Urbana 2006

This year Urbana left the small town of Urbana, IL to travel to St. Louis, MO. Our team arrived with much excitement for the conference. 20,000 were estimated to be in attendance.






Our team was made up of members of OM USA, a contingent from OM Canada, and as well as a partnership with Cafe 10/40.
We had a great time talking with many students. Some of us even lost our voices in the process. One highlight was our cool button machine. Cool button phrases like "Corn on the Cob, Kitchen Detergents, and American Idol Winner" were greatly sought after.

Free the Dalits

John Brown University recently hosted Kumar Swamy in a Chapel raising awarenes on the Dalits. Kumar is the South India Regional Director for OM. Originally from a Hindu background, he became a Christian and joined OM in 1981. He holds degrees in Psychology and Missiology. In addition to his role with OM, he is a pastor in the Good Shepherd Community Church movement and is involved in the Dalit empowerment movement across India.

Kumar recently attended the Asia-Europe People's Forum in Helsinki, Finland where he presented a paper in a Seminar on Human Rights. click here to read it.

For more information, check out the Dalit Freedom Network.

True Grit

Over the last couple of days I read "True Grit" by Deborah Meroff. She tells the true adventures of nine ordinary women, who are making a difference in such places as Tajikistan, India, Egypt, and Lebanon. Brief fact files between stories highlight global abuses of girls and women, sex trafficking, prostitution, female circumcision, poverty and domestic abuse. This book not only raises awareness of global issues but points out simple ways in which we can help turn the tide for women worldwide. I want to recommend this book. For a free copy of this book, go to the website of George Verwer. Send him an email with your mailing address and he will send you a copy of that book.

John Brown University

I have arrived on the Campus of John Brown University for their Mission Fair. I'll post more later.

It is beautiful here. I love the Fall in Arkansas and on Campus.

Fresh from the Ship

One of the absolutely BEST things I've ever done was joining the OM ship Doulos a few years back. I had an awesome 1,5 yrs traveling to 16 countries, living with 300+ people from 40+ nations. I had to work hard, learn to give in to other ways of doing things and trust God in a new way as I was living outside my comfort zone.

Here's a little clip of some recent Doulos Steppers (Step= Short Term Exposure Program, usually 6 weeks long).

Check it out! Maybe you are the next person to live on the ship and experience the ride!

Last Night at the Cheesecake Factory

The night before we flew back to Atlanta from Palm Beach, we had an fun hang out time talking about movies, dreams and taking over the world.

Keelan, me and JP.

Keelan and Maria.

Danilda and Ben. (The Dominican Republic meets Birmingham, Alabama!)

All of us!

Erik, Danilda and Ben.

Fascination.

This is some of the students at Palm Beach Atlantic watching a video about the OM ships. Some of them are going on Logos II for a week to shoot a video during spring break. Keep them in your prayers!

Finally: Photos! Smile if You're in!

That's me and Erik eating the famous Mexican corn with mayonnaise, cheese and of course: hot sauce!


JP, Christian and Jonathan took us to eat. They knew the way into our hearts was though authentic Mexican food!


And the dish itself here.

Finally: Photos! Smile, if You Recognize the Place!

It does look like southern Florida, doesn't it?

Leaving

Erik and I are sitting at the airport in Palm Beach waiting to board the plane back to Atlanta. We've had an amazing week here at Palm Beach Atlantic. Beautiful place, fantastic people and great shark stories (they've all been in the water with a shark or stepped on a shark and kind of just shrug about it - hello?) .

Last night we had a prayer night with a few hundred students. We showed videos from around the world and prayed over the situations. I love doing prayer nights like that...coz praying for the world has definitely changed my perspective on the world.

Now we're boarding so...adios!

(pictures later....)

La Comida Latina en Florida

The awesome folk here at PBA took us to a taco stand for dinner tonight. You know, the real Mexican taco stand -kind and more. They did not have just tacos, but also corn with mayonnaise, cheese and hot sauce. Definitely not good for you, but fantastically delicious.

Click. Click. Click. Aaaaaargh!!!! Here would go the pictures that I have, if this freakin' thing would work.

Ahem. Maybe later then.

