Too often many Christians live life out of an obligatory love for Christ, rather than a deep love relationship.  It is the same idea as being converted but not transformed by Christ.  We see this often as people attend church functions, Sunday services, bible studies, etc.  People come, serve (maybe), and go about their week unchanged or challenged by their church experience.  I admit that I have fallen into this season of life a time or two.  My focus becomes too much about "doing," rather than "being" in the presence of God.  Everybody can "do" things.  To "be" in Christ is something all Christians should do naturally, but apparently we don't since so many Christians who work to "be" in Christ now refer to themselves as Christ Followers.  It is sad that we must separate these two terms or phrases to reveal where our true heart is at.    

With this said, I was reminded some time ago that my opinion, judgement (although righteous…said with sarcasm), and thoughts are not as important as the journey a person is on.   It is our job to love, challenge, encourage, empower, and so on.  We can formulate opinions, however once that opinion draws our thoughts and feeling out of God's loving purpose our attempts to love, challenge, encourage, and empower are selfishly/sinfully driven, rather than God centered and shaped.  If we are not a blessing, but more of a curse than we definitely not doing our job as Ministers of Reconciliation and Ambassadors for Christ (2 Cor. 5:18-21). 

I understand to be a blessing can be subjective at times.  People often time feel they are a blessing when in doubt they are NOT!  Do you, in the presence of God, check your heart regularly to ensure you are a blessing than a parrot that repeats only a negatively charged response over and over?  Missions (ministry) starts where you stand.  It starts when an identity begins to journey from a converted relationship to transformed relationship with God.  When we are transformed, or are being transformed, we begin to move from an obligatory action as a Christian to taking action due to an overflowing of our heart.  Our hearts become so intertwined with the heart of God that we begin to see with His eyes, feel with His emotions, and love with His heart.  As our heart changes so will the words that we speak and the actions we take.  Love, forgiveness, truth, and joy will be what is exposed for all to experience.    

Missions (ministry) starts where you are standing.  It starts when you spend enough time with God that you begin to hear God's voice.  It starts when you begin seeing the intrinsic value each person has in Christ.  It starts when you begin to serve because Christ served you first (Matt. 20:28).  Missions (ministry) starts when you realize you are a Christian/Christ Follower right where you stand before you are a friend, son/daughter, husband/wife, father/mother, professional, domestic "goddess" (for all you stay at home mom's), etc. 

Missions starts when you realize you are the expression of Christ, and all that He represents where you stand.  Once you come to grips with that in a humbly confident and purposeful manner, than you can take a step into the world as a change agent and not a perpetuator of societies norm.  We are meant to be in the world and not of it (John 17:11-16, Romans 12:2).   

A couch, a lovely couch, a comfortable couch, a family couch, a youth group couch. What does a couch mean to you? To me it was the only piece of furniture we owned that was not a blessed “hand me down.” Our couch we bought before we had Charlotte thinking the chaise lounge section was the perfect place to feed a new baby.  It was the couch that Wrigley should not have sat on but he did.  It was the couch that countless teenagers spent the night on, sometimes spilled on, especially red juice, oh dear, the couch that was full of laughter relaxation, snuggles, to many kids jumping on it, movie night, and recovering sickies (so many nursed back to health on the couch both mentally and physically).  This was our couch!

                And now the couch is in the dumpster and there was a moment that the Lord had to speak and remind us that not a lot of ministry gets done while we are sitting on the couch.  No race has ever been won while sitting on the couch.  The workout plans are actually entitled, “Couch to 5K, Couch to 10K maybe even couch to Marathon.” These titles lead me to think that sitting on my couch and being sedentary does not accomplish great things. God calls us to be victorious 

                So for me seeing my couch in the dumpster (now really it was old and falling apart and had not fared well in storage and it was 10 years old, but I loved that couch) made me ask the Lord can you bring me a spiritual parallel out of this moment? 

        This is what came out of it, God often calls us out of “comfort” (Oh my couch was comfortable, and way too easy to pop popcorn and snuggle up).  He often calls out to “lonely places.”  When someone sits on a big sectional people are drawn to sit down with them, and with lots of children they all snuggle in.  Great things for the kingdom of God are not accomplished out of comfort, ease, or in the company of all your best friends.  Great things for the kingdom of God come when you take great leaps of faith (maybe off the couch) when you sacrifice, and are “uncomfortable” (believe me 62 hours of plane flights, people not understanding my fast English, living in Kolkata were not comfortable, but transformational). When you leave the ones you love in the hands of God and ask God to show you those the world has labeled unlovable and unreachable - you leap off the couch and run that marathon and say here I am Lord SEND ME!!

