A Great Adventure (The Beginning)

Well, I've finally started the blog I've been promising friends and family for a while now. This is a place for me to share my life and my journey to YWAM New Zealand with you. Life has been a hectic cloud of preparations for New Zealand, seeing friends before I leave, raising support, and doing my best to listen and obey the Lord daily- but I want to commit to keeping this blog as up-to-date as possible.

Some of you may not know, but in just four short weeks I will be beginning my journey to Tauranga New Zealand for a five month Discipleship Training School with YWAM (Youth With a Mission). If you do not know what YWAM is, it is an international organization devoted to making Jesus known throughout the nations through missions. YWAM has locations in 180 countries in every continent but Antarctica. Teens and young adults gather from everywhere to come together and serve the Lord and people around the world during their DTS. The program I have chosen to attend is called the Justice DTS. A verse that greatly influenced this decision is Isaiah 1:17. (Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.) As Christians, we are called to actively seek justice for those who are oppressed and enslaved. The Lord has broken my heart for those who are victims of social injustice- women caught in sex trafficking, people in modern day slavery and victims of extreme poverty. During my DTS I will learn what the meaning of true justice is, and learn about the issues that are at the center of social injustice today. For three months, I will be living in Tauranga New Zealand, going to classes and living in community with other people my age with the same passion to bring freedom to the enslaved! After those first three months, the other students and myself will put into action what we have learned, working firsthand with those who are suffering from social injustice in places like Cambodia, the Philippines, Thailand and Brazil. As of now, I do not know where I will be spending those last two months.

WOW. How did this all happen so quickly?! Just a few months ago I had no idea I would be traveling across the world by myself to attend a school I'd only recently heard of. God just kind of dropped this one in my lap, and I am so thankful that He did. In November of this year, I was first introduced to the idea of YWAM New Zealand by a close friend and my sister-in-law who had been searching for YWAM schools for me to look at. My sister-in-law e-mailed a leader at the school expressing my interest. The next thing I knew, I was starting the application process. After gathering all the necessary information, gaining my pastoral references, and sending in my application, I left it to the Lord and asked Him for His Will to be done with me. The day after emailing my application in to YWAM, I received an e-mail from a leader I had been corresponding with telling me that I was accepted. WHOA. I was not expecting an answer so quickly. It was made clear to me through prayer and obvious signs that God wanted me to go! So I said, "I'll go, Lord!"

Now, the difficult part began. The school itself costs around $7,000 total, not including my flights and travel arrangements to get to New Zealand. A lot of money I did NOT have. So in March I sent out a support letter explaining what I was doing and asking for financial and spiritual support in my journey. I knew and still know now that without the help of my friends and family there is no way I would be able to make it to Tauranga. In only 3 short months, I have raised around $5,000. God showed up in a HUGE way, bringing in the finances quickly and from many places and people. I have purchased a round trip ticket to New Zealand with the funds sent in by supporters, and this week I will wire transfer the money for the 3 month training phase in Tauranga into YWAM's account. All that is left, expense wise, is the rest of money for the 2 month outreach phase (a little over $1,600) as well as money I will use for living expenses during the 5 months I am away. I am having faith that the Lord is going to bring in this money as well- the outreach is the portion of the school that will hopefully effect many lives and bring healing and good news to broken people around the world!

I am so blessed to be called to such a beautiful place to serve the Lord and share the Gospel. I am so excited to see what New Zealand has in store! Praise the Lord for always providing and being so good to me.

I want to thank everyone who has donated to my YWAM fund or offered prayer and spiritual support. I truly could not do this without you. The Lord is using you in a great way! 

Now, I am in the midst of finishing preparations for my travels, as well as continuing to fund-raise for the outreach phase of my schooling. I am so genuinely grateful for any support offered, whether it be through a donation or a prayer. Thank you so much! 

I am going to keep this blog updated with information about my preparations and travels, so stay tuned!

Isaiah 1:17- Learn to do right! Seek justice, encourage the oppressed. Defend the cause of the fatherless, plead the case of the widow.

With Love, Holly


P.S. If you would like to learn more about YWAM, New Zealand, or the Justice DTS I will be attending, below are some links for you!
http://mrmdts.org/schools/justice-dts/
http://mrmdts.org/discipleship-training-school/
http://mrmdts.org/marine-reach-training/