The Importance of a Sabbath

I'm in Adelaide now, oh yeah, I forgot to mention that to you before.

I spent 44 days in Caboolture picking strawberries, and then they said I could fly out with the big boss the next day to work on the farm down in Adelaide, so I took them up on the offer, and here I've been for the last 36 days. Only 8 left and I will have completed my 88, and will have another year in the land down under!

I've learned heaps working in the strawberry fields. I've grown to appreciate where my fruit and veggies come from, and all the hard work that goes into it.  I've learned how to bring joy to people using my gifts, and make a crappy job a bit more fun.  In case you wonder what goes into strawberries, here's just a little sliver of it.... I filmed this in Caboolture, slightly behind my boss's back...
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BEkhQQL84iw

God has been moving here in Adelaide. One day we were throwing out strawberries that would be perfect to eat that day, but would be too bruised in a few days when they reach store shelves. It made me sad - because to many people, fruit is a delicacy! I was thinking of how I could make a change.  So later, I went online and looked for ministries I thought could use strawberries. I found a homeless ministry, and gave the number a call. "Hi, this may be strange but I work with Sunray Strawberries and we throw out many strawberries, so I was wondering if you could use some...." Turns out the lady on the phone is super busy juggling feeding the homeless, a kid, work, volunteer, and making 3000 jars of jam a year for the homeless in which she has to fundraise for fruit! This was an answer to prayer for her!  So I spoke with my boss, and we've been able to donate as many strawberries as she wants, whenever she wants. Praise God!

I've learned the massive importance of taking a day off a week. There is such a good reason God gave us this command - not to be all religious and say we're evil if we don't follow it necessarily - but oh my goodness, we NEED rest!  Being in a physically intensive job where I work 40-80 hours per week, and being exhausted all the time, I've learned just how important sleep and a day off is. A day to realize there is still so much more to life than work (and strawberries.) A day to heal. And you know what, it makes my work so much more efficient the rest of the week! When I work 2 weeks in a row, I am dead exhausted and slow by the end.  But having that day off, is a perfect kick off to work hard through the week! Oh my goodness God is wise, He made us after all and knows whats best for us way better than we do ourselves. ;)

My eyes continue to be opened, lessons learned, and new ideas formed with how to live life. Learning to think outside the box in which I, and many American children, grew up in and were taught. Look at the world, and all the billions of people who live completely differently from you, you can do it too. Check your pulse. Are you still breathing? Congratulations. You've got very much to be thankful for. You've got a life to live and dreams to make happen. What are you afraid of?  Whats the worst thing that can happen from you taking a leap of faith? Getting laughed at? Rejected? Who cares, there are so many other people who'd love to be your friend, if your open to it.  What else are you afraid of? Being kidnapped if you travel? Well, learn about your location first. The world is the world, people are people, your hometown may have just as many thieves, murderers, and kidnappers as other parts of the world you'd travel to. You don't typically go down dark back alleys in your hometown, do you? Why do it over seas? Be smart. You'll be amazed at how you'll learn, change, cope, and figure things out.  And, when you've got God on your side as well when you believe and accept Christ, who can stop you?

Or you can keep sitting on your butt. Your choice. My choice. Life choices. We live in an age of possibility, and there's no more exciting time to be alive. So embrace it, and discover and create new ways to live and inspire.

Food for my thought. Just not strawberries please.

Cheers.

Creativity to bloom from the ground and to be plucked with the Strawberries.

OK

MY LIFE

IS KIND OF

SPONTANEOUS

AND UNEXPECTED.

Upon research and discussion with YWAM, my only option is really to leave and do specified work in regional Australia for 88 days to extend my current working holiday visa so I can stay another full year.  Funny timing, because as soon as I found this out, my friend called me and told me the strawberry farm he's working at would hire me within the week. So that's where I'm heading, an hour north, to Caboolture to pick strawberries for a month or two.  After that, to complete my 88 days of sentence (haha kidding..kind of), I'll be going to New South Wales to help another good friend with construction on his property. And then, I'll have another full year in Australia. YIPPEEEE!

I can't help but feel like its a step backwards in creativity - I won't be in a studio. But, it will be a good chance to process, plan, save, and befriend backpackers who need JESUS.  God's got it all planned out, obviously. I'm learning time and time again to rest in His will because anytime I stress and try and take things into my own hands, it doesn't work.  Then, in His crafty perfect timing, He's just like, "HERE YOU GO, HERE'S THE DOOR OPEN YOU'VE BEEN WAITING FOR" often in an unexpected way.  But its always for the best so I'm trusting that this will be for the best as well - and its almost exactly 3 months before my current visa expires as well.

