Hello again friends and family! The
month of February and the beginning of March have been quite hectic for me, so
I apologize for this letter being sent out a little bit later than usual. As
Anna and I are getting more and more serious in our relationship, we thought
that it was time for us to start meeting each other’s families. So, in the last
three weeks we have driven over 4,000 miles to Arizona and California so that I
could meet her Dad and Sisters, and then to meet her Mom and Step –dad. It’s
all gone so well and it’s been incredible to see that everyone that we’ve come
into contact with- from the newest friends, to the oldest and most important relationships-
are all for our relationship.\
This month has also been a little
bit crazy because of an addition to our not-quite-yet family. Anna’s aunt
passed away back in October, but she had bred her dog before she died, leaving
behind a puppy for her. It’s been a bit of an adjustment learning how to be in
a young relationship and adding a new responsibility into the mix, but we love
him bunches. He’s already nearly house-trained and learning to sit, lay down,
stay, and come. He’s quite a smart little booger.
Ministry-wise, this month has been
great. The students that work with me to make dinner every day have been really
hungry to grow in their spiritual gifts. So, while we’re cutting, chopping,
baking, cooking and everything else that happens in the kitchen, we’re having
little lessons on how to know God’s voice and learn how to get prophetic words
to encourage and strengthen others on this campus. Over the years, the lord has
shown me some really simple questions to ask to help get prophetic words like “God,
what do you love about this person and why do you love it? How do you want to
use that to minister to others?” or, “Lord, what aspect of your character are
you trying to teach this person, why do they need to see this part of you and
how can I be a part of showing your heart to them?” I’ll often write a short
list of questions like these on one of my boards or tables and make my students
leave the kitchen until they have asked the Lord who to give an encouraging
word to and have gone and prayed with that person. I’ve never seen students so
excited when they came back, seeing that the word was spot-on and timely for
the person they gave it to!
I’ve also finally had the chance to
be responsible to walk with a student on our Discipleship Training School and
be the main person to sow into and disciple him as he’s being trained to go out
to the nations. He’s only been here two months and the change I’ve been able to
witness in his life as he makes the Holy Spirit his teacher and the Lord his
father has been incredible.
In my
own life, I’ve simply been growing in trusting the Lord to be faithful. There
have been so many times recently where he’s shown abundant provision-
financially, relationally, with patience and energy, big things and small, he’s
reminding me just how trustworthy he is. I have realized that since I’ve been operating
as Kitchen Manager I have mostly trusted my own ability to be creative when I
run into problems with food having not been ordered, or others using too much
and making it so that I have to change meal plans. But I was recently reminded
of when I was in New Zealand and the Lord provided me with creative solutions
to the problems I faced as the head of Maintenance. Since this reminder, I’ve
been able to take a step back and ask the Lord to be my creative solution and
he has never once failed me. His yoke is easy and his burden is light, and I’ve
realized that if I’m in a place of stress and self-reliance, I’ve taken on a
yoke that isn’t his and need to resubmit to him as Lord and take myself off the
throne of my heart.
Prayer Points:
- · I’m finishing with my responsibilities in the kitchen by mid-April and need to hear from the Lord about what he would have me do during this next quarter.
- · Anna has had it on her heart to help a friend who started a YWAM Base in Cambodia for a while now. Please pray that we hear from the Lord on if this is something for her or for the both of us and the when’s, how’s, etc.
- · Pray that the Lord Continues to grow me and use me as I sow into the students he has placed in my life.
With brotherly love in Christ,
-
Peter Byers
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