One day not too long ago Dario and I were driving out to the village of Briones high up in the Nombre de Dios Mountains outside of Olanchito to deliver some humanitarian aid.  As we bounced along the narrow, rutted mountain track we met a young couple walking down the mountain.  With smiles on their faces the couple shared that they were just recently married and had built themselves a new home.  We visited with them for a while then gave the couple a bag of the aid which they gratefully received.

 

A little further up the road we saw the new house the couple had so proudly told us about.  It was really just a 10' by 12' mud and stick hut - dirt floor, no electricity or running water.  At first I thought how blessed we are back home.  Then I thought about how much we take for granted.  But then I thought back to the happy couple and how happiness really does not depend on physical possessions.  In fact, our many possessions can actually become a deterrent to real happiness.

 

The majority of people in this part of Honduras live on less than $1.00 a day!  A good job working for the fruit company might pay $100-150 a month.  In spite of this extreme poverty most Hondurans that I have met are much happier than most Americans I know.  Is our wealth and continual striving for ever more stuff bringing us happiness or is it separating us from the very things that bring true happiness?

 

I encourage you to take a break from your striving.  Come spend a week with us in a beautiful, simple, mountain village and rediscover the joy of life.  I'm looking for a few hardy backpackers to join me on an adventure into the remote mountains of Honduras on October 2-9.  Or perhaps you would like to join one of our other teamleaders on a trip to Honduras, Nicaragua or Peru. Remember It's UP2U!

According to American Way, American Airlines in-flight magazine, it has been 75 years since the first commercial trans-Pacific air service was launched.  The inaugural flight, from California to the Philippines by flying boat, entailed 60 hours of flying spread over six and a half days and included stops in Honolulu, Midway Island, Wake Island, and Guam.  As arduous as that journey sounds, the alternative was a boat trip of at least three weeks.

 

Fast-forward to today: Yesterday I had breakfast in a restricted access Southeast Asian country, lunch in Thailand, supper in Hong Kong, another supper in Los Angeles and now breakfast this morning in Dallas.  God has blessed American Christians with the means to travel the world as we please.  Our US passports and US dollars open doors for us in almost any country in the world.

 

As I'm sitting here thinking about this on Easter morning I turn to the resurrection account and see that some of Jesus' first words to us after he rose from the tomb were, "Peace be with you; as the Father has sent me, I also send you."  I think this means rather than just sitting in our churches we should be going out showing and telling the world about Christ's love for them.  The Father sent Jesus to show his love for us.  Jesus has sent us to show this same love to the world.

 

Will you invest a week of your life in an Adventure with a Purpose mission trip to share Christ's love with a lost and dying world? It's UP2U!

I have a confession to make.  I feel guilty about the awesome fun we are having on our mission trips to Slovenia.  I mean aren't you supposed to sacrifice on a mission trip?  Aren't you supposed to give up something to serve the Lord?  And here we are skiing, rock-climbing, mountain biking, trekking, eating well, sleeping well, hanging out in coffee shops, making friends and developing relationships.  When you compare this with hiking into remote villages and sleeping on dirt floors how could this be considered sacrificing for the Lord?

 

As I was struggling with these issues God spoke to me through Acts chapter 8 which begins with the story of Saul persecuting the young church in Jerusalem.  As this persecution forced believers out into new areas Phillip began a highly successful ministry in Samaria.  Lives were being changed.  Needs were being met.  By all accounts Phillip was right where God wanted him and God was using Phillip.

 

But then right in the middle of all this successful ministry "…an angel of the Lord said to Phillip, 'Go south to the road - the desert road - that goes down from Jerusalem to Gaza.'"  And how did Phillip respond?  Did he argue with God?  Did he explain about his powerful ministry in Samaria?  Did he tell God about his full calendar of responsibilities?  Did he tell God about his guilt for being called away from a successful ministry?  No, he got up and went.  Without knowing exactly where he was going and without a clue why he was going Phillip headed south into the Gaza desert.

