oh, sorry, i thought you were my brother-in-law

ticket please, originally uploaded by israelboyce.

costco demo ladies are the sweetest!
another day i thought my stomach would burst from happiness and food...

Lord willing i leave in a few hours over a week. my mind is still wrapping around the fact that this may actually happen.... that God is really working in this!
about a year ago, i was pursuing YWAM in oxford... got accepted, and was planning on going.
i was broke, had no ticket, and no gear...
haha, and God totally blew my mind with another ministry opportunity. now please understand, my perception of ministry opportunity DOES NOT just deal with church stuff..... i'm referring to the opportunity God opened up for reconciliation with my family in S.dakota.
i now have no doubt that that is where He had me with reason.
from when i moved to oregon, up until recently, i was wandering out of brokenness.... now i'm wandering with confidence to do His will.

as for this YWAM experience... ticket is bought, steps are passing by, and faith is growing.
yesterday some more support came in, along with today. i do admit that the people themselves are what bring joy and encouragement. seeing that someone with their own agenda and life, would want to take part of that, and sow it into another person's life and journey gives me hope. not hope that i will reach tuition cost... but that people are good at heart... God is bringing families back together.... and He's sending hope to the nations, even in my own backyard.

today i handed out hugs at costco... along with answers to what's next, and "you cut your hair!", though that's not really a question...
it seems that i'm always blessed when i enter that place.... such as when i was walking up to the entrance... i couldn't keep from smiling and thinking of all my friends.
yes, it was an amazing day. i spent 5 hours there...

the other day, i received the biggest gift of encouragement.
during some time reading "is that really you God?" i was convicted on some stuff. i had let apathy, laziness, and discouragement get in the way of God. i had taken my eyes away from Him, and had really started feeling it.
I was quickly reminded and encouraged to keep Him my priority!

priority.

the thing that takes up most of our thoughts.
the #1 on your list of important things to keep important.

one way He showed me to keep Him top is praying.
praying for anything....everything...and grandma too!

i have been filled with a deep peace about things due to this lifestyle of prayer. i'm finding out it can't just be 'praying at convenience'...

may we pray more. i've heard it said it's the lifeline to You.. i agree. if we never talked to our spouse, or friends..... or if we only spoke to them when we really needed something, how would a relationship ever work?
help us to see what real relationship entails.
thank You for all the joys today, and everyday. may Your unfailing love come with the dawn!
bless all who love You, and shower all who don't with Your love!
thank You Jesus!
In Your name, Amen!

when i was out on a walk, not but an hour ago... i had stopped and was looking at the city lights below. a vehicle pulled around the corner and stopped in front of me, rolled down the window, and asked... "what are you doin?"....
"what?"
"what are you doin?"
"me?"
"oh, sorry, i thought you were my brother-in-law. you looked just like him..."
"aw shucks!" with a waving gesture...

we both laugh..."hahahaha".

the end.

thank you for praying for me.

donnie

donnie, originally uploaded by israelboyce.

a few days back i was reminded of why we are here...

i find it so easy to get caught up thinking about random things that don't matter..... such as.... looking at a cars tires as i walk by and thinking, they must get around good in the snow... or wondering what those kids are thinking of my high shorts and bald spots on my calfs due to tighter pants.... understand?....

but as i was walking the other day, i felt a heavy pull on my heart to go and talk to this man that was sitting at the 7-11. of course i was full of arguments.... aren't we all...
oh, ugh, i'm on the other side of the street...
or... what if he's crazy....

what if he was crazy...? well then i would have an interesting story of me getting away, and i'm sure he wouldn't be sitting out there very long before someone figured something was up...

after continuing on my way, i took an immediate right, crossed the street, and walked up next to him and sat down. we shared some small talk... all the while i was thinking... "what am i suppose to do?" so, i asked him about... himself.
he told me why he was where he is, and where he's staying now. i remember thinking that i wish there was something i could really do for this guy... something that will make his day...

before leaving, and after this picture, i asked him what i could keep in prayer for him...

and he replied,

a home.

donnie is a real guy, with real needs.

i wish i could have given him a home on the spot!
and just said, well mr. peterson, today is your blessed day,
come on, say it with me..... move that bus... or just look what we have behind curtain number 7 or 11.... heck, both!
i wish i could have said something to make his pain go away...

i told him that i will be praying for him, and you can be too... because pray works. God knows our needs. and though we can't always see the fruit that comes for the seed... we can pray with eager expectation, knowing that we aren't just saying words up to the sky, or at a wall or the floor... 

