I'm back from leading the team and boy did I grow!!!!

I have officially finished  serving the DTS (Discipleship Training School).  It has been one of the greatest five months of my life. I have grown so much with God and in understanding people.  Thank you so much for your support I have been so honored to come along side and bless and minister to the people of South Africa & Reunion Island.

South Africa was truly an amazing time full of God's goodness and beauty. I really loved serving my team. We got to see God shine through the students so much in the 8 weeks we got to spend with them. 

I fell in love with the people in the locations we visited. One thing I really admired about the people in South Africa was the joy that they have. In the midst of hard circumstances they still worshiped God with their whole hearts and were so thankful for what he has done. It was really amazing to see that in the people and I wished that my own country had that joy.

The most impactful part of my time in South Africa was working with the kids at a local church in South Africa called Green Village Church. We went to this church every Sunday.  The service did not start until 11, but we would arrive at 9 just so we could play with the kids & talk with the youth.  This was my favorite part of the outreach, to play with the children and tell stories about how great our God is to these little children & youth.
They would hold onto me and cling to me all the time. Wherever I would sit, they would sit too. I loved it so much. I didn't just teach Jesus to these kids, but they also taught Jesus to me through their love.

We taught the local kids about God through songs and  dramas and would also have them perform these dramas for their families in front of the church. They really loved it and when we went back every Sunday they would want to do another one!

We had a camp for the youth in the local areas daily and it was so good to hear about their perspectives of who God was to them. For a lot of these youth they think they will never get a good education or they were really hurt by their past so they really hold on to God for purpose and healing. They were very curious of how God worked in other parts of the world and had many many questions about His character. It was such a blessing to share with them a true biblical worldview. 

 I have officially finished  serving the DTS (Discipleship Training School).  It has been one of the greatest five months of my life. I have grown so much with God and in understanding people.  Thank you so much for your support I have been so honored to come along side and bless and minister to the people of South Africa & Reunion Island.

South Africa was truly an amazing time full of God's goodness and beauty. I really loved serving my team. We got to see God shine through the students so much in the 8 weeks we got to spend with them. 

I fell in love with the people in the locations we visited. One thing I really admired about the people in South Africa was the joy that they have. In the midst of hard circumstances they still worshiped God with their whole hearts and were so thankful for what he has done. It was really amazing to see that in the people and I wished that my own country had that joy.

The most impactful part of my time in South Africa was working with the kids at a local church in South Africa called Green Village Church. We went to this church every Sunday.  The service did not start until 11, but we would arrive at 9 just so we could play with the kids & talk with the youth.  This was my favorite part of the outreach, to play with the children and tell stories about how great our God is to these little children & youth.
They would hold onto me and cling to me all the time. Wherever I would sit, they would sit too. I loved it so much. I didn't just teach Jesus to these kids, but they also taught Jesus to me through their love.

We taught the local kids about God through songs and  dramas and would also have them perform these dramas for their families in front of the church. They really loved it and when we went back every Sunday they would want to do another one!
We had a camp for the youth in the local areas daily and it was so good to hear about their perspectives of who God was to them. For a lot of these youth they think they will never get a good education or they were really hurt by their past so they really hold on to God for purpose and healing. They were very curious of how God worked in other parts of the world and had many many questions about His character. It was such a blessing to share with them a true biblical worldview. 

In Reunion Island the people there were so on fire for God and it was contagious. The churches there were so ready to fight for God, this island was know for being infested with demons and  in the churches they would cast out the demons from the people. The people were just so hungry for what God had for them.  It is a fairly small island so news traveled fast once we started going to churches. Many different churches contacted us and wanted us to come to their church too. Most of them wanted to have us there because God did such great things through us and we had such a great impact on the other churches. It was such an honor to carry healing to this dry land.

Thanks to all who helped make this possible!!!!

Will you consider helping me? 

Will you support me while I feel called to serve the Lord in the mission field.    Currently I am trusting God for 5,000 CHF for my fees here for the next 6 months. (This includes food, housing, insurance and ministry expenses..etc) Every YWAM Staff, including the founder, raise enough funds to meet his or her own financial needs. For most people in YWAM, these funds come from friends, family and churches who contribute financially.

