Fly on!

A little bit of a rough start but I am we'll on my way. This is one of the first times I have had a flight in the afternoon, 2 o'clock in fact. This is also the very first time I have ever missed a flight....laughing aside, I am currently in the air. :) This will be my 3rd time going down to Brazil within the 5 year visa I have. That, I see impart as pure luck and the other part...God having a sense of humor. Maybe he knew I was needing a multiple entry visa for Brazil. He is strange like that sometimes. This time I will be doing things completely different from the times before. Usually, I would build, then train, unfortunately I will only be around for one month building in Maringa then I scoot off to Costa Rica. This will be a quick update but wanted to drop an idea for you all (the one or 2 of you) to pray about when I am in Brazil. 1. The last few months I have been coming out from behind my camera...it's been a scary exciting ride but I want to continue using the muscles that I haven't used in a long time. I want for to be the forefront in everything I am doing in Brazil. 2. Also pray for safety for the team. I again, will be in the tip tops of trees down there. Nothing has happened the last 7 years I have been building with Jeff other then normal building injuries. But I would covet your prayers for the whole team the whole time. I think that's it so far. Be looking on my Facebook and Instagram for more daily update if what's going on.

Enjoy.

Too late for Christmas but its up anyway.

This is a blog post that I thought had posted a few days before Christmas....well, here it is after Christmas and just now posting. Enjoy

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If you haven't noticed my Instagram/Twitter/Facebook lately, I am on the road again.  This time I am in the Middle East...of the US of A.  Missouri to be exact.  Things worked out to where I will be at Urbana just after Christmas representing YWAM Salem to about 16,000 students who want to work somehow, someway in missions. I get to offer a glimpe of what YWAM has to offer those that dream of seeing His Kingdom come.

Walk in Forgiveness.....

"Thank you Jesus for a crazy time in my life. As for new challenges, bring it on. I am ready and willing to depend on you and not trust in my own ways but acknowledge you for the great God that you are. Thank you for letting me walk your narrow road. I am ready to live Isaiah 35 in my life."

Famous Last Words by Ryan Unger 2 months ago....

 

Its not like I didn't really mean it, I am thankful and I am up for new challenges but seriously...holy crap! 

2 months ago I found myself in a conversation, a conversation that little did I know would open the door to change my life....for the better...and, for the (currently what seems like the) worse. 

Winter in the summer Spring is coming.

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If you and I have had a conversation within the last 10 months it may have been clear that I have been in somewhat of a winter...much longer then any other natural season this one was in my heart.

Fast forward to now. I am embarking on a two month trip traveling across Central US. My goal is to inspire people to follow this Jesus guy in anything he is asking. Yes I am traveling with YWAM but that is not the answer. It's Jesus. Listen to him.

What to the last two paragraphs have to do with each other? I don't know really. Things happened last year at this time in my heart that felt great. Things seemed alive, but little did I know that it was just the beginning of a pretty sucky year. I found myself not making the healthiest decisions physically. I learned that I enjoy self inflicted pain much better then pain that others put on me and if I make it my own fault somehow it makes it better. (Yeah, I am discovering more and more about this lately.)

Here is what I have learned. When I enter a new season of life (Fall, Winter, Spring, Summer) there are lessons in each one that God can't teach me unless I walk through it with him.

I like to live my life in summer, it's a great time of year to be alive things are thriving and alive, funny and weird. But as I said before I have been in a long winter. Things seem dead and lifeless, I want to sleep though most of it, I have no energy for anything and I feel beat up. Life sucks. Sure I have had some amazing days in this winter (Brazil) but winter still loomed. It was heavy and there to remind me every moment that I couldn't really live to my fullest. I wanted to play like it was summer despite the engulfing darkness and bitter cold inside of me.

The strange part about this winter, I have heard so much from this Jesus fellow. Things that have flipped and literally changed my life. Amazing stuff. I caught a glimpse of what my future hold in my ministry, I have walked along side of Jesus and have been able to speak/pray into people's lives and he has moved in them. I learned again why I should trust and listen to him. I am striving for wisdom and I catch tiny glimmers of it. But it has still been winter in my life.

