HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO MY AWESOME WIFE LIZ WHO LET'S ME DO THIS! :)

We made it! We are in Jamaica! Solid rain here, about 87 degrees...actually very nice...but obviously very humid.
We really had no issues on the flights, with a couple of minor exceptions...the Baumgartners who were flying in via South Dakota, via Denver, via Dallas, were delayed in Dallas by 45 minutes and there was some concern they would cut it pretty close to our departure time, but they made it with an hour to spare...the only other minor issue was a few of our group had to sit solo in some middle seats with strangers, but at least we were all on the same plane...no biggy...
The atmosphere is kind of like the first night of camp...lots of kids wandering around without really knowing what to do...some of our guys already went in the pool, kind of fun in hot, humid, rainy weather...
We already collected the money for coffee, market exhange, and Dunns River Falls, and loaded up the van for the first ministry stuff tomorrow...
With help from Kalena's memory skills, here's the basic plan for tomorrow...
Breakfast at 7:00, leave at 8:00am...going to a school to do a show....then back to the hotel for a quick break then another school for a show at another school at noon....back to the hotel for lunch at 2:00 and a little free time till dinner at 5:00...then a "Street Show" at 7:00ish....so first day and we'll already have 3 shows to do...which is cool because it means all 3 bands will most likely have the opportunity to play, we'll use most of the puppet songs, and each of the two drama teams will have an opporunity (or 2) as well....nothing like hitting the ground running...
The weather has been rainy every single day for the past couple of weeks, but supposedly will take a break tomorrow before resuming the following day...most of us don't really mind the rain, it keeps us cool...kind of a pain to move the equipment, but worth the pain :)
Also, there is another team coming in from Florida, apparently their fist time coming, and we are going to be "showing them the ropes" a little bit...they'll be shadowing us for the evening show...
The latest plan is that we'll be here at the Hotel Montego for 3 days (until Saturday) and the good news is that obviously there is internet here, and it's pretty strong...so I'll be able to blog at least once a day :)
I get to room with Chris Chapman for a couple of days, that's an extra blessing!
Everyone is healthy and excited to do work for Jesus!
Have a great night! Hope to share the results of tomorrow's first day of ministry at the end of the day!
TN
GOD RULZ!

So here we go...a short final post from HUME/SD 2011

We are off to the beach where at least one student (Alex Berthusen) will be getting baptized...next to leading a person in their prayer as the receive Christ, is the blessing of being able to baptise someone...can't wait!

Had a neat time with Brian Kitson, my former campus life director from high school, being a last minute guy counselor for us this week. What an awesome thing to share with a guy who played a HUGE role in my comittment and walk with Christ...so thankful for Brian. He came by my room last night and had some neat words of encouragement and affirmation, from the unique perspective of knowing me for so long. I love that guy :)

Another special way I was blessed yesterday, as the camp called all of the youth pastors to the stage to let their churches know where we'd be doing our "Church Time", which they reserve for the teaching time on Thursday morning. The youth pastor standing next to me?? One of my former youth, who is now a youth pastor himself. Pretty cool. I'd seen him a number of times at camp, and we'd talked and hung out already, but still just a neat moment to stand side-by-side with him in front of youth together.

There truly are many, many thoughts that I want to write out...so if I'm awake, I'll write one more P.S. on Saturday...if I don't end up writing, then know this...this has been one of the best weeks of camp I've ever been involved with.

Pray for safety as we head home! Hope to be there by 5:00-6:00pm

GOD RULZ!

TN