Is it Spring now?

Beautiful California! Recently my days have been full of youth ministry at my local church, everyday work at the office in Temecula and working on finding a new place to work out of. Looks like it's a great possibility that I'll be working out of the offices of the National Network of Youth Ministries! More about that when it is official. I had a great opportunity to meet with the Para-Chapel ministries of Camp Pendleton last week, and that has led to more opportunities, as i will be meeting with a couple of the chaplains in the next week or so.
I had a friend come out to visit me from Nebraska. Keith came for the weekend last, and I was able to take him with me to help me with a fly-over in the Palm Desert that I attended as ground support, and then I got to show him San Diego!
Next week I will be in Dallas for recruitment meetings at our offices there. I look forward to these times, as I get a renewed excitement for my organization. When I return next Saturday, I'll be making preparations for a sleep over of 9th grade girls, at my house! I am so excited. I am glad to finally be getting into a bit deeper relationships with these new girls. They seem excited to come too. I prayed that God would work in this, that we would have some good significant conversations regarding their faith and that it would come naturally.
I must update you on Gypsy, my dog training client. I will get more pictures. FOrgot to take me camera this week! She has learned heel, sit, stay, down and this week "come". She has breezed through most of her training until we got to "down". Surprisingly, she showed her little bit of passive aggressive nature, and was not doing down for a few days. Her owners wondered if she'd ever get it, but in the end it really was just a stubborn attitude in the way. This was the first command they had to really try to teach. But she does it now, and beautifully! Now we are working on her "come", which she is good at but....because she they haven't had to correct her very much, now that they need to use the "no" off-leash, it isn't affecting her as it should. She does not have enough experience learning what "no" feels like. We are needing to be creative to figure out a way to get her to respond to the verbal "no" without the correction. Anyway, she will be learning "place" next week and then we'll be done! wow! I've been told that she is much easier to handle with the kids around, that she will obey at the park and is much better with people in general. Our biggest task is to get her so comfortable with the commands as to stop the submissive peeing!
So, that's what's up here in SoCal! There will be more to come! Thanks for being a part of it with me.

Old friends and new ministry

I would like to introduce you to an old family friend, Father Frank McQuire. Two weekends ago I went to a church that our family attended when we lived here in the early '80's. I felt so welcome and such a part of community there at The Good Shepherd Episcopal church in Bonita. Wow. Ya know, I even got to sing with the choir! Choir robe and all! Yeah. That was the weekend that I was waiting to hear how my grandfather was doing and it meant alot to have the comfort of family ties all the way out in CA. The look of the church hadn't changed at all, and it was to my surprise to find that our old rector was still attending. He was as spry and spirited as always despite the affect that a stroke has had on his outward appearance. It truly meant alot to find that this church family even remembered my family and welcomed me so openly. Wow. I actually have a piece of "home" here in Southern CA! *sigh
I have also just realized that I need to step up my efforts to relate more to some local teenagers. The Holy Spirit caused me to realize that the very thing that I find most rewarding was missing from my life, ie. one on one relationships with teenagers. Although I attend youth group meetings and have a small group discussion, I don't yet have deeper relationships with girls here, like I had in WI and CT. So, this week with prayer behind me I asked the 9th grade girls about having a sleepover at my house this month. What a positive response! "YES" was the answer. So that is in the works and I am feeling really happy about the prospects of getting to know some girls a bit better.
A big prayer item these days is the decision about my office. As you may know our office here is closing and I must find another place to work in the area. I found out today, that my first choice was no longer an option, so now we are looking at sending me a bit further out, like towards San Diego. There is an option of working in the office of the National Network of Youth Ministries. I already know most of the staff, at least partly and they like the general idea. So please pray God would open up the best opportunity and that I would know what to do about where to live. I can either stay in my rent free place and commute or I will need to move. Moving would also, most likely mean that I will need to change churches! ouch!
Thanks again for checking in!

My hero, My grandfather John Lee Pitts III..May 1919-Feb 2008

John L Pitts III died Tuesday February 26, 2008 in Delray Beach at the Manor Care nursing facility, while in the company of his son John Pitts IV. “Jack” was born 22 May 1919 in Scottsville, VA to John L Pitts Jr and Laura Margaret Connellee. Jack lived in Scottsville with his mother, father and sister Alice until May 1929. Due to the national economic depression his family moved to Middletown, Delaware to live with his grandfather and grandmother Connellee. The family moved around over the next few years ending up in Bloomfield, New Jersey. During this time he and his sister shared their home with their first cousins, Alfred and Bill Connellee.

