COMING HOME/I TOLD YOU I COULD DANCE!!

THOUGH MY BAGS ARE NOT YET PACKED(I'VE ONLY GOT ONE CARRY ON), I'M READY TO GO. I'M LEAVING ON A JET PLANE IN THE MORNING. I ARRIVE IN ATLANTA AT 3:40 IN THE AFTERNOON ON WEDNESDAY.

THE SUN IS SHINING HERE AGAIN TODAY. BUT...I HEAR IT WILL BE -8(F) WHEN I LEAVE HERE EARLY IN THE MORNING. I UNDERSTAND IT'S WARM THERE IN GOOD OLE GEORGIA!!!

I MAY TRY TO POST FROM THE COPENHAGEN AIRPORT TOMORROW.....CHECK IN.

IN CLOSING TODAY I WANT TO LEAVE YOU THIS LITTLE TASTE OF WHAT MIGHT HAVE BEEN....AND IT'S A SURE CHRISTMAS TREAT FOR ALL!!!

LOVE YA'LL, YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

MONDAY

I TRUST YOU HAD A BLESSED DAY YESTERDAY IN BIBLE AND LIFE GROUPS. WE SHARED A WONDERFUL DAY HERE WITH THE ESTONIAN CHURCH. IT SNOWED IN THE NIGHT AND WE HAVE A BLANKET OF SNOW THIS MORNING AND ITS SOMEWHERE AROUND 25 DEGREES. BUT...THE SUN IS SHINING!!! NOT JUST A BREAK IN THE CLOUDS......REAL SUN!!! I JUST STOOD IN IT FOR A WHILE AND BATHED(IN THE SUN).

TODAY IS BUSY. SEEING A LOT OF PEOPLE AND TOMORROW NIGHT (3 IN THE MORNING) I LEAVE!!! LOOKING FORWARD TO BEING HOME. HOPE TO BE WITH YOU WEDNESDAY NIGHT.

STATE PLAYOFF DAY FOR GAINESVILLE!!

I WAS READING ABOUT CREATION AGAIN THIS MORNING AND WAS REMINDED THAT IN ALL OF CREATION THERE WAS ONLY ONE TIME WHEN GOD LOOKED AND SAID SOMETHING WASN'T GOOD. WHAT WAS IT???

(FIND OUT AT THE END OF THIS POST)

LEONID WILL ARRIVE LATER TODAY AND WE WILL SPEND THE NEXT FEW DAYS LETTING HIM GET TO KNOW THE GOOD PEOPLE HERE.

HEY, I GET TO WATCH GAINESVILLE PLAY AT THE DOME ON LINE TONIGHT!! IT WILL BE 11:30 P.M. HERE , BUT I'LL BE WATCHING THE GPB (CHANNEL 8) BROADCAST ONLINE!! BY THE WAY, I SEE WHERE CALHOUN LOST. SORRY TO ANY YELLOW JACKET FANS OUT THERE.

ANSWER: GOD SAID THAT IT WASN'T GOOD...FOR MAN TO BE ALONE. GOD KNEW WE NEEDED COMMUNITY. BE READY TO ENCOURAGE TOMORROW IN BIBLE IN LIFE GROUP!!

OH YEA, I FORGOT TO TELL YA'LL ABOUT JEFF'S BROWNIES!! I THINK HE HAS FOUND A NEW WAY TO MAKE BRICK!! BUT IT WAS GOOD OF HIM TO TRY. RIGHT?

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

I LOVE CHRISTMAS

YA'LL ARE FUNNY!

HOW MANY OF YOU DANCE LIKE THAT SNUGGY COUPLE WHEN YOU'RE DRINKING YOUR COFFEE IN THE MORNING??? IT'S WHY YOU NEED THE SNUGGY ROBE THING!!!

AND FOR YOUR DOG......

THAT'S RIGHT....SANDALS FOR YOU DOGS!!!! NUFF SAID!!! LORD HELP US!!

CAN YOU TELL I'M MISSING YA'LL??

I JUST STOOD FOR THE LAST 2 MINUTES AND WATCHED THE SUN. IT'S THE FIRST TIME I'VE SEEN IT SINCE I LEFT GEORGIA. IT SHOWED THROUGH THE CLOUDS FOR 2 MINUTES AND NOW IT'S GONE AGAIN. THERE IS GOOD SPIRITUAL APPLICATION IN THAT.

LEONID ARRIVES TOMORROW. WE WILL BE INTRODUCING HIM TO THE CHURCH HERE SUNDAY. SPEND MONDAY AND TUESDAY TOGETHER WITH ANATOLY. THEN I COME HOME WEDNESDAY.

THINK ABOUT WAYS TO ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER TODAY.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

AFTER PRE SEASON 3

GOOD REPORTS FROM BIBLE IN LIFE GROUPS!! KEEP INVESTING IN EACH OTHER!!

