Another day in...

Swaziland teaches me

2009-08-29T04:42:00.003+08:00

You can spend a lifetime being happy with the days. Or maybe each day hurts in a new way. Swaziland hugged me into the truth that hard is a blessing as it shows you all you miss and all the greatness that my heart is holding on to. Great gift to know your desires and limitations. For me they are larger than I thought and big enough to begin to dream again!

New Digs

2009-04-29T23:03:00.002+08:00

Months of moving from place to place, sleeping wherever I was blessed to have a space, now I have my own. For the next few months I will live in a beautiful studio apartment as a grown up on my very own. Now THIS is new ...

Pictures of the heart ...

2009-01-20T19:07:00.000+09:00

Pictures by the very talented teacher and visualist - Sharis Harmon

Rwandan peace ... makes you think

2009-01-18T01:45:00.002+09:00

Rwanda is a beautiful country, the country of 1000 hills.
The people are spectacularly beautiful, their nature is gentle and true.
The streets are ordered and clean
And the government seems to care.

But just 14 years ago the people were broken.
The country was fractured and over a million people were slaughtered by their own.

How has everything turned around in just 14 years where my new country, South Africa had a huge change the same time ago and is still so fractured.

What is different, if anything at all? Is this just a beautiful bandaid or is there real change and healing. It makes you think, while you feel the comfort, you have to think!

Rwanda so far

2008-12-24T18:49:00.000+09:00

Back in Arusha, Tanzania

2008-11-29T03:23:00.001+09:00

There are many challenges in life and sometimes I feel like I brought the multipack special. Teaching teachers to teach, pastors to preach and Africans to be passionate somehow feels like something for another planet or at least person. But this is my stretching class, I won't break but I am definitely learning to bend. And what a group to do it with! This is surely a moment worth noting.

Home, for a breath

2008-11-27T16:36:00.003+09:00

I was so blessed to have 3 short weeks in my home country to be a part of one my best friend's incredible wedding. Also got to spend some quality time with other beautiful friends AND have a week with my little family. Oh the gift of friendship and family. It was 3 cities in 3 weeks and 100s of moments of happiness for me. What a gift this time was ... now on to East Africa

Blessed to complain

2008-11-18T17:46:00.000+09:00

What does it mean when you can complain, or feel the pain of the little things like...
When you feel so overwhelmed with your bodies brokenness with a simple flu.
When you feel disappointed or frustrated with the taste of a plate full of food.
When you can't understand why people are sitting in the seat you wanted (like business class on a long plane ride)
When you look at a room full of clothes and wish you could change them all and have all new ones.

What a blessed life I live, that I could complain even for a second about the fullness of my life.
My body hurts which is unusual. My suitcase is full. My ticket is paid for and I am blessed to complain!

The days in between

2008-09-10T23:25:00.006+08:00

Months have past since graduating our students and so much has NOT happened. I have been learning how to DO LIFE without having a million checks on a list. Some days there have been no lists at all. Yet life still happens and things get done. Though it is probably obvious to everyone else, I am just now learning that my value ... my worth to God, the world, to my family/friends is not in what I do. Who would have thought not having lists (and set jobs) would turn me upside and shake me so hard?!

Along the road there were some great moments - we had a fantastic day working with the kids in Cape Town's make-shift refugee camps. These kids ... so much joy in the midst of great uncertainty and trauma.

I had my wonderful cousin come and visit, so of course there had to be some tasting of local produce ...

And the heights of Table Mountain had to been conquered ...

In the end, watching the biggest whale I have ever seen just simply hang out and play, I was reminded that this life is a blessing and should be enjoyed (at all times, in all seasons).

Graduation and a road

2008-07-09T21:00:00.001+08:00

What an incredible group of students. Leaders/writers/directors/pioneers, just passionate people and I got to call them my students.
I am so proud to know them and to have be a part of this time of change and growth for them. I didn't think that I would enjoy this as much as I did, but saying goodbye was difficult. The nice thing about goodbyes is seeing the people you care about move into new things. I love that part!

These last few months have been so full. Teaching and staffing a school is a lot of work but so worth it. There was many a party (including my birthday) and too many great stories to tell. If I could sum up this time it would be "Successful and revealing".

The revelation is small and I know there is so much more to come. It feels like I am at the beginning of a road, where I can only see a small section. It is scary not to be able to see the end but I know this is the road I am suppose to be on and all I can do is put one foot in front of the other ... just one foot KT, just one foot.

Not Alone

2008-05-07T04:09:00.001+08:00

Once - I thought that happiness was measured by the amount of smiles around me never considering whether I had one too
Then - I thought contentment was about smiling whether my surroundings gave me a reason
Now - I think the warmth of my heart filled with love is a gift that does not always produce smiles or present people, just a feeling of wholeness even when my eyes can't see it.

You are in my heart, thank you for not leaving me alone!

Tomorrow brought ...

2008-04-13T17:35:00.000+08:00

Have you ever driven on a windy road, surrounded by cliffs and then all of a sudden the majesty of creation has popped out right in front of you. I feel like my life is on one of these spectacular drives in South Africa where the scenery changes in a way you weren't prepared for and yet somehow this is what you came to see.

It is easy to forget where I am sometimes ... the beaches are as beautiful as the ones from home, the mountains are spectacular like those in Montana ... and then you see two men dresses in culturally appropriate formal attire for a day at the beach!

Our SBS1 has now offically started. We have students from 4 continents and 8 cultures ... they are all great. It is humbling to teach people who have been "out" doing the word for decades. But we are just here to help them stop and hear God through His word.

This place is full of incredible people. Ones who challenge me, make me laugh and cry without even knowing them. This is a great place and I am glad to be here. This is a journey that has many people around yet it is being done alone. I am learning that "alone" is not a bad thing ... this is a hard lesson for an extrovert like me. Thanks for praying with me ...

Reality today

2008-03-26T06:44:00.001+09:00

The truth, the kind that has been sitting - waiting, it always hurts when it finally arrives. I like to think that I am that kind of person who welcomes truth. I embrace it, champion it and share it around right. No, I am not. I am weak and frail and the truth, it hurts me. I am not tough. I am not secure in my place and my heart, my heart is just a fragile thing that is the most susceptible. Were you fooled? I was. I really thought that I was strong, stronger than this.

And then … “and then he told me, My grace is enough; it's all you need. My strength comes into its own in your weakness. Once I heard that, I was glad to let it happen. I quit focusing on the handicap and began appreciating the gift. It was a case of Christ's strength moving in on my weakness” (2 Cor 12:9 Message).

So I am weak … and He is not. This is my reality today …

Lets see what tomorrow brings

This REALLY is what I do ...

2008-03-12T18:57:00.000+09:00

You would think after months of talking about teaching it would be less of a "Bang-Whap-What?" moment. Alas getting to Swaziland, with all the fun that it was (lets just say JoBurg Station is not for everyone) didn't actually make this more real. I don't know what I was thinking was going to happen ... but getting off a bus, into cabs, combies (utility vans used as local buses), large old 1970s school buses and dropped in the middle of no where ... things started to feel a little more real. We walked with our backpacs into a school in a field, put them down, picked up our teaching material and walked into classes of 100 high school students to teach them about the bible. I don't think I could have ever prepared for that moment, my first complete "Okay well there is nothing I can do but teach so I suppose I better" feeling. You have to laugh ... or else you will run ... and there is only more fields and maze crops so better to save the energy and put it into these kids who are all looking at me like they are waiting for me to speak in Martian, fly around the room then bore them. Alas neither of us were ready for actually learning from each other and after 4 hours of pulling teeth, singing songs, laughing, reading and many questions my first class was done. Now there is the other 300 students ...

This country is incredible, their culture, quiet spirits, totally acceptance of a king who picks a new wife from a stadium of dancing young woman (though my roomie tells me that he already knows the girl before the topless stadium of dancing), and the scenery ... I have taught A LOT but I have learned more. This teaching gig is challenging, and I am never as smart as I want to be alas this is my life and it is such a blessing to be here. Thanks for being here with me friends!

My new house - this new life

2008-02-10T04:28:00.000+09:00

When God called me to South Africa I thought of how hard it was going to be. Leaving friends, leaving all my things that I value as they make me comfortable ... living in and by faith dependent on other people. The picture didn't look like this ...

But what I know now is that God cares about little things like a comfortable bed, a flat mate who makes me laugh and eats my trial-and-error cooking. God loves me and wants cool things for me. This time is not going to be easy, by anyone's description, but along the way there is fun, relaxation and a beautiful place to lay my head. I feel so blessed to be loved by God ... and to have this.

Love Hurts

2008-01-21T16:14:00.000+09:00

You would think that years of travelling, all the coming and going would make me good at hellos and goodbyes. I think I even deluded myself into believing that. This last group of goodbyes has once again proven me to be WRONG. Leaving Australia hurt this time. I had so many people love … to leave and it was not fun. Plane rides, road trips then a great surprise … hellos to more people I love. But the next day it hit me, I truly LOVE these people and I don’t want to leave them. I preceded to spend the rest of the day crying over my love for my friends and my life that is full of people I adore. It was one of the worst yet best days of my life.

It was this day that I realised that my life is truly blessed with the kind of blessing that hurts to the core, I honestly and whole-heartedly love my friends and family so much that it actually causes me pain. Wow huge revelation that love really does hurt even when it is wonderful.

As I am about to say goodbye and feel that pain again (too many times in such a short period) I have to remember that I am about to say hello to a whole new group of people that could be loved that much too. I have to not let love shut me down … I cannot protect myself from it or else I will miss out on so much more.

Thank you for letting me love you and loving me in return. It is the best kind of hurt I could ever hope for (if you hope for that kind of thing).

SBS Reunion

2008-01-21T16:09:00.000+09:00

Road Trip 08 - Jon and Katie Stylin

Girls, my beautiful girls

Who said DTSers never keep in touch - 11 yrs baby

More than half of the most wonderful group of people ... all in one place partyin! I love these people ... just love them!

Gift of longtime Friends

2008-01-06T11:54:00.000+09:00

My Beautiful Friends

2008-01-06T11:45:00.000+09:00

My Loves!

2008-01-06T11:39:00.000+09:00

Home to Melbourne - Family and Friends (one and the same)

2007-10-20T18:14:00.000+08:00

Canberra - immediate family and friends ... worked for a week ... rested a bit. Then it was off to Melbourne ... my home away from home where so many of my closest and dearest dwell.
There were too many pics to just put 4 in so you get the whole lot! The bottom one sums up my time ... MY GIRLS = MY BLESSINGS!!
There was lots of talking about the past year, talking about the future and LEAVING AGAIN for another 2 years. There was even ANOTHER 30th BIRTHDAY PARTY FOR ME!! heheheh will it ever end ... doesn't seem like it!
This was an incredible time of love for me. When you are away you stop you heart remembering how much you love people so it won't hurt so much. But being back with so many of my wonderful friends and family ... it just showed me how incredibly blessed I am to have SO MANY people in my life who truly love and accept me. There are no words ... these weeks were overwhelming ... I am SO BLESSED.
On a personal note it was a challenging time. To get back to South Africa and do what God has called me to do next I need to raise a support team. I went into this time at home thinking that I knew how God was going to provide the money. At the first sign of things not going according to the "Katie Plan" I freaked out. It became obvious that my faith in God's ability to provide was minimal ... if existing at all. What a hypocrite. I had a nice little reality check, was reminded by people and situations of how faithful God has been in the past year ... and my WHOLE LIFE and then I mellowed out.
It is still really daunting the idea of trusting God to raise the support (both financially and spiritually) that I need to return and yet I know that HE HAS GOT THIS ... just like He has everything else so far.
I got the chance to speak in a few places and had some great times with my old church. I am still looking to speak wherever I can while I am home ... I am doing all this stuff overseas ... I just want to bless the Australian church while I am here. My heart just gets bigger and bigger for my country and community ... though I will not be here for long and it may sound cliche, but I really do just want to give back somehow. Teaching is what I do so that is how it is coming.
Thanks for the prayers for support and direction ... please continue to pray for more doors to open while I am home to bless the Aussie church (if you have any ideas in your area ... PLEASE LET ME KNOW).
Ahhhhh HOME ... What a challengingly comfortable time this is going to be!

