Inspiration when we need it

Today I read James 4:17 "Therefore, to him who knows to do good and does not do it, to him it is sin." and was severely convicted. I even spoke on this section of James for my PDS final my 3rd semester. What truth to read now. These last several weeks I have been slightly depressed with the thought of leaving everything behind to follow Christ's calling in my life. I kept thinking "I am just holding onto this hope that what God has for me out here is huge and I wanna be apart of it." It helps me to live every day a little bit easier. However, what James is saying here is if you know without a doubt what you are supposed to do and don't do it, then you are sinning. Yes SINNING. If I chose to leave Amsterdam and go home now, it wouldn't be a small "oh I tried and wasn't strong enough to succeed story" it would be a "God gave me this life because He knows that through Him I can handle it, even when the 'going get tough' He is with me and it would be a complete SIN to leave this behind." What a sobering message.

Today I also watched the movie Soul Surfer. I knew that I would one, cry, and two, be so inspired to conquer the world after watching it. I was right. I don't want to just skim by this life never giving my complete all. That would simply be a sin and just completely foolish. Yes, the life I have here in Amsterdam may be sacrificial in some ways but its nothing compared to the opportunities that will arise, or the lives God wants to save, or the love that I can spread through Jesus.

God, I think I am now ready to receive your plans here in Amsterdam, please use me, I'm fully yours and fully open.

Time to get to work.

I must decrease so that He can increase

Tonight I had dinner with Elisabeth, our Shine Seminar leader. It was encouraging beyond words to hear her heart. She is a beautiful and gifted woman who gives all glory to Christ. We both have a heart to see the broken redeemed and restored. Something that the Lord has told us both in the last few months was that the work He wants to do here in the Red Light District of Amsterdam is truly bigger than we could ever imagined. I am so encouraged and was reminded of why I am here. Although I am nothing, I serve a BIG God who is everything. He chose me to be apart of what He is doing here and I am flabbergasted. I can't wait to see what He does.

Also a neat short story and prayer request; today while walking around the city me and 3 new staff members (whom I had met today) was stopped by an 8 month pregnant woman with 2 young kids. She spoke no Dutch or English but had a horrible map of the address she was looking for. We took her bags from her (she was carrying a heavy backpack, and two suit cases) and asked around til we found her destination. It was then clear that she was running. From who or where I do not know. But when she hugged me and kissed me on the cheek saying "dank you, dank you" my heart just sank. I wanted to make sure she was going to be ok, but knew it is the safest for her to be hidden. Please pray that whatever she is running from stays far away from her and that this scared refugee finds the comfort and peace she needs, as well as hope for her and her kids.

I made it back to Amsterdam

My life has been a stress case getting everything done and prepared to be here. Now I am here and I have a full week to settle in. It's amazing. This time around I definitely shed more tears than I ever have but thats normal. Every time I had ever left for some place I always had a ticket back home or would be coming home within 3 to 4 months even if it was for a few days, this time I'm not sure when I will be back home to visit, it will probably be no earlier than a year. Truly every few mins (the past two days) I have had to remind myself that God has called me here and I am in the place I need to be, because its easy to go back to my comfortable home in San Diego. But my life is the Lord's and I trust Him with it fully.

On a different note, I got to see my some of my teammates after I had arrived (that is after I took a nap :) It was so great to see them, and their kids. I got to feed and rock a 4 month old twin to sleep and my heart was so happy. Not being able to hold my little 6 week old nephew, Ethan, for a while is hard but I love how the Lord brought two babies and a toddler and a little girl Lucy's age into my life to help with missing my nieces and nephews.

The weather here is beautiful. It's been raining on and off (for those of you who don't know I LOVE rain) and when its not its got bursts of sunlight. It's been a lot colder than San Diego, between 45 and 50 degrees. Good thing I've got my sweaters and gloves stored away in a suitcase at The Lighthouse building which I half forgot half left there when I came back to my home after visiting last night. One, I am hoping to move over there in a couple weeks and since I don't have a car I will have to travel by bus with my luggage and leaving it is just one more thing I don't have to bring, and two, I rode my bike back which has been stored at The Lighthouse after I left in April. My friend just gave it to me, it was such a blessing! Riding back was great, its so much easier and faster getting around than just walking and cheaper than taking the bus! Now lets hope I can manage riding it around with a bunch of other fast, experienced bikers!

