No Place Like Home

Our recent Malawi mission team arrived back home yesterday (Sunday) afternoon. It is indeed good to be home. The travel was long but uneventful and our luggage arrived there and back with us. This is no small thing. We praise the Lord for His blessing in this area. We had planned to work in three villages, but actually had opportunities to work in five villages. We shared the good news of Jesus with over 500 people in those villages. Only the Lord knows how many were truly born again but we received outward affirmation from most. Local Malawian believers will be doing follow-up work in the villages and hopefully churches will be established. In addition to our work in the villages, we were able to visit two game parks. It was fun to see so many animals that are indigenous to Africa (elephants, hippos, crocodiles, cape buffalo, all kinds of antelopes, baboons, and so much more). It was a joy to join with so many others who are working to fulfill the Great Commission of taking the good news to the ends of the earth.

Malawi, Africa

We are still in Malawi but have finished our church planting work in the villages. We worked for six days and actually shared Jesus with the people of five different villages. It went really well and we were well-received. The team has done great and we have enjoyed working with John and Claudia Brown. Thursday and Friday we will enjoy time in a game park. Saturday we will begin the journey home. We should be back in Jonesboro on Sunday.

Thanks for all the prayers. I'll share more after we return home.

Africa Trip

I am excited about leaving for Malawi, Africa today. I will be a part of a team of four guys who will be working in three villages to share about Jesus and to help plant churches in each village. Please pray for safety while we travel and while in Malawi. Also ask the Lord to open the hearts and minds of the people whom we meet. We are trusting God to work in a great way and are blessed to be a part of the process. I am not sure when I will be able to blog again, but will report when I return home.

Family Time

It was great to have Joy home for several days last week. She is living in Fayetteville and working in two ministries there. We are so proud of her and wish we could see her more often. It is so much fun when all the girls (Julie, Joy, Jana) are together and share memories of their younger years. It usually brings out a lot of laughter. While Joy was here we decided to have some family pictures made. Jana's sister-in-law took some great pictures for us. I'll try to post some on my Facebook later today. The picture above actually was taken by Joy as we were getting ready to leave the park.

It has been a great week. God has worked in some marvelous ways to touch many lives. I am looking forward to gathering with the HDBC family this Sunday.

Vision (follow-up)

The jury is still out on whether or not I will continue to attempt the mono vision plan for contacts. I love the fact that I can read my iPhone or the label on a medicine bottle while wearing the contacts. I hate the fact that I cannot seem to get the distance vision that I need in one eye. Oh well, it's not a perfect world. I'll sort it out soon.

Praise the Lord for a great day yesterday at HDBC. One man was saved and another person became a new member. God keeps working!

Vision

Vision is a word that is used too often, particularly in the context of a church, corporation or organization. However, it is vital. Without it there is no direction and therefore no movement or growth. In a church, corporation or organization this is a death sentence. I am grateful for the vision that HDBC has. Our vision is to lead people to Love God, Connect to Others and Serve the World. It is simple, Biblical and measurable.

However, this afternoon I am thinking about another kind of vision. I visited my eye doctor this morning and he put me in a pair of contacts that split my vision on purpose. One is for distance vision and the other for reading. If I can ever overcome the tendency to close my right eye while reading and my left eye while driving I may decide whether or not this will work for me. It should make for an interesting couple of days!

Great Day

What a great day we had yesterday. There was a great spirit of worship as we gathered to honor the Lord. It was exciting to see Dakotah Martinez and Christi Clayton make decisions to join our church. Dakotah was recently saved while attending CentriKid camp. Christi has recently been attending HDBC as a result of her friendship with Meghan Grimes. I'm thrilled about both of these decisions.

Today is the last day for our summer intern. Kyle has done an exceptional job this summer working with our children and youth. Thanks, Kyle for all you have done in ministering to kids and students each week. Blessings to you in the future.

Getting ready for a Monday morning staff meeting. This will be the first in several weeks because we have all be so busy.