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Now I have never been engaged, but recently I finished a devotional about pursuing God. There was one day of this devotional that I had an epiphany over!
We are the bride of Christ. When we pass and go to heaven, it’s our marriage day to Jesus. This is the epiphany, so while we are on earth, we are in our engagement phase of our relationship with God. We need to look at our relationship with God as a big engagement in the steps of getting married. Now I’m preaching to myself here. I have not been living as though I was engaged to God. I pushed him to the side and let someone else take his place. But after reading that, it really hit home for me. I don’t think when you’re engaged to someone that you don’t want to spend time with them or include them in your life, that would make for one awkward marriage. While here on earth, we need to act as though we are in our engagement to God. Invite him in your every day things. Include him when you go out or are spending time alone. The great thing about God is that he doesn’t force himself on us or in our life, he wants to be invited in. So start pursuing God and enjoy your engagement to Him! The Pursuit Devotional :click on the link to check out the devotional!
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Returning from my mission in Thailand, I sit here in awe, trying to process just how amazing it really was. People have asked me to put it in words. And each time I try, I simply can’t. There are few words that I can use, but they all fall short of what I really experienced. As I try and reflect upon all the incredible things God showed me, the thing I felt most connected to was the indescribable joy that comes out of authentic relationship with others. I saw here a people that longed to love. Longed for relationship. I had the privilege to meet an authentic and raw people. People who have wronged and been wronged. But no matter the circumstances, no matter the pain, all were connected through love. We were not meant to go though this alone, we were called to love God and love each other. And when you have relationship with the almighty creator, your heart will be softened to experience the love that we were intended to feel. One of the biggest things God has revealed to me recently is that love has no language barrier. No matter if you are in Thailand, Africa or a local coffee shop, Love is universal. No words required. A force that though only an almighty God can we attain it’s authenticity at full. Every day is OUR mission, now go and spread love to all nations!
We often think of the enemy as Hollywood has characterized him as. An ugly guy with red horns. But that isn’t how he is. He can be something so beautiful that will make people think “Could this be from God?”. He’s the father of lies (John 8:44) and by looking beautiful is how he tricks us. I’m speaking from experience here. I have learned a lot more than I have ever before. It is so important to back everything up with scriptures to not fall into the same messy pit as I just came out of.
Two months before my last YWAM trip, I met someone. In my eyes, he could have been sent from God to me and I honestly believed it. I thought I saw the red-flags but I really didn’t. I ignored them and tried to justify them or even make excuses for them. I was so enticed by this person that I let it drive friends away and even put a wedge between my family. I started to backtrack from all the progress I made with God. I started to lie and become someone I was never suppose to be. I turned into someone completely other than me. I wasn’t following God or being who He called me to be, and I had put Him on the back burner. I was trying to be my own god. Even on the YWAM trip, many told me that this person could not possibly be what God wanted for me, but I didn’t listen. Instead, I would get angry and ignore their words. The grip that the enemy had on me, everyone could see but me. Hindsight is 20-20, right? In the last blog, I wrote about the first two and a half weeks of outreach. Now let me tell you about this past two weeks!
It was the people.
God didn’t call me to YWAM Tyler because he thought I would enjoy the base. He didn’t send me there because he knew I wouldn’t like it. He sent me there because he knew the hearts that were already there and he knew that those hearts were what I needed I my life. As some know, my heart going into this YWAM school was to be able to share and express my faith to my own country. I am so excited to share that my outreach will be here in the states! My team and I will be traveling through New England for 8 weeks. We will be partnering with local churches and YWAM bases, as well as spending time on different college campuses. I am so excited for this! God has been giving me this new sense of confidence with my faith. The best I can explain it is this way: Before, I felt like I had the experience but no knowledge of how to share that experience and get my point across. Now, I have the confidence to share my faith and experiences of God as well as trusting him in the moments to provide the words to say.
We all go into a mission trip thinking, “I am going to change someone’s life.” Instead, we walk away being imprinted with marks that will forever change our life. A mission trip can have you come back with many different emotions as well as new perspectives towards everything in life.
In this blog, I’ll explain how my week was like in Peru and what I walked away with. I can tell you now, this trip was very similar to my to Africa. Too many memories but each will stay with me as I walk through the journey God has planned for me. I loved every moment of each day. I loved being able to wake up saying, “This is a new day. What is there to come?” Peru has breath taking sights to see. I believe no matter how much in property a place (or person) can look, there is beauty to be found. We jumped right into the trip the instant we got there. We would start each day with a group devotional. I enjoyed this time because we were all together spending time in the word. We got to learn new things about one another during these times as well as being able to be vulnerable if needed. It was a time of prayer, building relationships, and encouraging one another. Haiti or bust! As this very long season comes to an end… We can’t help but reflect and become so overwhelmed by the love and provision of God these last eight months we’ve been in Florida, and these last thirteen months of this adoption. We are weary. So very tired. But Ellie has brought so much joy. We’ve struggled more in these last months than we probably ever have in our seven years as a married couple. This has required more faith, more finances, more love, more grace, more, more, more, than we ever could have imagined when we walked into this chapter. And I’m SO GLAD it’s over!!! However, in all honesty, I would do it again in a heartbeat. Eloise Nicole is a puzzle piece in our family that could not fit more perfectly. I am so thankful that we have the honor and privilege to raise this beautiful young woman.
To those of you who have been praying, and giving financially, we thank you from the bottom of our hearts! We couldn’t have done this without you! During our loooooong wait. Unfortunately, you’re not allowed to take photos inside government buildings, so this stink eye photo is what you get. I took this while we were waiting for her passport to be processed this morning! We leave Florida bright and early Thursday morning! Our DTS will begin February 13, so we will hit the ground running to make sure everything is place for the students to arrive next weekend! Our staff have been such a blessing, and taken on roles and responsibilities to make this transition home go as well as it possibly can. Seriously. They’re the best. We still have some outstanding medical bills, and our savings has not just taken a hit, it’s basically been beaten to a pulp. If there was financial life support… our savings account would be on it. We would so appreciate large or small amounts you feel led to give to help alleviate some of these costs. If you would like to begin supporting us monthly, or would like to send a one time gift, please send checks made out to YWAM Haiti to: YWAM Haiti PO Box 236 Akron, PA 17501 Please include a slip of paper designating the funds to Wayne & Keturah Snow. All donations are tax deductible. Here is the link for simple tax deductible online giving: https://transaxt.com/Donate/3SJ3AF/YouthWithAMissionWayneandKeturahSnow We can also receive funds through paypal, which is NOT tax deductible. The address linked to our account is: waynesnow8@hotmail.com If you’re reading this update but don’t already receive them via email, let us know if you’d like to be added to the list! Copyright © 2017 Wayne Snow, All rights reserved. Our mailing address is: Wayne & Keturah Snow YWAM – Unit 2018 3170 Airman’s Dr. Ft. Pierce, FL 34946 Youth With A Mission – Haiti · 2586 SE Perugia St · Port Saint Lucie, FL 34952 · USA |
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