Also I am finally adding emails from the list I got at my Meet & Greet at Foothills, if you didn't receive an email from me please email me with yours so that I know to add you at KatyBeStill@Gmail.com it really is nice to stay in touch while I'm away. Knowing I have people back home supporting me in what I do and praying for me makes a HUGE difference.


A few things to pray for:
-I am applying for my visa shortly and being that the price TRIPLED in Euros in the last few months I need the last chunk and to be accepted!
-That my heart would be right and that I would dive into the Word even more here
-Also because this being a Missionary is quite new to me that I would know what to do and how to do it Biblically.

Thank you guys for loving and supporting me through everything!

Its Official i leave December 1st

i felt the Lord say to wait until Tuesday to buy my ticket back to Amsterdam, i then remembered that statistically the cheapest time to buy a plane ticket is Tuesday afternoon, and sure enough the price had dropped nearly $225! The Lord is so good to me, everything is coming together.

Today i went through about 3/4 of my clothes, i want to get rid of as much stuff as i can. it's a lot harder than i expected because i keep thinking "maybe one day i will need this" but have to remind myself that simpler is better, especially for a missionary. i keep getting more and more excited to go back, i am so anxious to see what the Lord does with this journey.

Amazing Grace

What a beautiful movie Amazing Grace is. I get so inspired and courageous every time I watch it. Since I was a young girl I’ve prayed to make a difference in this world - to really stand up for what I believe and what is right and just. I still have that dream. And to be honest if anyone were to listen to my thoughts they would think I was a crazy person. Every other day is "I can do this" then followed with a "no I cant - I’m insane" But I have decided to walk ahead, even when I am blinded. I know many think I am foolish, or will think that about me as I continue in living a life for the Lord. I wish I could say that it doesn’t affect me, but I, being such an arrogant fool, still care of what others think of me. How idiotic! But, as I watched Amazing Grace I noticed how William was encouraged to do this mighty work by his friends. We all need people in our life encouraging us and lifting us up. When our friends have a dream, even if it’s beyond our comprehension, remind them that they can do it! In a world of criticism and degradation we need all the affirmation we can get. I don’t know how on earth I will do what I have been called to do but I know God knows how, and with Him I CAN accomplish the work He has set before me.

I also am very excited to say that Not For Sale has an Academy in San Francisco. One of the courses is called “Aftercare 2.0: Entrepreneurs Creating Business Opportunities Where None Exist” it is as if this class was made for Katy Randall. The dates work out perfectly to, so I’m pretty dang sure I will be attending the school after I’m finished at Woodward and before I fly back to Amsterdam.

And lastly we have finished the Human Trafficking Seminar. So much I’ve learned in the past 6 weeks. Now it’s time to move forward and use that information!


PRAYER POINTS
1. That I can retain all that I have learned these last 6 weeks.
2. For more doors and opportunities to be opened to me in networking for the work I’m officially beginning to brainstorm this month.
3. For opportunities to speak when I go home of awareness in human trafficking, not just what’s going on in the world but what so many young girls are susceptible to (and that includes many girls here in San Diego, I personally feel the Youth Venture girls especially).
4. Clear direction with every choice I make.
5. My health (I’ve been sick the last few days)


Thank you to all who are praying for me, it’s so clear that I wouldn’t be able to accomplish the things I’m doing here if it weren’t for prayer.

