Cushy Missionaries

Hi,

Well, the excuse we have for not posting at all this week is that the internet has been down on the ship since last weekend. To everyone who wished me a "happy birthday" via email... thanks, i just got them now. The reason i title this post "Cushy Missionaries" is because we just got back from seeing the movie "The End of the Spear" and realize how much we complain when we don't have high speed internet right at our finger tips and the people in that movie have it much, much worse. But maybe they didn't have it worse because they weren't bogged down with the usual worries and troubles that seem to keep us bound in knots and not willing to move out of our comfort zone. I digress, it was a great movie. I'd heard some criticism before hand about how the acting wasn't great. Really, it's a well done movie. It really touches you. It's the nitty, gritty and not so pretty reality of living as a missionary to a tribe in Ecuador. Please, if the opportunity comes available and you don't mind some tribal violence, see this movie. It's worth it in my books and half the proceeds are donated to helping out other tribes.

So, here i am, typing away on the high speed internet, able to post pictures and send some info to my loved ones. Why should i feel so bummed about my existence? Really, i shouldn't. God has blessed me more than i deserve and more than i could imagine. I just turned 26 and am married to a beautiful and spiritual wife. She's better for me than i could have ever dreamed of. I'm living my life as a missionary, sacrificing money and my own personal goals for those of God. Sure, it gets hot in the summer, but we're allowed to have A/C in our cabin. When i hear other people at church talk about how they view our lives, it makes me realize how much i've lost the newness of being a missionary and being able to serve God this way. I want to have that fresh fire again. I want to be able to take the lessons that God's taught me and put them into practice. I don't want to forget what true service is. I don't want to be more focused on myself than on what God's doing. I need to get the old passions of serving God firing again.

Dess and i are still doing what we've been doing. Although my life is getting stirred up a bit. Wally, our new Chief engineer, has finally returned from a 2 month hiatus. He's been around Friend Ships for about 1 and 1/2 years, but he's just now taking over as Chief. We've started having a morning devotional time each morning with Wally. It's going well and it's kinda bringing the engineers and mechanics together. At first it was sort of unnerving because the first question he asked at our first meeting was "Where do you stand with the Lord?". He then proceeded to go around the table and have us all give an answer. It was random and unsettling. We're getting more used to his ways. By the way, a litting insight into Wally. He's an 82 year old dude that stands about 4' tall. He's excited about Jesus and loves to do a jig (little dance) when he's fired up about something. His background is all about ships and maritime trade. He's been in the Navy, ran a ship yard for Foss and had his own business. One story that Matt and i love to reminice about was the time when Matt asked him "How's it going, Wally?" to which Wally (after getting in close to Matt's face) replied "Woof, Woof!!!" Talk about bizarre. Wally make life more enjoyable.

My birthday was great. Dess arranged for a surprise party for me at the bowling alley. About a dozen people from the ship showed up and we had cake, ice cream and bowled the night away. It was fun. Then for my actual birthday, Dess took me out for a romantic dinner at a local mexican restaurant.

Well, lots of stuff has happened in a week. I can't think of it all to put it in words now. It was good talking to every one who called for my birthday. Thanks again for calling, emailing or even thinking of me.