Josh on a Mission

Crazy Love

2007-11-17T01:02:00.000-05:00

"When you love someone, you'll do anything. You'll do all the crazy things that you can't explain."

I used to really like this song, and it popped into my head the other day. I was praying for my friends here, praying that God would change their hearts and open their eyes. Praying Romans 8:21, that they would be liberated from bondage and brought into the glorious freedom of the children of God. I love these people. I want to see them live free and satisfied, with passion and purpose. I love them so much it hurts.

When I came here almost two years ago, I was hoping to like the place, enjoy the work, make some good friends, and see God work in miraculous ways. I wasn't expecting to fall in love with a group of people. I wasn't expecting God to change my heart in the way he has. I wasn't expecting to learn more than I could ever teach anyone. And I definitely wasn't expecting this crazy love.

Why is it crazy? It's crazy because it's completely opposite of the kind of love I am used to. I am used to loving my family. They are easy to love. They loved me first. They treat me great. They do all kinds of things for me. I love God. He is easy to love. He loved me first. He takes care of me. He has given me life and all good things. That kind of love is normal and natural.

This love is crazy because most of these people are never going to love me back. They can't love me back. They don't even know what love is. Most of these people will never have any idea that I live for the opportunity to share with them how they can have life. If they did, most would think I am nuts. Maybe I am. Or maybe it's the rest of the world that is nuts. Maybe that thing we have been calling love for so long really isn't love. Maybe this crazy love is the real thing. I am starting to think it is.

Romans 5:8 says God demonstrates his own love for us in this: While we were still sinners, Christ died for us. That's how God demonstrates love. That's crazy. While we were still sinners, Christ died for us to demonstrate God's love. He died for a bunch of people who didn't love him back. He died for a bunch of people that didn't even understand him. He gave his life for a bunch of sinners like you and me. That's love. That's crazy love. That's the kind of love I am just starting to learn about.

I know I can't love these students quite like God loves me, but I'm going to try. And everytime I am misunderstood, or rejected, or heartbroken, I am going to remember our example, Jesus, who gave his life in the ultimate demonstration of crazy love. That's the only kind of love God has, the crazy kind. Maybe we could be a little crazier.

The cube

2007-11-14T04:10:00.000-05:00

3 a.m. on a random tuesday. I just got off the phone with an old friend. When I say old, I'm talking I haven't conversed with this guy in maybe 15 years. We had a lot of catching up to do. Our paths haven't crossed in quite some time, but it's amazing how similar they have been. It's awesome how God brings people into our lives at certain times, and how he uses situations that we have experienced to connect us with others on this same journey. I have been thinking about it, and its like life is a giant rubik's cube. We are each sitting on a little colored square, wondering why we keep spinning and shifting, seemingly with no rhyme or reason at times. We have no idea what's going on on the other side of the cube, or that in just a moment we will be on that other side. Or maybe the other side will be next to us. The thing is, things often looked jumbled up and out of place, but there's one who knows the steps. He is working the solution, and sooner than we think, all will be righted in this twisted world.

We have a God who is sovereign over screwups like me. He is going to twist my world, and sometimes it will seem upside down, but through it all I know he is putting everything in line, in its proper place and time. It makes me smile. It makes me cry. It gives me hope. I gives me joy. So I will keep on dancing on my little square. Come dance with me.

Jack Ryan (June 5, 1918 - September 11, 2007)

2007-09-12T03:07:00.000-04:00

Philippeans 1:21 - For me to live is Christ and to die is gain.

Tonight I celebrate the life of my grandfather, Jack Ryan, who passed away early this afternoon at the age of 89. While Grandpa Jack will be greatly missed by all who knew and loved him, I rejoice that he is now with Jesus. Grandpa Jack is now experiencing the truth of Philippeans 1:21, that for those of us who know and love Christ, death truly is gain.

Grandpa Jack had been in deteriorating health lately, and had most recently been admitted to the hospital last week with difficulty breathing. He was alert when he left this earth, actually he was in the middle of a sentence. The nurse who was attending him at the time told my parents that he looked at her and his last words were, "I feel..." He then closed his eyes and was gone.

I have been thinking a lot tonight about Grandpa Jack, and I can't help but think about how he might of completed that sentence. Grandpa Jack had been in a lot of pain recently. He is now in a place were he will never again feel pain. I imagine that he may have said "I feel....awesome!" Maybe he said "I feel.....brand new!" He could have said "I feel.....well, whole, clean!" Maybe he didn't finish that sentence. Maybe he was so overwhelmed as he entered the presence of Jesus that he couldn't utter a word. I don't know for sure, but one day I'll ask him. Until then, I will celebrate him.

Grandpa was a special man. He had a sharp mind, an incredible sense of humor, and he loved deeply and unashamedly. His passions were his wife Kay (my grandma), his family, and his Cincinnati Reds. He could spin a great story, and recounted events in great detail that happened nearly a century ago. Grandpa lived through so much history and experienced so many things. He was a warrior, who had overcome many hardships and obstacles yet continued to greet life with a smile and a laugh. I could sit with him for hours listening to his stories, his jokes, and his thoughts on baseball.

I talked to Grandpa four days ago. I had a feeling it might be the last time. I told him I loved him, and how special he was to me. I could hear his smile through the phone as he said the same thing he has always told me, "I love you boy. I am so proud of you." Thank you Grandpa Jack. Thank you for your love, and for always letting me know how you felt. Thank you for being such a special part of my life. I will miss you so much, but I am so glad that you are with Jesus. I can't wait to see you there.

Celebrate Life

2007-05-12T19:44:00.000-04:00

Seven years ago tonight I woke up in the intensive care unit at Christ Hospital in Cincinnati, Ohio. My sister Le and I had both undergone surgery and she had given me one of her kidneys. The transplant was necessary because my kidneys didn't work anymore. They had failed and I required a new kidney. My sister loves me, and she did what was needed to give me a new life.

In the years since the transplant, a lot has changed. I used to think I was invincible. I now know I'm not. I view life as the precious gift that it is, and I live it a lot more fully. I've learned what's important, and I still continue to learn. I am not as strong or independent as I thought I was, but I am free. I am free to live as I was created to, glorifying God and deriving my satisfaction from Him alone.

I don't believe in coincidence. I know things happen for a reason. I can look back now at the transplant and see all the ways God has used that situation in my life. The more people I meet, the more I realize we all need a transplant. The thing we need is a new heart. The way we have been living doesn't work. God loves us and sees our need. He has done all that is necessary to give us a new life. We need to go to Christ's hospital and have a heart transplant. Then we can start living.

Today I went for a long run. I am training for my second marathon. I ran better today than I've run in a long time, maybe ever. For that I'd like to thank my sister. Today I lived a lot. I loved a lot of people. I lived with passion and purpose. It was one of the best days ever. For that I'd like to thank my God. I celebrate life today. Not merely the physical passing of time, but the state of being all that I was created to be. That's the only way to live, and we were meant to do it forever.

In John 17:3 Jesus tells us that eternal life is knowing God, and knowing him. That is the only kind of life that is worth living forever. Start living eternally today. It will give you reason to celebrate.

The best boy in the whole world

2007-04-28T15:08:00.000-04:00

Today is the birthday of my oldest nephew, Walton. Happy Birthday Walton!

I am so proud of Walton. I am probably the proudest uncle in the world. Instead of just listing all of the things that make Walton so special, I am going to tell a few stories about him.

Walton loves to take care of peolpe. The other day, his Grandaddy was feeling sick. As Grandaddy left Walton's house, Walton ran out of the room, quickly returning with a bottle of Tylenol. Walton wanted to make sure that Grandaddy had medicine so that he could feel better.

Walton loves to play with trains. He is a trainiac! This was planned. Uncle Shua gave Walton a train on his very first Christmas. Now Walton's favorite trains are those from the Thomas the Train collection. Below is a picture of Gordon, Walton's favorite engine.

Walton is a great big brother. He has a little siter, Neva, and a little brother, Graham. Below is a picture of Walton, Neva, and Graham. Walton loves to teach Neva and Graham new things. Neva loves to try to do everything that Walton does. Sometimes she likes to say, "Walton can't do this" before performing some type of trick. She is a funny girl. Graham has a great example in his big brother Walton. I can't wait to see these two boys together as they grow older.

Walton is a hard worker. He is always helping his parents and grandparents with their projects. Walton loves to help his Daddy and is very skilled using tools. He can use a pressure washer, shop vac, cordless drill, and even helps his Mama vacuum the house. He also takes very good pictures with the camera. Walton took the picture below at Christmastime. Look how Neva is hiding.

Walton is becoming quite an athlete. He can run very fast and is also a good jumper and can hit a baseball pretty good. He is working on flying, which is a good quality for any developing superhero. Below is a picture of Walton practicing in the pool.

Walton is a very smart boy and is about to finish his first year of school. He is always learning knew things and pretty soon will be smarter than his Uncle Shua. One thing I know he will never forget is the first thing I taught him to say. I would say "Who loves you?" to which he would respond "SHUA!" I would then say "How much?" and Walton would say "Thiiiiiiiiiis much!" while spreading his arms out as wide as they go. I would then ask "How come?" and Walton would state the obvious fact, "Becaus I'm the best boy in the world!"

You are the best boy in the world, Walton. I love you so much and I miss you lots and lots. I am so pround of you and I can't wait to see you again. Have a wonderful birthday!

On the inside looking out

2007-04-17T01:49:00.000-04:00

I could write for hours tonight, but I realize only my Mom would read it, and I also have a ton of homework to do and a test tomorrow. I just got back from having a talk with my friend Rebecca*. She is a freshman that reminds me way too much of another freshman I once knew.

Being a Christ-follower in today's world means we're often going to feel like outsiders (not in the S.E. Hinton classic sort of way). We are called to be different and many times it is painfully obvious just how different we are. Lately my heart has been continually broken as I meet more and more students who are searching for life and meaning and purpose, and I have realized that I am not on the outside; they are.

As followers of Christ we are insiders to the greatest love in the history of the world. We've got what everyone is searching for. Christ entrusted eleven men with spreading this to the world, and 2000 years later it's our calling and priviledge to continue to spread it. How do we do that? We love people. On the night before he was killed, Jesus told his disciples to love one another, and to love others as he has loved us.

Let's get back to Rebecca. She is searching for life, and for love, and she doesn't know where to look. Tonight I pointed her in the right direction. It may take a while, I pray not too long, but I want her on the inside, and so does God. I have hope for her, but what breaks my heart is knowing there are a half-million Rebeccas crying themselves to sleep tonight in my city, and 10 million more across Mexico. How many live in your town? How many do you talk to everyday?

We've been entrusted with a gift. We've been called to spread the love. Who do you need to love today? Who is your Rebecca? Open the door for someone on the outside. Shine the light. Show the love. There's plenty of room up in here.

*Names have been changed to protect the guilty

2007 Virtual Easter Egg Hunt

2007-04-08T17:02:00.000-04:00

Happy Easter Everyone! I hope you are having a wonderful day celebrating the Resurrection of Jesus. May you believe that he is the Christ, the Son of God, and by believing have life in his name. (paraphrase of John 20:31)

Last year at this time an excellent tradition was started when Uncle Shua hid Easter Eggs at his apartment in Mexico, and Walton, Neva, and Graham searched for those same eggs, online from Kentucky. Here we have the second annual installment of Uncle Shua's Virtual Easter Egg Hunt.

The following pictures have eggs of various size and color hidden in different locations. There are some really big eggs for Graham to find, and some smaller eggs for Walton and Neva to find. There is even one picture with lots of eggs and Walton and Neva will need to count to see how many are there. (click on the picture to make it full-screen)

Happy Easter and enjoy the hunt! Uncle Shua loves you so much!

Picture 1 - The Couch
How many eggs are hidden in this picture? Graham, where is the big green egg? Walton, do you see the orange egg? Neva, which egg is bigger?

Picture 2 - The Door
How many eggs can you see on Shua's door? Neva, what color is the big egg? Graham, how many eggs are there? (Walton, can you help him?) Walton, what color is the smallest egg in the picture? Can anyone see anything else interesting on the door? Does Mama recognize the foto?

Picture 3 - The TV
Graham, do you see something big and yellow? It's an egg for you! Neva, can you find an egg? What color is it? Walton, I have a challenge for you! There are actually three eggs that you can see in this picture! Can you find the third egg? Where is it? What color is it? (Hint: Look at the TV screen.) Walton, you are so smart!

Picture 4 - Lot's of Eggs

Graham, how many eggs can you point to in this picture? You are such a smart boy! Neva, how many colors do you see? Which egg is the biggest? Which egg is the smallest? I love you Neva! You are my gorgeous genius! Walton, which color has the most eggs? Which egg is hiding the best?

Great job with the Egg Hunt! I hope that you all had fun! I wish I could be there with you to celebrate the day Jesus rose from the dead! Jesus loves you very much and your Uncle Shua loves you too! I love you Graham! I love you Neva! I love you Walton! Dios les guarde!

Uncle Shua

NEVA FAITH!

2007-03-14T01:39:00.000-04:00

Most men will never meet the most beautiful girl in the world, but I am among the few, the happy few. I have not only met her, but I have kissed her...and changed her dirty diapers. Hahaha. She is my precious neice, and today, March 14th, is her day. Neva Faith is now 3 years old. HAPPY BIRTHDAY NEVA! Feliz cumpleaños mi bellita!

Honestly, there are some days when it is easy to live in another country. The air is typically warm, the sun is normally bright, and my days are usually full of fun and purpose. Today is one of the days when it isn't easy. It's tough to be away on birthdays, especially the 3rd birthday of my little princess. I so wish I could be there to celebrate with you, Neva. I wish we could dance, and sing, and eat cake (your favorite). I would love to hug you and kiss you and do tick-tock. I can't stop thinking about your smile, your laugh, your sweet voice, and the joy of being around you. I keep watching a video of you, over and over again, laughing at your singing, and crying when you say, "I love you Shua."

Neva calls me Uncle Shua and that means a lot to me. I have lived in a foreign country for almost half of her life, and pretty much all of her speaking life. She has gotten to know me on the phone, and in pictures, and in little things I send back. I got to spend a week with her at Christmas and I loved every second of it. One day I was trying to take a nap and she kept crawling up on me and kissing my face to wake me up. I kept closing my eyes so she would do it again.

I miss you Neva. You are such a special blessing! I hope you have a wonderful birthday, and I can't wait to see you again. Shua has a bear here for you that Gigi and Grandaddy will give you soon. I keep hugging the bear and giving him kisses and he is going to give them to you for Shua when he gets to your house. Eat a piece of cake for me and know that I love you so very much! Jesus loves you too Neva! Have a wonderful birthday!

Uncle Shua

P.D. I have tried to post several pictures with this entry but the site is not letting me post pictures right now. I will get some shots up of the beautiful Neva as soon as possible.

They say it's your birthday

2007-03-07T02:47:00.000-05:00

Today is my birthday. Happy birthday to me! I am getting old and feeling great! Thank you God!

This picture was taken two Saturdays ago on Pico Norte.

Birthdays always cause me to reflect on my life and I couldn't be more thankful for all God has given me. I am so blessed to be healthy and surrounded by so many people that I love and who love me. I have an awesome family, a great group of friends, and a job that I enjoy and that challenges me. I am living with joy and purpose and passion and you can't ask for much more than that. I am confident that this year is going to be the best I have ever lived. I ask that you join me in praying that Christ would be exalted and glorified in my life, and in the lives of those I am working with here in Monterrey.

Do not be afraid of death. Be afraid of the half-lived life.
- Laird Hamilton

Happy Anniversary Mom and Dad!

2007-03-01T00:31:00.000-05:00

Today, February 28th, is my parents' 31st wedding anniversary. Congratulations Mom and Dad! It is March 1st on the East Coast, but here in super warm Monterrey it is still the 28th! I really wish I could have been there to celebrate tonight with the family as they had an excellent dinner at the same restaurant where my Dad took my Mom on their first date.

