Hi friends, I want to share this message with you all. It is written by someone at my church in Asheville....I have been missing that church a lot lately...
Everyday I ask God to humble me...and this message is very humbling....



Don't Be Surprised
by Marklar Klepac on Thursday, October 27, 2011 at 12:25pm

Right now I am in a place of handing over my expectations, my struggles, and my power to Christ. I am being forced to let go of my judgments and expectations of other people. I am being forced to start seeing people as people instead of projects. I am being forced to listen and learn from others instead of coming up with ways to convince people of the depth of my own wisdom (which I am finding to be quite shallow.) I am being forced to address the pride in my own heart before pointing my finger at others. I am being forced to rely on the power of the Holy Spirit instead of relying on my own limited strength.
I am being forced to do all of these things by the simple realization that I am not the Savior that the oppressed need.
I am not the answer to their prayers.
I am not able to save anyone from his or her sins.
I am not able to convict or bring anyone to repentance.
I am also, surprisingly enough, not the center of this universe.
The deep beauty and peace I find in this realization is that instead of all of these roles being filled by me, they are being filled by a much more capable and loving God.
I encourage anyone who has a heart for service or missions or loving people or whatever to be careful of how you view your service or mission.
Don't be surprised when you show up to a broken place and meet people who are closer to God than you are.
Don't be surprised when you learn more from people in need than you teach them.
Don't be surprised of what the Lord can do through you, but always remember it is by his power it is being done.

Don't be surprised of what God can do.

Kona Day 13

Well, I am going to try to catch you up on the amazing things that have already happened since I Ava and I have been here on the beautiful campus of University of the Nations in Kona, HI.

Last week Ava and I familiarized ourselves with the campus, and even walked into town a couple times. We took the shuttle bus to Walmart and Target with the rest of the ywamers who are without a vehicle, and had a blast hanging out at our pool.

We also have visited two different churches, and are still praying about where to attend. Please be in prayer with us.

Last Monday Ava started preschool! It was her very first day of school ever, and I think I was more nervous than she was. She had a wonderful first week, and her teacher said that she was the most cheerful and happy new student that she had ever seen. Ava is loving going to preschool, and has already made many friends. She even went to a birthday party for a girl in Kindergarten on Friday. (I chaperoned, and with 12 little girls in one YWAM room...it was a wild time!)

Last week I began observing my new classroom, and officially began teaching this past Monday. I have eight of the most respectful and loving children! Today is day two of teaching, and I am absolutely loving it! It is probably the most peaceful school I have ever taught at. I am going to tell you more about each individual child as time goes on. They are all so unique!

Also, on Sunday night we picked up Tia (Danielle) from the airport. I am so excited to have her here. She will be visiting for a month, and staying in our room for two weeks. She is such a big help to me, and it is so nice just to have her to talk to! Of course Ava was overjoyed to welcome her here!

Today after school we will be headed to the beach!

Thank you all for praying for us, and supporting us!
Talk to you soon!
Love and Blessings,
Brooke

address

To send us letters or packages:

Brooke Elliott - LCCY
75-5851 Kuakini Hwy #320
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740



For support donations:

Donor Processing
UOFN Kona
75-5851 Kuakini Hwy #256
Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

(my account number is 5677)

