November Newsletter

These are from a few months ago, but I want to put all of my email updates on the blog. If you haven't signed up to receive my monthly email newsletter you can do so here! http://eepurl.com/bwj2aD

November Newsletter Update... 

Hello Friends and Family!

I hope everyone had a wonderful Thanksgiving! Here are some of the highlights from the month of November! 

• Go Conference - The Go Conference's goal is to energize a generation to GO to the least reached and the most vulnerable. This year the conference was held at New Life Ranch in Oklahoma for one week. We gathered with five other YWAM bases and spent time worshiping and praying for the nations. There were a few speakers who taught us more about global missions. We spent time praying specifically for HIV/AIDS, ISIS, and the Church around the world. I also had the opportunity to baptize both of my one on one's, Candace and Karoliina! So proud of them both for taking their next step! 
• Teachings - We had teachings on Biblical Worldview and Fear of the Lord. So many revelations happened with all the students and the staff through these teachings! 
• Intercession - We've been doing intercessory prayer on Tuesday's and Thursday's for North Korea. 
• Outreach Prep Retreats - My outreach co-leader (Amy) and I have been praying and planning a lot for our upcoming outreach to India! We leave in 34 days! We had our retreat last weekend. We got to get out of the Training Center building and split up into our teams and go to a house in Madison to spend the weekend bonding and praying and laughing and eating! 
• Birthday Weekend - I got to take a trip to Ohio for my birthday weekend with my friend Jenna to go to a Women's Conference and to visit my best friend from my DTS last year, Annika. On the way back I got to go to Indiana for my friend Amanda Blackburn's Celebration of Life service. As many of you probably know, or have seen on the news, Amanda passed away on November 11th. Amanda was not only my youth pastor's wife, but a great friend. She was always willing to listen and encourage me in my walk with Christ. She was such an incredible example of someone loving like Jesus loves. I miss her a lot. It's been difficult the past three weeks, but I know that the Best Is Yet To Come. God truly is an amazing Comforter and even when I question His character and ask tough questions, He is faithful in answering them and showing me so much grace through them. 
• Thanksgiving Break - This Thanksgiving I got the opportunity to travel home with Candace and meet her amazing and HUGE family! It is a family of 18; 5 biological and 11 adopted! It was so much fun and very relaxing! I loved getting to hear stories of the kid's adoptions!

Some prayer points for upcoming month of December : 

• For the funds to come in for my outreach. I still need $1,360. We are trying to book tickets as soon as possible but we need our airfare portion of the funds to come in first. Please pray for a release of finances! If you would like to partner with me in bringing hope to women and children at risk in India please let me know! 
• For continued strength and energy as we plan the outreach! 

I'm so thankful for each one of you and please know it means so much to have you supporting me! If you made it to the bottom of this email, could you do me a quick favor? Could you send me a reply email or a quick text to (864)735-6340 so that I know you read this? Thank you so much! Couldn't do this without you guys! Love you all! 

Karoliina taking her next step in baptism. So proud of her!

Candace taking her next step in baptism. So proud of her!

My amazing co-leader Amy! Cannot wait to lead our outreach together!

Amanda and I four years ago. She was so in love with Jesus and such a godly example to me and countless others through my high school years. So thankful for her!

Our team wearing our punjabis! Outreach Prep!

Having an authentic meal of chicken curry, chapati, and chai with no utensils!

Amazing Thanksgiving Break with this incredible family!

September Newsletter

(Written on October 1st) Hello from the cornfields! This past month was so incredible! Here are a few things that happened:

• Our DTS (Discipleship Training School) Staff Training was September 8th-20th. We had a lot of bonding experiences as a staff, including a whole day of team building. We looked at everyone's Myers Briggs personality types and talked in depth about each one and ways we can all work well together. We spent a lot of time praying for the students as they prepared to leave their homes and start this six month journey of knowing God and making Him known. We have such an incredible Staff Team and I am so excited to be working alongside of them!

Our Vision Statement 

"We as a DTS staff team commit to follow the Holy Spirit's leading first as individuals and also as a team, pointing to God through a lifestyle of interdependence, commitment, gratitude, prayer, and vulnerability. It is through these relationships that students will be invited into the overflow of the Holy Spirit's work in our lives, individually and as a community. In this environment, students will be able to pursue their relationship with God and personal destiny."

