Merry Christmas

Merry Christmas to you and your family during this 2011 holiday season! I pray you experience "times of refreshing" with your loved ones.

Jena and I are spending Christmas in Kansas City with Kaiden. Just the three of us. Tomorrow, the rest of the gang arrives making a full house for the remainder of the week through New Year's. Keeping with Kansas City tradition, we headed to Crown Center on the 23rd to enjoy the festive downtown experience. Kaiden had a visit with Santa at the Crown Center mall and we ate lunch at famous Fritz, where an overhead train brings your order around and drops it to your table on a hydraulic lift. We rounded out the evening on the outdoor ice skating center.

We are thankful for each of you and your faithful support of our ministry at Doulos Ministries. Blessings to you on Christmas Day!

'Tis The Season

Christmas season has arrived at Shelterwood. Last weekend the boys selected a tree from the 200 surrounding acres and hauled it into the lodge for decorating. If you look closely at the picture, you will see that is does have a "Charlie Brown" quality to it, but at least it was free. With a few homemade snowflakes and some paper chain along the railings, the boys house is now ready for the season.

The annual Doulos Christmas party was last week. The house staff gathered together in the afternoon and the rest of the staff met later the same evening. A handful of folks (including myself) attended both parties. Each party featured a white elephant gift exchange and the venue for both parties was a local Asia buffet. Needless to say, I walked away with a few interesting gifts and I will not be eating Asia-style cuisine for quite some time. Good foot and great times but somewhat exhausting.

The guys house will be graduating one big brother (Daniel) in December. Two more big brothers will join our team on January 3rd (Adam and Tim). This year we are launching a new program with the big brothers and sisters allowing select graduates to return for an additional year as a residential intern. It provides an excellent opportunity for big brothers to explore their ministry gifts while capitalizing on the training and development investment. Daniel has been selected for this position and will be a tremendous asset to the team.

Heaven is for Real

Some of you may have heard of the book Heaven is for Real, by Todd Burpo. It tells the gripping story of Todd's little boy, Colton, who had a brush with death at the age of 4 from appendicitis. During this time, young Colton experienced a glimpse into Heaven. The book is doing quite well. A New York Times best seller for several weeks. A children's versions is coming out soon and discussions are taking place for a motion picture. It's a short read and well worth your time. You may be wondering; however, why I mention the book in my Shelterwood blog?

One of our residents is getting baptized this afternoon at a local church. Emma. Due to the special nature of the event, her family and hometown pastor and youth pastor have flown into Kansas City to celebrate and participate. Her pastor happens to be Todd Burpo, author of the aforementioned book. It's a small world sometimes. While the Burpo's are in town, it was arranged to have Todd speak to the staff and student body this morning during a special chapel session. I had the privilege of meeting Todd, his wife and oldest daughter Cassie. I also had the privilege of setting the stage with a few worship songs before Todd began.

The message was centered around the book with much encouragement for us to share our individual stories, especially when God has blessed us. Although it has been nearly 7 years since the events of the book, Todd was emotional when discussing such topics as Colton's severe illness and the story of Colton meeting his unborn sister in heaven. A clear sign that God has moved in the Burpo family. Todd followed his message with a Q&A time. Many of the staff and students, of course, had questions.

Immediately following chapel a portion of our staff and residents left for a short two day spiritual retreat. New Shelterwood director, Rujon Morrison, will be leading the event. It will certainly be a time of refreshing and encouragement for those in attendance. Similar retreats will be scheduled in the future to include additional staff and residents.

Happy Thanksgiving

Happy Thanksgiving to everyone! I pray that you have a blessed holiday time with your family and friends. Thanksgiving is traditionally a time to reflect on the good things God has provided and I am reminded of the faithful support each of you provide to my ministry at Doulos. You are deeply appreciated! Thanksgiving in the Albright home will be spent with Jena's parents (yes, the in laws). However, my in laws (Jack and Carol) are great folks and it's wonderful to have them with us. Like many of you, for the next 4 days I will be in a constant state of feeling stuffed.

A few notes about Shelterwood: Thanksgiving is usually one of our more populous breaks in regards to residents. With 22 boys in the boys lodge we will gradually dip down to 9 on Thanksgiving Day before gradually filling back up to 22. In other news, we have hired our new Shelterwood Director. In my last blog I mentioned our special guest from Healing For The Nations, Steve and Rujon Morrison. Well, Rujon Morrison was apparently here for an interview, in addition to sharing with staff (unbeknownst to us) and she has accepted the position. Her husband Steve will be on campus still operating Healing For The Nations but will not be on staff. Steve has a heart for filling a role as campus pastor.

