Returning Home For A Season

 YWAM Oxford Family (2013)

It is time to say goodbye to my home and family here at YWAM Oxford.  God is calling me home to Texas to be with my family and serve in the mission field back home for a season. Over the past several months God has been showing me that this next season is a time to be back home in Texas investing in the lives of my children and grandchildren and walking alongside them through life's ups and downs, supporting and encouraging them, and sharing the Father's Love with them and my community back home.  

During the past few weeks I have been preparing to leave New Zealand and my work and ministry here with YWAM Oxford. I've been visiting some of my favorite places and saying farewell, or as us YWAMers say.... "see you later" to these places and dear friends. 

                                                            Visit to Waikuku Beach                                                           

"My girls"
Base Staff Ladies group

          

Texas Style Farewell

My Kiwi Mum and Dad

                                                                                                                        

Visit to New Brighton Beach with my dear friend Karen

The past two and a half years have been an amazing journey into the Father's heart and the call He has on my life to serve Him in missions. I have discovered who I am in HIS eyes, the gifts He's given me, and the passion He's put in my heart to serve and bless others as I've served in the hospitality ministry with YWAM Oxford. I am so grateful for all God has taught me here and for all the wonderful experiences and adventures He has taken me on here in New Zealand and on outreach in The Cook Islands and Africa. I have been SO blessed to have the privilege and opportunity to reflect the love of Christ and be a blessing to others in these amazing countries! 
I look forward to many more overseas missions opportunities and adventures in the future. 

Uganda 2012

I'm hoping to return to Africa 







 AND... New Zealand one day!

"For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to take care of you, not to abandon you, plans to give you the future you hope for."

~Jeremiah 29:11~

I'm trusting in God's goodness & faithfulness and His plans for me during the next part of this incredible Journey with Him!

The Adventure Continues....

"Truly my soul finds rest in God"
~Psalm 62:1~

The beginning of the new year began with a time of rest and an opportunity to be refreshed while enjoying the warm summer weather of January and February here in New Zealand before preparing for the next Discipleship Training Schools to start. Many evenings were spent on leisurely walks down the country roads of Oxford, watching the sun set and feeling so blessed to be living and serving here!  

 New Zealand sunsets are so spectacular!

Welcoming our new DTS Students....

DTS Welcome

We welcomed our new Around the World in 80 Days and Father's Love Crossroad's DTS students onto the base at the end of February, and currently have two schools running with twenty-six students from all over the world, including several students from Texas!   

AW80 DTS Students

Crossroads DTS Students

The cultural diversity makes life interesting and fun on base. Several of our students enjoy cooking and have prepared for us some delicious Thai, Korean, and Danish meals. To help prepare our students for outreach in different cultures, we sometimes have cultural themed meals and are encouraged to dress up in clothing that is worn in that culture.  

We recently had an "India Night" with Indian style food served and eaten while sitting on the floor. There was even a bit of Bollywood dancing after dinner, lots of photos taken, and a good time had by all!  

During this season, as I continue to serve as Hospitality Ministry Coordinator and as part of the Base Leadership Team, I'm attending a Basic Leadership course offered here at the Oxford base. We meet weekly to be mentored, prayed for, and encouraged to grow in our leadership roles. 

BLS 2013

God continues to surprise and bless me with amazing new adventures as I journey with him here in New Zealand.  My friend and I were recently blessed by a friend and former ywamer, who is a crew member on Carnival Cruise Lines, with a one-day "Cruise Holiday" aboard the Carnival Spirit while the ship was in port a few hours away in Akaroa here on the South Island of NZ. 

We were given a complete tour of the ship - including the crew's quarters, a free buffet lunch, and plenty of time to relax and enjoy the ship's amenities...what a treat!!  

I was also blessed by one of our Crossroads DTS students, who just loves to bless the YWAM staff, to a weekend trip to Queenstown - the "Adventure Capital of the World".   AND treated to one of the most incredible adventures of my life.... Paragliding!! That's me soaring over beautiful Queenstown, NZ in the photo at the top of this post!

I'm learning that when you say "yes" to God's call on your life, you never know where He will take you or the adventures that await!

God is SO good and loves to bless His children!

I was especially blessed to have my first visitors from home this month.... my cousin Debbie and husband Brian, and John & Ginny Stanley from my home church in Texas stopped in Oxford to see me during their trip to NZ.  It was such a blessing to enjoy an afternoon together and share a bit of my life here at YWAM Oxford with them!  

I've been praying about an opportunity to return to Africa this year. We have a DTS team going on outreach to Uganda in May, but after much prayer, it seems that the Lord is closing the door for me to go at this time and asking me to wait. I think about the precious children there often and long to return to bring the Father's love to them!  

I am trusting that He knows my heart and will provide an opportunity to return to Africa in HIS timing.   

Uganda 2012

"Trust in the Lord and do good; dwell in the land and enjoy safe pasture.

Delight yourself in the Lord, and He will give you the desires of your heart."

~Psalm 37:1-4~