I feel like I've been in a season where God's showing, revealing, and hinting at the mysteries of Himself and letting me explore more. It's awesome, it's amazing, it's fun. It has all been in a fun spirit like "Look at this! What about this!" "Oh this is cool, how about this!" It is mystical and real at the same time...it seems like an idea and a law. It's weird and sooo cool and you just can't help but to want more. So anyways I was at our night church last week and sometime in between our getting up every 5 minutes to dance and clap to a new song, I came back to my chair and there was a nail placed on my seat. I was sitting off to the side away from everyone. Hmmmm. Wow. This is cool. This is really cool. A personal message in my real world from God, "I'm Here." "Remember, this is what it's all about."
It got me wondering, did God ever do something like that to Jesus? Did he set a nail on his seat when he came back from the bathroom or on a rock when he went out to pray. Did he ever give Jesus a 'remember what this is all about' sign. An encouragement that 'I'm here, don't worry.' I think he did. I think the personal, loving, intimate God that I know would definitely do something like that. Hallelujah.
Im sorry there are no pictures I can't get them from my camera to the blog at the moment...enjoy some of googles finest...
Where am I? I'm alive, that's good. The team is well and we are bringing the Kingdom wherever we go, also both good things. It is taking a while for me to get used to Africa though. There is more than a big difference between Asian and African culture. In Asia people are shy, polite, reserved, in Africa they are louder, pushier and very blunt I guess. It's hard for me to get used to because I'm not really a loud, in-your-face person. So I'm definitely being stretched in the area of speaking up, standing up for myself and not letting people walk over me in a sense.
Saying goodbye to Asia wasn't that bad, I know that I will be back. Thailand was my favorite out of the places that I saw, but I would love to explore more maybe China and the islands some day as well. (Indonesia, Philippines...) From closed countries, to eating bugs, to waterfalls and caves, bananas off the tree for breakfast, ridiculously large malls, really good food to really bad food, beautiful beaches to dried rice patties, mui thai matches, motorbikes, spies, secret police, refugees, white-water rafting, mountain villages, country orphanages, coffee shops, churches secret and open, markets, exhaust, rice, rice, rice.. I will never forget the places, the events and the many many people I met along the way. LOVE YOU ASIA SEE YOU AGAIN SOOOON!!
We are called to Togo for next month, we currently do not have a contact set up yet so if anyone knows anyone in Togo please let me know asap thanks!!
Ghana. We are stoked to be spending the first part of the month with team Jubilee again! (We were together in Guatemala)We are working with a wonderful woman here Reverend Martha (or Momma as Matthew and I secretly call her) she is so sweet and loving and just wants to take care of us, but watch out when that church bell rings haha she can spit fire. The outskirts of the capital city aren't what I had in mind when I romantically thought of Africa but this is where I'm needed right now. For now I am glad to be here but I cannot wait till I can explore Africa more, I feel how big it is and I want to see it all.
OH! FAVOR! We got to hear the President of Ghana speak at a national prayer meeting the other day! It was amazing, a huge square right off the coast. History says Joseph was a prisoner one day and the next day he was basically second in power to the King of Egypt. God will put you in the presence of people of influence are you ready to influence those people? I thought about what I would say to such an audience, I still don't really know, but I know when given the chance I will find the words. So let's recap – Costa Rica - one day I was teaching english in the slums the next day I was teaching english in the slums WITH the Presidents nephew. Thailand - one day training for a soccer camp outside of a government building the next day I'm inside the government building praying with the "Mayor" for the King of Thailand! The NEXT day we find ourselves in the VIP section of a Mui Thai fight sitting next to that same "Mayor" and the equivalent to a "Senator"! There are more from the other countries we have been in but it's past the point of even saying oh cool or that figures but now I expect it. "Of course" as Jory and I say when God's favor lands on us, when awesome ridiculous things happen, of course, of course they happen God loves you he wants to bless you he wants to help you he wants to give you favor. Expect it.
Shout Outs to Mom and Dad and my Beloved Sister Elyssa!!
Grandpa and Grandma, Friends and Family!
S Dog ~ Whats up
P Dog ~ Happy B-Day
Auntie Karen Feel Better! I miss you! I love you! "It ain't even deep!"
I feel like I need to blog more so here are some thoughts I need to get rid of...
Process, process, process if I hear the word process one more time I'm going to puke. Why can't I just get the answer and the change quickly painlessly? I'll tell you. It's the walk, it's in the walk where you get the responsibilities, stewarding experience, knowledge, wisdom and authority to work what your being given. It helps you understand the worth of what your getting. So walk, you'll be ok.
I'm convinced way too much of the world has only two temperatures, "I can't believe it's this hot, this is way too hot" and "at least it's not killing me anymore hot", 500% humidity is a given.
Take the grace, please.
