Your Eyes Are Amazing!

The other day I was watching TV with my brother and the commercial for Centrum Silver came on and within it it claimed;

“Your eyes.  Even at a distance of 10 miles, the length of 146 football fields, they can see the light of a single candle.”

I thought it was an amazing fact, and made me really be amazed in the creativity of God in how perfect and wonderfully He made the human body. What is even more incredible about that, is that their advertising departments math was a little off on their figures…“Based on several studies, in the right conditions (total darkness, no atmospheric conditions or the curve of the horizon to obscure the view), a healthy human eye can detect the light of a single candle from between 15 and 30 miles away.  Since 146 football fields is only 8.3 miles, this statement, whether for 8.3 miles or for 10 miles, appears to be true based on published studies.” CAN.WE.SAY.WOW! Needless to say, that commercial really stuck with me, so their advertising really did do their jobs. Now let me shift this subject just a little bit…

… As we know it has been the Christmas season and many churches do a candle light service. Not being sure whether I’d even been to one before, I got to attend one with my mom and my step-dad. Through most of the service I was like “this is very corny”, us all sitting around singing Christmas songs felt like a bunch of parrot’s sitting in a building mimicking what we’ve heard through most of our lives. I felt it lacked passion, heart, and honestly any authenticity. (which sadly was me being sinful, and judgmental, please forgive me). So the service continued on and I thought it was amazing when the pastor pulled all the kids up on the stage to share the Christmas story with them like he were in his own living room with his kids or grand kids. Then of course after the Christmas story it was now time to do the candle lighting after some instruction. We walked up and got our individual candles, all the lights still being on, and waited for everyone to be in place with candles in hand. It was time, all the electrical lights were shut off and one candle was lit. Now, being a fairly observant person, I couldn’t help but to notice that the one candle was enough light to see in the entire sanctuary! One light! Then the light in the room was rapidly multiplying as each person turned to the person beside them and helped in lighting their candle, and then they would then pass it on. This continued until every persons candle was lit.

In the midst of the lighting it happened… the Holy Spirit started speaking to me. As I was watching the room get brighter and brighter He said “See how each person makes a big difference?” Tears started welling up in my eyes, because it was the first time I’ve ever had a visual display of how each person in the Kingdom of Christ really does make a difference.

Now let’s shift again, on to tonight as I was prepping to lead worship for this Sunday, I started just playing and singing spontaneously what has been running through my mind and I was reminded of the scripture Matthew 5:14-16 which says,

“You are the light of the world. A city set on a hill cannot be hidden; 15 nor does anyone light a lamp and put it under a basket, but on the lampstand, and it gives light to all who are in the house. 16 Let your light shine before men in such a way that they may see your good works, and glorify your Father who is in heaven.”

Just the reflecting on this scripture I wrote this:

If we are a city on a hill
 then they’ll be looking to see what we’re doing
If we are light that’s shining high
then where we are darkness should be expelled 
it’s gotta make you question
It’s gotta make you question
 How are we living
 What are we saying 
To awaken a dying generation 
to know death has been beaten
 How are we serving
 What are we doing 
To be that light in the world 
and that city on a hill 
It’s really gotta make you question

I have obviously been taken back by this thought. God created our eyes to be physically remarkable, but He created our spirits to be as well. I believe our spirits see so much more than we realize, because out of the conditions of our spirits our souls (will, mind and emotions) react, and out of our soul our bodies react.  If the physical eye can see light, then don’t you think that spiritually us being light in this dark world, those around us will be able to see us no matter where we are. Imagine if we worked together instead of against each other. So many times we are more busy trying to extinguish other lights around us instead of fanning the flames!

I don’t know about you, but I know that I want to be that person that is the light in the darkness, and is shinning so brightly that my “good works” will point others to “glorify” my “Father!” I was so aware in that church service how human I am, but through the lighting of the candles, and the centrum silver commercial, I am also fully aware that God made me for a specific purpose and it’s to be that light no matter whether I am here at home, or in a closed nation. I also know for a fact that He is waiting on you to be available to be used by Him, after all your eyes are amazing too!

"If I can do it for them, then can't I do it for you?"

Well, I sit here in amazement of God's faithfulness in Ft.Lauderdale Airport as I wait for my next flight.

We started our journey last night in Lima, Peru at 10:00pm Sunday as we said goodbye and loaded in the van for one last trip to the airport. We got inside and everything was very rushed as we were told our flight was already loading. The line was empty but of course going through immigration check-points took forever. I don't know that I've ever went through such a long process to get to my gate. We ran through everything only to find out they weren't actually loading yet. Finally, we get on the plane and are waiting thinking more people are going to load and to find out the plane literally had only 30 passengers including us. So that's right we got to all have our own rows and lay down a good percentage of the flight. (favor of he Lord!) The only downfall of the flight is while we were distending the pressure in the cabin was so bad that I was almost in tears with pain. (please pray as I am still in pain from it at this very moment at 2:51pm Monday).

So now being in the U.S., we knew that we'd have to go through re-entry and back to the ticket counter because we had to change airlines we got the surprise of signs notating that we'd have to pay for our baggage. Well, being the person who has handling all our money, I knew we didn't have it in our budget to eat and pay for those bags. So I did everything I could think of; called our travel agent (who only confirmed that every airline is different and we'd have to pay it), went to the ticket counter to see if there was any waiver they'd be willing to offer (only to be denied), and finally then called Michael our school leader to see if the base could do anything because we literally didn't have enough money. After some time, we got the thumbs up that the base could use the credit card to pay for our bags, but me knowing that we didn't have anymore money in the budget I was saddened.

