WE ACTUALLY WENT ON DA SLIDE!

WOO! So today was awesome! We went and picked up Christi for band practice. Then we finally got beef loaf (it was only okay but still good)! Then we had band practice which went well. Then Karen, Jono, Nathan and I went to pick up Travis then off to the Ferguson's. Momma Ferg made us some amazing garlic bread pizza and then Ali had a soccer game in a little so we hung out with her until she left. Then we played soccer tennis and Egyptian Rats until she left. Then we FINALLY went onto the slide. We drove and parked across the street from some resort and walked over to the big slide called The Hippo. It was tons of fun and we got some good pics! Then Jono, Nathan and I went on this other slide and hung out in this pool until it was time for volleyball. We had a good game going until it was time to give the ball back. Then we chilled in another pool until we decided to leave. We then went back to the Ferguson's and waited for Ali to get ready and we went to the Wert's to eat and chill. Then we went to some park to play whiffle ball and it was awesome! Then Karen and I played Wii volleyball and badminton and then we drove everyone home. When we got back I typed up all the words for tomorrow's worship, packed up most of my stuff, and cleaned out the van a little bit! It was such a good day!

Tomorrow is church then some goodbye party for Henry Knowles (the associate pastor) and I'm not sure what else is in store! We're gonna be saying a lot of goodbyes at church! I'm excited to come home but I'm definitely gonna miss it here! Leaving will be sweet bitter.

Love you

p.s. Erica, 1 more day!

Day 5

So on Thursday, we didn't do anything because nobody showed up. It was okay though. Nathan and I just chilled and rested up. Then we went and cleaned up Coke Memorial and then went to the beach. It was a nice rest day.

Today was awesome!  Karen, Christi, Brittany, James, Jade, Nathan and I went to this cool beach thing and prayed about Fox hill, Nassau, and our day! It was really good. Then we went to Ranfurley Home and they said that they didn't have anything for us to do so we went to Fox hill one last time and played with kids and just loved on the community. It was a great time and an awesome way to end the week. We talked when we got back and then Karen and I learned some magic tricks. We're magicians now. Then we had our last youth group hang out time and it was fun. We played soccer tennis, pool, ping pong, cards, and dominoes! YAY

Tomorrow we're doing band practice at 10:30 and then we're going to the slide at crystal palace. We're ACTUALLY doing it this time! I'm really excited! I can't believe we only have 2 days left!

Love you!

Day tree!

Today was a blast! We had a good sized crew (Me, Nathan, Rumell, Karen, Christi, Shaquille, Brittany and James)! We went over to Melissa's again and we started cleaning up across the street. We trimmed the bushes a little bit and I took a bunch of vines off these tree's but for the most part we picked up trash and let me tell you, it was overwhelming! There was smelly stuff all over and we picked up like 10 bags full and it didn't even make a dent in it. That left us all discouraged going into lunch. We had a good lunch time and then we went back and decided that we were going to stop picking up trash and just play with the kids and hang out with people from the neighborhood. We played dominoes with older people from the neighborhood and soccer/ piggy in the middle (monkey in the middle) with the kids! It was a really great time and it went by so fast! Then we said our goodbyes, packed up and left! That was sad a little. But then we debriefed and drove Rumell and Shaquille home. We had to say goodbye to them which was also sad because they are going camping/hiking in Texas tomorrow! I was really encouraged by Shaquille because on Tuesday he was set on not coming today but he ended up coming and it rocked! Woo hoo!

Tomorrow, well I'm not sure what we're doing but it's in God's hand. Hooray

love you

Day 2

Today was equally as good as yesterday! Mr. Curry came over and we traded all of our Bahamian money to American. Then Matthew Cole came over and we said our goodbyes which was kinda sad. Then Christi, James, and Shaquille came over to go to the worksite. We got to Melissa's and the backyard looked great! Nathan got a weed eater and he wacked the side yard and we just cleaned up some other stuff. By lunch we were done with the back and side yard! Hooray! After lunch, we took Christi home and we cleaned the lot across the street. There's a watering hole where everyone hangs out and they just throw their trash on the ground so we went and got them a trashcan to throw stuff away in. We also got Melissa a trashcan which was neat! Today was great because we cleaned up a lot of the neighborhood and I joked around with Melissa a lot! Playing with the kids was great too! I saw God in everything that happened!  We got back and talked about everything then took Shaquille and James home! I'm excited for tomorrow! Miss everyone! 5 days til home! WOO!

