4 and 1/2 hours till GO!

In four and a half hours, my phone will be waking me up so I can shower, etc. and be ready to head to the airport and then to Belize.

Truthfully, I still don't think it has fully hit me that the trip is here. I mean, I certainly have had my share of worry and anxiety about it and I am finally all packed and ready to go, but it just seems so surreal that the trip is NOW.

I hope and pray that the mission team gets along, they we all stay healthy and safe, and more than that, I pray that God be with us and that God uses us and that God touches the lives of these kids we are working with and the kids that I am taking down.

***
I went to the RBC center tonight to join the thousands of other Caniacs cheer on their team (via the jumbotron seeing how the game was being played in Alberta, Canada). I went with some pretty cool people, the Drakes, so that was nice, we posed for pictures with the Prince of Wales trophy (Eastern Conference winner trophy) and found some good seats to sit back, enjoy the crowd and enjoy the game. The Hurricanes "played" game six tonight. I use the word played loosely as they seemed to barely show up tonight. Edmonton dominated them in every aspect, it was so miserable. The only good thing about the game is that Erik Cole returned in uniform to his first game since March 5th when a Penguin took him to the boards illegally and broke his neck. Other than that, the game was no good.

As I drove us back home in silence, I kept thinking of how I won't be able to see game 7 of the Stanley Cup because of my trip. How I will be utterly and completely removed from the (hopefully) madness that ensues when the Canes (hopefully) win the Cup. Win or lose Monday night, though, the season is over. I thought about how I won't be here, and how much time (and money) I have invested in this club and in this season in particular. And I thought to myself, this going away, being removed from all of the hoopla, is a blessing. This trip, these kids, this church, my ministry, thats whats important. And while I love the Hurricanes, my love for them pales in comparison to the other. And so, win or lose, life goes on and I am more than okay with that.

i hope that you all have a blessed ten days and I will update again after I get back. Please keep us in your prayers.

Take care. C

A poem that seems fitting...

DO NOT GO GENTLE INTO THAT GOOD NIGHT
Do not go gentle into that good night,
Old age should burn and rave at close of day;
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Though wise men at their end know dark is right,
Because their words had forked no lightning they
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Good men, the last wave by, crying how bright
Their frail deeds might have danced in a green bay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

Wild men who caught and sang the sun in flight,
And learn, too late, they grieved it on its way,
Do not go gentle into that good night.

Grave men, near death, who see with blinding sight
Blind eyes could blaze like meteors and be gay,
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.

And you, my father, there on the sad height,
Curse, bless me now with your fierce tears, I pray.
Do not go gentle into that good night.
Rage, rage against the dying of the light.
-Dylan Thomas

For so many reasons, this is my other favorite poem (see side bar for one by e.e. cummings), and somehow it seems fitting today.
-c

That daunting Lord Stanley

let me preface by saying that I know that there are a million more things out there more important than a hockey game. I know that. I am, for instance, extraoridinarily grateful that my grandmother in Flordia is okay and that her house is ok after being evacuated from the flooding that the tropical storm brought.

With that being said though, I tell you, the drive home from Raleigh tonight was darn near depressing, as the Hurricanes lost in overtime to Edmonton. I was for sure believing that tonight was the night the Hurricanes were going to win the Cup. I made bets on it, I told everyone that would listen that Game 5 was going to be the clencher, and yet, here we are, hours later with the series 3-2. God willing, the Hurricanes will win it Saturday in Edmenton, so I can go about my life and (more importantly) leave on Sunday for Belize with out stupid hockey occupying so much of my time and thoughts.

On a seperate note, for the record, the church that I am currently serving continues to overwhelm me with well wishes and goodness. Earlier this evening I recieved a wonderfully generous gift that I was not expecting. For this, for them, and for so many other things, I am truly thankful.

And just in case I get caught up in pre-Belize stuff and don't get a chance to call Saturday, Dad, Happy Father's Day.

Peace and blessings to you all.
C

I GOT MY APARTMENT!

WOO HOO!
The seminary just sent me my housing information and I got a pretty cool apartment for the fall and that makes me quite happy! I know where I am going to live! Here is the floor plan for my upcoming digs...

It's on the third floor, so that's cool except for moving stuff in/out.

That's all, just wanted to share!

oh and GO CANES! (game 3 tonight 8pm, NBC)

Stanley Cup and Belize!!!

In an attempt to keep connected with people as I get ready to move half way across the country in a couple of months, I thought I would go ahead and set up a little piece of internet real-estate, sort of as a way to let people know what's up.

Right now, there are two things I am most excited about...

1) THE CAROLINA HURRICANES are only 2 games away from hoisting the Stanely Cup for the first time in franchise history and I am beyond estatic about this. After following the team through all its ups and downs these last nine years, I have nothing but love and respect for this Class A organization and I will certainly miss not getting to see them play that often. But anyways... GO CANES! (My prediction- they beat Edmenton in 5 games- Donovan and Brad- hopefully you will have to "pay" up).

2) Right after the Stanley Cup Finals, I am departing for a tiny country in Central America called Belize for ten days. Yep, ten days of mission trip with 21 high schoolers as we try to serve God and grow in our faith. Thankfully. I will have 4 other adults there to help me out. And while I am worried about all the unknowns and how the kids will behave, i have to admit I am starting to get excited about it too. The kids and their families worked hard these last twelve months to raise the money to go and I can't help but be proud of them. So, keep us in your prayers June 18-27th (and the citizens of Belize :)

Well, that's it for now. I hope to update this periodically this summer and then on a regular basis once I am in Texas. Let me know what you think about this little blog and what you want to see on it and I will try to oblige.

Till next time, all the best to you and take care. C