July update

01 July 2017

MID-YEAR UPDATE Everything you need to know about ministry since January 2017

RECAPPING THE YEAR

Arts & Media DTS - 1 South Africa Outreach - 2 BorderWalk Outreach - 3 Emergency USA Visit - 4 Current Needs - 5

ARTS & MEDIA DTS MY FIRST TIME LEADING A SCHOOL!

I almost never know how to write these updates anymore because ministry with YWAM is always so rich that it's hard to articulate everything into 2D words on a digital page. Challenging as it is, I still love taking the time to update you all on what God has been up to throughout the year!

The biggest focus of my year thus far, in terms of ministry, has been with the Arts & Media DTS program we ran at our base from January until the end of June. I have staffed many Discipleship Training Schools, but this was my first where I was in a position of leadership over one. The most exciting part of leading a DTS is that you really get to take ownership over the flavour and essence of the school. For this school, my co-leaders and I really wanted each student to be exposed to different mediums of art and how to use each of them in and for the Kingdom of God. When inviting speakers for the lecture phase of the school, we tried our best to incorporate men and women who had different artistic giftings to both inspire the students and add to the creative atmosphere as well. Every other week we would host a creative workshop and have the students learn about different mediums like prophetic art, video, storytelling, singing/songwriting and so on. We structured the DTS like this because we really hoped that God would awaken a creative calling within each of them that would influence how they did their outreaches and how they impact their communities when they return to their respective homes at the end of the program. Being 28 years old, I have experienced what life was like before the technological revolution took over and saw the effects it has had on our world since then. Because of that, the way we communicate and process information has completely changed and my passion is to raise up young leaders who understand their identity in Christ and equip them speak the language of today's creative generation so they can make a lasting impact in this world. I think that was accomplished on this school through these 9 trainees and the incredible staff that helped facilitate everything along the way.

SOUTH AFRICA OUTREACH

MY FOURTH OUTREACH TO SOUTH AFRICA!

My first time going to South Africa was in January of 2015. I had an interest in seeing and experiencing this country years prior after forming a sweet friendship with a Zulu classmate on my DTS in 2012, but I never realized how much this country would would capture my heart. I never saw that coming, but it did.

Seldom do I have a connection with a culture or country like the one I have with South Africa. History is a complicated and tricky thing. I learned that full and well when I came to Ireland and tried to wrap my mind around what happened in this land to form and shape it into what it is, but when I went to South Africa and started talking with the people, everything started clicking and making sense quite naturally.

In fact, sometimes I think I understand South Africa's history and politics better than my own country. This is partly due to the blessing it has been to have South African friends from so many diverse backgrounds telling me their stories and letting me catch a glimpse into their differing perspectives.

I felt like God wanted to partner with my passion for this country by taking a DTS outreach team there as part of their program. I used to think the most important factor on an outreach was leading people to Salvation, but my opinion on that has changed in my experience with DTS. Since these outreaches are so short term, it's incredibly difficult, and sometimes detrimental, to lead people to Jesus only to turn around and leave in a month or so. The long-lasting impact is made when people return to be part of a long term plan to see God's work done. So, my desire for the trainees was to expose them to both the beauty and pain of South Africa in hopes that they might get a heart for what God is doing in that country and return to be a part of it.

I believe part of working towards that goal was to give the students exposure to working with the different people groups of South Africa. It's one of the most diverse nations I've been to. Some of the main people groups we worked with were the Zulus, Coloureds (people of mixed race), Afrikaans and English South Africans. We stayed with the Zulus in Shongweni at World Changers Academy for the first half of outreach, which is the ultimate African experience. During our time at WCA we were able to put our media skills to use by filming a promotional video to help their ministry gain support, assist in teaching on both their Life Skills and Leadership programs and even hosted a creative workshop for a local Zulu church who wanted to go deeper into their creative callings as a church. With the Coloured community we were able to do home visits where we would go into their neighborhoods and share the love of Jesus over tea and conversation. Most of the students were absolutely terrified to begin with, but by the end some of them came back saying it was one of their highlights of outreach. Many people wouldn't go into those communities as the Coloureds are often viewed as a violent and angry people group.

