January ministry and personal updates

One of ministry updates....
While we have only a few people on the base currently we've been
receiving encouraging reports from our students in our Discipleship
Training School who have been doing outreach to the island of Vanuatu.
They have been busy with lots of community work, performances and
testimonies in churches and recently opportunities to facilitate
reconciliation. We are proud of them and currently praying for a quick
grant of visas so they can return to Brisbane in 2 weeks time.

Another praise is our rugby ministry has received an open door during
an international competition in Fiji this weekend. Please check out
this news cast for a brief overview:
http://www.fijitv.info/yahoo_site_admin/assets/docs/23.1802938.wmv

Meanwhile we are looking forward to school holidays ending so we can
begin working with some local high schoolers again. Currently there
are only a few of us on the base and it is a good time for us to
intercede, asking God to bring in more workers and catching His vision
for this year at Island Breeze.
This past weekend I was able to testify at two separate churches. Both
times I attended just as a guest but God opened doors for me to give
him praise for my healing and also encourage the people that just like
the lady with the blood disorder, we just need to get into His
presence, and His grace and mercy can cover us (Matthew 9). Praise God
for opportunities (and a good reminder to be prepared 'in season and
out'.)

On a personal note, I have been missing Manasa very much as we both
continue to minister in our YWAM locations (He is in Darhan Mongolia
while I continue to serve at Island Breeze Brisbane). We have been
discussing the possibility of a wedding this year and feel blessed by
Gods continued confirmation, building of our relationship and aligning
details for our future. Next week we will begin fasting once a week
and are excited to see God continue to move in our lives. We do have a
few prayers points... we are looking to receive any advice/counsel
from married couples as we continue to prepare ourselves for marriage.
We have seen a few of our cultural differences arise but feel blessed
that God has given us 'international' hearts and better understanding
of each other. We are also praying for wisdom on being good stewards
of our finances. I sometimes wonder how I will be able to prepare for
a wedding with limited support but it is increasing my faith in God to
provide, and also brings me back to the basics.... relationships and
giving glory to God. THank you for your continued prayers for us.
Manasa will leave for South Korea in March and apply for his Australia
tourist visa (another prayer request)! So that he can stay with me at
Island Breeze during the month of April.

My health has continued to not limit me and I feel thankful everyday
that I am able to serve. I am still learning my boundaries, and when
to rest which will continue to be a challenge for me. I do have a
followup ultrasound scheduled for one week from Monday and expect to
have the 'all clear'. I continue to wrestle with food choices as money
is limited as well as kitchen time but God has been faithful
everytime. Even this week , in the evening I was craving red meat. Of
course the 'american' in me went right to the images of juicy
hamburgers. I prayed and went to sleep. The next day we had errands to
run so the five of us on the base went to the shopping center, with a
food court and we all McDonalds....not the healthiest HOWEVER I was
able to get my hamburger!! God does hear even our 'silly' prayers-
AMEN! I tried the "McOz" which is a basic hamburger with beet root. I
was not a fan (however I did not dislike it) but I felt it was my time
to honor an Australian tradition!

Thank you again for your faithful prayers, financial support and words
of encouragement! I will continue to update as we go along on this
'unpredictable' journey. I am very much learning that this life is not
'ordinary' when you are living out your freedom in the cross....

Testify!

Revelations says there is power in the testimony.... this weekend I
was able to testify in two separate churches. Both times I was simply
attending as a visitor in the congregation but God gave me an
opportunity to speak of His healing hand on my life. There is
something unique and powerful about members of Christ's body
encouraging each other with stories of personal victories and ways
that God is moving amongst us. I thank God for those opportunities and
am also reminded of how we need to be 'prepared in season and out'
because you can never underestimate your role in accomplishing God's
plan.
This week was a busy one as the base kicked back into gear. We
primarily focused on the running of the base including cleaning ,
sorting, grounds work etc. We also finished hosting a youth group from
Fiji of 13 people that left early this morning. It will be a challenge
to me to 'pace' myself as there is much to do with a small amount of
staff...
This was a special Sunday as I spent the day with the Pallesens. This
is the family that hosted me when I was sick in July and needed a
break from the base. They also were a connection to Pine Grove Church
of Christ who generously paid for my plane ticket home to get medical
care. It was a blessing for me to update the church on my return and
also to spend some last time with the family as they are moving to
Melbourne. They have such a generous spirit and gave me a blessing
basket (which is the picture included) ... toiletries that I most
likely would not buy for myself and a few other basics. They also gave
a monetary donation which will go towards some much needed credit on
my phone and also my staff fees for next month. I feel blessed in
God's reminders of His faithfulness to provide for our every need-
physical, spiritual and emotional.
I am definitely feeling 'back in business'. Praise God!

2012

Time to count the blessings of 2011, learn from the scars, and prepare to walk out dreams in 2012. Thank you God for your faithfulness....

Christmas Challenge

Angel: "For nothing will be impossible with God."

Mary: "I am the servant of the Lord; let it be to me according to your word." And the angel departed from her."

