Hi friends,
I am working on putting a PayPal Button on here so that you can easily support us. However, I can't figure out how to do it! If you know how, please email me and let me know!
Love you guys!
Wednesday, April 27, 2011
Friday, April 22, 2011
Countdown to Hawaii....12 weeks!!!!
Hi my favorite followers!
I hope you are doing well on this GREAT FRIDAY that Jesus exchanged His life for ours. I love Easter, because despite the feeble attempt of the world to mask the reason for this holiday in commercialism and chocolate, (although I do love chocolate), I can only think about my great love more and more everyday. Ava is also grasping the idea of Jesus on the cross more this year. It is so wonderful to hear her ask me at the gocery store..."does that lady have Jesus in her heart?" She will be spreading God's passionate love in no time! Of course she already is, and doesn't know it!
I am currently in the process of sending out my support newsletters, so please pray for us as my friends and family read them. Ava and I will need a strong financial support team to live out this mission we have set out upon. But, as I was reading about Moses this morning....my faith was increased. I am reading the New Testiment now, and I LOVE it! It is the best nonfiction book, that reads like fiction, I have ever read! (Did that make sense?) Anyway...reading about the people that God sends out for a specific mission, and covers them 100 percent in provision and courage, inspires me so much!
I know that God is my provider, and I know that He will provide in HIS OWN WAY. Not in any way that I could dream up....but in His perfect plan.
I love you all so much, and I pray that my words inspire you this morning in whatever you are hoping God provides for you. HE WILL!
I hope you are doing well on this GREAT FRIDAY that Jesus exchanged His life for ours. I love Easter, because despite the feeble attempt of the world to mask the reason for this holiday in commercialism and chocolate, (although I do love chocolate), I can only think about my great love more and more everyday. Ava is also grasping the idea of Jesus on the cross more this year. It is so wonderful to hear her ask me at the gocery store..."does that lady have Jesus in her heart?" She will be spreading God's passionate love in no time! Of course she already is, and doesn't know it!
I am currently in the process of sending out my support newsletters, so please pray for us as my friends and family read them. Ava and I will need a strong financial support team to live out this mission we have set out upon. But, as I was reading about Moses this morning....my faith was increased. I am reading the New Testiment now, and I LOVE it! It is the best nonfiction book, that reads like fiction, I have ever read! (Did that make sense?) Anyway...reading about the people that God sends out for a specific mission, and covers them 100 percent in provision and courage, inspires me so much!
I know that God is my provider, and I know that He will provide in HIS OWN WAY. Not in any way that I could dream up....but in His perfect plan.
I love you all so much, and I pray that my words inspire you this morning in whatever you are hoping God provides for you. HE WILL!
Monday, April 4, 2011
Our journey to Kona, Hawaii....
Well friends, it is finally official...Ava and I will be moving to Kona, Hawaii this July to be on staff with Youth With A Mission. Both of us are very excited! I will be teaching third grade in the Learning Center which is the elementary school for the kids of the staff at Kona. Ava will be attending the preschool on the base. The Learning Center is fairly new, but they have a huge vision of impacting and changing the American education system. This is exactly what God has placed in my heart to do as well. I believe so strongly that the only way we will permanently change the future, is to permanently change our kids, and the children in this upcoming generation. If we want the future to be different, we have to make the leaders of the future different. What better place to do that than teaching in elementary schools? After hearing about this schools goals, I know that this is the perfect place to learn and grow in my vision to change education. I will be free to think creatively about how to influence children, and how to bring them directly into the Kingdom of God. I will be ushering these children into the presence of God, and helping them to learn their true identity in Jesus. I will also get the chance to train other teachers how to do this.
There are so many incredible ways that this opportunity is perfect for Ava and I. I feel that God is directing us and launching me and Ava into our exciting futures. God has the perfect plan, and has equipped us for such a time as this. I am so honored that God would choose us to be able to work for His Kingdom in this way.
We plan on moving to Kona this upcoming July. The school will begin in August. However, we need monthly supporters in prayer and financial partners to help us in this mission. I am asking all of you to search for God's voice and listen to whether He would have you partner with us. We cannot bring God's Kingdom here on earth if we do not lift each other up and support each other in every way. We are the body, and each member has specific purpose.
I love you all so much, and I can't wait to tell you more about Hawaii!
Please email me if you would like to support us monthly in any way!
Brooke and Ava
There are so many incredible ways that this opportunity is perfect for Ava and I. I feel that God is directing us and launching me and Ava into our exciting futures. God has the perfect plan, and has equipped us for such a time as this. I am so honored that God would choose us to be able to work for His Kingdom in this way.
We plan on moving to Kona this upcoming July. The school will begin in August. However, we need monthly supporters in prayer and financial partners to help us in this mission. I am asking all of you to search for God's voice and listen to whether He would have you partner with us. We cannot bring God's Kingdom here on earth if we do not lift each other up and support each other in every way. We are the body, and each member has specific purpose.
I love you all so much, and I can't wait to tell you more about Hawaii!
Please email me if you would like to support us monthly in any way!
Brooke and Ava
Wednesday, March 16, 2011
Life after Brasil
Hello my faithful blog followers,
I hope that you are all doing great. Ava and I are having so much fun together...we aren't really doing much, but it is so wonderful just to get to wake up to her every morning! All day long she squeezes my head and says, "I'm so glad you came here!" I can really tell how much she missed me these past two months. I hope I will never have to leave her again like that. It was such a challenge, but I know that I grew in amazing ways while in Brasil. I know that God used that time to teach me how to trust Him, and how to gives up the rights I think I am entitled to. God showed me what it was like to truly have to trust Him in every circumstance, and in every second of my day. I know I will need to trust Him like that now, as I prepare for the next step in my life.
Right now I am finding out more information about the school in Hawaii. I am still praying about going to the Kona YWAM base to teach third grade in the school they have for staff children. God is growing my compassion for the project, and the people there, and I think He will confirm the move to me soon. Please keep praying for me and Ava as I make this decision. God continually tells me that He will provide for us, as long as we listen to His voice, and move in the direction and places He takes us.
In my next entry I want to tell you all some of the incredible stories that I got to be a part of in Brasil. I also would love to talk to each of you individually and share the experiences with you. Please be praying about how you can support us on this journey of ours.
I love you all, and can't wait to see you all!
I hope that you are all doing great. Ava and I are having so much fun together...we aren't really doing much, but it is so wonderful just to get to wake up to her every morning! All day long she squeezes my head and says, "I'm so glad you came here!" I can really tell how much she missed me these past two months. I hope I will never have to leave her again like that. It was such a challenge, but I know that I grew in amazing ways while in Brasil. I know that God used that time to teach me how to trust Him, and how to gives up the rights I think I am entitled to. God showed me what it was like to truly have to trust Him in every circumstance, and in every second of my day. I know I will need to trust Him like that now, as I prepare for the next step in my life.
