Our work weeks are busy, quite busy! But if you know Todd, you already know that!
No matter what job he has, he does it with his whole heart and works hard at it no matter whether its scrubbing floors, or working as the Regional Communication Coordinator for the Asia-Pacific Region along with all the other hats he wears.
Our weekends…… are even busier!
This past Saturday saw us at the race track for the Diamond Motor Supercross 2017 event! Todd helps the medics, from his perch at the highest point on the track so he can see when a rider goes down and he can go running! I position myself in various places to get great action photos! But it typically starts earlier in the morning with set up and various activities, all the while looking for opportunities to share with the riders or pray with them before they gear up and start practice.
Saturday we woke to a downpour. Our hearts sank as we thought of a muddy track, which always means more accidents, as it can be so slick when it is wet. The rain did stop after a few hours, and since the official practice time was not till late morning, the puddles had pretty well soaked in. By the actual start of the event, the track was perfect! God is so good! There were a few accidents and Todd got a lot of running in to get to them quickly to assess them, but no one had to go to the hospital! That is a big praise in this sport.
I got some great shots of great races! (Click here to see) Trying to get the majority of the shots with the sponsor signs in them for promotion. 🙂 There is nothing like the thrill of plunking yourself right in the center of the track with racing dirt bikes all around you and just turning and shooting all day long!
Then, in the evening, as Todd stayed to help clean up all the tables and chairs and trash…… I went home to start editing and posting. That is a much longer process than just spending the whole day taking photos! I started working on them again on Monday after work hours, and I finished up the last batch about 9:00pm Monday night.
Then into Sunday! Race track Tent Church in the morning, including interaction with riders and family members for a few hours and then race home, take a shower to get the dust off, swallow something to keep us going and off we go to the Makati church! Ending up back at the house around 9:30pm! What a whirlwind weekend, but what a full heart we have as we reflect on all that God has allowed us to be involved with, the new connections made and the lives that we continue to witness being transformed by the love of Jesus!
Well, it’s almost 9pm here in Asia on the night of Thanksgiving. It has been a full day – in the office, meetings, chapel service, ministering with team members, answering scores of email. Now the sun has settled brilliantly into the blue oceans on the western side of the Philippines, as it makes its way to bring Thanksgiving Day to North America. God is good!
We had ballers made that said Passion + Purpose and What’s In Your Hands? The “+” between Passion + Purpose is a Red CROSS. To remind us that it is using our passions for God’s purpose. We gave the ballers out at the different venues as a reminder to use what God has put in their hands to share their testimony and to introduce others to Him. They were a huge hit with young and old alike as they looked at what God had placed in their hands. We have enjoyed seeing posts on social media from across the globe of people sharing how they are using their passions as a platform to share the love of Jesus with others. If you would like to post your story, please use #WhatsInYourHands2016 so we can track it!
Please, commit to pray! Please commit to pray for safety of travel, health, pray for Sam’s precious wife, Faith, and twins who will remain in the Philippines, but most of all, that God would direct us to where he would have us, give us spiritual sensitivity to where he is at work, and give us the courage to obey in speaking and doing what he would have us to speak and do!
Sam will be sharing along with Todd and I (Connie) at the Eastern and Northwest Work & Witness Conferences about how his father, an influential businessman, was impacted by a Work & Witness Team of corporate professionals that came to the Philippines and got down in the dirt and worked to build a church alongside the nationals. This prompted his father to take an inward look and stepping out in faith became a pastor, and eventually a DS as well.
God has used him to not only start a race ministry that was just recently featured on the Pilipinas Got Talent Franchise to millions of viewers (no exaggeration here), but also to pioneer an English service and Generation Congregation (GenCon) youth movement of training “Frontliners” to become disciple makers. He has gone to the skate parks and interacted with the “untouchables” several of whom are now licensed ministers. There are now 4 generations of leaders who are discipling leaders, the group has surpassed 200 youth.
Two years ago God prompted our hearts to come alongside Sam and his wife Faith in this unique ministry. Motocross was never our passion, but reaching people for Jesus is! We found that as we looked at what God had placed in our hands, the opportunities through this unique ministry, that God used and blessed our efforts.
Around 10:30 we huddle up with whoever is there to practice and we have church. Not your typical worship style, these guys are hot and sweaty and wearing all their gear. But God meets us there and lives are being transformed. Several come just for the Bible study even when they are not practicing, and some go get their wives and kids as well. Although this is not the type of church we grew up with, we wouldn’t want to be any place else!
Seattle-Tacoma International Airport. It is Tuesday, May 10, we have found Connie’s favorite spot in any terminal, a place in the sun where she can be warmed. It’s hard to believe that 8 weeks of our lives have flown past at speeds that even make this pilot’s head dizzy, and we now find ourselves waiting for Delta Flight 167, that will launch us back to our home and family in the Asia-Pacific.
Where has the time gone? It is so hard to believe that we are just four days away from another spring speaking tour! On Thursday morning at 10:55am, Wednesday evening (N. America Time) we will, Lord willing, be climbing aboard our flight that will take us from Manila to Tokyo, to Seattle, and then on to Boise. We will pick up our car in Caldwell, Idaho, and then begin our drive north for the state of Washington. This spring will see us speaking at Faith Promise weekends, NMI Conventions, and mission services across the Pacific Northwest, Canada, NW Ohio, and Southern California.
She will have an echo (echocardiogram) on Friday, February 19 to determine the size of the PDA as well as if/how it is affecting her heart. If she is completely healthy, she will have a catheter procedure on Saturday, Feb. 20 to close the PDA.
Todd & Connie Lou - back in the USA! 