#7

As of about a week and a half ago I am no longer a leader in the college group, Collide, at my church. I have been in the group for about four years, two of which I have been a small group leader

This all started around the beginning of summer...I have been leading , basically, the same group of college guys and girls (which have all become great friends) and when we ended our lessons and whatnot last semester, I knew down deep that God wanted me to move on from the group and let new leaders emerge within it. But...there's always a but, haha...anyways...because I was out of town so much this summer I never really thought much about what God wanted me to do and I wasn't able to talk to Med (college group leader) about it. In the little that I did talk to him, we decided that I should just lead another group, I thought it was a fair compromise.

When I got back home and everything started back up again, our meetings and preparation, it all came back that maybe God didn't have this in His plans for me...even with the compromise. As we met and talked about stuff I couldn't get it out of my head; then Kevin talking about obeying God and everything, it was really driving me crazy.

I figured I could pull it off and still be a good leader...and what else would I do anyways...

Finally, I broke down to God and decided to step out of leadership knowing that it is what He wanted

My old group will hopefully go well, some changes were made amidst some drama that I think shouldn't have been made, but God knows best

This semester God is having me focus on school, learning Portuguese, and just attending a small group to relax and keep growing with my Lord

Peace

#10

So...I decided to go to Brazil next semester, my school is offering a study abroad there for the semester and they are offering my last 3 classes for my bachelors. I put in the application last week and found out Monday that I was picked...only 5 spots were available, out of the 17 that showed initial interest only a few applied. We'll be part of an international exchange program, where we'll be going to IBMEC-Sau Paulo and living with families down there...what better way to learn a new culture. I'll be there from Febuary to June...Brazillian Carnival anyone??

The more superficial or short reasons of why I want to go is to experience more of the world and to make it to my fourth continent (I want to hit up all 7, maybe not Antartica though...pretty extreme)

A more deep and porfound reason for wanting to go...is well kind of a two-part story...First off, it goes back to when I was in Turkey and two of the main things I learned, to get the most out of my career (Global Business), 1) get a master's degree, and 2) learn a second language; since I am still working on the pre-requisite to the first I'm going to start working on the second...learning Portuguese (which I learned is spoken in Protugal, Brazil, and Angola)

Secondly...it dates back a whole 2 or 3 weeks (maybe, technically, it goes back a few years with how God has changed me, we'll just look at the recent though). This part took way when I first heard the new Brandon Heath song "Give Me Your Eyes" (look it up here). I started really praying the chorus of that song...if you want God to rock your world, do that (it worked for me at least). Anyways...after a couple days I couldn't stop researching Angola (southern Africa, by the way). It took me awhile to realize that those two events (me praying and then me wanting to find out more about Angola) may have not been a coincidence...I'm a little slow sometimes. Now...I don't know if God is calling me to go to Angola at some point in my life (although I'd love to) but I do know that it will prepare me to go to 3 more countries and be able to share the love and power of Jesus (yes I could go to other countries and only speak English and God can easily still use me, but how much better can it be speaking their native tongue...I don't know but it's worth finding out)

So...yes...I am going to Brazil and I can't wait!!!

Peace

#7 will come soon, I don't have time now

Uhh...Finally

Since it has been so long since I last posted...pretty much since Turkey...there has been a lot that has gone on. Instead of talking about all the different things that happened I'll just sum up each one into a quick sentence and number them. So if you want to hear more just leave a comment with the number(s) you want to hear more about...I figured this would save us all time...haha

1. Went to Mom's for a couple weeks
2.Went to San Fransisco for a couple weeks
3. Started my last year of college
4. Awana started
5. Went to a D'Backs-Dodgers game
6. Went to ASU-NAU...Go Devils!!
7. Stepped out of leadership in the college group
8. John 14:12
9. Learning more of what God wants me to do in life
10. Going to Brazil for all of next semester
11. Still looking for a job
12. Small group?
13. Buying an Apple
14. Going to start learning Portuguese
15. The two main things I learned in Turkey...with respect to my career

Peace