It's an exciting time to be overseas

The Lord is truly doing a lot of things around the world. There is evidence of it every time we travel, every time we speak with workers and in our everyday lives here in the UK. This is an incredible time for m work overseas.

Since our last post, we have been on several assignments and made a lot of progress in our local ministry. Yes, the opportunity to travel to interesting places is very exciting, but the chance to witness and be a part of God's global purpose is the real reward. In May, Bryan traveled into an 'interesting' country in the Middle East/Central Asia, a country known for war, genocide and persecution. In the midst of this, however, was the light of the gospel. Lights are appearing all over this region as workers are being bold, ch's are being planted and people are being saved.

Another assignment in June took us into downtown London and Paris. While some may see Western Europe as a less strategic mission, nothing could be farther from the truth. The reality is that large global cities like these are becoming quite multicultural. London, for example, is home to every major religion and most of the worlds' people groups are represented here. The Arab, African, Indian and East Asian people groups are especially populous. With the introduction of these new 'global' cities, we must rethink our strategies for m work. Reaching members of these people groups here means raising national m's in the future as they return to their homelands. This sort of "backdoor" approach to closed countries has proven quite effective all over the world. So as you consider overseas m work, especially consider Western Europe.

On another note, I should also mention that Mandi and I had the great experience of being stuck by the Eyjafjallajokull ash cloud (looks like I just punched the keyboard, but that's the real name of it). We were on holiday in Paris and Rome in April when that thing started burping, and it caused us to be stuck in Madrid, Spain for a week. We ended up driving back to London with another m couple (through Spain, France and Southern England). In hindsight, it was an interesting experience.

Our local ministry here has grown by leaps and bounds. We believe that our calling to overseas m work goes beyond our media work and includes our local community. The British tend to be a bit "stuffy" (by their own admission), so relationships take time and commitment. We have found one "in" to the community through pubs. Pubs are quite social places and we have made many friends there. These friendships are finally starting to produce fruit as we are starting to share the G. Mandi and I play music fortnightly (that's every two weeks for us non-brits) at a local pub and have had an encouraging reception. Many of our songs point towards Christ and we have had lots of good conversations come out of it. We are also very close to starting a house ch here in our home. It has taken a considerable amount of time, but the Lord seems to be opening lots of doors for it, requiring only that we be obedient. More on that as it develops.

We love you all we miss you very much. With summer over halfway through, be encouraged that what you do at Snowbird really makes a huge impact on all who experience it. We absolutely love getting letters and packages from SWO. You wouldn't believe how it lights up our day and encourages us. Thank you for remembering and supporting all of us overseas.

Bryan and Mandi

Wait, lemme check ...yep. Still raining.

Can you believe it's already April? Crazy. Bryan and I are almost halfway through our time overseas. It has been a calm few weeks around here with no travel. We've been getting ready for my sister and her husband to come visit! They fly in tomorrow and we're taking some vacation time to spend with them in Europe. We will definitely post an update with pictures when we get back.

Since our last post, we've made our way into a few local pubs to try to get to know folks. It really is a great place to meet young adults - since this is where most of them hang out at night and talk. We've also been trying to play music locally and we think we've found a way in through pubs. Bryan spoke with one pub owner about us playing and it looks promising! Please continue to pray that we would be able to use this as a way to share the Gospel. Britons are generally very closed, so it makes not only our ministry difficult, but also makes it hard to connect with people in general. So, pray for open ears, open hearts and a person of peace.

We also have a couple trips coming up in the near future. Bryan will be gone from April 27 - May 6 to Central Asia and we are both following Upstream Collective in London and Paris from May 21-28. Check out their website at http://blog.theupstreamcollective.org/ for more information about them. We're really looking forward to this coverage. Pray that God would prepare the way for both of these trips. Another update will be posted soon with more details and specifics.

We hope everyone is doing well! We love and miss y'all!

Bryan & Mandi

Church, Friends, and Good Letters

Hey everyone! Happy Monday!

