GoWests!

GoWests.com – Offical site of the WestSide Story!

A Final Update for 2014 December 17, 2014

Filed under: Family,Photos,Uncategorized,Updates,Video — GoWests! @ 9:48 pm

Hello everyone!

For those of you in the USA, Molly and I hope you had a great thanksgiving, and for all of us, a great Christmas season ahead. We approach the end of 2014 with gratitude to God for all we have been allowed to partner with Him over this last year.  At the close of 2014, we wanted to give an “overview-update” of the year.

As most of you know, 2014 has been busy for the Wests.  I led two leadership training programs (“DTS Equip”) here in Montana (Spring and Summer), as well as overseeing and teaching in two others internationally (Ukraine and Cambodia).  In addition to these schools, there is other work we do to move missions forward.  This means that you are also part of many more initiatives and work which build the Kingdom of God locally and globally.

I also travel and train other students, staff, and leaders—both inside and outside—of YWAM.  I have just returned from a week of teaching the 130+ staff and leaders of all the Discipleship Training Schools at our Kona campus.  I have also taught in other locations in the USA, Asia and Europe.  Equipping local church members and leaders is also a joy and passion, equipping and contributing to reaching the local community.  In this vein I designed and ran a 9-session leadership development series over 18 weeks at our church here in Montana, called “CORE”.  All of the church ministry leaders, small group leaders, and pastoral staff were involved in this.  Our involvement continues to grow with our local church family, as we co-lead a small group, and I am also part of a preaching rotation.

While all of this work is valuable and meaningful, what really gives us satisfaction is sending students and staff out into the field.  This happens at the end of each quarter, as it did a week ago; these are special nights. At our community worship meeting we had the opportunity to worship together, hear from the students and staff, and then prayerfully commission four teams for their outreach assignments.  Over 50 people headed out on 4 teams to: Nepal, Thailand, Cambodia, and India.  For the next two months they are not only the hands, feet, heart and voice of Jesus, they are also our hands, feet, heart and voice.  This is why we do what we do, and why YWAM exists: to obey the great commandment, and to perform the great commission.

YWAM Lakeside Montana is training and sending out dozens of teams out each year.  These teams are Bible teaching teams, discipleship teams, evangelism teams, community development teams, children’s ministry, human-trafficking ministry, English teaching, and more.

Finally, a word about our car situation.  As many of you know (and have been communicating and praying with us) we were looking hard for a car.  Well, the time of waiting came to an abrupt end with 4 degree Fahrenheit weather forecast for an upcoming weekend!  We just bought a 2007 Toyota Highlander.  It’s a great solution for us.  Smaller than our van, but with 4wd and studded tires it tackles our icy hill nicely.  Just as well, too: the night we got it we had 6” of snow and the low temperatures I mentioned.  We took the money we had, and took out a loan for the remainder (that’s info for a lot of you who had been following our “car adventure”).

We have included a few photos also.  Our Christmas tree adventure, teaching in Kona, and [for family members and those who walked with us through Samuel’s school transition] some video of Samuel’s Middle School choir.  He is front row, center.  Each are about 35-40 seconds (they were actually very good).  (Forgive the quality – most were taken with my phone, in poor light)

Merry Christmas!

Jeremy, Molly, Samuel, Joel and Eden (oh ok, Boomer too)

Kona Staff Training

Kona Staff Training

Tree and Truck

Molly the tree-hunter

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16 ft of glory for $5: You gotta love Montana!

To hear Samuel’s Choir, click links below:

Samuel Choir 1: http://youtu.be/sbQp95lg1Vg

Samuel Choir 2: http://youtu.be/VOP5q7wlMCY

Samuel Choir 3: http://youtu.be/QxArNPErA0w

Samuel Choir 4: http://youtu.be/mkQaPB-P0QQ

 

Greetings from Cambodia: Sept 3 Update September 6, 2014

Filed under: DTS Equip,J's Journey,Photos,Updates — GoWests! @ 1:42 am

2014-09-003

Greetings from Cambodia!

