Let me tell you about something that fires me up

I was on the road again today.  I semi-scheduled a few visits (I'm raising support to go to Ukraine, right?) but they were all "lite" visits- more social and soft-sell and about nurturing relationships than about getting money.

I spent a few minutes with a Pastor-friend that I admire a lot.  Bro Hal was my Pastor in Amory for about 10 months back in the late 80's.  I've probably seen him one time since then and that was before 1997!  He's a great guy and we enjoyed our brief visit.  After all these years I really didn't want to hard-sell my support goals but I know he and his wife will prayerfully consider supporting me anyway.

After that I stopped by another nearby church where I know practically the whole staff.  Tommy, Mark, Nick and Rusty.  They are great guys, great friends (ok, I just met Rusty today but I've known Nick all his life and Tommy and Mark for several years!)  Again, no hard sell with them- just a social visit.  I appreciate their hearts and just wanted to connect with them for a few minutes.

I had lunch with another buddy that I worked with on a volunteer basis doing Campus Ministry back in my Gulfport days.  It was good to catch up with Kevin and good to hear his continued passion for youth ministry.

I had ice cream with a former youth- Heather-who just had all her wisdom teeth removed!  She was sporting some serious chipmunk cheeks!

I visited my old church and got to hear another of my former "youths" leading tonight's Bible study.  Will did a great job.

The highlight though was visiting with my friend Jamie.

Jamie was in maybe the 8th or 9th grade when I left Gulfport at the end of 2006.  She was fired-up about her relationship with Christ back then.  She still is today; even moreso.  Her passion is mature and focused.  Her heart is for the Nations.  She just got back to the States after living in Indonesia for the summer.  With very limited internet access and staying a whole 2 months- she was able to not only get out of America, but she was able to get America out of her.  We could all stand that kind of de-tox!

We talked.  And we kept talking.  And we walked to our cars and kept talking.  And it occurred to me as we were trying to say goodbye that I could talk to her and listen to her passion for the Nations all night long.  I LOVE spending that kind of time with someone.  I think I love it even more when it's a student.  It doesn't hurt that in a small way I can claim she's one of "mine" (Thank you Jesus for letting her be in my life and me in hers!).  That fires me up!

Waffle House and Walmart

Waffle House and Walmart!  Yep, that makes for a fine dining experience and good family entertainment!

I guess we're in the "dog days" of Summer.  I think both of my readers know that I'm living with and working with my best friend from college (when I'm not traipsing around the country looking for mission supporters!).  My buddy Stik- he's an engineer and surveyor.  Mostly, we Survey.  And that can be a HOT job during a Mississippi Summer.  So basically, we do as little as possible during this annual global warming tribute to Al Gore.

Actually, I've been able to increase the frequency of my Support Raising meetings now that we're not committed to a survey job everyday.  That's been a good thing for me.

There are days when I'm very anxious about securing 100% of my support but then there are days when God is just too good!  In my mind, I can't help but imagine how much Support person X or Y will give me as a meeting approaches.  Time and again I've been surprised.  I'm surprised that some of my greatest givers are former students just now beginning their careers.  How humbling is that?  I'm surprised about once a month here lately when someone that I had "written off" weeks ago contacts me to begin their giving.  Every time someone says "yes", it's affirmation to me that God has called me to Ukraine for such a time as this and where He called, He'll provide.  I wonder if my Supporters understand how their giving affirms me?

I'm starting to feel a little behind the 8-Ball for an early October departure but that's the goal.

I've got a lot of catching-up to do here on the Blog- I've spent a week at StudentLife Camp with the Zion Hill Youth, I've spoken in a couple churches, and I'm headed back to Chicago next week to continue training with I-Teams.  Be on the lookout for more news soon!

Ponderings and a Prayer Request

It's midnight.  I'm mellow tonight.  It's a combination of today's happenings and the music I'm listening to right now.

