I'm Still Alive...

Hello everyone!

It has been a long time since you've heard from me so I thought I would update you. Not very much is new. I'm home in Alexandria doing some part-time PCA work and raising support to return to staffing in Orlando. I will be home for a few more months as I plan to be back in Orlando in January, but the time is already flying by. I've been making lots of phone calls and meeting with lots of people as well. It has been frustrating at times but has also proved to be very rewarding as I'm building relationships with people and learning how the Lord wants me to present myself to others. Thanks for your prayers and a big thank you to those that have met with me and listened to my stories. If you haven't heard from me yet and you want to, drop me an email or call me be cause I would love to see you. Thats all for now!

Be blessed!

Festival Tour Pictures

If your interested in checking out some pictures from the EpicQuest Festival Tour, here is the link:
YWAM Orlando Festival Tour

August Update

Hey folks!

I want to update you on my recent trip with our Epic Quest U.S. Festival Tour and also share a funny story. To explain the tour, it is a opportunity for high school kids to experience YWAM Orlando by receiving teaching and training to use dance, drama, and testimonies to evangelize and get people interested in missions. It's a great way to share with people about what God is doing around the world and also share the good news of why Jesus died for us.

I was asked to be the driver and sound man for the first part of the trip (no, I didn't dance) and we traveled to Richmond,Virginia, New Haven, Connecticut, and Easton, Maryland. We had opportunities to work with inner-city elementary kids in Richmond, perform at Foursquare, Vineyard and Episcopal churches, and entertain kids at an bible camp in Easton. The dramas and testimonies that the team shared were very powerful and touched many, including myself. Even though I'm involved in missions full time, it was great to be reminded of what darkness Jesus has taken me out of and the great blessings he has given to me.

It was also a great time of pouring into the team and helping them understand God's character and seeing freedom come into areas of their lives. We were also very blessed by our hosts in each place but in Easton, Maryland, a blessing almost became a problem. During one of our free times, some of the students (one of them being the son of Michael Berg, my boss and director of YWAM Orlando) asked to go sailing in the Chesapeake Bay (sounds bigger than it is) using our hosts' small boat. They had gone several times before and promised they wouldn't go far and would be back soon. About a 1/2 hour later, they had not returned and we went down to the water to see if we could locate them.

Sure enough, the wind had taken them quite a distance in a very short time and they were now struggling to sail back against the wind to get home. We could see them and knew that it would simply take them a long time to get back, but it was quickly getting dark. We decided to call Tom (our host) so he could take out the big boat and tow our kids home. Before he arrived, our students were in shouting distance from the shore and we called Tom back to inform him that the students were nearly back and he no longer needed to come.

The kids returned safe and sound and we headed inside for some pie (yes, I bake) and ice cream. All of a sudden, our contact with the church frantically showed up with her husband and started asking "Are the kids safe? We heard they were lost at sea and the Coast Guard is on the way!" I wish you could have seen the student's jaws drop and the blood drain from their faces in embarrasment. It was quite the funny moment.embarrassment, the Coast Guard was quickly notified and the story has a happy ending.

Please keep the team in your prayers as they are still on the road. I left them in Baltimore as I was needed back in Orlando and they traveled on to New Hampshire, Buffalo, New York, and will finish in Michigan. This leg of the tour will be spent performing at Christian music festivals as well as sharing with some local churches. If you are interested on keeping up with them, you can check out their online blog. They have already endured through some leaky tents, bad food, and flat tires, but they are also enjoying the opportunity to share and pray for the people they are meeting.

I'm now in Orlando until the end of August, finishing up my leadership school and will be traveling back to MN the first week of September so if you have some time and would like to see me, let me know and I will make it happen. Thanks for your prayers and support and spending some of your time reading this. Love you all!

To Him be the glory,

SAM BLOMMEL

Love146.org

Hey guys! Check out Love146 as they work toward the abolition of child sex slavery and exploitation through Prevention and Aftercare. I got to visit their office in Connecticut recently and help them out. They are great people with a great heart for a great need.

New News

Hey everyone,

So it's now day 3 of an unexpected trip for me and I haven't had the time to update you about it yet. YWAM Orlando has sent out an Epic Quest dance/drama team to tour some of the music festivals happening on the east coast for the next 4 weeks. They will sharing the gospel through dramas and dances explaining what Jesus has done for us and also working with some churches and non-profit organizations along the way. They were in need of a driver for the first 10 days and that is how I've gotten involved with this trip.
We are in Richmond, VA today and will be leaving for Connecticut early tomorrow morning. After that we will heading down to Washington D.C. and then I will return to Orlando as the rest of the team heads back up north to New Hampshire, Buffalo NY, and over into Michigan with a new driver.
Please pray for travel safety and for those who see the performances will have open hearts to receive what God is speaking. We have already seen some fruit as one man told us he has rededicated his life to Jesus because of being touched by our message. It is amazing to see people touched by unique methods!