This year is going so quickly.  In the past month we have wrapped up the Montana DTS Equip leadership training school, the following week I was in Mexico conducting leadership training for a group of YWAM school leaders, trainers and staff (by the way, the Eastern European DTS Equip in Ukraine just finished their second school, too).  The Mexico trip was special to me; it was the first time I was able to take one of my kids, Joel, along with me.  Just him and me, it was a fun and special time.  A week later we were back in Montana and preparing to move house.  On August 23rd the Wests changed address!  As many of you know it has been a busy, but exciting year as we built our new home.  So many God-stories are to be told, all accumulating to make-up the blessing and miracle of our first new home!  We are already using our guest room for hospitality, receiving family and friends the first weekend after we moved in.

IMG_3681[1]

As our friends were arriving, I was off again—this time to Cambodia—from where I am writing now.  I am here helping to kick off the third South-East Asian DTS Equip, running in Battambang, Cambodia.  This is first time we have not brought our whole family here for the two-month program.  Our roots and our relationships here are deep, so not coming as a family is something of a disappointment for us.  As hard as it is for our family in Cambodia at times, the kids still wanted to come!  But our intention has always been to pioneer it, empower others, and hand it off.

IMG_20140904_123818We have always wanted to develop regional leaders to facilitate this program who can take it to places we can’t.  So it is an answer to prayer, but it’s also hard transferring something that you have worked so hard for to other leadership; even if you pick the leadership team!  It has, in fact been a great joy.  The leadership team we put together is diverse, complimentary and committed.  This is an exciting time, but also a little tenuous.  Please join with us in prayer to support these leaders who are attempting to take this school to the next level; they are already experiencing some obstacles, but I am confident of their abilities, faithfulness, and of course the Lord’s empowerment, both practical and spiritual.  This school has 16 diverse participants, representing 7 nationalities (Costa Rica, New Zealand, Cambodia, USA, Canada, Sth Africa, Vietnam).  Collectively they represent ministries in the Philippines, Thailand, USA, and Cambodia.

 

Handing off the school was a step of faith.  But now, with a house that was completed late, with rooms still full of boxes, the kids entering higher grades at school, and an overly packed year behind us, we see God’s wisdom.  I will continue to oversee the DTS Equip programs internationally, teaching, training and supporting, but my direct leadership of each school is on a deliberate decrease as I develop and release others into that role.

IMG_9554As always, we are so grateful for your partnership and support.  You are sharing the work and you will also share in the inheritance.  Thanks.

Jeremy.  Cambodia, September 2014.

 

 

June on the Westside June 21, 2014

Filed under: DTS Equip,Family,Photos,Uncategorized,Updates — GoWests! @ 12:35 am

Dear Ministry Partners,

It’s time for an update of facts and photos.

Below you will find our current ministry and family happenings. Prepare to be encouraged!

Ministry:

May – Our Montana Leadership teams decided to include Cambodia as a “target nation” (a nation or people group that we strategically focus our resources and efforts toward), along with the 5 we already have (India, Nepal, Taiwan, Thailand, Ukraine).  We have personally served in all these nations and it is our JOY to have the whole campus taking on Cambodia!

    khmer boyTextjeremy cuong

June thru’ October – Jeremy has been asked to develop and run a leadership training series (called “CORE”) at our local church.  Our Pastor is asking everyone serving in any leadership capacity to attend.  This allows Jeremy to serve in the church in his area of gifting: discipleship and leadership training.

CORE Theology | CORE Identity | CORE Action

CORE Theology | CORE Identity | CORE Action

 

June Thru October  – 3 EQUIP Programs in 3 regions

equip header

1. Another Equip (leadership training program) starts here in Lakeside in 10 days!
2. Equip in Ukraine, starts in July.  Despite the civil unrest, training, evangelism and discipleship continue.
3. Equip in Cambodia, starts in September.  This will be the third Equip run in Cambodia.

Family snippets:

samuel guitar

Samuel just finished 6th grade and is into guitar and shooting hoops

joel scout

Joel just finished 4th grade is an active cub scout, and loves his Wii games

eden ballet

Eden just finished Kindergarten, is doing so well at ballet, and loves her Lego

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

House Update:

Jeremy & I will celebrate our anniversary this Saturday the 21st , so we decided to get a new house to celebrate  😉  Here is a house update.

2014-06-07 15.03.59

photo (1)

2014-06-07 15.05.14

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

We are now in the “finishing” stage and should be moving in the week of July 14! The fighting for the toilet will soon come to an end!  Thanks to all of you who have given in time, and sponsoring portions of the project.  Your gifts are making it happen!  Interestingly, when our family moves in, we will immediately have guests in the guest room too!  Awesome.

