And we're back...and still going!!! Video Update!

Hey Guys!!

Since my last update was from Puerto Rico...ONE YEARish ago, I figured I'd fill ya in via video. 5 minutes versus 5 well-written poetic prose filled pages of details...If you'd like more info after you watch, please do not hesitate to post a comment!!

Enjoy!!

Adventures with Desiree: The year in Review from Desiree Metcalf on Vimeo.
A video update of the last 12 months...in under 5 minutes! Featuring a sneak peak at my new music...

For more information on DREAM dreams Tours: check out www.vimeo.com/dunamisdesi to watch the history of "A Boy and His Guitar."

For more info on Iris Global and Iris Abilene, go to www.IRISglobal.org/Abilene

For Fun:

Buffalo Gap, Texas...our SIGN!!! Welcome!

Little Pemba Boy

Mi Herma...my little sister...Pemba...November 2012

Grandma at El Morro in Old San Juan, Puerto Rico June 2012 

DREAM dreams photo canvases...for sale. Proceeds to Dreamers like Johnny (pictured R) 

Got to be a part of giving his family a home in Pemba, October '12

Welcome to the VIllage of Joy!! Aldeia de Alegria

The Man with the arrow is our security detail.

Puerto Rican Salutations

"And your ancient ruins shall be rebuilt; you shall raise up the foundations of [buildings that have laid waste for] many generations; and you shall be called Repairer of the Breach, Restorer of Streets to Dwell In." (Isaiah 58:12 AMP)

I'm sitting in a blue room provided by a cousin of my grandmother...Waldymar. He and his wife Eneida have given grandma and I the room with the aircon! I am blessed as the 90 degree weather at 6am (slightly reminiscent of Pemba summers) can be warm! I'm thankful for this blessing.

We've done so much the past 5 days here...beginning in San Juan and the El Morro fort, El Yunque (the rainforest), getting lost in Rio Piedras to visit a cousin, a lechonera (I did see a skewered cerdo), and eat a Puerto Rican dish called mofongo (mashed green banana, garlic, and one other ingredient I JUST discovered that I will not repeat;) lol) made from the local Chinese drive thru...Next we went to visit grandma's nephew Carmelo in Fajardo...another roadtrip and getting lost...it seems many people know their urbanizations so well they don't know how to give directions and our American (praise the Lord P.R. is AT&T 3G compatible) gps' don't know whether to register in English or español! But it's all an adventure...Fajardo gave us an invitation to a 4th of July Barbecue in Guayama with Carlo's family... The day after Fajardo (July 3) we decided on a last minute trip to Mayaguez (west coast, grandfather's birthplace) but do to traffic we only got (24 km shy of Mayaguez) to Aguada and grandma's birthplace, lot where her house used to be and St. Francis parish where she was baptized. Aguada and Aguadillo two neighboring cities will both tell you Columbus landed there first when he discovered Puerto Rico (ask Grandma for the story...she'll tell you it's Aguada;)

A whirlwind it seems thus far, but July 4th is the day that has taken the cake...The scripture above I feel is what this trip is about...the picture above is a little lady (grandma on the left) building bridges with relations she has not seen in years. A woman who lives thousands of miles a away has managed in the span of 5 days to reconnect with 3 generations--4 if you count the generations growing.

The first few days were a challenge for me because as grandma would ask questions, it seemed that people in this family (which are mine as well) have forgotten their history, have been dispersed throughout PR and have not really followed each other's journeys. And yet, 5 days into this trip, this little 4'6" Puerto Rican dynamite has built bridges between family...if not for those here--for choices to visit and rekindle family flames must be made--for us, for my generation for those in the west who do have a root here in Puerto Rico. This little woman has built bridges with love that two generations (My uncle Michael and myself) of the Brignoni family can now safely cross...

There is a legacy that has been forgotten and still can be discovered. I admire my grandma and her desire to see her roots, to know the history of the time since she left Puerto Rico, and her hope to love as well as she can...

