Let me tell you how I got to even thinking one bit about YWAM.
(WARNING: This is going to be extremely long. Prepare yourself.):
Last year I was a student at Northwestern College, the acronym being NWC (they have too many of those now-a-days...), majoring in Intercultural Studies with an automatic Bible minor. A lot had happened that led me to leaving Northwestern, mostly the finances (because, honestly, who can really afford a $16,000 loan with a $15,000 loan from the year before?). I figured this out when talking with my parents while we were at a restaurant after my last concert with the Women's Chorale. What I remember so distinctly was my mom saying, "Amanda, I really think that you should look into other colleges. You really can't afford going here anymore." My heart skipped a beat and my mind went blank. But going to China this year already didn't work out, and now this? was all that I could question. I left the restaurant feeling extremely discouraged and I decided to scramble, my thoughts as follows: maybe there's a scholarship that I could get, too bad I wasn't chosen to be an R.A., maybe I could try applying for Student Government... I tried thinking of anything that I could do to stay there, even talking to the financial adviser Bryon on the last day of finals week to see if I could get more aid. Despite any efforts, I could not be helped financially. To say in the least, I was absolutely crushed. After all, I was going to work at Hidden Acres Christian Center as a camp counselor two weeks afterwards, I still had to memorize a chapter out of Ephesians (I am horrible at memorizing anything), figure out all of my devotionals, my mind still stubborn and set on staying at Northwestern, how in the world was I to figure out which colleges I could transfer to? And I over-thought... for the millionth time.
Next thing I knew I was at camp. I went there knowing only a few people out of the hundred-and-something or so on staff, only three of my friends from my one year at college, not really having too much of a clue of what I was doing or going to do. So what did I decide to do? Leave all of my worries at the cross and surrender every single thing to my Savior, trusting in Him and having complete faith that He was holding me in His hands. And that was probably the best decision that I could have made going into my summer there. I can honestly say that it was one of the most rewarding and stretching summers of my entire life, and the one with the most blessings (no, I'm not referring to campers). What I found to be interesting, as well as slightly comical, was the fact that every single week I learned right along with the kids. Each time the gospel of Jesus Christ was laid out I got to see even more the grace and love that God extended to me so undeservedly: a sinner that had nothing good to give Him, but He wanted me - my whole life, and that was all that I could give Him because everything else was already His. It was at camp that I fully came to realize that I indeed do want to do ministry for the rest of my life, especially with young girls that never really saw the truth in that light before. God also revealed to me the importance of my time spent alone with Him, thus becoming a morning person (which, unfortunately, isn't as true anymore). These lyrics always seep into my brain whenever I think of mornings at camp: "I will seek You in the morning, and I will learn to walk in Your ways. And step-by-step You'll lead me, and I will follow You all of my days." All-in-all, a lot of what I had learned about myself and the people that I had met and became close to truly led me to YWAM.
One weekend I met this guy named Nate, who was a hardcore hipster to the max and super out there, which I quite enjoyed in the mixture of mostly non-hipster folk at camp. I hung out with him for a while that evening and he ended up talking about YWAM. He was telling me all of these crazy stories and how I should look into it after I mentioned that I had no idea what I was going to do after the summer was over. I thought to myself something to the effect of, Holy crap, this thing sounds like it's perfect for me! Buuut it's totally unrealistic. I brushed it off, but it was still in the back-burner of my mind until two weekends afterwards. I woke up at around eight o'clock that Saturday morning, unable to fall back asleep. So I had my time with Jesus, then I decided to check my Facebook (my only form of communication with the outside world because Dayton, Iowa hates T-Mobile). Next on the agenda was looking more into colleges and all that business, thinking that I'll maybe go somewhere in Iowa or something. Then God started nudging me: Look into YWAM. Right now. I didn't think much of it, trying to ignore it, being my stubborn self. But still a quiet voice kept saying: Look more into YWAM. So, reluctantly, I looked into it. I discovered so many possible places all over the world and all over the U.S., including different kinds of Discipleship Training Schools like Compassion and the Musician's DTS. I sent several links to my twin, Nicole, so that she could see that I had really wanted to do this now. After that, I packed my stuff, since I was going to be staying at the hipster guy's house for the weekend (yes, I did end up really liking him and yes, he did end up liking me as well). The next weekend was the weekend that camp was coming to a close and I would go back home, with the desire to go to this school burning inside of me and not wanting to leave for a lot of reasons (a little - just slightly - maybe partially because I had just started a relationship with Nate).
