Writing our Xin-shos

Each night it is getting a little easier with the jet lag. We all awoke, jumped in the line for the bathroom, but were done in time for the boys to invade our room so we could all enjoy breakfast together. Next came devotions with Pastor Bill, the pastor here at First Baptist St. Paul. The music was written too high but Pastor Bill jumped in using his spiritual gifts to change the key of the song so we could all sing along. He talked about entering into what God is already doing and taking the second fiddle to God. This was powerful as he took the time for us when he had a funeral to work on and his father was also having surgery. Before he left we laid hands on him and prayed with him. This was a great lead into working on our xin-shos. A xin-sho is an ah-ha or uh-oh moment of when God had been real to us. We spent a good chunk of the morning and afternoon working on the xin-shos,listening and criticizing one another. It was helpful to formulate a little something we could use when went home. It was also fascinating to see how God spoke to each of us through so many different events from our trip.

It was frustrating for me because for at lunch and dinner each day we have been eating with people who are being served by a ministry of the church called The Family Place. Today we had to eat in a different room and were not able to continue to fellowship with these people. Over the last few days I have enjoyed getting to know these people and learning about their needs and the struggles they are dealing with.

We ended the day relaxing a little by shopping. The crew finally got their fix by getting to fulfill the dream that got them through the rice patties by going to the Mall of America!

The fun of the video editing and video interviewing also began in full force today. Our xcitem, Raphael, should be in the air as we speak, flying back from Thailand after he finally got his visa paperwork issues resolved. We miss you Raphael.