We have had a great past few weeks. Our friend Dustin was with us for 1 week and we were able to see and tour a lot of great things. We attended an Anglican Holy Communion in a cathedral one day. It was very different from your typical communion in Baptist churches, but really interesting. There was a sobering aspect to the way they did things. It was a good reminder to how serious communion actually is. This past Sunday, we went back to church. This was our 3rd time and as time goes on, we find ourselves building relationships and getting used to (for the most part) a simpler way of doing church. It’s been hard at times, knowing that God wants us somewhere that we don’t particularly care to be. It’s been a slow process of learning to tuck away our desires of a certain type of worship music and preaching style in order to get to our end goal of having a small group of young adults meeting at our house.

After Dustin left, we got back into the swing of things. I (Mandi) meet once a month with the wives of the other Media Team guys. I’m the only wife from the media team that actually works at the office, so it’s nice to get together with them. It’s been difficult and slow making friends here. We’re the only couple from the office without kids so everyone stays busy with families. Just pray that we would get creative and be able to connect with young adults around town, especially in the local pubs, as this is where the people here are most social. Our desire is to build relationships well enough in order to share the Gospel. All of this happened very quickly in South Africa, but it is much more difficult here in the UK. Pray that God puts us in the path of those He wants us to meet.

We’ve also gotten several packages from home! Thank you so much to Snowbird and the Prayer Chapel for all the letters!

We love and miss all of you,
The Showtimes

Don't worry...we're still alive.

Hi everyone!

It has been WAY too long since our last post and we have been very busy so it’s definitely time to give you an update! The last thing you heard from us was while we were still in Africa and a lot has changed since then.

After our 3 full months in South Africa, it was time to pack up our things and move yet again. We headed back to the States to wait on our visas for the UK. We had an amazing time with our family and friends and even got to stay around long enough for Thanksgiving. While home, Bryan’s great-grandmother and my grandmother passed away within 1 week of each other. It was amazing to see God’s perfect timing in bringing us back home during that specific time. It was clear that even though we lost 2 people we loved very dearly, God still blessed us in a very special way by providing a way to be there for both families. Our God is so good!

So, to continue our journey, we got our UK visas and flew across the pond the beginning of December. It was a whole new world with lots of rain and the sun setting around 4 in the afternoon. We moved into a beautiful flat with only a 5 minute walk to our office and a 10 minutes walk into town. It was also our first Christmas away from home! But we made the best of it by enjoying each other’s company and eating tons of good food. We had little time to settle in before we went on our next trip to Mumbai, India. And shortly after that, Bryan went to Haiti. So, as you can see, we have stayed busy, not only with traveling, but also with getting used to the new culture surrounding us.

That about sums up our first 2 ½ months in the UK! We have been visiting several churches in our area and we think we have found a good one to start attending. Eventually, we would like to start a home group for young adults from that church and in the community so please be praying for that opportunity. We are also very excited about our friend, Dustin McClure, coming to visit us for a week! Pray for his safe travel and that we’ll all have a good time of fellowship and encouragement with each other. We are doing very well and waiting for warmer weather. These gray, rainy days make us miss the sunny south!

** We have several projects and stories to share with you, so we will post another update next week with links to website, videos, and photos **

