Can't Believe I Am Back!

I wrote an update to my friends shortly after arriving in Maui, and realized I forgot to post on my blog! Here it is:

I am excited to write this update-I can't believe I have already been here for a month! I am currently sitting on my bed, which is a top bunk of one of the many bunk beds in my room, waiting for the second hurricane storm to pass since I have been here! We have been fortunate, and very thankful how the hurricanes have continued to mellow out before hitting the islands. 

I would love to paint a picture in words of what it is like living and working for Youth With A Mission Maui! Like a lot of small YWAM bases, the staff and students learn to live with lots of people. We have a building for the guy staff and guy students, a building that houses the girl staff and girl students, along with a lecture room where students have classes to listen to the speakers that come weekly, and other various buildings. When I arrived, I was quickly reminded how living in community has its blessings, along with its challenges. For example, there is one kitchen for the staff and students to share- which can quickly become busy and push everyone to grow patience I often try to beat the crowd and make my coffee and breakfast early while I am still waking up! Also, there are so many personalities and backgrounds while living in community-some are very extrovert and find their energy with always spending time with people. While others (like me) need some introvert time to refill- and living in community can quickly deplete energy. I love people, and am thankful to live in community and the opportunity to walk alongside of the students that come, but I am learning to balance taking care of my needs so that I can love people well. 

And honest moment... a few weeks after I arrived, I started to see fear of burning out come up. And then I felt God show me how it was causing me to self-protect. Instead of diving in completely, I was withholding from community out of fear I wouldn't be refilled. Not in obvious ways to the people around me, but I realized I could not live in this fear- how it would deplete me even more. He challenged me to trust Him- and reminded me that He didn't call me back to YWAM Maui just to watch me burn out. He encouraged me to dive deep into this season... to be present, to serve whole-heartedly, and to love intentionally. And then dive deep into my times with Him, letting His presence refill me, along with doing things that give me life. This fear may seem silly, but it can be so real in ministry where you also live. So with all that being said, I am learning once again how to live in this community-to love and serve deeply and also take care of my needs in the way God created me.

You might be wondering what my position is for this quarter  I am currently what we call, "hospitality head". Which, in a lot of ways, is like the mamma of the base. There are a few other staff that work with me, and together we keep the base clean, plan and decorate for the important events that happen for each school, take care of the speaker's housing and food needs each week, make snacks for staff meetings, celebrate birthdays, and other details that may seem boring to explain  but as a whole, we hope to create a peaceful and loving home for the students and staff. For example, last week hospitality was in charge of the school's graduation. We decorated, baked delicious desserts, and partnered with our kitchen staff to create an important event for the students that returned from Nepal. This week we are preparing for our new students to arrive! We are excited.

Also! Fun fact! My sister (who is also staffing!) is going to lead a team of students on outreach this Fall! I am so proud of her . She will be directly involved with the students in their school for the next three months, and then will be going to Southeast Asia with the students. If you think of her, pray for her since her position will be very busy.

With a smile on my face, I want to say THANKYOU for how you have supported me. Whether it is through finances, friendship, or both! I am here because of your help 

~Violetta

P.S. I attached a picture of my sister (Trudy) and I! It shows our excitement when she picked me up at the Maui airport. So glad I get to work with her!

My 2018

Hello! I haven't written a blog in a while- so here you go :) 

I have wild news to share with you! My season in life is about to change drastically, and I would love for you to be apart of it.

What have I been up to?

The last four years I have been working and living in Nashville, Tennessee. In the beginning of my time, I worked in a chiropractic office, and was blessed to learn about health from the inside out and the importance of the spine. The next three years I worked at a local coffee shop, owned by a family that quickly became like a second family to me. This job was the perfect place for me to bloom in Nashville! It gave me time to dream with God, to pursue some of those dreams He encouraged me to believe in, to develop friendships that will forever be apart of my life, grow in my skills with management and business, along with much more. Both of those jobs God used in beautiful ways to grow and change me as I began to walk out life within a more normal routine outside of working full time in a ministry. Before I moved to Nashville, my heart needed to step out of full time ministry to rest and learn how to live. God did so much healing and renewal in my heart while I worked in ministry, but I needed to walk it out in a "normal" setting of life. I needed to experience His love in all the ways he taught me outside of ministry. I hope that makes sense. In a way, it was like learning to ride a bike without the training wheels :) During the last four years, I have become a different person. When I finished my time with ministry before moving to Nashville, my heart was still learning what being a child of God meant. Now, I can see how He has cemented His love in my heart-and I can confidently say I am deeply loved and deeply known.

I am saying all this to share what God has invited me to do next! 

Back in October, I went to a camping trip with over 1500 other believers. It was a weekend filled with amazing fellowship, worship around campfires, and encouraging teachings. God told me the weekend would remind me what I am created for, and sure enough! It did. I was reminded of my heart's desire to be involved with music and ministry, traveling, and adventure being apart of the story God is writing for my life. When I came back to work the next Monday, I had a harder time than normal jumping back into the swing of things. My heart longed to be faithful to the season God had me in while living in Nashville, yet I was discouraged of how I had a hard time being fully present. When I spent time with God about it, I was surprised at His answer! Right away I heard Him say, "You don't have to wait much longer, I am about to turn the page of your story". That brought tears to my eyes-not because I wasn't thankful for where God had me in Nashville, but more than ever 2017 was a year that I was longing to step into the dreams God had been growing in my heart. 2016 and 2017 were a mixture of me believing what God was saying about my future, but also about being ok with working in the mundane. About seeing beauty in the everyday. And when my heart started to get restless and wish His promises would happen in my life, I heard Him say- "consistency is key to change your season". And I can see how seasons of waiting and faithfulness are so important- and how it grew my heart in ways I am forever thankful. 

"So what are you going to do, tell me already!" Haha.

God has asked me to go back to YWAM Maui to help staff! I couldn't believe it when He first told me. I couldn't sleep well for a few days because I was so excited. I felt so known, and so loved. Everything started to fall into place, and I spent some of December and January transitioning out of Nashville-saying goodbye to friends, processing, and soaking in my favorite things. I am now living with my sweet family, working, saving, and fundraising before heading to Maui! One of my main goals while working at home is to pay off a large portion of my school loans before starting at YWAM in the fall. 

What is YWAM? (Youth With A Mission)

YWAM is a mission's organization that runs a discipleship training school for students to grow in their relationship with Christ, and then sends them onto mission trips to spread the gospel. It is an organization that believes deeply in loving God with all our heart, soul, and mind- and then carrying out the great commission of Matthew 28. Most of the schools last for 6 months (3 months of school, 3 months of outreach). There are YWAM bases all over the world! Each focusing on specific nations that God asks them to focus on.

What will be my role as staff?

There are many staff roles on the base that help it function smoothly. There are "base staff" that will help with departments within hospitality, the kitchen, maintenance, and office jobs. There are also staff that work directly with the students- mentoring the students during the school, and then going on outreach with the students. Both areas of staff are important and rewarding as so many lives are changed. Staff roles can change for each school, so I will know my role as it gets closer to August. There is a two-year commitment for staff, and mine will start in August for the beginning of the Fall school.

How you can help!

Every staff in YWAM is required to raise their own support during their commitment as staff. This helps create faith in what God is calling them to do, and also invites others to join in being apart of the Great Commission. As staff, I am required to raise $600 per month. This covers my housing, food, and other staff fees. I am still in need of more monthly supporters and would love to invite you into sowing into what God is doing through YWAM to reach different nations!

Thankyou for reading and being interested in my life. :)

Violet