This is war

My entire life I’ve heard Ephesians 6, especially verse 12 "For we wrestle not against flesh and blood, but against principalities, against powers, against the rulers of the darkness of this world, against spiritual wickedness in high places." But I do not think I've actually lived in a world where my perspective is based on spirit and not flesh, not until now that is. Since my encounter with the 3 black men on Friday night I have one, had dreams every night since then that I’ve been trafficked, and two, countless black men have been walking down the street (in daylight) and when I pass by them there is something evil in their eyes and they shout out things at me or creepily get close and whisper something. Not every man obviously but definitely enough to note. Normally I'd just think oh dumb guys but I am seeing things through a new perspective now. As I told the director of the Lighthouse, Melissa, about my encounter she told me a similar story she had several months back when for a whole week she faced the same obstacles with guys here. But she said how she was faced with a spirit of intimidation and fear, much like I’m feeling now. Wouldn't it make sense that just as much as God wants me here in Amsterdam, Satan wants me out? If I’m not aware of this I could easily get scared and run, even leave this city, but knowing that Satan wants me out of here so badly reminds me that I need to stand up and fight with my spiritual armor. I will not be intimidated and I will not leave. Because Christ has victory over death and I shall not be afraid. However, this is a message I MUST remind myself; I am constantly at war and it will never end, not until I die or Christ comes back. This war is real, very real, and I mustn’t take the situation lightly.

Do not Fear for I am with you

Last night something happened that may have seemed like nothing to some people but I knew it was something big. I was in danger yet the Lord fought for me.
I was walking the 15 min walk from De Poort (my home) to the Shelter (a Christian youth hostel where Brooke, my friend, works) at a little before 10pm. Amsterdam is a very safe city to walk in, full of many, many people and police; I walk at night almost every day. This particular night I was heading down the main street and then as I went to turn left to the smaller street I noticed a black man (statistically it is the African men here who are the loverboys and what nots of the women behind the windows and in brothels) coming the opposite way turned right then slowed down (while texting on his phone) so that I could be in front of him. No big deal really except that my heart started to beat very fast and the Lord said so loudly "PRAY!" So I prayed quickly then turned my ipod back on but the Lord said again even louder "PRAY!" I realized right then that I was not in a good place. I was so nervous I couldn't even pray; this is when my gift of tongues came in handy and just prayed like that, constantly, as I walked. As I rounded the next corner I glance behind me and he is about 20 feet back and I start to pick up my pace (this section isn't very popular but its only a short street then it gets into restaurants and more people). Its also a one way street going the opposite way in which I walked. A car starts driving toward me and this is where I began to panic, I knew in my spirit that it was going to stop next to me. Sure enough it did. Two other black guys in the car, the passenger (closest to me) gets out and as he walks toward me I so quickly turn to the right and go around the front of the car to the drivers side and keep walking (still praying mind you) the passenger starts to also walk in front of the car towards me but I pick up my pace as fast as I can without running and don't look back until I got to the end of the street where it's more populated. I don't see the car or the guy who was behind me.

I continued to walk fast and pray until I got to the Shelter and made Brooke just hold me in her arms. I tried to just think I was crazy but 1. Why did the Lord give me such an awareness of what was going on and what was about to happen? 2. Why did He urge me so boldly to pray? 3. Why did this guy behind me make a full change of direction to follow me? (the corner we rounded was going right, so he started to walk back towards the direction in which he came) 4. Why did they all disappear after I walked past them? and 5. Why did my fellow seminar student wake up at the exact same time with the overwhelming feeling that she needed to pray for the safety of someone within the Shine seminar, not realizing who, she just prayed for all our safety, where ever we were at.

Either way it was a bittersweet moment in my life. I learned that the Lord will fight for me and protect me when no one else is around, and give me the discernment for what is actually taking place but now I am a little fearful of walking the city which I know I will have to just get over. Thank you God for taking care of your children. I know I can place my life in Your hands.

