Lekker

First few days in Amsterdam.

It has been an incredible time of taking in all the familiar sights, sounds, and smells (even the foul smell of a certain substance) while walking the streets of Amsterdam, the place I did my DTS in 2010.

Erica and I arrived right on schedule, and met up with Haley Austin and Jeremy Bardwell (which was a surprise to us) immediately when they landed. It was such an easy way to start our trip. Such grace and favor...

In being here for only a few days, I am growing aware of the gifts I have been given. How am I so blessed to know the Holy Spirit so intimately, and have amazing friends around me? I desire that Amsterdam would know these joys. The overwhelming, all-encompasing, and limitless love of the Father, that penetrates even the coldest heart when given access. And the rest that I find in friends who love me, yet love the Lord even more. This is the substance of a rich life. This is what dreams should look like in reality: being in a place, however dark, living in the reality of the Father's love, filled with the Holy Spirit, surrounded by friends, and reflecting that to a broken and hollow city with dreams built on self-satisfaction.

I desire that they would know you, God, the one who's heart breaks when over and over again is rejected for lesser things. I desire that they would know this love that brings me here, to show them a portion of the love you have shown me. I desire that their hearts would be filled to overflowing...

If you want to know more detailed progress of our journeys and days in Amsterdam, feel free to email me at eliyork@gmail.com. Our needs at this point in our trip continue to be prayer covering-prayer into future vision, a clear direction from the Lord and protection in the city, and financial support. 

For the four of us, our cost for housing is going to be roughly $500 for our stay in Amsterdam and then another $1,000 for extra costs including, bus fare, food, and our travels to London. We will be staying with friends in London, so that will give us a break with housing costs. I believe the Lord will provide for our needs, and if you feel led to join us in this faith journey through financial giving, please let me know! 

Thank you for your prayers and support! 

Enduring to overcome. Living in biblical realities.

The AWAKEN Road Trip trip officially ended April 12th, 2011 When Andrew jetted off to Korea and the five of us were left in Cali. We enjoyed our last few days together before Erica and I took off with the van to Colorado, and the guys, Matt and Chris along with Haley stayed in California with different purposes until we meet up again in Kona...

The trip was incredible. To succinctly describe the crew I traveled with: We are a group of staff from Kona who have learned a lot about living in community and were able to taste of the fruits of a community centered around the presence of the Lord learning to grow in the first two commandments: Loving the Lord and each other well...

This road trip was an effort to expand our view of community, what the Lord is doing in the church in the United States, and being available for the Holy Spirit to use us to minister when we felt led. We started in Boston and made our way to L.A. to finish the trip with a friend from the staff group, Daniel Stedman. All that we were able to experience and glean from was inspiring. 

Revival for the church is on the Lord's heart. And even more so than revival, the the Next Great Awakening. In my opinion and what I have learned from the trip, is that there is a shift happening in the spiritual atmosphere of the church. Believers that are truly following the Lord are  growing tired of a complacent body that has no power and are thirsty for a new move of the Holy Spirit . There are churches in the U.S. that are experiencing real miracles of biblical proportions . The times we are living in are growing dark, but those who's sole desire is for the Lord are growing brighter. When the world finally awakes, the ones who have endured, not settled for complacency, pushed through this current darkness will be the ones ministering to the crowds that come from the shaking that is beginning to happen. I am encouraged. I want to be ready...

In a week...

Andrew, Erica, Haley and I are traveling to Amsterdam. After learning so much about the power of community, we are exploring the city in search of a place to possibly plant community in the future. This is an exploration trip. We are hoping to meet with different pastors and ministers, gain perspective of the spiritual atmosphere of the city, and what the Holy Spirit is doing among other things... We are also going as a pre-trip for outreach that will happen with the DTS this Summer. The Summer DTS starts in July, and our school plans on taking a team to Amsterdam in the Fall. 

I pray that you are encouraged to keep running after the Lord in the season we are in. Don't lose heart and continue in love for Jesus. Please keep us in your prayers. If there is anything you have questions about, please write me! I am looking for people who desire to see Amsterdam lit up for Jesus, and if you desire to be a part, pray with me, and write me. :) 

Blessings.