Though I tried and I tried to force myself out of this funk I have been unsuccessful in all my attempts.

But there is a fresh wind a blowing. I can feel things changing and moving. There is still pain of the ground thawing and cracking and the glacier of my heart breaking off, but that just leads to life. Cold refreshing water just a trickle at the start but I can feel the momentum...things are picking up. Old energy and clarity is returning. The water is moving the once frozen soil and nutrients are being carried downstream. God is alive.

I get to spend the next 2 months crammed on a tour bus with 8 other people that I am not too familiar with. But spring is here. New things are planted in the spring time. New challenges are accepted. I am expecting to use muscles that I haven't used in years on this trip. Things I haven't prayed out or had the guts to say before I will do. Pray for things I never imagined praying for will happen in the coming weeks. I am stoked for this new time of life. This birthing of new and old dreams coming true, to finally fight not in someone else's armor but my own.

Thank you Jesus for a crazy time in my life. As for new challenges, bring it on. I am ready and willing to depend on you and not trust in my own ways but acknowledge you for the great God that you are. Thank you for letting me walk your narrow road. I am ready to live Isaiah 35 in my life.

It's a wrap! Over 24hrs awake and 14 hours filming. great time.

Look @troy_ruff is getting stared down.

Back in the Saddle (Part 4)

You know those times in your life when your growing up and you want to be a fireman, or a police officer or something really cool?  Looking back now I can tell you how my passion for photography had begun....When I was in the 6th grade I went to Willamette Valley Christian School in Brooks Or.  I had the "privilege" to clean the school with my dad for my tuition to go there...(Thanks Dad) Well, everyday I would have 2 potholes that would sometimes detour me from completing my job in a timely manner...

Back in the Saddle (Part 3)

Jeff and I have worked together for a long time.  During my DTS when I didn't have the funds to go on outreach he is the one who came to the leadership and fought for me to stay and work with him for my completion of my DTS.  He is also the one who immediately took me under his wing and allowed me to dream big but told me I couldn't do it on my own. Jeff is the best example that I know of that trains and disciple people in their leadership skills and see them become something they never thought possible. Jeff can spend just a few minutes with someone and be able to pinpoint strenghs and give examples and ideas on how to hone in on that and make the person better....it doesn't always work that way...at least for me he would always find something that I didn't want to work on and would bring it up all the time.  

This is the 4th country I have been with Jeff to working on Ropes Course stuff and each time has been awesome...

When I was working down there I heard some suttle complements on how much I have grown (not just my belly) and matured.  It's hearing things like that from people like Jeff who I look up to and respect that make me go forward.  Jeff understands the power of words and that they can bring life or death.

So in my consistant thoughts of I could be better at__________ (reading my bible everyday, praing, whatever...ect) I learned that there is growth in my life even if I don't think there is....

Back in the Saddle (Part 2)

Do what God says...

Its simple, right?  Last  year I did a Tesol.  I learned a lot in the short, painful month of reliving my education...I struggled so much...but I know it was something that God had said.  I didn't know why but he wanted me to do it at all but Of course a lot of the training that I had in the classroom easily translated when I was down in Brazil.  It was almost scary how much of that training I used...not officially in a classroom but in my conversations everyday and in my own personal learning of Portugeese.  

I was able to spend a few hours translating (I wasn't doing the translaing) from the tribes language into Portugees...I think I had maybe one english sound that was helpful in for the translation of the Bible....totally worth it. I realized then (again) that God really does have this whole thing figured out and it didn't suprise him that I was in the middle of the Jungle in Brazil filming/living/translating/serving/praying for the people there that they might see just a tiny glimpse of who this Jesus Fellow is....I have said it before...I love my job.

God Listens to me (Back in the Saddle Part 1)

I am starting a little series of posts about my time that I had down in Brazil...This is one of the lessons I learned (again) when I was down there.

