Hey!

So we've made it Guam! It's awesome here so far. Let me give you a little run down:

Be praying for us. We're really trying to seek direction on what we should be doing while we're here. I've mentioned that the YWAM base here just started operating last spring, but I didn't really realize how much of a struggle they are in. There's no electricity in our building because they can't afford it. There's no internet on the base... which in this day and age is almost a necessity if you're going to be in touch with possible students and staff. The staff on base are only eating two meals a day, and they are working full time jobs to keep the place alive. The property is owned by a local church, and I don't know what rent is like, but somehow it seems like everyone is working their butts off to barely survive. So that's a big prayer point.

Also on the financial front... I sent an email out a few days ago and mentioned that all of my financial needs have been met. Which is true... my debt to YWAM is paid off. However... something happened in the accounting realm and as a team we have come up $3000 american dollars short. We have some fundraising plans, and we are confident that God will provide what we need, but I want you to know that if you want to give, it is needed. We are keeping a very tight budget right now. I only have limited email access about once a week now, But if you want to give, you can send it to my parents or Garrett Rupp, they know how to get it directly to me. You can also email me at chargrove217@yahoo.com to find out how, or find me on paypal at the same email address.

Anyways, hope everyone is doing good. I'm doing great.

Happy New Year!

Hey-oh.

So we're leaving for outreach tomorrow... flight's at 12:15pm our time. We have an hour layover in Seoul then to Guam. All my stuff is packed up, ready to rock 'n roll. Everybody here is a little freaked out at how fast the last three months have gone by.. . even heard a few comments about being nervous. Honestly I'm just stoked... ready to get outa here and hit the pavement.

After 3 months out here we all are really starting to look like bona fide YWAMers. If you don't know what that means you'll figure it out someday. If you do.... well.... you know what I'm talking about. Maybe it's not even something physical but something more to do with demeanor. It's cool.

I don't really know what the interweb access situation will be like in Guam. From what I here the base there is barely surviving so internet may not be on base. We'll see though.

I can't freaking wait.

http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=64445&l=b602a&id=589982541

Here's a link to my facebook photo album. I just uploaded a bunch of photos. Merry Christmas and enjoy!

Howdy.

I'll see if I can catch up with the last month. Probably not but I'll give you some tidbits.

Yesterday was the last day of lectures, this next week is outreach prep then next weekend we fly out to Guam. whooooo..... HOOOO!

The speaker this last week talked all about teamwork and cross-cultural communication. He presented us with a couple of models for cultural entry that will be helpful. He was pretty cool, a lot of what he taught was based on teamwork and role-playing activities that helped life be fun. We in turn blew his mind by being the coolest DTS group he's ever worked with ;).

The week before Mark Parker talked about the Cross and Lordship of Christ. What a week. The guy can talk and talk and talk. But he's extremely entertaining. And he definitely rocked our world. Also that weekend we had five kids from a youth group in Tauranga stay here for the weekend and we entertained them the whole time. It was fun. I think they liked it to.

Team Guam has been running at 6am twice a week and getting up at 6:30 weekdays to pray.

We have some really cool ideas for outreach. We'll be working a lot on building relationships between YWAM Guam, The churches there, and the people. We're hoping to run lots of events that help people get connected to each other.... block parties and whatnot. That and we're hoping to find a few cafes or coffeeshops we can hang at regularly and use to connect with locals. It's going to be freaking rad.

Haven't been snowboarding or rock climbing in a long time. It's almost Christmas and I miss the snow. It's weird that Christmas is in the summer here. But also awesome. Just the fact that we go to the swimming hole to cool off in December is great. I do miss the NW though. Heard it's been cold and snowy over there. Lucky.

Had a chat with a girl in a skate shop the other day.... she picked up on my accent and started peppering me with questions about America. She asked me if it's like the movies and everyone shoots each other all the time. I told her not where I'm from.

I drove here for the first time a couple of weeks ago. All the way to Whangarei and back. The staff all took off on a retreat and left all the students to fend for themselves so I got approved to drive one of the vans so we could go to town. It was a little weird feeling, and scary in town. They have those big roundabouts here. But we made it without getting lost or in a wreck.

Made 26 dollars in 40 minutes singing songs on the street a few weeks ago.

I cut my hair the other day. Off. It's real short now. I know there's a few of you who will appreciate that news.

Well. Guess I'll sign off....