ARK506

JESUS healed the blind man - let's pray for Bo & FIKA'S EYES

Wednesday Night - May 3rd

Wow! I can't believe it's time for another journey to Arkansas. We hope you enjoy the journey with us. As I write there are still many details "up in the air". That's the way every missionary journey begins in this ministry but, it isn't long before we experience the mighty move of God and everything comes together - in amazing ways! YOUR PRAYERS help make that happen! So, we hope you will visit this webpage daily and experience the journey with us. Be sure to sign the guestbook and share some encouraging words with us. We leave for Arkansas at 4pm and we will be driving straight through to Arkansas. See the time line on the map above.

(Remember the guestbook is public so don't write things you wouldn't want everyone to read. If you discover you've written something you do want to stay in the guestbook email me: Chris@ProjectEarthInternational.org and as me to remove your entry or edit it for you.)

Thursday - May 4th

I picked the guys up at school and we headed for Arkansas. It was so nice and sunny. We had to drive with the windows down because the air conditioning needed repaired and it was going to cost over $1,000 and we couldn't afford that. We prayed that GOD would help us deal with not having it. Not really an issue for the guys (being from Africa) but, for me it's not only about the heat - the air seems to filter out the pollen and things that affect me so much. About an hour into the trip we couldn't take driving with the windows down. (Mostly because we had to shout at each other to carry on a conversation. We put the windows up and tried the air thinking it might eek out a little cold air. At first there was nothing. Then it began to get a little cool. Within a few minutes it was cool enough for the guys to decide to put on their hoodies. WOW! The plan for the trip was to drive straight through which we did.

Friday - May 5th

With the exception of a little rain on the edge of Nashville, TN this a.m. the drive today was perfect. Partly cloudy and in the 70's. The air conditioning is working EXCELLENT! We are praising GOD about that. We arrived in Russellville about 4:00p.m A 24 hour journey for us. We stopped in Memphis to take some pictures and had a good time. Tonight we had a rehersal for tomorrow night's concert. Our songs have been set to a really interesting style of music which we will use in the concert. PRAY for us as it isn't easy going from A'capella to music.

We are staying in Tedd and Kunal's room at the dorm and happy about that.

Saturday, May 6th

2:00pm ~ We unpacked and organized our things this morning. Fika & Bo are already working on their assignments for school and I am finally getting around to adding programs to my new laptop (compliments of HP). I writing this about 2:00 pm The guys are now resting to make sure they are ready for tonight's concert. (They've inspired me to take a nap myself.)

We made a quick trip to WalMart before meeting at 5:00 pm for a final rehersal before the concert. I took a few minutes to arrange some artifical trees and plants on the stage to give us a nice setting. By 6:00 pm we were getting in to our Swazi attire back at the dorm (across the street from the concert hall). WOW! The guys looked so good in their attire.

We knew almost everyone who came to the concert. It was amazing! We were working with the music some friends of ours created for us. The rehersal last night helped us prepare and it went very well. The music is not "simple" so we really had to listen carefully to be able to sing with it.

After the concert we went to Subway with some new friends for something to eat. We had a great time. This is also the place we usually buy gas. It was $2.69 when we arrived on Friday. Tonight it was $2.61.

Sunday, May 7th

WOW! What an awesome day this has been. I will try not to make this too long but - so many cool things happened I have to share them with you. We went with Tedd to his church (Greater Union Hill). This is the church that burned down when we were here. They are meeting in a building down the road from the church while they rebuild. We had a great time with them. What a powerful worship service. Pastor Parker is an amazing preacher. We had our home church (Ephrata Mennonite) on our mind today as this is the first day of a new format for church.

We sang for the people at Union Hill and Tedd played the music that we are now using with the songs and it was awesome. The people said they were really blessed. The guys are really enjoying working with the music. Greater Union Hill is looking forward to us continuing our missionary journeys to Arkansas. We are confident that the LORD would have us continue. (Ask me about this when you see me - some really cool possibilities are developing.)

After lunch we spent some time writing some post cards to friends at LMH and friends of our ministry. I got to rest a little and that was needed. (Pray for me - I've been having a problem with my left leg for quite a while. It's really giving me a hard time on this trip.

Tonight we did a mini-concert at Wesley Foundation's chapel service. It was awesome. Tedd played again and the drummer from the worship band filled in and it went very well. Brother Dave from Wesley has invited us to come back in the fall and wants to have us do some things in conjunction with their ministry. GOD is having so many people connect with us about continuing these missionary journeys.

We decided we were going to go to McDonalds for a snack tonight (thanks Larry & Sue - this was on you!) We went there in our Swazi attire and ended up doing ministry. We got to pray for some future missionaries and preachers, a pastor prayed over the boys and we even sang some songs. It was a powerful time. We call it the First Church of the Golden Arches. It's one of many times we've sung in a restaurant. It's been a long day so we're off to bed. Thanks for your prayers. Don't forget to say hello - sign the guest book.

