Girl on a Journey

Newness!!!

2009-04-20T13:02:00.000-07:00

http://www.randibarry.tumblr.com

YAY!

Stuff

2009-04-19T20:40:00.001-07:00

I can hear the call to prayer in the background contrasted with the sound of worship on deck... we aren't in Kansas anymore.

The desperate urges to leave this place and go home come in waves. Why is it the most challenging things are also the most rewarding?

I have written on my arm so that Ill remember... the words to a Sandra McCracken song 'It looks like you're killing me, but you're saving my life'

Istanbul Turkey to Bulgaria to work with gypsies! Dreams coming true, but the battle is not over yet. Please pray for me for perserverance, the ability to let go of my failures and trust God can use this imperfect vessel, and that I wont jump ship before God's timing for me.

Love from Turkey

Tour of the Boat

2009-04-14T02:56:00.001-07:00

Today...

2009-04-14T01:25:00.000-07:00

"Hero" by Enrique Iglesias is on the sound system in the cafe right now... why God. Why.
bahaha.

The quote on the last update is from 'Sahara' when the guys are talking about going on a mission. They're like 'Ship of death, small chance of survival? what are we waiting for?!' Erik and I looked at each other after watching that and were like, yeah, we need to look at life like that more! We are on an adventure of a lifetime, but sometimes, somehow it is void of joy.

I was talking to my friend Maria this morning and she told me a story about how she just randomly prayed one night for the joy of the Lord and she woke up the next 10 months with this giddiness and joy in her heart. I thought to myself, yeah, i want that.

I know Im supposed to be here, and im on this epic journey, and im not alone. but there's this desire for more. Im reminded of Ron Smith's word for my SBS... 'those who hunger and thirst for righteousness shall be filled'
I sat on the bow of the ship last night, surrounded by gorgeous night time scenery of a Greek island, the sounds of people enjoying their dinners on a near by veranda, and the smell of the ocean.... and just realized how much I need Jesus. Again. As much as i would love someONE to share this journey with, someone who isn't always coming and going in and out of my life in only the way YWAM does... Jesus really is always there. And He's enough.

im going to find ice cream and watch House.

Thank you for sharing your journey with me God. I am so thankful for the crazy life you've given me. Teach me how to work with your yoke, not try to carry it on my own.

OH did i mention i got to bring the ship into port?! it was awesome! im attaching a photo of it. we came in starboard to, really fast, this water splashed up when we bumped alongside. but it was perfect! PTL.

I made it...

2009-04-12T23:11:00.000-07:00

To Limnos!

The cafe here DOESNT have wifi... contrary to popular signage. Which is too bad really... i wanted to upload video i filmed of the tour of the inside of the boat...
and get some new music. im going crazy since Erik's ipod died...

Tortoise, Feist, Regina Spektor, and some Kings of Leon would do the trick nicely on a watch...

This little town Mirina is gorgeous so im going to go have a wander but probably just end up at a cafe reading bible and journalling. Im so not an explorer person...
Jesus!

We had a great sunrise service for easter on my watch. Read Matt 26-28... ending with Jesus' commission to 'go' and teach... and here we are!

Heading to Istanbul next. Please pray i get the chart stuff worked out on the navigation program... i somehow plotted us right in the middle of saudi arabia...

Ship of death? Small chance of survival? what are we waiting for?!

Istanbul here we come!

5-8 Watch

2009-04-08T23:55:00.001-07:00

Sailing the Aegean in a Force 7

2009-04-08T22:03:00.001-07:00

Corinth Canal

2009-04-08T21:44:00.000-07:00

Here's a little clip of our journey from Kiato, Greece to Thessaloniki!

It's called History because it's His-Story

2009-04-08T21:19:00.000-07:00

Jesus, thank you for letting me be a part of it...

Word of the Day travelling thru my head....

"This is the true joy in life, the being used for a purpose recognized by yourself as a mighty one; the being thoroughly worn out before you are thrown on the scrap heap; the being a force of Nature instead of a feverish selfish little clod of ailments and grievances complaining that the world will not devote itself to making you happy."

"The worst sin toward our fellow creatures is not to hate them, but to be indifferent to them: that's the essence of inhumanity."

"You are going to let the fear of poverty govern your life and your reward will be that you will eat, but you will not live."

~George Bernard Shaw

Prophesy by Smith Wigglesworth 1947

TWO DISTINCT MOVES
During the next few decades there will be two distinct moves of the Holy Spirit across the church in Great Britain. The first move will affect every church that is open to receive it and will be characterized by a restoration of the baptism and gifts of the Holy Spirit. The second move of the Holy Spirit will result in people leaving historic churches and planting new churches. In the duration of each of these moves, the people who are involved will say 'This is the great revival'. But the Lord says 'No, neither is this the great revival but both are steps towards it.

WORD AND SPIRIT
When the new church phase is on the wane, there will be evidenced in the churches something that has not been seen before: a coming together of those with an emphasis on the Word and those with an emphasis on the Spirit.

When the Word and the Spirit come together, there will be the biggest movement of the Holy Spirit that the nation, and indeed the world, has ever seen. It will mark the beginning of a revival that will eclipse anything that has been witnessed within these shores, even the Wesleyan and the Welsh revivals of former years. The outpouring of God's Spirit will flow over from the UK to the mainland of Europe, and from there will begin a missionary move to the ends of the earth.

(I want to be a part of this one....)

These are some extra good quotes from George...

The reasonable man adapts himself to the world; the unreasonable one persists in trying to adapt the world to himself. Therefore, all progress depends on the unreasonable man.

Alcohol is a very necessary article... It makes life bearable to millions of people who could not endure their existence if they were quite sober. It enables Parliament to do things at eleven at night that no sane person would do at eleven in the morning.

Sailing the Aegean

2009-04-08T12:01:00.000-07:00

Look I can DRIVE IT!

Man what a crazy life. ...

I've been wandering around lately praying for God to give me someone to share all these amazing stories and travels with, not that sharing it with the facebook or blogspot world isnt enough... I'm sure I over communicate... however, there's just something about getting all dressed up every morning and not really having anyone special to enjoy the crazy sunrise during a sail or awesome sunset or ...

really cool Q tack!~ Yeah we did!

(that's when instead of jibbing you do a doughnut...it's sweet! We did it with all the sails up on my watch, thanks to Erik Johannessohn, crazy kid who is so hardcore and always wants to put up all the sails :D)

anyways. You know what I mean? It's like, dang, today was awesome. And I dont have that one person to share it with...

Then Jesus was like... Hey Randi.
I wanted to share THIS with YOU.

Whoa. Love you Jesus.
The show is about you. Im like the extra who you get to see their head for like 2 seconds in the background...

PS> My people who PRAY for me and the ministry.
Our finances from YWAM England has been shut down, and we are now running off of... whatever we make as a boat to pay for stuff from now on... so that means cutting back on everything... I know God will provide, but it scares me a little bit.
Also, for Gordon who processes the finances in the US for us. Major attack on finances. Cheers all.

Glory

2009-04-04T03:31:00.000-07:00

Amidst the chaos of our days...
when we learn to settle ourselves down... and look around,
do we consider that we are created for ultimately the sole purpose of worship?
And to glorify the One who made us?

take a deep breath,
look outside.

May the Lamb that was slain receive the reward of his suffering.

US!

In the words of Paris Reidhead

IT'S NOT WHAT YOU'RE GOING TO GET OUT OF GOD, IT'S WHAT'S HE IS GOING TO GET OUT OF YOU."

Tomorrow I sail off to Thessaloniki from this tiny little port town of Kiato Greece. I get to live the dream of so many of those who support me, read this, people who will come to live and people who have lived. I feel the weight of what I don't deserve, and the freedom of His grace for allowing me to live it.

Plan A: Glory to God
there is no plan B

Bulgaria, Gypsies...

2009-03-30T08:45:00.000-07:00

Outreach update coming soon.
Dreams coming true. Jesus love.
Circus.
Pray for us

Erik Johannessohn, Tash Siemens, Randi Barry
Outreach Gypsy Village, Bulgaria
April/May 2009

England

2009-03-13T15:25:00.000-07:00

This week break has been amazing, too short, dramatic, stressful, healing, and everything in between.

I am amazed at how much God has walked me through these last few weeks, and especially few days. I've lost some of the things dearest to me, and gained perspective on things I must now face and walk through.

I have 5 months left with the Next Wave, and although she is home for now, I feel mixed emotions as I prepare to go back. I feel i havent had long enough to be on a proper 'break', although it was amazing to see the DTS grad and visit with Oli's family. Unexpected things constantly seem to pop up and I find not a single day goes by without purpose. I have lived the last 6 months with no more than 2 days off in a row at a time, so I guess having a structured week off is good to not get out of rhythm.

Through allll this.....im learning that being 'free' as a human, following God means not doing what I want all the time and being a slave to my flesh, but allowing myself to give up and give in to His purposes and plans for my day.

This morning for instance, in my pre-getting out of bed state God gave me this picture of me clinging to him like velcro. Big huge massive God and me like a little ginger bread girl clung to his belly. Comedy at 9 am. I was laughing at that picture before I even got out of bed.

Clinging to God for today looked a lot like chilling with Oli watching films, eating ice cream, and only leaving the house to go to Sainsbury's to buy PG tips and clotted cream for the boat...oh and thinking.....

Thinking.....
............... about when Paul spoke for so long and the boy in the window listening fell and died and he had to raise him from the dead (re: Acts)..... and sort of laughed and felt better for all those times i talk toooo much..... and how awesome God is that he hooked Paul up by raising that boy again....... good thing.

..........and how fortunate I am that although God is walking me through really hard stuff, I have amazing friends, amazing supporters (some I've never even met, or met once or twice), a great place to learn all this stuff (a community of Jesus lovers on a boat in the Med), and a future, a hope, a destiny...

Words

2009-03-10T05:39:00.000-07:00

March's International Prayer Day was for Next Wave... and consequently the crew!
The DTS here prayed for us individually and this is what they got for me!

No day is a waste! God is doing a massive workout in your heart! (oh snap is He ever)

He's strengthening your relationship w/him because He knows what is next.

He's placed you among those He wants you to be with

You're truly loved

God is going to fulfill your heart for Him and for life

He wants to give you the desires of your heart and He is in the process of doing it right now.

God is so proud of you

Don't give up~ except in His arms~ He will catch you

He wants you to really learn how to rest IN Him~ so to prepare yourself

There is never just 1 task that God made you for~ everyday is special to Him~ He's never done working in your heart!

He desires each day to spend with you

Delight yourself in the Lord and He will give you the desires of your heart

Story of David... fights giant with a small stone. Remember God has done a great thing in your life and He saves you from all dangers. He is your helper.

Prayed for your heart longing to worship Him and the little fire in heart to keep flaming and become a big fire to fire you up for God.

Prayed against lonliness and asked God to direct next steps. Remionder of the fire in heart, God's faithfulness.

Foundation of strong faith is being built thru this season.

Updates...

2009-03-10T05:24:00.001-07:00

SO much has happened since I wrote that massive update...
I wont have time to write it all now but I have to talk about what God has done in the last week....

The day after I wrote the massive update I quit...I had a really bad day and blow-out with someone on the ship. It's been a long time since I've gotten really angry and acted on it, and it's never good when you do that... I react, other people react, then you have to have one of those meetings where you have 2 people mediate... good times being Randi Barry.

But then I came to check email and some people had written saying they were going to help with my support... that's when I knew that God was going to hold me to the agreement we made on the beach that day... dang.
It's good though. Im learning how to deal with conflict. Living on a boat with the same 16 people you cannot run away from, you learn how to constantly cultivate and tend to relationships with the people you live with.
You can't choose your family, you must love them. Sometimes love is painful, sometimes it's prunning, sometimes it's not saying anything at all and sometimes it's going that extra mile to say something extra nice.

So. I went from not having 50 cents to my name and in debt for crew fees to having my debt paid off and support up until my time I leave here! In one week I think about 7 people offered to support me one time or monthly... I can't even beleive it. Im so blessed. And not just financially, all these people truly pour into my life, encourage me, and pray for me.

I can't beleive I live on the other side of the world from so many of my closest and most precious friends and family members, but Im so glad God is refining me and using me for His glory. It seems He does more with my family when Im gone too. It's crazy.

I had the opportunity to go with Oli to his parents house for a week and to Harpenden to see the DTS grad. It's been such a blessing (thanks Mom for the bday trip!!!) I got to have a bath for the first time since September (I shower on board dont worry) go to an evagelism class by J. John and share with Oli at his church about missions and the boat.

Now im sitting in the Harpenden YWAM coffee shop sipping the cheapest Americano I've ever found (90 pence!) and in total shock how far God has brought me from a week ago being in debt and screaming at God wondering why the heck im on a crazy boat in Greece.

Pray for me this week, i just really want to rest and get refocused for when I head back to the boat. We will be leaving Greece April 5th and sailing to Thessaloniki to pick up a DTS outreach team, then heading to Bulgaria where we drop them off and pick up another Mercy DTS outreach to take supplies and medical support to Ukraine.

Thank you for all who support me. I feel like everyday it's only God who gets me through, im so thankful for His body, so thankful for my bro's and sis' in Christ.
Love you all!

When it rains ...

2009-03-08T05:02:00.000-07:00

It freaking pours...

"You're blessed when you feel you've lost what is most dear to you. Only then can you be embraced by the One most dear to you.

You're blessed when you're content with just who you are—no more, no less. That's the moment you find yourselves proud owners of everything that can't be bought."

-Jesus

Whatever Gains I had....

2009-03-02T00:28:00.000-08:00

... these I have come to regard as loss because of Christ. More than that I regard everything as loss because of the surpassing value of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord.
Phil 3:7-8a

Last night my macbookpro battery died. It was one of those curl up in a ball on the bathroom floor and cry nights...
(after the popcorn with chopsticks and some C.S. Lewis... thank you Tasha)

I had just finished having the perfect day off with Tash, hiking all over the Greek hillside and getting to share my testimony with her. I went to the internet cafe to get in touch with people about my support (seriously lacking here, im about 600 euros in debt for my crew fees, and it just keeps on goin up...) and my battery on my laptop died... the generators on board power surge and aren't friendly to mac's...

