Bye Bye Amsterrrr.

Today was our last day in this incredible city... Its sad to say goodbye. We went to the Van Gogh museum today, and saw some awesome art.. maybe i'll be an artist ;) -ya know, Vincent did have any talent when he picked up art...

Then we got some last minute things like the famous cookie, stroopwafles... so delicious. We came back here and had some debriefing time. We talked about our feelings alot... i'm gonna miss talking about our feelings every night. Tomorrow we are leaving for the aiport at dark:30... that will be interesting... you can always say a prayer for that. Earlier tonight we got to sit in a circle and encourage each other and build each other up before we left for good... It was humbling. I cant believe i'm leaving these girls... I feel like we've become a family in the last 10 days...

So here is to all you people who have constantly been praying over us and encouraging us and lifting us up. We have been on top of the world here, no evil has come near us, and we've had the time of our lives seeing what God has in store for this city. We would never have felt this good about our health and our safety if it hadn't been for you guys back home. I am so thankful for that ;)

The same God that built this city resides in it. He has a plan for it and for its people. He hasn't forgotten it, and never will. He is victorious, whether we help Him or not... it was time for me to stand up and be counted, thank you guys for being a part of this journey with me. It has been nothing short of phenomenal.

Be praying for safe flights tomorrow and business class ;) , cant wait to be back on U.S. soil :)

LOVELOVELOVE YOU :)

Boom Boom Pow (NEW VIDEO)

Today we went to Haarlem, Holland. It's another city that is home of the Corrie Ten Boom house. We got to experience her house, which was nothing short of unbelievable. If you dont know who she is, she was a woman that helped hide jews in WWII... The hiding place was about the size of a small walk-in closet. People hid in there for 2 and a half days without leaving at one point! I love learning about people in history who stand against injustice, regardless of what that might mean for their status, or health, or life goals. I hope that I would have the strength to do that. Haarlem is a beautiful city, WAYY more chill than Amsterdam. Definitely not as many tourists.

Then after that we went to Moses and Melissa's house for dinner. They went out on a date after dinner, and we stayed there and babysat. Except the baby was sleeping, so we watched a movie on prostitution... it didnt catch my interest, so I read Blue Like Jazz.. When the movie was over Calley and I decided to do some entertaining, we made up and performed a dance thats skill level was equivalent to a 7th grade drill team routine. (see below) Its always nice to be easily entertained.

Tomorrow is Mady, Shelby and I's last day in the city :( We are going to have quiet time in the Red Light in the morning, and then hit up a few more museums... I've been wanting to paint all day, and we are going to see Van Gogh :) I'm excited. Then we will probably meet up with some of the ladies from YWAM for the last time... and then i'll be heading home.

I'm so thankful that God had a mighty plan for this week for me and the team. Thank you guys so much for constantly praying for us. We could not have done this without you. We learned so much, and have been impacted in so many ways. I know this week was a multitude of divine appointments, no doubt. I can't wait to see you guys all back in the states and tell you all about it :)

Expectin' a Miracle :)

LOVE LOVE LOVE.

Spinning the Globe.... :)

Hey Everyone, I'm sorry i didnt update last night, The internet here wasn't working, and i had to wake up early this morning. Yesterday was a day full of serving!! We woke up and went to The Cleft and cleaned the whole building, while a few of the girls baby sat. Then that night the six of us made dinner for a Women's bible study with some of the women who used to work behind the windows! It was so awesome. We made homemade pizza, and it was delicious... just call us chefs. This picture is of us sitting at dinner with the girls. I got to sit next to one of them at the actual bible study and she was precious. They all spoke spanish, which i'm obviously not fluent in, so she was laughing at me for not being able to speak her language. But i did get to help her find where we were at in the bible... I think she appreciated that. She was trying to teach me some spanish words.. "Campana" means bell :) The church bells kept going on outside during our study. She told Edna that she wanted to take me home with her :) hahah... I'm so thankful that i got to meet them. We will be "sisters" forever :) -Last night was a lot of fun, they were some of the most joyful ladies i've met here. We talked about the fruits of the spirit, and they were so excited that they could have peace and joy and patience and love... Edna asked them if they wanted all those things, and they didnt hesitate to say yes! It was a blast, to say the least :)

Thanks for praying everyone!!

"Make someones day..."

-Kirby

His Light Floods the Darkness

Last night was the most powerful thing I have ever experienced, hands down. It was so awesome. I think when we put our heart and our feelings on the shelf and let God pray through us, the power of God comes alive. I would have never thought that we would walk out of the Red Light and agree that it was a good experience.

Before i came here, my biggest prayer request was that God would hold me together. I have a habit of feeling with other people feel, and i knew that i would break when i got here. "Through Him, all things hold together." Col 1:17. We talked about letting go of our own feelings before we went last night, so that instead of wanted to drop-kick the men we saw gawking at the women, we would pray for them instead.

