Youth With A Mission

After a month of consideration, and a couple hundred times of re-doing this first sentence, I have finally set up a blog. (imaginary applause)  Why it's taken me so long, I'm sure I could come up with one of many excuses.  I have a couple of great ladies in my church that have blogs that I try to keep updated on, and I can't tell them enough how much they mean to me and how greatly their words have comforted and inspired me; but it's quite intimidating to be in the midst of such great writers.  Being that I am very competitive, I want to be the best at what I'm doing...so I put off the blog.  But it's these same intimidating people that have really encouraged me to start.  So here I am.  I'm giving this blog to God to do with it whatever He wants.

My name's Mariah Steenerson, I'm a 5'7" blonde in 13th grade.  During high school I decided to do some PSEO (Post Secondary Enrollment Options) through a community college my junior and senior year, okay so I did a bit more than a few.  I ended up graduating with my Associates Degree the same time I graduated Hich School.  Many people would say this is a great achievement, I saw it more as torture.  You're probably confused...it's torture to save thousands of dollars?  See I had no idea what I wanted to major in. 

This past year has been one of the hardest years in my life.  There wasn't a day that I wasn't stressed about what I was going to do for a career, but I held true to the verse in Jeremiah.  "For I know the plans I have for you," declares the Lord, "plans to prosper you and not to harm you, plans to give you a hope and a future (Jer. 29:11).

I think the worst part of not knowing what I was going to do for school, was having to face people that constanlty asked what my plan was for college.  Looking back now, I laugh at the responses I got from some people.  "You don't know yet what you want to do! I guess you can scratch off brain surgeon."   

 Each day was a struggle in itself but I found comfort knowing God had and has a plan for me, and what seemed like pure torture helped me to grow and love God even more.

I thank God that I finally got an answer to this long posed question. 
On January 15, 2012, I will be heading to Townsville, Australia to do a program called Youth With A Mission (YWAM).  Basically I will go there and do three months schooling at the Reef to Outback Discipleship Training School (DTS); where I'll learn more about God and who he made me to be, and how I can most effectively share the gospel.  Then do three months missions in South East Asia and the Pacific Islands.
I am SO excited to be a part of this! I want to go out into the world and be the hands and feet of a God I do not deserve.
But there is a lot to get done before I leave in January!

I believe that prayer is a very powerful thing, and should not be taken lightly.  Below I have listed a few prayer requests, if you would be willing to pray for me I would be more than thankful.

Prayer Requests

• Safety while I'm in Australia doing my schooling and in Asia with my missions
• Spiritual Growth
• Good health while I'm there
• To be able to take a lot from my DTS and apply what I learn to effectively share the gospel
• To be open to change; to not only look at YWAM as an opportunity to make a difference but to be made different.
• To be prepared as best I can to leave my family and friends for six months
• Understanding for after YWAM, as far as schooling.
• the full $8,000 raised to be able to do YWAM. ($5,000 by 1/15 and the last $3,000 by 2/26)

If you would like to support me you can email me at m_steener@hotmail.com

Have a great rest of the weekend!
mariah