ATW II Teaser from Concordia University on Vimeo.

Stoneybrooke Chapel Presentation

We had the opportunity to share at Jack and Naomi's chapel at Stoneybrooke today. This is the video we showed of Jack and Naomi travelling around the world. We shared of God's great love and work all around the world and how He has a purpose to use everyone no matter how old or young you are and no matter if it's abroad or right at home!

heading to China...the final stop of the ATW Semester!

We are heading into China tonight where facebook and blogs are blocked by the government. We will be able to receive normal emails so please stay in touch. We will be home December 17th. We would appreciate your prayers for our team in our final weeks of this incredible journey. We are excited to see all that God has in store for us during our time in China. We also will be preparing as a team to re enter into our lives at home after this experience. Thank you for every bit of encouragement and prayer support you have given us. We are in awe of all the Lord did in each one of us during this 4 month process. Now on to the last country...number 10... CHINA!

Bali

Johns Journal has a few new posts...click on the right side of the page

We are currently in Bali and enjoying this beautiful place. It's lush, tropical, warm, and gorgeous. The culture is fascinating and we have found a Starbucks. :) We have been warmly greeted by Adam's friend, Nicki, who planned an amazing two weeks for us. We are comfortable and enjoying the rest after a rigorous few weeks. We arrived here from India as a tired and sick team. ( we had at least 10+ get sick) We are now well and thriving as a team. God has united this group in so many ways and it's astounding to see the growth and community coming out of this experience. We feel as if we are in the home stretch now, which is exciting at the thought of being home, but this thought puts a pit in most of our stomachs as we aren't ready for this special time to end. We will spend Thanksgiving together as a family of 30 in Bali...a Thanksgiving none of us will ever forget!

India

Our time in India has been rough in some ways and amazing in many other ways. The hot and humid conditions have taken a toll on us physically and the chaotic mix of sounds and smells through town can be nerve racking at times...but we have been inspired and loved on by an amazing staff at the Lutheran Center in Mumbai. They love the Lord and they love His lost children. I have learned so much simply by their example. I have learned about humility and service in India. I have learned from them a great example of hospitality. Each community center or home in the slums or church we have entered has welcomed us and shown us the beauty of the people here. The colors and patterns of the clothing here is incredible and so unique. Our family has battled a little bit of sickness during our time here, and receieved more bug bites than we can count but this experience is priceless and I thank the Lord we have been given the chance to get a glimpse into the Indian culture. God is moving powerfully here and many are coming to the Lord. We met countless Hindus who now follow Jesus and heard the stories of healing and salvation. Hallelujah! (on a side note, something I have loved during our travel is that Hallelujah is spoken in every language the same. So no matter what church we are in we all sing and say Hallelujah together even if we don't understand another word that is spoken.)
We have two more days in India and I have been sick with a bad cough, sore throat, achiness and fatigue. Please pray that I am well to enjoy our final moments and to travel on Monday night. John and Macho leave a day earlier to fly through Singapore to get Macho's visa. The kids and I will fly with the team and meet them in Bali.
Can't believe we are almost on to our 9th country already! Please click on JOhns Journal...he wrote two more entries about his time preaching in India and a cute story about Jack. Jack and Naomi are doing well and I am continually amazed at God's grace on them. They have had to get used to cold bucket showers, spicy food or pretty much living on rice and bananas, going to bed on the floor super hot and being taken to different places in the slums. It's definately not Ladera Ranch anymore!!! :) It's hard and it's eye opening and I know God is using this in Jack and Naomi just as much as in JOhn and I. Our hearts will never be the same after this experience. I pray God uses each and every moment of this trip to shape and form us more and more into what He has for us!

Kenya stole our hearts

Kenya was an amazing experience. Like I had said in the previous post, I had looked forward to going back to Africa for the last five years. Landing in Kenya, we were greeted by the most amazing group of men from the Lutheran Church. We spent the next two weeks falling in love with Kenya, the church, the men and staff of the church and the culture. The weather was gorgeous, the land is beautiful and the people are even more amazing. We spent the two weeks working at the church in the slums playing with children, making home visits, and learning how the church is reaching the street boys and orphans in their area. It's heartbreaking and hope filling at the same time which is an odd thing to experience. We were blown away at the work this church is doing. Their gates are open and the courtyard is filled with orphans that wander in off the street, glue sniffing young men, women making crafts to support their womens ministry, pastors counseling, and a feeding program every day at 1 to feed kids that can't afford a meal for the day. It felt like a place that was welcoming, non judgemental and that just showered people with God's love daily. We came to serve and we ended up learning more than I could ever have given back. I don't think I have sang or clapped that much in two weeks time ever! I can't get enough of the unabandoned worship and passion and joy that they experience. In the midst of a lot of need and heartache, a group of people exists that know Christ's love and grace and SHARE it with their community. I feel blessed to have spent two weeks with them.

