Let it snow, baby!
Man, can you believe the snow and cold we've been plastered with? This is a picture of me steering a snow blower given to me by my brother Mike Malott. (To view the picture in greater detail, double click on the polaroid picture). Mike moved to San Diego and, for obvious reasons, didn't need it anymore. In fact, while I was fixing a broken water line that froze up under our house Sunday morning, Mike enjoyed an afternoon of salt water fishing during a warm, sunny, 80 degree day. (Totally not fair 
).
Ignore my mid-section and love handles in the picture. Mindee has inspired me to lose weight. I've lost 15 pounds! But it doesn't show...yet. I'm doing well with the hunger pains. I've learned that feeling hungry is better than feeling stuffed. I'm eating less, drinking more tea than coffee, and staying active.
I've titled this e-news article "WOO-WEE" because it's a term I heard at the cafe last week. I haven't heard that word in years. I'm not sure what "WOO-WEE" even means. I looked it up hoping it had some significant meaning. I thought: Maybe "WOO-WEE" is derived from an ancient Greek or Latin term? Or maybe its roots are Scottish, Irish, or English? No such luck. My search came up short, but I chuckled when he said it.
I stood inside the cafe sipping a cup of Earl Grey tea while staring outside at the chaotic snowflakes twirling down from the cloudy sky, "Man it's really snowin' out there."
"Yeah, Tim. WOO-WEE!" replied the guest in a loud voice.
The cafe ministry is "WOO-WEE" right now. It continues to be exciting, challenging, and wonderful. Last week, we put together a few bags of food from our basement pantry for a young man and gave away a turkey from our freezer for a man and his children. One of our volunteers is now hosting a bible study on Saturday nights at the cafe for some of our guests. Jeff Brianas, one of our volunteers, graciously spent time with me yesterday afternoon installing our new microwave above our stove. The job is not quite finished, but we're getting close. Jeff called a friend yesterday. They're going to the cafe tonight to try and finish the project. (Thank you Jeff!!)
I've recently been blessed with an opportunity to share about Cafe 41:11 at two Saturday morning Men's Breakfasts. I had a wonderful breakfast this past Saturday with some men at Granger United Methodist Church. Their hospitality dispelled the bitterness of winter. They asked great questions and it was a chance for me to share the cafe ministry with people who didn't know about the cafe. I'm scheduled to speak at a Men's Breakfast at York United Methodist Church on Saturday, February 14. God is good!
The cafe is also planning on hosting a local teen band named Blast Shield's Up on Friday night February 6, 2009. They're scheduled to play from 6:30 p.m. till roughly 8:00 p.m. The first half hour or so will be an acoustic set. They'll take a short break and then start rattling the cafe windows with their amped up musical styling's. We hope you'll pass the word and plan on stopping by the cafe that evening. Get to the cafe early! It'll probably be standing room only.
Question: What do you think WOO-WEE means? (post your answer in the comment box below).