Well, a little while later, Sahara (one of the co-leaders) and I were sitting and watching a show and I started remembering all the stories of friends who went to the airport knowing it's where God wanted them and just expected God to show up with the necessary funds to get them from A to B. I then heard a still quiet voice say... "if I can do it for them, then can't I do it for you?" I then had such a peace knowing that something miraculous was going to happen, that somehow we were not going to have to pay for our bags. Some time went by and I shared with Sahara's husband Ryan that I felt like the Lord was going to do something, like we weren't going to have to pay. A little while later the time has come for us to be able to check-in, and I communicate with the students if any of them have the money to pay that would be great because it'd be nice to take as much of the burden off the base as possible, and those of us who couldn't pay at the moment would raise the necessary funds to cover what the base had to cover. More the half of the team was able to cover themselves so we head for the ticket counter knowing 2 of us would be covered by the base, and the rest would be paying for their own bags. Next thing I know, a lady behind the counter looks directly at me and says "do you need some help?", and I explained that I knew I was going to have to pay for a couple bags and ... she cut me off, saying  "come let me help you." She takes the information and she looks up at me and says you don't have to pay for anything. She said "if you were to check-in on the kiosk you would have to pay but I was able to catch the charges," so we waived the rest of the team over and she handled all the ticketing. I couldn't believe it. The lady didn't say anything to anyone else ahead of us, but looked directly at me. I knew it was exactly the thing God mentioned to me earlier in the day. I was soo amazed! God is incredibly faithful. Then to top it off... it's time for us to go through security for one last time where I knew it was such a hassle and I just said I really don't have want to take my computer out again, and my shoes off, then some how I (along with a few others on the team) got moved to the quick line where I didn't have to take my computer out, didn't have to take my shoes off, and didn't have go through the full body scan. Thank you Jesus!

Needless to say, though this trip has been very long and we still have 6 hours before we are actually home, and I am still in pain I have seen the beauty of God's faithfulness, and favor!

Journey... thanks

Today has left me realizing how thankful I am for the life God has blessed me with!

I am writing right now from Lima, Peru! This is the 9th country I've gotten to travel to in my short 27 years of life. Though I do know more people that have travelled to many more than that in less year, I realize how much of an honor it is to get to share life, and culture with people from other nations. I am in the minority when it comes to things I've gotten to experience in my life. This time last year I was in amazement that I was again full-time in ministry and God was doing incredible things! Now, a year later, I am still in that place. I have gotten to travel to 3 nations in 1 year! I have gotten to see God heal people, Him transform peoples lives, and fall deeper in love with Jesus. I am so blessed! 

Tonight as we sat at the dinner table in Chili's in Lima, Peru. Our school leader Michael (who is visiting our team from the U.S.) explained how he's never been on a trip where his team was taken out to a nice dinner (like Chili's) but a local from the country he was serving in. His exact words,  "this is favor of the Lord." It really got me thinking... I have gotten to experience this in almost every country I've been to. I have been to restaurant/ hotels/ homes etc. far more lavish than I've ever seen in the U.S. while I've been in other countries. I am amazed! God has opened some incredible doors in my life and want to boast on how thankful I am to Him! I am most amazed that God has taken a young woman, who used to be so lost, and has put her on a path where she is now getting to pour into other young people's lives. Yes, I am talking about myself! 

5 years ago this time of the year, I was in my last month of college. I was looking at all my options... get my masters, work for a cruise line, get a job, and a about a month later the option go into YWAM popped up. I never would have thought in my last semester of college this is where my life would be. For those of you who do not know, I got my degree in Broadcasting/Media. Since graduating I've not used my degree at all, but while I've been here in Peru I actually got to be on air on a Peruvian radio station, and I got to sing. What? There goes that favor of the Lord again! No, I am not in full use of my degree, but I can say that since graduating college almost 5 years ago, I have gotten to use my voice. 

The majority of my years in college I was voiceless. Meaning, I didn't have authority to speak on anything. I didn't sing, I didn't teach, I didn't stand up for what I believe in and so on. Over the last few years I've found my voice. In fact, my voice is exactly what God has gifted me to use! I am worshiper, I am a singer, I am a teacher, I am a evangelist! I AM SUPPOSED TO SPEAK OUT! I am definitely not silent anymore. 

Since being here in Peru, as I write this I realize, I have been gifted in using my voice and I now am in every sense. A quick testimony... one afternoon we were doing ministry in this very busy shopping area called Gamarra, and after a skit where we normally give an explanation of the meaning of the drama, I just knew I was supposed to speak. It was like incredible knowledge/wisdom came upon me, I knew exactly what needed to be said, and as I spoke to like 30 people I could see through the testimony of my life, and the words of the father eyes were being opened to the goodness and grace of God. After my message, the ministry center had person after person coming in for prayer. I don't know the number, but I know God moved through me opening my mouth and sharing. 

I am thankful that God has been transforming me so that I am not a useful vessel for Him to use. I literally could go on forever with things I am thankful for, but instead of that allow me to express my thanks for my family and friends. It's because of many of their influences in my life that I am where I am now. I couldn't do anything God has destined me to do without them, they have played such a huge role in my life from financially supporting me to do this, or even giving room for me to grow/learn. No words can express my gratitude! I constantly hearing about the testimony of the lives of girls I've gotten to pour in to, but I know it's because of my family/friends that I was even to a point that I could even do that. So thank you to all who have played a huge piece in my life!