Today was Arrival Day for Super Summer Staff.  I was in the Jackson area so I basically just crashed the party and hung-out during Registration, Dinner and the opening worship event for staff.  I've been a part of Super Summer since 1992 or 93.  I missed the year Kim had her Double Lung Transplant (98) and again in 07 (World Race), 09 (Ukraine), and 10 (Haiti).  And this year I'll be at StudentLife in Daytona Beach.

Super Summer is the best camp I was ever a part of.  Why?  The Leadership is pretty much all Mississippi Youth Ministers.  Guys and girls that are in the trenches everyday working with teenagers.  They serve the kids at Super Summer like they are their own kids...which of course, they are.  The second element is the students themselves.  They are just always top-notch.  The last element is the small group leaders.  Many of them (most of them) grew up going to Super Summer.  Most of them are in college and most of them are simply outstanding young people.  I guess I could mention that the worship leaders and speakers are consistently amazing.

So tonight I got to hang out with youth ministers I've known and worked with since the late 80's!  I saw kids that were once in my youth group who are small group leaders.  I saw Executive Staffers that I knew when they were students at Super Summer.  They are all world class.

After my visit with them I stopped by the hospital to see some friends who are keeping vigil over a loved one in ICU.  I performed the wedding for Amy and Stevie back in 08 and now Stevie's 30 year old brother is fighting for his life with a broken neck and no feeling in his arms and legs after a diving accident on July 4.  To say I'm in a sober mood right now would be an understatement.  If you've never had a loved one in an ICU, in critical condition with tubes and wires and monitors and only able to step into the room for a few minutes every several hours....well, I rather hope you don't have to do that.  Ever.  I hurt for them.

I'd love for you to join me in prayer for all of them.  For Brian, that God would perform a miracle.  He's to be thanked for Brian receiving the great care he's receiving...but he needs more than that.  I pray for him to regain full function and live the rest of his life as a living testimony of God's greatness and goodness and power.  I pray for the family that's waiting.  For peace and comfort that's out of this world, for employers and friends and co-workers and teachers who are patient and graceful towards the family who, despite the fact that life goes on and there are obligations to be met, really have more consuming thoughts right now than work, class, cutting the grass and all that stuff.  I pray for friends to rally around the family and just be there.  No words are necessary really.

Long Overdue

Once again, it's been weeks since I last blogged.  There's been a lot going on, just not a lot to write about.

I'm sitting at a Cups Coffeeshop in Jackson waiting to meet with an old friend and potential ministry supporter in another hour or so.  I've had some successful visits the last few weeks; just not enough of them.

Let me clarify, almost everyone that I've met with has joined my Support Team.  The thing is; I need to be meeting with 6-10 people a week and I only met with that many people all of last month!

But the meetings I had in June sure were a lot of fun.  I reconnected with an old employer and a college roomy I hadn't seen in 18 years.  I met with students I met working at Super Summer back in the 90's!  I met with a couple of my favorite couples, including a couple that I married back in 2000 (I think).  Today I'm meeting with two old ministry friends; one of which I haven't seen in 20 years!  That's crazy.

So where am I?  I basically have 2 different Support Raising Accounts as I prepare to return to Ukraine.  One account is my Start-Up Account which includes my training cost (5 weeks in Chicago), my support-raising cost (all my travel and expenses this summer) and my actual start-up cost for Ukraine (airfare, furnishing an apartment, supplies and equipment for ministry).  I'm at about 50% of the nearly $20K needed.

The other account is more important- it's my Monthly Support Account.  I'm working towards $3000.00 a month.  I'm at about 30% right now.  One thing I'm learning about the current economy is that people just aren't able to give at the "higher" levels.  All that means is that I need to ask more people to support me.  That's not a bad thing.  It's a lot easier to get by if a $50/month supporter has to miss a month than it is if a $200/mo supporter has to miss a month.

I haven't written much about my Support Needs.  And I don't intend to write much more.  Hopefully, the next think I'll write about the financial situation will be a big Praise The Lord when I'm at 100%.  I believe He called me and I believe He'll provide for me.