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!