November Harvest

Just like that November is almost half over. Hard to believe. When I sit down and process it, this month is much busier than I realized. On Friday, I took Corey and 3 of his friends to watch the Missouri Mavericks hockey game. The occasion was to celebrate Corey's 15th birthday, which was Tuesday. The game was full of excitement. 9 goals were scored, 6 by the Mavs in a winning effort and even a few fights broke out on the ice (much to the liking of the boys). Later this month we still have the Thanksgiving holiday, Kaiden's birthday and our wedding anniversary.

Last weekend was Family Weekend for the Shelterwood boys. Although I have experienced too many such weekends to count, this one was equally rewarding. Excellent seminars and support groups administered by our counseling staff along with many, many shared conversations and stories with the moms and dads in attendance. At first it may seem hard to get enthusiastic over a repetitive event like this, but each time there are new parents, new residents, new big brothers, new staff, and this year new leadership. I enjoy my role of organizing the details and then watching the staff and families be blessed. Last weekend did not disappoint.

Early last week, we had a few guest from Healing for the Nations Ministry pass through Shelterwood. This has been a new trend set by our CEO and president, Jim Subers. With his many years of ministry leadership and connection, he brings in folks to speak into the lives of our staff. It has been refreshing.

The ministry is still searching for a Shelterwood director. I have heard the process is coming along well but I am unaware of the details. As you remember, Shelterwood, please keep this hiring in your prayers.

Happy Halloween!

Happy Halloween! Tonight Jena and I will be taking Thor to a party sponsored by our local church. Afterwards we may stop by a few homes in the neighborhood. Of course, the fun part is dumping all the candy on the floor and sorting it out. There are just some items, my kids never eat; they include Dots, Almond Joy, Heath bar, black jelly beans and others. More for me, I guess? I will feel much safer having one of the Avengers with me, complete with super power hammer!

Enjoy your evening, whether it be trick-or-treating with your kid, handing out candy or turning off the lights and hiding (and hoping you are not egged) !!!

Fall 2011 Beyond

This week was our semi-annual Beyond Shelterwood event. The school week was cut short following Tuesday to focus on building community; together and beyond campus. On Wednesday and Thursday we divided into groups and ventured out for various service projects. On Wednesday, I worked with 4 kids and 1 other staff raking leaves. We stopped by the homes of two different Doulos staff and bagged about 30 trash bags full of leaves, making multiple trips back to property to empty the leaf bags.

On Wednesday, I worked with a different group of folks going downtown Kansas City to Hope City. Hope City is Christ-centered soup kitchen with a prayer room. Hope is an extension of the International House of Prayer which provides continuous worship during the hours the mission is open. Our task at Hope was simple but rewarding. We cleaned up the kitchen for the staff following the community lunch serving.

We concluded the week on Friday by dividing into teams for some fun competition. Relay races, hot dog eating competition, and even a food fight (I conveniently avoided the food fight).

Fall Chapel season

The Fall 2011 chapel season started in September. We meet each Thursday morning at 8:30 for our weekly service. First period for the high school students is Bible class and on Thursdays, class is replaced with chapel. The service usually involves a few worship songs followed by a message from one of our staff. Occasionally I might start the morning off with a crazy game and possible prizes. It usually wakes the kids up and the prizes normally involve food which is an attraction with the teens. The music is provided by the Killer B's. The Killer's B's started 3 years ago with original members Brian, Brooke, Ben, Brad and Brian. The members have changed over the years but the spirit of the band lives on. During the month of October, chapel is meeting in the girls lodge providing the ladies with a chance to use their musical talents. We will switch back over to the guys lodge in November giving the boys a chance to get involved. The venue will switch every other month. I am working with new big brother, Andrew, to get the boys ready for the November worship experience. Big Sister, Lindsay, is pictured here and she is doing an excellent job leading the young ladies in worship each week.

Parent Weekend

This past weekend, the semi-annual Family Weekend came through the Shelterwood campus. The busy schedule concluded this morning with the worship service and share time. It is always encouraging to hear all the testimonies of changed lives and restored families. Parents and residents stand and tell the stories of brokenness, healing, forgiveness, and ultimately restoration. Last spring we made the decision to split the guys and girls into two separate weekends. The girls event is wrapping up today and the parents of the boys will be in town November 3-6. Our new CEO and ministry leader, Jim Subers, arrived on campus Wednesday and has done an excellent job greeting the families and representing Doulos. The ministry is still searching for a new Shelterwood Director who will oversee the operations of the residential care program and report to Jim. As a prayer request, please remember the search committee and process of finding the right individual.

