Reaching the Indian Ocean Gateway...one day at a time......

update...

2009-03-17T03:51:00.000-07:00

sooo this past weekend i had the opportunity to staff a high school girls camp (grade 8-12) It was amazing to see them chase after God... immediately trust us and open us to us! We taught on the Character of God and how to Hear His Voice! On one night 4 girls accepted Jesus into their life for the first time and 3 others re-committed their lives (out of 25). It was such a good reminder for me of how precious it is to have intimacy with God... how wonderful it is when someone meets him for the first time...I was able to pray for them.. encourage them and share with them how they can continue to move forward in their relationship with him..the girls recognized straight away that they could now call God their Father and one girl said-"I feel more loved now" it was beautiful and very encouraging! We had scrapbooking time, pedicures, a bake-off and heaps of just laughing together! The girl in the silver top and one in the white are two of the girls that gave their lives to Jesus-it is a picture of them singing for the talent show... Ill attach a few of the videos so you can have some aussie flavor!

Love you and Miss you all heaps... Thank you again for all of your prayers and support... helping me bring life and truth to the beautiful country of Australia....

Katherine

2009-01-26T20:09:00.000-08:00

the path is NOT free of obstacles or pain..

been awhile...

2009-01-24T04:26:00.000-08:00

Well, today it is already into the year of 2009-since I last wrote, I have been to Jakarta, Indonesia and back to Perth-then onto some holiday time with my family in the city of Melbourne-where my Dad and Mom have just recently moved.

The time here has been such a blessing, getting to spend time with my siblings... getting to know them in a greater way... being able to rest and relax in God. To be able to trust him in a new way... knowing that it is okay to rest has been nice. As a family, it is the first time in 2 1/2 years that we have all been together.. Its been funny to see my family adjust to the Australian culture-I just recently found out I need to continue to do some tests on my stomach (from previously having Typhoid and other bacteria in my intestines) So.. as I patiently wait for results, I am also patiently waiting for further direction, and standing in faith that this year will be a year of Breakthrough as God has spoken it would be!

I appreciate your on-going love and prayers... will write more soon!

Blesssssings upon blessings..

Family.

2008-08-16T22:19:00.000-07:00

Well.. I sure do love family. My older brother, Bobby, has been traveling for the past year and to end his trip he stopped by Perth to visit me! It was such a blessing! We had loads of fun... I took him to most of my fav. places here in the city-he is the first from Roch to see this place, meet my friends, learn a little bit about how I live! He came in just the perfect timing... :) Love you Bobby.

UNDIVIDED 08 WINTER CAMP

2008-07-22T04:12:00.000-07:00

I just got back from staffin a week long Winter Camp... yes it is Winter here in Perth at the moment... We had 17 of us volunteers from YWAM take 60+ Aussies youth from all over the state of Western Austalia to a place in the hills called Camp Logue Brook... where we met with God! Had heaps of great food.. played some really intense games... in the photos you can see how wet and rainy it was all week... some of the guys on my team-we were the SPARTANS. Def dominated in mostly all the games... I have now bruises on both my legs.. but we wanted to fill our treasure chest with as many lollies as possible.. whoever had the most at the end of the week WON-unless you won the super challenge which was a rely race-your whole team was tied together and had to go up a 'slip and slide' to race up steep banks into the basketball court where we passed lifesaves from toothpick to toothpick (for some of the crew it was their first time ever getting close to anyone.. including the opposite sex...not sure what the game creators were thinking..) from there we ran a few kms to crates full of brown bags-each person had to eat everything in it-if a team member vomitted it up-still had to be eaten..thankfully my team had some courageous girls that scraped one of the guy's sardine filled pancakes... after a five min time delay (one of the kids tried throwing out his spam..) we raced to pull a HUGE ORANGE BUS... doing it in the fastest time my team and I jetted down to the pond to build a raft and go out into the middle and back... yes... we made 2ND PLACE!

It was a fun week... the best part even after the games was how responsive the campers were... 3 accepted the Lord for the first time and many of them left saying they know that this will not just be another 'camp high' but know they will take something with them and can apply all that God did in their lives... :) So thank you for being apart of what God is doing in the Australian youth...

gotta love 12km walks..

2008-07-08T05:38:00.000-07:00

alone!!!! What a day... I went for a refreshing walk around the river that runs through perth... enjoyed some good ol' worship music and jack johnson...

2008-07-05T05:45:00.000-07:00

'oh God, you are my God; I earnestly search for you. My soul thirsts for you; my whole body longs for you in this parched and weary land where there is no water... your unfailing LOVE is better than life itself... I cling to you; your strong right hand holds me securely...' parts of Psalm 63.

