Japanese Baseball 2

The top picture is the Leaves a local team. My friend asked me to play a game. We won 4-2 without any help from me. I was 1-3 and had a throwing error (after a great stop).

The middle picture is the National High School tournament.

The last pic is the Golden Temple.

Japanese Baseball

I was really blessed to travel to Japan for a meeting and a lot of baseball. I am coaching Zimbabwe and the folks that hosted me in Japan also love the Zimbabweans and baseball.

Here are a couple pics of baseball with great friends in a wonderful country.

The top picture is the food we ate at the game. The next is the B's field (Kyrocera Dome). Lastly, me trying to leave a restaurant.

World Cup Memories

I have many great World Cup 2010 memories. Tim Howard signed an autograph for me. I saw the US beat Algeria in extra time to go to the Round of 16 v Ghana. I saw the US play Ghana in that game. I saw the Netherlands (my other favorite team) win. Lots of soccer matches, but for me the best memories were the games I saw with my family.

It was cool to take Josh to see his favorite team Ghana win! His soccer coach is from Ghana.

It was fun to take RAH to see her favorite team Italy (hot guys - nuf said) play.

And it was really special to see the US play in the Round of 16 with JK.

Please Pray!!!

Tonight Brazil plays against the team that is number one on the World Watch List. FIFA tells us they will have 2,000 fans at the game. God, miraculously, has brought them to my city! I will be at the stadium before the game tonight. PLEASE Pray that God would do miracle upon miracle upon miracle so that at least one from that country will be saved and a church can be planted by them.

I just started a list of my favorite books at good reads. You might want to check it out.

Unevangelized

According to OM's 2010 World Cup Prayer Guide Siya Thandaza, the top unevangelized countries participating in the 2010 World Cup are

1) North Korea

2) Algeria

3) Japan

4) Nigeria

5) Ivory Coast

3 of the top 5 are African countries! That's half of the teams from Africa!

North Korea continues to be on my mind. I am praying for God to work miracles on TUE 15 June when God brings them to my city! I am praying for new life though it could cost them their life!

I am going to see the US play Algeria on 23 June.

I have been asked to visit Japan from 3-13 August. The trip is baseball related, but still a God thing.

A good friend was born in Nigeria to parents on the mission field. The Christian - Muslim tension in that country has been a prayer focus for some time.

I love the color orange! I always cheer for the Netherlands and the Ivory Coast.

Please join me in praying through this list! That God would get the Gospel to the fans and players from these countries during the World Cup.

This is eye opening for me as

Soccer World Cup 2010

70 year old Zulu warrior spears an ox at Soccer City.

He slaughtered the ox yesterday in order to bless the stadiums used for the World Cup matches. This ceremony was attended by around 2,000 people (roughly the same amount of North Korean fans expected to watch their games). During the ceremony the stadium was blessed by 300 sangomas (witch doctors) who "invoked the spirits of our African ancestors to usher in their wisdom and energy."

If you would like to keep up with the ministry going on during World Cup 2010 please check out world soccer journeys.

If you would like a prayer guide for the participating countries check out Siya Thandaza.

10 Year Pin

We attended our Cluster's Spiritual Retreat last week. It was a great time of fellowship. I really enjoyed the preaching and prayer times.

It was a special retreat as Ruth Anne, Janna Kay, and I were recognized for having served with the IMB for 10 years. JK and I received these pins.

Only one IMB family has been in Joburg longer than we have, so we have had a pretty good run. Janna Kay was giving me a hard time because 10 years is the longest I have ever held a job.

I am thankful that the LORD has seen fit to use us here in Joburg for the past 10 years. As a strategy leader for our work in Joburg I can not imagine being "through" in the next 10 years!

Please continue to pray for our family and our city.

Doggie Treats

It isn't a great picture, but I wanted you to see Lexie's new favorite snack.

This snack, I imagine, is only available here in Africa.

Lexie is enjoying his first Ostrich Windpipe.

Who comes up with these things? What's next?

Actually, I don't think I want to know or guess.

I just finished reading my pastor's book - Breaking the Islam Code. I highly recommend it.

In the words of Mark Driscoll - "If you love Jesus and Muslims, you will love this book."

Batting and Bowling !?!

Joshuwa played his first cricket game last week. All the boys play every position in the field (including bowler) and bat 6 balls (an over).

Joshuwa was thrilled to represent his school but his biggest thrill was riding the bus to the game.

Joshuwa batted for 7 runs and his team (King's School West Rand) won by 2 runs.

We celebrated with ice cream cones.