We Need Support

Happy New Year!

New Year, New Resolutions?

This is a bit out of Andreas and my comfort zone but here it goes...

First of all, I would like to say you are getting this because Andreas and I have been blessed by your support through either prayer, financially, encouraging words, or all the above! We are grateful for the support you have shown us.

No sugar coating, just simply we want to extend this offer to you.

Will you make a new commitment with this new year to support our ministry with at least $10 a month.

You can buy a pizza, or give support to ministry.

You can buy two drinks at Starbucks, or give support to ministry.

You can buy a movie ticket, or give support to ministry.

Should you still do those other things...SURE! :) Maybe I'm being politically incorrect by being so direct but my heart is not to offend - I am asking you to sacrifice once a month to help us. We know your hearts are already here supporting us, and we are extremely grateful and are not discrediting that.

If 10 people donated 10 dollars a month, that is already $100. That is enough to cover our electric bill and maybe put a few dollars towards our phone(s).

We do not want to continue to rely on our credit cards. We would prefer to pay off all our debt and not have to use credit cards unless we are in an absolute emergency. Not because we need shampoo and toothpaste.

We are humbly saying: We need help.

If there is anything we can do better at sharing how to help, or being better at expressing our needs to you please let us know.

Now that I have stepped out of my comfort zone and been so bold to ask you so directly for help, I will also be so bold to give you the information of how to help. :) You can make monthly payments into our Missions Account with the University of the Nations/Youth With A Mission (YWAM):

By Card or PayPal:

http://uofnkona.org/index.php?option=com_wrapper&view=wrapper&Itemid=652&MN=5140

If you would prefer to donate by check:

-Make check Payable to: UNKF

-Do not put ministry or missionary's name on check. Simply include a note with missionary's name: Tammy Tolaas and their missions number: 5140

Holidays with HeartBridge

Holidays!

Romans 12:13

Contribute to the needs of the saints and seek to show hospitality.

Within our HeartBridge staff we have 6 singles who spent most of the Thanksgiving, Christmas, New Year's holiday season here in Kona away from family, therefore we as HeartBridge became like one big multi-cultural family and celebrated together as much as we could. (This was also Andreas and my first holiday season with only each other to celebrate with).

Thanksgiving

(we brought our sack dinner from campus and

hung out at a friends house playing games.)

A week before Christmas at the Norwegian Christmas party we hosted for

HeartBridge and Friends of HeartBridge

The "awkward" family photo at Christmas in front of the tree ;)

New Years

(with sparklers)

Norwegian Christmas card

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Glimpse Into Next Year

Members of HeartBridge and PADTS Amsterdam Staff for training with Maria Jackson. Deep in discussion about the Bible. ;)

Since I last updated my blog.....HAS IT ALREADY BEEN A MONTH!?

I better go ahead and give you a glimpse into 2012, because before I know it ... it will be here and gone too!

2012:

(November 7th 2011 through) March 2012: Performing Arts Discipleship Training School (PADTS) Staff training and school prep.

April - June: Lecture phase in Kona, Hawaii.

July-August: Outreach in Europe

September: NYC?

October: Seminar in Kona?

If you were attending our PADTS in April 2012:

You'll have your 12 week lecture phase on the spectacular Kona campus of YWAM's University of the Nations. During these weeks you'll learn about the nature and character of God, how to hear God's voice, the ministry of the Holy Spirit, and much more. You'll also have small group sessions, work duties and production rehearsal. Immediately following is the field assignment - one of the the most exciting parts, as well as one of the most challenging parts of the course. In the field assignment, you'll use your skill and gifting in the Performing Arts to bring to life a production based on the true stories of the Bible. This story - that you tell through your talent - will give people the opportunity to begin or strengthen their relationship with God.

In this video clip from PADTS 2009, you'll see the story/production they used was the prodigal son. This show will continue to be used, but this year it is with GREAT JOY that we announce that PADTS is multiplying! In April 2012 there will be a PADTS in Kona, Hawaii (lead by Andreas and I) & one in Amsterdam, Netherlands (lead by the wonderful Maria Jackson). With this multiplication of schools, comes multiplication of shows. The PADTS in Amsterdam will use the prodigal son story "Coming Home", and in Kona Andreas and I, with a team of others and with GOD, are launching a new show (details TBA).

So for now, to get a taste of outreach, enjoy this clip of PADTS 2009 while they were on outreach touring about 5 different nations including Switzerland:

What a Trip!

What a trip!

From road tripping with my (Tammy's) parents from NYC on July 31st down to Virginia. Ten days in Virginia and then we were on a plane to Norway. We stepped off the plane onto a train, then right into a camp ground to spend the weekend at Norway's national YWAM "Go Fest" event. Then it was back on the train to celebrate the big 5-0 for Gjert, Andreas's dad. After we all calmed down from the party, we were back on the plane for an overnight pit stop in Virginia with mom and dad, and finally to KONA, HAWAII.

Highlights?

Roadtripping with my parents, away from New York meant a bitter, sweet goodbye. We have so many good friends there now that we miss, not to mention the wealth of dance in that city.

Here's some of our church friends waving goodbye
We do hope to visit NYC by the end of 2012...stay tuned...

Virginia meant relaxing and spending time with family. My brother's place was hit by the hurricane while we were in Norway and they are still recovering from the flood damage, but at least they have a bridge to get back and forth again.

Norway? Camping, not so great, but connecting with our fellow Norwegian YWAMer's at GO Fest just outside of Oslo was great!

