Zimbabwe Trip Update - May 29, 2011

As I wrote in my last post, the team gathered together here in St. Louis this weekend and had a very good planning day on Saturday.  Team members who didn't know each other had a chance to meet, hear each other's stories and heart for Africa.  It was very helpful having Craig and Teresa Pippel present to explain the larger vision of Vital Connections.  Rebecca and I having gone before "get it", but both Nathan and Lori expressed a deep gratitude for their clarification of purpose and vision.  The whole team seemed to engage the upcoming trip a step or two more intently as a result of our time together.  I am excited for this team and also for what we believe God will accomplish.

We closed out our evening with an extended time of prayer and that was a great close to the day.  It was great to pray and fellowship with Craig, Teresa, and Rebecca whom I have interacted with very little since we moved from Grand Rapids to Michigan.  They were so generous to sacrifice the time and expense to come and ensure our team was ready and commissioned for the August trip.

We still have some details to finalize so we would appreciate your prayers for the team:

• Preparing the messages for our youth leaders conference
• Planning the agendas and curriculum for our two days at an orphanage and feeding center
• That God would bring the right people in Zim to our gatherings and that He would speak into their hearts in a powerful way

Zimbabwe Planning Weekend

This weekend Craig and Teresa Pippel drove into town from Grand Rapids with Rebecca Taylor.  The Pippels lead the organization Vital Connections who we are partnering with in our August trip.  The Pippels were just there (where we are going) in April and have some updates for us as we plan for our trip in August.

Our trip is one of three trips each year that Vital Connections leads in support of the churches, communities, people, businesses, and ministries in Zimbabwe.  Rebecca went on our original trip back in 2007 and came with them because she signed up for this trip as well.

I am excited for the planning time, the chance to connect my St. Louis family and team members with my Grand Rapids family and team members.  It should be a fun weekend and hopefully a very productive and fruitful one as well.

A Long Time Coming

Tonight it has been confirmed that Osama Bin Laden was killed by the CIA in Pakistan.  His death closes the books on an almost ten year saga that has continued since the 9/11 attacks in 2001.  Terrorism is still a threat and our world will never go back to the way it was on September 10th, 2001.  And yet justice...at least earthly justice, as imperfect as it is, has been served.

Thank you to the military and intelligence personnel who have worked so hard this past decade to give the American people this gift.  Being a former military intelligence Marine I can understand and appreciate what has been accomplished and sacrificed these many years.

On a more spiritual plane, I wonder what Osama Bin Laden's encounter with the true God was like?  How surprised he must have been to not be welcomed by 72 virgins.

Good night and sleep well America.  This May 1st has been a good day.