Changing the strap did not tip you off?

Recently at a meeting - a Pastor friend "crashed" a luncheon for Missionaries. He set his brand new laptop, case and all, in the corner and dug in for his meal.

After lunch - we began to gather and prepare to leave. We could not find his 5 day old computer anywhere. We began retracing his steps, (we visited every restroom more than once) - No computer bag. Over an hour later we set out on the long trip home - discouraged that the computer was gone.

About 2 hours into the trip home - my friends cell phone rang. It was one of my Missionary friends - calling to say that they had grabbed his computer bag by mistake. His invoice was in the bag so they called him and we made arrangements to pick up the computer. Relieved does not even begin to describe it.

I want to protect the identity of my Missionary friends but their initials are Ray and Debbie Miller and they are great Missionaries who serve faithfully in the Philippines.

The funniest part of all of this was when Debbie told us that as Ray was taking my friend Casey's computer he had to adjust the strap to get it to attach to his suitcase..............Hummmmm

Ray -----didn't changing the strap kind of tip you off that just maybe............OH never mind..........

Blessed are the Flexible

Life is full of change - when we entered the whirlwind adventure of our Missionary journey, Rhonda and I were turned upside down and inside out. We went from meticulous planners to "roll with the punches" schedule adjusters. Sure we still make plans - we always will but - sometime we make them thinking - Oh sure - like this will ever happen this way!

Overview of the CHANGES in this last year:

• June 2006 - Complete 16th year of Ministry at Cadillac Assembly of God - tearful goodbyes - Big Change
• July 2006 - Attend Missionary Training - 6 weeks with the 4 of us living in 2 dorm rooms - Big Change
• July/August 2006 = Begin Itineration (travel to raise support and awareness for our ministry in Ethiopia, Africa) Speaking/Preaching in a different church every week. Big Change
• September/ October 2006 - Work heavy on Masters Class assignments. "how do you cite a website in a footnote" - the last time I footnoted anything there was no Internet! - Big Changes.
• November/December 2006 - I Realize that many churches don't schedule Missionary guests over the "holidays" - Big Change - (Realize that God is faithful and he has given me good friends who helped me out but giving me a "pulpit" to speak from - yes even on Christmas eve! - Big Changes
• January/ February 2007 - About this time I realized that raising the money and prayer supporters that are necessary for ministry in Africa is not only HARD WORK - but I also realize that it will take LONGER than I thought. Big Changes
• March 2007 - Sometimes our plans don't work out like we thought. Our "plan" was to move my parents from Pittsburgh to Cadillac and when their house had and offer after just a few days on the market we were Thrilled - only to find out that having an offer and selling a house are not the same! - Deal falls through - Big Change of Plans..........(ongoing)
• April 2007 - New Plan - Ethiopia is no longer an option - We have prayed and know that our new field of Ministry will be Burundi - (Be honest - you probably did not even know it was in Africa) - Big Huge - Whopper of a Change - new country (yes that is a big change)
• May 5 - 2007 - meet with "new" team leader - discuss RAISING budget for ministry in Africa by $250 per month - WOW - what a big change - scary to......(see January 2007)
• May 7 - 2007 - New team leader calls to Say - we will NOT be raising your budget! GREAT NEWS - This is a Big Change - (but not for long)
• May 25 - Hear from the Benevolent Bureaucracy - the budget increase will NOT be $250 per month - but over $1000 per month more - WOW - that is a huge change!
• June - It begins to sink in that the same God who would help us raise our other budget is going to help us raise our new and improved (much higher) budget. - Big Change (in attitude)
• Ongoing - It is all about being flexible - we knew it long ago and we are living it every day -

Blessed are the Flexible - For they shall NOT BE BROKEN!

No matter what changes next!!!!!