Had a fun day at Stone Mountain on Friday with Kathy!

We picked up Jesse and enjoyed eating at John Boy’s buffet. The catfish was fantastic!

Spent most of the day going through last minute admin details.

Took a walk to the park with Kathy. Gorgeous!

Did all my last minute packing for Costa Rica.

I’m typing this at 3:46am. Just got cleaned up, put the final stuff in my bag.

K and I will be leaving for Hartsfield International Airport in about 15 minutes.

I should be landing in San Jose, Costa Rica around lunch time today.

I’ll be staying primarily in Santa Elena, up in the cloud forest. I’ll be back on April 24th, one day before Kathy turns the big 50!

Please pray for me while I’m out of the country! I doubt I’ll be able to post to this blog while I’m gone, but I’ll try!

LORD, I ask a special blessing on my brothers and sisters who read this blog and pray for me and my familly regularly. Father, protect Kathy, Jesse and Ashley while I’m away. Put your shield of protection and loving arms around them.

AMEN!

Love you guys and see you soon!

Spent this morning at the Bank of America office. Last night we discovered some unusual transactions on our business bank card. Somehow, someone had stolen our information. I still had the card, but they were using it. So I blocked the card and had to deal with the bank to get it sorted out.

Gotta say that BOA guys are really good at what they do. They got me a temp card, sorted out the fraud and put tracers out to get the guy who did it.

Could have been compromised anywhere I used the card. Gas station, restaurant . . .hard to tell.

Anyway, everything is cool but it was still a stressful morning getting it all sorted out. Especially since I’m leaving the country on Saturday!

Had a lunch meeting with my partners from Eagles Landing Baptist Church: Bruce, Doug and Michiko. We had a great time talking about missions.

I took them on safari to a few of my favorite places in the International Village and we drove by to see some of the teams.

Unfortunately, it started really raining so we couldn’t see much. I was glad to see the pollen washing away!

I left them to go to the dentist. I use Metro Dental near Northlake Mall. He’s the best dentist I’ve ever used for sure. Did beautiful work on my crown. If you’re having problems you should use those guys.

After I was crowned, it was really raining. J and I went to Best Buy to get another external hard drive. It’s hard to believe how fast I fill them up. It’s all the video I shoot. I edited three more tonight and burned the DVDs for the two teams. I mail them tomorrow.

Came home to start on my home work.

Heard a tapping on the wall. A Pileated Woodpecker was playing with the mirrors next to my house. (I use them to practice Tai Chi.) Super cool bird!

Owls, hummingbirds and Pileated Woodpeckers! I love Georgia!

This morning I took from team from Tennessee on safari through the International Village.

We had a great time scoping out the sites and eating the different ethnic foods.

I always enjoy seeing people’s reaction to the amazing sites!

This afternoon I went to Walmart to pick up some supplies for my trip. Got some rain gear, batteries for one of my microphones, and a portable clock.

Then over to my office to check the mail.

Spent the rest of the afternoon checking on the teams at the missions.

Everything seems to be going great!

K and I watched an old movie with Tim Roth in it called “Invincible.’ It’s based on a true story of an Jewish strongman who was part of a stage show right before Hitler came to power. Pretty interesting.

Did I mention the trees? The azaleas are just beginning to bloom!

Fabuloso!

And the pollen?

Not so fabuloso.

This morning I enjoyed taking the team from Liberty Baptist Church from Virginia around the International Village.


I always get a kick out of showing off this extraordinary place!

The kids had a great time and picked up a lot of stuff to remind them of their trip!

Then the teams went to help the kids at the missions.

They really seem to be doing a superb job. I know the kids at the missions LOVE having the teams in town!

I’m back home now working on admin duties. Always something!

Pretty hot today!

Just got off the phone with two friends of mine who are like brothers to me! Rollin and Ryan Hooper are two awesome dudes that I grew up with in Kenya. GREAT to talk with friends!

