NZ2020

I moved to Australia with 2 FULL suitcases and a trekking backpack with the honest intention of STAYING in Australia for multiple years. How embarrassing it was to hall what felt like luggages of failure... back to California. I remember saying to God (with my sassy attitude) while leaving Perth, "Well at least this is the last time I'll ever have to move all my stuff to another country!" Immediately God replied, "Corrie, what makes you think this will be the last time?" I love how God humbles me...

When I moved home, I realized how burnt out I was from my school in Perth. I needed a time of restoration and normality. So I asked God, "Why am I here? Why am I home? I thought you told me to move to New Zealand after Perth." (by the time I got home, I felt God telling my to move to New Zealand in January of 2020).

(May 25, 2019)

God said to me, "Corrie, how long is a pregnancy?"

"Nine months", I replied.

God so tenderly said, "Corrie, how many months will you be home until January 2020?"

"NINE MONTHS...but God where will I go? And what will I do there!"

God said, "Corrie, do you know the sex of a baby before a certain amount of months and maturation? Likewise, you don't know where to move to in New Zealand because it is not time for you to know. These months are for you to grow, mature, and rest. All things will be revealed to you when you are ready for them."

I have multiple thoughts about this conversation.

1.) God ALWAYS says Corrie, ... before speaking to me. He intentionally calls me by name because he KNOWS me.

2.) The way God takes care of me/ knows what I need before I even know.

3.) God is SO intentional with everything He does. He always has a purpose!

I am entering my 5th month of preparation. I look back on the past 4 months of being home and I feel incredibly blessed. God got me a job at a Christian coffee shop only 6 minutes form my house, I got connected in a new church/ met beautiful & amazing faith building people, I have been able to meet up with six old YWAM friends, and attend 3 weddings (one of which is my sister's!).

If I had stayed in Australia/ moved to New Zealand right away, I would have never been able to experience these blessings!

...

(July 29, 2019)

I have been contemplating moving to YWAM Queenstown in NZ. During my DTS in Switzerland, Mark Parker spoke from the Holy Spirit and said things to me that I had only ever said to God such as- I don't want to live an ordinary boring life in the states, and I don't want to be confined to a box etc.

Mark Parker said to me, "I think you should stay in missions for at least another year...and this isn't the Holy Spirit telling you to do this, but this is the Holy Spirit telling you to do this!" And later that night Mark told me that he never recommends people to bases EVER, but He recommended me to YWAM Queenstown and told me that I would fit in there.

Coming home, I felt that God was teaching me how to build community outside of YWAM which is why I find myself confused that God would remind me of this day when Mark Parker told me these things. Sooo... I emailed YWAM Queenstown and asked them to be praying alongside me during this process.

...

Moving to another country by myself without knowing anyone doesn't seem so scary knowing that YWAM is on the receiving end of it. However, moving to another country with no one to even pick me up at the airport (let alone moving somewhere without a Christian community) terrifies me!! So I find myself wondering if I am reaching to YWAM because it is comfortable and safe or if I am doubting God's ability to lead me and giving into fear.

Another crazy thing is that the church C3 is global and they are having a worldwide conference in San Diego of August 8th and 9th. AND... the coffee shop I work at has connections with them so I am actually working the event and serving coffee!! AND a couple months ago I had been looking up churches in New Zealand and C3 was the one I found. SO I hope to run into the pastors from Auckland and chat with them about coming to NZ in 2020!!