Its not about you!!!

It has been a long time since our last post, I think it is quite obvious who looked after our blog... We miss her a lot!!!!

As we reflect on Easter this week we are reminded that it does not matter how good we are or what we have done but it is all about Jesus! I for one am so grateful for that.... It takes a lot of pressure off when we can understand that it is not all bout us...

This week was my birthday and I had a few nice surprises... However, I am a very suspicious person by nature and anytime someone was whispering or looked like they were doing something secretive, I instantly became very suspicious and started asking questions and tried to get someone to give up the secret. Until one afternoon I was told by someone, very cheekily I might add, that "Its not all about you..." Not only did that comment put me back in my place but it really did get me thinking about that... Its not all about us... How often do we need to be reminded of that? It is so easy to get consumed in our circumstances, issues and problems that we forget that... Its not about us.... Its all about Him!!!

This is a photo that one of our good friends Tokerau Jim took the other week of a sunrise here in Rarotonga that just reminds us how big our God is and how the heavens show His Glory!! Its all about Him!!!

Darla's Final Post

What do you say when you farewell a place that you have lived in and lost your heart to? A place that has changed your heart, way of thinking, way of living?

See you later, until we meet again? Aere ra ma kia manuia as we would say in Cook Island?

How do we say good-bye when we only have words and words seem so incredibly insignificant compared to what's felt in our hearts?

I'm sitting here eating my 2 minute noodles, drinking coffee, and contemplating, contemplating what it means to have lived here, what it means to now say good-bye. I love to write, and I write all the time, but right at this moment, I'm at a loss for words.

The Cook Islands is a beautiful place and the people are a beautiful people. My heart protests God that I must leave here. I don't want my time to be done.

This place has changed me, made me more aware of living, making moments count for God. This place, this time, these people, have opened my eyes to God's heart for people. Serving here has taught me what it means to lay down everything, comfort, security, reputation, for the sake of the gospel.

There have been great struggles and great joys. Many tears and much laughter. So many people and an infinite number of prayers.

God is good. So good, so faithful. There is truly no God like our God. We often look for big things to show us God's goodness. But God's goodness is truly found in the little things: the slow dawn of morning, the sun streaking golden-red at the close of the day, the hot smell of guava in the summer, the insistent pounding of sea on sand, the smile of a new friend, the hug of a long-lost friend, the offering of church hospitality. These are all signs of God in infinite goodness.

I've learned that too, here in this place...

And I don't want my time to be done, but there are small whispers inside my soul that say, this is not all that I have for you; follow Me and I will show you more!

I say meitaki maata. Thank you to the people I've met, who have supported me, who have become my friends, my mentors, worked alongside me, looked out for me. Thank you for your lives, continue seeking God, His heart is so incredibly evident in you.

So I say good-bye, as I leave, knowing that good-bye, though final, is not forever. Even if I never have the chance to return to the Cook Islands, it will continue to live inside my heart, and the truths that I learned, the people that I met, will be part of my heart forever.

So until we meet again...aere ra, good-bye, & God bless...

Base Update March 2014

Kia Orana everyone, Just a short update of what’s been happening here at YWAM Cooks since the New Year and what we’re looking forward to for the rest of the year…

We started off January with 3 weeks of prayer and fasting. Since that time God has opened many doors for us into the community and we’re really excited to see what other promises will unfold the months to come!

Ministries

We’ve continued on with our devotions at Imanuela and are about to do our second devotion for the year this month.  We’ve continued running the Sunday School program at the Arorangi AOG and we’re really enjoying it. The theme for this term is Who Is God? and we’ve been selecting different stories to share with the kids some of the different attributes of God. The guys are continuing to go to the prison once a month.

Paula has started a new ministry, a sports youth night. We plan on hosting it once a month, hold sports competitions and just hang out with the different youth on the island. It’s open to all youth and each night he will share a short message with them. We’re hoping to really reach out to the youth of the Cook Islands through these evenings.

