Wednesday 7/31

Today we had 2 clinics with the local kids in Corunmba. They have improved so uch from last year. Tomorrow the national news and the local government is going to be at the field. They are going to promote baseball at a national level from what is happening in Corumba. It is really exciting to see how the program has grown ib just one year.
The karate team is preforming tonight and tomorrow night in 2 different churches. We are going to eat more BBQ again tonight and tomorrow night.
I feel so blessed to be part of this trip. There is so much going on with this ministry. Opportunities continue to present themselves with supporters and invitations to go to areas that the gospel is not in today. Please continue to pray for energy level to stay high and for good health. Also for the Lord to continue to use me to reveal Himself to others as the trip starts to come to a close.
Chow for now.

Tuesday 7/31

Sorry that I haven´t updated this lately. Access this time has been limited. The last few days has been traveling witht he karate team as they do their demos. Karate is well received here and many people are moved by their message.
We are now in the city of Corumba. John Grissoms book the New Testament is a great reading of this area. Today we will be working between 2 fields and a few are doing a day on the river. Traveling up river to some city that can only be reached by boat.
This trip is so different from last year because of many more churches and denominations are represented. I am also more in an administrative role which is a new blessing for me.
I will try to update tonight more details. It has been exciting and alot of great things have been happening.
Chow

Saturday 7/28

Its time to play the Japanese again. This morning we played a 9 ining game and was tied into the 9th. 3 to 3, we were home team. We fell apart and they won 6 to 3. Close game but more importantly many of the same young people that we developed friendships with last week brought friends with them today. The english language brings so much power with it. They just want to talk about anything To practise want they have learned in class rooms or from the TV.
We ate Brazilian BBQ and are now going to rest for a few minutes. Then we will load the bus with all the karate equipment to go across town to do the exibition tonight. 700 boards, 250 bricks, 40 cinder blocks, 20 slabs of concrete and the bed of nails.This should be exciting to get all the little details worked out. Please continue to pray for good health, understanding of each others language bariers, for us to respond to the spirit and not our agenda, and for hearts to continue to be softened.
By the way this winter is pretty nice. Teh weather is mid 70´s every day so far.
Chow!

Friday 7/27

Hey!
In a different hotel for tonight and tomorrow which has internet. So I will try to update each day.
Last I said was that I was going to play golf with a Japanese golf pro. Well I did. But first I have to share what happened Wednesday evening. We went back to the english school and played the movie Facing the Giants. This was a wonderful platform to help with the languauge and share about Christ. Many were seeking to find out really who this Jesus is. There was teachers and young adults that gave their life that evening. It is just such a blessing to see how the spirit works no matter what the circumstances that we try to put Him in. All were invited to attend the Thursday evening youth praise service. Well Thusday evening some of the Japanese from the ball field and students and teachers from the school did come to the church. Most that were seeking on Wednesday committed their life to Jesus at this service. To see 500+ young adults on their knees and 200+ laying on of hands for them I just cannot put into words.
Oh yea golf, I shot a 56 (9 holes)for those that want to know. It was a great time. The other coll thing was that there is a race track right near the golf. It is a road coarse that the pro has some connects with. He has a few friends that own cars and he is trying to hook me up with a ride. That is driving on of the GTX cars. We are trying to see if they have a ministry at the track like they do at Lanier. This would be a great opportunty.
Late Thursday night the next group came in(midnight) and the other group left at 430am Friday morning. Needless to say I didn´t get much sleep last night. Today we practised baseball getting ready for 2 games on Saturday. In the evening I am taking the karate team to another church to do an exibition. Them have a great show this year and a strong message so it will be exciting to see how the spirit moves that congregation. I may be sharing my testimony at this service.
I want to thank everyone for the prayers that are answered. I have felt rested even though I am not getting allot of sleep. I am physically doing well even with the high level of activity and exercise.
The las thing that I did late Friday was attend a graduation of one of the translators that I have been an great frienship with. She graduated from law school. There was 30+ people that graduated. It was a very nice event. She is a special young woman with many talents.
Well I got to go. I will try to update late Saturday evening.
Chow chow!

Wednsday 7/25

I found access so I again only have a few minuts so I will try to update you as much as I can. Over the last few days I have attended a few classes that were about learning about praying and the reasons why. Also, managing your life, finances, stewardship(what we own and what we are stewards of). Excellent classes! These classes were presented by Pastor Todd Wright from Midway Macedonia church in GA. I now have everything ready for the karate team that is coming on Friday. over 2 days to get all the wood, bricks, concrete and bed of nails ready.
It is so nice to spend some time with the friends that I have made over the last year. Sometimes the language barrier makes for a fun time in itself let alone the love that they share while I am here. I played soccer for about three hours yesterday and believe it or not I am still feeling good. The Lord is answering prayers of good health.
The funny thing this time is how planned activities change everyday. Since I can get around I don´t have the extra phones. thers have them just in case. By not having the phone I have been locked out of my hotel room for hours(only one key and I didn´t have it.) I was supposed to meet the group for dinner and no one showed up. They changed plans and couldn´t reach me. Flexibility and patience is of most importance.
Believe it or not I am going to play golf with a Japanese glof pro tomorrow. This should be interesting. Well got to go. Chow!!