King David prays in psalm 17, "I am praying to you because I know you will answer, O God. Bend down and listen as I pray."

Father, may we believe when we pray to You, that You hear our cries, and You rescue those who cry out. our streets are full of donnies, real people with real, practical needs. give homes to the homeless, food to the hungry, and freedom to the addicted. rescue them, as You have said You will do. bring healing on the streets, hope in the alleys, love in the church. may those who call themselves Your followers, stop living to satisfy themselves. and may all who really love You, show Your love to the people whom others selfishly walk by.
thank You for Jesus. may we not forget what He did for us. help us to pursue the life You have called us to. i'm sorry for not doing things i should and for doing the things i shouldn't.
thank You for not condemning us.
in Your Son's name, amen!

we need change.
God bless Donnie.

connecting dots

today i got a pink band-aide, and a daffy duck one...

one for the typhoid, and one to finish out the twinrix (hep-a, hep-b).

following... i road my bike to costco.

the demo ladies, as usual, filled me up with their yummy goodness, 

not to mention their hugs and questions.

while there today, i had the opportunity to chat with john.

i'm so excited for him. though things have been rough for him over the last few months...

it has brought Him to a new relationship with the Creator of Mankind.

the ride home was full of head wind, and though my rump wasn't too sore, i was certainly tired.

got home, showered, and slept.   

walked to church for youth group and was again blessed by a beautiful sunset.... not to mention an awesome time during worship and throughout the message. 

pk asked us - what got us excited? which is a good question. 

i realized, building relationships, connecting, and loving on others is what really excites me. 

what excites you?

following youth, i ate some peanut butter and honey, then hung out with steve and met an amazing man dave. 

the time with them was so good. we painted, listened to august burns red, talked about God, and ate chili dogs.     

note - pepperidge farm gold fish with milk in a bowl you just ate chili and hotdogs from isn't bad, but i wouldn't recommend it.... especially drinking the milk at the end...

i'm super thankful that God is connecting the dots perfectly with ywam...  and again, can hardly wait to see how He will bring in the rest of the finances. 

here's the way i've noticed it has been taking place....

i'll have a preconceived idea... such as, oh....he/she won't be able to help support for whatever reason...not trying to judge...   but then it's through friends like that where He brings in support. 

it just continues to blow me out of the water...   

so thank you all who have continued to support me with this. it's definitely not about me, or you, but about God and His plan for the lost, forsaken, hurt, and oppressed of the world!

thank you for all of the prayers.

may God bless you with His highest... just for being you.

much love....  israel

read Heb. 10-12 again... OUTLOUD...

Heb. 10-12 read it again and again...

well....

after much thought, prayer, hope, fears, doubts, and renewed faith...

i bought a plane ticket for Deutschland.

haha, non-refundable, so i have to go....hahaha  

i don't know that i would have....

as i started searching for them again...

like i have been doing for the last month at least...

... i was encouraged to read Heb. 10-12 by a friend...

his update said something like this... "i think everyone needs to stop what they are doing and read Heb. 10-12 right now. so good."

so i did.

and then i found a ticket and bought it.

i am deeply encouraged.

it feels like there has been a huge load of events, full of accomplishment and progress, taken care of today...

haha, i bought the ticket, and my brother sent out my rucksack from s.dakota. had the chance to tell my mom that i love her. went for a couple bike rides...

(alright...yesterday was the first time riding the bike in a couple months. 

1. i admit to being out of shape...maple street hill tried to kill me yesterday... 