Back to July 4...I didn't quite understand what this trip would look like and have not felt "home" until we made it to Patillas to see Ana, the last living sister of her mother Juana. Again we got lost, this time in Patillas...and it's a good thing too, because Ana's son Ray came and found us and led us through the countryside to this beautiful house hidden amidst Papaya, Mango, Acerola, Breadfruit, Passion Fruit, Avocado, And other trees, herbs, Gallos, Gallinas, and pollitos...river and luscious tropical landscape...I felt like I was home, unable to speak the language yet speaking the language of the heart being welcomed in with hospitality and allegria. With the sweetest juiciest delicious fresh fruits freely given...and to see a reunion...although completely unlike the bush bush in Africa, I felt like I was on such a journey...no questions asked come in, eat, stay, see and learn...Ana had two houses on her property...and 4 generations living there...secluded from "normal" and today a bridge was built upon an ancient foundation and perhaps one day these will be able to cross the bridge into our world, culture and lives...

There is a story to be told, I am beginning to discover this part of it. Tomorrow we will visit the site where in 1952 my grandfather Pedro lost his entire family in a plane crash. His story didn't end and his family's legacy is yet to be told...Perhaps as I follow this spunky grandmother around, we will discover the richness of our inheritance forgotten to see it restored and left to the future generations...

So...in a nutshell...we've seen much, have much still to see, have gotten lost many times, but In the discovery of being found, richness is being uncovered, the oro (gold) is being mined and treasures that have been hidden are now in our midst...

Thanks for letting me debrief...for journeying with me...and for dreaming dreams. That there would be peace on earth...that breaches would be repaired, and bridges rebuilt...to see generations united in love!!

Love,
Desi:)

Dream Dreams Tour Launches

I left my heart in Mozambique...I'm on a mission ( http://indiegogo.com/dreamdreams )to discover the dreams of my heart's captors!! Join me on this adventure!!


Dream Dreams from Desiree Metcalf on Vimeo.


I am leaving for Mozambique to begin an adventure that will become a journey to helping others accomplish their dreams. With the use of photography and interviews, I will return to the western shores to begin telling the stories of the children interviewed. My hope is that when the dreams of the kids are revealed we can begin finding ways to help those dreams come true!

This sounds simple, and it is, but it will require others to help. Funding this project is the first step, going is the second, and then dreaming and joining hands and resources here will be the final step and first step again in helping bring reality to the wishes in these children's hearts. For the next 6 days I am running a campaign and need to raise $4000 for travel expenses and costs for this project. Consider for a moment about partnering with our dreams...check out my campaign at http://indiegogo.com/dreamdreams and please join me on this adventure. There are fantastic incentives for the monies contributed.

Help me tell the stories of the future of our world...Children!!

Love,

Desi

That You Would Bear Much Fruit

Dearest Friends,

I don't know how many times I've started this letter and hoped to finish it to send salutations and situational updates...but alas, here we are again. Square one.

The past two and a half years I spent preparing for many adventures in Africa, partnering under the leadership of Heidi and Rolland Baker of Iris Ministries, learning about love in action, serving the poorest of the poor, and having every box of western mentality, theology, [insert box title here] shattered...leaving me a twenty- something single woman hungry to see others know of the beautiful world and faces that exist outside of our current locations. Upon my return from Mozambique, I knew my season was changing, I thought I knew to what, I was certain my 9 months as a personal assistant would have taught me something in planning and scheduling my own life...But, my life, has changed and is continuing to change and the season is definitely new.

In October I laid out my list of "plans," ideas, ministry opportunities. I spoke of the wind blowing where it wishes. I mean certainly I had already walked through that...Haha...little did I now that I was speaking truth over my even more so "current" season. When we think we "know" God and what He is doing, it's usually in those moments where He chuckles at our "knowledge" and says, "Oh yeah? Watch this..." It's not that He wants to prove us wrong, but what I am beginning to see is that He actually wants to teach us MORE and show us deeper, richer truths of who He is, how His nature is, and how MUCH He is dreaming bigger dreams for us. In the process of rediscovering HIM it is there that we are able to see who we are, see our true nature in Him, and begin to fathom the more that He has for us.

