Big News #1: my family is getting BIGger…Kelly and I are beginning the process of adopting an orphan from an international country! This is a conversation and a direction we have been wrestling with for a long season but has spiked up over the last few months. Obviously, there is a lot to download: why, where, how, when and more. I am going to try to hit some highlights today. I am sure more conversation will happen here in the months to come. Kelly and I invite your questions, prayers, encouragement, challenging and dialogue. So here are some quick thoughts on our BIG news for today.

Why

• Because it has become the desire of our heart as we have sought to delight in Him (Psalm 37:4)
• Because there is an Orphan Crisis all over the world
• Because my Heavenly Father has a lot to say on how Christ-followers should care for the orphan
• Because when we (Kelly and I) tell ourselves we can’t the reality is we can. Be sure to read Kelly’s post and announcement.
• Because we know the eternal impact and growth that will result in our three biological children
• Because we have a great support network of family, friends, staff team and small group to walk with us on this journey
• Because God has developed within in our heart for the nations for His Glory. Yes, we even have a family direction statement that includes “join God’s heart for the nations.”
• Because for some reason God has wired me for big, chaos, new and change (and, oh boy, that is comin’)
• Because we want to champion the cause, love orphans, influence others and make an impact in our world

Where and why there

• Ethiopia
• Because there is an orphan crisis due to disease, poverty and more
• Because Kelly and I have a BIG heart for Africa that began 14 years ago…
• Kelly and I have sponsored a young lady named Marta and her family in Ethiopia for the last 14 years through Compassion
• Kelly and I have served in West Africa on a LifePoint mission team and I had the privilege of a second trip earlier this year (check out some photos)
• LifePoint is launching an exciting, strategic missions partnership with this organization for Orphan Care and church planting in Ethiopia
• About a decade ago Kelly and I were close to spending 2 years in Kenya as missionaries (long story for another time)
• We have precious friends who have adopted from Ethiopia and we look forward to adding to the mix
• We are huge U2 fans (kidding…not about being U2/Bono fans, that this is reason for where)

Who

• We are hoping to adopt a boy around the age of 2 1/2 to 3

When

• We hope to know specifically through a referral sometime in early 2011
• Hopefully, he will be home sometime in 2011 but this process, as we have seen walking this journey with others, can have a lot of ups & downs, hurry-up & waiting…

How

• Through the grace and sovereignty of our great Lord
• Through excitement, sacrifice, obedience, patience, anxiety, faith, doubt, trust
• Through a lot of conversation and prayer individually, as a family and with you
• By intentionally staying connected to community in our family, small group, church, staff team

Not through our own planning but great coincidence this Sunday is Orphan Sunday across our nation. I am excited about all that my family will learn this month as the Orphan Crisis is brought to greater attention. I am humbled and thrilled about how my church is building an Orphan Care ministry, thankful for the many individuals who are blazing the trail for LifePoint and how we will highlight and connect others in the coming Sundays.

Wow! BIG! Thanks for reading this news. I hope you join our journey with us. I would love to hear your thoughts and questions by commenting here or on Facebook.

The first village of the day, Farako, was the smallest of the three villages we visited. We stopped by the village on Wednesday just to tell them we would be coming today. You can tell they were expecting us because when we arrived, their two soccer teams were having a match on the field next to the village. This was significant because they wanted to display there soccer teams to us because we had left soccer balls with the village when our team visited in June. Both teams were dressed in bright colored jerseys, pretty impressive sight. After walking up the road to watch the soccer match, we were greeted by one of the village chiefs. We talked with him for a moment and watched the match. The chief interrupted the match and had all of the players line up shoulder to shoulder and walk towards our team to give us a formal greeting. That was cool.

We then walked back to the village and greeted the older chief and asked if we could visit in the village. The Farako people were happy to have us and so our small groups of three or four including our translators began to walk around the village and meet people. Scott and Ron toured the village and walked down to the river by the village (later, the chief shared how that was significant to them and it showed that we loved their village).

Matt, Rocky, and I broke away from the crowd pretty quickly and stopped in an area where there were several huts in a circle. We met the ‘family chief’ for this part of the village along with some of his family. As I was getting to know the family chief, I asked how many children he had. He paused for a while and counting them in his head. I was expecting him to say like 18 or something (many men have multiple wives in this culture). After a minute or so, he said, “six.” I told him I had three, two daughters and one son. As soon as I said that, his wife asked if I would give my oldest daughter to marry their youngest son. That’s a new one! (Later, I guess to sweeten the pot, they offered to give me their grand-daugther, 6 months old, in exchange for the earlier marriage proposition, I think they were kidding at that point.)

