Edwin Moses I am not.

If you don't know who Edwin Moses is, you should, so click here.

Anyway, this evening I put on my running shoes, loaded up my I-pod, and headed to the stadium with my friend and neighbor Susana. She told me that there was a race in which you could try to see how far you could run in two hours. I am crazy, so this sounded like fun to me. Its been several months since I ran the Chicago Marathon, but I'm not in horrible shape, so I figured I could pound out about 12 miles or so.

When we got to the stadium, I quickly found out that we would not be jogging around the track for two hours. That event was held last week. This week was the Tec open track meet. Being a former (emphasis on former) track man, I got a little excited, and decided to enter the 1,500 meters, 200 meters, 4x400 meter relay, and the 5k. I knew I would be tired at the end, but you know, I'm tough, I could handle it.

The meet started with the 100 meter dash. There were only five guys, so that went pretty quick. Next was the 1,500 meters. I lined up with about 15 other people, and the gun sounded. I felt great for about 200 meters, as I shot out into the lead and quickly found a comfortable pace. That pace became quite uncomfortable about 300 meters into the race, when I realized how badly I needed to use the bathroom. As I told my body to forget about it and just run, my body laughed at me. This is not a good feeling when you are only at the beginning of your first of four races. I reliquished the lead before I had completed the first lap, and struggled through the rest of the race. I picked it up a little on the last lap, catching two people ahead of me, and lapping two others that were hurting even worse than I was.

After I finished the 1,500 I was regretting running it, especially when they announced that the 200 meters would be next. I walked directly from the finish line of the 1,500 to the starting line of the 200. I knew I was in trouble when the other guys in the race all were wearing track spikes, and all looked about 19 or 20 years old. They stuck me in lane one, just so I could see everyone ahead of me the whole time. The gun went off, and I shot out of the blocks (okay, so there weren't really any blocks), and quickly saw that I was going to get smoked. That is not a familiar feeling for me, but I dealt with it pretty well. I strided down the stretch in fifth place (out of 5), trying to save as much energy as possible for the 4x400, which unfortunately was the very next event.

I had already found three other guys to run the relay with, but right before the race the directors decided to remake the teams. Fortunately, my teammates let me run last, as I needed the time to rest (and I also like to bring the stick home). We started out really slow, as our first runner was about 60 meters back at the handoff. The second guy brought us to within 40 meters, and the third guy ran a great race, catching two girls ahead of him, and handing me the baton with about a 5 meter lead. This has always been a situation I have loved and thrived in. I took off like a bat outta hell (as we used to say back at BCHS) and felt good around the first curve. My buddy Nathan the Aussie was running the anchor leg for the team in second, and I could hear him coming up along side me through the backstretch. He passed me about halfway down the backstretch and I was seeing a repeat of the 1996 Highland Gold Medal Meet, where I ran my best quarter mile of all time. I now am feeling all 10 of those years that have passed since I could run like that. Anyway, I hung right behind him down the back stretch and through the final curve, and with about 150 meters to go I told my body it was time to move. I had done this so many times before, and I was expecting to come flying around the final turn and blow Nate away down the home stretch. I always won these matchups. This used to be what I lived for. Well, I am glad I don't live for that anymore, because when I told my body "Go!" my body said "No!" I gave everything in had over the last 100 meters, but could only watch in frustration as Nathan pulled further ahead and beat me by about 15 meters. He was a gracious winner, and thanked me after the race for running the 200, expending my energy and making it easier for him to win the 4x4.

I felt horrible at the end of the race. I realized that I have always felt this way after a grueling quarter mile, but the pain is a good thing when you have just won. I failed to mention that the only thing I had eaten all day was two large bowls of Frosted Flakes. Well, I hate to be gross, but I knew that what I really needed to do was puke, not run a 5k. As I walked to the dressing rooms drinking a little Powerade, my head started to swim and I just kept praying that I didn't fall over. After laying down for a few minutes in the dressing room, I felt better, so I got up to walk outside. I didn't get very far before losing the entire contents of my stomach. This was a good thing, as I felt 10 times better, and went back out to the track to warm down. I passed on the 5k, and stretched while I cheered Susana on. She ran/walked a pretty good race.

