A couple parting thoughts....

Last Friday night we huddled praying in Rick Paul's pole barn somewhere northwest of Delphos.  We experienced a "super derecho" (pronounced similar to "deh-REY-cho" in English ... ) is a widespread, long-lived wind storm that is associated with a band of rapidly moving showers or thunderstorms. Although a derecho can produce destruction similar to that of tornadoes, the damage typically is directed in one direction along a relatively straight swath. As a result, the term 'straight-line wind damage' sometimes is used to describe derecho damage. By definition, if the wind damage swath extends more than 240 miles ... and includes wind gusts of at least 58 mph ... or greater along most of its length, then the event may be classified as a derecho. "  (Thanks Toben!)

As of today, the Red cross and National Guard are in Delphos aiding the 100,000's of homes without power that sustained major damage- providing food and water to those who have none, and helping with the clean up of the power line, trees, shingles and roof steel that litter the area.

As we stood in the barn, listening to the freight train wind being lulled by the sound of a group of young ladies singing "Bless the Lord oh my soul..... and the men (and young men) of the group raising prayers to this great God of ours, I felt a great peace.  Pastor Mark had prayer not an hour before this that God would overshadow us- and at that moment, in my mind, that overshadowing included a pole barn blowing apart and our group maybe not living through that- and you know what?  That would be okay- what better time to meet Jesus! 

What a reminder that this life is as grass- it grows in the morning and gets chopped off at night.  What a great reminder that what we do here, as we manifest the Son through our lives- counts for eternity.  What a motivator to spend our lives for "the least of these"  because our time is short, and that is what we are commanded to do.

So- we are still here- guess it wasn't our time yet.  I am very grateful for the overshadowing that exposed yet protected us in 109 degrees and violent storms.  What a blessing to spend a week with our riders, our hosts, our sponsors and our kids in Haiti- all experiencing the same God who loves us and gave himself up for us!

The dates are set for 2013!  June 24-29....lets see, hurricanes?  snow?  Bring it on!