Amsterdam

Well my Europe Journey is over now and I am on way back to the US.

What an amazing adventure that will always be apart of the journal of my life. I am really looking forward to the next time I get over there again. I feel like I may invest into the Celtic nations on yearly basis. It’s part of me I just don’t know how it all looks yet.

So my last stop was in Amsterdam. Fire and Fragrance has sent like 3 or 4 teams on outreach there now. That is where Andy was when God gave him the name “Fire and Fragrance”.  We have some history there but I had never been so I felt it was important to go. At this time we don’t have a team from Fire and Fragrance there but we do have a outreach team from the Awaken DTS in Kona. This school is one the closest to my hearts and I feel like they are mine as well. My two wonderful friends Chase Cofer and Elizabeth York are leading the team so I went to visit them for 4 nights. It was a great time.

When you think of Amsterdam there are many things that might run through one’s head. I don’t know that anything accurately prepares you for this city. First of all its one of the more beautiful cities I have been to. All the canals, bridges, buildings, its just amazing. You might also think it’s not a safe city, but oddly enough it is. Its funny I felt safer there then in London, Dublin, Glasgow or any of the big cities I have been in.  So here you are surrounding by beauty and you know if you just walk in a few streets you will be hit head on with the Red Light District with the prostitutes in the widow and the all the shops selling marijuana. It is one of the stranger feelings I have had in a city.

My first day there was Sunday so I went to church at a Vineyard church with team and spent a little time in the city but in the more beautiful parts. On day two I went with the team to Dom Square where they gathered and worship the Lord and did a treasure hunt.  I decided to spend time alone in the city for the next several hours. I knew I needed to walk through the Red Light District. I have never seen anything like it so I thought I needed to face the reality of what was around me.  So I just started walking toward’s the direction and knew I would find it soon enough.  As I got closer it felt darker and darker and the smell of marijuana continues to fill the air. Soon I found myself in a small ally at about noon and the windows where filled with women.  I was just praying the whole time as it was all quite overwhelming. Men where going inside the windows and I just kept walking and praying. My heart and stomach where sick and spirit grieved.  I looked around me and there where couples strolling along, young people, tourists, children with parents and no one seemed shocked, no one seemed to care. Across from one set of windows was a coffee shop where men sat drinking their coffee watching and chatting like they do everyday. I just kept walking....... Trying to process, trying to pray, to carry His heart through it all.

I went to the what they call the “Jesus Loves You” Building as it a big building that say’s Jesus Loves you on the top both in Dutch and English. They have a christian coffee shop right here near the RLD and I sat and journaled. After I met up with the team and we went to the Prayer Room right in the RLD and we lead a tour our set. This was one of the most amazing things I have done in a long time. It was my perfect response to the Lord from what I had just seen and experienced.  I sang songs of His Lordship, HIs love, His redemption, His light and hope. It was also just amazing being in a prayer room again. We sang and prayed and it was amazing!

The last day we went to this place with all the windmills and it was great to get out of the city a bit. That night we had dinner together in the city and I walked by crowd that was gathered around a man who seemed to be levitating. Yeah the first time I had seen that. It may have been a trick but there was absolutely no way to tell if it was. So I found myself just praying again.  That night I gathered the team in the tower and prayer room and the YWAM base overlooking the city. I spoke on perspective and faith, we prayed and it was a great way to end my time there. I know I will be back again!

So no I am headed to Los Angeles where I will go to the Irvine area where I will spend some time with our Circuit Rider teams there.  I am also going to a conference called “Impact LA” with my friend Shawn Bolz and Heidi Baker and Sean Feucht will be there as well. I am going to bring up a few of the Riders to serve at it. I am looking forward to this time and I really feel like there may be some divine connections in these next few days. I am excited.

Oct 20-30- Irvine an LA, CA with the Circuit Riders
Oct 30- Nov 4 Honolulu to teach in a DTS
Nov 5-13 Detroit, MI I am helping to head up a team for The CALL to do some ministry, prayer, etc
Nov 13-21 Sophia, NC with my friends Jonathan and Melissa Helser
Nov 21-25 Mississippi doing a Pastoral Visit for the Sex & Money documentary team.
Nov 25-30 Denver, CO with the York Family
Nov 30-Dec 5 Wasilla, AK  (my Album is set to Release Dec 1)
Dec 5-30 Pt. Agassiz, AK with my family
Dec 31 Back in Kona !!!!!

I know I keep saying this but I am still in great need of finances!

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