dwelling: contentment, blessings, and challenges

Wow a lot has happened since I last wrote!

Life has been a whirlwind lately. I'm loving every minute!

God has been so faithful to answer prayers and fill me with his peace and joy.

He has continually poured out his love on me and is sustaining me with his presence.
In the past month, the Snowboarders DTS has kicked off and is going strong! The students are so great, and so hungry for more of what God has for them. It has been really fun getting to know each of them and seeing how God is transforming their lives each day. He's so good!
The basic leadership school I am in, which meets once a week, has been good so far. I love the deep discussions we have and thought provoking teachings. All of my friends around my age are in it with me and so it feels like more of an intentional hang out time than anything! I love the relationships that have been built in through this and how fast we have gotten to know each other.

In July I had the privilege of hopping over to Australia to see my dad while he was working there! It was a perfect time away and so refreshing to get to spend some time with my daddy.
We had so much fun trying new foods, catching up on life, and experiencing a new place together. We even got to feed some kangaroos and pet tasmanian devils and koalas!
I had a lot of time to myself which I used by exploring Hobart and processing things with God.
I realized on that trip just how valuable my relationship with God is. He truly is my very best friend.
He doesn't mind how long I take looking at every nook and cranny of an art shop, and he actually enjoys it with me. He likes everything I like, and loves silently contemplating life with me. He loves just being with me, and that is something I appreciate very much.
I also got to enjoy hanging out with the fabulous Take 6 guys! Annnnd their show at the Festival of Voices was outstanding!!!
All together it was quite an enjoyable week away :)

Being back on the base after that was exciting for me. It really felt like coming home. Although I do miss my American home and my family there very deeply, I adore living in New Zealand. There is no place like it! And I love the amazing people I live with. Community living it just awesome. I mean it! I'm blessed to live with people who are actively running towards the Lord's heart and seeking His face. It is so encouraging and full of joy and peace.
That being said, can I just take a minute to brag about my roommates?!
I live with 4 incredible women and I love their beautiful hearts!!!
The fact that God called us all here at the same time to live together and support each other is an amazing blessing to me.
Here's a picture of all of us from a Christmas in August party we just went to (gotta remember it's winter in NZ! It only makes sense!:)
From left to right:
Judy, Natalie, Sophie, me, and Mandi.
These girls make my life so full! We all enjoy each other a lot! :)

So, what else has been going on in my life, you ask?

Well this past month for me has been a season of sacrifice. Mostly in the form of my time.

It is so important to me that Jesus comes first. #1 priority. So that is what I'm working on.

He has been challenging me to become more disciplined, with how I use my spare time, with how I take care of my body, with my quiet times, with how much I read the Word, and with how I eat.

I want to make every moment count. I cannot afford to waste time anymore. I have to make Jesus Lord over every area of my life. He's calling me to be healthy in soul, spirit, and body; so that's what I'm working on!

This month I am pursing the Lord by doing a Daniel fast. This is a 21 day fast in which I can only eat fruit and veggies and nuts, and drink only water. I am currently on day 2 of this fast and so far it's going well! The detox process of it has been a bit challenging because it makes me feel sick and sleepy (and not to mention...hungry). But I am so excited to push through and see what God makes of this time. It is a time of pressing into Him, growing spiritually, and laying down things that I sometimes value more than time with Jesus.

It's so good!

As for the rest of life, lately I have been in prayer about which direction the Lord is taking me while I'm working at YWAM. I have been wondering if I'm supposed to staff a Discipleship Training School, or if I should continue serving in Hospitality. Soon there will be a need here that, if I were to fill, I would be taking on much more responsibility than I have now. I was feeling torn between the two options.

But after much consideration and much prayer, I am feeling peace about staying put where I am, learning, and eventually moving into a job role that will require more of me. Even though the thought of taking on more responsibility for a while is a little scary, I believe that the Lord has equipped me to do good work for Him wherever I am, so I feel peace.

Oh yeah, and! I've taken the leader position for base intercession, which happens every Thursday morning. I lead everyone in prayer for whatever is on God's heart that week. So far so good! It's fun getting to lead people into a place of deep prayer and hearing God's voice.

NOW I get to inform you on things you can be praying for!

And thank you, so much, to those of you who do pray for me regularly.

I mentioned it in a Facebook status a little while ago how THANKFUL I am for your prayers!

God hears every one and He delivers them halfway across the world to me.

And I really can feel them. He is so faithful!

1.) Money. Yep... typical. But to be completely honest with you, prices in New Zealand are SO HIGH, which makes living here on no income pretty hard.

A gallon of gas is around $8. A meal at a restaurant is around $20. ONE tomato is $6. The rest of the fresh fruits and veggies are pricey as well.

Thankfully I usually do not have to worry about food so much (one of the community living perks), but if I want anything other than what's made for lunch & dinner, I have to buy it.

And because of my gluten and, recently acquired, dairy allergies, it's not as easy to eat what the rest of the base eats every day.

Other than food and car usage, my base fees are about $85, every week.

It's difficult working 9-5 without pay, and paying to live here.

I'm satisfied knowing that Papa is storing up my rewards in heaven.

But I do need financial support for what I'm doing and I humbly ask you to consider, with prayer, supporting me in that way. I want to continue to be a blessing to others and to serve the young missionaries we send out to the nations so often. I love what I do. It's a privilege. I know God will provide. Will you partner with us?

2.) Pray with me as I fast, and consider fasting yourself! Laying down earthly things for the Lord is pleasing to His heart. Read the book of Daniel and also check out ihop.org, as they are doing this fast too! Find Mike Bickle's teaching on the Daniel fast--it's good :)

3.) Pray for the base and the Oxford community. We want to be set on fire for Jesus and we want it to spread into our little community we're a part of! There are so many people here who are in need of the love of Christ our Savior.

4.) Prayer for health. With it being winter here, it's obviously that time of year when everyone is getting sick...

Also I messed up my left knee somehow and it hurts to walk on... bummer! I've been keeping it propped up with a heat pack on it when I can.

5.) Direction for the future is always good :)

Thank you and blessings!!!

Stephanie