Frozen Shocks

I know for sure that her shocks were frozen and completely worn out. Riding in an ’84 Audi 80 on snow-covered roads with a sixty four year old Romanian woman driving only assures me this is not a normal life. Not that I want it to be either.

We met her near her home, right at the corner where the trams follow a lazy turn. I vouched for us to cross the street to stand in the sun; it’s still cold here. As we waited I looked to see this older woman approaching us, not being sure it was her I half- smiled as she walked up. “Pace” She says. I return the greeting. Except now I know it’s her. Pace (pronounced pah-che) means Peace in Romanian, a traditional greeting that church people use with each other. I’ve heard that after Jesus rose, he greeted everyone this way, although I haven’t confirmed that, I’ll do my best to be appropriate to the right people.

As I exchange the greeting with her she says in broken English “Good to meet you”. Leave it to everyone else to out- do us in knowing other languages. Here she stands with her white fur coat and jet black curly hair exploring the world from under the brim of her brown fur hat. She points towards a vehicle parked by the road. I can’t tell if the car is white or it’s just all the snow. Dora explains that it will be easier to drive to the church than to walk. As I make the hand sign for shoveling snow, I think to myself that maybe that’s not true.

So we traverse the piles of snow nearly consuming her car from all sides. She gets in and attempts to start the car at least twelve times, finally as the car clunks and sputters, she heads it out onto the street, as Steve goes for one door and I go for the other she motions that only Steve’s door works. Hmmm, should I ask about the brakes?

So the story goes, and we go, down the street, the back shocks or something making quite a bit of noise the entire time. Sounding like someone is being dragged under the car and only hits the bottom of the trunk when we go over bumps, yah, something like that.

Well we made it, she had to get out a couple times and clean off her windshield. At one point spraying some imitation Windex onto the front and back. I would’ve been glad to get out and help, but I was between Steve and the non- working door. I guess I could’ve climbed over Steve but the fact that her grand- daughter sitting on her brother’s lap between the door and Steve somewhat blocked my pathway. Yes indeed, this is the life I choose to live, a life of interesting times, people, places and strange events.

But it’s the life I love. Investing time in something that will never fade away. Giving your life to children and giving them Hope. This is the work that will truly make a difference and will really matter. A life of simple adventure and the unknown, challenges waiting at every corner. Even when you really think that everything is planned and prepared, someone asks you to speak at a Baptist Pastor’s meeting. Yes, just when you think it’s all planned out.

Well, thanks for reading to this part.

That’s it.

Excitement is an anxiety killer... I think

What's going on...

This next trip will be to Romania, Ukraine and Uganda

As excited as I am about the whole trip, we've been faced with some interesting challenges. While in Romania we have two meetings that have been keeping me up at night.

One is with the director of a ministry that works in many countries around the world doing children's ministry. We want to explore the relationship between the Book of Hope and their ministry. How they could use the Book of Hope to reach out to students that we cannot reach.

The other meeting is with a District School Director. Basically this is the person who can give us permission to go into all the shools in his district. Possibly thousands of schools, and hundreds of thousands of kids could receive the Book of Hope with his approval.

Uganda is now called the "Birthplace of Aids" Many people believe that it can be traced back to a single town. Please pray for our team as we enter a culture almost destroyed by this deadly disease.

So maybe excitement isn't the killer, but the promoter. Either way, I keep waking up before my alarm, ugh.

Change is the only certain thing.

If life was certain then it wouldn't be any fun. There wouldn't be any adventure, no surprises no twists and turns. When I arrived here in Florida thinking that I would be travelling to India this Spring, I was shocked to find out that instead, we'd be going to Romania, Ukraine and Uganda. I guess India will have to wait.

Imagine what it would really be like knowing our future, knowing where you're going, who you'll meet and what will happen. It's comforting knowing that even with the crazy world we live in, there is God who looks at us and smiles, cries, grieves and maybe even shows us off to a few of his friends. It's nice to know that my life is safe in his hands, my life is unstoppable until his goal is accomplished with this me in this world. It's good going to sleep at night knowing that there's someone next to me helping to figure out what it's all about, giving me a purpose and a calling.


At least, that's what I think. Hope you like the pictures!

2% or Nuthin!

Whoever dared to come up with the idea of 1% or fat free milk should be shot. Not necessarily with a gun, but maybe with a really big rubber band. Ugh. Just the thought of watery milk is really gross. I guess I shouldn't be biased or anything. But for the real enjoyment of drinking milk, it's best when it goes down heavy. Mmmmmm.

Christmas is over. It looks like all the malls and shopping centers are filled with people looking for bargains and returning items left and right. I am so glad that for my family and I we know the real meaning of what this time is about... PRESENTS!! No not really. When you take away the gifts and the tree and the lights, I still have my family. I still have a wonderful family that loves and supports and cares for each other. That joy comes from Jesus Christ. The fact that God lives in each one of us unites us as a family. So I guess this entry isn't really all that much about 2% or what, it's about how grateful I am for the amazing people I have in my life.

On my way to hug my mom...