Who Wouldn't Want to Go to School at the Beach?

Palm Beach Atlantic is the name of the college we're at in West Palm Beach, Florida. Apparently most of the students here come from the Northeastern states of America. In the middle of the cold Connecticut winter, who wouldn't want to stroll into class in flip flops and board shorts?

Erik and I flew here yesterday. We had delicious Cuban food last night (they brought me a chicken and a half! hello?) and just a chill time talking about the ships and Erik having visited 63 countries. (No kidding!)

Check this space for stories about what's going on here in Florida this week.

You Can Change the Muslim World

Muslims all over the world are starting a month of fasting, called the Ramadan, on Sunday. During these 30 days they will not eat or drink anything from sunrise to sunset. Fasting is one of the five pillars of Islam and it is done as an act of obedience and submission to Allah.

Many Christians around the world are taking these 30 days to pray for the Muslim world. Maybe you don't know what to pray about or even why. Click here and you will find a guide that gives you prayer requests for each day starting September 24th and ending on October 23rd.

Hear my prayer, O LORD God Almighty; listen to me, O God of Jacob.
Psalm 84:8

Let's ask God to move in the hearts of Muslims and show them His love and grace.

Calling

Calling is finding out how God uses you best where the need is the greatest.

-Richard Sharp


What do you think? Is that it?

Uganda

This morning we had a performance of four guys from Uganda at our devotion time at the office. They are part of a band called First Love . On their website you can learn more about their ministry that reaches far from Uganda.

Just recently I read about Alexander M. Mackay (1849-1890). He was a pioneer engineer-missionary to Uganda. Arrived in Zanzibar in 1876; he reached Uganda in 1878. Built 230 miles of road to Uganda from the coast. Translated Matthew's Gospel into Luganda. Died in 1890 having spent fourteen years in Africa without once returning home to native Scotland.

What are you waiting for?

If you look at the story of the Haystack Prayer Meeting in 1806, you will see a group of ordinary young students. All likeminded, praying for global missions and the involvement of fellow students.

There were just 5 of them. Not a huge group. Their motto was:
"We can do it, if we will"
And they went on in their prayers and got other students involved. Through their prayers, enthousiasm and perseverance a movement started.

If you are convinced that something needs to be done in your generation. You might be the person to start it. A movement starts with a few people; not with hundres at the same time. Find others and start praying. In this Bible verse Jesus gives us the command to ask/pray for more workers.

What are you waiting for?
You can do it, if you will!

What Is Your Legacy?

Many of you have heard the story of the Haystack and how a couple of students prayed for the nations in 1806 and God heard them. As a result, God raised up 100 000 students who committed their lives to missions. Out of that number 20 000 went overseas and the rest supported them from home.

Last week I was in Williamstown, Massachusetts with a bunch of other people celebrating how small prayers have made a huge impact on the world!

Those days missionaries left home thinking that they'd never return. They wanted to give their lives for something that would last beyond their years. Today many Muslims are willing to lay down their lives for what they believe in. And they can't even be certain of Allah accepting them.

I have a strong conviction. I believe God is calling our generation to lay down our lives for His sake. I believe we need to stop talking and thinking about all the good things we should and could do. I think we need to take action.

It could be something simple like starting a prayer group for the unreached on your campus. Or maybe it means getting to know that international student. You want your life to matter, so why not start today?

Urgent need of Marine Engineers

This urgent message came from the MV Doulos:

"We have an urgent Prayer Request for the Doulos and the Ship Ministry in General. We are in urgent need of Engineers. If we don’t get engineers by the end of Sept, the Doulos won’t be able to leave Thailand. So please pray with us that God will provide qualified people. And if you know of people that might be able to help us, ask them to contact the nearest OM office"


For more information about the qualifications visit the website of the Doulos
Pray with us to find these Engineers.

georgeverwer.com

George Verwer(World Missions Advocate) is the founder of Operation Mobilization. He has a very good website with a lot of resources. Links to websites, sermons, articles and books. He just started an online webcommunity:"I hope that soon many people will be online and able to connect with one another for greater networking in missions."
If you want to know more about world missions, you must visit www.georgeverwer.com

Dear Francis

Check out this site about a movie about Swaziland, a country with a HIV-positive-rate of 40%.

