Update

Hi! This upcoming Monday marks the one month mark of my stay in Fiji! Though only having been here a month, I feel like I have known the Fijians for years. I know I talk about the people in Fiji in almost every blog post, but I honestly cannot talk about them enough. The people here have stolen my heart with their kindness, friendship, and pure love for Jesus and His word. Along with the people, there have been many things about living in Fiji that I love and that have helped me grow in my walk with the Lord. Before coming to Fiji, I had no clue what God was going to do in my heart. I was so amazed at the transformation He brought to my heart in Kona, and I was confident that He was going to continue to amaze me in Fiji. Once I got here, I was firstly very culture shocked. I remember getting to our home in Savusavu and for the first time in a long time, asking God what the heck He was doing. I was so used to my lifestyle in Kona that I was worried that being in Fiji would lead me to less breakthrough and revelations of God's plan for my life. It took me a few days of being here for me to just sit on the beach by myself and say to God, “I don't know what your plan is for the next three months, but I'm ready for whatever You have for me. You have made me ready.”. Although it didn't take me long to feel at home here and to fall in love with these people, it did take me up until this past week to realize how strong God is truly making me. I believe that God calls us into different seasons at different points in our lives. Being in Kona was amazing because I was in a place in which I was surrounded with amazing friends that intentionally poured into my life constantly, and always pointed me back to God. I didn't have to go far if I needed an encouragement or word of advice, because they were in everyone around me. God really did bless me with an amazing family of believers who I will call my family for the rest of eternity. Once I got to Fiji however, that community wasn't as easily accessible. I didn't have all of my friends constantly asking me how I was doing or classes everyday that gave me other people's insight and an easy way to reach God. I at first felt lost without my comfort zone that became YWAM. I was in constant prayer just asking God to give me the strength I needed and to continue to remind me that He is the only one that I can't live without. This past week I realized the strength that God has instilled in me. I know that He used my time in Kona to prepare me for my time in Fiji. All of the breakthrough and guidance I received during that time was not for that season, it was for the seasons to come. The amazing thing about DTS is that it will set you on the Lord's path for the rest of your life if you allow it to. If you leave your hands open to what God has for you, He will fill them with everything you need. By leaving my hands wide open during my time with YWAM, He has shown me how to solely depend on Him for everything. He allowed me to be taught and ministered so that I could pour into others as others have poured into me. This outreach is just the start of my life of walking with Jesus. I am finally at the point of taking everything God has been teaching me and using it to show Jesus to others in a real way. The life of a Christian is not led for that Christian, but for everyone else around them. We are called to use our gifts and our revelations to bless others. Now I am not saying that I am done being taught; because I believe that no one ever stops learning. The season that I find myself in right now is a season of giving. Giving others what the Lord has given me. It makes me realize why I want to be a missionary in the first place: I see the life that I don't deserve but that the Lord has given me anyways, and I want everyone else to find that same everlasting life because I know how amazing it is. There is really nothing better I want to dedicate my life to. These are just some of the revelations that God has been giving me. This isn't really an update on much that's been happening here, but I think it's pretty important to share. So just a recap: We are always in different seasons in our walks with God. But, in those seasons there are always times for growth and for sharing that growth with others. Christ is for ourselves, and for everyone else around us! Now to update on things that have been happening with the team and with ministry here in Fiji! We have been doing a lot of door to door evangelism lately. There are many Muslim and Hindu homes here in Savusavu, so we have been visiting some and praying for people and encouraging them. One cool experience while visiting a Hindu home: we were invited in a home by an older woman and greeted so nicely. After some small talk she allowed us to pray for her family and for healing for migraines that she gets constantly. After praying for her, her husband comes out from the next room and immediately asks us to pray for his leg that has been injured for over forty years. We then prayed for him and blessed the house, said our goodbyes and moved on to the next home. A few days later one of our contacts, Walter, was walking downtown and met that same man on the streets. He told our contact that his leg has been feeling much better and that he has been able to walk long distances since we prayed for him! He then asked Walter if we could be praying for healing on his arm as well. He told Walter that we should “pray hard!” and that we must come back and visit his house again soon! This testimony really amazes me because this is not a family of believers, yet their faith is so strong. I have realized since being here that even though most Hindus and Muslims do not believe that Jesus is Lord, they know that our God has more power than any other god they serve. They are excited for us to pray for them because they know the power and authority God has over his creation. This reminds me of the Proverb that says that “the fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom”. I know that God wants to reveal all of himself to these people because He loves them just as much as He loves anyone else. This week ahead is going to so much fun. Our team has gotten the opportunity to preform the Everything Skit at the Secondary School here in Savusavu, this Wednesday for their teacher appreciation celebration. This school has about nine hundred students, all of whom will be attending this celebration! We have the opportunity to share the gospel with over nine hundred students! That is pure favor from the Lord! We are so excited and expectant of what the Lord is going to do through this. Please be praying for this and for the students and staff at this school to see the message of Jesus through the skit. Thursday is also going to be a fun day, as it is Diwali. Diwali is an Indian holiday, somewhat like the American holiday of Halloween. All Indians celebrate by making traditional sweets and giving them out to people as they visit house to house. There is also a huge celebration at night with people setting off fireworks and celebrating the holiday. Our team has gotten multiple invitations to different houses, so please keep us in your prayers as this is a great opportunity for the love of Jesus to be shared! I know that this is a rather long update but there has been so much going on here! Please continue to keep my team, myself, and our ministries in your prayers. There is so much power in the unity of prayer! Please email me with any comments or words you get for myself or my team! God bless, Mackenzie