I am still in Perth. Still serving through YWAM. Transitioning at the moment. Getting greater direction and clarity from the Lord as how to move forward. Went down to the river again today-it poured on me.. but was so beautiful. listening to God speak. Hearing his perspective on my life... how I need to change. to go deeper with him... to see his creation take my breath away. To once again receive his perfect love.. to be accepted as his daughter... I am looking forward to the season ahead.... feel like there will be heaps of surprises.. promises fulfilled. breakthrough in different areas of my life... see his blessings poured out in various ways... to be refreshed in him in a new way...ta.

Photos from Indo/Botswana/Namibia.

2008-07-05T05:23:00.000-07:00

gotta love africa. traveling through the places God has created for us to enjoy..riding with people that 'click' to communicate.. are still hunters and gatherers...beauty. then we have what it looks like after going through 'indonesian tradtitional medicine' OUCH. gotta love the green toilets... oh i will never stop loving to travel. experiencing all that you do...i am so blessed. grateful.

Winter in Perth.

2008-07-05T05:16:00.000-07:00

This is from Landry's and my trip over to Melbourne to see my parents as they were 'house shopping' the beach we are standing on will be located a block away from the house.. talk about exciting!!!

desperate.

2008-05-25T00:02:00.000-07:00

life. what a wonderful thing to live a life that serves the one who gives life. brings hope. joy. curiousity of the future... understanding that everything will be okay.

Since I last wrote... I have lived in many different places, with a variety of people... the rubbish areas of Indonesia-to a farm tucked away in the hills of Namibia...a dirt road in the middle of the Kalahari desert underneath a million stars...to a sleeping with bugs called 'naughty johns' that chase you... a long-term missionary... pastor and his family...volunteers... local people. Have learned new ways of life... how to see MORE in and through GOD'S eyes... man. I am so blessed to be walking in the truth of him... in his light. to be chosen to see a group of 18 year olds grab ahold of God's heart for their own life... to then transfer it into those they come in contact with...

I love this life God has called me into..never knowing what to expect with tomorrow... but dreaming for the future... for my generation and our broken world to not just be set free...but to STAND AND MAKE A DIFFERENCE. TO FIGHT. TO BELIEVE THAT OUR PRAYERS DO MATTER... GOD HEARS US NO MATTER HOW YOUNG, OLD, RICH OR POOR WE ARE... HE HAS CHOSEN TO USE THOSE THAT ONCE WALKED AWAY...

An example of how I am learning to believe this and live it out is this past week I was in Windhoek, Namibia (africa) with my team when, I was reading James 5:11 and on... about prayer... the prayer of a righteous person... So I felt as a team we needed to be praying more in the morning before we started the day with brekky... So we started too... also in this passage it talks about how Elijah prayed for three years for it not to rain-it didnt and when he prayed for it to rain..it did. I had a thought. WOW. that would be so cool if it rained here this week...since the locals say it is def a blessing when God brings rain... it is a very dry country... So i thought it. Four days later I was meeting with one of my students... it started to RAIN! I got so excited.. because all week I kept asking on different days.. "Do you think it will rain today?" They would laugh, say no... So. I finished praying for my student-then immediately had her pray with me that God would continue to pour himself out on Namibia... right when we were done it started raining again... just a little bit!!!

FElt like God was reminding that he hears my prayers... answers them.. I just dont always see the results immediately and it requires perseverance and fervent prayer.... Well, I was getting up in the mornings around 4:30... did the next morn... yet decided to change my routine a bit and half asleep was thinking/praying that it would rain again.. our last day of ministry... AND right when i finished it started POURING!!!!! It was a beautiful moment for me... i did nothing.. but just that reminder of how powerful God is... how committed he is... how he speaks... it was great... to also see a beautiful Rainbow in the sky as we drove to the preschool my team and I were working with...

Oh... just so desperate to see my generation know God in the way I have come to know him... and I am still getting to know him...

cant update in indo... so write again in 3 weeks... blessings.

partner...

2008-03-28T03:41:00.000-07:00

..in crime... so i leave tonight.. march 28th.. to indonesia.. there until the 27th of april to head to africa then back to indonesia... to go hard with the lord and my lil team!!!

i wont be able to update this at all in indonesia... so please keep us in your prayers.. for health, safety and open doors for ministry and building relationships... that we would see God show up in mighty ways.. would love to hear from you!

You can email me at ort8@ywamperth.org.au or my personal emails... just dont write anything about the lord.. thanks!!!

miss you. blessings.

kath

i love surprises!