Right now I am finding out more information about the school in Hawaii. I am still praying about going to the Kona YWAM base to teach third grade in the school they have for staff children. God is growing my compassion for the project, and the people there, and I think He will confirm the move to me soon. Please keep praying for me and Ava as I make this decision. God continually tells me that He will provide for us, as long as we listen to His voice, and move in the direction and places He takes us.
In my next entry I want to tell you all some of the incredible stories that I got to be a part of in Brasil. I also would love to talk to each of you individually and share the experiences with you. Please be praying about how you can support us on this journey of ours.
I love you all, and can't wait to see you all!
Thursday, March 10, 2011
Wednesday, March 2, 2011
Back in the USA!
Hi friends, supporters, Americans, and Brazilians!
I am sad and happy to tell you that I am back in the States. We arrived in Nashville yesterday and I will be here "debriefing" until Saturday. Our graduation from DTS will be Saturday night, and then I will be headed to NC!!!! My last week in Brasil was incredible and I want to write extensively about it...and I will soon! I just wanted to quickly let everyone know that I am safe and home....for now!
Love you!
I am sad and happy to tell you that I am back in the States. We arrived in Nashville yesterday and I will be here "debriefing" until Saturday. Our graduation from DTS will be Saturday night, and then I will be headed to NC!!!! My last week in Brasil was incredible and I want to write extensively about it...and I will soon! I just wanted to quickly let everyone know that I am safe and home....for now!
Love you!
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Brasil Dia 41
Tudo Bem,
I hope you are all doing well! I can't believe that I am only 13 days away from the end of the outreach portion of my YWAM (or JOCUM as it is called here in Brasil) DTS (Discipleship Training School)!!!
It really seems like yesterday that Ava and I began this journey. It is a bittersweet end. I have made a tight connection with the people of Brasil and made friendships that I hope will be lasting. My relationship with my Papa God, and the love of my life has continued to expand to new levels. He teaches me something new everyday, and continues to humble me and create patience within my character. The only thing I want to live for is to love Him passionately and make Him know throughout the world to His people.
As I return to the States, I will be fasting and praying for Ava and I, and I encourage you to do the same. I want to step exactly in the footsteps that He has marked for Ava and I. I still feel led to go to the Kona base in Hawaii in July, so I will be praying for confirmation for that. I will also begin to raise financial support to be in full time missions. Please pray about how you could support us monthly.
Our school leader, Alan, has joined us this week in Brasil. He has been such a refreshing joy to us! He also has brought us all kinds of goodies....like peanut butter, granola bars, and reeses cups! On Sunday night, he took us out to dinenr at a Churrascaria. If you don't know what that is...and you live in Greensboro...they have one there! It is a Brazilian Steakhouse...or Brazilian Barbeque as they call it here. We went to a very, muito, muito fancy one. They even pulled out my chair for me to sit in! Then, there is an all you can eat buffet of salads, pastas, and carne (meat)! The waitors bring around the chicken, sausage, and various cuts of steak to the table. They even had lamb and chicken hearts....which I did not partake of!
It was a very elegant surprise for us, since we have been roughing it for so long!
This week has been one of my favorite weeks here. Beginning on Monday, our team has split up, and we are working at the various JOCUM houses each day. Monday and today, my group was at Casa Rocha (The Rock House). It is a sort of community center for the kids of a local favella (slum). It is actually the oldest favella in Belo. Part of the day we helped with classes they have for the kids in the house, and the other part of the day we went out in the favella to visit the families of the kids.
Try to imagine with me....a very steep dirt and rocky road, surrounded by very dirty, and falling apart stone buildings. There tired, old and young men on every corner....sometimes even children...are the lookouts for the drug traffickers. They signal when the police are coming in. We turn down a narrow, tiny hallway between the buildings, and arrive at one of numerous metal doors which is scattered with bullet holes. Our guide yells up to one of the windows, and a lady motions for us to come up. We enter a dark building, and climb two flights of stairs before entering a very tiny room. We go up another flight of stairs and are suddenly flooded by sunlight as we are out on the roof, overlooking the entire city of Belo Horizonte....mountains and all. As we talk to this tired mother of three children, and pray over her....we can here the neighbor screaming at one of his kids.
Each family that we visit, is overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit. The people that I have met in these immpossible situations have had the most hunger for God's presence that I have ever seen. It has been such an honor to meet them and be able to bless them and speak into their lives. They are so hungry for the word of God and for His love. They are begging the JOCUM workers to come visit them everyday.
And of course the workers are few.
Please keep the Casa Rocha in your prayers.
I can't wait to talk in person to more of you about the work YWAM is doing here.
I will talk to you all soon,
Brooke
I hope you are all doing well! I can't believe that I am only 13 days away from the end of the outreach portion of my YWAM (or JOCUM as it is called here in Brasil) DTS (Discipleship Training School)!!!
It really seems like yesterday that Ava and I began this journey. It is a bittersweet end. I have made a tight connection with the people of Brasil and made friendships that I hope will be lasting. My relationship with my Papa God, and the love of my life has continued to expand to new levels. He teaches me something new everyday, and continues to humble me and create patience within my character. The only thing I want to live for is to love Him passionately and make Him know throughout the world to His people.
As I return to the States, I will be fasting and praying for Ava and I, and I encourage you to do the same. I want to step exactly in the footsteps that He has marked for Ava and I. I still feel led to go to the Kona base in Hawaii in July, so I will be praying for confirmation for that. I will also begin to raise financial support to be in full time missions. Please pray about how you could support us monthly.
Our school leader, Alan, has joined us this week in Brasil. He has been such a refreshing joy to us! He also has brought us all kinds of goodies....like peanut butter, granola bars, and reeses cups! On Sunday night, he took us out to dinenr at a Churrascaria. If you don't know what that is...and you live in Greensboro...they have one there! It is a Brazilian Steakhouse...or Brazilian Barbeque as they call it here. We went to a very, muito, muito fancy one. They even pulled out my chair for me to sit in! Then, there is an all you can eat buffet of salads, pastas, and carne (meat)! The waitors bring around the chicken, sausage, and various cuts of steak to the table. They even had lamb and chicken hearts....which I did not partake of!
It was a very elegant surprise for us, since we have been roughing it for so long!
This week has been one of my favorite weeks here. Beginning on Monday, our team has split up, and we are working at the various JOCUM houses each day. Monday and today, my group was at Casa Rocha (The Rock House). It is a sort of community center for the kids of a local favella (slum). It is actually the oldest favella in Belo. Part of the day we helped with classes they have for the kids in the house, and the other part of the day we went out in the favella to visit the families of the kids.
