simply grateful

We wrote a blog post on our anniversary, but failed to put any pictures… well, except the picture of the toilet paper on the first blog.  Since we are catching up the blog, we thought we should put up a few pics from our anniversary date.    One more from that day 10 years ago!  

This year I turned 40 and Heather decided to give me a kudu hunt for my birthday (which is way more awesome than what I got her when she turned, uh, 39…).  Although my birthday was in March I wasn't able to go hunting until June.  Unfortunately, I never did get a shot off in June so I went back for a second try in August.  Thankfully, I saw this one and was able to harvest it.  None of the kudu went to waste.  The skins are at the taxidermy, our freezer is full of meat, and many of the workers around the farm I was hunting on also had a nice dinner that evening.  While I was there I also harvested a warthog… because you just haven't lived until you try some of Heather's warthog BBQ!

Ten years ago Heather and I got married while still working on our Masters degrees.  We ignored a lot of advice and a lot of words of caution.  We were told that the first year would be one of the hardest years of our lives.  We were told about all the adjustments we would have to make.  We were told about miscommunications, misunderstandings, misgivings and mistakes we would make.  But we were young and in love (ok, maybe not so young, but definitely in love) and we went from our first date to married in under eight months.    Surprisingly, we really didn’t have any big adjustments.  We have disagreed, but never argued.  We have been frustrated, but never finished.  We have differed in opinion, but never disrespected the other.  We were prepared, based on the counsel of others, for what would amount to World War III but have instead found an amazing relationship.  I’m not saying we are perfect or have it all figured...

There is no lack of debate as to the value of short-term mission trips.  We believe that every believer, that is physically capable, should be active in international mission work in some capacity.    We believe this because not only are we commanded in Scripture (Acts 1:8, Matthew 28:18-20, among many others)  to go, but believe that it is part of the maturation process of each believer.  It is extremely common to hear believers say at the end of mission trips that perhaps the greatest work accomplished was in their personal relationship with Christ.  I will concede that there is great possibility for short-term missions to turn into "sanctified tourism".  I also will admit that there is the potential for misguided individuals or organizations to turn short term missions into a profit making scheme.   To this my response is two-fold.  First, it is to give each person and organization the benefit of the doubt.  As I tell my children, ...