The2Locks: November 2015

The2Locks: November 2015 Back In Kona Arriving back in Kona, felt like returning to familiarity. In the past 10 years this is where I have spent the most time, coming back felt just as strange and just as normal as ever.  Fundraising It has been going slow but steady.  We have been SO grateful for every penny that has come in to help make this possible!  It is unbelievable how much we have been able to fill in with the help of you! "est. roots" With a YWAM salary of $0, we would like to raise monthly supporters who will commit to a set donation for an entire year (12 months). For example: Someone who would commit to donating $10 a month for 12 months or $50 a month for 12 months, etc. would be a monthly supporter. Our goal is to reach $2500/month for 12 months!  Help us reach our goals as we strive to meet the goals God has set for us here in Kona, HI. monthly supporters signup here: http://www.the2locks.com/supportrally/ OR here: tax deductible http://www.uofnkona.edu/support/missionaries/?id=5140 Highlights

Thanksgiving w/HeartBridge We celebrated Thanksgiving on our UofN Kona Campus along with hundreds of others from multiple generations, nationalities, and languages.  Our team - HeartBridge - sat together over our Thanksgiving Lunch and then had a little Thanksgiving get-together along with the attendants for the HeartBridge Dance Seminar we currently are running.  "Home" It is NOT a buyer/renters market in Kona right now, however we truly feel God opened up the door for us.  The day before Tammy's arrival, Andreas sealed the deal on a house for rent. We moved in, did some deep cleaning, and have signed a one-year-lease!  Praise God!

Vision Statement: Lead by the wisdom of the Lord, my desire is to see the Kingdom of Heaven released and moving on earth in a radical, relevant, supernatural way, through the performing arts and through performing artists who choose excellence in their relationship with God and excellence in the skills God has given them. Partner with us Financially: The UofN donation site had crashed last week, if you attempted to give us or anyone else in YWAM a donation you may have run into that error message.  The website is back up and running now. Tax deductible: Give online (tax deductible): http://www.uofnkona.edu/support/missionaries/?id=5140&search=tammy%20tolaas

1 Month

1 Month -  until we will be on the Big Island.   YWAM in Action.   Some of our ministries - including yours truly - in action. Looking Back on our Faith Journey Sometimes to move forward in Faith it's good to look back at the testimony of what God has done.  Every step of this journey has been an absolute step of faith.  Last Newsletter we glanced at 2011 & 2012. 2013 - After moving to Houston, TX to train with Ad Deum 2 in 2012, we stayed in Houston through 2013.  For the first time since we were married we stayed in one place longer then 12 months.  God knew we needed the consistency.  As this was the year our marriage hit some very rocky road.  In short - our marriage got shaken up, to the point where God was truly the glue holding us together.  In this season it was more clear than ever that "God is Faithful, he is Faithful, he is Faithful."  He brought healing into some rough places in our lives and marriage that had been lingering from before we had ever met.  God is Faithful. 2014  - We decided it was time to make our way back to Kona.  Not by hopping on a flight, but by taking a faith journey across the country from East Coast to Los Angeles, California - where we felt God had key connections and equipping for us.  Our drive across country would have been enough to say God faithfully lead/orchestrated, but it only got better as we got to California. Ready for this?  A month before we arrived to California Tammy's friend Jordan closed & moved into a house where he was hoping to rent out rooms.  We arrived and have been his first tenants.  Andreas and Jordan hit it off like no other. Another ironic "coincidence" was that the BASI Pilates certification that Tammy had been looking into for some time, had their HEADQUARTERS less than 30 mins from Jordan's house. There's so many other "coincidences" during our time here in California.  But it will suffice to say - God has truly ORCHESTRATED our time here in California.

