Thursday, November 19, 2009

Campus Awakening - Healings, Signs, & Wonders

Hello from Redding, CA! I am here attending the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry. Things are really taking off this year and literally almost every day is filled with stories and testimonies of the miracles that God is doing in the hearts and bodies of His people. Just recently I heard this incredible testimony of a woman healed of a brain tumor! She was given one month to live when she decided to come to Bethel's Healing Room on Saturday morning. As worship music was playing she was looking at a painting one of our students painted that said HOPE on it. In an instant she heard a pop and a dark liquid began flowing out of her ear. She went to the doctor the following week and the doctor said she was cancer free; the tumor was completely gone! God completely healed her!

Recently I was on a ministry trip with our Campus Awakening ministry and we were in teams at UC Berkley looking for people God wanted to specifically touch with His love through a word of encouragement and/or with healing. One of the teams came across a homeless man who was limping with incredible pain. They asked him what was wrong and he said that he had a tumor in his foot and the doctors said that the only way to treat the tumor was to amputate his foot. The man didn't want that to happen so he had been living with intense pain for a while. The team asked him if they could pray for his foot because they know that God loves this man and doesn't want to see him living with pain. They put their hands on his foot and prayed, when they removed their hand, they watched as the tumor shrank right before their eyes and the man said that all of the pain completely disappeared! Not only that, the man was so touched by God that he wanted to know who this God was that loved him so much, and the team was able to lead the man to Jesus! Praise God!

It is such a privilege to be part of what God is doing in the Earth!


Our heart and passion at Bethel International is to raise up a generation of world changers that will be known simply for their reckless abandonment to see that Jesus is Lord in all the nations. As we are building relationships with various regions around the world one of the main goals that we have is to make the nations look like geniuses. Our strategy is go to and raise up influencers in their own nations so they begin to run with the inheritance that God has given them to transform their nation. All of our Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry trips are partnered with Bethel International's vision for transforming nations.

Campus Awakening is the university arm of Jesus Culture, Bethel's national youth and young adults ministry. The primary vision of Campus Awakening is to see revival come to college campuses across the United States and to see every university student have a relationship with Jesus and live a transformed Kingdom lifestyle. Campus Awakening also has a greater vision to see campuses transformed and Kingdom-minded students sent into the seven mind molders of society to see Heaven come to Earth.

During March 5-16, we will fly to at least three US cities (Atlanta, Dallas, San Francisco and maybe more!) to ignite revival fires on university campuses across the nation. This missions trip will include two Campus Awakening conferences where we will help to train and equip university students and campus ministry leaders in supernatural evangelism, campus transformation and contending prayer. We will minister in churches, on college campuses and at Bethel Atlanta. Help us to ignite revival fires on campuses and transform this nation!


Financial Gifts
Partner with me in traveling with Campus Awakening
In order to go on this trip, I need $1,450. Would you like to join with me in seeing Heaven touch Earth? Financial gifts may be made online at ibssm.org. This gift is tax-deductible and you will receive a statement at the end of the year for your tax records. If you wish your gift to be anonymous, please check the anonymous box. This will allow you to receive an end of year statement, but will not allow me to see your name. This gift is non-refundable, and if for any reason a team member or team does not go, the money will support another mission trip sponsored by Bethel Church. (If online payment is not an option, donations can be mailed to Bethel Church Attn: Bethel International 933 College View Dr. Redding, CA 96003.)

Thank you so much for being a part of my life! I’ve included a prayer card with some ideas of how you can pray for my team and I. I would also love to get an update about what is going on in your life and how I can pray for you. When I return from ­­­­­my trip on March 16th, I look forward to telling you all the amazing things that you helped make happen!

Even though miles separate us, it’s really important to me to keep in touch with you! Feel free to send me an email at coachmold@gmail.com if you have a prayer request, great praise God story, or just to say “hi”. Let’s keep taking new ground in this journey of faith!

I pray that the life changing power of Jesus invades your life and sends encouragement your way today. I’ll keep you updated on what God is doing in my life and would love to hear what’s going on in yours as well.

