Thankful for the end of this season, looking ahead!

Wow! I can’t believe it’s the middle of September already and that in less than two weeks I’ll be in Kenya, Africa! Preparing to leave mentally and spiritually is harder the closer take off day comes. I am full of expectation and excitement! Sometimes I think about the experiences in front of me and all I can do is cry in anticipation. I was created to love children and this is a dream come true and a promise fulfilled.  This summer has been full of amazing experiences. It’s had its ups and downs but in everything I saw God working, I saw Him moving. Once again I was overwhelmed by Gods faithfulness.  I want to take time to thank Him for His blessings He gave me in this last season.

First I have been blessed with an amazing church family, something I thought I would never let happen again. I always thought that’d I attend church but never be part of a “family” It’s so funny how God will smash down the walls you build up if you’ll just let Him. Pastor Dan and Cheri along with Pastor Les and Belinda have shown God’s love in real life. They live the life they talk and are examples of the ministry I hope to have one day. My church family has accepted me for who I am, they love me through my weirdness and for my weirdness :) They each support and encourage me in special ways and I will always be grateful for that.

In July I got to spend time in Drain with amazing people. Pastor Jonathan and Cheryl did a great job with camps and I was blessed to be able to serve with them. I saw a heart for the young people in our district that blew me away. They created an atmosphere that was free where God came and ministered to young people and children. It was an unforgettable experience! Pastor Vernon, Tina, and the team from Cali were awesome! I’ll never forget the girls! (thanks again for the video) I was able to reconnect with old friends and make new ones that I’ll cherish for a lifetime. Even though I went to serve I was blessed beyond measure from the girls and young women who were in my cabin that I was able to pour into to the encouragement I received from the leaders and other pastors. Kids camp with PB and Amanda was so much fun and I’ll never forget that Jesus is my superhero.  Each day I pray that God will continue to bless this ministry to raise up a generation that’s gonna change this world.

Over the course of the summer I had the opportunity to meet some of the most amazing women ever. There are way too many to name them all, but they know who they are! I was encouraged by them in different ways but they all made a lasting impact. Susan, Eva Ann, and Eva are some of the godliest women I have met in my life and they are truly anointed to do what they do. They spread the love of Jesus everyday in a way that many couldn’t. I was amazed at the amount of grace I watched these women give. They are truly an inspiration. I had an instant heart connection with Miss Nancy and once again I felt like I had a grandma. She is one of the strongest women I have ever met. She has endured so much and is still pressing on. She is a picture of endurance and perseverance.  I am very thankful the friendships that were formed with many more women and I will always take a piece of them with me in my heart.

Of course I have many other friends who have encouraged me along my journey. I have been given a great blessing for many years with a best friend who is always my number one fan. Erin Beth has stood beside me in the good and the bad for a long time. She’s always supported me and encouraged me to be who I am and do what I really want to do. I could never have the words to explain what her friendship has done for my soul.

This summer once again I was blessed by getting to spend time with Margo! I still can’t believe it’s been 6 years since graduation and she still lights up my life. I was able to reconnect with a childhood friend who has always been dear to my heart and even after all these years I felt like we never missed a beat. Britni will always be special to me. Jeffy and Katie have been faithful friends for many years and I’m so excited for the new seasons of life they’re each entering.

In Stephanie God has given me someone who understands where I’ve been and where I want to go. She is someone who cheers me on in a way no one else could. On top of that she is my humor twin and we all need someone that. Every time I get together with her and Teresa we always laugh until it hurts and I’ve learned that laughter is really a good medicine!

Over the last 4 years God has given me a mentor/role model/friend in Julia. She’s been with me in some of the roughest times of my life. God in her saved my life during “that one terrible summer of 2009” Her love and encouragement made it possible for me to do hard things and move forward. I can honestly say that without her I wouldn’t be where I am today, and I wouldn’t be the woman I am. I will forever be thankful that she took me into her heart, home, and family.

