So long, Uncle George...

Hello, friends! 

Last week, I had a clogged drain in one of our sinks. I got out our plumbing snake, cleaned out the drain, and thanked Uncle George Seu for teaching me how to use a plumbing snake. 

Most mornings, I'm the first one up. I like to have some quiet time to hang out with Jesus and (usually) exercise before the kids get up and the day gets hectic. The floorboards in our hallway are a little creaky, so I need to walk very quietly so as to not wake the house. I use the silent walk that Uncle George taught me from his many years of doing years of Tai Chi. 

Uncle George passed away last week at the age of 91. Like with Uncle Stan, who died a few months back, this one struck me in an unexpected way. I wasn't super close to Uncle George and we hadn't talked in a while but he's had a huge influence on my life. 

There was a season when I was doing a bible study with some friends in our youth group but didn't have a ride. Uncle George was the one who drove me. I learned how to call the time service back in the day when folk needed to set their watches. I will never forget Uncle George walking around church in his iconic blue overcoat; If Uncle George was wearing that coat, you knew something was about to get fixed. Mostly from observation, I learned from Uncle George how to look for ways to fix things, how the right tool could solve a multitude of problems, and how someone could have a huge influence without ever being formally acknowledged, just by being willing to help. 

Goodbye, Uncle George. I'm sorry I won't be able to make it to the funeral but I will never forget the lessons you taught me, whether you knew it or not. 

Have an excellent day! 

~Adam

Back With Students!

Hello, friends! 

One of the things that I love about my job as a Regional Coordinator is that I get to work directly with our entire staff team in the Region. These folk are a dedicated group of men and women who love Jesus and love the campus. One thing that I'd forgotten over the past few years is how great it is to be working directly with students. I was reminded of how much fun that part of the job is just these past 2 days. 

Last night I drove to Lincoln to hang out with the University of Nebraska's ACF group. Since their student leader graduated, they've been riding solo so I thought it'd be good for me to head out there a few times a month to build relationship and support them in any way I can. 

Friends, last night took me back to my first days on staff. I remember doing Bible studies in the kind of disgusting dorm rooms then eating wings and playing games afterwards. It was fun to see that my ability to connect with students hasn't completely left me, even if I am more than twice as old as some students. =0). I'm very much looking forward to getting back out there in a few weeks. 

Then today, I drove down to Bellvue University (just south of Omaha) to meet with a student who was interested in starting a Bible study with her basketball team. We got this contact because a few weeks back at our Regional Leadership Team meetings, one of our assignments was to do a prayer walk on a campus with no known campus ministry work. Half our team went to Bellvue. While we were prayer walking, Megan recognized someone who goes to our church. I'd forgotten that he was a coach at Bellvue. We spoke, then a few days later, he texted me and introduced me to the student who had been looking for an opportunity to start something new before she graduated. It was such a joy to hear her story and hear her passion for her friends knowing Jesus. It was invigorating! 

So, here we are. Apparently, I'm back in the student ministry game, at least a little. I won't be spending all my waking hours on campus like in the early days but I'm thankful for the opportunity to interact with students again. Here's hoping I can be a blessing to them. 

If you have the time, would your pray for Dan, Tiki, Louis, Blut, Figs, Jung, and Lexi? Pray that God will continue to show himself to them and that they will grow in their love for their friends and their campus. 

Have an excellent day! 

~Adam

Winter Olympics!!!

Hello, friends!

My, it has been an eventful 2 weeks, hasn't it! Since I last posted, we had our RLT meetings (it was so good to be meeting in person!), we celebrated the Lunar New Year (happy year of the Tiger!), and JoJo has been dealing with a nasty case of a stomach virus (thankfully, the NP doesn't think it's anything related to COVID).

HOWEVER, there is one event that takes right now... IT'S WINTER OLYMPIC SEASON!!!

Friends, I LOVE me some Olympics, and I am probably in the minority of Americans who like the Winter Olympics as much, if not more, than the summer games. 

Short track speed skating? All day, everyday. Hockey, yes please. Biathlon? What's not to love? And, of course, y'all know how I feel about the great sport of curling! 

Added to that, the Winter Olympics isn't dominated by the US in the game way the Summer Games are. When we were watching the Summer Olympics last year, it was a shock to see the US not take the gold in any event. It was high stress. In the Winter Olympics, you end up with a situation like in 2018 when I exacerbate my pneumonia because I'm up late watching (and yelling) as the US Curling Team win an improbable Gold Medal. Don't get me wrong, I love the Summer Games too; I just wanted to share my love for the Winter Olympics.

So, if over the next few weeks you're in a meeting with me and I look a little sleep deprived, it's probably because I was up late watching something amazing happen on the ice or snow. We're having an Opening Ceremony party tonight, then it'll be 3 weeks of sweet sweet international competition. #TeamUSA

Have an excellent day!

~Adam