paare Fotos und mehr!

bario berlin, originally uploaded by israelboyce.

the other day... i was able to get a couple rolls of film developed from YWAM. you can check out more at my flickr address.

enjoy.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/translatelove/


on other notes, i am at the base in idaho. it is so good to be here with everyone. i should be leaving here on sunday towards the dakota!

it's been really difficult lately. prayers would be muchly appreciated. i'll be headed back to the family, which will be really good. and i feel that i may be headed back to berlin soon... and am praying about january. but.. if this be the case, if this is from God, i think we can all expect seeing Him do some really good things.
direction and faith is really needed.

as of now, i will be working towards going in january, but if things change, be sure you will know about it!

may you and i come to know... in our hearts.. that God loves us. no more of that silly mind stuff. but good genuine truth!

i pray that we will be aware of the things going on around us.. that our actions and thoughts would be of selflessness and our actions prove it.

God, i can't imagine how much You must love us. please make us part of Your plan. help us represent You will.
i love You so much... thoughts of You.. of Your love... of Jesus.. overwhelm me to tears. please please help me represent You well. You are all that matters. i trust You.... thank You Jesus...

viel liebe, israel

blindfolded by reason but leaping with Hope!

tomorrow... Lord willing i will be headed towards idaho. i am so looking forward to seeing sam and all the people at the idaho YWAM base. it's been a month, but too long. :)

but at the same time, i feel as if i just got to spokane. sometimes its as if i can't spend enough time here. on top of that, God keeps bringing new people into my life.

of all the places i have been, all the people i have met, all the introductions that have been made, it still breaks my heart when i have to say goodbye, or until our paths cross again.

i would say this is by far more of a blessing than a curse.

i remember about a year ago.. i was getting ready to go on the hitchin trip to tennessee and the southeast area. the real question that keep coming to my mind was: why am i going there? of all the places... there?

then during some time just asking God... i felt the answer so clear.

of course i had never wanted to go because it had the opposite of what i wanted to see... in land features. i wanted mountains.. snow... volcanoes... elevation changes... and it had... the boondocks?

i had never wanted to go, because traveling was more about the sights.. the smells.. the new adventures i was craving. but when His answer came, it changed the whole meaning behind traveling and has shaped my motives for being on the road.

the people.

it was for the people.

to share His love with them,

to share His sorrows with them,

to share life with them.

since i have been back from Berlin, i have found myself on the road again. my main goal while being back was to work. to pay of debt. and to return. what i have found myself doing has been visiting friends. making new friends. and feeling more and more a tug on my heart for those i have been sharing life with.

i want so badly to get those loans paid off... to be released from financial debt. to be able to pick up and go when He says, and not have those questions of... oh, well how will i make payments if i don't have a form of income?...

i feel the calling right now to be back with my family in south dakota (rapid city) for the holidays. i don't know if that means God will hook up a job while i am there... but i can only trust His love is real.. He is faithful.. and He provides where He calls.

on top of that, i have felt a peace in my heart about going back to Berlin soon. my heart cries for the people there. and i have no idea how this will work out. :)

but that's the suspense of putting your trust in something higher than logic and reason.

when i was with sams family in salem over the last few weeks, i got to spend much time with his younger brother and sisters. we would enjoy creative conversations about the board game 'candy land' and how we would defeat the evil mrs nut.. and jack peppermint. but more than that, i can look back and enjoy how they would do what their parents told them to do and never worry about there needs.

sam has a family that i haven't seen too much of. one that really shows a relationship much in likeness to how ours with God should look. acting when told to, and resting in assurance that things are under control...

children of God.

having faith like children... of God.

there are many of you who are in the same place as myself. but we are not just putting our faith into things we can see, smell.. or touch. we are taking steps of obedience under the grace of the Creator of life, and our Daddy whom loves us soooo much!

people of spokane, i will truly miss you. but we will again meet in His timing!

viel liebe, israel

Spokane und viel Segen

alrighty.... well.. as the title reveals, i am in spokane, and the story it quite proof of God's blessings!

over the past weeks, i have been in oregon.. mostly salem staying with sams (the best roommate ever) parents. there was a couple trips made to eugene.. and much waiting and seeking God on where and what to do next.

