Saturday, July 10, 2010

Final Remarks

It has been a great experience and its amazing it is over now. The five months went by faster than I could have imagined but I am ready for the next steps ahead. Going into my time abroad I was very frustrated with the Lord and had no clear direction for my life but since going on the DTS the Lord has really blessed me and opened multiple opportunities for me. God has really showed me how to trust him and he made himself real to me through different experiences including the holy spirit week. Although I did have a lot of fun I also had a great time serving the Lord. I would say my favorite thing for my time away was the story about the hippo and also about talking to people in the restaurant. God has blessed me a lot and I hope that I will be able to continue to walk with the Lord. My time has allowed me to see many things about Christianity and was able to look at it from different perspectives. Now that my time at YWAM is finished it is time to look to the future. While on my DTS it seemed the Lord had given me three options: go to Australia to staff a YWAM backpacking DTS, lead a hiking ministry for college aged kids in Seatle, or to attend Graduate school to get my masters in International Care and Community Development. Although I was leaning towards the hiking ministry in Seattle, I feel that going to school will open so many doors for me (hopefully somewhere like World Vision) and God may later on have me do the hiking ministry on the side. I want to thank all of you who have contributed to my amazing time in YWAM Lesotho. Your prayers and contributions have allowed me to be blessed as much as I was. So again I thank you for all your support and keeping up with reading my blog. I hope you have enjoyed reading through my story and I hope it has blessed you as much as it has blessed me. I can't wait till see where God takes me next!

Thursday, July 8, 2010

Debriefing Week

It’s amazing that this is the last week. I will be on a plane in only a few days but it has been an amazing journey. During the first few days of the week we had a speaker come in to talk to us about returning home. For the first two days we where taught about how to go about telling our story to those to ask and how to explain in 30 seconds, 2 minutes, and 15 minutes what we did and how we have been affected. For Monday and Tuesday we had the pleasant surprise of having Marie stay with us again (she was the student that didn't come on outreach to work at a orphanage.) It was great to catch up with her and to swap stories. It seemed quickly apparent that it was for the better that she didn't come on outreach for she was able to do some amazing things in the corporate world and it allowed our team to open up more and grow together (especially Joy which was her best friend). This last week was fairly hard on me because I had gotten to the point where all of us where ready to go home and ready to get away from each other. Although I enjoyed my time, I was ready to be with my friends and family once again and in 7 days that would be a reality. On Tuesday we had more classes on telling our story and during the day we very bored. There isn't to much to do in Maseru so we just played a lot of the card game Uno and would go to movies at the theater (only 2 dollars too!) and try to watch the important World Cup games in this empty room in the mall that they made into an impromptu bar. On Wednesday, our last day of lectures, our speaker talked about what we where going to do next in our lives and how to plan for it. He told us that we need to put less pressure on ourselves about our calling and to look at what our desires are, education, and that the Lord will lead us toward the area he wants us to be in. It took a lot of pressure off me to not have to have an obvious, in your face, calling and that God can put opportunities in front of you and will give you the skills to be successful in that and to glorify God in that. I have always felt that the Lord would be obvious with me and in some ways was hoping he would just literally telling, do this, but now I see that he has given me some unique gifts and opportunities and he will lead me towards something but it may not be as obvious as I would like. As I went to pray after that God seemed to put on my heart to go ahead with doing a ministry with college students in the outdoors. This would include taking these guys on camping trips, rock climbing, and disciple them. It was great to feel that the Lord wants me to do something that seems so fun and exciting. Although I am going to take a lot more time of praying and asking for confirmation it seemed right. That afternoon was definitely the high of the week but what happen after that would definitely be the low. Soon after we as a group tried to talk to our base leader about getting clarity and transparency of how the finances where being used and it created some tension for the rest of the week. The back-story is that at times during the DTS we had asked for clarity on the finances and he wouldn't give us a budget. Other times he put a student in charge of the finances for the outreach phase and she was asking him about the finances and he got very defensive and walked away. Since he wasn't around very much and acted fussy about the money it created a barrier between the students and the base leader. He also mentioned that if we saved money for outreach we could use some of it to go out to eat during the last week and so we asked him about that. When we sat down with him he was very offended that we even asked about the finances and stormed out and created a tension filled last week. It took a second meeting with other staff members and a mediator to finally help resolve the broken relationship. I had a chance if I wanted to ask once again about the money and see if we could get the extra back, as many other bases had done if there was money left over, but after praying and talking to a few people I felt God wanted me to let it go. I have been blessed a lot and I realized the money wasn't mine anyways it was God's money. Although the last week was very tense with our leader we tried to make the best out of it by relaxing and enjoying our last week together as students. Wednesday afternoon we went to go buy these blankets that the people from Lesotho make...very beautiful and warm! On Thursday we all went to some chick flick that although wasn't very good it was filmed in Seattle and it made me very excited to go home! On Friday we where able to relax a little after our talk with Nathan about the finances was over (as I mentioned earlier), and we where able to enjoy watching a few fifa games that night. I would say at around Friday and Saturday I really just wanted to get out of there...the maturity level of these fellow students where getting to me. They would blow those vuvuzellas (the horns you hear during the World Cup games) in the house and right next to me. After multiple times asking them to stop, I couldn't handle it anymore and just wanted to leave. On a more positive note I was able to enjoy the last few days by watching a movie every night. One night we watched toy Story 3, another a pirated version of x-men origins (yeah we got it from the movie rental store...only in Africa) and another night I watched Stranger than fiction. On Saturday we had our graduation and although it was small it was great to finally be done with the DTS and at this point there where only 2 days left before we headed home. It was also nice to be out from under some of the DTS rules which I felt where a little ridiculous (no one of the opposite sex could give someone a backrub, among others.) On Saturday and Sunday night we had our first beer since the start of the DTS and it was against the rules. Although I didn't have that much since I only feel its good to do it in moderation it was still nice to feel somewhat normal again. In Lesotho you have to put deposits down to be able to take any glass beer bottles out of the bar and so when we finished them we went back to return them and ended up having a few wonderful conversations with the local crowd. It was fun to have one last interaction with the locals before I headed home. People in Lesotho are so friendly and it will be weird to not say hello to everyone I meet on the street. Finally Monday came and although I had been packed basically all week it was finally time to actually go. I said goodbye to everyone and headed to the airport. I happened to be on the same plane all the way to D.C. with Josh, one of the fellow students, and it allowed the flights home to be a little easier. I first flew from Maseru to Jo-burg on a 1-hour flight, and then had a 5-hour layover. I then boarded a plane to D.C. with a 1-hour stop for gas in Senegal at 1am.awesome... The next day I took a plane from D.C. to Seattle and after 24 hours of flight time (not counting layovers and time change) I was finally home. As I flew over Seattle I pointed out my parents house and was ready for the next adventure in my life. In the next post I will talk about what is next and how God has blessed me on this DTS.