We love you all!
The Showtimes

Africa - one month in

Snowbird Family,

Things are going very well for us in Africa! We have now been here a little over a month, and we feel like we’re getting the hang of it. It’s cold, cold! Its winter here in this part of the world, and it’s still pretty chilly here as we move into spring. The Lord has been very good to us and continues to strengthen us daily, and revives the calling in our hearts. We feel very confident in our being here, and excited over the work he’s called us to.
We are spending most of our days producing stories that we cover here in Africa. We had a great opportunity to do some coverage a little North of us, and we’re looking forward to its publication sometime in November. During our trip, we got to see some of the major urban centers of our region, and also the very rural parts. We did a week-long coverage in the “bush”, and God really opened our eyes to the immense need that exists in a vast part of this continent. The media team we work with is very cool – several Southerners . We get along great and we’ve made several friends, both from our team and nationals, in the short time we’ve been here.
We’ve become involved with two really great churches as well. One church is very mixed between whites, blacks, Afrikaners, Indians, and MBB’s. They meet in a small, unheated building, but the time together is very sweet and genuine. The other church is more urban, and plays host to many music loving punk/alternative young people (I mean, do what you know, right?).
We received our package from camp yesterday! It was such a joy to receive. We could barely wait until we got home from the post office to open it. Your letters were especially great, and we sat down and read all of them together. The candy, snacks, books, and birthday gifts were a really close second, though! I mean, why would they not have slim jims in Africa? Or maybe they do and people just buy them up really fast. We took all of your letters and taped them to the wall of our apartment. That way, we can just walk up to the wall and read them every day. It is a wonderful feeling knowing that we have a family at home that cares for us and prays for us, even some of you staff that we haven’t met. So, thank you very much.
It looks like we’ll be here in Africa for about two more months, and then sometime in Oct/Nov we should arrive at our final location in Europe. There are lots of travels coming up in the next few months, and a great need for prayer. We love you all.

The Showtimes

Well, it's a lot colder than we expected...

We finally made it to Africa! After a 20 total hour flight and a long layover in Jolly Old, we arrived last Wednesday and hit the ground running. We've met several Friends here that have been very helpful. They got us hooked up with an apartment and we're doing great. We've had several adventures so far, most of which included us either getting lost, driving on the wrong side of the road (left is right and right is wrong, kind of like the old boy earring rule) or people not being able to understand us. We are very excited about the three months we get to spend here before moving on to our final destination. God is already doing great works in our lives, and we are excited about the future as we continue to follow his call.

We're doing pretty well so far. We've had a little bit of difficulty adjusting initially, but we can definitely tell that we are progressing to a place that resembles comfort. Part of this progression is due to the discovery of the grocery store and a KFC. I know, I know, but it's way better than the one in Andrews. Y'all can be praying for our transition time - that we would be comfortable with our surroundings enough to focus totally on our time here. Our time at camp last week was incredibly encouraging. It was a neat experience to be sent out from the Snowbird House Church...literally. We left house church and went to the airport. Good times. Thanks especially to Bobby, Maridith, and Fo-sho who came to the airport to see us off.

We love you guys and we'll keep you up to date as we progress! God is good!

The Showtimes

I don't think he knows about second breakfast, Pip.

We have had quite a time since our last post, and have a good bit to catch y'all up on. Mandi and I feel a bit like a few of our favorite characters lately. Taking those first few steps away from home - away from what is familiar - and stepping into what is foreign...into an adventure. We may not know where that road will take us in the next few years, but we do know that God will be leading us along the way and be waiting for us when we arrive. Afterall, "It’s dangerous business, Frodo, going out your door. You step onto the Road, and if you don’t keep your feet, there is no telling where you might be swept off to."

We've been here in Rivendell for almost five weeks now. Talking with other M's and seeing the vast need for the Gospel around the world makes us more and more excited and confident about our call to go to the ends of the Earth. Our days here are filled with training and Bible study. Everything from oral chronological Bible storying to how to recognize rabies in adults and children. The foaming at the mouth thing is always a dead giveaway ("Yep - you've got rabies."). Speaking of which, Mandi and I received our first round of immunizations today. A huge thanks to the SB's for providing those for us. Also, thanks to everyone who prayed for me while I was sick a few weeks ago. Five days later and ten pounds lighter, I felt much better.

We also have some very exciting news! Due to some complications with visas in Minas Tirith, we have temporarily been reassigned to Bree for the first 3-6 months of our term. We'll still be doing the same job, just in the Lands Beyond region. While this could potentially be seen as a roadblock, we believe that it is an incredible opportunity to serve in a different part of the world. Our timeline now is looking like June/July till Sept/Oct in Bree, back in Rivendell for a week or two, then hopefully to Gondor directly after that. One funny thing about this plan is that we'll go from summer in Rivendell to winter in Bree, to two weeks of fall back in Rivendell, then back to winter in Gondor, then of course spring and finally SUMMER. Not sure if summer in Gondor can really be called "summer" though. At least not to a Georgia boy.