there have been two things on my heart since i got back from eugene the second time.. and very important things to say the least!

family...

and

Berlin.

i had the recent desire to be back with my family for the holidays. however, being in oregon and not having a job made it look pretty week on seeing it happen.

here is where it gets better...

ready?

i have been praying and looking online for possible ways of getting back.. or at least spokane...

rideshare, greyhound, flights, hitchin... finding not so good deals... and my heart unrestful forced me to continue to pray and ask what's next...?

then yesterday i felt Him tell me to pack my stuff. it was one of those moments of...

what? why? i don't have a ride anywhere....

but i did pack. then after questioning Him, i felt an assurance that I would be leaving, and it won't be how i expect..

thus.. i started looking online for more tickets and rideshares...

of course nothing was working... in fact, the prices had gone up.

but sure enough, that night something happened. and the next morning i am driving up to spokane in sams sisters car.

so, all Lord willing, i will be leaving here mid next week for cascade Idaho again to visit sam and the dts. there i will drop of the car, which sam and some others will use to get home for thanksgiving, and i will meet up with a rideshare in boise at the end of next week for a ride straight to rapid city!

please keep in mind, life plans are subject to change!

i can't explain logistically to you how God blows my mind.... how He continually blows my mind!

it's like reading a book you can't put down.... it ends, but then another sequel comes out.. and it's even better! this keeps happening, until one day when it is all wrapped up and the memories fade into the sun with the events making the stars.

God has been so good to me.. to us! we screw up, and He comes running to us.. not away. He grabs our hand firmly, looking us straight into the eyes, tears matching ours, and we feel His warm embrace.

i can honestly say that He has never once abandoned me! and i pray that His truth will reign deeper and deeper in my heart!

less of us...

more of Him.

i pray this for you! i pray that you could see and be reminded of all He has done in your lives.

may this thanksgiving be about honest thanks... but also about real hope too!

Wir haben Hoffnung!

We have hope!

thank you all for your prayers and blessings! for reading as i chew on my thoughts...

i hope you all know that you are a part of me. if we have met by accident.. then my heart had an accidental spot just waiting for you!

i am not sure what the next weeks are to look like, but i know they will be good, because He is good, and that is where my hope will be!

i am still seeking support as i prepare to go back to Berlin.. and also seeking about work to pay towards school loans.

i feel something good is coming up... that same feeling before i knew what was going on yesterday... that same feeling when He took me on that hitchin trip last year...

thank You God for making me part of Your plans...

thank You God for the hugs!

viel viel liebe, and may His blessing wipe away sorrow and remind you of who He has been and will always be!

tschüssie, israel

eugene again....?

eugene, eugene...

as i left eugene the first time last week, realization sunk in that i didn't visit a couple people i wanted to. so a couple days ago, i felt the need to come back again. it was one of those, ok God, will You hook it up if this is Your will?...

of course He did!

i was graciously lent an auto to come down with. Lord willing i will be leaving back up to salem this afternoon, but already last night was a blessings.

i love you seth and pappas! i know that God loves you so much more and that He has good stuff in store for you!

i think we will see soon if i am headed north, or how far north i am headed...

but over all of it, i completely know that He has a plan. He loves us!

the way things are looking, spontaneous and unpredictable, to those who are reading this, i may be seeing you soon. but know that i love you and thank you for your prayers.

'i pray to You because i know that You hear listen. bend down and hear my prayer. show me Your grace in wonderful ways. You rescue with power those who seek shelter from their enemies. protect me like the apple of Your eye and give me safety under the shadow of Your wing!' Die Psalm 17.6-8 translated from german (excuse all horrible mistakes )

viel liebe!!!

israel

grüße von eugene....

ich freue mich...

