Stepping Out Into What God Asks

Stepping Out Into What God Asks 

{Ministry night in Papeete} 

Jan 4th

Beth:

"We all have expectations we place on ourselves. Some are expectations we have of ourselves, some are expectations others place on us, some are expectations we think others are placing on us. During DTS and outreach, we are learning to hear and understand the expectations God has for us. One of the biggest character traits of God I have learned is His gentleness. He guides gently and speaks gently in a loving manner. His expectations for each of us are different. Sometimes he calls us to be in front of people, the center of attention, speaking to many people and sharing about him in a loud voice. Other times he calls us to work quietly for him with little or no recognition. 

It is these callings where we receive little or no recognition that can be difficult. Our work goes unrecognized and we can feel that it is unimportant. We may feel others are looking down on us because maybe, just maybe, they think we are not pulling out weight…maybe we don't have enough faith…maybe we aren't doing what we're supposed to be doing. 

We were in Papete with the team from Sydney for an evening of evangelism. I was paired up with Zara, a girl from their team. We walked around for 10 minutes or so when she stopped me and said, "maybe we should talk to that man in the baseball cap." We started to walk his way when she stopped me again and said, "well, I don't know, I don't know if God is telling me, or if I just feel I'm supposed to talk to someone." I told her that sometimes, we are called to talk to people, sometimes we are called to just pray, sometimes God might have something completely different for us that we feel others want us to do. She thought my words were so wise. I heard me preaching myself a sermon. 

Street evangelism is hard for me. God doesn't usually tell me random people to speak to. It sometimes feels forced. I have been surprised when another who does hear more starts speaking to someone and I end up having a wonderful conversation with them, but I do better with the random shopkeeper or person sitting next to me on a plane that I strike up a random conversation with. 

Zara, though for a moment, then said, "I really feel God asked me to ask you what you needed prayer for." I told her a couple things. She prayed, and then over the next half hour, we continued praying for all the people and places around us. It felt so right. It was so refreshing. We had our eyes open and just looked like 2 people having a conversation. Our work was quiet and didn't demand recognition, but it was significant to God. 

God is continuing to teach me to step into his plan for me, and not be concerned with what others think. It's a long process, sometimes it's a difficult process, but it's a good process."

Coming in the Opposite Spirit

Coming in the Opposite Spirit

Jan 11th

Casia:

"Today was an incredible shift within the unity of our team.

I KNOW people have been praying for us because the shift couldn't have happened without some serious intervention from God.

So thank you so so much for everyone who prayed for us… we are deeply thankful."

~~~

"Ali has been wanting to orchestrate washing each others feet since the first week that we arrived in French Polynesia but every time that she planned on doing it, something else came up. Our prayer and worship times together have been seriously attacked as well. This morning Ali made it the priority to just soak and worship together.

Afterwards she read from the passage in John 13 about when Jesus humbled himself in an act of love as well as an example to His disciples, and washed all of their feet. Then Ali explained how in order to combat the Spirit of judgment and pride we need to come in the opposite Spirit: humility & love. She proceeded then to wash all of our feet. I know everyone was really touched and overcome with emotion by this time. Some of the people in our team continued to serve each other by rubbing an oil perfume on our feet after Ali's example. The entire worship and feet washing time I was so moved. I was so humbled and overwhelmed by God's love and Jesus's example of love that I couldn't hold back tears. God's love was so evident this morning.

In John 13:34-35, when Jesus finished washing His disciples feet He said:

"A new commandment I give to you, that you love one another: just as I have loved you, you also are to love one another. By this all people will know that you are my disciples, if you have love for one another."

This is what we are called to do as a team: love each other, and love those around us. Because that is the biggest testament of God's love.

~~~

That morning Kelly received the scripture: Psalm 133

"Behold, how good and pleasant it is

when brothers dwell in unity!

 It is like the precious oil on the head,

running down on the beard,

on the beard of Aaron,

running down on the collar of his robes!

 It is like the dew of Hermon,

which falls on the mountains of Zion!

