I leave for South Africa this morning!!
it's been so busy around here it's crazy. This week alone we have sent teams to Russia, Dominican Republic, China, Mongolia, several states, and now Africa!
I'm so stoked!
I will be home in Canada on July 8th - give me a call!
Peace out,
Sarah Jane
Thursday, June 19, 2008
Thursday, May 29, 2008
Back again
Holla!
I actually started updating this about a week ago but i must have got distracted because i never finished...oops.
Well, I am back in Florida and I have officially graduated DTS!
It has been really great to be back here, I'm loving it. I've unpacked and settle in for the next few weeks. In my time before South Africa I will be volunteering around the base. My schedule is pretty consistent, I'm in the kitchen in the mornings and in the office in the afternoons. Being in the office is my favorite, the people in there are hilarious and it's tons of fun.
The past week and a bit have been busy and i feel like i havent stopped moving since I got back. Lately God has been reminding me to take time to be still. One of my favorite places to do this is in our 24-7 prayer room here in Orlando. It's a room that has been set up for both staff and students (and those of us inbetween). There is someone in there every hour of every day, it's pretty cool. It's been set up with music, paper, markers, and the walls are lined with white boards telling of what God is doing in peoples lives. It's really cool. I was in there yesterday for the first time since i've been back and it was incredibly refreshing. It gave me a chance to think and process and hear what God has to say. It was definately much needed.
Now it is the weekend and I'm taking this couple days to just chill out. I printed some pictures this morning and this evening I'm going to watch some dvd's I took out of the library.
Wonderful.
I hope you guys are doing great back in Canada!
I actually started updating this about a week ago but i must have got distracted because i never finished...oops.
Well, I am back in Florida and I have officially graduated DTS!
It has been really great to be back here, I'm loving it. I've unpacked and settle in for the next few weeks. In my time before South Africa I will be volunteering around the base. My schedule is pretty consistent, I'm in the kitchen in the mornings and in the office in the afternoons. Being in the office is my favorite, the people in there are hilarious and it's tons of fun.
The past week and a bit have been busy and i feel like i havent stopped moving since I got back. Lately God has been reminding me to take time to be still. One of my favorite places to do this is in our 24-7 prayer room here in Orlando. It's a room that has been set up for both staff and students (and those of us inbetween). There is someone in there every hour of every day, it's pretty cool. It's been set up with music, paper, markers, and the walls are lined with white boards telling of what God is doing in peoples lives. It's really cool. I was in there yesterday for the first time since i've been back and it was incredibly refreshing. It gave me a chance to think and process and hear what God has to say. It was definately much needed.
Now it is the weekend and I'm taking this couple days to just chill out. I printed some pictures this morning and this evening I'm going to watch some dvd's I took out of the library.
Wonderful.
I hope you guys are doing great back in Canada!
Wednesday, May 14, 2008
a fresh burst of energy
Last night we had a worship service at the church we're staying at. It was so refreshing. One thing I've really been missing is big worship services - ya know, the ones with english songs, and drums, piano etc. We have team worship almost every night but theres something about worshipping in a big loud group of people that I miss so much!
So last night the Thai church had a worship service, with songs in both Thai and English, drums, piano, guitar etc. It was great. It was exactly what I needed to get through the last few days. God really reminded me how much I have to be thankful for and how much He has planned for me in the next year.
It's amazing to me that we've been in Thailand for almost two months. I really feel like God has used us here both to impact other people as well as to grow out own faith. This has definately been a growing experiece that I wouldnt trade for anything.
I'm so excited to be home where i can share all my stories and pictures with you all.
Please pray for safe travel when we leave here as things seem abit crazy with the natural disasters in the area.
So last night the Thai church had a worship service, with songs in both Thai and English, drums, piano, guitar etc. It was great. It was exactly what I needed to get through the last few days. God really reminded me how much I have to be thankful for and how much He has planned for me in the next year.
It's amazing to me that we've been in Thailand for almost two months. I really feel like God has used us here both to impact other people as well as to grow out own faith. This has definately been a growing experiece that I wouldnt trade for anything.
I'm so excited to be home where i can share all my stories and pictures with you all.
