It can be so hard to sum up a season of one's life. Another DTS has come and gone, leaving 70 souls changed and my own heart more set on seeing the nations come to know their Maker. I have finished leading my second outreach and can only look back with gratitude. Our 2.5 months spent in Masiphumelele were challenging. Life changing. Eye opening. I will never be the same.

Our last few weeks were hard and the best at the same time. Relationships with the local Africans had bloomed and the rhythm of living in our house was a steady one. The doors to the Jesus house were open all day as our friends came in and out. Hours were spent laughing, talking, drinking tea. Kids ran in and out the door, pulling on our hands to draw us outside to show us something. One of these little ones won my heart. His name is Tulan, he is 5, and from Zimbabwe. He speaks another language but that didn't stop us from being friends. Although he had his naughty moments, he touched my heart so many times by the smile in his eyes, his outrageous laughter, and his crazy dance moves. Some days we would play, some he would be in the kitchen watching what I was doing, and some we just sat together, looking at the street in front of our house. With a rough life at home, I was very aware that he was watching us all and that we had the incredible opportunity to show him what true love looks like. The importance of living like Jesus was engraved into my heart. With this little one at my side most days, I wanted everything to show him Jesus and that he was loved loved loved. That nothing he did would stop that. That he could be more than what his circumstances spoke. That he could change the world.

Tulan

We left Masi 2 weeks ago, with the peace of God that it was our time to leave, with Hope for what He will do, with Joy that he used that place to radically effect our hearts. It broke our hearts to leave our friends, but we know that the Lord is moving there. We know that God is committed to seeing all of Masi know Him. We know that His love abounds for each soul that lives there. 

The view of Masi from our roof. 

Returning to Hawaii was a joyous time. After being scattered all over the world, there is something so sweet about being reunited with your best friends. Hearing the stories of how God moved in each student's heart, the lives that were touched in 11 nations, the miracles and love and grace that He poured out over and over for 3 months were so encouraging. I left Kona with a full heart of hope, joy and love. 

I am currently in California visiting dear friends that I have not seen since my DTS 2 years ago. I love how God has placed people in my life that no matter the time or distance, the friendship doesn't fade. I will be reunited with my family in 2 days time when they fly out here to watch my little brother graduate from Biola! Yay! My plan for 2013 is still in the works. The only thing for certain is heading home for a time of rest and being with my family and praying into what is next. I am so thankful for the last 2.5 years of my life and all that God has done in and around me. He is faithful and I can not wait to see where He leads me next. I pray that this Christmas season, each of you will be filled with Joy and Love from the Father :)

Thank you for your prayers and support. You guys never cease to amaze me in your commitment to my life. Thank you :)

Much love,

Kristi 

We are into our 7th week in South Africa, and I can hardly believe it. We are continuing our ministry here in Masi and plowing through with only 3 weeks of ministry left. The longer we have stayed here, the more my heart has begun to burn for these lost people, swayed by alcohol and drugs. I desire to see their hearts be anchored in identity and freedom in Christ and am so full of hope to see Jesus move here.

1 week ago, as some of the team was coming home from an outing, a man came up to us and asked for prayer. We invited him into our living room, and he bagan to share with us some of the burdens his spirit has been caring. He was addicted to Tik (the drug that many are lost to, a pure form of meth), and 2 days before he came to us, he felt and saw demonic presence on and around him. He was frightened, and came to ask for prayer because he didn't know what else to do. He was clearly high on the drug when we began to pray and within 10 minutes of prayer, his mind had completely sobered and was physically more peaceful. He said he felt some of the demonic presence leave and then he began to thank us, saying we had no idea how powerful we were because of what we believed, and that he appreciated us just being in Masi. The Holy Spirit moves so much when we follow His commands to love God, love each other, and love the lost.

In my time here in Masi, I have learned to pursue Jesus in all circumstances. There are, of course, times when I fail horribly at this, but He has never and will never turn away. He may be silent at times, but He does not abandon. Jesus is who He says He is. He is love, He is provider, He is protector, He saves, He redeems, He is our hope, He keeps His promises. In the past 2 and a half years of truly following Jesus, I have seen Him as all of these over and over again, despite what my flesh is feeling. Jesus is real, moving in my heart, the team, and in Masi :)

With only 3 weeks of ministry left, please continue praying for us in these ways!

• Team unity
• Safety/wisdom
• Open doors to share the gospel
• Continuation of building relationships within Masi

South Africa!

