So I drove to California today. The drive was mostly uneventful and the roads were clear until about an hour outside of our destination. We hit some traffic but it wasn't bad. Then, about a half hour outside of our destination traffic suddenly stopped. I hit the brakes as hard as I could, but skidded a little at the last second and hit the car in front of me. We got out and decided to move to the right, we had been in the carpool lane. That is an experience I would like to never repeat. Once we got out on the other side, he said he had to call the CHP (california highway patrol). I said ok and we both went to our cars while he called. I don't know what changed his mind, but when Rusty got out to check the damage and started rubbing the scuffs off my car the man changed his mind about calling CHP. He asked who's car it was and when I told him it was mine he said he didn't think we needed to call because there really wasn't any damage.
Rusty and I both said the same thing when we returned to the car, "Praise the Lord". When things like that happen you start to think over the events and how they could have gone and I'm always left amazed by God's grace. For instance, we were in the car pool lane, which meant when traffic stopped, there was no one behind me. Second, people were kind and let us over to the right side of the highway. After we drove off we saw a worse accident just a little ahead of us, probably caused by the same sudden stop, or possible the reason for the sudden stop. I was very thankful that that wasn't us. We were starting to run out of time to reach our destination.
Another praise, we made it on time to the boat dock. Oh yeah, I'm in Long Beach waiting for a boat to go to my friends wedding on Catalina.
Friday, July 31, 2009
Sunday, July 19, 2009
The End is Near
Church this morning was really good... after the pastor showed up. It was rough getting up early, but everyone was relatively on time to breakfast and we only left about 10 minutes after we were supposed to. Unfortunately, when we got to the church no one was there. We were really concerned because it was before 7 am and the sign outside the church said they started at 8:30. The Pastor did show up at about 7 and let us in so we could start to set up. 3 people came around 7:15. The boys jammed for a bit which I always enjoy. Then, Brad sang a few worship songs while we waited for more people to come. The pastor spoke after that and said we should start because Jamaicans like to sleep in and they would come in during the service. The service went really well. The team put a lot of energy into it even though there weren't very many people. About halfway I think 10 more people had come in. By the end of the service there were probably 25 - 30.
Pastor Dave spoke on Mark 4:1-20 which is the parable of the sower. It was a really interesting sermon. I think God really spoke to me through it. The pastor of the church also seemed to enjoy it.
After the service, Shani, who I had met the first night with Horizons came over and said hi to me. A little after she came, Bernadette came over too. It was nice to see them again. If Kalena reads this, Shani says hi!
We had a ministry scheduled for this afternoon, but when we got to the site we found out a few things that prevented the show. First, there was a marching band scheduled to come through the area that would drown us out. Second, we didn't have the right permit to do a show on that corner. So now we have about 3 hours until dinner and then we head out to our last night ministry.
It's odd to be at the end of the trip. I can't really imagine going home at this point even though I'm happy to be seeing my friends and family again. Life at home is just so different from life in Jamaica.
Pastor Dave spoke on Mark 4:1-20 which is the parable of the sower. It was a really interesting sermon. I think God really spoke to me through it. The pastor of the church also seemed to enjoy it.
After the service, Shani, who I had met the first night with Horizons came over and said hi to me. A little after she came, Bernadette came over too. It was nice to see them again. If Kalena reads this, Shani says hi!
We had a ministry scheduled for this afternoon, but when we got to the site we found out a few things that prevented the show. First, there was a marching band scheduled to come through the area that would drown us out. Second, we didn't have the right permit to do a show on that corner. So now we have about 3 hours until dinner and then we head out to our last night ministry.
It's odd to be at the end of the trip. I can't really imagine going home at this point even though I'm happy to be seeing my friends and family again. Life at home is just so different from life in Jamaica.
Saturday, July 18, 2009
Sun Flower Villas
The team this week has been really great =) The team is very open and friendly. They have also been really receptive to our suggestions (i.e. puppets).
We did two days of a VBS. It was a lot of fun! The first day we had about 45 kids and the second we had 70. The team's youth pastor was really great at being emcee. The second day Karra put together a really awesome craft that the kids had a blast doing.
Sorry I don't have too much to say. This has been a great final week, but I think we're all ready to go home. Pray especially for Dick, Brad and Larry as they have been here since June 12. Pray that we all have enough energy to finish strong. We have a really early morning tomorrow. 5:30 am breakfast.
We did two days of a VBS. It was a lot of fun! The first day we had about 45 kids and the second we had 70. The team's youth pastor was really great at being emcee. The second day Karra put together a really awesome craft that the kids had a blast doing.
Sorry I don't have too much to say. This has been a great final week, but I think we're all ready to go home. Pray especially for Dick, Brad and Larry as they have been here since June 12. Pray that we all have enough energy to finish strong. We have a really early morning tomorrow. 5:30 am breakfast.
