has been hard. Besides the practical time difference where it makes it difficult to communicate with my family, there are also events that I'm beginning to miss. Last week was my Daddy's birthday, my sister Amy ran a marathon that I would have loved to be there for, and Amy also has decided to join the U.S. Air Force...and to which her swearing in ceremony was also this past week. The wonderfully amazing thing about technology is that we have web-cameras on almost anything now...including ipods, which my Mother has. :) So, I was able to witness Amy's swearing to the United States Air Force as well as talk to all of my family. In fact, there was also a family photo taken to which I was also in!! Please check out the photo bellow to understand what I mean... :) I love them all and am really missing them..as well as missing my wonderful boyfriend...I am so glad for this opportunity and what God has called me to do here for 6 months, but it can be so darn hard sometimes! In these time I wonder how true that phrase is "Distance makes the heart grow fonder"...and continue to hold on to God, that's for sure :)

The whole family here to witness this special occasion! I am smiling on the ipod that my Mother is holding in her hand... :)

Just a shout out pic for Peter and I :)


THE WEEKEND AND FREETIME
This entire week has been crazy with lectures and such (as always) but since Friday I have since taken a little time off and done a couple of things that include yummy food, and the beach. Always a good idea here in Hawai'i.

:)

Rachael at a nearby seaside restaurant.

The view from said restaurant :)

Rachael and I before going to the beach!

At the beach :)

Annnd Sunburn from the sun! Thanks Mommy for the aloe!! :)


As I continue to rest it up this weekend, to prepare for my 4th week here with YWAM, I will be also continuing to dig into the Word as well as working on memorization. I miss you all! 


P.S. I love getting mail....and love writing letters.... ;) here is my address if anyone is interested!
Melissa Birdsong/Compassion DTS
University of the Nations
75-5851 Kuakini Hwy. #432
Kailua Kona, HI 96740
USA