REFELECTIONS

So we have our passports, we are working on our medical check-ups for the required over-seas-health insurance. Thank you for your continued prayer and we'll keep you updated.

I just recently recieved a very encouraging, and informative e-mail, from a friend at YWAM Perth. Nathan, an artist-missionary. In places where you cant just whip out the word 'God, Jesus, or prayer' he makes a comic book, written with a story a message they can understand. Isnt that amazing?

EDITED QUOTES:(country removed for protective reasons)

"I think a lot of ------ are missing out on life because they work. all of the time. One thing God showed me as I was in the capitol was the deep and fearful pain, many ------ carry within them of feeling alone. They have been told to believe there is no God, and not to question it. They've been told to believe money is the greatest goal. And they've come to realize the only way to reach that goal is to make things happen for themselves by working extremely hard. They have a hard time trusting others. They truly feel alone.

However, the Gospel is 100% relevant to this nation and therefore there's hope and we saw in one girl who worked at a hostel come to accept not just the existence of God but the goodness of his character and nature. She said it had a lot to do with the way we as a group lived and treated each other. how cool?!"

"I am now back in Perth, feeling re-energized and excited all over again to be working with a ministry like create where i am helping to produce materials that will help so many more people communicate the gospel
in places like ----- in a relevant way."

Oh and here is an example of a photo in New Mexico:

We felt very blessed to see these pictures, and I felt very encouraged because this gift from Dannette represented more than just pictures. God used her to bless us through ART! Thats my dream, thats my 'now'. I dont want to ever stop making and blessing people with this kinda stuff. Love -&Godblessyou- Dannette, Thanks again,

Steph and Matt

Santa Fe - Lasting thoughts

YWAM-Santa Fe Evaluation:

Matt and I went there asking God on a confirmation and direction. Sure the climate is amazing and the natives are nice -but is that a place where God wants us to be. ? Where God is calling us. I let Matt totally soak it all in and really didn’t ask for a straight answer about his thoughts until a week after we got home. We both left encouraged to “stay the course for our immediate next steps”, and Matt shared with me a new excitement he felt about getting involved with Youth With A Mission. Confirmed over and over again though is an overwhelming “reaffirming our vision for ministry”.
As for Santa Fe, and the YWAM base there. Only God knows. The people we did meet, and in catching up with Beth; we did get a chance to get refreshed and encouraged in the ’now’ of our walk. I can definitely say it would be a joy to get involved with them, but there is no definite word on when that would be or what that would look like.

Thank-You’s:
BETH
Allowing us to come all that way to ‘scout‘ and see Santa Fe, even if we didn’t build a house together. You showed us the most genuine YWAM Santa Fe experience, even if that meant you had a lot of work to do while we were there. Personally it was so much of a blessing just to spend time with you. We appreciate you, miss you, and are excited for all that God has for you and your to-be hubby.
KAREN
Thanks for the continued encouragement you’ve given Lizzy. She is a very gifted musician. Thank you for taking time out of your schedule to share about YWAM Santa Fe and the radical spiritual awakening that seems to be happening in the area. ‘Yarp’ing for you in China.
DANETTE
You are so gifted in photography, thank you for sharing that with us. It was great to chill with you again ya goof. I hope that we see each other again soon.
CHAD & MEAGAN
We only really got to spend a day together but it was nice. Beth was right, we did like you, and realized we a lot like you -or at least the creative and goofy parts. You are both so encouraging, and real. Oh and we listened to the sermon/teaching on CD, good stuff.

Santa Fe- Last Leg SAT, SUN, & MON

Day 4 Saturday.

Brief Highlights:
Drove up the mountain with Matt in Elizabeth’s borrowed car - Thanks again by the way. Good quality couple time for us. Twisting and winding roads led us to a view of the Rocky Mountain foot hills that reminded us of the Appalachian Mountains on our honeymoon over a year ago. Blue mountains in the far distance that reminded us of how creative God is, and how incredibly small we are.
Catching up with the fun n’ sweet Santa Fe native photographer, Dannette. She offered to do a couples shoot for us. I think partially for her portfolio, and partially for a friendly welcoming gift for us. Check SOME of ‘em out on her blog, she’s very good, and I had fun. http://danettechappellphotography.blogspot.com/

Day5 Sunday
5:40am
Our cell phone rings, and its Beth. She had left over an hour ago with Karen Lafferty, to take her to the airport. Karen was to be in China for 6 weeks, performing and touring as a musician. With the hustle and bustle of the very early morning, something was forgotten. Karen’s carry-on bags. I could hear the distress in Beth’s voice from my side of the bed. So Matt jumps out of bed “We have to be in the car Steph, right now.” Whaaa-whoo! We pulled out of the driveway in less than five minutes. Not knowing the area very well, Elizabeth navigated us road for road to the interstate. All I could think was “Welcome to YWAM”. I was loving the challenge and adrenaline rush. If you haven’t noticed, I take pride in the perseverance I have, especially when its needed. We traveled for twenty minutes when we got another call. They realized we weren’t gonna make it on time. All I can say is. . . I pouted as we retreated back to our bed. Liz said it wasn’t our fault, there wouldn’t have been enough time either way.

Other Happenings, and before we left:

• Went to Beth’s church. The pastor was very spanish, the worship leader was very gifted, and the congregation was maybe 60-70 people.
  
• We ended up inviting some 20 something’s that Beth knew from church hiking. Hiking- uphill. Out. . . uff. . . breath, high-er. . . uh. . . altitude,.. . less. . . air. I got quite a few pictures Ill have to share later. About 12 or so people went.
  
• Checked out the christian ‘camp’ grounds that YWAM-Santa Fe used for Musicians For Missions, and Training for the base.
  
• Family dinners. Stir-fry and Spaghetti , a whole sofa-load of people the last 2 nites. We all watched the Olympics over YWAM conversations about India customs, sociology of China and traveling. Oh I was at home, among those words. Chad and Meagan, Dannette, Matt and I, Virginia and
  
• We all got a chance to help Beth move all her stuff from a shared storage area to one of her own. She said it would of taken her all day by her self. She was ecstatic that it only took a couple of hours with some help.