Saturday, May 18, 2013

A day in the life

Aloha everyone who stumbled upon my blog,

This past month almost since I last updated has been mind blowing, God continually proves himself faithful and that He is good, no matter what.

Some of you probably look at my social networking sites and probably think I'm on some extended vacation, oh that would be awesome right? I just get to do the Lords work in the beautiful island of Hawaii. DTS (discipleship training school) isn't just an extended summer youth camp. Here is a website of more information on the purpose of a DTS http://www.ywamdtscentre.com/dts/index.htm

Some of you are probably wondering what YWAM is, and considering this isn't just some part of a list of my life to cross off or just some 2 year commitment I should tell you more about this crazy life I live! 

Youth With A Mission is an international volunteer movement of Christians from many backgrounds, cultures and Christian traditions, dedicated to serving Jesus throughout the world. Also known as YWAM (pronounced "WHY-wham"), our purpose is simply to know God and to make Him known.
When YWAM began in 1960, our main focus was giving young people opportunities to demonstrate the love of Jesus to the whole world, according to His command in Mark 16:15. Today, we still focus on youth, but we have members (known as “YWAMers”) of almost every age and many of our short-term efforts have grown into long-term endeavors that have impacted lives and nations.
YWAM has a decentralized structure that encourages new vision and the exploration of new ways to change lives through training, convey the message of the gospel and care for those in need. We are currently operating in more than 1000 locations in over 180 countries, with a staff of over 18,000.

Anyway, I'm out here in Honolulu serving Jesus and serving others, what we as Christians are called to do! 

I don't want this blog post to bore you or go on forever but I have a couple highlights and stories from this past month! 

  • The other day we were doing market place evangelism (what you can do anywhere) a student and I got to talk to this girl who works at the McDonald's and built a relationship with her, then we got to pray for her! It's so awesome that we can take things we learn from church, lecture, the bible and apply them in our daily life! 
  • Last Friday down in China town we get to walk around and share the gospel with homeless people, just sitting with them sometimes is all they need, just to be heard, to love the one right in front of you, that's what Jesus demands of us. 
  • Highlight: getting to be a part of watching the DTS students find their identity in Christ, hearing the voice of God, learning to walk in authority and just all the joys that come with living in community. 
I truly love my life, I love where Jesus called me, I love what He called me to do. God speaks to all of us, seek Him today, ask Him, Jesus, what do you say about my life? What do you want me to do today to glorify You? 

Plans thus far: right now a DTS is going on, (lecture phase) and July 1st they leave for Bangladesh and since I am support staff I will be here, my summer plans are up in the air so far but I know for sure September I will be DTS staffing and leading an outreach team by December!! Thank you again for all your support and prayers, means everything to me. 

Also, if you are ever on the island of Oahu let me know and I would love to hangout with you! I love visitors and words of encouragement :)

Daughter of The King

Sunday, April 28, 2013

I am a daughter of the King


Hello, everyone who is reading this post. I swear I start every post with an apology of not keeping you updated, well good news for everything this quarter as staff I have written down some goals and habits I want to form. Good habits! Good news! Here they are;


in·ten·tion·al  

/inˈtenCHənl/
Adjective
Done on purpose; deliberate.

I want to be intentional in all things I do, my relationship with Jesus, with other staff, with students, with people not on this island, I want to be in communication with the people I love everywhere. 

Well, that is the main good habit I want to form, when I figure out the rest I will let you know.

The relationships we desire with Jesus after this quarter  


PERSONAL UPDATE: 

This last week was some what intense, I guess this is my blog so I can write whatever I want in it, so here I go..here is my heart. Not too long ago my boyfriend and I broke up, tears yes, lots of cookies yes, sad music yes, getting closer to Jesus YES. The last part I shall elaborate on. Lately I have been feeling so insecure in all aspects of my life, which sucks but it's a good thing because that gave me the opportunity to give ALL my insecurities to Jesus this last week. I said, "Jesus, you are so perfect, I am not. Jesus, you are mighty, I am not. Jesus you love me when I don't love me. Jesus you heal me, I cannot." Long story short Jesus is healing my heart and taking me on a journey with Him, He is showing me things that I couldn't see before. This last week we learned about the character and nature of God. Blown away by God yet again. This will be a weekly thing I can already tell. He is opening up my heart to love Him more. 

Would You open up eyes, so I can see
Would You open up my ears, so I can hear
Would You open up my mind, so I can know
Would You open up my heart, so could love You more
I want to serve You, my God
I want to give everything
{Jesus is reminding me that I have value, I have purpose, I am a daughter of the King.}

To choose joy is a daily thing. God;s joy is unimaginably powerful. He is God. When he speaks galaxies come into being. Like, woah.


YWAM HONOLULU UPDATE:

My role as DTS staff this quarter is support staff for the outreach that the students will go on in 2 months, and the nation they are going to this summer is the beautiful Bangladesh! I can't wait til Jesus sends me somewhere again, soon my darling he says. 


“It may take place in a foreign land or it may take place in your backyard, but I believe that we were each created to change the world for someone. To serve someone. To love someone the way Christ first loved us, to spread His light. This is the dream, and it is possible.”  - Katie J. Davis

“I am blown away that my God, who could do this all by Himself, would choose to let me be a little part of it.” - Katie J. Davis

Here are some picture of my life over here on the island; 


“We are not called to be safe, we are simply promised that when we are in danger, God is right there with us. And there is no better place to be than in His hands.” -Katie J. Davis


Sister visit, live in the sunshine, swim in the sea, drink the wild air. - Ralph Waldo Emerson 




Friendship; beach; beauty; fellowship

Love,
daughter of the King

P.S- I love letters and such so here is my address if you feel so inclined to send me something :)



Saturday, April 13, 2013

WE ARE IN HAWAII !!