Thank you for your prayers and God bless the end of your summer!

SAM BLOMMEL

July Update

Many of you know what it is like to anticipate something exciting like a wedding or big concert or even going to a new restaurant. You think about it your whole day, wondering what it will really look like or smell like. You ask yourself questions like "What should I wear?", "How much money do I need to bring?" or (if you're a parent or a girl) "Where will the bathroom be?" Finally, the big day comes where you finally get to experience what you've been daydreaming about and many times it is completely different than what you thought it would be like. Many times the experience is better than what you expected, but it also can be equally disappointing.

Right now, I'm traveling on a path completely different from the path I thought I would be on and I'm discovering how much Satan is trying to pull me off this path through disappointment or the "death of a daydream". Like any other person, many of my goals and dreams throughout my life haven't come true and thankfully, God has had a better dream for me than I have. I've come to find one thing that is true: God is more committed to me than I am to Him.

In the last half of Genesis, we find the life of Jacob is filled with his dreams "dying". He loved a girl with all his heart and was so committed to her that he worked seven years to marry her, only to be deceived into marrying her "not-as-appealing" sister. He then discovers the girl of his dreams can't have children and when God miraculously intervenes enabling her to have children, she dies giving birth to her second son. Later, Jacob's most precious son, Joseph, is thought to be killed by wild beasts at a young age. Jacob was hurt so much that he said he would die grieving for his son. Jacob endured through dream after dream failing and dying, but God's dream for him never died.

Many years later, God's dream for Jacob's life had a storybook ending. Joseph, the precious son thought to be dead, is discovered not only alive but as the ruler of Egypt of all places. Jacob receives high favor from Pharaoh through Joseph and is given the land of Goshen in Egypt and has all his and his families needs met in the middle of a massive famine! And if that's not enough, God tells Jacob the future of his remaining years, the future of his descendants, and how his heritage will be remembered forever. Despite all that happened and all the mistakes that Jacob made, God was committed to the best dream for Jacob and made it happen.

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I write this as an encouragement for you and hope that God blesses you through his personal revelation to you. As for whats happening with me, not much has changed. I'm very busy at the base, wearing many different hats with many responsibilities as most of the staff are on outreach until the middle of August. I graduate then and will be returning to MN for several months to rest and prepare for life upcoming. I am applying for a staff position at the base and need your prayers for God's provision as I am completely supported by not only Him but your generosity and partnership.

These are uncertain times for many and probably you as well, but if you are willing to invest in me and what God has called me to, send a check to:

Sam Blommel
PO BOX 620487
Orlando, FL, 32862

Make the check out to "YWAM" or "Sam Blommel".

I deeply appreciate your love, prayers, and support! Let me know how I can pray for you and if this was a blessing for you.

June Update

Hello from the land of 100 degree weather!!

I'm excited to be in A/C as I write this e-mail and will gladly send some heat to whoever would like some. But on to the update...

Bad News- For the past 2 months I have been preparing to lead a trip to Ukraine in July to work with a school for special-needs children. As of last Wednesday, that has been canceled and I will be staying here at the YWAM base. It has been difficult to see all my hard work go for nothing but I am now learning how God can work through failure. He is still faithful.

Good News- I will now be one of the worship leaders here at the base and overseeing the worship department. I also will continue with my job as Transportation Coordinator and working with the Maintenance Department. I'm so blessed to see how God has made a way for me to use my talents and also fulfill some needs here at the base.

Prayer needs:

- My Grandpa recently had heart surgery. Please pray for his quick recovery and for there to be no complications.

- YWAM Orlando is starting 2 new training schools (Discipleship Training School & School Of Missions Development) today. Pray for our new students to feel welcomed and press in to what God has for them to learn in the next 6 months.

- Finances for me are very tight and I need a miracle for my needs to be met. Pray that God will give me wisdom on how to raise further support.

- I am here in Orlando until September and then will be returning home to MN. I have several options for the future and I am excited for what God has next for me. Pray for clarity and wisdom in my decision for what to pursue.

God bless you and as always I love hearing from you!!

May He refresh you toady!

World Vision

Check out World Vision and if you hear of their exhibit coming near you, go. I helped with one recently in Orlando and it portrays the reality of Africa well.



Check it out.

Hello everyone!!

Thanks for being a part of my extended family and I'm excited to (finally) share quickly with you what's happening with me.

I'm a part of a Basic Leadership School (BLS) here in Orlando and staying busy with:

- Transportation: I coordinate all the YWAM vehicles and make sure the students get back and forth from the base to the dorms as well as any ministry transportation. I also oversee all the legal aspects of YWAM Orlando's ownership of the vehicles. It's not as easy as it sounds!

