Smackdown

Worldwide Wrestling Entertainment (aka WWE) came to town last night with the weekly television show, Smackdown.  Corey and I attended with our friend, Jeremy and had a great time.  Live from the Sprint Center, it was filled with a lively cross-culture of Kansas City.  Even though I had a fun time hanging out with Corey, I think what I enjoyed most was realizing that my life has a lot less drama than the WWE.  It was a soap opera with spandex, tattoos, and masks.  Folks held up signs and screamed when their favorite wrestler was announced.  Good times.  

A few notes from  Shelterwood:  our marketing team is doing a fantastic job of bringing in new families.  After an intake this morning we are up to 27.  Another family is scheduled for Friday bringing us to 28.  It's a little stressful as the lone Case Manager handling 28 kids but I am thankful that our vision is slowing unfolding.  Next week is our semi-annual Beyond Week.  We are sending one group to El Paso, TX for a Hispanic missions outreach and the rest (including myself) are staying in KC and participating in serve projects with local non-profits organizations.  I am not a team leader (which is a good thing) so I don't have details yet.  The inaugural Shelterwood basketball league wraps up tonight.  The 4th and final week games.  We will resume with a volleyball league in early March following Spring Break.

First but not last

The famous photo accompanying this latest blog was taken in August 2008 and is know as "First Day in Kansas City."  Now, don't be too fooled by all the smiles; it was a construction zone and we were busy unloading trucks and assembling beds and desks.  The look on Nate's face (back row, second from right) is probably a more accurate depiction of how we all felt.  This was the first day but not the last.  Many faces have already changed and the property has certainly changed and yet God is not finished.  The Doulos train rolls on and I am thankful beyond words that you are on board!

Lots happening lately on campus.  We had free tickets to the Casting Crowns concert at the Sprint Center in downtown KC yesterday.  Both houses attended, over 40 in all.  One of our newest residents is a close friend of the lead singer and so the band sent a slew of tickets.  The Wednesday night inter mural basketball league has created quite the buzz.  Great games, trash talking, lots of smiles and shortage of breath.  Senior directors, kids, teachers, staff and leadtimers are all involved.  It is a glimpse of the Kansas City property vision...another first but not last.  Our chapel season is going strong.  In our last service, one of the Shelterwood residents shared a personal testimony.  For chapel, having one of the kids share was another first . Lastly, this weekend the parents of our Leadtime students are attending the annual family weekend set aside specifically for that program.   Kicks off tonight with dinner and a "talent show" and concludes Sunday morning with a worship service.  Shelterwood Director, Todd Ellet will be sharing preceded by worship led by myself the the Killer B's.