HIV/AIDS pandemic

Did you know:
3.1 million people died of AIDS in 2005
HIV/AIDS is the leading cause of death worldwide among those aged 15-59
Life expectancy in several highly affected countries will drop below 40 in 2010

This website is called the AIDS Clock, it shows the numbers of people getting infected with HIV and dying of AIDS.

Life is...

One Week in Mozambique

"So much of what Christians in the developed world consider mandatory-ostentatious church buildings, big-ticket conferences, respectability and a hermetic subculture—seems not only irrelevant but absurd in southeast Africa. There is no time or place in Mozambique for anything “extra;” the only need is for the transforming power of God. And God is here, as expected, in the unexpected." Read more stories from a Canadian traveling through Mozambique.

Picture Slideshow

Here!!!

Kosmos conference, Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic

Kosmos June 2006 Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic
Originally uploaded by michaellightoftheworld.

check out more photos by clicking on this photo.
navigate it and have fun!
thanks for all who are keeping tabs on the Operation Mobilization Recruiting Team!

We have our sights set on making a difference in this generation for the cause of Christ.

What is your role in reaching the unreached?

Dominican family I stayed with on Saturday night!

Dominican Family in Juan Dolio. I slept in their home on June 24, 2006
Originally uploaded by michaellightoftheworld.

How cool?? My friend Seth (in the middle) met some boys playing basketball in the street. The next day, we were having a meal in their home, we did drama with them, we played games, I learned some Spanish, and then they invited me to sleep there with them.

Know how important this was and how fun it is to do things like this, I said, "let's do it!" Seth and I made our way to one of four rooms in the house and divided the queen size bed.

In the morning we woke with misquito bites and ready for a cup of dominican coffee.

not only did we really enjoy our time (this was the first time an American has spent the night there . . . or had dinner with them.), but we were richley blessed. Check out more photos here.

Kosmos Rocks!

Hey y'all Kosmos folk!

Just wanted to let y'all know that I had an amazing time in the D.R. with y'all. Thanks for hanging out with us and sharing a bit of life.

I'm in Mexico for the next couple of weeks, but want to connect with y'all in mid-July once I get back.

I know from my own experience how hard it can be going home from an amazing experience like Kosmos. Now it's time to put into practice everything we heard and live full on for Jesus at home...which can be the hardest missionfield.

Peace out!

Sun and Football (Soccer to Americans)

We've been in the Dominican Republic for two days now. We're part of a missions conference for students that takes place "on the mission field" as the organizers put it.

Hot air, smiling people and students' lives that are being streched. They went out on ministry for the first time today and everyone seems to be very encouraged. A lot of people even prayed to receive Christ in their lives! How great of a first missin trip can that be!

Michael and I are the OM reps here and have been talking with students about God's plan and purpose. The speakers are doing such a great job in talking about not hoarding the blessings God gives us but passing them on, that we can see the difference in the people we talk with.

The World Cup is going on at the moment and I'm in the Dominican Republic watching Sweden play England... surreal life! With Go nothing's ever boring.

Moldova

In the country of Moldova, a small group of women are selling their crafts and handiwork on the Internet, thanks to an initiative from OM Moldova's relief and development department. Tanea, a Moldovan national working on the ministry team in Paicu, started with a small group of women. Her goal was not only to make the different products, but to teach the women skills and generate a small income for them. In the coming months OM Moldova hopes to develop this program. To see the products made by the Moldovan women, visit their website

Listen

George Verwer, founder of Operation Mobilization has recently put about 40 of his messages and sermons on the internet. Click here to go to his website; listen and get encouraged and challenged.

First Time

There's a first time for everything.

Dylan (19) has just finished his first year in college and this summer he will go out of the country for the first time. He loves Jesus and wants to serve him. "I know God has called me, so I'm going to go."

Beth and I (the picture) are going with Dylan on his first mission trip to Mexico. We're going film his experience and how God works in his life during those two weeks in July.

In the fall we'll have a film ready for y'all to see! Pray that God would be the director of the film and that we'd get the footage we need. We want this project to bring glory to God and to show how God really uses us, when we offer up our lives.

