I'm Here!

First of all, I'm sorry for how long it took for me to post this next blog. We've just been really busy all day every day and its taken me several days just to type this haha. 

So last Saturday I finally made it here to the YWAM base in Ensenada, Mexico! So far I've met all of the staff running this DTS, moved into my apartment, made a lot of friends, and am just loving it down here. We started our classes Monday, and we've just been going over some basic orientation and guidelines for this base and the school we're all going through. The director of our DTS also talked to us about YWAM and its core beliefs and values. Their primary focus is to know God, share God, and learn to hear is voice. There are many focuses for this organization, but those are the values that got YWAM to where it is today.

Over the past 2 days we've been talking a lot about prayer and hearing God's voice. Something I've never been really good at doing. Our speaker today challenged us to set specific times to get away from everything and be with God to just talk and listen to him. Like I said, that's something I've always struggled to do. But she explained how when you get in the habit of meeting God and spending time with him at a specific time period every day, hearing his voice becomes second nature. My mom is the perfect example of this since she always wakes up way early to spend time with God. She's told me over the years about scripture in the Bible she was led to during these quiet times and about things she heard God tell her that she was able to put to use in her daily life. So I guess its about time I stop finding reasons and excuses for why I haven't been disciplined enough to spend time listening to God every day and start doing it. I know that once I get into the habit of it, these quiet times in the morning, night, or free time during the day will become times I really look forward to and get a lot out of.

Tonight we had our first worship night. It only lasted a little over an hour but it was amazing! It was more than the "basic" worship I was used to which was consisted of singing to God the whole time. There were people sharing with everyone things that God had put upon their hearts, prayer and worship in different languages, almost everyone on their face in surrender, people coming in from outside the worship hall saying that the presence of God was overwhelming in and around the building, and a lot of freaked out people who weren't used to any of that at all. The most amazing thing was to look around and see people of different races, nations, and backgrounds all worshiping and crying out to the same God. It was just awesome to be a part of that and some awesome healing took place in a lot of people's hearts tonight. Some of my friends who were also a little worried about how the rest of the DTS was going to be like left that time of worship hungry for more and with the assurance from God that this is exactly where he wants us all to be right now. Its a pretty amazing feeling.

San Diego

        So I've spent the past 3 days with my dad in San Diego. Here we surfed mission beach, toured a retired aircraft carrier, went down to do some shopping in Tijuana, and explored a lot of the downtown area and gaslamp district. Also, tonight I decided to try my hand a street performing. I went out on the corner of 5th and Broadway with my guitar, harmonica, and a tin cup. I was only out there for about 30 minutes but I made $2.73 and danced with an awesome stranger =) Today I also learned that almost all Mexican candy is coated in a spicy powder and tastes like all the contents from the bottom of a hamster cage blended together. Haha I'll be sure to put up pictures and videos of the trip soon. It's been an amazing trip and I can't imagine a better way to have spent the rest of my time here.

         For dinner today we met with an old friend, Sheril Brasher, to catch up and talk about the DTS I'm starting tomorrow. 4 years ago, Sheril went through a DTS in the same location as mine. Now she's a full time YWAM staff member working in San Diego. It's been really awesome to see how much her life has been changing after the DTS four years ago and how much she learned to trust in God in all aspects of her life. I'm so ready to finally go to Ensenada tomorrow and start this new chapter in my life. There are so many emotions that accompany the excitement and the time spent waiting since my acceptance into the school has been an emotional roller coaster. But I know that God has his hands on this upcoming school and this will be a life changing experience.

THANK YOU A2!!!!!!!!!!!

Yesterday at church I was commissioned by Pastor Chris and my A2 church family into the mission field and my journey into Ensenada. I want to thank everyone for their prayer, support, and encouragement I received during and after the service. I'm more pumped about going now than I ever have been!

Another thing I want to thank the body of A2 for is the financial support I received to help cover the cost of my outreach phase of my training. I was overwhelmed by how much love I felt from everyone and I can't really express how thankful I am to have been blessed so much by the people of A2.

Well...I'm really going to miss everyone, and its going to be hard being away from my church family on Sundays and Wednesdays. But I know that soon I will be worshiping and serving God with a whole new family from different states and countries. So I guess I'll end this by thanking everyone again for all of your support and prayer. I am very grateful and feel truly blessed to have you guys in my life!

Well im not there yet...

Well contrary to the title of this blog spot, I am not in Mexico yet. But I only have 3 days left in Birmingham! I've been spending a lot of time with friends and family that I won't be able to see for a while and getting gear and clothes together that I will have with me for the next 6 months. Basically just trying to make the most of the rest of my time here.

So I have been asked by a lot of people within the past few months why I want to go to go through YWAM in Mexico. To be honest, its been really hard to answer that question. Its best summed up by stories and experiences rather than personal thoughts or reasons. About 2 years ago I had the chance to go to the same YWAM base I will be heading to soon. There i went through a work camp and built a house for a small family, worked at an orphanage, and met many amazing people. The whole time I was also learning more and more about who God was and I got a glimpse of how fulfilling it was to live a humble life serving him in a distant mission field. The sense of purpose and significance I received from just that one week of service completely changed my life and left me wanting more. Also the people I met down there were in situations very similar to mine. A lot of the young adults in YWAM were not too sure what direction they wanted to go in life, but were serving God, growing closer to him, and trusting he would open some doors in their life and give them some direction. I feel like this is an opportunity for me to come to know God in a very real and dynamic way and get to know his plans and calling for my life.

Needless to say, living on the beach in a beautiful country away from many of the distractions and troubles we're faced with here will also be pretty awesome. As the day to leave draws nearer I just feel more ready and anxious about leaving. But I can't think of a better and more exciting way to start the next chapter of my life than the 6 months going through YWAM. I'll keep everyone updated on whats happening down there and thanks for reading!!!!