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New home :)

Mon, 31 Jan 2011 16:54:45 -0800

So I’ve decided to stop blogging on this site. I can only access this website from my computer so I’ve decided to take a new route. If you want to keep updated on what I’m doing please do at: http://surprisedtobeloved.tumblr.com/

Here you will find literally everything I’m doing and I can access it from all over the world :) Which will make life a lot easier for all of us when I go overseas.

Thanks for caring enough to read this ;)

How Fickle My Heart and How Woozy My Eyes

Fri, 31 Dec 2010 21:03:25 -0800

So I figured I would write one more blog for the year.  First New Year’s Resolution: Blog More :)

I look back over my year and realize how incredibly life changing and spectacular it was.

I’ve hung out with orphans, prostitutes, and widows in Africa. I’ve seen kids lives changed because of the things that God has done in my life. I got to work with some of my best friends while staffing Mission Adventures. I got to act, sing, dance, and be silly all for the sake of Christ! I’ve traveled to Canada to run a ministry I whole heartedly believe in. I spoke in my first DTS about being a voice for the voiceless in Kauai. I’ve made friends and lost friends. I’ve had my heart broken and healed. I’ve had my life change while being a part of other’s lives being changed. I’ve seen God move in ways I never would have imagined. I’ve been poor and I’ve been blessed. I’ve been homesick and happy to be home. I’ve cried, blushed, laughed, and screamed.
If for some reason I had to relive this year I would do it. It was incredibly overwhelming, but incredibly rewarding!

I’ve finally come to the realization that I’ve been through a lot more than most people in my life. This time of being home has been a great time of healing.
I think the first time I really realized it was a few days ago when I was curled up on my parents bed crying about how I just want to stop talking about injustice, and fair trade, and cancer, and all the bad things in life and I want to replace it with things like Disneyland, and Modern Family, and Puppies.
Selfish. I know. And I realized how selfish I was being which made me cry even more.
My heart is split up in many pieces. I long to be in Africa with my kids. I long to be in Thailand with the prostitutes. I long to be in Oregon with my like-minded YWAMers. I long to be home in California with my family and childhood friends. And lastly I long to be everywhere I haven’t been. I want to go to the unreached. I want to try to different things and go on more adventures! I want to see the world that God made for us to discover!

Yesterday I was driving with one of my closest friends, she is practically a sister, she’s a missionary too. We spent an hour and a half going to a friend’s house. Almost the whole time we cried together about the things we’ve seen and the people we want to save. We talked about injustice, and at the same time we talked about how Good God is.

And that is what I’m choosing to focus on. The Goodness of my God.

So God please show me more of your goodness this year.

I’m in desperate need of it.

Merry Christmas Eve Eve

Thu, 23 Dec 2010 21:56:52 -0800

It’s Christmas time once again and I have the amazing privilege of being home with my family and some of my best friends. I have been so constantly overwhelmed by what God is doing here. He has blessed me more than I can even try to explain. People’s generosity is incredible.

God’s provision for me has never ceased to astound me. It’s always at the point where I have nothing that God fills me up again. “God is my Shepherd, I won’t be wanting.” I shouldn’t want because I have all that I need. I have a family, a roof over my head, more food than any one really needs, and I have an incredible relationship with the Creator of the universe. It’s like the quote in the play Oliver! “Take it and be thankful.”

I wonder what it was like for the shepherds so long ago to have a multitude of angels come to the them. They were the lowest of the low, and yet God chose to have them be a part of something that was going to radically shape the rest of eternity. Wow! Sometimes I feel like those shepherds. I’m just a young girl from a small town in Southern California, and God has chosen me to be a part, no matter how big or small, in His story. I am privileged.

Or what about the Wise Men! They walked for years and they kept following that star! I wonder how many times they questioned their own sanity?! Or got sick of each other’s company? Or wondered if it was all going to be worth it! Oh what patience. I can’t say I’m anything like the wise men. Patience is definitely something I lack.

Joseph. Now there’s a man’s man. He stuck by his girl like no other man I’ve heard of. He could have called it quits and left her in the dust, but he obeyed. He forsook so much. His dignity, his respect, whatever pride he may have had. All because what I’m sure, he hoped, wasn’t a crazy dream caused by something he ate the night before. He probably hoped that one, he was sane, and two his wife-to-be wasn’t a “you know what” ;) Faith comes to mind when I think of good ol’ Joseph. “The assurance of things hoped for.”

And Mary. What a girl! Wisdom beyond her years! She was so close to her heavenly Father that she was willing to do whatever He asked of her! Even though she doubted, God still used her. She left all that she knew because of what God asked of her to do. God could have picked ANY ONE, yet he chose this sweet young girl to carry the only hope of generations to come.....

God. Holy Spirit. Jesus. He humbled himself even to the point of death. He knew his fate all along and He still chose to sacrifice all that He could do to save people who weren’t and still aren’t even worthy of being saved.
Oh thank you thank you my dear sweet Jesus! Thank you for being Greater than I could ever write about or even comprehend. You are my reason to live, move and breath.

