Ok, it's been 3 weeks since my last post ... sorry about that! Not that anyone's lives are dependant on it:) Last Sunday I had the priveledge of experiencing one of the most significant things I'll ever be apart of. I Baptized my 6 year old Rylin and my Brother Ty!!!

Celebrate Recovery... Reach ... COC Metro... NSA... Trick or Treat... Mexico

Celebrate Recovery had a great meeting on Friday. It seems we've had a consistent group over the last several weeks. I'm very thankful for our leaders and their commitment to this ministry. It's not an easy one! Special thanks go out to Alan and Ellie Whittaker, Theresa Farley, and Greg Bennett. PLEASE remember to pray for Ray Shields. Our bud has been sick the last couple of weeks.

Tonight, we had an awesome Reach class. I think we had 30 or so people in attendance. It's very encouraging to see people hungry to grow in this area. (Tom, I hope you feel better!)

Today was COC Metro's first official Sunday Morning. They had over 180 in attendance!!! Josh spoke very highly of the service and the job Brad and his team did. We are so proud of them! Please pray for them in these early stages ...

NSA sign ups seemed to go well over the last 2 weeks. Brad has done a great job with this ministry. I'm excied to hear of the results if this particular outreach.

Trick or Treat has been making quite a stir in our church. I've heard of many who've taken the day off to help out. Please keep buying candy!!!

Mexico is coming up! Rob Day has done an incredible job in getting the construction end of things moving forward. (the manual is impressive). Emily Arellano is working on the menu for our team right now. MMMMMGOOD.

Fiji Team 2008

This is the team that went to Fiji ... (left to right) John Frazier, Mark Connelly, Brad Dandurand, Mat Balgaard, Josh Barrett, Bryan Crawford, Maria, Seth, Karen Bugg, Matt Swartz, Amber and Rob Dolsen, and John Hawkinson. We realized that we hadn't taken a picture of just our team the entire trip so we got one at the airport before we parted ways. Better late than never right!

Back Home

After 8 days of pure lifechange, we're all home. I actually wasn't able to sleep the entire flight back, with the exception of about 10 minutes between here and LA. I think some of that was my mind going 100 miles per hour about the whole experience... asking God for direction of heart and mind and action. Although it was hard to leave the girls and the mission at home of hope, I'm extremey glad to be back .... to kiss Misty, to hold my girls, to squeeze them tightly and express appreciation for them.

Ginger, Tammy, Misty and the kids all decorated our vehicles for our return. It was awesome! Misty and the girls had a small Fijian Christmas tonight, along with prayers for the HOH kids and moms. I know Rob and Amber, brad and Josh all missed their kids and wives immensly! These are quality people of God. I couldn't have asked for a better team of people to experience this with. All of us were changed forever.

Tomorrow will be filled with details that each of us feels so far removed from. Brad will be back to family and Asphalt, Rob back to kids and inspecting; Amber back to her children, Josh back as husband...daddy...and our pastor. I'm back, as well, into Mexico, Trick or Treat, Sunday's message, and the Reach class Sunday afternoon. It all feels so distant. I don't ever want to lose what I've gained directly from Jesus on this trip.

This is the benefit of being apart of an opportunity like this. It's all for Jesus, cause it's all for His people! If you ever get the chance with COC, to go on a trip like this, GO!

Anyway... thanks for all your prayers. We'll officially be sharing about the trip on September 28th.

Till then...