God is good all the time - and all the time, God is good.

These last two weeks were very eventful on the emotional side. Lots of tears - but many of them were tears of joy! Let me fill you in on four major things that grabbed my heart:

1. Every Thursday afternoon, we have intercessory prayer time with our entire class. This is something completely new to me and I cannot deny that the first couple of times, I went in quite skeptical. For two hours, we all pray for a certain people group or for a certain change we want to see in the world. But would God really "care" if we were praying or not...? On April 29th, we were praying for the passing of Hawaii's FIRST anti-sex trafficking law. So far, sex trafficked persons have apparently not been protected by the law. For a long time, people had been fighting for it and on Friday we heard that on April 29th, at the time in the afternoon that we had been in the prayer room, the law had FINALLY PASSED. I felt a shiver down my spine - of joy as well as of mystification (just learned that word :) ).

Further info on the matter: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=150142551717558&ref=mf and http://www.change.org/petitions/2011-signatures-to-pass-hawaii-anti-human-trafficking-laws-in-2011.

2. Please meet my friend Gille Legacy: He was born in Canada, now lives in Hawaii and is a magnificent painter. The downside: he was born with cerebral palsy and has almost no use of his arms or legs. Until the age of 17, Gille never left the house. However, when he was 8 years old, he found his sister's coloring book on the floor and discovered that he could paint - with his nose! God has blessed Gille with a marvelous talent, a beautiful wife, and a contagious laughter. I have hung out with Gille and his wife Sandi over the past couple of weeks several times at the beach - collecting sea shells, taking pictures of this wonderful couple and learning from them what love is all about. When you meet these two and see the way they love and treat each other, you get peek into the DEPTH of true love. Please check out Gille's website and support him online by purchasing his artwork: http://www.manwhopaints.com/.

3. Two weeks ago, I met Jude and Peterson, two worship leaders from Haiti. Together with YWAM, these two compelling men are devoted to rebuilding Haiti on God's love and truth. One night, I had dinner with Jude and some of my friends. Jude, who always seems to be overflowing with joy and peace, shared that he actually grew up as a slave. He was sold into slavery by his parents to his uncle and was forced to do intense manual labor every day. At some point he was able to buy himself out of his misery. Because of his past, Jude developed an immense heart for getting children out of slavery and providing them with a loving family - the family in Christ. His hope and dream is to rebuild Port au Prince on God's love and truth, and therefore turn the city away from the belief in the gods of voodoo - which has added to the distress and turmoil of the country in the past, according to Jude. Please contact Jude at check out the YWAM Haiti website and consider supporting this wonderful opportunity of rebuilding a city on HOPE. You can contact Jude and Peterson at info@ywamportauprince.com.

Betty - she is not the lady I was writing about
but one of my favorite people at Hope Services!

4. Last but not least is my community outreach experience at Hope Services. Every Tuesday, my group goes to the hang out with, minister to, and teach new skills to the (temporarily) homeless of Kona. Most of the people here are in a transition part of their lives and are looking for hope, peace, and courage to take the next steps. Two weeks ago, my group hosted a "Beauty Night." We were offering haircuts (one girl on our team actually has a license!), manicures and face masks. This night was a big hit and I could see the joy in the people's eyes that came from within. At some point a lady sat down in front of where I was offering the manicures but she did not stretch out her hands. "I am not sure you want to touch me." she said. "I have skin cancer all over my arms and hands." Wow. Immediately I replied that I would not mind at all. Skin cancer is not contagious, so why wouldn't I? But when I started very carefully massaging her scarred arms and hands, barely touching her open wounds, I knew that things are easier said than done. I always said that I wanted to provide shelter for orphans, stand up for the poor and embrace the sick - but for the most part, most of these things have only been a concept to me until now. Actually being in the middle of it took courage and strength - and was rewarded a hundred times by the smile of being valued that can only go out from a person who usually receives rejection instead of embracing. This is the power of giving somebody back their DIGNITY through simple actions. At the end of that night I KNEW that this is exactly what I came for and what I want to do in my life: to be an active missionary wherever I go and speak through my actions, not my words. 


