Reaching Out

Hello everyone! I didn’t get a blog posted last week, so this one might be longer. Last week we had Bill Payne speak for the week. He spoke on the character of God. It has been so amazing to look at how much God truly loves us. That it’s not just that He loves us, but that throughout all eternity God’s love has always been the same. Nothing we do or the failures we’ve had can add or subtract from His love because God loves us with ALL that He is. Bill talked about Jesus’ death on the cross. We all know that He was crucified and died for our sins, but you know about how the Bible says that He was speared and blood and water flowed out of Jesus’ chest. Well, when someone is stabbed first water would come and then the blood because the heart would be punctured last, but it says blood and water flowed out together, which means that a blood vessel or Jesus’ heart would have had to burst for it to be mixed. Jesus literally died of a broken heart because of His love for us. That just amazes me!!!

God has been continually pouring into us and reminding us of His love. He just keeps saying “I love you, and you are to love people like I love them.” He longs for everyone to love Him, but since love is only love if it is freely chosen, He gives us the free will to choose to love Him. When we choose to follow Jesus, we are commanded to love others. We learned more about that this week when Joe Rystrom, one of our base directors, spoke on missions. We as Christians are called to go out and spread God’s love with every tribe, tongue, nation, and people. This is God’s heart to see them all worshipping before Him (Rev. 7:9). God speaks of love around 559 times in the Bible. He speaks of reaching the nations around 559 times. Do you think there is a connection? God loves everyone, but He needs us to go out into the world and share Him with them. I never realized how few cross-cultural missionaries there are in the world. There are only 400,000 full-time missionaries in the world, and they are working to share the Gospel to around 3 billion people in the unreached nations of the world. The sad things is that our churches aren’t supporting God’s call to reach the world enough. Statistics show that a total of $330 billion are spent in churches a year, but of this money only .1% ($400 million) is spent on missions to reach the unreached people of the world. And only 5.9% ($19.6 billion) is spent of regular missions. How will every tribe, people, language, and nation come to know Christ if people are willing to go and to help?

We had a time to think about what we learned and to pray and ask God how He wants us to help in reaching these people. I feel that God placed me in Lincoln for a reason, but that I’m called to raise up students and take them out into missions. To open their eyes to reaching out to people around the world. I know that I just need to trust God and He will guide me to where I’m to go and who I’m to reach.

So I’m learning a lot, but I’m also having a lot of fun too! Last weekend was Chinese New Year so a group of us went to a parade in the city. Next weekend there will be a huge celebration in the temple area next to our village. It’s so fun seeing this culture and learning about it. We have also have been hanging out a lot and just being crazy, which is normal for us :) Last weekend a few of us climbed the mountain that is behind our village. It was quite a hike, but I pushed through! Sadly, it was cloudy on the top and we couldn't see mainland China, but it was still a fun and challenging adventure I enjoyed!


Please continue to pray for me and all of us here. Next week we will be learning about personal strongholds. If you could just pray for me to continue to be open and willing to learn and to let my heart be molded into what God wants it to be. Thanks so much! Love you all

Men are a sack of dirt without God's breath.

This past week we had Dean Sherman as a guest speaker. He spoke on Relationships and Spiritual Warfare. God revealed many things to me this week, especially in the relationships teachings. Luke 10:27 says: “Love the Lord your God with all you heart and with all your soul and with all your strength and with all your mind and love your neighbor as yourself.” This is our greatest commandment. This is what our religion is all about because this is what Jesus did. God has been working in my heart to love myself and others as well. It’s hard to always choose love, but we are commanded to do so. Another thing was that ALL love comes from God, and no one can show true love to anyone without loving God. We must choose to love God and love others even when the feeling is gone. Love is a choice, an action. It’s one of those things that I have to remind myself to do. I have to choose to love people when I’m happy, tired, frustrated, or hurt.

Like I said before, we also learned about spiritual warfare which was very interesting. I hadn’t realized that our authority over Satan in Jesus name was so great. I knew we had authority, but I didn’t realize that God doesn’t intervene in spiritual matters unless someone is willing to be used. He can, if He wants to, but He loves us enough to let us choose to be yielded to Him. God won’t force Himself upon us. We as humans must yield to God and allow Him to work through us.