I just want to say thank you to my parents for how much they love me and for the great job they did raising me and my sister. They have always been great examples of God's love and I appreciate everything they have taught me. Their love for one another is inspiring and I pray that one day I will have a marriage as successful as theirs. Again, Congratulations Mom and Dad! Here's to atleast 31 more!

Pico Norte - La Segunda Vez

2007-02-26T21:32:00.000-05:00

For those of you who are bilingually-challenged, the title means "North Peak - The Second Time"

This past Saturday I got up at 4:44 and prepared to lead a group of four buddies up the tallest mountain in Monterrey. If any of you have been reading this blog for the past year, you will remember that last May my friend Nolan and I had a crazy day and night on this mountain. That experience proved to be very valuable, as I knew the trail well having already navigated it in the dark.

By 6:00 A.M. we had started our trek up the steep, winding trail. The first hour flew by in darkness as I set a quick pace along the ancient riverbank that dried up centuries ago. We stopped to rest at about 7 and I took the picture below.

By 8 A.M. we were to an old campsite that I recognized and I knew we were making great time. On the previous trip we had taken a different trail and had arrived at this spot after 3 1/2 hours. The two trails converged at this point, and I was really glad we had taken the faster one. We made a quick stop and the guys were encouraged to know we making such good progress. I was hoping we would be to the top in another two and a half hours.

At 9:12 we stopped to take a drink and watch the sun slip up over the mountain. For the first time we could see the rays and it was warm and energizing. I knew we were near the top, even though we couldn't see much in the thick trees. I told the guys that if we didn't stop we could make it by 9:30. We pushed ourselves hard for the final fifteen minutes, and made it to the peak it a remarkable time of 3 hours 30 minutes. It felt great. The next picture is of all the guys at the top.

I was able to find where I wrote my name on the antenna the last time I climbed the mountain. I added the second date, and plan to add a few more before I leave.

It is tradition for successful climbers to leave their mark or flag at the peak of the mountain. I like this tradition, so I left a flag of sorts on the antenna. See if you can pick out which was mine.

This next picture is me in front of the city I call home. If you look just to your left of my right arm you will see the stadium and campus of Tec de Monterrey, home of Los Borregos. I live just to the left of the campus.

We stayed on top of the mountain for about two and a half hours. Some of the guys napped, while others took pictures and enjoyed the view. I stretched a lot, drank a lot of water and Gatorade, and tried to make a few phone calls. The reception up there was excellent.

The trip down the mountain was more difficult that the trip up. For people who have never been on a mountain, this is a little hard to understand, but we all agreed that coming down was no joke. Gravity is pulling you down the slippery slope, making it much easier to fall and get hurt. There is also a lot more pressure on the joints in muscles in your legs. By the time we got to the bottom, all of us had had several close calls and were thankful to have nothing more than some cramps and bruises to deal with. The following picture is the group at the bottom of the trail. We were tired, sore, hungry, and victorious!

Another Day in Alianza

2007-02-26T20:28:00.000-05:00

Two Saturdays ago I made a trip out to Alianza with my friends Tameka and Ronaldo. We had a great time playing with the kids, coloring, and sharing the story of David and Goliath. I just wanted to share a few pictures that keep making me smile.

This is Tameka, Ronald, my new buddy Jaime, and me (from right to left). Jaime hopes to join us in the future for Sunday soccer games.

This is me swinging three kids at once. Do not try this in the USA! You could be in for a lawsuit if someone slips. Here in Mexico most moms would tell the kids to hold on tighter next time.

This is me carrying Mimi on my shoulders and Cynthia on my back. These kids love to be picked up and carried around. It is always a fight to see who can get on my back. Cynthia's cousin Laura usually wins, but this time Cynthia didn't even wait for me to take my backpack off, she just ran and jumped on.

This is Ronaldo buried under a pile of tickling kids. They really took to both Ronald and Tameka and decided that Ronaldo needed to be tickled. I promise I had nothing to do with this scene.

Here I am about to swing Tameka in "el avion" or "airplane." The kids love this, and they wanted to see me swing Tameka. She is pretty tall, so it wasn't easy, but she had a pretty good flight and the kids got a big kick out of it. Special thanks to Tameka, who took about 98% percent of the pictures while Ronaldo and I were human jungle gyms.

Cynthia's shirt says it all. Well, almost all. The back says "100% perfect."

This is Pepe being swung by me and Ronald. Pepe is 13 and is a pretty cool guy. He has a good heart and tries to watch out for the other kids on the street. He is learning some English, and likes to practice whenever I am in Alianza.

I have nicknamed this little guy "Lionheart." He is a wild one, and I love him. He always tells me he wants to be the "más recio en todo el mundo" or "the fastest in the world." Here I am spinning him about as fast as humanly possible, and he is screaming for more.

Well, that's about enough Alianza for now. Keep praying for these kids, but especially for the adults there. Nothing is going to change until God changes the hearts of the men and women who live in "The Alliance" neighborhood.

Happy Birthday Bob!

2007-02-23T01:30:00.000-05:00

Today (actually yesterday by the time I get this posted) is the birthday of my brother-in-law Bob. Happy birthday Bob! I wish I could have been there today to celebrate with you.

The relationship I have with Bob is more like that of a brother than that of a brother-in-law. I am so blessed to have him as part of my family. When Bob first started dating my sister, Le, I had my doubts about him. However, over the years I have gotten to know him well and have grown to love him immensely.

Bob is a great friend and he and I have a great time together. He is always quick with a joke or funny line, and fortunately appreciates my sense of humor. We have made lots of great memories and have many stories we can tell, and others that should never be told.

Bob is a pretty smart guy, and a great realtor. If you need to buy or sell a home, he is the man to call. He is a whiz when it comes to fixing a car, remodeling a house, or cleaning up after a flood. He has every tool know to man, and more importantly, he actually knows how to use them. He has taught me a great deal and has always been there when I have needed a hand.

Bob is a great husband to my sister and a great father to my neice and nephews. He knows that love is a verb, and is a great example of how a man should care for his family. He is also a great Christian, and has a heart for seeing people come to know Jesus. I have come to look up to him and the way he serves in the church and the community.

The picture below is Bob with baby Graham, who just had his first birthday a few weeks ago.

When I left Kentucky to move to Mexico, one of the hardest things was leaving my sister and my neice and nephews behind. It was so reassuring to know that Bob was there, loving them, teaching them, and being a great father, husband, and example of God's love.

Bob, I am thankful for you and all that you mean to me and my family. Congratulations on 35 great years! I have been blessed to have you as a friend and brother for the last ten years, and I look forward to all the great things we will experience together in the future. May God continue to richly bless you and your home. I love you!

Pictures from the beach

2007-02-18T02:20:00.000-05:00

About three weeks ago I had some meetings in southern Mexico with the other missionaries on my team. We had a great time working together, talking about what God has been doing, and making plans for the future. We worked most mornings and a few nights, and spend our afternoons enjoying the great beaches. I wanted to share some of the pictures I have from the trip.

This is our team that is working across Mexico to reach university students with the love of Jesus. We are currently living in Monterrey, Puebla, Querétaro, and Guadalajara. In this picture, we are on the beach in Ixtapa, behind an fish that Nolan and I made in the sand. If you read the top, it says "JESUS."

Below is a picture of me with a big swordfish on the dock at Zihuatanejo. If you think that one is big, you should have seen the one that got away!

This is a picture of me and my favorite person in Acapulco, Ms. Vicky. I stayed in her house and I can say she is a wonderful hostess, as well as an awesome Christian sister. I am looking forward to my next trip to Acapulco.

This last shot is me with the sun setting over the Pacific in the background. I was waiting to watch the famous Acapulco cliff divers, who have been performing their amazing dives for over 70 years. I got to see a pretty good sunset while I waited.

It was an excellent trip and I returned refreshed and excited about getting back to work. Since I have been back things have been busy, which is always good. Please continue to pray for the students here at Tec de Monterrey, that their eyes and hearts would be opened to the all-satisfying God that relentlessly pursues us.

Happy Valentine's Day

2007-02-14T02:02:00.000-05:00

Well it's February 14th again. At this time of year, most men are happy to have one speical woman in their life. I am blessed to have many. I would like to send my love to those I love the most, and wish them an awesome Valentine's Day.

First, my lovely sister. I couldn't decide who to put first, but the fact that she gave me one of her kidneys definitely moves her to the front of the line. She is a beautiful gal both inside and out. She has always been a great example to me, and she definitely knows what true love is, and how to show it. Thanks you sis. I love you!

Next, my wonderful mother. Mom has always gone the extra mile to show her kids how much she loves us. Her unselfishness and willingness to sacrifice for the benefit of others has served as a great example. She daily reaps the rewards of seeds of love she has sewn for decades. She is truly a woman worthy of praise. I am thankful for you Mom, and I love you!

I can't even describe what a blessing it is to be the uncle of Neva Faith. She is an little angel that always makes me smile, whether I am holding her or talking on the phone a thousand miles away. As she grows older she becomes even more precious, and I look forward to lots of great times with my little princess. I love you Baby Neva!

Finally, the woman who got this all started, my Grandma Bonnie. Gram Bon has always been my valentine, and has always loved me unconditionally. I am so thankful for her. I treasure all the memories we have made, and I pray that one day I can enjoy and love my grandchildren the way she does hers. I love you Gram Bon! Have a wonderful day!

I had a friend ask me last night what I was going to do to celebrate today. I finally figured out she wanted me to buy her a balloon. I told her Valentine's Day didn't mean a whole lot if you weren't in a relationship. I was wrong.

Valentine's Day does mean a lot. It is a reminder that we are loved, not just by other people, but by a God who loved us so much that he left heaven, came to be with us, and died so that we could be with Him. Today I am going to wear the only red shirt I have. On the front it says "SALVATION, established 33 A.D." That is what love is.

1 John 3:16 - "This is how we know what love is: Jesus Christ laid down his life for us. And we ought to lay down our lives for our brothers." Lay down your life for someone today. Tell them what true love is. Better yet, show them.

Googleland

2007-01-29T00:47:00.000-05:00

It is official. Google is taking over the earth. I decided to get on the winning team, so now I have a google account, better know as gmail. I am so excited I can hardly stand myself. I just took a couple of celebratory pictures. You can view them below.

I think I can start sending people invitations to join TEAM GOOGLE. If you want a gmail account, just send me a message and let me know. I am not getting paid for this. I promise.

Happy Birthday Dad!

2007-01-25T00:28:00.000-05:00

Today, January 25th, we celebrate my Dad's 60th birthday. I wish I could be there to give him a huge hug and tell him how special he is, but geography stands in the way.

My Dad means a lot of things to a lot of people. In 60 years he has accomplished more things and touched more lives than I can even imagine. He is an excellent husband, father, and son. He excells at his job as a elementary school principal. He has been a phenominal teacher, coach, statesman, and friend. My Dad has rarely met a stranger, and even when he does, he claims they look like so-and-so.

Thousands of people have been blessed to know my father, but even if his sphere of influence had been limited to my family, his life would be a huge success. He has loved and cultivated my mother and they have a marriage to be envied. He has raised two kids that turned out pretty good, and has loved many more like they were his own, being the father figure they never had. He has three grandchildren who adore him and whose lives are blessed because of him.

My Dad is a teacher by training and by nature, and I couldn't have had a better person to learn from. He taught me all the little things in life, but more importantly, he taught me the big things. My Dad didn't teach me just to read; he taught me to love books and words, and to memorize poetry. I have poems he taught me hanging on my walls. He didn't just teach me the numbers, but how to use them and have fun with them. I love and excell in math to this day. He didn't just teach me to play sports; he taught me what it means to be a winner, and showed me how to compete and overcome. He didn't just teach me to fight; he taught me what was worth fighting for, and to always stand up for your principles. My Dad didn't just talk to me about girls; he showed me how to love women by the way he treated my Mom and protected my sister. My Dad didn't just take me to church; he loved me unconditionally, like my heavenly Father, and he taught me about Jesus, His son.

My Dad isn't perfect. He has his flaws, just like everyone else. But the older I get, the more I admire and appreciate him. My sister used to tease me whenever I would do anything that resembled Dad. She called them Chuckmarks. I would intentionally try not to act like him, just so she would leave me alone. I have realized that this is futile. I am like my Dad, and that's a good thing. Everything I know about how to be a good man I have learned from watching him. He has always been a man I can look up to, and count on to do the right thing. I can honestly say my Dad has never lied to me. I have seen him make mistakes, and seen him take responsibility for them. My Dad has been a wonderful role model for me, and I pray I continue to become more like him.

I have lifetime of great memories of my Dad.
- countless days on the baseball field, pitching until it got too dark to see
- shoveling snow off the driveway in matching Rocky sweatsuits so we could play basketball
- the first time driving the Blue Knight, and him telling me to go faster
- walking every neighborhood in the county campaigning for statesmen, not politicians
- telling me how proud he was the first time I stood up to a bully
- taking me and my friends to Kings Island, riding all the roller coasters and playing speed pitch
- teaching me the family card trick that no one else knows
- taking me to his school and introducing me to all of his classes and teachers (when I was 4 and 24)
- riding in the car singing Christmas songs at the top of our lungs
- setting me up with my first business, selling soft drinks to construction workers out of a little red wagon
- cream of wheat weather, pancakes, and only the best doughnuts
- his joy the first time I beat him at basketball, when he was actually trying to win

I could list thousands more, but I don't have time. You see, as great of a story-teller as Dad is, he also taught me that the making of a story is more important than the telling. He has taught me to live a life of purpose and passion, and showed me that living for God is our ultimate purpose, Christ our ultimate passion.

When I decided to become a missionary and I moved away, it was hard on my Dad. We have a close relationship, and we love to do things together. I miss those times, but I realize that Dad is just as involved in my life as ever. I can see him in everything I do here. So much of what I say and how I act is a direct result of the way he has lived, and how he has taught me to live. I am so thankful for the blessing my Dad has been to me, and to so many other people. He makes me proud, and gives me something to shoot for. I look forward to seeing what God has in store for him, knowing that he will pass those blessings on to those he loves.

Thank you Dad! I love you and hope you have a wonderful birthday....and many more!

To be like children

2006-11-16T18:32:00.000-05:00

I hadn't been to Alianza in about two months, so last Saturday I got a few bags of candy together and hopped on the bus. I took a friend along who said she wanted to see what it was like. We spent about two and half hours loving on kids and when we left I was thoroughly exhausted, not to mention dizzy. About half that time was spent playing soccer and having relay races, with about an hour set aside to spin kids around in a circle as fast (or slow) as they want to go.

I have realized that working in Alianza is just as good for me as it is for the kids. They teach me so much, whether it be about Spanish, Mexicans, or myself. Over the last eight months I have really grown to love them, and I know they love me too. Kids are simple like that. It would be nice if we adults could be as well. In Matthew 18, Jesus said, "I tell you the truth, unless you change and become like little children, you will never enter the kingdom of heaven. Therefore, whoever humbles himself like this child is the greatest in the kingdom of heaven." He calls us to become like little children, who love him and who let him love them back. It takes humility, but its worth it.

The Unknown

2006-11-15T00:19:00.000-05:00

Earlier today I was thinking about how most people prefer the predictable to the unkown, even if they are not very happy with their stable, predictable lives. It is this fear of the unknown that keeps so many of us from trying something new, doing something different, and truly experiencing life the way God intends us to live it.

When I was a kid, my Mom used to buy me cool posters to put on the wall of my room. They had catchy quotes and sayings that have always motivated and inspired me. I will never forget one that said, "We will never discover new oceans until we have the courage to lose sight of the shore." I don't know who first said it, but it is so true.

That brings me to tonight, sitting in the library doing some work and listening to Lifehouse. A tune came on and I realized the words are so applicable to what I have been thinking about lately. I click on the I-tunes to see the name of the song, and ironically it is The Unkown. Below is the chorus.

And I am falling into grace
To the unknown to where you are
And faith makes everbody scared
It's the unknown
The don't know
That keeps me hangin on and on and on to you

So many times in the last year I have felt like I am in a boat in the middle of the sea. As I sail toward the unknown oceans that await, I am secure in the knowledge that the hand of God steers the ship, and it is that unkown that keeps me hanging on to His hand. God is in the unkown. He is already there, leading us by faith, and offering us his grace. Some people fear the unkown, but I wouldn't be anywhere else.

