God knows.... I don't.

I don't understand right now God, but I trust you completly.

I know Your plan is FAR better than anything I could EVER imagine.

Proverbs 3:5-6
Trust in the Lord with all your heart; do not depend on your own understanding. Seek his will in all you do, and he will show you which path to take.

Freedom.

Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom

Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom

If you're tired and you are thirsty, there is freedom

If you're tired and you are thirsty, there is freedom

Freedom Reings in this place

Showers of mercy and grace

Falling on every face

There is freedom

Jesus reings in this place

Showers of mercy and grace

Falling on every face

There is freedom

Freedom Reings in this place

Showers of mercy and grace

Falling on every face

There is freedom

Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom

Where the spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom

So we lift our eyes to Jesus, there is freedom

So we lift our eyes to Jesus, there is freedom

2 Corinthians 3:7
Now the Lord is the Spirit, and where the Spirit of the Lord is, there is freedom.

Galations 5:1
It is for freedom that Christ has set us free. Stand firm, then, and do not let yourselves be burdened again by a yoke of slavery.

Ephesians 3:12
In him and through faith in him we may approach God with freedom and confidence.

BAPTIZED!!!

I got baptized yesterday!!! And it just feels absolutly incredible!!!!

It was more that just baptism. It was God confirming what He's been drilling into my head and heart over and over again these past few months. Just that He's proud of me...

He brought several people today to continually remind me how proud they were of me. And it was EXACTLY what I needed. And it was just incredible to see how many people were there to support me. And just how many people truly cared about me. It was amazing to see how many people were in this together with me on my journey. And just stories of people that have been praying for me for years.. that I had no idea were.

This week I've never felt more alone in my entire life. And yesterday was just an incredible reminder how I am not in this alone, and how I have a HUGE support system. And even though I don't nesessarily realize how much support I have. It's there. It's there abundantly. And I praise God for that. It's always been something that I've struggled with. Not having support that I needed at home and stuff about Spiritual matters with my family being non-believers. But yesterday I realized how loved I really am, and how much people truly care about me.

God continues to amaze me, and He continues to show me how much He loves me, and how proud He is of me. God is good, and I know as I have taken this next step to following Him things are going to get better. I am just ready to pursue the next step now. I'm just ready for more of God!!!!

Confusion.

Romans 11:33-36
Oh, how great are God’s riches and wisdom and knowledge! How impossible it is for us to understand his decisions and his ways! For who can know the Lord’s thoughts? Who knows enough to give him advice?And who has given him so much that he needs to pay it back? For EVERYTHING comes from him and exists by his power and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen.

Today I was reading Romans 11 & 12. And spent a lot of time reflecting on what's been going on this year. I think of all the loss, all the gain, all the good times, all those heartaches, all those times where I wondered where God was, all those times when God was SO close, all those tears I cried, all those laughs. I remembered how there was great loss this year. There isn't a day that goes by when I don't think about Chelsea or Kyle and the others <3.>

What hit me hard in Romans was the last verse. "For EVERYTHING comes from Him and exisits by his power." It's hard to believe that; especially this year. All of the heartache, the loss, the tears, the pain, the troubles I've dealt with and those times of complete sadness. How can a God that loves me completely still allow that to happen? How could those who were the closest to be not be here anymore? How could God in all this power allow that to come?

And then the second part of that verse "...and is intended for his glory. All glory to him forever! Amen." I don't see how in any way that everything going on this year would be intended for his glory. I love this verse. And I love the meaning behind it. But applying it to my life it doesn't seem as though anything that happend. The lost of two of my best friends, seven friends, and add to that everything else that's been going on. How is that intended for His glory? Doesn't make sense to me. Sorry I am a downer today. I've overly tired.

Downtown Eastside.

Well we've arrived in East Van. It's been interesting. We're living in the attic of a church. Which we had to do an Extreme Make-Over: Attic Edition. It's taken a little while to get used to. Yesterday we met some of the Youth, and had gelato together. It was nice getting to know them; they're a wild bunch, that come from very broken homes. But I love them. My heart has already broken for them. They have really hit my heart. They we're wild and out of control and the day was complete chaos. But I loved them so much. And I just want the best for them; I want them to understand the compassion, grace and freedom that there is in Christ.

This is where we're sleeping. We still need to clean it out a bit more. And we have to move our stuff out every single morning so we don't die of Dust mites. It makes Team Germ's old living conditions look like a resort.