Children on the Streets

So we are entering our 3rd week of the seminar. it's soo busy, really good, but super busy. Today we had a couple who have been living in Brazil for 27 years speak. Their main focus is street children.. their stories were unreal... so hard to believe yet all true. So many kids Gwen's (my 10 year old neice) age on the street, being raped, part of gangs, with boyfriends twice their age, afraid of being killed, throats being slit in the middle of the night (yes this is true), hooked on drugs, abortions in the streets at the age of 11... soo sad. i couldnt stop crying. Tears kept streamig down my face. I couldn't control them.. thats someone's daughter or neice or sister or cousin out there. To think of something so outrageous happening to my beloved nieces make me cringe.
Tomorrow we are going to Den Haag to work with an organization who work with prostitutes. I am bringing my scissors to do their hair, so excited for this.

Abolitionist

There is so much I want to say all the time but finding the time to blog is so hard these days! This Shine seminar is the best thing that has happened to me. It's so incredible looking back on the last few years of my life and seeing how it all pointed to the work I’m doing now (and I know what is happening now is pointing and preparing me for the work God has for me in the future).

Week 1 of the seminar we talked about Prophetic Justice, the speaker had an amazing gift of prophesy and spoke some amazing things to me... (She knew nothing about me)

-She said that this vision the Lord has given me (to see women be transformed in the red light district (really all over the world but for me starting here in Amsterdam) is truly from Him and that He will provide the funds and the people to see this through.
-I need to continue speaking about this vision and telling others about it, for people WANT to hear and be involved.
-I have a gift of leadership - yes I am a woman and I am called to be a leader.
-It feels like I have burned my bridges to get here leaving my life back home but I have in fact come here to soar as a bird in freedom.
-God calls me an "explosion" but in a good way, not a destructive way.
-I will be used as an initiator in an apostolic ministry
-Now I must pray, pray, pray!!

The next day she sought me out after she was finished speaking and said she had a few more things she wanted to say/reiterate...

-I have an apostolic teaching gift and will be used to lead/train in an apostolic mobilization in regards to justice.
-I will speak out to multitudes, speaking in many places such as Bible Colleges and Universities (speaking on what exactly I’m not too sure, I’m obviously thinking something with justice)
-I will not reside in Amsterdam forever but come back to the states and go out from there (which the Lord had already told me)
-My Scriptural/Biblical background will be my basis
-I must keep speaking out on these things for people will listen (this has motivated me the most, when I feel like I am doing nothing or just feel like quitting I think back to this and remind myself that God WANTS to use me and will infact use me to make a difference if I am willing.)
-I will write books (something I’ve dreamed of doing since a child)


Some things I left out and some things I wrote not really wanting to share on here but feeling like I must. I'm not sure what to think about some of these words spoken but I can say this; everything she said to me I have had on my heart in some way, shape or form and never really spoke to most people about. It was so much confirmation. Because I mean when you have personal, intimate time with Jesus and He speaks some deep, huge thing to you, you don't really go out and say it to everyone. I held onto them seeing what would happen and when she said some of these things I just leaped inside. My life is not my own and I have fully given it to God to do as He pleases and I do believe, since I am willing, He will use me in mighty ways. It is all through HIM and nothing I can do by my own strength.


Prayer Requests
-The teeth on the upper left hand of my mouth have been extremely affected by the cold, I've always had problems with them but the last few weeks the pain has been unbearable.
-That I would not lose this passion for justice and sharing God's grace with all.

swing brother swing

Last night i started to watch the movie Swing Kids, and after about 3 mins i decided to be spontaneous and check to see if any swing events were going on in Amsterdam, sure enough there was - only a 10 min bus ride from my huis! I got ready in 10 mins and ran to catch my bus. But, being so excited and in the rush to make my bus, i forgot the name of the cafe and the exact address.. had the bus to take, the stop and knew it was "head North on this street make a Right on this street" HOWEVER i wrote down the stop wrong and got off too soon. it was a very unpopulated area at 10pm. But i saw a woman on her bike and asked her which way this street was and she gave me a ride on the back of her bike (a very Dutch thing to do). People here are really SO nice. So i find this cafe and it was SO fun.. best night of swingin i have had in a long, long time. i connected with everyone SO well and they were all so kind.. i made new friends and one of the swing instructors even gave me a ride back to my huis on his bike too... i was so very Dutch last night! it was amazing!

here is me on the back of his bike :)




In other news; the seminar is going AMAZING!! I have so much I want to say about it but i'm still processing... i will try to post about it soon!!

