Outreah games

We are leaving at the end of the month for London! We can't believe it's coming up so quickly! In an attempt to prepare the DTS students for outreach, we as a base put on something we call Outreach Games. Basically we try to replicate a fake outreach to see how prepared they are. We let them know a couple days before to pack as though they were going on outreach and to be ready by 5am. We spend a day doing our best to replicate everything that could potentially happen during our two months overseas to help better prepare the sutdents. We turn our base into another country, complete with an 'airport' and village people from the fictional country of 'Burgerstan". The students have to endure a chaotic foreign airport complete with children begging them for money, crazy 'taxi' drivers', and food unique to the 'culture', and a chance to evangelize to the 'local' people all combined with a general fatigue as we are on the go from sun up until late at night...all without clocks or any way for the students to now what time it is. This year was a success as the students did a great job! Here are a couple of pictures of the students.

A few minutes of downtime

one of the students' children playing with Liam

daddy and Liam

Mommy and Liam

just hangin' out

21-24 weeks

I have been horrible at posting weekly pictures. Here are the last three weeks.

ready for church!

look at that tooth!

One more month!

One month from today we will be climbing aboard a plane and heading off to London! Time is going by quickly as we are nearing the end of lecture phase. The students will be taking a short Christmas break on the 17th and will be returning the 27th.

THANKSGIVING
As a class, we spent Thanksgiving partnering with Manna Ministries again. We got to help set up and serve hundreds of homeless men, woman, and children in Clarksville. Liam loved every minute of it. He was such a trooper and spread lots of joy! Here are some pictures of our DTS and the people served.

some of the people we got to serve

Liam was more interested in eating the camera

halfway...

We have officially passed the halfway mark of the lecture phase! Time is flying by and outreach is just around the corner! The students are doing amazing and have really engaged with the speakers and the ministry times. It has been so rewarding to be a part of this school and to see them growing in their love and understanding of God and love for others. Some of the topics that we have covered in the last couple weeks have been 'Spiritual wholeness/spiritual warfare', and 'Marks of a disciple'. We have about 5 more weeks of lecture left and then it's off to London and Nepal! We have started our fundraising as a class. Each student (and staff) will need to raise around $4,000 to go on outreach. That's a total of about $9,000 for Matt, myself, and Liam to go. We as staff have been praying about what outreach will look like. As of right now we will be slitting up into 2 separate groups. Matt and I have been asked to lead one of the groups. As Matt and I prayed, we also felt like this is what the Lord was saying. We are very excited to embark on this new adventure, but also a little apprehensive. Right now we are holding to the word of the Lord and trusting that He will provide for our family, both physically and financially.  
    


Last week we got Liam's passport. It was so neat to see his little face in the picture and to know that this is the childhood that he is going to have. To travel the world and share the love of Jesus with others, even at 4 months old!
   It's hard to believe that Liam is already 4 1/2 months old. He has become a pro at rolling over and loves to share his sweet smile with the world. Liam is finally feeling back to his normal happy self again after being sick with a nasty cold and ear infection for a week. He is sleeping through the night again and taking two to three consistent naps a day.  

                                            

look at that pitiful face! he was so sick!

cutest monkey ever!

hey there!

daddy and his mini me.

17 weeks

It's been a busy week with the DTS as we have reached the middle of lecture phase. This past week we had the opportunity to hear about God's heart for injustice from a speaker all the way from New Zealand! It has been a challenge to balance family time and the DTS, but it has been so good to see the students engaging and deepening their understanding of who God is and their desire to reach the Nations with His love. The students have been doing research on our outreach locations, learning more about the different cultures and gaining a heart for these Countries so we can be praying and learning effective ways to spread God's love and hope to the people. We only have 6 more weeks of lecture before we leave for London and Nepal!





This past week we had the opportunity to partner with a local ministry called Manna Cafe. Manna Cafe's vision is to reach the homeless men and women of our neighboring town of Clarksville and to help feed both their physical and spiritual needs. Friday night we walked through the low income area that surrounds Manna Cafe and we handed out flyers inviting people to a chili/worship night. It was a success as it brought in a handful of men and women and gave them the chance to warm up with some food and coffee and hear some encouraging live music provided by Clarksville House of Prayer. We met people and had the chance to just listen to their stories and love them! Some of the students were completely out of their comfort zone, but it was so encouraging to see them step out and engage and pray for these men and women! Here are some pictures of our ministry time!

some of the students talking with the homeless

time of worship

a student praying with a man

Liam started teething last week! I couldn't believe it because he isn't even 4 months old yet, but between the excessive drool, lack of sleeping, and constant need to have something in his mouth, we have come to the conclusion that he is indeed teething. He has been a little bit cranky compared to his normal happy disposition and has been waking up several times during the night from the pain. Thankfully this week has been a little bit better thanks to some orajel and baby Tylenol!

teething is so rough!

playing in his exersaucer

Happy shopping with mama

I couldn't pick just one...

