A Look Back on a Life Changing Year!

At the end of each week of lecture in our YWAM schools, we have an activity called "Reflections & Evaluations". It's a chance to look back over the past week of teaching and reflect on what the teacher spoke about and evaluate what God spoke that past week. As one staff puts it, “it's a chance to soak up all those last bits of a really good meal, so nothing is left over." It's a good idea, so we thought I'd reflect and evaluate over 2011, as it has been a life changing year.

January 2011 - March 2011: Joy- I was a world away for my Discipleship Training School [DTS] outreach to Southern Africa! We spent 8 weeks in South Africa & Botswana, and it was an amazing experience. God used to me to bring someone to salvation and to heal another! I created deep & lasting relationships with some incredible people. I was processing voice of the Lord to no longer move to Cambodia long-term, but instead pursue staff at YWAM Orlando. And I had a crush on this boy that I just couldn't get over…

Creagon - Naomi said “I had so much self hatred but I became so free!” One of my favorite parts of my job is to ask discipleship students what God has done in the past week and produce a video for those who are praying for them. Their response reminds me why I believe this generation will change the nations. (Oh... and I read a blog by a girl visiting Africa with great interest!)

March 2011: Joy- I graduated from my DTS, and went home for 2 weeks. My family went on a great vacation to New York City and we had such a blast. I also began my second training school with YWAM Orlando, called the School of Ministry Development [SOMD], which would lead to my becoming staff. And I had my first date with Creagon.

Creagon- “Mom, I've invited a girl to join us.....but we are just friends.” This is how I told my parents that Joy would be joining us for a worship concert while they were in Florida. I had no clue that the next time they met her I would be proposing!

April 2011 - May 2011: I loved loved loved my SOMD lecture phase, and really refined my vision for staff at YWAM Orlando. I grew so close to my 2 other schoolmates, and created even deeper relationships with staff at the base. And my dates with Creagon became more and more frequent, until at the May, he asked me to be his OFFICIAL girlfriend. Oh, happy day!

Creagon- When I returned to Joy from teaching in Colorado (see video) I knew that I never wanted to be apart again. Her dad just grinned at me when asked his blessing to date his 28 year old daughter.

June 2011: Joy- My SOMD prayed and we decided to postpone our Nepal outreach, as God was evidently closing the doors on this opportunity. And Creagon was in a life-threatening car accident that forever changed our relationship. I was by his side essentially 24-7. His world became my world, and it was then I saw how much I truly loved him. We left for an extended vacation at his parents place in Michigan, where rest and healing was crucial. I loved our time in Michigan, getting to know his family better and falling more in love with Creagon.

Creagon- I was in a hospital bed and I didn’t know why. The past 2 ½ hours of my memory was black. My world was spinning and I told the ER Doctor “I WANT JOY!” It took a while for him to realize that “Joy” wasn’t just an emotion but the name of the person that meant the most to me.

July 2011: Joy- He proposed. My entire world changed in a moment when the man I had fallen madly in love with asked me to be his wife. And we set our wedding date for just 4 short months away.

Creagon - She had dedicated every waking moment to my healing and recovery. This kind of love just can’t be faked. Once the concussion had passed I asked God if I could marry her and popped the question.

August 2011 - September 2011: I was back home in Tampa, with Creagon too, building the sponsorship team I needed to be back on staff at YWAM Orlando. It was a great time for my friends and family to get to know Creagon, as my future husband, and for us to share our vision and passion for ministry. And Creagon continues to heal from car accident injuries.

Creagon- My old car was a pancake and we needed a vehicle to give tours to YWAM alumni, parents and potential sponsors. God provided generously an SUV that is perfect for our needs.

October 2011: Joy- Back at YWAM Orlando, and it's so great to be back for my first quarter on staff! I'm living in the 31-foot camper that Creagon and I purchased for our first "home" and its wonderful. I'm working as school staff with the Justice DTS, focused on human trafficking prevention. Loving the students, and their passion for worship and thirst for God. This quarter was an incredibly learning experience for me. Was also planning our wedding, which at time was more stressful than enjoyable.

November 2011: Joy - But on November 26, 2011…I married him. And it was perfect.

