welcome wherever

I am now back, safe at my parents house after an uneventful trip.  I miss the base and my friends already, writing sad leaving songs on post it notes and quests to find the best chips (fries) and hanging out in the cafe. YWAM was an amazing time in my life, and I'm sure i'll see a few of them again, but not soon enough. My health  is a bit better, the kidney stones seem to have passed into the bladder, so they ll be gone soon i hope.

I've realized i have become acultural, meaning i don't really have a culture. I take slang from Australia, pair it with some japanese greetings and norwegian insults, and finish up with some canadian accent. I have to get used to this house again, my families weird schedule, trying to keep myself busy and rest, and get over jet lag. as much as i love my family, it doesnt feel like home here anymore. I'm not sure where that is though. what is home? if it's where my heart is can it be somewhere i have never been? I would love to keep in contact with all you in AU or elsewhere, so skype, facebook, and email are great. kynyalee@gmail.com for anyone that wants it :) 

As for finances, I'm in a bit of debt for doctors and things, but I'm sure ill be ok. Your prayers are much appreciated. 

This month I'll be resting, July ill be connecting with my family and friends here, and august hopefully Benji will visit, but I'm keeping an eye out for jobs in the film or coffee industry, and I'm still planning to move to Vancouver in a couple months/years but for now, rest. 

this video is one i made, hopefully it works for you guys. 

A final farewell to my home of many moons

I'm leaving on monday. It's a lot to think about, especially because its a month early. After two months of fighting illness and fatigue, i finally decided it is time to come back and rest. But even though i'm excited to see my family and my country again, i have a lot of memories from nearly two years here. Those crazy DTS dance parties, the street evangelism confusion, the nights i spent staring at the stars instead of homework, the insanity of SDF and all the passion and knowledge that came with it. and all the memories and joy that resulted from the Barista interns. I'm going to miss coming in late from deep conversations, or seeing miracles of provision for those ive come to love. I might even miss the roomies, however not the lack of sleep they cause ;P 
A lot of people have been passing on messages asking what my plans are, and i have a rough idea, but i prefer to keep it to myself. however, this summer is one of rest. rest in its many forms. possibly in the form of sunbathing and netflix. the last time i had this much time to reflect i think i was 13, and i've changed a lot since then, and i need a refresher with God. 
I'm also hoping to make contact with my church again, because even though i do update (admittedly less than i did a year ago) unless you talk face to face, we forget whats going on in peoples lives. 
Saying goodbye is hard. im still not feeling well, but now that im leaving everyone wants to hang out, and so do i but its tiring! its just a reminder. if you love someone, dont forget to say it to thier face as often as you can, because one day you might realise you dont have much time left. but there's always skype, email, facebook, snapchat and a ton of other ways. 
thinking of that, if you want to talk to me then Kynyalee@gmail.com is a great place to start ;) i do love you all. goodbye for now, and goodbye YWAM.

little taste of heaven

My outreach, instead of of Peru, is Cup from Above in Aspley. Local, if you count an hour bus ride as local. That's if you don't miss your stop. I frequently do, so I always start out very early. CFA is in a very sketchy part of Brissy, and is geared towards getting homeless people off the street and giving them good life skills. In the last few days, I have re-covered chairs, built custom plant pots, made and hung curtains made from burlap coffee bags, taught a homeless gentleman coming off a drug high how to sew,and not made a single coffee, among other things. I'm really enjoying everything except the transit and the tiredness that follows. And the fact I feel like I always need a weapon. But the rest is great! Tomorrow, i'm going in to the doctors to find out what's up with the ultrasound for my kidneys. I really hope all the stones are gone. Please pray for my health and finances, if either one of them don't change soon, I may have to head home early. Thank you all so much. You are all very dear to my heart!