I suddenly came to realize that every reason for me being here has been slowly torn from my hands. I thought I came here to teach bible study method, i thought I was here to communicate with the world what goes on here, I thought i had some value in writing newsletters and getting to do cool things like design wedding invites for my friends... but I think what Jesus wants me to know the most is that He doesn't want what I have or can do, He just wants me.

"We are absolutely nothing. We have nothing to be proud about. We have no abilities and nothing to offer God. The fact that he chooses to use us is only due to his grace. It has nothing to do wtih us. If God should chooce to raise up others for his purpose and never to use us again we would have nothing to complain about."
~Brother Yun from 'The Heavenly Man'

"If you give God the right to yourself, he will make a holy experiment out of you. God's experiments always succeed." ~Oswald Chambers

"Gods word is powerful. When we share it with a burning heart, many people are touched" ~Brother Yun

I want to be used by God. I want to speak His word and see hearts transformed. But i need to undergo this transformation myself. Its not enough to know the word, He must be active and alive in me.

Im going to stick my commitment out here until August. I just recently told the crew i need to go home in June. I have no way of working to raise support for being here, and am falling behind in crew fees by the month. Besides that everything is falling apart, but after walking and talking on the beach with Jesus this morning I feel like He wants to make me a faithful woman, and needs my commitment to see through the work He wants to do in me here. I know this will hurt my sister who's grad i so badly wanted to go to in June, and I have no idea how God is going to help me pay for my time here.... or for Titus, the bible teaching course I want to do in the fall in Montana... but if Im not living the word that I want to teach... I think Corinthians sums it up completely:

If I speak with human eloquence and angelic ecstasy but don't love, I'm nothing but the creaking of a rusty gate. If I speak God's Word with power, revealing all his mysteries and making everything plain as day, and if I have faith that says to a mountain, "Jump," and it jumps, but I don't love, I'm nothing. If I give everything I own to the poor and even go to the stake to be burned as a martyr, but I don't love, I've gotten nowhere. So, no matter what I say, what I believe, and what I do, I'm bankrupt without love.

Im learning how to love. Im learning how to be in a family here.

I need people to partner with me in raising my crew fees. I am supported about $150 a month and still need $290 a month for the next 6 months. Not to mention the 600 Euros im in debt now. Also Titus is about $3500. But that's not until the fall.

It's terribly humbling not being able to work and make my own money to live this life here, but God knew that I can't do what He's called me to all on my own. If you can help me at all, please do. Giving information is on the right for tax deductible receipts. Or if you would like to send it to me direct I have a paypay account, my email is Randibarry@gmail.com

Thanks for reading. Please pray for me! And Kiato, that Greece would see God's light as I learn to get over myself and these light momentary afflictions and reach out to this community.
Next week we will be heading to Athens for the weekend to work with an outreach to the homeless there and a womens shelter. Update more after that! Bless you.

YWAM International Prayer Day for Next Wave

2009-02-27T09:11:00.000-08:00

You can watch this full screen by clicking on the button in the bottom right

Listen to the audio in the first few seconds... it's the Liverpool coast guard warning us and asking us if we really knew what we were doing (sailing to the Isle of Man in a force 9!!) and our Captain Lehman telling us that was normal...(to which he later admitted that it wasn't! Ha! Crazy life... we made it :)

Bless!
I covet your prayers this prayer day!
And to those of you who are searching for God's direction... my prayers are with you too! You know who you are!

Address in Kiato

2009-02-27T00:37:00.000-08:00

Randi Barry c/o Next Wave c/o

Wendy Vivaris
61 Aristotelous St.
20200 Kiato
Corinthias Greece

Life on Board...

2009-02-26T10:12:00.000-08:00

“Oh, it’s SUPPOSED to be like this...” were my first thoughts after hearing Daniel read out YWAM International’s monthly prayer day letter. This month all of YWAM is praying for the Next Wave (for prayer info go to above link), and after hearing all the personal testimonies from my fellow crew mates, I realized that all the stuff I’ve been going through that I saw as hard, God had seen as good and put me here to refine me. Every person on board has felt or feels the same way I do, and have embraced the insanity of life on board the Next Wave, and the joy of the journey.

Life has been more than hard, and more than exciting. My first few weeks on board I endured my first sail through a force 9 (without throwing up!!!), almost loosing the ship after it leaned the wrong way while in dry dock and spending a cold night in an Isle of Man warehouse without any bedding. At the time these things seemed like something extroadinary to get through... but after seeing situation after situation in every port... and seeing God answer prayer faster than I ever have before, I have come to realize---this is just what life in on board the Next Wave.

In a failed attempt to pace myself.... I’ve ran out of strength, ran out of money, and ran out of the vision God put in me in for coming here in the first place. It's not a good place to be, unless it drives you to greater dependancy on Him... which is where Im at. Honestly, sometimes i just need to lay in bed until God gives me enough strength to crawl out and get up to whatever task that day may hold.
I've been blessed with some cool jobs on board... one in particular doing the bi-monthly newsletter. It's really a great artistic outlet... (you can download the newsletters I make online here: http://www.marinereach.info/?page_id=61)
Also I might be able to help with the Bulgaria outreach we are doing in April... working with gypsies! A total dream of mine to hang out and work with travellers, people who live nomadically and survive by depending on others just like missionaries do. It's a challenge to live life trusting like this, and i often ask myself why I chose to live like this... but in the end, the strong relationships that are built between me and my supporters, and the people I work and struggle alongside on board everyday, are what make it all worth the while. This is what I hope to bridge between us and those we intend to minister to in the towns we visit.

All in all.... Im learning to not do what He's called me to in my own strength.

There's still many more dreams I'd love to fulfill... fashion design and more art being one of them... this girl Kelli Murray is one of my hero's. She's my age and a top designer for Jedidiah. Check out her stuff: http://www.kellimurray.com/
I guess I can't get too carried away dreaming of being someone else somewhere else though, Im living someone's dream as well as my own...

Thank you God for life on a boat in the Med. Dreams do come true.

Im going to get our Kiato address up here tomorrow... thanks for reading :)

(Shannon and I eating after church in Corinth with refugees they feed every week)

I miss people

2009-02-22T10:51:00.000-08:00

you are too far away from me....

Mailing Address for Corinth Greece!

2009-02-10T03:52:00.000-08:00

Yay!

Next Wave
Randi Barry
C/o
Apostolic Church of Christ
Notαpα 121
KoρivθoS
T.K. 20100
Greece

Praise the LORD!

Coming out of Cages

2009-02-06T07:23:00.000-08:00

“If you feel like you’re stuck in a tragedy, here’s my advice: give Jesus complete editorial control over your life. You have to quit trying to write your own story. And you need to accept Jesus not only as Lord and Savior but also as Author. If you begin to allow Him to write His-story through your life, it’ll give the tragedy a fairy-tale ending... I’m not promising a life without heartache or pain or loss, but I am promising a different ending....

Disorientation is natural & healthy. It is a normal part of chasing the Wild Goose. We won’t know exactly where we’re going much of the time, but that disentoriation develops our dependance upon God. And it is our dependance upon God, not our best-laid plans, that will get us where God wants us to go... New chapters in our lives often begin with an orientation... but God begins new chapters in our lives via disorientation. Jesus didn’t do orientations. Jesus did disorientations. Sometimes God needs to disorient us so He can reorient us."

~ Wild Goose Chase by Mark Batterson

I love this. My good friend Erik Johannesson lent me this book to read and over the sail I flipped it open to the chapter called "Sometimes it takes a shipwreck". Batterson was talking about the detours in life that seem like a major failure, like Paul's shipwreck on Malta... a shipwreck and a snake bite in the same day got him a front row audience with the local politician and an opportunity to see God's Kingdom come to earth and create a church of beleivers right where he landed.

I see this disorientation in my life right now... Jesus taking me through all these different places and holding my hand through the dissappointments of life...

I have resolved two things through this disorientation process...
#1 To be the BEST with what I've been given HERE & NOW
#2 Enjoy the journey...

God wants to send us to dangerous places to do difficult things...
"The Kindgom of Heaven suffereth violence and the violent take it by force..."
I want to be a person that is more afraid of lifelong regrets than temporary failures.

It's time to start living life offensively instead of defensively. I've been here about 4 months... and this past sail, looking around at the gorgeous Mediterranean ocean, taking time to dive into the freezing water, even running out of gas in the dingy and rowing back to Next Wave...
I realized, I have been just observing. It's time to start living.
Im not a victim to circumstance. Batterson's book really challenged me to allow God to make me into the person He wants me to be rather than focus on WHERE God is taking me...

"Faithfulness is NOT holding the fort. Faithfulness is storming the gates of hell."

Pray for me. I will be teaching Inductive Bible study here in this port. But more than that I want to go on adventures with God. I want to meet people in Greece, be a part of their lives, go into their homes and have them come into mine. Goals. Im going to try....having an insane amount of fun rather than going insane....

So what about you?

How do you see troubles or recent failures or dissappointments that God has allowed? Are they dead ends or detours? What are the reasons that you can now see for why it happened?

This is my favorite question from the book

"Where are you in the School of Trusting God's Sovereigny?
Entering High School? Working on your PhD dissertation?
Or still making paper chains in kindergarten?

Im gonna be honest. Im makin paper chains people! But I'd like to get to 1st grade at least soon....
blessings all.
Pray for Kiato Greece. Here I come world!

By Catania.... A Conclusion

2009-01-31T14:31:00.000-08:00

My time in Catania has been bittersweet. It started by ending a 40 day fast among the crew. We had been praying and fasting the whole sail into the Med, and when it came to an end it was explosive. Personally it was a hard time that God used to make me more vulnerable and break me apart. Yet through it all, with His loving hands He held me.

Hebrews 12:11 No discipline seems pleasant at the time, but painful. Later on, however, it produces a harvest of righteousness and peace for those who have been trained by it.

OOOOOhhh how I can't WAIT for the 'Later on, however...' part...

We have seen God's amaaazing provision however. Since being in Catania, a potential unity problem with the churches has been shaken to the surface, and the DTS has been able to go into the homes of the pastors and live with them on the weekends, play with their kids, eat with them, enjoy and live life together, as well as share in their churches, preach, teach, pray, minister... And get sooo blessed!

Since being here we have received many bags of bread from a local bakery every night,
free milk,
olive oil,
fruit, coffee, sugar,
cooked meals from AMAZING Sicilian women!
Free translators, opportunities to share in local churches,
and just yesterday our contact Mario bought us boxes and boxes of fresh fruit and vegetables!

Personally I've been thankful for a free art supplies shopping trip! Hot water, a new washing machine, and flushing toilets. All of which i learned to be thankful for the hard way... by not having it...

For the first time I've been able to share my testimony in a Sicilian church, eat a real home cooked Sicilian meal (today!!) and have one of the hardest days of my life become one of the best...

I will never forget my time here in Catania. I finally am realizing that to get to the really good stuff you have to go through the really hard stuff sometimes.

Let me tell you about the meal our dear friend Franchesco Ventemilles' mother cooked us tonight... Risotto and prawns, THE BEST calamari I've ever had, sword fish with garlic sauce, and mini fish! They even bought us some Chardonnay that went amazing with the fish. Shannon Mintz, Dustin Stauffer and I met these guys at Mario's church, the guy receiving our Christmas presents! We shared our testimonies and they ended up coming to the boat for a visit. They are interested in missions and we had the chance to share more with them today about getting involved... a few of them are wanting to come on a sail with us! And one is looking into going on a short term missions trip to see if its what he thinks he's called into.. but he is trying so hard with his english and has improved in speaking even the few times we've met!

Today the DTS was on their 7th day of prayer walking this street where the prostitutes work, this was the last 'push' before we push off tomorrow... there were people worshipping in front, people praying and interceeding in the middle and street sweepers behind... Captain was tossing up bibles to people in Italian and the pimps instead of giving nasty looks were actually hanging out and chatting with everyone. In one week these guys got invited to the weekly prayer session with the prostitutes, a catholic preist comes to pray with them and the DTS got to go and pray as well. They started connecting the girls and transvestites who knew Jesus in their hearts to local churches... please pray for these people and the ground that has been turned up... for more people to come in and continue the work and these ladies to be saved from their lifestyles.

All in all a hunger and passion for missions right where they are has been stirred up in the churches of Catania. Thanks to the amazing DTS and crew but mostly to God's Spirit moving in our midst. It's been tough being behind the scenes a lot of the time here but I know I play a vital role in community and prayer life here.

I just want to thank God and you guys who support me for continuing to do so... and for the new people who want to support me! These next few months are going to be ones i get to live by faith for... so please pray for me for provision! Without faith... it's impossible to please Him. But I also must be a good steward of what He gives me.

We sail to Messina tomorrow for fuel then to Kiato Greece! The sail will take 3 days. Ill send a new update once Im there with some of the other big plans God has going on with me and life on board the Next Wave!

Thanks for reading!

New Prayer Request

2009-01-26T15:33:00.000-08:00

Macbook pro battery... mine died :(

Thankful for Every Little Thing...

2009-01-19T07:28:00.000-08:00

Im thankful for good friends. Who stick it out through thick and thin.

for hot water because I know now what it's like to be without

for flushing toilets because sometimes that doesn't always happen

good weather

for a working washing machine

and a working dryer

for laughing again .... and again...
(prov. 17:22)

Im thankful that God keeps His promises even when it hurts....
because it helps me keep mine

It's the Little Things....

2009-01-10T01:18:00.000-08:00

God story!

Our contact Mario took me and some people to the art store in town to get art supplies for painting and art worship etc... and everytime i went to the counter with my basket half empty he was like 'you arent finished' and insisted buying me some stuff for me.
Now we all know i could spend a fortune in a store like that so i was modest... but not enough to walk away with a few new paintbrushes, metallic paint, and some large poster paper for worship art!!
GOD IS SO COOL!
It's the little things...
Im taking this as a sign that He is going to provide for the rest of my staff fees while Im here. I still need monthly supporters so please pray with me!
Bless!
xo
from Sicily

New Wineskins for New Wine

2009-01-01T16:28:00.000-08:00

Happy New Year everbody.
I pray for you it is one of vision, direction, clarity, and love from God.

