However, there is also so much more to praise God for. I cannot explain in words how thankful we have been as a team for all of you who have been praying for this mission. I will give it a try, but trust me there is so much more emotion and deep love and feelings for each of you that cannot be expressed.

You all joined us in this calling of God and He answered beyond our imagination. There were a total of 11 Maze team members, and approximately 40 other members of the tour. Among us there was not one bit of tension or disunity ever throughout the 18 days. In the best of circumstances that would be reason to praise God with great gratitude and even more so because of the stressful travel, the long days and nights, the so so nutrition from the food we had to eat and on top of that the spiritual tension that often comes when out sharing the gospel. We praise God for you and your faithful prayers for us as you sent us out! Thank you thank you thank you for being an incredible part of the Maze team.

As we reflect on the past two weeks plus, we praise God for the 64 plus students who prayed to receive Christ, and filled out a card to request follow up from the local churches. We praise God for the over 100 students who indicated a recommitment of their faith in Christ, and the countless cards that came in presenting specific prayer requests. God has done a mighty work and so we pray and ask you to pray for those who took strides toward Him on their journey.

In a few other areas of praise, the truck ran nearly perfect, the minor issue we had with the lift gate was corrected by a man in one of the churches who just loves to help people out and God sent him at just the right time. Aside from one really bad day for me and some other minor ailments our health was sustained by the power of God.

We also connected very well with the others on the tour and felt the hand of God as we encouraged each other after only meeting days earlier. It’s always amazing to me how the family of God can connect so quickly when Christ is at the center. You meet these people and you feel like you’ve known them your whole life. It was truly a blessed time.

Along with thanking all of you I personally must thank God for Stephen, Sarah, Hannah and James. And for Kevin, Jon, David, Greg, Andrew and Laura. This team made the trip really fun while at the same time they knew their calling and mission for HIM!!

Now we continue to see where God is going and go with Him as He leads.

Thank you again, there is nothing like being sent from a body of believers who loves the Lord and desires to see Him lifted high.

Until next time— Dan

Thursday we traveled from Pittsburgh to Cleveland where we would spend the next three days doing what we usually do during a period of twelve hours. Friday we set-up the Maze in Grace Alliance Church. Saturday we ran the Maze for the Cleveland portion of Project 132. Sunday we ran the Maze again for the church’s annual picnic. This was one of our busiest days as we shuttled hundreds of people through the Maze for over four hours. Grace Alliance was one of the most hospitable churches where we ran an event. They treated us as family and were always willing to help.

The Maze Tour 55 has come to an end. As we came together in prayer this morning, I realized that I have learned so much during my eighteen days of traveling. Each day I have seen God in simple moments. He has kept us safe in situations that warrant a lot of danger and possible injury. He has provided incredible weather. The team has come together free from tension and stress. We have loved. We have loved the people coming through the maze, the bands, the drama teams, our hosting churches and most of all we have loved each other. I have never been part of team that has so effortlessly worked together in a situation that has the opportunity for so much friction. It is so easy to know that it was because of your tireless prayers that our trip was met with so much ease. God responded and allowed his work to be done. I cannot thank you enough for your prayers. You have allowed this team to work through fatigue, meet new faces each day, laugh each morning and night, and most of all love without ceasing.

Until the next event, thank you.

It was a humbling, and frustrating experience, witnessing the conditions that fellow human beings have to accept as being their lot, people that “God so loved the world (for) that He gave His one and only Son…”  

As always, it was the joy and exuberance of the children that shone through, amazing us with their abilities and zest for life. I only pray that such enthusiasm is not strangled by the poverty and needs that surround them.

I also pray that organizations like Heaventrain will continue to persist with one person at a time. Please pray for these servants, and for those that they minister to, and if God is calling you to serve… respond. Click here for more information on Heaventrain. I hope you find the following video thought provoking, just click the link:  Project 132 Service Project

Yesterday we were in Oak Harbor, Ohio right outside of Sandusky.  We set up the Maze in their local Alliance church.  This event was the largest turnout so far. The bands and drama team seemed rejuvenated after a few days of stress. With each location that we visit I am reminded of how little I understand the diversity of this country. Laura and I were asked to video interview children that had been through the maze. We asked them the question, “How does the Maze relate to your life?” The question provoked answers that stunned me. Several children spoke of the broken families from which they came: living with Grand-parents, Aunts, and Uncles because their parents were unable to take care of them. It was heart-breaking to hear this coming out of the mouth of a twelve year old who had, only seconds before, been laughing and screaming their way through the maze.

Dan’s message sat with the audience and ushered a definitive response from those attending. Our faith in the love that Jesus Christ has for us is the only thing that can provide lasting hope in a broken world. Of the response cards returned 36 students prayed to receive Christ!! God is so awesome!

The team is miraculously still going. Kevin leaves us today, a vital and veteraned member of the team. Hopefully if Laura decides to start pulling her own weight we will be able to make it through the next couple of events. Keep us in your prayers as this week comes to an end. We have a decent amount of driving ahead of us, which always proves tiring. I thank you again for your prayers. I have been blessed by this trip. Through the people I have met and the people on the team, it has been a privilege to serve.

Laura is literally the coolest person i’ve ever met… I really can’t even begin to describe how awesome she is. I am so thankful that she is gracing us with her presence… on top of it all, she is so strong, and without her, unpacking the truck, setting up the maze, and cleaning up at the end of the day would be nearly impossible. and to think, she came all the way here from Florida for the Maze.

Editorial comment - that last paragraph was written by Laura, clearly a person with delusional tendencies - see picture, she has spent all week telling people she is an astronaut and a close friend of Neil Armstrong.

Until next time, stay classy Long Hill Chapel.

