9 November 2009

So, we've had some pretty exciting stuff happen since I last "blogged." Where to start!

Lectures
The last couple of weeks we've been learning about:
- laying down your rights. We've had to do a book report on the very subject. A book called "Making Jesus Lord" written by Loren Cunningham - extremely challenging and applicable, if you choose so. Amazing stuff.
- emotions vs will was a good lecture. Our will should lead our emotions, the other way around and you'll get nothing done.
- some YWAM values. Being multicultural and interdenominational, functioning in teams, valuing the individual, valuing families, servant leadership, practicing hospitality.
- discipleship. How we are discipled and shaped/influenced by the world.

One of the things that really stuck out for me was the two meanings of 'knowledge' in the Bible:
- In Hebrew the word is "Yada" meaning "knowing through doing and being changed by it"
- In Greek the word is "Gnosis" meaning "head knowledge"
So, what do you know?

Sister Act
A bunch of us went into London on Monday 2 November and watched the Sister Act musical, twas so cool. The scene changes were so cool! The floor rotated and different walls and props came up out of it. They had all the characters and they did so well.

Love Feast
On Friday 6 November, we had what they call a Love Feast. Sounded too hippy for me at first, but it was based on an experience someone had at a YWAM base where people ate and didn't fellowship, so they organised a night where it was an intentional feast. We had dinner as usual, but then were required to dress up and enjoy chocolate fountains and fondues the staff put on for us. A lot of the girls got dressed up...I did my best without having to shop any further.

They decorated the room with candles and soft lighting, had all 14 flags hanging up and we all wrote a letter to Jesus, thanking Him for what He's done and who He's been in our lives.

I didn't take any photos personally cause there were so many cameras out, so I'm gonna search on facebook for pictures of me and tag em.

Weather
Ohhhh my doodness, it's getting colder! This morning was all misty and it lasted most of the day. Peeps have told me that when it gets colder, when you walk across the oval early in the morning, the grass snaps off cause it's frozen! That hasn't happened as yet...and I CAN wait for that! It's odd - I want it to snow, but not get cold...hmmm. Gotta sacrifice something here I suspect.

We've changed work duties and so I go from working inside the clock building to 'grounds.' Today we did raking - there are so many leaves! And they are wet and heavy and are being difficult. I'm seriously going to have to consider buying warmer clothes and doing layers.

OUTREACH
I've left the best subject to last - where we're going on outreach! Outreach starts on Monday 14 December and goes for 11 weeks. So the process was:
1) Pray and asked God where and what He wanted us to do on outreach
2) We got given 3 colours to pray about: Red, Green and Blue. We weren't told the locations in case our own thoughts were influenced with where we wanted to go. I prayed, however got no confirmed colour. I said, "I will go wherever and do whatever."
3) We were told 2 days later and boy was there excitement in between. A lot of people received confirmed colours and some put down locations (without being told them). We were split up into 3 teams, with 2 leaders each.
4) Dan and I were placed in the Green team with 8 others: Leaders: Andy (England) Ashley (USA), Rafael (Brasil), Will (England), Camy (Switzerland), Abby (USA), Serena (Mexico) and Roos (Netherlands). We haven't been given the full details of what we're doing, so here's a brief:

Locations:
1) Spend a couple of weeks on the YWAM Next Wave 42 metre sailing ship (http://www.ywam-england.com/elida.shtml) just off the coast of Barcelona, Spain. Here we'll be celebrating Christmas. My first Christmas away from my NorthWest family mob, however these guys are my brothers and sisters so I'm not really away from family :o)
2) Fly to Italy and spend majority of the time in Italy/Sicily
3) Fly back to the UK and spend some time in outreach here
I'm sooooo excited! I think we'll be the most travelled outreach group and we leave on Monday 14 December for Barcelona (or thereabouts) whereas the other 2 groups do their outreach starting in the UK.

What we're doing
We'll be doing a range of things, it will be a combination of tellings others about Jesus and practical works.

The Italian pastor has bought a house and wants to convert it into a YWAM base, so we'll be looking at gardening, plastering, painting, interior decoration and creating a masterpiece :o)

We'll be working in and visiting the poorer areas and helping in whatever need they have.#

We'll be in churches and giving testimonies, talks/sermons and skits/dramas.

There were many items from the prayer night that is relevant to our outreach, eg. oranges - the Italian pastor has many orange trees; building/repairing - the work we'll be doing on his propery; icecream with sprinkles - gelati! Yummo.

Last night we listened to a "speak Italian" DVD - so cool and soooo full on! I'm going to come home speaking Italian!
"Buon giorno. Come sta?"
"Motlo bene, grazie, e Lei?"
"Arrivederci"
I'm learning their vowels and consonants. I've not learned a language before and I have 6 weeks to do so! Woohoo! Bring it on! I think by the end I may be able to read and understand, but not write it - but so cool anyway!

Yeah, so that's me!

Dan is doing good. I won't talk about him too much cause I'm not going to have him read this. He's been sick the last week, lost his voice...it's been quiet...and he's a little more subdued...tis all I'm going to say ;o) I love him.

Well, til next time. I hope you are all well.

Arrivederci!
Ellie Mac
Don't you love this name? Too cool for school :-p