This is brother Rog Wheeler, the YOUNGER brother. People get confused about that, I think it is because I seem much more mature - it's possible that I just look older. Rob and I have been doing S2S work together ever since the inception of the organization. Rob is the spreadsheet (think day to day operations) and blogging guy. I tend to be the Bible and fund raising guy...although we both cross over into each others area frequently. And that is going to be true over the next 2-3 weeks, and I am going to become the blogging guy.
I get on a plane in Iowa early friday morning, and will have roughtly 24 hours of travel time - assuming no major delays - and will touch down in Lusaka sometime early afternoon Africa time. I will meet my friend Frank Ponds during a brief layover in Chicago...and then we will meet up with my other friend Matthew Youngs at our brief layover in Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The three of us will enter Zambia together and then roll with our Zambia 5 for the first 4 days. We will be joined by Matthew's father Dr. Curtis Youngs from Iowa State University on the 12th; we will be reunited with our Ghanian daughter Anita on the 13th; and then Frank and I will breath a sigh of relief on Thursday the 14th when our wives Lisa and Kim join the enrourage.
I am going to try to blog daily over the next 18 days...kinda like a travel blog. I'm not very good at this, but maybe I'll figure out how to add some photos or video along the way. Primarily I want to focus on how the New Testament comes alive when we are privileged to participate in something like this.
For now, let's start with this verse: 1 Thessalonians 5:11 says "Therefore encourage one another and build each other up..." It doesn't fit my American lifestyle very well to take 2 full weeks away from my real estate business. I'm going to be honest. I'm not excited about the 50+ hours of in-flight time...40+ hours of bus time...2 preaching engagements (I'm not a preacher), 5 pastoral training times (Remedial S2S training, and a prophetic Word) and a few hours of staff studying together. All of that feels daunting and overwhelming. I could use your encouragement, I'd love to be built up as we prepare to leave the country. I have no idea how this blog will go out, don't have any idea how you might read it. But if you do, feel free to comment or post to that end (encouragement)...or even just text or call. I'm anxious to see how many people will be taking this journey with me.
And I want to build you up as well. If you are reading this, then you are likely one of the 140 or so that make this ministry possible. You are likely one who has joined us in the 21st century minifestation of the Food for Faith trade that is Shoulder 2 Shoulder. Please be encouraged. Know that your efforts to that end are deeply appreciated by many.
Let's build each other up as we embark on this adventure together.
Rog
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