Closing Our Olympics Outreach

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Joshua and Alyssa at the LouvreFinal Day of Ministry

Tuesday, August 6, was our last full day of ministry with SEE, and we were placed with a few other teams near an old opera house.

Alyssa stayed back at our lodging to work on a summary video of the week’s activities. This video captured all the highlights of our outreach and was shown to the entire group that evening. It was a wonderful way to reflect on all that God had done through our team during our time in Paris.

I spent most of my time on the streets interviewing people from our team, asking them to share about their experiences with the Olympics outreach efforts. The interviews revealed amazing stories of divine appointments and Gospel conversations that happened throughout the week. Each person shared how God had worked in unique ways through their interactions with people from around the world who had gathered for the Olympics.

As our ministry time came to a close, we couldn’t help but feel grateful for the opportunity to be part of this global outreach. We had seen God work in expected and unexpected ways, bringing people from all nations together and using our team to share His message of hope.

Even though our time in Paris was ending, we knew the impact of these Gospel booklets would continue long after we returned home. Seeds had been planted that would continue to grow in the hearts of those who received them.

SEE 2025Bittersweet Farewells

On Wednesday morning, I drove several people to the train station for their early morning flights. Later, I took our youth group kids on the train back to the airport so they could fly back home.

It was bittersweet to bid farewell to everyone, just as I had experienced in Brazil back in 2016 when I first participated in the Olympics outreach. Most of these people I may never see again on this earth. But for 10 days, we were a team with one focus and one mission, and we were a family.

For those of you who prayed for us and asked how things were going, we greatly appreciate your care and interest in our ministry there. We have since heard of at least two more people who have been saved as a result of that ministry, and we look forward to finding out about more when we get to heaven!

The 2028 Olympics are in Los Angeles, and we are already planning to participate once again. We would love it if some of you would join us, so please contact us if you have any interest, and we will tell you everything that you need to know!

We also want to give a special thank you to those of you who donated funds toward our trip. We were able to use points for our flights, but the other expenses were still significant, and many of you were a blessing to us by helping to offset our costs. You were part of the ministry that we had there, and we do not take that for granted!

What special moments have you experienced during outreach or ministry trips?

2024 Olympics Ministry Posts

Unexpected Moments in Paris

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Train in ParisA Team Member Goes Missing

Everything began normally on Saturday, August 3, as we took the train into Paris. This time, we traveled with two other groups to our designated area near the Eiffel Tower.

At our first transfer, we got off the train and started walking when one of our youth group girls exclaimed, “Mary’s not here!” (Her real name isn’t Mary, FYI.)

By that time, the train had already left, and none of us had contact information for her. We knew that she had been struggling to get her SIM card working the night before, but that didn’t matter anyway since we didn’t have a phone number for her.

Now she was on a train in Paris without us; as her team leader, I (Joshua) was responsible.

We sent messages to another group that was still on the train, but they couldn’t find her either. I told our group that we needed to proceed to our destination because we could not try to search for her on this massive train system. We hoped she would be wise enough to take the train back to the monastery and wait there until everyone returned for the day.

Alyssa and Baby Jocelyn at the Eiffel Tower

Thankfully, that’s exactly what she did, and she eventually rode back into Paris with somebody else who returned her to our group.

Meanwhile, we had a great morning and afternoon handing out booklets near the Eiffel Tower. We even met a pastor and his family from Florida who took a picture with us because they were excited about what we were doing. One of the girls in our youth group also met a Japanese lady who lived in the same town that she had visited on a missions trip last year!

Alyssa spent a lot of time pushing the kids around in the strollers, and she was a little disappointed that she didn’t get to help more with the booklets or the pictures and video. But, eventually, she had a chance to hand out booklets while I took care of the kids, and her stroller time became an unexpected blessing!

Several people asked for directions to the tower, and she was able to give them the information they needed since she had walked around the area so many times. So when people asked how to get to the tower, she would give them a booklet and answer their questions.

It was another one of those situations where God was working in the details, but we couldn’t see it until later.

That evening, we received wonderful news – someone received a booklet this week, placed their faith in Christ, and filled out the form on our organization’s website to let us know they had been saved!