One in, one out

This weekend the Doulos board of Directors are in town for the regularly scheduled quarterly forum. Despite the shifting nature of Shelterwood lately, the board is comprised of an incredible group of men dedicated to fulfilling and supporting the mission of Doulos. Two weeks ago, the board made a decision on a new Chief Executive Officer. The new overall leader, and face of the ministry, will arrive on campus in early October, just before the Girls Fall Family Weekend. From what I've been told, the CEO (Jim), is a solid guy with vision for the future and an appreciation of the rich heritage started by Richard Beach and carried on by so many others.

In some other surprising news, the current Shelterwood Director has left the ministry. She spent 6 weeks with Doulos and her husband was one of three candidates for the CEO position. As you probably suspect, Jim is not her husband meaning he didn't get the job. A week ago Friday was her last day. It surprised quite a few folks, but interim CEO and Marketing Director John DeVries and done a fantastic job holding the campus together and moving forward with confidence. John was the Shelterwood Director in Denver for a number of years and worked directly with our beloved Josh Emery.

It goes to show that God is sovereign regardless of who comes and goes. Your prayers are highly valued. I appreciate your faithful support of Doulos Ministries.

Six Years ago...

Six years ago today, a long-haired 30-something year old guy arrived at Shelterwood to work with the boys. It was a Thursday afternoon and I arrived on property for my first shift to find an empty campus. The boys were off at the Westminster Recreation Center. Of course, they arrived shortly after and I received several stares as the "new guy." My 5 minutes of training consisted of an outdated Shelterwood Student Handbook which I folded in half and carried around in my back pocket for several weeks.

During those first few months I was still working full time at General Electric. I would finish my full time shift, stop by the house for a change of clothes and then drive over to Doulos for my part time night work in the Guys House. I will never forget those days. I have many fond memories of the boys and the big brothers.

As I reflect with smile, it is appropriate to recognize some friends and families who hold a special corner of my heart. Josh Emery- thanks for believing in me and giving me a chance. Corey Carver and Josiah Golojuah- my co-laborers in the Guys House. Long hours and good times together. Luis and Matt - my personal little brothers whom I will never forget. Dane and Jo Lewis - for your many prayers and support; for trusting me and never giving up on your son.

Six years later, Shelterwood life moves on with a new school year, a new class of big brothers, new leadership and new vision. Although I could never mention all the wonderful folks I have been blessed to share the Doulos experience with over the past 6 years, I am thankful. Tomorrow resumes the current chapter. Thanks for your continued prayers and support of Doulos Ministries!

Just Checking In

Things are trucking along at Doulos Ministries and Shelterwood. We have received 9 new boys this month. Wow. Seems like every August is a flood gate of new families. Last Friday we celebrated 3 graduations. It was rewarding to watch and hear the transformation of the lives and families as the parents, residents and select big brothers and sisters shared in the journey. Please remember to pray for our "bigs." I always have a soft spot in heart for these amazing folks who provide the front line ministry of Shelterwood.

Many things are still to be determined in the organization chart at Shelterwood, but it does not stop the process of our big brothers/sisters and the daily life of our residents. If you're wondering, I am still functioning as the resident director of the Guys Lodge. I believe the title may change but the focus of the work is not changing. I still work with the Hall Directors and house staff in providing leadership and direction for the boys lodge.

...Just checking in. I appreciate your prayers and support in the work of Shelterwood and Doulos Ministries!!

Home again

Jena and I are back home again after spending a week in Georgia. Most of our time was spent at Tybee Beach so it is no surprise that we brought back plenty of sand to Kansas City. Amazing how many hiding spots exist for sand in your belongings. We experienced plenty of sunshine, walks on the beach and late night strolls to the end of the pier. Kaiden learned to use a wave board and it was interesting to watch a 5 year old display patience for the perfect wave. Corey and his friend Sam rode around town for two days on a tandem bicycle. That was hilarious. Sumer and Lauren seemed to spent most of the week getting ready (typical girls). Jena and I drove into Savannah from Tybee on Thursday night to watch the Double-A Sand Gnats play some baseball. It was nice to spent some quality time with the family and Jena's folks...I even squeezed in a good book.

It's back to work tomorrow. Shelterwood post-summer break started on Friday. The next class of big brothers and sisters arrive this coming week too. I'll find out plenty more as I jump back into the mix.

