Scanning the Horizon

Hello!

A new month seems to suggest a different location for my life, so at the moment I'm back in Kelowna, Canada! The School of Evangelism officially ended on September 26 after five months of exploring effective ways to share the Good News in a cross-cultural setting and learning more about our amazing God. Our eight week outreach in Central Asia was full of challenges, but they were all worthwhile for the growth we experienced, the lives we touched, and the ways we saw God move. If you would like to hear some stories of what I got to be a part of during that time feel free to contact me at amyt.dr@gmail.com, I'd be happy to tell you about all that God did!

The team

Through the SOE God continually revealed to me the importance of finding my strength in Him and learning to have joy in all circumstances. The other day I was looking through some of my notes from the lecture phase and found a prayer that I had written down. I was momentarily stunned and then laughed as I read over the prayer which talked all about learning to find joy in my Heavenly Father every day. God had taken that simple prayer and turned it into a day to day lesson for the rest of my school. He taught me to find my joy and strength in Him, and some days I still need reminders of those lessons. My faith in Jesus Christ combined with my love for people and travel has taken me to several new countries over the last year. I've learned to trust in God for finances, to love the way He loves, to step out in boldness because I serve a God that does the impossible, and to give even when I feel like I have nothing left for God can truly take the bad and make it into good. It has been a wild, crazy, and exciting journey which I wouldn't trade in for anything!

The journey isn't finished yet, it continues even now while I'm back in Canada though it may look a little different. For the next few months I am going to be in North America spending time with family and friends. I'll be mainly here in Kelowna, but during the month of November I plan to be in Michigan with my eldest brother and his growing family. During my time there we'll also have a mini family reunion over American Thanksgiving. I'm also planning to join in a road trip with my dad from Michigan to Canada during which we will be stopping to visit friends and family whom we haven't seen in several years. I'm so excited for these next few months to relax, catch up with friends and family, and seek God for whatever lies ahead. I'm so blessed to have this time and would love to see you and personally share stories of God's love and faithfulness. I hope to host a night within the next few weeks to share about my time in Central Asia, show some photos, and share stories from the last year. I am also looking at finding some work as well as getting plugged into some of the ministries that take place here.

Thank you so much for your prayers and support!  With your help I've been able to share the Gospel and see transformation in the lives of those around me as they learn of God's love. It is so amazing to think of all the seeds that have been planted around the world through your prayers, support, encouragement, and through simply reading this blog!

Blessings,
Amy

Prayer Requests:
- To know what ministries I should volunteer with around the city
- To find work
- For the time I spend with family and friends
- Finances
- To continue to glorify God in all that I say and do, as I learn to seek His plans for my life above all else.

Life Without A Compass

Have you ever tried going on a new adventure, whether it was a trek in the woods or just a car ride to a town that you weren't very familiar with? Have you ever gotten there or been well on your way only to realize you had no compass, no map, no GPS, and worst of all, no internet to ask Google for directions? Maybe you've gotten lost driving around your own town, or maybe you are perfectly capable of asking for directions and arriving safely at your destination right on time. Either way, most of us have gotten lost at some point in our life, even if it was only for a few minutes.

Personally, I hate being lost. Once I find a familiar place to orientate myself, I'll laugh and feel silly for getting lost in the first place. But in the moments when I don't know where I am or what is coming next, all I want is to be found and have someone/something to show me the way. I'm all for adventure and trying new things like going on a road trip or travelling to another country where I don't know the language. Just so long as there is a map or some way I can orientate myself if I end up in the middle of nowhere... which often ends up being the outskirts of somewhere.

I'm one of those people who can enjoy surprises, but prefers to know what is coming and how to prepare for it. I like to know that I am headed in the right direction. To walk forward with the assurance that I am doing the right thing. Yet, sometimes you have to make decisions when you don't know all the answers. It's what I've decided to call "life without a compass" - making tough decisions and having no idea where you will end up.

To me, one of the hardest parts about following God as I go on adventures around the world, is that most of the time you are living a life without a compass. You are challenged to follow Him, even when you don't know where you are going. To trust Him with your heart, your family, your dreams, and your future. To believe that He will make everything work out in the end. You learn to put one foot in front of the other and continue moving forward even when the ground beneath your feet doesn't look like it will support you. When you fall down, you ask for the strength to get back up again. Why? Because in my life, no matter how hard the journey gets God is the one person I can count on to always be there for me. Through the sunshine, thunderstorms, and earthquakes He's always with me. Though I'm far from perfect, He calls me precious, treasured, and loved. The best part is that God never changes, the only thing that changes is my understanding of His character and nature.

