Tuesday, April 30, 2013

Trip To Two Cities

Encouragement.
Connections.
Encouragement.
Re-connections.
Did I mention encouragement?

If you followed my posts via instagram or facebook these past two weeks, you would have seen many pictures from New York and Kona, Hawai'i - from my "Trip To Two Cities".  As of January 2013 I was given an invitation to come teach Repertoire in Kona at the Performing Arts school.  I thought it over, prayed it over and found out it would fall in the time slot of Ad Deum's one week break from rehearsals/classes and would fall right next to Project Dance NYC.  So I asked for God's provision through people, and quietly began sending out emails to specific people. 

Boom!  Money started coming in.  In fact just over 100% of my budget came in.  All through amazing people who are supporting Andreas and me.  :)  Thank you so much!

My schedule was packed.

In New York...

Stayed with my friend/sister who I grew up with in Virginia!  Kristin!
I took 6 dance classes so that I could bring back some inspiration/material for the dance classes I teach here in Houston.  Two of the teachers that I took from were my "dance mentors" from my 2011 program at Broadway Dance Center, and they both gave me nothing but encouraging words.
Just after taking class with Jared Grimes.
HipHop teacher in NYC.
Thanks for the encouragement Jared!
 At Project Dance...
Friends I danced with in NYC while we lived there.  Amanda and Colleen! 
Us at Project Dance.

I also was helping out with Project Dance on Friday and Saturday - where so many of my worlds collided. Before we moved away from Brooklyn in 2011, I prayed an "unrealistic" little prayer saying, "God it would be so nice if I could have a little bit of Kona, little bit of NYC, and a little bit of Virginia all mixed together." My friend Kristin from Virginia, the Ad Deum dancers from Houston, Crystal and 3 other girls from Kona all met one another at Project Dance NYC (and of course NYC dancer friends were there)!  Worlds collided!  I couldn't have been flying higher.

Stella (from Ad Deum) and I helping teach the "flashmob"
group dance to the Project Dance participants.
God's hand of protection was over us at Project Dance's Saturday outdoor show which was in Time Square.  The bombers from the horrible attack in Boston - little did we know - they had planned to attack Time Square that weekend, but were caught on their way to NYC.  We were kept safe and sound, and able to spread some joy and hope to the huge audiences that came through for the show! 
Ad Deum performing in Time Square at Project Dance
 Visiting church...
At church...
I Visited my church in Brooklyn ("Church! of Park Slope").  Which to see the faces of people from our church warmed my heart, and walking down the streets Andreas and I lived made me long to be back - in a happy way.
Church friends and me at lunch at a restaurant on the same block
as our old apartment.

On the last day in New York I got to meet up with my friend / old student / old classmate Angie - we spent time in Kona together, and she now lives in the City.

Kona, Hawai'i...


I taught repertoire from HeartBridge's 12 year running production "Coming Home".  For roughly 4 hours a day I was working the new students hard in the dance combinations! Also trying to bring some encouragement on the side of WHY DO WE DANCE?  The new students were so much fun, and I know God has good plans for each one of them. 

After teaching several hours of dance! Good job students!

I dropped in on the Schools "Culture Night" where they shared food from the various countries that they are all from.  Some of the students shared with me how they came to Kona and why they love dance.  It was so nice to hear stories from the students and encourage them however I could.

I was able to spend more time with the four girls who will open up a School of Dance Studies in Kona as of the Summer of this year.
School of Dance girls from Kona (minus Sherisa) who I got to see
in NYC and Kona!
(this is us in NYC)
Connecting with several of my students from 2011's Performing Arts School (DTS) who had stayed on the Kona campus to continue in ministry and schools.  What amazing people they each are, and you can see the joy of the Lord in them!  I'm so proud of everything they are doing.

hanging out with the 2011 students + Maddie who staffed last year

catching up with the students from 2011

Also spent time with good friends and mentors Kenny, Maria, Uli, and Becky.   Who were able to bring me some major encouragement.
Maria and Kenny invited me and the School of Dance girls over
for dinner and final goodbye's before I had to catch my flight.

This trip was just what the Doctor ordered.  It was so good I want to just sit and soak in everything that happened.

Now back in Houston with Andreas have been walking through some of the up's and down's of marriage, and coming out in a stronger place and feeling God's hand all over our marriage healing broken pieces.  Marriage is serious business, and oh so worth it!  I love my husband.

Ad Deum and Ad Deum II have roughly two weeks until our BIG Spring shows, so we are rehearsing like crazy.  Along with being busy at the various places we are teaching preparing for end of the season recitals.  We love this team of dancers we are working with and to see each of them feel the Love and Encouragement that is from the Lord that goes beyond dance.  What amazing times and opportunity we are in the midst of.
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Thursday, September 20, 2012

PADTS 2012 Outreach



Ready...get set...GO!