 

That's how I feel about our ministry in Slovenia.  I know without a doubt that God has called XMA to join IMB missionary Joe Kelley in the ministry in Slovenia but I don't understand why.  God said, "Go down to Slovenia" and we must go.  The purpose and results are in His hands.  Our job is to be obedient and go.

 

And go we are.  We had our first trip last September and I just got back from a winter alpine sports evangelism trip where we skied, sledded, snowshoed, ice climbed and began relationships with Blaz, Fillip, Maia, Daniel and many others.  We gave out Gospels of John, had some meaningful conversations and lots of prayer time.  We have several more trips planned this year and we need adventuresome athletic individuals to join us. 

 

XMA is sponsoring the Bovec Trek Race in June and we'll have several Team XMA racers entered.  By sponsoring the race we'll be allowed to put evangelical literature in the race packets given to each racer and we'll print the address to the evangelical website gotquestions.org on the back of race tee shirts.  This website gives solid Biblical answers to many of the questions that Slovenes, and all of us, have about life.  We'll also be placing one or more Team XMA teams in Adventure Race Slovenia in June.  Check the races out at www.treking.si and www. adventurerace.si then contact our office if you'd like to be a part of this outreach to the adventure junkies of Slovenia.  We need racers, support crew, observers and anyone who wants to be a part of reaching Slovenes for Christ. 

 

If you are not that obsessive about your outdoor sports but still enjoy outdoor activities you might be interested in joining us on one of our other Slovenia adventures.  We'll be trekking, mountain biking, hut-to-hut mountaineering and other outdoor sports evangelism this fall.  Then this winter we'll start back at winter alpine sports evangelism trips.

 

I encourage you to join us as we trust that God has called XMA to Slovenia for a reason.  Perhaps, just as Phillip did in Acts 8:30-31, you'll have someone say to you, "How can I understand the Gospel unless someone explains it to me?".

I'm sitting here this morning at a sidewalk coffee shop in a sleepy little Southeast Asian river town watching the sun come up over the vibrant green jungle clad mountains.  I'm struggling to come up with words to describe the amazing Adventure with a Purpose my XMA team and I have had this week.  I guess I'll just briefly describe some of the events and sights - first the adventure:

 

- drove our 100cc motorbikes over 350 miles on backcountry roads and single track trails.

- crossed the Mekong river several times on makeshift ferries consisting of everything from dugout canoes lashed together to large wooden barges.

- saw more ancient Buddhist temples, shrines and spirit houses than you can count on a hundred hands.

- saw many old guys in worn-out fatigues who looked like holdouts from the Vietnam War (or maybe even World War II).

- enjoyed fresh picked watermelon with ladies in a village miles from the nearest pavement (also lost my cell phone there and saw the ladies laughing as we returned hours later to retrieve it).

- stopped countless times for a cold drink and directions (who says guys won't ask for directions?).

- experienced the sights, sounds and smells of rural village life as it has been lived for centuries untold - rice harvested with a hand sickle & tied in sheaves, children playing with homemade toys, newborn babies at their mother's breast, village elders watching over their people, even mahouts working their elephants in the fields.

 

And now for the purpose of this adventure:

- smuggled in and then dropped hundreds of pieces of Gospel literature in dozens of villages where Christians have probably never been before.

- prayed for hundreds and hundreds of men, women and children as we motorbiked past their homes.

- encouraged our career missionaries living in this restricted access country by our willingness to come join them in their struggle for these lost souls.

- raised our awareness of the plight, persecution and dedication of the few Christians in this country.

 

This has been a truly awesome adventure with an amazing eternal purpose.  I thank each of you for your prayers and financial support that allows us to go serve.  One of the last things our career missionary host told us as we were getting on the bus home was that he had a lot more literature to distribute and a lot more villages to prayerwalk.  I hope to be returning soon and would love for some of you to join me.

I have just finished reading Primal, Mark Batterson's latest book.  While I certainly enjoyed Mark's first two books Primal spoke to me much more deeply.  It helped me recall and refresh the passion God placed in my heart ten years ago as He led us to begin Extreme Missionary Adventures.

