A look back at my PhotogenX DTS experience...

I shared this video at my photography exhibit and now want to share with the rest of you.  It is a compilation of video clips and pictures from my DTS.  For those of you that don't know, I spent three months in Kona, Hawaii for my lecture phase and then participated on an outreach in which we drove from San Diego, California to the Panama Canal......and back.  The most life changing experience I've experienced to date.  ENJOY!

side note:  if you watch the video on the youtube channel it will be a lot more enjoyable because the view will be a lot bigger.  

PRAY FOR OUR SITUATION IN GUATEMALA!!

Today we were driving back from a church service here in Guatemala City. We were driving down a two lane road with double lines. As we were turning into a parking spot on the right side of the road with our blinker on, a man on a motorcycle tried to pass us on the right (illegal passing ). We slammed on the breaks but he was going so fast and crashed right into our van. The man was on his company’s delivery motorcycle.

As of right now the man is in the hospital. While visiting and attempting to speak with the man, he demanded $5,000 as a settlement for medical bills. Here is where the situation lies. There are two options from this point.

The first option is that we pay the $5,000 settlement which we have discovered is a non-negotiable price. After we pay, everything would be dropped and the case would be over. The second option is that we do not pay the money and the case is handed over to the police and the governmental system. Keep in mind this is a corrupt system. Our fear is not whether or not we would win the case. The man is completely in the wrong and even put a guard outside of his hospital room to keep his own lawyers from convincing him he is truly wrong. His company wants to fire him and his lawyers threatened to leave him for these actions. Despite all of this, he is refusing to budge from his $5,000 demand. However, if the case is handed over to the authorities, our van will be seized and we will likely be detained in the country until the case is over. Unfortunately, this process could take months. Seeing how this is a DTS outreach team of international students, we have many visas and flights that would need to be rescheduled and changed not to mention the extra amount of money this would take. This would be a very challenging spot to be in because many of us have prior commitments in numerous countries to which we need to return.

We need to make a decision on this situation fast. If we do not pay or agree to pay the settlement by tomorrow morning the case will be handed over to the authorities. We need prayer and God to speak quickly!

Please be praying for us. Pray for this man who is in the hospital. Pray that God will move his heart to change or get a lower settlement

If you are willing to donate to this ridiculous cause, please obey what God asks you to do.

Please keep in mind that we realize what is happening in unjust and definitely not fair. Pray that God’s name is glorified through this situation despite our inability to see it sometimes. Pray that we are faithful and patient and know that God will deliver us from this situation however that might be.

Viva la Mexico

HOLA MIS AMIGOS Y FAMILIA!

First off, I apologize for the delay in blog posts. I realize it has been about a month since my last post. I feel very bad and to make up for it I'll try to make this post very detailed about our past two weeks here in Mexico!

We arrived in San Diego on July 1, about two weeks ago. Our first stop was the YWAM base in Tijuana where we stayed for one week. First impressions of TJ: cold, and the base was incredibly comfortable! The beds were unbelievable and the shower was the best I've had in months! I am so thankful for the week we spent in TJ because I really believe God decided to bless us before our journey really began.

While in Tijuana we did a few different things. One of our main focuses was the red light district. I find it incredibly difficult to explain the blatant display of prostitution and evil in this area of the city. Despite prostitution being illegal in Mexico, it is 'tolerated' in this area of TJ. I recall walking down one particular street and on either side seeing girl after girl after girl lined up, totaling about 30-45 prostitutes on one city block! And there, getting his shoes shined in the middle of the block was a local police officer. However, when the city is so overrun with corruption and a lack of morality, what can we truly expect them to do? Arrest every prostitute he sees? That would cause an indescribable amount of trouble and not help the situation. We walked around the RLD four times, always staying in small groups of 2-3 people. This area is extremely dangerous and I want to assure you all we took every precaution! This picture is of one of the prostitutes I had a chance to talk with. Her name is Rosaria and had been in TJ for about two months. It was such a blessing that she was willing to talk to me let alone allow me to take a picture of her. I rarely pulled out my camera due to the amount of pimps in the area that become extremely agitated and threatening when they see suspicious activity. So praise the Lord for breakthrough!

One of the hardest things to witness in the RLD was the ages of some of the girls. We witnessed some girls on the street as young as 12-14 years old. Please continue praying for the hearts of these girls that they know that the Lord loves them and He has a much greater plan in mind for them than this and that the pain they are experiencing is NOT from God but from the enemy!