CURRENT NEEDS:  As the project finishes up…so does the funding…If God would lead you to give towards items not yet covered….we would be grateful!

  1. Carpet (bonus room): We have $5560; still need $1260
  2. Lighting: projected need of $1500
  3. Closet hardware: This one caught us by surprise $1500
  4. Bathroom accessories: $500
  5. Grass, soil and seed: An unexpected need. We have $1200; still need $800 more to be sown  🙂

As you know, the whole project is a God story and we continue to put our trust in Him! As we are working hard on everything we can, we are confident He will provide the rest.  We have so many stories already of people giving, donating materials or seriously discounting them for us. Others coming over and working, as well as completing major [specialized] construction jobs.  Various tradesmen donating time, and good cheer!  It seems that as long as Jeremy promises not to “help”, they are willing to do the professional job themselves  🙂

Thank you for your part in our ministry.  Together, we are reaching the world for Jesus, and equipping others to do the same!

Love,

Jeremy, Molly, Samuel, Joel & Eden

 

Mission Accomplished October 29, 2012

Filed under: DTS Equip,Family,Photos,Updates — GoWests! @ 11:28 pm

We are home now and sitting near our fire trying to keep warm, as there was a carpet of white snow to welcome us home! Samuel put it well when he declared, “It’s weird Mom, yesterday we were soooo hot, and today we are soooo cold!”

Our time in Cambodia ended on such a high note! So much was accomplished in the lives of the Equip group (42 people serving throughout Southeast Asia). Our work there was incredibly rewarding- seeing fruit daily in lives of leaders and staff that we know are already multiplying into others. But it was terribly sad leaving our close friends and co-workers. Certainly our hardest departure, as God has knitted our hearts with so many in the region.

There are piles of things to be thankful for, and one is our prayer and financial support team. Thank you. We have made a big impact together! We were told by Cambodians, Vietnamese, and Thais, that the fruit of the last 2 months of training will be seen for years to come. We have done well.

One highlight came through our mode of transportation – the TukTuk. A young man called Borat was our TukTuk driver….and he became a Christian! After he had been driving our family around Battambang for several weeks, Jeremy stayed up late one night talking with him and then a couple days later, Jeremy and some friends met with him and he committed his life to Christ! People have been witnessing to him for a while already and Jeremy got to be involved in the harvest! Borat shared with his Buddhist Mom, and she is accepting his decision. This is so rare, and so we know she is coming to Jesus next!

Here we are with Borat, our brother in Christ!

Another highlight was the outreach we did in a nearby slum. People came to know Jesus and felt the love of God for the first time. One woman in her 70’s has decided to follow Jesus…because when some Equip participants prayed for her, she was healed of blindness!

Following are some photos from this slum which convey more than words!

Samuel making balloon animals for the kids in the slum.

Playing Games

We handed out plates of food to all who came to the gospel presentation. It was sweet bbq corn, sweet pineapple, and sweet coconut jelly. I loved it because they were hearing sweet news about a Savior who loves them!

Jeremy chatting with some Cambodian Soldiers across the alley from the gospel presentation

And now a couple family shots….

Eden turned 5

A Khmer friend climbed a coconut palm and gave one to Joel…who loved it.

…He also ate a roasted cricket =(((

God was absolutely faithful to our family and to the people he loves in Southeast Asia.

Thanks for being our friends and for being committed to the gospel of Jesus Christ. It truly is transforming people and nations!

Love ~ Jeremy & Molly, Samuel, Joel and Eden

 

Family Update, BTown 2012 September 30, 2012

Filed under: Family,Photos,Uncategorized,Updates — GoWests! @ 12:15 am

Family Update

We have been here in Cambodia 4 weeks, and are undoubtedly walking in the grace of God!  Despite all the challenges in the areas of comfort and convenience, (oh, and injuries) we are having fun, laughing a lot, and growing together as a family as we minister in the third world.

A few days ago, Samuel realized we are half way through our time here, and he offered his opinion that we should probably stay longer!  Wow!

