The Simple life of Fiji

Hey there friends,

     The simple things about life are really the things that mostly blow my mind. God takes a silly random situation and turns it into an extravagant adventure. We have only been in Fiji for a little over two weeks, but that seems too short when I reminisce on all the amazing events that have taken place and the times God has shown up. Before I came to this school I would never think that I, Eleanor, would have the confidence to preach. Before I came to this school I would never be able to believe that I, Eleanor, have power in Jesus's name to lay hands on people and see them healed. Before I came to this school I would never of been able to comprehend that I, Eleanor, would have the authority to be building up the Kingdom of Heaven on earth. But I, Eleanor, would have never been able to accomplish a single thing without the grace and love and blood of my Savior, Jesus Christ.
     Just last week I was in this beautiful valley in a village in Fiji, my nine other team mates and I were all squished inside a tiny church building that was only made of a tin roof and a few wooden beams and the earth being separated by only a single bamboo mat. Luckily we had mosquito nets thank you Jesus! We bathed in a river for the week, and every where I looked I would see breath taking mountains and stormy clouds. Anyways, this Church was so filled with God's presence it was incredible! One day we were preaching at church, and I was so distracted that day. It was like I couldn't grasp my thoughts or focus. And when it came time for ministry and to pray for people, I just stood up at the front not really feeling God's anointing. An old Indian lady came up to me and asked for prayer for her arm because it was in horrible pain, so I did. And instantly the pain left. I was shocked. And then my friend Holly asked me to pray with her for a woman who was def in one ear. So we did, and instantly again she could HEAR. Like actually HEAR. It was amazing. By that time my heart was pounding so hard, I didn't have to feel any certain anointing at all. All I had to do was lay hands on people, release the Kingdom of God on the person, and Jesus's healing touch would cover the rest.
     After the service was over Holly and I decided to go on a walk and we found some cheap 20cent popsicles. They were actually quite disgusting, but when we started to leave the house this Muslim man asked Holly and I to pray for a woman who couldn't hear. So we prayed and asked God to heal her, claimed the Kingdom of God over her, and she wash healed. Her face LIT up she started laughing and pinching our cheeks. It was incredible.
     It has been just little random events that God has been showing up at. I am so HONORED to be God's humble servant, to go to the places I never dreamed of just to spread His Kingdom. Its truly exhilarating. Go God!!

Missing you all, keep me in your prayers!

Things to pray for...
Bed bugs
Stomach sickness has been pretty bad in the team
Finances!!
More healings and more people getting fired up for the Kingdom of God!

Thank you SO much!!!

-Eleanor

to be: CHALLENGED

            All my life I have been faced with challenges, I challenge myself every time I pick up a paintbrush and try to make a masterpiece, I challenge myself every time I decide to go on a new adventure, I challenge myself every time I decide to write. Lately though the challenges haven’t been quite the same, haven’t really been able to control them. Yes I can always cover up a painting if it doesn’t go the way I wanted it to, I can always run back home every time I get lost, and if the words aren’t flowing then my eraser is my best friend. My motto though has always been, if I cheat my way to get an A on a test then I’m truly only cheating myself. Ever since the moment I had set eyes on coming to Australia, it has been one challenge after the next. I almost backed out multiple times, but in the end I pushed myself on an airplane with not even half the money to pay for my school.

            Money hasn’t been the only challenge, every day God throws a ball at me; I believe just to see if I can catch it or if I will stumble. Of course God knows the result, but I don’t! One major challenge that He has been tossing my way has been ministry, street ministry. As a school we go out in pairs and just wander around the city and meet people. Sometimes we just casually talk to someone about their day, and other times we might share our love for Jesus with them. Our goal isn’t to do “evangelism” but to just live life the way God’s Kingdom lives and hope that the people we met get a taste for it too. The other day my whole team went out to the city in pairs again, and my friend Holly and I were chilling on the stairs at the train station.

            There were hordes of expressive and colorful teenagers filling the platform. There was a preacher with a microphone condemning all of them for their sins, telling them they were going to hell. It was a harsh message that did not reside well in my heart. One teenager accepted a track from a preacher and caught it on fire in the man’s face. I was overwhelmed, but I was in constant communication with God the whole time. So I asked Him to have someone come sit next to that we could talk to. Not a moment later a guy sat down next to us, so I struck up conversation. It wasn’t a few minutes before a girl came over, upset about the preacher because he wouldn’t answer her “simple question”. I asked her what it was, and then an hour later Holly and I had poured what the Kingdom of God is truly meant to be into that girls soul. Not one of condemnation but of life and freedom and love. To man we probably hadn’t accomplished much, but in her heart I know we spoke truth and she won’t be able to ignore it.

            We are heading to Fiji in less then seven days, and just two days ago I was over $1700 short. I couldn’t even buy a plane ticket. But ya know I prayed to God and told Him that no matter what happens, if I don’t get to go to outreach God is STILL good. He has taught me so much already, every day I discover something new about His heart and its amazing. Within hours money started pouring in. I now am only $400 short, but my plane ticket is bought so hopefully I get the money soon so I can eat too. But I know God won’t let me starve, He takes care of His daughters. J

            This has been an incredible journey God has been taking me on, and I’ve only been gone for 2months. Can’t imagine what wonders God will show me in the next months ahead. Thank you all for your amazing prayer and support, without it I wouldn’t be where I am at now.