This morning I went to my doctor to pick up some medicine for my wife and Jesse.

On the way home, I met K at East Stone Mountain Tire.

She had the tie rods in the van redone last week. We needed to get an alignment done. The car seems to be driving well, but still a little bit rough. We took it back to T & G to have them take another look.

Jesse is feeling well today! He’s been pretty sick with aches and fever for the last four days. I sure was glad to have him back in the saddle as my wing man!

We went to my partner Reboot to pick up a refurbished computer for the Mocombe family. I’m always glad to be able to help them!

Then to Huntington Creek to drop off a check for water and to see how the Norths are doing. They need to get some repairs done at their apartment. I was checking on that for them too.

I got a call from my team from Statesboro that they were a little bit lost. J and I led them over to Huntington Terraces from the gas station. I was glad they were in the area!

Got some new keys made for the mission at Azalea. I promoted a couple of the kids who have been really helpful. They’ve been taking more of a leadership role lately.

J and I helped the kids with their homework till the ladies got there for the mission.

My team from Statesboro did a great job with the kids at the missions. I really liked their coloring of the JESUS word.

The English Class was packed!

I ran the AC all night long last night. It was unbearable hot for the folks there yesterday. Nice and cool in the mission. I had one of the older kids do nothing but police the door so that we could keep the cool air in!

I put a note on the back door. It worked surprisingly well!

I thought this baby Jesus looked like he’d gotten sunburned.

I liked these roots.

This morning I picked up my Bulloch County team at their hotel and led them over to Clarkston International Bible Church where they helped my partner Mary Hoyt with the registration for the Mommy and Me ESL program.

They were a HUGE help!

I took they two single use cameras to get developed. I was surprised that Walmart no longer handles film cameras! Thankfully, Walgreens could develop the film for me.

I came back to my office to record some new podcasts. Check them out! I think they’re some of my best work and really worth listening to.

Went to the bike store to pick up a tool to fix a couple of the kid’s bikes. Nothing is standard on those bikes!

I had lunch with my friends at Vikhyat. The Patels are from Kenya. Sadly, their restaurant is going out of business. They hope to open a new store soon.

Then we went to Huntington Terraces to help the kids that Bayo works with.

Later, they came to Azalea to work with my kids! BIG crowd of kids.

The mission was totally packed out with mothers working on their English skills and kids listening to the Bible story and doing crafts.

Unfortunately, that meant I didn’t get started with helping the kids with their homework till nearly 6:30pm which means I didn’t leave the mission till nearly 8pm.

Long day!

Back home now getting admin duties done.

While I was at Walmart this morning, I noticed this bike helmet for 5 year olds. Do we really want them to be “psycho?”

The store next to the Bike Shop had this caution tape up. They allow smoking!

Looks like Steve Jobs is everywhere!

One of the most important projects I work on is Verbal Surgery! I use what I’m talking about every day to make my life even better.

I think you’ll really enjoy them too!

Keeping your eye on the ball and not the scoreboard is one of my best efforts. Check out Eye on the Ball! You’ll be glad you did!

Are you dealing with tough times? Don’t we all? If so, I think you’ll benefit from listening to “Rough is Interesting!” Give ’em a test drive!

Sad morning today, as I took my folks and my two friends from Georgetown to the airport.

The got on fine and Delta treated them extra well.

They were really a great time with a super attitude. Rarely does a team really get to see what my week is like. They basically shadowed me the whole time. It was fun to have such great helpers.

I left the airport and went straight to Quality Inn in Chamblee to meet my new team! Four great ladies from Statesboro and Register, GA came in last night.

I gave them a briefing at my office then we went for Mexican food at my “Oficina Dos,” also known as El Toreros.

We went around part of my International Village covering the idol shop and Carneceria #1.

Then over to the missions at Azalea Place and Huntington Terraces.

They had some really great crafts and a super story on creation. I’d forgotten how effective a flannel board is!

Half of the team worked with English as a Second Language ministries.