So last time you heard from us it was about fundraising for outreach...then there was a long pause, because WE WERE ON OUTREACH.  Which means...all the money came in!

...and that we CLEARED our bank accounts and bank cards and change purses.  No joke.  I literally paid our outreach fees with 1 check, 1 debit card, 2 credit cards, and cash.

For a split second there it looked like we were the only one's going on outreach with our students.  ..but our staff Ben and Amy (married) were able and the only staff that joined outreach with us and our 21 students! WE ARE CRAZY.

Let me explain our cup of crazy to you...
This is not normal for a DTS, especially for PADTS. First off in DTS School Leaders typically don't go the entire outreach, but only do a 1 week-1month visit.  Also in PADTS we typically aim to have 10 staff + school leaders for the whole school.  It was a special case this year because of Maria Jackson and a team going to start another PADTS in Amsterdam, to help out the base there.

Needless to say our plates were a bit full with booking locations to sleep, travel, organizing ministry opportunities, maintaining team unity, rehearsals, and continuing to disciple our students while all of our students were putting into practice (through evangelism) what they had been learning during the lecture phase.  But GOD GAVE US SO MUCH GRACE!



Andreas and I sharing about the school at the premiere night.
























Before we left for outreach our school had a premiere of our variety show that we would be taking on outreach with us - which we called: Out of the Box.

Out of the Box consisted of 3 group dances, 4-7 vocal ensembles (the number because we added on outreach), and 21 solo testimony pieces.

Each student turned a part of their testimony into an artistic piece. I would literally LOVE to share each and every one with you, but here's just a few examples of our students Testimony Pieces:

Tabea (Switzerland) processed through her times of shame being redeemed by God's forgiveness and unfailing love, and used her ukelele and wrote a song to share this Love and forgiveness of Jesus to others.

Carl (USA) processed through his struggle of growing up feeling like he was different from other guys because he loved the arts and creativity, his search for what "manliness" is and then realizing it is God who gives identity through His Love.  He made a dramatic-monologue and performed it for multiple audiences.

Tron (Philippines) choreographed a dance about the struggles of life and looking for ways to fill his life, but realizing his only true home is Jesus and that Coming Home to Jesus is the best home.

These were testimonies taken and shown to 100's and 100's of people on outreach across the UK.  Their testimonies were not only used as:
- intercession & prophetically performed: as a prayer for anyone else who was/is struggling with similar things they struggled with.
- spiritual warfare: to push back any spiritual heaviness that is not from God.  Any way people in the audience were struggling with shame, fear, anger, etc. that we could bring LIGHT and SALT through proclaiming truth through art and therefore inviting God's freedom, love, and joy to be present.
- ice breaker: when they would perform their pieces it opened up doors for people to come talk to them who identified with what they were sharing.

We danced, sang, and brought the drama - in Jesus name (haha) - from Ealing, London (3 weeks), Harpenden (1 week), Central London (1.5 weeks), and Edinburgh, Scotland (3 weeks)

Introducing the team at a church in Ealing.  After the team performed,
the pastor asked us to invite people forward to receive prayer from our team.
Andreas and I kept busy facilitating the team, so we didn't do any performing for this trip.  Which was somewhat sad, but it was also good to focus on and grow in other areas.



Andreia dancing her heart out.
 Oh, look there's me. Left side of picture in black.

Our amazing, dancing staff Crystal Shearer (who didn't go on outreach because of help that was needed on the campus) - choreographed a group dance called: This Moment (aka: Real Simple, Real Fast).  It is choreographed with deep meaning about how God is present and will give us signs/speak to us, that we need to slow down from our own-agenda's and hectic lives and find the peace and fulfillment that only he can provide.

One day while performing this piece on the streets, Andreas was talking to a homeless man, who turned to Andreas and said "I get it."  The man went on to explain exactly what the dance is about.  Andreas continued to dialogue with him, but it was amazing to hear how God opened a door and spoke to this man through the dance.

Andreas stepping up as a leader...
public speaking















praying over the team

And keepin' it real.

One of my personal highlights was probably joining Project Dance AGAIN, but this time in London.  As you may remember, last year (2011) Andreas and I first connected with Project Dance in New York. (Although I think the first time I heard of Project Dance was in 2006?  When an email came across my desk here at UofN).  This year I was able to join Project Dance with all the dancers from our team!  (Andreas stayed with the other half of our team). I was like a kid in a candy shop during the weekend of the event when I took the classes they provide.  It was nice to reconnect with Cheryl Cutlip and other dancers that I met in NYC like Mary Marshall (who choreographed a group number I was in for Broadway Blessing 2010).  What a blessing!
Me and the dancers from our team in front of the Tower Bridge where Project Dance London had the outdoor show.
God was so good to our team and we saw a lot happen.  Written here are just a few personal notes from the time, but PLEASE go to the TEAM BLOG: www.padtskona2012.blogspot.com for a ton more photos and testimonies of things that happened!  You won't want to miss the stories and pics posted there!