My organs are stoners

More specifically, my kidneys. I go along my life, taking care of all the hospitality of the cafe, making sure life behind the scenes runs smoothly and we all have clean aprons, but slowly, my body gets sick. my moods are moodier, my pains are a pain in the back, and I go to the doctors, after weeks of putting it off. Yes, they say. An infection and kidney stones.
    Moving along, that complicated finances, spending 200$ I needed for school already, as well as adding insurance claims and exhaustion to my already busy life. I passed one in the middle of a prayer meeting, taking up all the time we were supposed to be praying about other things, and ended up passed out on the floor. Ow. and it's not over. I still have stones, and I need an ultrasound, but I'm not sure I have the finances for it. So please, don't just pray, donate too.
      I need 1300$ for base fees, and more than that for my ticket home. This also means I'm not going to Peru. It's really sad and frustrating to me that my own health and finances have held me back from doing the work God has called me to. I try to be in a good mood, and I truly love what I'm doing here, with all the personal relationships with Christ I am in, and the people I am ministering to, but it's hard to stay optimistic when I'm in pain and scarcely afford the treatments. And yet, God has set me here for a reason, and I'm going to do it, even if it means a lot of naps in between.
     Instead of going to Peru and helping the backpacking evangelism there, I'll be staying in Australia working at a church affiliated coffee shop, where if an emergency arises, I can get healthcare. I really wish the money had come in, and that my health was better, but I want to give my full self to wherever God has in mind. I also have a possibility to help take care of the children of post-partum depression diagnosed moms, and that's exciting, I love kids and I miss the ones at my old church a lot. (shout out to you beautiful kiddos!)
  This week specifically, I'm running an art auction as a fundraiser for the cafe itself, and its crew. We are all long term missionaries, and we've all been in the field for at least a year, most of us much longer. But it's very hard for long term missionaries to provide for themselves, because we have dedicated our lives to God and other people instead of jobs. and being a missionary isn't a job you can just take time off of. its a constant pouring out to others. even when you're home, you're still working, and constantly feel pulled to other people, other places. I guess its similar to being a single mom.
    I constantly miss my family, and my boyfriend, but I know I'll miss this place too, when I'm gone. I savour it while I can. when I'm in Evansburg, I'll savour that, when I find a new place,(I always do) I'll love that one too. It's very true when I say my home is not on earth. Thank you all for constantly praying, those of you who donate, giant thanks and many tears of gratitude to you. You may literally be a life saver. Please keep in contact, Email me at kynya@goywam.com or kynyalee@gmail.com, friend me on facebook, follow The Meeting Place Cafe,
 and donate to me at  https://secure.goywam.com/home/donations/donate-to-a-staff-member/
I would love to hear from you. I'm not just saying that. sometimes living life with so many people is lonely. I love you guys.

Love where you are at.

So, the guy speaking today said something that really stuck out to me today, and he said "love where you're at in the present or else you'll never be happy with the future." And so I got thinking. I'm not content where I am. I want to go to Peru, I want to finish the course, I want to see my family, and i constantly look to the future or the past.  I decided I need to focus on what I love right now, and what I'm learning. Today, I went for coffee with the TMPC crew, and we laughed and told stories. I talked to Kassia, and encouraged each other. Right now, I have the chance to get to know my wonderful boyfriend from far away, without the little annoyances that might pop up later. Its cool outside, so I get to wear sweaters, which I love. I'm seeing God provide, Slowly, but surely. I'm living in Australia, discovering new things and skills, and I have time to reflect on God. This is all happening now. and I love it. I'm going to remember what I love about this moment, but mostly what i love about God. He doesn't just give up. That's a really good thing, because I am hard headed.
Right now, I need 5000$. Well, I know i am a hard worker, and God pays a fair wage. I'm so glad I have the support of my friends and family, and I want to make the investment into me worth it, because God's work is always worth it.

Love changes everything, and whats up with Peru?

Where are you going on outreach? What are you doing with your life for the next three months? You mean you're not doing it as a vacation?
These questions will be answered, and they will be answered now!
As we, the TMPC crew prepare and work in the chaos of Porchlight sessions, we receive strange messages. Some, in the form of a text, many in the form of a letter, and throughout the night, actual letters. Put together, these letters came to spell one word-P E R U. Our outreach location. We, as weary as we were from the night, danced and cheered, and began to plan. Jake, Kalli and I will be going to help train and work with our sister cafe in Cuzco, near the mountains. This is part of the practical side of the internship, teaching the guys in Peru what we've learnt about managing a cafe, as well as being part of sharing Jesus Christ where we can. I'm very excited, and I fully believe the money I need to go as well as go home will come in, even though it's scary for me not to be in control of it. God is a generous God, and my friends and family take care of me.
The entire YWAM base also just finished a stint running one of Australia's largest christian music festivals, Easterfest. Yeah, moshing with Tasman Jude or seeing my friends perform on a huge stage was cool, but watching someones leg grow out after I prayed, or someone coming to realize Jesus loved him even though he's a drug addict and believes he doesn't deserve it, that's the beautiful part. the unfortunate parts were the rain. rain that made ants shelter their eggs in my bag, rain that made shoes so wet and tents so wet I currently have a cold. Yet, rain brought people to shelter in the Chai tent and allowed them to have a Chai, a conversation, and hopefully a bit closer to God's love. Because love changes everything, even through the rain.
    I've been told a few people are hoping for a tax deductible receipt, and unfortunately if you've already given, I don't think I can do much other than say to email accounts@goywam.com and ask, but if you would like to donate, you can go to https://secure.goywam.com/home/donations/donate-to-a-staff-member/ and ask for a receipt. Thank you all so much! if you'd like to get in touch, find me on Facebook or email kynya@goywam.com. I love talking to you guys! It makes me miss home just a little less.

the ill finished video

Making a video, even a minute long one is hard work. especially if you are out of practice and unprepared. However, I am uploading my attempt, because i did a three person job by myself in a small amount of time. a better one is coming. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kL4pzDseYcA
In other news, God is beginning a breakthrough season! finances, dreams and healing has been so cool to see around here, and God speaks through everything. I love you all and miss you! contact me at kynya@goywam.com or donate here at  https://secure.goywam.com/home/donations/donate-to-a-staff-member/