MON-ROE North Carolina

Hey everyone!

As you can imagine the first week and a half here at YWAM has been more then a little bit crazy. My days rather then starting when ever I choose to roll out of bed now start promptly at 6:30am. Because of this I am now in bed around 9pm. Haha I feel like a grandma, but I get so much sleep it is wonderful! I fell into this schedule really easy because the night before I came I only had 2 hours or so of sleep, so I went to bed early.

The day I left Dad, Mom and the boys took me to the airport. Josiah's (6 year old) final goodbye was hand on his hip and a peace sign saying, "See ya" then hopping in the van. I'm not going to lie, there were tears. However the Lord was good and gave me people to talk to on the plane. I Skyped the family Sunday for the first time and it was so good to see all of their faces! Josiah, of course, was hogging the screen. If he couldn't have his face in it he was putting his arm in, or his stuffed dog. Everyone here is jealous of my wonderful family. I have to say they have reason. ;)

So, you might be wondering, what does a DTS look like? What does it consist of? Let me tell YOU.
I live in this big Victorian house with eighteen other girl students and four staff. There is a house across the lot where the boys live, and the rest of the staff are in houses throughout the neighborhood.

The first week was a time of developing relationships and getting to know one another through; working, having fun together and worship/prayer together. The first morning I woke up expecting classes and going right into the heart of what DTS was. Boy was I wrong! I woke up at 6:30am and made myself all cute went to breakfast at 6:45am. After having an hour of quiet time with Jesus I found out that I was going to be doing YARD WORK! Since a skirt isn't good for that I found myself walking back up the stairs to change. After changing I headed outside and started digging trench. Yes, digging, with a shovel - clumsy, tends to hurt myself just walking- digging. Here is the thing, I was pretty good at it, the soil is so hard, its basically clay. So as is the saying, "necessity is the mother of invention" I found it quite helpful to jump onto the shovel, hold on and shake it back and forth. As I was doing this I looked over at my new friend Allison, saw her doing the same and I couldn't help but laugh. We looked ridiculous. After digging a trench we planted pansies and rose bushes! I have never been stuck by thorns so many times. I laughed so much that day, I made a wonderful friend I already treasure so much, and I slept like a baby that night!

Later on in the week we were rewarded for all of our hard work. The YWAM base has two fifteen passenger vans so we all loaded up. Everyone laughed when I told them that a fifteen passenger is what I learned how to drive in. The vans pulled up to Krispy Kreme and I had my first ever hot doughnut! Then the staff took us to see Kung Fu Panda 2. I loved it. We were the only ones in the theater, so we were able to laugh as much as we wanted.

Also during the first week we had intercession and prayer times together. We had days of sharing our testimonies and asking the Lord's heart for each other, as well as what He has for us as a group. Every one has been so open with each other, because of this we are all so close already.

Our first Sunday

Sunday afternoon lounge time

Our second week started what I thought of as the first 'real' week. Classes full force, "Hearing the Voice of God" It has been so good. I feel like I am getting re-acquainted with Jesus, learning to hear His voice all over again. It has been wonderful. One day we went and worked with an after school program for kids from age six and I think the oldest there was four-teen that day. A lot of these kids are ones that don't get a lot of attention at home, sometimes only one parent. It was amazing for me to see how the younger ones just wanted to be loved, just wanted someone to spend time with, look in their face and say, "I'm listening to you". Then to look at the older ones and see how closed off they were, they just wanted to be left alone, but if you were willing to push a little bit, they really just wanted the same thing as the little ones. There was this little six year old, his name was Gabriel, he made me play pool with his five hundred times, and of course he ALWAYS won. I didn't mind though, just for a couple hours wanted to show him that he is worth spending time with, and giving my full attention.

Yesterday we had our first evangelism day, we went to downtown Charlotte to see who the Lord had for us to talk to. In case you guys didn't know, I have a hard time just going up to people and talking. This was by far the easiest evangelism day I have ever been part of. I think a big part of this has to do with the face that my fellow students and I have all been so open with each other and have in such a short time see the Lord move in all of us. We have seen him speak to several of us individually the exact same thing. In short, we have learned to trust Him and trust each other. When He says, "talk to her", or when one of us say, "that person". We know that the Lord is real and speaks to each of us.