What Are You Doing This Summer?

Are you still wondering what to do this summer? Maybe interested in missions and fascinated with Islam, but not wanting to leave the country?

Hot Atlanta offers a 10 day opportunity to learn what Islam is all about and how to talk to Muslmis. You will not only sit in an airconditioned classroom, but will have a chance to go out and talk to real Muslims and love them to Christ.

Check out connect for details.

We encourage you to raise support to pay for it. Jesus says that where your money is that's where your heart is also. People who support you financially will actually be there for you also spiritually i.e. with their prayers.

Be quick, application deadline is coming up!

Go Europe!

In our international team, I'm one of the foreigners. I've just spent a month in my home country, Finland. My friends and supporters have been quite keen to finding out what life is like in America and what our ministry is like.

Some concepts are totally foreign to Finns (Finland people). For example we don't have Christian colleges in Finland. People are surprised when I tell them that in America you can become a teacher/nurse/journalist etc. and study in a Christian university. In Finlad there are only a few Bible schools, but they are tiny and you can't go very far in your studies.

This time around I've seen Europe with fresh eyes. Churches and Christians are struggling to even find good Biblical teaching or leaders who would stick to the truth. God has blessed the US and there is so much Americans can give to Finns and other Europeans. Personally all of this has motivated me to talk more about Europe to Americans and I'm excited to fly back to the States and start work again!

Check out europe for some info on Europe.

For Your Information

Just to clarify, we are a mission organization. Please click on the side links for more information about what we do. We also use this space for you to follow what we (college ministries) do. Sometimes we get married. :-) Congratulations Edgar and Christina.

Just Married!

May 12, 2006

Mississippi Is Around the Bend

In OM we've learned long ago to trust in God not in cars. A six hour drive from Atlanta to Jackson, MS, was cut short just 50 miles from Jackson. I was driving as smoke started coming out of the back of the car. A few minutes later the vehicle started really acting up - right at an exit! That was a blessing coz we just made it to the nearest gas station.

Fortunately Jeff and Nadia had driven up the previous day and Jeff came to our rescue. The car is getting fixed and hopefully we'll be able to drive it back to ATL tomorrow. (Now is a good time to say a little prayer.)

We're at Belhaven College and a 24 hour prayer started last night and will finish tonight. I don't know if it's the southern hospitality or just Jesus, but the atmosphere on campus is very warm. Last night after our meeting a bunch of us went to a professor's house to hang out and eat some very rich chockolate cake. I'm always to amazed by these Christian colleges and how so many times I've seen professors really care about the students, not just academically but as "parents". True community, eh?

I do

What do you do on an average Thursday afternoon in an office? You can do a lot of things. Last week I got married in my office! In the pictures you will see my boss (Rev. Andrew) asking us, and signing the marriage papers. This is not the whole picture. There will be a ceremony in an old church, with the white dress and the tuxedo etc. etc. That's next month. I leave with Cristina on Saturday to go to The Netherlands!
The wedding ceremony is May 12th 2006. We keep you posted.

Pizza and prayer at Cal State San Marcos

Downtown Los Angeles

Finally some pictures from our trip to California. Our friend Paul took us to downtown LA. We stood on the rooftops and saw a rainbow. And it doesn't even rain that often in LA.

God's promises are true!

Traveling Mercies

A lady by the name of Lulu has blessed our team the past few weeks. She has let us use her car while here in Southern California. Today Erik and I got a bit of a scare when smoke appeared under the hood as we were driving. Erik took the car to a mechanic and they figure the coolant container is cracked and needs to be replaced.

Erik bought the new part needed and went back to pay. The mechanic said, it's okay you don't have to pay. You're doing good work, God bless you.

The mechanic's office walls were covered in thank you notes. People from all over thanked them for helping people in need for free.

I want to be a person like that too...passing the good things on.

Wanted: Good Travelling Skills

Ben loves to travel. He is in his early twenties and has been to 15 countries already. In America you don't often run into such "super travellers". He said he is good at travelling. He'll take his backpack a pair of underwear and adapt to any kind of situation, sleep in $2 hostels and talk to anyone who might come across his path.

