The Sweetest Choice

“What’s every other option when I know the sweetest choice? My flesh may be a beggar but my spirit knows Your voice. And I won’t be satisfied with temporary pleasures. I wanna taste and see in full what I’ve only known in measure.”
Maverick City Music’s “To You” (Maverick City, Vol. 3 Pt. 2)

Dear Support Team,

One of my biggest communication challenges is taking the depth of lessons that Jesus teaches me through life (its struggles and its joys) and translating them into words on a page, or even words spoken in conversation.

Is it ever possible to translate your heart’s language (its deepest longings, hopes, and hurts) into a message that another heart can understand, relate to, and process? Often it feels like there are so many levels of translation in the sharing and receiving of words where the true meaning can be lost.

I am convinced that there are heart truths that are impossible to convey. This is why I deeply cherish the Word of God when it says things like this:

“Lord, you have examined my heart and know everything about me” (Psalm 139:1)
“the Holy Spirit prays for us with groanings that cannot be expressed in words” (Romans 8:26)
“He has planted eternity in the human heart” (Ecclesiastes 3:11)

Yes, THIS is why I deeply cherish the Word and the comforting guidance of Holy Spirit… because He is a “kindred spirit“, as Anne Shirley would say: “A bosom friend — an intimate friend… a really kindred spirit to whom I can confide my innermost soul.”

I can trust that God speaks to all of His children in the Spirit: the same message in completely unique heart languages that only they can grasp and understand. Which means the pressure is not on me to communicate with perfect accuracy. Phew!!

Bearing that in mind, here’s a glimpse at some of my musings lately…

Don’t Settle.

As our team prepares to end our 5-month School of Ministry Development (SOMD), my friends and I are returning to wildly different home situations, each with unique gifts and challenges. Through all the ups and downs, God is still a loving Father and He has lessons for each of us that have already been prepared in advance (Ephesians 2:10) for our months back home.

One of my favorite lessons from our Spring lectures was learning some of the Names of God. “Jehovah Jireh“: this is one of the more commonly known names of God, often translated as “The Lord will provide.” However, we learned in class that the meaning of this compound Hebrew word Yireh actually means something more like “The Lord who sees ahead of me.”

My detail-oriented self does not do well with the unseen and unknown. Not knowing exactly what the future holds is often a mixed bag of excitement and anxiety, good and bad. While it’s easy to focus on the excitement-side of things, I have to remember that there is still a fragile part of me that prefers to see the future because this allows me to plan ahead and be in control.

But because God is “The Lord who sees ahead of me,” there are some moments in life when I’m not the one with vision. Ah, the dreaded “waiting season.”

In many ways, I have been able to foresee my near future for the past 11 months. Since I have been attending 5-month schools, the “big-picture” plan of my life has been fairly predictable. My longest time back home has been 3 weeks, and the rest of the year has been filled with close discipleship, specific goals, and many structured lessons.

As I stand on the precipice of the last 4 months of this year, the only thing I know is this: come 2022, I will be starting a 2-year commitment to serve as a staff member at YWAM Orlando. God has given me specific dreams and vision for what He wants to do through me once the new year begins. But while I’m waiting, the road in between now and then are unpaved… unknown… untested! I am learning to rely on the Lord to direct every one of my steps (Proverbs 16:9).

As I look to Jesus for direction of each step, I am keenly aware that each “step” is a decision: how to spend my mornings, how to spend my nights. How to rest and how to work and plan. How to talk about my past and how to talk about my future! Many times it feels like compromise is so easy, and I feel the weight of the Lord’s call to fix my eyes on Him in this time of waiting, knowing that any compromise will only sell myself short. Each morning spent full of distraction, each “off” day spent under the haze of technology, each minute spent fretting about tomorrow as He patiently waits for me to come sit with Him (Luke 10:38-42) is time spent living less in His fullness and more out of my own lack.

It all starts with breathing You in…
Steffany Gretzinger, “Save Me” (BLACKOUT)

After spending so much time away, 4 months at home seems daunting. I definitely feel like the door to the future has been opened and I am often tempted to rush ahead and start living in the future, where my vision and ministry will begin to take shape. God is also reminding me that with all the excitement for the future also comes anxiety and vulnerability, and I have to be so intentional about leaning on him, breathing and resting.

Each moment spent in the presence of God makes me feel more grounded, more alive. Because He has already understood me, there’s less pressure on others to “get me.” And as the beautiful and mysterious process of relationship takes place, I have more to share with others because I have found myself more completely in Him.

I thank God that so many problems are solved simply by gazing at Him and centering my life on the principles and truths that come alive when I meditate on His Word.

So if you got to the end of this post today, I encourage you to keep choosing The Sweetest Choice, which is the love of God that is revealed to us more and more each day as we grow in relationship with Him.

God bless you all!!

