Stories from Amsterdam and beyond...

Hallo again from Holland,

It is difficult to summarize the past four weeks in the Netherlands, but I have become convinced of God's desire to use prayer to reveal Himself to others. Here are a few stories to share how God has used some of our prayers here.

A few weeks ago during the homeless ministry we have been serving every Monday and Friday night, a women named Clare came. I was playing some worship songs outside when I started a conversation with her. From Poland, she had landed in Amsterdam without a job or a home. I shared what I had been doing in Amsterdam and some of who Jesus is. By the end of the conversation, she said that she did not believe in God, but I offered prayer anyway. She was looking for a job, so I simply asked God to provide her with one. I did not see her for two weeks after this conversation.

The next time I saw her, she looked much happier than before. In the two weeks after getting a chance to pray for her, she did find a job and a place to stay, at a Christian hostel! In that time, other fellow believers had shared the love of God and the Gospel. She was resistant, but the love of God broke through her doubt. She had asked for God's Spirit to fill her and everything changed in that moment. She was now convinced not only that God was real but that His Holy Spirit was amazing. After introducing her to some of the girls on the team, they met with her a few times. The discipleship process had begun. Unfortunately she had to return to Poland, but not without coming to meet the Lord. Now we must continue to pray!

This past week, my team has been partnering with a church in the city of Groningen, about 2.5 hours outside of Amsterdam by train. While partnering with a local church, we were meeting college students during the day to share the Gospel. Wednesday afternoon, I approached a group of students with Amanda, a student from California. After sharing what they were studying we shared why we had come to Holland. A couple became interested as we shared. Rebecca was a Christian but her boyfriend, Yenz, was not a believer. He said he believed there was "something out there" but could not be sure of a one way. We continued to share the Gospel and listen to who he was. He was open for us to pray for him at the end of the conversation but not ready for life with Jesus. We prayed for the love and Presence of God to reveal itself to him and left.

Rebecca had invited us to her Bible study the next day. I went with Amanda and Elizabeth to the Bible study. When we got there, Rebecca shared how Yenz could not get the prayer out of his mind from earlier in the day. She said he was more open to Jesus and interested in God than at any point in their relationship. It was so encouraging to see the way God moves after our simple prayers. Who knows how many have been impacted through prayer here in Holland?

There are many more stories and testimonies of God's goodness here in Holland and I cannot wait to share more on the next update! God bless, and keep praying!

Amsterdam Update!

Hallo from Amsterdam,

the first four weeks here in the Netherlands have been quite busy, and finally I have a chance to give a short update. I hope it is encouraging and I will be doing more frequent updates now that I know when I will have time. Blessings from Amsterdam!

Off to Europe!

After spending 11 life-changing weeks with over a hundred friends in Kona, Hawaii, I am now en route to the Netherlands. While most of my friends are from Kona are dispersing across the globe to spread the light and love of Jesus, I have the joy of continuing on with a family of 7. After three months, eleven teams will return to share the testimony of God's faithfulness across the nations.

As I currently await a 10 hour flight from Houston to Amsterdam, the anticipation for this journey with the Lord only grows. What part of God's story will we witness? How will He use us to display His glory? What parts of His heart will we discover in Amsterdam? Will God change an entire city in just months? Will lifelong friendships continue to grow? These are just a few of the questions that have stirred my heart in anticipation and expectation. The coming weeks will reveal the plans of God's heart for this family and my friends around the world.

May God's love and goodness capture hearts in Amsterdam.

"Nations will come to your light, and kings to the brightness of your dawn." Isaiah 60:3

(Next update will be from the Netherlands!)

Awakening and Amsterdam

The time is nearing for a 3 month outreach to Amterdam and the love of God to change the people of the Netherlands! Enjoy the update. The light of Jesus is shining upon us!

Freedom, Prayer, and Preaching God's glory. Week 6 of Awaken DTS

God continues to love us and bring our hearts closer to His as we enter into the 6th week of the Awaken DTS. Enjoy the update!

Laying Down Your Rights

Aloha from Kona!

This past week, we had the honor of hearing from the founder of our mission, Loren Cunningham, and his wife, Darlene Cunningham. Though each day was powerful, Wednesday afternoon was spent with Loren Cunningham on laying down our rights. Starting with Mark 8:34-38,

"If anyone would come after me, he must deny himself and take up his cross and follow me..." (34) There is a cost to following Jesus. Understanding his immense love is the key to weighing the cost of following Jesus, but their is a cost.

