MPD 201!!!

Hello, friends!

Starting Wednesday, I'll be leading our staff team through MPD 201, which is our Spring training for Ministry Partnership Development. I'm really excited about our time together, not just because I love taking about MPD but also because we have some really great stuff planned and I've enlisted the help of a few of our younger staff to help with various parts of the program.

I'll be going all day Wednesday, all day Thursday, and the first part of Friday. Megan will be taking the kids with her up to South Dakota so her parents can help watch the kids while we're both in session, so that will be a blessing. But, she also has a wedding on Saturday and since they wedding is kids only (and the kids have tball on Saturday), right after I finish on Friday, I'll be driving up to SoDak to pick up the kids then bring them back to Omaha for a dad weekend. 

Needless to say, it's going to be a really hectic week next week. Prayers appreciated for peace, wisdom, and good health (both Megan and I are fighting colds right now). A lot goes into planning these trainings but ultimately, it's all up to Jesus. My hope and prayer is that God will do what he needs to do in our team and through me.

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Two Takes On Getaway...

Hello, friends!

Thank you so much to everyone who prayed for Mini International Getaway. Here's Megan's update: 

I can't thank you enough for your prayers! Mini International Getaway was such a wonderful event and I am still hearing stories from how God moved. Over 85 students participated and 15 countries were represented. On Saturday, great connections were made with students after a year of not being able to gather that often in person. One student from India shared that she had lost many members of her family back home and a group of students were able to pray for her. Many students shared how they missed community and had been looking for it. One staff said they want to plant an international group next year when they move to a new campus. 

I am so so grateful for God answering prayers and for sparking joy in staff and students. 

While Megan was running the show, I was running around with the kiddos. Here's a rundown.  - In the morning and early afternoon, before Megan started working, as a family, we went to the farmer's market, Ezra had his last soccer game of the season, and had a soccer team pizza party! - After we got back, we dropped off Megan and went to drop off the tabs that Ezra and Thaliea had been collecting for the Ronald McDonald House. - From there, we went to the Wildlife Safari Park in Ashland to look at birds, buffalo, and some elk - Next stop, was a trip to Lincoln to meet one of my curling buddies for dinner and ice cream. - We got home just in time for me to switch with Megan so she could put the kids to bed while I led a Cultural Showcase for the Mini-Getaway.

Friends, it was a SUPER long day but lots of fun. The kids did great and I enjoyed spending the day with them. 

In a few weeks, I'll be leading a training for our Region, which means the roles will be flipped. Prayers appreciated for Megan. =0).

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Getaway On Its Way!

Hello, friends! 

Tomorrow (Friday) night starts mini-international Getaway! Here's an update from Megan so you can be praying! Also, if you'd like to sign up to pray, you can sign up here!

Mini International Getaway is Here! It's finally here. We have been praying, planning, preparing for months now. After over a year of pandemic and many virtual conferences, we are excited to offer a hybrid option for students. Friday evening Christian students will be pastored through Psalm 23 and invited to ask brave questions with their non-Christian friends. Saturday afternoon, local groups gather for fun outreaches to engage new and old students in conversation and fun. Saturday night, we will debrief together and send students out into the summer.  Would you pray and intercede for our time? Click the link above to sign up to intercede for particular time blocks over the weekend.  For last minute recruitment efforts. We are praying for at least 6 more for the evening sessions.  For the Lord to shepherd staff and students through the weekend - offering protection, guidance, comfort. For me (Megan) as I direct the time to hear from God and to make courageous choices.

Happy Birthday, Thaliea!

Hello, friends! 

Last week, I celebrated my mom's birthday. This week, we get to celebrate Thaliea's birthday! She's turning 4 this year, which is a big deal, if for no other reason than because now she gets 2 vitamins in the morning instead of 1. =0). 

As per tradition, here's the birthday song I wrote for her. The kids are old enough now for me to ask them what their favorite songs are. "Memories" by Maroon 5 is her current favorite because it reminds her of her great grandmothers, both of whom have died since she's been born. (Isn't she the sweetest thing?!?!).

So, happy birthday, dearest girl! Here's to (at least) 4 more years! 

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Happy Birthday, Mama!!!

Hello, friends!

On Sunday, my wonderful mother will be turning (static, static, static) years old! I can't be in California for the festivities but that doesn't mean I can't dote on her virtually!

Mama Leong is one special lady. Not only did she birth and raise 4 kids and have 3 of them turn out pretty well, for a really solid .750 batting average (just kidding, we're all great!) but she's also been "mom" to literally dozens of other people, offering a pastoral word to wherever needs it. She has a special knack for connecting with women who don't have a mother figure state-side. It's something I didn't always appreciate growing up, but very much appreciate now.

