Today I Choose...

I'm a mess, a continual work in progress. Yep, and i'm stressed. That is just a fact right now in this season of my life. But that is exactly what it is a season. It's as if my mind is moving a million miles an hour with lists and ideas 98% of the time and well the other 2% of time thinking is usually filled with thoughts of holding puppies, lots of puppies. But I digress. I've been back in the states for almost 5 months now and it has been no where near a walk in the park. It's been a season of healing and of sorrow as heaven welcomed many of my family and friends home. Days have been hard, like trying to run through molasses. Which i've never done but am assuming it's quite difficult.

Since being back in the states I have been working at a job I love. Woah, did I just say that? Everyday I get to go to work and help people function more like humans with a nice caffeinated beverage. Coffee. My drug of choice. The sweet sweet delicious bean that helps me get out of bed in the morning. The apple of my eye. Too far? Too far. But anyway, everyday I go to a job I love, working with people I adore, and make tasty beverages for amazing people. And every single day I remind my self to choose joy, to be strong, and to be courageous. For we are not called to live a life of timidity and fear. Boom. Truth bomb.

 Probably twice a week I have customers who come in and just simply need to vent. So they vent about there wicked boss or the kids in the car that are driving them crazy and I just listen. Often I say nothing at all. But when they leave, they leave with a different attitude or have taken a deep breathe and are ready to face the next challenge that meets them just outside of those 4 coffee walls. It's in those moments that I am reminded that my attitude, my demeanor, and who I am gets passed along with every transaction or smile given. That though I may be stressed right now, it in no way defines me. People change people. I will not let stress change my outlook on life or the under caffeinated humans I come into contact with everyday.

Today however, was hard on a personal level. My brain was somewhere else as I went head first in to my work day. The shift felt slow and I was starting to feel like I was just going through the motions. The last 5 minutes of my shift a woman came in used the restroom and went back on her way but I wished her well none the less. Right before I locked the door she came in and gave me the most beautiful bouquet of flowers. All she said was "these are for you", and then she left. This woman in one small gesture melted my heart and tore down the walls I had put up today.  People change people.

 So today, I choose joy. 

Where In The World Are You?!

New Zealand was a dream. It was everything I dreamed of as a child, going to different countries, singing and performing, and just straight loving people. We traveled for 11 weeks up through the whole country, North and South Islands, playing original music in bars, cafes, schools, festivals, side walks etc. Through our music we were able to love people and show them how wanted they are. The last 10 days in New Zealand we recorded a 7 song album that will be released for FREE this spring.  Guys, this is not a joke. A FREE ALBUM! To get this album as soon as it's released like us, Arbor Lungs, on Facebook and Instagram. Not on either? Send me an email and i'll send you the link when it comes out! These are 7 songs written during the school and performed throughout New Zealand and Australia. I am so proud of each and everyone of these songs and the stories and memories they hold.

As some of you know, I'm back in Oregon! I was able to come back and surprise my family for Easter, and it was worth their reactions. It was so good to come back and meet my new niece and see all the fam for the first time in 7 months. In a lot of ways it still feels like i'm dreaming being back in Central Oregon surrounded by all the mountains again but i'm soaking it in til I head off on my next adventure.

What's the next adventure?!

I'm so excited to announce that i'm going back to Australia this fall to come on staff with YWAM Newcastle! I am over joyed with the opportunities that await me to learn and grow more as a leader. It's truly amazing the work God has done to get me to this place and I cant wait to continue serving Him through the nations.

Want to know more? Want to be apart of my prayer warriors or financial supporters? Lets get coffee! Over the next 6 months I will be working and volunteering, so with that I want to hear about YOUR life and how I can support you and your dreams! 

Thank you to all my amazing friends and family for the support of this new adventure. 

New Zealand #1

How have a been in New Zealand a month already. It's absolutely nuts! This last month has been absolutely nuts. I'm so completely in awe of gods beauty here!