2. i forgot how hard my seat is...  so when i hopped on it today....   it was tender to the touch.        one other thing... then we'll get outta these parenthesis...  

jaron and i rode yesterday. we rolled up to an intersection, and i thought to myself, "oh man, the intersection that ended it all...."  or something about death...  it kinda creeped me out. after waiting for a bit, i thought the way was clear, and all i remember after starting to peddle was jaron yelling, "wait, israel....   the right!"    i had gone without checking both ways, probably due to so many one way streets...     i could have easily been hit by the truck, from a simple mistake. but i was being watched out for.      so....     i say it a lot, but this is proof...    thank you all so much for your prayers.)

what a rabbit trail eh...

i am serious though, thank you for your prayers. 

we really should all know that God answers prayers...  if we didn't believe this, then why do we pray...?

i hope that when you pray, you'll not only think about the words that come from your mouth, but also believe that our Daddy is listening and delights to hear you talk to Him. i encourage you, though, to not only talk to Him when you need something, but when all is well. it's not like you reached it on your own. 

i want to also encourage you to ditch the schedules. not call into work, or leave a friend hanging, but step back from your own goals for the day, and listen... ask God what He wants to accomplish. seek ways to further His Kingdom here on earth. 

Father, thank You for the relationship You desire with us. for knowing our needs before we even ask. and for building our character with trials, failures, and sacrifice. i'm sorry for my lack of faith... please help us believe. thank You so much for Your love, for Your will, and protection. may our lives be about more than ourselves. help us to do what we know is right, and not to do what we know is wrong. may we please You in our every decision, even when we are sleeping. 

thank You for the price You paid to grant us forgiveness once and for all! thank You for Jesus. 

please send more workers for the harvest. and sustain all those who are working for it. please make us part of Your plan. In Jesus name, Amen!

God is so good!

what is one miracle He performed in your life today?

mine is that He gave me peace, and encouraged me to have faith, even in the midst of everything. oh, and i saw the most beautiful sunset!

to tim and sally's...and beyond

whew.... i am now in washington...spokane to be exact!

it was a crazy trip, but obviously so good.

billings seems to have this.... layover atmosphere.
last year around this time, i had to stay there for six hours while i waited for my bus.
well...this time the bus i was on got there around midnight thirty thursday morning, and we were suppose to leave around 1:30... however, due to a storm, the bus had only a few empty seats...
and i was one of the people who was left there...
so, here's what i got to do for the sixteen hours i waited before leaving...

i slept under a bench in the depot..
made a bunch of new friends..
laughed my bootie off from the strangest things..
walked to albertsons and got bananas, honey and bread to add to my arsenal of peanut butter..
suffered from lack of sleep..
listened..
almost hitchhiked..
waited..
ate a billion honey and peanut butter sandwiches..
waited...
prayed for all the people there..
and ate some dark chocolate! yum!

it was quite the time...and can't say i wanted to do it, but God blessed me through it.
eventually we all got on the next bus and headed west, but after our stop in missoula, a man named dominick sat by me. we chatted and slept and chatted some more over the next few hours before my stop, and it was a blessing to say the least.... and a wonderful act of God to show His kindness and fill me up with encouragement in all sorts of areas in my heart and life to say the mid-least...
i'd say a friend for life!

eventually we pulled into spokane around 3 am, and i got to tim and sally's at 4 am...followed by a good sleep!

ywam!

alright, i'm still super stoked to see God continue to hook all this up.
He's continued to show His promise true of seeking first His kingdom and living righteously and He will give us everything we need!

i notice the end word being need vs. want... well, i think it's also talking about spiritual needs vs. just material junk...
He has been giving me more faith, patience, self-control, joy, peace... things i need. i've also been filled with a passion, love and new hope for right now.

i received a letter from berlin with the list of "to-dos" or "to haves" and i'm lacking terribly...

so, thank You Lord for providing everything we need. may our eyes be taken off the temporal and fixed on the everlasting, the bigger picture that surrounds us. may Your name be brought glory through these next few weeks of preparation before ywam, and the other students continue to trust and praise You.
Papa, we lift up all of our friends, family...strangers, and all of their needs up to You. may Your people step up in obedience to share Your love to those around. do what only You can do. send more workers for this harvest.
search us, and know our hearts.
test us and know our anxious thoughts.
see if there is any offensive way in us...
and lead us in the way everlasting.
make us part of Your plan.

if you have any needs, praise Him.


much love to all of you, and thanks so much for reading these and keeping track.

may God slap a gleeful smile on your face, and you plaster one on a stranger's....

berlin dts coming soon...

thank you all so much for the prayers and support!

yesterday, i got the muchly anticipated phone call from erik @ the berlin base

and i am officially accepted...

which has encouraged me so much!

before hanging up, he reminded me not to lose heart...

over the past 3 days i have received more financial support, and i am so thankful for all who continue to listen to the pulls on their hearts....

but i am still quite a ways off from having the full amount just yet..

i know God is providing and leading my steps.

exodus 33:14-15...

