He is to Good!

I nicknamed him Potato!

having a job in the U.S. and working in a foreign country are two separate things. While they both have similar parts and origins, doing missionary work is completely different than having a job.

Some might say that missionary work is a job, in fact, I might even say that. Getting up every morning realizing your in a different country, doing something that five years ago you wouldn't even consider doing, loving people who absolutely need it, and giving God the glory is in my opinion the greatest job in the world.

Thank you everyone who has made this possible. I appreciate all the encouragement and love that has been given.

Getting the Train rolling!

Adjustment... the dictionary says the definition of adjustment "harmony achieved by modification or change of a position." Those words may look few but in fact that has been the definition of my life the past few months.

Coming to a new base would be a challenge in its own right, but coming to a new base overseas is a completely different kind of beast. You deal with culture changes, adjusting to people, new physical lifestyle and different ministry opportunities. I thought about those things and pushed them aside and said "God is bigger, and He has me here for a reason."

I have been here for three months now and I am happy to say, I love Africa. Adjusting well should actually be in my job description, probably my biggest problem would be trying to figure out my roll at the base and what He has me doing, but I feel like he is just telling me "wait".

Looking back on the past year and a half, man God has me on a crazy ride, and it is just beginning.

the past and the present

Hey everyone,
Do you know the difference between me and my sister? I am terrible at communication and she is fantastic at it. So let me catch you up on what Derek has been up to the past year.
I finished my DTS [Discipleship Training School] outreach and went to Thailand for 2 months, it was an amazing time, I loved the people, I loved my team, and I loved Thailand.
So I got back and I went straight to a secondary school, School of Intercessory Prayer. I loved it, it really opened my eyes to how much and how deep God loves us and how deep He wants to take us. The group around me in the class are my best friends for life, and I will never forget the time's we shared and the laughs we had.
I went home for Christmas, had a great time, hanging out with my whole family and enjoying relaxing. We were snowed in the entire time, but who knows the next time the ten of us will all be together?
So I went back to Colorado, and God placed me on DTS staff. It was very hard, but very rewarding in the end. I lead a team of 13 to Sudan and Uganda, and while the culture was difficult, the people, and the students were amazing. There was 19 students, and all of them had an impact on me and I saw all of them grow so much in an incredible way.
So now, to the present.
After this past DTS outreach, I went home and my parents had invited me to go on vacation with them in South Africa. Before I left Spokane, I felt like God was telling me to "pack to stay."So I did, and when I got here, there was no doubt in my mind that this is exactly where I am supposed to be.
Right now I'm living with my sister at Rich and Lynn Hodge's house, and am loving it. I am working with the YWAM base here, going into the communities and loving on people. This last year and a half has been a crazy ride and I see no end in sight. God has been with me since day one, and the process of learning to trust Him is a daily thing, but it's exactly where I want to be.