You may or may not know this but I have been working at YWAM Salem for the last 6 years.  I have found a struggle with what I know God has said in my life (going) and where I have been (stayingish)....If you don't know I feel like I should be "out on the field" filming and documenting the things missionaries and different NGOs are doing along with some version of Pastoral Care for the people that are out there in the middle of it...(thats that in a nut shell).  

While I have never thought the last six years have been a waste by any means I have always had a longing and drive to be away from my desk...sleeping on my sleeping pad or on a bus/plane/hike/whatever to the next story.  I have had these times for sure sparaticly throughout my time thus far but the time down in Brazi gave me a chance to realize that maybe I have been at the end of my rope...for a long time. Working with the wrong set of tools.  So with a lot of time to think and pray when I was down there I came back with a dilemma...How do I tell the leadership here that I can't/don't want to run the office anymore? I need to tell them that I don't want to be administrating people or trying to maintain an office anymore.  Well, hour one of me being back here fixed that right up.  :)  I was approached with the foreign (scarcastic) thought that maybe I haven't been in the best place in ministry and I should be out more...what I felt was a wide smile and an even happier heart I couldn't agree more! Finally! I wasn't going to be running/maintaining an office!  I get to work for the office now!  Great news!  God really does listen to me!  I was having the hardest time trying to figure out when and how to tell the leadership and they took care of it for me.  So Good.  :)  

What does this mean now?  Well, everything will be unfolding here in the next few weeks and the new guys will be in charge and I really believe things will launch this summer for everyone in this office.  I am stoked for it.  One reason why I took the position was because it needed to be filled and no one else would do it.  As Jesse (The Base Director) put it, I have been fighting in someone else's armor....(I need to be naked haha...) and its time to work/run the dreams, ministry, and ideas to the fullest extent.  :)  GOD LISTENS.

I joke I have been fired from my volunteer position but really this is one of the coolest promotions out there...to work freely in your ministry....so good. I have learned a lot of things from running the office the last few years that maybe I someday I will know how to share on this blog...all good things of course.  My time really has been blessed. 

 

So, a challenge to you....In all the crying and bellyaching you do to God, listen and walk...he isn't upset at you, he wants you to prosper...He wants the best for you, and though it might take 40 years of creating the best for you, going through the hard, uncomfortable stuff....eventually ends...and then more hard, uncomfortable stuff happens :)  Through it all God hears you so make your reqests known to him....do it now.

 

 

 

Back in the Saddle

Jumping back into the saddle here in Salem has been bitter sweet...or at least interesting to say the least.

God did a handful of things down in Brazil that I am either still processing or I am in the midst of working/seeing through till the end.  First off, Brazil was great.  :)  The first month I was down there I worked with a lot of great people from all over the world, some people I have never met others I have only worked with over seas.  This is a huge blessing with my line of work, I get to meet people out on the field and the next time I see them we are out working hard again...working hard and playing hard. So, to the Ropes Course team that I have been down to Brazil with twice now....You are amazing.

A few things I knew/learned again on this trip.

1. God didn't forget a little boys dreams.

2. There is growth in my life even if I don't see it.

3.

4. Do what God says.

5. I have friends all over the world.

6. God listens to me.

 

I think I might start with the last one first....but please check back here cause I will be posting more and more in the next week or so. 

Fighting.

I have been fighting for a long time this year...it felt good to get my frustration out on a mat....today, if I have a chance I may enter a tournament....I know I have one training under my belt but it still would be cool. We will see. Haha.

Aside from that, the team has left and I am the only one here on the base from the good ol' US of A. It expect my Portuguese to improve slightly and have more cool experiences on the ropes course. :) should be fun.

Zip Line today.

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Just a quick video.

I made it to Brazil!!

Sorry for the lack of posts on my blog for the first part of the year....I have been posting more internal stuff lately...stuff I am sure that you would rather not read...Struggles, hopes, hurts blah blah blah...its been an interesting year thus far.

All that said, I am in Brazil!  

I don't know how to tell you this....

