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 :) )

DWAZE ZAKEN

This is the outrageous place that we went to dinner tonight :) It means "The Foolish Things." it's the Christian Cafe that YWAM runs in the city. I've been trying to learn some Dutch words, and this is the only one i've gotten around to... So, anywho... We got our luggage! I think this disaster was kind of a blessing in disguise. I mean, we didn't have to carry all of our heavy stuff though the city, and we experienced what the majority of the world does on a daily basis, wearing the same thing everyday. Also, Cool News: Since we are still experiencing jet lag we all passed out real early last night, and woke up again about 3 hours later. but i have this sweet window right by my bunk that looks out over the streets. It gave me the opportunity to pray for the city for what seemed like forever. There was a woman sitting at the bus stop the entire night. Every time i woke up i saw her. I have no idea what her story is, however i know she has one. I love the way God does that sometimes, wakes you up just to open your eyes.

Also, the base has a prayer tower that looks out onto the entire city of Amsterdam. This morning we went up there and had our group/alone time. We prayed that God will give us the right message to speak, and that the people around us will be open to what is going to be shared. Now, we are beginning to watch God move.

Just got back from a Discipleship Training meeting with the students from YWAM. Among about 35 students, over 12 different languages were represented. All different cultures with all the same passion.

Tomorrow we are going to the Anne Frank House, learning more about trafficking through some videos, and then we are doing a Prayer Walk through the Red Light District... be praying for that. I'm sure it will be intense.

We are all really excited about what God is doing in and around us. I'll continue to keep you updated as often as i can :)

"Break my heart for what breaks yours..."

SOME PLANT, SOME WATER, AND SOME REAP THE HARVEST.

we made it to Amsterdam!! After a flight that was too delayed to take, a switch in flights, receiving Business Class on the new air plane, and our luggage getting misplaced, we are finally here. The journey has just begun, and it has already been unbelievable. This has got to be the most beautiful and diverse city on the planet. In the transportation alone I've seen some people on bikes, some on buses, some in cars, and I've even seen a horse. Although we haven't done anything very productive today, the spirit of God is so evident. The city itself its really intense, but when I stop and look at the buildings and water and people surrounding me, I sense the hugeness of God.

I love the way God speaks in the simplest of ways; through the people that are closest to me, and through people that i've never met. I was reading a letter that i received before i left, and the words hit me hard when i was in the setting that I am called to be in. COMPLETELY FEARLESS, ABSURDLY HAPPY, AND IN CONSTANT TROUBLE. disciples of christ; thats what I hope to be forever; fearless, happy, and vulnerable. I think God's work is so powerful when we are in a vulnerable stage. Its a hard place to be, but it is then that we realize how powerless we are alone. His power shines through, every single time. He rescues me when I need to be rescued. Since I know that he will rescue me, I can trust Him to take care of me when I take a leap of faith, when I climb a "mountain", or when I'm stuck in rut. It's a backstabbin' world, but Greater is He who is in me, than he who is in the world. It's a scary, beautiful, dysfunctional, extraordinary place... and i don't think i could have been called here in a greater time than this.

...the Lord will fulfill his purpose for me. Psalm 138.

"I'm not afraid... I was born to do this." -Joan of Arc

Alright so... I was sitting outside in my backyard with my family the other night and I began thinking about all the times I have already encountered God through this trip thus far and i havent even left yet... When i started talking to my parents about going to Amsterdam they had no idea who was taking us, when I would be going, how I would be getting there, and the list goes on.
When i got the first email about the trip, i remembered asking God to give my parents some kind of peace about me going whether it be them knowing someone or which ever way He wanted. I met them at dinner that night and showed them the email i had printed off and shortly after reading it, my mom says, "I know Calley Crews' parents!" (the woman who is taking us) Cool, i know :)
I remember talking to my mom about the financial aspect of the trip and telling her that if i was truly supposed to go, God would provide, and he would find a way for me to go regardless of how much money it required. Its cool the way God moves in a natural way. All of my support money and plus some came in within about two weeks.
So here I am, believing that God will continue to go before me, that He has a plan for me and the women that i am going with, and that He will work in such a way that only He can. And that He will not only speak through me to the Women of Amsterdam, but that He will also speak to me through them.

To those of you who are following this blog and praying for me, here are some of my prayer requests:
-Pray that i will encounter with the exact women that I am supposed to meet.
-Pray for our safety in our travel, PLEASE.
-Pray that God will show others Hope, Healing, and Love through my hands and my feet and my story.
-Pray that God will hold me together, we all know how emotionally draining this will be.
-Pray that we, as a team, will be spiritually and mentally prepared for what is to come.
-Pray that the women that we will meet with be prepared for the message we are bringing.
-Pray that God will create divine appointments for each of us.

I am so thankful that I get to rest assured that God goes before me and prepares a way for me.

-Kirby

Hey Everyone !

This is where you will be able to catch up with me each day while I am in Amsterdam ! Thank you all for supporting me. I am so thankful that you have chosen to be a part of this journey with me. I am going to do my best to keep this updated each day. Look around, read along, and enjoy !

Love you all ,
Kirby