Today's sessions gave me the feeling I get when I walk in and American grocery store while I'm hungry, and every item on every shelf suddenly looks like something I must have.and now!  Dozens of people I've never met stand in small groups, and I want to shake the hand of each one, grabbing their stories and storing them to share with you.  Alas, time limits the free moments we have together and the work at hand takes precedence over this eagerness to interview and learn.  Still, the coffee breaks and meal times become much-anticipated bonuses of the mining of the treasures of each guest's stories.  I'll be sharing many of those stories in the coming days as God grants, in particular because I want you to feel the passion of God as you hear of men and women in micro-finance and small/medium finance activities that double as economic miracles while simultaneously rescuing women from being forced to sell themselves as slaves.or choosing to do so to feed their children.  What a front line view of the best and worst of humanity we are hearing. 

     We were joined today by the larger group of men and women, and the roll-call of nations represented excites and humbles us as we listen to their voices, stories, praises, trials and wisdom.  What great joy to sit in this large ballroom, in a huge semi-circle resembling the great peace conferences of history, and to know this is a gathering of the sons and daughters of God, each of whom claim in humility the grace offered by our Lord Jesus Christ. 

     There is none of the Western-bashing one might expect in an international gathering, and none of the arrogance of the so-called "ugly American syndrome" being displayed by members of our team, so God is free to work, overcoming very real and very aggressive activity by Satan to discourage and derail this project and its' important work. 

There is Kenya.Singapore.China.Bangaladesh.South Africa.southern Africa.Hong Kong.India.Malaysia.Philippines.Indonesia.New Zealand.Korea.south Asia.Australia.England.Canada.and of course those of us from the United States. 

     In large and small groups we have the opportunity to look over God's shoulder and see the work He is doing in and through so many new friends.  As we wrestle through our Biblical research articles, we're hearing wonderful testimonies that give evidence to the truths unpacked in the papers, and are granted the treasure of anecdotes, stories and illustrations from the front lines of faith that will deepen and enrich the work we do. 

     I know it must feel like I'm winding up to throw the pitch, and then stepping off the mound before doing so, but the heavy work schedule demands I use my energies to do the tasks at hand, while recording stories and making notes that will become multiple updates going forward for the foreseeable future.  Please keep coming back to hear those stories; not for my sake, but for the sake of the men and women whom those stories are about. 

     We salute your encouraging prayers and emails and invite your questions and comments.