Dearest Beloved
As Winnie the Pooh once said:
“When you are a Bear of Very Little Brain, and Think of Things, you find sometimes that a Thing which seemed very Thingish inside you is quite different when it gets out into the open and has other people looking at it.”
Which is what I thought when I expressed the thingish thing inside me in literary form in the following sentence:
“I feel called to be a missionary bringing healing to broken people and broken nations…and that is the reason that I’m going to Hawaii on the 5th of July.”
Allow me to analyse your possible thoughts right now:
Ah Kerri…you may say…I am deeply challenged by your self-sacrifice and surrender to follow the Lord into one of the darkest, most hostile places on earth. You will really be suffering for the Lord in such a place as Hawaii. Dearest Kerri, I have no hesitation or question in committing to supporting your journey to Hawaii through prayer and finance.
I know. It’s a really tough call. But you gotta trust me on this one – I actually feel like God is calling me to Hawaii at this time in my life! Let me explain:
There is a Youth With a Mission school in Kona, Hawaii called “Fire and Fragrance: School of Revival and Reformation”. If that title doesn’t sound deliciously enticing, then I don’t know what does! I think the vision of this school is summed up in this quote from their web page:
“We aim to establish a missions platform on the “fire” of ministering to the heart of the Lord in worship and prayer and the “fragrance” of changing lives with the loving, powerful presence of God.”
Basically – the school is all about:
· Ministry to the heart of the Lord -- Validating worship and prayer as central to our relationship with the Lord individually and corporately.
· Missional communities -- Basing life around God’s presence and deep relationship with each other. Our fundamental belief is that the 1st commandment and the 2nd commandment lived out in community will inevitably lead to fulfilment of the Great Commission
· Explosive outreach -- Releasing the passion and heart of God received in His presence to individuals and every sphere of society through supernatural outreach marked by love, signs and wonders, and salvations.
· Authentic discipleship -- Raising up an army of believers with fiery zeal, a life based in the absolute authority of the Bible, a radical devotion to purity, and uncompromising integrity
· Global impact -- Marked by the burning heart of the Lord to show his love to every nation on earth. The willingness to enter into great sacrifice to see the gospel reach the hardest and darkest places on earth.
I heard those squeals of excitement as you read that!! I know, you wanna do the school with me now! DOESN’T THIS SOUND SO FREAKING AMAZING! Now, can you see why I’m going to Hawaii?
And the best thing is that Hawaii is only half the story!
In Hawaii I will go through three months of discipleship and teaching after which there is a 2 month outreach. I am not sure of the location yet as it could be anywhere in the world. I have found during previous schools that the outreach period is often the most impacting time as all the previous weeks of teaching and trainingcome to life as you impact the nations with the power and presence of God.
Over the past couple of years and especially in the last few months, God has been revealing more and more of his heart and his vision for my life. I am super excited about it! WOO! In order to achieve the things God has placed on my heart I am going to pursue a university degree in Psychology hopefully starting next year. However, I feel very certainly that before I enter into the world of university I need to receive mentorship and be equipped to carry the fire of revival and Gods love into every community and place where I set my feet – through signs and wonders, the different gifts of the Holy Spirit, worship and intercession. I am certain that these next few months in Hawaii and on outreach will have a massive impact on where and how I am able to be used by God not just during my years in university, but also in the grand scheme of my life.
So. There’s my heart on a platter for you.
Now, the part we have all been waiting for…in order to achieve this dream I have to take a big leap of faith unlike I’ve possibly taken before. That is, in the area offinances. I am generally scared of that word. But lately I’ve been learning abouthumility, interdependence and trusting God. I am generally scared of all of these words too! But I would like to ask you, if you are able, to join forces with me in seeing a roundabout figure of $7,000 - $8,000 come in. Whether this be committing to intercede for me during the next 5 months and/or support me financially (even just $10 makes a big difference)
I think I will actually be literally eternally grateful!
Many words have come into my mind as I considered this step, including the word “impossible” but this verse has kept me in good stead and I hope it encourages you all heaps as well:
Proverbs 3:5-6
Lean on, trust in, and be confident in the Lord with all your heart and mind and do not rely on your own insight or understanding.
I’m excited.
I love and appreciate you all (and no, I’m not just saying that to sugar you up hahaha! I genuinely am incredibly thankful to have you all in my life!!). If you wanna chat or know more about all this jazz just give me a holla! I’d be stoked.
XOX - Kerri
PS – check out the website for more info:
PPS – check this out if you wanna have a good laugh:
(I didn’t quite follow this format…but some similarities!)
PPPS – I guess I better give you some info on how to donate if you’re keen…so here ya go:
By Check
Kerri Lewis
Fire and Fragrance School Fees
Fire and Fragrance II
University of the Nations
75-5851 Kuakini Hwy Box 429
Kailua-Kona HI 96740
Credit Card
https://apply.uofn.edu/OnlineAppDocs/OnlinePayment.cfm
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