Our team decided out of obedience to spend 24 hours in
prayer ministry for Byron Bay. We began praying at the beach at 11:00am and the
waves of Byron Bay’s apathy seemed to be washing over us. The gloomy drizzle aided in steeling
our joy. At Noon we came together
as a team to pray. Chris brought up that we had not prayed about where we were
to be doing our 24 hours of prayer and that he felt that this was not our spot.
Lisa then suggested, “Let’s ask for
direction.” After seeking God’s direction several of us, myself included,
felt led to the park where we had done the free BBQ with YWAM people. We moved
to the new location, prayed together and felt lifted spirits. Symbolically the
rain ceased and the sun crept it’s way back into the sky.
As I prayed silently, two Italian men came and sat next to
me. I smiled and said hello. They asked where I was from and we
began a conversation. It turned out that their van needed repairs so they
stayed 3 hours while it was in the shop and we shared good dialogue. The conversation led to discussion of
religion, the Pope and Catholicism. “In Italy you are born into Catholicism,” they told me, “it is so
intertwine with government that there is no separating it.” I shared how my faith was more than “religion,” it is a relationship
with God. This seemed to be somewhat of a foreign idea to my new friend. Conversation continued and included a
variety of topics, including how he longed for his mother’s homemade lasagna.
Sometimes I wish I were Italian! 
After they left to get their van I went back to prayer. I was reminded of a passage I’ve been
meditating on: 1Corinthians 14:1, which says, “Follow the way of love and EAGERLY DESIRE spiritual gifts, especially
the gift of prophecy.” (Emphasis added by me here). After the amazing
transformation, God has changed me and I have eager desire for ANY and ALL the gifts God would like to give me. This verse had initiated
my ongoing prayers for the gift of prophecy. Sitting in the park we heard from Danny’s team, Trumpets of
One, that their “night with the homeless” ministry was not going so well. They
could not find the homeless people that we normally encounter daily. I prayed
for their team, as did all my team members. Victoria sat across from me and
made a comment that God had given her a word for their team. She said she could just tell them
later, but I encouraged her to not wait and offered to go with her. Little did
I know that while praying on the way to Danny’s team, God would give me a word
for them as well. As we approached the table where their team was praying I
prayed for the courage to share. Prophesying has not been a daily occurrence
for me, not weekly, monthly or even yearly to be honest. I am learning
obedience in sharing what God has laid on my heart. I’m happy to say that God has been strengthening me in this
area. I was able to share His encouragement, “Do not be discouraged, this is the calm before the storm.” A couple
team members looked wearily to the sky that had brought heaps of rain over the
past week. Then we laughed at the humor in the symbolic words of how God would
give them opportunity to share His love and hope with people.
When Victoria and I returned to the park we were surprised
to find a group of fire twirlers! Amanda was telling me their names, “…,Kayla
& Clancy.” I said, “Wait, what was the girl’s name?” You see, the day
before I had been writing an email to Kyla, my squad leader, and kept writing
Kayla by mistake and pictured a blonde girl dancing. The fire lit baton
illuminated Kayla dancing before me. I knew I needed to talk to her. So, I learned how to fire twirl! Don’t
worry mom I left the real fancy stuff for the “professionals”. After my lesson
in fire twirling we sat and talked a little and I asked her if she sang. She
said yes and asked me how I knew that. I tried, with the least amount of
awkwardness as possible, to explain how God had foretold me of our meeting.
Surprisingly, she was not that surprised. I hope to see her again. Please pray
that God will use this connection.
Stay toned for PART
2: the last 12 hours for more incredible stories of what God is doing in
Byron Bay.
