Whanau Means Family

Every Monday morning, we have Whanau (pronounced fa-nau) time before we begin our classes for the week. During this time, staff and leaders of Marine Reach Ministries as well as all of the students gather in the dining room/common area for coffee, treats, and fellowship. For this reason, Mondays have become well-awaited for me. Mostly because there's good food and unlimited coffee. But also because we get to spend time together talking and laughing and telling stories. David and Linda Cowie, the power couple who started Marine Reach Ministries in 1990, are always in attendance and the past two weeks Linda has told her stories. (I love Linda. She is like a mother at the base. She is so kind, elegant, and loving. And David is a hoot. They are an inspiring story!)

Today, we heard about a big miracle Linda and David experienced aboard a missionary ship called the Anastasis in 1981. As it may be known missionaries do not always have the luxury of ample food supply, and this was true of the Anastasis as well. While in Greece, this specific ship's crew began a 40 day period of prayer and fasting while sharing the Gospel in the streets of Athens. One day after their fast had finished, a student was on the beach when fish started to jump out of the water onto the shore. This continued for 150 yards down the beach! All of the YWAM staff and students on the ship as well as Greek locals flocked to the beach and collected fish by any means they could- trash bags, aprons, buckets, and wheelbarrows. The Greek people had never seen anything like it before and said that surely 'God is with these people'. In the end, there were 8,311 fish collected that day. That's over two tons of fish! Missionaries aboard that ship ate fish for a year for free. :) God provided in a BIG WAY. Linda told us this story as a personal testimony of how the Lord shows up for those who trust in Him. She suggested we begin a 40 day fast and prayer period in anticipation of the new ship Marine Reach is hoping to acquire soon, provision for this (beautiful) base where I am blessed to live, and our upcoming outreach. We start praying and fasting tomorrow. :)

In the same way God provided the fish for these missionaries I am needing God to provide the money for my outreach to Cambodia in October and November. I currently have less than half of the needed funds for outreach. The good news is- the school has already purchased my ticket to Cambodia for October 5th, 2012! I just have to pay them for it, as well as the outreach fees of the school.
While in Cambodia, the Justice team and I will be staying at YWAM bases for a time, as well as other (unknown) locations- serving the people of Cambodia and working with local ministries. I cannot even express how excited I am for this trip. After reading Somaly Mam's book 'The Road of Lost Innocence' I have even more of a fire in my heart to love on the people there- especially the girls and women affected by the booming sex trade industry.

I know that the Lord will get me to Cambodia, I'm just not sure how yet. :) I am asking for support and prayer in any way possible! I need people to join this journey of obedience to God with me! If you feel led to give in any way to my outreach funds and/or ministry, it would be such a blessing. If you aren't able to give financially at this time, I would so appreciate prayer for the finances to come in! Thank you to everyone who has supported me in getting here, I cannot tell you what an impact God is making in my life here. I am learning so much. Continue to pray that I receive the remaining $2,000 needed for outreach!

Love Always, From New Zealand! Holly

P.S. As always,
If you would like to support me in my fundraising, let me know! You can contact me by way of Facebook, e-mail at holly.e.conrad@gmail.com, or transfer money directly to YWAM Marine Reach (I can direct you in how to do this). There is also a paypal option here on my blog.