As I try to discern what adventures may be coming next, I'm learning to trust God. I don't know where I am going, what I will be doing, or who I will be meeting along the way. All I know is that I'm moving forward one tentative step at a time. I'm looking for a compass, yet if I can use a Pirates of the Caribbean reference, the ones that I've been finding don't seem to point north. On the contrary they keep pointing back to God, so I'm going to try and be patient because I know that whatever choices await me, they all lead to great adventures.

Thank you for reading this somewhat confusing post. I truly appreciate your support and prayers.

Many blessings!

Prayer requests:

- Please continue to pray for my team and I here in Central Asia!
- Our time here is nearly over and we want to make the most of what is left as we continue to see God move and build relationships with the amazing people here.
- Health - To know God's plans for the remainder of our time here.
- Safety
- Finances

If you would like to get in contact with me, just send me an email at amyt.dr@gmail.com! I'd love to hear from you!

A World of Dreamers

More and more God has been showing me that I live in a world made of dreams. We are all dreamers in our own right. Ever since childhood we have had ideas of who we want to be, what career we want to have, or how we want to impact the world. As we grow older those childhood ideas that became dreams change as we learn more about ourselves and the world around us. Many of us believe some dreams die and are replaced with about five new ones. I like to think that dreams do not ever die, they simply fade into the background as we focus our attention on different ones.

Sunrise on the ship!

Sometimes we look back through our life, however long it's been, and ponder all our dreams. We think of the dreams we had as children and often laugh at how absurd some of them were. We think of the dreams we had/have as teenagers and the life decisions we made on whether or not we pursued some of our dreams. Then we sit each in our own Lay-Z-Boy or rocking chair (whichever you prefer) of thought and look at where those life decisions have led us. Have we pursued the dreams that have been with us since childhood? Have we compromised our dreams for what we thought was a better 'life decision' at the time? Do we still have dreams to live out? Do we even dream anymore?

I believe we are all dreamers, and we are a result of a dream. God's dream to have relationship with us! He didn't have to create us, but He chose to because we were His dream! God made us to be dreamers as well. We might not ever make a whole universe, but we can change lives. It doesn't matter whether you are a doctor, mechanic, engineer, teacher, pastor, work in media, IT, serve your country through the military, work in government, or are simply a stay at home parent or any number of other things - you make a difference every day with your dreams!

My school on YWAM Australia's new medical ship!

My life is full of dreams. I've lived out some of them, others aren't ready to come out of the incubator of my heart, and still others have been laid aside or shoved to the back of my mind. Each dream, whether it lived for a few seconds or has stayed with me through several years, has meaning. I may not ever see them all become a reality, yet I want to live out as many as I can.

Right now my chief dream is to love and serve God with all my heart and let others see that reflected in me! That may sound like a silly dream to have at the top of my list, considering I should be living that out anyway. Still it's a dream. I want to travel the world sharing God's love with others! I don't know where this dream will lead me, but at the moment it's leading me to Central Asia for eight weeks starting on Wednesday! I'm so excited for this new adventure to meet new people and see a new part of the world!

Will you journey with me on this adventure that has been birthed from a dream?

Will you continue to pursue the dreams on your own heart?

Thank you for reading, as well as all your prayers and support!

Blessings,
Amy

Fun video: If you would like to know a little bit more about the new YWAM Medical Ship for Australia, just click the link!

Prayer Requests:
- Safe travels: we fly out on Wednesday and several of my fellow students are already enroute.
- For those who are staying in here for an Australian outreach and that God would reveal His plans for them.
- Finances: over $1000 has come in over this last week! As a school we are still trusting God for $4000.
- Health: several of us have been struggling with colds and fevers.
- That all the last minute details would come together smoothly.
- For God to continue to lead and guide each of us!

My Eyes are Open

Hello!

How are you?

Lately God has been teaching me about the importance of living with my eyes open. It's hard walking through a room in the dark when you aren't quite certain where things are (especially if you tend to trip over things like air as I'm often prone to doing).It's often harder to walk through a room with your eyes closed and having someone else lead you. However, to me one of the hardest things is to walk through a room seeing with my eyes and yet being somehow blind to how God is working.