IN KEEPING WITH THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT. PERFECT CHRISTMAS GIFT!!CAN'T YOU SEE MARK OR JEB IN ONE OF THESE:

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER!!

BIBLE IN LIFE GROUPS TONIGHT

TO CONTINUE TO HELP YOU WITH YOUR CHRISTMAS SPIRIT I AM SENDING YOU THIS RENDITION OF "O HOLY NIGHT". MAKE SURE TO LISTEN ALL THE WAY TO THE END. YOU WILL RARELY EVER HEAR ANYTHING LIKE IT. ENJOY....SMILE! /

"AMERICANS ARE AMONG THE LONELIEST PEOPLE IN THE WORLD." - GEORGE GALLUP

THINK GROUPS.

TONIGHT YOU HAVE CHANCE TO ENCOURAGE OTHERS. YOU WILL LOOK A LONG TIME TO FIND A GREATER GOAL. A GREATER NEED.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

A LITTLE HELP WITH THE CHRISTMAS SPIRIT

WAITING FOR ANATOLY TO FINISH THE OUTPATIENT THING. LEONID IS COMING HERE AND WE WILL MEET WITH THE CHURCH HERE IN ESTONIA ABOUT HOW THEY MIGHT BE A HELP TO THE WORK IN ADYGEA. I THINK IT IS A GOOD IDEA TO GET THEM FURTHER INVOLVED IN MISSIONS.

THE ESTONIANS CELEBRATE CHRISTMAS ON THE SAME DAY AS WE DO, UNLIKE THE RUSSIANS. THEY ALSO DO A BIG NEW YEARS DEAL, BUT CHRISTMAS IS ALSO A BIG DEAL HERE. ESTONIA IS 80% LUTHERAN, BUT FEW REALLY PRACTICE THEIR FAITH.

I HOPE YOU ARE ENJOYING THE SEASON. I BELIEVE IT'S A CHOICE. GUARD YOURSELF AGAINST THE DRAINING EFFECT OF NEGATIVE PEOPLE TODAY. ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER AND BUILD EACH OTHER UP!!

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

MONDAY IN ESTONIA

GOOD REPORTS FROM YESTERDAY!! THANKS FOR WHAT YOU ARE DOING THERE.

PRAY FOR ONE ANOTHER.

ENCOURAGE ONE ANOTHER.

ACCEPT, LOVE, FORGIVE ONE ANOTHER.

I'M IN ESTONIA TODAY. WILL EITHER BE GOING TO LEONID OR HE WILL BE COMING TO US. ANATOLY WILL HAVE A MINOR OUT PATIENT SURGERY TODAY AND WE WILL KNOW TOMORROW WHAT WE WILL DO.

IT'S CHRISTMAS SEASON HERE TOO!! INTERESTING!!

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

TOMORROW - BIBLE IN LIFE PRE SEASON 2

TOMORROW IS AN IMPORTANT DAY FOR ALL OF GOD'S PEOPLE. WE MEET TOGETHER FOR WORSHIP AND FELLOWSHIP AND INSTRUCTION AND ENCOURAGEMENT. BE PREPARED TO GIVE OF YOURSELF, NOT JUST RECEIVE. BE READY TO GIVE YOUR BEST. YOU WILL FIND THAT YOU WILL THEN RECEIVE MUCH MORE.

WENT OUT TO POCHINOK AND MONASTIRSHINA YESTERDAY. TODAY KASPLI AND MEETING WITH VLADIMER.

JEFF SUCCESSFULLY BOILED EGGS YESTERDAY.

THINKING ABOUT AND PRAYING FOR YA'LL.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

FRIDAY FROM SMOLENSK

SITTING HERE WITH JEFF AT TELEPORT. GOOD NEWS....HE HASN'T BURNED ANYTHING YET.

HERE'S SOMETHING TO THINK ABOUT BEFORE BIBLE IN LIFE GROUP SUNDAY:

...life change happens within the context of intentional relationships. Since our mission as a church body centers on life change, we should lean the ministry in the direction of group relationships....

KINDA LET THAT DIGEST A WHILE.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

BIBLE IN LIFE - THE DAY AFTER

THERE ARE FEW MORE IMPORTANT SUBJECTS IN LIFE THAN PRAYER, FORGIVENESS, AND STEPS TO WALKING WITH JESUS. THOSE ARE THE SUBJECTS YOU BEGAN IN BIBLE IN LIFE GROUP LAST NIGHT. NOW......DURING THE WEEK, PROCESS WHAT YOU ARE TALKING THROUGH AND LEARNING IN GROUP AND ASK GOD TO HELP YOU PUT IT INTO REAL LIFE. IT IS AS WE PROCESS LIFE PRINCIPLES AND PUT THEM INTO OUR LIVES THAT THEY BECOME REAL AND CHANGE US.