I haven't written anything much in awhile...
I've been waiting for something really terribly epic to happen,
something incredibly inspiring
some revelation worthy of imparting to my friends and family
...that and I've been crazy busy

BUT... to be honest, life has just been hard.
I know, I live on a sail boat... in the Med. It should be peachy keen... but i really think God chose to bless me with my dream and simultaneously give me a HUGE lesson in character growth...

This has been a season of dreams and fears.
Seeing dreams come true, like going to Ireland and sailing around the Med...
but also of coming face to face with who I am, the fears inside, and deciding to tackle them head on...
I've never fully understood the whole new wineskins thing, but im starting to get it a little more.
One of those revelations that come from the head and travel the longest distance in the world, those 12 inches to your heart...

There's no more room for the old Randi... God is making me new everyday.
Im not the same girl I was yesterday, and when I come home
I will be different.
It's not ok anymore to live within these old skins... these old habits, these old attitudes
It's time for these things that have held me in so tight to rub off so I can grow

Growing is painful.
Growing pains...

I wish i could just tear away and run from learning how to be loved,
learning how to love
trust
obey
follow
but Jesus said ''No, new wine must be poured into new wineskins.''

so im letting this iron sharpen iron
and only by God's grace I don't run away from this lesson.

Newness. Thank you God for newness. It hurts but Im thankful.

Prayer Requests:

Thank you all for your constant support, prayer, love, and encouragement.
This new year has found me in a place of wanting to stick to my commitment until September even though Im finding it really tough to be here still.

The finances from my summer job is finally gone, and I'm struggling learning to live with all sorts of people in a really concentrated environment. I can't function the way I used to live, I have to chose to be a new creation in Christ and die to selfishness and my old habits of independance.

Please pray for my monthly support to be fully taken care of.
I am willing to go home, I have lived a crazy sweet life, and I am so thankful, but I do want to stick it out if this is where God has called me until next September.
Send a girl an email! Blessings all....

Good News!

2009-01-01T16:26:00.000-08:00

The hot water part came!
Thanks to all who prayed! It was a pleasant New Years Eve surprise to have a hot shower after celebrating the new year!

thank you God for the little (big) things, like hot showers :D

Prayer Request #2

2008-12-30T10:16:00.000-08:00

Thank GOD for healing my mouth! it turned out to not be a root canal issue... thank GOD
and im better now!

Just a quick prayer request, will update later...

we have no hot water. haven't for awhile now but now the Harpenden DTS is on board and it would be really lovely to have hot showers!! Please pray the part we need comes soon!
God Bless!

Drinking Tea on a 41 meter sailing ketch in a force 7 storm

2008-11-28T07:47:00.000-08:00

Currently I am watching the horizon bounce up way above my head and fall far below while I sit in the saloon. All of the chairs are on one side of the room, Oli and his entire bed is jammed in between the table legs and the bench seats to prevent from sliding around, and our first mate is still sleeping exactly where he passed out on the bench after taking two bites of his dinner, with the plate and uneaten lasagne still sitting on the table.
So far during this sail my watch has seen the radar blow a fuse while we were taking down the jib, directly followed by blowing out the clue in the main sail, (then again blowing out the rigged clue during a different shift) the engine nearly over-heat, the gear oil overheat, the engines turned down to clean out the salt water filter, dinner cooking for 15 in massive swells, no good sunrises and plenty of up-chuck. Dan—a visitor standing on my watch for this sail, had a bet going with all the crew to see how long he would last before getting sick. On the saloon whiteboard, at the bottom of the list of estimated times, he has scrawled “it’s over. 5:10 am.”

If you would like to join in an experience like this from home, I can offer a simple everyday task that is easily reduced to a ‘one off’ during a sail—making tea. Simply pretend that you are on a giant teeter-totter, your stomach in knots, and a tightening feeling rising up your throat. You have to clear your mind for a moment and focus on something else, try to get in the rhythm of the boat... back and forth... back and up and around—it’s rolling—right. What was it you were looking for? Tea. Ok. Only one hand is allowed for this task, the other must maintain your balance by holding onto whatever is available that is sound. You press down on the lever for the hot water kettle (sorry if you thought you could boil water, that is suicidal) and reach your way to the mug cupboard. After wrestling a mug from behind the pile of things stacked on the floor in front of the cupboard, you do the speediest open-and-shut of the tea cupboard possible to grab the sugar and tea. If nothing else came barreling out (imagine with me, your entire cupboard contents on the floor) good job. You must now not let this mug leave your hand once, get the sugar and tea bag into the cup, and try to stow the rest of the sugar and teabags somewhere secure. You fumble and fall your way back across the galley, maybe even catching your rear sitting on the garbage can or the floor, and eventually create a stance in which you will maintain to pour boiling hot water from the kettle into your tiny mug. Ready, steady, you wait for the swell to roll past and pour. You can only make ½ a proper cup of English tea because of the slants, so you fill up to the ½ way mark and prepare to open the fridge for milk. Now what’s lurking behind the giant fridge door is a mild zoo of food, from last nights leftovers, to giant pitchers of water. If all has been arranged well, you should be able to time the swell so that you can open the door, grab the milk (hopefully the already opened carton) and shut it without anything sliding around. Remember you still have a steaming hot mug of tea in your hand. One wave rolls by, then another, the set is past now and there is a minor lull in the massive leaning of the boat. You wait until all the condiments in the fridge should be shifted to the back, swing open the door, spot the milk, grab it, and shut the door quick. You slam your back against the stainless steel fridge and brace yourself to one handedly unscrew the milk top and pour it into your tea. Another swell has rolled in by now and all the mugs, glasses, utensils, and cooking pots are clanging loudly as they slam against one another in their cubby holders. You find yourself balancing on a precipice of not spilling your tea but not loosing your footing either. Someone slides into the kitchen and sees you there frozen, legs wide and braced in a stance, staring at your mug in one hand, with milk clutched in the other. You look up and realize the deer-in-headlights helplessness you have been overcome by, wishing you drank black tea instead. The person stumbles towards you, grabs the milk from your clenched fist, replaces the cap, and shoves it into the back, dark, zoo-oblivion of the fridge. “Thanks” you mumble, as they run back upstairs and out the door to hurl over the side. Now that the hard part is over-- and you’ve been graciously saved by your fellow crew member who is feeding the fish-- you get to stand awkwardly leaning over the counter clutched onto something, and down the tea before you can move onto another adventure in a different section of the boat.
Next time, we’ll explore the adventures of going to the bathroom in a force 7 storm aboard a 41 metre ketch.

Ozzy of the Day.....

2008-11-28T07:39:00.000-08:00

...pertaining to the last blog

The gospel of the grace of God awakens an intense longing in human souls and an equally intense resentment, because the truth that it reveals is not palatable or easy to swallow. There is a certain pride in people that causes them to give and give, but to come and accept a gift is another thing. I will give my life to martyrdom; I will dedicate my life to service— I will do anything. But do not humiliate me to the level of the most hell-deserving sinner and tell me that all I have to do is accept the gift of salvation through Jesus Christ.

We have to realize that we cannot earn or win anything from God through our own efforts. We must either receive it as a gift or do without it. The greatest spiritual blessing we receive is when we come to the knowledge that we are destitute. Until we get there, our Lord is powerless. He can do nothing for us as long as we think we are sufficient in and of ourselves. We must enter into His kingdom through the door of destitution. As long as we are "rich," particularly in the area of pride or independence, God can do nothing for us. It is only when we get hungry spiritually that we receive the Holy Spirit. The gift of the essential nature of God is placed and made effective in us by the Holy Spirit. He imparts to us the quickening life of Jesus, making us truly alive. He takes that which was "beyond" us and places it "within" us. And immediately, once "the beyond" has come "within," it rises up to "the above," and we are lifted into the kingdom where Jesus lives and reigns (see John 3:5 ).

~Oswald Chambers

Last Night....

2008-11-24T22:57:00.000-08:00

I went wandering on a little walk
and God spoke to me real clearly about LOVE
and highlighted my ability to receive it.
I had to sit down, i was so shocked, and felt His presence so strongly.
My friend Cheryl bought me an advent calendar yesterday, and gift giving
is one of my top 'Love languages'
and it made me feel all squirmy inside,
like the feeling when people get too close
or try hugging me
i really have to fight to enjoy it
because i know i should but for some reason i guess im a little broke in that area
I asked God 'why?'
and the root is all in self worth. Like I dont feel i deserve His unfailing love
and i dont
BUT He has made me clean and worthy of His love
because He has stood in my place of judgment and taken my punishment and pain
I am the righteousness of Christ
I don't deserve it
but im going to let Him love me anyway

Sometimes I wonder...

2008-11-23T13:27:00.000-08:00

If i will ever fall in love. .... .... . ... .

Prayer Requests

2008-11-01T03:52:00.000-07:00

Smooth sail to France (maybe missing France and going straight to Spain depending on good weather or not)

Finances, Direction from God

Good camera for keeping Newsletters up to date

Grace as i step in as Communications Officer for a month...

Christmas Mailing Address!!

2008-10-21T11:52:00.000-07:00

s/y Next Wave
Attn: Alberti Mario
via Consolato Della Seta 33
95121 Catania
Italy

Yaaaay!
Sicily for Christmas is going to be awesome but i will miss you all tremendously.
xo

Plymouth

2008-10-17T02:00:00.000-07:00

We made it!!
Moreso however I've been waking up with this urge to just need God more and more for everything and anything.
Since coming here life hasn't been bad. There's been many struggles and trials, lots to learn, but i count it all joy for real. I live on a sail boat. I've been learning how to helm and lead watches... cook for many, shop for many, and live in sardine-can close quarters...
and maybe it's that im reading 'Always enough' by Heidi Baker...
I'm in need of Him more than ever for everything.
I remember the days when i couldn't get out of bed without Jesus helping me and giving me strength. The early days when I first gave my life back to Christ. I had nothing left to live for or no reason besides Him. I couldn't even move until He gave me something to do.
Not that I haven't got things to do now, but how much of it is busy work and how much for His sake and Kingdom? And how much of His work am I attempting to do all on my own?

ranting.
And, random side note, I love tea. I drink so much.
And im so happy to be in Plymouth, and im going to try to find some proper English clotted cream, jam, and scones and pray I don't get sick.

PS> all my lovely supporters, Im posting things soon as I can get organized.
Love and miss you all!

Update Sept/Oct

2008-10-13T02:47:00.000-07:00

(click on photos to enlarge)

To the Isle of Man in a force 9 Gale...
Tuesday, September 30th – Liverpool/Irish Sea

11 am
The crew had finished securing the vessel for sail, navigation checks and engineering checks were taught to all of the new crew, and our passengers ( 4 guests ) were safely settled in, taking their sea sick pills, and ready to go. We pushed off the Quay side of the trendy Albert Dock in Liverpool, maneuvered past the lock and were out on the rough Mersey river on our way to face the challenge of the Irish Sea.

2pm-5pm
My first watch shift started amidst the huge swells of the Mersey River. Reports from the Liverpool coast guard cautiously monitored our daring leave out of the river, announcing that 3 yachts that had come loose and were in our path. We came across one tiny unfortunate yacht, abandoned, being tossed around in the storm and threatening to cut us off and send us into the shallows of the river bank.

Wednesday, October 1st – Irish Sea
2am-5am
I find out rather abruptly that the pm shifts also mirror the am shifts, and wake up as nearly the last sailor standing to have not hurled over the port side. The stars came out in full force, the storm clouds moving aside letting us see by moonlight, the wash of massive waves with phosphorescents up and over the bow of the ship.

We made it!
Tuesday, October 7th – Dry Dock
12:32pm
I have never been so happy to see dry land as when we arrived in the 8,000 person town of Ramsey. They swung open the large red & white bridge as the Sy Next Wave maneuvered in along-side.(instead of having to rent a dry-dock spot... saving us nearly 2000 pounds in fees...)
The days have been filled with scraping, painting, and welding underneath the boat. Chasing the tides to get things done, as well as being welcomed by the local church of Ramsey. A baptist church community ‘living to make Jesus known in Ramsey’ welcomed us with prayers for needs and blessings as well as a big potluck! Some of the old crew has left us and the new crew are settling into new job placements. I will be one of four watch leaders during sails, in charge of ship scheduling (and implementation...) special events, communications, and plotting routes in our navigation system and on charts, for our journey around the Med!

Sunday 12th 12:30am– We almost lost the boat

“You girls had better get back inside...” Oli warned me and Grace as we wandered outside of the shipyard shed to see how our dear home Next Wave was doing... She had leaned hard over to the Port side (left hand side) while the tide was going out and by 3 am she was at a 30 degree list the wrong way. 197 tones of weight between 7 lines made it dangerous to stand near the ship in case any of the lines snapped. Our Captain, engineers, and some Scottish fishermen from a nearby vessel were troubleshooting which lines to cut and how to lay down the boat in the worst case scenario. We had tried swinging the boom over the Starboard side to even the weight, however, the lines had been tied to a large metal press. Instead of stabilizing our lines, the boom line was lifting the press and dragging it closer and closer to the edge. The line was cut and the boom swung out to the Port side causing the boat to turn even harder.

However, daring strategy and mooring lines were not all the Next Wave had going for her. Ever since we had been evacuated at 12:30 am to tie lines, we were praying, and worshipping.
Once we had those lines on, Captain Lehman turned the situation over to our Heavenly Father, knowing that the only thing left that could save the boat from going over into the waterless shipyard would be His protection and angels. I had just taught that morning on Philippians, and spoke about when Paul and Silas were in prison singing hymns in the inner chamber so loud all the prisoners could hear. I wondered if I would do the same in such a situation. I have just gotten over a severe cold which made me cry out to God for healing but never brought me to the point of worshipping. It’s easy to praise Him when it’s good, and this night we got to put to practice our bible study by worshipping Him in the midst of peril. Knowing that our hope in Him is our steadfast anchor of our souls, not our hope in a ship, or some mooring lines.

