Hello Everyone,
We hope that this letter finds you well in His grace and daily fighting for His love to abide fully within your inner-being.
We also hope that you all had an awesome Christmas and are having a blessed week as the year comes to a close; remembering always that His shed blood is the reason we have hope and life.
The team had an amazing Christmas. We got away from the city and spent the day swimming and getting sunburnt :) We ate heaps of food and spent quality time as a team. We are very thankful for the day that the Lord had given to us to enjoy. We are now back into full gear! We spent today (Monday December 28, 2009) helping out in an orphanage! Half of the orphanage is an elderly home for women. So, we split into several teams and helped out where needed. Ryan and I (Britton) spent the morning playing with children aged 1-8. Though we had fun with the kids it was highly exhausting. For more than 2 hours these loved starved kids never stopped jumping on us or crying for a cuddle!!! God gave me a picture of something that Dalton Lifsey had said earlier in the year; "God has the capacity to enjoy us forever". As these kids relentlessly pursued our attention/affection I quickly ran out of the capacity to enjoy these kids. Yet God demands that we worship Him in the same manner that these kids pursued us because He simply has the capacity to enjoy our persistent worship forever :)
As for the girls; Kimberly, Bria and Kayla served up stairs with the infants. One of the babies had just been left there on Christmas day! Due to the mass amount of poverty in the area a lot of these children get left here in hopes that they will at least be fed and have a place to sleep other than the streets. Destiny and Crestin served with the elderly women. They not only talked with these ladies (who upon arrival they were silent and in a state of oppression), they also helped clean their physical body wounds! They served with great compassion! When we left all the women were joyful and asking for us to come back. We are scheduled to return in the morning. Please pray for the team. This ministry is very difficult-not many people have the capacity to spend more than a day serving in orphanages and in bars with go-go dancers/Prostitutes. The weight of this ministry has been quite hard for the team. Please stand with us in prayer! We don't want to take on any unhealthy burdens. We also need continual prayer for an hourly revelation that God is a good, good Father!
I will end this entry with 2 awesome stories. So, we are a house of prayer dts! We desire to see the DNA of the house of prayer flow in and through our ministry! So with that said:
1. The base director (A man from Norway called Haavard Sand) here in Olongapo has followed Mike Bickle since the early 90's and has a burning heart and revelation for the bride of Christ and what God is doing in this age! The base here is Ywam, but strangely soaked with the bride of Christ reality and the Forerunner message! Haavard Sand started a small publishing called “Arise and Shine” where they sell books like "Seven Longings of the Human Heart" by Mike Bickel, for really cheap. Anyway, I talked with this guy for several hours at the base Christmas party! What an amazing guy! The thing that stuck out the most was this guy’s vision for the future. In August 2010 Haavard and his Filipino wife Karen will be moving to Norway to pioneer a forerunner dts! They already have a house of prayer that runs several hours a week and hope to see the house go night and day!
2. We went to the Subic House of Prayer in Olongapo today!!! They have a house of prayer here!!!! (Sorry, I forgot the guy’s name) This Filipino guy goes to America back in 2005 to raise support for his ministry. On his birthday he decides to fly over to KC and see what this International Hose of Prayer is about. Upon arrival he meets Andy Hickman! Andy and Bec take this guy under their wing and show him around for 3 days. Then, he also meets Graham Walsh. Andy and Graham left such a huge impact on this guy that he came back to the Philippines and threw away his other ministry and moved to Olongapo to start the "Shop" (Subic Hose of Prayer).
So, we came to the Philippines and landed in the middle of a prayer movement :) I thought that this was very incredible.
Karen Haavard told Kimberly "that it is no mistake that our team came here! Americans paved the way for prostitution in this city and now there are Americans here" reversing that decree in the Spirit. She also said that there are 2 camps at the end of the age; those who side with the great harlot and those who are the bride of Christ-in this season our team has helped turn some harlot's into bride's of Christ!
Finally pray and consider donating to our team! We need 3000.00 NZ! We are actually down to 50.00 NZ
Here is how you can help: http://www.iwt.co.nz/donate-online.
Happy New Year :) Love and miss you all.
Britton, Kimberly, Ryan, Bria, Crestin, Kayla and Destiny!!!!!!!