I love that my walk with the Lord is a journey, because along the way I get to see exactly how much he is at work. From giving me a blessing of a meal, to transforming my heart God is constantly at work in my life. It through each moment with Him that I can know for sure His promises will be fulfilled. And I can know for sure that I am able to dream big with him. I can't wait to see this time next year the stories, and transformation that I'll have. Thank you Lord for this journey you have me on! 

Worthy of our praise

Since being on the School of Worship Outreach, God has radically been working on my heart! I could never say this has been an easy trip to be on. But then again God hasn't asked us to take the easy route! After all it days say in James 1:2-4 "Count it all joy, my brothers, when you meet trials of various kinds, for you know that testing of your faith produces steadfastness. And let steadfastness have its full effect that you may be perfect and complete lacking in nothing."  I have found this verse to be very true, since this trip so far has had trial after trial come up. It's funny how in the moments where you are really having to choose to have the right attitude and even keep the faith when things look blique, that you find God is pulling you closer, teaching you more about His character and wooing you even more into a loving relationship with Him. Even more I have been realizing utter need for Him in my life! I can't make it without Him!

Knowing a little bit about just how this trip has been a battle will give you better insight to why I say I can't help but to worship Jesus. I have been falling so in love with Him and can't imagine living my life without Him. Every time I get to lead worship the fact that God has been showing me more of himself moves me to sing, moves me to cry, moves me to shouting or even laughing out of the joy I have in Him.


I am committed to giving my whole heart to Jesus daily, I am committed to sharing His heart with others, and I am committed to learning more about His character so I too can be like the four living creatures in Revelation 4-5 being in utter amazement in every moment by the beautiful splendor of God the Father, Jesus Christ, and the Holy Spirit. For a few months I have been stuck thinking about how much I don't know about God in comparison to how much I do know. I desire to uncover the ministries of Him.

Leading worship at the Detroit Tent Revival

While we were in Detroit, MI one of the gentlemen, who was one of the evangelists, was sharing about Solomon when he built the alter and put himself on it humbling himself and learning to live your life on the alter of God. Calling me even more into the call to missions. In Philippians 1:21-25  it says "For me to live is Christ, and to die is gain. If I am to live in the flesh, that means fruitful labor for me. Yet which I shall choose I cannot tell. I am hard pressed between the two. My desire is to depart and be with Christ, for that is far better. But to remain in the flesh is more necessary on your account. Convinced of this, I know that I will remain and continue with you all, for your progress and joy in the faith, so that in me you may have ample cause to glory in Christ Jesus, because of my coming to you again." I understand what Paul meant! I understand why I do missions! You cannot do missions out of the right heart unless you yourself have received revelation of who Jesus is and that you have been placed on this earth for that being one of the purposes and once you receive the revelation though you can't wait to be with the Lord, you understand that you are here because He wants to use you to share His love. In other words, I have been falling more in love with God everyday and it has moved me to share Him even more! I love loving on God's people and seeing their eyes/hearts opened to His love for them!

Needless to say I have been moved deeply! I could go on forever sharing the things I have been learning in new depths. All I can say is as long as God will use me, I am going to worship and I am going to share His name because He is worthy of every breathe I have!

I surrender...

There are moments in time where you have to surrender your ideas, thoughts, dreams, and reasoning for exactly how something is going to work out.

Here I am week three in to the School of Worship that I am staffing at YWAM Nashville in Adams, TN. Why am I here? What is the purpose for me to be apart of discipling others to worship?

 For as long as I can remember God has placed a love for creativity, and music throughout my bones. I remember as a little girl 4 or 5 sitting in my room with my dad with his red little song book singing worship songs. Then jumping up to my teen years where I struggled with depression and through being involved in a music ministry called Jacob Jacket, I gained the desire to learn guitar. My parents gave it a test run by borrowing a guitar to see if it were something I'd keep up with. Well, for a solid month every day I would come home from school and sing worship songs to learn how to strum and play a song. It was a way instead of holding in my depression I was able to be set free because my focus turned to bringing more Glory to God than my situations. You can see all throughout the history of the bible how often God used worship as the first attack within warfare. There is more to worship than we as mere humans give credit to it. Over many years I have had to fight to have a voice to worship with. I personally believe there is a such an attack to prevent us from worshiping, so all I want to do is inspire others to dive deep into the relationship with God and realize that he is worthy of praise rain or shine.

Recently, I returned from Tunisia, which is predominantly a Muslim nation, and while I was there I realized again how everyone worships, no matter whether they are a Followers of Christ, or even the complete opposite side of the spectrum Atheistic. While watching the discipline and dedication a percentage of my Muslim friends, I thought about what if the population turned from all the false worship and turned to being worshipers of Jesus? And how is it that we can learn to worship in spirit and truth as the Gospel of Luke states that Jesus is seeking? I truly believe it is a process of discipleship within the community of believers, and sanctification through walking with the Lord! I want to help create the infectious heart attitude that Jesus is worthy of our full lives, and worship is that overflow.

