For those of you who don’t know the full story, either rewind and click ‘Saying Yes to Jesus’ or just try and catch up with this short recap..
- In August of 2015 the Lord started speaking to me by simply saying, “Papua New Guinea”
- I found that strange, but brushed it off. Then I asked Him one day, “Where is home?” and He responded by saying “YWAM… Together.”
- Whatever that meant, I didn’t know, and brushed it off as well. Two months later I did send an email to YWAM LA inquiring about their Justice DTS, but completely erased that memory from my mind.
- THREE MONTHS after that, after no response and completely forgetting about the whole thing (and five months after hearing YWAM Together) I met a couple who is very well integrated with YWAM. I had mentioned the YWAM Together thing and I was informed that it was actually an event they had every year. I was directed to Youtube to check out the conference the year before.
- That conference was all about Papua New Guinea.
- The next day I got an email back from YWAM LA.
- I applied, was accepted and started 7 months later. (September 24th, 2016)
- On October 14th, 2016 a man came to the base to get some things out of his storage, that man had the power to get me to PNG.
- I ate lunch with him, told him everything I just told you now, and got invited onto the ship.
- December – February I went to Thailand and the Philippines.
- March 2 – received $2000 to go to PNG from one donation.
- March 3 – my dad passed away
- March 4 – I graduated my dts
- April 1 – landed in PNG
OK there you go, my crazy timeline that probably made no sense to you. Long story short, God started speaking to me about this country over a year and a half ago and now I am here after a crazy series of events
I left LAX a week ago on March 30th at midnight and landed in PNG on April 1st at about 5pm in Kimbe, Papua New Guinea. After 24 hours of traveling, a month following my fathers death, and having just finished a school that was the most challenging and intense thing I had ever done in my entire life, I was tired.
Little to my knowledge, there was a miscommunication before I landed in this beautiful place, and until I was driving to (what I thought was the ship) the guest house I would be staying in for a week, I had absolutely no idea that my heavenly Father was going to give me a week to just do nothing and breathe.
It’s been really really nice to say the least. Despite the fact that I hate to be still and just do nothing, it was a much needed rest that I still wish I had a month more of. I have been so spoiled here! My own room, with A/C, with WiFi and at least one home cooked meal a day, so delicious! Also, a team landed here a day after I did, actually two teams but 15 people total, and it’s been a really great reminder of why I’m here and having people around to hang out with and love on and vice versa, has been incredible.
God’s timing is creepily perfect but it’s amazing.
Today I met the ship manager and have gotten the ball rolling on speaking to her about what I can do here with trafficking stuff, in the meantime I will be learning to cook and serving some incredible followers of Jesus from all over the world.
Something God has been speaking to me about more and more is about how to change a nation. Today I came across a sermon note that read, “Even the greatest law can’t change a nation. It’s what is within that changes and in turn changes a nation! A focus back on Jesus is the solution.” This was a great reminder and also an encouragement as I’ve been doing a bit of research about slavery here…
Other than that, there is not much else to report! It is almost midnight here and Thursday is almost over for me, although has just began for you! This time change has gotten my head all mushy.
We board the ship tomorrow (my Friday)!
Until then, have a wonderful weekend and super blessed rest of your day.
With love,
Desiree
Where I come to be raw. 