The end is near

Hi friends everywhere!
It's been quite a while since I've last update you all! Sorry it was definitely not in my intentions! 2 months have passed and we are now reaching our last stages of this outreach with a little less than 2 weeks to go. These have probably been one of my most intense couple of months EVER! I would like to be able to share with you all the details of what has happened but I don't think I'm ready to write a book yet ;-)
Let's put it simply by saying I never thought it would be as challenging to lead a team of 12 young students in cross cultural missions as it ended up being.. certainly didn't know of all the details. But like all dads say in these situations "it builds character", and it's true. I've learnt SO MUCH in this last season that I still might need some time after the school to finish digesting it.
God is so good all the time! ...and how he's been leading me, so that I can lead them, has been.. amazing.
I will not shy away by saying that there have been some difficult times in the team, but I will also not forget the unforgettable good times neither!
Mexico City was enormous! The feeling of insignificance is almost unavoidable, there are so many people. That's when we have to remind ourselves that a community gets radically changed 1 individual at a time. Our work there might have gone unnoticed to the critics eye, but what we got to participate in was the beginning stages of something far greater than beats the eye. I thank God for those individuals that we got to minister to and see make choices for life and not death (as it is a very big stronghold in that city)!
Bangkok is quite different! The first thing we noticed getting out of the airport was how hot and humid it is here! Going to the slums, working with children and sports at any time of the day are all activities that will have you begging for a shower and bed at the end of the day. We're very excited to be partnering with a ministry called "Ark International" that in one phrase "is an international body defending the rights of children at risk, restoring dignity as children of God and developing their unique gifts and skills."
For more info go to: http://www.arkintl.org/

So here we are close to the end of the SportsDTS and now starting to look forward to new things and a new School is on my agenda. The Children at Risk School. Another six months of adventure await and this time I will be a student again! I will update you with more regarding the school very soon. In the meanwhile it would be awesome if you could start to pray for me as I still do not have the finances in order to cover the costs for it. It'll be a big step of faith, but I'm confident someone bigger has got my back.
Always, Liv

New years in Mexico City!

Hi friends! It’s been a bit over two weeks since my last post and now seems like a pretty good time to update you all. :)

I arrived in Mexico City 2 days ago with the team of 14 that you can now see under this new post. The trip to this city has been my longest trip yet, with a 20 hour layover in Bangkok and another 4 hour layover in Los Angeles. But we’ve finally arrived safe and sound to our destination in a region called “Gustavo a Madero (GAM)”. This will be the first time leading a team of missionaries to a 3 month long outreach, it’s kind of scary in some ways but exciting and adventures are the two words that probably best describe the feelings coming up as we have just embarked on this journey.

What will happen only God knows.. but I can’t wait to find out! 

THIS     IS    OUTREACH!!! (said with a spartan 300 movie voice)

Other news: 

Health - I’m quite happy with the results of the MRI’s and Xray scans, cause they showed that my neck/spine is stable, which means I can do sports again! The scans also brought more clarity as to where my skull got injured at the time of the accident. The healing of my senses is still medically unsure. They say that only time will tell how well my head heals. Finances - So, I was able to get all my tests done although I still did not have all the money for the exams. Thank God we found another way to make the payments (though the need is still there)! $1201.50 mri+xray costs - $951.50 insurance payed = $250 still needed

God is crazy. :) I still don’t know how I’ll be able to do everything He has been putting on my heart, but boy I love the fact that I’m not normal! Like Father, like son. 

It’s takes a crazy person to bring radicule change to this world, not a normal one. 

Pls remember me in your prayers cause this new year is gonna be a full one and I can use some backup! 

Bless y’all and have an awesome New Year!!!

Commissioning Night/Outreach Team Photo

Hit(calling) and Run(outreach) update!

Hi everyone!

I'm gonna give a you a brief update of some stuff that have been going on here and that are happening soon:

John Bowles - A real inspiration. 

He is a 81 year old veteran on the mission field, the oldest missionary we have on our base. About a month ago he had to undertake open heart surgery. What did he tell his wife to tell us at the base? "Tell them I'm gonna be away on outreach for a while". This man doesn't know the word "stop"! He saw his going to the royal perth hospital as an opportunity to speak to doctors and nurses of God's love for them.

I had to start with that story because it impacted me A LOT. He is a real hero.

....I got all my outreach fees + my school got all of their fees too! Praise God! 

but seriously, how can it be that a school of 25 + 1 family can get all of their money in on time to go on outreach??? To make things clearer, we were looking at a need of around 120'000 AUD. Heaps.

So thanks guys for backing me up in prayer and finances!

Today was commissioning night for all the schools, which means that we were pretty much presenting to the base + friends who we are, where we're going and what we're doing for the second part of the school. It's pretty much a time where we are officially getting "sent out" and backed up by the base here in Perth. It's a time of celebrating the end of the lecture phase and getting our gears into outreach phase mode! 

