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It’s starting to melt a little. Currently, I’m on operation thaw-out-my-frozen-car.

It’s just one big sheet of ice out. We’re going to have a look. The kids are pumped.

Good thing we stocked up.

Not enough for a snowman. Not a clean one anyway.

Pulling it all together . . .

When I look at the pictures below, one of two things can happen inside of me.

1) Fear. Panic. The idea that Amanda, Sophia, and Samuel could have been killed at an intersection on Germantown Pkwy while I sat at home reading for class is almost more than I can hold down.

2) Joy. Hope. Assurance. God is with us. God is for us. I know, ultimately, my little kiddos and precious wife are in his hands. He is our life. And, no matter what happens, good or bad, he is God and we can trust him.

Now, when I pass through that intersection my heart swells with thanksgiving. Gratefulness to the only one who is able and true and faithful. He, Yahweh, is our God. There is no other.

A while back I told you about Jerry’s sno-cones. Samuel got his first taste just a few weeks ago. Did he like it? You be the judge.

Memphis is replete with history, culture, and tradition. Places like Rendezvous, Graceland, and Beale St. get most of the attention, but that’s not the real Memphis. The real Memphis probably isn’t going to be listed in a brochure. The real Memphis is made up of places like Jerry’s Sno Cones.

It’s in a terrible location, almost impossible to find. It’s housed in a run-down building (though it does have a relatively recent paint job, pink!). Yet, people drive from all around Memphis to partake in Jerry’s Sno Cone goodness. I have to admit they really are amazing (How do they get the ice so fine?) Not to mention they are open all year.

We loaded up the kiddos and made our first visit to Jerry’s last week. The Melicks family, fellow MABTSers, introduced us to Jerry’s. Quite frankly, we hit it off real well. We’ll be back.

It wasn’t Sophia’s first snow cone, but probably the best she’s ever tasted. Pink Cotton Candy was her choice. It was delicious (How do I know? The ‘dad tax’ of course!).

The best thing about Jerry’s? Not the snow cones (though they are scrumptious). Not the hamburgers (Yup. They sell hamburgers. And cheese fries, too.). The best thing is the chance to step out of routine and be with friends. Words can’t express how grateful we are for the community we have here at MABTS.

Thankfully, the homework had nothing to do with math.

After doing several Bible studies at the apartment complex the rest of the class left. I stayed to help Mohammed and Abira’s two oldest kids with their homework.

I forgot about the fact that things in developing countries go at a different pace. Yeah, I was in the U.S., but if you had walked into the apartments we were in, you would swear that you were in Sudan.

I knocked on Mohammed’s door. He let me in. Only he and his three daughters (2 months, 19 months, and 4 years) were there.

They told me the day before the kids would be home at 3pm. They arrived sometime shortly after 4pm.

While we waited, Mohammed and I watched Animal Planet together. We watched the Crocodile hunter chase around lions, elephants, scary looking snakes, and hippos, all of which Mohammed had grown up with. He gave me the inside scoop.

“He better not play with that.” he said about the Hippos.

“That snake is not too dangerous.” he said about the Puff Adder.

“My grandpa got bit by one of those.” making a snake biting motion to his chest. I wondered if it actually bit him in the chest . . .

The homework went quickly.

“Sit down and eat.” Mohammed then said.

I sat down. Mohammed served me a plate of lamb. A bowl of vegetables. And a plate of flat bread. They sat around and watched me.

It was absolutely delicious. No silverware was offered so my hands I used. Actually, just my right hand because a little voice in my head was saying that the left hand wasn’t supposed to be used. I don’t know if that is correct, but I did my best.

Then, Mohammed drove me home.

Here are a couple of shots I took on my phone as we waited for the kids to get home from school. These two girls were precious.

Today was tough. My partner and I spent most of our time walking around the apartment complex, looking for someone to talk to. We ran into a few Somali families. None were willing to let us spend much time with them.

We did get to see Abira again. Mohammed, however, was not home. Abira asked me if I could come help her kids with their homework. I told her that I had to get back home, but that I would tomorrow. I’ll let you know how that goes. I just hope it doesn’t have anything to do with long division.

Cross-Cultural Church Planting // Day 3 from Ryan Bush on Vimeo.