the calm before the storm?

this last week was pretty chill.

nothing major to report. had a bit of an issue with my tummy, praise God we got that dealt with :)

OH! we have officially officially got our outreach destination.

HAITI!!!

i am so thankful, joyful, and pumped to be on this adventure.

everytime i hear a news report or hear of something haiti, my heart breaks for the entire nation.

we had the opportunity to sit in on a video conference with YWAM Haiti, this week,

and it sure did add fuel to the fire in my heart, i suspect it will be a very difficult outreach, which makes it that much more exciting.

prayer requests;

strength and patience - living with 10 women is forcing me to grow. alot.

open heart - i want to remain open to everything God has for me - sometimes its a little difficult

i know its a quick blog, but i promise to update again soon

love you!

break through and reach out

HELLLOOOOOO WORLD!

So, finally an update.

This whole not having a computer thing.. is kinda intense. I have coordinate writing blogs around when i can use other peoples computers and such. It kinda tough.

So the moment you have all been waiting for ... where is christie going on outreach?

Last week at our weekly meeting they disclosed our two outreach locations.

Shanghai, China

Mexico City, Mexico

We had a week to spend praying about it and listening to where God is calling us (since last weeks topic was 'Hearing the voice of God')

But for like 2 or 3 days i still had no idea where i was supposed to go, did i come to the right DTS? I dont really have a passion or love for either of these lovely cities.. what do i do?

Moving on.. Last week (as i am sure you are aware) an earthquake struck Haiti, HARD.

So our intercession was spent praying hard for the people and the relief.

But my heart was hurting for them hardcore.

God totally put it on my heart to be in Haiti helping. (of corse right?)

So a friend and I pulled a leader aside, and she already knew exactly what we were going to say, it was on their hearts too!

Our dts leadership team got together, and prayed about it, they felt we are supposed to go to haiti too! WHAT?!

So they submitted it to the base directors to pray about it, and give us a final yes or no.

Yesterday.. during our weekly meeting we found out we got the greeeen light!

We are going to haiti to pour out lots of LOVE!

So, yea, tomorrow we make final decisions on where we are going (our DTS splits up into different teams, to different locations)

Please keep us in your prayers!

What else is new?

Saturday we went out to the colonial, and served breakfast to the little childrens, and played some stellar soccer, I scored three goals. Yea, im planning on going pro next season.

Then sunday was spent at the beach. word.

This week B is speaking to us about 'the father heart of God'

What an insane week.

Each day i discover something new about myself.

this week I have had two major breakthroughs,

my heart is really healing and getting in the right place to be able to serve with my whole heart, and for the right reasons. SO RAD!

please keep me in your prayers!

S needs her computer, so i have to go.

But i hope you are all keeping super well.

you're all loved.

miss you.

xox

danger.. jelly fish

so today was a super awesome day!

Beach Day!

My days start at 6am when S wakes me up for a run.

We hit the pavement by 6.15 and off we go.

We run down the malecon - or boardwalk to a cute little place called the flag pole, we do stretches and work out a bit then run back. We get back just before 7 - BREAKFAST!

WoNdErFuL

I love breakfast. Especially after a day of fasting. <3

We get ready for the day and usually have class but today was a little bit different we all packed into the vans and went to the beach.

I was talking to people about my fear of jelly fish - everyone thinks its irrational but such is life.

We drive for about 20 min down the malecon, through the golden zone (the tourist area) out to an amazing beach known as cerritos

Walk down the path, down the stairs and our feet hit the sand!

HELLLLO BEACH!

Being the wonderful Canadian i am .. i check out the flagpole - swimming in the ocean isnt easy, so i wanna know what im getting myself into.

A red flag was flying - meaning 'danger' the waves are big today

A white flag - jelly fish warning

my stomach dropped. I can handle being smashed around by the waves and such, but JELLY FISH?! JELLY FISH?!?!?

Not going to happen.

So we spend the first little bit walking down the beach talking about how afraid I am, and saying one last adios to M, man im going to miss her.

They finally talk me into going into the water, with the jelly fish..

Before we go in .. we pray about it.

We are all in the water, im learning how to swim with waves bigger than the CN Tower, and trying to ride the waves.. so much fun. Sometimes you get smashed around really hard, where is up.. where is down? i dont know.. all i see is water!

S and I were chilling waiting for a sweet wave to ride, and then it happend.

OW!

me- i think i just got stung.

S- are you sure

me- (curled up in a ball in the water hanging onto S) ow ow ow ow

S - are you serious

me- ow ow ow..

S - let me see

me- owww owww owwwww

S - well lets go in

me- i cant swim, pull me (dragging S under water)

S - common

me- ahhhh he just got my foot, owwwww

S - lets go in

me- im too scared

S- common

so we swim into shore

i show M, in her cute lil mexican accent she looks at the wonderful red mark on my arm and says ' i dont think you did but you should pee on it just in case'

S- i'll pee in a cup for you

me- owww

ha ha ha.. what a day.

smell that? .. yea.. thats fish..

So, here i am, in Mazatlan Mexico.

I feel like i have so much to tell you, but not enough words, or time.

Leaving Canada was an interesting feeling, I wasnt really feeling anything.

I mean it was tough to leave my family and friends behind, but I can deal with it.

I had a pretty good flight from toronto to mexico city.

The highlight of the flight was when the flight attendant asked me if i requested a 'lactose free' meal. I told her yes, so she hands me my tray that says 'lactosa free'

the smell of pancakes an syrup flooded the small plane we were in, I got excited to see what I was going to have for breakfast.

Eggs, Salsa, Homefries, all smother in cheese.

Ha, FUNNYY

My flight from mexico city to mazatlan was average. It was in the smallest passenger plane I have ever been in, I arrived at the airport slightly delayed to find C. A wonderful part of my DTS staff waiting with a sign that read 'YWAM'

We got all my stuff in the truck, and headed for the base.

We arrived at the base, I put my stuff in my room, and went downstairs to catch the end of dinner. I sat down meeting many many people, and felt totally at home.

this is where im supposed to be.

Although I was totally exhausted I went out exploring the town with some of the other students. One of which is a french canadian, who was homeless in Mazatlan for the last few weeks.

Mexican culture is amazing, taco stands everywhere you go, music, fun, and laid back all the time.

The base itself is amazing.

We are right on the beach of a bay. Our balcony over looks the ocean.

Me, being the canadian I am, I sleep on the balcony listening to the waves.

Its to 'frio' (cold) for the other students but its just perfect for me.

The base needs to raise 4 million pesos in the next 2 months for the last payment to own this piece of property, please keep our finances in your prayers!

Over the last few days of classes, I wasnt really learning anything, but then again it was just orientation. This whole week is just getting a ready and setting expectations for the next 6 months.

Yesterday G talked to us about the 'rights' we have as people that hold us back from God.

It really got me thinking about my own life, and what I have the 'right' to. I discovered so much about myself and how selfish I can be.

Yesterday really brought light to the fact that I am going to transform as a person while Im down here.

Im so stoked to be here serving God, by serving the people of Mazatlan Mexico.

Thank you for being a part of this journey.

love you all.