HOME - time to party

2007-10-05T13:56:00.000+08:00

I arriving into Sydney to see my mum's beautiful face made the HOME reality kick in. As did the next 3 hours in traffic! I got back and the first weekend it was my vivacious (mini-me) niece's 4th birthday.

In the middle of the party I had a little bit of that wonderful thing called culture shock. There I was surrounded by white children with lots of presents and lollies and their parents talking about many differing things, all in English and then there was me. I have to get back into this. It wasn't a bad thing, on the contrary ... this is great and it is my home ... it has just been a while since I understood everything that was being said and yet didn't really understand at all. hehehehh - no news for a year makes it hard to have interesting conversations about life.
But that feeling quickly went away and it was all just fun. As I played with my sister's kids and watched the people I loved ... I realised that life really is an incredible gift ... this part of my gift may have commercial breaks (a few years here and there away) but it will always be the best thing I ever did!

You get that I love my family right!

My way home - Auckland with Annie

2007-10-05T13:53:00.000+08:00

OH how to I even begin to explain my trip home. It took 10 days ... there were 3 huge flights (Capetown to London = 12 hours + London to LA = 13 hours THEN 9 hour LAYOVER IN LAX + LA to Auckland = 14 hours) but praise the Lord I survived. And apart from a moment in London when I thought I was upgraded but then the seat was ripped out from under me (a few ALMOST TEARS) the 4 days of flying was fine. God really got me when He reminded me that this succession of tickets was more than 40 people's annual wage in Tanzania and God had provided ever cent. So how can you complain!! Everything was really good ... thanks for the prayers.
I cannot tell you how great it was to get off that last plane and run into the arms of my incredible friend Annie! Oh 4 days of heaven!! You know those people who just let you be your worst and still see you as if it were your best ... those are my close friends and this girl is one of those.
She literally just let me do nothing and yet I felt so complete. We just chilled with her man and ate great food, trained with her PT (and I almost threw up twice ... yep first for me). It was such a blessing. By the time I got back on the plane to go to Sydney and finish my year abroad (to the day) ... I was completely refreshed and ready for the next stage thanks to Resort A la Annie!
Auckland and Annie ... what more could I have asked for.

Tanzania - Teaching hard core servants is incredible

2007-08-26T21:12:00.000+08:00

The team is back together after being separate for almost a week. We piled in the back of a very small truck with all of the shopping for the bible college and our gear and were off. It was really fun to be driving through Tanzania with the wind in my hair!
We reached International Evangelism Outreach - a bible college that takes in 80-100 students free of charge, trains them up for 6 months and then EVERY STUDENT starts a church or ministry. These guys are HARD CORE. They get up at 3 am to pray for 3 hours then breakfast, classes all morning ... afternoon classes ... then work duties ... then night classes and sleep at 10pm. Everyone lives in dorms so married couples have to sleep separately for the 6 months. They put me to shame ... but boy do they love God.
This college is funded completely by support from the states. They have a huge truck that drills water wells ... and people constantly come to help out doing specialised things. We have already met a Internet genius from Seattle (hence the wireless) and a great family from the Seattle region who take incredible pics (you will see some soon - as he took pictures for my prayer cards). Just being on these grounds shows me that NOTHING is out of God's reach and we should ALWAYS PRAY BIG!!
Teaching has been hard, there have been many lessons learnt through great and hard times. Our schedule changes daily. We had 2 weeks teaching but the students have to harvest in the midst of this time so our teaching time gets cut and they are tired but so passionate. It is sad to know that this is my 2nd last week in Tanzania but I really love these people and their language. I will try to keep learning Swahili when I leave and would love to bring another team of teachers back here one day soon!
You learn quickly in Africa that you do not need much to give much and feel blessed. I feel like I have learnt more from the people than they have from me. Beautiful!

Tanzania - Life in the Village

2007-08-26T21:06:00.003+08:00

Oh the village ... what a start. I got my first "welcome to Africa" stomach bug. This is where you look for every toilet possible and your stomach tries to kill you from the inside. Fun for everyone. Even funner when you have a squatty to work with and a less that accurate ability to control everything. The picture shows the "Choo" (toilet in Swahili) that I sat on ... yes I covered the whole thing with TP and sat because I was so concerned about making a mess on our first day in the village in the Churches one toilet. You know me ... I sat there pooping and laughing so hard I cried. Such a funny and humiliating experience ... had to share it with the whole world!
The time in the village was great. Our team split as half needed to go to Nairobi to go to the Dr so Paul and I went to the village. This was my "practice leading" gig so it was an interesting time. We slept in tents and were feed like kings (as everywhere in Tanzania) to the point that we were going to explode and they gave us another helping!
Teaching here was crazy. The schedule changed regularly and this pic of the two lights is actually me teaching 80 people (50 kids 30 adults). It was a real time of growth as personal space was a myth. A group of kids would stand outside my tent for at least 1/2 hour discussing loudly who would go into the Mesungu's (white person - we hear that one alot) tent. It is funny but sometimes you just want space. hehehhehe. It was a great week of growing in God, as a teacher and just letting go of comfort zones. But I can definitely say I am becoming a teacher and really starting to like this stuff.

Tanzania - The Massi

2007-08-25T23:11:00.000+08:00

Everywhere we teach people ask us if God is white and why then did He make black people look different. We explain that Jesus was not white but it is just that many of the images that people see are made in the "western" countries where people like to make Jesus look like them. So sad that in the school we see why people ask us ... even in Massi land ... Jesus is white.

This is said to be one of the last true tribes in the whole world. When you think of Tribal ... this is it. The Massi men traditionally became men only after killing a lion with their own hands. The women, wow ... these women work. The men marry many women and it is the woman's job to provide for her husband. So she has to cook for him ... so that she can be a worthly wife or he will go and get another one.
The meat of a cow is mostly allocated to being eaten only by men. The women can only eat the intestines and small other parts. The children are next in line after the women ... so often the Massi women and children are malnutrised because all the food has gone to the men. The girls are also circumcised around 13 to prepare them for marriage.
This is a hard life ... they live where it is so dry nothing grows and there is little to no water. They have thatched thorn fences to keep the wild animals out ... yep lions and the like. These guys are incredible ... visiting them was awesome.

Tanzania - Teaching

2007-08-25T22:46:00.000+08:00

This is our incredible first group of students. I can say they became friends. They walked with me through the challenging first teaching and loved me inspite of me needing to read from notes and getting stuck once or twice.
They even gave us a gift because during my preaching I talked about how Australia is a warm country so I am looking foward to some warmth ... they presented us with Massi traditional blankets that they wear everyday to keep warm like we would wear a jacket. Very cool.
The seminar confirmed why we are hear and why this teaching is so important. When the group were asked if non-Christians were made in the image of God ... the PASTOR answered proudly "NO". Then later when we were talking about Abraham, the same pastor said that Abraham was not saved. This man was truly a great pastor, head of 15 churches and loved God deeply. Teaching that is just a little "off" from the biblical truth can be devastating. Think about it ... if all people are not made in the image of God then why care about anyone but those that you think ARE created in God's image. That wipes out more than half of God's people who just don't know Him yet. Man, this TRUTH stuff is sooooo important and I feel overwhelmed and excited to be teaching it!

Tanzania - We ARRIVED and BEGAN Teaching

2007-08-13T17:03:00.000+08:00

We had a fun 8 hour bus ride from Nairobi, Kenya to Arusha Tanzania ... It is incredible how completely different and yet familiar this all is. The Arusha YWAM base is the bomb! The people are awesome, food is great and we feel at home here.
We began preparing imediately to teach an Overview of the Bible and the Inductive Study Method to a great local church in a 9 days seminar. This teaching thing is completely new. It is so hard to work out exactly how much time everything will take. Not only did we have to teach the next day but I put my hand up (for some reason) to preach our first service. This is what it is all about but it is nerve racking!
The seminar was incredible. We all really loved the people. They just wanted to learn as much as they could about God and His word. Though it freaked me out to teach and preach it was so fruitful and showed me once again that God knows what the deal is even when I am scared to look.
There was a local wedding held at the base ... man if you think Greek weddings are big you have to see a Tanzanian one. They feed 1000 people and have about 30 bridesmaids. We crashed the wedding and it was great fun. I love this country!

Titus South Afrrica and on to Tanzania

2007-07-25T23:25:00.000+08:00

This is the view from the room I share with 3 other girls (a crazy Kiwi, sweet Canadian and great american). This place is soooo incredible. It's beauty is surprising and this built up beach town in not what it appears to be. On one hand there are beautiful houses and lots of lovely cafes filled with their token latte drinkers. There are beautiful rolling sets of waves ridden by surfers from around the area and on the same beach is a family who has been homeless for years, begging for food. People say first and third world collides here. You can forget it is "Africa" for a minute and then you see the need and are reminded. This is the place ... where you can see the need and yet take the moment to prepare to meet the need. I feel honoured that God would call me here. What a calling ... beauty and reality! Love that.

TITUS is incredibly stretching. I wasen't sure how they could take the 9 months of brain filling study I have just completed (in the School of Biblical Studies in Montana) and teach me in only 3 weeks how to give it out to others who have the desire to study the word but don't have access to the training and time that I have been gifted. The first practice teaching was so nerve-raking that I wanted to vomit on my lovely audience. Since then I have given a sermon and on Friday I will teach for 2 hours on how to interpret the bible, using Philemon as a practice book. Crazy ... in 3 days we will all leave and begin to teach. Thank God He knows what He is doing sending us, cause I doubt my abilities to do anything lasting.

This is our Tanzania team. Our leader Marysol is the pioneer of Titus here in South Africa, she will be my boss and is a great friend and incredible teacher. I am blessed to be on a team with her ... I am also with my great friend DeWet who has been a faithful study buddy from the beginning of my SBS and will now be my teaching friend across the other side of the world. The man in the middle is Paul and he is a great and solid guy who I am going to learn alot from and through. We will be based in Arusha and teaching seminars on numerous different topics over a 2 month period. We just found out that we will begin teaching our first seminar, an 8 day one, next FRIDAY!! AHHHHH ... please pray for me! This is going to be a great growing time for me and we all need those right!

