Photos

6 people+ two weeks of luggage+one train seat= loads of fun

STS Lunch

Phase1, such a crazy amazing gourp

Working at the office! Yay office work! 

Learning how to do a one-on-one

Train into Sydney 

The one and only, Starbucks! 

Youth Street Christmas 

Dance Rehearsals

Camping! 

Cooling off in the lake! 

Christmas Morning Breakfast 

Walking to Church

Home Alone, sugar cookies, and friends-best

Christmas Eve BBQ

Slip-n-slide! 

CRAZY! 

Santa paid a visit, he was from Hawaii.

Christmas Dinner

Beach Day for Boxing Day! So fun! 

Merry Christmas From YWAM Newie! 

Learning, Camping, Dancing and Christmas

                                                                                                                   December, 25, 2010

I have been back in Australia for almost three months and, even though my room does not show it, I have settled to the fact that Australia is now my second home. I can't believe that my second home is going to be without snow and cold weather on Christmas day. I also can't believe that my Christmas will be spent enjoying a BBQ, slip-n-slide, and day at the beach; but it will and I am excited. I'm going to miss everything about Christmas in North Carolina and I have to admit, I have shed a few tears over that fact. 

The past few weeks have been such a whirl wind. After I finished my Staff Training School I spent a week getting back into working in the kitchen in the mornings and working in the Registrar Team at the office in the afternoons. With time I became more comfortable with the jobs I was placed in and for that week I was able to walk out in confidence in my roles. At the end of that week, me and four other staff members from my base left for Sydney to do a Phase 1. Phase 1 is a two week training program that equips you to staff a DTS in YWAM. So, for two weeks I lived at a different base in a room with nine other girls. I went to class every morning and afternoon and each evening my time was filled with homework for the next day. I was able to get to know people from four other YWAM bases and become better acquainted with the staff from mine. The lectures were stretching and full of information I had never heard before. I have learned so much about how a DTS functions and the purposes behind everything we did on my school. I learned the importance of being intentional, how to teach a skill and assess a student on that skill, and how to properly do a one-on-one. I learned the importance of learning styles and ways to helps each person preform their best by simply providing snacks or short breaks and setting the room up right. So, while all of this was being mentally processed God was also speaking to me a lot. He was speaking about my value and His heart for me here in Newcastle. He was speaking to me about honoring leaders and being qualified for a task simply because He has chosen me. He spoke to me about sacrifice and becoming settled where He has me. Between God and Judith Knight, our teacher, I was barely able to keep up. 

When those amazing and hard two weeks came to an end we went back to a house full of excited DTSers who had just come back from outreach. The next day I was apart of a Christmas concert put on by our youth ministry, Youth Street. I am still apart of the Dance Team and our team preformed two dances during the evening. That whole day was spent getting ready, having rehearsals, making food, working in the Cafe and preforming. It was an incredibly rewarding day but beyond exhausting. I am so proud of the Crew or teens that really stepped up and preformed to the best of their ability no matter how silly they might have felt. I love seeing Crew given an opportunity to show off their amazing skills and going for it. 

The day after the Christmas Concert was Base Retreat. Base Retreat is a four day camping trip that our entire base goes on. We all pack ourselves into vans and head to the same beautiful camping grounds I camped at on my DTS. For fours days we live together in tents and eat our meals out of tin plates and listen to amazing lectures and cool off in the refreshing lake. For four days we are given the opportunity to relate to one another and God in a unique way. Away from the distractions of the world we are able to value one another and intimately hang out with our creator and Dad. We had a speaker from the Townsville base named Ken Mulligan who spoke every morning and a few of the evenings. He spoke on being a servant and following God through anything and not becoming and remaining offended easily and much more. Everything that Ken spoke on was exactly what I needed and it caused me to become so uncomfortable that I had to act on what I heard. I love that kind of teaching, the kind that not only inspires me but also motivates me into action. During those four day God once again began to speak to me about things I didn't really want to address. He continued to poke me until he gained my attention and I allowed Him to work on me. 