We had a Ladies Night out on February 14, and invited different ladies from the community to join us. We’d like to hold a monthly ladies night, just to build connections and relationships with different women in the community.

We’re planning on running another Kids Camp in April around the Easter holidays. We’re open to having a team come and help out or to have mission builders on hand for that time. Please contact us for more details.

Schools

We had to cancel our Island Explorer DTS due to lack of students, but we see God’s hand in that, as the next few months are going to be extremely busy.

We ran our first Mini-DTS. We had 9 students from the local community complete the course and are in our first week of teaching. The course ran for 3 weeks, and the students learned about topics such as Hearing God’s Voice, Worship, Intercession, the Father Heart of God and Identity in Christ. We hope to run another one in September.

The Bible School for the Nations (BSN) will run here from 7^th of July-19^th December. (Two months of that is outreach where the school will go to other islands in the Pacific). The BSN studies through the Bible chronologically, and the students are taught to relate the information they learn to others in cross-cultural settings. We are still open to applications if you’re interested and have already done a DTS.

For more information on any of our schools, please check out our website at www.ywamcooks.com or email us at seeyou@ywamcooks.com

Mission Builders

Kimberlee Collins and her daughter Chelsea have been serving with us since the end of January. Kimberlee was originally going to do her DTS with us, but as the school has been cancelled, she will stay on with us mission-building until she receives further direction.

Helen Wilson is serving with us for a month. Helen has served with YWAM for a long time. She will be speaking on the final week of the Mini-DTS, and is helping out with many things around the base. The Kreis family, Sandy, Natasha & Jesse, will be staying with us for a few weeks. They’ve spent time with us before, and we’re so happy to have them with us again!

The Café

Mike & Rebecca are continuing to run the café from the front of the office. They’re slowly finding their feet, but having brilliant ideas, doing all that they can to fundraise for a proper café to be built on our property. If you’re interested in more particulars or in how you could help out, please contact the base.

The Ark

Toke & Nicky Jim, long-time friends and supporters of YWAM Cook Islands, are currently working on opening an Op Shop (Second-hand store) for the base. It will also be run out of the front of the office for the time being. Proceeds will be used as a fundraiser for base development.

Women’s Conference

In May, we are hosting a South Pacific Women’s Association Conference here at the base. The keynote speaker is HRH Princess Mele Siu’ilikutapu Kalaniuvalu Fotofili from the Kingdom of Tonga. The vision of the conference is to encourage, empower & equip women to realize their God-given potential, exercise their leadership mandate, fulfil their life purpose, and advance the kingdom of God in every sphere of society.

Staff

At the end of March we will be saying good-bye to Darla Unrau, who’s served with us since the completion of her DTS in July 2011. She’ll be moving back home until she receives clear direction as to where God wants her next.

Please pray with us as we really need some more long-term staff. God is opening up so many doors for us, and we really need more people to come with a heart & vision for the Cook Islands.

Prayer Needs (other than what’s already been mentioned…)

A base vehicle (a truck and/or a van)
Finance to finish some of the rooms on the building for the busy times that are heading our way

Thank you for all your prayers and support for us as a base and we pray that God will bless you in the rest of this year.

Love from all of us at YWAM Cooks

Those who wait on the Lord

Just a quick post tonight, as everything winds down for the day, except for the Mini-DTS which starts in about 20 minutes.

Today, it seems like I've been running all day. Sometimes, when I run all day, I get tired, cranky, and start to have a bad attitude about all the work that I've been doing, but there are other days, days like today, where although, I'm bone-tired, I can keep going, I still have joy, I'm centered on the One who is truly our life-giving, strength-giving source.

Isaiah 40:31 says that those who wait upon the Lord will renew their strength, they will run not be weary, they will walk and not faint.

So are you waiting on the Lord? Or are you running a thousand miles ahead in your own strength? Remember to give it to God, He will calm your ways in the busiest days!

Inspired by Kate Moala

A New Season

The past year at YWAM Cook Islands has been a transition from one season into another. Transition times are hard. We see what God has brought us out of, with trials and difficulties, and we look forward to a complete unknown, held, hidden, in the hands of God.

