O Love That Wilt Not Let Me Go

Being away from home without a purpose makes for much discouragement. However, in this last few weeks I feel like my purpose for moving here is finally beginning to show in my work. It makes me feel more at peace, like I am not doing something simply because I am supposed to but because I am called to. I am now feeling that there is reason and evidence behind my actions and that leads me to feel as if I belong here. Doors have been opening, but before I get to that I want to talk about my first Christmas and New Years away from home.

Christmas was simply amazing. I had brunch with my good New Zealand friends, Jasmine and Rick Smith, who I met at my beautifully intimate new Church. And when I say brunch I mean homemade delicious eggs benedict and homemade mulled wine.

I relaxed and enjoyed the fellowship until dinnertime where I moved onto my next course and family, The Freylings. Desi and Lisa are from Canada and I work with them in The Lighthouse. They have two beautiful kids who are full of life, Shayla (4) and Nicolai (2). Desi is a fantastic cook and made a complete "North American dinner." It was truly the best I have ever had. We then watched my favorite Christmas movie "It's a Wonderful Life" with Nico and Shayla on my lap, it was perfect.

When I got home I skyped with my parents, brother, sister in law, two nieces and nephew back home. They were opening up presents and I was so thankful I got to be apart of that via Skype.

For New Years my Dutch friend, Lysette, was in town from Latvia (she moved there to work with prostitutes, human trafficking and prevention.) We support each other in our ministries and have a great connection. She came to Amsterdam were we got dinner on the Zeedik and drinks at a really rustic, chill cafe. Then made our way to Dam Square where thousands of others from all over the world joined together in lighting fireworks and fellowship. Fireworks are legal here so my "fireworks should be illegal view" was slightly stressed as they were going off all hours of the night in every nook and cranny of the city. But I was glad I got to experience my first Dutch New Years.

In between Christmas and New Years I, and a small team from the base, set out to Germany to take part in a huge European Missions Conference. It was quite the experience. Sleeping on a mat in a huge hall with about a thousand other girls, representing Amsterdam to everyone we spoke to, and my favorite part; speaking to about 150 people about Human Trafficking. Within the conference they had "workshops" you could do everyday. One of them was on human trafficking. Me and two others who are staffing Shine were looking forward to attending this class. But the night before we were asked by the girl who was putting together all the Seminars if we knew anyone who has knowledge on human trafficking and could conduct the class because the original teacher was sick and could not make it. We met together and had an outline within an hour about what to speak and how to present it. It was amazing! We went there to promote Shine and God brought 150 people (out of 2600) that were interested in this topic. We got to educate and connect people. It was so incredible, truly nothing we did on our own but through God.

When January started it was Shine full force. We have been working together to really make this seminar incredible. For those who don't know, Shine is a 6 week seminar held in Amsterdam based on "the global sex trade and a Christian response." Its for those who have a heart to work in this type of ministry, we provide education and practical application. It truly changed my life and I look forward to seeing others changed by it too.

The last update I want to add is I met with Toos Heemskerk yesterday. She was the director of The Scarlet Cord, a ministry that not only visits the ladies in the windows but offers professional help in counseling, training and leaving prostitution, for 15 years. She is now the director of Not For Sale Amsterdam. Not only have I wanted to work next to her but also partner with NFS. She is renting our building and doing the work out of The Lighthouse. I explained to her my idea for a hairdressing project and she was on board. She thought it was a great idea with actual potential and we talked about partnering up together to support one another. 

I realized that I am here in Amsterdam for a greater purpose than I could ever imagine and God is going to bring the right people, the right connections, and the funds to truly make the Red Light District of Amsterdam a renewed place. I am so excited that He asked me to be apart of it.

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.