• The students started arriving on September 20th! They got settled in and we started with Orientation! The first day of Lecture Phase was Wednesday the 23rd and the topic was "Hearing God's Voice." It was so great to hear testimonies from the students of how God revealed things to them and spoke to them. We also had teaching on "Clean Conscience" during which we experienced a lot of healing and freedom!
• I've been living in Madison for almost two months and I've really been wanting to find a home church where I could get plugged into serving. I found one! It's called Heartland and is very similar to my church back home. I'm so excited to get to know the people there and have community outside of YWAM. 

Three ways you can be praying:

• For the 30 students : that they would be able to feel at home and really grasp what God has for them during this school. That they would have a growing desire to go deeper in their walk with Christ.
• For the teachings this month : Character and Nature of God, Father Heart of God, Roots, and Spiritual Warfare. As I think back to last year when I heard these teachings, I'm reminded of the life change I experienced, the things I learned for the first time, the areas of hurt that God healed... I'm SO EXCITED, to say the least. This month of teaching is so important, so please be praying! 
• For me : for wisdom as I start one on one's and small group. That God would speak and work through me. For confidence in leadership. That I would constantly remember my identity in Christ. 
• Today we head out to the woods for Survivor. We will be spending a few days camping and learning a lot about God's heart for the people who are experiencing different injustices around the world. More to come on the next newsletter! Please be praying for the students as they lay down rights and get out of their comfort zone!

Every single day in wake up in the same building as 50 other on-fire, God-seeking people who are so much fun! I can't believe this is my job! Thank you all so much for reading these updates and for praying for me and this DTS!

Lecture Phase has begun!! These guys and girls are world changers! 

It's not a joke when I say we are in the middle of the cornfields.

My small group! Cannot wait to grow closer to these girls as we learn from each other!

August Newsletter!

(Written on September 1st.) And so it begins... y'all I love my life! I am so excited to update you all on my time with Youth With A Mission in Madison, Wisconsin over the next 2+ years!
We are wrapping up the first month on staff here and it has been incredible! Here are some of my favorite things we've done this month during our New Staff Training:

• We learned a lot about the different areas of ministry inside of YWAM Madison and got to do some work projects for each of the ministries. 
• Had dine arounds with various staff families and got to know them better. Everyone here is so incredible and it means so much to know that they truly care about us!
• We had our DTS Staff Retreat at a lake house in Northern Wisconsin. It was an incredible time of resting, bonding, and having a ton of fun together as a team before the crazy schedule starts!

A few things I've learned since being here:

• Wealthy relationships - there is so much opportunity here (inside of YWAM and outside of YWAM) for incredibly wealthy and intentional relationships. But in order to have those wealthy relationships I must take initiative. 
• My schedule for pretty much the next two years is going to be crazy, so I must balance my priorities and manage my time well. 
• I am incredibly blessed!! To be here. To be doing ministry. To have a relationship with Jesus! Gosh, i'm so pumped!

Three ways you can be praying for me:

• For boldness to go out of my comfort zone and initiate new relationships.
• For wisdom and energy as I continue to raise funds.
• The students arrive on September 20th! You can be praying for them as they prepare to leave their homes, and set out to learn, be discipled, grow closer to God, and go into the nations!

DTS (Discipleship Training School) Staff Training starts on September 8th and we will begin preparing for the students to arrive on September 20th. I absolutely cannot wait to meet all 32 students and do life with them over the next six months as they do their DTS! Jesus is about to change lives!!! 

I want to keep these updates as short as possible but if you ever want more info just let me know!

Thank you all for your love and support! I literally could not do this without you! 


