CAMBODIA!

What a crazy 2 weeks it’s been here back at the base! It’s gone by super quick but not without some super great moments I feel I should share.

It was really great to be reunited with everyone from all the other teams and just settle back into life back at the base.

Last week, we looked at “Bible Meditation” and worked on getting a hunger for the word of God. It was exciting to be studying the Bible with a staff member who is so passionate for knowing what God has for us.

This week we have been delving deeper into the topic of “Missions”. It’s been so interesting to think outside the box and see how it is God’s intention that all spheres of the world be touched by His people. I’ve really got some more interesting things to share and I’d love to share more about it with anyone that’s interested.

Some of my family came for a visit this week!! It was so great to have Dad, Mum and Bronte here for a couple of days. I loved showing them the base, getting them to meet some of my friends and just catching up. J

I LEAVE FOR CAMBODIA TOMORROW!!! If you think that’s crazy, imagine what’s going on in my head!! I am extremely excited but can’t really believe that it’s already up to major outreach. We will be spending 3 weeks at YWAM bases in Cambodia and the last 3 weeks at a home for girls who have been rescued from sex trafficking.

Please be praying for us all and I’ll talk to you in 6 weeks when I return to Townsville! It’s crazy that in just 7 weeks I’ll be graduating and coming back to NSW! Feel free to take this opportunity to send me some mail for an exciting surprise upon return to the base J 

Anthea Kruik

C/O YWAM Reef to Outback

PO Box 6221, Townsville, QLD 4810

(Yeah I thought I might just add that in because it really is just so lovely)

LOVE YOU ALL!! 

(And here is a random bunch of photos from the last couple of weeks!)

Ellie and I

Gabie, Theresa, myself and Ellie 

We went out for a couple of the girls' birthdays

Left: Theresa, Ellie, Katters, Paulien

Right: Brenna, Molly, Macey, myself and Georgie

We went out for tea one day

Macey and myself enjoying some tea

Ellie, myself, Bree, Rachel and Katters at the beach

Fun times around QLD

Outreach was incredible! As a team we grew much closer to each other and got the amazing privilege of seeing each person grow more and more in the person that God had created them to be. God continued to work in me personally and led me closer to Him. It’s so encouraging to be in this place of learning more and being supported by others who are on a similar journey.

Whilst staying in Gladstone, we were split up and billeted to a bunch of families from the local Christian community. Myself and three other girls from the team (shown in pictures) stayed with a beautiful couple that were overwhelmingly generous! It was so nice to stay in a home for the first time in a long time. We loved sharing with them and we were so blessed by their generosity.

Throughout our time in Gladstone we had the opportunity to share about human trafficking in 2 high schools, 2 youth groups and 2 church services. The team worked really well together to incorporate people’s strengths and each program that was delivered at such a high standard. The kids were all really engaged and were able to connect and really wanted to be involved long term. This was extremely encouraging for us as a team.

When we went to visit the Brisbane base in the second week, it was amazing how we instantly felt at home amongst the other YWAMers. We had time to hang out and share stories with the DTS students of that base. Also, we spent time distributing Bibles, visiting a mental health facility, praying for the city and playing sport with the local residents.

On the Sunday that we were in Brisbane, we were able to go to the church that set up the ‘She Rescue’ centre in Cambodia. (That is the place we will be going to in 2 weeks!) It was so good to hear one of the founders speak about her experiences and get us a bit more prepared for our time overseas.

Easterfest was certainly a highlight of our trip! We arrived in Toowoomba on Monday and worked with the other YWAMers and Easterfest crew to get it all set up. This included putting down flooring, putting up fences, marking out car parks and whatever needed to be done. When it officially began on Friday, we were so excited and helped to ensure the whole weekend ran smoothly.

It was a big two days drive back to Townsville but God enabled us to make it safely. We were straight back into lectures this morning (Tuesday) and will be focusing on ‘Bible Meditation’ and will also be studying the book of Philemon.

