Kibondo, Tanzania class. Everybody arrived safely and all of the initial bumps in the road were worked out. The classes are underway in both locations. I am including a map to orient yourself on where each of the teams is located. It includes the African map to see where on the continent they are, and then a localized map for you to see more detail. Canon Donlon has provided great detail on the daily events. Rather than try to paraphrase his comments and possibly miss something of importance I am including his remarks in their entirety.

The entire team, minus Sheryl Curbow Shaw who had not arrived yet, meeting in Kilgali, Rwanda, before launching to their respective training sites. The team arrived and went right to work, despite some logistical hurdles thrown at them, including flight adjustments and luggage issues. The team beautifully adapted the plan and started classes today. Their goal is to train the trainers for the African churches participating and to strengthen the partnerships through fellowship. I am proud to be part of a society so true to its vision. But don't take my word for it: read it yourself. (Copied from the Mission Website, http://www.theamia.org/vision.html) OUR PEOPLE OF MISSION

The phrase “completely calm” often appears in our conversations as more of a wish than a description. The public is urged to remain calm in the face of distress, tragedy, or danger. Families are asked to be calm at the hearing of difficult news and friends offer the advice at the beginning of a difficult conversation.

Dear Friends, Here are some of the responses I got from you all, and you were all so different and each so spot on! Thank you for sharing! I have included a 3-4 minute video that I intend to show Sunday. It is guaranteed to bless your socks off.

As the story goes, mythical no doubt, one of the Rector’s grandkids organized a preschool escape on her second day. The first day must have been reconnaissance. Her siblings seemed not to have followed suit. The preschool has blessed the socks off our family. The preschool can touch us in a lot of different ways. Just its daily presence brings an ambiance of joy to our New Covenant campus. But Chuck Hazama’s testimony is unique and stunning, and will likely bless your socks off, too.

"We’ve checked into the hotel earth overnight on our way to the heavenly Jerusalem. Earth is not our home!” That’s something Brennan Manning often said and over the thirty years of our friendship, it really sunk into me, I’d say, it shaped my soul. Some relationships do that -- change us, shape us.

1+1+1=1 Reducing the doctrine of the Most Holy Trinity primarily to mathematics leads to absurdity. (Reducing anything significant to mathematics almost always does.)

Summer Sunday School begins this weekend, May 31, but we still need one more volunteer. Nancy Plum is managing the entire process and can help teach the PreK class, but we need someone who feels called to lead it. Please prayerfully consider volunteering to teach the PreK children this summer. Contact Nancy Plum at 407-310-0010 if interested.

The Sharing Center opened in 1986 with the goal of helping churches be better stewards of the monies, times and talents that God gave them. All needs are directed to the Sharing Center, which works to eliminate duplication of services while ensuring all needs are addressed. This year they received the Non-Profit Business of the Year from both the Greater Sanford Regional and the Seminole County Regional Chambers of Commerce. The center not only provides support for the church and community, it also provides an excellent opportunity to serve. For more information visit our website or read their Church Handbook 2015. If you feel led by the Spirit, join in.

Dear Friends, First, we carried the remainder of the cord back to its stack in the woods. Then the floor was to be swept, as were the screens. The porch was now ready for the summer furniture to be brought from the garage rafters and basement. As if there were marks on the concrete floor, each piece had its place and was positioned precisely. Last to be put in its place, next to the brick chimney, was the hibachi. Soon we would be grilling again. Summer was officially here.