Return From Trip

I just returned from a great trip to East Asia.  While the trip was unrelated to the work with Underground Coffee International, the group was able to able to spend some time meeting with farmers that I have planted coffee test-plots with when I lived there.  Our group had an eight-hour layover on our trip out and I scheduled Luv-Luv’s flights so that our layovers would overlap.  While a long layover after about twenty-five hours of traveling is a beating, it was worth it because we were able to spend a few hours catching up with Luv-Luv, and he was able to cast some vision for the work that the group was about to go and do.  Luv-Luv’s visa is about to expire and we’re going to send him back home for a few weeks so that we can get him switched over to a new visa.  This will also give him some time to spend with his grandparents and recharge. I love going back to the town where I lived in East Asia.  It is up in the mountains and has developed so quickly that most of the people living there were rural farmers just ten or fifteen years ago.  A quick ten or fifteen minute drive can take you from the middle of the city to a village surrounded by cornfields.

The highlight, though, was the group that I took with me.  There were seven of us: three adult leaders and four guys that have just graduated high school.  I love being on trips with groups and seeing their worldview widen just a little bit.  Yes, short-term mission trips have their problems, are expensive and sometimes can do more damage than good, but short-term mission trips are also the quickest way for people to catch a passion for the lost who have never heard the gospel.

It has been great being back for a few days and hearing the boys tell others about the trip.

Headed Overseas

Today I'll be flying to East Asia with a group of guys.  We're going to work alongside some local church planters trying to reach an unreached people.  Except for me, none of our group has been to Asia before, much less rural Asia.  We'll also get a chance to catch up with Luv-Luv.  He's had some visa issues and will fly home for a couple weeks to get them sorted out before heading back.  We've arranged it so that we have time to connect for a few hours on one of our layovers. Words can't describe how excited I am for this trip.  Not only the opportunity to go and spend time with a people and a place that I love, but also to be able to show it to others who have no idea what they're in for over the next two weeks.  I was about the age of most of the guys going when I first went to rural Asia and felt the call to go back.  I hope there will be some lightbulb moments like that for them on this trip as well.

So if you have time, please lift a prayer for our group.  And if you order coffee over the next two weeks, it might take a little longer getting to you.  (But don't worry, it'll get there!)

Update on Luv-Luv

Just wanted to post a quick update on Luv-Luv for everyone. Two weeks ago, Luv flew from the Philippines to China.  Over these past two weeks he has spent time in the provincial capital meeting with some of our friends about strategy and planning.  He sent me a message this morning that he has moved down south to the town of JH to start working on making connections with local villagers.

Please pray:

-That he would meet some local guys that he can build relationships with and invest in.

-For favor with the local government, extending his visa and access to places that he needs to go.

-Villages that are welcoming and open to hearing about and trying new things.

-That he would find a language tutor and that his language study would go well.

I have been able to talk to Luv-Luv several times over the past weeks, and he is always thankful for your support and prayers.  If you have a chance, please send an email (info@undergroundcoffeeintl.org) or send him a message on Facebook letting him know that you're thinking about him.