Living in the Vine

There was one night this past October, I attended a conference in Los Angeles, the minister preaching: a dear friend and fiery missionary mother- in-faith, spoke on John 15--you know, the chapter about abiding, being a branch on the Vine, bearing fruit? I was struck by 15:2 "Every branch in me that does not bear fruit He takes away, and every branch in me that bears fruit He prunes that it may bear more fruit." I have lived in John 15 and meditated on it for nearly four years now, but most of the time I've meditated particularly on abiding, and not doing things apart from Christ, or even the fruit which comes from abiding (asking anything you wish etc.) Maybe it is just me, but sometimes I think I've skipped over the pruning part, or touched the topic lightly at best. Anyway, back to that night, during ministry time I found myself overcome by the overwhelming love of God, undone by His presence, and captivated by His choice to speak to my heart...it felt as if a lightning bolt of love shot into my heart and I fell to the ground...I could not tell you how long this lasted, for in that moment, time was insignificant all that mattered was God and what He had to reveal. I very clearly saw shadows of things to come, dreams I had laid down on the altar that I had thought not for now, and I very clearly heard the Lord say to my heart, "These are real, and they are for you."

It is pretty amazing when the Lord speaks to our hearts and reveals promises that He intends to keep, and the hopes He has that we can and will (in Him of course) accomplish them. It is also humbling to know that He cares about those details and desires of our hearts. In these moments though, the excitement of possibility is more real than the thought of the cost for such fulfillment. Honestly who really likes to see the price tag when they see their favorite pair of shoes in the window? Surely I don’t, but obviously there is a price to be paid. It’s the same with our God, not that He doesn’t freely give generously good things, BUT He wants us to be able to handle that which He gives. If He threw me immediately into those things, at THAT moment in my life, I may have been utterly ruined, for it is in time, testing, and patient growth that He teaches us how to live in our potential as mature followers...I would like to say at that moment I said, “YES, I’M READY!!”...but He is such a good Father who cares for His children intently and knows us better than we know ourselves...and He knows where our heart, character, and life need development to handle that which He will entrust..

As I was in that place of total wreckage (tears, snot, pure bliss) I saw multiple dreams (even ones I didn’t think would ever be picked up again), and I knew He was saying, "It's not one or the other, but you can have it all and more." Then I began to see other shadows faces, ministries, opportunities and I heard, "Cuts are coming." This is the moment when, if it had not been a holy moment, I may have yelled, “NOOOO!!” Yet I knew I was being given a choice. I was at a precipice and at a place of invitation: In order for the dreams to come to fulfillment “cuts” must be allowed: Pruning. My life as I knew it was going to be put on the chopping block. In the moment, I was not given full understanding or revelation of what that would truly look like, but God, the creator of all things, was inviting me, not forcing me to come to a new place in Him, and further progress on our journey. It was an invitation to a deeper place of learning to trust Him, with every part of me, my life, my heart. It was an invitation to another degree of obedience. In that moment, I could not help, and still today I must, cry “YES!!” I don't care what the cost is; I want the ultimate prize...beyond any dream, any hope, this invitation is for more of Him...

So what does pruning look like if I'm still walking daily with all my limbs in tact? I'm sure you've at one point seen a pruned rose bush, or hedge...most of the time it looks sad and pitiful. The beauty of the growth is gone, the plant has lost its ability to boast in its beauty, all the roses and buds are gone and one may even question if it will ever get its beauty back...I am not a rose bush, but pruning has looked like this: it has implied a loss of sorts, favor where it once was is virtually non-existent, opportunities have gone, and the ability I have to boast in myself or what I can do is not even plausible. I know I don't really like looking at pruned rosebushes, and most of the time they go unnoticed, which is also what happens with us...though we are not invisible, it often feels that way. Pruning by the Lord's hand often comes with Him asking questions requiring decisions to let go of more control. No boxes. No agendas. "Will you let go of the comforts of safe? Will you let me take you where you've never gone? Where your identity is not based on what you do, what ministry you're involved with, or even how you can effectively use your talents?" It's easy in the moment to say Yes--To not think about what it will look like during the "process" and after the decision has been made, to see that what He actually meant was to strip this plant bear to the bark, no leaves, no green, almost a twig...that's it...where I can no longer glory in my accomplishments, where the fruit of last season is gone, not even a trace of fruit on the ground for that has been scooped up even. It seems that even the closest friends and confidantes vanish...because He is tending to the branch, it is a personal and intimate affair and only one that can happen with the vinedresser and his vine; and He is that serious about branches bearing good fruit. It isn't a place of shame, or embarrassment but in the nakedness of being pruned, it leads to a place of utter dependence. Where comfort and strength only then come by pressing in and waiting patiently, simply standing, where not even a wrestle is possible because a branch cannot grow back within itself. The process of growth is completely in the hands of the Creator of ALL things. Jesus continues in John 15:4, "Abide in me and I in you. As the branch cannot bear fruit of itself, unless it abides in the vine, neither can you unless you abide in me."

