The fun April DTS Crew....

Just the other day, we gathered as a DTS to take a School photo - 18 students and 7 staff from six different nations. Man, trying to get one photo where everyone looks good is nearly impossible, especially when we're all cracking jokes. :)

Anyway, I thought you might enjoy seeing our faces. Until we meet again!

A lovely weekend away...

It's hard to believe, but I'm over halfway through this April DTS...but more on that later.

So, in the middle of the school, I took the opportunity to finally go and visit the hometown of my good friend, Ingrid - who also happens to be one of my roommates. Toni got to come along as well, which made it all the more enjoyable. It can be difficult to get away in the middle of a DTS, but I'm so glad I did.

Germany really is a beautiful country, and having the opportunity to see a bit of the countryside and to also see where one of your friends grew up is a special treat. It was so wonderful to be in her parent's home, and though they weren't able to be there while we were there, we had a lovely time nonetheless. I remarked to both Toni and Ingrid how great it was to be in a single-family home - much of my time is spent in apartments, and being in someone's stand-alone home was quite nice.

We weren't there long, but we had the chance to relax and see a bit of Kulmbach. On the day we headed back to Herrnhut, we stopped and sawy Plassenburg Castle - there are many castles across Germany (including the one I'm working in in Herrnhut), but each is different. This one was built in 1135, and at one point, had been occupied for a brief time by Napolean. What a piece of history.

Well, that's a all for now. Hope all is well with you, and drop a note when you can. See you at the next Castle!

A table for 900, please...

Ping, ping, ping...wham, wham, wham…bang, bang, bang...The sounds of a city arising from nothing carry through the open window of the classroom. It’s May, and the Discipleship Training School is heading into its 4th week. The eighteen students we get to work with this time around – 10 guys from five nations and 8 girls from Germany – are fun work with, but continually challenge me all the same. Just goes to show that I don’t need 68 students to feel challenged to grow – one is enough! (The picture: A glimpse of the classroom - say cheese!)

But as we look out the windows of the Water Castle towards our field, we see a tent city arising. For in just a few days, 800 or so YWAMmers (with about 100 coming from our Base here in Herrnhut) from all across Europe will be descending on the “city” of Herrnhut. Since the normal size of the “city” is about 2,300, our presence alone will almost double the size of the immediate area – how fun!

And why, you might be asking, are 900 YWAMmers convening in Herrnhut? For the first time in quite a while, YWAM Europe has been called together for a few days to connect, be refreshed, and to seek out what the future holds. Even though this Festival of the Nations is quite a lot of work (I’m certain the coordinators will need 3 months off afterwards), I am looking forward to seeing already known friends, and friends yet to be made, from all parts of the continent.

Now if I could just figure out a way to keep them from all showing up for dinner at once…

So, that’s a small glimpse of the world on this side of the water. The Discipleship Training School itself has been going very well, and the pace has been very different this time around since I have a school of 18 rather than 68. Whew! But, I’m still learning a lot, still being stretched in my understanding of God and also articulating who He is in all areas of life. God is intensely day-to-day, and He sees no separation in life between what is spiritual and what is practical, but walking Him out in everyday life proves to be the greatest challenge of all. (The picture: Daniel and Seokhwan, hard at work)

And the Festival of the Nations is just around the corner! As I already mentioned, I’m really looking forward to this time, and I look forward to seeing the fruit of months and months of hard work by the coordination team. We even have the privilege of having Loren Cunningham, the Founder of YWAM, speak to all of us during this time. I know it will be a time of inspiration, and I hope, the birth of new things across Europe. I’m excited to see what happens. (The pictures: From this one tent...to these and with many more to come!)

I myself am doing pretty well – feeling a little homesick at times (I won’t be coming home until the end of the year, and I miss shallow things like flavored creamer and flavored coffee - sigh), but still I know I’m where I should be, and I’m truly loving it. But, should you want to come for a visit, please do – it would be great to see you.

So, off I go for now. Thank you, as always, for coming with me. This is not a life I walk alone – your encouragement and support are so necessary. Thank you for all you give!

