I really love going to the missions conference at Peachtree Corners BC.

I have SO many of my partners that go to the conference. Bennett and Idong Ekandem, Keith Harrell, Eduardo Zamora, Bayo Otiti, Carlos Salaverria, Matt and Ashley Johns. When I see all those guys together, I think of the history that I’ve had with these families. It’s a really happy time.

The service was great tonight. We spent about an hour in prayer with a small group of missionaries. Powerful stuff!

I really like the new pastor, Dr. Hayes. He had a terrific message on Jonah.

I’m working on Admin stuff and getting my gear together for the presentation tomorrow morning at PCBC.

There were snowflakes falling this evening!

I don’t like people that do this.

I enjoyed having Jesse as my wingman today, on our day “off.”

Big day today!

After nearly exactly 8 years I’ve finally been able to upgrade my video camera! I got wonderful use out of my old Handicam DCR-PC9. The whole Video Seminar on my website was shot with that camera.

This new one is the HDR-XR500V. Has a great lens and about TEN times the video quality of my old camera. I’m really looking forward to using it to share what’s going on in our work!

Jesse and I also went to the book store. I really like the Barnes and Noble in Lawrenceville.

I always look at books on Costa Rica.

But today I went to buy Seth Godin’s new book “Lynchpin.” I’m a big fan of his. And his blog is really good too, if you like marketing and business books.

This evening I went to Peachtree Corners Baptist Church. This is their mission conference weekend.

I believe this is the 13th of their conferences in a row that I’ve been to! Really is one of my favorite churches. Their new pastor seems really cool too!

I’m back at home now. Going through all my admin duties.

I did a lot this morning, too: All of my tax prep stuff. What a hassle.

Every January I redo my mailing list. Today I spent time making sure all the addresses were correct. Glad I got that done!

While at the book store, I saw this quote by Henry David Thoreau. We were born on the same day. July 12th. Along with Julius Caesar (the namesake of the month July) and Bill Cosby.

I liked this little bird nest.

J and I went to picked up K’s meds at the doctor.

Then over to Thai of Norcross for a great lunch. I had fun talking with the Thai guys about where other Thai people live. They told me to “Go to Thai Temple.”
They then proceeded to draw me maps and bring me information about the Temple. I have partners on their way to Bangkok. I hope to get them connected with this group.

Jesse and I picked up Eduardo Zamora and we went to the North American Mission Board, I’m a NAMB missionary. I am part of their Mission Service Corps. We raise our own support.

Today I got to speak to the leaders of this group from around the USA. 38 states represented! Pretty cool. It was a fun group to hang out with.

It was good to spend time with Eduardo. He’s always a blessing to me.

Just like Jesse!

Woke up this morning and started writing newsletters. We had about 240 this month. Sure can make your hand tired, but I think the personal contact is really worth it.

Jesse and I met up with two partners of mine Jeff Anefils and Joe Fambrough this afternoon to pray for Haiti.

I got in contact with my mentor Fred Sorrells who is working in sports ministry in Texas. We worked together on many projects in Zimbabwe, S. Africa and Madagascar.

In fact, we were on the field with the real life Invictus movie where the S. AFricans when the Rugby World Cup. Awesome!

I got Fred on a conference call with Jeff and Joe so we could pray about the Haiti situation.

Our prayer is to get Jeff and Fred into the country as soon as possible. Pray for that.

We got home late from the mission since our prayer meeting ran long. I helped Rosebel with solid figures and Rebecca with her report on Debussy.

It’s nearly 1am and I still have work to do.

I had a bunch of paper work for some new missionaries coming on line. It’s all worth it!

New Psych tonight on TV. Love that show. Not enough Gus tonight though.

I finished writing my newsletters and went to Staples to make the copies.

Went to the Post Office to buy stamps.

J and I went over to Azalea to help the kids with their homework.

I had a very serious conversation with two of older Bengali kids about Jesus and Islam. Pray for an open spirit.

Lots of talk about what happens when you die. Who goes to hell?

Came home to work on admin duties and start signing the newsletters.

Beautiful sunset at the mission.

We had a lot of rain yesterday. 2″ in my rain gauge here in Stone Mountain.

Jesse and I had a meeting with the leaders with a few of the ministries here in the International Village. We saw this car on the way to the meeting.

