Wednesday, October 23, 2013

3 WEEKS TO GO!!


3 weeks until our Annual Banquet!!! Join us for another year of celebration as GTD shares this year's victories along with next year's vision.

Nov 12 (Tues night) / 6:30 - 9:00pm / Largo Cultural Center / Catered by Carrabba's / Keynote Speakers: Pastor Ron & Brooke Cooney

Fundraising Goal: $25,000



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Let The Planning Begin!


Already planning out the 2014 Grand Canyon Trip!!!

We met at Buffalo Wild Wings to dive into the details of next year's event.

(We missed having Brooke Cooney here to help with the planning!!)


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IGNITE TO BE RESCHEDULED!!!


IGNITE TO BE RESCHEDULED!!!

One of the other events that was effected by the government shutdown is our Ignite Camping Retreat originally scheduled for Nov 1-3. Since Ignite was being held in a National Forest (which were also closed as part of the govt shutdown) we had cancel our reservation & begin looking for a new location. We also didn't have time to work on the new Ignite plan or promote it because all of our time & energy had to go into the re-planning of the Grand Canyon Trip that was also impacted by the govt shutdown. The bottom line is that we didn't have any time to promote the event so we only had a couple of people signed-up and we didn't know when the govt shutdown would end so we had to cancel our reservation in Ocala. That means that we are changing the dates & location of this year's Ignite. We are looking at Dec 6-8 at Word of Life in Hudson, FL. but are waiting for final confirmation. As soon as we have the details we will update our website & social media. Thank you for your patience as we adjust to some circumstances that were out of our control.



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Monday, October 21, 2013

Banquet Response!

Our first response to our banquet invites came back in the mail today and we are so excited and grateful for people who love and support the ministry (GTD)!  -L

XFL POSTPONED!!!


ALERT:  THE XFL (Cross Florida Bike Ride) IS POSTPONED!!!

Over the last few weeks most of the bikers had to back out of this event due to scheduling conflicts, injuries, and various reasons. That drops us down to 2 people. Because of this we will attempt to reschedule this event in early 2014, probably in late February. Our sincere apologies to anyone that we may not be aware of that was planning on doing this event and is now finding out it is postponed. 

POSTPONED (NEW DATE TBA - PROBABLY IN LATE FEB 2014)


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SAC Was Full of Liquid Fun!!

Enjoyed our SAC (Sunday After Church) canoeing trek yesterday on the Seminole Canal with the young adults from First Baptist Church of Indian Rocks. Good times with fun people!!











Saturday, October 19, 2013

Introducing Cartoon DUG & Cartoon Laurie


Looking fwd to our SAC (Sunday After Church) canoeing trip with 33 young adults from Smiley's tmw!!

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Cartoon DUG & Cartoon Laurie invite you & your church crew on a God-awesome GTD camping retreat! www.goingthedistance.org


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Tuesday, October 15, 2013

FL Bound!!

At the airport savoring a God-awesome GTD trip to the Grand Canyon with 23 fantastic people!! Looking thru pics now... boarding flight home to FL in 1 hour. I love God's amazing playground =)


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Monday, October 14, 2013

God's Greatest Passion

"He knows what the mind is, how it operates, and what makes us tick He sits at the edge of the universe and He waits, hopes, and earnestly seeks the adoration of His chosen being...you." 
These words from our guest teacher, Dr. Aaron Walp, as he taught his fourth and final lesson atop Bell Rock in Sedona, AZ. 




God's greatest passion is the commencement of His creation, His people. This week as we gazed at His created splendor, Dr. Walp reminded us that it all points to the One who is the lover of our souls and desires our love in return.

Keep going the distance.

Sunday, October 13, 2013

Havasu Falls

AMAZING 20 mile hike & camping trip to Havasu Falls in the Grand Canyon!! Thank You Jesus!!


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

GTD (GPS Alert)
Latitude:36.15991
Longitude:-112.70917
GPS location Date/Time:10/13/2013 19:19:49 EDT

Message:Quick update from GTD: All's good! Everyone is safe & sound. Click on links to see our location. God bless =)

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/EDbuu/36.15991N/112.70917W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36.15991,-112.70917&ll=36.15991,-112.70917&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.

Ready for Adventure
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Check-in/OK message from SPOT GTD (GPS Alert)

GTD (GPS Alert)
Latitude:36.18901
Longitude:-112.71342
GPS location Date/Time:10/13/2013 17:02:20 EDT

Message:Quick update from GTD: All's good! Everyone is safe & sound. Click on links to see our location. God bless =)

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/EDWdh/36.18901N/112.71342W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36.18901,-112.71342&ll=36.18901,-112.71342&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.

