Imaginary Enemy

Well, this is the last week in the mysterious, yet beautiful city of Amsterdam. It has been quite the time here I must say. So much has already happened, and we still have one more week, then we are off to Berlin, Germany! Last thursday, our team went down to the Red Light District to do some ministry. We ended up playing some worship music, believing the Holy Spirit would guide us to talk to/do whatever He wanted us to do. A few minutes in to worship, I saw a man standing by the side of the bridge, tapping his foot to the tune of the music being played. I felt immediately led to go and talk to him. So I did.

His name was Xing Yi. He was from China, now going to the University of Amsterdam. He was extremely friendly, and very open to his beliefs, which primarily included himself. I asked him what he believed, and he said he believed in himself.

Side Note: I love when people say they believe in them self, because that means that there is a curiosity of some higher power, whether they realize it or not. When you believe in yourself, you begin to understand your failures, meaning you begin to realize the fault of believing in yourself rather than a God. The other nice thing is that my God is a relational God, who has given me my passions. Everything Xing Yi loved to do (photography, helping others, and traveling), the Lord has placed in His heart. The God I believe is for me and the passions of my heart. This means that I can do everything I love, but with the Lord, it just gives it more meaning.

I began to tell this to Xing Yi, and after and hour and a half of conversation, he accepted the Lord as his Savior. It was an awesome experience. So if you would, please pray with me that the Lord continues to reveal Himself to Xing Yi!

Aside from that, a lot of awesome things have happened this week. Some real awesome worship times and prayer times. I continue to believe that the Lord is doing a far greater work here than we can imagine. Just two days ago, we just simply led a worship set on the bridge in the middle of the Red Light District. It was so powerful. The Lord really showed up and worked on a lot of individuals hearts. Another person even came to Christ! God is good. I love this city more and more everyday, but I am excited to move on and see what else the Lord has for my team on this outreach.

Thanks guys so much for all your prayers and support along the way. I seriously am so grateful that I am here and get to do this with an amazing team! Please do continue to pray for our team. Pray for strength among us all and that we will have endurance! I will continue to update you guys as often as possible. A lot is going on and it is hard to explain it all in this one blog. But I can't wait to tell everything else to you guys too!

You guys rock...

Much Love

-Daniel

--York

A City

It has been a while since I have updated you, but here I am, updating you at last! As most of you know, I am in Amsterdam now with my outreach team. We are in our third week here and so much has already taken place. Amsterdam is beautiful city. I have fallen in love with it, but it isn't just any love for a city, the love that I feel particularly for this city is very broken and impressible. Jenneka, one of the leaders here at the De Poort (the YWAM base in Amsterdam), the first week expressed the spiritual atmospheres here that cover the city of Amsterdam. For example, there is a spirit of depression, rejection, isolation, business, and immorality. At first, our team most definitely experienced these spirits in a few different ways.

Personally, the first two weeks of this outreach have been extremely hard. I guess I just found out that I was more sensitive to certain spiritual atmospheres than I thought. I found myself feeling depressed, more so than I have ever felt before. I found myself wanting to be alone, away from my team, which is not like me. I found myself feeling rejected, although there really wasn't any rejection from my team or even people met aside from my team.

Today, looking back at these past 2 weeks, I feel joyous in knowing that I have complete authority to walk in the opposite spirits of what are here. I believe it was Satan coming against us even more because we are becoming more of a threat to him. We as a team have seen such breakthrough over this city, declaring its original design and breaking off spiritual strongholds in Jesus' name. We have already seen a drastic move of God in this city, and we are all believing with all our hearts that revival is taking its place here in Amsterdam and Europe in general.

God Loves This City.

And He loves me, which is why I was able to take this joyous perspective and walk in the opposite spirit of what is here. If you will, pray with us in declaring the original design over Amsterdam. Breakthrough is here. We are the hope of God and His kingdom coming to earth.

Thanks guys. Love and miss you all!