TAKE YOUR STUDENT BOOKS AND USE THEM DAILY. BE PREPARED FOR SUNDAY PART 2 GROUP PRE SEASON.

I AM GLAD THAT WE HAVE BEGUN. LEARN HOW TO BE A PART. LEARN HOW TO PARTICIPATE WITH THE GIFTS THAT GOD HAS GIVEN YOU. BE AN ENCOURAGER TO EVERYONE AROUND YOU. BE POSITIVE. THERE WILL NEED TO BE ADJUSTMENTS MADE AS WE GO ALONG, AND THEY WILL ONLY SERVE TO MAKE US BETTER. THANKS FOR ALL YOU ARE DOING NOW.

HEY, LOOKING AT DEC. 22nd FOR OUR CHRISTMAS SHINDIG.

I AM NOT GOING TO TELL YOU ABOUT THE RADIATOR LEAK IN THE CAR I HAD YESTERDAY, SO DON'T ASK.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

BIBLE IN LIFE PRE SEASON

HEY GROUP!!!

I'M HERE AND ALL IS GOOD. WAITING FOR JEFF TO ARRIVE TONIGHT. WEATHER IS AWFUL!! NOT COMPLAINING JUST STATING FACT.

TONIGHT STARTS BIBLE IN LIFE PRE SEASON. OUR PRAYER IS THAT THESE TIMES TOGETHER WILL RESULT IN:

INTIMACY WITH GOD

COMMUNITY WITH INSIDERS

INFLUENCE WITH OUTSIDERS

I REALLY BELIEVE THAT YOU WILL RECEIVE AS MUCH FROM THESE GROUPS AS YOU PUT IN.

OWN YOUR GROUP. ENCOURAGE EACH OTHER!!! ENJOY!!!

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

TONIGHT

DON'T FORGET TONIGHT AT:

MY SISTER'S HOUSE.

6:30

610 DAVIS STREET.

SEE YOU SUNDAY

OUR JV TEAM WON TODAY. BEAT THE GEORGIA FORCE 10 - 0. TOMORROW OUR VARSITY TEAM PLAYS SPRINGFIELD, MO. FOR THE NATIONAL CHAMPIONSHIP! WE PLAY AT 11:00. AFTER THE GAME, WE WILL HEAD HOME. LOOK FORWARD TO SEEING YOU SUNDAY!!!

FROM FLORIDA

WRITING TO YOU FORM PANAMA CITY. DON'T WANT TO HEAR ABOUT HOW WARM YOU THINK IT IS HERE. IT IS CCOOLLDD RIGHT NOW. WEARING JEANS AND A FLEECE. PLAY TOMORROW AT 11:00 AND 4:00.

I'M PROMPTED TO REMIND YOU OF THE PRAYER REQUESTS FROM TUESDAY NIGHT.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

SERVICE TONIGHT

DON'T FORGET SERVICE TONIGHT 6:30!!

SMALL GROUP LEADER TRAINING AFTER SERVICE TONIGHT.

LOVE YA'LL, YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

Good Day Sunday

REALLY ENJOYED FELLOWSHIP YESTERDAY. IT WAS GOOD TO HAVE FRIENDS VISIT WITH US. IT WAS A TASTE OF WHAT MIGHT BE WHEN WE BEGIN TO BELIEVE IN OURSELVES AND THE NEED FOR INFLUENCE WITH OUTSIDERS.

WHAT DID WE TALK ABOUT YESTERDAY?

IT'S NOT MY STUFF. IT'S NOT YOUR STUFF. IT'S NOT OUR STUFF. IT'S GOD'S STUFF.

WE WANT TO GROW TO THE HIGHEST LEVEL OF GENEROSITY. WE GIVE, NOT OUT OF COMPULSION OR NECESSITY, BUT BECAUSE WE REALIZE...IT'S GOD'S...AND HE LETS US USE STUFF....FOR HIS GLORY.

REMEMBER: THIS TUESDAY NIGHT 6:30. AND..

NEXT TUESDAY NIGHT 6:30...THANKSGIVING DINNER TOGETHER.

WE WILL BEGIN SMALL GROUP TRAINING THE WEEK DEC.2 AND BE TRAINING THROUGH THE HOLIDAY SEASON AND ACTUALLY BREAK INTO SMALL GROUPS BEGINNING THE NEW YEAR.

HAVE A REALLY GOOD WEEK.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

Friday

GOD GAVE ME THIS WORD BEFORE I EVER HEARD IT SPOKEN. IT IS GOOD FOR US TO BE IN COMMUNITY. I BELIEVE HE IS SPEAKING IT TO A LOT OF PEOPLE THESE DAYS.



OWN SMALL GROUPS.