And this is what I hope and pray for you this week: May you be like a cup that God pours His LOVE into until it overflows - so first all the "bad stuff" spills out and then, continuously, His love will spill out from your cup to others :)

Lots of heavy stuff on my mind...

Our Monday morning worship in the Ohana Court

This weekend I took it slow and tried to process some of the heavy subjects we have dealt with in these past three weeks. As I mentioned earlier, week 1 was all about hearing God's voice. And this is still a struggle for me because even though I can feel God's hand guiding my path in many situations throughout my life, I am still having a hard time "talking" to Him (and get an immediate response) or receiving clear guidance on certain subjects that I have been praying about for years. I know God wants me to be here right now - but where does He really want me to go in my life? I know He gave me a great passion for caring for others - but will that be in Germany, the USA or in the mission field? And it is dawning on me that maybe He does not need to speak more clearly but that I might just have to listen more closely...

The topic of week 2 was "Kingdom Sexuality." A very interesting topic - but also very difficult to address for some of the people in our class. And I believe that this second week has changed some of my thoughts as well as strengthened some of my views in mighty ways. Here are two major points that stuck with me:

1. Pornography
I had often heard about this topic but since I personally never struggled with pornography it was simply "not my problem." But it is. It is a problem of our society. It is not only that EVERY TIME people go on the internet to watch pornography, they support the pornography industry that robs the prostitutes and playboy actors of their self-worth, their dignity. But the people who seek out pornography also do massive damage to their own souls. By watching a one-dimensional virtual fantasy, they are affecting their own worldview of what sex is like. Over time, this changes people's expectations of sex and of love itself. As a result, people cannot help but carry some of these skewed values into their own relationships. Thus, many relationships and marriages of "normal people" today fail because the two individuals in the relationship have a wrong view of either a) how one should act and therefore "deliver" or b) what one can expect and therefore request of the other person. It makes me sick to realize that unrealistic ideas that are skewed by the media have caused God's heavenly gift of "making love" to be degraded to "casual sex."

2. ... And forgive us our sins as we forgive those who have sinned against us.
This is the "pathway to freedom," as our speaker, Kenny Jackson, put it. God has a very hard time getting through to us if we carry bitterness in our hearts. Forgiving another person often does even a greater good in the person who forgives than the person who is forgiven. Important: DO NOT dig up things from the past and hold them against a person if you have already forgiven him/her for it. And here is what struck me:
Several times in my life I have felt wrongly treated and have hoped to be asked for forgiveness by the one who hurt me. BUT Kenny Jackson highlighted that often the victim also needs to ask for forgiveness because he/she LET the other person hurt him/her. That means, by not speaking up in a situation that I could have, I ALLOWED the other person to take advantage of me and thus to sin. I have never looked at it that way and need to meditate more on it. It looks like I will have to ask some people for forgiveness...

Week 3 was Corporate Week. The founders of YWAM, Loren and Darlene Cunningham together with their friend David Hamilton, were the speakers for the week to the entire campus. Once again, I want to mention two points that stuck out to me.

1. You Cannot Steer a Parked Car
I have often heard the term "waiting on the Lord."And I have encountered people who have been sitting back and waited to hear from God about what to do in their lives before they would get up and do anything. And because they "do not hear anything," they remain seated. But God IS calling us already. He would like to give us directions but if we do not move forward, eager to hear His voice, He cannot guide our path. Just as you cannot steer a parked car.