Thursday, July 1, 2010

Rustenburg, South Africa Week 2

So week two in Rustenburg was great. On Monday the other people on my team went back to martha's house to do the feeding program but I went with the base leader to go to a soccer camp. The whole day I took about half, 20 or so, of these kids that showed up for this free soccer camp. Most of the kids went to the school next to the soccer field. The ages ranged from 8 to 14 and we tried to usual split the older kids up with the younger kids. Most of the kids lived in the small shacks that surround the soccer field. The reason they where having a soccer camp was that a bank in Germany decided to donate a lot of money to build a small field turf field for the kids to enjoy and it was our job to put together a soccer camp before they arrived and to also talk to them after the camp about life lessons like tell the authorities or parents when bad things happen, etc. Anyways, the first day of the soccer camp I took half of the kids and just winged it. I have never coached any soccer camps so I just went of my previous knowledge and what I had to do as a kid when I played. It was so fun! It was hard at times to think of things to do but eventually I got used to it and really got the hang of it. After the soccer camp I went back to marthas where the rest of the team was and played with the kids there for a bit then we usually just relaxed after that which made the week fairly easy. On Tuesday I went back to the soccer camp and this time the rest of the team came to help me out with the camp. The guys helped do the soccer camp and the girls helped with netball...which is basically a mix between ultimate frisbie and basketball. On wednesday we went back to martha's house and did the usual program that we did the week before. I also played a lot of soccer with the kids there as well so this whole week included a lot of soccer...which was awesome! On thusday we went back to the soccer camp and after doing a normal set of drills...which I mainly had them do passing drills (africans seem to like to dribble a lot and shoot a lot..so i just had them pass)... they finally got to play on the new field turf field that the germans paid for. Before they had been playing on the dirt field next to it but for at least a little bit that day they got to play a scrimmage and I was a referee for a bit. I couldn't handle it anymore and after one of the kids left I went in a played awww I missed playing! That night we went to the Japan vs. Denmark World Cup match. Martha's house had been given a lot of tickets from sony to go to the game and Martha gave some of them to us so we got to go to the game for free!!! I rooted for Japan which won 3-1 and it was an overall great game...so much fun. It had been a dream of mine to go to a game and finally I had my chance! We soon realized at the game that the U.S. was going ot play in the same stadium on saturday..the same day we planned on leaving.. I got so excited and pleaded that we could stay one more day! On friday we did more of a soccer camp and at one point they weren't listening to me so I almost made them do sprints but after they listened up I let them play a fun game. Soon after I said goodbye to all the kids and also at Martha's house. After that, and much pleading, we headed to the fifa ticket office (there was so much security!) to get our tickets for the U.S. game. They only had category 2 tickets which where about 130 dollars. At first the ones that where interested said no, except me of course! Soon after Josh one of my teammates said sure I will go with you and we quickly ran back to get the tickets. Soon after I was suppose to go on a blind date but it was canceled so my south african blind date experience never happened haha. That night we where invited to the base leader of Rustenburg's house. We ended up just relaxing and watching Gladiator. The next day was game day...I was so excited..I was going to a U.S. game!!!! After cleaning up the house and doing facepaint (which we only could find fingerpaint but we went with it) we also painted our white undershirts. When we got to the game we had about 30 different random people want our picture. We also had the New York Post amoung other journalists take our picture. As we waited around for the game to start josh and myself got interviewed by about 4 or 5 tv channels..many of which where spanish countries...random! I also saw ESPN and ran over to be in the background so if anyone saw me let me know haha. I never felt so famous with all this attention! As we sat down we quickly realized that everyone except us and a few U.S. fans where all going for Ghana. This also included the English fans that where behind us that bought tickets thinking their team was going to play but they didn't. So all the English fans where trying to piss us off my yelling in our ear, "Go Ghana." The game itself didn't go the way I would have liked, obviously, but it was great to go to a world cup game and see the U.S. play...it has been a dream of mine to do!!!! After the game as I was walking to the bus another channel interviewed me and knowing I was repersenting all U.S. fans I tried to be as cordial as possible and I wished Ghana the best and the continent of Africa eventhough I didn't really want to. I soon found out that the channel was SABC which is the largest South African TV channel. So I was broadcasted all over the country haha. On Sunday we just got ready and headed out. We soon found out on the way home that the car was leaking antifreeze and we had to keep filling the radiator with water. It was hard to get home but eventually we made it to Lesotho. It is quite weird to be back but am looking forward to getting home now! In only a week I will be back in Seattle!

Monday, June 21, 2010

Rustenburg, South Africa Week 1

So after we finally arrived to south africa we went to the YWAM base in Rustenburg to stay for 2 weeks. We arrived late friday night and I had to jump the fence and walk around the base to find someone to be able to open the gate that was closed. The next day we just relaxed, slept in and went to the mall. At the mall there was a great amount of England fans and also U.S. fans for the U.S. England game was that night. We also had to help plan for our teammate mohapeloa to be sent back to lesotho. That night we went to watch the U.S. vs England game at a friend of a friends house. It was a huge house with a nice t.v., pool, hot tub...you name it. I felt like I was back in the states and visiting a rich friend. It was great to see the first half of the game there...but everyone wanted to go back to the base to see the second half so we quickly left and tried to make it back in time for the second half and although I was a bit nervous we would miss some of the game we did make it in time. On sunday we went to the mall again and watched Robinhood...yeah it just came out here I dunno about the states but probably has been out for awhile! That night I went to Mcdonalds with the team...something I would never do in the states but outside the U.S. its not that bad. On Monday we went to a orphanage I guess you could say...except none of the kids live there...its mainly kids who come there after school or anytime they can..so they can be away from their houses. I think a few do live at the house but most do not. For the whole week outside of tuesday we planned things for them each day (11am to 3pm). These consist of teaching about a country of the world, a bible story, a craft, and a few games. After we are done with that we just go back and relax most days..or on tuesday we had a 2 hour intersession time which we are not used to. At our base we have a lot of intersession time but try to split it up into different days. On Tuesday we went to a squater camp to pray for the clinic's patients there. If anyone has seen District 9 that is basically what these people are living in. The government allows people to rent these shacks but gives them basically nothing else and they are surrounded by barbwire..its horrible. We prayed for about 6 different people that day including one lady that got stabbed in the face because a guy wanted her cellphone and attacked her for it. It was har to see these people in these kinds of conditions. Also many of the people living there are actually from Lesotho. What happens a lot of the time is the man goes to work in the mines and then brings the kids and wife and then he either loses his job and is stuck there or never finds a job. Also sometimes the lady and the kids come to live with the father then he leaves them and they are stuck. Instead of sending them home to their countries (most of the people aren't even from South Africa) they force the people to live in these camps. That night we had an intersession meeting and prayed for about an hour then as it got quiet the Rustenburg team tried to help to continue the prayer time by asking if any of us needed prayer and I asked for prayer. Over the past few weeks I had been looking forward to going home but at the same time feel like I will be in the same place I was before...eventhough I have changed as a person. As they prayed one of the staff members told me she kept getting the words, leader... This wasn't the first time people have felt the lord is calling me to leadership. I feel the Lord wanted to reiterate to me that yes he does want me to be a leader and I should keep looking down on myself. It was nice to hear that and it brought my spirits up. On wednesday through friday during the day we went to Martha's house, which is across the street from the Fifa stadium, which is the orphanage as we went to on monday. We again had a similar agenda and have been starting to get to know the kids better. On saturday we went on a second safari...yeah God is spoiling us. This time the safari was a bit different for we drove our own car and there where many many people there because of the world cup. Instead of having hippos charge us like last time..we actually saw a dead hippo, a bunch of wildabeast, a few giraffe, and a rhino (which we didn't see at the other place so that was cool). We also had a warthog come right up to our car and give it a love tap. It was funny that this warthog was just walking around the parking lot in the center of the park. Although it was fun...it wasn't the same as the park in Maun. Outside of those things this week we have been hanging out with a staff member named Ryan and watching as many of the Fifa games as I can. Our time in rustenburg has been luxury compared to the other places for we have a bed, a kitchen and apartment that we can use (which was for our base leader but didn't come..story coming..) Also can watch fifa with ryan..so its been quite relaxing and fun...So originally nathan our base leader was suppose to come for both weeks here but because of visa stuff that got changed to one week...then because mohape came back to lesotho he had to plan for his two weeks before we all came back and so it looked like he wasn't going to come.... We hadn't seen nathan for 3 weeks because he left when we where in the bush to go to a leaders meeting, but something we didn't know till a few days ago was that when he got back to his house he started to be hurassed by someone. For the past 6 days he found slaughted and mutulated animals on his doorstep. it seemed like it was witchcraft or something, which is everywhere in lesotho, and someone didn't like that God was with him. Because of these different animals that where placed on his doorstep he decided that it would be best for him to stay home and not come visit us in Rustenburg. On sunday we went to church and didn't have to plan it which was very nice and took the whole Rustenburg team out to lunch. On Sunday afternoon we enjoyed a short hike up to a prayer chapel on the mountain and had a great quiet time. Our time here so far has been a lot of fun and looking forward to next week but I am and have been for a bit counting down the days till I head back to the states I am ready to go home and be with my family and friends!

