Phonebooth Ministry 
 

Feb. 4, 2012:  What may appear to be harmless, traditional English phonebooths is actually a center of advertising for prostitution.  Pimps plaster the inside of these booths with pornographic ads so clients can discreetly peruse their choice of partner for the night.  The 3 ladies here on outreach from Perth have made it part of their routine to take down those ads.  Sometimes they put up a post-it note instead which says, "Value women - stop human trafficking".  It's their way of promoting God's values and bringing truth and love.

Ed and I are here visiting the team on outreach from the Transformation School in Perth.  They are doing a variety of things, including serving various churches practically, prayer walks in different neighborhoods, doing street evangelism in various forms, sharing with youth groups, Bible reading in public, making new contacts, etc.  All of this is part of the larger MegaCities outreach focused on London in 2012.
On Feb. 6th we will take part in the Western European Leaders Consultation (WELC) also here in London and get back to Holland on Feb. 10. 

Workshop in the Park 
 

Dec. 5, 2011:

The YWAM Perth base is in transition - they just moved out of their old facility and are still building the new one.  In the meantime we all have to get creative about finding places to hold larger meetings.  The last 3 sessions of the Fundraising Workshop are outside in a backyard as well as here in Brigatti Gardens.  We had a great time of getting practice in presenting our ministries to each other.

In early November I was able to go to a National Leader's Meeting on the east coast to cast vision for training trainers in fundraising in YWAM Australia.  As a result I have 2 invitations to come and run a workshop - in Adelaide (Nov. 21-25) and in Newcastle (Dec. 10-15).  I'm thrilled to see others picking up this training and passionate to pass it on.  I am raising the $700 travel expense for that NLM through a website.  I'm doing it this way to see how the website works and will promote it among my trainees.  If you'd like to contribute towards that expense then just click here.  It finishes on Dec. 31.

The Transformation School has seen just that - transformation in the lives of the students at different levels.  In addition to personal transformation, Ed has already seen students make good use of the worldview tools they've learned in the school in local outreach situations to communicate the gospel.  There are 3 more weeks of lectures before they leave on outreach to London.  Prayer will be appreciated for the students' outreach fees, as well as perseverance and preparation for the outreach itself.   

Transformation begins! 
 

OCTOBER 5:  Today was the first day of class for the Transformation School.  The name comes from the idea that "ideas have consequences" - our presuppositions about the world around us influence how we live our lives.  If we want to have a transforming effect on society, then we need to learn to think and live from out of God's truth and values that He teaches us in the bible.  God's word has transformed our individual lives, but it also has deeply impacted nations and spheres of society.  Several books have come out recently showing the historical proof of this ("The Book that Transforms Nations" by Loren Cunningham, "The Book that Made Your World" by Vishal Mangalwadi and "The Book of Books: the radical impact of the King James Bible" by Melvyn Bragg).  The Transformation School encourages students to learn how to think and live from a biblical worldview - then their lives will have the greatest impact possible. 
Seven students gathered around the tables to hear Ed give an introduction to biblical worldview.  Most of them have been ministering in YWAM for several years, a few are just beginning.  The first week went well and Ed would really appreciate your prayers as they continue.

I am slowly finding my way and how to do the work of converting my workshop into an online course.  Focus and inspiration are things I need prayer for.  Thanks for standing with us!  

Strategic times in Kona 
 

Sept. 4:  After 3 rich months in Seattle, we are now in Kona, Hawaii at YWAM meetings.  The U of N Workshop begins tomorrow, Monday evening.  Ed already met all day on Saturday with the Core International Leadership Team, and today all day with his College of Humanities Committee.  Yesterday this long-term YWAMer walked me through how to use the computer program Moodle.  This will enable me to create an online course out of my 3 day fundraising workshop!  This will be an ongoing project that I would like to have finished by the time we leave Perth after Christmas.  That's a prayer point!

Close to 500 YWAMers will be descending on this island for a week of looking ahead to the next 50 years of spreading the gospel through YWAM.  We'll learn about new things that have been developed to make our training available to those beyond YWAM. There will be corporate sessions each day, and then we'll break into afternoon modules (seminars). Ed will teach one on "Gifts to the Nations" and I will teach one on "Learning how to raise support and teach others".  You can read more about it here.  Your prayers will help make this time effective and strategic in bringing His life to the nations - thank you!