We all love to do some things and are really good at them. Sometimes we wonder what God would have us do. Surely it's not in God's will for us to do things we love, because Christianity is all about sacrificial living.

Then again God must know why He has wired us a certain way. I love to hang out with people and God has lead me into a ministry where I spend most of my time hanging out with people.

God is interested in us and in our character and growth. I believe in living sacrificially we need to bring our skills and dreams and desires to God and ask what He would have us do with them. Many times it is something we'd never dreamed of.

We are created for a greater purpose, greater adventure and greater faith. Our fear of the unknown and our lack of trust in a God that truly is good binds us from stepping into the life He had in mind before we were born.

P.S. If you love to travel check out living on a ship for two years or trekking in Nepal or backpacking across North Africa. Reckless abandon man!

Horizon

The team got up early in order to be on time for devotions at the Horizon School. We didn't know quite what to expect. But we were pleasently suprised. We shared in front of nearly 80 students maybe. They were so attentive and as Michael would say, "They were tracking with us." They asked many questions. Afterwards we took a small group out to lunch at Rubios (home of the fish taco) and had a great talk with them. I think we were able to challenge them and show them opportunities.

Free Pizza and Prayer

We were just at Cal State in San Marcos. Intervarsity got money from the school to buy 40 boxes (!) of pizza to give out to the students for free. As we handed out pizza to the students we also gave them flyers inviting them to come to the prayer room on campus.

The prayer room's going on for 48 hours and there are pictures, maps, lighting etc to inspire prayer and for people to express themselves. One of the guys was in the room today praying for the faculty to come to faith. The next minute a teacher stepped in and said, "I need to come and spend time here in the afternoon".

After that he prayed for Christian students who aren't plugged in and soon after a student stepped in to find out what the room was all about and how to get plugged in with other Christians.

Sweet.

Los Angeles

We are in Southern California now. We had a day off so we connected with Paul of SVM2 who lives in S. California. He showed us around downtown LA.

Prayer for Burma

There will be a Global day of prayer on Sunday March 12 for Burma (Myanmar). Burma is a country in South East Asia. The military government which seized power in 1962 has since waged a brutal war against rebel ethnic groups and has been carrying out acts of genocide against its own people.

The acts of genocide are still continuing. A recent article in the Daily Telegraph gives an overview of the facts.

In 1997 during the Burma Army offensives the Free Burma Rangers were formed, when villages were destroyed, people killed and over 100,000 thousand fled their homes. Over 2 million people are now displaced inside Burma. In the face of the overwhelming force of the dictators army, the Free Burma Rangers organized with the idea that no one can stop people from giving love and serving each other. During this time the Global Day of Prayer was started.

Take time on Sunday to pray for Burma.

This Generation Rocks!

We're in Arkansas at John Brown University at the moment. This morning Richard Sharp (British guy who is in OM) spoke in chapel. He got students to stand up front to represent world religions to indicate how much of the world is Christian/Muslim/Hindu and also how many non-Christians live in parts of the world where they can hear the gospel.


Then he had twelve students stand up and represent the missionaries in the world. Eleven were in a part of the world where the gospel is available. Then Richard asked whether students wanted to see this change and would there be any that would be willing to say "Here I am. I'm not much, but I'll go where you'll send me."

The most amazing thing happened. Half of the students (about 500 all together) flooded the front of the chapel. Half of the students! The rest stood up and said they would be committed to sending the rest out!

I've never seen a response like that. I pray (and would you pray too) that God would help these students to remember this and that they would actually go and send. The Holy Spirit is really on the move...and is raising this generation up!

John Brown University

Head Heart and Hand, that is the motto of JBU. Christ over all. It was here that I was challenged into missions. It's great to see OM and JBU partnering together this week for World Awareness Week.

Richard Sharp gave a great message this morning. He really got everyone's attention after throwing water from his bottle out into the crowd and 'baptizing' them. Richard shared on the impact that the spirit has had over the past decades. Also Samal Jakobsen (Exdouloi) has been promoting us. I've had quite a handful of students come to our booth saying that Samal sent them to us. I had a great converstaion with Daniel, a Senior Engineering Student. I also shared in a Freshmen Design class. Heidi is getting ready for her Journalism class talk for tomorrow. Things are going well. And there is good response.

