Update #7 (Jordan)

I know it's hard to believe, but I'm trying to get back on track with my blogging, so I can finish my YWAM updates. I have been procrastinating for FAR too long. Luckily, this will be a short one!

Our next stop after Thailand was Jordan. We were only in Jordan for two short days, because it was much cheaper for us to fly to Jordan and then take a bus to enter into Israel than to fly straight into Israel. And it also allowed us two "rest" days where we could play tourist.

When we arrived in Jordan, everyone was talking about how different it looked from all the places we had been up to that point. It was a lot more desert-looking. Lots of dirt, little greenery; yet still extremely beautiful. The landscape was very different, and so was the culture. It was something to adjust to, for sure. It was really interesting to observe everyone and everything as we walked along the streets.

Jonah and Merel planned our off day for us, and arranged for us to go to the Dead Sea. We took two vans (taxis) from our hotel to the Dead Sea, and the driver of the van I was in was THE most precious old man. He was so talkative; he shared all about his life story, he spoke about all the conflict going on in Jordan along with all the history behind it. A few of the girls and I were talking about some of the things he was saying about America's involvement in conflicts past and present and how some of the decisions our country made had been really detrimental to this man personally and to his family. It was a real challenge for me to start taking an interest in the world, and not just my own little world. I have only ever been concerned with the things that directly affect me--as I'm sure most people are. But that doesn't mean it's right. I'm pretty sure that's now how Jesus lived, nor how he would have us live. It's something I still am struggling to get my head around and begin to make changes in my life and grow my knowledge of current events around the world.

On the lighter side of things, the Dead Sea was absolutely gorgeous, and lots of fun to play in! The salt content is so high that you can't even really swim, you basically just sit, floating in the water. It felt like oil on your skin, but it sure didn't taste good (I got it in my mouth a few times). We all got mud baths with this black mud from the bottom of the Dead Sea, which was pretty hilarious. After we floated around for a while, a bunch of people went swimming in the pool that they had at the site we were at. The whole day was pretty fun!

View from the roof of our hotel

The Dead Sea

Mud bath!

Maria left her mark on Dante

We stopped some random guys along the side of the highway and asked if we could ride their camels. Haha!

My first time on a camel!

I am definitely a fan of Jordan and would love to go back for a more extended adventure!

Update #6 (Thailand)

So, Thailand. Just like China was separated into two parts due to two different locations, so was Thailand. We spent the first half of our time in Pattaya, where the sex industry most thrives in Thailand. The girls on the team spent time with some women from YWAM who run the Tamar Center in the middle of "Walking Street," where all the strip clubs and bars are. The center teaches the women English and other practical skills that will help them to get a job outside of prostitution. The gospel and Jesus' love is also shared with these women, and a number of them become believers. It is a really neat ministry! We were able to help teach English and hang out in the bars and talk to some of the women who work in them. The team also spent some time with some kids at an after school center.

During our day off while we were in Pattaya Merel and Jonah lined up a little island excursion for us, which was a lot of fun! We took a boat out to a beautiful little island, where we got to read, relax, swim, and soak up the sun all day. We even got to take turns riding around on two jet skis that Heath and Jonah rented for us. Talk about an exotic Thailand vacation day!

The last portion of our time was spent in a remote jungle village called Pong Luk with Burmese refugees who have created a neat little community for themselves. I didn't get to spend much time in the village, because I lost my passport while we were in Pattaya and Merel and I had to leave for Bangkok to get everything sorted out. Even though I was really sad to miss out on the time in the jungle, it was all for the best. Merel and I had a lot of fun bonding time, and I got my new passport and was able to leave the country with the team!

The jungle was definitely where the team "roughed it" most. We worked and sweated all day, showered in the river, slept in tents, went to the bathroom with bugs, lived alongside mangy dogs, and ate rice all day, everyday. Ministry consisted largely of physical labor. Our team helped to tile some school classrooms, hoe out a garden, and some painting. I think there was also just a lot of relationship building with the people who live in the Pong Luk community. Our contact there, Lawn, has developed a great long-standing relationship with the community and has been such a blessing to them. Our team was able to provide some man power to help them get some work done!