Please pray for safe travel when we leave here as things seem abit crazy with the natural disasters in the area.
Thursday, May 8, 2008
Nearing the end
Jeepers. I cannot believe I am almost finished my time in Thailand!
Currently we are staying at a ministry center in Phang Nga - it's really nice. Here we have been working with kids and teaching alot of english, thats been a ton of fun.
On Wednesday night we went to a park to evangelize. It was really good. We had worship and games. We did a few of our dramas and alot of kids (as well as their parents) gathered to observe. A couple of junior high girls were really interested in the gospel message we were presenting them with and asked alot of questions. It was exciting to see them so interested! We're going back tonight, and they said they would come as well, so pray that something sweet happens!
On Saturday night we are moving to a church in a different part of town and we will be there until we leave. As usual i'm not sure what the internet access will be like, so if i dont get to write before we leave thailand i will update when we get back to Orlando.
Whats next??
Well we get back to Orlando on May 20 and graduate on May 23. After that i will be volunteering at the YWAM Orlando base until June 17. On June 18 I am going to south africa with another YWAM team! I will be back in Edmonton on July 8th.
I will continue blogging through my time in orlando and south africa so check it out!
Currently we are staying at a ministry center in Phang Nga - it's really nice. Here we have been working with kids and teaching alot of english, thats been a ton of fun.
On Wednesday night we went to a park to evangelize. It was really good. We had worship and games. We did a few of our dramas and alot of kids (as well as their parents) gathered to observe. A couple of junior high girls were really interested in the gospel message we were presenting them with and asked alot of questions. It was exciting to see them so interested! We're going back tonight, and they said they would come as well, so pray that something sweet happens!
On Saturday night we are moving to a church in a different part of town and we will be there until we leave. As usual i'm not sure what the internet access will be like, so if i dont get to write before we leave thailand i will update when we get back to Orlando.
Whats next??
Well we get back to Orlando on May 20 and graduate on May 23. After that i will be volunteering at the YWAM Orlando base until June 17. On June 18 I am going to south africa with another YWAM team! I will be back in Edmonton on July 8th.
I will continue blogging through my time in orlando and south africa so check it out!
Monday, April 28, 2008
quick update
Wow it has been so long!
I've been on the island now for almost 2 weeks. We have a computer but it's been down for a while and it's so slow! But allow me to give you a quick update.
The island is beautiful! We've been working at a community center here that was built after the tsunami. The center is run by a pastor and his wife and their dream is to have it all up and running and be able to do summer camps and kids programs. They have such a heart for this, they are really a blessing.
So we've been spending our days doing manual labor for the most part - digging 30 foot wells, plastering builings, painting, etc. Initially it was hard to get into it because I expected to be interacting alot more with other people. But God's really been showing me (as well as the rest of my team) that we need to be joyful in where He has placed us. This has been a great opportunity to bless these people in a tangable way.
I had my birthday here on friday. That was alot of fun. The Thai people love any reason to celebrate so they thought this was great. They got a cake with my name on it and everything. It was very sweet of them.
On thursday we are leaving here for our next location.
Pray for safe travel and health.
I've been on the island now for almost 2 weeks. We have a computer but it's been down for a while and it's so slow! But allow me to give you a quick update.
The island is beautiful! We've been working at a community center here that was built after the tsunami. The center is run by a pastor and his wife and their dream is to have it all up and running and be able to do summer camps and kids programs. They have such a heart for this, they are really a blessing.
So we've been spending our days doing manual labor for the most part - digging 30 foot wells, plastering builings, painting, etc. Initially it was hard to get into it because I expected to be interacting alot more with other people. But God's really been showing me (as well as the rest of my team) that we need to be joyful in where He has placed us. This has been a great opportunity to bless these people in a tangable way.
I had my birthday here on friday. That was alot of fun. The Thai people love any reason to celebrate so they thought this was great. They got a cake with my name on it and everything. It was very sweet of them.
On thursday we are leaving here for our next location.
Pray for safe travel and health.
Monday, April 14, 2008
bye for now
Hey!
