How Else Can I Say It?

Life is just funny.

A mosquito bit me in the lip last night so when I woke up this morning, my upper lip was approximately 182.9% larger. Imagine a collagen injection on the scale of Joan Rivers......but only on one half of my mouth.

I recently tickled a cute little kid. I tickled him a lot. Then out of nowhere he started farting. His increased laughter at his own farting led to a farting spree that lasted the better part of 2 minutes. It was absolutely uncontrollable. I felt kind of bad, but it was hilarious.

Lafe and 2-liter bottles of Dr. Pepper.

I was walking down the street in a nearby town when all of a sudden a little girl started asking me to come into their store and check out their hammocks. I politely decline when WHAM!! I hit my head on a beam sticking out the side of said store. After a moment of recovery the girl gave me the look of, "that's what you get for not shopping here." I felt like I had just stepped into a booby trap where the mastermind was not a savvy hunter, but rather a little girl.

There have been others along the way, but those are the ones that came to mind. Maybe the next time I see you, you can brighten my day with a similar set of stories.

Youth Conference

Lately I've been feeling drained and it's not because I've been so crazy busy (although I have been), or because it's so hot (although it is impressively hot), but because there's a youth conference going on this week. About 3,000 kids are camping out in and around the base and it's really fun. More specifically though, the speakers are wearing me out. I sort of feel bad for saying that, but then again I don't.....mostly because it's true. It seems like every one of the talks lasts over an hour and there's no theology involved really. I mean, there's some, but it could be said in a 5 minute synopsis. Instead, there is an amazing amount of emotional appeal and I'm starting to feel really zapped by it all. Almost all of the teachings are for the purpose of whipping the kids into a fever-pitched frenzy and then calling it good. I don't know, maybe I'm just cynical. I like hanging out with the kids and talking at any rate.

By the way, here is a picture of Juan. This is the same Juan who was hit by the truck. The good report on him is that he continues to improve. He can now talk some, walk a few steps at a time, and he's gaining some weight back. I will continue to update on him as he progresses.

Developing Plans

Well it has been quite some time since I've posted here and for that I apologize. Aside from the normal busyness, I've had a stomach parasite that has pretty much sidelined me. Anyway I have some good pics to share the next time I get to Puerto but for now I wanted to share how the business development plans are going.

Truthfully, I'm very excited because I feel like so much is coming together. I've planned with the Bible school administrators when and how I will implement the business course into the trade school next year. To that end, I've already outlined the whole course and summarized the material to be covered. I only lack the individual lesson plans. The course will have three parts in total and cover the whole school year.

As far as individual businesses go, I am in the middle of helping to launch an extended guest services campaign that will provide guests to the mission base with the options of fishing on our beach front, snorkeling, touring the rock/island in front of the base, and this will all be in addition to a restaurant on the top floor of the guest house. By God's providence we have come into contact with a chef who actually worked in the states for a number of years. He has graciously agreed to help us in our fledgling effort to start this restaurant.

Lastly I am entering into a time of pursuing an outsourcing contract with a company from Missouri. I can't go into the specifics at the moment, but please pray that God grants us favor in winning the contract here. I can't describe the kind of blessing this would be for the people here.

That's it in a nutshell regarding the business development front. I hope that this news encourages you as much as it does me.

This weekend I'm going to visit a village about 4 hours away from the base called Amuzgos. It should be pretty fun. I will be staying with a pastor and just getting to know the people and the area. I've already learned how to say "My name is," and "I'm from" in their native tongue. I'll post about the trip when I get back. God bless.