________________________________________________________________________________

For the next 2 years I will be volunteer staff and I need a total of $500/month. If you would like to support me as a missionary financially you can do so one of 3 ways:

• The easiest and most preferred option (for monthly supporters) will be to print and mail or fax the Automated Giving Form so you can set up an automatic monthly credit card charge or bank account draft. Please contact me when you send the form in so I know to receive it from the office/mail!
• For a one-time gift you can give through PayPal on (www.ywammadison.org/donate). Please remember to add a note indicating that the donation is for me, otherwise it will be considered a general donation to YWAM.
• If you would like to give a one-time gift by check please make it out to YWAM Madison and send it to PO Box 8503, Madison, WI 53708. (If you send in a check, please DO NOT write my name anywhere on the check, or the donations won't be tax-deductible. Instead, please include a separate not with my name on it.)

Please contact me if you have any questions!

Kayla Burick

kaylaburick@ywammadison.org

(864)735-6340

4802 Dakota Drive

Madison, WI 53704

Tubing, jet skiing, boating... Staff Retreat!

Connect New Staff Training group! Love these incredible people! 

Downtown Madison! 

53 Days Left in Greenville!

Hey ya'll! As most of you know I am currently at home resting, catching up with friends and family, and working on a support system. I am really enjoying my time at home and I am learning a lot about resting and what it needs to look like for me in this season.

I am home until early August, then I go back to Youth With A Mission in Madison, Wisconsin. I will be signing on as a volunteer staff for two years! Now, just in case you’re not sure about what YWAM (Youth With A Mission) really is… here are a few facts!

• Youth With A Mission is an interdenominational, non-profit, Christian missionary organization.
• It is a global movement with the mission statement, “To know God and make Him known.”
• They currently work in more than 1,100 locations in over 180 countries, with a volunteer staff of over 18,000!

So as you can see, it is more than just Wisconsin. This organization is making a huge impact throughout the world! I am so excited to be a part of it! For the first six months, I will be a volunteer staff for the Fall DTS (Discipleship Training School) which is the school I just finished. I will be a part of leading a small group and mentoring a few students one-on-one. Ultimately I will be encouraging young people in finding their purpose/destiny and walking alongside of them in it! I will also be co-leading a trip overseas for the last 7 weeks of the DTS!

Then the next nine months I will be a student in a secondary school through YWAM called “Launchpad”. This is a leadership program that comes alongside of you and launches you into your calling!

What I believe God has asked me to do long-term is to start an organization that connects individuals/churches/businesses in the United States with orphanages overseas who need financial support to continue to run successfully. I don’t have all the details on what exactly that will look like, but I know that it is what God has called me to do! I’m so excited to get more clarity and direction from the Lord over the next two years in YWAM.

In order to be fully effective during my two years with YWAM, I need a support base of at least $500/month. Since it is a full-time volunteer position, I will be raising money for rent, food, conference fees, etc. This amount does not include airfare for overseas.

Would you be willing to pray about supporting me monthly and investing in what God wants to do in and through my life during my time in YWAM? If you are interested in supporting me monthly, or giving a one-time gift, please contact me so I can give you more information on different giving options. All donations can be tax-deductible and monthly support can be paused or canceled at any time. Please let me know if you have any questions!

Thank you so much for reading! And thank you for your friendship and partnership in this journey! To God be the glory!

Next Steps!!

Hey Friends and Family!

Well I've been home for about a month now and i'm learning a lot from being back in my hometown. I was worried that I wouldn't hear God as well or as often being away from YWAM and back into everyday life. But God is so faithful! He loves to speak to His children. We just have to position ourselves to hear His voice and listen! He is speaking a lot and teaching me so much about what the next season of my life will look like! 

I will be home until early August and then I will be going back to Madison, Wisconsin to join Youth With A Mission. I will be making a two year commitment and I am so excited to go back! The first six months I will be a volunteer staff of the Fall DTS (Discipleship Training School). The next nine months I will attend a secondary school at YWAM called Lauchpad, where I will be learning leadership skills and will be "launched" (encouraged and coached) into my calling. Which will be working with orphanages around the world! (Long story short!) During the two years with YWAM, as volunteer staff, I will be relying on the monthly supporters God gives me. I cannot wait to experience His provision! 

During my time back home I have really felt God saying that He wants these next few months to be a season of rest for me. If you know me, you probably know I have a hard time resting. I always want to be going somewhere and doing something. But I am realizing the importance of rest and learning more and more about what that will look like for me. So in the next few months I will be doing a lot of resting, hanging out with friends and family, and working on fundraising. 