Monday, December 28, 2009
Tuesday, December 22, 2009
FIJI TIME
December 12th – 20th:
Almost one week ago we set out on our outreach adventure to Fiji. We left early from Auckland and arrived in Nadi (pronounced Nahndi) with a new friend from Austria who was stranded at the airport. Off we went to the YWAM base where we hung out with Barry and the other staff, had dinner and then headed to bed to get ready for our “long” 45 minute flight to Labasa (pronounced lambasa). As we arrived back at the airport the next morning the suspense of finally getting to Labasa was killing us, even Bob our travel buddy was on the edge of his seat. With our hand-written plane tickets and our bags on our backs we headed to the bubble gum airplane that would miraculously land us safely at the smallest airport known to man.
The YWAM base here has truly been a blessing for us so far and the staff are amazing! Gee, Tuvula, Mili, Miraia, Kasi, Seni and Lo have been such an amazing help with all of our cooking, cleaning, translating for us, and sharing ministry opportunities, honestly we would be lost with out them. So far we have been through: a category 2 hurricane (cyclone) & flood, walked miles outside of town hand-delivering food and vegetables to a poor Indian Village, gone door to door to pray with Hindus, we’ve helped hand out Christmas presents for Samaritan’s Purse, ministered at a prison, visited an old folks home and we’ve done street evangelism in town… because of the holiday season, a lot of our work is just meeting people, building relationships and finding creative ways to show them the love of Jesus.
Fiji, so far, has been a humbling, eye-opening, and heart changing experience for all of us. We have grown so close as a team reading, praying, and discussing as we prepare our hearts for our ministry times to come. From climbing the mango tree in the front yard, baking brownies to take to the elderly, and eating amazing homemade dishes of chicken curry to rehearsing our Christmas play in the living room, the Lord continues to bless us with great experiences, amazing people, and beautiful weather as we press on being the hands and feet of Christ here in Fiji.
Before we sign off, here’s one quick story from one of the team…
“The “Old People’s Home,” just like anywhere, was filled with helpless abandoned people who needed human connection. One particular older Indian lady started telling me her life story, which I had to have translated from Hindi to English... She told me that when her husband died her family played a trick on her by dropping her off at the home and said that they would return later to visit, but a year later they never have checked on her. She said her children are the most important part of her life and she longs to visit them and make sure that they are doing well. “Stop a taxi right now and lets go check on them” she said, but after I told her that I wasn’t allowed, she told me “ when you leave please remember my children.” Those words really made me sad for her and I promised her I would, even though I have no idea where they live. I will evangelize to as many people in Labasa I can, and show them the love of the Heavenly Father.” – Brandon, 24, from Texas.
Almost one week ago we set out on our outreach adventure to Fiji. We left early from Auckland and arrived in Nadi (pronounced Nahndi) with a new friend from Austria who was stranded at the airport. Off we went to the YWAM base where we hung out with Barry and the other staff, had dinner and then headed to bed to get ready for our “long” 45 minute flight to Labasa (pronounced lambasa). As we arrived back at the airport the next morning the suspense of finally getting to Labasa was killing us, even Bob our travel buddy was on the edge of his seat. With our hand-written plane tickets and our bags on our backs we headed to the bubble gum airplane that would miraculously land us safely at the smallest airport known to man.
The YWAM base here has truly been a blessing for us so far and the staff are amazing! Gee, Tuvula, Mili, Miraia, Kasi, Seni and Lo have been such an amazing help with all of our cooking, cleaning, translating for us, and sharing ministry opportunities, honestly we would be lost with out them. So far we have been through: a category 2 hurricane (cyclone) & flood, walked miles outside of town hand-delivering food and vegetables to a poor Indian Village, gone door to door to pray with Hindus, we’ve helped hand out Christmas presents for Samaritan’s Purse, ministered at a prison, visited an old folks home and we’ve done street evangelism in town… because of the holiday season, a lot of our work is just meeting people, building relationships and finding creative ways to show them the love of Jesus.
Fiji, so far, has been a humbling, eye-opening, and heart changing experience for all of us. We have grown so close as a team reading, praying, and discussing as we prepare our hearts for our ministry times to come. From climbing the mango tree in the front yard, baking brownies to take to the elderly, and eating amazing homemade dishes of chicken curry to rehearsing our Christmas play in the living room, the Lord continues to bless us with great experiences, amazing people, and beautiful weather as we press on being the hands and feet of Christ here in Fiji.
