We cover a lot of material, which we break into 4 broad categories of Spirituality, Communication, Conflict Resolution, and Sexual intimacy. Here is a picture of most of the 21 couples that attended this past Saturday (Feb. 28th).

- We had a great time, and I always love working together with my wife to help influence people’s lives!!

Here are my top 10 highlights from the day:

10. A comment from one of the couples “to defray desires becoming expectations, simply imagine what it would be like if you were still alone.”

9. Giving people some insight on how the enemy is going to try and attack your marriage

8. Outlining in detail the “good” fight – conflict is inevitable, and the proper handling of it can make you stronger than ever!

7. Talking about the idea that if the point of communication, especially disagreements, is to truly understand each other. . . .then. . . “winning” – really has very little to do with it!

6. Seeing people “get it” when we talk about some of the gender differences that can lead to all kinds of communicative difficulties.

5. Helping couples begin to pray together, outloud, – some for the first time – ever!

4. Having one of the guys comment in front of everyone – “WOW, I am getting a lot more out of this than I ever expected!”

3. Referring to our very frank Q & A session regarding Sexual intimacy – yes, we talked about _________.

2. Seeing several couples crying during one of the prayer times where we have them look at each other while Ang prays for each one of them – she does an amazing job with this!

1. My amazing wife pausing throughout the day to breath through contractions and back spasms – I am so proud of how tough she is for the Kingdom! One time I even reassured everyone “don’t worry, she’s a professional. . . “ 

8. (Kya) As we are getting ready for bed, and cleaning up his room. . . “No dad! . . . I want to sleep with my pumpkin” . . . it’s a real pumpkin

7. (Ang) we have just started to eat dinner . . . Reggio’s pizza from ALDI . . . “WOW! I didn’t know pizza could be that bad!”

6. (Me) As I, barefoot, am getting up from dinner to clean up Dakota. . . . . . “aauughh, I felt a crunch and a squish in the same step” – I guess it’s time to sweep the kitchen floor!

5. (Me and Dakota) As we are praying before dinner . . . (me) “Dakota, what is something you are thankful for?. . . . (Dakota) . . . TTSSTT . . . (me) OK then.”

4. (Elliana) As we are laughing at the the pizza comment in #7. . . . “Mommy, does the baby laugh when you laugh?”

3. (Kya) snickering. . . but trying hard to conceal his dramatic genius . . . “Mom, my nose is bleeding. . .

bleeding? - no ketchup

2. (Ang and I) trying to get Kya to go outside and play . . . (Ang) “Kya. . . go outside, get the wagon. . . and catch some squirrel dust. . .Kya takes off outside . . . (me) what is squirrel dust?. . . (Ang) I don’t know. . .”

1. (ELLIANA) While we were walking, and as a jogger ran right past us. . . . Is that a boy or a girl Daddy?!

Have a great start to the week everyone. . . . you going to get peppered with posts today – it has been a full weekend.

10. Sitting next to my Father-in-law, Ron Twedt, realizing that we are going to be doing this together!

9. Getting excited about going to Little India on Saturday to dive in the culture.

8. So excited to get more details on the two villages that we will be ministering too, Karai (10,000 people with the closest well 1.5 miles away – we will be ministering to some of the prostitutes here) and Vellavedu (here are the brick kilns where the bonded slaves are starting at ~3 years old, around 5,000 kilns each with 50-100 people in them).

7. There are 28 states in India (compared to our 50), Tamil Nadu is one of those states, and has 30 districts. . . . last year in just 1 of those districts there were 1,000 baby girls killed right after birth. . . infantcide. . . . you do the math

6.  There are around 4,600 levels in there cast system. . . . that is, . . . the level of worth of someone, Raj told a story of when his shadow crossed over someone of high cast, . . . . . he was severely beaten that day. . .

5.  The fact that we as white people. . . . . are actually above the cast system – somewhere between human and divinity. . . . . nothing like the humility of undeserved deity status.

4. So what do you do in your country to reach the lost?  Well, I said, here at GCC we use culturally relevant media to connect with those outside the church, and we have small groups, and lots of service opportunities. . . what about you? Well, we raise the dead, heal the sick, and cast out the demons. . . . . Yeah, I guess that will work too!

3. The opportunity I may have to eat BBQ rat! — because their field rats are the size of our cats!@!! and they eat them!

2. They will not risk their life by becoming a Christian because of what you teach them, but because of how you treat.

1. Hearing Raj pray in Tamil, and feeling the presence of the Holy Spirit. . . . . I am completely confident that God is going to show up through these teams in a HUGE way!!!!

10. Kids eat free on Tuesday nights (2 per adult)

9. Kids eat free on Saturday nights (2 per adult)

8. Though there is nothing spectacular, there is a lot of variety, and the food is good enough

7. They have really cool Rocket ship cups right now for the kids

6. The Rocket ship cups are strong enough to withstand nuclear fallout, so our dishwasher shouldn’t be an issue

5. They have “the claw” – which our kids love to play with (though they have never really seen how it “works” – ignorance is bliss)

4. They seem to get the rights to Disney characters 10 years after the movie (we saw some Nemo stuff)

3. The workers don’t care if your kids act up

2. Neither do the other customers

1. At least we assume #2 is the case, personally, we have never seen any other customers