2. Love Is a Choice
We often hear people talk about "falling in and OUT of love." Why is it then that some couples stay together even after the "butterflies" are gone? Or are they simply super-humans and the lovey-dovey feeling just never left them? The answer to this hit me like a hammer because of its simplicity:
Imagine a train. In a healthy relationship, your WILL is the LOCOMOTIVE, your MIND is the COAL WAGON and your FEELINGS are the CARS. If you choose to love someone for who he/she is (steering locomotive) and you devote your time, your life to this person (empowering source), then feelings of true love will follow (cars). However, if you try to let your lovey-dovey feelings rule your decisions (thus, you are letting your cars steer your locomotive), then you will most likely end up with a train-wreck.
Therefore: Guys, go and buy your girls flowers for no reason. Ladies, invite your husbands to go watch his favorite sports game. Because it's the little things and the constant practice of loving each other that make your love last. 

My wonderful roommate Grace took this series for a class assignment

Soo Many New Things...

South Point

Time is flying by and I don't even know where to start with my post this week. Well how about... I WILL BE GOING TO SOUTH AFRICA AT THE END OF JUNE! Last week, we were told our outreach options and everyone got to write down two or three choices. These were the options:
Mozambique, Cambodia, Asia, South Africa, Japan&Thailand, Philippines. And guess what - I got my first choice :) South Africa had actually been my first choice before I even knew it was an option... so I am pretty stoked!! In case you know of any contacts, places you've been to, or helpful information on South Africa, please send it my way :)

Green Sands Beach

But just as much as I am looking forward to my outreach, I am looking forward to every new day here in Kona. The leaders are wonderful, I get to watch a beautiful sunrise every night and I have started to take Hula lessons on Monday nights :)

NOT me :)

The weekdays are intense with a very scarce amount of free time but on the weekends we get to explore the island. This past Saturday, we went to South Point where a lot of our group members went cliff jumping (I did not jump - I'm already getting freaked out when I have to jump from a 3-meter board at a swimming pool!) and afterward we went to the Green Sands Beach. What a view! Half of the former volcano crater has been washed away and has transformed into a beach. The water there is crystal clear and the waves were so much fun!

On Sunday, I went to a Sunrise Easter Service at the old airport where many churches came together to celebrate our risen Lord. The service started at 6am and while we were watching traditional hula dancers dance and worship, the sun was coming up behind the mountains... It was a magical atmosphere. But what intrigued me the most on this beautiful Sunday morning was the elderly lady that was dancing among the beautiful young hula dancers. Watching her grabbed my heart and drew all of my attention to her. Since I love dancing and I have always been scared that I might, at some point, not be able to dance anymore due to possible health issues, this woman gave me an incredible sense of hope, perseverance, and passion. Walking in and walking off using her walker, she never for a second lost her gracefulness and dignity. Even though I don't know her name, she has instantly become one of my heroes!

After the early service, I went to a later service at Living Stones Church and met my new friend Travis: a native Hawaiian and former YWAMer, who took me and a classmate of mine to Kahaluu Beach for some snorkeling. The many colorful fish in the water somehow reminded me of multicolored Easter eggs... ;) And since Travis knew his way around, I even got to hold red sea-urgents and learned about Hawaii's state fish: The Humuhumunukunukuapua'a. According to Wikipedia, "It is often asserted that the Hawaiian name is one of the longest words in the Hawaiian language and that "the name is longer than the fish." ;)

The credits for this image of the
Humuhumunukunukuapua'a go to Wikipedia ;)

Sea turtles everywhere!

Did you know that these sea-urgents don't sting?

What else is new? I cracked my first fresh Macadamia nut this week, found out that my favorite earrings are made of Kukui nuts, and that leaving dirty dishes in the sink is a good enough reason for thousands of ants to pay us a visit within 30 minutes...

Day 8

... and it feels like we have lived together for months. Friendships build up easily, everybody has found their favorite spot in our outside dining area and almost everybody has started to show the beautiful island tan :)

However, it is very clear that this is no vacation: we are all leaving our rooms at 6:15am for breakfast and often don't get home from class and work duty until 9pm (with a 1-hour lunch break and 1-hour dinner break). I love it though! I am learning so much and I have already been challenged in many ways. For example, this week we have heard lectures on "Hearing God's Voice" and I realized that up until now, it seems like I have mostly had a one-way conversation with the Lord. I have to admit that most of the time I prayed to God, I was quite impatient and didn't take much time to listen to God's response. Taking my quiet time seriously, learning to listen deep inside myself and taking time to unwind (instead of rushing around all day, trying to keep busy) will be a challenge for me over the next couple of months.