Before we sign off, here’s one quick story from one of the team…
“The “Old People’s Home,” just like anywhere, was filled with helpless abandoned people who needed human connection. One particular older Indian lady started telling me her life story, which I had to have translated from Hindi to English... She told me that when her husband died her family played a trick on her by dropping her off at the home and said that they would return later to visit, but a year later they never have checked on her. She said her children are the most important part of her life and she longs to visit them and make sure that they are doing well. “Stop a taxi right now and lets go check on them” she said, but after I told her that I wasn’t allowed, she told me “ when you leave please remember my children.” Those words really made me sad for her and I promised her I would, even though I have no idea where they live. I will evangelize to as many people in Labasa I can, and show them the love of the Heavenly Father.” – Brandon, 24, from Texas.
Friday, December 18, 2009
Team Philippines In Olongapo:
Olongapo, Philippines.
On Tuesday December 15th, 2009 the seven of us left Pasay, manila! We boarded a bus, circled the slum like 5 times and then headed on our 4 ½ hour journey to a city called Olongapo. It was cool to get outside of the city and see some of the God made countryside, we arrived to Olongapo under the care of Virgie and the local Youth With A mission base. Virgie is an amazing woman of God who has lain down her life to preach the Gospel to and disciple girls who have been involved in prostitution.
The city of Olongapo once was the home for an American Naval Base; though the base was shut down in 1991 there is a large influence of American culture here. There are also a lot of ex-Navy men living here in the city!
On Wednesday December 16th, 2009 the team was split in to two groups and sent out to preach the Gospel to “Bar Girl’s”. Bar Girl’s are mainly transported from smaller cities and brought up to this city and put to work for long hours! They are basically put on display, wearing next to nothing clothing, they are forced to pole dance for long hours as entertainment for those who come into the bars! In some bars the girls are nothing more than objects to be sold as prostitutes! It was a very shocking night for the crew! Very awakening! Only a few days in to this outreach the Lord has began to stretch our hearts in ways that none of us could have known!
Though the experience was rough, the Lord gave to us supernatural grace! One of the hardest truths of the night was seeing that it is mainly 40+ year old American men keeping these bars in business. There were so many middle aged American men groping little Filipino woman; it made us sick; so, the hardest part of the night for many of us was keeping our fist out of their faces! Nevertheless, our hearts were broken for these girls as we witnessed first hand what their lives look like on an hourly basis!
One praise report is that the following morning 2 of the girls came to the base; they rested and talked with Virgie and some of the others all day. In the morning our team shared testimonies (Bria and Destiny) to them and a handful of girls who have been rescued from that lifestyle and are being discipled here on the YWAm base. We than had an awesome time praying for the girls. It was a very powerful time! many of the girls could not understand what we were praying and proclaiming, but thank goodness the Lord is not challenged by any language barriers; all the girls wept as we ministered to them. The team is doing such an awesome Job stepping out with their voices.
Please continue to pray for us as we need 4,000.00 Kiwi/3,000.00 uSD to come in for our team to fulfill our ministry here in the nation of the Philippines. We are serving in an area of missions that few will give their time and money to-But we know that the Lord is faithful to care and provide for even the disregarded of the earth.
Here is how you can donate online: http://www.iwt.co.nz/donate-online. Please make any payments out to Campaigns DTS Philippines.
Team Philippines :)
On Tuesday December 15th, 2009 the seven of us left Pasay, manila! We boarded a bus, circled the slum like 5 times and then headed on our 4 ½ hour journey to a city called Olongapo. It was cool to get outside of the city and see some of the God made countryside, we arrived to Olongapo under the care of Virgie and the local Youth With A mission base. Virgie is an amazing woman of God who has lain down her life to preach the Gospel to and disciple girls who have been involved in prostitution.
The city of Olongapo once was the home for an American Naval Base; though the base was shut down in 1991 there is a large influence of American culture here. There are also a lot of ex-Navy men living here in the city!
On Wednesday December 16th, 2009 the team was split in to two groups and sent out to preach the Gospel to “Bar Girl’s”. Bar Girl’s are mainly transported from smaller cities and brought up to this city and put to work for long hours! They are basically put on display, wearing next to nothing clothing, they are forced to pole dance for long hours as entertainment for those who come into the bars! In some bars the girls are nothing more than objects to be sold as prostitutes! It was a very shocking night for the crew! Very awakening! Only a few days in to this outreach the Lord has began to stretch our hearts in ways that none of us could have known!
