Back from Indoppines outreach 2011!

Our team just arrived back in Honolulu yesterday morning. After about 10 weeks spent in both Indonesia and the Philippines, it was wonderful to be back home. I first want to say that I have truly missed everyone so much!

With the hopes of keeping this blog "readable" in terms of length, let me focus on some of the highlights of what the Lord did in my hearts, the hearts of my students, and in the Indonesians and Filipinos we met along the way.

God has been teaching me more of what it looks like to care more about pleasing Him than I do about pleasing other people. This is not always easy for me. But, after weeks spent in the jungles of Borneo, Indonesia, I had to begin to learn how to rest and take breaks from ministry. Without these breaks I would have burnt myself - and the team - out. God has also been teaching me how to receive blessings from Him. We had 3 wonderful guy students on our team who loved to bless us by helping us with our bags, letting us eat first, and keeping watch to make sure we were safe and out of harm's way. The girls on our team have also been a blessing in many ways. This team cared for each other so well, and I have had to learn to receive blessings from others.

I've also seen God do miraculous things in my students' lives. One of our students was completely healed - after we prayed for him - of his snake phobia (not just a fear...but a literal phobia). He even found a snake during one of our stays in a village in Indonesia, and was able to hold it while posing for a picture! Granted it was nearly dead, but he never would have been able to do that before. The students have also grown closer and closer to the Lord. They've seen His faithfulness in their lives and in the lives of the people we met in these countries. They have operated in love towards each other and have served, very lovingly, the ministries we worked with.

Though we didn't always see the miraculous healings we were hoping - and praying - for, we got incredibly good feedback from our ministry contacts. While in the villages, we visited homes (usually people who were members of the village church), listened as they talked about their lives and requested prayer. We would pray for them, but rarely did tangible evidence of God's answered prayers happen in the moment. Later, however, one of our Indonesian contacts pulled Liz - my co-leader - and I aside to encourage us. He said that these people we had visited were already talking about how the white people (whom they usually just see on T.V.) were now in their homes, listening to their stories and praying for them. They told our contact that they really felt we cared for them. It was exactly the encouragement we needed to hear!

God has been teaching me so much more about physical and emotional healing. He is teaching me that He cares, first and foremost, for our hearts. Yes, God loves to heal our physical ailments, but sometimes He chooses to first address the heart. This is the area He longs to touch in our lives. This is the area that is most vulnerable and so often attacked by the enemy, and distracted by the world. He has created us to share our hearts with Him. Our hearts are created to love Him. And, though many of the people we met claimed to be Christians, they most often were not actually following Christ and living lives dedicated to God. So, with many of them, their hearts really hadn't been given to the Lord yet. As I said, I'm still learning about healing. But, He is expanding my view to see that healing is not just in the physical. Paul encouraged us in 2 Corinthians 4:18 that we are to "fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal."

As I continue to process, I will surely write more of the things God begins to stir in my heart. Hopefully this post has made sense. There is one last thought to leave you all with. When I first came to staff the Discipleship Training School here in Honolulu, it was because I wanted to learn what it meant to truly disciple someone as Jesus disciples. Though I am still completely in process, I can honestly say that I have begun to learn how to disciple. For those that have allowed me into the vulnerable places of their hearts, I have walked with them, rejoiced in their triumphs and had my heart break when they are struggling. I am not perfect, but He is teaching me everyday. And, I am having so much fun doing it!

More to come, I am sure...

~Megan

God Provides!!!

Hi friends and family,

Thank you so much to those of you who have provided to me financially, and also to those who have been faithfully praying! I have seen all of my financial outreach needs met! Hurray!!!

On top of that, yesterday we saw the final thousands drop and the announcement that our last two students would be going on outreach (one of which is on my team). Thank you Jesus! We would have felt the absence had he not been able to go. It is absolutely faith-building to have seen God provide around $40,000 in the last few weeks for students and staff. God is so faithful! Some donations have been from family and friends, while others have been completely anonymous and unexpected. It's incredible to witness the generosity of people.

With that, we continue to prepare for outreach. As a team, we have spent the last few days preparing ourselves mentally, physically and spiritually for our departure to Indonesia on Wednesday. I cannot believe how quickly it's come. One of my favorite moments in preparation came as our team was dropped off on Hotel Street (high homeless population) on Thursday night and given the mission to complete two open airs. An open air is basically a loud church service in the middle of the street, directed toward those who don't know Jesus. We usually start with an attention-getter, such as a dance. Then, a skit or drama displaying some aspect of God. We performed a drama that hammers the point that Jesus has died to take the burdens that we carry on a regular basis. His desire is to carry them for us. Very powerful drama and message. We also had a time of worshiping God, as well. The reason this was my favorite moment of outreach prep was that a man - who had felt very burdened - walked by as we were worshiping and said he could feel the difference. He asked one of my male students for prayer, and my student ended up leading this man to the Lord! This man accepted Christ - even though he had been raised in a Christian environment. Such an incredible moment!!!! This is only the beginning of the incredible things I know that God will do through our team in Indonesia and the Philippines.

