Jessica's Journey

God is on the move!

2011-09-20T02:35:00.000-07:00

I want to thank everyone for their prayers in moving from Polokwane to Kempton Park and having a smooth transition. It's never easy to move to completely new place, especially from a smaller town to a large place. I was very nervous about traveling around but then my housemates blessed me by lending me their GPS. I took it with me to Polokwane a few weekends ago and sadly enough it was stolen. So then I was really thrown out there LOL. But God has really helped me with grasping the areas and how to get from place to place and I am really not having any problems at all. I also want to magnify God by saying that I am very blessed to be living where I am living at. The house is nice, we have a pool, we have two dogs (who I must say are extremely cute!), and my housemates are amazing! So again thank you for all of your prayers!!

Moving on... After Sarah and I moved we had another meeting with the National Youth Committee. At this meeting we became more focused on what our goals are for the rest of this year so that we can be prepared and ready to go for 2012. One of the items discussed was the importance of going to the different youth events coming up as a National Youth Committee. This is to introduce the committee and let the youth know young people are representing them. Also, this allows us to build relationships with the youth and to also see the health of the districts youth. Thus, a few weeks after this meeting we traveled to Free State for their youth rally.

This youth rally was very awesome!! The youth were very vibrant and passionate about seeking the face of God! I love singing to God with the Africans, they sure know how to do that. Everyone just singing out loud without holding back to God. It's so powerful! Beyond this, they had very great speakers, who were speaking about the glory of God. This was a great rally! Next we are going to Limpopo's youth rally which is Sept.30-Oct.2 and then Guateng's Rally on Oct. 8th. I am very excited for all of these meetings. I love getting to know the youth and also seeking the face of God right with them.

Again, thank you for your prayers. With the new National Youth Committee being formed and their passion to see the youth established in South Africa and then also with the vision the International Assemblies of God recently cast at the Sept. Minister's Institute where Denny Miller was in for an Acts 1:8 conference, I see great things happening here in South Africa. Please continue praying that the Holy Spirit will pour himself out upon all people here and that the people will be empowered to do greater things for the Kingdom then ever before!

Comfort Zones

2011-08-11T01:54:00.000-07:00

It's amazing to me how God always seems to show us a little bit of the picture at a time and then after a while He brings it all together. Then He begins another picture. It's almost like a puzzle. He knows what the entire thing put together looks like, but all we see is one piece at a time. Once that puzzle is put together He starts another one. I can attest to this in my life.

In May I moved out of this big house, where I had 5 housemates and we always had people over, to a flat with just one other lady (Reza) and I. I loved the big house. We had so many get togethers with friends and such great times there, but I felt God was moving me into a quieter season where I could be more focused on Him and learn to be more intune with the Spirit. I was fine with living with Reza only, I was COMFORTABLE with leaving with Reza only. My friends were all still around me, so we could have coffee or dinner at any point, so I was fine with that. I was also really enjoying the quietness of our place and the times of studying I had with the Lord, but I was also enjoying the bonding with Reza and others when circumstances would allow. I was COMFORTABLE with this change.

At the end of June the National Youth Committee was voted in, with this Sarah and I were given our new instructions as to what we are to be doing. Since we have completed the Youth Leadership Training Seminar in every district, we are now to develop a Train the Trainers Program. In doing this though we are to have the national leadership help us formulate this training. Also, another part of our new direction is to assist the national leadership in anyway that is needed. Many of the National Leaders live in Guateng and our meetings usually take place in Roodeport. Thus, Sarah and I really felt that it was the will of God for us to move to a more central location.

When I thought of moving from Polokwane to Pretoria, Johannesburg area all I could do was cry. At first, I must admit, I was a little angry. I didn't want to have to move away from all of my friends. I have made such good friends in Polokwane. Also, my best friend Elviera who had been gone for 8 months working in America had just gotten back, and we had started praying together again at 4a everyday. I love the time I have with Elviera and how the Holy Spirit moves between us, it's so powerful! So anyway, this was definitely not COMFORTABLE!

I am reminded of the scripture in Matthew 16:24 "If anyone desires to come after Me, let him deny himself, and take up his cross, and 'follow Me'." God doesn't always call us to do the things that are comfortable and the truth is normally it is uncomfortable. I find it so funny and interesting. I had just gotten comfortable in America working with "Our Kids" at Oasis and then God said, nope I want you in South Africa. Then once in South Africa, I had just gotten comfortable in Polokwane and God says, nope I want you in Johannesburg.

Now here is the thing it may not have been comfortable, but God's ways are always the best ways. Prov. 3:5,6 says "Trust in the Lord with all of you heart and lean not unto your own understandings, in all your ways acknowledge Him, and He will make your paths straight." I have trusted in MY GOD with all of my heart, in every circumstance and I haven't followed my own understandings but I have acknowledged His leading and followed Him and He has NEVER let me down.

God has blessed me with a place to stay in Johannesburg. My friend Reza hooked me up with her aunt and uncle, and they opened up their house to me. They are a young married couple, who are also very passionate for the Lord. We spent Monday horseback riding together and just talking and learning about eachother the majority of the day. And to be honest I am so excited! They are so passionate about the Lord and in all of our conversations I can tell that mutual edification is definitely going to take place. I know God has a plan and a purpose.

All I see is a piece of the puzzle but that piece shows me that God is going to be doing awesome things! He never moves us out of our comfort zones just to make us uncomfortable, He always has a plan in it. So we must move when He says move and then listen as He begins to show us the plan in it.

Food or Shelter?

2011-06-27T23:58:00.000-07:00

Recently I went to McDonald's for lunch. As I was walking in a boy stopped me and said "please ma'am some food." This boy was probably not any older than ten years old. I felt the Lord nudging me to buy him some food. So I went in and bought my food and also bought him a meal. As I took it out to him I began to talk to him. He told me he was from Zimbabwe and that is where his mom is. I asked him why he left and he said "there is no food ma'am." I asked him if his mom asked him to leave or if he just ran away. He told me that he ran away because there wasn't any food. I asked him where he was living now and he said in the cardboard boxes and pointed me to where they are. I asked him if he had a home in zimbabwe and he said yes they lived in a house. This really made me think:

What would you rather have, a roof to live under or food in your stomach? What a decision to have to make. This really broke my heart.

What a weekend!

2011-04-12T03:05:00.000-07:00

Sarah and I recently traveled to Johannesburg where we held the youth leadership training seminar. This training went extremely well.

The people participated very well and when we had them break into groups to discuss and work on their vision statements and to make goals in order to fulfil that vision they were all working very hard.

This seminar was a lot of fun for me. It is great when we can get together to strengthen ourselves for the kingdom and have a great time doing it!

On Sunday we were at I.A.G. Geluksdal. Sarah gave me the opportunity to preach that Sunday morning. As I prepared for this service God put a message of suffering and hope on my heart. The message was based out of Acts 16 with Paul and Silas. I was very excited for the Sunday because I knew God wanted to do big things!

This was confirmed Saturday as I heard that one of the youth in the community had just committed suicide the week before. We have been hearing so much about this thing of suicide in so many different places and with so many different age groups. I believe God is telling us we must begin to share with people the message of hope, and how in this walk with Jesus there is suffering. But John 16:33 says "In the world you will have tribulation, but be of good cheer, I have overcome the world." I thought, wow God you are awesome that this is the message God had already showed me to preach.

On Sunday they began to sing a song called "Because of Who You Are." I'm sure many of you have heard this song, but it says Jehovah Jireh, My provider; Jehovah Nissi, Lord You reign in victory; Jehovah Shalom, My Prince of Peace, Lord I worship you because of who You are. As we sung this, wow! You could tell God was moving and I began to see how God wanted the service to go. I felt there was to be people at the altar before I even shared the message. In my mind I thought okay if that's what You want God You lead. So as they introduced me and I went forward, I asked the worship team to come back and I said some more things and all began to sing. As they sang again God was moving mightily and one lady even came forward without me saying anything, I felt this was confirmation. So then I got the mic and spoke some things and the front was filled with people praying. The message went well, it was very fun for me to preach this message. At the end two girls gave their lives to Christ. And afterwards I found out that the one was planning on committing suicide and she said now she has hope in Christ! I couldn't help but cry at this. How awesome is God!

It just shows again, the importance of being obedient to the Holy Spirit and speaking what God tells you to speak, no matter what you may think needs to be said because of your own thoughts. Sarah and I were thinking we needed to preach on the baptism in the Holy Spirit but God told me this and wow am I glad I was obedient.

Run the Race

2011-03-16T02:04:00.001-07:00

Hebrews 12:1-2 "Therefore we also; since we are surrounded by so great a cloud of witnesses, let us lay aside every weight, and the sin which so easily ensnares us, and let us run with endurance the race that is set before us, looking unto Jesus, the author and finisher of our faith, who for the joy that was set before Him endured the cross, despising the shame, and has sat down at the right hand of the throne of God. "

These past 10 days we have been running the race extra hard and it has been incredible! We picked up the missions team from Ft. Wayne, IN on Friday March 14th and began our journey back to Limpopo. On the way, all the youg adults in my care were already amazed by South Africa. There was not anytime to waste therefore Saturday we were straight into ministry. They preached the youth service that night and did the children's service as well as regular service Sunday morning. The Sunday morning service was very interesting as 2 ladies were delivered from demon possession. This was the first time some of the missions team had ever encountered something like this.

Tuesday-Thursday we visited Mankweng hospital from 11a-12p each day. There were many miracles which took place. Some included: a man could not speak and after he was prayed for he began to speak, a man was delivered from demon possession, a girl who had just tried to commit suicide gave her life to Christ, and many others gave their lives to Christ as well. The picture below is a picture of Thapelo and I. Her mom gave her life to Christ at the hospital.

We held a movie night at the University of Limpopo on Thursday night where we played How to Save a Life. There were over 800 young adults in attendance and many received Christ as their Savior and were connected with Pastor Thabiso, a local pastor. Below is a picture of the auditorium.

This whole week reminded me of the scripture in Luke 10:2 "Then He said to them, 'the Harvest truly is great, but the laborers are few; therefore pray the Lord of the harvest to send out laborers into His harvest.'" And also the scripture in John 4:35 "Do you not say, 'There are still four months and then comes the harvest'? Behold, I say to you, lift up your eyes and look at the fields, for they are already white for harvest!"

The fields are white for harvest God is just waiting on us to take action. And one person cannot do it all. It takes the Body of Christ. God has calle dus all to be missionaries right where we are at, whether America, China, South Africa, etc. The harvest isn't just ready here in South Africa it's ready all over the world. I challenge you to begin to step into your calling (Matt. 28:19-20) and further the Kingdom of God. People need the hope of Jesus.

Blessings

2011-02-22T02:08:00.000-08:00

Everytime I go to update my blog, I always feel so stuck as to what to write. There is so much that happens in my life every single day. So I want to start out by saying that everyday is seriously such a blessing from God. I can see Him working in so many ways all around me. I know that I am here for the I.A.G. (international assemblies of God) but it is so awesome to see God working not just among the IAG but also among the other friends I have made and people that I have been meeting.

I am very blessed with the amazing friends God has placed in my life. In December I was blessed with a bicycle and have since been riding practically everyday. This has brought opportunities to connect with so many people. So not only am I getting great exercise by biking about 20km everyday, but I am also getting to share life with those I am riding with. It has been great fun! Also, since December I have been either jogging or doing taebo everyday. Several of my friends and I get together and do this and again it's so great to be able to share life with them and get to exercise at the same time. It's incredible how much exercising really does make you feel so much better and it makes me feel so much closer to God.