Dreams come true, God has more in store for you than you could ever imagine, abundantly more. GO AFTER IT!! See it, claim it, get it. See it, see what you can become or where your going. Now take one step towards it, your on your way don't stop!
Honor and Integrity are two VERY big keys in unlocking your GREATEST destiny.
Be open, talk and share. I know it's weird and uncomfortable but please do us all a favor and let us help you.
I have problems. Haha I like that one. So do you. Hahaha :P
Just be you. Just Be You. JUST BE YOU. Just Be You. Just be you.
It started with a plane ride across the Pacific it's ending with a new man. I've learned a lot here in Asia, a lot about myself, who I am who I really am. I've grown up, you could say I went from boy to man. I've changed in ways that are unreversible, I've been through, seen, felt, experienced things that are so good so real that I can never go back. Nothing less will satisfy. Thailand, Cambodia and Vietnam - the change, the application and learning how to maintain.
I have done a lot here in Asia it feels like I've been here for a lot longer than 3 months but at the same time I feel thats it's only been about a month. Some awesomely beautiful places and some really dirty places. Some peaceful places and some of the most crazy ridiculous places. No people and literally a million people. Thailand was filled with adventure, waterfalls, rivers, secret missions, mountains and jungle. Cambodia to be in a country that was so recently experienced ge/ nocide was extreme, it really was like the wild west, you couldn't help but have the feeling that 'anything goes' and that is just the reality. Vietnam has been really cool, experiencing com/ munism first hand is something that I never though I would be able to do. Countless hours of bus rides and 4 countries later it's hard to remember all the things we have done. It has been a life changing experience. I will be coming back.
Next step Africa, I'm not sure what to expect but I know that I feel like big things are coming. Crazy amazing things. I feel that we are going to start applying the things we've dreamed of and talk about and I'm excited.
Here is a blog from Sean Smith our previous Squad Leader, he wrote everything that i was feeling...
"Experience has taught me that I connect best with others when I connect with the core of myself. When I allow God to liberate me from unhealthy dependence on people, I listen more attentively, love more unselfishly, and am more compassionate and playful. I take myself less seriously, become aware that the breath of the Father is on my face and that my countenance is bright with laughter in the midst of an adventure that I thoroughly enjoy." ---B. Mannining
Hard to believe this is my life,
When we're invited to meet the "Governor" of one of the provinces in Thailand and then allowed to pray for the King in the name of Jesus with all the government officials in the building in a Buddhist country!
I find myself in a country I can't mention! In a church I can't tell you about! Worshiping the Lord in an Illegal manner after being escorted and monitored by a government official- who's job is to monitor people just like me! Experiencing the Holy Spirit show up in that church during worship, then soon after being forced to stop because the police heard the sound from the streets.
When I get to spend my days clearing land for refugee children and finish everyday by jumping into a refreshing river in the middle of the jungle for my shower!
I find myself among the only foreigners at what seems to be a hidden a Muy Thai fight. Sitting right next to the most important government official (equivalent to a US senator) in the province along with the Governor we met a few days prior and all their families in the VIP section! Conversing,, laughing, and enjoying an evening together as people! Being allowed to take pictures with the fighters and go in the ring and goof off! The whole night cost a $1.50!
When I get to hike through a hidden cave that you could fit a house through in the middle of the Jungle and spend the afternoon exploring the river that ran through it!
When I wake up everyday in my tent, with the option of picking bananas from the trees, or eating fresh Coconut from the Palms!
When the local people in the middle of the Jungle cooked and served us every meal!
When I get to spend my Christmas with 46 of the most amazing and inspiring people in Bangkok Thailand!
When I didn't ask for any of this yet it keeps on happening!
I'm so grateful for the time I've been given in Northern Thailand and Neighboring countries! The people we've met will forever be in my heart! What a privilege it is to have been here!
Everymorning and afternoon there is a herd or flock or pride or gaggle of goats that walk by our front gate here at New Horizons. One day Sage and I were coming back from the market with our hands full of groceries. We are located close to the bus stop, so often busses are parked outside of our gate. So we walked around the bus and walked up to the gate and while rearranging grocery bags and picking out the key I dropped the key inside the gate. Luckily! There was a dumpster right next to the gate so I went over to try to rig something up to get the keys back. Unluckily Sage had to pee... really bad. I set the groceries down and she set hers down so she could run in as fast as she could. I finally got the keys and opened the gate and Sage pushed it open and started running down the driveway towards the center. Just as the gate was swinging out of my reach I noticed a stampede of goats running around the corner of the bus right at me, all our groceries and the wide open gate.
"Huh?...Uh-oh....AAHHHHHH!!!!!"