Try to imagine with me....a very steep dirt and rocky road, surrounded by very dirty, and falling apart stone buildings. There tired, old and young men on every corner....sometimes even children...are the lookouts for the drug traffickers. They signal when the police are coming in. We turn down a narrow, tiny hallway between the buildings, and arrive at one of numerous metal doors which is scattered with bullet holes. Our guide yells up to one of the windows, and a lady motions for us to come up. We enter a dark building, and climb two flights of stairs before entering a very tiny room. We go up another flight of stairs and are suddenly flooded by sunlight as we are out on the roof, overlooking the entire city of Belo Horizonte....mountains and all. As we talk to this tired mother of three children, and pray over her....we can here the neighbor screaming at one of his kids.
Each family that we visit, is overwhelmed by the Holy Spirit. The people that I have met in these immpossible situations have had the most hunger for God's presence that I have ever seen. It has been such an honor to meet them and be able to bless them and speak into their lives. They are so hungry for the word of God and for His love. They are begging the JOCUM workers to come visit them everyday.
And of course the workers are few.
Please keep the Casa Rocha in your prayers.
I can't wait to talk in person to more of you about the work YWAM is doing here.
I will talk to you all soon,
Brooke
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
Brasil Dia 34
Oi!
I hope you are all trying to stay warm in the States! I heard there was a big snow in NC and TN. We are having NO problem staying warm...it is so hot down here! We are getting sun and excercise everyday...not to rub it in or anything! I really love it here, and feel that I will one day be back down here if I get the chance. I love the people, and my compassion is ever growing for the homeless and the street kids living in the slums and favellas. I try to smile at everyone on the street and pray for anyone I get the chance to. The people of Brazil need hope and a true image of who Jesus is.
We just got to a new city this past Saturday. We left Sao Paulo on Friday night, and rode a bus ten hours through the night to Belo Horizonte (Beautiful Horizon). We will be flying out of this city on February 28th.
Leaving Sao Paulo was bittersweeet because of the incredible friendships I made there. The girl that we stayed with and her family were more than encouraging to me, and treated me as a part of their family. They called me Brazilian at heart, and made me promise to one day return. Ana's mom gave me her own Portugese Bible, and Ana gave me a Brazilian flag. I also became close with her friends at the Korean church she attends. The people there were amazing.....filled with the Holy Spirit and pouring it out on the community. I think that is the key.
But it was also exciting to come to a new part of Brazil as well. Our adventure is over half way completed! I can't believe it! We are staying in the YWAM "Restoration House". It is a home for boys. They have 8 right now living there. YWAM has a book written by the founders of the house called "A Cry In the Streets". I read it before I came here. It is so neat to actually be here! The YWAM ministry here in Belo is huge. They have 8 different houses...or ministries. We have been visiting the different houses the past two days, and next week we will be working at them.
I am so excited about the time we have left here, and I know I am going to be so sad to leave. However, I am more than ready to see my baby Ava!
I love you all so much. Thank you for praying for me. Please keep praying for our team...that our energy would be renewed, and that we would continue to be bold in our witness.
PS. Nate...I just began writing a narrative of my trip here in Brazil!
I will talk to you all soon!
Love and Blessings,
Brooke
I hope you are all trying to stay warm in the States! I heard there was a big snow in NC and TN. We are having NO problem staying warm...it is so hot down here! We are getting sun and excercise everyday...not to rub it in or anything! I really love it here, and feel that I will one day be back down here if I get the chance. I love the people, and my compassion is ever growing for the homeless and the street kids living in the slums and favellas. I try to smile at everyone on the street and pray for anyone I get the chance to. The people of Brazil need hope and a true image of who Jesus is.
We just got to a new city this past Saturday. We left Sao Paulo on Friday night, and rode a bus ten hours through the night to Belo Horizonte (Beautiful Horizon). We will be flying out of this city on February 28th.
Leaving Sao Paulo was bittersweeet because of the incredible friendships I made there. The girl that we stayed with and her family were more than encouraging to me, and treated me as a part of their family. They called me Brazilian at heart, and made me promise to one day return. Ana's mom gave me her own Portugese Bible, and Ana gave me a Brazilian flag. I also became close with her friends at the Korean church she attends. The people there were amazing.....filled with the Holy Spirit and pouring it out on the community. I think that is the key.
But it was also exciting to come to a new part of Brazil as well. Our adventure is over half way completed! I can't believe it! We are staying in the YWAM "Restoration House". It is a home for boys. They have 8 right now living there. YWAM has a book written by the founders of the house called "A Cry In the Streets". I read it before I came here. It is so neat to actually be here! The YWAM ministry here in Belo is huge. They have 8 different houses...or ministries. We have been visiting the different houses the past two days, and next week we will be working at them.
I am so excited about the time we have left here, and I know I am going to be so sad to leave. However, I am more than ready to see my baby Ava!
I love you all so much. Thank you for praying for me. Please keep praying for our team...that our energy would be renewed, and that we would continue to be bold in our witness.
PS. Nate...I just began writing a narrative of my trip here in Brazil!
I will talk to you all soon!
Love and Blessings,
Brooke
Monday, January 31, 2011
Brazil Day 26
Oi, minha Amigas e Amigos!
Eu amar voces!
I am loving Brazil...as you can see! I love the people and the culture so much. The family I am with, and even some people I have met at church....are convinced that I am actually Brazilian...despite my skin color! For the past week we have been staying with our translator Ana, and she and her family are now my family. They have been such a blessing to me...praying for me, and teaching me Portugese. We have been helping anas church a lot. We have been to their homeless ministry service, and their youth group. We also have been to a school for mentally handicapped children, and spent the day with them. It was such a blast! If you have ever spent time with those kids...you know how loving and joyous they are. We have also spent a lot of time at the local parks....making friends with some of the locals. It is so great when I meet someone, and speak truth into their life...and then get to see them again here! There is one guy who works at a street vendor beside the subway we use a lot. One day God gave me a word for him, which I wrote down and had translated, and then gave to him. His name is Lucas...and now everytime we pass by the subway vendors, I get to see him! He smiles very big each time I see him, and I know that God is working in his heart.
Please keep praying for me to have boldness to pray for the Brazilian people. I love them so much, and God has built a very strong compassion for them in my heart. It is still dificult to talk to strangers that dont speak the same langauge though!
Also pray that I continue to learn the language quickly.
While I am embracing the culture fully....I am not sure if my whole team is. So please pray for my team, that they will not go into culture shock.
Pray for unity for our team and pray that we will be able to clearly hear Gods voice as He directs us in His will for the remainder of our time here.
I love you all so much!
