Monthly Archives: March 2009

A weekend in Hawaii

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The next leg of our trip was three and a half days in Kona, Hawaii. Although it rained the entire time we were there, it was still incredible to be there despite not ever making it to the beach! We were able to spend some great quality time with our good friends Faith and Andrew Dutton, as well as their three little gems: Emily, Mikey, and Eli. It was so much fun to catch up with them and spend time telling stories, laughing, encouraging each other, and playing with the kids. We were so grateful for their hospitality and loved seeing what God is doing in them and through them as they serve at YWAM Kona. We miss them very much, but are very thankful for the chance to have a weekend together.

Also while in Kona we were able to be a part of their Ohana Gathering. (‘Ohana’ means family in Hawaiian.) This is the YWAM family gathering/open meeting that they hold on Thursday nights where everyone from the campus gathers along with members from the community. This particular week there was worship and then a word from YWAM founder Loren Cunningham. After the word we took up an offering for the Kona campus to be able to put toward a very time-sensitive property issue.

We were able to be a part of the amazing, celebratory giving time where we saw around 500 people give a total of more than $602,000 in less than an hour. (Yeah, you read that right: half a million dollars plus another $100,000 on top of that… that’s a lot of zeros!)

It was spectacular!!!

Neither of us have ever been a part of such a miraculous offering before. It was so much fun to rejoice with so many other YWAMers and friends at the extravagant generosity of the Lord through his people! (WOW!)
In this difficult time we were strongly reminded that God’s economy is different than the world’s economy and we left that meeting soaring with faith for what’s ahead.

 
It was sad to leave Kona and say good-bye to the Dutton family… but the next leg of our trip is also very exciting: Portland and Seattle, here we come!

Follow us around the world

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We have just set out on a trip to Sydney and America to visit friends, families, our churches, and supporters with the hopes of increasing our support in preparation for expanding our family (*grin*), as well as to report on what we’ve been up to this first year of marriage, to cast vision for some new ministry that we’re moving into, and to be refreshed.

Here is our itinerary:
Sydney: 28 Feb – 5 March
Kona: 5-8 March
Portland: 9-12 March
Seattle area: 13-17 March
Bend: 17-29 March
Florence: 30 March – 4 Feb (week holiday at the beach – just Ryan & Adriel:)
Bend: 4-7 March
California: 8-12 April (road trip through San Francisco, Hunting Beach, San Clemente)
Layover in Chicago: 13-15 April
Layover in Dublin: 15-17 April
Malaga, Spain for the LDC: 18 April to 30 May

 

Please let us know if you’d like to meet up with us in any of these places. We love catching up with friends and spending time with those we love. You are provide great joy to us!

 

After our Sydney/USA trip we will be headed to Malaga, Spain for a 6-week Leadership Development Course (LDC). This is a course specifically designed for those who have been serving in leadership positions within YWAM for a number of years. Not only do we believe this will be a tremendous source of equipping for us as leaders, but also a real time to be refreshed and encouraged.

 

In feeling called to serve in missions long-term, we believe this is part of the strategy that God’s given us to be able to move into the next season of life and ministry and sustain passion for what lies ahead.

 

Thanks for your prayers as we take nearly 3 months from our “normal” schedules for this unique window of opportunity to gain support, get refreshed, and receive input while the Bookers are still just “Ryan & Adriel” (before little Bookers enter the scene)!

Who says turning 35 means you’re getting old?

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Ryan is now at the middle of his “mid thirties”. That’s right, he turned 35 on March 1st. To celebrate the milestone we spread the festivities over the entire weekend.

First, we had a BBQ party with mates in Townsville on Friday night (before we flew out to Sydney Saturday morning). It was a superhero theme party so all of our guests (ranging in age from 7 months old to 49 years old) dressed up as their favourite super heroes! It was great fun and Ryan was really blessed to be the “super of all superheroes” for the evening.

On Saturday night (once we’d flown into Sydney) we had a great pizza dinner with mum and dad and our good friends Chad and Nicole. Later that evening we had an ice cream Sunday party at our parents’ house with several of his close mates from growing up. It was so much fun to catch up with all of these friends that have known each other for years… some since high school… some since primary school!

On Sunday (Ryan’s actual birthday) we went to church in the morning where Pastor Graham had organized for a birthday cake and gift for Ryan, and got to catch up with lots of friends at Engadine Church of Christ.

For lunch the two of us went out for fish and chips and beers down at the beach in Cronulla near where we had our wedding reception. It was a gorgeous, clear, sunny day and the perfect birthday lunch!

That night after going back to church we met up with more good friends for a cuppa to finish the night off.

It was a fun 3-day birthday, and Ryan scored big-time this year from friends and family: a Sharks beach towel (Cronulla Sharks are his favourite NRL footy team), an official Sharks jersey, new clothes and bag, a laptop case/backpack, tickets to see the Blazers/Lakers NBA game when we get to America, and tickets to the Sharks/Cowboys game when we return to Townsville in June.

Thanks to all of our friends and family for making Ryan’s birthday so much fun!