RobAHokie

Karen, me, and my parents at the beach over Thanksgiving

My family, Karen, and I spent Thanksgiving with my Brazilian relatives in Myrtle Beach, SC. I hadn't been there in a year and a half, so it was good to be with them. There was lots of Portuguese spoken (though not by me!), and although we did have turkey, the rest of the meal wasn't the standard Thanksgiving mashed potatoes and green-bean casserole. It's good to be reminded that I come from a crosscultural family, which is a big reason why I'm in crosscultural ministry.


Me, my sister (Katharyn) and my cousins

After Wes and I moved to Blacksburg in June 2005, we set up a small prayer room at the front of our house. Since we live across the street from campus, our vision has been that students would be able to walk over and use the prayer room anytime as a quiet place to meet with God.

Just this month, we opened up the prayer room to vtONE, a student organization that brings together many of the campus ministries at Virginia Tech. For three nights a week, three hours each night, students come over and fill the place with worship to God and prayers for their friends, the campus and the world.

We're excited that students are using this space. Our dream is that whether in our house or in a combination of local places, there would eventually be a 24-7 prayer movement in Blacksburg. Please join us in asking God to draw more people into prayer!

On Saturday, October 21, I asked my friend and colleague Karen Gupton to marry me - she said yes! Karen currently serves on InterVarsity staff at UNC-Greensboro.

It's been a beautiful fall season in southwest Virginia. Here's a picture of Wes and I enjoying the view from nearby Tinker Cliffs on the Appalachian Trail.