Purple Stained Fingers...

Good evening, dear and wonderful readers :)


I thought I would complete my fortnightly update, so here I go!
  
...These past few weeks have been awesome. August is turning into Autumn, the days are getting shorter and the leaves are changing colour. Today I went on a wonderful frolick with two fantastic people, Madeline and Abbey. We went blackberry picking and though we got stung, pricked, stained and dirty from the spontaneous outing, it was so refreshing to go on an adventure, discuss life and become inspired. I like my friends :)       
               Other than that, this past weekend I went away to Wales with my fabulous youth group for an end-of-the-summer get away. It was brilliant; we did crazy challenges, went on long walks and had awesome worship times. Our focus of the weekend was our fears, and that lead onto the fear of God and what effect that had on our lives. I was really convicted by that, realizing that I wasn't respecting God the way I should. 


             -To know the supreme reality of God's sovereignty 
           without religiously separating myself from him 


Our God is a personal God. He desires relationship with us, because he is love to the very core of his being. I still cannot get over that concept. It really tugs on the strings of my heart.


Why would God, the creator of the universe and father of humanity, want to have a relationship with me? How can He know everything about me, yet love me unconditionally anyway? It just doesn't seem right.. yet that is the beauty of the wonderful love story that life is. God's grace is enough and sufficient for us.  


WOAHHHHH. 
Ok, those have been some of my current thoughts. I also have a few others that I would like to share.. a few fears that I have been carrying...


Fear of the future: Realistically, who doesn't have this doubt? It is a life long fear of 'What will tomorrow hold?' 'How can tomorrow be any different than the terrible day I had today?'
Each day seems as repetitive as the last; get up, eat, be with friends, watch t.v., sleep, repeat. 
I want more. I need inspiration. 
As some of you know I am carrying on homeschooling this year, and I didn't think about going to college, purely because I don't want to be dedicated to something here in England so that I can't be portable. I want to keep the door of travel open and operative. I will see how this plays out..


Fear of passing relationships: I love being in YWAM and travelling more than anything, mostly because of all the wonderful people I meet and friendships I build.. but this lifestyle has one very dark side: saying goodbye. I have had to say farewell to friends in England, Hawaii, Mexico, Romania.. and the people that have journeyed with me along the way. My biggest fear is losing those friendships but also becoming numb and hesitant to new opportunities to make new friends.
     It is a vicious circle, friends. A very vicious circle. 


But, Alas! I shall continue to look on the bright side =] 

     -Glory Berries. (I did not take this picture, But I love it so!)

<3 <3

Home bittersweet home.

Fini! Terminado! Listo!

...England. I have concluded that waking up at 2am to leave a country
     makes the departure that much more terrible. I miss the sweet nature
         of the YWAMer's in Medias, and their servant hearted love.
               Their generosity shall forever be in my heart. ♥

I think that my favorite memories were held within team time, where we got to know each other and    discuss issues that were happening in our hearts. My fondest memories happen to be the discussions on the trains, the sponteneous encouragement times and the star gazing from the third floor balcony of the beautiful house. These are the times when true feelings and deep thoughts surface, where the unity within the group strengthens and friendships seal. These are the memories that won't fade.

However, outreach-wise I think that my favorite ministry was hanging out with the local gypsy kids, giving them cuddles and dancing with them; accepting their generosity into their homes and taking photos of their beautiful faces. Their joy in the midst of the darkness was radiant and they have taught me more than I could have even known. =]

This morning we had to sadly depart the land of Dracula, and hop onto a plane back to Inglateraa. We safely landed at around 7am (deathworthy) and got picked up by my wonderful father who drove us back to the Lodge.

It will be sad not being around so many people, and not sharing a room with 8 other girls, but I will try to cherish this free time whilst I can :p.

I would like to say a massive THANKYOU! To everyone who has supported me, financially, spiritually, emotionally.... you are all so wonderful and I thank God for you often :) I couldn't have done it without you guys -literally.

Elize..

-My wonderful new found best friend- Love this chica :)

Ori distracţie în Transilvania

HI WORLD :)

As most of you know, I am currently in Romania, the land of Dracula & amazing authentic culture. We have been here for 10 days now and the only word that can describe my time so far is: superfantabulous.

The type of ministry we have been doing is mainly working with gypsy kids and doing practical work around the base. After coming back from Mexico I was preparing myself for a fast paced non-stop outreach but this one has been way more chill and flexible. I have been able to spend more quality time with the team and pour all of my energy into that one ministry.

One of the main things that I have learnt from this outreach is how most of the time our mindset is that we as individuals visit another country in order to help the people because we are 'westeners' and almost superior.. when I actually am starting to believe that it is quite positively the other way around. I think that God sends us to these places so we can learn from them, their culture and their love. They have so little to give yet they want to give it all just to bless us. That realisation has been like a slap across the face and it has inspired me for when i leave to go home.

Another thing I have grown in alot is the art of encouragement. I've learnt alot about my self and how I see other people. I have realised that constantly affirming each other is an essential for building unity. We should all do it more :)


This blogpost was short but sweet, I shall write more once I have arrived back into the great land that is home. ;)


mulţumesc.

Elize