Almost 5 weeks have gone by since we landed in this beautiful, crazy, wild, nation of South Africa. We have made our home in the middle of a local township called Masiphumelele, or Masi for short. This township is unlike anything I have seen in the past 2 years of missions. Over 40,000 people live on this plot of land that you can walk through in 30 minutes. Most homes are shanties, built in clusters and made of tin, with a few dozen stone houses scattered among them. Roasting chicken feet and sheep’s head can be bought at any corner. Taxis, in the form of large vans, race down the streets, horns blaring. Bars are open with a consistent flow of buyers, and Tik (their version of meth) is as common and accepted as cigarettes. Kids run barefoot and mamas’ walk to the corner store (known as Spazas) with their babies on their backs, held in place by strapping them on with a bath towel. We are the only white people who live here, but drive 10 minutes away and you’ll find your self at a western mall, selling your favorite brands. 

                                                                          (street in Masi)

Our days are spent partnering with different ministries and running along side the long term missionaries here. Some ministries are working with women learning to sew to make a living, and for the men, learning to woodwork. We meet up with our local friends and study the Word together. We partner with BabySafe (a local ministry helping mothers and babies) in intercession and playing with kids. But our biggest ministry is just living. Simply obeying Jesus, becoming more like Him, and letting our overflow of that influence the people we see everyday. Our home is open during the day so locals and children can come and build relationship, discover more of God together, and learn from each other. 

                                                                     (Cape Town Coast)

Our team has been learning how to grow in community each day. Our team of 10 live with an African, who has been walking with Jesus for the past year, and we all share 1 bathroom. It is safe to say we have all grown in the area of patience! We cook for ourselves and rotate days we make dinner for everyone. We have been growing in intercession and taking everything we struggle with as a team to the Lord. We have grown so much in overcoming passivity and fear and I am excited to see how much more God will do with us!

There are several things you can be partnering in prayer with us during our time here!

- We will begin prostitution ministry next week, please pray with us for that!

• Safety 
• For continual breakthrough in our team
• For health! Sickness has been going around our team
• Wisdom as we go about our lives here in Masi

Thank you so much for your prayers and support! Internet is not that common, but I do hope that I can continue to share stories of what God is doing during our time here!

Much love,

Kristi 

Thoughts

It is the 7th week of lecture and my mind is getting blown. Our speaker this week is Matt Rawlins, teaching about the Fear of God. He tore apart (in a good way, trust me) Psalm 147:7 to really show just how big our God is. "He determines the number of the stars and calls them each by name." Did you know there are 30 billion trillion stars in the universe? I don't even know how many zeros that is. And that is just a guess. As wild as it is to even think that they are there in existence, God knows their names. HE KNOWS THEIR NAMES. He could stand before me right now and list 'em all of, no prob. What the heck. Our God is so BIG. And He effortlessly hold 30 billion trillion stars in His hands. With that context in mind, let Psalm 139 blow your mind for a minute. "You have searched me and you know me." The very God who created and can name those stars in a split second knows me in and out. It stuns me. I am so overwhelmed by His love! What an amazing God we serve. 

A theme that keeps coming to my mind this season is relationship. It is what we were created for. Adam and Eve walked daily with God in the garden. Moses hung out with Him on a mountain. Jesus, God in the flesh, was here for 33 years making friends all over the place. And its the same today. Every human soul on this earth was created for relationship with the Father. Some have no idea of this because the enemy comes in with lies of legalism, telling us we have to do do do and work work work to reach the Father. I lived that way for 20 years, my friends, and let me tell you, it is better on the other side! The pressure of failing (which I did often and still do since I am human) is gone when we know who our Father is and how much He loves us! The best part of this is that it can begin at any time. Whether you are 5, 105 or somewhere in between, the invite never ends! 

I will be leaving exactly a month from today with 9 of my dearest friends for South Africa! With this fire burning in my heart and revelation of relationship, I am bursting to go forth and share with those in Masi. Please be praying for my team as we prepare to head out! Also, please partner with me in praying for a release of finances! I personally need around $1,600, and my team needs around $4,000 by August 30th. If you feel led to donate, please clink the link to the right and help us change the world!

"Left to Right, top to bottom: Michael, Anna, Jin, Sophie, Kevin, Annika, Kourtney, Kelsey, Co-leader Amy and myself)

Much love,

Kristi