Trip to the Washington zoo!!

What's up, y'all????? We just went to the zoo, it was sooooo cool, or as they say in Ireland, class!!! We here are a few pics of our trip!! Dad loved the lions, and we have a really good pic of one! I really enjoyed the pandas, so I hope you like these pics!!!

How Are You????

Hi everyone! It's Grace, my dad let me take over the blog, so hey!! We just went to The Science Museum of Virginia for Spring Break, it was really cool! Dad's favorite part was Imax, Mom's was all the different cell parts and I liked the Imax too (Peter says he doesn't know his favorite part). On Wed. we're going to the Washington D.C. zoo.! Well I have to go, I need to call me friend Lindsay so we can finish our sciecnce project, bye!

Happy All Hallow's Eve!

In Ireland, November 1st is All Saints' Day, so if God is your Father and Jesus is your Savior and Brother, you are a saint, so its your day too! Halloween (Hallowe'en) was originally celebrated in Ireland in the pre-Christian days with the belief that on this day, the veil between the physical world and the spiritual world was so thin, that spirits would easily pass into the physical world. The holiday came to the US and was Americanized and commercialized (is that the same thing?) and people don't even stop to think why they are "celebrating" ghosts, witches, and goblins. Peter and Grace are going out "trick or treating" this evening with their friends for the first time. They will not be wearing scary costumes, but instead fun ones. Should be interesting. If I can get the camera to work, I hope to post some pictures on our Flickr page. Irish friends, please feel free to correct or add to my explanation of Halloween.

It has been a busy couple of months since the school year started. Jean is enjoying being back in the classroom, although she is really having to brush up on her Biology, as it has been quite a long time since she has taught it. After this year it should be a little easier. I think she was born for the classroom, though. Peter and Grace are doing well. They are growing like weeds and making lots of friends. Peter didn't make the school football team as he is too small according to the coach. There are very few 6th graders who do make the team as the team is made up mostly of 7th and 8th graders. This would be the equivalent of 1st and 2nd year of secondary school in Ireland, where there is no Middle School.

Peter is playing soccer on a local YMCA team. The skill level is significantly lower than the league he played with in Ireland. After his first game here, he said, "Dominics (his former team) would beat these guys 50 to nothing!" They have improved some as the season has progressed. Peter scored his first goal last Saturday (he is usually in defense, as that is his preference). It was a real Zinedine Zidane goal--waist-high, side volley that banged into the back of the net. It was pouring rain the whole game, so I told him he just needed Irish-like conditions to get the first goal. he was thrilled with the goal and said it was very "satisfying". The boy has a way with words. I didn't have a video camera on Peter, so here's Zidane in a 1.07 minute spot to give you the idea (might want to turn down your sound--the announcers are obnoxious!):



I'm staying busy as well. We've just started with a new orientation group this week at the Learning Center--the largest ever with over 250 adults and over 100 children. Pretty amazing. They are here for 8 weeks. We had a couple of large furlough groups over the summer as well. They are on campus for a week at a time and manage to keep us pretty busy, as we provide debriefing and counseling for them. I really enjoy the busy weeks with these returning missionaries.

I've also just started teaching a Sunday School class (Life Group) at our church, Staples Mill Road Baptist Church. The church has now gone to 3 morning worship services and 2 Sunday Schools, so there was a huge need for new teachers. In keeping with my M training, I didn't step up right away in order to give a "local" an opportunity to teach (there is probably a better word for it than that. Somehow "national" doesn't sound right). But with several huge classes, I decided I needed to go ahead and pitch in. It is a new class plus it has been a very long time since I've tried to teach "normal" American church attenders. They think differently than both M's and Irish believers.

The IMB is also about to undergo a major reorganization in order to be even more effective in its efforts to reach the world with the Gospel. Eleven regions will become 8 Global Affinity Groups for starters. Most positions of leadership will be changing over the next few months. The week after next I will be traveling to Houston, Texas for an IMB trustee meeting, in which the new Vice Presidents will be submitted for approval. It should be a very exciting meeting. I get to go because we will also be appointing new M's and I will shadow Mark as he shares a talk with the new M's and their parents and family members. I'm shadowing him this time so that I can begin alternating with him on attending and presenting at these meetings. Here is a link that explains a little bit more about the coming changes: http://www.imb.org/main/news/details.asp?StoryID=7190&LanguageID=1709.

