Activating a family...of 11

On our journey back to Redding, from Canada, we stayed with an amazing family, the Lienau's. The dad, Michael, is a film maker, who is know for his film on the eruption of Mt St Helen's. Michael had got the whole family involved in the business, and they continue to produce films. Look out for a film - Joshua Clay - possibly coming out next year. (Global Net Productions/Send Rain Films).

The Lienau's have many stories to tell. They have 4 natural kids, and 5 adopted kids. They are all incredible people! They remind us a lot of the Gibbs family. Every person in the family has things that they love to do, and are encouraged to do them. They work incredibly well together and are very polite and hospitable. It was such an encouragement to see a family that loved each other, empowered each other and loved God with all their hearts. We had so much fun with them, we ended up staying 2 nights rather than one.

On our second night, they were really keen for us to prophecy over them. So, instead of us just prophesying over them, Dave decided to activate them. Dave shared a bit about what he'd learnt, and how easy it is to prophecy - just listen to the Holy Spirit and share the first thing you get (making sure it's exhortation, edification, comfort - basically just positive :) ). Everyone in the family got involved, and they prophesied over each other. It was so beautiful to see this! They were so encouraged. It's amazing just how easy it is to be activated. Just to understand how much God loves his people and wants to share all of himself with us. He wants us to encourage and build each other up. One of the best things I've learnt is if friends, family, or people in your team/church need encouraging or unifying - prophecy over them! Instantly relationship is built and unity is formed.

We loved our time on Camano Island with the Lienau's and look forward to seeing how we can help this family more in the future.

Canada & Visas

We are officially in the US for another year!

Instead of heading back to Australia to get our visas for the second year here, we decided it was easier and cheaper to head into Canada. (It also meant I could be around for worship school). So we planned a week long flying visit to Vancouver, BC with the 'other' Aussie family here, the Van Tinerens.

Contrary to my usual character, I didn't complete paperwork until a day before we were due to leave. After completing the visa forms for all of us, I then went to pay a fee (called a SEVIS fee). I realised that we hadn't been given a new SEVIS number - which is needed to pay the fee. This meant we had been given the wrong 1-20 forms (which are the forms that come from the school stating why we are in the US). After what was one of the most stressful and embarrassing days of my life, we finally got hold of someone (on a saturday) who could give us our new forms! Initially we had decided to go for a visa extension, but then changed our minds and decided just to go and get the full visa. So they had processed 2 different lots of forms for us, and we had got the extension forms rather than the new visa forms. Ahh! So it was a miracle we got it the forms. And we were able to leave for Canada the next day as planned. What a relief!

Our first day we drove to Portland where we stayed at our neighbours sisters house (have I told you just how amazing and generous our neighbours are???). We then continued the next day up to Belcarra (Vancouver) BC, Canada. Again I had made a mistake by not bringing our consulate appointment confirmation form! The border guard said we were the first people had even encountered that had not brought their form. Whoops :). Lucky he was nice; he let us through :).

On our way to our accommodation (friends of friends) we saw a baby bear hanging his paws over the side rails along the road. According to the locals, its the bear they are trying to catch cause he is getting into peoples houses - including the house we stayed at (but not while we were there thankfully!). The house is located in the most spectacular place - right on the waters edge, with the surrounding mountains in full view. Being further north, we experienced quite a late sunset (not as late as Alaska, but still late for us). It didn't get dark until around 9.45pm. The family we stayed with were beautiful! They welcomed us (as strangers) into their home. We were truly blessed.

Our visa appointment went very smoothly, and with that off our minds, we were able to enjoy the local attractions. We walked along the waters edge, went to Stanley Park, and the boys went into the Aquarium. Our conclusion - Vancouver, BC is beautiful! We look forward to returning again some day.

We had a lot of grace at the border on the way back into the US. Both families were processed together (by the nicest border guard), and we had no trouble. We celebrated our return to the US with dinner in the border town, Blaine. It was time to relax!

Graduation and Earl Johnson Nomination!