There were times in Loren's life where God challenged him to lay down a multi-million dollar job, his office as an ordained pastor in the Assemblies of God denomination, his wife and his own life. As Loren shared the stories of walking out these trials, my heart was gripped when he shared on surrendering his wife, Darlene, to the Lord. Years ago, Loren and Darlene were traveling in Mexico and the vehicle they were driving spun out of control. Both were flung from the vehicle and injured severely. As Loren came to his senses, he saw Darlene lying unconscious. As he looked into what appeared to be his wife departing to be with Jesus, Loren heard God ask if he would still follow him. With tears in his eyes, he realized that he had nothing left but Jesus. His commitment to following Jesus was unwavering in his heart. Shortly after, the ambulance arrived saying that she would not make it through the night, but she recovered over the following days!

Do I think God restored Darlene based on Loren's obedience to surrender her? I don't know, but I know that Loren learned the secret of giving your life to Jesus. After each of these stories of laying down good things for the sake of the Gospel, there was an obvious freedom and thankfulness flowing from Loren's words.

The day ended with a challenge from Loren. Would you surrender your right to food? sleep? your money? your possessions? a family? marriage? your life? As the Lord challenged me, I realized that freedom lies in surrender to Jesus. For

"what good is it for a man to gain the whole world, yet forfeit his soul?" (Mark 8:36)

As the entire class was laying down personal right the Lord was highlighting, an obvious joy was resting on everyone's heart. The less we hang on to the things of this world, the more we can know Jesus. Isn't it good to lay down our rights?

Please check out the podcasts from all our lectures online at http://www.awakendts.com/podcasts/

Awaken DTS Outreach Locations

Hallo! (the Dutch greeting!)

The Netherlands and more specifically Amsterdam will be my new home in just 3 months! The Lord has called a team of 9 young people in love with Jesus to shine on the streets of Amsterdam. It is a joy to release this news as God has been stirring my heart with expectation for this journey! God loves Amsterdam and He certainly loves the team of nine I will be co-leading to Amsterdam!

To all of my friends who have blessed me in prayer, this is the new target in my life for God's love to reveal itself. Please keep praying! God has a lot in store for us and the city of Amsterdam for the three months we will be there.

The video below shows the locations of the other Awaken DTS teams. May His glory cover the Earth!

Day before arrival day!

Hello friends. The 2011 Summer Awaken DTS starts tomorrow!

Awaken DTS 2011 is Coming!

Aloha, the last few weeks I have been in training for the Summer AWAKEN DTS 2011. Check out te highlights! Sorry my face is a little dark!

A Maui visit!

I have had the amazing privilege of returning to the Maui base where I did my own DTS 4 years ago. Check it out!

Men of Glory

Hello, it has been far too long since sharing on God's goodness from Kona, but God has definitely been revealing His goodness!

Psalm 27:13-14

"I am still confident of this; I will see the goodness of the Lord in the land of the living. Wait for the Lord; be strong and take heart and wait for the Lord."

This has been a theme for me as I work in the student services office communicating with hundreds of prospective students. Many have been accepted in the last two weeks and the AWAKEN DTS has grown to 40 plus students already! God is good.

The other aspect of life I wanted to share on and encourage men to do is a small group I am now meeting with on Sunday nights called "men of glory." We are now meeting Sunday nights to learn how to preach and teach, but mainly preach right now. The first night I went, we were told to share 5 minutes on something we are passionate seeing conquered in life. After 2 zeal-filled messages, I couldn't control my anticipation to go and volunteered. After releasing my desire to smash the fear of man forever, God was clearly showing up in my heart and the room continued to stir with passion for God. For 2 plus hours we all preached, encouraged, convicted and blessed each other! I cannot wait to see what God does in this group in the coming weeks and the revelation we get on preaching His Word with zeal and passion!

Let's preach the Word!

California and Community

Hey all, an update on Good Friday.

Arrival Day April Quarte 2011!

Take a look at welcoming and registering 340 students this April! It has been very encouraging to see many of the students arrive that we have been working with the past month in Student Services. Enjoy,

Student Services

Hello friends! I am currently working in the Student Services office in Kona, Hawaii with YWAM. Here is a look at life in the office here. Enjoy!

Why do you eat with sinners?

Aloha from YWAM Kona once again. It turns out that Jesus has had a few surprises in store for me this first week back. First off, the box spring I slept on turned out to be an upside down mattress. I am moving from a dorm of 6 fellow staff to 8 or 9 next month. The 24/7 prayer and worship room on campus now has AC. There are about 5 times the amount of students on campus compared to the summer DTS... And, I was just reminded that Jesus would eat and drink with tax collectors and "sinners".