Look on my Facebook for pics!
Eu amar voces!
I am loving Brazil...as you can see! I love the people and the culture so much. The family I am with, and even some people I have met at church....are convinced that I am actually Brazilian...despite my skin color! For the past week we have been staying with our translator Ana, and she and her family are now my family. They have been such a blessing to me...praying for me, and teaching me Portugese. We have been helping anas church a lot. We have been to their homeless ministry service, and their youth group. We also have been to a school for mentally handicapped children, and spent the day with them. It was such a blast! If you have ever spent time with those kids...you know how loving and joyous they are. We have also spent a lot of time at the local parks....making friends with some of the locals. It is so great when I meet someone, and speak truth into their life...and then get to see them again here! There is one guy who works at a street vendor beside the subway we use a lot. One day God gave me a word for him, which I wrote down and had translated, and then gave to him. His name is Lucas...and now everytime we pass by the subway vendors, I get to see him! He smiles very big each time I see him, and I know that God is working in his heart.
Please keep praying for me to have boldness to pray for the Brazilian people. I love them so much, and God has built a very strong compassion for them in my heart. It is still dificult to talk to strangers that dont speak the same langauge though!
Also pray that I continue to learn the language quickly.
While I am embracing the culture fully....I am not sure if my whole team is. So please pray for my team, that they will not go into culture shock.
Pray for unity for our team and pray that we will be able to clearly hear Gods voice as He directs us in His will for the remainder of our time here.
I love you all so much!
Look on my Facebook for pics!
Saturday, January 22, 2011
Brazil Day 12
Hi faithful followers! Thank you for waiting this long to hear from me! It has been a wild ride! The first week I could not get to a computer at all! The areas we have been staying in are very poor, and wet! We are hear smack in the middle of monsoon season! The first base we went to was already crowded with another YWAM team from Kona, Hawaii. They were incredible people though, and I got to hear a lot about the base that I will hopefully soon be teaching at. We stayed there a few days, then we were shipped off to another sister base of theirs out in the country surrounding Sao Paulo. The mother and daughter team were so gracious and hospitable...and the most amazing Brazilian cooks! We were ONLY eating rice and beans up until that point! We stayed there for a few days helping with their childrens ministry. They have a soccer team and a circus troop! We watched as the kids performed for us on long silk ropes (I will add pics later). It was an incredible time, but rained heavily everyday. The roads were steep red muddy mess, and needless to say, it was difficult to get out of there when the time came! Our next location, which we are currently at, is our translators house. Only she isnt just our translator anymore...she is a great friend. She has just completed her second school in YWAM, and was on her way to staff a school in South Africa....when God changed her plans. So she is staying here for a few days to host us, and take care of us! God is truly taking care of us. I am constantly seeking out His Kingdom, and looking for ways to minister to His people here. I have picked up the Portugese language very quickly, and can even ask random strangers on the bus and subways if I can pray for them....which I do often! I am learning so much about God and His love for people here. I will write more soon and hopefully upload pictures....there are some on my facebook though!
I love you all!
Please keep praying for me!
I love you all!
Please keep praying for me!
Wednesday, January 5, 2011
Goodbye America....Ola Brasil!
Tomorrow at 2 pm I will be flying out for Belo Horizonte, Brazil. We will arrive there Friday morning at 11 am Brazil time (that is 8 am our time). I am really excited, and nervous as well. You know, the good nervous that you get right before something exciting happens. I am also sad because I will be leaving Ava...but she is already having a blast in Black Mountain. I talked to her on the phone today and she told me about the bunny rabbit she is playing with at her new babysitter's house. She actually said that it tried to eat her doll! I know she is going to thrive there and have so much fun.
This will be my last post for about a week...since I don't know what to excpect when I get down South! I will miss you all, and hope to talk to you soon on my next blog from BRAZIL!
Love and blessings
This will be my last post for about a week...since I don't know what to excpect when I get down South! I will miss you all, and hope to talk to you soon on my next blog from BRAZIL!
Love and blessings
Sunday, January 2, 2011
The End of Christmas...The Beginning of A New Year...
Hi friends! I sure hope you had a wonderful Christmas! Ours was great, and busy with packing for Brazil. On the 26th, I left my parents and Ava to go on our team's "Stateside Outreach" week. We went to Kansas City to volunteer at IHOP's (International House Of Prayer) "One Thing" Conference. God brought me there safely through the 8 inches of snow we had, and rejoined my Brazil Team. The conference held over 25,000 people, and our team volunteered in the main conference room as ushers, prayed for people in the healing room, and some of the guys even acted as parking attendants. It was a very blessed event.
However, after talking to my team leaders, it looked as though it would be too late to get Ava's Visa for Brazil. I also have not been able to raise the money for her plane ticket. So, after two days of unrest and prayer, about whether Ava should still go with me to Brazil... I decided not to take her. It was a very challenging time for me. I really wanted her to go, and had to finally surrender my own desires, and trust God to take care of her even if she didn't go to Brazil with me. I woke up after the second day and had an incredible peace that I have never felt. I knew she was supposed to stay here, and my YWAM leader and my parents confirmed it.
So...Ava will be staying here with my parents while I go on outreach. Today, a lady from my parents' church agreed to keep her during the day...while my parents are at work. It is definitely going to be hard being away from her, and we will both miss each other. However, I have to trust my Lord to comfort both of us. There will be many other missions trips for her to go on with me in the future.
I am still praying that she might be able to visit Brazil, with my sister, while I am there. So, please be praying that if that is Gods will, the money for them to come visit will come in. We still need your support and prayers! I also ask that you prayerfully consider supporting us financially on a monthly basis. I know God has called Ava and I into missions in some way. We are still praying about the YWAM school in Hawaii. I only ask that you seek God's Kingdom first, and His will, and His love for you!
Love and Blessings,
Brooke and Ava
However, after talking to my team leaders, it looked as though it would be too late to get Ava's Visa for Brazil. I also have not been able to raise the money for her plane ticket. So, after two days of unrest and prayer, about whether Ava should still go with me to Brazil... I decided not to take her. It was a very challenging time for me. I really wanted her to go, and had to finally surrender my own desires, and trust God to take care of her even if she didn't go to Brazil with me. I woke up after the second day and had an incredible peace that I have never felt. I knew she was supposed to stay here, and my YWAM leader and my parents confirmed it.
So...Ava will be staying here with my parents while I go on outreach. Today, a lady from my parents' church agreed to keep her during the day...while my parents are at work. It is definitely going to be hard being away from her, and we will both miss each other. However, I have to trust my Lord to comfort both of us. There will be many other missions trips for her to go on with me in the future.
