THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN MISSIONARY KIDS AND OTHER KIDS

What's the difference between missionary kids and other kids?

Sorry, that was a trick question.

There is no difference.

Missionary kids and other kids like to play video games. Here, Daisy and Ally and their friend Britney play the Wii while Neo gets in the way.

The competition is fierce and intense.

Britney becomes temporarily distracted by my camera.

Missionary kids eat watermelon just like other kids.

Missionary kids say "Papa" just like other kids. No kidding! That's really what he's saying here. It came out more like "Paaapaaa" as the camera caught Neo's expression.

MY YOUNGEST GRANDSON

MY MIDDLE KID

WEN WEN AND A SONG

This morning we attended church. It was one of the most enjoyable church services I have ever attended in which I did not understand one word spoken.

Before the service began, I met Wen Wen. Wen Wen is my namesake. He was named after me. Well, he was named after my middle name, Wendell, which is also my father's first name. I posted a brief item about Wen Wen shortly after he was born. Click here for context.

Wen Wen and I hang out before church begins.

Once the service began, we shared a song with the congregation, "I'll Fly Away". I played harmonica and guitar, Belinda sang and banged on the tambourine and Daisy and Ally provided vocals along with their teacher, Hannah.

Singing and playing "I'll Fly Away", from left-to-right: Hannah, Ally, Daisy, Belinda and me.

SAFELY ARRIVED IN THE PHILIPPINES

Thursday morning, Debra dropped me off at the airport in Medford to begin my trip to the Phiippines. I arrived at the Moffit's home approximately 37 hours later, about noon Saturday (Philippines time), which would be about 9:00 p.m. Friday (Oregon time).

The journey began at the Rogue Valley International Airport.

The Moffits were there to greet me when I stepped off the plane in Cagayan de Oro.

We left the airport and went directly to The Pancake House, where I had the privilege of dining between two beautiful young ladies.

While practicing my harmonica for church, Neo started laughing and then he broke out with some enthusiatic dance moves.

Ally insisted on treating me to her specialty - a back massage - along with her "special formula" of baby lotion and baby powder.

Before calling it a day, Josh, Daisy, Belinda and Ally try on their new Oregon sweatshirts.

READY OR NOT

The date of my flight to the Philippines has finally arrived!

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This morning I will be stepping onto a plane at the Medford airport and, about 35 hours later, I will be stepping off a plane onto the soil of the island of Mindanao. This will be the first time I have seen Belinda since June 2006, nearly three years ago.

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I had the privilege of enjoying a fine dining experience with Josh just six months ago at one of his favorite restaurants. But the other Moffits I have not seen in a long, long time. One of them I have never seen.

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I am excited to see a more-grown-up Daisy and Ally and I am excited to meet Neo for the first time.

Bethany and I traveled to the Philippines together in August 2005, to visit the Moffits. That was over three-and-a-half years ago. I had a can of blue spray paint at the time to make this sign, which we held and photographed and emailed to Josh and Belinda shortly before we drove to the airport. Interestingly, I still have that same can of paint and used it to make today's sign. Notice that the ivy along the overhang frame reached Bethany's head in 2005. It has grown a bit since then.

A GRATEFUL APRIL FOOL

I have always enjoyed having my birthday fall on April Fool's Day, the official holiday for atheists (Psalm 53:1). People tend to remember April Fool's Day birthdays. Today was no exception.


I took the day off work to hang out with Debra before leaving for the Philippines tomorrow. We went out to Mellelos for coffee, did some shopping together, and she took me out to lunch at The Wharf, a local seafood restaurant.


It has been a good day and I am grateful.

A cute card from a cute wife.

Also from my wife, a very entertaining book of optical illusions.

Mother-in-law #1 (Barbara's mom) sent me an email.

Mother-in-law #2 (Debra's mom) got me a CD.

Bethany acknowledged my maturity.

Silas and Devon made custom birthday cards.

Ashley got me Coffee Cash from Dutch Brothers Coffee. Dutch Freeze, here I come!

My dad sent me a card from his personal line of cards.

Yeah, that's his personal line, all right.

Dad also followed up with an email message.

Dean sent me a card reminding me that some things are scarier than getting older.

Dean also followed up with a phone call from his home in Hilo.

And, of course, my Facebook friends remembered April Fool's Day as well. (Photo can be enlarged by clicking it.)