Israel and Egypt

We leave in just a few hours for Kenya. I have looked forward to returning to Africa SO much! I can't believe it's finally here.
We haven't had internet too much so I haven't been able to post or upload pics as much as I had thought. I want to summarize our last two weeks quickly to give you a taste of what we have seen.
We had one full week in Israel. We experienced many different emotions while being there. To walk where Jesus walked and be in the towns that I have read in the Bible my whole life was amazing. Walking the streets of Jeruselum left many of us frustrated and disappointed with the commercialism and we felt as if we wanted to see it 2,000 years ago not modern and with tourist trinkets all around. But soaking up the Jewish culture and walking through the city walls and gates was incredible. As we headed out into the countryside it was as if every piece of scripture was alive to me picturing Jesus walking on the Sea of Galilee and teaching and healing through out the region. Walking the Mt. of Beatitudes and going out on the Galilee were a highlight. Naomi had such amazing revelation during this whole experience. We headed out on the boat and the waves were pretty big and the boat was crashing over the waves. She was crying as she was nervous of the big waves and of getting sea sick. As soon as we got out and turned around the entire sea got really calm after a few minutes and then she enjoyed it so much. We also looked into the sky and saw a rainbow. We all weren't used to experiencing the sabbath in Israel and therefore weren't prepared for NO food places to be open. So we went the entire day with no food and finally got back to eat a late dinner. That night as we were going to bed i was praying outloud with the kids and thanking the Lord for his provision and for allowing us that experience today and for being able to walk where He had walked. Then Naomi interrupted me and said, "I have a thankful thing to add". She went on to express how God calmed the seas today for her just like he did for them. Then He also cleared up the rainy skies and gave us a rainbow just like He did for them. Then we were hungry all day and she said just like they complained and said there wouldn't be enough fish and bread and then He multiplied it, today He allowed us to get food after a hungry day when everything opened. It brought tears to my eyes as I saw her faith and how amazed she was that God did all the same things for her today that He did for "them" as she kept referring, all those years ago. God is teaching us all so much through this experience, even little Naomi at 6 years old.
We were very blessed by other travellers while we were in Jeruselum. We were staying at the hostel with a group of Calvary Chapel Bible College students living there for the semester. They were a great encouragement to us and we got to worship in the streets with them. A crowd gathered of almost 100 people and it was amazing to worship in Israel with fellow Christians. It was a special moment God gave us.
Another treat was getting to know two Austrailian ladies travelling through Isreal. They were in their 70's and on fire for the Lord and were SUCH a tremendous blessing to our group. It was like having wonderful spiritual mothers with us for the week. They even went to church with us and on some of our excursions. They were like a much needed present for our group of encouragement and joy half way through the trip. What a delight! They walked our group to the bus, gave big hugs good bye and prayed over our group. We left them as they waved good bye to us all holding the Concordia Eagles shirt Macho gave them. It was precious!
Returning to Egypt was difficult at first. The elements of crowds, dirt, flies, and HEAT are a little abrupt to our senses. An oasis in the desert for us was seeing my parents!!! We had three days with them and it was the perfect boost in the middle of the trip for our family. I was able to relax and be cared for which was so amazing after weeks of leadership and planning. My parents are amazing to us and to the kids. Jack and Naomi were thoroughly happy to be with them and they even went to the pyramids with us which was such a treat! Seeing the pyramids was surreal and floating down the Nile for two days on an old fashioned felucca boat was a once in a lifetime trip. The team got to have a "weekend" with no class and just floating, swimming and sharing meals and sleeping on the boat. We just returned to Cairo today via overnight train. We have crossed the half way point of our trip and today marks the end of our crazy travel schedule through Egypt, Jordan and Israel. We will settle down into our two week schedule in each of the remaining countries doing classes and outreach work.
We head to Kenya tonight and I have looked forward to returning to Africa so much! I know this part of the trip will be unlike any other part. Africa and the culture and people are going to amaze us and I can't wait to see what God has in store for us. Please be praying for our team for safety and health and for His guidance. We start to take malaria pills this week and of course I ask that you pray for this to work okay in Jack and Naomi's bodies.
Love you and miss you friends and family so much!