2008-03-18T01:31:00.000-07:00

oh how i love surprises.
it is a very rare thing for me to be surprised.
there is something about them that just tug at my heart in a way that other things dont..
so i wanna share about how God is the best one at doing this..
yesterday i had class and the speaker was talking about receiving God's love-sometimes its a hard thing to do.
he was encouraging us to do the things that brings refreshment.
so for me it is running. be active. being outdooors.. so i went for a run down by the 'swan river' it is beautiful there... i had this thought, 'wouldnt it be great if i saw dolphins today' not really paying much attention to the water...
i went to sit in the sun to listen to my music and pray... out of no where two dolphins popped up in front of me!!!
I could almost reach it.. one splashed me with its tail...then swam slowly along the walll and i walked next to it... watched it do lil tricks out into the middle of the river.. as it disappeared.. tears began to rush down my face... GOd does love me. he knows EVERYTHING that is going on in my heart... he answers prayers... he knows what gets me better than anyone else. knows what i need to hear when... how to comfort me and love me like no one else can.
ugh. he is sooo good.

PRAISE REPORT FROM TODAY... I GOT ALL MY FINANCES IN FOR OUTREACH!!! THOUGHT I NEEDED 1300 STILL.. then got a note saying 900 dollars would be in my account in the avo... turns out i only needed 700... GOD provided more than enough... just need to be obediant to him.. listen to his lil simple leadings and then things are released.

I LEAVE IN 10 DAYS TO INDONESIA.. CANT WAIT. MY TEAM IS THE FIRST TO GO. TO PREPARE THE WAY. WOULD GREATLY APPRECIATE ALL OF YOUR PRAYERS, EMAILS AND JAZZ as we go out...

blessings and heaps of hugs.
kath

WINDHOEK-NAMIBIA

2008-03-10T23:55:00.000-07:00

rando laughs.fun.life.

2008-03-08T19:03:00.001-08:00

yes.. i love to laugh. these photos are from:

a good friend's lil sister's engagement party.. great night to relax. chill. eat good fiji food-hiphip hooray for pig hair on the pork...
the one with me dressed up as 'kaos' the superhero that can read minds and bring clarity..heheh... was our school's dance party!!
me burnt with some of the girls at our annual volleyball tourney.. i had no idea i was that burnt... until a few hours later when i looked in the mirrow... ptl for the green color effect..
One of my girls had this great idea to pour ice cream on me...hence the fight in our lil kitchen of 228.
ALso, another exciting event was when our boys set up a surprise dinner for us girls.. we went to Kings Park here in Perth-the largest park within a city in the southern hemisphere (possibly the world. not 100%) such a great night.. took heaps of photos as if we were going to prom... I am sitting on the wall with the beautiful girls i get to go to Indo, Namibia, and Botswana with!!!

Just a glimpse of the moments of laughter. refreshment....I am a truly blessed missionary. Stoked to meet and see the people God puts in my life for the rest of my journey. dance with him!

He continues to give me heart for this generation. my generation. that we would rise and take our positions in his army... to move forward. to not be afraid of the enemy. the challenges of this world... that it is possible to be like jesus as we ask us how to be him. daily. to be his voice. his hands. his feets. to show a tiny piece of his TRUTH. his LOVE. that my pray is will PENETRATE into something so much more... to have FAITH that knows no BOUNDS! because we put all our weight onto him. the lord almighty that has called us to go.. .to be his disciples as we make others through the way we live our lives....

no more luv month.

2008-02-28T23:18:00.001-08:00

man. march is here basically. we as a school have 4 weeks left.
leaving on the jetter on the 30th.
going to see change in lives.
see a city continue to transform.
sleep in the sand.
share the truth of the lord almighty.
to experience walkin in the fear of god.
to get to know one another better.
but first.
there is more to grab ahold.
learn how to fight for breakthrough.
would you be praying with me and my team for our finances.
to god's doing it has lowered a grand! PTL!
Now there are four of us still in need... about 14,000 i think.
Would greatly appreciate your prayers. encouragement you might have.
we have set up a raffle... pray that we sell heaps of tickets!!!
off to dinner and another meeting with the students.. will update more this weekend! love you. miss you.

gotta love living in 104 degrees...eeek. if only i was closer to the beautiful water... hmmm.

yp08 students...

2008-02-22T07:49:00.000-08:00

here are some photos of the girls in my small group... they are amazing... have chosen to take shape. chosen to allow the lord to bring change. open and available to him...we just finished week 7 which was on 'bible unity' was great. challenging and intense. seemed like basics of christianity yet why is it so hard to include. to be open and serve others above myself? why is it a push to always be loving and giving of ourselves. to be humble... man oh man. God's grace is a beauty.

On a personal level... had some really refreshing times with the lord this week! Getting more of an understanding as to how he has equipped me to be a fighter... to take my postiion in the army....that we fight to see breakthrough and once there is breakthrough we dont walk away but bring his glory into those places.... I want to know and learn how to carry his glory in! What a priviledge it is to be apart of the battle. Apart of his army that is taking shape around the globe... at the moment my team and I are fighting to see our Outreach finances come in... would you help us in this fight.. we have about two weeks... the budget isnt set because our contacts are not.. so that is a prayer point. Also, that I would have wisdom as what to do in what countries... to be able to discern the safety of certain ways of transporting from place to place... Thank you so much! To those who I dont hear from.. would love to get an email..let me know what you are up to!