This new year has been very exciting. One of the reasons is I am currently taking Sepedi language classes every Thursday and I am also trying to learn Afrikaans. The Sepedi classes are going so well. I was just doing my homework yesterday where I had to write 20 sentences, 10 using the noun forms and 10 using the pronoun forms. As I went to our house cleaner to ask her if they made sense, much to my surprise they all made sense but two. I was so stoked! I can't wait to actually be able to speak it fluently. Please pray with me on this. With the Afrikaans language I am not formally learning the language but I am currently living in a house with 4 other South Africans who speak Afrikaans and the majority of my friends speak Afrikaans. I have started attending the Sunday evening Afrikaans service and I am very much enjoying that. As they sing worship, I am learning to read Afrikaans by listening to them and seeing the words on the screen. During the sermon my friends take turns interpreting for me. I have been very excited because I am now able to follow along in my English bible as they are reading Afrikaans and know right where the pastor is!

Now on to ministry... I had the amazing priviledge on Feb.2nd to baptize my friend and housemate Natania. This was the first time I had ever baptized anyone and what an awesome honor it was to be apart of this special moment in Natania's life. Her family and friends came to our house, as I baptized her in our pool. What a great night that was!

Also, just recently on Feb. 16th and 17th Sarah and I traveled to Johannesburg where we held a Training Seminar for the National Youth Leaders of South Africa. This seminar went amazing! It exceeded my expectations. Every disctrict was represented except for 2, and we had great responses from all those who attended. The highlight for me was Wednesday night. We had a service where Sarah preached on Being vs. Doing. This was such a powerful service! She talked about how sometimes good things can be the enemy of the best things. Sometimes we get so busy because we are saying yes to good things but they aren't actually things that God has called us to do so we are actually taking away from what God really wants us to accomplish in our lives. And in doing so much we are causing ourselves to get burnt out and causing ourselves to miss out on God. We need to focus on what that thing is that God has called us to and say no to the other things because we have already said yes. The leaders were challenged and renewed as they spent time after the service seeking the face of God for what there yes is and allowing God to give them the ability to say no. There have been many things that have been taking place, but I'll leave you with these things. Feel free to email me if you would like to know more.

Please be praying with Sarah and I as our schedule is full until August, with our schedule being full comes great opportunities for God to do great things through us. We have a missions team coming in from Ft. Wayne, IN on March 4th-14th and we will be ministering at Mankweng IAG, at Mankweng hospital, and also at the University of Limpopo.

Thank you for your prayers!

Falling in Love with Venda...

2011-01-10T05:24:00.000-08:00

There's a song by Johnathon Butler that says "Falling in love with Jesus, Falling in love with Jesus, Falling in love with Jesus, is the best thing I've ever, ever done..." I heard this song in 2008 while with Grace Mokete. It was shortly after this that we went to Venda for the very first time and both of us fell in love. On the way back from Venda one night Grace and I began to sing "Falling in love with Venda, Falling in love with Venda..." The people of Venda are so hungry for God. They know how to pray and they know how to worship. It's as if you hear God more clearly while you are in Venda. Such an atmosphere and a manifestation of God's presence should happen way more often every where that we go.

That was in 2008 and the same thing is still happening now. We just went to Venda Jan.7-Jan.9th and I am telling you I have now fallen more in love with Venda. I love the people and the culture there. On Saturday we taught the youth about sharing their faith and then we walked through the village and door to door to give the opportunity to do just that. As we went to the houses we would greet the people and they would go and get chairs and we would sit and spend time talking with them. They are such sweet spirited people. I can't wait until I have the opportunity to go back again!

Recap of this weekend: On Friday we went to a village and distributed 34 food parcels to families who have HIV/AIDS. These ladies were so excited! On friday I wore my traditional Venda skirt and as we pulled up to these ladies and I stepped out of the car, they all began ululating (shouting and clapping). It was so funny. People really appreciate it when you try to adapt to a part of their culture.

Saturday was quit adventurous! It had been raining the whole of Friday so the mountain was very muddy. Pastor Jeremiah said our vehicle probably would not make it and advised us to walk. So we hiked up the mountain in our tekkies (tennis shoes) and skirts. We were slipping and sliding everywhere it was so funny! After 30 minutes we made it up the mountain to the church where we started the first service. After the first service Sarah spoke to the youth about evangelizing, and then they went out and practiced this first hand.

Sunday was even more adventurous then Saturday! Why you ask? Well, it began raining around 9a that morning and at 10:15a we were ready to go up the mountain. Pastor Jeremiah insisted that we drive up the moutain and knew for sure that we would make it. Well... about that... we made it a little bit but then we came to our first hill (which was straight up), we made it part way up and then that was it. We couldn't make it so we had to back down, then we thought we could pull into someone's house and turn around. Once we pulled in we couldn't get back out, we were stuck. Grace and I even got out in our dresses in a last attempt to push the Fortune out, but we were not successful. So hiking up the mountain in the rain it was. Oh yes! Our nice dresses with our cute muddy tennis shoes. Bahahaha! The whole time Sarah, Grace, and I are praying that the rain will stop so we can get out later and the more we prayed, the harder it poured. At one point during the service, I looked out the window and just started laughing. I really thought we were staying the night in the village. After about 4 hours the service ended and the sun began to shine. We were so thankful. So we hiked back down the mountain praying that we would be able to get out. Sarah jumped in the Fortuner, as Grace, Pastor Jeremiah, Enoch, Rodney, and I pushed the front of Sarah's car and after a little effort she managed to get out and we made it home.

This weekend was a great weekend, because of the mud it gave us the opportunity to spend more quality time with the Venda people as we hiked up and down the mountain together. So I end this with singing "Falling in love with Venda, Falling in love with Venda, Falling in love with Venda, is the best thing I've ever ever done!"

A New Year

2011-01-04T02:23:00.000-08:00

Wow it is hard to believe that it is now 2011. There has been so much happen in this past year. Here in South Africa I have seen God do so many amazing things! I feel so blessed and honored that God would call me at such a time as this. Sarah and I have been preaching all over South Africa and have seen many people accept Christ as their Savior. Not only this but we have seen so many youth on fire for God and wanting more of God, with this hunger we have seen young people baptized in the Holy Spirit and have seen them take their walk with God to a higher level.

This past year we were able to accomplish many things. We held youth leadership training seminars in every province throughout South Africa except for 3. Beyond this we held several purity retreats, helped the nationals with several youth camps and youth rally's, as well as preached and numerous individual churches. I believe one of the greatest tasks we were able to accomplish was that of revising, editing, and publishing a Youth Leadership Training Manual specifically for South Africa.

I have been quiet on here recently due to all the preparation that has been taking place for the publishing of the Youth Training Manual, (which has now been accomplished and they will be distributed in the upcoming months)and also for this upcoming year.

Sarah and I are holding a National Leadership Training on Feb. 16th and 17th which has taken much work but we are so excited for the final presentation that we have prepared. This is going to be a challenging, yet encouraging and empowering event for the National Leadership. During this event we are also presenting the Youth Leadership Training Manual and they will be distributed to the different provinces as well as different discipleship material.

Beautiful

2010-10-25T06:07:00.000-07:00

The end of August through beginning of September was a difficult time for me. I felt like I was dying inside. In America I had had a core group of friends who I would hangout with and we would talk about the Lord and what He was doing in our lives. We would worship through song and pray together, it was great fellowship. Not only this, but I was also blessed to live with a family from my church (Greg and Linda Longabaugh) and we would have amazing fellowship everynight. As I had been here in South Africa 6 months I had not found a core group of people to celebrate life together with and to get past the surface and to the core of real life and living this life seeking after Jesus. Because of this I felt like I was wasting away. Then on top of this my engagement was broken off as I realized that this was not who God wanted me to be with. It was a very hard and humbling experience. Through all of the tears from both of these things, I grew tremendously and learned so many things.

It's as 1 Peter 5:5-11 says "...God resists the proud, but gives grace to the humble. therefore humble yourselves under the mighty hand of God, that He may exalt you in due time, casting all your care upon Him, for He cares for you. Be sober, be vigilant; because your adversary the devil walks about like a roaring lion, seeking whom he may devour. Resist him, steadfast in the faith, know that the same sufferings are experienced by your brotherhood in the world. But may the God of all grace who called us to His eternal glory by Christ Jesus, after you have suffered a while, perfect, establish, strengthen, and settle you. To Him be the glory and the dominion forever and ever. Amen."

This time in my life had a purpose and I learned so much. I am so thankful though that God has brought light into what I felt had been darkness. He did as Psalm 30:11 describes "You have turned for me my mourning into dancing; You have put off my sackcloth and clothed me with gladness..." He really did turn my mourning into dancing. I had just prayed, as one of my friends calls it, a 9-1-1 prayer to God. And the very next day I receive a text from a lady asking if I would like to come over and watch a Rob Bell DVD. I felt this peace and joy come over me and I knew this was the beginning of something glorious. I couldn't stop praising God. I turned on the song "O Happy Day" by Jesus Culture and began to dance and dance and dance in my room, I couldn't stop for probably 20 minutes! He had turned my mourning into dancing. And when I arrived at this lady's house (Elviera) it was just as the Holy Spirit had showed me. We talked about God, what we were learning, what He was doing in our lives, etc. for hours before we even watched the DVD. We watched the DVD then afterwards continued talking and this was the beginning of a glorious relationship. I knew though that she would be leaving soon as she received a job for Carnival Cruise lines in America. I wondered what would happen when she left, but I took advantage of every opportunity I had to hangout with her while she was here. Her flight leaves tonight at 8p.

God is so amazing! Because during this time of getting to fellowship with Elviera, I have also met some other very amazing people and have begun to build some very strong, deep relationships with them. It is so amazing how God works things out perfectly. As I sat in my new house (I moved in with a South African lady, Marche) with several other ladies all eating around a table and sharing our stories about our lives and what God has done, I realized yet again how awesome God is! I had longed for deep fellowship with others and now I have that. The people God has placed in my life are so amazing. They are encouraging and challenging, very loving and compassionate. I am blessed!

All of this reminds me of one morning as I was driving to work and the sun was just coming up. I had went down a hill and was climbing back up another and as I looked out everything was so beautiful, even behind me. I felt God say to me "See even in your life both the valleys and the mountains are beautiful."

Every moment I am alive is beautiful because it is a moment of God giving me life, it is a moment of Him teaching me and guiding me, and it is another moment that I am blessed enough to get to be apart of His story here on Earth.

Limpopo Youth Rally

2010-09-28T05:01:00.000-07:00

Limpopo's Youth Rally was held in a township called "Namakgale". This was a great 4 days! These days kicked off with an opening service on Thursday night, but many youth were not able to arrive until Friday.
On Friday we split the youth up into 5 teams and had 5 different game stations for them to go to. We taught them how to play tennis on the Wii Nintendo, Charades, Honey If You Love Me Smile, The Hiya Game, and Spoons. They really enjoyed all of these games.

The services everynight were so powerful! We saw many youth empowered and taken into a deeper relationship with Christ. Many were saved and we saw three young ladies delivered from demon possession. This was very sad, because one of the ladies was saved but her family used her for witchcraft. Another one of the ladies was also saved but her neighbors were coming over with a needle and removing blood from her and using her for occult practices against her will. They were delivered and then we prayed for their protection.
On Saturday we went out and did open air evangelism. This was a neat experience! All of the youth went down the streets dancing and singing. They would then stop at a corner where someone would begin to preach. Many people would listen as they would preach and there was one granny who gave her life to Christ. I pray that she realizes that Jesus is the only way. Many people in South Africa practice syncretism, which is where they believe in Jesus and go to church but yet they also practice ancestral worship and visit Sangoma's (witchdoctors).

On Sunday before the service all the youth split up into groups and went door to door to invite people to church and to pray or do as the Spirit lead. This was very incredible! We got to meet so many people and were able to pray with some. One couple "Maggie and Elliot" were previously a part of a cult here in South Africa (Z.C.C. / Zionists Christian Church), but they had quit going due to the leaders of the church offending them. Elliot told Duduzile (one of the youth, as he didn't speak English) that he knew he needed to accept Jesus and wanted to. This whole time I saw how just above his head there was ZCC things hanging on his wall (ZCC all have a picture of the leader in their houses it is a requirement as they pray to this man). We ministered to him and lead him to Jesus and afterwards asked if there was anything specifically we could pray for. He told us of a concern that had to do with demonic activity in his house. We ministered to him again and told him he needed to remove the ZCC things from his wall as they gave an open door for satan to enter in. The man seemed very sincere so we praise God for this. Please continue to pray for him and Maggie with me that they will begin to go to a born-again church and will seek after the trinity and not after the occult.