As for the white groups, which would be the Afrikaans and English, we were able to go to an old folks home and spend time singing to them, painting for them and engaging in conversation. Being a light to all these people groups was beautiful! If the spirit at work against South Africa is segregation, then we will walk in a spirit of unity to come against that! We are all children of God.

SOUTH AFRICA cont'd YWAM IRELAND COMES TO SA

Not only was this an outreach for our DTS trainees, but for our base as well! As a base we hosted two events; a reunion weekend for our 25 former sponsor trainees and their families and a Faith & Conflict Seminar focusing on peacemaking in areas of conflict. We had many interracial couples share their personal testimonies of what it was like to be in love during the days of the Apartheid regime in South Africa and what life has been like since it fell. Can you imagine living in a country where being in love with someone of a different colour was considered a punishable crime?

One of my favourite moments was when one of my Zulu friends came up to me and said he had never realised that white people also suffered during Apartheid until he heard some of those testimonies from the Seminar. Being a part of a base that focuses on peace and reconciliation has taught me that the beginning of moving towards reconciliation is to first hear the other person and acknowledge their truths. Confrontation can seem so uncomfortable, but avoiding it leaves room for false assumptions about each other and that is where Satan's deceptions thrive.

Ireland

BORDERWALK

2017

Every year we walk 200 miles along the borderlands of Ireland praying for peace and reconciliation as both Protestants and Catholics from around the world. This year was our 5th consecutive year on the walk and 40 people made up our team, which is the most we've had!

Towards the beginning of the walk we stay in a town called Crossmaglen, which was notoriously known as "Bandit Country" due to all the attacks that occurred during the Troubles. It is still a place the police will not go. We hosted an open air worship night and BBQ there, which we have never done before, and ended up having to shut it down early as a bloody pub fight broke out right beside us. I've been around the world and have seen some frightening stuff, but this one really shook me up. I won't go into details, but it really showed us the need for what we're doing in Ireland. The effects of the Troubles has weighed in on a younger generation and that was an example of that playing out right before our eyes. We spent that night in prayer and continued our worship back at our hostel later that night. In light of all the attacks occurring in London as of late, I kept thinking of what an honour it was to carry the cross of Christ to make a statement of LOVE and PEACE. The world needs more of Jesus!

An Unexpected Journey UPDATE ON DAD

CURRENT NEEDS

About three weeks into the DTS, I received word from home that my dad's health had taken a turn for the worse and that I needed to come home. Dad's health has been rocky since I was 15, so I was aware that I might be receiving a call like this one day. Overnight I packed my bags, left my school behind and flew back to the USA. There is nothing worse than boarding a plane for a long journey with the prospect of the death of a loved one waiting for you on the other side. There's nothing to look forward to, only dread. When I arrived my plane was delayed in Seattle and I was stranded in a snow storm, so I ended up having to redirect my flight to another city, rent a car and then drive home upon arrival.

It was the longest journey of my life. The first night home was a living nightmare and I was sure dad's time was coming to an end. I didn't even think he would make it through the night. The next day we took him to the hospital hoping he could get some help, but they wouldn't admit him! At first I wanted to vomit because I thought there was nothing they could do to help, but they told us that his tests showed he was actually improving!

We took him home and for two months I dedicated my time to taking care of dad and helping around the house until he was able to function again. He had a severe case of sepsis from a would on his leg that left him 1 day away from death, according to the doctors. It was a really humbling experience to go from leading a school to pushing a wheelchair. Dad's health still isn't the best, but I have complete faith that his health could be restored still. If you want to join me in praying to see that happen, please do. God made a way for me to return to my school for the last few weeks of lectures, outreach and to see them graduation, PLUS have my dad survive!

God has been so gracious to help my family as He has!

I'm hoping the next time I go home will be one filled with joy, laughter and NO HOSPITAL VISITS!

1.) RENT-- when we were unexpectedly evicted from our house last year my rent doubled and it has been incredibly difficult keeping up! I'm currently in need of $781.00 to pay for 2 months of rent.

2.) MONTHLY SUPPORTERS-- having more consistent monthly support would help me to pay bills on time. If anyone feels God put it on their heart to give on a monthly basis, please let me know at the address below.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR SUPPORT! email: christa.curry@gmail.com