          Isaiah 62:1-4, “For Zion ‘s sake I will not keep silent ( I will not stay on the couch) for Jerusalem’s sake I will not remain quiet, till her righteousness shines like the dawn her salvation like a blazing torch. The nations will see your righteousness and all kings your glory you will be called by a new name that the mouth of the Lord will bestow, You will be a crown of splendor in the Lord’s hand a royal diadem in the hand of your God No longer will they call you Deserted or name your land Desolate” (or lazy on the couch!!).

          So jump up today, where do you need to leap off the “spiritual couch” in your life? Where have you needed a break? Maybe it was more comfortable sitting out, staying home on Sundays, not reaching out to your neighbor, and only loving those who love you back.  God is calling you to lay down some comfort, step out of things that are easy, and “Attempt to do something so great that it is doomed to failure if God is not in it!”

       What sins are you committing that helps you fit in? Is there gossip, judgement, selfishness, or addiction that is keeping you surrounded by others? God often calls the Saints to walk alone. You may not be lonely.  You also may not be the “Saint” God is calling you to be.  So leap off the couch and ask God for fresh vision for today.  Give your place of rest and recovery to a hurting soul and help nurse them back to health, so when they are healed they also will leap off the couch.  Through Christ we can do more than we can ask or imagine for the kingdom of God.

We are back in Perth!  We are here for a couple more days.  We are spending the week wrapping up our experience here and attending an in house missions conference.  The last few months on outreach on one side of the coin was incredible, eye opening, transformative, and filled with God’s presence.  The other side of the coin led us down a path that was equally overwhelming, difficult, and filled with lessening of ourselves and gaining more of Jesus.  In the end, our experience can be summoned up by one word – Overwhelming.  The presence of God was overwhelming at every turn we made and in every place we went.  The challenges we faced as a family were also overwhelming as well.  It was because of God and his love, purpose, and patience with us that has brought us to the place we are now.

One of the greatest lessons we are learning is the idea of living at peace.   John 14:27, “Peace I leave with you; my peace I give to you.  Not as the world gives do I give to you.  Let not your hearts be troubled, neither let them be afraid.”  No matter what situation or circumstance you find yourself in.  No matter what authority that is over you, or people that are around you.  Through the Holy Spirit peace has been given to us through belief and submission to Jesus.  We cannot find true peace in the world.  We cannot find true peace through comforts of the world.  We may find a bit of rest, but never true peace and contentment.  Those can be only found when we submit to God completely.  When he becomes our comforter, our provider, our place of rest, and our hiding place peace falls upon us (Ps. 61:1-4,68:9-10, 91:1-4; Matt 6:25-34). 

The experience we have had and the covering of peace we have felt is an expression of God's love.  It is because of that very love we are learning to experience, feel, and see around the world where His love is although it may not seem to exist.  It is because of God and his love that we are experiencing his peace in all situations.  Because of God’s love we are discovering and harnessing the peace of God as we face (past, present, and future) circumstances where peace and love seem to be fair from reality.

The experience of love and feeling of peace has come personally to our family as we realize what resides in us.  We speak of Christ and the Holy Spirit, but do we truly believe and/or understand that the very essence of God (1 John 4:8) lives in us.  Due to our belief in Christ and the gift of the Holy Spirit who resides in our “hearts” the very power that raised Christ from the dead, that created the world, and that transforms nations rests in us.  Of course, this power is limited because we are not God, but it still resides in are being because the Holy Spirit is alive in us.  As we recognize and learn to release the Spirit in us our understanding and experience of God’s love and peace grows exponentially. 

A taste of understanding and experience of God’s love and peace came to me (Türe) in many ways.  One specific moment came when I hand a paintbrush in hand covering a wall with a sky blue paint.  Our team was serving a boys correctional home not too far from our homestead.  What was amazing is how few people knew this facility existed in their backyard.  Down a path of overgrowth, rusting vehicles, and a overrunning of street dogs was the gate into the correctional home.  When walking in you are greeted by smiling faces ranging from 6-18 years old.  Our team spent the days doing medical checks, drawing with the kids, jump roping, and painting and cleaning the hospital. 

