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Vacation Rental - Grand-Island, NY 14072 - Real Estate Video Tour

Filmed this place last Thursday. It gets my vote for our family reunion next summer (or winter for that matter). Would also make an exceptional Christmas gift ;-)

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Church was cancelled today, but Tim Hortons was open. So after some Jehovah Java we went home. The girls frolicked in the snow, the first time they've had the joy of snow in their boots in almost three years.

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If you can spare 15 or 20 minutes, listen to this presentation by Evelyn Glennie. You may never listen to music, or people, the same way again. (from TED)

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Lynn and I saw her (formerly known as Jane Siberry) last night at Hugh's Room in Toronto, and were absolutely blown away. She sang this song, and was accompanied by Tim Ray and Adrienne Pierce as well. I don't think I've ever heard anyone so completely embodied in their music and lyrics. If you ever get the chance, go see her. Just listening doesn't do her justice; Issa is an experience. Also cool: she uses predetermined pricing for her albums (you pay what you think they're worth), and she offers a dozen free tickets to all of her concerts (available online at www.sheeba.ca).

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Last night I listened to Carey Nieuwhof's message on the lunacy of what Christmas has become. We celebrate Jesus' birth, by any measure an event immersed in poverty, by spending crazy money (by Carey's research $750 per person) at 18% interest (on the unpaid balance, of course). It's not a new phenomenon. I'm pretty sure my parents spent more than they should have to make Christmas memorable for us back in the day.

Since our return from the DR we've tried to keep things simple, and our finances have made this easier. But once again I'm reminded how far we've drifted from the simplicity of the manger. How would Jesus celebrate his birthday? If His advent was a mission of mercy, maybe we should take that as our impetus and do likewise.

Our small group was planning a Christmas party, complete with games and eggnog. Rather than do the usual, we've opted to take our fun, food and games to the shelter here in town and "share the joy". Sounds like a party Jesus would attend, doesn't it?

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I've been doing more of these lately, as realtors discover the effectiveness of video in showing a property.

Brewery Loft, Toronto - MullinsMedia - Grand Island, NY 14072

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Once upon a time there was to adalts who got maried and got a little girl. they named her Marisa. But when she got older she started to like geese a lot. So her parants changed her name to Goose Girl.

Also for her twelfth birthday they bought Marisa a flock of pure white geese. Goose Girl loved all the geese and she named them all but one because she thought it was ugly because it had a red spot on its back. a few months later she found out that the no named goose could fly the fastest and the highest. So Goose Girl named him high flyer.

So Goose Girl and all her geese lived hapily ever after.

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I first "met" Gabe Lyons at Catalyst back in 2003. He was apparently being mentored by John Maxwell, and was being primed for leadership in InJoy. I was never a huge InJoy fan, finding them to be too marketing oriented, so I guess I never gave Lyons a fair shake either.

So when I read that he had teamed up with David Kinnaman (Barna Research Group) to produce this book I was a little skeptical. I heard them speak at Catalyst this year, and had the chance to pick up Unchristian in Pennsylvania a few weeks ago. The first few pages grabbed me, as Kinnaman recalls a phone call he received from Lyons a few years earlier, saying that he was leaving his ministry (InJoy) to do this research and write a book about it. Turns out that Lyons had a heart for this generation, specifically those between the ages of 16 and 29, and wanted to find out what they truly thought of Christianity.

Three years of study and thousands of interviews revealed that their thinking is overwhelmingly negative, due in large part to their interactions with Christians. They broke these negative perceptions into six broad themes - the most common points of skepticism and objections raised by outsiders (non-Christian, non-churched people):

1. Hypocritical. Outsiders consider us hypocritical - saying one thing and doing another - and they are skeptical of our morally superior attitudes. They say Christians pretend to be something unreal, conveying a polished image that is not accurate. Christians think the church is only a place for virtuous and morally pure people

2. Too focused on getting converts. Outsiders wonder if we genuinely care about them. They feel like targets rather than people. They question our motives when we try to help them "get saved", despite the fact that many of them have already "tried" Jesus and experienced church before.

3. Antihomosexual. Outsiders say that Christians are bigoted and show disdain for gays and lesbians. They say Christians are fixated on curing homosexuals and on leveraging political solutions against them.

4. Sheltered. Christians are thought of as old-fashioned, boring, and out of touch with reality. Outsiders say we do not respond to reality in appropriately complex ways, preferring simplistic solutions and answers. We are not willing to deal with the grit and grime of people's lives.

5. Too political. Another common perception of Christians is that we are overly motivated by a political agenda, that we promote and represent politically conservative interests and issues. Conservative Christians are often thought of as right-wingers.

6. Judgmental. Outsiders think of Christians as quick to judge others. They say we are not honest about our attitudes and perceptions about other people. They doubt we really love people as we say we do.

Ouch.

As I read through each well-documented chapter, I found myself nodding my head in agreement and shaking it in disgust. How is it that society has come to think so poorly of Christianity because of... us? They acknowledge and address the fact that the issues are far more complex than I have just quoted, but they also give valid and hopeful ways that we can reverse this perception crisis.

There are too many good quotes to post here, but let me leave you with a couple.

"Young outsiders want to have discussions, but they perceive Christians as unwilling to engage in genuine dialogue. They think of conversations as "persuasion" sessions, in which the Christian downloads as many arguments as possible."

"Outsiders told us that the underlying concern of Christians often seems more about being right than listening."

"Jesus was called a friend of sinners, relentlessly pursuing the downtrodden. What an irony that today his followers are seen in the opposite light! How can people love God, whom they can't see, if those of us who claim to represent Him don't respond to outsiders with love?"

"The reputation of the Christian faith should never be managed or spin-doctored, but we can change how we're known by becoming more Christlike."

My interactions with "outsiders" over the past three years would bear out their research, and I suspect many of you will feel the same. I would encourage you to pick up a copy of this book, and as you read it, ask yourself if the outsiders you know get an accurate picture of Jesus from your life and lips.

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I just realized it's been almost three weeks since my last post. Where does the time go?

I spent almost a week down at Messiah College in Grantham, PA doing some recruiting for ISV FaithWorks. Basically we take the ISV infrastructure (two weeks volunteer work and two weeks adventure tour) and create a true mission adventure, working with local churches to help them reach their community. The second two weeks is an intense leadership training and discipleship experience in the host country. We have high hopes for this new program, but response has been a little slow. I spent time at Emmanuel Bible College and University of Waterloo this week, Brock University next week, and in two different churches.

I've also had some great film opportunities open up, everything from promo videos for a school and a seminary, filming a high-end loft in Toronto, to the possibility of a $1,000,000,000 ship being built in the Netherlands. I've also been invited to film for a mission agency in Ecuador at the beginning of February, so that's kind of exciting too. I'm putting the finishing touches on "Sand Down Under", my low-budget documentary on Fraser Island, Australia, and hope to have that on sale by mid-December.

