Much Better

Now I'm listening to my expansive Will Smith collection...you can't help but smile and bob your head to his beats!

Cheeseburger in Paradise

Right now, I am actually listening to "Cheesburger in Paradise" by Jimmy Buffett...I don't know why I ever downloaded this song...I think I hate it. I like Margaritville, Brown Eyed Girl, Mexico, and a few other J.B. songs, but why a cheeseburger in paradise? Why did I download it...why am I listening to it now...I feel tense.

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Gas Man and New Blogs

Remember my gas station guy, Tariq? Well, I spent some unexpected time with him last week. I ran in for a quick coffee and gatorade and he gets started. Man, everytime we talk - I sweat so much I need to go back home and take a shower. He initiated a conversation with me dealing with humanity's motivations for benevolence. He wants to do good for the sake of future generations. I asked him why he cared about future generations, and he went into this deep explanation of the head and heart, and his mother. He's really into what he believes...although, I think he has made up most of what he believes...so I guess he's really into himself in a way...anyways, in a/b an hour of conversation, we got as far as willingness to communicate and caring "without expectations" is a definite common ground for us. (Though I believe he either thinks me slightly foolish, or he is just good @ making me feel slightly foolish. - some people have a real talent in leading conversation in a way that makes one feel slightly foolish - I won't name names, I'll just say that one guy like this "is my pick-a-da-week"...and another has scary eyes and spent 30 years in law enforcement.)

Well, Tariq and I are still compadres, but man this guy wears me out...all he wants to do is have challenging conversation...no small talk @ the Tigermart...so be praying that I let God do His work (and that my Old Spice deoderant works).


Here's some new blogs for you:
Lex
John
Steve

Evenings @ The AZ

Each evening @ The AZ, we led in worship gatherings outside or inside the local church. Krissy, Hunter, Colton, Jamie, Sheila, and Brian worked with me on the music side of things. (Again, I had to get over my fear of singing...I think it is called "Gerontophobia".) I spoke on Sunday...Herb got Monday-Thursday...then I finished up on Friday. We had great response throughout the week.

My favorite evening was probably Tuesday evening. I pulled all of my students together before the service started and led them in a time of preworship that helped refocus their attention from giving to others to recieving from God. When the actual service began, they were tuned in to God and ready for a special experience of His prescence. Their readiness and the genuiness in worship that came along was so apparent that it led the entire fellowship into a very sweet time of connection with God. What a night!


Worship, and the Picacho Peak Boys (from Friday afternoon)

Afternoons @ The AZ

After kidz camp...I would take my group (in what is now called the Kevin-Mobile) across town, like Mexico-border runs, to the church where we would eat lunch, which was prepared by some girls from my group (Reagan and Brooke). Then, I would hurry the group to the city pool for a quick dip to cool off before running back out to the 100+ degree weather for sports camp.

Monday, we held a soccer camp, led by Jamie and Geoff.
Tuesday, we held a basketball camp, led by Cody, Krissy, and Matt...and yours truly, took the local teens to school!
Wednesday, we held a community-wide kickball game! (with the largest turnout of anything)
Thursday, we did an all-sports camp.
And then on Friday, we took the afternoon off to hike Picacho Peak. (Geoff, Brian, and yours truly ran most of the way up and down...we all were sore later, especially Geoff, who fell into a cactus!)

Tuesday's basketball camp is where I met Oscar and Cesar...these guys said that they only came out since it was "cool outside". (It was 105 degrees). Each day they came back to play ball with me...and after we played on Friday-I told them that I was headed out of town the next day...we spent some time talking under a shade tree...they don't live in the best situation...and don't see a lot of hope...but we are praying for them.

I was so proud of my girls during the sports camps. Heather and Allie took the initiative to be water/gatorade girls...and took refresments to the fields, the courts, and everywhere there were children. Krissy might have worked the hardest on the bball court...first to earn respect from the guys, and then second to show them a thing or two.

Colton and Kristin Cl did a phenominal job @ leading rec games...Brian was tireless @ wiffleball with Terrance...Hunter connected with Anfronee on and off the court...Connie, Kristin Ch, Sheila, and Max got the kids involved, Kelsey took care of all of the little-ones, and Natalie took pictures off all of the memories.



Sports Camp Pics

Mornings @ The AZ

Let's see...where did I leave off...?

Oh yes..the truck stop showers and me singing!

