aloha

Here's some pics from HI. Cliff diving was amazing but I paid for the fun with 5 days worth of headaches. I'll be posting a update this week :)

The Call

"I don't know what to do with my life. I've never had a call." "What? You've never had a call? You mean you've never heard the call!"

This quote is found in a book called "Making Jesus Lord" and is another one written by Loren Cunningham. This book also contains many stories about YWAM "Is that You God?". However instead of being so much about the story of YWAM it challenges it's readers to lay down their life for Christ.

There's many stories of the power of God. For example: there's a story of a cult and their Guru that YWAM comes into contact with and God shows His authority. YWAM did nothing but follow God's leading even though it didn't necessarily make sense to them. Even after they did what God asked not everything made immediate sense. But as we see in life, God's timing is not always our timing but not far down the road God showed His power! They also mention the Roman government vs. the early church. At first, many Christians died for Christ but ultimately Christ won out and the very thing the Romans were trying to destroy, their government embraced in the end.

It says in the bible

For whoever would save his life will lose it, but whoever loses his life for my sake will find it.

Matt 16:25

The book mentions this verse and how Jesus was the ultimate example of this. It's so true, His example helps us to more fully understand what this means by looking at His life. Jesus gave up everything and now God has exalted Him above all. To "lose your life" or "hear the call" isn't going to mean the same thing for everyone. For some it's going to mean staying in America, other's going overseas, and still others doing both of these. But first it's all about having Jesus as Lord and growing in our relationship with Him.

It's official

INDIA HERE I COME!

HIV/AIDS

If you know me well, you might know that I used to not want to go to Africa partly because of my paranoia about getting AIDS. I was very scared that I would get AIDS that I didn't want to be anywhere close to anyone who had it. There's a certain lady in the town that I'm from who has AIDS (of no fault of her own). God has miraculously kept her alive for years now. One thing she does is make scarfs and give them away. We received one of these once but I was fearful to use it. I didn't know if I could get AIDS since she touched it.

Since this time, the God has been working in my life and heart to make me more open and willing to be around people who have this disease. I think that He has been working on me so that if the occasion arises I will be willing to reach out with His love without hesitation. When there is fear then satan has a foothold. AIDS is horrible yet not hopeless. I think that this disease has been made worse than most just by the shame, seclusion, hopelessness, and loneliness that comes with it. Sometimes we fear just because we don't know; we fear what we don't understand.

I find it interesting that for one of the topics we are suppose to research for homework here is HIV/AIDS since I have seen God freeing me in this area and this has just helped continued the process in my heart.

Here are some lies that people believe surrounding the HIV/AIDS virus:

~ “The HIV virus is found within saliva. Therefore, it is possible to get HIV from
kissing.”

~ “Having sex with a virgin can cure HIV/AIDS in a person.”(Common in parts of
Africa and has resulted in the rapes of many young girls.) (satan uses this lie to infect and ruin more people's lives.)

~ “HIV/AIDS only occurs in gay men”

~ “HIV/AIDS only occurs in sex workers”

~ “HIV/AIDS only occurs in injection-drug users”

~ “The CIA created HIV to kill the African population”

~ “HIV can be transmitted through day-to-day contact with an infected person” (such as sharing a glass or food, hugging, coughing, etc) (This is a important one I think. This lie keeps us from reaching out.)

~ “It is possible to contract HIV from giving blood”

~ “Mosquitoes can spread HIV”

~ “Women with HIV can't have children”

~ “Women can't pass HIV to men”

~ “A person can not get HIV from having sex just one time”

~ “HIV and AIDS is the same thing”

~ “There is a cure for HIV/AIDS”

~ “A person can get AIDS from a toilet seat”

~ “All people who get HIV will get AIDS”

I know that God is going to keep helping me work through this issue in my own life. I hope that this was beneficial in yours if you struggle with this like I do. When the time comes I hope that I reach out to whoever it might be with arms filled with Christ's love.

God is Amazing!

I will instruct you and teach you in the way you should go; I will counsel you with my eye upon you. Be not like a horse or a mule, without understanding which must be curbed with bit and bridle, or it will not stay near you. Many are the sorrows of the wicked, but steadfast love surrounds the one who trusts in the Lord. Be glad in the Lord, and rejoice, O righteous and shout for joy, all you upright in heart! -Ps 32:8-11