What I've Been Doing...

I am aware that quite a bit of time has passed since I last blogged. Please forgive me, and rest assured that my time was well-spent on other endeavors. Let me give you a taste of some of the special events in October and November that took place on top of all the regular stuff that goes on while seminary is in session (see two entries ago).

October 4-5: Second annual children’s missions adventure camp for kids ages 6-12 from churches in Ensenada and Tijuana. We had over 100 kids (doubled from last year) and I helped with registration and the “safari” and ran a game that was kind of like sharks and minnows, with a hose thrown in the mix to get the kids wet.

October 10-12: A retreat of around 500 ladies from churches on both sides of the border took place at Agua Viva. Because there were so many people it was all hands on deck and I helped at meal times, mostly by drying dishes so that there would be enough for everyone to eat off of (we only have about 300).

October 16-17: Annual Agua Viva Board of directors meeting held at Rancho Agua Viva. I delivered the financial report (bottom line=we need money) and took notes of the meeting.

October 26 – November 3: Roadtrip with Becky to recruit for our summer staff at different Christian college campuses. Over the course of a week we visited Pt. Loma (San Diego), Biola (LA), Azusa Pacific (LA), Westmont (Santa Barbara) and Fresno Pacific. I would like to give a special thanks to everyone who hosted us along our way. While at the colleges, we would sit at a table (usually strategically located by the cafeteria) with our display and a bowl of candy and talk to students who were interested. I would rate the trip as highly successful, as several people we spoke with followed up with inquiries and are now considering spending their summer helping at Agua Viva. After the college tour was over I got to spend time with family in Hanford and visit Hanford Baptist Church, which generously supports me. I shared with the youth group and attended the service, and afterward went out to lunch with my aunt and uncle and other members of the missions board. They got to hear more about my ministry first-hand and I got to experience their care and support first-hand, a win-win situation if you ask me.

November 4-9: A rare, three day vacation with my mom and dad in San Diego, who both had separate business there during those dates. Then my dad came down with me for the weekend and got to witness a little bit of seminary life at Agua Viva, hang out with other staff members (who are basically family) and even get a little taste of Potter’s Clay. I had a fun time scenario building for my guest of honor and scheming a future family visit for summer 2009.

November 14-15: A special second edition of our children’s mission camp carried out in a nearby town called Porvenir, which has a church that holds a “Missions Month” every November. I helped out with set-up and orchestrated pony rides and did the same game again, only this time without the hose.

November 27-30: A group from Calvary Chapel Mission Viejo was at Agua Viva. We had a big Thanksgiving dinner, but with chicken instead of turkey. And someone had donated several boxes of stuffing so I made that for about 100 people since the instructions were in English. It was fun to be part of meal preparation, I don’t usually get to do that.

December 6: Seminary graduation. After 15 weeks the time came to release the MTI class of 2008 out into the world. Several special events led up to the graduation, for instance a gala dinner on Thursday night put on by the AV staff for the students. Then graduation rehearsal on Friday night, and the big day on Saturday. I helped out as an usher and photographer, and also stayed in administrative mode to make sure the remaining students who had not yet paid their tuition paid.

Now the ranch is very quiet, and we are putting things back in their places and preparing for a staff Christmas potluck for Wednesday night. We are also going to have a white elephant gift exchange, which is a new concept for the Mexicans, so we’ll see how it works out. And then on Saturday I fly home to Virginia for three weeks of vacation and time with family (I’m just a little bit excited). And then comes 2009 and I’ll be back on the job. Thank your for caring enough to read this, and thank you for prayers. Also, a specific prayer request, I have bacteria residing in my stomach again, a strain of typhoid and another of proteus. On Thursday the results will be ready and I should be able to pick up some antibiotics and start treatment, but in the meantime, it’s not fun to have creatures living inside you.