This morning I went around to check on my five teams from First Baptist Atlanta,

the YMCA

and County Line Baptist Church.

Came back to Stone Mountain and then over to my the mission house with my parents.  We had tea time with two friends of ours from Nairobi days, Fred and Karen Young.  They were two year missionaries who helped us in Kenya when my folks were working with Indians.

It was also great to see my two partners Tim and Cathy Palmer.  I’m glad they’re doing well.

Jesse was my wingman today!


We went to the Holiday Inn in Doraville to meet with the team from County Line Baptist Church in Pucket, MS.  They were kind of tired, but I helped liven them up with my best briefing of the Summer so far!

Went to my office to meet with my partners Steve from Kindom Wise and Mike Rensel from Apartment Life.

We had lunch at Toreros (mi oficina dos) then over to Highland Gardens to get the team set up in their first location.  Spent time helping them gather up the kids.  Always the hard part.

We ended up with a good group of spirited youngters, most of which were Bengali.  Had a chance to meet some of the Bengali parents.  Even got to pray for one of the wives.  Her husband translated my prayer into Bengali so she could understand what I was saying.

Funny part was one of the other adults tracked us down so they could take picture of our team for the local Bengali newspaper!  I think it’s funny, these Baptist kids from a tiny rural Mississippi town on the cover of anything in Bengali!  I reckon they didn’t wake up in the morning thinking that was a possibility!

Met up with my partner Bayo Otiti from Nigeria at my office.  Took him to get something to eat and to check on my team from First Baptist at Azalea.  I was glad that they had gone home last night.  They were able to get a shower and a good night’s rest.  Always a good thing!  The kids were enjoying the team, even in the pouring rain!

J and I got the County Line team over to their second location and set up and we came back to Stone Mountain.

My parents had two dear friends of theirs spend the day with them:  Tom and Nancy Jones.

They’re also big supporters of ours and Tom invited me to be one of the speakers to the deacons at FBC Duluth, one of my best weekends this year!  It was great to see them!

And of course the season premier of Burn Notice!  What a great show.  K and I also watched Royal Pains, another USA network show.  Liked that too!  “Hank” is a doctor treating the super wealthy clients in the Hamptons.  It reminded me of working on the ultra rich people’s homes around the Austin area.  That was a cool gig!  I remember one house I worked in, the guy was a huge supporter of NASA.  He had an actual moon rock in an acrylic case on his desk.  Any idea how valuable that is?

This morning, my parents and out went out to the North American Mission Board for me to give a presentation on mobilizing volunteers. 

They’re always a fun bunch! 

I enjoy getting to share a few thoughts on how they can be more effective in getting people to help them.  That’s normally THE biggest problem that we face on the mission field.

They were a good looking group!

Then we went to check on the YMCA team that was working at the Hamptons at Lenox location. 

They’re a very motivated team and the kids really love them!

Then over to Azalea Place to make sure that my team from First Baptist Atlanta was doing well! 

They were really having  a great time with the kids and they seemed to be learning a LOT!  Excellent!

Spent a lot of the afternoon hanging out with my parents.  I always learn something from them!

Came home and ran my 4 mile route.  Took my little Sugar Dog with me.  She wasn’t exactly enthusiastic about it.  Drug her most of the second mile.  She does better once she knows we’re on the way home!

Kathy cooked us a delicious supper this evening.  We had fun visiting with my folks tonight too.  The power was back off a the mission house.  That’s not good.  BUT, my cable is working again for my TV!  I was really getting upset because tomorrow night is the season premier of Burn Notice!  Go get ’em, Michael!

Today my folks, Ashley and Jesse and I went to visit our mission teams. Also enjoyed sharing some Indian food with my parents. The owners are from Nairobi! We always enjoy speaking Swahili to them.

We started with our  YMCA team at Huntington Creek. 

I’ve worked with this team for a couple of years and they’ve been really great!  Today was no exception.  They were very enthusiastic and you could tell that the kids were really enjoying them!

Also went by to check on Ian North who lives at that complex.

He was busy working on newsletters.  He took me to the parking lot to show me something.  Flat tire!  Bahd luck.

We worked on getting the tire off and putting on the spare.  What a hassle in the Georgia heat!  I parked my car in the shade so it wasn’t so bad on my folks.

We took the car over to Firestone to see about getting a new set.  The ones they had were bald. Thanks to the generosity of our supporters we were able to buy them a new set of tires!  Can’t do missions if you can’t get to the mission!

We left Ian at the shop working on his newsletters and went to check on our team at Azalea from First Baptist Atlanta.

They were having a great time and the kids were super excited to have them there.  This is a team of four adults who are sleeping at the mission!  I had some hesitancy about that idea, it’s not exactly a paradise to live in!  So yesterday I was really praying for them! They’re doing fine!

Went to my office at FBC Doraville to pick up the mail, then over to Clarkston to visit with Cathy Palmer and show my parents her great work with the Refugee Sewing Society.  Good stuff!

Then to Willow Branch for Jesse’s guitar class with the refugee kids.  Jesse is a skilled guitarist and seems to really enjoy helping the kids learn music!  My parents enjoyed the tunes too!

Came home and dropped the kids off, then went over to Kroger to do the grocery shopping.

Then home and worked out on weights.

Still have more homework!  Always something!

We had a fun family time today!

Kathy, Jesse, Ashley and I took my folks over to the Varsity for chili dogs and hamburgers.  I like their onion rings, not a big fan of the rest of the fare.  It was fun!

What’ya have?  What’ya have?

Then over to the Georgia Aquarium.  I’m a big nature guy, so I always enjoy seeing the wonderful things that God has cooked up!

Some of these fish look like they should come from another planet!

Getting ready to go for a 4 mile run.  Still hot outside!