The family is all good, and they're the other reason I haven't blogged much lately. Shaniah is becoming a hand and foot addict (I've taught her all she knows), and Madeline is wrapping me even more tightly around her little finger! Lynn is busy too, working P/T at Food Basics, but hoping to expand her base of piano students.

For my readers in warmer places, we are heading into our first winter in four years. Put the snow tires on today, filled up with -40 washer fluid, and scraped the ice off the windshield this morning. The christmas tree and lights do look nicer with a dusting of snow, though.

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(CNN) -- A federal jury in Baltimore, Maryland, Wednesday awarded $10.9 million to a father of a Marine whose funeral was picketed by members of a fundamentalist church carrying signs blaming soldiers' deaths on America's tolerance of homosexuals.

I wish there was a mechanism that could shut down "churches" like this permanently. Such bigotry and hatred.

It's no wonder that people have become so cynical and jaded when the term "Christian" is used. Consider this quote from the newly-released book UnChristian:

“Christianity has become bloated with blind followers who would rather repeat slogans than actually feel true compassion and care. Christianity has become marketed and streamlined into a juggernaut of fearmongering that has lost its own heart.”

The only bright side is that it should be obvious that these meglomaniacs do not represent Jesus in any way, shape or form.

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We've had a lot of calls lately from churches (and a few businesses) interested in renovating their web spaces. They do tend to get stale if you don't keep them updated, and styles do change over the years. It's amazing how many churches have websites built the old-fashioned way with Frontpage, that are still sticking with them. And Bob the volunteer (no offence, Bob) just doesn't have the time to keep the website up, let alone making it attractive and functional.

When I looked back at our own website, I realized it was time for a change. We do things differently than we did even three years ago, and we are going for a much simpler, almost minimal look, with less dependance on moving razmatazz. "Oooo.... aaaah" special effects might get people to look at your site, but only good content will compel them to stay.

So check out the new and improved www.mullinsmedia.com, and if you know of a church or business that would like to try something new, pass our name along!

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A few weeks ago I did some filming in Washington, DC for the Fellowship of Christian Lumbermen. I didn't sell a lot of DVDs, but one of the guys who bought one lives in Waterloo, so I decided to deliver his personally tonight. I dropped off Maddy at the church and punched his address into "Judy" - my GPS unit ;-). Anyway, as "Judy" led me along the 401, and then Hwy 8 and the Conestoga Parkway, things began to look familiar. I turned onto Albert Street, and then left on Longwood and right onto Moccasin Dr. Turns out my friend lives just around the corner from one of the houses I grew up in, from '76 to '81.

I remember my Dad planting a willow tree in the front yard. It's now bigger than the house. I was telling my friend that my Dad built a bench into the fence for people to sit on while they waited for the bus. His daughter remembered what a great idea that was.

I drove along the streets I used to walk to school, and eventually found it. The school seems much smaller now.

The remarkable thing was, I really didn't need "Judy". As I slowly drove through the old neighborhood, the street names and rights and lefts all came right back to me after 30 years. What is that? How do our brains lock that kind of information away, only to bring it back when we need it.

Makes me wonder what Maddy and Shaniah will remember when they are 38 and 41.

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The last few years have taught us the value and importance of cultivating the inner life in solitude, but there is something inspiring about 11,000 other believers worshipping in the same place. Makes one dream about heaven, and the power of millions around the throne of God.

For me, Catalyst is about being stretched and challenged spiritually. How do we reach a culture which for the most part has written the church and Christianity off? In a recent survey, over 80% of the American public associated Christianity first with anti-homosexuality. So when I introduce myself as a Christian, 8 out of 10 immediately assume I am one of the "haters". The current belief also seems to be that Christians are anti-environmental too. Nice place to start, eh? We are known far more for what we are against then what we are for, and that is sad.

I didn't agree with everything every speaker had to say, but I've been challenged to reconsider some of my own positions and think of ways to connect with a society which believes that Christianity is at best irrelevant and at worst, dangerous.

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Catalyst is one of those conferences that probably couldn't happen anywhere but in America. Over 11,000 people paid on average $200 each to attend. This isn't all that bad for a two-day conference, but when you add the merchandise for sale (books, DVDs, music, t-shirts), cost of transportation, hotels and food, it becomes a pretty pricey proposition. If you've been there before, you'll know their use of technology (sounds, lights and video) is off the hook - to use the vernacular - and that's a good thing. It only enhances the overall experience. When I get home I'll post some video I shot of one of the worship sets.

As in other years, I have struggled with the materialism of the whole affair. Dave Ramsey (Financial Peace University and syndicated Radio personality) is a huge presence this year, but so are several other vendors selling thousands of dollars of resources - credit cards gladly accepted. Every one is giving away lots of free stuff, along with chances to win iPods or an iMacs. People were almost tackling each other to catch t-shirts fired by cannon into the crowd. Ramsey even had a small radio-controlled blimp flying around the arena, dropping coupons that could be turned in for the chance to win more Apple stuff. Only in America.

On the plus side, the teaching and worship have been awesome. Andy Stanley preached from John 13, asking the question, "What do you do when it dawns on you that you are the most powerful person in the room?" Most pastors and leaders tend to abuse the power, twisting it for their own aggrandisement. Jesus humbles himself and washes his disciples feet, commanding us to do the same. Francis Chan spoke simply, eloquently and honestly on his struggles with pastoring a "successful" church when he frankly didn't love Jesus or his people as he should. Rick Warren was a little less inspiring, choosing to pretty much "wing it" with sound bytes from his Purpose Driven material. I noticed a real difference from the first time I heard him speak several years ago, and it was kind of sad.

Tomorrow we're looking forward to Erwin McManus, Tim Sanders and Andy Stanley before we hit the road around 4 for the long drive back to Lewisburg, PA to see our girls and my folks.

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I've been to Catalyst twice before - once with my friend Darryl, and once with my brother Steve. This year, I really wanted to take my wife, as I've always said she would love it. So we're actually going this year! We left the girls with my folks near Harrisburg, PA, and took a few days for the leisurely drive to Atlanta (my and Lynn's definition of "leisurely" differs greatly, but that's another post).

I hope to blog through the two days we are there, hopefully from my seat in the arena. Will see how that goes, but keep your eye's posted.

Oh, yes. There is a third person in the car with us. Her name is Judy and she is from the UK. She is riding in a little small box stuck to our windshield, a Tom Tom Go 300. Charming, Judy is. And she never ceases to amaze us with her ability to track us (using 6-8 satellites) and guide us to where we need to be, even quickly recalculating when we deviate from her plan. She even suggested a hotel for us tonight!

When I first installed "Judy", the girls were amazed. From the time their young lips could form words, they have insisted on asking "are we there yet?" or, "when will be there?" Now they can just look at the display and see for themselves exactly where they are. Shaniah, knowing that Lynn would rather read than talk on long trips, said, "that's great Dad. Now you have someone to talk too."

