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26 April 2000

 Dear Friends and Family:

I pray this letter finds you well.  I know it’s been a long time since I have written, but I assure you that we are all doing well.  I know I don’t show it sometimes, but I do love each and every one of you.  My main reason for writing is to let you know what’s been going on in my life personally on a spiritual level.

 I’ll start back at the beginning … As a child, while attending Auburn Heights Baptist Church, I felt really inspired by missionaries that would visit the church, as well as by those that were in my family.  I knew at the age of eight that I too wanted to be a missionary.  I felt a strong “call” for that in my life.  As the years progressed, however, I drifted away from God.  That is, until last year.

 During May of 1998, I was invited to attend Landmark Church here in Atlanta.  I was very skeptical at first, due to the fact that it was a charismatic church.  In case you’re not sure what “charismatic” means, I’ll try to explain.  Basically you take the Baptist theology and keep it.  Throw in the teachings of Jesus Christ and the Holy Spirit, stir in a little contemporary music and dancing, and you should have a pretty good idea of what the church looks like.

 Along with some other men from Landmark, I attended a Promise Keepers event in South Carolina in August of 1998.  Even though we really had to scrape up the money for me to go, I felt a strong need to attend.  This is where it all started.  While at the meeting, I felt a heavy burden on my heart to seek the Lord. 

 Shortly after that, I attended a men’s meeting at Landmark and a gentleman gave his testimony.  It really wasn’t his testimony that affected me – it was the story that he told at the end of his testimony.  The story basically says that there was a man looking at a card catalog and everything that he had ever done was written on all the cards.  Some were good deeds and some were not, but ALL the things that the man had done in his life were in the file.  Jesus walked in and read every one of them, both good and bad, scratched off the man’s name, and signed them with His name, in His blood.  The story still gets to me when I think about it.  The whole story is on my website if you care to read it (look under “The Story”).  Oh, and my website is http://www.fortunecity.com/millennium/rollingacres/669/ .  This will be changing soon and you will see a new format for the site. (It also has more room J ).  Keep an eye out for it. (http://travel.to/themission will be the new link.)

 That evening, I rededicated my life to Jesus Christ and have not looked back.  The Lord is changing me to be more like Him every day, as I seek His will for my life.  Over time, I have had several people pray for me, and once one of the elders of the Church came to me and said, “You knew the call when you were younger.  God has not changed His mind.  He still wants you to go and be the person you once dreamed of being as a child.”  Now, when I was a child, I dreamed of being an architect, a fireman, a policeman, a truck driver and a veterinarian.  And as I grew up, I wanted to be an engineer.  But when the elder said that to me, none of those professions came to mind.  The only thing that hit me was to be a missionary.  It’s funny, because I had not thought of being one since I was twelve. 

Ever since then, I have begun to work toward fulfilling God’s call on my life.  I am studying about how to be a missionary.  I am in training, for my body, mind and spirit.  I’ve been studying the Bible and how to interact with people of other cultures, praying daily, and even doing some physical training.  I have also started sharing my faith with people wherever I go (and, as you know, I travel A LOT).  Whether it be on a plane, in a hotel or in a taxi, the Lord is with me and I am doing what He wants me to do.

 This July, I’ll be taking my first major mission trip.  Along with a team from the church, I’ll be going to Cuidad Victoria (in Mexico) to rebuild a church and preach, and then we’ll head to Galeana, Mexico to repair a children’s home.  We’ll be stopping by several villages along the way to preach and teach the Gospel and tell what Jesus Christo (Spanish - Jesus Christ) has done for us.  The trip will cost each of us at least $600.  After this first trip, I’m planning to go to Guatamala to help rebuild a church and preach.  Then I will make some small mission trips around the Continental U.S. and Mexico. 

 Think this all sounds interesting?  Well, wait until you here what is coming.  I feel I am ultimately called to be a missionary in Africa.  The Lord has shown me that I will be working in several countries, including Eritrea, Sudan, Chad, Niger, Nigeria, Burkina Faso, Berin, Togo, Ghana and the Ivory Coast.  There are some smaller areas on the west coast of Africa, too, but the areas I listed will serve as my main focus.  I have been in touch with several mission groups that work in these areas, as well as one that is headquartered in Nigeria.  I cannot express to you the excitement I feel whenever I think about this opportunity, even though I know it’s well in the future.

 I have been asked to attend a trip to Africa in September.  I will keep you posted on whether it happens or not.  I put it in God’s hands for the funding and setup of the trip.  I know that this will be another short-term trip.  I do not feel that I will be going on long-term mission trips until a few things are in place.  I feel that when Benton and Emily are older and can begin to venture out on their own, then will be the time for the longer trips.  Until then I have plenty of things to work on.  I will continue my job with GoldMine Software Corporation and raise my family to follow the Lord.  The two things that I feel will have to happen before I can pursue missions full time is to (1) take several small trips within North America and (2) raise enough finances for me to go.  I feel that the financing for these trips will come from my job, fundraisers and supporters.  Please don’t think I’m asking you for money.  Because of who you are, I felt that I should share with you what God has done for me and what is ultimately in store for us. 

 I hope to be able to update you every couple months on what I’m doing.  I look forward to sharing with you all the things that I will see and do.  I know that all things are in God’s hands, and I am excited about what is to come.  So until next time, God bless you and your family.