Highlights as a family so far would certainly include the boys fishing adventures.  They got a hold of some bamboo poles, fishing line, and hooks, and away they went!  They love fishing in the pond here on base.  Their first attempt yielded 6 fish, which they handed over to some Kmai staff to eat when the base kitchen is closed!  Their second day was 10 fish, and we have stopped counting since.  I love how their new hobby is supporting Kmai missionaries =))

Another family highlight would be eating at Café Eden.   Our lovely friend Anna has established an amazing café – some of the best eats in Battambang!  40 % of the profits go to supporting Kmai staff, and 25% towards new ministries starting up, so it feels reasonable to eat delicious food and put our money towards that every now and then!  Eden happens to like the name too…

Arriving by TukTuk to Café Eden.  This is how Battambang rolls!

Getting back to basics has been a family highlight as well.  The joy of playing games together and finding creative things to do is a good change from the usual go-to’s at home, ie..the Wii!  Games like, “Don’t touch the ground” can last for hours!!

We got to visit one of the many crocodile farms in the city…they are farmed to sell to Thailand for leather, meat, etc.  It was creepy and shocking really, to discover a person’s yard filled with hundreds, yes hundreds, of crocodiles!  I certainly would not want to live next door!

Check out this short clip of the Crocodile Farm!

A river runs thru Battambang, which Eden has named the Chocolate Milk River=)

It is such a privilege to be here and be part of fulfilling God’s dreams for Cambodia and beyond.  While we miss the comforts of home, God is faithful in reminding us that investing in His Kingdom guarantees the best return!!

Fun Fact #1:  In about 10 days the DTS here leaves for India, Laos, and Tajikistan!  God is raising up Cambodian missionaries! And sending them into all the world!!

Fun Fact #2:  Izzy, a gal from Washington state, is co-leading the outreach to India.  Izzy was in a DTS we led in MT 4 years ago!  God called her back long term, and Jeremy and I couldn’t be more proud of her obedience and love for Cambodia.  This is what we call in YWAM, a big paycheck!

Thank you for your prayers, here are a couple ideas, if you would like them…

–          We have been to the hospital twice already (Eden’s sliced under her chin, and Joel his lower back) and we would prefer to avoid that in the last month!

–          Joel has been struggling a bit with taking deep breaths.  This may be asthma or an indicator or stress..

–          Eyes for all 5 of us to see God’s beauty here and opportunities to show love to our Equip class, to folks on campus, and to those we encounter in the streets.

–         Cambodia and Southeast Asia were designed to glorify God!  Join us in prayer for this!

 

Tasty Fruit in Cambodia March 22, 2011

Filed under: DTS Equip,Photos — GoWests! @ 9:19 am

Ever wondered if something that you did, something time-consuming and costly (even if rewarding at the time) would produce fruit later on? While we knew that our time in Cambodia last year was both rewarding and successful, it was such a pleasant surprise to receive this post below, sent to Molly’s Facebook account recently.

It comes from Cambodia, from one of the leaders there that was in our training program, “DTS Equip”. If you have been following our blogs, you will remember the video from the slum ministry we did during that time (look in October archives). At that slum we ministered, fed people, had prayer times when people were healed, and just loved on the families there.

Many of you are our ministry partners through prayer and financial support. Many of you helped us get to Cambodia last year. You deserve this little bite of yummy fruit. Read on below…

(ps. I put a couple of pics below)

Subject: Hello from Cambodia
Dear Jeremy and Molly,
Hello! Hope you guys are doing great. So, I am wondering what you guys are doing right now? DTS has been going for one month already. It is so good. We have 21 students, including 3 international students. I just want to say thank you so much for your obedience to God to have Equip in Battambang, Cambodia last fall. It was really helpful. It helped me and other staff to be better leaders, we were very impacted. And, especially I want to tell you about the slum church that we started during Equip outreach time. Do you remember about that? It is still going really well, we meet every Sunday. We baptized 8 people a few weeks ago. I love my church and am so thankful that God blessed them to have church and to study the Bible. I just thought about you guys and wanted to let you know what is going on in DTS and to say thank you. May God bless you. Miss you guys.
Love from,
Channoeun

Channoeun

 

A few Battambang Pic’s – The last 2 weeks October 23, 2010

Filed under: DTS Equip,Photos — GoWests! @ 3:06 am

Click on a pic for a bigger view!

