Today is a bittersweet day. Josh and Kelly have been working for over a year to raise funding for a two year missions opportunity with OneHope, in South Africa. Over the past 18 months we prayed for them, advised them, helped them and now the time has come for them to leave. Today, in fact, is their final day in St. Louis. Friday and Saturday, Kathy and I helped Josh and Kelly pack up and move out of their apartment. There was a very emotional finality about vacuuming the last bit of carpet, carrying out the last box and closing the door.
We are so excited about this opportunity for them. We wouldn't want them to stay home for anything. I think they were both created by God to be missionaries, and He put them together. I know they will miss home, and their families, but Kathy and I also know the call of God on our hearts, and Josh and Kelly are following that call. We are so proud of them and know that God has great plans for them as they train and facilitate teams of young people in this strategic African country. I think, deep down, we also know that they will probably do this for a career.
Later today they'll drive away, on the first leg of their trip to Florida for some final training and then on to South Africa. My tears have already started to flow as I write this blog. Sometimes it's hard follow God's leading, but from our experience, we wouldn't have it any other way.
Sunday, July 26, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
What's Hot and What's To Come
I mentioned in a Facebook status update yesterday that I attended a very enlightening workshop regarding the current state of technology and what developments are just around the corner. First, the presenter confirmed a suspicion I have had for months, email is a dying technology. For months, my junior in high school daughter has been telling me that she doesn't use her email accounts anymore. The only thing she uses them for is for a phone application that requires an email address to register. Her primary method of communication is Facebook and her phone. The presenter for this workshop said that in today's digital world, email gets opened 42% of the time and phone texts get opened 98% of the time. In other words, if you want you communication to be received, send a text, not an email. The sale of laptops/notebooks is flat in the USA. Net books or mini-computers are now in. However, the sales of smart phones is going through the roof. Apple is selling iPhones at a phenomenal rate. This is the hot communication method today.
Here's one of the most interesting technologies on the horizon. Texas Instruments has developed a chip for your phone that will allow you to show pictures, files, documents, etc. as a projected image that will be approximately 6 by 8 inches. Instead of showing your pictures and other media on your tiny phone screen, you could put a piece of white paper on a table and project a rather large image.
For someone my age, it's getting hard to keep up...but it sure is fun trying. More later.
Here's one of the most interesting technologies on the horizon. Texas Instruments has developed a chip for your phone that will allow you to show pictures, files, documents, etc. as a projected image that will be approximately 6 by 8 inches. Instead of showing your pictures and other media on your tiny phone screen, you could put a piece of white paper on a table and project a rather large image.
For someone my age, it's getting hard to keep up...but it sure is fun trying. More later.
Thursday, July 9, 2009
Reminiscing
This is a picture of one of the first houses that Kathy and I owned. It's in San Jos
e, California. On our vacation we stopped in San Jose to show our younger three children our childhood homes and to show them this house. We were so pleased to see how well its been taken care of. This house was built about eighty years ago and had so many wonderful little features that you would never find in a newer house. It had high ceilings with tin inserts and wood carved moldings. The entry way had carved pillars and beautiful wood paneling. The dining room chandelier was an antique brass and crystal piece that was quite valuable. It was interesting reminiscing about living here. I think sometimes we tend to block out the negative experiences and only remember the positive ones. We had a good time living here.
I hope when we have been gone from our present home for awhile, we primarily remember the positive experiences here. There have been some of both. The interesting thing is that you can have high moments and low moments at the same time. I thank God that He blesses us with mountain top experiences and walks with us through the valleys.
e, California. On our vacation we stopped in San Jose to show our younger three children our childhood homes and to show them this house. We were so pleased to see how well its been taken care of. This house was built about eighty years ago and had so many wonderful little features that you would never find in a newer house. It had high ceilings with tin inserts and wood carved moldings. The entry way had carved pillars and beautiful wood paneling. The dining room chandelier was an antique brass and crystal piece that was quite valuable. It was interesting reminiscing about living here. I think sometimes we tend to block out the negative experiences and only remember the positive ones. We had a good time living here.I hope when we have been gone from our present home for awhile, we primarily remember the positive experiences here. There have been some of both. The interesting thing is that you can have high moments and low moments at the same time. I thank God that He blesses us with mountain top experiences and walks with us through the valleys.
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