Second YWAM Outreach Update

Here’s another update!

We spent three days in Laurel, Mississippi partnering with ‘The Glory House’ ministry. It’s a natural disaster mercy ministry run by Grant and Hope. We did lots of work projects there, and a lot of cleaning. Then we left for Starkville, Mississippi, a college town, and worked with a very small YWAM base. Those three days were more low-key, but they were still really good. Then we drove to Florida. We spent some nights a Christian rehab farm for men in Okeechobee, but almost everyday we took the hour and a half drive to West Palm Beach, where Ed and Jennifer live. They were our contacts, and had our Florida schedule PACKED! Which was really awesome, but it was also overwhelming and tiring. During our time in Florida, we did a lot of evangelism and we worked with so many different ministries. This was so encouraging, because I think being in YWAM for three months, I had this idea in my head that it was the only ministry doing outreaches and ministry and evangelism and that if I wanted to keep doing any of that with a group, I’d have to be part of YWAM. So meeting all these people and hearing about the ways they’re expending the kingdom and reaching people, was so encouraging. Here’s some highlights of my time in Mississippi and Florida!

1. When we worked with Grant and Hope in Laurel, I was so encouraged by the stories they shared about Gods goodness and faithfulness. They had just been GIVEN a 35,000 square foot old church building worth 1.2 million dollars, to expand and grow their ministry. Completely free. They told us another story about how in the early years of starting a family, God asked Grant to quit his well-paying job, and start a popcorn stand. Grant said that he would make more in one day, at this popcorn stand, then he ever did in one whole month at his old job. The entire three days consisted of story after story of God’s provision when they walked in obedience. Every aspect of their lives seemed to be a testimony to his love.

2. One morning we went to a youth conference in Laurel, and during the worship, God gave me another vision for the ministry Holy Spirit spoke to me about on our border outreach. It has been so fun and life-bringing, to dream with God about the things he’s excited, and has chosen to partner with me, for.

3. In Florida, we met with Randy Skinner. He has the coolest restoration ministry for homes and neighbourhoods in West Palm Beach. He’s a criminologist and has worked in the most dangerous, crime-ridden neighbourhoods in Chicago, Dallas, and West Palm, and has completely transformed them to being the safest, Spirit-filled communities. It’s insane, and way too much for me to write all about in this text, but it was so inspiring and exciting to work with, and I’d LOVE to share more when I come home! The way Randy invited Holy Spirit to be a part of every single decision and project was beautiful. We worked on a few landscaping projects with his ministry.

4. We were invited one night to a fire, and we knew nothing about why we were going or what we were gonna do. All we knew, was that this guy named Parker was a ‘fire-spinner’ (whatever that means…) and that he did evangelism with it. We show up to the address we were given, and walk in, and say we’re there for Parker. The young guys at the door are like ‘We’re here for Parker too! We have no idea where he is though.’ We were SO confused. 22 year old Parker shows up an hour later, and we all meet in the backyard, and he tells us that he gathers people in parks and public places by doing fire spinning. He literally carries this stick around wherever he goes, and lights a fire on both ends and spins and dances with fire, bringing together all people, and connecting with each of them. His friend and him proceed to whip out the stick and gasoline, and show us some of their routine, and THEN ask if any of us want to try… (!!!!) I was so shocked. How many outreach teams can say they spun FIRE when they were learning about evangelism?? So I did some fire spinning!! It was awesome! After we were done, people continued to show up. By the time we had been there for about 2 hours, there were like 50 people there. No one really knew why they were there, or what they were gonna be doing, they just showed up cause Parker had invited them. It was so weird, but I LOVED it! Props to this guy, for bringing people together by a random- and maybe strange- invitation to a bbq, where everyone has the privilege to meet one another and enjoy friendship and community. That’s the kingdom! Relationship! It was so beautiful.

