I didn’t sleep well at all last night. With Whirlwind Missions enduring such hard financial times, I stay awake and worry about all my missionary friends.

Ashley picked me up from our car mechanic’s building. The Expedition I’ve been driving since the Chrysler started having such oil pressure problems has a serious problem with the suspension. It’s like riding a jumpy house. They took a look at it, but can’t get parts till Monday. Ride ’em cowboy! They assured me it was safe, it’s just like riding on roads in Kenya.

We met up with our team from Michigan and went to Marietta to check out the Brazilian population and see some of the antique stores.


Great food and cool stuff to see.

We came back from Marietta and went to the Post Office to mail off some books that Vickie had purchased to teach a series on different world religions. Cheaper than carrying them back in her suitcase!

Then over to Enigmas to see one of the most bizarre botanicas in Atlanta.

I bought this super cool sugar skull there.

Worked with the kids at the mission.

I told them the story of Joseph. I always enjoy telling stories.

We also decorated “bags of love” to fill with candy and tracts for our residents.

Then threw candy to the kids. The ladies had fun tossing goodies to the children.



Stopped by Subway to buy some sandwiches for Jesse who’s not feeling well. I’ve got a sore throat too. Been gargling with hydrogen peroxide today. That always seems to help.

K and I watched Elementary and part of the Lego movie. I really liked the Lego show. Kathy less so.

Admin duties now.

Ashley and I had fun with our new friend from Cross Pointe church, Mark Maynard! He has a lot of experience in Africa, so I felt like I was with a kindred spirit.

We showed him around Plaza Fiesta and had some authentic Mexican food. Then over to the Buford Highway Farmers Market to experience multiple cultures up close and personal.

We also took our team from Michigan with us and also to the Buddhist Temple.

I had a very powerful and moving conversation with one of my good friends and Pastor, Ben Lehmann. He gave me some sound advice about dealing with some of the missionaries that we work with that we support.

Went to the Dollar Tree to pick up some supplies for the mission. I also picked up some plastic ware to put under plants in my house.

Then over to Azalea to work with the kids. I was especially proud that my Bengali girls chose to wear shoes today! I told them their toes could turn black and fall off if they were outside in 20 degree weather for very long. I reckon they took me seriously.

Our ladies told the story of Joseph and his coat of many colors and the brothers throwing him down the pit.

Home now to work on admin duties.

The suspension in the Expedition started acting really weird. Man, that’s all we need, more car problems.

I did the grocery shopping this morning.

Then Ashley, Jesse and I took our ladies from Michigan to Decatur.

We enjoyed eating at The Brick Store.




It was a cool place, built in the 1800s and reminded me of England. I had fish and chips. Yeah, baby!


I loved the door handle.

Never seen a no smoking sign outside before!

Interesting and beautiful downtown Decatur.


We had snow flurries while we were there.

Then we went to Lawrenceville to explore the BAPS Hindu temple. It is a beautiful place.

Unfortunately, photography isn’t allowed inside the temple area. There were some amazing carvings of Hindu deities and avatars carved out of marble.

After seeing the temple we went back to Asian Square. They were preparing for the big Chinese New Year tomorrow.

Lots of firecrackers!

I’ve never seen a string that long. Thousands and thousands!

Then over to Azalea to help the kids with their homework. We did a lot of multiplication tables.


We also played a Bible character matching card game. The kids had a great time.

Home now to enjoy time with Kathy. We watched the series finale of the Mentalist. Patrick Jane was my favorite TV character of all time. I’m so glad that they got to do a final season and see Jane and Lisbon get married.

Admin duties now.

I found this on the ground at the QT station near the pump I used to fill up the truck.

Fantastic sunset colors.

We were supposed to get super bad weather in the ATL last night. They even cancelled school for Dekalb county. Didn’t turn out to be that bad in our area. Much worse further North.

Still really cold. The birds appreciate me feeding them. I always feel like the Father feels the same way about me when I worry about money. He always takes care of me.

Cars for Kids came by and picked up our old van this morning. It’s been sitting in this spot for over a year. Kathy finally decided it was time to say, “Goodbye, Nellie.”

I met up with Vickie and Michelle from Michigan and Ashley this morning. I worked on the paperwork for the refinancing of my house. We dropped that off at the FedEx building near Perimeter Mall and had lunch together.

Then off to see the Muslim bookstore Kitab.

Then to Al Madina to see N. African and Middle Eastern products.

Rounded off the afternoon at Global Mall to see part of the Shiva worship.

Then to the mission. Freezing weather. All the kids were confined to their houses. The ladies worked on organizing and cleaning the mission.


Jesse and I went to the Post Office to mail packets to the leaders from the teams last weekend and to a church where I’ll be speaking in March.

We also went to Plaza Fiesta to pick up some pants that Kathy needed hemmed.

Ashley took the ladies back to their hotel while Jesse and I spent time together and had supper.

Came home to watch Castle with Kathy.

Admin duties now.

This guy outside of QT made me sad.

I liked his shirt.

I thought this was interesting. I wonder if it’s still living?

Beauty.

Sunday evening I edited the video that I shot for our teams from N. Georgia.

I also put some creative writing on line.

Ashley and I had a fun day taking the leaders from Brookhaven Baptist Church in Mississippi around the International Village. Jason Holmes and Ben Sticker are the leaders for their youth group. TJ is a college campus minister.

