Well, long time, no post. Here’s why.

4 DAYS CAMPING IN THE REDWOODS WITH OUR EXTENDED FAMILY…. we did some kayaking on the river.

4 DAYS CAMPING IN ON LAKE TRINITY WITH OUR FRIENDS…. lots of kneeboarding, swimming, and bonding.

PERFORMED A WEDDING FOR A FORMER STUDENT… what a joy long term ministry and friendship is.

TJ TURNED 9… and we went to Boomers while still in Nor Cal.

WENT TO WATCH THE PADRES GAME WITH YOUTH GROUP… got super bored so started taking dumb photos while holding the camera myself like a myspace pro.

AND A MISSIONS TRIP TO MEXICO…. 11 students, 4 adults, 4 kids, 3 houses to paint, 1 awning to build, 1 VBS to lead, good times to be had, and plenty of dirt roads to drive.

AND A NEW DOG ZEUS TO ADD TO OUR FAMILY… gotta love craigs list and free stuff.

if you want to see more pics… you can check out the more complete set here of the last 6 weeks of Berry Family craziness.

My wife and I for the past 2 years or so have sponsored a couple of brothers (George and Divine Mapila) in Zambia, Africa through World Vision where they recieve health care and education and food. Their pictures have been on our fridge. Their lives have been in our family prayers. We’ve sent some special gifts at holidays and had the boys draw pictures and stuff. But we’ve never truly met their family.

Anyway… today I got a call from World Vision telling me that Divine got sick and his family took him to the clinic. He was diagnosed with Meningitis and sent to the nearest hospital. I did some research on the web this morning and found that it’s a bacterial infection of the spinal and brain cord that eventually infects the blood stream. The infection can kill in hours and some forms have vaccines and some forms do not. I have no idea how often this happens in the world or how many families go to bed wondering if their child might get this bacteria, but today it came to my front door.

So, on May 12, 2006, a little 3 year old boy in a land far from me but near to God died and at this young age- as his name implies- surely went to heaven to dance in new ways. 2 and a half months later a family several thousands of miles away learned of the loss and mourns. I don’t have a lot of words left to write. I offer this simple prayer: May the Lord be with and strengthen the Mapila family today and I pray that one day we will embrace. Amen.

Shannon and I had been married for about 3 months when we decided to get a dog. I went to the pound and found a puppy. I had to put my name in a hat and 3 people wanted him. My name was drawn and we brought Rudy home. That was 12 years ago and we have countless memories with our dog. Camping. Playing. Chasing him. Taking him to the vet when he got deathly ill. Nursing him back to recovery. Catching kids toilet papering our house… and so much more. Today I had to take him to the vet and say goodbye. Rudy was an amazing friend and a great dog for our family. Today we both mourn the loss and celebrate the gift of a loving pet. Here’s to Rudy.

Well, for a while now, Shannon and I have been praying for July. Cuz we knew it was going to be crazy. Here’s why… in pictures and a few words:

A group of 30 of us spent a week at Point Loma here in he San Diego area learning about why we believe what we believe and how we can be a part of helping others get connected with God. It was a lot of fun, a lot of work, and a great team experience for our ministry. Here’s the peeps.

I came home from OGN and the next day spoke on the weekend in our church services. Once Friday. Twice Sunday. It was on mentoring and our high school program ran the entire show. Our students played the music. We had a volunteer from our middle school share a testimony, I spoke, and several students did a drama you see below. They were on campus at lunch and just talking about normal life. In the process, we hoped that it would be clear to the audience that everyone, and especially those navigating their teen years, need a mentor.

After I taught, we went to a birthday party for our neighbor and then we dropped TJ off for his first week away at camp for the week. He loved it and then he came home and dove in our pool and cracked his noggin and got 3 stitches.