After just one week here in Kona, I have been so encouraged and refreshed by being around friends from the past summer and others here on base. However, Jesus also gave me a challenge I want to share. It is not a groundbreaking revelation, but a call to be more like Jesus.

I was in a small group of 6 people discussing Luke 5:27-32. Jesus calls Levi, a tax collector, to follow him. He then goes to a great banquet at Levi's house where many "sinners" ate with Jesus. The Pharisees and teachers around complained at this act of Jesus. Jesus responds "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners to repentance." Luke 5:31-32

As we discussed, my heart was convicted about my plans for the next 3 months. I have been looking forward to running after God with my friends here on base the next 3 months before staffing Summer DTS again, but I have very little considered how I will effect the community here in Kona. It can be easy on a YWAM base to get comfortable, but Jesus put himself in the community around him, and loved those who seemed far from God. I still love community living and being around those who are running hard after God. I am just feeling the call to see the church multiplied around the community of Kona, and my hope is that it encourages any who read this, to get into the community around them.

Joy from JESUS! Picture is of the home base entrance

BIP

Jesus is good

At 9pm last night, I returned to my home base in Kona, Hawaii. After saying hello to a few friends, I passed out on a box spring from exhaustion.

As I sit at the campus cafe, my heart has been flooded with the joy of the Lord this morning. He is just so good. Jesus never stops being good! He cannot be anyhting but good! As I look back at the trip in Africa, I can see His hand upon the trip and the revelation of His goodness coming to so many, including myself. To be back with friends who are running after God here is another reminder of His goodness. And this morning, as I read Matthew 5-7, I was again blown away by just how good Jesus is. Jesus!

Just a quick overflow from my heart this morning.

I will be in Kona for a few months, let me know if you want to come visit!

Africa 2011 Teaching Trip

Here is a look at the 6-week trip in Africa with my friends Dan Baumann and Chris Chun. God impacted each of us powerfully, and so many students were touched by the love of God. Thank you everybody for praying for the students, the nations and us. I hope the video is a blessing!

Last stop, Cape Town, South Africa

Hello from YWAM Muizenberg, just outside of Cape Town, South Africa.

As our 6-week journey in Africa comes to a close, we have finished with speaking in the DTS here in Muizenberg for a week. Again, I have seen the love of God impact hearts in a profound way. We have nearly 2 weeks here, and we have been able to spend a lot of time with the students outside of class. This group of about 30 has responded to the week by sharing their increased desire to walk with God, to go on outreach and to dream big for their lives.

Personally, I have been refreshed by the beauty of Cape Town. The journey is slowing down as we have a few days to relax before we head on our 28-hour journey back to the states. Though the winds can knock you over at certain times of the day, there is a definite peace over the YWAM base here. Yet in the midst of the few days to relax, along with my friends, we had the joy of diving with sharks yesterday! It is good to have friends in South Africa! Honestly, it was a life changing experience, and I hope to show a video of what I saw to everyone soon!

Overall, our time in Africa has been filled with the love and joy of the LORD. To see students impacted at the heart level by the love of God, to step out in teaching by the grace of God and walk out against fear, and to grow in friendship with Nigerians, Cameroonians, South Africans, and YWAMers from around the world has truly been joy to my heart. Thank you to everyone for your support and countless prayers. Your prayers are such a blessing to me and these nations, and I hope that the testimonies of God's faithfulness in Africa have been a blessing to you.

I am finishing up a video of our time in Africa and look forward to posting it this week! The picture is me and Chris on top of mount Muizenberg enjoying some Biltong, the local beef jerkey. May the love of God bless you today!

Cameroon encounters the love of Jesus

Bonjour from the Cameroonian international airport in Douala!

What an exciting week! Chris, Dan and I all shared on the love of God in DTS this week and spoke on Genesis in another school. We arrived in Cameroon after a 10 hour boat ride from Nigeria on Saturday night. After speaking in a church Sunday morning and night, we headed to YWAM in Cameroon.

