Feb 19 2011
Cold Week, Many Conference Calls, Good news on Micah, Superbowl, Upward and Carl
This week was relatively uneventful… cold… but uneventful. While school was closed again one day because of a proported heavy ice storm (it ended up being a nice snow dusting) and sub-freezing temperatures (that part was true) we adapted and were able to do the things we normally do. I was able to go to my Chinese session. I did a lot of meetings on the phone. We went to a wonderful superbowl party with student friends from both TCU & UTA at our friends, the Moores. We even took T-9′s Upward basketball team that I coach to a TCU basketball game on Wednesday, a day TCU was closed, but the game was still on. It was a good week.- I was able to meet for my Chinese class with my dear international student friend. I feel like I’m drinking from a fire hydrant. Still, I am getting close to my teacher. It is fun.
The TCU Superbowl/Lunar New Year party was a rousing success with probably 30-40 people watching the Superbowl on three large screens at the Moores’ house while we ate from Chinese hot pot. It was especially fun because we also brought some of our UTA student friends and they really connected with their Horned Frog bretheren. A good time was had by all and it built credibility with the students and I think we identified a coupleof people of peace… Oh and we met someone who came from the same small Chinese city that Charis was born.
We were able to take 4 (plus a brother) of my 7 Upward baskeball players to the TCU basketball game. For several, this is their first experience and their eyes were very large. It really built community and trust with the kids. Upwards is a spiritual, outreach oriented basketball league. God is working in the lives of these kids and the team in general teaching them many valuable lessons. There are some very significant personal things happening with these guys and I see my purpose in the team. (even though we haven’t won yet… but that is not the point)- The Tejas meeting went about as well as could be expected. We ended up doing it over the phone and people responded well and a bonding was beginning to happen that will be so valuable when the Tejas retreat (http://isitejas.com) comes along.
- C-7 has sold many many girls scout cookies. Prayer works.
Before and during the meetings, I had to manage the registration and the Dallas side for Houston Space weekend trip that Jeff Newpher, our Houston colleague, hosts for our Dallas team three times a year. I did not personally go, but our TCU, UTD and UT Tyler campuses sent 30+ students with other volunteers on this trip to Space Center Houston and to home stays nearby NASA. They even got to meet a astronaut who shared his story with Jesus as it relates to his space experience. All reports indicate a great experience had by all with terrific conversations about spiritual and heart things. Prayers were important as the weather coming back was bad but everything turned out okay. The difficulty was in the many last minute changes and moving pieces. Praise God for the outcome of it all.
This last week was unusual as my parents arrived on Saturday, the weather took a turn for the worse and so the kids stayed home Tuesday through Friday because of the ice and snow. We had much cabin fever. Still what a blessing for grandparents to have total access for a whole week during what is normally a school week. I love Texas. But the one thing I miss the most of California and the thing that makes me sad is not having my parents near by during this stage of theirs and our kids lives. So this was special. Praise the Lord for His planning. Dad also turned 75 during this time but he insisted on cleaning up and building shelving for my garage during much of this time in the cold. He is awesome and he makes me so proud and appreciative on so many levels.
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