A Couple Days of Rest and Exploration

Sunday, August 4, was a day for everyone to take a break, rest a little, and see the city. We took our youth group kids into Paris to see the Notre Dame Cathedral, the Olympic cauldron, the Louvre museum, and the Arc de Triomphe. Of course, we didn’t pay for entrance to any of those sites, but we have the pictures to prove that we were there!

Baby Jadon at Lego Store in ParisThe next day was also a day of relaxation. We brought our youth group kids to a water polo event and then went to visit some of Alyssa’s relatives in another part of the city. We decided not to attend the water polo event ourselves because we would have had to pay full price for each of our kids, and we knew they wouldn’t enjoy it enough to justify the cost.

After seeing Alyssa’s relatives, we spent some time at a Lego store that Alyssa found, a big hit with our little ones (and us adults)!

When we go on these missions trips, we usually spend most of our time working hard, but it’s also important to take a break, and you want to enjoy your destinations when you travel internationally. So these two days were perfect, and they prepared us for the final push to the end.

2024 Olympics Ministry Posts

God’s Plans Are Better Than Ours

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Roommate Speaking to LocalsDistribution at the Seine

On Thursday, August 1, our group ventured to a location along the historic Seine River and teamed up with a couple of other groups. Alyssa decided to keep the kids back at the monastery where our team was staying because one of the kids was sick, and we had not slept much for a couple of nights.

We positioned ourselves at the end of a bridge, across the street from the park that housed the iconic Olympic cauldron. This was a great location because many people would cross the river there before entering the park.

As I (Joshua) walked around and took pictures and video of my teammates, I particularly enjoyed watching my first college roommate, Tyler Betz. He and his wife are now missionaries in France, and he did what he’s good at doing- talking to people. But it was fun to watch because he did it in French, something I never imagined him doing many years ago.

Eventually, we ran out of all our English and French booklets; most tourists in the area were English and French speakers, so our booklets in the other languages were less useful. One lady in our group started to hand out Chinese and Arabic booklets to everyone, and shortly thereafter, we decided it was just best to pack up for the day.

Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de MontmartreA Reminder from God

The next day, God had a great lesson to teach us!

We went to the Basilique du Sacré-Cœur de Montmartre on Friday after another group told us that it was a great spot for handing out the booklets; I didn’t realize until we arrived that this was such a popular tourist destination! The walk to get there was quite long, and we opted for a route that avoided the famous flights of stairs leading up to the basilica since we had a couple of strollers.

When we arrived, we struggled mightily to find people interested in taking booklets or engaging in conversations. Most visitors seemed focused on touring the basilica and taking pictures.

Eventually, Alyssa and I found a promising spot partway down the hill, while our youth group kids positioned themselves at the top of the stairs.

But a couple of hours later, one of the ladies in our group told us in a distraught tone of voice, “We have to leave.”

She told us that a police officer asked her to put away her booklets, so she closed the suitcase that had all of the booklets in it.

But the officer returned later and also asked for her ID, telling her to leave.

In France, we had the freedom to distribute literature, and we were not doing it on private property. But for her sake, I told everyone that we needed to leave before something else happened.

Joshua Handing Out BookletsWe were a bit discouraged as we walked back toward the train station, especially since we had not had the success that the other groups reported earlier in the week.

But God had better plans! As we walked back, I started handing out booklets to local French people along the way. Two blocks before the train station, I told everyone, “Let’s stop here on the sidewalk for half an hour and see how many booklets we can distribute.”

We ended up staying for over 45 minutes because almost everyone who walked by reached out to take a booklet from us! Before long, we ran out of all our French booklets and several of our English ones.

It was one of those moments when God reminded us that His plans are different from ours, and His plans are always better.

What had started as a discouraging trip turned into an exciting one!

2024 Olympics Ministry Posts

It’s Time for the Olympics!

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Huangs with Eiffel Tower Behind Them We are in Paris! It is such a surreal experience to be in the city of the 2024 Olympic Games. The city is full of visitors from all over the world, with spectators and Olympians and their family members.

We are part of a team of 65 people from around the world who are here to share the Gospel as part of Sports Event Evangelism (SEE).

On Tuesday (July 30), we handed out booklets near the newscaster base, up the hill from the Eiffel Tower, and Joshua and Jadon were part of the crowd for NBC’s “Today Show” (you can spy them on the left side in this video: https://www.today.com/video/team-usa-skateboarders-fencers-swimmer-talk-medals-in-paris-215976005828).

