Great article about YWAM

If you're interested in learning a little more about YWAM....along with it's past, present, and bits of it's future....check out this article by Christianity Today!

http://www.christianitytoday.com/ct/2010/december/13.40.html

Holiday Help

So as most of you probably know, I just returned from spending 5 months as a missionary in Central America. I"m currently looking for a job but in the meantime need some income. I'm available for the following things:

-Babysitting (average $10/hour but could change based on # of kids, hours, etc)
-House-sitting
-Pet-sitting
-House cleaning
-Gift-wrapping (very cute/pretty, of course)
-Baking
-Whatever else you may need me for!


Email me at leahdcarr@hotmail.com for more info!

(click image for larger view)

J-O-Y

I’ve been home less than a week and each day I see more and more hints of how I changed and what I learned during my DTS. Today I went to church and the message was about joy. The pastor was talking about how during the Christmas season we see the word ‘joy’ everywhere but do we really know what that word means? Often times we try to find our joy in people, possessions, possibilities, and places. We think other people will make us happy, only to realize they eventually let us down. We think the next great thing will bring us to the next great level of happiness…only to realize there’s another ‘next great thing’ and our happiness dwindles. And then we say, “If only such and such would happen, then I would be more joyful”. Or, “Maybe if I go to this new place and start over I’ll find true happiness.” But we fail to recognize that our only true source of lasting joy is God alone. In every season God is with us, never failing, never changing. He understands us…in every season. And He cares about us…in every season. He won’t let us down. There’s not ever going to be a newer model of God that requires us to buy the next upgrade. We don’t have to move to another state to start over with God, He takes us as we are wherever we are. Do you know that? Do you know that you can find joy in God no matter what your circumstances? Today at church I realized that I learned all of that in the last five months. Before I went to Costa Rica I didn’t understand that I could find joy in God no matter what. My circumstances, my mood, everything around me could determine whether or not I could be happy. I’ve learned that God is always the same….never changing. He’s good ALL the time and ALL the time HE IS GOOD! He’s worthy of my joy because in Him there is no bad. I love what 1 Peter 1:8 says, “Though you have not seen him, you love him; and even though you do not see him now, you believe in him and are filled with an inexpressible and glorious joy”. It’s true. He fills me with an inexpressible and glorious joy. I can be unhappy with things going on around me. I can be uncertain about the future. I can be sad, frustrated, or angry but still find joy in Him. Earthly things do not define my joy. My joy is in the Lord because He is constant and therefore ALWAYS good just like it says in Psalm 107:1, “Give thanks to the Lord, for he is GOOD!” It doesn’t mean that I won’t have down times or even that I will feel joyful all the time but what it does mean is that I can look to God and know that life is good and I can have joy despite anything else because in Him there is no bad. The Word says He is good and God cannot contradict Himself therefore He is GOOD no matter what we think, feel, or experience….therefore true joy can be found in Him and He is WORTHY of my joy!

The rest of outreach.........

Yet again, I have no idea where to begin with this update. So much has happened in the last several weeks! I suppose I should try to sum it all up but that seems impossible. One week was spent in Nicoya, Costa Rica, which is in Guanacaste. We helped with a Bible distribution project that is taking place in Central America. The goal is to place one Bible in EVERY home in Central America and there is a family that has started this mission in Guanacaste. We walked door to door delivering Bibles and praying for families. It blew my mind how open and friendly the people were. We were invited into nearly every home and they even told us their needs so we could pray with them. I spent two weeks in Honduras and they were two of my favorite weeks out of the entire DTS! We worked with drug addicts, homeless, prostitutes, youth groups, school assemblies, poor neighborhoods, orphanages, kids programs, etc. The people of Tegucigalpa were absolutely wonderful and made our time there so special. From Honduras we traveled to El Salvador where we did some kids programs but mostly just prepared for our return home. We were blessed with the opportunity to stay in a beach house, where we had several meetings to debrief our outreach. From there we made our way up to Antigua, Guatemala for a couple of days. We were able to go to an amazing orphanage in Guatemala City and attend their Thanksgiving celebration. Antigua was one of my favorite places for tourism and the shopping was absolutely wonderful….in case you’re looking for a good vacation! From Guatemala we went back to El Salvador to spend several hours waiting for the bus that would take us the 20 hours back to San Jose, Costa Rica. Talk about a long trip!!! We made it back safely and then had a couple of days to relax and discuss re-entry before our GRADUATION! My mom came on Thanksgiving Day and stayed for a few days to meet my friends and learn more about where/how I’ve been living for the past several months.

My experience in DTS was great and most definitely a valuable time. I feel I have grown deeper in my understanding of God and in my relationship with Him. My eyes have been opened to so many opportunities within missions and I have seen so many lives transformed! For now I will be spending some time in Austin until I decide my next step, which hopefully will begin in the next few months. God has been faithful and I know His faithfulness will continue as I walk with Him step by step. Thank you so much to everyone who has supported me financially and through prayer. Your money did not only help me but it enabled me to go out so God could use me to help others. Please ask if you want to know more details about my trip or any specific ministries I have mentioned; I would be more than happy to share my stories!!! Also, if you or anyone you know is interested in going to Central America for a mission trip please let me know and I will get you connected with the right people/places. God bless!