Fall News Letter!

Hello everybody!

I am sitting in my office on a beautiful Tuesday afternoon looking out at the changing colors of the trees across the lake. It's amazing how fast time goes by! Just a couple years ago I was a student in the DTS not knowing what I was going to do with my life. Wondering what my future looked like and praying that I would allow God to change my heart, my mind and my life.

Today I am in the third week of the third Discipleship Training School that I have been involved with and the second Training School that I have staffed. God answered my prayers and persistence, He has changed my heart, my mind and my life. I am so happy with where my life is right now and looking forward to what is ahead! (I'll get to that later).

I now know so clearly what to live for and what I want my life to be about. I am a fallen person but I want my life to be a light for Christ through Him. The things of this world that I considered important have become dim in comparison with serving God and preaching His grace, love and justice to the hurting and searching.

This is me “getting to that later”. So what is next for me? I will write about the short term first seeing as that is definite.

I am planning and preparing to go to Thailand again in late December. I can't wait to get back there. The people of Nahong and even of Chiang Mai are so on my heart. Sometimes even certain smells will trigger a longing in my heart to go back to the hurting people of Thailand that need to know the love of Christ so badly.

I am in great financial need for this to happen. If God lays it on your heart please contact me and I will let you know all the details about the trip and the mission. I do NOT want our relationship to be a one way street. I want to know you more and be able to pray for your needs as well. I am not the only one with great needs so I would LOVE to stand with you in prayer with any need that you might have. I will also get you hooked up with my more personal updates of what is happening with the DTS and especially Thailand.

After the trip to Thailand I am still in contract with Youth With A Mission until the end of August and after that is not completely clear at this point but it is becoming more clear each day. I know that I want to remain in ministry both locally and internationally. I don't know if that is going to be with YWAM or not but I believe it will be something big and I wait with excitement and anxious anticipation for what is next.

Thailand is something that is very strong in Cheyenne's and my own heart. We want to be involved in what is happening there for at least the next season in our lives and again, we don't know what that will look like in terms of what organization/ministry that will be with but we know that is is part of what we will be doing. We are also praying about the future timing in our relationship!

Prayer needs: FIRST, I want to know if YOU have any prayer needs! I want to stand with you in encouragement and prayer for whatever you might be going through. Please do not be afraid to use the relationship we have. Even if I do not know you that well the point of this invite is to know you more and encourage you!

- Pray for the people in Thailand! Cru Nit, Cru Taweeb, Cru Dang, Cru Nung and Mr Ankahn to name a few. Mr. Ankahn is the principle of the school and is a man of influence. Please pray that he finds Jesus soon, (Cru means 'teacher' in Thai)

- My friends Pii Taa and Beer (bea) they are both Thai Christians.

- Pray that the students of this year's DTS would come away with a picture of Christ worth dying for.

- My back is getting much better (thank you for your prayers) but it has it's flair ups and I am definitely not at 100% so pray that the improving trend continues.

Other needs and ways you can help:

Finances, I sorely need finances in order for this trip to Thailand to happen this year. We are planning on getting airline tickets by the end of this month. Airfare to Thailand runs right around $1,700-$2,500. You are along side me in the mission field because without you there isn't a way that I could be there. I have to ask for your help now.

Supplies for outreach:

A sleeping bag cold meds, hand sanitizer and sanitizing wipes. Bug spray, peanut butter, protein bars soap and shampoo. Basic needs.

Contact info:

Mailing Address: W14580 CTY HWY D, Weyerhaeuser Wisconsin, 54895

Email: lukieneraasen@yahoo.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/lucasRSN

Personal phone: (612)-247-9437

Work phone: (715)-353-2280 (Ask for Luke)

Also I have a paypal account that will soon be available for quick easy donations.

You can make out all checks to YWAM Northwoods. If my name does not appear on the check it will be tax deductible to you.

The adventure awaits

Hello Friends and family!

I apologize for not being able to update you guys during the last few months. I've been beyond busy the last 4 months of my life!


As many of you know, last year I went to Youth With a Mission ( a missions organization that trains young adults to go out into the world as missionaries and followers of Christ). During my Discipleship training school we went to Nahong Thailand for a two month outreach. Once there I felt called to do the second school that YWAM northwoods had to offer, the School of Biblical Foundations (SBF) and that's where I'll start! My latest adventures!

SBF was an extremely intense course that taught me how to study the bible in depth, understand the truths of God's word and teach others from the bible. I feel deeply grounded and firm in what I believe and have a desire to share the word of God and the life it brings to the people around me. At the end of SBF I made the decision to make an outward statement of my faith, by being baptized! I'm very excited for what lies ahead!

In the school we had an intense homework load where I was hardly sleeping in order to finish the projects. Through it I feel much stronger in my faith then I ever have before. I know without God I would not have made it through this intense school and I praise Him and give Him all the glory.

Thank you all so much for your prayers and support while I was in SBF!!

I have recently come home and I will be home for a month before going back to Wisconsin. I've been accepted as Discipleship Training School (DTS) staff! I will be staffing the schools and I will also be leading the outreach to Nahong Thailand this winter! I have had a strong calling to the ministry in Nahong ever since I went there last winter.

As of now I am signed on for the next two years! I will be moving back to Chetek Wisconsin in early August.

Reasons for going:

When I was a little kid, all I wanted to be was my dad. I wanted to be just like him! So I would imitate \ him as best I could. Walk like him, talk like him, listen to his music and anything else that was something my dad would do. I had no reason to walk around with a toothpick in my mouth! I never used the thing. But dad did it so I had to do it. It felt so cool. When people would see me with the toothpick they'd always say “He looks just like his dad”. I love my dad and because I loved him I wanted to be like him and make him proud.

In the last year I've gone through many life changing experiences and my life vision has completely changed. The way I imitated my dad when was a child is how I now want to imitate Christ. I've learned much about what's important in life and I've come to the conclusion that everything points back to God and the gospel. I feel called to bring the gospel to Nahong Thailand and the people around me today. I want to bring young Christians the real Jesus and the true life giving gospel so that they can truly live!

In DTS I will be working with young adults for a 3 month classroom phase and a 2 month outreach phase. Doing one-on-ones with the young men and leading some local outreaches as well. I will be one of the people who set up our team transportation, translators and ministry in Thailand. I will be overseeing the English teaching ministry at the school in Nahong as well. It will be a lot of work but I am called to serve at the school in Wisconsin and in Nahong Thailand. It will be a great deal of responsibility but I am ready for the challenge.

Ways you can help:

Prayer: I value all of your prayers greatly. I have felt the power of prayer in my life so please pray. This will be the most challenging thing I've ever done so I greatly appreciate prayers.

Financial Support: I am taking a great step of faith being a missionary with no form of income other then the support of others. It does give me more reliance on God for provision however.
I will be living a normal life with living expenses, basic essentials and gas, plus a trip to Thailand this winter. If it is laid on your heart to give either a one time donation or even monthly support I can not express my thanks enough for that.
I consider you all a MAJOR part of my ministry. Your by my side here and in Thailand, working with me.
If you would like to help me in my mission, have questions or just wanna talk, please contact me! I'm on Facebook: Search Lucas Neraasen, Email: lukieneraasen@yahoo.com, Mailing Address: YWAM Northwoods W14580 County Highway D, Weyerhaeuser, WI 54895

Thank you so much. And God bless

Luke