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.

a time to mourn and a time to dance

My first garage sale went amazing! i made almost $500! and i am having an even bigger one with more stuff this weekend (God willing, if it doesn't rain) The Lord has already done so much in favor of me going to Amsterdam; i have full faith that He will come through with everything. Sometimes i have to just not think about the fact that in less than a month i'll be in Amsterdam, cause i would start to freak out. Its totally not how i usually do things, i'm such a control list freak but when it comes to big life changes i have to simply not dwell on the fact that i'm leaving. So much to do such a short precious time left.

On a different note, i took my oldest (10 yo) niece to see The Voyage of the Dawn Treader tonight. it was so good! and she is so precious. she is so funny and smart i love being her auntie. We shared some chinese food then got ice cream then i took her back home and she showed me her Jungle Book play songs and script... too cute. Then my 2 yo niece Lucy was going to sleep and took off her socks and placed them on her hands. when i walked into the room she says "hi! sock hands!" i am going to miss them the most when i leave.

New Beginnings

I love how no matter how much we think we know we learn more each day. I must admit this year has been a hard one. The hardest yet. I felt things i have never felt before and though i wish to never go through it again i'm glad i did and have now risen above it. I mustn't live in the past but continue on in the future. I'm letting go of things i have been squeezing in my palms. and know that once that release is completed i will have a new found, fresh freedom at my feet. It's perfect timing for this new season of my life. I am done with Bible College and now the Lord has spoken to me about going back to Amsterdam, in January, to work with the Lighthouse ministry. It's coming so fast and i don't feel prepared but i do know what i heard and must obey dispite my circumstances. The Lord has promised to provide for me in everything that i need, that is NEED not WANT. Two totally different things. All odds are against Him, but i know that God will come through, like He always does. For instance I am completely broke right now. I can't find a job, and if i do why would i get a job only to quit in a few months? But this is where my path led me so i'm trusting the Lord. If it was Him who told me to go then He will also provide a way. This morning my tire went flat and although i want to just break down into tears i see it as an opportunity to watch God provide and take care of me. If He can take care of me in the small things then of course He will in the big things. So i'm learning to fully surrender to Him. in ALL things. Being that I am a person who depends only on myself i am in for a rough, but inncredible and awakening ride.

I've finished strong

well as strong as i could. i graduated Bible College. i'm still overwelmed by much emotion but hopefully in a few years i'll be able to look back on all this and see more what God was in fact doing. i leave on Monday for Woodward.. im excited for the change and i've missed everyone so much. Then after that im planning to staff in the Coffee House in Murrieta for a semester.. then Europe? oh goodness i don't know when to go all i know is i must.

How the tables have turned!

well, as many of you know, i was very set on my plan of returning home then finishing my next and last semester in Murrieta. That is until Jordan (the director at CCBC Seattle) informed me of his mother Cathy's intention of making me her intern next semester. The second i heard the offer i knew God was up to something. it was right before Crew (which is the Sunday night service for College age kids) and i prayed right through the service and into the night. i knew God was telling me to stay but i am a stubborn one. i knew i had to be obedient to Him no matter how much i desired to be closer to home. Cathy and i chatted about her ideas for next semester and not only am i interning but she wanted to help train me in the ministry the Lord has called me to; being a vessel, lead by Him, to restore women's hearts who have been mistreated or have lived a horrid life, mainly in the sex trafficking and slavery, or just anyone i come in contact with. Cathy is going to teach me all she knows about restoring broken hearts to the Lord. how incredible is this?! Last semester as i prayed for guidance the Lord spoke very clearly saying "you could choose to attend Murrieta or Seattle, each school you will learn much and be blessed, however, in Seattle i will open a door up to you that will help you to further the ministry in which i have called you into." How could coming back up here not be from the Lord? I am astonished at His works! I made a little Rory Gilmore pro and con list and Seattle won by a long shot. In Seattle i will be taught life long lessons by the amazing pastor's wife, it will be better for me financially, all the classes i need to graduate are being offered to me, and good friends are also staying so i look forward to building stronger friendships. Calvary Fellowship has welcomed me like a family and i am so grateful for it. i miss mine terribly and look forward to seeing them for the next month until i come back up here.
God has truly been so good to me! Even in the midst of my car problems. My tire went completely flat while i was at my M1 in the Library last night. a man came in and asked everyone who the owner of the maroon Mazda outside was; because he had a little portable air tank with him and could help. he plugged it into my cig lighter and i foolishly didn't turn the car on fully so when i went to start my car later my old and worn out battery was completely dead. So i left it there and today my friend Joey put my spare on for me (my tire was already flat again!) and i went to get a set of new tires and a new battery. My parents have helped me beyond measure and i am astonished at their goodness and compassion. they are the most self-less people i know. and now my car is running better than it ever has all because of my new battery. i would not have know this to be the main source to my problems had my tire not flattened. i am truly thankful this all took place a week before i am to drive home, now i can go the long distance in peace. also my incredible teacher, Scott Vincent, is checking my brakes and fluids tomorrow to make sure i am 100 percent prepared. "All I have needed Thy hand hath provided; Great is Thy faithfulness, Lord, unto me!" How true this song is! i know the rest of my fiances will be taken care of as well.. for i am in the Lord's hands and He has not let me down yet.

Maturity

The Lord has been opening my eyes to many, many great things, I am learning so much through Him! Seattle has been treating me very well. I absolutely love my roomates, we all get along so well its incredible! I need to remember to take pictures of the townhouse.
Anyways, my twenty-second birthday was on Saturday, it was such a good day! I got to sleep in, read New Moon (yeah whatever I got sucked into it), it rained :) my friends came over and we watched movies then my roomates threw me a party! It was all in all amazing! Here are some pictures:






Yeah it was rad!


Here is a picture of me and my roomates:


From left to right: Kristyn (our dorm mom), Amanda, Chelsea, Jennifer, Ashley, me :)

Everyday the Lord is showing me how He really truly wants me here and I keep getting more and more excited for what He has instore for me!