Mission TX Update

I'm here sitting at the laundry mat, and I have noticed  haven't posted in ages....

Not intentional, with rare internet access and a busy schedule I haven't got the chance.

And on top of that, I tend to take forever to do anything because I would rather do nothing than a do something of poor quality.

Anyways, I haven't taken many pictures but I will post a little here.

 On the border, closest to another country that I have ever been.

 There are many pictures of Andy and I being goofy.

 Another

 Another. Oh and that is the canal connecting the Rio Grande behind us.

 Same park, the next weekend. Its a bird watching park. And that is Mexico in the background behind me.

Andy knew I was about to take a picture.

Again. It was very beautiful out there.

 After this picture we ended up playing some intensely awesome Hide and Seek tag. IT was awesome. Got to climb this tower.

 Almost every potluck at this church is awesome. I am afraid of potlucks now. I eat so much its ridiculous. I see why appetite is important to have control of.

 Put a bunch of beanie babies and Lizbeth. Im not sure if she found it as funny as I did.

 Was canvassing an eye care center, and the Doctor had is degree on the wall. I used it to canvasses Mrs. Whites books. Four books were bought in that lobby.

Canvassed a lady who had a Ferrari in her garage... She only had 5 dollars. Funny how life is sometimes.


Had many divine appointments here. Hopefully back at school I will have some free time to right down those amazing things God has done for me and many others here.

Thanksgiving to God

My time here in Hot Springs, before canvassing, is almost over.

God has blessed me with the opportunity to speak here. And he helped me finish my presentation and it apparently make sense according to those who told me.

A little contrary to what I posted earlier, I ended up sharing a message based on the parables of the Wheat and the Tares, I purposed to show the Great Controversy theme through the parable, as well as sharing many other truths.

That was all wonderful.

Another thing that has been difficult is my spiritual battle, here with my family I am once away from school and having to face temptation and exposer to worldly things.

And I am on here going to admit that I have definetly comprimised in many areas, from food, to entertainment and even in my heart. So its not be exactly easy in that regard.

Now I am going to be canvassing for the next month and I want to be consecrated to God, but in a lot of ways I feel like I have failed. So Please pray for me, Im going to need God more than ever for this next month and I have fights feel I am winning and then losing. Its ups and downs, but Im certain after I pray God will comfort me.

I love how that is one of the names for God, the comforter. In the time of failure, in the time of fear, in the time of self-pity and remorse for my own free choices to rebel against God. He is the comforter.

That is a precious thought. In times of despair, to me it doesn;t really matter that God is, all knowing, or the commander of angels, or able to move mountains or control nature. In that moment of sadness and depression, I just want a being to comfort me, and God promises to be that if nothing else.

"Do not worry yourself out of the arms of Jesus, but just repose in restful quietude in His love."

"He bids you come unto Him with all your griefs, your pains, your weakness, and He says you shall find rest. Only believe that Jesus is your personal Saviour, that He pardons all your transgressions, and then rest in His love." 

(Letter 31, 1890, published in Manuscript Releases, vol. 16, pp. 242-244.)

The bible says: "Lo, I am with you always, even unto the end of the world."
"If any man sin, we have an advocate with the Father, Jesus Christ the righteous;" "If we confess our sins, He is faithful and just to forgive us our sins, and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness."

He is with us, its not complicated, and we have no need to worry, but just to rest in His arms. Such a blessing to have a God like that.

I hope you are resting in God.

Blessings!

Wedding and more. (Pictures)

 Friday Vespers- Nice to have so many visitors. It was like a little flashback, nice to see the graduates from previous years :)

 Helped set up the reception... We made sure to have fun with it too,

 Some were playing hacky sack, we also had fun jumping around the stage and rushing around carrying things.

 Bart pretending to eat a berry decoration.

 Lots of design opportunities, it was actually pretty fun to set it up and decorate.

 FAST FORWARD-- Wedding Time, Josiah was looking spiffy.

