9 days... or something like that

With only about 9 days left, my life has gone into packing mode. It's weird trying to pack for 6 months, with so many things I want to bring with me, it's difficult for me to pick and choose... I'm thinking I may have to go buy a bigger suitcase! The packing has been really good for me though, seeing what I'm taking, putting things aside, It's starting to become reality that I'm leaving, which is really exciting... and slightly terrifying. The part that is sad for me now is saying goodbye, already having to have said goodbye to my grandparents, most of my extended family, and my brother and sister-in-law. It's been hard, and slightly weird, since I'm still in the 'I'm not going anywhere' kind of mode. Hopefully by the time I get to the airport next friday I'll feel like I'm actually leaving!

Incredible Support!

After speaking infront of my church last week I have already felt an overflow of support, whether people are interested in hearing about what I'm doing, where I will be, or how I'm doing with preparing for this trip. I love how people are telling me how courageous this is, because it's something I never really thought about. It has been a big step for me, and I'm still unsure how I was convinced by God to do this, and how I'm still going through with it. It hasn't been easy, but I'm glad I've gone through with it, and especially appreciative of all the encouragement and notes that I've gotten. I will take them with me as I go, to be a constant reminder that I have so many people behind me, supporting me, and praying for me. Thanks again!!

Church Presentation

So this morning after much convincing I finally went in front of my church and talked about this upcoming trip, and shared my story about how I got here. As nervous as I was I've had a lot of support and encouragement from them all which I am very thankful for. For those of you who didnt get a chance to hear my presentation and wanted to here it is:

Good Morning! I'm Heather Vis. I've been a member of this church for almost 21 years, my entire life.
This upcoming January I will be going on a mission trip with the organization Youth With A Mission. I've been interested in mission trips for many years, I've heard about them in young peoples and through talking with various people who have done missions. I was fascinated and proud of them but told myself I couldn't do it. But no matter what I thought God had different plans. I've felt HIm pushing me for many years to do this, and I would just push back thinking you really have the wrong person for this. Its been a power struggle and clearly I didn't win which I am thankful for now. So with a 6 month break i have because of my seasonal job, I'm finally letting God take control.
As for what I'm doing, I'll be leaving for YWAM on January 7 where I will go to Maui Hawaii. I will be there for two and a half monts of training with their Discipleship Training school. THere I will have lectures, small groups and local outreach in which I will learn all about evangelism and how to strengthen my own abilities to better connect and share God's love story.
After the initial training I will be sent to South Asia for two and a half months where I will be in either Nepal, Bangledesh, China, or Indonesia. I could end up setting up children's ministries in orphanages to working with university students, to traveling from village to village in remote jungles. No matter where I am sent I feel confident that I will be stretched and strengthened by God.
I have already been strengthened and deeply encouraged by your support. Whether you have told me how excited you are for me, or how amazing it sounds, or that you are praying for me. I am very thankful to have a church family behind me supporting me.

the extras...

So when planning for this trip and how much it would cost... I sorta forgot about all the extra stuff, the so-to-speak hidden cost. Its not that I really mind (too much...) but buying a raincoat, and waterproof pants, and most importantly a hiking backpack my visa bill starts to depress me. All this shopping though has a benefit. Firstly, I know I'm not just blowing my money - I know I will be very thankful for this when i'm travelling, and I really don't like to get wet when I'm hiking. Secondly, its helping me prepare for going away, mentally. Its slowly starting to become reality for me as I realize that I'm only 2 months away from spreading my wings!! Here's to reality setting in!

Statement of Faith

I have one more thing to add to the previous post about YWAM and who they are so below I'm going to add part of their statement of faith.

Youthe with a mission (YWAM) is an international movement of Christians from many denominations dedicated to presenting Jesus personally to this generation, to mobilizing as many as possible to help in this task, and to the training and equipping of believers for their part in fulfilling th Great COmmission. As citizens of GOd's kingdom, we are called to love, worship, and obey our Lord, to love and serve His Body, the Church, and to present the whole gospel for the whole person throughout the whole world.

We of Youth With A Mission believe that the Bible is God's inspired and authoritative word, revealing that Jesus Christ is God's son; that people are created in God's image; that He created us to have eternal life through Jesus Christ; that although all people have sinned and come short of God's glory, God has made salvation possible through the death on the cross and resurrection of Jesus Christ; that repentance, faith , love and obedience are fitting responses to God's initiative of grace towards us; that God desires all people to be saved and to come to the knowledge of the truth; and that the Holy Spirit's power is demonstrated in and through us for the accomplishment of Christ's last commandment, "...Go ye into all the world and preach the gospel to every creature" (Mark 16:15)

The Countdown is on!

Its official. 82 days until I'm starting a new adventure in Maui, Hawaii. It doesn't even seem real to me yet, even with all the preparations I've started. For those who don't know what I am doing exactly, let me explain. I'm going to Discipleship Training School with the program Youth With A Mission in Haiku, Maui. During this program I will spend about 2 1/2 months in Maui taking classes. Here I will learn about evanglelism, the characteristics of God and learn about my relationship to Him. We will also hold church services every sunday. There is a lot more we will do - but that's all I can think of now. From Maui, I will go on an outreach to someplace in Asia, I won't find out where I am going and what the main focus will be until I am in Maui. This leaves me a little bit excited but a bit unsure as well, since I have no idea what country I will be living in for 2 1/2 months next year!!
All in all, I'm thrilled to be going but also nervous since I dont know quite what to expect, but God has led me this far and I trust that he will keep leading me. The reason that I am going on this trip in the first place is that I felt I had no other choice. I have felt God pushing me to go into missions for the last few years, and this is my chance. Between people mentioning that they could see me just up and leaving to do missions, to having Bible passages pop out to me and waking up one morning just knowing that this is what God wants me to do. After being so unsure of what to do and where God is leading me, I felt so sure and confident when I filled out the application back in April that this is what I am meant to do right now in my life!