The image above of a person with outstretched arms reminds me of what it looks like to abide. She is in a place of yielded surrender...like a branch that has been pruned, she cannot sustain her arm hold without the help of those around her. It is like that with Jesus, particularly in pruning seasons, there is an awareness of our own weakness and recognition that without Him, we are unable to produce anything, let alone lasting fruit. This image, I once saw demonstrated in a sermon juxtaposed with the image of a violent wrestling motion, has been etched in my mind and has been a reminder to me that the best and easiest way to overcome in pruning seasons, waiting times, and seemingly "action" free days is to put my arms up in surrender and yield. Wrestling in this moment will be painful at best and will not force a piece of fruit to pop forth. The pruning season, hopefully, is a propellant into a place of utter dependence on Him, where strength comes from leaning in, and confidence arises when it is clear, He is Who He says He is, faithful, sovereign, and exceedingly ABLE to do all that He has said. I do not have to strive to produce in the pruning times, but if I remain, abide, be still, entangle myself to the strength which comes from leaning into Jesus, then in due time...growth will come.

While I cannot make things happen, I trust the timing of the Lord, He has never missed a beat, and His seasons always continue as He has written from before the foundations of the earth! He doesn’t prune His branches because He wants us to look empty, ugly, awkward...He is not into humiliating His kids, but He prunes us to produce in us a life and fruit far greater than we could ever fathom with fruit that will remain until the end of time and throughout eternity...

Wherever you are in this journey, whatever your season, I pray you find the delight of the Lord upon your heart and that your joy would be full,

With much Love, 

Desiree

Here's What's Coming: 

Life Formed in the Pruning

This season of abiding has looked like resting (and being stationary for more than a week), rekindling the spark of creativity by diving into the colorful world of paints on canvas, writing at a leisurely pace, spending time with family and friends, and beginning to dream dreams. In the waiting of what is to come, I am learning much from my times spent yielding to the hand of the Lord, though I at times try to fight Him, daily I am learning to yield more: I know am gaining nutrients that the fruit of this season will be sweet, edible, lasting, and ample enough to share with others. In the coming weeks, I will be sending shorter updates to release the testimony of what Jesus, is teaching, that you would be encouraged in your season! Below is a sneak peak (subject to change at the leading of the Wind ;)

Like Those Who Dream

We are a dream of God. Jacob had a dream and made an oath with God. Joseph dreamed and a nation was saved. I believe God is restoring dreams to the hearts of His people, because when we dream with Him, we carry His power to actually release others into their dreams!

The Bigness of God

He is the One who spoke a word and life began. He is the Creator of everything who holds us 
He is the One who spoke a word and life began. He is the Creator of everything who holds us together, is God the sovereign, perfect and holy, is our Heavenly Father…

The Trust Covenant

What does it look like to live a life of TRUST…It’s an “Us” issue and with Him, 100% Trust is possible!!

Blooming Soon

Puerto Rico

28^th June-8^th July

I will be traveling with family to discover history, heritage, and hopefully hone my Spanish language skills.

Pemba, Mozambique

11^th July-8^th August

I am heading to my other home to worship, visit wonderful family, and rekindle Makua and Portuguese dialects

Fluttering on the Wind

"The Wind blows where it wishes and you hear its sound, but you do not know where it comes from or where it goes. So it is with everyone who is born of the Spirit..."

