Big Sky Country

Hey! This is Dave. I just returned from an awesome trip in the Northwest. How would I describe it? Breathtaking!! Majestic!! Panoramic!! Mega-scenic!! I was blown away by Flathead Lake, the City of Eagles, Mount Hood, the Cascade Mountains, the Columbia River, Puget Sound, Klamath Falls AND the Beavers (#1) and the Broncos (#2) home towns of Eugene, OREGON and BOISE, Idaho, AND a herd of bighorn sheep (35-40 of them) in the middle of the highway! We serve an awesome and creative God
who does not hold back any of His goodness and grace from those who walk with Him.

During my 32-day journey, I was privileged to share a GMM powerpoint
presentation with 22 different audiences and to speak with 9 other smaller groups about our mission in Central and Eastern Europe. Thanks goes to the Northwest School of Missions who set up the majority of these opportunities. From Seattle to Montana to Idaho to Oregon to California and back to Washington, I traveled just under 4,000 miles. While the rivers and mountains spoke volumes of God's goodness, it was the
churches and the families who hosted me that I will long remember. Ninety-six individuals signed up to receive our monthly prayer email and fifty-eight will now be receiving our bimonthly newsletter. God's goodness and kindness were expressed through them as they opened up their homes and their hearts to me as I traveled through the Big Sky country.

I pray that all of God's purposes were completed as He allowed me to enjoy Him, His creation, and His people in the Northwest. Click here for pics of my journey:
http://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2082111&id=1009001672&l=fe6d20d838

Road Trip

I love road trips! :) Recently, while Dave was still out in the Northwest, I took off for Illinois and Missouri. I represented our mission work at College Park Christian Church in Bloomington/Normal and also at the internship fair at LCU (Lincoln Christian Univ.). I was thankful to have some time with my mom ... and then I drove to Kansas City to spend a week with Kezia, our daughter. Kezia's work with Exodus Cry (see link) is intense, but I see that God has her just where He wants her. I was blessed to pray with her staff and become more aware of the call God has on that ministry. And then there was the prophetic ministry I received one afternoon in the prayer room at IHOP (International House of Prayer). I am amazed by the working of the Holy Spirit as He speaks specifically into our lives, giving encouragement and direction. God is on the move and He is looking for faithful servants who are willing to give Him their wholehearted adoration and commitment. He goes before us to prepare the way and will be faithful to establish His kingdom on the earth.

Rest in the Whirlwind

You'd think after being overseas for several months and then returning home, we'd have lots of time for kickin' back and catching our breath. Actually, we often hear the question, "So now that you're back in the States, what do you do?" -- a legitimate question, I guess. But wow! The minute we arrived home we jumped right into the "Stateside pastoral ministry mode" that has always been our life. We've performed weddings, spoken at women's meetings, led Monday night Bible study group, made counseling calls, conducted an outdoor baptism service, and on and on. Of course, there's also the day-to-day correspondence with our partners and friends in Central/Eastern Europe, Israel, Canada, Ireland, etc., plus all the details that go along with mission presentations, coordinating university short-term trips and internships, and making preparations for "the next things" overseas.

Yet in the midst of our non-stop lifestyle, God has ordained rest in the whirlwind. His "appointed times" offer refreshment and spiritual renewal. We celebrated the Feast of Trumpets and were reminded to "wake up!" and seek the God of Abraham. During the Days of Awe we sought His face and asked for cleansing of any unrighteousness in the deep places of our hearts. On Yom Kippur (Day of Atonement) we honored God in His holiness and rejoiced in the salvation that is ours through our High Priest who entered the holy place once and for all through His blood. And during the Feast of Tabernacles we built a "sukkah" (3-sided hut - see photo) on our patio and rejoiced that God dwells with us and that His Son, Yeshua, will come again and bring peace on earth. Hallelujah!!

Life is full. Life is hard.
God is complete. God is good.
He is our refuge and rest.

Summer 2010

Summer 2010 in Poland was a great experience!

The Russian children's camp is always an amazing time, and this year was no exception. 21 children stepped forward to say "Yes!" to Yeshua. We are thankful. And for the first time at Ostróda Camp, we hosted teens from Israel! It was quite an international event - 50 from Israel; 4 from St. Petersburg, Russia, 12 from Ireland; 3 from Germany; 2 from Ukraine; 4 from the States; and 2 from Poland. How we praise God for making it possible for Jews and Gentiles to gather together in His name in Poland! We also "enjoyed" scraping, painting, and working alongside our wonderful summer interns from Ukraine as we finished several work projects at the camp. Later in July we had the opportunity to join our musician friends in the mountains of SW Poland for a time of seeking God and glorifying Him through concerts. Throughout the summer, we were able to preach, testify, and worship in several local churches. We thank God for His provision and guidance. May the seeds of the Gospel that were sown bear much fruit in the days ahead.

