At last!  The Ponytail experience is coming to an end.  I don't remember when I last had my hair cut.  I was on vacation.  When Monday came and I was back in the office I had seven or eight weeks of "growth" and I decided I was letting my hair grow.  I decided to have a ponytail.  At my age, what could it hurt?  Good thing my dad isn't alive.  He'd vote against it.  Well, let's be honest.  He'd hire a barber with some brawn and before you know it, the long curly locks of gray would be on the floor.  Alas, he's not here and the gray locks will fall to the floor of the church parlor this Sunday.  This shearing of the pastor's ponytail has become a fundraiser for Tom Stiver's 2018 mission trip to Costa Rica.  He needs to raise $2,300, or thereabouts.  So far, he's just over $500.  We have a ways to go.  I say we and I mean the Calvary congregation.  While Tom is the one who goes, he does not go alone.  He goes as our ambassador.  He goes with our prayers and good wishes and in our name.  He and many, many others will be building dormitories for girls.  These girls will be receiving an education that might otherwise be beyond their grasp; save that they have a place to live while away from home.  The Church does many things which fulfill the Gospel.  Tom's trip is one of them.  Our part is to support him and the others who go so the girls will grow in wisdom and stature and knowledge.  We believe this mission trip will create ripples across time and the gift of it will be incalculable.  If you haven't donated to this mission trip, consider it.  All who make a donation (even this Sunday) will be permitted to take a snip at the ponytail.  Just be careful.  Very, very careful.  I'd like to lose the locks AND keep my head.