Choosing Beautiful Feet

So we are now officially in California but just came from a few days spent in Las Vegas. When you enter Las Vegas with all the lights, buildings, and people you'd think this place is beautiful, wonderful because no one would come here if it was ugly. But I couldn't see the beauty as I walked down the streets. Instead when I saw Vegas I saw SIN... UGLY SIN. It hurt as I looked at all the "glam and lights", the women and men displayed as objects, the way people were filling themselves with nothing of worth. How can they not see?? When I think about sin I think how ugly it is. How it tears us up, makes us into ugly beings if we let it consume us. I know that I am a sinner, we are all sinners but the fact of the matter is we are redeemed by Christ!!! I don't have to live in my ugliness because I am forgiven. That night and the following day I had a chance to talk a bit with different people and we discussed the urgency we felt after walking the streets of Vegas. THESE PEOPLE NEED TO KNOW! They need to see the ugliness. They need to hear the message of Christ's love for them. They need to fill their lives with the beauty of Christ and let that penetrate their mind and souls. But, how will they know unless I tell them, unless WE tell them??

Romans 10:14-15
"How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, "How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!"

So, I don't know about you but I have a fresh sense of urgency that there are so many still out there living life in ugliness, unaware of the beauty they could possess. Why don't we tell them, why are we shy? Let's not let them sit any longer in their filth but move our feet and share the beauty we have in Christ. I don't know about you but I want "beautiful feet" - feet that bring the good news of Christ to those who haven't heard and don't believe.

Asking for "beautiful feet",
Carrie & 1421

Bear Lake Escapades!

Hello again!

-For the past week we have been dashing around the great and beautiful state of Colorado spreading the GREAT NEWS of Christ to everyone we meet. This has taken us to Denver Lutheran High School in, surprise surprise, Denver, and also to Englewood Federal Pen. in Englewood, Colorado. Through all of this God has continued to show us Himself and also teach us how to show Him to others. This has been done through us in the prison where God really showed himself to be a God of Wonders through the inmates there at the prison. They were such blessings to us by their stories of redemption and their thankfulness and responsiveness to us and the message we brought. Another blessing to us were the days off that we have. Jim, being the native Coloradan he is, knew a very beautiful lake/hike that we could go to that was somewhat between Denver where we were, and Wellington, where we had to be. So Jim took us up there and we all enjoyed a day of being together as a team outside of the show setting. It was absolutely beautiful! God really blessed us with a day of lovely sunshine and great weather. It was an awesome place to relax and refocus after going nonstop since the beginning of our tour. Currently we are enjoying the last day of our two days off and look forward to what God has in store next! Keep us in your prayers as in theis next week we traverse the Rockies to Grand Junction then onto Las Vegas!

Solo Deo Gloria,
Aaron

Just wanted to let you all know that things are going great for 1421. We are all staying healthy, having fun, and learning daily what it truly looks like to love God deeper and serve one another with humility. We have given a variety of concerts already this past week ranging from church services to an alternative high school. For me, it's reminded me of how deep God's love is for us, his bride. He loves everyone the same - no matter where they are in life or where they have come from. God sees us all as His children who so desperately need to be loved and learn what true love is. I am challenge each day to lean on God and accept His love with open arms so that I can love others around me with His love because I can't love on my own, I need Him! This photo was from one of the churches we played at in North Platte. It reminds me of the ultimate sacrifice and unchangeable love of the Father.

So, thanks for the prayers and the support of us as we travel all around the West/Southwest spreading the love of God with many as well as learning to love God and one another.

This next week we are in Colorado and then we're off to Las Vegas! :)

Learning to love,
Carrie Joy :)

Arrrrg! Here we go!