In the short time we was there I was faced with the dreary reality of the boys.  This reality consisted of what I would consider survival of the fittest.  There was barely enough food to survive on, a living situation that was shaped by a facility virtually uncared for and has the appearance of being at least 50 year old, as well as rampant physical and sexual abuse.  Out of one hundred children 25% were sexually active with others in the prison.  Please remember the age range was 6-18 year old.  Much of the physical and sexual abuse experienced seemed to fall upon the younger boys.  The hospital building held 8 beds.  The walls were on par with the look the facility.  The bedding was dirty and old, the toilets and bathing rooms (no showers just a faucets) were filthy, and the walls were flaking apart while the original paint grew more grim by the moment.  As I stood there scrubbing and washing the walls, with a break every so often to jump rope with the kids, the reality of the situation the boys found themselves in grew more overwhelming.  When we began painting I found myself asking God “Where is your love in this place?”  I could not help but wrestle with God asking Him why His hand of protection was not there, especially for the young boys whose life are being shaped by the abuse many of them succumb to with no sense of nurturing and emotional care.  With one question or conversation with God I was hit with a quick response.  Where was God’s love?  It was with me as I stood with a paint brush in my hand.  Where was his love?  It was in the medical attention being provided by the nurses in our group.  His love was shown in our prayers, time drawing with the kids, jump roping, and simply our attention.  At that moment I was faced with a reality that God is all powerful, all knowing, and everywhere all the time.  This is something I have always known.  However, I had forgotten that God has chosen to work through the obedience of his greatest creation – Man.  His love is shown where His people are.  His love was present because we (I) were obedient, and brought our family half way around the world in order for the love of God to be experienced.    

In that moment I understand and learned more about his love than I have in quite a while.  In that moment I understood what peace was.  It is basking in the presence of God.  It is being obedient when He calls.  It is to know and believe with everything I have that God’s presences rests in me, and all people who truly believe in Christ.  It is also about knowing and believing God is sovereign even if a situation and circumstance seems overwhelming. 

I got a taste of God’s love and a peace in a new way in that moment as I stood painting a dilapidated wall and wrestling with God.  Although the situation and reality the boy’s face day and night is nothing short of heartbreaking in the every sense, God continues to show up because He is love (1 John 4:8), and because His people listen.  In order to keep this taste of love and peace alive I must claim and recognize the truth of Scripture every day and every moment.  In those few days and with the few moments we had God’s love rained down upon that place.  His love will continue to do so because we were his hands, and we will continue to pray.   

As this post comes to an end please know that I described one moment that provided an avenue for significant understanding for me and my family.  We are excited and full of passion to share with you many more stories and overwhelming life changing truths.    Please keep your eyes and ears open to join us to so you may be blessed by God, and see how many of your prayers and gifts have left a kingdom ripple. 

  

Training Update:

We are currently wrapping up our 16th week.  We have moved out of our lecture phase and into the outreach phase.  It has been an incredible journey up and to this point.  We have been broken down, built up, and prepared to enter a spiritual battle for the lives of believers and unbelievers.

If you have been unable to follow along with us on our blog (akingdomripple.weebly.com) we have been undergoing an intense 12 week learning process to soften our hearts toward God.  It is hard to serve God when unbelief exists in your heart.  The classes we have experienced are "the Nature and Character of God," "the Lordship of Christ," "Repentance and Forgiveness," "Worship and Intercession," "the Fear of the Lord," the Father heart of God," “Evangelism,” “Leadership and Team Unity,” “Missions,” “Faith and Provision,” “Relationship and Submission,” and beginning Monday “Spiritual Warfare.”  Each class has brought a new moment of personal and spiritual revelation, which continues to soften our hearts even more to the Lord. 

The training process (lecture phase) in Perth was incredible.  It has practically prepared us in a deeper fashion to live out our faith and relationship with God.  It has given us a greater understanding of the nature and character of God in order to prepare us to reveal to all those who are in need of the transformational love, forgiveness, and grace of God.  The key words here are practical understanding.  Often time’s knowledge leads us, but is not lived out practically.  A question to think about is whether the knowledge you have of the nature and character of God is acted upon practically every day, or does the knowledge and understanding of God remain within you only?  This journey for us has and is continuing to force us to experience God in ways that is unlocking what we have known but yet not experienced or acted upon fully and practically.  

Outreach Destinations: 

Our class of 17 adults and 15 children will be heading to three location.  Team 1 will head to the

Philippines and then to Kolkata, India.  Team 2 will begin serving the Kimberley's in Northern Australia, and will join Team 1 in India.  We have committed to join Team 2.  

Kimberley:

The location is set; however, the details of the type of ministry we are doing are coming to us day by day.  The Kimberley's are home to a small population of Aboriginals.  The Aboriginals here in Australia mirror the experience and treatment of our Native Americans.  There are roughly 40,000 people living in the Kimberley’s.  The majority of the people are Aboriginal.  The Kimberley’s is estimated to be the size of California.  It is extremely hot and known to be a difficult place to live given the extreme environment.  Despite the extreme environment it is a beautiful area, similar to the North Western part of the U.S.  The area in which we are going has an incredibly high rate of suicide, especially amongst the males. 

