Goodbye to my Friend

Well tonight I say goodbye to my intern Josue Leon and his wife Erika. Their internship is over and they are moving to Florida this summer to go back to school. Unfortunately I have done this several times but this something is different. Josue has touched my heart and changed my life. About a year ago Josue came up with the idea to bring a girl here to speak to our students. Her name was Fatu and she had her arm cut off by rebels during the blood diamonds era in Sierra Leon. The result of this night is forever life changing not just for me but for our students and our ministry. We all began to look out more than inward. I remember telling her that I would go to Africa someday and make a difference. I said that not knowing that I would start working alongside Passion the next day to do a conference in South Africa. Josue loves missions, he is a result of it. An orphan in Hati, Josue was adopted by American missionaries and then given money, lodging, schooling, etc. by a man named Rex who was doing missions. After having lunch one day, we developed a strategy for our students;"Change me, Change here, Change everywhere." We have raised over $2000 in a year to help Oneverse, Blood Water Mission, and World Vision. We have done many local mission projects in Knoxville and we are going to Nicaragua in July. I want to say thanks Josue. You have changed my life and I will never be the same. It is people like you that make Christianity look very good. You are a man of God that I know God will use to do great things for the Kingdom. I have been blessed to know you and Erika and I pray our friendship lasts forever. By the way, I will never tell anyone that you were 1-41 against me in Ping Pong. It is our little secret. I love you buddy!