Week 11

And I just saw that the last post title said Week 6.
So much for good intentions.
We've been crazy the last month, fundraising, prepping for Outreach, going through a leadership transition and just trying to keep up with all the daily base things.
We're heading into our last week of Lecture, and then on the 25th of November, we're off to New Zealand for 3 weeks of Outreach. From there we fly to Tahiti for three weeks, and we move on from there to a village here on the island, before heading back to the base for a final week of debrief and the graduation.
Eddie and Martha Ene and their family, our current base directors, are moving to another country on Monday. Please keep them in your prayers. A new leadership team is being commissioned tomorrow to take over the base here.
That's all for now,
Meitaki Maata
Kia Manuia

Week 6 of the DTS

Week 6 of DTS!

The Father Heart of God.

That’s what this week has been all about. It’s been about healing. It’s been about freedom in Christ. It’s been about transformation. But most of all, it’s been about God. About a God who is tender and loving and protective and furious and jealous. It’s been about a God who will go to the ends of the earth to reach the hearts of His children. God delights in us. God desires to be with us.

God is a Father. We looked at Luke 15 and the story of the prodigal son. It’s been a good week. Steve Dunne, who is currently living New Zealand, has been speaking.

We’ve sent off the forms for our visas to New Zealand, and are starting the paperwork for our visas to Tahiti. The weather is getting hot. I had real coffee this week.

So it’s been good. Sorry this is so short.

Cheers

Week 4 of Island Hop DTS 2012-13

So, from Week 4.

Week 4 of DTS has been a fairly drizzly one. It has been rainy and cold, and the reality of how hectic our schedule is, is really starting to hit home. On Sunday, we went to the AOG Church in Ngatangiia. The last school that I staffed did part of their outreach phase through this church. It was good to reconnect with a few different people that I met during that time.

We’ve had 2 different lecturers this week. Papa Tui Short has been speaking during the mornings on the Kingdom of God and on Jesus’ Death & Resurrection. His younger brother, Papa Iaveta Short, has been speaking in the evenings on Stewardship.

For the past four weeks, we’ve been praying about where to go on Outreach. We confirmed this week that we’ll be going to New Zealand and Tahiti, then finishing outreach in the village of Nikao, here in Rarotonga. We’ll be leaving for New Zealand November 23 or 24. Around December 15, we’ll be flying to Tahiti. Then during the first week of January, we’ll fly back to the Cook Islands, and spend the last 2 weeks of Outreach here, before graduation on the 20^th of January 2013. 

DTS Update: Week 3

So...three weeks into DTS and I finally write my first post.
My humblest apologies. I forgot my password to sign into the blog and so I had to reset it and things and now I finally have a bit of free time to write an update for you all.
The theme for this school is: Go For God
Our motto is: To press into God continually in order to promote new growth and spirituality into each individual's life.
Before the school started, the staff prayed for the DTS and came up with this theme and motto. The school has been running very smoothly so far. Our first speaker was Hank Overeem and he spoke for 2 weeks. Hank is an ex-YWAMer who lives in New Zealand who is originally from Holland. The first week he spoke on the Character and Nature of God. The second week Hank spoke on the Holy Spirit.
I learned so much about God during these two weeks. God really reinforced truths that I already knew into my life. God challenged me in that He is an all-knowing God. Also, Hank spoke quite a bit how Jesus had to be God, and I learned a lot of things in a new way. So it was really awesome!
The students also learned a lot during these 2 weeks. Our second Sunday we went to the Lighthouse Church in Titikaveka and we were asked to join in their combined service in the afternoon so it was a good opportunity to join in a church ministry. We were also invited to a Fijian pastor's home for dinner one night, and then we were invited to their son's first birthday party. So much good food and great company!
We went to the Fijian pastor's church last Sunday. They had a really good worship service and an amazing message.
This week, we started our third week of lecture. The topic is on Hearing God's Voice, and the speaker is Pastor Tevai (Bobby) Matapo. He's a local Cook Island Maori pastor with an amazing heart for God's Word. The students have really begun to open up under his teaching.
On Tuesday, the DTS staff put on a workshop for the students. It had to do with Blessing and Cursing. We've seen a lot of breakthrough because of this. Praise God!
So that's a short update on what's been happening here in the Cooks.
The weather is getting warmer and more humid and we're just getting into summer. Soon it'll be really warm. We've also been give warning of increased chance of cyclones for this season, so please keep that in your prayers.
God's Blessings to you all:)

Week 2

I'm sitting in the office, working on different DTS things, watching the tide go out and vehicles drive by.
Somehow, it seems as though I never left the Cooks to go back to Canada.
This last week has been a flurry of activity, as Paula (the school leader) and I, prepare for the school to start. We had a few days of staff training. We've worked on paperwork and preparing rooms and welcome baskets. We've spent a lot of time in prayer and worship preparing spiritually for the next 5 months.
On Monday, two of our students came in in the early morning. One is from Canada and one from Switzerland. Last night one of the Fijian students came in. One of the boys, a Samoan, has been living at the base for the last few months. He was supposed to be on the last DTS, but his paperwork didn't go through with immigration until it was too late for him to join the school, so he'll be joining us on this one.
So we're only waiting for one more student from Fiji to arrive.
The first speaker arrives tonight, and the school starts tomorrow. We have orientation on Saturday and Sunday, then Monday morning, the 12 weeks of Lecture will start.
Please continue to pray for strength, energy, and wisdom as we disciple these 5 students and prepare them for outreach.
Kia Manuia and God Bless