- Dorm Supervisor: I live with our 3 male Disciple Training School students and make sure we all live together responsibly. Their names are Adam (Lousianna, age 26), Matt (Pennsylvania, age 25), and Sung-Woo (South Korea, age 21) and are a lot of fun to be around. Please keep them in your prayers, that they will continue to grow in the Lord and will be prepared for their outreach to China!

- Recreation Coordinator: Every Monday afternoon my job is to organize activites for our students to get some exercise and build relationships with each other. We have a blast playing sports (even when its really hot) and enjoying God's creation.

- Outreach to Ukraine: I've been asked to help lead a mission trip to Ukraine this July. A local church here in Orlando supports a special-needs school in Simferopol, Ukraine and are sending some of their youth to help with some light construction and preperation for the school's opening later this year. Please pray for financial provision, more people to come with us, and wisdom as this is a new challenge for me.

So, there is a small sampling of what I'm involved in. I've been learning much about servant leadership and putting it into practice all the time. It's been great to experience a new aspect of God's heart for His children and I appreciate more and more all that Jesus sacrificed for us so that we could have a good example to follow.

Bless you all and thanks for caring for me!!

YWAM BLS Update

Hey everyone!!

I want you to know that I've made it safely to Orlando and have been able to jump right into the leadership school and get acquainted with people and the area. Thanks so much for your prayers and it was great to be able to get together with many of you while I was home. I enjoyed it very much!

Awesome praise report -

I left last Friday (13th) from MN to head down to Orlando, but as I was about to leave, the school directors called me to let me know that I needed $1200 by Monday (16th). Well, I did not have that amount, but I also did not feel that I should not go. The directors agreed to step in faith with me that I would still come down to Florida and pray that God would provide. I obviously had a long trip and I kept praying and asking God if this was what I was to do. He never told me to turn back and reminded me to simply trust Him. I stopped in Atlanta, GA for the night on Saturday (14th) and the next morning I decided to do my taxes on-line before leaving for Orlando. Well, God showed up and my tax return was $1,500!!! He is AWESOME and He definitely was faithful!!

Please keep praying for me that the rest of my finances will be provided ($2,400, plus $500 in monthly expenses) and that I will be able to adjust to a new place quickly. God does not leave us or forsake us and believe that He will provide in more exciting ways. I can't wait to see what He does next.

If you would like to help me financially, send a check to:
Sam Blommel
YWAM Orlando
P.O. Box 620487
Orlando, FL 32862

Make the check out to "YWAM" if you would like a tax-deduction receipt or you can simply put my name on it if that doesn't matter to you.

Another way you can help me is if you want to help me in a more tangible way is by sending me gift cards for Wal-mart, gas stations, etc. I rely solely on your support as I can't have a job, and I know you may be more comfortable in helping me if you know what you are contributing to.

I hope you are encouraged and I can't wait to share all the exciting things God is planning and doing upcoming. God Bless!!

Kenya Outreach Pictures

Here are some photos of my trip to Kenya. I hope you like them!

A Kenyan named Titus. He was a walking miracle. In this picture, he hadn't eaten in 2 days. Ask me more about him if your interested.

Children with AIDS at an orphanage we worked with.

The Lord told us to pray for rain and He answered.

4 men that chose to become Christians

David, a YWAM staff member in Kenya, eating our usual side dish.

Kenya Outreach Pictures

Leading worship for a church service.

Helping with "King's Kids", a ministry for local kids

The team out on a safari.

Chopping wood for the stove.

Beautiful sunsets every evening.

Going to Kenya

Hi everyone!!

It's been a crazy week for me as we get ready to go to Kenya. We originally were supposed to leave Monday the 12th but now we are leaving Friday the 9th (in 2 days) because we got a better deal on tickets, so that is a huge blessing. From what is planned so far, we will be spening the majority of the time working with a YWAM base in Mombasa, Kenya and will have opportunities to lead church services, do street evangelism, and speak in the local schools, so those are some things you can pray for. We will get back to the States February 19.

Some more quick notes on our team:

We are now a 10 person team as 6 students and 2 staff are no longer coming with us because of personal reasons and that has made it difficult for our planning process. It has been especially hard for me as key people in my life are no longer coming. I have also been asked to be a student leader and to help out the staff with greater responsibilities. I desperately need your prayers for me to have gentleness, patience, and do my best to unify the team. Fortunately, God is bigger than any of my problems and it will be fun to see God use us.

My plans after School of Worship:

I'm excited for what is ahead as I believe the Lord is opening some doors already for me when I finish outreach. I have applied to a Basic Leadership School at the YWAM base in Orlando, FL. It is a school designed to raise leaders up with the necessary tools to organize and direct mission outreaches and ministries. I'm really excited for this opportunity and ask that you would continue to pray for me so that God would continue to be faitiful and provide for me to go.

Thanks so much and enjoy the rest of winter for me as I have to now suffer through 90 degree weather for the next 6 weeks.

God's blessings to you,

SAM BLOMMEL