In between video segments, Jadon happily handed out Gospel booklets to the other American crowd members (and who can refuse a booklet from a cute two-year-old?). One of our team members gave a booklet to one of the show hosts, and he accepted it! Please pray that people will read these booklets and that seeds will begin to take root.

Yesterday we were at Gare du Nord, a large train station in the city. We handed out all of the French booklets that we brought and almost all of the English booklets. We have met people from Jamaica, Japan, Poland, Denmark, the Philippines, and even families from Bloomington and St. Paul in Minnesota!

Please pray with us that God would continue working in the hearts of the people here in Paris!

Have you ever been part of a ministry like this? We’d love to hear about it!

Praying with Our Team at Gare du Nord

2024 Olympics Ministry Posts

Take a Look at What We’re Giving People in France!

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In just over one week, we will be in France with our family and a few young people from our church!

We have begun the process of packing, and we are actually almost finished! For those who are interested, we will share some blog posts showing what we are packing, how we are doing it, and how we plan for trips like this for a family of four.

Handing out Booklets at the OlympicsFor right now, we wanted to show you the amazing booklets that we are going to hand out in France! If you have a few moments, take a look to read them and then pray for those strangers who we will meet that God would give them receptive hearts to the Gospel.

Some have asked about obtaining these booklets for themselves. We’re not sure if we can get some for you, but we are looking into that possibility because it is one of the most thorough gospel booklets we have ever seen, especially for people who have no understanding of biblical concepts. If you’re interested, please let us know!

Partner with Us

If you would like to partner with us financially as we take the Gospel to the 2024 Olympics, our expenses are going to be about $6,600. This includes our flights, our lodging, our meals, and our travel insurance. Thank you so much to those who have already donated generously to this ministry!

Instructions on how to donate to our summer ministry can be found at the following link: Donate to Huangs’ Summer 2024 Missions Trip

Praises and Prayer Requests

Praises

  • God has opened the door for our whole family to participate in this ministry together
  • All the details have come together smoothly for our trip

Prayer Requests

  • All of the funds to cover our expenses as this is not part of our regular church ministry
  • Ease of travel for our kids, especially when they miss naps
  • Preparation of the hearts of those in France who we will meet and share the Gospel with

2024 Olympics Ministry Posts

We’re Going to France!

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2024 Summer Missions Trip TeamWe have some exciting news!

Our family is partnering with S.E.E. (Sports Event Evangelism) to bring the Gospel to the world at the 2024 Summer Olympics.

Joining us on our trip are three young people from our church’s youth group, Joyanna, Abigail, and Chayden.

Joshua was part of the S.E.E. team at the 2016 Summer Olympics, so we have been looking forward to this opportunity for several years, especially after the cancellation of the 2020 Olympics.

Our responsibilities will be two-fold. First, we will help the group distribute Gospel booklets in multiple languages and talk to anyone who has the time to stop and go deeper. Second, we will capture photos and videos of the outreach to show what God is doing there.

Please pray for our family and for the rest of our church’s group as we prepare for this ministry later this summer. We will post updates via email and social media. If you would like to subscribe to our family’s email updates, you can do so on the sidebar here on our website.

We will also post details of our trip here on our website, including how we were able to book business class flights for our return trip for less than the cost of economy tickets! You can subscribe to our blog updates on the sidebar as well.

Partner with Us

If you would like to partner with us financially as we take the Gospel to the 2024 Olympics, our expenses will be about $6,600. This includes our flights, our lodging, our meals, and our travel insurance.

Instructions on how to donate to our summer ministry can be found at the following link: Donate to Huangs’ Summer 2024 Missions Trip

Praises and Prayer Requests

Praises

  • God has opened the door for our whole family to participate in this ministry together
  • We have three young people from our church going with us on this missions trip
  • Everyone’s passports have been secured!

Prayer Requests

  • All of the funds to cover our expenses as this is not part of our regular church ministry
  • Preparation of our hearts as we anticipate this ministry
  • Preparation of the hearts of those in France who we will meet and share the Gospel with

2024 Olympics Ministry Posts

How To Earn Multiple Free Flights on Southwest Right Now

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Disclosures: This article includes links to credit cards. If you choose to apply for a credit card through our links, we may or may not receive a referral bonus. Credit cards are not suitable for everyone, however. If you have credit card debt of any kind, are irresponsible with your past or current use of credit cards, are unaware of the risks of using credit cards, or are conscientiously opposed to the use of credit cards, please do not apply for the credit cards mentioned in this article. You are 100% responsible for your own choices regarding the use of any credit cards mentioned here.

