Tonight I go onstage as the focus missionary for my church's annual missions dinner called Extravaganza. And all I want to do is say thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you.
Thank you, Calvary, for being a loving and supportive church not only to missionaries, but also to me personally.
Thank you to the Missions Committee who have spent hours and hours planning, preparing, and putting together the best event at Calvary all year.
Thank you to all of the table hosts who have put time, energy, and creativity into decorating each and every table to look its finest.
Thank you to all of the young people coming to volunteer their smiles and servant's hands to help serve drinks and greet every guest who walks in.
Thank you to all of the pastors who are about to make fools of themselves in front of all of us to make us smile. You're the best staff a church could ask for.
Thank you to the decorating team who brought a little bit of my home away from home into Calvary's atrium. (And seriously, that koi pond!)
And lastly, thank you to all of my Panera ladies who folded countless origami cranes and who encourage and uplift me more than I can say every single week I'm there with them.
You all are part of the great work God is doing over in Japan and around the world. May you be blessed for all of your efforts!
Tomorrow I go to Columbus to be a part of a pioneer church's Sunday service, but I want all of you to know how much I value, love, and appreciate Calvary's blessing in my life.
So just in case I haven't said it enough, THANK YOU!!!