"Do not be afraid of death. Be afraid of the half-lived life." Get out of your box. Have some faith. Step into the unkown, and take hold of the hand that won't let go.

Happy Birthday Le!

2006-10-21T01:01:00.000-04:00

Today is my sister's 30th birthday. Happy Birthday Le! This post is for you.

A woman like my sister should be celebrated everyday, but unfortunately we don't always take the time to say what begs to be said. Le is so much more than a great sister. She excels in so many ways that I could write all day about it, but then she would never get to read this, so I will be brief. She is an awesome teacher. She is a great card player. She is a hilarious comedian. She is an unbelievable decorator. Le is an awesome wife to my bro-n-law Bob. She can cook like a gourmet chef. She runs one heck of a 400 meters. She can sew really good and make all kinds of Martha Stewart-type stuff around the house. She's really handy in the yard. Le is really smart. She is an awesome Mom to Walton, Neva, and Graham. She does great ministry in her home and at the church. She is a thoughtful and caring daughter to Mom and Dad. She sends me really funny emails. She knows how to have a good time. She can sing like an angel. She can talk intelligently about sports. She is a great judge of character (which comes in handy when she is screening potential sisters-in-law). Le excels in many other areas as well, but like I said, I won't go on all day.

Le and I are only 16 months apart, which means it won't be too long before I too get old (scary). Growing up, we were always involved in a lot of the same activities and were always playing together. I remember always wanting to be like her, and always wishing I could do the things she did. As a kid, Le would always learn or accomplish everything first, but then, like a good big sister, she would always teach me. I learned so many things from her, from riding a bike to naming the Presidents. She even taught me to drive before I was legal! When I was six, Le told me about Jesus after she had accepted him, telling me that she wanted me to go to heaven with her and Mom and Dad. I was always trying to follow in her footsteps, and that was usually a pretty good place to be.

Being siblings very close in age made Le and I very competitive with one another, and drove both of us to be better. I still remember us racing down the hill to our house, running uncontrolably fast but not wanting to slow down and let the other one win. I also remember the high expectations of every teacher that had previously had my sister in class. We were so competitive that on long car trips we would tickle one another's feet and try to see who could hold out the longest without laughing.

Le and I have always been very protective of one another, at times with comical results. I remember once in middle school (when she was bigger than all the boys) she threatened to beat up a neighborhood kid who was messing with me, and he wisely left me alone. I also remember in high school getting in a few scraps to defend her honor. It has alwasy been commom knowledge that I don't put up with sister jokes.

I thought she was crazy when she decided to get married at 20, just when I thought we should be pursuing other craziness together on the UK campus. Turns out, she knew what she was doing. She was aiming for the right kind of success, and she has found it. While I was running around looking for "fun" and trying to make a lot of money, Le was building a loving home, a beautiful family, an effective ministry, and even a little business on the side. She realized what was important, and once again, she taught it to me.

If I stopped here, it would be a wonderful picture of the awesome person whose birthday we celebrate today, but I would be skipping one big part of the story. Many people can say how much they love you, but it is rare to see love demonstrated the way my sister has shown her love for me. Six and half years ago, my kidneys failed and I required a kidney transplant. My sister (who not surprisingly was the best match) insisted that she be the donor. Despite being told of the possibility that she would not be able to have children, Le went through the surgery with me and gave me one of her kidneys. She put her life and her dreams aside to take care of me and mine. After the surgery, I found myself acting a lot more like her. At first I thought it was because a part of her body was inside of me, but I realize now that it was because once again I wanted to become all of the good things that I see in her.

I have been blessed to have Le as my sister, my friend, and as an example to follow. She has always been there for me, loving me, encouraging me, sacrificing for me, being honest with me, and showing me the way. We have celebrated the best of times together, and she has been there during the worst times, crying with me and even making me laugh. I am so thankful for the relationship that we have and for all the memories that we have made, and I look forward to more together in the future.

The highest compliments are the ones paid to us by those who know us best. I know Le's strengths and I know her faults, and I know God could not have given me a better sister or friend. In 30 years she has accomplished more than most do in a lifetime, and she has begun to build a legacy that will long outlive her. She understands the meaning of success, and like a good teacher, she is not only achieving it, but she is showing others how to do the same. Today, on her birthday, I celebrate Le's life, but even more so I celebrate the way she lives it, and I thank her for showing me how to live mine.

Happy Birthday LE! and many, many more
Proverbs 31:29-31

Thing that make me smile

2006-10-17T04:54:00.000-04:00

I have never been one of those people that believe good things happen to good people and bad things happen to bad people. If I had ever had those fantasies in my head, 28 years of life experience would surely have changed my mind. However, some days things happen that assure me that despite the fallen world in which we live, there is plenty of good going around, and sometimes it makes it to me. I would like to share two experiences that have recently made my day.

About a week ago I set off on the bus to take a short trip across town to a climbing gym. I have been getting more involved in rock climbing, and I occassionally practice at a local gym. I hopped off the bus near my destination and began walking down the street. I heard someone behind me and turned around as a young woman lightly grabbed my arm and held out a 20 peso bill (worth about $2). I couldn't understand exactly what she said, but I knew that I must have dropped the bill and she had picked it up and chased me down the street to return it. I wanted to say more than just "Thank you" but I was so surprised that she was gone before I could get anything out besides "Gracias." It was a very little thing that really made my day. There have been several times I can think of where I have done similar things, but to have someone do that for me was special.

Last night I was once again rock climbing, this time at the wall we have on campus. I finished my final climb just before they turned the lights out at the wall. As we began putting the equipment away in the dark, I realized that one of my hearing aids was missing. It must have fallen out of my ear while I was climbing. I immediately asked everyone to help me look for it, and to please be careful where they were stepping. I showed them what the other one looked like, and within a minute or two my buddy Tom the Aussie had found it right under where I had been climbing. As I thanked Tom and put the hearing aid back in my ear, my mind was suddenly flooded with memories from a fall day many years ago when I was in elementary school. I think it was in third grade. We had been at recess, running around on the playground that was covered with a thick layer of freshly fallen autumn leaves. As we prepared to go back inside, I noticed a kid named Chris was crying. Chris had a slight speech impediment which was probably caused by the fact that he couldn't hear very well. He wore the big hearing aids that fit behind his ears, with tubes running into his ear. It's no big deal for me to wear state-of-the-art hearing aids that are so small they can barely be noticed, but kids used to make fun of Chris for his. I asked him what was wrong and he struggled to tell me and some other kids that he had lost one of his hearing aids. Our teacher came over and we all began to search through the leaves for the hearing aid. I remember thinking that we would never find it in the huge piles of leaves, but after a few minutes I ran my hand through a pile and when I pulled it out the hearing aid was in my hand. I remember how grateful and relieved Chris had been, and I remember making a new friend that day, but I never knew how he felt until today. For some reason I cried thinking about Chris and about how kids treated him and finally being able to realize how much those hearing aids meant to him. Knowing how expensive hearing aids are, and how much more expensive they must have been twenty years ago, I thought about his parents getting them for him and how much he just wanted to be able to hear and speak like everyone else. I said a prayer and thanked God for these little things, and for how He uses them to teach us, and I said a prayer for Chris Pennington, wherever he is right now.

September 2006

2006-09-29T05:11:00.000-04:00

Well, September has flown by here in Monterrey and I can't believe it's almost over. I would like to update you on a few things I did this month and show a few pictures as well.

School started in August, but has really picked up the last few weeks. I have mentioned before that there is a lot of wildlife on campus and occasionally I play with various animals to give myself a break from the monotony of homework. Below I am feeding some crackers to a crazy duck I named Donald. (I was feeling very original.)

The next picture was taken just outside the campus and the only reason it is being placed on the blog is for the enjoyment of my nephew Walton. The boy is infatuated with trains, which is perfectly good and natural. This is Uncle Shua with the Monterrey Express.

About two weeks ago I had the opportunity to travel south to the lovely city of Querétaro as well as to the thriving metropolis of Puebla. The next three pictures were taken at a party we had to celebrate the birthdays of my buddies Nate and Nolan. Nate is the guy on the left in the first picture. He is a missionary stud from Colima. Nolan is the crazy-looking guy in the striped shirt in the second picture. He is a complete dance machine, as evidenced by picture number three.

Upon arriving in Puebla, the first place we stopped was Krispy Kreme. Those of you that know me well know how excited I was. I immediately bought a dozen and took a few crazy pictures. The following is of me, Nolan, Nate, my boss Steve, and Steve's daughters Mary and Audrey. Audrey tried to take one of my doughnuts but I didn't let her.

While in Puebla, we celebrated Mexican Independence Day, which is September 16th. The first picture is of Nate, Nolan, and I doing our best Three Amigos impersonation. The second picture is of two crazed Mexican women trying to get a kiss at the El Grito celebration in Puebla. They couldn't handle the moustache.

Before we left Puebla to return to Querétaro we had the opportunity to ride some camels at the local VIPS (a Mexican food chain owned by Wal-Mart). The girls in the picture with Nolan and I are Amy and Mary, who are also missionaries.

The next picture is of Nate and I after the most random shaving creme fight with a party-happy Mexican family. We didn't know these people until the dad decided to shoot us in the face with shaving creme. Nate got it worse than I did, but it was a fun experience.

This picture is of a volcano outside Puebla. I tried to get a good shot through the window, but it is still a little dirty. As we drove away from the city a little smoke was puffing from the top. That was an awesome site.

The final picture is of some friends on Nate's last night in Querétaro. From left to right is Nolan, Mary, Francisco, Nate, Lila, myself and Steve's oldest daughter Stephanie.

I had a wonderful trip, but I am glad to be back in Monterrey. It is amazing how this place has began to feel like home. That is a real blessing. Even though I love to travel, it is always nice to be back here where God has called me. Well, I promise to not wait so long to update the blog again. I have better internet access now, so hopefully I will be much more consistent. Dios les bendiga!

Back in the Saddle Again

2006-08-11T01:27:00.000-04:00

Well, I am back in the shadow of Saddle Mountain (Cerro de la Silla, pictured below) and the new semester has started here in Monterrey. This summer has been good and fun and crazy and frustrating and about a million other things. I have seen people at their best and worst and through it all I have seen God at work in our lives. I could write several books about all that has gone on in my life over the last month and a half, but I know most of you are impatient (like me), so I will spare you for now. If anything you read peaks your interest and you want ''the rest of the story'' you can always send me an email or post a comment, which I always enjoy.

There is no way I can cover the last month and a half in one post, so I am going to try to hit the highlights tonight, and I will hopefully catch up on some details over the next week or so. Okay, here we go...

The last week of June I went on a mission trip to the central part of Mexico, better known as the Heart of Darkenss. The following picture is of my awesome boss Steve and I while on that trip. When I say awesome, I am serious. How many bosses respond to a big wedgie by kissing you on the cheek? I only know of one.

Anyway, I returned to Monterrey in time to welcome a volunteer group from my home church in Florence, Kentucky on June 30th. The youth and their leaders did an unbelievable job at three different locations over the course of a week, painting and restoring church buildings in the morning and afternoon, and leading vacation Bible schools in the evenings. They also built great relationships with the youth and pastors at several churches and got to do a little sight seeing as well. I said goodbye to them on a Friday and began to prepare for another volunteer group to arrive the next day. The pictures below are of me with friends Will and David, who I am hoping will come to Monterrey in the spring to study.

Okay, that Saturday I got up and went to work in Alianza as I so often do on Saturday mornings. I returned home in the early afternoon to find that my apartment had been robbed for the second time in about five weeks. This time the theives completely busted the locks out of the wood door. They stole my computer and my phone, which is one reason why I haven't been the best communicator as of late. Anyway, the robbery slowed me down a little bit, but the show must go on. The volunteers from Corpus Christi, Texas arrived that night, and they also did a very good job here in town. They assisted with vacation Bible schools at four churches and also had the opportunity to prayer walk the campus of Tec de Monterrey.

Two days after the Texas group left town I was off on a little trip of my own. My friend and fellow missionary Nolan came to Monterrey and we jumped on a bus to Zacatecas. We spent six days traveling to several cities to meet with other Christians who work with university students here in Mexico. We hit Tepic and Puerto Vallarta before arriving in Nolan's city of Querétaro. The following pictures are of Nolan and I at a silver mine in Zacatecas and at the beach in Puerto Vallarta. We went swimming for about 20 minutes right in front of Elizabeth Taylor's house.

Upon returning to Querétaro, we had spent about 36 hours on buses over five days. We really enjoyed hanging out with the super cool Q-town crew and getting some well-needed rest for a day and a half before heading to a company meeting in the town of Leon, Guanajuato. The following picture is of us goofing off at Nolan's apartment.

The following two pictures were taken about 15 seconds apart. Our Mexican friends tend to think it is really cold if it gets below 70 degrees.

Nolan and I, on the other hand, are always comfortable in our American t-shirts.

The meetings in Leon were a great time of learning and fellowship with other missionaries, and I met many cool people that I hope to see again soon. Since most of the missionaries here in Mexico only get to see each other once a year, it was a special week. I also enjoyed eating at some good American restaurants, like Italiani's (twice). The following picture is of Nolan and I about to throw our friend Joel in the pool. Joel is holding his plaque recognizing several years of missionary service. I am taking a poll, so vote now on whether or not you think Joel stayed dry.

This picture is of some missionary kids that we made friends with while in Leon. Michel, Miles, and the Lizard are about as cool as they come.

After the mission meeting, I returned to Querétaro for a day or two and then went to Mexico City to have some tests done. I got some results today and they said that I am perfectly normal, but we all know that isn't true. You have to be at least half crazy to do this job. Anyway, after using the bathroom at the largest McDonald's in Latin America, I boarded a bus back home to Monterrey. I have been back in town for about a week, and things are doing anything but slowing down. I will have to fill you in on all the things going on here in the next few days, but for right now I am going to leave you with a picture of something I did on Tuesday night. I wanted a good way to display all of the fun things I have done in the last few months, so I got a little creative on my bedroom wall. The picture below is made up of about 90 smaller pictures, each one about 3 x 4 inches in size.

Jesus said, ''Follow me and I will make you fishers of men.'' This fish is a good reminder for me. Well, I hope you have enjoyed getting caught up on joshonamission. I hope to hear from all of you soon. Dios les bendiga!

Busy, busy summer

2006-06-30T17:44:00.000-04:00

I just returned to Monterrey after a very busy week in the central part of the country. I spent a few days in the state of Guanajuato helping out at a church and school out in the country, and I also got to spend some time in the wonderful town of Querétaro with all my good friends there. Below is a picture of Javier, me, Juan Carlos and Nolan.

Today begins what is sure to be a very fun and productive, yet very crazy month. This evening I will welcome a volunteer group from Kentucky. They will be here working until next Friday. The day after they leave I will receive another group from Texas, who will be working in Monterrey for a week. When they leave, Nolan and I will be heading on a cross-country business trip in which we will hit four cities and cover about one quarter of Mexico in a week. After that I will be in Leon for our annual company meeting. When I return from Leon I will have a few days to prepare before the fall semester begins and I start taking some Spanish classes. It is going to be crazy but good. Please lift up all of the things going on this month, asking that God will be glorified in all that we do.

Dios les bendiga!

The air conditioner that wasn't

2006-06-09T00:07:00.000-04:00

So I've already written a little bit about my parents coming to visit. Tonight I have another story to tell. On the second day they were here, my Dad decided that he wanted to buy me an air conditioner. This was a very thoughtful thing to do, because it can get pretty hot around here, especially inside an old apartment. I have several fans, but having AC would be nice.

I told Mom and Dad that I really didn't need it, but Dad insisted, and I gratefully agreed to go find an AC unit. We looked at several different stores, and finally settled on one from Wal-Mart, which was not a surprise. So, last Friday afternoon we rented a big truck for a half hour and brought home the gigantic monstrosity pictured below, along with a nice little cart with wheels for it to sit on. We were very happy to get it hooked up and running, as evidenced by my parents posing for several triumphant pictures with the Lenomex. (For those of you that have never been to Mexico, almost every company has the letters MEX somewhere in the name).