What a life I have been given. I do not take it lightly ... there is so much to do and I am so flawed but thankfully God has it all in His hands. It is actually really comforting to just be being obedient in everyday and stepping out trusting that He has it all under control. Katie, on the other hand, really does not. heheheh. What a ride this will be. Thanks for doing it with me.

From MT to PA to SA and Tanzania

2007-07-02T14:23:00.000+08:00

I left my beloved home of 9 months that caged me in a small room (with a great roommate) and went to Parkesburg PA to see my beautiful friend Emmy and meet her new soon Chase! Emmy's whole family is my family so it has been a wonderfully relaxing time but in a few hours I am on a plane off to South Africa via London (please pray - heavy security right now).

This is where I will be based for the next couple years (isn't it beautiful) ....

And this is where I will be going ... Tanzania but I hope I don't look this silly when I teach! heheheheh. What a life I get to live for God huh!! Not bad!

SBS - Graduation

2007-07-02T14:07:00.000+08:00

It is all such a blur. I remember crying after this first pic was taken because it meant that it was all coming to an end. I so love these people. What an impact they have all had on my life. Our leader (Dr - as we called him) Sean Ellis had incredible things to say about all of us. Of me he said I was the social glue of the school, including everyone in all that was going on and yet still kept in my studies and worked hard. Yep ... I knew how to party and I knew (okay God knew) how to get me to knuckle down and do the work.
This was one of the most incredible times of my whole life. I truly thank God for each day I had in His word. I mean who gets to spend that much time just reading God's word. What a blessing. We should all be so blessed.
Thank you all for getting, keeping me here and helping me get through.

SBS - When all is said and done

2007-07-02T13:57:00.000+08:00

The day came ... I never thought I would make it here but the last book is handed in. There were 2030 builds (mini teachings) around 4500 hours of study, 200 cups of coffee, great friendships and mind-blowing revelations. End result ...I LOVE THE WORD OF GOD - it is life!!Someone asked me to sum up all that I have learnt - sum up the bible and here it is ...LOVE GOD WITH EVERYTHING YOU HAVE and LOVE OTHER PEOPLE ...Everything else in the bible is just showing you how to do it.Read it ... it is surprising great!!

SBS - Love Feast

2007-07-02T13:54:00.000+08:00

We celebrated our incredible class with a feast of loving on each other ... and we looked good too.
This is my awesome small group.
My BRI group, without whom I would not have made it through.
My beautiful beloved roomie
And us just looking hot

More Prom Pics

2007-06-22T13:25:00.000+08:00

My Fearless leader who finally loves me even though I am loud and hug him too much.
My Beautiful friend DebDeb who made my Prom incredible.
My King ... who worked hard to make me look good.
Our footballer and friend who I love to play with!

My Birthday!

2007-06-17T01:52:00.000+08:00

It begun at 6:30am and finished around 1am the next morning with a bonfire on top of a mountain overlooking our beautiful lake and the mountains that surround it.

What an incredible day ... everyone laughed at me by the end of the because I had to keep repeating to myself that "it is my birthday"

Man just love you all. Every year I feel blessed. This year I feel blessed to be alive, to have had a great life, the best friends and family in the whole world ... and to be love by God. Wow ... my life is full thanks to you!!

Love you all ... thanks for a great-incredibly-perfect-30th birthday!

My 30th Birthday

2007-06-17T01:46:00.000+08:00

I woke up to my door and the entire dorm decorated for me.

28 of my friends and fellow students got up at 6:30am to go to breakfast.

It was an incredible day ... I felt so blessed. First breakfast then class, Malachi (great book) then worship (awesome) then our for coffee with friends. Before I went to breakfast someone had asked me how my day was going and my response was "incredible, the only thing is that I asked for notes of encouragement from my friends, my sister must have forgotten. But it is still one of the best birthdays". So needless to say I was so surprised when I arrived at the coffee shop and waiting for me were two full books of encouraging lovely notes from friends here and around the world that my sister, with the help of some birdies here, arranged for me. Tears of pure joy.

Man this was an incredible day. Though it would have been great to have all of the rest of my wonderful friends here too, it was all I could ask for. And it wasen't over yet ...

SBS - My Prom

2007-06-11T11:01:00.000+08:00

Oh the fun times!

SBS - Prom

2007-06-11T10:54:00.000+08:00

Many people ... many styles
This was an hilarious day!
My Dancers!!
My School leader - what a great man and he can dance

SBS - My Prom

2007-06-11T10:51:00.000+08:00

When you have an important birthday, it is important to celebrate in style. This year, it was very important that my birthday, a gift from God through my beautiful parents, be celebrated appropriately.
What better celebration that an American Prom ... as so the idea was born (8 months ago) and yesterday it came to be. I was voted (on a ballet with only my name) Prom queen of my own Prom. My incredible father sent a very embarrassing video full of pictures I had never seen, nor care to see again. Then some friends did a great dance to the classic "Bye Bye" by the Backstreet Boys. Classic moment in my life.
Their dancing inspired the rest of us to boggie down ... which we did until the we hours. Everyone dressed up (yep EVERYONE) in prom attire, most people danced but the whole room had fun.
This was an incredible day in my life ... if only I could have combined the world to make sure that everyone could have been there. 2 days to my birthday and again, I just feel like the most blessed girl in the whole world. What a great life I have because of you and all my friends. There is all love!!

SBS - Final weeks

2007-06-07T05:00:00.000+08:00

Somehow along this road of life I came to think that it was built just for me. And because it was just for me then it was mine to complain about. When there were bumps and turns that I didn't approve, I had every right to go back to the engineers and complain, I would even try to get it "fixed!

This past week my complaints have been rejected on the grounds that THIS IS NOT MY ROAD AND I CANNOT, nor should I want to CHANGE IT! I had one of those weeks were you start to see what is ahead and you don't want to go there. I just didn't! The road ahead, ministry in Africa is really scary and tough. I mean, why would I want to do this, to go somewhere I don't speak the language, alone and unable to control it all. My upcoming birthday may have helped my mood but nevertheless I didn't want to be "called" anymore. I mean, these pastors who desperately want what God just gave me here - studying His word, they can get it from someone else. I want showers, I want my friends and family, I want what I think everyone else has ... hmmm but what is that?!?

I had one of the hardest days of my life as I began to try to walk the road. There have been a few steps so far, applying for Titus, buying the plane ticket, telling people ... but there is so much more that needs to happen. I began the daunting process of involving other people. God was really clear about sharing this ministry time with my friends and family. That involves asking friends to pray for me consistently and also to be part of this with their finances. You would think someone like me who loves to talk would be fine ... NOPE! I chocked.

After the first "No, I can't be part of this with financial support" I cracked. All of my trust and hope for what God had said to do drained out of me. I began to question everything ... EVERYTHING. I told God all day that this was too much and He got the wrong Aussie girl. But He just wouldn't let up. This is where He wants me and though I could walk away ... He has made it so clear that this is where He wants me that nothing, not even the comfort I would love to be in with financial freedom, would satisfy me now. This is what I am called to do, I can walk away but what then. So I pushed through...

This is not just some short deal, God is calling me, like you to be His answer to the prayers of the others. It is hard and humbling to be completely dependent on God and others to be able to do this but He is faithful. Today He reminded me that He is faithful. Though I may seem broke, I am rich with Him and all that He brings. I was so encouraged. I check my mail box, which never has anything in it and there was MY FIRST SUPPORT CHEQUE! I can't tell you what that meant. I am so humbled by all this ... so humbled. God just keeps doing things to remind me He is the one who is faithful and fair. All I have to do is say yes. So today, again I say YES!!

What Next - AFRICA

2007-05-15T02:27:00.000+08:00

I really thought I was going to do this 9 months of intensive study and then come home to my loved ones and wonderful work. This study was for me to spend time with God and get to know Him through His word. That happened, I do know God in a completely new way now but this was not just for me.
We were praying for South Africa one day and I clearly felt that I was suppose to go there to do a Titus Project THIS JULY! I really wanted to fight it but it was so clear that I couldn't. I applied and was accepted to be part of the first Titus Project in Muizenberg YWAM base in South Africa.
I should explain what the Titus Project is the mission outreach that equips graduates of the School of Biblical Studies, like me with teaching skills and mobilizes us into areas of the World where Bible Teaching is greatly needed. Our target audience is pastors and leaders, who are the most hungry and the most eager to use and pass on the tools of Inductive Bible Study to their nations. Consistently pastors in Africa (and many other developing regions) as not for preachers, as many have already come, but teachers who can teach them the word of God to keep the people going in their faith. There is a huge need for teachers and so I am going to take all this incredible time of studying and give it to the people who want it and will use it to affect their nations.
I think that is what excites me the most, equipping the people who are already doing the work with skills to go deeper into the word that GIVES LIFE. This is not about me knowing anything great but just giving the tools I have learnt to people who want them. COOL HUH! Just think of what God can do through this ... when people really see Who He really is ... everything changes. They key is to see Him truly and not through the eyes or words of someone else. The bible gives that. It really changes it all and gives you a base to go back to when nothing is making sense. LOVE IT! Now I get to share that love!
The process of getting to this point has been interesting. I immediately worried about money as I still didn't have my 3rd quarter for SBS paid, then miraculously God prompted someone to pay it completely. WOW. That was a great confirmation that I was suppose to go to Titus. The God provided funds for my ticket which is close to being completely paid. Now all I have left if the actual costs for doing the training and getting out to teach (about $4000). So I am sending out letters, even made a little button here on my blog so people can support it. Just trusting God. He was really clear that I am suppose to go and that He is going to bless other people by them being part of it. Scary to trust God with finances but I am really excited to see what is ahead. I know that He is in control so it will all be good. I am excited to see how God blesses other people through this. I don't know what that looks like but that is what He promised so bring it on I say!

SBS - 3rd Quarter - Home Stretch

2007-05-14T12:18:00.000+08:00

I don't know if I ever believed I would make it to this point. All the thousands (and thousands) of hours spent studying, SITTING, and a tad bit of stressing ... all came to this point ... 6 WEEKS to go and only 13 books. Yep that means we have finished 53 books of the Holy Word of God = the Bible, in the past 7 1/2 months. Not too bad if I do say so myself.

So much has changed. My hair, my fitness (yes I actually run now - crazy huh), my attitude towards the bible (hugely changed), my appreciation of the INCREDIBLE gift of our salvation and FRIENDS!! Man I feel blessed.

There have been so many great friends here as I am sure you can see from the photos. We have had fun, let our hair down (or hairsprayed it up for 80s fun), prayed and cried together. But what blesses me the most is that this is not unusal. I have such incredible friends around the world (like you) that actually like me in my imperfect state (and boy does time in the Bible show you more about that). I have taken it for granted that friendship is a RARE GIFT! Thank you for your wonderful love and years for friendship. So incredible. I am so blessed!

So there are only 6 weeks left. Within that time I will finish the remaining 13 books, which means I would have read the bible 5 times, interpreted every chapter of the bible, learnt (and been tested) on every books key verse/main idea/reason written/date and historical background ... oh and I would have taught 3 books too. CRAZY.