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This one's for you, Grandma. Next to my mother, you are my most faithful reader. Or do I have that backwards? And I know this because (1) you told me, and (2) I can print off a map showing where "hits" to my blog are coming from, and there are a LOT of hits from The Villages.

We're settling nicely into our new digs. The girls are loving school, even after a few weeks. They still run off excitedly to beat the opening bell. Both girls have had friends over after school, so they seem to be adjusting well. The only challenge will be French. They start in Gr.1 here, so Shaniah is especially behind. Someone tried to tell me that the little Spanish she learned will help her in French class. OK. We'll see.

Lynn is doing great. She started a part-time job at Food Basics as a cashier, so that's kept her busy learning all the produce codes. Funny, she came home after her first day of training and re-typed the whole produce list, 400 some items, because some were out of order, and she wanted to memorize them. She went to work the next day and discovered that they change the numbers every few weeks anyway to throw off the dishonest customers. Her main objective, though, is to teach piano. She had a good interview at a Christian School today. They are looking for a teacher for a dozen or so kids. We are bringing her piano "home" this Saturday, so she's having trouble containing herself.

I've been busy editing video and building websites, and developing ISV FaithWorks for ISV (there's a few links for you to chew on!). Lots of exciting potential there to involve Christian college kids in the most amazing mission adventure on the planet. Hey Grandma... how's about joining us foe a few weeks in Thailand next summer. We could put you to work in the kitchen and maybe even a rice field or two. You'd be a hit over there.

Well, time for bed. Just wanted to bring you up to speed, and say "thanks" for your love and prayers!

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Well, the day were all looking forward to has arrived. Shaniah started her school year at 8:20 this morning, and Maddy at 8:55. They are going to different schools, but both are within walking distance from home. You can't imagine how excited they were. And we were a little excited too!

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www.johnortberg.com

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We knew when we came home that Lynn would need to work, at least part-time. So last week she headed out with a stack of resumes, and came home a few hours later and announced she was starting Monday! No interview, no application, nothing. They would begin training her right away. Her new workplace is Food Basics, the bargain bin for A&P.

So we went by today to do a bit of shopping for dinner (and Shaniah's lemonade stand, but that's another post...). As we walked through the door Maddy saw Lynn behind the checkout, intensely concentrating on not messing up, and exclaimed "Mommy's an employeeee!" (Note: You have to say it out loud, with the emphasis on the last syllable to get the picture.)

As for me, video work is picking up. I'm actually filming some street ministry tonight in downtown Kitchener. I expect to get some pretty compelling footage under the bridges and in a few crackhouses too. The idea is to let people know the realities of life on the street, and that they can do something to help. Also have a few websites under way. There is one other opportunity that God may be opening up, so pray that He will either open or close the door. (I would prefer "open", but that's up to Him!)

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One of the things we've had to get used to since our return has been the higher cost of living. Everytime I open my wallet, a minimum of $20 seems to disappear. Gas, food, taxes. So we've been trying to find ways to economize on our phone bill. We've pretty much decided to try and do everything online, since internet is provided at our apartment.

We have been using Skype for quite a while, which has been cool, especially when I was in Thailand. With Skype you can talk for free between computers when you're both online. And with SkypeOut, you can call almost any number for around 3 cents a minute. There are a few new options, though, that allow you to use your cell or landline without having to talk through your computer.

I was introduced to Jajah through Guy Kawasaki. You sign up for free, and give them your phone number. Go to the login window, enter the number you want to call. A few seconds later your phone rings. Answer it, and your call is patched through for less than 4 cents a minute. If you have a Blackberry or other mobile internet device, you can do this directly without using your computer at all. And calls between Jajah users are free.

Rebtel works a little differently. You sign up (again, for free) and enter your number. You then enter the number you wish to call. They assign a new local number to that contact, so every call is like a local call. So they give me a new number for my Dad, and I can call that number for 1.7 cents a minute. That's 4 hours, 37 minutes of talk time for $5! Rebtel also has a facebook application, for those of you who have been sucked into that vortex.

There are a few provisos. Both companies require you to pay up front for your calls with a credit card or possibly Paypal, and all calls made from a cell phone obviously use whatever minutes you have in your plan. But this still could save us all a boatload of money.

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We did something yesterday that we haven't done in quite a while. OK, never. We began the search for a church to call home. Every church we've attended since we were married paid us to show up on Sundays, as every pastor ought to I suppose, but now we have three or four to choose from, and we have narrowed that down to two. They are both excellent churches in their own right, but very different.

Hespeler Baptist is smaller and fairly traditional, and neither of these are negatives in our book. They have supported us while on the mission field, and Lynn's parents attend there - her Dad is on staff. I've always appreciated their stable, prayerful, godly leadership.

Forward Baptist is bigger with a great facility, probably more "us" in their approach to reaching their community. Our kids were really impressed with their chldren's ministry and have already decided that we should make it our church home. The welcome package - nice mugs, Girardelli chocolates, and chocolate covered pretzels - didn't hurt either. It's also quite a bit closer to us, and offers small groups in our neighborhood.

But we've never been ones to attend church for what it can offer us. We like to be in a place where we're needed and can be used, so our decision is tougher than it appears. The next few weekends we're traveling, so we don't need to decide right away, but it is a strange, new, position to be in.

This is also my first day in the office! I'm busy getting a few new ventures off the ground. Virtual Visitor is a way for churches to invite people to check out their church before they actually visit. I also offer easy-edit websites to churches as well. Reel Estate provides video tours of property listings, which are then streamed to real estate websites. Both are in embryo, but have lots of potential. Small World Productions is what we are calling my work for ISV and other mission teams. So three main areas, all under the MullinsMedia umbrella!

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This time last month I was with ISV in Thailand. In the last three weeks we have given away alot of our stuff, packed our bags, said "adios" to the Dominican Republic, and said "Hey, how's it goin', eh?" to Cambridge, ON. We've moved into a second floor apartment above FEBCentral's office, where they are also letting me borrow some office space until we get things set up here. In fact, tonight is our first night in the new place, after enjoying the gracious hospitality of the inlaws for a week or so.

What's it like being home? Not as radically different as I was expecting, but then I've been off the island a fair bit this year. It is nice having constant electricity and water and internet access. And it's nice having lines on the road that mean something. We do need to readjust to the higher cost of living here. I have some work lined up for next week, and Lynn will begin circulating her resume to help make ends meet.

We are really grateful for all the ways folks have helped us with the move back, from financial gifts, to help unloading trucks, to donated furniture and watching the girls as we sorted through stuff.

Today, Lynn and I celebrated 16 years of wedded bliss. So after a day of unpacking, we went out to a Thai restaurant near our new place. We were reflecting on the milestone things that have happened on our anniversaries. In 1992 we moved to Grand Island, NY. In 2004 we made the decision to move to the DR. And here we are in 20067 beginning a new chapter here in Cambridge.