During these younger years, Jack became interested in airplanes and flight. He entered the Virginia Military Institute following his father’s footsteps, where he played football, ran track, and played guitar in the VMI band. While attending VMI he courted Marjorie Ann Gibbs of Middletown, DE whom he would later marry. They spent many weekends at Big Band dances and riding the scenic area on horseback. Graduating with the VMI class of 1941, he entered flight training and following the attack on Pearl Harbor, became a B-17 “Flying Fortress” pilot, ultimately completing 58 combat missions with the 97^th Bomb Group earning among other awards, the Distinguished Flying Cross, losing only one of his crew to enemy fire.

Within days after returning from the African theatre he married his childhood sweetheart Marjorie Anne Gibbs and was assigned to the Boca Raton airfield by the Army Air Corp to command a flight test group who developed night fighter tactics, testing and improving almost all known Air Corps aircraft and testing the then secret “G” suit for jet aircraft, as well as other duties. He left the Air Corps in 1946 and began a car rental business which he would own and operate in Delray Beach for the next 50 years. A son, John L Pitts IV was born to Jack and Marjorie on January 20, 1946. They continued to live in the Delray area in the house that Jack built for the rest of Marjorie’s life. Marjorie died in 1977 after a long battle with cancer. Jack then cared for Edna Gibbs, Marjorie’s mother, who had come to live with them until her death in 1981. He was very involved in the community being a Scoutmaster in the Boy Scouts, a Delray City Councilman, a senior warden at the St. Paul’s Episcopal Church, President of the local Kiwanis Club and leader of a harmonica band that played at local hospitals and homes. Jack was well known to appreciate as well as play golf and to be a long time fisherman. Many locals will remember seeing him around town and in local restaurants entertaining with his harmonica. A few years after Marjorie’s death he married Ann Detwiler to whom he stayed married until she died of a stroke 19 years later. Once again he married, this time to a longtime local friend Bernice McNeece with whom he enjoyed a refreshing 9 years of marriage and who survives him. He is also survived by his only son John and his wife Patricia and grandchildren Dagney and John L Pitts V and wife Anne, great-grandchildren Aurora and Bryn Pitts. He is a much missed and beloved Dad, husband and grandfather. We are proud to have called him our own. A memorial service will be held in the Spring in Scottsville, VA where Jack will be buried alongside Marjorie Ann (Gibbs) Pitts. The family requests in lieu of flowers that gifts be made to the Pioneer Boys Association at 309 NE 1^st St., Delray Beach 33445 which supports the local Boy Scout troops in Delray Beach.

Youth group and Doggie update!

Here is a very recent picture of me and a few of my girls at youth group! When I asked to take their picture they were very eager! These girls have made me feel very much at home at "Epic" our youth program at Sunridge Community Church. It has been such a refreshing change to spend a number of continuous weeks at youth group. No travel! yeah!
Next is a couple pictures of our "love" poster, from which the quotes came that I posted in last weeks blog. As you can see, the poster was "full-up" with valentines wishes for God. Teens can express themselves in ways that I am sure God totally enjoys!
I told you that I would also update you on Gypsy's progress in training. Well, we met for her second lesson yesterday. She is doing remarkably well! Her "parents" practiced as they had promised and she is very comfortable with her "heel" and was able to try some distraction practice too. Then we taught her "sit", the formal version. Many dogs know a form or two of "sit", but my version includes an "automatic stay" and a one word command (vs."sit, sit, sit, hey! sit!"). At first she didn't understand that while she was "sitting" she wasn't free to go just because we sat down; but she very quickly got the idea, and by the end of the hour was reasonably adjusted to the idea. I am sure that this will be a foundational command for her and well used in the future. Her "mom" told me that she even made an hour+ long car ride this weekend without a single bark or whine! Tremendous results! We're all very happy! Next week she will be taught the "stay". I'll tell you how it goes!
Our department had a conference call today and we are moving forward with a number of our plans for this year, including filling up our stateside camps and our international trips. We are developing an idea for a new kind of international trip for teens and that idea is gaining popularity and possibility! I'm excited about that!
No need to be wondering if you should be jealous of our weather down here. It's been rainy, cloudy, foggy (need fog lights for my car!!!) and actually snowy! Although, I must say, nothing like those Wisconsin winters!
Thanks for checking in!