"After testifying and preaching the word of the Lord in Samaria, Peter and John returned to Jerusalem. And they stopped in many Samaritan villages along the way to preach the Good News." Acts 8:25

As a team yesterday we were reading through Acts 8. And those who think that God doesn't speak as clearly as did in biblical times. I'd like to say that's not true. Our team has continued to read through the books of Acts. And every single time it just seems to be written directly to us. It's crazy. That verse above. I just thought was absolutly perfect. It's our team in a nutshell. Peter and John wanted to go back to Jerusalem. Same as our team wants to get to Brasil. But on their journey they stopped in various places preaching and telling people about the Good News. I tottaly related that to our team. We started out in Abbotsford, and now in East Van. We have just stopped in a few places to spread Christ's love. It's all part of our team's journey to our final destination: Brasil.

Not so Unknown.

****Our VISAs got sent in on Monday, and the Brasilian consulate called MBMSI the other day. And we still don't know if that is a good thing or a bad thing. A man that was a missionary in Brasil for twenty years was going to call them back. And woo them using some Portueguese. So we're still not too sure on what happend or how it went. So we would really, really appriciate your prayers! We all just want to get to Brasil...Lord willing. =)

Well team unknown is becoming a litte more known. We're heading out to East Van. And we will be working with a Church out there. The Youth Pastor that we'll be working with was actually a missionary in Brasil for five years, and he's married to this woman who is Brasilian. So that will be incredible to work alongside them both.

We will be living in an attic of a church there. All six of us crammed into one tiny place.. That should be interesting. I'll definatly keep everyone updated.

I'm a Missionary.

Isaiah 61

"The Spirit of the Sovereign Lord is upon me, for the Lord has anointed me to bring good news to the poor. He has sent me to comfort the brokenhearted and to proclaim that captives will be released and prisoners will be freed. He has sent me to tell those who mourn that the time of the Lord’s favor has come"

It's not where I get sent. But it's what I am there to do. I don't care where I go anymore. I just want to serve those who need to be served. Come alongside the brokenhearted, show them God's compassion, mercy and grace. And I really think that i've really grown a lot. And I'm just ready to go where God calls me. Because in the end that's where I am going to end up. And that's were the fruit is going to be produced. So God right now is calling me to Brasil, and now I am going there. As long as I can serve those who need God, then I'm there. Fully engaged and fully ready to serve them with every part of me that I've got, and any part that I don't got-Jesus will shine through. I'm so excited for Brasil now. It took a few weeks to get to this place... but I really feel that God's will is becoming more and more evident in my life. Everytime I spend time with Him in the quite place. And everytime I pray, and becomemore and more intimate with Him. It's not so much where I am going, it's what I am going to do.

And that's something that really has settled in latley, and something that I've really had to accept and really believe in my heart. Staying in Abbotsford, while the rest of the teams went out was really hard. It just seems like they get to serve, and we're just stuck here waiting around. But I was called to serve the brokenhearted, those in need, those who have lost hope, those who are mourning. And I really think feel like God has been teaching me that I don't have to leave the country to find that. And that I am not just a missionary as soon as I go overseas. It starts now, and I have been called to serve. I will go to the corners of the earth, and I am ready. But if God wants me here. Then I am willing.

Well.. I think that I have just arrived in paradise.. <3>

Over these past two days Thailand, Germany, and India have left us. It was two full days mixed with over excitement of the teams embarking on an incredible adventure for Jesus. And sorrow because our family members were getting spread across to the corners of the earth. It was a bitter sweet time.

Thailand has safely arrived in Thailand!!

Germany is safely in London!!

India is on an airplane!!

Brasil is safely in paradise!!

Praise the LORD!!

But Team Brasil, is living at Chelsea's house right now- tentitivley until Tuesday. People and Churchs are praying weather or not they want to host us for the next month. The possiblitlies are: Kelowna, Edmonton, and Winnipeg. We've been praying a lot about it as well. And I know that we have a lot of people praying for us as well.

I think that our team has taken in this whole situation really, really well. We all realize that it's Gods timing. And His will, will be done. If we were susposed to be in Brasil right now, we would have been. So we're going into this next month with open minds, and expecting the best. We know that God has some awesome plans for our team right here. While He continues to prepare our hearts and mind for Brasil.

It's going to be even better once we finally get down there. Our team has been through soooo much, and as soon as we get down there I know that we're going to work even harder. And it's going to be so much more worth it down there, because we had to work through so much together to get down there. It's going to be incredible. I can see our team having such a drive to build relationships, work harder, connect as a team, and spread the Good News together.

I am SOOOOOO excited to see what God has planned in our lives.. and all the other teams!!! God has amazing plans this year for all the nations!! =) And we'll praise Him for that.