 Bridemaids came in.

 Josiah and Beth are awesome together.

 Music was awesome

 The whole ceremony was emotional.

 FAST FORWARD-- Reception dinner. Lots of people I didnt know at that table.

 You know you go to a good Christian school when the girl is just left alone... Well sorta, I'm not sure what the ladies think about it but this pic kinda struck me as funny.

 The reception took a while............ like a long time. Made me think about how I would organize my own wedding.... I just know It will be more complicated than I want it to be probably. But at the very least this candle melted awesomely

 FAST FORWARD-- Monday decided to install a sticky note instruction manual for the Cordovas... In case the forgot...

Not guilty at all..... 

-----------------

Had a fun weekend, school is done and  I'm hanging with Family in Hot Springs. 

If i have some decent pics Ill post em, 

Then on Sunday Im off to learn spanish... cuz ill be in Mission, Texas for a month.

Hope wherever you are that you are blessed and keep God in your thoughts :)

Picture update (2nd half of semester)

Honestly, Since I have seen a lot more awesome things than I've taken pictures of, but these are just a few.

Since I have been canvassing, I have had a lot of struggling, in all facets of my life, but Its a nice break to have friends and Gods creation around to give us a break.

 Almost the first thing I did when I got back to campus is to check on my forest hidaway reading tree.

Its still there, but Its not comfortable to use when you have to fight bugs for sitting room, so it will wait till colder days.

 On the way to the ridge, we totally found snakes. And they like to tie themselves in knots.

 Could see the school from the ridge.... I promise... Its there... The whole thing.

 April is really afraid of snakes, so it was fun convincing her to try it, I felt accomplished.

 Tori is not afraid of snakes.

We brought the snake to dinner, and he kinda just got passed around.

 One of my first times trail running in a bit, and I had spider webs catching on my arms and everything, but man, this was a huge web, right at face level. I wouldve been really not happy if I hit it.

I thought of tearing it down, but instead I just stared at it, took some pictures and moved on. It was a funny looking pointy backed spider.

 On that same run, I was looking for a stick, (to block future spider webs from my face)

Instead of finding a stick, I found this really colorful fungus tree with a little resident on it. :)

 I really love our campus, walking from breakfast is always pretty with a sunrise.

 The "one day tree" I mentioned. I had a ton of fun watching all the leaves just pour off it. It droped all its leaves in just a few hours. Had fun making slow-mo videos of it.

 Bonfire- again awesome soup, awesome hot carob.

Looking forward to Hot Carob at Josiah and Beth wedding today. Which I will post a few pics of. (From my phone, so don't expect anything extravagant.)

 The snow, not much at all. But was great to have.

 Made the campus really beautiful. And again, I like the coldness sometimes.

Mission trip prayer and dedication. Many student went to the Dominican Republic about a week ago.

Along with the school seniors, we had prayer for the trip.






Thats it for now.

Wish I had more... I do have videos. But ya, Don't know how to get that to work.

But anyways, Today is the Wedding, and after helping set-up yesterday, I am anxious to go.

Past few packed days, then snow.

These past few days have been quite interesting.

On Thursday, the only things I remember were the "one day tree" lost all its leaves in one day. It was really beautiful to see the leaves constantly falling. I also had a great time working on taking apart the driveaxel in our school vehicle, something about getting all greasy and doing a lot of work makes me feel great. I would probably do mechanics for fun, it circumstances allowed.

 Later, Among having to hurry and get projects done. (because I procrastinated) On Friday, was my father, Micheal's, birthday. Micheal is my real dad, my parents separated when I was about 3 or 4 and he is in California and he is now 50 years old. Its an interesting thought. That means I must be old too... Like to old to be kid... I know I'm not a child but being an adult has just happened.

I am paying for my own stuff and organizing my own future and handing and designating my own priorities, and I know it doesn't get much easier from here, but in a way I really do want to grow up.