We love to fly, and we love to get the most value possible out of our flights. Sometimes this means getting the cheapest flight possible, but not at the expense of comfort and taking our belongings with us (which is why we avoid Spirit, Frontier, and other airlines that have really cheap tickets).

Southwest Plane on the TarmacOne of the ways we do this is by using credit cards offered by airlines. When it comes to travel rewards and benefits, few airline credit cards compare to the Southwest consumer credit cards.

With three distinct options tailored to different travel needs, Southwest offers some of the best credit cards for anyone looking to maximize their travel experiences. For a limited time, these cards are even better because of the incredible sign-up bonuses that are available.

Right now, each of the three Southwest consumer credit cards has an offer for 85,000 bonus points if you spend $3,000 on the card within three months of being approved. This offer is good until June 26, 2024.

With 85,000 points, you can typically book between 2-4 roundtrip award flights within the US. The taxes and fees on award flights are $5.60 per one-way flight ($11.20 for a roundtrip). This does not make award flights 100% free, but that is pretty close!

So why would you want a Southwest credit card?  Let’s take a look at the three consumer cards and why we think these cards are excellent choices for travelers seeking value, flexibility, and exclusive perks.

1. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card

Annual Fee: $69

Key Benefits:

  • Sign-Up Bonus (until June 26, 2024): Earn 85,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
  • 2X Points: Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases.
  • 1X Points: Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • 3,000 Anniversary Points: Receive 3,000 points each year on your cardmember anniversary (worth approximately $42).
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: Travel abroad without worrying about extra fees.

Why It’s Great for Travel: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Plus Credit Card offers a solid sign-up bonus and ongoing rewards that make earning points easy and straightforward. With no foreign transaction fees, this card is ideal for international travelers. The anniversary points add extra value, helping offset some of the annual fee. Good option if you book one or two roundtrip tickets on Southwest every year.

2. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card

Annual Fee: $99

Key Benefits:

  • Sign-Up Bonus (until June 26, 2024): Earn 85,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
  • 6,000 Anniversary Points: Receive 6,000 points each year on your cardmember anniversary (worth approximately $84).
  • 2X Points: Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases.
  • 1X Points: Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • No Foreign Transaction Fees: Enjoy fee-free spending abroad.
  • Tier Qualifying Points: Earn 1,500 tier qualifying points (TQPs) for every $10,000 spent on the card, up to 15,000 TQPs annually.

Why It’s Great for Travel: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Premier Credit Card provides more anniversary points than the Plus version, helping offset most of the annual fee. The ability to earn tier qualifying points makes this card an excellent choice for frequent flyers looking to achieve A-List status with Southwest. This is another good option if you book one or two roundtrip tickets on Southwest every year.

3. Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card

Annual Fee: $149

Key Benefits:

  • Sign-Up Bonus (until June 26, 2024): Earn 85,000 points after spending $3,000 on purchases in the first 3 months.
  • 7,500 Anniversary Points: Receive 7,500 points each year on your cardmember anniversary (worth approximately $105).
  • 2X Points: Earn 2 points per $1 spent on Southwest purchases, Rapid Rewards hotel and car rental partner purchases.
  • 1X Points: Earn 1 point per $1 spent on all other purchases.
  • $75 Southwest Travel Credit: Get an annual $75 credit for Southwest travel purchases.
  • Four Upgraded Boardings: Enjoy four upgraded boardings per year, when available.
  • 20% Back on In-Flight Purchases: Get 20% back on in-flight drinks, Wi-Fi, messaging, and movies.

Why It’s Great for Travel: The Southwest Rapid Rewards® Priority Credit Card offers the most comprehensive set of benefits among the three cards. The anniversary points, travel credit, and upgraded boarding passes provide significant value for frequent travelers and more than offset the annual fee. This is a great option if you fly with Southwest at least twice a year. Both of us have this card because we fly Southwest so often.

