For the last five years I have felt discontented.  For as long as I can remember I have wrestled with this internal message that says – “You have something vital to do with your life. You’ve been given much – what will you do with it?”

This pressure to use my life and gifts is like a strong tide that pulls and pushes me. In the quiet moments as I think about how brief our days really are I can’t help but feel the urgency to make an impact.  I know everything I could give the world would be worthless if not used for Jesus as He is the one who has given me life and every good gift.  This feeling is only enhanced by the miracle God did for my family and I, when He rescued and restored Isaac from death. In our weakness He is strong.

Then that desire was silenced and lay dormant for a time.  I would rise up now and then when we reviewed our life, swelling like a wave but then receding again.  See we’ve been distracted by good things. Isaac and I got married, made some sweet babies, moved around a bit, made dear friends and loved the churches we have been connected with.  Great things! This is the season of life we’ve been in. Ministry has been on the back burner and replaced with the business of meeting basic needs.  Seasons change though…. And while we will always been in the business of “meeting basic needs etc” we can change our life focus to be on something else.  And that is exactly what we intend to do.

Everyone is called to different things right? Some people are artists, some are accountants, some are called to manage wealth and some to milk cows. That’s the beauty of life and I think we are all happiest doing the thing God made us to do.  It has taken me a long time to work that out.  But recently, Isaac and I have figured out what we are supposed to be and what we are called to do – for now.  The following letter explains that and details a little about our future plan.

(Oh, and P.S. Some of you may get one of these in the mail. If so, that’s because we weren’t sure you’d read it here and really want to have your support!)

~Kristi~

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“Many are the plans in the mind of a man, but it is the purpose of the LORD that will stand.”  Proverbs 19:21

On a warm September day seven years ago Isaac and I met for the first time in the Los Angeles airport.  We knew God had called us to seek and serve him through missions, but we had no idea that this was just the beginning of the adventure he would take us on.  We joined a group of other young Christians and boarded our plane to New Zealand where we would spend the next several months learning and serving with Youth With A Mission.

During our Discipleship Training School God changed us in amazing ways. We saw more of his heart for the lost.  We saw a world full of broken people in need of a Savior. From the suburbs of Melbourne Australia to the jungle villages of Fiji our faith grew as we shared the gospel and saw Jesus change people’s lives forever. As most of you know Isaac and I became the best of friends during this time. God grew our hearts together and planted seeds of future dreams in our minds.

One of those dreams was fulfilled on September 24th 2010 when Isaac and I became husband and wife.  Since then the plans of the Lord continued to unfold before us as we have joyfully welcomed four little Godwin’s to our family.  God is faithful and has sustained us through trials and storms. We have been very blessed with our life, but there is another dream and passion that God has placed within our hearts – and that is for missions.

When we moved to Washington State this year we came with the intention of being closer to family. But God quickly revealed to us that was not why we were in the Northwest.  Isaac and I have felt this stirring in our hearts, a desire to serve the Lord with our lives in fulltime ministry. But what would that look like? Where was God leading us? It all seemed so vague and we would get discouraged from time to time because we feel this calling to ministry but no clear direction about how to walk it out. We kept praying and waiting on the Lord.

The Lord kept bring them to mind some old family friends who are YWAM Directors at a base in Discovery Bay Washington.  So I contacted them and they invited us to come meet and have a tour of the base.  They have been praying for young families to join them as staff.  They shared a specific need for someone to come on board who could manage the base media and website development.  They also told us about a future dream God has given the base – to run worship and music DTS.  As we explored the base and learned about these possibilities we felt the Holy Spirit confirm in us that this is where He wants us to be.  Our hearts felt a burning and excitement at the idea of coming on staff.

God has brought us to YWAM Discovery Bay for such a time as this.

The base has several schools which it runs yearly. The Discipleship Training School, School of Frontier Missions, which focuses on outreach to India, China and Thailand.  And a five week language school (TESOL) which focuses on how to teach English as a tool to fulfilling the Great Commission.  We would help lead teams on outreach trips to the listed locations, disciple students, and serve in the worship/media/sound development of these schools. Our family would fit right in and be used greatly to impact the students coming to the base.

Isaac and I have committed to serve with YWAM Discovery Bay for two years and are now in the process of raising support. Presently we are serving part time by commuting to the base a few times a week to be involved in the ministry and learning our responsibilities. We are blessed and the Lord has sovereignly provided a house for us on the base so our expenses are minimal for a family of six! We will move on base and work full time once we have raised 100% financial support.

Where God leads he will always provide. We fully trust the Lord to meet our needs.

Financially we will need $2,300.00 a month for all expenses. And so we are in need of individuals to join our team and commit to giving a set amount each month. If you have questions regarding our financial need or more details about the ministry we would be happy to answer them for you.

Some ways you can give monthly are:

• Go to http://www.ywamdb.com/donate and donate through PayPal. (Easiest!)

• Mail a check Addressed to:

YWAM Discovery Bay

P.O. Box 989

Port Hadlock, WA 98339

(Please put “Godwin” in the memo line)

We want to stay in touch with you because this is a partnership, and you will be a vital part of the ministry.  I will be keeping everyone up to date through a monthly newsletter. You can sign up for that by writing down your email address and returning it in the enclosed envelope, OR follow by our blog isaacgodwin.com.

I will be keeping a list of our support team so please let me know how you plan to be involved. Thank you for your support!
“Thanks be to God, who always leads us triumphantly in Christ and through us spreads everywhere the fragrance of the knowledge of Him.” 2 Corinthians 2:14

Blessings,
The Godwin’s