Ever since I came back I have had to figure out a lot of things, explain everything to my parents, swing to-and-fro to visit Nate and my sister, spend time ministering to and fellowshipping with others while I am still at home, hanging with the Lord every day, all leading up to me learning so much more about myself and about God. And I still have a lot to do... But in fourteen days I will be taking a train from Iowa to Denver, Colorado and all will become a reality.
Until that time comes, I ask for prayers: that I will continue trusting in Him, for He is ever-faithful and true; that I will continue having faith that God will provide for me to be there, since I don't have much money/financial support at the moment; and that I will seek after Him with all my heart day after day, having a heart to serve as Jesus would, being made to be more like Him. In my next post I will share about what exactly YWAM is and what I will be doing. All that jazz. And I will keep posting until I go there, as well as while I am there. It is my hope and prayer that you see the love and grace that the Lord has for you, and may He continue to bless you.
One weekend I met this guy named Nate, who was a hardcore hipster to the max and super out there, which I quite enjoyed in the mixture of mostly non-hipster folk at camp. I hung out with him for a while that evening and he ended up talking about YWAM. He was telling me all of these crazy stories and how I should look into it after I mentioned that I had no idea what I was going to do after the summer was over. I thought to myself something to the effect of, Holy crap, this thing sounds like it's perfect for me! Buuut it's totally unrealistic. I brushed it off, but it was still in the back-burner of my mind until two weekends afterwards. I woke up at around eight o'clock that Saturday morning, unable to fall back asleep. So I had my time with Jesus, then I decided to check my Facebook (my only form of communication with the outside world because Dayton, Iowa hates T-Mobile). Next on the agenda was looking more into colleges and all that business, thinking that I'll maybe go somewhere in Iowa or something. Then God started nudging me: Look into YWAM. Right now. I didn't think much of it, trying to ignore it, being my stubborn self. But still a quiet voice kept saying: Look more into YWAM. So, reluctantly, I looked into it. I discovered so many possible places all over the world and all over the U.S., including different kinds of Discipleship Training Schools like Compassion and the Musician's DTS. I sent several links to my twin, Nicole, so that she could see that I had really wanted to do this now. After that, I packed my stuff, since I was going to be staying at the hipster guy's house for the weekend (yes, I did end up really liking him and yes, he did end up liking me as well). The next weekend was the weekend that camp was coming to a close and I would go back home, with the desire to go to this school burning inside of me and not wanting to leave for a lot of reasons (a little - just slightly - maybe partially because I had just started a relationship with Nate).
Ever since I came back I have had to figure out a lot of things, explain everything to my parents, swing to-and-fro to visit Nate and my sister, spend time ministering to and fellowshipping with others while I am still at home, hanging with the Lord every day, all leading up to me learning so much more about myself and about God. And I still have a lot to do... But in fourteen days I will be taking a train from Iowa to Denver, Colorado and all will become a reality.
Until that time comes, I ask for prayers: that I will continue trusting in Him, for He is ever-faithful and true; that I will continue having faith that God will provide for me to be there, since I don't have much money/financial support at the moment; and that I will seek after Him with all my heart day after day, having a heart to serve as Jesus would, being made to be more like Him. In my next post I will share about what exactly YWAM is and what I will be doing. All that jazz. And I will keep posting until I go there, as well as while I am there. It is my hope and prayer that you see the love and grace that the Lord has for you, and may He continue to bless you.
I will not fight You;
I'm abandoned to Your call.
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