Today is a rest day for me, so I am currently nursing my cold and attempting to think as little as possible about outreach preparation in order to give my mind a rest. :)

My main purpose for writing today is truly to say thank you! Your sacrifices have blessed me tremendously, and I really do appreciate it. :)

Blessings!

Megan

Life with Jesus this week...

It's worth it. It's all worth it. Following Jesus is all-inclusive. "Now if we are children, then we are heirs - heirs of God and co-heirs with Christ, if indeed we share in his sufferings in order that we may also share in his glory" (Romans 8:17). It is my privilege to share in it all.

This week has come with both sufferings and glory. I've begun to feel the reality that we are leaving for Indonesia in less than three weeks. God has brought me so much freedom in the past months to not stress as much in the things I cannot control anyway. But, I am still learning. So, sometimes it is a fight for me to trust God fully. To trust that He has my back. To simply listen to His word for me and only pick up the things He is asking me to pick up. To do less or more would be disobedience. So, in my obedience to only do what He has asked of me, I trust that He will take care of the rest.

And, He is providing! I still needed a bit more money for my staff fees this month, and a couple from my church family here in Hawaii sent a financial gift to me that will cover the rest of what I need. So cool! The Lord reminds me this week that He is my provider in ALL things. I am never in want when I am relying fully on my Creator.

I have found a lot of peace the past few weeks in Psalm 23. I pray that same peace for you...

"The Lord is my shepherd, I shall not be in want.

He makes me lie down in green pastures, he leads me beside quiet waters, he restores my soul.

He guides me in paths of righteousness for his name's sake.

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death, I will fear no evil,

for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

You prepare a table before me in the presence of my enemies.

You annoint my head with oil; my cup overflows.

Surely goodness and love will follow me all the days of my life,

and I will dwell

in the house of the LORD forever."

~Megan

It's a new day...

The last couple of weeks have been incredible. Our lectures have focused on Intimacy & Intercession, and then this last week on the Holy Spirit. Amazing!

If there was one thing I could point out as having been a major focus the past few weeks, it is that God's highest calling for us as His children is to know/receive His love for us! Secondly, to love all of those around us. It is not always easy. Loving those that hate us, slander us, abuse us. He helps us to know and learn physical and emotional boundaries with these people. However, we are still called to love them. I don't pretend to know exactly what this looks like every time. I think that every time and with each person, how we are asked to love them looks different. This way, we are forced to rely on the Lord's love! It all comes back to His greatest commandment for us. "'Love the Lord your God with all your heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind'; and, 'Love your neighbor as yourself'" (Luke 10:27).

Like I said, it has been an incredible week! I'm moved by the Lord's love for me. I'm receiving it in new ways, and learning to love Him back. And, I'm learning more and more to love others out of the love I receive from Him.

Things with our team are great. :) Liz (my co-leader) and I absolutely love them all. We are growing more into a family every week. God is giving me His heart for them, and it's so fun! We are getting mentally, spiritually and physically prepared for outreach. We leave at the end of this month! I can't believe it's already less than 4 weeks away. We've been blessed to meet with our Philippines contact (who was living on the YWAM base for a couple of months at the beginning of this year). And, we met with one of the staff who went on outreach to Indonesia a couple of years ago. She was able to give us a great idea of the ministry we will be doing in villages. It will be quite different from what we are all used to. No electricity. Bathing, cleaning dishes, and washing clothes usually in the same water. YES! I'm so looking forward to getting back to the basics/necessities of life. I'm looking forward to how it will free up time to spend with people and in relationship.

Prayer needs:

- That our visas for Indonesia would go through quickly and smoothly.

- That we would continue to grow closer to each other, as a family, in unity.

- That Liz and I would continue to grow closer and closer, in unity with what God is doing in our team and as we move into outreach mode.

- That our hearts would grow greater for both Indonesia and the Philippines. So, that when we arrive, we are ready to jump in and love all those around us. :)

- That all of our/my money would come in. I think I am needing around $2,000 for plane tickets. If you feel led to give financially, I would love for you to partner with me in all God is doing and will do on this outreach! Directions for giving financially are on the home page of my blog. Please let me know if you have any questions. :)

Lots of love!

