March 18th, 2007: Lord I Need a Revelation

First of all I need to apologize for not updating for the last 6 months. There is no real excuse except that life gets busy and transitioning back to the real world from the ship has made time fly. I have also struggled with the existing IT leadership and that has been a big distraction hindering the work I know God has for me.

I continue to struggle with the IT department. A week ago I offered to resign from IT. The CIO declined my resignation and has asked me to give him a little longer to change people's attitudes. I told him that I think he over estimates the power of his British charm, but I would be willing to wait several months before I make my decision.

I am in need of your prayers!

Most of my life I have jumped out of bed every morning ready to take on the world. Lately I find myself dependent on the alarm clock to wake me. I know this is based on my frustrations. But I miss waking to the calling the Lord has laid on me; I don't want to wake to an alarm. Excuse the pun but the thought is ...well....ALARMING. I need to feel that hunger again, I want to thrive in His will not simply survive. Zana looked at me one day and said, "I don't like this mark, I want the man back that would attack every day as if it was his last chance to get the world for God." I agreed, I miss that man too. A wife can be such a great blessing! She simply confirmed in my heart what I already knew.

So now I pray and ask for your prayers as well.

My prayer is that if it is God's will that I stay here that He fill me once again with burning desire to not simply survive here but thrive. However, if it is His will for me Zana and I to bless another ministry that he gives us the wisdom to know the path He has for us. Unfortunately we have many options in front of us to serve the poor in Africa and Asia, we must find out what God would have us do and not simply what is the easiest or coolest opportunity.

March 17th, 2007: End of the Spear

We finally got to watch the movie "End of the Spear", which came out while we were in country. The girls were fascinated by the story and its message that like Christ we are to give our lives for the poorest people not simply have it taken. The fact that the movie portrayed Jim Elliott as a little bit of a goof ball making monkey noises in a kitchen scene, made them think that Jim and I were a lot closer than name alone. There have been many times I have goofed with them by acting as an ape. I told them I only hope that I can have the strength of faith that those men and more importantly their wives had.

March 3rd, 2007: Destination Imagination

We traveled to Dallas for Jessie to compete in a Destination Imagination competition. Its a competition where kids have to find solutions by thinking out of the box. Their challenge this year was drama emphasizing difference in cultures. Zana was the coach. They were able to place 5th out of 18 teams. Not bad for their very first time. I'm so proud of both of them! Cailin even got a medal for being their mascot.