wholehearted devotion

Every Wednesday morning our team crams into our tiny prayer shack in Masi for our weekly prayer gathering. We long for heaven to invade earth, for the glorious Kingdom of Light to flood Masi, driving out the darkness and pain. We cry out for chains to be broken, lives to be healed and hearts released to rejoice in their Father! As we gathered to pray this week, there was a stirring in my heart to pray for people who will WHOLEHEARTEDLY seek God and give him their hearts. God is faithful. ALL the time. Even when we are so unfaithful. Even when we don't choose him and we run after other lovers. God is faithful. My heart was crying out that all of his people, myself included, would no longer have divided hearts, but that with wholehearted pursuit we would seek the One who loves us always.

"For I know the plans I have for you,” declares the LORD, “plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you hope and a future. Then you will call on me and come and pray to me, and I will listen to you. You will seek me and find me when you seek me with all your heart." Jeremiah 29:11-13

CRAZY WEEK! Update on life here from the past week and half:

• Beach day on Saturday with 30 friends from Masi! it was a wonderful success. So much laughter and joy. New friendships formed and people getting connected to community. Perfect weather. We couldn't have asked for a better time! See pics below! :)
• God is answering our prayers! We have had a handful of men within All Nations step up to partner with us to see our older boys mentored! These guys need role models. This is truly a fatherless generation...but God is raising up a new generation of faithful, loving, pure men!
• I am continuing to get connected to more VC families, kids and women. Building friendship, heart connections, insight into needs. I am getting more and more excited about the possibilities!
• Busy week in the All Nations office! One of the areas that I am serving All Nations (on the admin/logistical side of things) is I am heading up the team that puts on our monthly celebrations (a time when we gather everyone in the All Nations family/network). It is quite a big job! This Sunday is our first of the year...so I have been running around getting things ready!
• I have spent a large portion of my week trying to get my car registered (ahhh!). It has been QUITE the process! I have been feeling frustrated that I have to spend time doing this...but today while my car was in the shop getting a required tune-up, I was carless all day. There were a million things I needed to do and I was just stuck waiting on other people to give me rides. I suddenly realized how thankful I am for my car!!! I AM SO BLESSED TO HAVE IT!!!
• This Friday, several people on our VC team have the wonderful opportunity to attend a workshop where we will be trained in how to facilitate groups to mentor girls in living a pure lifestyle! So excited! :)

beach day with friends from Masi! look at all those kids soaking up the fun!

the minute the kids hit the beach, they took off running for the water! Even thought the water was FREEZING they were fearlessly swimming and splashing in it all afternoon!

'

Lunch time at the beach :) We brought sandwiches and fruit for a picnic on the beach!

so fun to be able to connect with new friends!

a brother and sister having fun together!

thanks for reading! :) happy weekend!

with love,

whit

the eyes of LOVE.

He says to me,

look into the eyes of love.

Into the eyes of the One who has loved me before my birth. Who knows me better than anyone else, who calls me Beautiful One even when I am deep in the muck and mire of this broken world. The One who calls me forth into his love, into his grace, into his family and into the glorious destiny that he has dreamed over my life. He is the One who lifts me up and crowns my head with his love and goodness, who calls me into royalty and true riches, who fills my life with his glory and his presence. And in him I find contentment and peace. He invites me over and over, saying "Arise, my darling, my beautiful one, come with me." (song of songs 2:10)

'Come look into my eyes of love.

Be made whole in my love.'

With this invitation I walk into the township community, Masiphumele. With this invitation I spend time the women in Masi, whose lives are filled with brokenness, pain, fear and loneliness. With this invitation I call them to leave the ashes of their lives and receive beauty. I call them to receive the love of the Father who will never leave them or forsake them. To drink in the affection of the One who is the lover of their souls.

God is pursuing his people. He is crying out for his sons and daughters to come and be made whole in his love. Here is one such story:

I met Gloria last year during CPx. I had come to spend some time with a family I had recently met and she was simply there visiting for the afternoon. She was a beautiful, young, tiny framed girl. She was very pregnant and had her 3 year old daughter with her. In the short time I spent with her, my heart was filled with deep love and compassion for this young woman. That next day she was on my heart and mind, so I spent time praying for her. The Lord began speaking to me about how he longed for her to know that he would never leave her or forsake her as her father did. That he had come for her. I prayed for her and thought about her often, but I never saw her again because she had moved across Masi to live with her boyfriend. Even as I traveled back to America, I often would think of Gloria...