Well, that's our news that's fit to print. So, how are y'all?

The First Week

Well, everyone has survived their first week back to school. I think they are all glad to be back. Peter and Grace got to go to their first football game ever. We went to see Jean's school play their first game of the season on Thursday evening. Deep Run HS won 35-0 over Attley. We stayed through the band's halftime performance, since it was a school night, as that was also a first. The games are normally played on Friday evening, but was moved to Thursday because of Tropical Storm Hanna.

On other school news (it's "brag on your kids" time), Peter and Grace got all Pass/Advanced on all their SOL exams. These are the end-of-the-year, Standards of Learning exams that Peter and Grace took in June. We didn't tell Peter and Grace the tests wouldn't count since they had not been their but half the year, but now I guess they'll count. Grace got a perfect score of 600 in Reading and a near-perfect 599 in Writing. Peter got a perfect 600 in Science. Peter's Friday football tryout was also canceled on Friday because of Hanna, so the final day of tryouts and cuts will be on Monday instead. He did find out that only four sixth graders made the team last year. Middle School is grades 6, 7, 8. Peter really seems to be enjoying the tryouts so far. Grace is in the Safety Patrol at her school and is helping out with the Kindergarten (like infant classes) as well. I think she is enjoying being among the "big kids" at school.

Today we have been sort of hunkered down in the house with Hanna raging outside. We are only getting the outer bands, so only 25 mph winds and heavy rain. We really need the rain as we were in drought conditions with watering bans. My lawn was getting quite brown! The only thing I've noticed with the tropical storm kind of rain is that it rains hard constantly with those winds and it is really humid, around 90%. So it sort of feels tropical out there. Hunkering down inside on a September Saturday is fine with me though. I get to watch college football all day. Right now I'm watching the Fighting Irish! Woo Hoo!

First Day of School 2008!

Don't they look so excited? Well, I think they were a little excited, a lot nervous, and a little sad that the lazy days of summer are over. Grace is in Fifth grade this year; her last at Echo Lake Elementary. Peter is in Sixth grade; his first at Hungary Creek Middle School. Oh, yes! And Jean went back to school today too! She is teaching Tenth grade Biology at Deep Run High School. I'm thinking she is probably experiencing similar emotions as the kids. Three different schools, three different start times, two different buses!

Peter is also planning to to try out for the football team (American football, not soccer). He has his physical exam today and tryout tomorrow. He and I have been working on some basic skills these last few weeks. We'll see how it goes. If nothing else, we've both improved our fitness levels! If it doesn't work out this year, he is also planning to play soccer at the local YMCA. I also "get" to go to a parent's meeting ahead of the physical today, so this should be interesting. I'll let you know how it goes. I'm sure there will be lots of stories around the dinner table tonight. We'll have to come up with a big Back-To-School feast!

Last night our family devotion was based on 2 Corinthians 5: the Ministry of Reconciliation. We talked about how our "account" with God was reconciled by Jesus' death on the cross and therefore our relationship with Him was also reconciled. Now He has given us this Ministry of Reconciliation so that we can share this hope with others. We prayed that our relationships this year will be intentional in that we will look for opportunities to share God's love and truth with others. This passage was part of the daily reading from the One-Year Bible, but I thought it was the perfect way to start a new school year.

Ten Tips for Missional Living

Copied from the Dallas Morning News:

Ten Tips for Missional Living - for the everyday believer
by Philip Nation, co-author of Compelled by Love: The Most Excellent Way to Missional Living with Dr. Ed Stetzer

1. Understand the Gospel. The mission of God is consumed with the person & work of Christ. As you understand Christ, you can accurately participate in God's work of redemption. So read the Gospels - a lot.

2. Take an eternal view of people. The friends, neighbors, and co-workers around you have an eternity in front of them. We need to see them as God does and care for them accordingly.