-Daniel

--York

Bicycles, Lots of Bicylces

Well...it is finally here. I just arrived in Amsterdam yesterday morning with my outstanding outreach team. It was a long process in getting here, flying for more than 20 hours, but it was worth it. It is just so surreal to actually be here in Amsterdam on outreach right now. To be honest, it still hasn't fully hit me yet. This place is beautiful though. I got to walk around town yesterday and today for a bit and just discover the many avenues and buildings that make this town one that really stands out. My whole team and I have been battling jet lag and this whole transition phase. I am pretty sure most of us are now back to normal and will get a great night's rest tonight. My team has just been amazing so far. It has been awesome being able to hang out with them during this time and to really connect with them even more than in lecture phase.

Being in Amsterdam is so exciting, but super weird too. I think the main reason is because my sister, Elizabeth York, was just here doing her DTS and now she is gone on her outreach. Not that I have ever been here with her before, but I feel weird without her being here. I have met people here that know her and it just seems like she is supposed to be here now. She has shown me videos and picture of this place, so to actually be here is pretty surreal. It makes me miss her a lot more, but it also makes me realize that she is going to have an amazing time during her outreach to Thailand.

This week we are getting things in to gear. Please pray for me and my team as we try and stay sensitive to the Lord's heart. I felt a lot of the spiritual atmosphere when I came here. It definitely felt lonely and isolated, but I know my God lives in me and I can walk in the opposite spirit of what this place carries. The Lord loves this place and these people, so please pray for strength and hope, knowing the Lord is going to do amazing things! Thank you!

Love you all...

-Daniel

--York

Departing pt. 2

As I sit on my bed, looking out into the Hawaiian ocean, I am beginning to feel the anticipation of leaving for my outreach. Yet, it is such a bittersweet moment. I find myself longing to go with this excitement that I can't explain, but at the same time, I am going to miss this Kona base. I am going to miss it because it really does explain such a new beginning in my life. Everything I have learned here in the past 3 months has changed me forever. I will never be the same, how could I be? So now it is time to take the next step and head out to where learning will now fall second to applying everything I have gained in knowledge these past few months. I am freaking out, but in a good way. I am physically ready, but not mentally...although I know I will be when I get there.

My team, again, is absolutely outstanding. I am looking forward to running with them these next few months as the new chapter in my life begins.

Greg Palios, one of my outreach leaders, is the man. He is such an awesome leader and a child at heart. I love his attitude and compassion for his team and where we are going.

Lindsey Brace, my other outreach leader, has the most joy out of anyone I know. She is absolutely amazing to hang around and is such an amazing leader.

Lauren Tilney has such a radical heart. She cares so much and carries such creativity with her. She is so much fun to just be around.

Jackie Almond is radical. She is super creative and expresses her joy in such unique ways, which is awesome. We are planning on hackey-sacking a lot while in Europe.

Gena Kajfas is such a genuine person. She has such a big heart that just continues to grow. It will be awesome to hang with her and see her giftings be expressed.

Kirsten Nelson is authentic and expressive. She is joyous and hilarious to be around. She is very genuine too, and carries a lot of creativity as well.

Isaac Gill is one of the funniest, yet most genuinely creative people I have met. His heart to know the Lord is so contagious and he blows my mind everytime I hang with him.

Grace Kim has yet to disappoint me. I enjoy hanging around her so much because she carries such a contagious attitude of fun and desire to know the Lord.

Kandi Holt is so encouraging. She is so talented and is very expressive with the joy and generosity that she has.

Joel and Chrystal Mattila, as well as their 3 kids, are so awesome. They are such a loving family. Chrystal is so authentic while Joel is a fearless lover of the Lord. Their kids are going to be so much fun to hang around on the trip for so many different reasons.

That is a taste of who is on my outreach for all who care. I cannot thank you guys enough for your prayers and support. God is faithful to the end. Keep me updated on things happening with you guys. I will have limited internet time, but I will update as much as possible! You guys rock my socks off! Thanks again and please continue to pray! I love you guys!

Here I Go!

-Daniel

--York