Thursday! Ashley day! And Jesse came today too! What a blessing. Jesse came to practice driving around Atlanta. He did a great job in a difficult (putting it mildly) driving area.

We went to Lowe’s first to pick up three more boxes of tiles for Bill Hickey. He’s working on the outside lobby and the bathroom of our church secretary now.

We had a pre-site visit with Kevin Wilson from W. Georgia today. He’ll bring the kids from Ephesus Baptist Church to work with us in April for his kid’s spring break. We ate at Vikyhat Indian food, visited the shopping areas around the International Village and went by several of the missions where the team will be serving.”

We also went by N. Peachtree BC to see the facilities where they might stay and also to see Pastor Tony Romans. Jesse will probably help them revamp their web site.

I just finished going through my email and catching up on phone calls. In a few minutes we’ll go over to Azalea to check on the kids.

When I picked up the tiles (which are about 30 pounds a box) I dropped one of them on the tips of the fingers on my right hand. Talk about pain. Hard to type now, but getting better.

Peace.

Google Ron Paul.

I had a great day today with a good friend of mine Bob Burton. He’s with the North American Mission Board and in the Multi Housing department. I took Bob over to eat at Cafe Istanbul–one of my food faves.

We explored Clarkston then over to Norcross to check with a manager at Huntington Ridge. I needed to talk with Millie about a renovation I want to do in the apartment. She had just gone out to eat. I’ll catch her next time.

Bob and I went around the International Village along the Buford Highway corridor. I always have a good time doing that.

Got some stationary to write “Thank You” notes. I’ve been making origami butterflies for our supporters. I’m writing a note and putting a butterfly in with it.

Checked on Bill Hickey and the renovation project at FBC Doraville. He’s done a great job on the kitchen over there. It looks like a totally new place. He’s repainted all the cabinets and replaced the old tile. Looks terrific. We’re going to redo the bathroom for the church office next. Then back downstairs to do the outside hall area.

I think it’s a good investment to keep our buildings in the best possible shape.
Peace.

I’ve been working diligently on our banquet that we’ll have on February 16th.  Today I bought stamps for the envelopes.  Went over to Azalea later today.  The kids always get a kick out of helping me with the labels.  I buy them doughnuts as a reward.

Had a great meeting with Gary Hall this morning.  He and his wife Suzanne recently moved to Duluth from Miami. He was working with the Haitian community there.  I hope that they’ll plug in with us here.  We ate lunch at Torreros and then went to visit the Hamptons at Lenox, one of the locations where they could live and work.

Went through all my phone calls.  Good discussions.  I bet I talked over three hours.  I tried to listen more than I talked.  That’s hard for me.

I’m working on an origami project.  I’ve been fascinated by that art, but never took the time to learn the skill.  It’s been fun to learn something new.  I bought some special Japanese paper so I can make butterflies and send them as a special “Thank You.”

37 degrees outside.  Brrrr.

Peace.

It’s been a weather weekend! Snow! Although I doesn’t seem much like flakes, more like clumps of snow. Still cool–literally!

We’ve been working on getting the Love Banquet for Whirlwind together. Ashley’s been working super hard on getting the invitations together. The kids at the mission will help me put the rest of the mail out ready.

K and I had a nice walk last night enjoying the snow in the neighborhood. We did about 1.5 miles.

Jesse, Ashley and I went over to the Post Office in Lawrenceville to apply for their updated passports. In a month or so all four of us should be ready for international travel. Now, where will we go?

Did you know that even if we go to Mexico and Canada we have to have a passport to get back into the country? That’s changed as of January 1st.

I’m always trying to learn new skills. This weekend I’ve focused on Origami–the ancient Japanese art of folding paper. It’s been fun. Sort of like working a 3D puzzle.

It’s 20 degrees outside right now. Kathy’s out in it. I’m sitting here typing with the heater between me and the laptop. I thaw out my hands every minute or so.

I was pleased to see that Ron Paul got 2nd in Nevada. Google Ron Paul.

Thursday!  That means it’s an ASHLEY day!

It’s always fun to hang out with Ashley.  Today we worked on plans for our volunteer banquet on February 16th.  If you want to come–you’re invited!  Give me a call at 770-490-1668 or email me at whirlwindtim@gmail.com.