last tuesday i met a guy named kory. he was headed to eugene, as was i, thus he picked me up from the on ramp. immediatly i took a liking to him. he has been on the road since june and was headed to eugene to find some open mics to jam at to finance more living on the road. things were perfect in confirming timing for visiting eugene. we were both leaving back north on friday, so as things arranged, we enjoyed another ride together to salem friday.
-kory, you are a blessing and i am stoked to have met you. may God continue to provide for you and care for you in the variety He has been. you are loved and needed in this world!
until we meet again! :)

it was confirmed last sunday that i needed to visit eugene. so i left tuesday with no real plans. after some texts, things feel into place with grace.
-aj and rachel, you two have a blessed marriage and future. God has visibly shown you both His favor in your marriage and lives! please never forget how much you are both loved. may His voice be clearly in your hearts and minds and His passion burning from a depth so great, the roots define who you both are! and thank you for the time you spend with me. listening, encouraging, and blessing. you are truly a brother and sister in Christ to me! Vielen Dank!
-galassini, it was so good to see you again. i am so happy for you with your new family and joy that He has given you. in everything that you have gone through, give Him the glory for the new hope that is always there! don't neglect the things you know need to be done, but know that you are not alone. He is with you and will shower you in grace as you take steps! i pray that our friendship is not allowed to be snuffed out but that it will burn with love and truth! amanda, it was a pleasure to meet you and thank you so much for your hospitality. chris, thank you for your quick acceptance. i pray that you sink in His love! it is wonderful!
-poets, you are always such an encouragement to be with. i am so thankful for all of you. thank you for the birthday blessings and time spend listening and pouring into my life. i hope we can see each other again soon. i am praying for all of you, and sooooo glad that you are still standing firm in His truth, strength and loving grace! kaley, thank you for the card!
-redneck, dude, i hope you read this! :) i love you man. you have been such a joy in my life. it was so good to see you again and i know that God will hook it all up for you. He has never left you thus far... every good and perfect gift comes down from the Father of lights, who doesn't change like shifting shadows! passion comes and goes, but He will always be there for you!

-everyone in berlin, you can't imagine how much i love and miss you all! i look forward to the day that we can be together again. until then, i know that God has me here for a reason, and that the hardships are totally worth it.
~zu alle in Berlin! ihr wisst nicht wie viel liebt ich fuer euch habe. ich vermisse euch sehr! ich freue mich euch wiederzusehen. bis dann, ich bin hier weil Gott ein sehr gut Plan hat. es ist sich lohnen!

i am now back in salem waiting for some mail about the school loans i need to repay. the last weeks have been soooo good. heres a short list...
jumped on a trampoline with a billion leaves.
went through a corn maze.
went on a bike ride.
found a hazelnut grove.
ate some hazelnuts.
played soccer.
sanded a car.
drove a car without a windshield.
the list goes on..
Lord willing, soon i should be headed up to seattle to work and pay toward the loans as i continue to prepare for returning to berlin. i am not sure the date, but i have some hunches and peace in my heart. just waiting for confirmation.

i have made a picture card about going back to berlin, and just finished a support letter...(hot off the press)!
i, however, left all my addresses in south dakota... it will work out! :)

soon, i will post the letter with the card for all of you to see. so, you may get one in your mail too! lucky you! :)

thank you all so much for reading these blogs and keeping up with my life. i pray that you love others despite whether or not they deserve it. that you take time to just soak in Him. and that you are all blessed with God's highest! He loves you all sooooo much. a death was paid that you could be with Him. that you could enjoy His presence!
All praise and honor to Your name Lord! thank You for Jesus!
by His blood, AMEN!!!

viel liebe, israel

thank You Daddy for today!

this is hope

what a blessing this last week was!
there was a lot of opportunity for growth and for His love to be shared with others who have a broken heart for the nations...

at the time being, i am in salem, oregon, and am not completely sure about which way to go.
i am, however, growing more sure of God's heart for germany. i had the opportunity to meet with someone from the berlin base on my first day here in salem. it was super good and encouraging. i cannot understand or comprehend when or how i will be getting back there. i do have a confirming peace in my heart that it is soon.

i am stoked for the people of ywam idaho! i instantly gained a heart for them and cannot imagine how much more our God must love them. i pray that He would continue to bring them closer in unity and love. that differences would bring them together. that hopelessness would show them His hope and grace. oh what a wonderful God we have. i love you ywam idaho and look forward to the day that our hearts can be full of joy together again!

today is my fathers birthday. i love him so much. i am so blessed with the family that God surrounded me with. they have been a huge part of joy and encouragement in my life over the past year.
my father was in a car accident last friday which left him with stitches and no auto. please keep him in prayer. God must love him soooo much! thank You Daddy for my dad! i know that You have blessings at his doorstep!

