Before we left for the World Race back in June of 2009, I had a reoccurring dream/nightmare that I have shared with many of you. In those final few months leading up to the Race, I would find myself waking up in a cold sweat in the middle of the night. The ending of that dream would always be the same. I hung hundreds of feet above the stadium in which I watched the younger version of myself playing on a bright green field. Then, the hand that was dangling me from above turned me to the left which brought into view "another" stadium which was jam packed with spectators. And then, I was let go. 

A few months ago I had a vision which I believe is the continuation and completion of that reoccurring dream from my past.   As I sat in silence praying for God's direction, I felt my body being suspended from above in that awkward and terrifying position I had visualized so many times before.   This time however, as the hand dropped me and I began to free fall, I was not afraid and started soaring toward the "other" stadium. As I continued to pick up speed I found myself flying over top of the spectators and down onto the field. I squinted as I tried to focus my eyes on the players that were on this new field. 

I was excited to discover what God had in store for me at this new venue. As I scanned over each of the players, trying to locate 'myself', my body continued to fly forward. I was now headed off of the field and towards a man on the sidelines wearing a headset. My thoughts shifted.   Maybe God didn't want me 'on the playing field' anymore. Maybe He had plans for me to become some kind of coach or mentor.   As I flew towards the 'coach' I felt a certain peace come over my body. That feeling however, quickly faded, as I found myself flying right over top of the man with the head set and up into the stands. 

I was gaining speed now as I skimmed over top of thousands of cheering fans who packed the stadium. Then I was turned and flown through one of the cement exit gates. My mind was frantically scrambled for answers.  Where was I going? Why wasn't I on the field, or at the very least able to see it?  

As I flew around the corner my body was abruptly stopped in midair and there I stood. I was on the other side of the concession stand, face to face with the popcorn making machine. And that was it. The vision was over.

Now I've been sharing this vision with several of the people that we've met from around the world over these past few months. There seems to be one overly resounding message that has come in response to this startling vision. God is ready to use me for something totally different than anything I could have ever possibly imagined. I believe that He wants to use me in this next phase of my life to take a back seat and support those around me.   With the journey God has taken me on this past year in dealing with my selfish issues of pride and moving me toward humility, I can think of no more appropriate idea than simply "serving popcorn". 

With that said, Becky and I have decided that we will be starting a non-profit organization when we get home. The mission of this organization will be to help God's people reach their kingdom dreams to love others and serve the nations. In the most practical sense, we are going to help people who have a passionate dream to serve God around the world. This organization will be focused on doing the "behind the scenes" work to get a ministry up and running. 

We have been blessed with two initial opportunities that God has called us to help serve. The first one is in combination with our friend Trish, from New Zealand, and our brother Elijah, from Mozambique. Trish, our teammate from the World Race, has had a long time calling on her life to run an orphanage. She is amazing with kids and everyone who knows her has no doubts that this is her calling. 

Elijah, or Elias as the locals know him, was our translator back in November when we served in Mozambique. Elijah has been dreaming for a few years now of building an orphanage in his hometown of Beira to house, feed, play with and educate the several dozen kids that he helps to oversee from his community. Over the second half of this year we are going to start raising funds to help him buy the land and build this orphanage. In the early part of 2011 we will be putting together a small team of people from around the globe to fly to Mozambique for a 1-2 week mission trip to lay brick upon brick, and bring this orphanage to life.

Our second opportunity that God has just recently placed in our paths is to help out a passionate young woman by the name of Jodi. Jodi will be finishing her journey on the World Race at the end of this month. She and her team had the pleasure of visiting Malaybalay, Philippines just a month after the people there had stolen our hearts back in March. While Jodi was there, she fell in love with a group of teenagers who have found themselves trapped in the jail system. Jodi's God inspired dream is to set up a juvenile rehabilitation center which would be the first of its kind in the city of Malaybalay. 

At this point, we feel as though we have the general framework and purpose for this non-profit organization. However, one of the things that we are still lacking at the moment is a name.   If you could please add this to your prayers and let us know what thoughts you come up with we would be eternally grateful. We will keep you informed as things develop and thank you again for all of your support and love over this past year. God bless.

It's been 13 months of traveling the world and sharing the love of Jesus Christ that brings us to this moment. This is the long awaited day that we are finally flying home to the US. I have never in my life felt this level of homesickness and I simply cannot wait to see our friends and family whom we have been away from over this past year.