I sincerely apologize for not updating everyone sooner!

These past two weeks have been a huge transition time, growing time, learning time. I am so excited for this season and coming seasons of my life. Being DTS staff is such a privilege to me. I have the opportunity and the blessing to live in community with young people who are on fire for Jesus, and I get to disciple students and send them off to the nations and share the gospel! How lucky am I!? 



Thank you everyone back at home for all your support, I honestly could not have made it out here without your prayers and support. 

What have I been up to since I have been down here in Honolulu? Well, that is what this blog is all about.

Since I got here I have been prepping for the April DTS which actually officially started two days ago. We had a fantastic rain free beach day! This quarter we have 7 students, 5 girls and 2 guys, 4 girls as staff and 2 guys! This is my ohana {family} and I love them so much already! All of them!

Prior to the April quarter starting, as staff we did some staff training/bonding which was so awesome. I love my staff here, they are all beautiful, supportive and amazing. I can't wait to live life these next couple months with them. Establishing this place, YWAM Honolulu as my home is something I am really working on, knowing I am here for a good while is exciting but scary, so that is one of my prayer points, that I could settle in comfortably and really be seeking God in this season. 

Here are some pictures of my life; {ENJOY!}

{my beautiful staff team}


{my roommate, Yela}


{lover of the sea}


COME AS YOU ARE~ is the theme of April quarter, and the school verse is "He who calls you in faithful; he will surely do it. 1 Thessalonians 5:24"


Tomorrow, (Sunday) we are taking the students up to the beautiful North Shore for a school camping trip where we will have the first couple days of lecture on the beach! Cary Solima will be teaching on hearing the voice of God, I am insanely stoked to see the students come together and experience Jesus as a school. I am falling in love more and more with these students and Jesus. My prayer is that I see Jesus in all the students. 

"My heart will sing no other name, but Jesus." 

Friday, March 29, 2013

Drink the wild air

 8Den I hear my Boss tell,
“Who I can send?
Who goin go fo us?”
An I tell,
“Me, I can go,
Send me.”
{Dis, da Hawai`i Pidgin bible}




Tomorrow I board my flight back to where it all began, Oahu. The beautiful island where Jesus declared me worthy and more that enough. These last few months I have put 100's of hours into working and doing odd jobs to raise support, also a BIG HUGE thanks to my city, who has financially supported me so generously, I knew when I started this journey I couldn't do it alone so this is my thank you family and friends post for being here for me and keeping me somewhat sane. Don't worry I won't be gone too long, we can use computers to keep in touch and you can always send me letters. Keep reading my posts for updates and keep on shining! 

Blessings,
Allie 

Monday, March 18, 2013

Restless

Still my heart, hold me close
Let me hear, a still small voice
Let it grow, let it rise
Into a shout, into a cry


'Cause I know You're more than my salvation
Without you I am hopeless, tell me who You are
You are the keeper of my heart.




{small update}

It is now 3:41 in the morning and I am restlessly waiting to A go to work and B get home to take a nap. At the end of the week my church is having a youth conference (UG Conference) and I couldn't be more excited to see lives of young people devoted to Jesus and to worship with my brothers and sisters. Not this coming Friday but the next, (Good Friday) I will be having my going away party at Anthem coffee shop down in Tacoma, come by and say hello and hangout for a bit. The next day I hop on a plane God willing a flight opens up that day to Honolulu, Hi where I will be spending the next 2 years on and off.

{last full week at Starbucks}

{last time seeing snow for a while}

Also, this is super random but I forgot to share with you guys about how my funding has been going! Since you probably asked and I just forgot to share, here it is, about 2 weeks ago I made a slideshow of my experience in both Hawaii and Nepal and some man was so moved by it, I later got a notification that $500 was added to my paypal! And from then on the money started to pour in again! I just recently got back from a trip from my grandmas and she more than blessed me with funds and goodies! Every time I start to doubt God, He reveals Himself in the most powerful and beautiful ways in our lives. 

My son, keep my words and treasure up my commandments with you
bind them on your fingers, write them on the tablet of your heart
Proverbs 1&3


Blessings, Allie





Tuesday, March 5, 2013

Love will set me free

Hold fast my people and sing 
Through peace and through suffering 
All for the joy that it brings, to be free 
It's gonna cost us everything 
To follow one Lord and King 
True love endure everything 
To be free. 


"Hold fast like an anchor in the storm 
We will not be moved."


That was a lyric from one of my favorite songs, The Resistance by Josh Garrels. As most of you know I am leaving in 25 days, March 30th actually. But before I go here are some important dates. 

March 21-22nd is my churches United generation conference. {STOKED}




March 29th is my "grand send off" which involves all my awesome good looking family and friends showing up to Anthem coffee & tea located in Tacoma 



March 30 is my last day in Washington friends. 


March 31 is when I arrive in good ol Manoa Valley on the island of Oahu to start my 2 year commitment at YWAM Honolulu. Oh what joy it brings me just typing that.



 If you would like to chat or hangout before I leave, I would seriously love that! Please call me or text me!! (253) 709-7005 I couldn't imagine doing this without all my friends and family in the 253, you are all seriously so special and importnat to me!

Blessings,
Allie Metcalf