Going to Make a Difference

Some exciting news for you all this week...

I am going to... Make A DIFFERENCE!
Where, you ask? Well as part of the Bible Core Course, we spend 2 months sharing what we learn through teaching the Bible and bringing hope to people in a variety of ways.

Half way through April, I will start my outreach off by going on a Youth Street camp called DEEPER. The camp literally is all about what the name says: getting youth to go deeper with God. It runs for a week and we will be taking youth down to Brisbane to assist with the flood relief (still a lot to do) and doing community service before ending the week with a bang by taking them to a BIG Christian music festival. During the week, I get the opportunity to speak, teach, and disciple these youth! As many of you know, this is completely where my heart is at and I am so excited for a chance to really embrace and walk out in it while using all the skills and knowledge that I'm gaining through studying God's word in the Bible Core Course.

THEN....

Once I return from DEEPER, I will be going to.... wait for it... Papua New Guinea!

My whole school will be going there for 6 weeks to make a difference in significant and practical ways:

The first 3 weeks will be spent at a YWAM base in Mt. Hagan, where we will put our teaching skills to good use and run Bible seminars for people in various positions of influence and spheres of their society (aka their villages): pastors. One of the things that we have been talking about is the importance for people to have a Biblical world-view, as it really does change how communities operate. Although Papua New Guinea has been called a Christian nation, there is still much need for discipleship (as in every nation), and so it is a joy and privilege to go and bring truth and further clarity in order to see this nation radically strengthened in a spiritual sense.

The following 3 weeks in PNG  I will be working on the YWAM Medical Ship!!
This is super awesome as last year I did a lot of work pertaining to the ship, but I never actually was a part of it physically. The Medical Ship is an effective tool to really have lives restored in real terms. My team and I will be apart of the 3rd outreach (of 8 that the ship is doing this year in the Gulf and maybe western provinces of PNG). There will be dentists, optometrists, nurses, health care workers, and many willing hearts that just want to help however they can (like ME). Although we will be working with and living on the ship, we will see how we can tie in our Biblical teachings still (whether thats running short seminars for people waiting on-board the ship or going into villages), as we have a firm belief that meeting needs spiritually should be partnered with meeting needs practically for holistic discipleship.

"What good is it, my brothers, if a man claims to have faith but has no deeds? Can such faith save him? Suppose a brother or sister is without clothes and daily good. If one of you says to him, "Go I wish you well; keep warm and well fed," but does nothing about his physical needs, what good is it? In the same way, faith by itself, if it is not accompanied by action, is dead." - James 2:14-17

This is exactly what I am going to be apart of.
I would like to ask you to consider being apart of this too!
In addition to your prayers and encouragement, I need to see another $2000 raised in order to go on outreach and make this happen.

If you have any question as to what this may look like, check out this video which shows very clearly how we were able to make a big difference in a short period of time, in real terms:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jHlI6xw2OPk

Please pray and consider what your part could be in making a difference through this opportunity!
Greatly appreciate it.

Be blessed!
Love Liz

Encouragement When Things Get Tough...

This past week was AmAzInG!!

We started studying the book of Hebrews while camping in the Aussie bush.
During the time up there, we also had our center staff retreat, and so there was well over 200 of us representing 26 nations!!

Hidden Valley Staff Retreat

I found it very refreshing to have a change of learning environment, even if for only a few days.


Hebrews was written to a Jewish-Christian group of believers who were undergoing persecution and on the verge of returning to Judaism to avoid the suffering. This was because they didn't understand the true/ full nature of Christ Jesus and how he is superior to everything in every way - there is just no comparison! 

Through studying this book, I was very challenged on a personal level.
In class, Jonathan (my school leader) talked about applying this book to us today: “We all have gentile backgrounds, so even though the desire to turn back to Judaism isn’t applicable, we need to ask ourselves what we turn to when things get tough?” 

Being a Christian, there are definitely times where I feel tempted to turn back to what I know is easy, especially while living a life in missions. I want to go home to MY country and be with MY family, MY friends, make MY own money, etc. Life without Christ can be so deceiving and look appealing temporarily, but it is no comparison to the life one can inherit through faith in Christ.

“Sometimes life IS really tough – that’s just a fact, but we need to understand that Jesus is worth it and so turn to him rather than what we know is easy.”

Jesus is superior and far more worthy than ANY personal sacrifice I could EVER make.

Just like the original readers, I took great encouragement from studying this book and I know its message will be a key foundation for my life as a whole, but especially so while in missions. 


I hope you feel encouraged to do the same :)


Love and blessings,
Liz