December
1, 2004
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Summer
is on the way! We are excited to welcome a 5th edition
to our family this summer. Yes, Brenda is pregnant!
Brenda made the announcement while we were at a
brief stop in New Mexico on our way back from Jaurez, Mexico. We are
expecting an
August Birthday, but that is not official yet. We are all extremely
happy to have a new
member in our family. Both Bostyn and Reagan have already started
practicing the art of
big-sisterhood with their dolls. Bostyn called her cousin to announce
that "my mommy is
going to have a baby". Her cousin excitedly replied "My
mommy is going to have a baby
too!" Brenda's sister, Star, found out just a day later that
she was pregnant as well. This
will be the second time that Star and Brenda have been pregnant at
the same time which
adds even more excitement for both of them. |
Happy
Holidays!
We are finishing our final week of lectures here in Weston Colorado. We
have had quite an eventful
November. We were able to travel to Estes Park early in the month for a
conference with 500 other missionaries. I was impressed
with the humbleness of workers from Afghanistan, Iraq, China, and countries
that could not be mentioned for safety reasons. These
are workers that are risking everything to bring hope to people who do not
yet have freedom. These are the teachers who bring
knowledge to women who have been denied an education. These are the caregivers
who bring life saving medicine to the sick. These
are the people who bring food to the poverty stricken. While at the conference
we were able to spend some time with our longtime
friend Stacy Geig who lives in Denver. The Conference was held at a massive
YMCA facility that contained at least 6 apartment/hotel
type complexes as well as an indoor swimming pool and a skating ring.
| |
spotting
elk |
The
girls outside The Stanley Motel
(where The Shining was filmed) |
Brenda
and Stacy in Estes Park |
This
past week we were in Mexico with our DTS and another team. While we were
in Mexico we built a medical clinic as well as a home in a much impoverished
area. This is a town of tremendous need and has been a focus of the Weston
YWAM base for many years.
The
medical clinic Before and After
The neighborhood where
we were working was filled with houses that were put together by pallets
and spare wood. Those who are fortunate to have a job are paid about 85
cents an hour. With inflated prices equivalent or more than U.S. prices,
it is nearly impossible for many people to "make it". This town
will now have access to medicine and basic health care, including the
OBGYNs. The facility will be run by volunteer Doctors from Universities.
 
| Child
labor (Bostyn painting) |
Taking
a break with Reagan |
Brenda
and painted ladies |
$22,000
in 12 hours!
In
our last newsletter I mentioned that we were in need of $5,000 for airline
tickets to Kyrgyzstan by November 15. We received about $1,600 in generous
gifts the four days leading up to the deadline. The morning of November
15th our director announced that we still needed $3,500 and the class as
a whole was $22,000 short of what we needed to purchase our tickets. At
exactly 8:05am the class began praying for the finances and people began
giving whatever they felt they could towards the amount. The majority of
the class has been living on change day to day, but people still gave what
they could. By lunch time we had counted $10,000! At 7:00pm we met for class
again and began praying for the last $12,000. I along with a few others
began counting the small amount of change that was placed on a table. As
I counted more people began bringing change to the table. I remember several
voices praying around the room and several people making phone calls to
friends and family members for support. As we counted the Director would
subtract from the $12,000 that was written on the board. As the amount owed
decreased many in the room would shout and celebrate. The atmosphere began
to get more frenzied and chaotic as people were running to find any change
anywhere they could. I along with about ten other people continued counting
buckets of change until we heard the director shout "that's $12,000!"
I looked at the clock and it was exactly 8:05pm exactly 12 hours after we
began praying for God to provide the $22,000. The entire class was able
to purchase the tickets by the deadline! The director has been at this base
for seven years and he had stated the God had always provided for the students,
but this was definitely a unique experience. I have never witnessed anything
like this experience before and it was quite exciting to be in the room.
We would like to thank the friends and family that donated money towards
our tickets. One of the lessons that Brenda and I have learned through
this experience is that when we raised money in anyway possible (through
our own finances and through family and friends), God provided the rest
through the impossible. We deeply appreciate all the support that has
been given!
The
van rides again The Toyota Hot Rod
van is back in commission. The problem was indeed with the alternator (even
though we had tested the alternator just 1 week earlier) . After a quick
tune up we were on the road again. So far the van has been running better
than ever!
