It's that time of year again! For any of you who have gone through the YWAM Kona base, this term no doubt instantly brings memories of hitchhiking, sharing the gospel, and awkwardly asking strangers for food. <-- Like these guys! OK, that deserves and explanation... A "Faith Journey" is what we call a trip based off of Matthew 10:5-14. "...As you go, proclaim [the gospel], heal the sick...freely give. Do not [bring any money] with you....no bag for the journey or extra shirt or sandals..." So, that was extremely paraphrased, but basically it. We sent our students out in teams without anything but bottles of water, sunscreen (we wanted to be responsible leaders) and IDs. No money, no food, and only one cell phone per team with strict emergency-only instructions. While this may sound a bit cruel and unusual to someone who has never done this before, trust me, it is an experience none soon forget and very few regret. (Please note that those who do regret it is because they did it with a bad attitude and admit that they made it miserable for themselves) We sent out 7 team with these instructions as well as the objectives to find housing for the night, not come back till lunch the next day, share the gospel with at least one person along the way, pray for healing, serve someone, and to somehow bless someone with a material blessing - keeping in mind that they are bringing nothing with them at all. And they did it!! The stories that come back when schools do this are astounding! Not a single person missed a meal or spent the night homeless. In fact, most of them ended up eating better on their Faith Journey than they normally do on base! And - this is most people's favorite part - a couple teams even spent the night at the Marriot! Not to mention that others stayed at places like private vacation homes and were fed not just good food, but HUGE quantities of it. One girl prayed specifically for Macaroni Grill and GOT IT FOR LUNCH!!! The best part is what the results were. Our students came back unified beyond belief and utterly bursting with faith. Just after living 24 hours relying on God completely gave them such a new threshold of faith for provision. Seeing the look in their eyes when they told us what happened is priceless! And they also made a ton of connections along the way. Every person they prayed for, talked to, blessed, and were blessed by got to encounter the Holy Spirit in a different way. It was a mass seed-planting expedition. Hearts got touched, lives changed, and if nothing else, the question raised: "What do these crazy, faithful young people have that I'm missing?" After doing things like this, it really makes me realize what life with God is supposed to be like. I'm not saying we are all supposed to go out on the streets penniless and planless and see what happens with the rest of our lives, but the principal is the same: trusting God for literally everything in every moment. To lean on Him for support because we know that otherwise we've got nothing. When we truly practice putting God in that position in our lives, He really does step in and provide. No one went without food, housing, or fellowship both with their friends and with their loving creator and provider. Before they were even hungry, God knew what He was going to feed them and where they would be sleeping that night. He doesn't just give us the sandwich we need to not be hungry anymore, but He sends a full picnic spread simply because He loves and wants to bless His children with extravagant gifts. (yes, that actually did happen) What a good God!!! It's also really convicting. It really makes me realize how that is not how I normally treat God. I ask Him to be my provider, and I give Him that position in some areas, but have I really surrendered every inch of my life? Do I really have the faith to step out and believe that somehow I will eat lunch even though I'm starving and broke?? In a way, yes, I suppose I do...stepping out as a missionary relying completely on the support I need Him to bring does count as faith. But it is also so easy to use that as my get-out-of-jail-free card. It is so easy to brush it off with a "I'm a poor missionary, of course I live by faith," when in reality, it doesn't matter where I am or what I'm doing, I don't think I will ever be done surrendering more to Him. I never want to grow complacent in my surrender to His heart. I want to be constantly stepping out and saying "OK, God, where to next?" and truly believing that He will take care of my every single need without me working for it or earning His blessings. And He has given me another opportunity to do so... In exactly 2 weeks, I will be going to the Middle East with my team. By then, I need to somehow have gotten in just under $2,100. I had thought it was less, but just found out I had been mistaken. I know it makes no difference to God - He is going to provide every penny for it anyways - but it's moments like this when I really get to practice having faith. Faith that He is going to provide for me and my other co-leaders who are also trusting for provision. I can't wait to see what God does in this situation! If you would be open to the Holy Spirit leading you, take a moment and ask God if helping be a part of that provision is something you can do. Honestly, any amount from $20 to $2,000 is helpful and extremely appreciated. I know that this is where God has led me and that He IS going to get me there. He has taken me this far and so I have no reason to think that He won't continue. Thank you, everyone, for your generous support and PLEASE keep me in your prayers!! If you feel like you would like to join my support team, checks can be sent to 5338 Vista Grande Dr. Santa Rosa, CA 95403 or PayPalled directly to me at [email protected] And if you happen to know anyone who might want to support me, pass them my information =)
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ErikaJeremiah 29:11 Archives
March 2023
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