Our piggies!

My work duty has started three days ago and while my roommates are working within Natural Farming (we have our own little farm on campus with pigs that eat our leftover foods!) or clean the buildings, I am working with the video department on campus! That means, we are recording the live-stream of the worship services on campus and help out with video projects. Even though the work is intense, I love the fact that I can bring my video skills to work!

And today we've found out that we will be doing community outreach as well as of next week. Once a week, our group will be working at the Hope Shelter and we'll work with the homeless of Kailua-Kona, offering classes like cooking, photography or hair braiding. I am sooooo excited for it :)

Our room, some of my lovely roommates, and one of our campus cats :)

But now it's the weekend and two of my roommates and I went downtown after dinner to explore the area. On our walk along the ocean, we got the chance to make leis and learn some hula dancing, buy fresh fruit at the farmers market and watch a beautiful sunset on our way home. I've already fallen deeply in love with the beauty of this precious island called Hawaii...

Everything Is Falling Into Place...

When I started my fundraising process, I would have NEVER imagined me saying this at some point:

Please hold your donations, I HAVE REACHED MY FINANCIAL GOAL! Isn't God truly amazing?? Just the other day I heard that another check might be coming in and today I know it for sure that, thanks to your donations, I will have enough support for my training and outreach! Who would have ever thought that a little German girl who grew up atheist would ever be able to raise the money to go on a mission trip? Certainly not I. For such a long time I was scared of walking in faith - planning on going on a mission trip with basically no money did not sound like a smart idea... But amazing things happen when you gather the courage to walk in faith and when you choose to rely on your family in Christ!

Therefore: THANK YOU once again for all of your support, I would have never been able to make it here without you! But please keep the prayers and encouragements coming, one can never have enough of those ;)

Living Stones Church

On Sunday, I went to an amazing church: it's called Living Stones Church and it is right by the ocean. The cool thing: there is indoor and outdoor seating!! But besides being beautiful, the church also has a great pastor and I have already made friends with some of the worship team. The sermon was about how God sometimes uses problems and pressure and other times future promises to lead us into the right direction. I could very well relate to that, being unsure for a long time if I was going into the right direction with my life and somehow problems in my life and promises of a bright future have lead me here. And therefore I have already signed up to volunteer at the Easter Service :) 

And more amazing things were happening over the past two days: Even though the 51 students of our class have only known each other for hours, everybody was willing to share so much about themselves in their testimonies that it now already feels like we have known each other for months! It doesn't only look like this is going to be a great semester; these first couple of days have proven that this our time here will form life-long friendships, transform our lives and is FOCUSED on God. 

On my way to class...

Well, God is good - all the time. And all the time - God is good. And right now He is REALLY good to me! He has been giving me so much through all of you and now I am already receiving so much love from the people here. And I will do my best to give back as much of it as I possibly can :) :) :)

By the way - in case anybody would like to know my address - here it is:

Kat Stahl

PhotogenX DTS - 2 nd Quarter 2011

University of the Nations

75-5851 Kuakini Hwy. #430

Kailua Kona, HI 96740-2136 USA

Blessings AND THANK YOU to all of you,

Kat

Aloha!