While we were with this family, we are able share the entire ‘Creation to Christ’ story, laugh together, take pictures, and we even helped them grade some casava, a local crop (they look like white carrots). After time visiting folks in the village, we gathered back in the center of the village under a huge tree. There there drummers played some folks danced (not quite as elaborate as the village from Wednesday). Then Ron played a couple of worship tunes again for them to hear and we presented them with the machetes and soccer balls. It was pretty cool when the entire village that was there began to applaud loudly.

This village also prepared some for food us as a gift. We were led to the chief’s hut who greeted us when we arrived at the soccer field. He seemed to be a middle aged man, tall, and wore a bright blue. He had a commanding presence and really connected to our team. As we waited for the food, we had an incredible conversation with him. Primarily, he and Perry. The chief spoke of the tapes from Genesis he had listened to, inquiring more about Christianity, told us a story of how his grandfather had a great relationship with a Catholic Priest 50 years ago, and talked about his beliefs as a muslim. He seemed to be very open to Christ as well so he gladly accepted an additional tape and some booklets. We then ate in his hut, again from a common bowl of rice with peanut sauce and chicken on top. Kelly and Donna also came across a young man who was very eager to receive some of the booklets and was seeking to know more. The response in the Farako village has been really encouraging.

Our afternoon stop was in a large village closer to Kankan called Borifinen. As we arrived, we saw many of the teenage to young adult age folks headed to go fishing. We were wondering if there was going to be anyone left in the village once we arrive. We were able to locate the chief of the village and quickly many children came to where we were and then the elders began to gather. Now at the third village, we did the routine of waiting for everyone to gather, talking back and forth greeting one another, and then off the walk around the villages to observe and meeting people. Each of our groups did our normal thing and had some great experiences. Each group was able to share stories of Christ in the gatherings we found ourselves in.

With the time of day getting late and being sensitive to the village people, instead of doing the music this time, we just gathered back to share a few stories of Jesus to everyone who gathered and present our gifts. So, once everyone had gathered, we told them thank you, then Scott and I both told our faith stories of coming to Christ.  To emphasize the difference of their religious background and following Christ (the Guinea people would often say we believe the same God), I made sure to interject the name of Jesus several times in my faith story. After the translation, a spirited response was given by first an older man sitting off from the elders. Basically, he said that they had been muslim forever and that they will not change. Perry, said that is fine, if they do not want to hear stories for Jesus anymore we would not come back because we did not want to disturb the village. Then, that let to another spirited and long response from one of the elders because he wanted us to return and apologized for the older man’s response. I shared with them I was a pastor and they were excited to introduce me to their Emon (spiritual teacher). It is hard to capture the entire scene in a blog post, so I would love to describe this in person sometime. It was quite an adventure.

We closed our time out with presenting gifts, taking pictures, and saying farewell (we actually said ‘An be kof fe’ which means “see you next time”). They welcomed us back anytime.

Ron, MC, and I were dropped off in the market to pickup some bread and then we stopped at a cyber cafe. We were able to reconnect with some folks back home (I love technology!). I was also able to put two Christian songs on MC’s phone using the bluetooth connection from my Mac to his phone (I love technology!). After getting the two songs on his phone, MC said, “This makes me so happy.” As we then began to walk out of the cyber cafe to find a taxi to go back to the guest house, I asked MC if he felt like he was following the way of Jesus. His response are words I will never forget, “I think so, it is in my heart and I cannot help it.” Wow! Pray for MC. Following Christ in a land where there are so few, and the religion is so different, it quite costly. I get excited every time I think of this moment.

The rest of the evening was debriefing, sharing God stories, eating, and prepping for the long road trip the next day. Thursday is a day I will never forget.

We were able to make it across the bridge in time but that was quite chaotic since only half of the bridge was passable. That half was left for all of the normal daily traffic including hundreds of people on foot, many on motos (mopeds) and bicycles, and then folks like us trying to weave through in vehicles.

The drive to the village took about an hour and half through the African countryside and African bush along dirt roads. The village we went to today was a larger village and its name is Gbanankuda. Our team who came to Kankan in June visited this village as well. It was cool to recognize the chief of the village from picture from the former trip.

