Headed to South Korea

When the choices for outreach were listed I was amazed to see that South Korea was listed as one of the choices. God has always given me a heart for Europe and Asia. So for the outreach part of my Discipleship Training School I am headed to South Korea. It will cost about $2500 overall. so I need those funds raised and lots of prayer to go out. We will be headed out in Mid January and be back towards the end of February. We will be speaking at mega-churches, doing ministry at refugee camps and more. I am very excited about the whole thing.

There are two other groups headed out from my school, one is going to Brazil and the other is staying here in the US to go the Ghetto American Cities.

Please keep my whole school in prayer as we go through classroom teachings and training

God Bless
-Ben

Missions outreach choices

The Leadership prayed about where to go on outreach, and it came down to three choices.

Brazil

Ghetto America,

South Korea

Before I came to YWAM I felt like I should go to either Asia or Europe, but for some reason the ghetto US cities stuck out to me just as much as South Korea. So I am praying about it, but i believe God is calling me to Korea. So please keep me in your prayers

God Bless
-Ben Collins

Second Week.......Classes and normality

This week we began the regular schedule day and classes. our schedule is pretty easy to go by:
7 - breakfast
8 to 9 - intercession (Mondays and Wednesdays) and Base Prayer (Fridays)
9 to 10 - Quiet Time (personal Bible study time)
10 - Class
12:15 - Lunch
1:15 - Work Duty time (I got Grounds Maintenance)
3:30 - Class
5:15 - Dinner
8 - Small group meetings (Tuesdays)
9 - Dorm Devotional (Wednesdays)

The speaker this week is Elaine Allegretto, who is speaking on relationships and the Biblical basis and root of them. Monday she talked about human need for relationships and biblical basis for having them with others. It was nice to see from a Biblical point why we befriend others and how we should treat EVERYONE. Its interesting thinking about how the lack of relationships can cause problems and how relationships can influence people in different ways for good or bad. Tuesday we talked about the covenant of marriage, how it was originally a binding agreement between two partys, and how it has changed and is misused in modern society. Today (Wednesday) we talked about unhealthy sexuality in relationships and the different ways that plays out in a persons life. This afternoon we talked about lust and the problems with it, and the difference between attraction and lust.

We have been talking a lot about love in and out of class. Loving like Christ is willing the highest good for others even when you get nothing in return. This applys to everyone for people around you and for Christ.

Its amazing going through such basic things and then taking it in like its new information, because God shows you where it applys to your life.

I am having a wonderful time here. The People are great, always very friendly and loving towards you. most people around here have had the same problems so they know what it is like and sympathize with it.

Please keep my in your thoughts and Prayers. I am still in need of major financial support for my outreach and for the tuition and outreach funds for the School Of Evangelism.

Thank You
God Bless
-Ben Collins

Oh My God

"Oh My God"

Oh my God, look around this place
Your fingers reach around the bone
You set the break and set the tone
Flights of grace, and future falls
In present pain
All fools say, "Oh my God"

Oh my God, Why are we so afraid?
We make it worse when we don't bleed
There is no cure for our disease
Turn a phrase, and rise again
Or fake your death and only tell your closest friend
Oh my God.

Oh my God, can I complain?
You take away my firm belief and graft my soul upon your grief
Weddings, boats and alibis
All drift away, and a mother cries

Liars and fools; sons and failures
Thieves will always say
Lost and found; ailing wanderers
Healers always say
Whores and angels; men with problems
Leavers always say
Broken hearted; separated
Orphans always say
War creators; racial haters
Preachers always say
Distant fathers; fallen warriors
Givers always say
Pilgrim saints; lonely widows
Users always say
Fearful mothers; watchful doubters
Saviors always say

Sometimes I cannot forgive
And these days, mercy cuts so deep
If the world was how it should be, maybe I could get some sleep
While I lay, I dream we're better,
Scales were gone and faces light
When we wake, we hate our brother
We still move to hurt each other
Sometimes I can close my eyes,
And all the fear that keeps me silent falls below my heavy breathing,
What makes me so badly bent?
We all have a chance to murder
We all feel the need for wonder
We still want to be reminded that the pain is worth the thunder

Sometimes when I lose my grip, I wonder what to make of heaven
All the times I thought to reach up
All the times I had to give
Babies underneath their beds
Hospitals that cannot treat all the wounds that money causes,
All the comforts of cathedrals
All the cries of thirsty children - this is our inheritance
All the rage of watching mothers - this is our greatest offense

Oh my God
Oh my God
Oh my God

End of Orientation week

It has been a week so far since I have arrived here in TX, and it has been a wonderfully long week. To me, the people are what makes this place so great. So many people who love the Lord and try to show him daily. The difference in the attitude daily is great. This week has only been orientation week and we mostly have focused on what happens around here. we have had a few teaching so far from different staff on the base. Josh (Yosh) Langer, the leader of the YWAM school of Worship, came and did a teaching on Worship. The leader of the YWAM D.C. base, Jason Hershey came in to talk to us about Intercession and what it means to be an intercessor. Stephanie VanDyke talked about identity and the difference in the identity that satan gives us verses what God truely thinks of us as an individual he created.

Next week we start regular classroom teachings with Elaine Allegretto. So I am really looking forward to seeing what God will do in this next coming weeks.

I am also really excited about Kip Gaines coming to teach at our school. He has been in Israel, he used to be the leader for this school, and he is a really great teacher.

As far as funding goes. I have two thousand left for tuition on the next school, so I am still in need of more funds for tuition on the next school and outreach times. So please be praying for me and my finances.

Love you all
God Bless
-Ben

We are in relationship

just thought this was funny. In the lobby of the dorm there is a statue of Jesus and its missing its arms. so i put it next to me the other day and one of the guys took this picture.

-Ben

traveling sept. 28

On the road again. It is now about 1pm eastern time and 12 here in central. We passed Louisville about an hour ago. We have been on the road since 6AM eastern time, so we are about 7 hours into the trip. I would like to thank you all for your prayers and support, It has been an quick and easy trip so far. My tuition has been covered so far, now I am working towards the funding for the missions outreaches. Thank you very much

-Ben

We have reached the hotel that we set as the halfway point at about 5 central time. we have settled into our hotel rooms and are resting. We plan to continue driving at 7 tomorrow.

-Ben

I have arrived at the base. I unloaded at my dorm, and there are only a few people here so far. I am really excited about this.

-Ben