Walking in the Vision

2010-09-07T01:41:00.000-07:00

Recently on Aug.28th and 29th we were in a village called Motantayne where we were the speakers at a youth conference. This whole weekend was very amazing and God really moved in the lives of the youth! On Saturday I started out by preaching "Don't be a Prostitute" based out of the story of Hosea and how God related that to the way the Israelites were being towards Him. And then how in James 4:4 "Adulterers and Adulteresses! Do you not know that friendship with the world is enmity with God?" The altar was full after the message and many youth surrendered fully to God. After this Sarah led a discussion on "Baptism of the Holy Spirit" after which many came and prayed and 2 were baptized in the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues. We then ended the day with activities. We taught them how to play dodgeball and kickball. They really enjoyed this whole day! As did I!

Saturday night we stayed the night in the village with grandma Nkuna (she is so sweet!). The next morning we were so blessed they had fixed us porridge and cookies (or in america we say biscuits). I love porridge! I then walked down the dirt road, with one of the youth girls (Petunia) to church. She is such a joy to be around! After the church service my feet were hurting so I took my shoes off and walked down the dirt road back to grandma Nkuna's house with many of the youth girls. They were so surprised by the way. LOL! I had such a great time walking and talking with them. A little later that day I was praying and thinking about the day and what God revealed to me blew my mind!

In 2008 when God told me I was to come back to SA and work with the youth, He gave me a vision and what I seen was me walking on a dirt road through a village with youth girls. Sunday morning was the exact vision that God had given me in 2008.

I walked in my 2008 vision! Wow! How incredible!

On the Road Again....

2010-08-16T03:16:00.000-07:00

July 23rd we left for Pietermaritzburg to meet with the Kwazulu-Natal South Youth Director to finish up final preperations for the Youth Leadership Training Seminar to be held the next day. On Saturday we arrived in Port Shepstone for the KZN South Training Seminar and I have to say the drive there was so beautiful. It was along the coast and the ocean was so green and beautiful! Then the seminar just added to it. It was a great seminar! The people were taking notes and they were so into what was being said. Some of them wanted our notes and everything!

On Sunday we preached at the Youth Directors church and we had a very great service. There were 15 people who received salvation.

After this we began our journey down to East London for another Youth Leadership Training Seminar. Along the way we stopped at the Nelson Mandela Museum and we were able to learn about some of the History of South Africa and the apartheid.

In East London the seminar also went very great! It was funny because Sarah and I perform a skit called "Dumb as a stick" and in it I pretend like I am a wrestler and I have to pick someone out from the crowd to pick up spin around and put on the ground. The girls there were in skirts or were too big so I asked this guy if I could use him (the one in the middle of the pic). LOL. It was so funny! He didn't think I could pick him up and he said it was the first time in his life a girl had ever picked him up. When we performed the skit everyone was laughing. So anyway we built great relationships there and are really excited about what God is doing in Eastern Cape.

On Sunday we preached there at the District Secretary's church in East London. It felt like we were in America! They were singing songs that I sung at Oasis and they were jumping! It was so refreshing! At the end 3 people received salvation and the presence of God was so thick it was amazing!

We then left East London and headed to Capetown. This was probably the best part about the trip as far as seeing sights goes. We stopped at PE (Port Elizabeth) and it was sooo beautiful! It was like we were in America except even more beautiful then Florida.

We spent one day in Port Elizabeth and then we drove to Tsitsikamma National Park at Stormy River. This was so awesome!! We went and hiked a trail to a waterfall that was 5.2 miles. The cool thing about this was that on the right was the forest and on the left was the ocean. As we looked out in the ocean we were able to see about 20 dolphins swimming! I was jumping up and down like a little kid! Also, along this hiking trail we met a lady from Germany who was in SA by herself and she was hitch-hiking her way across the country. We found out that she was atheist, she said she guesses she's too rational. So we actually were able to spend sometime with her and showed her love and also had the opportunity to share our faith. We pray someone water's the seeds that were sown.

The next day we headed to Capetown where we were to stay until heading back home. That was nice to be in one place for a week. We were also blessed to be able to stay with Dr. Greg and Emily Johns. Emily became our mother for a week and it was very nice. They are so great!

Thursday August 5th we preached at Cape Theological Seminary's chapel and it was nice to meet all the students and staff there. This whole week we were able to spend time with friends that I made while I was here in 2008 and that was one of the best parts!

We finished the week by having another youth leadership training seminar which went tremendous as well! And we preached on Sunday at the District President's church. This was such an amazing church service! The presence of God was so thick in that place! The worship was like prophetic worship and oh it was amazing! It was as if you were right there in the throne room of God. Several people came to the altar at the end and their lives were transformed.

We praise God for this trip!

More Christ, More Culture, and More Connections

2010-07-18T07:03:00.000-07:00

July 5th-July 11th was Limpopo's Youth Winter Camp. This was a week full of so much amazingness! They had morning devotions at 7a, a morning service at 10a, and then a night service as well. During all of these times we heard great preaching about how to fight and kill our giants and we saw God do great things in the lives of the young people. Sarah and I were also in charge of the activities where we split them up into 6 teams and they did drama training, played capture the flag, and kickball. They very much enjoyed themselves. We also had split sessions about purity. Chris Stubbs had the guys while Sarah and I had the ladies. The ladies discussed Modesty and protecting our brother's eyes. During this time we had a fashion design contest and they ladies really loved it!

I had the opportunity of preaching Friday morning and God really moved. I preached on Secret Sins and removing those sins from the dark and bringing them to the light. I also talked some about the power of the Holy Spirit. The altars were full at the end. One young man (named Gift) that was at the altar as I was praying I was lead to ask Him if he reads the Bible daily and he shared with me that he can't read the Bible. He said that he went to a special school and he couldn't read or understand the Bible, God began to reveal to me things going on inside of him. And I began to speak these things I said this is causing you to feel insignificant and make you feel like God can't use you and so on and He was bawling. I told him that we were going to pray for him and believe that God will bring him understanding. Also, we met with him after the service and some more throughout the week. This young man really wants more of the Lord and He has a had a rough life and he really struggles to read but I know that God is bigger than all of these things so please pray for Gift with me.

Not only were the services great but it was great to spend an entire week with the Africans. They are such fantastic people. I laughed so much this week as I was learning more about the culture and building relationships. I learned some African dances as well as more of the language. I learned how to say Will you pass the sugar (Ke Kgopela Swekere) and Ncobile (means victory). This name is tricky though because you have to make a click noise with the N, I was so excited when I finally was able to do it! I learned many more things. I also spent the week eating like an Africa, meaning without utensils we just eat with our hands. After this week I seriously just wanted to stay for longer! Sadly it had to end.

We arrived back home and right back to more work we went. Friday we had a meeting with some other missionaries and then went to Rustenburg because on Saturday we were having a Youth Leadership Training Seminar. But before Saturday on Friday night we had a Christmas in July party (because it is now winter here and feels like our Christmas) with several missionaries from the Assemblies of God and YWAM and what a great time we had!

Saturday we had the seminar and it went fantastic. The group was so attentive. They were all taking notes and then during lunch they were asking us questions and telling us about how empowered they already felt. We had prayer at the end and wow I felt the power of God so strong, please be praying for the Northwest Province.

Purity Retreat

2010-07-02T02:25:00.000-07:00

Purity is a topic that so many young people have questions about, especially here in Africa. On June 25th and June 26th Sarah and I along with Chris & Amy Stubbs and their intern Chelsea Flynn partnered with a church held a Purity Retreat that was for the Northwest Province. Satan was really trying to fight us because the church we partnered with didn't even show. We had planned for at least 50 people. We all prayed and prayed that we would not be discouraged. Then Amy went to pick up Agnes (an IAG pastor who feeds 60-80 kids per day) and her girls. I was amazed to see when they got back that they had brought 18 girls! My spirits were lifted. Come to find out later, Agnes had prayed that it would only be her girls that would be there so they would get more out of it. She was afraid they would be judged by others because they are from the extremely poverty stricken areas. Wow, so her prayers were answered. lol.

I was reminded of what Pastor Krank had said, "If you can't preach to 1 then you can't preach to 100." I knew the Lord was going to do a work in these ladies lives and he did just that! The opening service 11 girls gave their lives to Christ! We talked about removing masks, revealing secret sins, modesty, dating, sex, and relationships. We also talked about issues that the church doesn't discuss and that's sexual abuse, pornography, masturbation, and homosexuality. Every session was amazing! Girls were delivered, set free, and gained a better understanding of who they are in Christ and have commited to Living lives of Purity.

I praise God for what He is doing here. Please continue to pray. We are going to be at the Limpopo Youth Winter Camp July 7th-11th where we are in charge of all the activities and drama training and we are also preaching 2 services in these services we are going to be discussing purity issues. Pray that youth open their hearts to the Lord and remove their masks and reveal their secret sins so that they can be delivered. Many here are dealing with the struggle of pornography and masturbation and sexual sins but they continue in these struggles because they keep it hidden in fear of being looked down upon. Let them all be set free in Jesus name!

As I side note I want to mention that a difficulty Sarah and I have had here is that there are beggars everywhere you turn, we want to help but we can't help everyone. the bible says that such as you do to the least of these that you do unto me. We want to help but it's like who. So we've been praying give us divine appointments Lord who do you want us to help that we can lead to your feet. Well just this past Tuesday we were at the gas station and a man (Leonard) came and asked us for R2 for bread. Sarah then asked if he knew Jesus, he said no. He was having trouble speaking English so our friend began to speak to him in Venda and He said he wanted to accept Christ. So Quinton lead him to the Lord right there in the parking lot. Pray that God will continue to lead us. And also pray for Leonard we invited him to the church we attend on Sundays that we aren't preaching. Right now He is living on the streets and I know God will help. Please join me in prayer!

Eytla Moya O Mokgetwa

2010-06-22T01:45:00.000-07:00

Mark 16:20 "And they went out and preached everywhere, the Lord working with them and confirming the word through the accompanying signs. Amen."

Acts 2:38-39 "Then Peter said to them, 'Repent, and let every one of you be baptized in the name of Jesus Christ for the remission fo sins, and you shall receive the gift of the Holy Spirit. For the promise is to you and to your children, and to all who are afar off, as many as the Lord our God will call.'"

I know that some of you reading this do not believe in the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues but I cannot deny what God has done.

June 16th is a very important day in South Africa. This is national youth day, which is a day of remembrance of June 16, 1976 where 20,000 students' protested against the apartheid and for democracy and better education, approx. 700 youth lost there lives and thousands others were severely injured and tortured.

On this day we preached in Giyani at the Zone 5 Limpopo Youth Rally. What a marvelous day! They took the theme from the world cup "Feel it. It is Here." And they changed it to "Feel Him. He is here!" They came with their Vuvezela's ready for the presence and power of God to come! And He did just that. I preached on Forgiveness & Freedom and 3 people gave their lives to Christ and many removed the masks they had been wearing, repented and received freedom. Then Sarah preached about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues. After her message the altars were filled with youth worshiping God and seeking the Holy Spirit. Approx. 20 youth were baptized in the Holy Spirit! We left there in awe of God He did exactly what He had spoke to me through His word in Mark 16:20.

It didn't stop there. Friday June 18-20 we were in Mpumalanga for a youth conference. We again saw God move in amazing ways! 14 youth gave their lives to Christ and 6 were baptized in the Holy Spirit!

We thank God for the work that He is doing in the lives of the young people and we know that He is not done! This is the beginning of a REVOLUTION!

Thank you for you prayers and please continue to pray that the hearts and ears of the young people will be open to the message of Jesus and their lives will be truly changed forever. That they will not be able to contain themselves and will tell all those around them about Jesus. Our passion is to make disciples, who will then make more disciples, and we can see South AFrica changed.