God Bless!
Janet Mulvey


Monday, June 29, 2009

YWAM Update

Dear Friends & Family,

Hello there! I hope this newsletter finds you well and the grace and favor of God rests on you. It has been a while since I last sent out an update and I wanted to share with you what has been going on in my life the last 6 months and what's ahead. The Lord has been moving a ton here in Kona, so get ready to hear how your prayers and support have been making an impact in this community and beyond!

Discipleship Training Schools (DTS)
Starting in January, I took on the position as a Quarter Point Person for all of our DTS's going on during January Quarter and April Quarter. My position includes liasing between campus departments and the DTS's, administrative and financial tracking with the schools, and also pastoral care and training with our DTS Staff.

In January, we saw over 150 students go through our DTS with 5 focuses; Justice, Fire and Fragrance, Extreme Places, All Nations All Generations, and French World. We ended up sending teams to 18 different locations around the world, from Kauaii, to Afghanistan, to China. In the last month all of these teams arrived back to Kona safely with radical testimonies of God moving in their lives and the people they were ministering to on the field. It is amazing to hear how much God is on the move around the world.

In April we saw over 110 students go through our DTS with 3 focuses; PhotogenX, Performing Arts, and Go Asia. Within the last week we have sent teams to 10 different locations around the world, from Panama, to Jordan, to South Africa, to China. Already we have been able to see these students amazing gifts in creativity as PhotogenX presented a photography expo in downtown Kona of pictures of people in the community, and as Performing Arts students presented their production to the campus on our Thursday Night Ohana Gathering of the story of the Prodigal Son called Coming Home.
Yo Quiero Taco Bell
In January of last year, I felt a nudge from the Lord to get a job in the community in order to stay connected to the needs of people here in Kona and also to supplement my income a little. Having come and gone and come back again multiple times for when I lead teams overseas, I am again working at Taco Bell. I have to say that it is actually an awesome opportunity for me.

Living in the YWAM community, it can be easy to lose sight of what a lot of people are struggling with in the community. I work alongside single moms, drug addicts and alcoholics, people with health problems, and people ultimately searching for love that only the Lord can provide. I am in constant need of God's love for my co-workers and so aware of how He is the only one great enough to help them overcome. He is our hope.

Also, working at Taco Bell, I am challenged in different ways that expose my character and I can see how much I need the Lord to give me His heart for people and to walk in His ways. I am constantly challenged to be patient and be sensitive to the Lord and how He wants to show His love to people. It is funny how many times on a shift people will comment on how great a job I do in taking orders in drive-thru, when on the inside I might be getting frustrated with how long it is taking for orders to be made. I've had YWAMers come through not knowing it was me and comment to one another that the person taking the orders must know the Lord, then they find out it's me. It is my hope that through my actions and words that my co-workers and customers would see that God loves them infinitely, lavishly, and completely. It is only by Him that anything good can come from me.

Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry (BSSM)
So you may be asking at this point, what's next for you Janet? I have recently completed my 2 year commitment to YWAM Kona and have been seeking the Lord for what is next since last October.

Since before I can remember I have had an appetite to do the impossible. I think we all do, that is why society has an infatuation with superheroes. In the Bible, Jesus performed miracles as a testimony He came from the Father. The testimony which I have is greater than the testimony of John; for the works which the Father has given Me to accomplish - the very works that I do - testify about me that the Father has sent me (John 5:36). One of the major functions of miracles and supernatural living is to offer immediate, irrefutable proof of what God wants to happen on earth. It demonstrates who God is by showing what His reality looks like. The apostle Paul put it this way, "And do not be conformed to this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind, so that you may prove what the will of God is, that which is good and acceptable and perfect (Romans 12:2). With this in mind, I feel like the Lord is leading me to take a 9 month 'School of Supernatural Ministry' in Redding, CA at a church called Bethel starting September 15th, 2009.

Here is a description of the school from their website:

BSSM is a Holy Spirit driven ministry school where students of all ages come to learn how to live in the Kingdom of God and extend it's borders through a supernatural lifestyle. It is important to note that although many young people come to BSSM, the school is multi-generational with participants ranging from the ages of 18 to 80. One of Bethel's core values is honor, which manifests through joining the generations and teaching every age group to value and serve one another.

