A Few Memories from our OCC Trip

Here are a few things I will remember about our trip to the Operation Christmas Child processing center 2009.

• This symbol <3>Kevin Milliken "surfing" on a luggage cart
• Mike Hummel laughing out loud (lol for those who text) while watching trucks run into a bridge
• Rubber band balls
• Craming 27 people in a room to eat and have devotions
• Four sets of siblings working together - + two mother and daughters
• Trying to use outdated gift cards to pay for Buca's
• Processing shoeboxes from our church (and kids processing their own boxes they packed)
• Laughing with everyone and getting know kids better

I am sure there are more. If you went this year, what are some of your memories. If you have gone in the past, what do you remember? Please comment if you would.

A Few Random OCC Pics

I am not sure if I can tell you what was going on here or not. I know
this doesn't look like it, but these guys were really helping - just
having fun doing it. It was a really good time this past week.

OCC Celebration Meal

Every year on Saturday night we go out to celebrate the work. We went
again to Buca di Beppos this year.

More of Our Boxes

More boxes we packed and now processing.

Found More of Our Boxes

Another couple of pics of kids and the boxes they packed.

We Process Our Boxes!!!

This morning we began processing boxes and found a bunch of boxes that
were from Richfield! More pics soon.

OCC - "Amazingggggggg Experience"

Copied from one of the kids' Facebook wall: "Worked from 8:00 til 4:00! Wow! It's a amazingggggggggg expirence" - talking about working in the Operation Christmas Child processing center.

And this from a leader: "We just returned to the hotel following our day of work at the warehouse. Again we were on the special line and hopefully we will get the priviledge of finishing our work there tomorrow. I have to say that I continue to be impressed not only by the entire Samaritan's Purse staff but also by the sensitivity and commitme...nt of our group. We are a very blessed and lucky group to have this opportunity. Please continue to pray for our group"

Glad to read these!!

Taking a Break At OCC

Lunchtime today! I was able to snap a pictue of some of the Newbies.

Pictures in Video from Wednesday at OCC

Again, as promised . . . Here are a few of the pics we took at the OCC processing center yesterday. It's not my finest work, but you'll get the idea! Enjoy!



More soon!

Thanksgiving at OCC

Thanks to a bunch of people at home and people here, we were able to
have turkey and all the trimmings today. It was a great time.

Final Thoughts for the Day!

Just want to write a quick sign-off post before going to bed. It was a really good day. The kids (and adults) worked well, didn't complain (except for what time they had to get up.)(Let me know if making them be ready for lunch at 11 AM is too early). Tomorrow is a rest day (not that we need it too much after only working one day) since the Processing Center is closed. We are going to have the traditional Thanksgiving meal of Turkey, potatoes, stuffing (or is it filling or dressing), cranberry sause/salad, etc. thanks to donations of two turkeys and time from others to make and debone them. We are also awaiting the arrival of 10 more people from RMC and 25 from the Holidaysburg area. I would love to get some of the students to share about the trip and hope I can do that tomorrow. I am thankful for the little we can do to show love to kids around the world. If you ever have a chance to work at the processing center, or get involved any other way, DO IT! You will be glad you did!

BTW, check out Jana's blog to read her thoughts about the trip and more pictures.

As Promised . . . A Few OCC Pics

Here are a few pics from OCC. I hope to make a video of everyone's
pictures tomorrow so check it out then.

Getting Ready to Begin

Waiting for our assignment. Look for more (and better) pics soon!

A Chance to Share our OCC Story

So here it is. . . yesterday, before we left for the Operation Christmas Child warehouse, I received a phone call from Randy Riddle, Director of Domestic Operations for Operation Christmas Child. He asked if I would be available to come to the press conference they hold next Wednesday. They want to honor their volunteers and since we have been coming to OCC for 14 years, he thought it would be great to have someone share about our story (in one to two minutes). I was obviously honored and willing. They are willing to make it possible for me to stay here in Charlotte for a few days extra from our trip, I am certainly willing to stay. This project of Samaritans Purse is a great way for the youth and adults to share Christ's love to children around the world! Why would I not be willing share the story of why we come every year over Thanksgiving. So, if you think of it, please pray for me as I will probably be a bit nervous.

We work today from noon til 7 PM. Please continue to pray for us and check back here often for updates.