Distance: 1,147 miles May 4 - 15, 2006 Wanna call us on the road? (717) 471-8737

Let the journey begin!

TITFUNYWA in SiSwati = Messengers

"LIVE" in CONCERT

Arkansas Tech University

Doc Bryan Lecture Hall

Saturday - May 6 - 7:00 p.m.

Fika & Bo in Memphis, TN

I don't often take time to stop and see things along the way on the trip to ATU. Today we stopped in Memphis to see some sights and take some pictures. We had a good time and got some nice pictures along the Mississippi river.

FIKA, BO & BO at GREATER UNION HILL

WITH BRO. DAVE at WESLEY FOUNDATION

FIRST CHURCH of the GOLDEN ARCHES

OKLAHOMA DAY - Monday, May 8th

Today was our "day off". We got up early and decided to make a trip to Haskell, OK to see my Aunt Edna and the family. What a nice sunny day we had for our journey and we really enjoyed our time there. It was about a 3 hour drive from Tech to Haskell. Aunt Edna is doing well and she was so happy to have us come and visit. She met Fika & Bo for the first time. We visited for several hours and enjoyed our time with her. We sang for her before a wonderful lunch she made for us. After

lunch we went over to Donna (Edna's daughter's house) and spent some time with her and the grandchildren. We had the opportunity to sing some of our songs and share a little bit about our ministry and what GOD is doing. It was a really great time.

Our drive back to Tech was a nice time for us to reflect on the day and thank GOD for all that HE has been doing during our time here. We are so thankful for all of you and your prayers. GOD bless you.

TUESDAY - May 9th

Most of today was dedicated to school for the guys. They work well independently and I don't really have to remind them to get started. They enjoy their school work. I had quite a few errands to run and some post cards to write. The boys also wrote post cards to all their teachers/classes at school. Tonight we were at 25 to Life. That's a Bible Study in Summit Dorm. It was great to see everyone again. We shared testimonies of what GOD is doing in our ministry and sang for them. I made quite a few telephone calls to update folks on how we are doing here. Tomorrow we go to the dentist. All of us will be having quite a bit of work done so pray for us as we also have to speak and sing at Fellowship of Christians youth group at 6:30 pm.

WEDNESDAY - May 10th

5:00 pm ~ It's been quite a day. The dentist did a lot of work on Fika and Bo and it's left both off them with interesting effects from the numbness in their faces. It will be interesting to see them sing like that. Both had several teeth filled and Fika had one pulled. I am having work done on my partial plate in preparation for a front tooth that will be removed on Friday am. I will also have a crown put on one tooth and another one filled. It will be interesting singing tonight without that tooth.

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Tonight we had the blessing of doing ministry with youth at Fellowship of Christians in Russellville. It was a great night. We've been using the new music for things. Sadly, although we like the music we most likely won't be able to get it recorded (possibly some of the songs) which means we will continue to do the songs A'cappella. Lord willing we will able to work on some music for the future. Keep praying about the CD. People continue asking us about that and it looks like it could be late summer until we are able to have that project complete. I know if you pray GOD will bless us with a way to do it. In some ways our time here has really flown by. In other ways - it's been a LONG trip. Continue to pray for us. The guys have an appointment with the Dr. for physicals tomorrow a.m.

THURSDAY, May 11th

This morning the boys had their physicals and we sang for the staff at the clinic. We went to CiCi's for lunch and they spent the rest of the day working on their school work. GREAT NEWS . . . it worked out for us to get in the recording studio and we recorded 10 songs. It was really amazing. The guys were so excited to get to do this. We should have our accompaniment tracks in the near future. AWESOME!

MIDNIGHT BREAKFAST - Church of Christ

DR. DON SIMMIONS - delivers a blessing!

With youth group at: Fellowship of Christians

Finally in the Studio

Thanks to Tedd and his persistence we spend a few hours today in the studio. We recorded 10 of our songs with the music that our friends did for us here. When everything is finished we will have an accompaniment track for each song and LORD willing we will also have the master our CD. If all goes well - we might actually have a CD ready for distribution by the end of May!

Keep praying as we work on this project. I will be designing the labels and CD cover. Pray that GOD will help me to be creative.

Many thanks to the Arkansas CREW that made this all happen

Arkansas Tech Graduation 2006

(Thursday continued)

After we returned from the recording studio it was time for the guys to get back to doing school work. I've never seen two guys so serious about school. While we've been at ATU we've been looking into the possibility of them attending this school. We are all excited about the possibilities. Please pray for them.

We finished off our day with a trip to McDonalds for a snack before bed. We watched a video before bed called "Invisible Children". It was one of the saddest, most moving videos I've ever seen. It's about the "Invisible Children of Uganda. Check out their website at: www.InvisibleChildren.com

YOU MUST

SEE THIS

VIDEO!