Enjoying our Furlough 
 

August 12:  What full and rich time we've been having!  A great time with Mom at the cabin in Canada; relaxing and reuniting with friends seldom seen; opportunities to share and teach; good news of our Australian visa being granted; delighting in 2 Taproot Theatre performances; receiving a triumphant Chris at the airport after making his first solo flight; welcoming new partners in ministry, relishing the new staged version of Les Miserables and meeting the cast; getting to know our church... and many more adventures to come!

Part 2 of Ed's Worldview Seminar happens tomorrow from 10 - 1 pm at Taproot with a free breakfast from 9 - 10.  You're very welcome!  Both parts will soon be available to listen to here.
Three more Evenings with the Shermans are happening - see the list below.  Again, you're very welcome!  We have a gift book for all our current and new supporters.  Just email or call me, 206-779-1726, if you're coming.  We hope to see you at one of these.  Our time is running short - we leave for Kona on September 2!
Aug. 15, Monday, 7 pm at Buzz & Lisa Huget’s, 7736 30^th S.W., (West) Seattle 

Aug. 19, Friday, 7 pm at Mark & Sue Million’s, 3538 Harper Hill Rd. S.E., Port Orchard

Aug. 22, Monday, 7 pm at Wayne & Jenny Flesch’s, 4225 So. 150^th St., Tukwila

Home in Seattle 
 

Monday, June 13:  For almost 2 weeks now we've been enjoying the city where I grew up, gazing at the Olympic and Cascade Mountains.  Last week we rode this ferry to visit friends across the water and couldn't take our eyes off those majestic peaks.  When people have asked us over the years, "What do you miss the most from America?", we always say, "the mountains!".

We are organizing many an Evening with the Shermans around the city and will send out the schedule soon.  Furlough for us means reconnect with old friends, and make new friends.  Vacation time is scheduled in, but the bulk of our time is meeting with family, church, supporters, & friends.  Please contact us so we can get together!  Call us at 206-779-1726 or send us an email.  You are invited to come hear Ed preach on July 10 at our Taproot Church, 20400 First Ave. So, Des Moines, WA 98198, 9:15 or 11:15 service. 

Ed will also be giving a 2 part seminar on "Giving Life to a Biblical Worldview" in August - the dates are 2 Saturdays,
Aug. 6 and 13 from 10:00 - 1 pm at Taproot Church,
20400 First Ave. So, Des Moines, 98198.          

It took us 2 weeks to find a car to use (thank you Paul & Phyliss Davis!), and we also can borrow one from friends to drive up to the cabin in Canada to visit Mom.  Our major activity so far has been to focus on completing all the paperwork necessary for our Religious Workers visa for Australia.  Police & FBI clearances, certified copies of various certificates, medical exams, etc.  When it's all finished it will cost more than $1,000!  In case you hadn't heard yet, we will be returning to Perth, Australia in September through December for Ed to lead the biblical worldview school.

Nigerian Nuggets 
 

April 9-22:  This turned out to be one of the most challenging and stretching times I've ever had!  The leader of our Equip team, her assistant, and one of the main teachers were denied their visa to Nigeria.  This meant the rest of the trainers team (5 of us) had to fill in for all of their tasks and teaching.  The key words for us were flexibility and spontaneity.  There were approx. 225 Nigerians who gathered from 12 YWAM centers from all over Nigeria.  They received foundational teaching and next to that could choose 2 of these topics:  Transformational vs. Transactional Leadership, The Kingdom Way of Fundraising, Debriefing skills, The Power of the Word in Transforming our Lives, Transforming Society & Multiplying Communicators, and Spiritual Leadership.  A biblical worldview was communicated through everything.  These pictures tell the story... 

I love the Nigerians - their warmth, hospitality, exuberance, faith, passion for Jesus, tenacity, strength, humility.  I enjoyed discovering their food (not all of it) and reveled in their joyful and loud expression of worship.  I made new friends, learned how God is at work in Nigeria, and would love to go back with Ed in the future.  We'll see how God leads - thanks for your supportive role in getting me there!   

Mourning a fellow YWAMer 
 

On Feb. 25 we heard the shocking news of the death of Ebel Kremer, a Dutch YWAMer working near Nairobi, Kenya.  During a robbery he was shot and killed and his wife assaulted.  Their 2 children were present, but unharmed and a night watchman was injured.  They had been volunteering with YWAM since 2008 and running a project providing community-based care for orphans.  As you can imagine, our entire mission is struck to the core.  You can read the whole article here.  Ed and I didnt know the Kremer family personally, but several of our Heidebeek staff did when they attended our Family Camp last summer.  Unfortunately, these violent incidences happen more than we would like.  It is a sober reminder that our lives are in His hands, and that the cost of building His kingdom can be high.     

