It's interesting. I am coming to the last few turns of this journey and to be honest I don't really know how to put it all into words. I am finding myself beyond articulation but desperately wanting to share and invite you into what's going on.
It's hard because I want to tell you everything, recap every story, moment and experience from this year that I haven't gotten to tell you about, yet I realize that isn't something that I can do in just one blog. It could take a lifetime to share all of the things I have seen and been apart of this year. So for now I'm just going to tell you a little about what's been going on the last week or so here.
I am still in Penang, Malaysia. At the beginning of this month my co-leader and I had 'plans' to go and make our rounds to visit all of our teams that were scattered throughout Malaysia. After a week of being here in Penang with half of the squad we realized the Father was asking us to stay here longer.
Once again, I am learning how to let go of 'my' plans and agenda and just partner with Him. It's much more fun that way.
We are staying at a missions base in Georgetown, Penang, Malaysia partnering with an organization called YWAM. There are six different ministries that the teams have gotten to be apart of this month with one main goal: spreading the Love and Hope of Jesus in this city and nation.
One of the ministries is a House of Prayer called PenHOP and another is a local coffee shop, Just Caffe. I have gotten to be apart of these ministries more consistently in the last few weeks than I usually get ( I'm usually traveling ). Both of these were started by a few guys in their mid-twenties, who have became people that I can say are friends and brothers.
PenHOP is also known as Penang House Of Prayer which is built upon similarities of the International House of Prayers around the world. It is a house designated for intercessory prayer missionaries to call forth and mobilize a generation of people to rise up to their calling as intecessors. It also is a place where people can come and experience personal ministry and healing. The enviroment is one of deep intimacy allowing you to connect with the Father though different expressions of worship- prayer, singing, intercession, healing, soaking, painting, journaling, communion, etc. Their main goal is to stir the church towards passion for Jesus and to awaken His Bride on this earth.
Just Caffe, is their newest ministry. It is a coffee shop downstairs from the prayer room that opened last week. This serves as a place for good food, coffee and fellowship. The heart is to reach out to those around them, help fund the prayer house and serve their community. 100% of their profits will go to local ministires and partnering with what the Father is doing in waking up His sons and daughters to their idenity and inheritance in advancing the Kingdom here in Malaysia.
For now I think I am just enjoying being home.
Home has become a relative term for me this year. The longest time I've been anywere consistent is like 3 weeks and that was back in Septemember. For the better half of this trip I am only in a place for a few days. I have had to learn how to lean on Him and become so dependent that it has stretched me in ways that I honestly didn't think I could stretch.
Lately my times with Him have looked a lot like me sitting in His lap, feeling the freedom to be the daughter I was created to be. Out of that place has come deeper revelation and understanding of His Father's heart for me and how much I am truly loved and worth. The other night in the prayer room I closed my eyes and pictured me and Jesus in a tree house. I know that might sound silly but it's where my heart and imagination went. It was just me and Him and it felt like home. I felt safe and loved.
Home has become where He is and that's where I want to be.
I honesty have no clue what the next season holds exactly? I do know that I'm stepping off of a plane on July 28th in the Jacksonville airport. I know that I want to be with my family and see my friends and share stories, get the time to process, to eat American food, to ride my bike, to take my dog on a walk, to hug my little brother, to sleep with 5 pillows, to light candles and just be.
I know that as I walk with Him, He will show me where He is and that's where I will be.
I started this trip with a pillow pet that I named 'rainbow promise,' At first it was a joke but then I felt like it had meaning and plus it was the pillow I brought for the entire year (until I gave it away). It's name was a statement I made into the year of me walking and traveling with Him in the truth of HIS promises. I was reminded the other day of this. I started under the banner of His love and promises and I will end under the same banner of His love and promises. He is so faithful!
The best has yet to come, I just know it.
