Hyper and Stuttering

Today there were multiple projects going on around here. My dad is still in the hospital, but doing much better than he was last night. My mother's business, a day care center, was having their state inspection this morning. I was busy keeping my grandmother occupied, so that she wouldn't get in the middle of the inspection (as she tends to do since she lives on the property). When I got home from Project Keep Granny Busy Elsewhere, there were a bunch of messages on the machine, from folks telling us that they were praying for Dad; one message in the middle was from my former boss in Israel, whom I hadn't heard from in years. I could hardly wait for him to call back.

When he did, I was at the hospital, but I was very excited to talk to him. I had forgotten what talking to him was like. Besides his southern accent, he stutters in his excitement and enthusiasm for the subject being discussed. He sounds like someone with way too much coffee intake, but its just his passion and his rush to say everything in his mind. I think he was as happy to catch up with me a bit as I was to hear from him. It was a great conversation and definitely one of my day's highlights.

News on Monday

For the past few years, I send out emails copied to all my family members of whatever is current in my life, and I always title it, "News on ____" (whatever day of the week). Not an interesting title, I know, but I figure it gives a certain context to whatever the events happen to be.

So my news of the day is that yesterday I spoke at one of my favorite churches, Western Loudoun Community Church, in Northern Virginia. I like all the churches that support me, but some of them have a certain "je ne sais quoi" ( I don't know what) that makes me feel really connected to the folks there. Pastor Ray Cowell and his wife are very open and personable and I feel instantly like a good friend--actually, we both drive charcoal gray Honda Accords! The church folks were excited to see me yesterday, since I was the first missionary to return back to the church after a full term of their support. I really felt like the Lord moved during the service, so that was great, too!

Today I've been keeping myself busy because my house is empty, so I can concentrate more. Also, my dad was having a hip replacement surgery, so I feel like keeping busy is good for me so that I don't sit around worrying about how he's doing. He's being taken up to his hospital room as I type, so he's come out of the surgery already, but he's having trouble coming out of the anasthetic. He's in room 561 B at North Arundel, for those of you in the immediate area.

Thanks for your prayers for his recovery and therapy, too.

New Fundraising Pictures

Wouldn't you be willing to give money if you saw a poster of this miserable child?

(I'm just kidding about this being a new fundraising picture. I just think its a funny picture of Sad, I mean Syd, my niece!)

No Place Like Home

This morning I had the pleasure of being at my home church, where I spoke as a replacement for my vacationing pastor. Its always so much fun being with folks I've known practically my whole life. They respond so well when I'm speaking; its easy to get into the groove with people that give feedback. One member of the audience was a county councilman who was visiting the church for the first time, after one of our board members heard his testimony at a Christian Business Men's breakfast and invited him to join us. That was my first time to preach in front of a politician, even just a local one.

I Love it when . . .

churches call me! Without me hounding them or giving them a "hard sell," I love it when a pastor or a church will call me out of the clear blue to ask if I'm available for a service or a missions convention.

Yesterday I went to Frederick, MD to visit with my great-aunt, who has been recently widowed. I also wanted a chance to encourage my twin cousins about their freshman year at Valley Forge Christian College (my alma mater). They leave tomorrow and naturally, they are equal parts nervous and excited. We had a good visit with my niece Livvy as the primary entertainment, a role she loves!

When I got home, I had a message from an old college friend asking me to come to their church for a Missionettes meeting and a "window" to promote BGMC for the children. BGMC or (Boys and Girls Missionary Crusade) is the giving program for children in the Assemblies of God. Each child saves their coins in a little bank to give to BGMC, which pays for Sunday School materials and other printed matter on the missionfield. Missionettes is an achievement program of the Assemblies of God for elementary age girls. As you can guess by their name, the program was originally designed to help disciple girls and teach them how to serve the local church and the worldwide mission of the Gospel. I think it will be fun to be a part of both programs in this New Jersey church that contacted me.

The Huddled Masses Yearning to Breathe Free

Yesterday I decided I could avoid it no longer . . . .

I had to go to the DMV.

Not only did I need to change my drivers license back to Maryland, but I also needed to get the registration done for the car I bought last month. The temporary tags from Kansas, where I bought the car, are about to expire. In my defense, I wasn't procrastinating. I had to wait to get the inspection done, get certain documents in the mail, and then return from General Council.

So yesterday morning, I sat at the dining table with a pile of paperwork, checking off all the documents I would need to present at the many stations of the DMV. I must say, the forms are not easy to understand. Even online, where I did most of my research, I would find myself clicking in circles, trying to follow the maze of instructions for tags, registration, titles, taxes, etc.

Finally, when most of the morning was almost gone, I thought I had it all together, so I left the house, with my mother shouting, "Do you have a book? You'll be there for hours!" behind me helpfully. Thanks, Mom.