I think Lynn starts getting nervous every time August 10 rolls around.

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This picture reminded me of one we took of the girls shortly after we arrived in the DR. They were happy then, and they're happy now. We'll miss our friends the most, but we'll also miss trips to the beach, snorkeling the reef, swimming in the canyon streams, and a hundred other things. We'll go from having a big tropical yard, to a busy street! We'll have lot's of parks nearby, though.

The next few days will be spent packing, finishing up some Thailand video editing, and tying up some loose ends. In an ironic twist, our internet is working right for the first time in months, and we have three days to enjoy it!

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"Home" is one of those flexible words, at least for we in the Mullins family. Since our wedding back in '91, we have moved six times, and we will make our seventh, back to Canada on July 29. For me, home is more about family than zip code, so wherever Lynn and the girls are is home for me. That said, I got home yesterday around four. We got back from the airport and handed out the various souvenirs and gifts I had accumulated while away, and just enjoyed being together again. This sunset didn't hurt either.

The next ten days will be busy ones as we prepare for our return. We still need to complete the paperwork for selling the truck, and we have lots of stuff to sort through and give away. We also want to paint our condo and leave it ship-shape for the next tenant. And I need to edit the ten hours of footage I shpt in Thailand, and complete a few projects for friends. This Sunday will be our last with "The Gathering", so that will be a tough goodbye, but we are so grateful for the friends we've made while we've been here, and are glad they've found eachother too.

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Sign beside a bike rental place in Thailand.

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Our last few days in Thailand were busy ones. After a day of rock climbing and repelling, we went on a sunset and scuba island BBQ around some of the beautiful places near Railey Beach, across the bay from Phuket. Friday was spent snorkeling around Koh Phi Phi, again, awesome. Saturday we got back on a double decker boat and headed about two hours west for the start of our two-day sea kayaking trip. We traveled through some mangrove swamps and then came into this deep canyon with vegetated cliffs. At that moment the clouds opened up and dumped sheets of horizontal rain. Kind of a added a cool, life-threatening twist to the adventure as we battled our way back to the big boat. The next day, our last in Thailand, we kayaked around an island, stopping to swim through this narrow tunnel that opened into the lagoon you see above. The scenery was really spectacular, and after an hour ride and delicious lunch onboard, we arrived at Phuket Pier and then the airport, where we caught our flight to Bangkok, and then on to LA, where I'm spending the day recovering from jetlag and waiting for my 11:00pm flight to Miami. At 12:50, I fly to Puerto Plata, where Lynn and the girl will pick me up at 2:50pm. Can't wait!

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The past few days have been intense to say the least. I may be able to post a few pictures to my facebook page tomorrow, but I thought I'd update you on where I've been the past few days.

Wednesday we returned to the mountains of northern Thailand and spent the night at the Lisu Lodge, one of several accommodations operated by the various hill tribes that live here. We got up on Thursday morning and began our two day trek way up into the hills, and when I say "up", I mean "up". Not sure what our altitude was, but we were definitely in cloud forest territory. The first three hours were uphill, a challenge for this body, which was built for comfort not speed, and for stability in high winds. After stopping at a few different hill tribe villages, we ended the day way up on a ridge at an outpost with an unbelievable view. It was actually populated by a tribe with Tibetan roots, so the culture was remarkable. Friday morning we trekked back down the mountain, in the rain, and stopping for a swim in a waterfall, before finishing the hike with a 10k whitewater rafting trip.

It was a pretty hardcore few days, and stretched most of us way beyond our comfort zones, physically and culturally. My biggest challenge was actually keeping my camera dry and functioning with a collection of dry bags and umbrellas. The video footage was stunning and I can't wait to get it edited. The group has made my job easier too. They are a great bunch of university students - 29 in all.

Today we visited three major temples in Chiang Mai. This used to be the capital of Thailand until hostilities with Burma necessitated a move of the capital south to Bangkok. It is still in many ways the spiritual capital, though. The temple on top of Doi Suthep, the large mountain overlooking the city, is amazing, and the view of Chiang Mai is stunning. After witnessing the intricacies of Buddhism, I am more in love than ever with the simplicity of following Jesus.

Tomorrow we have our last day here before catching the night train to Bangkok. Monday will be spent sightseeing there, before catching an afternoon flight down to Phuket and then on to Kao Sok for some river tubing, rock climbing at Railay Beach and sea kayaking before heading home on the 15th.

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Don't worry, Dear. We're not moving to Thailand. But if we did, we would live here in Chiang Mai. The people are so friendly and open, and it is a truly beautiful part of the world. We drove through the mountain range you see above on our way to live with a hill tribe for a few days last week. As it turns out, the village is half Christian, which makes it quite unique in 96% Buddhist Thailand. And the church in the village is of the Baptist variety, which made my world a whole lot smaller. I had quite a conversation with the pastor, and am seriously thinking about bringing a team back here some day.

As you may have surmised, this trip has been one of the most spectacular I have taken over the past few years. But it's also been one of the most challenging, physically and mentally. We hiked through a cave for a kilometer or so, and then to the top of the mountain above it. I will need a Thai massage before I can use my legs again. We'll spend the rest of this week in Chiang Mai, before taking an overnight train ride to Bangkok for Sunday and Monday, and then flying to Phuket in the south for the rest of the trip - rock climbing, snorkeling, beach crawling.

But it's also been tough to be away from my family, especially as we prepare to move home. Lynn is doing alot of the leg work, packing stuff up, and she deserves kudos for that. I am really thankful for Skype - I talked with my girls for over a half-hour today and yesterday for free, and even chatted with my Dad for a while this evening. They are on the exact opposite side of the world, and it felt like they were right next door.

Did I mention that I have the best family in the world? If I mention going away again this year, hit me in the head with something solid, would you?

You can look at more of my pictures here!

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We drove about three hours north of Chaing Mai yesterday, through beautiful mountain ranges, headed for Mae Sai, the northernmost town in Thailand, right on the Burmese border. We are filming another ISV partner project - DEPDC, Development Education Program for Daughters and Children. Most of the children here at considered "at risk", and have come from situations where they were either in abusive or exploitive situations, or would have been had they been left there. They have around 40 kids in residence, and the rest are brought in by bus or walk in from the surrounding community.

It's been great to film the ISV teams interacting with the kids, learning the language and culture, and generally being challenged by a way of life much different from their own.

I was pleasantly surprised to discover that they have wi-fi in the office, so I'm able to post today and might even be able to Skype with Lynn and the girls tonight!

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I, obviously, am not a Buddhist. I'm not even sure they'd let me be one if I wanted to be. And I know I would look suspicious in the bright orange robes they wear, assuming I could even enter the priesthood. But I am looking forward to learning more about the religion that more than a billion people call their own. The temple above is right behind our hotel and is more than 2000 years old.

