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

New Year YWAM Update

Happy New Year everyone!

I'm back in Nashville after a great Christmas break and it was wonderful to see many friends and family. Thanks to those who were able to see and encourage me.

A big update on what the new year is going to bring for me -

My school outreach has been finalized to Kenya and we are planning to leave Jan. 12 and will be gone until Feb. 20. We are still trying to go to Tanzania as well, but currently do not have enough funds for that portion. God has been faithful so far and we believe that He will provide in His timing. Thank you so much for your prayers for me.

Praise report -
Yesterday, I received a huge blessing! The remainder of my tuition has been miraculously paid for by an anonymous donor. I can't explain what a huge blessing it has been. Thank you all so much for giving and making this school a reality for me.
If you still you like to donate, we still need about $10,000 as a group to cover the remainder of our trip, you can send a check to:

YWAM Nashville - SOW
Sam Blommel
PO Box 78219
Nashville, TN, 37207

Make the check out to YWAM and don't put my name anywhere on the check.

We will be preparing for outreach the next several days as well as working in the Nashville community to spread the love of Jesus. We are excited to finally have a plan in place and to be working towards spreading the Gospel in our world.

I would love to hear from you and what is happening in your life, so drop me a line at any time.

Have a great start to the new year!!

Change of Plans

Happy beginning of the busy holiday season!! May the Lord refresh you!!

I have recently learned that the Lord is changing the direction for our school. Originally, we were going on outreach to India and Nepal for two months, but that has now changed. Due to many factors, we are going now instead to Kenya and Tanzania and working with the local YWAM bases there. Please pray that everything would fall into place quickly as we only have 4 weeks to prepare. Be encouraged that your prayers for me going to India have not gone unanswered, but have helped open doors for many other YWAM teams that are going there over the next few months.

If you would like to help me go to Kenya and Tanzania, you can send a check to:

YWAM Nashville - SOW
Sam Blommel
PO Box 78219
Nashville, TN, 37207

Please don't put my name on the check but make it out to YWAM. I am currently in need of about $1500 for lecture phase and $4000 for outreach, so you are helping me immensely. THANK YOU VERY MUCH!!

More great news!! - I'm able to come home for Christmas week and am being allowed to come home three days sooner than orginally planned (Thanks God!), so if you would like to see me, which I would love, call me or email me and we will get together. I would love to share with you what God is changing in me!

Many blessings upon you as you endeavor through the holiday mayhem. Remember that Jesus loves you so much that He would have come to the earth if it was only for you!!

Thanksgiving Outreach

Happy Thanksgiving everyone!!

A quick update on whats going on with me. My school is leaving for Birmingham, AL for for some evangelism over the weekend and I'm excited about our opportunities there. Here are some things I will be involved with:

1) On Thanksgiving day, we will be painting the interior of a house that has been built for a homeless family. We were going to be serving a meal for homeless people, but that fell through.

2) Both Friday & Saturday we will be helping inaugurate a 24-hour house of prayer in the Five Points area of Birmingham. That will consist of leading prayer and worship, evangelism to the community, assisting with an established homeless ministry, and whatever else that God decides for us to do!

Please pray for our safety and boldness to share the love of Jesus. Our contacts there are very excited for our group to come and have already been encouraged by God's planning for our stay.

Praise report!!
Thanks for praying for my neck. I was able to go to the chiropractor and found out I had a dislocated rib in my chest. My neck had been compensating for the dislocation since I had been in India in July. My pain has reduced tremendously. Thank you Lord!!

May you have a great Thanksgiving holiday and I encourage you to tell someone you normally wouldn't tell how much you appreciate them. It may change their outlook on life.

Thank you so much for supporting me over the past several months. I'm blown away by all that I have received from you in order to follow what the Lord has been leading me into. I could not do it without you!