Time flies when you're havin' fun!

2010-05-26T04:21:00.000-07:00

Time has gone by so fast! I cannot believe I have not updated my blog in this long. We have done so much, so I'm just going to give you snippits of the past month.First off, we traveled to Durban to hold our first ever Youth Leadership Training Seminar. It went very well! We also, had the opportunity of preaching at New Haven Community Church and the Teen Challenge Center in Durban and saw God do awesome things! People were saved and empowered! Also, during the time we were in Durban I was able to pick up my new car! It is so nice and I thank the Lord for it. I purchased a 2004 Mazda 6 Sedan. Isn't it a beauty! After we arrived back from Durban it wasn't long that we left for Mpumalanga, where we met with the youth director and were able to plan a youth leadership training seminar for Mpumalanga which we will be holding this weekend. Also, during this time we had the opportunity of preaching at Petros' church and it was amazing. They had no electricity but the praise and worship was like that of Angels, and God moved! We scheduled a youth rally with Pastor Petros' which is June 18-20th. Not long after Mpumalanga we journeyed to Northwest Province in Klerksdorp where we held our second Youth Leadership Training Seminar. It went very well. We also preached at one of the churches around Klerksdorp and it was also an amazing service. Many people were saved and surrendered thereselves to Christ and were empowered!

Thank you for your prayers and support!

I stand amazed!

2010-04-13T14:15:00.000-07:00

Everyday I have to pinch myself to remind myself that I am not dreaming. My time here in South Africa has been amazing and continues to get even more amazing!

This past Sunday April 11th I had the opporunity to preach in Melechi. I preached on Forgiveness and freedom. I was feeling deep in my spirit and new God was going to move in a mighty way but I didn't know to what extent. Sunday I was blown away because 15 people came up and received Christ as there savior breaking free from the bondage of sin! Hallelujah!

As soon as we were done here it was more planning and practicing for our next event. I am not complaining at all Sarah and I have had so much fun! We are headed to Durban this week for a youth training seminar on April 17th for KZN-North. Please pray for safe travel as this is an 11 hour drive and also pray for the seminar, that the youth leaders will get a lot from it and that it will get them fired up for what God has in store for their district.

Also, April 15th we are going to meeting with a youth Director of KZN-South. Pray for a productive meeting as we discuss the youth training seminar for that district and also discuss the forming of a youth training manual for South Africa.

More exciting news is We will be picking up my car on April 19th! pics to come! I pray I adapt to a manual quickly. Also pray for out trip back as Sarah and I will be driving seperately and by ourselves. We will probably need supernatural energy by this point!

I want to end with an amazing event I was able to experience on April 12th. It was our friend Kgopotcho's 16th birthday and we were invited to come to her birthday party. It was so amazing how they performed this birthday party. At the beginning they started with a song, after this the different family members gave speeches thanking God for Kgopotcho and encouraging her in the Lord. Then Kgopotcho gave a speech and she was crying, so Sarah and I the criers we are we were bawling. Kgopotcho's family were laughing at us. LOL. It was so touching because she was so blessed! Then we prayed for her. The whole family prayed OUTLOUD for Kgopotcho. I love it when families lift up God's name in everything. This was so amazing to be apart of!

I am so blessed! Thank you for your continued prayers.

True Africa

2010-04-05T05:06:00.000-07:00

This weekend was the Limpopo Easter Conference where we spent Fri. Sat. and Sun. with about 2,000 people from Limpopo. Sarah and I ate with them, slept with them, bathed liked them, and spent time with them. It was such an awesome time!

We arrived on Friday and had 3 services that day. Each service was an African service so probably about 4 hours long, but every service is 4 hours of joy! Singing, dancing, laughing, praying, and hearing the word. Each day we had a meal which consisted of pop (which is mealie meal, not soda.), chicken wings (cooked their way which is amazing), and there was some beef. I love African meals there are great. I don't know that anyone fixes chicken better.

Saturday the electricity went out during the second service, but again that didn't stop them they can't singing, dancing, and praising the Lord! I love it! Saturday night was the youth service and it was amazing. We were able to train the youth in an interpretive dance to "Arise My Love" and one of our African friends said this song was amazing and it gave him a new perspective on the resurrection! Also the youth had a mass choir and sang "Through It All" and an african song. i will be posting these. They were amazing. Also, at the end of the service the altar was full of youth wanting to get rid of the rubble in their lives.

Saturday night I was desperate to wash my hair & bathe so I went to get water. The water in the restrooms was not working so I went to a spicket at the otherside of the lodge, no water was coming out of that either, I then walked a little further and found another spicket and there was no water coming out of it either, on my way back one of the spickets had started working and there was some water trickling out of it so i put my bucket there and got about an inch of water in the bucket. I returned to my room and managed to wash my hair in this bucket. People were apologizing that we had to deal with those conditions but I thought it was so cool. I actually washed my hair in a bucket with an inch of water!

We had such a great time this weekend! I will end this with a funny story. We were singing a song and as they were singing I kept hearing them singing "in my underwear, in my underwear" i knew that this is not what they were saying so i bent over to ask my friend what was being said and he said they were singing "Emmanuel, Emmanuel". He said why what did you think they were saying. So I told him and Sarah and they were laughing so hard. They said that's all the could hear after that as well. I started singing with them just so I would hear the right words. LOL!

I pray your Easter services went great! Thank you for your prayers!

You and Me Going Preaching in The Dark

2010-03-22T02:44:00.000-07:00

Thursday night March 18th Sarah and I had surprise visitors. Maruti and Mamamaruti Romoloto came to our house. They informed us that they were having revival services at their church Friday, Saturday, and Sunday and their guest speaker had not shown up yet, nor had they heard from him. After this they asked us if we would be able to preach for them. We said yes except for Sunday because we were already committed to preach at Blood River IAG, so with one day notice we began to pray.

Friday night we showed up to the church and the people were amazing. They danced like no church I had ever seen before. It was awesome! Almost everyone was participating. What really amazed me was it was the older ladies leading the pack and they never slowed down! After worship Mamamaruti began to introduce Sarah and I and all the sudden the electricity went out and the church was pitch black. I thought well this is going to be interesting. LOL! They started singing again while someone went and lit a candle and then the service continued. I went up and began to preach my first sermon in South Africa by candlelight. I thought that was so cool! After a little while the lights came back on and Sarah was able to preach with electricity. This service went very well. People repented of sins and were cleansed.

Saturday night we began without electricity.LOL! But that didn't stop them that they didn't have musical instruments because their musical instruments are their hands and feet to quote them. They clapped and they still danced! IT was amazing! Nothing can stop them from praising their God! The lights came back on and we began to preach. Our sermon was about Expecting miracles, realizing there will be trials, expecting opportunities to witness, expecting to be different, and expecting to shake this world! We used Acts 3-4. Ending with Acts 4:29-31 and John 14:12,13. At the end I gave the altar call for any who knew they needed to have a relationship with Jesus and 2 came forward, one was bawling! As I was leading them in the sinners prayer the girl got slain in the spirit and no one was even touching her. It was awesome to see the power of God! The service didn't end there. I then began to talk about the Baptism of the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues and how the Holy Spirit according to scripture gives us the ability to be witnesses, He brings boldness and confidence, and also increases our faith. I asked if any had not received the baptism in the Holy Spirit and would like that tonight to come forward. We had many people come forward and it was so amazing because as we began praying many people were baptized in the Holy Spirit with the initial physical evidence of speaking in tongues. As I was going down the line praying for people, one girl came up and she was twitching and acting not normal. Instantly I knew what was going on, she was possessed. She couldn't even say the name of Jesus and she was shaking her head no, no, no as we prayed. Her eyes were closed and she was flopping everywhere. We prayed for a good while and finally peace filled her and she had been delivered! She got up from the ground crying and praising God! Praise God! This was the first time I had ever seen this, but God told me in America that I would come across this and would have to be ready.

What a powerful night! We had read the scripture from Mark 16:17,18 "And these signs shall follow them that believe; In my name shall they cast out devils; they shall speak with new tongues;...they shall lay hands on the sick, and they shall recover." We saw all of these things happen! Wow! God is so amazing!

Sunday morning we preached at a shack church in Blood River. It was a small church but they had a lot of people there. There were children everywhere. At the end of the service many people repented and were cleansed as well. The pastor was impressed with our sermon and asked if he could have our notes.

I can't stop praising God that He has chosen me to come to South Africa to be a vessel for Him and the way that He is moving! I am constantly in awe!

Youth Wanting to Serve Our God

2010-03-16T03:08:00.000-07:00

On March 12th we began our journey to Pretoria. We picked up several youth in Polokwane to join us for this trip (Dudu, Joy, Kahiso, Shalom (her baby), and Shoki). They are members of the "Go Team" which is an outreach team composed of youth with hearts to serve the Lord.

We arrived in Pretoria that night and the next morning we started bright and early. This day was dedicated to training the youth and planning a children's outreach and also a youth outreach. Once everyone got there we kicked it off with singing and prayer and then it was time to start.

Sarah and I were able to introduce some skits and games to the youth and at the outreach they will be performing these for other youth. We also helped them with their order of service.

The theme for the day is "God so loved the world". This will be a salvation message. They are going to be performing a skit called "Choices" which talks about how it is our choice to chose God or not. If we say no to God then we are saying no to heaven and yes to hell.

The other skit they are doing is called "Spectacle in the Courtroom" and this is about how we are guilty of our sins and deserve death, but Jesus to our place instead to make us innocent before God. We gave the youth the tools now it is up to them to practice and pray. I am believing God is going to do a great thing at this outreach and many will be saved!

Sunday we went to Maruti Hlongwane's church and it was very nice! Earl Goodrich preached an awesome message, empowering the people to fulfil the plan that God has for their lives and to begin to reach out to the lost and dying. I was able to speak some of the Sepedi I know at this service and the people were impressed. I am loving the language. I pray that God will help me continue to retain even more. Sarah and I would love to be fluent by the end of our term.

After this service we began our journey back. The youth were so tired they slept the whole trip back. I was enthralled at the beauty of God's creation I couldn't sleep. The clouds were amazing! God is amazing! The God who made such a beautiful creation, loves me enough to have a relationship with me. It's like the sun rays coming through the clouds was just God's loving beaming down!

Ke Rata Jesu ( I love Jesus)!

2010-03-06T12:07:00.000-08:00

Today Sarah and I held a youth event today in Lebowakgomo and there ended up being over 50 youth there and it went amazing. We taught 2 Africans a skit about the importance of chosing Christ. After this, SArah preached in the morning(one girl got saved after this and several more came to the altar for prayer) and next we did a talk show (where we did some fun things, then I interviewed Pastor Sam (an AFrican) and Sarah about dating and doing it right and wrong and the consequences and blessings. Then we had a discussion part where I asked questions and then people from the audience answered. This also went great.We talked about boundaries and the importance of not compromising. Right and wrong reasons to date and how only God can make you complete. After this i spoke about purity and God's forgiveness and some other things. We then played a human video to the song "Everything" by Lifehouse and before we played this I asked them to take the time to search there hearts and ask God if there is anything impure in them. Afterwards I said now that you have asked the Lord to search your heart if there is anything that God revealed to you that you need to get rid of to Him, or if you need to trust Him more whatever it is, I want you to move from the position you are and get on your knee's or go somewhere just move in surrender to God. I started praying and when I opened my eyes nearly everyone was on their knee's. It was so cool. After this we played games and then as we were leaving one youth said this wasn't just great it was superb and everyone was talking about how much it impacted them. God is so Amazing!!

Next weekend we are also ministering to youth in Pretoria, the next weekend we are at Blood River IAG, the next weekend is the missionary field fellowship business meeting, then the next weekend is Easter Conference where we are going to be training youth and ministering to youth.