Monday - Friday:
We started the morning with breakfast @ Jones Park @ 8:00a, followed by a team building game (provided by Chris Stephenson @ the Rec-much thanks!) We began collecting neighborhood children a/b 8:45a and began kidz camp @ 9:30a. My group did such an incredible job of preperation before leaving (and on the bus ride there)...that they all knew their roles so well that I had no real worries throughout the mornings. We had the incredible opportunity to build realationships with many children...and most closely with Mark, Jessie, Anfronee, Thomas, Oscar, Cesar, Corey, Josh, and Jared...and most famously with Kareem and Rustin (aka Mickey and Goofey).

The laugh of my life came on Tuesday due in large part to Mickey and Goofey. These 4-year-old brothers were the tiniest, cutest kids you have ever seen. They took real well to (almost) everyone in our group. The (almost) refers to my big man, Cody, (a whopping 6'7"). Cody told me on Monday night that he thought the boys were intimidated by the difference in their heights. [Cody is one of the kindest, most mild-mannered, guys I've ever met...], but he was simply too big for the little-ones. Sometime midmorning on Tuesday I look over...and see Mickey and Goofey pounding the daylights out of Cody (who is lying in the fetal postition) with pool noodles. He had convinced them that they were Jedi's...and for the rest of the week...they would take out his legs, arms, hands, or just crawl all over him.

Mickey and Goofey's mom was one of the biggest surprises. They had come from the next town over just for our kidz camps and afternoon sports camps. She spent the lunch breaks passing out flyers about our camps, on her own intitiative, b/c she thought every kid should be a part of the work we were involved in -- yet, she was not a christian. She simply appreciated the culture of acceptance, love, and caring that came with our group. (I expect her to want more of this culture of care...and I expect that she will become a Christ-follower soon - .:many prayers:.)


Kidz Camp Pics

Back from the AZ...and more.

First day really back...about lunch time...when is nap time? I'll sleep this weekend.

It took 21 hours to get from Midlothian, TX to Eloy, AZ. (Including the bus driver's frequently smoke breaks!) We left @ 8am (dallas) on Saturday, June 4th and arrived in Eloy @ 3am (5am dallas) {from now on, we will speak in Eloy time}. After dropping of my groups in their respective 'homes' for the trip, me and my boys (Geoff, Cody, and Hunter) crashed on the church floor for a/b 3 hours before waking up to go take showers @ the local truck stop. I had been dreading this truck stop shower experience (being a truck stop shower virgin)...but actually found it to be a decent experince. You get a key to a private (and very clean) bathroom that includes a shower, a sink, toilet, and a bench. BUT, that is the last time I pay $9 for a 5 minute shower!

After cleaning up, I headed to the church to set up sound and prepare for Sunday morning worship and bible study. I taught about love and evangelism and encouraged the local cuhrch members to participate with us in our efforts to assist their ministry in Eloy. My regular youth praise team couldn't not all make the trip, so we put together a small group for the trip. I had to get over my fear of singing, as did a couple of the girls...but, all went extremely well. The church knew mostly hymns, so we worked with some incredible hymns of rich truth...which was great for my students to experience. It was surprising that some of my group had never even heard 'How Great You Are (Thou Art)'. After the service, we had a terrific lunch that boosted our weary spirits from the previous day's travel-and then I sent my group to their homes for naps, while I prepared everything for the evening's service. That night we gathered to prepare our hearts and energies to be used by God. It was an inspiring time of testimony and reflection on God.


I'll post more later...and brieviate the trip. There are some encouraging stories of God's power and the love of His people...as well as a couple of interesting experience stories...I'll try to keep it all short...seeya then.


The Bus and Getting Fed!

Leaving on a Charter Bus

Well...I've done all I can do to prepare. Tomorrow morning, I am taking 25 kids to Arizona for a 9 day mission trip. We will be leading a kids camp, a sports camp, community block parties, and worship gatherings @ a local church and live music in the community. In fact, I'm also "preaching revival" -- man, that makes my grandmother happy to hear! The pastor of a local church has asked me to incorporate people in his church with our efforts and speak in two services, encouraging his members to PARTICIPATE in God's mission. Pray for us while I am gone -- I don't know what internet services I'll have out there...if possible, I'll try to check in, otherwise, I'll see you around the 15th.

peace and one love,

Way of the Master

Now...you all know me pretty well...and so that means you should know that I would NEVER be sarcastic...or make fun of others...So-I just won't say anything about the website I found today...(but it's really hurting me not to say ANYTHING.)

www.wayofthemaster.com

.:please click 'no' when Kirk prompts you:.
(and thanks to my friends @ Messy Ministry)