Month February 2009

Percentage Charts

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

Aaaahhhhh!  Nothing like a solid night of sleep to help you feel better.  Though it was only seven hours, it was seven uninterrupted hours.  As I previously posted, I’ve been fighting something.  On Sunday morning, when I woke up with a 102º+ fever I thought I was going to need to make the phone call to cancel my upcoming speaking engagement. 

A couple months ago I was invited to be the keynote speaker for the Baptist Network Northwest Youth Pastor/Wife retreat.  This was a unique opportunity because they were essentially asking me to come and share about Youthmark Mission Ventures and my heart to see our students reach their peers in his/her own Jerusalem.  I was very much looking forward to this!  We made arrangements to have Elisabeth’s Mom come to town to take care of the girls so Elisabeth and Will would be able to be a part of the retreat as well.

So on Sunday after a trip to the doc and spending much of the day in bed, I decided to give it until Monday to see how I was doing before I would cancel.  On Sunday I was probably feeling about 30%.  By Monday, I was up to a 45%, so it was worth the risk of heading north to Birch Bay for the retreat.  The fever was still there, but has subsided to 100.5º to 101.5º throughout the day.

The retreat was really worth it.  It was so laid back and afforded me the opportunity to really rest while still being able to fully participate. Ten couples from the NW (WA/OR) joined together at a Time-Share resort community.  We did communal meals which led to sharing times. We enjoyed hearing the testimonies from each of the couples. 

On Tuesday (feeling about 60% and fever just about 100º), I was able to share about the YMV strategy.  I believe many of these churches will join us in the years to come.

By Wednesday I was feeling about 70% (and I believe my fever broke completely that morning).  

Today, as I sit in the Community Cup (new coffee shop off Military Road in SeaTac), I would say I am up to 90%, really just the nasty cough that lingers. I’m 100%  thankful for the opportunity I had with the BNN and am thankful for those of you who were praying me through these last few days!

Grace,
Brian

Sick on Sunday

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

Would very much appreciate your prayers today.  Throughout the day yesterday I could feel some sickness coming on.  By the time we left Nathan and Megan’s wedding I could tell a fever was ensuing.  Went to bed at about 8:30 last night and woke up with a 102.2 fever this morning.

The doc said it is just a viral thing, ruled out Strep Throat and the Flu.  

Anyway, I have a couple speaking opportunities this week and would greatly appreciate your prayers for a quick healing.

Thanks!

Grace,
Brian

The Week Behind

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

This was an incredibly busy, but productive week (mostly at home)… Because I need to get cleaned up for a wedding for our good friends Nathan and Megan, I thought I’d give a quick bulleted list of a few highlights:

  • Network meetings with West Seattle (Tuesday) and Burien (Wednesday).  Both discussions were fantastic; it is neat to see/hear some specific areas of youth ministry in the Puget Sound region.
  • Sent off my first “mailing” for Youthmark, sent to hundreds of churches in WA/OR as a last-minute pitch to participate in a YMV.
  • The Blogs at youthmark.com were set up and several have posted already (I encourage you to check them out here).
  • Took an all-day trip to Portland on Thursday with my friend Chris.  I was able to meet a bunch of Youth Pastors and see a bunch of friends down south. Portland Youth Foundation gathers 200+ YP’s each year for a lunch.  Nice to be able to represent Youthmark there.
  • Was able to take/pick-up Halle from school a few times this week, so fun to see her in her new element!
  • Able to spend time with just the three kids a couple times this week when Elisabeth had errands to run (or sanity to reacquire  after my recent travels).
  • Dinner with the Andersens, new friends, Alan is a YP in the greater Seattle area as well.  My parents watched all three kids, so this was a real grown-up date!
  • Coffee with John; one of my lifeboat guys
  • Time dreaming and praying for the Spring Retreats out at Lake Retreat Camp.
  • Diagnosing the problem and replacing my Starter in my 4Runner, thanks to my good friend, Walt.  We spend 5 hours+ on that baby!  If you have a 99 4Runner that has had a starter go out, you’d understand.

