Latvia? Where is Lativa?

So for my next trick or should I say so for my next trip!!

Another installment of my attempt at catching you up with some of my experiences this last year.

So as part of our second year student experience at BSSM (Bethel Supernatural School of Ministry) we get $700 out of our tuition payment to spend towards traveling on Ministry trips with leaders from Bethel Church all over the USA and the world. And for those with more to spend than the allotted $700 you can apply and go on as many trips as you are accepted on.
The school schedule is so full on and for those of us blessed to be married with 3 small kids to add into the mix then there really isn't much more time or money to be found to be traveling during the school year and so I only went on a weekend trip that practically cost nothing as it was just a few hours drive down the road. But is was a really fun trip.

A month or so before school had ended I was approached by the head of 2nd year to be 1 of 4 students to go with Kris Vallotton (Senior Associate Pastor, and head of BSSM) on a trip to Latvia which would be a week and a half after school had finished. It really was an honour as he was asked by Kris to pick the best 4 students in his opinion in school to go on this trip and as I was able to spend my $700 on the trip it didn't make it that expensive and because it was after school was finished Jo and I both felt like I was supposed to go. And so I said yes and went.

Riga, Capital of Latvia

It is a really important trip to Kris with a lot of access and opportunities for him and so therefore us as well being his ministry trip on this trip. Kris was speaking at an "Empowering Women" conference where we prophesied over the women after the sessions for hours at a time it was so fun but so draining as they just kept on lining up seemingly forever. Kris also spoke at a "Leadership Conference" It wasn't supposed to be just a Christian conference but more leadership principles from a Kingdom perspective. And so not just Leader's in Christian circles came, but also government leaders, business leaders, the wealthiest and most influential of Latvia came it was incredible to see. So as part of this conference our team split up into 2 groups and did something called prophetic booths, where each conference goer was given an allotted time slot to come out and visit us and be prophesied over. Except it wasn't worded like that obviously. It was worded more an opportunity to have a session of direction and encouragement. And so we had world class non believing leaders coming and sitting down with their voice recorder's on their smart phones recording "prophetic" words and directions that we were giving them. Haha it was really stretching and super fun all at once. There were a lot of Christians in these sessions as well but we obviously didn't know which ones. So it was really different than what we had gotten used to as Bethel students, we had to find a completely different language and way of telling them what God was saying.

Looking sharp for the Kingdom, it's what I do.

Oftentimes though after 5 or more minutes of encouragement and accurate prophetic words we went for it with being open about God and how much He loves them and it was astounding to see just how receptive they were to it after encountering how real He actually is and how intimately He knows them and cares about their life. It was rare for them not to leave moved or in tears, God was having so much fun with these leaders.

We were asked to dress in business attire for the conferences.  This meant I needed a suit!  It was a big change from the usual shorts and tshirt but a fun difference (for a short time at least).

One of the days I was using the toilet/restroom (its where all the revelation happens!) and I felt as though God was giving me a very specific picture of an engineering project in Latvia.  As I thought more about it, He gave me more and more insight and I was blown away by the details He was giving me.  That day at the conference I wondered who the word was for but didn't feel any leading towards anyone I came into contact with.   I shared my experience with my mate who I was rooming with on the trip but I ended up forgetting about it after a while as I was concentrating on everyone else.

Later that afternoon a man came to our table for his allotted 'encouragement time'.  I immediately felt that this was the guy.  As he sat down I asked him whether the engineering project I 'saw' meant anything to him.  His eyes popped open and his jaw dropped.  I took that as a yes.  The man went on to describe a certain project his company had been considering but as yet had not settled on beginning.  I told him everything else the Lord had shown me and soon this man was in tears.  It is incredible to watch someone be touched by God simply by knowing that He knows them and the concerns of their heart.  I was hesitant to give such a directional word but at the same time confident that it was the right time and that God was moving powerfully in this man.

But it would seem that God was speaking very clearly to him and his company and so it will be fun to see the outcome of his conversations with God and whether he goes ahead with the project.
It was the most crazy clear and direct word I have ever given someone, and first ever word given with such large financial implications if it is right or wrong. All you can do is obey!!

Haha all Glory to God!!

We prophesied for 10 hours a day for 2 days in a row during this leadership conference and I tell you I have never been so spiritually tired in all my life. But wow it was so so so rewarding and life giving to see how God was touching so many.

We also got to go into Government house and pray and prophesy, go to orphanages and minister and love on people. The men on the team got to go out to a men only drug and alcohol re-hab centre where we were given full permission to do as we liked. So we each had a 10 minute slot to share whatever we wanted, which went really well which led into times of prophetic words over individuals and seeing God miraculously heal many of them. They were seriously hardened men. They know each other really well and know which ones are in pain and sick as they had lived together for years many of them. So as they watched old friends getting healed before their eyes and crying and getting touched by the Lord they all wanted prayer for their physical issues it was amazing. We saw 10-15 healed and 8 of these precious men give their lives to Jesus that day and it was truly a humbling experience. God is so good!!!!!

This trip was an incredible experience and one I was so grateful to be a part of. We were treated like kings and taken to the nicest restaurants in Riga. (which is the capital city of Latvia) But because of how far north we were we would be chatting away after our meal and although the sun was still setting it actually was already 11:30pm. We got to have a few meals and good chats with Kris too which was a great thrill to be able to ask him questions and hear his wisdom and humour and around the meal table.

So just a snapshot of another life changing experience from my time in 2nd year BSSM this last year. In my next blog in the next week or so I will tell you more about my school year experience and also some exciting developments for next year!! So stay tuned.