I have been home for a week now and it has been one of the hardest weeks of my YWAM career. This week has been filled with inward struggles and the taking on of new task. The fact that I will not be home for Christmas began to sink in and I had no intention of missing the holiday season so much. Everything, from hearing Christmas music to smelling a pine tree make me tear up and miss being home even more. More then anything I want to be in my house with the Christmas tree lit up getting ready to bundle up and go pick out a Christmas tree to bring home and decorate. The beautiful thing about living life with Jesus is that He becomes everything you need, even holiday spirit. Even though I miss everything so much I have such a peace in the fact that I am exactly where I need to be and that God is right along side me.

 I pray that your Christmas will be filled with joy and laughter and family and blessings. Choose to cherish every moment , even through the stress. Thank you so much for being apart of my life. It is such a blessing to have you as apart of my extended family making me feel so loved and supported from the other side of the world. 

Merry Christmas, 

Hannah 

Prayer Request: 

My Working Holiday Visa expires on the 11th of January. I have made a mad dash to get everything done and sent off. If you could please pray that my application ends up in the right hands and gains a swift approval that would be great . 

That I will hear God clearly on what His vision is for me in this next season. 

My roommate, Ashley Swinney, is still in the States due to lack of funds. Please pray for breakthrough in finances so she can come join me in our room. 

Financial needs: 

$100 for a small air cooler to lessen the unbarable heat this summer.

Monthly Support for:

Laundry-$16 a month 

Food-$40 a month

Clothing-$40 a month

I now have a pay pal account. It is a quick and easy way to donate right to my personal account. www.paypal.com 

1. Go to the web site

2. Click on Send Money 

3. Click Send Money Online 

4. There are directions from there

Feel free to ask me any questions you have about this and anything else.

Cake, Christmas and Everything Between

A week ago today was my birthday. I am now nineteen years old, and no I do not feel any older yet, unless waking up with a crick in my neck means something.
My day was spent being celebrated by my friends here in Australia and in America. I ate cheesecake twice and had an amazing ice cream cake that left me feeling very happy and way to full of sugar for my own good. This year was the first in eighteen years that I have not been at home to celebrate my day of birth. This year I did not wake up to my family charging into my room with breakfast and presents at an ungodly time, I did not get to have birthday hugs from my family, and I did not get to do my favorite thing in the world-eat dinner with my family and simply be loved on. As much as I hated the fact that life is changing so much I also got a chance to embrace the change in my life. I got to be sang to and hugged by Candace Braaten as I sat and ate an orange for breakfast, I got to be in the middle of my STS as they huddled around me and prayed blessing over me, I got to eat dinner with a whole house full of people that I love and treasure, now more then ever. Change is good, no matter how much it may hurt. I hate the hurt but I love the adventure and freedom of changing with God.
Oh Christmas. As it comes racing towards us, I simple can't get into the Christmas spirit. Last week I sat in the office and took a moment to listen to Michael Buble sing, I'll Be Home For Christmas. I turned it off as soon as I started to tear up, I have lost all desire to "get in the spirit". The house is slowly putting on it's Christmas outfit one sting of lights at a time. I'm not sure how I feel about sweating on Christmas, I don't think I like it but I'll let you know when the day comes. Speaking of Holiday's, how could I forget to mention Thanksgiving, which is my favorite holiday of the American holiday calender. Tomorrow will be Thanksgiving for my family and friends back home and I am determined not to let the day pass without some form of a Thanksgiving meal and finding a few people to share it with. Oh to have Turkey and stuffing and mashed potatoes...I really need to stop thinking about it.

Financial Information

Finances
This time around my finances are going to work like this. In order to enable my supporters gifts to be tax-deductible I have set up an account with a YWAM base in Tyler, TX. This base receives my donations and transfers them to my account.  In order for you to make a donation you have a few different options.  

1. Mailed Check. You can send a check made out to YWAM to Accounting Department, PO Box 3000, Garden Valley, TX 75771-3000. Note: It is very important that my name is nowhere on the check. Accounts can not process them if it is so simply put a separate note stating that the founds are going to Hannah Grey Williams in the envelope.

2. Bill Pay. A bill pay service is often provided by your bank and you can have them automatically send a check from your bank account to Tyler. In order to do this just contact your bank and find out that procedure. Note: You MUST put your full name and address on the check as well as put my name in the memo section.

