Why Maximize Missions?

In the fast-paced, end of the year, I realized that I hadn't explained, how Maximize Missions became an idea turned to reality.

Transitioning out of Ten Thousand Homes, one piece I knew I would take with me was the Orphan Crisis; that no matter where I am in the world, I would be involved, intentionally, with fighting the Orphan Crisis.
At first the possibilities seemed endless.  Grace and I, in preparation to our wedding and also after we came back from our honeymoon bliss, were meeting individuals and groups of people that were somehow involved with orphans and the empowerment of the vulnerable and disenfranchised.  Most to which included orphan work.   Scores of people would walk up to us and say that they needed to have a meeting. 
Among the divine appointments, I would be asking myself the our Father, "Do you want me to join these people, this cause?"  All to which there was a "no".
Finally after months of processing with Grace, mentors and the Father, it dawned on us.  Actually through my wife (She's got a a larger spiritual antenna than I do).
Creating an advocacy group, to not help just one of these noble causes/NGO's, but creating opportunities to aid those in need, opportunities to aid those serving by creating opportunities to aid those wanting to serve.

Nearing the End of 2011

 Wow, another year almost gone by.  It's true when they say life can move faster and faster, with age.  In my 37, soon to be 38, years of wisdom, I think it's cause the older we get, the more we are tempted to define life and it's enjoyment by "the doing".

Now I'm not knocking "the doing".  If it wasn't for "the doing" I would've never walked through the journey of 3 wedding ceremonies in 3 different countries, that eventually brought the result of my marriage to my wonderful wife.

What I'm trying to explain is that in "the doing", "the being" is what defines "the doing".

(gotten off the 48hours.com site)

When I get this mixed-up, and I do often, "the doing" informs more of my insecurities as where "the being" enables me to sing my song, my life...the major, the minor...no having to apologize for me, well, sometimes, when the minor goes really minor ;).

It's year's end and it's so important to take stock of the year, letting the dust settle and replaying, in slow-mo, this years events, small or big, and listen...pause...and assess the failures and the victories.

Grace and I like to take time off throughout the year, but especially during the Christmas holiday, where the end and the beginning stand face to face. 

There's been so much this year I can't wait to help highlight to you, these wonderful treasures in the remaining month of this year.  Thank you for your patience, support, prayers and friendship.

Well, that's all for now, but more to come, very soon.

Band Update

After 3 months of practicing. Monday through Friday, we’ve stopped to celebrate the Christmas Summer holiday, here in South Africa. 

In this time we’ve been practicing and fine tuning some of my old songs and also creating and fine tuning new ones.  We’ve begun to hit a creative stride that we’re all excited about.  We currently have six songs, under our belt.

We’re planning to hit the clubs here in Cape Town and the rest of South Africa in the beginning of next year.  I’ll update you more on that

We’ve begun to go see music acts and venues in Cape Town.  We’re trying to understand the club scene, here in CTown and also gauge the spiritual atmosphere, constantly keeping out “eyes”open so that we can learn as much as we can.

We’ve also figured out the name of the band.  We’re called STATIC RUN.  After months of compiling ideas from talking, researching, praying, it ultimately came down to a process of voting, where we eliminated one name at a time.  Now, there are 4 of us in the band so the possibility of a dead-lock was very possible so we decided if we get to a dead-lock, we’d have to resort to physical challenges to get a one name.  Luckily we didn’t get to that.  So there you are, we are STATIC RUN.  For all those that participated in this process you have our thanks and gratitude.

Here's a picture of the band from left to right

Kiffie: Afrikaaner (S.Africa)

David: Korean, American

 Arun: Indian (India)

 Wade: American

Here are 3 pictures of the studio (the soundproofing all finished).

Maximize Missions Newsletter Christmas Issue

MAXIMIZE MISSIONS is finally here. Unfortunately, I'm having some difficulties getting the correct image size on the post. Please come back again and also check your email for the info@maximizemissions.com , you've been sent a personal newsletter, so ENJOY!

New York, New York

North-East Visit (Part 1) So there a few parts to this but in the first 2 weeks of our time in the US. Our hosts, the Kims, were amazing as usual. Friends for many years, they opened their home to Grace and me. We had an amazing time. One of the highlights was the 2011Pillow Fight World Championship. Team Kim (Abby&Becca) took the title.

Grace and I got to minister to my New Church family.

One of our surprises was while we were having dinner at Chris Kim's home, Grace was given a hanbok. I can't believe it fit and looks so beautiful on my wife!

Our Wedding Brooklyn Braai (Bbq) was so much fun. It was another great time for Grace to meet so many important people in my life.

Another amazing time I was greatly anticipating was Grace getting to meet my sibling's (Peter and Jane) families for the first time. The kids were so great with Grace.

Before we left for Switzerland, another great friend, Herbert Lee, took us to Time Square Church and then out to dinner to the Mandarin Oriental on Columbus Circle, where we were spoiled with great food, great service, great company and a great view.

As I've been looking back on our trip, the amazing that occurred to me is that there are so many more important people that Grace has not met or did but due to time, we didn't get to spend much time with. We wait in anticipation for more...more surprises. Everyone, your support was so overwhelming and God continues to spur us on through your love and support. More is coming.

Our Trip Overview

So many of you know that our recent trip was one of faith and trust, down to the 11th hour. Trips are always like that, involving steps taken to which the outcome is not clear, but for Grace and I there were two things different this time. One, we were doing this together, as a married couple and two, that this was the most challenging faith lesson we had, in regards to travel. Some tests, the answer arrives in one felt sweep. Some tests, the answers don't seem to come at all (I'm still waiting for some). This test, the answers came bit by bit.
Through it all, the Father showed himself faithful and loving as always. Here's just a bit of an over view of His faithfulness by highlighting all the cities we traveled to. Over half of these cities were a surprise. He is the God of Surprises!

Brooklyn, USA








@ the Kim's, our Brooklyn
hosts

Boston, USA








@ dinner with Grace and the
Younger Leaders Team for the
Lausanne Movement

Burtigny, Switzerland








@ the YWAM Burtigny base
having the awesome Raclette
Cheese dinner with the
Slingshot staff

Geneva, Switzerland








@ the United Nations
HQ Building

Lyon, France











@the Terreaux Fountain with
friends from Slingshot

Lausanne, Switzerland








@the Youth with a
Mission Lausanne Base

Montreux, Switzerland








@the world-famous Montreux
Jazz Festival

Bern, Switzerland








@ the city of "the Bear"
with our good friend
Susan

Winterthur, Switzerland








Our favorite family
in Switzerland, the
Handschins

Zurich, Switzerland








@ Lake Zurich double
date day

New Jersey, USA








@ dinner with our NJ hosts,
the Yoos

Dubai, United Arab Emirates








@ the Mediterranean Tent at
the Festival Mall