Surviving Part One of Outreach Update

We arrived in Iceland December 23, 2010, we were suppose to arrive December 18th but were delayed five days in London due to weather. The first two nights we stayed in a hostel, spending most of the two days praying, calling the airline to work out our next flight, traveling to the airport in the attempt to get some kind of help, and figuring out how to stay on budget. Finally we got a flight booked for Monday night. It wasn’t unlit a few hours before we were leaving to go to the airport for our second attempt at leaving England that we realized we were staying right across the street from Kensington Gardens.

Our second attempt to leave failed Monday the 20th. We didn’t know what to do. We didn’t have the money to stay anywhere or to travel to find a place to stay. A few minutes after we made our final decision to go back to Holmsted, a lady that worked for the airport came up to us and asked if we wanted to stay on the floor of a conference room in a hotel for free, food provided. We had to make a quick decision, and decided to take the offer. God really blessed us the next two nights. The first night at the Hotel (our third night in London) we were in a smaller conference room , it held 30 people total. They gave us free internet, really really good food, opened up a couple empty rooms so we could shower, and everyone was extremely helpful and nice. The next day we were moved to a different hotel, a bigger one closer to the airport. This conference room held around 100 people or more. We continued to get food, internet, showers, help, and a good story.

Our third attempt at leaving was Wednesday night December 22. God continued to bless us (with the help of some friends) we were upgraded to first class, and was able to hang out in the first class lounge complete with free food and drinks. We also met really cool Icelandic people.

Arriving five days late we landed in Iceland after 1:00 a.m. and got to the Salvation Army Guesthouse about 3:00 a.m. December 23rd.

Something that we learned right away was that pretty much everything shuts down from the 24th until the 27th . So there wasn’t much to do besides enjoy Iceland at Christmas time.

During the first two weeks we got to know the DTS that was on their lecture phase here in Iceland. They had about about 2 weeks left before they left for their outreach in Kenya. They were very welcoming and fun to hang out with. They showed us the ropes and taught us a little about Iceland. From Christmas until after New Years we helped where we could, made friends and a few contacts, brainstormed a lot of our ideas, and spent a lot of time in prayer and worship. During the holidays the Icelandic people and business schedule is all over the place, in a good way, it just made it harder for us to make a concrete schedule.

New Years was absolutely amazing, I have never seen so many fireworks in my life. I could combine all the fireworks of 4th of July and New years that I have seen and this still beats it. Everyone buys their own fireworks, and not just small ones, but the ones that are illegal in most states...the big dogs. It sounded like a war zone outside. You could be walking down the street and fireworks would be going off 20 ft from the ground. Iceland also has a tradition of going to huge bonfires, they are set up all over the city and they are huge! The holidays were so lovely and definitely something I will never forget.

Surviving The Flash Forward of Time

It feels like just a few weeks ago that I left to come here to Holmsted, but on the other hand it feels like I have always been here. I have been at Holmsted 101 days. 101 Days! We just finished week 7 of the DTS. Where is the time going?

Update on the DTS, since I have not written an update since the first week I arrived.

There are 25 students, 18 girls and 7 guys, age ranging from 17 to 26. They are a powerful school not only when it comes to playing football(soccer) and volleyball but when it comes to prayer and worship. Very social bunch, but also a very high amount of individuals that are introverts and internal processors. There are many extraverts, but majority are either borderline or more introvert. It is a good mix. And again very social, a very fun school.

First week was introduction with a few speakers from the base, we heard from the base leader Aimee and her amazing and inspiring stories. The last day of the week was Intercession with Steven Hanratty. Which covered Hearing Gods voice, Spiritual warfare and a few other things.

Second week, half of it was a continuation of Intercession with Steven, then the other half was Connie Taylor speaking on The Cross. She told stories and talked about laying down rights.

Third week Communication with Fiona Gifford. She covered so much, was very challenging and very good. I have so many pages of notes I don’t know where I would start.

Forth week Destiny by Design with JoyLynn, she covered a lot also and I wouldn’t know where to start. I missed her last 2 days due to being really sick, and not being able to leave my room. I was really bummed. I have recovered from being sick with the help of Jesus and antibiotics.

Fifth week was Relationship and Sexuality with Pat Caven. Wow, what a week. It started out good, hit a bump mid week, then God showed up and rocked peoples worlds Thursday and Friday. I think it was one of the more tiring weeks, emotionally and spiritually, but it was so amazing. The Students really stepped up!

Week Six Biblical World View with Tove. Tove was great, she spoke a lot on Secular and Sacred divide, and also about the 7 Spheres of Society. And how Sacred and Secular should not be divided. Very good week.

This past weekend the 5th-7th of November was long weekend, I went with a group of 9 other people to Wales to one of the students houses. It was so much fun, and very chill! I loved it.

Week 7 The Character and Nature of God with Ray Rempt. Ray is a very wise man, and very smart. I enjoyed hearing he thoughts and hearing his stories. This week gave our minds some exercise. I liked it.