Over the last month we have played on the streets of Auckland, Hamilton, and Queenstown. It's so fun to play covers and make people smile on the streets as they pass by. Often they stop for a while and we're able to chat and even pray with them.

We've also had the opportunity to play at some bars! These are probably my favorite places to play because it's such a unique group of people. You are able to learn so much about people and just here their stories. That's what makes my heart soar is hearing people's stories and getting to encourage them in their dreams.

We also were able to play Festival One! Festival One is a big Christian music festival in New Zealand. We were able to go and volunteer the week before and help set up the festival. It was so cool to be one of the artists as well and show our music and have people want to know more about what our music is about. 

New Zealand is absolutely amazing and I'm so in awe of the people and the country. Thank you to everyone who helped me get here! 5 more weeks left in this beautiful country!

3 Reasons I'm Called To The Nations

I've heard asked before, Why would you go and serve another nation when your own nation and community is so in need?" After many years of thinking about this question, I feel like I have a personal understanding of "Why go?".  God has placed the nations on my heart, all of them to be exact.  He aches for me to serve His people all over the world and to experience His love in radical new ways. YWAM's mission statement is "To know God and to make Him known". This is something I 100% agree with. I want to know God more and I want to make Him known, and I want to see every nation reached with the the gospel and the love that comes along with it. 

Mark 16:15 – “He said to them, ‘Go into all the world and preach the good news to all creation.”

Here are some of the reasons I found of why God calls us, His children and His disciples, to the Nations.

1)  To Spread Love And Spread Light

• Every Nation is different, no two countries are exactly the same. They have their own culture, passions, and past oppression. No matter what country you step into you will see how hungry people are for truth, joy, and genuine, pure love. Where is the one place you will find all of these things wrapped up in a nice little package? The Bible. People are so completely hungry for the gospel, no matter what country you go to. Denying them of the truth we already have is selfish, giving them the opportunity to experience Jesus is why we are here on this earth. 

2) He Wants To Show Himself To You In New Ways

• In every situations there is something new we can learn and it's mostly when we are taken out of our comfort zones that we are able to see outside of ourselves. There are so many things you learn in traveling to new countries, such as behavioral customs, manners, and dress codes. Through these things you also see Gods beauty in a new way. These can be radically different than how you were raised growing up. In learning how other cultures respect their elders or how they appreciate nature and the things God has created, you learn another side of God as a creator and as a father. He wants to continue to reveal Himself to you in new ways. He wants you to see him as King, Bride, Provider, Father and so many other new and exciting ways. We just need to be open to it.

Exodus 9:16 - “But I have raised you up for this very purpose, that I might show you my power and that my name might be proclaimed in all the earth.”

3) You are a walking testimony

• God has done amazing works in your life. Some of the ways God has worked in your life you are aware of and some have not yet been revealed. We are called to share these stories with others to encourage their lives and relationship with Jesus. The thing I've learned most in YWAM is to not hide from your testimony. It shows a beautiful and not so beautiful part of how you got to be who you are today, and how God has shaped you in that process. You never know how your testimony can inspire someone else in the season of their life that they are in.

Daniel 4:2 – “It has seemed good to me to show the signs and wonders that the Most High God has done for me.”

As I get ready to head to New Zealand in a week I felt strongly on my heart to explain my view of missions. I hope that this blog brings greater clarity to my heart for world. I love you all so much. Thank you again for all of your support throughout this journey.  

New Places on the Horizon

Man time is absolutely flying by. I cant believe i'm already in week 7 of lectures. As most of you know i'm very forgetful when it comes to taking pictures. So... Here's a picture of my walk to school every morning and a beach I went too

In the last 3 weeks we've had lectures on Creativity, Worldview and Calling. All have been spectacular and inspiring in different ways. Outside of the classroom, every thursday night we go to a place in down town Newcastle where they have outdoor amps that we can plug all our equipment into. We play outside there for 2-3 hours and just bring live music to Newcastle. It's amazing and so much fun!

