Currently Reading The Four Loves By C.S. Lewis see related

Update

A week and a half ago, 7th DTS of our YWAM base had its graduation!  The team was back from their outreach  in Senegal and Gambia (West Africa) couple weeks ago: we were so looking forward to see them again and hear everything about their time, ministry there and all the testimonies and experience of God in African nations. It was so encouraging, absolutely amazing!!

Transformations DTS (2007-2008) Outreach in Senegal and Gambia (West Africa)

For me personally, it was very very special and wonderful to see and talk to the girl student I had been mentoring throughout the school, Pamela (from Canada). Throughout the DTS she had been struggling a lot and even up to the point she bought a ticket to go home, she even got to the airport, but  God spoke to her rigth there, at the airport, and she returned to the School and made it so strong since then, especially throughout outreach! When she sahred her testimony onGraduation, she said this with the tears in her eyes, "I have experienced and now will witness to everyone of how FAITHFUL He is! I shall never doubt again". It was amazing to talk to her again and see how much God has revealed Himself to her heart and in her life. Wow! Oh, praises to God!! May all the glory be to God!! She has a very special place in my heart and I am so thankful to God and am so blessed to be used by Him in her life and encourage her in her faith and walk with God. She and I are sulery will continue to keep in touch and I am just so looking forward to see what God has in store for her life. Because as almost every student shared at their graduation past Friday, "DTS turned out to be only the beginning!" and that is so true! No need to mentioned that I am one still on the journey! ;), and I want to thank YOU for being a part of it, by being part of my life and so much appreciated your support.

 

Did you know that in the past 2.5 years our DTSes have now done outreaches in more than 14 nations? There have been several hundred people who have awaken to a vital relationship with Jesus and countless others who been served a numerous ways. Did you know that our current outreach team is helping to build a school that will serve Gambian kids for generations to come? One of our staff stayed in Gambia, West Africa, to continue the started work, and as West Africa contineus to stay one of our base's major focuses.  We have gotten a couple of emails in the last week already with people looking to connect with us for West Africa!! 

 

More to share, I am so happy to witness and share that one of our this DTS graduated students, Richard (from Pakestan/The Netherlands) shared how God had clarified for him in the school that he needs to immediately start a foundation that building schools in Pakistan that will help bring justice and reconciliation in there and wants to continually work with us on this. So as our upoming next DTS goes to Thailand (outreaches and releif insex-trade area), it is also going to Pakistan to help Richie. We believe this a is significant part of the justice vision. Please, join in prayers with us for this.

 

 

Transformations DTS (2007-2008)                       Pamela and Richard

 

 

 

Now we all getting ready for the next School, I have already mentioned above, which is Justice Arts and Media DTS. As I am serving with my book keeping, reception and administrative work - no doubt it is a busy time for me and the leaders in preparations and arrangements for the DTS Schools and continuing the ministries our YWAM base involved in. I am so excited about the School to start and once again see yough people's hearts  changed/transformaed by God throughout the School and then being transformed - go to the nations! Especially with the focus on Justice, and how to reach out the hearts for God through Arts and Media!

 

Before I sing off, I would love to hearfelt thank you once again for being a part of my life by joining me in this ministry of His, without your continual prayers, encouragement and support it would might not happen. May all the praises and glory and honor be to our God!

 

Lifechanging visit to the US over the New 2008 Year

 Wow, what a 3 week trip that was! My first visit to the United States of America. Memories to cherish for eternity! There is so much to tell, so much to share, and I just wish we could all gather together, having some coffee/tea and desserts and I would share it all in all its beautiful details, beautiful God's details...

I have been thinking how can I put it all in typing, to keep it as interesting and pass its excitement as it was and meanwhile not bore you with the lenght. I got an idea to write it in "chapters" as the book of life the Lord is writing through our lives, each and every day of our life journey and walk with Him...  God will never stop to amaze me with His everlasting love and grace...

Chapter 1 "Two and a half weeks of Fundraising in Seattle "

The original and main reason of my trip to the U.S. as you all already know was for fund raising to continue to staff YWAM in Toronto, Canada. This trip was entirely orchestrated by God in how He miraculously provided me the U.S. visa and even the ticket there!!

So, I was blessed to visit various churches in Seattle and surrounding area, representing YWAM Toronto and sharing powerful works the Lord has been doing here, through this base, as in the hearts of all those people we  go out to reach out for our Lord, as in the hearts of students and yes, our own, staff's, heart also. It is a very powerful experience and privilege to see God at work, and an honor to be a part of that work God is doing, to be the tool in His hands in changing other people's lives. Oh, Praise HIM!! :)

However, the fundraising for me didn't go too well. And I remain to be challenged with finances and continue to ask God for supporters, for people to come along and share the ministry together with me the Lord has placed on me.  The times has been very rough in financial matters for me, to pay the fees to YWAM to continue His service, but He is so faithful to always be there for us. "Thank You, Lord!"

