Fall Stories and Winter Beginnings!

I hope you all had the greatest of holidays this winter/fall season! As you know I did a School of Strategic Missions which went excellent, I feel awakened. God gave me a lot of fresh and new revelation regarding the topics we covered during the school. I learned even deeper importance of going into a culture as a learner and being humble. The speakers talked a lot about the difference from being a salesmen missionary as opposed to a trader in that it is a necessity to learning their culture and that when we go to another country to their home it is our responsibility to submit culture in humility just like Jesus did when He put on flesh to come to us.
One of the speakers talked about theology of place and the importance of knowing your city (I won't be sharing names of speakers as they do may do work in closed countries). This speaker is the city director YWAM San Fransisco so he shared a lot about how he does ministry there. He talked about "exegeting" your city which means to know it, to be in relationship with it by figuring out, for example, what nationalities your city has and where do they live?  He also shared about his experience with coming along side city officials so that you have a voice and good reputation in the community.
That's is just a taste of the topics that we learned about in this school and I would love to dialogue with any of you who have more questions!

There is a required 6 month field assignment that our family will be embarking on soon to Thailand and we will keep you posted on the details!
-Ryan

The boys are doing very well..William has been getting really interested in singing and painting. And Jude is sleeping a little better through the night and is always all smiles!!

This January till June I will be a Discipleship Training School (DTS) small group leader.
It just started today (January 9th) and the students are of course amazing! There are 7 girls and 3 guys..altogether 10, small but awesome.
After 3 months here in Tennessee they will be trekking in Morocco for 2 months!
I will be updating all of you more as the weeks go on about how it is all going!
-Sarah