UPDATE #1
/ Nov ‘15
Hello treasured friends!
When I’ve been reflecting lately on the journey God has taken me on, I’m so thankful! I hope you can speak of His faithfulness in your life too!
I’d like to share a little bit of the journey for me recently, leading to what I’m planning to do for the next season. About a month ago, I was invited to join the staff team for a ywam d.t.s (discipleship training school) in Amsterdam, the Netherlands. Yep, the same school through which Jesus humbled and showed me his love last year! Since this recent invitation, I’ve been seeking the Lord, as well as talking and praying with those I know to be wise, and I feel peace and confirmation that this is from Him. So I’m very excited to let you know that I'll be heading back to Holland, which feels like another home, to help staff this school for the next two years!
It’s an exciting and stretching decision to make, but from my experience, they’re the ones God asks of us, and often the ones which grow us most!
The staff team and I will be: discipling, teaching, listening to, learning from, sharing and praying with the students, as well as eating together as we live under the same roof. I believe these students have been hand picked by their heavenly Father for this school, to further their journey towards Him. I see this as such an honour and blessing to humbly serve these Jesus followers (disciples) on their Discipleship Training School (DTS). I’m so expectant and excited to see how God will work through us to show his love to whomever we meet, and to see growth in both the students and our staff team. I’m really excited for my new role, as I get to take up the passions the Lord's placed in me; coming alongside others, speaking life and a heavenly perspective, releasing potential and to share His heart through prophecy and musical worship. It’s a beautifully intense time, staffing a school, and to call a new place home, so I’d love your support in prayer!
Also, as most of you hopefully know, I have a very special friend who also calls the Netherlands home! Gerjanne (Heri-aana) is a beautifully soft hearted young woman who is relentless in her pursuit of Papa!(the Lord) She's just returned from serving as a nurse with Mercy Ships, in Madagascar. We became close friends on our DTS last year, sharing deeply in the highs and lows of the journey, and grew to love each other dearly! We then decided to start dating a little over a year ago. It’s been such a joyful, growing and humbling journey for us so far. It’s amazing what God reveals in our own heart, when we try and put another person first! ;) Naturally, a very exciting aspect of me staffing this school and serving with ywam Amsterdam is that I’ll be much closer to Gerjanne and her lovely family. This will mean less Skype dates and heaps more quality time, which we’re really looking forward to!
So.. I’m lost for words and get teary when I think of the wonderful blessing of the community around us! The support of YOU - family, friends, mentors and church family has been far more than I deserve. I am shown the love and grace of our most generous heavenly Father through you. So thanks! Thanks for being yourself, being the church, and loving me with honesty and encouragement! I don’t see this new season and adventure as being separate from you, but just another leg (or toe) of the body of Christ extending across the world!
As well as receiving your prayers and encouragement, (which have been great already) I’d ask that you consider supporting me financially. God has blessed all of us, He’s a good father that provides all our needs! I pray that your heart would be compelled to generosity only by the Holy Spirit, and not out of obligation to me or the Lord. I know from my own experience it’s such a privilege to give and invest in the kingdom of God in other friends lives, so I’m happy and willing to give you this opportunity! ;D .. email me for details!
I’d be stoked to hear your honest thoughts about what I’m up to, and I wanna hear how you’re going too.. bless you heaps!
Pete Burgess