Some thoughts taken from my journal

June 1st

Happy Birthday Viktor! Wow I can't believe this is actually happening I am going to Sri Lanka AND Bali. Not going to lie I'm super anxious and I've been a little all over the place since the Big Island trip. I had a 10hr buffer in between trips and mentally that is simply not enough. But here I am ready to rock 'n roll. Viktor, Tyler and I got the exit seats and are sitting prime time with our own "living room". Checking in was no big deal and I am starting to settle down. I am the "person" to shmooz, do the paper work and be the what we like to call "professional traveler" of the trip. I am super ready ok.. no I'm not ready but I'm willing. Father I simply pray that through out this and beyond I satay within your will - always. I am so afraid to ever move outside of your will sometimes I question if I can walk at all. But I know that those doors have been opened and only God's power will let me through. We are on our way to Japan! Father be with us as we travel, give us safety, health, rest and constant joy. you are our provider.

June 6th

First night in Sri Sri. We all went to Ali's for dinner. Super good - slightly sketchy. I had coconut sambul and I'm already addicted. The whole team ate together and Tiff and the family joined us too. I loved it. Life couldn't be any better. My best friend, Sri Lanka, STN, and God's covering over me... could it get better? I think not. Once we got back from dinner we all sat around and heard the testimonies from those from STN that live here. I was so stinking tried I fought to stay up. Koda just cuddled with me the whole night and I couldn't be any happier! Oh and we had some fun wil life come out last night. A mouse ran over my foot, two geckos dropped on Andy Lister and some massive buy was flying around Tyler... Welcome to Sri. I LOVE IT.

Me and Re and Pristine sleep in a tent and I'm sure Jo will come join us soon. It is super hot even at night but I seem to manage just fine. But the fun before we slept was that I cut open Jo's foot with a leatherman to open up this gnarly gnarly infection that she has going. I hope it worked. We'll see.

June 7th

A little morning time at Aloha Cabanas! So Good. Re and I came over to Aloha for a just a little quiet time and some much needed 1 on 1 check in.

Yesterday was so good!  I got to surf, go to church in Tamal, go to Pottivul, take the local kids swimming, love on Tiff and listen to Waxer at Tiffany too! It was so good to have some solid best friend time - the thing I miss most is just living life with Tiff and these few hours are more than a simply encouragement. God's love is just infectious being around her. =) I just can't get enough. Listening to Waxer over there was uhg.. just like home! Than Jo and Babu and Zach danced to a little Justin Bieber. Classic. Now I'm munching on a HUGE fruit bowl with water buffalo curd and some pretty legit coffee. Kaful is the cook - I like him.

Oh and last night we had worship on the beach during sunset. I am are you kidding me. Really? Come on! This is too much - too classic - God you are too good.

Father thank you for another amazing day. Thank you for keeping me healthy. Heal Jo's foot and give her encouragement. Father be with the kids and heal them quickly. God put your healing hand upon Randy and love Tammi in ways only you would know how to give her rest. Father be with Tiffany today and give us time to love on each other and serve the woman of this village.

Real time....

Okay that's it for now.. it's time to get the property cleaned up and we are off to Ella tomorrow! Maybe once the team leaves I will have time to put some images up. But maybe we will adventure the island.. so you'll just have to wait and see. Sri why are you so HOT!

Right now it is 120 degrees in the sun ... without humidity... yup it is the truth. Nuts.

Happy Fathers Day To My Daddy

Papa!

Happy Fathers Day. Papa no matter where I am in the world it doesn't change how much I love you, respect you and think of you daily. Daddy you are my hero and I can't wait to come home to see you. God is taking me on the best adventure of my life and to know I have your support, encouragement and love makes each day easier. It never gets easier to leave home but I know that God has so much more for me in store that for this day he has called me to go. You have set an amazing example to our whole family and Papa I have the faith I do because of your daily devotion and truth to your faith. No matter where I was in my life you loved me and you always wanted me to walk the path that would lead a God fearing life. No matter how long it took me to get my priorities straight your arms were wide open awaiting my love and return just as I know my Papa God loves me too. You show such amazing love, I am forever grateful for the grace you shed on me. Papa I wish I could be there for you on this special day to love on you and give you a fun day with your little girl surfing and adventuring around the amazing home I was so blessed to grow up in. My heart is with you. I love you Daddy!