The school emphasizes hands on training and experience along with academic understanding. This creates a do and teach culture where all of the students are expected to take risks to stretch their faith and grow in their understanding of God. BSSM believes that each verse of the Bible is an invitation into an experience with the Lord, therefore the students are challenged to live the Bible. This produces a class environment that often feels very much like a laboratory where disciples practice the things they are being taught while instructors coach the process and all this takes places in a setting of passionate worship.

As the year progresses and the students begin to gain confidence and experience within the safety of the classroom, they are sent on outreaches into the community. These exploits include ministry to neighborhoods, after-school programs, and street & service evangelism. When the students take their supernatural ministry into the community, it gets pretty wild and exciting! They return to class to share testimonies, give thanks and debrief, always cheering each other on as they share.

Boldness, passion and risk are center stage in Bethel's school. These values define our atmosphere and are manifest in worship, ministry and in relationships with each other.

This has been a glimpse of what has been going on in my life the last 6 months and a picture of what's ahead. In addition to what I've shared I've also been working on my Masters in International Relations with a focus on Conflict Resolution, attended a Conflict Mediation Seminar in Fresno, went to a Youth Revival Conference in Redding, and getting amazing revelation of humility, leadership, and best of all, God's love. This summer I will continue to work at Taco Bell and also be working on DTS applications for the September Quarter (we already have 500 applications started online!). I appreciate so much all of your continued prayers and support. I am so thankful for you and pray that God would bless you as you continue through your day.

Please let me know if you have any prayer requests, and I would also love to hear from you what has been going on in your life.

Sincerely,

Janet Mulvey
University of the Nations
Youth With A Mission
Kona, Hawaii

Friday, August 22, 2008

Personal Update

video

Belfast, Northern Ireland Team Video

As I sit here in my room after hearing one of our organization’s leaders share about God’s heart for the Muslim world, I am just in awe of what God has been doing in our midst here in Kona, Hawaii.

In my life personally, I am so stirred to see God's Kingdom come to this earth. Jesus told us to pray, "Your kingdom come, your will be done, on earth, as it is in heaven." He wouldn't tell us to pray this if is wasn't possible. I've observed in these last seven weeks God's Kingdom invade the lives of our students in our school. I've been so challenged by many of them that are crying out to God asking Him if there is anything else in the way that is keeping them from receiving the fullness of what God has for them. Oh if I could thirst for all that God has for me like that! I've really been challenged and have been seeking that out.

I remember in my own DTS I did the same thing, however, since being on staff it has been so easy to get caught up in all the tasks that need to get done. It is about a 60 hour work week with being on call 24 hours a day 7 days a week. It is truly the most exhausting and fulfilling job I've ever had. I really want to come to a place in my relationship with God where I am open to Him speaking into the areas of my life that are "in the way" of me receiving all that He has. He is ready and waiting to pour out His blessings on my life, but I know there are things that I have put in the way that hinder my capacity to receive. I love Him so much, and He has done so much for me, He is so worthy to give my life to because He saved it.

I feel like I am called to greatness. Something so much greater than myself that only God could do. I think we all desire this. Our world is infatuated with superheroes. I think it's because God put in our hearts a life filled with something so much more that this natural earth. I want the supernatural to become natural in my life. I think this is what the Bible means when it says that we are citizens of another world(heaven) and we are aliens to this world(the natural). I'm challenged to step out more in praying for people. I've often walked in fear of failure or that what I'm praying for might not happen. I'm afraid I might disrespect people by asking them if I can pray for them. But my friend challenged me the other day and said that if by stepping out and praying for someone and they are actually healed or see and actual miracle, they could care less about whether it was respectful or not. They are healed! But if I don't even try because I'm afraid I'll fail (which it doesn't depend on me anyways) then there is no chance that that miracle can happen, because I didn't take the opportunity.

I'm excited for the life that God has for me. He has created me in His image, fearfully and wonderfully made. I'm ready to walk out in the fullness of all that God created me to be. I'm tired of being ripped off of my destiny because I'm afraid I might be rejected or fail. I am accepted and have victory in Christ. I am secure in Him! There is nothing to lose, but gain a deeper relationship with the living God of all creation who loves us so dearly. I'm walking out, stepping forward and taking hold of my destiny. I may not know all the steps to take, but I know that my Father in heaven is good and great, more than capable to make all His plans for my life be complete. He will show me the way, even if it is step by step at times. He is so good.