Hey there!

happy boy!

Small group leading!  

Fall has arrived and the leaves are changing here in Tennessee! There is such a fresh and new feeling of life here on our campus! Our base finished the renovations just in time for the Fall DTS to arrive on September 18th. 16 students from all around the country have come for 5 months to find a new intimacy with God and to make Him known. I have the privilege of staffing this school! As a small group leader, I have the opportunity to help walk the girls through issues, and process some of the things God is teaching them. We are already in week 5 of the three month lecture phase and have covered topics such as relationships, hearing God's voice, the Old Testament, and evangelism. We will be leaving on our 2 month foreign outreach to London and Nepal in January! The Lord is teaching me so much as a leader in this school. Please keep me in your prayers as I continue to rely on the Holy Spirits leading to speak truth and life into the students lives. I want to serve these students with humility and encourage them to actively pursue a deeper relationship with God and to boldly walk in the identity God created them for.

Role Reversal! 


Small group leading is a full time job! Between class, small groups, one on ones, ministry, and fellowship, I am typically on base from 8:30am until after dinner. Matt has graciously taken on the role of a stay at home dad as we adjust to this new chapter in our lives. Liam is such a lucky guy to have this time to spend with Matt. I have been so blessed by Matt as he is learning to manage feedings, naps, laundry, and dishes. Yes, he even does the laundry and dishes! It's so refreshing to come home to a clean house after being away all day! Matt brings Liam to the base for lunch and dinner because a mama needs to see her babies! : ) Thankfully we have the weekends to ourselves and Matt and I try to guard our family time as best we can. It's refreshing to spend a couple days just me, Matt, and Liam.

Liam

Liam is already 16 weeks old! Time is going by so fast. He is finally sleeping through the night again after about 3 weeks of waking up multiple times. Liam is loving being a part of the DTS just about as much as the students love having him here. We were concerned about how he would be with the new schedule, but he has adjusted so well! He is such a little flirt and loves giving all the girls big smiles. He is such a happy baby and doesn't mind being passed from person to person (which is a good thing being in YWAM!). Liam has started laughing and it is so awesome!!! He also started rolling over in the last week and a half. After a few minutes of trying, he finally musters up enough strength to roll his little body over. He gets so proud of himself and gives us the biggest smile! He brings so much joy to our lives everyday and we just love being his parents! Those bright blue eyes and big grins just melt our hearts and have the ability to turn around any bad day. Here are some pictures of the last few months! Enjoy!!!

Matt and I are sending out a newsletter soon! Let us know if you're not on our mailing list.

happy boy!

bright eyes

all snuggled in his jammies

rough day...

growing so fast!

looking up to his daddy already

Fall

DTS
As summer comes to an end, the base is preparing for the start of the new Discipleship Training School. We (YWAM Nashville) are finishing up the last few modifications we are making to the base in anticipation for the new students. This fall is going to be a busy one for us as a base, but aslo for us as a family. On September 18th the new DTS will be starting. Matt and I will be reversing roles for a bit as I will be a small group leader in the school. As of now, we are planning on having Liam come with me in the mornings to class and he will spend his afternoons with Matt at home. We will be here on the Adams camus for 3 months during the lecture phase and possibly overseas for 2 months. Please keep us in prayer as we will be trying to find a good balance that will work for our family and that Liam would adjust well to these changes.

5 years
This year marked the 5 year anniversary of Matt being on staff with YWAM Nashville. It is an incredible accomplishment and I am so proud of him. For the past 5 years, he has lived a life dedicated to God and to others. He has put his faith and trust in God and I am so glad that we get to continue this journey together as a family. It is a crazy ride, but we wouldn't change it for the world!

Another year older...
Last Friday I celebrated my 27th birthday. I woke up to Matt and Liam making me gluten free pancakes, my favorite! Matt had a note that started me on a scavenger hunt for my gifts. It was such a fun and unique surprise that was a perfect way to start my day! There is something about 27 that seems so much older than 26...perhaps it's the fact that this year I am a mom and I spent my birthday morning at the doctors for Liam's 2 month checkup (where he had to get his shots) accompanied by an afternoon of grocery shopping directly followed by an afternoon nap.  Yeah, quite the change from last year. : )

Birthday scavenger hunt!

And of course, some pictures of Liam

posing for the camera

crackin' up

Holding his head up!

Can't believe he's already 2 month old!!!