Thanks for reading! If you have any questions, i'd love to answer them in the comments below! =D 

I'm Coming Home!

Hello Family and Friends!

I'm coming home! As some of you know, I've completed my Discipleship Training School with YWAM (Youth With A Mission)! I can't even begin to describe to you have much I've learned and grown over the past six months. But I'm going to do my best over the next few months to update this blog regularly with stories from YWAM. I spent three months in Wisconsin learning SO MUCH about who God is and what missions is and how they are connected. Then I spent two months in China putting into practice the things that I learned and bringing the hope of Christ to that nation.

Thank you so much to everyone who supported me prayerfully and financially on this journey to YWAM! I couldn't have done it without you!

I'm trying to keep this super short because I know (out of all of my three readers, including my mom) that no one wants to read a super long post... Even though I have so much to say! I'm going to break it all up into multiple posts. I will be updating more over the next few months with stories from my time overseas. There a few stories that I won't be able to share online, so for those you'll have to ask me!

I love you all and your support means the world to me! Once again, thank you!

Getting Ready For Outreach!

Hello Everyone! Things are going so well here in Madison. God just continues to blow my mind with all that He is showing me. Recently we've had so many great teachings. Like Relationships, Fear of the Lord, Destiny, and Roots! We are all getting ready for Outreach!

Destiny Week

I could write so much about this week of teaching. It was my all time favorite and I learned SO MUCH! Wick and Jan Nease were our speakers and they have an AMAZING organization called Streams of Mercy. They connect people and resources to orphanages around the world who need support! I want to do  practically the same exact thing. It's SUCH a great organization and I highly recommend it for anyone looking to invest in the lives of orphans around the world!


More on Outreach 

Outreach is coming! And it's coming FAST! We will be leaving on January 3rd and returning on February 18th. We have bought our tickets and applied for our visas. It's so real now. We are going to East Asia!!!! I absolutely cannot wait! We will be working with an organization who rescues women out of the sex slave trade and teaching them valuable skills and gives them jobs making jewelry. We will be helping out at some special needs orphanages. We will be doing a lot of English Corners where we will teach English and do some friendship evangelism! And we will be doing a lot of prayer and intercession! We are spending a lot of time in prayer to ask God what else He wants us to do while we are there.

God is The Provider

One of the biggest things God is reminding me of is how much He cares about me and wants to provide for me. I know He has called me to go to this country in East Asia, and I know He is going to provide the way for me to get there. He has constantly provided for me over and over again here, and throughout my life! I have absolutely NO REASON not trust Him in this.

Funds

I currently have about $450 towards outreach. I still need about $3,050. Would you prayerfully consider partnering with me financially? If so, you can donate via papal in the top right hand corner of this page, or via check by mail.

Kayla Burick
N1707 County Road N
Columbus, WI 53925

Thanks for reading!

UPDATE!

Hey everyone!

I'm so sorry it's taken me so long to give you guys another update. It's been really crazy around here. We are learning SO much and don't have very much free time. Here's an update on what's been going on!

Outreach Reveal Night

WOW! On October 14th we had Outreach Reveal Night, where the YWAM staff revealed outreach locations. We started out the night with worship and then went upstairs and saw all of the options. The options we're Uganda, Thailand, Mexico, Napal, and one that I'm not allowed to mention online. Long story short, I will be going to that one that I'm not allowed to mention. If you want to know where, just shoot me a Facebook message, email, or text and I can tell you. I'm just not allowed to post it online. I am SO EXCITED and absolutely cannot wait to see all that God is going to do there. It's going to be life changing!

Intercession

We have been doing intercessory prayer for the nation of Bhutan twice a week. It is insane how much God is speaking to us about through that and sharing His heart with us about the people there and the new life He wants to bring to that nation.