WENT BY DFACS YESTERDAY. IT IS A ZOO THERE. I AM IN CONTACT WITH A DIRECTOR THERE WHO IS TO CONTACT ME TODAY OR I WILL GO TO HER OFFICE TODAY. PRAY THAT GOD WILL DIRECT US TO SOMEONE THAT WE CAN REALLY MINISTER TO THIS HOLIDAY SEASON.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

SMALL GROUP LEADERS

HAD A GOOD MEETING WITH OUR SMALL GROUP LEADERS LAST NIGHT. GOOD MEN. THERE IS MUCH FOR THEM TO LEARN....AND THERE IS MUCH FOR ALL OF US TO LEARN ABOUT BEING A PART OF COMMUNITY.

JUST WANT US TO BE THINKING SMALL GROUPS AND BEGINNING TO BELIEVE IN THEM. SMALL GROUPS WILL BELONG TO ALL OF US. LET'S OWN THEM.

I WILL GO BY DFACS TODAY AND SEE IF THERE IS A FAMILY THERE WE CAN SHARE HOLIDAY BLESSING WITH. I'LL LET YOU KNOW HERE TOMORROW WHAT I FIND OUT. PRAY THAT WE CAN INFLUENCE SOMEONE FOR GOOD AND INTO HIS KINGDOM THIS WAY.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

THE ACTS CHURCH HAD IT RIGHT

THESE ARE GOOD THOUGHTS FROM ACTS ABOUT SMALL GROUPS. KEEP THESE THINGS IN MIND AS WE THINK ABOUT OUR OWN GROUPS.

REMEMBER : YOU MUST OWN GWOF FOR US TO BE EFFECTIVE.

SEE YOU TONIGHT!

LOVE YA'LL, YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

SMALL GROUPS

WE WANT TO HEAR FROM OTHERS WHO HAVE DONE AND ARE DOING SMALL GROUPS AND LEARN WHAT WE CAN FROM THEM. WE WANT TO LEARN WHAT OUR PURPOSE WILL BE AND WHAT CAN HAPPEN WHEN WE TAKE COMMUNITY

SERIOUSLY.

BE PRAYING FOR BOB, THOMAS, AND GORDON AS THEY PREPARE TO LEAD OUR GROUPS.

REMEMBER --- "OWN SMALL GROUPS"

LOVE YA'LL, YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

FALL OUTING 2009

GREAT DAY YESTERDAY. ENJOYED THE FELLOWSHIP. ENJOY THE PHOTOS.









HAD A GOOD MEETING WITH OUR GROUP LEADERS LAST NIGHT. WE'LL BE GOING THROUGH LEADERSHIP TRAINING FOR THE NEXT COUPLE OF WEEKS. AND ALL OF US WILL NEED A LITTLE SMALL GROUP TRAINING AS WELL. STARTING THIS WEEK, I WANT TO ASK YOU TO BEGIN TO CHECK HERE EVERYDAY FOR SOME SMALL GROUP THOUGHTS. HERE'S THE FIRST, I WANT US TO MEMORIZE THE GOALS FOR OUR SMALL GROUPS. THEY ARE SIMPLE:

1. INTIMACY WITH GOD

2. COMMUNITY WITH INSIDERS

3. INFLUENCE WITH OUTSIDERS

MAKE IT A PART OF OUR DNA.

LOVE YA'LL, YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

WEDNESDAY

TONIGHT 6:30!!!! IT'S ON!!!!

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

Hey, Again!!!

We're baaacckkkk!!!

Good day today.

Good music. Good fellowship. The Word is always good. Good baby...

"Life can only be understood backward. But it must be lived forward."

Thanks for signing up for clean up!! You do that well!! Ya'll are good.

FALL OUTING----NEXT SUNDAY!!!! STAY TUNED HERE FOR DETAILS THIS WEEK!!

PRAY FOR OUR "LIFE GROUPS"....OWN THEM!!

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER

HAPPY BIRTHDAY LAST WEEK TO THOMAS!!!

THIS WEEK TO TODD!!

WAY TO GET OLDER GUYS!!

HEADIN' HOME

THIS IS WHAT IT LOOKS LIKE HEADIN' HOME.


IT'S 5:53 A.M. (TALLINN TIME/10:53 P.M. YA'LLS TIME) AND I'M WAITING FOR THE COPENHAGEN OR KOPENHAAGEN FLIGHT.


THIS IS THE PLANE I'M TAKING. I THINK.


NOT MANY PEOPLE IN THE AIRPORT THIS TIME OF DAY. ONLY 2 FLIGHTS HEADED OUT RIGHT NOW. MINE AND A FINNAIR GOING SOMEWHERE. THEY JUST ANNOUNCED WHERE IT WAS HEADED, BUT IT WAS IN ESTONIAN. I DON'T SPEAK ESTONIAN. YET.