3. Automatic Withdrawal/Credit Card Donation. To do either of these you can contact Julie Sinke at julie.sinke@ywamtyler.org and ask for the appropriate form to fill out.

Once again thank you so much for your support. If you have any questions please feel free to contact me!

November 11, 2010

 

Here is a bit of an update from this last crazy month. On the 28th of September, once again, I left my parents and sister Maggie standing in an airport terminal as I tearfully walked to an airplane. Leaving never gets easier and this time was just as hard as the last. From North Carolina I flew to Seattle Washington where I stayed for a week with my dear friend from DTS, Nicole. We spent the week catching up, eating great food, visiting with mutual friends and experiencing Seattle. Along with the Space Needle we visited Pike Place market, the very first Starbucks, saw the Seattle skyline by night and never stopped eating. After five days of tourist bliss I left for Newcastle, Australia. Twenty-four hours later I was, once again, ushered into my second home, Lewis House. I was greeted with familiar faces and hugs and laughter and was filled with a sense of peace. From the moment I walked back into my DTS home I new I was where God wanted me to be. The four months of questioning God's call were quickly forgotten as I found my way to my old DTS room (now my permanent staff room) and let out a sigh of relief.
My first week on base was a week of relaxing and getting settled. Because everyone on base was working or in class during the day I was able to spend most of my time with God. We went to the beach and on coffee dates and  He continued to stir my passion for teaching and discipline young people. By the end of the week I was itching for a job to do, something to keep me busy, and was put in charge of cooking lunch in the mornings and working in Training in the afternoons. In the mornings I would go to whatever meeting was being held and then, with my two fabulous helpers, proceeded to cook lunch for 70-80 people. In the afternoons I would go down to the office and work alongside the head of Registrar in the Training Department. Registrar is the part of the department that deals with new and potential students. We communicate through phone and email about DTS information, visa directions, travel details, and everything else that falls in between. I have loved learning how the system works and have also enjoyed the fact that we do not just hand out templates of information, we give pastoral care, pray for students, genuinely care for the people on the other end of the phone or email. It has changed my whole view of what an office job can look like and how we are able to bring God into everything we do. For three weeks I spent my time like this, along with reuniting with old friends and meeting new ones. Last week my Staff Training School began. This is a three week school of learning about our base, ourselves and how we fit here. We have leaders of our base speaking on work ethic, mentoring, and much more. We have also learned how to use our bases data base and took a strength finders test. We have two more weeks of lectures and other events which I am looking forward to.
When my Staff Training School ends I will start my three month provisional staff positions. During this time I will get the chance to work in two different ministries and choose the one I fit best in. God has been speaking to me about staffing a DTS in the near future so in order to be prepared for that task I will be attending a Phase 1 at the end of November. Phase 1 is a two week training program that is taking place in Sydney this year. It will train me in the things needed to staff a DTS as well as other leadership qualities. I am really excited to see what God does during those two weeks and to become better equipped to do what God called me to Australia for. The future, after all this, is looking pretty unclear at the moment, but God has been speaking to me from Deuteronomy 4 in the last few days. In that chapter God is talking to Israel about taking the land that he has prepared for them. God has been inviting me to move into the land he has prepared for me and I am mustering my courage to move forward and face the giants. I am very excited to see what God has for me in these upcoming months but I also love living in the moments that are flying by.
Every aspect of this last month has been stretching and, as hard as it is, I love it. From relationships and missing home, to purpose and finances, God has been calling me to a place of reckless abandonment and unnatural trust. Please continue to pray for peace and provision in these next months, they are greatly needed and I love having that form of support.

Until later (goodbye in Registrar language)

Hannah

Pray Request
My visa will go through quickly and be granted as soon as possible
That my faith in God's provision of my finances would not falter
That I will hear clearly from God the ministry I need to work with during my time here

Financial needs
Phase 1- $300 for transportation, training, housing, and food
Monthly support- I am still in need of consistent monthly support of $500.

Thank you so much for being apart of my God's ministry through me.

