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Kosmos conference, Juan Dolio, Dominican Republic

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

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

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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.