On the Tuesday of week four we announced the Outreach Locations. They are India, Fiji and Iceland. I am leading a Team with Paul Clarkson (England) to Iceland, I am extremely excited. We have lot of opportunities there. Like working with a youth center and a coffee shop. We want to leave room for creativity and we want to build friendships. We are still working on exactly what we will be doing, and I will keep you posted once things are more solid.

The Students who are joining us on this awesome adventure are Ran (Israel), Heather (USA), Kirstine (Denmark), Courtney (USA), and Danielle (Holland).

I am very excited to see where the rest of the lecture phase takes us.

I will try to update more often.

If you have any questions please fill free to ask, I would love to answer.

Surviving the Goodbyes and the Hellos

To update everyone, I am in England.

The past few months have been a bit intense, a lot of traveling, packing and unpacking then repacking, finding time to have my last hangout time with friends. And in between all of that getting ready to leave for England.

The days flew by fast, it was so hard to keep track. Then all of a sudden I am on a plane to Atlanta for a trip with my mom and sister. Those six days seem to fly by even faster. Next thing I knew I was having to say goodbye to them and get on a plane to London.

About three or four weeks before leaving I often found myself thinking “What on earth have I gotten myself into?” But I know without a doubt that this is where God wants me.

I have been at Holmsted Manor a little over a week, and it has felt like I have been here for a month. The first couple of days were chill and pretty quiet. When Sunday hit, there were people for all over Western Europe arriving for the Western Europe DTS Staff Gathering, or something along those lines. I had also been signed up for it. Monday through Thursday we had tons of worship, prayer, networking time, lectures, awesome speakers and tons and tons of information. Really good information. I am really glad I was a part of it. I have been felling very overwhelmed by the thoughts of staffing my first DTS, and this conference was a good way to help get me more out of the box. To see how other schools are run, that no DTS is the same or should be the same. How to disciple the individual, and what the lines not to cross are. There was so much more information that I am still processing.

There were a whole lot of pretty rad people there too, I have a lot of new facebook friends.

Holmsted, is an amazing place, and it is very easy to see that God is moving here, and that he is doing great things. The Manor itself is incredible, the detail that was put into building this place, is very inspiring. And even with how big this place is, it is still very comfortable and welcoming. The people here are even better then the Manor. I don’t even have words to describe how wonderful these people are. I am so thankful that God has put me here.

Well I think that is it for now. Hopefully I will get better at updating more often.

Surviving the Wait

Hey guys this is my first post obviously. I thought I would catch you up on the last few months.

Well I guess it kind of need to start out 4 years ago.

I did my DTS (Discipleship Training School) with YWAM (Youth With A Mission) in 2006 in New Zealand and my outreach phase was in India. It was absolutely amazing and life changing. So over the past 3 years I have been trying to figure out what was next. I knew I wouldn't be staying in Colorado much longer. In the mean time I became a Leader at my High School Youth group _tag, and volunteered at the YWAM base that is less than a mile from my house.

Over 3 years I thought I was going to go back to New Zealand, that didn't happen. Next I though I was going to go South Africa to do a photography School. After being accepted and 40 days before I was suppose to leave God said no. Which it worked out great in the end. For a year and a half after that I had no idea what I was going to do. God was always faithful through the process. Giving me jobs (a remarkable job being a part time nanny for a few families. One I have had for almost 3 years. These jobs have changed my life and help me grow as a person.) He also gave me amazing friends and people who became pretty much family over the 3 years. It was still hard though at times, people would ask me what I was doing or doing next, I wouldn't be able to reply. My whole life I knew what I was going to do after high school, do a DTS and be involved with YWAM. But after the DTS it was one of the most confusing time of my life. At one point this lady asked me "is YWAM where God really wanted you." I was even more confused, YWAM is where I thought God did want me.

Being patient was not fun. But in the end it paid off.

Now lets go back 6 months to the end of December. I met this awesome girl who became one of my best friends. The first Tuesday of the year January 5th this girl Hannah and I went to Revival Town at New Life Church. It was during worship when I heard God say "GO!!" (Keep in mind that I have been praying and asking God for this for 3 Years and He always replied with soon and be patient. Until now.) The voice took me back and I wasn't sure what it was. So I said "What?!?" He replied with "GO!!" I asked "Go where." He said "Holmsted." I asked "When." He said "7 months."

So there it was finally after 3 years.

Holmsted Manor is a YWAM base in England about 20 min North of Brighton, and maybe a hour South of London. The funny thing is 4 of my friends had gone there to do their DTS. Hannah included. I wrote the base told them I was interested and they sent me my application. It was after that when my family found out that the Base leader was someone my family knew when she was about 15 and I was 2. Things have been falling in to place after that. I was officially accepted on May 4th. The next day my dad found an amazing price on a ticket and I leave August 11th out of Atlanta.

I have 2 months and 18 days left (not counting today).

I am working on applying for a 2 year religious worker visa. That has been a hard process, you think you found the online application then it just takes you to a different page. Luckily the base found the actual link for it and I will be filling it out and sending it in today.

The next step after that will be Surviving the next 2 months and 18 days. Which will be insane. My dad's birthday, my brothers birthday, my birthday, Desperation, maybe a wedding, California for 2 weeks, going away party, two more birthdays and in between that packing and work.

But I can't wait, so bring it on.