BJ

Friday, BJ (pictured left) and I ventured out for another round of golf with a few Shelterwood residents for our weekly Growth and Development class. It was sticky hot but we managed to complete the 9 hole course. We will make one more trip to the greens before Post-Summer break begins on August 12th. BJ joined Doulos in June and has been a tremendous asset. BJ is originally from Flint, MI before moving to Nashville with his family where he eventually attended Trevecca Nazarine Univeristy on a baseball scholarship. BJ was a member of the National Honor Society in high school. Before coming to Doulos, BJ recently spent 2 years in youth ministry on the Hawaiian islands. BJ brings strong leadership, excellent teen relational skills and a humble servants heart. We are blessed to have him as a big brother in the Guys House.

On Monday, August 1st Paulita Brooker will join Doulos as the new Shelterwood Director. She comes to us from Asbury Seminary in Tennesse where she was involved in senior leadership. The current Shelterwood Director will be transitioning out on August 15th. Our President and Chief Operating Officer will be leaving the ministry on Friday August 5th following 20 years of service to Doulos Ministries. The changes might come accross as major and they certainly are. More adjustment and change will most likely occur over the next few weeks. Please keep the ministry in your prayers as we seek to bring a high quality of care and restoration to our Shelterwood families and improve the development of the Doulos Discipleship program for fine young men like BJ. At this point, I do not know what my role will look like but I am certain that God is still sovereign. I do not anticipate leaving Doulos. As I learn more, I will keep you updated.

The summer is winding down in the Albright home. On Tuesday, my two youngest daughters will return to Colorado and prepare for another year of high school. Jena and I will be travelling to Savannah, GA August 5-8 to spend time with her folks. During our vacation we will also be in Tybee, GA for a week on the beach. My oldest daughter will be travelling with us along with Kaiden and Corey. Upon our return, Sumer will head to Fort Collins and Colorado State Univeristy. Justin will be finishing up his summer lifeguard job and returning to Colorado University for his junior year.

Auto Pilot

For the past few weeks, Shelterwood has been cruising on auto pilot with the Summer schedule. Half days of school Monday through Thursday with a variety of evening activities planned to keep the kids busy and cool. The weather has settled in the 90's reaching 100 on occasion. On Friday morning the house staff teaches an elective class and this term I am taking a few boys golfing at a local course. The heat makes it a little brutal but it is still a lot of fun.

My kids are enjoying the summer and trying to stay cool. They make frequent trips to the local pools and water parks and, of course, we always have the lake. Last week my two oldest had birthdays. Justin turned 21 and Sumer celebrated 18. Hard to believe. Next week my youngest daughter, Samantha, will turn 15.

It has been an eventful and hot summer. I appreciate all of your faithful support of my work at Doulos Ministries. I trust and pray that your summer is filled with good family times with some occasional shade and breeze. Blessings!

Road Trip and Good Times

The boys are wrapping up the summer house trip this morning and they will arrive back on campus later this afternoon. Earlier in the week I drove down to "drop-in" on the adventure and spend some time with the staff and residents.

First stop on Wednesday to to Nixa, MO and Neil Farms where 3 boys and staff were involved in a work project designed to provide some intervention. These particular residents have been struggling with the program and so we organized a trip to challenge them on a direct and personal level while providing an opportunity to work down the overwhelming consequences they have accumulated. They have responded extremely well. I arrived in the afternoon on Wednesday just in time to find the boys swimming and cooling off in the James River as work for the day had just been completed. According to staff, they have worked hard and embraced the opportunity finding hope for eventual graduation and a return home.

Next stop: Branson. The next group of boys and staff were lodging on the Shelterwood Branson campus, still owned by Doulos Ministries but closed, as you know, a year ago. It is still a beautiful property and we stayed in the dorms and prepared meals and games in the dining hall. Later in the evening I joined the boys for a Branson show: The Legend of Kung Fu. It was everything you would expect. On Thursday morning, I headed back up to Kansas City and the boys drove down to Rockin Z Ranch in northern Arkansas for some horse back riding and hiking.

Next week, the Shelterwood girls will be travelling on their house trip. The boys will be back on campus for some local fun. We call it a "stay-cation." The second summer school sessions begins on Monday, July 18th.

Process sometimes brings change

It's good the have the gang all home. My daughter Savannah successfully passed her driving test last week in Denver (scary) and arrived safely in Kansas City on Tuesday night. The kids are enjoying the warm weather, trips to the lake and long boarding to the Quik Trip for a cheap summer drink.