Creagon- I remember resting my head on hers during our first dance with all our friends and family watching. I was amazed that I got to marry my best friend and we could serve God in missions together...for ever!

December 2011: Joy- We split our honeymooned in two parts and finished up two weeks of work. I write this blog from honeymoon part two in Mexico, with so much anticipation for 2012. What will my first full year of Mrs. Muldoon bring? What does God have in store for our marriage, our ministry, and our future. 2011 was full of twists and turns, so many unexpected moments. It was a GREAT year. And I have high hopes for 2012 as well.

Creagon- We celebrated Christmas a few days early with some of the Mexico’s children who needed it the most. One of my sponsors gave some extra money so we could bless each of the families with the gift they wanted most.... a chicken!

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!
--Joy & Creagon

The passion of worship

I want more of You God!

When worship takes over and it can't be stopped.

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Worship at YWAM SE Conf

This generation will change this world! It is my honor to inspire,
teach, guide and disciple as many as possible!

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New Students Arrive at YWAM Orlando

Larry shook my hand this morning and told me the story of how he packed up his family, bought an RV trailer and drove the length of our country to Orlando. Why would he leave his home town to put his whole life and career on pause? God said so!

Today over forty students have arrived at YWAM Orlando. Some have brought their young families like Larry, others have just graduated high school. All have come to central Florida for twelve weeks of intense training and decipleship before they depart for Thailand, India or the Haitian/Dominican boarder.

I look forward to meeting and getting to know each of the students before I teach in their schools. Many meals will become times of deep sharing, prayer and encouragement as they wrestle with the call of missions on their life. I look forward to being known as "Joy's Fiance" as her primary focus includes mentoring a small group of female students.

It is because of the prayers and financial generosity of my committed sponsors that I am able to train the next generations of world changing missionaries. Thank You!

New house...? Almost!

My beautiful Joy and I intend to be living in this exact RV once we are wed. Living on the YWAM Orlando campus will allow us to continue training the next generation of world changers. Would you like to help us purchase it? Click to donate.

Video: The four i's to full financial sponsorship

Every quarter at YWAM Orlando I get to ask students; Are you focused on studies or servanthood, ministry or money, business or the best for others? Do you find yourself rejecting the 9-5 rat race & American dream as a nightmare? Can really God provide all you need to fulfill His calling on your life into missions? Who is holding your money ransom - and why?

In this 51 min teaching I share how to Inspire, Inform, invite and Involve your team and how God wants to provide enough resources through His people for you to change the world. See www.iSupportYWAM.com for more info and tools.

A Wreck of a Week

I had a crazy yet Joy-ful week. For the story to make sense I will have to give you some history:

Creagon: Last fall I was trying to remember the names of the 50+ students that showed up for the Discipleship Training School at YWAM Orlando. One day at dinner I saw a smile that was very inviting so I sat next to her. I quickly realized she was something special. After introductions she said "So, you are Creagon! You have got to tell me more about this mobilization & communications thing you do for YWAM." Now this is not a typical pickup line, even in YWAM, but it worked for me! Interested, I found out that she has a degree in communications and has worked as a graphic artist for multiple ministries. Perfect right- cute girl, common interests, same place for the next three months - how simple could this get? But there was a problem .... YWAM Orlando asks all new students to hold off on starting new "romantic" relationships for six months. This avoids many headaches as many of our students are teens. Joy (I remember her name by now) was not a teen but willing to follow the rules during her initial training. On my part, lets just say that I followed the rules completely... but found lots of "work related excuses" to be near her. After spending twelve weeks in Orlando, Joy spent the first two months of 2011 in South Africa with her YWAM -DTS outreach. I was very curious to hear what her plans were when she got back.

"So I'll see you in a few weeks!" those were the words that put a smile on my face. Joy would be retuning for a program that when completed could lead to a long term staff position with YWAM Orlando. It also meant that there were no rules preventing our relationship from progressing. On her way back to Orlando I asked her if she would want to go to a church service with me....and meet my parents who were about to leave town. Looking back I will call that the first of our sixteen non-official dates. It was two months later when I officially asked her to be my girlfriend. Since then we don’t keep count of the dates, we just try to spend as much time together as possible. Last week this was easy as I was teaching about finding a financial sponsorship team in a course for future full time ministers - she was one of the students. (Insert your own teachers pet joke or song here).

