October 15, 2006- Blissful First Year
David and I celebrated our first year anniversary on October 15. We had a week-long celebration on doing special little things.
A sunset, sushi and brie
On our first date, David and I shared sushi, bread with some brie by the lake during sunset.
Its only fitting that we have sushi to celebrate! David had a surprise dinner for me when I came home from work one day. David set the table so beautifully. He bought me gorgeous roses and we had sushi and wine that our friend, Matt got for us from his hometown in Switzerland. Matt had given us the wine a few months back and we saved it till this special occasion. (scroll down for more pics)
Bonsai
David loves bonsais. We had them for our wedding as centerpieces for our reception. David and I kept two bonsais and gave the rest to our families, wedding party and a couple of friends. Some of our friends were able to keep them alive for some time but sadly we've all killed our bonsais. Earlier this year, while Emma was visiting from Sweden, we went to visit our friend Corrine in Chicago and stumbled upon a bonsai shop on Belmont Ave. A Japanese man owned it with his Korean wife. He was very funny. He wouldn't sell me the bonsai I wanted because he knew I'd kill it. He gave me a juniper bonsai instead. After keeping the juniper bonsai alive and healthy these past months, David and I have finally earned it. We went back to the Bonsai store and bought the olive bonsai I wanted in the spring. We are so proud to finally be parents of an olive and juniper bonsai.
The Pumpkin Patch
As the finale to our week-long celebration, David and I went to Randall Oaks- a pumpkin patch David had gone to as a kid. We had caramel apples, roasted corn and apple cider. Yum!
Apart from our wedding anniversary, we also celebrated a year of living in our house. We are so grateful and so humbled by God's goodness and faithfulness in our life. Looking back, the past year has brought much growth, many joys and some tears. God has been so good.
MORe PicTures!
Beautiful Table Setting by David
Spicy Tuna Roll and Philadelphia Roll.
Sarah and David eating yummy roasted corn
We Welcome John!
We welcome our good friend, John Hastie to our little community! He moved in with us in August. He is a student at the UW. He is also a dj. He did School of the Bible a few years ago. He and his girlfriend of two years, Julia, just got engaged last weekend! John will be with us until they get married. We are so happy for you two!!
fall is so beautiful!
Yesterday, David and I were contemplating whether we should go to the gym or just do yard work. Our front yard and back yard is covered in leaves. I know we should rake but it is too beautiful to even do anything about it! There are many things that are still new to me in living in the Midwest. Tools such as rakes and weedwhackers, snow plows, snow shovels are things that I've gotten to know this past year.
Fall is amazing. I love all the yellow and red leaves that cover the streets. I love driving and seeing all the golden trees. Last year was my first time jumping on a pile of leaves. It was sooooo great!!! I hope to do it again this year.
I have posted anything in awhile, so I thought I would give a short update and some pictures!
David mowing
David trying to start the mower
Raking leaves
Return from Sojourn
I'm coming home in a couple of days after being in the Philippines for a month. I am excited to get home and be back with my wife, family, and friends. My time here has been good because I have had the opportunity to network with lots of people and spend time with Sarah's family and extended family. I have also had the chance to meet with YWAM leaders of different bases and even the YWAM National Director of the Philippines. I really feel that the Filipino people, as missionaries, are blessed with the ability to influence closed nations that do not experience religious freedom.
I am so honored to teach in the Discipleship Training Schools here in the Philippines. I enjoy encouraging young people to love God. I know they will bless many nations like Cambodia, Thailand, Vietnam, Japan, China, and Korea when they go on outreach. The DTS students I have taught will share God's love with farmers, street kids, prostitutes, business owners, universities, and many more. They will share with them that the Good News is primarily about friendship with God and that they have a choice to live life fully alive free from sin. I am excited for their trips to these countries because there are so many people that they will talk to who have never heard that they are worth something, that they are made special, and that living an evil life is a choice.When they have finished with their three month outreach to these places many of them will return home to be influential Christians in their churches, schools, and businesses. They will have learned that Christianity is living according to the law of love not some good moral code. That Jesus' death on the cross was more than forgiveness of sins but a standard set on how deep our love should be. I believe that these DTS students as they live their lives according to God's law of love (Deut ch6) will change any environment for the better.