The ministry that we have experienced to date in the Kimberley’s can be described as grass roots ministry.  Missionaries have been traveling, living, and sharing the gospel since the early 50’s.  YWAM has sent groups in to this area for the last couple of years.  This year began a new ministry to establish a YWAM presents in hope to support and be a resource for the local churches, as well as one day provided a Discipleship Training School experience for the Aboriginal people.  The Aboriginal people are an incredibly spiritual people group, which makes sharing the gospel very difficult.  They are a close knit community with a culture that runs very deep.

Our time here primarily has been to be a resource for the local church in order to empower ministry leaders, and to simply be servants in order to foster relationships.  Ministry is slow and intentional here.  We have spent much of our time serving 5 local churches and ministering in a local park.  This park is the gathering area for many families, and primarily Aboriginal people.   Overall we have been able to support a church conference that pulled together all the Peoples Churches across the Kimberley’s.  We have shared testimonies in the church, as well as in men and women’s small groups.  We have lead worship, preached, prayer walked, and put on a children’s ministry conference.  Our time in Gum Tree Park was spent serving food, playing “footy” with kids, and generally fellowshipping with the people in order to gain their trust so we may be able to share the gospel in the days to come.  We have also been able to serve local families by providing services to help them in their homes given a variety of circumstances.  As I said, the ministry here is truly grass roots.  It is all about going where the people are, gaining their trust, and praying that doors will be opened to share the gospel.     

Kolkata:  

.In just over two weeks we will be heading to Kolkata, India.  What we know to date is that we will be working with churches for the purpose of empowering them to disciple people, and to bring the gospel into the surrounding slums.  We will be doing street evangelism, as well as a bit of medical mission work.  Kolkata itself has roughly 9.5 million people.  30% of the population lives in the slums.  That is about 2.7 million people.

Family Update:

One fact that we cannot deny is that we have now been away from home for four months.  We have been on outreach for 2 weeks, and have done a lot.  It is amazing how quick and slow the time has gone.  We wake up most days in disbelief that we are still waking up in Australia.  We are also overwhelmed and excited as we finished the first leg of our journey, and have embarked on the next.  Overall, the weeks typically go quick due to the pace of life; however the time is slow because we do long for home a bit.  It is easy to say "home is where your family is," when you are living in a comfortable and familiar place.  We are learning how to redefine what home is, as well as what life should look like if everything truly belongs to God. 

The time in Perth had been intense, but fun as well.  We have taken moments to explore the area.  Now that we have moved out of Perth to the Kimberley’s (Northern Australia) we feel a bit like Louis and Clark as we journey to different parts of the country.  While in Perth we were able to go on adventures and make new stories with new friends from around the world.  With intense learning and spiritual growth has also come a time to recover and enjoy God and life.  For the past three weeks we have been in the Kimberley’s.  Our adventurous outings focused on ministry opportunities, which has been incredible as we have gotten to experience and learn how God is at work in this community.

As a family we are doing well.  The journey from Perth to the town Kununurra  (Northern Territory)took five days by bus.  Keep in mind this bus was not a coach bus.  It was a bus that has been well used and began its life in the early 80’s.  The kids did wonderful. We are longing for home, but know we are right where we are supposed to be.  Obedience to God does not always give you the answers you want; however it does force you to grow in trust for Him.  The kids are adjusting fairly well to the changes they have faced.  God has been very kind in this area.  Charlotte is gaining a greater understanding and identity in God. Lilly is  gaining the heart of God as her compassion grows and her eyes are open.  Ture is learning self-control and finding voice .  Griffy is learning to share and revealing a heart of service. Tessa is becoming nimble like a chubby cat as she is motoring around everywhere as she crawls like an awkward elephant (on all fours).  Carolyn and I are learning how to trust God, let go of control, and grow in our understanding of his nature and character.      

G’day Mate!!!!

            Recap for our last few weeks. God is good all the time, all the time God is good! Time has been a bit of a whirlwind. We have taken the last few Saturdays to take a deep breath, spent time to praying as husband and wife, and really intercede to carry the heart of God for our family, as well as for this outreach looming gloriously before us. This has been so beneficial as we are learning to hear and recognize God’s voice in a beautiful new way.    

  Ture was able to take the kids on special daddy outings this week.  The Young People’s DTS sponsored a swing dance night in which Ture spent time swing-dancing with the kids at the base.  He even made the YWAM news as they showed a picture of him and charlotte dancing.  Charlotte and her mama went on a lovely walk one day and stood for several minutes listening to the kookaburras laughing. It is unlike anything we have ever heard before.  Ture Michael is singing for all he is worth, Lilly and Charlotte are making birdhouses in their homeschool co-op group and are super excited to use a real saw! Griffin is enjoying learning how to ride a scooter.  He is also exercising his independence for he can now dress himself.  His daily response outside of the word “NO” is   I dood it.” Tessa is getting not 1, not 2, but 5 top teeth.  Her hair is growing into a lovely little curly do.  She is full of smiles, laughter, and joy.  Tessa has a huge love for avocados.

