PAPA!!!!

I got the biggest surprise of my life this week. Candace called me and told me she was pregnant!!! WHAT!!!! I'm gonna be a daddy! I know it's a scary thought but hopefully the baby will look like its mama. BOY or GIRL???? Let me know what you think.

Work Hard Play Hard

We finished our projects at the church today and it was also our last day at the church. :( Wish we had a few more days out here. So after we finished our projects today, Isaac and Carol took us to some beach in the middle of nowhere. It was beautiful. We went swimming in the Indian Ocean and body surfing. We nicknamed Chris "Roly Poly" because he kept getting slammed on the beach by the waves and it would roll him up and down the sand. It was hilarious!!! Heading to Swazi tomorrow and then home on Friday. Boo again!!! See you guys when I get back.

Making Progress

Check out these awesome pics from Mozi. We have been working on two projects at the church. One project is painting the veranda (where the children meet), and building a water station. When I first saw these projects I didn't see what we were supposed to do and I definitely didn't think it would turn out as awesome as it has. The team has done a slam up job. Check out the before and after pics. Today at VBS we had a great craft time. Mrs. Sherrie came up with a cool idea about buying some shirts that said HPC Kids and having them color in the shirts with fabric markers. That way the craft would be fun and the kids could get something they could use. It was a huge success. The kids loved it and were running everywhere with their shirts on. I laughed one time because this little kid had a shirt that went down to his ankles because we were down to one size. He was wearing his shirt and trying to color it. It was terrible. I laughed so hard. Well I'm goin eat. Later!!!!

P.S. How do you love the monkey. This family at the orphanage had it for a pet. I want one now!!!

More Updates

The last few days have been jam packed with teaching, projects, etc. We have been really working hard out here and even though it is winter, it's HOT!!! Saturday, Candace and I got to do some leadership training. Over here the core leaders are students. The ones that are out in front leading the church are high school and college students. It was an honor to get to pour into their lives and their hearts. Sunday we helped out with church. Candace and Mary Beth did a slam up job teaching the kids. I also discovered that Chris is a puppet master. Later that day we served meals to the church. Cooking for Christ (Mozi) cooked up over 500 meals with some logs. There are no burners out here. I was blown away at how good they can cook with just fire wood and cinder blocks. After church we got to take a ride to the Indian Ocean. Yesterday we started our projects. The girls had to paint the veranda (the place where the kids meet for church and many other activities) and the guys had to make a water station. In the afternoon Candace taught a bible story to the kids. She did so amazing. She had 300 kids undivided attention and when she finished the story they all remembered it and said it back to her. She's da bomb!!!! So after the bible story we passed out sandals to the kids. It was such a blessing to measure the kids feet and give them a new sandals. I have been so impressed with this team. They work hard, never complain, and stay up till 11 pm when they are tired just laughing in the hotel rooms. I am honored to be a part of this team. It has been quite an experience.

Other Side of the World!!!

Well we made it to Mozambique last night. It has been amazing already. After 24 hours of plane rides and not knowing what day it was or what time it was we arrived. Today we got to go to HPC Mozambique. It was crazy. Kids everywhere. Loved it!!! Gotta go to dinner so I'll write back in a sec.

Three Amazing Years

Two nights ago my wife and I celebrated our third anniversary. It has been an incredible journey and I couldn't have asked for a better spouse. I know that I wouldn't be doing what I'm doing had it not been for her and her heart to follow God. She is so full of God. I love her so much and can't wait to see what the next 3 years look like. If you are wondering that is not our baby but its the only picture I had of us on our anniversary night.

Welcome Isaac Cole Urban

This is my new nephew Isaac. He's a big boy. His was born today March 19th and I don't know the weight, height, etc. Women know all that stuff. I find it unimportant info. So anyway just wanted to put a couple pics of him on the blog. By the way, Candace's baby fever level just rose to new heights today. I don't know how much longer I'll be able to hold off. Is there a chance of a Blake Jr. soon? Who knows?

Every Women's Love

My brother's wife went into labor last night and we came to the hospital to see her about 4:00 am. I tried to get a picture of her to post but she threatened my life so I saw this and thought that it would speak for itself. I'll post some pics of the new boy when he decideds to come out.

Bring back the 80's

That's just gros!!!

Love the tight roll

Forgot to post about this the other day. The Hub brought back the 80's last weekend. It was scary.