May you be blessed this Christmas in being confident in the fact that you are loved by the creator of the universe, the one who has forsaken all just TO BE WITH YOU.

Merry Christmas!!

There are injustice fighting adventures soon to be announced!

Wed, 29 Sep 2010 16:11:57 -0700

Hello one and all!
I feel like every time I blog It’s been a super long time since I’ve last written. I deeply apologize :)
So here’s the deeeal. As of now I’m working in a new department! It’s called the Mobilization department and I love it. Our main focus is to “mobilize” people into missions!! We want them to see God’s heart for Justice!! So we speak at churches, schools, basically anywhere they’ll let us speak :)
This season we are going to Alberta, Canada, and Kauai, Hawaii. Sounds pretty hard core huh? I’m just kidding it’s definitely not third world, but we are having the opportunity to talk about injustice and run a program we have, called Experiencing Injustice. Now Experiencing Injustice is an interactive walk through of 7 different injustices (child soldiers, sex trafficking, unclean water, etc.) you get to experience these injustices first hand. We, as YWAM Salem, are the actors in these stations. It’s truly incredible and God has used it to mobilize people to stop injustice. Experiencing Injustice is one of the things that got me involved in the fight against sex trafficking.
Along with going on the trips we also get to take the new Discipleship Training school here at the base on local outreaches every Friday. I’m leading a group of 8 beautiful girls to work at a women and children’s center. I’m so excited for this!! God is going to do awesome things through all of us :)
So as you can imagine God is going to do a lot! I’m so stoked to see God move in a different way. My heart longs to be overseas, but I’m glad He’s using me to do stuff in the states as well :)
Thank you again for all of your support, you mean so much to me!

Love in Him, Arielle Christine

Mission Adventures

Mon, 19 Jul 2010 13:20:21 -0700

So I know I haven’t blogged in what seems like a year, but I’ve been busier than I don’t know what! So here we go again :)

So as most of you know I arrived back from my beloved Africa in the beginning of June. I got to see my first Discipleship Training school graduate and go on to even more awesome things. Staffing that school really helped me understand what kind of leader I am and I came back with way more confidence in God than I’ve ever had.
Thanks to God I have come back healthy and happy :) No Malaria for me! A few scares but nothing full on! Jet Lag didn’t take over thankfully and I jumped right into my next thing.... literally... the school graduated on Friday and my new training started on Monday!!!
I am now part of a ministry called Mission Adventures. Mission Adventures is a ministry of YWAM international. It is a short-term outreach experience designed specifically for youth groups who want to impact the world! Whether it be local, urban, or overseas; we believe that this generation has what it takes to be God’s catalyst for change and we want to help that happen. This year we are sending teams to either Portland or Haiti. It’s a two week experience. So the first week they come to the base and we teach them about evangelism, injustice, missions, cultural studies, etc, all through skits, dances, and interactive walk throughs; and then we send them on their one week outreach. It’s an amazing ministry and I love it! Our team is amazing and I seriously have so much fun every day!
I’m learning to lead worship with a full band behind me (I’ve never done this in my whole life!). I’ve realized how little I know about music (guitar wise ;) And how patient my band is. They are truly amazing guys who long to see me achieve my goals :) I love them!

Mission Adventures doesn’t end until August 6th so I’ll be going home on August 9th! I haven’t been home just to relax since September so I’m really excited to see everyone and just relax and process my full year! I’ve done so much and God has done so much as well. I need a little time to really process and look over everything and how much I’ve grown!  
I’m so thankful to God for allowing me to be in Missions. It’s the most fun I’ve ever had. It’s incredibly hard, but amazingly rewarding! So thanks God :D

I’ll talk to you soon!!

Four.Days.And.Counting.

Wed, 24 Mar 2010 15:06:26 -0700

Four days. Four days. Four days. What the heck?! I’m leaving for Africa in a little less than 4 days! I can’t even explain the overwhelming feelings that are inside of me right now. I think most of the feelings are coming from the realization that I am not just a student going on an outreach anymore, I’m leading this outreach. I’m responsible for 3 lives! Oh dear. :) I’ve never really been in charge of a living being before, other than my dog! HA! But as I’m coming to this revelation I have an awesome peace. I’m excited to see what God is going to do! He’s got big plans for our team, and His glory is going to fall heavy on Rwanda and Uganda.

God has been gracious and true to His Provider name. I’ve gotten all of the $3,000 I needed and more! How good is God?! I don’t know why I doubt Him when he just proves faithful within the same second of my doubt. He’s called me to this so why do I doubt his consistency? He is a faithful God yes?

Pray for me and my team. The first week we arrive in Rwanda is a week called “A Week of Mourning.” The whole week the people of Rwanda mourn the people they have lost in the Genocide. It’s going to be an intense time of healing and intercession. So pray that we listen to the Holy Spirit in what we should do during that week.