Go Conference & Camp David
(Speakers - Brian Hogan, Brad Stanley, and Amanda Siebold)

On October 18th we visited Camp David of the Ozarks in St. Louis, Missouri. It is a camp for kids whose parents have been incarcerated (put in jail). They do a great job showing those kids the love of Christ! They have such an incredible ministry there and we got to spend some time praying over the campgrounds and the staff.
Then we went on to the Go Conference for a week where we learned about Urbanization, Voice of the Martyrs, and Church Planting. We spent some time doing intercession for Kenneth Bae, who is a missionary that was detained in North Korea for two years. We just heard today that Kenneth along with Matthew Miller got released. God answers prayers!

Spiritual Warfare and Holy Spirit
(Speakers - Lea Groff and Mike Esposito)

The past two weeks we've learned a lot about Spiritual Warfare and the Holy Spirit. I went into Spiritual Warfare week with a lot of fear and uncertainty. But the main thing we learned was the power and authority we have to speak out against Satan and declare who God is! We most definitely don't need to walk in fear when it comes to spiritual warfare, but instead walk in VICTORY because of who God is!
We also learned more about who the Holy Spirit is and discussed speaking in tongues and gift of the spirit.

Camp Tuesday

We have the awesome opportunity to mentor some elementary age kids every Tuesday! It is so great and I cannot wait to see all the God does through it!

Financial Support

I'm still raising money for my outreach! If you would like to donate you can do so on the top right hand corner of this blog! Thank you so much!


So there's the update! I am having such an amazing experience here at YWAM and I'm am just so thankful that I get to be here. Thank you all for the prayers and support! Love you all!

YWAM Madison DTS 2014!

Hey Friends and Family!

I finally have a chance to do a blog post to update you guys! The wifi is super bad here, so it takes me a while to respond to texts and do blog posts. But I want to tell you guys a little about the first few weeks here at YWAM! 

Not only is this place incredible, but these people are incredible! The unity we already have is unbelievable. It's only been three weeks! There are 32 students, 7 guys and 25 girls. We all have a desire to serve God and to help people. We have gotten so close. It really feels like family. 

God has done so much in my life these last three weeks. I can't even begin to describe it all. Our schedule is pretty busy. Every day we have scheduled Quiet Time, Worship, Class, and Community Responsibilities. And then there are 1 on 1s and small group time, homework, and morning workouts. I love the schedule so much! But by the time Friday rolls around I am so exhausted. Let's just say I'm drinking a little more coffee than usual. :) 

We have heard so much good teaching in class from some amazing people! We heard from Troy Sherman, Lea Groff, Manuel, and Kathy Ryan. A few subjects have been Hearing God's Voice, Worldview, Clean Conscience, and Identity and Destiny! So much wisdom! 

We survived the Survivor camping trip! But that's a whole different post for a different time. Let's just say we spend a few days in the woods with some beans and rice, a tarp, and a Corrupt Government. Long story. 

For the four or so people reading this blog post, ;) thank you! I miss you all and cannot wait to see you guys hopefully around Christmas time! 

My address here is below!

Kayla Burick 
N1707 County Road N
Columbus, WI 53925 

Plus, I would love to see comments on here! So if you read this I would love to hear from you! 

YWAM IN 8 DAYS!!

It's almost here!!!!! WOW! I cannot believe it! In 8 days I will be flying to Madison, Wisconsin for this next season of my life! I cannot wait to see all that the Lord does in and through me. I am so blessed. I will be updating this blog regularly to update you all! If you'd like, sign up to get an email every time I post. At the top right of this page. Thank you all so much for all of your prayers and support!

Mexico and YWAM!

Hello Everybody!

I just wanted to clarify on my plans for Mexico and YWAM! I will be going on a short term mission trip to Mexico from June 31st - July11th. Then I will be leaving for YWAM mid September and will be in Wisconsin for Training for four months and overseas doing outreach for the next two months. I am SO EXCITED about both of these things!! Absolutely cannot wait! Praying huge prayers and believing God for the impossible! I would love your support! You can support me financially and/or prayerfully! =D And the wonderful "Donate" button at the top right makes it oh so easy through PayPal! Thank you all so much!

