Big news... {Spring 2013 Newsletter}

To read our latest, Spring 2013 Newsletter, click here.  We have some big news, announcements, and would love to have you partner with us in prayer and support!

Spread the word.

For those of you who are new friends, new readers, old friends and readers, or just stumbled on this post randomly... I would like to summarize YWAM, our next adventure with DTS, and how you can be a part of it all.

Brandon and I have been with YWAM for many years.  Brandon has served for 6 years, while I have been a part of YWAM for almost 4.  YWAM, or Youth With A Mission for those of you who do not know about our acronym, is a worldwide missions organization.  Over 50 years ago, God guided one man to begin a movement, and that movement has now multiplied into over 1,000 operation locations in more than 180 countries with over 18,000 people working under the YWAM name.

YWAM values...

 knowing God

making Him known

hearing God's voice

worship & intercession

being visionary

championing youth

being broad-structure and decentralized

being international and interdenominational

having a biblical worldview

teamwork

servant leadership

doing first then teaching

relationships

the individual

families in missions

depending on God for finances

hospitality

communicating with integrity.

As a missions movement, we focus on evangelism, training, and mercy ministries.

Without going into too much detail, that can summarize the general DNA of YWAM.  There are many other incredible ministries around the world, many other amazing missional organizations, and we feel so blessed to be a part of this one.

Brandon and I have a HUGE heart for the training side of YWAM.  We have put this into action by leading and working with DTS, Discipleship Training Schools.

Currently our base has a DTS running right now.  How exciting it is to see students come from all over the world hungry to be discipled.

We will be leading the next DTS, which begins in September.  The school will have 6 focuses:  photography, visual arts, performing arts, music, surfing, and skateboarding.  We are stepping out in faith and expecting that God will send us 25-30 students (that is over twice the amount of most of our past DTSes).  We are also embarking on a new venture for our base... for the first time ever YWAM Pismo Beach will be running a secondary training school:  Basic Leadership School (aka, BLS).  Brandon and I are VERY excited to see this vision come into fruition.  Our DTS will run alongside the BLS, and we are thrilled to see how the BLS will impact the DTS.

How can you get involved?  There are many, so many ways that you can get involved.  Praying for us is first and foremost.  Some of our readers support, or have supported us financially, in which we are so humbly grateful for your generosity!  But I am urging you specifically to get involved in spreading the word about YWAM, about YWAM Pismo Beach, about our DTS... about the BLS.

If you know someone who is seeking discipleship...

...someone who is passionate about photography

...visual arts

...performing arts

...music

...surfing

...skateboarding

...someone who has completed a DTS and would like further training (the BLS is for them)

...someone who has completed a DTS and feels called to full-time missions.

Tell them about the DTS.
Tell them about the BLS.
Tell them about joining staff with us.

This is how you can help be a part of YWAM.... spread the opportunity... please.  I heard of YWAM because someone shared it with me.  Brandon heard about YWAM because someone shared it with him.  Please keep us on your mind, and don't hesitate to share with someone who you think can benefit from what YWAM can offer.

Direct them to our website.
Have them call us, 805-773-YWAM.

If you have made it to this sentence, thank you for reading through details and information that might not be the most exciting thing to read.  :)  But I hope it has given you a snippet about YWAM, and about our upcoming adventures with DTS.  It is exciting to us, and we are thankful for what God has in store!

2011 Superlatives

Sometimes the best way to ring in a new year is to reflect on the past.  Our 2011 was incredible.  We have grown so much, as parents, as a married couple, as disciples, and well, we couldn't help but look back over our blog post for the year.  YWAM has brought us many adventures, and life in general has also.  Remember your high school yearbook... superlatives.  Well, here are ours for 2011.

Best Attempt at A Smile:   From Shiloh's Cheerio Fun, here.

Most Changed:  Shiloh turning 1 year!  Here.

Most Honest:  The Not-So Sane Moments of Traveling, here.

Favorite Nicaragua Moment:  Re-visiting Priscilla and her family, here

Most Worthy of Remembrance:  Veteran's Day, here.

Most Difficult:  Shiloh getting croup, here.

Favorite Face:  Shiloh's famous O-face, here.

Most Difficult Goodbye:  Our friend, Tyler, here.

Water.