I will also turn 3 .... 0 .... - Yep June is the big month and because I can't have all of you together I thought why not celebrate as the natives do. So I am going to throw a good ol fashion Prom for my birthday. Obviously I am hoping to be voted the queen as they do in the movies ... hhehehehe. Should be fun. I wish you could be here too. So big months ... fun times.

SBS - Spring Break - Salt Spring Island CA

2007-04-10T13:18:00.000+08:00

Spring break could not have come at a better time. I was definitely "done" in our last week (interestingly Song of Songs) and needed to just get out of my study room. 37 books of the bible down and over 1560 hours of study completed and yes I am still alive, though not necessarily sane. You can see why I might need time out. 3 friends and I ventured in a little car, Jepeto (it became like a friend) to Seattle first then up to Vancover, Canada where we caught 2 ferries to get to Salt Spring Island. This place is incredible. Like New Zealand and Norway mixed together. The scenery was breath-taking but what was more incredible was REST. Yes, I highly recommend it. We stayed at one of the guys houses which was set in the trees with his AMAZING family. These people, this place, just what this Dr ordered. We read, watched TV for the first time in months and just did nothing. Yes I believe this is what other people call rest! And boy did I love it.
After spending 5 days doing nothing my friend and I did what was originally going to be a 3 hour drive, that quickly became 9 hours, up to Whistler. Oh my goodness. God is so cool to make mountains like that. Canada is so beautiful, it was the most scenic drive of my life. The highlight was spending a few precious hours with my friends from home. What a blessing, just to reconnect with life outside of this crazy time, it was priceless.
The drive down from Whistler was a little more interesting. We got a little lost adding an extra hour to our drive down to Vancover, then I had a little wait at the border, not a big deal. We were doing really well until we hit the last "pass" or mountain range and it was a rap! There was snow and ice, trucks were flipped over and we were stuck for 4 hours. In the end we got home to Montana at 5 am after I had left Whistler at 8 am the previous morning. Long long drive but we got home safely praise God.

So all in all a great trip, wished it could be a week longer but worth every second. Now comes the last and what is said to be the hardest quarter of the school. We finish the last 29 books of the bible in only 12 weeks. Plus I will turn 30 and graduate in June then get ready to head off to Africa!

SBS - Salt Spring Island 07

2007-04-09T13:04:00.000+08:00

SBS - Wk 7-10 = Storms

2007-03-12T06:08:00.000+09:00

As our environment changed around us so to has our world. This has been a month of incredible challenges, tragedy, pain, praise and pressing into God. When nothing makes sense and you just can't do anything ... press into God. This has been a month of storms. Two (wonderful) students left within two days of each other, another (18 year old) was ordered to go into surgery to remove a lump that could be cancerous then the unthinkable ... two of our great friends had a horrible accident right here and he almost died on the scene. That was all one week. The next week we have also lost a staff member who is also struggling with illness. The storm felt so overwhelming, as though there was no way out of it.
But from this we saw the power of God rock our world. Our friend did not die and has continue to defy all the odds by progressing where it was thought he wouldn't. God is doing great things and through his recovery is still a long road he is doing great considering. In the midst of this people had incredible times with God. The whole community here came together to pray corporately and is has changed the way we are as a group.
In the midst of what felt like great storm was a clear message - When the purpose of something is missing, look to what is not - GOD!! He never left us and His character does not change even though circumstances, emotions and life does - He is always good.

This is what I have learnt through this storm: HOLD ON TO WHAT YOU KNOW!!
- God is faithful, He didn’t just leave, He is in control even if I can’t see it
- I can trust Him (more than I can trust my emotions, mind and experience)
- This storm will pass so Hold on – don’t let this be the end

The reflection has been a blessing and though we are still in the midst of a lot of this I can see the rays of light … clear skies are coming!

SBS - Week 4/6

2007-02-19T09:59:00.000+09:00

Wow what an incredible couple of weeks. It felt like everything happened and yet nothing really did. We are going through some of the biggest (most important - foundation) books of the bible = The Pentateuch or the first 5 books of the bible for all the normal people out there.
Genesis was great, just to see these normal people who did really incredible things out of a pure faith and they messed up alot too. Exodus was a rough time as I grieved for my friend who lost her great husband. The same day I found out about this death I also found out that someone had paid my fees for next charter. That is almost AUD$3000 (or $2250 US). Crazy. What a week but God was ever faithful. I got through the book and God showed me that He is bigger than any thing I can see or touch. He promised joy in the morning and it truly did come.
Leviticus is all about the law. I thought I would hate it but add it together with Hebrews and the depth of what Jesus did increased 100 fold. I encourage you do read them both together some time soon. Numbers was great because it was a retreat. We all got away and just rested. Normal Katie, once I stopped everything came to the surface so there wasen't a whole lot of resting but there was definitely restoration. Beautiful thing.
Now we are at Deuteronomy and I am so looking forwad to studying it. Just great fulfilment and life. The story of a leader's last words. I know I sound like a bible geek. heheheh. Only 4 more months.
As you can see from the picks I am surrounded by people who are as wacky as I am. I feel so blessed to be here, for this short time. They are all such great people and there is alot of fun to be had ... as much as I miss all of you ... just making the most of here. Judging creepy mustache month ... group chillin on Valentine's Day, Ice skating on the lake (yep on the big huge lake, I actually skated on it).
So know that I am well, most probably because of your prayers (so please keep them coming). Missing you .. let me know how you are.

SBS Wk 1/3 - 2nd Quarter

2007-01-23T14:56:00.000+09:00

I got back from my break with my new hair to a very humbling reception. All of my classmates were so excited to see me and shocked by the absence of my dreadlocks. I felt very loved. These guys really are incredible people.
But what really blew me away was the faithfulness of God. Just in that first week back two of my friends school fees were paid off by anonymous donations. People were healed of illnesses, people were given direction and calling, computers were given away and the glory of God was touchable. It was a great week.
The money that came in was from within the school of poor missionaries. Crazy. The giving here is challenging. They look at all that they have as God's and they ask God what to do with it all. So sad that it seems so huge because it is just money but finances are something we all spend so much time worrying about. And here are examples of people who don't let it worry them. Awesome. I just want to be that way ... completely at peace, never being concerned with money.

SBS - Pennsilvania and New York City

2007-01-23T11:43:00.000+09:00

I left my friends in Seattle and flew to my home away from home with my beautiful friend Emmy. Her family have always accepted me in as one of the family so it was particularly special to meet her new husband, and her two incredible new daughters and see her growing belly with her son kicking up a storm.
I had the most incredible 3 weeks. It took to days to unwind from the "study" mentality but once I was out I was completely out. I slept in everyday and just relaxed. I couldn't have asked for a better gift for Christmas. I still got alot of presents, with my American family buying me up a storm and Mum and Bindi at home, well I was completely blessed. What a great Christmas.
Then I went to NYC for NYE and hung out with my NY crew. It was such a great couple of days. I got to pray in the new year with my incredible kids, see some of the kids from the ministry that I haden't seen for a few years and even get to the MET.
This was one of the best holidays! So nice to just relax and be normal like the rest of the world.

SBS - Seattle and the Dead Sea Scrolls

2007-01-23T10:49:00.000+09:00

Once we finally made it to Seattle we got ourselves to the Dead Sea Scrolls and it was worth every second fearing death the day before.
What was most impacting for me were the coins. I have been studying the bible but also the history around it's time. To see the items from that time was incredible.

Jesus really walked the earth, used they money that I saw and was REAL!! That was such a cool moment for me.
As always we had alot of fun together, Nico and Garrett messing around. It is funny how living in such close proximity creates friendship that may not have had a chance otherwise.
They gave Nico (Holland) and I (Australia) our first taste of American basketball. I loved the game but the cheerleaders were my favourite. They should have competition just for them! (ok I think they do but I just had to restate it)

SBS - THE ROAD TRIP

2007-01-23T10:38:00.000+09:00

I had the incredible opportunity to take a road trip across 3 states and 3 mountains to see the Dead Sea Scrolls in Seattle.
Everything started out great and the laughs just progress until we hit the mountain pass and what was a little snow turned into the worse storm Washington had had in 50 years. We were slidding all over the road, driving by cars that had skidded off the road into ditches. Crazy.
In true Katie (any kind of ) trip style, we were fine, had a fun night at a hotel and paid double for hand pumped petrol as there was no electricity to run the pumps.
It was an awesome 2 days with hilarious people. I do love me a good road trip.

SBS - Christmas Party

2007-01-23T10:21:00.000+09:00

After 13 weeks and 18 books (read 5 times, charted, summaries, researched and great revelation) which is approximately 780 hours of JUST STUDY. A full time job is would only be 494 hours. And this is the easy quarter! I celebrate the last week by getting a stomach bug with half my class ... fun toilet times.
These are my beloved friends, Mark and Ashley and Bryan. When I need a laugh or a hug they are the good for it!
My roommate, Lisa and I won the door decorating competition. We put the faces of people from the class on funny pics. It was funny to listen as people would walk past, stop and laugh loudly (even when it was late and they were suppose to be quiet). So it is true we are the funniest room!! Go us!
My dear friend Jonothan. You all know I need no help to be weird but he definitely brings it out more. These people are hilarious!

NEW BEGINNING - New Hair

2007-01-09T08:31:00.000+09:00

After 25 hours of brushing and tugging, over 2 days and about 4 garbage bags of hair balls - my dreads were gone and the new hair was here. Ahhh not doing that one again any time soon!

Do you like it?

End of the Dreadlock Era #2

2007-01-09T08:14:00.000+09:00

End of the Dreadlock Era #1

2007-01-09T08:06:00.000+09:00

SBS - End of Quarter # 1

2006-12-12T06:54:00.000+09:00

This whole adventure begun with silly joy and crossed fingers. I didn't really know what I was getting myself into. I think I cried 3 times in the first 2 weeks, completely overwhelmed by this whole thing.
But as I got to know my classmates, pressed into God, the 14 hours of study stopped freaking me out and quickly became life. These people are incredible. Living in a dorm, sharing EVERYTHING (including my flu), with 36 other people is not always simple but it is a blessing. I truly love these people, as we journey together through the many challenges they show me how flawed I am and how loving they are.
I have learnt so much and yet nothing at all. It feels like I have always been here, studying the word. Ideas and beliefs are being reinforced, revealed and rebuked. I love it. I can actually tell you what I believe and why now. How sad that I have been a Christian for the past 10 years and yet this is the first time I feel confident enough to say that.
So now I am off first to Seattle for one day to see the Dead Sea Scrolls, then fly to Philli, get to hang out with my beautiful friend Emmy, her pregnant belly and her beautiful new husband Steve. I get to chill with my people in NY for a couple of days and then study some more (as I am missing the first week of class, later ticket, so have to do three books without my classmates and lectures). Prayerfully this will be my first white christmas, but no matter what the weather it will be the greatest present, to just relax and do nothing. I am always so happy when I talk about my life, filled with you and memories of wonderfulness! Thank you for everything that you have given me over the years. Like always, I feel blessed to have you in my life (You - being my wonderful friends). Hope to see/hear from you soon. Have a wonderful time celebrating Jesus' birth. What a gift, perfect and complete in every way. All that we need.