Thursday, June 17, 2010

Maun

As we got to Maun we didn't really know how we would fill our week but we knew that the Lord would help us in that. We didn't have to stay in a tent for the first time in 5 weeks...we did still sleep on a floor but it was better than the tent. During the day it was quite warm but at night it was very cold and we froze in our sleeping bags. The day after we arrived we went on a safari and had to leave at 5 in the morning. As we got into the safari truck, which was just us and our guide, it was an open truck and well it wasn't warm. We all froze until the sun came up about 2 hours later. It took about 2 hours to get to the begining of the park. Before we even got to the park though we saw 3 of the 5 "big 5". First we saw the water buffalo, then we saw a giraffe and finally and the most awesome in my opinion was the lion. They said it was rare to see the lions before the park but we didn't just see them...we saw a male relaxing in the grass and we drove slowly up to him. We got within maybe 10 or 15 feet. We stayed there for a bit and it seemed to just pose for us it was amazing. After we started to go to the gate of the game park our leader realized she dropped her camera and we all looked back and there was the lion walking across the road we just where at..maybe 500 yards behind us. As we drove back the guide got as close as he could to give us more opportunities for pictures and to get the girls camera back which was in the middle of the road. After we went into the park we saw many other animals but it wasn't until we saw the hippo that made the biggest memories... Mohape first pointed them out and our guide was, "they are out of the water? oh crap." He went on to say that hippos don't having things between them and the water and well we where very close to being that thing. Our guide decided to gun it and try to get away from the hippo before they noticed we where in there way but one of them heard us. As we gunned the truck the hippo started charging us. I was in the very back leaning out of the truck and taking as many pictures as I could but then it got closer and closer and the girls started to scream. As the hippo started running at us and got within 5 feet I thought it may hit us so I then jumped in the truck and ducked but at the last second the hippo changed direction and ran into the water. Although it was a little scary it was also awesome to have a hippo run at us...great memories. Although nothing the rest of the day topped that we did see a few elephants. We got very close to this old male and actually got near him when he was releaving himself which was hillarious. He got within 10 feet or so and it really shows the amazing grandure that they have. Later in the day we also found about 10 lions lying on eachother and on their backs because they had just eating a water buffalo that was nearby. They where just relaxing and being lazy so eventhough we got really close they didn't even move. After that we didn't see to much else but just seeing the lions, elephants and a charging hippo it was so worth it! On saturday we did more yard work and just relaxed. On sunday we went to a local church where I told my testimony and talked about the importance of taking a step of faith with God and how he will bless you in that. We also helped with the kids church and after the church a random man in the congregation handed me 1000 pula and said he wanted to bless our team with that. 1000 pula is about 175 dollars. On monday we did yard work then went to a school to do a bible story and found out that prince harry and also the jonas brothers are in Maun and specifically the Jonas brothers are playing at this school...The school was the nicest school I had seen in a long time in the states or here. As we prayed to see what God wanted us to do with the money we felt that God wanted us to go to this local botswana hangout restraunt called choice and pay for different people's meals then sit down with them and tell them about the gospel. Before we did that in the afternoon we did a bit of street evangelism which for me is hard to do but the Lord blessed us and we talked to these two college students for about an hour. That night we ended up going to that restraunt...choice. This was also somethign I was nervous about because walking up to people is not my forte but I went with it. As I went up to talk to two guys they where shocked that they wanted to pay for them and although they where not that talkative I was able to talk to them about God for 45 minutes. After that I went to talk to another guy that was drinking by himself and he was way more talkative. Josh, Mohape, and myself talked with him and enjoyed hearing about his life and eventually told him about God. Its amazing how open the people in africa have been about hearing about the Lord. If we did the same thing in the states it would have never worked. As I talked to these guys our other teammates talked to other people and we ended up talking to about 10 people that night. The next day we did what do you know...more yardwork..I must be in shape now! After the yardwork we met up with a few guys that Josh had talked to the other day and the girls talked to a few people that they met with the night before. As we eventually found the guys we where to talk more about God with a few more where interested in coming including one guy that knew the bible very very well and was preaching to me. Once we all sat down another guy showed up and found out about what we did last night and walked about 2 hours just to talk with us and so he sat down and we all talked about God. There was about 9 of us at this small table enjoying botswana food and talking about the Lord. Out of the guys that where most interested was the preacher and the guy that walked 2 hours to see us. After the others left these two sticked around for awhile to talk longer. I feel blessed that because of listening to God we where able to meet and talk to these guys. Just before we parted Josh gave the "preacher" his bible and the other guy was really excited about what we where doing and was interested in joining YWAM eventually. The next day we left in the morning because we wanted to drop by Ghanzi, our first stop, to see a few people we met with. When we got there we went to talk with the paralyzed kids again and we all felt that they should take off the bands that they had around their waists. They had got them from the Zion church and basically came from a traditional healer or witch doctor. We knew that the bands can come with many demons and felt they needed to take them off and burn them. We talked with them for awhile about it and eventually took them off which was very encouraging but once we started praying I felt they needed to burn it and not just place it in the room. I then mentioned they needed to burn it but as I told the mom she told me she had to tell the dad and then when the dad came back he said he had to talk to the church. At that point we realized they where only trying to please us by takign them off but they truly didn't trust that we where telling them the truth and they trusted those bands more thang God's healing. At that point we all prayed then said bye but all felt dissapointed and frustrated that they had only done it to please us. We feel sad that that happen but we know that we did all we could in the time we had. We just slept on the floor in the same house we stayed at when we where there the first 2 weeks. That next day we tried to leave for Rustenburg, South Africa and so we left early in the morning. We where suppose to be in rustenburg at 1pm but we didn't show up till 10pm... When we got to the boarder we all got through except for mohape because he had a temporary passport which is basically this piece of paper that anyone could have copied...can't believe he got all the way to botswana in the first place. Anyways South Africa changed the law while we where in Botswana and they refused to let him in. They told us that he would have to go to the south african embassy in Gabarone, Bostwana...which is about 2 hours away from where we where. So we rushed there to hopefully make it before it closed. Once we got there we found out that not only was it closed at 11am (we showed up at 5pm, and where told it was open till 4pm), but it was closed for the next 3 days because of holidays. We had to make a decision either drive back and stay with a missionary there..(hopefully), or to drive to a different boarder post and pray and pray that they would let him in at least to get to his home in Lesotho. When we eventually got to the boarder post two girls and mohape went to each post and had to tell them the story of where we had been to try to get across the boarder and each post said, well I am pretty sure they will say no but you can try. They eventually got to the end and got a lady to say yes he can have 3 days to get back to lesotho...which is surrounded by South Africa. When the rest of the team showed up and got to the south african side the same lady wasn't there....and they wouldn't let him in. So again we all prayed and explained to them what we had to do and eventually they did give him 3 days to get back to Lesotho. That night we drove to Rustenburg and just crashed. We realized mohape had to go back to lesotho ASAP now or he would be arrested but at least we got through! Hello South Africa!

The Bush Week 3

Another week in the bush and another week of more yardwork. On monday we did a small bit of painting, while the girls cleaned the missionaries house. That day the guys went ontop of this carport which the structure was made of wood but the roof was made of grass so it was a little scary since my leg would fall through the roof everyonce in awhile. We took off the tarp that was covering it so they could take the carport down at another time. That night I taught mohape how to play solitare and enjoyed the night. Tuesday we did a lot of weeding and yardwork at a different church plot but it felt just like all the other spots we have done yardwork at. This week I started to feel a bit down and looked forward to getting home and was in a negative mood for a bit until I got called out for having a bad attidute. Since then I have been counting down the days till I get back. I have been enjoying my time and looking forward to the rest of the time but also ready to go home...its a weird place to be. On wednesday a massive truck came with a bunch of supplies for the missionary family...The two drivers where from his home church in south africa and had everything from building supplies to batteries to chairs they left in their old house. We spent most of the day helping unload all the stuff. That night we spent a wonderful last night in the bush. They where nice enough to let us sleep in their house and allow us to pack up early so we could leave early for Maun. That night after dinner as an act of graditute and to bless us they washed our feet and affirmed each of us and we did the same for them. The next morning they blessed us even more by making great pancakes...who knew having awesome pancakes in the bush! We then got in the car and headed to Maun which is still a small town but known for being the tourist spot to stay if you want to go into the Okavango Delta. I will talk about that more in the next post on Maun.

Tuesday, June 15, 2010

The Bush Week 2

To say week two started with a bang is well a little too true. We went to a local village to pick up an ox (a male castrated cow) for a team that will come in a month or so. When we got there we had to help them rope the ox and then hold onto a rope to get it under control so they could slaughter it...I know now that was the plan but they didn't tell us when they where hey come over here and hold this rope... As we, about 4 of us, held the rope we got pulled around the ring and I was in the front very close to the cow. I definitly got an adreniline rush from pulling it to the ground. After we did that the cow everntually gave up and the local bushman took a large hammer and wacked the ox on the top of the head and it shook a bit then he did it 3 more times before it died. It was a shock seeing them do it like that but hey this is the bush they don't have any fancy modern items to kill the oxes. Once it was killed we pulled it on a trailer and took it back to our camp. At the camp myself and our team helped the locals cut up the cow and take out its guts and such. My white clothes, the only clothes i didn't care about getting dirty, where full of blood by the time that was done a few hours later. After they cut it into a few large pieces that was only the start. For the next 3 days we spent helping the missionary cut up the meat into steaks, beef stew pieces, and billtong (South African Jerky). A few members of our team got cuts from the very sharp knifes we where using and a had infected fingers. After we where done eventhough the meat was for other people we where giving a piece of it..About 10 pounds of ribs...we ate all we could and it still lasted for 2 more meals!!! Although the meat was a bit tough it tasted great! The next day we went to a village to go pray with them but we soon found out that a girl (about 16 years old)had been in labor for 2 days and needed someone to take her to the clinic and so our plans of being there with them ended and we prayed for the girl then took her to the clinic. You never know what will happen in the bush or africa! On Friday we went to Namibia and went to visit these HUGE baobab trees that can be seen in planet earth and the kids movie madagascar. The ones we saw where about 2000 years old...yes 2000 years old. The trunk was about 10 feet wide and we could easily walk on its limbs! It was great to hang out there for the day and have a picnic. The following day Dries and myself had to go back to Namibia to get gas becauase most of botswana had a gas strike going on. As we where half way to the small town that had gas we saw a 10 foot black momba cross the road. As we slowed down it stood up and a third of its body was in the air! It was great seeing another black mamba! There was chaos at the gas station because that gas station was also out of gas the day before and this day the gas truck just showed up so there was a large line to get gas. That night we also watched the Super-14 Rugby championship game which had 2 south african teams. Dries was really into the stormers a team from his local home town and so we rooted for them and had a lot of fun watching rugby in the bush with him. I never have been to much into rugby but after being told of the rules and strategy it was a lot more interesting that it had been for me before. Sunday we relaxed most the day and Joy did a short sermon for the bushman at a local village. It was cool to sit around in a circle with bushman and have a worship time with them. We also prayed for the local "healer" or witch doctor. He was very open to what we had to say and was open to be prayed for. I never thought we would be praying for a witch doctor and with one that is as open as he was about christianity. Well we spent 4 more days in the bush but will talk about that in the next post.