Tuesday, July 14, 2009
Back in the Saddle!
The team that went to Kingston came back today and the team from Wisconsin flew in. We had chinese for lunch, then gave them all a chance to rest and had dinner.
After dinner we headed out to do a show with the Wisconsin team and left the other team back so they could rest because they have a hard week ahead.
The show was great! It was nice to have something to do again. I trained a girl on how to write programs and the show ran smoothly. I think she's gonna do a great job. Puppet stage set-up was fast two. Those are basically my two areas of making the show run. OH and I find the bathroom, which I did, but didn't actually need to use! Lol, that's a new one for me because last week Horizons made fun of me for how much I had to use the bathroom.
Karra, Dick, Brad, Larry and I head to Sun Flower Villas with the Wisconsin team tomorrow so I won't have internet once again. Thank you for your prayers. I'll be back Saturday to give you an update on ministry.
After dinner we headed out to do a show with the Wisconsin team and left the other team back so they could rest because they have a hard week ahead.
The show was great! It was nice to have something to do again. I trained a girl on how to write programs and the show ran smoothly. I think she's gonna do a great job. Puppet stage set-up was fast two. Those are basically my two areas of making the show run. OH and I find the bathroom, which I did, but didn't actually need to use! Lol, that's a new one for me because last week Horizons made fun of me for how much I had to use the bathroom.
Karra, Dick, Brad, Larry and I head to Sun Flower Villas with the Wisconsin team tomorrow so I won't have internet once again. Thank you for your prayers. I'll be back Saturday to give you an update on ministry.
Friday, July 10, 2009
God Knows What He's Doing
... but that doesn't mean I do.
The team from Sun Valley (Gilbert, AZ) came in the same day Horizons left. We had dinner at the hotel, then collected all the money we'll need from them (Dunns, coffee, exchange). Then, yesterday they left for Kingston leaving behind Dick, Karra and I. They rented a smaller vehicle to save some money and there wasn't enough room to bring all of us. I think we have about 3 or 4 days until the next team comes in.
Until then we're relaxing and trying to iron out things like reciepts and housing. We're also trying to put together some resource packets to give out next year. And praying for the team. They're doing construction at the Youth For Christ office during the day and street ministry at night. It's a team of 11 plus 6 interns and Mark.
I'm sure there's a purpose for us staying back, but I don't know if we'll get to know what it is. Thank you for your prayers and I'll let you know anything I hear about the team.
The team from Sun Valley (Gilbert, AZ) came in the same day Horizons left. We had dinner at the hotel, then collected all the money we'll need from them (Dunns, coffee, exchange). Then, yesterday they left for Kingston leaving behind Dick, Karra and I. They rented a smaller vehicle to save some money and there wasn't enough room to bring all of us. I think we have about 3 or 4 days until the next team comes in.
Until then we're relaxing and trying to iron out things like reciepts and housing. We're also trying to put together some resource packets to give out next year. And praying for the team. They're doing construction at the Youth For Christ office during the day and street ministry at night. It's a team of 11 plus 6 interns and Mark.
I'm sure there's a purpose for us staying back, but I don't know if we'll get to know what it is. Thank you for your prayers and I'll let you know anything I hear about the team.
Wednesday, July 8, 2009
Time Flies!
I didn't have internet in my room at the Sunflower this year, which is why I didn't blog. If you'd like to read what Troy managed to get up, check out his blog.
It was an amazing week. I love seeing the Horizons team in Jamaica. Partially because I don't get to hang out with them much since I'm at school and also because it's fun to see "old and new together".
One of the highlights for me was St. James Infirmary. We did a show for a bunch of older men who had disabilities ranging from blindness to complete immobility. Since I didn't really have much to do for the show I spent a lot of time with the guys. I "danced" with a few of them and talked to them. One of the blind guys who stayed inside asked me how I would like a blind husband, I told him I didn't think it would work out since I lived in the United States. They were all very sweet and I think our visit meant a lot to them.
Another great moment was the first night show when Kalena and I talked to a young girl, around 11, about the particularities of salvation. Here in Jamaica baptism is very important in all the churches, so important that people often get it confused with salvation. I asked her first if she thought you needed to be baptized to be saved. She said no. Then, I asked what saves you and she said asking Christ for forgiveness. So far so good, but then I asked what makes you a Christian and she said being baptized. My last question was where do you go if you die after you've asked forgiveness, but before you have the chance to be baptized. She didn't know. Kalena and I explained what we could about salvation and pointed her to the criminal on the cross. It was exciting for me because I love sharing the gospel and I got the chance to see Kalena share the gospel. She has really grown up and is serious about her faith. I still can't believe she's already in high school!