My last few weeks at YWAM have proved fruitful, and I'm excited to be coming back to continue.  Hopefully come back with fresh perspective and direction from the Lord, and new inspiration, maybe new creations from my freetime in Caboolture? We'll see!

Here are links to a few projects I've been working on.  I've downloaded the trial of Ableton Live, and I LOVE it and hope to find a way to get the complete version once the 30 days is up. We're looking into a music tour where we can go around Australia and perform our contemporary music to attract a contemporary crowd and share the gospel that way.

https://www.facebook.com/HeidiOsborneSoundTidalWaves  << Here is my new music facebook page where I'll be updating you all with covers and all the happenings.

Here's a fun experimental cover I did a week ago; I'm learning that I should take more time with projects, because when I rush I hear all of the flaws later, haha! But, I'm learning and this was so fun to do:
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Qj-YB2JoC7o&list=UUSDQWB3UAjSlrt9cyJCbarg

Please pray for protection, direction, peace, and that I'll be able to make a heap of new relationships on this farm and that God'll use me in their lives!

PEACE, BLESSINGS, HUG A STRAWBERRY.
IN THE MEAN TIME I'LL BE IN MY ROOM PACKING AGAIN. YUP. AGAIN.

~HEIDI

~The one-way ticket~

Upon seeking God's will returning to Australia for the last months, I will be joining staff here in YWAM Brisbane for a year.

What is my role on base?

• I'll be a musician here on base, leading worship at a church, working in the studio - helping students with music projects.  
• I'll also be in the cafe serving donation coffee.  
• I'll be a part of a "shine" program.

The Music Vision

My vision is to see this place be a launching pad for up and coming artists into the industry.  To help them create innovative new, quality music.  to get more talent into a dark music world - people who will bring a worldview of God's truth through their songs.  I will also be creating my own music and playing gigs with musicians in the local Brisbane area outside my time serving YWAM to be an example to the students - to work to the best of my ability so that I can be the biggest asset to them.  AH I long to see transformation in the artists of the next generation!  We work so much stronger when we are all a team and when we have the same vision - we can all come together and strengthen each other as the body of Christ!  We'll also be working towards playing for a big festival in April - Easter Fest - check it out! http://www.easterfest.com.au/  Keep tuning into facebook, youtube and sound cloud as more music will be popping up there regularly. 

https://www.facebook.com/HeidiOsborneSoundTidalWaves

https://soundcloud.com/HeidiOsbornesoundtidalwaves

https://www.youtube.com/user/LillyOfOzland/

The Cafe Vision

Our cafe has been made as an outreach to the community to bring them in and serve them the best coffee we can make for a gold coin donation.  A lot of local youth, church groups, business people, etc from the community come here and many relationships have been able to be maintained through this ministry.  One of my goals is to become a pro at latte art this year! Hehe.  I also really want to invest in a couple key students who come regularly and encourage them that they CAN pursue God's calling on their life.  Every Sunday night we run an open-mic night which is definitely our busiest night of the week, which attracts a large audience from around the community and musicians come and play covers and original songs.  It's an AWESOME opportunity to share and practice performance as a musician.

The Shine Program 

Several women from our base go to local schools to speak into the lives of young girls.  We share testimonies from our own lives, and encourage them to chase their dreams and pursue their calling. We aren't directly allowed to speak about God unless they ask, but this gives us the opportunity to build relationships and then invite them to the cafe where we can openly talk about God.  I'm super excited about this opportunity to pour all the things God has taught me over the last years of life into other girls' lives and to see lives transformed!  I'm hoping to meet some young musicians whom I can mentor.

Outside YWAM:

I go to many outreach dinners/barbecues which attract international people who've never heard the gospel. I get invited to the most seemingly random, spontaneous events where I get to connect with so many new people and experience such new things, several times a week.  What a privilege to connect with people from all over the world, in their houses, experiencing so many different cultures and enjoying life with new people every day and sharing the love of Christ with them!

Partner with me:

Your partnership in prayer means the WORLD to me! I really believe that when we ask God in faith, He gives us the desires of our heart and supplies our every need.  

To live here for the year in Brisbane, I'll be needing approximately $400 per month - for my rent and food.  If you'd like to partner with me financially, it's very simple to give a one-time gift, or to sign up for monthly giving through the YWAM Brisbane website: https://secure.goywam.com/home/donations/donate-to-a-staff-member/

If you have questions please shoot me an email! Heidi.Osborne@gmail.com 

Your partnership means the world to me - and I'd love to send you my music as a big thank you as I am in the midst of creating it.

