I had read five chapters of Katie Davis' book Kisses From Katie when it hit me, this is why I do it. Why I have to take vacations to America and why the term "home" has become completely relevant to my current location. It's the reason why I sleep on a bunk bed and eat dinner with 100 people every night. The opportunity for teenagers to come to this beautiful country and have a "Katie experience" is worth it. Katie's book is a memoir of here life-changing missions trip to Uganda and everything that God has done through her in the past few years. While expresses her love for Uganda even through the difficulties she says

“I want to be challenged endlessly. I want to be taught by those I teach, and I want to share God's love with people who otherwise might not know it. I want to work so hard that I end every day filthy and too tired to move. I want to make some kind of difference, no matter how small, and I want to follow the calling God has placed on my heart. I want to give my life away, to serve the Lord with each breath. At the end of the day, no matter how hard, I want to be right here in Uganda.”

I cam back to Australia afraid that I wasn't doing enough to change the world; to reduce the number of orphans or hungry people. But by reading the stories of a twenty-something American girl in Uganda I've been reminded that for now, I have been called to this. I have been given the privilege of disciplining passionate teenagers to experience Jesus and go and love and feed and clothe his children. This July I have been given the opportunity to be a staff member for the Classic Discipleship Training School (DTS) which is running along side our Creative DTS. This is my heart for our potential students. As they begin to apply for the DTS, the cry of Katie's heart is what I pray over each of their hearts. This is my ministry. To see broken and passive vessels be refilled with the Spirit of God and long to be in His will for their life, no matter where that takes them. In that way, I am changing the world. I am equipping, disciplining and sending out the people who will adopt the orphans and feed the hungry. I will love them and they will love others.

While God has been moving greatly in my life and teaching me more then I thought I could handle I have also been learning a lot about the Australian government. About a week ago, through a series of misunderstandings and lack of communications, I was informed that my current visa had expired and had to rush to Sydney to explain myself to immigrations and apply for my next visa. Long story short, I was given a “Bridging Visa” that allows me to live legally within Australia until my pending application is put in the right hands and approved. However, while I'm on this visa I am not able to do any form of work. Sadly, preparing for the upcoming DTS, participating in Youth Street and many other of my daily task are not allowed. To be honest, I left the Immigration building feeling defeated and close to tears. It seemed so unfair. Why would God allow me regain my passion for DTS and become so excited to be back in the office only to have it taken away only a few days later. I haven't gotten an answer yet but I have come to understand that God is always ready to use hard circumstances for good. Rather then letting these next few weeks be filled with anxiety and frustration, I plan to fill them with prayer and reading and discipleship and an attitude ready to serve. These weeks will not be a waist but a time of preparing the soil for the seeds God desires to plant in my life and in my future students lives. Prayer for a quick grant of my visa and no need for medical checks would be greatly appreciated.

Much love,                                    

Hannah 

Made it

Four airplanes, 

forty two hours, 

three Cokes, 

one train,

two bags, 

one book, 

three babies crying,

three meals,

one missed flight,

two swollen ankles,

and I've made it safely back to this amazing country. 

Thanks for keeping me in your prayers and thoughts. 

Romance

Recently I have found a renewed love for BBC's Time Period Dramas. Movies such as Pride and Prejudice, Downton Abbey and Cranford have reminded me of how much I love to sit at my computer with a bowl of ice cream and watch as the drama of life in England in the 1800's unfolds. Yes, this drama may take three to six long hours of dialog and overly dramatic situations to finally end, but they always do end well. 

I love to watch Mary and Elizabeth quietly struggle against cultural traditions and Miss Mattie fight the never ending stream of gossip that serves as entertainment. But what I love most of all is seeing the hero and heroine, who have been at odds the entire saga, finally recognize their deep love for one another and confess their feelings no matter the cost. The man lays down his fortune for the girl with no dowry or the lady chooses love over security. Whatever the obstacle, their confession is always made in a pure, beautiful and sometimes wordy monologue. The man or woman will pure out their true feelings and they will lean in for a single motionless kiss that indicates that the movie is soon over and love has yet again conquered all. 


I'm not sure what it is about the movies that captivates me to the point of staying up late and blogging about them. Maybe its the dresses and way of life. Maybe its the simplicity of William turning to Fanny after knowing her for a month and saying "Fanny, I love you. Will you be my wife?" Or Mattie's simple but strong saying "the answer is love. It is the final word." Maybe its that good always wins. Or maybe, just maybe, its that these movies remind me of how romantic God is. 

God created romance, so naturally he would be the best. In the book Black by Ted Dekker, the characters refer to their relationship with God as "the great romance". In the bible God speaks more boldly and beautifully then any movie character. In what book or drama do you hear "Do not be afraid, for I have ransomed you. I have called you by name; you are mine."Isaiah 43:1 He couldn't hide his immense love for us when He wrote an entire chapter in the Bible about a couple madly in love that represents what he feels for us. I don't even have to mention the fact that He was so in love with us that he died for our freedom. 

My nine year old sister asked today why everything was always about boys and girls and being in love. We had a really cool conversation that got me thinking about all this. As we road in the car and talked about it we would listen to the radio and in Maggie's words, "see what the songs would tell us." They all told us the same thing. Girls, be like this and he'll love you like this and you'll feel like this. Or fall in love just to fall back out and feel like this. 

We all know that we live in a broken world but at the heart of the brokenness is a place that still longs for what we were created for. Our desire for romance and perfect relationship only reinforces the fact that God created us for more and we know it, and blindly fight for it everyday. Yes, the songs that were on the radio were horrible and they affect our youth in a negative way by they also scream for something more, something better. 