From my roof top I can see "novices" shuffling around the courtyard, going about their daily routine. Every day, people have the opportunity to bring gifts of food to the monks in exchange for a blessing. Even today, I saw some monks selling flowers to buddhists who would in turn present them as offerings to the buddha statues that are on almost every corner.

No matter what I think about Buddhism and other world religions, I can't help but admire their devotion and commitment to their belief system. I'm pretty sure most people who call themselves Christian aren't this devoted to the One they call "Lord".

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I’ve been in Thailand for three days now, and it’s unlike an other place I’ve been. According to my Facebook travel map, I’ve visited 8% of the world’s countries, so Thailand’s uniqueness shouldn’t surprise me, I guess. The world is a big place.

I didn’t have much of chance to deal with my jet lag when I found myself up in the mountains north of Chiang Mai. ISV is working with the Elephant Nature Park this summer, an organization which rescues mistreated elephants and rehabilitates them on their private reserve of several hundred acres in a serene river valley. In the morning we awoke the sound of elephants trumpeting in the distance, walking through the tall grass in their family groups. They are incredibly intelligent and social creatures. But in Thailand, and many other asian countries, elephants are nothing more than beasts of burden. Mahouts, or elephant owner/operators, often beat them with iron hooks, using negative enforcement to train them to fulfil such tasks as pulling wagons and farm implements and carrying tourists up and down mountains. Most elephants are scarred on their heads from the regular beatings they receive. The ENP exists to provide a refuge for more than 40 elephants of all ages. They are fed daily, often with special diets to deal with their various ailments, bathed twice a day in the river, and given shelters to sleep in in their family groups. Volunteers visit from all over the world and help with the daily chores of mucking out the stalls, bathing and feeding the elephants, and assiting with building projects on the property.

After two days at the ENP, Kieran drove me back into Chiang Mai. Kieran is Thailand’s ISV country director, and has a full plate overseeing all of the projects running in the country (three at present) and the adventure tour, fourteen high impact activities, from whitewater rafting the Mae Taeng river, sea kayaking around Phang Hga Bay and climbing the limestone cliffs of Railay Beach. I’ll be blogging on all that as we do it the week after next!

I’ll be here at the Parosol Inn for two more nights, a neat little hotel just a few blocks from the Silver Gate and the old city. I went for a stroll this morning through the gate and saw a marching band going though it’s drills, and a dozen or so Buddhist “novices” – monks in training – on their way to the temple in their bright orange robes. Temples are everywhere. Right next door to my hotel is the one of the oldest “teak temples” in the city. I’ll see lots of these during my three weeks here, and they are a focal point of the tour. I bought two 300 baht phone cards this morning – that’s a little less than $10 each – and called home to talk to Lynn and the girls. I really needed to talk to Shaniah as she struggles when I’m gone. The cards only last 5 minutes each, so our conversations were a little short but sweet. Was good to hear familiar voices, even if they were a little tearful. I’ve often said, this is the only downside of what I do – being away from my wife and girls. I hope to tale Shaniah with me on my next trip, whenever that may be.

Just in case I can’t blog much this week, I’ll be here until Monday morning, at which point we’ll be driving back up into the mountains to the Mae Sai area of northern Thailand. ISV is working with an organization that has rescued children from exploitation in the huge sex trade industry. Many times parents sell their kids to work in sweatshops, and then they are moved into the sex trade. ISV’s partner organization takes these kids off the streets and moves them into secluded mountain villages where they will be safely rehabilitated and educated. On Thursday night, I’ll be joining another group of students who are doing volunteer work among a remote hillside tribe, and will be there until Sunday when we return to Chiang Mai to begin the two-week adventure tour.

You’ve seen a few pictures here, but you can see more over at my Facebook page (link on the right). I’ll post several albums there during my trip.

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Just a quick note to let you know that I am safely in Thailand, after a smooth flight across the Pacific last night. I'm now officially 12 hour ahead of most of you - the next day. So it's 11:38am on Thursday.

I'm off to film the Elephant Nature Project today and tomorrow, and will have a few stories to tell and pictures to show then.

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After a nice lunch with Lynn and the girls yesterday, they kissed me goodbye for the fourth time in 12 months. It's hard to believe: Australia, New Zealand, Costa Rica, back to Australia, and now three weeks in Thailand. This trip will be the last for this year we're hoping. We'd like to get nicely settled back in Canada before I do any more international travel.

After a bit of a delay due to severe weather in Miami, we finally got off the ground, arriving in LA around 1:00am. Fell into my bed at the hotel around 2:00am. Today I need to pick up a few filming supplies, and then head to LAX to catch a late-night flight to Bangkok, Thailand. I get in there at 6:10am tomorrow, and then fly immediately to Chiang Mai where the filming will begin.

I really enjoy filming ISV. They do really good work with community-based organizations, and the students are really challenged to make a difference. You can see where I'll be going by visiting www.isvonline.com and clicking on Thailand. My first three days will be spent filming at the Elephant Nature Park and a hill tribe that ISV works in. From June 27-30 I'll be filming the Development and Education for Daughters and Communities program - an organization that works on the prevention side of trafficking of women and children in the sex trade and exploitative labour situations. From July 1-15 I'll be filming the exciting Thailand adventure tour.

So, here I go again. Please keep Lynn and the girls in your prayers during my absence. My separation from them is by far the hardest part of what I do, and I am so grateful the strength God provides to Lynn, especially as we're looking forward to our move home on Aug.1.

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Ken Blanchard (author of One Minute Manager and numerous other business books) tells a great story about Ritz Carlton and their commitment to customer satisfaction.

Solving a customer's problem is paramount to the Ritz's operation. Any employee can immediately spend up to $2,000 to solve a problem without getting any ones approval. A businessman checked out of the Ritz Carlton and traveled to Hawaii to make a important scheduled presentation. Upon arriving in Hawaii he discovered he had left his laptop, complete with the presentation, back at the Ritz. He called the hotel. A housekeeper had found the computer. The businessman needed the computer absolutely the next day. She took the computer to the airport, and her and the computer took off to Hawaii. She didn't turn it into a vacation, she returned on the next flight back. When her boss ask her why she flew the laptop to Hawaii rather than shipping it, she simply stated that there was less margin for error if she took it there herself.

Blanchard, in his book called Raving Fans, talks about a method of management that sets as an objective turning your customers into "raving fans" about your business. The successful company of the future will be relying on their customer base as their marketing department. The goal, says Blanchard, is to give your customers an experience that far exceeds, rather blows away, any expectations they might have had when interacting with your business. When the customers start bragging on your company, you've created "Raving Fan" customers.

Blanchard boils it down to three steps:

1. Decide what you want. Think so far out of the box that you can't even see the box anymore. How extreme can you take your vision when it comes to customer service?