Prayer points:

• That God gives me the words to say to people who haven't heard the gospel before - that it will just come naturally and that He can use me to see their lives transformed - I want to see some salvations!
• Equipment for the studio, so that we can make some quality stuff from that place.
• Connections will continue to be made with musicians in Brisbane so God can use me to impact their lives through music.
• Constant refining and defining of my path/vision/direction.
• A servant, humble heart. 
• That I won't be held back because of lack of resources - but I'll make the most creative use out of all the things I DO have.
• That my upcoming new visa will be approved in December!
• Direction for after this year.
• Provision, health, etc.

Bless you!

Heidi

Back in OZ, doors are opening, visions are forming!

I touched down on the airplane the morning of the 8th of July, having been daydreaming the whole trip of what my time here would look like. Getting off the plane with a massive smile on my face made me realize how much of a home I've really made Australia feel.  And on the way over, I was realizing how free I am to do - well - whatever.  I met someone in the airport who invited me to stay with her friends in Sydney. It struck me, that I'm more than free to do things like that; make friends easily.  If I didn't have friends waiting for me in Brisbane, I just might have...

I've been praying for open doors. I'm here, God, You sent me, here I am, I'm willing. I'm trusting. You'll provide.

And a door has been open for an opportunity to go to NSW for 3 months to do construction on a building of a friend of mine to extend my working holiday visa for one more year. Australia seems to be a perfect place for me to continue cultivating vision with God.  I'm continuing to pray for further direction. I know my goals and have my dreams, but the journey to get there is the part that I'm trying to figure out.

Ultimately, my vision is to use music in mission.  Eventually I'd like to be able to support my own and other people's mission work through my music, as well as open doors to relationships and travel to tell people about Christ. Music has SUCH influence over society. It not only impacts culture, but reflects the culture that it is made in.. I want to bring Kingdom Culture into my music; but in a not fake/"Christian" cheep sound. Something real, and quality, that reaches people's hearts, that people can really relate to.  I want my music to be multi-cultural, use instruments of other cultures, and work with musicians from all over the world.  Kind of create cultural awareness in a way - bridge a gap, music is a language for all to understand. Use random sounds as well, such as my video Under The Shooting Stars where I used a tape dispenser with sand in the bottom as a shaker, and used the sound of ripping tape as percussion as well. Check it out here:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF_dl5rEK_c

I'm developing my style for sure, this last 3 months in Montana was wonderful for that!  I feel my vision, direction, and identity in Christ were really refined.  I focused all my time and energy in the studio learning the music software.  I'm not wasting time for sure - I want to develop the gifts God's given me to the best of my ability, to be a good steward of my body, time, and resources.  I was also able to write music for a feature film being finished up in Vancouver BC Canada called The Delicate Art of Puppetry.  This has been such a pleasure to work on, and I look forward to doing more film music in the future! Doing the Digital Film making school has opened a whole new world of musical opportunity and possibility for me.

I want to make videos along with my music that tell stories.  Kind of like Ed Sheeran, the way he only pops up in his videos once or twice because his music focuses on the story told along side; but my content would definitely be much different than his of course (as our world views are entirely different..)  Under The Shooting Stars wasn't a story, but it was a good start I feel in getting things out on youtube, and I want to be doing more of this in this next season.  Eventually I really want to direct my music video stories though!

I'm praying into many opportunities.  Getting a job here in Australia, potentially extending my visa another year, maybe joining staff here at YWAM Brisbane working in their cafe and in the music studio, applying to Universities in New York and London, doing an online music career mentoring program starting in August which I was accepted into, or going home and spending time with my parents.  In whatever I do, I do NOT have a heart to go into debt.  

~PRAYER REQUESTS~

I'd so appreciate your prayers for direction for me! For God to continue to open doors. I'm definitely a go-getter, but God has always opened the right doors usually when and where I least expect and often when I don't try (so he's telling me to chill out a bit and not worry.)

Please pray for provision! For opportunities to make ends meet here - be it music gigs, teaching piano, a job, babysitting, youtube, potentially going onto support if I join YWAM again, etc.  

I'm also praying for EQUIPMENT! I'd love to have my own midi/88 key keyboard so I can continue honing my skills as a musician more proficiently and on my own time. Also for Pro-tools, so I can record and keep the skills up that I gained in Montana.  Pre-amp, like a focus rite, and the proper cables would be wonderful. A good microphone! And a CAR! That would definitely make life easier - especially if I end up working in the country town in New South Wales soon.