I am still praying that she might be able to visit Brazil, with my sister, while I am there. So, please be praying that if that is Gods will, the money for them to come visit will come in. We still need your support and prayers! I also ask that you prayerfully consider supporting us financially on a monthly basis. I know God has called Ava and I into missions in some way. We are still praying about the YWAM school in Hawaii. I only ask that you seek God's Kingdom first, and His will, and His love for you!
Love and Blessings,
Brooke and Ava
Friday, December 24, 2010
The End of Lecture Phase...The Beginning of Christmas!
Well, we made it back to the marvelous mountains of North Carolina! We arrived Saturday night, and have been busy baking, watching Christmas movies, going to my parents' church, getting my hair cut in Greensboro...and best of all...we went on the Polar Express Train! (It is a real, hour long train ride in Bryson City, NC) It was such a nice treat...Ava had a blast! We drank Hot Chocolate, ate cookies, sang songs, and even Santa was there! (Ava still believes in him despite my attempts to convince her otherwise.)
So we are having a really nice mini vacation! I will head back up to TN this Sunday, and Ava will be staying here with my parents for a week. (By the way, the post office called the other day and said they FOUND Ava's PASSPORT! Haha! I really felt God saying to me that He would find it....I just didn't know when. All the worrying I did was pointless! (Does that sound familiar to you?) From now on I want to try hard not to worry when our circumstances seem hopeless...and just trust my papa that He will work it out for good. God has proven Himself trustworthy so many times to me, yet I still have a hard time trusting Him with every little area of my life.
This lost passport event really helped me see how much Jesus is taking care of me and Ava. So, I am going to choose to trust Him for the money we still need for Brazil as well. I know He wants us to go on this trip...so I know He is going to cause the money to come in for us! Please be praying about how our papa can use you to help bring His Kingdom to earth....and how he can use you in His marvelous plan for the people in Brazil....and everywhere! Jesus is so passionate about us! Even when we are so busy with this life that we think is so important....He is patiently waiting at your side for you to glance at Him, or whisper to Him, or say "I can't do this! You take over!"
I love you all so much...but Jesus is desperate for yo to spend time with Him! I encourage you to do that tomorrow morning....take a break from presents and just BE with him!
Okay....back to what I was talking about....Ava is staying with my parents while I go on our "Stateside" outreach. From December 27 to January 1 our Brazil team will be going to Kansas City to help at IHOP (International House of Prayer) with the "One Thing" conference they are hosting. Then my parents will bring Ava to TN and we will fly out for Brazil on January 6th!
I am so excited! Oh, I forgot to mention that I, along with my friend Dan, will be leading worship for our team and the churches we visit there! HA! Isn't that awesome! I have been practicing guitar diligently, and now God is going to use me in worship! I love it!
Please keep praying for us. We need about 3,000 dollars for the trip. I still need to pack ALL of our things in one tiny camping back pack. And we need Grace and Safety while we are there.
If God asks you to give to us, you can mail your tax deductible donation to:
Brooke Elliott
YWAM Nashville
PO Box 78219
Nashville TN 37207
Love and Blessings,
Brooke and Ava
So we are having a really nice mini vacation! I will head back up to TN this Sunday, and Ava will be staying here with my parents for a week. (By the way, the post office called the other day and said they FOUND Ava's PASSPORT! Haha! I really felt God saying to me that He would find it....I just didn't know when. All the worrying I did was pointless! (Does that sound familiar to you?) From now on I want to try hard not to worry when our circumstances seem hopeless...and just trust my papa that He will work it out for good. God has proven Himself trustworthy so many times to me, yet I still have a hard time trusting Him with every little area of my life.
This lost passport event really helped me see how much Jesus is taking care of me and Ava. So, I am going to choose to trust Him for the money we still need for Brazil as well. I know He wants us to go on this trip...so I know He is going to cause the money to come in for us! Please be praying about how our papa can use you to help bring His Kingdom to earth....and how he can use you in His marvelous plan for the people in Brazil....and everywhere! Jesus is so passionate about us! Even when we are so busy with this life that we think is so important....He is patiently waiting at your side for you to glance at Him, or whisper to Him, or say "I can't do this! You take over!"
I love you all so much...but Jesus is desperate for yo to spend time with Him! I encourage you to do that tomorrow morning....take a break from presents and just BE with him!
Okay....back to what I was talking about....Ava is staying with my parents while I go on our "Stateside" outreach. From December 27 to January 1 our Brazil team will be going to Kansas City to help at IHOP (International House of Prayer) with the "One Thing" conference they are hosting. Then my parents will bring Ava to TN and we will fly out for Brazil on January 6th!
I am so excited! Oh, I forgot to mention that I, along with my friend Dan, will be leading worship for our team and the churches we visit there! HA! Isn't that awesome! I have been practicing guitar diligently, and now God is going to use me in worship! I love it!
Please keep praying for us. We need about 3,000 dollars for the trip. I still need to pack ALL of our things in one tiny camping back pack. And we need Grace and Safety while we are there.
If God asks you to give to us, you can mail your tax deductible donation to:
Brooke Elliott
YWAM Nashville
PO Box 78219
Nashville TN 37207
Love and Blessings,
Brooke and Ava
Tuesday, December 14, 2010
Dia setenta e nove (day 79)
Well friends...Ava and I only have 4 days left in our lecture phase here at YWAM! We will be coming home to NC for a week during Christmas...and then we will head back up to TN to begin our outreach phase. We actually will start off the outreach by going down to "IHOP" in Kansas City. We are going to help out there for a few days during their "One Thing" conference. I am SO VERY excited! Especially since we have a great friend who works there with IHOP (International House of Prayer).
Our plane for Brazil will leave on January 6th. Our team of 14 has been eagerly praying and searching God's heart for what He wills us to do in Brazil. So far, I know that we will be going to Sao Paulo and Bel Horizonte. We are hoping to go to Rio, but don't have a mission or church to help there yet. So please be praying for that. Also, please be praying for Ava and I. Ava's passport is actually lost in the mail. We have been trying to locate it now for a week, and have been unsuccessful. I KNOW that God is loving and faithful, and will find it. God has been so generous to me, and has had so much grace with me these past months. He is never changing, and loves us so much! I am using this experience to strengthen and build my faith in Jesus, and His great power and love.
Ava and I also still need $3,665 to get to Brazil. Please keep praying for us, and please keep praying about how you can support us financially. When we are generous to the body of Christ, God is generous to us. I have heard so many accounts of how God provides for His people...and I know that when God tells us to do something....He will provide the money. "It's never about money...it's about obeying God's will." -Paul Hawkins (our teacher this week). Paul has been in YWAM for 40 years, and is an unbelievably inspiring man. He also encourages me when he says "You do the possible...and God will do the impossible!"
