California Camping

Yes, California has snow! I'm up in the mountains of Big Bear Lake. If you've been following the
story, you'll know I am working to help staff a winter camp program for a camp here in Big Bear called Pine Summit! Well I hung out at the camp facility this week with a few other members, and now we've begun the next Winter camp weekend. Tonight was our first meeting and Tribal time. All day tomorrow we've got meals with the kids, meetings, worship services, Tribal times, tribal games and all sorts of fun camp stuff. I am supposed to speak at Saturday nights rally. Please pray for me to have passion that the campers can catch, that God speaks through me and that I will be clear and focused! I am to give the final HooRah speach. I am nervous, because I don't want myself to get in the way of what God would have me say. I want Him to speak to these kids through me. He did it last week, mightily. I pray that He will honor me again and use me.
I did get to ski on Thursday, thanks Mom! What great snow and they called it "packed powder"! They have no idea what "packed" powder is unless they've seen New England "packed powder"! The mountains here are so beautiful! The big Ponderosa pines still amaze me. We had a few snow storms this week as well.
I had some really nice slow days, that I could do lots of quiet time and had a particularly special prayer time with a gal who stayed this week too. We went hiking on Monday and that's the first picture of me and the "bear"! Can you see the ski resort in the background?
There has been some talk about me possibly moving to California instead of Texas. We've got some figuring out to do. The cost of living in CA is much higher, but the interest among youth ministries is greatly increasing, due to this camp program the last 6 weeks. You could pray for me that I would know Gods best in this situation and that He would also guide my boss Mike, to help make the decision about where I should go first.
Lots of exciting stuff happening in missions. I am more and more excited about the priviledge to serve with this organization! Wow! What a commission God has placed on the back of them. I can see how God has led me here and what a good fit I'll be here.

A bit of the Pine Summit Weekend Camp

I want you to meet the staff that have been running the program here at Pine Summit Camp. What a great group of missionaries! From Left to Right: Linda (recruiter and lady who shaved her head to donater her hair to "Locks of Love"), Michelle (little Philippino lady who lived and taught in the Philippines for 3 years), in back and with beard, Paul Smith (recruiter and lived in Surinam), next Paul Smith with hat on and wife Karen (pilot in Brazil) mustache fellow is Norm (head of recruitment for the Southwest region), next with hat Ron ("SoCalRon" a NextGen coworker) and finally Joyce (wife of bearded one , recruiter in Orlando). I have had such a great time, learning about this organization, speaking on behalf of them to teens and their leaders and hanging out with teens. I feel even more sure of my calling to this organization and even more impressed with what they are doing worldwide!
Here is an example of the crazy things that JrHighers will do to earn a "button"!! Really! She drank the combined leftovers of all of our breakfasts simply to earn a button!
The next shot is of me in one of our "tribal Times". These sessions were times where the kids learned about a newly reached tribe. Our tribe was the Moskona, a tribe in Indonesia. We learned what their culture is like and what the challenges were in translating the scriptures into the Moskona's heart language. We had great interaction and participation and I learned a great deal about how this organization works! I was absolutely honored to also speak to the assembly during our evening meeting last night, on how I was called to missions and about how they can too. God was pleased to speak through me and I was so amazed at how He did it. I am so excited that God has chosen to use me this way. I see my new job forming right before my eyes and it's scary and exciting! It may be that I will be working in San Diego, because of the response that they are having here! That will present some problems for my support level, but if God determines it He will also provide!

Camping in California!