My Next Step

While I was in Kenya, Jesus was working in my heart for sure. He showed me that there were no commitments that I had to come home for. There was nothing going on in my life that I had to get back to. I believe that was all God's perfect timing. Jesus has show me that He has called me to do more. I had been thinking about going to YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in September of 2014, but I wasn't really sure if it was Jesus' plan for me. But at the Gauntlet, He showed me that it was His plan. We got to hear the story of Meredith Knox who has been called to move to the UK to be a missionary. It was during worship while we were singing the song Oceans by Hillsong United, when Jesus revealed to me that if Meredith can say "YES" to Jesus and MOVE to the UK to be a missionary, I can say "YES" to 6 months away from home for missionary training school and outreach. So I know Jesus has called me to say "YES" to this and trust Him to provide me with the resources. 

YWAM is a Discipleship Training School where I will be learning a lot more about Jesus and missions. I will be in Wisconsin for 4 months and in a different country for 2 months. The crazy things is this, I need at least $3,500 by mid September of 2014. In total I will need around $7,000-$9,000. This is a huge amount of money and I have been tempted multiple times to forget this whole thing. But if there is Anything that Jesus has taught me lately, it is that He is going to provide for me. Whatever I need. Period. This seems to be the biggest thing He is continually showing me. He provided all the funds for my trip to Kenya. He provided me with a CAR! He has always provided for me. The simple fact is this : When you put Jesus first in your finances, He WILL bless you for it. So I'm just choosing to trust Jesus in this. Call me crazy if you want. I don't care. I serve a HUGE God who loves me so much and wants to provide for me. 

I am so pumped for my next step and I am trusting in Jesus for the funds necessary. Please be praying for me as I take this next step. Yes, I do trust that Jesus can provide. And yes, I do believe He has called me to this. But obviously there are times when I become discouraged and begin to doubt whether this is even possible. So prayers are super appreciated. Thank you all SO much for everything! 

IMMEASURABLE MORE!!

My God is AMAZING and always does way more then I can even dream of. He is a God of IMMEASURABLY MORE! Here is a story to prove it.

For about a year, I had been praying for a car. One week at Fuse, Lee McDerment preached on Prayer. One thing He challenged us to do is ask God for GIANT things. I started praying boldly for a car to be given to me or for the funds to buy one. I almost got one, but the plans fell through. After that Jesus told me to keep trusting Him and to keep praying. I did. A year later, Jesus provided me with a free car! Jesus answers prayers y'all! The car was given to me from a friend from church. A few more important pieces to the story. She told me that "about a year ago God started telling me I needed to give you my car." Crazy right! So right when I started praying for a car, He was telling her that she needed to give her car to me. JESUS IS SO AMAZING! Okay, okay, back to the story. So she kind of put it off for a while, but last weekend she bought a new car and on Sunday, she gave me the keys to her old one. I still am SO PUMPED UP about just how faithful my Father is!

Ephesians 3:20
"Now to Him who is able to do immeasurably more than all we ask or imagine, according to his power that is at work within us..."

Philippians 4:19
"And my God will supply every need of mine according to His riches in glory in Christ Jesus."

The Ends of the Earth

Hello Everyone! I had the incredible opportunity of going on a mission trip to Kenya with NewSpring Church back in June. I cannot even tell you how grateful I am to all the countless people who supported me. That includes the people who gave financially, but also the people who helped me fundraise, and the tons of people who prayed for my trip. Thank you all so much. 

My trip to Kenya truly was life changing. I got to experience first hand how joyful and passionate the people of Kenya are. While we as Americans don't think they have hardly anything, they think they have everything. And they are so thankful for it all. I got to meet many Kenyans who had a relationship with Jesus Christ and the joy they portrayed was mind blowing. Jesus is all they need. It was yet another reminder of all we have to be thankful for. 

While in Kenya the Lord gave me many opportunities to pray with and encourage people. To pour into them, and just love on them. He allowed me to be a part of 5 people praying to receive Jesus into their hearts and surrendering their lives to Him! I will never forget those opportunities, and how humbling each conversation was. As a team we saw a total of 60 salvations and 734 patients in the medical clinic who received free medical care. Jesus allowed us to be His hands and feet to the people of Kenya, and I am blown away that I got to be a part of it. 

Here are a few pictures of our time there. 

A young boy who received Jesus into His life! 

I'm Back!