It's been really cool, since being here i've been learning the bass guitar. This week was big for me because it was the first time i played in front of people. In fact, I played it in front of 70 people. I have started to play on the worship team every week, singing and playing bass. Not going to lie to you, it is definitely a challenge but I love it none the less.

This week we also found out our outreach location!! YES!! Drum roll please...... I'm going to....

New Zealand!

I'm beyond excited for the things we get to do in New Zealand. We will be traveling both the North and South Island for 10 weeks. During this time we will be touring and playing as a band formed from our school in coffee shops, high schools, and clubs. We will also be volunteering at Festival One (a huge christian music festival in NZ) as well as recording a school album during this time. IM SO EXCITED!

Want to support my mission?! Here's some of the ways you can support me in Australia and New Zealand:

• Be apart of my prayer warrior team
• Send me mail! (I love mail! And i'll even write you back!)
• Support me financially: https://www.youcaring.com/christasmission

For more questions email me! christa.colburn@gmail.com 

4 cities, 2 weeks. I ain't even mad!

Guys! Hi! I'm alive and well and so excited to be going into my 3rd week of school. Sorry it's been a while since I updated y'all, so let's catch up now!

My time in toowoomba was excellent! So good to reconnect with close friends and jump back in to Aussie culture.

Here's a picture from picnic point in toowoomba. That's table top mountain on the right.

After 4 days in toowoomba my friend Austin and I made the 14hr trek via train to new castle. It was a long trip but beautiful to see Australia that way. 

The first week at ywam new castle was a lot of orientations, just like any school. But that weekend we went camping as an entire ywam base. Staff, students, and families all loaded up and headed an hour into the bush. To get an idea of how many people here's a picture. Spoiler alert: there was over 200 people.

It was a blast to be camping and reminded me of many trips growing up. During the day we had lectures around the theme perspective and at night worship and camp fires. Such a great way to start out living in community again.

Week 2 of school was jam packed. We started training in the cafe as baristas, preparing covers for open mics, and writing more originals. It helped that we had an awesome speaker who totally inspired all of us to write songs filled of passion. Here are some highlights:

- music is not less than any other mission field

- the things you ache for + your influence = your inspiration

- write music for the audience you desire or makes you ache

This weekend we went to Sydney. We had an open mic, a night of worship, and multiple church services one of which the venue was a burlesque bar. Our God is cool. It was absolutely spectacular the way we got to see The Lord work. We spent a lot of time in a suburb of Sydney called Newtown and it completely stole my heart. I'm excited to see what else God has in store for that city. Here's some fun pictures from the adventure this weekend!

 

So you're in Australia, now what?

Well I made it to Australia. It was a long very interesting journey but I am now safe and sound at my first stop, YWAM Toowoomba. It’s nice to sit and catch up with great friends and prepare my heart for this new season at YWAM New Castle. I’m in Toowoomba for a couple more days and then will take a train 12 hours down the coast with a friend to start school on Monday. 

I'm not going to lie to you guys this is a really weird season to be in and not fully understanding why it is that God wants me serving in Australia right now. But I know that my God is good and he walks before me and that there is a lot to learn in this coming time in New Castle. Matthew 17:20 “Truly I tell you, if you have faith as small as a mustard seed, you can say to this mountain, 'Move from here to there,' and it will move. Nothing will be impossible for you."

I just want to give a quick shout out to my awesome family! These crazies are so awesome and i’m so happy we got to have a lot of time together in the last few weeks I was in Oregon. With faces like these how could you not love them!

Want to support my mission?! Here's some of the ways you can support me in Australia:

• Be apart of my prayer warrior team
• Send me mail! (I love mail! And i'll even write you back!)
• Support me financially: https://www.youcaring.com/christasmission

For more questions email me! christa.colburn@gmail.com