(I JUST TOOK A PICTURE OF MYSELF TO POST HERE, BUT IT WAS SO SCARY, I'M NOT POSTING IT. THOSE NEVER TURN OUT. YOU CAN THANK ME LATER.)

I'LL POST THIS ONE INSTEAD. THE MAIN HALL OF TALLINN AIRPORT. THE ONLY HALL.
I'LL DO THIS AGAIN FROM COPENHAGEN. I HAVE TIME ON MY HANDS.

NOW IT'S 3 1/2 HOURS LATER (8:14 A.M IN COPENHAGEN/2:14 A.M. IN GAINESVILLE. YOU SHOULD BE SLEEPING NOW) AND I'M SITTING IN COPEHAGEN AIRPORT. WRITING IN PURPLE NOW TO LET YOU KNOW THERE HAS BEEN A CHANGE IN LOCATION.




THIS IS BAGGAGE CLAIM IN CPH (THAT'S AIRLINE SHORTHAND FOR COPENHAGEN AIRPORT)

THEY HAVE THESE NEAT SCREENS HERE THAT LET YOU KNOW HOW LONG YOU HAVE TO WAIT BEFORE YOUR BAGS ARRIVE. SEE IF YOU CAN FIND OUT ON THE SCREEN HOW LONG I HAVE TO WAIT.......VERY GOOD!


THIS IS A SHOT OF MY BRIEFCASE WAITING FOR IT'S BIG BROTHER DUFFLE-TYPE BAG.

THE FACE SHOT I TOOK EARLIER WAS TOO SCARY SO THIS IS MY FOOT IN COPENHAGEN AIRPORT.

FOR THE FIRST TIME EVER IN THE WHOLE HISTORY OF ANYWHERE I'VE EVER TRAVELED, ANYWHERE IN THE WHOLE WORLD, MY BAG WAS THE VERY FIRST ON THE CAROUSEL!!!!!!THIS PICTURE IS PROOF!!!! UNBELIEVABLE! WHAT JOY!!!

FIRST SIGHT AS YOU COME INTO CPH OUT OF BAGGAGE CLAIM.

SECOND SIGHT.

NOW, A LITTLE TOUR OF COPENHAGEN. THIS OUTSIDE THE AIRPORT.





NOW I WILL GO AND CHECK IN FOR THE DELTA FLIGHT TO ATLANTA. GO THROUGH THE LONG PROCESS OF SECURITY, AND THEN TO THE WAITING AREA INSIDE. I'LL WRITE YOU FROM THERE.









I'M HERE(INSIDE AT THE GATE). BUT YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT BECAUSE OF THIS NEW WEIRD COLOR.IT'S 9:53 A.M.(3:53 A.M. YOUR TIME. YOU'RE STILL ASLEEP I HOPE)MY FLIGHT LEAVES AT 11:35 A.M. IT LOOKS LIKE THERE ARE SEATS AVAILABLE SO, LORD WILLING, I'LL BE IN ATLANTA AROUND 3:15 P.M. (THAT'S 3:15 YOUR TIME).PROBABLY WON'T POST TOMORROW, SO...SEE YOU SOON.







THE INFAMOUS "DELTA" CHECK IN LINE!

THE MOST FAMOUS SITE IN COPENHAGEN, THE LITTLE MERMAID. OF COURSE THIS IS JUST A COPY IN THE AIRPORT. BUT YOU KNEW THAT.

AND THE DELTA GATE. HOPE YOU'VE ENJOYED THE JOURNEY WITH ME TODAY.


PRAYER
WE WANT TO LIVE LIVES OF PRAYER, NOT JUST HAVE TIMES OF PRAYER.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

BACK IN ESTONIA

SAID GOODBYE TO LEONID, HIS FAMILY, AND ANGELA YESTERDAY AND HEADED BACK FOR ESTONIA. GOT HERE ABOUT 7:30 P.M. I WAS SO TIRED FOR SOME REASON AND WENT TO BED EARLY, WHICH I NEVER DO, AND GOT UP ABOUT 8 A.M. NOT GONNA DO ANYTHING TODAY, I HOPE. GET UP IN THE MORNING ABOUT 4:00 A.M. MY FLIGHT OUT WILL BE AT 6:40 A.M. ARRIVE IN COPENHAGEN AT 7:30, CATCH THE DELTA FLIGHT (IF THERE'S A SEAT) AT 11:30 A.M. TO ATLANTA. ARRIVE IN ATLANTA AT 3:15 P.M. I THINK ROBERT IS PICKING ME UP, THEN BACK TO GGGGGAAAAIIIINNNNEEEESSSSSVVVVVVIIIIIILLLLLLEEEEE.

PROBABLY SEND YOU A QUICK NOTE FROM COPENHAGEN AIRPORT TOMORROW. CHECK IN.

