Hello Jet-Lag My Old Friend...

After 17 hours of flying, I can finally say that I am back in Ibiza again! I arrived on Easter Sunday, just in time to drop my luggage and get ready for church service.

Bye-Bye Las Vegas! 

It seems like a long time to travel, but my flights were actually great. I had two layovers (both one hour long), great seats (all windows towards the front of the plane), and a nice curry dinner!

I'm currently staying with the Clayton's (the leaders of 24-7 Ibiza) at their lovely apartment. I'll be moving into the team apartment in a few weeks. Charlie and Abby have been so gracious, and I've even managed to get Charlie to eat a few all veggie meals!

Just a few days after I arrived it was already time for us to welcome one of our first short term teams of the summer...the prayer team. It's a team that's near and dear to me since my very first trip to Ibiza was as a member of the prayer team in 2009. I love having them here, not just for the prayers they'll pray, but also because it really focuses me on what's coming. The summer isn't all that far off, and this week is really just the beginning.

Me...awake at 3 am...

 I'm nearing the end of my first week on the island, and I'm hoping to get over my jet lag very soon. There's a nine hour time difference between Las Vegas and Ibiza, and as of Friday, I still haven't managed to sleep through the night yet. Fingers crossed that'll happen soon!

That's it for now. If you haven't already, make sure you're signed up for my newsletter. I'll be sending them out once a month while I'm here for the summer. You can sign up by filling out the form on the side bar to the right ----->

Bye for now...

Ready for Your...

I like all kinds of music. The other day I was in the car on the way to work listening to "Ready for your Love" by Gorgon City. As I was driving I zeroed in on the lyrics, and it seriously felt like my heart was singing them!

I'm ready for the start of something new
I'm ready to depart from what made me blue
I'm ready for my heart to let you through
But most of all, most of all...

I'm ready for the rain to pour down on me
I'm ready for a change to come and set me free
I'm ready for my loss to become victory
But most of all, most of all...

I'm ready for your LOVE
I'm ready for your LOVE
I'm ready for your LOVE

And that's just the first verse! If you've been reading this blog, you know how EXCITED I am about heading to Ibiza this summer. I've been thinking a lot about LOVE. Not only about sharing God's LOVE with the people around me, but also about receiving it. I think when we open ourselves to receive God's LOVE in our own lives, it makes us better at actually loving other people.

Let's be honest. It can be hard to accept that LOVE at times. Mostly because our little human minds can't begin to grasp why God would care about us. We look at our own lives and hearts, and we see how often we've failed to do what's right, and we wonder why God doesn't just disown us!

The amazing thing is that even through our failings God shows us great LOVE.

My prayer is that my heart would be open to receive in full all the LOVE that God has for me, so I can turn around and lavish it on everyone I meet...

"And I am convinced that nothing can ever separate us from God’s love. Neither death nor life, neither angels nor demons, neither our fears for today nor our worries about tomorrow—not even the powers of hell can separate us from God’s love. No power in the sky above or in the earth below—indeed, nothing in all creation will ever be able to separate us from the love of God that is revealed in Christ Jesus our Lord." - Romans 8:38-39 (NLT)

Mountains in the Distance...

Today marks 10 days until I leave for Ibiza!

Going back stirs up two feelings for me...Excitement and Fear. I'm excited because Ibiza really does feel like my home, and I can't wait to be back there working with 24-7. The fear comes from the unknown things that lie ahead for my Ibiza journey. My goal is still to go to Ibiza full time, but as I stand on the road and look down at the mountains in my way, I'm just not sure how that will ever happen.

Lately I feel God reminding me to keep my focus on today, and to let tomorrow worry about itself! I read this fantastic bit in the "Jesus Calling" devotional:

"You see huge mountains looming, and you start wondering how you're going to scale those heights. Meanwhile because you're not looking where you're going, you stumble on the easy path where I am leading you now...But you don't know what will happen today. much less tomorrow. Our path may take and abrupt turn, leading you away from those mountains. There may be an easier way up the mountain than is visible from this distance... If I do lead you up the cliffs, I will equip you thoroughly for the climb."

It's funny because I read this back in February and wrote about it in my journal, but today I felt God remind me to keep my focus on where my feet are today.