Something really awesome happened when I called my dad, I got to talk to my little brother for the first time... I've never had one of those before. I've been the youngest... for so long... now Im not. Noah my brother who is 21 years younger than me is now the youngest.

I got to tell him I was his older brother, and its the first time he heard my voice too. I've never had that feeling before, its pretty cool. He replied with some garbled words in the language of baby. It was pretty cute, Ill admit.

I also got to talk to Ashley, Noah's mother, for the first time. She sounds really nice and I am praying her and my dad will always stay together.

Then we had an absolutely amazing time at the Agape feast on Friday night, we ate a light meal, but the amazing and very difficult thing was the foot washing. And the staff washed all the students feet. I could barely handle it. Pastor Powell came and I almost cried, I do not like that feeling of receiving things I don't deserve.
But it taught me a lesson about salvation, and my pride, the whole time was humbling and I really valued everything that happened.

The next day, on Sabbath, church was really good, Chris Miller gave a good sermon, and I handled part of our evangelistic class at the end of church and told testimonies of my experiences of canvassing Shriners clubs.

During outreach in the afternoon I met a really nice older gentleman who can't walk well, who we gave books to, and me and another student prayed for him, and he gave us $20 out of no where, it was a nice surprise, and I'm sure the church could use it.

After that we went to Ms. Joan and her son Damon's house. They are so nice, and love to talk with us and visit, this time they tried really hard to get us snacks that we could eat. They got no eggs in anything but still had milk in the vegi dip. I ate a little anyways, and I thanked them for setting it all out for us. They are great people and I really hope the Holy Spirit works on their hearts to read the books we gave them, the aren't much into church, but love having us, though I don't think they have met SDAs before.

After that the religion majors had a bonfire and supper get together at the Little's house. It was really nice.

Mrs. Powell made some awesome lentil soup and we also had cornbread and hot carob to drink after. It was really great to eat next to a fire while its cold. I love that feeling, being around a fire and enjoying company.

After we ate we had prayer. And we split into groups to pray for endeavors around the world.

We made sure to mention all the ministries around the world, canvassing programs, students from our school that are around the world, like Hannah and Raquel, the people going on the Dominican Republic trip and much more.

It was a great time to think about those who are out in the thick of the fight, and those who are trying their est to be Christ to those who need to know him more.

Sunday, was a lot of work, and me disappointed in myself for failing certain things I endeavored to do. But after I asked for God's forgiveness for my shortcomings I was much more at peace.

And today, this morning, I got a gift.

Some nice cold white snow. I really enjoy the cold sometimes. It makes me feel alive.

God does nice little things all the time. I hope you have noticed what he has done for you lately.

Blessings!

Mumbles-Updated

The previous post about my friend mumbles was a bit spur of the moment. So it was sorta pieced together.

I wrote it at the laundry-mat on my phone, in a short amount of time. Sooooo here is a better constructed version I did for my class assignment... Its for a descriptive essay, so if it seems to detailed or something that's why. If not, great, enjoy my recolection of my divine appointment with the beautiful soul I call Mumbles.

Divine Appointments

 The canvassing program in Duluth, Minnesota was one full of interesting experiences. When I go canvassing, a reoccurring, spirit of revival stems from the opportunities and time I spend sharing Christ and helping others. We call these collisions of circumstance divine appointments: where a canvasser meets someone at just the right time and a unique experience is born, where God significantly impacts someone's life through a canvasser. One such event happened in the least likely of circumstances and ended up being a refreshment to the truth I know but am not always conscious of, which is, the interior is what God sees not the exterior. That special experience happened something like this.

“Hey, what did you want to show me?”

A young guy pulls up next to me on his bike, and I look and see that it was the individual I had just seen up the street, whose friend stopped me at a distance from talking to them both earlier. As I turned and looked though it wasn't a guy as I assumed, it was a girl, she looks like and dresses like a teenage boy, and rides around on a BMX bike. Her pants sag, she had on a big baggy shirt, a snap back cap which covers her shaved head, and all over you can see tattoos and piercings. She has some tattoos on her fingers, some behind her ear, on her neck, pretty much everywhere along with piercings and marks of previous piercings scattered around as well. She has dreary, hurting eyes, pale skin, and a couple of scars on her face.

