GREAT day today!

Of course I reckon it’s normal that parents are proud of their kids. I just think I have more to be proud of than most!

We went to Cowboy Church located in N. Georgia in Fairmount. Great country music and Gospel singing!

Ashley spoke on putting on the whole armor of God, but instead she called it the Lasso of Faith, the Boots of Readiness, the Cowboy hat of salvation, and the Belt of righteousness. Cool.

There was a colorful entrance into the arena. We dedicated the arena to the memory of Brandon Miller, Rebecca Hampton’s grandson. Rebecca is the leader of the Cowboy Church.

It was a fun afternoon!

Great day Thursday!

I had Ashley and Jesse with me as well as two of our other missionaries: Keith Harrell and Katie McLean.

Always great to spend time with folks from our team.

We spent the day checking on our teams from FBC Bonifay, FL and FBC Garland, TX.

They were doing a great job! Thursday is their last day. They’ll be headed back home on Friday! Adios, amigos!

Spent all Friday morning working on admin chores, budget spreadsheets, accounting stuff. Gotta do, whatcha gotta do.

Went for a 4 mile run. Super hot.

Been editing video the rest of the day. Capture, edit, burn DVD, compress as MPEG4, upload to YouTube, post to web site. It’s a process that takes time, fer sure.

Went to eat a sub sandwich with Jesse. Today we heard that the DA is not going to prosecute Jesse on the arson charges when he had his breakdown. Praise the Lord for that!

This morning I had a new wingwoman: Kathy!

It was fun to have her along!

We started out out morning at the North American Mission Board HQ in Alpharetta. They were an enthusiastic group!

Then to check on our teams from FBC Bonifay.

As well as our team from FBC Garland, TX. They did great work in the mission and also hosted a terrific block party this evening. Awesome!

GREAT day today! Ashley and Jesse BOTH with me. Don’t get know better.

We had a meeting with Jesse’s doctor. He’s very pleased with Jesse’s progress. Excellent.

We met up with our teams from FBC Bonifay at the Chamblee complexes. They were doing great!

And so were the folks from FBC Garland. Awesome!


We also took a camera over to Bayo to document his work at the mission.

Then over to Willow Branch for Jesse to teach his guitar class.

Went to Walmart to pick up some glasses repair stuff. Broke another pair of reading glasses. Reading is such a contact sport.

Ashley put the pieces together again.

Spent some time outside this morning. Enjoyed watching the birds. Saw one squirrel that had a bobbed tail.

Ouch!

Jesse and I met with the driver of the bus for the FBC Garland team. We went with him to drop off the teams at their first four locations, then took him around the second half of the route with an empty bus. His wife was there to take down line by line directions of how to do the route. He seemed to be doing fine.

We dropped off the washer and drier set from the Sullivans to the Norths today. Sure was glad that worked out ok.

Saw my team from Bonifay, Fl! They’re always one of my favorites! This is their sixth year in a row to be with us. Wow!

Took the team leaders around the city so that they can find the missions.

I’m the tour guide for a safari into the International Village.

J and I got home after 9pm. Start working on email!

Here are the stats on our Photo Gallery, the most popular section of the whirlwindmissions.org site.

Photos uploaded: 115110 Disk space used: 81.89 GB
Photos viewed this month: 19642

Cool!

Much of my time goes into to planning for teams.

I have to know how many people are coming—that determines how many teams & locations each group can cover.

I need to know their transportation. If they’re coming in a bus, I have to think through the route to each one of the missions because the big bus can’t make right turns very well.

Then I have to make sure that all the teams have places to go where the group leader can check on them easily. They need to all be in the same area as possible.

It gets pretty tricky. Takes some thought to figure out the logistics and the route for the bus. They would have a nightmare of a time doing it from Mapquest.

Then I have to call all the managers just to remind them that the team is coming on certain days and certain times and let them know what their responsibility is. Normally, that’s just to make sure they have bathrooms available.

Jesse has been working on a computer of a partner of mine. He did his best, but it has a virus on it that he couldn’t get off. So I took that back to him.

Also went to the bank to deposit some money (Thank you, LORD!), and to the Post Office to drop off some checks for some utility bills.

Ran 4 miles this afternoon. Hard.

Ashley and Jesse came with me this morning to do the briefing at Gold Rush at Perimeter Church.

We had a great time with an enthusiastic groups. Awesome!

Met up with my team from Mount Paran North Church for lunch.

Gave a briefing to that group then took them over to Clarkston to work at Willow Branch in Clarkston with my partner Bennett Ekandem.

We picked up our car from T & G automotive, the guys that worked on Ashley’s car’s mirror. While parked in their lot, someone broke Ashley’s window. Even though they didn’t have any obligation to pay for it, they did! Just one more reason why I take all four of my cars to those guys to work on. T&G is located on 78 just past East Park Place and the McDonalds. They do great work and have saved me thousands of dollars of the years. Next time you have a car issue, take it to T&G.

Today was the second day of missions for the Goldrush Conference! Jesse was my wingman to go with me up to Perimeter Church.

We had a smaller group than yesterday because most of the teams went for a second day and didn’t need the briefing twice.

Met up with Grant Haynes.

He’s opening a mission school here in Atlanta to help folks train to work overseas. We’d do most of the training here in the International Village. I think that’s a great idea!

Went around to the missions to take pictures/video of the teams from Gold Rush.

Then J and I headed back to the house.

We had some bad news this morning. Ashley had her truck at the mechanic’s last night. We got back too late from the mission to pick it up yesterday. Someone last night broke into her car. She didn’t really have anything in it, but we still have to have the window repaired. Another expense we don’t need.

Got home, rested, then went out for a 4 mile run. Fairly pleasant running conditions. Stress relief.

High point of my year is the Goldrush conference hosted at Perimeter Church in Duluth. They have over 900 students working in 20 different apartment complexes!

I gave a briefing to an enthusiastic crowd this morning. They rocked that sanctuary with “Take the Church!” “To the People!” Groovy!

Got together with Ian and Ruthie North for lunch! Four of my favorite people! I got a new screen protector for my phone. Lookin’ good, baby!

We went by the church to check on our mail, then over to Best Buy to take back the other protector.

Over to Walmart to pick up supplies and then over to Willow Branch in Clarkston for Jesse’s guitar class.

Had a chance to meet with Shelita Carter. It was great to see her this evening.

Enjoying the Tour de France! Team Time Trials today. Love seeing those groups of 9 guys racing down the road. My favorite is the Point of View video that they shoot from the back of the motorcycles. When they shoot the road it feels like you’re riding along with them. Fun!

Had some roast goat today! J and I met up with Stephen Saffle from Eagle’s Landing BC and Bennett Ekandem, my partner from Clarkston. He’s interested in working more with the Islamic population. We certainly have plenty of them there!

It was fun to see the kids playing and getting a good lunch!

Jesse and I went to Briarcliff Baptist Church to meet up with our team from North Carolina. I gave the group a briefing and took them over to Hamptons at Lenox where they’ll be doing ministry.

Getting ready for the biggest week in the Summer! Always look forward to Gold Rush! We’ll be covering over 20 locations this year.

J and I also checked on screen protectors for my iPhone. I got the anti-glare kind on it now. Don’t like it as much as the crystal clear ones. The ladies at the store talked me into the decision. Should have gone with my gut!

Hot day today. Rained some. Super humid.