During transition it is easy to get lost, get caught up in fear, get caught in hurt or difficulty. Sometimes we rush forward, so eager to get to the new season, we lose sight of God or the people around us, not realizing that the season is still going, it is just coming to a close.

There are so many different things we can do, so many different ways we can run away or get stuck or jump the gun of what God is doing.

For all of us here, we are learning to transition in God's time, in His way.

And I'm personally starting to realize just how absolutely important to know God's heart. When we know God's heart, each situation that comes up, each difficulty that we face, or unknown we fear, we find the strength, the courage, the peace to move forward. We don't move forward too quickly and we don't get stuck in a place we're not meant to be.

But seeking His heart helps us to discern the times, the season, the plan.

We can find rest in the absolute knowledge of His love and wisdom at play in our lives...

Those are just a few simple thoughts about transitions and seasons...I hope that God speaks to you through them.

Wow, God!

Wow, God!
Do you ever have thoughts like that? There are so many times that we walk through life and we just overlook the every day, we chalk things off to coincidence, or classify them as ordinary...

But God is actually in the every day, He is orchestrating every moment of life. Small things, big things, they all come under God's sovereignty.

I've just been reminded of that this morning. When I was first planning the Mini-DTS and picking speakers and topics, I'll be honest, I didn't much pray over it, or think of how it might flow or not flow. But God, in His sovereignty, has put together this school, with speakers and topics, in a way that flows, in a way that will prepare students from one week to the next...The little things, the details, they are in His hand...

The big things too are also in His control. I'm (Darla) leaving the Cook Islands in a few short weeks, and I've had my ups and downs with the decision. The base is coming into a new and exciting season, and I'd love to be a part of it. But Steve Dunne, the speaker for the next week of the Mini-DTS, pointed out some scriptures in Hebrews 11 to me this morning. One of the ones that really stood out to me was Hebrews 11:39-40, These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised, since God had planned something better...

I know that the Scripture is speaking about coming salvation, but God used them to encourage me this morning, that He does know the thoughts and plans He has for me, and He is orchestrating every moment of my life, every step that I take...

So stop for a moment and acknowledge God, think to yourself, Wow!, because He is doing some incredible things in your life. In every moment He is ever-present and He will never do anything unloving in your life. Each journey He takes you through is worthy of a sacrifice of praise as He leads you and guides you through life!

Be Blessed...

Hearing God's Voice!

We started the Mini-DTS this week. We have 6 full-time students and a few others from the base sitting in on the classes.
We're hearing from Cheyne Hosking, from the Marine Reach base in Tauranga, this week and he's speaking on one of those essential YWAM topics, Hearing the Voice of God!

We've only had 2 evenings of classes so far, but the lectures have been great. We've covered why it's so important to seek God in our daily lives, different ways to hear from Him, and different hindrances to hearing God's voice.

Although Hearing God's Voice is one of those basic YWAM things, sitting in on the classes this week has made me realize that it's one of the basics that I need to re-prioritize in my life.

Often when we're not seeking God's direction, we stuff up in our decisions, go off course, and find ourselves in places that we never intended to be to begin with. It's so important to seek God's will in EVERY decision we make, to make sure that our lives are continually aligned with His heart.

There are a number of different ways to hear from Him, the still small voice, impressions, the Word, and the list goes on and on.

Often though we're hindered by different things from really and truly hearing God's voice, possibly we have undealt with sin in our lives, we may have to re-prioritize our time, we may have a wrong view of who God is, or a host of other things.

It's made me ask myself, am I spending enough time with God? Am I truly seeking His will and making His will a priority? Is there sin in my life that is blocking me from hearing God?

At the end of the day, if we come to Him with an open and willing heart, soft-souled to hear from Him, we have to trust that God, who never does anything unloving, will speak to us, in His way, in His time, giving the perfect answer to whatever circumstance we're in or decision we're facing:)

We'll keep you posted on more of what we're learning!