Getting down to Business with God

Hi Everyone!



Well, we've just finished two weeks at YWAM Salem. The first week was filled with all sorts of activities geared to helping us get to know one another, both staff and fellow-students. Then this past week we buckled down to learning about "Hearing the Voice of God." I was amazed at the various ways God chose to speak to me (Doris) personally. And the others in our class can testify the same--God was speaking to each of us, specifially what we needed to hear. We were encouraged to ask Him specific questions, and I for one, was amazed at His answers.



We do a lot of journaling, small group and one-on-one processing of the material we are studying each week. Another activity we are all involved in is AOS (acts of service); better known by some as work duty. Arthur is on the supper clean-up crew. By the time he is done each evening he looks like one tired dog, but I'll let him tell you more on that, if he wants to. My duty is in the area of hospitality. My job is two-fold: preparing, setting up and cleaning up for the mid-morning snack break for the CDTS students and staff, then also in the afternoons I bake, make up beds and rooms and welcome packs for guests who are staying overnight on campus. This past week I did gobs of baking. Next week I expect to do more bed-making, laundry etc. because all the guest beds on the base will be filled because of a wedding that is taking place here next Saturday.



In just this short time we've already come to love our staff and fellow students. Each one has such a unique story and already made such a wonderful impact on our lives. We still don't know where (to what country) our class will go on "outreach." We have been praying and on Tuesday morning will again spend the morning in intercession, seeking God's will for us.

We have finally arrived! Pretty impressive, eh! Arrived really only means that we are now in Salem, OR and today was the first day of our CDTS. We already have homework and we already got the afternoon off. Wow.

The Salem YWAM Base is on 35 beautiful acres SE of Salem. It is a gorgeous time of year with all the Rhody's in full bloom and everything green and growing. This beauty comes at a price, rain almost every day and my (Art's) allergies are in high gear.

We have been traveling since May 5 and it is good to settle down for awhile. We have a beautiful room and it's much larger than we expected, Praise God! (see pic) We do share a bathroom with a couple who has a 2 year old but it seems to be going well. We eat with all the others on base in cafeteria. It is definitely food designed to keep the young people, who are the majority here, happy.

An update on our travels. We covered around 2500 miles starting with a trip to Alberta, Canada going as far north as a little town called Boyle where Doris' brother and his wife have a small business. We visited family and friends from 35 years ago. Doris was able to enjoy Mother's Day with her mother for the first time in 20+ years. It was a great time. We then were able to spend a few days with our middle son, Steven and our newest grandchild, Noah. who was only two weeks old at the time. That was awesome! We returned to Kellogg for a couple of days to repack for School. Brian Larsen, a fellow CDTS student, brought a couple of boxes for us because our car was stuffed. I (Art) had the privilege of preaching at Lakeview Missionary Church in Moses Lake, the church I grew up in. We enjoyed a great potluck there that was put on because my dad and mom made the trip over from Pinehurst to be with us in Moses Lake, their first visit back in 4+ years. We journeyed on to Seattle where we spent the evening with my sister, Patty, and Dave and Sharon Passey. He was the pastor who married us 36 years ago, June 17. We took a quick trip up to Abbotsford, B.C. to see our oldest son and his family (We were able to see all four of our children and all 7 of our grandchildren in the last month, really cool!). We then made the final leg of our journey traveling to Tacoma, then Eatonville and on to Battleground visiting friends and enjoying their hospitality before arriving in Salem on June 8. A busy and enjoyable month.