Quite certain I missed a couple things, but overall, it was a fantastic week.

Grace,
Brian

On The Way Home…

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

As many of you know, Halle started at a Christian school a little over a week ago, if you didn’t know this you can link to Elisabeth’s blog from my blog (see the side panel) to read all about that.  

So, today, I picked up Halle and we had this brief conversation which had me laughing pretty hard.

Me: So, do you like going to the cafeteria for lunch?

Halle: Yeah, as long as it doesn’t burst my eardrums.

Me: Oh, do they have music?

Halle: No, they have screaming kids!

She cracks me up!

Grace,
Brian

Youth Ministry Causes Pancreas To Explode

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

My friend, Joe, is a Youth Pastor in the greater Seattle area.  Though this headline is not entirely true, it is a serious prayer request on his behalf.  Joe has been in Youth and Music ministry for years (check out some of his music here); in those years of ministry he has had some seasons that honestly remind me a little of Job.  He has had some real “give and take away” moments.  

The last couple years he has had to deal with his own health issues, most recently dealing with some serious pancreatic problems.  This Friday, Joe, and his wife, Lisa, are going to meet with the doc.  This will be a key time with the doctor in making decisions as to how to move forward with these issues.

Pray for wisdom.

Pray for healing.

Pray for their family and the youth in the ministry at Calvary Chapel South.

I texted Joe today to get permission to blog about this, he is the one who came up with my blog title, so at least in his Job-like state the Lord has not taken away his humor (or perhaps some of you think He has!).

Thanks for praying for Joe!  I posted one of his songs below.

Grace,

Brian

Progress!

Brian Aaby Leave a comment

Pretty excited that another big step has been taken at Youthmark.  Our YMV blogs are now up and running.  Today, the churches doing a YMV received the registration to their blogs.  On top of that, I have my own Youthmark Blog, so if you REALLY want to get more access to me (ha!), you can check out that blog here (I’ll focus more on the specifics of the ministry at Youthmark on that one).  But, more importantly you can read/pray through the blogs of our teams doing missions!  

 

my desktop with youthmark.com open!

my desktop with youthmark.com open!

Go to youthmark.com and click on blogs to see any/all of them.  Of course, they did just get the registrations today, so it will most likely be a few days before anyone (besides me) gets them up and running! 

We prioritized the blog as something that came with the mission because in all my years of student ministry I was always most aware of prayer support when on a mission trip.  Each year we would begin our trips by soliciting prayer supporters (through mail, email, bulletin announcements, newsletters, etc.).  Throughout the training we would update these supporters with prayer requests for the training and the towns we would serve. Then, when on the trip we would send out updates as well.  In the early years we would literally have our secretary make a print out  of the requests and put it on the church doors and folk would drive by just to see the requests.  As email became more prevalent the requests would be sent out to the masses and now that blogs exist it makes it all that much more accessible.  

Last year, while in Idaho, we had one day in which we had over 800 views of our blog for our specific team.  On that very day we saw the most incredible answers to prayer take place.  I am forever convinced this technology is something we must continue to tap into so we can continue to raise the awareness of how the Lord is at work!

So, join me in praying for each of these teams listed on the site and take the time to read about their training and their trips!  You in for the adventure?

Grace,
Brian

P.S. If you know of people who see prayer as one of their primary ministries, please pass on this blog and the youthmark.com blogs as a possible ministry to commit to praying for!  Thanks!

Another Prayer Request

Brian Aaby 1 Comment

We would very much appreciate your prayer for our friend, Byron.  On Monday he was diagnosed with cancer,  he had a procedure done the next day to remove the tumor and that was successful, however, test results have shown that it had, in fact, spread to other areas in his body.  

Byron and I spoke on Friday afternoon, after getting the news, he sounds good, but obviously the road ahead is tough.  Both he and his wife, Shannon, were a part of our youth ministry.  We are close with both families (their parents and other kids).  Byron’s brother is graduating from Boot Camp (Navy) at the end of the month, so Byron will go see his brother graduate and then immediately start his chemo.  

Please pray for them.  Thank you!

Grace,
Brian