She proceeded to look at my books and made crude jokes about pictures and proceeds to let me know she is a lesbian, though I had drawn that conclusion myself. Then she asked me what I am doing around this area and I tell her how I'm a student, and am raising money for school. Nonetheless she tells me she wants to help. She speaks in what I call a ghetto language, making sure to skip the niceties and roughly tells me what she is thinking,with chuckling now and then to reassure her confidence in what jokes she made were humorous. After affirming she wants to help, she pulls out a worn, crumbled lottery ticket and tells me to meet her down at the gas station because she wants to go cash it and give me a few dollars.

So she takes off on her bike and I meet her down at the end of the crowded street. I canvass a guy outside the gas station and she comes out, then the person I was talking to, who was being really aloof, started making jokes with her. Turns out she knows practically everyone in the area, and she has an idea to help. She decides to bring me down to a couple of bars, of which I know have both already been canvassed but I decide to go with her down a couple of blocks since she insisted I try.

Along the way we talk, and I learn she has three kids and she lives with another woman who helps her and they are currently fighting, somewhat about the three kids. She also decided to tell me a “funny” story, though not so funny to me, of how she used to live in LA and she got bit by a shark. She even showed me the massive scar on her right side and told me that she punched the shark in the face and used some harsh language, though an inflection of shame appeared once she mentioned the kids on the beach that had to see her yelling and bleeding everywhere.

Eventually we got to the bars through a few wet, trash covered alleys. We went into the first bar, this building was just as many of the others in this downtown area, fully brick, with worn out signs and faded paint around the outside. After entering we soon found out they already had got a book, and no one in there would give a donation. Mumbles tried hard to explain what I was doing, going ahead of me to each person and timidly mumbled out bits and pieces of what I told her about what I was doing, asking them to help me and look at the books. She was very child like actually, you could tell she got a little discouraged after the guys at the bar wouldn't listen.

After trying all the guys there she changed out some of her cash and exclaimed to everyone there very abruptly "If ain't none of you gonna give, I'm gonna give to help." She gave me a dollar as we walked out. She tried to act like everything was alright, but it wasn't. She kept trying to reassure me that she could still help me though it didn't work well in that bar.

We walked outside and I gave her a Happiness for Life otherwise known as Steps to Christ. She looked at me very thankfully, she wanted to read it with the other woman she lived with. Continuing on, she still wanted to bring me to the other bar. On the way we went by a guy that was in his car leaving the lot. She walked up to his window and tapped the glass, he waved her off, she went right around in front of the guys car, as if to stop him from leaving and she gave him an aggressive look ,which he returned. He wouldn't roll down the window, she then threw her bike on the ground and started cussing at the guy and said she would fight him with further aggressive gestures. She proceeded to move towards his car but I physically guided her away and told her she shouldn't do that. She cooled down and the guy drove off, it turns out she didn't like that guy from previous events before. So I was thankfully it didn't have to deal with me at all.

At the next bar it was really crowded, guys going all around, smoke and thick air pressing, with the stench of beer on me as soon as we entered. She brings me directly to the owner and introduces me a little, though again she lives up to her name and mumbles out everything she wants to say. He asks me a couple questions about the project and gets a book! Just like that, I didn't even really canvass him, he just pulled out some cash and gave it to me. Then she brings me through the crowd telling everyone in proximity about me, the bar tender stops by and asks about the book, and says he wants one too, he quickly rummages his pockets and gets some money and hands it to me. I was delightfully surprised.