Marlin, Mervin, Marcus and Mark

Monday was great! We woke up and ate some breakfast with James and Rumell then got everything ready for the mission trip! Then Brittany showed up and we headed out to Coke Memorial (The church we're doing the mission stuff out of). We chilled there for a while because Nathan and Pastor Bethel had to check out the site we are working at. Then he came and got us and we went over to a lady named Melissa's house. She has 4 sons, Marlin (7) Mervin (6) and twins Marcus and Mark (4) and they are so cute! They just played and helped us out the whole time!!! It was tons of fun!

Our job was to clean the side and back of her house. There was so much garbage and stuff back there it was crazy! There were layers upon layers of garbage back there and it took 6 people all day to clean a small area. We still got a lot done and I'm really happy about it! It was an amazing experience playing with the kids and cleaning up the yard but also seeing the college kids work and stuff too!

Pray for us that we can clean it all up and touch the kids as well as the adults too! Thanks

Rumell, Why are you tickling me?

Saturday was a blah day! For some reason I wanted to do something but I didn't feel like doing anything. I don't know but it was weird. So I just read and hung out all day. At night we went to the beach and watched the sun set into the clouds and it was amazing! Nathan and I just talked and talked and enjoyed the beauty. It was awesome

Today was church and it was cool because we finally got to see everyone who came back from camp and that was really cool hearing about everything. Church was really good! Then Nathan, Rev and I went to get stuff for mission week this week. Then Nathan and I hung out until 3:30 softball. It was fun. We didn't really have enough people (6 vs 7) but we managed. Nathan was picked last  but he hit a homerun his 4th at bat. He was the only one to hit a homerun today! Yay for Nathan! I played well and I was super cautious because of my knee. I had a blast. Then I talked fantasy baseball and football with some of the guys and that was good times. Then Nathan and I went and got some food for the mission trip and got some pizza for tonight. Then it was college group. At first, it was only Nathan and I. But then James, Rumell and a TON of cousins came. We played pool, ping pong, cards and talked about nerdy things like Star Wars and Harry Potter. It was fun! Now It's just my awesome friend Rumell and James here. SLUMBER PARTY!

We will wake up in the morning and do some cool mission work in Foxhill!

mini blog

Thursday was a chill day again. We loosely planned the mission week and hung out. Then last night we went and hung out at the Green Parrot and walked around Atlantis for a bit. It was really fun! Nathan and I went in the pool and had a good time!

Today we talked with Rev about the mission week, set up for church on Sunday and then went to the beach. It was so hot but it was a good time! That's really all for now. Everyone comes back from camp soon and I'm really excited to see everybody!!! Yay!

-love Josh

Mullet Town

Well the USA girls didn't win but it's okay. College group made that all better. James and Brittany came and we played dominoes and talked then Matthew and Karen came and we played some ping pong and watched Zoolander.

Monday was a rest day. My knee still bugged me and so I just kinda laid in bed and rested it all day. I started reading Harry Potter. There was a crazy storm that produced a mini tornado that didn't touch down. There was a lot of lightning and rain and Nathan and I had a sweet worship session on the balcony. That was Monday. I needed it though because...

Tuesday, my knee felt way better. I woke up and read a lot more Harry Potter. We had a short meeting with Rev and then went over to Matthew Cole's house. Wendy (Matthew's wife) cut my hair! My sweet hair that I've been growing for over a year! I had a really dirty, awesome mullet for a bit. She cut me all the way down to a 3 and it's so much cooler! I love it! We played with Ben and Naiomi (their kids) for a while then we went to the Yacht Club to play in the pool and eat dinner! It was great! I'm sad that they are going away on Tuesday!

Today we tried to go to the beach but it was raining so we had to leave early. We came back, ate lunch and went shopping. When we came back the power was out so we watched some How I Met Your Mother. We had some dinner and then went to the movies to see Harry Potter! It was AMAZING!!! Oh my lanta! It was a wild time!

Anyways, this week has been really chill because all of the kids are at Camp Bahamas in Eleuthera. Next week is "mission week" and we'll have a mission project a day and I'm excited. We'll  be planning that this week! I miss everyone!

Love you!
-Josh

<3 you Erica

Captain Josh

So Saturday, Matthew (youth pastor) came over and we talked about Sunday's service for a bit. Then I had band practice and it went well. Then we went to Matthew's to tear down an old shed. It ended up raining really hard but we did it anyways. We were supposed to go on the big slide but the shed took too long so we didn't go. We drove Karen and Jono home and came back to QC. Nathan worked on his sermon and I went and played football. Football was a lot of fun. It was really hot but I had a good game until... I hurt my knee! I just like tweaked the knee that I tore my ACL on in 2009 and I can bend and straighten it all the way. It just hurts to walk a little bit.