 If you would like to give

If you feel led to give  you can give by-

PayPal: sarahpaytonpreciousmoment@gmail.com

For tax deductions :You can give directly at YWAM Lausanne  http://www.ywamlausanne.com/donate/  click give online and in the drop box Apply my gift to: Select YWAM Lausanne - select Donation to Staff and in the Additional comments or questions related to this donation - put my name -Sarah Moment-

 This picture was inspired during worship while doing local outreach.

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Immerse

Hey everyone!

I am now back in Switzerland and settled in. I have now started my Leadership classes and I am super excited about what God is going to do in my life, the lives of my classmates, and the world around me. One of my assignments is to create a personal theme for the next twelve weeks of school. I thought I would share some of my theme with you guys. 

When I was thinking about what my theme would be, I kept thinking of drowning...going under and being immersed in God's presence, being embraced and consumed by him. During the next twelve weeks, I really want to be captivated and swallowed up completely by each part of God, His love, His mercy, His kindness, His gentleness, His grace.....all aspects, even those I’m not aware of yet.   I want to be able to experience it all. I want to know God as fully as humanly possible.  I can’t think of any life more satisfying. 

Another assignment I was given was to write some personal goals that I want to achieve during this season. I really want  God to develop the potential He has placed in me.  I think while I was home for the 4 months in between schools, I seemed to sink into a deep pit. For some reason, I really felt stuck and depressed. I would go so far to say that I felt lost…adrift… even though I was still getting into the word with God and spending time with him.  I just didn’t seem to be able to put my heart into things. I noticed, though, that I was having trouble laying down what I needed to lay down. Instead, I felt that I was  relying on myself to get through the day instead of relying on God as much as I should have. I felt, too, that there was a hole in my faith, and I was doubting God more than I had before. It really hindered me from seeing the bigger picture God wanted me to see. God did not give up on me though.  He helped me understand that I really do love people and value relationships. However, I often hold myself back because of my own insecure thoughts like, " Oh Sarah you know you are an introvert. You know you are shy and get super anxious around people." I know that I am holding myself back by thinking or saying these things to myself.  I am making it one of my goals to break free from these chains that have created a stronghold in my life.

I ask for and appreciate your prayers as God grows me in my walk and in my faith.

Blessings,

Sarah.

"Into ash"

I find that I express myself best through the gift God has given me and that is artwork. Now I know this piece may appear to be dark but it isn't really so. As I was praying and listening to God, I got this scripture in Leviticus 1 and the beginning is all about sacrifice. I know there are many things I must die to right now and God has really reminded me of these tonight. I was reminded of how I really need to put my faith in God more and stop worrying so much about how I want things to go and how my plans are going to go. I need to depend on God's timing. Right now God is really stretching my faith and really teaching me discipline.

The meaning to my art:

The Cross:

The cross stands for something that I need to bear in my life all the time throughout every situation of my life. Also it stands for me seeing Jesus in every person and thing I come across.

The Bull:

The sacrifices of which I have to lay down and will lay down in the future. 

The Fire:

God who will consume all like a fire.

It is true, I really do want God to consume my life completely. That is why I feel led to go into YWAM to continue to develop my skills as a person. As I have said in my video on here I really want to be that example for other people and develop faith in God and my ability to lead people in Him. Most of all though I want to develop myself for the kingdom of God. I have been doing mission work all of my life and I never feel like I can get enough of God and what he has next to do in me and through me. Each time I feel so surprised by what he has given me or how he has come through.  It is very humbling! I have not really shared this through the internet, on a blog or anywhere, but there are many examples of when God came through for me. 

As some people know I grew up with it being just me and my mother. When I was younger we moved quite a bit from here and there up until I was 5 years old. At the age of 5 my mother decided that she wanted to do her Discipleship Training School in Youth with a Mission. So I grew up mostly on a YWAM base and was constantly surrounded by God. Many times though I felt this aching in my heart for my father not really being in my life. I did really enjoy the times when I did get to see my biological father, but truthfully I never really considered him my father. I saw God more as a father figure for me. 