Arkansaw!

Erik and I arrived in Arkansas yesterday. We flew into this tiny airport that many people don't know even exists. It's only been in use for a couple of years. Wal*Mart has its headquarters here and the tiny plane was full of business people on their way to the Wal*Mart hq's.

We're at John Brown University and Richard Sharp from OM, is the main speaker. He spoke this morning on how God has always used suffering to build His church. When the church only has Jesus, it is devoted to only Him and not the stuff that so easily distracts us. It's amazing how God's Spirit really has moved in non-western parts of the world in the last hundred years through all kinds of political and natural disasters.

World Watch List 2006

Every year Open Doors publishes their “World Watch List” of 50 countries where Christians are persecuted the most. And for the fourth straight year, the isolated communist nation of North Korea remains atop the 2006 list.
To make a powerful impact on this oppressive situation that our persecuted brothers and sisters in North Korea are in, you can commit to regular prayer on their behalf.

Huntington, Indiana

We arrived this morning at Huntington University in Huntington.
A very nice campus. And we are looking forward to get more involved in the missions emphasis week and campus life. Tonight we will go to the basketball game between Taylor and Huntington.

From Victory to Florida

So, yesterday the US hockey team lost on olympic ice to the Finnish team. Go Finland! So far, we're undefeated. Next we have to score against the Russians...

This morning Michael and I flew to Orlando, FL. At the moment we're at the Campus Crusade HQ's enjoying their hospitality. They have ponds (or swamps?) right in front of the buildings. Apparently they've had alligators in there. I was sure they were just trying to trick the Finn...but I guess they were serious.

We're here for a conference called Fusion. It's for 20 and 30 somethings, so a step up from college age. Tomorrow morning I'm looking forward to hearing what Dan Kimball has to say about the "emerging church". It is an interesting concept for sure and it's on everyone's lips here in America.

Prayer then and now

Did you know that the "Birthplace of American Foreign Missions" is in Williamstown, MA? In 1806 a group of college students had a prayer meeting out in the fields. Because of the rain they had to seek shelter by a haystack. They continued there prayer meeting and they dedicated their lives to missions.
Two hundred years later we see again that students are praying on their campus.

To learn more about how you can get involved in prayer for your campus and the world; check out this website.

Team Moose in Idaho Two Weeks Ago

Snowmobiling is fun!

We had a couple of days of on the mountains of Idaho on our Northwest tour.

Pacific Lutheran in January

So, we're a little late posting these pictures...
This is our team with Aaron (amazing dude) at Pacific Lutheran where the students did 48 hours of prayer. Every slot was filled! And this is a pic from the actual prayershack.

48 Hours of Prayer at the University of Oregon in January

Rome

Yesterday we visited Rome (in Georgia). We were part of the Missions Fair at Berry College. We met some of the students on this beautiful and very large campus. We had one specific meeting with a group of students that wants to start a 24-7 prayer on their campus. It was exciting to be at their first meeting and encourage them to take the next steps. We will come back to the campus in a couple of months to pray with them again. It is great to see that all over the country students are praying for their campus and for the world.

Toccoa Falls

We got back from the Northwest on Friday and Erik and I drove a couple hours north from Atlanta two days later. At the moment we're at Toccoa Falls College.

Last night there was an international fair. Missionaries from different organization presented clothing, food and stories from all over the world. Our OM team took pictures. We had a bunch of native costumes with us and we dressed people up wearing them and took pictures. We'll send these pictures later to the students as their "missionary prayer cards". You can imagine that this was quite the hit. Students being excited about getting to wear all these costumes and getting their pictures taken.

We also have these temporary tattoos and we were tattooing people. That's always fun!

This is a great school. Everyone's really friendly and it's easy to get to know people. Thanks for your prayers!