Blessings,

katherine

stralianshelia@yahoo.com

kaffrin003@hotmail.com

2008-02-09T22:20:00.000-08:00

This is Landry and | after an Art exhibition.... for you christy.

refreshment

2008-02-08T18:34:00.000-08:00

finding refreshment means sleeping for 8 hours instead of 4... having short moments of laughter with great friends.... being able to listen to great music on the 5 min walk to work everyday.... recieving a genuine hug from someone you love... sitting on a park bench staring at the beautiful clouds.... listening to the wind blow... walking through a mall praying on behalf on those you may never know... sitting in a HUGE white bus praising the Lord with a loud guitar.... seeing a student accept GOD'S unconditional love for the first time... being able to share the climb up the mountain with others.... walking in faith to know my heavenly father will provide for all my needs.... refreshment.... its what i need to go again today. tomorrow. the next... refreshment that looks so very differently in each day... i am grateful for it!

Today i get to be refreshed by going to a place here in Perth called "hilary's harbour" go for a bit of swim... walk along the dock.. window shop.. maybe get some ice cream!!!

This past week we as a schoool we learning ' The fatherhood of God' was soooo good... hearing things about Identity, Security and Self-worth.. being thankful for who God made us-Yes i am officially a person of the 'land' 2 Chron 7: 14 onwards... :)

Spent 12 hours yesterday watching people go through a prayer process of meeting their 'heavenly father' for their first time!!

Also found out which Nations I get the opportunity to head out to at the end of March!!!

Namibia, Botswana and Jakarta, Indonesia... We will spend the first and last month in Indonesia.. being apart of Megacities and then the middle month in the other two to reach more of our 97 nation goal for 2008!!! As a school we have started the car washes, breakfast fundraisers... in seeing finances come in.. at the moment I dont know what the final cost will be for me personally- alot. More than usual... Will let you all know when it is finalized so you can be praying with me!!!

Love you. Miss you. Thank you for all your prayers and support!!!

In him.

legs stuck to the seat.

2008-01-26T21:52:00.000-08:00

... yes it is really hot here in perth... 37 degrees C...around 100 degrees F. HOT! i am sitting in a cafe... sweating. stuck to the leather bench i am sitting on. no AC. life goes on though.. bad day for a cotton dress.

Jan has almost come to a close...the students have just finished their third week of the school... Which was on 'hearing god's voice/intercession/worship' was really good. exciting to hear testimonies of what God is saying to them... seeing them start to believe...have more faith. trust. gain a bigger perspective on their own lives... identity in christ. hear the desparation in their prayers.. To give you a lil more detail on the girls in my small group: They are each very different... love to chat. love to chill. seeking out if this God thing is want they want to live for...

Beth is 22 from Sydney. Really genuine. Real. Honest. Raw.. one of her strengths.. she is going to be someone that makes a difference in our world...i know we always hear and say 'oh they are a world changer.' Well...this girl is. will be as she holds onto christ. chooses everyday to live for him...

Daisy is 19 from Switzerland..with Chinese parents... loves art. loves people. loves to be on the computer...::cough:: facebook. ha. Has heaps of questions about God-yet overflows with his joy.

There are five more...that i will fill you in on soon... beautiful girls. desparate for change. willingness to learn how to apply all the things they have heard in youth group and church... wanting to be people that share the love and redemption they have gotten from the father...

Will try to get some photos of them and post... I had a wonderful new camera from my eldest brother... which has now been broken by 'community living' no idea how it happened or when...no one else does either... so i am sad. but life goes on. miss you all... i personally am doing well...blessed by god's grace in all situations and circumstances... he is ALMIGHTY. loves. email me!!!!!

stralianshelia@yahoo.com or kaffrin003@hotmail.com

in him...

katherine.

p.s will be finding out soon what countries i will be going to in april..

week two already...

2008-01-14T06:15:00.000-08:00

Yes.. the school is moving along..we are on 'Forgiveness and Repentance' this week... even after my third time of sitting in on it.. still so powerful.

Today. Monday. was a busy one... Class with the students... my own Basic Leadership Course.. which was on Honoring our Leaders-what it looks like and how to do so; so we can disciple others in it as well.. Then tried to nap with some ants.. didnt work. met with one of the girls in my small group...then had this intense desire to go for a run... to go and meet with the LOrd.. which is what I wanted to share...

