AZ wrap up

Global cultures, cultivating the apostolic, world missions, global poverty, church planting-this trip covered all the good stuff.

That tweet really capture the essence of this week - a really really amazing week, as you could probably tell from the posts. This is a long post, so don't feel bad about skimming it.

+ Team
Loved this team, absolutely no drama with them, they all worked collectively and really encouraged each other the whole week. Much of that was really taken care of before we left - each person was ready for what this week would bring in terms of their character, their obedience and their perspective on the world. Not only did the team really serve Amadeo Church with their impact to the community, immersing them team into this kind of apostolic culture is going to be core to them doing some amazing things for the Kingdom. You should expect a lot out of them.

+ The Clouds
Like in 2005, I loved working with Ben and Mandy. Relational, easy going, totally sold out to lead a church that has a heart for the world - working with them again was a dream. Many of the students that I personally know - and my own kids - would [and did] grow immensely from learning from the Clouds for a week. Not only do I love Ben's heart for the world but I love his willingness to risk - he's absolutely unafraid to fail and he makes fast, excellent mistakes. For example, the healing prayer stuff we did was the first time he's ever tried this. We've already started talking about what's next - and I'm scared.

+ Our Family
My kids grew a big amount on this trip. Even though we've been around students and been on mission teams before, both our girls really felt like they were a part of the team this time. That's really big. God was also very real this week - not just talk. Also, two things we all felt like we needed to change as a family - how much we pray together and our time together in the Scriptures.

+ Me
To be honest, I wasn't sure I could do this again. After stepping down from SPACE in 2008, I've certainly still been passionate about students and mission. But, I wasn't totally confident that I could put together another experience that really catalyzed high schoolers for the future. Not that I have that much to do with it, but God, this trip and our teams did it again.

I'm so optimistic, hopeful and proud of both our team and our new friends in AZ. And like you, I'm very expectant about these students - the future will be different because of them. But I'm hoping we only see a glimpse - it's going to be much, much bigger.

+ Here are my tweets from the trip:

- Wheels down hello merryland. Monday, July 19, 2010 10:57:27 PM
- Getting ready to board to fly out of PHX. What an amazing week. Monday, July 19, 2010 6:05:15 PM
- Every host I've worked with has cried during working with our teams. Its because god has put together some amazing students. Monday, July 19, 2010 4:36:40 PM
- Great feeling when you are lost on az freeway and you see signs for LA Monday, July 19, 2010 4:00:21 PM
- Cause creates community-@alex_mcmanus. Saying goodbye to some sweet new friends today. Monday, July 19, 2010 11:10:59 AM
- Said some goodbyes. Some sad people. That's what you get with movement. Monday, July 19, 2010 1:49:41 AM
- In and out burger Sunday, July 18, 2010 4:48:50 PM
- How difficult it is to go home:how quality the mission experience has been Sunday, July 18, 2010 12:57:57 PM
- Setting up for church this am. Amadeo meets in a school so our team gets to see a portable church up close. Sunday, July 18, 2010 10:17:55 AM
- Amazing day. Team spent 90 mins encouraging other on van ride home. Sunday, July 18, 2010 2:27:49 AM
- Dinner in sedona Saturday, July 17, 2010 10:48:27 PM
- Two decompress questions on the train home from the grand canyon. Don't you love epic debriefing locations? Saturday, July 17, 2010 6:33:57 PM
- Planes grand canyon train white 12 pass van Saturday, July 17, 2010 12:15:54 PM
- Up too early. Going to grand canyon. Saturday, July 17, 2010 7:30:14 AM
- Global cultures, cultivating the apostolic, world missions, global poverty, church planting-this trip covered all the good stuff. Saturday, July 17, 2010 12:34:53 AM
- A lot of life flows from passion doesn't it? Saturday, July 17, 2010 12:10:21 AM
- Its raining. The people that live here are dancing around like money is falling from the sky. Friday, July 16, 2010 9:42:16 PM
Homeless outreach at escalante comm center. Amadeo provides food every Fri night. Friday, July 16, 2010 8:59:03 PM
- quick session on God's mission in all of scripture, what is a person of peace and examples of redemptive analogies. how i love this. Friday, July 16, 2010 12:38:46 PM
- Breakfast about mentoring with bens personal mentor Roy Friday, July 16, 2010 11:01:26 AM
- Vbs is over. Fantastic even in the heat. Huge achievement so proud of the teams. Thursday, July 15, 2010 11:23:50 PM
- Vbs night 3. Maybe @theembercast should buy a portable water slide. Thursday, July 15, 2010 8:10:36 PM
- Fabulous session on Islam from Josh at frontiers Thursday, July 15, 2010 2:34:29 PM
- Team is going to hear from frontiers mission org staff person about Islam. We were going to go there but their AC broke. Thursday, July 15, 2010 12:41:02 PM
- Solidified ember intern for 10-11 Ryanayl-very excited. Thursday, July 15, 2010 12:40:02 PM
- Healing prayer on the streets day 3. Some wild stuff going on. Asked them to pray over my mom Thursday, July 15, 2010 11:06:58 AM
- Mandy cloud bens wife got cussed out by mom in apt complex for doing vbs. Don't mess with a pastors wife and I mean that in the best way. Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:29:51 PM
- Mike rose did a session on the incarnation. Vbs day 2 this evening. Teams really excited to run it again tonight. Wednesday, July 14, 2010 7:12:18 PM
- Headed to re:store a non profit amadeo started for food and clothing resourcing. Wednesday, July 14, 2010 3:20:03 PM
- Pray on the streets day 2. Wednesday, July 14, 2010 10:16:58 AM
- I had 2 freezie pops, 2 bottles of water and a capri sun in 2 hours of vbs. #itsadryheat Wednesday, July 14, 2010 12:58:23 AM
- Amadeo church bought a water slide for vbs http://tweetphoto.com/32538342 Tuesday, July 13, 2010 8:48:14 PM
- Oh and I'm giving a short talk on casting fire in 20 mins. Tuesday, July 13, 2010 5:41:45 PM
- Quick swim and then first night of vbs tonight. Context is local apt complex in amadeo community. Tuesday, July 13, 2010 5:18:04 PM
- Lunch qa at Chinese restaurant with ben and ember guides. Tuesday, July 13, 2010 2:47:52 PM
- Pastor ben leads the prayer on the streets with his Harley. #missiontripsarefun http://tweetphoto.com/32458881 Tuesday, July 13, 2010 10:42:24 AM
- Heading out to pray for people on the streets. Not sure what to expect from this but I'm sure we are going to learn something. Tuesday, July 13, 2010 9:14:24 AM
- Pray on the streets training. Monday, July 12, 2010 8:18:58 PM
- Ben cloud teaching on the kingdom of god. Pray on the streets later this aft. http://tweetphoto.com/32350936 Monday, July 12, 2010 6:24:35 PM
- Most mission team leaders focus on temp growth versus grooming catalysts that reproduce themselves. Monday, July 12, 2010 1:24:20 PM
- About 30 people on love of god tour this week from az, north Ireland, Colorado and merryland. Sunday, July 11, 2010 9:31:19 PM
- Handing out flyers for vbs. Its hot but a dry heat Sunday, July 11, 2010 8:24:56 PM
- Hello PHX 11:50 AM Jul 11th

[Related wrap ups: Brasil 05, Cameroon 06, Hungary 07, Hungary 08]