4 years ago I worked at a jewelry and accessories store down in Boca Raton, Florida.  I has just finished my 5 month Discipleship Training School.  I had just spent 5 months living with 8-16 other people, just spent two months living without air conditioning in southeast Asia.  I had just spent 1 month ministering to sex-trafficked women.  There I was, back in the mall in one of the most affluent cities in America.  It.  Was.  Culture.  Shock.

I saw the world differently.

Our store was amazing.  At the time, we were promoting a charity.  Giving money to support others around the world.  My heart was deeply connected to the living conditions of others around the world.  I remember one day, a customer came in, and I asked her if she wanted to support the charity... and she turned her nose up and said that she doesn't give money to help people outside of America, when there are plenty of needs inside America.  She was right, I mean, there are plenty of needs in America.  But her response still disturbed me.

Charity: Water.

That was organization our store was supporting.  To help those in the world who do not have access to clean water.  CLEAN WATER.  This is NOT something Americans struggle with.  This IS something that is a reality for people in Africa and India.   This is not something I can imagine.  This is something that many people in developing nations have to face each and every day.

Check out their 5 year anniversary video.  And check out how you can help.

The 2011 September Campaign. Our 5-year-anniversary video from charity: water on Vimeo.

Our Summer Travels

So if you're wondering where we were in August.... since we didn't post a single entry for the month... its because we were not in the same place for more than a week.  Given how long we've been a part of YWAM Pismo Beach, we knew how important it was to visit with the people who generously and faithfully give to us.  So we took a road trip.  (Yes, we're crazy like that.)

Shiloh is a great traveler... as long as we're well stocked with her favorite yummies.

Leaving at midnight, we drove straight down the 101, and then over into Arizona.  Where we met up with a lovely friend, Riana.  We grabbed a hearty lunch with her, while catching up.  Then it was off to El Paso, or at least we were suppose to make it that far.  However, at 8pm, and still in New Mexico, Shiloh informed us that she HAD ENOUGH!  So we found a local, and charming AAA approved motel.  It was actually really nice.  Too bad we were just crashing for the night.  The next day we made it into Texas, where we got to stay with one of my oldest friends, Amanda.  Catching up with friends, family, and even this awesome lady.... was great, but what was even greater, was the fact that another one of my best and oldest friends, Kim was getting MARRIED!  She had a tender and really fun wedding where we all put on our dancing shoes (even Brandon), and danced the night away... well, again, until Shiloh HAD ENOUGH.

Isn't she a beautiful bride?!  Lucky Scott!

Shiloh experienced her first nap without being in her crib, or peapod.  How does she end up so twisted and positioned like that?  What if we all did that in our sleep?  Ha!

After that, we hit the road again, and drove through Louisiana (staying at a sketchy motel with crawly things in the bed... ick!), and then finally rode into my old stomping grounds in Boca Raton, Florida.  I was estatic to be back in the sunshine state.  If any of you know me really well, there is nothing like my passion for warm beaches and warm blue waters.  We stayed in 3 different houses in 1 week... thank you, husband, for being so popular!  (Seriously?  He didn't even live in Florida and he was so popular with some of the guys there!)  It was awesome.  We were received with warm hospitality.

Each day I was able to connect with someone lovely from my life there.... catch up... it was food for my soul.  My friends there got to meet Shiloh, which was really good for my heart.  She got to have a couple play dates with some of my friends who have little ones of their own now. (Sarah who has 2 sweet girls, is a photographer, check out her work here.)

Smack in the middle of our time in Florida, we headed off to Nicaragua for a week long surf/missions trip there.  Remember those guys I mentioned who Brandon was so popular with... well 4 of them are really REALLY good surfers, and they accompanied us down to the Popoyo area of Nicaragua to work on a community building project, share Jesus with local, and yes, of course, catch some awesome waves.   We were joined by one of the other YWAM Pismo staff, Paula, who kept up the energetic 18yr. olds better than we did, she is amazing.

Here's a photo of part of the building project we got to work on.
We got to be a part of 5 people getting baptized.

Nica waves.... watch out.

It was really nice to be back in Nicaragua.  We had the privilege of staying in the same house that we did during our last surf DTS.  It made Brandon and I miss all of the folks from that school.  We also got to visit with Priscilla and her children... here's a photo of them when we were there with the DTS a year ago.