 

In Primal Mark dissects the Great Commandment given to us by our Lord, "Love God with all your heart, soul, mind and strength".  As he examines each of the four components he shows us how two thousand years of Christian traditions and institutions have obscured the basic, primal core of Christianity.  He helps us to see through the clutter of our faith and brings us back to what is truly important.

 

Primal was a great, heart-stirring read.  I highly recommend that you make it the first book you read in 2010.  Find out more about Primal at RandomHouse.com.

Do you ever have trouble living a vibrant, Christian life among the thorns of daily existence?  Jesus tells us that the worries of this life, riches and pleasure can choke out His Word just like thorns choke out the good crops in a garden.  I know I have this problem and I would like to pass on a little something that helps me stay focused on living a passionate life for God. 

 

My iPhone. I know that sounds so terribly materialistic and that's the very thing Jesus is warning us about but it can be an effective tool .  I subscribe to several great podcasts by Christian and secular leaders.  Some are preaching, some leadership, some motivational, some are just talking about the awesome things God is doing around our world every day.  I listen to these as I'm driving, running, biking, mowing the yard or whatever.  It’s a great way to push back the thorns of life and renew my passion for our Lord

Recently Kirk Lauterbach and I spent a week in the Julian Alps of Slovenia prayer-hiking, prayer-trail running, prayer-mountain biking and distributing Gospel literature.  This was a very different experience from my many other XMA trips.  Slovenia has a post Christian culture where the people have left the ways of God to live self-reliant lives with no thought of God or what comes after this life.  As Udo, a forty something year old software programmer who grew up in church,  told Kirk after a long discussion, "The Bible is nothing but myths and children's stories and I have moved on from that". 

                          

Slovenia is a beautiful, pristine place and an adventure sports paradise.  In the Soca Valley where we camped people were hiking, trail running, mountain biking, road biking, kayaking, rafting, paragliding, canyoneering, climbing, fly fishing and much more.  In the midst of this very healthy, very active lifestyle is a very intense doubt that there is a God -  or if there is a God he has anything to do with me or my life.

 

Our mission for the week was to hike, trail run and mountain bike through this amazingly beautiful countryside as we prayed for people and gave out literature explaining God's love for them and his desire to have a personal, meaningful relationship with each of them.  As I prayer-walked, prayer-ran and prayer-biked past the homes, farms and villages I kept thinking of a couple of phrases from the prayer of St Francis of Assisi, " Lord, make me an instrument of your peace …where there is doubt, let me sow faith".

 

As I've already said, this trip was very different from our usual XMA adventures where we help with physical needs along with sharing the Gospel with those who have never heard.  Slovenes live a very comfortable life.  They have good incomes, good healthcare, good schools, good food and they live in an amazingly pristine alpine environment.  They are content and feel they have no need for God - no need for faith.  That is why I found myself simply praying over and over, "Where there is doubt, let me sow faith".

 

This doubt is strong.  The Slovenes coldness of heart made the trip spiritually challenging.  Joe, the IMB missionary with whom we worked, told us the most effective thing we can do to reach Slovenes is prayer.  He asked us to bring as many volunteers as possible to come pray 'onsite with insight'.  He is convinced that the physical presence of Christians praying for and living out an exciting, vibrant, credible Christian life before Slovenes will make a difference.   God tells us in James 5:16, "The prayer of a righteous man is powerful and effective".  Faith will prevail if Christians will join in the struggle. 

 

We need athletic, adventure sports enthusiast to return to Slovenia with us as we hike, bike, climb, snowboard, adventure race, ice climb, play with and pray for Slovenes.  Check with our office today for info on future trips and how you can join us in this Adventure with a Purpose.

I just came across Eden Vigil,  a very interesting website about eco missionaries. Planting churches and trees!

Habib* invited Christ into his life on Wednesday, July 22^nd.  This may seem pretty unexciting.  But let me explain.