Where are you at in this whole process? How do you feel you are doing in living out the destiny and the full identity in Christ that He has granted you? Is fear something that is holding you back? I'd like to pray for you if that is the case. Just email me and let me know. I can even call you if you want. I know that God has for every single person on this earth a destiny and call into a deep intimate relationship with Him. Let us let go of the fears that keep us from taking hold of it.

Much love to you.
Blessings,
Janet

Saturday, June 28, 2008

A Whirlwind of a Month

Hello Friends!

Since the last post, a lot has happened, so this blog is divided up into multiple sections chronologically.

Xenophobia
The last you heard from me was a prayer request for the township and the foreigners that were being forced to leave their homes and businesses. I have great news to report. On the Monday morning, after the weekend you received the prayer request email, on the front page, the news papers were quoted as saying “….Masiphumelele leads South Africa and restores our southern peninsula dignity.” Here is a brief outline of events of that weekend:


Thursday night: relatively minor trouble in Masi following evacuation of foreigners by police - mostly young drunken ‘tsotsis’ taking advantage of the situation and looting.
Friday: Yandiswa Mazwane, community leader, mobilizes all other leaders for peace rally with help of the ‘Ubuntu Coalition’ (eMzantsi Carnival, Art of Living, other NGOs). Leaders address packed community hall at 6pm, vociferous support expressed for foreigners (”we want them in 2010, why not now?”), wonderful prayer and singing, and candlelit vigil. Tangible sense of calm restored on leaving at 7pm. NO TROUBLE AT ALL IN MASI ON FRIDAY NIGHT.
Saturday: community leaders hold two follow up meetings, first to allow their community to voice any concerns. Quite apparent this is not evidence of xenophobia but rather persistent economic stress (NB no force was used against foreigners in Masiphumelele [Masi]). 2nd meeting of all community structures made a plan to restore righteous order…
Saturday night: A joint community and police effort to recover all stolen property by going door to door. Street committees re-empowered. Masi pride restored.
Sun morning: People still spontaneously bringing stuff back; all taken to Ocean View police station for safekeeping.
Sun afternoon: Premier arrives to congratulate Masi community leaders. Deputation take memo to Soetwater(refugee camp) to read to refugees to invite them back home. More than 70 people welcomed back to Masi with a Kentucky Fried Chicken supper in the late evening.
PLEASE NOTE this was a community initiated and community driven
effort.
Masi leaders should be praised for doing on Friday what Mbeki (South African president) had not had the courage to do - stand up and say, “This is not acceptable here. We condemn it, and we will act immediately to make amends.”

Praise God! It is amazing what prayer can do and we each have the opportunity to partner with God in seeing Him work in the hearts of people and their communities. Just a year before this time, Masi was the township in South Africa who initiated the violence against foreigners; this year, they lead the way in bringing reconciliation.


Outreach

Our team had an amazing two weeks doing ministry in the valley we were living in. Some continued to come alongside and disciple the women who we built the house for and had dinner with them each night. Others created an after school program for children at the local library and taught them Biblical principles and demonstrated to them how much God loves them and has a plan for them. Some of the guys on our team spent time with a local basketball team doing Bible study, going on a hike, and of course playing basketball with them. A few others and myself had the amazing opportunity to teach the Destiny by Design material to the teachers at a local primary school. It was amazing to see the passion and vision those teachers had for their community. When we finished our time with them, they wanted to continue meeting and having a teacher’s Christian fellowship where they can pray for one another, encourage one another and study the Bible together. By the end of the outreach, our hearts for this place had grown for the different people we met and the great plans that God has for them in bringing God’s Kingdom to their community.



House of Hope – Namadi


Library Kids





Destiny By Design – Primary School


Destiny By Design – Baptist Church Youth




Children in Massi




South African Penguins


San Diego

After a week of debriefing the outreach in South Africa, I headed on the long trek back to the USA. After 30+ hours of traveling, I arrived at the train station in San Diego where I met up with my parents. For a week I was able to visit with my parents and rest from the long travels. We were able to go see the Indiana Jones movie, go to the Natural History Museum, go kayak fishing, and even go to Disney’s California Adventures. I had such a great time and even was able to go to lunch with my grandma.