Today we had an early band practice. I had to scurry/hop around and type  up all the words for the songs and stuff and it was kinda crazy. Worship was really great though! I had a great time! Then Nathan preached an awesome sermon! I payed attention the whole time (rare)! It was so good! I'm proud of my little guy! Now I'm just resting my knee and watching the USA womens soccer team beat Japan in the World Cup Finals! Then college group!!! HOORAY!

-love you!
Josh

monkey riding a dog.

We've had a lot of chill times this week and they were all good good times! 

Wednesday we played Ultimate Frisbee at 4 and it was SO HOT!!! I'm pretty sure we were playing on the sun! It was funny because we started and like 5 minutes in people just stopped playing but it was still good good times (mostly because I'm a boss at Ultimate)! After that we had a group of people come and watch Harry Potter and The Deathly Hallows pt 1 and it was sooooo good! Shaquille got dead scared when the snakes jumped at the camera! haha

Thursday I read a ton of Crazy Love and got ready for the Worship Workshop. I had to pick Ethan (one of the youth) up from work and I got really lost and I was driving a large 17 passenger van and I was trying to turn around in some tiny driveway in and I had to do like a 22 point turn. I finally found the place and I got Ethan and we had Worship Workshop. That went really well. It was slow at first but more people showed up and the discussion got better and it was cool. After that we had chill time and like 10-15 youth came out and we played 4 square, pool, had a pillow fight and played ping pong. Hooray

Today, I found out that there was a documentary at the Sundance Festival about the abortion clinic and the pro life center across the street from each other on the corner of 12th and Delware IN FORT PIERCE!!! I watched it and it was wild! Then I finished Crazy Love and we had youth! A ton of kids came out and we played a ton of dominoes, ping pong, pool, and with Ali's ipad (that was rad)! I had a great time! The youth drank like 12- 2 liters of soda which was wild! 

Love you

Live it out, shout it loud!

Sunday was cool! Church was a VBS service. We sang and did all of our dances and it was cool. I was glad when it was finally over! Then we chilled out and we had Legit Sunday. It was Bahamian Independnce so not many people came out but we still had a good time!

Monday was a slow day. Nathan didn't feel great but he slept it off and then Thomas came over to give me back some clothes and we went to the beach. It was a day off for Bahamians because of Independence so the beach was packed! It was still fun but then we had to say goodbye to Thomas which was sad. Then James came over to give me some Gneps (spanish limes) and we went to get some ice cream but it was too expensive. Then I worked on stuff for leading worship on Sunday.

Today was productive. I sent out emails to people playing in the band. We went shopping and got some sweet deals on some groceries. I made a ton of facebook events for stuff coming up. I looked up my books for classes next fall. Then Nathan made country fried steak, mashed potatoes, and green beans. I loved today! It did go by fast though but it was solid.

love you!
Josh

5 fish, peas and grits!!! Oh when the saints...

So Friday, we were supposed to go to the big slide at crystal palace. We got lost going to Travis' and then we finally found his house n went to Ali's. We got her and went to BK and then waited for Karen and some other cousins. They got there a lil late and Nathan and I ran out of time to go on the slide. It was all good though, we went to Travis' and played with their puppy, Molly. They have 2 cats and they made my eyes really itchy and it hurt my right eye really bad, I like popped a blood vessel or something but it's better now. We went back to QC to have the last night of VBS. I was really relieved when it was done. I had a ton of fun but it was frustrating being in charge of a group. After VBS we rejoiced and chilled until bed time.

Today I woke up dead early at 7:00 AM. I finished watching Boardwalk Empire and read a little. At 11 we went to Harbour Bay, a shopping plaza, to do some last minute fundraising for the 30 Hour Famine we did. We raised $400 which was awesome. At 3 we wrapped it  up and we went on our way to the Bahamian National Soccer game! It was a FIFA World Cup Qualifier against Turks and Caicos and WE won 6-0! My boys Sykes, Smokey, Nesley, and Sealey brought it home for us! It was tons of fun and I loved it! It was on a turf field with only a few tiny bleachers for fans to sit on. There was a silly guy trying to get us to make noise and sing "When the Saints" and he said some goofy stuff. Entertaining. Tonight we're hangin out with some college kids and I'm excited!

Tomorrow we have VBS service at church where all the kids sing the songs and talk about how awesome VBS was! I can't wait!

Love!

<3 you Erica

Love you

yuh yuh yuh yuh yes to vuh vuh vuh vbs

So Wednesday was just as chill as Tuesday. I read a lot and hung out and chilled. Travis, Vilson, and I set up the church and then I got ready for VBS. VBS went well  and the kids are all awesome despite being extremely talkative. It rained all night so we had to tweak the schedule but it worked out. Then I watched Harry Potter 6!