Opposite directions 
 

February 7:  While Ed headed off to Perth, Australia again to teach for 2 weeks, I went to rendezvous with my mother on Maui!  My nephew Sean got married on the beach near Lahaina to Melissa.  Mom and I had a great time exploring the island together.  See the highlights here.  Now we're back at her home near Palm Springs, CA.  Ed and I will arrive back the same day in Holland on Feb. 13.

Ed has a lot of travel coming up.  Feb. 19 he leaves for Santiago, Chile to again teach in the Worldview Seminar for a week.  From there he goes to Kona, Hawaii to attend University leadership meetings and returns home on March 27.  Then he'll teach for a week in our School of Worship at Heidebeek before leaving for Worcester, South Africa to teach in their School of Humanities and Science, April 18-30.  I have been invited to teach in Port Harcourt, Nigeria on personal fundraising April 13-21.  I'm still praying for a confirmation about this trip and will need to raise $1,350 to be able to go.  All these opportunities are very exciting and fulfilling, but also keep us on our knees, dependent on His leading and provision.  Thanks for praying along with us!      

A promising 2011 
 

January 17, 2011:  We enjoyed celebrating Christmas with a couple we met in Melbourne last January, David & Chris Paech.  Aunty Lindy joined us, as well as a good friend of David's, Jeroen.  We had an early winter this year, with snow falling and freezing temperatures in mid November.  Ed had one last ministry trip the week before Christmas to Davos, Switzerland to teach about Biblical Worldview to a Snowboarder's DTS - he had a great time. 

We're about to begin our Winter/Spring ministry schedule of travel.  Ed has already been to Lausanne to teach for a week.  I will be leaving in 2 days to attend my nephew Sean's wedding in Maui.  Mom and I will stay an extra week, then return to her home near Palm Springs, CA.  While I'm gone, Ed will leave for Perth, Australia to teach for 2 weeks.  We both arrive back on the same day, February 13.  I'll leave it here for now and tell you about more trips in the next entry.  Have a good, fruitful 2011!

Castles and snowboards... 
 

Thursday, December 9:

What could be better than living out your passion in a 400 year old castle in Bavaria?  Castle Hurlach is the 2nd base in YWAM's history: it began as the meeting place before the 1972 YWAM Olympic Outreach.  While Ed taught on Epistemology (how do we know what is true?) in the School of Biblical Christian Worldview, I taught a group of 15 staff about how to form a team of ministry partners and raise financial support.  Three staff are committed to continue the training there.  Students lives were impacted with new understanding of how they can know what is true.  It snowed the first night we arrived (by car - 8 hour drive), turning the castle into a scene from a fairytale.

Ed's last teaching assignment for 2010 is in Davos, Switzerland - his topic is Worldview in a Snowboarder's DTS!  This takes place Dec. 18-23, and then we have a Christmas break until January 3.  Both David and Chris will be home for the break, and we'll be hosting a great couple we met in Melbourne, Australia in January this year, David & Chris Paech.         

Middle East Meanderings 
 

Wed., November 3:
Three weeks in 3 nations:  Egypt, Jordan, and Palestine/Israel.  Each week was a discovery of why we needed to come.  In each place we met wonderful, committed people - serving in many capacities.  Ed was able to show them how their field work could earn them a degree in the University of the Nations; Terry was able to give input on how they could build a team of ministry partners to enable them to be effective.  We listened, we learned, we encouraged, we received encouragement, we prayed, we taught, we saw fields ripe for harvest, we saw the need for more workers, and we think we'll go back in the future to help keep developing good training.  This is just a short impression.  Both of us feel deeply impacted and also satisfied with what was accomplished in this short time.  Thank you for supporting and praying for us.  Here's a recap in pictures...  

Another good workshop... 
 

Saturday, October 9:  I had 7 eager participants for this last Train the Trainers Workshop held this last week at Heidebeek.  Everyone went away feeling like they were well equipped to go out and raise the full amount of support they need.  This pushes all my buttons - makes me so satisfied! 

Ed and I are off now to a new region in the world for 3 weeks.  You'll hear more about this later.  Would appreciate prayer for safety in all our travels (to 3 nations).  Thanks for your continued partnership.