Another Day of Disc Golf

So today Jordan and I went out to Greenwood Park in Baker to go sling some disc on the disc golf course. Well it got hot so we stopped to take a break. Jordan saw this tree stump and took out his whittling knife and went to work. All this time in elevate and he's carving idols. WOW!!!

THAT'S MY GIRL

Today at Candace's school the teachers had to dress like their favorite story book character. She dressed as Junie B Jones. If you know who this is she is a mess. She never matches, never fixes her hair: note the picture :) Anyway, tell me what you think of her outfit. She's gonna kill me when she finds out I put this on my blog. She's the one in the skirt if you don't know her.

BANGED UP AND BEAT DOWN

Please be in prayer for my boy Chaz. We went dukes of hazard into a pasture and broke a bone in his back. The El Camino is no more. He'll be in a brace for three months but at least he won't be in a wheel chair. Pray that he recovers fast. I took some pics of him doped up on morphine and figured I'd post them. Love ya Chaz. Smile baby!!!

AMPLIFIED AND CAFETERIA TABLES

What an incredible weekend we just had at amplified. This is our in house student retreat where students stay at host homes all weekend and attend services and outreach throughout the weekend. This one was extra special. Our student ministry did their first CD recording this weekend. It was amazing. It blows me away to hear the worship music coming out of this house by young men and women. They poured out everything they had and God poured out even more. We saw young men and women come to Christ, addictions broken, and lives changed. It is amazing to see how young people can raise the passion and excitement in us older folks lives. When I get around them I am encouraged to jump higher and bow lower. I feel free to worship Christ with everything I have. After service on Saturday about 40 students went out back to the lake to get baptized. It was freezing outside and the lake is nasty but the students don't care, they just want to be obedient. This weekend has started a fire in them that I pray can't be quenched. One of the students went to school today and got on his cafeteria table and said he was going public and started sharing about Christ. The principal told him he couldn't talk about Christ in public which is a bunch of bull. I told him start preaching everyday. I was so fired up. If your reading this and your a student let me say it is YOUR RIGHT to talk about Christ in schoo. They can't stop you. I can't go in a school and share Christ in public but you can. You are the ambassadors for Christ at your school and don't let anyone tell you to be quiet. Shout it to the rooftop. Everything else is let in schools but Christ isn't, NO NO NO! We will proclaim His Name, His Truth, His Word no matter the cost. Well I'm off my soap box. Peace!

Garage Sale

We had a garage sale yesterday to raise money for our trip to Africa. It turned into a modeling show between Jordan and Kelly. They were changing clothes about every 15 minutes. Jordan was changing clothes so much he found his shoes on the rack to be sold. Here are a few pics.

Crazy Two Weeks and Bon Voyage

These past couple of weeks have been quite a thriller. First we got to go on our student ministry retreat at Winbourne Baptist. It was awesome. We almost froze to death but other than that it was good. Papa Moose and I got to throw it down in the kitchen. We ignored the sign on the grill!!! The next day I got to go watch my brother's wife and her mother get baptized. I pray that we become a family that makes Christ our center and we take this world for Him. Later that night we had our vision night slash 15 year anniversary party at HPC. I am so amazed at God's blessing and favor He has given us. I can't wait to see what the next 15 years look like. Finally today my wife and I are heading out on a little cruise. We are going to Cozumel and Progreso. I can't wait to just sit back and relax. I'll post about it when I get back.

To Be Mayor For a Day

Today I had the privelage of meeting the mayor of Baton Rouge, Kip Holden. I was talking to him about some important stuff, you know football, LSU, some real matters. Now I wouldn't want his job for anything in the world, but I wish I was him on January 7. You know being the mayor isn't an easy task, but it sure has its kick backs. Because he's the mayor he got to be at the national championship game of course (I'm sure the seats weren't in the terrace level) and then he said the athletic department at LSU told him to come by one day and he could just pick out whatever he wanted. Tee-shirts, footballs, autographs, you name it he got it. I wouldn't want his job but I sure would like his benefits. GO TIGERS!!!!

AFRICA!!

Sorry for the layoff folks. I'm a slacker. I just found out today I'm going to Mozambique, Africa through Elevate. I am stoked. It's going to be awesome. Just wanted to send a little update. Please be praying for us. We leave on May 14. Hope to post again soon. Also if anyone knows how I can get my hands on a language learning thing for Portuguese, let me know.