Once the teaching was over, I took her out for a lazy Saturday at a book store and shopping. We finished the evening with sunset near a local lake. I dropped her off at her house and then started driving home. This is the last thing I remember before waking up in a hospital over two hours later.

Joy: 12:02am, Sunday, June 12, I received the scariest call of my life. My boyfriend, Creagon, had been involved in a serious car accident and was being rushed to the hospital. My heart stopped.

Creagon and I have only been officially dating for 2 weeks at the time of the crash, but I’ve been his for much longer than that. I met Creagon nearly 9 months ago, at the very beginning of my first training school with YWAM Orlando. He was on staff, and I was one of the many new students that invades the campus every 3 months. While sharing about my life, my passions, and plans for my future with my small group leader, she suggested that I talk to Creagon, as many of our interests were quite similar. Then one night at dinner, I find him conveniently beside me. I began talking to him about what he did at YWAM Orlando, involving marketing, communication, recruiting and fundraising. I’m caught up in his passion for mobilizing the next generation into missions and can’t stop staring at his gorgeous blue eyes. I knew I was in trouble. See, YWAM Orlando has a policy for all new students to not start any new romantic relationships while in their first school. And, I already had my life all planned out. It didn’t include staying in Orlando and finding a boyfriend. After sharing with Creagon my plans for the future, he says to me “OK, I know I have a deep voice and all, but I’m not God, so check with Him first, but you should really consider doing a secondary school and coming on staff here.” I laughed it off. Little did I know then those were in fact God’s plans for me.

I found myself wanting to be around Creagon more and more during this first school, but knowing that nothing could or should happen. Heck, I didn’t even know if he was interested in me! Most days, I thought I was crazy because I’d read into the way he looked at me, how often he touched my arm, and the time he spent with me. It wasn’t until after I got back from my 2 month outreach to South Africa, and was about to begin my second school at YWAM Orlando when I discovered that, in fact, I was not crazy. Creagon calls me and invites me to hang out with him and his parents, and immediately i knew this was different. From that point on, we began hanging out intentionally and consistently, until just a few short weeks ago, he asked me to be his girlfriend. My heart soared.

I was trying to wrap my brain around the details of the crash that Creagon’s parents were giving me on the phone while frantically trying to find my keys, shoes, and directions to the hospital. All I knew was that he had been hit, found unconscious in his car, and was now being rushed to the hospital downtown in seemingly stable condition. My roommate drove me [quickly] to be my his side, and on the way I passed his car...and I lost it. The damage was so severe I found myself wondering how he could ever walk away from it. We get to the ER and another phone call from his parents confirm that he is awake, alert and stable and I begin to breathe sighs of relief. It was still almost an hour before I could see him. I finally get to see him and I was relieved to see his handsome face looking up at me. He was pretty out of it, blanking on details, and repeating himself and I suspected he had a concussion.

From more phone calls with his parents and Creagon’s fragmented memory, we began to piece together what happened that night. Creagon dropped me off at 11:15pm and began his drive home. Not even 10 minutes later, he was stopped at a red-light behind two other cars when another vehicle ran right into the back of him, and left the scene. The driver of the first vehicle saw what had happened, and immediately called 911. He went to Creagon’s car and found him unconscious. Unsuccessful in opening the driver’s side door, he went around to the passenger side to help Creagon out of the car, who had now woken up. Creagon was able to remember and recite his parent’s Michigan phone number, which the “guardian angel” was able to contact. Creagon’s parents began calling people at YWAM Orlando once they learned how serious the accident was. I was woken up from my sleep with this terrifying news. Creagon was taken away in an ambulance, still in and out of consciousness, then transferred to a helicopter and rushed downtown.
After talking to doctors and nurses, we discovered that he did have a severe concussion as well as seatbelt bruising. As scary as that sounded, what “could have been” was much scarier. He was released at 6:00am, and I was able to finally take him home. The next few days were a blur. I became something of a nurse/girlfriend. In between making sure he slept, he ate, took medicine when he hurt, went to the doctor’s appointments, I was helping him filter emails, find his car and get his belongings out of it, answer work texts & calls, and track down his missing driver’s license. Hence the blur.