 

Habib is part of the Bongay* , an unreached people group living in Central Asia.  Until a few years ago the Bongay were not only unreached, they were also unengaged, meaning no one was even trying to take the Good News of Jesus to them.  For thousands of years they have lived and died in the mountains of Central Asia without ever hearing that God loves them and wants to have a relationship with them.

 

Then God called XMA to translate His Word into the Bongay language and to demonstrate His love through help with physical needs.  Through this work Habib began to hear God's Word and God used His Word to call Habib to himself.

 

We are continuing to work to ensure that every Bongay has an opportunity to hear about and accept Christ.  Come join us on an Adventure with a Purpose in Central Asia.

* Names have been changed for security.  As only the third known believer within the Bongay people group Habib will face many challenges as he lives out his decision to follow Christ.  Please pray for him, his family and all of the Bongay.

What happens when you live in a village with no heat, no electricity, no husband, 7 children to feed and no way to support yourself and your family?

This is what happened to Sophie, (name changed to protect her). 

Sophie is a woman in her early 40’s.  She and her husband moved to a village in Central Asia.  Soon after they moved, her husband left her with no income and 7 children to feed.  Sophie had nothing.  She didn’t even have a door to her house. 

Last winter it got so cold in her village that 2 of her young children froze to death.

As we visited the village that Sophie lived in, we heard her story as well as so many other stories that would break your heart.   Alongside our national staff women in the country, we were able to start a sewing center, we not only help them to learn a skill but we also share Bible stories.  Many of these women cannot read or write so the Bible stories are so effective.   Many of them have never heard the name of Jesus  No where to go, no one who cares, no one to fight for them, no one who loves them.  When we bring Bible stories, it’s so amazing to watch hope come into their eyes.  “Maybe there truly is a God who cares about me.  Maybe He does love me like these women are telling me.  Maybe if I trust Him, He will help me!!”  As we listen to these women, love them for who they are and share about the greatest man that ever lived, we tell them that He loves them so very deeply and He is the God who we can trust….He never fails us.

 

Please pray for Sophie and the many women who are hearing the stories for the first time in their lives.  They are finding hope and finding that someone does care and love them.  What a joy and privilege to be the hands and feet to carry the good news to so many hurting people!

The average US household has about $90 in spare change just sitting around.  Why not turn yours into a blessing for those in need and you'll receive a blessing as well?  Simply take your penny jar to a nearby Coinstar kiosk.  But instead of cash request a CVS/pharmacy gift certificate.  You then mail the gift certificate to XMA and we'll use it to purchase over-the-counter medicines for our teams to use in remote villages.

I read the parable of the sower in Matthew 13 this morning.  As I read on to Jesus' explanation of the parable; "When people hear the message about the Kingdom and do not understand it, the evil one comes and snatches away what was sown in their hearts".  I felt the Holy Spirit asking me; "Who's fault is it that they did not understand?"  The hearer?  Or is it the speaker?

 

I have always assumed it was the hearer.  The faithful farmer sowed the seed as he was taught but the ground (unbelieving people) did not accept it.  But, perhaps the sower is at fault for not sowing the seed in a way they could understand.  Perhaps we are at fault when we present the Gospel to oral learners (which includes most of the remaining unreached peoples) using literate means such as printed Bibles, tracts or even preaching three point sermons and they do not understand it.  For these oral learners it is our responsibility to share the Gospel in a way which they can understand and accept.

We just finished an exciting week of exploration into the jungle mountains between the Patuca River in Honduras and the Nicaraguan border.  Tripp Sloan, Robert Jackson, Chuck McDaniel from Lexington Baptist Church in South Carolina and I were trekking with Marlon Muñoz.  We were investigating mission opportunities and humanitarian needs in the Rio Platano Biosphere, one of the most remote areas of Honduras.

 

Our first stop was at Pastor Juan’s.  After a brief night at his house on the river bank in the village of Subterraneo he led us on a six hour hike to Jardines, one of the five villages where he pastors.  News of our arrival spread quickly and by two o’clock the locals gathered at the small wooden church for worship and testimony.  Pastor Juan is doing a great job of ministering to the people in this isolated area and he welcomes our help to more effectively reach these villages.