Challenging sermon this morning- the faith of Mary and the willingness to be used by God even though she would suffer shame and discomfort and a lot of unknowns (a single, unwed teen, more than likely disowned by her family)....

Makes me think about what my challenges are, and am I willing to give them all up? Am I willing to trust in a larger picture? Do I trust when I hear clearly the next step but do not see the final destination? If there is no guarantee of freedom from pain or suffering?

I am so glad that this sermon was not just a 'Christmas' message but that it applied the hope we have Christ- what will we do with it? Such a joyous time and I am so thankful for this season to reflect on God's sacrifice for us and also His call , so personal to each of us, to a close relationship with Himself.

Blessings as you enter into this Christmas week!~

Toilet Paper strikes again

I recently placed a post, while I was in Mongolia, about every nation across the world runs the risk of running out of toilet paper. Im now in Brisbane Australia, and the dilemma has hit again :) Thankfully refilled today so the risk is at a minimal.... hahaha

Arrived in brisbane

Thank you for all your prayers. After the initial delay and reschedule, my flight went off without any problems and my bag arrived safely to Brisbane also. Is good to reconnect and see a lot of new faces on the base! The DTS just left on outreach to Vanuatu for one month. We also were hosting a Fijian Youth Outreach that will be leaving tomorrow. Thankful for all their hard work and support. Base should be quiet this week and holidays start Friday. Thank you again for your prayers and have a wonderful holiday season! Blessings, Alissa

Waiting

Waiting at the airport for over seven hours, some of the 'joys' of the missionary life!! ~Alissa

Gift from YWAM base

This is a wonderful hand made gift made by a YWAM staff (cut out). It includes Manasa and my name ,as well as Youth with a Mission, written in traditional Mongolian script on one side and the individuals on the horses represent Manasa and I. Such a beautiful expression of their culture.

Airport

There was some fog and 'bad weather' that cancelled most flights going out of Ulan Bator.... It was a frustrating day of waiting in the airport only to have to return back. Also dealing with Air China was not helpful and was thankful that Emirates airline was much more helpful, rebooking the entire flight for the same flights, a couple days later for just 80 US dollars. Praying that the weather clears up as today was still foggy, snowy and low visibility.... Alissa

Pics

It was Ingkushe's fourth birthday so we celebrated her birthday as well as my farewell. So fun! Living in community can have it's positive such as wonderful food and fellowships, and of course lots of laughs. Because I was leaving some of the leaders started singing the chorus of some Mongolian love songs about 'don't go, come back' aimed at Manasa. Another common thing is to put out plates of candy.... Mongolians love their hard candies!

Goodbye dinner

A few pictures from the wonderful 'Goodbye' lunch prepared by the YWAM staff with traditional "hushuur" ( a mixture of cooked potatoes, vegetables, and meat in a fried dough). It was a blessing. We were joined by an outreach team that is here for one week .

Time in Mongolia

My time in Mongolia is running down. I tried to fly out yesterday only to face an entire day of delays due to 'bad weather' (just looked a little gloomy to me). Korean Air cancelled their flights right away (i guess they are a bit more cautious) and mine got rescheduled until 10pm. Finally they could get me to Bejing, 2 days to get to singapore with overnight and no ticket from singapore to brisbane. I didnt want to get stuck, and staying overnight along was a bit scary so we came back to our guest house and I called Emirates airlines directly who graciously rescheduled my entire ticket for three days from now- the same flights, layovers etc for only 80 american dollars change fee. I feel God answers those prayers to take care of me... I will be flying out on Tuesday afternoon.
- Please pray for good weather
-Please pray for finances for my next couple days in the capitol Ulan Bator (a Korean church runs a 'guest house' ministry so the rooms are fair price -25 dollars anight-but with 2 of us needing rooms the price adds up....)

So thankful the base in Darhan is so supportive and has been prayer warriors for us. Also thankful for Manasa who can speak the Mongolian language and is always taking good care of me. I know God must have a reason for a couple more days here in Mongolia.

Thank you for your prayers!! Alissa

Great need for more missions outreach

Nation of Mongolia as of a few years ago
Population: over 2 600 000
Christian 0.03 %
Muslim 4.0%
Buddhist 26.0%
Animist 50.0%
Other 20.0%

Mongolia has become more open to christian churches in the past years however international missionaries still have to be very careful as they can be asked to leave the country (as one Korean YWAM family did a few years ago). There is no preaching on the streets etc so outreach is through relationship building and mercy ministries. Even the Mongolian staff have to be careful to keep specific records of money etc in case asked by the government. We need more willing to pioneer this frontier!

Toilet paper

No matter the country, we all run the risk of running out of toilet paper....

Manasa

Feeling very blessed today to spend time with Manasa and experience his world. There are so many opportunities to minister in this area and teaching english has been a big open door. Thankful for God leading us together and praying about what the future holds! We both will continue with our base commitments  (him here in Mongolia and myself in Brisbane Australia) and are expecting God to open doors for us in the near future to be together again. ~