holding on tight!

Do you ever feel like your body is attached to the end of a bull whip that is your life? It has been way too long since our last update. We try to make a new post every 2 weeks, but the last 2 months have been so full of activity that we haven't come up for breath.


We got to take our trip to the US and it was amazing! The clean air, incredible food, and department stores where hypnotic at first. Of course the jet lag didn't help and B even fell asleep while eating a donut!


We got to spend really good time with family and friends. Of course we communicate with our computer, but it was a whole other thing to really be together.


It thrilled our hearts to see the boys playing with their cousins and friends. They don't normally get a lot of this and it was so nice to let them go, not having to worry about the added dangers we usually deal with.


One of our goals for C was to remove the training wheels from his bike. We thought it would take a day or two, but he jumped on and took off like he had been doing it all along.


Grandparents got to make up for lost time and found all kinds of things to do together. C is always talking about building things, so he and his Pop did some real construction work.


Lots of folks stopped by to hang out, some a little braver than others!


We were able to get all our medical visits up to date and everybody was so good to us. We were absolutely amazed by the way people loved on us over these days!


We were able to share our stories and challenge the Body in one to one meetings, small group studies, medium sized luncheons, and large group events.


T and I also got to catch up with friends. One night we found out how many guys like us it takes to build a fire.


T jumped in and ran with a group of girls who were training for a marathon. I thought she was crazy, but enjoyed seeing the smile on her face after every visit with her friends.


The trip home went pretty smooth, but we found out that jet lag going east is even worse than traveling west. Once again B used his dinner plate for a pillow.


C had his final soccer game a few days after we arrived and made the game saving stop at goalie! We were so proud of him and the team who scored their first victory.


At the last game we had to clear the field before we could begin play. We were quickly reminded that we weren't in Arkansas anymore.


Soccer provided a great opportunity to make friends here. There are two families we plan to continue spending time with even now that the season is over. The games provided some time to talk, but we really look forward to going deeper in our conversations.


B enjoyed the soccer season also. He always found some hill to be king of.


We returned to find out that our closest co-workers are leaving the country. This has resulted in added workload, but more than anything we have just been bummed about losing our friends. However, G really blessed us last week with a new couple whom many of you may recognize. We are so excited to have them here and working closely with us!


Last weekend we celebrated Easter in a big way. If you aren't careful the holidays slip up on you here because you don't see the section dedicated to the celebration at Wal-Mart. We knew Easter was coming, but it just didn't feel like it (if you know what I mean). Saturday night everything changed when we received three boxes filled with Easterness!!! Peeps and all!!!


We also got to attend a sunrise service at a park. It was really cool to worship together! The park was full of worshippers. Most were giving themselves to the created (rather than the Creator), which made the event all the more meaningful.


We have a new group of 8 people who just arrived. This was their first Sunday here and they were really taking in all the sights and sounds. It was surely and Easter to remember.


The best part for me was a conversation I got to have with a passer by. I got to tell him the reason this day was so special and why the One we were worshiping was unique. He had already been asking these questions and I was able to help him understand the sacrifice and the resurrection. It felt so right and good to proclaim His story to such listening ears. Please ask that this man and I would meet again and that next year he will be added to the number of those who worship the risen King!

hop, skip, and a jump

The picture above is from an overnight passenger train we were on this week. The last month has meant some traveling for us and our longest trip has yet to come. In a few days will be making a brief journey to the good ol' US of A!!!! We will be speaking in DeQueen on Feb 22 and in Russellville March 1-4. Our time will be short, but we would love to see everyone. Please check your schedule and see if you might be able to attend one of these meetings.

Our other recent adventures have been connected to a river that is the center of hindu spirituality.


Four times a year we welcome and train new people to join us here. The latest group was our largest yet (in more ways than one)!


This was a pack of 16 people (14 of them stayed in our home for the 10 day training). One of the highlights of the time was a trip to a city north of us (at the base of the Himalayas) where the river is just begining to pick up speed. This city is a place of pilgramage for many and a perfect place for us to immerse our friends in their new culture. In 2010 a big event called the Kumbh Mela will take place here. The last one was held in the city we use to live in and 60 million people attended. Here is a picture to give you a sense of what that will be like.


This place is beautiful and horrible all at the same time. The river and the mountians surrounding it are incredible, but everything is set up to give worship to the created rather than the Creator.



