It's Monday afternoon and we're settling in to our fourth week of training.  Our teacher this week is from Germany, and she is teaching on the life of Jesus.  Today we focused on the fact that Jesus came to save and restore.  Lauren and I have spent a lot of time lately discussing how Christianity has achieved a reputation of anger and judgement, not restoration.  Every day we're here, we hope to become more and more agents of restoration in the world.  This includes restoration of individuals to God (aka salvation), as well as restoration of real needs here and now (broken relationships, health, war, starvation, etc...).  

On another note, our current financial situation has been one of the most growing and freeing experiences of my life.  For the past 4-5 years I have been relatively financially independent, working to earn my own money to pay for the expenses I incurred.  Preparing for YWAM was a huge mindset shift for me.  Part of a Biblical view of finances is that those who go to do the "work of The Gospel" as missionaries should raise support from their Christian family, friends, and church.  This conflicted with my mindset; to work hard and pay for the trip between Lauren and I.  Eventually I worked through my pride and independence, trusting the fact that God had spoken clearly to Lauren and I that we were to do this school in January.

Between our savings and the support you have provided us, we have been able to pay for the flights and school expenses, and will be close to covering our outreach costs (we will know the exact amount in a couple weeks).  Four weeks ago, we stored all of our possessions and packed our clothes for 6 months into three suitcases.  Here at our YWAM training base, our small bedroom is our only private space, and we share a community bathroom.  We have no cars, no cell phones, and no Water Street Coffee Joint.  This is the least amount of extra money or possessions either of us has had in at least 5 years...but the interesting thing is that we don't feel poor and we're not complaining.  As I mentioned above, this is about as free as I have felt in my life.  Often times possessions are a blessing, but the lack of "things" here has freed up so much time and energy to read, study, think, pray, and be a positive influence in the lives of others.  This truly is one of the great mysteries of a life following Jesus Christ - that deeper joy does not come when we store up treasures on earth, but in Heaven.