SBS - Base Celebration

2006-12-12T06:26:00.000+09:00

Lets just say that it is all fun and games until you get your butt kicked! Funny day, I realised that you should take competition seriously when playing with serious people. It was hilarious!

SBS Dreadlocking

2006-12-09T08:31:00.000+09:00

Look at Jan-Michel's beautiful hair.
Yep I killed it - I am turning the world into dreadlockers!
hehehe - it took two days and about 10 hours ... I am not going to be doing that one anytime soon

SBS Wk 10 - SNOW SNOW AND MORE SNOW!

2006-11-27T13:58:00.000+08:00

WINTER IS HERE – With thanksgiving comes the snow and boy did we get some (almost a meter in 2 days). Not only was I able to partake in an American traditional celebration – thanksgiving but I also took part in another tradition, Thanksgiving sales. Yep you wake up at 5 am and go and buy things you don’t need with thousands of other sleeply confused buyers. What a great few days, SNOW, Cold (averaged -14 to -21 degrees celcius), Turkey, Shopping and old friends (I caught up with old friends from my DTS – that I hadn’t seen for 10 years).

Plus I babysat, dreaded a friends hair, dyed another, and DROVE A TRUCK IN THE SNOW! I am so tired! 3 ½ weeks to Christmas break!! I know that I will probably get sick of this soon, but how beautiful is this place with snow on it.

SBS - Some friends

2006-11-15T09:01:00.000+08:00

People here not only put up with my craziness but they join in, and bring their own special weridness. This is Pristine (who is a sweetheart) and Bryan who has become my brother. He even wrestles with me. He is insane and I love it!
This is Deb and Jeannie. I just love these two, a great example of how quickly you can get close to people you don't know when you live in each other's wardrobes.
This is Matt. Funny All American. He is teaching me about football and I am teaching him about dressing. Baby steps.
This is Liz. We are really similar in many ways and we are the exercise girls, leading the way/others.
I feel so blessed by all of these guys. And there are so many more - photos to come

SBS - Week 7 + 8

2006-11-15T08:51:00.000+08:00

Man this place is incredible. I wake up in the morning and am so grateful for the chance to be here. Every morning I wake up to an incredible sunrise - yes Katie is not only getting up at sunrise but she is running an exercise group! Crazy, Tuesdays is boot camp and Saturdays is kick boxing 7 am! Another student and I share the load of running it so I have my two days. It is a funny thing but I have to say I am tough and we always hurt the next day which is great. All this means that I have yet to have a sleep in. Yep I have yet to have a sleep in. I think this is the longest I have ever gone without my beloved sleep ins!!
There has been so craziness – You can see the snow – but here is a picture of my first snowball fight of 2006. I can’t really call it a fight as I got hit in the face as I was talking to someone and went down. I began to bleed and this was the result. Funny thing was it was thrown by a really petite girl and she felt really bad. So you know me, have to play it up. It was actually fine but just looked bad for a couple days. Oh the fun!
I also went to my first American football game (the YWAM team “Buckwheats” are 6 – 0, which means they haven’t lost yet) IN THE SNOW!! They play in the snow. Craziness. Needless to say I went out and brought long johns the next day as I froze. Thank God for the gift of snow boats I got my first week. This is going to be a long winter. Crazy thing is that I now really love football, as I am the head cheerleader and scream encouragement at everyone. LOVE IT! I am even going to try to get to a professional game with one of my friends who plays for our team.
Everything is going well. Had a few hissy fits about living in community but on the whole it is great. We did 1st and 2nd Thessalonians AND Philippians all in one week then Romans last week. It was crazy. Romans is an incredible book and I highly recommend reading it when you get the chance. Craziness. I got some great “light bulb” moments and was exhausted at the end. I worked for 14 hours straight two days that week. My work duty, snack bar and my volleyball team “dill pickles” gets me out of the study chair thank God! Miss real food with garlic and lime, just the freshness of our food. Praise God though, the food is great. All is great!

Week 6 - Snow!!!!!

2006-10-31T07:46:00.000+08:00

We have had incredible weather and though it has been in the low teens over all Montana is treating me well. And then it happened, first it looked like tiny little hails then came the flakes and soon after we had snow. 7 cm in 2 hours!! All I wanted to do was get a snowboard - soon and very soon!!
I have felt so blessed - We finished Acts last week, the biggest assignment for the semester and I got a fever and had to hand it in early to get my work duty done. Even though I took a whole day off to be sick God was faithful and I still got the assignment done, (16 charts, a full New Testament Timeline and a map of Paul's journeys). It was a great week realising that God really doesn't fit into any box I may create for Him. There is no magic formula for using the power God gifted us through the Holy Spirit, just a right heart and love for God! Awesome.
I did have a bit of fun with out Timeless Truths (these are the things that we get from focussing on a section - that should apply to the everyone). As Acts has alot of fun prison breakouts, and circumcision arguements - well you know me ... I had a bit of fun with it. Lets just say that if I ever get to preach these messages ... people will be amused!That is really what it is like for me here. I feel like I am learning so much about a God I have supposedly known my whole life. Every book is a new thing, something I have just never seen. Also you will be happy to know that every book also has something hilarious - lots of nudity and craziness! I love it.
Funny things is after every book is due we all stand around in the hallway trying to work out what to do to be with each other, considering we spend 70 hours studying, most of which is on our own. You can imagine that by Saturday I am alittle stir crazy. Sadly it always takes a good hour to work out what to do and how to do it (as you need cars to get anywhere and we don't have alot). But in true Katie style I end up just making and decision and telling everyone else to either come with me or make their own mind up. An hour is too long to spend in a hallway - in saying that it never changes from week to week ... we always end up in the same place asking the same questions. AHHHHH ... funny what this much study does to your brain.

INTERESTING FACT - when we finish we are given the official Princeton University seminary test. It should take between 4 - 6 hours and only about 40% of the people pass. SBSers average 1 -2 hours and 90% pass! Cool how much we are going to learn in 9 months with all this study. It is worth the hours in the hallway and craziness!

SBS - More Pics with Me

2006-10-23T14:43:00.000+08:00

SBS - Week 5

2006-10-23T14:12:00.000+08:00

This is what Fall looks like! The leaves are amazing. What is more wonderful is the friendships that have come and slapped me in the face. The couple is Mark and Ashley and from the first week we have been great friends. They study with me, introduce me to new things like how to order an American coffee (yes it is a whole new language). They just bless my heart.
There are just so many incredible people to tell you about but I am sure over the next 8 mths I will get through them all.
We had a retreat (where the pic of the cross by the lake was taken) this week as a class. We just chilled out in a big cabin on the lake, I even got to paddle a canoe into the middle of the 64 km lake (okay not the very middle). It was awesome spending time away from the computers and books and just getting to know each other. We had a great time and ate lots of bad american food - that I thoroughly enjoyed for a few minutes before it wanted come back out. heheheh.
We did Luke this week. 22 Chapters and lots of work but praise God I got it in and babysat (had to get my kid fix) for our leader too. And organised for the entire school to write notes of encouragement to one of our friends who is really struggling with the work. (I don't know how second language people do this - I find it hard enough and this is my first language and I have finished university - crazy).
This really is a great time of blessing in my life. I have never worked this many hours but the payoff is worth every second. Really ... but please continue to pray for me. I can feel the difference when you do and it keeps me going - something that I treasure more than coffee and chocolate (two of my best friends)!!!

SBS - Montana is Incredible!!

2006-10-23T14:10:00.000+08:00

The lake, the sky, the mountains all in this incredible weather - I am truly blessed to be here!

SBS - Week 2 - 4

2006-10-23T13:49:00.000+08:00

So week one was great. I thought that reading Philemon (which is only 24 verses) was rough. Boy was I in for a rude awakening.
So Philemon is on Chart. Then came Titus that was then 3 whole chapters and 3 charts. So lots of freaking out about only having a week to do all that work. Every chart is about 2 hours then add 2 hours for working out the historical background and about 8-10 hours of reading through, colour coding and making the strucutre (called horizontals).

Then came Ephesians - the only book of the bible I have personally read more than 20 times. I was worried that I would not get anything new but it was incredible and God showed me so much I had never seen through using this Inductive Bible Study technique. So Ephesians was 6 Chapters = 6 Charts in 4 days. FREAK OUT!!
Galatians was next - but this time it was 7 Charts in 3 days. WOW ... That was a hard week. I thought that God had made a serious mistake and I needed to get out. The revelations were awesome so I stayed. Up until this point had classes in the morning and at night - about 25 hours a week. Plus 6 hours of work duties and the Galatians meant 60 plus hours of work (not including meals and volleyball) over 6 days - Sunday is off!

I was not ready for Mark - 16 Chapters, 17 Charts and 4 days!! That was the biggest jump and we all went a bit crazy. So that was about 70 hours of work. Thank God I am getting better at this whole thing so the time is cutting down.
But when I don't write know that it is that I literally don't have an extra minuted to do it. However I do get to check emails briefly in class (sometimes) so thanks to everyone who has been updating me and encouraging me. It reminds me that I am still human underneath all this study!

SBS Classmates

2006-10-23T13:41:00.000+08:00

In true Katie style I got every student and staff member to make a silly face, then I printed them out and did a midnight mission (with a friend) putting all the silly pics on everyone's door. It was hilarious lying in bed hearing people's responses to their pictures as they woke up! Too funny. I love what they let me get away with.

Glacier National Park

2006-09-25T09:11:00.000+08:00

Fun, Awesome beauty and new friends

Lakeside Montana - SBS Wk 1

2006-09-25T09:07:00.000+08:00

What an incredible place. I can't begin to describe how awesome this place is. The first night was a spinout. I had a bit of jetlag but this first pic was my first sunrise! (Yes I got up for a sunrise). I will take lots more pics of my new home for the next 9 mths. The people are incredible. From the first day I could tell it wa a great group. There are 44 other students in the School of Biblical Studies ranging from 18 to 58 years old. They are a very diverse group of people who like me, love God and want to know Him more. You know me, I was right in there making friends for the first day. Actually the day before classes started I got together with another student from the DTS and we had a bonfire to bring all the new students together. It was great, about 100 people came down. See, even when I don't have a house I can still throw a party. I even knew all 44 students and 14 staff names before the end of the first class.
I can't express how blessed I feel to be here. Who gets this gift to take 9 mths out of life just to hang out with God and be with great people ... AND EAT DAIRY QUEEN. (For those of you who have you to experience DQ, it is the best ice cream eva! You choose what you want in your icecream and they mix it up into a thing of pure bliss called a blizzard). The first week of class was ... overwhelming. Just learning the basics of Inductive Bible Study was crazy. They say you read the bible 5 times but in the first week I read Philemon about 15 just trying to do all the steps. Basically we learn to take all of our preconceived ideas and just let the text speak for itself in relation to the original audience/reader. Very cool but challenging to take all the years of bible teaching out of my head, taking my personal investment out and just letting it be. I had a mini breakdown on the second day and decided to leave ... but my great classmates and staff were very supportive and laughed. I stayed and was fine ... just like they said. By Friday when I had to hand my first book in I had started to get it.
Which meant that Saturday was free to go for a hike to one of the most beautiful places on earth Glacier National Park. What an incredible place. What a fun day. The air is 5 times thinner here so I felt like an old lady huffing up the mountain. Hehehehhe. But once we got there, WOW! SPECTACULAR ... the true sense of the word (not being used to describe a new pair of shoes). It is an amazing place. And the day was hilarious. I drove up with a couple from the SBS, a crazy norwegian girl and and lovely but quiet Cambodian guy. We had a fun hike but the drive home was the funniest part. We got pulled over (but not booked) by a real life Montana Sheriff. So the foreigners in the back thought it was great to have this new American experience while the Americans in the front were quietly freaking. All was fine so we drove, slowly, to get Montana coffee where I was given a "real coffee" that was sooo strong that my eyeball literally popped out of my head. hehehe. Then came another great american tradition, Wendy's fast food. A huge bucket sized (supposedly medium) Dr Pepper and we were off to Walmart - the store you can buy an iPod, new outfit, get your groceries and a GUN!! heheheh. The Norwegian girl had shaved her head the day before and had commented that the locals thought she had cancer so they were smiling at her with a pity. So you can see why she got so excited she screamed that she got asked for her digits at the supermarket. Too funny to see this "cancer girl" jumping up and down in the carpark screaming, I still have it ... with an Aussie jumping too and a confused Cambodian and a puzzled american couple. What a great day.
Then I get to come back to hang out with my great roomie – Lisa who is 22, from Canada and just wonderful. We have a great time together and she can handle my “uniquness”. So far … all is good.

