Shifting and shaking - Kona Weeks 9 & 10

These weeks look a little different from others - the campus has been buzzing as students from last quarter have returned from their outreaches to debrief and graduate! We've also had the 40th anniversary celebration of the University of the Nations and therefore lots of leaders from YWAM all over the world coming to this base celebrate. YWAM Kona is the largest YWAM base, and we're really honoured that this is where Loren and Darlene Cunningham, the founders of YWAM live. It also means there are always tons of exciting ideas launching from this base. Being in the middle of the Pacific makes it strategic to as there is (relatively) easy access to the American mainland, Central and South America, the Pacific Islands, Australia and NZ and Eastern Asia. We are positioned as a lighthouse to the nations. See photos below of the celebration.

One such incredible idea involves shipping containers being made into classrooms, medical clinics, homes, computer/technology centres, laboratories etc and being shipped or airlifted into remote parts of the world. The operation is called "Think inside the box" and we have our very first container classroom on the site in Kona. See photos below! It looks incredible! They are powered by solar panels and hooked up to satellites so that they will work anywhere.

Our lectures last week were delivered by a molecular biologist named Joe Affholter. He is extremely intelligent and managed to reveal so much of God's glory and beauty through the world of science. One of our assignments was to find an object in nature, observe it and record 20 factual insights about it (this is really hard!) Any guesses for what I chose? You then had to write down a challenge that you were facing in your life and ask God to reveal His wisdom and His heart for you in that using the object from nature. So interesting. So simple. So profound! Did you work out what I chose? Yes...the ocean! I always feel close to God when I'm near the sea or ocean, wherever, whenever, whatever the weather! It's just so vast. Reminds me that me and my world is not all that big. And I just feel Him near - in the waves and on the wind!

I've had some fun this week in my teaching/choir leading role! Tim has got me coordinating the school for a flash mob so I've been doing singing practice with everyone and creating simple actions for us to use as an outreach tool! It's been so much fun as I really love to teach and to perform! I also really enjoy having the microphone and organising people!!! It makes me come alive! And adults listen and do what I ask much more readily than kids at school! Haha. This is me in action..!

There's definitely been a shift in the ambience over the last week - it just feels like people are aware we only have a couple of weeks left here and focus is shifting more to outreach. We are very much in thirds in our school. Some are not coming on outreach with us at all, the rest are going to two different outreach locations for a month. After the first month we will meet in Germany and spend a month there. I'm a bit sad in that I have LOVED this phase in Kona and there are a number of people who I'm very fond of who are not able to come on outreach for various reasons. I also am very aware that outreach is going to be another level in terms of spiritual warfare and general wild adventure! I'm sure that many rough edges will get rubbed off my heart/character!

PRAYER REQUESTS

- Our last 2 weeks together as a school - that we would just really treasure our time and end well. I would hate to leave with encouraging words not being spoken or for people to part on anything less than from a place of knowing how loved and valued they are.

- Me and my roommates, that we would just have real quality time together over the next couple of weeks before the shift in pace and season.

- The transition generally and the 5 days I have in Hawaii when the rest of my school has already gone and started their outreach.

- Thankfulness for all that has happened and all that God has done in me and continues to show me.

- For my next step in life beyond outreach. If you're praying about this and God gives you a word, verse or picture for me please share it with me!

Thank you amazing ones!

Much love, Hannah