Unfortunately I won’t have my computer so I won’t be able to update this blog. But I will have access to internet so I will try to update you on a new blog! Here is the address so check about once a week :) I’ll try to keep it updated! I’m not sure how much time I will have!

http://ariellesadventuresinafrica.blogspot.com/

CHECK IT!

So mosquitos, bucket showers, and squatty potties are in my near future, and I’m ready for it! Thanks for all of your constant prayers and support! I love you guys so much!!!!

So long America! Hello Africa!

Morocco? Never mind make that Rwanda and Uganda

Wed, 3 Mar 2010 13:40:39 -0800

“I am a VICTIM of GRACE.”

To be honest these last few weeks have been tough ones. Mostly just God reworking me and reshaping me. Which in all reality it is incredible and I’m thankful for it. So here’s a little bit of my journey so far....

At the beginning of the year God revealed to me what this new season of my life would be like. He gave me a vision of the part of “The Lion, The Witch, and The Wardrobe” when all of the creatures are turned to stone because of the White Witch, and Aslan goes around and breathes life into them. He showed me that I was stone. I have been lied to by Satan (the White Witch) and my view of life has been screwed over. This season of my life is a time where God is going to breathe life back into me, and not my own view of my life, but HIS VIEW. He will show me what my true design is and I’m going to become a woman after God’s own heart.
What’s crazy about this is that God has been sticking to His word! He is doing exactly that! He is healing me, breaking me, speaking truth into me, and defining me. These past 6 weeks have been the most difficult ones that I’ve had in quite a while. But as I look back at them I can see that God is working and forming me in who He wants me to be. I have dealt with everything from heartbreak, judgement, insecurities, and unbelief. But what is awesome is that GOD IS FAITHFUL AND GOOD. He sees me for who I was created to be and He is going to keep showing me until I finally get it. He is committed to me.

“God is more committed to fulfilling His will for my life, than I am committed to find it.” -Dan Baumann

A pretty crazy thing happened. Turns out that one of our staff members is too sick to go on outreach so instead of going to Morocco I am now going to Rwanda and Uganda! I know crazy right!? I have an incredible peace about this :) God is good and I’m willing to go anywhere with Him.

Thanks for everything you do!

LOVE YOU GUYS!

Here’s to looking at you kid..

Sat, 30 Jan 2010 12:43:53 -0800

When I think of Morocco I think of camels, the sahara desert, and Casablanca, but when I did my own research this is what I found...

Morocco is found within the 10/40 window (the poorest physically and spiritually in the world) as well as where 97% of the unreached people groups live.

Morocco is the top baby one by Spain >>>

Morocco, a closed country, is about 99% unreached. The predominant religion is Islam and there are only about 30,000 Christians in a land where there are over 32 million people. There are a total of 30 people groups and 24 of them are still unreached.

I can’t express how excited I am to go to a place where the name of Jesus is barely ever heard. I get to physically show these people who Christ is. This is one of my biggest dreams! To say that I am ecstatic is an understatement.
 As of right now I’m not sure how much it will cost me to go, but I will be letting you guys know :) Thanks so much for your support! Without you I wouldn’t be as far as I am!

Love in Him,
Arielle

Light my candle...

Sun, 24 Jan 2010 15:20:51 -0800

“If my fire is not large it is yet real, and there may be those who can light their candle at its flame.” -A.W. Tozer

Right now I am reading The Pursuit of God by A.W. Tozer. There is wisdom in each sentence he writes. It’ll take me about a year to process each chapter of this seemingly short book. If there is one thing I love most in the whole world, it is learning more about the God who created me. And what’s so exciting is that there is absolutely no way that I will ever fully know everything about God! What a God we serve! He is incredibly big, incredibly trustworthy, and He has waaay to much patience with me! Thank you God for being you :)

This season in my life has been an extremely difficult one from the first day of this year. It’s been filled with frustrations, heartbreak, and challenges. But I am so thankful for where I’m at and I wouldn’t have it any other way. I know that God is somehow going to use what I’m going through to further my relationship with Him and to further His kingdom here on earth. When and how? I don’t know. But I’m excited to see what He does

I have been given the opportunity to co-lead a team to Morocco this coming April! I am extremely overjoyed to be able to go overseas again! I miss it way more than I can say! I will be updating you guys about Morocco throughout my next few blogs. Letting you know when I’m going, what I’ll be doing, and how you guys can pray for me.

Pray for this season in my life. It’s a tough one. My flame needs some rekindling, but I know God can still use it.

Love in Him,
Arielle Christine

Update on Haiti

Wed, 20 Jan 2010 12:54:54 -0800

Haitian officials estimated Wednesday that the death toll might reach between 100,00 and 150,000 and that 70,000 bodies have already been buried in mass graves.
Obviously YWAM is doing their best in helping out. We have a plethora of DTS teams over there! Our base here in Salem, OR is sending about 5 people in 3 weeks, and we hope to be sending more. Here is the link of the live broadcast from YWAM Haiti:
http://www.ustream.tv/recorded/4109109

You can see what they need, and how to pray for them!!!! God is doing so many things there! There is still hope for this nation! Keep on PRAYING!!!