cali and back again

just had another one of those whirlwind trips to cali and back. this time, it was for work tho, so there was no baja fresh, jamba juice and in 'n' out the first day there :( instead, it was filled with {expensed} fare, including an incredible grilled swordfish at del mar, san diego, lawry's prime rib dinners, and denny's bfast!!!!! hheehe of course, there was no sleep, lotsa work, even factory visits in tijuana mexico, and many silly meals in between. road trippin w/the boss and our shanghai biz director was certainly fun - altho i'm still not too confident of our mainland friend getting around on his own this summer when he's vacationing w/his fam!

i thought it was funny carting a dozen krispy kreme donuts halfway around the world, watching all the security guards and flight attendants salivate at the very glance of the logo - only to watch it all devoured at church this sunday w/in 5 mins! but i tell you - it's ample worth it, cause KK gotta be the best donuts in the world!

but God was gracious in allowing me to get my flight back early - in time for our 2nd week of our cebu mission trip meeting, which i really didn't wanna miss. it's been a while since i been on a trip, so this will be a great time of re-igniting the passion for serving in this manner. some issues you could pray for me (if you pray, and if not, well, you can pray anyway!):

- humbleness... always essential for a mission trip!
- vision... i want/would like a specific vision and purpose for what God has for me
- compassion... for the team - and not just the emotion of it. these are always experiences where peoples lives will forever be altered, and where God will really reveal Himself to many people.
- salvation... people will be saved - i believe it!
- providence... many people are still in need of support, so prayer for them is goot
- message... through drama, testimony, worship, word and witness - pray for God to start revealing to the team each person's role
- logistics... managing 2 teams of 20, arriving in 2 different periods and 3 time slots and 2 cities with at least 3 different locales per day... they need help from above!
- leaders... wisdom and leadership, holding the team in unity
- desparation!... desparate for God, for prayer, for change... for focus on things eternal!

i'm committed to this trip in all ways... i'm excited cause it's the start of the refocusing process. i'm looking forward to the challenge of fasting and praying and really reaching out to seize God's victory!

i also brought back a ton of reece's peanut butter cup candy things. i love 'em so much! after this trip tho, i'm afraid i'm gonna have to get back on south beach and shed some fattage. funny how a small gaggle of peeps have started it... keep on goin'!!!!

HAPPY BDAY RENEEEEEEEEE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! *smack*