Nov 2006
Thanksgiving
11/28/06 12:55
We ate tons of turkey.
We played 2-hand-touch football in my grandmother's
backyard. We watched the Cowboys win again. We saw
pretty much everybody I'm related to--Granny Brownie,
Grandmother Betty & Glen, my Mom & Dad, Pat
& Louie, Darryl & Karen, Greg & Chris,
Larissa & Merrick, Corey, Mackenzie, Ally,
Madison, Noah, Ruthy & Buddy, Jeff & Lisa,
Sophie, Caroline, and Lilly--and that was just during
our trip to East Tennessee.
Back in Texas, we got to hang out with Clint & Missy, as well as Jessica's parents and Joey & Nicole. It was a blast. We threw the football, the girls shopped, and the guys intently watched the Notre Dame--USC game. We ate another ton of food that led us to begin running and working-out again immeditately following the weekend (we were out running late Sunday night).
It was an incredible week and a needed time of rest as we finally had a little break from our school work. With just a few more weeks left of school, we are now looking forward to Christmas, another break, seeing our families again, and a Colorado ski trip.
Back in Texas, we got to hang out with Clint & Missy, as well as Jessica's parents and Joey & Nicole. It was a blast. We threw the football, the girls shopped, and the guys intently watched the Notre Dame--USC game. We ate another ton of food that led us to begin running and working-out again immeditately following the weekend (we were out running late Sunday night).
It was an incredible week and a needed time of rest as we finally had a little break from our school work. With just a few more weeks left of school, we are now looking forward to Christmas, another break, seeing our families again, and a Colorado ski trip.
|
Holidays
11/19/06 22:43
By the
theme of our newly-launched website, you can probably
tell that I'm stoked about the holiday season. Here's
why:
10. Christmas trees and Christmas Lights
9. Delicious food
8. Cold weather has arrived
7. Sitting by the fire
6. Hot Chocolate is even more appropriate
5. Seminary Classes and Jess' School are out
4. Christmas Music
3. Christmas Movies
2. Celebrating Life and Holidays and the Birth of Christ with Family & Friends & our Church
1. And the Number #1 Reason I'm Excited about the Holidays is because I get to
do all of the above with my beautiful wife this year...OUR FIRST MARRIED CHRISTMAS TOGETHER!!!
10. Christmas trees and Christmas Lights
9. Delicious food
8. Cold weather has arrived
7. Sitting by the fire
6. Hot Chocolate is even more appropriate
5. Seminary Classes and Jess' School are out
4. Christmas Music
3. Christmas Movies
2. Celebrating Life and Holidays and the Birth of Christ with Family & Friends & our Church
1. And the Number #1 Reason I'm Excited about the Holidays is because I get to
do all of the above with my beautiful wife this year...OUR FIRST MARRIED CHRISTMAS TOGETHER!!!
Peru Mission Trip
11/03/06 20:17
Last week, I had the
opportunity to go back to Peru for a week. That's
right, once again, if but for a short while, I got to
live the missionary life in the Amazon Jungle. I find
it appropriate now to recapture in this blog the
predominant blessings of the trip.
1. After investing two years of my life, finding and evangelizing and discipling and sharing my life with the Amarakaeri people, it was an honor for me to be able to complete the missionary journey by returning to strengthen and encourage the church we planted--as did Paul:
"They returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith." (Acts 14:21-22)
Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." (Acts 15:36)
Therefore, in following Paul's example, I took a boat to Boca Inimbari, one of the Amarakaeri villages, to see the brothers there. I played soccer with the young men and helped the older ones work in the river. At night, I met with the church we planted as we worshiped in their native dialect and prayed together. I also got to teach them more of God's Word in hopes that they would continue to grow in their faith.
I also spent a few hours one night with the chief of another village, Danielle. He is also the leader of the church there and was my best friend among this people group during my time there. I didn't expect to see him, but through some unusual circumstances, the Lord answered our prayers and allowed me to have an evening just laughing and catching-up with my old friend. I praised God when Danielle told me that he had been taking the Gospel to other people groups. What a blessing it is to see fruit reproducing fruit!
2. I also had the chance to share the Gospel with Julio, one of the men in Boca Inimbari that has already heard the Gospel from us and the church there throughout the past few years, but has yet to give his entire life over to Jesus Christ. I was thankful that I could sit with him and teach him the Good News one more time before praying for his salvation. I will continue to pray.
3. Finally, I got to team up with another guy I served with in Peru, Joe Brewster, and help train the 4 new missionaries on the Xtreme Team. There is one American, 2 Peruvians, and 1 Columbian currently training with the team. Soon, they will be sent out to various people groups in order to teach them the stories of God's Word. I loved getting to know these guys and their hearts. I was humbled to be able to teach them some of the aspects of our team and of storying, but for the most part, it was simply refreshing to have several moments of solitude laying in a hammock in the hut, just reading John's letters or journaling or praying or messing around with the guitar or laughing with these young missionaries. Plus, it always does me good to be back in the wild, beautiful nature of this world. No crowds, noise, buildings or plastic. I love it out there. It is out there that a large part of me is truly, at last, at home.
1. After investing two years of my life, finding and evangelizing and discipling and sharing my life with the Amarakaeri people, it was an honor for me to be able to complete the missionary journey by returning to strengthen and encourage the church we planted--as did Paul:
"They returned to Lystra, Iconium and Antioch, strengthening the disciples and encouraging them to remain true to the faith." (Acts 14:21-22)
Paul said to Barnabas, "Let us go back and visit the brothers in all the towns where we preached the word of the Lord and see how they are doing." (Acts 15:36)
Therefore, in following Paul's example, I took a boat to Boca Inimbari, one of the Amarakaeri villages, to see the brothers there. I played soccer with the young men and helped the older ones work in the river. At night, I met with the church we planted as we worshiped in their native dialect and prayed together. I also got to teach them more of God's Word in hopes that they would continue to grow in their faith.
I also spent a few hours one night with the chief of another village, Danielle. He is also the leader of the church there and was my best friend among this people group during my time there. I didn't expect to see him, but through some unusual circumstances, the Lord answered our prayers and allowed me to have an evening just laughing and catching-up with my old friend. I praised God when Danielle told me that he had been taking the Gospel to other people groups. What a blessing it is to see fruit reproducing fruit!
2. I also had the chance to share the Gospel with Julio, one of the men in Boca Inimbari that has already heard the Gospel from us and the church there throughout the past few years, but has yet to give his entire life over to Jesus Christ. I was thankful that I could sit with him and teach him the Good News one more time before praying for his salvation. I will continue to pray.
3. Finally, I got to team up with another guy I served with in Peru, Joe Brewster, and help train the 4 new missionaries on the Xtreme Team. There is one American, 2 Peruvians, and 1 Columbian currently training with the team. Soon, they will be sent out to various people groups in order to teach them the stories of God's Word. I loved getting to know these guys and their hearts. I was humbled to be able to teach them some of the aspects of our team and of storying, but for the most part, it was simply refreshing to have several moments of solitude laying in a hammock in the hut, just reading John's letters or journaling or praying or messing around with the guitar or laughing with these young missionaries. Plus, it always does me good to be back in the wild, beautiful nature of this world. No crowds, noise, buildings or plastic. I love it out there. It is out there that a large part of me is truly, at last, at home.