The Lord replied, "I will personally go with you, Moses, and I will give you rest-everything will be fine for you."

Then Moses said, "If you don't personally go with us, don't make us leave this place..."

that is where my heart is... if God doesn't go before me, then i'm fighting a losing battle. by ourselves, whoa.....!

we are in trouble....

but He doesn't call us to this fight alone!

may His presence continue to lead our steps towards the lost, hungry, wounded....

the pregnant teen... the lonely middle school student...

the oppressed... the helpless...

the forgotten.

move... because if we aren't the ones oppressed, then maybe we are the ones oppressing...

i'm going to continue to go for this because i know that it will make a difference. it will reach someone. it will change hearts. and it's not because of me.... but because of God's love and grace that He continues to pour inside of us to overflow on those around us... those who haven't accepted that sacrifice yet...

if it comes down to boarding the plane with insufficient funds, i'll do it believing...

i trust God!

i believe...

and here's my squeaky wheel role...

the Discipleship Training School starts on April 5th... i am still low, from a humanly perspective, quite a bit... but choose with me to look at it with a different perspective...

if you would like to support me financially for this dts and outreach, please trust God...

and most of all, please continue your prayers, they carry me through my own doubt and discouraging thoughts...

send support to the address below...

Israel Boyce

c/o Pfarrkircher

Landsberger Allee, 219 b

13055 Berlin

Germany

or

Israel Boyce

3741 Canyon Lake Dr. 2-307

Rapid City, SD 57702

or

Israel Boyce

427 W Kiernan

Spokane, WA 99205

preferably the first one...

and again i urge you.... you don't have to be in another country to make a difference. have some empathy this week as you see others who need help. God loves them just as much as He loves you.

no one is in any way better than another because of the life they live.

before anything else, we were all made in the image of the invisible.

you can do something where you are...

but don't forget those who don't have the comforts or resources you have.

i would almost argue that they have it better. when life is lived in a constant state of needed trust in God, miracles are noticed a lot more often. eating becomes a miracle.

Father, i choose to trust You in all of this. i know that where You call, You provide...

i ask that You bless 100 fold to those who are willing to step out in faith and support this calling. may Your will be done with all of this, and may our faith in You continue to grow...

we love You... thank You for the callings You place in our hearts. make us part of Your awesome plan and to get past ourselves.

please pull me...us out of our comfort zones to reach more of Your beloved, and recklessly follow Your heart.

thank You for loving all of us, even when we realize how unworthy we are of it. may our hearts be humbled and our eyes be opened!

thank You for Jesus!

it's in His name that we can trust You, and that others will believe!

help us get out of the way so that Jesus may be seen!

amen!

i love all of you, and again, thank you for all of your prayers.

the initial pain of faith is worth it.

two full grown men on a moped

another quick update before my computer freezes up again...

this last week has been amazing, and full of great times with my family and friends.

thank you all for your prayers, support, and encouragement.

thank you!

i have had some time to just relax and spend with God, which i'm finding is so necessary in my life. but at the same time, i wish i could spend every moment talking and being aware of His presence. i do recognize that i would not be where i am, or as blessed as i am without Him, and only Him...

i suppose here is a quick list of events this past week...

my mother and i enjoyed a feast at curry masala as well as at home...

slept outside by choice.

cut my dreads off (scalp pain, and too much maintenance) 

worship wednesday...  absolutely healing and refreshing.

got my ticket for spokane...

met up with 'ol but great friends

skated...

got a ride on a moped...

rode the moped...

got laughed at for being on a moped with another full grown man...

felt european..

read encouragement...

went bouldering with my brother 

went again with bill.

ran out of things for this list.........

ywam: i got a call from erik at the ywam base in berlin. it was super good. i really look forward to seeing what God is going to do next with everything. i'm still short 2,000 usd but not fretting...   i'm told to expect a phone call back either friday or next week...    