PRAYER

WE WANT TO LIVE LIVES OF PRAYER, NOT JUST HAVE TIMES OF PRAYER.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

TRIP DOWN SOUTH

AS YOU READ THIS I WILL BE HEADED BACK TO ESTONIA. WILL BE THERE TOMORROW AND FLY OUT TO COPENHAGEN, THEN TO ATLANTA ON FRIDAY.

YESTERDAY, I FOUND OUT WHERE ALL THE SUNFLOWER SEEDS IN THE WORLD COME FROM.



I'VE NEVER SEEN SO MANY SUNFLOWERS AND NEVER REALIZED HOW MANY THINGS YOU CAN DO WITH THEM.
THERE ARE MILES AND MILES AND MILES OF SUNFLOWERS IN THIS PART OF RUSSIA.




WE TRAVELED ONLY ABOUT 200 KILOMETERS OR SO SOUTH OF MAYKOP BEFORE WE RAN INTO GAI STOPS THAT BECAME MORE AND MORE FREQUENT. THEY SEARCHED EVERYTHING, EVERY TIME AND WHEN THEY REALIZED I WAS AMERICAN, THE FURTHER SOUTH WE WENT, THE MORE WE REALIZED IT WAS PROBABLY NOT A WISE MOMENT TO GO FURTHER. WE CAME HOME. IF YOU'VE BEEN KEEPING UP WITH THE NEWS, YOU KNOW THAT TENSION IS BUBBLING ON THE BORDER RIGHT NOW AND NO ONE WOULD BE SURPRISED IF WAR HAPPENED IN GEORGIA AGAIN. WE DIDN'T WANT TO BE STUPID. IN FACT, WE COULDN'T BE IF WE WANTED TO. SO, WE WILL SAVE THIS REGION IN OUR MINDS AND HEARTS FOR A LATER DATE.



DID AN AMAZING THING YESTERDAY. LEONID STOPPED AT A ROADSIDE STAND FOR SOME KVAS (A RUSSIAN DRINK MADE FROM BREAD). USUALLY I HATE IT, BUT THIS WAS GOOD! IT WAS COLD AND I ACTUALLY ENJOYED IT. FIRST TIME EVER!




GOTTA GET MOVING. LEAVING FOR THE AIRPORT SOON AND IT'S 2 HOURS DRIVE.



PRAYER



WE WANT TO LIVE LIVES OF PRAYER, NOT JUST HAVE TIMES OF PRAYER.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

TUESDAY IN ADYGEA

AFTER MEETING WITH COSTYA AND HIS FAMILY WE WENT TO THE VILLAGE OF PONEZHUKAI TO VISIT WITH ALLA. REMEMBER WHEN WE FIRST BEGAN TO TALK ABOUT REACHING THE ADYGEANS, WE SAID THAT SUCCESS WOULD BE MEASURED IN SINGLE DIGITS NOT IN HUGE NUMBERS. FOR THAT REASON WHEN WE SEE SOMEONE COME TO CHRIST, IT IS A HUGE STEP FOR MINISTRY HERE. IS A DEAR LADY WHO LIVES IN THE AUL OF PONEZHUKAI WHO IS NOW A CHRIST FOLLOWER AND FRUIT OF THE MINISTRY OF LEONID AND ANGELA HERE. LEONID WAS ABLE TO LEAD HER TO SALVATION AND NOW ANGELA IS DISIPLING HER. SHE IS THE ONLY BELIEVER IN THIS AUL, THOUGH HER GRANDCHILDREN LOVE HER DEARLY, AND ARE LISTENING NOW AS WELL.

WE SAT IN HER LIVING ROOM AND SHE TOLD ME ABOUT HER PARENTS. WHAT SHE TOLD ME CONVICTED ME. SHE SAID THAT THE ONLY THING THEY KNEW WHEN SHE WAS GROWING UP WAS ISLAM. THEY NEVER, EVER HEARD ANYTHING ELSE. WAS NOT EVEN ANY ORTHODOX INFLUENCE, ONLY ISLAM. SHE TOLD ME THAT SHE WAS SURE THAT HER PARENTS HAD NEVER THE GOSPEL AND UNTIL LEONID BEGAN TO SHARE WITH HER CHRIST, SHE HAD NEVER KNOWN. KINDA BITTERSWEET. I'M SO GLAD SHE'S COME TO CHRIST, GLAD TO BE PARTNERING WITH LEONID IN THIS GOOD FIELD. BUT SO SAD THAT IT TAKES SO LONG TO GET THE KINGDOM WORD OUT THAT HER PARENTS DIDN'T HEAR. WE GOTTA BE ENCOURAGED TO DO BETTER.