New post in:

We are about to embark on our three month adventure of Winter Tour, leaving behind everything we've ever known at the wonderful ministry here in Willmar and are going to travel to foreign states (to some of us) to see the lands and seas of Nebraska, Colorado, California, and Arizona, to name a few. We will probably burst with excitement as we leave early tomorrow morning and we won't be back until March! With the wonderful game "Stormy Seas" (as you can see in the picture with Carrie) we were given in Wisconsin, and with our pirate navigator Steve and his sword, we will sail our van across the country with great success. Thank you so much for all of your prayers and support--hopefully we'll see you soon, otherwise know that you're in our prayers as we travel.

See you on the other side. .if we make it that far. Avast! Here we go!

Merry Christmas!!!

Only two more days until our break. Time flies. I still remember the day I arrived at the ministry in August. It's quite amazing and crazy to think that we have been with CTI for over 4 months now.
Thank you, our supporters, for your faithful prayers and encouragements. We can't continue our journey without you. Thank you, our hard working CTI staffs. Thank you for taking care of us and diligently working behind the scene. CTI will not be the same without you.
We wish everyone a very blessed Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year! :)



~1421

Annual Campaign Drive Stress Relief

We are back in Willmar from our fall tour! well, been back for a week, and it has been a pretty busy week with end of the year projects for CTI: Annual Campaign and the CD.
But I will go back to the fall tour, it was at times very trying for me, and not really physically or emotionally, but spiritually. More then half way in, while at a hotel in Idaho, I was wondering why I hadn't been growing closer to God. I am here on a trip serving Him, and doing what I am called to do, but I wasn't growing. I realized with help from some team members that I wasn't being fed, I wasn't reading the Bible. I was cruising along in the tour, getting by with what I knew in my head, but I wasn't actively reading and searching after God. I got the chance to share this with a Bible college in Steinbach Manitoba during our last week of tour. Reading the Bible and growing in Christ was the theme for the year there.
All tour I saw God using each of our stories on 14:21 to connect with people, from all walks of life. It's cool to think how different we all are, but yet we all have the same need, Jesus, and He is the one that really is able to fill us and makes us whole.
During this time of year, with Christmas right around the corner, remember why Jesus came to earth in the first place. He came to die for our sins, for my sins and yours. Let's praise Him for that!
Thank you so much for all your prayers and support of us, God bless!
Rich

Being Faithful

Sorry it has been so long in writing on the blog but we have been quite busy these last weeks. For the last 10 days or so we have been "living on the edge" of the statelines that is. :) Washington one day, Idaho the next, then back to Oregon, and back to Idaho for another concert. But thankfully amidst all this driving and traveling the Lord has kept us safe and has been choosing to use us for His kingdom work. The other day we were all in a coffeehouse and we began talking and sharing what the Lord is working in us. It was incredible to listen and reflect on the work the Lord is doing in us and through us. As I sat there, I was hit again with how this year really isn't about what we are doing but instead about being faithful to God's call and living our lives glorifying and praising Him. He has chosen to bring us to prisons, schools, churches, outreach groups, and college campuses in order to share His love with those He wanted to bless this tour. It always amazes me when I think about the fact that God chooses to use us despite the fact that we are broken and sinful people. We as a team have nothing in ourselves to offer but only God's love and His message of grace for everyone. May we be faithful in sharing that message with whomever God places in our path whether it's on-stage or off.

Tomorrow we are driving back to Montana and preparing for our last weekish of being on Fall Tour. Thanks so much for the prayers, support, and encouragement... it means so much to us all.

Faithfully Answering the Call,
Carrie (and 1421) :)

P.S. the photo just shows how we have been able to bask in the beauty as a team as well... God's creation is simply stunning!

On the road again!

Wow! Can't believe that we have already came back from Honduras and on the road again.

It's only been couple days since we began our tour, and God has already worked in amazing ways in and through our team.
We got to share the love of God with the kids at a detention center, worship with the ladies at a women's prison, celebrate Bo's return at his home church in WA, and see the world's largest buffalo. =)

Please keep us in your prayers:
-Health and safety: the weather is getting colder everywhere we go, and we still have long travel times here and there.
-Team unity: that we can be open to one another and love one another with the love from Christ.
-Focus: may we continue to focus on God, not on ourselves.

