Tagged 2!

Ok, this is probably cheating, as she said some "thing"...but this is someone..

Jolene is the cutest baby around & everyone's absolute favorite...she's incredibly smart too & so easy to take care of...I manage to get time with her about 1x in a week when I'm home & for some reason there's no-one else to take care of her (as bad as that sounds)...

We, of course, have the funnest times together & I always look forward to the next..

She is affectionately nicknamed by me "The Shmooch"..(that's right--you can't pronounce that) other nicknames are "Pooches", "Cuteness", etc.

Tagged!

A few weeks ago Curly Cel tagged me:

Hey, Brian, you seem like someone who could have a cool story to tell with this one. - I tag you! ;)

"Show me a special something--something that is important or beautiful or meaningful or full of memories for you--or all of that--and tell me about it. Absolutely anything!! Take a photo of it! =D"

hmmmm...I'm still musing over it (actually I've long since mused over it...but then my trip post was due & now I'm seeming to find it hard to spare time to upload photos..)..

Stay tuned. Meanwhile, I already tag ALL OF YOU!! What about the rest of you? You can post your answers either here, or on Cel's blog at: mycurlythoughtsarehere.blogspot.com

February Happenings...

Well, what I really wanna talk @ is my trip to Ghana/Port-Harcourt just b4 the Feast..

Then of course the 3-day spiritual Feasting was phenomenal (one of my highlights in the year)...

Planning for the Offensive & back to full-on home life since my 2 week trip/Feasting was also worth noting...

other than that...enjoy the pics..

I won't "repeat-post" same pics of Ghana that I just posted for the young people here


but here are a few others..


this in the midst of Africa Cup of Nations, 2008... i didn't realize when i booked out my itinerary for my trip, the dates kinda fell on this event by themselves...i'm glad they did..


photographer should've stepped back a bit...now i don't remember the name of the hotel..this was to be our entrance to the beach...the hotel reminded me of Mombasa...this beach wasn't as nice as Msa ones, though...


relaxing..then i swam way out with Johannes, we swam the furthest out of everyone (there were a couple people out a couple meters behind us, but they had boogie boards)...then we had swam a little too far...because of the current it was a struggle getting back in..a little scary, actually..


Steven & Emily at their home's agriculture project...checking on the bee hives..
ironically, my battery ran out just before i got to take a pic of myself in full gear...it was quite the experience..since i didn't get a picture as a souvenir, a bee decided to sting my hand so i could have a remeberance...boy did that hurt! These African bees don't kid around...i kept that sting for about 10 days, believe it or not...

After a week there it was off 2 PH for a few days of bonding/connecting/visiting/celebrating the aip (activated incentive program) with the teens there..the fun continued...check it out..

This was actually to be the highlight for me, but the Devil had his try at stopping me from entering that leg of the trip...as i was coming into Lagos from Accra the flu that i had caught at Hattso (pronounced Hatcho) home was in full swing...i landed around 7 in the evening (see my post titled...with my head bursting (or so it felt) from the air-pressure)...didn't make it to a hotel till about 9 & thru fever/head-cold, etc. i managed to provision a discount on the hotel room & witnessed to a few of the hoteld staff & checked in my room fine...but by the time i was getting to bed, i was seriously praying about just catching a flight home (Abuja..due North from Lagos), instead of going due East, to my destination of PH where the teens were...
I actually tossled with the idea all night, between mosquito bites & exhaustion...by morning, I felt somewhat rested & claimed the power of the keys of the Kingdom that I would be completely healed as I went...I decided to go by faith.

And it worked...my "do the humble thing" for that week, was talking with the teens like a frog for the first 2 days I was there. Singing never happened at any point...when i read the prophecies the Lord gave for the teens who had finished their activated competition, I had to keep scraping my throat, apologizing, coughing, etc. ha.

But it turned out good.. check the pics...



Managed a nice dinner, between the home & the board sponsoring some treats...

Had Lebanese Bread with Humus & Baba-ganoosh (i'm sure that's not how it's spelled) for starters & then served up Kebabs, Fried Rice & Salad for the main with a nice apple/pineapple punch we made...then Jenny's carrot cake for desert..delish!


with certificates...


"But i didn't bring prizes!!"...."Just certificates!"..

more on the way..

finally...

internet was working extremely slow for the past week...

posting was near impossible..besides that, work kept me working (it has it's ways) & i could not have even if i could have (more puns)...

but it's fixed now & it's weekend...so i'm back..

funny enough these days, when i finally get a little minute to "blog" i end up perusing other blogs instead of posting anything myself...

you know, there's so much to catch up on out there &, hey, i already know what i've been up to...

but 2008 will not be "postless" for me, I promise...don't give up on me..

I'll keep seein' ya'...;)

To Love...

Just completed a thrilling/invigorating/envisioning 3-day retreat that we in the Family International hold yearly...the launch of a special new witnessing push has begun..

n-e-way, that explains my abscence since the 15th till now..

back 2 my post: a friend sent me this story...funny, i'd actually never heard it b4..may-b som of u r already familiar w/ it..it's a powerful story actually...I had no idea that Valentine's day actually has a strong history in the Christian faith & is a story of...well, u can read it 4 urself below..enjoy!