Only after getting it hooked up and letting it run for several hours did we begin to have our doubts about its effectiveness. It was advertised with Spanish words that closely resembled the English words "air conditioner" and the employees at Wal-Mart had told us it was an air conditioner, but I was a little concerned that the box had said "lavador de aire," which translates to "air cleaner." We also were skeptical because we didn't have to do anything besides plug it in. A typical air conditioner would need to have some type of coolant and be partially outside to expel warm air and condensation. Anyway, we returned from Alianza on Saturday afternoon and realized that we had simply purchased the largest fan of all-time. The reason the air that had been blowing out of the display model at Wal-Mart felt so cool was because Wal-Mart already has AC. We strapped the beast to the back of the rental car and returned it along with the fun little cart. Oh well, we tried. Mom said the whole experience gave her a new appreciation for what people go through who come to the U.S. and can't speak English.

Below is a picture of me putting up the Mexican flag that now hangs over my couch. I am glad I got it up just in time for the World Cup.

For those of you that may be concerned about my World Cup allegiance, have no fear. The Stars and Stripes is proudly hanging on the other wall, above the table. I put it there instead of over the couch so that it will be protected from the sun and so I can look at it while I eat my tacos. Since we put the Mexican flag up first, Mom was really happy to get Old Glory on the wall. The picture below is me and Mom after hanging the American flag in my apartment. On Monday when the U.S. plays its first World Cup game, the flag will be proudly flying out my front window.

Dayton in the Fifties

2006-06-07T03:56:00.000-04:00

Yesterday my parents returned to the United States after spending a few days with me here in Mexico. We had a great visit. Along with getting to see much of the city and the surrounding mountains, my parents helped me with many things around my apartment. We put up curtains, decorated the walls with flags and maps, and stocked up on things from Sam’s club. When we weren’t working, we went to a big waterfall, toured the Chipinque nature park, checked out the Tec campus, saw Macro Plaza and the downtown area and went to the Obispado, a giant hill in the middle of town that has a huge Mexican flag on top. Below is a picture of Mom and Dad at the Obispado, overlooking the city on the night before they left.

We had a great time catching up and I really enjoyed my parents getting to see where I live and work. Many funny things happened while they were here, such as hearing them attempt to communicate with the local kids when we went to work at Alianza on Saturday morning. Although the kids don’t know any English, Dad thought the kids might be able to understand him better if he spoke English with an Italian mafia accent. It was hilarious. Mom, on the other hand, thought that they could understand her if she spoke very slowly, clearly, and with emphasis. I still can’t decide who was funnier. Either way, they both did a great job connecting with the kids. Below is a picture of Dad doing one of his favorite things, handing out candy.

I have mentioned before that coming to Mexico is like stepping back in time. My Dad also noticed this, and soon after arriving remarked that things reminded him of growing up in Dayton, Kentucky in the 1950’s. When he first said this, Mom looked at him like he was crazy, considering Dayton had about 4,000 people and Monterrey has over 4 million. In some respects, though, he was right. As we drove around town and they began to see more of Monterrey and the surrounding areas, Dad began to compare everything here to Dayton in the 1950’s. It became the quote of the week, and by the time they left, Mom and I would look at everything and exclaim, “It’s just like Dayton in the 50’s!” Although there are many differences, having my parents here for a little while made this place feel that much more like home, and I am very thankful for the time we were able to spend together. I am also thankful that my parents got to see and experience a little of my life here, and now have a better understanding of what I do and why I do it. Also, we celebrated Mom’s birthday while they were here. Below is a picture of Mom and Dad at Italianni’s, which is by far their favorite restaurant in Monterrey.

Ladrones

2006-05-31T23:47:00.000-04:00

This is the first time I have been online since lunch yesterday, with the primary reason being that a thief or thieves broke into my apartment yesterday afternoon while I was at the store and stole a few things, including my computer. Please pray that God would use this situation to His glory, even though I am really angry and frustrated about it right now. I know He is sovereign and in control, but I am really wanting vengeance, plus I would love to have my things back. I realize that vengeance is the Lord's and I will probably never see my things again, but please pray that I would be able to quickly resume my work and that I would quit walking around wanting to maim, kill, and destroy.

Until yesterday I had never been robbed. I am still pretty mad about it. It isn't so much the money, it's the fact that some chump had the audacity to break into my apartment and steal my things. This wasn't just some expensive junk that insurance can cover. They stole a very special watch that my parents had given me. They stole my computer that contained over five years of work, including papers I have written, letters I have sent, and priceless pictures and videos of family and friends. They took my backpack, just so they could stuff my things in there and carry them off more easily. They took my PlayStation as they walked out the door (not that I care), but didn't even grab the controllers or power cord. All in all, they probably spent less than 60 seconds in my apartment. The leading suspects are some guys who were working at our building yesterday, or possibly someone that knows me, which really gets my blood boiling. If you have ever wondered what it is like to be robbed, it is enormous frustration coupled with a few shots of rage. Fear does not enter the equation. I actually hope they come back, while I am home. Anyway, please pray that the thieves ("ladrones" in Spanish) would repent and come to Christ and also pray that this situation would not distract me from the work God has called me to in this place. I will update you soon on more positive happenings. God is still on the throne.

The Mountain

2006-05-26T04:55:00.000-04:00

WARNING: This post is really long. Only begin to read if you have 8 minutes.

I’m sorry it has taken me so long to get to this story, but things have been busy here in Monterrey. Only in Mexico can you have your gas service shut off after being two days late on paying a $30 bill. I bet if I called the gas company about a leak, they couldn’t even get here in two days. Oh well, the cold showers have been nice, as its been pretty hot around here, but I haven’t been able to make my award-winning spaghetti. I really hope they turn me back on today.

Okay, we rejoin our story two Sundays ago, on the 14th day of May. Nolan and I woke up very early, as we were planning on climbing a mountain, and a new friend had said he was going to meet us at 6:30 a.m. outside my apartment. After sitting on the curb waiting for him for about ten minutes, we decided to go back to sleep and get some more rest. It retrospect, it was the best decision we made all day.

After waking up at about 11 o’clock, I called my mother and sister to wish them a Happy Mothers’ Day. Nolan and I then packed our bags full of water, Gatorade, and snacks and took a taxi to the mountain. A friend of mine who had previously climbed this peak had given me directions for where we needed to begin to find the trail. This peak was much more remote than the one I climbed in February, and the trail was no where near as easy to find or follow. After a short search, we climbed into what appeared to be a garage on a residential street, and following it back found that it was a tunnel that led us under the neighborhood and onto the trail at the base of the mountain. We paused for a video update and then began our journey at 12:10 p.m. We had been told that the trip up would take us about 4 hours. I had my doubts.

The first hour was rough. It was all scampering over boulders and up steep slopes, getting stuck by cactus and other “vicious plant life,” as Nolan so-named it. The trail was often difficult to follow, and when we finally stopped for a break at about 1:30 we were exhausted. I was seriously concerned that Nolan might not be able to make it, as he sat in silence chugging Gatorade like Napoleon Dynamite. We got back on the trail, and after about an hour we paused for another break. Below is a picture of Nolan taking a short power nap.

At this point we were almost half-way up the mountain, and we were feeling much better. It seemed like we both had much more energy that when we had begun, and we were in pretty high spirits as the trail had become much easier to follow. We rested for about 15 minutes, and then got back on the trail. A short time later we came to several large rock outcroppings, where we paused to take a few pictures. The first shot is Nolan with part of the city in the background. The next shot is me with the peak behind, showing that we still have much ground to cover.

After getting back on the trail, we were quickly disappointed as we realized that the path quit going up, and began to wind its way around the side of the mountain. After walking for over an hour, we found ourselves no closer to the top than we had been at our last break, but now we were in the valley between two peaks. We were fairly confident that we were on the right trail, but couldn’t understand why the route was so round-about.

After walking up the valley for close to an hour, we finally began to go up in the direction of our intended peak. Our spirits began to rise as we realized the trail we were on was actually going to get us to our destination. Although we were pretty tired, we made really good time. Near the top we met a Mexican guy on his way down from the peak. He told us to hurry, that it was late. We charged toward the top, scrambling over rocks and climbing up small cliffs. We finally reached the summit at about 6 p.m.

Getting to the top was an awesome feeling. The view was unbelievable. The peak afforded a 360 degree panoramic view, with the city spread out far beneath us in every direction. We spent quite a while taking it all in, snapping pictures, and recording video. There was a small metal tower on top where Nolan and I wrote our names, and climb up to experience the view and the wind. Below is a picture of me on the antennae and also a picture of Nolan pointing to where he wrote his name. I don’t know why he put the date as 13-4-06. It was actually 14-5-06. Oh well, we were pretty tired at this point.

After a little exploration, we figured out why the trail to the peak had been so round-about. Pretty much every side of the summit, except the direction from which we came, had cliffs that dropped off several hundred feet. Below is a picture of me laying at the edge of one of these cliffs. It was a pretty awesome site.

When looking down at the city from that distance, it doesn’t even seem real. Here is a great picture of Nolan with Monterrey in the background.

In the next picture, if you look directly above my left hand (your right, my left) you can see the campus of Tec de Monterrey. The stadium is easy to find, as well as the big blue skyscraper.

Now that we were at the summit, we had a big decision to make. It had taken us nearly six hours to reach the peak, and we knew that it would be dark in about two hours. We discussed the situation for a few minutes, and then decided to spend the night on top of the mountain. At the time, we had several good reasons for this decision. One, we didn’t want to start down the mountain, only to be stuck in woods in the dark, getting eaten by mosquitoes and other insects. Two, we were pretty tired, and thought that the trip down would be much better if we rested and got some sleep, and then began our descent when the sun came up. Finally, we had plenty of food and liquids, had found a decent place to lay down, and the weather was pretty fair. After trying to call a couple of friends to inform them of our decision, we ate and laid down to get some rest.

At about 8 o’clock, with Nolan sound asleep, I was awakened from a light doze by the wind. I got up and noticed that the sun was setting, but looked much different than any sunset I had ever seen. I grabbed my video camera and yelled for Nolan to get up. We ran to the edge of the peak, and this is what we saw.

Before we had went to sleep, it looked like there might have been some rain way off to the northwest. Now, there was a huge thunderstorm over downtown Monterrey, and to the west we could see that we were just getting the front edge of it. We took several pictures, including the one below, but the video we have is what really tells the story. I hope to be able to post the video soon.

As I stood in front of the camera, explaining what was happening and doing my best weatherman impersonation, lightning and thunder were all around us. We weren’t getting any rain yet, but we could feel a light mist beginning to blow our way. We watch the events unfold below from the best seat in the house as transformers exploded all over the city and different sections lost power. As the wind became more powerful and the storm began to approach us, Nolan yelled to me that his hair was buzzing. I didn’t understand what he meant until lightning struck again and he covered his head and ran for cover. His hair was actually crackling from the electricity in the air.

As we tried to take cover in our “shelter,” a hard and heavy rain began to fall. We quickly put everything into our bags and pressed ourselves as close to the rocks as we could. We were sitting side by side with our backs to the mountain, our backpacks over our heads to try to block the rain, but getting soaked nonetheless. Pretty soon it was a torrential downpour, with the wind whipping all around us and lightning and thunder going off right over our heads.

I hollered to Nolan that the rain was killing my legs, to which he replied, “It’s hailing!” I looked out from under my bag to see hail almost as big as golf balls hitting me in the lap. I couldn’t believe we were sitting in the middle of this on top of the highest mountain in the area. After another minute or two of getting pelted by hail and getting soaked by rain, I found myself on Nolan’s lap, trying to protect him from the hail, with both of us pressed as close to the rocks as we could get, our backpacks over our heads to try to block the storm. We sat for a moment shivering in the cold, wet wind, finally looking at each other and saying, “We have to get off of this mountain!”

At 8:30 p.m. sharp we started our descent. I led the way, with Nolan right behind me. We went as fast as we possibly could, while still trying to be careful on the wet, slick rocks and muddy paths. As soon as we began we were praying aloud, asking God for His protection, and for some respite from the storm. As we were continually pelted by huge hail and blown by monstrous winds, we climbed, crawled, and slid down the mountainside. In several places there were long, large rock outcroppings that we had climbed up just hours earlier. The rain had turned them into natural waterslides and several times we had no choice but to slide down and hope for a soft landing. We shouted constantly, with a typical conversation sounding like this:

Nolan: Dear God, protect us…keep us safe…ugh…I just got drilled in the eye with some hail.
Josh: Nolan, watch your step here...really slick...Ouch! I just got hit in the ear…watch out...cactus right here…God, don’t let us get injured.
Nolan: I can’t believe this! This is crazy!
Josh: Yeah, but if we survive it is going to make a great story!

Anyway, we continued on like this for about a half hour before the hail stopped and we were somewhat under the protection of the tree canopy. At this point, we were still descending very steep rocks and we fell more times than I could count. It was amazing how God protected us and kept us from injury.

We continued without a break for about an hour and a half. When we stopped, we could hardly believe what we had been through, but we were still in a difficult situation. It was now night time, but fortunately the sky was bright enough to illuminate the trail. We were filthy, scraped, bruised, and wet, not to mentioned exhausted, but had so much adrenaline running through us that we weren’t about to stop. We paused for some water and started moving again.

We would go for a few minutes on the trail, lose it, and then find ourselves on the trail again. Fortunately I had packed a small headlamp that we used to light the way when we couldn’t see in the dark. I have no doubt that God gave me better vision that night than I have ever had in my life. I have no idea how we found the trail in some places. We continued moving for what seemed like nights on end, only to find that we had only been walking for another hour. After what seemed like an eternity, we were back in the valley between the two peaks. We stopped for another break and decided that we were going to walk off that mountain tonight.

Once in the valley, the going was much tougher. The trail was very difficult to follow, and many times we found ourselves simply climbing over huge boulders through an ancient creek bed. Every once in a while we would pick up the trail on one side of the creek bed or the other, but for the most part we just stumbled in the general direction of the bottom. Being in the valley was nice because we were protected from the wind and rain, but it was much darker underneath all of the trees and it was very tough to gauge our progress. On a few occasions the only path was to climb down huge rock faces that really tested our strength and teamwork. It is truly a miracle that neither of us were hurt.

After we were about four hours into our hike, we were so exhausted that we simple plodded along in silence, stumbling over rocks and roots and checking on each other after the occasional fall. I stuck my hands in the “vicious plant life” so many times that the poison caused them to tingle for two whole days. During one break Nolan put his head down on his arm and I felt myself starting to doze off while sitting up. We quickly got moving again, vowing not to stop until we were in civilization. Finally, about five and half hours into our excursion, we found a good, solid trail and were able to begin moving much quicker towards the bottom. We began to see the lights of the city getting closer, and we could see signs that this area was much more heavily traveled than were we had previously been. Finally, after close to six hours of challenge, we found ourselves walking along a high wall. Soon we were standing in the neighborhood where we had begun. We had taken a different trail back down (we knew this), but had ended up very close to our starting point.

We walked through the city for 30 minutes before sitting down outside an Oxxo convenience store to take a break and do a video update. We were so thankful to be safely back in the city, and could do nothing but laugh and praise God that everything had turned out okay. We finally got up and walked out to the main road, where three empty cabs refused to pick us up before we found one that would take us back to my apartment. I know we looked like we had been through a war, but it is so unusual here in Mexico for a cab not to aggressively try to pick you up. After returning to my apartment, we got cleaned up and I cooked spaghetti, then we slept for about 10 hours. I think it was well-deserved.

In conclusion, I just have a few suggestions for anyone wanting to climb a mountain.
-Get plenty of rest the night before.
-Take plenty of food, water, and Gatorade.
-If you want to spend the night, pack a tent.
-Make sure you have a light.
-Bring along a good friend that will have a great attitude in any situation.
-Take plenty of pictures, and even video if you can.
-Make sure you know Jesus, just in case you have to go through what we did. Sliding down wet cliffs in the middle of the night is a lot easier if you know you're going to heaven.