I went to many of the moms of the kids and told them “We have a special class for YOU!” Then enjoyed learning more English.

I then led the team over to the Terraces where they worked with the kids and Bayo Otiti–the director of that mission.

Then back to Azalea to help the kids with their homework since the team had a Backyard Bible Club for them.

Got home around 8pm and started working on admin duties! Sound familiar?

Jesse is still not feeling well. I haven’t seen him awake in a couple of days. Rest is always the best medicine!

I liked this phone card.

I took my Texas team which includes my parents, Al and Peggy Cummins, and Sueann Mansfield and Katherine Taylor to Clarkston International Bible Church this morning.

I love to hear Pastor Phil Kitchin speak. He’s a good friend and a wonderful preacher.

CIBC is a really cool church with people from all over the world in the congregation.

My parents and Texas team thought it was awesome!

We had lunch with the congregation and enjoyed speaking to many of them.

As we left, we met Josephine who is a Kikuyu from Kenya! That’s the tribe that I worked with the most. My parents and I really had fun speaking Swahili to her and completely blew her away when we added in some Kikuyu phrases. “You speak my language!!” What a delight!

After a nice rest, I took the ladies back to Stone Mountain to ride up the cable car and see the Metroplex from a bird’s eye view. It’s always fantastic on top! It was kind of hazy, but still terrific.

I also showed them around the Quarry exhibition and my sweet favorite spot: the Evergreen Marriot Hotel. Awesome.


Finished off our week together at Asian Buffet: One of the top 100 Chinese restaurants in America!

Then to Walmart to do the home grocery shopping.

Finally got home around 10pm. Admin duties await.

Jesse has been sick today. He’s running a fever. Pray for him! I need my wingman!

I liked this little tree coming out of a stump. That’ll preach!

This morning my Texas team and I went to Azalea to host a block party!

We had a great time.

Because the team was small, the kids did a remarkable job of helping out, including cooking the hot dogs for us.

My Dad supervised! And had a good talk with my brother Bayo Otiti.



We had games with the kids.



Face painting and balloons. Jump Rope! Candy Throw! and the Water Fight!

I’ll post video of that excitement soon!

This evening we went out to El Torerros for Mexican food then over to Stone Mountain to watch the fireworks. Beauty!

Good day!

Now admin duties.

I liked Nishi’s shoes.

This morning I took my Mom and the two ladies from Georgetown to the Lincoln Exhibit at the Atlanta Heritage Society. It was super cool! If you’re an Atlanta person, you should make the time to see it.

My highlights was the letter from Sherman giving Lincoln Savannah as a gift for Christmas and Lincoln’s response, the first draft of the Gettysburg address and the life masks.

Really powerful stuff to think that Lincoln actually wrote on THIS piece of paper literally inches from my face.

We also saw the Swan House which is a beautiful example of architecture.

Later, we met up with my Dad and the kids to go to Thai of Norcross. Awesome fellowship and food!

Worked on my admin duties and knocked out my Financial Report. Stuff takes hours to do. That’s why they call it work.

I liked this bumper sticker.

And this sign.

And the KKK robe.

This morning I picked up the two ladies from Georgetown, Texas along with my sweet Mom and took them on a tour of the International Village.

No matter how many times I do it, I still learn something and find it fascinating!

I gave them a briefing on what it’s like to be an international in a foreign country. It’s my “Transport you to Cambodia” speech. A favorite! I enjoyed showing them some of my treasures including my Elephant Bird egg and my Maasai Mask.

We then went to one of my favorite stores in Chamblee which sells many idols.

Then over to Carneceria #1 to see how things are in the Latino market. We also enjoyed some delicioso quesediallas!

And the Thai grocery store!

We also checked out the Chinese Pharmacy. Cool!

From there to India at the Global Mall. The ladies also bought some beautiful tops!

We found the Hindu temple fascinating. The priests there are always eager to talk with us.

Gods on sale!

