The Kingdom at Work

God has already rocked my world this week after that announcement of my outreach location. Let me explain...

Last week Friday we got together with our outreach groups and discussed what our expectations for these two months are. First of all, they told us to not set expectations because when we get there it will probably be totally different than what we thought. I was a little confused as to why we were saying these things, but as we conversed with our group I found out a lot about the people in my group and where our hearts are in serving. Almost everyone had mentioned expectations that have to deal with children; such as orphans, trafficking, etc. We collaborated ideas about how to show our love to these children, and the rest of the people of Morocco. We have quite a musically talented group and since many of our group members don't know the languages spoken there (French and Spanish), we came up with the idea of doing skits, dances possibly with colorful flags, singing, etc.

Another issue that was on many of our hearts was human trafficking. This week, both on Monday night and then again on Tuesday night I watched two movies that had to do with sex trafficking around the world. Monday night we watched the Taken (to be in theaters on Friday....and I HIGHLY RECOMMEND those who are of age to go and see it! Even though I already saw it, I would go back and pay to see it again!). On Tuesday night we watched Trade with my Justice DTS class. Both nights God totally rocked my world. I cannot imagine how much injustice and suffering is going on in the lives of these people, especially women my age! And what are we doing here in America? Just choosing to avoid the subject. It is much more common that I thought. And now just driving down the road, I realize the danger that people are in and how corrupt people have become! This is totally not what God had intended for his people. It has been put on many hearts of the people in my outreach group, class, and much more in the rest of the people on campus! There is an entire outreach group that is going to the Red Light District just for this issue of injustice. And during our debriefing time at the end of our Justice DTS Outreach, our class is going to meet up in Amsterdam and hopefully will be able to visit the Red Light District since the base that we'll be staying on there is just a street away! Even though children suffering from injustice have always been on my heart, trafficking has definitely weighed me down even more this week since God put it on my heart.

At the beginning of my outreach we'll be visiting the base in Spain before going to Morocco to get to know the customs of the country and prepare for our serving. I believe that the girls of our group are going to have to wear long sleeves and pants along with scarves covering most of our heads. I also might have to die my hair brown because it is so uncommon to see a girl with blond hair that it will just attract attention to me and I do not want that to happen. We're still learning a lot about our Outreach since we only had our first meeting this past Friday, but once I do find out more, I'll be sure to update you guys!

Aside from my Outreach plans, interesting tidbits that happened to me the past couple of days... On Saturday we went to a beach called Childrens Beach where I went snorkeling with sea turtles and gorgeous colored fish and coral. It was beautiful and I could totally see the intelligence of God portrayed in His creation this weekend. Today my small group went to another beach, Mile 88, where we saw some whales far off in the ocean. They were gorgeous! Both places I wish I had a camera or some way to be able to capture how beautiful God is!! Today we had our small group 'meeting' in a volcano cave that poured out into the ocean! It was beautiful, and so is God!!

As we approach tuition date (TOMORROW), please stay in prayer for many of my friends who do not have their fees paid for yet! If they don't get it paid by tomorrow, at least their lecture fees, then they will be sent home on Friday! There are about 10 out of our 23 students of my DTS class alone that do not have their tuition paid for yet. So please keep our entire school in your prayers that the money will somehow come in and God will provide! Thanks, they're much appreciated!

I really do thank everyone who keeps up with my blog here and pictures on facebook! I'm sorry for not updating it more, which I should get in the habit of doing. Please let me know what you want to hear more about so I can let you know and keep you in touch and up-to-date! Thanks guys, you're awesome and God Bless you all!

HAZAK!

The big decision!!

Well, finally I’m back!! Since the storm in Oahu ywam hasn't had wireless! It's been really hard to get on the internet even from their own computers...but FINALLY today things are back up and running. Which gives me no excuse to update my blog! I just wanted to thank my family and friends for keeping up with this even though I haven't been extremely faithful, but your comments are greatly appreciated :)

Well, to begin, yesterday we were having worship in the Ohana Court when one of my leaders, Matt, came up to me and said that he had to talk to me. I was really confused and thought that he might have a word for me from God that my 1st choice of Morocco for my outreach was not His will. I told Matt earlier this weekend that even though I requested Morocco, my second choice, the Balkans, kept coming up in my head after I wrote down Morocco! He sent that message on to my other leaders when they prayed about it this weekend. When my leaders had their meeting, they prayed specifically for each student’s decision to make sure it was God's will. Matt came up to me yesterday morning and told me that he prayed and God confirmed 100% that Morocco was the right place. After he said something during the leaders meeting that this was the right place, every single other leader confirmed along with Matt that Morocco was FOR SURE where God wanted to send me on my outreach! So after that little word from Matt in the morning and after our lecture in the afternoon, I’ve been told that my outreach destination is...