I'm in the mountains of California! Joining the team of the Southwest Region of a new organization Pine Summit camp at Big Bear. Tonight we begin with Jr.Highers and will be spending the next 2 full days with these energetic teenagers. I will be living with a group of them and helping teach then about the Moskona people group, a recently reached group in Indonesia. We will be learning to speak some of the language and talking about the difficulties in translating the Bible into not only their language but their culture as well.
The camp is beautiful as you can see! They got a fresh blanket of snow in last nights storm and it made the whole campus look perfect for snow camp! It'll be a cold one! So pray for me as I feel really inadequate to teach this and for the kids that they will be receptive and enthusiastic. In the past weeks of camp, there have been salvations among the teens and the adult leaders, as well as committments to serve in full time missions. This camping program is a great opportunity to get the message out about the work that we are doing.
Pray that I would have the energy and enthusiasm to last through the weekend. Pray that I would communicate clearly and with excitement, the message of missions and of service for God. Pray that I would be able to have a good relationship with the kids that I'll be staying with in the cabin, that they would share their lives with me and would feel comfortable with me so that I can share my faith and love for God with them.
So much is happening here. It may be that through this camp, other such camping programs will be started. This program has the potential to raise up many for the work of translation in the USA. It may also be that God will use this experience to lead me to live in San Diego because of the activity among youth groups that this generates. I've been asking my prayer partners to pray that God shows me clearly where I should live. He may use this to do that!
On a personal note, I was given a verse this morning in our group devotions that was an incredible encouragement to me from God. Suffice it to say that it was one of those God things, only He could have arranged such a verse. He is so very specific when He counsels and encourages us. We must NEVER doubt that he knows what we're going through and he has compassion on us, and that His mercies never end but are new every morning! He is so specific. What an amazing, lover God He is!
Dagney

A bit of youth ministry buzz

Youth ministry really is fun. We've been hanging out quite a bit more, these last few weeks. This is Cassy and Rosie. two of my girls. They stayed over last Friday night along with Rosie's sister Joanie. We had a really good time just hanging out, sleeping in and being together all day Saturday. I want the girls to feel at home and welcome at my place. We watched some movies, ate breakfast and played on the computer and watched another movie, and talked before they left Saturday evening. Then again yesterday (Valentines Day) before youth group meeting, Rosie, Joanie and their friend Annie came over to help me bake cookies to take with us. I was really glad to have some company for the day and we had a good time watching "Sense and Sensibility" while the cookies baked. Youth group meeting was again, a spiritual battle but it seemed to go well. The topic was Creation/Evolution and with a few kids who are very skeptical of "religion", this was making me a abit nervous.
BUT, God provided good material, and the kids were asking good questions, and overall it was a good discussion! Thank you God!
In the next few weeks I'll be planning on having the girls over more and I've been talking with some friends about starting a girl's only "charm class", on how to eat at a table, how to take care of yourself and all about who we are in Christ as a woman/girl. If you're looking for prayer requests, this would be one. That I would know how God would like me to work with these girls and to add to their lives in various ways. I have been blessed by their trust and I look forward to being even more a part of their lives! Youth ministry rules!
Dagney

You gotta see this!

I'm adding a post in the middle of the week, because I wanted you to see this "local culture", before my next regular blog posting on Thursday. This is a 50/50 raffle that the Lions club runs. The way it works is you buy a ticket in order to choose a day that the "Klunker" will go under the water. Then when the time seems to be drawing near to the ripe time, they set up a camera with a time/date stamp. People then begin to buy the time it will go under. Whoever wins, by choosing the right day and time, wins 50% of the money that was raised by selling tickets and the Lions club gets the other 50%. Pretty cool deal! I have yet to buy a ticket, but I'm gonna join in the fun too! BTW this is Lake Menomin, which is the lake that Menomonie sits beside. It is right in town. What fun these Wisconsinites come up with for Winter, eh? hehehe

Frozen Lakes and Freezing Weather

Told you I would and here you are! I got to drive on the lake! yah! Gordy went with me and showed me around the lake. The first moments on the ice was thrilling! I was driving my car on the lake! There are car tracks all over the snow. We made sure to give the ice shacks a few feet of space and kept an eye out for other cars around us. There are no "roads" out there , so it's kinda like flying in that aspect. Just keep scanning the...lake :-) vs the sky. We stopped to try a fishing spot. Just pick a spot wherever! So Gordy drilled a hole by hand auger, and tried a bit of fishing. Nothin', so we moved on and did a tour of the lake. Then he suggested I do a "donut" with my car! No way! I could just see that top heavy SUV flipping over on it's side! Gordy insisted that it wouldn't do that. I felt much easier doing aerobatics in an airplane at 10,000 ft, there's lots of space to turn around and all before you get to the ground. But in a car!? Look how close the ground is! After a bit of coaxing, I tried it. Then tried it again. Not so bad! Kinda fun! I'm learning all kinds of new stuff!
As to ministry! Well, now that I've made the announcement that I'm going to move to a new organization, I have less to do officially. I have started a leadership Sunday school class, with a few of our teens. They love it and I love it! God has blessed the times and we are already seeing spiritual attack. Which in my eyes is only proof that we're doing the right thing. Pray for our 2 boys especially. As soon as we did our first class our one guy has faced some spiritual warfare of the mind. I know my girls are only next. And if you think I've been clear of it, you'd be wrong. All kinds of mental warfare going on. Do pray for us. We've begun a study of the difference between Christianity and other beliefs and I see a storm brewing with our secular kids. It's gonna come to a head very soon.
Thanks for checking in. If any of you want to experience "real" winter, come visit!!!
Dagney