Leaving Australia

2006-09-25T08:27:00.000+08:00

Ahhh ... Leaving.
You would think I would be better at this by now but I really love the incredible people God has put in my life. Family, Friends, Fellowshippers!! Awesome life I have in Canberra and here I was getting on a plane to travel for 30 hours to get to bible school in the middle of no where.
And yet it was great. God gave me an incredible sunset in New Zealand reminding me of His promise for this next 9 mths. The flights, immigration and transits were all fine.

Now comes the fun part!

5 1/2 years - The end for KT and the Gents and Flames

2006-09-04T22:40:00.000+08:00

What remarkable people. Every Gent and Flame over the past 5 1/2 years has touched my life. They all, each unique personality, style and face will forever be with me. I love each one of them and I am so thankful for God's heart that He gave me for each team member. I miss them all - thankfully this life is just the beginning and I WILL DO "LIFE" eventually!

Thank you all for the moments, memories and all the beautiful hugs. I love you all deeply and believe in all that you do.

5 1/2 years - Incredible leaders

2006-09-04T22:33:00.000+08:00

Over the years I have served with many different leaders - each one with incredible talents and unique styles. I feel blessed to have been part of so many different teams (and have the record for the most tours for a chaperone/leader - a record soon to be broken I am sure).

Who would have thought an Aussie girl would stick around for all this time. And be allowed if not asked to. Craziness!

5 1/2 years - Many Faces of Mr O

2006-09-04T22:24:00.000+08:00

The Leader, the teacher, the discipler, the surrogate father, the disciplinarian, the front man, the singer, the minister, the worshipper, the buck-stopper, the crazy man and the funny man. Many different titles and many different roles but all in one cool package. He is good people.

GT06 - Wk 6 - Brisbane

2006-08-29T15:42:00.000+08:00

The other team - they said "strong side".

Brisbane had some challenges as soon as they stepped off the plane. But as Sydney did, the Brisbane team banned together and showed a new found strength as they ministered more schools than ever before.

Lamare lead the team with his quiet strength and equip his team members as he did. Ali, Jarod, Kennith, Miya and Denielle all stepped out of their comfort zones and took the lead. Again, an incredible thing to witness the transformation of the team from supporters to leaders!

I felt like a proud parent or a coach of a winning team this week. The Gents and Flames are incredible individuals and I am blessed to have been a tiny part of thier awesome lives.

We all got to Sydney airport to meet the other team. Thankfully a kind airport manager let the Gent on the plane who had forgotten his greencard. So everyone got on the flight to LA and I went home. Genesis Tour 2006 was over and my time with the ministry was done.

GT06 - Wk 6 - Sydney

2006-08-29T15:40:00.000+08:00

The SPLIT - this is the week we have been preparing for the entire tour. The leaders were ready after leading individual ministry engagements without Lamont.
Jamie lead the first day as he always did - with humour and assurance. A badly timed cold meant that Rashawn and Sirece took over the ministry leadership and THEY TOO WERE GREAT.
There were many things that could (and some did) go wrong with the split week but what became clear was the internal strength of the team. EVERY LEADER pulled out their inner strength and gave more than ever before. The team put the little things aside and showed great unity and support of the each other.
I was so blessed to witness these great moments. This is the Genesis tour - and this week showed a new strength in the ministry - new beginning.
What an incredible journey I have witnessed over the last 5 years. The leaders that, not only held it all together but showed a new strength and direction in the ministry, were so young on the Hope tour. I feel like I have seen the full circle. What a rare gift.
I also had the pleasure of having a host family that wasen't an old friend. New friendships and some beautiful times of blessing each other. It was lovely.

GT06 - Wk 5 - Perth

2006-08-29T15:39:00.000+08:00

Perth Ahh Perth. I don't know how to sum up what was an intense week full of challenges, great ministry, team healing and powerful worship with a great guest who few thousands of miles just to bless the team.

What was evident is that the spiritual battle was intense hence the ministry was even more so. Some beautiful friendships were forged and we have some great stories. Close to 1000 kids committed their lives to Christ at the 2 rallies - Awesome.

Personally, it was a week where God reminded me that HE IS SOVERIGN ... in spite of all things, despite my personal strength, abilities, or lack of them, He doesn't need me and yet He choses to use me. Awesome.

GT06 - Wk 4 - Canberra

2006-08-17T15:06:00.000+08:00

Just some more pics!!
FUN FUN FUNKY FUN!

GT06 - Wk 4 - Canberra

2006-08-17T14:51:00.000+08:00

Canberra and Kulture Break AWESOME!!
It was so incredible to partner with another totally different yet similar spirit ministry that touches the kids hearts using dance. This crew's skills are incredible. The team learnt alot in just the down times.

As always the school ministry went off. We went to all my local area schools which was a trip. So cool to be doing the ministry and being in my home town. Driving my little car and stepping hard.

The rally on Saturday night .... WOW - 1200 kids in Canberra!! THAT IS HUGE!! Canberra just doesn't go off like that. Urban Praise (a gospel choir from Melbourne) set the tone and the whole night was FILLED with God's Spirit. There were screaming kids, killer moves and the beat but the most memorable thing was the Spirit moving. 200 kids came to the front to give their hearts to the Father. Awesome. It was nice just to see the physical response to what God was doing.

It was personally a hard week, balancing managing the tour and my personal buisness that could not be put off any longer. On the whole, this week blew me away with the saturation of God's faithfulness and how consistent the Spirit of God is.

GT06 - Wk 3 - Adelaide

2006-08-08T20:40:00.000+08:00

It was so hard to say goodbye. 2 weeks with incredible dancers, ministers of God's love and people who love to have fun like us ... it was a true blessing. Every single person in One50 was awesome and the team really had a hard time saying goodbye.

This tour really has been fun to date. It may be the fact that we have been with friends the whole time. But the ministry has also been incredible. We went to 26 schools in Adelaide over the two weeks. That is about 17 000 kids that we were able to share God's incredible love with. The reception everywhere we went was (again that world) incredible. Even those schools that normally sit on their hands and don't engage in anything got up and were dancing with us by the end.

The rally was great. There were approx. 800 local kids who came to hear the world and be part of the celebration through dance. The stand out moment for me was seeing Jarod give his testimony. It was a powerful and impacting moment in the meeting and the whole room was captivated. I am definitely biased as I have known and loved J for years but it is those moments, where you see how God is using the individual team members gifts to bless others ... those are the happy sighing moments I treasure.

The thing that makes Adelaide so unique is the "sister" ministry mentality of One50 Dance. They get our playlist and choreograph routines to them. When we come together, we fit like a glove so the whole time we are ministering, it is together and not just one after the other ... like those "anything you can do .." moments. They are great dancers and just keep up'ing the game each year. This year the Flames and One50 danced with Rashawn to his Ge-Mix. It was hot have the mix of styles, cultures and tones around Rashawn with his great talent. IT WAS HOT.

Obviously this was a particularly special week for all of us. I just love these guys. I can't believe the whole Australia deal really came about because of these two amazing Kel's believing in what the teams do and pushing me to make it happen. I will be forever grateful to God for their ministry and hearts.

GT06 - Wk 2 - Adelaide

2006-08-03T16:20:00.000+08:00

GT06 - Wk 2 - Adelaide

2006-08-01T16:31:00.000+08:00

Adelaide feels like home for all of us. Even the Flames, who have not been here yet have heard so much about our beautiful One50 girls (and visa versa) feel comfortable.

Everyday Gents, Flames and One50 dance together in local schools and share God’s love with the local young people. Each school as accepted the ministries with open arms. There are some amazing stories of schools that have NEVER allowed a Christian group in and have open their doors for us.

Probably the most powerful moment this week was Sunday at Edge Church. The teams split so that we could do all 3 morning services and the 2 night services. Lamare lead 2 morning services and did an amazing job while O was with Jamie and the other team. The night services were a whole new ball game. The anointing was incredible. The teams ministered and it was awesome. Then the church ministered to us. The city congregation brought all the kids up on stage and ask O to pray for them. It was powerful, then the pastor paid for O and it was on. The ministry just kept going … it was amazing. On the other side of town Jamie was leading the South service where he shared his testimony and the anointing felt. The reports of that night have been incredible. What an awesome God. It is sad that I get surprised by these moments but God just continues to amaze us all with His awesome plan for us here.

GT06 - Wk 1 SHEPPARTON

2006-07-26T22:35:00.000+08:00

After leaving Melbourne we travelled by bus to Shepparton, a country town for a benefit concert for Indian Children at risk of prostitution. It was a long day of practice, sitting, watching the many talented local acts, then a great community concert. They raise a good sum of money for a great cause so it was a good day for us. I think some of the team were not quite sure how to take the different acts, dancing and singing in costumes - it was fun to be a part of something that is so different to the tour norm. I thought it was great!!

Then back on the bus early in the morning to get to the airport to fly to Adelaide. Sirece gave a great impromtu devotion from her seat on the bus and we were all blessed. What a great tour this is!

GT06 - Wk 1 - MELBOURNE

2006-07-26T22:13:00.000+08:00

GT06 started as so many others have .... cancelled flights, missed connections, lost bags, misplaced vans, and rain. Yet that didn't stop the team from being excited. They ministered with little sleep, jet-lagged bodies and some with dehydration the second day here. From that first One Community Church service, the ministry never stopped. We ministered to over 10 000 kids in 13 schools and lead a 1000 strong youth rally in some great worship through dance. It was a great week of ministry.

One of the most memorable schools was a preforming arts class run by a very eccentric teacher. They tough students were not easily impressed, to the point that the teacher threatened the students with suspension if they did not participate. It only took a "dance battle" to change the mood. The whole class got involved. The Gents and Flames were ecstatic, the students were incredible and the atmosphere was electric. A moment we will never forget - shared some moves and ministered to this hard but beautiful group of kids.