Father, we ask for Your wisdom for the ywam staff as they choose students to attend this dts. i know that Your will is the best. may their choices be guided by You! bring break through to the people of berlin through this. and bring breakthrough to all who attend. thank You for providing for those who trust in You. let Your name be glorified! thank You for this opportunity. in Jesus name, amen!

i leave for washington next wednesday (Lord willing) and i'm super stoked to be carrying a light pack this time. it's a hassle to carry a full bag and ride the bus, but the main reason for the excitement is for the opportunities to see God provide in everyday life. why wait for out of the ordinary times to lay everything at His feet and expect Him to do something...    

i look forward to telling of the amazing things He continues to do.

for example...  my mother's car was acting up, so she prayed, as did i and took it in today to find out it was minor repair that came at NO COST! it may seem small to some but a miracle none the less...

if you look for miracles, you will probably find your day is filled with them...

so thank You Daddy!

(i met a lady named dorothy where my dad lives in nebraska. she hosts a prayer group on mondays and i had the privilege or attending it while i was there...  she said something to me that hit hard at home! "the Lord is so good...i've seem Him answer too many of my prayers not to believe...")

i pray your life would be a living example of God's love...

that your eyes would be opened to His many miracles in your life...

also that you would be aware of what you are allowing into your mind and body...

may our lives be about something more than ourselves...

thank You for Your Son and the price He paid for us.

In His name, Amen!

and as one more friendly suggestion... don't watch pg-13 movies....

crapid

i'm in crapid city now!

thursday morning started rather slow...

hoping to be outta gering area by 8:30ish... we didn't leave until 10:30ish.

due to a frequency of waiting on the side of the road and learning that God knows what He's doing with that time, it was easier to trust that everything was good!

i was stunned at the fast weather change. 

being in the 50s at the start, we quickly noticed frost build up on plants, road signs, and barbed wire fences as we drove further north towards chadron.

after an hour spend warming up while my pops and i munched on a belated breakfast...

i unoccupied the passenger seat and started a rhythmatic strut north.

frequently turning my face south because of the sting the wind left, i breathed into my gloves and watched a small daewoo pull over in a kind gesture to save me from the cold....

shortly later i found out the sting felt on my face was from a below -8 degree wind...

at first thought about getting back to rapid, i hoped to catch rides through the black hills, but was content with  staying on a straight path to keep from massive confusion...

however, this daewoo of two people was headed to custer and let me out close crazy horse monument...

the weather had again quickly changed but for the better. i walked for close to a mile when my new ride pulled over and the cab of his pickup was quickly filled with conversation as we made out way through the black hills....    and to crapid city.

i think every part of this trip has had it's benefits.

while out on the road waiting, usually it's just me...and God, which makes for amazing worship and prayer, or conversing with Him.

after someone picks me up, more great conversation. usually filled with life stories and testimonies....

but occasionally we will find small talk which can quickly turn deep (and frequently does)

and while staying at somebody's home, it makes for much free time to do as one pleases, but i find myself on long walks filled with more worship and whatever may come along.

already the time spend here has given me great joy. 

thank you everyone who continually prays for me. 

i received an e-mail from the ywam berlin that they have all my references and will be contacting me within the next week or two.

my finances stand at $1040 usd, and $2075 is required plus a roundtrip ticket to germany.

i can't thank enough all of you who have given to this cause.

i'm stoked to see how My Provider will bring the rest of what is needed in when it is needed.

but trust me, you will hear about it if you're not already part of it...

Thank You Daddy for calling us to something greater than ourselves. for creating us to need relationships. to need a relationship with You as well as others around us. thank You for giving us the perfect example that we could know how to treat and love others the way You do. help us not limit You in our lives, but live with our eyes focused on the impossible. with our hearts leading our steps.

thank You for providing and blessing me with everything i need at just the right time. 

stretch us. 

we love You, and praise You for Your love!

in Jesus name, amen!

another novella type blog, but minus the apologizes. 

if there is some issue in your family.... don't wait to pray about it. and don't stop praying until something gets done. i assure you it is THAT worth it and so much more.

much love....israel