Decision time. Option #1 Get the gate and stop the goats from getting in. Option #2 Grab the groceries and save the food. Option #3 Scare the goats away. Frankly i've never been in this situation before and so I didn't really now what the best option was. So I improvised, I started with the scare and ran towards the goats screaming (I'm not sure if I was screaming at them or if I was just screaming because I was scared hahaha) it turns out they are pretty brave and were unmoved by my attempt. So then I preceded with a little deciding dance between option 1 and 2. I ended up spilling some bags and almost falling over but I decided that it was best to get the gate, so I ran over and slammed the gate as best I could (its a huge gate). This is about the time I can hear Sage laughing histarically while she's still running to the bathroom. So now the goats are all up in our food helping themselves. I ran over and started pushing them away and stealing my food back and grabbing the bags. For the most part they got away with a few bites and all of the carrots... hahaha times like that make life worth living :)
Hey everybody!! Greetings from the Kingdom of Cambodia!! Let me tell you it has been a crazy couple of weeks...
Starting with the end of Thailand... We all met back up in Bangkok at the YWAM base and then in the next day or two we left for Cambodia. But a miscommunication about our transportation led us to "pack light" so for this month I basically just packed a
regular day pack backpack. Great! Haha but that's what we do adapt and prosper through hard times. Cambodia is beautiful. It is a country with an extreme past and a bright future. Ok so we left for Cambodia the trip was fast and very relaxing. The hotel we stayed at next had a pool which was sooooo awesome. We spent a day exploring Angkor Wat the '8th wonder of the world' which was unbelievable, one of the coolest things that I've ever seen! Google it.
Big things were changing in me during our last month in Thailand. I grew.. a lot. Funny how things work out because as we arrived in Cambodia I was offered the position of team leader of Increase! And of course I accepted! Jory has been moved up to squad leader, big changes for our squad. We have three new squad leaders and three new team leaders. I am extremely excited about this position it is something that I have needed for a long time. I have a lot to give but I have never had an opportunity in this way. I want it I need it and I am loving it.
So far this month has been interesting, definitely a stretching time for me. We are just now settling in. We have amazing contacts here. Real kingdom people, it is very refreshing. For the most part we will be teaching english and doing some music ministry and some other prayer and childrens ministry, a lot of children as usual. It's fun, it is very peaceful out in the country. Now that we are settling in I am planning on getting back into the blogging groove I feel that I have been lacking for a while. So that is my update for now, more details and thoughts soon!
Something that I must bring up is my financial situation. I am still raising money for this trip and this ministry. My responsibility has greatly increased lately all the more reason why I need to stay out here. I am currently just over 50% funded. Please prayerfully consider donating or re-donating to my fund. Also please be in prayer with me in finding some monthly supporters. Keep in eye out for my newsletter at the end of this month. Please spread the word about what I am doing, i need everyones help. You make all of this possible.
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Thailand...
I have found myself.
I have found happiness again.
I am not the great I Am but I am who I am.
God made me.
The way that I am.
I am unique.
That's good.
God made me unique, He made me who I am.
He did not make me so that I can turn around and change to be like someone else.
I am who I am. I am who I am. I am who I am.
I am not anyone else but me.
Thank God, because I know me, I like me.
It's easy and fun to be me when I know that just me is who I need to be.
This last month I have found so much freedom in myself and in playing music. It's so awesome and it's sooo fun. I am who I am and I play from inside instead of reading it off the paper.
Month Three has come to an end. I apologize for the lack of information and the small amount of blogs. It feels like I havn't stopped moving since I left Central America, but that is ok, this month has been so much fun. I have grown up alot in the last couple weeks, I have done and experienced some amazing things. It's hard to blog about alot of it because I think I'm still processing, still learning. But I am forever changed by Thailand and it will forever have a special place in my heart. We are off to Cambodia tomorrow, here is a short video I put together showing about half of the things we've done in Thailand. (Some clips we're stolen from Jory's up coming feature film, keep a look out for it!)
When I get to spend my days clearing land for refugee children and finish everyday by jumping into a refreshing river in the middle of the jungle for my shower!
I find myself among the only foreigners at what seems to be a hidden a Muy Thai fight. Sitting right next to the most important government official (equivalent to a US senator) in the province along with the Governor we met a few days prior and all their families in the VIP section! Conversing,, laughing, and enjoying an evening together as people! Being allowed to take pictures with the fighters and go in the ring and goof off! The whole night cost a $1.50! 
When I get to hike through a hidden cave that you could fit a house through in the middle of the Jungle and spend the afternoon exploring the river that ran through it! 
So far this month has been interesting, definitely a stretching time for me. We are just now settling in. We have amazing contacts here. Real kingdom people, it is very refreshing. For the most part we will be teaching english and doing some music ministry and some other prayer and childrens ministry, a lot of children as usual. It's fun, it is very peaceful out in the country. Now that we are settling in I am planning on getting back into the blogging groove I feel that I have been lacking for a while. So that is my update for now, more details and thoughts soon!
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