All in all, the track meet was a great experience. I met some new people, definitely got some good exercise, and realized just how out of shape I am. I a way, maybe it was a good thing that I got smoked. It has motivated me to get back in shape. It is amazing how hard it is to get in shape, and how easy it is to get out of it. There is a spiritual application here, but that is a blog for another day.

P.S. For anyone worried about my physical state, you don't need to be. I just had some Subway and a couple of Gatorades, and now I am good to go. I think I could probably roll out another quarter mile right now. Okay, maybe not. :-)

The Ramblin' Wreck from Georgia Tech

Another week, another volunteer group. Okay, so I am just kidding. I love volunteer groups. No, I really do. I don't have to say that. I don't have to blog about these people. Hosting volunteers (especially university students) is one of the best parts of my job.

Okay, so here is the story. Last Saturday (11 days ago) I rode out to the airport to pick up a group of GA Techsters on Spring Break. Three guys, four girls, no big deal. Saturday afternoon we went on campus, ate a great meal at Jac and Ray's and then spent the evening hanging out at my apartment. The windows here are always open (it's hot and there is no A/C) and oftentimes the wind will blow the doors shut. This has happened several hundred times since I have lived here, so I am used to the sound and don't even flinch when a conversation is interrupted by the loud "Bam!" What has never happened in all of the time I have lived here is for the wind to not only shut the door, but to also lock it from the inside (which is what the girls who took over my apartment swear was the case). You have to understand, these doors are hard to lock. They had never been locked since I moved in until the wind miraculously locked them last week. So, after the door closes and locks, we are shut out of the room. Since there are bars on my windows we can't get into the room any other way, so for about an hour the guys tried to pick the lock. I sat on the couch watching and eating Oaxaca cheese until I had had enough. I calmly went into the other room, put on my Nikes, and then kicked the door in. It really wasn't a big deal, as the lock simply dislodged from the door, and now you can't get locked out. The Techster ladies flipped out though, and re-created the scene for their video camera. I thought the drama was over, and walked with the guys up the street to spend the night at a local church (I told you the girls had taken over my apartment).

The next morning we arrived back at The Ocho (that is the name for my place) to find all four girls sitting on the couch with the video camera. I could tell immediately that things were not right, and the girls quickly clued us in to a big problem. There was a lot of water in my living room, and it appeared it was all coming from the bathroom. There was basically a stream flowing through the middle of The Ocho. The girls (once again) swore that they had nothing to do with this mess, although nothing remotely similar had ever happened before they arrived. As we began to clean up the mess ("we" being the guys), I realized that the door to the office was closed and locked. Thinking someone must be in there changing clothes for church, I knocked and asked who was inside. The girls informed me that no one was inside, that the wind had performed a repeat miracle and once again locked us out of another room. At first I hoped this was a joke, but quickly realized it was not. So, after getting all the water up off of the floor of the living room and bathroom, I had to kick down another door in my aparment (barefooted this time, as my Nikes were in the locked room).

I really thought at this point that nothing more could happen to my apartment, but we still had five days to go. On Tuedsay, someone informed me that the toilet was clogged, and someone had left an enormous and unpleasant gift in there for the group. Having warned the group about this at the beginning of the week, I was a little confused as to how it could of happened, but even more confusing was the fact that my plunger was suddenly no where to be found. The only logical explanation is that it was somehow carried away by the wind. Sometime between finding out that the toilet was clogged, and it finally becoming unclogged (a day and a half later), we were sitting in the living room and heard a loud crash from inside the spare bedroom (which has the first door I had to kick down). As I sat there wondering what in the world I had in the room that was breakable, one of the girls went running in and found the full-length mirror she had just leaned against the open window had blow over and shattered on the floor. That pesky wind was at it again. There was really nothing to do but laugh about it and clean it up. The seven years of bad luck are hers, not mine.

