In less than 3 weeks I'll be at Kanakuk, then back to FloMo for the annual Mexico trip, then back to Kanakuk, then I'm moving to Mexico... Is it just me or will I be going between Texas, Missouri, and Mexico quite a bit in the next few months.

But seriously, I'm moving to Mérida, México August 26th for a semester. I will be living with a Mexican family and taking business, archeology, history, and grammar classes all in Spanish. I'm learning to deal with the fear that I'm feeling. I'm trying to apply David's experiences in the Psalms to my fear, knowing that it is the same Big God that came through for him that will come through for me. I want to ask all of you to be praying that God would put faithful believers around me while I'm in an environment that can be pretty dark at times. Out of all of the challenges that I'll face while abroad, including not being around any English-speakers for 4 months, the one I'm most concerned about is the potential lack of Christian fellowship that I will have. Why would God not come through to meet this need if He will meet all of my others?...He will, but for some reason my flesh still wants to doubt Him.

I know the updates have been very occasional, and probably will be for the next couple of months, but once August hits I will be using this blog to journal during my semester abroad. So please, continue to check.

Hasta...

Sometimes I feel like I'm cheating. You see, I'm a Spanish major. This means that my degree is going to be in something that I, at least partly, already knew a great deal about before starting college. Not only that, but after I return home from studying abroad, I will be fluent... After reviewing these facts I have come to this conclusion: I can float my way through four years of higher education, studying something that I will have already mastered halfway through, never step foot in an advanced science or math classroom and still get a degree from an accredited university? You won't hear me complain.

Today's forecast-Lubbock:

Cold; slight powdering of snow.


ACTUAL forecast:

Cold; 5 inches of snow and still falling.

I'm not the biggest fan of cold weather, but if it is going to come snow better accompany. Snow in Lubbock is fun because there are people here from parts of Texas that never see snow. So last night a guy was outside running around in shorts and a T-shirt screaming about how he had literally never seen snow before. I wasn't going to tell him that at that time it was only sleet that was falling, so I let him have his fun.

So I couldn't help but notice that I can hardly call myself a blogger as of late, but it isn't because I have little to say, or that I don't know how to say it, or even that I don't have the time to do it. My unfaithfulness to blogging is for no other reason than laziness. So for that I apologize...to blogger, to the once faithful readership, and to my dear mother who only reads this when someone else tells her to because i've written something that will upset her(See post on October 6th 2005 when I admit to piercing my ear...love you mom).

So, in a form that my buddy Brent uses quite skillfully, I will attempt to redeem myself.

These past four months I've been thinking...
-that I am ridiculously lucky to be plugged in with incredible followers of Christ who love me
-that I have an amazing girlfriend who knocked me off my feet back in June (I'm still recovering)
-that in July of '07 I will be moving out of the country for semester to live in Latin America
-that no matter how long I may go without talking to good friends, we pick right back up as if nothing ever changed
-that I am really ready to graduate college. Only 5 more semesters...ugh
-that God has given me an undeniable passion for Hispanic people and the Spanish language and I can't wait to see how it manifests itself in the future
-that I can't wait for Holiday break so I can catch up with old friends
And finally...
-that the 2006-2007 Red Raiders football season will be coined a "rebuilding year, whether or not any actual rebuilding occurs," as coined by the men of the square table


Thanks for bearing with me

I have a friend that I have lunch with every wednesday. I love this guy like crazy, mainly because of his honesty. He is very young in his faith, not so much by years, but definitely in terms of growth in his walk. After hanging out and talking, he was very excited when I asked if he would be interested in meeting and reading through a couple of chapters of John each week. After this lunch I always feel way more encouraged than he probably ever could. But I have to say the most enjoyable part is the way he says things you wouldn't expect a normal believer to say, or asks questions that, as simple or awkward as they may be, are so honest that they challenge me to think. He is at such a fun stage in his walk with Christ. You know what I'm talking about, where everything is exciting...and truth is so alive, knowledge tastes so good. It's so much fun!!!

oops, he just called, he's out of class so we're heading to lunch....

It is definitely October...and I'd be willing to bet that nobody checks this blog anymore.

This semester is flying by already because of my busy schedule...but I wouldn't have it any other way. I'm co-leading a Bible study through the Navigators for freshmen guys. We have about 14 or so guys who are faithful in coming and it is so encouraging to see their hearts to grow in the Lord. God is doing so many awesome things that I can't even begin to cover in a blog setting, so give me a call if you want details. And now on to the girl.... Last time I blogged it was requested that I talk about "the girl". Her name is Ashley, she's from Plano and attends UNT. After growing up 20 minutes away from eachother we finally met in Missouri at Kanakuk and, for some unknown reason, she has hung around this long...trust me I'm WAY out of my league on this one.