God has also been amazing and has opened up many doors for us to build many relationships. I already have so many people who I would consider my good friends here. One is named Poelano and she has started giving us Sepedi lessons. Which is one of the 12 national languages in South Africa but it is what they speak in the province of Limpopo and we have several friends who speak it. This has been challenging but very fun and the Africans love it. When we come to church and say Keyaledumidisa Keylibtso la morena Jesu (probably not spelled right. LOL). They all start shouting. LOL! I can also now say my name is and what is your name and they think that is great (Lebitso Laka Ke nna Jessica, Ke wana mang?) Also I know how to say Stay Well which is like goodbye (Shalang Gabotse). And some other random words. Anyway pray (repela) that as we get lessons and practice, that the language will really take root in us and we will learn quickly so we can communicate more effectively.There is so much more I could tell you, but I will leave it at this.

First Week in South Africa

2010-02-09T09:51:00.000-08:00

I arrived here in South Africa on Feb.2nd. The first night we stayed in Pretoria with some other missionaries and then in the morning we headed to Polokwane.

On Wednesday I got all of my things unpacked and got settled in. Thursday Quinton our gardner came over. I met Quinton the last time I was here in South Africa and became friends with him so it was great to get to see him. He has such a fire and passion for the Lord. He is in the word and praying constantly.

Friday morning we left for Rustenburg for the Pastor's Wives and Credentialed Women's Conference. This conference was so much fun and you could feel the power of God. God was moving in these ladies lives. The first night they all started dancing and they were doing a dance similar to what we know as country line dancing or the electric slide, so I jumped in and started dancing with them. This really impressed them and they made several comments about it.One lady even hugged me and said "Your dancing it was beautiful." then, on Saturday I also danced with them and there was one lady who actually said to one of the missionaries "that lady over there she dances like an African." This weekend was a lot of fun and I was able to begin to form some relationships and make some contacts to schedule dates at some of the churches.

I have posted some of the videos on my facebook page or you can go to http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FSjbKhXitn0 and http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=F16s96x3MTE.

Thank you for your prayers and support!

I am excited to serve!

2010-01-27T09:10:00.000-08:00

I am so excited that the Lord has given me the opportunity to go to South Africa for the next 2 years and possibly a little longer. I am excited to get to go and serve Sarah Careins in Serving the youth of South Africa. I know that these next two years are going to be amazing.

I leave on Feb.1st from Indianapolis at 2:37p. I am so excited, but I have to be honest and say that I know this is going to be a very sad day as well. Just the reality of not being able to see and hug my friends and family for two years is a little sad. And this seems silly to but the reality of not being able to just text people anytime I want is going to take some adjusting to. Don't get me wrong though I am very excited because I know God wants me to be in South Africa and I know He is going to do great things!! This is what I have been waiting for for the past 4 years.

So please keep my friends and family and I in your prayers as this journey begins. It is going to be an adjustment for all of us.

Going Away Parties

2009-12-28T23:29:00.000-08:00

I am very excited that my budget has been raised 100%! I am waiting for everything to be finalized before I can buy my plane ticket but I should be leaving for South Africa on Feb.1st.

I will be having 2 different parties and hopefully the locations will make it so that I can see most of you all.

Jan.17th @ 2p @ Oasis Assembly of God (1104 S. Stout St. Princeton, IN 47670)

Jan.24th @ 2p @ Abounding Grace Worship Center (1795 Centerton Rd. Martinsville, IN 46151)

I hope to see you there! Thank you for your prayers and support!

God Our Provider!

2009-12-10T21:22:00.000-08:00

I am absolutely amazed at the work of God and His amazing power to do the seemingly impossible! I am very excited to tell all of you that I have raised my budget 100%. Now everything just has to be finalized at headquarters. So if you haven't filled out pledge forms and you have said you would commit, please do that. I can get my plane ticket as soon as all of those get in.

Prov.3:5,6 says Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not unto your own understandings in all your ways ACKNOWLEDGE HIM and He will make your paths straight.

My mind could not understand how I would be able to raise $18,700 cash and $2,500 monthly commitments, but I acknowledged God as my provider, as the God of the impossible, the God who gives favor because we are faithful to Him, and I acknowledged Him as the miracle worker! And He has provided what I could not understand.

He guided me to the exact people I needed to talk to, the right churches I needed to preach at. I followed His guidance, I spoke His word, and He did the rest.

I give Him glory, honor, and praise! I stand amazed at the hand of God. We serve a mighty, powerful, amazing God!

Getting closer!

2009-12-07T22:18:00.000-08:00

South Africa is just around the corner! And as Feb. is quickly approaching my excitement level is rapidly increasing! I am very excited to get to South Africa and be with Missionary Sarah Cariens and to begin to fulfil the call that God has placed on my life.

I currently still need $362 in monthly commitments, and all of my cash has been raised.

If you would like to make a monthly commitment to help me meet my budget requirements you can go to http://worldmissions.ag.org/agwm_commit_form.cfm?AcctNo=294757

Or if you would like to make a one time donation you can go to https://secure1.ag.org/contributions/detail.cfm?LedgerID=479ad867-04ec-4b96-bf24-ce5a8c1f6f6f

Any cash that is donated can be translated into monthly commitments for instance 480$ would equal $20 monthly commitment.

Thank you so much for you prayers and support!

God is on the move!

2009-11-22T15:18:00.000-08:00

Thank you so much for your prayers! God has continued to move, of course, and I am so amazed at His goodness!

I am amazed at the way God's people have been sacrificing. Last Wednesday I had a 19 year old girl who has been saving up for YWAM (youth with a mission) to leave in March and she felt God tell her to give me money. She was obedient and wrote me a 1,000$ check! She cried because she has always wanted to give a lot but has never been able to and was so gratful that she got to bless the kingdom. I cried and prayed for her, because of her sacrifice and the amazingness of God! I know that God is going to bless her abundantly.

That scripture I shared the other day in 1 Cor.9:6-11 has continued to be so real in my life. God is so faithful if we sow bountifully we will reap bountifully. This is a principle we all need to understand and need to claim as Christians. When a farmer goes out and plants a seed He expects corn or whatever he's planted He expects a harvest and we can do the same.

I believe that God has been speaking to some of your hearts to sow into the ministry to the youth of South Africa. I pray that you will be obedient and I know that God will bless. Thank you for your prayers and support!

P.S. I now only have 923$ left in monthly commitments to raise and 986$ in cash to raise. That is 9 people to commit 100$ a month or 36 people to commit to 25$ a month. If you could give up 1 soda a day you could give $30 a month and be a blessing to the kingdom. Thank you again so much.

To give monthly you can go to http://worldmissions.ag.org/agwm_commit_form.cfm?AcctNo=294757

To give a one time donation you can go to http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fsecure1.ag.org%2Fcontributions%2Fdetail.cfm%3FLedgerID%3D479ad867-04ec-4b96-bf24-ce5a8c1f6f6f&h=0dce486d84678dff18437db075ed3ad6

Deadline Dec.15th

2009-11-12T10:48:00.000-08:00

God is moving and I am so excited! I have been getting a lot more services scheduled lately. I still have several dates open and I need all of you to pray with me that my calendar will become even more full. All of my Wed. nights are open and Nov.22nd and Dec.13th evenings are opened. Pastors if you are opened on those dates please contact me. I would love to share my burden and vision. I am also available to meet with anyone who would want to meet with me to find out more.

I have until Dec.15th to raise my support 100% so that I can get onto the field and begin to do the work that God has prepared in South Africa. I still need $1,088 in monthly commitments and $3,300 in cash for my support to be raised. I need your help.

Please continue to pray that doors will be opened and hearts will be stirred. Also pray that God will show you what your part is in this ministry.

If you have been waiting and thinking, time is running short so please begin to really press into God and be obedient to what He is telling you to do. I know that God will bless you in your obedience.

Deut.28:1-14 tells you these blessings.

“Now it shall come to pass, if you diligently obey the voice of the LORD your God, to observe carefully all His commandments which I command you today, that the LORD your God will set you high above all nations of the earth. And all these blessings shall come upon you and overtake you, because you obey the voice of the LORD your God:“Blessed shall you be in the city, and blessed shall you be in the country. “Blessed shall be the fruit of your body, the produce of your ground and the increase of your herds, the increase of your cattle and the offspring of your flocks. “Blessed shall be your basket and your kneading bowl. “Blessed shall you be when you come in, and blessed shall you be when you go out. “The LORD will cause your enemies who rise against you to be defeated before your face; they shall come out against you one way and flee before you seven ways. “The LORD will command the blessing on you in your storehouses and in all to which you set your hand, and He will bless you in the land which the LORD your God is giving you. “The LORD will establish you as a holy people to Himself, just as He has sworn to you, if you keep the commandments of the LORD your God and walk in His ways.Then all peoples of the earth shall see that you are called by the name of the LORD, and they shall be afraid of you. And the LORD will grant you plenty of goods, in the fruit of your body, in the increase of your livestock, and in the produce of your ground, in the land of which the LORD swore to your fathers to give you. The LORD will open to you His good treasure, the heavens, to give the rain to your land in its season, and to bless all the work of your hand. You shall lend to many nations, but you shall not borrow. And the LORD will make you the head and not the tail; you shall be above only, and not be beneath, if you heed the commandments of the LORD your God, which I command you today, and are careful to observe them. So you shall not turn aside from any of the words which I command you this day, to the right or the left, to go after other gods to serve them."

Thank you,
Jessica White
Missionary Associate

Here's the video

2009-11-09T08:11:00.000-08:00

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ws9OL33Fw3E&feature=player_embedded

God is moving!

2009-11-09T07:56:00.000-08:00

PLEASE READ ALL OF THIS, IT IS A TESTIMONY TO THE LORD!

God spoke to me and said "How can you expect others to give if you are not giving."

Wow, this opened my eyes. I pay my tithe and give offering and to missions, but I felt like the Lord had been wanting me to give to different ministries but I had been holding back and that is when He spoke this to me.

Now I have been giving to different ministries as God has been leading and wow I have been blessed.

Before I continue on I want you to read these scriptures because it describes what has happened.

GOD LEAD ME TO READ THESE SCRIPTURES,PLEASE READ

2 Cor.9:6-8,10-11; But this I say: He who sows sparingly will also reap sparingly, and he who sows bountifully will also reap bountifully. 7 So let each one give as he purposes in his heart, not grudgingly or of necessity; for God loves a cheerful giver. 8 And God is able to make all GRACE abound toward you, that you, ALWAYS having all sufficiency in all things, may have an ABUNDANCE for every good work.Now may He who supplies seed to the sower, and bread for food, SUPPLY and MULTIPLY the seed you have sown and INCREASE the fruits of your righteousness, 11 while you are enriched in everything for all liberality, which causes thanksgiving through us to God.

I read this and it became revelation knowledge instantly! God began to speak through this. I gave the money to different ministries because I love God, I want God's people to be blessed, I know it will be used for the glory of God, and I know that God is faithful and it would be returned. You see according to this scripture "When I give cheerfully and bountifully, he makes all GRACE (Divine favor) abound toward me and you." It goes on "He makes all grace abound so that you will always have all sufficiency in all things and have an abundance for every good wook."

I am testifying to this! I have been giving through the leading of the Holy Spirit and as I have been giving, God has been returning. I have been walking in Divine favor!

In the past two weeks I have raised 3,000$ for South Africa and $70 more in monthly commitments. And I KNOW THAT GOD IS NOT DONE.

God can do this for you too! I am so pumped up! If God is leading you to give to any ministry than don't be like I was and hold back but do what I have begun to do and give, because God will do just as His word says! I'm not saying this because I want you to give to me, although that would be nice, I am saying this as a testimony to the scripture. v.11 says so that thanksgiving can be givin through us to God!

~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
So with that said Here is an update: I now need 1,148$ in monthly commitments and $3,700.

I am excited! With the help of all of you I can get to South Africa by February to be with Sarah (the missionary I am working with).

Please if God has laid it on your heart to give don't delay, 2 Cor.9:10 says "May God supply and multiply the seed you have sown." That is my prayer and I know He will.

To give a one time donation you can go to https://secure1.ag.org/contributions/detail.cfm?LedgerID=479ad867-04ec-4b96-bf24-ce5a8c1f6f6f

To commit monthly go to http://worldmissions.ag.org/agwm_commit_form.cfm?AcctNo=294757

There is a video on this page of Sarah in South Africa now, check it out.

