Europe Visit

I've now been home a week and not slept that well. I am tired but happy, both for what went on as well as being home. Here's how the Europe visit went.......

"Another Christian!" the Irish backpacker exclaimed after we had been chatting a while. Apparently every passenger she had sat next to, and a number of Aussie companions during her visit had all been Christians. "Maybe God is trying to tell me something?" Indeed. After being delayed 2 hours in Bangkok I was now struggling to make the connection from Heathrow to Stansted to Biarittz. As I ran sweating to my Ryanair counter the flight was displayed as 'closed', but miraculously I was allowed on and saved a day. Shane Sparks was waiting in the queue, "I didn't think you were coming BD?!"

Such a relief to finally make it on standby! We joined 30 others from 7 nations including 6 from Portugal, 8 from Spain, 6 from France plus some from Holland, Ireland, and that surfing powerhouse.....Switzerland. Yep, 4 keen Christian Surfers had driven 12 hours to meet and surf. Swiss surf? River waves and travelling. I must mention a dear brother from Morocco we sponsored and it was a touching report as he said, "I have not been in a Christian meeting like this for 3 years, my country is so oppressive I have to watch myself all the time so as to not arouse the suspicion of the Islamic police."

Phil Williams led us through some strategy sessions, we 'dotted' a map, had some great worship in the Backpackers Hostel and surfed some fun waves in sunshine before the historic seaside resort town that Biarittz is. This is the surfing centre of Europe and I am amazed at the range of surfers who visit Hossegor and these beachbreaks. All the surf brands have offices here.

So many surfers, and yet so few churches. Christophe and team shared their latest about the 'Surf Church' plant in Hossegor. Slow going. Thomas' ding repair business is awesome and we enjoyed hanging out as he chatted to an endless stream of customers. France is a very hard place for the gospel and much suspicion and persecution takes place. "We are regarded as a type of cult because we are evangelicals, and they think we are dangerous for children to be exposed to as we have fundamentalist beliefs."

Back to Bristol with Phil and we caught up with wonder wife Annie and their awesome kids Abi and Joe (they paid me to say that). Had a good catch up with his vicar, and Phil has the magnetic personality that draws so many people to him and then he in turn harnesses them for service. Around 60 volunteers from his church go and serve at the Jesus Surf Classic each year! We headed down to Newquay, the UK surf capital, for our first CSI fundraiser. 46 attended and a great time was had sharing vision, eating great food, chatting with old friends and bidding on some cool auction items. A highlight was Dave and John who head up the UK Pro Surf Tour who attended as guests. Dave advocated for CSUK stating, "Phil and his team have been a great help and a real encouragement to us as they have served selflessly all these years. Our events are better for their presence."

The event raised £1200, as surf products, a couple of my Alaia boards and other items were auctioned by UK Pro Surf commentator Nick.

On to Dave Reynards place in Porthleven and I was transported back 600 years to Olde England and even found myself talking a bit of 'pirate' which is still spoken in these aarrrgh Cornish ports. Cornish pasties are also still eaten and Phil and I engaged in a solid one by Auntie May who has been making them since 1785 and are the best in the world! We headed back via Polzeath and the Tubestation church plant. I am amazed at the innovation by Kris and Henry and team as well as the bold step of faith by the traditional Methodist church to invest in creating a church for the unchurched 21st century. Beachfront building with deck area, cafe, art gallery, a half-pipe skate ramp where the pulpit used to be and 60 attendees from all walks of life now.

Back in Nailsea myself,  Phil and Annie have a quiet ale and nosh at the Battleaxe, then its a final day with a community arts and crafts fair the church has partnered in. A heap of supporters join us that night, then sharing in church next morning. It is good to be part of God's global community and I get to say thanks for their support of Phil and CS. Special thanks to Dave and Ally Boddy for hosting me in Nailsea, cheers!

It was a long trip home, but made all the more bearable with an upgrade on my standby ticket to Business Class!! Yes!

South Africa Conference

Just finished a three day Africa conference here at Jeffrey's Bay. Director Roy Harley was stoked to see 110 in attendance with the theme of "Empower the Ground". So many were encouraged to step up in their calling to go and serve. We also had to step up camping out next to the beach and I personally was housed in the Taj Mahal of tents c/o Roy.