I went down to this beautiful river reallly reallly close to where the base is... and just sat. Asking God again why I am here? What he has in store for me... heaps of people have been getting that this year for our base god wants to bring vision and direction for us corporately and as individuals..that there are new beginnings ahead... so me being me... asked god.. welll what is it? What do you have for me...

He reminded me that I just need to keep CHASING HIM. Of when he told me almost two years ago that I was to 'Disciple and Counsel' my generation... that i am to preach and teach the Nationsssss. That i dont need to worry about what it is or how it will happen.. but to keep focusing on him. Seeking him. To step it up in my walk with him.. .live him out in my daily life and that is how i will best disciple those under me... oh so exciting...

Also learning balance. time management. to take time for myself... the school.. the other staff.. the girls.. my relationship with landry... hard but good to learn how to balance it all out...

I heard once that satan just loves to throw everything OFF balance. So i am trusting God will show me how to keep balance with him...

Miss you guys... all of you...whereever you are.. thank you again for your love and support.

Back in Perth...

2008-01-09T22:04:00.000-08:00

Hey there... so it has been a week now since I arrived... the young peoples' dts that i am staffing started on sunday... we are in our first week of lectures which is on the 'character of god'.

There are about 50+ students... most from canada and then other nations around the world... I will have 7 girls in my small group-so I will be walking through the next three months as well as sitting in on 3 more with another girl staff...

The students are all really sweet and excited to be here...Which i am stoked about... I am also living in the girls' dorm... get to share a bathroom with two girls instead of 15... blessing. also there is air con.

The following pics are my room in the dorm and some of the staff for the yp...

leaving on ANOTHER jet plane...

2007-12-28T14:51:00.000-08:00

So. Its official. My visa was approved this morning at 2 am. Praise the Lord!

So i leave on Monday... back to Perth to keep running this marothan of mine...

Thank you for all your prayers, support and encouragement... I know there is alot ahead of me.. so I would greatly appreciate your continued prayers...

I have more than 50 hours of travel time... so rest. no stress. things go smoothly would be some things i will need your prayers for... that i will be able to catch up when i arrive a few days late...

God is soo good. So glad that it says in Psalm 119:105 "your word is a lamp to guide my feet and a light for my path"

Because I have no idea what I would do if I didnt have his light. soothing voice.

Today. Is a funny day. So many mixed feelings again. happens ever six weeks of my life i think... a trend- i thought i would be used to now... but i am not. my heart is still sad to leave Minnesota. Leave those I love most without knowing what all of our next seasons hold... but i am so excited for them... as my emotions are so mixed. I know I will continue to have a peace that passes all understanding with each new step i take...

Hopefully will get some photos up of everything straight away..

loves.

Kath

problems are fine..

2007-12-18T09:08:00.000-08:00

So... As it is Dec 18... I need heaps of prayer in regards to my visa being approved. Realistically this week... i am however, not freaking out because I know in my best friend's book it says " For our light and momentary troubles are achieving for us an eternal glory that far outweighs them all. So we fix our eyes not on what is seen, but on what is unseen. For what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal" (2 cor 17-18) " Whether you turn to the right or to the left, your ears will hear a voice behind you, saying "this is the way; walk in it." (is. 30:21)

so.. will you walk in faith with me for the approval of my visa so that i may be in Perth by the 2nd of Jan for my class... would you also trust with me that in the timing it is approved... there will be an open door to book a ticket. thank you...

i am inspired..

2007-12-13T10:11:00.000-08:00

inspired by truth.
inspired by individuals that choose to live different.
influenced to stand in faith.
influenced to speak out.
challenged to live what i share.
challenged to be more intimate with the lord.
blessed to have world changers in my life.
blessed to have a god given friend.

glad i get the opportunity to see the shaping and making of a life that will impact others'... hear the stories of the victories won. the battles fought. glad i know someone who walks in a way jesus did when he was on earth... so grateful for her. the sacrifices she has made for you... for me.

jesse mcnally.

may you be one that continues to go forward.. never looking behind... but holding on... running with everything within you.

mysteries.

2007-12-13T09:00:00.000-08:00

" i will take care of you. feel the warmth and security of being enveloped in my loving presence. every detail of your life is under my control. moreover, everything fits into a pattern for good to those who love me and are called according to my design and purpose (rom8:28)Because the world is in an abnormal, fallen condition, people tend to think that CHANCE governs the universe and events may seem to occur randomly with little or NO meaning.people who view the world this way have overlooked one basic fact: the limitations of human understanding. what you know of the world you inhabit is only the tip of the iceberg. submerged beneath the surface of the visible world are MYSTERIES too vast for you to comprehend. if you could ONLY see how close i am to you. how constantly i work on your behalf-you would never again DOUBT that i am wonderfully caring for you. this is why you MUST WALK BY FAITH, NOT SIGHT TRUSTING IN MY MYSTERIOUS MAJESTIC PRESENCE."