As I packed my bag this morning, for the 13^th and final time, a certain level of sadness came over me. We have met so many amazing people this past year and I am excited to see how God continues to unite us with those around the world who are doing His work.   With those newly formed relationship still on my heart I cannot help but think about those at home in America.

There have been so many incredible changes have taken place at home for those we know including marriages, births, new jobs and renewed lives. I find myself inching towards the edge of my seat in anticipation of the conversations that will be had over the next few weeks. And even though I am ecstatic about finally heading home to the States to hear these stories and just spend time with those who God has placed in our life, there are also feelings of fear at what awaits us.  

At this point, it is hard to even comprehend that God may have changed me and Becky during our time out on the mission field. In a lot of ways, it feels like we are the exact same people who stepped onto a plane back in June of 2009. The one thing that continues to come up time and time again during my prayers recently is a comment that a guy in Israel made to me at the end of last year. I can remember the initial confusion and defensiveness I felt when I heard the monotone words come out of his mouth, "ish or less" he asked in the midst of one of our ministry activities. When I curtly shot back, "what does that mean?" his soft response hit my like a dagger. "Which 'self' are you?" he stated. 

My prayer at this moment is that God will continue to give me eyes, ears, hands and feet to serve others in the way that Christ came to serve us. I pray that my attitude and actions will be focused solely on those around me, and once and for all, will take me out of the center. I am begging those of you at home who know me to please help keep me accountable on this constantly challenging struggle.  

God bless each one of you who have followed us along on our journey over this past year. We are so grateful for your support. Our heart and prayers go out to you. Can't wait to see you all. We love you.

The story begins as Pastor Steve's wife Andrea was up north, about 200 km away, visiting one of her church member's grandparents who was recovering from a sickness in the hospital. As Andrea finished praying she gathered her belongings and exited the large hospital room which housed several other patients. As she started down the hallway she felt a hand gently touch her on the shoulder. A soft voice in Thai desperately pleaded "will you please pray for my brother?" As Andrea turned around, she was confronted by a small Thai woman with tear filled eyes. 

Andrea walked back into the hospital room and towards the bed next to the one she had spent the previous hour in front of on her knees. She wasn't provided with very much information from the woman who had pleaded for her to come back into the room, but it was clear that the man had been in that bed for quite some time. 

Brother Sweet was in his early 40's and had been admitted to the hospital four months earlier for a seemingly routine case of the flu. Unfortunately, there was nothing routine about this trip to the hospital as Sweet was accidently given an incorrect injection which sent his body into convulsions. Sweet spiraled into a coma which left his body motionless and unresponsive. His muscles had atrophied to the point that they were no longer recognizable on any of his appendages.  Sweet's arms were curled across his body, resembling a sleeping bat, while his hands and fingers were contorted into a deformed position underneath his chin. None of the medical staff had taken the time to roll Sweet's body over or massage his back which resulted in large soars protruding from his lower shoulder blades all the way down to the back of his legs.

Andrea began calling out for God to heal this crippled and lifeless man. Both Sweet and his sister grew up as Buddhists along with the more than 95% of the nation of Thailand. Sweet's sister listened in intently over Andrea's shoulder as she prayed for a miracle in the name of Jesus. And then it happened. 

Sweet's eyes opened. 

He had been comatose for more than a third of a year, and then all of the sudden, by the power, glory and grace of God, he was awake. Sweet was disoriented and confused. His last memory had been from months before as he walked into the hospital. And now he was staring at a random white stranger next to his bed. Sweet's sister stepped forward in utter amazement to embrace her brother. She explained everything that had occurred. And then she gave her heart to Christ.

Name: Collins

Name: Whalen

Of all the young men that we have met around the world there is no one that reminds me more of myself (for better or worse;) than this little fellow. Whalen, or David Beckham as he likes to introduce himself, has an inner confidence that is difficult to overlook. Although he is one of the smallest kids in his class, his abilities, work ethic and heart make up the difference and then some. Whalen is incredibly gifted on the soccer field and the sky is certainly the limit if he continues to put in the hard work he has displayed so far on his journey. In the classroom, Whalen excels with his diligent level of study. His kindhearted nature can also been seen in his voluntary role as a teacher's assistant for the younger grades. During one of our final nights at Harvest Centre I had the pleasure of being placed alongside Whalen in a small prayer group.   At that point, I didn't think it was possible for me to have any more respect for the gifts that God has blessed Whalen with, but then I heard him pray. This may be his greatest gift of all. My prayer is that Whalen continues to focus on God's purpose for his life and never settles for anything less.