In school news, check out our AS YOU GO page to hear about the following topics, Missions, Evangelism, Unity, Authority and Submission, and Fear of the Lord.

We have found a lovely town called Freemantle.  It is a 30 minute train ride.  We get to look at the ocean on the way.   We have spent two lovely afternoons with some dear friends from our class who have four boys.  The 9 kids played at the beach discovering new coral, chasing freezing cold waves, and laughing.  I stood in awe as the sun began to set and all I could see was ocean as far as I could see. I have been struck by how often we are too busy to enjoy God’s creation.  Our God is so vast, so wonderfully creative and infinitely loving! Stop today and look at the sunset, the stars, the sky or the clouds, our amazing God writes His heart across the sky every day.

G'day mates!

These past two weeks have been an emotional roller coaster of challenge, joy, and revelation.  Carolyn will go into more detail about the classes we have taken over the last two weeks.  Please go to the "AS YOU GO" page to learn more. 

In order to share with you the last two weeks, I want to provide a small snapshot of our excursions, as well as our classes.  The topics of the last two weeks covered the "Lordship of Christ" and the "Fear of the Lord."  The topic of Lordship forced us on truly working toward, with our entire heart, placing Christ as our only Lord and Savior.  We spent a week learning to die to ourselves and placing Christ in the driver seat.  I used the word "truly" in the previous sentence.  I say truly simply because too many of us live with an understanding that we are following God completely.  I believe that many are loving God completely given their capacity to love at the time.  We have a much greater capacity to love because God who is love (1 John 4:8).

To completely place God as true Lord in our life we must be willing to let go all that God asks of us similar to the Rich Young Man parable (Matt 19:16-22).  God is not calling all of us to sacrifice all our possession, but he may be asking to let go of friendship, hobbies, habits, etc. that prevent God from being the only one you serve.  Especially in the west, we depend more on ourselves than we do God himself.  We even go so far as fooling ourselves that we completely depend on God when we don't.  For example, we love God and all who he is in character and nature.  However, we push aside Jesus Christ and think we can know God completely without him.  John 14:6-7 states, to know God we must know Jesus first.     The Lordship of Christ begins with understanding who and what Jesus did so we may truly know God.  To do so will tenderize our hearts to a point in which God is the reason we live and not simply something we do (if that makes sense). 

The week on the 'Fear of the Lord" backed up our week on Lordship.  It was a great 1 to 2 punch combination.  We stepped before the cross and tore down the veil in a new way.  We entered a new place and relationship with God as a class.  We than wrestled with the question of who do we fear more: God or Man?  We worked through the idea of what it is to fear (revere) God and how much of a snag it is to have more fear of man than the God who created man (Matt. 10:28).  Needless to say, as I am sure you can tell, the past two weeks of class were bountiful in transformation and challenge. 

The classes we took were powerful.  The excursions we took balanced the challenge with blessings.  We were able to go to the zoo and a kangaroo reserve.  In between these excursions was a night of street evangelism.  The zoo was amazing.  If anyone has gone to the San Diego Zoo, than you will understand what it is was like.  The Perth Zoo is not nearly as large, but it is like walking into a tropical environment that has animals along the way.  It even has an elephant that comes out for a walk around the zoo for exercise.  This was a great day for many reasons.  The day we went was Mothers Day, which meant mothers got in free.  Hallelujah!!!  We also got to spend the day with two other families from our class, and our Rieko (Fantastic Women!).    

The Kangaroo Reserve was a great trip.  Our journey to find the reserve was a two day venture.  A trip that should have been 20-30 minutes to get there took almost 2 hours.  Here is a great reminder for all of you.  Be sure you know where you are going before you leave.  With that be sure your direction given to you by another make senses.  Moving on….Round 1.  Round 1 of our journey ended up at the Reserve in the darkness of night.  After a many mile walk that now we now is a 5-10 minute bus ride, and wondering around the reserve in the dark, we did find two roos.  Unfortunately we didn't get any pics of the family with the roos, which led us to Round 2.  Round 2 took us 20-30 minutes to get there.  In total the trip was 2 hours round trip unlike the four hour first trip.  Round 2 left us with great pics and videos.

Our last big event was a night of Evangelism.  We are working towards going out every Friday night for a few hours to share the gospel and pray.  We joined with the MAPS class (Media, Arts, Photography School).  They used a game, a dance, art, skits, and open air preaching to share the heart of God.  We joined there efforts as support to pray and speak with people as we could.  What a great, challenging, and eye opening moment when you hit the streets to gain the eyes of God, and attempt to break through your fear of man to try to share the gospel.   These nights are wonderful and painful at the same time. 