And this was from our visit this past August.

She was even more crazy about Jesus than when we met her.  Her house had truly become a home... and she was happily working a good job.  Her kids were doing great, going to school, and it was a blessing to see them.  Look at how much they've grown!

Brandon and I both have August birthdays, so we celebrated them while in Nicaragua.  Mine cumulated with a bat sighting inside the house.  Brandon got to spend his birthday on a boat, surfing and fishing.  I'd say Brandon won.

Brandon's birthday.... all day on a boat.  They surfed, caught a ton of fish, and were exhausted.  Haha.


So yes, from Arizona, to Texas, to Florida, to Nicaragua, back to Florida, then back to Texas, and home... August was a busy month.  But it oh boy was it fabulous!  If you were one of the people we got to see, were blessed by, or maybe stayed with... WE LOVE YOU!  WE THANK YOU!

We have been exploring some of our creativity this year.... Brandon has been busy doing some woodworking, and I have tried (and failed a ton) my hand at sewing... but we thought we'd lighten the mood on the blog and share some of our latest creations.

Embroidery Hoop Art (engagement gift for our friend Kim).

Up-cycled Yogurt Containers... for our baby herb garden (sadly it is now dead, R.I.P herbs).

Len Strap Cover  (made from scraps of fabric).

Owl Mobile (a gift for the littlest YWAMer here, Eisley).  Her mom has a really sweet blog, called Dear Eisley, you should check it out.

Ruffle Butt Onesie (again for little Eisley).

"Sunshine" made out of scrap wood.  Originally this was made for Shiloh's non-existent bedroom... but its too awesome not to hang it up on our walls until we move and have a 2 bedroom place, then maybe we'll think about giving it back to her... :)

Over The Sink Shelf, for displaying our dishes and coffee mugs.

Paper Bird Painting.

Bathroom Window Curtain.  So the avocados out back don't get a show.  ;)

Brandon has a ton more handiwork, but we just didn't have any photos on hand of them.  He's made some beautiful picture frames... really nice.  And then some pretty amazing wine bottle holders.  They are magical.  Really, they are.  We'll have to get some good photos of them soon and then devote a whole post to the magic.   ;)

2011 is around the corner.... {2011 YWAM Calendars}

Need a great wall calendar for next year?  2011 is almost here, and we have these wonderful calendars featuring photos taken by YWAM Pismo staff.  You can keep all your dates, events, and schedules organized while at the same time enjoying a photos from around the world.  Each month features a different country... a great way to remember to pray for the people of China, Haiti, Thailand, and Nicaragua!

Below you can preview the photos that will be featured throughout the 12 month calendar... and in addition, a little information about who we are as YWAM Pismo Beach.  Brandon and I are personally involved in leading DTSes, as well as leading the SFMI (Surfer's For Missions International) ministry.

The calendars are only $15 each!  Get yours today!


Now for the nitty gritty:

• the $15 must be paid with your calendar order
• orders must be made before December 1st
• you can place your order online by clicking here

All the proceeds go to helping YWAM Pismo Beach do what we do!  Thank you!

Only Admit One.

One of our dear friends, and returning speaker on our DTSes, has a sister (her name is Cherie) whom I've never met, but who has one of the coolest looking web pages I've seen.  Super artistic.

Only Admit One.

And as you can guess, it focuses on the youth of today and how to deal with the culture around us, and not losing our identity in the process.... well, she words it much better than I.  Just check it out: at onlyadmitone.com

And if you looove blogs, she has one as well, its onlyadmitone.blogspot.com

A country shaken, and hearts stirred...

Our 3 friends (and fellow YWAMers) Tyler Dean, Will Barrow, and Jacque Gowing dropped everything last week when they heard news of the earthquake in Haiti to fly there and assist the YWAM base as they helped the victims. Its times like this when people are truly in need of Jesus, and its very encouraging to have people like them who are willing to go at a moments notice to bring love and help. You can keep up with their doings while in Haiti at...

http://www.tylerdean.blogspot.com (Tyler's been able to update his blog since arriving in Haiti)

and if your on the facebook train, you can check their profiles for the latest updates.

A picture of Jacque helping the nurses tend to one of many earthquake victims.

If you feel led to help support them, you can give online at our ywam website, ywampismobeach.org... and make a note that its for their Haiti trip.