Mark Freezing, Terry Melting

Well, such is the way of the world. Terry is doing great in Brazil, having met with over 300 women yesterday at their meeting. They gave away door prizes, and she said it was like The Price is Right, when they would call a name with no reponse, they would start shouting, draw again, draw again. She is having a blast. She and Toni are doing some follow up meetings today, as well as attending all their services, which I'm sure are changing her view of the church.

She did say that her face is melting off. It's summer in Brazil, which to many who are reading this post would not mind in the least. Winter has been brutal. Terry is melting, which means she's having a bad make up and hair week, with the temps around 90 every day, and extremely humid; whereas it's all of 25 here today, and at home they got about 4 inches of snow.

No wonder I'm ready for Spring break, and no wonder Terry loves air conditioning. I look forward to pictures, and will share with you all when she gets back.

Terry in Brazil

Well, Terry is on her flight to Brazil. She will will arrive around 5:00a our time, and be there for 10 days, continuing to work with the women there sharing the Mary Kay opportunity, while spending time at camp for Campinas Central Church. They take approximately 2000 people to a camp the last weekend of Carnival (Mardi Gras) because of what happens in the city before the beginning of Lent. Kind of a sick time of the year.

She's learning portuguese, and is acclimating herself to her new friends. Or maybe I should better say, they are acclimating to us. They continue to be gracious people, who will be friends for life. They are stuck with us, and I hope they're okay with that. For more on them, you can read our original Brazil postings from May of last year.

I'm praying for a safe journey, for safety while there, and many good days as they continue to build the Kingdom in their corner of the world.

Whirlyball is life!

Had my first go around with some real hacks on a Whirlyball court, or whatever you call it, while in Kansas City.  One, I didn't realize that the wickets you use to throw and catch the ball should be registered weapons; thanks for teaching me the tricks of the trade Kenny. 

I also didn't realize that life lessons on power and authority play throughout this game.  You know, like once you get someone trapped in a corner, you don't let them out.  Or if someone has the ball in their wicket, you whack them with yours until you get the ball out or cut their hand off, whichever comes first.  Or when you score, you catch the ball, and keep scoring until someone rams into the back of your car, giving you whiplash, and causing you to drop the ball.  Oh, and my favorite, blood means nothing.

It's also a safe zone for saying things about and to people you probably wouldn't other wise say and do.  This isn't an activity for building community or for the faint of heart, it's all about stress relief.

So, have you played?  Are you a Whirlyball 'playa', like Tim?  Aficionado, like Kenny?  Rookie, like me?  Biggest loser, like Brooklyn?  Expert on maneuvering their car like Stu?  Passing wizard like Blair?  Scoring machine like Chad?  Or maybe a 'playa' in waiting?  Either way, I'm sure it won't be long before there are volumes of books written on this, sport?  Because like I discovered earlier this week, for some, whirlyball is life!

P.S.  I love my wife!! (it is Valentines Day, you know, and she might read this)

I heard this yesterday, and I cried!

How baffling you are, oh Church, and yet how I love you!

You have made me suffer, and yet how much I owe you!

I should like to see you destroyed and yet I need your presence.

You have given me so much scandal and yet you have made me understand sanctity.

I have seen nothing in the world more devoted to obscurity, more compromised, more false, and I have touched nothing more pure, more generous, more beautiful. How often I have wanted to shut the doors of my soul in your face, and how often I have prayed to die in the safety of your arms.

No, I cannot free myself from you, because I am you, although not completely.

And where should I go?

- From The God Who Comes - Carlo Carretto

Thanks Brooklyn!

"Defending mediocrity is exhausting"

Seth Godin, Tribes