Even though I only spent a few days in the jungle, I felt that God really downloaded some things to me while I was in Bangkok and reflecting on my short jungle experience. The people living in Pong Luk village lived in community in such a different way than we experience in our Western culture. But it got me to thinking about the community that Paul talks about: everyone living together and sharing all that they have with one another--no one possesses any certain thing; they all help each other to complete tasks or reach goals; and attitudes are completely selfless.

Maybe missions work is not so much about entering a community, sharing the gospel, and showing the people what the Christian life is "supposed to" look like. Maybe we have a lot to learn from those we meet and enter into life with. The church is meant to be a body, a community of loving, serving, and submitted relationships. It is meant for us, as God's children, to do life with one another within, side-by-side with our brothers and sisters, and of course with God.

The people of Pong Luk village understand community, humility, love, service, acceptance, joy and happiness, gratitude, simplicity, contentment, appreciation of creation, purity, hard work, and so many things that we as missionaries don't even grasp or live out in our own lives. Who are we to presume we know "better," or that we have something to teach them, or that we can improve their way of living? Pretty presumptuous it seems.

Perhaps we simply need to re-evaluate our idea of what mission is and change our approach accordingly. Yes, we do have a wonderful, life-changing gospel message to bring, BUT, how do we best do that? What if we were to simply enter into their world, embracing it and taking it on as our own; becoming a part of the community, observing the way they live life and learning what we can from them? What if we nter with an open mind that wants to learn and embrace instead of immediately instruct and impart? Practicing patience. As we would build and establish and invest in relationships with each individual, they would see our hearts, that they beat for Jesus, and we would earn our right to share our lifestyle and message with them. We would pray that they would have a burning desire for Jesus, as they watch us live and depend on our great Savior. Our gift can be an introduction to Jesus, and we in turn can receive the gift of living the body our as God desired and purposed it to be, if we engage and embrace first. Something to think about.

And, did I mention that we got to ride elephants? Tick that off the bucket list! Lawn arranged a day of fun for the team on our last day, and it was AWESOME.

Now for the photos!

Christina teaching English at the Tamar Center

Playing telephone with the kids at the after school center

Off to the island!

Livin' the life!

Tiling a classroom in Pong Luk village

Pong Luk

Our sleeping arrangements

Water for Elephants?

Recap #5 (China): Installment 2

While in Beijing I spent a number of days reading through Psalm 139. It is a favorite of many people, and I am no exception. However, as I read through it this time, I felt that God would speak to me or bring some revelation every few verses. I would then meditate on that section and pray it over myself and my life. I had some really special times with God while reading through this Psalm. I have shared some of my journal excerpts. I also developed a worship soundtrack of sorts for my time in Psalm 139, so I have interwoven the songs into this post.

"O Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me."

Examine your heart. What do you see? What does God see?

God, I want to have a pure and clean heart that strives to be like you. I ask that you forgive me and cleanse my heart of all these burdensome iniquities. I thank you and praise you for being a God who doesn't leave me the same person. You desire to change me, shape me, mold me, more into your likeness. You are so good to me, Father. I am so undeserving of it. I want you to continue to hone and refine my heart to look more and more like yours. Make my heart so beautiful.

Lead me in your ways, Lord. Help me to turn from my ways and the ways of the world; to  leave them behind without another backward glance.


"You know when I sit down or stand up. You know my thoughts even when I'm far away."


Lord, help me to have my thoughts fixed upon you. I pray that my desire for you would be so great that I can never get enough of you.

"You see me when I travel and when I rest at home. You know everything I do."

You are everywhere. I need to be everywhere with you. Make me more aware of your presence. Give me a greater desire for that wonderful presence. I pray that every morning I would wake up early burning with excitement to spend time with  you.

"You know what I am going to say even before I say it, Lord."

I pray that you would be the filter between my mind and mouth. Teach me when to keep my mouth closed. Help me to speak only life and love to others. Build me to be an encourager.

"If I ride the wings of the morning, if I dwell by the farthest oceans, even there your hand will guide me, and your strength will support me."