Thank you,
Jessica WhiteMissionary Associate to the youth of South Africa

WOOHOO!

2009-10-12T18:43:00.000-07:00

Wow, what an amazing weekend and beginning of the week I have had!

Friday it continued to rain like CRAZY but it did not stop the youth that have been coming to Bible study from having a good time. We went to Evansville and ate at Cici's Pizza then we went and hung out and John and Heather's. This was an awesome time. I was really able to get to know them a lot better. One girl even began to open up and God really moved. It was awesome! We also played one mad game of Guesstures! I was laughing soooo hard!

Then on Saturday I had my bake sale to help raise my money for South AFrica. This went really great. Several ladies from Hazleton baked lots along with some people from Oasis in Princeton. Me and Kirra sat at walmart from 8a-3p. It really went well though I made $484!!! God is so awesome! After this me, Kara, and Emily took some of the youth girls to Evansville's fall festival where we ate some really amazing food and then we went and seen Tyler Perry's new movie "I can do bad all by myself." This movie was awesome! I love the Madea movies. I want all of the movies for when I go to South Africa! They are so awesome! Yes there is some language, but they share the gospel and give a great message overall.

Then Sunday was church and I was so blessed. I drive the van to pick up kids in the morning and I got done early so I took the kids I had to the gas station and got them all something to drink. They were so excited it was cute! Then during kids church I was leading worship which I do on Sun. mornings for children's ministry and I was so blessed because I invited some kids to come up and help me. I gave Emma the mic because she always sings and isn't shy. Then Cale said I wanna be a singer so I put another mic in front of him and Paige. During the slow song ( hillsong's "Light of the World") I had my hand up worshiping and Paige leaned up against me and Cale grabed my other hand and held it and we swayed and sung. It was awesome! I praise God that He is moving in their lives!

Today was amazing also! I surprised my sister by picking her up from school and taking her to the cover bridge festival. We played the favorites game all the way there, I love learning about her! WE had a blast there! Tomorrow is her 12th birthday! I am so glad I get to share it with her, I will be missing her next two so I wanted to make it extra special!

God answers prayer...of course...

2009-10-09T12:32:00.000-07:00

When I first started sending out my missions packets and calling churches for services I was averaging about 3 services a month. Although the month of October I did not have any services for a while. I started praying that God would open doors for me to get more services. I have a limited number of contacts so I kept calling those same pastors over and over and over and well you get the point. I had one answer and was able to schedule a service for Oct. 25th. I was very excited. This pastor referred me to one of his friends who's a pastor and a few weeks later. I got another service (missions window) on Oct. 18th. Then I got an email inviting me to speak to a group of women on Oct. 30th! I have been so excited!

I am sending out more packets on Monday and I will continue to call all of the churches that I Have been calling over and over and over again. Pray with me that Pastor's will answer and they will feel led to support me and/or schedule me for a service. I have 4 1/2 months left to raise my support and still need $10,000 cash and $1,333 monthly commitments.

"I Stand in Awe of You"

2009-09-23T13:48:00.000-07:00

Everyday I stand in awe of how amazing God is! The way He provides, the way He shows His love, the way He heals, the way He is constantly showing that He is the great "I AM". He is absolutely everything we could ever need. We can truly lay everything at His feet and know that it is taken care of. That as Prov. 3:5,6 says if we will trust in Him with all of our heart and lean not unto our own understanding, but in all of our ways acknowledge Him, He will make our paths straight. HALLELUJAH!

This past Sunday I was in Evansville at Zion Community Church and the power of God was definitely there! It was so amazing! That is what the church of today needs is the power and presence of God to be manifested in their lives, at the church and outside of the church. You could tell this church walked in expectation and God showed up. After I preached the altars were full, not because of me, but because of the power of God and because the people wanted more of God. It blessed me to see a people hungry for more of the Lord. I look forward to seeing how God moves in this church and blesses this church and to see the growth in the future.

Please continue to pray that more doors open for me to speak at churches and for more people to rise up and support the ministry God has set before me. I have 4 months left and still need $1,333 monthly commitments and $10,500 cash.

And The Lord sent them out Two by Two

2009-09-17T18:05:00.000-07:00

Luke 10:1 says that the Lord sent them out 2 by 2 and then later in v.3 said the harvest is plenty but the laborers are few, pray therefore for the Lord to send laborer into His harvest.

The Lord has sent 2 to South Africa to serve the Youth. And that is Sarah Careins and I. Sarah arrived there on Sept.2nd and is currently their by herself. She is awaiting the day for my arrival. In order for me to get there I have to raise my support 100%, therefore I need the help of God's people. If you would like to help you can click on the picture on the side that says Join Jessica...

Apart of also raising my support is going to different churches and sharing my burden and vision for the Youth of South Africa and then at some churches I am also given the opportunity to preach (on the right side is my schedule). Just yesterday I went and preached in Huntingburg, IN. The people their were so sweet and were very encouraging. The pastor of this church has been on several mission trips herself, so it was very interesting to talk with her. Anyway, I was very blessed to be with them and I am excited to be in Evansville this Sunday at Zion Community Church.

Also this past Saturday I had a Car wash and was able to raise 200$ which was very awesome. I am having a bake sale on Oct. 10th at Walmart in Princeton, IN. I would love to see you there. Also this week on Fri., and Sat. my church (Oasis Assembly of God) is having a chili booth and some of the profit is going to come to me and all of the profit is going to go towards missions. So please come and buy some chili and support missions. Plus it is great chili! Also, I would love to see you. I am going to have a booth setup Fri. Sat. and Sun. with information about myself and the mission.

Sarah is headed to South Africa!

2009-08-31T18:44:00.000-07:00

Sarah Careins the missionary that I am going to be assisting in South Africa is leaving tomorrow around 2:30p for South Africa. Be praying for her adjustment and safety there as she will be traveling by herself until my arrival.

With her leaving tomorrow, I of course wanted to be at the airport to see her leave, as we have became good friends. This is going to be a sad time for her and her family, I know, because if I begin to think about the time before I leave for South Africa in February it always brings tears to my eyes. Sarah is saying goodbye to her family and friends for the next 3 years of her life.

I decided to come to my mom's house before I head to the airport tomorrow. This was such a great decision, I did not have any idea what today was going to bring. I picked my little sister up at school and we went to the mall in Bloomington, IN and had dinner together. Then when I arrived home me and my sister went out to play softball. We were out there having a blast and then my stepdad came out to join us, then next thing we know my mom and my other sister also came out. We were laughing so hard at our silly dogs as they would chase the softball everywhere it was hit and tried to still it from us. We then went and played basketball together, which was really funny because none of us, but Jennifer have played basketball in a very long time.

Today has been such a blessing from the Lord! I praise you God for the blessing of family and this amazing time you allowed us to have together! Continue to move in my family Lord, bring them closer to you! Let them truly know you and have that true relationship with you!

Tell me what could be better?!

2009-08-26T14:00:00.000-07:00

This past Thursday I left Indiana for the 5 1/2 hour trip to Phillipsburg, MO where I was staying with the Enoch's to preach a youth retreat and their Sunday night service.

I made a quick stop at Jan Byrns house before I left to pick up a DVD that became a not so quick stop. Jan and The Enoch's are best friends so she thought it would be a great idea to go with me and surprise them. The only thing was it took her 2 hours to decide that she wanted to go.

So we ventured out around 5:30p. When we finally arrived at The Enoch's Jan got the response she was expecting. They were all so excited to have both of us there.

Friday we headed out for table rock lake (or something like that) way past the time we had planned. So we didn't get to the campsite until after dark. Everything still worked out though we got the RV set up and the tents set up. We kicked off this youth retreat with Louie Giglio's "How Great is Our God" DVD (if you haven't seen it, I highly recommend it). Then talked about how the youth can always rely on God, He is the one who holds us together.

We ended up getting to bed around 4a and woke up at 8a. Jeffrey Enochs led a devotion that was amazing. And I know it got the youth thinking. He talked about "getting out of the boat" and not letting opportunities to witness pass us by. After this we went boating, which included alot of swimming and boating and major fun! After the fun and lunch we walked around all of the campsites and past out Bibles and CD's and invited everyone to our Sunday morning service. This really got the kids out of their comfort zone, but they really enjoyed it.

One of the funniest things though was that Pastor Jeff thought he had got everything setup right, He plugged in the sewer and the water all of that. Then a guy from the campsite came and asked if we were plugged into the sewer....because THEY DID NOT HAVE ONE. We had already been there a day in a half and the toilet was used. Needless to say it wasn't a pretty sight. LOL.

That night I led the service and talked about forming a true, intimate relationship with Christ. The youth were so alert and paid close attention to this message. I had several come up for pray and also say they were excited because they knew what God wanted them to do. One said to be a healer and the other knew God wanted them to share their testimony.

The next morning we had a Sunday worship service where I talked about being a TEAM and having accountability partners. I am so excited about what God is doing in the youth of Phillipsburg A/G's lives and the youth leaders as well.

Camping, boating, and the word of God; tell me what could be better besides seeing Jesus!

I love seeing God move!

2009-08-16T20:41:00.000-07:00

Yesterday I began my long journey from Hazleton, IN to Avilla, IN. This was about a 5 hour drive. I was blessed to be able to stop about 2 1/2 hours into it and eat lunch with my aunt, cousin, and lil siss! This made the trip seem not so long. I will tell you I recently received Hillsong's Healer CD so this made my trip very enjoyable!

I arrived in Avilla and met Pastor Doug and His wife (two amazing people!) we then traveled not far to my host families home where I was staying. I am telling you God is so good! I had such an amazing time with these folks! We ate sloppy joes and had amazing lemonade that tasted like a lemon shake up from the fair and then played Scrabble Slam. Poor Pastor Doug stopped playing because His brain was hurting. LOL! They are some crazy fun people it was just like being at home. I was blessed beyond blessed!

Then I had a certain message prepared, which I prayed about and really thought I was supposed to do. I arrived at the service and during praise and worship the Lord was like you need to preach on this. So I did not have any notes in order what-so-ever but I preached this service and I am telling you the power of God came down. There were people there who were hurting and struggling who need more of God and needed victory and THEY GOT IT! this morning. It was awesome!

Tonight I was in Hobart, IN and once again the service was GREAT! People really responded to the message the altars were full and I believe people were empowered! I then had the opportunity to go out to eat with many people from that church afterwards and had a really great time!

Thank you Lord! I am loving this! "I stand in awe of you, Jesus!"

Process to South Africa

2009-08-06T21:32:00.000-07:00

Wow! This summer has went by so incredibly fast and has been absolutely amazing! As I wrote previously I was blessed to be able to preach at Phillipsburg A/G in Missouri. I received so much from people there. I was going to minister and they ended up ministering to me! Then after Pre-field orientation I traveled down to Poplar Bluff, MO where I was blessed to be able to speak at a youth service. I was once again able to meet some really incredible people of God who God has been dealing with them about missions. Then I headed back to Indiana.

By this time it was already July! July was full of meetings, letter writing, putting together packets for pastors, and making many phone calls. I also took my test for my license to preach for the Assemblies of God on July 22nd and passed! 91% and 100%. My credentials interview is this Monday and it shouldn't be too long after that for me to have my license! It is so amazing to me how God has given me the opportunity for this!

August came so quickly. I preached the 10a & 6p service at Oasis A/G my home church in Princeton. Once again I was so blessed! I love my church!

I now have $1,700 monthly commitments left to raise and $15,000 cash to raise. Pray that people will begin to return my phone calls and that I will have favor among the churches and receive the opportunity to speak.