Thank you very much for all of your support! We can't do this without you!!!

And here's the world's largest buffalo:

14:21 Off on Their Fall Tour

Team 14:21 left before dawn this morning on their Fall Tour. They will be heading to the Northwestern Part of the United States and spending a few days in Manitoba, Canada on this tour.

They will be doing quite a bit of driving over the next few days (They'll be in Spokane, Washington by tomorrow [Friday] evening!), so please remember them in your prayers!

Check back soon for updates on what God is doing in and through these team members on their Fall Tour.

- Paul, on behalf of team 14:21

I know the thought that keeps running through my head is, "A little over a week ago, we were in Honduras." And now we're back in the US and about to leave for our Fall Tour on Thursday. Life is so crazy and it's all going by so fast!

I think my team would agree with me when I say that I don't want to forget the lessons that I learned overseas, and how my perspectives of so many things were enhanced. This year has a better definition to me now and I feel like God was taking me out of myself and replacing my own desires and love with His. To think that we were given the opportunity to go to Honduras at this time and play in so many schools, churches, a factory loading dock, the YFC camp and so many other places, is unbelievable, and I feel so blessed to have met the YFC staff that were huge examples of Christ's love to me, and to have experienced everything that God had in store for us there. We played 40 concerts, overall, in three weeks, and were able to share the Gospel at every single concert except for one. What else can we say? It's such a privilege to even call our God Father, and we know He is so good and gives such good gifts to His children. He is so faithful.

Even in times when we feel like we can't go on, that we are completely inadequate to share the Gospel or to be called His own, He gives us His strength, and we find joy in the Lord and in His promises, that He is always faithful and that He has chosen us to live for Him. That's why we live like we do, why we cry out for God's heart to replace our own and why we count everything else in this world as a loss compared the glory of knowing our Savior. We are set apart, renewed, and changed by His love that surpasses all others. In the process of seeking His heart, we find utter joy in Him. And we learn how to live and how to change. That's one of the many things that I learned in Honduras and not by my own actions, but by His grace. He keeps showing me what's really important in life, how I can be less and He can be everything, and then I learn how to seek His face more every day. His faithfulness surpasses our understanding-our God is so, so good.

I have so many pictures that would tell the story of our time there but these are just a few to give you a hint into our lives during the last weeks spent in Honduras. The black & white one is Mauricio sharing the gospel with the 400 students at a school. The next is some of the beautiful children we got to play for... i love their smiles. The other ones are of us getting prepped to go to the futbol game which was incredible, and then us at one of the most fun schools as far as audience participation goes. The last one is of our bus that we rode around everywhere in and fit down streets and alleys that I thought no bus could ever go. :)












































All this said... our lives were changed and impacted greatly by the people and places in Honduras. As we prep now to continue our stateside touring I ask that all of you not only keep us in your prayers but YFC Honduras as well as they continue the work that God has for them down there!

Learning to love deeper,
Carrie & 1421

Team 14:21 Arrives Home Safely!

Team 14:21 arrived home safely late last evening. They had spent the whole day traveling and had a pretty lengthy layover in Miami, so they were happy to see the Minneapolis/St. Paul airport.

I've only heard a few of the many (I'm sure) stories of God at work in and through the team members, so check back soon for updates from the team members themselves.

All of their equipment made it safely and their travels went very smoothly!

- Paul, on behalf of 14:21

Update from the Field

Carrie (Team 14:21's leader) called this morning from Honduras to update us. The team has not had internet access for several days and may not have it again prior to their return to the U.S.

She reported that the team is doing great! They are ministering in the area surrounding the YFC's camp in the Copan region of Honduras. They have been averaging 1-2 outreach concerts per day. In their free time they have been seeing much of what the country has to offer, with Mauricio (YFC National Director) as their guide.

They'll be leaving the camp early on Saturday morning to head back down to San Pedro Sula. From there, the team will catch their flight back to the U.S. on Sunday!

Check back for updates on the team's arrival back in the U.S. and for stories from their time abroad!