Terryn Williams who narrated the "On the Rocks" outreach series spoke passionately about how we are saved not BY our good works, but saved FOR a life of good works prepared for us. Then we were also challenged to add effort to our God-given potential to see impact for God's kingdom. I was able to share the history of God's work in CS as well as the Foundations Training.

Some awesome Supertubes barrels were served up on Saturday morning and we even did a Paddleathon to raise funds for Japan which included some locals.

Wrapping up was some amazing worship and God was on the move in many hearts to get real and freshly surrender. There was an emotional farewell to co-founder of Son Surf, Andy Pitt, who is heading for ministry in Australia.

I personally so appreciate the long term faithfulness and friendship of Roy and the amazing CS Africa team. Heading home tomorrow, looking forward to seeing Gill and the family!

Heading for New Zealand

Well after being home since Chile, I head off in 2 hours for Taranaki, New Zealand where we are hosting our Pacific forum. New Pacific RC Gordy Webb has rallied our key leaders from 4 nations to come and have leadership training as well as strategic planning.

Just last week Gordy visited Vanuatu (not the greatest known surf destination) and in just one local village where they stayed they found 20-30 kids surfing every day on broken boards and pieces of wood. The village sees the value of finding ways to connect the gospel to their youth and said they would love to explore a CS model.

Fiji's Kris Stice has already modeled an evangelism and discipling strategy utilizing surf coaching that has captured hearts and made an impact on many otherwise church-bored youth. I'm looking forward to hearing Kris' story tomorrow. Be praying for myself and our next 3 days of meetings. This rolls then into their national Easter Camp, but I'll be coming home.

Davis Diary - March 2011

BD's Spiritual Adventures 2011
Last year I had a desire for "More of the power and presence of Jesus"...this year I realize I need to invest more into prayer if I'm ever to experience this. "When men work, men work. When men pray, God works." In my church culture God's will is contained in His word the Bible and we typically ask God to bless our efforts in response to this. God seems a long way off and sometimes Bible study feels like we are studying the biography of a wise dead man and his words!? But if Jesus is the same yesterday, today and tomorrow, is he not present and active? Does God speak beyond rational Bible reading? Can we only administer words of hope, healing, forgiveness, inspiration, or can we see Jesus impart the experience of hope, healing, forgiveness, inspiration? How come I see so little of his power? How come the church seems so weak? Maybe this is just me, or my part of the world? Hmmmm stay tuned for more on this.





Chile Adventure Trip (by the numbers)
23 team members, 3 nationalities, $12,000 raised, 38 square meter home built for Shadrach with Homes of Hope, 5 days to fix out a beauty salon, 54 tools racked in constructed workshop, 30 cubic meters of hand mixed concrete poured for a gymnasium, 10-15' maximum wave size, 12 degrees minimum water temperature, 48 local competitors in Pura Vida Surf Festival event, 10 Chilean friends accompanied us on road trip, 7.0 earthquake that evacuated our road trip, 286 number of Churros consumed (and that was just Aaron), 21 - birthday of Lisa, 18 - birthday of Taylor, 28 number of surfboards loaded on Mitch's truck on arrival, 20 hours maximum recovery sleep time in 2 days by Tim, 2 hours minimum sleep time in 2 days heading over by BD, forever - impact on our lives by the people of Chile. To read a full report, head to BD's Blog at http://bdcsi.blogspot.com.




Japan Stop Press
One hour after the huge earthquake in Japan I got a message from our CS Japan National Director, David Levey, that they were ok but they feared for their friends living by the coast. It seems all CS Japan members survived ok, but huge sections of the north Japan surfing community are affected. CS Japan are joining in with an aid relief program called CRASH with the combined churches and Dave has already been on one road trip in a truck distributing water and food in Fukishima. They have evacuated Shinko and kids to California. Dave says God is shaking the spiritual foundations of Japan.




Foundations Training is...Foundational?
For so many years our leadership training has been sporadic and uncoordinated. Over the past 4 years I have been refining some foundational leadership principles that cover integrity, gospel, team, partnerships, CS fundamentals, legal and surf culture. This year I will help roll out a leadership training strategy with trainers, manual, online availability and DVD. Our vision is that every leader is trained up in this and better equipped for ministry.