2. "Discover what your customer wants." Simply, ask them. Stay in touch with your core customer. See what their needs and wants are. Blanchard explains that there may be wants from the customer than don't fit your vision. These customers need to go elsewhere. You can't be all things to all people.

3. "Deliver what you promise, plus one." Exceed your customer's expectations when you perform.

Over the past two days, I have been asked by four people to describe my Apple Computer experience. They are in the market and are looking for advice. I'm not a technical guy, but I know how to use my iMac, my PowerBook and my iPod to do what I need to get done. Do any of you have a three year old PC laptop that's been around the world twice, subjected to sand and salt air from exposure to a coastal environment, and has never crashed, caught a virus, or needed repair? I am constantly under pressure to finish projects on time, and unlike the PC I used in the beginning, neither of my Apple products have ever let me down.

I'm not exactly a Mac "evangelist" - I rarely talk about it unless asked - but I am definitely a raving fan.

And as an aside: I know the church is not a business, but how many have "raving fans"?

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These guys were my heros back in 1983. Stumbled on this while searching out Bryan Duncan on YouTube and well, let's just say I didn't accomplish anything else tonight. Be patient and endure the opening remarks. The music is so worth the wait!

PS Remember, this was shot in the 70's. Pretty progressive stuff then, and still is.

UPDATE: I may have been a little harsh to use the word "endure" in relation to the intro remarks to this song. What he said was actually very relevant and true. I was just really excited about the song. Sorry. Please listen to what the man has to say!

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The view from our patio at 5:55am. Thanks for waking me up, Dear.

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Though Maddy's tribulations were somewhat eclipsed by the more traumatic events of last Tuesday, there was some humour at the end of the tunnel.

She had decided that she was going to fire the tooth fairy because she didn't get enough money for her infected tricuspid. She figured it was worth at least $50RD instead of the usual $25RD (that's about $1CAN. I remember being thrilled to get a quarter). I then reminded her that it had cost us $800RD to have it removed, so in effect she owed us $750RD. She replied, "Yeah, but it hurt me 100%."

Couldn't argue with that logic.

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An e-mail sent to my folks, describing the events of the day.

"Lynn took Maddy to the dentist in Puerto Plata, and discovered that one of her molars was badly infected, so it had to be pulled. I was filming at the dump with Shaniah, so she called me there with the update. We left the dump on the motorcycle around 4:30 and headed for home. Just past the Coastal gas station, Shaniah's hat blew off. Someone behind us had stopped to pick it up, so we did a U-turn and went back to meet him. I pulled over on the shoulder opposite, and was waiting for him to cross the road, when a pickup truck drifted onto the shoulder and hit us. Glanced off us, actually, but hit Shaniah's left foot, my lower leg and smashed the mirror off my bike. He didn't even slow down. Maybe he saw that the bike was still upright and figured we were OK. Shaniah was screaming in pain, I was lightheaded and nauseous, and the dominican guy was still holding Shaniah's hat, not sure what to do.

My head cleared enough to drive back to Dr.Bob's clinic, just a kilometer or so back. He put Shaniah's foot in icewater and gave her a tylenol, which helped. I called Lynn, who was on her way back from the dentist (a story on it's own - took three shots of novocain to pull one of her tricuspid molars!). She stopped at the clinic, we left Maddy with her friend Rosie, and headed back to the private hospital at Puerto Plata. They x-rayed her ankle and discovered she had a point fracture on her foot, so they cleaned her up and applied a cast to just below her knee, which she'll have on for at least a month.

There are a few blessings in all of this. First, we are both alive and home safely. Second (and really the first one is the only one that matters), it only cost $5700 pesos for everything - xray, cast, medicine, tetanus shot. That's less than $300.

So that's all the news I feel like sharing for now. My calf and ankle need some ice and tylenol, and my minor abrasions need some cleaning.

Have you ever wondered if those "Lord, keep them safe" prayers work? They do."

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To good not to share...

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Or am I just a survivor at heart? This baby (Breitling Professional Emergency) has a built-in microtransmitter than acts as a locater beacon in the event of an aviation or boating disaster. It broadcasts on the 121.5 MHz aircraft emergency frequency for 48 hours, reaching over 100km in all directions. Pretty sweet, eh? And only $4,480. Start saving up for this stocking stuffer, honey!

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Some footage I shot this week of the work an ISV team was doing in a Dominican village.

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I have always held the opinion that if God had wanted me to see the sun rise, He would have scheduled it for later in the day, but that opinion is under review since I took this picture last week. I shudder to think of how many spectacular sunrises I've missed.

We have announced a major decision this week - we will be moving back to Canada later this summer! The reasons are laid out in our June newsletter (download a copy here), but in a nutshell the media work and ministry opportunities before us will be best accomplished there, and our girls (especially Shaniah) will be better served by a more traditional school setting. There are several challenges ahead: locating permanent housing; getting the girls into school; finding an affordable car; resettling into a new home church.

We are excited about the opportunities ahead of us. I have been asked to develop an internet presence (including video) for a leadership training ministry in Toronto, I'll be finishing the editing process on the Australia video I shot last month, and I'm filming in Thailand for three weeks next month. Also, I have been developing a new outreach tool for churches whereby they can provide a short video introduction to their church on their website. All of this requires us to be closer to the people we serve.

So, here's the plan. I'm in Thailand from June 20 to July 15. After I get back we'll spend a few weeks tying up some final loose ends here, and then we'll fly back to civilization on or about August 1.

Fasten your seatbelts... it's bound to be quite a ride!

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A few of my favorite Maddy Moments... enjoy!

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Aside from skipping over time zones, international travel messes with your head. For three weeks, I was in a parallel universe. As life continued as usual with Lynn and the girls here in the DR - homeschool, piano lessons, church - I was basically on my own, reliving my days of road trips, sleeping on friends sofas, just watching out for me. Don't worry. Nothing wild 'n crazy happened. But it was just strange. It feels good to be back home with the family. Shaniah and I have been walking around the block in the mornings to feed some dogs (her first real job!), and I have joyfully reconnected with our church family at The Gathering.

I have a few videos to shoot this week. One rental villa, one for a missionary, one music video for a friend, and ISV is back for the summer and I ought to be filming them too. And I've been asked to film in Thailand for three weeks at the end of June, too, so life never stays quiet for long. But for now, it's just good to be home.

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I finished up filming at Fraser last Tuesday, with two nights camping on the beach. We were able to cover a lot of ground while there, and filled in most of the material I needed for the video. The only flaw was our inability to find Dingos to film. In all his years guiding on the island, this was the first time Patrick had failed to see at least one Dingo. We suspect that the Ministry of Parks is exterminating them quietly, but we are hoping that because it is mating season, they are simply back in the woods away from people doing their thing. But I owe Patrick and Louise a debt of gratitude for putting me up when we weren't on the island, and introducing me to their wonderful part of the world. (See "Sand Down Under" for a look at the project.)