Overall, we are doing well.  We have been challenged a lot, gained greater insight into God, as well as ourselves.  In addition, we had some fun times.  We  have definitely pasted the "honeymoon" period here and are feeling the pressure of wanting what is familiar.  We are good, but have hit a bit of a wall.  This is to be expected.  Although it is expected it is still difficult at times.  The kids got to speak with grandma and grandpa, and their "Aunt, Uncle, and Cousins."  This was a great time, but left them home sick.  All was okay the next day, but needless to say we are feeling as a family the desire for home.  We know we are exactly where we are supposed to be.  This is a great feeling.  It is a great feeling, but does not make it easy sometimes. 

I hope you all enjoy where you are at no matter the situation.  God is good all the time.  Sometimes it is hard to want to believe that at times.  God is always good and we have the choice to recognize that.    

Hello ALL,

It has been another incredible week.  The week was hard, but good.  God was at work in huge ways.  We ended last weeks class with a day and afternoon of public repentance and forgiveness.  It was very uncomfortable I have to admit; however there is something about publically and verbally confessing your sins that brings a freedom that is not normally there.  It is the act of conquering shame and guilt as you speak out your sin.  Each person in our class had a chance pray to God and do so openly.  There are 17 in our class and each person through the power of the Holy Spirit mustered the courage to speak out.  There was not much that we didn't hear that day or experienced eithe. And, it was okay.   That day we were not people judging each other.  We were Christians who had sinned, and we offered our sin and guilt to God as others listened prayerfully and with loving hearts.  We were all saints who had fallen into sin.  We were saints who allowed our love for God to be felt by everyone despite the battles of sin we faced.  It was a beautiful day.  It was a day that brought freedom to us and glory to God. 

This week (wk 4) we are already three days into worship and intercession.  It has been an exceptional class as we have been challenged to go deeper than what we ever have before to understand who God is, and what it is to praise Him.  Please see the "As You Go" page to learn more. 

Otherwise, this past weekend we got a bit of a break on Saturday.  Our friend Heather was leaving on outreach for six weeks at the beginning of this week.  Because of which she took each of the three big kids out on one hour dates.  She is such a gift and blessing to our family.  While she did that Kathy and I ran to the city to get a few things.  You forget sometimes what it is like to be able to shop without the constant presence of a child in need. 

On Sunday, we had work duty all day.  Each day of the weekend is covered by staff and a school.  This allow the base to keep running as well as to give people a break.  I worked from 9-7 or 8pm.  I made for a long day, however it was a good day.  The kids played with their friends.  They helped out in the kitchen and with cleaning the base a bit.  Carolyn was also able to help out a bit between nap times.  That reminds me, we are continuously thanking God for Kathy.  Without Kathy things here would be that much more difficult.  She allows us the opportunity to enjoy the business of this training without feeling completely overwhelmed….Thanks KATHY!  

Well, before we knew it the weekend was over and week four of our 12 week training had begun.  Time is moving quickly.  We have begun talking about our outreach destination.  As of now we will be heading to Kolkata, India.  They are working on a secondary location for us.  There is a chance we will stay in Australia and travel out to minister.  They have not said what it is we will be doing.  Details are still being finalized.  Please pray for us as our hearts are being prepared for whatever it is that God has in store. 

Thank you as always for your prayers. 

  

Hey ALL,

The last many days have been like the first few...busy.  We are not only doing the YWAM school, but also the tourist thing why we can.  In the last few weeks we have gone to the beach once, and to the parks and the city (Perth) often.  To get the  beach we enjoyed a 10 minute bus ride, followed by a 20 minute train ride, and rounded off with a 15 minute walk. Well worth the journey.  We the beach was in sight it was clear the Indian Ocean was rocking.  It took me and the kids an hour to get ourselves used to the waves beating on us and dragging us out a ways (a few feet).  Charlotte was standing in about a foot of water and was turn upside down a few times as a few came in.  She was perfectly fine, but completely unexpected for both of us.  

The parks here are incredible.  Apparently Perth has the second or third largest inner city park in the world next to Central Park in New York.  We spent time at Kings Park as a school, and fellowshipped with one another.  The park was awesome , and so was are timing being together.  Our school leader has worked hard to provide time for us to interact outside of class, so we can get to know one another.   