We laid out the invitation to the party for our guests.  We went by Michaels, Staples and Hobby Lobby looking for paper and little things to make them look pretty.  It’ll be a Banquet of Love!  We got a bunch of balloons and matching plates and covers for the tables.  Lots of details to cover.  It’s easier this year since we have more experience with it.  Seriously, if you want to come let me know.

This afternoon I spent most of the time going through the financial report and working on our donor address list.  Every February I send out a note to all the recipients of  our newsletter.  If I haven’t heard from them the whole year, then they get a note making sure they still want to get the newsletter.  If they don’t mail a card back in, they drop off the list.

Pretty cold tonight, but not nearly the frozen mess everyone was expecting.  We got about 3/4″ of rain.  Didn’t affect our road surfaces at all really.

Peace.

Google Ron Paul

Had a meeting with the Chamblee-Doraville Apartment Managers this morning. It was also the retirement party for Bob Speer a long term friend of mine since the beginning of my ministry in Atlanta. I choked back tears as I said “Farewell” to one of my best partners. What a loss for our area. I pray for Bob and ask the Lord to give him a happy and successful retirement.

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We had a cleaning company make a presentation to our group.

I had a good talk with Barb Newman from Dunwoody Baptist Church this morning. We’re trying to figure out what the priorities are for service in our community. I’m always for evangelism and discipleship #1.

My partner Bill Hickey is working on remodeling the kitchen at FBC Doraville. We talked about the equipment we’ll need to redo the floor.

Working on an updated financial report.

Went through all my email.

I’ll be going to Azalea to help the kids in a few minutes. We had a good group yesterday. I’m proud of my young men who serve at the mission where they once were helped!

Getting cold outside. Supposed to have rain and sleet tonight. Bummer.

It snowed on me on the way home. Left the office at 44 degrees. By the time I got home it was 34! Big clumps of snow. Cool.

Peace.

Google Ron Paul.

I had a great meeting today with Dr. John Harvey from Columbia International University based in S. Carolina.  CIU has recently opened up a adjunct campus here in Atlanta where they’ve started offering some short, intensive classes.  I really feel the Lord is leading Whirlwind to work with their students to reach the International population here in Atlanta.  I came out of the meeting with some other contacts to try at CIU–mainly internship possibilities which I think would work out great!

Finished up my financial reports for my Treasurer this morning and dropped that off at his house.

Just knocked out the rest of my email.  I have three teams currently looking at working with us in the next month or so.  That’s always exciting!   I had a long phone call this morning with a team from Virginia looking to help us.

I’m going over to Azalea in a few minutes to check on the kids at the mission.  I had a good group yesterday.

Peace.

Google Ron Paul.

This morning I spent in Clarkston.  I had a meeting with Terry Earl.  She is leading the charge with our literacy program that meets in the family’s homes.  She’s doing a great job with that.  We went over some plans for the future of her mission and filled out some forms for the North American Mission Board.

I’m the coach of eight of our Mission Service Corps personnel for NAMB.  I’m trying to make sure that the people on our team have everything they need to do their ministry.

I’m at FBC Doraville now.  I’m waiting for a guy that needs to talk to me.  He only speaks Spanish, so we’ll see how it goes.

Just finished up my email.  I’ll be going over to Azalea to check on the kids in a few minutes.

Peace.

Google Ron Paul.

This weekend I’ve been at N. Peachtree Baptist Church at their missions conference. Kathy and I spoke to the youth group this morning. We had a great time with them. I hope to get many of them into the mission field this year.

We also went over to K’s brother Bill’s house after church. It was good to see him and his friend Deborah.

Yesterday K and I rode our bikes to Stone Mountain. It was a lot of fun and a pretty hard ride. We spent time at the Stone Mountain graveyard. It’s a fantastic place started in 1850. Check out the pictures. Ever seen anything like them?

The graveyard is on a hill in the city of Stone Mountain. A bolt of lightning hit this tree. Check it out!

Peace.

Google Ron Paul.

I just got back from the North American Mission Board in Alpharetta.  I spoke to the Missionary Candidates for this month.  I speak on how do we mobilize volunteers.  We normally host over 2,500 people each year so it’s something I do regularly.

I’ll go to N. Peachtree BC this evening for the second night of their Missions Conference.

My treasurer let me know that we’re tight financially right now.  God is able!  Is he laying on your heart to support us financially?  If so, go to the home page and at the bottom left hand side there are buttons for donations!  Let God bless you by blessing us!

Peace.