A time for everything...

This week we are back in Leticia. Our original plans were to go to an indigenous community called Filidelfia in Peru, but the plans changed and here is why...

God had given our team words before leaving Costa Rica to protect our unity, and watch our tounges to keep from grumbiling and instead have praise on our lips to avoid harboring resentment and bad attituteds.

While we were in Benjamin, God was speaking to our group about remaining in Him, and that he would be the source of our strength.

Benjamin was by no means physically challenging, as the indigenous communities had been. Instead, it was emotionally and spiritually challenging. We saw God move in the hearts of many, both in the church and community we were servin in, as well as in the marketplace where we held an event. We saw him use us to speak words of hope, restauration and begin to move in the people of Benjamin. We were pouring out, ministering, giving,and sharing. While doing all of these things, we became focused on what we were doing for others as opposed to having a balance between this, and God filling us. When we allow God to fill us, we keep our relationships in check with our unity, and we deal with each problem as it arises. But because we were on Go go go, give give give, serve serve serve mode, we didn´t take the time to let God fill us, and many of us let things build up to the point of breakdown... in which case we were not in a place to be ministering or pouring into peoples lives if we are dry so. As a team we are really good at hearing God´s voice for other people, when he puts thing on our heart for us to share. but a lot of times we dont let ourselves hear what he has in store for each of us.

God has given us this week to bringing it back to where we are supposed to be, in His presence to receive our filling, in order to give. so this week is that, while we are haveing scheduled quite times with God, prayer and worship, intersession, soaking along with other things. this time is to let God minister to our group through these things as well as serve the Leticia base and the community doing service projects.

I feel a little bit like the Israelites before they were allowedd to enter into the promised land, but I know that this is going to be a very good time for God to grow in each of us

Benjamin Constant

Brazil has been an amazing experience thusfar.

It has been very difficult communicating with my spanish and their portuguese, but God's love has no barriers.



A couple of nights ago we did some door to door evangelism and invited people to an event that we held in someones makeshift front yard. we presented dramsa shared a messeage of restoration and healing. It was really cool to see the Holy Spirit moving in this place, even though we werent fully communicating. Where we come short, God fills in the blanks, and does even more than we could ever try to do.



Today we had a ton of kids come to the community center that we are staying at, and had game day where we divided into l\teams and led them through some fun games. (I was super excited to play soccer in Brazil for the first time with some kids who are super passionate about this sport) I just pray that with that sam passion they would be able to view God and their relationship with him. While we fed them we presented some dramas, and I'm really excited just to see the seeds that are being planted. That what we are doing is reaching and impacting the youth.

kidz reach

This is not what my team was doing, but just another one of the many things that come of\ut of YWAM

I will praise you in the Storm

I was a minute away from spending new years on the toilet.... yes, the dreaded occured.... I was being careful with the water that I drank, the food that I ate, and washed my hands with soap and water whenever they were available and with baby wipes when they werent. For 2 days i was stuck on my bed with fatigue from my body trying to fight whatever was sending me to the bathroom every 5 minutes. Only by taking medication was i able to manage the boatride to brazil from colombia, and once there was overwhelmed by not being able to participate with my team. The agonizing pain in my stomach accompanied by a painful sinus infection, diziness, among other things. I cry out to God, in this pain, not understanding why he was allowing this to occur, when I have asked him to heal me, and I know that he has the power and will to do so. But that is the thing... I was focused on the healing and not on Him. His desire for us is to first and foremost fuel our relationship with Him. Not that we can try to earn our way to him, but by keeping lines of communication with him open. so many times we become focused on our problems that we let it get in the way of seeing God. Maybe we are facing a crossroad in our life and we are asking Him for his dirrection (which is a good thing) but the second that it impedes other communication and we aren~t praising him because we are so distrought by the situation, we may not hear his response. He desires all of us our will and our emotions. When our hearts are broken from ourselves and offered up to Him that is when we can be opened enough to receive. Its not about receiving this healing, its about opening up myself enough to God, and out of this relationship i have with him, and not being focused on my circumstances and letting them bring me down, thats when he can give.

BE joyful always; pray continually; give thanks in all circumstances, for this is God~s willl for you in Christ Jesus 1 Thessalonins 5:16-18

Dois che bensoi

I~m sure that was totally spelt wrong but that is how i phoenetically spell God bless you in portuguese. Our team is currently in a city in Brazil called Benjamin Constant. We will be here for two weeks, we are staying at a community center that is right across the street from the church that we are partnering with. We are doing a lot with the youth from the church, and has been quite interesting doing so and forming friendships despite the language barrier.

This is the place that has been most impacting to me thusfar, and I think its because Brazil is the place that God placed on our teams heart. I think that the place that we are staying in is no accident at all. We are in a community center where right outside kids gather every day to jump into the pool (tile covered hole in the ground filled with slimy green water) and guys come to play futbol *pronouced fuchibol in portuguese. God has placed us here for a reason and i know that we are making an impact, just as much as we are being impacted by the people.

I appreciate all of your prayers!