October 31, 2009

What We DO in Kona!

We plan fun events like the Staff Softball Game!
Each quarter we welcome new students from all over the world!We sign students up for Work Duties and Staff for Ohana Contribution!We host beach bar-b-qs with 400 YWAM Staff! We take care of the grounds on our 45 acre property! We work on projects all over campus! We build new dorms and furnish them for more students!
We feed a LOT of people each day! We volunteer at community events like the Ironman! Don works security at the finish line! And we do all this with some of the most amazing missionaries on the planet!!

June 17, 2009

Josh's Moped Accident

On May 31, Josh and Kesia were in a moped accident where they were hit by a pick-up truck, breaking their left legs and Josh's nose. Miraculously, there were no head injuries. Not even a bump on the head. We witnessed a miracle that day. Josh and Kesia in the ambulance on the way to the airport to be air-lifted to Oahu, 7 hours after the accident. Loading Josh into the medical plane to go to Oahu Physical Therapy, 3 days after the accident Kesia and Josh's first day outside, 4 days after the accident 1 week after the accident, leaving Oahu and heading back home to Kona. Josh had surgery on his broken nose. Josh 2 weeks after the accident. Miraculous! Amazing!

January 11, 2009

Jordan's Bible Study!

In October 2008, Jordan started a Bible Study for the local skater guys every Monday night. They play video games or ping pong, skate, eat, and listen to Jordan share truths about Jesus and his relationship with Him.
Please pray for these guys!

Vacation in Volcano Nat'l Park

Thanks to some very generous and loving friends, we started the year with 3 nights and 4 days resting at Volcano Nat'l Park. It was COLD and RAINY and WONDERFUL! Mauna Kea...that's SNOW on the top!
Mauna Loa...more snow
Stunning flowers
Our cabin was in the rain forest. Gorgeous!
It was like living in a tree house! So lush!
Avery in the hot tub. So nice!
Don!
Josh making Smores
Jordan burning his marshmallows
Allie loves sweets!

Christmas in Kona!

Josh with his new Memphis Tigers sweatshirt Jordan!
Allie!
Avery!
Just waking up Christmas Dinner with friends More amazing friends....Josh and Jordan's friends who came for Christmas dinner

September 28, 2008

Fun Day at YWAM!

The day we kidnapped the staff!
We stormed the prayer meeting and took about 200 staff "hostage" with water guns and bubble guns. We spent the morning playing games, eating ice cream, and having SO MUCH FUN together! Don preparing to take Loren (our founder) hostage Don with Loren in the getaway vehicle! Those bubble guns were terrifying! Herding the staff to the soccer field That's Jordan in the back on the left Our friend Ben keeping order with the water gun Angie getting her payback... ...and she ducks... And it worked! haha! Dancing!Loren and Dar getting soaked!

