There is an island to which a low, arching bridge connects. There are some beautiful trees there, and I am told many brides and grooms have photographs taken here. I want the trees to be less rare, less delicate in their numbers so I can gather them into bunches and hold them. They are too solitary, their arms dark with winter.
Snow fell the first night I was in Minsk. Loud teenagers and demure figure skaters glided through cakes of powder on a rink in front of a fierce black and grey building. Swizzy hip hop played over a set of speakers in the white rental shack. I imagined the people of Belarus like shining rubies, emeralds, topaz, sapphire, and gold. They are contained in a well-worn, wooden chest.

I cannot help but picture Minsk in its spring. Winter surrounds me and marches on. I lay on my bed, looking out the window, a fortunate group of four trees is visible- their tall arms underwater in the currents outside. I close my eyes and thank them. I think of the black trees near the river and on the island, and their arms are holding green.

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As a human, spectacular in existence, regardless of who knows of it, like the salmon that swims from the ocean against the current of mountain rivers, it is the being, under God’s joyful and complete awareness, in which purpose is achieved. Regardless of what it is we do, our existence is magnificent. If it is true for the salmon, then it is the exponential, waltzing basis of humanity. God, I pray this would be my daily bread. From there is the one Way and Truth. Founded Hope unentwines the barbs of reality which can be death and hell.

This photo is taken on the powwow grounds for his and neighboring tribes.   One sunny late afternoon, we gathered in a circle with him.  He spoke of the heartbreak that his people do not know and embrace the land and who they are.  He asked us to pray that this and coming generations of the Mattaponi would seek Jesus and live out the beauty of their culture with him and each other.  As we prayed for blessing, an eagle soared overheard.  The power of the moment remains with me, and I continue to trust God for beautiful things for the Mattaponi.

We also helped in the process of restoring an old school house that educated youth from the tribe.  A nearby church and its members, which consisted of Natives and people of European descent, invited us into their homes.  We were blessed to get to know them and sing for them and with them during a Sunday service.

Brennan Manning wrote how discipleship is sublime madness.  It is only God who reveals things to us.  People are here for loving.  During this discipleship training school (DTS) there are five students from China and the U.S. and nine staff – It’s a really good ratio- from Papua New Guinea, England, and the U.S.  We are in the sixth week of teaching and have learned from teachers about cross-cultural communication, relationships, hearing God, God’s nature and character, God’s broken heart for humanity, and a fabulous teaching on Grace & God’s father heart.  The students present personal reflections every week, and it is encouraging and exciting to see what God is showing them.  We are praying and planning an outreach to eastern Europe this January and February.

We write to expose the unexposed. If there is one door in the castle you have been told not to go through, you must. Otherwise, you’ll just be rearranging the furniture in rooms you’ve already been in. Most human beings are dedicated to keeping that one door shut. But the writer’s job is to see what’s behind it, to see the bleak unspeakable stuff, and to turn the unspeakable into words- not just into any words but if we can, into rhythm and blues.

-Anne Lamott

From times of prayer, I know God has told me to be with Woodcrest for the next while.  Years, probably.  And it’s been amazing- seeking God with community and serving his heart.  Revelation.  Challenge.  Restoration and joy.  After visiting much extended family around Wisconsin, I had been planning to rejoin with Woodcrest at a Communication Workshop in Madison, with YWAM Madison and YWAM Woodcrest hosting.  I mean, I thought I would go.  I don’t know, maybe I would get a job and stay in Wisconsin, afterall.  I was comfortable.  I was on familiar ground and there were still people with whom I wanted to visit.  Things were nice.

I also made use of the local Goodwill during my time at home.  After greasing up my old Trek bike, I ventured out for a few rides through sunshining skies.  Pedaling through the suburbs, I assumed people would assume I was yet another person out of work and biding time and hoping for a break.   After awhile, though, I started thinking about children.  What if a small child saw me riding this bike without a helmet.  Bike safety should not be poo-poo-ed.  I grew up in a helmetless age.  I don’t think my parents would have bought them for my siblings and me, even if they had been the norm.  But times have changed, and a strong conviction of non-bike safety hit me hard.  For the children.  And in the bustling, dusty, air-conditioned Goodwill, I found my prize-  a sweet little 1991 white peanut half shell.  My brains were safe.

However, on about the third night at home, post Mother’s Day, watching TV- witnessing Danny Gokey, the beloved Milwaukee native, being voted off American Idol- I knew the gig was up.  I was rotting into the couch, watching spring sway outside as I twiddled my thumbs and pondered life and the things God whispered to me.

The next day, after a final stop at Target (I really appreciate just being in a good Target.  They’re so nicely laid out, and the closest one in Texas is an hour drive, so I had to say farewell), I headed back to Texas.

You know how it is sometimes?  That if you don’t make your next decision to do what it is you need to do, then you probably won’t ever do it?

And the day after I arrived in Texas, I loaded into a minivan with six other staff people, and we headed to Madison.  I know it was an illogical choice.  And it could not have been more wonderful.  Right Now is always a good time.

The cells of Puerto Cabezas, Nicaragua are dark and dusty. Our team of three filed into the concrete hallway connecting the cells, and began to pray for God to speak to the men and women´s hearts.