It snowed in Southern California!

"I love you God, so please help me be more nice!"
"Father, thanx 4 everything! I love u! love ur daughter"
"I love u God you're always in my heart"
"thank you for giving me a second chance"
"Father God, you're there when no one else is, you created love and i want to live by it. when the darkness closes in you're all that's left. you are all love and I'm in it. Love you dad...!!"

I think God probably treasures these love letters to him more than our best poetry. These are quotes from a banner on which our youth group kids wrote their valentine notes to God. These were some of my favorites and there were many more. Being in youth ministry has been very rewarding.
The first picture is from my drive home last night. You can see the sunset reflecting off the mountain that I live on. It snowed yesterday. So much so that our dirt road was very slippery and I almost didn't get to work, despite my 4x4 vehicle! But I did and caught these beautiful shots on the way home.
Today I met with my boss Ron and we talked about ministry and plans for where our "office" will be among other things. We also met one of "our" kids from our ministry's website. She and her father met with us for lunch. We have been trying to keep in contact with our website kids and hope to see that ministry develop into a healthy alternative chat room for ministry minded kids.
I met this week also, with the San Diego Mission Team and we discussed how we've been networking with youth pastors and youth ministries in San Diego. We are seeing the Holy Spirit prompt kids to begin their own outreaches to their peers in schools and we are getting really excited about the possibility this next generation finishing the "task"! I am beginning my contact with the chaplains to reach military kids on a nearby base and I hope to encourage them to greater outreach.
Update on Gypsy, the Australian shepherd. She had her first lesson in "heel" and boy did she do fabulously!! She responded so well to very few corrections and as I somewhat expected was one of the very few dogs who learn quickly. She amazed me and her owners. We expect to see her behavior dramatically improve. She is already quieting down in the car and staying calm for her dinner too!
Thank you for all your interest and concern for me and for youth ministry!

Ministry and dog training!

Aren't they cute? Meet Gypsy! Your new client!
This week I've got really fun news! Through me, you my partners are able to supply some help to a colleague of mine in training his dog! A fellow missionary here has an adopted dog who is in need of some basic training. I am able to assist using my professional skills and do it free of charge, which to this family, who is severely low on support, is the only way they would be able to get help. I feel as though you, my partners are the ones giving this help to them. If it weren't for you, I wouldn't be here. So through me you are blessing another missionary! It is such a strong feeling that I am not able to sufficiently communicate this. I really feel like a conduit! Who would've thought that I could use my dog training to be a direct blessing to a missionary. Fun! I'll keep you updated on her progress as we work with her through the next 6 weeks. She is shy and fearful and many of her issues stem from her fears. I expect to see big changes in her very soon. She is afraid of people and dogs, submissive pee's and has a bit of separation anxiety. Wait until you hear what happens next. We're going to apply some basic obedience and she is going to blossom!
I'm doing youth group and loving it too. There are lots of new things to do in the office as well. So life is coming at me pretty quick. I'm learning to keep it within the right boundaries.
Thank you for checking. Aren't you proud of me? I've updated three weeks in a row now!
Thanks for your support and your interest!

Greetings from the sick one

Hello again! I am showing you a picture of last nights sunset. We rarely get big lovely clouds like this in CA so I just had to catch them, besides I needed a picture to show you and this week you wouldn't want to see me! As soon as I returned from the retreat I got sick. Literally, as soon as I drove in the driveway! So I was well cared for by two friends and by Tori and Richard my neighbors. I'm still recovering, but God has been teaching me that I must not worry so much. Worrying about recent events actually made me sick. So, humbly I am learning. Notice learn "ing", haven't quite got it YET!
My best news this week is that I went to youth group and was once again so blessed. The girls in my small group of 9th graders were open and real with each other and me. A few of them even impressed me with their prayer lives! wow! praying every night for world issues. They really do it too! I was honored by some follow up questions and felt like once again, it was one of those youth group nights I live for. I have been so wonderfully surprised by these kids. They are not what I was expecting. Much friendlier and much more open with me!
Prayer requests would be for one of my boys in Wisconsin who is struggling with spiritual warfare. Please pray that he is protected and that he wins over the enemy and is granted restful sleep at night! For me that I would be able to organize my work life and be able to meet with a few youth leaders in San Diego. Also, we are trying to figure out my future office situation. My boss's still don't yet know what the plan will be. Pray for doors of opportunity for a local office to open so that I don't have to move.
and to close a favorite quote..."Greatness is not revealed in vast miraculous actions but in daily positive attitudes"- Chuck Swindoll
love you!