Well, that’s about it. If you have read all of this, you probably deserve an award. I tried to make it as short as possible, but a lot happened that day and night. I just want to thank God again that He protected us so well, and I want to thank Nolan for everything he did. There are very few people that would not have been completely miserable in that situation, and Nolan handled himself like the true warrior that he is. He can climb a mountain with me anytime.

By the way, the mountain is no longer calling my name. It just whimpers when I look at it. I think we showed it.

The Trip Home

2006-05-21T16:48:00.000-04:00

Before I begin this story, we are going to have another game. Look at the picture below and venture a guess as to what Nolan and Josh are doing.

Okay, so here is the story. I am still relating the events of last Saturday. After descending from the waterfall and leaving the park, Nolan got a call from the office. While Al and I waited for him, we began to discuss how we were going to get back to my apartment. It was beginning to get dark, and we were on a mountain side in the middle of the country, about 45 minutes from town. We decided we could probably catch a cab back to the main road and then try to take the same bus that we used to get out to the falls earlier that day. While Nolan and I threw food at a bunch of ducks, Al went into the hotel to see if someone could call a cab for us. I don't know who brought up the idea first, but when Al returned, Nolan and I were considering trying to hitch a ride back to town with someone who might be leaving the mountain. Al informed us that a worker at the hotel had volunteered to call a cab for us, but he was going to charge us 12 pesos. That's a little more that a dollar, and I decided it just wasn't worth it. We all looked at each other, and unanimously voted to hitch-hike our way back to Monterrey.

I know what some of you are thinking - that I must be completely insane. I mean, we are talking about hitch-hiking...in Mexico. I assure you that it was safer than 95% of places in the U.S. Anyway, as we started walking down the mountain I wasn't so sure that anyone would pick us up. The first couple of cars that passed us waved and a few people laughed, but no one even slowed down. Next, we saw a couple of pickup trucks passing by, and tried to flag them down, but to no avail. I remember saying, "It would be perfect if we could ride in the back of a pickup truck." Less than one minute later, two pickups came down the mountain, and the first stopped ahead of us and the passenger motioned for us to hop in the back. We quickly jumped in and were on our way. Descending the mountain was a blast. The wind felt awesome, and the thrill of hitchhiking home was a perfect compliment to the other events of the day. As we neared the main road, the driver rolled down his window and asked me where we wanted to go. I began to tell him in Spanish, and he quickly asked me (in English) if I spoke English. It turns out that our drivers were from the U.S. and they spoke better English than Spanish. They were also going back to Monterrey, and he told us to just tap on the back window when we wanted to get out.

We spent the next half hour relaxing in the back of the pickup, laughing about how fun and crazy our day had been, and trying to figure out where we were going to eat. Bungee jumping and losing your underwear to a waterfall can really make a person hungry! Anyway, when we got back to town, the truck (which was traveling with another truck behind us) dropped us off at Wal-Mart, which was perfect because I needed to go to Sam's. We thanked the guys and gave them a little gas money, and then did some shopping. After taking a cab back to my apartment, we had an excellent dinner at Paco's Tacos, and then watch videos and looked at pictures from our adventures.

As crazy as last Saturday was, it was only the opening act for Sunday. I will tell you about that in my next post.

The Waterfall

2006-05-21T01:10:00.000-04:00

After the awesome Bungee experience last Saturday, Nolan, Al and I walked up to the waterfall known as Cola de Caballo, which means tail of the horse. As you can see in the picture below, the water cascading down over the rocks actually looks like a horse’s tail.

Before I continue on with the story, I would like for you to take a look at the next picture, and try to figure out what Nolan and I are pointing at. You will probably figure it out later in the story, but it will be fun to try to guess right now.

Okay, now that you have ventured a guess, here is the story. We decided after checking out the waterfall that we would hike up to the top. I had been up there before, and knew how to get to the point where the water comes cascading over the edge. Nolan and Al were both interested in checking it out. After a short hike, we found ourselves standing at the top of the falls. We were greeted by a guy from Sweden and two of his Mexican buddies, who were swimming in the shallow pools. They left soon after we arrived, leaving us alone at the top. Below is a picture of me standing at the top of the waterfall.

As you can see in the photo, my pants were a little wet. After walking around in the water for about twenty minutes, and taking a bunch of pictures of each other, we decided we wanted to swim. The only problem was that we didn’t want to get our clothes soaking wet because we still had a pretty long trip ahead of us to get back to my apartment. Since there was no one else around, and it is pretty difficult to find your way to the spot where we were, we decided to go swimming in our underwear. Below is a picture of Nolan and I getting soaked in the cold mountain water.

After taking this picture, I had to climb down from the falls. In the process, two things happened. First, a Mexican guy and his girlfriend appeared above us at some smaller falls. The guy looked at three guys standing there in their underwear and waved. Fortunately, I don’t think his girlfriend saw us. The second thing that happened was that I got extremely muddy on my climb back down around the falls. The following picture is me trying to get clean as Nolan goes to dry off.

At this point, we were getting hungry and the park was closing, so we decided we should head back towards town. The other guys put their clothes back on and were obviously uncomfortable as their soaking wet underwear made their pants look like they had had an accident. I decided I was going to be smarter and “go commando” on the way home. After getting back into my clothes, I was attempting to wash the mud off my underwear when the force of the water ripped them out of my hand and quickly launched them over the edge of the falls. If you haven’t guessed by now, the thing Nolan and I were pointing at was my underwear floating in the spectator pool beneath the waterfall. I hated to leave them there, but I thought it was probably safer than claiming them. I never would have guessed when we got to the park that I would be leaving my underwear there in the water, but hey, life is full of surprises!

Bungee Jumping

2006-05-20T03:02:00.000-04:00

Okay, so now that I have told you about last Saturday morning, I will move on to the more exciting activities of the afternoon. After returning from Alianza, we (Nolan, Al, and I) had lunch at Subway. Al only had a six-inch sub because we were planning to go bungee jumping, and he was concerned the jump might make him sick. After lunch we got on a bus and headed south toward Cola de Caballo. This was no ordinary bus, but was more like the stereotypical Mexican bus that you would think of: packed with tons of people, doors barely hanging to the hinges, kids hanging out windows…the only thing missing was a guy with a guitar and some chickens. Anyway, we took the bus as far as it would go (about 30 minutes south of the city) and then jumped in a cab with the craziest old man I have met in quite sometime. By this point, we were out in the country, driving up a mountain, and it is quite common to see people on dirt bikes, four wheelers and dune buggies. This old guy was taking way too much pleasure in trying to run kids off the road who were coming down the mountain on dirt bikes as we were coming up in the cab. Every time we passed a group, he would swerve into their lane, yell something in Spanish that we couldn’t understand, and then start laughing at himself. I have to admit, it was pretty funny. By the way, the picture below is Nolan and Al outside the Italian restaurant where we found the taxi. Am I the only one that thinks this is a funny picture? I didn't think so.

So, let’s get back to the story. After we arrived at the Hotel Cola de Caballo, we quickly found the bungee platform. It was a long metal walkway thrust off the edge of a steep cliff, with the treetops about 300 feet below. It reminded me of the saying “walking the plank.” After paying our 330 pesos (about $30) and getting some quick instructions, we were ready to go. The guys had already decided that I should go first, and I was feeling pretty confident, so I got strapped in and headed for the far end. I can honestly say that I felt nothing but excitement until about 10 seconds before the jump. One of the workers told me that he was going to count to 3, at which point I needed to leave the platform. Once I was standing on the edge, looking down at nothing but treetops 100 meters below, I must admit that I was a little scared. As the rope was thrown off the deck, the weight of it began to pull on my feet, and I held onto the railing for dear life. I finally reassured myself that the rope was going to hold me, and told myself not to think, just to jump. I heard 1, 2, 3, BUNGEE! and I only paused for a split second before leaping out into nothing. It was honestly much more difficult that I had thought. Below is a picture of me in free-fall, right after I left the platform.

Once I was in the air, it was impossible to speak. I couldn’t have screamed if I had wanted to. I fell for almost two seconds before the trees stopped getting closer and I felt myself springing back skyward. The transition was surprisingly smooth. It was at that point that I began to whoop and holler with glee. I was having a great time. I have a video, but I haven’t found a site that will host the file format. I am hoping to be able to post it soon. For now, you will have to settle for more pictures. The next one is at the bottom of my freefall, right before the rope took over.

After I went, Al and then Nolan took the plunge, and they both described similar experiences. All three of us said it was much more difficult to jump off than we had anticipated, but we were all very glad that we did. Al completed his jump in complete silence, earning him the nickname “The Silent Thrill-Seeker.” The following picture is of Al during his jump/fall.

Nolan attempted to yell “Geronimo” on the way down, but as I mentioned before, it’s really impossible to scream until you have hit the bottom. He was pretty noisy after that, and I think he may have enjoyed his jump more than anyone. I wish I could show the video, because he wasn’t able to say anything coherent for about five or ten minutes after coming back up. The following picture is of Nolan swinging through the forest upside down.

If you enjoyed the story of this adventure, tune in tomorrow. The bungee jumping was only the very beginning of the fun and craziness that we experienced this past weekend. I will tell you a little more about it next time. This final picture is of the three of us after we successfully had bungeed the tallest jump in Mexico. By the way, the cans of Tecate in the picture are not ours.

Saturday Morning in Alianza

2006-05-18T04:02:00.000-04:00

Okay, before I can tell the story about last Saturday morning, I need to tell you about the previous Sunday. I have already blogged once about Alianza, so if you need details go back about two weeks. A week ago Sunday, I returned to Alianza with my buddy Al and some others from his church to help distribute food, cooking supplies, clothes, and Bibles to some of the people in the neighborhood. I had brought along a huge soccer-ball piñata for the kids, and it was filled with over 800 pieces of candy. I had also brought about 40 pictures of the kids that I had printed out from my previous trip, and they were going wild looking at the pictures and trying to decide who should get to keep each one.

When it came time to have the piñata with the kids, there were only about 20 or 25 of them there. I knew we had way too much candy for only two dozen kids, and I had seen many others running around the neighborhood, so I told them that they each needed to go find a friend to bring back and we would do the piñata when they returned. Immediately, one girl name Laura took off to go find someone. A few of the other kids started to leave, but then some began to complain that they didn’t know any other kids, and that the other children wouldn’t come anyway. I knew the truth was that these kids just didn’t want to share the candy. After waiting for about 15 minutes, with Laura being the only kid who wasn’t there, we set up the piñata and the kids began to take turns trying to whack it with a stick I had brought.

After all the little kids were finished, we blindfolded the bigger kids as they each took a turn. I was holding the rope, and kept swinging the piñata away from the stick, trying to prolong the event until Laura returned. Finally, the children began connecting solidly with the poor piñata, and candy soon covered the ground as screaming children and their mothers went diving into a massive heap, hording as much as they could get their hands on.

After the last piece of candy had been picked up and we had cleaned up what remained of the piñata, we were preparing to leave when Laura came walking around the corner with her little cousin. It had been about a half an hour since she had left, and she had walked across the entire neighborhood to retrieve the excited little second-grader. As they took in the scene, Laura looked at me with a confused and disappointed face, and put her head down. I apologized that there was no more candy, and asked several of the kids who were standing there with fifty or more pieces stuffed in their shirts if they could share with the girls. Each of them had a different excuse as to why they could not part with even a single piece of their candy. I was trying to figure out something to do when my friends yelled for me to get in the car, saying they needed to leave.

I spent a couple of days thinking about this situation and its spiritual and practical applications for our lives. I could preach a couple sermons on it, but I won’t. Instead, I will fast forward to last Saturday. Alfonso, Nolan and I left early in the morning for Alianza. I had two medium-sized gift bags, each filled to the brim with all different types of candy. This wasn’t the cheap candy that you typical use to stuff a piñata. These were high-quality sweets. Anyway, we arrived at about 10 a.m. and began to round up the children. Soon Hermana Lolis arrived. She is the woman who teaches the Bible study for the kids while Alfonso teaches the adults. I explained to her the situation, and she agreed that it was a good opportunity to teach all of the kids a lesson. Since her Spanish is much better than mine, she gave the lesson to the kids. Since my English is a little better than hers, I will relate it to you.

So here’s the deal. I asked all of the kids to do something, namely to bring back a friend to share in the piñata. Only one kid, Laura, did what I had asked. She missed out on the fun and candy. She was really disappointed. She probably wondered why she just hadn’t stayed like all the other kids. I am sure she felt like she had missed out by following directions. While all of the others got rewarded, she got nothing. Little did she know what I had planned. She had no idea about the reward that awaited her at the end of the story.

Just like I had asked the kids to do something, often God asks us to do things. He actually has given us an instruction manual for how we are to live. Sometimes we feel like if we follow His instructions we will miss out on all the fun that everyone else is having. A lot of times, we get disappointed when we see people get rewarded who aren’t doing what God has told us to do. Many times we may feel like it isn’t worth it to do what God has asked of us. Just like Laura didn’t know what I was planning for her, we often don’t know the prize that God is planning for us. We need to be patient and realize that we will be rewarded for doing what He asks.

As Hermana Lolis told this story to the children, she didn’t use any names, but Laura, her little cousin, and several of the other kids began to realize that she was talking about them. Near the end, I got the two bags of candy out of my backpack, and gave them to the little girls. It was so great to see their smiles, especially Laura’s, as she realized that she was being rewarded for doing the right thing. Some of the other children began to congratulate her, and I could see some of those who had refused to share thinking about their actions. It was evident from their reactions that the kids really understood the lesson, and I hope it encourages them to start making the right decisions, even when it is difficult or may seem like they are missing out.

To conclude this story, I just want to mention that the little cousin was also rewarded because of Laura’s actions. Laura sacrificed being there for the piñata because she wanted her cousin and best friend to be able to share in it as well. Some of us need to sacrifice some things so that others may be able to share in the reward. If you are a Christian, God is asking you to go out and find some people to join in His great piñata party. It will be a sacrifice, and you will definitely miss out on some things that everyone else seems to be enjoying, but when all their cheap candy is gone, there will be a great reward waiting for you, and for all those that you are able to bring along.

Just one final note: After receiving their huge bags of candy, guess what the girls did? They immediately started sharing with all the kids, even the ones who wouldn’t share with them the week before. Las niñas de Alianza are not only learning, they are teaching.

Laura (on the right) and her little cousin

Get ready for more

2006-05-18T03:07:00.000-04:00

I have just about recovered from this past weekend, so I am now going to attempt to write about it. I warn you, this was definitely one of the craziest weekends I have ever experienced, which is saying a lot. I hope that I can effectively relate all of the things that happened to make it so wild and wonderful.

Things started off pretty normal, with my friend Nolan arriving from Querétaro on Friday morning at about 7 a.m. We hung out most of the day and in the afternoon went to the recreation center and played sand volleyball with a bunch of people from France. That was pretty fun until a bunch of Canadians showed up and basically took over the court by shear numbers, although they could never beat us. From there we moved on to the basketball courts, where we had a few lackluster games before some good players showed up and we started having a lot of fun. We played three on three with two Mexican guys, a German, and a guy from Norway. Several more Mexicans showed up, and we ended up having a great five on five game that lasted over an hour. Nolan and I, along with the German, Norwegian, and one other Mexican, played excellent team basketball and ended up beating our much bigger opponents pretty badly. It was definitely the best pick-up basketball I have seen in Mexico, and was the best game I have been a part of in probably 5 years.

After hooping it up until about 9:30, we got cleaned up and enjoyed an excellent meal from Paco’s Tacos with my friends Ramiro and Israel. Paco’s is right next to a juice stand called La Michoacana, and they have the best flavored waters I have ever tasted. I am hooked on the Strawberry – Piña Colada mix. After eating and hanging out for a while, Nolan and I headed to Wal-Mart a little before midnight. I bought some computer speakers, an air pump for my soccer ball, and a couple bags of candy. I will explain the reason for the candy in my next post. After the great and eventful day, we went home and looked at old pictures of previous trip and then got a few hours of sleep to prepare for Saturday.

