From the DR

I am writing this on Wednesday night from the Dominican Republic. As many of you know, this place has become very special to me. My co-worker, Chris Butler, and I are here meeting with Marsha Davidson, the IMB missionary that we work with here. Chris still does not have his luggage, so pray that he gets it before we leave on Friday. These past couple of weeks have been filled with extremes in my life...from the extreme cold and wealth I experienced in New York City over Thanksgiving to the extreme warmth and poverty I have seen in our time here. Tonight we helped lead a group of abou 16 young people in a place called The Hole in Santiago, DR...16 teens who will never have the experiences that I have been so blessed to lead many young people in over the past few years. We are so blessed, and if you are reading this you are more blessed than you will probably ever realize. My heart is so full right now, I am amazed at just the amount of people I have seen today, the dense population here is unreal. I got to spend some time talking (through Marsha) to Pastor Ramon Ortiz, one of my heroes of the faith who has overcome great obstacles to serve the Lord. My life has been so easy compared to his. We went to the church where he serves today, which is in a very tough area, and I told Chris that he was on holy ground...so totally different that what we have in terms of church buildings. A few weeks ago as I was walking from my car to the church building on a Sunday morning, I was overwhelmed with this feeling that I needed to come back here as soon as possible, and I am so thankful that God opened the door for me to make this trip. Some may not understand why I had to come, and I am not sure of all of the specifics of why I needed to come now, but I know God will make that clear to me. I am going to bed now overwhelmed for many reasons...the things I have seen today, what God has reminded me of, some other circumstances in my life now. If you are reading this, pray for the people here in the DR and for Marsha's ministry...it is an honor to be a small part of it, and pray for Roseanna, Pastor Ramon's daughter who is sick. She is 3 years old, has bronchitis and may need to go to the hospital. I am also very thankful for people back home like Jerry, who help keeps things going while I am away. I spent time today worrying about ski trip chaperones, and sharing with people who have very little hope about the love of Jesus and how God knows their names and how important they are to him....as I said, I am overwhelmed, yet still know that, somehow, God is in control even when I don't see it. And I had the pleasure of drinking some of Pilar's wonderful lemonade...every day is filled with so much here, and I hope you will see God at work in whatever your days may bring to you. I certainly have felt him at work today here. If you are a youth from LBC reading this, remember to pray for what I have been asking you to pray for, the future of our student ministry.

After the birthday

Wow, it has been too long since I have written! This past Thursday was my birthday, and it was more celebratin' than I have done in a long time! Wednesday night the students here at LBC shared in "roasting" me, remembering the 3 or so times in almost 8 years here that I "left" someone (for a matter of minutes) on our many adventures. One person (Payne) stood up and said he as my long lost son! On Thursday night in Charlotte, someone of them did an hilarious skit...what my wife did to me to get me out of the meeting room so they could set up almost gave me a heart attack...she called my cell and said Jillian had hurt herself up in the hotel room...anyway, there was also this big cookie cake that Bill C. later told me he had gotten from a girl with an attitude at the cookie store...we were attending a conference for students interested in ministryand THAT really was the greatest present, to be with 30 students and adults who really care about the things of God, that want to pursue God's will for their lives and serve Him. It was a great birthday and I am so thankful to everyone that made it happen, even my admin. asst. Amy who wrote stuff about my age on the church van before we left! Pray for Amy this week, as she is in Biloxi, MS ministering there.
These next few weeks are going to be very busy. Today I am going to a state youth minister's meeting and it will be good to spend some time with other folks who are doing the same thing as I do. God has taught me so much through the study Experiencing God this fall. I have seen the true character of people lately, the good the bad the ugly...God has reminded me that Satan still comes as a deciever, even in the church body...I am thankful for the discernment that God has given to me to be able to see through the junk that people sometimes put before us....I have a devoted co-worker who is going through some tough times, but we know that God is in control, and he has things ahead for us that we cannot even imagine! We are still in the college search, too, so keep that your prayer list. The week after Thanksgiving, Chris Butler and I will be going to the Dominican Republic to meet with Marsha Davidson. If you want to be blessed, read her blog at www.macedoniaproject.blog.com. God is doing some great things there in the DR and I can't wait to go back and plan for our trip there in April with 45 people. As we approach Thanksgiving, I have so much to be thankful for. If you are reading this, I am thankful for you...God gives us so much that we take for granted. Ask Him to give you opportunities today to share His love with others, and he will do it....what you do reveals what you believe about God, regardless of what you say...Lord, today I pray for the people around me who talk a good game, who try to pretend that they love you but fail to give of the great resources that they have, that you will change their hearts as only you can do, and I thank you for the awesome people in my life who really do show their love for you in so many ways. Help me to be real, to share from my heart, to let others see you in my life in all that I do, and help me to trust you more...in Jesus name. AMEN.