Then to Madina where we saw how folks in N. Africa and the Middle East lived.

We also went by the main Hindu Temple in Lawrenceville. It’s a fantastic building!

Back to Clarkston to check on items from the Refugee Sewing Society.

Then to Stone Mountain to rest.

Then back in the car and over to Chamblee to help the kids at the the mission.

Most of the boys finished their homework pretty quickly. We enjoyed watching them play soccer.

Came home and had a fun family get together with my folks, my kids and the Kendalls–Ashley’s boyfriend’s family. Good times!

Back home now, admin duties!

This morning I took my team from Texas (which includes my Mom!) up to the North American Mission Board in Alpharetta, GA.


Each month I get to spend an hour with the new missionary candidates. I share with them how to mobilize more volunteers for their ministry.

Great group of candidates.

I enjoyed showing my Texas team around the building and the many cool ministries that NAMB does across this awesome country of ours!

They even got to see Annie Armstrong’s desk. She’s the mother of missions for the USA. They thought that was pretty cool.

We came back home to Stone Mountain for a quick rest then the ladies went with Ashley to have an Outreach Event with her kids! They had a great time! Check Ashley’s blog for details and pictures on the party!

J and I went to Azalea to help my kids. We had a good time. I was glad that Ms. Linda was there to help us.

I worked with Angel on his times tables. Over and over and over again. The only way to learn them!

Kathy made a delicious spagetti supper for us this evening at our home. I was glad to have our guests with us!

Working on admin duties now.

I look forward to taking the team around the International Village tomorrow.

My Dad is feeling better, but still pretty sore after his fall. He’s been resting and soaking his tired bones in the hot tub. Glad he could do that!

This morning we got up bright and early and went to Smokerise Baptist Church for their Women on Mission group.

We prayed with the ladies and talked to them a little while before heading over to Clarkston: the Muslim center of the whole Southeast!

I took them over to one of my favorite market areas to introduce them to the Muslim world. I have a restaurant called Halal Pizza where all the Muslim men hang out, drink coffee and eat samosas.

As Dad was walking up to the place, he caught his foot on the curb and fell! You might remember he fell yesterday too. He’s OK, but after two falls in two days he’s pretty banged up. Pray for him.

Tomorrow I’ll leave him at the hotel to soak in the hot tub and try and heal up before going to the mission with Ashley in the afternoon.

Dad and I enjoyed speaking with the men at Halal Pizza, many of whom speak Swahili. That’s always a treat for me, since I don’t get to speak Swahili very often.

I enjoyed my mandazi and chai!

The ladies enjoyed shopping at the market place and seeing all the goodies.

Then we went over to Northlake Church of Christ which kindly donates space to the Refugee Sewing Society. Cathy Palmer is the leader of that group and is doing terrific work with the ladies!

She’s a life long friend and I’m so glad that she’s working with the refugees in our area!

Of course Cathy thinks of my parents like of do of hers: extended family! So it was great for her to see my folks too!

It was really cool to meet many of the ladies that Cathy Palmer works with and see the beautiful things that they make!

We ate lunch at Piccadilly. I figured it was a good idea to eat regular “white people” food since we were going on a marathon eating spree with the Bengali ladies at Azalea this evening.

We had a short rest then headed over to Chamblee where we helped the kids at Azalea with their homework. I’ve been helping the older girls and their homework is really hard.

Especially the biology and the math. 9th grade is definitely harder than 5th grade!

The kids have really enjoyed the dry erase markers!

I worked several hours with the kids before enjoying the delicious food and fellowship with our Bengali ladies at Azalea.

We even had a fashion show where one of the ladies showed us her man saris. Beautiful!

One of our team, Katherine Taylor, tried a sari on for size!

Got home around 10pm. Time to start my homework! I need to get some rest since I head out tomorrow for Alpharetta with the ladies to go talk to the new missionaries at the North American Mission Board.

I liked this bumper sticker.

And one that I had to scratch my head over.