I dig these little pink boots!

And Oh la la! The TREES!

What a day!

This morning I got up early to work on some projects.

I had a birthday gift to send to a friend of mine in Canada and sent the linchpin project to Seth Godin in New York.

Also went to Kroger to pick up some extra supplies for my trip to Costa Rica. Travel sized bathroom stuff.

Then back to the house to pick up Jesse.

We had a recon of the six locations with the team leader for Long Hollow Baptist Church, TN. We drove her around to the locations so I felt confident that she knew were everything is.

Went to the office a FBC Doraville to rest a few minutes on my air mattress. I had maybe 5 hours of sleep last night.

Then over to N. Peachtree BC to do my briefing with the TN team.

After that, I shot over to FBC Lilburn to do my briefing with my team from VA. Both of the groups seem really terrific! I know they’ll do a fantastic job.

After the briefing we dropped off three teams at their first location, then I took the drivers around to the second locations so they were sitting on dead ready for tomorrow afternoon.

So much of this stuff is logistics. Thinking out all the details and squaring away any potential wrinkles.

I feel confident it’s all going to work out.

Got home about 9pm.

I have to be back at FBC Lilburn about 9am tomorrow to take them around the International Village. I always enjoy showing off my area to teams. This place is super groovy!

Just got off the phone to my team leader. Looks like they’ll add two extra locations. I’m really glad about that, although it means some last minute (literally!) prep for me tomorrow morning.

Better try and crash soon. My mind is super revved up right now.

Pray for the teams!

What a great day! He is RISEN!

Kathy and I enjoyed going to FBC Mountain Park this morning. We heard the choir’s Easter cantata “I will Rise.” It was great!

After church we went to Fuddruckers to have lunch with Kathy’s brothers and sisters and extended family.

24 people there!

They’re a great crew! Always enjoy hanging out with them.

Miles and his sister Roxy and her baby Isabella also got to come!

Came home and rested. Then sat outside and soaked up sun for awhile. That always makes me feel groovy.

Then spent time with Kathy watching some movies. I didn’t like them, so I went to packing for my trip to Costa Rica next Saturday.

I did a packing dry run to check to see how the space would turn out. Looks like I’ll be fine. I’m super conservative on what I take. Just the bare essentials, baby!

A lot of my space is camera gear. Even that I really took a hard look at. I eliminated a bag and went to zip lock baggies instead.

All clothing based on 5 day rotations. I’ll wash clothes twice.

My standard attitude is “Pack your bag and take out half of it.”

This evening Jesse and I worked on making sure that all the details for the two teams coming in for Spring Break are perfect. It’ll be a busy week. Especially Monday through Wednesday.

I’ll have Friday off for final prep.

Then leave real early (4:30am) from my house in Stone Mountain.

I’ll have a chance to rest on the plane.

Sure was great to have more family time!

iPad! Wow! I feel like this device came straight off the Starship Enterprise!

I admit it. I’m a fanboy of Steve Jobs. I think the guy is a genius.

My iPhone is with me 24/7.

But I didn’t get the iPad today. I’m waiting for the 3G version to come out later this month.

I think it’s going to be an awesome tool to share our ministry with people. It’s like a photo/video album right in your hands. And the quality of the display is phenomenal!

Got up early this morning and watched the birds. Very peaceful.

Went to Lowes to pick up a linchpin. I’ve mentioned Seth Godin’s book Linchpin on my blog several times. I think it’s the best book I’ve read this year.

I spray painted the linchpin gold and made a little display for it mounted on some Japanese origami paper. Looks pretty good. I’m looking forward to mailing it to him next week.

I also got Kathy a new step ladder for the kitchen. She’s height challenged.

This afternoon I came home and mowed the yard. Man, was it ever dusty. Yow!

Sugar dog was very stressed out as you can tell.

K and I watched Where the Wild Things Are this evening. Left me kind of scratching my head.

