being the hands and feet of Jesus

Oh man I've been so busy! I'm now sitting down to write a blog and I can't even remember what all I've been doing lately, this past week is a blur! (And this week doesn't look any less busy I’m afraid.) But the joy of the Lord is my unfailing strength :) Despite the business, I have been learning a lot from the lectures and in my own alone time with God and I've been able to enjoy myself in my short breaks from DTS. Saturday a few of us went into town and went grocery shopping and to the beach. It was so nice just to relax for a day and not worry about projects or book reports! It was one of the hottest days we'd had, and the water was nice cool. My tan I've been working on for a month is finally starting to show! Last week we learned about God's nature and character as well the life and ministry of Jesus. All I can say is WOW, I am so thankful we serve a COMPLETELY GOOD GOD! I would share what I learned, but something else is on my heart. Yesterday we went to the Juvenile Prison in Barbados and held a church service. Things did not go perfect as planned, and we as a group are learning about taking on leadership positions and leading groups in a church setting but the Holy Spirit was waiting for us yesterday. As we first arrived, the teens (ages 13 to 17) were hesitant and very cautious towards us and didn't really want to open up or sit with us; however, a few did. I sat next to a girl who wasn't very engaging and looked like she was sleeping most of the service, but it was divine I sat by her. During worship, more teens started to let loose and come out of their shell, but I still felt like something suppressing was on the group. As worship continued, even more began to participate in worships. They were such a fun group! I don't necessarily know if they realized what was going on, but God was preparing their hearts for something bigger. After worship, I along with a leader shared a short testimony. I felt led to share about the joy of the Lord and how God wants us to live in joy, not searching for happiness. Solomon told his testimony which set Alef up to talk about finding our identity in Christ. Alef, one of the students, is a high school teacher in the Netherlands and a professional bobsledder, is blessed with the gift of reaching out to kids of all ages. He engaged the group in a great sermon that impacted everyone. When asked who wanted prayer, 2/3 of the teens came up! The Holy Spirit touched everyone softly and we prayed over the group that they would walk into new identity as a son or daughter of Christ. I can see how easy it is for them to look at themselves as no bodies, or just trouble makers, but God was telling them yesterday that they are so much more than that and they have a destiny and a place in God's family and that He wants every one of them just as they are. As we prayed for the group as a whole, a handful of people raised their hands and said a prayer of salvation. My heart just cried for these kids. I felt so connected with them, I felt their burdens of life and then the freedom they were experiencing, some for the first time. The girl I sat next to was very moved during the group prayer, and as we returned to our seats I gave her a hug and she embraced me like I had never been hugged. There was a bond of friendship with her even though I didn't even know her name! God put me there as her sister to pray with her and embrace her when she needed someone to be God's love. After we prayed together, she walked out of the service with a new smile that she didn't have before. She gave me another huge hug, and I was so moved by this amazing random encounter God planned. A few girls gave us their names and numbers to look up when we return from outreach in February and they begged us to come back, but every week we do a different ministry to help best prepare us for outreach so most likely we will never see them again which really breaks my heart because I see such hope in those girls and boys. What if one youth group, or even one person invested in having a regular service there, building relationships and just sharing God's love with them? If the Holy Spirit could work in their hearts in one simple service I can't begin to think of the change they could have in their lives over three months. All I can do now is pray for them, pray they hold onto what they learned yesterday, and that the seeds we planted fell in good soil and that God will continue to work in their lives because they are not lost, they have each have a purpose and a calling in Christ's Kingdom. I feel that God has so much more in store for the group. What if we had interceded for the service before we arrived? Or if we continued to this week? This is a learning process for us, but God is teaching us and His will is being done in the ministry we are doing right now. God is also showing me the significance of investing myself in other people’s lives. I have always enjoyed working with children or investing in relationships and working in ministry but I had been doing that for so long, I lost the purpose behind why I had served in the first place: to be the hands and feet of Jesus and share His love. Being reminded of that purpose is key in break through while doing ministry. On a different note, this week we are learning about inductive Bible study. (I’m a little overwhelmed at the moment with it!) I am excited to see what God has for me in it though. My alone time with God has been so incredible. I am coming to relate to God differently, making it so easy to talk to Him and enjoy spending time with Him. I am learning to put time with Him first, and all the homework and other stuff going on here second. Last week, my bug bites got really bad again. I was afraid of the infection that was setting in but I prayed for hours for it to leave and over night the end of last week it did and I haven’t had a new bite since Wednesday! I really cannot thank everyone who is praying for me enough. Prayer is making such a big difference and I could not do this with out all the support I’ve received! Every card and every email I get makes my day and I’m sorry if I haven’t replied to every one of them, but I do appreciate them greatly! This week, please pray for good rest, unity in the group, and wisdom for our leaders. Also pray that everyone’s outreach money would come in. Thank you for going on this journey with me! Love you all! love and peace, Bekah