For the past several months the Rileys have known that God was leading them to participate in a Discipleship Training School with YWAM as they prepare for continued service as missionaries. What we didn’t know was when or where. Over time, God showed us the when (Spring of 2007), but we still didn’t know where. As the Spring of 2007 drew ever nearer and as people had more and more trouble understanding that we still didn’t know where we were headed, we were beginning to get a wee bit antsy, waiting on God’s answer. We told God, “since we are totally willing to go wherever you tell us, please just give us a clear answer of where to go.” We prayed every day as a family. We wanted to know and wanted to share. Finally, that answer has come!
The King’s Lodge, in Nuneaton, England, will be our home in April, May and June of 2007. From its website, I took this history of the base:
Our historic building has been used to influence the lives of young people since its founding in 1886. It has been used in prayer and discipleship, as well as by the army and coal miners.
Today YWAM uses it to mine the truths of the Bible and, through discipleship of young people, to raise an army to bring the Gospel to the Nations.
In 1870 Robert S Lea designed a school and home when he designed the King’s Lodge for use as a boarding school for boys. It was self-sufficient in that it grew its own food – had its own well – and had an emphasis on physical education.
In 1938 the boarding school was closed and was briefly used to house the wild animals from a bankrupt circus – lions included! WW11 – 1939-45 – The building was used by the Army’s Scottish Regiments, the Royal Marines and then the ATS. During the post war years the building was left empty. From 1950-68 it was used by the National Coal Board as a social club and institute.
In 1968 to 82 the building was brought by Christians: clergy and industrialists who used the building for developing young people through education. During this time much prayer and intercession for young people went up from this building. The building was purchased in faith by a small group of YWAMers working out of London in 1985. Since then we have run at least 3 DTS schools each year – and SBS since 1986. We have hosted major youth camps and run various other schools on topics from worship to primary health care and child and youth ministries.
So, how did God answer our prayer? That would be an exceedingly long answer, because it wasn’t just any one thing or an announcement from heaven. Many factors played into our realization of what God had been telling us for years. In brief, I will start with this morning, when I was meeting with a missions pastor who worked with YWAM for a dozen or so years before entering his current pastorate. In that conversation, as I discussed my wife’s passion and incredible giftings, I realized that God was using the message he had placed in her heart to direct us. 
Tara isn’t just a gifted mom; she is a learned pediatric occupational therapist who has studied diligently the methods of teaching children with special needs. She also is passionate about being a good mom and believes that the purpose of, and best method for, all education is discipleship. And, her gifts and knowledge with regard to children with special needs make her a whiz with children who have no developmental delays. She also has spent a lot of time and effort learning about prenatal aspects of motherhood, breastfeeding, teaching reading, writing, and a host of other aspects of parenting.Â
Additionally, she has a God-given desire to minister to the filipino people. She lived in the Philippines for 4 months as a teenager while her father taught at a University there. She has yearned to return ever since and grew to love the filipino culture. As I described Tara’s heart, I realized God was giving me a heart to go with her to the Philippines. I called her immediately after the meeting and told her I wanted to call the King’s Lodge and find out if they had decided on the location of outreach, because the last time we had talked with them the possibilities were either the Philippines or Brazil. So, I got home, called, and we learned that they had decided that the Philippines was the definite locale for our outreach. So, we knew where we were headed at that point. Spring in England and the summer in the Philippines.Â
We will be in Cagayan do Oro City (about 500,000 people) on the Island of Mindanao in the Philippines. 
This is the large southern island and it has been in international news because there are groups of people there who want to create an independent Islamic state on a part of that island. We ask your prayers for us: for our finances to do this (flights to England alone will be about $5000), for our safety, for our kids, and for our ministry.Â
We are so excited to see the path God is laying before us. Every day the oft-quote words of Proverbs 3 become more real to us (Praise God): “Trust in the Lord with all your heart and lean not on your own understanding; in all your ways acknowledge Him and He shall direct your paths.” Amen!
Note: technically we have applied to go. We hope all will work out.Â