I liked this big red ball at Target. Looked like a classic three D drawing.

I don’t know about you, but clinical mouthwash just sounds gross.

He is RISEN!

There’s never too much Family Time!

This morning I enjoyed a restful morning. Even went outside to soak up some sun. I’m starting to really feel like my tiger tank self again! I never really get sick, just kind of weak.

I took Jesse and Kathy out for gyros for lunch. This piece of cake was about the size of my head!

Ashley had an interview with the Dean of the Journalism School at Perimeter College. She’s applying for the Editor in Chief position.

I’m sure she did GREAT! I bought her the chocolate cake to say congratulations! Even if she doesn’t get the position, just trying says a lot about someone!

Also went to Goodwill with J and K. We were looking for some clothes for them.

We get most of our stuff there. I always find super cool Tshirts there.

Working on admin duties now.

What a beautiful day. And what a gorgeous cake!

This guy doesn’t look too safe to me.

I had a relaxing morning today. Enjoyed writing and hanging out in the sunshine.

I watch the birds and call back and forth to the owls in the neighborhood. Yes, I’m easily amused.

Had lunch with Kathy and Jesse today at our favorite Mexican food place. Sure do love those guys.

I had a good meeting with our pastor at FBC Doraville, Bill Kelly. He’s doing some cool stuff for Easter including a Lord’s supper and a visit to the garden. Very creative. I really like him!

Ashley came with us this afternoon to work with the kids at Azalea. The girls all love Ashley! Don’t we all?

That always makes it a special treat.

Even though we had a big party last Saturday, I still had a bunch of candy left over so I was glad to a great candy throw with them. It was especially funny since Ashley was in the crowd screaming for candy too! What a hoot!

Eduardo Zamora and Carlos Salaverria came by to see me at the mission. They are doing really fantastic work at their missions.

I think this flower is awesome!

This word never looks like it’s spelled correctly to me.

I had a great day with my son today! I told him that he’d been elevated to a corollary I say about Ashley: “Never too much Ashley.” I’m adding “Never too much Jesse” now!

This morning Jesse and I went over to Walmart to pick up some supplies for the mission. Some of the older kids didn’t get a gift from the team this weekend, so I went and bought them some soccer balls. They really loved that!

Even got me some new flip flops. Woot!

I wonder what the big rush is?

I also dropped off a DVD to FBC Mountain Park that I’d edited and burned from the outreach event that we hosted at Villa Nueva with Keith Harrell.

Also bought some styrofoam balls for on of our girls who is making a planet project. She was really excited about that too.

We went to Roswell today to have a meeting with Jesse’s audiologist. He made some small adjustments to J’s device. Good report!

I love all the technology related to that!

We spent a little time at the Barnes and Nobel. That’s my treat, because I’ve been a good boy.

I got the War of Art by Stephen Pressman. Good stuff. Recommended by Seth Godin, one of my favorite authors. Jesse is reading it to me in the car while I drive. He got a book on finances based on the teachings of Ben Franklin, one of my heroes.

I like the images that these glass tiles created at BK.

Then to Azalea to help the kids with their homework.

I spent almost all my time with Ernest, one of the kids at the mission who’s a grown up now. He’s like a son to me. A real go getter. I always enjoy trying to help those guys either with advice or just encouragement.

Had a meeting with several of the mothers. I’m trying to help them with tables or chairs. There are a lot of big events going on this weekend with the families. Holy Week is a really big deal in the Latino community.

Had almost total comprehension with what was going on and was able to communicate really well. All this work I’ve been doing on Spanish seems to be paying off!

I’m looking forward to massive improvement after my two weeks in Costa Rica where I’ll have nearly total immersion. I usually speak about 4 hours of Spanish a week. I’ll have about 7 months of practice in 2 weeks!

One of my favorite colors is pink. I liked this promotion from Burger King.

This was from the front of a Jag. Suh weet!