We also spent time in the city.  Perth has a pretty amazing downtown area.  On Easter we visited a city church.  After church we went into the square and hung out as a family.  We learned that area churches gather and put on a weekend festival for the Easter holiday.  They had crafts, a fountain for the kids to run in (that is always there), petting zoo on Saturday as well as a maze, in addition to balloon animals, painters, and a prophetic table (which was interesting).  They finished off the day with public worship.  It was pretty awesome.  The other neat fact is that all the retail stores close down for one day over Easter.  The restaurants were open, but nothing else which was fascinating to see and awesome!  Two thumbs up for Australia (at least Perth). 

I have been hoping to go to a rugby game, but that didn't work out.  We live down the street from a stadium, but the season ended I believe.         

Despite our tourist craziness, the school has kept us crazy busy as well.  God is at work and we are attempting to listen.  Last week we finished up the topic of God's nature and character.  This week we have moved into the topic of Repentance.  Lets just say...this is going to be an easy week (sarcasm included).  Please look at the As You Go page to learn more about what we are learning.  

It is amazing how fast time goes.  We are all ready entering our third week.  Most mornings we wake up with the actuality that we are in Australia.  Still hard to say and get used to.  Regardless, enough time has passed by now that we are all sleeping fairly normal. I pray every night that undisturbed rest will be are blessing.  God doesn't always help with that one, but the last two nights He has.  

This is a fun fact for you, apparently to promote healthier teeth Perth not only puts chlorine (I believe I was told) in the water but also fluoride to strengthen your teeth.  Not sure if that is all correct, but it was an interesting tid bit I learned that I would pass along to you.  

Anyways, we are now really to starting to get into a routine, which has been helpful.  The kids are continuing to adjust and enjoy their school in the morning.  We are home schooling in the afternoon.  However, the morning is filled with guided learning as we are in school.  They are all making great friends.  It has been a blessing to have so many families here.  I have said this a few times, but it is truly a blessing.  During Monday morning worship I was watching and blessed by a group of kids ranging from 4-12 playing together (ours included).  Not more than 3 weeks ago they would have never known each other.  God has provided an attitude here that everyone takes care of each other.  Starting from the parents to the smallest of child.  The distance from home is great, but the experience is worth it.   

Overall, we things are going well.  We ask that you be praying as we prepare to hear where we are to go on outreach.  We feel God is got something for us that may not be the same for everyone.  Not sure about that. That is why we need your prayers.  In addition, please pray that we are not only ministered to, but also able to minister to others.

Carolyn here! 
     So many of us see the phrase "Hearing from God" and we immediately have a reaction, this could be along the lines of doubt, disbelief, that God wouldn't pick you, that God doesn't speak, or even that God doesn't exist.
     I had the privilege of growing up in a church environment that encouraged a personal relationship with a God who chose us by name, who loves us deeply, perfectly, and who is above all Holy, Holy, Holy!!!  For some we understand that God wants to speak but we don't know how, we don't make the time for how, we are unwilling to listen or we are afraid of what God might say...
           Ture wrote recently of the ways that God speaks--I believe we need to be retrained in our listening!  

           Here are some principles of hearing from God,
            ** Praise God, Thanksgiving Psalm 100:4 Enter His gates with Thanksgiving and Praise, praise HIm not for what He does although that is amazing but Praise Him for who He is, I have started a section in my journal just to write the names of God, and who he is in my life, For a small example, "God you are Tremendous, Merciful, Strong, Powerful, Perfect, Holy, a Strong Tower, King of Kings, Leader, Father, YAWAH, Our Strength, our Shield, our Rock, Redeemer, Healer, Trustworthy, Faithful, Unchanging, Everlasting, Secure, Kind, Compassionate, Everlasting, Secure, ABLE, I AM, Merciful, Love, Marvelous, Mighty, Tender, Elohim, Unfathonable, Vast, Personal, Wonderful, Counselor, Emmanuel,

    *** We must come to God to clean out our hearts-- We must come with repentance, Psalm 66:18 states, If I had cherished sin in our hearts the Lord would not have listened.    Sin doesn't stop God from speaking but it stops us from hearing clearly from our God who loves us.

     **We must die to our own thoughts.  Proverbs 3:5-6 Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding-- We must recognize the devil wants to lie kill and destroy, we must speak truth over the lies we believe in our hearts-- For example a lie the devil constantly feeds me is " Your best isn't good enough!" I know this is a lie because God says we can do all things through Him who strengthens us Phil. 4:13 I have to speak truth over this lie with my mouth saying something like God I thank you that you give me strength and joy and the fruit of the spirit in my life.  Thank you that when I am weary you give me rest.

   ** As we die to our own the we must resist the enemy. 2 Cor. 10:4-5 "The weapons we fight with are not the weapons of the world.  On the contrary, they have divine power to demolish strongholds.  We demolish arguments and every pretension that sets itself up against the knowledge of God and we take captive every thought to make it obedient unto Christ.  