So, I was wrong when I said that first day didn't go into the heart of what DTS was, I just didn't understand exactly what that meant yet. That first week was vital for us to function well in this second week. We have poured our hearts and struggles out to each other, so praying or asking questions in front of every one doesn't freak us out. We have worked together, laughed, cried and worshiped a God we all love. He is the reason each of us are here, and He was good enough to give us an amazing community, centered around family for this time of growing.

Anna, Carli and Nikki

Elizabeth

 Carli! :)

Melinda and Allison

Allison 

 Bus station where we did evangelism 

 The van got over heated so we were in a parking lot waiting for a while...

 Everyone had good attitudes! (Tina, Andrea and Nikki)

Ashlyn and Bryanna

Melinda, Victoria and Teirra 

Carli, Allison and Elizabeth

 Andrew our hero!

 Allison acting like she can fix it haaha

So this is what I have been doing my last (almost) two weeks. If you all could still be praying for me about finances. I still need a little over $5000. I know He is going to provide. I can't help but worry at times, the thought of not being about to go on outreach because I can't get the plane ticket TERRIFIES me. I have to remind myself on a daily basis that He is my provider and He is helping me grow in trust during this time. I know I will look back and say, "why did I ever doubt you?". I need prayers though, prayers for peace of mind, and prayer for the finances.

(Oh yes, the title. this is not Monroe like Marilyn. This is mON-ROE, with a deep southern accent. ;))

Leaving soon!

Oh my goodness! It has been forever since I wrote on here, I apologize.

So a run down of my last two months is in order! The last two months have been psychotic to say the least, but really good. I have been running around like a chicken with my head cut off packing up my life and working a lot. As you all know I love working at Whole Foods, working there gives me the awesome privilege of working with some of my favorite people, but also I have acquired a lot of paid time off. I had almost two weeks worth of PTO so I was able to go to St. Louis and see friends, as well as spending a week at my Grandparents in southern Illinois. That was a really had week, seeing Pappaw so frail, but it was so good getting to spend time with him and Mammaw. When I came home they sent their truck home with me, so the last month I have had a vehicle which has been wonderful! The Lord is so good and so faithful in what He does and in His plans.

I also had a week that my dear friend Elizabeth came in from Michigan. I love when the Lord puts people in your life that have stuck with you through thick and thin and even though you may not see each other for an extended period of time when you get together your hearts are every bit as connected as they where when you saw each other on a daily basis.

I had my going away party on Friday night, it was a blast! We had lots of Fall weather food and had the fire pit blazing outside. It was so good getting a chance to love on everyone before I head out. I have to admit the last week the fact that I am leaving all of these people I love so much has been hitting me pretty hard. Then the Lord quietly reminds me of what I am doing and how it is a vital step in my calling, and six months will fly by. Last night I went over to Mom and Dad's we all sprawled out in the living room and watched Star Trek (yes, Star Trek.) and ate popcorn. I love my family so much, I am so blessed to have a family that loves me so well, and to have brothers that I see growing so much in the Lord! I love it.

Then there are finances, I had a yard sale last month and raised about $300, and at my going away party I had a donation jar and raised a little over $400, praise the Lord! :) I still need about $5,000 and I know that it is going to come through just in the Lords timing. He is so faithful to provide for those He love, and I KNOW He loves me. ;) I have been learning a lot about claiming the promises the Lord has made you even before seeing the results, so this is what I have been doing. Thanking the Lord in advance for ALREADY providing, because He has, He already knows how He is going to handle it. He doesn't need me fretting and freaking out about HOW its going to happen, He just wants me to come before Him in trust and keep walking on the path He is leading me in and He will meet me there. When I step out in faith He will prove Himself faithful to me. :)

He is faithful to the end, that means He will see you through in the calling He has placed before you.

Crazy things have been going on the past few months. 