Of course, Mama Leong isn't just a mother but also an Ama. I've always known my mom to be generous but once the grandchildren came along, things went up to a whole new level. I'm not saying she tries to spoil my kids. I'm just saying that I've gotten more than one phone call asking if she can buy my kids things they obviously don't need but said they wanted at some point. (Note: regardless of what my answer is, she usually buys it anyway)

So, here's to a wonderful mom, Ama, and woman! Happiest of birthdays and sorry I can't be there with you to celebrate. When you visited, Megan took most of the photos so this is the only one I have on my phone. I think it captures who you are pretty well. =0).

Have an excellent day!

~Adam

Relief...

Hello, friends! 

I have a few different news apps on my phone so I can keep up with current events. On Tuesday afternoon, I got multiple notifications that the jury had reached a verdict in the trial of Derek Chauvin in the death of George Floyd. More or less, the rest of my work day was kind of shot. 

The verdict was supposed to be read between 3:30 and 4pm Central time, so right about then, I left our home office and went upstairs. I folded some laundry, texted a friend who I knew was following the case closely, and watched the network news waiting for the verdict to be announced. A few minutes past 4, the verdict was announced: Guilty, guilty, guilty...

At that moment, I didn't feel joy or happiness. A man was going to go to prison for potentially a long time and I have trouble being happy about that. I didn't feel a sense of accomplishment or finality because Derek Chauvin going to prison doesn't bring back George Floyd and one (or three) guilty verdicts doesn't fix policing in America. When I heard the verdict, the one emotion I felt over all others was relief. 

My mind immediately went back to where I was in November of 2014 when a grand jury decided to not indict officer Darren Wilson in the death of Mike Brown. Megan and I were back in California, visiting family for Thanksgiving. We had just found out a few weeks prior that she was pregnant with Ezra. I remember watching the news with my family, hearing the non-indictment decision, and feeling like I needed to go for a walk, punch a wall, and scream at the exact same time. The prospect of justice seemed so far away. Hope wasn't even on my radar then. On Tuesday, it was.  

Before the verdict was read, I was so nervous. The default setting has to be the assumption of an acquittal or non-indictment because that's the norm. If it wasn't for a bystander taking cellphone video of the Derek Chauvin's knee on the back of George Floyd's neck for nearly 10 minutes, the police report of "Man dies of medical incident while in custody" would have been the accepted story and life would have moved on. After 3 weeks of testimony and dozens of witnesses, including fellow officers, saying that what Chauvin did was unacceptable and not part of the training, there was still doubt in my mind that a conviction would come. Why? Because very rarely does a conviction come. But this time it came. 

So, what do we do now? Now, we continue to fight for justice and reform. Some may say that this verdict shows that the system works. I say it's the exception that proves the rule. With all the evidence available, again, including 10 minutes of video, there was still no sure thing because we still have a lot of work to do. 

You've probably noticed that in the past few years, I've been speaking out more about issues of social justice, particularly around issues of race. Some of you may be asking yourselves what any of this has to do with my job as a missionary and sharing the Gospel. The truth is that this has everything to do with the Gospel. When Christ died for us and rose again, he commissioned us to go make disciples, or followers of Jesus. Jesus cared about justice. He cared about the least of these. He came to Earth to set the captives free and liberate the oppressed. Fighting for a more just and equitable society is an extension of following Jesus. He didn't die for my sins just so I could go to heaven when I die. His Holy Spirit is empowering me to be a part of the Body that brings heaven on earth. Tuesday's verdict was a relief but there's still work to be done. 

Have an excellent day!

~Adam  

Happy Birthday, Megan!

Hello, friends! 

I know I'm a day late in posting this, but it's not because I was a day late in remembering Meg's birthday. It's just that we had so much fun yesterday, I didn't have time to write a blog post about how wonderful my wife is! 

Yesterday was Meg's birthday. The older kids painted her mugs, Jonah and I got her a light for her indoor plants, her mom visited last weekend and made a delicious ice cream cake, and for her birthday dinner, she made SUPER tasty Indian food, a favorite of ours. 

This past year has been a difficult one, for sure. In April of 2020, the pandemic was just getting started. Ezra's preschool had just been cancelled for in person learning, so we were scrambling to reorganize ourselves so we could both work and share the load of taking care of the kids. We had no idea what was safe, what the infection rate was, or anything like that. Add a 6 month old into the mix, and it was a really stressfull time and that meant a stressful birthday for Megan.  

Since then, things have gotten better. We've figured out some rhythms. Ezra is back in school and the younger two are in daycare now. We've both gotten our first vaccine shots. We can see some light at the end of the tunnel. And yet, there's still a lot that we don't know and a lot of precautions we're still taking. 

One of the things that has amazed me this past year is how Megan has held up this past year. Of course, there have been some tough times (winter was tough on everyone, right?) but in the midst of this pandemic, which kind of spanned from her last birthday to this birthday, she's handled things with grace, poise, and love. The kids are healthy. Our marriage continues to be strong. We've been making it, and it's in no small part because of her hard work. 

Happiest of birthdays to my lovely wife, the best of wives and women. I'm continually in awe of you and excited to see what the next year has in store for you and for us. I'm sure it'll be fun. 

Have an excellent day! 

~Adam