When we first arrived, people quickly began to surround the two vehicles we were in. We greeted some of the men in the village there and talked for a few minutes. Then we walked through the village to the chiefs hut along with a lot of the village. There were people all around. We greeted the chief and the elders, they then shared a greeting with us, and invited us to visit and spend time in the village.

I went around the village with Matt and Rocky from our team and “MC” our translator. Initially, there was a ton of activity and interaction with people. We saw an older man’s hut. We toured the ceremonial area of the village that once had a huge tree standing but had been taken down because of hives. We then saw a the village well where women were drawing water and dozens of children around. There Matt shared his testimony. We were also asked to pray for a someone’s sick brother and for another person’s sick mother.

As we walked around the village we continued to pray with people and greet people. The energy and smiles from the Maninka people in the village was incredible. From, experiencing their culture at our time with the chief to interacting in the village was incredible.

Later in our walk around the village Matt, Rocky, MC, and I (along with our ‘tour guide’), we entered an older man’s hut, Lansine Dumbuya (la see na doom be a) who said he was triplet and fought in World War II. Several other younger men also were in the hut with us. We greeted him and learned a little bit about his life. Then, I was able to share our Creation to Christ story with him. I also shared my faith story and we were able to tell him and the men how they could receive Christ. Lansine is a Dozo (African for warrior) and a fettisher (practices Africa folk religion, believes objects have powers).

While in Lansine’s house/hut, I was given my Maninka name, “Moussa Dumbuya” (moose a). Dumbaya is a common surname in Maninka (Scott’s Maninka name is also Dumbaya). I am going to talk more with our translators tomorrow about what it exactly means, if there is a meaning. When we were doing this, we were also moving quickly to the music and dancing so there was a lot of chaos.

Next, the village drummers and dancers but on a show for us that is all you would expect for an African celebration. It was very entertaining and joyous, a lot of laughter from us and the Africans. The dancers were men dressed as women (very interesting), one had a mask on and they would dance to the music of the drummers and would pull up some of our team to dance with them, that was awesome. Somehow, I did not get pulled in. I guess it was because I was late to the party or I was holding the camera.

Ron, Rocky, and Matt then played a few worship songs for the crowd. It was especially incredible when the drummers from the village began to play the beat along with the songs our guys were playing. After a couple of the songs, Ron through our translators was able to share about Jesus as he explained the meaning of the songs.

At the end of the celebration/ceremony, we gave the elders some soccer balls and machetes. They received them with very kinds words and gave us a blessing. They invited us back. One thing that stood out as the talked to us was that they were very pleased that we had promised to come to the village in February and that we had done what we had said we would do. I was impressed that they remembered that our partners had made them that promise.

Well, we thought it was time to leave as we went back to the chief’s hut to say goodbye. After we waited for everyone else to gather again, we then learned we had to wait and not leave yet because they were preparing for us a meal. To honor their request and allow them to extend hospitality to us, we waited as the meal was ready. Once it was ready, we went to one of the elder’s homes to eat the meal. It was “village rice” with a peanut sause on top. It was cooked and smelled delicious. It was in a common bowl which was a new experience. Then our team circled around and we scooped a portion out with our hand and ate it. Yes, I did eat it and it was good!

I am still processing all that I saw today and all of the incredible things I got to experience including some conversation with our translator MC who we feel is seeking God. He was asking about popular Christian songs he has learned by being at our partners house, Daryl and Glenda Cox.

The needs and opportunities are so overwhelming but it has been a great day of excitement and peace for me as I sensed accomplishment of what God called us to do. Now, it is time to get ready to visit two villages tomorrow.

Many of the students where full of life and very inquisitive. Several had a good use of the English language. Of course, they were curious of American culture and what we thought of Guinea and the Maninka people. It was good to be able to use English to communicate about our culture and about Christ. I was able to share with Christ with the two groups of students I spent about 45 minutes with each. Some of their questions included:
What is the geography of the United States like?
What is the best university in the United States and what is the best singer?
What would I tell people back in the United States about the Maninka people?
What do Americans think of black people?
Why did I come to Kankan?
What are my dreams?
Will I remember them?
What do I enjoy about the United States?
Why do Christians and Muslims both speak of Abraham?
Christians pray to God, God’s Son, and the Holy Spirit, why not the mother of God’s Son?
Do I believe Christianity is the only true way?

