Merry Christmas from our team!

Dear Family & Friends,

We want to take this opportunity to wish you a very Merry Christmas and Happy New Year!

We are grateful for your prayers, words of encouragement and wonderful support that you have shown us.

May God Bless you with His peace, joy and many special times and memories with family & friends.

Blessings,

YWAM Chico - Fiji Outreach Team

Team A in a Village from Dec 18 - Dec 24th

Please pray for them as they prepare to leave for a village.

On Tuesday December 18th they will travel to Sigatoka to a village called Baravai. They will be working with Pastor Pisa and his church, which is a daughter church to Emmanual Worship Center, the church they have been working with here in Nadi.

They will be a huge blessing to Pastor Pisa and his people. Please be praying for them and the people in the villages to be open to Jesus. We've been told the mosquitos are very bad and it is very very hot. Please pray as they make this adjustment, thankfully they are going in with great attitudes and willing hearts.

During the day they will be visiting with people in surrounding villages and then every evening they will be doing a church service. Pray the people will come and are open to receive all the Lord has for them.

Pictures and testimonies will follow shortly....

Team B in a Village from Dec. 13 - Dec 24th

The team in Lautoka is also doing great....

They are making an impact wherever they go. The have had to deal with some tough situations but they've remained close to God and united as a team. It has been a real blessing seeing their faith grow and watching them willing do all that the Lord asks them to do.

This entire team is doing a wonderful helping to fulfil the Great Command. Please continue to pray for them as they step out each day willing to go wherever the Lord leads.

Pictures and testimonies will follow shortly....

Please pray for them as they prepare to leave for a village.

On Thursday December 13th they will travel to Suva and spend the night at the YWAM base there. Then on Friday morning at 4:30am they will leave on a boat for Vanualevu island which we have been told is about an 8-10 hour boat ride. They will stay the night in SavuSavu and then Saturday morning get up and travel 2 hours down a very bumpy road into the interior village. (we've been warned it is not really a road).

This village has no electricity, no indoor plumbing and is very very hot. Please pray as this will be an adjustment for most but they are all embracing it with willing hearts.

We know they will be a blessing to the people and will certainly bring Jesus with them. Please pray for the people in the villages that they will have open hearts, ears and eyes to hear more about Jesus.

While there the team will be painting and remodelling a classroom in the mornings and doing a church service every evening. Pray this will exactly as the Lord leads.

More ministry in Nadi - Team A

The team here in Nadi is doing great....

They are touching the lives of people everyday and God is also touching them in a very special way. He sure is doing a great work in and through each one of them. We keep hearing how outreach is 5% outreach and 95% inreach. Is that ever true! We are seeing them grow and be stretched in many ways. It really is a blessing to see how God faithfully guides them each day and how willing and open they are to His leading.

The children are doing amazing... each one is willing to do whatever is asked of them. They are sharing Christ in such powerful ways and what prayer warriors they are. These are mighty men, women and children of God. Please continue to pray for them as they step out each day willing to go wherever the Lord leads.

Emmanual Worship Center's Worship Team

They did 'The Tree' drama at the Sunday Service... it is very powerful and really demonstrates the power of God


Children's Ministry in Navakai Village

Gavin "the clown", Stephanie singing some worship songs

Paul & Rebecca sharing the story about Noah's Ark

Matthew started a new face painting design "Jesus". All the kids came back to have Jesus painted on their face.

Kaitlyn painting the face of Janet "the clown"

Kaitlyn & Sam leading worship at our team meeting

The rainbow after the rain. God is so good!

The Local bus - the main way we get around.

Sunday School at Emmanual Worship Center

Sitting with the kids are Stephanie, Kaitlyn, Sam and Jazmin

Stephanie, Vicki, James, Janet & Gavin doing a relay race with the kids

Don't you love the men in their Sulu's?

Vicki narrating the Nativity Story - she had many volunteers acting it out

Lily, Jessica & James singing with the children

Sunday School Christmas Break-up Party

at Emmanual Worship Center

Stephanie, Matthew, Dan, Jesse, Sam, Ben & Paul

Matthew, Cheyenne, Sam and some other volunteers acting out the Christmas Story

Matthew, Dan & Ben (The 3 wise men)



Ministry at NADI DISTRICT HOSPITAL

The team spent 3 afternoon at the hospital. They prayed, sang and shared the gospel with many patients. The ladies had an opportunity to spend time in the maternity ward... praying, encouraging and rubbing the backs of some women in labor. The next day they returned with gifts for the newborn babies.

Some of team spent time praying with this lovely lady. She was a patient at the hospital

Ministry at the Park in Nadi Town

On Tuesday the team went to a park in Nadi town to share the love of Jesus with the people. They sang songs and Melodie did a beautiful dance. You could sense the Holy Spirit touch the entire place as Melodie began to dance. People were drawn to the area and the team. Then God said go and talk with the people.

Janet felt led to go and talk to a man named Bill. It was clear that he was sad and lonely. While talking to him Janet discovered that his marriage had failed 9 years ago and for 7 of those years he blamed God. Janet shared that Jesus loved him and had been there beside him when all those things happened. After sharing the gospel and her personal testimony Janet gave him a gospel track and prayed for him.

