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!