Good morning! So far, the Lord has blessed me with minimal jet lag. I'm turning a new leaf and getting up early. This morning and yesterday I got up at 0400. Living on a boat with 50 people sort of inspires alone time though. (: The sun still hasn't risen yet here this morning, but I'm sure it will be beautiful.
I want to be intentional with this blog and update it every day. (Because I'm putting this in writing, I think it will be easier to accomplish.) I believe that all we really have in this world is the grace of God Almighty and our story to tell. My goal is to share what He's doing in my life and what this season with Him looks like. After just spending a day and a half with these people that are my brothers and sisters in Christ, I already know that He has great and wonderful things planned for us.
Yesterday was a sweet time of fellowship with about 7 members of our group on the ship. Everyone else ventured out to find the beach (which they discovered was an hour away walking) and spent the morning there. The seven of us that stayed behind sat in the Mess Hall (Mhm... that's what our 'dining room' is really called on the ship!) and told stories and just got to know one another. Since yesterday was Sunday here, the small group of us decided that we wanted to have some sort of worship service. So at about noon we gathered in the Lounge of the ship and sang in praise and worship to the Lord for an hour. It was sweet time spent together and so refreshing.
Most of you know that I've spent the last 10 months in Arizona working. I spent more time at work the last 6 months than I ever have. I LOVE my job, don't get me wrong, but it definitely impacted my ability to go to church or even have a normal quiet time. So yesterday, just relaxing and being able to worship the Lord for one of the first times in 6 months was just amazing. One of the students in my DTS is from Papua New Guinea (PNG). He played the guitar and one of the guys that was on my flight over played a bongo drum. It never ceases to amaze me how God moves, even in the simple and humble acts of worship.
This DTS has a pretty good mix of younger and older (well, not really older.. the oldest person is 28) and we also have one married couple that is doing the Trekking DTS. They are from Austria and some of the sweetest people I've met here.
The rest of yesterday afternoon was spent bonding over a card game from Germany that I can't remember the name of. At 1430 we all went down to the City Campus and had our orientation. We also got to tour the place. It is awe inspiring, and the story behind it amazing as well. The Lord has amazing things planned for YWAM Townsville and it is very exciting that we get to be apart of it!
We had a BBQ and got to tour the grounds of what used to be a trade school. It was so neat to walk through a place that you know will change the lives of hundreds of thousands of people over the coming years. After we finished at the new campus we came back to the ship for more orientation and finally participated in our first Tim Tam Slam. Tim Tams are chocolate covered wafers... I think that's the best way to describe them. Anywho, you bite off opposite corners of the Tim Tam, and then you stick it in a cup of hot chocolate and use it as a straw. Then when you've drank all of your cocoa through the straw you aren't supposed to use your hands to get the Tim Tam out. (: I think we all used our hands.
Speaking of the ship, I know you all want to see pictures! Have grace and patience please as we figure out this wi-fi thing!
Today we start our first day of classes. I really have no idea what it's going to look like, but I am so excited. Last night at our BBQ while talking and mingling with other people there was a sense of "We're ready". The same at the worship time we had afterwards. This group that the Lord designated to be here is so ready to commit themselves to whatever it is that God Almighty has for them. I'm honoured to be a part of this journey and to be with these people.
Prayer requests:
1. That we would continue to extend grace to one another while discovering how to live together.
2. That the Lord would meet us all right where we are at and that we would have open hearts and ears.
3. I've woken up with a slight sore throat the last two morning. Pray that I wouldn't get sick?
I'm off to watch the sunrise. Have a great Sunday to everyone in the States.
-Katie
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