Too Long February Update (Part I)
I figure it’s due time for me to give a bit of an update as to what I’ve been up to with this new role with YWAM. This update was too long. So I actually broke it up over a couple posts that’ll come at you throughout the next couple of days! I’m just really excited about things, and I want to actually share it with you, but I’m afraid you wouldn’t read it as one big chunk! So enjoy these more bite sized pieces over the next few days!!
Getting things going!
I officially got things rolling towards the middle of October. With things being very very new, it for sure feels like things are taking some time to get rolling. It’s been really fun though to see how things seem to continue to take a clearer and clearer shape.
Shortly after starting into things, it seemed like the world was settling into holiday and year end mode. This made it a bit challenging to try to begin to create new contacts and build out my network. But it did give me lots of time to really engage in friendships. I spent loads of evenings throughout November and early December just on the phone with friends and people from my journey sharing with them what I’m excitedly walking into. It feels like each of these conversations reveals another angle of what I’m walking into that creates even more excitement and anticipation within me.
At the beginning of November I had the opportunity to go to Ensenada, Mexico for a YWAM Mission Adventures 25 year anniversary celebration conference. I wrote a bit about it here. This was a unique space that brought together people who are currently running and facilitating Mission Adventures with those who were the founding pioneers from 25-30 years ago. I got to play an even more unique role as someone who has been on the youth pastor side of the table for about 15 years and is now stepping into a bridge building role between Mission Adventures and local churches.
Upon returning home, I spent the next week with YWAM Niagara, only 20 minutes from my house, speaking in their DTS. It’s been such an honour to walk closely with the leadership of YWAM Niagara and I am very excited to see how this relationship and partnership truly develops over time.
Trip of a Lifetime
The first two weeks of February brought about an opportunity of a lifetime! Not long ago, we realized that 2023 brought with it some unique mile-markers for our family. Aiden, our youngest will turn ten in May, brining in double digits. Brennan officially became a teenager in February when he turned 13. Corbyn will turn 16 in November, meaning he can get his drivers license. And in August, Care and I will celebrate 20 years of marriage. We figured with all these milestones, it might be a good idea to look into some fun vacation options.
Along with a motivation to have some family vacation, the YWAM San Diego Baja Growth Staff Conference was scheduled to take place in the first weekend of February. After doing some searching, I discovered that there is actually a YWAM Ministry looking to set itself up as a retreat centre and an affordable option for pastors/missionaries/those in ministry to be able to “Take time.” This ministry is located near the very bottom of the Baja California peninsula in Mexico.
Well, wouldn’t you know it, all the dates and flights lined up and our whole family was able to attend the Conference in Tijuana and then fly to Cabo and spend a week at the Las Olas Retreat Centre in Los Cerritos, Mexico!
What a phenomenal trip this was. We attended worship sessions together in Tijuana and most of the family was together for most of the teaching sessions as well. What a gift it was for my teenage sons to be able to hear excellent teaching on the fear of the Lord - caring more about what God thinks of your life than what people do. While in Tijuana we also had many opportunities to connect with people we’ve known for a long time and now get to work together with in more official capacities.
Then our time in Cabo was absolutely amazing. Days on the beach. Tacos de camarón. Days by the pool. Tacos de pescado. Boat tours to see whales and the famous Cabo Arch. Ceviche tostadas. More beach days and beautiful sunsets. Mariscos y aguachiles. And finally a day on the ocean and beaches and snorkeling and so much more! Hopefully you’re hearing me say we had fun and ate well. Also super cool during this time… I had a crazy back spasm. That wouldn’t normally be a super cool thing. In fact, it really wasn’t. I immediately felt my lower back tighten up and twist something fierce. This has happened before and has left me laying on my back for days. Not cool at the start of an epic vacation. Rather than just spend the trip in the hot tub, I decided to invite you, my community, to pray with me and for me, believing Jesus for a miraculously quick healing and loosening up and realignment. Well, the super-cool part… He did it! I was a bit stiff for a couple of days, and opted out of surfing lessons (which may have saved my life - the waves were big), but within a couple of days I felt great. And now, only a week or so later, I feel 100% WOOO! Thank you for praying and thank you JESUS!
Stay tuned for PART II to hear more about what’s happening now!