So
what's next?
The next bit of news will probably come as just
as big a surprise to everyone as it did to us. This morning as I was listening
to our lecture I felt the Lord was speaking to me. I had what can only
be described as a creative wave of ideas that were not my own. The Lord
was speaking to me more specifically in regards to The Mission Geographic
idea.
 |
As
I explained in my last letter: Mission Geographic is basically an
idea to bring aid to long term missionaries by filming and editing
documentaries to raise awareness of their needs. This page will
host video and news for several different missionaries from all
denominations. This is an idea that has been confirmed weekly through
different speakers. However, Brenda and I have felt we should keep
this to ourselves for the most part during this DTS.
God
began to speak to me even clearer about the purpose and direction
of "Mission Geographic". The ideas that were coming to
me today were so huge and beyond what I could ever do alone. I then
felt God tell me that I was to enroll in the next MORPH Leadership
School. I did not even know what the MORPH school was all about
until I asked a student behind me. MORPH is a school designed to
teach leaders and guide them through the development of the ministry
God has called them to.
This
school sounded right, but my heart sank when I learned the start
of the next school...January 10, 2005. "There
is no way God, our plane takes off in a week to Kyrgyzstan!".
Still, I felt that God had spoken these words to me. My reply then
was "God, if this is your idea...
then you are going to have to have the director suggest the idea
to me" The DTS Director has made
it clear from the beginning of this school that this a five month
course that cannot be completed without the outreach. I knew there
was very little chance that the director would come to me with the
idea that I should |
enroll in
the MORPH school and miss the outreach. For this to happen was almost
impossible. It would have been very bold for me to suggest doing
the next MORPH school to the DTS director, especially since our
plane tickets have already been purchased.
Of course all
this was all before I heard a knock on my door about an hour ago
as I was writing this newsletter detailing the trip to Kyrgyzstan.
As I opened the door there stood the DTS director. This is the first
time the Director has ever visited our cabin. I was frozen as he
opened his mouth and asked Brenda and I to consider taking the MORPH
school. He said his wife had felt for weeks that we were supposed
to enroll and the Base Director also asked him to consider it. I
stood in disbelief as I told him that I had reasoned with God that
if this was really His idea that the DTS Director would bring it
to me.
Not only did
we receive confirmation that this was from God, but we received
three confirmations from the DTS director, his wife, and the Base
director! This is what YWAM likes to call: a God story.
So
what does this all mean? Well
first of all... we are definitely hoping to come home for Christmas
for 2-3 weeks if we can come up with the funds. If we are able to
come home we will return to Weston in January to began the MORPH
School for 3 months. We will still be leaving for outreach at some
point in the future but the date and place is unknown at this time.
Who knows?...I may well be on my way to a Associates degree by the
end of next year as I am also considering The School of Environment
& Resource School and The School of Biblical Study.
Please
be a prayin...
Thank you for your continued prayers. Both of our October prayer requests
for finances for airfare and repair of the van were answered! We would
greatly appreciate it if you would be in prayer with us during the
next couple of weeks... 1.)
Pray for Gods continued provision
As we begin the journey towards full time ministry we will need
to begin to raise up monthly support through believers and through
the church. During the next few weeks and months we will begin outlining
in great detail our specific ministry and purpose.
2.)
Pray for safe transportation
We are hoping to return for the Holidays. Whether we fly or drive
please pray for safe transportation, and if we drive pray for the
hot rod.
3.)
Pray for Kyrgyzstan
We are excited to see where this new direction leads and yet saddened
at the same time because we have put so much time into planning
the Kyrgyzstan outreach.
Although we are not going to Kyrgyzstan at this time we are still
a part of the team, and we will be helping them in any way we can.
Please pray for the teams safety and that God would prepare the
way for them and that they be used to bless all those they come
in contact with.
Thank you for your continued prayers and support!
Sincerely,
David, Brenda,
Bostyn, and Reagan
Permanent Mailing
address for donations or letters:
985 Valerie Drive
Camano Island WA 98282
We need a mailing
list! Please send us your address and as many addresses of those
who you think would like to learn more about Mission Geographic.
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