Bill told Janet he didn’t know whey He had come to the park. He had just felt drawn to come. Janet shared with Bill a picture she had during her prayer time that morning and he said that describes me – that’s me!

In tears, he told Janet that he knew God had called Janet to speak to him that day and thanked her for sharing Christ with him. The Lord definitely has his hand on Bill, please pray that He will seek the Lord with all his heart.

More ministry in Navakai Village

Some of the children in Navakai Village

Sam & Trevor with a little boy in Navakai

Stephanie and Melodie and little Janaya sharing the gospel in a home in the Navakai Village

Door to door evangelism in Navakai Village

Cyclone update and YWAM Denver Update

Cyclone update

Thank you for your prayers and words of encouragement. We are all fine! Praise the Lord, the storm has turned away from us. However, it did hit 2 villages on one of the Fiji Islands and we were informed that there is not a house is standing in both of these villages. We know there had been some evacuations and we trust that all the people got out before the storm hit. Please pray for anyone in the path of this cyclone.

YWAM Denver Update

Hello, we ask you all to please be praying for all the families of all the members of the YWAM base in Denver, Colorado. Thank you for all your support and prayers.


Here is YWAM's official press release on this tragedy:
(Check out http://www.ywam.org/ for more information)

Ministry in Lautoka

Bula Vinaka!

The team in Lautoka is getting settled in and are working closely with team at the Personal Transformation Center (PTC). The PTC is a counselling service in Lautoka with a vision to bring God's healing to the Nation of Fiji by ministering to the whole person Body, Soul, and Spirit.

The PTC Mission is to develop training and practical services that will enhance one's quality of life. We are very blessed to have a team work with this wonderful ministry.

The ministry opportunities for this team include Prison Ministry, Old Folks Home Ministry, Children's Ministry, Intercessory Prayer, Door to Door Evangelism, Evening Bible Studies, Light Construction and of course... Holy Spirit led Divine Appointments (since this team also serves the same wonderful God)

"Welcome Dinner"
at the YWAM Personal Transformation Center

Thank you to Vini and her staff for the wonderful greeting. They served us a wonderful welcome dinner with all the Fijian fixings. It was a wonderful night of fellowship and we were blessed by their hospitality.

The YWAM Personal Transformation Centre had a beautiful Welcome Dinner for this team.

These are the kids walking back to the PTC after games in the field.
In the back ground is the YWAM PTC building where team B is living.


Wow... there sure is a lot of laundry.

Children's Ministry

Three days a week the PTC run a children program. Wednesday they have the children from the neighborhood come to the PTC. Thursdays they go to Vunato Village and on Fridays they go to the Natokowaqa Village. It is a lot of fun and the kids have a blast.

Vickie and Hilary getting ready for Children's ministry


Mark, Vickie and others are having fun playing games with the kids.


George and Eileen with some of the children.


Mark playing volleyball with the kids


Jesse, Lily & Tenille painting the kids faces. The kids love getting their faces painted.


Tena is one of the PTC staff. She helps with the Children's Ministies.




Church Ministry at Heritage Family Center

Pastor Maikeli's Church welcomed Team B at his church in Lautoka. The team was giving 10-15 minutes to do a drama and some testimonies. It was a wonderful service and a beautiful church.


Jesse and Tenille particiapting in the drama.

Jesse and Lily particiapting in the drama.



Prison Ministry

The team was joined by the DTS, Pastor Maikeli's and some youth from the Heritage Family Center. They had a time of fellowship, testimonies and a message. It was a very powerful time. Praise the Lord there were 16 prisoners that came for prayer!


Evangelism

Hilary, Mark & Tenille visited a sweet elderly indian lady who was 100 years old. Her family came from India when she was a baby. She lived alone but had great-great grand children living in an adjoining room. She was a believer and so was her great-great grand-daughter who was helping with the translation. She was physically hurting and just longed to go home to be with Jesus, hoping some night in her sleep. When they prayed for her the pain was gone. God removed the pain and we trust for good.

She was starved for fellowship since she had very little visitors. She was so touched that they would sit and listen to her and then also spend time praying with her. After they prayed for her, she then prophesied over them. They also were so touched. She gave very Godly advice and just loved on them. Please join us in prayer that God will continue to bless her and minister to her every need. We know that in His timing, the Lord will take her home ever so gently.


Church Ministry at Pastor Salendia's Indian Church

The church did the worship and then turned the rest of the service over to the team. They did a skit, a drama and then a beautiful testimony dance by Sharon and Vicki. Then Mark shared a very touching sermon finishing with an alter call. Many came forward to accept Jesus and others came forward for healing. God showed up and answered many prayers. It was a very touching day and made a huge impact on the team.

Ministry in Nadi

Greetings in Jesus' mighty Name!

All is going well here in Fiji. The team is split; and both teams are ready for ministry.

The team in Nadi is working closely with the folks at the Emmanual Worship Center to come alongside their already established ministries. We have developed good relationships at the church and look forward to each ministry opportunity.