  **Invite the Holy Spirit-- I Cor. 2: 9 What no eye has seen, what no ear has heard, and what no human mind has conceived the things God has prepared for those who love Him, these are the things God has revealed to us by the Spirit.

*** Wait,
*** Rejoice

Our class was given the task to ask God, what do you think, of me, and this was a daunting task for me, I know and believe what the bible says and believe it to be true, but was scared to trust a perfect loving God, what if He didn't speak-- but speak He did and I believe He delights in HIs children asking those questions to Him.  So ask Him today, Lord what do you think of Me-- don't answer yourself, walk through the steps and get rid of the lies, repent and stand in the presence of your Lord and His answers to you will be so LOVING!!! 



 

Wow!  We can't believe we are here in Australia!!!!  We wake up every morning in disbelieve as to where we are and will be for the next many months.  There is much to say!  We are going to try video Carolyn sharing a video update to cut down on the pages of news.  For now, I will be sharing a snapshot of the last few days with you.

Flights:
We were blessed by your prayers.  Over all we spent about 23 1/2 hours in the air with around 12 hours of lay over time.  The kids were excellent.  There were definitely moments in which no parenting could have with stood unexpected moments of child furry, however they did not last long.  We really can not complain about how the kids traveled.  The last flight was a challenge, but manageable.  Griffin and Tessa were done with the traveling.  We were blessed to sit next a wonderful New Zealand  women who was very helpful and gracious.  At one point she was either holding Tessa or helping lil Ture eat his dinner during the flight. Not only did God provide calm hearts for our babies as they traveled, but energy to sustain close to 36 hours straight travel.  

We were blessed time and time again as people working for the airlines, as well as security, allowed us special privileges to help us move through security and customs quickly, in addition to boarding the plane.  We were also blessed with all of our luggage arriving with us.  That fact alone was a miracle.  

The second stint of our journey took us to Auckland, New Zealand.  The kids slept most of the 13 hours.  I am not sure we would still have 5 kids if they hadn't.  Carolyn, Kathy, and I were pretty tired by than.  We decide to get out of the airport for awhile.  We had about an 8-9 hour lay over.  We rented a motel room to clean up a bit, get some food, and allow the kids to run.  We were not able to see much, but it was nice to see a small glimpse of what appeared to be a beautiful place.  The people were nice, especially those in security and customs at the airport (what a shocker from what I am use to).   


Upon landing we got to see a very  excited and friendly face....Heather.  It was great to see her.  It has been about a year since the last time.  Once we landed we jumped into the YWAM bus and took off to our homestead.  It is a nice place.  It is fascinating the difference in architecture for a place very similar to the U.S. in many ways.  We will provided picture soon.  The most interesting fact is that we have a shower room, bathroom, and outhouse.  It is very spacious, which is nice for our family.  Our house mate is a single mom with two kids.  Mary-ann is wonderful and a great mother.  Her two girls Elisha and Jael our great.  It seems as if God has truly put us together.  We hit it off well from the beginning.  There are always hick-ups, but I think this is going to be a great relationship.  


We left on Thursday.  Got to Australia on Saturday.  With the time change we skipped Friday.  Sunday we spent acclimating ourselves, learning about the base, and going into the city for supplies.  We have about a 10-15 minute walk to the base, which has been great for all of us.  On the flip side, they serve all types of bread products which makes life a bit difficult for a family who loves gluten.  Many of us were joking how YWAM Perth must have a goal to not only grow us spiritually, but also physically (in weight).  Thank goodness for the 15 minute walk one way.  That gives us hope!  


Since we arrived, sleep has been a word not understood by our kids. God has provided extra doses of energy for Carolyn, Kathy, and I.  The first night the kids got up at 2:30 am AU time.  the second night 3:30-4 am.  The third night 4-4:30 am.  We are slowly working our away in the right direction to adjust for the time.  They have day light saving time here I believe because instead of 14 hours ahead it is now only 13.  Overall, the kids have done well given the fact that night time for us is day time for you.      

Moving forward.....Monday we spent time on base for worship and a small info meeting.  On Tuesday we had registration day, as well as getting a tour of the base.  This morning, your tomorrow (crazy!), we begin our first week of classes.  The topic is on "Hearing the Voice of the Lord." 

In a nut shell, that has been the last 7 days for us.  Can't believe it has been 7 days already.  

Thank you all for your support and prayers.  Your prayers have gotten us this far and will continue to get us through this step of obedience.  I hope your prayers have also led you to hear God's voice, and begin taking steps of obedience and faith for yourself.  

Please see "AS WE GO" page to learn about our first day of class.