BD's Regional Adventures
For the first time this year CSI is encouraging regional leadership conferences in the off year to the International Conference. Coming up this year are: Pacific Conference April 20, Africa Conference April 27, Europe Conference May 16, Asia Conference July 15, Americas Conference July 28. These are very strategic leadership gatherings and Brett will be speaking and training at each. Being a Qantas staff travel buddy means doing this at minimal expense and cost to the international community. I need a new travel buddy in July, can you think of someone who might sign me up?




Great Things to Support
Japan Aid Relief. David and Shinko and members of CS Japan are supporting the CRASH program in Honda City. They have spent over $2,000 of their own money for emergency relief and another $4,500 in evacuating the family. Donate via CSI and note as 'Japan Relief' or 'Levey support'. 100% guaranteed aid relief by people on the ground to people on the ground.

Leadership Development Scholarships. For $500 you can ensure an emerging world leader makes one of our regional leadership conferences. There is need for scholarships for Venezuela, Brazil, Morocco, Sri Lanka, El Salvador and Costa Rica.

G-Land Surf Resort wants Surfers Bibles. Joyo's Surf Resort at world class surf destination G-Land is owned by a Christian family who have invited CSI to provide chaplains, to whom they will provide free food and accommodation for a month. For $30 we can place a pack of 4 different language Surfers Bibles into a room - there are 25 rooms. Apply to be a chaplain and distribute Surfers Bibles throughout the surfing world from G-Land?

Mission Partners. CSI currently has 32 partners generating $16,000 and we want to grow this to 100 partners generating $60,000. Sign up at http://www.christiansurfers.net/Partnership.aspx.
There are many more great things to support. Visit http://www.christiansurfers.net/Donation.aspx to learn more.




Gill Online
She would have NEVER done this except for a years worth of pushing, and I am hard pressed even getting this notice by the censor - but Gill has a website - gilliandavis.com.au! After so many asking her for copies of her speaking and information about what she does, we now have Gill online. She recently completed the Women of Purpose Conference in Brisbane and is just as happy sharing biblical truth with unchurched teenagers. She is bravely taking a bunch to an upcoming youth convention in Katoomba.




Taylor in the Real World
"They expect you to work from 9-5 all week! What if the surf is good?!" was a surprised Taylor comment after his first real job interview. He walked through the door a taller man after a month in Chile including travelling alone on a bus between Argentina and Chile. He surfed the best waves of his life and now knows he does not want to be a builder's labourer!




Jackson Moved
"I washed my first load of clothes...and how do you cook grannies chicken?" These are the sort of phone conversations we have become used to with living-out-of-home Jackson. He is co directing the second year production as well as preparing his own. Busy with a double degree and working at a restaurant, he is our working man! Sadly our Delica van blew up while he was driving home from Albury - Doh! Dough $6k!




India Dancing Through Life
"I think about dancing and new moves all day long." India is in two dance groups and also cheerleading. They don't cheer anyone, nor do they lead, but they have a lot of fun launching one another into the air and combining dance and gymnastics. She has an ongoing stomach problem, has missed school and bravely perseveres.




Calvin
"Irreversible degenerative spine condition" is what the vet has diagnosed Calvin the wonder dog with. We have noticed him slowing down and limping in the mornings (not unlike his owner). He has anti-arthritis injections, pain control tablets and a new walking regime...all for a price that exceeds our own kids medical visits?




CSI Partners Dinners
We feel we have to address the fact that 95% of all CSI monies come from Australia. This year partners dinners are being hosted on the Gold Coast, April 9 (ok, that is still Australia), UK May 20, California September 16, and Hawaii December 3. A lower key Sydney update will be hosted October 15. You are all invited! You can sign up as a partner right now on http://www.christiansurfers.net/Partnership.aspx.




CSI Volunteer Profile
Lisa Imisides has taken over as our Financial Manager. Lisa is married to Phil, she has 3 kids, is studying accounting and is such a perfectionist when it comes to admin...and we love you Lisa! She makes sure the money comes in and goes out in the best possible way. Go ahead, make her day, by making a donation!