I am one of those people who find it incredibly frustrating when I don't understand what is taking place around me. So when God began showing me how much I've been missing out on by walking through life with my eyes partly closed, I wasn't a happy camper. If someone tells me I'm in a box, I like to find that box and smash it. Thus, I refuse to live in a box that dims my vision of the world around me.

I am far from perfect, but I'm not concerned about being perfect. My goal is to walk through life with my eyes on Jesus Christ. With both eyes on Him, I believe that despite whatever ups and downs that come my way I will be the better for it. Walking through life with no understanding of God or how He is moving in the world and in the lives of people, holds no appeal for me. I want my eyes to be open in order to walk in all God has in store for me and to share Him with others. God is my Father, Savior, and King and I will follow Him all the days of my life!

Thank you for reading and for all your prayers!

Blessings,
Amy

Praise report:

I would like to thank you all so much for your prayers this last week. God has been providing in amazing ways! At the beginning of the week between my eleven fellow students and I, as well as our base leaders, we needed to see over $20,000 come in for us all to go on outreach to Central Asia. Praise God, we now only need a little over $5,000! In the span of just twenty-four hours one of my friends received all $3400 that she was needing. Isn't our God good?

Prayer Requests:

- For the last of the money to come in. God can provide!

- For peace and unity through all the last minute preparations and packing - Health - To continue to seek God's will in everything as we see Him glorified in our lives and in the nations! 

I am a Soldier!

Please take a few minutes to listen to this speech by Dwight L. Moody. One of my fellow students shared it as part of a devotional earlier this week and it really impacted me. I know it's a little long but please take the time to listen to it before reading the rest of this post. I promise it's worth it.

The sunrise

I am a soldier. I am part of an army of believers who are willing to travel the world for God, because I want people to know the how much we are all loved by our Creator. Being a soldier comes at a cost. I have given up time with friends, family, and possibly the opportunity to have an amazing career that makes good money. I have to choose this life every day. Some days I love the chance to travel and meet new people as I share what God has done in my life with others. Other days I want to be anywhere but right where I am because I miss my friends and family, and I often detest the challenges that come my way. Every morning when I wake up, I make the choice to be a soldier. I hope it is a choice that I will keep on making when I laugh like a lunatic overcome with joy and when I cry because my heart longs for those I care for but cannot be with.

I am also a work in progress. I know this because every day and every week, God is teaching me something new about himself or myself. I do not think this project will ever be completed and I can't say that I mind. I love growing closer to God and learning more about his heart for me and his heart for those young and old all over the world.

Airlie Beach

My fellow students and I may be nearing the end of our five month School of Evangelism, but that doesn't mean our learning will stop here. God has been equipping us with the tools and strategies we need to reach the nations. I've learned about Paul and the early Church in the book of Acts with the way they valued fellowship, worship, and prayer. I've learned about the battles you face when you pioneer in a city that is waiting to encounter God's love through the Holy Spirit. I've learned about the importance of knowing the history of the area you are living in or preparing to travel too, because what you learn may impact your time there.  As well as, the importance of opening up and letting others be a part of our walk with Jesus so that they can speak into our lives, but also learn from our mistakes. All of these things along with the importance of prayer, worship, and knowing our strengths has helped me grow so much.

We have a little more than fifteen days before we leave for Central Asia on outreach. There we will be sharing with others what God has been doing in our lives and how much He loves each one of us. I am so excited for upcoming journey and I know God is going to be moving in powerful ways. Right now I am trusting God for $7,250 to be able to pay for the teaching that I have been receiving and to go on this trip to Central Asia. I am trusting God to provide and ask you to partner with me in prayer. I have seen God' s provision for myself and for others. On the last school I did we saw roughly $10,000 come in over the course of a week for various individuals to be able to go on outreach! I know God can do exceedingly more than I could ever ask or imagine, and am trusting him to provide.

Will you stand with me in prayer to see God provide in miraculous ways?

Thank you for reading and for supporting me in this journey!

Blessings,
Amy

Please pray for:
- An open heart and mind as I continue to grow in God
- Finances: I am currently needing roughly $7000 for my school and outreach fees to be paid off. To give you a better idea of what that looks like it comes to about 50 people giving $140 each.
- Health
- Open doors as we prepare to go to Central Asia for outreach in three weeks
- That I would get everything packed before I leave as I'm going to be switching living quarters several times before actually getting on the plane

If you would like to contact me regarding finances please email me at amyt.dr@gmail.com and I can send you the details.