Kayak Fishing


Back in Kona

I arrived in Kona, Hawaii on Sunday June 8th. Since then up until now, preparations and training have been taking place for the July Quarter Discipleship Training School, which starts on July 3rd. I can’t express enough in words how excited I am about this next school. After taking the Making Disciple Makers School in South Africa, this next DTS that I am staffing is going to be an awesome opportunity to apply the things that I have learned.


Plaza of the Nations

University of the Nations

Kaulua-Kona, Hawaii


As of today, we have 59 students accepted from 14 different nations! The nations represented are Canada, China, Ghana, Kosovo, Myanmar, New Zealand, Norway, Rwanda, Singapore, South Korea, Switzerland, United States, Vanuatu, and Yugoslavia. How amazing is that?! We are so excited for them to come. We know that God has incredible plans in store for all of us.


Prayer Requests

A vital part of the ministry here is your prayers. You are as much a part of this ministry as I am. The victories that I experience are your victories; the struggles and challenges are yours as well. I am so grateful for your willingness to stand with me, and together we can work to see God’s plans accomplished.

Please be praying for our students. Pray that God would be preparing their hearts, that the rest of their finances would come in (for the total length of the school, lecture and outreach, they will need approximately $9,000-$10,000), and for Visas and traveling, that everything would go smoothly and doors would be opened. I’ve included below a list of the names and the country of origin of each student. Continue to pray for them as God brings it to your mind. We come into this school with great anticipation and expectation from God to speak deeply into the lives of every person associated with this school, even to you. Thank you for your prayers.

July Quarter DTS Students

1

Shiona

Nickel

17

Canada

2

Chui Shan

Chung

29

China

3

Ernest

Baffoe

22

Ghana

4

Daniel

Ofori-Boafo

33

Ghana

5

Altin

Ademi

22

Kosovo

6

Arben

Hoti

20

Kosovo

7

Arberesha

Zhuja

20

Kosovo

8

Thang

Tuang

26

Myanmar

9

William

Trayes

23

New Zealand

10

Daniel

Aalien

19

Norway

11

Jarle

Tollaksen

19

Norway

12

Fidele

Kanamugire

32

Rwanda

13

Francine

Uwera

27

Rwanda

14

Buvanaswari

Padhman

31

Singapore

15

Se Kyung

Choi

20

South Korea

16

Yejin

Hwang

23

South Korea

17

Taeli

In

22

South Korea

18

Jeongwon

Jang

21

South Korea

19

Yejin

Kim

18

South Korea

20

Healeen

Kim

23

South Korea

21

Moon Hwa

Kim

54

South Korea

22

Jee Hye

Lee

18

South Korea

23

Hyun Suk

Lee

48

South Korea

24

Chang Jun

Lee

61

South Korea

25

Seung Han

Yoo

26

South Korea

26

Melanie

Meury

26

Switzerland

27

Zipporah

Peter

23

Switzerland

28

Tiara

Agustin

18

USA

29

Jae Yun

Cha

38

USA

30

Timothy

Cho

21

USA

31

Young

Cho

26

USA

32

Samuel

Choi

19

USA

33

Daniel

Choi

18

USA

34

Paul

Chu

18

USA

35

Meehan

Dellar

22

USA

36

Alisha

Dykstra

24

USA

37

Nicole

Ellens

26

USA

38

Timothy

Feddes

20

USA

39

Paige

Foelker

18

USA

40

Caroline

Fraley

20

USA

41

Katherine

Hobin

21

USA

42

Kaelyn

Hughes

23

USA

43

Stacy

Im

21

USA

44

Nina

Kang

18

USA

45

Kevin

Kim

33

USA

46

Julie

Lapides

27

USA

47

Nahyun

Lim

18

USA

48

Jesse

O'Neill

18

USA

49

Karen

Park

22

USA

50

Marguerite

Schmid

46

USA

51

Valerie

Swiney

19

USA

52

Jeremiah

Troyer

27

USA

53

Rikki

Vick

17

USA

54

Nina

Villarin

27

USA

55

Tiffany

White

19

USA

56

Patricia

Yu

42

USA

57

Aaron

Zepeda

19

USA

58

Dimitry

Kuautoga

21

Vanuatu

59

Adhurim

Xhemajili

24

Yugoslavia

Wednesday, May 7, 2008

Recognizing God's Voice

In some of our free time here in Capetown we've had the opportunity to catch up on past seasons of some TV shows that are on DVD here at the house. CSI has been a big favorite, but also the TV show House. Gregory House, M.D., is a maverick medical genius, who heads a team of young diagnosticians at the fictional Princeton-Plainsboro Teaching Hospital in New Jersey. House's nationally-renowned department typically only sees patients who have failed to receive a correct diagnosis at other hospitals, so the cases tend to be exceptionally complex and subtle. Furthermore, House tends to resist accepting cases that he does not find interesting.