Things weren't quite as rushed after that, so I took an extra day on the drive back to Sydney, spending the night at a backpacker hostel in the surfing mecca of Byron Bay. I took some time to climb to the lighthouse at Cape Byron, the most easterly point on mainland Australia, before making my way down to a little inn in Karuah, just a few hours north of Sydney. The next few days were spent making connections with my DVD production company in Adelaide, and with the media department of the Ministry of Parks, who will be shipping me some of their Dingo footage.

This morning, I discovered that Hillsong Church had a city campus just ten minutes from where I was staying, so I decided to check it out. For the most part, I was glad I went. The music and message were first class, and the atmosphere was very warm and friendly. I still had the feeling though, and my non-churched friends here confirmed it, that vast numbers of people would not be attracted despite the band and smoke and lights. It's great for Christians, I think, but people still need to be exposed to the Gospel in the context of a relationship. To their credit, they provide those opportunities too.

So tomorrow the journey home begins. A 2:00pm flight to LA, arriving the same day at 10:00am (get your head around that), followed by a flight to NYC arriving at 11:00pm, and then a flight to Miami and then Puerto Plata by Tuesday at 3:00.

The trip has been a success, but I can't wait to get home. I missed Shaniah's birthday and Mother's Day, so I've got some making up to do!

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Now there are two words you've probably never put together. And I wonder why? Other than not wanting to be too closely associated with the extremist tree-hugger types out there, it seems like an almost biblical concept. God created all of this and then pronounced us managers, right? At the minimum, we ought to at least express some concern when we see the environment being trashed, but I have yet to hear a sermon preached on the subject.

I spent today with a 72 year-old aboriginal elder named Marie. We walked around Fraser Island a bit, her home, and she relected on what human traffic has brought to the place. Not much of it was positive. Fraser is home to half of the world's perched dune lakes: fresh water suspended on a layer of sediment in the sand. Lake McKenzie (above) is one of these. It is a closed system, meaning that it is not spring fed. Water is added when it rains, and exits through evaporation. The water is actually quite acidic, but a few fish species survive in it. The problem is that hundreds of people, slathered in sunsblock and bug spray, swim in it every day, doing all kinds of damage. They get to the lake in trucks and buses, again not helping the environment.

I think I've mentioned the dingoes. Fraser is home to the last remaining pack of these purebred Asian wolves. A well-publicized dingo attack in '91, where a boy died, launched a movement to see the dogs exterminated. There have been a few minor bitings in the years since, and the Ministry of Parks and Wildlife (or sparks and wildfire, as they are affectionately known) seems bent on eliminating the animals. Problem is, we have found the source of the problem, and the problem is... us. People let their kids wander around the island, and you know kid and puppies. And they leave food scraps around, and you know food scraps and dogs. We need to exercise care around the dingos, but extermination seems a little severe, especially for an endangered species. It's kind of funny. They've erected cages around picnic areas, so tourists won't be harrassed by the dingos. I wonder if the dingos aren't silently amused at these cages we've built to contain the humans.

I can't help but wonder if there ought not to be a greater role for Christians to play in conservation. I'm not about to run out and join Greenpeace, but hey, didn't God give us a job to do?

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I just finished two days of shooting on Fraser, and the conditions couldn't have been better. All the rain from Sydney to here, as much as it was needed, didn't leave me very optimistic, but my fears were unfounded. Things were perfect. This image was actually stitched together from three photos taken from the top of Indian Rock, the second-most easterly point in Australia (first is down at Byron Bay, by about 12'). It is not unusual to spot schools of sharks - including the odd Great White - feeding on massive schools of smaller fish.

To the left you can see a few massive "sand blows". Breaks in the vegetation give the easterly winds the opportunity to push the sand around, covering everything in it's path. This island is all sand, several hundred feet deep and high, hence the name of the project - Sand Down Under.

One of the unique things about Fraser is that it is the last stand for the Asian wolf, otherwise known as the Dingo. Around 100 remain, and they are in danger of extinction at the hands of the wildlife service of all people, who are convinced that they are nothing more than ferrel predators that must be eliminated. While there have been some well-publicized dingo attacks, most agree that these have been brought on by careless human interaction with the dingo, and the local population is quite concerned. We are planning to spend a few nights on Fraser early next week to get some footage of these amazing creatures before it is too late, and hopefully bring some awareness to their plight.

PS. You Mac users out their can stitch your own images together using Double Take.

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One of my earliest school memories is the annual Remembrance Day observance every November 11, where we would wear poppies and assemble in the gym or around the flagpole to honour those who had died for our country in war. It was always a fairly low-key and somber affair. When we moved to the US, we observed Veterans Day, and again, there were ceremonies and wreath-layings all over the country.

But yesterday, I experienced something different.

ANZAC Day - 25 April - marks the anniversary of the first major military action fought by Australian and New Zealand forces during the First World War. ANZAC stands for Australian and New Zealand Army Corps. The soldiers in those forces quickly became known as Anzacs, and the pride they soon took in that name endures to this day.

It is sadly unique that the main action remembered yesterday was an incredible defeat at Gallipoli on April 25, 1915, where 10,700 Anzacs died. But it represented their first steps onto the global stage during a war, so it the day has deep significance. I have always been moved by "celebrations" like this - the somber realization that we enjoy the freedom we do because of the sacrifice of others. What really got me yesterday as I watched the old soldiers march by were the cries of "thank you very much" from the teenagers who lined the street, and the older folks who lived through those days waving at the soldiers who were marching, shuffling or being pushed along in wheelchairs and walkers. Often families would march beside their aging veterans, or wear their medals and carry pictures of them if they had died.

It was all very moving. An unexpected privilege to witness it yesterday.

(P.S. Travel Update: tomorrow I begin the 18 hour drive from Sydney to Fraser Island for a week and a half of filming.)

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Funny how crossing the equator and the international date line at the same time can mess with your head. I left San Francisco at 11:00pm on Saturday, and arrived here in Sydney at 6:20am Monday... effectively skipped over Sunday. Not to worry... I'll get it back in a few weeks when I repeat a day.

And now it's time for my American Airlines rant. I flew three times with them over the past few days, from Puerto Plata to Miami, Miami to NYC, and NYC to San Francisco. On each flight, I was served one plastic cup of Diet Coke and peanuts. On the cross country flight, we didn't even get those! What gives? I know the airlines are cutting costs, but do they think they'll gain a raving fan by NOT giving us a ten cent bag of nuts? And then they lost my suitcase somewhere in the transfer to Qantas at San Francisco. Not a happy camper! Qantas, on the other hand, is wonderful. The tickets are not inexpensive, but you get excellent food, friendly service, hot face towels and even socks in case your feet get cold. And you can watch your choice of two dozen movies on demand.