I know the Lord has called me to be here for His service and glory and I am so happy to welcome every one who wishes to be a part of the work God is doing through this base.  God is so good and I take joy in being in service for Him and His children full time. I truly heartfelt thank those so much, who responded to my need already. It means so much to me, and your support is whatever form is tremendously appreciated!! I surely would appreciate your prayers for me and this ministry time of God's through me so much. 

Chapter 2 "Christmas in Seattle "

This family has blessed me by taking me on ferry rides around the Shoreline, seeing the Space Needle and going to the famous Pike's Market - and seeing the flying fish! That was so much fun! I loved the place! And, I even got a chance to visit the original, the very first Starbucks! Even though I didn't get the coffee there, it still was so special and awesome to be there and try to believe myself that it was true! It felt like a dream to me. Ah!

Chapter 3 "Half Moon Bay "

Half Moon Bay is near by San Francisco. And it is the very place where Jason's, my boyfriend's, family lives and where I was, once again by God's amazing grace and miracle, blessed with a plane ticket to go to see him, meet his family and then together drive to Sacramento to visit my grandparents I haven't seen for 11 years since they have moved to the U.S. as religious refugees (both of my grandgrand fathers were murdered for faith in God during Stalin's reign). Ahhh, so much to tell! But I need to keep the chapters in order, so that's coming .

And for now, Half Moon Bay. It was so awesome! Half Moon Bay is such a beautiful, I even would say GORGEOUS place on Earth! It is SO pretty! But what makes a place even more beautiful? Is people. I have loved meeting Jason's family. It was an absolute pleasure to meet Mr. and Mrs. Hepp, Jason's older sister Leila and younger brother Chris, spend time with them and get to know them. In a few words I can say that I am so blessed to become a part of the Hepps family, and am so honored. I have become to truly love them all and am so excited to get to know them even closer and closer and look forward to the next time I'll see them again!

Chapter 4 "Engagement "

YES!! Jason and I got engaged!!  Jason asked me to marry him on December 31st, our two year anniversary of actually knowing each other in person (we both feel that we have always known each other and been prepared for each other in the Lord all of our lives)!! We met each over two years ago now, when I was volunteering at Shelter Christian Youth Hostel in Amsterdam and him coming over our Hostels over the Winter holidays on the mission trip from his School. Since then, we stayed in contact and were so blessed by God with opportunities to visit one another.  
He came to visit me in October 2006 during my DTS with YWAM for the first time and since then we began to really get to know each other, continually being praying for one another and about "us". It is just such an amazing story God has been writing through our lives! Of course, we went through many up's and down's in our friendship. We would say that we have been in a relationship for a year (about 2-3 months after he saw me in October), and we have officially been since midsummer and have been extremely serious since October 2007, when Jason came to visit me here in Canada again.  God was so good that He blessed everything, providing another chance to see each other that October (a year since we saw each other last!!! Wow!) and then He granted us a miracle in me getting a U.S. visa and plane ticket to come meet his family and him meeting my grandparents and spend 11 days with each other over New Year's. There is truly no other man I could possible marry. He is the Godsend to me and I am the happiest woman in the world to become future Mrs. Hepp.

Now, we are enduring this difficult time apart and earnestly seeking His guidance as to when we might join together as one in marriage. We believe it will be soon, but, we are also open to His leading if He wishes for us to have a longer engagement. We're seeing our Lord in it all, though, so we have complete faith that His perfect timing will work out. We surely would appreciate your prayers for us so much. And until that glorious day of our wedding comes, I joyfully continue to be in full time service for our Lord with YWAM.

Chapter 5 "The glorious family reunion after 11 years of separation"

It is so awesome how God works! to be honest, I have always hoped to see my so dearly loved grandparents again, but it just seemed to be impossible, especially after being separated for 11 years with no chance to see other had been only proving how impossible that is. But there is NOTHING impossible for God! I saw them! And I was blessed so tremendously in so many ways by how God orchestrated it: I saw them again, spent time with them, ahh, such a GLORIOUS reunion by itself!

After 11 years of no-see! WOW, I can't stop praising the Lord!! A miracle! And even more, I was so blessed to introduced them my husband-to-be and him to meet my dear grandparents and my extended family - my uncle, and unties and cousin who also live near by Sacramento and we were blessed to visit and share meals, real Russian meals with! It was unforgettable, Oh, God, thank You... Thank You, Jesus! And thank you all who has been praying for this glorious reunion! It had been powerful.