Week 1 at YWAM Cook Islands

Well, tecnically it's not a week. It's 5 days. But Fridays are supposed to become my blog days, so this is the 1st Friday, and therefore, Week 1.
I arrived in the Cook Islands Monday morning. Kate Moala picked me up with a cofee, an ei (called lei in Hawaian, basically, a flower necklace) and a smile:) We had a lovely drive home and I spent the rest of the morning catching up with the different people on staff.
Tuesday I did some more catching up, had a walk on the beach, a nap, and a few chocolate covered coffee beans. We also had a base practice for a new ministry that a few of the staff are planning on starting up in one of the local high schools.
Wednesday I was tired of sitting around, so I decided to clean the kitchen, make new curtains, decorate the DTS classroom, as well as a few other things. Needless to say, I bit off a few too many projects in one go, and was exhasted by 3PM.
So yesterday, I kept working on the curtains, attended another base practice, went for a walk on the beach, picked flowers with Kate, made an ei, sat in the office for a few hours working on DTS things, and called it a day.
Today I finished off the kitchen (mostly-the windows still need to be done), had a meeting with Paula, the DTS leader, and went to town to pick up a few things.
I will continue working on different things as time allows, but God showed me through this something kinda crazy to my small brain. Even the little things in life need to be done in accordance with His leading. There are many things that I can do on my own, but that doesn't mean that I can do them on my own strength. I need to rely on God day in and day out.
So that's this week in a nutshell. Next week we have staff training for the DTS and we'll be continuing to get the base ready for the students that are arriving. DTS orientation starts on the 1st of September. Please continue to keep me, and the whole base, in your prayers.
ka kite (seeing you again in Cook Island Maori)

On Leaving Canada

Hi everyone!
So, I had planned on blogging a few days ago, to give everyone a final update before I left LaCrete. But life happened, and now I'm sitting in the Edmonton airport, waiting to fly out to Calgary, where I'll head through US Customs, fly to Los Angeles, and then fly directly to beautiful Rarotonga.
I'm excited. I'm not totally sure what God has in store for me while I'm there, but I'm sure that it will be an adventure like no other. Possibly a hard adventure with occurrences that I do not necessarily enjoy, but a good adventure nonetheless.
This past week has been a crazy time of coming and going and packing. But I've made it through to this point. God is faithful. Yay!
And I'm sitting here in the airport, realizing that many people I had hoped to see and re-connect with have not been seen or re-connected with, and for that I apologize. But I have had a wonderful 6 months with my family and friends in LaCrete and Alberta. I was super blessed to see many friends from British Columbia as well. In a number of months I will come back and see you again. Thank you for your prayers and your support. Thank you for the meals and the chats. Please don't hesitate to stay in touch while I'm gone. I may not be the best at responding in a timely manner, but I will try. And for those of you who don't know, my email is darlalawan@hotmail.com
I need to sign off now, and continue this adventure with God.
God Bless you all
:)

So, I'm not entirely sure what to call this post. I think that it may just remain as the nameless post...I suppose we shall see.
This post is all about how I probably over-reacted to my mission board meeting. The mission board at my church is a wonderful group of people, and I'm not entirely sure why I was so nervous.
I guess I was thinking that I would have to know exactly everything that God wanted me to do after this next step, and so it kinda freaked me out.
But the meeting went very well. Praise God!
We discussed support, travel insurance, types of ministry, and culture. It was one of my most enjoyable evenings last week!
On Friday, I went to Eagles Nest, did dishes, and saw a whole bunch of people I hadn't seen in the last two weeks. God spoke to me that evening on being ready and available to serve wherever, whenever. There are times when God puts words in your mouth and it's time to speak. Other times, He requires you to serve using your hands. It was a really good evening.
Yesterday, I started saying good-bye to friends, and the countdown in on. I have 12 days until I fly out of the country.

A thought for the day:
Every word of God is pure; He is a shield to those who put their trust in Him. Proverbs 30:5

Goals... ... ...

