Destiny By Design...

"DREAM BIGGGG! FIND YOUR DESTINY IN CHRIST!!!"

These words were spoken to me and the rest of my class a lot this week....a new passion for my destiny and dreams has been awoke this past week...week 7 of my DTS here in Kona.

This weeks speaker has been Gwen Bergquist and her topic was Destiny by Design. As a class we went through a work book along with her lecture, that helped us pull out our dreams and destinies in Christ. Gwen challenged us to dig deep, remember what we wanted to be as a kid, and to act on that. For me, it was a really fun and exciting week...not only discovering my dreams again and having the desire to pursue them, but also figuring out my talents and gifts through God. In short...I now have an idea what I'm gonna be doing when I get done here...and can't wait. :)

TEAM BONDING!!
On Monday this last week myself and my Virgin Islands outreach team had a bonfire!! We drove further up on the island so it was a little bit cooler (yes!! cool air!!) to a location owned by YWAM. We then proceeded to have a bonfire, hotdogs, and s'mores that was also accompanied with good fellowship. I love my team so much already and can't wait to be working with them on outreach! Please enjoy the couple of photos I have selected from our little bonfire....

Our Bonfire. :)

Mindy enjoying her hotdog!! :D

Leah and her yummy s'more

As the time here in Kona progresses, my outreach time comes sooner and the business of life continues I find myself longing for some quiet "getaway" time...There is a nice little library here on campus that I have discovered and was quick to find a couple of good books to read. :) Francine Rivers, one of my favorite authors, has been good company on some of these long and dreary days (I'm sure my Mommy appreciates this) as well as beginning to listen to some holiday music. Thanksgiving is QUICKLY approaching...only 5 days ahead...and shortly after I'll be off to the Virgin Islands and then Christmas will be here as well. My roommates and I are going to try our best to celebrate these special holidays together and keep the festivities going on even far away from our families. One of these ways is to walk around Target or Wal-mart in the holiday isles and sing along (loudly of course) with the Christmas music. :) ahhhhhh.....the smell of fake pine trees...

Enjoying a good book :)

We've had some dreary days as of late...

Dreaming of a white Christmas!!! Mindy, Madisen and Racheal

A couple of prayer requests if you have the time :)

1. That I will continue to be focused on God's word and what He has for me while I'm here in this DTS.

2. That I will get the rest of my outreach fees and money for my return ticket home when I need it. My outreach fees are due this Wednesday the 23rd. God is my every provider.

3. That my outreach team will continue to bond and become one powerful unit for Christ in the Virgin Islands!

Until next time....peace

Week 6 in Hawai'i!!!

Can I just say, oh my gosh....it's been 6 weeks, which means I leave in 4 weeks for my outreach to the U.S. Virgin Islands. craaaaaaazy.

This week began with a hang-out session with my outreach group which was a lot of fun. We went to our leader's (Josh and Melissa) house and played some games...good bonding time to be sure....we also found out our exact dates for outreach!! Drumroll please... We will be leaving the night of December 14th and return to the Hawai'ian islands on March 3rd. Then I will be leaving on March 9th for HOME!! I'm getting more and more excited!! 4 weeks and I'll be on outreach in the Virgin Islands!!! I can't wait.....also a small side note...we've been told that FAMILY and FRIENDS are WELCOME to VISIT us there on the island of St. Croix! Sooooooooo if any of y'all want to escape the cold winter feel free to come visit me and help serve in the community with me! :D In other words. PLEASE COME

Two of my team members, Hannah and Mindy, in the back of Josh and Melissa's truck...hair "blowing" in the wind!! :)

Mine and Leah's hair!!

All of us lovely ladies on team U.S Virgin Islands!!