So tomorrow my team is leaving for Koh Kho Khao! We are taking an over night bus as it is a 12 hour drive. I'm sad to be leaving bangkok but excited to see what the next location will be like. Rumore has it we may not have internet access there so i may not be updating for a while. I dont know what the circumstances will be in the third location so we will have to wait and see.
Please keep us in your prayers as we travel and adjust to another new location!
So tomorrow my team is leaving for Koh Kho Khao! We are taking an over night bus as it is a 12 hour drive. I'm sad to be leaving bangkok but excited to see what the next location will be like. Rumore has it we may not have internet access there so i may not be updating for a while. I dont know what the circumstances will be in the third location so we will have to wait and see.
Please keep us in your prayers as we travel and adjust to another new location!
Sunday, April 13, 2008
it's been a while...
Wow it feels like i havent updated ya'll in a long time!
My team has been doing some work with a ministry called MST( men in the sex trade) ans last week some of had the opportunity to go to Pattaya which is the largest red-light district in Thailand! There are some guys here who feel God is leading them to take MST to Pattaya so this was the first trip to check it out. We rode in the back of a pick up truck...sketchy! We were the first team to ever go to Pattaya with this mission in mind so that was really cool. Our goal was to pray over the city and walk through and just see what God has for it, kinda get an idea of where he wants to take this ministry. It was so so cool! We spent alot of time praying and preparing ourselves, praying that God would protect our eyes and our hearts.
We spent our evening praying on a street called walking street. I have never seen anything like that, I was shocked. I dont think anything could have prepared me for the things I saw and experienced. The whole street is rather explicit and you can just feel the emptiness in it.
The things that got me were the young girls who were hardly wearing anything and looked so lost and confused. They did not look like they wanted to be there at all. It was heart breaking! We saw children being sold, dang it was beyond anything i knew even existed!
We walked and prayed for about 3 hours. God pointed out sweet things, and it was cool when God would tell us things that the MST staff had already heard from God. It was sweet for us and good confirmation for them. We stopped and prayed for numerous people we saw as well. God pointed out a store on one of the near by streets that was to be a "headquarters" for the ministry. It was sweet because he pointed the same store out to two different groups. I love when God does that!
I am so excited for this ministry to start in Pattaya. I know it's going to be huge!
Right now the Thai people are celebrating New Years. They have this huge nation-wide water fight for three days! Yeah it's crazy and definately chaotic but it's fun.
On Tuesday we are leaving Bangkok for Koh Kho Khao, pray for safe traveling!
My team has been doing some work with a ministry called MST( men in the sex trade) ans last week some of had the opportunity to go to Pattaya which is the largest red-light district in Thailand! There are some guys here who feel God is leading them to take MST to Pattaya so this was the first trip to check it out. We rode in the back of a pick up truck...sketchy! We were the first team to ever go to Pattaya with this mission in mind so that was really cool. Our goal was to pray over the city and walk through and just see what God has for it, kinda get an idea of where he wants to take this ministry. It was so so cool! We spent alot of time praying and preparing ourselves, praying that God would protect our eyes and our hearts.
We spent our evening praying on a street called walking street. I have never seen anything like that, I was shocked. I dont think anything could have prepared me for the things I saw and experienced. The whole street is rather explicit and you can just feel the emptiness in it.
The things that got me were the young girls who were hardly wearing anything and looked so lost and confused. They did not look like they wanted to be there at all. It was heart breaking! We saw children being sold, dang it was beyond anything i knew even existed!
We walked and prayed for about 3 hours. God pointed out sweet things, and it was cool when God would tell us things that the MST staff had already heard from God. It was sweet for us and good confirmation for them. We stopped and prayed for numerous people we saw as well. God pointed out a store on one of the near by streets that was to be a "headquarters" for the ministry. It was sweet because he pointed the same store out to two different groups. I love when God does that!
I am so excited for this ministry to start in Pattaya. I know it's going to be huge!
Right now the Thai people are celebrating New Years. They have this huge nation-wide water fight for three days! Yeah it's crazy and definately chaotic but it's fun.
On Tuesday we are leaving Bangkok for Koh Kho Khao, pray for safe traveling!
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