Name: Ariel

Our favorite place that we visited this past year, hands down, has been the town of Malaybalay in the Philippines. As beautiful as the mountainside scenery is in this small township the the most amazing thing about this place is the people that live there. Of all the incredible friends that we made during our short month long stay, there was one boy who epitomized the heart and soul of this area. Ariel is a relatively quiet young man who when we first met him, was off by himself, shooting hoops on a dirt basketball court. During his three years while living at the KIM Kids Home, Ariel has blossomed into the aspiring older brother that his 25 younger 'siblings' can look up to. He is always ready and willing to help take care of the other orphans at the home and does so with a compassionate heart.   He has a fun loving passion that seems to be a dying trait in so many young kids today. During our final week in Malaybalay we were able to get Ariel into one of our local basketball games. It was our typical Tuesday game against Pastor Rhogene's high school boys. Although Ariel was the youngest one on the court by more than three years his work ethic, hustle and God-given talent shone through. He never hesitated to pull the trigger on an open jump shot and his confidence and ambition paid off as he hit one of the final shots of the game. Keep leading your younger brothers and sisters at KIM by example Ariel. God has blessed you with an awesome gift to inspire those around you.

Name: Pie

For you did not receive a spirit that makes you a slave again to fear, but you received the Spirit of SONSHIP. And by him we cry, "Abba, Father." (Romans 8:15) 

There is one other story that Becky and I wanted to share during our time in Malawi.  It was a relatively brief encounter with an older woman in a rural village outside of Lilongwe.  As we walked into this small village, we were greeted by a woman who was one of the local leaders.  She sat us down and introduced to a few other women from the village.  One of these women had experienced a stroke just two months earlier and the right side of her body had been noticably impaired.  Her right arm hung relatively limply at her side and the right part of her mouth, eye and face sagged as a sad reminder of the life threatening trauma she had gone through.  The women explained that their friend was unable to use her right arm for gardening or manual labor and was not even capable of holding even her smallest child on her right side. 

Location: Swaziland

Date: Sunday 8^th November 2009

Recount: On this Sunday morning I was getting ready for Church. I was showering and had forgotten something. I got out of the shower to get it and when I got back in I slipped on the steep incline of the floor. My knee hit the concrete hard and was cut, bruised and swollen to the size of a melon. I hobbled to church where I was supposed to play the guitar and sing. My knee would not bend because of the swelling and the pain was terrible. For some reason no one even thought about praying for it until after the service. Becky came up to me and asked if she could pray. She laid her hand on my knee and prayed in Jesus name. Instantly my knee was healed. In front of my own eyes and Becky's the swelling was gone and I could bend my knee. The bruise remained, but there was no more pain. Thank you Jesus!

Location: Mozambique

Date: Sunday 6^th December 2009

Recount: During this Sunday morning service, Becky and I were to song lead, and while we were waiting for this to happen we sat with the children on the bamboo mats. As usual we were surrounded with children wanting to climb all over us. We both spotted these couple of brothers in the same outfit and grabbed one each, as we grabbed one of the boys to put in our laps he literally burnt us. His skin was burning to the touch. His face was flushed and his eyes were red and he looked exhausted. The only method I knew of getting a temperature down was rest and drinking plenty of water. So we took this boy and gave him our own water and let him sleep in our arms, as he slept we prayed over him, we laid our hands on him and spoke in God's language. We prayed for about 5 minutes for him and then we had to get up to sing, after this we returned to him and his temperature no longer burned us, but it was still very hot. While the other children went out to the children's service, that little boy stayed with us and we continued praying the entire church service. As we reached the closing of the service we felt the boy's head one last time before he was to head home and his fever was gone. His eyes shone. He looked healthy. Praise the name of Jesus!
                                                                                                                                                                           

Date: Wednesday 22^nd December 2009                                    

Recount: My team and I went out to Area 36 in Lilongwe, we split up into 3 teams and I went out with Daniel and Becky. We went around the village visiting people in their homes and praying for things they needed, bringing God back to the centre of their lives. We came upon one home with a young boy with a fever and snotty nose. He just looked terrible. We had found the majority of the children in that village had caught some variety of a cold and there were plenty of runny noses and congestion. However this one boy could barely breathe through his stuffed nose and coughing. We laid hands on him and prayed in Jesus name for healing of all congestion and symptoms of the cold. He was not healed when we left that day. We returned to that village the next day and saw that boy was healthy and strong with all signs of a cold gone. Jesus is wonderful!

