The 15 Hour Blessing

“Sometimes people come into our lives and leave footprints on our hearts and somehow, we’re never the same.” This is the sentiment that we had printed on Brock’s birth announcement ten years ago.
It came back to me this past weekend when we had a group of “kids” stay with us from RiverGlen Christian Church in Waukesha, WI. We knew they were only going to be here overnight. Long enough to stretch out their legs after a long days drive, grab a meal, hit the sack so they could continue their journey to West Virginia. The youth from this church serve on mission teams every summer from middle school through high school and here they were, a group of 23, stopping over to rest. We were lucky enough to get six of them. Brandon Stephenson, their youth pastor, Nate, Connor, J.P., Ryan and Vince. What a great bunch of guys. Polite, transparent, honest…competitive. For such a short visit, I witnessed basketball, weight lifting, ping pong, drumming, lacrosse and a push-up contest. Only one of them was tricked into eating cat food, so I guess my cooking wasn’t too bad.
After church, Kevin and I talked about how we felt so compelled to pray for these kids; their journey this week, their families back home and their lives and futures as soldiers in the world’s most important army. We only met them 15 hours earlier, but felt so compelled to pour out prayer all over them. What a blessing to have gotten a chance to know them, if only for a short time. Vince, I have no idea what you will be when you grow up, but I am sure the FBI needs a good profiler, or possibly Michael Vick needs a good agent. Stay in touch guys, okay?

"Crazy Love" by Francis Chan

If you know me very well, then you know that I love the teaching of Francis Chan. Click on the YouTube link for 2 minutes of Francis...This summer, our small group will be studying "Crazy Love" while feasting on Vienna Sausages and Cheese WOW. I am praying that our time together will be fruitful. Where there is truth, there is fruit. I guess we're going to have to add fruit salad to our menu!!! Hmmm, sounds healthy. Have a great May & June! (interested? - http://www.crazylovebook.com)

Hello, is anybody out there? Mission Update!

Wow, 5 months have gone by and I have not touched my blog. Busy? Very busy! It seems like winter would be a great time to update a blog, but we found ourselves cutting firewood, helping friends cut and stack firewood and basically hunkering down and staying warm. We've been studying "Gripped by the Greatness of God" on Friday nights and "40 Days of Love" on Sunday nights, while tearing through Colossians during Sunday school. Well fed? Very well fed!

Much has transpired since water training in October. DeepWater Faith has provided building materials for a housing project in Guatemala, and are sending site-surveys for water purification with a team from NECC for 3 possible sites. We hope to get that information back in the next month or two. Please pray that needs are uncovered. We have also funded a purifier that is being installed in the Dominican Republic in March. Our new church, River Valley Christian Church is putting together a mission team to help direct the mission efforts in the church. This is a church committed to supporting and sending out long and short term missionaries in and out of the states. Please pray for God's guidance for the team, so we listen to His will for us.

DWF has also seen two missionary families head out into the field full time in 2009. It is so cool to watch them daily through blogs, facebook and twitter and know that they are serving in the name of Jesus with every reading. I pray for them every day and know that all 7 of them are building the Kingdom with their incredible way of loving on people. If I ever wish I were a fly on the wall, Aaron usually posts a video or pictures, so I am able to be. I appreciate their sacrifices and pray that all of their needs are met, as we are all learning to live on less.

If anyone actually reads this blog, I apologize for my absence. I promise to do better. (Ecclesiastes 5:4)