Speaking of summer, our hearts are with the staff of Snowbird Wilderness Outfitters as they head into staff training Monday and then into the summer camp season. Please be encouraged that what you are doing is making an impact on the world that goes far beyond Snowbird property. You are making lasting eternal investments in the Kingdom of our Father. And if somebody asks you to do the gallon challenge or be in a skit, just cowboy up and do it.

Lastly, we would like to send our sincere gratitude to everyone who has written us letters, sent us emails, given us calls and prayed for us. Your encouragement and love truly is invaluable to us. We love y'all, and we'll keep you up to speed as things progress.

Thick as Blood,
Bryan and Mandi

So Long, Astoria

And by Astoria, we of course mean Andrews. Just thought I'd throw in an Ataris lyric, you know. Well, the wheels are progressively turning as we continue towards our departure. We left Snowbird and Andrews back in March, and the Snowbird crew gave us a royal goodbye, complete with Japanese Hibachi and tactical pistol shooting. Surely, we have the best friends and church anyone could ask for. We have been in Thomasville, GA with Bryan's family for a few weeks, and have just arrived in High Point, NC with Mandi's folks for another two.

Our time in Thomasville was terrific. We got to spend a lot of quality time with family and relax a little. I'll tell you, it always feels weird not having anything to do when you're used to the fast pace of Snowbird life. We also met with some pastors there that are going to support us with prayer and correspondence during our time on the field. We also had the opportunity to share with my home church, Dawson Street Baptist, about what we're going to be doing and how they can support us while we're there. My church is filled with so many wonderful people and an equally awesome pastor. It may also be important to note that Mandi totally out-fished me in my own pond. I will forever hang my head in shame. On another note, the Chik-Fil-A in Thomasville is delicious.

We will be here in High Point for a few weeks before we head up to Richmond. We always enjoy our time with Mandi's family, and feel blessed to have this time available to us. We also look forward to hanging out with Mandi's church, The Journey, during our time here. Please continue to pray for both of our families during this time, that they will also sense the Spirit's guiding in our lives to pursue this calling. Pray for understanding, clarity, peace, and a supportive spirit.

We are earnestly praying for and looking forward to heading up to Richmond on April 20th. There we will begin our training that will last until sometime in early July. Our official departure (to the field) is July 12. As we converse with people on the field and pray towards Richmond, we are becoming more and more anxious to start our work.

Take a second to check out these videos. They have been very inspirational to us, and they're put out by Hillsong, which automatically makes them awesome. Y'all take care and we'll keep you up to date.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e4NlyZqJhwk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=y1CbCYEn4lg&feature=related


THICK AS BLOOD,

Bryan and Mandi

Life Lessons Pt. I - LOTR, Faramir

Upon realizing that the Showtimes have behind on their SMOi blog, I thought it an appropriate time to begin a series I would like to call "Life Lessons". The Life Lessons series are scenes taken from movies and books that can be directly correlated to our spiritual and personal lives. I mean, we're not on the field yet, so what else do we have to write about? This is from Lord of the Rings, The Two Towers and Return of the King.

Faramir, son of the Denethor, steward of Gondor, is faced with an incredible choice - aiding in the destruction of the Ring, or taking the Ring for Gondor. A little background info (in as little geeky words as possible): Frodo and Sam are on a quest to destroy the One Ring (which is the sum of all things evil, but really shiny and pretty) when they are captured by a Gondor patrol, led by Faramir, son of the Steward of Gondor (a stand-in until the rightful king claims the throne). Faramir and his father have a very tense relationship. He is always compared to his older brother, Boramir (part of the original Fellowship of the Ring), and is openly mistreated and belittled by his father. Faramir earnestly attempts to gain the love and acceptance of his father, but his efforts are always futile. Upon Boramir's death, the Steward of Gondor treats Faramir as if he were not his son at all, which fuels his overshadowing quest for acceptance.