Dearest friends,
One of my favorite place to hang out at the Village of Joy in Pemba is the prayer hut in the midst of this incredibly beautiful garden. This hut has a 360-degree view of landscape and ocean, and sets a stage for some amazing sunrise views too. I love praying—it’s what I was born for; communion with the King—and I love the spectacular views of the ocean; but this simple hut called Bethel (house of God) is my favorite place of all because of the WIND…

Throughout the last two years, I’ve spent nearly a year living in Pemba…I’ve experienced the hot season and the hotter season…during both, WIND is a blessing. Not only does it cool, but it it also makes it harder for mosquitoes to fly. In all the places on our base, the ONE place that without fail has some sort of wind, or light breeze, is our house of prayer. It is almost as if to show the tiniest glimpse of His omnipotence and omnipresence to His sons and daughters crying out day and night in the midst of a wilderness that He is there.

I am rather fond of the Wind. I love how it cools my house in Pemba, I love how it sounds when it blows against objects in the midst of stronger gusts, and I love that I can imagine how many colors must float on its wings in every season--winter, summer, fall and spring. I love that the wind is my reminder that the omniscient God is really ever present leading me joyously and spontaneously through this crazy little adventure called life! It is the wind of His Spirit that beckons me, carrying me on the wings of His love, leading me where He wishes…

Mozambique: The Memory of my heart—
When I made the decision to go to Africa, two years ago, and with each subsequent trip back, I fully thought I would be living my life there. I thought that Pemba, Mozambique would be home—and the “west” would be the distant memory that I would visit from time to time. But, as the wind blows where it wishes…I have returned to California—My Mozambican home, it seems for a time, will now be the memory in my heart that I get to eagerly await to revisit when the Wind blows me back!

The theme is the Wind—Spirit

I can relate to Jesus’ statement in John 3: though I may hear the sound of the Wind, I might not know where it will blow me “next.” I am daily learning to trust the Divine leadership of the Spirit of God fully convinced He knows where He’s going—It may at times look like a whirlwind that drops out of nowhere, or a steady breeze that blows the sails of a boat, or there may be a sudden stop and movement is not possible—the flag won’t fly and the sail falls lifeless—Is it the sail’s fault it cannot blow in the wind? What an absurd question don’t you think? Sometimes the wind just stops and the boat captain is forced to make a decision in order to move his ship. In Mozambique, many of the fisherman boats have sails, and if the wind stops, most of these boats will sink, not float. So the captain must decide on a plan of action...Does he wait for the wind again, or does he paddle to shore? Maybe the wind has shifted direction? Or perhaps it is time for him to return to shore to get a new boat?

For a season the Wind was blowing my life across the seas of missions in Mozambique; I am not the captain of my ship, but the Spirit of God is, and He sailed us to the West where He is now beginning to blow upon dreams in my heart that have been waiting for such a time as this…a sudden shift in wind direction can only mean…

It’s time for a NEW boat!

The Pemba Sunrise

If there is silence…be quiet and listen…

It seems that more and more these days I find myself drifting in and out of sleep to the familiar silence of the Pemba sunrise. I did not know I could see such beauty until I was awoken on a July morning at 5:42am. I groggily turned my head to see an orange orb of light penetrating my makeshift curtains made of a polka dot sheet. I flew out of bed and ran to my window and gazed through only to see the sun looking at me!!

I often ponder why I come to Pemba…What is it about this place that draws me? Can it be the people? Or maybe is it the breathtaking views? Or maybe it is the work? All of the options are viable and valid, but it finally again occurred to me…the “why” of my existence. Let Him kiss me with the kisses of His lips for His love truly is better than wine. Draw me after You where I can gaze upon Your beauty, inquiring in Your Holy temple [Song of Songs and Psalms]. Pemba is the one place (so far in my existence) where I have been awoken to see the sun, and the Son, and where as I gaze upon His beauty, the darkness in me flees and the shadows fade away. Pemba has been a place where the deep parts of my heart where there is brokenness or hurts of old are exposed by the light of the Son and a new day dawns.