So here we are again.
I just came back from Lethbridge, hanging out with my family at the Alberta Summer Games, where my brother's team placed 5th.
I am appropriately psyched! And after enduring the 16 hr drive back north, I am faced with something that seems, insurrmountable. I will be in the Cook Islands Aug 20, 2012. That is less than 3 weeks away.
I am also faced with a phone call from the TEC Mission Board. It is long-awaited. But all of a sudden, I am unsure. "We want to go over your goals..."
...gulp....
Goals?
I want to serve Jesus. And God has told me to go back to the Cooks for this time.
So I pray, and as always, any fear, God takes away.
I am going to the Cooks to staff a DTS. It starts the first week of September. It will be done in the middle of January.
After that, honestly, we will see where the Lord leads. I don't feel called to the Cook Islands full-time, and lately my heart has been in a bit of a quandary.
Where does God really want me to go?
But I believe with all my heart, that with faith and perseverance, God will continue to make a way through thick and thin.
There is only 1 God. There is only 1 King. I can rest in the assurance of that fact. He has all things under control and will make all things beautiful in His time.
Amen

Next step...

so...it's been a few weeks.
A few long, crazy, short weeks. I know that's contradictory, but that's exactly what it feels like.
I've been working (2 1/2 jobs & yes, that is possible). It's been summer. There has been visiting, and Eagles Nest. And, there has been frantic planning.
You see, God has led me to head back to the Cooks for an indefinite amount of time. And He's led me to head back in time for the September school.
So last week I booked my tickets. I am officially heading back to the Cooks August 19, 2012. Lord willing, of course.
So for those of you who want to know-I'm heading back with the intention of staffing on another DTS. I am also looking at just joining general base ministry, and filling in wherever there is a need. I have felt, within the last couple weeks, and I am still praying about this, that God is not going to have me in the Cooks long-term. I believe that this is just a stepping stone and a training ground for me.
So please pray for me. Pray for wisdom and discernment. Pray that my heart will be prepared. Pray for safety as I travel. Pray that through me, God will reach out to many. And last, but probably first on my heart, pray that God will be with me as I leave my family.

2 Kings 4:1-7: Living in Expectation

So I won't lie. God is pretty cool. And He likes to rock your world. At least, He rocks my world on a daily basis. And I'm not saying that in the 90s rock way, I mean, God likes to come in and pretty much just mess with your head, and show you the coolest things known to mankind.
God has been speaking to me lately (in the past month or so) about how we need to live with the expectation that He is going to act.
Read 2 Kings 4:1-7 (read all of 2 Kings actually, and you'll get the same picture)
If you don't have your Bible handy, it's the story of the widow whose sons are about to be sold to pay off her late husband's debt. The one where she has to sell oil, and her one jar of oil doesn't run out until there are no jars left in the neighbourhood, and she sells all that oil, and completely pays off her debt.
Anyway, what struck me about the story was the widow's attitude. She knew she didn't have anything. She knew there was nothing she could do. But she understood God's character, and what she knew of God's character and personhood caused her to step out in faith, with the expectation that God was going to do something!
God really convicted me through that.
And ideas starting rolling around in my brain. And soon God spoke to me about this...

In order for the church to grow, it needs leaders (and followers, lol, mostly just members) who are not afraid to tap into the power of God, who are already seeing the truth of God bearing evidence in their own lives, who lose themselves in worship before the King, who have a heart for the lost which shows itself in the power and frequency of their intercession.

Isn't this what the church needs?
Just a thought...That's how God has been rocking my world lately. Pushing me into a place where I will, as Michael Slaughter puts it...catch on fire for God, and [have] people come to watch [me] burn...

Amen

And this is the beginning...

Well everyone,
Darla here. Reporting.
Today is definitely not Day 1 of my adventure with God. But it is Day 1 of blogging my adventure with God.
So for those of you who don't know me very well...my name is Darla. I come from an itty-bitty town way up in northern Alberta. It's called La Crete:) This is where I've spent most of my growing up years, and the people here have hugely influenced who I am today. God bless beginnings.
I started my relationship with God when I was super young. I was 'converted' at age 4, but even before that, I spent my days making up poems and stories and songs to God. So the relationship has always kind of been there. As I've gotten older, however, I've learned so much more of who God is, and how beautiful His character is.
After I finished high school, I spent a year in Bible School. After that, I moved onto Grant MacEwan College (or University, as it's now known). I was taking a degree in Professional Writing. I absolutely loved the program, but by the end of my first year, God had begun placing a burden on me for the lost. That summer, I spent 5 weeks in Fiji. A few months later, I moved to a First Nations community on the west coast. I spent the better part of a year and a half there, learning incredibly hard, but good lessons about God and relationships. At the end of that time, I felt led to do my DTS with YWAM, and God brought me to a base in the Cook Islands.
I had no idea where the Cook Islands were, but I started researching, and found out where in the South Pacific they were located. I began my application process to the school and for a visa. Within 2 months, I was once again on a plane to the South Pacific.
I spent 5 months in the Cooks, completing my Discipleship Training School, which consisted of 12 weeks of Lecture and 8 weeks of Outreach. On my outreach I traveled to 2 of the outer islands which help comprise the 15 islands that the Cook Islands consist of.
After my DTS, I ended up extending my visa and I staffed a DTS in September 2011. This was a mobile DTS, so we traveled around the South Pacific for a few months before the school finished off its outreach in Rarotonga (the main island in the Cook Islands).
I traveled back home in March 2012, and I have been working in my hometown for the past few months, preparing for whatever ministry God has for me.
Through the past year, I have come to grow in God so much more, and His heart for the lost and dying world has become ever clearer for me!
God is preparing me for full-time service. So I'm getting ready to strap in and see what else God has prepared for this grand adventure:)
Over and out,
darla:)