THE LEGEND OF ST. VALENTINE

The story of Valentine's Day begins in the third century with an oppressive Roman emperor and a humble Christian martyr. The emperor was Claudius II. The Christian was Valentinus.

Claudius had ordered all Romans to worship twelve gods, and he made it a crime punishable by death to associate with Christians. But Valentinus was so dedicated to the ideals of Christ, that not even the threat of death could keep him from practicing his belief. He was arrested and imprisoned.

During the last weeks of Valentinus's life a remarkable thing happened. Seeing that he was a man of learning, the jailer asked whether his daughter, Julia, might be brought to Valentinus for lessons. She had been blind since birth. Julia was a pretty young girl with a quick mind. Valentinus read stories of Rome's history to her. He described the world of nature to her. He taught her arithmetic, and told her about God. She began to see the world through his eyes, trusted in his wisdom, and found comfort in his quiet strength.

"Valentinus, does God really hear our prayers?" Julia asked one day.

"Yes, my child. He hears each one," he replied.

"Do you know what I pray for every morning and every night? I pray that I might see. I want so much to see everything you've told me about!"

"God does what is best for us if we will only believe in Him," Valentinus said.

"Oh, Valentinus, I do believe," Julia said intensely, "I do." She knelt and grasped his hand. Then they prayed together. Suddenly there was a brilliant light in the prison cell. Radiant, Julia cried, "Valentinus, I can see, I can see!"

"Praise be to God!" Valentinus exclaimed.

On the eve of his death, Valentinus wrote a last note to Julia, urging her to stay close to God, and he signed it "From Your Valentine."

His sentence was carried out the next day, February 14, 270 A.D., near a gate that was later named Porta Valentini in his memory. He was buried at what is now the Church of Praxedes in Rome. It is said that Julia herself planted a pink-blossomed almond tree near his grave. Today, the almond tree remains a symbol of abiding love and friendship. On each February 14, St. Valentine's Day, messages of affection, love and devotion are exchanged around the world.

Traveler tip..

If you can at all avoid it, don't fly with a head cold...

When landing in Lagos on my flight back from Accra, i wondered if enough pressure would actually make either my ear-drum collapse, or my head implode/explode, one or the other...

Just got back from a 10 day trip to Ghana & Port-Harcourt..doing some JT projects..

pics on the way..

New Year's Resolution 2--Nutrition & Exercise!

Firstly exercise..

I've always strived for fitness for a variety of reasons...Thank the Lord, I made it
a pretty firm habit to gym regularly last year(on average, minimum of 4 times per week, maximum of 6), with a balance of resistance & cardiovascular training...I've committed to the same this year (it's life-long really, but the thot of gyming 4 the rest of my life scares the "bejeez" out of me...i just trick myself into goals of "1 yr. @ a time"..)

Here r some of the benefits of good cardiovascular exercise & resistance training taken from research published in a recent magazine by the Family International:

Benefits of resistance (weight) training:

* Increased bone density, as well as stronger tendons & muscles, which are harder to injure & recover more quickly & easily.

* Improved balance & shock absorption, making it less likely you'll fall, or less likely to get hurt if you do fall.

* Improves your posture

* Improved ratio of muscle to fat makes it easier to maintain a proper weight; also makes your cardiovascular exercise yield faster results in weight loss.

* As people get older (for any of you who are aging), muscle mass is naturally lost, making it harder to perform even everyday duties. Weight training helps overcome this if already set in, or helps avoid it if it hasn't.

(note: this doesn't necessarily mean lifting huge weights. This is resistance training, not bodybuilding)


Benefits of any exercise:

-- Improves metabolism

-- Improves blood pressure

-- Aids in hypertension

-- Reduces body fat

-- Controls cholesterol

Sounds good to me...I think I'll stick to this resolution...


A few more benefits of exercise:

builds muscle, tendon & ligament strength; strengthens your heart & respiratory system; builds endurance; cardiovascular exercise increases blood flow & the ability of the blood to carry oxygen; increases the body's ability to use oxygen; lowers risk of heart disease, high cholesterol, diabetes, cancer, and many other diseases; improves your immune system; helps you sleep better...

Benefits of eating healthy coming up...

New year's resolution 1--Wear my "Praise Glasses".

On the last day of 2007, about 2 hours before the countdown, I had prayed that the Lord would help me be more positive & praise Him for everything this year...

Here's a message from Jesus I read this morning that I believe will help me & all others with my same prayer to do just that...


