Compassion Kiddo

Recently, Anne Jackson and some other bloggers went on a trip to Uganda. I followed their stories and was touched by a post on Anne's blog about actually seeing the change in a child that was sponsored verses a child that wasn't sponsored through Compassion.

Soon after that all settled down and the celebrity bloggers returned home, Anne posted about a young boy named Francis that was awaiting a sponsorship. My wife and I decided to start investing in his life. (BTW, this further delayed me getting a DVR and better cable...we still know how to program our VCR though so we don't miss Lost, Smallville, or Idol.)




We received our first letter which gave me great perspective into his life, and the vast contrast between his world and ours. The simple desire to just go to "town" if he could go anywhere and that his favorite food is bananas really challenges my gratefulness. I'm looking forward to keeping in touch with him and praying for him with my family.

Maybe you should check out Compassion and be challenged too....it's okay, DVR isn't THAT cool.

A Private Jet You Say?

My wife is involved in a company called Premier Designs. She sells this brand's jewelry in ladies' homes across NE Oklahoma. She has been doing this for almost 9 years and loves it! Each year the company has a national rally in Dallas. Usually I go there for a week to learn a bunch of music and perform for the crowd with an ensemble. *Before you snicker, this gets us free room, board, and admission to the event!

In January the company has regional rallies across the U.S. The founders of the company asked for a quartet and I was called upon to assist! The cool thing is that I will be traveling to Orlando tomorrow and then hopping on the founder's private jet to go with them to the other sites! HOLY FREAKIN COW!!! Andy and Joan Horner are two of the nicest, most giving, godly people I have ever met...so traveling with them on their private jet is a little bit of a mind blower! I'll blog a little bit about my travels as the weekend unfolds but I really wanted to highlight what a honor it is to get to spend time with the Horners.

Andy and Joan started the Horner-Premier Foundation in 1992 to help protect the company's philosophy, purpose, and plan. A major part of that plan was to finance missionaries around the world. So, now that the Horners are no longer the President of the company, they spend a lot of time traveling to other countries and visiting the people that Premier funds. I will enjoy picking their brains about what God is doing and what they're excited about.

Okay, this was my inspiring post. From now on, just selfish pictures of me on a private jet and basking in "the life" that I will never live! Look out Creflo!

Back In The Saddle

I'm not sure what that means...other than a reference to a long cattle drive. Anyway, blogging in Costa Rica proved to not be as easy as I had hoped. It's really interesting how I tried to take my "connected" life and keep it that way in Central America. I didn't take my journal with me because I wanted to blog about everything non-personal. With sparce internet connections...a Dell laptop, and sweltering heat and humidity...blogging was more than a challenge.

Next time, I'll bring the good old pen and paper.

Rainforest Zipline

So, we did this two days ago. Our team went in the mountains of Costa Rica and went through a canopy tour of the rainforest. To do this, you have to strap a harness on, and cross 14 traversements and hang out 60 feet or more up in a giant tree. We saw three-toed sloths, toucans, and heard howler monkeys. This was such a great moment to really see some amazing topography and see flora and fauna that you never get to see in the states. God is truly in all things and is made known through his creation. Just for fun, here are some shots and an introduction to the team while on the zipline. ENJOY!

Viva Costa Rica!

We're officially in Costa Rica now. After a harrowing journey from the States we arrived and took a bus down to Puerto Viejo. On the way down, I was unmercifully mocked for my tid bits of knowledge of local coffee plantations that for some reason or another, none of the ticos (local Costa Ricans) know about! Here's some pics and video from our trip so far! Enjoy!