Atmosphere, getting there.

I just dropped Matt off at practice in Oil City again. "You would really like the dynamics of this song Steph, I cant wait till we get it recorded." Thanks Jerry for being a friend Matt can call and say - 'hey ya got time to work on this song today?'-- and take him up on it!

Yes, I've blogged alot about the restaurant. 'Cause at this very moment it is a big part of the tangable world around me. Today is "Orientation", Ohhhh. . . .Aaah. . .

So I feel like our lil’ laptop computer and I have
gotten a chance to become good friends. Everything seems to be on this thing,work, home, play.

Lately at work, I’ve been sitting on a bench just typing away the first menu(carryout) for the restaurant. Crazy huh?- Me at a desk. Designing mind-you, but at a desk nevertheless wishing my WPM was faster. It is all coming along well too! I have the carry out menu all finished. The indoor trellis, and canopy are built and adorned in fun surprises. The window shelves and curtains are all up; the lighting, tables and chairs are all set, and ready to go. The floor, paint, fabric border, wood stain, and murals all seem to have been done ages ago. Wha-who we are almost there. Just to answer a question I have gotten alot--Then when we open I will be a hostess/front Manager.

Keep us in your prayers. Those of you who do that sorta thing- Thank you!!. Obviously it’s a big undertaking to be taking on such a huge thing as ‘starting a business’, and we need all the help we can get.

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.