Tuesday, June 8, 2010

The Bush Week 1

Just to get to the bush we had to leave a main road that was 3 hours from the "big city" of Maun...which is really just a small town with a bunch of tourists and from there we hit a dirt road that takes 3 hours to go 120 km or 80 miles or so. As mentioned in the previous post we had now 11 people in this SUV and it was well cramped. Once we got there we again pitched our tents and expected this to be a very simple place to be...we had brought all our food and water for the next 2 weeks as we thought we would have no modern anything. Well as we see over the next few weeks we where blessed over and over again. If you remember from the previous post about the random african that came with us to the town we where staying at, Mahopa... Well he ended up staying with us for 4 days and we fed him everyday... It was hard for me to feed him since we had specific food rations and he never did anything with us...but God showed me a lesson about that later on... HE WILL PROVIDE!!! I will have to split my time there in 3 different posts because I don't have time at the moment to say all that we did. The first week we went to a local church and did an amazing amount of weeding and cutting down trees and making a large space for a huge garden that will later go in. We also saw a small black momba...one of the most deadly snakes in africa.. the local bushman kids where playing with it and then showed the speared snake and I had to bury it! (I also saw a huge one the next week)... We did that for the first 3 or so days and later that week the base leader and his family had to leave to go to a conference so Josh and myself drove back to where there car was...120 km away on that 4x4 road. Once we dropped them off Josh and myself had to drive back on that road and he drove the first third or so and then it was my turn to drive the manual SUV. I had had a few lessons about driving a stick from my brother and Lodie but it just didn't stick but when I did it this time I didn't stall once (well I forgot the e-brake was on twice and that messed it up but that doesn't count) and I feel fine driving that stick and hopefully can drive when I get home as well. Later that week we started to do some yard work in Dries' yard and then relaxed for the weekend (which isn't normal for a DTS). On sunday we went to a small..(4 people small) church and met some off the locals which was fun. They actually had two church's going on that one (where we did the yard work at) and at Dries' house. I went to the first one but didn't go to the second. Oh I also forgot that in that week we bought a goat and slaughtered it and in the bush we had goat meat for about a week and a half. Ribs, steaks, stew, we where spoiled! The second week we where even more spoiled but that is for the next post!

Ghanzi Week 2

Hello everyone sorry I haven't had a chance to update you on the past 3 weeks I had a second week in Ghanzi and 2 and a half weeks in the remote bush of northwest Botswana staying with some missionaries. In this post I will talk about the second week at Ghanzi. On monday I had a chance to teach a small group of teenagers that we had been ministering through the time there. I talked about identity in God and how looking to the world for identification is not the way and to look to God for his fatherly love. The next day I also talked again except this time I talked to a large group of prisioners at their assembly. I also talked about Identity in God but I geared it more toward fatherly love and told them about the vision I had a few weeks back of when I saw the gates of heaven and I saw Jesus there in a white robe and he gave me a white robe as well. I told them how God wants to wash away there sins and give them a white robe of righteousness and that they are rightful heirs to the kingdom as long as they follow the Lord. The next few days we went to the same disabled kids that we saw the week prior and prayed more and more for them. Although the healing we where hoping for didn't happen the last day we did see that they where wearing these bands around their waists that came from a traditional healer basically a witchdoctor. We have also found out that many of these things come with things attached like demons and as we left to go to the next city we asked them to take them off and allow us to pray for them once again. Although the older sister was ok with it her mother was not and it was not her decision. We still feel the Lord is going to do something with the paralyzed children and we have decided to on our way back to visit them one more time before we head down to South Africa. During this week we also did a lot more yard work and door to door ministry. We talked again with the old lady and a family we had met and prayed with them. We also spent more time with the teenagers going to a talent show (that happened to have a 2 hour talk on AIDS and how to prevent it...we eventually left cause we couldn't handle the heat anymore) and the next night we went to a choir competition that had a huge steak dinner for us at the intermission..first time that has ever happen at any of my choir concerts. We also spent some time working on a roof to cover the people we where staying at's patio. The time in Ghanzi was great but the time in the bush was something unexpected. Before we left we had a plan to have our leader and his family leave their car and jump in our car (a SUV) for the final part of the trip because it was 4x4 only section for 120 km or about 90 miles. This road was going to take 3 hours with 10 people and a trailer...but unexpectedly we had another guy show up that was suppose to come with us. of course we didn't know anything about it and ended up to have 11 people in a cramped SUV for us 6... Only in Africa....

Monday, May 10, 2010

Ghanzi, Botswana Week 1

As this is Africa we still didn't really know exactly where we where going until a few days before we left. We happened to go Ghanzi first, which has an internet cafe. We originally thought we would be out in the middle of nowhere in the Okavango Delta or the Kalhari Desert with the Bushman, but things got moved around. A week from now we are going from here in west-central botswana to north botswana in a town called Maun (which is at the southern tip of the Okavango Delta.) After two weeks in Maun we will probably head to a town in the middle of the Kalahari desert for two weeks. In that time we will be with the Bushman people. I am pretty sure I can get internet in Maun (its one of the bigger cities in botswana) but when we are with the bushman its doubtful.

As for this first week in Ghanzi, we drove for about 18 hours over two days and my mom's water bottle that I had for three months broke just hours before we left for outreach. When we where only a few hours from Ghanzi we almost hit a cow. We where driving on a section of road that is really dangerous at night. During the night many cows love the warm asphalt and lay in the middle of the road. Once we got to Ghanzi we have been staying at Windows of Hope, an ministry run by a man named John. We have been sleeping in tents on the hard sand for the past week and will continue to do so for the next five weeks until we go to a YWAM base in South Africa for our final two weeks of outreach. Over the week we have been getting to know a group of local teenagers. We have been having small groups, church, and other events with them. We also have been doing some yard work and will soon be working on John's patio. As we where walking around praying one day, we met a family that had two disabled children. One was completely paralyzed and couldn't speak and the other was also paralyzed but could hear and speak. The first time we saw them we all had the sense God was going to heal them and we strongly felt we should pray for them. The next time we visited these children, we took them on a walk in their wheelchairs. It was the first time they had been outside the house for a very long time. When we got back we prayed very intensely for them and again thought the Lord would do something but God didn't do anything physically. After we prayed the girl started to cry as she wasn't healed as we had hoped for. We where all very dissapointed but still feel the Lord will do something whether it is now or later. We also plan on coming back at least one more time to help do some gardening and pray for them again. So more prayer the better! Last night we had quite a large wind and rain storm (it is the dry season here) and the girls in our group got quite a lot of spiritual attacks. Some saw dogs fighting and others dark images. They where up for a long time praying through that. I don't think satan is to happy that we have been praying for the children in the wheelchair.

Outside of those things the time here has gone quick already and we will be heading to the next place in a week. It is rough sleeping on hard sand but I am starting to get used to it a bit. During the day in the tent it, at times, has hit 115 degrees and outside in the shade it is still around 95. I am looking forward to what God will do here in Ghanzi. The people here are very friendly and hospitable. As you might expect many of the teenagers love to dance and sing, man are they really good at it! Although I am loving it here I am also looking forward to going to my next destination in Maun.

