Created for a Mission

All the romanticized ideas that I developed about Minnesota from being here this summer have now dissolved.  Actually, they froze.  It amazing the difference between knowing something and experiencing it.  I knew that I got cold in Minnesota because people told me, and I can look it up on the weather channel.  It’s not until [...]

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I arrived in Chicago and was pleasantly surprised to have great, warm weather on Wednesday and Thursday.  I have been here for the past two days for our Missionary Appointee Training.  As always it is great to see my fellow appointees with whom I have a bond based on a common passion and shared experiences.  [...]

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I’ve had to really think about the answer to this question every day I woke up.  Well, now I am in Mechanicsburg, Pennsylvania.  I will be headed for Middleton in a few minutes.  This is the final day of my first road trip.  Over the past two weeks I crisscrossed Pennsylvania, drove in and out [...]

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On most days I would just assume to drive by every scenic outlook there is on the road with my final destination in mind.  Today was different.  I decided to stop and venture off for a few moments.  In the process God taught me some lessons today.  As a pulled up to the outlook there [...]

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For me, this was a week of preparation.  Preparation to once again pack the majority of my earthly belongings and move to a new and temporary place.  Tomorrow I will head north to New York to hang out with my folks for a couple of days.  New York is where I’ll be staying for the most part [...]

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I just want you to know that this is a test.  I hope it works so that I can make more of these video and post them for you.  If this works correctly you will be able to see more details able our time in Ukraine this past summer.   My 2008 Ukraine Journey

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Since my return from Ukraine I have had time to rest, to reflect and to be refreshed.  It has taken me until now to feel totally back to my new normal.  For those of you who have been on a missions journey, you know that you are changed forever, so once you return home you [...]

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We began our journey home at 6:15am on Monday August 4th.  We departed from Celets pretty much on time.  We drove to Rivne without many delays.  Pastor Peter dropped us off at the Hotel Rus.  We were all anticipating being home the next day.  We walked around downtown, got something to eat and then got [...]

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This past week was an awesome week. We arrived in Dubrovitsa on last Thursday and we had planning time on Friday with the interpreters and youth leaders. On Saturday we had training for the camp leaders and then we had our introductory youth session in the evening. On Sunday we worshipped with the church. Monday [...]

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A typical Sunday in the life of the Baptist church in Dubrovitsia. There are four services in three locations. Two services are held in the church building, one is held in Zarichne, a village about 40 minutes away and the last one of the day is held in the village of Celets. It reminds me [...]

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