WHAT A WAY TO END 2012!!

Wow, what a way to end 2012!! GTD just received a $2000 donation check from a donor who would like to remain anonymous.

We are blown away by our donor's generosity to this ministry and we praise God for this great gift as we close off an incredible year of ministry. Saying "Thank You" falls very short of the depth of gratitude we feel within our hearts towards our anonymous contributor. God bless you!

We would also like to take a moment to thank all of our 2012 donors for their kindness to our ministry this past year. God did some great things in & through GTD this year and each donor played a vital role in each changed life that occurred. From the bottom of our hearts here at GTD we want to say, "Thank You!" We can't wait to see what the Lord has in store for us in 2013.


---

1st RETREAT OF 2013 THIS WEEKEND!!

Looking forward to kicking off the New Year with our first youth retreat of 2013 this weekend with First United Methodist Church of Oviedo!!! Can't wait!!!


---

THANK YOU HARDY HUNTLEY FOUNDATION!

What a wonderful Christmas present we just received!

We want to thank The Hardy Huntley Charitable Foundation for their generous donation of $500 to our ministry this week. This is the second consecutive year that GTD has been the beneficiary of HHCF's greathearted contributions.

Hardy Huntley is the founder of the Wagon Wheel Flea Market in Pinellas Park, FL (one of the premiere flea markets in the country). He established a charitable foundation to help support good causes throughout the community.

We would also like to thank City of Pinellas Park Councilman Jerry Mullins and City Ambassador Jerry Garner for recommending GTD to Mr Huntley.

We praise God for this great gift and pray God's continued blessing upon HHCF & the Jerry's.


---

Post Christmas Deflation???

Experiencing "Buyer's Remorse" or "Post Christmas Deflation"??? It sometimes happens when our emphasis is more on the gift than on The Giver. Just a quick encouragement to those experiencing an emptiness similar to the empty box your gifts came out of... it's easy to fix, just spend a few minutes with God... spend a few minutes praising & worshiping The Giver, our amazing God. When our affections are in line with how we were designed to live then thankfulness quickly replaces sorrow =)

"The blessing of the LORD makes a person rich, and he adds no sorrow with it." - Prov 10:22


---

HAPPINESS vs JOY

J = Jesus First (Matt 6:33)
O = Others Second (Philippians 2:3-4)
Y = Yourself Last (Matt 20:25-28)

Happiness is way overrated. Many people's life goal is "to be happy", but happiness is based on our circumstances... on what's "happening". If things are going good then we are happy, if things are going bad then we are unhappy.

Jesus offers something way better than happiness. He offers JOY. Joy isn't a "fair weather friend" like happiness. Joy can still rejoice on the inside even when things fall apart on the outside. Joy rejoices whether you get everything you want for CHRISTmas or if you don't. To be happy will cost you a lot of money and it won't last long, but JOY is free and available 24/7... JOY is so much better than happiness.

As we approach CHRISTmas I wonder, have you received the greatest gift ever given - the gift that is the meaning of CHRISTmas - the joyous gift of Jesus Christ coming into your heart and saving your soul? That is the true meaning of CHRISTmas... As Jesus said, "For what will it profit a man if he gains the whole world, and loses his own soul?" It may not be the gift you were asking for this CHRISTmas, but it can be the greatest gift you will ever receive.

---

LOST & FOUND

LOST & FOUND: If you are missing a God-shaped part of your soul we have Good News... Jesus found it and says He will deliver it directly to you free of charge. All you have to do is ask Him and He will fill the hole in your soul =).

My soul was lost too, but I asked Jesus into my heart several years ago and I went from having a hole to being made whole. It continues to be the BEST decision I've ever made!!

In fact, that's the whole meaning of CHRISTmas:
"For the Son of Man has come to seek and to save that which was lost." (Luke 19:10)


---

QUOTE OF THE DAY

"To fall in love with God is the greatest of romances, to seek Him the greatest adventure, to find Him the greatest human achievement."   - St. Augustine


---

Merry CHRISTmas from GTD!!

It's ALL about JESUS!!

---

CLEARING THE OVERGROWTH

HUGE THANKS to Al Vision & my Dad (Jerry Garner) for all their help & hard work clearing a ton of overgrowth in the GTD trailer storage area. Both of these retirees not only came out during their free time to help me clear the overgrowth, but my Dad came on his birthday - what a guy! I think he's most happy when he is helping others. We are looking forward to taking him out to celebrate his B-Day this Friday =)

---

SWAMP THING Videos Uploaded

Check out these 2 videos full of raw footage from our SWAMP THING Backpacking Trip on the Florida National Scenic Trail (FNST) in the Everglades this past weekend.

Since this portion of trail is underwater and not visible, hikers must rely on the orange blazes painted on trees in order to navigate the swamp segments of FNST. The underwater terrain can be slow going and challenging to traverse because it is full of roots, cypress knees, & slippery mud slopes. First time swamp hikers often use the cypress trees to prevent falls. Average hiking speed is slow, usually around 1 MPH - 1.5 MPH.

Journey into the GATOR HOLE with 5 wild & crazy guys =)... This footage was taken within a large gator hole located about half of a mile off of the Florida Trail (near Mile Marker 32). It looks like the movie Jurrasic Park with ferns and various vegetation nearly 10 feet tall. With the threat of alligators, cotton mouths, pythons, and more - this is a pure adventure! We spent about 2 hours exploring this area including wading into chest deep water.