Yesterday I woke up, and Amethyst was over so we went to the Haviannas store with Giselle. We shopped and then when we got back, Travis was here! Then a few more people came over and we hung out then went to the beach. We saw some couple get re-married and that was awesome. Then we went home, played with water balloons and cards. Then it was VBS time again. It's amazing how fast VBS goes by because it's only 2 hours long. We had fun singing and dancing again but then the power went out. luckily we just had like 20 minutes left and it came on anyways. Then we played  a ton of tag and then everyone went home.

Today we're going on this big inflatable slide and then VBS for the last time!!! Hooray!

love, josh

p.s. Erica I love you!

hear it! believe it! connect it!

I haven't blogged in a little while and according to Shaquille, I have a lot to talk about so here it goes.

Sunday we had an awesome time hanging with Syd and Sam from TEAMeffort. We drove them to the airport and had good talks about their time here and stuff. We got back and it was time for softball. I couldn't play at first because of a VBS meeting but after the meeting I went and had a ton of fun. After softball, Legit (college group) went to see Transformers 3D for James' birthday! I only liked the movie but a lot of people loved it! The power went out during the movie but the generator kicked in but it was still funny.

Monday was fun times. It was 4th of July but nobody cared around here. We went to the haviannas store because there's a sale and we went downtown and played tourist. We went to fireworks unlimited, which was kinda sketchy and got some ammo for the night. We had our first night of VBS which went okay. My group (grade 3-4) was big and they talked a lot but it was still fun. Then Amethyst, James, Nathan and I went to Cabbage to watch the Atlantis fireworks and they were gorgeous. I loved it

Tuesday was a chilltastic day! I just chilled all day. Read and watched some TV. Made Juan some lunch. Then I took a mini nap in my hammock and then got ice for VBS (This meant driving the huge van for the first time! ) Then we had vbs again. My group got smaller and less talkative which was nice. I also got an extra helper Savanna so she helped, along with Jade. We all had a good time then after VBS I had an amazing time running around with all the kids. Then I chilled more when they went home and then I crashed. Now I'm up and preppin for VBS for today! YAY

love

30 Hour Famine!

We just finished breaking the 30 hour famine! The weekend so far was awesome! We had a 30 hour famine meeting at 10 on Friday, and at 10:55 Travis and I were stuffing our faces for the famine that started at 11. Then Brandon and Ethan came over early and helped do some stuff. We then hung out and had praise week. The games we're kinda dull but the message and stuff was good. Then we kicked off into 30 hour famine mode. The power went out right away and it was a cool way to accidentally  start the night. We had some fun starting games and then set up tribes with a ton of carboard boxes. We just chilled for the night and I went to bed at 5:30am and woke up at 6:00am so I got a solid 30 minutes of sleep. We woke up all dead tired. Set up for church and sluggishly did more activities. It was still a load of fun. At 5 we had an ending worship service and communion and we broke the fast!!! We had some corn meal stuff that was kind of tasty, yet nutritious. Now, we're going to a place called the Cricket Club with Rev and we're gonna chow down! Tomorrow we're not going to church because we're driving TEAM effort staff to the airport. I'm excited but I'm currently extremely tired! 

love! 

Green Team Domination!

We still havin praise week! Wednesday was sweet! Nathan and I lead the worship with the help of some youth band people. It was great! We played a lot of goofy games then Travis slept over and we had a good time! Yesterday was praise week again! Travis and I woke up and walked around town searching for fireworks. No luck. Then we went to cabbage beach and team effort was there too! That was funsies! Then praise week happened and I played with the band. Nathan gave an awesome, much needed message on forgiveness and that rocked! We didn't drive Thomas home :( but Travis slept over again and we cooked some good pasta and hung out for a bit!

Today is the last day of praise week and the start of 30 hour famine at 11:00 AM!!! WOOOO I'm ready and excited!!!

love you!

GREEN TEAM!!

So this week is PRAISE WEEK!!! It's sort of like VBS for the youth group. It's a lot of fun. Monday was crazy we did a lot of running around for Praise Week then we had praise week. It was so much fun! We played a game where 4 people put a big trashcan on their head and ran at each other. the results were hilarious. Then we played more games, did skits, and I played in the band. We drove Thomas home and it was fun. I liked it.

Today we woke up and Travis came over dead early. I brought the message for praise week today and I talked about the Parable of the Sower. So I worked on that this morning. I finished reading "Forgotten God" by Francis Chan and I really enjoyed that. Then we went and got our passport extended so we can stay until August 1st. HOORAY! Then I DROVE for the first time eva to go pick up Thomas at work. It wasn't bad but it was on the left side which was weird. Then we had Praise Week again. We had a game where you had 2-6 people run out and try to drag a blow up tire to their side and it was brutal. Then we did another skit and played a game where we put peanut butter on people's faces and threw marsh mellows on them. It was funny. Then I talked. I feel good about it and I wasn't nervous at all! We drove Thomas home again and had another good car talk. What a good day!