SPENT THE EVENING WITH LEONID AND FAMILY. WENT TO TOWN AND WATCHED A NEW FOUNTAIN DANCE. IT'S THE BIG SHOW IN TOWN. ACTUALLY KINDA NEAT. THE NIGHT WAS COOL AND WE ENJOYED THE FELLOWSHIP.

AS YOU ARE READING THIS, WE ARE TRAVELLING FURTHER SOUTH FOR A SURVEY TRIP. THERE ARE TRAVEL WARNINGS AND I DON'T KNOW WHAT WE'LL GET INTO BUT IT'LL BE INTERESTING.

PRAYER. SOME GOOD THOUGHTS ON PRAYER FROM JOHN PIPER.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

IN ADYGEA MONDAY

I WAS ENCOURAGED YESTERDAY BY BEING IN A GREAT SERVICE WITH GODS PEOPLE HERE IN ADYGEA. THE SPIRIT OF GOD, GOD HIMSELF, WAS PRESENT WITH US IN A MARVELOUS WAY! WE TRAVELED TO ONE OF THE "RUSSIAN" VILLAGES OUTSIDE OF MAYKOP (NOT TO BE CONFUSED WITH AN ADYGEAN "AUL"). THE NAME OF THE VILLAGE IS RYAZANSKAYA. WE MET WITH COSTYA, HIS WIFE LENA, AND THEIR 3 CHILDREN. COSTYA IS A YOUNG BELIEVER WHO IS WORKING WITH LEONID AND HAS BEGUN A NEW WORK IN THE FRONT ROOM OF HIS HOUSE. BESIDES THEIR FAMILY THEY AVERAGE 2 IN ATTENDANCE EVERY WEEK. THERE WAS A DAY A FEW WEEKS AGO WHEN THOSE 2 BROUGHT SEVERAL CHILDREN. IT WAS A HUGE DAY FOR THEM!!! HOWEVER, TODAY, NOT EVEN THOSE 2 CAME. SO WE HAD A GREAT, GREAT DAY!!! JUST US! I LOVE THIS NEW FAMILY. COSTYA WAS WITHOUT WORK, SO HE STARTED HIS OWN CEMENT SERVICE BUSINESS AND LENA BEGAN A SEWING BUSINESS IN THE SAME FRONT ROOM WHERE THE CHURCH MEETS. THE LITTLE GUYS ARE SWEET AND RAN AROUND MOSTLY NAKED YESTERDAY. IT IS SOOOO HOT!!! THE JOY AND CONFIDENCE OF GOD IS EVIDENT IN THEIR LIVES AND ENCOURAGING TO BE AROUND. THEY NEED VERY LITTLE, IT SEEMS, TO MAKE THEM HAPPY.
THE VILLAGE IS ABOUT 5000 PEOPLE AND VERY POOR. IT IS A SUPER MINISTRY AREA FOR LEONID AND COSTYA. I'M REALLY, REALLY, PROUD TO BE PARTNERING WITH GUYS LIKE THESE.

BY THE WAY, I TRAVELED WITH ANGELA IN THE GWOF CAR. WANT YOU TO KNOW, SHE IS A TERRIBLE DRIVER.
LITTLE DECAL IN THE WINDOW SAYS IT ALL.../span>


WENT FROM RYAZANSKAYA TO THE ADYGEAN AUL OF PONEZHUKAI. HERE WE MET IN THE HOME OF AN ADYGEAN LADY NAMED ALLA. HER'S IS AN EXCITING STORY......I'LL SHARE WITH YOU TOMORROW!!!

/span>

WE WILL BE HERE IN MAYKOP TODAY AND HEAD DOWN TOWARD THE GEORGIAN BORDER TOMORROW. I UNDERSTAND THAT THERE ARE "RUMORS OF WARS" GOING ON DOWN THERE, SO WE'LL SEE HOW FAR WE CAN GO.

PRAYER. HOW'S THAT GOING FOR YOU? IT WILL CHANGE YOUR LIFE.

WE WANT TO LIVE LIVES OF PRAYER, NOT JUST HAVE TIMES OF PRAYER.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

IN ADYGEA

ARRIVED LAST NIGHT ABOUT 6:30. AS SOON AS WE STEPPED OFF THE PLANE WE FELT THE HEAT. IT' HOT! MADE THE 2 HOUR TRIP TO MAYKOP IN LEONID'S RUSSIAN SAMARA. HE LOVES IT. GOT TO ANGELA'S AND ATE SOME BORSCH, TALKED A WHILE AND WENT TO BED. TODAY WE WILL GO OUT TO THE VILLAGES TO VISIT SOME.

I UNDERSTAND THE SUM OF 10 GARAGE SALE IS TODAY! PRAYING GOD'S BLESSINGS ON THAT. PROBABLY NEED SOME RAIN TO HELP YA'LL OUT.

TRUST YA'LL ARE PREPARING FOR A GREAT DAY TOMORROW. WORSHIP, PRAY, ENCOURAGE ON ANOTHER IN FELLOWSHIP TOGETHER.