Only one more week of Summer school at Shelterwood until the camping trips begin. We will be taking the guys to northern Arkansas down to Rockin Z ranch for some horseback riding, hiking, and river swimming. The road trip will also include a stay in Branson where we will take the boys out to Table Rock lake as well as some white water rafting. Personally, I will not be making the entire trip but will travel down with another staff member to "drop in" for a couple days. The summer trips provide good times, great photos and life-long memories. Pray for safety as the boys prepare to travel.

We have received a few new families recently. The guys house is up to 23 with more applicants brewing. Some bigger news is on the horizon. It has been announced that Doulos is searching for a CEO to oversee the ministry. This week we also learned the Shelterwood Director is stepping down in mid-August. It doesn't mean the ministry is sinking, it just represents the ongoing commitment to provide excellent ministry as current staff moves on. We often see Big brothers come and go, as well as Shelterwood families but sometimes a leadership change will occur. We have been blessed in many ways at Doulos with amazing Big brothers, counselors, teachers and leaders. Your prayers are much appreciated as we search to find the individuals God has called to join the ministry.

The Warm days continue...

The Shelterwood summer is rolling on. We are midway through the first session of summer school. Two more weeks remain before the guys head out on our annual summer trip. This year the guys are travelling to Branson and northern Arkansas. We are still in the planning stage and finalizing the details. Stay tuned...house trips generate some amazing times!

Four new big brothers have arrived this month. Byron, B.J., James and Blake. A great group of men bringing the Guys House a "shot in the arm." We received a two new families in the past week. Nate on Friday and Dominic on Monday. Numbers are still down for the summer but we are holding steady at 21 guys.

My kids are doing well. Justin and Sumer are both lifeguards at the local water park. Kaiden is three weeks into Kindergarten summer school and riding the bus each morning. Time flies!

Summer has arrived

Summer has finally arrived (I think). It was overcast and rainy all week but the sun finally came out yesterday; just in time for the family and I to make our first trip to the lake. The temperature hit the high 80's but the water was a few degrees behind. It was downright frigid actually, but you know how resilient the kids are. They would not miss an opportunity for a lake swim so they jumped right in (and then quickly right back out). Last Saturday, Kaiden graduated in full style from pre-school. It seems like just yesterday he was only two years old. He will be starting Kindergarten summer school tomorrow.

Life has been equally eventful at Shelterwood. Our pre-summer break began on Friday with about half of the boys on home visits with their parents. Break will continue through this week before starting our summer schedule. Four new big brothers will be arriving in June. That will be a huge blessing to the Guys House as well as launch the training process again.

Last week we had a tornado warning pass through Independence. It impacted everyone in the area. My kids were at home and had to go down to the basement once the sirens went off. Jena was at work in the hospital. The entire hospital shut down and all of the patients were moved to the hospital basement. The doors were locked with no entry or exit. It sounded crazy. At Shelterwood, the kids and I headed to the gymnasium locker room located on the bottom floor of the Field House. It was

interesting spending an hour in the bathroom with 23 boys. I took a few photos to give you an idea of what the weather looked like. Both pictures were taken at 12:00pm exactly one day apart. Thank God for protection and never a dull moment.

Graduations

It's that time of year to celebrate graduations. I'm guessing you know of at least one person who is graduating at some level. In our family, Kaiden is graduating this Saturday from Pre-school. He has a cap and gown and everything. I imagine a zillion cam corders will line the front row of the church with family of all sort. Corey is moving along from 8th grade to high school (although no ceremony is involved). Last of all, Sumer graduated from Legacy High School this past Monday. Class of 2011. Sumer will be attending Colorado State University in Fort Collins this coming Fall. Hard to believe one of my girls is all grown up. I am proud of her and blessed to have such a wonderful daughter.

Grad fever is not just in my family. Next week, several residents will be graduating from Shelterwood. 8 kids are graduating from the program and 5 are graduating from high school. I think that is some sort of record. 3 boys and 5 girls will complete the program. The graduations will take place next Wednesday and Thursday. Pre-Summer Break begins the next day on Friday and runs through June 5th. On June 6th, the Shelterwood summer session begins.

Speaking of Shelterwood, I was in Denver recently and I drove by the old property to check things out. As you can see from the photo to the right, there is nothing there. The only evidence that we occupied the land is the old log cabin out in the field. Amazing. Good times with lots of healing and growth took place on this old land.