Now we are home for a season. This week we moved Kenan into Grand Valley State University near Grand Rapids, MI, so we are officially "empty nesters." Although it feels strange to be back in the States and even stranger to be in an empty house, these days at home in Brighton are very important for us. It is a time of refining our vision, refueling on God's Word, and being refreshed in His presence. We have found that it is only in seeing God that our spirits are renewed.

The world is changing at an ever-increasing speed and now more than ever we must hear the voice of God and be quick to obey. So as we assemble powerpoint presentations, write DVD scripts, study and prepare teachings, email, skype, and blog, our greatest desire is that we stay in step with the Spirit. O God, we long to join You in Your work so that Your kingdom may be established in the hearts of men and women!

Thank you so much for your prayers and encouragement. May the Lord bless you, keep you, shine His face on you, be gracious to you, and give you "shalom."

Strong Tower

On February 17 I flew to Warsaw and spent 7 weeks in Poland. Every single day was filled with significant activity and encounters! I studied 4 weeks in Warsaw at a Polish language school (10 students in my group from 9 different countries!); taught at our Christian School of Music (CSM) on two separate weekends; visited my translator, Ola, in Poznan; spoke at churches, met with leaders, etc.; had countless 'divine appointments' with people on trains, buses, trams, and on the streets; and simply "lived" in Poland. Dave joined me at the end of March and together we hosted a team of 19 from Taylor University (Upland, IN) during their spring break. We worked at an English school in Kraków, served at an orphanage, did some work projects at Ostróda Camp, and performed music/drama at various churches. It was an amazing time!

Now it's April and I've been home almost 3 weeks. Dave is still in Poland -- he's been working at Ostróda Camp (lots of grunt work ... you know, pouring concrete, sawing block, taking down trees -- what a man!!) -- plus he's been preaching, teaching, and developing relationships with the believers in the NE regions of Poland. He comes home on May 3 and it will be good to be together again.

As all the world is well-aware, Poland has recently suffered an immense loss. On April 10, 2010, as a large delegation of Poland's official leadership traveled to Smolensk, Russia, to honor those who were murdered at Katyn, their plane crashed and all were killed. Poland's President Lech Kaczynski, his wife, and 94 other of Poland's elite perished. A week of mourning ensued. Many remain in a state of shock and unbelief. We must pray that God will protect this country and provide stable leadership in the coming days. May He bring comfort and hope to these people who have suffered so much. May the name of Jesus be a strong tower for those who mourn. May His name be exalted above all others and may the people of Poland find their hope in Him!

Dream for Poland

An army of worshipers, strong in prayer, trained and equipped with the word of God, mighty in the Spirit’s power, washed clean and pure, dressed in the armor of God, ready for battle, marching to love‘s cadence, committed to their King, longing for His kingdom on earth, watching for His return, and hanging on His every word. This army stretches the length and width of Poland, overflowing the borders, and reproducing itself in neighboring lands. Justice, mercy, and humility characterize its ranks and blessing follows in its path. Hearts ablaze for their Servant-King, they stand strong; faithful in adversity, patient in trial, loyal in love. Heads lifted high, hearts sealed by love, their eyes are fixed on the One emblazoned on the banner before them: the Lion of Judah, the Lamb of God.

O God, would you raise up such an army??

Sneak Preview

It's official. Expedia confirms that Sandra S. Hatfield will depart Detroit Metro Airport on Feb. 17, 2010, en route to Warsaw, Poland.

Yes, we're headed back to Poland. I'll be in Poland for seven weeks (Feb. 17 - Apr. 7). As originally planned, I will serve at two weekend sessions of our Christian School of Music (CSM) plus visit several churches/groups/individuals with whom we minister in Poland. And then just this week an unexpected opportunity became available and now I've been accepted into a 4-week intensive Polish language course in Warsaw (Mar. 1 - 24)! I will attend classes Mon.-Fri. mornings and then be free on weekends for travel. I't's a full schedule and I'll be a busy girl ... just the way I like it! :)

Dave will join me on March 25, a few days before a 20-member team from Taylor University (Indiana) will arrive in Poland. Dave and I will host these students as we assist at an English language school, an orphanage, and our ministry center in Ostroda. Various work projects are scheduled for April, so Dave will stay to help coordinate these efforts. He will also visit several churches and attend two CSM sessions. Dave will return to Michigan the first week of May.

So, that's a sneak preview of what's to come. Thank you for all the prayers as we finalize plans and arrange the details. The task before us can be overwhelming, but we are reminded that it is "...His energy which so powerfully works in us" (Col. 1:29) It is God who has called us and it is God who will do it. Blessed be His name!