It's been a few weeks since my last post and things have been pretty busy here in Redding. Not only is school full on with lots to process and lots of homework and city service in San Francisco once a month but I am also doing Friday Night Strikes (a Bethel outreach) and 2 courses as well! It's very hectic but I love it and still find plenty of time to build my secret place. I also had the pleasure of meeting with Ian and Marj recently while they were here for Leaders Advance, it was so nice having a hug from home!
So, to this post, I want to share about my first trip to San Fran with my city service, some more healing Papa has brought me and about how he taught me that I am fearless. Wow!
San Fran was amazing. It was great to get to go down there with the 50 or so other students from all 3 years. They are a diverse bunch and reflect some of the many facets of God and after spending 2 very intense and wonderful days with them I am expectant for the rest of our trips. The highlight of my trip was leading a young girl to Jesus, such a privilege! The next highlight was having a joy tunnel in Castro (the homosexual district) on Friday night. It was awesome! When the idea was first suggested I was very unsure, never having done anything like that before but it worked really well, to my surprise, if I am honest! We set up two lines and as people went through we just celebrated them and told them they were amazing. People were a little nervous to begin with but then we had several people go through who wanted to go through again. You could literally see the change in their faces! Who knows when someone last told them they were special or amazing. My last highlight was talking to two 21 year old lads in Berkeley who were keeping each other company while travelling round. They had nothing but were full of fun. We got to pray with them and see the pain one had in his hand (he had punched someone) leave. It was a real privilege to prophesy over them and call out the gold within them. They encountered Jesus and are one step closer to knowing him for themselves. Wow! What a start, there were lots of other encounters too, so excited for my next trip in the beginning of December. It will be great!
So to healing, we had purity week in school last week and it was very good with teaching from Kris and Jason Valloten and Havilah Cunnington. On the Wednesday night we had a ladies night for first year students and one of the school staff shared her testimony. Part of her testimony was about having been sexually abused as a small child and the healing she received. Part way through her testimony I felt stuff stirring in my stomach and felt a little overwhelmed, having had a lot of healing I did not know what it was all about but then the tears started. It was obvious Papa was up to something! After the testimony a call was made for anyone who had been abused to go up for ministry. I did not need asking twice! As I stood at the front asking Holy Spirit what the tears were for I felt him tell me that I had never been healed in relation to being molested by one of my step father's friends when I was 11 or 12 because I had taken on responsibility for this. He said that I took this as being my fault because it was not the first time it had happened, therefore it must be my fault! Wow! As I repented for believing a lie and asked for Papa's forgiveness one of the staff began hugging me and just kept declaring over me, 'you are beautiful, you are pure, you are beautiful, you are pure'. The lie was gone and I was able to declare the truth, I am pure! Though there was more to this, these are the essentials and I just made sure to tell my housemate Lizzie all about it so that the enemy could not bring me into condemnation. There is no shame because it is in the light and known! That is so freeing!
I now want to tell you about being fearless! Back in September when we went on retreat I was given a prophetic word that I was doing a skydive and God was going to meet me in it. I had always wanted to do a skydive so this seemed like a good opportunity to go for it. I booked one and then had 4 ladies in my revival group decide to come with me. So last Saturday (15th) we drove down to Sacramento, I was so excited, I kept expecting to get nervous during the journey but I was just excited. When we were all kitted out and ready to get on the plane and I had bounced a lot, I was still just excited. Wow! I was going to skydive! I was jumping first so got on the plane last and got to watch through the plastic door as we took off and the ground got further and further away. At some points as the plane turned it was like I was in a glass bottomed plane. Amazing views! It took 20 minutes to get to 13,000 feet where we would jump and I had no nerves, just excitement. So the time came and we jumped. Wow! It was breathtaking, from free falling at 120 miles an hour to landing it was an awesome experience and I loved every second of it. The views were glorious, the sensations were amazing, it was just over too quick! The next morning I was chatting with Papa and asking him about how I met him in the experience. All I knew was I had had no fear at all but I was not certain that I had met him, other than being blown away by seeing the beauty of the earth from that height. I felt Papa ask me if I didn't get it. Get what, I asked. He said, there is no fear in obedience. Wow! I jumped out of a plane because of a word I believed he had given me so he could show me that I am fearless when I am obedient! Wow! He showed me that I can walk fearlessly into any situation, any circumstances when I know I am being obedient. What an amazing way to learn a lesson. I truly have the best Papa ever and I look forward to more lessons like that one! I also have great confidence to walk where he calls me and say what he gives me without fear because of this incredible lesson. So blown away by how he not only wants to teach us but wants to bless us and give us the delights of our hearts too.
Just before I close I just want to say thank you to those of you who have given towards my mission trip or offered to pray for me. My deposit is now paid! I truly appreciate everyone who has contributed and trust that you will reap back ten fold what you sowed. If you would still like to give all the details are in my last post.
I hope you have been encouraged as you read. Bless you all.