I so desire to see hearts transformed by coming to the revelation that Jesus is Lord and Savior, then overflowing to worship Him with everything they have. I am sure to many this is me rambling, but I know God is worthy of every ounce of me being poured out for the sake of His name to get the Glory due to him. I am prepared to go wherever he sends me, and also know there is stirring for me to go overseas for a long period to pioneer a School that disciples and teaches about worship to new converts. (I will share more details as I feel the Lord releases me to share details). I am not content just sharing about Jesus and seeing them make a commitment in other countries, but I want to walk with them in the process and live life with them teaching and learning alongside them.

Last fall, I felt the Lord shared with me vision for the future and explained to start getting tools in my belt to move towards that vision. While in Tunisia, God gave me even more vision for a direction I feel he is moving me in, so staffing this School of Worship is just another piece of the puzzle, same with going to Peru to lead this schools students on an outreach. I believe its prepping me with the necessary equipment to do what he is calling me to do in North Africa. While here in the Nashville area (my home), it is necessary for me to raise more monthly financial partnerships. 

In the process of following what I feel God has called me to (which has been a whirlwind) I haven't gotten the proper chance to raise the finances required for me to do the ministry I have to been called to and have been doing for almost a year now, and God has blown me away in His faithfulness and taught me so much about it. But now I am at a point where I NEED HELP! I need a network of believers who desire to be apart of international missions to help send me out. Next year I would like to pursue  the School of Frontier Missions in Spain, and work there until I can get in to the field to pioneer the dream God has placed in my heart (which will require me to have a minimum of $2000 in support). Being monthly supported (Currently having only $300 per month committed support) I need more individuals and families to commit to being apart of this ministry. I currently need at least $750 per month, leaving me with $450 more to raise per month. Then I also need to raise the funds to pay for my plane tickets to Peru which at most will be $1,000. Anything you can do helps! 

If you'd like to be apart of the ministry through YWAM you can make checks payable to: YWAM Nashville (leaving my name off for tax-deduction receipts) and mail it to Misty Wallace c/o YWAM NASHVILLE,  PO Box 78219 Nashville, TN 37207.

If you are interested in giving through automatic bank drafting that is possible as well. Please email me at mistylwallace85@gmail.com if you have any questions or would like to meet to discuss further details in regards to what God is doing. 

Blessings!

Misty

In the blink of an eye

WINTER 2013 DTS YWAM JAX

It seems like yesterday that I was on my knees painting the huge banner to welcome in the students of the Winter 2013 DTS in YWAM JAX. When in actuality, yesterday, I watched each of those students walk across the front of  church and graduate from their 5 month God filled adventure. I think about how little time that was and that it went by way too fast and I didn't get to know some of them quite as well as I would have liked, nor did I get to know the ones I do know the best as well as I wish I could. In the blink of an eye the lecture phase was over we separated and then dispersed throughout the nations.

Team A while saying goodbye in Spain

Me leading a team into the arab nation of Tunisia. Never having had done ministry to Muslims before it was definitely not like anything I've ever experienced. Imagine if we in America literally from birth knew only 1 religion, and viewed it as the only way. Though the majority of the world views America as a Christian nation, it by far doesn't represent it in the ways the country is ran. Being in a nation where everything is completely molded and crafted according to it's religion is a wake up call. Truly that is one thing our nation could adapt and I guarantee we'd see a better economy, less poverty, less homeless, less orphaned etc. It's so hard to think about the very things we consider to be freedoms being the very things that place people in bondage. If there is one thing I learned (which I learned far more than one thing) it would be that there is literally only one way to freedom, and its not through religion, it's not through money, it's not through success, it's not through a better government system, or the people's choices. Jesus really is the only way to gain freedom, it is only through Him that not matter what situation you live in that you could be completely free!  I think through studying more about Islam has helped me in just strengthening my love and trust in the Lord (Off of my rant now).

Something that was very difficult for me while being over seas is realizing that I find it so easy to love unbelievers. But loving fellow believers is very hard for me. I recognized that I still keep them at a distance, and am really seeing this is any area God is working on with me. How to love, and love deeply. (what can I say... I'm a work in progress.) Within leadership I found that communication was my biggest issue. Finding the right words, at the right time, in the right heart, and in the right way is such a difficult result to come to. I know that a grew so much in this area, learning to speak more gently, but boy oh boy do I still have growth in this area. Overall, I feel different than I did when I began the outreach. I know I am called to be a leader and with God I am fully capable! Which leads me to whats next...

Me with the 5 girls I discipled on their graduation day. (From left: Chelsea, Hollyanne, Me, Annie, Peri, Hanna)

This week I will leave a move back up to Nashville to join YWAM Nashville for a few months to staff the School of Worship. While I was in Tunisia I prayed a lot about if I were to live in the country long term what my "tent making" business would be. I knew I could teach english but I know that would not be the best position for me. I could learn the language and pursue a degree (again I probably will do that) but I wouldn't want that to be my "job." I battled with whether I had anything to offer. Then I realized I am a musician and a singer, and every country I've ever been in somehow I develop friendships with the musicians in the areas. Worship is my passion. So here is a dream I have... to start a music school where I employ the local musicians to be my teachers. (there is a lot more to the dream, but I'd rather share it in person or via message so if interested in more details let me know.) So long story short, staffing the School of Worship is a part of the dream in helping equip me to go after the dream set before me. 

