I have two children--Zane is the greatest 5-year-old this world has ever seen and Mallory is the most beautiful baby ever...really...I've got pictures to prove it.

Being 4-months-old, today was Mallory's first Father's Day. As I was deciding whether or not to come on this trip, missing my first Father's Day as the Dad of a daughter was a tough part of the equation. Obviously, I am in India and Mallory and Zane are not. Despite being halfway around the world my wife and kids gave me the best Father's Day present I could have received.

Let me explain...

Last summer, I was a delegate to the Synodical Convention in Houston. Part of our orientation packet included a bracelet. You've all seen plenty of these: yellow "Livestrong" cancer bracelets... pink breast cancer bracelets... This one was multi-colored and tells the story of salvation in the colors. My initial thought was--"Great! Jesus junk has made it to bracelets." I proceeded to toss it aside in my hotel room.

At some point in the Convention, someone from one of the churches in Houston talked about how they used these bracelets on mission trips to Africa. Feeling properly convicted of my arrogant attitude, I began wearing my bracelet.

When I got back to Elko, I ordered some for use in our congregation. Over the past several months, many folks in our congregation have begun wearing them and giving them to their friends.

After committing to come on this trip, I thought these bracelets would be a nice gift to give the kids over here. A few days before leaving, Zane helped me bag up 100 or so bracelets to bring with me.

This morning, at worship, Pastor Burch preached on God's timing--"At just the right time...God saved us..." I, then, had the privilege of doing a children's object lesson focusing on these bracelets. As I wrapped up my talk, I presented a bracelet to everyone, young and old, in attendance.

This is the point at which God really got going...

In addition to our presence in worship today, Walt Winters and Gunya Nathalang were here. They are International Lutheran Laymen's League bigwigs visiting India for the 50th Anniversary of the Lutheran Seminary in Nagercoil next week.

Gunya is the Area Counselor or Supervisor or something important like that for Asia. She came up to me after the service with tears in her eyes because of these bracelets.

In Laos and Thailand and other Asian countries, she explained, our brothers and sisters in Christ are subject to persecution and arrest and worse if they are caught carrying a Bible or cross. But the bracelets are another story. Jewelry is important in these cultures and these bracelets could be worn in safety by Christians in these countries. As Gunya and I talked, the possibilities for these little plastic bracelets seem endless.

Check God out...

• One man gave bracelets in Africa...and he gave bracelets at the Synodical Convention...I almost laughed mine into the trash can...

• My daughter was born in February, yet we decided I would miss her first Father's day...

• My son helped me pack the bracelets for distribution today...

• Gunya "happened" to be worshiping at the Christian Media Centre on the same day I "happened" to talk about these bracelets...

I had chills all over as I was talking with Gunya this morning and I have tears in my eyes right now just thinking about the possibilities for these little bracelets in expanding God's kingdom in Asia.

I also have tears in my eyes because even though I am half a world away and miss the physical hugs and kisses from Mallory and Zane, by allowing me to come on this trip, my kids gave me the best Father's Day present ever--the gift of sharing Jesus with countless people through a bag of simple, little bracelets!

Thanks, Zane! Give Mom and Mallory some extra big hugs and kisses for me!

Thanks, Mallory! Smile and giggle and bring smiles and giggles to Mom and Zane's faces!

I love you guys and will see you in a few days!