Their English and my lack of Maninka (and my poor English, too) made it difficult at times to understand each other but in all we had good conversations in our smaller group. In the large group, the energy and friendship was a great buzz. The students and faculty were so kind and grateful for our time with them.

Following our two hours with the students, we stopped by the American Reading Room at the University where there is a classroom for students to study English more and a library for them to read English books and discover American culture. Scott donated two books to the reading room and gave them to the Director. He was very gracious and invited us back and said that anytime we needed assistance we are welcome to ask.

Both experiences at the University caused the wheels to start spinning of possible strategies of how we could effectively partner with our missionaries in the field, provide them resources, leverage the opportunities at the university, and hopefully see the next generation of Guinea leaders come to know Christ.

We returned to the guest house for dinner which was a great home cooked meal by Donna, o’ so good. It was awesome as dinner winded down the conversation around the table was very lively. I was talking with Rocky, one of the semester missionaries, about each of our journeys with Christ, our calling, dreams, and experiences. Kelly, Donna, and Scott talked family, ministry, and more. Ron and the other semester missionary, Matt, were talking about creativity in the church. At one point I stopped and soaked in the energy in the room of the eight of us who have been serving alongside one another throughout the day being challenged and stretched, now building relationships and truly being the church.

We closed out the day in a time of devotion and debriefing. I had the privilege of leading the devotion and sharing some of my recent learnings (which I hope to share in a later post). We each shared our faith story of embracing Christ, that is always powerful to see the incredible ways God draws us to Himself. Plus, it give us another avenue to deepen our relationships. Then we began to dialogue how we saw God moving today through the curveball and opportunities he gave us. We all sensed that we had a great opportunity to sow seeds. It was enlightening, too, as Perry and Donna shared a lot about their journey as missionaries, the uniqueness of their calling here in Guinea with the Maninka people, the uniqueness of being on a frontier mission field (unreached people group), and the dreams for the future.

As we dialogued throughout the evening, I had a burden wishing all Christ-followers would know the real depth and spiritual growth that comes from serving with a group of fellow believers and then sharing and debriefing what God is teaching us, our desires for the work of God and more. Once again I am learning that the greatest catalyst for our growth is serving, putting our life in the path of others to point them to Christ, sacrificing, giving of ourselves…not head knowledge, activity, church attendance or other things we often replace for moving out and partnering with other believers for kingdom impact.

When we opened the hood we could see fluid over half of the engine. The reservoir was dry. Not good new for the over hour trip we had to get to the village. We have been told it is a pretty slow trip because the roads there are not that good. Obviously, we had to get the SUV fixed. So, we got to live out one of the biggest values when on mission trips, flexibility. We had to get two car loads of folks back to the other side of KanKan in one vehicle. Had to find a mechanic. Then, with all of that come up with a new plan of ministry for the day.

After the entire team made it back to the house, we split up into our teams with translators and headed out into the ‘neighborhood’ to greet people and hopefully share the story of “Creation to Christ” or our own personal testimonies. Perry headed into town to hopefully get the Land-Cruiser fixed and also connect with the Dean of the English Department and the University of KanKan to ask if we might could move our afternoon at the University from tomorrow to today.

So, we headed out to the neighborhood and three different directions for a few hours. Kelly and I went with our translator, Penda, Penda is 30, recently graduated from the University in English and has a 6 year-old son and is a beautiful lady. She is the third wife of man who leaves in Conarky. She has a interesting story. Kelly and I have been able to talk life, marriage, family, and Christ with her. She is curious about Christianity as she has heard about previously when she translated with our team that came last year. She is folk muslim, meaning that has been her culture and heritage, she has studied a little but mainly lives by what she has been told. Our conversations have revolved around the difference between Islam and Christianity, and her point of view is that we have the same God and Jesus is a prophet similar to Muhammad.

Ron and Scott, with their translator Morri, were able to sit with a large group of young men and share Christ with them and dialogue about the differences between Islam and following Jesus. They said the conversation was very polite and interesting lasting almost an hour. We also have two semester missionaries who are working with our host missionaries. Ron even got a Maninka name given by one of the young men to him, which was also that young man’s name. The semester missionaries, Matt and Rocky, are college-age and are from a partnering church in Hawaii. We are having a blast building a friendship with them. They also went out in the neighborhood today with MC their translator and were able to share the “Creation to Christ” story.