Why Southwest Credit Cards Stand Out for Travel

1. Companion Pass Eligibility: All three Southwest credit cards offer points that count toward earning the coveted Southwest Companion Pass, which allows you to choose one person to fly with you for free (excluding taxes and fees) every time you purchase or redeem points for a flight.

If you can get one of Southwest’s business cards and get the signup bonus this year in addition to the 85,000-point offer on one of these consumer cards, you will automatically qualify for the Companion Pass. You can read more about the Companion Pass in this article: The One Travel Deal That Has Saved Us Thousands of Dollars

2. Generous Rewards and Sign-Up Bonuses: As already mentioned, the sign-up bonuses alone can cover multiple flights, providing immediate value.

3. Flexible Redemption Options: Southwest points can be redeemed for flights with no blackout dates, giving you the flexibility to travel when it suits you best. Furthermore, Southwest points never expire, so you don’t have to worry about losing them.

4. No Foreign Transaction Fees: All three cards allow for fee-free spending abroad, making them ideal for international travelers.

5. Annual Benefits: The anniversary points, travel credits, and upgraded boardings provide ongoing value that can easily offset the annual fees.

If you have ever had a Southwest card before, one thing you should remember is that you cannot hold more than one Southwest consumer credit card at a time in your Chase account, and you cannot get a signup bonus on a card if you received a signup bonus on that same card within the last 24 months (even if you have closed the account since then).

Summary

The Southwest consumer credit cards offer a range of benefits that cater to different travel needs and preferences. Whether you choose the Plus, Premier, or Priority card, you can enjoy valuable rewards, exclusive perks, and flexibility that enhance your travel experience.

Right now with the 85,000-point signup bonus, this makes the card a no-brainer for people like us who love to fly. I wish we could take advantage of this offer, but we cannot since we both already have the Priority card. But if you are interested in flying with Southwest and normally spend about $1,000 a month already on a debit card or another credit card, this might be the perfect offer for you!

Embracing Differences in Marriage with Patience and Understanding

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Marriage is a beautiful journey (we like to refer to it as an adventure) of two individuals coming together to share their lives. But just like any relationship, it also comes with its challenges. One of the most common challenges is dealing with differences in how each spouse approaches tasks and situations.

Joshua and Alyssa on the RoofWe discovered this even before we got married since we were friends for several years, but we both have slight differences in the ways that we do many things. It doesn’t help either that we both have strong firstborn personalities, so we both know that our way of doing things is the best way 😉

When your spouse does something differently than how you prefer, it can be tempting to try to change them. This is an ongoing challenge for me, especially.

I have learned, however, that sometimes it can be better to stay quiet and embrace these differences with grace. In view of eternity, some differences are honestly not that big of a deal, like the fact that Alyssa handwashes dishes with the faucet running while I only turn on the water once I’m ready to rinse the dishes.

There often is nothing to gain by asking your spouse to do something differently just because you prefer it that way (and Alyssa washes our dishes most of the time anyway, so she should get to do it the way she wants to!).

How to Embrace Differences with Grace

The Bible offers wisdom on how to handle differences and conflicts in various situations. One such passage is Proverbs 17:27-28: “He who has knowledge spares his words, and a man of understanding is of a calm spirit. Even a fool is counted wise when he holds his peace; when he shuts his lips, he is considered perceptive.”

Sometimes it’s better not to say anything! There is value in restraint and wisdom in sometimes remaining silent.

Why start a conflict when you could instead accept a small difference and maintain peace and goodwill?

Here are a few advantages of keeping quiet instead of voicing certain preferences.

  1. You Foster Peace and Harmony
    By choosing not to voice every disagreement, you help to maintain a peaceful and harmonious home environment. Even constructive criticism on a regular basis can create tension and conflict, whereas patience and acceptance can strengthen your relationship.
  2. You Encourage Growth and Independence
    Allowing your spouse to handle tasks in their way can encourage their personal growth and independence. It shows trust and respect for their abilities and decisions.
  3. You Build Mutual Respect
    When you accept your spouse’s differences, you build a foundation of mutual respect. This respect fosters a deeper emotional connection and strengthens the bond between you.

Of course, there are times when you should speak up and have a kind-hearted discussion about some differences, especially if those differences significantly impact either of you spiritually, mentally, physically, or financially.

