Wow, where do I even start.. It’s been a wild month! I arrived in Kona over a month ago now, without a sure ride from the airport or even a place to stay before i could check into my room at YWAM, and now I’m almost a month deep into lecture phase leading a room of 7 boys on my own, and an outreach team of 8 with my co-leader! It’s likely been the busiest, most demanding, responsive and capacity-building season i’ve ever had..
So before I even go on to tell you some of the details of life-updates and awesome things God is doing here, I just want to say thank you, from the bottom of my heart, thank you! Thank you for supporting me, thank you for reading, thank you for praying. You, my family in Christ, the living stones that make up the temple of God, I am so incredibly grateful for you. You mean the world to me and I absolutely could not do this without you..
I have been wanting to write an update for some time now, and I’m stoked to finally sit down and write something. In between contact calls, budget work and outreach planning, writing this has slipped between the cracks.. To start things off, things overall have been so good.. Especially when I think about all that God has done in my life to get me here, and everything He’s doing in me, growing me, stretching me, giving me opportunities and trusting me, it’s beautiful and only God can do it.. On the other hand, if I’m being honest, I’m a bit tired. I haven’t lived in the same place for more than three months in over a year, I have never had this level of leadership entrusted to me, and I’ve never had this much responsibility. I knew it would be a lot, but I just didn’t know what it would feel like..
With more capacity comes greater need to be filled up in that place of springs with the Lord, and with greater responsibility comes more weight to lay down at the feet of Jesus each day and make sure I’m not the one carrying it. I’ve learned the importance of getting away and prioritizing time with God everyday, at least an hour in the prayer room each day with no agenda, just listening to the Holy Spirit, being led by Him and sitting in His presence. Meditating on scripture, listening to worship music, getting on my face, praying. My need for Jesus has become so much more apparent.. This is the first real spiritual leadership role I’ve ever stepped into, and it’s showing me I need Jesus way more than I thought I did. Not even just my need for Him is growing, but the areas I’m realizing I need Him in.. I need that heavenly oil lubricating every area of my life! I’m no fun and no help without Jesus, sincerely. Im actually a bump on a log if im not getting filled up by God every day. That’s why He sent His Spirit!!!!! That’s why He gave us ACCESS to Him!!!! I’m a fool if I’m not making use of that extraordinary privilege. I’d be stripping the cross, and the work Jesus has done of its importance in tearing the veil and releasing the Spirit to fall on us.. We must lean in.
When I first got to Kona this year I thought I’d be co-leading a room of boys just like everyone else, until my other room leader and I noticed we had 8 beds and 7 students in the room.. Leaving only a bed for one of us. Not to worry though, I might be a first year staff and have never done this before, but I know a thing or two about roommates and sharing a space, thanks to my brother Pascal. I called a room meeting, hung up the american samoa flag depicting an eagle flying with a dagger and a torch in its claws, and ripped a speech about how we’re all soldiers in an army preparing to go out for battle, not against flesh and blood, but against powers and principalities in the air. We fight alongside the great victor, the Risen King, the Lord of all. That got the boys pretty stoked. We all shared our testimonies, got to know each other and prayed. It was a special time. I learned to love these boys, to get the Lord’s heart for them and cherish the quirky ways they are. It’s a cool little mixed buncha boys, and each one of them is going to do great things for the Kingdom of God.
About two weeks ago now we got our team students! My co-leader and I had been praying each morning for our team, for Turkey, for unity and for the right students to be put on the team. Specifically for each student on our team to have a heart for Turkey or be given one by God. To our joy, on outreach reveal night, we came to learn that each one of our students had a very specific heart for Turkey and some of them only received that the week prior! One of our students was set on going to Norway or New Zealand, but as soon as she saw Turkey was an option, she started crying even though she had never had a heart for Turkey before. We considered all of this as prayers answered and we praise God for it! He’s so intentional, we knew He had very specific students lined up for this team, and He did! Like I said, we’ve only had our team for about two weeks now, but we’re all growing into a sweet little family already. All of our students are engaged and want to soak up as much as they can before we launch into the nations for two months. We have 6 girls, 2 boys, and my co-leader and I. They already love us and want to spend as much time together as possible, it’s so sweet. We had our first prayer set in the prayer room last night after a monday night gathering. It was great seeing all of our team lifting up prayers, getting involved and interceding for a nation God cares so much about..
