After an all night flight from JFK in New, York, to Heathrow in the UK which took 6 hours, we were rushed through Heathrow airport and without more than a 15 minute delay, just enough time for a bathroom break and buy a bottle of water, we were put on another BA flight from Heathrow to Cyprus. That was a four hour flight. Thankfully, all the flights went well.
We arrived in Cyprus a little late, and then found that one of our groups luggage was lost. Hopefully it will come in on the flight tomorrow from the UK. While my co-worker Dennis was helping them with there luggage, I went out looking for our bus to take us to the hotel where we will be staying for the first leg of our journey.
I finally located the bus, had all 27 people following me, pulling their luggage and we were able to get on easily, got to the hotel, got checked in and had time for a quick shower before the meetings started.
Tomorrow I will upload some photo's of the hotel and the few from my room that looks out onto the hotel pool and the beach.
Two things have stood out to me so far on the trip. The first is how diverse the group is that God has put together for this trip. It is just a very small sample of what heaven will be like, except then we will all be perfect.
The second is how God is at work in amazing ways to see His church encouraged and His Word go out to the all the people of this part of the world.
God bless and thanks for praying.
In HIS love and mine,
Jim
Wednesday, October 31, 2007
Tuesday, October 30, 2007
JFK
I am here with the group waiting to leave from JFK. My flight from Indy on Delta went well. It so happened that the other person from Indy on the Vision trip was on the same flight that I was on and just one seat away.
I am looking forward to a bigger plane this leg of the trip. My first flight was on a commuter jet and I could barely stand up in the aisle, but the flight was very smooth and had plenty of leg room.
Have a good day and I will get back on from Cyprus after we land as I don't think I will have time or connections in UK.
Good day,
Jim
Saturday, October 27, 2007
Packing & Preparation
The big question always is - what to take and what not to take. I am never very good at this. Just ask Deb. I always over pack.
Well, on this trip I need to be very careful. We are only allowed one suitcase and one carry one. Because we are flying with a overseas carrier (British Airways) we have to go by their standards which is one case that weighs no more than 50 lbs (sure glad my toothbrush doesn't weigh to much :-)) It just means I can't pack to many books in my suitcase - but how can you go anywhere without a stack of books and magazines to read? Not that I will get to them, but I have great intentions.
The other big question, at this time of year, what it the weather going to be like. If you look at the weather websites, it looks like it is really going to be warm - 80's and 90's during the day and 60 - 70's at night, but do I really trust those sites? I guess I will take clothes for warmer weather and then take layers to add if I get cold.
Today, I went in to make sure my "world" cell phone would work overseas and ran into some complications that I have to wait until Monday to work out. Of course at the rates I was quoted for overseas calls, I am going to spend more time on Skype than I will my cell. Hopefully we will have good Internet connections at the Hotels we are staying in.
The one thing I would ask is that you pray for this trip. Pray for me as I help lead and for Debbie and the kids as I am away. Also pray for all those who are going on the trip as well. There are a total of 25 on the trip.
Thanks and have a great day.
Jim
Well, on this trip I need to be very careful. We are only allowed one suitcase and one carry one. Because we are flying with a overseas carrier (British Airways) we have to go by their standards which is one case that weighs no more than 50 lbs (sure glad my toothbrush doesn't weigh to much :-)) It just means I can't pack to many books in my suitcase - but how can you go anywhere without a stack of books and magazines to read? Not that I will get to them, but I have great intentions.
The other big question, at this time of year, what it the weather going to be like. If you look at the weather websites, it looks like it is really going to be warm - 80's and 90's during the day and 60 - 70's at night, but do I really trust those sites? I guess I will take clothes for warmer weather and then take layers to add if I get cold.
Today, I went in to make sure my "world" cell phone would work overseas and ran into some complications that I have to wait until Monday to work out. Of course at the rates I was quoted for overseas calls, I am going to spend more time on Skype than I will my cell. Hopefully we will have good Internet connections at the Hotels we are staying in.
The one thing I would ask is that you pray for this trip. Pray for me as I help lead and for Debbie and the kids as I am away. Also pray for all those who are going on the trip as well. There are a total of 25 on the trip.
Thanks and have a great day.
Jim
Tuesday, October 23, 2007
Thanks for Visiting.
Hey, thanks for visiting our blog. I hope to keep you updated daily on my upcoming trip to the Middle East. Please check back often.
Here is a recent photo of my lovely bride and myself we had taken. We appreciated Jamie taking this for us.
Sunday, October 21, 2007
Finally Landed
WOW!! Who would have thought we would end up working for SAT-7. If you have never heard of SAT-7 I would invite you to look at our web page at http://www.sat7.org/. I think what SAT-7 does is so awesome and I am sure you will too.