Some of these issues, if not addressed, can lead to misunderstandings or resentment over time. It’s important to find a balance between being patient and addressing significant concerns.

Consistently staying silent can stifle healthy communication. It is crucial to ensure that both partners feel heard and understood in the relationship. You need to learn how to differentiate between matters that need to be discussed and those that are insignificant.

In some cases, what might seem like a minor difference could be a symptom of a larger issue. Ignoring it could lead to more significant problems down the line. Again, discernment must be exercised. The example I gave above about washing the dishes is not a symptom of a larger issue, and it doesn’t impact either of us in a negative way.

When to Speak Up with Grace

While embracing differences with grace is important, there are situations where it is better to speak up…and still use grace.

  1. Matters of Principle or Values
    If the difference touches on core values or principles, it is essential to discuss it. Open communication about fundamental beliefs is crucial for a healthy relationship. Almost anything related to raising kids should be discussed.
  2. Impact on Well-Being
    If your spouse’s actions are affecting their well-being, your well-being, or the well-being of your family, it is necessary to address the issue. But do some soul-searching and praying to make sure you aren’t being selfish!
  3. Repeated Patterns
    If a particular behavior is a recurring source of conflict or stress, it might be time to have a constructive conversation about it. If you tend to get stressed easily over inconsequential things, though, you might want to get additional help and counsel for that.

When speaking up, it’s important to do so with love and respect. Colossians 3:12-14 advises, “Therefore, as the elect of God, holy and beloved, put on tender mercies, kindness, humility, meekness, longsuffering; bearing with one another, and forgiving one another, if anyone has a complaint against another; even as Christ forgave you, so you also must do. But above all these things put on love, which is the bond of perfection.”

This passage reminds is addressed to the church, but if you and your spouse are both born-again Christians, you are a brother and sister in Christ and should treat each other as such. Approach your spouse with kindness and love, aiming to build them up rather than to get your way.

Summary

Learning to embrace differences with patience and understanding can foster peace, respect, and deeper connection. This is true of all relationships, but especially in marriage.

More and more often, I have found that I just have a lot of preferences, and just because my wife does something differently does not mean it’s wrong! There are usually multiple good ways to do things. Therefore, expressing my preference is often not necessary.

Remember, however, that there are also legitimate times to speak up and address significant issues. Do not come to these conclusions quickly, though, and try to approach these situations from a biblical perspective.

Embrace the adventure of growing together, accepting your differences, and always striving for unity and love!

Do you tend to express your opinions and preferences more often than necessary in your relationships?

How To Share Life Together Even When You Aren’t Together

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Back when Alyssa and I decided to get married, we determined that we were going to share as much of life together as possible. After all, we looked at marriage as a new adventure that we were going to embark on together, not separately.

But there are times when we must necessarily be apart. For example, during the first few years of marriage, Alyssa worked 30 hours a week at a day job, which meant that every day we were apart while we worked our separate jobs. As far as our ministries are concerned, though, we are committed to doing those together and have found great joy in doing so.

Sometimes we have ministry, family, and other life commitments that require us to be apart for a few days, and this week is one of those times. Nevertheless, we make sure we can still see each other and talk face-to-face on a daily basis.

5-Year Anniversary PoseOne week ago we celebrated our 5-year anniversary, and, more than ever, we want to see each other every day.

We are blessed to live in a time when technology makes it possible for us to see each other live with the touch of a button. Even 15 years ago when we were in high school, it was not this easy to see somebody from a distance.

But this was how we planned our wedding and did our marriage counseling while Alyssa taught on Guam and I lived in Minnesota, and it continues to be the way that we converse every day during those times when we cannot be together in person.

Now that we have children, this is even more important to us because our children only stay young for such a short time, and we want to be able to see them every single day as they grow and develop.

We also want our children to know that we love them and want to spend time with them every single day. Someday when they are adults, we will not have this same expectation of them, especially as they get involved in ministries, jobs, and perhaps even their own families.

Alyssa and Baby Jadon on a Video CallBut right now while they are just little guys, we want to spend every day with them, and we want to spend every day with each other as well.

If you are married, we challenge you to find a way to see your spouse face-to-face every single day, even when you are far apart. We know that a lot of people are resistant to today’s technology, but give some consideration to the benefits that it offers as well.