Big news and winter fun

Candlelight ski! I was wondering what this was, since reading about it in the Visitors guide for Menomonie in July. There really were candles the whole length of the trail and at the end there was an entire wall of ice that they had lit with electric lights. A girlfriend of mine and I rented cross-country ski's and "scooted" our way all along the trail as we greeted the other skiers and laughed as we fell. I've downhill skied but never cross-country. It was absolutely beautiful! I can't wait to drive over the lake next week and get a picture of the "klunker" car that the local Lion's club has parked on the lake and set up as a 50/50 raffle. The deal is to guess the date and hour maybe even minute that the car will slip below the surface and sink to the bottom as the ice melts. Check in next week, I'll try to get a shot of that! The things these Wisconsinites think of to do in the winter! What fun.
The Big News is that I'll be changing jobs! A newsletter is just being completed and will go out to all my supporters, telling them with more detail. Suffice it to say that I have seen God's hand in calling me to work with a Bible Translation mission in the youth ministry called NextGen. I have even noticed God showing me His heart for this task of translation. I will not be doing the job of translating, but instead of helping to call others who will. This change will likely also require me to move, again. This time to Dallas, Texas where the national office resides. I have been eager to live in Texas anyway, so here's my chance! I am so eager to be included in this team of passionate missionaries. All of them have a heart for youth ministry as well as for translation. Some of them have previously translated the Bible into a language and are now back in the USA working to send others. Expect to see this change between now and June!
Thanks for checking in! I made it on Thursday again!
Dagney

Orlando adventure

The alligators are ferocious in Florida these days! Well, Ok, this one is pretty tame. He was a display at a restaurant/air boat ride place that I visited while with a group of missionaries last week. I was visiting with this group in order to understand better what they do. This group is particularly interested in getting youth excited about missions and specifically about translation work. Now I'm excited too! Did you know that there are still 4,000 languages (tongues) that still do not have the Bible in their language. Of those 4k, 2,000 of them have someone doing something. This may be as little as simply beginning to write their language down or having a missionary assigned to begin. That doesn't mean they have a Bible yet! To put it into perspective, there are only about 800 languages that have a written Bible. This organizaion has set a goal of seeing the Bible translated into all languages by 2025! In order to get that accomplished (and hopefully hasten Christ's return!) we must get our young people dedicated to getting it done too! We need this next generation. They are an essential ingredient to this giant task. They are the answer to the need for translators and translation helpers. So they began a department called Nex Gen. standing for Next Generation of course :-) . Within this group there are a variety of individuals who are involved in camping, online chat groups, and short term missions. I was able to meet this whole crew and begin to understand their passion for translation. I met a few missionaries last week, who themselves accomplished translating the Bible into a language and had come home having done that looking for new chances to be involved. Talk about walking with hero's!
There will be more news to come on this. Watch your mailbox's.
As to other things, it's freezing cold here. No, more than freezing. But I am actually enjoying the all white landscape and the promise of more snow to come.
Youth group has started up again, with some interesting new challenges. Please pray for me as I prepare some material to teach a Sunday school on leadership. We are beginning a leadership group and I believe it is critical to also expect them to be spiritual leaders. I am praying for help with this, since study prep is definately not my gift.
Thanks for checking in! Hope your winter is as beautiful as ours here in Wisconsin!
Dagney

Ice Fishing!