When we got to Haugesund, we had the privilege of dancing with Company Haugesund at the first ever Norwegian Dance Film Festival. (sorry no pic)

It's not a Norwegian party without cakes (plural). Partying at Gjert's 50th with grandma's, aunts, uncles, cousins, and more family, and more friends while downing 12 different Norwegian cakes...that was fun. ;) We also did a comical/surprise "family dance" show at the party.

We arrived in Kona, Hawaii safe and very tired after a nearly 3 day journey. For three and a half weeks we crashed at two different places with friends, until finally we moved into our 1 bedroom apartment just in time to celebrate Andreas' Birthday!

Arriving here meant we were straight into the typical business that being in YWAM in Kona brings (lots of meetings, small and big).

We're trying to keep our bodies dancing by giving each other class (Andreas, our new friend Crystal, myself, and in November a few other Performing Arts staff will arrive). We're also getting classes going for the campus.

Andreas and I are already receiving student applications for the Performing Arts DTS in April 2012, which we are leading.

Lots going on, we feel like we are just trying to keep up.

I'll write more later - especially about upcoming ministry/schools that are happening.

Hope you are doing well!

Davids prayer, and mine.

David's Prayer...and mine.

Incline your ear, O LORD, and answer me,
for I am poor and needy.
Preserve my life, for I am godly;
save your servant,
who trusts in you - you are my God.
Be gracious to me, O Lord,
for to you do I cry all the day.
Gladden the soul of your servant,
for to you, O Lord, do I lift up my soul.
For you, O Lord, are good and forgiving,
abounding in steadfast love to all who call upon you.
Give ear, O LORD, to my prayer;
listen to my plea for grace.
In the day of my trouble I call upon you, for you answer me.

There is none like you among the gods, O Lord,
nor are there any works like yours.
All the nations you have made shall come
and worship before you, O Lord,
and shall glorify your name.
For you are great and do wondrous things;
you alone are God.
Teach me your way, O LORD,
that I may walk in your truth;
unite my heart to fear your name.
I give thanks to you,
O Lord my God, with my whole heart,
and I will glorify your name forever.
For great is your steadfast love toward me;
you have delivered my soul from the depths of Sheol.

...But you, O Lord, are a God merciful and gracious,
slow to anger and abounding in steadfast love and faithfulness.
Turn to me and be gracious to me;
give your strength to your servant,
and save the son of your maidservant.
Show me a sign of your favor,
that those who hate may see and be put to shame
because you, LORD, have helped me and comforted me.

Amen.

(Psalm 86)

Not "Christian"

PLEASE SHARE THIS on facebook or email, simply to debunk the false media broadcast that a "CHRISTIAN" caused such a horror in Norway. What this man did in Norway is categorized as a sin in the Christian Bible, therefore it makes no sense to even attempt to categorize him as a CHRISTIAN. Just as O'Reilly states in this video: "(he)..is not a Christian, that's impossible, no one believing in Jesus commits mass murder. The man might have called himself a 'Christian' on the net, but he is certainly not of that faith." Even Andreas - a CHRISTIAN NORWEGIAN - saw our city's paper (New York Times) headlines which was trying to call this man a "Christian" and with disappointment Andreas said, "Come on..." So come on people, let's debunk these false statements and snuff out this lie.

mercy, grace, justice.

My letter to Norway family:

I have been trying to post things on Facebook to let people know to pray.

Andreas is listening to Norwegian news through internet. It is very sad and frustrating that all this is happening there in Norway. (reference to: The bombing and shooting in Oslo, Norway.)

One family member in Norway posted the other day:

"Mercy: not getting what we deserve ♥ Grace: getting good things that we don`t deserve ♥ "

That crossed my mind as I prayed earlier today as I thought about grace, mercy, justice. I was pondering how such evil attacks can happen all over the world in attempt to cause fear and done with such hate. Sometimes it seems like an endless, hopeless situation when you think about how many countries and lives are affected. The thought almost crossed my mind of,

"God, how can this still continue to happen without justice?"

Then I felt God saying that,

"The people who act out in these ways, their justice is coming."

And I as I thought I realized in the smaller picture here on earth when the situations are so close, we feel there is no justice for those who do evil and only attack other people for "no reason". BUT in the BIG picture God will take his vengeance and justice. AND HIS VENGEANCE & JUSTICE is a greater punishment than the pain/evil which a human being has caused in their sin. I would not want to be on the receiving end of God's justice.... It is not up to human beings to bring God's vengeance, in Romans it says "vengeance is mine". People who take "vengeance" in God's name are - unfortunately - off their rocker, and although it's hard to not be discouraged we have to know: God's justice to them is coming. (People acting in self-protection/defense is different, from people taking "vengeance" into their own hands.)

I think it makes God very disappointed in humanity, when people are attacked, especially when the purpose is maybe to only cause fear and done with such hate. (Neither fear nor hate is of God.) To people who attack with evil purpose in their hearts, I can actually understand why God would "once upon a time" flood the entire earth. Imagine the entire world filled with those type of people.... How GRACE-FULL God is to promise not to flood the entire earth again.

I think while on this earth, I can only take complete peace in that God is Lord, and he is Righteous even when everything else seems evil. That He will comfort those who need it and without doubt one day He will bring justice to those who act unjust.

Pray for God's justice in this world. Pray for Norway. Pray even for yourself, that you will be reminded not to be put in the category of people who act in hate and fear. Pray this scripture over the world, countries/people attacked, and yourself

He has shown you, O mortal, what is good.
And what does the LORD require of you?
To act justly and to love mercy
and to walk humbly with your God.