Interesting Developments

Ok, Ok , Ok. So I got the following e-mail yesterday from Ca...umm... "Phyllis" with "The Agency."

I have, of course, changed the names to protect the innocent...

"The usual question of 'any word on training or new applicants for our team?' has been coming around again-so I wanted to specifically address that. Good news- 'Leroy', the...director, is beginning to budge and is now willing to send you guys out without the full number of 12! Not to paint 'Leroy' in a bad light at all or to try to 'blame' him for this waiting period....but as director of this department, he bears the weight of discerning what is the wisest move for us to make for each team-and he has felt so far that the wisest thing for everyone was to wait until we had at least 12 to send to training. But one day last week we all were talking and he shared that he really felt that we needed to send you guys out before the years' end-to serve you well and to be most strategic with what's happening on the field. So I still can't give you specifics-but we are looking at some kind or arrangement to train you in November and December-ish. Like every other time I've told you an estimate-don't pin every hope on this bit of info. It is our 'GOAL' to have you guys sent out before the end of the year. Pray with us that the Lord will pave a smooth road to make this possible. All things depend fully on HIM!"

Wow!

People Really Read This Stuff?

I found out today that Vanessa fasted along with me last Thursday! That means she actually reads my newsletter! I didn't think anybody really did.

She said she only made it till noon. Like most of us, she gets hungry when she doesn't eat. Imagine that! More importantly, though, she made time to pray for me and the rest of the Team. That's pretty awesome.

I told her about my fasting plan last Thursday. I was starving (literally) by about 4 pm, so I decided that I'd stay up until midnight and eat a sandwich. That was my whole goal: make it to midnight, eat PB&J. I made it to midnight, but then it occurred to me that normal people would just go to bed and eat in the morning. Now, typically, I don't pay too much attention to what normal people would do, but, in this case, I did just that. I even thought about adding another day of fasting on Friday, but I'm pretty sure God wanted me to eat Chipotle instead...

Anyway, today I got an e-mail from one of the Team. She thinks it would be a good idea to set aside every Thursday for prayer and fasting. I wholeheartedly agree with that. I think we need to be more purposeful in our fight for IQ.

Doing the Unthinkable

So this morning I applied for a job with the University of Phoenix. Anyone reading this from Franklin will be scandalized, I'm sure. But they would pay up to 24% more than I was earning at Franklin, so ...

Prayer and Fasting...

Today "the Team" (my new name for us) have set aside the day for prayer and fasting. So, if you stumble upon this page today, please take a moment to pray for us.

There's me (who I assume you already know) along with 4 others. One of them sent the following passage this morning:

Isaiah 40:27-31
Why do you say, O Jacob,
and complain, O Israel,
"My way is hidden from the Lord;
my cause is disregarded by my God"?
Do you not know?
Have you not heard?
The Lord is the everlasting God,
the Creator of the ends of the earth.
He will not grow tired and weary,
and His understanding no one can fathom.
He gives strength to the weary
and increases the power of the weak.
Even youths grow tired and weary
and young men stumble and fall;
but those who hope in the Lord
will renew their strength.
They will soar on wings like eagles;
they will run and not grow weary,
they will walk and not be faint.

Back From Wisconsin

I wish I could blame my long delay in posting on my trip to Wisconsin, but that only accounts for 6 days. I also wish I could explain the trip properly. My goal when I talk to people about the trip is to get them to think "Hmmm, I should do that." Because they should. Everyone should.

But, in the end, it's an atmosphere that draws me in and keeps me wanting to go back and I just can't find the words to explain that properly. It's nice. It feels good to go and serve these people. The whole place feels peaceful happy. Ever been in an empty Catholic church on a bright day? With the sun gleaming through the stained glass windows so you can see the dust particles? It's like that.

Plus, you get to be amazed every day. Did you know that Shepherd's has a bell choir that travels the country? Did you know that Gordon traveled to Japan and won three gold medals at the Special Olympics? Did you know that Ruthie lives with a couple other girls in an apartment? On their own? Did you know that David is a certified "Master Gardener?" Did you know that Connie sings beautifully?

Nope, you don't. Because you didn't go. Maybe you didn't go because you didn't know you could. Or maybe I wasn't bold enough before to tell you that you should (but you should). Or maybe you're scared of "retarded people." I guess maybe you should be scared. They're more capable, spiritual, loving and powerful than you think they are. And they'll change your life, no doubt. So I guess you should be scared.

www.shepherdsministries.org