Finally, when I was pretty sure I had hidden all of the breakable objects in the house, a few of us were juggling a soccer ball on the back patio (this was Wednesday night). The girl who was my prime suspect in several of the other catastrophies (sorry Amanda) took a low pass and popped the ball straight up into the light bulb, shattering it all over the back porch. It was truly amazing. As we swept up the broken pieces (I found a few more today in the sink) I realized that there was a pretty strong breeze on the patio, and I think the wind may have actually blown the ball into the light. This place might be haunted, I don't know. One way or the other, The Ocho will never be the same after hosting the Ramblin' Wreck for a week. I can't wait until they return.

On the spiritual side...they did an awesome job forming relationships with students on campus and talking to people about Christ. God really broke down the language barriers with this group, and used them in a powerful way. I appreciate all that they did, including the remodeling, and am very thankful for the time they gave up over Spring Break in the service of the One who makes the wind blow. Thank you Jamey, PJ, Evan, Ashley, Ashley, Amanda, and Sharon.

The Best of East Texas

I wish I had time last week to blog about some new friends from ETBU. I didn't, so now I am catching up.

When I became a missionary in northern Mexico I was told that a big part of my job would be working with volunteer groups. It was something I had really been looking forward to, although I had heard enough horror stories about the headache these trips could be. Fortunately, my first group was a large and crazy crew from East Texas Baptist University. They were here on their spring break to work with college students at Tec de Monterrey.

I have to be honest and admit that when they first showed up I was a little overwhelmed. There were about 20 of them and one of me, and I was supposed to know what to do. I hope I acted more on top of things than I felt. Fortunately, neither I nor the group came into the week with any expectations. At least I don't think they had any expectations. Whatever the situation, God turned it into an awesome experience.

We really only had three days to get things done, so we had to move fast. The strategy was simple. We started out on Monday by prayer walking the campus and asking God to move in a mighty way among the students here. As usual, He came through. Tuesday we were able to meet dozens of students, and even attend an English class were one girl gave her testimony. The language barrier was no barrier at all, as the Mexican students who were drawn to the group were able to communicate in English. On Tuesday night, we had a cultural exchange party at my apartment. It was a blast. Drawn by God, good conversation, a rockin' band on my back patio, and some good food, about 30 Tec students spent the evening hanging out with the volunteer group. By the end of the night, I had met many new friends who were interested in either practicing English, playing basketball or soccer, or even studying the Bible.

On Wednesday (this was a week and a half ago), the American students were back on campus meeting Tec students for lunch and continuing conversations that had begun the night before. Thursday morning we took a trip outside of town to a waterfall called Cola de Caballo, which means horse's tail. The group got to do a little hiking and pose for some good pictures. As they pulled away on Thursday afternoon, all I could do was thank God for them and for the way He had used them in such a short time here. Although it was exhausting and a little crazy at times, I wouldn't have changed a thing. I just want to say thank you to the ETBU group (and the guys from Laredo), and tell you guys that I can't wait to see you down here again. You did an awesome job, and I pray that you continue to let God use you at home like you did here in Mexico. Dios les bendiga!

Loving my job.

It hit me on Thursday night as I stood on the landing outside my apartment door talking to three 19-year old wanderers. It was something I had felt a coule of times before since arriving in sunny Mexico, but as the students and I talked and laughed and exchanged views on life, it became perfectly clear that I have the best job in the world.

My job isn't easy. I don't make much money. My apartment is my office and my hours are 24/7. I am trying to learn a new language, new culture, and new city. Sometimes I sleep on the floor. I am often up really late and many times I am up really early. Sometimes my apartment gets taken over by Mexicans, and other times by crazy college students from Georgia. In the last week I have had to kick down two doors, twice clean a flooded bathroom, and share 2 showers with eight to ten people. Why do I love it?