I'm getting a chance to experience the real Wisconsin. Here is Gordy and me with our ice fishing trophies. Monday afternoon Gordy took me for my first ice fishing trip. He set 4 lines for Northern's which is what we got, and we fished a number of other holes for "pan fish". There is about 6-8 inches of snow on the ground now, which is making the local population really happy. Snowmobiler's, cross-country skiers and general outdoorsy sorts are saying "finally"!
I'm out of town right now in "sunny" Orlando, for a conference/retreat. We're talking youth ministry and missions. I'll have more to update you soon. Actually, don't be jealous. It's overcast and only slightly warm. (60's)
Oh! some stuff has come up with my youth group kids. Please pray that I have lots of wisdom, that they share their troubles with me openly and that God is pleased to use me in their lives. I want to be, but I am not able alone. I need Him to do it, I just hope He does it through me.
Loving Wisconsin, loving God and excited about the future- whatever that is!
Dagney

Christmas is for seeing old friends again!

What a great time I had, spending quality time with family and getting to also visit with out of town friends and now their babies! Look at that! Four babies! I am on the right, with my brother and sister-in-law and niece. The rest are all reall y good friends, some that I hardly see but every other holiday, every year. It amazes me how quickly life changes. In fact, the smiley guy center, seeminly missing a wife, is a new dad! So actually these families represent 5 babies!
As to what is happening with me right now, I am looking for new ministry opportunities. I am going to be spending next week with some staff of NexGen of Wycliffe Bible Translators. I do not have a final idea of what this will lead to, but I will certainly keep you posted! (literally!)
Right now my youth group kids are back from their EFCA District conference and they are really pumped! They desire to know the Bible better, and they see value in studying the scriptures. Pray that this desire continues and that we the staff, capitalize on it!
We are again advertising a Lebanon Medical Mission. If you know of anyone who is a medical professional, who would like to serve in missions, the trip is scheduled March 18- April 1. Also we have a Prayer Walk mission in Enlgand for March 2-11. Call me if you would like more info! 715-309-2224!
Thanks for checking in! Next week there will be pictures from Orlando, where my meeting is with Wycliffe!

Mixing it up in Menomonie

Yah, it's a bit fuzzy, famously, this is how my indoor pic's turn out. But, this is me with some of the other tour guides at the 1856 historical Wilson Place Mansion. For Christmas, we dress up in somewhat period costumes and lead tours all week and longer on the weekends. I've had such a good time leading these tours. I have had a chance to get to know Menomonie history a bit better (did you know that our own Capt.Wilson owned the largest fleet of steamships in America at his time? and the Wilson and Stout money came from the largest Lumber Co. in the Midwest!). Yes, and Senator Stout (the second generation to live at Wilson Place) build Menomonie into a bustling, active social center, not only by building beautiful by-ways and buildings, but also founding the first Manual Training school in the US- Stout Manual Training School, which is today the U of W Stout). There is lots more to tell, but suffice it to say, I think this is a 'trip'!
In the midst of this experience I've had a chance to get to know some members of the Menomonie community, and have even had a chance to share my testimony!
As for ministry life, I'll be leaving my youth group for the next 3 weeks, and that is actually part relief and mostly sad. There is so much to make me worry, and so much I want them to know! The number of divided families is amazing! I think of the 20+ that come every week, 3 of them have their original parents! But those three are the children of the other youth leaders! Last night, one of my more troubled girls, told me that her father had died, just like that... hardly any emotion, hardly any noticeable reaction besides a desire for attention in regards to the news. Now, this "sperm donor" was no real dad, and yet, so very sad. Is it not? When does Jesus return????
We had the Chief of Police for Boyceville speak, and he shared his stories and ended with the gospel!! :-) the Chief of Police!! such a great guy and so well liked by the kids. He invited me to a prayer meeting that member of the community hold every Friday 6am. They pray for the kids, for the families etc, and they actually meet at the police station! So, although it's so "stinkin" early, who could pass up a chance to effect these kids lives, by praying in unison!? He also told me that Wisconsin has the highest rate of alcohol and "other" drug related incidents in America! and that Dunn county , which is my county, apart from being the poorest in Wisconsin, has the highest alcohol and other drug related incidents in Wisconsin. That makes my county, Dunn county the worst for alcohol and other drugs in the USA! THAT is hard to believe, rural/rurban Dunn county? Explains alot about these kids.
So, pray for them. Pray for me, that I might be creative in finding ways to meet with a few of these girls, and that God would then give me wisdom beyond myself to know how to handle the messiness that I'm bound to discover as I get to know them better. I will just have to simply "GO" if He is in it. He'll do the rest. Oh, these kids need Him! They need the freedom that knowing Jesus can bring!
Thanks!
I'll be seeing some of you soon in Connecticut! to the rest, Merry Christmas!