Just another day

2006-05-11T03:01:00.000-04:00

I actually have something weighty to post, something that I have been thinking about a lot, but it can wait until tomorrow. Right now I just want to share a couple of things that make life here enjoyable.

1. I have been battling an ear infection and decided to go see a doctor today, so I headed down the street to Clinica Sur. I walked in, gave them my name, birthday, address and phone number, and told them what my problem was. They didn't ask me if I had an appointment, didn't ask for an insurance card or what my co-pay was, didn't make me fill out any forms, and didn't make copies of anything. The power actually went out momentarily right after I walked in, and the receptionist didn't even flinch when her computer screen went black. She started writing down my info on the back of a sheet of paper, to enter into the computer whenever it came back on. The outage ended up being only about 30 seconds, but I got the feeling the visit would have been the same with or without electricity. Anyway, I waited all of about 10 seconds to be escorted to a room, where a nurse immediately checked my vitals, took down a quick medical history, and listened to all the details about my aching ear. She left the room, telling me that the doctor would be in to see me in a minute. I was amazed to find out that she was serious. One minute later a doctor came in and asked me to step next door into his office. After asking me a few questions, he had me sit on the exam table, and checked both of my ears. He then prescribed some drops that will serve as an anti-inflammatory and an antibiotic. I paid 241 pesos (a little over $22) and walked out less than 20 minutes after entering. That is what a trip to the doctor should be like! He also told me that if I don't feel better in a day or two, come back and see him. I don't need an appointment. They'll be waiting, just in case. I love that place!

2. I went the the track tonight to run, just like I do most nights. There is usually a good crowd working out at the track, both young and old, and I am getting to know a few of the regulars. Tonight I met a French girl who is always there running, and we carried on a 15 minute conversation - in Spanish. I thought it was great. Neither one of us have been studying this language seriously for more than four months, but we got along just fine. The only thing I couldn't understand was her name, which I must have asked her to pronounce at least five times. I think it is something like Guilmos. Anyway, I am really developing a love for languages. I can't wait to get Spanish down so I can start on another. Right now Arabic is next in line, unless I meet a really hot girl that speaks Italian.

3. For the last couple of weeks, I have been doing my laundry on the roof of my building, using my neighbor Susana's washer/dryer combo. This is not your typical washer/dryer, and the process has given me a great appreciation for technology, and has also taught me a lot of patience. I can put a small load in for 15 minutes on the wash cycle. Next I empty the tub, rinse the soap out of the clothes, rinse the tub, and then put the clothes back in for a 15 minute rinse cycle. Often there is still soap in the clothes after this, so I do as much rinsing by hand as I can. Finally, I wring the clothes out and put them in the dryer, which is actually called a "centrifugo" in Spanish. For five minutes the clothes spin around very quickly, with enough water being removed to hang them on the clothes line to dry. The centrifuge will only dry a few items at a time, and it won't work properly unless the clothes are perfectly balanced inside, so selecting each batch for the centrifuge is something I have turned into an art. Once the clothes are on the clothes line, the drama has just begun. The wind on the roof can get pretty violent, and even though the laundry area is somewhat sheltered, there have been several occasions when I have found the majority of my "clean" clothes scattered on the ground. Today I found myself re-washing an entire load that I had done last night. One other thing - clothes that are dried in this manner in this climate often appear that they have been heavily starched. I am still trying to figure out how to get that "Snuggle" fabric softener feel to my clean clothes. If anyone has any ideas, I am more than open. Also, I have decided to break down and buy some clothes pins the next time I go the store.

4. Okay, I have one final thing. I live in the middle of the city. I am looking out the window right now at the signs for the 24-hour pharmacy and the 24-hour 7-11. I like the convenience. Don't get me wrong, I love to have my space, and would love to have a 100-acre farm in good ole' KY, but being able to leave your home in the middle of the night to get milk for a bowl of cereal and return in less than two minutes is priceless. It's also nice to have a Subway, a great sushi place, 7 taco stands, 5 banks, and a dojo all within 2 blocks. Suburbia is nice, but in Mexico it is just another store. (Seriously, it is a store here.) There is definitely something to be said for living in the city. It forces us to know our neighbors, and not just the neighbors, but guys like Marcario, who shines shoes right in front of my building, or Gypsy Man, who sells all kinds of hand-made crafts and trinkets in front of the pharmacy. The same reason why most people don't live in the city (so many people) is probably the main reason I love it. This apartment was a gift, and I thank God every day that He has put me in this very spot at this very time. For my fellow movie buffs out there, this is what I call a "target-rich environment."

Jealousy

2006-05-10T00:48:00.000-04:00

I have always hated to see people mess up. I am not one of those people that takes pleasure in other's mistakes. One reason that I became a missionary is because I wanted to talk to people about the way we spend our lives, and hopefully keep others from making some of the same mistakes I did. I want to tell people about God's plan for them, so that they don't take as long as I did to start living life as we are meant to live it.

That said, last week I faced a really difficult situation as I watched a good friend make some bad decisions. I found myself up late, late, late one night, praying over this friend, asking God to intervene. I found myself even becoming jealous of the way this friend was spending their time, wishing that they would wake up and see the light. As I walked the lonely streets outside my apartment at four o'clock in the morning, singing verses of Walkin' in Memphis (I don't know why) between desperate prayers for my friend, God started to work on my heart. He showed me that the way I felt about my friend is the same way He feels every time I forget Him and decide to spend my time on some lesser passion. I began to feel so convicted and like such a hypocrite. As I continued to pray for my friend, and as I finally rested, knowing they are in His hands, I began to think of all the late nights God has spent pacing the far reaches of the universe, wishing that I was making better decisions. I thought about all the times I have made Him jealous, because I have chosen weak and momentary pleasures over the all-surpassing joy of God and His love. I was so convicted thinking of all the times I have traded His glory for my own, or have chosen to bestow the worship that only He deserves on some cheap imitation.

I remembered the Bible saying that our God is a jealous God, so I knew that there were times where you can be jealous and still be holy. Deuteronomy 4:24 says, "For the Lord your God is a consuming fire, a jealous God." Exodus 34:14 says, "Do not worship any other god, for the Lord, whose name is Jealous, is a jealous God." I think that's pretty clear.

Last week I think I felt like Paul must have felt in 2 Corinthians 11:2-3 when he said, "I am jealous for you with a godly jealousy. I promised you to one husband, to Christ, so that I might present you as a pure virgin to him. But I am afraid that just as Eve was deceived by the serpent's cunning, your minds may somehow be led astray from your sincere and pure devotion to Christ." May we not be led astray. May we continue in a sincere and pure devotion to Christ, not being tempted to cheat on God.

Scripture, especially the Old Testament, makes it very clear that God takes our cheating very seriously. There are many references that compare us to adulterous people, guilty of infidelity against the one with whom we have made a covenant. While God's holiness requires a just punishment for our wretchedness, in His love he is like the perfect husband that is willing to take us back, IF we repent and decide to turn from our adulterous ways. May we all turn and return to the God who is love, who is holy, who is jealous for us, and who continually pursues us, even when we have turned our backs on Him. He is staying up late tonight, thinking about you, wishing you could only see, hoping that maybe tomorrow morning you will come and talk to Him, let Him love you, let Him fix you, let Him restore you to the person you were created to be.

Feliz Cumpleaños WALTON

2006-04-28T18:20:00.001-04:00

Today we celebrate the fourth birthday of Walton, one of my two favorite boys on earth (the other is his little brother). Those of you that know me and/or know Walton know that I could write without ceasing about this child prodigy, but I will try to keep things as brief as possible.

Now that I am working in Mexico, there are many things I wish I could do, but sometimes I am just not able to do what I would like. Today is one of those days, as I am down here wishing I could be in Kentucky digging in the dirt with Walton on his birthday.

It is tough to put in words just how special this guy is to me, so I am going to tell a few stories about him and me.

I first found out about Walton late one autumn evening when my sister Le called me in Lexington, where I was attending UK, to tell me that she was pregnant. I was so excited that I started running up and down the street hollering to all of my neighbors that I was going to be an uncle. I then called a friend, Julie, who also happens to share Walton’s birthday, and asked her if she wanted to drive to Florence with me to see my sister and brother-in-law. It was already about 11 p.m., but we headed north on I-75, and I averaged about 100 mph (no joke), making the trip in record time. Now that I am in Mexico, where I cannot be extradited, I will admit that I hit 147 mph that night. Hey, I was excited! It was safe – I promise!

Anyway, we had a couple of false alarms before Walton was born, prompting several more mad dashes up from Lexington, but when the day finally came I was in town. I had four tickets to the Reds game (great seats) and three friends in town. Well, the guys had to go to the game by themselves, because I would not have been anywhere else but at Christ Hospital when the little guy arrived. When he came home from the hospital, I was staying at my sister’s house, and one night everyone was so tired and Le asked me if I would take Walton. I was delighted. I laid down on the couch and he fell asleep on my chest. I didn’t realize that Le wanted me to stay awake all night, so I fell asleep too, but only after surrounding the area with dozens of pillows in case he happened to roll off! I was so scared when I woke up a few hours later, and there was no baby on my chest! I laid there feeling around on the pillows, afraid to move, and then I heard a noise in the kitchen. At first I was amazed that he had gotten in there, but then my brother-in-law walked out holding the baby. Whew, was I ever relieved!

I remember on Walton’s first birthday I got him a car just like mine, and I loved pushing him around the house in his little BMW. I think he like it too! It wasn’t long after that when Walton began to walk, and I remember watching him down at Behl Street on the day he took his first steps. Before long he was everywhere, jumping off of couches, climbing everything, going to Reds games and UK games, taking train rides, going downtown (to Shua’s place). The boy even has a bridge across the Ohio River with his name on it!

Early on, Walton really began to enjoy working and building and helping other people do stuff, especially his Dad, the original Bob the Builder. There are not many four year olds (he was actually doing this at three) who can operate a pressure washer and a shop vac, drive a bobcat and a BMW, and propel themselves on a swing set with no assistance. Despite all of these accomplishments, the area where Walton has truly distinguished himself is in his role as a train conductor. Walton began working on trains around the time of his first Christmas. He has gotten more advanced each year, and it is common knowledge on Grace Drive that the way he currently operates the train set cannot possibly be duplicated.

I could go on and on about bouncey-bouncey and hide and seek and the fact that the kid was memorizing books before his second birthday (let’s talk about Rainbow Fish!), but I won't. (By the way, he is now memorizing Bible verses.) Anyway, I just want to say that I love Walton more than he will ever know and I am so glad that I get to be his Uncle Shua!

Walton and I have been doing this little thing since he began to talk, and it is really special to us. I will ask Walton. “Who loves you?” To which he responds “Uncle Shua!”

I then ask him “How much?” Now you have to do the motions here or it just doesn’t count. Walton will stretch his arms out as wide as they will go, and in the cutest voice imaginable will say “Thiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiissssssssssss much!”

I then ask him “Why?

And he responds with an answer that is obvious to everyone who knows him, “Because I’m the BEST boy in the world!”

You are the best boy in the world, bubbaboo! Uncle Shua loves you soooooooooooooo much! Have a wonderful birthday!

Alianza

2006-04-23T01:32:00.000-04:00

This morning I visited a place the likes of which most of you will never see. It is called Alianza (Spanish for "Alliance"), and to say it is the poorest section of Monterrey is like saying Alaska is the most northern state in the U.S. I took pictures and video for about a half hour, and spent about 45 minutes playing with some kids who had gathered for a weekly Bible school that is held on Saturday mornings. Most of them live in houses with dirt floors, no bathroom, partial roofs, and walls made of scrap wood, metal or any other material that can be found. They play on dangerous streets and in dusty lots littered with everything imaginable. Many of their dads are in the prison that is a few kilometers away, and it is obvious they are starving for attention and affection from a father figure.

The government has begun to help out a little bit in Alianza, and has built a new school, a small medical clinic, and a community center where they teach the adults to read, write, cook, and care for their children. There are also several churches that are doing mission work there, but with a population of 30,000 there is a lot of work to do. In between getting hugged, tickled, and having my hair pulled by 15 or 20 elementary aged kids, I let them take turns using my camera, and then looking at the pictures on the screen. It is amazing what little things can make a kid's day. I have promised to print out some pictures to give them when I return, and I am looking forward to the next time I can visit. My buddy Al goes there each week to lead a Bible study for several moms in the neighborhood, and I will probably start tagging along whenever I can.

The youth group from my home church in Kentucky is going to be working in Alianza in July, and I look forward to what God is going to do during that week. There are a lot of hurting people there, a lot of people who need hope, a lot of people who need Jesus. Whenever the kids in Alianza are taking a picture they throw their right fists in the air and shout "Arriba los niños de Alianza!" which means "Rise up children of Alianza!" I pray that these kids would be able to rise up out of their circumstances and surroundings and become all that God created them to be, and I hope I can somehow be a small part of helping them do it. Arriba!

Happy Easter!

2006-04-16T02:21:00.000-04:00

This post is specifically for my three favorite people in the world: my nephew Walton, my neice Neva, and my baby nephew Graham. If you want to read along, that's fine, but this is for the ones who call me Uncle Shua. Since I am in Mexico, and you are in Kentucky, we are going to have the first ever Online Easter Egg Hunt. I remember how much fun we had last year hunting for eggs, and I think we can have even more fun this year. Below is a picture of Walton and Shua after last year's hunt.

Shua has made 24 eggs this year. There are 8 blue eggs for Walton, 8 red eggs for Neva, and 8 green eggs for Graham. Walton and Neva need to help Graham find his eggs since he is little and doesn't know what green is. Below is a picture of all of the eggs.

Three eggs are hiding in each picture. (You can click on the picture to see a larger version.) There will be a red egg for Neva, a blue egg for Walton, and a green egg for Graham. (Have you read that Dr. Seuss book Green Eggs for Graham?) Okay, let's get started! I think there are 3 eggs hiding by Shua's keyboard! Can you find the eggs?

Good job! I think those were 3 dinosaur eggs. Can you see the spots on them? Okay, now we need to go check the bathroom. I think there are three eggs hiding near Shua's sink. Can you help me find them?

That was great! Bob the Builder could not have done it any better! Now we need to find the three eggs that are hiding on the table. Can you find them?

Did you see all the little crosses on the eggs? That is to remind us that Easter is all about Jesus! Okay, those eggs were kind of easy to see, but I think this next group is going to be tougher. Can you help Shua find the eggs that are hiding in the printer?

Wow, great job! I think you deserve an Easter cookie after that one. I wish I was in Kentucky to eat some of those awesome Easter cookies that Gigi always makes! Okay, are you ready for another one? Can you help Shua find the eggs that are hiding on the patio?

Good job! I really like those eggs. They look like they are cracked, but they're not. Okay, lets see if we can find some more. I think there are some eggs hiding near the TV! Can you find them?

Wow, I can't believe how fast you are finding all of these eggs. Great job! Okay, we still have a few more that are out there hiding. I think I saw some over by Shua's bookbag! Let's check it out.

How did those eggs get in my bag? I am going to have to keep it zipped up from now on! I think I just heard something in the refrigerator. We better go check it to see if we can find some more eggs!

Those eggs were tought to find, especially the blue one! You are doing great! There are only three more eggs out there. Were are they? I think you are going to have to ask Shua!

Hey, Uncle Shua is crazy! It might be the water down here in Mexico. :-) Well, you have found all of the eggs. Thank you so much for your help! I love you so much and I miss you really bad. I am glad we got to hunt for Easter eggs together today. I can't wait until I get to see you guys again. Have a wonderful Easter, and don't forget that it is all about Jesus! I love you!

Good Friday

2006-04-14T22:46:00.000-04:00

I am sitting here in my apartment watching The Passion and thinking about what Jesus did for all of us. There are no words to express my unworthiness. I feel like Peter after the rooster crowed. What perfect love He has for me! We always see Judas as such a villian, but how many of us have sold Jesus out for far less than thirty pieces of silver. The word "amazing" does not do justice to His grace.

