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.