Wrap Up

"Thank you Lord and Shelterwood for the wonderful parent weekend! We had an incredible time with our son, heard so many encouraging stories from the staff about him, watched miracles occur in families and truly saw the love of Christ in action from the entire Shelterwood staff. I just can't stop smiling :)
Thank you, thank you, thank you all! We love you!"

I normally don't post Blog updates so close together, but the occasion of Parent Weekend warrant's such a post. The above quote is from one the parents who attended over the weekend. The picture features two of our amazing Big brothers. Zeb (left) and Daniel (right). Daniel shared his personal testimony during the Sunday morning Worship time. It's hard to add to the words of a Shelterwood parent so I won't. Thank You, again, for the role you play in restoring families, training disciples and building community through Doulos Ministries.

Parent Weekend...in progress

Parent Weekend started last night. It was refreshing to see the boys meet and greet their parents as they made their way up the long driveway. Of course, the boys try and play it off as if they don't really care...but they do. Yesterday afternoon started with family counseling and parent/teacher conferences. Later in the evening we had a great time of fellowship in the Dining Hall with an superb meal, staff introductions and a testimony from one of our Big Brothers, Jonathan. Today it is 75 degrees and sunny. Parents are in support groups and seminars most of the day while the boys are in school. Tonight the boys will go out to dinner with their folks off campus. Thank God for wonderful weather and the healing process.

More to come...

Good Friday

The picture to the right was taken last Thursday during one of our all-property work days. A crew of boys, headed by our Discipleship Director, Joe Bahr, is busy digging a post hole on a northern hill facing the campus. The post hole now supports a rugged wooded cross that was built in front of us all during a chapel service by Joe White of Kanakuk camps. Joe White performs his "Cross-Talk" accross the country at university campus venues much larger than our weekly chapel service at Shelterwood. Several of our residents and staff responded to the message by nailing their shortcomings to the structure. So, you see, this particular cross has tremendous meaning. The planks were literally carried into the gymnasium on the back of Joe White, carved out and nailed together during a dramatic presentation of the Gospel. The cross was raised on a Shelterwood hill by our staff, big brothers and residents, and most important it represents the price paid by Jesus Christ for the sins of you and I. Today is Good Friday. The cross on our campus is just one story of the thousands to be told. What is your story?

The buzz around campus right now is the recently completed mission trip to Haiti. 12 of our residents, accompanied by staff, returned Monday night from a short trip Haiti with Global Orphan Project. Yesterday in chapel, they shared stories through personal testimony, video, pictures and song. It was amazing to hear and far more impressive than I anticipated. If you would like to hear a few stories and see some pictures, please check out the Shelterwood Facebook page at http://www.facebook.com/Shelterwood . It is worth it.

The girls Parent Retreat during the first weekend of April went well. The goal was for the retreat to run smoother by separating the lodges and reducing the number of folks involved. It worked. Next up: the Guys Parent Weekend. Starts next Thursday.

Your partnership with Doulos Ministries through my work at Shelterwood is appreciated more than you will ever know. Thank you for your continued prayers and financial support. You continue to be a tremendous blessing!

Much Needed Break

Last week Jena and I took the boys on much needed family vacation to Orlando, FL. We visited Universal Studios and Islands of Adventure. It was amazing. None of us had been to Universal so it was a brand new experience. I could tell you all about the exciting rides and shows but the most important part was the break from the busyness of our normal life. Corey and Kaiden spent plenty of time in the hotel pool and Jena and I spent plenty of time relaxing in pool chairs. We did plenty of walking which I hope helped offset all the eating out required when you travel.

Parent Weekend has arrived again at Shelterwood. This time around we are splitting the girls and guys parent experience. April 7-10 will be Girls Parent Weekend and April 28-May 1 will be the Guys Parent Weekend. Of course, the first is to come in a few days. All the normal preparation and "fixins" have gone on this week. It will be interesting to observe the process and participate with less direct involvement, at least this time around.

I typically like to read new books when I travel so this time around I downloaded Facedown by Matt Redman onto my phone Kindle app (that's some fancy jargon for me). It was a short read and just enough to cover my flight from KC to Orlando. One of the concepts that stood out was sacrifice as it pertains to worship. When Abraham and Isaac journeyed to

the region of Moriah, Isaac pointed out "the fire and wood are here, but where is the lamb for the burnt offering?" With that thought in mind, Matt Redman points out that our worship services are set with musicians, words to the songs, instruments and sound; yet the question begs, "Where is the sacrifice?" Everything is in place but us. We are the sacrifice. May we not come empty handed to our worship experience.