Today is our day off, so I have a little time to bring you up to date. I am feeling better, stronger, still with no voice but awesomely capable of putting up that maze. Two days ago we were in Willard, Ohio. They had been opening up a beautiful community center for the residents in their town. The Tour 55 event was their grand opening. A street fair was set up outside with ice cream, inflatables, the bands and the Maze. It was a wonderful celebration and really allowed us to become involved with the whole community.

In other news from that day: Greg departed that morning, sadness but Laura and Andrew arrived, greatness.

Yesterday we traveled to New Bremen, Ohio: a small community surrounded once again by corn fields. We set up the Maze with no sign of the bands or the drama team. The Mission Possible (the drama team) bus had been acting up over the past few days and had actually broken down on the way to Willard. It had done it again. So we ran the Maze and the inflatables with an absence of the bands and drama team. There were few people there but still a wonderful time with the small community that showed up. They were incredibly gracious in helping us take down and set up. Stephen still gave his message and the Mission Possible team and bands arrived much later to perform for the New Bremen community.

The past couple of days have been trying. A lot of us have been very tired, sick and challenged. But regardless God has pulled us through and is continually providing. Laura and Andrew (fresh legs) showed up just as we were feeling run down. The Maze truck, despite its lift problems (which are now fixed) has had no issues with transportation which has allowed us to show up at every vent despite the failings of the Mission Possible Bus. Do keep that team in your prayers. Be praying for strength for the whole team and their leader, Brad. Especially keep the bus in your prayers. Their tour runs longer than ours and that bus is vital to their ministry.

Last night we drove to Wapakoneta, Ohio a town which is little known to many Americans but one that probably should be. As I write this I am sitting in the birth place of Neil Armstrong, only a stones throw away from the museum erected in his honor. Unfortunately, to the dismay of the whole team, the museum was closed as it is Monday. Nevertheless, true to form, Laura’s dedication to Neil Armstrong pulled through as last night she slept upright in honor of him as if she too were an astronaut on Apollo 11.

I thank you for your prayers. They are definitely being felt as we see the ease with which our Maze team travels and as the ministry of the Maze and our team is welcomed with open arms at each location.

Until next time, stay cool.

Jon & The Inflatables

On Friday night we were in Miamisburg Ohio. It was an interesting event. The school was big and beautiful. The kids absolutely loved the Maze as they do in every city we go.

But when it came time to share the gospel it turned out to be one of the two most difficult situations I’ve ever faced in sharing at Maze events! There were about 150 -200 people in the building and only 8-10 people sat in front and made any attempt to listen.

At first I had a flash thought, what am I doing up here on this stage. Then immediately a peace came over me and I felt so calm. It was as if God said don’t worry I got it covered, do what I brought you here to do. Because of this situation as I was walking up the stairs to the stage Stephen and Sarah passed me saying, we are going to go in the back and pray while you speak.

I also remembered that so many of you had been praying through out the day and evening. I knew right where my peace, in a difficult situation, came from!! Thank you for your part.
I finished the talk, presented the gospel and gave an opportunity for anyone who felt lead to receive Christ. I prayed and left the stage.

Soon after we began to take down and one of the drama guys came over to me and said 6 kids prayed to receive Christ. I was amazed and understood more clearly what He was doing. Only our incredible Father in heaven could do such a thing. So again thank you so much for praying, you are praying souls into eternity.

As of last night we know of at least 25 people who have prayed to receive Christ as savior in this first week of this tour.

Tonight Saturday night we are in Willard Ohio and we’ll share more about that soon.

Serving HIM together,

Today was a good day, but a tough day.  Miamisburg, Ohio presented us with a great location, and a very welcoming Church to partner with.  We took over the music room, close to the main Gym, which allowed us to build a challenging Maze.  After we had run the Maze for a couple of hours, Dan was due to speak and share the Gospel.  Despite being probably over 100 people in the gym, few seemed to want to listen.  As a team, we usually listen to the speaker but today we felt compelled to go and pray.  Dan battled on valiantly and faithfully, and despite all the distracted people, God used him, with six kids coming to know Christ!  Sharing the Gospel is rarely easy, but awards (ultimately) rewarding.

On a broader note, I have to say that I have done my fair share of service projects and short term missions trips. All of them have been tiring, demanding and fulfilling, bringing surprising rewards and a new respect for those that I worked alongside.

As I considered the Maze trip, it was clear to me that it was by far and away the most daunting missions trip that I would ever be involved in. Yet, after only six days (12 to go!) it has already been the most spectacular.

It has been wonderful to go to each town and set-up the Maze. To see the excited faces of the kids that have gone through and talk to them about it. It has been a privilege to share the gospel message, and to hear that lives were committed and recommitted. It has been humbling to talk one to one with young adults, whose lives are ravaged by overwhelming challenges, yet they saw something in the message of The Maze that gave them hope. To live out the Great Commission, is what our lives are intended to be used for on this earth.

A wonderful additional blessing for me, has been the team that I have been able to serve with. They have just been an awesome group. They have each worked so hard, always looking out for each other, encouraging one another, and having a great deal of fun in the process. No one has given anything but 100%.

People talk about “work had, play hard”, this group meets that motto, and some. But on top of that attitude, this group exemplifies that qualities expounded in 1 Corinthians 13:

Love is patient, love is kind. It does not envy, it does not boast, it is not proud. It is not rude, it is not self-seeking, it is not easily angered, it keeps no record of wrongs. Love does not delight in evil but rejoices with the truth. It always protects, always trusts, always hopes, always perseveres.

God has without doubt appointed His team, and His Holy Spirit has anointed His team to do His work.

Finally, while we look forward to Laura and Andrew joining up with us, it is with sadness that we know on Saturday one of our group, Greg, will leave us.  He will be truly missed …