Praise God for:

• Amazing Chile mission trip and building
• Foundations Training package finalized and funded
• Gill's impact in preaching and teaching
• CS Japan members all ok

Coming up, please pray for:

• Ongoing spiritual awakening within our family
• Brett's busy April/May Conferences NZ April 19-22, South Africa April 27-May 4, France May 12-22
• Partners dinner Gold Coast April 9
• Foundations Training strategy to impact our leadership
• Japan recovery and CS Japan contribution to be determined and acted
• Davis Delica Van engine rebuild is $6,500 ouch! But we so believe in the service this van provides
• Davis family has 85% of support raised, still short $500/month of our target

Support Brett & Gill
We are now employees of CSI, so you can become a supporter in the following ways:

• Pray more specifically with our email prayer updates
• Join our regular financial support team, we are short 5 partners @$100/month or 10 @$50/month
• Offer some skill in graphic design, IT, administration, local mission help
• Donations for Brett and Gill's personal family support are to be made out to 'Christian Surfers International' and direct debit is the most convenient way, please indicate your deposit as 'Davis support'.

Account name: Christian Surfers International
Bank: Westpac, 84 King St, Sydney, NSW, 2000
SWIFT code: WPACAU2S
Branch code: 032003
Account #: 455234

Home from Chile: Summary

Our last day had us do a last look at Shadrach's house, and his beaming smile said it all, he was soon moving in! He has certainly stolen the hearts of the team and some of the others stayed around to paint out his place and raised some extra money for finishing touches.

We had a stroll through central Santiago and I enjoyed gesturing with the Brazil boys as I speak no Portuguese and they speak a little English. Arno, Alverez and Gustavo are the first Brazil CS team to come with the intention of assisting another CS contact. I hope more of this is stimulated by their great example. Our comic drivers Jose and Pato dropped us off and the airport and expressed a deep appreciation of the team and thanked us for the privilege of being part of our trip.

Taylor has extended his ticket two more weeks and we purchased a ticket to Argentina for him in a weeks time. He is growing up a lot and become more confident speaking whatever Spanish phrases he knows, usually without context? He is hilarious and well liked and very easy going. It will be interesting to see how he copes riding the bus to the airport and then the 4 days he and two friends have alone in Buenos Aires.

We flew home without incident to Australia, so glad to land back in our beautiful country. And I was greeted by a beautiful wife! Gill, as always, has carried things at home, and certainly noticed the difference with just her and India there. She only washed once a week, the kitchen stays tidy and says she saves $250/week in food!

Reflecting back on the trip it exceeded expectations:

• Projects: We built a house, a beauty salon, a workshop and setup and laid half the strip footing for the new gymnasium. We ran a surf contest and did a road trip that involved another 10 Chileans. The Pura Vida community centre is such a hub for Christian outreach into this town and our contribution will build into the long term mission to Pichilemu. Mitch said he could not believe how much we acheived in such a short time.
• Team: We had such a mixed team, with 24 of us from mixed spiritual background, cultures, ages, sex and experience. Yet the unity and harmony was quite effortless. Quite a relief and a testimony of God's grace and how life can work when we are not focussed on ourselves.
• Finances: We came in below budget for our team expenses which gave us money to spare for support of the key staff and helpers. All very much appreciated.
• Thanks for all who contributed to our funding and prayed and encouraged. Special thanks to Austi Anglican church hosting a live Skype video link up and all their support.

Day 14: Back at Pura Vida

Yet another great early surf with the team, Lobos just keeps on churning out endless left-handers. A thick fog descended on us adding to the eerie backdrop of seals, birds and cliff. Aaron selflessly shot pics as the sun came out, wow, glassy sunny our last full day.

Back in town it was bustling with endless lines of people for churros, empanadas and ATM machines. We are over empanadas...but you can never have too many churros!? Last day shopping for gifts. It's hot and dusty.

We take out Roxy and Cristina and others who have served us so faithfully in the kitchen, such great examples. Lots of thank you's exchanged.

That night is a BBQ and bonfire as our last time together. God has challenged us about serving others, about what is really important in life and what it means to work together as a team despite all our differences.

We have been a team mixed of Christian and non-Christian, guys and girls, young and old, western and Latino. As people give accounts of what meant most it is not just the projects we completed but the friendships forged. The YWAM base has truly challenged us and the Anderson family example of radically serving Christ in the midst of many challenges stands out.