I’ve been watching the sunrises since that day and I’ve noticed something in this season that is different than any other season before. In the silence of the morning, I wrap my blanket around me to escape the chill of the day’s early winter weather and I look to the horizon that has been and will always be steady. These days I’ve noticed a low-lying cloud cover just at the horizon. During summer months, the sun is evident peaking over that distant line as early as 5:00am, but with this cloud coverage, the brightness of the sun does not kiss the sea until much later. In fact, it seems there is a battle in the sky for the sun to breakthrough its first light. I’ve watched the sun climb up the sky into the mass of gray cumulus clouds. At times it appears as if the clouds follow the sun up the sky. Maybe there’s a race between the two, or a struggle to overcome, and little by little the bright orange glow creeps higher up and to the top of the clouds crowning them, even in their darkness, in glory…

And suddenly…Light bursts forth and the darkness dissipates. The new day has dawned. These days with me, it seems there is a new day and it is here, but the night does not want to let go. The clouds are upon the horizon line, but in time, the sun will shine. I am watching from my window eagerly waiting for the sun to kiss my face and the fullness of the day to come. I may not know what each day will bring, but as sure as the sun rises and I listen to the silence of the morning song, I know that darkness will flee, shadows shall fade, and all that remains will be the sun shining, kissing my face.

With just under two weeks before departure, I will enjoy each Pemba sunrise—there really is no other sight quite as breathtaking as the glorious sun [and SON]—and the awakening of my heart to dreaming dreams of this new day.

Thank you all for joining me on this adventure. I look forward to many sunsets on the west coast soon…

Love,

Desi

I Am a House...

Contrary to popular opinion, not having running water, a working shower, a toilet that leaks, locks that stop working after 3 uses, and a brand new fridge that does not cool down, is not SO bad...The fact that I have a cement house (Thank you Arco Iris for providing housing)--that is almost level, with brand new tiles (thank you Mozambican construction crew) fresh paint (Thank you Brittnie Furuvald) an incredible view, and when there is a breeze...the best airflow--shows that I am way more fortunate than most who live here...mud huts that may or may not last through the rainy season, with no mosquito nets covering the windows, a cloth door, a dirt floor, and maybe if they are wealthy some electricity...I am blessed to be where I am...

Life in Africa can be daunting and challenging at times, but even in the midst of the “wrongs” I am awed that this is my life. There is so much more to this journey than complaining over what works and what does not. I have been pondering the sovereignty of God for almost a year now in great depths. Something about my journey, walking with Him, I’m beginning to see that He is purposeful in everything...even by allowing discomfort to teach me lessons for this little walk called life.

Why did I move into a brand new “finished” house in order to contend with such “issues” which in light of Eternity are trivial and meaningless at best? When God created man, He said that he was, “Very good.” Man is merely made of dust and breath...this house in which I write this page is made of dust, water, and air... Yet, when both were completed, was the work truly finished?

I can liken myself to being a house...a fixer upper at best. I am far from being finished... Daily the Master Potter, Craftsman, Builder...adds and removes to my house. A foundation of cement was laid in my house, and painted...it was firm, yet it constantly held the appearance of being dirty--could be a western mind that doesn’t see cement as a finished product, I mean I was born in a world of tile, wood floor, carpet, linoleum etc...For some reason, the floor was not complete until it had tiles...upon careful placement of tile, one by one, glued in place with cement, even in it’s dirty unfinished state, the floor began to look like a floor, not just a foundation.

Christ is the solid foundation on which I stand. And upon THAT foundation, He begins to build His house. I am His house, His temple, His vessel...He built a structure that can stand and is now adding to the details of what makes my house beautiful and unique. He lays the tiles to add character and personality, to bring invitation, to make me a space that feels like a resting place, not a workspace/construction zone. He is turning my house into a home.

Maybe I will save all the thoughts about every particular “problem” for subsequent blogs, but ultimately each item in this African house of mine can be a shadow of what needs fixing in my own life...or even just more details to make me more of a home...I want to be a home that is a place where life can happen, where dreams are dreamed, and where rest is welcome. This journey is one of turning building of mud, cement, and water into a home...The transformation process has begun...


Love, Desi:)