WEEK #1 June 11-17, 2007

Our week began with orientation, YWAM Salem history, and three lectures 1) Intercession 2) God Loves & Uses Ordinary People 3) Leadership. We begin every Monday morning with corporate worship with the entire base, and have "class" every morning and afternoon 1p-3p. From 3p-5p, everyone who has not been assigned breakfast, lunch, or dinner meal prep/cleanup reports to an assigned duty . . . i.e. Nat has been assigned to work with the maintenance team, and I have been assigned to help with the hospitality team (Nat sez- they saw immediately that Shirley would be the "Hostess with the mostest!).

Every Tuesday night, the entire base gathers for "The Rising", which is corporate worship and a message from a current speaker on base. We begin every Thursday morning with corporate intercessory prayer (this first week we prayed earnestly for the Amado province of Tibet, China). One of the young men here at YWAM Salem, 21 yrs old, will be leaving next Tuesday to devote two years to these people. This is where he did his DTS outreach a year ago, and he knows God is calling him back. He can hardly wait . . . very impressive.

This last Friday afternoon, we did part of the "ropes course". The instructor took us to an area where we each, in turn, were strapped into a body harness and were given a helmet. The harness was tethered to a steel wire pulley, and the rest of our team (12 members) took hold of an attached rope. After asking the team if they could be trusted (and being assured that they could be), we each gave a command word (such as "Now!") and the team ran as fast as they could in the opposite direction. This caused each of us (ME) to be yanked up into the pine trees . . . hence the name "Flying Squirrel". Each activity of the ropes course is designed to instill trust, confidence, teamwork, courage, etc. It was also a lot of fun! We had another rope activity and were promised that before we leave on outreach, we will experience the entire course.

Our second week began this morning (Monday, June 18th). We are learning "How to Hear God's Voice". God gave our instructor a specific word early this morning for our team. It is full of scripture, all very encouraging and motivating. I need to go mull it all over before class reconvenes tomorrow morning.

This is a beautiful place, full of God's presence and many folks of all different ages and nationalities hungry for more of God's presence in our individual lives. I expect the rest of the week to be very challenging and even more rewarding.

Natalie should be finishing up her time in Zambia, Africa and her team of seven will be heading to Tanzania.

We all so appreciate your prayers!