But most importantly just keep praying for my heart; that I'll persevere through the good and bad times, and put God first in everything I do or it's all worthless anyway.  That I'll put what He says about me first and about my life. That I won't just conform to what this world says I should do, or to what's most comfortable. That I'll be a risk taker if He asks me to be!  That I'll continue the race with strength and faith, and be focused on God and bringing others to Him too.

Be blessed my friends!

XOXO Heidi Lillian Osborne

MUSIC PROJECTS, STUDIO RATTIN IT UP!

I've been cooped up in this beautiful hole of a building called Studio 501 here in Montana :)  And it has been rewarding! Here's the latest project I've been working on that has come to completion:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=jF_dl5rEK_c

I've also been busy working on music for a feature film in Vancouver, BC Canada called "The Delicate Art Of Puppetry".  It's been so fun to bring different scenes to life through music. Check it out, here's the facebook page, it will be going into several film festivals in the next few months!  https://www.facebook.com/TheDelicateArtOfPuppetry

A few more projects will be getting out soon. Stay tuned :)

My time here is coming to a close. This is my final week, we're wrapping up projects and debriefing our time here.  It's been quite the journey of three months.  This school has been relaxed enough that I've been able to pursue personal projects, the film score, as well as prepare for my brother's wedding music - so in all reality it hasn't really been relaxed haha, I keep busy!  I'm learning just how much it really takes to fully invest and excel in the arts - music specifically.  I'm glad I've chosen to stick to one and not dabble at being mediocre in many.  It's going to be a journey - a tough one - but I'm excited because I know this is what I've always been made to do.  It obviously hasn't been squashed out of me no matter what people have said.  When God calls you to something, be obedient, its so worth it. It's not easy, but He knows whats best for you and loves you <3

Next week I'll be motor biking to Minnesota with my Dad to visit extended family for a week.  Then its back to Australia! What awaits, I'm not sure yet - but I know I'll be safe in my heavenly father's hands.

Please pray for provision and protection for me in this next season! This has been a year of taking massive leaps of faith and risks.  It hasn't been easy moving around all the time - but I wouldn't trade the journey for the world.

Thanks for all your love and support.

XOXO Heidi

Audio Production Course

I've made it here to Montana at the Youth With a Mission Lakeside base, and I'm currently learning all about audio production!  OH MY GOSH I am loving it.  I've found my happy little peaceful hobbit hole in the world - in the beautiful music studio/our classroom which they are in the process of finishing building.

I'm learning all about Pro-Tools, the powerful music recording software - it's what I've been waiting for for so long! To get out of just using plain old garage band.  Heidi's stepping up her game ;)

I've discovered my truest passions for music, and I know that this is the direction that God is leading me- so many confirmations.  I'm so excited to continue learning and growing in this season.  The school is so relaxed, we have lectures for 5-6 hours a day, leaving the rest of the day for me to practice using the software and growing in my musical instruments and writing.  Help is at every corner to guide me along the way.

I'm so thankful to God for guiding me here, preparing the way and strengthening me on the journey.  When I am weak, he is strong.  I never want to lose sight of all the ways He's prepared this for me.

Honey, I'm home!

Anticipation. Bubbles. Nerves. What's happening. What will happen. Newness. Yet, oldness. I don't know what to feel. All these thoughts and feeling ran through my head as I flew the aircraft.

WASHINGTON. MY ORIGINS.

Touchdown.  First step off the plane - first impression - the most incredible smells. The cool, misty, breezy air smelling sweet of cherry blossoms. Spring. Washington. No where in the world have I smelled fresher air. Ok, maybe New Zealand compares. But this, home. memories.  Over a year away, yet its all the same. Yet different. I'm different.  The smell of the airport, the smell of my sister, the smell of the car, the smell of the house. My cat. MEMORIES.

ACCENTS.  American accents all over. All of the sudden I blend in, I'm no longer a foreigner.  Airport security saying "welcome home". Home. What?

FIRST LOOK at my sister.  A long, squeal. A long hug. A massive smile that can't be wiped.

OVER INDULGENCE. All the food I haven't been able to eat in over a year! WOW. America and its plethora of bulk food items. So much variety.  So many things I love.  I must. not. gain. 50. pounds.  Sadly, my first bite into an apple and a banana were very disappointing - the fruit here is SO much less flavorful, WHAT?! Dang hormonal injections and mass production :(

My house - welcome. Rest. Peace.

My cat - she's a fighter, she's hung on for life - she's skin and bone - yet she remembers me and can't stop cuddling me.

