Celebrating the New

I have absolutely loved the last few months here in Corpus Christi! As I was planning out this blog, it struck me how much of what has happened since August has been new. New schools, new ministry, new opportunities, and new life. It's a wonderful time to celebrate all of the new things that the Lord is doing! 

In September, we launched our first ever DTS! While we may have a smaller school than most of us have ever been a part of, we see God's sweet hand in this time. Most of us are participating in the school in same fashion, whether it's staffing, leading times of evangelism and soaking worship, helping with the sailing track, or assisting with kitchen support (that's me!). It's been a time of growing together as a pioneering base. Added bonus for having one of my friends, Wayne Fife, come down from my home church to teach. That was pretty special!

The DTS is currently in their 9th week and are headed to YWAM South Texas for a week. They will be learning about evangelism and then putting it into practice working with refugees across the border. Then, at the beginning of December, they head to YWAM Derby (England) for their 2 month field assignment. Please keep them in prayer as they prepare for their ministry time there. 

Aside from the DTS, there have been other new beginnings. Carl and Erin Baird, one of our staff couples, are expecting their first child this month. This sweet baby girl will be the first baby born in our little community and we can't wait to meet her! I was privileged to host their baby shower in my home and it was so fun celebrating momma and baby girl!

The Baileys, another one of our staff families, celebrated both the purchase of a new (and super cute) home as well as the acquisition of a sail boat! The home is such a God-send to them, as they had been living as a family of 6 for over a year and a half in an RV. As a base, it has been so much fun getting to spend time at their new place for our community nights. The boat came as a bonus surprise! This is a huge blessing for them as well as for the base, as it will be available to use as an on-site trainee vessel for future schools. The Baileys share some of the details of their story in their latest newsletter! 

This past September, we were scheduled to start our 3rd CBCC, with me as the primary on-site school leader. Unfortunately, the few applications we had received fell through, and we had to postpone it. At first, I was REALLY disappointed. I had spent months preparing for it and having expectation not be met is never fun. However, the Lord knew that it needed to be at a different time. The person who was going to run the kitchen for the DTS had some major things happen and wasn't going to be able to do it. With the CBCC postponed, it freed me up to be able to help out in this area. 

Then last month, we felt that it was time to start it again, in January. We even have our first fully enrolled trainee! I'm so excited to have this school starting again. I love being able to teach others how to study the Word. And - unashamed promotion - would love to have some of my friends and family join in as well! For this school, we are also accepting auditing trainees, for those who would like to get a broad idea of how to study the Bible inductively and hear from teachers, both live and on video. 

I love when the Lord connects people across generations, cultures, and locations to fulfill His purposes. Since 2021, I've had the privilege of working with some amazing people in the online Bible world, helping to end Bible poverty and illiteracy. I've helped grade students' work and offer support as they work through the online CBCC, as well as helped create a training manual that is now in 7 languages (English, Spanish, French, Arabic, Nepali, Ukrainian, and now Russian) and used across all of online YWAM Bible world.

​This past month, I was invited to help train another base to start their own Bible school! This April, I will be joining Deb Possin (my favorite Wisconsin Bible leader) in helping YWAM Santa Cruz start their first BCC. As most of it is done remotely (with a couple of weeks of in-person teaching), it is something I can do while still serving at YWAM Ships CCTX. 

I'm constantly in awe of God's plans and timing. When I moved to Corpus Christi, doing a Bible school was something I never really had a desire to do. But the Lord used the lockdown to change my mind and I am forever grateful that I said "Yes" to the course. It really has been so life-changing and life-giving. 

As a volunteer member of YWAM, I do not receive a monthly salary, but rather am supported by friends, family, and churches. I can say that in 12 years of ministry, this has been something that has drawn me closer to the Lord and given me the opportunity to learn the value of interdependence. All the things that I've been able to help with - people to serve, ministries launched, hearts and bodies healed, people fed- it's all because I have a team of partners that are with me, praying with me and over me and supporting me financially so I can dedicate myself to full-time ministry. It is noticed and appreciated more than words can ever express.

For the last 4 years, I have had an overwhelming desire to be there for kiddos who are in foster care. And as I have seen and heard here in our community, the need for foster parents is huge. My biggest hurdle is proving to the State that I can financially take care of kiddos in my home. While they do get assistance, it rarely covers their basic needs. Over the next two months, I will be launching a fund-raising campaign to help me reach my monthly income goal to meet TX requirements for foster care. I only have $800 to go! 

​I know beyond a shadow of a doubt that this is something the Lord has called me to do. I'm looking for people who also have a heart for foster kids, but who may not be able to have them in their own home, or churches who wish to stand for vulnerable kids. If this is something you are interested in supporting, if you know of anyone who may be interested, or if you have any additional questions, check out the links below:

Send a Message

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Thank you to all my friends and family who have been a part of this journey!
​Y'all are amazing!