It’s T-3 days until my adventure begins in YWAM Kona! Here’s how it’s been preparing for a mission’s trip overseas to Hawaii and Northeast Asia. (And a few Q&A’s at the bottom!)
Usually I would like at least 6 month’s heads up before being called out onto the mission’s field–in fact, a year would be ideal considering YWAM’s Northeast Asia DTS is a whopping $8,000. But it turns out, God gave me about 2 month’s heads up from “You have my blessing to go,” to fundraising 8 grand. Absolutely insane. Saving money was not on God’s agenda for this spontaneous opportunity I guess, but rather He wanted to–as the youngins say–flex His provision over me.
Funny thing is, when I was accepted to the program, I felt that God would send a few people to generously support me in large ways. I can’t say that my trip is fully funded right at this moment, but I can say that this very thing has indeed happened; the overwhelming generosity of everyone around me, from strangers to lifetime family and friends, have funded over 60% of my tuition before I’ve even stepped foot on the plane to the Big Island.
I am floored at this! To be so believed in, trusted, valued, and invested into, to be God’s hands and feet across the world…wow. Thank you. Though I’m human and make mistakes, I want you to know that I will bring Jesus’s love to people who may have never even heard of Him, all the way in Asia! I’ll pray for the sick and lame and dying–I’ll take that risk, whether something miraculous happens at that moment or not. I’ll use everything I’ve learned from my home church, from Southland, from Bethel, and from YWAM to do great things for Jesus. So thank you, everyone, for sending me!!
Now I have 3 days until I arrive in YWAM Kona. I can hardly believe it, but maybe by the time I get on a plane, I’ll start feeling like it’s really happening! So just to update everyone, I’ve made up some fun Q&A’s!
What are your expectations for YWAM’s lecture phase?
I’ll be studying evangelism and God’s word with a bunch of people from Korea so that’s super awesome! I have a feeling I’ll see a new side of God after spending a few months learning with them. I hope that during our time together, I’ll be able to make a lot of friends who will become lifetime buddies no matter how far apart we’ll be!
What are your expectations for YWAM’s outreach phase?
I have no idea where I could end up for my outreach. Japan, Korea, China, Mongolia, Russia?! I DON’T KNOW. But what I do know is that God has a whole pile of gifts He’s going to give me along the way, and I earnestly pray that He’ll show me why I love Asia so much and what He wants me to do about it. On outreach, I have no less expectations than healing the sick and saving the lost. Though I do expect my English to often be totally useless 🙂
What do you think you’ll do after YWAM?
Yikes.
Are you still studying Korean?
Yeah! Not as frequently the last two months (gosh I wonder why, Lord?), but I’m pretty stoked to practice with my roommates soon! Hopefully I’ll come out of YWAM with a better understanding of the Korean language and, who knows? Maybe it’ll bring someone to Jesus on outreach. That would be worth all the hours put into studying it, for sure.
So…that’s where I’m at! If you want to follow along the adventures in YWAM, you can subscribe by email here. Until I get the chance to write you on my first experiences in YWAM Kona, you can also follow the adventures with the hashtag #AdventuresofAllison!
Signed,
Allison the Adventurer