MOROCCO!!!!

Thank you Jesus!! Delight yourself in the LORD and he will give you the desires of your heart.
Psalm 37:4

Thank you all as well for all your prayers and support for this decision. Let me tell you, it was not easy!! But I heard God's voice and he showed me where he wants to send me!! Thanks again!

Justice League

Our official name of our DTS class!! I have gotten so close to my class over this past week that it feels like i've been here for weeks or months! I love them all dearly and cannot believe we are only here on the island with our leaders/staff/and fellow classmates for only 3 months! We're growing together but even stronger bonds through Christ! I start off my day, along with about half of our class (a little over 20 people in the class) doing work duty at 5:00am. Our job is to serve the others breakfast until 7:30am when i rush back to my dorm and take a quick shower! The following morning we spend our time listening to our leader, Luke Moon, speak about justice, or more, injustice around the world. The time totally flies by and lunch is right around the corner. Again, either in that afternoon or evening we get together with our class and have more class time to spend with each other. I have my afternoons off from 3-5 when normally others have their work duty. Finding some other ywamers to either hit the beach or do my homework. Speaking of hw, our class has lots of it! i believe that it is good that we stay up to date on the current events around the world because our focus is, of course, Justice!! The evenings are pretty chill here. I usually try to get to the prayer room at least once a day along with my favorite, worshiping! The past couple days all the ywamers here have been trying to seek out the voice of God and his direction and will for our outreach location. My biggest struggle right now is differentiating between my desire and God's will. If you guys could keep me in your prayers a)to be able to hear His voice regularly, and b)to show me where He wants me to go on my outreach, i would truly appreciate that!! Again today we visited Hapuna beach, but this time 5 of my friends and i hitch hiked there!! it took us three vehicles on the way there and only 1 on the way back! We played some ultimate frisbee, body surfing, hiking on the lava rocks, swimming, etc, etc!! it was a BLAST! Made some new friends, experienced some new things, it was Great!

Well, it's about dinner time, and i'm going to try to get some of my pictures up again on facebook. So if you guys have that, check them out and hopefully i'll get them up within the next 24hrs!!

Thanks again for everything and God Bless!

Hawaii Luau

Oh that you would rend the heavens
Oh that you would rend the heavens
Oh that you would rend the heavens
And come down!

You are the only solution
You are the only resolution...

Habakkuk 2:14

For the earth will be filled with the knowledge of the glory of the LORD, as the waters cover the sea.



Aloha means i send all my love to you!!

ALOHA from Hawai'i

Upon arrival in the kona airport, i was escorted out to our ywam base. I had lots of information and paperwork that needed to be completed, but once everything was set I ventured off to my dorm room. Our rooms are quite different than i expected, but i have the best roommates! There are 5 of us, and we all seem to get along well so far!

This morning I woke up and actually saw what the campus really looked like and saw the ocean for the first time since i came in so late last night it was too hard to see! We had orientation and the welcome lecture that started off with the 'giving of the gifts' to the natives here on the island! We then proceeded to greet all the leaders with a hawaii greeting (i believe) where you touch nose/forhead to the opposite person. It was quite awkward being an American, but i'm glad to get out of my comfort zone here!

Our lecture proceeded with worship. Being the first one we've had, i can definitely say that God is on this campus! I believe that these times will be the most growing times for myself! The worship leader talked about how when the followers of Jesus got together after his death and he appeared to them and they did not realize who they were conversing with...it says in Luke 24:32, were not our hearts burning within us...? I want to have my heart BURN within me while i'm here and on our outreaches!

New years resolution: to know God deeper and do it in community!

This afternoon we visited the kona Walmart and got together with our Justice class and did a scavenger hunt while meeting more people in my class. On the hunt we walked down town for the first time and saw the ocean up close and personal for the first time!! It is so beautiful, God is truly amazing...but it definitely doesn't feel like i'm in HAWAII! I love it here though! Already experienced the tropical showers:)

Well i'm off to our bonfire with the Justice ywamers! (yes..i am a YWAMer!)

God Bless you all, and i'll try to stay in touch as much as possible! If you want to keep in contact ... here are a few places:

Facebook: Kelsi G

Address: Kelsi Grassmid
University of the Nations
75-5851 Kuakini Hwy. #429
Kailua Kona, HI 96740


HAZAK!