Next Gen Retreat

I have been so late getting this blog updated! Since I got back to California I haven't stopped.
SO! here we are at the Next Gen retreat up at Big Bear Lake, CA. I was responsible for the food and activities for the group during the week. We had members join us from all over the USA and Canada. All of them are members of our organization and involved in ministry to teenagers. The purpose of the retreat is to discuss the future, talk about what we are doing and should be doing. Of course pictures of meetings are boring, so I am giving you shots of our big group activity! Snow shoeing. I have never done this before and only a few others had. The snow up here at Big Bear is beautiful and we had a great group time tromping around in the snow among the pine trees up here at 7,000 ft. Our meetings end tomorrow morning and we will all be making our way DOWN the mountain complete with tire chains!! yikes! Even me, the seasoned New England driver is nervous. CHAINS???
This next month I will spend completely IN California! My first full month at home, believe it or not! So I have an executive meeting of the San Diego Mission Project, and youth group and various organizational meetings at the office. My boss is currently in the State looking at office options for me, once our regional office closes. I'll let you know as I know, what is going on with that.
I pray that your days are warm, and full during this winter season! The snow here in Big Bear is reminding me of winter!!! :-)

Merry Christmas!

We're enjoying each others company. Visiting with church friends, and generally feeling very blessed. I hope your holidays are as special as our are. Well what to say, except Merry Christmas and Happy New Year from me and the Pitts family!

California, Christmas cookies and Connecticut

First I want you to meet Pancho. A connection from our organization, who I believe God brought to us in order to help us develop a new partnership to get some creative access to short term mission opportunities for teenagers. Ron, (my boss) and I met with Pancho last Monday. He loves teens and he is passionate about construction projects for missionaries! Be prepared to hear more about Pancho in the future! I believe he is an answer to our prayers for what God wants to do with our ministry to teens!
Now here you can also finally meet the famous Rio, my first friend from California! She's the little one in the middle! I held a Christmas party (my first in CA) in honor of Rio, who will be traveling to Asia for 6 mths. She is such an inspiration to me. If anyone is inspired to pray for a young 22 yr old who responds to God's call and goes anywhere, even to war-torn countries, let me know and I'll get you in contact with her! She will need serious prayer partners!!
I flew to CT on Tuesday and am now beginning to celebrate the Christmas season with family and friends. I was so honored to be invited to a friends home and learn to complete their Italian cookies, of which the name escapes me! It is this cool, tiny anise cookie smothered in honey! The Corica family makes this a holiday tradition and I was allowed to be a part of the party! We hung around rolling, cutting and baking for a few hours and I totally enjoyed myself. It was fun to be back in a home that I have great memories at from High school and with people who are special to me.
I've spent a day baking cookies with Mom and we've got all kinds of holiday plans including skiing in Vermont with a friend from Virginia! I've joined the choir for the Christmas season too. What a privilege to sing under our great choir director Marjie Brake! :-)
I met with some members of the San Diego Mission Project on Monday as we planned ways to better pray for the youth ministries of San Diego and from now until January I'll be working from Connecticut. Already I've got a list of practices to learn our organizations database and I'm helping to plan the retreat in January. I've got another training meeting in Orlando in January too! Seems like I'll be continuing the travel schedule on into the new year!
I wish you a very Merry Christmas and thank you again for your interest in my ministry and life. Your friendship and interest make my life much fuller! Thank you!

Orlando again!