Praise week for the rest of the week then 30 hour famine! Busy 2 weeks ahead!!! I love it!

-Josh

p.s. Love you Erica!

Dirty Dog

WHOA!! This weekend rocked!

Friday we had some meetings with Rev and Matthew and I set up all da air mattresses and tables for the retreat. We set up for church then people started showing up. Not gonna lie, beginning of Friday wasn't that great! But it got way better when we went rock climbing at Atlantis. We would climb up and if you make it to the top you can eliminate a rock with a piece of tape so the next climbers can't use it. It got really challenging but it was tons of fun. Then we had our session about courage and I lead my small group and it was just amazing. I was nervous to lead a small group but my group was cool and they made for some good discussion. Then we played dominoes and sang karaoke all night. We finally all went to bed at 3:30 and woke up the next morning at 7 for breakfast.

Saturday, we had a session pretty early in the morning. Everyone was dead tired and I had to make my group do jumping jacks so they wouldn't fall asleep. Then we were getting ready to go to Blue Lagoon (an island close by) but it was POURING down rain. We toughed it out and went. Once we got there, our day was filled with volleyball, beach soccer, wrestling on trampolines, free daiquiris (virgin) and chilling in hammocks. The day didn't end there. We went back, ate some tasty dinner and had another session (group was a little more lively than the morning session!!). Then the night was filled with lame pranks, dominoes, piano playing, and karaoke again. We went to bed at 1:30ish and then woke up at 5!!! serious wybes.

Sunday we woke up and packed all of our stuff and cleaned the rooms for church. Then we went to Cabbage Beach to have a sunrise service. It was cloudy but still pretty. THEN NATALIE (a girl in the youth group) GOT BAPTISED! It was awesome and I loved it! Probably the highlight of my weekend for no reason other than she got baptised!!! We chilled by the beach for a while then we got back and played a game with a HUGE ball! We then got ready to go see Xmen. I fell asleep for the first 20 minutes but then  I got hooked into the movie and it was amazing. After the movies everyone went home and Nathan, Matthew, and I did a lot of cleaning up and sorting and taking down. Then we cleaned our room and organized all the leftover food we got from the weekend and I did laundry. I went to the tail end of a VBS meeting and then it was COLLEGE GROUP!!! I'm not gonna lie I was only looking forward to it a little because I was so tired, but then it turned out to be such a good time! Bower, Thomas, and James came out and we just chilled and had bro time. We played dominoes and presidents and hung out. I'm still really excited for the college ministry and I know God's got big tings in store for dat.

I'm super tired so I'm going to bed.
Sorry this is so long- Josh <3

Nerf Shark!

Yesterday sucked!! JK it was the best day ever!!! woo! We went to the Wert's beach and we got to go snorkeling out by this fun reef (I'm pretty sure it was the great barrier reef) and we saw tons of pretty fishies there. Matthew pointed out a Nurse Shark chilling in this crevasse and it was awesome. After that we swam back and Ali, Karen, Travis, Nathan (Karen's little brother, not Nathan Wilkinson) went down to this "secret spot" and we jumped off this like 10 foot high rock thing and we did back flips from this tiny rock thing and it was good times! Then we went back and I learned how to play dominos (and I totally won 2/3 times!!!) ((Dirty Dog)) and then we left.

Then there's the traffic. We left the Wert's at like 5:15 and we didn't get to our destination of Thomas' house until like 7:00... that's how bad the traffic was. It probably only should have taken 15-20 minutes but nope, it took an hour and 45 minutes. But that's okay we went to Thomas' and had some amazing burgers and played some pingpong and some backyard cricket. We also had some brownies and ice cream which was DELICIOUS! We haven't had any chocolate since we've been here so it was a sweet treat!!

Today starts the retreat and we're going to PI and rock climbing today. Tomorrow we're going to Blue Lagoon and playing volleyball and chillin. And Sunday we're doing a sunrise beach service where people may get baptised! Let the good times roll!

-Love Josh!

dead fresh

YO! Tuesday we went to the beach with Travis and Amethyst! Nicola and Alison met us there but it was a lot of fun!!! We walked all the way down and climbed out on these rocks that were sharp, pointy, and hurt my feet! Muddoe! We jumped in and then we swam around... we saw this tiny tiny reef thing and there were fish around it and I tried to catch one with my hands but I was unsuccessful! (Ali will owe me $10 if I get one) After the beach we hung out with Amethyst for the rest of the day and then watched the Voice!!!