Last Sunday 16^th May I had the privilege of graduating 1^st year BSSM with a nomination for the ‘Earl Johnson award’ (an award for people who exhibit the lifestyle, character and qualities of a revivalist). It was an honor to graduate first year at this amazing college (along with 740+ fellow students) but an extra honor for me to be recognised by my classmates and pastor as a nominee for the Earl Johnson award! I was really humbled when I received the email from Crystal (my revival group pastor) because of the calibre of revivalists in my class of 80. Crystal also asked me to preach at our last revival group meeting for 10min which was an incredible honor and also a lot of fun! I preached on "Intimacy with God" and the River from Ezekiel. Taff and Jaden even came to support me, which was soo good! Thanks baby! I feel a lot of favour from God in this environment at BSSM, and I know that we are here for a purpose. Check out the graduation photos on Facebook too!

Zeke & the Miracle at the Park!

A few weeks ago I took Zeke to my Thursday 'Treasure Hunt' outreach. This is an outreach where we all get together, pray and ask God for 'words of knowledge' and then head down the street to bring the Kingdom of Heaven. Before hand, I really felt that we should go to a local park, where a lot of the homeless people hang out (I wanted to meet up with a man name Billy who had been healed the week earlier at the Pub) As I was praying I also saw a picture of a leg/knee and so I knew that God possibly wanted to heal someone with a sore knee.

When we arrived at the park, Billy was no-where to be seen, however I saw a beautiful elderly black man limping through the park. So we knew that we had to go and pray for him. We approached him and he told us that his name was KW. We asked him if we could pray for him. He had a paralysed left leg and said he would love our prayers. So we prayed for him and commanded his nerves to be healed and come alive, and he said “Wow something is happening! It feels a lot better!” So we got him to walk and he said “Yes its improving.” So then I asked Zeke to come and pray for him. So Zeke just said a one line prayer like “Jesus I pray you come and heal KW’s leg…make it better.” And instantly KW rocked backwards a bit (under the power of the Holy Spirit) and then exclaimed “Oh my goodness…all the swelling just left my knee! All the swelling just left my knee!” We were blown away by God's goodness! And then as all this was happening a guy who was standing in the distance wandered over to us, his name was Chris.

We asked if he would like for us to pray for him, he had a sore jaw and swollen gums and also was drugged out from the drugs he was on. He said "Yes!". So we got KW to pray for him and instantly pain began to leave his jaw and the Holy Spirit fell on him in the park! We then prayed for him again and he instantly became sober! Then I felt led to ask him about his father and if he had a father who abused him... he said "Yes" So we prayed with him to forgive his father and then did some SOZO with him, so he could encounter Jesus. We stayed with Chris for another 20minutes praying for him and blessing him, he eventually gave his life to Jesus right there on the spot! He said to us "I have been wanting to make this decision for 7 years!" I got another word of knowledge about a "Lucy" When I asked him, he said "I have a daughter named "Lacy" I said "close enough" so we prayed for his daughter and blessed him some more!

School of Worship

I'm in!

This week I completed my application for the School of Worship. Within 2 days it was processed and I had my confirmation letter saying I was accepted. I'm totally excited about it!

The School of Worship is a 3 week course beginning on June 15. It's an interactive and hands on course for musicians, artists, dancers, sound tech and more. I have applied for the Worship Leading/Prophetic Song elective. I am looking forward to learning all I can and being stretched. It's also a great opportunity for me to work a little bit with other musicians from around the world.

So only 5 weeks till I go to school! (Provided my fees are paid, and that they let us back into the country early :) - please pray!)

Woohoo! Love you all.

Financial Miracle $1200 in 60 minutes!!!

As school is almost over, Taff and I began talking about our plans to get new visas without going back to Australia over the holidays. After applying for second year, we now had to work out travelling to Canada and purchasing some more visas for 2010/2011.

Anyways, Taff (the best wife ever!) had been at home all day working out visa applications etc and had reminded me that we needed to come up with $1200 pretty well straight away to pay for them!

I said "Baby, God has not let us down in the past. Let's just pray and leave it in his hands, He will look after us!"

So we joined hands at the table and prayed briefly, thanking God for his amazing generosity in the past, and asking him for the $1200 for our visas.

Anyway... within 60minutes there was a knock on the door. When we opened the door, there was someone standing holding a cheque for $1200 exactly!!!! It all happened so fast that I was dumbfounded!

We were both blown away by God's goodness and the persons obedience!!! God does provide for all your needs! You can trust Him for sure!