Be Inspired

I am watching Finger of God in my spare time. I pull it up on Youtube, and even though it takes 30 minutes to load one video it is well worth the wait. This is the passion that I desire to live in and commune with God through. I hope this stirs the same passion in you. Enjoy!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_d9fnWC3YBs

It's No Surprise

    Sometimes I feel like I should be in shock that I'm really back in Newcastle. Like it's some miracle that everything has worked out. And although it is a huge work of God that things have gone this smoothly, I don't think I should be blown away by the fact that God is being himself, a provider. God spoke his plan to me. He told me what he saw in my future and invited me to be apart of it and to be as excited about it as he is. So why is it that, as soon as I step away from the canvas God is painting called my life, and start looking at the facts, I begin to have daily mini freak outs? I choose to stress about the little things, freak about the big ones and confess to everyone that God is going to have to preform a BIG miracle in order for me to keep where he has me. Now, I do believe in miracles, I think they are amazing and get the goose bumps when I hear the stories just as much as the next person. So what is it that makes me believe that the anonymous donation or unreal deliverance is in a different category  from the paycheck that slipped into my account on time? I don't think God intended his miracles to be treated like prizes out of a slot machine. If we jump up and down three times and think of happy things you'll get what you want. Maybe you don't do that before you pray but I have totally found myself thinking before I prayer, "have I been in the word this week?, do I deserve this?, did I tithe this month?" On the surface I know that those things don't make God love or provide for me more but it does feel like it could help. I feel like God is viewed as this mystical being up in heaven that we have to please in order to receive a blessing. In the end we look like blind beggars feeling around for the perfect words and behavior to gain our gift. I don't want to think that way anymore.  God is a father so that means he loves to provide for us and he's God so he can give us anything he wants. I don't want to be shocked into a stupor the next time God comes through for me. He has told me his plans for me and I should be an expectant child awaiting the best of the best from him. That's what I want to be, my hands are open.

Still Clinging

       Tonight, as I sat in the hallway surrounded by my praying family, God gave me a vision. I saw myself as a small child in a pool learning to swim. You know the scene, the little kid has a death grip on her parents neck with her right arm, while at the same time desperately reaching for the swim instructor with her left. The mental struggle is written all over the child's face as she contemplates her options. One, she can choose safely and comfort and not do anything but cry and shiver until the lesson is over and she can go home. Two, she can choose to go for it and trust that the baby-talking instructor across from her will catch her like they say they will. Now, I don't know if this is what's going through a kid mind during a real swim lesson, more then likely their too freaked out to even think straight, but this is what I was thinking in my vision. As I sat there viewing this scene in my minds eye God began to speak to me. In His beautifully sweet way He said, "Hannah, you are the frightened kid, with your shaking limbs and quivering lip. You are caught between two forms of provision and protection. The parent represents your family and the comforts of home. The swim instructor represents Me and my comfort. These last few months have been the painful middle time. You have been testing the waters and giving half-hearted attempts at fully trusting me and totally letting go. This next adventure is your final effort. Your white knuckled fingers are slowing uncurling and both hands are desperately reaching for something to cling to. Hannah, I am the instructor. Cling to me, let your arms wrap themselves around me and never plan to let go." I can't stop thinking about this vision and its perfection in describing my struggle during these last weeks. Tomorrow I leave for Seattle, WA to stay with a friend before my flight to Australia on the 3rd of October. Tomorrow I choose to let go and cling to God like I never have before. I am so scared at times and I can not stand the thought of letting my family and comfort go, but at the same time I am beyond excited for the freedom awaiting me in my swim instructors arms.
With this new adventure looming in front of me prayer is greatly needed. Travel safety and peace that passes all understanding during my flight. Clarity during these next few months and an ever deepening intimacy with the Holy Spirit and His best friends. Continued peace over finances and full trust in the Creator of the Universe. I continually feel so blessed and supported by friends and family.  Thank you for taking part in this adventure with me. My steps are so confident because of the army of warriors who stand behind me. Until next time here's a thought from C.S. Lewis to think over.

God cannot give us a happiness and peace
apart from Himself, because it is not there.
There is no such thing. C. S. Lewis