I don’t have enough time to thank everyone special in my life but you are all so important to me in your own way and many of you have helped me step into who I am today. I am forever grateful for that.

My time in Eugene is drawing to an end. Sure I’ll be back in March but I am certain things will never be the same again. As I look ahead to a new season I thank God for the season that is ending. I thank God that He works all things together for my good and that He is faithful to His promises.

Please remember to pray for me as I head to Kenya. Pray for protection and continued provision. If you’d like to write me my address in Kenya is:

Amanda Perkins
YWAM
P.O.Box 59443-00200
Nairobi, Kenya

Thank you all for your love, encouragement, support, and prayers!

Looking forward to this new season and stepping into my calling.

All my love Amanda

The small stuff

I'm down to 41 days before I leave for Kenya! I cannot believe it's so close. As the date (Sept 27th) is approaching I'm working on getting all the small things together. There are so many little things you forget you need day to day because you have complete access to them here.
I'm trying to make lists and be organized (never my favorite thing) but at the same time trying not worry about it because I know God has it under control!
I need your prayers! Prayers that God would continue to bless me and provide (He's done great things already!) Prayers that all the final details would come into place without too much stress. Prayers that God would prepare my heart and mind for the amazing journey ahead.
I know this is short but as we all know time  is valuable :) I'll update more soon!

I can't believe it's been 5 years.

Five years ago I lost all hope.I lost the one thing that I thought made me important and valuable. I lost something that I thought I could control. I became very bitter and angry. I was mad at God. I was so hurt and felt so alone and I thought that God was punishing me. I couldn't figure out what I had done to deserve this.

Most people would think that since I grew up in church I would know that God doesn't punish people, that God is a good God and He can only give good things. But that wasn't a revelation I had had yet.

I thought my life ended on June 20th, 2006. I didn't want to go on living because I didn't see the point. I decided that the best way to live from that point on was with a bottle in my hand. I wasn't 21 yet but I found a way to feed my addiction. Drinking seemed to be the only way to numb my pain. Being drunk was the only time I didn't feel anything. I could pretend that my life was all fun and that I was a happy person. I pushed almost everyone away from me and the few friends I did keep, I influenced in ways I wish I never would have.

I spent a whole year slowly killing myself. I learned that sin can be really fun, but only for a season.  When the drunkenness would wear off I knew two things. 1) What I was doing was wrong and 2) this wasn't the person I wanted to be. I had lost myself. I had lost who I was and who I wanted to be. When I lost hope, I lost me.

I knew what I needed to do, I knew where I needed to turn, but I didn't know if I could. So much damage had been done. So many lines had been crossed. Had I gone too far? I wondered if I was outside of God's grace. Would God still love me? Could God still love me? I didn't love me, I didn't even like me, so why would I think that God would?

I finally decided that I would try to find God. I know that sounds lame because God wasn't lost, but I was. (Someone reading this who doesn't know me very well may think I'm being dramatic but there had been some things that had happened in my life in the years leading up to 2006 that turned me away from God and church) I started attending a church with my friend, believe me it was rough going at first. It took me awhile to open up and let God back into my life. I would sit in church and listen to the Pastor and think to myself that it's all a big joke. How could God be loving and merciful but still allow terrible things to happen? I knew deep down inside of me that God was calling me, He was pursuing me, but I had no idea why. I attended a ladies retreat with one of the youth pastors and some young women from my church and that was a huge turning point in my life. God showed up for me. He came and He spoke directly to me, something I hadn't experienced in a long time. (Because I hadn't allowed Him to)

After that ladies retreat things were different. I'm not gonna say that everything was magically better, because it wasn't. I'm not gonna say that all of a sudden life was easy, because it wasn't. But I knew from that point on that God still loved me, that He loved me the whole time. That even in my anger and rebellion that God still had a plan for me.
I have spent the last few years re-learning things about God and myself. I've learned that God is good and the He's in a good mood. I've learned that God loves to laugh, He's not all business. I learned that God doesn't cause disease, sickness, or illness because He doesn't have those things. How can you give away something you don't have? I've learned that God wants my worth to be found in Him, not in the ability or inability to have children. I've learned that God never gave up on me (and He'll never give up on you) He is faithful!