50 Years! 
 

Wed., Sept. 29: 

Most of our Heidebeek staff (70 out of 90) piled into our big bus plus a few cars and headed across the English Channel to England Sept. 18-22.  The occasion?  The 50th anniversary celebration of YWAM!  With the theme of "The Flame Goes Forward", we sang, worshipped, ate, listened to reports of people finding freedom, ate, reunited with old friends, worshipped, ate, listened to reports of exciting new ways of sharing God's love all over Europe, signed a covenant to commit to doing all we can to further His love, ate, worshipped, shared communion, sang, danced, and enjoyed each other's company.  You can read more here.

From England Ed and I flew to Geneva to attend our first Caleb Forum.  This was started about 5 years ago for senior YWAM leaders to encourage one another to "finish well".  Everyone there (14 of us this time) are in their 50's or older, and have served apprx. 30 or more years in YWAM.  We all want to pass on what we've learned to the next generation, and also continue giving what we're able to give as long as we can.  At a lovely YWAM base in Einigen, Switzerland we encouraged and prayed for one another to finish strongly, staying connected to God and to one another.  We read and shared from 2 books, The Sacred Romance, and The Imitation of Christ - both highly recommended!     

A Jolly Good Time! 
 

Saturday, August 28:  The 4 of us had 5 wonderful days in London in July.  We saw The Phantom of the Opera and Les Miserables; we went through the British Museum; we took a free walking tour and watched the changing of the guards.  We hope to do this annually.

Since July 8 Ed and I have been in Holland, working at Heidebeek.  We hosted a Discipleship Summer Course with 39 adults and 22 children for 3 weeks, the Go Festival where 7 teams of young people went all over the world to serve people in Jesus' name, a Family Camp with 70 adults and 70 children for one week, and a Study the Bible course of 1 week with 12 students.  We also had a fire that fortunately was discovered quickly before too much damage was done. 

Among other things, Ed and I have been organizing our teaching/traveling schedule for this fall and winter.  There's a lot of travel coming up for both of us for which we'll need good prayer support.  I'll give those details another time.  Today Ed left for Burtigny, Switzerland to teach on The Biblical View of History.  The 2nd week he will take part in the first Think Tank for the University of the Nations.   

Canada & Seattle 
 

Thursday, July 1 - The trip to help Mom at the cabin was productive as well as fun and relaxing.  Mom and I always have a great time together.  I'm starting to learn from her how to take care of this lovely cabin that my grandfather built about 60 years ago.  Ed and I are planning now to go once a year in June to help Mom do projects and learn to maintain it.  Here's a slideshow of this beautiful place. 

After 12 days of painting, sewing, filling holes, enjoying the deer, eagles, hummingbirds and marmots, Mom dropped me off in Seattle.  I had a whirlwind 10 days of visiting dear friends and reconnecting at Taproot Church.  I was able to lead a small group through a Discover Your Passion process (thanks Matt!) as well as share one evening about "The Kingdom View of Money".  Thanks to Wayne and Jenny Flesch for hosting me in their basement apartment - and to Connie Egger for letting me borrow her car!  Here are some pictures of my time there.     

A great week was had by all... 
 

Tuesday, June 15:  I ended up with a great group of 35 for the core 3 day training.  They were very motivated and gave good feedback.  14 of them ended up staying on for the 4th trainer's day.  We have committed to stay in touch and encourage each other in teaching others how to raise support.  All in all, it was a very postive time for me - all my goals were realized.  This is the largest group I've ever hosted at Heidebeek, and I've learned I need a team around me to help pull it off well.  This is a prayer point!  If you want to see what goes on in such a Workshop, click here.

Chris went off on his first ever group vacation without the family on June 4 to Italy.  He returned last Friday and says he had a great time.  He especially enjoyed visiting the ancient ruins in Rome of the history he knows so well.  David is gearing up to perform in a local music festival in Epe with his band "Battery".  Ed is holding the fort at home, and very busy with College work.  The deadline for the new catalogue for the University of the Nations is approaching, which means people are sending in last minute registration of courses so they'll be included in the catalogue.  This creates a lot of work for Ed.  Anyone feel called to come and join him as his administrative assistant?   

Next phase of the dream... 
 