Well, I just returned from a week in Orlando Florida! This time it was as a full-fledged member of my organization! woohoo! We were there to learn to use software and systems set up to help us do our job as recruiters. I was blessed to be able to get to know some really super people, who are recruiters all over the country as well as the staff at the headquarters in Orlando. We had regular work days and even a few Christmas parties!
Following this time at the headquarters, my mom joined me and we drove down to see my grandfather for the weekend. He is recovering from having some radiation and is kinda discouraged. I asked my prayer partners to please pray that I would be able to lift his spirits. I believe we were able to do that to some degree. He has never been sick, so he just doesn't know what it feels like to recover from something so drastic; and to have to learn this at 84!! wow! I pray that he will continue to improve and not feel hopeless. I played my guitar and we got him outside in the sun. We talked to him when he was not resting and encouraged him to eat, even though he didn't feel like it. He even played a few games of Sequence with us and that was a great improvement from his recent days of simply sleeping. Thank you for your prayers. If you feel so moved, I wish for prayers for his salvation. We just don't know!
I will be in CA for this week and then returning once again to CT for the Christmas season. My boss and I are meeting a new member here at our Temecula office tomorrow. This is someone who loves youth ministry and we hope to encourage him to consider working with us in our department! I have a youth group meeting to attend and a small group meeting. Just the short turn around time is making long term planning difficult! Gotta get those Christmas cards done and some shopping too!
The first thing on the "docket" for next year is a department retreat in January. We're starting out the year with vision casting! I can't wait!
Thanks for checking in!

HEY! did you know? The "Boomer" generation consisted of 88,000 people in the USA. The "Gen X" consists of 35,000 and the "Millenials or Post-Mod's" are 85,000. Why the drop in population between the last 3 generations??? 40,000 abortions!!!! My generation was cut in half!

Balloons and Sunsets

I'm back in California and getting ready to go to Florida to get involved in some ministry training. We will be learning how to use some software that we need to track new members to our organization.
In the meantime, I have a few days to get connected again. I had youth group again last night and am slowly learning kids names. Of course the ones I had memorized didn't show last night and I had a bunch of news ones to learn! The kids are quizzing me on it already too! The group of adult leaders get together for "dinner" after group and hang out. It's so refreshing to have a group of new friends to hang out with who also love teens. :-) Thanks for praying! Also, tonight I have my second small group meeting. I want to get involved this way because our church doesn't have Sunday School, so this is the only way to really get to know people at church! I'll be missing next week, as I'll be in Florida, but they are all understanding!
The first pictures were my first chance to catch the balloons of Temecula in action! I happened to have my camera when they were landing, so I caught them over the vineyards. There were three of them and Temecula wine country is known for their ballooning. The next two pictures are of one of the many beautiful sunsets I get to watch from my deck. :-)
Christmas is approaching, and I don't have lots of time to enjoy it at home, so I'm decorating and getting "in the mood". I thought maybe I ought to have a goodbye party for my first friend Rio as she heads to Asia to be involved in ministry there for 6 months. She is an amazing young woman and I am so glad that God put her in my life as an example. If there could be more young women like her!!! I wish you ALL could meet her. You'd be amazed.
Enjoy your first official week of the Christmas season! It all goes so fast, doesn't it?
Dagney

Thanksgiving

Well, this week I'm in Connecticut for the holidays. Lovely CT has plenty of leaves and this weekend we were out raking. Here's the happy family!The holidays are rapidly coming on. My niece has given us lots to laugh about, she's our entertainment these days!
Not alot of news so I'll share some pictures instead!
I won't be home for long, off to Orlando for training next Sunday and then with one week in CA, I'll be home again in CT for Christmas.
I appreciate all of you, who check on me periodically!
belated Happy Thanksgiving!

Freedom!!!!

I am FREE in many senses! I know it's early in the week for a blog post but i just have to tell you! #1.my car is paid off and I'm ecstatic. It's all mine! #2 I got my CA license plates, finally! (and side note, some money that friends from CT gave me while I was home, completely covered the very expensive cost of the licensing and title!!!little did they know!) #3 and the BIGGEST news! is I am released to my "assignment" with my organization!! Yes, as of today. Whew!
So thanks for sharing in a little bit of my news. I'll try to update again over this week, as Thursday is Thanksgiving anyway. There has been lots of fodder for pictures this weekend and there will be again while I'm home for the holidays! See ya again soon!