September 13, 2008

Boys on a Mission....Part II

This story about the boys was published on www.ywamconnect.net. Enjoy! Josh and Jordan’s stories reflect how God moves in our children preparing them to find their destinies and use their talents for the glory of God. Josh, 16 and Jordan, 15, are Don and Angie Amstutz’s two older children. They have two younger sisters Allie, 12 and Avery, 11.
Raised in Memphis Tennessee, Josh loved all sports and Jordan played percussion. Like most kids they hung out with their friends. “We had a typical southern life style, but when I came here all that changed,” said Josh. I asked Josh what their typical southern life style looked like. “I planned to go to college and make a life for myself,” said Josh. “We were expected to go to church, dress and act a certain way and always be respectful. Adults were called Ma’am and Sir. And then one day mom and dad told us we were going to Kona for a Discipleship Training School. Three months later we had sold half of our stuff and were here.”
I liked change but didn’t like to leave my friends,” said Jordan. “I thought we would go back, that this was mom and dad’s thing.”
“I felt dragged into it,” said Josh. “I wanted to go back so bad. I lived in the past, even dreamed about it. But somehow I knew we weren’t going back. And inside I knew somehow, someday I was going to live for the Lord but I didn’t want to acknowledge it. As time went by I knew it more and more.”
They attended Foundation School. Josh looked forward to it each day. “I felt blessed that there were seven guys in high school that quarter,” he said. “We went out surfing and I discovered my love for surfing.” Jordan had a more difficult time. “I am a visual learner and using our books to learn was hard for me.”
In the summer of 2007 Don and Angie sent both boys on a youth missions trip with Reign Ministries, a group for teen ministry around the world, which Angie had attended in college and wanted her children to experience. This summer Jordan wanted to go again. “We met on a hay field that had been set up as a training camp,” said Jordan. “After 10 days preparing to go overseas we traveled to eight countries in Europe doing street ministries; drama, puppets and dances. While training we had no showers, lived in tents, served and learned scripture.” This was to prepare them for what they might encounter in Europe. “God got hold of me at the training camp as my relationship to Him kept getting deeper,” said Jordan. “I learned how real God is and how to better listen to His voice. I was told never to let go of my dreams. I started wanting to come back to Kona and start a Bible study and eventually a youth center. I got excited as I realized mom leads a Bible study and she could mentor me. All summer ideas came into my head.”
“I went to Reign Ministries last year,” said Josh. “I felt I had done it. Last year was a year of struggles. I felt I wasn’t given a choice about following Jesus that I was told what to do. I was overwhelmed with everything. While I had enjoyed much of it, I felt there was something better for me. This year I wanted to choose. I wanted my passions involved and I wanted to use that love to glorify God and learn how to share Christ through my dreams.”
Josh spent July with 80 kids seeking God in Bali with ‘Surfing the Nations’ which is based in Honolulu, This group, an offshoot of YWAM, works in the schools and feeds the homeless. “I heard about Surfing the Nations through Jordan Norris (son of YWAMers Kevin and Liz Norris),” said Josh.
“We there split into six groups once we got over there.” Josh went to Bali, Indonesia to an isolated town called Balangan. “I love surfing and my heart is to reach all through surfing,” said Josh. “It was an awesome experience. The waves were epic and breaking right at our front door.” God brought out other spiritual giftings of Josh. “I had the opportunity to play the guitar and sing for worship,” said Josh. “I led worship ten times. I had thought I wasn’t good enough and had closed the doors to this dream and gifting. This was a reward God gave me. He gave me the strength to try again. Now I want to be more involved in worship on the base. And I want to reach surfers who live here in Hawaii and work with my brother.”
“I want to build back my relationship with local friends and start a Bible study,” said Jordan. “We want to start a game night and do it together.
“This is just a small part of what happened,” said Josh. “Ask us, we would love to tell you more.”

June 29, 2008

Boys on a Mission!

The boys will be spending the summer serving the Lord on opposite ends of the earth!
Jordan has joined Royal Servants International (http://www.royalservants.org/) and will evangelize across Europe with a team of 50 other teenagers.

June 21-June 29-Student Training; July 1-Flight to London; July 2-11-Utrecht, Holland; July12-13-Frickenhausen, Germany; July 14-16-Prague, Czech Republic; July 17-18-Venice, Italy; July 19-21-Florence, Italy; July 22-24-Lauterbrunnen, Switzerland; July 25-28-Nantes, France; July 29-31-Paris, France; August 1-5-London, England; August 6-Flight to Return Home; August 6-11-Visiting Friends and Family in Memphis; August 11-Home to Kona!

Josh has joined Surfing The Nations (http://www.surfingthenations.com/) and will spend the month of July in Bali. Indonesia.

June 30-Fly to Honolulu to join the team

July 4-31-Bali, Indonesia

Josh will join a team of about 100 other teenagers who will be involved in evangelism, street kids ministry, orphanages, Bible studies, beach outreaches, discipleship, and, of course, surfing!

Please PRAY for their safety. Also PRAY that God will meet them in a personal way, and that they will experience a deeper and more intimate relationship with Him that will enable them to continue to live for Him here in Kona.

February 24, 2008

4k being used at the first Call2All!

Jan 29-Feb 2, 2008, over 500 Christian leaders in all 7 spheres of society met together in Orlando, Florida at the first of 40 Call2All Congresses. On day 2, they spread out over this 70x50 ft map to pray, worship, and commit to reaching all 4000+ Omega Zones with the gospel of Jesus Christ.
Very Cool!

Construction Progress!

The foundation for this 100 bed dorm was poured the first week of January, 2008! This picture was taken January 18!
This picutre was taken February 3!
This picture was taken Feb. 27!
We've had over 100 volunteers who have come to Kona to volunteer their time to get this building built. We have 3 more dorms exactly like this one to build THIS YEAR!
Come help us!

Family Time in the Snow!

This winter, we've had very cool temperatures......as low as 65 degrees at night! Brrrr.....!
And on the volcano we've had lots of snow! To celebrate Don's birthday on Feb 18, we spent the day sliding down the hills on Mauna Kea, the island's dormant 13,000 ft volcano.
The kids sliding down on boogie boards! ha!