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!