Snorkeling, swimming, coffee by the beach… but YWAM Kona’s not all just fun and games! It’s been 9 days since I’ve arrived to the big island in pursuit of God’s calling to Northeast Asia. Maybe it doesn’t make sense to have been sent to Hawaii, and honestly I felt pretty bad sometimes when asking for help to go to such an envied destination. But the truth is that I would’ve asked for help anywhere God wanted me, and it just happens that He wanted me here in Kona where loving Korean classmates were waiting for me.
As I share my journey with you through these blogs, Instagram, and other media, I can’t say it enough: I want to share it with you. What I’m doing, what I’m seeing, what I’m even tasting! What God is saying to me and what touches my heart. Will you accept my invitation to come along? 🙂 See the difference that’s made within me and those around me because you’ve chosen to support, pray, and encourage me!! Engage with me, get involved if you want to. Share with me what you’re feeling! We’re in this together!
So how’s it been here in YWAM Kona for 9 days? Our schedule is FULL. We’re not just here to be blessed, but to bless others. YWAMers are obligated to serve back to our campus at least 10 hours a week, so our DTS has been assigned to Cafeteria Duty! So when I’m not in class learning about God’s heart for Northeast Asia, my identity in God, and connecting with my classmates through small groups and one-on-one time, I’m in the cafeteria with them sweating and working hard to give back. Serving is part of the call, you know? It’s humbling and rewarding (even if it makes my feet hurt!)
Academically, there’s books to read and reports/journals to write. There’s also worship in both Korean and English, which is so powerful because even though I don’t understand what I’m saying in Korean, the Lord understands and He delights in me! He delights in me trying to worship through another avenue of culture! How cool, eh??
Here’s a few things God has already shown me since being here. Even if I feel nothing, God is still doing something. I’ve known this for a while, but it’s very real right now when I choose to worship even if I’m not riding a wave of intense love for Jesus. I don’t have to feel emotion to worship or to know God is working on my heart!
The Lord also gave me a dream a few nights into YWAM, of a tsunami coming for me. I was so terrified and tried to climb up the beach-sandy hill, but I couldn’t! And when the wave reached me, only the tip covered me like a thin sheet of a paper—like a lion’s tongue licking my face. I asked the Holy Spirit what He meant by this dream, and He told me it was His glory coming for me and though it looks overwhelming, to not be afraid. He said He would come upon me only what I could handle, what He’s made me ready for. Later I learned that inside the wave I could see a whole new world full of fish and reefs that I had never seen before and it gave me great joy!
I vulnerably share this with you so that you’ll see what God is doing in me way over here in Hawaii. Far from home and the comforts of my family, I am being stretched more than I ever have been. All I can do is trust God while I study, clean dishes, pray where I may end up on outreach, and watch the ocean waves from time to time. I trust God while I attempt a few sentences in Korean, I trust God while I try to sleep with 9 other girls in our dorm, I trust God when I step into the oceans to look at the fish He made, I trust God when I ask Him to reveal the meaning of my dreams. I’m not great at it, but I have a lot of opportunity to try.
This is my first update for you! I can’t wait to write you again. Let’s see what happens next, yeah?
Signed,
Allison the Adventurer
