Newsletter #2

Hello, and happy Easter to all. “April showers bring May flowers.”  This is a common expression referring to the changing of seasons.  Here in the Bugg house, this season is changing with more than the weather.  We are toward the back end of cleaning out, sorting out, moving out the last 7 years of accumulated “life stuff” from our current home.  While the spring cleaning is removing and repositioning the physical stuff for the boys in their rooms, it is also bringing maturing growth to their lives by way of experience.  Holly and I have lived a very nomadic life, and we sometimes forget this is the boys first really big move.  They have lived half of their life in this home, playing in this yard, celebrating under this roof, fighting within these walls, and being shaped in this environment.  With that being said they are both being champs in this process and taking it in stride.  

Holly and I recently returned from Fort Myers as we scouted out possible homes, neighborhoods and local church bodies with the hope that the Lord is preparing a new address for us.  This has proven to be an effort filled endeavor.  We have leaned on staff and supporters of Ride Nature to help steer us in the right direction.  Kelly, our FL agent, is first and foremost a huge hearted, New York native, daughter of the Lord.  She has been a Realtor based in Naples, FL for almost 30 years.  She had a Spirit led appointment with the founder of Ride Nature about a decade ago and has given her time, talent, and treasure to supporting the mission and staff ever since.  On top of the days and hours Holly and I spent driving all around and scoping our places, Kelly gave her time and energy to show us 11 properties this past Saturday.  We are praying God will bring us the harvest of a property we are excited about.  Our target is to move in under 60 days from now and those days are counting down quickly.  

Some of you reading may be interested in a more tangible understanding of the “what” and “how” Ride Nature executes its mission.  This episode was just released last week through Ride Nature’s YouTube series called ‘To The ENDS’.  In the short film we hear Chris speak about making “clubs”, skate clubs, surf clubs, etc.  Ride Nature models this same implementation of clubs in their local outreaches and their global mission trips. These are called “skate church” or “surf church” in Ride Nature lingo.  The simple act of bringing resources for the local kids to have fun on, is the same resources we leverage as tools to share the Gospel through.  ‘To The ENDS’ has released 17 episodes documenting trips and partnerships to new locations around the world.  In these new locations Ride Nature leads the programming or supports through resource or effect, and also partners with local leaders all in the aim to use action sports as the open door to share the Gospel through.  

Holly and I got to experience a Wake Church during our time in Fort Myers this past week. Through the local wake board cable park a discounted rate for entry and rental gear is implemented for a two hour riding session. Ride Nature staff rides with the group and then cooks a lunch for everyone. While everyone is finishing up eating a devotional is presented to the group. This Saturday, 35-40 participants showed up, wake boarded, ate grilled hotdogs and heard the word.

Holly and I drove around many miles and saw lots of addresses. Though our efforts were high we have not felt a true peace about any of the properties we saw. We have discovered some great neighborhoods that we would love to call home. While we will be patient and wait for the Lord’s timing, we find comfort in knowing we have people interceding on our behalf regarding this situation.

May will be a busy month for the Buggs as it holds both boys birthdays, Nolan’s father and son 13th birthday experience, trips for Holly, and my (Ed) first trip with Ride Nature to Nicaragua. Looking forward to seeing how God moves this month. Can’t wait for Newsletter #3. Oh, and please watch the South Africa episode as it is such a clear representation of how action sports ministry is used to change lives.

Life with The Buggs

Ed, Holly, Zane, Nolan