April & May Update

WHAT I DID IN APRIL.

Ministry

As I continue in my YWAM roles for the season, I find I’m slowly but surely getting better and feeling more confident in them. I’ve been practicing new latte art styles and finding ways that we can create more quality drinks. I’ve also continued to lead our track times, with the arts and media track; one of which was going on adventures to the park to practice photography.

I’ve seen significant eagerness to grow and experiment from our student. I’ve also been seeing much growth in leading a bible study for our logistical staff here on base, and it’s been a pleasure to see how it brings us closer to God and to each other.

In news of our YWAM base, in the month of April our base had been having early morning worship sets from 6-7am, as well as our usual sets from 8:30-9:30am Monday-Friday. Being apart of this was so special and I felt God stir more passion and desire in us to ‘dwell’ with Him, both as individuals and as a base.

As well as this, our YWAM base have been running a fundraiser, and apart of raising these funds, we hosted a garage sale; and so we all were apart of making that happen, and we each served in different ways throughout the day, one of the ways I served was in the coffee van. We were able to raise a substantial amount from it and this was one of the many ways we were raising funds for our base. This fundraiser is running until the 1st of July.

Personally

Okay, so this month some personal updates were, that myself and others on our base all enjoyed a long four-day easter weekend off, which we enjoyed and took time to rest and recuperate. During which we all enjoyed an Easter lunch together, and some of us also hiked a mountain called ‘Mount Tabletop’. So fun!

I have been taking up running; and have been enjoying the beautiful scenery of the Toowoomba range, and enjoyed when I’ve gotten to on little get away coffee catch ups with friends.

WHAT I DID IN MAY

Ministry

This month we had the DTS school leave for outreach to the Solomon Islands, where they’ve been for the past month and will be for another two weeks still. We are so excited and expectant to hear all the testimonies of how God worked through them; as they partnered with Him sharing the gospel both in their words and in how they serve and love those around them. As the DTS has been away, I haven’t been leading any track times, and so have been using these times to focus on co-managing the cafe as well as plan and lead the Bible study.

The Bible study has been growing as I see God’s hand on it, as He’s slowly developing a culture of simply seeking and feasting on the Word together, this has been a beautiful joy to be apart of as God leads me. And when it comes to the cafe, I have seen growth in the culture here too, and how covering it in prayer really does affect the space in a impactful way. As, our cafe in still a pioneering phase, God has been showing me how to trust Him in the ‘growing roots’ season of ministry and how important and foundational it is to have and be apart of.

Our YWAM base is still running our fundraiser, to raise funds for $150,000. We have already raised a substantial amount, but we’re still believing God isn’t done yet. We have faith God will move in unexpected ways as He provides the funds we need to further our missional movement as a YWAM base.

If, you want to learn more or even feel led to give towards the fundraiser; the url to the website we be linked below.

Personally

Some of the staff on our YWAM base organised a Shrek themed breakfast and we all watched Shrek 2 together. We called it ‘Shrek-fast’ and it was so fun.

I went home to the sunshine coast for the weekend to celebrate the holiday with my family, especially my Mum. My Grandma also came down to see family, so I go the oppurtunity to catch up with her and share what I do; that made this time even more special.

I’ve been enjoying the autumn weather, as it ciontues to show itself through how the leaves are turning new shades of orange and red, and I’m feeling the cold slowly ease in.

The YWAM Toowoomba Fundraiser link : https://ywamtoowoomba.com/ywam-fundraiser

Prayers & Support

Your prayer and personal support mean so much to me and make all the difference. (”Therefore confess your sins to each other and pray for each other so that you may be healed. The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective.” James 5:16)

Contact me :

Phone number : +61 422256008

Email address : briannastod@gmail.com

YWAM email : ywamemail@gmail.com

Financial Investment

When you give financially, no matter the amount, you are sowing a seed of faith to support me, as I volunteer here with YWAM Toowoomba. You support what God is doing here in Toowoomba, and partnering in the endeavour to further the gospel in all its many expressions.

There are many focuses, where we (as YWAM Toowoomba) achieve this through. Some of YWAM Toowoomba’s main focuses:

YWAM Training & Equipping
Our DTS , SWAP, MDS & LDS - These are our schools we run quarterly.
Outreaching to the City
Visiting Refugee Homes & Hosting Busking Festivals
The Prayer Room
Our YWAM Building is in the centre on the city, and is dedicated to prayer & worship, where we meet every weekday for an hour 8:30 - 9:30 am.

I will emphasise, I do receive finical support from the government ‘Centrelink’, which is sufficient to cover my current school fees and rental expenses. Any donation given, will be utilised and thoughtfully invested into the areas of additional mission expenses, or to my missions savings account which will go towards future missions schools and expenses.

UPDATE: This is me being vulnerable, but my Centrelink income (government support) will finish when I graduate my MDS (staffing internship) on the 24th of June, 2025. To learn more, visit this link: Where I’m at financially. and I can share with you where I’m at.

My Bank Details

ACC : 17-942-6684

BSB : 084-801

Note: label the donation, so I know what it is going towards.

Stay Connected

By staying connected to me through my contacts and social media, and by staying up to date with this content, you are staying well informed of what I’m currently up to and what I am involved in, and how you can be praying for myself and the work we are doing here at YWAM Toowoomba.

Give today

The logistical staff reading the Word of God in the Bible study I lead.

Me and a DTS student serving in the coffee van, during our Garage Sale we ran.

Prayer Points

Personal :

Long-term supporters, especially as I transition from finishing my MDS.
Wisdom & discernment in what I should be prioritising and focusing on.

YWAM Toowoomba :

Healing and good health over our YWAM base as sickness has been going around.
New Trailblazer DTS starting in July
YWAM Toowoomba Fundraiser until late June.

Toowoomba :

The homeless on the streets, especially with the cold weather coming in. Pray protection and that they would be open to support, as well as an openness to the Gospel.