Shaun Groves
Misfortune: The suitcase containing my CDs was lost by Northwest Airlines on the way to Grand Forks, North Dakota Saturday.
Fortunate: The suitcase containing my clothes and Compassion child sponsorship packets made it.
Misfortune: My cold transformed into something evil, something flu-ish by show time Saturday night at the University of North Dakota.
Fortunate: I was groggy, boring and borderline incoherent in front of only the 21 students on campus with nothing better to do on a Saturday night than come to my concert.
Misfortune: Only 21 students had nothing better to do Saturday night than come to my concert.
Fortunate: 5 of them sponsored kids. That’s 25%! College students did that – amazing college students (with no social lives) at the University of North Dakota. Way to go fighting Sioux.
Misfortune: My Mac power cord melted in two while I was attempting to broadcast my show live for the first time.
Fortunate: Beth (this weekend’s promoter and “Grovesfan” here in the comments) has a very handy husband who soldered the sucker back together again so we could broadcast successfully Sunday night. Thanks, Scott.
Misfortune: My wife Becky got the smackdown from the flu Saturday.
Fortunate: Brother-in-law of the year, Brian Seay, took care of the kids so she could rest. Thanks, Brian.
Misfortune: This morning, February 25th, I discovered that my flight home was somehow misbooked for March 25th.
Fortunate: Mike, at Northwest in Grand Forks felt sorry for me and flu-beaten Becky and booked me a flight to Minneapolis.
Misfortune: I had to fly standby from Minneapolis to Nashville so the odds of me getting home today were very slim.
Fortunate: The first flight I tried to fly standby on was so delayed that some passengers threw fits and got themselves moved to other airlines. Which made room for me on the plane. I got home one month and two hours earlier than originally planned.
Misfortune: I was away from my wife and kids for two days just after being away from them for eight days. I missed them badly. Or is it well? I missed them well and it felt bad. How’s that?
Fortunate: 72 kids were sponsored this weekend (Thanks, Hope Covenant Church) and I made it home safely. It was warm enough to take the kids to jump on Redneck Neighbor’s trampoline this afternoon and I had cash enough for dinner out at Chick-fil-A. And as soon as this post is done I’m having some of Redneck Neighbor’s wife’s amazing banana pudding…if I’m still awake.
How fortunate.
It’s good to be home.
Until next weekend.
Amy says:
Fortunately is one of my favorite children’s books.
Yay for 78 kids getting sponsored. enjoy the fam and home this week!
annie says:
Ah, Providence.
Bryan Smith says:
wow, sounds like a crazy weekend. i got that except for today and tomorrow, long drives and classes and all. crazy. your doing awesome with Compassion. I can never stress enough, great work. God is GOOD!!!!
God Bless
-bryan
Linda Sue says:
Misfortune – that you had the downs – fortunately – the Lord provides the stamina and lovely helpers along the way. Rest up – after your stowaway and a household of flu – your body needs to restore and rest!
Shawn says:
Shaun,
Sounds like your trip was full of adventures both Misfortunate and Fortunate. God works in mysterious ways! Praise God, 72 more kids were sponsored. My wife and I just got our confirmation packet from Compassion, and today, after work, I am going home to log in and get our account set up. I am so looking forward to sending our sponsored child, Jhon, a letter, picture, and hope that he can have a brighter future with our contribution. I am so glad my wife and i gave something up, so he can have a better life! I am touched by your blog postings. Don’t ever stop sharing with the world! You are an amazing guy, and 100% God filled! Praying for you, your family, for good health, and many more days to share with the world!
Laura says:
And isn’t it great that God gives you just enough grace to turn the misfortune to fortunate? You just have to look for it!
Just Matt says:
Get well man! Ft. Lauderdale is looking for a (soft) ROCKING show Monday!
euphrony says:
Didn’t you learn anything from Brody’s melting Mac experience? When will you people wise up and get a PC? I’ve never had a PC melt down on me. Not completely, at least . . .
Great weekend, with 78 kids!
Jen says:
I tried to think of something really witty to say but this is all I can think of…
Misfortunate: I had to work all day today.
Fortunate: The airconditioner was working while I worked all day today. (a plus when it’s going to be in the upper 80’s today)
Shaun Groves says:
Where’s everybody getting 78?
P.D. Ross says:
Great job on the 72! Get well!
Later.
Shawn says:
I’m not sure where they are getting the 78 also…You said 72 at one point and 5 from the college kids, even if someone said: 77 they would be sort of right, but hey, it must be the new math, or maybe the hope that one more will come forward? Wouldn’t it be cool if they all came forward after letting it sink in from the time you spent with them, and they all got up and joined in and gave up that McD’s meal once a week, and put that money towards a more worthy cause? That would be God’s Grace shining down! Come on folks, think about it. Shaun has said this many times and needs to be stressed: Can you live without going out 2 times a month and stay at home and eating? or give up the latest video game you think you have to have each month, or give up that CAFFIENE drink. Just think. If you spend just a little more than a dollar a day for a drink, is that drink helping your soul? What about taking that dollar+ and putting it in an envelope and sending that enevelope once every month to Compassion for a child that you and YOUR SOUL have sponsored? I’m praying for this!
shaunfan says:
Awesome Shaun and Beth (and Scott), great job. I heard about Compassion Saturday night as well at a Derek Webb and Caedmon’s Call concert in PA. I would say Cliff Young was the 2nd best I’ve heard promote Compassion after the soft rock star. I don’t know the count, but Saturday was a great night for Compassion!
euphrony says:
Typo. Sorry. 72.
Kelly @ Love well says:
I bet that Chick-fil-A made everything better.
(Says the girl who’s still dreaming of the Original Chicken Sandwich she had last week on vacation.)
So glad 78,000 children were sponsored!
Cali Amy says:
lol, POOR MATH on my part. Clearly, there is a reason I struggled all through school with it.
In any case, I’m glad you got a bunch of kids sponsored, and if I could I’d sponsor another one so that I could make it 78!!!!
Katherine says:
Ew, did someone say ‘pc’?
I say melting power cords are worth it. And thanks for going the extra mile to make the broadcast happen!
euphrony says:
Yes, a reasonable, intelligent, savvy someone said “PC” in reference to good computers.
RevJeff says:
237,000 ?!?!?! THAT’s AWESOME! It must be the “North Dakota” translation that failed… (the river flows north!)
whittakerwoman says:
Love this post. I went to the doctor and found some little friends who have been trying to come home with me from Africa too. Thanks for the Publix tip! I ended up spending $70 instead of your $7. But it was a great tip! love ya H
Shane says:
I was at the show in Grand Forks and was one of the 72 who sponsored a child (that was #2, and sponsored a 3rd this last Sunday at the TobyMac concert). You looked pretty miserable up there on stage, but you sounded great! As a UND student, I would have loved to make it to the concert on campus as well, but I wasn’t aware of it at all.
Hope you are finally feeling better!