 

From Pastor Juan’s area we moved on up the Patuca for another long hike into Agua Frescas.  There we met Roberto Calderon, his wife, and thirteen children.  We went to bed that night on the dirt floor in the large common room of the Calderon house with the sound of a Honduran soccer match blasting from a small transistor radio.  There was celebration throughout the household as the radio brought news of Honduras’ victory over Mexico.  The next morning we had church at the Calderon’s as our team shared testimonies and witnessed to the family.  No one accepted the Lord that morning but they were open to our message and welcomed us to return as soon as possible. 

 

After the house church service we moved on deeper into the jungle.  We met a local Christian named Alejandro on the trail and he led us on to La Selva.  Once again we were warmly welcomed into the homes and encouraged to return as soon as possible.

 

This was a very tough week for us gringos as we struggled along the steep, muddy jungle trails.  But I believe it was also a very profitable one for the kingdom.  We were an encouragement to the few local Christians we met and a blessing to the sick we encountered as we prayed for them and shared what medicine we had.  We made contacts and laid the groundwork for future XMA teams to help share God’s love with these warm, gracious people.  Please join us in prayer for these new friends and consider joining an XMA team in 2009 as we come back to share Christ through personal testimony, the Jesus Film, medical and dental work, and other human needs help.

 

Randy Pierce

 

Click this link to see Jardines on Google Earth.  You can see the Patuca River on the left and the Coco River/Nicaraguan border on the right side http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=14.4081,-85.3356&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

Check out our TribalConnection channel on YouTube for short videos from this trip:

www.youtube.com/tribalconnection1  

 

Provide justice for the needy and the fatherless;

Uphold the rights of the oppressed and the destitute.

Rescue the poor and needy;

Save them from the hand of the wicked.

They don't know or understand;

They wander in darkness

                                                Psalms 82:3-5

 

These verses struck a chord in my heart this morning as our team is returning from Central Asia.  A few days ago we visited one of the women's sewing centers XMA help start.  Through translators the local village women told of the rapes and other abuses they endured during the civil war that ravaged this country a few years ago.  Most of these women and girls are now widows and orphans.  And their tragedy continues as they struggle to live without adequate food or housing, very little electricity, no running water or sewer, only scarcely available wood or dried animal dung for heat and cooking. 

 

I'm reminded of the song Emma by Emmanuel Jal, a former child soldier from Sudan who was rescued by an aid worker named Emma McCune:

 

Emma

This one goes to Emma McCune

Angel to the rescue one afternoon

I'm here because you rescued me

I'm proud to carry your legacy

Thank you, bless you, R I Peace

 

What would I be if Emma never rescued me?

What would I be?

What would I be, another starving refugee?

What would I be?

What would I be if Emma never rescued me?

 

You would have seen my face on the telly

Fat hungry belly

Flies in my eyes head too big for my size

Just another little starving child

Running around in Africa born to  be wild

Praise God praise the Almighty

For sending an angel to rescue me

I got a reason for being on this earth coz I

Know more than many what a life is worth

And I, now that I got chance to stand my ground

I'm gonna run over mountains leaps and bounds

I ain't an angel hope I'll be one soon and if I am

I wanna be like Emma McCune

 

I would have probably died from starvation

Or some other wretched disease

I would have grown up with no education

Just another refugee

I stand here because someone cared

I stand here because someone dared

I know that there's a lot of Emmas out there

Who is willing and trying to save a life of a child

 

The sewing center is a tremendous help but it is not enough.  God compels us to do more!  We must be the someone who cared, the someone who dared, the Emma for those desperate souls in need.  We must help them with immediate needs such as food, medical, housing and education.  We must help them develop markets for their sewing products so they can become self-sufficient.  We must help them find the God who loves them and compels us to love them and help them.

The raw beauty of the Central Asian mountain surrounding me are awesome!  It’s the middle of the dry season here and yesterday everything in sight was dry, brown and looked as if there were no life.  But in the afternoon a small rain shower moved through dropping the temperature and a few drops of precious rain.  As the sun comes up this morning it reveals an amazing sight.  Overnight God brushed the parched mountainside a verdant green and brought life back to the dead earth.