Regardless of the long days - full of amazing things, but never the less...FULL.  With usually about 6 hours of sleep a night, which was the only time we weren't ON and GOING.  We were FILLED up to the brim with God's grace, and I am so grateful for his faithfulness to us - personally, as leaders, and to our entire team.

Thank you for all your support to us. Sending us money, praying for us, and waiting patiently as we reboot and begin updates again!  As for our next step...

IT IS HOUSTON, TEXAS.  More to come...stay tuned...


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Until then here's some fun photos of the Tolås's from outreach.
All tours were booked, but we tried!

yes I probably look like a little kid, because I am so
excited to watch Billy Elliot!




Pool party/bbq on outreach!?  I promise it only happened
once.  With the local church community. 


There's my Korean twin sister! :)  The
HeartBridge teams met together half way
through outreach, it was great!

Both teams sharing together!
























Andreas attached to his cell phone. ^

Andreas introducing a student for a testimony...

Tammy introducing a student for their testimony...




















We are goofballs...and yes we do know it.


Come into our office, the door step at the church
next to Westiminster.
Us? Homeless? What would give you that idea?


Again..us? Homeless? What would give you that idea?
We enjoy walking miles with a suitcase, it's the new workout craze.
Yes, he would do that.

I didn't know I designed a line of clothing!?
This was at the start...
At the top of Arthur's Seat with Ben and Andreas.






I was just about to fly
See that blue dot?  It's Andreas!
Crazy, random rain and wind storm when we got to the top of Arthur's Seat!  That is me barricading myself underneath my cheap pancho and my already-nearly broken umbrella. I was laughing so hard!







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Wednesday, June 6, 2012

As Promised

As promised: 
As promised in my blog last blog, I sent out an email with this info, but I wanted to now offer this info on the blog.  Here is a follow up about Andreas and my personal financial need for the upcoming outreach to England & Scotland.

We need: $4,200.  Due by June 20th.  That is all going towards ground fees/travel, nothing for our personal spending. 

For donations:(our donor account #5140)

I can send you an email with 2 attached documents about donation options (just let me know)
#1 Document. Tolaas Donation Options (you can find donation snail-mail address here)
Document #2. (that I would email you) is a sheet for people who choose by snail-mail option.
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Wednesday, May 23, 2012

Awesome Team

Andreas and I are working with an awesome team of staff!
(From Canada and S. Korea)


22 students - who are very passionate and diverse!
(Phillippines, USA, Egypt, Switzerland, S. Korea, Mexico, Marshal Islands, Brazil, Canada, Chile/Argentina)

Weekly guest speakers from: University of the Nations (International & Cambodia),  International House of Prayer, Broadway, Hollywood, Tacoma Team Ministry, Voice for the Voiceless, the list goes on and on.  

These speakers come to our school and share in depth about their topics & skill. 

After 5 weeks of working together on a production, we decided to cut everything and release everyone to create to their hearts content....
....This is a bit crazy, but the process is being over seen by us and our awesome staff.  (we are aiming to be radical like Gideon!)  


We are practicing and working hard on a variety show!  From various dances...



...to a variety of vocal ensemble & music pieces.  
(we have an amazing opera singer who has her Ph.D. in music working with our singers. A true blessing and honor!)


 Our team is fundraising & praying for financial provision for our "tour" to London, England & Edinburgh, Scotland!  We will spend from end of June-end of August in Europe.  Very ROUGH numbers here, but as a WHOLE team we are needing roughly $125,000.  Already half of that has been paid!!! 

 As for the EXACT amount Andreas and I are still needing for the trip & over the next 4 months.  I can email you with updates on that very soon.
- - - <3 sharing from the heart <3 - - -

We love you guys back in NYC (BDC, Church!, Atmosphere/PD, Brooklyn)!
All of our cozy family and friends in Haugesund! We are thinking of you often and all the delicious cakes! ;)
Our wonderful family and friends in VA who have been with me through this Performing Arts ministry adventure since 1989!  what?!  Thanks for cheering me on continuously.
Everyone who we have met along the journey of being in Kona and traveling the world. ;)  
  
Thanks for keeping up with us on the blog and via fb, and on all the other communication mediums we have these days.  We especially appreciate those of you who have been faithfully standing beside us financially and prayerfully.  

 This has been a very different season from NYC and dancing 20+ hours a week.  It has been hectic at times and not always the easiest season, but -WOW- how much I have been challenged to grow in mind, heart, attitude, and SPIRIT!  It has been a season of laying down "rights", and picking up ... not to be cliche ... but honestly, picking up the cross and loving God deeper through that.  We are serving other artists and people, to give them space to create and figure out who they are called to be.  Our students and staff have been such a joy, even when circumstances get tough...these people are awesome!  Wish you could meet them yourselves. Much LOVE.



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