I know this blog is very sporadic in thought process. The whole point is to realize things come and go so quickly, and life really does change in a blink of an eye. I never would have imagine going back up to Tennessee, but I am so excited for the next step to my God Size Dream! A huge part of this dream consists of me building my partnerships. So while in Tennessee please let me know if you'd like to get together for coffee or a meal (615-415-5587). 

Misty

See it with a clearer view..

Hey everyone! Hard to believe my time here in North Africa in the country of Tunisia is half way through. We are currently in a beautiful city by the name of Monastir, and spent the previous 3 weeks in the capital of Tunis. Needless to say I love it here, but the longer I am here the more I understand the absolute need for more long term workers. I love these people so much and have been making such dear friends my heart really aches for. They desire so much to be free, and long to have nice things. All of which are to hopefully bring some kind of fulfillment to their lives. It's seriously hard knowing I have a master key and all of their hearts are guarded from anything entering. But there is also so much I am learning from the traditions within Islam. The hospitality is incomparable, the family unit is charished, and marriage isn't taken lightly. (those are just a few). A huge piece of me doesn't want to leave here because I want to continue the relationships I've began. And one day be here when the light finally turns on to the realization the Jesus is everything they've been searching for. 

To give you a little visual of what has been going on here I have included a little picture slide show for your enjoyment. Love you all!

A new song, opens doors

Tonight I got to have coffee with one of our students and a friend I've made here in Tunisia. At a point while eating dinner I asked my friend "what is your biggest dream?" Him being an amazing musician he shared that he wants to write music not for himself, but for others to find the joy in the music itself. He doesn't want his talent to be about him. In the process of the conversation a door was opened to share about how God gave me music as an outlet when I was in a depressed state when I was younger. He then shared how he had a similar story, and that music was the same for him. There is obviously a lot more to this story, but he told me later that he shared a part of his life that he had never told anyone.

I know this is very brief, but please be praying for my friend. Every time we meet the conversation has been shifting to God more often. I can see how powerful of a tool he'd be for the Kingdom.

FYI, I have been learning a lot from him too. Every time we get together he is teaching me more arabic, but he also recently challenged me to write some lyrics because at some point I will go to a recording studio and possibly record a song before I leave. I have always had a hard time writing a song on the spot, knowing that I had to produce something that could be a good crossover song that can be sang by whoever and it have meaning, but for me it to be something so deep with the Lord. It was a task I had set before me, but I did succeed at the "assignment" haha... Here are the lyrics and the video:

You have ravished me  ohhh

You came and destroyed my life as I know

You have broken the chains over me

No longer bonding me to the former destiny

you're the life changer, you're the deal breaker

you're the answer to my questioning

you're the history maker, not a record keeper

you're the romance to my longing….

You're my life, you're my love

You're everything I have ever dreamed of… 

It's only a thing

I got to experience many new things today. Some very good and some very bad.

First was taking a student to the Dr. It was interesting to say the least. Though the Dr. was very friendly we definitely were not in the U.S. anymore. Nothing was in any way sanitary, and his method may I say was very unorthodox. His diagnosis was "you have infection." Haha. So he prescribed her medicine, he first asked if she would prefer injection or pill. Me thinking that an injection was a one time thing and it would be the quickest and most effective route, but then through a little more description we found out she would have to administer her own shots 3 times a day for 6 days. Needless to say she quickly chose the pill. Then he ask if she wanted a "suppository" I was like YES that's no problem, obviously not realizing what I just agreed upon for her, and she has to take it 3 times a day. So we get the medicine 1 pill by mouth, a cough syrup, and the suppository... She pulls out the suppository to take it with her meal and that is when we realize "OH MY GOODNESS" you administer this rectally. After some time she did decide that she would take the dive and take all the medicine in hopes that she'll be well. Or in Arabic "Lebes." Thankfully she has been able to laugh it off. 

Well, on to the next thing I got to do. We, like I have stated before, have gotten to make many friends within our Hostel. So a few of us went to go eat with one of the newer quests who's name is Salim. We go to this hole in the wall restaurant that he said is VERY GOOD. It was first awkward because the restaurant didn't look like one women frequent often, so Ansley and I felt a little out of place. (Anyone who's been to an arab nation understands what I mean by this.) The second thing was that the menu was all in arabic so we weren't 100% sure what we were ordering, so we let Salim take the lead when it came to ordering. In the end we wound up sharing 3 different dishes, one of which being sheep head (legitimately, not the fish).  So being kind and being willing to go on the ledge that it may actually taste good, I went ahead and tried the brains. Let me say it took everything in my power for it not to come back up. Then one of the other students got the blessing (used very lightly) of eating the eyeball. It was an experience I can say I tried, but would be very happy to never eat again. 

After that (still having the bad taste in my mouth) we all decided to go get some coffee or tea. That is a very common after meal tradition. We get to the cafe, and I got a delicious coffee (they aren't really known for their coffee here). But the conversation was quickly shifted to religion. It was an amazing conversation. I felt the Holy Spirit guiding the whole thing. He was bringing stories, and scripture, and testimonies to mind that would maybe help Salim understand why/what we believe as christians. There was a moment in the conversation where we were sharing what Jesus did and it was like a light bulb came on and he said "So it is finished?" We were all blown away! Yes, the conversation ended slightly after that but he now has many things to think about. From his assurance to enter heaven, to whether Jesus is holy. Please be praying for him. 