The Journey Begins

So we are on our way to Charlotte, NC. We hope to arrive around 1 AM.
Our van has no radio, which doesn't bother me but, others don't agree.
Therefore, we have rigged up two speakers plugged into a power
converter and a mac computer running on batteries. For the first time
in my ministry that I can remember, I am NOT sitting in the front of
the van. It is great and weird at the same time. I love the fact that
I don't have to drive and yet I don't feel like I am in control. In
all, I am glad that others are taking ownership of this aspect of
ministry. Check back often for more updates, etc.

Sent from my iPhone

OCC Trip - The beginning

We are gearing up for our trip to the OCC processing center in Charlotte, NC. We will be arriving late tonight (early tomorrow). I am planning to update this page a couple times a day via my phone and computer with words, pictures, and video. So, please check back often to keep up with what is going on. Please pray for us as we travel and work in the warehouse.

Courageous - The New Sherwood Film

COURAGEOUS
Honor Begins at Home

www.CourageoustheMovie.com

ALBANY GA – Nov. 15, 2009 – Sherwood Church, home of the hit independent movies FLYWHEEL (DVD only), FACING THE GIANTS, and FIREPROOF (2008’s top indie film), at its Sunday evening service tonight, announced the theme and title for Sherwood Pictures’ fourth movie. Senior Pastor Michael Catt, Executive Pastor Jim McBride, and ministers Stephen and Alex Kendrick—collectively the leadership team of Sherwood Pictures—made the announcement.

“The movie is about fatherhood and the title is one word: COURAGEOUS,” Alex Kendrick said, briefly outlining the plot. “Four fathers who are all in law enforcement—who protect and serve together—go through a terrible tragedy,” he said. “They begin looking at their role as fathers . . . and they begin challenging one another to fulfill God’s intention for fathers.”

That single-word title, Pastor Catt said, echoes God’s call for men to “rise with courage” in their homes and as leaders. This at a time when 4 of 10 marriages end in divorce* and more than a third of all children live away from their biological fathers.

“The statistics on fatherless children are devastating,” McBride said. “And because the family is the building block of society, one important place to rebuild families is through fathers who stay and lead and love.”

“God led us,” co-writer and producer Stephen Kendrick said to the audience of church members, many of them volunteer crew, cast, or catering in earlier Sherwood movies. “We believe God is calling men to rise up with strength and with leadership in their homes, with their families and with their children.”

“For more then a year we’ve prayed to be sure that we’re pursuing God’s idea and not our own,” Catt said. “With action, drama, and humor, this film will embrace God’s promise in the Bible to, turn the hearts of the fathers to their children and the hearts of children to their fathers.”

OCC - Here We Come!

I am looking forward to next week! We (our youth, CRUX) will be leaving on Tuesday afternoon for Charlotte, NC to the Operation Christmas Child warehouse to help prepare shoeboxes to be sent to needy children throughout the world. This will be our fourteenth year travelling over the Thanksgiving vacation week. There will be 26 people attending this year and I expect it to be a great time of ministry, fellowship and fun. I have posted many times about this event and this year will be no exception. Look for posts with reports, pictures and possibly some videos during our trip. Please check back often so you can be praying for us and the shoe boxes we will be preparing to send.

Some "Psalms" from Mark Cable

Found this little "ditty" from a friend of mine, Mark Cable at his website www.markcable.com. I have enjoyed Mark's music since I was . . .errr. . . for a long time. I think you'll like this.

Hot Tub Story by Bob Smiley

Great story! I wish I had had this today when I spoke at JMS Chapel. It would have fit in with my talk. By the way, if you are looking for a speaker for a night, retreat, etc., don't call me - my wife Jana is so much better and likes (and wants) to speak. You can check out her web site at www.janagrantsnyder.com. Enjoy the video and take heed!

Sherwood Clue Number Three - Fantastic Fun

Here's the link to the third clue for the next Sherwood movie. I think you I was on the right track last week. Well, maybe not about food, but what about the future? What do you think?

Liberty U Ski Slope

Part of the CRUX trip to ScareMare was visiting Liberty Universty. We
have two kids from the church who attend there. Below are some
pictures of the new all weather ski area they have installed. You can
ski there all year long! Anyway, the first pic is of the ski jump and
the second is of the veiw from the lodge and the small tube run. The
kids have been great.