Capture the little things.

Today is the first day of Spring (officially) and the last day of spring break at Shelterwood. Time has sprung forward and the sun has been shining. This week is spring break at CU so Justin is in town for a few days along with his sisters. Yesterday I took the cover off the grill for first time since last fall and enjoyed the 70-something degree weather with the kids. I have realized, more and more, it's the little things that matter. Life is spent in the mundane. It is so tempting to live for the next vacation, the next promotion or the next "rush" but that is just not how life is marked. When I think of the "little things" from yesterday that brought joy to my life, none of it was planned when I woke up in the morning. I will be off the next few days to spend time with the kids and I am certain that when I return on Wednesday, there will be plenty of drama and incident at Shelterwood. That's OK. Just remember to deal with life one issue at a time and don't forget to capture the little things.

Net Zero

In my last post, I mentioned some of the Beyond Week adventures. There are pictures available on the Shelterwood Facebook page if you're intersted: http://www.facebook.com/Shelterwood

Tomorrow we have a boy graduating at 8:30am. Later at 1:30pm a new family arrives. Net zero. 28 boys in the Guys House. An amazing family is graduating tomorrow. Another story of God's transforming work. I am humbled to be a part of God's handiwork. Every story of restoration and success is due, in part, to your partnership. Thank You.

Spring Break begins on Saturday. We do have 28 boys so breaks look a little different. In this case, we never drop below 12 boys during break, but for us, that's a huge reduction. Please pray for the families of our boys during this time of "practicum" as parents practice the tools they have learned over the past weeks and months. It's a process.

As of Monday, we have 10 big brothers in the Guys House. For those of you not familiar with Doulos, that is ridiculous. 10 Big brothers. When I started back in the fall of 2005, we had two. Josiah and Corey. A lot has changed. God has brought us not only 10 Bigs, but quality men full of integrity. 28 residents, 6 house directors, 10 big brothers, and 3 direct care staff all under my humble leadership. I am sure glad God knows what He's doing because I don't always.

Sheterwood Beyond Week

This past week was our semi-annual Shelterwood Beyond Week. Regular schedules were put on hold, including school, and the entire campus participated in local serve projects. The groups were divided by Lodge and then by Hall. 3 halls in the Guys Lodge, 3 halls in the Girls Lodge, 6 groups total. The smaller groups made for a more manageable experience. I was assigned to Elm Hall.

On Wednesday, we worked with Impact Ministries. Impact is an outreach of Blue Springs First Baptist Church that provides groceries to families in need. Our goal at Doulos is not necessarily to participate in the hands-on ministry but to serve the organization. On this day we cleaned out 3 rooms of storage in the Impact building and transported the items to the Impact Thrift Store. The donated items will be sorted and eventually sold at thrift store prices to bless families. Any profits will roll back to further fund the ministry. In addition we raked up some leaves since the grass had dried out enough to do so. We hauled off trash, leaves and a few truck loads of recycled cardboard on our way back to campus.

On Thursday, we worked with Habitat for Humanity; the local Independence charter. Our group of 7 boys and 5 staff worked in a home that will soon be given to a small family of 3. We painted primer on the entire interior including ceilings. A modest 3 bedroom, 2 bath home. It actually snowed on Thursday so it worked out well to be inside painting all day.

As I mentioned, our group was just one of six. Similar stories trickled in throughout the week of community service and projects. It was rewarding to pause and serve others in our community. The boys seem to genuinely enjoy the act of service as it draws attention to other needs beyond our own.

Valentines, birthdays, and Beyond.

February is full of celebrations in the Albright family. Jena had a birthday last Sunday. We had a nice time together as a family and rounded out the day with the Superbowl and all the million dollar commercial slots. Lauren turned 16 on Thursday, Valentines Day is two days away (note to self) and mom's birthday is at the end of the month. My niece, Nicole, turns 21 sometime this month too but at this point I can't remember when? Plenty of reasons to be thankful in February.

At Doulos Ministries we hosted the parents of our Big brothers and Big sisters last weekend for the annual Leadtime Parent Retreat. The week after next, we will be Beyond Shelterwood; an annual event in February where the entire staff serves the local community. Regular scheduled events including school are suspended. More on that to come. Spring Break is coming in March and during April we will host Shelterwood Parent Weekend and later, take a mission trip to Haiti. I will not be attending the Haiti trip but it will certainly be life-changing for the 20 folks that do. The Guys house is currently at 27 boys. The girls have 17.