I also want to give you all a heads up on something that God has laid on my heart to pray about. When I was in Florida for the YWAM anniversary, Darlene Cunningham spoke briefly about "The Learning Center" in Kona, Hawaii. She didn't say much about it, but I felt I should write down the email, and find out more about it. I did email the woman in Kona, and have been in contact with her over the past few weeks. "The Learning Center" is a new 1st through 12th grade school which will eventually be a model school to train teachers who will be going out to teach in other nations. They are a brand new ministry, that I am praying about joining this summer. I would be teaching the third grade in the school. It would be a full time missionary position, and I would be raising full time support. This project is exactly what has been on my heart since I began teaching. It is a way to influence the education system by creating a new teaching environment in America. The school wants to create new curriculum to promote, as well as launch ideas such as teaching missionary children via video conferencing. The YWAM base in Kona has been producing revolutionary ideas in all realms of society, and I think it would be a fantastic place to be able to influence the world of education.
Please be praying for me and Ava as God launches us out into His will for our lives. It is an exciting time to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ!
I love you all so much!
Brooke
Our plane for Brazil will leave on January 6th. Our team of 14 has been eagerly praying and searching God's heart for what He wills us to do in Brazil. So far, I know that we will be going to Sao Paulo and Bel Horizonte. We are hoping to go to Rio, but don't have a mission or church to help there yet. So please be praying for that. Also, please be praying for Ava and I. Ava's passport is actually lost in the mail. We have been trying to locate it now for a week, and have been unsuccessful. I KNOW that God is loving and faithful, and will find it. God has been so generous to me, and has had so much grace with me these past months. He is never changing, and loves us so much! I am using this experience to strengthen and build my faith in Jesus, and His great power and love.
Ava and I also still need $3,665 to get to Brazil. Please keep praying for us, and please keep praying about how you can support us financially. When we are generous to the body of Christ, God is generous to us. I have heard so many accounts of how God provides for His people...and I know that when God tells us to do something....He will provide the money. "It's never about money...it's about obeying God's will." -Paul Hawkins (our teacher this week). Paul has been in YWAM for 40 years, and is an unbelievably inspiring man. He also encourages me when he says "You do the possible...and God will do the impossible!"
I also want to give you all a heads up on something that God has laid on my heart to pray about. When I was in Florida for the YWAM anniversary, Darlene Cunningham spoke briefly about "The Learning Center" in Kona, Hawaii. She didn't say much about it, but I felt I should write down the email, and find out more about it. I did email the woman in Kona, and have been in contact with her over the past few weeks. "The Learning Center" is a new 1st through 12th grade school which will eventually be a model school to train teachers who will be going out to teach in other nations. They are a brand new ministry, that I am praying about joining this summer. I would be teaching the third grade in the school. It would be a full time missionary position, and I would be raising full time support. This project is exactly what has been on my heart since I began teaching. It is a way to influence the education system by creating a new teaching environment in America. The school wants to create new curriculum to promote, as well as launch ideas such as teaching missionary children via video conferencing. The YWAM base in Kona has been producing revolutionary ideas in all realms of society, and I think it would be a fantastic place to be able to influence the world of education.
Please be praying for me and Ava as God launches us out into His will for our lives. It is an exciting time to be a servant of the Lord Jesus Christ!
I love you all so much!
Brooke
Saturday, December 4, 2010
Day 69!
Oi! (That's Hello is Portuguese)
Okay, I know it has been 19 days since I last wrote to you...but I know you will forgive me!
This era in time has almost come to an end...can you believe it? We only have two weeks left in our lecture phase of DTS here at YWAM! It really seems like yesterday that Ava and I were packing up to come here! The past 3 weeks have been packed full of fun, learning, and a journey to know my Jesus like I never thought possible.
My beautiful sister came to visit the week before Thanksgiving, and we had a spectacular time soaking in each others' presence! :) I'm really going to miss her...we won't see her again until we get back from Brazil! I really wouldn't be here if it weren't for her persistence in pushing me towards the me she always knew I was.
I'm going to try to sum up the past 3 weeks in a few short paragraphs...
The week we got back from Florida, Ken Helser was our teacher. A lot of you know Ken, and his incredible family...so I don't have to tell you what an intense week this was. He taught on worship... well that was what he was assigned to, but we quickly learned that he really just teaches on whatever he wants to! He is the funniest, most generous, and wise people I will ever get the pleasure of meeting. I really hope to visit "The Farm" soon after I return to NC. This week God challenged me in my obedience and persistence in pursuing Him. How much do I REALLY want to see God's face? How far will I go in my obedience to His voice? I have found that there really is nothing greater than being near to Jesus....really near Him, to the point that whenever I want to see Him, I just ask, and He comes and whispers His radiant knowledge and secrets to me. This relationship I have found is like nothing I have ever experienced...and the best part is that you can have it too!
The next week we focused on how to let more people know about God's great romance He wants to share, and we went out on the town with Jimmy Turner and Ben Naider. They work in one of the local churches in Clarksville. I personally grew in my faith to talk to strangers, and tell them how God really feels about them. I absolutely LOVE meeting new people and giving them a personal message from Jesus. It is the best adrenaline rush! :)
This past week we dove deeper in to the idea of the Kingdom of God, and how to seek it out and reveal it here on earth. I had a major epiphany about what "seeking first the Kingdom of God" really means. There is a great video on youtube that gave me insight to what it is like. You will probably like it....here is the web address:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrRtYzb-vwE
I hope that you all are doing so wonderful! I hope to see some of you soon, when we come back to NC for Christmas. I have so much more to share with you, and I promise I will log back on soon!
Love you friends,
Brooke
Okay, I know it has been 19 days since I last wrote to you...but I know you will forgive me!
This era in time has almost come to an end...can you believe it? We only have two weeks left in our lecture phase of DTS here at YWAM! It really seems like yesterday that Ava and I were packing up to come here! The past 3 weeks have been packed full of fun, learning, and a journey to know my Jesus like I never thought possible.
My beautiful sister came to visit the week before Thanksgiving, and we had a spectacular time soaking in each others' presence! :) I'm really going to miss her...we won't see her again until we get back from Brazil! I really wouldn't be here if it weren't for her persistence in pushing me towards the me she always knew I was.
I'm going to try to sum up the past 3 weeks in a few short paragraphs...
The week we got back from Florida, Ken Helser was our teacher. A lot of you know Ken, and his incredible family...so I don't have to tell you what an intense week this was. He taught on worship... well that was what he was assigned to, but we quickly learned that he really just teaches on whatever he wants to! He is the funniest, most generous, and wise people I will ever get the pleasure of meeting. I really hope to visit "The Farm" soon after I return to NC. This week God challenged me in my obedience and persistence in pursuing Him. How much do I REALLY want to see God's face? How far will I go in my obedience to His voice? I have found that there really is nothing greater than being near to Jesus....really near Him, to the point that whenever I want to see Him, I just ask, and He comes and whispers His radiant knowledge and secrets to me. This relationship I have found is like nothing I have ever experienced...and the best part is that you can have it too!