There are so many things to process, but it is so good to learn all of these things. Love you and I will update you next week!

New Faces and New Places

I made it to Hong Kong last week and have pushed through tired days of jet lag in my first week and a half of my Discipleship Training School!!!! There are 16 students here: 12 girls and 4 guys. We have Lauren and Rachel from England; Sandra from Germany; Séphora from Switzerland; Josh from Australia; Grace from Hong Kong; Katie, Stephen, and Chris from Canada; Christine from the Philippines; Miriam from Oregon; Christa from Washington; Adam from California; Le from Omaha; and Elise and I. It has been great getting to know everyone!!!

We officially started the DTS started on Wednesday (Jan. 20). Most of the day was introduction and orientation of the base and duties we have. Then we have had one lesson about “Little Foxes” which are just those little sins that we don’t always acknowledge because they don’t seem to be that big of a deal, but things like that can build into bigger things. The rest of that week we have shared testimonies of all of us students as well as all of the leaders. I love hearing about everyone’s experiences and how Jesus has impacted their lives.

Last weekend we spent a day out with the team so the staff took us into Hong Kong Island. We road a tram up the Peak and took a lot of cool pictures then they sent us on a scavenger hunt throughout the city. My team got lost and we were 20 minutes late, but we still had fun :D Then we had a BBQ and played more games and had some karaoke. We went to church in the city at The Vine. It is a contemporary English speaking church that is very diverse. I liked it a lot and I will probably attend there regularly.

This past week God has really revealed a lot to me. We have had many lessons on prayer, intercession, hearing God’s voice, worship, pride, and the list goes on. They have been foundational things, but it has been so good to refresh my heart and mind. God really captured my heart and met me where I am. He takes me for who I am and just wants me to give my whole heart, no matter how big or small, He just wants it all. It was challenging, and sometimes I didn’t want to trust Him and give up that piece of my heart, but He has been blessing me in this time.

Other than our busy schedule and lessons, we have had time to spend with our team. We have been playing quite a bit of soccer and Frisbee and it has been a lot of fun!!! Even though it has been so fun, I have gotten hurt, a lot! Haha. I have massive bruises on my legs and I rolled my ankle from playing soccer then I accidently got hit in the face with a chair. haha oh well!

My injuries

I will keep updating you in the weeks to come! Love you and miss you all! God bless

Headed to HK

Well, tomorrow is the day. I leave at 5:55 am to go back to Hong Kong. It has been hectic these past 2 weeks since God first told me to 'take a leap of faith' and go back to Hong Kong so soon. Although I have talked to so many people and made so many plans, everything seemed to work out without a problem. Definitely not me!!! God was in control of it from the start and He made it all work out for me to be able to go back! Praise Jesus!!!

I don't know really how to express my feelings right now. I'm super excited, and I'm actually not too nervous. I really have a peace about it all. It is emotional saying good-bye to friends and family, but I know they are in God's hands. I am so fortunate to have the family and friends that I do. They all have been so supportive and have prayed with me and for me for this whole adventure that God has called me to. I want to thank you all for the support! Love you!!!

Hong Kong

It has been a long time since I have last blogged, and last time I was talking about not knowing where God was leading me. I still don't know about what I'll do after I graduate, but I do know what I'm doing now :)

This past Christmas I did Christmas Outreach in Hong Kong with YWAM. It was an amazing experience, and while there God laid on my heart to do a DTS (Discipleship Training School). I thought, "Yeah, I'll do that after I graduate. That will be perfect!" Well, God had other plans. Much to my surprise, He meant DTS now, and it starts in 1 1/2 weeks! It seems absolutely crazy, but the timing really couldn't be so right. Everything seems to be working out for me to go.

It's hard to leave, but I know I need to do this. I can't imagine what it will be like to be gone for 5 months, but I'm open to what God has to teach me and do through me. While at COR I learned a lot, but I just sensed that God was saying that He's just begun, and He's not ready to let me go back to the real world quite yet. He has things to teach me that will benefit me and my future. I trust this calling and I'm so excited!

