Love Is In The Blair

Here I sit, done with Mozambique, or “Mozie” if your ke­­­­­­­­­­en for shortening wor.  So I should reflect right?  (The previous inquiry was redundant).  I also like using words most people, myself included, typically wouldn’t, anyway… I’ll matriculate onward with this blog. Unveiled Pursuit (that’s my team, for those of­­­­­­ you who don’t follow with regularity) and Team Genuine bunked down with Angie Wheeler last month in Machava, in the Maputo district of Mozie, at her ministry, “Beacon of Hope” (BOH).  Angie has been in Mozambique nearly 11 years and has a God-given vision that’s awfully encouraging. Originally, as a part of Iris ministries, Angie developed a deeper heart for the young people, and today it shows more than ever.  Aside from the children she’s adopted, every year she starts with 10 young men, enrolling them in the 3 year program.  Not everyone stays.  But that’s their choice.  You can’t “make” people succeed....

About a month ago, I wrote a Mother’s Day Blog, at the time I didn’t plan on writing this one, but I think the occasion deserves it.  Yeah… it’s after Father’s Day, but the internet went out and I wasn’t able to talk to pops.  But here it is… a blog for dad, written from a mountain top, by a fire, under an open sky, on the other side of the world. Yeah…  I travel a bit, it’s something he instilled in me. He’s done a lot that goes unmentioned and unnoticed.  Most people don’t know the hard work he’s put into our family.  Many people remember him more for the man he USED to be, not the man he’s become and becoming. He doesn’t seek the praise, but a little appreciation and thanks go a long way. He’s had a rough go of it the last year or so, caught some tough breaks, and I know he’s wondering what’s next, but he’s holding strong. I’m writing this blog to let you all know, because I know he does, that I’m proud that he’s my dad.   And I...

So… blog world… the long awaited closure to the Tra nsnis tria and Moldova chapters of this race has finally come.  I know you were feverishly checking your emails and my blog page, just in case you missed it.  Well, fret not, it has arrived. There came a time in my life when I found myself in the magical, yet not-so-official, land of Tr ansnistr ia, what some people know as Moldova.  As you may recall, if you frequent this blog and have a good memory, I was handed a piece of paper and instructed not to lose it.  Seeing as how losing it could potentially lead to a fine or imprisonment, I planned to keep a tight grip on it.  However, my pocket had a different plan, and it may well be in one of Tira spol’s finest abandoned buildings or dumpsters by now. So what ever became of me?  Whatever happened with the cliffhanger I dropped two blogs ago, only to not address last blog?  What is this? “Bones?” Nope.  This is my blog, and if you d...

...(ANNOUNCER VOICE) "Previously on this blog... you read things (allegedly)... here are more things... I promise." This, once again is a little late, but it’s a part of the journey that “needs” to be shared.  I spent a second week in “Daughter Russia.”  This time I moved a little to the south and a little less to the east to a little place I can’t spell in any language, but if I had to give it a shot I’d say Slovodzeah,  but again… I’m pretty sure I just butchered that like a madman. In terms of “ministry,” this wasn’t some extreme mission.  We spent time with some teenagers from the church and painted in an orphanage, unless you are talking to the Narnian government, in that case the orphanage is closed, because they don’t like Christians taking care of children.  But the things we were doing weren’t “extreme” by any means, not “life-changing” things in and of themselves, but then again it’s learning to serve God and others in the simple things ...

So I know, this is like a month late, and I’m in Mozambique now, and we always wanna read about the new stuff, but you’re gonna have to wait on that, at least from me.  Because meaningful things have happened, so I thought I’d give you a recap of Moldova… in three parts.  Why?  Well, because we lived it in 3 parts.  Don’t ask such pushy questions!  Geez!  Here’s part one, more is pending posting. This is more of a recounting of events than an exploration of deeper concepts.  Unveiled Pursuit(UP) had a little secret unveiled to us.  There’s a place called Tr ansni stria, or as I like to call it “Daughter Russia.”  It’s a pretend country, a political Narnia, if you will in that “monstrously” dominates the eastern landscape, of what most of those who know of Moldova, think is Moldova.  People think it’s Moldova, partly because it is, but this Soviet nook is it’s own deal, complete with Russian military, and their own currency...

So what is a guy to do when it’s Mother’s Day and he’s on the World Race in Mozambique, with no internet, and hasn’t spoken to his mom on Skype in a few days?  Well first he asks his friend who’s going back to America to call her and tell her Happy Mother’s Day from him, but then his friend would think that’s too much trouble.  So then when he sent his mandatory text message into the home office with his monthly SIM card information he’d include for the mystery person on the receiving end of his message a request with his mom’s phone number to call her and tell her he said Happy Mother’s Day.  But, of course, he’d have to assume that this mystery person behind the veil would quite possibly not oblige his, according to his presumption, uniquely original request. (ß repetitive redundancy alert) So based on that assumption he’d decide to give her the only gift he could other than, “staying safe” and “having fun.”  He’d write a Mother’s day blog, in her ...

Bob Dylan once wrote ... "The times, they are a' changin'."  Ron Burgandy never heard that song.  I wrote, " The teams, they are a' changin'."  The two are very similar, except I never actually wrote my song, and no one has ever heard it, but you could imagine what it'd be like if I did right? Right? At the end of month 3, before leaving Romania we my old team, Mosaic, got the ax.  Some garbage about breaking up monopolies and some anti-trust mumbo jumbo... I don't know I wasn't paying attention. I had feelings about leaving my old team.  I knew I would miss them, but I mean hey this is The World Race... time to suck it up and move on.  Besides, it's not like I'm being thrown into a group of people I hate.  Ahem... Speaking of segways... I now have a pretty awesome team too.  Don't worry Mosaic, you will always hold a special place in my heart, more specifically each of you individually. ______________________...