Last Friday at Vovo's women's gathering in Masi, as I sat crowded in a shack full of women, I looked up to see Gloria walk in. I only saw her once a year ago, but I knew it was her! She carried a one year old boy on her back and held the hand of her young daughter...my heart was filled with joy! As many of the women shared their testimonies of God's goodness in their lives, she shared how she was overwhelmed with her difficult circumstances in life but that last year she had gotten connected to Baby Safe (an All Nations project that supports babies and mothers in need). She shared how she had been given hope. I sat in awe of how much the Father loved this woman. After the gathering was over I went to her and shared with her how I had been praying for her since we met. Her face was filled with joy! She is being pursued by the Father because of his great love and delight for her! I am filled with hope and expectancy for what he has for her life and I am so looking forward to spending more time with her.

What joy it is bring such an invitation to hurting, broken and dying people. To go with such good news! To carry a banner of love! To have hands that are full of hope, grace and healing! I am honored to be a vessel of love to a world that so desperately needs it!

Current and upcoming news:

-I have been assigned the families I am mentoring through Vulnerable Children! I am so eager to begin spending time with them and loving on these families!

-Next Saturday we are taking the VC kids to the beach! Listening to them scream and dance for joy when we told them of the beach day was truly priceless!

-I am taking on a lot of administration work for the VC program. I am excited to be able to serve in this way and put my degree to good work!

-I am celebrating the engagement of my dear, dear friend Amanda Sperle to Tyler Hardage! It is hard to be so far away, but I am rejoicing nonetheless!

-I had a WONDERFUL birthday on friday! It was a dream of a birthday! Breakfast in bed, relaxing on the beach, my favorite meal for dinner, lots of friends for a game night and tons of love from home! I am one blessed girl :)

THANKS FOR READING! I am BEYOND BLESSED by each of you who has joined me on this journey!

with love,

whit

dreaming big dreams!

Another wonderful week in Cape Town!

Last thursday and friday, the Vulnerable Children (VC) team spent two days in strategic planning meetings. It was such a good time of vision casting, assessing our current situation and then coming up with the most pressing strategic issues we are facing. My very favorite part of the process was vision casting. Our facilitator asked us, "Ten years down the road, if you could dream up absolutely anything over these children and families what would it be?" He encouraged us not ask the question of "how will we get there," but instead to dream BIG. What a joy to be able to dream abundant dreams! That is the heart of the God of the impossible!

VISION FOR VC PROGRAM IN 2021:

• The Vulnerable Children (VC) kids have become role models and they are influencing all of South Africa. The first generation of VC kids have become the leaders of their generation.

• A model of empowerment has been developed that is now used throughout Africa. This empowerment model is now owned by locals and has become a dynamic movement. VC is running a successful skill training program consisting of a network of local leaders who provide the training for others in their community.

• These children are empowered to impact the nation through their Christ-like identity. They are free from shame and their wholeness is impacting all spheres of the community. These children are free from the spirit and mindset of poverty and generational cycles of poverty, abuse, addiction, neglect are broken. As they have grown up these children are now skilled parents in loving, healthy homes. The value of marriage and family has been restored in Masi and beyond.

• Children are the catalysts for revival and are leading the Church in Masi in moves of the Holy Spirit. They are doing the “greater things”(reference) that Jesus spoke about--signs and wonders, healing the sick, raising the dead and prophesying.

Vulnerable Children Mission Statement:

Vulnerable Children is a Jesus-centered ministry that meets the felt practical needs of vulnerable families. We disciple and advocate for the next generation of leaders, breaking the cycle of poverty, bringing restoration and launching the vulnerable into their God-given purpose.

highlights from the week:

-God healed me the other night! I suddenly became very nauseated and achy on Sunday afternoon (I had a stomach bug the week before so I was sooo bummed to be getting it again!). I felt that I needed to call my mom and have her pray for me. After my mom prayed over me, the achiness instantly left me and after a little while longer all the nausea was gone!!! I have never been healed so quickly and fully! The Father is taking such good care of me!