Connecticut, California, Chicago and St.Louis

Well where HAVE I been? After leaving CT I arrived in California to witness the result of the fires, drive home to wash laundry and leave 24 hrs later for Chicago and St.Louis. In Chicago I met up with two co-workers and we drove down to St. Louis for 4 day trip to the Youth Specialties conference. My organization had a booth, which is what you see in the first picture. That is Ed Swanson our camping director and he built those walls and hung the hammock. We were simulating our camping ministry. Our Brazilian hammock was very popular. We were raffling off a Jesus Loves You soccer ball (which has "Jesus loves you" in 30 languages) and 2 "Da Jesus Books" the Hawaiian Pidgin translation. We received many compliaments on our booth and we made some good connections. I was inspired by the general sessions that I was able to attend and really enjoyed the fellowship amoung hundreds of fellow youth workers from all over the US.
I was also able to make some networking contacts and I hope that a few of these will lead to some solid partnerships for my organization.
After the conference I helped my co-worker Tracy find her new apartment in Chicago where she will be moving this month. It was fun to help someone else look and not be the one looking!
Next I came back to CA and immediately got involved in a formation flying group. The San Diego Salute is a team of T-34's that fly for shows and events in the SoCal area's. I have been asked to be their announcer and this has plunged me back into the world of aviation, for which I am immensely grateful to God! This is an ecclectic and fun group of people who love aviation and are willing to let me tag along and learn from them. I look forward to alot more flying and even getting help in getting current again myself! Why do I miss Wisconsin?? *wink
Tonight I am going to youth group, the one at the church I've decided to join, Sunridge Community. I'll be helping with the Sr.H and I am looking forward to getting involved in the lives of kids again.YEAH!
I am sooo close to being officially at 100% support. It's just a matter of getting the final word back at the office from a few partners and adding up the numbers!! We're planning the department retreat for January and I just got involved in the National Network of Youth Ministries and will be much more active in that in the very near future. I hope to soon contact Josh McDowell and Doug Fields for opportunities to pick their brains and find out how my organization can be more involved in the lives of teens and inspire kids to join missions. I was really pumped up by the Youth Specialties conference and I hope that God has big plans for my organizations work!
Oh! and one last big praise! My car is paid off as of today! FREEDOM!!!!

I'm an Aunt 2x's over!

She has arrived! Yes, it's a girl. Bryn Marie Pitts arrived just after I did on Oct 17, 10:10pm. I got in to Bradley airport Oct 16 at 7:45pm and we got the phone call late that night to come get Aurora, my other niece, in preparation for baby to arrive. Wow. God does take care of details. I was given this ticket and made arrangements for it in June or July. We weren't told the due date at that point, so this can only be an extra blessing from God. He knew when she would be born and allowed me to be here for it. I know it's an "extra", but with my brother and his family preparing to leave for overseas missions, this birth may be the last one for some time that we'll all be in attendance for! I am grateful.
I am home to attend the missions conference for Calvary Evangelical Free church. I will be in CT until Oct 29. Prayer requests would include my being able to raise that last $96 a month that I need in order to work full-time in ministry in California. Also, I am looking forward to a number of small group meetings, that have already been arranged. I hope to be used by God however He would like, and I expect that I will be encouraged through the conversations with these home church family members. Every time I come home God has used people in this church to encourage me, to counsel me and to prove His activity in my life in specific ways. I hope that He will repeat that pattern and I hope that I can be a blessing in return to speak of how He has been amazing in my life too.
ps. check this out! I made friends while attending the Miramar Air show in San Diego and was able to catch a ride in a T-28. Not only that, but God has totally blessed me! I am now connected with a great group of pilots whom I will be working with and who have introduced me to some great opportunities for flying and for hanging out with those that do! I'll be driving a Vietnam era Jeep in the Thanksgiving Day parade and be trained to announce for their air show performances of T-34's! Wow! I am soo excited! I've been praying for over a year now that God might allow me to fly again.

