Hello everyone! I'm so sorry for the lack of blogging, I have had a tough time getting online but a very generous girl has lent me her laptop.
Well I'm here in Maui and its AMAZING! Insane isn't it...don't know if I ever believed I'd make it. I arrived on Thursday 5th in the evening after 24 hours of traveling in the daylight, which wasn't the most fun. I arrived half dead. The journey didn't really go to planned either...due to the strong winds in Edinburgh my flight didn't leave until an hour after it was supposed to which meant I had 15 mins to run through Heathrow for my next flight! Then in Los Angeles airport everyone was a bit too chilled out to help direct me to my next flight in time which meant I got lost in the humungous airport and was last to board. Then unsurprisingly, on arrival I found out that my suitcase hadn't made it and was still stuck in London! I just received my suitcase back a week after arriving. But actually it was quite easy to cope without it, the girls in my room are lovely and have been so generous so clothes were never an issue.
I should set the scene a bit. The island is so beautiful and green and there's amazing colouful plants everywhere. The base is huge and is such an awesome place to live. We even have a blue parrot that comes and hangs with us while we have our meals. And no sign of rats yet. There's 16 of us girls who share the same room with triple bunk beds but its been so comfortable so far, no snorers. And the staff are great! Its such a fun house!
In the first couple of days we went to the beach at Paia bay. Its like a postcard beach. Though I wont be doing any swimming here...the waves are insane, its fun going in and jumping them....until it drags you under water and flips you then water shoots up your nose. But even so I'm going to try surfing next week...I won a 24hr surf rental in a raffle. I don't expect great things since I have awful balance on dry ground.
Our Exodus
On the night of Saturday 7th the DTS officially started and we had our opening night! And we were told that at 6am the next day we were going camping to start our Exodus and we could only pack like 10 things including only 1 t-shirt, 1 pair of socks, no toothbrush/paste, no deo, no hairbrush or makeup, no phones, no watches. This was to be for an unknown number of days in the 'wildnerness'. The idea was to show us how to follow God by just being present and not focusing on plans and whats happening next, and to get to know each other without all the falsities. Also to learn how much excess we rely on that we don't need. I felt so spoilt when I returned to my suitcase full of stuff! But I think everyone would say they got so much from being taken away from all the distractions. During Exodus we shared our testimonies around the camp fire and got to see amazing ways how God has worked through people and how much he heals whose who were once so broken. There really was some incredible stories where God just showed up in such undeniable ways!The teaching from Exodus and since has been about completely surrendering to God and saying YES even before you know what he's asking. Its been challenging because I think I'm understanding that these aren't just words but will actually completely change the course of my life to a life I can't plan ahead for. Its scary but really really exciting. Oh and for breakfast everyday we had plain oatmeal! And for lunch and dinner we had plain instant noodles! We had to compete for flavouring. But noodles! I love noodles, not too shabby for me.
On day 3 of Exodus we were told to pack up to travel on to our next camping spot. This was when we were completely knackered and starting to stink from no soap or toothpaste. And after a day of mud fights then washing in a freezing river near by. After a car breakdown and an hour of driving in the heat we arrived at a church where all the staff we waiting for us with a feast inside! Really I don't know if I've experience relief and happiness like that! It was so good to eat!! Though we couldn't wash until we got home so still looked and smelt just awful. After the meal the leaders all knelt to serve us and wash our feet. It was incredible and so humbling. God really revealed how much he loves me just as I am in that time. We had some powerful praise time after. Ahh Exodus was amazing! Was such an amazing start!
And now we have properly started lectures....starting with a week on listening to God. We had our first day today and already, wow. Then we are traveling to Kona, the main island, for a week on week 2 to meet all the Hawaiian DTS groups!! Then we will have New Hearts week where we really give God the chance to heal any bitter roots we've lived with. I've really felt God really moving in my life already and He is consitently tell me to "Be still (cease striving) and know that I am Lord"...it's been such a peaceful revelation just to know that God wants to just enjoy a relationship with me and loves me as I am...I'm not accepted by my works but by His consistant love and grace over me. He's shown himself to me as a breeze many times now...I had an image at the start of me being a straw of long grass just being blown about in the breeze and felt he was saying to just relax in his presence and just be. Such a gentle teacher. What a great guy! I love God. He's also shown me things that I have my grip too tightly on that I need to offer up to Him, plans for my life ahead. It ain't easy but it's for much bigger things to come!
Thanks for reading!!! MAHALO! I miss home and Re:Hope but having too much of a good time to dwell on it! God's here too!
And read my next post....it's got some exciting news in there!!
Love to you all and GOD BLESS! xxx
