Another week in Alice

This week we've been doing a lot in schools.  One school in particular, we did a workshop with all week.  I enjoy what we're doing and time is going by fast. 

Over the weekend we went to Hasst Bluff, another Aboriginal community. This was the community that originally was hard to get into. But God blessed the time there. In the evening, it's common for Aboriginal people to have "sing alongs."  This is where we do our ministry because everyone is gathered.  We play bubbles and soccer with the kids first and then more and more people come.  After our program, I was amazed with how many people asked for prayer. They are very spiritually open.

I'm encouraged by how much God has been providing for us.  Whether it's rest, food or gas; God has always been faithful.  Thank you for your continued prayers.  Some things you can be in prayer for:

• peace about the future
• I want to give it my all on this trip.  I want to mentally "be here" and not anywhere else.
• wellness.  Our whole team has head colds and sore throats. Sunburn doesn't make it better either.

God is so good!

We arrived in Alice Springs safely!  It took us three days to get here.  God's hand has been on this trip the whole way, guiding us to where we need to be and when.  We are staying in an Aboriginal church, which is a lot better then sleeping in our trailer. Our contact, Vivian Wilson is great!  She wrote a book, A Life Full which is a good read. Anyway, God is doing so much!  I have been amazed by what has been happening here.  We are going into schools, praying for people in hospitals, leading Sunday schools and youth groups, doing street ministry and going to remote Aboriginal communities. Aboriginals are great.  It's a totally different culture to get used to, but I realize why I'm meant to be here.  The coolest thing has been praying for people and seeing them get healed.  Going outback to the communities is like you're in another world.  There's so much to say and not enough time at this internet cafe, but know that all is well.  It has been incredible to see what God has done since the last post.  He is so good and my team is doing well.  Please continue to keep us in your prayers.  Love you all and God bless!

we are more than conquerors

Leviticus 26:6-8 "I will grant peace in the land, and you will lie down and no one will make you afraid.  I will remove savage beasts from the land, and the sword will not pass through your country.  You will persue your enemies and they will fall on the sword before you.  Five of you will chase a hundred, and a hundred will chase ten thousand, and your enemies will fall by the sword before you."

It is the night before we head out to Alice.  We now have a clearer understanding of what our mission will be, and I'm excited. There are a a few things I would like to bring you up to speed so you know how to pray as we head out.  God wants to do something big out there.  The enemy is well aware and is working hard.  Several more roadblocks have come in the way.

• Our contact informed us that a group of witch doctors will be having a gathering or convention of some sorts in the same area that we will be.  They are not fond of Christians.  We know that we have Christ in us and he will keep us safe, along with some extra precautions we'll take to deal with this issue.  Pray that God's love will be so evident in through us that the things the witches are trying to do will look counterfeit next to Jesus.  I see this as an opportunity all the more for people to see the truth.  Ephesians 6:10-12 "Finally, be strong in the Lord and his mighty power.  Put on the full armor of God so that you can take a stand against the devil's schemes. For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the authorities, against the powers of this dark world and against the spiritual forces of evil in the heavenly realms."    
• As a precaution we are rerouting our trip.  It will add a few hours. But hey what an extra few  hours when you're already going over thirty?
• Another reason we're going a different way is because of potential cyclones.  Worst case scenario is that two will mesh into one and come the direction we're traveling.  Out west, they're already doing some evacuations.  Going this alternative route, we should be okay.

With all the changes and new preparations to be made, we stayed on the Gold Coast for an extra day.  Yesterday the base director showed us our trailer/ camper. This trailer folds out into a tent, has a sink, stove, fridge, and freezer.  To be honest, it was a little overwhelming. There's so much to remember with working a propane tank and generator.  The littlest things like turning on a stove take a lot of steps.  I know we'll get used to it, the more we set up and tear down the easier it will be.  Also, Matt was an electrician so he knows a lot about that kind of stuff.

Last night during dinner we had a team meeting. I still had the trailer on my mind.  Our leader asked us how we were doing. She was honest with us with things she was dealing with. As we shared, we found satan has been attacking us where we're weak.  Whether it was stress, fear, anxiety, attitudes or self esteem. It seemed as if we were sliding into our old ways of thinking.  Together we let the devil have no foothold on our group and for the rest of the evening we played worship music and prayed for this trip. God really moved through that time. Once we acknowledged that we weren't alone, but this was a group thing we could come together and pray.  Today we all had a two hour quiet time and listen to what God's saying about this trip.  I can say that getting in the word is the best thing to do in these situations.  I have a peace about this trip and I know that anything that comes up, we can accomplish.  God doesn't give us more than we can handle. 1 John 4:4"You, dear children, are from God and have overcome them, because greater is he that is me than he that is in the world."  Amen to that.