Lots of changes

Where do I start? A lot of things have changed since we arrived. It is definitely not quiet anymore. One week ago, we came back from our staff retreat at Camp Lebanon. That was for sure an intense week. Which meant a lot of meetings for Ray. For me, keeping Nolan busy but not over-sensitized with all the activity around.

Ray, can you tell us a little bit about the meetings? What was it about and what did I miss?

Ray: The annual staff retreat is the starting point for the year (school schedule). The base officially begins to transition from a slow summer schedule filled with vacations, and support-raising trips back to a full schedule of logistical preparation for our training and outreaches to happen. To begin with, we all meet together to set the tone for the year. We have some spiritual input to encourage, build and unify the team. We then talk about the vision and plans for the year. The main point of vision for YWAM Minneapolis this year is: moving more into Minneapolis. The base recently moved on from its location outside the city, now taking up temporary residence on the edge of the metro area and looking to move to central Minneapolis. (I like to think of it as, they were in the Wilderness, now on the banks of the Jordan, and getting ready to enter the Land.) In addition to our training, we want to focus on strengthening ministry connections in the city and finding a new location for YWAM Minneapolis (spy out the land). The desire is to have a location that can host YWAM training and be a community center for ministry in the heart of the city. There are already lots of connections to ministries in the city and potential properties so want to explore those this Fall and winter.

Awesome, thanks for sharing. That sounds like things are moving. That is good because with God things are always moving.

For us, as a family, the retreat was a good time to get to know everyone better. The team from YWAM Minneapolis is awesome.

After we all had a few days to rest from the "retreat", we went into another busy week. It was a moving week to prepare for the Fall quarter. We moved one family from one house to another house to better accommodate students, then did a lot of cleaning, moving bunks, and rearranging furniture around to host the DTS students in a few weeks.

That means, Ray, Nolan, and I also had to move. Unfortunately, there is only space for one family at the base. And you might guess, it is not our family. We still don't have enough support to rent a normal apartment here. A really sweet family who is friends of YWAM stepped up and is letting us stay in their amazing basement guest area. We have a bedroom, our own bathroom and a kitchen that will be used mostly just by us. The living space in the basement is also open for us. Their grandkids occasionally come to use the space to play but Nolan likes other kids. They already had the space committed to someone beginning in November, so it is only a short-term solution for us. But for sure a blessing and we are really grateful.

As a mom, I really want my son to finally have a place where we will stay long-term, and he can have a space where he can feel at home, play, and explore freely.

Ray has been asked if he can help at the DTS (Discipleship Training School) with some of the bible teachings. And of course, he will do that. He is also supposed to get a mentee, but that guy is not responding anymore, and it looks like he will not be showing up. We will see.

I thought and prayed about my vision for the last couple of weeks and I have a few thoughts, but I won't share anything yet. Next week I will meet again with Cristal, and we will process together.

Nolan and I will be less at the base from now on since we are staying somewhere else. But we will be there sometimes. He really loves the people, but the last weeks were also a lot of stress for him, and I want to make sure he gets enough time to relax as well.