Another time God came through for me is when my mom got pregnant with one of my brothers. That was a very hard time for me personally because I honestly only knew so little about the whole situation that was going on around me. My mom was struggling with a lot of issues with the father. During that time I had never seen my mom so heartbroken in my life and to see my mom in any pain hurts me too, so seeing her like that really took a toll on me. I would end up crying in my bed a night asking him to help my mom. Often I would ask God why these things would be happening and needed to find comfort in something. So I found it in God  when I needed him most. 

My most recent time God has come through for me is on my DTS. It was a week or so (give or take some). It was the deadline for my outreach fee's and I need a good bit of them. I was very worried about it and was feeling a lot of stress about the whole situation. I was sitting down in the lounge one night and was  praying and praying for God to come through for me. I was really feeling the pressure. As the time grew closer and closer my leader came up to me and said that someone paid the rest of my fee's for my outreach. It was such an amazing feeling to have to know God had come through for me once again. Words cannot express how happy I was that day. From now on I will not forget my DTS and all the amazing things God had done through that. 

Right now with my last two weeks coming on I am praying for God to come through once again like he has for me so many times. I am putting all my faith in God to pull me through this.I am really starting to feel the pressure of the two weeks that I have left here before I head off to Switzerland on this journey next journey I feel God has called me to. I need currently 3,000 more dollars until I am at my goal. I am already thanking God for what he is going to give me and what plans he has for my life. Would you please prayerfully consider if He would have you be a part? 

You can donate at:

http://www.gofundme.com/h94ct0

You can check out my video at:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yPGbk2G5DOk

Click here to check out my video and learn more about what I am doing and how you can support me!

I am going back!!!

After much prayer and consideration I have decided to return to serve at Lausanne YWAM. I am very excited about this opportunity. I am looking forward to being trained in leadership and being discipled.  I am getting a lot of questions from people my age asking me why would I want to do something like this, and I always want to respond, why wouldn't I?  There is a lack of leadership in my generation. I hope to set an example! 

The Ministry & Leadership Development program is designed to equip young leaders for ministry.  I have prayerfully considered joining YWAM Lausanne and be involved in Christian Ministry. I feel the Lord wants me to grow in the area of leadership know this is the next step he has for me. I will have the opportunity to serve, lead and grow in both my character and skills as I learn from international teachers and missionaries on topics such as:

- Biblical leadership
- The character of a leader
- Funding ministry (how to establish a financial and prayer support team)
- Discovering my strengths, gifts and talents
- Public speaking and effective communication
- Spiritual formation

- Team work, conflict resolution and learning styles.

After this 3 month training I feel the Lord leading me to join the staff of YWAM Lausanne while continuing to develop specific skills in areas of ministry at the base. This  includes styles of both formal and non-formal learning, requiring a minimum one year commitment At this point I need to raise $3440.00 USD by January 2nd for my school and $700.00 USD mothly support.  This time can be completely tailored to the gifting's s God has placed in me.  Will you please prayerfully consider funding me on this next adventure.  I am currently working at Chick-fil-a saving all I can, but won’t be able to save it all.  If you don't feel called to please pray for safety of travel, and provision.  Thank you all for the encouraging words and I look forward to doing a video blog soon so stay tuned! 

Leaders Always Set the Example Others Follow!

The Long Awaited Update!!!!!!

                                                    My outreach team at Victoria peak in Hong Kong.

Sorry for the long wait!! Please forgive me. During the time I was in Switzerland and on outreach it was very hard for me to find time to update because we were so incredibly busy and had limited access to the internet. In addition I have had some computer problems, so I am going to do my best to let you guys know what happened from where I left off in week 5.

Weeks 6-12 Lecture Phase

Week 6

“The fear of the LORD is the beginning of wisdom, and the knowledge of the Holy One is understanding.”  Proverbs 9:10

This particular week we were learning about personal Identity in Christ. This week was a very heavy week for my heart; it was about the truth pertaining to me as an individual.  I would say this is the week where I received the most healing and really got to learn more about my feelings towards my family.