This massive statue of the one called "destroyer" stands at the entrance to the city.


Unlike most that we have visited, this temple houses very few idols. When we entered, we were immediately taken to the edge of the river and told to give our worship to it. It was a great opportunity to talk of the one who made the river and how He offers living water to all people!



We broke into small groups and I got to spend the day with two really cool girls. We were making new friends all day long, but spent the majority of our time with the two girls and two guys in the pictures above.


We joined them on their pilgrimage to a temple overlooking the city. They had come to tie strings to this sacred tree. It is believed that if you make a wish while doing this you will get what you ask for. You can imagine the conversation this led to as we sat together in a tea shop afterward.


The training was an overall success and our house felt very different when after about 20 days we had waved good bye to almost all of our guest. Each one traveled to the location they will spend the next 2 years. A few in the group are assigned directly to us and we get to be more involved with them. The team above will be living in the north and we will be their "coaches".


A few days later we made our way east to another city on the same river. This one is the most famous and to be honest the most crazy! Our journey had two purposes, I had a meeting to attend and we wanted to see some girls there who arrived and went through our training in October.



We took them out to a nice dinner at an amazing hotel and spent the day getting into what life has been like since they moved out of our house. We got to see their apartment and we got to help them think through what they are doing. It was altogether an incredible trip!


Our travels are putting a cramp in our soccer career, but C is really begining to pick up the game and we are really getting to know some of the parents of the kids on his team.


So, we have been busy here. We took a hop north, a skip east, and now a leap west! Please ask that all of our efforts would be used to advance His kingdom on earth! Thank you!

earth, wind, and fire

"This day is very special for us!  

At this time we celebrate the birth of the one who gave us salvation!" 

December was filled with conversations that began with this statement.  Again and again we told the story to people who knew very little about Christmas (other than santa and the snowman).  Of course it is hardest to be away from family during the holidays, but the carols we sing come to life when you are living among people who still wait to hear the good news!

This year it was the phrase, "let EARTH receive her King" that stirred my heart.  Any view that limits redemption to something smaller than EARTH is wrong!  He didn't come for one or some, He came for ALL!  What a privilege to tell the world that Salvation is here!

Another thing we got to do in December was to host several of the guys and gals that are working here.  We are all a bunch of orphans during the holidays and end up becoming a family ourselves.  One night T baked some cookies and we all sat around and decorated them.  To be honest, I never would have imagined how much fun that would be.  Afterwards, we took the cookies to our friends in the community and explained to them the reason for our joy.

Most of Christmas day was spent packing to leave the country.  This is an every six month journey we take to keep our visas.  This time we got to spend a few days with the group we lead beside a beautiful beach.  A speaker from South Carolina came and did an incredible job encouraging and challenging us from the word.

We also got to spend some time hanging out with the group and going deeper in our relationships.  These folks are spread across the country in some tough areas doing some amazing things.  One day we took a boat out to an island together.  Our boys were so excited they could barely control themselves!

C got to work on his surfing.

And B got to work on his tan.

Daddy got to eat a hamburger.

And momma got to change the world by investing in these amazing young women who are doing things in places that leave many men shakin in their boots.

After this gathering we traveled to another location to receive training on how best to lead those we are mentoring.  It was an intense time that really challenged us to view ourselves as feet washers rather than supervisors.

C wanted to drive us around town on this bicycle rickshaw, but his feet couldn't reach the peddles.

Now that we are back, life is getting back to normal.  C has just started playing soccer and is beginning to get the hang of it.  I am coaching, but everybody recognizes that the American is clueless about "football" and the Scottish head coach makes fun of me on a regular basis.  I don't mind the abuse though because this is a great opportunity for C (and for us) to make friendships with people.  Hopefully this will open the door to a community that has thus far been pretty difficult to break into.

The boys are getting to use the tent they got for Christmas these days because right now we are hosting 16 people at our house.  These are mostly new comers who we are helping to learn the ropes before they launch to there new homes.  C and B don't seem to mind giving up their beds because they love all the excitement a full house is bringing!

So life has been busy but good the last few days!  We have been reminded to keep HIS EARTH in our sites, HIS WIND at our backs, and HIS FIRE in our hearts as we watch HIS KINGDOM come!