All that Goodness!

So much has happened since I last posted. Let me just express the highlights to you, otherwise this would be way too long.
My week of orientation was a good start to this adventure. I learned why, and what, YWAM believes, and even some of their history. We spent much time in worship. The amount of worship here is very refreshing. They are building a culture that relies on worship. It is a very beautiful and vibrant thing.
This DTS is very unique. It is the first ever YWAM DTS to be in alliance with a House Of Prayer. We are Passion and Pursuit: worship and intercession DTS that is with YWAM and the Jamaica House Of Prayer. It is an amazing partnership and I am delighted that I am doing this school. YWAM and JaHOP just compliment each other so well, I'm blown away.
During orientation week we created our vision statement for this DTS. It reads:We will be a school that Seeks God's Face and Hears His Voice Clearly. We will Encounter God and Be Transformed while experiencing Intimacy With Christ. We will have a Deeper Relationship With God. We will Find Our Passion For Christ, Embrace His Love and Experience The Love Of God Like Never Before. We will stand on a Strong Foundation so we Know Where We Are Going!We will Discover How To Use Our Gifts And Passions To Serve God. The Spirit Of Christ Will Dwell In Us So That We Can Impact The World. We will Surrender To The Calling Of God On Our Life and we will Leave Everywhere We Go Changed!!!
We also all got to share testimonies. That was encouraging to hear how God has come into each other's life and know where everyone is coming from.We had a welcome night on Wednesday night. We ate Jamaican food and had a talent show. I played my harmonica, my ukulele (Lyra), and the foot tambourine. Others recited poetry, had us play soccer, and even preformed a play. It was truly a gold star night of welcoming. Jamaicans know how to make you feel loved.
Our adventures around Mobay (Montego Bay, Jamaica) included, but were not limited to, going into town and taking a test to get a food handlers permit--so that we can work in the kitchen on the base. And on Friday we got a tour of Mobay. We drove all around and learned where we can go to the beach and where the airport is and all that goodness.
That was essentially orientation week.I'm writing this as of Saturday in my first “normal” week of DTS. My previous weekend was good and relaxing. I spent some time in the pool (that is on the base) and the rest of the time I spent sweating. The humidity takes some getting used to. Church was also good. We were there for 5 hours, but the time passed quickly. One of the staff from YWAM spoke at the church and we shared some of YWAM's heart for missions. They prayed for us afterwards and that was a blessing.

We also celebrated the birthdays of two of my fellow YWAMers. It was fun and full of singing. Jamaicans know how to celebrate mon. 

 So far, the classes have been good. This week's focus is on the Nature and Character of God. Honestly, it feels like review for me. But thankfully the speakers have a different perspective than me, so I'm still learning from them. (But the speakers have totally taken the Perspectives class. Which is grand.) Every day the students have what's called “work duty.” My work duty is grounds/maintenance. So I help mow the 13 acre property and I'll also do odd jobs around the base.
Tuesday we got to do evangelism. We, essentially, walked around the community around the YWAM base and talked to the people there and prayed for some of them. I learned a lot about Jamaican culture while doing the evangelism. It was good and I'm excited to do it every week.
I've been holding up fairly well. Physically, I'm tired but can usually focus throughout the whole day. Spiritually, I'm beginning to understand the culture of 24/7 worship and intercession. I'm beginning to see why God wants to see us create that reality here on the earth. Mentally, I'm learning some in the school part of the DTS, but I'm mostly enjoying learning about the new culture around me.
Tuesday our outreach location was officially announced. However because of recent persecution breaking out where we are planing on going, I am not at liberty to declare (with the means of social media) where we are planing on going to for our outreach. If you would like to know where I'm going for outreach, just shoot me an email and I can let you know that way. I just cannot publicly say were we are going because they might not let us in if they know we are with YWAM. Yep, it's intense. But God believes in doing intense things through us. Please be praying for us as we begin to prepare for outreach.
I'm sorry it has been taking me so long to update. I'll attempt to do an update weekly on Saturdays. But, just to let you know, once outreach starts, I will not be able to keep up a blog. But we will find a way to keep you informed and praying alongside me as I bring the gospel to the nations.
God is good. All the time. And all the time. God is good.
Yah Mon!

In Christ,

Timothy David

The Adventures Of Sammy and Tim: DFW edition AKA Now I'm In Jamaica

Boy, has my adventure started already!!

I left on a jetplane Saturday, September 13 to the DFW (Dallas Fort Worth) airport. But, because my flight was delayed an hour (and I only had an hour layover) I missed my flight to Jamaica. 

Now, let's pause for a moment for clarification. 

It turns out that another person in my DTS was on the same flight as me. Her name is Sammy. So we were both stuck in the DFW airport together.

Back to the story:

So Sammy and I are (more or less) stuck in the DFW airport. We call our parents and let them know and go and find out when we can get the next flight to Montego Bay, Jamaica. It turns out, American Airlines won't have another flight until the next day (Sunday the 14th). Which turns our 1 hour layover into a 24 hour layover. We begin to look up hotels and make a game plan. Then, I call Joseph because I know he moved from Texas recently and might know someone I could stay with. Well, to make a long story short (but really though, it was a long story) after over 6 hours in the airport, Joseph found me a missionary family to stay with and Sammy ended up staying at a hotel a few miles away from DFW. The family I stayed with are with Gospel For Asia. They are the Johnsons and have 5 kids (ages 14 to 1). So I felt right at home. I had an amazing night sleep and got back to the airport at 7am Dallas time. Security was a breeze and I even played my harmonica for the security people: the guy at the x-ray machine asked if I had harmonicas in my bag  I said yes and then they asked if I would play for them. I did. They loved it. Then I waited around and explored the rest of the DFW airport (Sammy and I had explored for hours on end the day before... when we were there for over 6 hours). I could never find a good bumper sticker for my instrument case. So I bought Mexican Jumping Beans as pets instead. Then Sammy and I met up and boarded the plane. It left DFW at 9:45 am and landed in MBJ (Montego Bay, Jamaica) at 1:20 pm. Then it gets really exciting. We landed and then went to get in line for immigration. While Sammy and I were in the long line, I pulled out Lyra (my Ukulele sized guitar) and my foot tambourine and jammed to make the time pass. Most everyone loved it. Then I got to Immigration.