We spent the night huddled in blankets the local police brought, trying to sleep in the staff room of the shipyard. It was quite the scene, everyone laying sprawled out over jackets on the floor and benches, trying to get comfortable. It reminded me of road trips as a child, all of us kids in the back-seat sleeping head to each others shoulder, all having to switch directions at the same time whenever someone was sick of their cheek plastered to the car window.
Our guests for the sail arrived just as our ship started floating. The lines held all night, and at 8:30 am the Next Wave was afloat with a very happy and thankful crew. None of us had time to grab our cameras, but when Oli offered to take a picture with his phone camera, for some reason we decided we’d rather not have a shot of the ship like that.

Tuesday, October 14th – Sail to Plymouth

10 am
We will leave our time of maintenance and provisioning in the IOM for the land flowing with fresh scones, cream, and jam... Plymouth, England! I will be doing my firefighting and seamanship course in Plymouth, as well as the team will be going through a time of group building, praying into our DNA (freedom/ original design prayer), and inductive bible study method training.
Please pray with me for a smooth sail, finances for the crew to take the course, and a time of strong unity building among the team. 

What’s Next?!
November 3rd-December 28th – Sail to Catania for Christmas!

If you wish to send Christmas parcels I will have an address for Catania Sicily soon!!!

Thank you for your continued support and investment into my life!
God Bless!

On Becoming a Pirate for Jesus...

2008-10-04T06:49:00.000-07:00

http://www.rbc.org/utmost/index.php
Read this today if you wish... it was really really encouraging for me right now...

I've been looking at getting my training done for the ship and it would be both a dream realized and benefitial and more worthwhile cost-wise for me to get my Yachtmaster's Certification (becoming a Captain!) I really feel like this is a direction God would have me go... even though I would love to to Titus and other things in the future... I somehow beleive that all these things will come together... As well, it would be a great way if I need to 'tent make' in the future to be able to do some deliveries with the boat to raise support.

The marine reach ministries and YWAM really feel like the launch of this boat will un-cork a whole fleet of boats in the future to bring Christs' love and hope and healing (physicaly, emotionaly, spiritualy etc.) to ports all over the world. I have also seen first-hand God put dreams into people's hearts about boats and bible teachers in Fiji and Australia. I do beleive against all odds right now that God is able to do this and will do what He's said... and I would love to be a part of it.

All this to say that I really cannot do this on my own. I mean im thankful God reveals to me the needs that He's going to provide for, but being a missionary can get lonely, loads of travel, daring and fun, but also can be a bit stressful. Especially when I think that none of the things I'd love to do with my life in the future include me getting a 'real' job...

Honestly, God is working on me right now about asking for support. I hate it. I really do, but I do see the need for people to not fly off on their own and try to 'go it alone'. There is so much value in having people be connected to you and there for you to pray and sweat and bleed with ya... To be able to depend on others, build relationships that last and grow....
I guess Jesus had a support team too, and in Romans... well, 10:14 How then will they call on him in whom they have not believed? And how are they to believe in him^(T) of whom they have never heard?^[c] And how are they to hear^(U) without someone preaching? 15And how are they to preach unless they are sent? As it is written,^(V) "How beautiful are the feet of those who preach the good news!"

The bible states that we are to be sent... still. I dont know how my support works out, but i am so thankful for those who do beleive God is doing something real with my life and actually effective in the Kingdom and the Kingdom coming to earth...and who support me prayerfuly and faithfuly. Thank you!

Well. That's my random rant for the day... from the tiny town of Ramsey in the Isle of Man...

Liverpool to Isle of Man in an 8 force Gale

2008-10-02T23:17:00.000-07:00

“The ferries aren’t running from Liverpool?” the lady at the Isle of Man thrift shop had just confirmed what I thought of the overnight sail from Liverpool~~ Gnarly. If I survived that one, I’m told I’ll be able to survive whatever may come.
Last night was seriously a winnowing experience to say the least.
Night watches, full of great convo and great music, interrupted by moments of ‘sickness’ over the starboard side of the ship. We spent roughly 19 hours sailing through some of the roughest sea I’ve ever encountered even though our boat and crew has seen much worse. (Gale force 11!)
Once the clouds cleared out the night sky opened to reveal gorgeous constellations, unmarked by the lights or skylines of any cities. Listening to worship music and sailing on auto pilot is the only way to go... even if the boat was sometimes 45 degrees up and down, rolly-polly, side-to-side, and even some circles...

We weighed anchor at 6am and could not get into our birth for our scheduled dry-dock... too much wind. We maneuvered through a swing bridge and set the boat down to rest against a Quay where it turns out, we’ll be able to get all the same maintenance done, saving us 2000 pounds!! God is good yeah?! In what we thought would be bad, He had it all planned out and organized for us. Now hopefully we’ll just have a safe and un-stormy trip home after a successful cleaning and maintenance of the boat!!

Turns out we'll be in the Isle of Man for a lot longer than originally planned. So the old crew will be leaving from here and the new crew will sail to Plymouth!
Please pray for my little sister, for health,
please pray for my sickness i got swollen glands,
and that people would want to join on my support team!
Because I have to buy a lot of my own food i am getting a break on crew fees but I still need to be able to buy groceries!
I am also wanting to get my Yacht Master's certification which would certify me as a Captain by the end of this year and that will be an extra couple hundred pounds if I stay on for one year, but if I commit for 2 YWAM will pay for it...

Blessings all!
Thanks for reading and keeping up on me!
I will be teaching the inductive method through Philemon soon so please keep that in your prayers and stay tuned for more adventures!!

Next Wave Pt. 2

2008-09-27T10:29:00.000-07:00

Having the YWAM England on board for their retreat this week was seriously a treat for the whole boat. Besides bringing us chocolates from all over the world, they brought us words from the YWAM GLT, Loren Cunningham, specific revelations and personal words for us from God, as well as an excitement that was tangeable and real, that the Next Wave is the key thing on God's heart to unlocking a myriad of vessels that will bring God's hope and healing to the world.
The launching of this ship has been described as the cork in the bottle (picture little sailboat in a bottle here...) and that the release of it into ministry will be the gateway to many more boats being released all over the world. At least 40 boats is the hope, heading out on oceans, seas, up rivers, and into lakes, bringing life to remote ports and places that need God's touch.

This was super encouraging and exciting for us as crew. Especially me being a newby to the boat, I was amazed to hear what God had planted me in the middle of.
During this time God has been moving on my heart to pray and fast in the mornings for finances and it proved to be a catalyst for having the board members come in the morning and pray with us! It was so amazing to hear these people's hearts to pray and seek God's face for the advancement of His kingdom in any way He saw fit, and for us, it's the ministry involving this boat!

Next Wave

2008-09-22T13:18:00.000-07:00

Im here! I have a really cool map to upload too of all our journeys where we have planned out (tentatively, some things are still in prayer) but i have to wait to get to a coffee shop to upload it on their internet. :p

So I have officially arrived at my new home! Or for at least a year. Im not going to lie, it has not been easy getting into place here yet, but it's only been a few days and we hit the ground running! I am new crew with a couple from Pennsylvania, joining a team of international people coming and going. There are people from the UK, Ghana, USA, and Scotland who make up the team here so far! (And a few from Canada too!)

I got a chance to wander the town my first day, I went to the Tate Liverpool and that was so cool to see art that I studied in my text book, right there in real life in front of me!
I almost hit the floor when i walked into the room and saw Degas' Little Ballerina sculpture right in front of me!

The last few days have been full of speakers, great ones at that. We had the privelage of having Betty Barnett come speak to us on her expert subject 'Friend Raising'...
The biblical realities of finances in missions and what it means to live according to the kingdom of God in relationship with people. That sometimes, often, God uses money to tie us into people to invest in our lives, so that we will not only rely on ourselves but others as well. It forces us to not try to be independant, but to actually create a support team that is invested literally into 'Livestock'

Today we learned all about health food safety, and after eating Kababs after church last night... It was NOT making me feel so hot. (I went to 'Frontline' Ladonna's old church!! SO FUN! So rad) Tomorrow comes the real fun stuff! In the morning we will be moving the ship about, learning how to handle it etc. We will be docking near the Maritime Museum right down at Albert Dock. We really do have prime location here. I will try to get some more pics up of how right down-town we are! People stroll past our bedrooms at all hours of the day and night, we are right in the heart of the cultural capital of UK 2008.

I also have already got to meet with the guys who do a lot of work with the website and newsletter for the boat! We are all working on how to communicate news from the boat more freely and efficiently. One of the girls here Tamara will be doing a YouTUBE video diary and newsletter, and I will hopefully be able to help along aswell! There are talks of an html newsletter on the horizon so keep in touch!!

ITENERARY:

Sept/Oct:
30th--
sail to
Dry dock at Isle Of Man

Oct 4th:
Leave drydock

Oct 15th:
Sail to Plymouth
Oct 18th: Arrive Plymouth

November 3rd: Sail for France
November 5th: Arrive Douarnenez France

November 10th: Arrive in Curuna, Spain
November 14th: Sail to Lisbon, Portugal

November 28th: Arrive in Ibiza
December 9th: Arrive in Catania, Sicily
Day Skipper Lecture phase
CHRISTMAS!!
(will send address for post)

December-Febuary DTS Harpenden Team joins ship
sail to Crete

Febuary 7th 2009--March 26th 2009: KONA SBS Joins ship!!! (43 Days)
Crete, Rhodes, Kalkan, Turkey, (Ephesus & Miletus), Kusdasi, Corinth (Athens!!)
**Sailing through Paul's missionary journeys while studying about them

April 1 2009: Sail to Burgas, Limnos, Istanbul

April 25th 2009- July 3rd 2009: Mercy DTS outreach joins ship in Bulgaria
Verna, Odessa, Ukraine
**Mercy outreach to locals and the poorest of the poor

August 3rd-September 3rd 2009 Prep/Maintenance for Bluewater DTS!!!
Catania, Sicily

Im praying about staffing that DTS so please pray with me for direction for that
and for finances for monthly or any support at all
...that God would heal me completely from the side affects of an anti-bacterial pill induced summer!
Finances for the ship that it would be paid off quickly and most importantly,
why we do this crazy stuff with our lives,
for God's glory, for Jesus' love to shine into the lives of people everywhere we go
Miracles, healings, people coming to find their destiny and purpose in life.

If you made it to the end of this, thank-you and God Bless you
If you made it half way, still God bless you too... even tho you probably aren't reading this...

IRELAND

2008-09-10T08:28:00.000-07:00

So Im here.
and i love it.
Honestly Dublin is a city, so, i've walked around a few times and am ready to head to the coast!
I've been to the national art gallery, trinity college, saw the book of Kells and had a great tour guide!! James. He is so funny!
I still haven't made any irish friends. maybe hanging around a hostel and doing touristy stuff isn't the way to make irish friends....
i ran out of dental floss today and it cost 3 euros to buy at the grocery store!! i almost cried. i will probably go back and get it but that was just after being ripped off by a market vendor for broccoli. why am i buying broccoli anyways?! im on vaccay.

I had a great latte at Bewleys' cafe. Im thinking i might try to catch brekky/lunch there tomorrow. who knows! Oh i also went to the big park... St. Stephens green and got a bunch of sweet shots.
Hopefully tonight i will make some irish friends. if not tomorrow im heading out to Howth on the Dart so maybe ill find some locals!
wahoo!
Blessings.

TODAY....

2008-09-08T16:58:00.001-07:00

I will be in Ireland....

Politics and Pain

2008-09-06T08:38:00.000-07:00

I listened to this the other night and HIGHLY recommend a listen:

http://www.ibethel.org/features/sermonoftheweek/140/Bill-Johnson-Politics-and-Pain-10:45am--/free_message.html

Something broke off me, this not needing an answer "WHY" im sick right now, and not demanding earthly justice from God, but desiring God's justice on earth.
God may your will, and heaven continue to reign on Earth all around and through your people,
until we see Heaven.
Destiny and purpose.

Im Here

2008-09-04T23:39:00.000-07:00

Im here. And it is great!
I had the best send-off in Toronto EVER!! Mike & Helen I love you guys!! It was such a blessing to chill, relax, and get adjusted after working all summer. Seriously hang out with the Packards if you are ever so blessed to know them. Hospitality is definately one of their spiritual gifts.
PS> Got to see Mr. Packard teach his first day of Bible to the class he is teaching at a local Christian school. They did 'fear factor' it was lots of fun! Digging for coins in 'kitty litter', worms and dirt (real=gross), and picking marbles out of ice cold water! What kids will do for candy paralleled with what people do for the gospel and God's word. Nice.

So far I love everything about England. I especially love whizzing down the 'wrong' side of the road at scary speeds!! And tea. Im not sick of tea yet... especially because green or non caffinated is all I can drink!

I was greeted by Jodi Foshay at the airport. What a joyous meeting!!
We've had a chance to visit two towns nearby together, go to open mic night (where i met my first Irish person in real life!! A drag queen not in drag. Tried to get me to sing Celine Dion with him but i didn't know the words), we've gone for starbucks (ofcourse) and got to talk and talk and talk! So fun.

I am enjoying the Manor. This place is old and regal. It was originally built for a family of 5 but
easily is comfortable with about 20 or so and capacity can get up to 100-150 people!!!

Im starting to get excited for Ireland, however there has been a health issue that has been plaguing me that I do need prayer for. Im still holding onto the promises and dreams God is actually realizing as I step deeper into His heart, but this issue Im dealing with is apparently a long drawn out battle, quite expensive and time consuming in treating and I'd rather not deal with it and have God demolish the illness.
After being put on so many anti-biotics and especially a major one this summer, my immune system and good bacteria balance was compromised. So this left me with a major imbalance that I am trying to cure with herbal supplements, diet, and good probiotics. It's really not easy though, especially while travelling and as I can imagine living on a boat....

I know that this isn't happening to change my mind about where I should be right now, but probably because I am doing what I should be doing. And praise God for friends and understanding people! The boat people are ok with the diet I have to live by. But honestly, without God I don't think I can beat this. Please join with me in prayer to be healthy!
This also will mean no drinking Guiness for me in Ireland :(
It's ok tho I've come to terms with it!!