I have been reading the different Easter accounts in the Gospels today, but the passage of scripture that has gripped me the most is Isaiah 53:5 - "But he was pierced for our transgressions, he was crushed for our iniquities; the punishment that brought us peace was upon him, and by his wounds we are healed." What a beautiful picture! There are so many emotions I feel as I watch The Passion and think about Christ's suffering and sacrifice. However, I can't help but to rejoice in the peace and healing that he has brought to my life.

I pray that we would all take time to consider who Jesus is and what he has done for us, not just on Easter weekend, but every day. He is the way, the truth, and the life. (John 14:6) He came so that we could have life, and have it abundantly. (John 10:10) His love for us sent him to the cross. His death paid the price for our sin. His resurrection empowers us to live as new creations.

My favorite line from the movie comes when Jesus in carrying his cross to Golgotha. He falls and his mother is there beside him. He looks at her and says, "I make all things new." He has made me new. He can make you new as well. Allow him to change your life. Jesus offers forgiveness and healing of the past, fullness and joy in the present, and hope and a purpose for the future.

In John 17:3 Jesus said, "Now this is eternal life: that they may know you, the only true God, and Jesus Christ, whom you have sent." Have a wonderful Easter weekend. He is risen!

Edwin Moses I am not.

2006-03-30T21:49:00.000-05:00

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

2006-03-28T21:17:00.000-05:00

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

2006-03-25T14:37:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-03-25T13:58:00.000-05:00

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

2006-03-15T04:08:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-03-05T23:36:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-03-05T23:13:00.000-05:00

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

2006-03-01T00:08:00.000-05:00

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.

2006-02-13T03:50:00.000-05:00

The first photo is in my bathroom. For those of you that share my love of fine paper products, you will appreciate that I am determined to never run out. On the left is a roll of Bounty paper towels, the "quicker picker-upper." I honestly don't know how people survived before the Bounty towel. On the right are a couple rolls of Cottenelle. It's not my preferred brand, just the best available. I am still looking for a place where I can buy some Quilted Northern.

The bottom picture is some delicious chicken stir-fry that I made on Saturday night. It was so good I had the leftovers on Sunday night. This was the first time I cooked in the new apartment. All I have is a stove (no oven), so I am somewhat limited in my options. I do have a nice microwave, so I will get by. By the way, if you are admiring my silverware and dishes, they can be found at the local Super Wal-Mart.

Before and after.

2006-02-13T03:10:00.000-05:00

The first picture is my dining room/living room now. The second is when I moved in. The third picture is part of my kitchen now. The last is my kitchen when I moved in. The whole place is being transformed and it is nice to see some hard work pay off.

Mexican Recreation.

2006-02-13T01:57:00.000-05:00

The first picture is my friend Gerardo playing ping pong wearing shoulder pads and a paint ball helmet. Mexican ping pong is a full-contact sport.

The second picture is me playing soccer. Check out the legwork as I move towards the goal.

The final picture is me riding on the back of a car on the way home from playing soccer. You can fit a lot more people in a car when two are riding on the truck!

El Cerro de la Silla

2006-02-13T01:44:00.000-05:00

This is me near the summit. This was a pretty challenging climb, despite the fact that there was a trail. There is no trail on the mountain I want to climb next, so it should be pretty interesting.

View from the roof.

2006-02-13T01:29:00.000-05:00

This is me on the roof of my apartment building. The building has four floors, and I live on the second. The view out my windows is similar, just a little lower. In the first picture, the two odd-shaped buildings are science buildings on the Tec campus. The mountains in the background are called El Cerro de la Silla, due to the saddle shape of the peaks. About three weeks ago I climbed the far left peak that is visible between the two buildings. Next month I am going to climb the tallest peak that forms the left side of the saddle.

The second picture shows the front entrance to the Tec campus. The location of my apartment could not be any better, as I simply walk out my door, down the steps, and across the street to get to the gate.

I'm back.

2006-02-13T01:05:00.000-05:00

I am sorry for the long delay from posting, and hope I will be able to update much more frequently in the future. The last two weeks have flown by. In early February, I finally was able to get into my new apartment, and I spend several days cleaning and painting in preparation for a Super Bowl party I had last Sunday. I still have a lot of things I would like to do here in the apartment, but it is coming along very nicely.

This week, I was blessed to have two bags arrive at the airport with some books, shoes, and clothes. As I am still trying to figure out my best option for washing clothes, it was great to get some clean ones in my bags. I also received my Spanish language materials, and so I am looking forward to spending more time studying.

I have been fortunate to make several new friends this week, and a couple of them were due to a flag football game. I have been invited to play on a couple of teams, so I can't wait to use one of my favorite activities as a means to build relationships.

Many of you have asked that I post pictures on the blog, and I have actually been attempting to do so. Hopefully I am able to get some up tonight. Thank you for your continued prayers.

Josh

I have no shame.

2006-01-31T04:44:00.000-05:00

I have been told this on several occasions, typically when I have done something shameful and someone feels the needs to say, "You have no shame." Well, I share this now because I have been thinking about it in a different context.

While I was home for Christmas, I was listening to a John Piper sermon on Romans 1. He focused on verse 16, where Paul says "I am not ashamed of the gospel, because it is the power of God for the salvation of everyone who believes: first for the Jew, then for the Gentile." Why did Paul feel the need to say he wasn't ashamed? Did he expect us to feel ashamed about it?

I hate to admit that there have been several times in my life where I have behaved like someone who was ashamed of the Gospel. I rejoice to say that God has given me victory over that shame. As I walked across the Tec campus today with my computer bag slung over my shoulder, my Bible in one hand, and a big bottle of water in the other, I realized that I am no longer ashamed. Matter of fact, I take pleasure in being identified as someone who wants to talk about the gospel of Jesus Christ. I want to be that "crazy Christian" that makes you think and forces you to make a decision. As Jim Elliot said, "Father, make of me a crisis man. Bring those I contact to decision. Let me not be a milepost on a single road; make me a fork, that men must turn one way or another on facing Christ in me."

I realize that people are not always going to respond well to me, or to the gospel. I already had one international student get a little queasy when I told her I was a missionary. I expect to have some people not want to hang around me, but I pray that the Holy Spirit would draw those who are open to hear. Piper had a great quote when he said, "You will be shamed for the Gospel, but you do not have to be ashamed." That is how I feel now. I am prepared to be shamed, but I refused to be ashamed. I can understand now why Paul said what he did. I have seen the power of a life changed by Jesus Christ, and that is nothing to be ashamed about.

Accept and Adjust

2006-01-30T21:43:00.000-05:00

So I am sitting on campus today, courtesy of my new friend Noe', and I am hanging out with a Mexican and a guy from Japan. By the way, if you have never spoken Spanish with a Japanese person, it is an experience I highly recommend. Well, Noe' is taking a class on cross-cultural communications, and was explaining to me the different steps a person takes when they are confronted with a different culture. After he went through the six stages, I decided I am somewhere between acceptance and adjustment.

I wrote the other day about some of the many differences between living in Mexico and living in the U.S. The first couple days, it isn't too big of a deal because you kind of feel like you are on vacation. After a while, however, reality sets in, and you realize this in the environment you will be living in for the next several years, if not longer. Now don't get me wrong, I love living here so far, but some things are just not what I am used to, like not having a toilet seat. My boss and fellow observer of cultural differences told me the proper attitude to take is summed up by the quote, "It's not wrong, it's just different." Well, I say I am in between the acceptance stage and the adjustment stage because I have accepted most of these differences, but sometimes I am just longing for that toilet seat. Not that my legs aren't getting a great workout, but once I get in my apartment, I know what my first purchase will be. I already checked at the grocery store, and I can get a good one for about $25. Aside from the seat, some things have been easy to accept, and really haven't required much adjustment, like no ice. I was never that big on ice anyway. Another thing that is not a big deal is drinking bottled water, and since it is so cheap down here, I can justify it a lot more than in the U.S.

One thing that I have adapted to very well is not having a car. Really the only times I have ever been without personal transportation were my freshman year of college and the two months I spent in Europe before my 3rd senior year. ;-) Although I have gotten rides from people a few times, for the most part it has been buses, walking, and the occassional taxi. I have always liked to walk, and I already blogged about the great experience I had on the bus this weekend. Seriously though, I don't even know that I would want to drive in this city, especially if I had a car that I didn't want to get scratched up.

Basically the whole point of this rambling post is to say that moving to another country is a big learning experience, and I think I am adapting pretty well so far. When we were out in the street on Saturday, one of my friends even told me if I would just keep my mouth shut I could pass for a Mexican. I will try to take that advice. Anway, thanks for your continued prayers and support. I love getting your emails and comments. Dios les bendiga!

Pawn Shop Perceptions

2006-01-29T01:28:00.000-05:00

So they tell me living in another country will change the way you look at the world. They, whoever they are, are right. I have now been living in Mexico for almost three weeks (I can now eat street tacos without fear) and my eyes have been opened to many things. I will share just a few.

Many people in the U.S. think that living in Mexico is dirt cheap. This couldn't be farther from the truth, especially in big cities. Monterrey is more expensive in many respects than Kentucky. This has been painfully obvious to me as I try to furnish my unfurnished apartment. I have finally realized that saying "I could buy this for such-and-such amount in the U.S." is not going to do me any good. Electronics and technology is where it really hits you. I have been looking for a TV so I can host a Super Bowl party next Sunday, and it has not been easy. I have been everywhere from the high end FAMSA to the government-run pawn shop to the "get 'em while their hot" street vendors to the Wal-Mart. I think I am going to end up purchasing one at Sam's Club, which is going to be about one and a half times as expensive as at home.

Another place that really surprised me was the video store. You can buy Napoleon Dynamite for 398 pesos (almost $40) or get some old movie like Rocky III for a little less than $20 (not that I don't think it's worth it). On the street, however, I today saw a Narnia DVD (legal copies are not out yet) for less than $4. I am wondering how they got the official DVD cover and everything. Anyway, you can eat street tacos for $2 and get a big 5-gallon jug of water for $1.70, but my contact solution cost almost $12 at the pharmacy. Some things are just really expensive. Now, this is not the case in rural areas and small towns, but the big cities can be every bit as expensive as the U.S., if not more so. I would hate to need to buy a laptop down here. The price of things could be a big reason why the government charges such high fees to bring items into the country. Many Mexicans have told me they will go to the border to buy used cars from Texas because it is just too expensive down here.

A Mexican friend asked me last night what I thought about the border issue between the U.S. and Mexico. While I am here to tell people about Jesus, and try to stay as far away from politics as possible, I felt safe enough with him to answer this question. I believe that every country on earth needs to control it's borders, especially a country like the U.S. However, I don't blame the millions of Mexican people who desire to get to American (legally or illegally) to try to make a better life for themselves and their families. America truly is a land of opportunity, and I think it takes getting away from that to realize that we often take it for granted.

Anyway, I have always respected Mexican people, and that respect has only grown as I have begun to meet more people here and see how they live. Life here is not easy or "simple," as some people might like to call it. The people here who have prospered have typically worked very hard to do so, and those who haven't typically work very hard just to provide. Mexican people seem to have a good grasp on the phrase "one day at a time" and many even seem to be taking things one minute at a time. I think the longer I am here, the more I will begin to adopt this wise philosophy.

I hope that Americans reading this would take the time to think about all they have to be thankful for, like hot showers. I hope Mexicans reading this would see that I have nothing but love for you and your country, but sometimes need to write about the differences so I can understand them a little better. Well, now that I have found the TV, it's time for a microwave. Dios les bendiga!

The Fast and the Furious

2006-01-28T19:30:00.000-05:00

Okay, this afternoon I had one of my most enjoyable experiences since arriving in Mexico, and it was in the most unexpected of places. I was downtown with my friends Carlos and Gerardo (who are brothers) and we hopped on the R-55 express bus to the mall. The fare is 6 pesos (about 60 cents) and all I had was a 20, so I paid the driver, and sat down in the seat behind him to wait for my change, which he did not have at the moment. There are many different types of buses in Monterrey, and this one happened to be of the WWII variety. Seriously, it was like a big old tank, and made just about as much noise. The bus drivers (and cabbies) here decorate their rides with all types of crucifixes, prayer beads, images of Mary, and logos of their favorite soccer teams. This guy was no different, with a sticker of his mascot (Los Tigres) peeing on the logo of the cross-town rival (Los Reyados) right next to a sticker of the Virgin of Guadalupe. Anyway, this guy took of in that bus like it was the beginning of the Indy 500. We were weaving in and out of traffic like the bus was a motorcycle, and there were several occasions where I was sure we were going to hit something. The guy seemed to enjoy getting as close as he possibly could to the car in front of him before slamming on the brakes, or more frequently, accelerating into another lane while cutting off a taxi or two. At first I thought we were in a little danger, but then I started to get the feeling I was dealing with a real pro. This guy was a mix between a NYC cabbie and Jeff Gordon. The more he cut people off and slammed on the brakes, the more I began to enjoy myself. At one point, I began to realize that this bus driver seemed to know a lot of the other bus drivers on the road, and even some of the cabbies. The whole time I was riding, he never used his horn. Instead, his arm was constantly out the window, giving signals, waving, and saying thank you. (The Mexican signal for "Thank You" is the arm swung forward in an upward motion with the hand lifted up. If you did this in the states, people would think you were seriously insulting them.) I was thinking this guy was a master of communication and using his mirrors, and then I realized that one of his mirrors was cracked. Anyway, during the course of our trip, many people who were waiting at various bus stops tried to flag us down for a ride. If the light was red, the driver would stop, but if not, he just flew right by. He went completely balls to the wall for about the first 10 minutes, and you would have thought we were in the movie "Speed." One poor guy was standing out in the middle of the street at one bus stop trying to flag us down, and he about got run over. The one exception to the rule was when he came to a screeching halt at one bus stop, and tried to coax an attractive Mexican woman onto the bus. It was hilarious. This guy doesn't stop for a guy standing in the middle of the road, but he cuts across three lanes of traffic to offer a ride to a good-looking lady. Towards the end of our ride came the highlight for me. We came upon a bunch of traffic stopped ahead of us, and a motorcyle in the next lane started to come over in front of us. We, of course, were flying, and I thought we were going to pancake the guy, until at the last second when our driver slammed on the brakes and motioned the motorcycle over. There was a man driving the bike, with a kid on the back. As the bike merged, the kid turned around and waved at the driver. The driver started waving wildly and I thought he was just having fun with the kid until the motorcycle and the bus pulled over to the side of the road. The drivers chatted for a while, and then the guy on the bike tossed a pack of cigarettes and a lighter up to the bus driver. The driver took out a cigarette, lighted it, and then tossed the package back. After they said goodbye, the bus driver cut off three lanes of traffic to clear the way for his friend on the motorcycle to get over. I still don't know if it was a random run-in or if the bus driver had been driving so crazy because he was supposed to meet up with his buddy on the bike. One way or the other, after he got his smoke he was right back at it again. We continued to fly through traffic, and as we neared our stop I thought about not even asking the guy for my change, he had provided me with so much entertainment. I couldn't believe half the bus had been sleeping through all of this (it was siesta time). Well, I did get my change. Then I told the driver that he was the best (in Spanish, of course) and then I jumped off as quick as I could so I didn't get run over. I doubt I will ever see this guy again, but I know that the next time I need to take the R-55 express, I will definitely be looking for him.

Finally here.

2006-01-22T16:10:00.000-05:00

Well, I have finally made it to Monterrey. It seemed like it would take forever, but I am definitely here, and currently watching the NFL playoffs in Spanish. It would take days to write all of the fun and crazy things that have happened since I arrived in Mexico, and most of you wouldn't read it all anyway, so I will hit the highlights.

On Monday, January 9th, I flew into Mexico City with my teammate Nolan. It was unbelievable. I don't really know what I expected from the largest city in the world, but it just kept going for what seemed like days. As if the plane trip over the city didn't get the point across, driving around definitely did. The place is madness. 28 million people will do that to a city. We only stayed there for a little over a day, and then headed north to Querétaro, where Nolan is going to be living. We met our supervisor Steve and his family, and they showed us around the city and introduced us to many new friends. We spent about a week in Querétaro, and then Nolan, Steve, and I came up to Monterrey last Wednesday.

