Happy Birthday, BFA&F!

Remember her?

One year has passed and her day has arrived again...

Steph isn't blogging these days... but maybe she'll pick it up again if all of you stop by her blog and wish her a happy birthday!

Be blessed, my sweet, sweet friend!

HE'S HOME!!!

Details soon!

This Is It!

Today is the last day Burrito and the mission team will be in North Pole, Alaska.  They will continue working through this morning and wrap things up in time to have lunch before starting the 24 hour, long journey back to Texas.  They will retrace their steps with a seven hour drive back to Anchorage to catch the first of their flights.  They are scheduled to arrive back in Austin at 5 PM on Saturday evening.

We're anxious to hear about all the fun, adventures, and God stories that have to tell.  We already know that at least one 7-year-old girl accepted Christ while they were in North Pole! This alone made the week successful.

So, please pray:

• That much is accomplished this final day and that projects are successfully wrapped up by before the three teams leave North Pole.
• For the people of First Baptist Church in North Pole as they continue the ministry that was started this week.
• For safe travels for our team and the other two teams (from Alabama and North Carolina) as they travel to their homes.
• For the health of all the team members - it's been an exhausting week.
• That the spiritual growth the team members experienced will continue once they return to their everyday lives.

I will continue to post any Twitter updates I receive on the side bar.  Hopefully, Burrito took lots of pictures and we'll post these later this weekend.

Finally, here's a photo of the entire North Pole mission team (all three churches) that was made before their worship service last night:

Do you see Burrito? Look at the fourth row from the front (the first "long" row), fourth person from the right.

Weather: Texas vs. Alaska

Right now in central Texas, the sun is blazing and it feels like 100 degrees.

Right now in North Pole, AK, it's cloudy and feels like 59 degrees.

Where would you rather be???

News From The First Work Day in North Pole

From an updated received last night:

"The day started off bright and early, breakfast at 6am sharp! We sent the crews off to their work sites for the first time this morning, but first started off with The Great Send Off! All participants gathered in a large circle where we rallied and got pumped up for the work the rest of this week. We had a large group prayer and everyone all rushed off for their work sites.

Participants worked hard all day long.. roofing, painting, backyard bible clubs, give away, you name it, we did it!

Participants ended the night with the Concert of Prayer. This is a special time of worship where students spend one on one time with God praying and worshipping. Students were challenged to give up something this week that hindered their life from the Lord. Each student was given a rough rock that represented the distraction or sin that hindered them, when they were ready to give it up they placed it at the foot of the cross, and picked up a new smooth clean rock. This week should be good, we are excited, pumped and ready to serve the Lord!"

Please keep praying for the team members in North Pole.  They are working long hours at hard jobs they may have never performed before this week.  Pray that they will retain both their energy and enthusiasm and that they will be constantly aware of opportunities to share their faith in Christ. 

Oh, and that weather? It's still being a little pesky, too.

Pictures from North Pole

The team from our church. Burrito is in the second row from the bottom, fourth from the right.

This will be their "home base" while in North Pole.

They will eat, sleep and worship here.

Look at those heavy clouds in the sky. Keep praying the rain away!

E-Couragrams Are Now Open!

The team arrived safely in Anchorage, Alaska, on Saturday with no reports of lost luggage or team members. They spent Sunday walking on glaciers and shopping at an Eskimo trading village in 50-degree, rainy weather. (That's winter weather to thin-blooded Texans!) And today they made the seven hour drive from Anchorage to North Pole with a pit stop in Denali National Park.

Tomorrow bright and early... the hard work begins!

E-Couragrams are now open. If you'd like to send a note of encouragement to Burrito while he's there, follow THIS LINK and fill in Burrito's name, our church's name and our home city.  If you're not sure about this info, e-mail me and I'll make sure you have the correct information.  E-Couragrams will be delivered to the mission team members each evening and will remain open through Thursday evening.

Hopefully, we'll begin receiving some pictures soon and I'll post them here as they become available.

The weather forecast is still predicting temps in the mid-50's to upper-60's and rain for the rest of the week.  Please pray that the rain will hold off or occur during times that the teams are indoors.