Fundraising Campaign We need your help.  Please pray. We have been so blessed by donations slowly coming in.  However after sending out a snail-mail campaign to raise support for our move, out of 125 letters we've had a 7% response - which we are grateful for but we are praying for more.  We have been grateful for every penny that came in - amazing generosity of friends taking up offerings at their church, to friends giving very generous amounts out of their pockets (thank you! thank you!). We have had enough to organize shipping our car and definitely Andreas' plane ticket.  We believe we even have enough for shipping most of our boxes(literally Andreas has been crunching numbers every day to find the very, very cheapest way to get things to KONA). However when it comes to the daunting thought of arriving and finances for housing & establishing roots: tags/license for the car, auto insurance, health insurance, finding let alone renting a place to live, and any sort of financial stability...I feel like my insides start to swell up with a big question mark "How in the world are we going to do this?" The only way to make this possible is with God and with our Community of supports and partners standing with us.

Vision Statement: Lead by the wisdom of the Lord, we desire is to see the Kingdom of Heaven released and moving on earth in a radical, relevant, supernatural way, through the performing arts and through performing artists who choose excellence in their relationship with God and excellence in the skills God has given them. Partner with us Financially: Tax deductible: Give online (tax deductible): http://www.uofnkona.edu/support/missionaries/?id=5140&search=tammy%20tolaas Tax deductible by Check: UofN Donor Processing #256 75-5851 Kuakini Hwy Kailua-Kona HI 96740-2199 USA (please make the check out to UofN with an attached note that it is for Tammy Tolaas #5140)

September Update: 2 Months

2 Months -  until we will be on the Big Island.   What are you doing on the Big Island?   Working with YWAM   Looking Back on our Faith Journey   Sometimes to move forward in Faith it's good to look back at the testimony of what God has done.  Every step of this journey has been an absolute step of faith.  Last Newsletter we glanced at 2009 & 2010. 2011 - Our year in NYC finished, we returned to Kona - we knew we would be there no less than 1 year.  Things moved quickly as Leadership placed us as School Leaders for a school starting in April 2012.  We had 26 AMAZING students!  Our school was understaffed, we were very overworked, but I learned & felt more of God's tangible grace than ever.  God's Grace is real.  I know because I have without a doubt walked in it. Logistically our school SHOULD HAVE FAILED.  However by God's grace not only did we all survive - over 80% of our students' next step was to join a ministry!!!! 2012  - Before leaving NYC a year earlier, we had an invitation to join a dance company - Ad Deum - in Houston, TX.  I had asked God for clear confirmation: a dream of us joining.  Two nights later - unbeknownst to Andreas of what I had prayed - Andreas had a dream that we joined Ad Deum.  God gives us the clear direction and confirmation we need.   So exactly 1 year after returning to Kona, we moved to Houston with no car, no apartment, no extra money,  just us & boxes.  We were met with incredible hospitality from some of my (Tammy) family friends, but miraculously after only a week we moved into an apartment that was walking distance to the dance studio.  God knows exactly what we need.

Three Months

Los Angeles, CA View this email in your browser

3 Months -      until our BIG MOVE to the Big Island. I am a Fool Like many of us, I have always been challenged by the life of Paul the Apostle.  Especially having spent time in full time missions, it takes the challenges that Paul faced to a new reality.  I am grateful I have by NO MEANS faced hardships to the extent of Paul's life, however knowing that our primary occupation will forever be an apostle of Christ makes the story of Paul the apostle hit closer to home.  In 1 Corinthians 4 Paul shares what being an apostle sometimes looks like, including that as apostles "we are fools for Christ". With this BIG move coming up - with so much to do & so little finances - that pretty much sums up how I'm feeling:  A fool for Christ. (or just a fool?) Looking Back on our Faith Journey Sometimes to move forward in Faith it's good to look back at the testimony of what God has done.  Every step of this journey has been an absolute step of faith. 2009 - We got married & got stuck in Norway waiting for Andreas to be allowed back in the the USA with a Green Card.  Feeling slightly crippled by the "governs that be", I made the proclamation from the book of Psalms that "Some trust in horses and some in chariots, but we will trust in the name of the Lord our God."  Nine months later the Green Card came through. 2010 - From there we were certain that God was opening up doors for us to move to New York City.  Even down to the program we attended at Broadway Dance Center.  You see, when I emailed them regarding the program we wanted to take before we arrived to NYC it went something like this: "I'm interested in this program as my husband and are planning to move to NYC such-and-such month, but I noticed the program is not open for US Citizens." Their reply: "We actually just made the decision to open up that program for US Citizens and it will start soon after your arrival, please fill out an application and get back to us." God clears a path when there is none. NYC was a big step in faith indeed. I remember trying to find an apartment in this crazy, buzzing & expensive city.  At one point, I sat on a curb in Brooklyn crying because I didn't want to move - it all felt like God was asking too much.  But God is faithful, it wasn't long after those tears that we had signed for an apartment and that I fell in love with the city  & everything God had for us there.