Lastly, I dropped off my clothes earlier in the day and it was time to go pick them up. So a male student and I walked to go get them. We were maybe 100 feet from the shop, when a guy was standing in front of me turned around walked up to me and ripped my necklace off my neck. I have re-played it in my mind so many times, and there was absolutely no fear at all. It happened so quick, but both me and the student were like well it's gone. It took a minute for it to set in what had just happened. The necklace that was taken was one that was given to me by a dear friend who had died in 2008. Since his death, I rarely ever took it off. So tears welled up, because it was the last thing I had of his. All I knew to do was pray for the guy, that someway it would be a seed planted because neither me nor the student reacted in anger. I felt he was more afraid of us. He maybe was 17 at the most 18. I thought about what needs he might have and prayed for them. So though my heart ached because it was a special necklace to me. I know God can do so much, and I hope he does! 

As you can tell many things good and bad happened today. I am so thankful for everyone of them. I know without the peace of God I would have never been able to respond in the way I did, and hope my reaction could be a testimony. 

Thank you God!

I am set free!

These last couple days when I think about the beautiful people I am surrounded by my heart breaks. I know that they need Jesus and yet due to religious, language, and cultural walls I at times have a difficulty reaching them.

I am soo blessed to have been brought up in a place through my life where there were fewer walls to jump through to see the Truth.

What's amazing to me is that we all can grow up in different cultures and no matter what we can all agree the blue is blue, red is red and yellow is yellow (crossing the only bridge of language barriers). It at times makes me so upset how stretched each perspective is. Whether Christian, Jew or Muslim, we all have at some point or another put God into a box.

The thing that happened is that Muslim and Jew kept Him in a box, and in most cases aren't willing to let him out. Over time a Christian through sanctification with the Holy Spirit is a new creation completely changed and begins to see God for his true nature and character, and mimics their life after Jesus. I think about the hopelessness that envelopes the Jews and Muslims. Jews are waiting for the Messiah who has already come, and Muslims working themselves to death living in constant bondage with no assurance that the good things they do will ever be enough.

We need need more intercessors, worshipers, and people rising up to be willing to share the good news that Jesus saves. He saves us from our sin/shame, He saves us from our hopeless works, He saves us from religiosity, He saves us from separation that would forever keep us from God. Everyday I walk through the Souks and talk with the people here in Tunisia I love them more, but I am more heart broken because I want those walls to be gone so the can see the beautiful grace, and amazing freedom they could have in Christ if they could just see him for who Truly is. He definitely isn't called the Truth and Light for no reason.

Jesus I am thankful for you! I can't imagine living my life without you! I need you! It's because of you I am set free!

From Adios to Salam

On Tuesday our time was up in Spain. It was difficult to say goodbye to the staff at the Villa because they had all been VERY hospitable, and had become like more family. I can't put to words how much they helped us by passing on their passion for the North African world. So when we left I knew that we were prepared to enter Tunisia.

About 9 hours later we arrived...

Many students thought "Toto we aren't in Kansas anymore..."

They spoke very true words, first the first time since leaving the country I truly felt like I was in another country. We were now in a man's world. Meaning the number of women we saw were like maybe 1/4 of the men. It was interesting to see the vast variety of how traditional the people in regard to the strictness of their beliefs (because here you can notice their beliefs based on how they look). Once we went through customs, we then had the task of haggling for the price we would pay for our journey to the hostel. Finally we were loaded and ready, and of course the price changed like 2 times. Either way the owner of the Hostel met us where we were dropped off. He walked us through the winding streets (all being dark alleys) to where we finally can to our hostel, and we could get settled in.

The first night was very hard to sleep, our minds were going at rapid rates, and of course there were so many new sounds we weren't used to. At sunrise, we experienced for the first time what the call to prayer sounds like. When it went off I just said a brief prayer over our team then went back to sleep. When it was finally time to arise, we went and got breakfast which is a piece of bread and butter and jelly. Very simple but satisfying.

On to our first team meeting, we had a time of worship and intercession, then discussed the previous nights experiences and then on to what we have for the day. For lunch we were going to go find a local place to eat then afterwards wander the city. During the day we got to experience both extreme kindness from the people, but we also had one of the students have his necklace broken off his neck by someone trying to steal it, and 2 occasions where we were being followed. If anything it taught us what we should carry on us, and the kind of things to keep our eyes open for.

We did however have a few incredible conversations with some locals about our amazing God. I personally really enjoy talking with the women who have children alongside them. The children always provide an open door to communicate.

I know I am leaving out A LOT of details. I just wants to give you a little taste of what it has been like.

Blessings!

"The rain in spain...

... stays mainly on the plane."

The "A" Team

April 8th set the mark for breaking my record of being in the states for over 3 years. I can't believe that as I type this I am sitting in a beautiful Villa on top of a mountain overlooking Malaga, Spain. The view can't get any better we have the Mediterranean Sea to the rear that we can view from the almost every window, and mountains surrounding us. In fact yesterday a handful of our team decided to hike up the mountain behind us (pictured below).

Now that you have a better idea of who we are and where we are let me update you on what have been and will be doing. We have now been in Spain the the last 2 days. The first day we rested most the day,then later that evening we had our first official team meeting which included some worship/intercession. We couldn't have asked for a more incredible first meeting. It was incredible seeing some of our students already stepping out of the comfort zones, and praying out, or singing out as the declared truth over the city. After our meeting I got the chance to talk with one the students and get to hear some of her fears, and worries as well as get to share some of the things I battle with on a regular basis, her realizing we have a lot more in common than she thought. It was such an incredible time of breaking some of the barriers of lacking in trust.