Yesterday was a chillaxing day. We woke up and I just kind of read a bunch and did a lot of prep work for the upcoming weeks. I got some games and some skits ready for praise week and the retreat that's coming up! I'm really excited about these next 2 weeks because they are going to be amazing and amazingly busy at the same time! I'm ready for it though!!!

Today we're going to "the best beach in the world"! Anytime you ask a questions that's like "what's the best beach to do this...???" the answer is always "Wert's beach".. so we're going to the Wert's and were gonna chill at their beach and do a lot of fun stuff! Then we're going to Thomas' to get beat in ping pong and eat some tasty burgers!! Hooray for today!!! I'm having tons of fun but I miss everyone back stateside. miss you love you!!!

-Josh

AHHHHHHHHHHH

Yesterday after church, I watched The Voice and some of the USA soccer game!!! Then I played softball with a bunch of guys from church and it was tons of fun! Then we played make me a sandwich with some of the college kids and then had college group! College group was amazing again! We talked about having personal relationships with God and it went well! After, we talked to Matthew about Praise Week and stuff and I'm excited about that! 

Today I woke up later than usual and then Travis came over. We helped Rev move a huge log and then talked for a while. Then he went home and Nathan and I went to the beach!! Then it rained so we left! Now I'm reading and chillin for the rest of the day! For dinner, we're eating some garlic chicken, black beans and rice. I'm excited!!! =)

-Love you! 

Happy Father's Day!!!

Yo! Friday's youth hang out was neat! We had a good turnout but the power went out again. The power goes out often so they can take a load off of the power plants and stuff, it's silly. Friday night, Travis slept over and that was a good time. We got a tv in our room now which is sweet!

Saturday morning we woke  up and hung out with Rev and Rayon (the youth band director). Then we went shopping and we got some good deals on some stuff. We drove all around the island and saw a lot of cool stuff! Then we had an awesome jam session with 2 girls Amethyst and Jasper where I played the djembe! Then we went and played football, but the lights went out AGAIN! It was still a lot of fun though!

This morning I played with the youth band at the Father's day church service! It rocked! After church I started raising money for the 30 hour famine we're having. I raised $680 in like 30 minutes which is awesome!!! Hooray! We're playing softball soon and there's a USA soccer game! Go USA!!! Tonight is Legit Sunday (college age group! ) and I CANNOT WAIT!!!

I love you! Bye!

p.s. last blog I said I was at a meeting, I forgot to mention that Cara Curry (awesome) was also in attendance for the meeting! Sorry for leaving you out of my last blog! :) haha

Travis Stole Nathans Shirt

Hey It's been a little while since I've blogged. Wednesday was rad, we went to Beth's house and she cooked us some awesome spaghetti and meatballs, let us do our laundry, and let us swim in her pool. It was a good time. 

Yesterday went by fast. We had a meeting with Matthew (youth pastor) Rev and Giselle about everything coming up and it was funsies. God's got some cool cool things ahead for us! Then we went to a music store with Rev and the church bought a Djembe for us to use while were here and I was really excited. It felt like I was getting a new instrument. Then we had youth band practice and hung out with TEAMeffort for a bit. After that we talked to a couple people that I haven't gotten a chance to talk to much yet and I enjoyed it a lot. 

Today we're going to a graduation to see Karen (the valedictorian) speak and then we're going to a fancy Methodist Banquet! Then we have youth hang out! YAY! 

- JTW 

USA! USA! USA! USA!

hey hey hey! Yesterday was Whit Monday so it was a holiday! We just chilled for most of the day. We walked to Wendy's with our friend James and that was fun! I went to bed early because I had a headache. This morning I set up my hammock on the front porch and I read a little. Travis came over and we went to the super value discount store. Travis got a Goombay Champagne and it was a pretty tasty treat! I talked to my mom on the phone for a while which was cool! I decided that I'm going to get a mandolin and maybe a melodica so I'm excited about that!! Right now Nathan and I are watching the USA vs. Guadalupe soccer game! Go USA! Tomorrow night, we're going to dinner at Beth's house (a lady from church) and we're going in her pool and doing our laundry there. I've already done most of my laundry in the sink but I can wash my towels and a few more things! We're so spoiled down here! Oh and we're getting a car again tomorrow! We're getting Jordan's (Pastor's son) car! Can I get a whoop whoop?