BIG MOVE, BIG PRAYERS Please begin to pray about how you would like to be partnering with us during this upcoming move (I know many of you already are).  We have been so grateful for everyone who has supported us so beautifully over the years.  We hope to soon provide more specific details clearly laying out what it will take for our move this fall to be as smooth as possible, and welcome any support from you.

Vision Statement: Lead by the wisdom of the Lord, we desire is to see the Kingdom of Heaven released and moving on earth in a radical, relevant, supernatural way, through the performing arts and through performing artists who choose excellence in their relationship with God and excellence in the skills God has given them. Partner with us Financially: Tax deductible: Give online (tax deductible): http://www.uofnkona.edu/support/missionaries/?id=5140&search=tammy%20tolaas Tax deductible by Check: UofN Donor Processing #256 75-5851 Kuakini Hwy Kailua-Kona HI 96740-2199 USA (please make the check out to UofN with an attached note that it is for Tammy Tolaas #5140)

Project Dance San Francisco

Project Dance San Francisco I did not make it to Project Dance NYC this past Spring, however even better Andreas and I both were able to attend Project Dance San Francisco this past weekend.  It was a sweet time! Check out the video below. 3 quick testimonies... one. During the open air performances on Saturday, as usual with Project Dance, not only were our dancers ministering, but there were teams of people in the audience ministering.  Through out the day you'd see people praying together.  Earlier in the day Andreas met one man & asked if he could pray for him, the man kindly replied no.  However, after staying for several hours mesmerized by the dances he wanted prayer!  Art opens and softens the hearts of man!  Continue your prayers for this man & San Francisco! two. After our open-air show Andreas and I went on a walk through the city.  We ended up at Union Square Park.  I was wearing a tank top that read "BASIC TRUTH".  A man who was with a few other people got my attention, "Excuse me, can I ask what your shirt means?"  I told him I believe truth is simple and basic.  One of the ladies with him asked "What's your favorite truth."  I'm not going to lie to you here...I was a little thrown back by such an amazing opportunity I quickly answered "Well, for me and my husband, as christians our favorite truth is Jesus - Jesus is truth."  People are asking and hungry for TRUTH! three. "Coincidentally" at the same time our Project Dance event was having their open air show and ministry in Japan Town San Francisco.  There were teams of performers/dancers across the city in Oakland performing at a Praise Event in a park!  On top of that, we only found out about it because we "coincidentally" met them on Sunday while a group of us & a group of them just so happened to be doing some site-seeing at Fishermans Wharf.  Our groups just so happened to be dancing in the streets and couldn't help but notice each other - haha.  How "random"!  God is an amazing, grande orchestrater.  Highlights

video from project dance Check out some quirky video footage from the weekend. And no we didn't get to drive over the famous Golden Gate Bridge. :(  So the answer is "No", no it's not Golden Gate Bridge at the start of the video. seeing old friends turns out the weekend held not only some new friends from Hong Kong & California, but also included some old friends. AnnaLaura who we danced with in ADII (Ad Deum II) Houston, TX; as well as, Stephanie Brooks and Sarah who I danced with in Atmosphere in NYC!

upcoming travel Andreas will be in HOUSTON, TX for one week (August 22nd-29th).  Connecting with friends: Ad Deum, Connie & Oliver, and a few others he had ministered to while there; as well as, (random) going to the dentist.  The dentist he had while there made a mistake on his crown and they are going to fix it for free. Please keep Andreas' travels in prayer.  Already there has been some opposition as his Norwegian Debit card number/access and money stolen.  He is having to fill out a police report, etc.  Finances are not our strong suit right now (Another point of prayer).