Let it snow, let it snow....

Nice cold Wisconsin. Actually, currently it no longer looks all white and pretty here. A majority of the snow has melted, but this was too good to pass up. It's been "real" winter this last week. Temp's in the 0's to 10's. Yup. But a big difference between here and CT, is the lack of moisture here. What is cold here, seems to be colder in CT because the dampness goes right through you. Here, is saps your body of moisture. My skin is drained and my hair is full of static!
As for what is going on in ministry here... I've been to two meetings in Minneapolis, one to help us prepare for the change in our email system and the other to meet with the other members of Connect, to discuss what our goals will be for next year.
This week's youth group meeting was amazing as usual. I got really nervous the week before the meeting. Not sure why, but I was reminded to pray and ASK God to do His thing. As soon as I was done praying, he released my worries and the rest of the time I just waited to see what He was gonna do. My girlfriend from Atlanta, Jennijoy, is here for a visit. She came along, the girls accepted here immediately and she joined in the small group conversation. She was even able to reinforce some comments that I made last week, without being prompted by me. But we serve the same God who works in me and her and loves these girls. It was a great conversation.
The plan is to spend some time, next week, working at the Grovers house and volunteering my time at the local museum house for the Christmas tours. Already I have had the priviledge of sharing my testimony with the curator and hope that i will be able to share again.
I am loving Wisconsin, loving the Christmas season and loving the rurban life. I wonder what it'll be like once the holidays are over? My local friends have promised to help me adjust and show me the ropes.
Bring on the snow! It's cold enough, it ought to be white!!!!

Thanksgiving

Yup, I did it again! I missed last Thursdays blog. But this time I have a good exuse! I was home in Connecticut. I had a great weeks visit. We had 18 people at our Thanksgiving feast! For the first time in years, we weren't able to carve the turkey at the table the ole' "Rockwell way", but instead we had a great group of family and friends.
This picture was taken on our Christmas tree cutting trip. The top left is my brother Lee and his daughter Aurora and my sister in law Anne. Then Jenny and Jonathan Nelson, who have been regulars at our Thanksgiving table all throughout their college years and now as a couple have made it a tradition to join us! Then bottom left is me, Mom and Dad and Sharma, a ward of my parents. We were able to find a beautiful Fraser Fir, and as you can see it was a perfect day for tree hunting. This was a the traditional "Jones Family Farm" in Shelton.
Since I've been home I've been busy with work stuff. Today I met with coworkers and we reviewed our short term team applications and plan on rewriting and updating all our team paperwork in the next month. I am also working on two brochures, one for a coworker in Connect and another for a short term team to Rwanda in 2007. Next week we are all to attend classes on Microsoft Outlook which will soon become the EFCA email system. Then we have two days of meetings to talk over our goals for next year in Connect. I am also looking forward to my first house guest! My girlfriend Jennijoy is coming to visit and will be here for 6 days. I hope to get my apartment decorated on Saturday before going to a Christmas concert that some teen friends are performing in.
I've also had a chance to get involved in my community by volunteering to lead tours at the local historical "Wilson Place Mansion" in Menomonie. They give special Christmas tours. I haven't led house tours in years, and am a bit nervous. I know that after the first one, I'll be fine. I even get to dress in period costume!:-)
So, with the holidays here and my coworkers back from their trips abroad, there is lots to do. But I like it that way! And what better time of year than Christmas with all the lights, the smells and the family spirit. i love this time of year!
ps. Wisconsin is beautiful in Winter!!! hint hint!

Where have I been?