Thursday, April 29, 2010

Reflecting on lecture Phase

So as the final week of the lecture phase concludes I start to look back on the past 12 weeks. As the time has gone past I feel each week I have learned something new each week. In week one we talked about hearing the voice of God, but the thing that I got most out of it most was when the whole group prayed for me to overcome the pain of my dad's accident and death. The second week was spiritual warfare and it was interesting hearing about how much we truely are in a war and most of us don't even realize. I remember a quote someone recited, "The biggest lie Satan has had us believe is that he doesn't exist at all." As I thought about that and the extremly humanistic culture in which we live, I see that Satan has done a good job of decieving us. In that week I feel that I was able to become more aware of when an attack comes and how to overcome it. In the third week we talked about Sanctification and although it wasn't my favorite week I realized I need to go to God everyday and that I am a righteous being for I was created in Gods image. The fourth week was word of God. It made me realize how important the bible is and how we can use it as a very important tool. In the fifth week, Evangelism, I learned how to go out and talk to others about the Lord. Although he have us right down to many notes, we had a chance to minister to men in the jail. We where the first outsiders ever aloud inside the jail and that was one God filled day. Nations to Nations Conference in South Africa was the sixth week. It was great to get away for a week and get to know other bases. It showed how close our group had gotten during our time together. Our following week was a week of local outreach in which we went to a school, clinic, and another school. I was able to tell my testimony at a high school and the holy spirit had a hold of my words. After I completed talking about 50 or more where moved to accept christ. It had nothign to do with me but the amazing blessings that can be done through the holy spirit. For Fatherheart of God, and Holy Spirit we had another base with us. We had 11 living in this small 3 bedroom, 1 bath house. Father heart of God showed me how to take up my authority that has been given from God. Holy Spirit, my favorite week, not just talked about the holy spirit, but gave us time to experience it. One night I was on teh ground for an hour just in His presence. In the mid of the week I also was rebaptised and rededicated my life to God. God asked me that week to not look to the past anymore but to look to the future and I felt this was the best way to start anew. I was also given a letter from a student that wrote what he felt the Lord was wanting him to tell me (its in another blog post called "letters from God.") Crucified Life talked about how we are dead to sin, ourselves, and the law. He talked about how we are forgiven of our sins in the past, present, and future. The 11th week, Plumbline, spent time talking about how we are to forgive others and how we put up different walls in our lives. During that time I was able to forgive someone who teased me for 12 years and ask for forgiveness for some things I thought I would never tell anyone. This week, Community Development, is talking about how we need to go about developing a community not only economically and socially, but spiritually. Although a lot of it sounds straight from a business school (which I have been very used to) its been great to hear about how to deal with cross-cultural communication and how to preach the gospel to other cultures.

12 weeks, really....its been 12 weeks? It feels like I am a different person but at the same time I feel like it was only yesterday that I was at home getting nervous about leaving. The Lord has blessed me in this time and if you have read any of the other blogs you have seen he has given me some prophetic words as well. The fun yet most challenging part of my journey is just about to begin. I will live in tents for 6 weeks somewhere in botswana (the place we are going isn;t even on a map.) And then spend 2 weeks in Rustenburg, South Africa...YES the same place where U.S. - England will play their World Cup match and no I won't be in the stadium but I will probably be just outside. In this time of reflection I want to thank all of you that have supported me either financially, spiritually, or just have been touched by my story. I originally made this blog for myself, family, and friends but I see I need to not hold back to show those that read it that God is not only real but he is alive. God bless you all!

Friday, April 23, 2010

Words of Prophecy

Over the past few weeks different people have given me prophetic words over my life. Some where from my fellow students and have to do with my role on the outreach phase of this DTS and others have to do with my calling. The first section below are the words from my fellow students about what I will be doing on the DTS and my role. The way this worked was we where to pray for the role of person number 1 and then person number two and so on. We didn't know who that person was but were asked to pray for them anyway. Later in the week our leader Nathan asked God separately what names go with what numbers and each of us were matched up with a prophetic word. Nathan never knew what the words said until after he said which name he felt went with which person.

When Nathan had told of which number corresponded to me this is what words where spoken for that number (remember we had 7 different people praying so these are everyone's visions or words):

Walking shoes and a guide. Sewer and the seed -> A huge field , lines of trees, person throwing seeds, Jesus behind putting water into the holes. (1st line being seeded, many other lines of trees behind it. Each line of trees shows a progression of growth in a tree's life cycle.) Not the sowers job to grow the tree but to start the process. (someone elses job to nurture.) - Sewing seeds, a person working in a garden with a hoe - Children, entertaining, being playful - strong, showing off, energy - green grass, running then lying down and not wanting to do anything - children being excited, fun and relaxing atmosphere - truck carrying cabbages. - A person on top of the cabbages giving them out. - Laundry, depth, and compassion (her stomach feels nervous.)

*This again is visions based off my role on our outreach phase and how it will go.


Here is the second prophecy. This one was told by one of our speakers named Cliff and also Nathan, our base leader. The scripture at the end is by a fellow student named Mohapeloa. This all was saved on an audio file and I did my best to copy it all down so this is the text version of that time:

Cliff's section: Thank you Lord he is a pioneer-er, someone who pioneers. I thank you Lord he is going to go to uncharted territory. I thank you Lord, first thing, God wants to really settle the issue of Sonship and total and complete identity in father God. So Lord I thank you for my brother and thank you are super naturally organizing and sorting out the issues of the heart. Thank you lord for the confidence that he is going to know that he is going to know (yes he said it twice). Thank you Lord that the part that is not there is not the part he needs to focus on. That's not it, its looking unto you and as he looks unto you Lord as he receives the revelation and the truth of who you say he is and he is going to know and experience in his heart as the truth those things from the past will sort those things out and he doesn't need all the answers or the solutions, only needs you. So I thank you are settling that in him in the name of Jesus. As he does adventure with you Lord I pray that you will increase his faith. I pray that you will expand it in him. I see faith expanding inside of you that is even broader and more than you thought was possible. I pray there is such a confidence and awareness and conviction in your own heart of what god can do that you will look at mountains and say we can climb that and people with me will say, "whatever I am out of here." Your life will not be about telling that mountain to be cast into the sea, your life will be about: God will say look at that mountain, so go climb it. God is going to equip you and give you the strategies and the proper paths that no one else can see "through the cleft in the rock." God will have me take people on that journey and will lead people through it and enjoy it and stop and say, "look at that view, enjoy it." God will give you a gift to pioneer through things and take people to a place of enjoying the process and when they get over the mountain they will be tired and have calluses on their feet but will say, "wow" climbing that mountain was cool and I was the one that led them to that. There is some spiritual analogy to this but I really believe there is some physical analogy as well. God is going to do that in the natural but do not loose sight of the ability in the spirit to have people stop and smell the goodness of the Lord and to taste of it when they normally wouldn't do it. Thank you Lord for his calling and sureity of it so that he won't have to question it...in Jesus name give him the confidence in it as well...

Nathan's section:

I got a picture of a watchtower and is apart of a fortress. Usually a small team of people and usually there are long shifts for the watchmen at night and the morning. Usually they have a bell at the top of the tower so you can ring the bell when an enemy is attacking. So part of the tower is you will be working in small teams..Warning bell is that God will give you sight in spiritual giftedness to warn people of direction of enemy attack. To sound the alarm. Other things is the work God is calling you to it will be very tiring but will strengthening you and most things it will be in the evenings when people are resting. So part of that is looks like God is calling you to something that is not very regular it changes from a normal shift. Other things is something you should be aware of is on the watchtower it could seem like a lonely path to take with only one or two of you on the tower. Can be a lot more lonely because you don't have the hussle and bussle of regular hours. God wants to make you aware that you may get lonely but be on the watchout for it. Watch out for it for God is with you and He doesn't want you to think loneliness is overtaking you or take away from you. I don't know if that is for the calling or felt more like it was apart of the next season in your life, but it could also be for your calling but I will let God tell you which it is.

Mohapeloa - I have a verse for you Mr. Spencer - Matthew 16:17-20.

Thursday, April 22, 2010

Letters from God

So it may sound weird but I have two letters that where written to me that where inspired based off what the writer felt the Lord was telling them to tell me. The first letter which I will post bellow was written by a visiting DTS student from Drakensburg, South Africa two weeks ago. He was woken up by God in the middle of the night and God told him to write me a letter. The second was written by myself today based off the words I felt the Lord was telling me to write to myself. I know it sounds confusing but the words in both of the letters are quite pointenant to my current walk. Bellow is the first letter:

Son of Israel

The fullness of my spirit dwells in you, like Moses I come to hear the spoken utterance of your prayers. I have given you many nations but many more await.

Lowly in heart and seeker of love do you not know the love I want to replace in your heart is that which was stoeln from you by a absent father and sharp young lovers? The fullness you hunger, for is not found in any woman, but only in Me.

Every morning as my mercy and grace is made new, I search your heart and find little deception and many questions. Do you not know the fullness dwelling inside? Every answer is in me and I give as generously as you have given, you need just ask! The mysteries of your future I know but I want you to just trust me. I reveal not what is to come so that your independence can be redemed in me.

Precious Prince of Isreal!!! I celebrate in the heavenly places. In your giving and in your faith, FINALLY you have sown so that I can take that seed sown and and the awe of future treasures will be the coming harvest!!!

Amen


Second Letter:
(A little back story. I decided to fast for 3 days this week about letting God be my idenity and not other things, Monday to Wednesday, and one fellow DTS student questioned why I was fasting...)

