A Nana's Love!!

There are not too many greater things in this world, than the love of a grandmother.  Whenever times are tough, or life is hard they always know what to say and how to cheer you up.   I am so blessed to have some of the best grandmothers in the world.

These last 2 days have been some of the hardest days I have had in a while.  My Nana has been struggling between this life and the next.  Tonight, she struggles no more.  God has called her home and she is no longer in pain.  Although it is tough here on this earth to say goodbye, God has brought a peace to our family.  He is so good and continues to be good through all of life's circumstances.  Please be praying for my Pawpaw as he continues to deal with losing his wife of 61 years.  I also ask that you would pray for my Aunt Deborah and her family as she lost both her mom and her mother in law in the span of 30 minutes tonight.  I know that God is with us all, and appreciate all your prayers!!!  God Bless!!!  I love you Nana!!!! Rest in Peace!!!

Friendly Nashville!!

It has been good to be back in Nashville and seeing family and friends.  My aunt picked me up from the airport, and after returning to her home I was able to help her out with some of the canning and cutting of the vegetables that she had picked from her garden.  It was good to chat and catch up, as well as get some work done.

In the afternoon, I was able to catch up with my friend Robin and then I went over to Trevecca to see my RD family.  I had a great time of fellowship and laughter, as I discussed where I was at and how things were going for them so far this year.  Being at Trevecca for a short time truly cemented the fact that I am not suppose to be there.  I love my RD family, but it was definitely time to move on.  I am praying and hoping though, that Trevecca and the RD's have a great year as they continue to impact college kids and their life's.

In the evening I was able to go out with some small group friends for dinner.  Once again it was great to catch up with them, and see how things have gone with them this last month.  There are some great things going on for them, and I was glad to hear that they were doing well.  It was also good to eat at Chili's, one of my favorite restaurants.

Lastly, I got to see some of my classmates that I had when I was in the masters program at Trevecca.  It was good to see them and see how things are going.  They were greatly supportive and encouraging and that was something I really appreciated.  It was good to hear how God was working in their lives as well, and I look forward to being able to keep in touch with them as they continue their education.  Keep up the good work guys.

Today will be a pretty easy day.  I am going to go eat lunch with my cousin and aunt, and am hoping to play racquet ball with my friend.  I am planning on dinner with my other cousin, and seeing some more friends after before I return home to Georgia.  It has been so good to see friends, and I am glad that I had this opportunity.  Thanks for all the support and God Bless!!!

Nashville, Here I Come!!!

I am sitting here in the Kansas City airport waiting for my flight to Nashville.  I was not able to type a whole lot this weekend, as it was a busy, but very fun weekend.  I would like to really thank Ben and Kimbre Birdwell for allowing me to stay in their house this weekend while I was in KC.  It was great to catch up with them and spend some time with old friends.  The grace of God truly showed through them, and their hospitality was amazing.  I am glad that they allowed me the opportunity to stay with them.  Thanks once again.

The conference I was attending this last week was so that I could become a Mission Corps Volunteer with the Church of the Nazarene.  This allows me to be seen by the church as a mission entity, although a volunteer one.  I will be able to raise funds through the church, which will cover food, shelter, insurance, transportation, and things like that.  There were about 25 or so of us there going through the course, and it was really cool to hear their stories of what God is doing in their life's.  I met so many wonderful people and pray and hope that God continues to bless them as they pursue God with all of their being.

Beyond the people, the conference was great as well.  It was very informative, and even created opportunity for brain stimulation through exercises and practices.  I was able to get some questions answered this weekend, and am so glad that I got to attend the conference. I hope to soon be working with the West and East District on a contract for service.  We will see how that goes.

Get ready Nashville, here I come.  Thanks and God Bless!!!!

Hello!!!

Boy I thought the work days were long, butt these last 2 days have really been long.  I got up at 4 yesterday to get ready to go to the airport.  My ride did not come til 6:30 am, but I had given my watch away earlier on Wednesday and that was how I normally got up.  I was worried that I would make my ride late to Montego Bay, so the inner clock woke me up and would not let me go back to bed.  I got ready and had some last minute conversation with Doug.  My ride came and I went to the airport. I had breakfast at the bobsled cafe (it really is a sweet restaurant), and then waited around for 4 hours for my flight.  My flight was delayed by an hour, and so that put me into Atlanta a little late.  Got through immigration and customs with no problem and met my mom and dad in the terminal.  It was good to see them.  We then drove from Atlanta to Chattanooga, arriving in Chattanooga around 10:10 pm.  I got some clean clothes together (what I had) and put them in a suitcase, jumped in the car, and headed towards Nashville.  I arrived at my aunt's place around 12:30 am and went to bed.  That was a long day.

I got up at 4:30 am to be able to catch my flight to Kansas City for a conference that I am attending here.  My flight left at 6:30 am, so I needed to be there early to get checked in.  There was only like 45 people on my Southwest flight, so loading and unloading was easy.  We all had A boarding passes.  I landed in KC and went to get my rental car for the weekend.  I left the rental place at 8:30ish and proceeded to my host family I was staying with, Kimbre and Ben Birdwell.  It was so good to see them and catch up on life.  We decided to go to head quarters and take a tour, so we made the 30 minute trek and did so.  It was cool to see the new building and see where all the decisions are made for our church.  We came back to the house and Ben gave me a tour of Nazarene Theological Seminary (they live right across the street from it).  It was cool to see and get the private tour.  We came back and ate lunch, and during started to talk about the conference.  Ben had gone through it, but Kimbre had not and so they decided to be a walk in couple and came to the conference with me.  It was cool to have them come and be apart of that.