The fog has finally lifted, and his recovery is becoming more and more manageable. His symptoms, while still present, are not as severe and we’re just preparing for however long this process will take. I’m just so grateful that he’s still with me. My heart rests.

Creagon: Thanks for all your prayers and encouraging comments!

"So we are on the basketball court in Asia..."

I spent Friday asking students how God used them on outreach. More stories are to come but I had to put this one up now!

Teaching about how to connect with your neighbors as you reach the world

Yesterday, I stood infront of bright lights, 3 professional video cameras, and a dozen expert communicators. My goal was to present the case of relation based sponsorship and create a video resource that will be used world wide. In the audience was Betty Barnett, author of the book: Friend Rasing.

After my presentation was over Betty met me at the podium. She told me that I had "really made this your own". I was so encouraged to hear this from one of YWAM's pioneers on this subject. I praise God for the privilege to to see him provide over the year for so many willing labors. Thank you for your prayers and sponsorship that makes this happen!

Electricity at YWAM Orlando?....Almost!

Wanted to give you an update about me in Orlando!

• This week, I have been teaching/coaching our students how to connect with potential sponsors for their up-coming mission trip to prevent human trafficking. (I have been collecting such teachings on a resource website: www.iSupportYWAM.com)
• Most of my time here is focused on connecting with donors for YWAM Orlando's new campus. A huge answer to prayer is every day we see the local electricity company putting up poles See a video I shot of Director, Michael Berg and the first poles:
  
  
  
  
  http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=gJIRyn9zYnY
  Since we purchased Our campus in Aug 2010 has been without electricity. We are compensating by running generators 24/7 to keep refrigerators and lights going. We have been waiting for the local Electricity company to start their deployment of a new electrical grid of high voltage wires for over 7 months. (All wires, transformers and outlets were removed from the campus before we purchased it.)
• All this is essential as I met two youth leaders who were on camps checking out the work that needs doing as they bring a group of 200 youth to volunteer their labor for over a week while staying at our campus later on this summer.

Please pray:

• That thousands of students will continue embrace their calling into global missions through YWAM Orlando.
• That God will continue to guide me into the balance of work that He wants to use me to do an not become overwhelmed with the needs of training hundreds of new missionaries and developing the funds and campus needed to prepare them.
• That our campus will become fully functional and ready to receive the continuing wave of students that are coming our way.
• That the Electric poles will be placed through out the campus, get working Electrical wires and are finished as soon as possible.
• That local permitting officials will give us occupancy permits as the necessary utilities are established. (electric is needed for the well to create positive water pressure and that will allow for certified fire suppressant flow, plumbing and sewage)

Thank you all so much for your prayers!

Crazy Sky!

Lost power at the office today and the sky is crazy looking! Welcome to FL!

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Nate's story!

How to tell a story that will inspire, inform and involve others.

Sent from my phone

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Jonny shares about the person and problem before solution and situation

Jonny needed thousands of dollars in only a few weeks. He had experience, passion, skill and the willingness to change the world, but needed to articulate the inspiration and information that would draw a tribe of prayer warriors to his cause.  I am often asked by people like Jonny to review a support letter they have written. Many times the majority of their letter focuses on a vague dream for some program or situation that will provide a possible solution to an undefined problem.  
    I told Jonny “Start with a clean slate. Start your story with a name of a real person, real time in your history, real emotions, real quotes, and real feelings. Verbally make me see a situation where God used you....through your eyes, ears and heart! Use your words to show me the tear in the eye of the orphan instead of simply stating that Asia has problems and showing me a generalistic and fuzzy image of the continent. Introduce me to the PERSON then the PROBLEM.... Only then will I care enough and take the time to read about the SOLUTION and SITUATION.  

People want to be INSPIRED and INFORMED but you must remember that what God has been doing in your life over the past 20 hours, 20 weeks, 20 months, or even 20 years must catch their interest on paper in less than 20 seconds. Otherwise many will put the page down in hopes of reading it later. If you can minster to the desire to find a BRIDGE connecting their LOCAL life to a GLOBAL solution many will gladly join your tribe and help be the SOLUTION to the PROBLEM you so clearly identified!”