I get so passionate about Ibiza, because there's a fire inside me that just burns for that place! I really believe God planted that love for Ibiza in me, and one day it will be my home. But today I'm reminded to not let the mountains get in my way this summer. I'm going for 3 months and not for good like I would prefer.  But if I keep my focus on what God wants to do in those 3 months, I really do think amazing things can happen.

Why worry about those mountains that are looming in the distance, when the God I serve, who is ALL POWERFUL, could tomorrow decide to level them at my feet!

"He moves mountains before they know what’s happened, flips them on their heads on a whim." - Job 9:5 (The Message)

Poppy in Ibiza 2014 - April Newsletter

Thankfulness and Anticipation

Psalm 105:1 says:
"Give Thanks to the Lord and proclaim his greatness. Let the whole world know what he has done."

This week I've been thinking about thankfulness a lot. When I look at my journey back to Ibiza it's becoming clearer that God is orchestrating every step. Not only did an anonymous donor donate a large chunk of my expenses for this summer, but I also got offered a temp job at the beginning of this month. So I've been working and saving. My temp job ends the day before I fly to Ibiza...perfect timing!

Thinking about how I got the money for this trip reminds me a lot of my first trip to Ibiza. I remember having this overwhelming sense that I was supposed to go, and also the overwhelming sense of dread because I didn't have the money! Through some crazy circumstances God gave me the money I needed for the trip. This week it almost feels like God is giving me a little nudge to REMEMBER the way he's provided in the past.

As I remember I'm filled with thankfulness, and also a real sense of anticipation. God provided a way for me to go back to Ibiza this summer. Knowing that fills me with a real sense of purpose. I can't wait to see exactly what God has for me this summer. I think that will include some personal growth and also multiple ways for me to be a reflection of him to the people I meet on the White Isle.

I can't wait!

Raising Funds...Like a BOSS!

You may have noticed that I posted a countdown clock on the right sidebar of the blog. As I type this I see that I've got 32 days 23 hours 33 minutes and 32 seconds...

31...

30...

You get the idea! As I countdown the days until I leave, I'm also working to raise the rest of the support I'll need to go. My airline ticket is an expense that's getting closer and closer. I'll be leaving for Spain on April 19th, which means I'll need to buy my ticket in just a few short weeks.

In an effort to raise the $1500 I'll need for that I've created this cool little airplane graph:

There are about 300 squares. Each square = $5. What I'm hoping will happen is that people will purchase a square or two (or five or ten!) and before you know it my ticket will be paid for!

If you're interested in donating towards my ticket, just click the donate button on the sidebar or check out my How to Donate page.

I've got some savings that I'll be using towards my time in Ibiza this summer as well, so I'll be covering $500 of my airline ticket cost. God has been so generous to me, when it comes to Ibiza that I believe the rest of my ticket cost will be provided as well!

Joke of the Day: 

What does a nosy pepper do? (scroll down for the answer!)








Get jalapeño business :)

Ibiza Countdown 2014

So today is March 15th, and as I look at my desk calendar I realize that I've got a little over 4 weeks before I'll be boarding a plane to go back to Ibiza. So now the countdown official begins! I've got a lot to do in the next 4 weeks...

1. I need to raise the rest of the financial support I'll need for the summer. Okay...honesty time. Fundraising is not my favorite thing to do! It makes me nervous and antsy and I wish I could just hit the lottery and be done with it! I think what I'm beginning to realize is that fundraising is more than just asking people for money. It's more about asking them to join with me in spreading God's love in Ibiza. Most of them will never set foot on the White Isle, but by donating they can take part in what God's doing there through me.  
2. I need to buy a suitcase. And I need to pray to the overweight baggage fee gods that I won't get charged too much! 
3. Preparing Spiritually. Doing missions work is serious business! I know it's the power of God that changes peoples lives...not the power of Poppy! I'm just the vessel, and I want to make sure my house is in order.

I'm also thinking about trying to document a lot of my trip this summer by vlogging (video blogging). So stay tuned for more on that! I've always wished that instead of trying to explain Ibiza to people, I could just take them with me. Since I can't do that, I thought vlogging would be the next best thing!

Make sure you check the blog regularly, because I'll be keeping you updated on my journey to get back to Ibiza in 2014!