The next day, while TJ was away at camp, Shannon and I took Tyler and Jake to Belmont Park in Mission Beach. They rode the rides and then we ate lunch and then rode the waves. It was good times. Bummer we have to live in San Diego 🙂

The next day I left for Saddleback to take a group of our students to their student ministries conference. They were all incoming juniors or seniors and are part of our weekend planning team. A guy at our church lent us a sick RV for the week- complete with DVD surround sound system and two pop out sides.. we used it as our group meeting place all week and planned our entire school year of teaching topics, student leader meetings, and youth group activiities. It was amazing. We got to swim in the nicest back yard pool I’ve ever seen- designed by a guy at Disney overlooking the whole valley on a clear night. What a privelege that was. Anyway- it was both great fun and very productive. Here’s the peeps that went.

While I was gone, the birds in our orange tree hatched.

I’ve been home for a day packing and now we’re off to go camping as a family for two weeks. I’ll blog again in August.

I’m sitting in my rented van outside of some random house that evidently is spewing the internet into the street.. I thought I’d just blog and post later while I wait the 15 minutes before I’m supposed to pick up my students, but then alas- I found the grand internet world right here in my van.

Anyway- I just got done with another afternoon of chatting with people on the beach in PB about faith and God and stuff. Here’s a small slice of a 30 minute convo from day 2
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MIKE- A FIRE FIGHTER WHO WAS A GREEN BERET FOR 8 YEARS, TRAVELED AND LIVED THE WHOLE WORLD OVER, BAR TENDED FOR SEVERAL YEARS, GREW UP IN CATHOLIC HOME AND WAS FORCED TO GO TO CHURCH UNTIL 18, SINGLE (DIVORCED), LOVES TO BIKE, ENJOYS HIS LIFE AT 38. READING ON A PARK BENCH WHERE HE RODE HIS BIKE TO OVERLOOKING THE BEACH WHEN I ARRIVE AND HE’S ON WHAT APPEARS TO BE THE LAST PAGE OF A BIG BOOK.

ME: “Did you just finish the book or are you starting from the back?”
MIKE: “Just finished.” (shows me the cover- it was the Da Vinci Code.)

Did you like it?
Yeah great book.

Do you believe any of it?
No, not a bit… but I do think it was some Kings that made Jesus go from some mortal guy who talked to people to some immortal son of God guy. I don’t buy that.

So, you don’t think Jesus was or is immortal.
I don’t know if Jesus ever existed. I’m not a religous guy. I think everyone can believe what they want. I’m good so long as I don’t hurt anyone or myself.

Do you think that maybe there’s more to life than that? Do you think that maybe you could be missing out on the best life and settling for the good life?
Maybe. I don’t know. No one knows.

So, that’s all there is to life. Just making sure you get through it not hurting people.
Yeah, man I help people every day as paramedic. I think if you’re good, life will be good to you. I more believe in reincarnation.

So, you think there’s a soul that returns?
Yeah, I think so. Maybe. I don’t know. No one knows. No one alive today has ever died, so they’re all just speculating. I like my life and I don’t need God or organized religion.
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A very sincere 30 minute conversation with a very content man who enjoys his life, is amiable, healthy, and happy. He’s afraid that if he joins a faith system. They’ll screw that up. Sadly, he’s probably right. More sadly, that’s not waht Jesus designed us for or strived to start in the church. We really did have a great conversation. I enjoyed my time with Mike a lot. He admits that he lives a selfish life because he does whatever he wants, when he wants, and he doesn’t want to give that up. Truth is, he’s holding on to the familiar but losing the eternal- which he’s not sure of either. Jesus said that in losing our life we gain it. That’s a risk that Mike isn’t willing to take. Based on the track record of the church, part of me understands. Based on my knowledge of Jesus, part of me mourns.

I was challenged today to continue to raise up around me and personally embody a community of faith that is real with life, real with doubt, real with hope, and selflessly loving others before my own needs. I don’t want to bury my head into the sand so I can life in a peace I manufactured. I want the peace that I believe only God can truly give.