You too, huh?

"Why don't I give you my number so that we can keep in touch?"  "Hey, take down my email so you can keep me up to speed on whats happening with you guys!"  Kristy and I have been having some of the craziest experiences out here.  At least four different moms have volunteered to give Kristy their cell numbers so that they could connect while we're here and maybe beyond.  

One of the things that I love about my wife is to see God's heart for people shine through her.  She is gifted in mercy and hospitality.  I've known this for years, but because of our parallel schedules its been years since I've seen her pour out these gifts in person.  When Kristy strikes up a conversation with other moms at a park, you can just see how their guards drop as they realize that she is taking a genuine interest in them - because God cares about them.  It's hard to say whether or not God is giving us favor with people, but I can't recall ever seeing this many people say that want to stay in touch with us AFTER they learn that we are investigating the possibility of planting a church!

We've been very fortunate to meet a lot of people.  We've met two different families with twins (I'm telling ya, it's an exclusive club!), a public school teacher, members of an urban ecology group, and others.  For me, I've been able to connect with a number of different pastors in town, get a few meetings set up for next week, got a tattoo, and attend two different church services.  One of those services was the grand opening of a satellite campus for Epikos church.  That was really cool!

We've also been able to continue to explore the city and see the sights.  I was able to take my family to their first Brewers game, we've checked out the Lake Front, and tomorrow...(drum roll please!)...we get to go to Polish Fest!    

I am grateful for the place that God has brought us to.  Last week I wrote that we have learned to apply the gospel to our frailty.  This week it seems like God is causing us to rely on Him because of our being finite.  We simply do not know where we are being called to, but we do know that God is with us and will be with us.  And this, not because we are so great or because He needs us, but because He is so great that He invites us to participate in His work of restoring this broken world for His glory and our good!