Personally it was a good week. There were a few challenges but mostly it was an encouraging first week. The Host team were passionate and flexible. There were a lot of laughs which is the way we like it. I offered to drive the first day and somehow ended up in the drivers seat each day. Oh well, they say I like that seat … hhmmmm. Overall, a great first week!

The Many Faces of me

2006-05-22T20:50:00.000+08:00

Bad hair days, bad fashion passions, and too much silliness ... another day in Katie World

My Families

2006-05-22T20:46:00.000+08:00

The Brien and Acheson Clans

C

Crazy Cousins

The lil cousins

My beautiful Gran

12th of April 2006 - Cael Frazer Brien came to our Family

2006-05-22T20:40:00.000+08:00

My incredible sister did a great job hanging on an extra two weeks until our little guy was ready. I have seen so cool things in my time but nothing is as impressive as my sister giving birth to a very relaxed little dude, who really wasn't in any rush to come out and hang with his peps.

It was an incredible experience. Being able to witness it, pretending to help (but you know the only one who can do anything is the woman pushing) ... my life is better because of my family.

I love these guys. How cool is my dad with our little ones.
Aunty Katie!! My superhero alterego!

January 2006 - How Much fun is Paradise (AKA The Maldives)

2006-05-22T20:29:00.000+08:00

It doesn't get much better than lying and laughing around with your best friend in a 5 star resort. Scuba, snorkeling, Pinking (not to be confused with tanning), photograph expeditions, eating, cocktails, and just lots of FUN!

January 2006 - Where is the Curry ... This isn't India Naomi

2006-05-22T20:24:00.000+08:00

Email Diary Moment
I can't believe I still pray ... "if it is your will" not expecting God to blow me away with His awesome love. I have become so used asking for but not expecting it all! Well the past few weeks have changed that. God is ABUNDANTLY COOL/FAITHFUL!!

So I always do "Katie" trips that I say are holidays but end up me running around everywhere seeing/doing everything and coming back tired. Never the whole relaxation thing that everyone tells me is the basis of a holiday. I decided to take one of these holidays where I would just relax, somewhere with a beach or pool and nothing to do but chill. Great plan ... that ended with me (and my best friend Naomi) booking a trip to India to see a dear friend. Not as relaxing as planned but a great adventure ... a Katie trip again. To bring the "normal holiday" into the trip we went to Singapore for 3 great days in a hotel with a beautiful pool and lovely food. We ran around doing everything we could, even danced the new year in, in the midst of 10 000 (predominately Indian) males in a foam pit (it was very tame and safe). All great .. then we got to the airport to catch our plan to India ... ready for the culture change and great reunion with my dear friend.

Everything changed when the Singapore Air woman asked where our visas were. "We don't need them" I said. "Yes you do", "no we don't" and you see how it would end. God was gracious to send us to this woman. She was great, showing us the official YOU NEED A VISA book, calling the Indian consulate -"No Visas for you in time" ... next two days are closed then the 5 working days to get them would give you one day in India before you have to fly home. She took us to the ticket office personally to see what could be done. They said they need authority from Australia ... which is also closed for two days as it was Sunday then the NY public holiday - like the rest of the world.
So begins the calls to Australia ... first to mum ... "everything’s cool just need you to find [my sister's bro-in-law = my travel agent] to help sort this out". "So do I find him first or kill him" ... as crazy as it was being stranded in Singapore airport with no flight out, no holiday ahead, no plans and no accommodation ... there was a peace. Over the next two hours, we got hold of my travel agent, he went back into his work to help us with the situation and my whole family were praying. Only through a true miracle, my agent got the Australian Sing Air reps home number and she approved the change of the tickets (which were APSOLUTELY NO CHANGES tickets). So now we could go somewhere else. There was talk about London or New York or New Zealand but those ideas were quickly squashed - only Asia. So beaches and Asia ... options were Colombo (Sir Lanka), Phuket (Thailand) or the Maldives. We prayed and felt real peace about the Maldives. It was the most expensive accommodation wise but it felt right. So away we went, with the amazing help of Australians travel agents and airline reps, to change our tickets from India to the Maldives.

We get to the gate and were handed the immigration card for the Maldives. Number 1 of prohibited items, Drugs - that's no problem. # 2 was nothing contrary to Islam - okay we have 2 bibles, 3 books and music that is all about God hmmmm. # 3 was No idols of worship, # 4 was No Pork or Pork products ... then 5 was Weapons. heheheheh. Okay this is interesting everyone on the plan is wearing Islamic dress. Cool okay so the holiday will be a bit different than expected, no swimming in bathers rather the full body suits. Ok. Then I got a phone call from my agent who couldn't find accommodation after the first night. So we are about to get on the plane to a country that could be really intense where we had things that were illegal (being our bibles) and had no where to stay. hehehhehe. Plane ride to Male was spiritually intense but some prayer and then some more and the peace was back.

We got through customs without being arrested, into the hotel all good. Waking up early knowing that my agent wouldn't be calling to get us accommodation for another few hours we asked the hotel workers to help. They laughed and said "this is the peak season everyone is full, no rooms ANYWHERE". Okay God you are good at this, HELP. They said they would help us but were clear they didn't think it would be possible. Since we had people looking on both sides of the world Naomi and I decided to do what we could ... lay by the pool and trust God. 2 hours of "we have called everywhere and it is all booked" and "you could stay at this resort for the last 3 days for $700 a night but there is no where to stay until then" ... but then the Answer. A beautiful island resort, a hut and all meals for US$100 a night for the whole time. More prayer ... lets do it.
After a 70 minute boat ride, arriving at a wooden dock surrounded by colourful tropical fish ... we were in paradise. How is it that we were suppose to be in India, then everything feel apart and we could have been sleeping in an airport then just flying home but here we were in PARADISE! God not only protected us and got us through ... but He wanted to bless us ... and not just a little ... but the whole nine yards - of white sanded beach! We would have been happy with a small little room with a smelly pool. But no, God wanted to LOVE on us! Incredible. How do I ever doubt His plans.

So after this huge story Naomi and I ended being blown away with 7 days of God's faithfulness in the Maldives. You have to check it out. You know me ... this is something I would never do but how good is God!! http://www.vermillionmaldives.com/resorts/kuramathi_village.htm, and I got my scuba license and swam with SHARKS (and turtles, manta rays, lots of fish and eels), ate beautiful fresh foods, lay on the beach, laughed all day with a beautiful friend and even got a 4 hand massage (yeap 2 women and 80 minutes of heavenly relaxation). I am SOOO blessed!

Just feel really convicted that I pray and believe these things for other people but never for me. Now I am praying for a "completely blown away" experience for you. It may be the favour of a boss, the love of your life, a day of complete peace ... anything ... just completely unexpected and the kind of blessing that you could never imagine and find impossible to analyze (as I have).

Thanks for the prayers ... I got you. This is going to be a great year!

December 2005 - Singapore

2006-05-22T20:19:00.000+08:00

We thought we were on our way to India, so we lived it up for 3 days in Singapore ... little did we know...

Truth Tour 2005 - Done and Dusted

2006-05-22T20:11:00.000+08:00

Email Diary Moments

So 7 weeks … should be far enough away from the tourto be reflective? You would think so. The blur of thewhirlwind has cleared a bit but still I have troublearticulating what that 10 weeks meant to me. So when I was cleaning up my emails I found notes fromfriends saying things like…… “I am so overly estatic that your dream of havingthe boys and girls from NYC come to Australia cametrue! When I was at the concert I started cryingduring one of the peices just out of pure hapiness ofseeing your dream become such huge and awesomereality!”“What an awesome opportunity for you to see Godmoving in the youth of our nation, calling them toHimself through a ministry HE has blessed, openeddoors for, gotten through airport after airport. . .your heavenly papa bear loves you to bits and piecesand He's so excited about the woman He's revealing in you!!!”
They are right … God really did use me. Man, therewere some hard times, and some times of pure joy. Whatsticks is that outside of the “JOB” I did 24 hours aday for the 10 weeks, God used me!! God placed a tinybit of a vision in heart in 2002 on a bus full ofcrazy boys. I saw the Nubian Gents in Australia,reaching out to our youth. That small vision grew andit was always about God. 2004, 2 weeks of hard workand months of closed doors lead to 2005 – 10 weeks ofincredible ministry. Though when I tried to predictnumbers, seeing 100 000 people seemed absurd. The final numbers were 6 cities, 160 schools, 110 000people = 80 000 kids, all in 10 weeks. Incredible!!All that from a tiny little vision. Don’t get me wrong, this was not about me. I was theleast of this process, and yet God used me to do this.That is HUGE for me. Obedience plus faith … mindblowing. Even now I don’t exactly know what it allmeans. Is there more, or was that it? If relationshipsdetermine your resources – then I have a lot ofresources that are just sitting at the moment. I wentto a hip hop expo last night and was totally inspiredto see God do more. Now comes that greatprayer/waiting and more waiting time. What does Godwants from me now. I just want to be obedient and makesure that my daily life doesn’t inhibit my faith. Itis so easy to get caught up in bills, work, bills andmore bills.
I feel different this time. The guys and girls aregone, and I love them. The past 3 tours I felt lost,as if I was in the wrong place because the ministrycontinued on in New York and I was in Australia. Thistime I just feel happy. It was a great time now whatnext. It might be more of the Gents, or somethingelse. Just not emotionally tied anymore which is anice change. It really is hard living one place andhaving your heart in another. Already ministries are asking for the guys to comeback next year. The feedback was phenomenal!Ministries were so touched and inspired by the teams,they now have open doors to take their communities forGod. Our Father really used the teams to “step” opendoors to schools and relationships that seemedimpossible. There was story after story about how Godhad made a way where there was none. Truly awesome.
On a personal note, THANK YOU!!! You saw that is was achallenging time for me and your prayers and words ofencouragement really made all the difference. I cameout the other side blessed and changed. I really feltyour prayers when all seemed lost. I learnt so muchabout God’s love for me as He challenged me to godeeper and higher. I am so blessed to have you in mylife. Thank you for journeying with me. Well that is it. The end of the tour updates andprayer requests. Please stay in touch. I value yourfriendship and insight. So if God gives you anythingor you have a second to comment on what you thoughtabout the tour … PLEASE DROP ME A LINE! Be blessed in all you do so that you can share thatblessing with others! Much love and respect

September 2005 - Truth Tour Week 10 - Sydney

2006-05-22T20:02:00.000+08:00

Email Diary Moments Week 10
Saying Goodbye left a great sense of satisfaction, relief and excitement about sleeping again!