Another prayer request as well would be finances. I beleive I am at 1/2 my monthly support, so thank you to all who are supporting me!! Going home for such a short while was really streching before heading out on the road and it's been SO cool to see God move on people's hearts and see dear friends dig deep and be sooo hospitable and share their love.

Oh a couple last things, prayers for sleep and direction. I was awake in the middle of the night and couldn't sleep for the life of me. Thought of all the things i had 'to do' though... and so here is this post! Haha. As well. Im still ironing out my travel schedule post-Ireland. I need help.

If you have facebook please check out my 'the journey there' album otherwise I will try to post some pics to flikr in the near future.

Blessings to you thank you for taking the time to read this!!

Ill hopefully update more in the days to come, especially post-Ireland!!

Circus

2008-09-01T07:21:00.000-07:00

My dear awesome friends took me to the circus last night!!
Ignite by Zero Gravity Circus was at Wasaga Beach. Nicest beach I've been to, so rad!

I was reminded not to give up on my dreams, and sooo inspired. The aerial silks and strap artists were AMAZING!
Afterward we went for some drinks and good food at the Copa Cabana restaurant. It was really open with lots of umbrellas and plants, so so nice.
I feel like I've stepped into another world!

Please pray for my health. Im still battling with some side affects from anti-biotics.

Nice Words from Wise Friends

2008-08-29T00:14:00.000-07:00

Well, Im procrastinating packing and as usual have found loads of nice stuff people have written to me & nice things God has said and encouraged me by... So... Instead of lugging them all around the world im going to write them up here and find them when Im feeling blue. Or need to be inspired. I hope they inspire you. This is my life...

First thing I always find is this AMAZING birthday card from my friend Ross. He was 21 when he wrote this to me (maybe 20) for my 22nd Bday. This guy has the wisdom of a hundred year old.

When you're doing it right, when you're in the right place and especially when your not remember this picture. Remember that its something more than one photo, a second stolen from time and put on film it's everything.
It's what God wants you to be able to be.
To let go of everything and just be free. (Galatians 5:1)

LOOK at her eyes. She looks so confident and proud, so dynamic and flawless yet someone spilt developer all over her face. Also someone drew her in the first place she's not real, Super-woman is something someone made up, probably because they wished they were more super
but when it comes down to it, if she stepped out of the pages of her comic book she'd be a useless fallen fleshbag, just like everyone else.

Just like everyone else her great, great to the millionth degree grandmother Eve chose the knowledge of good and evil over Life. You know what that means? She chooses nervous breakdowns over Almighty loving God's peace that changes reality, she chose psychotic over stable, lust over fulfillment of the most real description. Anger instead of Love, chaos. We can't handle it.
Neither can super-woman. But thousands of years down the road a branch of that covenant intwined tree, life came to you Randi and said
Im giving you another chance to choose daughter of Eve... "What's it going to be?"
and you said life.
Dont forget it.

Time is man made. God lives outside of it he understands it but he's not controlled by it, cause He's eternal. I realize that this particular clock is ten minutes past the eleventh hour. That's supposed to be bad right? But it's still going so even when it seems like its all over and you're screwed just wait ten minutes....

June 2nd 1984....
Van Halen INVITED you to their CD release party BUT you were too young to go...
PLUS it was in Los Angeles...

DID YOU KNOW....
That when this picture of Alice Cooper was taken in 1992 he had become a fullblown Christian and had given up his addiction to alcohol? So when you're feeling glum remember the little girl or Alice Cooper. Also remember that the little girl was a little girl then but that picture was taken 1974 so she's old now. It's about your attitude your character, your identity in Jesus and who he shapes you to be. NOT AGE. But you have to let Him.

I found this book (Grandma and the Pirates), I thought it would remind you of how that was and how it feels, but in the end it's not about books or pictures of Alice Cooper.
It's about Jesus.

Remember that Ill always believe in you, or at least Ill try. Even when you don't, but as you know no man or lady or husband whenever that happens will ever be able to replace Christ. I had a revelation of God's love not long ago.
It was sort of a question, were asking people "do you beleive in God?" or "Are you a Christian?"
or whatever. But he sort of asked me

"Do you beleive I beleive in you?"

Do we believe he believes in us? In you.
Well He does. He believes in YOU. He believes in the potential that he created you with, he believes in you to be who he made you to be, how that looks is ultimately your choice. You're a precious jewel in his eye, not like some crap of the earth that will wither but one that will be with him in Glory. In Heaven, cherished forever.

~Love Ross

Wow. I get a little teary everytime i find this and read it. Grandma and the Pirates!! And Im going to be a pirate!!

From Jodi:
"When I was praying ofr you I had this picture of a huge, expensive ring and felt like God said, "Because you're WORTH IT." And I agree!!

From God:

"You belong among the wildflowers
You belong in a boat out at sea
You belong with your love on your arm
You belong somewhere you feel free"
~Tom Petty

"The time came when the risk it took to remain tight in a bud
was more painful than the risk it took to blossom."
~Anais Nin

From Markie Lane Price:

~The Wanderlust~

The Wanderlust runs through my veins and Im feeling kinder blue.
Theres a sort of vacant longing seems to pierce me through and through
Theres a hungry with in all my bones and my lungs feel cramped and small
And I long to be west of the Farralones for the Sea has made her call

Im sick and tired of these binding hills and acres of grape and vine
Oh! how I hate the hoe and spade and the smell of new-made wine
I have no love for the earth or flowers
Or the bloom of the orange tree
For I long to be out where the sun descends
On the heave of God's blue sea...

Give me the slope of a good ship's deck under my feet agian
And the roar of the gate, the clutch of the sail
And the swish of the deep sea rain
The foc'sle song and the chanty strong and the shipmates bold and true;
with the heave and haul at the captain's pawl
And the stamp of a hearty crew

Ho! For the smell of the salt sea air and the force of the wind's strong tide
The clutch of the wheel in my hand I feel and the souse of the wash o'erside
Ho! For the sight of a tropic night and the rags in the moonlight pale
And the surge and grind of a snow sqall blind with the hate of a Cape Horn gale

So I'll pack my kit and the valley I'll quit
And I'll tramp to the port once more
And I'll stick my fist on a ship's crew list, as I did in the days of yore
For a wind-jam trip on a lime juice ship
or a well-fed down east bark,
Is a sea tramp's cure and I'm damned well sure
'Twill suit me to the mark

~Author Unknown

Thanks MP. xo.

And my Dad. Ever encouraging me.

"You have fun, and go do the World, I have and will always be praying for you, as I do for you all. Try to ''stop and smell the roses'' when you go, and take the time to smell/touch/feel/experience it all....love you"

Something to Write About

2008-08-06T15:11:00.000-07:00

"What if you got to do whatever you wanted to.
What would that be?
For instance, if you had the money and time and people to do whatever you wanted to, what would you start doing tomorrow and what would you stop doing tomorrow?" ~from Patrick Dodson's site

Well, this is me, Randi Barry, updating the Spheres of Society peeps
(check out the group on google groups)
on 'The Diary of a Single White Female'

(i hope to someday write a book by that title)
Currently I sit suspended questioning my personal inertia...between those two dots that Patrick Dodson talks about, our giant dreams and our giant need....

"We often stand in the middle, fairly paralyzed and unable to move forward and connect these dots. We become passive or else actively engaged in massive wastes of time."
(http://www.patrickdodson.net/index.php?id=44)

Im praying in the middle ground,
trusting with all i've got
and clinging to a Rock that never moves
as I step into the sweet-oblivion of life that He has for me.
(I can't see two seconds in front of my face why stress about what I can't see)

At the same time im worrying, trying to calculate how much support i need a month...and how much my job as a bartender at the local Yacht club is going to help me through the next year of my life. I am joining as crew with YWAM's "Next Wave" ship that will be sailing around the Mediterranean, doing all sorts of stuff from being a good 'ol pirate for Jesus to teaching the inductive bible study method. (www.marinereach.info)

I just finished the 9 month inductive bible School of Biblical studies with YWAM in Montana. (Read & study the whole bible 5 times in 9 months inductively with historical background, literary context etc...)
I have come to realize the importance of what Paul encouraged his son in the faith Timothy with...
"Devote yourself to the public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching. Do not neglect the gift you have, which was given you ...Practice these things, immerse yourself in them, so that all may see your progress. Keep a close watch on yourself and on the teaching. Persist in this, for by so doing you will save both yourself and your hearers." (1 Tim 4:17~)

I guess this message is in a way a step towards realizing and using my personal inertia... while stepping into the dreams that God has realized, He's asking me to use what's invested inside to bless others.
"Devote yourself to public reading of Scripture, to exhortation, to teaching, do not neglect the gift you have... practice these things, immerse yourself in them"
I love that. So what is my gifts, talents, abilities?
And what am I doing with them?
I don't feel like I'm immersing, but this step of faith into what God has next is enough fire-under-the-kettle to steep the fine tea of my delicate soul...

I keep on hearing 'you're the head not the tail'
you shall be the 'lender not the borrower'
and His loving voice asking me to trust Him as a good Father who gives good gifts... and LIVE IT OUT LOUD.

Expressing in actions, words, gatherings, people, art, food, life, the love of the gospel message. God's great love for us that He didn't hold back His own son in order to be in relationship with us, is so often covered up by rules, regulations, and guilt.
His laws are SO good but out of context from His love make no sense.
As well, the depths of the richness and mysteries of Christ are hidden to those who haven't seen His glory and hear, receive, and know this Good News, hope to a dying world but foolishness to the proud.

I don't see this legalism of living by rules and under fear of guilt so much with Christians who have tasted and seen His goodness, but I have seen those who love deeply, give up their lives for others and yet do not know Him for fear of a severe spanking, or simply because they don't understand His love.

Such are some of the people I've met along the journey. And they look at me and wonder how I can serve a God who doesn't "let" me cut loose and do anything my heart (or flesh) so desires.
The fine line between freedom, grace, mercy and judgment falls under the blood of Christ which I have chosen to believe saves me from those times I chose my independence from God and try to throw Him overboard.
(mutiny...sin)
And so I love them, pray, and write for now of this journey He's taken me on to learn the truth of the words in red... in every day life.

Prayer requests:
Support
Boldness, courage, trust
Clear words to say what I mean and mean what I say

(Go Here)
http://www.patrickdodson.net/index.php?id=44

Change

2008-08-03T22:51:00.001-07:00

The Randi Show

2008-07-29T22:59:00.000-07:00

Me and Anne... Crazy at Dent

Any of you who know me well have heard about
The Randi Show...
it's all me, all the time
even the commercials are about me... (toothpaste commercials when im brushing my teeth, absolute commercial when im at work... etc.)
It helps me not live inside other people's heads, knowing that everyone has their own shows going on alll the time. Honestly I think about other people 1.1% of my day and the other 98.9% of the time is me thinking about me...
Sometimes i can get hung up on what other people think of me but then i realize they have their own 'shows' going on... and I'm just a guest appearance in their show.
anyways.
I asked Jesus to be the star of my show a few nights ago. I have no clue how this will happen, I just think it's funny He's gonna be the star now. Should be that way always.
The universe DOESNT revolve around us... I know, weird hey?
Even though I act like that ALL the time,
it's about HIM.

PS>I cried like a baby tonight. I came home to an email that someone donated money to me.
Thank you whoever you are.
Thank you God.
Jesus you're all this heart is living for.

God Story!

2008-07-27T01:39:00.000-07:00

Guess what.... I got my plane ticket to the UK!!!

I was just revamping the blog and saw that was one of the prayer requests on my last post.

Yay. Faith builder!

I went on days out from Dent for a bit. They were full of visiting, running around, hanging out at the beach house!! (so good) I sent away my passport to get renewed (hopefully it gets back BEFORE i have to leave, it should...) and got a sweet deal on a flight to Toronto and then to London!

Im going to be visiting with Mike and Helen Packard, they got married just after SBS, I was in the wedding, it was so beautiful! Montana wedding, backdrop of the mountains and a beautiful lake...

THEN im off to visit the ever-amazing Jodi Foshay at Holmstead Manor!!

There's been this dream to go to Ireland for at least two years now. I remember being here at Dent, 22 years old and scrubbing toilets and glass showers (such a pain) and breaking down crying wondering when I was ever going to escape my Cinderella-esque existence and finally meet my dreams... two years later and here I am at Dent, about to see them come true!!

I am looking at flights to Dublin, and hostels riiiight now... only a short trip, 7 days just before I head up to Liverpool and get on that boat!!

Keep me in your prayers and keep in touch,

let me know how I can pray for you

randibarry@gmail.com

OH! and i also got my prayer cards and newsletters in the mail from the print place... (www.fastcolorcopies.com) they did an amazing job, watch for them in the mail!

2008-07-10T23:14:00.000-07:00

My dear Friends and Family.... as one adventure ends... another is JUST BEGINNING!! I would like to thank you all for your support over these last two years that God has taken me from being a timid and unsatisfied college graduate to a woman full of His vision and dreams, with a tiny bit more wisdom and insight and HIM as my direction, purpose, passion, provision, and providence.

He's the only thing that never changes and has been my rock throughout life by faith for finances while in Mexico and going to DTS/SBS, my peace amidst scary car accidents, and my hope throughout tough and challenging times in China and while studying for many many hours on end through SBS. As well your prayers I know have shifted things and tugged on the Father's heart for me for healing for carpel tunnel, finances, and peace of mind... to name just a few amonst many blessings.
I pray this letter finds you well and in His best.

"For he delivers the needy when he calls, the poor and him who has no helper.
He has pity on the weak and the needy and saves the lives of the needy. From oppression and
violence he redeems their life, and precious is their blood in his sight." Psalm 72:12

I have just returned home from Youth With a Mission lakeside, Montana where I spent
9 months studying and soaking through God's word in the SBS in Lakeside Montana.
Throughout this time God gave me a firm foundation in the word while I learned valuable skills from how to study, interpret, and apply the word with proper context, historical background, to how to pass on the Inductive Bible Study Method. More than all those skills however, the most valuable of all was a deepening of my relationship & intimacy with God and growing in relationships with people while learning the fine art of living in community.

God has been renewing all my preconceived notions of 'church' as I lay down everything at His feet and come humbly as a student to Him. I learned through the word and through my time with YWAM that what He intended is so far beyond these four walls, but are hearts, people, lives, destinies, and stories to be told and created as His children reach out to those who have not heard and not known.

