As
I write more in this blog of dry bones, I will try my best to fill you in on my
past and experiences with God. I must say I have been on many adventures with
God that are worth talking about. But for today, ill just give you an overview
of my past. I will start from the end and move back. Why not mix things up a
little bit.
Its almost been a whole year since
I moved to Bozeman, give a few days. I have been working my tail off for Last
Best Place Landscaping. I have working in the dirt, mud, heat and freezing cold
trying to survive on my own. I am still alive so I must have been doing it
right. Yet I recall a week of just Nuetlla and saltine crackers for every meal.
I have joined a church called Venture, one of the best churches in the valley.
Everyone knows everyone, the way a church is supposed to be. I love it there.
The year before this year,
2012, was a little more interesting. I started it in the mountians of the Czech
Republic, and ended it in Bozeman, Montana. In between those 12 months I went
to 9 different countries, travel for days at a time, from a Range Rover packed
with 10 people across the plains of Kenya, to a train you could run faster than
in southern Croatia. From a pack mini van across the droll highways of Poland,
to the chaotic lanes of the autobahn. Across countries and oceans, over the
hills and far away. There where some mornings where I did not know which
country I was in, which currency to use, or which greeting to say. I traveled
the world. All for the sole purpose to be a light in a dark place, to be the
hope for the hopeless. I was squished, stepped on, pushed around; I had to
fight to get seats on most buses. I pushed to my limits, physically,
emotionally, and spiritually; yet I would do it all again to tell one person
Jesus has risen and lives. If one person sees Jesus in me or I can show them
that He loves them through my action or my example, the all of the pain and
physical suffering is well worth it.
During this whole trip, I was
using the talent of art God gave me, to share the Good News and express my
feelings to the world. I took countless photos and sketched till I ran out of
paper. I blessed many people with my art, from drawing their portrait or
repainting their home. From designing stamps for product labels, to a simple
landscape to brighten up a dreary wall in someone’s home. I did my best to use
the best talent I have to love Gods lost children.
This whole time I was out
reaching out to the nations I was with a group called YWAM, Youth With A Mission.
I feel like the name kinda gives away who YWAM is. They are just a world wide
group of young people who serve the Lord in organized chaos. I decided to join
them and ruin the world for Jesus’ benefit. YWAM has these discipleship
training schools, DTS’s, that run about three months with a three month
outreach to somewhere in the 10/40 window. Each DTS is different but all cover
the same topics of teaching. The easies way to explain the workings of a DTS is
the first part is all about learning what God sees in you, then the outreach is
to let God work through you to His children. I was changed 100% by it all. I
was reborn into the true David Alexander Tiehen God intended me to be.
The
school I chose to go to was based on Herrhut, Germany. Its right on the border
of Poland and the Czech Republic. It’s a very small town, it reminded me of
home, which was very nice for cooping with all the changes to my life. The
school there was specifically directed towards artists. There were
photographers, fine artists and musicians packed in that town. I thrived so
much off all the creative minds and excelled in my artistic skill.
While
I was there, a group called, Pick-A-Pocket, was growing and opening a café
there in town. They were taking the, arts-in-missions, vision and running with
it. They wanted a venue to show their art and minister to the locals, so God
provided them with a café. I had a chance to display my work there as well. It
was one of the first showings in the new café. I grew to know a lot of the people
who made up the PAP group, and began to entertain the idea of joining them. I
began to find out what exactly they did, I asked nearly every one in the group.
I cam e away with Pick-A-Pocket’s vision is to end poverty in the world and
stop all social injustices. They believe it will be accomplished. They have
been finding mission organizations in third world countries to help. How they
help is through their artistic talent and skill. They will take the vision of
the missionaries and present it to the first world countries in a creative and
professional way. Most on-the-ground missionaries don’t have time to sit down
and edit photos and design an entire website while taking care of the people
outside his or her door. That’s where PAP comes in, they send out people to
meet and talk with the mission leaders on the field, and gather everything the
need to best present and spread the news of what is going on to help the less
fortunate people and those in poverty.
When
members of Pick-A-Pocket aren’t working helping the field missionaries, they
are creating works of art. Most of which are directed on bring awareness to the
poverty and social injustice of the world. Not only do they expose the problems
of our world, they provide a solution. This all done through any and all forms
of art: dance, painting, street art, photos, music, culinary arts, writing,
etc.
I asked if I could join them
after hearing all of this. They prayed about it and said they would love to
have me on their team. I am now 18 months later on my way to join this team of
artists.