Well, been in Florida, thanks to Mom and Dad; visiting my grandfather Pitts. This is our golf outing, and no I didn't golf great, but not horribly for a 2 year hiatus!
Florida weather was absolutely amazing, and I was priviledged to miss a fairly good snow back at home. When I returned to Menomonie there was snow all over the roofs (still is) and a good bit of snow on the ground, which has since melted.
PopPop is 88yrs old, my Dad's dad. We had a good time golfing and fishing and playing Sequence games. It's important to catch up with him a couple times a year. Wish it could be more, but just doesn't happen. These days when an opportunity comes, we all (Pitts family) take it! You just never know.
Even while I was in Flordia, I was helping to coordinate this medical mission trip to Lebanon. So far we've got 2 doc's and 2 nurses and one EMT/videographer! They'll be there in December. God has arranged it all, including time off for everyone and the finances as well. This whole experience has been a learning one for me. Sometimes it feels like I'm learning on the fly. Some would say that's the best way. Hmmmm. It is exciting though!
We will be planning more medical and some construction trips there next year. If you know of anyone who would like to go, let me know!
Next Thursday will be THANKSGIVING! YAH! I'll be home in Connecticut again! can't wait!
See some of ya there!

Youth group growth

Here it is, finally! A picture of youth group. What's weird is though, last night the group was double the normal size! I was told that a large bunch of the "newbies" used to come last year. Part of the reason was, I believe, that word got out that we were gonna do swing dancing afterward. Notice fedora in background :-) But maybe, just maybe the small groups are catching on. My girls and I had a really intense discussion on forgiveness, it's necessity and how to go about forgiving. That was definately a tough issue. Please pray for us, that we would be able to forgive those who have hurt us deeply, and that God would grant freedom through forgiveness. Pray against any strongholds in minds b/c of lack of forgiveness!
Lebanon stuff is going amazingly! God is suddenly providing the necessary personnel and I have been priviledged to see Gods' hand in the life of one of our potential team members as she is asking God for a way to use her life for Him. We are hoping to send a medical relief team the first few weeks of December. Pray that He would continue to call those we need to fill the team and that He would help them get the time off and the money they need to go!
Other than that, I have just about finished a brochure detailing the short term missions opportunities we are offering for 2007, and on a lighter note, I'm making bread for the first time tonight! :-) Well, the first time on my own.
On a final note, a lesson I am continuing to learn these days is, to make "God room" in my life, areas where what I promise is more than I can come through on my own, where God has to make up the rest. For example, promising that He will help my girls forgive, and that He will free them from their issues. He can, and I believe that He will. I can promise that, but only because He says He will, not because I can make it happen. I'm now just waiting to see Him do it! 

Winter is on the way!

This Monday we had our first sticking snow. Now, as you can maybe NOT see from the picture, the snow was quite light; but it was significant to me because it is a sign! ;-) I've heard from a fellow EFCA'er to "watch out, 'cause as soon as Spring comes, winter is on it's way". Well, so far, so good. I'm trying to guage the thermostat not to waste energy yet, to stay comfortable.
Youth group went so awesome last night! Thank you to those who have been praying for that. Our small group was definately led by the Holy Spirit. He was working in the hearts of the girls and He was giving us a real fellowship with each other. My prayer is that the whole group, the other small groups would have the same experience. I keep intending to take a group shot at youth group, but in the midst of all the prep to go, I forget to grab the camera! argh. I'll try again next week! I want you to see their faces! This ministry is such a blessing to me. Every week I get nervous and worried. Once I talk to God and He reminds me that all I have to do is Go, and He'll do the work through me and the other leaders. He cares way more than I do, that these kids know Him better. All He wants is for me to be faithful to go. Why do I get so wrapped up in my abilities? Anything good about me, or anything I have accomplishe is simply God doing it through me. It has nothing to do with me. I forget too often that if it WERE just me and my abilities, it would fail immediately. Only He can move their minds and their hearts to respond to His word and the truth about His character. Only He can reveal to their minds, that what His word says is truth! I was really excited to see them responding to the Holy Spirit last night. I was also priviledge to see some of God's timing in bringing me here at this time. I am blessed, you are part of it, and we are all being used by God to work in lives. Even if it's one at a time, in a little seemingly insignificant part of the world. I am so glad that NO ONE is insignificant to God! sigh...

Fun with cookies!