Another opportunity we had in TJ was documenting Homes for Hope. This is a ministry run through YWAM that builds homes for people in need, similar to Habitat for Humanity which I know many of you are familiar with. This was an amazing opportunity to see God in the difficult places and interact with some local people. We took photos for two days and documented the entire process of a house going up. I absolutely loved these days as we had a chance to play with the kids, play some futbol [soccer :) ], and witness the bonds that a genuine love can form despite language barriers that may exist. Here are some shots of some kids and people participating in the build.

This past Sunday I had the opportunity to share my story with a youth group at a church in San Diego. This was such a blessing to be honest and raw with some students and to just tell them what has happened in my life and how God has brought me through some very difficult times. Pray that God gives us more opportunities to share His love through us and the strength and obedience to capitalize on the opportunities He gives!

That Sunday was our last day in Tijuana as we began our trek towards Mexico City on Monday. God has been incredibly faithful and good to us as he provided everything we needed for this long and somewhat dangerous journey! In all, it took us four days to travel from TJ to Ciudad de Mexico [Mexico City]. Some may hear four days and feel sorry for us but it was a great time for our team. Yes at some points it was incredibly difficult and strenuous on our attitudes and patience but God is good! We stopped in the cities of Caborca, Mazatlan, Guadalajara, and finally arrived in el Ciudad last night. God has opened my eyes to this country and shown me the beauty of this nation that I had no idea existed! I am so thankful we have been able to drive by van throughout the country because we are able to see and experience SO much more. The northern part of Mexico is incredibly hot and is a desert but is beautiful all the same. The landscape was absolutely gorgeous and we witnessed what had to be one of the two most gorgeous sunsets I have ever seen on Tuesday night. The central part of Mexico is luscious, green, and very mountainous. At times I completely forgot I was in Mexico because my first judgments of Mexico were all based on first impressions which were not fair nor accurate.

I wish I could share all the intimate moments I've had with the Lord so far but that would just take too much space and time :) The best times I've experienced the Lord are at night when the four men of our group come together and prayer. We prayer for each other, the team, the women of our team, issues God places on our hearts, the cities, and just experience and love God. Most nights last approximately 20 minutes or so but every once in a while we truly experience the Holy Spirit. For example, last night we were planning on just praying really quick but it turned into a full on encounter with the Holy Spirit and continuous prayer for over two hours. These are the moments I cherish and remember. Please pray that God shows Himself to us in these ways continuously and that we continually seek after Him!

Today is our first day in Mexico City and we have it as a day off to rest and regroup from the four day journey we just experienced. I am not sure the details of what we will be doing here but I know God has big plans! I believe it is no coincidence that we had an amazing time with God last night as our first night here in the city. God has huge plans and pray that He reveals those to us!

Thank you for your continual support and prayer. I am forever grateful for your commitments to this journey that God has taken me on the past few months. Please pray for patience and unity in our team and that the sole thing we seek is the Lord. When we seek to know Him more and worship Him daily, everything will be done in accordance to His will. I love you all, miss you and can't wait to share these experiences with you in person!

Dios te bendiga!

[God bless you]

VIDEO UPDATE PART 3

VIDEO UPDATE PART 2

VIDEO UPDATE PART 1

My Testimony

Every Thursday night we have a community worship night where the entire campus comes together with the Kona community for a time of prayer, worship, and teaching. This past Thursday I had the opportunity to share a short testimony of what the Lord has been doing in my life here in Kona. Luckily, one of my friends recorded me speaking and now I am able to share it with you!

prayer is needed!

Hey everyone!

I just thought I'd send out a quick prayer request. Our schedule is not letting up and is extremely busy. Doing this for two months has really worn me out and I could use some prayer for a renewed strength and focus! On Tuesday, we had lecture from 8-12, lunch until 1 and then lecture from 1-3, work from 3-5, dinner at 5, and then lecture again from 6:30-8:30. I think it is safe to say that my body, mind, AND my spirit are all struggling! I realize that not every week is going to include amazing experiences with God. Some weeks are going to be harder than others, this week especially. I really appreciate your thoughts and prayers! I know that God is continuing to mold my life into his tool and am excited to see His continued work.

Thank you and God bless!

See what God is doing!!!!

Hey guys!

Here is a short video explaining what God is doing in my life and in the life of every student and staff on Kona's campus! God is moving in huge ways and I am so excited to be a part of His workings!

God bless!!!!