I don't know how to tell you this....

Turn and run?

Remnants of last nights late night fiasco.

Remnants of last nights late night fiasco.

Just add some vignette!

Just add some vignette!

Fire-Grammy. I like this mixture.

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Good morning Salem. Good to see your moody.

Eureka-grammy

My Super Bowl Party.

My Super Bowl Party.

All my worldly possessions except my car, camera (bag), and bike. Honestly ready to set on fire and downsize a little. Can I get an amen!

Last game in the house. I won. Haa.

Moving day came faster then I thought. Have to be out by tomorrow. It was a good run however.

I was teasing Luba for having so many shoes... I guess I don't have room to talk. Have however used each pair at least once this year so far. to talk.

Coons trying to run! Weeee Yooo! Coongrammy!

Life is better in the sun. Right? Thats what I hear at least. #salem #sun #oregon #ywam

If you see this guy writhing in pain win insufficient breathing patterns, pay no mind to him. 1 he is there because he loves self indulged pain 2. Why else would you do it?

A continuation of my instagramy instagram photos. Feel the mood.

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Energy Dwindling...Faith Growing.

I feel like I have been going for years at this point...Good?Bad?  Good cause I love hitting my pillow everynight completely exausted...Bad because I need to take care of my body.  I type this and its almost midnight, but I know I am just going to keep typing....haha...habits.  

This last week I was able to finish my PP1 for RescueNetUS.  Quickly, its a disaster response team that tries to be on the ground within 24-48 hours after a disaster in which the country need international aid.  Essentially, I get to run in when when everyone else is running out...sounds fun but on the same token very serious.

Below is a video that I shot throughout the course and is kind of a glimps of my heart and how I want to be able to serve my team...in anything that I am doing. Granted this is just a "We spent two weeks together where is the video of it?" sort of footage, it really shows off what is possible.   Though its 8 minutes long, enjoy.

Finishing NIKO and Wisdom

Today was the last night of NIKO for the season...its always bitter sweet for me.  The groups of people that we have come through every year have an impact on me, every time.  Why do I continue to hike around the same stupid hills in the coastal range?  Well, its not the beautiful vistas or the pristine lakes.  On the contrary...

My First Go for a timelapse. Woot!

 

Welcome to my first attempt at creating a timelapse.  A few weeks ago I went on a little outing with the EARS course here at YWAM Salem and was able to capture this at one of our campsites near the headwaters of the Metolous River.  Beautiful, beautiful country...I loved every minute of traveling, driving, taking footage at every moment and still trying to save my batteries, all the while not knowing anything of what I was doing video wise.  I have been trying to figure out what to update on the thing for the last few weeks and every time I start I get either distracted or its just meh...I mulled through my twitter feed to find different things that I thought were pretty fun and I found some great stuff but most of it is just me stuck in an attic pulling cable for internet here at the base or me faking being a network and server administrator (Thanks Josh) 

Speaking of me administering all of this, Josh, my trusted friend, IT guy, and workhorse left a few months ago and left me to administer everything.  I don't know what I am doing....so, he and his wife have moved down to LA to work and go to school.  Josh, if your reading this, I am proud of you, you really do awesome at all you put your hands/brain to.  

So while I fake my way through knowing anything network or server wise, I also get to continue administering the YWAM Salem Website/Promos/Advertising/Marketing for the base and also a little bit of NIKO and Ropes Course is mixed in there as well....busy is an understatement.  Infact, this next week I am the Director of the NIKO...which means more then I actually thought it did...sorry Sue and Rho!  :-)  

Well, This is going to have to be it...its 2:00 in the morning and tomorrow I get to film interviews for the EARS Course and figure out how to put it all together....Good Night

 

 

Where has the time gone.

So much for trying to update consistantly through my TESOL...dang.

For your information I did graduate form that silly TESOL Course.  It was an awesome time of learning and streching for me.  The instructors had a lot of grace/patience/creative solutions for this guy in the long run.  I have lots of respect for all of them.  Thanks guys!