Kona Day 4 - Brasileiro & Hummus

It has been four days, and I just now met my first Brazilian! She just sat down at the table where Ava and I were eating dinner. It was like she knew I was part Brasileiro! :) She spoke some Portuguese to me, which helped to refresh my memory a little, and told me that she is actually on staff in China. She has been living there for the past 20 years! So she is actually Chinese Brazilian! It was so wonderful to talk to her, and she encouraged me so much. I had the same feeling I did back in January when I was in Brazil. We talked about waiting on God.
I also learned earlier today that one of my students is Brazilian! She is also special needs and when I met her on Friday, I loved her right away! She is going to encourage me everyday...I can already tell. The teacher that has been teaching my kids, Shauna, took me and Ava to lunch today and told me all about her. Shauna says she has an incredible story, and when her family was in Brasil last year, she had a part in changing the human rights laws there! She is such a special girl, and I know she is going to help me continue my Portuguese studies.
I actually met all of my 8 students on Friday, because it was picture day, and I got to take pictures with them. They are an incredible group of kids, and I can't wait to teach them!
Tomorrow will be my first day of observing the class. I won't actually be teaching them until Friday.
Ava also starts in her preschool tomorrow. As I was meeting random people when we first got here...the first thing I heard was awe and shock that Ava had actually gotten in to this preschool. Evidently there is a long waiting list to get into the preschool, and God just loved us enough to bend the rules and get us in! Her teacher's name is Feather, and the facility is amazing. It is partly outside and very open. Ava went in to visit, and is so excited about starting there. I think it will help her get into a routine and settle down. It has been somewhat difficult for her to adjust to the atmosphere here. There are just literally hundreds of kids here! Which is great...but Ava isn't used to being around so many peers of her own age. Be praying that she can get adjusted, and we can both figure out boundaries that work.
Almost all of the families in our building are Korean, and are so nice! Ava has learned one word in Korean....the word for "Hello" (I can't write it on here....and she goes around saying it to everyone! Even to people who are obviously not Korean!
Saturday we went to the beach...actually we walked three miles to the beach. There are a couple closer beaches...but the one we went to was the best. It had a little lagoon that was protected by rocks....so we didn't have to worry about sharks! It was so beautiful, and you can see straight down to the bottom!
So, please be praying that we find a bike soon! Also pray for our first days of school tomorrow.

We love you all, and are having a blast here!

oh....I almost forgot to explain why the title of this blog includes Hummus.....
Today after lunch, Shauna took us to......Costco! Can you believe it? It felt so much like home! And what did I find there but none other than the best, best, best hummus....the Edemame Hummus that my sister loves!

See you soon sister!

Kona Day 1

Aloha!
Ava and I are sitting among many Plumeria trees at the playground in front of our new home. The same plumeria trees that my mom has and fights daily to keep alive in her home in NC, are growing everywhere here! We are so blessed to be here! There is worship going on right around the corner, and our room looks like a hotel room! It is so amazing here, and I can't wait to post my pics.
The trip over was very long and at times I didn't think I was going to make it....what with the abundance of luggage and a too tired four year old....but God was so faithful in encouraging me along the way.
I love you all, and will let you know how our first day goes.....it's only 930 in the morning here!
Love you!

T Minus 12 Days!

First, I have to apologize for not blogging in so long. It has been a crazy time! So, we are flying out to YWAM Kona in twelve days. It's becoming real to me know. I just helped my parents move out of their rental house (where we were staying) and into their RV. Thankfully we did not have to move into their RV with them! A very amazing and generous family from our church offered to let us stay with them until we leave. So, that's where we are now...we have our own bathroom, living room, and two bedrooms! God has blessed us so greatly this week! Well, actually He is always blessing us!

We are still at 65% of our support goal....but that means we only need 35% more! :)
That's only 8 more peeps to partner with us at $25 a month!

My benefit concert is coming up at Creature's Cafe (in Asheville) this Friday (Oct. 7) and I have five very talented and incredible musicians lined up to play. Please please please come out if you are in the area....or just want to drive up and see us before we leave!

I am just about to go meet two of the coolest people in my YWAM DTS (that I did in Nashville). They are driving through Asheville, and we are meeting for coffee.....I'm so excited to see them!

Oh...and Ava is singing "Here we are to Worship" right now! :) I am so blessed!

I am getting super excited to leave, and also very sad....It is going to be hard to leave my family and the church I have been attending here in Asheville. They have blessed me so much!

So, here is the theme of this blog....WE ARE BLESSED! All the time...even when we don't feel like it....even when things are not going our way (believe me, everything is NOT going my way right now)...because our Papa God loves us, and loves to bless us! He wants to lavish you with His love....and I bet He has an unexpected surprise planned for you today. You just have to open your eyes and be on the look out for it!

I love you all so much. Please keep praying for us during the end of our time in NC and the beginning of our adventure in Kona.