5. One night, we got together with a group of street evangelists and street preachers… what?? I’m still shocked this was something I got to be a part of. I was so nervous- how it would look and what they’d do- but meeting them at Ed and Jennifers home before hand, and as they shared their hearts and love for Jesus, I was SO encouraged! Holy Spirit was evident in them and their excitement for sharing the kingdom was contagious. We got to downtown Palm Beach and this joy and anticipation was bubbling up inside me. Our game plan was to spread out in groups of 2-3, and just meet people and love them. Follow Holy Spirits direction. Some people were gonna be street preaching as well. It was late, and so people were at the bars and restaurants downtown- it was busy! We prayed in a circle before we spread out, and one thing the was specifically prayed for, was that we would not only approach people, but that people would also approach us! I was in a group with my two friends Aliyah and Taylin, and we prayed for three people before we found a ping pong table in the middle of the street. We started playing, and two young men came and asked if they could join us- what an answer to prayer! We played with them for a bit, and it was a blast. Then we had the opportunity to pray for them and just bless them. Everyone that we prayed for was so encouraged, and so were we!

6. On our second last day in Palm Beach, we had the privilege of being taught by the man who started the Faith Farms (rehab centre) Ministry. He is a pastor as well, and he taught us about healing people. I went into this teaching with a pride- ‘I grew up in a charismatic church, Ive seen healings and know that they’re real- none of this will phase me.’ Wow- I was wrong! The things Pastor Lee spoke about and told us were life changing. They were also really challenging to hear and to accept that- I haven’t been living the way Christ commanded Christians to live! Sure, I’ve seen healings happen- but how many times have I laid hands on someone and asked Holy Spirit to heal them? That night, we had a worship service with all the men in the centre, and were given the opportunity to release the gifts Holy Spirit has given us. If we had been given a word of knowledge, we spoke up. I said ‘Does anyone have pain in the left side of their chest or shoulder?’ As we asked, with the different words of knowledge Holy Spirit had given us, men began to stand up all over the room. Then they came up to us, and we got to pray for healing. One man came up to me, and said he had broken his collar bone, multiple ribs, and his nose. He was in a lot of pain, and all this had happened recently. I prayed for each of those things, and if it wasn’t better, I’d pray again. After I had prayed for the third time, he touched his ribs and his nose to feel the pain, but there was none! He said ‘I couldn’t even touch my ribs or nose before!!’ He was so excited! Then another man couldn’t lift his arm, because his shoulder was in so much pain, and after praying, he could lift it above his head no problem, and was swinging his arm around! A third man didn’t have feeling in his feet at all. They were completely numb, and he had lots of trouble walking. We prayed for him multiple times, and then Jasmin said ’This is weird but… I feel like God is telling me to touch your actual feet. Can you take your shoes off?’ So he did, and we touched his feet and continued praying. Holy Spirit completely healed him- he was running around, and had feeling in his feet again! It was such a beautiful healing! Wow, the faith in that room GREW that night!!

7. The last night we were there, I shared a bit of my testimony in front of Pastor Lees church, and when he came up to preach afterwards, he gave me a massive prophetic word that was SO powerful and exciting!

This update is maybe a little longer- so I’m sorry! But we did so much, so there’s lots to share! This section of outreach has been good, but also really challenging. It was hard to find time to spend with Jesus because we were so busy and I was so tired. I was pouring out pouring out pouring out, but not being filled, and that ran me out really quick. These last two weeks also brought a lot tears, just missing my family and home. I find myself caught up in a lot of anxiety and sleepless nights because I feel so hopelessly out of control and confused about what God wants me to do next, and it’s been hard to surrender my plans and desires to him. It’s been hard, but I’m learning and growing, and trying to trust God and lean on him as much as I can. That’s the update though! Right now we’re headed to Chester South Carolina. We’ll be there for a week, and then we’ll be in Nashville for two weeks! Thanks for reading all this again, if you made it to the end haha. Love you lots, and let me know how I can be praying for you!