As we arrived to the base, we all felt to share on the intimate love of God. There seemed to be a little bit of a heaviness at the beginning of the week, but we all continued to share our testimonies and the love of God. As the week went on, we felt that God's love was truly beginning to impact the students, and Thursday night made it clear. As Dan shared God's delight in His children and the beauty of running to Jesus every day, the students were beginning to be touched powerfully. We prayed at the close of the night, and joy sprang forth from their hearts. Some were shouting with joy to Jesus while others were embracing each other. As Chris led worship, one student named Herman could not contain the love God had revealed to him. He was shouting outside "Jesus!" without a concern of what people thought. Thank you Jesus! Another student said he woke up at 4am the next day and did the same thing! It didn't wake me up, but it was so powerful to see the students being changed by God's love. Praise Jesus I was able to come to Cameroon!

It's time to head to South Africa for the next few weeks. Bless you all!

Here is a look at the first DTS I ever taught to the right.

You're not Alone

The Africa adventure continued this week in Nigeria. After speaking in DTS with my friend Chris for a whole week, it was time to go to a DTS without my friends. Again, fear told me I would have a hrad time traveling in Nigeria and apeaking on my own, but the Lord is faithful.
Upon saying bye to Chris and Dan for a few days, the peace of God was with me that Sunday morning. I was still thinking hard about what to share and how I could "get through the week," but the Lord did not want me to try and just survive. I was reminded that Jesus came that we would have life and have it to the full. My spirit was challenged to either live life to the fullest while I spoke for 3 days, or I could try and survive. I wrestled with the Lord on what to share, but again the love of God became the topic. So I spoke on the love of God again as well as the book of Ephesians.
It went really well, and I can feel the Lord's Spirit leading as I speak. The challenge of speaking alone was answered by God's faithful Presence in my heart. I am now back with my friends Chris and Dan.
Tomorrow morning (at 3 am) we get on a ship for Cameroon. We will speak in DTS and on the nook of Genesis. Thank you for your prayers, and please keep praying! God is Immanuel!

Perfect love casts out fear

As I stood up to speak to 9 students for a week of lecture with my friend Chris Chun, my heart was racing. I had prepared for speaking and sharing what God put on my heart, but I was still nervous. As my heart beat faster, I opened with a word of prayer and gave the week to the Lord. My heart did not stop racing, but the love of God became my focus. I spoke the first and second day on the love and mercy of God, as well as the holy Spirit. The Lord truly was casting out fear each day as I spoke on His wonderful love. Myself and Chris made great connections with the 9 students and I truly feel we were used by god this week. Praise God!

I have always had a great fear of speaking in front of others, especially for a long time. I tend to speak fast too, so I did not know how I was going to share God's love with them. At the end of the week however, one student named Paul said that he was "truly encouraged by our testimonies and thought we were walking with God." He shared that His heart had been turned from church after witnessing so much religiosity, but that our coming encouraged him to be sold out for God again. Thank you JESUS!

Amazing week of sharing in DTS. I will be speaking on my own Monday-Wednesday this coming week. Please keep praying. Bless you all!

God loves Nigeria

Our first week in Nigeria has been an open door to share the love of God. After a long flight to Lagos, NIgeria and a short one to Port Harcourt Nigeria, we got started right away teaching in the YWAM DTS. I have had the opportunity to share on the love of God for 2 days. It has been amazing stepping out in this with God, and the students are hungry to know more of God. It is quite a challenge for me too, but God has been faithful and blessed me with words to share with the students. Thats all for now.

keep praying for us in Nigeria! Love you all

Nigeria with Jesus awaits

Dan Baumann, Chris Chun, and myself are waiting to board for Nigeria. As we wait for quite a long flight, our hearts are stirred to serve the people of Nigeria, Cameroon and South Africa. God has orchestrated our trip so far, and we eagerly await the doors he opens.

Personally, I feel that Nigeria is highlighted as a place where God wants to touch hearts powerfully and intimately. Please pray for open hearts and that the love of God transforms hearts forever. One of my greatest desires is to see people set on fire to pursue God with no hesitation or restriction. I long God impact hearts in such a way that they are changed by His love forever. Please pray that I am used by the Holy Spirit according to the will of jesus as we hope to impact Nigeria and see God's kingdom come.

Our first DTS starts Monday in Port Harcourt, Nigeria. Come Lord Jesus...

Awaken DTS 2010

God blessed my time being a part of this Summer DTS. I hope you all are blessed by what God did through our school. It is amazing to look back on the faithfulness of God, and recognize how unrelenting He is in His love for us. I look forward to going deeper with God in 2011, and feel that God's Spirit is challening us all to surrender to know Him...for me, it starts with a teaching trip to Nigeria this Friday. And may we see His glory cover the Earth.