"I gave up Christianity in order to follow Jesus. There is a movement bubbling up that goes beyond cynicism and celebrates a new way of living, a generation that stops complaining about the church it sees and becomes the church it dreams of." ~Shane Claiborne

He brought me out into a spacious place;
he rescued me because he delighted in me.
Psalm 18:19

Art, talents, wide open spaces to grow into and expand. Starting this September I will be travelling to England to board the Next Wave ship which is a new ministry YWAM has pioneered, linking mercy ministries with discipleship schools. I will be crewing the boat while it is running DTS's, providing reconcilliation training and hosting the Photo Gen-X class from Kona while they study and sail through Paul's missionary journeys.

My heart for Ireland and the UK has been steadily growing over the past 4 years and finally I
am going to be able to go and minister through serving, teaching the inductive bible study method, working with mercy ministries in the Black Sea and wherever else God opens up for me to use my talents and abilities!
I will send updates as these dreams become reality!!!

"Never regard study as a duty, but as the enviable opportunity to learn
to know the liberating influence of beauty
in the realm of the spirit for your own personal joy
and to the profit of the community to which
your later work belongs."

-- Albert Einstein

I praise our Lord Jesus Christ and give Him all glory for who
He is, always good. He has always been faithful to provide for all
my needs. I have never been without, especially while stepping into the things
that He has called me to do, he has provided in abundance.
Please consider partering with me through both prayer and financial support.

Everything I do is non-profit and self-funded.

Monthly support or one-time donations are all Tax-Deductible

and cheques can be made
payable to: YWAM
Note: for Randi Barry
mailed to: YWAM Project Funding
Box 57100 2480
E. Hastings Vancouver BC V5K 5G6

"I am carried on the shoulders of those
who cannot see the landscape I describe.
I owe them far more than my weight."

~Betty Barnett

In His Arms
Randi Barry

Current Needs:

Digital Camera

Monthly Supporters

Flight to UK

The Ride In

2008-07-08T07:23:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was an amazing ride in through the inlets to Dent Island Lodge... my home for the summer.

After my dad dropped me off on the skid, iced coffee and snack in hand to go, we headed off through the maze of gorgeous boats into the wide open passes of coastal B.C.

We stopped to drop off a parcel with a lady known as Rhonda who has a home in the middle of nowhere, address 'somewhere' along the shores of the coast. Like many others who have found their solitude in their summer homes along this coast, it is evident by her dress that she's not from around here. Make-up, fake eyelashes, huge red brimmed hat... i dont know what kind of parties happen out here but I'd love to go to one of hers' im thinking.

Next stop was Michelle Pfeiffers place, or so I hear... boxes are dropped off on the dock and picked up by some grounds keepers. The conversation between the boat drivers and another man getting dropped at the Richie Brothers resort turns to how amazing the property is.... apparently like a Mexican Resort times 30 and even nicer. I wonder how someone gets invited to a place like that, or how someone gets hired at a place like that!

We pass a crew of seal pups and seagulls sharing a floating log and home comes into view around the corner. Dent Island. The lodge and land looks small as we pull up, but once on land the property spans back into the woods with lots of open space in between. Justin greets me on the dock and sends me up to talk to Markie, Im so excited i try not to run and look like a total loser for wanting to be locked away for a summer at Dent Island.

Almost Done! And What's Next....

2008-05-15T13:01:00.001-07:00

Lately God’s been bringing up what is coming up next for me and I would like to share with you all what I know is next before the end of school and summer starts and life gets crazy again!

Today we had all base prayer and fasting and for the personal prayer time these were some of the questions and answers.
Maybe take some time to sit quietly with God if you so desire and ask Him the same questions or just grab a coffee and enjoy reading my update!
Miss you all!!

What are the gifts God’s given me to serve others with?
Art, worship, teaching, serving, loving, circus art...

Who is God asking me to serve?
The 3rd world within the 1st world
The down & out army that only Jesus would come for

What is the next step? (what can I do TODAY)
Next step: the boat next year (www.marinereach.info)
God’s strategy in my life and the world’s to bring God’s hope to unreached or hard to reach places....
Pour into the lives of the missionaries who come on board, serve the directors, the captain, and be Jesus’ hands and feet to every person on land that I meet.

Future: teaching art, bible, evangelism thru circus...

We have to actually DO stuff today, not live in the past or future, or nothing will ever get done. Either doing stuff today or not because when tomorrow comes it will be today and we still won’t be doing anything....

God’s really been bringing up how jealous He is for me, my affections, time, energy, being my provider, being everything.
For some reason just last night and today this has really been hitting home to the depths of me. He is the beginning, He is the end, and He is the WAY. The book of Isaiah rocked my world and im loving seeing the same message through all of the minor prophets. God’s saying “come back to me, please, Im the only thing that stands eternally, after everything rolls up and new things come, Im it.”
I love that He didn’t just tell one prophet either, God warned His people over and over that putting other things above Him would destroy them because in the end they couldn’t save them... It really got me thinking of what do I still put above God on the regular? He is why im here, how I got here, and how I will get anywhere...

Zephania has really got me thinking.... 3:1 (a judgment against Jerusalem)

“She listens to no voice
She accepts no correction
She does not trust in the Lord
She does not draw near to her God”

Does not draw near to God.....He’s it. And He’s jealous for my affection. What do I draw near to when I’m upset, or happy, or overly aware of my singleness? Do I make excuses for my emotions, distractions, and idols....
Or do I run to God with my heart like He’s the heroin of my soul? None else has loved me before creation, before all my failures, none else gave up everything for my freedom or set me free, and none else can love me like He can.

So, it is God’s presence that is my satisfaction, and it is that I follow.
He is calling me to join with Marine Reach in the Mediterranean starting September 2008 for one year. This date to me already coming up soon and I would appreciate your continued prayer and love and support for the next season of life that God is calling me into.

If you would like to join with me in financial support, because I will be on staff I will be able to receive tax deductable donations.....jigga what!? That’s sweet! If God tells you to give that is. You can support monthly or one time donation and YWAM Vancouver will send you a receipt for your taxes.

Email me if you have any other questions! randibarry@gmail.com

He is jealous over being our provider, which is so cool, I see it more and more.
Im just finally understanding very basic stuff which is fine.
God is not un-involved, un-powerful, He didn’t just create everything give it a good spin and step back.
He loves you and wants to help you too!!

Until next time...
Blessings all!

May

2008-05-03T12:40:00.000-07:00

Hey thanks for the prayers guys!
My arms are on the mend.
I found a flight home for 400 bucks from Kalispell! How crazy is that!? Straight home to Comox. SO thankful about that.
Still needing prayer for the good nights rest, but let me share what God's been teaching my heart....

I never really caught on or learned much about Corrie Ten Boom or the hiding place, i think I read something about a girl named Anne who was around at the time of the holocoust, but sadly the severity of what happened never really hit home to me until this week....

My friends were teaching Jonah and Nahum and this whole concept of the wrath of God and the Love of God.
Everyone desires mercy and justice, it's the very heart of God, and in Ephesians 6:12 we see that we do not fight against flesh and blood, people, but wrestle against spiritual forces.

In the west it is a challenge just to get people to believe in the supernatural, however in places like Africa everyone understands there is a spiritual side to us. So why do we try to solve with logic the things that afflict us spiritually?

If logic solved everything, we wouldn't be here...

and so as humans we are ALL called, to love one another as ourselves, we can reason on that, but how, how do we love those who do us wrong, or hurt us?

This is an amazing story that really convicted me to change
and to learn more about the world in which i live...and to rely on the only ONE that can pay for my mistakes and make me better by His power not my own.

If you've made it this far please read this, it's such an amazing story that I hope inspires you

Corrie Ten Boom~

It was in a church in Munich that I saw him--a balding, heavyset man in a gray overcoat, a brown felt hat clutched between his hands. People were filing out of the basement room where I had just spoken, moving along the rows of wooden chairs to the door at the rear. It was 1947 and I had come from Holland to defeated Germany with the message that God forgives.

It was the truth they needed most to hear in that bitter, bombed-out land, and I gave them my favorite mental peicture. Maybe because the sea is never far from a Hollander's mind, I liked to think that that's where forgiven sins were thrown. "When we confess our sins," I said., "God casts them into the deepest ocean, gone forever. And even though I cannot find a Scripture for it, I believe God then places a sign out there that says, NO FISHING ALLOWED."

The solemn faces stared back at me, not quite daring to believe. There were never questions after a talk in Germany in 1947. People stood up in silence, in silence collected their wraps, in silence left the room.

And that's when I saw him, working his way forward against the others. One moment I saw the overcoat and the brown hat; the next, a blue uniform and a visored cap with its skull and crossbones. It came back with a rush: the huge room with its harsh overhead lights; the pathetic pile of dresses and shoes in the center of the floor; the shame of walking naked past this man. I could see my sister's frail form ahead of me, ribs sharp beneath the parchment skin. Betsie, how thin you were!

The place was Ravensbruck and the man who was making his way forward had been a guard--one of the most cruel guards.

Now he was in front of me, hand thrust out: "A fine message, Fraulein! How good it is to know that, as you say, all our sins are at the bottom of the sea!"

And I, who had spoken so glibly of forgiveness, fumbled in my pocketbook rather than take that hand. He would not remember me, of course--how could he remember one prisoner among those thousands of women?

But I remembered him and the leather crop swinging from his belt. I was face-to-face with one of my captors and my blood seemed to freeze.

"You mentioned Ravensbruck in your talk," he was saying. "I was a guard there." No, he did not remember me. "But since that time," he went on, "I have become a Christian. I know that God has forgiven me for the cruel things I did there, but I would like to hear it from your lips as well. Fraulein,"--again the hand came out--"will you forgive me?"

And I stood there--I whose sins had again and again to be forgiven--and could not forgive. Betsie had died in that place--could he erase her slow terrible death simply for the asking?

It could not have been many seconds that he stood there--hand held out--but to me it seemed hours as I wrestled with the most difficult thing I had ever had to do.

For I had to do it--I knew that. The message that God forgives has a prior condition: that we forgive those who have injured us. "If you do not forgive men their trespasses," Jesus says, "neither will your Father in heaven forgive your trespasses."

I knew it not only as a commandment of God, but as a daily experience. Since the end of the war I had had a home in Holland for victims of Nazi brutality. Those who were able to forgive their former enemies were able also to return to the outside world and rebuild their lives, no matter what the physical scars. Those who nursed their bitterness remained invalids. I was as simple and as horrible as that.

And still I stood there with the coldness clutching my heart. But forgiveness is not an emotion--I knew that too. Forgiveness is an act of the will, and the will can function regardless of the temperature of the heart. "Jesus, help me!" I prayed silently. "I can lift my hand. I can do that much. You supply the feeling."

And so woodenly, mechanically, I thrust my hand into the one stretched out to me. And as I did, an incredible thing took place. The current started in my shoulder, raced down my arm, sprang into our joined hands. And then this healing warmth seemed to flood my whole being, bringing tears to my eyes.

"I forgive you, brother!" I cried. "With all my heart."

For a long moment we grasped each other's hands, the former guard and the former prisoner. I had never known God's love so intensely as I did then. But even so, I realized it was not my love. I had tried, and did not have the power. It was the power of the Holy Spirit as recorded in Romans 5:5, "...because the love of God is shed abroad in our hearts by the Holy Ghost which is given unto us."

Yay and AMEN.
See you guys this summer!

I live in Siberia...

2008-04-22T08:48:00.000-07:00

Hey all!

It Snowed. I know. It's APRIL. OH MONTANA!!

I've been slowly workin away at SBS, trying to finish what I can with my wrists sore. I've been gettin massage once in awhile and resting LOTS. Im not sure if Im going to finish SBS yet or not, but we will see, I cerntainly have been learning how NOT to be a perfectionist at everything and resting in God's loving arms.

Yesterday I was reflecting on "What is the main thing I've learned in SBS?" And figured probably that I came here with plenty of questions about life, who I was, what I was meant to do with my life, how the heck the world got to be so friggin messed up, how to find love, peace, grace, mercy, and well....LOVE. True pure love. And I have seriously grown more than I think I even know. I am so happy that I've had the chance to do SBS.

I haven't done any of the books since Song of Solomon but I've still learned a lot through 1&2 Kings, Chronicles (Chronicles was a great book, I learned a lot about revival through studying leaders in the past who had successful revivals and one's who failed, and why... ) Ezra (7:10 was a man who set his heart to study the Law of God, to DO IT, and to teach God's ways in Israel...I told God I'd like to unite my heart to HIS in this way...), Nehemiah & Esther.

DID you know that God's name isn't mentioned ONCE in Esther. That blew me away. Reminded me that even when we don't 'see' or 'feel' God there, that He really is right there, carrying us, especially through the hard times, and that He has called us right where we are, with all of our resources, contacts, talents, and abilities for such a time as this, to make a change and difference in our world.
That it will be hard, opposition will always come when people try to do good, but to be courageous and perservere because God will have the victory.
What does that look like to me right now? Resting and waiting to get healed up!

Please join with me in prayer for
*healing of arms/wrists/back
*perserverance (SBS is a MARATHON)
*flight home
*good night's rest (dorm life has it's downsides)

LOVE!
RANDI

501 Blacktail Rd
Lakeside MT
59922

if anyone wants to send me mail!!!
PS> Thanks for all the mail JODS!!! :D

TODAY

2008-03-12T23:37:00.000-07:00

(OH HOW I MISS MY BLONDE HAIR!)

Oh man. I’ve been soo slack in updating my blog lately. I was super convicted today after a concert I went to see Phil Wickham and Greg Laurie (Phil is an amazingly and anointed singer/songwriter check out his myspace) and Greg is the Senior Pastor of Harvest church in Cali. 40 something people gave their lives to follow Christ tonight. It was the most amazing thing I’ve ever seen. Every single time someone gives their life to Christ I am just blown away at how amazing watching people meet Jesus for the first time is.

wow anyways the reason i was so convicted is just the exellency in which these people do what God has called them to do. It is their lives to communicate, and as someone who has been called to communicate I have seriously been slacking on my efforts of keeping the outside world updated on my life.
http://philwickham.com/blog/
http://www.harvest.org/

long story short. Communication is an amazing thing and we all need to do it more.