I told them I was only staying for 90 days. But my departing flight was 5 months out... that's not 90 days. So I tried to explain to the (really epic and completely Jamaican) officials that I would leave for 2 months but YWAM hadn't told me where I was going. They didn't really believe me. So, they let me use their computer and look up a cell number from someone from YWAM. That took FOREVER. Slow internet and I looked in all the wrong places. After they called YWAM they finally gave me the 90 days and let me go. Customs was the easiest thing ever and then I was outside in the humidity and saw someone with a sign "Youth With A Mission." Bam! I was so done with airports in general by then that I was beyond happy. The car ride to the base was only like 40 mins and passed quickly. Although, they totally drove on the wrong side of the road... all of them. But I guess it's normal down here. I've been at the YWAM base since and have been enjoying every minute. We have had amazing times of worship already and I have been becoming friends with just about everyone. It was really awesome though: today they prophesied and prayed over each one of us individually. I also have my schedule and everything is looking grander and grander. I'm sharing a room with a Jamaican (named Cephas) and I couldn't ask for a better location or staff. God is good. All the time. And all the time. God is good.

Here's to Knowing God and Making Him Known!

Here are some pics of the plane and the YWAM Jamaica base:

In Christ,

Timothy David 

Packing Up!

Just about all packed up. Charlie Martin II is excited to go to Jamaica and have some Jerk Chicken. We will be bringing some tunes as we go. Thanks for your prayers!

The Final Countdown (insert music here)

Thursday I get my Hepatitis A & B shots and my Tetanus shot. It's a good thing I'm not scared of needles. 

I have been able to Skype with Karissa at least once a day. That has been a grand blessing. It's weird to have her 16 hours ahead of us. I have Sydney time in my watch and kinda have a general idea of her schedule. So I'll look down at my watch at like 9pm and know that she is having lunch right now.... tomorrow. While I am observing my Tuesday, she is in the midst of her Wednesday. No wonder I can't keep track of what day things happen to me. Gosh.

I went to Good Shepherd (our old church. Which I can't but help to consider my home church) on Sunday. I was able to say goodbye to many old friends. It was good to see everybody again. I also talked to Pastor Pete and he said that Good Shepherd is giving me $1,000. So that's amazing. God just keeps bringing in the support. I'm not going to be surprised if I'm able to go to Jamaica fully funded.

At this point in time I only need about $1,500 to be raised. I'm trying to get fundraiser cards from Little Caesars but I have yet to get a hold of them. So I'm hoping I can reach them tomorrow. We haven't been able to get much traction with the Pizza Hut coupons as of yet. We have been trying to contact stores (like Safeway and King Soopers) but haven't been able to gain permission to sell the coupons at their stores yet. So if you can pray for that, I would appreciate that.

Honestly, at this point, prayer is what I am asking for the most. I would be delighted if you would pray that my preparations finish well. Be praying that God continues to prepare me for all that He has in store for me. Also, please pray for my favor with the Jamaican government. There is a possibility that they don't allow me to be in Jamaica for a full 90 days (which is what I'll need). And I may have to pay $120 for an extension of stay. So if you can pray for favor for me in that specific situation, that would mean a lot to me.

I'm so excited for all God has been doing--with providing almost all the funds now--to what He will be doing in my life throughout the course of this DTS. Thank you for your support. It means so much to me.

By the way, this is Charlie Martin II

Chick-fil-A gave him to me so that I could take pics with him to post to the Chick-fil-A Facebook page. You will be seeing more of him in the near future. I'm thinking he will enjoy Jamaica almost as much as me.

In Christ,

Timothy David

Goodbye Karissa, Here We Go Jamaica!

Karissa* left yesterday. I was privileged enough to walk her to the gate and say goodbye. We got to dance before she left. It was probably the hardest "Goodbye" either of us have ever said.  Tears were shed. Now after 24 house of travel, Karissa is in Australia. I leave in only a matter of 10 days. It is all becoming a reality.

As of now I have close to $4,000 set toward my DTS. I still need about $3,000 more at this point. With the funds I have now, I am able to go to YWAM partially funded. I would prefer to go fully funded, but presently, I have the funds to cover the first part of the DTS. The rest of the funds are mostly for the airfare for the outreach (the last two months) and the food/housing of the outreach.

I will be continue to do various fundraisers (I'm working on doing Pizza Hut gift cards and Little Caesars punch cards). If need be, my family and friends will be continuing the fundraisers after I have left. Unless I am fully funded by the time I leave.

The fundraiser at Cafe 180 sounded like it went well. It was yesterday. I was saying goodbye to Karissa, so I wasn't able to be at the fundraiser itself. I came in afterwards and they said about 30 or so people came in. They predicted about $100-$200 was raised. I'll know the details within about a week. 

It is approaching quickly. God has been providing and I am trusting Him to provide the rest. I am so excited to see how God will provide and move before the DTS and in the midst of it. Continue to pray that the funds keep coming, and that God prepares me for all that He is going to do. Thanks for everything!

In Christ,

Timothy David

*Karissa is my girlfriend. (Just in case you didn't know)