 Location: Malawi

Date: Tuesday 28^th December 2009

Recount: Daniel, Becky and I were once more working together as a team. We were out in another village further from Lilongwe this time. We were doing house visits and with our translator we walked up to this woman sitting on her front porch. She was the chief of the village. As we walked up to her she said "I know why you are here, and I am ready". We were all very surprised by this welcome. Her daughter went to go get her Bible and the Chief was preparing herself for some big ceremony to receive Jesus as her Lord and Saviour. However we are not about ceremony but about relationship, so we talked with the Chief about Jesus and His desire for relationship with her. Her heart was bursting to return to Christ that as soon as we gave her the opportunity to invite Jesus in she was ready. This to me is a real miracle of how the Holy Spirit moves in our own spirit. He gives us such a desire to want to be near God that all people need is the mention of the Holy name of Jesus, people fall at His feet. Bless you Lord! 

With the incredible passion that Filipinos, as a whole, have for basketball (comparable only to the rest of the world's love for soccer) I am pretty shocked that there has never been a single player to come out of this beautiful nation who has ascended to the NBA. After what I have witnessed this past month it is certainly only a matter a time before The Philippines becomes the next nation to be represented on the professional courts in America.

Our small team of World Racers, the American All-stars or "Kanos" as the locals referred to us, played every Monday, Wed and Friday nights in the men's league. On Tuesday nights, we would head over to our friend Pastor Rhogene's church and play against his high school boy's team. We assembled a pretty rag-tag group of male and female basketball wannabes ranging in age from 22 up to 33 to suit up and take the court each night. Games are typically played to a score of 40 points and opponents customarily switch sides when the first team reaches 20 points. Certified referees (with official uniforms) can be found at almost any nearby court and can be hired at the rate of 150 pesos per game (about $3/hour). For most of the games that we played in the refs would typically officiate for free just to be as close to the action of the locals versus the best America had to offer. With that said it wasn't uncommon for us to see a standard formation of three referees per game (ala the NBA) for our nightly contests. 

Now I wish I could report back that the American All-stars compiled an undefeated record during our three week stay in Malaybalay but that was unfortunately not exactly the case. It would probably even be a stretch to say that we won more than we lost, but one thing that is for certain. We had a lot of fun and made some great friends. 

As much as I adored each of our competitions on the basketball court my most treasured moments would come when we would all step off the hardwood (or blacktop, as the case may have been ;) There were typically only a handful of players in the entire league that knew and were making a conscience effort to follow Christ in their lives. At the conclusion of each night it was our absolute honor and privilege to gather all of the players and pray together. Over the first week or so we had to be pretty intentional about pulling everyone together after the games to thank God for everything that He had blessed us with. 

I will never forget one of our final nights during our basketball ministry. We had been beaten up and down the court pretty relentlessly for about two hours before we decided to call it quits. I think it was our collective disappointment in our performance that night that took our eyes off the real purpose that had brought us into those men's lives. As we started to walk toward our team van I was filled with such an overwhelming feeling of joy as one of the local men called us back over. He welcomed us into their circle and led us in a prayer, thanking God for bringing our small group to their town. I will never forget this moment. And I will never forget the men that we had the pleasure of playing with on the basketball courts of Malayabalay.

Malawi

Munila, Hani, Lita, Whiskey, Adam, Hymdon, Jumah, Mussa, Felix, Rasheed, Chadrack, Catherine, Blessings, Dsunganani, Laban, Wyson, Richard, Weston, Edward, Happy, Moris Shat, Garrison, Felis, January, Tendai, Elufa, Tod, Sinekia, Peter, Andy, Collins, Fungai, Anamafia, Bornface, Jimmy, Morton, Frances, Shadrick, Mposa, Chicco, Frank, Medsen, Harvey, Harrison, Anton, James, Hussain, John, Ziole, Tomara, Chiconde, Vera, Bridget, Christian, Joyce, Rosemary, Miriam, Manis, Mary, January, Paul, Analice, William, Joyce, Elube, Patricia, Andrew, Namaria, Manuel, Besta, Chrissie, Nome, Sintan, Adolfa, Sabina, Panizo, Evenesse, Vida, Mary, Marico, Mirani, Ernest, Serebia, Priska, Alice, Salomi, Benedeta, Towera, Rebecca, Ema, Nixon, Deziderada, Richard, Dorothy, Eklina, Masiko, Eklina, Edess, Ester, Johane, Johana, Dixon, Farison, Malista, Maleri, Fani, Pemphero, Mackolata, Jennifer, Melia, Joffat, Mkule, James, Jane, Adison, Steven, Obregalely, Jeremiah, Habakuku, Eneles, Abraham, Chebetsani, Mercey, Esther, Mkule, Teresa, Mylekaleni, Isacc, Gift, Renard, Sisdia, Khoman, Lackyon, Thayo, Axon, Posiano, James, Axley, Patricia, Lande, Charity, Sherrif, Victor, Andrew, Everanashu, Memora, Ana, Dorin, Preska, Blessings, Trudi, Zina