It has also been such a blessing to have such great friends and family that are supporting me with this decision. Thank you all so much!!! I just ask for your continued prayer and support for me in this time and also for the rest of the DTS members.

Thanks again!
God bless

bloggity, blog, blog...oh brittney

I couldn't think of a title, so Brittney helped me out with it ;) It's been awhile. I have started my Junior year at Wesleyan and it has been great hanging out with my roommates :) But we do miss Elise a lot. It seems so weird that she isn't texting us to let her in, as well as gracing our prescence with her special scent ;) We are going to start a Bible study for the four of us and I'm really excited to just grow that bond with the three of them.

It has been interesting lately how some friendships that were so close in the past have just drifted away and gotten awkward. It is frustrating, but at the same time I don't regret growing closer to my roommates and Elise. I guess there is a time for everything, and I remember while reading "Captivating" that it talked about the circles of friends and how people go from one circle to another and the circl closest to you are those friends that you share your life and intimate details with. Your best friends. And I have those now, even though it has changed from the past. Even though people change and relationships change, I treasure those friendships that you can go so long without speaking, and when you finally do, it is amazing! I have had a couple of those talks recently with Alicia and Megan and it has been so good! I just thank Jesus for still being able to share anything even though the timing of things doesn't always work out.

So changing topics...I would love to ask for some prayer. First of all, One80 has their first preview service on Sunday!!! I just pray that people will come and see Jesus in all of us there. Also, on Wednesday we are kicking off the Crash Sight youth group. Things are slowly falling into place, but I know God is leading this. I just don't see the full plan yet...it will happen though, I just need to keep the faith!

I'm also praying about where God is leading me after I graduate. This past weekend I went to LifeLight, and God really laid the children of Africa on my heart. I am now sponsoring a little boy, Antonio, from Mozambique, and I went to a seminar about an orphanage in the Congo. I am strongly considering and praying about a short-term mission trip there, possibly next summer. After that, I don't know where God is leading me. I'm sure His plan will be more clear as the year and a half until I graduate progresses. Whether that means stay in Lincoln, teach, and do youth group. Or if it means go overseas and teach...I have no idea, but these are just some thoughts and prayer concerns for me right now. Thanks so much! Love you and God bless

Fishing, Friends, and Family

Last week was a good one for me. On Sunday Mom, Brittany, and I spoke in church about missions and reaching out to others. It was awesome to be able to share what's going on in my life here in Lincoln and also how Mom and I are going to Hong Kong in December. It was good to finally have some support from my home church. Many people have asked a lot about it all and are excited for us!

I only had to work Monday and Tuesday and on Tuesday evening Cubby and I met to discuss youth group and such. I think we have an idea, but it's really hard to see what it will look like cuz we don't really want to jump ahead and have everything so structured, but at the same time I feel like I would still like an idea of where we are going, which I think we are getting to. But we did get our office planned!!! haha, we know exactly how we want to paint and decorate it :) I had no idea we would get an office! It's pretty exciting, and really, I'm mostly excited to just see where God is leading us in this. Like honestly, I feel so un-equipped, but I just trust that God will use me and what I have, and multiply it at all for His glory.

There are so many things that run through my head, and yet I know His plan will prosper. I don't want to let my thoughts get ahead of me and get in the way of what God has prepared for me. I know that is vague, but it will have to do ;)

On Wednesday Audrey and I had our yearly fishing outing :) Jaden, her cousin came with us. We had a perfect day for it! I caught 7 and both Audrey and Jaden caught 8 each!!! It was fun and relaxing! But I did get a major sunburn on my leg!!! It's much better now.

Thursday and Friday I went to Sioux Falls with my family and Tom, Bonnie and Trent, Mandi's family. We went shopping and us girls got pedicures when the guys went golfing. Then we went to the Falls that night, which were beautiful! And we played cards that night. It was fun. Then we spent all day Friday at Wild Water West. We swam and rode down the slides and rode go-karts and put-put golfed. It was an amazing week!!!

I was able to see Emily this weekend too, and we went to Bible Study again, which was also good :) Well, that's about all for now. Hope I got you all caught up! lol

God bless, and I love you!
Alli