I went to Perimeter Church this morning to meet with my partner Debra Potter who’s in Community Ministry and with two of the leaders of their Middle School department Ashley and Ryan. They’re really interested in getting their students out into the mission field. I can only say a hearty “AMEN!” to that!
Also opened new work at a complex near Perimeter: Howell Bridge. I was rebuffed there a year ago. This year they have a new manager and she welcomed us with open arms! God always has HIS timing.
Went by FBC Doraville to work on email and answer phone calls. Never ends, baby.
I was so tired today I actually blew up my air mattress and rested for about 20 minutes.
Then feeling more energized I went over to Azalea to help the kids with their homework. Some complicated 8th grade stuff that I honestly couldn’t figure out. And I’m really good at math. Crummy textbooks.
Got about 1/4″ of rain each day for the last three days. That’ll help. I think we’re nearly 8 FEET below where we’re normally at.
Put the rest of the newsletters in the mail this morning. If you read this blog and want to get that newsletter drop me an email at timacummins@gmail.com
I finished working on the newsletters today. Ashley had to make some more of the photo cards we’re putting in the letters so we still have about 60 to mail out in the morning.
Had a terrific meeting with one of my favorite partners, Drew Grubbs with Youth Outreach United. He’s a great friend and a real visionary plus logistics guy! A great combination! We’re working together in 11 locations. Hopefully that will expand dramatically.
Also got to hang out with Tito Ruiz–his office is right down the hall from Drew’s. Sure do love those guys!
Lifted weights early this morning. Ran 4 miles this evening.
I had an interesting day in a tough part of Atlanta today: Pittsburgh. It’s an area that has always been a black neighborhood. My partners at the Salvation Army are building a huge center there. I went down this afternoon to help them start work in a local apartment complex called City View Apartments. The owner had fixed up the basement in one of the buildings and made it into a classroom for teaching ESL. I hope to get my Salvation Army partners involved in an after school program there.
I enjoyed hanging out with two Jasons today.
Jason Pope has been my Salvation Army connection for the last couple of years. He’s also been the director of our mission at Hamptons at Lenox. He went with me to recon the new area. It was great to be given such a warm welcome by the manager.
Jason Lemming is my partner interested in micro-loans and finance. We hope to get this program started in the Clarkston area with the refugee community there.
This morning I went to Staples to pick up some supplies for the mailout then to the UPS store where I make my copies.
After my meetings with the Jasons I went over to Azalea to help the kids with their homework and to have them help me label envelopes for this month’s newsletter.
Then I went to the Verizon phone place where I changed my old phone for a new phone. It’s still the same model (LG 8600) just a new phone. My display started to go bad. While I waited for them to transfer the data to my new phone I went to Taco Bell and wrote newsletters.
Got home about 8:30pm. Enjoyed talking to Jesse.
Finished up my email. I’ll work on newsletters again tomorrow morning. Try and make a noon deadline. Kathy is going to Azlalea to meet with some of the Bengali women. Pray that that will be a good experience for her.
Kathy went with me this morning to go to First United Methodist Church–Norcross. I spoke to the New Beginnings SS class. It’s where Don and Vicki Devlin go. Don is the Director for our missions at Adelaide Park and the Ambers on Beaver Ruin. He’s doing a great job. I was glad to be able to support his work there and hopefully some of his SS class might go over and help. He reminded me that we’ve been working together for SIX years now. Time sure goes by fast when you’re having fun.
Just finished going through all my email.
I’ll work on layout of the newsletter when I’m done with the blog.
Make sure and check out Ashley’s blog too! There’s a button for it on the home page of the web site.
Kathy and I went in to Chamblee this morning. We hosted a team from Atlanta Chinese Christian Church North at Azalea. The team had a cookout for the kids and some games. Everyone had a great time.
Kathy also went to meet the Bengali mothers who might be interested in studying English. She got to meet about 7 families. Hopefully, she’ll be able to start some basic classes for them. They’re all Muslim, so it’ll be a challenge to share the Gospel with them.
I also took a few of the girls from ACCCN to help me paint part of the mission at Huntington Terraces. There was a leak in the AC unit which messed up the ceiling in the hall. I had a team from FBC Mountain Park repair the sheetrook and tape and float it. The girls and I then painted the hall, the bathroom and a closet.
Just got finished working on my email. I need to work on my newsletter next.
Peace.
Saturday, August 24th, 2007
Ran 5.2 miles this morning.
Did some office work. Ashley and I are working on updating the maps for the web site.
Really strong thunderstorm this evening. It blew over a tree in my neighbor’s yard. Didn’t hurt anything, just a big mess.
I had the pleasure of working with Ashley and Kathy today. What fun!
We had a meeting with a new partner from Open Table Church working in Chamblee named Todd Taberer. He’s a cool guy interested in working with the immigrant population. He’s already plugged into my partners at Cross Cultural Ministry.
We went to the office at FBC Doraville where I worked on a proposal to the owner and to Gwinnett County to work at Alexander Mill which is a tax credit property in Lawrenceville. Pray that God will open that work soon. I faxed the proposal to the manager and we’ll get her take on if we need to tweak it before we send it on to corporate. She’s a prayed up woman of God named Destiny.
Then we went over to the mission at Azalea. It was so hot is was unbelievable. I’d run the AC but the kids constantly open the doors and all the hot air just rushes in. So we sweat. We need a lot of help for these kids. I was glad to have my girls with me so we can split th kids up some.
I worked out on weights this morning. It was awesome outside with the birds.
Got up early this morning and did a 4 mile run. Still hot.
Picked up a special cake for my friend Bob Speer who just got remarried! We saw each other at our monthly manager’s meeting at Sheltering Arms in Chamblee. He’s the manager of Shallowford Gardens and is a dear friend.
Our meeting at lunch revolved around a new clinic that specializes in the uninsured in the area. According to their stats, over 40% of the residents of Atlanta (5.2 million!) are ininsured. I know that’s true for most of the immigrants here. I plan on working with them more in the future to help us with Health Fairs in the area.
I’m at my office at FBC Doraville now. Just finished my email.
I’m headed over to help the kids at Azalea in a moment.
I had a good work out on weights this morning. Always feels good to push hard.
Had a meeting with two partners of mine: Todd Harrison and Tyler Recker. We talked about the mission work with Youth Outreach United in Lawrenceville especially.
Tyler and I met with the manager of two properties. If all goes well we’ll get to start a mission in both.
Todd also loaded us down with lots of drinks and cookies and chips for the kids at the mission.
Went to Chamblee to help the kids with their homework. Almost all of my kids are from Bangladesh. It’s something.
Whenever I get a few of my partners together it’s always a terrific time. I had some of my favorites there today including my brother Tito Ruiz, Steve and Ruth Nolen (missionaries to Argetina and India), Derrick McGee, Amy Turner and Robert and Shelita Carter! Very exciting to hear the plans we have for reaching this community for Christ!
Ran 4 miles this morning.
Fished up my admin work at home.
Lots of email. People treat me like I’m something special. It’s weird.
Kathy and Ashley and I got back from NYC last night around 1am. We had an awesome time in NYC. We met a lot of great folks. I led four sessions at the conference. We also got to go around the city and check out the different ethnic areas. We lived in Queens and our confrerence was held at the French Speaking Baptist Church in Brooklyn.
Ashley and I went shopping one day before we took off on the air plane. Never too much Ashley.
I’ve been working on the pictures I took. Click on the Photo Gallery link at right and look at the featured galleries.