Here It Is

To be honest, I've put off for quite some time because there is too much to write about...terrible idea I know. I returned from Kanakuk a couple of weeks ago after 2 months of hanging out with kids, driving boats, and learning a TON. Oddly enough, God put three little kids from Mexico in my cabin that didn't speak a word of English. These kids were at a camp with a bunch of rich white kids, and the fact that they were there at all showed me that God was teaching me something, but that they were all three in MY cabin....Wow. Another awesome thing about this was that Kanakuk did not know that I speak Spanish and they did not know that these kids didn't speak any English. Coincidence??? Never. I'm starting to understand this passion for the Mexican people that I have had for years and I love it.

School is about to start and I'm busy with band, but that means Texas Tech Football! 9 Days till Kick Off! Get ready.

Much more to tell, so if you still read this make sure to look for more postings.

It isn't really like me to go so long without blogging so I'll have to give a quick summary of my life this past month or so. Things are going really well. I spent two weeks in Missouri at staff training for Kanakuk and learned a lot about what it feels like to be unprepared and broken. I spent a week in Mexico leading a team in constructing a house for a family and learned a lot about what it is like to feel unprepared and broken. I leave for Missouri in ten days to be a counselor for the rest of the summer at a Christian camp and will learn a lot about what it feels like to be unprepared and broken. In all of this I have felt so blessed that God wants to use my brokenness to benefit His kingdom. I can't wait to see what God has for me the rest of the summer.

Thanks to Nathan and Steve-O for making my job in Mexico easy. I had a blast.

I think that I have studied more in the past two days than I have all other times previously in my life combined. I am more mentally and academically drained than I've ever been, but the good news is that I'm done. Exams are completed and summer is here. I'm going to sleep for three days straight and then drive home...

That's it! He's out...And you're out too...I don't even know if I'm in anymore.

Last semester I had one final per day for five days. This finals week I have one final on the first day, and then THREE BACK TO BACK on the second day, and none on the rest. I have a feeling this is going to be very stressful.

Man, I have had the worst bloggers-block recently. It seems that I have nothing to say. I'll be in the beautiful Ozark Mountains in one month from today at staff week for Kanakuk. In a month and a half I will be in Mexico building homes for God's children in Juarez. In a little over two months I will be back at Kanakuk to have the best two months of my life, thus far, being taught by a bunch of 7 to 13 years olds. I would rather not look any further into the future...it's so cool what God has orchestrated my summer to be like this year, just 9 MORE DAYS of classes and then a few tests. It's unreal.

I've been getting headaches a lot recently. I think that I need to get my eyes checked, but I would almost rather suffer through the headaches everyday than have to wear glasses. This puts me in a rough situation.


Tonight all of the Texas Tech Kanakuk staff members are meeting to have dinner and discuss our school's kamp t-shirt for the summer. This is the last thing I need, I'm already way too excited about my summer plans and this is just going to fuel my fire.

I'd have to say that I'm a huge fan of missing school. But I'd also have to say that coming back to school after missing three days sucks. I have WAY too much to do today.

Good news is only one more month of school. Last day of classes-may 4th.

The surgery went well. I had a physical therapy appointment today and was able to walk on it a little bit. As of now things look great for me to be in full swing by Mexico/Kanakuk time. I'm feeling a little drowsy....

I just flew from Lubbock to Dallas. The flying time was 46 minutes. 46 MINUTES!!! It takes 5 1/2 hours to drive the same distance. I don't ever want to make that drive again after this realization.

Yay for knee surgery tomorrow......

There are few things that mark our society today as much as our desire to be politically correct. As annoying as it can be at times I found myself thanking God for it yesterday. I'm talking with a guy who, though he doesn't believe in God, has such a hunger to know the truth, and have formed a great relationship with him. I realized yesterday that it is all because of our culture and his thought process. In his mind set of being politically correct...willing to listen and interested in my beliefs...he has had the opportunity to hear the gospel. He has had the opportunity to ask questions, to get to know about the REAL God, and God has used that to open up a great relationship between this friend and myself. I have no idea what is going to happen...but it's just so darn exciting. As much as I hate society and its made up moral system called "political correctness" I have seen that used for His glory. I just thought I'd share my joy with ya'll.

It is definitely 30 degrees outside with a 50% chance of snow.
I definitely just saw a guy wearing shorts and a hawaiian shirt.

I started to wonder if that was because of extreme denial or extreme ignorance...because if it was extreme denial, how do I get that?...I mean he didn't even LOOK cold.

I hurt my knee last september when Nate and Steve-O were in Lubbock and now...

Lateral meniscus surgery...Wednesday, March 29.

I guess I can claim that I walked around (and ran) on a torn meniscus for 7 months....whatever that's worth. Doctor says that i'll need 6 weeks before I can run on it. I say that my thursday night intramural softball game will just be painful that week.

Alright, I held out long enough. I had to put the word verification on. Stupid junk comments. MAN!

Spring Break!