For there the Lord has commanded the blessing,

life forevermore."

~~~

There has been a serious shift in the unity of our team.

God has been orchestrating the changes in the dynamic of the team as well. It is such a good dynamic shift to have Anna on our team now too. We are so thankful to have her with us. She is a refreshing encouragement for our team.

~~~

Jan 13th

Ali:

"This morning, we went to the port to speak to the captain of the boat one more time to see if we would be able to leave for the islands. We arrived around 8am and had to ask around for the captain who was on the boat. I explained that he'd told us to come back and speak to him about our travel plans and he asked us to write down our names and ages, then said we could come to get the boat tomorrow. We didn't pay anything, which makes it feel less certain, but it seems to be the way they do things. 

He said that for the boat to the other islands we'd have to turn up at the port each time, but I did show him where we planned to go and when, plus he can see our persistence to go! I also explained that people are expecting us there, as we have hosts who will welcome us. I believe that he will stay true to his word about us getting the boat, but I am also aware that the government has been checking on how many passengers are taken. So, pray that throughout the next month there will be NO checks on them! I believe that God would not open the door for us to leave without giving us a way back in a month so we can return to France!! :)

I'm excited to be leaving and going back to the islands, although I will be sad to leave Tahiti - this place is so rich in wonderful people, so it's sad to say goodbye to those here, but exciting to be visiting new people on other islands!"

Casia:

"Before we knew if we would be getting the boat to the Island's or not we prayed together as a team about the direction we should take. Regarding leaving to the Islands {Huahine, Bora Bora, Raiatea} God gave Farrah this scripture: 

2 thessalonians 3:7 

"For you yourselves know how you ought to imitate us, because we were not idle when we were with you, nor did we eat anyone's bread without paying for it, but with toil and labor we worked night and day, that we might not be a burden to any of you." 

She felt like it was a warning about not taking advantage of the people we are supposed to come and bless. 

So please continue to pray that we would be more a blessing than a burden to the people we've come to bless."

Prayer requests, the Spirit of the land, Decisions and Changes

Prayer requests, the Spirit of the land, Decisions and Changes

~~~

Prefacing our prayer requests, here is some insight into the Spiritual climate around us: 

There is a big emphasis on the spiritual… which is really good cause people are so excited about what the Holy Spirit is doing but that can also lead to the spirit of the false prophet {Being prophetic and performance focused and getting the glory for yourself} And there is also a big issue with the religious spirit where people go to church as a tradition but do not know Jesus personally. There is also a Spirit of deceit where there is a confusion between Christianity and the Old ancestral religion or Mormon beliefs. There is a spirit of tiredness - laziness. Issues with miscommunication, lack of trust & a Spirit of judgement also seem to be common. The spirit of judgement and pride partially comes from the way people communicate here too.

When you're vulnerable it is easy to step into the attitudes of the spiritual climate around you. 

~~~~~

Casia:

"Kelly and I both felt the exact same oppression of judgement separately and realized it was a spiritual attack… that it was one of the Spirits of the Island. The oppression of pride, feeling judged by others and judging others. The judgement we were both experiencing was ridiculous! It was almost every thought! I said: "Okay God this is not of you and this is not me either so what is this?!" God has been talking about armor to me in the new year as the season is shifting:

Yesterday and this morning I was really struggling with frustration and sadness… missing home… missing family.

It was cool what God spoke to me about it today though…

Beth was really struggling with the same thing this morning for different reasons and we were prayer partners. 

She was crying so I was holding her and praying for her.

God gave me the word righteousness but I didn't understand what it meant.

We went and sat down and I began speaking to her about asking God to put a border of protection around us when we are in a vulnerable place… And then I realized what the word righteousness was for.

We were meant to put on a breastplate of righteousness today...

It's really easy to be in a vulnerable place when you are sad and missing home…

It's really easy to step into wrong attitudes or the spirit of the land or people around you and agree with lies…

Really easy when you are vulnerable.

