Summer Again

Hi family!

Every time I hear someone say, "wow, time flies!" I always say we're not created to live in it. But even so, I am always amazed at how it flies!

Our school year rounded up well. Our girls (Ilsa and Maddie) finished their year with a school trip to the historic sites of South Dakota, and of course they had a blast. Eli finished well, top of his class. We had a handful of students graduate, and some of them are sticking around for another year which is always good to hear. We have already had a gathering of people who are interested in being involved with us on campus next fall, got a great student team, and some really fun new ideas. We're really excited about being on campus full time again!

So how is that going, you ask- the whole finance part? We are 500-1000 short of our budget. So we continue. But fundraising is fun because you get to see and hang out with people you haven't seen forever, so! We have our double wide up for sale as well- Phil is turning our rarely-used garage into a 2 bedroom apartment. Once the double wide is moved, we will finish the new construction part of the house and refinance. That alone will bring us almost up to budget, according to numbers supplied by our banker.

Problem is, the double wide has sold three times, but people can't get financing for it.  So we are at a place where- if it doesn't sell (with a check in our hands) by the end of June, we will scrap this project. Which means, double fundraising and traveling for the rest of the summer :) Reason being- we can't be doing a construction project come mid-August: we need to be fully rested and available for students.  So probably our biggest prayer right now is - that it would sell if that's what the Lord wants us to be doing. If not, that the rest of our budget would come in.

Other news: our Sozo teams are growing! We currently have 4, with 2 more wanting to learn and be ready soon! I was looking at the schedule and we have 20+ sozos scheduled for the month of July- how amazing is that?! People are hungry to get saved-healed-delivered. And these are only from word of mouth. I am excited to have these teams up and running for our community so I can be free to be working with campus this fall!

In all this, we are trying to rest. Phil is finishing stuff around here that has been waiting, and he's getting runs and canoes in as well. He is thinking about competing in the Paul Bunyan Triathlon in July. The girls and I, along with Ian (Sam) finished the Life Time Tri: Winona (formerly the Trinona) last weekend!! It feels amazing to be a 2 time triathlete! I am thinking of joining him in the PB Tri, but haven't decided :) In addition, I have been working at finishing the second edition of The Gift of Sam- we are officially out of copies! New Life Family Services emailed me the other day and they are out as well- and they had 700 copies. I hope to have the re-write, complete with reunion stories, finished by fall and published with Amazon publish on demand.

On top of that, we are starting our Good Communication, Great Relationships class at First Assembly tonight- we're so excited to facilitate this one! We are using Danny Silk's Defining the Relationship DVD course- it's for pre-marrieds, but we have found that everyone who views and studies these grows as a person and is blessed in their relationships and communication skills. First Assembly is full of people who want to learn and grow and we are excited to bring students there this fall.

Friday Night Worship is on hiatus until the second week of July- we are gone for so much of June and with the proposed construction project, we took a break. We miss it though- and are looking forward to starting again in July. I remember the days when I prayed fervently for a guitar player....and now we have so many I have to rotate them through! Praise God! So pray that I have the wisdom and skill to lead all these musicians and help them find and develop their gifts!

In all this- we work hard to guard our hearts, for they are the wellspring of life...no matter our circumstances, how big or small our group is, how crazy our finances are, we are determined to keep our peace. We believe God brought us here and will take care of everything, no matter what uninformed choices we've made (the house thing weighs heavily- wish we had known what we know now!) - He has mercy and will take care of us :)

I have added a LOT of pictures from the last four months....its so fun to see all that has gone on around here!  Enjoy!

Thank you so much for your prayers! We are excited to be here and will keep you posted!!

Phil having breakfast at our annual Incite conference (for XA staff) in Rochester. We love sidewalk dining!

Our last Nepali dinner of the year! 

Our boys!

This picture of Ilsa and Maddie always makes me laugh.....

Sort of a disjointed family picture at Ian & family's cabin last winter....

We built a loft in the great room! More room for FNW!