With all of my love,
Your Little Girl

My heart in Sri Lanka

 

My body is in a constant sweat, my heart is in a constant pattern that matches the rhythm of the bay, my mind is calm, and my spirit is at rest. God has called me to go. To go to the nations and be the hands and feet of his love. I pray that God will open my eyes and callous my hands to I can do the work he has set before me. I am so blessed to be here, to see this country, to meet these people. I am so honored to be a daughter of Christ and it is my pleasure to go into the nations to seek a lifestyle of pouring love over those I meet. I am so thankful for your support and your prayers and I ask that you continue.

I have had days full of reaching the people, making shelters, eating curry with families, tea with woman, sewing with the girls and fully just being blessed to live out love to the fullest. The property we stay on is amazing, rugged but amazing. The food is the same everyday but for some reason I love it. I know that I will return soon, for how long I don’t know but there is no doubt in my mind God will provide for me to return. These people have pulled on my heart, this country hits a soft spot and the missions mindset won’t ever leave me.

I have about two weeks left in Sri Lanka and that is far from enough. Once I leave this beautiful place I will be traveling to Indonesia for the month of July and though it is hard to step away from Sri Lanka I know God has just as amazing plans in Indonesia to unfold.

I think the joy of my day is simply living along side on fire Jesus followers ready to live a radical life and ready to impact those unreached. I love going into the houses of the Muslim woman and sitting down on their floor, nothing but four cement walls and a few sarongs hanging in the windows and they won’t let you leave without tea and rotti. I love the awkward moments of language, culture and simply life barrier. I love working through them and coming to the end of the sentence getting nothing across but showing them so much love through simply smiling. I love eating food you aren’t sure will ruin you or not, trusting that your impact on the owners surpasses any stomach flu.

Count this as a small update, a small opening into the life God has blessed me with and the journey you have supported me in going on. I cannot thank you enough for the prayers and the financial support. God is so good. Please keep praying and if you believe in what God has called me to do your support is beyond appreciated.

All my love.

Julie

Another look into Sri Sri

Everyday seems to be better than the day before. I don’t know how but it does - in it’s own way. Yesterday we got to go to Babu’s Mom’s Birthday. Tiffany and I went into town to get a few gifts for her and than we and the team set out to the party. It was so fun. We danced, we ate, we had a blast with the locals. It’s customary for the cake to be cut and for the one who has the Birthday to cut a piece, feed the person who is getting the piece the first bite and than for the ones who are her family to feed it back to her and than they have their piece. It’s actually a pretty legit little tradition. During the day/morning we did a lot of work on the property here. For hours we oiled the wood for termites, weeded and put up knew walls. I was on the wall team. We wove together coconut palms that we bought and made walls around the area that Andy and Pontis live in. Even the rope we used to weave it all together was made from coconut, it was pretty impressive to see how strong coconut twine is. We started working at 8 and worked until the sun was too hot to deal, took a break and had lunch and I went over with the girls to see Tiffany and than we were back on the job before the party. We tried a new restaurant last night for dinner -- it for sure wasn’t my favorite. The fruit bowl was more like a fruit thimble and I’m used to Aloha’s, which is at times too big to finish (for the same price). Hopefully I’ll have time to load some pictures with all of these updates. Before bed last night Jo and I had a little jam session for the local boys that came over after the party -- we busted a little Justin Bieber for them. Ha!

Today us girls are going to get clothes made. We are going to one of Tiffany’s friends house to be measured and pick out some fabric ( I’m pretty sure ). I’m stoked on getting some solid Sri Sri clothes. I have been wearing Tiffany’s this whole time, which I love but I want to be able to take some home with me J Well I think that pretty much covers it.

Jo’s foot is looking better (PTL)

This morning I woke up with a gnarly sore throat. Pray that it goes away fast and that no one else gets it. Even though I’m at the bottom of the chain, getting it from a loads of other people. If one person in the village gets sick -- we all do. Eating with your hands sort of helps that all along.

a little more detail...

I’ll just go from yesterday and keep backing up until my memory fades more than I had hoped. Yesterday we got to take a Sri Lankan Safari. It was a time to just build as a team and simply enjoy the epic creation we are given. Our God is creative! We saw elephants, leopards, boar, water buffalo, deer, turtles, peacocks, toucans, monkeys (loads of monkeys), and gila monsters all in just one afternoon. It was nuts. The safari was so fun, the team had a blast and it was so key for our team to have this little get away. Our driver was a blast we ended up really making solid friends with him and he even let Viktor drive the jeep for a good long few hours. Loads of pictures taken, massive laugh attacks, bruised hips and memories made. Zach and I on the way home were sitting half out of the front, basically sitting on the roof of the car. We just got to catch up, talk about life be raw with each other and we prayed for the last hour of our ride home. I love moments like that. The stars were out, the night was getting cool, no lights could be seen, the rabbits and frogs were frantic on the road and nothing but miles of jungle ahead. God is so good! Once we got back we had dinner at Alli’s and had some testimony time. Tiff came over to dinner and testimony and once we were done around 11:30 Zach being the nice guy he Is took her all the way home (down the street ;). Oh and in the morning Re and I ate at Aloha Cabanas and I had some epic fruit bowl and coffee - so well needed.