Irresistible Revolution Assignment

After reading Shane Claiborne's Irresistible Revolution, I have a conflicting view on short term mission trips. Shane speaks about the danger of short term missions in which they can be too inwardly focused. This is why I posted the picture above. There is a positive and a negative to this captured moment. The obvious positive is there was an undeniable bond created between two individuals who do not speak the same language and come from two entirely different backgrounds. Each individual experienced joy and love and thus, the experienced moment is undoubtedly positive and good. However, what happens after this moment? I came home to a comfortable house with enough food at my disposal to fill my stomach. But when was this child's next meal? It could have been three days after I left or even longer. But then again, who am I to say this child's life wasn't changed through this rare experience of joy and love?

I sometimes think we, notice I said we not you, have a certain view on short term mission trips where we feel good about holding poor children in our arms for two weeks only to hand them over to the next westerner who has come to visit or back to no one at all. Where does my 'mission' mindset stop and my 'regular life' mindset begin? This is a hard question to answer and a prayer of mine that my life not be marked by intermittent mission trips but by a continuous flow of love. So perhaps I should not worry what happens to the children or the leper after I leave but instead focus on the moments I have with them. Pour out the love Christ has for me to them and trust that He will take care of them when our paths cease to cross. I am sure you can tell by the unorganized flow of thoughts that I am having a hard time discerning my exact thoughts on the issue.

I believe what it comes down to is the motive behind the action. I will obviously support any mission trip, whether it be one day or 10 years, because as long as the gospel is being preached we are fulfilling our calling. We need to be sure that our motive is not self centered so that we are not striving after that feeling of self-righteousness that we so often attain after serving others. True service is denying ourselves for the benefit of others. So that is what we must do. Deny ourselves, pick up our cross. and follow after Christ with every ounce of energy, focus, and passion we have in our very being.

My crazy encounter with Jesus and a lady named Cindy

This story begins a few weeks ago. Every tuesday night for the past two and a half years or so, people from the campus gather to pray for the community and then wander the streets to speak the gospel and simply share the love of Jesus. Now, growing up I've always had a negative view on things like this which truly is based out of my own insecurity and doubts that God would really speak through me. There is no denying you can run into awkward situations when talking with people you've never met! When I first heard about this a few weeks ago, I thought the idea was great but doubted that I'd ever really be a part and voiced my opinion to those around me. Over the past few weeks however, I've been praying and praying that God will reveal Himself to me. "Show me something that I can't deny! I want to see something amazing!" I kept asking God. After all, it says in the scriptures that when we seek Him wholeheartedly we WILL find Him. It's just a matter of when.

SO, about an hour before the meeting last night I already knew I didn't want to go and even had a discussion at dinner about how I had somewhat of a negative viewpoint of what we were doing. Nevertheless, I go to the meeting with an open mind and see if there is anything I can learn from the experience. During the introduction, God began to stir something in my heart. Why was I doubting Him? Why did I have such negative feelings towards people sharing the gospel to strangers? Isn't that EXACTLY what Jesus and his disciples did? By the end of the short 20 minute meeting, we were ready to head out to the community and I felt something different inside of me. I prayed earnestly and wholeheartedly, "God use me tonight! Reveal yourself in ways I have yet to see! I want to see YOU move Father. Reveal your love and your faithfulness to us Father!" I teamed up with my friends Emily and Kelsey and we hit the streets. We started to pray asking God to direct us if there was anyone in particular he wanted us to talk to. My friend Emily felt that God told her to speak to a John in a white shirt at K-Mart. Alright! That's a start so we began heading to K-Mart. However, for some reason I felt we should stop by the frozen yogurt place first and see if there was anyone there. We ended up meeting the owner of the store who just happened to be named John. He began telling us how he was having trouble paying the expensive electric bill for his shop. I asked if I could pray for him so I did and just prayed that God would show him His love in a monetary way and just thanked God for John (John ended up being a believer as well so he prayed for us). After about 10 minutes we left feeling encouraged. Little did we know, this is when the craziness began.

As we were walking down the street, my heart and mind felt very unsettled as did Kelsey's and Emily's. I suggested we stop and just sit in silence for 7 minutes (I don't know why 7) to see if God speaks to us. After only about 30 seconds of silence (God is a lot faster than I thought!) I heard God speak to me "Do exactly as I say. Go to Wal-Mart, go to the girls section, you'll meet a lady named Cindy." A little surprised and confused, I mentioned it to the girls and 30 seconds later we began to march off towards Wal-Mart which is actually about a 25 minute walk. At this point I'm marching down the street like a man on a mission absolutely convinced I'm going to meet this woman. Get ready Cindy because we're coming after you! :) On our way we talked about how if we didn't actually meet her to not be discouraged. I agreed and asked God, "what if she's not there?" God spoke right back and said, "When you get there, wait 25 minutes." At this point I'm already very freaked out so I'll go with anything. "sure thing God," I say. Also, on the way my friend Emily asks me, "Did you get anything about a floral dress or a flower shirt?" "No!" I say back to her completely blowing her off haha. I was focused and determined. I apologized to her later though! We were about 5 minutes from the Wal-Mart and I looked down at my hand and remembered a ring I was wearing that had crosses all around it. Kelsey actually gave it to me earlier in the day because she got it from someone else who didn’t want it anymore. God spoke to me again. "When you meet her, give her this ring" "Wal Mart, girls section, Cindy, floral dress, ring. Check."

