A little bit of an intro: you shall go out with joy...

Hi! I moved to Amsterdam on Wednesday 1^st February to start the missionary life - I've been persuaded to blog and keep you guys updated with my experiences, both with the people in this beautiful city, and with God. Here's a little explanation of what I’ll be doing here:

For the month of February I’ll volunteering at the Shelter Christian youth hostel. Its main ministry is evangelism with backpackers and travellers, so I’ll be involved with and sometimes leading their daily bible studies and prayer, as well as worship and open-mic nights, or film discussion evenings, etc, in addition to helping to run the hostel in daily shifts. I’m looking forward to growing even more with the Holy Spirit, and the fantastic opportunity to serve in a Jesus-centred environment.

In March and April, I’ll be taking YWAM’s Shine seminar, a course about sex trafficking. This will be a mixture of classes and practical outreach. I’ll learn about the global sex trade, what we as Christians can do to work against it, and how we can change the lives of both the victims and the perpetrators. Jesus has already shown me that my role will be to bring broken and abused women to Him, and allow Him to cloak them with everything they need.

Following this, I’m hoping to be able to do an internship with the Lighthouse, who are organising the course, and who have been working in Amsterdam’s red light district for 30 years. I was attracted to their ministry because they are rooted completely in prayer – I really felt a weight of supernatural protection when I visited in November, and their office is strategically located next door to the Tabernacle (a 24/7 House of Prayer). I realise that I’ll be working in a territory of fierce spiritual battle. We should never underestimate the power of prayer; we have direct access to the throne room of the Almighty Creator of the Universe. If God is for us, who can be against us? (Rom 8:31); Jesus said, What is impossible with men, is possible with God (Luke 18:27).

             You may be wondering why I decided to follow this path in the first place?

I graduated in BA English Literature and French last summer, and I had originally wanted to work for 6 months to save up to move to Berlin, with vague plans to help people by working for an international charity. By September, I realised that I just wanted to follow God’s plan and serve Him with my life, so I sought Him for direction; I’d been praying for a year or two that He’d use me as His instrument, and that He’d shape my heart with His compassion for His people. So, once I’d surrendered my decision-making to Him, He soon showed me that, if I was willing, He wanted me to be His missionary.

Over the next few months, He told me pretty clearly that He’d like me to start off caring for broken women, for example those who have been victims of human trafficking. He then gave me the opportunity to visit Amsterdam (a place I wasn’t even drawn to as a tourist!). Even in that week where I was visiting various ministries, the most overwhelming thing I took away was that my Father loved me so so much, and cared enough about my life to organise everything to fit together so smoothly. A man’s mind plans his way, but the Lord directs his steps and makes them sure (Prov 16:9). It is this intense love and this meticulous care that God has for those caught up in the sex trade, so it’s also our responsibility to show it to them.

I would like to ask you whether you would consider standing with me in prayer; although this is just the beginning, I have already experienced how prayer coverage is vital for protection and breakthroughs. Pray at all times (on every occasion, in every season) in the Spirit, with all [manner of] prayer and entreaty. To that end keep alert and watch with strong purpose and perseverance, interceding on behalf of all the saints (God’s consecrated people) (Eph 6:19, AMP).

I thank God for:

- being so faithful and for directing my path so clearly

- making His presence known to me and for giving me promises I can stand on

Please pray for:

- settling into the ministries, including making friends and learning quickly how everything works

- protection to remain focused on Him, and to lean on His strength and His Spirit

- my work in Amsterdam to be effective and fruitful, and always to be working out of love and with His compassion