---

SWAMP THING PICS UPLOADED =)

148 Pics have just been uploaded to our 2012 Swamp Thing Photo Album on the GTD Facebook Page and the GTD SmugMug Photo Album... enjoy!!

---

WE CAME, WE SAW...

WE CAME, WE SAW, WE CONQUERED!

Another great adventure in God's amazing creation with some incredible people =)

Swamp Thing 2012

---

WISH YOU WERE HERE!

Feeling "swamped" during the holidays? So are we ;)

SWAMP THING 2012


---

GATOR HOLE PANORAMIC PICS

Check out these amazing panoramic pics while we were in the middle of a gator hole in the Everglades during our Swamp Thing hike!!

(click pics to enlarge)

David Vandergraff

Doug Garner

Jason Lazzaro

Aaron Walp

Ron Cooney

---

GATOR HOLE

WE SURVIVED or trek through a gator hole on our Swamp Thing backpacking trip. It felt like we were in Jurassic Park... too cool!

Check-in/OK message from GTD (GPS Alert) SPOT Messenger

GTD (GPS Alert)
Latitude:26.14655
Longitude:-81.06417
GPS location Date/Time:12/15/2012 14:56:47 EST

Message:Here is our current map location & GPS coordinates in the SWAMPS of the Everglades. Doing good! PTL!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/AfRwN/26.14655N/81.06417W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=26.14655,-81.06417&ll=26.14655,-81.06417&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

GTD (GPS Alert)

You have received this message because GTD (GPS Alert) has added you to their SPOT contact list.

Every day is an Adventure. Share Yours.
http://www.findmespot.com

STARTING PICTURE

This was our starting picture from yesterday. 13 people signed up, but 5 took on The Swamp Thing this year. These are some great, great guys =)

SWAMP THING UPDATE

SWAMP THING: All's good in the middle of the swamp, but our thoughts & prayers go out to the families in CT devastated by the horrific shooting yesterday.

---

WE MADE IT TO THE ISLAND!

We made it 3.5 miles thru the swamp to the island. Setting up camp now. Having a blast with these crazy guys =)

Check-in/OK message from GTD (GPS Alert) SPOT Messenger

GTD (GPS Alert)
Latitude:26.12687
Longitude:-81.05889
GPS location Date/Time:12/14/2012 15:09:58 EST

Message:Here is our current map location & GPS coordinates in the SWAMPS of the Everglades. Doing good! PTL!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/Aezcl/26.12687N/81.05889W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=26.12687,-81.05889&ll=26.12687,-81.05889&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

GTD (GPS Alert)

You have received this message because GTD (GPS Alert) has added you to their SPOT contact list.

Every day is an Adventure. Share Yours.
http://www.findmespot.com

Check-in/OK message from GTD (GPS Alert) SPOT Messenger

GTD (GPS Alert)
Latitude:26.16772
Longitude:-81.07758
GPS location Date/Time:12/14/2012 12:19:05 EST

Message:Here is our current map location & GPS coordinates in the SWAMPS of the Everglades. Doing good! PTL!

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/AeuCm/26.16772N/81.07758W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=26.16772,-81.07758&ll=26.16772,-81.07758&ie=UTF8&z=12&om=1

GTD (GPS Alert)

You have received this message because GTD (GPS Alert) has added you to their SPOT contact list.

Every day is an Adventure. Share Yours.
http://www.findmespot.com

SWAMP THING STARTS TODAY!!

SWAMP THING starts in 6 hours!! Packed & ready to go!

Follow our 3 day trek into the swamp on facebook & our blog =)

---

OFFICE CLEAN-UP

Laurie & I are cleaning the office... so much GTD stuff has piled up since last May that this is the first time I've seen the floor around my desk in 7 months. It feels so good to make major progress!! Good job Laurie Finger yesterday tackling the office =)

---

CR2013 Coming In May 2013

LOOKING FOR 10 PEOPLE TO MAKE A DIFFERENCE

CR2013

Costa Rica Mission Trip

May 25 - June 1, 2013

Details HERE

---

Old-Timer's Reunion Lunch!!

The years fly by so fast... but today I had a great "reunion" lunch with some amazing Godly guys that God brought into my life more than 20 years ago.

The last 3 years have been so busy that I've fallen behind with all of my friends, but it's so great to get reconnected and see that Jesus continues to be at the center of each of our lives.

These are true men-of-God who battle each day to honor God, love their wives more deeply and pour into their kids. The joy of the Lord oozes out of them. I thank God for their friendship =)

These are also guys who helped establish GTD and often supported  the ministry through encouragement, donations, and volunteering. The ministry & my life are blessed because of them =)


---

MAP OF OUR SWAMP HIKE

Here's the map of the swamp trail we will be hiking on!! Our SWAMP THING Backpacking Trip in the Everglades is filling up. 

If you are ever driving on Alligator Ally (I-75) towards Miami and you look around and all you see is endless swamps... and then you pull over, get out of your car, and just start walking into the swamp for 3 miles... yeah, that's pretty much what we will be doing!!

ONE of the purest ADVENTURES offered in FL... in one of the rarest terrains in the world... can't wait!!

Details HERE.

---

YESTERDAY AT SMILEY'S

Laurie & I were honored to speak at Smiley's young adult church service yesterday morning! Laurie shared her testimony and spoke about the mission project in Costa Rica. I spoke about the importance of preventing temptations from escalating into bad decisions that may leave a person feeling disqualified from pursuing God's call on their life.

---