That brings me now to how I've been sleeping. Sadly, I have yet to have a good nights rest, and today (April 11th) I have been really feeling the effects. After spending the day in class learning more about Isalm, Culture, Security Issues, and French we got to discuss briefly as a team how we each are doing which made us realize that the majority of our team last night had nightmares/strange dreams. It definitely was interesting to see how we all were connected in this matter. (So we prayed against it corporately) The other thing we decided as a team, after going through our classes today, was that we are all going to de-activate our facebooks starting next week for security reasons. It was good to know again our team was all on the same page.

As I wrap up, a few things you can pray into for us over the next few days:
1. Finances: we still as a school need to raising $20,000
2. Sleep: that when we do go to bed we have restful evenings with no nightmares.
3. Clear communication
4. Retention: that we retain all the information we are receiving this week including culture, religion, language.
5. That God already be preparing the hearts of the people we are going to get to build relationships with in Tunisia.

Thank you for your prayers and support and I will update you again very soon! Salam!

Villa Isabel

Some students atop the mountain

I'm going to North Africa

Hello all! Just a quick update. We are in the middle of week 7 of the Discipleship Training School (DTS), which is the foundational school within Youth With A Mission (YWAM), so far we have had our orientation week where I got to teach on worship, relationships week, hearing the voice of God, the mark of a disciple, knowing God, and spiritual warfare. It's amazing how much the Lord teaches through me listening in class, but then where I think I learn the most is within the one on one times I get with 5 amazing girls that I am investing my time, money, heart and tears into. They have been stretched and are soo open to receiving deeper revelation of who God is, and what it means to serve such an amazing Creator.

A couple weeks ago we (Ansley - the girl I am co-leading with--and I ) got to announce where we are going for our 2 month long outreach to our team of 11. Do you want to know?? Of course you do...well at this point we are going to Tunisia and Cyprus, but all depends on the money we fundraise as a team. Each student was given a personal goal of raising $7500 in the 5 months. So far with a month and a half completed the students have raised the total of their tuition portion which was $78,000   and we are currently at $85,000. So every penny donated to the school from here on out goes towards the outreach portion. Us as staff were given the goal of raising at least our plane tickets so we can lead our team overseas. I have $100 towards the possible $2000 that my plane ticket would cost.

Now to be very vulnerable... I am in need of your help. I need monthly support. Due to not receiving monthly support for a couple months my bills have really gotten behind. It's hard to think about my debt  and I am fully aware that it was due to mistakes and poor decisions from my past, but I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is exactly where God wants me. God has called me to leading worship, disciple, and do missions and that is exactly what I am getting to do here. Today as I was in new testament reading, we were reading through 1, 2 Corinthians and in 2 Corinthians 11 it speaks of Paul's sufferings and I saw many cases where he was in complete lack. It got me thinking about my financial state and where I am at. I realized that I am not nearly as thankful as I should be for everything that I have. I have so much!!! So here is a list of everything I am thankful for:
1. I am thankful that I am accepted by God, who I don't even deserve to still have life from.
2. I am thankful that I have food, and a roof over my head, which has heater.
3. I am thankful for the friends and family I have.
4. I am thankful for the little acts of kindness, and compliments people are constantly giving.
5. I am thankful that I am getting to be a tool in the Heavenly Kingdom.
6. I am thankful my past doesn't define me.
7. I am thankful for going $300 in support in the last 3 months.
8. I am thankful that I am able to learn and love more about God.
9. I am thankful that I am getting to be apart of the growing process of 31 students, and that I get to watch them fall deeper in love with God.
10. I am thankful that I have soo many things to be thankful for that I couldn't write them all out...

I have no reasons to complain, or fear. Things may appear to be difficult, but all I can do is rejoice in the fact that I am a vessel that God wants to use, and he is constantly giving me a greater reality of how much I love getting to serve him. I hope that in this season I continue to Love God more, and learn how to love others in a greater way.

Please continue praying, and if you would like the give to the ministry I get to be apart of please send checks payable to YWAM Jacksonville with #49250 in the memo ( that notates which account it needs to be deposited to) and mail it to 117 1st Ave N, Jacksonville Beach, FL 32250.

Thanks for your time and your prayers!

Week one has come and gone.

YWAM Jax Beach Winter 2013 DTS: Staff and Students

It's gone already??

Well week one is finished. Funny how when you are in the middle of it how slowly it goes, yet in the grand view of things in a blink of an eye it's gone. I DTS. This last a very full week of details. We also had many chances to start getting to know the students and even getting to already hear real battles that they have overcome and are continuously fighting to overcome.  I also successfully made it through the week without injuring myself, referring back to the first week of the Fall DTS. I am so blessed and honored to be apart of what God is going to do through the above team and you can be apart of it too (I'll tell you how shortly). 

This week it has been awesome to see these students putting 100% into everything they do from work duties, to stepping up when challenged to share their testimonies, and even getting their out of class assignments done early. It has also been even more amazing to see that their hearts are truly engaged to grow as close to the Lord as they can, and are willing give everything they've got. I truly am honored to get to walk with them in this process. As for myself it has been a little strange because I have been dealing with insecurities, and stepping out of my comfort zones in areas that I in no way shape or form feel like I am capable to succeeding within, yet everything I've done I have completed and feel like God taught me through. I am definitely in a season of being stretched and in fact he's already been preparing my heart for that, by sharing with me in one quiet time that I am going to learn what it means to make Him Lord of All my life. So, I am excited for this journey personally, and the fact that I have close to other forty journeymen that I am going to get to travel with.

