Sneak Peek!

Joe Bollinger, our team leader sent me some videos from his first trip to Guinea-Bissau. I hope I get a chance to learn some of their songs...Take a look!

Just copy the link to your web browser, hit enter, and then open the file. They'll take a minute or two to download.

Moments before the film show, evangelist Daniel calls in the people by singing a song to Jesus in their local language:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5923842/Guinea%20Bissau%20Moments%20before%20the%20film%20show.AVI

Gathered under a large mango tree, we joined this group of believers worshiping God on a beautiful Sunday morning:
http://dl.dropbox.com/u/5923842/Guinea%20Bissau%20village%20church%20praise%20service.AVI

New guitar!

Whew! It's been a long time since I updated this thing! I apologize to anyone who might be reading, and here's and update: Well, long story short, my entire trip is paid for and the donations and gifts just keep on coming in! God is good! Everything works out so well, though, because now I'll be able to pay for all sorts of things we'll be need for the trip like special clothes, gifts for the people and the all important vaccinations and medicine so as not to get sick over there (which can be quite expensive for someone like me with no insurance!).

Another amazing thing is that I am going to be the worship leader for the Bible studies and services we'll be hosting in the villages. It is so exciting! I love the fact that I'll be able to use the musical gifts God has given me to share with pastors and believers in Guinea-Bissau!

The tricky thing was, even though I was more than willing, I was a little nervous about taking my beloved guitar overseas (it is a very special guitar...ask me sometime and I'll tell you the story). I just got visions of it being stolen on the way over or back, or getting lost or broken or other some such horror. Also, the team leader, Joe, said that I could keep my eye out for one of the pastors or village leaders to give it to as a gift. So I was on the lookout for a decent, not too expensive acoustic guitar I could take.

Lo, and behold, one of my mom's friends GAVE me one! Wahoo! It's a very solid guitar, too. A Ventura V-29. Relatively old, so it's got great tone, lightweight and plays really well. All other guitars had little problems here or there and I thought I might have to settle for some just "ok," but then this gem came along!

So praise God! Everything is coming together easier and better than I could have imagined. Just more confirmation that I am supposed to go. Still have a week and a half to go and the days are kind of dragging on, but there is still much to do...i've got to work on songs, as well as prepare my personal testimony...but more on that later.

Time to post some videos!