WOW - I have made it to the Kona YWAM base in Hawaii!! I'm sure you all know the feeling when you have waited for something for a long time and you have imagined what it would be like a thousand times... and then the moment is finally there and you can't really believe it or take it in at one time because it's far more, far greater than what you've expected it to be. That's where I am at right now :)


My first 2 days with YWAM have been full of wonderful new adventures and experiences:
The campus is beautiful, imagine Calvin College full of palm trees, tropical flowers and... mopeds!
There are 11 different nations represented in my mission photography class PhotogenX.
I am sharing my room with 4 Korean girls and one Canadian girl who are all super nice and polite.
We were welcomed by the Hawaiian culture with song, dance, and a fire show!
Target and Walmart are in walking distance (that's somehting I got really excited about)!
The second night we had an amazing worship time... no, it was more a God celebration :) :) :) People were dancing, jumping around, singing out loud, or simply praying for each other. Absolutely beautiful.
One personal favorite of mine: There is stray (but friendly and healthy looking) cats everywhere on the campus!!!

And then there are things that are not so nice:
Besides sharing a room with 5 other girls, we are also sharing it with a multitude of ants... Even when windows and doors are closed and the food is put away, they find their way inside.
Breakfast is between 6am and 7am.
I never knew that Hawaii has a loooot of rain... Even though it is very warm outside and you dry off quite easily, I wish I had brought my rain jacket.
However, the sun IS strong even though it's not sunny all the time and so I got my first real sunburn in years...

But there is nothing that can get me down right now! This place is wonderful and you can feel the presence of the Lord on this campus - you can see it in people's faces, you can hear it in their songs, and you know that God truly is the greatest artist when you walk past all the colorful flowers and wildlife.
I just got back from a day at the beach and an amazing game night (I now feel like I have already really gotten to know quite a few people from my class) and tomorrow a couple of my new friends and I will go church hopping :)

This has been an eventful and exciting weekend so far and I am looking forward to Monday for classes to start!

Getting Ready...

My dear friends --

Kenny is getting used to his new surroundings

It's getting close!! It's only a couple more days until I will leave for Hawaii to start my mission trip with YWAM. I am incredibly excited and, I must admit, a little scared. But doesn't it always include a leap of faith to get up and follow God's calling? Who would have ever thought that I, a German girl who grew up atheist, would ever go on a mission trip? Well, I've learned that God is always full of surprises :)

But I would never be able to do this alone. Thanks to all of you who have helped me get to this point, who have supported me mentally and financially and who have made me understand that loving your neighbor as yourself can be more than a line, it can be a lifestyle.
Thanks to many of you, I have been able to raise $9,235.00 thus far, which brings me incredibly close to my goal of $10,710.00!! It still seems like a miracle to me... And it is: it clearly points into the direction of the greatest miracle there is: Christ.

Home Sweet Home

The past couple of months back home in Germany have been wonderful. I got to eat great home-cooked meals (my mom's the BEST cook, of course!), I've been working and dancing at my old dance studio (where I once learned to dance), and at night, I've watched countless black-and-white movies with my parents :). It's been a long time since I have been able to spend time with my family like I have these days. However, even though I have enjoyed being back home, I have been eager to start my mission trip. Everything had fallen into place and it seemed like nothing could go wrong. But then the devastating news: Japan.


The world has been shaken by this tragic catastrophe and I cannot believe the immense sorrow and destruction March 11th, 2011 has brought to the people in Japan. Please make sure to think of them when you say your good-night prayers. And also since that day, my parents have become very worried about me going to Hawaii for the training part of my mission trip. The news channel N24 uttered that not only Japan, but also Hawaii and the U.S. west coast might be hit by further earthquakes or even possible tsunamis over the next couple of months. And then there is the terrifying possibility of higher radiation levels... Of course, Hawaii is not exactly "close" to Hawaii but it is close enough for parents to worry about their daughter. However, I am still convinced that going to Kona, HI to work with YWAM is the right decision and God's plan for me. Against all odds (mostly because I never believed that I would be able to raise enough money to go), I have got my visa and my flight tickets, my bags are packed and I am ready to take this new step in my live: going out into the mission field!
Please keep my parents in your prayers that they will not spend too much time worrying about my near future - and that their worries won't come true.

Beautiful North Sea

Thanks again to everyone of you for joining me on my journey.