Location: Cambodia

Its difficult to summarize the extent to which I've begun to change in my thoughts, heart and spirit while being here at YWAM. The teaching I'm getting here is absolutely phenomenal and the passion and love that underlies this whole organization is hard to explain in words. The desire to know God and share His love with others builds the foundation of everything that takes place. I sense very strongly that this is the place I am supposed to be for this season of my life to learn and experience things that will shape my life and my future from here on out. Thank you to everyone who has supported and encouraged me so I could be here.

Also, it has been finalized that Cambodia will be my home for three months starting in the middle of December! One DTS staff member, 11 other students and I will be doing outreach there as well as taking a 10 day side trip into Vietnam. Though the details regarding our outreach plans are not yet concrete, the focus of our ministry will likely be geared toward ministering to children who are at risk - those who live are in poor communities or orphanages, are diagnosed with HIV/AIDS, or are involved in human trafficking. Other groups from my DTS will be traveling to Thailand, Philippines, India and Rwanda. 

God has really been taking me on quite the journey during this initial month here at YWAM. In many ways my ideas about who God is and my relationship to Him have been lovingly deconstructed and reconstructed that I might come to a fuller, truer understanding of His greatness and His goodness. I'm encouraged to explore and discover who I am and what I am passionate about doing. It is a privilege to be given the freedom to pursue what I feel called to do and be the person I feel I am called to be in this world. 

The scene at one of the local churches in Kona. 

Mailing Address

The reality that I am actually living in Hawaii is finally settling in now after being here for almost a month. My gratitude for this place and the people here grows with every day - its a place to learn, a place to grow and a place to be challenged. 

I realized that many may be wondering where it is that I am living - you can Google Earth the following address if you so desire...or you can always just mail something, too!

Lisa Noguchi

Compassion DTS Fall 2008

75-5851 Kuakini Hwy Box #432

Kailua-Kona, HI 96740

Here's a picture of the type of friends I live with here in Kona. Geckos are one of the many different species commonly seen here. Others include the mongoose (similar to the squirrel population in Seattle) and the sea turtle. On some days we're even lucky enough to have encounters with an insect we all love to see...the cockroach. 

Jesus Likes You

Do you know what? Jesus likes me. Jesus likes you. He sure loves us a lot - but he likes us, too. It might be easier to hear and say, "Jesus loves you" or "God loves you" than come to grips with the reality that He just likes to be with us wherever and whenever. His love is amazing, wonderful, powerful and greater than anything we could ever imagine and He likes us and wants to just be with us in whatever we're doing everyday. I like that. 

This fact that Jesus likes me was something that stuck out during class sessions with our speaker, Dan Baumann, this week. Dan is an inspiring speaker who encourages us to just love God and love people. He's traveled all around the world, has been imprisoned in Iran and has had guns pointed at his head but, amazingly, still manages to make every story he tells about his adventures, no matter how intense, very meaningful and usually really funny. I don't know how he does it but he does - I'd say that's a gift. He's full of the love and grace of God and lives with a joy in his heart that comes from just being intimate with God. No matter what He's gone through, God has been faithful. Go God!

The love of God and passion for Him and for the lost is written all over this campus. Everyday I am encouraged to spend time with God to know more about who He is and His heart for people. I'm learning about hearing the voice of God and being obedient to Him. I'm discovering more and more and more how good God really is when we open ourselves up to Him. God absolutely loves to surprise us with good things. He loves, loves, loves to bless those who love Him. What a good God. 

YWAM provides volunteers for the Ironman Triathlon in Kona every year. The picture up top is of me with some girls from my DTS with our official Ironman security shirts. I think we look pretty good in orange...

Could you imagine swimming 2.4 miles, biking for 112 miles, and then running a full marathon at 26.2 miles? The oldest competitor was 79 years old.

Swimmers awaiting the cannon fire signaling the start of the race at sunrise on Saturday morning. 

Thank you for your prayers and for your support. I will be discovering my outreach location soon - I'm excited! I'll be sure to keep everyone updated!