Countdown to Tübingen

because news travels cheaper by email

Well, as if 12-hour days at work weren’t enough, I capped off yesterday’s office stint with a 9-10pm sit in traffic on scenic 1/2-mile stretch of GA-400. For just a small 50 cent-toll, I was treated to an hour of music provided by DJ Ipod in the Toyota Corolla Mobile Theater, the experience heightened by the flashing sirens and spinning lights of firetrucks, police cars, and HERO units. It was the best show in town.

But for all the electricity in the air at last night’s traffic jam/impromptu concert, it just couldn’t match the level of electricity not in the air when getting home from the office at 10pm tonight. Yes, my house sits on the edge of the power grid. So while our neighbors blended, toasted, vacuumed, ironed, and microwaved while watching their high-def TV’s and surfing the internet, we groped for flashlights.

Tonight: Came to Shalynn’s house to send out a email newsletter. Wrote two thank-you’s with more pending.

because whipped cream makes everything taste better

Just came back from a week-long vacation/family reunion at the beach. I did get whisked away before reporting the results of our week doing VBS in Conyers: $1200 and two pies in the face (above). That is a bathroom in our campus house. Let me be the first to tell you how excited we are about being able to afford a good toilet and plumbing: so excited.

because cute is the new adorable

Yesterday at VBS, I took my first pie to the face. It was delicious. Plus, the honors were performed by a little girl who raised $100 for campus house renovations. That puts us at $800 with one more day to reach our goal of $1,000 for the week.

Rev. Tom Honey, an English pastor, challenges our traditional picture of God: linky.

Doing VBS at Crosspoint Christian Church every afternoon for the week, so support raising calls are taking a hiatus until next week.

Conversation with the children has been what some would call adorable. If you are ever struggling to come up with conversation with a second grader, try some of these topics:

• Number of teeth lost.
• Food you like.
• Hey, watch me do this!
• I can wiggle my tooth.
• Pets.
• How old are you?
• Look over there!

Last night: wrote two (2) follow-up letters to calls made last week, complete with commitment forms.

shalynn examines her handiwork

Second wedding of the summer. No new supporters today.

5-minute video countdown of footage from Tübingen: linky.

because weddings are serious occasions

In Spartanburg, SC to crash a wedding.

Today: got one more supporter!

Quote of the day
Shalynn: There are lots of biblical things in the Bible.

because chlorine helps the creative process

Yesterday: called two new supporters!

Engaged in a little poolside planning with the ladies of Globalscope Germany for next week’s Vacation Bible School, where Globalscope Germany will be the featured missionaries. Things I need:

• A country bumpkin costume, for fitting in with the theme.
• A hidden talent, for introducing myself in a skit.
• An iPod, unrelated. Mine died.

After a week of Vacation Bible School, it will finally be time for a week of vacation, sans Bible School.

that new stationery smell

What better way to celebrate a personal coffee consumption record at work than with a latte after work? It’s like a caffeine-enriched victory lap. Scintillating conversation provided by Jesse K, medium vanilla latte caffeine fix by ChocoLate on Shallowford.

Tonight: Reached out and touched two new supporters! Thanks, Verizon!

Returned home to find a brand new box of CMF support-raising materials waiting for me on my pillow, proving once again that CMF is your number one go-to source for all CMF products.

shalynn helps me write letters

Do you feel it? There’s something in the air tonight. I believe this kind of feeling in this kind of air is what Phil Collins was referring to.

Reaching 100% of my one-time outgoing support feels great. Benchmark passed. But there remains another hurdle: the $4,730 in monthly support.

A quick pass over the old church directory revealed 90+ names – contacts, friends – that I have not yet contacted for support. Get excited, people. I know I am. The phone calls start tomorrow evening, after dinner.

As for the current evening: three (3) letters, two (2) thank-you’s. Thank goodness for forever stamps.