-Josh

Dafy, High Schoolers (legit)

Today was a super sweet day! So was yesterday! Yesterday band practice went well. We had some technical difficulties but it worked out. Then we went to the beach with Travis and Thomas then we went to the Bamboo Shack (a Bahamian restaurant)  and I got an alright burger. I'm gonna try some cracked conch next time! Today we lead worship for church and it was awesome! After church, we went to Black Beard Cay (pronounced key) and we touched a bunch of sting rays. I tried to pick one up for a while but it didn't work. We played beach volley ball and that was a great time! We came back and I did some laundry in the sink and I saw Clark, my TEAMeffort counselor in 2006. His youth group is at TEAMeffort here this week. I'm stoked that TEAMeffort is here! Now, it was time for the highlight of my day, college aged group (Dafy, High Schoolers (legit)) and it was AWESOME! We had 11 people this time and it was just great!!! It's for real the highlight of my week! Tomorrow morning we're helping TEAMeffort do something then it's our "off day" so we're probably just relaxing and chilling! I miss everyone!

love Josh!!

P.s. Dafy = Dat ain't for you

=)

So we haven't been doing a whole lot but I kinda like it. Yesterday we had youth band practice for worship night tonight and we've just been chillin, going to the beach and reading. I got a bunch of mangoes out of a tree and I accidentally hit Nathan in the chest with one which was funny. Tonight is praise night and we're playing 11 songs with the band and it's gonna be wild. Sunday we're leading worship for church and then going to swim with stingrays and stuff with Cheryl, the church band leader. I'm excited! Hooray!

love you

wild at fart

So I got the idea to start a congregational mens small group while I was here and base it on John Eldridge's "Wild At Heart" so I've been putting a lot of time deciding how to lead it and reading the book while taking notes. Reading a book goes by fast but reading and taking notes takes a while. Anyways we had the first meeting today and... nobody shows up... So now we decided that it would be best to not do mens group. I'm not gonna lie I was kinda bummed. As nervous as I was to lead a group of older men in a bible study, I was still really looking forward to it but you know what? Oh well. Stuff happens. I now have more time to spend on other things and I guess God wants me to use my time and efforts elsewhere so sweet. Bring it on! I'm still stoked about the college age ministry and I'm looking forward to working with the worship bands! So I was down but only for like 2.72 minutes. It's all good though. No wybin here!

<3 you

SWAYD!

Yesterday was a swell day! We went to church in the morning and played in the band and did all that jazz. I had a stringy mango and it wasn't my favorite but I hear the other mango are way better. Then we went to this sweet lunch place called Compass Point and it was a tasty treat! Then we chilled around all day, planning for the college group. OMG the college group went extremely well! We lead worship, played the "take as much toilet paper you think you'll need then tell me a fact about yourself for each sheet you took" game, then we just talked about why they were here and what they want out of the group. We all shared our testimonies (there were some quite powerful, and some deep ones), then we prayed and then just talked and stuff. Both Nathan and I were just ecstatic about how well it went. I'm stoked for next week and the weeks to come! Today is our "day off" so we're headed to the sea glass beach and I'll be preppin for the mens group that I'm leading!  hooray for days off!

-JTW

Cornucopia of Sea Glass!

Today was pretty sweet! I read more of Wild at Heart and got ready to lead the men's small group on Tuesday night!  Nathan and I went to this really pretty beach called Cabbage Beach and it was awesome! Really pretty water, not rocky and not many people. I about had a heart attack though when I found 82 pieces of sea glass! Hip Hip Hooray!!! Then we came back and I watched part of the USA vs. Spain soccer game and took a power nap. Then James, the sound guy, picked us up and we played football! It was so much fun and despite play 2 hand touch there were a lot of injuries (2 skinned knees and a skinned elbow for me)! Others bumped heads and sprained ankles and all that stuff. I scored 2 TD's though so I'm a boss! Tomorrow is our first church meeting and we're starting the college aged ministry but we don't have a plan yet but I think that'll work! I'm still extremely excited for everything that's happening this summer!

Love you! -Joshua

No Wybin here

Today was Bahamian Labour day so it was a pretty chill day! We both woke up sick today and I think allergies are just getting the best of us. My eyes are super itchy and I sneeze approximately 12 times per minute. it's all good though, I still had a great day. We went to the church band practice and now were playing with them on Sunday which I'm really excited about! After that Nathan took a nappy nap and I read and took notes on Wild At Heart for the Mens group we may start up! I cooked some rice and we added some taco seasoning to it and it was delicious. After that we played a little soccer tennis and some guy climbed up a coconut tree and knocked all of them down. He gave us coconuts and I opened it with my $1 walmart pocket knife... and I was really disappointed... Newsflash: coconuts aren't good... A girl in the youth, savanna, said "this is nothing like the shampoo" and boy was she right but oh well. 

After that we had youth! It was just a chill day where we just played games and stuff. I played Volleyball and then soccer tennis with these guys who were extremely good at soccer. It was a really good time meeting all of the youth kids and just hanging out with them. Savanna and Jade taught me some Bahamian slang...

