Why do I do what I do?
If someone had told me five years ago that I would be serving with a non profit organisation while living on the opposite side of the world, I would have very much doubted them. But God didn't.
Looking back I see in many ways how God had been preparing me for this time of my life. My mum often told me she could see me volunteering. I had people prophesy that I would speak to thousands and be a woman of influence. Then I told my family that i wanted to live on my own in Australia at the age of 18.
I find that God often works like this. He plants thoughts in our minds, or uses other people around us to call out the potential they see. Even though it has been over the years, I can see that all of these things that were spoken did come to fruition.
I am stoked, excited and overjoyed for 2016. Coming into this new year I knew God was going to do amazing things, and He wants to work with us. At the end of last year the country of Peru was on my mind. A couple of years ago I didn't lead an outreach I had helped prepare and plan for, but felt God saying, I want to redeem that experience for you.
His character is always good and I want to press into that.
Peru
The opportunity to go to Peru came up and I knew I was meant to go. While we are there; we are going to be doing a lot of worship, evangelism and kids ministry. As well as working with a Discipleship Training School with Youth with a Mission (YWAM) in Cuzco. I am also hoping to run the Shine program in the schools.
This is an incredibly exciting opportunity because Peru is a country where women do not have a whole lot of self worth and self confidence. Shine highlights the idea that each individual has intrinsic value. We are all created with significance no matter the past, present or future.
Shine focuses on strength, resilience, purpose and courage. As we discuss topics such as; how to make healthy decisions, learning the vitality of our emotions and how to dream. It will be awesome to take what I have learnt through the program to a place where they haven't necessarily heard the value of these things before.
Since really trusting God, I have seen Him provide thousands upon thousands of dollars. The blessing of seeing His provision has gotten to the point now that when I begin to worry, five minutes later I am left in awe of His character once again. For "youth without any money", we are living extremely blessed lives.
I actually started to write this article because I was beginning to doubt His provision. Only to wake up the next morning with a huge amount of Gods financial favour.
I once heard someone say that hearing people testify to the goodness of God, is like receiving a pay cheque. I do what I do because I love the breakthrough I see in peoples lives. I love seeing young women learn that they have intrinsic value. I love seeing peoples bodies healed. I love all of this because it points back to the character of God, ultimately bringing glory to His name.
Heading off
As I head overseas and trust God, I am looking for people to partner with the team and I. I thought I would invite more people on this adventure, as I fully believe God has created the body of Christ as a way to support one another. Romans 12:5 says "for just as each of us has one body with many members, and these members do not all have the same function, so in Christ we, though many, form one body, and each member belongs to all the others."
Every part of our body makes up the entirety of our body and helps it to work. If we break an arm, our body can still work but it is not as functional. Just like that, God calls us to different paths of life to bring glory to His name.
While serving with YWAM I am working as a volunteer, whereas you might be working in business. Both are significant and both praise God. If you would like to be a part of this great mission, then please contact me at becki@mickandwendy.com or donate at https://www.paypal.me/RebeccaBowie.
Rebecca Bowie is a young Christian who is intentionally seeking after Gods heart and striving to love people with everything. Now living in Brisbane Australia, was formerly living in London, England. She's a full-time volunteer at Youth with a Mission.
Rebecca Bowie's previous articles may be viewed at http://www.pressserviceinternational.org/becki-bowie.html