A lot of things had really hardened my heart, and during this week I learned how to soften my heart to the things that had hurt me so deeply in the past. I learned how to forgive.  What freedom!!!

I also learned about self-image, and how, as a child of God, I am beautifully and wonderfully made. It was very hard for me before to even believe anyone when they would call me beautiful or say that I was pretty. I really struggled with this and still do, but God gave me a scripture for this problem repeatedly. During my time in Switzerland, it kept popping up.  The verse is Song of Solomon 1:15:  “My darling, you are beautiful! Oh, you are beautiful! Your eyes are like doves!”  Thank you, Jesus!

Week 7

Ephesians 1:3

“Blessed be the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ, who has blessed us with every spiritual blessing in the heavenly places in Christ.”

This week’s subject was on meditation and outreach . The speakers in this lecture really blessed me through their teaching. The subject of meditation has always been a very important subject to me. I have never really been taught on this subject before, and it was wonderful to gain deeper understanding. Through this week I really deepened my communication with God. I got to have such intimate times with God during this week. From then on, I felt a deeper walk in my relationship with God.

We also learned about rights during this week, and what we, as humans, should be more than willing to lay down for others.  We also realized how we should behave as Christians,  and that we should always be mindful when living and working among other cultures..

Week 8

I perceived this weeks subject to be about obedience to God and one’s calling. We all have specific callings that God has placed on our lives, and it is our choice whether we follow the calling or not. To me, personally, one’s calling/ vision is what really gives you purpose in life.  I learned that  until that purpose and calling is made clear, it is important to wait before the Lord,and expect Him to deliver instead of doing what you want to do on your own.  That’s a hard one, but I’m thankful to understand.

During this week we also had the NKSS (New Korea Servant Seminar).  It was about Korea as a nation. We got to learn how God is moving in Korea. We learned how to be a servant and really have a servant heart for another person. A servant judges no one’s heart. Only God has that right to do so. A servant forgives everyone no matter what the conditions. Jesus told us “whatever you forgive on the earth will be forgiven in Heaven,” Matthew 18:18. At this present time, North Korea and South Korea  are currently split, but nothing can block God’s purpose for North Korea. There is a great movement starting in North Korea. I believe God will really work in binding Korea as a whole nation.

Week 9

This week was about evangelism; it was a very useful week for me personally. We got to learn about how to approach people with the gospel and talk to them in meaningful way. Our teachers gave us quite a few tools in regard to evangelism. I learned that it’s important to be engaged with the person and have a genuine interest in them as a person. Otherwise, talking to them has no purpose. Jesus met people through interests. This is one of the tools we learned in the process of conversationally easing into the talk of religion and spiritual life.  Evangelism is about relationship. This is the S.H.A.R.E. process to help getting to know the person better:

• Secular or social life. Learning about their hobbies,interests...ect.  Surface level things.
• Home life. Relationships, learn their relationship background.
• Attitudes. Feelings,emotions. How do feel about your life?
• Religion. Do you go to church? Do you believe in God?
• Eternal life.Spiritual questions.

(Always ask for permission before asking personal questions.)

Evangelism is about caring for others the way God cares for us!

Week 10

This week for me was really about relationship with others, how we should understand other people, and how we are all connected as people. This week God really spoke to me about the unity of my outreach team. God was the ultimate teacher for me during this week. He taught me many lessons on how to relate to others and connect with them on a personal level.

He also talked to me about how we, as Christians, must come together for the better of all the nations and really reach out to the people who do not know about the Lord. We should be the wave of youth washing over the nations just as Loren Cunningham, the founder of Youth with a Mission,  spoke about in his original vision for Youth with a Mission. This vision just amazes me because there are 600+ missionary bases across the globe today because of his vision and God’s providence.