So far this is my schedule:

Aug.10- "Uncommon" Youth Service @ Dayspring A/G

Aug.16- Avilla, IN @ 10:30a & Hobart, IN @ 6p

Aug. 21-23- Phillipsburg A/G, MO Youth Retreat

Aug. 23- Phillipsburg A/G, MO 6p service

Sept.16- Huntingburg, IN @ 7p

Sept.20- Zion Comm. Church, Evansville, IN @ 10a

Sept. 27- Vincennes, IN @ 10:30a

Nov. 1- Owensboro, KY @ 10:30a

Nov. 15- Greencastle, IN @ 10a

Nov. 29- Loogootee, IN @ 10:30a

Dec. 6- Bloomington, IN @ 6p

Thank you for your prayers.

If you would like to support simply click here: online commitment form http://worldmissions.ag.org/agwm_commit_form.cfm?AcctNo=294757

Automatic credit card deductions: http://ag.org/contributorservices_PDF/CRCDAUTH.pdf

By filling out an Authorization Agreement Form and mailing or faxing it to the General Council Contributor Services Department, your monthly contributions can become hands free. Contributor Services will charge your credit card automatically on the 20th of each month. They are able to record your multiple Assemblies of God approved designations and receipt you each month. Missionary=Jessica White Region=South Africa Account#=294757

Blessed

2009-06-16T15:18:00.000-07:00

God has blessed me incredibly! I was blessed to preach my first service at Phillipsburg A/G and in the process I was able to meet really great people. They were so encouraging and I know that they will be praying for me. I had an incredible time hanging out with the youth as we went to Crossover (a concert) the day before I preached. I was blessed abundantly by the love of Christ!

Right after service on Sunday morning at Phillipsburg A/G I left and headed to Pre-field Orientation in Springfield, MO (about a 45 minute drive). I was very nervous because I knew I would not know anyone and I did not have any idea what to expect. Much to my surprise when I arrived I actually knew some people (who I met at a support raising seminar) and I have been so blessed during my time here. The funny thing is I have only been here for 2 days. I have been so blessed because I have met some really amazing people!

It is so neat to get to hangout with people who have the same passion as I do. Last night a group of us went to a coffee house and hungout. There were missionaries headed to Ireland, Honduras, Niger, Netherlands, Cambodia, China, W. Africa, Ghana, Vietnam. Then after the coffee house 5 of us went and worshiped outside with just us and the guitar. It was so powerful! The Spirit came down so strong! And once again I was so blessed to be able to meet these new amazing people and be able to enter into the presence of God with them.

Wow, I praise God!

God, My Provider!

2009-05-17T22:28:00.001-07:00

I have been so amazed at how awesome God has been to me! When I first accepted the call into ministry, I will be honest it was really tough for me to let go of my own personal desires, goals, and ambitions. I want to be a highschool math teacher. I wanted to lead FCA at the highschool and coach softball. I thought that sounded great! God had other plans though.

My first semester of college was extremely tough. I could not find any Christian friends. Although this was tough it was definitely much needed in my life because this drew me close to God. I would go to my room and read different Christian books and I would read my Bible. I also spent a lot of time praying. God really revealed a lot to me during this time. I was dating a guy back home and we had been dating for 2 years we were really serious, I planned on marrying Him. God once again had different plans. Through this time of seeking God He revealed to me that I was supposed to get out of this relationship. This was yet another hard thing to let go of. After all I had spent the majority of my time with Him for TWO years. It seemed like every song I listened to and everything I looked at reminded me of Him. I obeyed God though and broke up with Him. This was really hard at first, but I had a peace at the seem time. It was as Phil. 4:6 says "The peace of God surpasses all understanding."

After a while of not having any friends, I began to pray that God would bring Christian people into my life. Not soon after as I was walking to my dorm room I was drawn to a sign. It was a sign for GNP triouts. I thought I have never acted before but my mom always said I would be good at it. And I really felt like it was the Lord drawing me to this sign (It was seriously one of those "AAAAAA and the sign lit up" moments). So I tried out and made it. This was the beginning of an amazing journey in my life. That summer of 2006 GNP (good news players) spent the month of June traveling to different church camps performing and teaching. This was the first time that I realized that God could actually use me. Even with all of my screw ups in the past. He could use me and He could use those things for His glory so that I can keep others from falling into those things. During this month I had a lot of time away from everyone (seeing as how I was in Southeastern MO and my cell phone hardly ever had reception) which was a blessing in disguise. This gave me a lot of quiet time to hear Gods' voice. It was during this time that I knew God was calling me into ministry. I thought that I would just add a minor onto my math degree, but I felt uneasy about that in my spirit and kept hearing God say "Trust me with it all." He lead me to Prov. 3:5,6 "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart, lean not unto your own understandings in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." So I gave it all to God and decided I was going to change my major to Religious Studies. Or so I thought.

When I got back home, I told everyone the news and wow it was not the reaction I was expecting (although I don't actually know what I was expecting). Many people did not understand and thought it was a bad decision because after all I could teach and serve God at the same time. Yes, they are right I could have, but that was not what God was calling me too. Well I let these outside influences get to me and I started telling people I was going to be a teacher again. Then on a Sunday night at Mt. Calvary Evangelistic Center there was a special group in singing and as they were singing they paused and the lady began to say "I know someone in here has a call on their life and they have been fighting. I want to tell you that although it might seem like it would be easier to cut off your right arm, when you do it, it will be a million times better." I knew she was speaking directly to me. It was then that I truly surrendered all to the Lord and went after Him with my whole heart no longer allowing outer influence to dictate what I did for the Lord.

Jan. 2007 after playing softball for 16 years of my life most of those being year round and 1 1/2 of those being college ball. I was reading through the book of Acts and I knew the Lord was telling me that I was to quite softball. Once again another really hard thing. I loved playing softball. As I was reading through Acts you see where God told people to go and when they did lives were changed. He said I am telling you to quite softball and to go get involved with a church and work with youth and lives WILL be changed. After a few weeks of trying to figure out how I was going to tell my coach I finally did. The next week I was asked to help with the youth at a church where I had been apart of their college ministry. I spoke for my first time about three weeks later to 50 youth and God has opened up so many doors since then for speaking it has been amazing!

March 2007 at Spiritual renewal night I knew that the Lord was calling me to missions. I asked Him to confirm that to me and He did through a song called "Jesus, Use Me." I did not know then where, how long, or anything. I just said Lord whatever you want me to do, I will, you just tell me where to go. I kept this before me, knowing that I was going into missions as soon as I graduated and all I kept hearing was South Africa (which I did not understand becuase I had never been there and did not know anything about it).

May 2007 I flipped my car and landed upside down between two telephone poles. I was not hurt had only a scratch on my chin and a fat lip. My dad and others insisted that I get a new car, meaning I get a loan, etc. I knew that God was calling me into missions and I refused to get a loan becuase I knew that if I wanted to go to missions I could not have that debt and those monthly payments. This of course, left me with no car because I did not have any money saved. My mom was crying and my aunt was worried because neither one of them could help me. I just kept telling them that God would take care of me. I didn't need a car right at that moment but when the time came God would provide. I really had no idea what I was saying or what I meant but I was just trusting God for a miracle. Well about a month later I get a phone call and it was a close lady from back home who was moving to California and said she was looking to get rid of a car and was thinking of me. She was going to give it to me for 100$ a month for 1,000$. I thought How awesome, God is so faithful. I was praising God so much! Went to her house, took the car got plates, and all of that. Went to drive it home and it wouldn't go more than 35 miles per hour. I thought oh great! I thought this was a blessing. So as me and my friend laughed the 15 miles to my house as we had to drive on the broken down lane of the road down the highway, I wondered what I was going to do. The transmission ended up being bad. I called the lady and told her and she ended up saying just have the car for free and you can just fix that.

So once again I was without a vehicle. (The transmission was going to cost $450 if we could find one). Aug. 2007 I made a really bad decision and allowed my boyfriend at the time to move into my apartment with my friend and I. I went to honduras a few days after he moved in. While I was in Honduras the Lord, as I say, smacked me around a bit. I knew that it was so wrong for him to be living with me and I knew that I was not supposed to be dating Him. I thought Oh great, he has been my transportation and we cannot afford the apartment without him there. But I prayed and decided I, once again, was going to trust God. My car was going to be fixed when I got back and God would provide me a place to live, even if it involved pitching a tent. LOL!

Once again, God; My Provider! When I arrived back in the states I turned on my phone and my mom called to tell me my car was fixed I just needed to pick it up. Then I made a phone call to a family who are dear friends of mine and asked them if they would pray about me living with them. They returned the phone call not too long later and said they think it would be really great me living there! God is so good!

It was around this time that I started attending Oasis where I was filling in and speaking for their youth. I have been going there for 2 years now and it has been amazing! God has stretched me and I have learned and have grown so much during my time there. I have an amazing Pastor and with his help, other people, and a lot of the Lord's help I was able to go to South Africa Summer 2008. While I was there I stayed with Missionaries Wayne and Delight Peercy. They saw my heart for youth and told me about Sarah Careins and said that I definitely needed to talk with. I thought awesome I will get to talk with someone who has a passion for youth and Africa, but didn't think much else about it. But God has now opened the doors for me to go to South Africa and Assist Sarah Careins in the National Youth Ministries of South Africa!

How awesome is God! And in the process He has provided me with another wonderful place to stay for FREE! With an amazing family! God has shown His provision to me in unbelievable ways, and I know that He will continue to. He has made a way where there seemed to be no way for me to go to South AFrica so I know He is going to provide absolutely everything I need!

HALLELUJAH! THANK YOU JESUS!

Pray...Partner...Support

2009-05-10T16:10:00.001-07:00

I recently received my budget that I will have to raise before my return to South Africa. Here's the breakdown:

Monthly Pledge Budget:

Personal allowance monthly (food, clothing, phone, etc.)------------ $1,000
Cost of living adjustment------------------------------------------- $13
Housing Allowance------------------------------------------------- $404
Transportation allowance and liability insurance------------------- $450
Internet Access---------------------------------------------------- $25
Foreign Tax Fund--------------------------------------------------$2
Collision Insurance------------------------------------------------- $50
Medical Insurance/Health Premium------------------------------- $250
Insurance of household equipment--------------------------------- $10
Medical Fund, Soc. Sec. Allowance--------------------------------- $38
Contingency for Future Inflation---------------------------------- $132
Administrative Fund--------------------------------------------- $119
_________________________________________________________
Monthly expenses budget = $2,493
____________________________________________________
Base Cash Budget:

Rent and Utilities Deposits-------------------------------------$577
Fares to and from the field-------------------------------------$1800
Visas, physicals, immunization and traveling misc.-------------$1000
2 Months Medical Premium-----------------------------------$500
Excess baggage to and from field------------------------------$600
Pre-field Orientation------------------------------------------$700
Promotions---------------------------------------------------$500
1 Months field allowance--------------------------------------$1892
Retreat Expenses---------------------------------------------$1000
Used Vehicle--------------------------------------------------$10000
Drivers License-----------------------------------------------$50
______________________________________________________
Cash Budget needed: 18,619
____________________________________________________________

I know that God has called me to go and serve the youth of South Africa. He has broken my heart for these amazing people who need to be equiped and empowered. Right now there is not anyone working in youth ministry for the Assemblies of God, please pray for my quick departure to go and be with the youth of South Africa. There is such an urgency. There are more people dying from AIDS in South Africa then anywhere else, these people need to be taught about purity and me and Sarah are the ones God is going to use to tell them this message.

My address: 1104 S. Stout St.
Princeton, IN 47670

My Account number: 294757-0

If you would like to support me online: https://secure1.ag.org/contributions/detail.cfm?LedgerID=479ad867-04ec-4b96-bf24-ce5a8c1f6f6f

"Our Kids"

2009-04-29T20:43:00.000-07:00

There are so many things going on in my mind. First off, tonight went so well! We had 74 children and there were a lot of new ones. I love "Our Kids"! If you have never worked in children's ministry you are missing out because it is so great! Sometimes it is tough, but it is all worth it. I am very excited about going to Africa, but I cannot lie, I love being here with these kids and I am going to miss them so much!