It is one thing to talk to someone on the phone, and it is another thing to see them while you talk to them. You can use Facetime or Facebook Messenger or Zoom (or perhaps even Skype, haha); we personally use WhatsApp because it’s the best option 😉 But with the accessibility of video calling these days, there are not many reasons not to take advantage of it when talking to your spouse.

We still don’t like to be apart from each other if we can help it, but having the ability to see each other virtually makes it much easier to do the things that we need to do and still go on this adventure of life together every single day.

If you are married, do you make it a priority to see your spouse every day on the days when they are far away?

Majoring on the Minors: Why I Took My Son to The Mall on Wednesday

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As Alyssa walked along the sidewalk, pushing Baby Jocelyn in the stroller, she could hear the screams of her oldest child behind her, but there was nothing she could do about it. She entered the doors of Terminal 1 at the Minneapolis-St. Paul airport and made sure not to turn around and look.

I sat there in the car with my distraught child behind me, wishing that we too were entering that terminal and preparing to board a flight. Baby Jadon loves to fly, and it crushed his little heart to see his mom and sister walk into the airport while we stayed in the car.

Of course, it didn’t make sense to him. Every time we go to the airport, he gets to get out with his car seat and go inside to get his boarding pass. He had flown on over 50 flights before his second birthday, and he already knows the whole process from the time we check our bags until we pick them up on the carousel at our destination.

But this was not one of those times, and there was nothing I could do to stop the tears from pouring down his cheeks as we drove away.

Thankfully, it was only a minute later when he stopped crying to point at the airplanes on the tarmac as we entered the highway once again. He gets excited to see airplanes on the ground and in the air even if he does not get to be a passenger on them.

But I decided that this would be a good time to have some father-son time together and to do something special for him while his mom and sister got the privilege of flying.

So we drove to Mall of America which is just on the opposite side of the interstate from the airport. We drove up to Level 5 in the parking garage, the level where we always park when we go to the mall.

Most of the stores in the mall were not open yet, and the little foot traffic that we found inside was mostly people who were there for the exercise. So we joined them and walked around a couple levels.

We walked around Nickelodeon Universe and stopped for a moment so he could watch the rides that went through their motions with nobody in them. We passed the thousands of Christmas lights that hang from the ceiling on the west side, always a favourite sight for Baby Jadon. We walked around the outside of the Lego store and looked at the many Lego sets on display.

We made sure to go up and down several escalators and one of the elevators because he always likes to do those.

At 10:00am, the stores finally opened, and we went straight to the Lindt store. Our family loves to go there because we like to look around at the many chocolates that they sell, and they often give free samples as well. Sure enough, they offered truffles to us, so we each took one as we continued to look around the store.

Baby Jadon at PaneraWhen we were finished there, we went up to the third level to Panera, and I got my free drink as a Sip Club member. While we waited for them to prepare my drink, we sat down at a table, and Baby Jadon proceeded to open his milk chocolate truffle. He took a bite and exclaimed, “Mmmmm!”

A smile spread across his face, the tears of one hour ago long gone. A moment later he popped the remainder of the candy in his mouth and pushed his wrapper across the table to me.

After he had finished his chocolate, he took mine and started to unwrap it. I did not mind because this little trip was about him, not about me, and I have had plenty of chocolate in my life. Once again he took a small bite out of it to start, but it was not long before the rest of the truffle was in his mouth while I sipped my hibiscus iced tea.

A few minutes later we got up and left the mall. We had a lot of things to do at home, and we both had a nice start to the day.

Together.

As our family grows and our kids grow up, we want them to learn that they can find joy and have fun in the little things. Yes, sometimes we also do the big things like going on weekend trips to see friends and family or to see things like the Creation Museum and the Ark Encounter. But most of the time, we major on the minors, like stopping at Mall of America to walk around and get a free chocolate sample.

We don’t have to go and buy ice cream or a Lego set or a die-cast car. We don’t have to ride any of the rides at Nickelodeon Universe. We can do small, simple things that cost us a little time but almost no money, and we can make memories that last a lifetime.

Baby Jadon probably won’t remember this trip, but we are laying a foundation for the rest of life. Together we will have a good time while saving money for more important things.

He didn’t get to fly on the airplane this time, but he still got to do something special.

What special things do you do with others that cost nothing or almost nothing?