After a while I noticed it was time for lunch, so I ask her if there is anyone who wants spiritual books. "People don't like to hear much about that stuff" she said quietly. I tell her that thank you, and that I appreciated her help and I pulled out Health and Peace the magabook version of “Ministry of Healing” and tell her I want her to have it. I flipped open to the index and she read a few of the chapters, she really felt like she needed this book. She looked away from the book and said "Man, you got me all cryin and stuff... thank you though." She gave me a hug and thanked me and hugged me again. I talked a little more with her and left, and she even signed up for bible studies too.

That is an experience I won't forget. Mumbles made a deep impression on me, but its much more amazing too, I know in my heart God wanted to meet her and just show her some Love. God brings us specific divine appointments, and its our job not to hinder his work but our exterior judgments or preconceptions.

A little encouragment

This was not just encouragement for me, but I think it will be for you too.

Here the Prophet Samuel goes to seek for whom God would have anointed, who should be exalted.

Prayerfully read this too.

"When the sacrifice was ended, and before partaking of the offering feast, Samuel began his prophetic inspection of the noble-appearing sons of Jesse. Eliab was the eldest, and more nearly resembled Saul for stature and beauty than the others. His comely features and finely developed form attracted the attention of the prophet. As Samuel looked upon his princely bearing, he thought, “This is indeed the man whom God has chosen as successor to Saul,” and he waited for the divine sanction that he might anoint him. But Jehovah did not look upon the outward appearance. Eliab did not fear the Lord. Had he been called to the throne, he would have been a proud, exacting ruler. The Lord’s word to Samuel was, “Look not on his countenance, or on the height of his stature; because I have refused him: for the Lord seeth not as man seeth; for man looketh on the outward appearance, but the Lord looketh on the heart.” No outward beauty can recommend the soul to God. The wisdom and excellence revealed in the character and deportment, express the true beauty of the man; and it is the inner worth, the excellency of the heart, that determines our acceptance with the Lord of hosts. How deeply should we feel this truth in the judgment of ourselves and others. We may learn from the mistake of Samuel how vain is the estimation that rests on beauty of face or nobility of stature. We may see how incapable is man’s wisdom of understanding the secrets of the heart or of comprehending the counsels of God without special enlightenment from heaven. The thoughts and ways of God in relation to His creatures are above our finite minds; but we may be assured that His children will be brought to fill the very place for which they are qualified, and will be enabled to accomplish the very work committed to their hands, if they will but submit their will to God, that His beneficent plans may not be frustrated by the perversity of man."

 Even Samuel judged by looks.

God doesn't care about the "beauty of face" or "stature". This stuck out to me because I am guilty of being attracted to outward appearance.

But the Lord has been giving me a new heart. And I strive to look at what God looks at. The Heart.

If you are discouraged, its because of your "finite mind".

Be assured, As a child of his, you will be brought to be where you are qualified, and if you think you cannot do a work you are currently committed to, be also assured you will be enabled to accomplish it.

With the tool of submission, we can accomplish what we feel we can't do or don't want to do.

A little heat

Among many many many other things troubling me this year, one I am hoping to get somewhat resolved is money.

I have had debt looming over me, my car, the military payment for my bonus, school.

A little update on my situation.

I have been hoping I would be able to sort thing out a little with money for the school by canvassing.

But it didnt happen and I made far less money than I was ment to for the summer and I am practically the most in debt person to the school. Got to be first in something I suppose.

On top of that I have to pay back my military bonus, They gave me about 7K but so i thought I would have to pay that back.

Then I have my car payment, with insurence.

And I don't really have a Job....

Why am I here?

Most people are pretty skeptical of my sanity for volunarily putting myself in this position.

Rarely do I do anything with money without prospecting every option. But here I am, subject to debt.

Why? Because God

I am follow the plan the best I know it, God has called me to this school, provided for me thus far and brought me back here though circumstances were far from favorable for my return...

So after discussing my situation with some people, I have stepped out in faith.

Here is my situation...

To get my car payment from wasting away at my money, I used my military bonus to pay it off. Now I am waiting for the title because I need that for the next part, which is selling the car.

The thing is, I plan to use the money from my car to pay off the military and the school.