Things like anger, frustration, apathy, laziness, judgement…

Just some of the things that I've been attacked with…

God showed me his breastplate of righteousness.

A piece of armor that protects your heart

and righteousness - the opposite thing to step into than the attacks….

It's so cool how God puts me in a position where I'm speaking to someone with the same struggle I am having

 and then gives me the very words of encouragement that I need to hear for myself.

I love it when he does that!!!"

 

Ali:

"When I first planned our trip in French Polynesia, I planned for us to spend a month of our time traveling to some of the islands near Tahiti called the Windward Islands.

The boats that take passengers to the islands are actually freight boats that allow passengers to travel on the bridge. Because of this there are limited spaces on board - they advertise only 12 places. Unfortunately I didn't get to reserve tickets before the new year and the offices were closed for the first week of January. As a result, when we got to the offices to try and reserve tickets to go to three different islands, we were told there were no spaces until the end of the month. When we came 3 years ago, we were able to book tickets quite close to the date of departure and the captains weren't worried about having more than 12 passengers on the bridge. Unfortunately, now the government is giving fines regularly when the boats are overfilled, meaning the captains are more cautious about how many people they allow on at a time. Thus it's hard to book tickets for 7 people when they say they're already full!

This past week we've taken the half hour drive to the port several times in order to speak to the captains of two boats, to see about getting tickets for next week. We were told to come back ready to go on the day of departure to see if we could get spaces. With this as our option, we knew we'd have to start working on a back-up plan in case they decided not to allow us on. I felt uneasy about having to wait until the departure day to know if we'd be able to get the boat and then we didn't even know if we'd have the same problem for traveling to the other islands or even getting back to Tahiti in February!! 

We've been wondering if there's a reason why the door hasn't been open yet for getting tickets, especially as we keep being told to wait until the day of departure. We know that there is a heavier spiritual atmosphere on the other islands and we wondered if perhaps God was showing us that we're not ready as a team to face that kind of spiritual climate. Throughout the last 6 weeks we have been working through issues affecting the unity of our team, so perhaps there are still things we need to work through before leaving. 

We decided to set Thursday as a day of prayer and fasting as a team to seek what God wanted to say. There were several options to use as backup plans - there are so many ministry opportunities in Tahiti, even if you don't have a car to get around (we have to give our rental cars back on Tuesday and we don't have a budget to keep them longer if we have to stay in Tahiti). The problem is knowing which place we should go if we don't get to go to all of the islands (at this point, it may still be possible to go to Raiatea at the end of the month even if we don't go to the other two islands).

Before going to the port on Thursday afternoon, we discussed the different options and what our feelings were towards them. Unfortunately it felt quite confusing, as we were all feeling different things about different places - we weren't united on what path to take. It's also hard for me to know how to make the final decision when there is such discord, as I know I have my own preferences, but I don't know if that is God leading me. 

We decided to write all the options on pieces of paper, turn them over and give them random numbers, then each to pray and ask God to speak revelation over the different places without us knowing what they were. Some of us received words and verses, others of us didn't receive anything about specific places. Most of us felt drawn to one number (3). It was hard to know what to do with it though once we discovered which place it was - Was God telling us to go there and if yes was it only if it didn't work out to leave on the boats or was He telling us not to get the boat for Huahaine? I know on my part, I felt the options in Tahiti were only a backup plan if it didn't work out for the boats. Meanwhile, throughout the whole prayer time, Beth felt a very strongly that we needed to go to the port to ask again about tickets, if only to book for Raiatea at the end of the month before that was also fully booked. 

Eventually a few of us left to go to the port. For one boat, the office was closed and the boat had left for it's tour of the islands, so we couldn't speak to the captain again. When we got to the other boat, the Hawaikinui, which I took last time I was here, the boat was loading cargo and the passengers were waiting to board. We went to ask in the office about booking tickets, but the woman told us the first available spaces were February 6th! We explained that we planned to go to several islands and that we had planned to stay with people there already, so she told us to go and speak to the captain directly and get tickets through him. 

