Malloree D.: FIRST OUTREACH!

So, I know it's been a long time since I've written in my blog... BUT, I wrote a post the other day, a really great, detailed one with pictures and lots of fun things... and about a month ago, my macbook battery quit working and so the only time my computer works is if it's plugged into the wall (because there is no battery in it) and it got kicked on accident and came unplugged and the whole thing got wiped out.... UGH. So, here is my attempt at the same blog post. I know I'll be leaving major details out on accident, but I'm going to try and keep you updated on everything that's been happening!

Right now, we are in the last week of our first outreach. I am with a team of 11 others (9 other students and 2 leaders) and we have been traveling a little further south than Townsville. The first week and a half we were in a small town called Ayr. It was PRECIOUS. It reminded me of the town I grew up in. The people were the kindest, most hospitable people I have ever met in my life. They gave a new meaning to our american term, "southern hospitality." They fed us multiple times, invited us into their homes for dinner and to watch movies, and really took an avid interest in getting to know us individually and as a team. Most of what we did in Ayr was help out in the schools. We taught their RE (religious education classes), did games, skits, songs, teachings for their after school programs, hung out with the kids on their lunch breaks... and even got to go into some of the high schools and be a part of their biology, drama, and p.e. classes! it was SO much fun. I also got the opportunity to speak and share my story and a little teaching with a high school girl's self esteem group. As soon as Maddie and Chelsea (my leaders) brought it up, I KNEW I had to speak at it. So I prayed into it and we all did as a team and everyone felt that I should be speaking. So that was pretty cool. It was INCREDIBLE. I have never really told my story like that... I've given my testimony once to my covenant group, but when it's your good friends, they already know a lot about you as it is, so it was a smidge different and took a completely different spin. did I mention this group was full of non-Christians? there wasn't a single believer there. so that made me nervous because my whole story is me being a complete DISASTER and how the Lord has relentlessly chased after me my whole life... even when I didn't believe in Him and even when I was completely oblivious.

So... I shared my story and since it was a self esteem group, really tried to emphasize the "identity" aspect of it all. Which is something I still really struggle with. To me, that's so interesting because as much as I still really struggle with it, the Lord has given me a lot of authority in that area and also a lot of wisdom and too, given me a strong passion for helping young women realize who they are in Christ. I've had visions and had people tell me about things they've heard and seen from the Lord about me speaking to young women, the authority I have with young women, and that I'd be a woman of influence... and so when I was speaking, the Lord was revealing to me the same things. It was just unreal. I started to cry at the end of my story because I think for the first time I truly realized how GOOD the Lord has been in my life and how He really has brought me from one end to another... and how He continually chooses me and wants to provide and love and care for me. and then I started to cry because I so desperately wanted these girls to GET IT. to know who they are in Christ. to know that what others say about them is not who they are. to know that they are chosen and dearly loved... that Jesus LIKES them and desires their affection and their attention. He wants to be loved by them! they are made with purpose and just the way they are because that's exactly the way God wanted them to be! it sounds so simple, but it's the hardest thing to grasp... especially as a woman. but I was told it went well, which I couldn't tell you, because I don't really remember much of what I said. it was truly all God and I am so grateful that He chose me for that opportunity. I can't wait for another chance to share and minister to young girls. I really feel like that's something I'm supposed to be doing in ministry.

so yea, Ayr was incredible. we had a lot of fun... we stayed in a little church and we were busy bees! then after a week and a half, we came to Airlie Beach, which is where we are now. It was a lot different from Ayr. Airlie Beach is part of the Whitsundays, which is a beautiful group of islands with amazing beaches... it's very touristy and full of backpackers from all over the world. There's nothing but bars and shops here and lots of young people. Immediately when we arrived I felt this heaviness and like I was being attacked and I got really homesick. So when we got to where we were staying (a beautiful house- the YWAM Whitsunday base- looks straight out of Jurassic Park, literally in the rainforest), I went outside, prayed about my frustrations, and then came back in and took a nap. when I woke up... literally there were 8 Americans in the house, some with thick southern accents. I thought I was dreaming. NOPE. A team from the World Race was staying at the base as well and they were all from southern states: Tennessee, Alabama, the Carolinas, Texas, etc... one girl's mom went to Samford (where I went to school) and another girl was a ZETA! (my sorority)... no lie, it was so sweet. I felt like God was giving me a little piece of home to answer my prayers and to show me some love! also- the girl from Alabama's accent sounded just like my best friend, Carly's! which they grew up about 45 min away from each other, so that makes sense. it was so precious! God has continued to do that for me a couple times whilst on outreach. there was a book that I was really wanting to get... someone had prayed for me on the base about restoring my relationship with God as a Father (which is what I'm working on with Him now), and there's a book called "He Loves Me." which is all about living in freedom and love with God as a Father and what not. one of the World Race girls put it in the free pile at the base and I now have it! it's mine! yippee! and I couldn't find it anywhere. so that was pretty cool... an answered prayer.

so since being in Airlie Beach, we have done a lot of backpacking evangelism. Basically, just meeting people and hanging out and trying to build relationships. It was going okay, it's not the most natural and comfortable thing in the world... but Liz and I met some really cool people and some other team members have had amazing stories. We also did a prayer walk around the city and just prayed for the people that come in and out of here and all the places on the main strip. and yesterday we did a free bbq on the beach for people and it was just AMAZING. we had so many people come! and our thought was that they'd probably just come and eat and then take it and go... but they stayed to hang out with us! we bought food for 75 people and we had one hot dog left at the end :) so we were pleased and the people kept saying how blessed they were... they totally didn't understand why we would do something nice for FREE without expecting something in return. so it was cool... I truly think it spoke more about who God is than anything else we've ever done. our friend Fanny ended up praying with another french girl and the girl was just so moved. no one had ever prayed for her or with her before. that baffled my mind... it was just a cool day.

so today we have the day off. I'm sitting in a cafe' with Liz and Katie. the rest of the team is out on a boat tour of the Whitsundays. we decided to pass because of money and sea sickness! haha. Katie and I threw up the whole time on our trip to the Great Barrier Reef about a month ago, so we decided not to attempt to do that again... so the 3 of us are having a nice relaxing day of coffee, lunch, pedicures, and beach time. it'll be a nice, refreshing day.

all in all- I have learned a lot on outreach... a lot about spiritual warfare, working as a team, my own personal relationship with God, learning how to step down and not always lead... when to be a chief and when to be an indian, and how to truly love (not just tolerate) others. My attitude the last week since being in Airlie has been pretty bad... just really negative and I've been under a lot of spiritual attack, over my mind, my heart, and even my body! it's been crazy.... but as I've really prayed, sought out God, and really tried to be intentional with my time and my authority, I've been able to overcome it, but still struggle a bit. but God's good and we're working it out. my heart is feeling a little foggy, but it's definitely better than it was. we leave here on Friday and I'd be lying if I said I wasn't counting down the minutes. I'm definitely ready to be reunited with my friends on the base and to prepare over the next 2 weeks for our final outreach... 2 weeks in Darwin and 4 weeks in East Timor (formally Indonesia). if I thought this was tough, those are going to be even moreso.

anyhoo... I'm good and safe... God is good. Australia is good (full of rain and bugs though), and I am missing home more than I ever thought I would. but I'm pushing through!

BE BLESSED. I am so grateful for each and every one of you. LOVE YOU! thank you for your prayers!!!

the internet is too slow here to post pictures, so that will have to wait until we get back to the base!

LOVE YOU.

AYR. our 1st stop.