Merry Christmas from Serbia

A week ago we left Herrnhut with 2 vans, 26 people, very little money but full of faith and expectation. We felt lead to go to Nuremburg but no contacts were panning out and we had no accommodation in a city famed for its Christmas markets a week before the big day. We felt to leave Herrnhut anyway and found ourselves stepping out in total and complete dependence to God. It was Saturday night and the students spread throughout the Hbf praying for people, helping a man with Alzheimer's to find his way home and getting a heart for the city. I went with the other leader, Chad to the nearest YMCA and we were welcomed with open arms by the people there and the whole group slept on the floor of their sanctuary for the week. During the week we worked with the Salvation army, spent time praying for Afghans and Iraqis in a high security asylum-seekers home, helping a victim of human trafficking go home and did ministry on the street and in the red-light district. It was an intense and wonderful week but we had to go by Friday. We left at 1am and drove for 20 hours through Austria, Slovenia, Croatia and into Serbia. We still had no idea at this stage as to where we were heading, but God was faithful to lead and we ended up in Novi Sad very late at night. None of us had been to the city, we had no contacts and no idea what to do and it was really really cold and 2 days before Christmas. After much prayer and leading we went into a bar, the waitress spoke English and it just so happened that a hostel owner was sitting at one of the tables. We were able to get a large discount and the 26 of us made ourselves home. We have been doing non-stop ministry, continuing until 3am last night. People have been responding in a huge way to our Christmas carols and it has been a beautiful way to celebrate this Christmas season. Pray for us as we take the next step...namely because we don't know where it will be . The team is amazing...motivated and spirit lead. We are a long way away from home and everyone is missing family but we see that this has purpose and we have hope for the countries.

I hope your Christmas is joy-filled and full of love and blessing.

Love always,

Heres a little glimpse of the team newsletter.

Liz and the Lions...behind the scenes music video.

Liz and the Lions - Behind the scenes from Marriage Of The Arts YWAM on Vimeo.


Liz and the Lions have just recorded their first album and it is... amazing. Seriously.The U.S.A release tour is in June next year and I have been asked to come along and be the speaker for- talking about Pick a Pocket, poverty and justice issues.  Please pray that this band makes it big! All of the money from sales goes back into Pick a Pocket projects and to lifting people out from poverty.

MOTA Music

We had an open mic night here a little while ago to give some of the artists in the community a chance to let others hear their work. I love love love the awesome original work these students are presenting. So worth a listen! Media Fire Open Mic Night

Our project in Ethiopia just had its 2 year anniversary.

One of the girls who was rescued a year ago just had her birthday. It was celebrated with a big party and she told the story of how a year earlier on her birthday she had been sorting through garbage when a truck unloaded on her and she had to fight for her life to escape from under the huge mound of stinking filth. What a difference a year makes... thank you to all of you that support me and enable me to be a part of this project.


2 YEAR ANNIVERSARY from the Koshe Project YAY!!! from Pick a Pocket on Vimeo.

YWAM Herrnhut is a hive of activity!

MOTA Cafe Herrnhut from Marriage Of The Arts YWAM on Vimeo.

There really is a whole heap of us!

Thailand report!

Friends!

Well this has been waaay too long in coming. It was provided miraculously for me and the others to go to Thailand. It definitely grew my faith is a big way to see how he provided for the 3 of us to go there and serve Not For Sale and YWAM.

At a week, it was a short trip to be able to help out, and further our connection with Not for Sale Campaign and YWAM Mercy Ministries as a whole. I really liked Chiang Mai a lot and of course the Thai people were unfailingly friendly. The conference went over 3 days, all day and it was so busy. It was amazing to be able to do media work there and to have total access to all of the speakers and people (in all representing 180 NGOs and ministeries in the region). I worked mostly with a videographer to do on camera interviews which was really fun and not something I had ever done before. I interviewed a lot of heads of major organizations, people from the Australian Federal Police human trafficking unit, authors and journalists...all sorts of people. Remember Anna Coren from Today Tonight? She now she works for CNN and I interviewed her which was very funny. 

After the conference we went with a delegation of filmakers, benefactors and others up to Chiang Rai, near the border of Burma, to the children's home and drug rehab center that is run by Not For Sale. We were so blessed to be invited on this trip with people, most of whom are without active faith, who were so open to hearing about the life that God has called us to. It was very interesting experience to share about hearing God's voice to them. The home houses and cares for about 140 kids that have been rescued from the most horrific circumstances. Most of them are children born into the tribes that live in the mountainous region between Burma and Thailand. Because of this, they are not recognized as being either Burmese or Thai and they are really looked down upon and aren't granted any nationality. It's about as bad a situation as you can get. But! the kids were amazing! Seriously...they hardly get any visitors and so got super mega attached to us in a matter of hours and cried and cried when we left which was devastating. I would definitely love to go back. 

A couple of us have already been asked to go to the A/P Forum on Human Trafficking in Manilla next year which would be great and a group of us here will head up the European forum in October next year which will be an epic undertaking but an amazing way to connect people. 

Thanks so much for all your support in getting there and back!