Eli and I playing with the webcam.....

Our team rocked SALT's Dodge Ball Tournament....and then we came home and had one here!

Game nights....the dude in the striped shirt is Adam - BSU's Inter Varsity staff...he's part of the family :) 

Ilsa and Maddie's school play :)

Chi Alpha helped sponsor and put on Voyageurs' High School Prom- it was a blast!

our girls checking out their dad outside the window....he had been lifting weights and was looking rather buff :) 

outside our front door

our dear friends the Wetmore's donated furniture for our Sozo room at First Assembly!  Their generosity never ceases to amaze me :) 

this storm.....was awesome

a cat adopted us. just what we need :) haha! 

me and my sisters at our carb-fest the night before the race!

Eli and Dad waiting for us girls at the finish line

L-R: Ian (Sam), my Dad, and Ilsa- at the finish line :) Behind them in green is my sister Kelly and her husband Otto- it was a great family reunion

L-R: Maddie, Ian, Ilsa- three of the four finishers!!

me coming across the finish line....so exciting! :) I'm a LIFER!

Me and Eli chilling after the race

Spring!

Hi Family!

I said to someone the other day, "I feel like we're in a whirlwind" - and it really feels like we are. Part of it is that it's the end of the school year. I was on campus the other day, meeting with a young lady who is an RA. I asked her how I could serve the RA's on campus next year, and she told me that she could try to get me into the 2 week training they do in August- to meet them all and hang out. They teach them that on the "wellness wheel" - all parts of the human- spirit, body, and emotions, need to be healthy, and they bring in PJ, the Lutheran Campus Center pastor, among other speakers.

But they haven't had a woman pastor. Yet :)

So I began to tell her about the Sozo tools we have been using, specifically the Father Ladder. I love these tools because they apply to humanity, not just Christians. The power and necessity of forgiveness is known in all faiths, and it's even politically correct :) So I can use this tool with people who have no idea what they believe. The beautiful thing is, once they encounter the God of Love, they usually really,really like Him.

So pray, family! Pray for favor for me with the female RA's on campus, and for Phil with the men. Imagine if we could teach this tool and minister to the RA's.....how we would reach the entire on-campus community of students!

In other news, I am sewing prom dresses for two of our daughters. What?!? I know. It can't be. And yet it is. The other beautiful thing is that Chi Alpha is sponsoring Voyageur's prom at BSU, so Phil and I get to be there as chaperones :) Haha. Not that it's necessary, just that it will set our minds at rest. I will post pictures when they're all finished.....

Our dodge ball tournament was amazing!! We sponsored a "Dodge Ball For Justice" tournament on St. Patrick's Day. The day was perfect- 70 degrees- which dwindled our teams down to six, but it was a blast anyway! Next year, we plan to have it around Valentine's Day, ensuring cold weather that will drive them all inside! All the money we raised went to the International Justice Mission, which helps with the whole sex-trafficking scene. We have realized since then that Bemidji is the hub of sex trafficking among Native American women. Next year we hope to put all the money we raise into the local effort.

There is so much happening, family, I can hardly tell it all in a blog. But this is a good start! If any of you will be anywhere near us this summer, give us a call! We would love to see you. And we are full swing in fundraising, so we will be doing some "touring" as well. We are LOVING being back full time on campus. It's where we're supposed to be. Hope to hear from you soon! Love you!

Declaring TRUTH!

Hey Family!

This little video- you may have already seen it- but it's worth another listen! We have adopted this all over up here! Especially the *clap* !