Put me before anything and anyone. Stand firm and do not sway. Know that in me you are strong. Do not worry if you go against the grain for I went against the grain first. Seek the kingdom first! Forgive and bless others for you have been forgiven. Pray for those that come against you. Fast only for me. Do not put any attention on yourself. I want your attention on me during a fast, not what other thinks of you. Do not worry when others rebuke and challenge your reasons for fasting for I know your heart. I will give you what you have asked for. I love and cherish you and hold onto me through these bumps in the DTS. Do not let your anger flair up, but give your burdens to me. Stand firm on the Rock as the storms come; for I will protect you through the storms of life. Do you not know that Jesus calmed storms with a short phrase; can I not do the same for you? Walk with me and trust me. I want to take you to great places but first you must have the faith to follow me. Do not worry about the past or future just be in my presence now. Treat each storm and tough situation as a time of growing to prepare you to better serve my people. YTou will be the next Peter but as Peter had to do, you must learn to have the faith to hold my hand and walk on water. Do you not see the unique gifts and passions I have given you? You have a deep and compassionate heart as I did, but I want to expand that. I love the way you worship me through photography and will use that to show others what they have missed. I can't wait to start the adventure with you. I will take you to many natiuons and places no one else has tried to go. I need a backpacking pioneer like yourself Spencer. I need you to expand my gospel to the dark and lost areas of the world. I will use your adventuresome spirit for my will. I am so happy that you are finally embrassing my truth, my love, and my embrase. Spencer when your mom told you she felt you would do something that would change the world she was right! Spencer put your faith in me and cling to me for there will be some hard times ahead, but in me you will provail. Spencer you are special, precious and my son; never forget that. Don't let anyone tell you anything different. Spencer put your idenity in me and I will fill you up with my peace and rightousness. Feel no more saddness for your dad for he is right next to me cheering you on. He has been praying for you everyday and is so excited to see you again one day. Spencer you fasted to put your idenity back on me and to accept my love and you are already doing that. I know your pain but I will take it away, just ask. You are precious and a warrior, never forget that. I chose you presonally for this will. I love you Spencer and walk in faith with me.

God



Ok so although it sounds crazy I wrote a letter to myself from what I felt the Lord wanted me to write, I really had the Holy Spirit in me and it felt like the words I wrote where the right words to write. The next time I get to the internet I will talk about some words of prophecy that where said over my life and about my future. Many of the words are confirmations about backpacking and possibly doing that in Australia. Before I was on this DTS I would have never believed most of this stuff that I have been writing these past few weeks but the Lord has done amazing wonders in my life and I am looking forward to the future.

Thursday, April 15, 2010

Where is my idenity?

This week the Lord continued to give me more and more provisions and guidance. Our speaker, Cliff, talked about the Crucified Life and concentrated on Jesus and the amazing work he has done for us. The first day we talked mainly about idenity and where that lies. I would have to go back through my notes to fully encompass the lecture for monday but somethign else outside of the lecture helped me add on to the already indepth topic of idenity. In the past 2 or 3 weeks I have been "distracted" by this girl and although I wanted to get to know her my schedule was packed. Last week, as I mentioned, God asked me to give up my cell phone that I had only had for two days. One of the main reasons I bought that phone was to converse with this girl. That night last week the lord asked me to not just give up the phone but to give up control of wherever the potential relationship to Him. This week after the girl came over to hang out she basically ignored me and flirted with a different guy and the Lord that night put on my heart something way more important than any crush. The Lord was showing to me that I have been putting to much of my idenity in girls. I also have been trying to seek love and affirmation from girls as well and not seeking the Lord for his unconditional love. Although I knew I had done this in the past it was the first time that it really hit home. I have spent most of the week in prayer over those two topics and as the week has gone on I have been able to give more and more to God and I don't seem to worried about the girl anymore. One thing I also didn't mention last week was that one of my fellow students from the other base was woken up by the Lord early in the morning and God asked him to write me a letter based off what God told him to say. One of the things that the letter mentioned was exactly this revelation I learned this week for the letter said (paraphrase), "Spencer seek after me for my unconditional love. I know you search for love and its been hard having a father that is apsence and you have been hurt from 'sharp young lovers.'" As I have read the letter over and over again this week I keep thinking what is my priority, where will I be filled, and where can I get unconditional love and not "love" that is dependent on the ups and downs of a woman....and the answer can only be the love that comes from God.

As for the rest of the week we talked about how we need to take victory over sin and again it was very indepth and can't explain it all here but basically talked about how our bodies have died and sin can't take authority over us (and a whole lot more...) this week like last week has been adding on more and more of what I need to hear and bringing about a change in me that I could have never imagined. I am so excited about the next two weeks and then my outreach time for the Lord is far from done with showing me things that I need to grow in!

Saturday, April 10, 2010

Holy Spirit Week Part 2

Ok now we continue the amazing week:

As thursday morning came we had a "Holy Spirit Party" in which was basically a time to praise the Lord and to give up control over our lives to God before we received spiritual gifts. Spiritual gifts include: speaking in tounges, interpreting toungues, knowledge and wisdom, discerning spirits, healing, prophecy, and a few others that I can't think of at the moment. But anyways after giving God control ceremonially by popping a balloon, I asked to receive the gifts of knowlege and wisdom, prophecy, and discerning of spirits. I had also received the gift of toungues a few days earlier but I am still trying to get a hold of that one. Its hard for my antalytical mind to let go and just allow God to do it...so if you can pray for that that would be awesome! As each of us received the different gifts the holy spirit made many..including myself once collapse to the floor and for some stay on the floor for an hour. Although i didn't feel the Lord as I did like Monday the Lord was very much in the room.

That afternoon I went with the speaker and our leader to the airport (an hour and a half away..well at least the bigger airport is) and on the drive Stefan started asking me how I liked it. Soon I told him about the visions and dreams the lord told me about the backpacking ministry and DTS. He then told me that YWAM needs more people like me in YWAM. It was amazing getting a blessing like that from a guy that leads all of southern africa. Our base leader in lesotho plans on starting a mobile-DTS which is very similar to a backpacking DTS just a little different and Stefan and our base leader Nathan have been trying to recruit me to help start it with Nathan. As they said that it was kinda hard for me to say that I may be called to Australia but who knows maybe God will lead me to Africa instead and help Nathan start this new adventure. Nathan basically wants to go to a different location every month all throughout the continent of africa and to have outreach and teaching phases at the same time. I still need to do more prayer but it definitly seems like a interesting and fun idea.

On Friday our team went up to the top of this mountain...actually where the country of Lesotho was first started by their leader.. We had a great time of prayer up there and prayed for the country of Lesotho and asked for forgivness for anything that any of us had done against our African teammates. We then had some individual time of prayer and soon the Lord called me to pray with Mohapeloa our african student. Together the Lord blessed us with his spirit once again and I kinda talked in toungues but again its still weird for me so I need more time and prayer. But the day went well and was well needed for team unity.

The whole week was very tiring and I slept 12 hours last night but it was something that I really needed. I pray that I will continue on this process and if the Lord does call me into full-time missions with YWAM that he will continue to give me confirmation.

Holy Spirit Week part 1

So I don't even know how to start..but this week was crazy and some of the things I will mention may be hard to understand or comprehend but all I can say is the holy spirit moved and he moved in large ways. During the mornings our speaker and leader of Southern Africa Stefan Hugo talked about what the holy spirit is and how God uses it in us. On Monday night he showed how the holy spirit can work through us and how the holy spirit can manifest in us (I will talk more about this in a second). Wednesday night I rededicated my life and will talk more about that in a second. Also that night we had a time of giving and again I will mention more in a second. Finally Thursday afternoon we had a great time of receiving different gifts from the holy spirit which once again I will talk about in a second.

Firstly, Monday night was the most powerful time I have had with the Lord. Stefan is amazingly gifted with being able to allow the holy spirit to touch people through him. As he prays for you you start feeling the holy spirit....which for me made me very light headed and I started to sway back and forth in my chair and the first time he prayed for me to receive the holy spirit...BAM...I fell out of my chair and was on the ground. The presence was so strong I collapsed. Only about 15 min later I was being prayed for again this time I was standing up and the holy spirt again came on me and I started swaying and light headed and very light. If anyone hasn't felt the holy spirit it is well amazing. As I started to sway I eventually fell to the ground and unlike last time I couldn't get up. As I layed there the presense was so strong I could only lay there and soak it up more. I asked God for more and more and he gave it to me. I started to cry and then laugh so hard and so deep that it started to hurt. Soon the Lord showed me a picture of the gates of heaven and I saw Jesus there with a glowing white robe on. Soon I saw myself and he had given me a white robe as well and said that in Him I am righteous and he has cleansed me from any sin. I soon looked over to the left and there was my Dad, which as many know had passed away 11 years ago now. As I looked at my Dad he was smiling and had a white robe on as well. After I saw that I got an intense feeling of Gods love (which basically felt like an intense chill and peace) and as I tried to get up a few times over the next hour I would get weak and fall back to the ground. I layed flat on the ground for about an hour or more just in His presence. Once I was able to get up I was so light headed and dizzy from the Spirit I felt drunk. So I always laughed before when people talked about being drunk in the spirit but I was having a hard time walk and I stumbled around till I got to my bed.