(jesus calling devo 12/12/07 by sarah young)

soon.

2007-11-07T10:49:00.000-08:00

hey everyone. i apologize for not writing more over the past few weeks... and for not getting photos up. I just wanted to let you all know that i am returning to my wonderful homeland-america in about 9 days... so stoked! to see family. friends. chill. see what god is doing in that part of the world. to share what he is doing here in AUS!

I have been sick the past few weeks.. but am doing better now... will be going and getting hopefully more answers when i return home.... this weekend i leave with the other 275+ staff that are apart of our community for a week long staff retreat... usually takes place every 3-5 years. should be a refreshing time. hearing from the lord what is next in this next season. in the new year. how to go about fighting for what he has already spoken on behalf of!!!! ALso cool to hang with friends i dont get to see very much because of the different schedules.... then i head to MN!!!

God is so good. HIs provision. THe ability he has given me to keep learning how to be content in all circumstances... to trust him when i see breakthrough in areas... to keep trusting him when i dont... he is sovereign and just wanted to testify to that!!!!

In him,

Katherine- yes i am a missionary. given my life to the one i am so madly in love with... :)

booths.

2007-09-26T13:15:00.000-07:00

these are some photos from spain, one with statue i am in madrid. last is a night out doing evo.. in a bar. we found this guy from star wars.. lol. i really really loved the RED PHONE BOOTHS. they are everywhere in europe. north and south. except this one the phones disappeared. we are in gibraltor-english colony. yet connected to spain. basically its own country. i was burning up in my outfit. thought it wsa goin to be hot that day. turned out i was wrong. :)

adapting..

2007-09-25T10:59:00.000-07:00

well. i have made it back to perth. spent some wonderful time in northern ireland. meeting god there. seeing his treasures in the youth group we spent most of our time with. loves.

was blessed in rome. two day layover. saw god. yet the people there have missed it all.. so much history. so many tourists without a clue why someone like peter was killed. yet my heart cried out for them. felt god's presence in the midst of it all and am satisfied. with where i am. who i am. who he is creating me to be... learning how to REALLY LIVE IN EACH MOMENT. TO BE CONTENT IN ALL CIRCUMSTANCES OF LIFE. (PHIL. 4:11-13) as paul puts it. how to relax. enjoy the thigns and people around me rather than longing for the next thing. the next place.

so. i am here. spring is arriving in AUS. have somewhat of an idea of what i will be doing next... serving in two different ministries. taking steps of faith. sharpening the tools he hasgiven me. sorry no photos yet... :) loves. to all. kath

get this...

2007-09-04T17:52:00.000-07:00

so. classic. my team and i were out worshipping on the beach yesterday.. praying for people to talk to... or people to just walk up to us.

a few of us were about to head into the water when this kid walks up to us and asks us for a smoke. well. since we didnt have any. he was confused. asked my leader if he had a gf. was married... yada yada yada. i was just sitting there.. smiling. listening and trying to translate for the others.. when i heard him ask my leader if I had un novio... (a boyfriend) so i got up... decided to change and get in the water in my sweet loooooooong black tank top. that covers my bathers. well.. he kept standing there... looked out into the water at one point and waved for me to come in... i didnt. my leader tapped him on the back of the head and pointed down the beach. goodbye boy.

lol. i found out that he kept asking if he could meet my parents... why they werent there with me... oh. it was funny. then later we had some good convos with diff. folk. for some reason. here in spain when you approach people to say hello... or wave or even smile... they are quite shocked!!! and always seem to be asking me if i am morman or a jehovah's witness... lol. i always assure them that i am not...

life here in malaga is wonderful. god is moving. i fell back in love with him today. may sound weird. but it is true... felt great. being in his presence. listening to his soft whispers of encouragement and love. it was as if he was in the room... was brushing the hair out of my face... saying " katherine, i love you. want you to love me today. love me in this moment. love me with everything that you are. dont worry about tomorrow. how you will love me then. but look to me now. love on me."

psalm. 33:11... talks about how the purposes of god's heart will go from generation to generation.. isnt it cool how one of his purposes is to love us. love us unconditionally. everyday. every moment. in every instant. he loves. and he will never stop loving. he is a great dad. friend. caretaker. provider. protector. so faithful. real. ahh... i love him. :)

espana.

2007-08-30T04:56:00.000-07:00

hey. i am here in spain. at the very tip... in between the Med sea and the atlantic... looking out at morrocco... working with a backpackers cafe. i am in charge of doing their laundry.. it is an amazing ministry... brings light into the area. had a visit with ladies that are going through rehab. touched. moved. challenged. god is great. they are strong women... facing victory after suffereing with heroin or coke... alcohol for over 30+ years. found the lord... fighting for him in their lives... to fill their emptiness.