Recently I watched an episode in which a teenage boy experienced sudden devastating cramping in the middle of a church service. This boy claims he can hear God talk to him. Now, granted, this is a TV show and everything is being acted, but when Dr. House says that claiming to hear God is "just weird" he wouldn't be the only one on this planet to say the same thing.

In the Bible we find multiple instances in which God speaks to people.

Burning Bush (Moses - Exodus 3-4)
Audible Voice (Samuel - 1 Samuel 3:4-10)
Through an Animal (Balem and the donkey - Numbers 22:21-41)
Send an Angel (Messenger angels are all through the Old Testament)

There are also multiple times God tells us He is speaking to us.

Proverbs 8:34 "Blessed is the man who listens to me, watching daily at my gates, waiting at my doorposts."
Psalm 32:8 "I will instruct you and teach you in the way which you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you."
John 10:3,4,27 "and the sheep hear His voice, and He calls His own sheep by name, and leads them out and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice. When He puts forth all His own, He goes before them, and the sheep follow Him because they know His voice... My sheep hear My voice, and I know them and they follow me."

This last week in the Making Disciple Makers school we recognized the great privilege it is that God is speaking to us and that we can hear Him speak. God is our father, friend, and teacher. He has things greater than we can even imagine prepared for us. "I [Jesus] came that they might have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10)" He wants us to listen to Him and follow His instructions so that we can fulfill the MOST AMAZING plan that He has created for each and every one of us.

We get the opportunity to hear God (the creator of the universe) in order to solve problems, make plans, and even hear Him speak about how He feels about what is going on in the world and what we can do about it.

But just as it is written,
"Things which eye has not seen
and ear has not heard,
and which have not entered the heart of man,
all that God has prepared for those who love Him."
For to us God revealed them through the Spirit; for the Spirit searches all things, even the depths of God. For who among men knows the thoughts of a man except the spirit of the man which is in him? Even so the thoughts of God no one knows except the Spirit of God. Now we have received, not the spirit of the world, but the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God, which things we also speak, not in words taught by human wisdom, but in those taught by the Spirit, combining spiritual thoughts with spiritual words. (1 Corinthians 2:9-13)

Did you see that?! "The thoughts of God no one knows exept the Spirit of God... now we have received the Spirit who is from God, so that we may know the things freely given to us by God." That is amazing! When we trust in Jesus as our Lord and Savior, we receive the Holy Spirit who reminds us of "the things freely givent to us by God!" Ephesians 1:13-14 says, "And you also were included in Christ when you heard the word of truth, the gospel of your salvation. Having believed, you were marked in him with a seal, the promised Holy Spirit, who is a deposit guaranteeing our inheritance until the redemption of those who are God's possession-- to the praise of his glory." Ok last Bible verse of the week, "Now it is God who makes both us and you stand firm in Christ. He anointed us, set his seal of ownership on us, and put his Spirit in our hearts as a deposit, guaranteeing what is to come."

It is by the Holy Spirit that we hear from God. I know it may sound weird or foreign to some, but I have to say that personally, it is THE MOST AMAZING THING I AM CONTINUING TO EXPERIENCE EVERY DAY OF MY LIFE. And it's available to every person on this earth.

When we turn to Jesus, we are set free from the constant pressures of life telling us that we have to measure up. We are set free from the lies that tell us "you are a failure, nobody loves you, you are not enough, you should be ashamed." Jesus sets us free from these lies! This is because when we enter into a personal relationship with God, through what Jesus did on the cross we become completely forgiven by and fully pleasing to the Holy God of all creation. The Holy Spirit constantly reminds us that we are deeply loved and totally accepted by God, and He never leaves us or abandons us.

