What a FIRST day!

After a cup of coffee or two this morning in our home it was off to a late breakfast at where else but Chick Fila Arboretum (the best one in the world, right Hope?). On the way, Ephraim was like a little kid looking out the window so interested in everything he saw. "What's those boxes," he asked. "While those are mailboxes, they bring the mail right to your house," I answered. "How do they do that?" Before I could answer he said with enthusiasm, "Oh that's why you need those zip codes right?" That's right Ephraim. And the fact that we actually have street names, house numbers and town maps helps a ton too. After a healthy breakfast it was off to Chris and Johanna's school for a visit. Johanna loved showing them around the grounds and introducing them to all her friends. From there it was off to see the Billy Graham Library. Both of them were deeply moved by the experience. Inspired for sure! Now for those of you who have been before you will remember the talking cow when you first come in. We saw it on the way out because the tour had just started and the first movie was playing when we arrived. So we hurried up and joined in with the group already assembled. When we finished the tour they both really wanted to go back and see the cow they had missed at the start. As we were walking over to see the cow I said to them this was the only real live talking cow in the world. When we got there the cow began to talk. The two of them stared at this cow for almost 10 minutes, they couldn't believe what their ears were hearing or their eyes wre seeing (pictures will be posted tomorrow). A TALKING COW! I hated to break the news to them that the cow really wasn't a real cow. Ephraim refused to believe me at first. Berhanu wasn't sure what to believe. "It looks so real," the two of them exclaimed. "What about the cat, is it real?" Ephraim asked. "Nope, not the cat either, all fake," I exclaimed. "Are you sure," Ephraim said. I'm sure Ephraim. He loved that cow exhibition.

The rest of the day we enjoyed visiting Jamie at the YMCA, visiting the "Nate Watkin family" (Nate spent 6 months in Ethiopia in 2003 and Jenn visited around 2005?), eating dinner at "On the Border" (they definitely loss money on the unlimited chips & dip we ate and Ephraim devoured) and then a Charlotte Latin soccer game where we enjoyed the company of LuLu (Ethiopia 2008) and seeing Mitch (Coaches training 2007) and Mark Steffans (First tour to Ethiopia in 2001) after the match. What a day! Evening prayer and then off to Bed by 10pm.

Tomorrow we head Uptown on the train where a visit to Discovery Place is planned. Just trying to get them to relax a little while seeing some of the sights in Charlotte and visiting some special friends who use to live in Ethiopia before all the planned meetings, travel and speaking engagements begin. Yet invites galore are coming in for these guys (4 new terrific opportunities today for them that we had to pass on) to speak or meet with folks. We are really trying to protect them as much as possible by not adding any more on to their already full schedule.

We have lots of work ahead of us in our upcoming Ethiopia country review, camp langano planning day, our 4 day curriculum development training time, board of advisor mtgs, donor desserts, numerous speaking engagements, Florida ISC conference, Texas visit, Montreat trip, Chapel Hill visit and Liberty University engagement as well as medical & dental exams squeezed in between everything else. We just can't do anymore and we hope our friends who love our Ethiopian brothers will understand. Ephraim and Berhanu do so much and run so hard while serving the Lord in Ethiopia. With lots of meetings ahead of us we want to be sure they can breath, relax, laugh, have a bit of down time, enjoy fun experiences and have time for them to prepare in prayer and in the Word for all that's ahead of them. Thank You for understanding.

Brian

PS Gifts. People have inquired about giving to these men. If you want to give to Berhanu or Ephraim a gift we ask you to consider giving them a card, maybe a family photo, with cash so they can buy what they need here before they go back or just use the money to buy clothes etc. when they return to Addis. With limited baggage to return with and $150-$200 per extra baggage we really would love for you to go this route if possible. We will take them to stores before they leave to fill one bag with their needs and desires from the cash they receive. If you really must buy them something feel free to give me a call regarding a potential needs and desired list for both of them (i.e. maybe you want to just give them $?? bucks to buy something at a Disney World shop) and/or to see if there is any room left in the extra bag for something you already bought. If your willing to pay for an extra bag you can let me know that as well. Thanks friends and if you live in Charlotte don't forget the Sunday night at 6pm testimony sharing at Church of Charlotte.