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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.
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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
God is…Personal. He doesn’t just care for us as a whole, but also as his individual children. It in the last week of YWAM when I was about to head home that God opened my eyes to this. It as dinner time and we had all found our seats to eat at. The translator and host gave announcements and prayed, then let us all go up for servings. When I had come back to my seat, there was this weird lady sitting in it. My initial thought was, “Oh great, now I have to find a new seat.” (Let me add that there was a conference going on at the time and hardly any seating. I thought I was going to have to eat in my room.) But thankfully my friend gave up her seat since she wanted to sit elsewhere and I ended up sitting right next to this lady. As dinner went on, I asked her a few questions about why she was here, thinking she was here for the conference. Turned out, she was here to help debrief with the Greece team since they needed a therapist. As soon as she confessed of being a therapist, God spoke to me, “You need to talk to her about your attack.”. At first I thought, no way was I going to bore this lady with my problems. But when dinner was over, she hadn’t moved a muscle and I couldn’t get myself to leave. I finally caved in and spoke with her. “Do you mind if I take advantage of your expertise?”. She smiled and replied, “Of course I don’t!”. Her response threw me off guard. I was not expecting her to be so…willing I guess. Anyways, I opened up and shared with Lisa. She gave me paperwork, that I still have to this day, to help me overcome my fear. She prayed for me and before I could leave she said she had something to share with me….”While I was in my room waiting for dinner, I felt that God had someone he wanted me to talk with tonight. Someone that needed help. I prayed for God to send and direct me to the table that he wanted me to sit at and then God said to not leave until the person spoke up. I want you to be encouraged that God had sent me to you.” Well, that really blew me away. After having been sent all over Puerto Vallarta for Jan, I wanted to be a Jan to someone. And to this God-loving woman, I was her Jan. God had sent her to me because I was still struggling with the attack and my fear that it had implemented in me. God was so personal to me and showed me that he loves and cares for me by sending her. Even with my Jan story, God cares for his children. When we are hurting, he sends us help either through other people or by His Holy Spirit. God is truly personal.
A Protector. After the attack, I never thought the sayings, “God is my protector.” or “God protects his children.” would ever come out of my mouth or that I would even believe it. For a while, I truly thought that God had left me. That I was alone. That he didn’t protect me the night Sam and I got attack. That he doesn’t protect me at all. But now, after much prayer and bible studying, I can honestly, without a doubt, say: God Is My Protector. He protected Sam and I on March 13, the night of the attack. He was there. He was the reason that Sam didn’t get stabbed with an infected needle. He shield me from the attacker. He was the reason I was able to run away. He was the reason the guy ran away from Sam and turned down a street into the dark. He was the reason for the safety of Sam and I. He was there with me. He is always with me. I know and am confident that God is with me wherever I go, that He is holding my hand. When I’m walking down a street and get scared, I remind myself that God is my protector and that He with me. Yes, I still get scared sometimes, but that is perfectly healthy and normal. But what I do when I’m scared is what counts, and I lean on God when I’m scared or uneasy. Good. It seems so simple to say, “God is good.” But I’ve said this before, the word GOOD has such a huge meaning. God created the world and said…it is good. He called his creation, his masterpiece, good. So just visualize the creator calling his creation, good and that is how much that word means. Anyways. I’ve seen a lot of poverty, a lot of darkness, a lot of unjust situations but in all of it, God showed His goodness. To the woman we met that had not been called beautiful by her husband in a long time, we were able to be used by God to speak love and beauty over her life. She had this different look to her after we had spoken and prayed for her. God is good in that by how he uses His people to show His love and glory. God brings light and life into situations that might seem like all hope is lost. A Father. Abba, the most personal name we can call God. Translated to the same meaning as Daddy. Who still calls their dad, daddy? It’s like a little 3 year with their arms reaching high, calling out ‘Daddy!’. Which is exactly what we can do with God. He is our father. He provides for us, he cares for us, he loves us. Zephaniah 3:17 says, “The Lord your God is with you, the Mighty Warrior who saves. He will take great delight in you; in His love He will no longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing.” To me, that verse describes a father. God takes GREAT DELIGHT in you. How awesome in that? The part of the verse that says, “No longer rebuke you, but will rejoice over you with singing” is my favorite. I think about a dad at a sports game that is cheering on their kid and when the kid messes up, he’s not angry, but instead he is saying “It’s okay! Get back up and keep fighting the good fight.”. Well WE are that kid and GOD is that dad. When we mess up in sin, he’s not angry with us. He gives us grace and continues to love us. He picks us up, brushes the dirt off us, and encourages us. I could go on and on but for now I will leave it at this. The 5 months in YWAM will truly be cherished in my heart. I really believe that in those months is when God really captured me and I handed over my heart to God for the first time. My whole view on Him is changed and I see Him more has the true God that He is and not through my small view of Him.