You are special, created by My hand. You are unique, one of a kind. There's only one you, and I made you to perfectly fit the role and purpose I had in mind for you. You have special talents & qualities that I know you need for the job & calling I have for you, and you have liabilities that help balance you out, and keep you humble & close to Me.
The secret to finding My peace and contentment in your heart & mind is to thank Me for making you the way you are, flaws & all, and letting Me live through you. Praise Me for your weaknesses, which make you dependant on My strength. Glory in your infirmities (2 Corinthians 12:9) and in times of sadness which deepen your life and make you cling to Me more fervently. Be happy in the sad times, knowing that they are working in you a far greater eternal glory (2 Corinthians 4:17).
When you come to Me at the end of your days, I will gather you into eternal glory, where all tears will cease, and where there will be constant joy & happiness forever. I have some wonderful surprises for you up here that you will be deligthed with. I can't wait to have you here, but in the meantime, I will be with you in your heart, whispering to your spirit, and helping you through each day. I love you so much, and I love it whenever you think about Me and acknowledge My presence.
Thank Me for everything! Thank Me for the little things I do for you throughout the day. Thank Me for the loved ones I put along your path, and revel in My joy & prescence. This will keep you happy till you come to be with Me here. I love you.


--From Jesus with Love, Link, Issue 30, January 2008

Yankari/8-year-Africa anniversary 10th Jan, 2008!

pic by Ikumi

we just got back yesterday from a 3-day holiday with the other homes here at the National Game Reserve in Yankari, Bauchi state, north of Nigeria...

It was great! I had a blast! Being in nothing but God's creation, surrounded by nature & wildlife, enjoying hot springs, BBQs, fellowship & safari trips was just the vacation the doctor ordered...truly refreshing. Getting back to work is gonna be tough, but I know I'm gonna enjoy that too as I get back in the groove. Let Adventure 2008 begin!

It's also my 8 YEAR ANNIVERSARY IN AFRICA TODAY.--I was so busy cooking that I forgot to tell me home...8 years ago today, Josh & my sister, Phebe picked me up at the airport in Lagos. I remember it like it was yesterday. Landing in Lagos, was like visiting a foreign planet...without telling you my whole life story, I'll just let you enjoy the Safari pics...(I would post the whole remembering-my-time-in-Africa pictorial, but it already takes me half a day to post a review of one year, or one place I've been...8 years would probably take me just that...)

Have a good one!

P.S. All pics taken by me, unless otherwise noted (copyrights apply...;) )


7:00 sunrise on the way to early morning Safari...


by the river where we saw Crocs, Egrets, Herons & later that day Hippos..


I had the privelege of going on 4 Safaris in 3 days ("How?", you may ask..). Here's what I saw between the 4:

Baboons, Bushbuck, "Brown-Shoebill-Bird-Thingie", Crocodile, Elephants, Egrets, Guinea Fowl, Hippo, Kingfisher (the most brightly colored bird you ever saw...but they're so shy & fly away quickly.."I neva snap am") Vulture, Waterbuck, Water Buffalo, Wart Hog, Western Hartebeest, another kinda monkey...forgot the name..and a few more animals whose names I can't pronounce..if I could remember them...



Mother & baby elephant I "snapped" on "Safari 3"...

On "Safari 4" we got up at 5 a.m. to go & find Lions...ended up being a "wild Lion chase...but we did see elephant, Bushbuck & a couple monkeys, and riding in the trunk of our pickup (the only Safari I went on with our own vehicle) with dust in my eyes, getting stuck in the sand & eating Safari snacks (literal name) was all part of the adventure...


All of group 2 during Safari 2 (go figure) in front of about half the herd of Elephant that we found just near the water front at a certain spot where the ground is phosphorous & they dig for salt/minerals & kick dust everywhere...about 3 of the males charged us (bluff charges, TTL)...should have brought our camcorder...


Practicing my monkey communication skills.. pic by Ikumi


enjoying BBQ with Mark & Jenny (& everyone else not pictured)
pic by Simon


Wikki warm Springs

HAPPY NEW YEAR!!!

I prayed for you all today that the Lord will give you a wonderful 2008 & that this year will be better than the last.












my very first 2008 "snap"...




As typically done every year around the world among missionaries of the Family International, we took sometime last night to reflect on last year, thank God for what He did in each of our lives, as well as state our goals, desires, vision, verse/scripture for the New Year ahead.--A wonderful time of reflection & a great way to enter another year--with faith & purpose for what lies ahead.

I thanked God for my family, friends, learning experiences, new challenges, health, happiness, travels, etc.


My goals for this year are:

--2 be a more consistent & active prayer warrior. This year is particularly important to all of us in the Family & I want to accomplish everything that I can, but I know that it can only be done through the power of God working via prayer, our spirit helpers, the keys of the Kingdom, etc.

--I also want to speak His words to others & use prophecy more in my life, to both benefit my own life/spiritual walk, but also to encourage & strengthen others...



My prayer for the New Year:

That I will continuously praise this year & see my life thru the "glasses of positiveness" every day. Rather than thinking about what I don't have, I've determined that 2008 will be a time to thank God for everything He's already given me.--which is so, so much!



Below are a few selective shots I took throughout 2007...enjoy....





Robert, Arturo, Ayla, Mary & Anisa, Ayla's B'day, Oct, O7



Ronald Reagan building, Washington DC, April, 2007



Jasmine during outdoor class, FDTP, South Africa, July, 07



Neighbor kid and friend at his B'day party, September, 07




Botanical Gardens, Birmingham, Alabama, April, 2007