I started with this ministry on August 27th and have been on a steep learning curve ever since. I serve as the US Director of Church Connections for Eastern USA for SAT-7, but my first major task is to raise our support. We need to get it back to the level it was before we left MECO and then we need to double it. I know God is able to make this happen and I am really excited about how He is going to do it, but at the same time, in my self, I am worried it won't come in.
Just a quick update on what we have been up to - I have made two trips to our Maryland office. (That doesn't count the trip to Maryland Deb and I made together for the job interview.) The first trip was in August for 4 days of training. It was great to get to know the staff at the office better and to begin learning about the ministry and what God is doing through it. I was blessed that my co-worker Dennis came out to spend some time with me as well during my training.
September was real busy with fund raising and soccer - yes, soccer. Since I didn't have full time work this summer, I helped with my daughters high school soccer team, so when we joined SAT-7 I told them I needed to finish out my commitment with the Soccer team What a great time of working with a super bunch of girls. We had tons of fun and for a building season we did pretty well - we finished over .500 for the season.
Then on the first weekend of October I made my second trip to Maryland. This time to spend time with the International CEO and Founder of SAT-7, Terry A. I also had the opportunity to meet the International Chairman of the Board while I was there. I had the privilege of joining Terry at Calvary Community Church of Riva, in Riva Maryland where he spoke briefly in two different worship services and in three different Sunday School classes. What a great time for me to observe what our CEO thinks is important to share with the church in the US.
Then on the second weekend of October I had the privilege of speaking at Grace Evangelical Church in Indianapolis. They can be found at http://www.indygrace.org/. I really appreciate the prayer and support my family receives from this church and am grateful for the opportunities I had to share at this church last weekend.
This past week, I was at the Great Lakes District Conference of the EFCA. It was held at the Evangelical Free Church of Naperville, in Naperville, IL.
Then today I spoke at First Community Church in Lebanon, Indiana. First Community is another church that stands behind our family with their prayers and support. It was great to share with them about the ministry God has led us to be apart of.
God is so good and I am excited about my new work and look forward to sharing with you regularly about the ministry God has called us to be apart of.
Also I will be making a trip to the Middle East for two weeks starting the 30th and I hope to post photos of that trip on here as well.
God bless each and everyone of you,
Jim
I started with this ministry on August 27th and have been on a steep learning curve ever since. I serve as the US Director of Church Connections for Eastern USA for SAT-7, but my first major task is to raise our support. We need to get it back to the level it was before we left MECO and then we need to double it. I know God is able to make this happen and I am really excited about how He is going to do it, but at the same time, in my self, I am worried it won't come in.
Just a quick update on what we have been up to - I have made two trips to our Maryland office. (That doesn't count the trip to Maryland Deb and I made together for the job interview.) The first trip was in August for 4 days of training. It was great to get to know the staff at the office better and to begin learning about the ministry and what God is doing through it. I was blessed that my co-worker Dennis came out to spend some time with me as well during my training.
September was real busy with fund raising and soccer - yes, soccer. Since I didn't have full time work this summer, I helped with my daughters high school soccer team, so when we joined SAT-7 I told them I needed to finish out my commitment with the Soccer team What a great time of working with a super bunch of girls. We had tons of fun and for a building season we did pretty well - we finished over .500 for the season.
Then on the first weekend of October I made my second trip to Maryland. This time to spend time with the International CEO and Founder of SAT-7, Terry A. I also had the opportunity to meet the International Chairman of the Board while I was there. I had the privilege of joining Terry at Calvary Community Church of Riva, in Riva Maryland where he spoke briefly in two different worship services and in three different Sunday School classes. What a great time for me to observe what our CEO thinks is important to share with the church in the US.
Then on the second weekend of October I had the privilege of speaking at Grace Evangelical Church in Indianapolis. They can be found at http://www.indygrace.org/. I really appreciate the prayer and support my family receives from this church and am grateful for the opportunities I had to share at this church last weekend.
This past week, I was at the Great Lakes District Conference of the EFCA. It was held at the Evangelical Free Church of Naperville, in Naperville, IL.
Then today I spoke at First Community Church in Lebanon, Indiana. First Community is another church that stands behind our family with their prayers and support. It was great to share with them about the ministry God has led us to be apart of.
God is so good and I am excited about my new work and look forward to sharing with you regularly about the ministry God has called us to be apart of.
Also I will be making a trip to the Middle East for two weeks starting the 30th and I hope to post photos of that trip on here as well.
God bless each and everyone of you,
Jim
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