We arrive at Wal-Mart and I make a bee line for the girls section and begin asking every woman/girl I see if her name is Cindy. All we got were blank stares and 'No's.' God kept telling me to keep praying and be patient so that's what I did. I looked at my clock as soon as I arrived. 7:14pm. For 24 minutes we asked every woman we saw and I prayed. Hard. "Bring this woman here God! I want to see you move! Bring this woman to me!" At the 24th minute, 7:38pm God said "At the 25th minute, walk directly to aisle 8 or 9." I've come this far so I'll do anything at this point. As soon as the clock strikes 7:39 I take off for aisle 8 or 9 leaving Emily and Kelsey behind in complete bewilderment, them having no idea what I'm doing. I get to the aisles and begin asking every woman I see if she is the Cindy I'm searching for. Again, all I get is "No, sorry." At this point I get discouraged but Emily comes walking and points out a woman in the aisle next to me in a FLORAL DRESS and says "Ask her!" So I grabbed a pack of gum to go stand in line behind her and say, "Excuse me ma'am, I don't mean to be intrusive but is your name Cindy?" She turns and stares at me for a second and says, "Yes." My jaw literally drops. I asked her I think 3 times what her name was because I was so shocked. I turned to Emily with a shocked face and said, "I FOUND HER!!" I began to explain that God had taken me along a crazy path and gave me her name and asked if I could just pray for her. She agrees so we walk outside and I laid my hand on her shoulder and began to pray and thank God for how amazing He is and thank Him for Cindy. After praying for a few minutes, I pause and ask Cindy if this is making sense at all and if there is anything she needs prayer for. "Well actually," she says, "I found out a few weeks ago I have a cyst on my breast." There it is. "My mom had breast cancer!" I told her. She gave me a hug and I asked if I could pray for her again. I began to pray that God would wrap His arms around her and that He would give wisdom and direction to the doctors. I prayed for her for a few minutes and unfortunately her husband was getting impatient. She thanked me for my time and I went back inside absolutely shocked at what just happened. I looked down at my hand and saw the ring on my hand. I instantly turned around and booked it to the parking lot scanning the cars to see if I could find her. Thankfully, she was in the first parking spot. I started waving my hands and after they rolled down the window, I handed her the ring and said "I don't know why but God told me to give you this ring." She thanked me for it and we parted ways.

Looking back on it I believe God told me to give her the ring as a reminder of that night. There is no way she or I can deny what had happened was anything but our Lord and Savior! I was and still am completely blown away at the craziness that happened! Wal-Mart, Cindy, Floral Dress, 25 mins in the girls section, aisle 9, BAM. Our paths crossed at the EXACT right moment. Now I didn't lead her to Christ and I'm not sure if she was healed but I KNOW that if not last night then God is beginning to grab a hold of that woman's heart and I am so thankful, humbled, and honored that God used me just as I had asked Him to do!

I hope this can be a testament to God’s goodness and faithfulness that He does, in fact, work in mysterious ways and that when we truly seek after Him wholeheartedly and ask with an earnest heart, God responds! Have faith in our God and open yourself up to new ways of teaching and NEVER be timid about sharing the amazing things God has done in your life. That is the reason we are on this earth. To know God, enjoy Him, and make Him known!

God bless!

Reaction Assignment Week 2

For this assignment, we are supposed to use words, pictures, music, or some artistic medium to explain a characteristic of God that we love. I am uploading a picture that describes God's majesty and his creativity. Something I love!

My Prayer to God

Yesterday in class we were learning about the characteristics of God. In the scriptures it actually only says "God is.." four times. It says God is Spirit, Light, Life, and a Consuming Fire. During the lecture our speaker felt that halfway through our class really hit a wall. For some reason, his message really wasn't getting across to everyone in the class. I sat there wondering what he was talking about and that I really felt that I was getting everything he said. He stopped his lecture and we began to pray and worship God and ask Him to speak to us and tell us what in our lives is hindering us from getting everything we need to hear. I thought I was fine but I began to pray anyways asking God to tell me if there really is anything there. As I sat there and prayed, the Lord asked me to begin writing in my journal. I want to share with you what came out.