I move to another place called MALAGA tomorrow. will be doing ministry until the 8th of sept.. then make the trip back to paris by car... two day drive or so. from there myself and my team head up to Belfast, Northern Ireland... to work in a tiny village called kesh.. back in perth on the 26th of sept. new seasons. daily. change. adaptation. catipulted. just a quick overview.. b/c i am not sure when i will have internet next.. loves. xoxoxo

hopefully will have new pics up soon. :)

el senor.

2007-08-30T04:40:00.000-07:00

´expect to encounter adversity in your life, remembering that you live in a deeply fallen world. stop trying to find a way that circumvents difficulties. the main problem with an easy life is that it masks your need for me. when you become a christian, i INFUSED MY VERY LIFE INTO YOU. empowering you to live on a supernatural plane be DEPENDING ON ME. anticipate coming face to face with impossibilities: situations totally beyond your ability to HANDLE. this awareness of your inadequacy is NOT something you should try to evade. it is PRECISELY where i want you.. the best place to encounter me in my GLORY and POWER. when you see armies of problems marching toward you, CRY OUT TO ME! allow me to FIGHT for you. REST in the shadow of MY ALMIGHTY PRESENCE.´ (SARAH YOUNG in devo: ´jesus calling´)

dwells:remains:rests:relaxes:calm: because there is trust. hope. comfort. not anxiousness...

Ps. 91:1 ´he who dwells in the shelter of the most high will rest in the shadow of the almighty´

This was back on the 18th of Aug... i am learning how to depend on god. what it means... how it is the very essence of all that i am... to hide in him. i was extrememly sick for three days.. attacked. yet holding on. to him. his truth. his love. who he is... alone. brings relief knowing i have a god that is committed to me. loves me. is satisfied with me...as i passionately pursue him and and him alone!!! i am not identified by where i am or what i am doing.. .but by the relationship i have with him. :) sigh.

french fun..

2007-08-15T00:55:00.001-07:00

This is me... enjoying some nice `glacier' ice cream.. .quality team time... enjoying the french breezee... :) myself and anna-lisa... the team... then our lil surfer shed that we slept in.. i was up on a loft.. .trying to not fall off most of the time. but it was great.. nice and cozy. sad to leave this place...

Random photos.. to remind u of me. :)

2007-08-11T08:36:00.000-07:00

2007-08-11T08:34:00.000-07:00

Me and Mimi.. alil four year old with HIV..she is soo precious. plz pray for her health!!! (Piet Ritief, SA)

Biarritz. Random Story.

2007-08-11T07:46:00.001-07:00

I love europe. Most importantly b/c i love sharing with people... The other day I met a girl from Ireland... got into random convos.. then she asked what I was doing... told her. ;) She said she is a catholic.. that religion is just apart of their culture.. then i asked her if anyone had ever told her she could have a relationship with god.. SHE said "No, You can?" Man. It was such a god moment.. opened up the door for me to share with her.. lil pieces about my testimony.. portions of who god is... She had a friend who was glaring at me the whole time and then told the person i was with.. wow. great speech she has there....hahahah. no but this sarah chick asked heaps of questions.. let me pray for her... then gave me a huge hug... and that was that... but i left in awe yet again of how god moves.. even speaks through me.. how i may never know if she comes to know him.. but that she now knows she can have a relationship with him... hmm. god is great!

2007-08-08T10:16:00.000-07:00

Durban Beachfront... i looooove the ocean.

Paris-Bordeaux-Biarritz

2007-08-08T00:45:00.000-07:00

greetings... just wanted to give you a lil run down on what has been happening... i was in paris for two weeks... then to a town called bordeaux.. now living on the south west coast of france in a VERY touristy town caled biarritz!!!!

Paris. Was beautiful. A melting Pot of people... from all over.. north african refugees...the spainish.. english. french. people from all over... it was great seeing the good ol' buildings.. that are famous. i have no idea how to spell.. or even attempt. the mona lisa.. was great.. the painting is alot smaller than i tought... took an elevator up to the top of the eiffel tower... o man. lol. ministry was full on.... i was in a m.usl.i-m focused group.. which was full on... i was challenged.. learned alot more about the religion... the differences. the way to shed light. the reality of how decieved the people are... yet... in the same place as those that live and thrive in materialism... humanistic.

When I was watching the Tour le France ride by... random that the last day they drove through the lil town "antony" i was staying at. I got to talk to this guy.. who is from a people group(again i dont know how to spell the name... maybe i need to go back to school..haha. lol).. which is the second most unreached in the world behind the maldives... it was his birthday. he is a m.u.sl-im. first time i had ever heard someone admit that in 'paradise' he will be able to drink, sleep with as many people as they want... b/c i guess that is the way their god is 'holy' lol. no it was good to be able to share with him more about who god is.. his characteristics... he was blessed. challenged.