Wednesday night.... After we had our class in the morning Stefan asked us if any of us would like to baptized or rebaptized and at that point I didn't raise my hand because I felt that I had done it before and didn't need to do it again. Over the rest of the day the Lord had put it on my heart and really wanted me to do it. Over the week he had shown to me that he wants me to forget the past and look to the present and start anew. I then felt that getting rebaptized would be good to start my new time in life with an act of transformation. So that night I rededicated my life to Jesus and have surrendered my life to where he wants to take me.

Also wednesday night Stefan had asked us to pray about what God wants us to give to someone else. Wednesday night was a time of giving and after time the Lord put it on my heart to give ever cent I had in my wallet and my extra savings in my backpack to an african girl that was struggling to pay for her DTS. As the night came and I gave her all I had seeing her break down in tears of joy and having the Lord giving me a sense of peace and joy I know I did what was right and would do it again. I had never been one that was good at giving...many have given a lot to me but I have not given back and that was the first time I had given something like that and what I received in her smile and Gods presence was worth way more than the money. God wasn't done with me either.... Later that night God then told me to give up my favorite sandals...the same sandals that I have had for 6 years and have gone to 4 continents with. As i took them off and gave them to my african co-student people where shocked...I did talk about how much I like them a little to much haha. Although I now dont have sandals again giving them was more worth it than keeping them. That wasn't the last thing I would give up....After we had all finished giving..and I had received a baseball cap... the guys started going to bed and one of the guys had given his nice phone to a student and then another student gave that guy his phone and so the last guy that gave his phone was without a phone. I had just bought a phone 2 days prior to communicate with someone and the Lord told me to give him control of that potential relationship...and to give up the phone..it took me a second but finally I gave that up as well. That night I couldn't sleep the Lord keep showing me more and more things. I saw a picture of me backpacking with a group of college and high school kids (basically the age of DTS students) and taking them to different hostels on our travels and getting to the know the fellow travelers. Through the relationships we would grow I was able to talk about Christ to these travelers in which many where running away from there problems by traveling. I also saw a picture of me having a night of worship once a week with my team and I was playing the guitar and many of the people where attracted to the music. Through the relationships and worship many where brought to Christ. That night after I got to sleep I also had a dream which was very similar to what God had shown me while I was awake. I see it as a one two punch...discipling the students while reaching out to the travelers in hostels and around.

I will continue my next part of holy spirit week in the next post...

Thursday, April 1, 2010

Eric's Perseption of me

So one of the students from the visiting base, Eric, has an amazing gift of perception and is able to see what kind of people they are based off a very little amount of involvement. He spent about an hour going through each of our team and giving his perception on them. After I read the small synopsis of mine I wanted to hear more about it and this is what he said: He said that he saw that I was a very nice person that is also very much an encourager. He saw that I am called to be a leader, but not a leader in the limelight, one that works more in smaller groups or one on one. he continued to say that although I may be behind the scenes I still could go up and talk to many but my main area would be with smaller groups. He also mentioned that he sees me as one who will disciple and teach others. He then went on to say that people may not notice me as much because I can be quiet, but he says that when I speak people will listen and many will be transformed. He went on to say that through my disciplining on a smaller basis that I may not see the differences I am making right away but that it will be like a domino effect and I will be amazed. As he finished he mentioned he sees me possibly as a DTS leader with YWAM. Soon later I mentioned that I have been getting a feeling I may be called to do exactly that. I then brought up the time when I talked to him two weeks prior at the Nations to Nations conference about my backpacking ministry I may start. After I mentioned the ministry at the conference he said maybe I should go be staff at a backpacking DTS in Australia and I went on to say when he told me that I got chills, a sense of peace and the words,"go for it, go for it." I told him since that time Australia has been on my mind and he said that sometimes the Lord helps him lead others in a direction and this may be one of the cases. It will still take time before I know if Australia is truly where God wants me but things are starting to lean that way. It was great to hear from Eric and his amazing perceptions of me, for most of them I had been told about in the past. It is great when the Lord gives you confirmation on things and hopefully i will continue to get confirmation about my calling. God is good.

Father Heart of God & More

This week we have been talking about the father heart of God and more specifically the authority that God has given us to rule over the earth. It goes onto talk about how through believing in what Satan says and acting on it (basically sin) he becomes our new master and not God and takes our authority away. We can get the authority back by repenting and growing our relationship with the lord and giving it to Jesus. The more we grow our relationship with the Lord...the one who gives us the authority..the more we can access and grow our authority in this world. The speaker twice came to me first to pray and then to talk to me after one of the talks. The first time he told me he sensed that I am very smart and understand my walk with the Lord well but my spiritual side needs work. He said I need to allow the holy spirit to work in my life more and open up more spiritually and to allow God and the holy spirit to help me apply these principles in my life. When he talked to me after class he basically said a similar thing, saying I understood the material but need to spiritually apply it. This hit me a bit as I was not expecting to be told twice in one day about my need to open up and allow God to apply these ideas in my life. Although I understand them I know that its has been hard to trust God and allow the holy spirit to work more in my life. I know I try on the surface but I do feel I need to let go of more and surrender to the Lord my life. Since that time, which was yesterday, it still has affected me a bit, but I have seen that I personally need to apply this idea of authority and go out into the world with the confidence that the authority of the Lord can provide. I also need to be able to take charge with my decisions and be more proactive in my walk. I felt that before this week I had gotten really far in my walk but yesterday God showed me that I still have much more to learn and to experience...it is nice that next week is on the holy spirit and thats more of allowing the holy spirit to work!

Monday, March 22, 2010

Go to Facebook for pictures

So this blog doesn't like to let me add photos and it always messes up so if you want to see pictures please go to my facebook: Spencer Oswald and if you aren't my friend add me and then you can see a bunch of pictures I was able to add in the past few days!

Nations to Nations Conference

So sorry I haven't updated in a bit, I have been in South Africa going to a conference celebrating the different nations and the love of Jesus. Every night we spent in worshiping the Lord at either a school, church and one day in front of the town hall. It was the first time I truly let go and praised the Lord without fear of looking silly. I danced like a kid and one night we ran around the church with different flags praising the Lord. During the day we either helped out around the YWAM base there or we learned about worship. We also had a morning of having everyone show us what their talents are that God had given them. Many of the people did poems or sang and I was going to show my photography but didn't have a computer so I just talked about how photography is very spiritual for me. Outside of our group from Lesotho there where 3 other YWAM bases there and a total of about 35-40 people. It was great to get to know other people going through a DTS and I really got the feeling that after talking to them Lesotho is where I am suppose to be. Although God was showing me a lot during this time I also had to call on him a lot as well for my good friend from work I found out had taken his life a week prior to me being there. I spent a lot of time in prayer and although it is still hard God has given me comfort. On a more positive note, during worship one day I got a vision of me in an industrial room and inside of that room there was a large water pipe. As I looked at this pipe I saw a lot of pictures and videos and certain sections of the pipe where dark while others where gray. As I looked farther down the pipe I saw that the pipe was glowing white...so white that I could barely see. As I looked farther to the left I saw Jesus jumping up and down having an amazing amount of excitement. After asking what this meant God showed me that the dark and gray areas are different parts of my life where times where hard or I was away from God. He then said that the white part is my future and that Jesus is so excited for what is about to happen. Through the week I asked for different things from God including joy, direction, freedom, discipleship and excitement and in that week after looking back I received all of those.

The week was great but the most amazing thing that happened was something that could add to my direction and calling. After telling a fellow DTS student from Drakensburg (South Africa) about my potential backpacking ministry that I may start in Seattle he told me that YWAM has a backpacking DTS and ministries in Australia. I believe he was just trying to help but it affected me more than I thought it would. As he said those words I got this huge sense of peace as well as shivers down my back. Within seconds I also got this sense of excitement and a feeling of "go for it, go for it." Since then I still haven't haven't been able to get the idea of going to Australia off my mind. If I would go I would probably need to commit for 2 years and would cost a lot of money. Although there are challenges ahead I know God will provide where ever he calls me. It will be hard to decide between me going to grad school and me potentially going to Australia. After talking with Josh a fellow Lesotho DTS student he gave me comfort in that God sometimes gives us choices and one may be his plan but even if we choose the other he will still bless us.

