Update

Hey all, things have been going to busy here that I hardly have time to update you, but I will try to punch out brief updates more often and not make them real long.

A few things I wanted to let you know is that my hair is returning, I had a one week "head face race" between my head hair and my facial hair, the longer hair gets a Twinkie (I was obviously pulling for the face). The face won, so I was sporting a beard for a while, but that is no longer the case - reason being on Saturday the guys in training planned a "Grand Banquet" for the ladies in training. Things went great and us guys are on the girls good side (we'll see if we ruin that or not ;-)

At HDC, there are many community children that come into the yard during our free time for games and shoulder rides and to be swung around, basically, just to be loved. This is a great ministry at HDC, but a challenging one. Several nights ago was the worse thus far as far as damage to property and disrespect. Most of these kids have no respect for others property - basically, they will make your kids look saintlike. We have had to ask them to leave after they continue to jump from peoples personal vehicles and HDC's vans roofs. We have had a windshield get cracked and hoods get carved into and scratched from rocks and bricks being thrown. The reason we have no power is because we cannot physically escort a child from the property unless a dire circumstance calls for it - when fights break out, the police are called the kids continue as our hands are tied behind our back (if something series does happen where someone is seriously getting hurt, I will intervene, but we have to be very careful with the law - and the families of these kids and the mentality of revenge). That has been the toughest aspect for me as I hate to have to tell kids to leave (and then threats do abound from these 8-12 year olds), but I guess someone has to be the bad guy - so that is my role.

Otherwise, things are good here. The speakers and sessions are good and I enjoy them and learn a lot daily. Most of the speakers are very passionate about what they speak about, but make sure to tell us to create our own opinions and not just take things at face value.

Well, it's time for community outreach in which my group will be bagging some of the trash that is laying around the community - it is filthy and out of control.

Thanks to all of you who keep me updated on life at home and for your prayers. Blessings.