I then challenged Jonny to do something counter-intuitive “Don’t ask for the money you need in this letter...don’t even make it a prayer point. Instead, in this letter you will only ask for their prayers. Imagine with me if each person that received this letter was so inspired and informed that they began to immediately pray for you and the solution to the problem you identified. Imagine if each of these people, while praying for you, had the chance to hear about your financial need first from God with out you mentioning or hinting about money. Imagine if when you ask for money it was not a new idea to them but instead only confirmation to what God had already been speaking to them. By only asking for prayer in your first letter you allow the God who knows your need to speak to His people first.”

Jonny sent me a draft of His letter and I hope you find it as inspirational and informative as I do. Please pray for Jonny.... not for His need but that he will continue to be a solution to the lack of worship in many nations, one of our wolds greatest problems!

“Mala is a young boy in the slums of Pattaya Thailand. While in his slum I helped teach English. After a few days of playing games with him I spoke the words "I Love you" through a translator.  He turned and gave me the biggest and strongest hug I have ever gotten from a child. Then I told him "Jesus loves you" and he squeezed me even harder. At that moment my heart broke for those children. When ever I think of missions I think of Mala and his smile… his great big smile! I wanted to be a roll model for him and wished I could show him a way to worship God with music but I didn't have the courage or ability to lead in a time of worship. I wish so badly that I can see him again. I don't want to miss another chance to lead others into a time of worshiping God. The next 3 months I will be at YWAM Orlando increasing my courage and ability to worship musically. By spending 12 weeks with experts with experience from across the globe, I will gain the confidence to lead people from many nations into a true form of worshiping God. Together with your prayers we can give many new friends, like Mala, a chance to know and worship their creator.

Thank you for your partnership, -Jonny”

P.S. Look for a followup post about how I recommend asking for the money you need with out making people hide around the isle next time you are in the grocery store.

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Crying in Louisville!

The YWAM Team in Louisville KY asked me to come teach in their staff training retreat about personal sponsorship team development. I am so glad for the opportunity. For the past two days I have been teaching and meeting with staff to discover their calling, vision and how to communicate that to sponsors. Each day someone has literally shed tears… I have come to believe wasn't because of me but simply because they were overwhelmed by the vision God has for their life and the need of those who they are called to. I feel funny saying it but I pray that I will get to see someone else cry today! I will return to Orlando Wednesday evening.

From Calcutta, India

Some of the students I taught and lived with last fall in our Discipleship Training School are on outreach and reported from Calcutta, India that:

Our team went to a street kids ministry where children who are 2-10 yrs old come to play, brush their teeth, have a shower, and wash their clothes. Our team decided to bless the children by washing their feet and praying over them. They shared the story of how Jesus washed Peter's feet. In Hindu India, feet are seen as the most spiritually unclean and untouchable part of the body. At first, the children were reluctant. But when our team began to touch their feet and played worship music in the background, the children and staff started to weep at the presence of God. The children were amazed to see white people (seen as the highest caste) washing their feet. Something is starting to happen in this city. We feel like a breakthrough is coming!" (Click for more photos)

Thank you for your prayers and sponsorship that make this possible!

Video: What is Forgiveness? Winter 2011 DTS

I spent some time asking the students I work with what they have learned about Forgiveness in a weeks time. I love the result!

Best book I have read re: financial sponsorship

Every time some one asks me where to start finding financial sponsorship I wish we had a common foundation to start the conversation on. I am at a loss where to begin and find myself visiting the same subjects, like: Biblical Foundation, Valuing the Relationship, and God is our Source. Scott Morton has put all of this and much more in one book. If I was to write a book it would be this: Funding Your Ministry: Whether You're Gifted or Not by Scott Morton

God wants to provide through His people!

I spent the morning teaching in the Winter 2010 DTS. I hope you enjoy the audio link.

  
Download now or listen on posterous

1_17_11_10_30_AM_Winter_DTS_Support_teach.m4a (57408 KB)

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