ARE YOU GETTING PRAYER. THERE IS NOTHING LIKE IT.

...The best prayer is that which we enter into with little or no self-consciousness. Prayers from the heart, from the top of the head, unvarnished and primitive are best. However, there are times when these basic forms of prayer are beyond us. We simply don’t have the words, the energy, or the ability to form the words that need to be said. At times like this we need to re-enter prayers that were originally prayed by someone else. The perfect prayer life includes a healthy dose of our own extemporaneous expressions of prayer coupled with the words of others. These are prayers upon which we ride piggyback....C.S. LEWIS

WE WANT TO LIVE LIVES OF PRAYER NOT JUST HAVE TIMES OF PRAYER.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.

HEADED TO ADYGEA AND MONASTIRSHINA OPENING

THE WEATHER IN ESTONIA HAS BEEN PERFECT. WARM IN THE DAYTIME (NOT HOT) AND COOL AT NIGHT. YESTERDAY, AFTER WE RETURNED FROM THE AIRPORT, (HAD SOME PROBLEMS WITH OUR TICKETS TO KRASNADAR - BUT GOT THEM STRAIGHTENED OUT) WE WENT DOWN TO THE BEACH. ANATOLY AND HIS KIDS SWAM AND I WALKED A LONG WAY DOWN THE SHORE. THE BALTIC SEA IS COLD, EVEN IN THE SUMMER, SO IT WASN'T REALLY INVITING FOR ME TO SWIM. THE ESTONIANS SEEM TO ENJOY IT HOWEVER. IT WAS KINDA GOOD TO HAVE A DAY WITHOUT ANYTHING TO DO MUCH.

IN A LITTLE BIT WE WILL LEAVE FOR ADYGEA. WE ARRIVE THERE ABOUT 6:15. LEONID WILL MEET US AND IT WILL BE ANOTHER 2 HOURS TO MAYKOP.

I HOPE YOU HAVE BEEN FOLLOWING THE PROGRESS OF THE MONASTIRSHINA PROJECT. , I SHARED WITH YOU HOW THE MAYOR, GOT INVOLVED AND PLANNED A BIG OPENING CELEBRATION FOR THE CHILDREN'S ACTIVITY CENTER/SHED.< WELL, THROUGH A SERIES OF EVENTS AND CHANGES, THEY ENDED UP SCHEDULING IT ON THE DAY I WAS TAKING MOM AND THE LITTLE GUYS TO THE AIRPORT IN MOSCOW. HOWEVER, I BELIEVE IT WAS ALL FOR THE GOOD. OUR GOAL WAS NOT THE RECOGNITION, BUT THAT VALENTINA WOULD GET THE CREDIT AND WE WOULD BE ABLE TO FACILITATE MAXIM AND THE GOSPEL WITH THE CHILDREN THERE. IT WORKED OUT WONDERFULLY. THERE WERE ABOUT 200 PEOPLE PRESENT AND MANY MORE INVOLVED IN SOME MANNER. GROUPS FROM AROUND THE SMOLENSK OBLAST CAME AND THE PARTY LASTED A GOOD BIT OF THE DAY. < JEB GOT TO BE IN THE SPOTLIGHT SOME (HE SO LOVES THAT), AND COULD HAVE GIVEN A SPEECH, BUT WE LET COLYA DO MOST OF THAT. THE MAYOR DID MOST OF THE TALKING, AND I'M HOPING ALSO GOT SOME POLITICAL MILEAGE OUT OF WHAT WE WERE ABLE TO DO. ALL IN ALL, A GREAT DAY.

NOW, OUR PRAYER IS TO BUILD ON THE MOMENTUM. MAXIM WILL BE MEETING WITH THE KIDS NOW TWICE A MONTH TO BEGIN WITH AND WE HAVE PLANS TO BEGIN A SATURDAY - SUNDAY SCHOOL WITH THEM. WANT TO MAKE PLANS FOR ANOTHER PROJECT MAYBE FOR NEXT YEAR (POSSIBLY A BATHROOM FOR THE CENTER - THEY USE A NEIGHBORS BATHROOM AT PRESENT. WE WILL PRAY AND SEE.) OUR MAJOR PRAYER IS TO SEE THE KINGDOM COME TO MONASTIRSHINA AN A GREAT WAY AND MANY CHILDREN COME TO CHRIST AS A RESULT. THANKS SO MUCH FOR YOUR PRAYERS ON THEIR BEHALF. SPEAKING OF PRAYER......

WE WANT TO LIVE LIVES OF PRAYER, NOT JUST HAVE TIMES OF PRAYER.

TALK TO YOU FROM ADYGEA TOMORROW.

LOVE YA'LL. YA'LL LOVE EACH OTHER.