July 23rd

Saturday
I have only a few minutes access so here it goes. Saturday I played 3 games with the Japanese. The first game went 13 innings. The second and third went the normal lengths. There was allot of fellowshiping. Thw weather was 75 degrees. Nice winter time. The food is wonderful! We did kereoke with the Japanese what an experience.
Sunday
Played 2 games again with the Japanese. During lunch we tried something different. We had a devoion with many members of the Japanese and their families. Sharing about our families and getting to know each other better. This is such a major change with expectations of Global Baseball at this complex. One year ago we could not share anything about our faith and Jesus. Today we had a devotion and sang priase songs in both languages. It is amazing to watch how the spirit is moving.
Sunday evening we went to the churches praise service. Over 1100 people attended. 20 may have given their life to Christ. I just cannot explain how the sprit moves through me during the services at this church. Tears are in my eyes during the whole service. The love of the people just cannot be explained.
Monday we played soccer with the church people and pastor for 3 hours. Thene went to the english speaking school and had dinner. We shared our experiences and their 2 out of 10 people that were believers. Since they wanted to practice english the would ask questions and we would respond by telling them why we were there and shared the gospel with them. 4 gave their lives to Christ.
Tomorrow I shop for all the wood, bicka and stuff for the karate team that is coming . I also hope to play some basket ball with the local pastors in the downtown park. We are also doin the movie facing the giants in a small court yard outside the church tomorrow nigt inviting youth to come.
chow

JULY 23RD

I only have one minute on this computer. I hope to get more time this evening. Right now we are at a school that teaches eglish. They are asking us all kinds of questions. It is so easy to talk about baseball and then to share the gospel to them. The Holy Spirit is really working through us. This is Great! I will let you know how it turns out and update you on the last few days to which have been wonderful!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

Friday- 7/20

What a day!
19 people from 4 different churches gathered at the airport to start this trip. 4 of us went by way of Dallas and 15 went through Miami. The flights were on time and uneventful. The trip to Sao Paulo was about 10 hours from Dallas. we arrived at 745 am on Thursday morning. We met up with the group from Miami and went through imigration. I was the only on that was directed to another line to get searched. We prayed together before I went throught the line and it was no big deal for me. There was others that were getting the 3rd degree. Thank God that went OK.
We got on the tour bus and started our 15 hour bus ride.
My prayer was to get rest during this trek. Well I had 5 hours sleep on the plane and at least 5 hours on the bus. The roads were pretty good most of the way so rest was easy to get. With 19 people most of which didn´t know each other we had some real good bonding time. For over 2 hours we had a praise service. There was 2 guitars and we sang many praise songs and worshiped together. This was a special time together for this group. 14 of the 19 people are high school age youth.
Once arriving at our hotel around 12:30 Friday morning we slept until almost lunch time. This hotel has no internet access so entries may be limited.
Friday we went to the Japanese complex and practiced for 2 games that will be played on Saturday. I can´t believe how good I feel so far. Nothing is sore yet!
It is so nice to see many of the people in Campo Grande that I had made friends with last year plus Pastor Gilson and Djalma and their family. They are already planning soccer, basketball, Brazilian Barbque and cell group interactions for me.
Over the next week I have to prepare for the karate team that is coming on Thursday. Shopping for the bricks, wood, cement blocks and building the bed of nails for each of the exibitions.
The few language classes have helped some. Not much though.
The weather has been and is expected to be in the mid 70´s over the next few weeks with no rain . For those that remember last year. The food is just unbelieveable and I can already feel my ankles tighening up. Its 9pm and Djalma has just ask me to go out to play some soccer and then go out to eat afterward.
So I have to go.
Pray that all of the activities are protected and that my health is maintained. That God is glorified in all that I do. My time here is now stating to get under way. We have 2 games tomorrow against the Japanese and will be fellowshipping afterwards. Many are seeking to find out just who this Jesus is. Pray that the Lord prepares me with the words and action to satisfy the hearts of those that ask.

Traveling to Brazil again in 2007, 7/18 - 8/4

Thank you all for the prayers and financial support that has enabled me to make this trip. Continue to pray that the Lord prepares the way for safe travel, keeps us all in excellent health, and that He is glorified in all we do. That the Lord will provide the opportunities to be well rested during the extended travel time to get to our first location (Once I get up on Wednesday the 18th it could be at least 48 hours until we reach our first location at a hotel in Campo Grande).
I will update the blog once a day if there is access.