I’m so blessed by all of you back home by your continual support! I love hearing from you and want to say a big thank you to all those who have put a huge smile on my face by sending things in the mail! I love you all xo

Myself and Ellie

Ellie, myself, Paulien and Katters outside our billets house

Myself, Rachel + Ellie in the van

Ellie + Gabie at Easterfest

Ellie, myself, Helen, Ken (our lovely hosts) Katters + Paulien at our host house

Craft night with Helen

Myself, Esther and Rachel chilling at the promo desk

Me at the beach on our day off

(I’m sorry I don’t have many photos yet – the others haven’t uploaded them yet. I’ll put them up as soon as I can J)

On the road again.

It’s been a crazy week that’s gone so fast! We’ve been crazily trying to get all our washing done and get the last minute preparations sorted before we leave for outreach.

So tomorrow (Sunday) we’ll be heading out in the van and starting our adventure together. We’ll be heading to Mackay, Gladstone, Brisbane and Toowoomba over the next three weeks. It’s going to be a time to share God’s love through personal testimonies, skits, music, our actions and individual interactions.

Please be praying for us as we travel. Also, I’d like you to all pray for heaps of opportunities to speak to people and that they’d have open hearts to hear what we have to say. We have an incredible team with ranging skills and abilities, which will be fun to see how God uses us.

Thanks heaps to those have been writing to me! I love hearing from you!

Talk to you all soon, love Anthea xo

Here's some recent pictures:

The first night camping we got a little drenched so we decided to sleep in the shed

(Very funny night!)

Sharing the birthday love at camping

A bunch of the girls on our last day at camping

My beautiful bunk buddy Gabie <3

Brenna and baby Sage at Family BBQ

Hope you enjoyed a little glimpse of what's been going on! :)

A sweet camping experience

Wow! Crazy times! I arrived back home at the base in Townsville around lunchtime yesterday (Saturday). I LOVED IT! 

There was a lot of rain! I know there has been a huge abundance of rain back in New South Wales and it was the same for us! The first night was a huge lot of fun when the majority of the girls tents were saturated and everything turned to a soggy mess!! We were off to a good start of just learning to live with each other and get over the little things.

What an incredible time to hang out with everyone and get so much closer. The first week we heard some staff testimonies which allowed us to see what God had been doing in their lives. The second week we had a couple from the base come and speak to us about ‘Lordship’. As we learnt more about the Fear of the Lord and how it applied to our lives, I think we all really were humbled and grew in our love for God.

I personally learnt so much from God, enjoyed quiet times looking out into the bush and spending quality time with people that I just love! Little revelations of God’s love and faithfulness amounted to a much greater understanding of God.

There are some really cool stories that I’d love to share but I think that writing them here would take away some of the specialness so you’ll just have to call me or something. J

Hopefully I’ll get some pictures of camping up soon!

We have one more week here at the base and will be learning about ‘Spiritual Warfare’. Then we will head off for ‘minor outreach’ which will be around Queensland including Easterfest in Toowoomba! (Very excited!!)

As always, I love and miss you all!

Moving out...

Well it’s been another big week! Huge in fact. Our DTS has been watching video lectures from David Batestone, the co-founder and president of the Not For Sale campaign. He is an incredible guy and has a true heart to see God’s justice prevail.

I encourage you guys to read his book ‘Not For Sale’ as it gives you a picture of human trafficking and slavery within today’s world. It will shock you, possibly make you cry, open your eyes and hopefully inspire hope within and show you that you can be apart of change.
Check this out for further information:
http://www.notforsalecampaign.org/

We are getting ready to go camping today! It will be two weeks of no internet or phone reception which will allow for us to get to know each other better and spend some quality time with God. (Don’t expect to hear from me!) We will still be doing lectures, just in an outdoor setting.

Please pray for us and that our focus will be on God and what He has for us.

I’ll talk to you guys in two weeks! Feel free to write to me and I’ll post you something when I get back J

Anthea Kruik

C/O YWAM Reef to Outback

PO Box 6221

Townsville, QLD

AUSTRALIA 4810

This is a group picture at the Billabong Sanctuary last week :)