I have to tell you a story about last night's Friday Night Worship- there have been several new people coming in and out- one lady was healed of a spot on her arm that was healed, and God was doing an incredible work in her (tears, tears- it was beautiful) and then she gave her life to Christ. Last night there was a young man I have never seen before. He stood out- wearing a black leather jacked that said "wicked clown" ! But what I noticed most was his hunted look. Later, Phil told me that he came with our friend Ron, who apparently has picked him up hitchhiking several times. He lives near Ron. One time when he picked him up, Ron said, "I saw death all over him." So Ron asked him, "would you like to accept Christ?" The young man said "no." So Ron, undaunted, said, "Well, then can I just pray a blessing over you?" He said yes. So Ron started to bless him, and he could see that the young man was getting - blessed. So he stopped, and asked again, "Would you like to accept Christ now?" The young man said yes this time. Ron has been meeting with him and encouraging him, and brought him to FNW last night. Another young man- the one who met our worship carolers on the streets last summer- went to school with him. He said he almost didn't recognize him- just a month ago, he said, his eyes were so dark. But last night, he was different.

He still looked hunted to me. But imagine what he looked like a month ago. Please family- will you pray for this young man? His name is Todd. Pray that he will continue to seek Christ and grow closer - to both Jesus and His body here. Pray he will seek healing and freedom, and eventually enter into the destiny God has for him!

So family, we seriously need your prayer- especially on Friday nights. So many enter our home- and while I have not spent a moment worrying about this, once in awhile it does occur to me that we are putting ourselves out on a limb. Pray....we need your covering and support. Let us know if you get any encouraging words from the Lord-

We also know that there may come a time that we will need to move this meeting to a larger place. Pray that when that time comes, the Lord just shows us where. So many have said - in one way or another- "I love friday night worship.....there is so much peace." I know this is probably mostly what we all bring, but still- we want the right place.

Anyway, enjoy Jessica's Daily Affirmation....imagine if we all lived with that kind of attitude! Words create worlds!

love, us Thoofts

Before they get Buried Beneath....

This song pretty much nails why we're here and what we're doing :) We've been seeing this over and over...young people "finally breaking" and calling out to God- needing Him to breathe! So many stories....thank you so much for making it possible for us to be here! Aslan is on the MOVE!

Will surely post more details and stories later....MERRY CHRISTMAS!!!

Love, us Thoofts

Snapshot

Hi Family :)

I have been facilitating a Sozo ("saved, healed, delivered") class at First Assembly this month. We have had twenty-something people there, wanting to learn this tool so they can help bring healing to people in our community. At our class the other night, one young man hung around until most of the others had left. This young man encountered a group of worshippers downtown Bemidji after a Friday Night Worship. They were worshipping on the corner of 3rd and Beltrami- like carolers in the summer- and attracting a crowd. Some people listened, some sang, some, like one older couple, danced. This young man was coming from one of the local bars and heard the music. He has been coming to Friday Night Worship ever since, and signed up for the Sozo training.

As we talked, I could see that he needed some time, but maybe the Holy Spirit wanted to do something right then. He began to tell me a devastating story from his childhood that he had to this point told no one. He had carried this his entire life- by himself. A seven year old boy is not meant to do that. Our amazing Holy Spirit wanted to heal him, and led him to this point. He was able to forgive who needed to forgive and receive what God had for him.

Watching this happen is always nothing short of miraculous for me. God just shows me what is going on, how to word things for them, and He does the rest. He embraces the orphans. I've seen Him do it. When I asked this young man how he was feeling after all of this- as he sat there letting the Holy Spirit love him- he said, "Free."

At the same time, our daughter Maddie was at a school leadership conference. Student council and other leaders from high schools all around MN gathered at this event. The speaker - at a secular high school leadership event- spoke of forgiveness and how important it was, how it sets people free. How, if you don't forgive, you are in a prison. (!!??!!) One young man in her class who is on student council with her, had been giving her a hard time lately. He is convinced that Communism is what our country needs, dresses like a Russian soldier, and admires the Nazi party. He calls himself a pagan and proudly relays the fact that his mother is a "witch." Ilsa and Maddie have been sharing the tools of healthy relationships, especially Love Languages, with all their friends at school, and this guy is no exception, even though he has been prickly. In simple words, they are "loving on" their classmates.