Saturday, May 29:  Last year I held my first Fundraising Boot Camp over 3 Friday's at Heidebeek.  On Tuesday I will hold my first Train the Trainers in Fundraising Workshop.  A new focus of mine is to reproduce myself and multiply the number of people out there teaching others how to raise support.  So now I will combine my normal 3 days of core teaching with an added 4th day for trainers.  I'm quite excited it about it!  It's still new and will take a while to become known, but small beginnings are good.  Out of the 37 participants coming for the workshop, 10 of them are interested to train others - wonderful!  I'd appreciate prayer for final preparations, and especially during the week - that they would catch the Kingdom vision of fundraising, would become aware of their wrong ideas about money, and be inspired to announce their visions and invite others to get involved with them.   

Ed off to Kona, Mexico City and Santiago 
 

March 16:   I waved Ed off at the train station today as he left for Kona, Hawaii.  He'll be joining with other Core International Leaders Team members to work together on courses for the University of the Nations.  He appears with a few of them in this photo taken at a U of N graduation in Egy*t last year.  In total he'll be gone for 5 1/2 weeks!  After Kona he will visit some supporters at Pookela Church on Maui for a few days.  

He then flies to Mexico City and will join the MegaCity outreach going on all year there.  The Perth base organizes this and has set up some seminars for Ed to teach about biblical worldview.  It will be Ed's first time to Mexico. 

Then on to Santiago, Chile where YWAM has organized a 2 week seminar, also on biblical worldview.  He'll be looking to see how this training can be multiplied into the Latin speaking world.  Again, a first time country for Ed. We would appreciate prayer for him for all the teaching and traveling and that he'll arrive back safely on April 26.    

Heidebeek Open House 
 

Monday, May 10:  We're all very busy preparing for our annual Heidebeek Open House this Thursday.  This year is extra special as we're celebrating 35 years of YWAM Holland as well as 50 years of YWAM International!  It will be a fun day for all ages:  kids program, a "mission experience" out in the woods, sample classes from all of our schools, tours of the base, free lunch, international bake sale, a timeline in photos of Heidebeek's history, a real live camel on site, and more!  Come and catch the vision for reaching the nations with His love! 

Third drama for Chris 
 

APRIL 27, Saturday:   Chris performed his third drama last night.  He did a great job, and he really enjoyed doing it.  For the second time he played a policeman.  Drama is one of the themes he has at the Activity Center.  Other themes he enjoys are computer, cooking, woodshop, and film making.  He's doing very well in every way, and becoming more and more independent.

I'm getting good reports from Ed in Santiago, Chile.  He's teaching the last 2 weeks of a 6 week Worldview Seminar for YWAM staff and students.  His two topics are The Influence of the Greeks, and The History of Western Ideas.  The response is very positive and the students are full of questions, so Ed is enjoying many lively discussions.  We're hoping the ash cloud over Europe, caused by the volcano in Iceland will be gone by the time he needs to fly home on April 25th! 

Ed in Mexico City 
 

April 6, Tuesday:    Ed is having a very busy but rewarding time in Mexico City.  He has been giving seminars to churches, a group of university students, and Teen Challenge on the topics "Gifts to the Nations" and "Living a Biblical Worldview".  The response has been much deeper than he could have imagined.  Here's what he wrote to me via Skype:

"My audience is almost completely Mexicans from churches. They are so excited to reach their own nation.  The Megacities Outreach has really sparked something. It's wonderful to be a part of it.  I've also encouraged them that God's time for Mexico is coming and that world missions needs them - and they need to build the kingdom here in Mexico.  It's really wonderful to see.  The churches are functioning at a new level of unity. The area where I was sharing this morning has 2 million people but only about 20 churches.

But since the start of Megacities 3 new churches have been planted. Pastors are meeting to pray for each other and to bless each other's ministries instead of being in competition. So it's really precious to be here now and to be able to bring a word of life to them. It's such a joy to see the looks in their faces as I teach, even in the faces of really young people, not much older than 10 or so and all the way up to 70-80 or so. The pastor of the church where I spoke on worldview today said that they had always seen themselves as very small, like the Israelites, but I was helping them see themselves as the sons and daughters of the King, calling them to build His kingdom. So it is good; very demanding, but worth every minute!”

New look for our news 
 

January 30, 2010:   Our Latest News is now on a new page so I can add pictures, making it more like a blog.  I'm giving our website a facelift - hope you enjoy it. 

Ed and I are glad to be back in snowy Holland - we're still fighting jetlag.  We enjoyed every moment of our time in Australia and with Mom in Desert Hot Springs.  I will soon post some pictures on my Picasa web album site so you can see a bit of our experiences.  For now, we're resettling in our home and finding our way again at Heidebeek.  The boys are doing well and both are home this weekend.