E.P.I.C. Class of 2012/ Mexico mission update

From August 1 (New photos and video added August 14!):

First of all, a late congratulation to our Class of 2013 graduates: Allen Buckles and Will Irwin!!  Our church family got a kick out of watching the slideshow prepared in your honor last month.   The video is embedded below:

Crank up the volume, go full-screen, and hit the “play” button above for a fast-paced slideshow of our favorite ministry moments featuring graduates Allen Buckles and Will Irwin!

In other big ministry news, we leave for our Mexico mission trip tomorrow!  We’re heading for Vicente Guerrero to build a house with Welcome Home Outreach Ministries.  Check out our previous E.P.I.C. Student Ministry Update for more details!

Fundraising at the Washington County Fair:

The Mexico mission leadership team and students Patricia and Katie sold soft drinks at the fair to raise money for next year’s trip.  We had about 50 volunteers from AChoG and the preschool working last weekend!

Our two Mexico groups meet at last:

We mixed it up at Godfather’s Pizza with our to-be Mexico mission partners from Tigard Church of God.  We leave together for Vicente Guerrero, Mexico tomorrow!

And here are a few bonus pics from the last few months:

Volunteers Wendy and Sharon organized a couple of after-school dinner outreach events.

A few of us anxiously awaited for neighborhood students to arrive!

Our missionaries from Micronesia, Gary and Gwen Bistritan, stopped by Aloha Church of God to share about the school they founded on the island of Yap.

Too bad I didn’t think about visiting Gary and Gwen (or Ed and Jan Cogar!) when I got stuck in Guam earlier this year.  Yes, my Osaka/Micronesia travelogue will continue here on Garth’s Blog soon!

And finally... An explosive ending to our county fair fundraiser:

I tweeted this pic of fireworks booming in my rear-view mirror as we waited in line to exit the fairgrounds, with the Jeep's soft top down.

Coming on next month's E.P.I.C. Student Ministry Update…

Our mission trip to Vicente Guerrero, Mexico!

...And coming up on Garth’s Blog…

Birthday Skydiving!

Rebirth

Update:  New pics were recently added to last week's “Lena’s First Zoo Visit” blog post (link).

One thing I'll miss about my early morning shift at Delta: Catching these gorgeous sunrises at PDX airport!

Thank you, Delta Airlines, for keeping me employed 17 years as of today!  Yesterday was the start of my new sleep-friendly Delta work schedule.  I already feel like a brand new man!

That means goodbye to waking up at 2:30 each morning for work.  Au revoir to scraping by on 3.5 hours of sleep a night.  Arrivederci to reduced intensity workouts compromised by extreme sleep deprivation.  Adios to looking and feeling like my actual grownup age!

And what to do with all of this anticipated energy, renewal, and vigor?  Here’s a hint:  God, family, friends, and coworkers are about to witness the Garth that has been long forgotten.  The real Garth.  I’m ready to start feeling like myself again.  Physically, spiritually, mentally, and emotionally--   I’m ready to whip myself into the best shape of my life!

This new schedule will require squeezing in significantly more hours for (and commuting to) work than in previous years.  But the time left over will be consumed by loving, living, serving, and adventuring.  And that’s what Garth’s Blog is all about! 

Here's a small taste of what's coming in the next month or so on Garth's Blog...

Camping and hiking in the Olympic National Forest... and other outdoor adventures!

Lena's first visit to Enchanted Forest!

A Daddy-Daughter photo blowout for Father's Day!

And premiering tomorrow night on Garth's Blog...

An outrageous, five part travelogue on how my attempted weekend in China led to the temporary seizure of my U.S. passport in Micronesia last month!!