Finishing the Year Strong- Final Debrief in Morocco

Dear Family and Friends,

I hope each and every one of you had a terrific Christmas celebrating the birth of Jesus Christ. These last few weeks of year 2018 have flown by and I cannot believe we are about to embark into 2019!!!

Updates on Finish Up with G-Squad:

The Friday after Thanksgiving I flew to Marrakesh, Morocco for G- Squad’s final debrief. This was the last time I got to join G-Squad on the field.  We celebrated all that God has done within and through them these 11 months. We reflected on all that has happened this year and prepared them for transitioning into life after the field, whether that be in America or elsewhere God will have them go after this journey. Together as a church body we focused on God’s love for us and loving each other well. We emphasized walking away from this year full by touching on forgiveness and releasing anything that may have brought pain this past year. Debrief was a mix of emotions of excitement, anticipation, fear, nerves, happiness and sadness. We shared memories and last words to each other through tears and laughter.

(Don’t worry we did some fun things too like ride some camels together! Yes, we were in a camel caravan of 30!)

Upon coming home from debrief I was able to take a week off. After our squad comes of the field we are mandated to take a Selah Week, a time to replenish and refresh with the Lord before taking on our next squad (harsh mandate I know). (Selah is hebrew word found in the Old Testament meaning to pause and reflect on what has just been said/happened.) A dear friend of mine let me use her beach house in Orange Beach, Alabama for my Selah week. Being knew to the south and my first time to Alabama, I barely knew that Alabama even had a beach! Haha But they do… and it’s BEAUTIFUL! Orange Beach is on the gulf coast and they enjoy a sunrise AND sunset over the water!!! (California girl’s mind blown!) 😀

The mandate of a Selah week is an Uh-Mazing idea! I didn’t even know how much I needed that. I was alone for a longer period of time than I have ever been alone before. Solitude is and was an amazing spiritual discipline that we rarely get the opportunity or privilege to exercise. I danced, I sang, I read, spent hours sitting on the beach bundled up for warmth, and dreamt of my future. I took time to sit down and think about all that I learned this year- what was good, what was hard, what I want to do differently next year and what I want in life. It was overall really fabulous and I was super blessed to be able to spend that time in such a beautiful setting.

(I enjoyed three sunsets and two sunrises while in Orange Beach. My first sunrise was even accompanied by three dolphins swimming not far off shore!)

Cool Story from my Selah Week in Orange Beach:

On my last full day in Orange Beach I was reading scripture in Acts. There were amazing stories of God moving mightily through the early apostles and believers. I started getting excited for my next Squad in 2019. Excited for miracles, healings, and God moving big through and within them. I then proceeded to go to the beach to enjoy my last sunset for the week. While on the beach I began to sing into the wind as I enjoyed the view. Unbeknownst to me other people also came out to enjoy the sunset. I was startled to find two men standing on the beach near me talking while I sang full force at the ocean. Haha

As I looked at them recovering from an initial feeling of embarrassment if they heard me singing, I discerned the Holy Spirit prompt me to go over there, talk to them, and pray for one man in particular (who I later found out is named Bobby). I instantly complained. “I don’t want to”, “I just want to hang with you Jesus”. “I’m ‘off’ I don’t want to go ‘work’.” (Which is everything we teach AGAINST to view loving and healing people in God’s name as ‘work’.) But unfortunately, I felt that way. I told God I didn’t want to go over there cold turkey. I wanted him to give me at least a few words of encouragement for them or some kind of prophetic knowledge for them. Again I discerned in my spirit that the one man in particular (Bobby) had pain in his back and right shoulder.

So after some fits I stomped over to the two men and asked if either of them had pain in their back or right shoulder. The other man looked a little puzzled as he said, “nope, I’m good”. Yet Bobby, just started at me in shock. “What did you just ask me?” he said. I repeated my question. Then Bobby exclaimed, “Umm yeahhh, right there I do” as he proceeded to turn and point to a spot on his right shoulder/back. Then, “Why did you just ask me that?” So I told Bobby that God speaks and that Holy Spirit told me that Bobby had pain and for me to pray for him. Bobby looked overwhelmed as tears started to form in his eyes. I told him God loved him and wanted to heal him. He was touched. I prayed for Bobby and spent the next half hour talking to the two gentlemen. The conversation and time with them was super encouraging and uplifting.

One of the things we chatted about was faith. They were both from the south so they both are ‘Christians’ in some ways at least. They mentioned experiencing something like this increased their faith. I told them how this also increases my faith. If I think God is prompting me to do something the only way to know if it truly is the Lord is to just do it! Once I did it and saw the results (he did have pain there) then that increases my faith and confirms I am discerning from the Lord correctly. This will give me confidence to do this again the next time the Lord prompts. Leaving my Selah on this note was a huge praise. It increased my faith to do and to teach exactly this. How can I activate people into this  if I do not take the time to do what I teach, and what I preach.

It was hard for me to share this story. I have realized that I have neglected sharing my personal stories and experiences on this blog and have mainly been focusing on updates from my ministry with my team on the field. I also struggle with sharing encounters like this as to brag or bring attention to myself. But the truth is that throughout this year I have had many encounters like the one on the beach with Bobby. God prompts me in the smallest and simplest of ways to love and share his words to his children. I do not know if withholding these stories is flase humility or wisdom but this experience and the many this past year have grown my faith enormously. I wouldn’t want to rob any of you from that opportunity as well. Thanks for allowing me to share. 😀

Thank you all for keeping up with my journey, my work, and my life. It means a lot to me that people support me and encourage me to keep going. I pray many blessings into your life this next year.

With Love,

Steph

Updates from Squad Blogs:

• Check out Alyssa’s amazing vblog about a Moroccan family hearing the good news of the gospel and a man receiving love and healing from the Father. HERE

• Taylor’s describes her burden for sharing the gospel while on the Camino in Spain. HERE

• Check out Anna’s blog as she reflects on the year. HERE.