The history of the area could be described as religious, though we visited churches thriving with the Holy Spirit. Other long-term missionaries we had met in Nicaragua described a prevalent life-view in which God or the devil determines one´s life choices, and a person is helpless to change certain circumstances in their life.

Reaching through the bars to hold their hands and touch their heads, we prayed for boldness and a surety in Jesus for their lives. We called for a stop to the cycle in which they were caught, reclaiming all that had been destroyed.

Some wept and accepted prayers gratefully. One man showed us a Bible he had. We encouraged him to read from it daily; to drink from it deeply and to expect great things from the Lord. We taught them to encourage one another. To forgive and become the change they only have through the power of their heavenly Father.

Our team continues to pray for the men and women of this Nicaraguan jail. That they would continue to seek truth and reality from their Father God and accept the greatness He gives them as His Sons and Daughters.

These are the people of YWAM Woodcrest’s 2008 Global Access Discipleship Training School.  Aren’t they lovely?  We have completed six weeks of lecture and local outreach.  We have learned about the Father Heart of God, The Character of God, Knowing God, The Broken Heart of God, Media in Missions, and Spiritual Warfare.  Nursing homes, homeless shelters, youth rallies, prayer at schools, and evangelism at skate parks, the library (it’s where kids hang out in small town Texas) have all been a part of weekly ministry events for the group.  As we learn and are poured into, we pour it out.

Monday, November 10, we are headed to Central America.  The foliage will be lush, the ground a little muddy, and our hearts pounding and hopeful for the people with whom we will spend this part of our lives.  With five and a half weeks, six countries, and 16 DTS staff and students, we are prepared and continue to pray for God to revive and restore Costa Rica, Panama, Nicaragua, Honduras, El Salvador, Guatemala, and Belize.  He is the only one who can do it.

We’ve been working on Spanish worship songs, an original video of a student’s testimony, downloading already existent contextual media for evangelism, and coordinating ministry events in different countries.

God has provided a lot of what I need- financially and spiritually – to join my team for this outreach.  It’s been amazing, and it’s totally wowed my heart. As you can see, I’ve added a donation button to this site.  Do not feel obligated to give in any way.  I’m trusting God to move the right people at the right time– that it will bless the giver and the receiver.  Click with joy. :  )

I’m off to pack a bag.  Umbrella- Check.  Mosquito net- Check, check.

I look forward to telling you incredible stories about the people we meet and how God’s Love and Goodness reign more and more in the hearts of His people of Central America.

At this school, there is a group of kids who want the Holy Spirit to be with them and their classmates as much as possible.

Arriving to put on concerts and talk about the awesomeness of Jesus, we began to talk with some of the students who came to help us translate.  They are graduating this year- making plans for the rest of their lives.  El Salvador is a warm climate culture, and they do the kissing both cheeks thing.  It was unnerving at first.  All the students were kind, friendly, and open.

You know how things feel like small talk and you’re like ‘why am i talking about this with you?’  —Out of motives of Love, it’s good.  It’s worth it.  It was good to talk to the kids and start to get to know them in their lives.

We came every day, sometimes twice a day, for a week.  Each day a different grade came to hear the song and the word of encouragement to follow Jesus, to trust Him for great things for their lives.  to surrender, basically.

One day was especially great— almost the whole auditorium came forward after my teammate’s challenge to Really, Really give up one’s own plans and dreams for the even bigger plans and dreams that God has for them.  It was a challenge to really know God.  Kids gathered for prayer.  They spoke honestly of not knowing God, wanting to trust Him, the struggles they were facing.  We prayed together.  The floor was splashed with tears.

On the last day, saying goodbye, it was amazing to see what God had done.  The students who have been praying for their school saw a wave of the Spirit speak life and truth and hope to their classmates.  It will continue.  We will return this November, and it will be good to see our friends again.

One woman was crumpled up, leaning on a street lamp with a trolley of dirty blankets next to her.  A group of Teen Challenge people had gathered around her, and I joined them.  “What’s your name, sweetheart?” one of the Teen Challenge girls tenderly asked as she knelt by her side.  “Iris,” the woman whispered, her eyes blank and staring.  “Can we pray for you, Iris?” she continued.  Iris nodded, and this girl began to pray, and Iris began weeping, shaking.  After she had finished, the Teen Challenge girl asked me if I would like to pray for her, and I began to plead the blood of Jesus over Iris’slife.  For freedom from bondage, for Satan to have to leave her life that he has such a stronghold over.  I crouched down and put my hand on her leg, and it began to shake violently.  I was filled with what I guess would be righteous anger– anger about Iris’s life and all that had been taken from her because of her addiction.  She was created to be a beautiful daughter of God.  Jesus Christ died so she could be so alive.  I wanted to stay all night, calling out to God for her freedom, but we eventually had to go.  Iris continued to weep as I finished praying, and I crouch-walked up to her face and kissed her cheek.  She looked up to me, a little surprised, and I smiled at her, so hopeful for something Real in her life, so aware of the power of Jesus and what He can do for her–  it’s just His love, you know?  As I stood I saw a used syringe next to her arm.  It was empty.  The Teen Challenge girl also hugged her as the group and I began to walk away, and when I turned around I saw her still holding Iris under the glow of the street light.