Maddie has had some impetego on her chin this week, and she noticed that this young man was staring at it a lot. Finally, in the hearing of a teacher and another friend, he said, "You look absolutely disgusting." When Maddie told us this, there was a sharp inhale in the car! WHAT?!?! He said what?!? Her friend, another guy, immediately denounced it with, "What? I think she is beautiful, no matter what she looks like!" Maddie was able to brush it off (which is more than I can say about me at her age!) Later she asked him what that was all about, and just told him that saying something like that was really rude and hurtful to people. He defended himself. This young man has never apologized for anything up to this point.

So fast forward to Wednesday night- as I was praying with the young man at the Sozo class- the speaker at the conference was slicing open hard-hearted teenagers. This young man stood up, along with many others in the group, and shared about why he transferred from the large high school to Maddie's charter high school. He had been molested by his older brother, and then made fun of and beat up at the high school for it. Hence the transfer. Maddie cried with him, and later offered her forgiveness for his mean comments. He looked at her, and said, "Maddie, I'm so sorry. I'm sorry I said that."

After that, Maddie's teacher told her that she and Ilsa have made a huge impact on their school. "You have changed our school," he said.

Maddie also had an opportunity to help another friend begin to forgive her dad for molesting her when she was little. This young lady now wants to come to the Sozo training.

How's that for revival, family? I love watching the Holy Spirit work.....in and out of the church. It's so beautiful. I'm in tears as I write all this. We continue to meet on Friday nights.....offering our worship to God, praying for the sick, seeing many healed. Tuesday nights on campus, however, have been small. We recently had a prayer meeting with our leaders and put everything on a shelf- and asked God what He was doing on campus and determined to do whatever that is. Tuesday nights are going to look different, and we're excited to see what that will look like.

So Aslan is on the move, family. Enjoy your Thanksgiving and remember that!!

Love, us Thoofts

Lovely Northern Fall!

Dear Family

Recently I heard someone say that worship leaders around the world are experiencing the feeling of leading MANY more in worship than are actually there at any particular meeting. As if they are worshipping for many. I was really glad to hear this, because I have found myself pointedly singing for our entire campus- city- state- country- church..... almost every time I lead worship anywhere. Especially on campus and on Friday nights. And the music that is coming out recently is reflecting the same thing. I wanted to post one song that we have been singing a lot lately....the woman who wrote this wrote it for the city of San Francisco- "St. Francis" in the song. We sing it for our city, our campus. It has blessed us so much....just wanted to share :)

St. Francis

I can't figure out how to embed it! ahhhhh, I'm such a non-techie. So just click the link, and it will take you right to it.

We are having such a fall! After our hayrides, we jumped into Tuesday nights, which have been increasing. It's so fun to see new faces. We've had a few weddings- one couple met at Chi Alpha and the other were part of XA. So fun. Next up: the Renaissance Fair with our kids, Fall Retreat, Horse Camp, and we're getting invaded by the Scots! Our friends Cat & Jess are coming to stay near the end of October with their friends from Scotland. So looking forward to meeting them. And, Phil and I celebrate our 20th anniversary this month- how can that be?

I know, we weren't created to live in Time. That's why it's always passing to fast. Anyway. We love you and hope all is well- drop us a note when you get a minute!

A Rather Longish Blog for a Few Short Weeks!

Hi Family!

We've had such a whirlwind few weeks- I wanted to tell you about them before I forget stuff! We have had two hayrides, graciously sponsored by our neighbors and friends, Dalen and Debbie Miller. Debbie harnessed up her Haflingers to a haywagon and neighbor Don brought his wagon and Belgians and we had enough room for dozens of students to literally ride on hay. It was a hoot. Then we roasted hot dogs and played games by a fire.

Friday nights have become almost packed to capacity. Personally, I don't mind them so full, but there are a few starting to say "ok, when and where are we going to move this?" I think that's a way off yet. After worship, most of the students have been heading downtown- a certain corner by Wells Fargo- with guitars, the d'jembe, blankets...and have been spending several hours just worshipping. People wander out of bars and stop to listen, one night an older couple danced in the street, and the local police have wandered by wondering what's up. When asked why they chose this particular corner, one of our students said, "because God really works here!" and the officer said, "Right. Ok! Have a great night!"