You are significant. God loves you. In Christ you are absolutely complete. Imagine walking out the days of your life knowing that you are more than enough and nothing you do or anything anyone else does or says to you can change that because you are secure in the love of God.

I hope you are blessed this week. Please pray for us as we begin our outreach phase and we go into the township communities to share God's love with people we meet. Pray for safety and great relationships to develop during this time. Thank you.

Love,
Janet

Making Disciple Makers Class

Sunday, April 27, 2008

Way Down Under in South Africa

So I am totally aware that it has been forever since my last post. I really do apologize for not keeping you updated. But here I am really excited to tell you what I have been up to the last month.

After a 50 hour flight from Kona, Hawaii, I arrived in Capetown, South Africa at 4:30 in the morning on April 5th. I'm here on a mission... to learn how to be more efficient in in raising up leaders, teach others how to teach others, and make disciples who can go and make more disciples. Ever since my youth ministry classes in college, I have had a deep driving force in me to make sure I am investing in people who can go further, who can lead others, who can take my job. Multiplication of leaders, people taking up their passion and call to make an impact on the world and lead others to do the same. So that's why I am here. I'm taking a course called "Making Disciple Makers" that will train me to do just that.

The first week of class focused on destiny as designed by God. Each and every person was designed by God with specific dreams, personality, and gifts; and we each have our own personal experiences and network. We are all created to have relationship with God and because of what Jesus did on the cross we can have that relationship and live out our destiny as designed by God. God has been preparing everyone for our calling and destiny and during this week we were able to look at ourselves and see what God has been preparing us for. It was so exciting to get to know the other students in the school (3 Brazilians, 1 South African, 1 German, 1 New Zealander, 5 Americans, 1 French) and hear the passions and dreams that each of them have.

The second week we focused on the Holy Spirit and the role He plays in our life and within a community. He is a person of the trinity constantly pointing us toward the Father and the Son, reminding us of how much God loves us, and motivating, empowering, and enabling us to walk as Jesus walked in fellowship with God and with people. It was an amazing week and I received so much understanding of God's desire for relationship with us and how we can be so blessed by having loving relationships with others.

This last week we dove into the purposes, guidelines, curriculum, and outcomes of a Discipleship Training School in YWAM. There were great brainstorming sessions ranging from how to train staff, how to create a live/learn community, and activities that we can do in a school that will challenge students to understand and apply the curriculum.

Aside from classes, we've been busy with all sorts of activities. Weekly, a group of us have been meeting to pray for Zimbabwe and the crisis it is in, and I've also had the opportunity to pray for the next DTS I will be staffing in July in Kona and also a DTS that will be going on in Brazil. (P.S. My heart is growing for Brazil, I might just have to go there some day) We have also been busy with ministry in the community. One project recently is that we are building a home for 4 sisters, one of whom has HIV. The oldest is working at a local jail, the one who has HIV is learning to sew and hopefully will be able to start her own business soon, and the next two sisters are going to school. They recently were told they had to start paying a higher rent for the place they were staying in (800 Rand = $100 per month), which was way to high for them to be able to stay there. They have been staying at a friend's house and one of the youngest sisters and the girl learning to sew had to stop going to school in order to work to get money in order for the family to eat. When one of the people in our school was talking to these women, she found out that across from their friend's house where they were staying was an open plot of land that they could build on and stay in for only (125 Rand a month). There was a pile of rubble stacked as high as the houses in that little 10x10 plot, but if they could clear it out, we told them we would build them a house. A few days later, we got started. The women are so greatful. This house enables all of them to stay in school and keep working. I heard Namandi (the girl with HIV) say that God gave her this house because He loves them (How true it is!) and that she wants to paint on the wall inside the word HOPE because this is what this house means to them. And what is great too is that they want to start a Bible study at their house when it is completed. It has been an amazing experience to see God provide for these women and be a part of His answer to their prayer.


Clearing the Trash (before)


Framing a Wall


The Worksite


Almost There (after)


4 Sisters who God Loves

As for South Africa itself, it is probably one of the most beautiful places I have ever been. The weather is very similar to San Diego. It's almost always perfect. The view from the house I'm staying at is incredible with mountain views and the ocean off to the left. We get to watch the sunset every night over the water. It's so beautiful. We've had the opportunity to do some sight seeing including going to Cape Point, the most Southwestern point of Africa, the Cape of Good Hope, and Chapmans Peak. I've included a few pictures for you to see how amazing it is.