Until we type again,

A welcome visit from home...

Though their time was brief, I had the wonderful opportunity to welcome some friends from my home church on their short visit in Herrnhut. A group of five men (two pastors, one of the Missions leaders, and two other great guys) came through Herrnhut to visit Toni, Tom and Jen and myself on their way to Romania. (Picture: Kelly, Toni, me and George)

It was wonderful to have them here, and they brought a lot of fun and refreshment. And, as a special treat, one of my very good friends got to come along and see what it is we're doing here. What fun it was to have a close friend (I just wish his wife and kids could have come, too - maybe next time, Heidi!) be able to see what it is I do, and to have him be able to put faces to names. It was a little strange to realize, though, that we were all in Germany together instead of in Seattle! (Picture: Toni, Kelly and me!)

So, just know, that if you want to come and visit, too, you're welcome!

Let's skip ahead...

In a perfect world, I would have the information about my trip to Morocco and the end of this last DTS up here already...hmmmm. I'm still working on how to automatically transfer the stories in my head to the Blog. I'll let you know how that goes.

But, until then, I thought I'd do a quick post to stay hello and bring you up on what's happening here. Toni and I are in the midst of staff training for the upcoming April DTS. It's been great to work with this small group (with some being former students from this most recent graduating DTS) and I look forward to seeing how they will be challenged during this time. I know I will learn a lot from them!

Right now, we have 18 students for this school - 9 guys and 9 girls. We're so glad about having the even numbers! In that group are represented at least 5 nations: Germany, the US, England, Nigeria, and the Philippines. One thing we do need prayer for, however, is the woman from the Philippines. Because of the strict laws here in Germany regarding foreigners, she's been having trouble getting her visa. We really want her here with us!

So, that's it for now. This picture shows our student board for this school, and represents the new journey that lies ahead for all of us involved. Let the adventure begin!

My time in Israel...

I know, I know - it's been way too long since you heard I was going to Israel and this actual report about it. Where does the time go, anyway?

So as a part of the DTS I was just working with, I was able to go and visit several of our Outreach teams as they were on the field. The heart of these visits is to encourage the team and to walk alongside them as they do ministry in that country.

And how great it was to see the Israel group! Two of the team leaders greeted me warmly on my first visit to this nation, and soon whisked me off to see the rest of the team.

And from that point on, I was able to work with them as they partnered with different ministries. We worked in the red light district of the city (sitting and talking with the women who worked in that area certainly opened my eyes), worked in a soup kitchen, and in a clothing distribution center - it was a busy time!

Then, much to my surprise, the team organized a prayer walk through the city of Jerusalem. I hadn't thought I would be able to go, but one of the team members did great research and we were able to pray at many of the major sites of this amazingly diverse city. To see so many of the places the Bible talks about made the words leap off the page, and taking time to pray at the place where they think that the Lord's Prayer was given was moving. As we prayed over the city, I realized again how many prayers have been prayed out over this land. There were moments when I felt chills as I realized all that had happened in this land. We saw the road where they think the Cross stood, overlooking the passersby. And then we saw this - the empty tomb! How awesome that it's empty!

We ended our time at the Wailing Wall, and as I gazed on the men and women of the Jewish faith touching this ancient edifice and saying their prayers, I was struck by such a deep feeling of history. This wall was here when Solomon lived, was here when Jesus walked this city. Amazing.

So, the time went well, and though I had a few interesting moments getting out of the country, I made it on to the next leg of the journey...but that's for another entry. :)

And so it begins...

Welcome to my new blog!

At the urging of good friends (thanks, Rob and Leah), I've now decided to try my hand at this Blog thing. I'm hoping it's not too hard (seems like its ok so far) and my hope is that we'll all be able to stay in touch a little more this way. Even though I like to send out newsletters, sometimes it's hard to keep up with all that's happening, and I'm hoping this will help cut the time between the what happens and me telling you about it!

So, here's to new beginnings - drop by often and leave a note when you can.