October 4, 2016
What a faithful God we serve. Tonight as I boarded the plane to head out of Florida I was reminded of this. As I walked down the aisle to find my seat I looked and saw a woman sitting in my seat. She was looking a little confused and distraught and then she said to me, “can u please take the window seat, this is my first time flying and I’m scared.” I told her that of course I could do that for her. This lady then shared with me her life story. Probably shared more information than I needed to hear but I noticed something about her. But she was being genuine. She was speaking about her recent struggles in life. She was just getting out of rehab and shes headed back home to her husband and kids. She continued on for about 20 mins about her life and the challenges she faced. I listened and listened and listened and just felt God was calling me to engage a little deeper. I then proceeded to ask if I could share a verse with her and shared a few passages from the New Testament. For the rest of the flight she asked me a ton of questions about God, about his love, about his grace, and why I believe what I believe. Let me tell you. This conversation was absolutely incredible. I then proceeded to chat with her and asked to pray with her before we departed our ways at the Atlanta airport. She began to cry and at the end of the prayer explained to me how scared she has been about going home and that now that she has accepted Jesus into her heart she’s going back filled with nothing but love and compassion. I don’t share this story to take any credit for what took place. I share this story because God is still good. Even amidst a hurricane evacuation he is still faithful. I woke up this morning and hit my knees praying for the lord to reveal himself to me in a refreshing way and to wreck any plans I had in store. Man oh man did he do that. What a God we serve. Thankful for my new friend Tammy. May never see her again on this earth but heaven will be a sweet place for a reunion!! Hurricane Matthew
Currently on track for hitting Haiti hard late tonight. Wayne was scheduled to fly into Port Au Prince this afternoon, but due to some obvious weather issues, his flight has been rescheduled for Wednesday afternoon. Most of our leadership team is currently in the states, and it’s been difficult to watch this storm develop knowing we won’t be there to help should things go badly on campus, or in the city. While Wayne is there, his main objective will be to touch base with the staff and leadership, and help host a team that comes in at the end of October. Tonight as a large storm came over Haiti I was reminded of how incredibly blessed I really am. As the rain was falling and the wind was blowing my heart broke for the people of this nation. So many are living in tents and homes that really have no protection against these natural storms. I never realized how much I take for granted the roof over my head. Lord, my prayer as I return home in a week is that I never lose sight of the convictions and lessons you’ve laid on my heart this summer. Thank you for relentlessly pursuing me.
This last week has been the hardest week of the summer yet. A roller coaster week of emotions. A week filled with disruptions right and left. A week filled with pain, confusion, frustration, and chaos. Yet in the midst of all this, God gently reminded me of his limitless love and grace. Creation was once chaos, and God spoke it into order, and yet I think that my God can’t put my chaotic life into order. Silly me for thinking that I can play the role of “God” in my own life when I want things to go my way. I firmly believe God is using this time for me to completely surrender to him, as I rightfully should. I don’t deserve his love, yet he showers me with it daily.
Today, I began to feel more at peace in the middle of the chaos and as I sat on the top of a mountain with this little one my heart broke. A simple reassurance overwhelmed me. My purpose and vision was made clear again.
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