Haut Bay

Chapman's Peak

Cape Point

The View from Cape Point

Ostrich on the Beach

Baboon Family

Well, that's about all for now. I promise I'll keep you better posted than previously. Thank you all so much for your continued prayers and support. I am greatful for you.

God Bless,
Janet

Tuesday, November 6, 2007

Malaria, Car Washes, and Government Leaders in Nigeria

We’re now in Nigeria, and we have been so incredibly blessed! The flight with Lufthansa was amazing, good food, plane half full we got our own rows, and it was a day flight, so it was uneventful. We landed in the capital and were greeted by our contacts who took us strait to the base in Jos 3 hours away.

Our accommodations and the YWAM base were not exactly the Marriot with 6 of us in a room and the 2 guys pretty much in a closet, but other than that this place is so amazing. The people are so warm and welcoming, God has definitely gifted this culture with the gift of hospitality. Also, the vision the base leader has for this place is incredible. They have purchased 15 hectares of land in order to build a YWAM University of the Nations that will be used to train up Christians, and the local church in making an impact on Northern Nigeria and beyond. So far they have a primary school built and running, a chicken house, and one housing building for DTS students. The rest of the base is running out of an old abandoned government building and that is where we were staying.

The weather has been really nice as well with highs in the 80s and it is just dry and cool at night. This place is also beautiful with rock formations everywhere in this state called the plateau state. As always the sunsets here in Nigeria haven't let me down for seeing Africa's amazing skies.

The ministry we have been doing is working in the primary school, giving messages and doing skits in churches, having bible studies with some guys that work at a car wash, meeting with the paramount chief of the area telling him about what we are doing, and also doing some practical work on base like planting cactus around trees so they are not eaten by goats. As for myself, the DTS school leader has asked me to also be a part in training his staff. I got the opportunity to talk to them about the responsibility God has called them to in raising up the students entrusted to their care.

The team is doing awesome too. We have this thing in our outreach training manual for staff talking about the developmental stages of group dynamics the first stage is about seeing if you belong to the group, the second stage is called the storming stage where power struggles happen, then the third and fourth stages are the norming and performing stages. I really believe we are coming out of the storming stage now and God is really working through each of us to touch the lives of people here. It's amazing to watch.

As for myself, I am doing pretty well, however if you asked me last Thursday I would have given you a different answer. Thursday morning, at about 1am, I woke up and found my body shaking and in a lot of pain, in addition to having diarrhea. I thought that I could go back to sleep and hopefully feel better in the morning. Unfortunately by 7am when the team was waking up I was so weak because I hadn’t slept the whole night and my body was still shaking. They took me to the hospital and after vomiting during the check-in process they decided to admit me to the hospital. I was not even able to keep a sip of water in my stomach without vomiting. L So they hooked me up to an IV. They took a blood test and a stool sample (diarrhea still) and found out I had gotten food poisoning AND malaria. I was miserable. They treated me right away and the malaria treatment made me feel horrible, but by the end of 3 days in the hospital, the IV was out, I was eating meals, and taking the medicine orally. I joined back up with the team and have been taking it easy since. Others on the team seem to one by one be taking turns with some kind of stomach bug, so please pray for our team that our health will be restored quickly.

Just yesterday we moved to a new location in the city in order to work with an organization called Urban Frontiers Mission (UFM). The ministry is directed to prostitutes, alcoholics, drug addicts, runaways, the homeless, HIV/AIDS victims, orphans and vulnerable children, juvenile delinquents, teenage mothers, convicts, ex-convicts, the mentally ill, and others who desperately need the gospel to transform their broken lives. Their mission is to show Christ’s compassion to the harassed and helpless in the urban world through evangelism, meeting physical need, discipleship, and rehabilitation in order that they may experience freedom and maturity in Christ, becoming productive members of society. We will be visiting the brothels of Jos tomorrow to meet with prostitutes to hear their story and minister to their needs. We are very excited to get working with them.

That's about all for now. I hope you are all well. Let me know if I can pray for you. Talk to you soon!

Love,
Janet