FRANK UPDATE October 29, 2004

(above) farmboy clippin' the chickens wings, the girls in a drainage tunnel with their silly friends Levi and Judah, the girls taking a rest in our cabin, and the DTS lodge...

Turning 30
It's hard to believe that today is really my 30th Birthday, and it's really strange to be spending it here it Weston Colorado. Who would have guessed 2 months ago that I would be here? I started the day off today asking myself why am I here in Colorado?. I know many of you are also wondering why I am here. I know I explained my vision in the exciting Frank Family Newsletter Volume 1! Yes, that was quite a vision, big clocks, cities, demons. But was it really reason enough to pack up the entire family and move to Colorado and then depart to a complete unknown country? These are the questions I have been asking myself today. I can attest that there are daily confirmations that we are in the right place, so many confirmations that it has gone way beyond coincidence to the point of ridiculous. Still, why would God really send us here? We must be completely crazy. Weston-a ranch in the middle of nowhere, there are no markings to the outside world that this place exists except for a small little sign on the side of the road. There are also two long white unmarked vans with shaded windows parked out front. There is only 1 phone. Internet rarely works (in fact it has been down all week). The school is full of energetic 18-24 year olds that pray all the time. And today there was an hour long prayer intercession for Afghanistan filled with song and dance. When I looked around this morning I had to laugh to myself, what a bunch of crazy nuts, this place could sure be mistaken for a cult if you didn't know better. Surely my friends must think I am in a cult, either that or I am going through a mid life crises. To make matters even more ridiculous...our van stopped running two weeks ago and not one mechanic can figure out why

So back to my question- God, why am I really here? Am I just crazy? ...I waited for an answer to this question all day today. Then tonight I received a clear answer...

First God showed me myself when I was five years old, praying that my parents would know God. A few days later they did. I remember how crazy people thought my parents were. I also remember how much love I felt and how much peace came over me. I remember such a change in my parents. I always felt secure and loved by them, but something amazing was added to that. When I think about my life I am so happy that I had my parents. I loved my childhood and remember so many great times. This is the reason that I am an Ebay-aholic today. All of my foolish hobbies, the music I listen to, everything I collect is to continue to remind me of my childhood. Then God showed me my brothers and my sisters. First of all Christopher. He is has been the best brother any one could have. I am filled with memories of comedy, most of my times with him as a child were filled with laughter because of his craziness. I am still not sure how he could have survived all the tormenting that came when I was a teenager, but he did survive and I am so grateful that he is still my friend today. Then God showed me Steven and how much excitement and joy we all had when he was born. My mom had a miscarriage a year before he was born and so his healthy birth was a huge relief. I have always viewed Steven as a miracle and I have always known with pride and confidence that Stevens life will be full of success. When I thought of Stephanie today I thought of how loud she was when she was a child. Then I thought of how loud she is today. Some things never change. Christopher and I always wanted a sister, and Stephanie was an answer to our prayers. The Franks have all been given quite a strange sense of humor and sarcastic nature, but Stephanie has been given the greatest by far. I have never met anyone with a faster wit. She has great confidence and wisdom. Joshua is the most unique Frank I have met. His natural intelligence, creativity and quick logic always amaze me. I also think God has given him more humbleness, more loyalty, and more kindness than anyone else I know. And then I thought of Elizabeth. I am still in shock that I have a sister that is 22 years younger than myself. Elizabeth is so much like my Mom and both of my Grandmas. She is incredibly creative and generous. She naturally makes you comfortable and at ease. Today I remembered when I was young-praying for another brother. Today, I remembered when I was young- praying for a sister. Today God showed me that he had doubled my request.

I was filled with fond memories when I thought of how lucky my life has been. Still, that didn't answer my question. Why am I really here God? He continued and showed me as a boy and as a teenager as I prayed for a wife. I remember always talking with my mom (when I was very young) about the type of girl I wanted to marry. I always hoped that I would get married young and that it would be to the first girl I fell in love with. God showed me that he had answered that prayer. Then I was reminded of the first year of marriage and how I had told Brenda that I had always dreamed of being in a band with my life long friends, playing guitar, writing songs, and recording a CD. Most of all I always dreamed of singing. This must have been pretty humorous to Brenda considering I had never done any of these + the Franks have not been known for their singing. God showed me that he had answered all of those of those prayers in abundance and he even gave me a voice with the sound I had always dreamed of. I acknowledge that everyone has a different idea of what sounds good and what music is. To me music has always been in the sound: simple, fun, poppy and imperfect. I never wanted to win a talent contest. I just wanted to write and play songs that my own ears had always wanted to hear. This was such an impossible dream, but God answered my prayers and he allowed me to do it with the best of friends.

