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