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