-I saw my first snake here eeek :( not very fun...i freaked freaked freaked.

-Friday afternoon I got to attend a women's gathering in Masi. Vovo (a incredible woman who lives in Masi and who attended CPx with me last year) had a vision from the Lord for the woman in their network of simples churches/bible studies. She has a heart for community and for these women to have have deep friendship, encouragement and support. So many of the women live such separate lives, not sharing the deep, hard things they are walking through. So she invited the women in their network to come, spend time together, eat yummy baked goods and share our life stories with one another. There was more than 20 woman packed in a small shack, listening intently as one after another shared their testimony of how God has lifted them from the pit and transformed their lives! It was incredibly beautiful. I am so thankful to be a part of community and what the Lord is doing in Masi!

thanks for following my journey! much love, joy and peace to you this week!

with love,

whit

my new home!

LIFE IN SOUTH AFRICA: week 1

Here is a run down of my first week:

• I arrived last Saturday evening safe and sound in south africa! The Lord was SO good to me and was so near during my 24 hour solo trip across the world. I had such traveling mercies... so much favor where needed, kind people, lots of sleep and on time flights! I was greeted at the airport by brandon and julianna jones (a couple from norman community who participated in CPx with me last year) and they even had a yummy smoothie waiting for me!
• I unfortunately got a stomach bug on my second day here! ugh! nothing worse than being sick in a new place, but it only lasted a day and half and I was completely better by wednesday! Thank the Lord!
• This week was 'At Home Week' where all of All Nations family gets together to kick off the new year. Floyd invited Ken Primrose (the pastor of my church, Norman Community Church) to come and speak/equip the All Nation's long termers in functioning in the power of the Holy Spirit (healing, prophesy, etc.) What a JOY to have my two spiritual families in one place!!!
• I LOVE WHERE I AM LIVING! i am so unbelievably thankful for the arndts inviting me to live in their home. I am also so thankful for Amy who is living with us as well. We knew each other in high school, but haven't seen much of each other since then. But we get along SO well! We are sharing a car and both working with Vulnerable Children. We have so much fun together, she is such a generous and warm person, and I just really enjoy being around her! Thank you Jesus for giving me such an amazing house mate and friend here!
• I am so expectant for this year and all that it holds! Excitement and vision are bursting within me! This week I will begin to settle into more normal life, so more updates to come!

Me and my house mate, Amy!

The other day we were trying to have a family meeting with the arndts, but it kept being interrupted by a huge troop of VERY persistent baboons!!! They kept coming back over and over, even though mike was shooting at them with his slingshot! T.I.A! (this is africa! :)

Me and Amy in front of our really cute (and old) bug! I am so thankful that I was able to buy a car, now I just need to learn to drive it! (Luckily Amy can drive it!) I had my first driving lesson yesterday to learn how to drive a stick shift. It went well but I need a few more lessons before I drive on my own!

A few of my friends from All Nations on a hike on our day off! I am constantly in awe of how beautiful south africa is! So thankful for fun adventures with great people!

happy monday to you all!

love,

whit

south africa...

...here i come!

i depart from tulsa on friday january 14th at 12:49 pm on a 24 hour journey to my home for the next year! what a blessing and honor to have you along for the ride! please stay tuned for more updates as i settle into life in cape town, south africa!

with love,

whit

WORKERS FOR THE HARVEST!

{a call for financial resources to send faithful disciples in Zimbabwe to All Nations training school!}

"He told them, "The harvest is plentiful, but the workers are few.

Ask the Lord of the harvest, therefore,

to send out workers into his harvest field."

Luke 10:2

I am so happy to share that three Zimbabweans that we met during out outreach during teaching phase of CPx (the training school I was apart of) will be participating in CPx 2011 in Cape Town!!! What a joy to know that we truly found what Jesus spoke about when he talked about "people of peace;" men and women who are truly hungry for the Kingdom of God and faithful to respond to his voice. They are people of influence in their community and who will take the hope of Jesus they have found and bring it to the people in their lives. They are people who are ready to be empowered to discover Jesus for themselves, share it with others and in turn raise up more people who will do the same! These four Zimbabweans have been discipled by and in close relationship with Munya, the long-term All Nations worker in Zimbabwe. We know them well and are deeply proud of their faith and their sacrifice!