Chapter 6 "Back to Canada"

Now, I am back in Toronto, to continue to serve God and His children with my administrative and book keeping work. It is very quiet here now, when our DTS School is gone to Gambia and Senegal in Africa. And we all very look forward to them being back in a couple of weeks and hear everything about their experience of God through Africa outreach. Thank you for being praying for our base, thank you for being a part of the work God is doing here and through us  by your prayers. I personally am so happy and thankful for you in my life, thank you for being a part of it. May all the praises and glory and honor be to our God!

Talk to you soon again :)

Currently Reading God on Mute: Engaging the Silence of Unanswered Prayer By Pete Greig see related

I am so sorry for the delay with an update again, I was going though very rough times until past week. As you know, as a YWAMer we need to pay staff fees, and my financial situation wasn't good at all, well, better say, it was very bad. It seemed like there were no way for me to pay  my almost $1200 debt, that led me into a depression that I almost was ready to quit and somehow make it back home to Russia.  But.. God is so faithful:  by His grace and mercy I was forgiven a half of it and the rest was provided for me to pay off!

With this experience  He has strongly showed me that He wants me to be and serve Him here, and He is faithful, always faithful to provide. I am still humby asking Him and seeking for supporters, but He remainsmy Ultimate Resourse of every need. If God puts on your heart to come alongside me in this time to partner with me in sharing His ministry He called me to, if you would like to become one of my supporters, then, please, do not hesitate to contact me and I will answer any questions you might have and tell you about various ways your donations can reach me for the mission work I am doing.  Everything and anything will be a big help and warmly appreciated. Thank you so much in advance!

Now, even more exciting news! Last week God did an amazing miracle in my life and that has encouraged a big number of people who were witnessers to! The story strats with me being invited to go to Shoreline (Seattle) over for Christmas to visit one beautiful dear family I know and to speak at the churches, presenting YWAM I.net to raise prayer and financial support to be able to continue to staff YWAM!! However, being a Russian citizen I need a... yep, visa... It was predicted to be a very difficult case, pretty much hopeless.  But the hope in the Lord is never to be ashamed, rigth? And I am just praising God and Him alone, because He is so faithful!  I got my visa by a miracle (just ask me if you want to know more),  never anything like that happened before in my life! WOW!!! Lots of thanks to all and everyone who had been praying about it! Thank you from all of my heart!!

This opportunity from God to raise some suppprt is such a blessing, as I am so in need of supporters. Please, keep me and my trip in your prayers.

More exciting news to share!! As I had just find out yesterday, this trip to US won't just be to the WA, but I will be SO abuntantly blessed  with a pleasure to meet my boyfriend's (Jason) family in CA (no need to mention how happy I will be to see Jason again!!!). Jason's father has been so kind and so generous to buy me a ticket to come down from Washington to California :)! AMAZING! And even more - Jason will drive me to see my grandparents, who also live in CA: they immigrated there 11 years ago as religious refugees and whom I haven't seen since then... that will be .... wow.... reunion after 11 years... wow... Thank YOU, LORD!!  God leaves me speechless in reverence and overflowing with thankfulness........

Currently Listening Piece by Piece By Katie Melua see related

about time to... update!

Currently Reading The Secret Message of Jesus: Uncovering the Truth that Could Change Everything By Brian McLaren see related

Leadership Staff Training of YWAM

The Training of YWAM is in BARBADOS! If you ask me how did I make it there, I won't be able to asnwer, because I have no answer but GOD. I know it may sound  spiritulized, but what if that is the bare truth? You may believe you may not, but God can and does miracle in our every day lives, at times we just arenot willing to open our eyes and see it.

The Leadership staff Training of YWAM:  so much more than I expected and hoped for. A  powerful week of teaching and God revealing Himself to me in new awesome ways. Throughout the week of the Training God has answered so many questions of mine I had and confirmed the calling of serving Him full time for the following two years by staffing YWAM I.Net in Canada. It is a big challenge in financial matters (I need to pay a fee to staff YWAM), but limited finances or any other obstacles are no reason to disobey to follow Him, so foremost I trust in Him and playfully ask Him to be my ultimate Source of provision as He his the One Who led me on this journey and I LONG to be His servant at any places He leads me to.

And the island was just gorgeous. Very very humid, but hot and sunny and the most beautiful water I have ever swam in my entire life and the pink sand that is hard to imaginebut does exist. I loved it, totally loved it... Unforgettable experience.