i am not sure if i will headed south or north in the next couple days. the thing that fills my mind the most is getting ready for heading back to berlin. within the next fews days i will be writing a support letter seeking monthly support for the time i will be stationed there long term, and also seeking support for the trip back. i am so excited about His heart for germany. may my life be an offering for His love to reach their hearts!
i may be headed up north for work soon. there are a couple places that i may end up visiting first. nothing is official yet. open for changes. wir werden sehen was passiert. Er ist gut und ich moechte seinen Weg zusehen.

i am not sure if most of you really know what the title of this blog is... Fortschritt und Vertrauen.
it means progress and trust. progress for His kingdom.. and trust that He is enough. i am far from fully understanding His amazing plans, His awesome deeds, and His endless love. but i am laying all my eggs in His basket. He is trustworthy. He is faithful.
i know that He has called me to germany for this time, maybe forever. and as i continue to seek Him with my whole heart, i am seeing more and more His broken heart for the whole world! thank you all so much for your time and prayers you offer so freeingly. please don't believe any lies that your prayers are not important or unnecessary. He hears and He answers.. even before we ask! He knows what we need and how to truly care for us.
thank you for praying for me, and for praying for the germans. i look forward to the day when we all see the Lord sending people out from germany in the numberless, spreading His word, His truth and light over the whole earth.

may you be left with this verse...

Gott, der euch berufen hat, ist treu; Er wird halten, was er versprochen hat.
God will make this happen, for He who calls you is faithful.
1 thes. 5.24

Das ist Hoffnung.
this is hope!

Father, You have given us hope freely. may is radiate from You in us. thank You for hearing our prayers and being true to Your promises. may my life be Yours for the making. make me part of Your plan. we pray this for all who read this blog and for those whom You love! for the U.S., for Germany.. for eastern Europe.. for those You have called Your own! through Jesus, we are all Yours!
in His name, Amen!

i hope that you know how important you are. you are not alone.

much love, israel

sam and ywam

well... it's enjoyable to see God pull something out of His sleeve. a real blessing too!

i am in idaho right now at the cascade YWAM base. for reasons i have yet to find out... i have felt a calling to visit my friend sam. i know the feeling is mutual and not so random. with plans to go to seattle, i felt God saying that i should wait for contact from sam. i did. sunday morning he called me and we chatted with much enthusiasm. we decided that i was to visit him and the base. later that night, he and a friend arrived in spokane, and we set forth to cascade idaho. we arrived and was in bed around 3 am.

so, i am at the ywam base in cascade, Idaho. there are a couple possiblities that i didn't think was anywhere in the near future such as visiting people in oregon. so we will see if that is His plan and take it day by day. no promises and no plans set in stone.

i am excited to see or understand.. if it is possible.. why i am here.

i do have the priviledge of hearing lectures.. so it's like lecture phase all over again!

i do say though... thank You God for this time here. i believe You have called me here and have an absolutely wunderbar plan. how are we to know Your thoughts... but to just keep seeking and following You. may we do that... all of us here and everyone who reads this blog. that we may continually seek You for the things You have. oh we praise You Lord! there is none like You... there is none that saves like You do. may our lives be poured out as an offering for Your glory alone!

and thank You that Jesus did what no other could do... saved us from death.. from a life.... eternity seperated from You. we praise You! Danke Vater!

in Jesus name.. by His blood we pray these things and claim You... amen!

over the past couple days i have been discouraged.. or under attack. i have felt that my efforts at german are useless... that my desires and the calling that i have on my heart are questioned.. and maybe i am completely wrong in the way of going about all of this....

then i had some prayer time.. time with sam... time seeking God and reading His word.. and though i may not feel that there is progress... or that i have everyones support.. i do know that the spirit inside me confirms where He has called me... and in the things that He has lead me in.

thank you for all your prayers and continual prayers. without a constant communication with Him how can we fully live.

pray. for your country.. for the Church.. for more workers to gather the harvest, and that we can understand more fully His grace!

i love you all and again thank you for your support!

what are five things today that had His love written all over it?