Just the Begining

  As our third week here in St. Croix comes to an end, the team is filled with an eager excitement for the weeks to come. We celebrated the new year by watching Aladdin, playing cards, and eating delicious snacks

  On Sunday morning Hanna, Mindy, and Melissa Birdsong were given the opportunity to share their testimonies with the St. Croix Christian Church. At the end of the service the pastor had the girls stay up front and asked the congregation to come and recieve prayer from the girls if either of the testimonies had touched them or related to them in some way.  The girls had a wonderful time praying and encouraging the people who came forward and felt that God moved in an amazing way that day. Later the team was informed that three people came to the Lord that day!

Mindy starting off the morning, Hanna and Melissa right beside her

  This past week we spent some more time in the projects. The Lord has really been showing us that while we are here, the projecst will be one of our teams main ministries. Monday and Wedsnesday we spent the afternoon with the kids in the Kennedy project, And tuesday afternoon we spent time at Paradise Mills. At both projects during the week we brought books with us. We were suprised at how many kids wanted to read with us! But what was more suprising was their level of reading. We had them sound out the words they didn't know, but it was challenging for them to put the sounds into the word and say it all together. Our team was so touched by how much they long to learn. It was incredible to see their determination to read and figure the words out. We have felt the Lord leading us to have afterschool programs with them and little bible studies. So next week we will begin incorporating Jesus in more ways while we spend time with the kids.

Mindy with Aquoi

Leah reading with the kids

We also had the kids in the Kennedy project pick up trash one day! And we were all suprised at how excited and willing the kids were to clean up. We picked up at least a dozen bags full of trash and the kids loved it!!

Melissa B, Melissa J, Solveig, and Malene pose for a picture with the kids in their gloves!

Solveig with some of the younger children

  Tuesday and Wednesday morning we went to the Lighthouse Mission to help feed the homeless and also bless the ministry by painting and organizing their food storage room. The leaders were so greatly blessed and said it looked great. We have had such a great time at the Lighthouse Mission. And have some more opportunites to help them expand thier ministry. Josh has been using his technology skills working on a newsletter for them so they can mail out the things that the Lord is doing in the Mission. So that has been one way our team has been able to bless them. Leah shared the message on Friday. She shared her testimony and talked about the gifts God has given each individual and  how he has placed a destiny and calling on every life he has created.

Some of us girls painting away :)

  Thursday we spent the day having team time and preparing for a movie night with the congregation of St. Croix Christian Church. We decorated in a Hawaiin theme because our team is from Hawaii and the movie we would be watching was about a surfer from Hawaii. Our team prepared a Hula dance for them. And we shared a video of the Ironman triathalon that we were a part of during DTS. Malene shared a little after the clip about how God gives us dreams we are only able to accomplish if we depend completely on him! We then watched the movie Soul Surfer. A true story about a young surfer named Bethany Hamilton whose arm was bitten off by a shark, yet she persevered and continued surfing. Bethany and her family were Christians and in the movie they protrayed that. The bible verse that helped them through the ordeal was Philippians 4:13 "I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me." A verse that I am sure brings hope and strength to all who face trails in life.

The girls dressed up in Hawaiin attire for our Hula

  Friday after we got back from the Lighthouse Mission when Leah preached, we sepnt the rest of the day in 24.7 prayer. We started at ten in the morning and went to ten in the morning on Saturday. We spent time in worship and prayer for the churches here in St. Croix. We had personal deviton time. And we spent most of the evening praying into the different opportunities and doors the Lord has opened up for us. He gave us so many things to do and we got so excited as we prayed into different areas and what his plan was for us in each one. We also drove into Christiansted and prayed as we drove through the night activity, interceding for the people. God has been showing us his heart in so many ways. Our time on the island will make a lasting difference, not just in the physical, but in the spiritual. Lord we are ready for all that you have for us!!

Happy New Year from St. Croix!!!

St. Croix Team New Years Resolutions:

Solveig: I have never been into new year resolutions

Melissa Jensen: To create more, love more, laugh more, and radiate the beauty of the Lord in everything I do.  

Jared: I dont do those

Hanna: To fall more in love with Jesus everyday and live that out in my life!

Mindy: To read the whole bible by the end of outreach.

Leah: To go to the beach at least once a week for the rest of the year!

Joo: To have patience

Josh: To learn how to play the guitar for worship

Malene: I don't have one

Melissa B: To know the Holy Spirit in a more intimate way 

                       YWAM logo created out of license plates by one of the staff here at At. Croix