“The Lord is my chosen portion and my cup; you hold my lot….You make known to me the path of life; in your presence there is fullness of joy; at your right hand are pleasures forevermore.”
Psalm 16:5, 11

April 20, 2021May 3, 2021

Ministry Update: Discovery Youth Group

Hi Team!

Two full weeks have passed since my School of Ministry Development (SOMD) began. God has been challenging our SOMD class to grow in leadership through the community experience of living at YWAM Orlando.

Dorm Life: To foster relationship between new and returning students, DTS and SOMD students share rooms during lecture phase. In my own dorm room, I have 4 roommates who are attending DTS and one fellow SOMD’er! Living in close relationship with new people always offers fresh opportunities for character development as we are daily living with one another in close quarters and challenging each other “as iron sharpens iron.”

Hospitality: As secondary students, we join with staff to welcome new students on base. This is a responsibility that is very close to my heart for 2 reasons: 1) because of my personal love of hosting people and 2) because of how much the hospitality of SOMD students positively impacted me when I myself was a newcomer.

Local Ministry at Discovery Youth Group

Our SOMD split into 3 small local ministry teams. My group is serving locally as leaders/volunteers in a youth group at Discovery Church in Winter Garden (a city west of Downtown Orlando). Last Wednesday Night, I was a part of a Missions-focused small group where the pastor taught about ASSET-BASED MINISTRY. Asset-based ministry focuses on people’s strengths and passions rather than simply focusing on their needs or the negativity of their situation. Even though I was there to serve, God taught so much through his teaching: that empowering people to serve others reminds them that they have something to offer and gives them the encouragement they need to take their eyes off their own situation. We are called to feel God’s heart for people and not simply focus on what is wrong with the world.

At this youth group, I look forward to forming relationships with the youth (ages 13-17) that attend Discovery! We will be returning to the same group every week, so this allows for a more relational kind of ministry and mentoring. I am so excited!!!

Lecture Week 1: Vision

During the first week, YWAM Orlando base leader Michael Berg taught us on “The Principles of Pioneering.” This topic reviewed the practicals of leading ministry while being led by the Holy Spirit. To illustrate his principles, Michael recounted stories from the early history of YWAM Orlando and how God led the leadership team and the Berg family through practical challenges of ministry such as real estate investment and times of community repentance.

Lecture Week 2: Finances

To be honest, “Faith and Finances” was the topic I looked forward to the most when I applied for SOMD!! Andy Miller taught us the heart and how-to’s of fundraising as a missionary. We covered areas like the Biblical Foundation, Mindsets and Approaches, and Practical Steps of fundraising. We looked at the lives of missionaries like William Carey, who was a missionary to India in the 19th century. To his supporters he said this: “I will descend into the pit if you will hold tightly to the ropes.” This is how intertwined the roles of missionary and donor are!

FUNDRAISING UPDATE:
MY SOMD ($7500) IS FULLY FUNDED!!!

Thank you Jesus for Your miraculous provision and thank you to each one of my financial supporters. Thank you for believing in the work we are doing here at YWAM Orlando and investing in it. Last week I sent out 30+ thank you letters, and more of you have given towards my tuition since that day! If you gave towards my SOMD and haven’t received a letter yet, keep an eye out. I want to thank each one of you, from the bottom of my heart. ♥️

Interested in supporting me financially?

March 19, 2021March 19, 2021

Tanzania Outreach Stories

Good afternoon dear readers! I have compiled a list of outreach stories on my Instagram to give you a sneak peek into our outreach and all the amazing work God did. He is SO PRESENT in the country of Tanzania! See the stories compiled below…

OUTREACH STORY #1: SHARING THE HEART OF THE FATHER

During our first week in Arusha, we participated in an after-school SOCCER MINISTRY for young boys. The vision of this ministry is to break the cycle of absent fathers in Tanzania and to disciple young boys to be strong leaders and faithful men of God. We shared with them the story of the Prodigal Son. They each noticed themes of love, forgiveness, and redemption. After the study, one young boy shared that when he was reading the story from the Swahili Bible, He felt God’s love for Him. Another shared that he used to be afraid of God but after reading this story He knows that God truly loves him so he doesn’t have to be afraid anymore.

Each week in Tanzania, our team would pile into a bus or van like this yellow school bus and go to visit churches in the area. What an encouragement to worship with believers from another country! Here at this church in Arusha, one of my teammates shared a testimony of the Father Heart of God and how God redeemed her family. This story ministered to a brother and sister in the congregation who had recently lost their parents. We saw the true meaning of the Scripture passage “weep with those who weep” and prayed over them healing and restoration.

God is REDEEMING FAMILIES in Tanzania!