Sigh no more

Sometimes I feel like I'm simply floating in Amsterdam, no grip of reality or feelings, its quite wierd. But then again I've only been here a few weeks, I can't expect myself to just dive into life here, its been 4 years since I've stepped foot in Holland and life tends to move gradually when starting a new season of your life. So I must just sit and breathe and remember that God has called me here and all will work out in His perfect timing. The Shine seminar starts with classes on Monday, this will be the perfect time to just absorb all the knowlegde about human trafficking, I do believe it will be life-altering.

I'm missing home a little bit now, I think because I'm just longing for that more family feel, which will come in time I'm sure. Its funny how you feel more lonely when on the mission field to. Haha I really want to get married now and have kids, but again that will all unfold in God's timing.

I've decided not to go to Rome with Brooke. I really would like to but it's SO hard for me to spend money on something like that when I know I will need to save it to live, especially when I come back home I'll need to have gas money to get up to Woodward and whatnot so comes sacrifice which I've learned is very common in life :)

I have written several run on sentences in the post, and more thoughts will come these next few weeks since I feel the settling in period has shifted to the gaining more knowlege in this seminar season.

My, my time can get away from you

These past weeks have been good.. kinda weird though... I feel like I've been "trying to find my place" like where I fit into this ministry. I have to remind myself that it will all come in time. I've only been here for almost 3 weeks! We have been preparing for the Shine Seminar coming up this week.
http://www.ywamamsterdam.org/2010/12/shine/
Its going to be rad! We have 14 full time students right now (including myself). I look forward to taking in all the info.. we have something like 29 speakers in 6 weeks! Haha its going to be soo good! People are coming from all over the world. The Shine Seminar is a 6 week conference to promote understanding of sexual injustice and the Christian response to it. The last 3 days we will be hosting a Networking conference with people from all over with all different ministries in human trafficking.. I am REALLY looking forward to meeting all these wonderful people.

My friend Brooke is here working with The Shelter, it's so nice to have her near.. we just got to spend the evening together this past weekend, its crazy how much comfort you can find in another American.

I've decided to change some things around. If I stay for 4 months like I was planning on doing I would have to start my Visa process, however once I receive my visa I would have to also get Dutch insurance right away and start paying for it the day I get my visa. But i'll be gone for the Summer so I won't even be benefiting for what I'd be paying for. Its only $50 to change my plane ticket back 3 weeks so I will be in the 90 day tourist visa window. When i come back to A-town in September/October I will start applying for all this then. So I am coming back home April 28th now.

Before I come back though, Brooke and I were talking about taking a weekend trip to England... that should be soo exciting! I've never been but have always wanted to and flying is SOOO cheap throughout Europe.

Prayer Requests
1. That I would find a good/cheap bike
2. That I would take a step back and really learn at this Seminar/and that I would take every opportunity to learn in life.

All is goed

I met with Melissa Gomez (the Lighthouse Director) yesterday. It started to get me excited because I got to really see how perfect the Lord is in orchestrating this. It is really all coming together and its soo exciting to see God moving the hearts of people all over the world to come serve and love the unloved in this city. It's clear that He is doing a mighty work here and all my desires and dreams will soon become reality.

I just want to be emerged in this life I’ve set out to live. I want to truly live above reproach. The Lord told me many years ago that I would live a life far from normal, it seems pretty normal to me right now but then again my ways of thinking are so different.

Tonight is a welcoming dinner for me and my new friend Bongiwe at The Lighthouse; I am excited to spend time with my “Amsterdam family.”

Here are a few pictures from my first few days here:

My friend Ana and I went out for pizza my first night, SOO good!

