hey y'all.

so i'm currently sitting in a caribou coffee shop in duluth (MN, not georgia) and in about 20 minutes, my team will be heading off to pine city, MN for the next 4 or 5 days.

sorry about the lack of updates. we really haven't had too much of a chance to get online (lack of internet at host homes) and when we actually do, i'm usually super tired.

tour so far has been pretty interesting. it's definitely not what i expected at all, but it is too.

the thing that gets me every stop we make is just the hospitality people offer to us. at every stop we make, we're usually sleeping at a host home. now these are people that we've never met before but they take us in like they've known us for years. parents take us in like their own children and the kids interact and treat us like we're their siblings as well. and even though some people might not have much, the fact that they're willing to go out of their way to make us feel at home by talking with us, sharing a meal with us, opening their homes, churches, schools, even their bathrooms for all 8 of us, really speaks to me.

touring and playing my guitar everyday is pretty awesome... i'm still pretty shocked that i have the opportunity to do it. and also sharing my testimony and the word of God with people has been pretty awesome too. i really enjoy that aspect of our ministry.

CTI says that even though we're a music ministry group, it's not really about the music. and that's totally true. and i'm so glad that it's not all about the music because i do enjoy getting to know people and seeing where they are. and having that opportunity to minister to them and be ministered to outside of the music context has been a blast.

now there are a few things and a few needs and i really ask y'all (who are reading) to pray for these.

1- my team. we've only been together for a little over a month. things are going good for the most part but i think honestly, things can be better. please pray that we'll continue to be unified in our goal to lead people in worship. and please pray that we'll have the smarts to make living together for the next year a possibility.

2- my team leader. please PLEASE keep jeff in your prayers. he has a lot on his plate and honestly, without God's strength, he can't make it happen.

3- for me. please pray that i'll continue to seek God, not the approval of man. there's been some things i've been struggling with for quite a long time and slowly God's been showing me His goodness.

4- equipment issues. so all this trip, i've been having a whole multitude of issues with different things. i'm still having big problems with my stratocaster... it hasn't electrocuted me lately but the electronics are starting to go bad so there's a lot of scratching, popping, and crackling noises coming from it. there's also a dead spot in the 1st string in some of the upper frets.

also, my 9"x14"x22" luggage ripped in the side! i could just put some duct tape on it but i'd really like to get it replaced before i leave for taiwan (which is in 2 or 3 weeks!)

there's also a whole host of other slight electrical gremlins and such but i won't bore you with the details. unless you wanna know. =)

5- financial support. i'm only slightly above 20% right now.

ok... team's heading out. much love to all y'all! i'll update when i get a chance.

Cheers,
Jon