In my county there are two Motor Vehicle Offices: one in Glen Burnie and one in Annapolis. The Glen Burnie office is a large multi-story building, housing also offices for Maryland Department of Transportation. Last I remember, it seemed like a fluorescent lit, scuffed and dirty room full of disgruntled masses in lines. You could stand in line for hours only to be told you were in the wrong line by one of the blue-haired, gravelly-voiced women with eyeglasses on a chain, that the DMV seems to breed. Everyone hated it.

Then the county built the Annapolis office for the southern end of the county, and it was a shiny, new building. Since Annapolis is a wealthier area of our county, the clientele is shiny, too. Word quickly spread that the Annapolis branch was clean, fast, and friendly. So those of us in the middle of the county changed our loyalties practically overnight, thereby making the Annapolis lines somewhat longer.

Yesterday, I got my number and sat on the central benches, but I hardly had to wait more than thirty minutes to get my license. The tag/title line had no wait at all, but there, I hit a major snag. The signature of one of the previous owners was missing on the title, and the bill of sale for the car wasn't "professional" enough. I guess it looked suspicious, even though I tried to explain that in Kansas, they probably aren't as picky. Also, the dealer who sold me the car is easily 75 years old. I doubt he creates bill-of-sale templates on his computer in his free time.

Despite my best arguments, I came home without the registration; more work has to be done. Contrary to my mother's estimate, I was only at the DMV about an hour, before leaving my comrades-in-lines still waiting with their glazed looks and slack jaws of boredom.

For those who are interested

In case you may have some time on your hands, I recommend the Discipleship Challenge that Charles Crabtree gave our fellowship last night:
http://ag.org/top/Events/General_Council_2007/Broadcasts/index.cfm

You can scroll down the page for evening service of Thursday, August 9.

Longest day ever

So much to say, so exhausted while saying it. . . . .

This morning it was announced that we had elected George Wood as our General Superintendent yesterday afternoon at the close of business.

This morning during the business session, we elected Alton Garrison for the position of Assistant Superintendent (although Dr. Beth Grant was in the top three choices during the votes--landmark for our fellowship, I think). To replace George Wood in the Secretary office, we elected John Palmer. To replace Alton Garrison in the position of US Home Missions Executive Director, we made history by electing the first black pastor to an executive position, Rollie Smith, Jr from the New Jersey district.

In between all those votes, we also voted on resolutions. There was much debate over certain resolutions, particularly over the inclusion of women and pastors under 40 in the general presbytery. We spent most of the morning on that and related resolutions, before they were finally denied.

I had the privilege of sitting in front of a general presbyter from Louisiana. He was keeping up a lively conversation with me and my friend outspoken friend Brandy, and I wanted to give him a prayer card. I realized I'd left them back at the hotel several blocks away. Unfortunately, I didn't really have a spare moment to run and get them.

For lunch, I'd scheduled to be at the Credentialed Women's Luncheon. The food was great, but I was a little confused as to why we had a man speaker, when we have so many wonderful, um, how shall I say . . .Credentialed Women! I had to leave early, so that I could run back to the hotel for my prayer cards. Rushing back, I was able to be in the afternoon business session, where we continued electing our officials and argued about relational districts and divorced ministers.

I don't even know how that ended, because the missionaries had to be at the evening service very early. I ran to change into my dress for that, and got over to the Conseco Field House in time to be assigned a flag to wave at the right moment during the missions service. For the record, we were just given flags; they didn't relate to our actual country. I waved the Swedish flag, as a matter of fact.

As soon as that service was over, I rushed several blocks to the Valley Forge reception, chatting up a few pastors on the walk over. I was passing out my cards like candy. The reception gave me a chance to eat the first real food I'd had since noon (a handful of crackers in between don't count, in my book). I worked the room, greeting Dr. Meyer and lots of old friends (some of whom I didn't even recognize with their baldness, gray hair, or weight gains). It was pretty fun to be there, but I have to say now that I'm finally back in the hotel (nearly midnight), I am amazed I haven't collapsed yet.

I can sleep on the plane tomorrow!

Voting and more voting

After multiple rounds of voting, we still do not have a General Superintendant. We did a fourth election, having already run over-time, so we will find out the results tomorrow. It is basically coming down to George Wood or Alton Garrison.

Of course, depending on that outcome, we will have even more voting tomorrow to fill the other roles.

There was some tension over the issue of whether or not a General Superintendant could continue pastoring a church (like the Southern Baptists and other fellowships). But all attempts to change our bylaws by ammendment were voted down (loudly, I might add).

Nobody knows

This morning I woke up thinking about last night's service, which began with a 10 minute presentation recapitulating the life and ministry of Thomas E. Trask, complete with black-and-white photos of a 21 yr. old Tom, pastoring his first church in Minnesota. When Brad Trask got up to introduce his father, he filled in even more details, as well as providing a couple of humorous stories. (Apparently when Thomas Trask told his father Waldo in 1988 that he had been approached about being the General Treasurer, his father was adamant that he should refuse: the only treasurer mentioned in the Bible was Judas!)

I was thinking this morning how no one knew when that 21 year old young man started pastoring that he would one day be the General Superintendant of our fellowship. No one knew he would have such a far-reaching and varied ministry.

