My Journey

Outreach

2008-10-01T18:59:00.000-07:00

I'm tired. That's basically where the past two weeks have left me. After our two week boot camp I was already pretty exhausted but ready to go! Our first few weeks of outreach were packed. We had at least 2-3 shows per weeks with at least 2 school assemblies per day. God has been doing some crazy things and really showing me new sides of Himself and what He has for me. My video testimony was played at our first show and I was asked to give a live testimony right after it. So that is how it has been going for all of our shows. It was pretty crazy at first, seeing my life being displayed in front of thousands of people and then getting up and speaking in front of them as well. But God has used my testimony for His glory and for that I am so humbled and continually thankful. I am always so amazed that God has chosen me for this! What a crazy experience...

Through all this I have really been asking for God's heart for the people. The first week of outreach He gave it to me. I cried almost non stop for about 2 or 3 days. At first I was confused as to what was going on, but after praying and having other people pray for me, I realized God was giving me His heart for the lost. He weeps over His lost children. It literally breaks His heart to see how lost so many people are. He is asking us, will we cry with Him?

Our second week of shows was just as intense. We went to a city called Troy which was absolutely insane. We were told from the beginning that not many of the churches were on board with what we were doing and that even the ones who were were not that excited. We were also told that there was a lot of witchcraft and a ton of spiritual warfare in the area. As soon as we arrived I knew something was weird. I had taken a nap on the drive to the venue and I woke up as soon as we entered the city. As soon as I opened my eyes I felt crabby and a little angry. This was completely opposite of the way I had felt that morning before we left. Through a couple things that were said to me that day my mood got worse. I couldn't stop crying and nothing inside me felt right. I had people pray for me but nothing seemed to be changing. Before every show we have prayer and worship. During this time I was trying to get my heart right and give everything I was feeling to God since I was going to be speaking that night. As prayer and worship began to end I began to feel like I couldn't breathe and I started shaking. My boyfriend came up and began to pray for me and a collapsed with a huge fear. I began crying uncontrollably and felt so confused and afraid. I was interceding on behalf of the people at our show. These were the things and the spirits that were alive in this building and in these people. I began praying against these feelings and was able to speak against them as I shared my testimony. It was a crazy night! I believe God is taking me to new places with Him and I believe intercession is one of them. Thank you Jesus that you care that much for the lost!

Throughout all the shows and school assemblies I have had lots of opportunities to speak with girls and share not only my testimony but the gospel as well. It has been awesome to speak in to girls lives and share the power and the love of Jesus with them. God is breaking and restoring hearts all over the place! We have seen so many more miracles here in Ohio than most US tours. God is really showing up and doing some powerful things. I am so blessed to be here. Well, I am still tired and am sick as well, so its off to bed!

BOOTCAMP

2008-08-31T14:32:00.000-07:00

Today is day 2 of boot camp, and yes, my body hurts. We left Kansas City at 5am on friday morning and drove around 12 hours to a small town north of Dayton, called Lewiston. We are staying in an old school that was converted into a youth retreat center. It seriously is in the middle of nowhere! The town consists of a few houses and farms...not even a Wal Mart! :) Our team will be staying here training for two weeks as well as another group that travels with Impact World Tour, Island Breeze. It is just dancers that are here with our team, the skaters and DJ will be arriving next week.

We begin dance training at 9 every morning, so I have been trying to get up around seven so I can spend some time in God's Word. We then dance from 9-5 with a lunch break. After that we shower and eat dinner. We have different people from churches around the area cooking for us, which is awesome! After dinner, we usually have a teaching time or prayer and worship time. After that, hang out for a little and then off to bed! I am staying in a room with all the girls and lots of bunk beds! I have been helping teach a few of the dances, which has been really fun. We are also changing our program so we have been learning new choreography as well.

After the two weeks of training all 3 full teams of Impact World Tour will be arriving for our Encounter God weekend. This is an intense few days of prayer, worship, intercession, teaching, and anything else God decides to do! It is a time to really prepare our hearts for outreach and ministry. It is always an awesome time and God definitely shows up and gets us ready. God has been teaching me tons already, sometimes its like a system overload! :) I LOVE learning though and I have come to a point of desperation for God and knowing Him more. And as promised, when we seek Him, we will find Him when we seek Him with all our heart. He has really shown His faithfulness in meeting me in the secret place.

It's crazy to think that I have only been here two days, it already seems we have done so much! I am so excited for the outreach to start. I waited a long time for this, and now I am here! Our team has really been challenged first by God, and then by each other, to not settle for what is "normal" in GX, but to break out of the mold and see what God can really do. We are excited to pursue Him with everything and see where He takes us. I know it will be crazy! Off to dinner now....

10 hour van ride ahead....

2008-08-27T11:27:00.000-07:00

I am sitting in my room in Kansas City wondering where I even begin. I have plastic bags filled with supplies, clean and dirty laundry, a half packed suitcase, and an overloaded brain. It seems like it took forever for this outreach to come, and now that I am leaving in 2 days it seems like I don't have enough time! I guess that's what they call procrastination...

As each day brings me closer and closer to beginning God's work in Ohio, the attack from the enemy seems to be increasing. Sometimes it's in big ways and sometimes its as small as my cell phone breaking a few days before I am leaving. But through each situation God has continued to show that He is greater, He is more powerful, He is faithful, and He is MY God. He has reminded me that He really does work all things together for good for those who love Him and keep His commands. Sometimes it saddens me to think how often I have to be reminded of the same things, but His patience never wears thin and His love still abounds still more and more for me!

When I brought my cell phone in to get fixed they said it would take 3 days for it to be sent to me...which didn't work because I was leaving in 3 days. When I called the insurance company they told me it would get here the next day! This definitely took some stress away from me...thank you Jesus! God has also been faithful with my finances. Money has definitely been a little tight and I tried my hardest to have faith and really believe that God would provide, but sometimes I got a little freaked out. Well, I had one of those freak out days yesterday when I looked at my bank account and realized there was no way I had enough money to pay my team fees, let alone have gas for the rest of this week. This time, however, instead of dwelling on my freak out and getting down and discouraged, I decided to praise God. I tried to remind myself of His faithfulness and of His promises. Then last night, my mom called and said that someone had called her and told her God had told them to support me. They had known for two months they were supposed to, but were waiting for the right time. Then yesterday, God told them now was the right time. The amount of the check ended up being exactly what I needed for team fees! Just thinking of it makes my heart burst! God really never does cease to amaze me!

Well, I am still sitting in my room having accomplished nothing, as I have been writing this, so I guess it is time to begin the process of packing. I leave Friday for Dayton and we begin our two weeks of training. Get ready for sore muscles....