Semi-Final Furlough Thoughts

I know that I'll post again on this subject once I have done some processing, but for now I want to just throw some stuff out there while it's still fresh :)

- On the 8th day God created Malibu, California. My word that place is amazing!

-On our last Sunday at GracePointe, we were fairly anonymous; no big parade or blowing trumpets for our imminent return to Togo. And you know what? That was just the way we liked it. Being a missionary means that quite often you are in the spotlight. Whether you're the only non-Kabiye at a village church service or the only people who can pronounce the word Kabiye in an American one, the spotlight often burns bright and definitely gets old. I don't know how preachers do it every Sunday. Kudos to you, gentlemen!

- I'm just going to be open and honest here: sometimes when people find out that you are a missionary, you end up getting stuff or services for free. And you know what? I love it :) God touches peoples hearts in many different ways, and I am thankful for the ones to whom he gives a deep love for missionaries. You know who you are, and thank you...

- Having a brother who is also a great friend really helps fill my life with joy...and to think that he used to literally torture me...proof of God's redemptive nature :)

- I love it when people get excited about coming to visit us. There were several people while we were home who expressed an interest, and even if only half of them follow through, we'll be busy with visitors in the years to come...

- I really enjoy seeing movies in the theater. The atmosphere, the popcorn, the giant thing of pop, the candy, the cuddling up next to April (when the boys aren't there), all of it. We took Caden (and sort of Corban) to see his first movie, and it was a blast. We saw Horton Hears a Who and we highly recommend it. "A person is a person, no matter how small"...

- I always thought that my nephews would bring me great joy, and then my own sons would come, and that joy would lessen. I was wrong...

- It's kinda too bad that most fast food is horrible for our bodies, because some of it is really, really good...I had this thing called (not making this up) "The Baconator" at Wendy's, and it was good, really good. Too bad my heart stopped momentarily just after the last bite...

- There are alot more people in America who seem to be strong in God's Kingdom than I previously thought. Maybe it was just a oversight on my part, but I am encouraged for the future of the Body in America. Lots of people, young and old and in between, are on fire. Maybe I just have a better understanding now of what "strong in the Kingdom" really means...

More later...