After filing my lost bad report (hope to have it tomorrow sometime), I picked up my rental and got a free upgrade to a compact from a sub-compact. A new Nissan Tiida... ought to do the trick for the two-thousand plus miles I'll be driving over the next few weeks. If you can watch the Sydney news online, I'll be the one the news copters are following speeding down the highway on the wrong side of the road, signaling with my wipers.

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This is cool. For those of you who will be wondering where I am today and tomorrow, go to www.flightaware.com and in the "flighttracker" box enter QFA3080 - tonight from 5:30 on, and QFA74 - later tonight and tomorrow. They also track missionary flights by tail number. Agape Flights is N54PA, if you're wondering where your mail is or when it will arrive in Santiago. Every one of those red dots in the picture above represents a flight being tracked. Over 50,000 people are in the air at any given moment.

For future reference, on May 14 I'll be on QFA73 and QFA3099. On the 15th, you can track me on AA1165 and AA979.

And more good news. My camera, freshly repaired and cleaned, was waiting for me at the front desk upon check in this morning at 2:00. It's as good as new thanks to my friend Cameron at www.avrepair.com. If you need any work done on your video or still digital camera, and you are out of warranty, send it to him to get it fixed quickly and affordably.

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The last few flights I've experienced have been long. Actually, the time spent in the air was relatively short. It was all the delays and missed connections that made the trips long. Today was different.

I flew home today with Agape Flights , the mission that delivers our mail to the DR every week. We left Venice, FL around 6:30 this morning and flew to Eleuthra in the Bahamas and refueled. We then stopped at Cap Haitien to deliver mail and packages, followed by quick stops in Port Aux Prince, Santo Domingo, and finally Santiago around 4:30. All in a single-engine Cessna Caravan, a workhorse of the skies.

As long as it was, it wasn't at all unpleasant. The flight was broken up into two-hour or less segments, and because the cabin wasn't pressurized we were always at 11,000ft or lower, so the views were amazing. Plus, I got to wear a headset and listen in on all the communications with the various flight control centers and other aircraft. It was also sobering to visit Haiti. One of these days I'll post some video of the landscape. Because of deforestation, Haiti looks like the moon compared to the DR, and in Cap Haitien especially you can see where hundreds of homes were swept away by flood waters and mudslides, the result of nothing being left on the hillsides to hold the rainwater.

I would have missed so much if I had taken the quicker chartered flights. Faster isn't always better.

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My Easter Sunday experiences have run the gamut, from quiet sunrise services to full-blown orchestrated mutimedia events. Today leaned toward the former, and it was just what I needed.

My Uncle and Aunt direct Camp Sonrise, a primitive Baptist retreat center just south of Ocala. We had a family reunion there seven years ago, and just a few weeks later we learned that my Uncle had cancer. The last seven years have been painful ones for him and his family, but they have inspired us with their faith and fortitude. They actually started a bible study that turned into a church, and we met together this morning at seven for a sunrise service. My Uncle Steve, with great effort, made it to the service, and we all enjoyed breakfast together, and then lunch a little later. And then dinner a little later. So other than the obvious celebration of Jesus' resurrection, the day was pretty much about food. Vast quantities of exceptional quality.

But the most memorable part of the day for me has been reconnecting with family. As I said, it's been seven years since I've seen most of them. A few of my cousins, who seemed like children then, have children of their own. And the babes who were in arms are now running around like kids do. Uncle Steve's kids, especially Steve Jr., led the service and set the chapel up for breakfast this morning. I felt the overwhelming conviction that we definitely need to get our girls home sooner rather than later. I don't want them to feel as disconnected to their cousins as I have felt from mine. I don't want them to regret not being a part of their extended family, as I do. Today was great, but it's been bittersweet.

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No matter how many times I leave the Dominican Republic and re-enter "civilization", I never cease to be blown away by the affluence of North America. It's not a slam, just a statement of reality. We are so blessed; we have a huge responsibility to make the world a better place.

I'm staying with family in The Villages, near Ocala. It's a "golf cart community" - everyone drives a souped up golf cart - they even have separate garages for them. There are two downtown areas that are like something out of a movie set. In fact, a few times I have commented that it's all a little too much like The Truman Show for me. Remember the movie where Jim Carrey plays a guy who's entire life has been televised and everyone in town is an actor? The Villages is too perfect... almost a parody. Don't get me wrong, it's an amazing place to live. But if you ever wanted to live somewhere and forget the real world, this is the place.

My video camera is at the shop, and the good news is that it can be repaired. It's going to cost about $500, but that's a lot cheaper than replacing it. And it will get a proper cleaning too, which it really needed. The salt air and humidity really messed it up. It will be ready to go for my trip to Australia, happy-lujah. I was not looking forward to filming the documentary on my Handicam (though the Blair Witch Project seemed to do OK).

Tomorrow we celebrate the resurrection, and the resurrection is all about hope. Hope that death is not terminal, and that suffering does not last forever. Remember those who are feeling hopeless tonight, that they might know the peace and the comfort of Jesus.

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Tomorrow morning we'll leave our place at 6:30am and drive over the mountain to the airport at Santiago. I'll be flying with Agape Flights to Venice, FL, where I'll rent a car and drive to Old Town, FL and drop off my camera for repair. Next stop will be The Villages, where I'll spend Easter with my family, especially my Uncle Steve who has been dealing with some rather unpleasant cancer - like there's any other kind. I'll preach at their little church and then enjoy Easter with the relations. Hopefully my camera is ready by Tuesday, and I'll fly home on Wednesday.

Like I said, "buckle up"!

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Redneck Time Out
Glad we didn't have duct tape when I was a kid...

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I've had the pleasure of showing a team from Bethel Baptist Church in Strathroy around for the past few days. They are traveling through the DR looking for ministry opportunities, especially among the Haitian community.

This morning we met with Pastor Chery, a young Haitian man who is leading a new congregation. They are meeting in the shell of a house they had hoped to purchase one day, but it is in the process of being sold out from under them. They meet several times a week, and on Saturday mornings Pastor Chery leads a class for children in the community. He has several years of Bible school training, but must work in a local resort to pay his bills. He receives no income from the church.

Pastor Tom Hunt asked him for a doctrinal statement, simply wanting to find out what his theology was like. A fair question these days.

Pastor Chery reached for a Bible, opened it to James 1:27, and passed it to Tom. "That is my belief", he said.

"Religion that God our Father accepts as pure and faultless is this: to look after orphans and widows in their distress and to keep oneself from being polluted by the world."

He had never been asked to produce a doctrinal statement before, something that we North Americans practically carry with us in our wallets. It's how we tell the sheep from the goats, the liberals from the conservatives. Pastor Chery likes things cut and dry, and in his world, this is a statement that makes sense and defines his beliefs.

That was good enough for us.

Click here for info on helping Pastor Chery and his church

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