God is always here

Today during our regular worship time, we had the privilege of hearing from the parents of Matthew Murray and the parents of the Works girls who where shot and killed in Colorado Springs last December. If you are not familiar with what happened go here: http://ywam.org/articles/article.asp?AID=493&bhcp=1 They touched us with words of encouragement to rise up and be the people God has called us to be even in the hard times. What touched me the most personally was how they tried to hold their lives together but were unable to. In the midst of all that, God was still there for them and was desiring to bring them all to new places with Him and to call them forth as lights in the darkness. I would encourage you, that if your experiencing a mountain in your life, don't ask God where He is, but where does He want you to go with Him?

Hello everyone!

Things have been a extremely busy lately as we now have full time class and work duties, but God is showing up and blessing us all in different ways. My blessing has been a humidifier! One of the guys here found one and those of us in the guys dorm who have not been well have seen a dramatic improvement. We have been able to sleep better and as a result have been able to recuperate. Praise God for his provision and thank you for your prayers.

The speaker this week has been Jeff Pratt, a long time YWAMer as they call him, and he has been speaking on God's heart for us as a father and how He uses trials and suffering to help us get a glimpse of how He feels about those who are lost and hurt. Many here have had emotional healing and been freed of past bondage. I have also been convicted and freed of bitterness in my heart towards God because of how I had to grow up and I'm rejoicing in that new found freedom.

Some of you may have heard that I have volunteered to help lead worship on our overseas outreach. This has been a huge step of faith for me as I will be playing guitar and I have very little experience doing that. I have already been blessed as Barbara (a girl in my DTS from Switzerland) has volunteered to also help lead by singing and helping with the organizing. Please pray that God's anointing will be on us as a worship team and that He will impart to me supernatural learning as I prepare.

Another praise report for me has been my finances as God as provided nearly all that I need for my costs. I have been blessed by a whirlwind of support in the past few days. Thank you ALL for your willingness and encouragement.

Found out why...

Well, the reason for wearing the ball & chain was finally revealed to us and to be honest I was quite disappointed until I heard someone's story. The ball & chain represent "monsters in the dark" as our teacher reffered to them as, but better known as the sin or addictions in our live's that we are often ashamed to openly confess. I was expecting more of a spiritual explaination but I also can relate as I have dealt with secret sin. But what hit me the most was how the girl that I gave the ball & chain to reacted. She, as I mentioned before, was not happy with me about receiving the ball & chain during her work duties, and I came to find out she was actually furious with me. She hated how it inhibited her work and she couldn't understand why someone who was sitting around couldn't have received it. Her hour was finally over and she still had some work time left and thats when she realized what freedom she has normally. She also realized what freedom we have in Jesus and that even secret sin is defeated when we let Jesus free us from it. God is willing if you are willing.

New experience

Yesterday I experienced something I never imagined would happen to me. As a DTS class we have been given a 14lb bowling ball and chain to wear for one hour and then we are to give it to another person in our class no matter where they at are until 11pm (bed time). I luckily was the 2nd person to have it and I had it during my free time. I however, was not so nice and gave it to a girl on work duty...she was not happy. I found out later that someone received it at Wal-Mart!! We don't know why we are wearing it and won't find out till Wednesday. I'll keep you updated.

First Week

I have gotten through the first week of my DTS here without too much of a problem. There has been a lot of bonding time with everyone here through games, testimonies, worship, and a field trip to Boulder, Colorado. It has been quite an experience hearing how individuals have been delivered from strongholds such as drugs & alchohol, demon-possesion, sexual immorality, and even underground crime. God has worked in incredible ways in each of our lives, in order that we may serve Him together. It's been interesting to experience having lunch with a woman from Switzerland, going to church with a crazy Mexican, and enjoying Dairy Queen with a quiet man from Japan.

Good News and Prayer Requests:

To update on the DTS group that was uncertain where their outreach would end up being, it has worked out for them to still go to Thailand. It has been a relief for many students here who where excited about going there and for the staff as their plans can now go forward. Thank you Lord!! Please keep me and several others in prayer as we are battling ailments. I not only am dealing with a cold, but I also had part of my tooth break off while eating my roast beef sandwich last night. Others here have colds, shin splints, muscle cramping, and tiredness. Satan definintely does not want us to accomplish anything and has been increasing his attacks on us. We have been praying against these infirmities and I hope you will join us.

More new stuff:

Some news I am excited about is that 2 people from the DTS to Thailand, have decided to join the ATWDTS (my DTS) and will join us on our travels. I can't wait to see how they will enhance our group.
We are now starting our regular classes this week and we will be learning about the character of God this first week. There already have been some cool things spoken into our group about being difference makers in the world and laying down our rights to our lives so that God may choose what is best for us. Well, my time has run out and it's time to go have supper and then some outreach afterwards.

New stuff

Well, things always change and we are learning that here at YWAM Denver quickly. One country I was to visit on my outreach was Cambodia and that no longer will happen and so instead we will be going to San Francisco, CA before heading to Australia. There we will be connecting with the YWAM base and hopefully doing some outreach with them to the youth of the community. Details on that will be coming in the next few weeks.

Some info on how things are running here. There is another DTS currently training here and their outreach was going to be to Thailand, but with the price of flights going up because of the Olympics, they may have to change their destination. Please pray for the leadership here has they have to decide where to go by Monday and that God will make known to them where they are needed.

Praise report:
Amsterdam, the city we are going to in The Netherlands, has a section known as the "Redlight District" where there is legalized prostitution and rampant immorality. We have been told that this district is now being closed down by the government. Many prayers have been poured into that district as it has been a burden for many here in YWAM, and it is great to hear that God has answered those prayers. Please pray that the doors that God has opened there will be used for his glory by those He has called.

Finally here....

Hello everyone! I have arrived in Arvada, CO and so far it has been quite an adjustment. It is very dry here and I have to be careful not to get dehydrated. I also have to adjust to the Mountain time zone which is not going well as I have not been able to sleep productively. So there are many things already to pray for me!! Some good news is that I have been blessed by the giving of others as I currently only need $2,200 more to pay for the rest of my trip. Thank you all that have given and paved a way for me to be here. I pray that God will bless all of you ten-fold as I am not able to.

Update on my outreach:
For those of you who I have not been able to talk to before I left, my outreach countries consist of: Australia, Papua New Guinea, Thailand, Cambodia, India, Nepal, and the Netherlands. There are going to be 7-8 of us going as of now. One person actually joined last night and is currently driving here from California, so please pray for his safety. At the base here, there are currently 4 schools, including mine, going on at the same time which makes for lots of hustling and bustling, but also lots of new opportunities to meet many different people. 13 different nations are represented here and it's truly the work of God to bring us all together here.

We are going through sort-of a welcome week here and we'll get in to a regular routine next week, which I will keep you updated on. Please also pray for Heidi Aos as she prepares to leave for her DTS in the Netherlands this week, that God would be her provision.

Thank you for your prayers and interest in what God is doing in my life