"motion in the ocean"

SATURDAY. The day of rest here on the base. It is also the day of catching up on homework, sleep, and reading books at the beach! So I guess that cancels out the day of rest oh well :)
It has been a great week of new thoughts and ideas, building friendships, and getting to know God as our Daddy, not just our God. This week the speaker Claud, originally from Switzerland, taught on "Father Heart of God". We took all the preconceived notions of God being a distant, unrelational, disciplinary God and threw them away and began to see him as the God of relationship and love, who wants to care for us and take up his responsibilities as our Father. All these things I had heard and believe, but I had never put aside the image of God in Heaven sitting on His throne looking down on us. This week, God asked me to start looking at Him as a Father, one who will never disappoint, who's character never changes, and only wants relationship with me. God is not the condemning God we sometimes picture Him as. He is not asking perfection from us or works, but only relationship. The words I have heard over and over this week is a "deeper love" and "deeper understanding". In my alone time this week God has been revealing more of Himself, and more of His love for me. I am enjoying resting in that knowing my Father is pleased with me and knowing how much He loves me.
This week in lessons, we talked a lot about our earthly fathers and how they form the image we have of God. As I listened to the stories of people from broken homes with hurtful childhoods, I realized just how blessed I am to have the childhood I did with the love of my parents, especially my Father. My earthly Dad raised me in such a way that was a wonderful image of God's love and care for me, gentleness, disciple out of love, and His kind heart. If anything this week, God gave me a huge appreciation and love for my earthy Father, and I already knew he was great dad, but I came to see just how amazing of a Father he is to me and Cameron.

Okay, enough about class, I know everyone is dying to hear about how beautiful the island is! Yesterday we went to the most gorgeous beach with the biggest waves I've ever seen. The waves we're CRASHING onto the shore. I've never seen water be so powerful before. Swimming in the beach was fun.. but when the waves came you were knocked off your feet and swept away to shore. That was not the best part though. We spent time as a group praying and worshiping on the beach.. and I must say there is not a better place to declare His glory.

As far as the rest of the week goes, it feels like we never slow down! Every night we have something going on or homework to do but in the midst of it we've had a lot of time to bond as a group. The girls (and three guys)are really great people and I am so thankful they are on this journey with me. Friday nights we go out as a group and enjoy the culture of Barbados and each others company. Last week I ate fly fish for the first time at a fish market and yesterday we ate nachos at a mexican place! (So much for Bajan culture, but it was good food!) Today, we are going to a beach and I am going to work on my tan and read! I think I am finally adjusted to the heat, but today it is extremely hot, perfect beach weather :)

Thank you for keeping me in your prayers. I am so blessed by the comments and cards I keep receiving.. I feel so loved from afar and I love keeping in touch with yall. Just so you know.. my adress is Thickett Plantation YWAM St. Philip BB 18027 West Indies. Mail takes about five days to get here. If I have not replied to an email or card I am very sorry, we are so busy and my lap top is not working again so my internet time is limited, but I do appreciate them greatly!

This week as your praying, please pray for the next week of class. Also pray for good time management on my part, and for God to be my source of strength. We have begun intersession for outreach this week, and I would love for yall to join me in this. This next week we are praying for the country of Venezuela, our first destination. Venezuela has the highest crime rate in the world, prostitution, sex trafficking, poverty, child illiteracy, and a corrupt government, but thank goodness all this isn't too much for the Father to change!

Thank you so much for your prayers. I will write another update as soon as I can!

Love and Peace,

Bekah