MIW trip to California and Louisiana – February 2015 – by Anna Shadbolt
In February 2015 Andy Au, Kirsty Hallett and Anna Shadbolt travelled to the USA joining Carmella Knight for a jam-packed couple of weeks. Here’s Anna’s report from the trip …
This was my first opportunity to travel with MIW and my first visit to the USA and it seems I could not have chosen a trip that was more diverse and jam-packed. From the moment Andy, Kirsty and I set foot in San Francisco and met up with Carmella on the 5th of February, until the time we left from Jackson Mississippi nearly 2 weeks later it seemed as though I had got on board one of those airport conveyer belts that relentlessly moved us forward from one destination and event to the next. Often it seemed that no one, except God, really knew what was to happen next but, despite the fact that I am normally a person who likes to know exactly what will happen next, the whole trip for me was full of His perfect peace and there was a flow and connectivity to the whole time. Despite sometimes feeling exhausted and on a few days with barely enough time even to eat there was a sense of somehow by God’s grace and perfect timing we ended up in just the right place at, just about, the right time.
Our first stop was the San Francisco Bay Area where we were so blessed by the kindness and generous hospitality of all our hosts. In particular Chuck and Linda McCallum who had organised our itinerary whilst in San Francisco were just wonderful in how they facilitated and opened doors for us into many different places. On the Saturday we held a taster workshop for around 40 people, some of who had driven for over 8 hours to be there. Over that evening and the following day we moved and ministered in 4 very different churches in the Bay Area. It was wonderful to see so many people being released into freedom in the area of movement and being blessed by our moving. One highlight was at Revive Church in the San Mateo area of San Francisco where we invited the congregation to join us in a mass DMS to intercede for the city. Over 80% of those there immediately joined in and some were deeply touched by God.
On the Monday we drove up to Redding to begin a time of workshops and ministry with students on the creative stream of the School of Supernatural Ministry at Bethel Church. We stayed with a wonderful group of people at Destiny House, a worship community where Carmella currently lives, and were so blessed by their kindness and passion for God. That evening they joined us in a time of prayer and prophetic movement, which was a powerful and fun time. Over the next 2 days we held workshops with students on the1st and 2nd year of the Bethel School of Supernatural Ministry as well as having the opportunity to experience something of Bethel and spending time with Sara Taina who leads the dance team in the healing rooms. Most memorably, Andy took a workshop for around 12 of the men on the dance team from the Healing Rooms. In just 2 hours it was a wonderful privilege for us girls to sit and watch as these young men grew before our eyes in their confidence and ability, moving individually and together in a way that demonstrated their strength and masculinity and the power and might of God.
Next we flew to Louisiana where it was a pleasure for me to meet Debbie and Shelley, old friends of MIW. The warm, generous and openhearted hospitality we received in Louisiana was wonderful and I had my first taste of real good Southern food. On the Friday there was a meeting of some of the USA MIW Associates, which was a great time of sharing ideas and experiences. We explored, among other things, the idea of our individual colours, representing what God has put in us, coming together, before praying for the surrounding area. That evening and the following day we held the 7 I ams of Jesus Workshop. Here it was encouraging to see so many people of all ages from young girls of 10 to much older men and women coming together and really throwing themselves whole heartedly into everything we asked of them. Many were really blessed by the experience of trying DMS and moved with increasing confidence and freedom. We were hosted by Pastor Mike Mote at Life Church, Oak Grove. Andy and Kirsty spoke at the church on the Sunday morning and we prayed for those who wanted to be released into more freedom.
And for me a final highlight – was realising that Andy Au can run a lot faster than me as I saw the back of him disappearing at great speed down a corridor at Dallas Airport, his wheelie case flying behind him, in order to catch our connecting flight which was waiting to depart. We made it, just, and more than a little out of breath. It kind of summed up much of the trip really!