Just a fun time this Saturday, with Caitlin, Marissa, and Danielle. We went to see the local Crystal Cave, and then came back to my house and baked cookies (from scratch!) and then watched "The Majestic". I had such a good time with these girls. They about made my week! Thanks girls! 

Fellowship of Short Term Mission Leaders Conference

http://www.fstml.org
Hey, I'm in Atlanta Georgia, and meeting with other leaders of short term missions, enjoying a time of ministry building. It is so wonderful and is giving me a renewed energy for STM. There are some super ministries out there! This group includes STM ministries from all over the nation and parts of the world. It's not a denominational thing at all. So here's three faces you might know; me, Bear and Gordy Grover! Thank you to all of you, who have made is possible to do this ministry and to be here to learn how to do ministry even better! We are so blessed. Thankyou! 

Atlanta or Alaska?

I'm visiting my family (Uncle Russ, Aunt Ari, and Grandma Char) before my conference starts today. My Uncle is an expedition leader to the North and South Poles, Mongolia, Amazon and now Africa! I tried on his wolf hair Russian hat. He's also a professional photographer, so we were goofing around with my camera trying to get the flash to work better.
Today I head over to the conference center, for the Fellowship of Short Term Missions Leaders conference that I am seriously looking forward to. I've been asked to help lead a small group discussion, and that is such an honor. There's lots of networking to do, and tons to learn regarding short term missions. This is an interdenominational event, and STM leaders from all over the country come.
In the meantime, it's getting warm in here! 

A Ministry update from America's Dairyland

A friend and reader of this blog brought it to my attention that you readers have heard very little about my ministry lately. I realized he was right, so I intend to correct that now.
God has provided me with many domestic ministry opportunities. As soon as I returned from my yearly retreat in North Carolina with friends; I met and shared Jesus with a Mystic named Gem Ray, and I met and discussed Jesus and the "correct" Biblical translations with my neighbor Tim. I have also been priviledge ( I mean that!) to be involved with my local church's youth group. That ministry has been the highlight of my last few weeks. We've been preparing to lead small groups in youth group, and it has been fascinating to watch the growth of the leadership team with just a bit of help. These friends of mine are super people and they really love their kids. I love being needed. I've been stretched as well, as I've been asked to lead the game time on Wed.nights. I am NOT a game person, but.....no one else wanted to do it either. I found a website, thank you God, called the Source 4 Youth Ministry (www.thesource4ym.com) that is totally packed with great game ideas! We have had two weeks of fun. Tubicide, and marshmellow fights, really fun!! But this week, in our girls small group, after mentioning that IF we know Jesus we are promised all of Gods protection and power; I was asked rather heatedly, whether that meant that those who follow Islam and Judaism and Mormonism and others will go to Hell? Well, yes that is what the Bible says; that only through Jesus and his sacrifice can we be with Him in heaven and live with His help. Wow. What a reaction! I was not seen favorably by this young lady after that. It made me realize how far we have to go, and how difficult small groups will be. Please pray for this young lady and for us in leadership to have the wisdom to show her Jesus as He really is.
Apart from these domestic ministry opportunities, I have recently been deluged with action points for the Connect department of the EFCA. For now, I will be doing what I can to make arrnagments and develop marketing materials for our short term trips and for the Connect division as a whole. After attending an Internationl Missions area meeting yesterday (why I didn't get this blog done yesterday), I saw what I believe is Gods next step for me in the mission. I approached the leadership with my idea and they told me to wait on it and let them figure things out first. So I am not able to share it right now, but it has to do with being involved in youth ministry in the mission. I hope that God will bless this idea and that it WAS His spirit leading my imagination. If it works out I'll tell you as soon as I can! I am really excited about the idea, which is the first feeling of excitement about my involvement since the big changes here at the EFCA. I do want to tell you too, that I am really excited about the changes that the mission is going through, and that the whole EFCA denomination is going to be much more available and useful at the local church level, once all the pieces are in place. Looking forward to it!
So, i hope that helps. As a last note, if you know anyone who would like to go on a last minute missions trip, we are looking for plumbers, electricians, carpenters, general contractors as well as medical personel of any type to go in small numbers (3-5 per group), to help the church in Lebanon in November! anyone?anyone? Call me. 715-309-2224.
I love you, my reading friends. Please give me feedback and questions anytime!