So, here we are...Team Breuls first ever blog! This is for all our friends, family and anyone else who might be interested to know what wild adventures we get up to!
So, the first year (or so) of our marriage has been somewhat quiet. By His grace, God has given us this time to get established - in Him and with each other. It’s been wonderful, but we always knew that this time of ‘laying low’ would come to an end...
Our adventure begins on June 8 this year! We’ve bought a one-way ticket to Darwin and there’s no looking back!
A few folk have said, “Why Darwin? What’s there?!” Well, we will be going to serve as volunteers*, ‘Mission Builders’, for YWAM (Youth With A Mission) Outback (www.ywamoutback.org.au). We will be serving YWAM in whatever capacity they require - which could entail cleaning, cooking or whatever. We will also have opportunity to minister to the local community (including many backpackers that travel through during the dry season), surrounding Indigenous communities and countries all over the world, but particularly in south-east Asia.
We’re very excited about all the opportunities that lay ahead and can’t wait to see what God has in store...We both have a heart for youth, the poor and the marginalised, but particularly for Timor Leste (East Timor). Actually, it really has been a dream on my heart for quite a long time - a dream that Laurence has captured and made it his own too.
Why YWAM? (Try say that ten times, fast!;) As some of you know, I actually met Laurence when he was with YWAM Melbourne, doing a DTS (Discipleship Training School), which saw him travel to South Africa, then spending some time at Iris Ministries in Mozambique. (www.irismin.org). Since we’ve been married, both of us have had several dreams of being involved in YWAM - this was particularly unusual for me, since I had never officially been to YWAM! I always said that I believed we were meant to be involved in YWAM in some way, but I wasn’t sure what that would actually look like...
So, why YWAM Darwin? During one of my usual google searches on Timor, I stumbled upon the YWAM Outback website and my heart leapt for joy! Soon after, Laurence and I both had the idea of going to YWAM Darwin ‘drop’ into our minds at the same time! This particular YWAM base organises regular trips to Timor Leste as part of their ‘Mission Adventures’ (for year 9 -12 school students) and Justice & Mercy DTS. They also are the NT office for ARMS (Australian Relief & Mercy Services), which has a number of wonderful medical/relief projects throughout Australia, Timor and the world (www.arms.org.au).
[Laurence also had a cool prophetic dream recently about Darwin...In his vivid dream, there was a network of rivers instead of roads or paths, in which people happily travelled in - not swimming, but simply being carried in the flow. This abundance of water, flowing throughout Darwin, was not anything like a devastating flood, but we believe it represented the Holy Spirit, who is also referred to as 'rivers of living water' (John 7:38). We feel this is an exciting promise of the release of God's living Spirit into and through the people of this lil' city!]
YWAM Outback (Darwin) is also closely linked to a small YWAM base in Dili, the capital of Timor Leste. Again, there are many opportunities that this connection could present. Also, this could prove to be quite helpful in getting into Timor (and staying), since it is very difficult (near impossible) to obtain long-term visas for Timor Leste!
Although we will be volunteering full-time (up to 50 hours a week!), we also hope to do Bible School through John G Lake Ministries’ (www.jglm.org and www.jglm.com.au) ‘Dominion Bible Institute’ (DBI). Since our wedding, Laurence and I have received some training/teaching through John G Lake Ministries, particularly in the area of healing. However, the DBI gives a much broader scope of teaching to equip us to effectively live out the FULL Gospel of Jesus Christ - the Gospel of the Kingdom of God!
YWAM offers the perfect ‘culture’ to learn more about God and then to put what we learn into practice! Hallelujah!
As for how long we will stay in Darwin, we do not yet know. However, we do believe that the relationship with YWAM will be ongoing, in some form or another...
Here is a scripture that I believe sums up what we are called to do:
14 For the love of Christ compels us, because we judge thus: that if One died for all, then all died; 15 and He died for all, that those who live should live no longer for themselves, but for Him who died for them and rose again.
16 Therefore, from now on, we regard no one according to the flesh. Even though we have known Christ according to the flesh, yet now we know Him thus no longer. 17 Therefore, if anyone is in Christ, he is a new creation; old things have passed away; behold, all things have become new. 18 Now all things are of God, who has reconciled us to Himself through Jesus Christ, and has given us the ministry of reconciliation, 19 that is, that God was in Christ reconciling the world to Himself, not imputing their trespasses to them, and has committed to us the word of reconciliation.
20 Now then, we are ambassadors for Christ, as though God were pleading through us: we implore you on Christ’s behalf, be reconciled to God. 21 For He made Him who knew no sin to be sin for us, that we might become the righteousness of God in Him.
2 Corinthians 5:14-21 (NKJV)
Be blessed!
Love C & L x
* Although volunteers, we will be required to pay a set amount towards food and accommodation, while living at the YWAM Outback base in Darwin.