- Paul, on behalf of Carrie and Team 14:21

To Love - the greatest commandment

I know it has been a whole week since writing and we apologize but we haven't had a moment to stop and reflect and I don't have much time now but wanted to fill you all in a bit. Each day has been so full of concerts and new experiences. We have been loving it and being reminded daily that it's not about us and what we have to offer but instead about loving God above all and sharing this love with those we meet. So far we have played 18 concerts in the last 9 days and when we aren't playing a concert we have been doing things like climbing waterfalls (lesson in trust), watching futbol games (lesson in joy), swimming at the beach(reminder of God's beauty), or riding on the bus(reminder of God's sense of humor). :) But through all of this I have been reminded of one thing that is the most important of all. We are called to LOVE. There is no greater thing than to love God with all we are. And when we learn to focus our lives on him then we can pour out that same love onto others. And with all the different concerts and interactions with the Hondurans here we have been given many opportunities to love them and learn how to love one another on the team better as well.

So thank you for all your prayers as we continue with our last 9 days here in Honduras. Tomorrow we head to Copan where Mauricio has a camp which is his pride and joy. We are really excited to see it and be able to spend some time with him there "in his element". We won't have internet so we won't be able to update again but keep praying for us and for YFC here. And may we all be reminded to LOVE God with all we are and LOVE other likewise because when it comes down to it that is the greatest commandment.

Pouring out Love,

Carrie on behalf of 1421 :)

Hola from Honduras

Hola everyone!!

We are safe here in Honduras. So far we have already played 5 concerts, and even though the weather is pretty hot, we have been enjoying ourselves with our contact Mauricio (who is the head of the Honduras YFC).

Thank you so much for your prayers! Please keep praying for us as we will be playing 3-4 concerts a day, and will be meeting many people everywhere we go.

And as a bonus, we are going to the Futbol game of Honduras vs. USA! We decided as a team that we will cheer for Honduras, and Mauricio was kind enough to buy us all Honduras jerseys for the game, what a blessing!!!

Thank you again and God bless you!!

Kylie and Bo

Team 14:21 Reports Safe Arrival in Honduras!

Team leader, Carrie VanderHorst, called this evening to report the team's safe arrival in San Pedro Sula, Honduras. The team met up with Mauricio (YFC National Director) and have settled in at the YFC base.

Their equipment made it safely and there were no hiccups in their travels at all!

The team will be splitting their time in Honduras between San Pedro Sula and a camp that the YFC has built in the Copan region of Honduras.

They are excited to play their first concert tomorrow morning!

Check back in the coming weeks for updates from the field!

14:21 Checks In Safe and Sound!

Team 14:21 had a safe smooth check in this morning at MSP airport.
Check back soon for news of their arrival in Honduras as well as
updates from their time overseas!

Honduras

Hello everyone!!

We are about to leave and head to the airport today. Our flight to Honduras will be 6:30AM on Monday.
I am very excited, but at the same time a little nervous about being in a different place for 3 weeks.

If you could please keep the team in your prayers:
-Please pray for smooth check-in process
-Please pray for safe travel and safety in Honduras
-Some of the team members are sick, if you could pray for speed healing and recovering, also health for the whole team while we are there
-Please pray for team unity
-Please pray for FOCUS on God
-Please pray for our hosts (YFC), people we are going to meet, and ministry opportunities

Thank you so much for your love, your prayers, your time, and your supports.

God bless,
Kylie

A snapshot of training tour

Ahhhhhhhhh.

We are back in Willmar (as of two hours ago) and are about to embark on a week of training for our overseas adventure starting next Monday (October 5th). Training tour was absolutely fabulous while it lasted, and now we are pumped for a week of overseas preparation and then leaving again! A huge thank you to all of our hosts, contacts, schools, churches and gazebos: we love you all and we can't thank you enough. You gave us amazing memories and inside jokes that we will be using for the next month at least, I'm sure :)

Here are some pictures from the past three weeks! Enjoy :)