So here it is, five years since I had to have a hysterectomy, and I have hope again. I'm about to set out on a glorious adventure with God that will fulfill my deepest desire and my biggest dream, it's my own personal miracle. God picked me up out of the pit and walked with me to the top of the mountain. Sure, I feel down along the way, but together we made it. Believe me it's not always easy, and sometimes it hurts more than words can express but I know deep down that God will always be with me. He'll always be holding me. And on the days when it hurts the worst I remind myself that God will always love me and that He adores me just for being me, and somehow that's enough. God's enough for me!

"And the One who sent me is with me. He has not deserted me" John 8:29

My crazy journey begins!!

I'm writing to update you on what's going on in my life. At the end of September I will leave for the journey of a lifetime. I'll be leaving Portland, Oregon and flying almost 10,000 miles to Nairobi, Kenya. After arrviving in Kenya I'll be attending YWAM (Youth With A Mission) DTS (Discipleship Training School). DTS is a 20 week hands on mission training. The first 12 weeks will be classroom training at Athi River mission base. Along with classroom training there will be man opportunities to help the people the base reaches out to, mainly orphans and nearby schools.

The last 8 weeks of DTS is outreach. My fellow students, leaders, and I will be packing out backpacks and heading out hiking to many villages to help the needy people in Kenya. We'll spend time fufilling the Great Commission (Go therefore and make disciples of all the nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, teaching them to observe all things that I have commanded you; and lo, I am with you always, even to the end of the age.” Matthew 28:18-20) by going forth and sharing God's love by being His hands and feet.

As I prepare physically, mentally, and spiritually for the journey ahead of me, I continually thatnk God for His calling on my life and His faithfulness in all His promises. For many years I've felt the calling to be a missionary on my life. That along with a buring desire to go to Africa since I was 8 has led me to this season in my life. When I combine the calling and passion with God's promises to me (He grants the barren woman a home, Like a joyful mother of children.-Psalm 113:9 “Sing, O barren, You who have not borne! Break forth into singing, and cry aloud, You who have not labored with child For more are the children of the desolate Than the children of the married woman,” says the LORD.“ Enlarge the place of your tent, And let them stretch out the curtains of your dwellings; Do not spare; Lengthen your cords, And strengthen your stakes. For you shall expand to the right and to the left, And your descendants will inherit the nations, And make the desolate cities inhabited." -Isaiah 54:1-3) I have nothing but excitement and anticipation for the things that will happen during my time in Kenya.

Over the next few months I need to have around $4000 for travel expenses and DTS fees. I know that God will be faithful in providing for me to answer His call. Since being accecpted to DTS God's already blessed me with a job and a supportive church family who is helping as much as they can. I know that God is blessing me, but there is no way I can do this without your support. Your prayers are the biggest way you can support me.
Specific prayer requests are:
1. For my health, now and as I travel to Kenya. Protection from any disease or illness. Malaria is a big concern for people in Kenya.
2. The financial provision I need. Besides airfare and DTS fees there are many items I'll need to be taking with me.
3. For spiritual protection. I know that the fight is not always physical. (For we are not fighting against flesh-and-blood enemies, but against evil rulers and authorities of the unseen world, against mighty powers in this dark world, and against evil spirits in the heavenly places. Ephesians 6:12) As I get ready to leave and travel I'm sure there will opposition and with your prayers and God's help, I know I will be victorious!

If you would like to get e-mail updates while I'm in Kenya please send a e-mail to:
amandainkenya2011@yahoo.com
E-mail will be my main souce of communication while I'm gone.

Any financial support can be sent to my church, they have started a account for me. If you would like additional information on that please call or e-mail me.

Thank you for your prayers, love, and friendship. You are all very special to me!

Excited for my future with Him,
Amanda

541-817-4641
amandainkenya2011@yahoo.com