A Christmas Greeting

Today I went swimming in the Black Sea. It was a bit cold, considering it's the 26th of December. But to be honest I'm sure I've swam in colder water.
Christmas was different this year, being in Romania and all. But I enjoyed the quiet around the house and also being able to experience traditional Norwegian and Romanian food at the base leader's home.
Creciun Ferecit. Merry Christmas friends.

Constanta

Romania again

Yes I'm back in Romania, this time co-leading a team serving several ministries here. We've been visiting gypsy villages and now orphanages, handing out Christmas gifts to all the children. Their smiles and laughter are a great reward for the small effort we've put in. This week we leave for the Black Sea and Constanta where we will live on the YWAM base for our remaining 6 weeks. We will be there over the holidays as well; a different experience for sure.
Please pray for unity in our team, for hearts of service and the love of Christ to shine through us here.

24/5

This week at Stanely House (aka YWAM Paisley) we're doing around the clock prayer, Monday thru Friday. It's quite exciting actually. I never thought I'd say this but last time we did this I found that having an hour to pray just isn't enough time. And I'm finding the same to be true this time around.
With so many things to pray for I'm always overwhelmed and usually fail to pray for the things I commit to, let alone the ones I want to. Then when I'm scheduled a good chunk of time just for that, prayer, I only just get started when I have to move on to something else. It does help, though, to have such creative ways to go about it.
I'm thinking it must become a regular habit to set aside big chunks of time just for prayer. I know the vital importance of prayer, in anyone's life, I just wish it were easier :)

Quick update video

Thoughts

I spent the summer in Washington State. I lived with my family, worked my old job at the concrete plant and served as a leader in my old youth group (which was basically now an entirely new youth group). When I first found out that I would be in Washington for the summer I was not thrilled. In fact I didn't like the idea. After spending some time in prayer the Lord put a peace in me and I was confident that it was right that I stayed. But I still didn't like the idea. It was several months before I realized that I had gotten accustomed to being back in the U.S. and really felt at home. And once again I found it hard to leave all the people I care about there.

I've been listening to a very knowledgeable man named Arthur Burke who has researched the giftings of individuals, which he calls the " 7 Redemptive Gifts." He says that each individual has all the gifts in their spirit but one main gift. According to his research people with the gift of Mercy take larger amounts of time to emotionally disconnect from a place and reconnect in a new place, as when undertaking a cross-country move for example. But people with the gift of Prophet will have disengaged with their home and reconnected emotionally in the new location many weeks before the big move. Though I don't believe I am the Redemptive gift of Mercy, I know that I have many tendencies of the Mercy gifting. And though I take longer to adjust to some situations, I never quite feel like my heart is fully there.

Regardless, my mind has been imprinted with the truth that no matter where this life takes me, I will never feel quite at home on this earth. It's like Jon Foreman says, "I don't belong here."

"Since, then, you have been raised with Christ, set your hearts on things above, where Christ is seated at the right hand of God. Set your minds on things above, not on earthly things. For you died, and your life is now hidden with Christ in God. When Christ, who is your life, appears, then you also will appear with him in glory."

-Colossians 3:1-4

In the battle

Romania. Cold, snowy and bare. There is much beauty within that can only be tapped over time. There is a darkness that hangs over this place that stings deeper than the frost on your skin. It is apparent that the enemy has had open reign for a long time. But there is light here. People who are passionate for their King and are giving their lives to see His kingdom dwell in this place. There are many hearts that are yearning for release from a dark, rancid prison. The time that our small band of warriors has spent here has been formidable and arduous yet we have seen the light of His kingdom penetrating places yet hidden in darkness. People who have seen the glint of hope and chosen to walk toward it.
I only ask for your weapon of prayer to be with us in the final stretch of time left here. I beseech you.