 Let’s see I believe the day before that was maybe I favorite day here. I loved it. I got to spend some time over with Tiff and we took all the neighbor kids to the beach. It was so fun to no matter the country be able to love on kids just as God has put that passion in my heart. Honestly just had a blast being able to swim with them and simply show them love on their turf. I’m getting better with the names but still having a super hard time remembering all of them - but soon I will get them down and I’ll tell you all about the specific ones that just stole my heart. There are already so many.

We’ve gone into Pottivul a few times for church and for food. Church was amazing. I can’t explain fully how to feels to be in a church that speaks another language that you can’t remotely understand and there is just something about this country that captivates you. I took some video so I can share the amazing sound of this church singing worship songs.

Around property there are a few local boys that stick around a lot and also a few that work our grounds a little bit, basically they get paid to hang around. Alan is our gardner - he is a little quiet but you can tell it will just take a little bit for him to get used to the team and then he will be impossible to keep quiet. There is Babu, a spitfire for sure. He is so funny! He sings Justin Beiber all the time and you can’t get him to stop, ever. He is always in a good mood and he is impossible not to love. Property is a pretty solid revolving door with a bunch of kids in and out but those two are always here and we love it. Pontis and Andy (our “local” crew) are definitely a huge part of these boys lives, it’s pretty cool to see the impact.

I am so blessed to be apart of this outreach. I can’t even begin. I’m starting to love the dust, sweat,  dirty food, sketchy water, humid air, garbage burning, slow moving place I’m in. It is beauty in the rawest form.

Keep the team in your prayers.

Honolulu -> Japan -> Taiwan

Well we made it.. well almost! We are in Taiwan. Our next stop is Bangkok and then Colombo... and then a long trip across the island to our lovely fishing village! So okay we aren't really almost there. I can't believe its midnight back in Hawaii, I literally feel like we just left. Time is already flying! Me and Tyler and Viktor got set in the BEST seats ever and had a little living room for both flights (aka the exit seats). We briefly touched down in Japan and then made our way here. The food on the flights were good and I was all game until we got fish - PLEASE no more fish! (5 days of fish on our backpacking trip has touched my limit for a few days). But the food is always good on China air (we took them for part of our middle east trip) so again I was impressed with it. Our first flight was nothing out of the ordinary just solid fun, music sharing, watching surf films on Tyler's computer and writing in my journal. The beginning of this trip has been a tad on the taxing side, so it was good I brought along my Habitudes, journal, bible and pen to be my friend. Before this trip I co-led a backpacking adventure through lava fields on the south side of the Big Island and it was an epic adventure but an emotional and spiritual journey for me personally, but God is faithful and is continuing to guide me through with his loving hands. Just a tid bit about the Big Island adventure - imagine fish, fish, fish, throwing net, gutting fish, cooking fish, jumping off rocks, boiling sun, epic God moments, divine appointments, answered prayers, safe travels, sleeping under the stars, amazing quiet times, challenging moments, solid prayer, bible study by the fire, BBQ, log cabins, life time relationship, impacting revelation and just straight up the presence of God in every moment. And after all of that 10 hours after landing on Oahu I was driving out of the parking lot for Sri Lanka! But God knows how to do it right.. because right now I'm sitting in the airport in a FREE message chair working out all the knots of the over analyzed emotional stress I allowed to collect. Worry wart? Stress bucket? Over analyzer... check check and check. Ha! The flight here from Japan was so fun. We met a super rad flight attendant - Takashima. She promised us she would visit next time she flies to Oahu. She was a joy to just talk with and she had this crazy New Zealand accent from studying there three years ago for nine months. How she still hast it? I have no idea but it was funny seeing a petite asian girl speak English with a solid accent. Viktor and Tyler and I are rocking the message chairs and just kicking back while we have our solid lay over. I'm stoked to continue this journey and this crew couldn't be any more solid. God is so faithful.

Prayer points:

Our baggage goes smoothly (and cheap)
Health and Safety for the whole team
Divine appointments
Clarity, courage and consistent good attitudes



Julie