As I explained all of this on a nine-year-old level I was struck with the thought that we have something amazing. As Christians, we hold the answers to those pleas for help. We know why people search for the perfect someone to fill that void and we have the answer. Its easier to share what Christ did for us when we realize that everyone wants what we have, even if they don't know it. 

Just some thoughts as I continue to discover what being Christ looks like. 

Share Back Night

                 You're Invited 

What: A night of coffee, fellowship and hearing from me about my past year and the one to come. 

When: Thursday, January 5th 

Time: 7pm to 8pm 

Where: Java Journey Cafe 

2149 North Center Street, Hickory, NC

I only stumbled upon this song a few weeks ago but it seems to be God's theme song for me throughout 2011. 

I have learned a lot this year about God's character. 


His desire and ability to fight for us


His caring nature 


The value He puts on our hearts 


His grace that covers every good and bad thing we do




I love my relationship with God because it is ever changing and still has the ability to carry me through anything. 


So here's to 2012 and all the wonderful adventures we will walk through and what we will gain once we reach the other side. 

Happy New Year

It's not New Year's Eve but I have the same motivation and fears of failure about this blog that our list of resolutions gives us on January 1st. 


As I've read over my past post and mourned the fact that my last entry was in February, I've chosen to jump into a new phase of blogging rather then continuing to avoid that ever present "new post" button.  


As much as I hate to admit it, I am totally freaked out by social networking. Facebook, Twitter, Blogger, Skype. I have 'em all but rarely do I visit them let alone post something or talk to someone. 


I'm not sure what it is that makes me think up username after username just to neglect it out there in cyber space. Maybe it's the idea that it's new and confusing or that my life's too boring or maybe I'm just lazy. Whatever the reason, it really doesn't matter anymore. I have resolved to not be beaten by a silly computer any longer. 


So here I am, making a New Years resolution in December. I will post something on this blog twice a month. Thoughts, whats going on, photos, things that inspire me, anything as long as it's something. 


Yes, I'm still freaked out but I'm also excited to share my life with you. Give feed back, subscribe, shoot me an email. I love to hear from people and it helps me to remember I'm not talking to a wall. 


So here it is, my first post of this new year of blogging. 


Happy New Year blog readers, life's too short to not at least write some of it down for the world to see.  

Cheers, Hannah 

K Mart, Joy and April DTS

I thought I would begin this extremely over due update with a story. Yesterday, God woke me up with the idea of spending the day with Him. I liked that idea, even though I could have thought of ten other things that needed to be done and five people I would have loved to hang out with, I really wanted to hang out with God. We decided on going to the mall to buy things for my room. Due to lack of transport and boldness on my part we had to settle for walking to K mart. After enjoying a long quiet time and cold glass of Ginger Green Tea I set out on my way. Trip outfit; floral sun dress, sunnies and flip flops. Trip soundtrack; The Temper Trap. I was set. The music set a quick paced so I made it to K Mart in record timing.  Three shelves, cream curtains, 79 printed photos, two clocks, and an hour and a half later, I walked out of K Mart a proud shopper. After packing all those things and the other random items collected in a backpack, I tucked my selves under one arm and my clocks under the other and headed home. In my opinion, a one and a half mile walk up hill practically carrying my weight in home decor does not sound like good way to spend thirty minutes but, for some reason I didn't mind. As I walked I listened to upbeat music and laughed at the thought of how funny I looked. As I crossed the bridge over the train tracks I was suddenly filled with uncontainable joy. I could barely control myself and practically skipped the rest of the way up the hill.

Now, that might seem like the most anticlimactic and uneventful story ever, and it sort of is but I have a reason for sharing it. In communication I desire to be real with you. I want you to see and understand where I am coming from and what I am struggling with. This stories point is to display a struggle in my life and Gods infinite grace and glory. I have been struggling with a lack of God given joy for the past few months and this story describes the very moment I was once again filled to the top. This story is an example of the life I desire to live. One that is infused with God at every turn. One that is never lacking in miracles and God doing big things, even while running errands. I hope this will encourage you to seek God in every moment. Ask Him to show up and be expectant.

This last month has been filled with provision, excitement, home improvement, refreshment and heat. Over Christmas I was asked to pray about staffing the April DTS since I was not going to be able to staff the January school. After a week of prayer and encouraging conversation I confirmed that I would be staffing the April DTS 2011. Since then I have spent my mornings and afternoons in the office recruiting new students and pastorally caring for accepted ones. I have loved working on the school and feel such a great sense of ownership as a staff member now.

Our base celebrated Australia day together at the beach and has begun to have a BBQ in the backyard every Friday. I love the sense of family we are creating.

One of the biggest things to happen for me in January has been the completion of my room. I have been living in Lewis House for four months and two weeks ago I officially began to work on getting settled in my new home. I painted my wall with the help of two of my friends. Gray-blue and teal were my colors of choice and I love them together. I worked a whole weekend on painting my bunk bed and mirror and finding other furniture to put in my room. This last Thursday was the day that it all come together. Pictures are on the wall, clothes on hangers and furniture in place. I now love to hang out in my room and love having people over to sit on my couch and have a good conversation over tea. I feel truly settled for the first time since moving here and it is such a relief.


February and March are a bit of a mystery right now. Other then recruiting students I do not know what they are going to hold and I am excited to find out. Please pray for wisdom as I plan for the school and prepare for the students to come. I am so excited and scared out of my mind at the same time.

I will be posting pictures of my room and happenings over the last month on my blog. I would love you to check them out. http://hannahgreywilliams.blogspot.com/

Blessings until later,

Hannah