Malaysia

Addess, Analis, Lundu, Falle, Margaret, Fane, Salina, Manga, Falice, Ida, Ester, Patso, Charity, Enita, Winny, Fondu, Kennedy, Owen, Jorawey, Kaluwa, Sam, Wallace, Matthew, Robert, Tomo, Hazwell, Felix, Emanuel, Elifa, Isaiah, Twenny, Elobe, Deepe, Felice, Linda, Malice, Molim, Joyce, Sisi, Elvas, Natalie, Mes, Enfero, Flora, Jessie, Kunale, Lucia, Nadue, Grace, Dabeu, Nkhambeyu, Onice, Razina, Gertrude, Ziwanda, Allikana, Chatsika, Wyton, Sandula, Ketilina, Robert, Mphatso, Bitana, Rosaline, Enelesi, Nasuluma, Merket, Nasoilo, Pity, Tamara, Ktlilise, Zefehigee, Efera, Jeneti, Luciada, Annie, Idda, Chykwayihen, Metala, Matiyasi, Pennol, Masawutso, Wellon, Emmie, Catherine, Mose, Fidion, Kundeni, Esnut, Casimiro, Lodorino, Farid, Rue, Benjamin, Daxter, Hamil, Yani, Lila, Josh, Steven, Tara, Shiom, Firus, Welan, Gevan, Jonathon, Enthrian, Raymond, Gori, Anglea, Mia, Imon, David James, Matthew, Sugbear, Carol Patrick, Brendan, Sarah, Peter, Nick, Rosie, Patrina, Elijah, Hassan, Eevon, Ian, Bowlin, Ashem, Patrick

Hannah, Kaleb, Ian, John Carlo, Nathaniel, Mary Grace, O'Neil, Mary Joy, Andrew, Mart, Joshua, Eric John, Mark, Rosalie, Joseph, Roxanne, John Lloyd, Hannah Lynn, Roldan, Jordan, Ron Ron, Gege, Cederick, Ariel, Larry, Belen, NJ, Michael, Clark, Neger, Rya, Ace, Rhagene, Kirk, Jeff, Sarah, Jeremy, Colene, Doei Doei, Adrian, Roland, Louie, Billy, Marose, Glenn, Grace, Don

Thailand

Steve, Andrea, Pie, Paul, Boy, Jup, Som, Andria, Steve, June, Jump, Isaiah, Fern, Yim, Lung U, Bunyang, Sang, Prae, Tum, Pao, Nao, Tep, Kaek, Sowing, Somnuk, Nie, Waw, Yabunme, Mong, Lung Yai, Lung Porn, Gang, Nut, Get, Cipie, Guitar, Dum Dam, Wit, Nam, Tim, Big, Sup, Bun, June, Jorn, Sangwein, Sweet, Hung, Sen, Dream, Jeab, Jin, So Mai, Sek, Ree, Ya, Nam, Sim, Nook

Name: Marius

Age: 12 years old

Hometown: Bucharest, Romania

Name: Mohamed

Age: 18 years old

Hometown: Dabburiya, Israel

Name: Thando

Age: 14 years old

Hometown: Manzini, Swaziland

Name: Anthony

Age: 22 years old

Hometown: Beira, Mozambique

One of our favorite people that we met this past year is a man named Elias. He is a man of God like few we have ever encountered.   With that said, Elias has been blessed with a younger brother who is following alongside his every step. Anthony has a quiet way about him that is relaxed and yet ready to serve those around him. He is filled with a heart of gold. Anthony is a fantastic soccer talent, but is always ready and willing to use those skills to pour into others with his gift of teaching and coaching. Anthony and his brother Elias are in the process of constructing a house in their village that will ultimately support the 30+ orphans that they take care of each day. The world needs more men like this to step forward and use their gifts to magnify God's kingdom.