This reminds me of the story in Ezekiel 37 where God brought the prophet Ezekiel to the valley of dry, dead bones and asked if they could be brought back to life.  Ezekiel’s reply, “Only You, O Lord, know”.  Then God showed Ezekiel it could be done just as easily as God brought these parched, dead mountains back to life.

Our XMA team is in Central Asia to drill a water well attempting to bring much needed water to a large village of over ten thousand people.  Currently, their only water source within miles is a small creek which over the past few years has turned salty.  We’ve been working on this project for almost a year now.  Researching options for obtaining clean water, raising funds, purchasing and then importing well drilling equipment and recruiting volunteers to come serve on the drilling team.  Will we be able to bring life restoring water to these desperately needy people?  Only You, O Lord, know!

Post script:  Our team did drill one hundred ninety feet into the desert floor as anxious villagers watched.  There seemed to be a small vein of water bearing sand at one hundred seventy-five feet but due to mechanical difficulties and our inexperience we did not get a working well this time.  We are making repairs to the equipment and will return for another attempt.

There are thousands of villages in the desert regions of Central Asia where entire families live on less than five gallons of water per day.  Imagine only five gallons of dirty river water for all of the drinking, cooking and cleaning for a family of six people!

 

Clean water is a vital need for these families.  That’s why we are attempting to equip and train a team of national Christian well drillers who will, prayerfully, go from village to village drilling water wells.  But even more important than clean water is the need for Living Water.  These villages are one hundred percent Muslim.  Clean water projects provide an opportunity for XMA teams and national Christians to enter the villages, demonstrate Christ’s love through meeting physical needs and share Living Water through oral Bible stories.  Although our well drilling was not successful this time our team did share the Living Water of God’s Word with many people.  Our local host told us that this is the first time that any Christians have been allowed to visit the village and if it had not been for the well drilling we would not have been allowed to stay.

 

Please pray for God’s Word to continue working in their hearts and minds.  Also pray for our well drilling efforts.  Due to the harsh winter weather it will be next spring before we can try again.  We need volunteers for our next attempt. We especially need an experienced water well driller to help train the national drilling team.  Please contact our office if you’d like to be a part of this Adventure with a Purpose in Central Asia.

What can I offer the Lord for all he has done for me?  I will lift up a cup symbolizing his salvation; I will praise the Lord’s name for saving me.   Psalm 116:12-13 NLT  

I’m having my first cup of coffee this morning as I read Psalm 116.  Verses twelve and thirteen make me think, “Yes, I can raise my cup of strong, black coffee in praise to the Lord for my salvation.”  In many ways this café noir does symbolize the Lord’s salvation.  Just as this stout cup of java pulls me from the slumber of a good night’s rest the Lord’s salvation one day awoke me from the dormancy of my previous life into full awareness of the rich, abundant life that awaited me in Christ.  The dark elixir quickly courses through my body energizing me for the day’s activities just as the Spirit fills me with excitement and desire for his service. 

Just last night I read how some of the latest studies show coffee is good for your heart.  It is high in soluble fiber and is also a good source of antioxidants.  Both of these help remove harmful byproducts such as cholesterol and cancer causing agents from our body.  If we allow it the Lord’s salvation will likewise cleanse our hearts of all the crud that has built up over the years.  It will open up our spiritual arteries so that we can hear the Spirit speaking to our heart and so that we’ll have the desire to follow what we hear. 

And finally, just as I like my coffee pure, strong and black the Lord’s salvation is sufficient in itself.  No need for added ‘sugar and cream’ to complete it.  The work is done.  The job complete.  My part is to accept the Lord’s salvation as he offers it and enjoy the bold, full-bodied, abundant life.  Of course, there is much more to come in this life as a Christ follower.  That first cup of coffee will not nourish me for the full day.  It is only the beginning – a great start for what lies ahead.  Just as I need meals and snacks throughout the day to maintain my energy I must continually learn and grow in my walk with Jesus if I am to fully embrace the abundant life he offers. 