I reflected on meeting Professor Brubaker in the entry of the building last night--a man who was one of my first Bible college professors when I was only 17 years old. He is always interested in whatever ministry I'm currently doing; as I talked to him very briefly last night, he got a look on his face and shook his head slightly, as if I was amazing him somehow with my latest plans. I thought, he probably remembers me at 17, so no wonder he's surprised that my life has changed in the ways it has. I wasn't even planning to be on the missionfield back then, and here I've been a missionary for at least 10 years.

All that to say: I'm glad I don't know where I'll be next year or twenty years from now. As much as I sometimes get frustrated with the not knowing, I'd rather let God direct my steps, because its been pretty exciting so far!

Last Service with Brother Trask

Everyone was keyed up for the service tonight, and Brother Trask spoke from his heart about the dangers facing our fellowship. He preached from Rev. 3: 1-4 (the letter to the church at Sardis) and used it as a warning against having a reputation for "activity" without really having the authencity behind it.

He encouraged us to preach an authentic gospel, to be authentic messengers, and to have an authentic experience with the Holy Spirit. His message was both heart-felt and anointed; the audience really responded to his challenge.

Tomorrow we face the process of choosing our next leader, and I hope that whomever we elect will bring the same anointing and unfaltering frankness to our fellowship.

On a side note, after the service I got the chance to see my aunt and uncle, pastors from my area, as well as many friends from Bible college (and all their kids!) so it was quite a time of reunion for me in the outer halls of the Conseco Field House.

So far . . .

Most of my morning was spent helping to greet people in the Europe exhibition booth, handing them a very realistic looking "passport" containing information on all the European countries, as well as prayer points for each nation. I enjoyed helping to promote the Europe field to folks passing by in the exhibition hall. Some exhibitors were having drawings for free ipods and laptops, though, so the Europe booth wasn't the most popular.

As I stood there, smiling at passerby as warmly and as "welcomingly" as I could, a white-haired man and his wife came up, "Ariel, oh my gosh, it's so good to see you!" I reacted with a hug instantly while my brain was a little late in realizing who I was greeting--Pastor Duane and Sharon Swanson!

I spent the next 45 minutes catching up with them, remininiscing about the years when they were at Pasadena AG and he was my youth pastor. We compared births, marriages, graduations, and careers of all our family members and they extended an invitation to visit the North Texas district where he is on the district staff running the children's department. I was thrilled to see them.

Afterward, I ran up to the drama rooms to see the Pasadena kids perform their drama. They did great and since I hadn't seen them perform before, I could view it with fresh eyes. People in the audience gasped when Michael threw off all the girls that were choking and beating him up, at one point in the skit. Someone said, "ouch" behind me, so I hope that the girls are used to Michael doing this in the skit and are able to "stage fall" well.

Tonight (in a few minutes actually) is the first official service of the Council, and Thomas Trask will be preaching. More later . . .

Indianapolis General Council

I arrived in Indianapolis for the Assemblies of God General Council this afternoon after two flights (including one where the woman next to me wore a surgical mask, as if I had the Plague--or even scarier, she did). Tired and hot, I caught a taxi, and the taxi driver was from Africa; once I mentioned that I had been to Senegal, he wanted to be my new best friend. We spoke in French the rest of the ride.

I had a chance to hang out with my good friends Christy and Brandy, who are other single missionaries, and my roommates in the hotel this week. Tomorrow I'll attend the pre-Council seminar sessions on leadership, before the first official evening service tomorrow night.

Don't worry, I'll keep you informed on the exciting events of our fellowship here.

Busy Weekend

I'm in trouble again with my blog readers, who've complained that I haven't added a new post lately. Unfortunately my daily schedule isn't that fascinating, so believe me, I'm trying to spare you from unrelieved boredom.

This weekend was pretty exciting, however, beginning with a trip to Hershey Park with my former college roommate and best friend. Beth and her family have "adopted" me and invited me to share a day on their family vacation, and I loved going to Hershey with them. I rode roller coasters with the older boys and got to hang out with the whole family for a day of amusement park amusement!
On Friday afternoon, while I was still being soaked on the Raging Rapids ride, my two aunts and my one-and-only first cousin from North Carolina were arriving at home. I got to have a late dinner with them once I got back from Hershey, and then we spent the day together on Saturday. My dad's two sisters don't get the chance very often to come up north from so far away, so with more and more great-nieces being added to the family, they figured the time had come to visit. They got to see a lot of Olivia and Sydney playing, plus they all held Ellie and took snapshot after snapshot. We walked around Annapolis during the afternoon, after lunch in a historic restaurant on Church Circle, but it was so hot/humid, it was almost unbearable. We definitely enjoyed the air conditioning once we were back home, having dinner together as a big extended family. (more pictures of that when my film gets developed)

This morning I wasn't scheduled in any church, so I got to worship with my Pasadena family, which gave me a chance to see lots of old friends. I really love when I can be in my home church, which won't be too often in the upcoming months. I really appreciate it when I can fit it in!