For those of you who supported us for our Mission Trips we want to thank you very much! We have just finished producing, and will be sending soon, our Thank You Newsletters. Pictures and stories throughout the newsletter will help you feel like you were part of the trip, because you were! One thing I want to point out, is that I have made available a few short videos from my trip. If you would like to see them please email becca.holcombe@gmail.com and I will make them available to you.
Thanks again to all of you!
Well we are both back from our respective trips. We are safe, healthy, and happy. Extremely thankful to have gone on these trip, honored in fact. Thank you to all of you who prayed and gave to help us go on these trips. We will be posting a few highlights, and we greatly encourage you to visit the blog sites to read more details. The ghana trips blog is www.ghana09.blogspot.com and the Guatemala's team's blog is www.guate2009.blogspot.com
We are both looking ahead to see what we will be doing with ourselves over the next few months. I am still awaiting a call from Homeland Security regarding employment, in the mean time I am working two very different jobs. Becca is working two jobs as well as all the volunteering she does. In other words, we both stay pretty busy. This fall quarter we want to take some time to spend together, so we'll see what changes are to come.
We would love to hear from any of you. Thanks for staying in touch.
For those of you who have checked up on myself and Becca, thank you! I'm sorry that it has been 3 months since the last time I updated this site. I was a little frustrated with the fact that I could not get video to upload the way I wanted it to.
Both Becca and I leave this coming Monday. We are going to separate locations, but seeking to accomplish the same thing: The furtherance of the gospel of Jesus the Messiah.
We are both very excited. This will be Philip's first trip as THE leader, and he is nervous, but confident at the same time. Becca is going as trip support once again. She is very good at helping a leader by supporting them.
Philip will be keeping up the Guatemala Team blogsite during the trip. Please visit www.guate2009.blogspot.com to see what is going on in Guatemala. The team loves to hear from you daily.
This Saturday is Becca's Birthday Bash. It is taking place from 11:30am to 3:30pm at the Teen Center and is going to be a lot of fun. It is Africa themed, due to the fundraiser that is tied into it. She is hoping for a large turnout. It sure would be nice if a lot of people came to celebrate with her. Hope to see you all there.
I talked with my Medical Review Nurse today. She said she was out of the office all of last week, and thus my report has just moved on to the Medical Review office today. I should hear back from them within the next TWO weeks. Boy, that pushes things back a lot. I'm beginning to think that maybe God doesn't want me to go to Guatemala for some reason. Not sure, must wait and see what He has in store.
Just wanted to give you all an update.
I finished all the medical tests required by the Homeland Security. Now I just have to wait for them to review them. Best I can tell this is the last step before they offer me a position. I am looking forward to hearing back from them. The sooner the better. Everything is in the Lord's hands for the timing of things. The Guatemala team trip is in August and I really need/want to go on that trip. However, I will somewhat be at the mercy of Homeland Security regarding if I can request that time off so soon after starting. I will be past 90 days if I can get offered a position soon.
Our Guatemala and Ghana teams have a get away weekend this coming weekend. It will be good to get to see everyone on the team. I am looking forward to seeing who I will be able to rely on as team leaders, and how we will all get along.
March blows in interesting things this time of year. Hints of spring, change, and some rays of hope. I see now that I will never get what I need working at the casino. It was a promise unfulfilled. I am now actively looking for better employment. I'm sure I will find it.
I think I am only weeks away from getting invited by Homeland Security to join the Customs Border Patrol team. That could be a good step forward for me. It is certainly something with potential for growth and a level of interest on my part. You all will know as soon as I do regarding that.
I'm looking forward to meeting all of the people going on the Guatemala Trip this year. We have an advance meeting coming up at the end of this month to rally together for the fundraising. Since I am on the topic, Becca and I have finished our Newsletters and all of you should be getting a copy soon. If you do not, please email us immediately! :)
Two months with Friday the 13ths in them. Back to back. How strange is that?
I am still waiting to hear back from the Dept. of Homeland Security regarding the Customs Border Patrol Officer position. Right now I am expecting them to offer me the position, but there are still a few details to work out before I would accept. We'll see....I should hear back sometime in March, thus making the whole process almost 9 months long.
Things at the restaurant are still the same. Business is steady, but low. The managers are trying to push out about two or three of us. I interviewed with the Beverage Dept, for a salary position. Not something I want to do for a long time, but something that I could do that pays ok and will put me back eligble for benefits.
Missions is trying to rev up a little as we are now about six months away from the next trip. Another first for Real Missions as we attempt to have two trips leaving SeaTac airport at the same time. It will be neat to see it all work. We also have an orientation get away planned for the end of March that will get everyone going on the two trips excited. We are coming into the major fundraising season, so watch out for notification from us :)
Well, here we are in 2009 already. This year will bring many unexpected changes (I hope). I will hear back from the CBPO within the next few weeks. It will be nice to find out one way or the other with them. I am pretty much done pursuing a Police career. I'm not really sure where to head as far as work goes if the CBPO thing doesn't work out.
Missions has it's retreat at the end of this month, and I am looking forward to that. It will be nice to get away for a little bit, and to talk a bit about this coming Missions season.
The football playoffs begin tomorrow, and I will be rooting for Minnesota again (although they will have a very tough time). I'm also rooting for Baltimore, but it appears that the Giants have a great chance again.
We are having a wonderful winter this year. We have had some cold temperatures and several days of snow. It is a nice change from the unceasing rain I have gotten used to.
Thank you to all who follow our blog and keep up with us. We love you all and are thankful for your support.