The next week we focused on how to let more people know about God's great romance He wants to share, and we went out on the town with Jimmy Turner and Ben Naider. They work in one of the local churches in Clarksville. I personally grew in my faith to talk to strangers, and tell them how God really feels about them. I absolutely LOVE meeting new people and giving them a personal message from Jesus. It is the best adrenaline rush! :)
This past week we dove deeper in to the idea of the Kingdom of God, and how to seek it out and reveal it here on earth. I had a major epiphany about what "seeking first the Kingdom of God" really means. There is a great video on youtube that gave me insight to what it is like. You will probably like it....here is the web address:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vrRtYzb-vwE
I hope that you all are doing so wonderful! I hope to see some of you soon, when we come back to NC for Christmas. I have so much more to share with you, and I promise I will log back on soon!
Love you friends,
Brooke
Monday, November 15, 2010
Day 50!!!!!
Hello my favorite friends, supporters, and blog followers!
Today is my fiftieth day at YWAM, and so much has happened since I last updated you all. I have actually been camping in Orlando for the past two weeks, which is why I have seemed to have disappeared! When I say camping..I mean CAMPING! No running water...no toilets...raining for three days straight....CAMPING! It was exactly what I have been asking of God...to make me uncomfortable. I want to surrender every part of my life...and that includes my health, safety, cleanliness, and comfortableness. As Americans we take so much for granted! Camping forces you to appreciate the simple luxuries we have as Americans. It also forces you to see the beauty and creativity of God's earth.
The past two weeks in Florida have been my favorite weeks...which is a very hard statement to make, considering the great life changing things that have happened in previous weeks. However, our first week in Florida, our speaker was a local house church pastor named Andrew Lamb. He not only taught on the Holy Spirit, but helped usher Him into our lives in an overwhelming way. Most all of the other students were introduced and re-introduced to the Holy Spirit...my best friend!
On day one of the week, I realized that I didn't really believe in God's ability to heal! I have always thought people were over exaggerating or faking their healing. But through Andrew's teaching I suddenly understood that God heals because HE LOVES US! He doesn't want to suffer, and whenever He can, he heals us! Sometimes He doesn't heal, and I will never make up a reason why He doesn't. I don't want to create a theology based on what God doesn't do...instead I want to focus on how He loves us, and therefore can and will heal us. Not only that, but the Holy Spirit is power, and when Jesus left us, He gave us the power of the Holy Spirit! That may sound simple, but when you truly get that knowledge from your head to your heart, it is amazing!
So, now I know that the Holy Spirit's power has nothing to do with me! I can easily pray...and should pray for every person, in every situation...because God wants to change things through prayer! I used to never pray for healing because I felt that I could not heal them...but it was never about whether I could do it! It is about whether God can...and He can! So I encourage you to pray for healing...and believe...and keep praying...and listen to God's voice.
I am going to end this blog, without telling you what God did the next week we were in Florida...because I want you to come back and read it! God has been speaking and doing incredible things in the hearts of those who are desperate for Him....be DESPERATE for Him! I have never felt this hunger for the word...and this thirst to hear His voice...and such a longing to just be in His presence before. I can't even explain it as well as I would like to...but something happens to you when you finally give up EVERY area of your life, and say to God..."You are ALL that matters...ever".
I pray for you all to receive that kind of zeal and hunger and thirst.
I love you all so much, and would not be here if not for your support and prayer.
Please continue to pray for us!
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be satisfied...for they will see God!"
Today is my fiftieth day at YWAM, and so much has happened since I last updated you all. I have actually been camping in Orlando for the past two weeks, which is why I have seemed to have disappeared! When I say camping..I mean CAMPING! No running water...no toilets...raining for three days straight....CAMPING! It was exactly what I have been asking of God...to make me uncomfortable. I want to surrender every part of my life...and that includes my health, safety, cleanliness, and comfortableness. As Americans we take so much for granted! Camping forces you to appreciate the simple luxuries we have as Americans. It also forces you to see the beauty and creativity of God's earth.
The past two weeks in Florida have been my favorite weeks...which is a very hard statement to make, considering the great life changing things that have happened in previous weeks. However, our first week in Florida, our speaker was a local house church pastor named Andrew Lamb. He not only taught on the Holy Spirit, but helped usher Him into our lives in an overwhelming way. Most all of the other students were introduced and re-introduced to the Holy Spirit...my best friend!
On day one of the week, I realized that I didn't really believe in God's ability to heal! I have always thought people were over exaggerating or faking their healing. But through Andrew's teaching I suddenly understood that God heals because HE LOVES US! He doesn't want to suffer, and whenever He can, he heals us! Sometimes He doesn't heal, and I will never make up a reason why He doesn't. I don't want to create a theology based on what God doesn't do...instead I want to focus on how He loves us, and therefore can and will heal us. Not only that, but the Holy Spirit is power, and when Jesus left us, He gave us the power of the Holy Spirit! That may sound simple, but when you truly get that knowledge from your head to your heart, it is amazing!
So, now I know that the Holy Spirit's power has nothing to do with me! I can easily pray...and should pray for every person, in every situation...because God wants to change things through prayer! I used to never pray for healing because I felt that I could not heal them...but it was never about whether I could do it! It is about whether God can...and He can! So I encourage you to pray for healing...and believe...and keep praying...and listen to God's voice.
I am going to end this blog, without telling you what God did the next week we were in Florida...because I want you to come back and read it! God has been speaking and doing incredible things in the hearts of those who are desperate for Him....be DESPERATE for Him! I have never felt this hunger for the word...and this thirst to hear His voice...and such a longing to just be in His presence before. I can't even explain it as well as I would like to...but something happens to you when you finally give up EVERY area of your life, and say to God..."You are ALL that matters...ever".
I pray for you all to receive that kind of zeal and hunger and thirst.
I love you all so much, and would not be here if not for your support and prayer.
Please continue to pray for us!
"Blessed are those who hunger and thirst after righteousness, for they will be satisfied...for they will see God!"
Monday, October 25, 2010
Day 29
I have very big news!!! Ava and I found out where we will be going on outreach in January!!!
BRAZIL!
I am super excited, and know that this is the right place for us. At my parents' church this Sunday, I began praying for the nation of Brazil, and God placed a burden on my heart for them. Please begin to join me in prayer for the women and children especially in Brazil.
I have so much more to tell you all...but have to retire to bed!