It was interesting to see that many of the people waiting for the boat didn't seem to have tickets either and they were just waiting to see if the captain would allow them to board. They even waved Beth and I onto the boat and even though we said we wanted tickets for Tuesday, they were saying we could go with them right then and there! That would've been great if we'd all been there together with our luggage! He told us to come ask on Tuesday to see if we could get on then. I explained that we needed to get tickets for several journeys for 7 people and that we wanted to be sure to get tickets as it was more complicated than just one journey! Eventually he told us to come back and speak to him on Monday morning and he'd see what he could do. This made me hopeful, as this way we would have our answer the day before we were supposed to leave (and give up the cars etc). I feel that whatever happens on Monday will show us if God is opening or closing the door for our travel to the islands. But I also feel that it would be a shame to miss out on going to visit the people there, as even with the spiritual heaviness, the islands are rich with wonderful people to meet and many more opportunities to share Jesus' love!."

PRAYERS REQUESTS

*Unity within the team

*Protection 

*That we would get the boat

*Clarity of Direction

{That God would clearly open and close the doors we are meant to walk through, or not.}

*Peace about a decision

And most especially that we would be a blessing and not a burden to the people we meet wherever we are, wether we stay in Tahiti or go to the Islands. 

Faith and Sports

Faith and Sports

Casia:

"One of the ministries that we have been able to be a part of during our time in Tahiti is "Foi et Sport" {Faith and Sports}.

Just on the beach outside of the church "Assemblée de Dieu," Alain and the guys from the church set up soccer nets or volleyball nets and play with anyone that comes. It really is an incredible ministry because you give the glory to God and make it known that you love Him {Pray before and after the game} and then play the game you love with teamwork… It's so so fun. It has been one of the funnest things to be a part of while in Tahiti. Just this last Sunday was one of the funnest games of soccer that I've ever played. It was so cool too because several of the guys we met while doing ministry in Papeete on Friday night, came to play with us."

Friday Papeete Ministry

Friday Papeete Ministry 

Jan 3rd

Farrah:

"So, At first I was in one team with Sam a Korean guy, Duke an American guy and Orama a Tahitian girl. At first when we were walking in the street we wanted to be led by the Holy Spirit and Orama felt like we should go talk to these two Tahitian guys, because they were the only two people at the Port who did not have a drink. When Orama went to go talk to them, I just felt like I didn't need to go talk to them. I don't know why, but I turned my face and started to walk a few steps in the other direction. That's when I saw a woman living on the streets who I'd met about two weeks ago. Last time I met this woman I prayed for her while she was extremely drunk and crying. Now she looked gorgeous because she wasn't drinking, and her face looked a lot healthier. When I went to go talk with her she was wearing pajamas and holding a pillow because she was ready for bed. Instead of going to drink with her friends she was smiling and going to bed. I started to speak with her and she said "It was really nice because you started to speak with me about my kids." It was that moment that Mathieu passed by with his team: Holly and Austin. So I asked if they wanted to come and pray with me for her. That's when Holly came and gave her encouraging words about her beauty. I told her that she looked beautiful tonight. Holly, who doesn't speak french, didn't really know what was going on because of the language but began to pray for her. Holly had so much compassion for this woman that she began to cry and she was receiving a lot of good words for her. Holly was super excited about praying for this woman. 

It was the first time Holly and Austin had dome street evangelism, so Mathieu and I explained it to them and they began to understand it more as we went out."

Our New Years

Our New Years

Dec 30th, 31st & Jan 1st

New Years Transitions:

We have just passed through one third of our trip together while simultaneously leaving one year and entering another. 

It's a bit odd being in the middle of one "season" {Outreach} yet transitioning "seasons" {From one year to the next}.

We are definitely feeling the spiritual shift in more ways then one. 

     Firstly the time we've spent in Tahiti has really been focused on growing us in how we work together as a team and now it seems to be transitioning into putting on our armor for a different battle. In the first couple days of the New year God has really been highlighting the need to put on His armor because we will constantly be moving through new spiritually heavy climates on each of the Islands.     