We have been blessed with amazing Big brothers in our Doulos Discipleship program. They work hard to stay engaged and look for ways to impact the Shelterwood teens even through rejection and defiance. As you consider ways to pray for the ministry, please remember them. Nat, Zeb, Daniel, Jordan, Brent, Jonathon, Phillip, Robby and Jeremy. Fine young men.

Winter Sun

Yesterday the sun broke through and folks were seen around Shelterwood in T-shirts. It was 60-something degrees outside and it felt like spring or even summer. It was refreshing. The thawing process; however, is not without mess. A fair amount of slush and mud is generated as a result of winter sunshine. Inconvenient but well worth it. As I often mention in my blog, the seasons have a striking parallel to spiritual growth and, although winter is long from over, the winter sun warms the soul. A reminder of hope that brings joy as God shines in the winter exposing the slush and mud of growth.

Comings and goings at Shetlerwood...

We celebrated the graduation of a young lady on Thursday afternoon. Earlier that same day, one our big brothers shared some original hip-hop music during chapel. We were also blessed to hear the testimony of a local young man's journey through hardship and ultimately to Christ. Two new families arrived in the boys house last week and one departed bringing our total to 25. We have also received two new Big brothers. I know it's hard to keep track so you'll just have to take my word. 25 boy residents. 8 Big brothers. 1 new resident is scheduled to come next week and 2 more big brothers are in the application/approval process.

January exceptions

We received the first real snow of the winter season last weekend but somehow I feel thankful because it was much worse it other parts of the country. The local schools were cancelled for 3 straight days. There is still plenty of snow on the ground; par the course for a January in Kansas City. Today, of course, is the Martin Luther King Jr. holiday postponing school yet another day. Holiday's and weather are acceptable reasons stay home but it is hard going back when you break routine. Just ask my boys, Corey and Kaiden. Something to keep in mind when you are taking on New Year's resolutions or goals in general. You can't control the unexpected, so it makes the daily discipline all the more important.

Things are moving along at Shelterwood (sort of). I mean, nothing epic to report. A new boy arrived on Friday and 3 more are scheduled on the calendar. Orientation and training is slowing down with the new big brothers and big sisters and the normal schedule will resume by the end of the month. Another big brother, Phillip, joined Doulos Discipleship yesterday. Last Thursday, following chapel, another big brother prospect dropped in. I showed him around for about an hour and talked about the program. As you can see, with the new model of Doulos Discipleship, new folks pass through beyond the old deadlines of August and January. With Shelterwood changing frequently, it makes a lot of sense to have new big brothers with flexibility, although we still target and promote the August and January start dates.

Happy New Year!

Happy New Year! I trust you had a wonderful holiday season with your families. Jena and I had a quiet Christmas with Kaiden. We went ice skating at Crown Center downtown and ate lunch at famous Fritz burgers. At Fritz, your food is delivered to your table on a miniature train that runs through the restaurant. On Christmas Eve we left cookies out for Santa and carrots for the reindeer. On the 26th the rest of the gang showed up. A house full of teenage girls coupled with a college boy made for a rowdy week. The kids all enjoyed our annual slide show; a family tradition. Lots of photos and memories. Jena and I have much to be thankful for today.

Things are back to normal at Doulos. There is a newness in the air. Three new Big Brothers have arrived and two new residents in the Guys House. This week and next is filled with training and orientation with our new staff and the new school semester has begun at Shelterwood. Tomorrow one of our girl residents will be graduating the program. Things always change at Doulos, one of the redeeming reasons I enjoy the ministry. Since I started my new role back in late August as Resident Director, over half the staff in the Guys House has turned over. Not sure if that is a good or bad thing but the new guys share my school of thought so it is encouraging have the right people in place to ensure effective and healthy ministry to the boys and their families.

Finally, I had a chance to share this morning in chapel. A few Truths God laid on my heart from the Creation account. First, "the Spirit of God hovered over the earth" indicates to me that God hovers over my life with anticipation of new and beautiful things to come. Second, "there was morning and night the first day." A key phrase repeated throughout the creation process. It reminds me that life is full of "day and night" seasons. Times of

rejoicing and times of despair. Regardless of the day or night, the third point is that man was not created to be alone. We need each other. A great concept but a difficult one to grasp unless we are willing to get up a pursue others as opposed to waiting for others to pursue us

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I deeply appreciate all of your prayers and support. Thank you for making 2o1o a successful year of ministry and 2011 a promising year of hope!