Faramir encounters Frodo, Sam, and Gollum on their journey to Mordor. He takes them captive and, after confirming that they are not Sauron's spies, learns that they have possession of the One Ring of Power. Although Frodo and Sam try to convice him of the necessity of their quest, and the inevitable destruction that would follow the quest's failure, Faramir is blinded by the overwhelming desire to please his father. He decides to take the Ring to his father, which, in his mind, would be the ultimate gift.

Now to the good stuff - Faramir, in the end, realizes that letting Frodo and Sam complete their journey is the only way, the only right thing to do. He not only releases them, but gives them direction and aid in their quest. He knows that the only way to save Gondor, and ultimately Middle Earth, is for Frodo to destroy the ring. He is warned that his life would be the forfeit of his decision, to which he confidently replies, "Then it is forfeit." All of Faramir's desires would have come true if he had taken the Ring. His father would have been pleased and accepting, his country would have had a mighty weapon, and he would done what everyone expected of him. But taking the Ring for himself was, very simply, the wrong path.

People expect many things from us. The American dream of growing up in good standing, going to college, marrying a nice girl and having 2.5 children (that half child is quite scary looking), a house full of nice things and the approval of family and friends is such an overwhelming desire to us. Situations often vary greatly, but ultimately we desire to make our family and friends proud, gain and keep their approval, and finish out our lives with this accomplishment. Luke 9:57-62 says:

57 As they were going along the road, someone said to him, “I will follow you wherever you go.” 58 And Jesus said to him, “Foxes have holes, and birds of the air have nests, but the Son of Man has nowhere to lay his head.” 59 To another he said, “Follow me.” But he said, “Lord, let me first go and bury my father.” 60 And Jesus said to him, “Leave the dead to bury their own dead. But as for you, go and proclaim the kingdom of God.” 61 Yet another said, “I will follow you, Lord, but let me first say farewell to those at my home.” 62 Jesus said to him, “No one who puts his hand to the plow and looks back is fit for the kingdom of God.”

I have heard it said that the man who tells Jesus that he must bury his father first doesn't specifically mean 'my father's dead, let me put his body in the ground', but instead means that his father is still alive, and he wishes to stay, make sure he's taken care of until he dies. Many of us run into similar situations to this, where our families or friends expect certain things out of us, which, in the end, eliminate our freedom. It often creates a cycle, where the child takes care of the parents, not just physically but emotionally and socially, until their death, and then their children do the same, etc. etc. Where, then, does the call of the Lord lie?

Please do not misunderstand me - there are many who are called to live their lives this way. But, please realize, that what the world expects of you and what God has called you to are more than often very contrasting things. In the situation of Faramir, he knew what he must do. I hope and pray, friends, that we all would consider in our own lives, what we know we must do. It may stir the waters, it may drop some jaws, it may cause your family and friends to think you're crazy, or be outright offended. You have to maintain incredible grace, love and patience with everyone while completing your task. Sometimes it means forsaking all else for the call of the Gospel. But it must be done. We must live our lives with righteousness. The Gospel must be taken to the world. We must go into all the earth. Not for our glory, not for our fame, and not for the story of it, but because God has commanded us. And what defines the servant if not obedience to his master? With our hand to the plow, never looking back, completing the task that has been appointed to us with every ounce of courage we can muster.

I will close with a word from Samwise Gamgee, the very words that changed the mind of Faramir, Captain of Gondor.

"It's like in the great stories, Mr. Frodo, the ones that really matter. Full of darkness and danger they were, and sometimes you didn't want to know the end, because how could the end be happy? How could the world go back to the way it was when so much bad had happened? But in the end it's only a passing thing, this shadow, even darkness must pass. A new day will come, and when the sunshines it will shine out the clearer. Those are the stories that meant something, even if you were too small to understand why. But I think, Mr. Frodo, I do understand. I know the folk in those stories had lots of chances to turn back, only they didn't because they were holding on to something. (Frodo) What are we holding on to, Sam? (Sam) That there is some good in this world. And it's worth fighting for!"

And yes, I listened to the Lord of the Rings soundtrack while I wrote this.

Thick as Blood,

Showtime