A month of Sundays . . .

so we've been here almost a month now . . .four Sundays worth . . .and we are seeing good stuff happening. . .

Yesterday, we had to send a 15 passenger van to the Booth Family Center and we didn't have enough room. We crammed them in but we will definitely have to send another vehicle over.

the cool thing is that we didn't really even ask these families to come but we have developed relationships with them. I think the key is to meet people where they are . . one lady told me she wasn't into church but she would help me come and make the meal afterwards. Her son didn't want to go to church AT ALL so he was promptly enlisted to help mom. Both of them thoroughly enjoyed themselves!

It was a little tough with two babies but I've got some daughters coming that I hope will be willing to rotate nursery duty! Yay for family to help . . .we do believe and teach ministry is as a family and everyone helps out.

I think that next week, we will tell them that we will pick them up at 10 instead of 9 and they can come to church instead of both Sunday School and church - because it was a little intense for people who aren't used to coming to church at all. So we will work on growing Sunday School later and just get them used to talking about God for now.

Anyway, total count:34 (15 new people)

Diving in . . .

so our first social event - at the local swimming hole - bridgeport - where food and medical supplies were taken across the covered bridge loated here . . .not sure why that is so exciting .. .

the river on the other hand .. .fun was to be had by all .. .

Bethany was fearless - being the first to jump off the big rock, followed by the others who didn't want to appear fearful. A couple of them, after feeling the exhilaration of the jump, went over and over and over again.

This new move is like that - we have felt the exhilaration of watching God grow his church and we want to do it again!

Steven Curtis Chapman's song says it well:
I'm diving in, I'm going deep, In over my head I wanna be
Caught in the rush, Lost in the flow, In over my head I wanna go
The river's deep, The river's wide, The river's water is alive
So sink or swim, I'm diving in, I'm diving in

There is a supernatural power in this mighty river's flow
It can bring the dead to life, and it can fill an empty soul
And give a heart the only thing worth livin' and worth dyin' for, yeah
But we will never know the awesome power of the grace of God
Until we let ourselves get swept away into this holy flood
So if you'll take my hand, we'll close our eyes and count to three
And take the leap of faith
Come on let's go