I love it because of Thursday night, because of guys with names like Checo, Oraldo, and Mano. I love it because of guys that showed up at my party looking to find some girls, and left asking if we could get together next week to talk more about Jesus. I love it because of Luis, who I had breakfast with Friday morning, and who I am going to play basketball with Monday night. I love it because of Salvador, who is asking how to find true satisfaction, and who wants to reload his I-pod with more of my rockin' Jesus music. I love it because of Gil, who is being draw to God in ways he doesn't even know. I love it because I know beyond the shadow of a doubt that this is what I was created for, this is what I was made to do.

I have the best job in the world because lives are being changed in front of my eyes, and it is so evident that it is not me that is doing the changing. God is at work here in Mexico. He is drawing people to himself, and he had blessed me abundantly by allowing me to be a part of that. God is at work where you are at as well, and he wants you to be part of it. It's what you were created for. Join Him in the task. I bet you'll love it too.

NEVA FAITH

Who is this gorgeous girl? Have you seen her before? Does anyone know her name? They tell me she is Neva, warrior princess, daughter of Le and Bob, sister of Walton and Graham, the two warrior poets, granddaughter of Gigi and Grandaddy, neice of Shua the Mission Bandit. She must be an angel, for her face is too fair to belong to a woman of earth, and her laughter too sweet to have been made by human lips. Brave young kings sail from distant shores to seek her affection, although the time of day she gives them not. She has but one love, and it is cake, and today, on her 2nd birthday, she enjoyed it emmensely. I love you Baby Neva, future queen and possible track star. I wish I could have been there with you to celebrate. In your spare time from saving the world, enjoy your Little People Discovery Village.

From Mexico, con MUCHO MUCHO MUCHO AMOR,

Uncle Shua

Visit to Torreon.

I had a really great time last week visiting with some guys from my church who were in Torreon, Mexico on a volunteer mission trip. Below are some pictures.

This first shot is me and Tim at the guys' hotel, Rio Nazas. It was a really nice place, and a lot cheaper than hotels in Monterrey!




This shot is of Me, Gary, and Bob in front of a giant stature of Jesus. The statue is located in front of a Catholic church that sits atop a small mountain in the city. The statue is probably about 80 feet tall, and you can see it from all over town.




Below is Bob, the Euchre King. Bob likes to call trump and then get Euchre'd. He claims he gets distracted easily, but I think he just gets too tired to think. That thing around his neck is very soft and comfy.




Below is a priceless shot of Howie getting some shut eye on the bus. I got to ride the bus from Torreon to Saltillo with the group, and I enjoyed the extra couple hours of fellowship. Howie is one of the funnest guys around, and is also a great sport when I take unusual photos of him.




This is a picture of me and my friend Amparo. Amparo was a huge help to the guys all week as she translated, assisted with construction, and put up with their general silliness.

My campus.

As I sit here typing away, I can look out my window and see the campus of Monterrey Tec. It's really a pretty place, with it's cool modern architecture and crazy abstract sculpture on the front of the administration building. I was sitting at a picnic table on campus Friday, doing a little reading and writing when I heard something moving quickly behind me. I turned around and found a peacock standing there. The funny thing is, this is not unusual. This campus is inhabited by several peacocks, a bunch of ducks, and at least two deer. All of the animals just walk around like they own the place. The students leave them alone (some are so used to seeing the animals that they don't even look up when a peacock spreads its beautiful feathers right in front of them) and the animals leave the students alone, for the most part. It is kind of like the crazy squirrels at UK, except I haven't seen a duck steal anyone's homework yet. Anyway, I really enjoy having the animals around, so I took some pictures and thought I would share. I am going to try and get a better shot of the peacocks, as there is a place where I always see about 5 or 6 of them hanging out in the afternoons.

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad

Today my parents celebrate their 3oth wedding anniversary, and I want to say congratulations, and most of all, thank you. The older I get, the more I realize how blessed I am, and my parents are one of the greatest gifts God has given me. Since I have been away from home and the many things I had grown so accustomed to I have had a lot of time to think about life. One thing I hope is that some day I will have benefitted someone by the investment of my life the way my parents have benefitted me by the investment of their lives. Thank you Mom and Dad. I love you guys. Have a wonderful anniversary.