My Grandpa has been diagnosed with stage four lung cancer. This threw me off quite a bit to say the least, it has probably been one of the most excruciating experiences of my life. I am so close with Pappaw, there is so much emotion wrapped up in it. I'm not even sure I could begin to convey to you the depth of my feelings. However, I know that God is greatly using this in my life and in others' lives as well. He used it in a round about way to quite firmly confirm His plans for me concerning this DTS. I was fighting with should I go to YWAM, should I not? He has used many people as well as situations in my life to point to the open door He has for me. One day I was quite plainly complaining to my mom and a family friend Becky on the way to work about not going to cool adventures like my siblings and how I might not even GO to this DTS in North Carolina because I had no money; in the midst of this rant I look at the car in front of us at the stop light and the licence plate said North Carolina. I stopped talking and mom and Becky started laughing. SO the answer is yes, I should go, it is going to be hard but the Lord is calling me to go at this time for a reason, and when He says go who am I to argue? Though this time will be and is incredibly hard, God has good things in store and His perfect will shall prevail. He will provide. He will make this time with Pappaw the best. Our family shall grow closer.And we shall learn to lean on Him all the more. Pray for us.

 On top of all of the emotional battles I have been fighting I have have lack of finances and MAJOR lack of a car. haha. He keeps reminding me of my prayers for Him to lead me into a life of walking in faith, what better way to lead me into that then to let my car has brake down, make my finances shaky (money does not grow on trees, shocker right??), make me lay my job down without full finances and ask me to buy an airplane ticket. This is crazy right, not logical in any way, right? This is one of my major faults is wanting a logical explanation for things, wanting to have control over a situation, having the money in full, having a car to get to and from, not having to depend on others to get to work and back. He is breaking me of this bit by bit and bringing me so much freedom in the midst of it. The key line He has been speaking to me is "walk in faith, step in trust, and THEN I will show you that I am faithful." Meaning, step out and believe He will follow through in His promises. 


The other night I was looking at airplane tickets and I was at the point of buying the ticket then I recoiled and told Him, "I can't do this, I need you to show me that you CAN and WILL provide, show me I am on the right path." The ticket that I was looking at was around $135. The next morning my mom called me and told me that I had just received a check in the mail for $140. YAY GOD! He is faithful in every way.


Also, the Lord has provided a way for me to spend nearly a week with one of my dearest friends before I head off to my DTS, not only does He care about the big things, but also the small ones, He loves to give sweet kisses to His children.


Thank you all so much for your prayers, it means a lot knowing I have people surrounding me that are praying for me and my family.


Hannah

Trust in the LORD, and do good; dwell in the land, and feed on His faithfulness. Delight yourself also in the LORD, and He shall give you the desires of your heart. Commit your way to the LORD, trust also in Him, and He shall bring it to pass… Rest in the LORD, and wait patiently for Him. Psalm 37:3-7


(pictures by Mandie Warfield)

Hello All!

The school semester is finally over, thank the Lord! I just got back from a much needed vacation, I was able to visit some old friends and in that time the Lord kept reminding me of His goodness and how the hard times help us grow. Even though we may not see what the hardships we go through do in us, they can be seen by others.

As is with the Lord's timing he was showing me this for a reason, when I got home my car started having transmission issues and I have had to rely on others for rides to and from work. So I would really appreciate all of your prayers concerning my car!

ALSO, address change for any support or prayer requests:

11209 Monroe Court
Kansas City, MO 64137

And as you will see if you look over here --->
I have added a Paypal donate button on the side bar! :)

Again, thank you all so much for your prayers!

Update :)

Hello All!


I know I haven't been to faithful about updating this with additional information! The last few weeks life has been getting crazy, I have been getting ready for my finals coming up this next week, working a lot, as well as trying to plan some fundraisers. A couple weeks ago I had a large amount of money that was going to be coming in fall through, I'm not going to lie, it was disappointing and took me into another level of learning to lean on the understanding of the Lord and not try to lean on my own understanding. I am confident though that the Lord is faithful, and that He will meet me where I am, along with meeting every need that may arise.


As for what the summer looks like as of right now I will be working through the summer as planned and then quitting my job at Whole Foods this Fall and going into full time missions. This six months with YWAM is just my first step of many to go into the mission field. It has been on my heart for a long time and I am so excited about taking this step into my future!


I ask that you all continue to seek the Lord and see if this is something that He is laying on your heart to help with. If you have any questions at all please email me! (hannahbethwarfield@gmail.com) Also, any prayer request that you would like me to join in prayer with you do not hesitate to let me know!


Hannah