There have been many opportunities for serving people during these times.....prayer for whatever people need, be it peace or healing or whatever. Just listening. Or in-depth conversations about whatever people want to talk about. Last night a gentleman showed up with a ukelele and joined in. It's getting to be quite a thing!

Last night, also at FNW, one young lady asked for the microphone and said that two weeks ago when she arrived here in Bemidji, she was agnostic in her beliefs. But last week at FNW, she was re-born. Another young man took the mic and told the story of how he met the worshippers on the street last Friday night and now here he was.

And perhaps the most beautiful thing about all of this is- it isn't just us. It isn't even just our chi alpha students- it's Inter Varsity too. I can't even tell you how it all happened, but we are partners. IVCF and XA have "run together" so to speak. Our students go in and out of both groups. We are all at Friday night worship. We minister to the same kids. We help each other out, have movie nights together, even are planning to fundraise together. The unity on campus is something I have not yet seen- and it is so thrilling- we really are one Body.

As our friend Steph would say, "Dang, Shorty."

And tonight, at a wedding of two students who met at XA, I heard a story that really blessed me, even though no one in the room would know why. A groomsman in the wedding party was giving a speech, saying that he and the groom had been friends since high school. They went to separate colleges after high school, but kept in touch. Then his friend the groom went to a Christian conference. He came back completely changed. The groomsman went on to say how he waiting for it to "wear off"- after all, it was just a "conference high." But as the days rolled into weeks rolled into years, it didn't wear off. The young groom's life really had changed. He didn't think the same, or talk the same, or see the world the same. The groomsman then said, "I am following Christ today because of him."

This is what made me smile: our young groom was at that conference because I dragged him there. Quite literally. I hounded the poor guy until he came. And it changed his life, and he met his wife- at our regional SALT conference. I had to smile inside knowing that - without even knowing it- Phil and I had impacted this young groomsman's life, and he didn't even know it.

So listen to me, family- it's true for you as well. You have NO idea who you impact, how many lives are touched by yours. One thing we have been talking about practically daily- whether it's at home or on campus on Tuesdays or at Friday Night or all through the ministry school- is how we need to have mercy for people. We've gotten pretty good at having mercy on pre-believers- you know what I mean? Sinners sin, that's what they do. We don't need to clean people up to get them a bath. But when the church sins.....when the Christians who are supposed to love you and honor you- don't - ahhhh, that's tougher. But it's such a great blanket statement: honor everyone, have mercy, no matter what you think they think or what you think they believe. Don't even trouble your mind with thoughts of anything else. I'm just seeing- that everyone is always watching us- and you - and we have no idea who we are influencing, who we are moving one step closer to Jesus. Every time I choose to think badly of someone, I may be missing that opportunity to save a life, so to speak. Our young groom was quiet when we first met him- somewhat unapproachable - and he told us later that he struggled with depression. You had to really look to see the gold - even just believe it was there. All I did was see a gift he had- and I kept hammering on that and bugging him about coming to our meetings and SALT. And today he got married- and it was all sweetness and honor. I am so proud of him - he is forthright and open and approachable. He climbed out of that shell and started believing the truth about himself, and his God.

Anyway, I'm kind of rambling now. There are just so many cool stories happening here. Last weekend some great friends came up to visit, and we had some pretty glorious sozo time. This weekend another friend is up and we will spend some sozo time with him tomorrow. Life is full.

Perhaps due to this, Phil and I are planning to "hit the fundraising trail" once again. We took a couple year hiatus and got jobs. I think we needed it. But now- we are feeling the pull to put all that aside and get back to full time status. Most likely you will be hearing from us, and we are so looking forward to talking and even seeing many of you. It's been too long!

You are always right here with us!!

love love love

Phil and Michelle & Tribe