If you don’t know much about Turkey (Türkiye), well, you’re not alone.. Not a ton of people know the rich biblical history in this place, and neither did I before this! It’s technically in Europe, and Asia, and it’s also referred to as part of the middle east! It’s a major trendsetting nation to the middle east, and has influence to really all of these regions of the world. It’s central to some of the most populated regions of the world and the population of Istanbul reflects that, at over 15 million people just in the city limits! About 87.8 million people live in the nation itself, making it the 18th most populated country in the world.. Another wild fact is that two thirds of the New Testament were either written to or from modern day Turkey. Ephesians, Colossians, Galatians, 1 & 2 Peter, the seven churches in Revelation, that’s ALL in Turkey ( Asia Minor). This place is so special to the heart of God.. The origin of the Nicene creed, and really the birth place of the Church as we know it, is modern day Turkey. A place that used to be almost entirely Christian until the Ottoman empire took over and caused mass emigration and genocide and now the nation stands at over 99 percent Muslim. If this seems discouraging I understand, but know that this place is incredibly special to the Lord’s heart. He is already in the process of redeeming the nation. Gen-Z is forsaking Islam, they’re tired of empty religion. The Lord is priming this nation for redemption, to receive the Gospel and turn from heartless prayer to full life in Christ. This is one of the most important places in the birth place of the Church, and God will redeem it. I just love what He’s doing.
Staffing, leading a team, engaging my heart and my mind, learning to lead like Jesus led, serving and empowering His friends, and leaning into God. Serving by His strength.. it’s all been so beautiful and growth filled. I’m genuinely learning and growing more doing this than doing a DTS and I’m not surprised. Learning to do as He did, learning to be a disciple and then discipling. I’m seeing more and more why Jesus was often retreating to the quiet place with the Father, once his work was done in the crowds He retreated to be refilled by the Father. It is a template for us. In order to be like Jesus we need to be filled up by Him, retreat to Him, come and get strength from Him.
“whoever serves, as one who serves by the strength that God supplies—in order that in everything God may be glorified through Jesus Christ. To him belong glory and dominion forever and ever. Amen.”
1 Peter 4:11b
Another thing I’m relying on the Lord for is finances. I have paid off about $1500 of the $4000 total owed for outreach, thanks to your support, but I still need another $2,500 to pay off all of outreach. Something I didn’t expand on too much when I was home is that although I am technically “on staff” with YWAM, I’m not paid. It’s still a volunteer position just like every other position with YWAM. No one is paid by this organization, every one, even the founder, raises support and is fully supported by church, friends and family. That being said, any financial support you can contribute is greatly appreciated. Money goes a long way here. This outreach cost will cover flights to and from Turkey, housing, food and various ministry costs such as transportation while in the nation. I trust the Lord’s will in leading me here, and the great responsibility He’s entrusted to me, discipling a team, and sharing the Gospel with an unreached nation. I trust that with His sovereignty and abundance, He will cover this cost, and its light work for Him.
In all honesty, this line of work is challenging for me. I like to be self-reliant and provide for my own needs as much as I can. It’s hard for me to ask people for money and rely on support from the church as my main income. I had a chance to get some work in the summer, but for the majority of my needs, I’ve had to rely on my friends, family and brothers and sisters in Christ to fulfill the work I’m called to. Something that helps me though is remembering this is how every missionary gets income! They are all responsible for raising support, and their communities are responsible for supporting them! Every one of them in the world lives like this in some capacity, and I’m sure I’m not the only one who feels uncomfortable asking people for money. I choose to trust the Lord’s epic providence.
Would you be willing to partner with me in this?
Thank you for reading, I pray you have a beautiful day. God bless you <3
-sonblind
(click this to support directly through the YWAM site)
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