Today another amazing thing happen, we went to a local high school and God for a week had asked me next time we go to a school to tell my testimony. After doing a drama it was my turn to tell my testimony and the holy spirit was given me not only a sense of peace but a sense of excitement to get a chance to tell of the amazing power of Jesus and what he can do in peoples' lives. As I talked i talked about my dad and then screamed out loud "Why God, Why would you do this," explaining to them that I was angry with the Lord about why he did these things to me. Then I continued and talked about how God is our father and whether you don't have a father on earth you do in heaven and he will never leave your side. As I did the alter call about 40 kids came up to receive christ. I was so pumped about the power of the Lord and what he has in store for the future.

Hopefully next I can upload pictures!

Sunday, March 7, 2010

Pictures

Hey so I am still working on getting more pictures on here. I have taken a bunch but the internet is really slow and takes forever to upload some pictures...but hopefully I can make it work soon!

Tuesday, March 2, 2010

Malealea - Camping and Horseback Riding

Well this weekend we decided to head off to go camping just to get away. On the way there we decided to use a friend of a leader here and well it was an experience. He took us in two smaller cars through a bumpy dirt road and well we made it but we had to stop only a short bit before we got there because a few of the screws off of the caliper came off and the breaks where not working that well. After they fixed the problem with a coat hanger...its africa.... we made it safely there. After a wonderful meal of sausages and such cooked over the fire we went to bed. That night one of our teammates got very sick with what seemed to be a fever and body aches and she was unable to go horseback riding with us on that saturday. As we left for horseback riding we went though these gorgous hills and valleys...I will have pictures later... and we eventually made it to this waterfall that landing into this amazing rock pool. Once we trekked down to the waterfall we jumped in pool getting a shower from the waterfall above. Once we made it back on horseback I saw that my legs where very burnt but only around the thigh leaving an ugly looking sun burn. That night we met some south africans and after eating our wonderful lamb steak (it was cheaper than beef) we joined them around the fire and I got an insight into what it meant to be south african and about there local politics. The next day is where things turned a bit sour. We where suppose to be back around 1pm but our ride was 7 hours late...yeah 7 hours.. So as we sat around we at least had some added bonding time. Once they finally arrived they made up a story which we couldn't put the pieces together to validate and they also wanted twice the money agreed upon. After getting home around 9:30pm we where welcomed by some worried staff that didn't go on the trip. Although we had a few road bumps it was great to get away for a weekend before we head back into learning about the Lord.

Sunday, February 21, 2010

Soccer and lightning

So last Monday we tried to go to a soccer game within a 5 min walk from our house. The game was between the local Lesotho national team and the South African national team and it was a friendly to tune up the South Africans for the world cup. Unlike the states when they see lightning here they keep playing...until it gets really close...Before I go on I need to mention there are more lightning storms here in lesotho than anywhere in the world...So eventhough it was a big storm compared to ones in the states we started to walk to the game. The storm wasn't a few miles away....it was directly above us and lightning would strike very close to us as we walked quickly to the game. We where hoping to see a few minutes then walk back because it was dangerous to stay the whole game. So when we almost get there...a huge lightning bolt strikes between us and the soccer building...the bolt was within 15 feet of myself and the other people with me. The energy from the bolt shook my body and made me jump. There was only one other time I was that close to lightning (I was in a bus in brazil where lightning blew up a transformer within 5 feet of my window in the bus). Once we got in the building (there was no stadium just this building where the players stayed...kinda like a dorm house.) Anyways we got inside the building and all the players where one floor below us. Soon after they came up to where we where and I got to talk to one of the players in the South African team for a short bit. He thought we where from the international school down the street but I told him we where from YWAM. He had a lot of concern for us to try to run back to the house but we went anyways the storm had moved on a little bit... As we left and said bye to the player we ran as quick as we could. It was quite scary as lightning and the deafening thunder was still very close. All of us did a lot of praying as we ran back. By Gods grace we made it back safe and sound and have a crazy story to go with it!

Friday, February 19, 2010

So our second speaker came through this week and she was amazing. We talked about spiritual warfare and prayer. It kind of reminds me of a lot of prayer and stuff my mom would talk about. They touched on everything from demons to the different spiritual giftings the lord can give through the holy spirit. After one of the sessions that talked about fear and anxiety I had the speaker pray for me to help overcome some of that. My goal here is to let go of anything still holding me back and to grow my knowledge and relationship with the Lord before I come back to the states. I have an idea of where the Lord wants me but I want to stay strong in Him and prepare myself for the journey ahead. The lady that prayed for me saw I had great furtile soil on which i can grow and bear fruit.

On another note I am looking forward to hopefully going next week to see one of the largest waterfalls in the world....no not victoria falls but there is an amazing one here in Lesotho. We have been cooped up in the house because well the town here (eventhough its the capital) is still fairly small and there is not much to do. We also do not have internet but it does let me concentrate on God....and hey at least there is a nice pool that we can go to for only 3 dollars!

Well that is all for now!

Sunday, February 14, 2010

More Pictures




Here are some more pictures that I have taken




Here are some pictures that I have taken over the past week.

Thursday, February 11, 2010

Prayer time

So in the short time I have been here God has really blessed me and shown me a lot. As I continue to let God in he is starting to help me with my purpose in life. Today God spoke to me and showed me things that I will never forget...I will give you the cliff notes version and if you want all the details feel free to e-mail me.

Yesterday we did a exercise where they had me imagine a boat, what was on it and the surroundings.... The vision that came to mind is the same vision I saw a year ago when praying with my mom. I saw a vision of a small fishing boat in the sea of gallee and Jesus and myself where pulling in the fishing nets and the nets where packed full. Well I saw that exact same image when we did this exercise and God right away said the words "Fisher of Men" and later he said "Father to the fatherless." Also on the second day of the exercise after imagining it again I saw dad on the boat as well. The speaker has amazing gifts in interpretation and he helped me interpret it. He and he had the other people around help interpret it say that he sees me being a great leader of men. That God is going to use me in evangelistic activities to save many and also that because my dad was on the boat he thinks that I will take up the ministry that dad was doing before his life was cut short. After that was done a leader felt God pulling at her to have everyone pray for me and so everyone there did. It was the most intense prayer i have been apart of with people speaking in tongues and people just starting to ball taking on my pain. I saw another vision of my dad standing in front of God and God saying you need to let go of my dad to let me take over. Soon after much prayer i let him go and i saw a vision of him merging with God and becoming one Father. Soon after I was hugged by the male leaders that helped me release some pain as well. Also one girl that was praying for me starting balling because the spirit had put some of my burden on her and helped me release the pain. Later I saw another image of my dad getting himself wet when washing the car trying to get us kids wet and God saying I want you to have that same joy dad did. Later he showed me dads guitar showing that it hasn't been used in forever and I felt he wanted me to use it for his good. Then I saw a figure playing the guitar saving many teenagers that are either having problems with their father, they aren't at home or passed away. Oh and also...I saw the boat again and Jesus walking on the water and putting out his hand telling me to prepare to take many steps of faith and to trust him.

Well it was quite an intense day of prayer and I am looking forward to where God takes me next. I thank you all for your support and prayers for its making a difference.

Sunday, February 7, 2010

Arrived in Lesotho

So I have arrived here in Lesotho and man was the combination of flights long! I left on wednesday at 12pm and arrived at 7:30am on Friday. I got sick on the first flight and made it horrible, second flight was alright and then had to sleep in the Johanasburg airport (that was interesting, they had a Josh Groban type guy filming a music video and so I had to hear him sing all night long.)

Once I arrived I was met by a 6'7" american which is the leader of the DTS here. There are 6 people in the DTS along with 3 leaders. Half of hte people are 18 or 19 and then 2 at 23 and one at 26. One is a local, one from Canada, 1 from england, one from Germany and one from South Africa. They all seem like great people and have gotten to know them pretty quickly. One bad thing that has happen so far is that neither of my credit cards work because the pins are wrong but luckly my mom gave me some emergency money so that will work for awhile. The general plan for the DTS will be spending 2 weeks in classes yup I have homework, then 2 weeks in jails, hospitals and other areas around Lesotho then a few more weeks of classes then 6 weeks in Botswana and guess what.... I will spend a week or two in South Africa doing outreach at the World Cup. So even though I won't be going to a game I will be around the environment. God has already done many things and has show this is where he wants me to be. I am looking forward to where God leads me on this amazing DTS. I love it here in Lesotho and the people are amazing!

Hopefully I will get a chance soon to update again.

Spencer

Tuesday, February 2, 2010

Getting ready to leave

So as time counts down till I leave I want to thank everyone who has been supporting me. In the past month or so I have been pretty busy preparing for both the YWAM trip in Lesotho as well as applying to graduate school at Northwest. Today is my last full day in Seattle and although I am almost ready to go, I don't think the reality of going to Africa will hit me till I leave tomorrow. I again want to thank you all for following my travels and I will do my best to update whenever I get a chance!