OUTREACH STORIES #2 and #3: GOD HEALS THE BLIND AND THE DEAF

In Singida, our DTS split up into different MERCY MINISTRY teams, traveling 5-10 miles on foot to carry valuable food supplies to remote houses. During these house visits, we also ministered to the families through prayer. We saw physical healings like A BLIND EYE OPENED and A DEAF EAR RESTORED!!! Sooooo cool. Watch the video for the whole story 🙊🎥💥

God is WORKING MIRACLES in Tanzania!!

OUTREACH STORY #4: WORSHIP AND WARFARE IN MATALA

During our time in Tanzania, we sent 2 teams to an unreached village called Matala. Both teams experienced heavy spiritual warfare and struggled against the elements of heat and sun. The first team met a lot of pushback and struggled in many ways, but continued to persevere. We worshipped and interceded in the public square and saw a few precious salvations.

The second team also worshipped and interceded— and they were able to break further into the spiritual barriers!! During one market day, the team spent almost 2 hours worshipping in a public square and evangelizing. Because of persistence and relentless intercession from both teams, we saw 15 PEOPLE SAVED during that one market day in the public square!

On one of the last days, a small group of us went to the local clinic to pray over the sick, as we had been doing for the past 2 weeks. During those 2 weeks we had not always seen healings and our team struggled against the elements of heat and sun. It had been difficult to persevere. But on the last day, the team still obeyed and walked the long distance to the clinic. When they arrived, they prayed for a few people but realized there weren’t any other patients in the waiting room. After asking the doctor, he gladly told us what no one expected: “There is no one left. Over the past weeks, your teams have prayed over and HEALED EVERYONE WHO WAS SICK in this entire village!”

God is FIGHTING OUR BATTLES in Tanzania!

OUTREACH STORY #5: THE SONG OF THE REDEEMED

One of my personal favorite parts of outreach was worshipping in Swahili, in churches and with people groups all over Tanzania.

A worship gathering with the current DTS at YWAM Kilimanjaro, singing “Ndio Bwana” (Yes Lord)

Our worship breaks unseen walls of intimidation and fear. Our worship encourages and uplifts the body of Christ! Our worship connects us in love for one another. Our worship opens a pathway for us to feel the love of God and to express our pure devotion to Him.

Dancing with children at King’s Kids in Kilimanjaro and singing the song “Yesu wa Baraka” (Jesus of Blessings)

God is HAVING A PRAISE PARTY in Tanzania!

THANK YOU FOR READING!

A beautiful sunrise over Mount Kilimanjaro as seen from the remote village of Engikaret, Tanzania. Even though some people groups in Tanzania are still unreached by missionaries, God is already revealing His glorious nature to them…

"For since the creation of the world God’s invisible qualities—his eternal power and divine nature—have been clearly seen, being understood from what has been made..." (Romans 1:20, NIV)

March 8, 2021March 19, 2021

Africa Outreach and Secondary School Update

🚨READ TO THE END FOR INFO ON MY NEXT SCHOOL🚨
Looking to give? Find instructions at the end of this update!

Jesus is worthy of praise in EVERY NATION and EVERY TONGUE!

Our Discipleship Training School has just returned from 🇹🇿TANZANIA🇹🇿– a beautiful country full of a vibrant and lively people! We spent almost 2 months doing mission work that fell into these three categories: training, evangelism, and mercy ministry. Our team was busy for 7 weeks and I have many stories to tell about miraculous healings, lives restored, and battles won… God deserves the glory for every single miracle.

Training: As a worship leader, my favorite part of the trip was learning African worship songs and learning to sing in Swahili. We visited many SCHOOLS and CHURCHES where translation was required to share a message, but that didn’t mean we couldn’t worship in the same language! It was an incredible privilege to encourage children and adults by SHARING TESTIMONIES and teaching them about God’s love.

Evangelism: Our team visited houses and started conversations in public marketplaces, sharing the love of Jesus that has changed our lives. Worship often took the forefront during these events, and our teams witnessed the change in atmosphere. On several occasions, God HEALED PHYSICAL INFIRMITIES as we worshipped, and during one of our public worship sessions, our group saw 15 PEOPLE ACCEPT JESUS!

Mercy Ministry: When we visited houses, carrying the Gospel with us, our teams also brought PHYSICAL GIFTS of food and valuable supplies like soap to bless the families. Twice our teams traveled over 10 miles on foot, carrying hiking backpacks filled with these supplies to remote houses that are inaccessible by car. During these visits we would often also see salvations and healings! God called us to Tanzania not only to bring the message of the Gospel, but also to be His hands and feet and to SERVE in tangible ways.

Hakuna Mungu kama wewe / There is no God like You
Hakuna nahata kwepo / There is no one like Him! 
HAKUNA MUNGU KAMA WEWE - Worship Song in Swahili

Pictured above: Our team built 3 different houses for Maasai widows in the region of Tanzania called Engikaret. The house pictured above was built for a widow named *Tumaini*, which means “Hope” in Swahili. One day after we finished our work, the widow treated us to yummy chai tea. The people of Tanzania are truly hospitable!