Always great to pray with friends!

We came back home to the office so I could work on the newsletter and year end financial reports.

Then over to Willow Branch where Jesse teaches guitar. I always enjoy hanging out with Bennett and Susan

.

Back home now working on admin duties, write the newsletter and crunching numbers.

Rainy, foggy morning.

K and I enjoyed a great service at Clarkston International Bible Church this morning.

Phil Kitchin is my favorite preacher. He’s got such a great heart for people too!

Jesse and I went to the pet store this afternoon to pick up another filter pump for the aquarium.

He did a major clean up of the tank yesterday. Looks awesome now!

I’m working on admin stuff now. Studying Espanol.

I’ve been doing more research on cameras. I doubt they’re going to be able to fix my camera properly. Normally, with the third repair order, they do a “junk out.” Which means, if you have the proper warranty (I do) they give you the replacement value for the camera towards buying another. Between that and the Reward Zone coupons I have I can just about buy the new camera.

I’m looking at the Canon Z90. It’s small, like my ELPH PowerShot, but has much more powerful processors and imaging device. But the real deal breaker with this camera is the lens which is super bright. That means you can shoot with much less light and still get good pictures.

Flash is always problematic, especially for white people wearing dark clothes. The faces look washed out.

So some great things on the horizon.

It’s always good when I get to spend extra time with Kathy!

J, K and I walked the 4 miles to the park and back. I ran about 2 miles.

I haven’t been exercising much this month. Too cold.

We enjoyed hanging out with the geese.

I saw some interesting signs on our walk.

I liked the color of these leaves.

I think this came from a hornet’s nest.

This lock looked like it should be on the space shuttle.

On the way home, K’s feet hurt, so she walked on the cold pavement. She said it helped!

Took K out for Chinese food for lunch. Excellent.

Then over to Snellville to see Sherlock Holmes. It was ok. I was kind of disappointed.

Working on admin stuff this evening.

Ashley was doing a beauty treatment. She’s the only woman I know who could pull off this look.

Hasta manana!

Had a fun visionary day today!

Jesse and I went to my office at FBC Doraville to meet up with the team leaders for missions for FBC Powell, TN. I’ve worked with Steve Shipley for three years. They’ve brought some terrific teams to help us. Steve and Tim McGee are on staff doing missions in TN.

They’d like to take their partnership to the next level by helping to plant a church in the ethnic community.

We spent a few hours talking about what they’d like to see happen. We are really on the same page with this and I think there will be many people come to Jesus.

I invited Eduardo Zamora to meet with them so he could hear what they’d like to do as well. I believe Eduardo is a natural church planter with a real heart for reaching the lost.

We also went by Huntington Terraces to check on our great team from FBC Mountain Park. Praise the Lord for that good church!

I can always count on them to help me!

We met up with Sheila Zamora at Huntington Ridge. I took Steve and Tim from FBC Powell to check out the facilities and get to know the Zamora family.

J and I also went by Best Buy. I’ve been having problems with my camera. Focus issues. So I talked to the Photography Department head.

She agreed that there was a problem and encouraged me to send it back to Canon. Two more weeks without my camera. What a bummer.

I looked at other models to see if I’d like to upgrade. I like mine better than the more expensive ones. At least so far.

Back home to work on admin stuff.

I had a fun morning with an exuberant group of 4th graders from Providence Christian Academy.

I had them clean and organize the mission at Azalea and at Huntington Terraces. Great team!

Bayo and I went to the UNITE group meeting for lunch. The theme was the Public School System. That’s something I’m really interested in.

It’s fun to see good friends.

My camera has focus problems. I just got it back from Canon. They replaced the lens, but something is not quite right. I get really sad when my gear’s not working right. Too much attachment to things, I reckon.

Rainy old day today. Started getting colder too. Sure am glad I’ve got a warm house to go to.

Went to Azalea to help the kids with their homework. Sure missed Jesse today. Didn’t have the heart to wake him up that early.

I saw Monkey Bear today! I asked him to spell his name for me. Couldn’t believe anyone would name their child Monkey Bear. Here’s what it looks like.

The new episode of Burn Notice came out tonight. Smooth is smooth, baby! Love that show.