 Another shift besides embarking to the other Islands is gaining a new addition to our team. 

Anna, one of the leaders of our school, will be making a pastoral visit and staying with our team for the rest of the trip. We can hardly wait to see her! We know that this is going to shift the dynamic of our team once again but we are excited knowing how the shifts have come at God's perfect timing.

Our Three Day New Years Celebration:

Beth:

"For New Years we had a wonderful time of cultural exchange with Nony, Alan and family. We helped collect, prepare and hang different plants, leaves, and flowers for decorations the 2 days before. We also helped prepare two wonderful meals. The meal for New Year's Eve consisted of Langoustines (like lobster), leg of lamb and turkey with a plumb pineapple sauce, mussels, various appetizers, potatoes au gratin, and quiche. For New Years day, we helped prepare the Hima (a large underground oven) for 2 pigs, pooee (banana and guava pudding), bread fruit, and plantain bananas. We also enjoyed poisson cru, more fafaru (though none of us ate any this time), various shellfish including barnacles in a cream sauce, rice, and much more. It was delicious! Our fun time was made complete with dancing, wonderful conversations, volleyball, and swimming at the beach."

Prison Ministry

Prison Ministry

Dec 29th

Casia:

"This Sunday morning we went to do some ministry at a prison in Pape'ete. We left our house in Tiarei at 5:20am for the protestant service in the prison. Just two days earlier is when we first prepared as a team for what we would be doing at the Prison. Before we talked about it on the 27th I read Matthew 2 that morning and during our time of talking about the prison ministry I found out that it was the exact passage that they would be reading on Sunday. They asked us to build our message around that passage: Matthew 2:13-23. While we were praying God had also put on my heart to talk about Destiny and His Father heart. The way it came together I felt that God was so obviously asking me to speak to the prisoners. I was really nervous but ready to speak because I knew that if God wanted me to speak, than he would give me the words and speak through me. My team prayed over me and I felt complete peace settle on me. As they were praying I was reminded of how God had told me to speak to His nations just in the beginning of this year, and He showed me how I would be doing exactly that by speaking to the Polynesian prisoners on Sunday morning. It's so incredible to me how God does that… He shows me the vision, I speak it out, and then He brings me into places where I am actually given the opportunity to respond in obedience by doing what He has shown me I would be doing.

Seeing these imprisoned men worshipping God so freely, with such strength and abandon was one of the most touching things I've ever experienced. I felt so much joy in the room while they worshiped in Tahitian and French with such strength. I felt moved to tears. I felt the deep honor of speaking to these men…"

~~~~~

Here are the four points God highlighted for me to share from Matthew 2:13-23:

1.The enemy tries to take you out.

Matthew 2:16-18

~A whole generation of boys was killed in an attempt to take Jesus's life.     

2.The Father always wants to rescue his daughter/son.

Matthew 2:13,15 & 22

~“Out of Egypt I called my son.”

God warned Joseph of the threat on His son's life.

He was watching over his son.

3. God speaks

Matthew 2:13,15,17,19,22,23

~Just in those verses it demonstrates 6 different times how God speaks, either through dreams, or by confirming what He spoke to the prophets many years earlier. 

4. God has a specific plan/destiny for you... for each one of us. 

Matthew 2:23

~Jesus was called a Nazarene.

Even when you mess up or run in the opposite direction, God is always reminding you of his plan/promises for you. 

It's not easy to miss out on your destiny.

~~~~~~

Jeremiah 1:5-8

"Now the word of the Lord came to me, saying,

 “Before I formed you in the womb I knew you,

and before you were born I consecrated you;

I appointed you a prophet to the nations.”

 Then I said, “Ah, Lord God! Behold, I do not know how to speak, for I am only a youth.” But the Lord said to me,

“Do not say, ‘I am only a youth’;

for to all to whom I send you, you shall go,

and whatever I command you, you shall speak.

 Do not be afraid of them,

 for I am with you to deliver you,

declares the Lord."