P.I.T. Crew

So here we are; all sixteen of us plus two little ones. We are the troops that God is sending out from San Jose, Costa Rica to fight for His name against the dark principalities of this world. We have shared many laughs, tears, and stories/testimonies. These are the many faces of which we both argue and pray with. Our needs are constantly being shared within the crew but at this time we would like to share on our behalf as well as theirs. All are experiencing financial difficulties regarding this outreach trip to Southeast Asia. Some have a fraction of the cost, some none, and others don't even have anyone they could ask. We have to raise $48,000 by the beginning of April. That's $3,000 per person. There are frantic sells of personal items, frozen flavor ice, fresh squeezed OJ, bake sells, and on and on. It's amazing to see how hard people are working and how pleased God must be. This is a small amount of revenue in comparison to what it will cost to travel to Asia. However, this is a good time because we are learning the principle that we do the possible and God does the impossible. Please pray for the "impossible" to happen!

On a side note there are a few things to tell you. Our team has been called the "PIT Crew" because we will be traveling to the Philippines, Indonesia, and Thailand. The Philippines has an unemployment rate of just 8% yet over 40% of the population is below the level of poverty. The culture is primarily made up of Roman Catholics, but the catholicism there has been transformed into one of idolotry which takes the focus away from Jesus. In the Philippines we will be carrying out mercy ministries such as building homes and other physical ways of helping the people and community in order to open hearts to share the gospel. On the other hand Thailand is predominately Buddhist. This religion makes up approximately 93% of the total population. The well-established YWAM bases here have given a list of over 170 different ministry opportunities. We will be able to minister in the prisons, and the sick in hospitals or any other way God leads us to build relationships and spread His word and love. Finally, of the three countries, Indonesia has been the most affected by natural disasters, possibly more than any other in the world. As many may know, they were greatly affected by the tsunami in December 2004, which left thousands homeless. Indonesia is still in need of much aid to recover from this dissaster. Besides natural dissasters, this country is made up of over 90% Muslims and is the home of the most extremist group of its type in the world. The Christians that have gone to help transform this country have been persecuted greatly. Many christians have become martyrs for their faith here due to a currupt and militant Muslim government. Here we will be joining YWAM teams to disciple and teach the local people about God and His love and truth. We also pray we can bring hope to the christians who live in fear of persecution.

The Father Heart of God

Our topic this week was the father heart of God. Our speaker was Jeff Pratt a YWAM base leader in Connecticut. He shared many heart wrenching stories with us about fathers and their compassionate love for their children. Lots of tears were shed..
Jeff's main point that he wanted us to understand was how much the Father cares about us. No matter what we do, no matter how far we run, "nothing can separate us from the love of God." At first all of his stories were very touching but I was having a hard time relating it to God because He is not a tangible being. All the stories were touching but I needed a personal revelation. Then as I prayed for God to reveal His love for me, and I couldn't feel anything. It was frustrating but I knew He would speak to me if I didnt give up. It wasn't until this morning that God truly impressed upon my heart how pleased He was that I wanted to know Him and he began to tell me how precious I am to Him and how I am his little princess. And the great thing is that we are all princes and princesses to God. We mean the world to Him. He wants us to be just as passionately in love with him as He is with us.

He also addressed how God's heart broke when He allowed His son to be crucified. Im sure that the pain was so much that He had to turn away. So how could God do this to Jesus if He love us so much? Because he knew the outcome of this pain was life for all those who were His children. So why does God allow such things to happen to us? He loves us doesn't He?? What good can come out of a loved one dying? What good can come out of disease and poverty? God's heart is broken for His children that are in pain. He doesn't desire for these bad things to happen to teach us lessons, although lessons can be learned, but sin has so corrupted this world, but God has given this world to satan until He returns. God has the victory but he wants us as christians to grow in faith from these trials and tribulations. He wants us to pray and interceed for others.He wants us to take our talents and giftings into all the world and heal and teach and restore. How much is one soul worth to you??
We need to be focused on what we can do for God not what He can do for us.
He loved us so much and now its our chance to show our gratitude.

Holy Spirit Week

Two weeks ago we had Stefan Hugo, the base director of Ywam Worcester, South Africa speak in regards to the Holy Spirit. All of us were extreamely anxious to start the week because we had heard stories from the past DTS's on the crazy things that happened when the overwhelming presence of God came into the room.

The first day we were to have teachings of the characteristics of the Holy Spirit. However right in the middle of the opening prayer, the presence of the Lord fell so heavily upon the room that many of us fell to the ground. It was genuine, none of the pushing people over stuff. When Stefan prayed for me I just felt such a pressure on me coming from above that I couldnt stand. I just layed there on the floor. I laughed and cried as I interceeded for people. It was totally not a part of the curriculum...

Then as the week continued Stefan shared with us story after story about how people had been led by the Holy Spirit to do certain things and the results were incredible. People ended up with last minute plane tickets, people let go of their most prized posessions and ended up with bigger and better things in return. It really showed me how much God honors those who seek to be in His will and listen to His guidance. So after this teaching Stefan left us with a task. We had the rest of the day to pray about what God wanted us to give, to someone else in the DTS. We all own stuff, but it was a way to shift things around so they were with the people God wanted them. The night of giving was incredible. The things that were given were so sentimental and there were many many tears. I myself was blessed beyond belief. I recieved a shirt, a ring, and apple, perfume, and an amazing camera. I desire so much to learn about photography and Jen gave me the most incredible 35mm camera that is to die for. The most amazing part was that she didnt even know that I love working with old cameras. wow, what a blessing. We cried for a really long time. :)

And that was only halfway through the week. On thursday night we were invited to join the night school. Man oh man the Holy Spirit sure did a whole lot that night. It began with a bunch of us girls laughing uncontrollably. we laughed together and could not stop. And then we began singing and praying in tongues. It was insane because the moment I tried to say something to someone, I could only speak in tongues. I could no longer speak English. So I just began to pray for people all around the room. As I began to pray for a woman from the night school in tongues, all the sudden she looks up at me and says, do you speak portuguese? I shook my head no. She told me then that I had been praying for her in perfect portuguese. For about 5 minutes i could only speak in portuguese. And after that I began speaking in French. We all have to admit that only God could do such things. It was an incredible evening that I will never forget. I have never felt so close to God in all my life. And im never going to let that feeling go....