Sunday, January 18, 2009

Week Uno

I am doing a Discipleship Training School through Youth With A Mission in Salem, Oregon. It's broken up into 2 parts. 3 months of training where you get to know God & 2 months of outreach where you make God known.

What a week! WOW! I just finished up my first week here in Salem, Oregon and it has been fantastic. I arrived at the YWAM base last Saturday after a 13 hour drive. My mom made the trip with me so I wouldn't end up in Canada or anything since I'm so bad with directions. It was hard to say goodbye to my her when I took her to the airport...her little baby's all grown up. On the ride back to the base reality when I realized I was completely alone. Just me & God. But it's not really like that, the staff here are incredibly nice & my fellow students are so much fun. This really is going to be an experience I'll never forget.

My usual weekly schedule consists of:
7:15-8:30 AM: Wake up, get some breakfast, do devotions.
8:30-10:45: Class (This week Mekeisha Smith Spoke on "Hearing God's Voice & Worship)
10:45-11:00:Break time (Coffee and donated Starbucks baked goods)
11:00-12:30: Class
12:30-1:30: Lunch
1:30-3:00: Class (or Bible Meditation, varies by week)
3:00-5:00: Acts of Service (Childcare, I get to watch Staff's kids, lots of fun)
5:15-7:00: dinner, break time
7:00-whenever: Outreach, The Rising, or Worship

The Monday and Tuesday we spent mostly on introductions. But Tuesday night after a community church service called "The Rising" we went to down town Salem and I had my 1st experience with street evangelizing. I was with Angela & Angie (2 of the staff) & we met these two young women outside of Starbucks. It was really great to get to know them and build a relationship before we shared who we were & what we were about. After speaking with them for about 2 hours, they allowed us to pray with them & we went our separate ways. I think we planted a very nice seed in their hearts.

Wednesday through Saturday we had this really amazing speaker named Mekeisha Smith. She totally rocked my world. Some of the things she talked about:
  • Maybe God's not calling us to the spotlight atop the platform, maybe He's calling us to the places no one wants to go.
  • God is EXCITED to be with us and talk with us. (The Prodigal Son)
  • A poem about understanding the Bible: Read on Read on Read on Read on Read on Read on Read on Read on Read on Read on Read on Read on! :) Nice poem huh?
  • Sin & disobedience serves it's greatest purpose in reminding you not to do it again.
  • He didn't save me to use me, He saved me because He loves me. Period. That's it.
  • Be willing to be the answer to your own prayer.
  • It is not God who needs to be convinced to do something, it's me.
  • "I believe that God has called enough men & women to reach all the yet unreached tribes of the earth. It is not God who does not call; it's men who will not respond." -Isobel Kuhn
  • Knowing God is like trying to hold fir to your chest, you're gonna get burned...but He never said it would be easy, just that it would be worth it.
  • Don't ask God to come, He's already there.
  • What is God worth to you?
  • Love, worship, obey.
  • Worship involves sacrifice.
  • "A gift without a heart behind it is a bribe. Goad asks for our heart, no our gifts." -Samuel Chadwic
  • She also taught about the tabernacle the Lord has Moses build and how it looks today which was AMAZING!

I have a couple prayer requests if you don't mind:

  1. Please pray for my sister and her car. It won't start yet again & she doesn't exactly have money to drop on a new engine or anything.
  2. Also pray for me financially. I have $1,200 so far for this whole experience. But the school is $2,900 and the outreach is $3,000. So if you do the math I still have $4,800 to go. I know God will provide, but prayers would be nice. :)

Sorry this is so long, but I had a lot to tell. I'll keep you posted on how things are going and the great works God is doing. I love you & miss you all! God bless!

4 comments:

  1. Good for you, Caiti! As you asked, we'll be praying for you and your sister. It's great to hear you're doing well, and enjoying your time thus far. Love you!

    ~Allyson (& Forrest) :)

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  2. I love it! Please always do this much detail, it was great and seriously reminds me of Master's Commission! I'm so proud of you for taking this huge step in faith! God will not let you down! You're amazing and I am definitely praying for you! Love U!

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  4. Wow Caiti girl!! It sounds like you're bursting with things that God is doing to you! How exciting!! The Thailand thing sounds intense! I'll be praying about that with you. I love reading about how God is using you! And when you get a chance, we have stories about what God is doing here too! Ca-razy stuff man!! Haha He's so good! :]] Love you girl and keep writing!

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