This is my ultimate satisfaction in life, to love God and teach others to do the same. I feel as if I am living exactly as I am supposed to, doing exactly what I am made to do. My childhood hero was Indiana Jones teacher, truth seeker, and adventurer. Every time I go on outreach I get butterflies in my belly because I don't know what adventure is ahead of me. I hope the next two years ,finishing school, fly by so I can do this all the time. What an adventure it will be when Sarah will be with me traveling and teaching. Many people think that being a missionary is uncomfortable and always difficult but what most people don't see is how directly the Gospel changes lives. In light of the good that is done there is no amount of difficulty that would make me want to change jobs. Don't get me wrong, there is very real danger. This wall has glass cemented to it for a reason. And when we were leaving one of the staff's house last night there was a poisonous snake on the gate handle that struck at us. I also, like Indiana Jones, hate snakes so I just stood still and waited for my friend to take care of it. Never a dull moment. Can't wait to hear from you all when I get back. Thanks again for partnering with me on this trip.----Financial Update----
Thanks again everyone for supporting Sarah and I. I hope you see the difference you are making. Peoples lives are being changed and the result is a better world for everyone. We are now down to $350 to cover the outreach. If you read this and want to support Sarah and I you can click on the DONATE button to support us directly through PAYPAL.
Battles Won - Battles Lost
I finished speaking last week in the Baguio DTS with a bang. It was a powerful time for all of us- speaker, staff, and students. One of the prime truths of the week, under the topic of Spiritual Warfare, was that Belief is not something we passively agree to but it is something we act on. You can agree and say you believe many things but until you act on it, it's not belief (eg Peter getting out of the boat Mark ch6). True belief is action despite fear; it removes doubt and selfishness. Belief replaces those things with resolve, confidence, and generosity. On the last day, the students made a serious declaration of faith. I asked which of them still needed money for their school and outreach fees. Every single hand shot up in the air- all twenty of them were in need. (Many people come to these schools from poor humble backgrounds with little money)
What happened next can only be described as supernatural. I asked them to pray that God would provide for them. So they prayed and out of that prayer time, their faith was challenged in a very real way. Where they just going to stand there and and agree that God would provide for them or were they going to believe? So to act on our faith/belief that He would provide, we started to put money in a jar to give towards an unknown need. Students and staff alike ran back to their rooms to get more money to put in the jar. At the end of that time people had given up much of what they had left to themselves out of their own empty pockets. We decided to give to most immediate need that was not us.The money was given to a ministry at YWAM Baguio called "Island Breeze" which performs original tribal dances and music. These people had been trying to get to Australia for a conference and had been selling extra clothing, their own valuables, and much more. They were very faithful and diligent in trying to raise money but the deadline had passed and if they were going to go, it had to happen that weekend. So, the broke DTS students gave what little they had to Island Breeze and only minutes after they had given them the money someone pledged Island Breeze $1,000 Australian dollars! Generosity breeds generosity so the hungry get fed and those in need are taken care of. I saw powerful belief in that classroom that day because each person gave until it hurt.
Many have never experienced belief that strong before because what we give is extra or what is convenient. The feeling in that room was unlike I have ever had. So many, all at once decided that someone else's need was greater than their own and that released a rare power. And if you think I am being spectacular, you are right because it was! Island Breeze went to Australia and the DTS students, more broke than before, learned first hand about Spiritual Warfare. What they learned, they experienced because that day they won a key battle; the one for their hearts. The war starts in our mind and is played out in our actions. You see it all the time when people act greedy or indifferent. Their lives reflect their hearts. But generosity and thankfulness destroys greed and bitterness and that is Spiritual Warfare.I will never be the same after that and will always think of those students next time I am faced with someone else's need.
----Sarah's Travel Update--------
So the time has come and gone and Sarah's green card did not come in time. This has come as a disappointment and a burden to us and many people who have been praying. In order not to lose Sarah's ticket we had to pay to move it to January, the next possible time for us to go to the Philippines. Since it is peak season now, the airlines have sold more tickets than they have seats which means I have no chance of coming home early. This is difficult because it keeps Sarah and I apart for two more weeks - add that to the last two weeks and you get a whole month the newly-weds are apart. It is really hard for us. The only thing I can do is buy a new ticket business-class to get home early. Lord knows we would if we could. So we talk twice a day, everyday over SKYPE. We are not deeply discouraged because we know God is still good and there any many reasons why this didn't come together in time. What the enemy wants to use for evil God uses for good, because he's like that, Sarah and I will be returning to the Philippines in January. And after talking with people here, there seems to be an open invitation to teach.----Financial Update----
Thanks again everyone for supporting Sarah and I. I hope you see the difference you are making. Thanks Bill for having faith in what Sarah and I are doing. Peoples lives are being changed and the result is changed Nations! We are now down to $350 to cover the outreach. If you read this and want to support Sarah and I you can click on the DONATE button to support us directly through PAYPAL.
Passing the Torch
I have been teaching in Baguio, in the mountains, for the past three days. The bus trip went well and we started the week early Monday morning. Before I left Antipolo last week I got it into my head to ask the leadership if I could bring Lehnnon with me, to help me teach in the Baguio DTS. I met him last year when I was teaching in Antipolo. He is 24 years old, a native Filipino, and has been working on staff for the past two years. At first they told me he could not come because he is the only guy staff working with the DTS and has many responsibilities. A couple of days before I left they told me he could come with me because the other staff said they would take on his work.
For the last three days I have been sharing teaching time with Lehnnon encouraging him and helping him gain confidence as a teacher of God's word. It has been really great working with him. He encouraged me and continued to lift my spirits. He has been especially helpful the last two days since I have fallen ill. I am feeling a bit better now as I write this but don't have long before I need to go teach again. I accepted two opportunities to speak in a Youth for Christ discipleship program Wednesday and Thursday night.
Lehnnon has gone back to Antipolo to fulfill his duties as DTS staff and I am now back to it alone. I am glad I had the opportunity to bring him with me. For me, it is continuing the process Jesus started 2,000 years ago when he traveled with his disciples. I enjoy teaching in DTS's but most of what I am doing is communicating information. Don't get me wrong, I take as much time as I can to hang around the students but the bottom line is I'm only here for a week at a time. Teaching someone to be like Jesus has little to do with new information, although it helps, it is primarily about character transfer. You learn Christ like attitudes and actions by seeing how someone lives and that makes you want to change. MY job here is simple, testify of God's character and encourage others. The staff of these training schools have the real hard work to do. They are the ones that need to walk in constant humility because it is their character that is multiplied. Their dedication is inspiring!
Last week I taught in the Antipolo DTS and got to know some incredible people. I would like to share one story with you. I was hanging out with a couple of students after lunch. We were talking about everything from gender roles to true thankfulness. One of the students, a Korean girl, asked me a question about honoring your father and mother. You see, her parents are Buddhists and hate the fact she is a Christian. They disowned her for eleven years and it is just now that she is able to restore relationship with them. Her parents don't want her learning about Jesus but want her to follow in the cultural norm of extreme education despite personal desire. My answer was lengthy but it can be summed up in: obedience to God is always the best course of action even if it hurts. I did not dissuade her from following her parents desires nor did I confirm that doing what they tell her to do is honoring them. I placed the source of her decision within her relationship with God. Either way, whatever she chooses will be painful. If she follows her parents commands she will work hard towards a goal that is not her own and be kept from Christian fellowship. But if she decides to continue to work in missions she can run the risk of breaking relationship with her family permanently.
Jesus said to follow him requires us to walk the narrow path. When we spoke I could feel the tension, it was like her heart was breaking right there. Despite her composure I could see that she was really struggling with what to do. She has been so wounded by her parents expectations and she really does want to please them but she wants to follow Jesus. I was amazed when I heard how she came to know Him. When she was young she was walking down the street and passed a Christian church that was having a worship service. She felt an excitement in her heart and went into the church. That day she fell in love with God and came to know him through the praises of his people. She has put everything on the line to come to DTS. I know whatever she chooses to do will bring her in closer relationship with God but it may not be an easy choice. It was my honor to meet her and encourage her. Pray for my friend - call her "J" that she will have the courage to make the right choice despite fear of either situation.We still have not received Sarah's approval letter. We are hoping it will come in the next few days so she can join me on the 15th. If it doesn't come I will have to look for an early flight home but availability is doubtfull. Partner with us in prayer as we hope for the possible to happen!
>>>Finance update<<< We have received some support in the last two weeks. Thanks Pam and Chersie for believing in me and Sarah! This brings what we need down from $700 total to only $550. I can't thank you enough for supporting us. Peoples lives are being changed and the result is changed Nations! If you want to support Sarah and I you can click on the DONTE button to support us directly through PAYPAL.
Sarah Teaches Anyway!!
Check this out! Eventhough Sarah was unable to come with me to the Philippines, she was able to teach in the DTS. With a little help from some friends, we were able to connect through SKYPE and use two webcams so the students could see and hear Sarah. After working out the bugs Sarah was able to give us her message on worldviews. Check her out on the big screen!
her. For many of the staff here at YWAM Antipolo Sarah has been far off and unreachable-someone that they've been praying for. It's only through occasional phone calls, which cost a fortune, or an update from Sarah's aunt Leah or me. It was great for Sarah and I to have the chance to team teach because it is our passion and dream to teach together and often in Asia. Today was the first time when Sarah and I taught in Asia together and we were 5,000 miles apart doing it. God is good and always finds a way to bless us even when we think it is impossible.
I am doing well. My sleep pattern is still kind of weird. I wake up at 5 a.m. and get really tired in the afternoon but things are slowly getting better. The students are wonderful and have been really open with me. I find that it's easier for them to express themselves on paper than out loud so I have geared the homework towards that. I respond to their homework every day trying to help them process. Many of them have opened up to me and told sad stories of abuse and brokenness. They are so courageous to be so open. It shows so much maturity and a desire to be whole when people confront their demons. The attitude across most of Asia is that your performance determines your value. This worldview has caused tremendous pain and suffering. I hope to change this, along with Sarah, for future generations. Many are catching on to the fact that their performance does not determine their value and will make a direct impact on the world when they return to their respected countries.
Tomorrow is Friday and my last day teaching here in Antipolo. Saturday I leave on a bus to travel eight hours into the mountains of Baguio to speak for another week. In addition to speaking in the DTS there I will be speaking at another training program for a couple of nights. Keep in me your prayers as the traveling is rough and kinda dangerous. It is monsoon season here so it rains all day long. (Remember recently in the news that a landslide covered a school and killed hundreds of people) I hope we have a clear weekend with no rain. Someone has to go. If not me who?We are still waiting for Sarah to receive her approval letter for her green card. As soon as she gets that she can join me here in the Philippines. Pray for speedy response.
>>>Financial Update<<< Agian, thank you all for giving so generously so Sarah and I can work to change the world for the better. I am so comforted to know you believe in what we are doing, I never feel alone because of you. Most of the trip has been covered but we still need to cover the rest of the cost of the plane ticket, which is $400 and the cost of bills while I'm gone is about $300. If you are moved to contribute to what Sarah and I are doing please click the DONATE link on this page to support us quickly and safely.
Chasing The Sun East
Intro to Asia
When you travel east you chase the sun which at 40,000ft never seems to set. I landed in Manila last night after an 18 hour flight. The flight was long and I rediscovered why I don’t like the window seat. As a boy I struggled a bit with Closter phobia and as I got older built habits that helped me avoid tight spaces. When I checked in on-line I chose my seats, forgetting how uncomfortable tights places are I chose window seats. Sarah said “I like window seats because you can lean on something when you want to sleep.” Then I thought maybe I had been missing out on something all along and chose all window seats. Eighteen hours later I emerge from the jumbo jet pathetically redeyed and sore. I made my way through a sea of humanity, that is the Philippines immigration line, got picked up, and was quickly whisked away to YWAM Antipolo. It’s like being in a dream of sorts with that weird surreal feeling and characters that look oddly familiar. Anyway, I slept when I would usually be awake and now am awake when I would usually have been asleep. Good thing I love traveling it makes the discomfort and oddness endearing and not frustrating.
Through this great piece of software called SKYPE I spoke with Sarah today for an hour, long distance for free. It quelled my homesickness for a bit. We are confident that she will be able to come on August 15th. It really is up to the INS agent to approve Sarah’s green card or ask for more evidence, which she said she had enough of. What should happen now is that she will receive an acceptance letter within a week or two than her green card shortly after that. If the works out Sarah will receive both before the 15th but even if she receives the letter that will be enough for her to go get her passport stamped. If all goes well she will be here in just two weeks.
Tomorrow I begin teaching on Worldviews. There are 9 Filipinos, 4 Koreans, and 1 Japanese in this school. I am excited to speak to an all Asian school as I have been studying and plan to get my degree in East Asian Cultures and Languages. The worldviews teaching for the week will be shaped by much of what we discuss the first day. I am trying a new strategy for teaching prep this time. I have plenty of material to fill the week with but I am more interested in tailoring the week’s content with the needs of the students. Of course there are some essential things I want to cover, like ideas have consequences and the character of God, but there are things deeply rooted in their reality construct (worldview) that will need to be dealt with spontaneously. So, I’m looking forward to what comes out on the first day, please keep me in your thoughts and prayers for this will be a critical time.I hope you are all doing well. I know many of you are preparing for the fall with work, traveling, and school and can’t believe the summer is more than half over. Enjoy the time you have and make sure you spend some of it with your families. May God bless you and keep you.
David
e-mail: davidw@ywammadison.org
web: www.ywammadison.org/davidw
"The Man of Steel"
written by David.
I watched the late show that started at 10 p.m. on Tuesday the 27th a day before the official release of Superman Returns. Being a Smallville fan I was skeptical about this new addition to the Superman legacy. I was shocked when the new Clark Kent (Brandon Routh) emerged and was the spitting image of Christopher Reeve.
He had all the geeky qualities of Clark Kent, always pushing up his glasses and saying things like "Swell." Brian Singer (producer/director) and his crew did their homework and made a classic in which I believe they will be able to build off of. Routh's character as Superman, at times, lacks depth with his many one liners but all is made up for by the powerful imagery used to describe who Superman is. It is in the realm of images and metaphor that we get pumped up, choked up, and encouraged to be more than ourselves more than this world offers.
Lois Lane (Kate Bosworth) writes a Pulitzer Prize winning article during the man of steel's hiatus called "Why We Dont Need Superman." Crushed by our heroe's need to find out the truth of his home planet she echoes Nietzsches "God is dead" theme by writing why Superman, one who stands for justice, goodness, and self-sacrifice is no longer wanted or needed.
Her article is hailed as the height of journalistic thought. Then there is a moment when Superman lifts Lois up into the sky high above all the nations of the world and asks her "What do you hear?" She says she hears nothing but he replies "I hear everyone." The world she believed didn't need a rescuer was calling out for one all along. Her Pulitzer Prize, thought by many to be enlightening, immediately became nothing in light of the truth. People cannot save themselves they need a rescuer because they will never be better than the gods they worship and no matter what anyone says everyone whorships something. The only hope for us is to believe in a perfect loving God that invites us to be like him. If our gods are arbitrary than we will be no better.
There are three types of people portrayed in this film. The first is those that believe in and live truth (Superman), the second is those that see the truth and are changed by it (Lois, Jimmy, Lois's husband ect), and thirdly those that see the truth and reject it for selfish reasons (Lex Luther).
Everyone has a chance when they see a movie like this one to take a step towards truth and turn away from whatever darkness consumes their heart. You may think "It's only a movie" but it has been the storytellers of history and myth that have let us known who we are and that has shaped our future. Although, many of us are confused because we have traded the true stories for ones of lies that make us our own gods. The reason why Superman, as an icon, is so powerful is that he represents something that we all can identify with, the true story. There is a deep understanding among the human race that there is something terribly wrong with the world we live in and no matter how hard we try to TEVO out the evil, we need a rescuer. Many of us aren't good enough to shed a tear for the hungry let alone die for our enemies. Our standards are too low because we have bought into the wrong story.
I thought the film was really great. It made me want to be a hero. It was powerful because it showed us again the greatest theme known to man, the greatest story ever told: A father who sacrifices his son to save the world.
= pictures from my time with my family=
quirky family picture
david, mykee + I at disneyland (someone blessed us with free day passes!)
Beautiful sydney
Me, Sydney and Rachel
in Chinatown in San Francisco
living in community
Here's a picture of our first house meeting back in January. 
Toilet paper, food in the fridge, work duties, the buzzing about of people around the house... ahhhh community.
Growing up in a YWAM base, I was always surrounded with people and I loved it. I thrived in the midst of people. Finding space wasn't that hard as some might imagine. I was talking to one of my good friends, Bekah, who is also a YWAM kid and we both had the uncanny ability to find sanctuary even if we were living in a room with eight girls!
Some people thought it was a little odd that David and I wanted to live with people during the first year of our marriage. I don't quite understand the reasons probably as much as they don't understand ours. BUT, all I've got to say is I LOVE COMMUNITY!
It teaches you so many things! It sharpens you day in and day out. These past 3 months, we've had the honor of having Dow and Brooke Saunders live with us. They are leaving on Monday, April 17th to move to California. We are having a farewell party for them on Saturday. We're going to have our first "grilling" party in our backyard.
Since living with Dow and Brooke, David and I have become more conscious of healthier eating and of taking care of our environment. By just watching them, I am encouraged by the love they have for each other. I am encouraged by how they serve each other in their marriage.
We love you Dow and Brooke! We will miss you guys!
our own "mini-ywam base"
A LITTLE NOTE BEFORE I START!
When I first started this blog, there was so much I wanted to write about that I didn't know where to begin! And I'm still at that place!
BUT WHAT WOULD MAKE THIS EVEN MORE FUN IS INTERACTION WITH YOU! You can leave comments on what I write or even just to say hi! If you look closely, after each blog/article, is the "comments" link, right in between the "Posted by david+sarah and the little envelope. Click on that and leave a note! We love hearing from you.
I was talking to my uncle a couple of weeks ago and I was telling him of all the new things happening in the Welther household and he said...
"So like a mini ywam base!"
Our house resembles how I grew up in the YWAM house- lots of commotion, lots of shoes by the door- a community. We welcomed the new addition to our home, our good friends, Dow and Brooke Saunders on the 6th of January. They are a newly married couple who were supposed to go to Switzerland this last fall to attend YWAM's Applied Principles of Communication School. Through a myriad of circumstances, they are back in Madison to pursue what God has for them next. For the time being, they will be living with us! Hurray!
David's dad came the same day as Dow and Brooke and for three gruelling days, they started the big work on our not-so-beautiful basement so that Dow and Brooke could live in it.
David and I camped out in our dining room as David's dad had our room. Dow and Brooke camped out in the living room. It was a great blessing to have David's dad and the help of a few strapping young men to do the hardest part of getting our basement to mint condition. When David's dad left it was left to David and guys and some women (Brooke and I!) to finish the job.
We still need carpeting done but apart from that, its a brand new room!
We've only been in our home for exactly a three months now and already it has turned into a little community. David and I are very happy, very blessed to have Shane, Manuel and now, Dow and Brooke live with us. We are talking about having a night where we can have "church", one the resembles the New Testament kind of church- sharing what we are learning in our lives and our adventures with God and a meal with one another. One of these days. :)
see the transformation of part of our basement:
First, the cold concrete uninviting room:
working on the basement: Mudding and Sanding
"Storm Trooper David"
"Brooke"
"Dusty Brooke"
"Dow"
"Powdered Dow"
"Gray Sarah"
AND FINALLY...THE ALMOST FINISHED ROOM