The week had many ups and downs. It was fantastic having Ginger and Rusty on the trip. I literally cried out of joy when Ginger got tot he airport. At the same time, God had prepared some trials for me. This week has shown me a lot of the ways I've grown in the past 5 years and the areas I still need to grow in.
A team from Sun Valley in Arizona is flying in today. They've probably already landed. If I understood correctly they and most of the interns will head to Kingston immediately after lunch. Dick, Karra and I will be staying in Mo Bay, because there will not be enough seats for us in the vehicles they're taking to Kingston. I will be sad to miss out on more Kingston ministry, but Dick, Karra and I will try to use the time wisely to prepare for next week and some stuff for next year.
Thank you for keeping us all in your prayers even while I wasn't blogging.
Side note: my camera broke =(
It was an amazing week. I love seeing the Horizons team in Jamaica. Partially because I don't get to hang out with them much since I'm at school and also because it's fun to see "old and new together".
One of the highlights for me was St. James Infirmary. We did a show for a bunch of older men who had disabilities ranging from blindness to complete immobility. Since I didn't really have much to do for the show I spent a lot of time with the guys. I "danced" with a few of them and talked to them. One of the blind guys who stayed inside asked me how I would like a blind husband, I told him I didn't think it would work out since I lived in the United States. They were all very sweet and I think our visit meant a lot to them.
Another great moment was the first night show when Kalena and I talked to a young girl, around 11, about the particularities of salvation. Here in Jamaica baptism is very important in all the churches, so important that people often get it confused with salvation. I asked her first if she thought you needed to be baptized to be saved. She said no. Then, I asked what saves you and she said asking Christ for forgiveness. So far so good, but then I asked what makes you a Christian and she said being baptized. My last question was where do you go if you die after you've asked forgiveness, but before you have the chance to be baptized. She didn't know. Kalena and I explained what we could about salvation and pointed her to the criminal on the cross. It was exciting for me because I love sharing the gospel and I got the chance to see Kalena share the gospel. She has really grown up and is serious about her faith. I still can't believe she's already in high school!
The week had many ups and downs. It was fantastic having Ginger and Rusty on the trip. I literally cried out of joy when Ginger got tot he airport. At the same time, God had prepared some trials for me. This week has shown me a lot of the ways I've grown in the past 5 years and the areas I still need to grow in.
A team from Sun Valley in Arizona is flying in today. They've probably already landed. If I understood correctly they and most of the interns will head to Kingston immediately after lunch. Dick, Karra and I will be staying in Mo Bay, because there will not be enough seats for us in the vehicles they're taking to Kingston. I will be sad to miss out on more Kingston ministry, but Dick, Karra and I will try to use the time wisely to prepare for next week and some stuff for next year.
Thank you for keeping us all in your prayers even while I wasn't blogging.
Side note: my camera broke =(
Wednesday, July 1, 2009
Welcome Horizons!
The Horizons team came in today! They all had safe travels and got here when they were supposed too. I cannot describe how happy I was to see Ginger! We cried.
The night show went really well. Everyone was game for performing even though they have been traveling since last night. I was so proud of them =) After the show Kalena and I got a chance to talk to an 11 year old girl named Shawnee. She was very sweet, but concerned about when she should be baptized. She doesn't want to be one of those who is baptized and then doesn't represent God well. We talked to her about how Satan will always be trying to keep her down because he knows she will be strong for God. We also shared 1 Tim 4:12 with her and the passage in Luke where Jesus tells one of the other men on a cross with him that he would see him that day in paradise. I think it helped clear up what "gets you to Heaven". Please pray for her. I gave her the church address and I really hope she writes to us.
Also pray for the teams health, they're running on not much sleep and I think people are a little wound up from the night show so I'm not sure how rested they'll be tomorrow. Also give praise for how great things have been going. Thank you all for remembering me and our mission here in your prayers.
What I'm trying to remember:
Luke 14:11 "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted"
The night show went really well. Everyone was game for performing even though they have been traveling since last night. I was so proud of them =) After the show Kalena and I got a chance to talk to an 11 year old girl named Shawnee. She was very sweet, but concerned about when she should be baptized. She doesn't want to be one of those who is baptized and then doesn't represent God well. We talked to her about how Satan will always be trying to keep her down because he knows she will be strong for God. We also shared 1 Tim 4:12 with her and the passage in Luke where Jesus tells one of the other men on a cross with him that he would see him that day in paradise. I think it helped clear up what "gets you to Heaven". Please pray for her. I gave her the church address and I really hope she writes to us.
Also pray for the teams health, they're running on not much sleep and I think people are a little wound up from the night show so I'm not sure how rested they'll be tomorrow. Also give praise for how great things have been going. Thank you all for remembering me and our mission here in your prayers.
What I'm trying to remember:
Luke 14:11 "For everyone who exalts himself will be humbled, and he who humbles himself will be exalted"
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