Gaining A New Perspective

Hi!

Preparing for Outreach with a Cultural Breakfast

On Tuesday afternoon, we went out to go talk to people. Going out in a buddy systems, one of my friends and I walked around the lagoon (an outdoor pool) here in Airlie Beach. Letting God lead us we joined a lady who was sitting at a picnic table. After talking for some time, there was a bit of a lull in the conversation as often happens when talking with complete strangers or even your best friend. If you've met me or talked to me at any point, it's quite possible you know full well that I'm a very curious person and like to ask lots of questions (troublesome things those questions). So, given the lull in conversation I asked a question to see where the conversation would lead.

The turn in conversation was not what I had expected whatsoever. The lady shut me down telling me I was asking too many questions and she didn't appreciate being "interviewed." My friend and I apologized, and then the conversation moved on to a different topic. Later that evening, my friend and I sat discussing the conversation. We had both walked away feeling odd and hadn't been able to shake the feeling.

Personally, I was struggling with the reality of what the lady said. I know of previous instances in my life where I have asked too many questions, and the results were not good ones. I don't want my curiosity to be something that hurts people. I also don't want to be afraid to ask questions. I seem to have found myself in the very long process of learning the boundary between a good amount of questions and going overboard. My friend and I prayed for one another after this long conversation and said goodnight.

Cute Little Birds

The next morning I read near the end of Mark 10 about the blind beggar, Bartimaeus. I've heard this story before, yet this time the man's boldness struck me. Bartimaeus heard that Jesus was walking past, and knowing of the miracles that Jesus had done he began to shout. This man wanted to see and he believed that Jesus could heal him. The people around the blind man told him to be quiet, yet their scolding created more of a public spectacle because he refused to shut up.

One lady's statement had completely shut me down and left me cross-examining myself for hours! I will respect the input of others, but I don't want their comments to dissuade me from calling out to Jesus. I want to be able to stand up when everyone is telling me to sit down. I want to choose to follow God and continue to believe in who He is and what He can do, despite any obstacles I face down the road.

Thank you for reading!

Fun fact: I now have a baby niece! So excited for this new addition to the family!

Please pray for:
- Continual growth in God
- Finances (if you would like to support me, please email me at amyt.dr@gmail.com)

- Health
- That the people of Airlie Beach will encounter God
- For all the details to come together smoothly as my school prepares to go to Central Asia for outreach (it's coming up fast!)

Down Under

Hello,

I've officially been back in Australia for a week. I arrived at the beginning of the fourth week of the school, due to my visa complications. It's been a bit of a challenge to jump right back into the full swing of things with the lectures in the morning, prayer, worship, book reports, other homework, and lots of evangelism. Yet, despite how far behind I am in course content it's wonderful to be here!

Snow capped peak in Canada

In the first few days back I was really struggling. It was another one of those times in life when there is way too much going on in your mind, so you can't really focus on anything to sort it out. Basically, I was driving myself crazy! One morning I woke up to turn off my alarm clock in the dark of a room that I share with two other girls, and it promptly fell of the bed silenced. I reached down to find it in the dark and picked up plastic and wires. "That's it!" I thought. A broken alarm clock on top of everything else and I was done.

Needless to say, I was a bit of a grouch as I sat down on a couch awhile later and opened my Bible. I half-heartedly asked God for a change of attitude. I looked down at my Bible reading for the day and started reading. It was Isaiah 61 and after reading the first three verses my first thought was a resounding, "no." Why? Because, those three verses are exactly what I believe God has called me to do and in that moment it was the last thing I wanted to do. Yet, as one of my friends later explained, "it's okay not to always want to do what God has called you too. As long as you choose to do it anyway with the right heart attitude."

Sunrise in New Zealand

I believe Australia is where I am supposed to for this time period, doing a School of Evangelism. I don't really know what is going to take place when this school ends, but for right now that's okay. And despite the bad beginning, that day turned out be great by the end. I even managed to fix my alarm clock, haha!

Thank you! Without your encouragement, prayer, and support I would not be here.

Please continue to pray for:
- More revelations of God's character and the anointing He has placed on my life
- Finances
- Health
- That the people in this small town of Airlie Beach will experience the freedom and love that comes from our Heavenly Father