August 2005 - Truth Tour Week 9 - Sunny Brisbane

2006-05-22T19:57:00.000+08:00

Email Diary Moments Week 9
The subject title says it all!!
This trip has been amazing. God has done so much in us and through us all and it has been HUGE!!!!
I am exhausted ... Lamont is tired ... the team is doing so well. Tomorrow we will do 11 ministries IN ONE DAY!! It is officially the fullest day of the whole trip but God is going to do great things so we are holding on to that.
This has been the first week out of all the other 8 that I have had to rely solely on God's strength to get out of bed, the bus and get on with the job at hand. He has been so faithful and everyday has been a blessing.
We went to Steve Irwin's (the Crocodile Hunter) Australia Zoo today and saw all the crocodiles, kangaroos, koalas, elephants and their friends. Naji did a great impersonation of Steve and won a prize (in front of hundreds of people). It has been a great week and nice to have such beautiful warmth after being in cold Tasmania.
Although we only have 12 days left there is still alot ahead of us. We have more than 35 schools left and two huge rallies with over 30 000 kids combined. After the rally this week the teams would have ministered to over 100 000 people. Isn't that amazing. I just feel honoured that obedience has lead to this. I never thought it possible and now look at where we are and what has happened. I am so grateful to our Father that He allowed me to be a part of this and see it all come to pass.
The coming to pass part is the focus of the prayer this week:
· THAT GOD WOULD DO ALL HE NEEDS TO - in the team, in the communities, in the churches groups, in the young people and in me. That this tour would finish with us all feeling the peace that comes with the completion through obedience and service.
· STRENGTH and UNITY for the team... we need it more than ever. All is well but we need more .. more ... more JESUS!
· Ministry - at the schools and rallies ... that God would bring young people to His side through these times.
· For me -- it is always hard saying Goodbye. This has been a great trip and my love for this ministry has increased with each day. Hence it is always hard seeing them leave and my heart going back to NY with them. I just need to the peace from God that I am in the right place!! I need that more than ever. Thank you for your prayers for me during the weeks after they leave. I am preparing but it is always hard.
Well I am exhausted and have a the blessing of spending time with two of my favourite people so I must get away from this computer.
Thank you for all you are!!

August 2005 - Truth Tour Week 8 - Cold Tasmania

2006-05-22T19:49:00.000+08:00

Email Diary Moments Week 8
It is cold, cold, cold. One day there was 13 hours of driving and 4 ministries. This is insane but great things are happening. Girls are doing great!

August 2005 - Truth Tour Week 7 - Melbourne and the Flames Arrive!!

2006-05-22T19:40:00.000+08:00

Email Diary Moments Week 7

So here we are in MELBOURNE:
The girls are great. They are a beautiful breath of fresh air in all respects. The spiritual atmosphere has lifted 100% and we are all refreshed. This is going to be an amazing time for both ministries. The week is great as the ministry is well spaced and strategic. There will be a community outreach rally on Friday night were the two teams will head and hold the bill.
Which brings me to prayer points:
· Gents and Flames - that God would revitalised and challenge the Gents to press into Him in a new way. That He would mould and shield that Flames as they travel through this new experience and that He would give them a real sense of individual purpose and vision. Also that the two teams will strike a good balance and encourage each other as God uses them to encourage the Australian people.
· School, workshops and country ministries through the week. That God would open hearts and minds to hear His voice. That the local churches will be inspired and pick up those people who find Jesus.
· For Friday night - everything to go smoothly and for it to really bless those who have supported and organised it. Also that it would be financially successful to help us cover expenses.
· For the leaders - O is really tired and as our leader doing it all he really needs the strength that comes only from God. Pray for Shiniqua as she finds her feet, Jamie/lamare/phil for a renewed vision and strength based in God, Shirece/Miya/Denielle for a personal solidification of their discipleship and ministry roles.
· AND ME ... last week was particularly hard for me within my role. Having the girls here brings some great new experiences and challenges (like getting 26 people on a plane with two bags all over weight). My daily prayer is that God will make me all I need to be in that Day for this ministry. I would love you prayer on that. I really want to leave with my brain, heart and body intact whilst giving it everything I have to bless these guys and my great country.
And if you get anything as you are praying please let me know. All insight is a blessing!
Time to sleep ... running of steam, 3 hours sleep and the excitement of being with my closest friends tonight!
Bless you all for all you do

August 2005 - Truth Tour Week 6 - Perth

2006-05-22T19:37:00.000+08:00

Email Diary Moments Week 4

PERTH - It was stretching!! The teams were split completely and that was stretching. The organisation was 'relaxed' which was just different from what we have become accustom to. We met some amazing people who we will be friends with for a long time. We were advertised as breakers so it was God that we hooked up with an amazing break dancer who came with us and threw in a bit of breaking so we could live up to the promotions .. hehehehe. We did a widespread of schools - from inner city rough neighbourhoods to country little schools. 8500 kids came out over the two days to the big rallies and over 1000 committed their lives to Christ for the first time. AWESOME!!

There were some fun dramas at 5 am this morning when our flight was cancelled and the Flames were already at Melbourne airport waiting for us. So alot of running (no need for the gym for me ...heheheh) between terminals, a few visa cards later and we just made it.

July 2005 - Truth Tour Week 5 - One50 Adelaide

2006-05-22T19:30:00.000+08:00

Email Diary Moments Week 4.
Sorry I missed last week. I don't even know how to begin explaining the challenges so I won't even try. Just thank you for your prayers. They were cashed in last week.

Quick recap:
ADELAIDE - 10 days with the dance ministry that we love. Host families that treat the guys like family, lots of fellowshipping, powerful (and intense - 6 ministries in a day) school ministry, and then an amazing night rally where 750 local kids showed up. That was amazing as it was intended to be small and not large scale like the big events we have been doing. The ministry was so powerful and the Gents ministered with the One50 dancers TOGETHER. So amazing to watch what God has done in both ministry since we met last year. What an amazing week.

July 2005 - Truth Tour Week 4 - One50 Adelaide

2006-05-22T19:28:00.000+08:00

July 2005 - Truth Tour Week 3 - REDFERN Sydney

2006-05-22T19:17:00.000+08:00

Email Diary moments .... Week 3

So hard to sum this up in 2 minutes (got to love limited net access).
This has been a full on week in so many ways. There have been such HUGE attacks ... on the team, relationships, accommodation, physically and definitely spiritually. BUT IT HAS BEEN SO POWERFUL.
These kids in this community just ate up God's love that that guys expressed. We have about 40 plus kids for 3 days of workshops. This tiny ministry, One88 Kids, who have struggled to get support from their church, leaders and community were just blown away by what God did. Even the day before they were having trouble making the ministry happen but once we got there it was on. Double the amount of people came than was expected. Plus Darlene Zschech and Brian Houston mentioned the ministry with One88 from the platform. Then Brian and Bobbie came with a film crew from the ABC on one of the days. So here is this little ministry that has been struggling to be seen now with HUGE amounts of attention and all positive and supportive.
This week was "my passion week". I fought hard for this week but I NEVER imagined that our mere presence in this neighbourhood would do so much for both the community and this great ministry that loves them. Just another reminder that God's has a infinitely better idea of what needs to be done than we do. I could not have planned this ... ever.
Which brings us to prayer points:
- MY MANAGEMENT ROLE = this is a point of contention at all times. I really need God daily to direct and guide how I communicate, step out and push from behind. My role is forever changing and it is one of the things that makes me crazy! So please please please pray that God continues to Guide, Direct and mould me into this "tour manager" that people keep calling me.
- Health of the team - just an ongoing thing ... we have colds.
- Ministry - this coming week is a time in Adelaide with the ministry that we love. We really want this time to be fruitful for thier team and community.
Okay ... two minutes are up. I love you all. Thank you so much for every second of love and prayer.

July 2005 - Truth Tour Week 2 - HILLSONG Sydney

2006-05-22T19:04:00.000+08:00

Email Diary moments .... Week 2
Well here it is another Sunday ... and I am still alive and praising with a smile.
So week one was full on with schools (7000 kids) and a rally (4500 kids).
This week was totally different.

So the guys opened the Hillsong conference over the two meetings so there were 40 000 people there. Crazy. Then it just continued like that ... lots of time with amazing speakers, great ministry and alot of it. 5 and 6 am starts with late nights. This weekend was all go too. So needless to say we are excited to have a few days off before we start the INTENSE ministry in Redfern at the Block.
Thank you sooooo much for your prayers. I have had many days were I have pressed into God and felt you there with me. I feel SO HONOURED to be so amazingly supported by people of your calibre. Truly awesome. I often feel alone and isolated on missions but not this one. I feel connected to the power source JESUS (from a great word from Reinhart Bonnke last night) and surrounded by the love of invested people (from john Maxwell). heheheh ... now all I need to do is renew my mind like Joyce Meyer said and I will have it down!!

Okay so prayer points for this week:
· MINISTRY IN REDFERN - this is huge in so many ways. This is what this is all about for me ... this one week of investing in these kids the love that is permanent and true - Jesus!
· GRACE/WISDOM for ME - working with these guys and their great leader is challenging. We have had some good "challenges" and I really need God to lead me in humility, service and strength. It really makes all the difference if this communication and relationships is running well.
· FOR THE GUYS - that Redfern will be a time where God shows them a new truth about themselves and that they really press into Him.
· REST and HEALTH of the team - ALL OF US!! The schedule is huge and it is so easy to get attacked in these areas. The team is okay but it is early and they are soooo young. So getting sick leads to homesickness which is a huge barrier for ministry. So prayer into this is so important. Thats that ... Again ... thank you guys for it all. I love you so much.
I love God for letting me love you!
Katie Hugs...

June 2005 - The Truth Tour Begins (Adelaide # 1)

2006-05-22T18:40:00.000+08:00

Email Diary moments .... Week 1

Well it is 2:00am and I am waiting for the clothes to dry so that we can leave for the plane at 7am. Ahhhh the beauty of 4 hours sleep! Got to love missions. Thank you all for your amazing words of encouragement. It took God 2 days this time before I was kneeling on the (toilet) floor crying before our Father. It is great. God is doing awesome things and I feel so amazingly-overwhelmingly blessed to be a part of it all. So first week -- has been great. The got through customs ... and all arrived safely. They were wiped out for the first two days where we ministered at 8 schools (2nd day of the trip we split them up ...already). As the week progressed and their jetlag disappeared, they got more excited. We have ministered to over 6 500 kids already. Tonight was the Youth Alive rally and over 4500 kids came. They had to turn away 600 kids. AWESOME!!! 1500 of those came directly from the schools we ministered in just in the past week. God is so great. So now we go to Hillsong where the guys are opening the conference of 30000delegates, running workshops and doing everything under the sun. The schedule looks great and they are all excited about being there. On a personal I am tired, overwhelmed and thankful -already. This week has been crazy ... I have been broken, had some fun and had a serious "NuG missions trip" reality check. This is not summer camp or a little fun ... it is full on. The pressure of managing the trip is quite huge and God is so faithful. Things are coming together well but there are some hard calls I have to make in the next week. Which leads me to prayer points.

Can you please pray for:- GUIDANCE for me knowing how to approach everyone involved when asking for changes or flexibility.- THE LOCAL KIDS - every week this will be the same ... just need to lift the people who will see the ministry ... that God will use these guys to be His hands, His loving arms - to draw God's children back to Him.- REST/STRENGTH - for the guys and for me!!- FAVOUR - with the airlines -- we are overweight and have 10 flights to catch and I would love to get through every one without any hassles OR FINES Okay now it is really late... washing is done. Thank you SOOOOO MUCH for your life saving prayers. I love you all. Katie Tired and excited ... it is going to just get better each day.

Norway

2006-03-25T08:51:00.000+08:00

Some people leave and imprint, sometimes places make the mark - Norway will forever be painted on my heart.