~Megan

Thank you so much for listening & caring!

God HEALS!!!

This week, I have something absolutely wonderful to share with all of you that I pray greatly encourages you!

One of the students on my team ruptured his eardrum at the very beginning of the school in January. He had been told by the doctor that he would need surgery to prevent permanent hearing loss in that ear. However, due to a severe lack of funds, he continued to put off the surgery. Well, last Friday (the 11th), he went back to the doctor to get his ear checked, and the doctor insisted on immediate surgery - within the next couple of days. So, with another appointment scheduled, he informed everyone of his need for provision. He also received prayer for healing, because we fully believe that God loves to heal!! :)

Tuesday the 15th was his next scheduled appointment to see his doctor and get a date set up for the surgery. From the student's account, the doctor came in, looked in his ear, looked at the chart, and, completely stunned, announced that there was absolutely nothing wrong with either of his ears!!!!! The doctor looked at my student and asked if he believed in miracles. My student boldly answered, "yes I do. I serve a powerful God."

I say this to encourage all of us, even those who already believe God can heal. So often we don't see it happening in the western Church. We most often hear of miraculous healings occurring in Africa, Asia, and other parts of the world. But, this week, God proved yet again his great ability to heal and his compassionate desire to do so for His children. Surgery could have healed my student, as well. But, for whatever reason, the Lord chose a miraculous healing that would stun even the doctor!

Thank you Jesus!!!! Thank you God that you love to heal us! Thank you that you care more for us than we do for ourselves. :)

~Megan

Outreach!!!!

I am so very proud to announce that I will be co-leading a team - with my friend Liz - to Indonesia and the Philippines this coming spring! We presented the 3 country options to all 27 students about 2 weeks ago, asked them to pray for about 25 minutes, and then write their chosen country on a piece of paper. Thus, our team of 8 students was developed!

What I love is that God chose to reveal the outreach location to 5 different students prior to the countries being revealed. Of our 3 male students, all of them felt called by the Lord to go to the Philippines. One of them knew a few months ago that God was drawing his heart toward the Philippines. Another one of the guys - that Friday morning - said that God spoke to his mind the country of the Philippines...but that he wasn't sure why. Haha! So cool! And, the final guy on our team was told (in a group setting with all of the school present) by another student that he thought God was speaking the country "Philippines" to him. So...all of our male students feel the Lord directing them toward the Philippines...and all before the option was even made known to them by the staff. :)

One of the girls on our team said that God spoke Indonesia to her during her time spent with God that morning. And, one of our staff confirmed that she had seen "Indonesia" written on her notebook paper before the option was even given! One of our other female students has felt called to the Philippines for quite some time. :)

I'm explaining all of this because I love the way God lets us in on secrets!! Just because we - the staff - hadn't told them didn't mean that God was going to wait. I love it!!

So, come the end of March, Liz and I will be leading this team of 8 incredible students to Indonesia (for about 7 weeks) and the Philippines (for about 3 weeks). I couldn't be more excited. Yet, I know that the Lord will only continue to give me more and more of a heart for these countries and for the students He has put in our care. I feel so privileged to be partnering with what God is doing in these lives!!

More to come...

~Megan

A new school...a new season

I want to know how to love deeper! I want to have a new revelation of God's love for me, and I want to learn more and more how to have His heart for others.

I love this new group of students. They are so honest and hungry for the Lord! It encourages me and spurs me on. It causes me to not want to be afraid of anything the Lord could be asking of me.

It's a new season here on Oahu. It's winter, and though I doubt I will get any sympathy from anyone on the mainland, it can be quite blustery at times. That being said, I still am absolutely in love with Hawaii! I feel alive here. I feel like it is my home and I'm so grateful that God has invited me to be a part of the work He is doing here; loving islanders, students, and peers. It's an incredible privilege.

Things aren't always easy. God continues to teach me that, even as I learn to disciple others, I am still being discipled by my wonderful God and the mentors and friends He has placed in my life. I am blessed by them all. :) God also continues His faithful provision in my life in numerous ways. He is caring for all of my needs because that's what He promises in His word. (Philippians 4:19). So, even in my lack, I know God's promise is that He is caring for every need I have. So I will continue to walk in this truth, "seek[ing] first His kingdom and his righteousness" (Matthew 6:33).

I think that is all for now. There is so much more I want to share...but I need to wait a little bit longer. :)

Loves!

~Megan