Hey Everybody! So it may be super obvious already, but I haven't visited or posted on my blog in a very long time. But i'm excited to be back and to catch everybody (the 2 or 3 who actually read haha) up on what Jesus has been doing in my life lately. So in the next few weeks/months I will be posting more often to tell you guys some amazing stories of what Jesus is teaching me! Thanks for reading!

Call To Ministry

http://vimeo.com/23319563

Here is the video from this week at Fuse*! It was the most unbelievably amazing message I have EVER heard! It will blow your mind! Jesus clearly spoke to me through this message, and I now know that I am called to be in ministry. Although I don't know what area, I do know that in God's PERFECT timing it will be revealed to me! SO pumped and thankful!

Here are a few notes:

-God doesn't want your suggestions, He wants your surrender!

-God doesn't want your plans, He wants your hands!

-You've got to steward well what you have now, in order to steward well what God will give you later.

-The call to follow Christ is the call to die and leave everything behind.

Enjoy!

Goodbye 2010, Hello 2011!!!!!

This year has been AMAZING to say the least!! It has been a year of TREMENDOUS life change and one that i will NEVER forget!

In the year 2010 I :

- Surrendered my life to Jesus while watching a podcast version of a NewSpring sermon my ipod on February 2nd!

-Got baptized at NewSpring Church GVL Campus on May 30th!

-Started going to Fuse* and attending small group! You can't do life alone! I'm so thankful for my small group!

-Became a member (owner) of NewSpring Church!

-Started serving in KidSpring! Springtown Toys is the room i'm in! It is 2-yr-olds, and so much fun!

-Had the AMAZING opportunity to go to the Gauntlet for the first time! JESUS BLEW MY MIND!!! So much life change happened I can't even begin to describe it! I got to witness friends receive Jesus as their Savior and get baptized! I learned SO much during that one week!

-Had the privilege to go with NewSpring Church to Hollis Academy to put brand new shoes on the feet of all the kids!! Hollis Academy is an elementary school at a 99.5% poverty level. The kids we SO excited to get a brand new pair of socks and shoes!!! Such an amazing experience!

And SO much more! I thank Jesus for such an awesome year and I am looking forward to another amazing year in 2011!!!

"Commission my soul

With a fire uncontrollable

For this great cause

To save the lost.

Open my eyes

To the reason i'm alive

Oh Lord

I'm ready now

I'll follow you."

-Fuse*

#Commissioned!

Volunteering For Show Hope, An Awesome Concert, Meeting The Chapmans, And Hanging With The Mestas!!!

This past weekend my sister and I got the opportunity to go to Wake Forest, NC to visit a friend! We got to Ellie's house on Thursday afternoon. It was SO awesome to see all the Mestas'! They truly are an AMAZING family!!! Jerry and Eileen have 3 biological and 6 adopted children! Highly recommend their blogs above!!! On Thursday night we went to "A Night With The Chapmans" in Durham NC. We went to a Question and Answer session also!

We got to volunteer for Show Hope! We had a blast and got to sit in on a lot of the concert! Steven Curtis Chapman, Caleb the band, and Geoff Moore played some awesome music! Mary Beth Chapman spoke about her new book "Choosing To See". (Which is a fantastic book!!! You should definitely read it!) It was unbelievable! Afterwords we got an amazing surprise! The Chapman's had invited the whole Mestas family to come backstage after the concert! Since we were with the amazing Ellie we got to go too! It was awesome to meet Steven, Mary Beth, Caleb, Julia, and Will! They are such an awesome family and have such an amazing testimony!

Group picture with Steven Curtis Chapman!

Group Picture with Caleb, Will, and Mary Beth!

Caleb the band and SCC!
Show Hope Table!

Us with Julia! (Caleb's wife)

The rest of the weekend consisted of amazing fun and hang time! And some AMAZING late night (or early morning) discussion!

Thank you Ellie and the rest of the Mestas family!!!!!

145 Million Orphans

"...we have enough bedrooms to house the orphans. Here's the math. There
are 145 million orphans worldwide. Nearly 236 million people in the
United States call themselves Christians. From a purely statistical
standpoint, American Christians by themselves have the wherewithal to
house every orphan in the world. " - Max Lucado