School is coming to an end for me, (finally) and I feel that I will finally have time to spend on my books. I graduate next week on Tuesday, at 14:00 at Northwest Nazarene University. I am so excited to get my degree, as I’ll be the first of my siblings to do so. I was probably dubbed ‘Least Likely to Graduate College’, but not only did I, I did it first! (self back patting award to boot) Anyway, I’m ready to adjust to not having classes anymore, and finally be able to sit down and concentrate on my story.

Two young men stood on a street corner across from an orange brick church behind a green steel fence. The day was hot and still. They made small talk as they enjoyed some ice cream they had just purchased from a mobile vendor. Each of them had sun bleached blond hair from the countless hours they had spent going door to door, inviting people to listen to a message they traveled across the world to tell. Their shoes were scuffed and coated in the orange dirt that was found every where, and even though they had been polished that morning, as they did each morning, they looked worn and old.

The sky was clear as far as they could see except for a large dark cloud far away behind the church building. It got quiet. The temperature dropped noticeably as a gust of wind pulled through their clothing.  It felt good as they had gone the entire day with no wind to help cool them, and their water was already gone. They looked once again at the cloud which had nearly cut the distance between them by half in only a few seconds.

Ignoring a prompting to head for cover somewhere, they held out their arms as another gust of wind brought the temperature down and cooled them. It was as if someone had cut the sky open, they were both instantly drenched to the bone. The rain came down so fast and hard that they had nowhere to run. They quickly dashed across the street and stood by the pillars on each side of the gate. The wind was blowing so hard they could not even hear each other when they yelled at how awesome the storm was. They got out their camera’s and took pictures of each other.

It wasn’t long before the air was so cold, their lips turned blue and they began to shiver. What was this storm and where did it come from? But as quickly as it came, it stopped, as if the faucet had been closed and the storm clouds were gone. They stood in unbelief and the day was hot and calm again, now thankful to be soaking wet.

The two of them stood in the doorway, holding hankies over their noses and mouths. Smoke still rose from heaps of burned books and clothing that littered the fire eaten floor. In every scene they had investigated, every call they had answered, nothing had been as devastating as what they saw before them. Sixteen black, charred skeletons were seen in various locations around the room, and it was apparent that they weren’t all adults.

Celebrating our 5th Anniversary in South Africa! Melissa, my wonderful wife surprised me with a trip to South Africa to celebrate our 5th.

Melissa bought tickets to South Africa back in March, and we are finally heading out on our vacation. We’ll be back on the 22nd, Thanksgiving day.