Tonight was so amazing though. Today God just started waking me up from something. So often I feel like i know 1% of what He's doing in my heart and people's hearts to change them, but today God was like spring warmth coming into my soul and letting me know summer is right around the bend. Tonight seeing people meet Jesus and step into eternity was unreal.
There was this one little boy in the very front while people were waiting to receive prayer at the front of the church, his head was down, he was just so ready and wanting Jesus to wash away his sins...man. How great is the God we serve that He does that? Loves us so much. SO MUCH.

Yay Aerial Silks! Some peeps and I are praying and hoping to put together an ART EVENT here!
Filled with dance, silks, art, etc. Open airish. Presentation of the gospel and good stuff. I haven't been doing the silks lately because I've been so sick. (prayer request, rest, heath, and stamina to make it through!!)

Lately I’ve been stuck in a weird place. After I dyed my hair black (long story) I was dealing with major identity issues coming up. It’s crazy I wonder how much God works on me if I’ll ever stop having stuff to get worked on, but you know what, I’ll never be perfect and it’s only Him that changes me.

So I've been going for prayer counselling. It's amazing the place God has brought me to here in Lakeside Montana. Seriously the people are fantastic. Prayer counselling (called "Theophostics") is just going through painful memories with God and getting Him to speak truth there. SO releasing!
God's been bringing up some things that I feel are like some final huge walls I need to let God break into and tear down.
I have one more meeting tomorrow morning so Im scared and excited to go.
I am seriously so blessed. Thank you to whoever reads this, I doubt anyone does, but, thanks for being a part of my life and journey at getting to this spot. I seriously don't know what I would do without God. He's given me such an amazing life here for these 9 months. To rest, soak in His word, sit at His feet and learn, get to be part of amazing 'sing song' (as Wells would put it) worship, community meetings, intercession for the nations, excellent teaching, prayer, and amazing friends who love me.

Im uploading pics from being bored one night and getting to watch a movie (time off from school?! I know eh!?)
and taking funny pictures. ...Oh Ive been painting again too... hm. i should upload those pics soon.
SIDE NOTE: GOD STORY!
Got silks up in the gym...still need a crash mat...
China this summer, boat next September! (www.marinereach.info)
I love prayer. I need it. thanks.

LOVE YOU ALL
BLESSINGS

LIVE ONE DAY AT A TIME... BE ALL HERE NOW

Newness Pt. 2

2008-01-13T17:03:00.000-08:00

Newness.
Really is what describes what today felt like.
Christmas was good but hard, I am really glad to be back here at YWAM Montana, feeling like I never want to go back home again, so it's a little rough. Feeling the singleness and trying to just go to Jesus with my heart.
Im not going to lie this first week has been rough and Im trying to get back into the gospel of John but am feeling rather sluggish lately.
Welcome to Montana night was fun as usual. I have some amazing girlfriends here and a wonderful roommate, plus like 1/2 of my DTS is back on staff or visiting! Praise the Jesus. I need to update this thing more often but I like writing new notes on Facebook, so if you don't got it, add me!
Blessings all,
Cheers,
Randi

OH PS. Im trying hard to get aerial silks up in the gym here and a snowboard pass! So please pray that those both go down fast and I get a crash mat for the silks!
Cheers!

Newness

2007-10-19T11:14:00.000-07:00

Yay! SBS is going good.
I am so blessed.
Today we had a girl speak on Titus project in South Africa.
Her and my friend Dewit are getting married and opening a Titus base!!
I am so excited. There are so many more opportuities for my life than I ever had before I was following God, it's unreal to see what He does in people's lives! There is such a need in evangelized Africa for deeper discipleship, and now bible teaching is starting to go out! So cool.

So, I have been unbeleivably blessed with great friends and relationships. I have been painting too! I found an easel, canvass, flourenscent paints, and airbrush kit, portable easel and oil paints for 30 dollars at a garage sale!! Unreal. Jesus loves me.
SO Im going to teach/ lead/ worship art night on Sunday night! Im excited. Can you please PRAY
For God's spirit to come and touch the people wanting to hear from Him and worship and paint
For direction for me for after SBS
More of revelation of who Jesus is.
Long term financial support for missions.

God Bless! Please write me!
Love,
Randi

October Update

2007-10-04T21:06:00.000-07:00

Ok so this updating thing has been like a slow boat to China... as most boats to China are. Maybe I need a jet plane. Random. I just realized I put this blog posting thing on all my prayer cards so people are hopefuly checking this, and Im sorry if it's been to no avail.

Ok here we go, so, the last day before I could possibly leave I get my cheque in the mail.... phew. Now I can pay for SBS...
I pack and head through the EXACT same port that I traveled to and from China through!! Trippy.
Then I get to Montana... Oh my goodness... full of soo many good times. Good friends from DTS coming to visit, Welcome to Montana night (we are ALL studs, you have to see these pics) and lots and lots of school work. Oh my gosh! God help me!
The cool thing is, He does. I feel like Im just being hidden away, tucked into his arms against His chest and I only have eyes for Him alone. It's so fun being here, we are a really young SBS, and it's so easy to get distracted with all my awesome friends and people. It's such a wonderful blessing, but it's easy for me to find my identity in my friends, so, God's been slowly stripping me away of everything but having eyes only for Him. It's so amazing. I feel like Im invisible sometimes, which is good I think if you're in the right place. And I think I am. I doubt this is making sense so Im just going to put up a bunch of pics and hope you all enjoy them!

Bottom line, im still alive and I still love life. Learning Lots!! Will post more later.

HOPE

2007-09-11T10:26:00.000-07:00

Hope is what drives us, enlarges our eyes, and is ours through Christ Jesus!! We need it.

1 Corinthians 13:7 (LOVE) It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

1 Corinthians 13:13 And now these three remain: faith, hope and love. But the greatest of these is love.

Matthew 12:21 In his name the nations will put their hope."

Romans 5:2 through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we rejoice in the hope of the glory of God.

Romans 5:1  1Therefore, since we have been justified through faith, we[a]have peace with God through our Lord Jesus Christ, 2through whom we have gained access by faith into this grace in which we now stand. And we[b] rejoice in the hope of the glory of God. 3Not only so, but we[c] also rejoice in our sufferings, because we know that suffering produces perseverance; 4perseverance, character; and character, hope. 5And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.

Romans 8:24 For in this hope we were saved. But hope that is seen is no hope at all. Who hopes for what he already has?

Romans 12:12 Be joyful in hope, patient in affliction, faithful in prayer.

Romans 15:4 For everything that was written in the past was written to teach us, so that through endurance and the encouragement of the Scriptures we might have hope.

Romans 15:12 And again, Isaiah says, "The Root of Jesse will spring up, one who will arise to rule over the nations; the Gentiles will hope in him."

Romans 15:13 May the God of hope fill you with all joy and peace as you trust in him, so that you may overflow with hope by the power of the Holy Spirit.

2 Corinthians 1:9-11 9Indeed, in our hearts we felt the sentence of death. But this happened that we might not rely on ourselves but on God, who raises the dead. 10He has delivered us from such a deadly peril, and he will deliver us. On him we have set our hope that he will continue to deliver us, 11as you help us by your prayers. Then many will give thanks on our[a] behalf for the gracious favor granted us in answer to the prayers of many.

Ephesians 1:12 in order that we, who were the first to hope in Christ, might be for the praise of his glory.

Ephesians 1:18 I pray also that the eyes of your heart may be enlightened in order that you may know the hope to which he has called you, the riches of his glorious inheritance in the saints,

Ephesians 4:4 There is one body and one Spirit—just as you were called to one hope when you were called—

Colossians 1:27 To them God has chosen to make known among the Gentiles the glorious riches of this mystery, which is Christ in you, the hope of glory.

1 Thessalonians 5:8 But since we belong to the day, let us be self-controlled, putting on faith and love as a breastplate, and the hope of salvation as a helmet.

2 Thessalonians 2:16 May our Lord Jesus Christ himself and God our Father, who loved us and by his grace gave us eternal encouragement and good hope,

1 Timothy 1:1 Paul, an apostle of Christ Jesus by the command of God our Savior and of Christ Jesus our hope,

1 Timothy 6:17 Command those who are rich in this present world not to be arrogant nor to put their hope in wealth, which is so uncertain, but to put their hope in God, who richly provides us with everything for our enjoyment.

Hebrews 6:18 God did this so that, by two unchangeable things in which it is impossible for God to lie, we who have fled to take hold of the hope offered to us may be greatly encouraged.

Hebrews 6:19 We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure. It enters the inner sanctuary behind the curtain,

Hebrews 7:19 (for the law made nothing perfect), and a better hope is introduced, by which we draw near to God.

1 Peter 1:3 [ Praise to God for a Living Hope ] Praise be to the God and Father of our Lord Jesus Christ! In his great mercy he has given us new birth into a living hope through the resurrection of Jesus Christ from the dead,

1 Peter 1:21 Through him you believe in God, who raised him from the dead and glorified him, and so your faith and hope are in God.

SO KEY

2007-09-10T09:33:00.000-07:00

I was reading this this am... so beautiful...

"As the Father has loved me, so have I loved you.

Now remain in my love.

If you obey my commands, you will remain in my love, just as I have obeyed my Father's commands and remain in his love.

(aha... coming from rebellion and disobedience.. I understand this now)

I have told you this so that my joy may be in you and that your joy may be complete. My command is this: Love each other as I have loved you.

Greater love has no one than this, that he lay down his life for his friends.

You are my friends if you do what I command.

(FRIGGEN EH! Jesus calls us friends)

I no longer call you servants, because a servant does not know his master's business.

Instead, I have called you friends, for everything that I learned from my Father I have made known to you.

You did not choose me, but I chose you and appointed you to go and bear fruit—fruit that will last.

Then the Father will give you whatever you ask in my name. (WOW)

This is my command: Love each other.

(I love the parentheses... Jesus said, 'if you obey my commands..' then 'This is my command: Love each other' OPEN HEAVEN Jesus...

Wow I just got wrecked. My prayer for SBS today, that we would be good branches. Jesus is the vine, we can do nothing apart from HIM. Abide in Him.

Update:: September

2007-09-07T10:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Everyone!!

So I am finally packing and getting ready for the big move south to MONTANA! Woohoo! Big Sky Country. So fun. I love it there. Im so excited. If you have a vehicle/ any money/ a want you should come visit me...

501 Blacktail Rd
Lakeside Montana
59922

Maybe tell me first...randibarry@gmail.com

So if I could say anything about these past few months is TRIALS. I have been tested... Oh boy. Sometimes, I don't know why, Gods will seems so obscure. I know really what He's told me on the mountain top, and I guess the valleys are to see if you are really true. He is always true, but wow, sometimes, it gets dark.

The beginning of summer was all fresh and new, lots of learning about HS and how God's kingdom operates, seeing revival, and then it got quiet. Not really, I was still meeting with my friends for prayer sessions and having glory parties but the looming decision of fall was terrifying.

I had a few different things I was looking at for the fall, even though my snowboard is in Montana, my bike, rest, relaxing, learning, breathing, rest rest rest. I know SBS is going to be a lot of work, but I also know that sitting at His feet is going to be key. Not just for this time, but the rest of my life.

I really really really wanted to go be crew on this boat 'Next Wave' I got accepted as crew, and would've started tomorrow!! But really God wants me at SBS this next year. And since I decided, started moving in that direction, booking a flight etc. Everythings been paving the way. One small step, one day, one appointment at a time. Step by step.

China slideshow night was so fun! Thank you to all who came and all who helped me. My roomies baked cookies!! I love you guys. Ulla baked the good stuff-macaroons etc. Thanks ULLA!!!! You are such a huge blessing!! And Graeme, Jods, Rossy, Daniel B all helped with the last minute stuff. And ofcourse, Pops. Thanks Dad. You rock. That night wouldn't have happened without your help.

And thank-you to all who have been praying for me!! Funds have been coming in for SBS. I needed so much, a laptop, a plane ticket, fees, etc. and so far it's alllll working out. GLORY TO GOD!

Feel free to write me letters or emails. Im going to be booking it down to Nanaimo on the 13th, flying out on the 14th and school starts on the 17th. Ill try to keep this updated with new stuff/photos etc. as much as possible.

God Bless ya!

Waves...

2007-07-26T13:09:00.000-07:00

Amidst the chaos of my life, God steps in. I can't help but lean so hard on Him for everything...

Cool story:

Last night my amazing friend Jodi stayed over, she really wanted to listen to the waves as she fell asleep (God has miraculously and graciously provided an amazing beach house for me to live at for the summer) but alas, there were no waves to be had... so, we started praying before we fell asleep, and no sooner had we asked for waves to fall asleep to, than a huge 'crashhhh' then another, then another, God had awakened the tide.

It actually almost creeped me out! I instantly had tears in my eyes and reached for Jodi's hand. I couldn't beleive it. Probably one of the best nights ever, besides the time God made all these stars fall in Idaho while I was driving so that I'd know i was driving the right way. So cool.

So now God, I need a deposit for SBS and a lot more, it's due by the end of this month and I wont even be able to speak with my pastor until that day..so. I emailed my school leader and they are conisdering putting me back on the waitlist for school because of my financial situation. Which is fine, if God wants me there, He'll provide, if not, well. Like I have anything else to live for!!

Please pray for me!!

God's direction and planning for my life

Provision, fees for school SBS in the fall

Vision for painting and vision for life in general.

Blessings...

Heaven touching Earth

2007-06-24T13:49:00.000-07:00

2 Chronicles 7
"If my people, who are called by my name, will humble themselves and pray and seek my face and turn from their wicked ways, then will I hear from heaven and will forgive their sin and will heal their land."

If I've learned anything these past few days, the resounding message has been to humble myself. Pride, is like a little bit of yeast that gets in and spreads and grows and does really ugly things. God doesn't want to hurt your pride, He wants to kill it. I swear it's gotta be the hugest stumbling block in our walk with God, thinking we can do it all our way, when really, He is all knowing, all powerful, all knowledgeable, all seeing, everything, HE knows whats best and He has your desires and best interests in mind.

