First Snow

This morning I put on my thin fall and spring jacket threw my backpack on and headed off to the bus. I opened the door and was hit with a cold wind and the first true winter feeling. It was 6:45 AM and it was still dark so I looked at the streetlights and could see the first snow coming down. I took my hands out of my pockets, held them up and caught a few flakes just to confirm my fear. November 17 and we have snow in the air. Its not been cold enough to accumulate, but its just a reminder of reality.

This weekend I was up in Tallinn leading serving as the Technical Director for the Global Leadership Summit. This was the first year we had the Willow Creek conference in Estonia and it was amazing. The conference is on video, but has live music and hosts. I was a very big skeptic about the event. Not of the content but rather the audience. I knew the talks, I knew they were powerful challenges about Christian Leadership, but I was afraid that most Estonians wouldn't care and wouldn't give it a try and see what God would do. By the end of the conference there were many red eyes in the room. Eyes were full of tears and heads were bowed in prayer and repentance. It was something that I had never experienced in Estonia. Over 300 leaders were deeply impacted by what they experienced this weekend. The music was awesome, a jazzy style with some of the best musicians in Estonia. I am not sure what will happen in the churches around Estonian starting today, but I believe that God is starting to stir up something that could reorient the church back to its mission.

This week I hope to take some time off and get away with the family for a few days. Its been a tough couple of weeks with most of the staff gone, but with the same amount of activities. I am not sure of what we do, but I hope Reena and I can take some time alone as well as time with the kids. Everyone is healthy again, so I hope we can go swimming or visit one of the water parks. Most of all, I hope we can all get some rest and get some time to connect and love on each other.