The Big Announcement

image courtesy of FlashInPan via everystockphoto

Here we are. After months and months of questions, we finally know what we’ll be doing next.

Actually, we’ve known for a few weeks, but finally the timing is right for us to communicate.

Are you ready for this?

But before I say more, I want to just say “Thank you” again for all your support, prayers, and encouragements. We have had an amazing adventure over the past 3.5 years, and we could not have done this with the people that have gone ahead of us, walked alongside us, and spurred us on.

Liberty

Happy Independence Day!

We would do well to remember these words:

“We hold these truths to be self-evident, that all men are created equal, that they are endowed by their Creator with certain unalienable Rights, that among these are Life, Liberty and the pursuit of Happiness.”

And:

“It was for freedom that Christ set us free; therefore keep standing firm and do not be subject again to a yoke of slavery.”  (Galatians 5:1)

“Having been liberated from sin, you became enslaved to righteousness. ”  (Romans 6:18)

Related Links:

• Independence Day
• Patriotism and the Church
• Life, Liberty, and the Pursuit of Happiness (from Desiring God)

**image courtesy of archives.gov

New Blogging Schedule

I tweeted this the other night:

Nothing makes my stomach leap up into my throat like hearing: “I was reading your blog the other day …” #blogging

— Joey Espinosa (@EspinosaJoey) June 30, 2014

Let me explain. I LOVE that some people (All six of you! Sometimes even my wife!) read my blogs. And for those who leave comments, I love you even more (and I love you, dear wife, even when you don’t leave comments).

But when someone starts talking about a post I wrote, my stomach gets queasy. Immediately, I imagine that they will tell me how I was:

• Unclear,
• Unkind, or
• Just flat-out wrong.

Or maybe all of the above.

Amazingly, people are usually complementary. But even when they’re not, I am happy to know that you read this. Even more, I am excited to learn how my writings are helping you.

(And it really is OK if you want to question or correct me. Honest. I need help more than anyone!)

Upcoming Changes

As I wrote on my other blog yesterday, I will be starting a new blogging schedule next week.

I will be now be posting on Mission: Allendale (here) on Mondays and Thursdays, and on A Different Way (my parenting blog) on Tuesdays and Fridays.

Also, since we are leaving Allendale this month, I plan to end this blog by the end of July (or early August), and start a new one around the same time.

Speaking of which . . .

I should have more about that transition, especially the details about the next step in our adventure, within the next week. Stay tuned!

For now, if you have any questions about this transition, check out this post.

Jeremiah’s Choice

I’ve always felt bad for the prophet Jeremiah. First, he had a terrible nickname. Many theologians call him “the weeping prophet.” Terrible for a grown man. It’s like saying, “Jeremiah the Crybaby.” Ugh.

Second, I get why he was so weepy and sad. He faithfully preached, but few listened — and definitely not the ones who had the power to change the course of the nation. He preached God’s message of judgment and repentance, but was ignored (at best) and persecuted (at worst).

God sent him to call the people back to Himself, and the ruling authorities sent him to a dungeon or a deep cistern. His faithfulness to God was met with ungratefulness from the people.

Unfortunately, his prophecies came true. Judah did not repent before God, nor surrender to Babylon. So God kept his promise to destroy Jerusalem and to send the people of Judah into exile (Chapter 39). Jeremiah’s ministry was to help the people return to the Lord and to His ways. And from my perspective, he was an utter failure.

That’s why I feel bad for him. If I was him, I would be frustrated and worn out. I’d probably weep, too.

Questions, Questions, Questions . . .

We are finishing up two weeks of STEAM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math) Camp in Allendale. I had the wonderful opportunity to be a part of this, through my job at USC-Salkehatchie.

With over 40-50 children signed up each week, we had our hands full. We had great teachers and student workers, but I was still exhausted at the end of the day. I’m getting old!

Nonetheless, I was excited to see these children learn and enjoy themselves every day!

What else has been going on? I’m glad you asked . . .

Reason #29 Allendale Is Better Than Where You Live: Traffic Suggestions

I am not a rule breaker by any means. A rule bender maybe. But not breaker.

Even the times when it’s convenient and logical to break bend a law, I still try to follow the rules of the road. You know, like when you’re stopped at a red light at 11 PM, and there are no cars around, and you’re just trying to get home, and surely no one will get hurt or even notice . . . . Well, it’s wonderful that Allendale has only five traffic signals.

And I get that our laws (whether we agree with them or not) are here to protect us. That’s great.

But sometimes it’s nice (as it is in Allendale) when:

Traffic laws are more like traffic suggestions.

No, I’m not recommending that you try to beat the trains at train crossings. (Yes, I’ve done that.) And I’m not recommending that you speed through town (and, yes, I’ve done that, too).

Positively Contagious

Last Friday, these children left Allendale in our minivan and went to Greenville for the Elementary Camp with Grace Church. For the three boys (including my son Elijah) it was a return trip to the camp, and for the two girls it was the first time ever at a sleep-away camp.

Besides the two girls, we actually had more children ask about going, even though they had never heard of Grace Church. Why? Because the five children who went last year told all their friends about what a great time they had.

Their excitement was contagious. You could say that they were camp-vangelists.

(And, yes, all five were chatterboxes for the three-hour trip back to Allendale. Do you think they’ll spread the word, too?)

Uplifting Moments of the Week

With 90+ degree temperatures, we are in the dog days of the summer. But I was encouraged by these “cool” things that happened this week:

STEAM Camp:  This camp has been going on for over 10 years, but I’ve gotten to be a part the past two. I love seeing the students learn with hands on activities (robotics, art, dissections, technology, etc). And during the moments of free time, I love seeing them play and compete. It looks chaotic, but they are having so much fun being together. You can see more photos here.

Reason #28 Allendale Is Better Than Where You Live: Political Silence

Is it just me, or does the Do Not Call list seem to be broken? I swear we listed our numbers on that several times, when we lived in Greenville and Allendale. And yet we still receive calls from telemarketers, solicitors, etc.

Disclaimer: I’ve discovered a positive use for some of these calls. Because of our last name, we regularly receive calls from Spanish-speaking telemarketers. And since we are learning Spanish, I have been using these phone intrusions as practice. I say things like,

• Buenas tardes.
• Soy caballero.
• No me gusta.

But in light of our recent primary elections (and upcoming run-off elections), we’ve been reminded of another great benefit of living in Allendale, SC:

Reunited (And It Feels So Good)

(OK, how many of saw the title of this post, and are now singing with Peaches & Herb in your head? Or out loud? You’re welcome.)

Last month I was having lunch in the local elementary school, and I was sitting with a school staff member and with a mom who helped lead this year’s spring break camp. The mom was telling the other person about when she volunteered at the camp in 2013.

She explained,

“I was touched by the spirit of love that was in that place. Those volunteers from Greenville, they showed so much love that it filled the air. I know that all Christians should love others, but I’ve never seen it like that.”

Did you catch what she said, or what she didn’t say? Not once did she mention how much better the campers got at soccer, or how great of a job I did leading the camp. (That’s OK. Really. Sniff.)

What encouraged and inspired her was the love shown by the families and teenagers from Grace Church (Greenville, SC).

Beyond the Camp  

We have loved being a part of the Spring Break Camps, but it’s not because we really care about teaching kids soccer, or doing arts and crafts, or playing games. Those were fun bonuses, but not the goal.

What we’ve loved seeing are the relationships that form. The relationships between two moms. The relationships between young boys. And the relationships between teenage guys.