What's the goal??

We are all setting out as a full team of YWAM Jacksonville Beach to raise close to $250,000 in the next 5 months within this tuition free Discipleship Training School. Each student that was accepted was give the personal goal of raising $7,500 to pay for the expenses within a DTS. Yet, if they've done everything they can to raise the money we as  team would be raising so al funds raised goes to the benefit of the team as a whole. 

Yesterday, we were separated into 3 small teams which will be our outreach teams so we have smaller numbers to race towards. My team (that I will be leading into the 10/40 window to take the Good News) has a wonderful mix of people and contains 13 young adults. My team needs to raise a total of $82,500 to be funded fully (that's just the students). Ansley and I, as their leaders, have to raise enough for our individual monthly expenses, and raise the money for at least our plane tickets/visas so I will estimate that we need to raise probably close to $10,000 between the 2 of us. Calculating all the numbers my team needs to raise $92,500. Seems like a large sum, and in many cases that is a large sum, but we know that we are all where God wants us and are committed to working together to raise the funds necessary to complete the task the Lord has set before us. Note: any prayers you can lift up would be greatly appreciated and if you would like to partner us in the ministry through YWAM Jax Beach please feel free to give by clicking the above link. If you have any other questions just email me at mistylwallace85@gmail.com.

Prayer points??

-That we would raise the funds necessary to pay for all expenses of the school, and to raise over the amount to get the base out of debt.

-That our hearts would be open for the growth that the Lord wants to extend to us.

-That we as staff will acquire all the tools necessary to be there for the students in every way possible. 

-That we will be a blessing to everyone we come in contact with.

-That lives will be changed.

-Personally, that I gain the partnerships necessary to continue in the ministry that the Lord has called me to through YWAM Jacksonville. 

New year, new students, new journey

Happy 2013!

Can you believe we are already almost half way through January? I feel like so much has already happened in these short couple weeks, so let me give you a brief update of the end of 2012 into what coming for this year.

Me pictured in Urbana Daily praying for a
student to be directed and given clarity.

December I got the chance to travel home and spend Christmas with my family, which was go go go but good to have gotten that chance because I know I am not always going to get those opportunities. The day after Christmas I left and drove to St. Louis, MO to represent YWAM International at the Urbana 2012 conference where 16,000 college students who are all interested in missions came together to worship God, gain some amazing teachings, and check out all the options available to them for the desire to do missions here in the U.S. and around the world. It was amazing but I am not going to say we were kind of shocked due to our booth, though we had a large space, lacking when it came to the visual appearance of materials in comparison to the other booths around us. That's where comparison is definitely not a thing of the Lord. All we, 14 YWAMers from around the world, could do was pray and to seek God's heart for our booth and pray that He would bring the right students to us. Well it wound up being that we had the perfect set up, not meaning to but it kind of was like a trap because the students would walk in the middle of the booth thinking it was the ally to the next aisle which would of course allow us to talk to them. I was so blessed to listen, pray, and minister to the students. It was so cool to see a theme as the students came by the booth. I felt that Lord was showing me the second generation koreans, cambodians, vietnamese, etc. were all telling me while at the conference they felt like God told them to go back to their home lands and do ministry there which was the last place they wanted to go but so beautiful to see God restoring and redeeming possible hurts of past generations through this current generation. Another cool thing was to work with YWAMers from all over and it be like family eventhough we'd never met before the day we all arrived.  I learned so much and was blessed by each other them and pray that our paths cross again someday.

Back row standing from the left: me, Justin Henry, Wikus and Christine Vorster, Mark Fisher, John Henry, Ryan Dutra, Craig, and Kevin Tsui. Kneeling the front: Zack Stevens, Ryan Unger, Katrina Stevens, Gabby Hurt, and Greg Ruhland.

One amazing thing that happened while I was in St. Louis was that on the 29 of December my niece Emilee Anne Wallace was born. So January 1 once the conference was over, I drove straight to my brother and sister-in-laws house in Springfield, TN to hold and love on her before I had to leave the next morning to come back to Florida.

Miss Emilee Anne and Me

They day came to come back to Florida on January 2. So Michael and Sarah Young and their boys Nathan and Eli and I loaded up and started our journey back. We were all reunited that evening with the staff that will be working together for the next 5 months with the Discipleship Training School that starts on January 13. We had staff training, and worked up to the the moment students started arriving. They will continue to arrive today and tomorrow and then we'll kick off at 5:30 P.M. tomorrow what is going to be an amazing adventure. For the next 5 months the staff and myself are going to be fully available to the students here who are longing to dive deeper into a relationship with God. We will have three months of lecture including teachings as simple as relationships and get into deeper subjects like Father heart of God, and Making Jesus Lord of all in our lives. It is definitely going to be a journey, but we are soo excited to partner with God and these students in it. After the lecture phase I am going to get to lead an outreach of a team of the students I have been working closely with and take the passion for the Lord to the nations. I know this season is going to be a lot of work, and the Lord has already told me in my personal walk it is going to be a hard but amazing season. 

So here's to 2013!