Hello friends and family!
I am typing this update to you from the dining hall. The dining hall is the place of ACTIVITY. When we are not eating in this room? We are doing homework, talking, playing cards, drinking instant coffee (no instant coffee doesn’t gross me out anymore!) just engaging with one another. We are doing life together. The community aspect of this lecture phase has been a precious component of life here and learning about God. We are all blessed, and our unique identities allow us different impartations of the character of God. In knowing one another we learn more about different aspects of God AND in relationships? We learn more about self.
The Southeast Asia team is leaving for Thailand on Saturday the 15th all of the teams are leaving on Saturday and Sunday. The time has gone so quickly, and I will MISS my new friends and faith family here at the YWAM base in Oxford New Zealand. More than that though? I am THRILLED to be continuing this life journey with God and being a part of what He is doing around the world!
Here is the e-mail update that I have been eagerly anticipating e-mailing to you: ALL the funds have come in for ALL the students! Thank you for partnering through prayer, and encouragement, and support! I type this to you and affirm prayer is so powerful! How are you all experiencing prayer in your walks? How is God showing up in your lives right now? I love hearing about how God moves in and through our lives. (Send me an e-mail if you have anything you would like to share!)
God places messages into our hearts to share with others. I’m learning about context (what) & process (how) & context (where). These all combine as variables that impact this equation . Speaker Frank Naea warned us not to miss the context of your journeys. I was in class when a few students were called to the front as volunteers. We were then given an opportunity to participate in an exercise: we were given two minutes: one to ask God what to say, and one to ask God HOW to say that message. God spoke to me about communicating freedom to a fellow student. This wasn’t going to be something I only prayed out or spoke to her. I resisted because one doesn’t enjoy looking like a dweeb, but the feeling persisted. God prompted me to cover her with a jacket and wind a scarf and cord around her, and then declare freedom over her as I unwound the cord and removed the jacket covering her face. This was a powerful demonstration to be a part of, and see God work.
As we proceed to march into the final hour wondering how things will work out? Frank Naea assured us (and I am relaying this to you!) “God knows how to stage an event!” God wants to get the maximum mileage out of our hearts and sometimes the human heart requires pressure to be re-formed. The journey is about how and where, not as much about where one begins BUT more about how journeys end. I type this to you and smile, EACH of us here trusted God, after calling us, in varying degrees to get here. How are you trusting God? Be encouraged. God is MIGHTY to save, dearly dearly loves His children, and WILL meet with you where you are.
Love and blessings to you all,
Carla
How you can pray?
Unity, boldness and wisdom for Carla and the SE Asia team to creatively embrace occasions to share the gospel, to encourage, to love and to serve others.
Unswerving focus on God, and an ever deepening excitement to know God and His word.
Blessings of provision: prayer partners, divine friendships and appointments, finances, ministry opportunities.