I love you all!
Wednesday, October 20, 2010
Day 24
Ciao!
Today was a beautiful Fall day, with red golden leaves blanketing the hills in front of the "Big House". The maintenance crew trying desperately to rake them up....only scattering them in the wind. Ava plays with her friend Luke everyday, who is the same age as her. She is having so much fun, and learning just as much about love as I am. I can actually hear God whispering to me His thoughts about me! He is romancing me, becoming my father, and the director of my life, all at the same time. I am dropping the suitcases of my plans, and boulders of my burdens left and right just to be in Christ's presence. I just can't seem to find anything in life as important and phenominal, luxorious, and magnetic as His love. I am only just beginning my journey in this incredible thing called life. I have realized within the past few short weeks that my future has open ended possibilities with Jesus. Now that I have finally stopped planning my life out the way I think should play out...God is free to orchestrate and compose a heartstopping melody of my life. I am more than overwhelmed and excited about what mine and Ava's future holds!
I love you all!
But especially I love...Patrick, Caroline, Tiffany, Alexis, and Elissa tonight! :)
Today was a beautiful Fall day, with red golden leaves blanketing the hills in front of the "Big House". The maintenance crew trying desperately to rake them up....only scattering them in the wind. Ava plays with her friend Luke everyday, who is the same age as her. She is having so much fun, and learning just as much about love as I am. I can actually hear God whispering to me His thoughts about me! He is romancing me, becoming my father, and the director of my life, all at the same time. I am dropping the suitcases of my plans, and boulders of my burdens left and right just to be in Christ's presence. I just can't seem to find anything in life as important and phenominal, luxorious, and magnetic as His love. I am only just beginning my journey in this incredible thing called life. I have realized within the past few short weeks that my future has open ended possibilities with Jesus. Now that I have finally stopped planning my life out the way I think should play out...God is free to orchestrate and compose a heartstopping melody of my life. I am more than overwhelmed and excited about what mine and Ava's future holds!
I love you all!
But especially I love...Patrick, Caroline, Tiffany, Alexis, and Elissa tonight! :)
Saturday, October 16, 2010
Day 20
Hola friends!
I hope this post finds you all doing wonderfully! I just had a skype chat with my parents...so I am doing wonderfully too. I hope you don't feel abandoned by me. I have been swamped with homework this week. We made it back to the YWAM base in Adams on Wednesday, and we all have been busily writing, printing, stuffing and stamping our very first newsletter. In addition, we have a big Bible project due on Monday. Thankfully I am almost done, and you should all be recieving your newsletters sometime in the next week!
This morning a few of us students got up early to do some fundraising. Somehow all the younger than me students put me in charge...so I rounded everyone up early and we set off to rake some leaves for donations. We drove for miles, and what felt like hours...but we only found a handful of yards with enough leaves in it to merit us asking if we could rake them! Most of the people were uber friendly, and it made the excursion delightful. The weather was gorgeous, and we were all in great spirits! We stopped midway to make egg salad sandwiches in the parking lot of an empty church...still not having raked any yards. Just before our giving up point, we found success! A very large yard with two elderly ladies said "Of course! We always need help raking leaves!" Without expecting any payment, we got to work. One hour, a pick up truck filled to the brim with bags of leaves, and thirty dollars later...we headed home. The boys all rode on top of the bags of leaves in the pick up of course! It was my most favorite Saturday morning in Adams yet!
Tomorrow we are trying a different church...the Vinyard in Clarksville. Please be praying that we find a church that we fit into while we are here...I really don't want to be a church hopper for the next 9 weeks!
Love and Blessings,
Brooke
I hope this post finds you all doing wonderfully! I just had a skype chat with my parents...so I am doing wonderfully too. I hope you don't feel abandoned by me. I have been swamped with homework this week. We made it back to the YWAM base in Adams on Wednesday, and we all have been busily writing, printing, stuffing and stamping our very first newsletter. In addition, we have a big Bible project due on Monday. Thankfully I am almost done, and you should all be recieving your newsletters sometime in the next week!
This morning a few of us students got up early to do some fundraising. Somehow all the younger than me students put me in charge...so I rounded everyone up early and we set off to rake some leaves for donations. We drove for miles, and what felt like hours...but we only found a handful of yards with enough leaves in it to merit us asking if we could rake them! Most of the people were uber friendly, and it made the excursion delightful. The weather was gorgeous, and we were all in great spirits! We stopped midway to make egg salad sandwiches in the parking lot of an empty church...still not having raked any yards. Just before our giving up point, we found success! A very large yard with two elderly ladies said "Of course! We always need help raking leaves!" Without expecting any payment, we got to work. One hour, a pick up truck filled to the brim with bags of leaves, and thirty dollars later...we headed home. The boys all rode on top of the bags of leaves in the pick up of course! It was my most favorite Saturday morning in Adams yet!
Tomorrow we are trying a different church...the Vinyard in Clarksville. Please be praying that we find a church that we fit into while we are here...I really don't want to be a church hopper for the next 9 weeks!
Love and Blessings,
Brooke
Tuesday, October 12, 2010
Day 16
Hey friends!
So this week we are staying in a church auditorium in Nashville....I feel like I am at a youth group lock in! It is bringing back great memories! :) We are also hearing Andrew Reese speak about Identity in Christ. It is some amazingly deep thoughts. (I will add some bullet points of what we are learning about in the near future). The best part is that we are prophesying over and edifying each other as well. It has been a time of learning and healing...and crying!
In the past I felt so distant from God, but these past weeks I am feeling Him so much nearer to me! It is so amazing how well I can hear His voice...and I am baffled as to why haven't heard Him like this before!
I was reading over my journal from this summer, and can see the progression of God's presence in my life. I really can't even put how amazing I am feeling into words.
I hope that you all are well, and I will pray that God speaks to you this week in an undeniable loving way.
Please continue to pray for Ava and I for strrength, and good health.
So this week we are staying in a church auditorium in Nashville....I feel like I am at a youth group lock in! It is bringing back great memories! :) We are also hearing Andrew Reese speak about Identity in Christ. It is some amazingly deep thoughts. (I will add some bullet points of what we are learning about in the near future). The best part is that we are prophesying over and edifying each other as well. It has been a time of learning and healing...and crying!
In the past I felt so distant from God, but these past weeks I am feeling Him so much nearer to me! It is so amazing how well I can hear His voice...and I am baffled as to why haven't heard Him like this before!
I was reading over my journal from this summer, and can see the progression of God's presence in my life. I really can't even put how amazing I am feeling into words.
I hope that you all are well, and I will pray that God speaks to you this week in an undeniable loving way.
Please continue to pray for Ava and I for strrength, and good health.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)