The new Star Wars is out, but this Luke wields a flower-saber

Luke Bote, CCU friend, baseball player, and Anna Martch's new significant other helped out during the "gap day" where there were no other agents available. Anna caught him up to speed and gave him the materials and instructions to successfully intercept Daesha at the Martch's family home in Parker, CO. 

​Thanks for your help Luke!

CCU freshman roommate, volleyball teammate, and Operation Roy Team Leader, Abby Realsen drove down to Parker, CO where Daesha will temporarily be living with her family till some future special day, to surprise her with the letter "C." They also went and got BerryBlendz--Daesha's favorite smoothie place.

Thanks for your diligent organization, coordination, and for making the drive now that Daesha has graduated and moved out of Lakewood.

I just missed her.

Marina, also a CCU Cougar and long time friend of Daesha's, went to surprise Daesha at her apartment...only to discover that she had just set out to run an errand. She waited around a little bit, but upon leaving saw Daesha pull up behind to the house as she was driving away. Nevertheless, Daesha came home to a beautiful flower and note - "E" 

Kakihara, a fellow CCU Cougar and "resident" of The Galaxy when Daesha was an RA, helped fill in a gap when one of our secret agents, Brianne Shaw was down for the count. Thanks for stepping in and successfully delivering the "R"

Daesha and Carlie celebrated their final week of the semester, and Daesha's final week of college with a dinner date at Daesha's *favorite* restaurant, Cafe Rio. 

Carlie and Daesha were roommates and close friends in college, living together on West Campus and East Campus during the summer season after sophomore and junior year.

Carlie delivered the letter "P" and the following formal note from me.

Dear Daesha Joy Martch,

It has been an entire year since I asked you on that fateful “non-date” to Cafe Rio. You were incredibly nervous, suspicious, and awkward at first. Makes me smile just thinking about it and how far we’ve come. You have taken my little “music hints” to heart and truly allowed me to “disarm” you.
I hope you enjoy this flower and note from Carlie. I wish I could be there with you, but alas I am there in spirit. Thank you for taking me up on the offer for “icecream” become “cafe rio.” That night has clearly changed the trajectory of both of our lives in a way we could have never anticipated...although maybe you were thinking about it ;)
As a note for the history books, Daesha Joy Martch arrived “on-stage” my sophomore year of CCU and as a member of the Chapel worship team helped instigate a “revolt” from the previous trend of “music performance” toward genuine worship. *I find it more than coincidental that we were just talking about Matt Redman’s “Heart of Worship” and today you meet at the very spot I sought to find out where you found your heart for worship.
Thank you for accepting my offer for a 1on1, for sharing your testimony, and afterwards not leaving for homework or picking up that “roommate emergency” escape text. I sensed you were something special, and consequently shared my full testimony unmuffled and unthrottled. Thank you for listening and for being patient with me thereafter when I didn’t call. I love you and can’t wait to spend the rest of my life by your side. Te Amo :* 
Thanks for your help Carlie and for being such a great friend and companion to Daesha!

Today, December 18th marks the beginning of phase 4 of Operation Roy. Abby Realson is leading a team of secret agents who also happen to be some of Daesha’s best friends. 
Claire surprised Daesha in the Life Directions Center at CCU...and needless to say (see Daesha’s smile) she was very excited to see Claire and receive a flower with a classy “Y” note attached.
​
Thanks Claire! Mission accomplished.

"They were singing a song"

Caden Magnuson (Baller & Dgroup disciplee), Mitch Jones (Partner in Crime), Dustin Stauffer (no caption can do justice) teamed up to give Daesha a “special performance.”

They first arrived at 2:30pm MT only to discover that Daesha was not present. A rare sunday event — she went home to see Erica’s piano recital — had her in Parker and not in Lakewood taking an afternoon nap (which is her post-church routine).

Nevertheless, the three amigos waited patiently for her to return. They sacrificed valuable study time to make this happen — delivering Daesha a full bouquet with the letters “E” and “R.” on the eve of finals week.

Applause. Mucho applause.

Mitch Jones also found my Omnikron Delta Kappa certificate which I never received my Junior year #facepalm. Though the graduation record did not show it! I was and am an ODK member.

Thank you Mitch for preserving the legacy.

Dustin. This was classic. Thank you.

Caden — you da man.

Good work guys. Thanks for making Daesha’s night.

Sibling Date

Saturday, December 16th was a difficult and tragic morning followed by a touching evening.

My best friends, Emily & Ellen were set to meet Daesha for coffee at 1pm. Following their date, where they would present Daesha with the letter “O” they were going to “swing by campus” to incidentally stumble upon a Shire band (Caden, Dustin, & Mitch) who would scerenade Daesha with song and also give another flower. 

This weekend was a triple-double. Three days in a row where Daesha received two flowers with notes. The point being—she is getting used to “one a day” so it was time to mix things up.

Unfortunately, this grand plan hit a bumper. Literally, while Ellen & Em were en route to pick Daesha up they were rear ended on US-6. There was a five car pile up, both girls experienced whiplash and there was damage to the Lexus. Fortunately, the damage was not severe and both girls are okay and recovering. Aside from insurance pains and needing to schedule a repair, both girls are doing better physically and emotionally as of my writing this (Dec 18).

Anna Martch, came through with a miraculous solution. A “Plan B” that literally included “B” (family nickname for Daesha’s little brother Brennan). 

The Martch siblings had a “sibling date” planned that evening and Anna managed to collect flowers and notes just in time for Erica and Brennan to deliver the “O” and the “S” as scheduled. Thanks you two! And thank you Anna for the amazing save!

The three amigos minus Phil will still perform their special surprise on sunday. Stay tuned.

"You aren't usually THIS inquisitive about my day"

No, I am not usually “this curious” about your day. But then again, I haven’t had to coordinate a “double flower day” till now.

After Heidi’s great 1on1 with Daesha on Wednesday, Pastor Dave invited Daesha to lunch on Friday. Naturally, I took him up on the offer to deliver a flower! This was the perfect opportunity.

However, Pastor Dave’s “lunch” became a pre-discipleship meeting “brunch” which meant the original plan for Drew & Mitch to sneak Dave a flower at the end-of-semester gathering of Dgroup leaders was defunct.

I scrambled the special agents, Matt, Anna, Mitch & Drew seeking a solution.

I had my first phone call with Pastor Dave (haha) and despite change of plans the team managed to “sneak in a flower” at the last minute.

Mitch Anderson & Anna responded immediately. Mitch made a note, grabbed a flower and conveinently left it right outside the CCU cafeteria for Pastor Dave to pick up and present to Daesha at the end. Daesha was quite happy.

This ended up working quite well, because my questioning “gave away” that Dave was involved. When he didnt have a flower at first this restored the mystery, and anticipation, and this was met by a flower at the end.

Thanks for your help Pastor Dave. Thank you Mitch A. for the last minute save!

"S" is for the Shire

Who better to deliver the letter “S” than my bros Drew Sietz, Mitch Anderson and Matt Dowdy. Classic Kyle Koren came through with the videography and photos (thank you Kyle!)

After brunch with Pastor Dave, Anna gave me the inside scoop that her and Daesha would be “working out at 2pm”
​
Drew, Matt, & Mitch strolled into the gym and then began jogging on the treadmills next to Daesha...conveinently holding a flower and note.

Daesha was very surprised not only to be met at the gym, but admittedly later she couldn’t believe they found her because the only person she had told was Anna. ;)

Video footage will be included in mission log pending completion of the mission on Dec 30th. Stay tuned.