I am so thankful that God led me to work with these children. "Our Kids" have such crazy lives. Most of "Our Kids'" parents do not go to church, they are on drugs, in jail/prison, or just don't care. It is so sad. We had one girl today who's mom got put in jail (her mom is pregnant and she told us that she had her hair tested and tested positive for meth) because she tested positive they took away this girls little sister, and also her aunt got put in jail today for shoplifting. This little girl was devastated. This is what "Our Kids" go through. Today we were preaching about Telling the world about Jesus and then how 1 Tim. 4:12 says for youth to be an example in speach, life, love, and purity. I asked them if they knew what purity was and ALL of them said no. So I began to explain. (We have had several incidents with "Our Kids" at school and on the van. At school we have had kids getting sexually harassed and some of "Our Kids" have been the sexual harassers. We have had kids giving other kids dirty pictures. So tonight with them not knowing what purity was....I went there. And talked about the sexual stuff, the dirty magazines, internet sites, etc. is impurity and God does not want those things to be apart of our lives. People may look at the ages of the kids and say "Oh, My". Well, it does not matter there ages! This is what "Our Kids" are dealing with and so many others. This is sad though because yes they are so young, but we cannot close our eyes to the reality of what is going on. These problems need to be addressed before the problems address them.

I am so blessed to be apart of these childrens lives. They are all awesome! I am so excited about what God is doing in their lives.

Please be praying for "Our Kids of Oasis". This is so real. We have a family with 4 children who's dad was put in prison for 10 years, this has caused even more emotional problems besides the fact that they are already ADHD and bipolar. We have another boy living with grandma because mom got put in prison for 6 years. We have another family with 3 kids who's mom is in and out of jail and just got put back in jail again. Then the story I told you above, and the list could go on. Please pray for "Our Kids" they need our support. They need to realize there is more than what they see in their households, that Jesus is real, and that there is more to life.

Credentialing Process

2009-04-27T22:08:00.000-07:00

I am officially signed up to take my test for my License to Preach through the Assemblies of God. My test is going to be on July 22nd. So please be praying that I will remember all that I study for and that I will not get nervous.

Thank you all! I am so excited for what God is doing in my life and in the lives of others around me.

My friend Nicole Ricketts is going to be going on the World Race in October. It's a missions trip where they go to 11 countries in 11 months. Then my friends Amy and Andy Smith are currently praying about an opportunity that has opened up for them to go to the Phillipines for 4 years to plant churches. This is so exciting! Please keep my friends in prayer also.

Thank you!

2009-04-27T22:03:00.001-07:00

Thank you all so much for praying! The service went very well, and people responded at the end. I know that people really got the message too, because afterwards I went out to eat with two of my friends (P and T) who also go to Oasis and when we were leaving I asked P if anyone prayed with them over a certain situation and they said yes. So I told P I would pray everyday for them. Then P said well what about you, so I shared about housing once I graduate and P and T both prayed for me right there in the rodeo parking lot. Then me and T prayed for P. Then me and P prayed for T. It was awesome! We had prayer meeting right there in El Rodeo parking lot! That is what it is all about! Praise God!

Expectancy!

2009-04-24T21:44:00.000-07:00

Wow, what God can do when we start our day with expectancy. Wednesday night I got to hangout with Sister Marsh for a while which is always awesome. She has so much wisdom and she is really funny. I love listening to her talk. She was telling me about what she was preaching on which was Joyce Meyer's "Never Give Up". Then we began discussing several different things. One thing that she said really hit me, she said so many of us miss out on God doing things because we don't start our day out expecting God to do something.

I thought wow, shame on me! I have not been starting my day out with expectancy. So after that night I woke up Tuesday morning with expectancy for my day that God was going to do something big and He did! I love divine appointments. I randomly started talking to Stacie A. and Lydia F. which was definitely not a coincidence it was God ordained. God really began to move while we were talking and He spoke through me and was able to use my testimony as a witness and ecouragement to her. This was nothing that I did, this was all God.

Then today once again I woke up expecting. God is so amazing. My friend, who was a part of my youth at Francisco while me and bryan were there has recently joined facebook. She has started talking to me and tonight I got on and she asked me what I was doing. I told her I was going to Good Shepherd Assembly of God to see my friend Cody because Rockford Masters Commission was doing a youth rally there and I invited her to come. She did! And she was really touched by God tonight. Also, while I was there, there were two girls who I had never met before, they were youth, and me and one of the girls, Ashlie from Masters commission were hanging out at the end and talking. These two girls began to open up to Ashlie and I and the Holy Spirit was definitely moving. Before I left I knew we were supposed to pray for them so I had them stand in the middle and we laid hands on them and prayed. And I am telling you the power of God was so strong, I know that God did something Big in their lives!

Praise God! Let us never forget to have a Spirit of Expectancy!

Final Approval

2009-04-22T12:49:00.001-07:00

I am so excited to say after 4 months of patiently waiting I have been officially approved! I am so excited for what God is going to do in these months to come. He has been preparing me for Africa and I know that He will continue to prepare me. He is preparing me to be a great help mate for my friend Sarah Careins and He has been preparing me to be able to effectively reach out to the youth of South Africa in developing the national youth ministries.

I will be attending a support raising seminar the last weekend in May, which I know is going to help me tremendously. Then I will be attending the School of Missions June 14-21 (I believe these are the dates), this is where the Assemblies of God spends time teaching you a multitude of things to help you before you enter the field (more on that later).

I am so excited! I will let you know more information later. They are sending me a packet of information that I should receive at the beginning of next week which includes my budget and more details.

Please be in prayer that God will provide Sarah Careins the missionary I am going to be assisting with the rest of her support. (go to www.sarahcareins.blogspot.com or click on the link missionary to South Africa) and that God will begin to provide the support that I need to fulfil the call that God has placed on my life.

Preaching!

2009-04-21T21:00:00.000-07:00

Please be praying with me as I have been preparing a sermon for this Sunday night's service. Pray that I will be anointed and that I will be the mouthpiece of Jesus. I do not want any of Sunday night to be about me. I want to be completely led by the Spirit.

This sermon is very special, because here not too long ago as I was trying to sleep my mind was going 100mph. God began to reveal a message to me and I was preaching it at Oasis. I tried just going back to sleep, because I thought I am not going to get to preach again, but I kept envisioning me preaching this and it would not go away. So I began to write this sermon down and I seriously saw me preaching this almost step for step and I saw the altar service at the end. After I wrote this down, I knew that I was supposed to preach it, but I did not how to go about it. I went to my Pastor and asked Him and He said that when that happens you write it down and put it in a filing cabinet until you get the chance to preach it. So it has been away in my filing cabinet (although I don't really have one of those. LOL!). Pastor told me I was preaching April 26th and I knew instantly it was time to pull that out. So I am pumped because I know that God is going to do big things.

So please pray with me that absolutely nothing hinders the Spirit, that hearts will be softened and minds will be receptive of the message that the Lord has, and that people will respond to the Holy Spirit's calling.

Update! Please Pray!

2009-04-16T18:18:00.000-07:00

I love Brandy and Troy so much! They are great people of God so please come to the volleyball tournament and support them in their efforts to follow after what God has put on their hearts, which is the adoption of this baby boy.

Also, as I have said I am graduating on May 2, 2009 which is a little more than 2 weeks away. Obviously this day is going to bring about alot of change. More change than I have had happen in my life in a long time. I am pumped because I know that I am going to be headed to Africa in February! My faith is really being tested though because as of what is happening between May and February I have absolutely no idea besides raising my support. Why this unknowingness is an issue is because I have to find a new place to live by the end of May, which wouldn't be such a big deal if I was able to get more hours at my job. As of right now they do not have anymore hours available for me and I have only been working about 20 hours a month. Obviously that is not enough for rent, food, and gas. So now I am probably going to be looking for a new job unless a miracle happens which I pray it does, because I absolutely love my job. I love the people I work with and I love all of the residence. They have became a part of me. So pray that God will either open up more hours at where I am at now or that he will lead me to an even better job than what I already have. Also pray that a place to live that is cheap but not crappy will open up for me.

I know that God has absolutely everything under control! Prov.3:5,6 says to "Trust in the Lord with all of your heart and lean not unto your own understandings in all your ways acknowledge Him and He will make your paths straight." Also Matthew 6:33 says "seek ye first the kingdom of God and His righteousness and all things will be added unto you." Heb. 11:6 says "He is a rewarder of those who deligently seek Him."

I stand upon this verses. I am serving God with my everything and loving Him with my everything. I need some people to come along beside me and pray with me and be in agreement with me.

Volleyball tournament!

2009-04-15T22:01:00.000-07:00

I know ya'll love volleyball so come and be apart of this fun! It's going to be tons of fun and for a good cause.

Some good friends of mine, Brandy and Troy Marshall (check em out www.brandymarshall.blogspot.com) are going to be going to Haiti in June to adopt a baby boy. We are doing this volleyball tournament to raise support for them to go and accomplish this and bring this baby back into a good Christian home.

So here's the details. The tournament will take place on either May 16th at 12p at Wesselman's in Evansville so get your teams ready. . 6 people per team and you must have 2 ladies. The cost is $10 per person. Please RSVP by May 9th but we will allow registration the day of.

There will also be food available there that day and we are working on prizes for the winners right now. So come and join us don't miss out on this Fun, Fellowship, and Food!

2009-04-14T22:09:00.000-07:00

Spiritual Renewal Night in March 2007 there was a man speaking about foreign missions and his words grasped my soul. God spoke to me that night and said that I was to be a missionary after I graduated. As I walked back to my dorm room I was praying that God would confirm this to me. I had never been on a mission trip before so I did not understand. The Lord led me to read a piece of paper in my Bible and on it was the words of a song titled, “Jesus Use Me” and these are some of the words:

“Jesus, use me and O Lord don’t refuse me, For surely there’s a work that I can do; And even tho’ it’s humble, Lord help my will to crumble, Tho the cost be great I’ll work for you. Dear Lord I’ll be a witness, if you will help my weakness, I know that I’m not worthy, Lord of thee. By eyes of faith I see thee upon the cross of Calv’ry; Dear Lord I cry, Let me they servant be. Jesus, use me and O Lord don’t refuse me, For surely there’s a work that I can do; And even tho’ it’s humble, Lord help my will to crumble, Tho’ the cost be great I’ll work for you. I’ll stand for Thee, dear Jesus, Though death may come my way; I’ll spread the gospel to the fallen here; But if it be Thy will, Lord to go across the sea, Lord help me be will to say yes!”

As I read this, tears filled my eyes and I knew that God was calling me into international missions. It was at that moment that I said, “Yes, I will go!” After this every time I would think about missions God would lay South Africa on my heart. It was not until the summer of 2008 that I was able to go to South Africa. I went to South Africa for a month and during this time I was able to help in several different ministries. We ministered to children, youth, and adults. There was one night in particular that I will never forget. God really broke my heart for the youth of South Africa, and I began to cry. I could not stop. I just kept crying and praying. It was during this time that God revealed to me that I was to return to South Africa and disciple the youth.

When I arrived back in the states, I knew that things would never be the same. There has not been a day that has gone by that I have not thought about the people of South Africa.

My dad, stepdad, and uncle are not saved. My Uncle Junior has meant the world to me. He has been the only consistently loving male figure in my life that I could always count on. He comes to me and talks to me about things that He will not talk to anyone else about. One of those things is the Lord and salvation. I began thinking about how when I am gone in South Africa I will not be here to talk with Him, and He cannot hear so I cannot talk to Him on the phone. I began crying, because I was worried about what might happen to Him. It was then that God spoke to me through John 15:16, which says:
“ You did not choose Me, but I chose you and appointed you that you should go and bear fruit, and that your fruit should remain, that whatever you ask the Father in My name He may give you.”
He said I have chosen you to go and bear fruit in South Africa. Fruit that will remain. I have called you, you did not choose this, I chose you for this. So you are to go, and you have been asking Me to bring your uncle, dad, brother and stepdad into a relationship with me. I will do this. I will do this, not you. You go and do what I have called you to do.

Therefore in obedience to the Lord and because it is my passion I graduate from Oakland City University May 2, 2009 and my hope is to return to South Africa in February 2010.