We are committed to helping

the children

you meet in this film.

JESUS has so much to offer them.

PRAY!

FRIDAY - May 12th

Today we got up early and went to the dentist's office for our 8:00 am appointment for more work on our teeth. They guys were getting more teeth filled and I was going to have a variety of work done including getting a tooth pulled. It went very well and by 9:00 am Dr. Simmons had done all three of us. more work to be done in the fall during our ATU Fall Outreach. (Date TBA)

After the dentist it was time for more school work. Lots of people dropping by to say farewell and since I haven't been sleeping well I took a nap. It was awesome. I slept for a couple hours. We were sure we were going to be able to eat after all the work on our teeth but we ate a late lunch and did well.

Tonight we went to a gathering of students at Wes and Audrey Thomas' house. Many of them are camping out there tonight since they had to be out of the dorms. We had a really good time. (This is where we stayed during our last visit). We have to be out of the dorm tomorrow so we will be staying there tomorrow night. We got home not too long ago and the guys are already asleep. It's been a very good outreach this time.

Dental Assistant & Dr. Simmons

Since BO was 10 years old he has had extremely blurred vision in his right eye. Praise GOD he has perfect sight in his left. GOOD NEWS! The problem with his right eye may be a cataract. Now we need a way to confirm that and a way to fix it.

Fika needs glasses! His vision is 20/40. Eye exams and glasses can be very costly. Please pray that GOD would bless us with an eye doctor who loves JESUS and would help these guys as a ministry. WE KNOW YOUR PRAYERS CAN MAKE IT HAPPEN!

Here we are with our new friend LEE. Lee is an amazing Christian brother whom we have been blessed to get to know while on this journey. Among other things - I've heard that he is very good on the guitar. We met Lee the day we arrived and we were blessed that he came with his friend Chris to our concert at Doc Bryan the next night. After the concert we got to hang out with Lee and Chris and get to hear their testimonies. Please pray for these guys. They are starting a Christian band this summer. One day we hope to share some of their music with you. That will be exciting.

Arkansas Tech Graduation 2006

SATURDAY - May 13th

Let me start by saying Congratulations

KUNAL & TEDD! These are amazing guys. I never dreamed that a Jr. High student I met while speaking on a retreat would become such a special part of my life and that he would set up and co-ordinate 4 years of outreach ministry at his univeristy. Hundreds of students lives have been touched by this ministry. Though I've never gone to college Kunal was my college roommate along with Andy Moore. All of them - Honor Students!

Tedd - Kunal - I am so proud of you. Thanks for being good rolemodels for Fika & Bo.

(left) KUNAL KHATRI

The LORD knows what the future holds for our

bother Kunal. Pray for him as he explores the possibilities. He's been an awesome volunteer with Gospel For Asia.

(right) TEDD LODES

Tedd is in the process of recording a CD with his girlfriend Emily. He will be working with Literacy & Evangelism International in Tulsa. It will be exciting to see what GOD does with this two young men over the next few years.

DR. WES THOMAS with BO after concert.

Graduation was obviously the highlight of our trip to ATU. Seeing Tedd and Kunal "walk" was awesome. There were many others that we knew we want to say congrats to Bobby and Nathan also.

We spent out last afternoon and evening with Dr.

Wes & Audrey Thomas and Leah. The boys took

lots of time to be playmates to Leah and she really

enjoyed them. We took a little snooze in the after-

noon and when we woke up we discovered that Leah

had put blankets on all of us to keep us warm and

she was quietly sitting there playing, waiting patiently

for the guys to wake up to play.

SUNDAY - May 14th

Our last day in Arkansas we had the joy of being at Greater Union Hill. Mother's were honored with a special message from Pastor Parker. A powerful message: "Who is your mother? Who are your brothers?" Tedd was the soloist on a very special song from the choir. His parents and older brother were there so it was very special.

After church we hit the road for PA.. We had good weather most of the way. The guys stayed up until about 1:30 am. Once we reached Knoxville, TN (our halfway point) the guys got comfortable to sleep the rest of the night. Havin a mini-van works well for things like that.

MONDAY - May 15th

We had breakfast at the Pink Cadillac Diner in TN early this am. It was a really good 50's looking diner. Much of the decorations were authentic. Including two juke boxes from that era. It was a great setting for a nice breakfast. Outside the restaurant was a giant sized King Kong with an airplane in his hand. Humpty Dumpty was purched on a railing outside also.

We hit rain in West Virginia and had it the rest of the way home. My allergies are really acting up. The last several hours of the trip were difficult for me to drive. A sore throat and congestion with a runny nose made the end of the trip unpleasant for me.

WE"RE HOME! We got here about 2;30pm Thanks so much for all your prayers while we were on our journey. We appreciate your prayers. GOD bless all of you!