In bordeaux. I became best friends with a lil three year old named Priscilla. Her mother and grandmother are from Gabon.. on the west coast of Africa near Congo... her family used to be mu.s.lims... now they are living strong for the lord... I had a real heart for this family... was able to befriend them... hear about their culture.. past struggles.. pray for protection over them.. where there hasnt been in the past.. I met a 25 year old guy named Gauthier.. who was in love with his wine. Does not believe in God... does not think it is for him... yet... after sharing with him... bringing perspective about beauty, love, life, hope, trusting others... he was blown away. had never heard about people living and loving jesus on a daily basis... man. it was definately a convo from the lord.. i walked away that night.. feeling alive. realized no matter where i am in the world.. i love sharing about the god who set me free... sharing with people about who he is... being someone to help bring light where there has been darkness... i love our lord... the beauty he has created in each and every individual... the way i can see him in people that dont believe in him... the way he is moving in my generation excites me... i just want us to move... to go into this world.. into our communities and bring truth. shed light. be real. honest. loving and lovable.. :)

Yes. I love it here in Biarittz as well... a lil hard with so many transitions... god is going deeper and deeper in my life.. walking through certain mindset.s... old fears.. fighting against the spirit of depression that is over this country.. not allowing it to have any hold on me... Here in this lil surfer city... i am living with an australian family... they have six beautiful kids (5months, 4, 6, 8, 16, 18) An amzing family.. still transitioning into the culture... we are apart of a surfing event they are putting on this friday.. their first evangelistic since they have arrived!!!! Today though..we woke up to go to the beach.. and someone had come and STOLEN all of their surfboards and wetsuits.... so sad. praying they will be returned!!!! I have had really good convos... in which i mean talked to people about what they believe, why, listened to their stories... shared my story. sharing more and more about who my god is.. .how i am learning about him everyday.. learning to hear his voice... i will be here in france for another week ... then head to Spain... then I am taking a lil bus trip to madrid with a guy on my team... we are going to see some of our friends from our DTS... my ol' bunk mate elin maria from norway... a crew from denmark and a gal from the states...I amm sooo excited since it has been more than a year that i have seen them... and i said goodbye to them of all places...while i was in Cairo... :) sorry this is long. will try to throw up some photos of the trip... can look at some from south africa on facebook. miss you guys. love you all.... Kath

My team members : Dan and Kate (Brazilian and Australian), Anna-lisa (Aussie), Amber, Tim and I ( Americans), Landry and Leah (Canadians), Ellen and Adam (New Zealanders) Boy. Do we have heaps of fun... always heaps of laughter... many a times am i laying on the ground...b/c of not watchin where i am walking or not thinking before i speak... so i get pushed over.. or buckle over in laughter... ;)

The journey...

2007-07-11T18:19:00.000-07:00

From living a life of complete solitude to who I really was... then taking a trip to the southern hemisphere... my life was transformed. Not by men... by words... but by the truth of God. His son... my saviour. lover. best friend. the thing i live for. the reason i chose to live in a middle eastern nation for four months... the one who set me free from the lies i lived in and believed... the one who conquered my feen for alcohol by his death on a cross... though it was embarrasing and shameful at times... he revealed the dark in my heart and took it away... I am alive. I am living. I am set free. I am sharing truth. Fighting for the sake of others... Risk my friendships... my connection with loved ones... I am living by faith. Because he is worth it... worth it all.. I have been back in AUS since November.... traveled to the land of Zulu traditions for three months and arrived back in Perth a few weeks ago... have been called yet again to live by faith... trusting the lord as my father and provider... on my way to the first world... landing in Paris in a few days... fighting against the enemy for the salvation of god's children in that place.... living a life.. of going. going. going..... taking moments to refresh myself in the goodness of god... taking in the beauty of friends. the beauty of laughter. the beauty of finding delight in listening to someone else's story... the beauty in sitting in the presence of people that do or dont know god... hmm... i am rambling.. and if you know me... i do that best... but am going to try and figure out how to use this blog thing... put some photos up and post some testimonies from the last discipleship training school.. i was staffing within Youth With A Mission... having the priviledge of seeing a part of my generation be transformed for the sake of christ... to see the struggles... to be able to share what i have learned and to be an example as others have been one to me. To be a voice. To stand strong.... Oh ya. I am a missionary. Crazy as it sounds to me... but that is not my identity... i am still finding that out... ;)

The above photo is of my wonderful team in Joberg, South Africa. Our last day in the country.. enjoying a wonderful meal of GAME meat! yum. my fav was crocidile, wart hog and some rare buck....