We made the houses from a framework of sticks that is covered with a mud mixture that dries in the sun like Tanzanian cement. This mud mixture is made with dirt, water, and COW MANURE! 🙂 If it works, it works. All this to say, I have officially learned what it means to “get my hands dirty” as a missionary. If I wasn’t already signed on for missions, this experience sealed the deal.

JESUS IS WORTH IT!

Lessons in Leadership

In addition to my role as a DTS student, I also led a group of 11 students from our Worship Elective, organizing teams and formulating strategies to stay prepared despite our ever-changing schedule. All of my fellow students are qualified worship leaders who took initiative and gave everything for the Gospel– it was a privilege to serve with each one of them.

Although I have led teams before, our overseas outreach was a very different atmosphere and I found myself praying for guidance almost every single day! On one of my off days, the Lord guided me to study the book of Nehemiah, which He used to speak into my situation and teach me about leadership through the process.

Even though many people in Tanzania are still unreached with the Gospel, God has already revealed His nature to them through His beautiful creation. We saw so many stunning sunrises and sunsets… the heavens declaring His Glory!

The Adventure Continues: SCHOOL OF MINISTRY DEVELOPMENT

During my time in Africa, God opened the door for me to stay at YWAM Orlando and continue to develop my calling of Hospitality and Worship ministry. God is sifting and shaping me as a leader, and I strongly believe that this next school will accelerate the process.

On April 5, I will be returning to YWAM Orlando to attend a School of Ministry Development, a school designed to develop leadership qualities and teach how to operate well in long-term ministry. During the first 3 months of this school, I will receive more teaching and have more hands-on opportunities to lead ministry efforts in the Orlando area! The lessons I learned on outreach about leadership are just the beginning.

My financial need for this 5-month school is $7500.

God has already provided $500 towards my goal through the faithful giving of supporters like you! Please prayerfully consider supporting me in this next school. If you have supported me in the past or are on this mailing list, I would love to have a phone call or in-person meeting during the next 3 weeks to provide more information and answer questions.

HOW TO GIVE:

DIRECT: ywamorlando.com/pay/
1. Scroll Down the Webpage…
2. Payment Type: “Payment for a Student”
3. Name: Anna Tuttle
4. School: SOMD

OTHER WAYS:
Paypal: paypal.me/annactuttle
Venmo: @annactuttle
Cashapp: @annactuttle

THANK YOU ALL FOR READING! MAY GOD BLESS YOU ALL.
Bwana Asifiwe! / Praise the Lord!

January 2, 2021

Let’s Go, God!

In the crushing, In the pressing
You are making new wine
“New Wine” by Hillsong Worship

The winds of change are blowing! After a short Christmas break in Miami, I am once again preparing to leave home. The new year has begun which means that our DTS will be flying across the Atlantic to Tanzania, Africa, where we will be aiding the mission work and continuing to train at YWAM’s Arusha base. For many in our group, including myself, this will be our first time to the African continent– for others in the group, their first time leaving the States altogether!

Because of the global pandemic, our class has experienced a unique kind of pressing. Our ever-changing plans, quarantine loneliness, and fear of an uncertain future have all been present reminders that this life is a vapor. Answering the call to global missions in 2020 unquestionably demands a reliance on Jesus and a single-minded pursuit of His heart. There’s no room for reservations — He wants it all!

Like the writer of one of my favorite Christmas hymns, “In the Bleak Midwinter”, our group has come to realize that we have so little to give… and yet so often we still find ourselves holding back something. Whether it’s physical or emotional security, dreams for the future, or even personal dignity, we are called to give it all to Him, trusting that He will supply our every need. We trust that His heart is kind towards us and that His plans for us are better than everything we could be grasping so tightly.

"Of old, You laid the foundation of the earth,
And the heavens are the work of Your hands.
They will perish, but You will endure.
Yes, they will all grow old like a garment;
Like a cloak You will change them,
And they will be changed,
But You are the same..."
Psalm 102:25-27

We have learned a lot as a DTS, but as I look forward to our upcoming trip, I am so excited to see what God has in store for our team in Tanzania. I pray that we will be submitted to His leading and patient to listen for His voice.

Through worship songs, messages, and teachings over the past month or so, God has been pressing on my heart how important it is to fully trust Him with my future. As my circumstances bend and change unexpectedly, I am challenged to act according to my belief that He holds it all together.

As I continue after DTS to attend a School of Worship, I will be searching for opportunities to continue serving my Jesus through the ministry of worship leading and songwriting. I know He will continue to reveal more of Himself and whisk me further into this adventure with Him. I’m so excited!

Thank you for reading. Happy New Year!