Checkerz' Blog

Today I woke up with great excitement and anticipation as I prepared to depart for my first International Mission Trip. As I said goodbye to my wife Nicole, who is just as beautiful at 4:30am as she is when she is fully awake and “ready” for the day, I was disappointed that she would not be able to join me on this trip. We were scheduled to go on a mission trip together to Kenya, Africa this November but the trip was rescheduled for next year and she was unable to switch her days off on such short notice. To add to my disappointment, I had to leave my wedding ring at home for safety reasons. For the record, I never take my wedding ring off (not even when getting greasy under the car).

While sitting at Lou is Armstrong Int’l Airport in New Orleans I glanced down at my ring finger and saw the permanent imprint and lighter toned skin that my ring had left on my finger. After 17 years of never removing it, I have this embedded reminder in place of my actual ring. I imagine I will look at it every day while I am in Honduras as a reminder of how blessed I am to be married to such an amazing woman!

When I arrived at the airport at 5am, I was greeted by some familiar faces, and some not so familiar faces. This would be my family for the next 8 days (and forever, since we are jointly part of the family of God). While I am not sure of all that will take place in the coming week, I am certain of this: The Gospel of Jesus will be preached, His love will be shared, lives will be transformed for the glory of God, and we will never be the same as a result. This team of 9 individuals who have devoted themselves to this mission, to share the love of Christ with a hurting people, is living Acts 1:8.

As a pastor and as a friend, I am thankful for Chris & Cindy M, Pastor Patrick E., Gloria, Tony, Carmen, Brittany, and Daniel.

Next stop…Houston,then on to San Pedro Sula, Honduras airport.