Wybin- problems... like having a lot of problems

swayd- so who asked you that?

muddoe- aww man this sucks

muddasickbey- aww that sucks dude

bey- a term like dude or bro

stale- that's a sucky joke, Nathan (I'll be using that one a lot) haha

nani- poop

Boungey- butt.

Hooray! love you

Hello My Name Is...

I heard that about 100 times today! We went from meeting to meeting to meeting but it was all great! We met with Matthew (the youth pastor), Pastor Neilly, and Giselle (Pastor's wife) and we discussed all of the stuff we're going to be doing during the summer! We're starting a college age group (we should call it Wesley) and we're working with the youth band and the youth itself. We're also just having bi weekly youth hangouts and they want us to go on their youth retreat coming up (yes please!). We're doing the Dramas/Lessons for the VBS coming up and we're also doing a lot for the youth "praise week". I couldn't be more excited to see everything pan out during the summer!  We went shopping today and we got a bunch of food and only spend 57 dollars which is good for shopping in the Bahamas! we bargain shopped out the wazoo and saved some money which is always nice! We got some good healthy stuff too! WOO HOO!

-Love

p.s. James's last name is Duryea not Capelli!!!!

Did you see the moonwalking bear?

My first night was amazing! We just got settled into our room with the help of my new friend Rumell, and then we went to the prayer service. We didn't know where the meeting was so we traveled around and finally found it 15 minutes late but whatevs, I'm told that's the Bahamian way lol. Anyways the meeting was so good! Pastor Neilly talked about something so simple yet so powerful, the Lords Prayer. We prayed for quite some time. I had a lot of prayers directed at me which was awesome! Then Nathan lead some songs (I sang harmony!!!) and afterwards, a member of the church gave me and Nathan $50! What a blessing! It's encouraging to see members of the church on fire for Jesus and who were willing to do anything to further His kingdom! I'm excited to work with all of the people I met and I'm excited to meet more people too (and finally play some soccer)! Today we're having lunch with some dudes from the church so we can meet and talk about the rest of the summers plans!

Yesterday when we were setting up beds, Nathan says "I won't EVER need this big blanket" and he puts it away.... I wake up and the 1st thing I see is Nathan in that huge blanket haha. It's so cold in our room!

 Last night I watched this video...it was really funny but it got me thinking... While I'm here I have to be intentional about helping people out and I always have to be on the look out for people to go talk to and for things to do because odds are, they are not going to come to me so I'm gonna be on the lookout for the moonwalking bear this summer!

love you! bye

Here goes nothing.

I'm here in the Bahamas now! It's great! The airport was the smoothest that the airport can get! The flight was a bit rocky but only because we were taking off in the rain but it was all good. We got to the Bahamas and customs didn't like that we were "working but didn't have any papers saying we were working" so we only got granted a month stay here but we can go get that extended for the extra month anytime. This awesome dude named Rumell and Pastor Neilly picked us up from airport and drove (on the left side of the road) to the church. We're at Queens College (the place were staying) and were in the upstairs bedroom with the AC and it's super sweet. We moved in another bed and Nathan is sleeping on girly flower sheets. I'm just ready to play some soccer! I got to talk to Erica with my google voice number (757-BAHAMA-0) and that was the best! We're leading worship tonight for a tiny prayer meeting and I'm excited about that but from what I hear, the church is SUPER EXCITED to have us here too! I'm still not really sure what our duties are here but I think Titus 2:6-8 sums up what I wanna do... "Encourage the the young men to be self-controlled. In everything set them an example by doing what is good. In your teaching show integrity, seriousness and soundness of speech that cannot be condemned, so that those who oppose you may be ashamed because they have nothing bad to say about us." BOOM! I want that verse to be lived out in my life!

Love Josh

Sure

Here I go, writing a blog for the first time ever (unless you count Xanga but that was a joke and I was like 12). I feel like I'm gonna be a horrible blog writer but I'm okay with it. I'm really excited because I'm going to the Bahamas today! I'm going with my buddy Nathan and we're gonna play soccer with some kiddos and make some sweet sweet worship music too! I've been excited for a while now but I'd say I'm more antsy not... 1:30 can't come soon enough! 

I love flying so I can't wait for that whole ordeal too! I just love people watching and seeing how strangers act in high stress situations. I always wonder like Where are they going? Where did they come from? Why? What made them wear that shirt? I also just like being on an airplane and being way higher in the sky and going way faster than everyone else. haha this is lame. 

Anyways, I'm stoked for what the Lord has in store for me and Nathan and just what this whole experience will be like (and to be chillin by da beach, boy). I'll cya in August, America (with a huge beard)! 

 

-Josh Wiater

p.s. I'm gonna miss Erica a bunch!