Australia Day

AUSTRALIA DAY!
Usually we celebrate with a big barbeque but considering the fact that its been raining so much we've had some flooding, my guess we'll keep the celebration inside.
Australia days commemorates the arrival of the British to Sydney Cove in 1788....some Aborigine's call it 'invasion day' or 'survival day' instead... a tainted history.
Was nice to see them choose an 'Australian of the Year' and enjoyed hearing the different candidates stories as they've made advances to better Australia and human kind... I believe this years overall winner was actor Geoffrey Rush.
Time for fireworks, good food and fellowship!

Re: Corn on the Cob

Had an interesting conversation with Sio, from Samoa. He is on staff here at Island Breeze Brisbane and since there are just three or four of us on the base right now we have been eating together at lunch. I made some corn on the cob and shared it and as he was eating it he explained that they eat their corn like they would a piece of fruit, like a mango. He said they dont eat it with a meal , but rather for snack, and even just eat it raw. I explained to him that we not only boil it but also we grill it and sometimes but seasoning on it. So interesting- the same vegetable but viewed in different ways. Thank God for the beauty in our differences!

Answer to financial prayers

Praise report already!One answer to financial prayers: Manasa found out through his travel agent that he may be able to use his airmiles to travel not only from Mongolia to South Korea (to launch his visas) but also covering his ticket from South Korea to Brisbane Australia! Praise God for His answering prayers....and quicker than I expected! We continue to be so thankful for His faithfulness to us! THANK YOU for all the prayers!!

Open hands to give

Lessons on not holding on too tight to possessions....God may ask you to
give. Often times in the Western culture we have become accustomed to
giving a percentage of our overflow- after we've paid the rent,food, credit
cards etc.... always some left over. The challenge becomes when God asks to
give what we have, or what we think we need. This picture really
re-enforced some of the lessons God has been teaching me about keeping that
hand open- so that you can receive the blessings He is giving but also so
that He can move those blessings on to someone else in need, and again
replace them. Open handed living isn't easy...we have been taught to take
care of ourselves, to prepare for the future. The closer we come to God in
worship the more the kingdom perspective will challenge which areas we need
to live in faith...."Lord please continue to teach me to have a
willing and generous heart....no matter the cost to myself!"

THANKFULNESS

"In God we have boasted continually, and we will give thanks to your name forever."  ~Psalms 44:8

Picture of McOz

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!