Then I thought of my cousins, Christy and Danielle and my Uncle Dan and Aunt Debby. How I had always dreamed of having a relationship with them. I thought of how I always wanted to make friends and keep them, and I thought of how many friends I love that I have known for many years: Eric, Tim, Jon, Phil, Robin, Sean. I thought of how fortunate I have been to have met them and to have known their friendship for so long. I thought of my newer brothers and sisters: Jeff and Star, Sky and Heidi, Josiah and Karlee. And then I thought of my newer parents, Gary and Sandy. How when I first met them how much I wanted them to be my Father and Mother-in-laws, and how lucky I am that God answered that prayer.

This is when I realized that God has really given me everything I have ever really wanted.... God really has given me everything that I have ever wanted in my life. I feel like a bit of a spoiled child today. God has answered my prayers my entire life. He even answered my prayers when I asked him to bring me here. When I really thought about it today... I realized that I had been praying for God to reveal himself to me, as I prayed every night this past year. God answered that prayer. He even threw in a colorful vision to go with it -to really spice things up.

Then God showed me again...me as a five year old standing on the corner of a cul-de-sac with my Fisher Price tape player. I remember his words so clearly "I want you to worship me". Today is the day that I also realized that God has only asked one thing of me my entire life.... to worship him. You would think that with all of my blessings that I would at least stop to thank the one who has made it all possible.

So this is my intention in writing this letter. I want to say today, as I turn 30, that I am so thankful to God for giving me life, for giving me song, for giving me such a beautiful wife and healthy children, for giving me such a loving family, and for giving me lifelong friends.

I am so filled with the love of God, the love of family and friends that I feel I have to share it with those who have never felt love before...And this is why I am here. This is an act of worship. This is an act of giving thanks to God. This is why I feel it is right that I am here and why I feel so strongly that it was God that brought me here. I am willing to follow wherever God will lead me and I know He will provide. After all, if it is truly God that is leading us then it is reasonable to conclude that he will provide.

This is my sincere prayer for my 30th Birthday. It is my prayer that I keep true friendship with the friends that I have made, that I find true friendship and relationship with every one of my Uncles and Aunts and my cousins, and most of all that I find true forgiveness with any of those family and friends that I have hurt over the years.

Next stop Kyrgyzstan!
Yes that's Kyrgyzstan, not Disneyland. We depart in December for two months of Outreach with the Kyrgyz (keer geez). We are all very excited to embark on this new adventure. I will be sending specific updates soon as we find out all the details of this mission.

A little background on Kyrgyzstan...
Kyrgyzstan is a country located on the high plains of Central Asia. The Kyrgyz people were once nomads but settled during Russian rule. Few Kyrgyz live in cities. Even the capital of Kyrgyzstan, Bishkek, is home to more Russians and Ukrainians than Kyrgyz; a cause of ethnic tension since the republic's independence from Soviet rule in 1991. Moving from communism to democracy has been painful. Although the country is rich in minerals including gold and coal, it lacks the means to bring this wealth to world markets. The resulting poverty has encouraged some citizens to turn to drug trafficking. Even though Kyrgyz are traditionally Muslim, the secular government currently allows freedom of religion, but restrictions are tightening. Few of the dozens of churches in Kyrgyzstan are reaching ethnic Kyrgyz or working outside of the capital of Bishkek.

Mostly Muslim
The Kyrgyz call themselves Muslims and in many ways they see it inseparable from their cultural identity. Most Kyrgyz people consider themselves Muslim because they were born Muslim and have very little actual knowledge of the religion of Islam. The knowledge and practice of Islam may be minimal, but through the close family structure, nationalism, restricted marriages (primarily only between Kyrgyz) observance of life cycle events and rituals has remained mostly strong. However, with a new generation of secular Kyrgyz many traditions are at a crossroads-falling away in exchange for technology and modernism.

Superstitions
Their culture is also rich in belief of the supernatural and the occult. Almost all Kyrgyz Christians have to go through bondage breaking with the occult after they accept Christ, if they are not to fall away from their new faith. This sensitivity to the spiritual world provides many opportunities for the Holy spirit to work in the lives of the Kyrgyz. Many Kyrgyz Christians have experienced dreams from God in their spiritual pilgrimages.

Traditional culture of the Kyrgyz people
-Well established social protocol:strong obligation to family, friends; respect for elders, religious people; hospitable (to have guests, many friends is admirable);interdependent; large family networks (ability to bear children is highly admirable); male dominated

-Relational harmony is valued; peaceful; non confrontational, reserved in nature

-Value of open spaces, solitude

-Work, strong effort valued: education and knowledge valued

Sincerely,

David, Brenda, Bostyn, and Reagan

Permanent Mailing address:
985 Valerie Drive
Camano Island WA 98282