Ready for Adventure
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Saturday, October 12, 2013

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

GTD (GPS Alert)
Latitude:36.18872
Longitude:-112.71227
GPS location Date/Time:10/12/2013 16:27:46 EDT

Message:Quick update from GTD: All's good! Everyone is safe & sound. Click on links to see our location. God bless =)

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/ECmAb/36.18872N/112.71227W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36.18872,-112.71227&ll=36.18872,-112.71227&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.

Ready for Adventure
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Check-in/OK message from SPOT GTD (GPS Alert)

GTD (GPS Alert)
Latitude:36.15986
Longitude:-112.70955
GPS location Date/Time:10/12/2013 13:54:11 EDT

Message:Quick update from GTD: All's good! Everyone is safe & sound. Click on links to see our location. God bless =)

Click the link below to see where I am located.
http://fms.ws/ECepq/36.15986N/112.70955W

If the above link does not work, try this link:
http://maps.google.com/maps?f=q&hl=en&geocode=&q=36.15986,-112.70955&ll=36.15986,-112.70955&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.

Ready for Adventure
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Slot Canyons!!

Wonderful experience touring the slot canyons on Navajo Territory yesterday!! Beauty beyond words!! Today 16 of us will hike 10 miles into the Grand Canyon & camp out overnight near Havasu Falls while the remaining 7 people visit Skywalk!! So excited!!



Friday, October 11, 2013

Grand Lessons

Incredible creation teaching by Dr Walp on-site overlooking the breathtaking Grand Canyon!! Blown away by an amazing God :)

Wow!!

Wow!! Amazing location!! Horseshoe Bend and the Colorado River with an awesome group of people. Grand Canyon Trip 2013!!

Thursday, October 10, 2013

There Here!!!

Grand Canyon bound!! We have 19 people & are meeting 4 more at the cabins. Exciting!!!!

Wednesday, October 9, 2013

Here we go!



AZ, Here We Come!

Laurie & I are about to board our flight to AZ. The Grand Canyon Trip starts tomorrow!! We are looking forward to what God has in store :)

Tuesday, October 8, 2013

New Grand Canyon T-Shirts!!

Special thanks to J & L Shirt Designs for this year's GTD Grand Canyon T-Shirt design. We love the way they look!! This year's participants (as well as past participants) will be able to reserve one (or more) of these shirts as soon as the trip ends. Shirts will cost $12 each =)






Grand Canyon 2013 - PLAN B


PLAN B! Despite the government shutdown and the great lengths they've gone to in order to block access to the Grand Canyon, GTD is set to deliver on our 3rd annual trip to this amazing natural wonder of the world. Over the past 7 days I've put about 100 hours of work into re-planning an event that took one year to build. With the exception of a few hours of sleep each night I've been spending every second on creating "Plan B" so I sincerely apologize to those I haven't had a chance to call back, text back, message back, email back, etc... I've been on a mission to overcome the literal barriers that have been placed before us. And I'm so excited to announce that Plan B is ready to go, and may even be better than our original "Plan A". We have 23 people eager & ready to embark this Thursday on a "grand" adventure!! I can't tell you how blessed I've been to see the Godly and encouraging reactions from those who are signed-up to go on this event. They have invested time, money, energy, training and altered their lives in small and big ways in order to go on this once-in-a-lifetime adventure only to come face-to-face with an obstacle last week that threaten to block this event. For a few days it looked like this was going to be called "The Grand Canyon-LESS Trip". They all responded with a great level of maturity, understanding, and support. I love working with Christians, especially when they are living out what they say they believe. In the midst of disappointment and potential loss they were ready to roll with the punches and laugh about it the entire way. I've been so impressed and encouraged by their response!! Thankfully the government shutdown doesn't affect Indian Reservations located in the Grand Canyon. They were the first place I started looking for hiking access, but they were already booked up. But I kept calling back, and praise God, some permits became available and we were able to get 23 of them!! We also found some other amazing locations (mostly on Indian Reservations) that we will be visiting as well. In many ways this trip is becoming a trip to all the other places we've wanted to go visit in and near the Grand Canyon, but haven't had a chance to. And our group of 23 couldn't be more excited. I've actually heard several people say they are so excited about Plan B that they now want it to become Plan A even if the government shutdown ends. Our journey begins this Thursday and I invite all of you to venture with us through our Facebook Page & blog on this 6-day Christ-centered God-awesome once-in-a-lifetime adventure to the Grand Canyon. Thank you for all of your prayers & support!! I also want to thank Jason Lazzaro for his immense help in finding some of these new destinations!! In addition, I want to express a special thanks to Dr Aaron Walp who had already put hundreds of hours into preparing to teach on this trip and who has gone out of his way to adjust his lessons based on some of our new destinations. He is an amazing man who has volunteered his time to teach us more about God's incredible creation. We can't wait!! God bless! -DUG <><