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