What happens in 3 months? (There also just so happened to be three prayer points in this email, can you find them?) Vision Statement: Lead by the wisdom of the Lord, we desire is to see the Kingdom of Heaven released and moving on earth in a radical, relevant, supernatural way, through the performing arts and through performing artists who choose excellence in their relationship with God and excellence in the skills God has given them. Partner with us Financially: Tax deductible: Give online (tax deductible): http://www.uofnkona.edu/support/missionaries/?id=5140&search=tammy%20tolaas Tax deductible by Check: UofN Donor Processing #256 75-5851 Kuakini Hwy Kailua-Kona HI 96740-2199 USA (please make the check out to UofN with an attached note that it is for Tammy Tolaas #5140)

Pilates for Missions

East Coast & Los Angeles View this email in your browser

Dancing, hanging out, & catching up with our friends Jorge and Mariana at the festival! It Happened  ...after 10 years of waiting. Word In Motion Dance Festival Ten years ago while sitting in Kona I got an email in my inbox about an Urban Dance Festival in Los Angeles California.  It was going to be hosted by a HipHop company called Word In Motion.  I was excited to find another ministry that existed with passion for Christ and excellence.  I knew I needed to connect with this ministry.  Are you ready for this?...I sent them a myspace message...that's right myspace was the "Facebook" of the day back then.  Even though I couldn't go that year I wanted to at least say "Hi" and make the proclamation "one day we're going to connect." Also I knew I needed to attend their festival but the timing had to be right.  Finally 10 years later I got to attend not just by myself but with my husband - together as a unit.  We were extremely blessed & encouraged by the week.  We made several key connections with awesome people who we plan to work together with in the future!  Like a Fijian and his wife who both have amazing dance credentials who've been waiting/wanting to come to Kona!   With a crew from Hong Kong  and a crew from Canada (http://www.refinedundignified.com/); as well as, a lady who runs a dance discipleship program in Suriname.  Bonus we got to meet up again with our friends Jorge and Mariana from YWAM/GX Kansas City. Highlights

release worship arts youth camp Mid-July we traveled to the East Coast.  This was the third year in a row we had the privilege to minister in discipling and influencing the youth at the Outer Banks, NC Release Worship Arts Camp.  God move mightily to break down some very real giants these young people are facing in this day and age. The above pic is the kids performing "MOVE" a group dance that Tammy Choreographed for the camp.  Also the boys killed it in a boys hiphop dance that Andreas Choreographed! step of hope / zoe project To wrap up the week there was as a dance concert from participants in the festival and WIM themselves.  It was a Benefit Concert called Step of Hope to fight against human trafficking!  Proceeds went to the amazing organization that especially focuses on rescuing children.  Check out more about them at their website: http://www.gozoe.org

upcoming travel Our friend Cheryl Cutlip who we met when we lived in NYC, started Project Dance in NYC 2002.  It has exploded since then to hosting these dance events globally.  Although I was disappointed when I wasn't able to attend NYC's PD this past spring, I feel it is a bit of redemption to go to the one here in California!  We're excited to participate in Project Dance San Francisco this coming weekend August 14th-16th.

Vision Statement: Lead by the wisdom of the Lord, we desire is to see the Kingdom of Heaven released and moving on earth in a radical, relevant, supernatural way, through the performing arts and through performing artists who choose excellence in their relationship with God and excellence in the skills God has given them. Partner with us Financially: Tax deductible: Give online (tax deductible): http://www.uofnkona.edu/support/missionaries/?id=5140&search=tammy%20tolaas Tax deductible by Check: UofN Donor Processing #256 75-5851 Kuakini Hwy Kailua-Kona HI 96740-2199 USA (please make the check out to UofN with an attached note that it is for Tammy Tolaas #5140)