Went to the marketplace and i forgot how simple and good the "dutch cakes and sweets" are. They love waffles/pancakes! and its so pretty the way they do things :)

My bed

my messy desk/sink

my window with the beautiful view

Beautiful View one

Beautiful View two

I'm too short for this building

my map to The Lighthouse thanks to my beautiful new friend Tania

DO NOT JUDGE ME! it was only 12 Euros and has two curling irons an elliptical curling iron a CRIMPER (yes! a crimper!) and a flat iron haha hey it does the job for me!


Prayer Requests:
1. I am applying for my dutch residency/visa and medical care on Friday. I do not know how exactly I will pay for this (didn't have it in this trip's budget but I need to get the ball rolling now) and I just want to pray I get accepted (or get the process going soon or else I will not be able to stay the last month of this trip) I am not too worried about it though.
2. Also I want sooo badly to learn Dutch but will not be able to take classes until I come back in September so pray I can catch on rather quickly!

I'm finally in Amsterdam

I had a safe easy flight (much different from 4 years ago when i first traveled to Amsterdam) and i made my connecting flight by mins.. much prayer was over me i'm sure. My room is about 3/4th moved into and in the process of being made "homey." i got in at 8am amsterdam time 11pm San Diego time so i took a few hour nap and then hit the sack at 8pm and woke up at 5:15am, not bad. I'm sure it will take a few days to get used to life but i'm already feeling better than last time i first arrived here.

People on the base are amazing, there are still a few staff members here from when i was here which was nice having a reunion with them. Now that I'm thinking about it I don't think I've seen one American (on my actual base)yet. Thats why i love it here, its so mulicultrual yet the common language is English so i get by, but i am craving to learn more here; especially Dutch.

I find it so incredible that for the last 5 years i've wanted to help girls in trafficking and for the last 4 i've had my heart set on Amsterdam, now here i am. God is so soverign and faithful and good to me! In a couple weeks i'll be starting a 6 week seminar called "Shine" put on by The Lighthouse that will focus on a better understanding of sexual injustice going on in the world we live in. I'm looking forward to drinking in all this knowledge. This is what God has called me to do and I'm ready to dive in.

Oh yes and Brooke gets here in a few days! It will be so nice to have a homey face to look at :)

Things to pray for:
-Sensitivity to the Culture
-A clear and sound mind
-Covering over spiritual warfare
-An increased hunger for Jesus and that it will not fade

info on what ywam amsterdam and The Lighthouse Ministry
www.ywamamsterdam.org
www.ywamamsterdam.org/ministries/lighthouse

and my address if you wanna write letters or anything:
Katy Randall Room 349
Youth With A Mission Amsterdam
Kadijksplein 18
1018 AC Amsterdam
The Netherlands

Two more weeks!

I finally bought my plane ticket. and the day i went to purchase it, it dropped down $150! its only gone up the past 5 months. i decided to get a one way ticket to Seattle and then fly out to Amsterdam from there so i leave for Seattle on the 22nd and to Amsterdam the 27th. i don't really know why i felt like i should buy this Seattle ticket, but i did.. i'm excited to see everyone up there but am nervous about visiting there before my trip to A-town because i'm such a homebody. it will feel weird leaving the country from there instead of San Diego. Also a downside of leaving the 22nd is i leave in the morning and my mom gets back from El Salvador in the evening. so i have to say goodbye to her THIS Saturday.. thats going to be rough. but on a lighter note she has never traveled outside the country before - ever - so i am SOOO excited to see what the Lord does for her and how He uses her! My church, Foothills, is sending out doctors and nurses to physically help the needs of the people there.. its gunna be life changing for her im sure.

oh and something else thats incredible to me, so you know i'm ALWAYS stressed about finances right? well the Lord has fulfilled His promise and i just calcuated it, with the money i have now, if i don't even sell my car, i should be fine. thats after my plane ticket and everything! and thats all without having a job. i worked here and there but nothing solid. the Lord totally provided for me which means i can ALWAYS trust Him and that He is totally backing me up on this - He wants me in Amsterdam. so i know mighty work is going to be done there. i cant wait to see what exactly it is.