The conference was very good.  It was long, but good.  We went from 1 to 5, and then had a dinner break. We got pizza and a movie, and then went back to do a 1 on 1 interview with some of the leaders.  This was a chance to get to tell them what we were working on with missions and let them tell us some of the process.  It was nice, but I was pretty out of it.  We drove home and I am getting ready to go to bed.  Well, I am exhausted and going to bed.  I am not going to proof this so I hope this all makes sense. Thanks for reading and God Bless!!

Final Blog in Jamaica!!!

Today was a good day.  I worked in the clinic with Dr, McCloy and his staff all day, which was a nice turn from all of the hard work that I had been doing.  One of the things that they do when they have these clinics is pray with all the patients before they leave.  Doug asked me to be in the prayer room and to pray with these patients.  I told him I would, and it truly was a great time.  I was partnered with Delroy, (another one of my favorite Jamaicans) and we had a great time in the Lord.  Delroy would sing songs, and I would pray.  I am so thankful that this was how I got to spend my last day.  There really is no better way to have spent it.

Tonight I got to spend some time with Dr. McCloy.  We went to Savannah La Mar and got some dinner, then went to an ice cream shop called Devon's House.  It was a great time to catch up on life and a little bit of business as well.  I really admire and respect Dr. McCloy and the work he has done here in Jamaica.  It is great to call him friend and brother in Christ.

Well, it is hard to believe that I leave so soon.  I am working on packing everything up right now, which is a little saddening.  My trip has been so good, and I am so thankful for this opportunity.  I know God will continue to bless my life wherever I go and whatever I do.  My hope and prayer is to stay in the center of His will.  Thanks so much for the prayers, and I hope they continue to come as I continue to wrestle with the idea of what God has called me to do.  Thanks once and again and God Bless!!!

That was 2 long days of work!!!

These last 2 days have been very tough and long days of work.  They have been good but exhausting.  I have done quite a few things from, mixing and pouring concrete, to sweeping a whole wing of the medical building, to mixing more concrete.  I have had the opportunity to work with Leon quite a bit over the last 2 days, and that is well worth the trade off.  Today was my last day of grueling work, which is a good thing. I am going to have to work on growing my muscles when I get back to the states, so I will be ready in case I come back.

I know many of you are probably wandering about the meeting that I was going to have tonight.  Well, Doug is in Jamaica, but got held up in Montego Bay.  Therefore, he will be coming in tomorrow.  I am looking forward to seeing him and catching up on life.  I am super excited about the clinic, and am glad I will get a chance to see one in the center here.  That will be another first for me (I am guessing my last 1st for this trip).

I am not sure if I will post tomorrow night or not.  This could be my last post til I get back state side.  Thanks for following me on this journey, and I will continue to write a blog as I deem it very therapeutic, and a nice way to keep a log of what is going on.  Thanks for everything and God Bless!!

I need a haircut!!!

Good evening my brothers and sisters!!  I now sit with less than 4 days left on my time here in Jamaica (that is hard to believe).  I have been so blessed to be here, and am so thankful that God has allowed me this opportunity to be here with the Jamaican people.  I truly will cherish this time that I have had with my friends here in Jamaica.

Did I mention that I need a haircut!!!!  And a shave!!!!

Sorry so grainy, but there are not to many places to go at night to find good light.  Believe me though, my hair is long!!

I was able to experience another first with my time in Jamaica.  Today was the first time I was asked to preach while on the island.  I was pretty nervous, but I believe that God was with me and helped me through my message.  I was not able to prepare as much as I would have in the states, but I know God can use any willing heart, and pray that He somehow used the words that came out of my mouth today.  It was fun to preach here, as the congregation was very responsive to what I said, and seemed to be very attentive.  I pray and hope this will not be my last time to speak here in Jamaica.  Pastor told me with a little practice, I could be a preaching man (definitely took that as a compliment).

Yesterday was a sluggish day for me.  I was planning on getting out and doing some work with mason here on site, but I was not feeling very good.  The milk that I drank for breakfast was bad, and that did not sit very well with my stomach.  Therefore, I stayed inside and studied all day, preparing for today.  Although it was not what I expected, it still turned out to be a good day.

This week will be another work week for me I hope.  I will hopefully get a chance to work out at the medical center on Monday and Tuesday, which I am looking forward to.  Then on Tuesday, I hope to have a meeting with Dr. McCloy and Pastor Brown about future plans and ideas.  I am praying that God will work in that meeting and pray that you would do the same.  Wednesday, we have a clinic going on here at the GMC with Dr. McCloy, and then Thursday, Dr. McCloy will take me to the airport to fly back to the states.  From there it will be more travels as I journey to Kansas City on Friday morning for a Cross Cultural Orientation with the Church of the Nazarene.

Thanks once again for your prayers and support!!!!  I love you all!!  God Bless!!