I'm finding out a lot more regarding my health problems. You might not know this but I had a terrible skateboarding accident in august that resulted in a fractured skull and ruptured eardrum. Since then I've been almost completely deaf in my left ear, I can't smell, my eyes have been experience perception of movement problems and my taste buds aren't doing too well either. Just last week I went to a neurologist and found out something new. After explaining to him some other symptoms we also discovered that I might have some spinal problems as well caused from the hard impact at the time of the accident. 

As a result the specialist recommended I have a MRI and Xray done of my brain and my spine next week. Only problem is I have to pay on the spot and the two tests will cost me a total of 800 AUD, which I do not have. 

In faith I have booked the appointment already for Tuesday 21.12.2010. Please back me if you feel led to. I would love to know further what has happened to me since this accident and therefore how I can continue in this healing process. 

Here are my account details for my swiss post account and for international donations to me through Youth With A Mission. 

Online payment through YWAM Perth website: 

https://www.ywamperth.org.au/007/payonline.asp

Specify that  it is for Livio Pura outreach fees in the Detail Box.

*The website charges 2%

or  

Postfinance account: 65-152820-7

(If you have problems with it let me know, I can help you with the payment or give you another account)

Please contact me if you want to ask any questions! 

My email is: liviopura@hotmail.com 

It's the end of another exciting day in Perth and I'm just about ready to hit the sack (go to bed)! 

Cheers guys!

Mexico and Thailiand

(Part 1)

I can’t hide my excitement for what’s to come in these next 2 outreaches! 

We’ve been studying a bit of the history and cultural backgrounds of Mexico City and have come across a very dark history of celebrating death and the drastic situation of poverty and child abuse that fills the land. 

Bangkok doesn’t need much introduction as a city. Thailand is known to be one of the worst countries when it come down to human rights violation, prostitution and child slavery. We will be working with a rugby academy called “naksu tigers” that works with street children and children in general. 

So it’s two cities, lots of need and potential and a team of 14 going out there to pursue God’s heart for transformation! What we can’t do by our own strength, we know He can get done through us!

This is an outreach that I am personally also very interested in because though it isn’t primarily focused only on children (but the general needs of communities and our involvement with the church to go out and minister to pretty much anyone anywhere that is  in need) I am aware of the child trafficking situation that is happening in both cities. And so consequently I will be asking God what my role could potentially be in the future to see justice brought to the kids. 

Guys, If you know me, then you know where my heart is. If you know where my heart is, then you just got another glimpse of God’s character. He loves these little guys more than me! 

(Part 2)

In order for part 1 to come to fulfillment I would like to remind you that I cannot do this on my own. I am still looking to build of a team of prayer and financial supporters. It excites me to be able to ask you to consider partnering up with me. 

Think about it. Pray about it. And don’t hesitate to tell others about it!

The more people know, the further we go!

I am a full time volunteer - missionary, which means that I do not get paid to do what I do, but I give everything I have in order personally get equipped, equip others to work in these communities.

If you are interested, please write me at my email: liviopura@hotmail.com and I will tell you more about how you can get involved!

Bless ya take it easy! 

Livio

"Ain't no mountain high enough" ..Life's so sweet!

What’s up blog friends.

It has been an exciting last couple of weeks here in perth! What to say, when you think you can’t get any more stretched, you end up standing.. corrected.

Have you ever heard the term: “Evil survails when righteous men don’t take a stand”? This phrase can be seen from many different angles. It’s easy to look at it in the context of this world and it was probably intended that way when whoever wrote it thought it up. 

But like many other sayings, this one too can be applied in the big AND SMALL picture. 

My own life is a living testimony to this. When physical and emotional tiredness comes on me, it can be easy to lay down the duties and “take it easy”.. 

I’ve been continously challenged in the area of commitment to what God has called on my life. The next question that rises is “Will I be trustworthy with the small things so that I can be trusted with the BIG?” One of our Foundational Values here in YWAM is “Do first, then teach”. 

As a leader in the school I’m staffing I continously challenge myself with that question, because in order to lead, you have to make sure you have authority in what you teach.. and authority comes through practical application. 

Friends I’m excited and honored to be staffing this school! Most of you have heard either directly or indirectly what God is calling me to in the future, but now and today is where the foundations in my life are being built! 

News: We have been communicated last week our outreach locations for the second part of the school! Chris and I will be leading a team of 12 amazing students to Mexico City, Mexico (7 weeks) and Bangkok, Thailand (4 weeks)!

The students names are: Meredith, Lydia, Rachel, Hannah, Calle, Caleb, Solomon, Logan,  David, Austin, Ben, Devan.

Well dudes and dudettes, this is it for now. 

If you want, let me know what’s happening in your lives and if you want some prayer backup for anything! I’m never to busy for these kind of things ;)

Bless y’all!

Me and the boys from my small group