This week's topic has been on relationships taught by Faith Dutton. I'm gonna be honest....when I found out the topic for this week I was quick to roll my eyes, sigh and whine about "another relationship talk"....after many years in youth groups, being a youth group leader and small group leader, I'm sure you can imagine my thought process of being overwhelmed with relationship talks and subjects....but I was quick to change my thought process as Faith began to speak. She began with saying...if you want to find "the one" you need to become "the one"...that spoke volumes to me. The week continued with this pattern of really dealing with my own "problems" and examining myself and my relationship with God. Faith really challenged me to really look at my friendships and set up healthy boundaries within them. It also challenged me to really be a servant in my relationship with Peter and consider him first before myself...to not be selfish and prideful. To not expect perfection or judge quickly but to respect and honor him for who he is. :) After this week I now have a whole NEW outlook on relationships and what they mean...starting first with me and God...then moving on to all other relationships. Because HE is ultimately my first and true love. :)

I heart sunsets :)

This Friday was a fun day...first, I got a chance to play piano in our student led worship in my Compassionate classroom which was a lot of fun. Secondly, we had a "wacky tacky" day...to which I could dress however I chose (modestly of course) in a wacky way...it was a blast. The entire class was very creative including my roomies who are in class with me. Please enjoy the photos bellow. :)

My "wacky tacky" outfit. Hott...I know

Gabby, Racheal and I...sexy beasts we are. :)

Friday also concluded with some exciting events....I ate my first yummy, juicy, big, burger since being here!! To some of y'all it may not seem like a big deal at all..but to me it is. Real food...not cafeteria food. Real meat...not "whatever that looks like is what you make it" meat. so good. Anywho, I went with my roomies Staci and Kathryn who also appreciated this fine food. Don't judge. :)

Kathryn and I...I'm the mermaid, Kathryn is the turtle... :)

As thanksgiving approaches I find reality hitting me hard in the chest...I won't be home for it. I also just missed my bro John's 21st birthday...this is still hard for me. I'm continually missing my family, Peter and friends. One of my best friends Laura, who happens to be a missionary in Nicaragua, was also back in Nebraska for a weekend...but I was not there to see her...although I did get to talk to her. :) I am so thankful for the smart peeps out there who invented skype, facetime and such because I still get to see faces and talk. But God is really working on my heart in this area as well. He's been telling me to lean and depend on the family He has given me here in Kona...to stop complaining and accept this wonderful family he's placed in my life for 6 months. If I would just open my eyes and look around I have another "father and mother" in my school leaders, a ton of "sisters and brothers" as well as many new friends...including my wonderful roommates. God is my every present help in time of need, my comforter and lover of my soul. This I cling to each day I as I miss each and every one of you amazing people in my life. :) Miss you all!

Keeping real in Kona, Hawai'i...

One month down...

Wow it is hard to believe that I have been here for over a month now!! Time is going by so much faster the longer I am here it seems. 5 weeks down and I'm about to start my 6th week here at YWAM...CRAZY!! I thank God the time is going faster...although sometimes it feels like one week is one looooooooong day and each week is one loooooooong month, it is going faster.

Our speaker this week was Matt Rawlings and he spoke on the Fear of God. He also touched on God being in total control of our lives....in every aspect our lives. Matt did an excellent job of showing how BIG and how GOOD God is and how small and insignificant we are compared to Him. He used examples of the galaxies and how amazing stars and galaxies are and how small the earth is compared to all of them...thus we are small and insignificant...a truly humbling topic.

Since Monday was halloween my class had the opportunity to take part in participating in a free children's event! It was a lot of fun. The theme was based on the game "Candyland" and had booths with games and candy...which I helped at. We also (of course) dressed up as well...Enjoy the pictures of our fun night!

Me as a Hula girl!

Roommates unite! Gabby as Belle from Beauty and the Beast,  Me, Madisen as Tigerlilly from PeterPan, and Racheal as a nerd. :)

Racheal  and I!

Myself and my friend Mina from Egypt being Moses.

This week we also got the chance to celebrate the birthday of my amazing roommate Kathryn!! We gave her a lovely card and chocolate then we all dressed up and went out to dinner that night down town! I love her so much and loved being a part of her special day! :)

Dressed up and ready to go to dinner!

Room #232..represent!

Madisen and Kathryn...

The lovely birthday girl!! We totally told our waiter about her birthday and they proceeded to sing to her a nice, embarrassing, song and she also got this yummy desert!

"Life is like a box of chocolates"...outside of Bubba Gump

Just chillin'!

Getting ready to go have another meeting with my U.S. Virgin Islands outreach team tonight! But first....off to play some basketball with Racheal now. Aloha.