 

Photos from Cambodia September 10, 2010

Filed under: DTS Equip,Photos — GoWests! @ 4:29 am
 

Cambodia – Let’s Make it Happen! August 6, 2010

Filed under: DTS Equip,Photos,Updates — GoWests! @ 9:44 pm

DTS Equip Leaders: Jeremy, Dina (Cambodia), Sharon (St Lucia)

Your Role #1:  Pray

We believe that this is God’s idea, and that is has been for years. But we are not there yet. Please pray for the logistics, communication, transportation, cultural interactions, immigration (and more), that need to occur for us to complete this mission.  E.g., For an idea of some of our struggles, we are preparing for double, simultaneous, translation, from English into Khmer and Vietnamese. I have been communicating every week over Skype and email with people in Australia, Cambodia, Thailand and the USA. Meanwhile, my Cambodia staff have been communicating with Cambodia, Vietnam, and (trying) with Burma. Oh, and add this to the list, our Cambodia leader has been translating multiple ministry documents from English to Khmer, while my Vietnamese staff in Vietnamese.  Please pray! What we hear from the Lord, we water with prayer, to harvest as God’s long term plan.

Your Role #2: Give

Friendly faces - dear Cambodian "sisters"

Yes that’s right, we need money. Not only us, but others as well. Simply put, this is brash; but it’s the truth.

For others: You can sponsor a young leader from any of the developing countries in the region for only US$200 for the 7-week school! That’s right, this is their subsidized cost for the program (Yay Cambodia!). Several of the Vietnamese participants are trying to raise this, as is our Burmese participant.  As for the Cambodian participants it’s even harder for them to raise the money.

Please let me know if you want to give to these needs asap, and I’ll help you to set it up.

For the Wests: As for the West family, our flight tickets alone cost over US $7000 ($3300 is already paid!) Our living expenses there for 2 months about $500. Immunizations for the kids last week…? A surprising $300. We have been able to purchase our tickets, and paid for other expenses (we needed to do this months ago). Now we are trying to fill the money-hole created!

God has always been faithful to provide extra support or jobs on the side that earn us a little money here and there. So many people have been faithful too, so many times. From the random acts of giving, to the consistent ongoing pledges month after month, year after year. This time, we’re just running out of time! I would like to think that God’s money is never wasted on projects like these, so thank you all for your gifts already, or in advance for the ones to come.

Teaching future leaders

Nathan (Equip Staff) & Joel, and Mine-Warning Sign

Study Group

Classroom

 

Montana DTS EQUIP 2010 July 11, 2010

Filed under: DTS Equip,Photos,Uncategorized,Updates — GoWests! @ 2:50 pm

A deep thought before diving in

“DTS Equip”. In case you didn’t know, this is the Leadership and staff development training program that we developed for the DTS world!  We are in our 4th year, …5th school.  We have the privilege, and responsibility, to train both new and experienced leaders and staff as they strive to become more effective discipling-leaders: trainers of trainers; disciplers of disciplers. While most of our participants are from roles within YWAM we always have some who are headed back into other ministry environments: the church, industry, foreign missions… In 2009 we ran two. This year we are doing the same.

How time flies!!  We started our 2010 DTS Equip 2 weeks ago and our group consists of 18participants plus 8 staff, working in the USA, Canada, Taiwan, Thailand, South Africa, Cambodia, and Grenada.  Being cross-cultural is one of our greatest strengths in YWAM!

R weeks ago we embarked on 6 weeks of equipping and empowering DTS staff and leaders! Ten days after this DTS Equip finishes we embark on our next challenge in developing strategic and influential disciplers: planting DTS Equip in Cambodia! This program will serve leaders (most under the age of 30) in many places who otherwise would never get the chance to travel to the USA for such in-depth training.  We are very excited about this opportunity. Already we have leaders and staff coming for additional development from Vietnam, Burma, Thailand, Philippines, Cambodia, and the USA. More about that to come soon.

Our Mission Statement is:  To provide a resource-rich environment where DTS staff and leaders are equipped in character, skills and Spirit, so that DTS students and programs worldwide may benefit and develop according to their individual and corporate callings.

Theme Scripture : “The things which you have heard from me in the presence of many witnesses, entrust these to faithful men who will be able to teach others also.” – 2 Timothy 2:2

If you are interested in hearing some of our lectures, let us know! We will post them as audio links to this site.  And, remember, if you haven’t signed up for automatic alerts when we update our site, do it now! Enter your email address at the right side of our blogsite; it willl automatically shoot you out a quick reminder that we have put something new up.

DTS Equip MT 2010

DTS Equip 2010 Montana - Here we come.

The Welcome

Dr Ron Smith - Laying a Foundation