In our time in the neighborhood, Kelly and I were able to greet and talk to many Maninka people. We are trying to learn to use our limited Maninka language that we know with the people. It is very difficult and comical! The people are so polite as we try to speak to them in their language and as we stumble all over it they just smile and giggle at us, so we smile and giggle back. The Maninka are precious people with big smiles and great camaraderie. You can tell they value being good hosts. We are able to give out a few gifts  that shared Christ with the people. I was given the opportunity to pray for an elderly lady who had pain in her feet. Penda took us to her home and next to her home we met many of her neighbors. We took pictures of the women and children there and Kelly shared her story of how she became a Christ-follower to the crowd gathered there.

Now we are back at the house resting, debriefing, and eating before heading to the University to meet with some of the English Students at the University. Perry was able to go into one of the English classrooms this morning of about 120 students. He invited them back to meet with a group of Americans to practice their English this evening. When we go, our plan is to sit in groups of a handful of students with one person from each team. We will spend about an hour meeting and getting to know the students, learning about their interests, learning about their beliefs, letting them ask questions, and sharing with them our faith stories and about Christ. Hopefully, there will be enough time and students to be at the University for a couple of hours.

So, our day at the village today has been moved to tomorrow along with visiting two more villages on Thursday. Please pray that we will make it to the villages, that we will have no more mechanical issues, our health stays great, and that we will find favor with the people of the villages. We also ask you to intercede for us that as we share our faith stories, Bible stories, or the Creation to Christ story that we will see fruit. Also, pray for our translators that they will translate clearly and that their own beliefs will not be a barrier.

God is showing us many things and encouraging us along the way. My biggest learning: even in a totally different culture; Christ, His truth, and wisdom are relevant. Even here, people need the grace and truth of Jesus to find help and direction for their relationships, family, towns, future, and eternity. Even though the needs of people in Africa have a different ‘skin’ to them, they are humans in desperate need of a Savior (even when they don’t see it).

Today we were able to sleep in to catch up on some rest after all of the travel. This afternoon we have spent the day in the market buying some items, building relationships with our translators, and practicing the language. The market has been interesting for sure.

We are now in a ‘cyber cafe’ with just a few minutes internet access. Tomorrow we head to a village to greet people and share Christ.

Thank you for your continued prayers. Our team is doing great. We love you and miss you and hope to post pictures soon. Blessings from KanKan, Guinea.

PS – To Parker, Emery, and Bradley, mommy and daddy love you like crazy!

1. This quote from my friend Rick Jenkins, “The impact of the local church of today is not dependent on it’s seating capacity, but it’s sending capacity.”

2. This video:

Brussels Airport has been interesting, seeing the incredible diversity of cultures and people groups. Reminds me of the need to share Christ throughout the world.

I am excited! That has been the question I have been asked the most the last week as we were prepping to leave…”Are you excited?” Yes, I am and I know the team I am with are. The encouragement I believe God has given me the last couple of days is that with the distractions Kelly and I have been through is a great reminder that the Enemy knows God is going to do great things during our time in Guinea so he is on the atack. But, God is our Victory, Strength, and is Sovereign. I feel He has also reminded me that the challenges I have dealt with over the last week is small potatoes compared to the needs, obstacles, and challenges the Maninka people have we are about to love on.

Thanks for praying for us and pray that we will have the ability to communicate with our family and with you during our time in Guinea.

• packed
• downloaded
• uploaded
• subscribed
• explained to the kids where mommy and daddy are going through the visual of a world map, I drew lines and everything
• protected my laptop against theft (learned the hard way)
• deflated soccer balls
• prepped my taxes
• connected via multiple technology formats (tokbox, twitter, skype, ichat, facebook, blog…just to name a few)
• prepared my will and other important documents
• heard that Tiger is back
• broken in new scoots
• read this post by Micah about the exciting things God is doing
• rearranged my closest (aka–the laundry room so the water heater could be fixed)
• helped the girls dress for ‘nerd day’ at school tomorrow (hopefully pictures are coming)
• played Wii Golf with Bman (even par if you are curious)
• consulted with a small group buddy on addition plans
• Twittered or tweeted (and even tooted)
• And watched this video of Perry Noble on Tony Morgan Live that stoked my fire a little more for what I will be doing over the next ten days. God is rattling the cages of his church here in America for His Fame throughout the world including LifePoint, Spring Creek, NewSpring, and many more churches :