Week 11

This weeks subject was on spiritual warfare and relationships. Relationships, I found, are something that should be really treasured. God truly spoke to my heart, saying, “Sarah there is life within relationships, so treasure them with your whole heart.” I have found it is very hard for me to personally connect with people and relate to them. I do know they are deeply dear to me, so I have realized how important  the put forth the effort to connect with people.

Week 12

This was my last week of the lecture phase. This week I felt very homesick and was slightly depressed. This was a very hard week for me spiritually as we were preparing to go to on outreach. I was really praying hard during this week because of how homesick I felt. . I kept asking God for strength and to just really pick me up from my depression. We did not really have much teaching during this week, but we did receive instruction on preaching & teaching. That was very helpful for me before I went on outreach.  The teaching was about how we can teach people in a proper way.  Other than that, there was a lot of praying going on!

The Outreach

Conducting Intercessory prayer for our outreach location.

Outreach Summary!

Ministries we did:

Inner city kids ministry:

We worked with the inner city kids who are the less privileged kids of Hong Kong. Most of them were refugees from Nepal. We shared the gospel with them, loved on them, and played games with them.  

Gateway camp:

The camp was all about growing closer to God and becoming a missionary. There were around 2,500 people there and only 100-200 staff. Most of the people came to Hong Kong from China just for this camp so they could worship freely. Our team served by taking care of the meals & water team.We had the opportunity to talk with the people as we  passed out meals  three times a day.

 

Teaching English

We taught English to children mostly in our outreach location. We could not be too biblical with teaching even though it was inside of a church. We did get to bless the children by teaching English to them though. our outreach location was very strict even the churches.

English corners

Often at times we would visit peoples homes who taught English to the local people in Hong Kong & at our other outreach location. Home teaching offers a more comfortable environment for study. Also it was a lot more intimate for them and us as a team to talk to them freely.  

Outreach was a wonderful experience filled with many learning situations, new relationships, and evidence of God’s goodness.  Outreach for me was very busy and seemed rush when I was there in the moment . Through out this time I often found that I needed to slow down and take things easy. I often found myself meditating on Proverbs 17:22 “ A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.” This scripture always picked me up whenever I was feeling down or discouraged. I learned that I need to have a joyful heart in every situation.  That will be an ongoing mission for the rest of my life!

During my time of outreach I found out how important it is for people of the team to work well with one another. Each one of us had to give our best; otherwise the whole team would be brought down. We encouraged each other and tried to stay very strong together. Relationships are so important on every level.

Thank you to each of you who supported me through giving and through prayer during this time.  I have grown more in God than I ever knew possible.  I have overcome some deep-seated issues that have held me back.  I have had the privilege of meeting wonderful Christians from other parts of the world.  I have seen parts of God’s beautiful world that I had only dreamed about.  And, most importantly, I had the privilege to share Jesus with people...people who were hungry and searching….in a land where His very name can mean death.  God is amazing.  Please know that through your support, you have been partakers in all that was accomplished for the Kingdom of God (I Corinthians 3:5-7).  Thank you and God bless! I will update you on what I feel the Lord is leading me to do next!

Sarah

My Team! This is us after we got back from outreach!

Week 5 -time is flying!

Sorry I have been away for so long! I will try to update every Friday from now on.

These past two weeks there has been a lot going on! This past weekend we had Cafe Night!  It was very fun. The theme was movie awards.

We could dress up as a animated character or a famous person. I dressed up as a genie and my friend Ruben was dressed as Aladdin. 

These past two weeks I have been learning about intercessory prayer!  Wow, who knew how powerful prayer could really be! With intercessory prayer I learned how to really connect with God and how to really reach Him and listen to Him. I don't think I ever really knew how deep one could go with God until last week. Having it explained to you and digging deeper really opens your eyes a lot more to everything.  

This week I am learning about God's character and nature. He is so loving, patient and kind. Also a highlight of this week so far is that I am getting to know more about God personally and it is very exciting to me. I cannot wait to learn more about Him this week.  He really craves a relationship with us as much as we crave to have one with Him!  Be blessed everyone and I will update you soon! And as always, thank you, thank you, thank you!!!!!!