Oh how I took advantage of everything, the abundance I had.  Well, no longer!

2.5 weeks here, how to best spend it?  After this, I'll be off to Montana with my buddy Jonny for the audio production course where I'll get the chance to learn recording techniques and Pro-Tools, steps towards making an album!  These last months in Australia have been spent with me gaining confidence, making decisions, writing heaps of music, performing and experimenting!  I've learned how to live on my own, pay rent, pay for food, keep clean for housemates, transportation, general independence and government stuff, you know I guess just normal things grown-ups have to deal with, haha.  But on the other side of the world, away from immediate family. How thankful I am for YWAM family, my goodness.

I'm so excited for the MASSIVE doors God's been opening! More updates to come as things all roll together into place! EEEE! So excited to see everything play out, and so thrilled to be home for this short bit before the next big thing.  Love you all, and many blessings to you!

Transitions and the abnormal challenge of REST!

This is such a season of transition, of rest.  I've gotten the opportunity to continue working along side the film interns whom I did the School of Digital Filmmaking with.  I've helped them out on their shooting set, doing makeup and I wrote and recorded the musical score for one.  The short films will be premiering in film festivals, which is a wonderful opportunity to get our work out in the world and our names out!  Woooo!

The last season of my life was all about WORK WORK WORK, building skills, and pushing myself beyond what I thought I was capable of.  In this season, I've been learning about how to REST. How to take a breather, and stand aside and let God work above me!  I'm a workaholic, and its been a challenge.  But God's shown me that I don't have to strive to accomplish things - that He'll show me and open the proper doors in their right timing.  And it's hard to be honest - to be patient and to be OK with not working all the time.  But God's always been the provider, and usually the things that I'm put into aren't of my own doing - I can't deny His goodness and protection over me.  Most people think I'm crazy - to find so much joy in work and to hate resting so much, apparently I'm strange :P haha. Its just cool to find joy in what you do!

Christmas and New years in Australia were SO DIFFERENT because it was HOT! I spent Christmas at the beach, eating kangaroo steak and bobbing in the waves under the hot sun.  HAHA, it was lovely and strange!  Hard being away from family, but such an experience :)

I am finished working at Kitten D'Amour - it was a seasonal position and such a blessing while I was there. Now I'm waiting on more work, and will most likely be attending the school of Audio Production coming up in Montana in April.  I'LL BE HOME IN WASHINGTON FOR A COUPLE WEEKS on either side of the school as well as for my brother's wedding! I'm so extremely excited I can't contain it.  To be a student again will be so lovely, to have the schedule and continue gaining skills.

Oh, I got baptized by the way! Well, I re-affirmed my baptism.  I was baptized as a baby by my wonderful parents, growing up in a Lutheran Church.  But since I didn't have the personal choice, I'd been waiting for the right time to confirm my baptism.  The perfect time came up!  Jonny and I went to the Gold Coast to help out with our friend Ryan's outreach group, and we had some time at the beach and it randomly came up that I'd never been baptized and also how Jonny wanted to start baptizing people...  And I felt like THAT was the right time I'd been waiting for.  So we went into the waves fully clothed, laughing - full of joy of the incredible moment - but taking it fully seriously at the same time - and Jonny dunked me under the waves! And out I came, stinging eyes and covered in salt and sand, but it was such a beautiful moment.  No magical transformation from that moment - it was a personal act of obedience and symbol of my dedication to Jesus <3

I've made a goal of writing and recording an album in 2014.  It's posed a challenge being here at YWAM because the studio and pianos aren't readily accecible any time I need them.  I also don't currently have the proper software I'm needing to record and experiment - Logic, Ableton live or Pro Tools would make my LIFE.  So I'm praying some things in, but getting inspiration and writing and working up some covers for some gigs in the mean time when I can.  Gaining some new skills here and there where I can such as making coffee, setting up a website, and waiting on the Lord for the next step.  Working on some collaboration projects in music.  I'll keep you all updated with what doors He opens next.  Wooooo it's exciting stuff, this life!

I also MOVED OUT OF THE YWAM BASE and now live in a house, with the most lovely house-mates, YAY.  It's lovely to have a big comfy bed, my own room, kitchen space, bathroom space... Life feels a little more normal in that house. AH SUCH A BLESSING.

LIFE IN AUSTRALIA CONTINUES TO BE ADVENTURESOME. OK THATS ALL FOR NOW.

BLESS YOU

MISS YOU

SEE YOU SOON

PRAYING FOR YOU

PRAY FOR ME!

YO SISTA,

HEIDI LILLY <3