So we have been here for about two days and the surprises keep on coming. So far we have confused a bird called the coco bird with a monkey, had a very full and sunny day yesterday that was finished with the craziest thunder and lightening storm I’ve ever seen in my life. We went to probably the worst comedy show I’ve ever seen in my life; well I’ve never really been a comedy show before that so I guess it was just really bad ha. The only really funny part of the whole night was that Karen got pooped on by a bat but that story is hers and Sarah’s story to tell.
The heat is intense here even though right now it’s cloudy I still sweat and have horrible smells that I never even knew existed are occurring around me. But it’s still fun knowing that we are here because needs us here. Today we met Ian one of the leaders at the YWAM base here in Byron really cool guy who was so excited to have us there ministering to the community “people are very open to the knowledge of God” he told us. Though this place reminds me of Mission Beach in San Diego; just another beach town there is either people who have been here for 20 years very set in their ways or tourists who are just open to fun times and curious about anything you tell them about. God is encouraging us everyday to be bold in him and not to be fearful of what he has in store for us. Opening up to him now I’ve learned that he is here just as he is everywhere watching us and keeping us safe and letting us know that he will never give us anything that we can’t handle. That knowledge is impressive to me. Strength comes from within and it’s our job to find it. I’m glad that we all have each other on this journey my ultimate test was last nigh; when we were walking back from the horrible comedy night it really started to rain and huge amounts of thunder and lightening were happening, growing up in a place were that stuff doesn’t happen often and if it does it only lasts a little while, nothing powerful enough to do anything, we got back to our tents and all of the sudden the lightening was to the point to where it was freaking me out, filling the sky with light and streaks of power and electricity. All I could do was cry with fear and panic for what I didn’t know; my mind was full of what ifs and fear. I finally asked Karen to pray for me and then Sarah came to join the prayer, as they were praying I felt a huge amount of peace come over me and the Lord spoke saying that he was in control to never fear his power, it was His power that got us here in this place. So after a few laughs I was finally calm so we all made a toilet trip and I sat and watched a few rounds of Phase 10 (BEST GAME EVER) with Malachi and a few of Seven, then we went to bed still a little fearful but God kept running a song through my mind that I decided to play on my iPod “Remembering You” by Steven Curtis Chapman. The song talks about through every season and time in life he will be remembering us through everything that we do. God’s love is always powerful and last nights storm was his way of showing us how much he is in love with us.
Pray for:
our strength as we have no schedule as of yet, the ability to be ready to defend the word of God, the community of Byron Bay and the openness of the Hearts that reside here.
Jess