Up until this week I had always viewed Christianity and worship as a sort of ATM. I viewed the guitars and the praying as a way of us making a withdrawal from God. Take what I need to give me joy and make me feel as if I am on some sort of higher spiritual plane. There is something deeper here. The songs are not just lyrics to a pleasing tune but instead a method of actual worship and exaltation. Father release my self centered view of you. Today is not about me neither is next week, month, year or decade. Father show me what you want for me. I am finally beginning to actually understand the purpose of my life is not to please myself but instead please you. Release my doubt and struggles that you will not provide and not take care of me. Your plan may not and probably isn't what I view as comfort. But Father transform my idea of comfort from self serving and worldly practices to the knowledge and comfort of knowing YOU as LORD my comfort and provider. I surrender all to you. Father I have an idea of what I want my life to look like and a method by which to go about that. Father I release my control because my control has only brought me pain. Guide my feet to walk the path you have set out for me and give me the strength to follow. Father replace my self serving desires with desires to serve you. Desires to discover your character and your heart. You are SPIRIT, LIGHT, LOVE, and a CONSUMING FIRE. By focusing on you I am healed. I cannot heal myself. There is nothing I can do or say or pay that will heal my pain. Father help me to understand that you heal my pain, nothing else. You are my redeemer. My guilt is pointless! You love me father and have forgiven me! By focusing on you and seeking you I then begin to become whole. Make my inner focus an outer focus!

It's really neat to see what God wants to say to you when you don't even think there is anything there to say.

God bless!

Louie Giglio HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD

Hey guys! Today in class we watched an absolutely incredible sermon by Louie Giglio entitled 'How Great is Our God.' I have been struggling with doubting the Lord's power recently and the way in which He moves. God spoke directly to me through this sermon saying, 'How can you doubt me when I have proven myself over and over and over to you merely through creation?'

The entire sermon is in 5 or so parts on youtube but I just thought I would share part 1 instead of posting all 5. This sermon is truly amazing!

HOW GREAT IS OUR GOD

Powerful Words

I love inspirational sayings. I love the simplicity of a few sentences yet the sheer power held within them. I've been trying to write down any sentence, phrase, or word that has stuck out to me the past week and I wanted to share some of them.

Don't run away from your cross, embrace it. Thank God for it.

I am not the victim of my circumstance. I can CHOOSE to overcome. I am a Son of God.

When times are good you don't question whether it's from God. It's only when things get hard that we question whether it's from God.

It's not whether or not God communicates it's whether or not I recognize Him when he DOES speak.

If you accept evil without protesting it, you are really cooperating with it. If you're passive towards evil you are only agreeing with it.

Justice at its best is LOVE correcting everything that stands against love. -Dr MLK Jr

The natural mind needs to be submitted to the spiritual mind of God

Let me tell you what he has done for me. COME AND LISTEN!

There are dreams in God's heart that will never be fulfilled because people are not obedient. Lord, may I be the last person you have to ask!

Father please transform my idea of comfort from self serving and worldly practices to the knowledge of knowing YOU as LORD, my comfort and provider.

It Starts At Home

So for one of last week's assignments, we had to write a reaction to the issue of human trafficking. We could take a photo, write a blog, write a poem, song, etc. I've always enjoyed expressing myself through poetry so I decided to write a poem. This particular poem is written from the perspective of a small boy asking his abusive father to love him. This issue is rooted in the inconsistent and destructive value system our country has when we fail to show our children how to love one another and treat people with respect.

IT STARTS AT HOME

You do not know

But I watch what you do.

I watch your heavy eyes

look through me.

I do not exist to you.

All I dream for is for your

strong coarse hands to grasp

mine. Guide my young

fingers to explore my heart.

Teach me strength.

Teach me kindness.

Teach me LOVE.

I still do not exist to you.

You show me pain.

You show me anger.

You show me evil.

You do not know

but I hear what you say.

What you say is different

from what you do.

I know because I hear you.

I listen to you.

Your words bring tears.

I want words that let

my lips smile.

Instead my lips quiver.

You hand causes me pain.

My skin will heal.

But I still remember you

telling me 'I'm worthless.'

I will always remember you

telling me 'I'm worthless.'

My heart is empty.

My soul is full of darkness.

I know because I feel like you.

You don't know but

I DO as you DO.

And I?

I blame you.

Hawaii Waves!

This is a sweet little video that my friend Nate put together of us doing some body surfing today. Enjoy!

WAVES

Hello Friends :)

Just a quick little video of me and some friends hanging out at the cafe.