Testimony to Missionary

April 10th, 2024

Why YWAM? 

Some have asked, and maybe now I can share a little bit more context as to why I decided to lean into giving God my absolute “YES”! to YWAM. In July of 2023, my home church took a missions trip to YWAM Ships Kona. On this trip, I was in a moment of worship where I felt completely, beautifully wrecked by the Lord! In this moment of worship, I felt restoration from the Lord, whilst my heart tugged for a new ministry, missions. As I felt that tug, my mind cried, “No God please don’t move me here to missions.” However, in that moment, I heard God so audibly say, “I am calling you to go, you can either be obedient or not, but I am calling you.” I was reminded of scripture and the power of obedience and I said the words I had read once before in Isaiah 6:8, “Here am I. Send me.” I can say that I said it with less zeal than Isaiah, I said it while actively praying it away, hoping the Lord sent the message to the wrong person in that worship space. But, God never changed His mind instead He implanted every assurance that this is what He wanted for me. That night after worship I kept those words hidden in my heart and hurried to a trusted friend and mentor who I knew could impart prayer and wisdom. What I needed was God though, solitude with the Lord! I sat with this and thought, “God why me?” “Why now?” Just, “Why?” 

On the last day of our time in YWAM, I felt the Lord quicken me to rise early, go on a walk, and spend solitude with Him. So I spent an hour in prayer in that walk with God looking at the beach to my right the whole way, and thought God how can I do this financially, and emotionally? As I walked I asked the Lord to send me a sign that this was not a spiritual high or a crazy impulsive thought. I wanted God to make it known this was His wild idea and not mine, essentially I asked, “God is this you, asking this of me?” I was walking back when I saw the same older man and his dog I had seen earlier sitting on a bench perfectly positioned in front of a restaurant, to view the ocean. The man looked at my tear-stained face and said, “Hello, would you like to pet my dog, Miley?”

 I shot him a look, “Yes! I would love to” Miley was the selling point for me at that moment and God knew it too. The man looked up and said, “My name is Richard, I have daughters and I can tell you have a lot on your mind. Many years ago I was on vacation with my family here I was 20 years old and the Lord told me to move here. So I went to North Hollywood quit my job, packed up my things, and moved here to join YWAM. Do you know YWAM?” He asked me and my mouth dropped. How did he know? What person greets someone like that on the side of the street? This was not a coincidence. He asked where are you originally from I said, “Chino.” He smiled and said, “Oh Chino,  yes I know Chino.”  With anticipation I asked, “Are you an Angel?” He smiled and continued to ask if I knew of this organization called ‘YWAM’, and I responded by sharing that I did know YWAM and I was volunteering with them. He looked at me to provide more conversation but I just could not. I felt struck. The Lord sent someone! So I told Richard, “I am so sorry usually I have so much to say, but are you an Angel? I am a little caught off guard because I believe God sent you to talk with me. So please just continue and share what you need to and for once I am just going to be quiet and listen.” He continued by sharing his testimony with YWAM. In sharing his experience with YWAM he said, “As long as you are passionate, and tenacious in the Lord He will make a way for you and you will be successful.” I sat on this for a moment before I asked my burning question again. “Are you an angel?” He looked at me with just a smile as he did twice before and said, let me tell you the testimony of this restaurant behind me. Richard then proceeded to tell me the restaurant behind the bench he was sitting on belonged to him. He shared a powerful testimony of God giving, and sustaining the business for him and his wife. The whole interaction left me with encouragement and joy, the joy that only the Holy Spirit can give. I knew the Lord had ordained this moment, but I wanted to wait in prayer and the Lord first before making any grand announcement or decision. 

On April 19, 2024

I decided after having been here at YWAM Ships that it was time to see and share with Richard how God powerfully used him as an instrument in my testimony to coming to YWAM. I want you to know friends or family (I seriously did not want to do this! I thought how awkward so many tourists come in and through this Island of Kona he won't remember). But I felt it, that nudge from the Holy Spirit telling me I had waited enough time. So I walked downstairs from YWAM and next door to the missions base is the restaurant and there Richard was with Miley nestled between his legs chewing on a bone. The restaurant was empty and closed but I greeted him and he waved me in to speak. As I walked to him I began to share my testimony and how God used Richard as a divine appointment. As I recounted his impact in being used by God I could see he was just as in awe as I was that day in July when I had visited. Once I finished telling him the story Richard looked at me with tears streaming down his face. He said, “I was on the phone with my wife just now, 5 minutes ago the doctors just called to confirm I had skin cancer.” He pointed to a band-aid oddly placed on his forehead to show that he had been recently tested. He said, “I was just talking to my wife and feeling so discouraged about this news. I started to ask God, ‘Do you still need to use me what is my purpose?’ Then you come in moments later to confirm the Lord still is using me and that reveals to me I am going to be okay. Thank you! He looked at me and said do you mind sitting with me for a moment as I call my wife, she needs to hear this too, we could both use the encouragement.” I waited as Richard's wife came down and retold her everything. God used Richard for a divine opportunity to show me God was listening and speaking to me and then boomeranged the blessing of encouragement back to Richard and his wife. God is just so good!

-Alexis

Meet Richard

Testimony YWAM .pdf

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