As for the good stuff, it was such an honor to be here during a very special time for YWAM. I don't understand the full significance of this event for YWAM because I'm new to the YWAM scene, but it was so meaningful to so many people that have served all over the world in missions over the last 50 years. I know it was a historic moment in YWAM's history and so I'm blessed to have been a part of it. It's interesting that we were called here at this specific time!
The week kicked off Monday evening with a grand opening ceremony! The nations of the world, specifically the Pacific islands, sure know how to have a good time! There were cultural dances, fire dancing, singing, and much more and it made for a fun night to kick off the week! There was the presentation of all the flags of course! 209 countries were represented by students and staff for all the countries that have come to Kona to do a DTS! Wow! I cheered extra hard for Canada, Hawaii, New Zealand, Puerto Rico, El Salvador, Mexico, Haiti, North and South Korea and Israel! I cheered hard for these ones because I've been to them, have a loved one in them or know their prophetic significance!
Highlights this week:
- Beautiful Polynesian dancing - it's amazing how they move their hips so fast! Even the children!
- The calling out for a double portion of love during the fire dancing!
- Welcoming the Middle Eastern countries gave me the shivers in the Spirit!
- Finding out on Monday (29th) that Honolulu legislated "YWAM Day" in Hawaii!
- Getting to know more of the heart and character of God through the various cultures
- Envisioning session with Mark Anderson
- Big birthday party on Friday night with an even more incredible show than Monday, a cupcake food fight and a torrential downpour of rain
- Got to play the piano and sing to the Lord in the early morning hours in the prayer room twice this week! It was good to be back playing and singing in the prayer room context!
- Being a part of the unveiling of so many innovations going forward! My favorite was the uniscript of the gospel of John that came out for the first time in Hawaiian and Mandarin! It's incredible that people that haven't been able to read the Bible will have an easy way to learn and will be able to read the Word of God for themselves! Very emotional presentation!
Favorite lines from the week:
- "Go means changing locations" - Loren Cunningham
- "All the individual acts of obedience have brought us all to this place" - Loren Cunningham
- "God is telling all of us to pioneer" - Darlene Cunningham
- "In the Kingdom of God, efficiency isn't the highest value" - John Dawson
- "We, as missionaries, can't be sustained by the vision" - John Dawson
- "Multiplication has to include discipleship. Discipleship includes teaching." - Loren Cunningham
- "Prepare on the last word until God gives you the next word. If you don't prepare, you are not a good leader"
- "Stop calling the prayer movement and the missions movement two separate things. They are one and they are mine" - What the Lord said to Mark Anderson in a dream
- "We are being prepared for a different day" - Mark Anderson
- "Young people are ruined for His presence. They would rather spend their days in a prayer room and not eat (fasting) than build a ministry" - Mark Anderson
On a sad note, we had a hard week at the same time. On December 1, a wonderful man who is so special to Shane and I, Grandpa Ross, died back home in Manitoba. We have been expecting this for some time, but it is still hard, especially to grieve far from family and home. We checked flights to see if it would work to come home for the funeral, but it is just too expensive to do that. We are sad to be missing the funeral next Friday, the 10th, but we will be writing something for the family to read on our behalf. I really loved Shane's grandpa and it's so sad to lose him but even sadder to know the eternal choice He made (unless there was a significant encounter that nobody knew about in the final days and hours). The reality of hell is the part that makes mourning for Grandpa the hardest. Please continue to pray for us and our family as we mourn the loss of someone we loved and process through the pain of the reality of eternity and our free will in deciding our eternal destinies.
Also, in the midst of the cupcake food fight, my dear husband's food collided with another classmate's heel, resulting in what we believe is possibly 2 broken toes. So, my husband is out of commission and having a tough time getting around campus because there are lots of steps, hills and distances to walk here. Thankfully we got a hold of crutches from the Primary Health Care school but they don't fit right. But, they sure are better than nothing! Please pray for healing for Shane.
Here are quite a few pictures from this week's celebration!
The opening ceremonies! A good amount of fire involved!
The view of the stage for the week
Matt (fellow South Africa teammate) carrying a flag as part of the procession of the flags
Shane, Cam and myself praying on the 4K map for South Africa, and specifically the western Cape
The view of the prayer room and 4K map from above
Shane praying on the 4K map
Me praying on the 4K map with Stephen, another South Africa teammate
The unveiling of the Mandarin uniscript on the table and the gifts from China
Call2All helping serve at a moment's notice to put the birthday cakes together before the session started as the band practiced behind us
YWAM's 50th birthday cake after completion!
Full of icing after helping prepare the birthday cakes!
My happy husband after a food fight! The girls did his hair using the "mousse" of the icing!
The happy couple after getting soaked in the rain and Shane getting caked in the food fight!
My beautiful friend, SoJung, dressed in a beautiful Korean dress
Shane getting crutches from the Primary Health Care team and first aid tent
The Jubilee Covenant we signed
Jadon and Joshie (sons of classmates and school leaders) playing with Shane's crutches
A beautiful painting about Jesus on the white horse and the nations gathering to Him!
The final morning celebration in the Plaza of the Nation with all the flags of the nations that have been here!
What a full, fun and hard week all in one. Happy 50th Birthday YWAM!
3 comments:
Wow what a week you guys had!
Praying for healing for Shane's foot and continued comfort for the both of you.
Love u!
Haha...craziest thing!!!!! I was looking at the pictures and saw that the two people on the picture of Shane getting his crutches were both at my base in Cambodia!!!!! They stayed there for a couple of weeks while I was there!!!! WOW SMAILL YWAM WORLD!!!! That just made me really excited!!
Laurissa, that is a very small world! That's crazy! They are both with the Primary Health Care secondary school here! Very neat fact! I'm glad you commented!
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