FINALLY…I hope to be back to blogging with some sense of regularity.
Where have I been…that’s a good question. Perhaps more appropriately is where have I NOT been.
Here’s a quick recap:
1. We were finally able to bring home our son Joshua from Ghana, West Africa a few weeks ago.
Stories upon stories there (including how we were substantially concerned we would be arrested in Africa) and some of which may eventually make their way to the blog. As you would expect, it has been quite an adjustment bringing in a little guy who doesn’t speak much English in the midst of his “terrible two’s.” God has been gracious, but we would still love your prayers in this area.
2. I also literally went “under the knife” – a couple of times, actually.
For a while now, I have had a mole on my chest that I had been watching. A few weeks ago, I finally saw the dermatologist and he decided to actually “shave off” 3 of them for testing. Pretty big shocker when you are only concerned about one… 1 was fine but 2 of them were “moderate to severely abnormal” and were worthy of “excision.” This meant another trip back to see the doc and two surgical procedures, which have ended in 2 weeks of stitches and a 3 and 4 inch scar, respectively. The biopsies have turned out clear, but, again, it will be something I have to watch in the future. Thanks to those of you who knew and prayed, and I would encourage any of you reading this who have anything on your skin that you think looks odd to get it looked at soon. Melanoma is not anything to play around with and is actually more prevalent and serious than I knew. You can google for trouble signs to look for.
3. In our “free time” (as if there were any), in light of Joshua’s arrival, we have made the decision that we will be moving from one house to another (just one county over – not leaving Louisville or our church) to have access to some wonderful public schools there.
This decision has been in the making for a long time, but Joshie’s joining the family has sped up the timeline. Some blog fodder here too I’m sure as there are plenty of principles to apply for church planting and ministry, but again, time…I must find a way to multiply you! 
In the meantime, I have thoroughly enjoyed my first round of our coaching network (more on that in the days to come–some thoughts on how to expand and make it more accessible to more of you). I look forward to continuing that ministry and expanding it soon.
I also have begun to write for Boundless Magazine, a wonderful ministry of Focus on the Family and hope to link to/repost those articles here as they become available.
In the meantime, I’d love to hear if you have any particular ministry, leadership or church planting questions that I might be able to answer.
Perhaps the best way to get them to me would be through Twitter. Just follow and message me @dustinneeley and we can connect. Who knows, they may become an entry.
Thanks again for your patience. We hope to get the wheels turning again soon.
- Dustin