THEY NEED YOUR HELP!!!!!

As most of you know Zimbabwe is recovering from a devastating economic collapse These men and women barely have the means to provide for basic needs. So they have no means to raise what to them is an astronomical sum...BUT GOD PROVIDES!

LOGISTICS

They pay everything they can to be a student, meager as it is… and they also participate in student work programs.

The cost for tuition, room and board (held at Africa House, our training center), training materials, outreach expenses, etc., is $3,000 per person for the entire six months of training. This $3,000 ($500 per month) will equip a passionate man or woman to reach others for Christ––offering hope so others might find new life.

Anything the Lord lays on your heart would be a tremendous blessing to help these potential world changers - $125 would cover a week of training; $500 a month; every $3,000 will cover the entire training for a disciple ready to dedicate their life to full-time ministry.

We are so blessed to have abundant resources! Let us help send the faithful who are hungry to see their communities and nation transformed by Jesus to be equipped to do so! If you feel stirred to do so I have enclosed giving info below!

I AM LEAVING JANUARY 14TH FOR SOUTH AFRICA! MORE UPDATES TO COME AS I MOVE AND GET SETTLED IN TO MY NEW HOME FOR THE YEAR!!!

with love,

whit

*you can make checks out to ALL NATIONS (with a note saying 'for student scholarships') and send to:

All Nations Support, c/o Walsh and Washburn, Attn: Terri Yost

5360 College Boulevard, Suite, 100,

Overland Park, Kansas 66211

ABUNDANCE!

one of the things I prayed so much for when I got back from South Africa was that my 5 months of preparation before going back would not fee like a stagnant waiting time, but that it would be a season of ABUNDANCE. The Lord is so good and so faithful! It has truly been a season full of his good, good gifts!

here are the highlights of this sweet preparation season:

1. THE LORD PROVIDES!

i have one testimony after another of how the Lord has completely taken care of every little detail for my move back to south africa! from raising financial support (i am almost at100%!), to providing me a PERFECT home (with my sister-in-law's parents who are like family to me!), to pouring out vision for my time there. each step of the way has been covered in the Lord's grace, favor and peace! thank you Jesus!

2. i have the best "family" in norman!

one of the sweetest things for me was coming back from south africa after 5 months and being welcomed by my house church community with such open arms. it felt as if i never left. that is family! they have loved me so well in this time and have been SO supportive. my house church even put on garage sale for me to help raise money! (some pics below). it was a COLD, RAINY weekend...but they stuck it out! i felt so unbelievably loved by them!

3. the Lord has poured out his dreams over me!

in this season i have come to the realization that before i was even born, the Father dreamed EXTRAVAGANT dreams over my life! they are better than i could ever dream of. i have thought of some great things for my life...but what God has is actually BETTER. and God is so worthy to receive his dreams! the cry of my heart this season has been... that the Lord would receive EVERY dream of his heart for my life!!! i am letting go of the mediocre dreams i have for myself, i am getting out of the way and giving myself FULLY to the dreams of the Lord!

well in this season the Lord has been speaking (so loudly) the things he is calling me into in my future! i feel he is speaking so clearly, stirring my heart so intensely and pouring out one prophetic word/confirmation after another...it has been so sweet to feel that i am walking right into the good things he has planned for me! i have never felt SO sure that i am doing exactly what the Lord is asking me to do in going back to south africa!

4. so much JOY, peace, intimacy, revelation

it has definitely not been a slow, stagnant, waiting season...it has been a season FULL of the Lord. it doesn't matter what our circumstances are...God always has storehouses full of good things he wants to pour out on our lives! we must ALWAYS keep our hearts open to receive the ABUNDANCE the Lord has for us!!!

more updates to come! THANK YOU to each one of you who have decided to be a part of my support team! i am blessed beyond words!

i pray that this Christmas season would be one filled and overflowing with God's good gifts for you; love, joy, peace and his nearness! and that we would really celebrate in this time the greatest gift ever given...JESUS! a merry, merry christmas to you!

with love,

whit