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.