Though the experience was rough, the Lord gave to us supernatural grace! One of the hardest truths of the night was seeing that it is mainly 40+ year old American men keeping these bars in business. There were so many middle aged American men groping little Filipino woman; it made us sick; so, the hardest part of the night for many of us was keeping our fist out of their faces! Nevertheless, our hearts were broken for these girls as we witnessed first hand what their lives look like on an hourly basis!
One praise report is that the following morning 2 of the girls came to the base; they rested and talked with Virgie and some of the others all day. In the morning our team shared testimonies (Bria and Destiny) to them and a handful of girls who have been rescued from that lifestyle and are being discipled here on the YWAm base. We than had an awesome time praying for the girls. It was a very powerful time! many of the girls could not understand what we were praying and proclaiming, but thank goodness the Lord is not challenged by any language barriers; all the girls wept as we ministered to them. The team is doing such an awesome Job stepping out with their voices.
Please continue to pray for us as we need 4,000.00 Kiwi/3,000.00 uSD to come in for our team to fulfill our ministry here in the nation of the Philippines. We are serving in an area of missions that few will give their time and money to-But we know that the Lord is faithful to care and provide for even the disregarded of the earth.
Here is how you can donate online: http://www.iwt.co.nz/donate-online. Please make any payments out to Campaigns DTS Philippines.
Team Philippines :)
Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Team Philippines in Manila
Hello everyone,
We miss you all very much! We had an awesome 3 1/2 days in Manila :) We stayed in a slum on the out side of Manila called Pasay. The base we stayed at has been set up as a safe house for prostitutes to be ministered to. We spent most of our time here hanging out with prostitutes and preaching the Gospel of Christ to them. These girls sell their bodies to put bread on their table and so that they might have a shack or even worse to put over their heads so that they can sleep at night. They don't get paid very much money; this is not a profession of choice-it is a last resort to survive in a city in which simply cannot provide enough Jobs to meet the needs of the people; there is nothing glamorous about this.
The team hit the steets one night to go down to the bar district where we spent 2 hours sitting and chatting with some of the girls who were working as prostitutes for the bars! One of the most shocking parts of the night was getting to know one of these young ladies and then watching her leave to fulfill her Job title. She later came back and sat with us for another hour before we left. Though she put on a smile, her eyes gave away the shame and desperation that she was feeling. It was a very sad and an awakening night for the team.
The next night our host Virgie hosted a Christmas party for the prostitutes. We had an awesome night eating, sharing with them, playing games and preaching the Gospel to these girls.
Please stand with us in prayer! God sent His Son to save sinners! Jesus came to save the least, the last and the lost! He baffled the religious crowd of His day by hanging out and defending prostitutes till the point of the girls salvations. Please fast and pray as we are here in the physical with these girls.
We miss you all very much! We had an awesome 3 1/2 days in Manila :) We stayed in a slum on the out side of Manila called Pasay. The base we stayed at has been set up as a safe house for prostitutes to be ministered to. We spent most of our time here hanging out with prostitutes and preaching the Gospel of Christ to them. These girls sell their bodies to put bread on their table and so that they might have a shack or even worse to put over their heads so that they can sleep at night. They don't get paid very much money; this is not a profession of choice-it is a last resort to survive in a city in which simply cannot provide enough Jobs to meet the needs of the people; there is nothing glamorous about this.
The team hit the steets one night to go down to the bar district where we spent 2 hours sitting and chatting with some of the girls who were working as prostitutes for the bars! One of the most shocking parts of the night was getting to know one of these young ladies and then watching her leave to fulfill her Job title. She later came back and sat with us for another hour before we left. Though she put on a smile, her eyes gave away the shame and desperation that she was feeling. It was a very sad and an awakening night for the team.
The next night our host Virgie hosted a Christmas party for the prostitutes. We had an awesome night eating, sharing with them, playing games and preaching the Gospel to these girls.
Please stand with us in prayer! God sent His Son to save sinners! Jesus came to save the least, the last and the lost! He baffled the religious crowd of His day by hanging out and defending prostitutes till the point of the girls salvations. Please fast and pray as we are here in the physical with these girls.
Saturday, December 12, 2009
We Made It To Manila :)
Just a quick hello!!! After leaving Tauranga at 1:30am and flying out of Auckland Airport at 7am, we had a 3 hour lay over in Sydney, Au; we finally arrived to Manila, Philippines a little after 5pm on Saturday December 13th 2009........To be continued-we love and miss you all.
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