3. Be friendly. A Christian should be the most trustworthy confidant that another person has in the world. Believers should be the kind of people that everyone else wants to be around.

4. Watch for a chance to serve. People give away all of their energy on family, work, and menial chores. Look for ways that you can care for your neighbors - even if it is just cooking a simple dinner for them.

5. Be truthful. Missional believers contend for the faith while speaking in a way understandable to the hearer. No matter what - be ready to talk about the truths in scripture.

6. Love like Jesus. He lived a robust life of caring for the lost. In elevating sacrificial love far beyond any previous thinking, he gave an example for us.

7. Be on guard. As you work alongside the King to extend his kingdom, our spiritual enemy will immediately attack. Guard your heart in holiness.

8. Live missionally at home. Family is the first place for the mission of God in your life. When people see the impact it has on your home, they will be more willing to trust its veracity for their own lives.

9. Show patience. People are farther away from understanding the Gospel than in previous generations. Do not hesitate to invite them to submit to Christ, but know that they have plenty of questions that might need answering first.

10. Do it for one reason - the glory of God. The only reason for being missional is to make Christ more widely known. God is worthy of being honored by all of creation and it should be the main reason why we participate in his mission.

Philip Nation is the co-author of Compelled by Love: The Most Excellent Way to Missional Living (May 2008, New Hope Publishers) with Dr. Ed Stetzer. Nation has authored articles for numerous publications and contributed to Dr. Ed Stetzer's Breaking the Missional Code and Planting Missional Churches. A former church planting missionary for the North American Mission Board, he has pastored in Alabama, Tennessee and now Georgia where he leads Lake Ridge Church, a 2005 church plant. Nation holds a B.A. from Samford University, a Master of Divinity from Beeson Divinity School and is currently pursuing a Doctor of Ministry from Southern Baptist Theological Seminary. Learn more at www.compelledbylove.com.

From Russia to the James River

This past week I was in Russia for the first time in my life. It took around 24 hours and three flights to get there and the same coming back. I missed a connecting flight in Munich going over because Lufthansa was on strike, so I missed the bus in Moscow, but my new friend Mark S collected me and a new j'man, Karin, just arriving on the field. We went to a retreat site a couple of hours or so south of Moscow. That was a bit of an adventure getting there while I tried to help read the map and road signs in Russian!The place we met was a bit down-at-heel as is most of the bit of Russia that I did see to and from the airport, but it was nice and our personnel were great. It was a true pleasure to be with them. Their Strategy Associate's wife had died suddenly just two weeks before the AGM. They had a wonderful memorial service for her on the first morning that was truly a celebration of a life completely given to the Lord and to serving others. Several women especially told me they were still on the field in large part due to the influence of this godly lady. There was a cool, young worship band that lead our worship every morning from Brentwood, Tennessee just outside Nashville. I enjoyed hanging with them as well. I have to admit I was a little nervous going over as I had not ever been to Russia before and you have to get a visa and then register once you get there and all, but it all went fairly smoothly and the few Russians I did meet were very friendly. Having already known Yana and Dmitri in Dundalk, that part didn't surprise me. My first experience in Russia, though, was passport control. There were no lines (queues), just a mob. I could have fallen over and passed out, not even hit the ground and still made it to the front of the line. Once it was my turn to hand over the passport, though, it was very routine. No comments from the officer, just the routine rubber stamps and away I go. I got home around midnight Thursday and was happy to see Jean, my sleeping children and my own bed. My bed in Russia had slats that kept falling out in the middle of the night!

When I got home, our friend Peggy was visiting from Kentucky (formerly served an eon in Scotland). She and the fam had already had some adventures together, but I got to go along for a day trip to Belle Isle in downtown Richmond on the James River. Peter, Grace, Snoopy, and I had quite the adventure climbing on the rocks on the middle of the river and figuring our way back to the shore. Snoopy especially had more adventure than he had bargained for, as he had to make some mighty leaps and even swim a bit to get back to shore. He was one pooped pup when we got back! The kids found a nice deep bit close to shore to swim in as well. The weather was perfect for it, just a few clouds and not too hot. Check out some pics from both Russia and Belle Isle on our Flickr page.