Since getting to Canmore, we've learned how the Kingdom of God has been touching earth, and touching lives. Seeing it come in a place of rest. In soaking in HIS spirit, inviting Holy Spirit to come and have His way, His adgenda, His love just fill us. Seeing people operate in their spiritual gifts, being obedient to the Spirit, calling out what's happening, teaching, speaking, praying, speaking in tongues, operating in a new realm, and NOT letting religion rule, not letting the spirit of Jezebel take root. It's something to stand for, not having one person stand up front and say this is what we're going to do, but just let Holy Spirit work and do what He wants.

We all thirst and long for this, these spiritual things, we look for them with alcohol and drugs, meaningless relationships of lust, we search for it in anything and everything but our creator, the one who made us and put this perfect need and hole in our heart for everything that HE is. And He wants to give it FREELY! If we will humble ourselves and pray, ask to see His Kingdom come in our lives, in our families lives, our Nation, and our world. Seek after His Kingdom, His will for your life, and you'll experience breakthrough too.
Love God and love people.

Letter for a life of gratitude

2007-06-17T00:49:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends!

I've had quite the whirlwind, crazy year! Since last September I've travelled throughout the interior of B.C., to Alberta, down through Montana, over across Idaho, Washington, and down the entire coast of the USA to Baja Mexico. I spent some time volunteering at an orphanage and daycare centre before flying over to Mexico City from San Diego. I visited a friend there and headed back through San Diego to the Baja once again before hitting LA and flying through Calgary to get home just in time for Christmas morning! I was able to see a few people for New Years before jumping in my Jeep and driving back to Montana for my DTS with YWAM! After 3 months of training, learning, and growing I went with a team of 12 other people to China. We worked out all that we had learned in our heads and hearts, into our lives through practical, hands-on service. Since being home, I've been able to continue working into my life what I've learned throughout my many journeys. Each season has had it's own purpose and lesson. It feels like I have learned so very much about life this past year and who I am, that I feel like a new person. I have definitely become more stable and have so much more peace in my life, especially amidst the chaos and changes that living a Spirit lead life brings. Right now I am in a major place of rest, reflecting on this past year and all that I've gone through. I've been in 5 different countries, fallen in love with orphans, been chased by crazy mexi-dogs, lived without power and water due to having house wires cut, seen people who live in extreme poverty and rely completely on God for their everything. I've also written off one beautiful Jeep, snowboarded the most amazing mountains in Montana, made a whole whack of amazing friends, got set free from pain and lies that held me down, learned more who I am, and who God is. I have experienced just a glimpse of the most complex and mysterious loving God, and am thirsty for more. The more I learn the more I realize how little I really know.

Simply, I am called to love God and love people. I am planning on staying in the Comox Valley for the summer, working with the local ministries, hanging out with my family, and encouraging my friends. I have been accepted to the School of Biblical Studies with YWAM in Montana for September 2007. I really feel called back to Montana, partially for the training and partially for the people. I made some amazing friendships at the nearby mountain and am excited to be able to go back and share my life and God's love with the people there! There are so many opportunities being presented to me right now and God's been giving me some vision for the future that Im letting rest in His faithful arms. He's truly transformed me from the inside and I am so excited to see what He does with the rest of my life! I would love to help mobilize a generation of youth, and people, in Canada to live more passionate lives. To realize the amazing blessing we have living in this country, with all of our resources and abilities, and reach beyond ourselves. This comes in all forms but is always fulfilling. Its as simple as reaching out to the people in our everyday lives, a smile, a kind gesture, buying someone coffee, making socially responsible decisions, to all living an all-encompassing, world traveling, life altering soul journey.

Thank-you so much to all who supported me for my DTS! It was the most amazing, hard, stripping, building, learning, stretching, growing, painful, joyful, life-defining time. I feel like I've gone through an amazing fire, had everything stripped away but Him and have to rely completely on Him for my everything. Although Im not too sure if I should try to get another car, (Im 2 for 2 on vehicles and crazy life threatening, totaling accidents) Im hoping and expecting God to provide all that I need for what He's called me to. He is good and He always gives us enough to succeed in whatever circumstance we are in. I feel like God's really been saying to me "Be strong and courageous" as was his charge to Joshua. To rise above fear and doubt, grab onto Him and love and trust. (Josh 1:1-6) My life has been such a struggle up until this point, I only have just begun to feel like I can live with a purpose, passion, and not just survive or make a living to just make a living.

If you are able, and have time, I would love to discuss more about any questions that you may have about God, love, DTS, YWAM, China, SBS, missions, anything at all! I love going for coffee, listening, and of course talking! If you would like to support me financially, prayerfully, or in any other way please do so. It would be greatly appreciated! Thank you for your time in reading this newsletter! I hope you've been encouraged and inspired by the work our Lord and Savior is doing in my life.

Sincerely,
Randi Barry

It was for FREEDOM that we were set FREE

2007-06-11T07:52:00.001-07:00

I can't get all this stuff out of my head, so, Im just going to write it all down.

I keep on feeling this tension whenever I go to church. Or anything really religious of sorts. Like there is an expectation on me to be something that Im not.
It completely contrasts the Jesus that I know, who stooped down and picked me up, and continues to do so daily.

Rather than expectation, He beckons me... invites. Jesus says 'come' and invites us on a journey of freedom as radical particles of humanity. We are children of GOD.

The blood that ran down that cross and hit this earth actually paid for the punishment of our sins...for the whole world! That ever was and ever will be!! All we have to do is beleive and we are free from it. A whole world walks in darkness, thinking they have to be slaves to this bondage, but, they don't.

In the meanwhile, the people who do beleive on Him to be free are allowing themselves to be bought back into slavery of religion.

"Stand fast therefore in the liberty by which Christ has made us free and do not be entangled again with a yoke of bondage."
Galatians 5:1

All of us who were called and followed, beleived by faith, are expected to walk out this life by rules and complete our salvation on our own?? NO!
"...And being made perfect, he became the author of eternal salvation unto all them that obey him..."
Hebrews 5:9

Author "to originate; create a design for..."
He originates our story, designs it, what He has started He can finish.
We didn't come to God because we were great and we had this great idea and created a program and followed it. Inside each of us we heard Him knocking on the door of our hearts and we opened it and let Him in...so who are we to continue our salvation on our own? Who are we to work it out without His Holy Spirit?

If we beleived by faith, how are we to work it out by our heads??
This is what Paul wrote to the early church of the Galatians. He called them fools for trying to do the things our churches and religious leaders sometimes preach...

"Answer this question: Does the God who lavishly provides you with his own presence, his Holy Spirit, working things in your lives you could never do for yourselves, does he do these things because of your strenuous moral striving or because you trust him to do them in you? Don't these things happen among you just as they happened with Abraham? He believed God, and that act of belief was turned into a life that was right with God."

We are called to be children of faith. Children of the most high God.
It's time we let it get from our heads, to our hearts, and into our LIVES.
Its enough to say, but how about doing...

Jesus calls us to a rhythm of grace.
"Are you tired? Worn out? Burned out on religion? Come to me. Get away with me and you'll recover your life. I'll show you how to take a real rest. Walk with me and work with me—watch how I do it. Learn the unforced rhythms of grace. I won't lay anything heavy or ill-fitting on you. Keep company with me and you'll learn to live freely and lightly."
end of Matthew 11

It's time to walk away from these burdens that weigh us down. Leave them at the cross, beleive that the blood that paid for your sins really did what God says it did. Learn to to walk with Jesus, it's an invite of love with an outstreched arm and open hand... not a law, not a rule, but LOVE.

Jesus made it so retardedly easy for us...Love God, Love others.

Vision

2007-06-10T22:35:00.000-07:00

God's put a vision on my heart for having a clothing company that fuels missions. That's the short of it. The very short of it.
He's given me dreams about it, taught me a lot through HIS wisdom about business, just raised me in a way that with all my abilities, passions, and talents would be able to use them and have me do something i would LOOOVE to do everyday.
Design clothes. Yup. that's right.

Tonight at the Aaron house I heard a word about how when God spoke to Abraham about the promise of his son...

"I will certainly return to you according to the time of life, and behold, Sarah your wife shall have a son."
(Genesis 18:10)

'according to the time of life,'

the time of life.
God is so outside of it. All knowing, all powerful, all present, outside of time, told Abraham about the promise that He had ALREADY set in eterninty. Abraham was just constricted by the time of life, as we all are...

further on in Genesis 21:2
"For Sarah conceived and bore Abraham a son in his old age, at the set time of which God had spoken to him."

the set time that God spoke to him. Even though Abraham had conspired a plan of his own to see a son come about, it wasn't until this set time that God's promise would be delivered. Isaac, Abrahams son, was to be the bloodline for our saviour, Abraham, being shown these things was able to be obedient to the Lord when He asked Abraham to sacrifice Isaac. Knowing that God would raise his son from the dead if He had to. He held everything in his life with an open palm and did exactly as the Lord asked. At this point, Abraham had already sacrificed Isaac in his heart, so the physical act was not needed.

I was super encouraged by this. This depiction of time. That the promises God's spoken to us are to be held on to and sought after and rested in. What are some of the promises for God's children?? If you don't know them, seek them out! They are good! Through Christ's blood we are heirs of God's kingdom. God has good things for His children, and all that is His is ours.

We are constrained by the set time for these promises to be laid out. It is for us to cling to the cross and for God to deliver. If nothing is working out, lay low, get under God's wing. Rest in Him. If He's called you to step out in faith, leap. Be obedient, and sacrifice. I am going to write out the vision He's given me. And some of the particular promises, or all the promises. I dont want to forget or let them get stolen from my heart.

"That which is has already been, And what is to be has already been.."
Eccl 3:15

Life on the Island

2007-06-09T09:22:00.000-07:00

So, it's been two weeks since I've been home officially today.
I still have no idea what Im to be 'doing' but I've been trying to connect with people who are back in town for the summer.
I managed to finish a slide show from China, which im going to show at Fusion on Tuesday night! 7pm. I attached the link above.
God's really been brewing in my heart to talk and teach all the things He's put in me.. I just dont know where and how that looks. I have no more expectations of outcomes of life. I just want to live His will for my life and live out my passions and dreams and abillities for the furtherance of His Kingdom!

In other news. Candace cut and dyed my hair for free! It looks amazing! Im so excited because I felt super ugly. I also really want to do a road trip with Mel to Nanaimo to see Pastor Lisa, Victoria to see her dad, Vancouver, and then Canmore.
And I wanna road trip down through northern Cali to southern Cali and end up in San Diego. We'll see. Still prayin about that one. Anyways, check out the China slideshow!

Sunday night at Goose Spit. Bonfire.

Highly Caffinated right now... Orange Mocha mmnnn...

2007-06-06T00:14:00.000-07:00

Tonight Mel (just got back from Africa!!! www.myspace.com/melanieorr ) and I went to Fusion youth group at Ngate church in Courtenay (my old church) and it was awesome!! They are going to let us speak together next tuesday night about missions!! God's been giving us words for the youth there. It's amazing. I was able to encourage one girl after youth group who came up to me and was really upset she just can't seem to do right always and keeps on messing up.

The cure for this.
God's love
Grace.
Its ok i told her. Duality. It sucks. There is no disconnect between God and our 'real lives'
i know it feels like you're a christian on sunday and tuesday and the next day youre not, but you ARE! God still loves you! And no matter how 'good' you're going to try to be, you're always going to fail, because we aren't perfect. But God is. His grace is sufficient.
Our righteousness is so lame in comparison to His glorious grace.
There is no 'arriving'
not until we see Him face to face
we can never read our bibles enough, pray hard enough, be 'good' enough.
we did nothing to deserve our salvation, and putting stipulations on how to be close enough to God is cheapening the beauty of His sacrifice when He died and paid the punishment for all of our sins.
It's never Jesus+reading enough
Jesus+praying enough
Jesus+being good enough
it's just Jesus

Jesus

so simple. not about me. not about you.
it's about Him. All of it.

What's been new

2007-06-04T16:00:00.001-07:00

Wow a lot has changed in the past year. Since my last post, I have finished work at Dent, went to Kelowna, Edmonton, met Ross in Calgary, drove through Montana where I figured out I should do my DTS, drove down the coast of the US of A to Mexico. Volunteered at a daycare and orphanage (http://www.geocities.com/ruthannwaterhouse/) went to Mexico City to visit Robyna and have fun in an international circus convention, flew back home for Christmas after visiting Clara and Tristan in LA then got in my Jeep and drove to DTS in Kalispell Montana. Crashed my Jeep, had a crazy sweet lecture phase (http://www.myspace.com/soalivewdts07) and then went to China. That was crazyness. Got a ride home with my ma and pops and watched my little bro and sis grad. Now I am un-employed and living in my parents home in the Comox Valley. Im resting!! Let me know what you're up to and if you have a job I could do, or want to sponsor me for SBS next fall!! Or lend me your car....

August 22nd

2006-08-22T08:49:00.000-07:00

Ok. I will stop planning things. Please just tell me what im doing. These are my requests...

-everything goes smoothly with transferring bursary/classes registry over to NIC

-I get to go to Ireland

-its not hard to apply for visa/job gr. des.

-can go to mexico to see robyn

-can go to edmonton with Ernie to see PJS and MA.

WHAT HAPPENED...

I've had a bit of a crazy week. Drinking, no sleeping, working 15 hour days, not sure what to 'do with my life'... It's all been accumulating to a bunch of me banging my head against a wall. So yesterday when I got home, I decided, with my scholarship money, working, and 3 classes in January is the most non stress way to go. So i called work and told them i'd be there till the bitter end. Then I am going to buy myself a plane ticket to ireland and apply for some graphic design jobs. Then Im going to try to jump on a boat to Mexico to see Robyna and then fly to Edmonton to see ma. I hope to take Ernie there (A Dawg, Erin, E Dizzle) so we can hang out with Peejezz and have a late bday bash for her to commemorate turning 18.

Now I have to do some major damage control. Sign out of Emily Carr and get re-registered for NIC... frig... oh well. Thats me today.