This month I celebrate four years since I moved to Berlin and 16 years in Youth With a Mission.
When I left for YWAM 16 years ago, I had no idea I would be in this long. If you had told me back then what I was capable of experiencing I would not have believed you. All I knew was that I had to find a way to live what I said I believed. It has happend to me in a radical way in YWAM and continues to happen as I learn to walk in God's ways.
Since the spring of last year I have been contemplating leaving Berlin. It just felt like it was time. When I came to Berlin, I had the number 3-5 years in my heart but was open to staying longer, but something was shifting in and around me and I could not deny that subtle "unease" of change in the air.
I was surprised when all the doors in England started opening up, including my first invitation in 10 years of living in Euorpe to minister there(at a youth retreat last February).Within a few weeks, key relationships and invitations started coming from YWAM England and I began to experience the nation afresh. With every experience, my heart was opening up to the UK like never before.
The question of "where?" was finally settled just one month ago when I visited York. What I sensed in York is that it's a stepping stone. What I appreciate about YWAM York is the people, the way of working and the sense of destiny I have in that place.
There are three aspects God is speaking to me for the next season. One is local ministry. I want to continue to be involved in the local church and what Christians are doing in the place I live. I learned this from my time in Berlin and I see it being applied in York. The staff are not "insular" but outward focused and well-connected to the church.
The second is national ministry. When I visited the English Leadership Consulation in June last year I was impressed with the unity YWAM England has. God is doing something with the country to position the mission for expoenential growth and all in time for the 2012 Olympic outreaches headed to London.
The third aspect is my international focus. I want to continue to have a voice into developing leaders and ministries on an international level, through training and mobiizing. I have not left the continent, even though I will be on an island just off the coast. My heart remains fixed on Europe and I will continue to have my eyes and vision on what God will do with the whole.
Lastly, some people are surprised that I would leave Germany. I have been talking about Germany for ten years, and truthfully, I won't stop talking about Germany! This is my only sadness in leaving. Not only have I given so much of myself here, but Germany has blessed me with so many incredible gifts. I have grown immeasurably here, and Germany is more embedded in my heart than ever. It's not "good bye" but "auf wiedersehen" or "Until I see you again."