AWESOME folks!


It was great to see our friend David “Jonesy” Litton today too!

We saw Asian Square and the Buford Highway Farmers Market. We ate at Penang Malaysian restaurant.

Also checked out their housing at Crossroads Community Church of Dunwoody.

These are the Russian leader nested dolls I bought last week. How many can you name?

Really miserable weather. It was a holiday so we didn’t try and round up the kids at the mission today.

I thought this headline was weird. How can something be “pretty” brutal? Seems like it’s either brutal or it’s not.

Speaking of hard times, Whirlwind Missions is still in the red. We are almost back in the black, but we still really need your prayers!

I had a fun time at Clarkston International Bible Church with my teams from Lookout Baptist Church and Lake View Baptist Church. Pastor Alan did a great job on what is our message as Christians.

We ate lunch with the church congregation.

Then went to the missions! It was a cold day (in the 30s!), but the teams did a wonderful job and had a great attitude.

After working with the kids, we came back to FBC Doraville where Ashley and I briefed the teams on Catholicism and had our time of dedication.

Then off to Plaza Fiesta for supper and to enjoy the wonders of Mexico and Guatemala.



Came home to work on admin duties and rest. My back is tired. Rest of me, too.

They started pouring concrete at our new QT station!

Ashley and I had fun briefing our teams from N. Georgia this morning! Always fun!

We took them on safari to the Buford Highway Farmers Market.

Then to the missions!

After working with the kids, I took them on the final leg of the safari to Global Mall to see the Shiv Mandir temple and to Al Madina to see the Islamic bookstore and grocery store.


Got home around 7:30pm. Pooped. Didn’t sleep well last night. Still having back problems. Hopefully, I’ll be so tired this evening I’ll sleep a solid 8 hours. At least that’s the plan!

I finally got a decent night’s sleep! Praise the Lord! I reckon I got around seven good hours. It’s been a rough week with back pain for sure.

Met up with Ashley and Michelle and Vickie at Al Madina in Clarkston. We also saw my friends Bennett Ekandem and Mike Riggins from NAMB there. Extra blessing!

I also had a chance to speak some Swahili. Always love that!

Ash and I took the ladies from Michigan on a tour of Clarkston.

They got to explore the hood and meet some Somali women.

Then over to FBC Doraville, where we gave the ladies our briefing on Islam.

To the missions! We had a little party for the kids. Also had a prayer time and doughnuts!




Came home and went to supper with Jesse and Kathy. J has been sick the last several days, so it was great to spend time with him.

Admin duties now and then an early to bed time. We have a team from N. Georgia coming in tomorrow morning and Sunday. We’ll start our briefing at 10am tomorrow.

I loved the clouds today!

Had another hard night’s sleep. Back kept me awake. I did figure out that I could use a frozen water bottle to soothe and massage my aches and pains. Seemed to help.

Met up with Ashley and FBC Doraville to go over the game plan for the teams coming today and this weekend.

Michelle and Vickie came from two different Lutheran churches in Detroit. We picked them up at the MARTA station and took them around a part of our area.


Then worked at the mission with the kids.

I got a Valentine’s gift, from Kathy, sorta. I got it and she said it was her gift to me. Fair enough! It’s a nested doll of Russian leaders. It’s bizarre and wonderful at the same time.

We did have some hard news. Looks like Whirlwind Missions went into the red about $1,200. Please pray that everything will work out. We did get some checks in the mail so I think we’re covered, but it’s hard to be sure.

Enjoyed watching Suits with Kathy this evening.

Admin duties now.

I had the worst night sleep of my life last night. My back had been better, but I reckon doing all that mopping and vacuuming triggered a problem. I got these sharp stabbing back spasms that were just excruciating when I rolled over. I was still looking at the clock at 5:30 this morning. Awful. I was able to sleep in so in the end I got a few hours of sleep.

Gave myself a haircut. Clean cut, All American. As much as any MK can be.

Last time I ran it seemed to really help my back, so I went for a 5.03 mile run. Felt pretty good. Beautiful, cool weather. Always something beautiful to see.

I’ve seen some advertisements about lowering the interest rate on your home mortgage through the HARP program. I called my mortgage company, and sure enough, looks like we’ll qualify to reduce my interest rate from a 7.5 to a 4.0 interest rate. That means I can pay about $200 less a month and pay off my house in two less years. Not bad!

Then to the mission to work with the kids. Always fun.

I ate some Chinese food on the way home and took Jesse some food. He’s not feeling well. He’s been coughing and sneezing and had a dizzy head today. Pray for him!

I saw this couple at the table next to me. Both of them just staring at their phones. That ain’t right.

I’m getting Poison Dart Frogs. I don’t like the look of this.

Came home to watch the Mentalist. Next week is the series finale. It’s been one of my all time favorite shows. Really sorry to see it go. The last couple of years have seen the finale of Monk, Burn Notice, Psych and White Collar. I miss those characters. Patrick Jane has been a real favorite.

Admin duties now.

Pray that my back will be ok this evening and that I’ll get a good night’s sleep. We have two ladies that will be spending the next 12 days with us doing missions.

I thought this was interesting. It was on the back of a soldier’s car.

Beautiful sunset!