The school is willing to work with me to get the money in a reasonable time, giving me room. But the military, not so much.

If they want the money back, they don't work off my schedule.

Thing is, right now, I have no money for them. If they ask for it, I am toast...

So, this is where God comes in, doing for me what I can't seem to do for myself.

Am I not seeking righteousness and the kingdom of God? I am, so I do claim the promise. All things will be ADDED unto me.

God will do uphold his end. But Pray, pray for me, Ive failed enough on behalf of my covenants with God to know that I have high probablity to be unfaithful if he doesnt give me assisstance.

Claim promises for me.

I look forward to what God will work, his will be done. Amen

Duluth 2014

Had a ton of interesting experiences this past program.

Wish I had pictures of everything, but this is what I have on my phone.

Ill post more if I get some. A few other people have some that were there.

 The trip to Duluth, pretty sunrise out the window.

 First day canvassing, got stung by a wasp right above my eye.... Hurt a lot, still canvassed a guy and he got a GC.

 Went to the rose gardens in downtown Duluth. Beautiful lake superior. We spent Sabbath afternoon there.

 Railroad tracks are cool, good for pics.

 Part of the crew. Steven is the middle guy, I like how he wore his Vibram 5 fingers everywhere, Im glad I just bought some 5 fingers too.... Im curious to how some people will react to my new footwear.

 We skipped rocks, Eugene delightfully threw massive rocks trying to get them to skip.

 Some spiffy graffiti, that tunnel in the back goes through the mountains straight for three miles, Steven and another church member James went all the way through... I really want to try that too.

 After closing Sabbath we got some awesome vegan pizza.... I could eat myself into a coma with this stuff.

 First full canvassing week I went into a walgreens and came out and there was a car wreck right outside the door. Ended up in an amazing divine appointment afterwards.

 Friday and Sabbath we went to Aminicon falls in Wisconsin. I recommended it because I had been here before since I been in this area a bit when I was younger. Its water looks like root beer.

 We got a little late start. But had a pretty sunset starting.

 Sarah and Amanda and I became better friends this program. They are much more entertaining to watch than I expected. Especially when they slip and fall into the water.

 My favorite falls... Mostly cause the name.

 Random pic, but I like how it turned out.

 On Sabbath we went back.... But I had sort of like a panic attack trying to get everyone to get there, a flurry of frustrating circumstances spurred me to run off by myself into the forest.

 I ran and ran as far as the trail would go until I let out all my anxiety and pent up frustration.

 I ended up all alone, in with this beautiful scenery and me. It was so so so peaceful, I'm thankful God made such soothing nature for us in time like this.

 The next Friday we visited another falls at Lester park, This was a lot of fun.

 We ran around a lot, I constantly had to back track to wait for the group.

 Had some great views.

 I was so far ahead I ran and crossed the river to take a picture of them.

 Majestic walkway.... I wanted a huge old castle to be at the top. But it was just apartments... Maybe one day ill go and build one at the top just so others aren't disappointed.

Ended out walk with a goofy picture. Took us a couple tries to get no cars passing by in the picture.

 after our walk we went to the mall, Had to take a picture of this super true statement.

 After we had awesome noodles at the mall it was off the Enger tower, which is the highest point in the city, you could see the entire bay and beyond.

 Near the tower was an awesome Japanese garden... I freaked out, I loved it so much...

 Obviously I rang the bell... a few times.

 last sunday of the program... Biggest house Ive canvassed. the got a Christ Object Lessons and let me inside. :D

 Last day, canvassed a Shriners club (part of freemasons). Nicest lady ever worked here. I  love these places, the secretary was already reading the Great Controversy and said she really enjoyed it too, and decided to get a Desire of Ages to help at her womans Bible study she leads.

On our way home we stayed the night at David Pano's parents motel... They had a bed the would vibrate.... Me and Brody took full advantage and had a fun time just laying there.


Great trip. Fun times. Helped souls. Praise God.