If You Lead Me Lord

At one of our meetings we sang this song.
We want to share the lyrics with you.
Invitacion Fountain (Words and music by Michael J. Pritzl)

All who are weak, All who are weary
Come to the rock, Come to the fountain
all who have sailed, On the rivers of heartache
Come to the sea, Come on be set free

If you lead me Lord I will follow
Where You lead me Lord I will go
Come and heal me Lord, I will follow
Where You lead me Lord, I will go
I will go, I will go

All who are weak, All who are weary
Come to the rock, Come to the fountain
All who have climbed, On the mountains of heartache
Reach to the stars, Come on give Your life
All who are weak, All who are weary
All who are tired, All who are thirsty
All who have failed, All who have broken
Come to the rock, Come to the fountain

Day 20 - NW Tour

4:00 AM Alarm; 4:15 Get up; 4:30 Shower; 5:00AM depart Moscow, Idaho; 11:00AM arrive Seattle Washington; 11:30 still looking for Car Rental Return; 12:00 Check in to Airport; 1:20PM depart Seattle; 9:00PM arrive Atlanta.
sleep...

Day 19 - NW Tour

We met up with the Intervarsity people at their apartment in Pullman Washington to discuss possible 24-7 prayer meetings at Washington State University in the future. We had a great time talking with them. Afterwards, we headed over the boarder to Moscow, ID and the University of Idaho. We had a great time with the Intervarsity Chapter there. Erik had a lot of fun talking to the students and knowing all the small towns in Idaho that they are from. Erik even met a fellow farm guy from Counsil. A small community far away from most places.

Day 16 - NW Tour

Today we went to Erik's church in Idaho. We shared in the Singles Class, and Erik snuck out to visit his home class and give them an update. Erik and Michael also shared briefly in the "gym class" about OM.

Day 15 - NW Tour

Finally a break. We all went off to see a great movie "End of the Spear". This is a great movie. Half of the proceeds go towards missions work among the indians. The other half goes towards making more movies like this one.

If you have never supported missions before now is your chance. You can go to a movie AND support missions at the same time. GO See the Movie. It's great.

The Prayershack

On Wednesday night about 20 people squeezed into a room the size of a receptionist's office. The walls were painted bright red and prayers were written and drawn across the walls. We were there with a bunch of students from the Pacific Lutheran University (PLU), who were just finishing a 48 hour prayerchain. Yes. They actually had someone praying in the shack for 48 hours straight. During the night too. They want to see their campus changed.

We've been on the road for two weeks now in the NW and God is raising this generation up to pray. It's amazing to hear students share their hearts for God and for the world in Oregon, Washington and Idaho.

Yesterday we took the daring 8 hour long drive from Tacoma, WA to Boise, ID. Amazing scenery with crossing the mountains and seeing snow. God's creation shouts the glory of God!

We're in Idaho for the last week of our trip. We've got some days off and some a couple more meetings. Thanks for keeping up with us...we appreciate your prayers. Nothing happens without prayer.

Day 14 - NW Tour

Erik met a professor at Northwest Nazarene University to talk about Internship opportunities with OM. They also talked about future visits of OM to NNU in chapel for example. Mark from NNU is origianally from Georgia living in Idaho, and Erik is originally from Idaho and living in Georgia. Ironic.

That night the team shared in the Intervarsity Meeting held on Boise State University. A great group of people. Afterwards we all headed off to Michelle's place for snacks.

Day 13 - NW Tour

Today we drove to Idaho. We stayed at the home of Erik's parents. :-)

Day 12 - NW Tour

Back to Seattle today to pick up Michael at Seattle Pacific University. Erik had a meeting with Career Services as well. From there the team went back to PLU for a closing prayer meeting in the shack.

Day 8

Today was very busy at Mission Fest NW. We met a lot of students who were very interested in missions.

One highlight for the day was listening to the keynote speaker -- Steve Saint -- son of martyered missionary Nate Saint who went to the Auca Indians in Peru in the 50's.

Also our team met up with 3 exdouloids with whom Erik and Heidi were shipmates. It was great to connect again. Also we found a shop that sold Pear Milk Tea. Erik hadn't had it since he was in Taiwan several years ago. (It's famous for having a huge straw and big jelly balls that you suck up and chew with the tea.)

Day 11 - NW Tour

We left PLU for George Fox College just south of Portland. Some really cool people from our office in Atlanta joined us: Ross, Gary, Helena, and Pat. We set up in an auditorium, and Gary spoke again. Our team shared about the history of the 1806 Haystack Prayer Movement, the Student Volunteer Movment, SVM2, and the new 24-7 movement, and how God has and is using students.