You are with me anywhere I go, whether I feel you there or not. You are omnipresent. No matter what place I'm in or what season of life I'm in, you are still God, and I have a reason to sing and worship you.

"You made all the delicate, inner parts of my body and knit me together in my mothers womb."

You know me inside and out. You are the Great Physician because you know exactly how my body works. You know me completely; every single detail. As humans we long to be known and understood, and you know us and understand us better than anyone ever will, and even better than we know or understand ourselves!  You are amazing, God.

"Thank you for making me so wonderfully complex! Your workmanship is marvelous- how well I know it."

Only my God could create humans so complex and unique. You are so creative. Your works are all beautiful, magnificent, and perfect.

"You watched me as I was being formed in utter seclusion, as I was woven together in the dark of the womb."

Even before I entered the world, you still watched over and cared about my life. Your tender care is so intimate to watch us even in our mother's womb, where we are still secluded from the world. Your love cannot be fathomed.

"You saw me before I was born. Every day of my life was recorded in your book. Every moment was laid out before a single day had passed."

God, you already know my whole life. You have gone before me and prepared it for me. Nothing is unexpected to you, nor is it too big for you to handle. Every hurt, every joy--you already know they are coming, and you will stand at my side through them all. Thank you for being a God who takes care of every detail, but also wants to live them out with me.

The more my eyes are opened to see God more clearly and understand more completely who he is and what his character is, the more I will fall on my knees in worship.

God wants to speak to our hearts through the Scriptures. We just need to take the time to listen as we read. Meditate and pray through the Word and allow them to flood our lives with love, peace, and encouragement.

Recap #4 (China): Installment 1

This is going to be the first of two update installments for China. This installment will be about our team's experiences and adventures, and the next one will be about my personal lessons and things that God was speaking to my heart during our time in China. So stay tuned for the next part...

Our time in China was divided into two parts. First we spent a number of days in Beijing, mostly sight-seeing and hanging out. Then we traveled to Xi'an, where we met up with some other fellow YWAMers. China was much more fun than I expected, and I was surprised to find myself sad to leave!

In Beijing we had the opportunity to take in many of the famous sights of China, which was pretty amazing. I had the chance to visit the Great Wall, Tiananmen Square, the Temple of Heaven, and the Olympic stadium. The team had a pretty fun time being tourists for a few days!

The streets of China

We ate with chopsticks for nearly every meal

Heath, my cutie of a boyfriend

ATW team at the Temple of Heaven

Cuties! Tiska, Maria, and Lydia

Tiananmen Square

Chair lift up to the Great Wall

Great Wall of China!

Maria and Sarah on the way down from the Wall

The Bird's Nest at the Olympic stadium

Tiska, Josh, Heath, and I at the Olympic stadium

In Xi'an, we had a few classes to help finish up our lecture phase and we were able to engage in a few different ministry opportunities as well. Our team went to a couple different orphanages and also attended English Corners, where Chinese people come to hang out and socialize with native English speakers in an effort to practice and improve their conversational English. 

One of the orphanages we went to was a home of sorts for children with disabilities. There were two different women who had devoted their lives to taking care of this handful of children. It was such an amazing testament to the faith of these women to believe God to provide for them and these children and to give them the strength, patience, and grace needed to work so hard every single day and to love on these kids. 

We stayed with a few different families living in China and working to share God's love there. This was my favorite part of our time there. I was able to stay with our speaker/teacher and his family, and what an amazing blessing they were. He and his wife welcomed me and the other two girls staying there (Maria and Lydia) into their home as if we were really a part of their family. I also loved being able to hang out and play with their two young sons. Spending time in a home and with small kids was such a comfort after being away from home and on the road for so long. Maria, Lydia, and I also spent a lot of time just hanging out with them and having great conversations about God, faith, life, and all of our questions. It was definitely enriching, enlightening, and thought-provoking. 

At the orphanage in Xi'an

Craft time!

The girls on our team (plus Joshua Diego)

This is the team's update video after our time in China, to fill you in on what I missed: