Nairobi Traffic

Pictures From Kenya

Pacificministries Kenya Update 1

Just got internet so this update never got to you...just completed our mission...listen to podcasts posted on Pacmin for complete updates...Wonderful journey and will hopefully get another update out in a few days....thanks for praying!!

Kenya Podcast 1
Kenya Podcast 2
Interview with John, our Maasai Translater

Friends:

After some 25 hours of air travel and 10 hours of wandering in the Dallas and London airports, we finally arrived in Nairobi, Kenya.  Leaving the airport and on the way to Bruce and Kate Dahlman (my cousin and his wife, our hosts for the next several weeks), we noticed a large plane surrounded by Kenyan police and military guards.  The president of Iran had arrived to meet with political leaders here, and we managed to land at the same time. 
Kenya is a land of contrasts.  Within just several blocks, there are Presbyterian, Assemblies of God, Baptist, and Quaker churches, but add to these a Muslim mosque and training school.  Even as we enjoyed a Kenyan cappuccino (decaf!) at an outdoor cafe, you heard the prayers of Islamic devotees broadcast throughout the neighborhood.
Tomorrow we spend preparing for a two day adventure in the bush...a genuine "in the rough" camping trip arranged by the Masai believers.  We will meet in local homes, and show the Jesus film in a village meeting.   We've brought New Testaments and dozens of Arobies...the flying frisbee-type toy which our family has enjoyed for years. 
Sunday and Monday we will visit Masai game park.
Since we will be out of internet range over the next few days, please pray for:

Continued health and physical protection as we travel
God-arranged connections with the right leaders
Spiritual fruit among the tribal people

We received a number of very encouraging words over the last several weeks.  Themes emerged from diverse groups...but all harmonius.  A summary:

Everywhere our feet would step the Lord would be present to affect the people and the land.
You will bring Father’s love.  The countries you visit will have a home you will call your own.
Two are better than one.
It is our prayer and belief that these promises are yours as well.

Bless you!!!

Darrell, Carlene,and Dannielle

Pacificministries THIS SUDAY and Kenya Update

Dear Friends,

There are moments when life snaps into focus. If we think about it, we'll capture and reflect on them. (Think...our first moments of life in the delivery room, school graduations, weddings, and anniversaries)  Those are momentous milestones that should be acknowledged.  But other times these moments happen almost by accident and take us by surprise.

Last week, we traveled to Camp Pendleton California to bless our son Matthew, a Marine now deployed to Iraq.  Carlene put it this way:

The rain stopped long enough for us to snap this picture. One comment from a fellow
soldier brought some humor to the tearful moment. "Dahlman! Did you bring the whole family tree
here to send you off?" Click. The contrasting weather went along with the roller coaster emotions.
God in His gracious way hand brushed a rainbow in front of us as we drove down the hills of Camp Pendleton.
My heart is full of joy for the wonderful way the weekend unfolded.

Later that evening, suddenly for me that "life snap moment" happened.  When we were about to take our final picture before Matthew boarded the bus, I remembered he insisted we all stand behind him. Just as the Lord stands behind us.....and we stand behind each other.

Scripture is filled with encouragement that we are not alone.  There are references to great clouds of witnesses, angelic visitation and support, and the intercession of saints partnering with God to affect time and eternity.  Jesus surrounds us with songs of deliverance and promises to never leave or forsake us....and the rainbow, God's note to Self:

Genesis 9:16 Whenever the rainbow appears in the clouds, I will see it and remember the everlasting covenant between God and all living creatures of every kind on the earth.

On Monday, February 23rd, Carlene, our daughter Danielle, and myself will leave for Nairobi and Eldorat Kenya.  We'll work with various mission groups, churches, and medical clinics where my cousin Bruce and his wife Kate have served for 15 years. 

We'd like to invite you to surround us, and send us on this venture.  We'll meet for Worship at the River THIS SUNDAY, February 22 at 6PM  at our customary Troutdale Community Center location. (Yesssss....after nearly 3 months of not meeting!)

Let's celebrate the sometimes obscure but momentous moments of life, and remember the many who have gone before us, and those who now, stand behind us.

Blessings,

Darrell and Carlene

February Worship at the River CHANGED TO 6PM SUNDAY February 22

Friends,

A reminder we will NOT gather this second Sunday, February 8, instead, we'll meet at 6pm Sunday February 22 for this month's Worship at the River. We look forward to seeing many of you the 22nd. The following day, Carlene, our daughter Danielle, and myself will leave for Kenya. 

• This weekend, all of our children (including Calvin, our grandson) will be in California to bless our son Matt before he is deploys February 9 (Destination Iraq)
  
•  February Worship at the River CHANGED TO 6PM SUNDAY February 22
• See our Cascadia Gathering below
  
• March, we will be in Kenya for nearly 3 weeks.  Our Worship at the River for March is CANCELED, but we'll send an email regarding a Passover gathering in April.

Thanks for supporting and praying for us!

Darrell and Carlene

If you'd like to give to Pacificministries, you may use any major credit card (or Paypal) for a tax deductable donation HERE.

Pacificministries
PO Box 1351
Fairview, OR 97024
Pacificministries@gmail.com
http://pacificministries.blogspot.com/

Also:


A Rendezvous of Prophetic Intercessors who are hearing from God about what he is doing and planning to do in the Cascadia region.

Saturday February 21, 2009
Castle Rock, Washington

Date:  2/21/09
Time: 11:00 A.M.
Location: Castle Rock, WA [map]
525 3rd Avenue SW
Castle Rock, WA 98611
(at the Castle Rock Full Gospel Church)
Purpose
Many of you reading this purpose statement have some history and relationships with key cities in the Northwest. May of us have been praying and contending for the Northwest for decades. In the last decade many of us have been meeting those who have the same heart. Your hosts, Darrell (Gresham), Dave (Southwest Washington) and Mark (Astoria) feel it's time we "rendezvoused" ...much as the pioneer explorers did early in our territories' history.
Rendezvous is the Anglicization of the French word Rendez-vous meaning "appointment".  "Rendezvous" was the name used for the annual meeting of mountain men and fur buyers during the fur trade era, where trappers would exchange beaver skins for supplies and goods they wanted. These events occurred between the early 1820s and the 1840s.
We believe God is calling us to a divine appointment....where we freely exchange and encourage one another. We are looking forward being able to gather with you as we seek the Lord!



Cascadia Rendezvous of Prophetic Intercessors
The gathering would focus on three simple elements:
Worship
What do we HEAR God Saying?
What do we SEE God Doing?
This is not meant to be a "Y'all come" event.  It is primarily for prophetic intercessors who are hearing from God about what he is doing and planning to do in our region.
There is no cost, but a collection will be taken to defray the costs of the facility rental.  No child care provided.
Your rendezvous hosts are:
Darrell Dahlman (Pacificministries)
David Bodine (Next Reformation Network)
Mark Acuna (Antiochhouse)

As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God

As an atheist, I truly believe Africa needs God

By Matthew Parris, from The Times Online



Before Christmas I returned, after 45 years, to the country that as a
boy I knew as Nyasaland. Today it's Malawi, and The Times Christmas
Appeal includes a small British charity working there. Pump Aid helps
rural communities to install a simple pump, letting people keep their
village wells sealed and clean. I went to see this work.



It inspired me, renewing my flagging faith in development charities.
But travelling in Malawi refreshed another belief, too: one I've been
trying to banish all my life, but an observation I've been unable to
avoid since my African childhood. It confounds my ideological beliefs,
stubbornly refuses to fit my world view, and has embarrassed my growing
belief that there is no God.



Now a confirmed atheist, I've become convinced of the enormous
contribution that Christian evangelism makes in Africa: sharply
distinct from the work of secular NGOs, government projects and
international aid efforts. These alone will not do. Education and
training alone will not do. In Africa Christianity changes people's
hearts. It brings a spiritual transformation. The rebirth is real. The
change is good.



I used to avoid this truth by applauding - as you can - the practical
work of mission churches in Africa. It's a pity, I would say, that
salvation is part of the package, but Christians black and white,
working in Africa, do heal the sick, do teach people to read and write;
and only the severest kind of secularist could see a mission hospital
or school and say the world would be better without it. I would allow
that if faith was needed to motivate missionaries to help, then, fine:
but what counted was the help, not the faith.



But this doesn't fit the facts. Faith does more than support the
missionary; it is also transferred to his flock. This is the effect
that matters so immensely, and which I cannot help observing.



First, then, the observation. We had friends who were missionaries, and
as a child I stayed often with them; I also stayed, alone with my
little brother, in a traditional rural African village. In the city we
had working for us Africans who had converted and were strong
believers. The Christians were always different. Far from having cowed
or confined its converts, their faith appeared to have liberated and
relaxed them. There was a liveliness, a curiosity, an engagement with
the world - a directness in their dealings with others - that seemed to
be missing in traditional African life. They stood tall.



At 24, travelling by land across the continent reinforced this
impression. From Algiers to Niger, Nigeria, Cameroon and the Central
African Republic, then right through the Congo to Rwanda, Tanzania and
Kenya, four student friends and I drove our old Land Rover to Nairobi.

We slept under the stars, so it was important as we reached the more
populated and lawless parts of the sub-Sahara that every day we find
somewhere safe by nightfall. Often near a mission.



Whenever we entered a territory worked by missionaries, we had to
acknowledge that something changed in the faces of the people we passed
and spoke to: something in their eyes, the way they approached you
direct, man-to-man, without looking down or away. They had not become
more deferential towards strangers - in some ways less so - but more
open.



This time in Malawi it was the same. I met no missionaries. You do not
encounter missionaries in the lobbies of expensive hotels discussing
development strategy documents, as you do with the big NGOs. But
instead I noticed that a handful of the most impressive African members
of the Pump Aid team (largely from Zimbabwe) were, privately, strong
Christians. “Privately” because the charity is entirely secular and I
never heard any of its team so much as mention religion while working
in the villages. But I picked up the Christian references in our
conversations. One, I saw, was studying a devotional textbook in the
car. One, on Sunday, went off to church at dawn for a two-hour service.



It would suit me to believe that their honesty, diligence and optimism
in their work was unconnected with personal faith. Their work was
secular, but surely affected by what they were. What they were was, in
turn, influenced by a conception of man's place in the Universe that
Christianity had taught.



There's long been a fashion among Western academic sociologists for
placing tribal value systems within a ring fence, beyond critiques
founded in our own culture: “theirs” and therefore best for “them”;
authentic and of intrinsically equal worth to ours.



I don't follow this. I observe that tribal belief is no more peaceable
than ours; and that it suppresses individuality. People think
collectively; first in terms of the community, extended family and
tribe. This rural-traditional mindset feeds into the “big man” and
gangster politics of the African city: the exaggerated respect for a
swaggering leader, and the (literal) inability to understand the whole
idea of loyal opposition.



Anxiety - fear of evil spirits, of ancestors, of nature and the wild,
of a tribal hierarchy, of quite everyday things - strikes deep into the
whole structure of rural African thought. Every man has his place and,
call it fear or respect, a great weight grinds down the individual
spirit, stunting curiosity. People won't take the initiative, won't
take things into their own hands or on their own shoulders.



How can I, as someone with a foot in both camps, explain? When the
philosophical tourist moves from one world view to another he finds -
at the very moment of passing into the new - that he loses the language
to describe the landscape to the old. But let me try an example: the
answer given by Sir Edmund Hillary to the question: Why climb the
mountain? “Because it's there,” he said.



To the rural African mind, this is an explanation of why one would not
climb the mountain. It's... well, there. Just there. Why interfere?
Nothing to be done about it, or with it. Hillary's further explanation
- that nobody else had climbed it - would stand as a second reason for
passivity.



Christianity, post-Reformation and post-Luther, with its teaching of a
direct, personal, two-way link between the individual and God,
unmediated by the collective, and unsubordinate to any other human
being, smashes straight through the philosphical/spiritual framework
I've just described. It offers something to hold on to to those anxious
to cast off a crushing tribal groupthink. That is why and how it
liberates.



Those who want Africa to walk tall amid 21st-century global competition
must not kid themselves that providing the material means or even the
knowhow that accompanies what we call development will make the change.
A whole belief system must first be supplanted.



And I'm afraid it has to be supplanted by another. Removing Christian
evangelism from the African equation may leave the continent at the
mercy of a malign fusion of Nike, the witch doctor, the mobile phone
and the machete.

---

Pacificministries Worship at the River CHANGE TO Sunday Feb. 22

Dear Friends,

As Carlene and I were preparing the November dinner
for our Worship at the River gathering, we were sensing a change was ahead for
us, but we were not certain how it would look, nor exactly what we should
say.  Last year was prophesied to be a “gateway” season, where many were
entering into new things.  We sensed that was true for us, but did not
have the language to express what we felt. If you have been following our
journey, you are aware of the word the Lord spoke to us about "living with
constant change."

Since the November dinner, we have needed to move most
of our belongings to Port Townsend as Carlene has been given primary
responsibility to care for her mother’s businesses and arrange for
her mothers personal care. 

• Our December “Worship at the River” needed to be canceled due to the
  snow. 
• Our January worship needed to be canceled because of our Korea assignment.
  (full report with podcasts HERE)
• In February, all of our children (including Calvin, our grandson) will be in California to bless
  our son Matt before he is deploys February 9 (Destination unknown at
  this time). February Worship at the River CHANGED TO 6PM
  SUNDAY February 22
• March, we will be in Kenya for nearly 3 weeks.  Our Worship at the River for March is CANCELED
  

So, the things that we were feeling, but unable to put
into words, are being written on the calendar for us. 

We cherish each of you dearly, and we believe that the
Lord will allow us to gather several times a year to Worship again together and
we will send you those dates as soon as we know them. 

So, here is what we know for today:

1. Carlene
   and I are officially moving to Port Townsend.  We will keep our condo
   in Gresham
   for the next 6-8 months.

   2.   We are still very
        dependent on your love, your prayers and your financial support. 

         
For the time being, you may send financial support to: Pacificministries PO
BOX 1351 Fairview OR 97030 Or go to Pacificministries.blogspot.com
and use our Paypal account.

3. We want to encourage YOU to initiate gatherings in your home of friends (actually family) from Worship at the
   River. 

4. We want to be with you to Worship at the River.  We will keep in close email contact with you.

5. Our itinerary:
   

 
    February 5-9      
         In Los Angeles for Family Gathering to see Matthew Deployed

    February 22    Sunday 6pm Worship at the River at the Troutdale Community Center

    February 24-March 10  Kenya Africa to visit and serve with Dr. Bruce and Kate Dahlman (my first
        cousin is a medical director and Kate is a nurse)

Thank you, and bless you for your continued love, prayers, and financial
support!

Darrell and Carlene

Pictures from the Mountain Property in Korea

Rejoice with us!!

Dear Friends,

I am rejoicing.  A many of you may know, I literally lost our passports, along with other resources a few months ago.  I have always "prided myself" (dangerous words) on carefully accounting for essential travel stuff, which, if you lose, creates at the least great inconvenience, and at most leaves you stranded. 

These past weeks in the Northwest we have experienced delays and displacements in our lives in record snow, ice, wind (75 mph in the Colombia Gorge a few days ago), cold, and flooding. Yesterday, after a wonderful 9 days of ministry in Korea, I boarded the last leg of my journey. Finally, the end was in sight. I was headed to Port Townsend after a 20 hour flight from Korea via Japan, San Francisco, and Portland  Just a simple 30 minute flight to Seattle. As we approached the city, the pilot mentioned we may have a problem. (I hate when pilots say that) "We've got some fog here, we can't see to land...minimum is 1/8 of a mile visibility. We'll circle and see what happens."  Well, we circled, and circled....for almost 2 hours before running low on fuel and flying back to Portland. 

As I stood in line with several hundred other travelers waiting to re-book and for the fog to clear, CNN was broadcasting the inauguration of Obama.  I had this conversation with the Lord:

ME: Well Lord, I've lost important stuff...now there's fog...(talk about fog as a metaphor), massive change in our nation's leadership......I'm tired...where are you in all of this?

LORD: You are learning to live in days of change and unexpected delays. Trust Me. I am your Resource, Protector, and Guide.

ME: Yea...easier to preach it than to live it.

LORD:  Wait....Trust....especially in the things  you cannot see.

ME:  OK

Now, I know that doesn't sound like much of a spiritual conversation. I was tired but trying to be grateful, even rejoicing in the trial....trying to keep a good attitude amongst many disgruntled passengers.

At 1pm, I was seated on the first of just a few planes to finally press through the fog and land in Seattle.  I reunited with Carlene who picked me up in Bremerton, and within 3 minutes of entering the house, found our missing passports and other items.  Yea God.

There is this wonderful story in Luke 15 that Jesus told about a women who lost, and then found a coin.

And when she finds it, she calls her friends and neighbors together and says, 'Rejoice with me; I have found my lost coin.'

So, rejoice with me, especially in the things we cannot see.  In the middle of change, delays, falling financial markets, weird weather, disappointment with yourself, frustration at our disruption of plans...trust, wait, and rejoice.  I am convinced we are learning to discern the birth pangs which foretell the end of this age.  I agree with Rick Warren's prayer at the Inauguration:

Almighty God, our father, everything we see and everything we can't see
exists because of you alone. It all comes from you, it all belongs to
you. It all exists for your glory. History is your story...

Hmmm..everything we can't see
exists because of you alone. It all comes from you, it all belongs to
you. 

I say, Amen.

I'll post a detailed longer (12 min) audio podcast as Korea January 2009.


Bless you as you rejoice,

Darrell and Carlene

Korea January 2009

Dear Friends and Family,




It's Friday morning I'm sitting in a Korean coffee shop where the temperature has hovered between 5-20 degrees over the past 5 days, and a fresh blanket of snow has covered the city of Seoul. The big floating and sticky kind of snowflakes. The city does not pause much...buses, taxis, and busy commuters set their heads against the blowing snow...and plow forward.



This country, known for it's tenacity and endurance against opposition is a testimony to the spiritual DNA God has given this land. I'm on assignment here, speaking to smaller and larger groups of leaders, churches, and mission groups. It's been pretty non-stop, and this morning is really the first hour I've had to post an update. I arrived one week ago after losing my passport (got a new one in Seattle in a record 6 hours) and literally flying over the flood from Portland to Seattle (as I5 was closed) to catch my overseas flight.



In a word, it was worth the effort. I'll visit 4 cities in these 8 days here, and, as always, the Korean people have received me with grace.



There are many reasons why I believe this trip was difficult with all the problems and delays. Suffice to say this as been our life the past months during Thailand airport closures, record snow and rain....and lost passports. I believe we are learning to live and prosper with constant change. We are learning to trust Holy Spirit as our Friend, Counselor, and Guide. I have, like many of you, been drawn to study the Book of Revelation with a fresh approach. As Mike Bickle as said, if you are a worshipper, intercessor, or prophetic person, you are pretty much guaranteed job security for eternity. Wow. (I'd encourage you to catch some of their teaching at ihop.org)



Carlene is finally recovering after weeks of a nasty cough, and I'll return Tuesday to help care for her Mother. I'll do a podcast later today and hope to post it at http://pacificministries.blogspot.com in a day or so.





Bless you and thank your for praying for us.



Darrell

Despite Floods...Lost Passports.....I'm off to Korea

Friends....

I'm in Seattle...the only way around the flood is to fly over it..(which is what I and many others from Portland did...)
For those out of the loop...I tried to summarize last few days in a 10 min audio report attached to this email...thanks for thinking and praying...what a wild adventure.

Darrell

January Pacificministries Update (January Worship at the River CA

Dear Friends,



In just a few hours, Carlene and I will take our son Matthew, to the Portland Airport for his final weeks of preparation for deployment to either Afghanistan or Iraq as a US Marine.  He has spent the last 18 months in the preparation and anticipation of this assignment.  His final destination and assignment remains a mystery, but we are assured he has prepared adequately.  Last evening, we spent the final hours of his Christmas break together as a few of his friends, and our family... get this... played Bingo.  We laughed, ate bad cafeteria food, and Paul, our youngest son, won $120.



Most of us in the United States have experienced unforeseen challenges to our best plans.  From unprecedented weather including 24 inches of snow in the Portland East County area, to civil unrest in Thailand, life has been unpredictable.  One of our good friends, has been searching office supplies stores for her traditional Day Planner... you know the one with a nicely laid out schedules, hour by hour, minute by minute.  She just can't find one.  Marcia Burns, a writer who regularly posts her thoughts (ft111@spiritofprophecy.com) about what God is speaking to her recently wrote:

In a vision I received my new Day-Timer refill, but it didn't come with all of the extra pages like the long- range planner, expense sheets, etc. It was simply one black page per day, no frills. I believe this symbolizes what our position should be in the days ahead, which is to simplify, be frugal, and to take one day at a time without projecting out into the future.

One thing we can be assured of: God is faithful, and we trust him.



On Friday morning, I will deploy for my 23rd trip to Asia. I'll be speaking at several churches, and youth intercessory meetings.  Carlene will remain in the states as she continues to care for her mother.  Consistent with challenges and changes, we have cancelled our Sunday January 11th Worship at the River meeting but Lord willing... will gather on the second Sunday, February 8 at the Troutdale Community Center .



Just as Matthew has been in preparation for his assignment and Feb. 14th will be departing for an unknown destination, many of us warriors, worshipers, and intercessors have been in a similar season .  Now we all look forward to a future perhaps undefined and a bit unclear from our perspective, but perfectly designed from God's.



We bless you, and thank you for praying and supporting us.



Darrell and Carlene

An Invitation for a Gathering WEDNESDAY January 7....TWO Options

To All Is Our Wonderful-Spirit Filled-Passionate Lovers of Jesus-Friends,

I'll make this short and sweet.  In order to simplify everything, on Wednesday, January 7, Carlene and I want to invite you to either a:


11 A.M.  Late Breakfast/Early Lunch......Or,

6:00 P.M.  Dinner


We'd
love to spend a couple of hours sharing a no host meal (or just a soft
drink/tea/coffee) at Xavier's restaurant.  This is a moderately priced
family restaurant, where we have reserved a larger private comfortable
room that will seat up to 40.    Carlene and I will share in a bit more
detail regarding our travels the last month in Korea, Thailand, Sri
Lanka, and Russia.  We'll also update our perspective travel plans
(Africa and possibly India) and future calendar events for
Pacificministries.


Please call me at 503-997-0713 or reply to this email to confirm.

Please
also remember Bill Petersen's continued healing.  I saw him last
evening... we want to pray for a normal blood pressure, and renewed
energy.  You may call Delight's cell phone 503-380-7203 before a
visit.  This morning, I also received a note from Connie Dana regarding
Mike.


Just a note to ask prayer for Mike.  He had
terrible cold and cough a couple of weeks ago and it seemed to get better. 
But Thursday he steadily got worse.  Yesterday afternoon was diagnosed with
pneumonia.  Thankfully he has prescriptions to help battle it.  But
know that God has to win this battle for us.

(maybe we'll have healing intercession/proclamation at Xaviers)

Bless you and thank you for praying and supporting us,


Darrell

Francis Xavier's Restaurant portland.citysearch.com 1933 NE 181st Ave Portland, OR 97230 (503) 666-1957 Get directions

Pacificministries
Online Safe Donation to Pacificministries

PO Box 1351
Fairview, OR 97024
Pacificministries@gmail.com
http://pacificministries.blogspot.com/

Prayer for Bill and NO JANUARY 11th Worship at the River

Dear Family and Friends,

Just wanted to send a quick e-mail to specifically request prayer for Bill and Delight Petersen.  Since Bill's surgical operation for kidney repair in October, he has been running a low grade fever, which increased over the weeks.  Christmas Eve, he was hospitalized and just two days ago underwent another operation to remove a 7 inch segment of his inflamed colon.  We believe that God's healing power is at work.

I spoke with Delight this morning, and we want to pray specifically for:

1 Complete Rest, Especially during the Evening Hours

2 Comfort throughout the Healing Process

3 Quick and Complete Healing

4 Peace and Rest for Delight

The doctors expect Bill to stay in hospital for at least five to seven days, and you can reach him at Portland Adventist Hospital 503-257-2500. (Call first before a visit) They both would appreciate prayers and notes of encouragement at delightpete@yahoo.com.


ALSO....

THERE WILL BE NO JANUARY 11TH WORSHIP AT THE RIVER...BUT WE WILL HAVE FEBRUARY 8TH GATHERING. (details to follow!)    

Bless you,

Darrell

Stuck in Port Townsend

Dear Family and Friends,

Just over a month ago I, (Darrell) left for Sri Lanka and Thailand.  Just before Thanksgiving, Carlene joined me in Bangkok, and together we witnessed civil unrest which closed the international airport and eventually delayed our departure.  All of those adventures are documented in our e-mail updates and audio podcasts at Pacificministries.blogsopt.com.

We finally arrived in Port Townsend Washington December 8th and Carlene and I began preparing for her mother's homecoming.  We painted, laid carpet, moved a bunch of furniture, oversaw the maintenance and repair of various home appliances and performed other domestic stuff.  (I can hear many of you laughing when you think of me and home projects...) Today's project is overseeing the installation of an outdoor chairlift (No, I am NOT installing it).  Twice we prepared  to make our way down to Portland, the first for our monthly Worship at the River gathering, and once again last Saturday morning... well, one look at the weather and we said no way.   Our son Matthew, who has been stuck in San Jose, California trying to come home from his Marine training camp in Southern California since Saturday, has finally decided to fly back to Los Angeles and drive back to Portland with his uncle Scott. We are preparing the Port Townsend House for all of our children and their spouses and friends for the holidays, and hope to make it back to the Portland area for the new year... we think!

These past weeks we have learned to live the truth that God is truly in every delay.  We are learning to wait on the Lord and submit our schedule to Him.  We have heard from many of you that during this season, our best plans and great ideas  belong to the Lord. Both Carlene and I miss many of our friends in Portland... and yet believe the the Lord is in this.

One of our friends, Delight Petersen, summarized in these past days in a way that I can't improve on.  I'll quote her:

This morning in the quiet, I felt like Holy Spirit was asking me.....what would happen if an entire city allowed the quiet and beauty to settle in on them and actually focused on Him in a new and deeper way?  So that was my prayer....that we would in a new way, ask that He take us deeper into His heart.  That we would set aside our fears about family and friends and be willing to flex with the weather and take a little more time with Him.  He is Lord of the weather.

We bless you... and Merry Christmas!

Darrell and Carlene

Cancelled

Dear Friends:




Because of predicted burry temperatures, Sunday snowfall, combined with our infamous Colombia Gorge winds, we've decided to cancel Worship at the River for tomorrow December 14 (many thanks to all of you who replied a few days ago of my error inviting you to a November gathering). As much as I love our Sandy River Community Center, it does not feel warm and cozy with the predicted weather forecast. We were looking forward to sharing about our travels, but visit our blog for our report. Please forward to anyone who needs to know of our cancellation.



Our son Matt, is due home sometime the next few days before shipping out to Iraq sometime in January, and Carlene is preparing her mother's house in Port Townsend for our family's Christmas celebration.



We Bless you, and look forward to NEXT YEAR!!



Darrell and Carlene



Pacificministries

For Tax Deductible Contributions

Whew, we're Home Update

Dear Friends,

Carlene and I are
grateful to be back in America. Since October I've been in 6 nations
and banked nearly 30,000 air miles including the last month of travel
and ministry
in Sri Lanka and Thailand, including an extra week in Bangkok because
of
political unrest. We agree with Dorothy: "There's No Place
like Home".

This November 14 at our Sunday evening Worship at the
River gathering, we'd like to invite those of you who are in the local
Portland/Vancouver area to come at 5:30 p.m. for coffee, cookies, and
sample our special Thailand herbal tea. We'd like to take some extra
time to share some of our experiences with you.

Carlene and I sat down yesterday and recorded two podcasts, one a short five-minute summary of our trip home (including a miraculous coincidence), and the second a longer and more detailed account
of our adventure. Listen and laugh with us! We are truly grateful for your prayers, and the
classic Christmas song I'll Be Home for Christmas is reality for these
two tired travelers!

Hope to see many of you this Sunday evening.

Darrell and Carlene





PS 1 Our annual Top Ten List for 2008 is coming this week. I always
enjoy confirmations and healthy disagreements regarding my choices!


and...


PS 2 If you'd like to give to Pacificministries, you may use any major
credit card (or Paypal) for a tax deductable year end donation HERE.

Bless the Lord

Friends.....
 
Have not had access to Internet, so will make this short.  This situation here is, according to some getting worse.  Northwest Air cancelled our flights, and we are about 11 hours from Bangkok and we are not anxious to return until there is some stabilization.  Here in Chang Mai, the prime minister and his government are re-locating, and even though we are not in Bangkok, one Christian was murdered in the clash of protesters.  We are again, safe, but are very cautious about moving around to another city as thousands of tourists are trying to leave.  The King of Thailand is not anxious to intervene, and some say 4 days ... others say longer, before airports may open. (can we say "Merry Christmas" in Thai...NOOOOOO!)
 
So what does this mean.  I have always said God is in every delay, but I really always meant minor flight cancellations or weather problems.  We are living out this truth...and we still believe it.  We are staying in a compound with some 15 other missionaries from all parts of the world.  We are getting an education in Kingdom application from so many cultures, and we have ministered to many, as well as receiving the gracious hospitality of several families in this city.  There is a purpose to all of this, and we are excited to discover  it.
 
Our immediate prayer concern is wisdom with regard to our next move.  I believe we will stay in this city until we hear the Lord.  I am so glad Carlene is here with me, and despite our situation, we feel loved and surrounded by His Grace.  We have many stories to tell...too many to tell now, but I want to share this.
 
Those of us who live in free and democratic nations have much to be thankful for. Having traveled to Sri Lanka and now, Thailand for the past 3 weeks, (both countries which face unresolved civil conflict), have made me aware of how I have taken for granted so many things.  I encourage you to pause and Bless the Lord...for His great love and blessings we enjoy.  Yet, I see a deep faith and a strength in the Thai Christians I do not see in many western believers, including myself.  I'm jealous of it. We were fortunate to minister for 2 days to some 5 mountain tribal pastors and leaders, and their simple love for God and each other humbles me.  We prayed for all of them, and felt as if this one assignment was worth our entire trip.
 
Thanks for praying, and we will try to update all of you in a few days.  We may visit an Internet cafe, and check our email, and your insights and brief notes are encouraging.  I said to Carlene last night....we really are not in Kansas anymore....(we are still laughing...hard at times and mostly at each other!!)
 
Darrell

Why do the nations conspire?

Dear Praying Friends,

Carlene and I have experienced both the richness and pain of this divided country.  If you have been following the news, you know the major airport has been shut down stranding thousands and disrupting the country  New York Times article.  Even in Chiang Mai, (where we are), a northern city, government supporters shot dead an antigovernment activist on Wednesday. We are safe, but the best advice from local leaders is that we must remain flexible with our travel plans. Our itinerary is that we leave Chiang Mai this coming Monday with a departure Tuesday.

We are primarily ministering with a group of 30 leaders from literally all parts of the world.  They are senior missionaries from Russia, Cuba, India, ant many other countries.  We are spending today and tomorrow ministering to many of them individually.

Please pray for:

Clarity in our discerning travel plans
Peace in this country, as many feel they are facing a civil war
For strong Spirit filled leadership to guide the Church in Thailand
Pray this Psalm with us...we desire God's "kings" installed in this land
Psalm 2
 1 Why do the nations conspire [a]
       and the peoples plot in vain?
 2 The kings of the earth take their stand
       and the rulers gather together
       against the LORD
       and against his Anointed One. [b]
 3 "Let us break their chains," they say,
       "and throw off their fetters."
 4 The One enthroned in heaven laughs;
       the Lord scoffs at them.
 5 Then he rebukes them in his anger
       and terrifies them in his wrath, saying,
 6 "I have installed my King [c]
       on Zion, my holy hill."
Bless you,

Darrell and Carlene

Thailand

Friends,

(Carlene)
This is the day that never ends. Yes it goes on and on my friend. Somebody started planning it not knowing what's ahead, and they'll continue planning it forever just because ....this is the day that never ends. Yes it goes on and on my friend.......OH my goodness. We just walked in the door. It is 10:30pm Sunday night and we were up and running at 6:30. Let's see if I can "Thai this one together" for you.

Breakfast
Church
Tour of history of Presbytery missionaries and Aids Foster home for Thai orphans.
Lunch at Korean Restaurant
To worship center to hear Pastor Darrell
Fruit break
To ancient wall/gate to pray.
Stand around and wait for bus
Watch traffic...Darrell and I sang/danced at a outdoor public market square
Share a traditional Thai meal and enjoy a Thai childrens Christian traditional folk music/dance

The next day was filled with our team prayer assignments at the highest mountain at a Buddhist temple, Listen here, and here for our podcasts). Later that evening, some 2500 Thai believers came for a worship and prayer concert. Today, I (Darrell) speak in the morning to 50 pastors from Korea who have sponsored these events and have various mission centers throughout this country, and then, I will share this evening and tomorrow.

We are grateful for prayers, and a confirming word from Chuck Pearce a few weeks ago about Thailand makes sense. An excerpt:

“I AM beginning to surround this Nation. I would
say I AM going to break out first in the North, (currently, Carlene and I are in the northern area)
... I AM going to move in a very peculiar
way over these next 3 years, for My Wind will be like a whirlwind
around this Nation... I say teams will come and go with you as you worship
around this Nation. The Nations that surround this Nation will begin to
come to the borders and say ‘Come over...come over and worship with
us.’...“Do not despise a small beginning, for I already began in this Nation.”
Click here for Full word
Bless you,

Darrell and Carlene