Not alot of news

Not alot going on here as far as work. I am at 96% support though!
There are some plans being made for what I can begin to do once I am released to my ministry assignment. Apart from training meetings that I'll need to attend, one of those plans is to attend the Youth Specialties conference in St.Louis in November. We plan to interview youth leaders as to what areas of their ministry we can help them accomplish in missions. I am creating a list of questions that we will use. We are also creating a design for our booth at the conference, complete with tents and hammocks. This is represent the camping ministry called Jungle Jump Off. We hope to recruit both campers and helpers!
Last week I was blessed to have been given a trip to Ohio with my Dad to see a special air show, called the Gathering of Mustangs and Legends! There they gathered 100 P-51 Mustangs (WWII aircraft) among other aircraft. It was a really special weekend, not only to be surrounded by my very favorite airplanes, but to spend time with my Dad. We can't stop talking about it. I took 200+ pictures, but here are a few for you.
Right after I returned from Ohio, a girlfriend came to visit me here in Ca. Anna Tuckwiller from Virginia came for a week. Her last request was to watch the sun set over the Pacific. As you can see, it didn't disappoint!
As to prayer requests, I have found a church that offers a singles ministry and although it is far away I plan to supplement my future home church with that ministry. I am so excited to have been introduced to this Evangelical Free church ministry. I am still looking for a local home church. Also, I will be traveling at least once every month for the next few months. It's hard to settle here and travel so much, although I LOVE to travel. So I would appreciate prayers that I can settle with a church and friends here while at the same time accomplish all the travel. One of those trips is coming up next week. I will be going back to CT for Calvary's Missions conference and hopefully the birth of my next nephew/niece! Perfect timing!!! Thank you God! and thank you Dan Getz Jr for the ticket home!!! Thank you for checking in on me and my ministry situation! See many of you very soon!

This is part of the road to my house. In order to get to this point there is 20 minutes or more of asphalt and then.....this. lol Good thing I have 4WD! They tell me that when it rains, it flash floods!

Been away a bit

Hello friends! I went to the East Coast for an annual get-away/retreat with friends. We are graciously invited year after year to this little piece of heaven on the South Outer Banks, N.C. This is a special time to be blessed spiritually and emotionally. We held Bible studies and worship times, and lots of talk time as well as celebrations! Thank you Powell and Anne Harrison!
I am home in Southern CA now and writing more letters to partners, trying to get in touch with everyone. I can't keep from doing some NextGen work though. I hope to have support confirmation in time to get moving on some great ideas that my colleagues and I are dreaming up. One is a Youth Workers convention in November. We want to pick the brains of youth pastors and workers about how we in my organization, can help them help their teens to think about missions.
I have so many ideas I want to get started. Once we hear from all my partners I will be free to "go at it"!
I attended my first youth group last night (Wed) at Sunridge Community. We played a giant game of "capture the flag" (hilarious) and then a teaching time followed by hang out time. Some of the kids were willing to talk with me and I got some hang out time too! :-) After youth group the leaders go out for a late dinner. For you CT people, this restaurant is open the latest in town....*drum roll* 11:00pm!!!! Missin' those New England diners! :-) So, I'm going to attend this church again this week and go from there! It was really sweet to be with youth leaders again. I must say though, CA kids are so different! I was told they are quite sheltered and you can tell. Some of these kids have never been outside of Temecula, even going to San Diego is a stretch for them!!! Wow! I would never have thought that! The culture of these more well-to-do kids is gonna stretch ME. There wasn't a single "Emo" kid in the group. I'll miss that kind of kid. I'll have to get used to the "popular" crowd. Who said ministry was easy or comfortable?? :-)
To end I'm going to include some more pictures of "where I've been" the last two weeks! In case you want to know what heaven might look like! :-) Thanks for checking in AGAIN!

Waiting in Hemet

Well, here is a view of "my mountains" for you! The paddock in the picture is behind my house. Cool huh?
This week I met with a group of youth ministry people in San Diego. I was invited to meet some of those involved in mobilizing our youth ministries in this area to better reach our youth. What an amazing group of people! They are so passionate about having the Gospel shared with every teenager in San Diego county. It was a pleasure to be a part of this group. I've been invited back and I expect that God will use these connections as another way to find those teens that He wants to call into missions and Bible Translation.
As for the rest of my days, I am waiting. Waiting for my organization to give me the "go-ahead" to actually work. I am working from home, not even going in to the office these days. I must have confirmation of 100% support before I can officially begin my job. I am not allowed to even accept speaking engagements until they are confident that I don't have to return to CT for "partnership development". In the meantime I'm contacting those who have been a part of my team this last year with the EFCA and writing letters. I am sure that it is just a matter of time, that Summer is upon us and peoples lives are very busy. Prayer request? That those who plan to continue with me to my organization will let it know. I imagine for some it feels like they are recommitting. In fact it's really just a change of authority from the EFCA to my organization.
In the meantime, we're having HOT weather and even some storms! I am getting excited about what God has in store for me in youth ministry and missions here in Southern California!
Thanks for praying!