So, yes Lord.  I lift my steaming cup of joe in praise to you for saving me and for filling me with a desire for your abundant life!

But there is a God is heaven who reveals secrets... Daniel 2:28

I woke up this morning with a desire for a fresh word from God.  I usually do most of my Bible reading from the New Testament but this morning I felt led to the Old Testament - specifically the prophets.  As I read through Daniel I was struck over and over again with God's intervention in human lives.

These interventions reminded me of times when God has disrupted my life.  My calling to missions.  The many times he has given me visions of future possibilities and new directions for XMA.  The latest of these is TribalConnection.

Just as he has fulfilled many of the earlier visions I believe he is currently fulfilling TribalConnection.  I don't have a clear picture where he is leading us with TribalConnection but I do know he intends to use it to show his love to overlooked people that we have not even known about or yet considered.

Our clean water project in Central Asia is moving along quickly.  We still lack a good bit of the funding but we have placed the order for the well drilling equipment.  It is scheduled for delivery to our partner in Central Asia in November.  We desperately need an experienced water well driller who will volunteer to spend a few days teaching the local guys how to use the equipment.  This is an outstanding opportunity for a very small investment of time to have a lasting impact in the physical and spiritual needs of a very dark land.  The local people we train will have a permanent water well drilling ministry.  They will spend 1 or 2 weeks in each village drilling several wells.  During this time they will stay in the local homes teaching them oral Bible stories and demonstrating God’s love through their actions and words.  When they leave they will not only leave behind sources of clean, healthy water.  We believe God will use their faithfulness to plant churches in many of these previously unreached villages.

This trip will be about 10 days long and can be scheduled at the well driller convenience.  It may be possible to schedule it this fall but most likely it will need to be late next spring due to the harsh winter weather.  Financial assistance is available.  Contact Randy Pierce at rpierce@xmaonline.com or 318-381-9884.

Please help locate this volunteer by spreading this need at your church, work and anywhere you can.

Team XMA (at this point only me but you are invited to join) is planning to compete in the 2007 Tyler State Park Sprint Adventure Race September 8th.  We will mountain bike 10 miles, trek 5-8 miles and kayak 1-3 miles.  The trick is you have to make your own boat from any non-boat materials.  My daughters and I got out on the shop and scrapped up some stuff to make the Team XMA flagship boat.

 

It’s made from our XMA travel trailer sewer dump wagon, 2 pieces of conduit, 2 seven gallon water jugs and the seat off my grandson’s old highchair.  It looks funny but, hey, it floats

 

And it looks like it might just hold together for the race.  The first thing I’ll have to do is pull the boat from the starting area to the beach on the other side of the park so the wheels will come in handy.  This is a great way to train for upcoming XMA adventures and have some fun.

Whether you decide to join me in the race or not come on out to the park for The Gathering on Saturday afternoon and evening.  Osmany, Jennifer & Rebeca and Marlon & Trish will be there.  We’ll also have the Tribal Connection system set up for you to see and we have some great videos on tap.  It will be a great time of fellowship and catching up on what XMA has planned.

 

 

 

Jesus saves from the American dream.  Find out more at dontwasteyourlife.com

I have the satellite equipment in hand and have been doing some testing from our office in LA (rural LA is about as backwoods as you can get).  We made our first video link today from the TribalConnection laptop to our office computer.  I'll be doing some traveling around the US the next couple of weeks and will do more testing.

 

Americans spent $15 billion on bottled water last year when most of us have access to safe, pure, almost free tap water.*

One billion people have no reliable source of drinking water and 3,000 children a day die from diseases caught from tainted water.*

As Christians what should our response be?

*Information taken from ‘Message in a Bottle” by Charles Fishman in July 2007 issue of Fast Company

 

I picked up the book Risk by Kenny Luck last week. I started it last Friday evening and wound up reading the whole thing over the weekend. It's a great book that will challenge you to follow God's leadership in your life. I highly recommend it.