Day 10 - NW Tour

After dropping Michael off in Olympia with some 'friends' of his, Erik, Heidi, and Edgar continued on they way in the Toyota MiniVan for PLU. We met a guy from Montana who was aptly nicknamed "Montana". He showed us around and we prepped for the Ignite meeting down in 'the Cave'. Gary spoke and we kicked off a 48 hours of prayer meeting. It's held in the 'shack'. A cool shack just off campus where people gather to pray. PRAY for PLU. It has a Lutheran Heritage, but it's all but gone. There is even an organized 'christian sect' on campus.

Day 9 NWTour

Today we visited a Church were Gary goes to. We were able to set up a little booth and talk to many people afterwards. That afternoon, we rested a bit and hung out at Powell's Book Store.

Mission Fest NW - Day 7

We left Eugene for Portland. We arrived at New Hope Church and set up for Mission Fest NW. We had a great time and met LOTS of people. We even ran into old friends. 3 young ladies whom Erik and Heidi knew from before on the Doulos were in town. Also Erik ran into 2 friends from Arkansas who are now running a ministry called ShortTermMissions.com. It was great to see them.

At Mission Fest NW was Randy Alcorn and Steve Saint - son of martyred Nate Saint who gave his life for the Auca Indians of Peru.

The Indians are no longer walking their own trail, but are walking God's trail. PTL!!

Eugene, Orygun (correct pronounciation)

Have had a couple of days here at the University or Oregon. I used to study here and it's been cool to see familiar places and faces. Some students are really fired up about prayer. I'm constantly amazed at how God goes before us and excites people. It's not about our ministry or about our personal contributions, but about God's work in us and through us. He is on the move and we're just a small part of a much bigger plan.

UofO - Day 6

Today was more busy. More students wanted to meet with us. Erik had a meeting with Career Services at Northwest Christian College. He also met the Campus Pastor, and set up a meeting for later that afternoon. So Erik and Michael both met him at Starbucks and had a great converstation and brainstormed future partnerships.

After the meeting the guys were relaxing and having a coffee, when Erik bumped his coffee and it spilled all over the keyboard of Michael's computer. It fried and died. Thankfully Michael has it insured.

We finished off the event with a prayer meeting in the AO house with severl of those who participated in the 24/7 prayer room.

UofO - Day 5

We all had various meetings with students around campus. For the most part it was a more relaxed day.

UofO - Day 4

Today we traveled down to Eugene to the University of Oregon. We are partnering with CCC and setting up a 48 hours of prayer conference based on the 24-7 prayer movement and the Student Volunteer Movement 2.

We kicked off the event with a dynamic speaker who is on furlough at the moment from North Africa. Amazing story. Maybe if you ask us personally we can tell you more.

Afterwards we talked with many students.

Off - Day 3

Today we hung out. We went to Powells. We hear it's the largets book store west of the Mississippi River. It's big. We like books. We are OMers. We like books.

Multnomah Falls - Day 2 of NWTour

Edgar, Erik, Michael, and David (brother of Michael attending Concordia) had some free time today. They decided to take advantage of the sun which had not come out in Portland for 28 days. On this bright and cheer filled day, the foursome pilled into a SAAB and headed for Multnomah Falls. It was a great day for a 1 mile hike to the top and then 1 miles back down. This was the first time for Edgar and Michael to see the 5th largest waterfall in the USA. For Erik, he had been there before (a year ago was the last time), but he had never hiked to the top.

Planes, Portland, Peru, Perk - Day 1 of NWTour

Edgar, Michael and Erik boarded a nonstop domestic flight from Atlanta to Portland. It was a normal flight as nothing notable happened, but descending into PDX, there was a traveling show about Peru. Erik has always wanted to visit Peru. Machu Picchu to be specific. He hears that they have good coffee.

Passion 06 - Pics

On our way to Nashville. A long trip it was from Atlanta.


Having fun in our big blue van!! We love JESUS!!


Rock on!


We met many people and loved meeting you and talking with you.


This is our 'band' picture.