So what we did was walk down one street, and then regroup and pray specifically for those women and men down that aisle. It was cool the way that God was speaking with one voice to all of us. God was affecting us all in different ways for sure, but he was telling us to all pray for the same things for each set of women. The first aisle was for strength, it had a strong depression/suicidal feeling to it. The second aisle was for their purity in their hearts, that someday they would wear a white dress again, and know that they deserved to. The third one was filled with drop dead gorgeous women, like they were the untouchables. They had a strong mask on, and it seemed like the majority of the men that were around them were the guys that would never get a girl like them. Those girls have no idea how beautiful they really are. We prayed for their wall to break, and for godly women to step into their lives and tell them something true. Next was a street of older women and transvestites. We prayed for the feeling of failure and depression and identity confusion to leave. I can only imagine being 40 to 50 years old and feeling like "this is what my life has come to". We prayed for the men who are confused and lost and that they would begin to look for a way out, and when they cried out "Why, God" that God would show up and comfort them.

We prayed a lot for our protection, and I thank YOU guys so much for praying for us too, because of those prayers we didnt feel anxious or worried or afraid at any point. Which is a huge praise report. Then, we regrouped and prayed over the city as a whole.

The experience was breath taking, and I'm so blessed that I got to experience it. Tomorrow we are serving alot. Some of us will be babysitting, some of us will be cleaning, and then later on we will be meeting with some of the prostitutes who attend a bible study. Me, Mady and Shelby will be meeting with them because we are leaving on Thursday. So keep that in your prayers.

LOVE LOVE LOVE YOU :)

kirby

Be Still and Know that I am God

This is our quiet time today in the Red Light. The purpose was to learn that God still speaks amidst the darkness. It was cool to watch the people walking by and pray for them; for their lives, and for their jobs, and for their families, and for whatever path they find themselves on.

Then we went to the market today and looked at some sweet cultural stuff... We got a few journals and bracelets and things, while doing so we met a few of the owners and got to talk to them about Amsterdam, and where their from, and their outlook on the city. One women told us that she was born here, and that its way to crowded... I love the diversity, but I wonder if i felt the same if I lived here.

Later tonight we are going to meet up with the Kansas City group, and Melissa and we are going to go back through the Red Light. Be praying for that :)

There is a wedding at the base today, don't be surprised if we crash it :)

For we are God's masterpiece. He has created us anew in Christ Jesus, so we can do the good things He planned for us long ago. Eph. 2:10

We all get to be saved by the grace of God. Not just some of us. Not just the ones raised in a christian home. Not just the ones who stayed married. Not just the ons who were "saved at four, and there ain't no more" Not just the ones who are sexually pure, not just the sober ones. But also the ones who beat Jesus, and the stoned ones, and the girls behind the window, and the corrupted men, and the drug dealer and the porn star. We are all children of the mighty, living God. He makes All things new. We were created to make manifest the glory of God. To love God, and to love people. to encourage each other and to pray for one another.

-Kirby

Red Light

This place is incredible. Today was really heavy. We went through the Red Light today, and prayed and prayed and prayed. God is not invisible when we come alive. I love watching His work. We learned a lot today in many different ways. We got to experience the darkness of this place. I've never been in a darker place in my life. The presence of satan was powerful; however, the power of Christ overwhelms it. The corruption in the eyes of the men in the Red Light was so evident. It was like they were burning with lust and rage. The women are so broken. Its so visible in their eyes that their hearts are just burdened. They wear thick masks and try to disconnect from their emotions. At first I was angry. I was thinking, "How could these men put these women through this, and when did girls become toys instead of human beings?" Jesus reminded me that They are hurting. Hurting people hurt people. Tomorrow we are going back, but not for us. Not to see what we can get out of it, but rather to be a light in the darkness. It will be difficult, to say the least. But, who am I to tell the Creator of these people and this city no? Please continue to pray for this place and us as we walk these streets in prayer. We've all been praying Psalm 91. Thank you all for praying for me and rest of my team. We are loving being in the presence of God in such a real place. update tomorrow!!

Kirby

"Blessed is He who is pure in heart..."

The same God that paints the sky in Tulsa, paints this sky in Amster :) i love it. I love the diversity in this world that we aren't exposed to until we step outside of our comfort zones. Today was so intense. We got to see Anne Franks house... it was real quiet in there, and i came out with kind of a heavy heart. Something that really stuck out to me was a quote on the wall that said, "Here lies one story. If we knew the other 103,000 stories of people who didn't survive, we would be too overwhelmed to go on."

We went to a meeting with two ladies who do missions here, Melissa and Edna. They educated us on some of the stories and struggles they have experienced with the prostitutes. I feel like that lesson keeps showing up; everyone has a story.

Then we got to meet another group here thats from Kansas City from the International House of Prayer. They are here to do "prophetic observing". We got to talk to a guy who was leading the group, he had a lot of interesting things to say. He definitely brought power with his words. I love the way God speaks through people who are willing to bring the word.

We didn't go on the prayer walk today, but i think it was best that we talked about somethings before we saw it. I'm really excited about what's going on here, and I can't wait to watch God's plan unfold. Be praying about tomorrow's adventures. Cant wait to tell you guys all about it.

Thanks for keeping up with me, Cant wait to see you all :)

LOVE YOU !

(kylie, this picture is for you :) )