Some of these opportunities include Youth Groups, Children's Ministry, Intercessory Prayer, Door to Door Evangelism, Cell Groups in Villages, Bible Studies, Single Moms Ministry, Church Services, Sunday School Programs, Light Construction and of course... Holy Spirit led Divine Appointments.

Door to door evangelism in the Navakai village outside of Nadi.


Paul and Gavin encouraging Niko (Fijian Pastor) with his preaching.


Rebecca, Paul, Gavin & Janet outside EWC Church

Dinner at the YWAM Fiji base

Thank you to Kylee and her staff and students. They welcomed our team in Nadi to a night of Fijian food, cultural songs and dances. It was a wonderful night of fellowship and we were incrediably blessed by their hospitality.

Our Fijian dinner consisted of whole fish (eyeballs included) in coconut milk, chicken, corn beef wrapped in tarro leaves, cassava (root plant) similar to potatoes and a very hot chili sauce (that watered many eyes) it was very very spicy!!!

James learning a song with actions... what a good sport!

Our Fijian dinner

Our team watching the Fiji dances


Trevor and Janet outside one of the YWAM bases hut





Hye Nam and some of the YWAM Fiji team


A couple of testimonies...

During a 1/2 hour taxi ride the team were able to share the gospel with the Muslim driver called Esa, who when asked how we could pray for him, asked us to pray for him and his wife Merry who had been married for 2 years and had not yet been able to get pregnant. The team was able to interecede, sing praises and worship in obedience & faith to the scripture that says "If I be lifted up I will draw all men unto me". Please join us in praying for Esa & Merry for children and their salvation.

Paul & Steph were getting the teams grocieries when they met a Hindi man called Anand. He said that he believed in our God as well as all of his Gods. They shared the truth of only one God that heals, brings love and eternal life. After they shared with him, Anand asked them to pray for his crippled hands and so they did and were witness that Anand's healing had begun. Praise the Lord!

God is good... all the time!!!
We really are blessed to serve such a mighty God. His love for the Fijian and India people living here in Fiji is amazing. We have so many testimonies of His faithfulness and wish we had the time to tell you all about each one. We will add more when we have time to get back to the internet.

Pictures of our first 5 days in Fiji

Dinner at Mama's pizza

Our entire team leaving for church at Emmanual Worship Center (EWC) our 1st Sunday in Fiji

The EWC Sunday School welcomes us with island dances.

Our teams meet every morning for a time of worhip, devotional and prayer before leaving for ministry.

Eager to begin Ministry

After spending 5 days together the two teams are sad to part but eager to begin ministry. One half of the team (Team A) will stay in Nadi until Christmas and the other half (Team B) will go to Lautoka. After Christmas they will regroup in Nadi for a few days.

Saying good-bye to Team B as the prepare to leave for Lautoka

Bula!! Greetings from Fiji

After a long and difficult flight, our team has arrived safely in Fiji. We already sense the anointing of the Lord with our team. Although we had a challenging flight, we can look back and see God's hand in it all the way.

The whole team arrived in Nadi in the early hours of Nov 21st. We met with some of our contacts at the airport and they quickly bused us to where we are staying.

The next day we had a local Fijian pastor in to give us some cultural training. He gave us information on some of the local customs and it was really good and will be helpful as we minister here in Fiji.

To celebrate thanksgiving our team met up our base director and the other DTS team from Chico in Fiji and went to one of the resort communities on the island. Instead of turkey, we enjoyed pizza and good fellowship. After the pizza we had a chance to see an island dance show that was unforgettable.

This past Sunday we were welcomed as a team at the Emmanuel Worship Center with Salusalu's (a necklace made of local flowers), warm greetings and a really good show of cultural dancing by the sunday school children. Our whole team was really blessed by the church and we look forward to working with them.

Our team continues to get used to the climate and the culture but we are all very excited at what God is doing with us and through us here in Fiji.

Preparing to leave for Fiji

"Bula" this is the common Fijian greeting used when meeting friends or welcoming guests.

Well, we just finished our 9th week of teaching and have only 2 more weeks before the lecture phase comes to an end. The lecture phase has been a life-changing time. It's been wonderful to see the growth in each student and leader as they step out and seek to learn more about God and His character.

On November 19th, we will be departing for a 2 month outreach to Fiji. This will be a great opportunity to put into practice the teachings of the lecture phase as well as allow God to continue to build into us His character and Christ-likeness. We are busy preparing for this time; we have been doing country reports, preparing ministry assignments and praying for the Fijian people. We are eager to go and excited to share the Love of Jesus with them.


We need your Prayers…

• Preparations for outreach, team unity and wisdom for the leaders
• Health, strength and protection over every person, marriage and family
• That God would be glorified in all we do
• Finances towards the teams outreach expenses - some of our team still need finances to cover their costs

Thank you... It’s a real blessing to have the prayers and support from others to help fulfill His Great Commission. We will keep you posted as we get closer to our departure.

Serving Christ and You,

YWAM Chico - Crossroads DTS Team