When we got to Monterrey, our first order of business was to find a place for me to live. God really provided a great place in a very strategic location - right across from the main entrance to the campus. I am going to include some pictures that you can check out. I will hopefully be moving in Monday or Tuesday. The apartment is unfurnished, so the next thing we had to do was find some things to put in it. Steve drove us to an area outside of town where both sides of the street are lined with furniture warehouses. The style is called "rustico" down here, because it is made of wood and looks a little rustic. I bartered with the owner, and ended up getting a pretty good deal on a living room set, kitchen table with six chairs, a bed, and a counter for my kitchen. It is all being delivered next week.

I have made several good contacts since getting here on Wednesday. I have met many Mexican believers who have welcomed me and offered to help me get settled. I went to an event yesterday at Calvary Baptist Church here in Monterrey, and also went to the service there this morning. They were very kind, and are encouraging me to get involved there. Tomorrow I am meeting with one of the guys there who attends Monterrey Tech, and we are going to have a Bible study with some other students. I am looking forward to that.

I am going to post some pictures I have taken of Monterrey. It is completely surrounded by mountains and is really a nice city. Sometimes the views are just breathtaking. Yesterday I went with some Christian youths from Monterrey and Reynosa to a high hilltop where they have the biggest Mexican flag you have ever seen. You could see the whole city from there, and it was great to be able to look out over Monterrey and pray for the people. I know that God is at work here, and I long to see Him move in a powerful way in the next few years. Please join me in praying that the eyes and hearts of these people would be opened and they would respond as they are presented with the gospel and drawn by the Holy Spirit. Dios les bendiga!

Josh

Not tame, but good.

2005-12-10T01:22:00.000-05:00

I just returned to campus after going to see Narnia with about 57 friends of mine. It was awesome! Just go see it. It is true to the book, very entertaining, and has a powerful message. I think Clive Staples would have liked it, namely because people will see Jesus in this movie.

At the end, Lucy and Mr. Tumnus (the fawn) are talking about Aslan. As they watch Aslan leave Narnia, Tumnus says, "After all, he isn't a tame lion." Lucy responds, "But he's good." That hit home. The life God calls us to is not tame. It is wild, unpredictable, and sometimes dangerous...but it is good.

May we never be tame Christians, living safely inside the walls of our comfort zones. My prayer is that I will step outside everyday, take Jesus at his word and by his hand, as I go further up and further in, pushing back the unknown and unreached in total dependence on Christ.

Week 5 - CPM part 2

2005-11-29T16:18:00.000-05:00

I am now in my fifth week of training to go on the mission field. I have been meeting with regional leadership for the last two days, and I am learning a lot of things that relate specifically to what I will be doing in Mexico.

Last week I started to talk about church planting movements. The reason why CPMs are so effective at spreading the Gospel is that when churches are planted, the body of Christ is multiplied. New Christians are discipled based on obedience to the Bible, and they are taught to evangelize and disciple others. Basically, church planting results in the exponential increase of people being exposed to Jesus Christ, whereas traditional missionary methods only results in small numbers being added through the work of the missionary.

The number one ingredient in church planting is prayer, so I ask that you would be praying for the people of Mexico, and specifically for the students of Monterrey. Pray that God would be preparing their hearts and minds, and that he would raise up those on whom he will build his church in Monterrey.

On a side note, everyone around here is getting excited about the release of the Narnia movie on December 9th. I am going out to night to buy tickets for several dozen people who want to go on opening night. Any of you who know me know that I am also going to be at the midnight showing on Thursday. Aslan is on the move!

Dios les bendiga!

Josh

Thanksgiving

2005-11-24T10:53:00.000-05:00

Psalm 100
Shout for joy to the Lord, all the earth. Worship the Lord with gladness; come before him with joyful songs. Know that the Lord is God. It is he who made us, and we are his; we are his people, the sheep of his pasture. Enter his gates with thanksgiving and his courts with praise; give thanks to him and praise his name. For the Lord is good and his love endures forever; his faithfulness continues through all generations.

I am thankful to my God, the giver of all good things. I am grateful and honored to serve a God so great and mighty that He doesn’t need me, or anyone else; a God so compassionate, merciful, and loving that he takes me, fills me, loves me, and uses me. I am thankful for Jesus Christ; for his ultimate sacrifice and his love. I am thankful for his example and his willingness to serve. I am thankful for the Holy Spirit, for the way he works in my heart and in the lives of those around me, and for the miraculous ways I expect to see him work in the future. I am thankful for the Bible, God’s thoughts on paper. I am thankful for the way it instructs and directs our lives.

I am thankful for a family whose love and support is unconditional. I am thankful for parents who took to heart the command to “train up a child in the ways of the Lord, so that when he is old he will not depart from it.” I am thankful for a Dad who models the fatherly attributes of my heavenly Father; who taught me to be strong and brave, honest and transparent, and who showed me how to live with passion; a dad who taught me to protect my mom and sister, and those who need a shield. I am thankful for a Mom who lived by Proverbs 31, a woman whose character brings herself and her family praise at the city gates; a mom who taught me to be sensitive to the needs of others, who taught me to share, and showed by example that our lives are not our own. I am thankful for a sister who isn’t afraid; a sister who won’t compromise on the big stuff, and won’t sweat the little stuff; a sister whose love is so great that she was willing to lay down her life; who is fierce and gentle at the same time; a sister who is okay being second on my list, because she knows God is first. I am thankful for a brother who is always there for me and who is a husband and a father first. I am thankful for grandparents who pray, who care, and who listen. I am thankful for a niece and nephew that bring pure joy to my life; who can make any face smile and any day good. I am thankful for my extended family, and for the bonds that only grow stronger with time and distance.

I am thankful for friends that know and understand me, even when I sometimes don’t understand myself; friends that build me up, hold me accountable, and sharpen me - as iron sharpens iron; friends that I can laugh and play with, and study God’s word with; friends that stick closer than any brother; friends that I would storm the gates of hell with; friends that I would die for.

I am thankful for fellow missionaries of like-minds and like-hearts; people who encourage me with their dedication and selflessness; people who challenge me with their faith and obedience; people that don’t hesitate, don’t waiver, and seek God’s glory over their own.

I am thankful for countless prayer supporters who faithfully and consistently bring my name and my needs before the throne of God.

I am thankful for a church that teaches the Bible and pastors that seek the praise of God and not men. I am thankful for people who believe in me, and who were willing to give an inexperienced and under-qualified guy a chance to lead.

I am thankful for health and for a sound mind.

I am thankful for a country where I can worship openly, without fear of persecution. I am thankful for freedom and choices.

I am thankful for a purpose and mission in this life.

I am thankful to work for an organization whose purpose is to glorify God by fulfilling the Great Commission.

I am thankful for a God that uses the weak, the poor, and the rejects of this world. I am thankful and humbled to be a part of what He is doing around the world, calling those from every people, tribe, tongue, and nation to himself. I am thankful that He has given me life, and given it to the full. His promises are most definitely true! I give thanks to the Lord, and praise his holy name.

Psalm 105:1-2
Give thanks to the Lord, call on his name; make known among the nations what he has done. Sing to him, sing praise to him; tell of all his wonderful acts.

Psalm 118:1
Give thanks to the Lord, for he is good. His love endures forever.

Church Planting Movements - Part 1

2005-11-19T13:35:00.000-05:00

Although I feel a little overloaded with information right now, this last week was a great time of learning. I am discovering more and more of what I will be doing, and how I will be doing it. Of all the sessions we had this week, I think my favorite were the two on Church Planting Movements.

The mission of everything we do is to glorify God. Within that mission, our goal is to be Christ's witnesses to the ends of the earth, as stated in Acts 1:8, that as many as possible would enter into a saving relationship with Jesus Christ as they are called by the Holy Spirit.

Habakkuk 1:5 says, "Look to the nations and watch - and be utterly amazed. For I am going to do something in your days that you would not believe, even if you were told." God's promises are true, and He is truly doing something amazing in our day. He is drawing lost people to himself and into a relationship with His son, Jesus Christ. The way he appears to be doing this is through Church Planting Movements.

It is so exciting to see God moving, and I seek to be a part of what he is doing. The gospel of Jesus Christ is being spread rapidly throughout the world, and is reaching many places that have never had any access to the truth of salvation. I would like to explain a little bit how this is happening, so that you can more effectively pray for me and the other missionaries who are planting New Testament churches, in obedience to the word of God.

First, I would like to give the definition of a Church Planting Movement, given in the book of the same title, by David Garrison. It is a rapid multiplication of indigenous churches planting churches that sweeps through a people group or population segment. This definition is important. This simply describes what is happening around the world, by the power of God. I will go into more detail in my next post, but I just wanted you to know what I mean when I say Church Planting Movement, or CPM.

Okay, in other news...today is our volleyball tournament. Pray that we would stay injury-free, have fun, and that I would be an Encourager on the court. Also, please pray that my "stomach" would feel better. This morning in tae-kwon-do class, I got an unexpected kick from a middle-schooler to the family jewels. I am still in pain three hours later. I am okay, but still a little sore. Also pray for our trip to Washington, DC on Friday, where we will be doing a lot of cross-cultural sharing of the gospel.

I also have a few praises. My friend Carlos had surgery last week, and has been back at orientation now for a week, and is doing very well. Also, I have had quality time with God every day, and have been intentional about how I prioritize my time. Another praise is that my former youth minister has just become the college/young adult and missions minister at my church. This is a huge answer to several prayer requests I had for my church and for the college group that I left to go onto the mission field. It is awesome to see God work.

Dios les bendiga!

Josh

Lord Levi Truelove

2005-11-15T14:29:00.000-05:00

Well, I just received my second round of immunizations, and I am staring at my arm to see if I have any reaction to this TB skin test. I could be waiting for quite some time. :o) Tuesdays seem to be good days to post, as the whole campus shuts down in the afternoon so everyone can receive their shots. Instead of painting faces, today we are making balloon animals for the kids. I think some of the adults like them too.

As far as my training goes, I have been learning so much. We are now in to the full swing of things, and I have been busy. I spent this past weekend trying to get caught up on a lot of reading and work assignments, but there is still tons to do. I have really been into Scripture a lot, and I am enjoying the process of becoming more and more familiar with God's Word. Last night I was in Acts when I thought of a verse in Proverbs, but I couldn't remember the exact reference. I ended up reading almost the entire book of Proverbs, which is some great stuff. I didn't get much sleep, but today I feel like I have a lot more wisdom. :o)

We had several sessions last week on Spiritual Warfare. That was very beneficial, and as missionaries, we are pretty much guaranteed our share of battles. The sessions were taught by the president of our missionary board, and he not only provided a lot of experiences and stories, but also gave so many encouraging and enlightening Biblical passages to study and turn to when we are facing these situations on the field.

We have also been having sessions on the New Testament church, and the Biblical way to do missions. It is awesome to study and learn the same techniques that the apostles used to spread the message of Jesus Christ around the world. I am so encouraged by the fact that everything we are learning is backed up by the Word of God. We are also being taught how to personalize the Gospel and how to make our ministry culturally effective, and have opportunities to practice these methods.

As you can tell, I am learning quite a bit, but I have also made plenty of time for fun. I have been playing soccer, ultimate frisbee, volleyball, and running. Last night, myself and three other guys joined about 40 of the ladies for some aerobics. It was a challenging workout, and I am a little sore today. Last Friday night, I organized about 25 kids and adults and we played two games of Capture the Flag. I painted everyone's face with eye-black, and we went running around in the dark for the better part of three hours. It was a blast, and the kids haven't stopped asking me when we are going to play again. On Saturday, we are going to have a volleyball tournament, and I am really looking forward to that as well.

Another extracurricular activity that is worth mentioning is the little adventure I had on Sunday night with a few buddies. Here on campus, there is a legend about a special hidden room, which people from every session try to find. Well, Sunday night we found it, and from what we can tell, we were the first from this group. I really can't write more here, but if you want the full story, shoot me an email.

Well, I am going to go make some balloon animals. Please continue to pray for me as I prepare to take the love of Jesus Christ to Monterrey, Mexico.

Dios les bendiga,

Josh

P.S. The title of this post is the "Pirate Name" that I took last night when prompted by a slap-happy cohort and a mysterious instruction sheet.

Immune

2005-11-08T20:19:00.000-05:00

Well, today was our first round of immunization shots. The nurses did a great job and I couldn't even feel any of them. It was actually a really fun afternoon, because I was working the childcare booth, painting faces and giving out candy as the kids came out after their shots. I also got my face painted, and since I haven't washed it off, I am sitting in Panera bread looking like a western Pacific warrior. My face is covered with black on blue lines, four red dots, and a big blue cross on my nose. I also have a large cross on my left forearm and an Icthus on my left. Talk about good times.

I drove into town tonight with a couple of missionary friends to eat and study for awhile at Panera Bread. The campus where we are doing orientation is pretty isolated, but it is only a 15 minute drive from a large mall area, where there is everything from Wal-Mart to Cheesecake Factory. We had dessert from there the other night, and are planning on going for dinner next week to celebrate one of the girl's birthdays. Anyway, I have already made two trips to Wal-Mart, and I am really glad that the have one in Monterrey, Mexico.

Right now I am in the middle of the seventh chapter of Acts. We have been doing a pretty in-depth study of Acts, and I am getting a lot out of it. Our goal as missionaries is to plant New Testament churches among indigenous believers, and I am learning so much about the New Testament church. I have read all of this before, but it is amazing how much more I am getting out of it when I take the time to dig deep and let God open it up for me. Pray that I continue to be intentional about spending quality and quantity time with Him every day.

Dios les bendiga!

Josh

Orientation

2005-11-01T11:41:00.000-05:00

Well, after all the waiting and preparation, I am finally at orientation, where I am training to be the most effective missionary that I possibly can be. It has been kind of relaxing now that I am here, as the last couple weeks have been very hectic as I prepared to leave Kentucky.

There is a lot that I could share right now, as being in this position has me thinking about all sorts of things. I only have time to give a few.

1. I am incredibly blessed to be able to go onto the mission field and spend my time telling lost and broken people how they can be restored through a relationship with Jesus Christ. Everyone keeps telling me how proud they are of what I am doing, but I feel like I am the most fortunate person alive. I am so thankful to all of the people who have made it possible for me to get here.

2. I am dedicated to staying completely focused while I am here. It would be easy to get caught up in having fun and hanging out with all of my new missionary friends, but I am going to use this time to get as close to God as I can. As much as I love these people, they are not going to be with me in Monterrey. I know I am going to have a great time in training, but that is not what I am here for. I am on a mission and I have a job to do, and that will be my focus.

3. The hardest thing about leaving was saying goodbye to my sister and her kids. My neice and nephew are going to be the two things that I miss the most. In another excellent example of how God provides, I am going to be on the childcare team while at missionary orientation. For the next six weeks, I will be treaching and working with the kids of all the missionaries here. Not that the whole group could replace two seconds with my neice and nephew, but my time with the kids here will help me to miss them less, and will give me an opportunity to use my love of kids to provide a needed service at training.

4. The food here is good, but in Kentucky, where there are biscuits, there is gravy. I got my biscuits at breakfast this morning, and then covered them with the white colored saucey-looking stuff that was right next door. When I sat down and started eating, I realized that my biscuits were covered with OATMEAL! I was very disappointed to find out that we don't have any gravy here. How are you supposed to eat biscuits with no gravy?!?! Anyway, I am having Cheerios tomorrow.

Well, I need to head to an interview. I will update you more later.

Dios les bendiga!

Josh

Narnia

2005-10-19T23:42:00.000-04:00

I have been in south Florida for the last week and a half, relaxing and doing a lot of reading. I actually just finished the last of the seven books in The Chronicles of Narnia, by C.S. Lewis. If you have never had a chance to read these classics, I highly recommend that you check them out. A movie adapted from the second book, The Lion, the Witch and the Wardrobe, will be hitting theaters in December.

Although these books were written for children, they are very entertaining, and have so many deep and symbolic truths locked away in their pages. Lewis is a masterful story-teller, and makes the land of Narnia seem so real that you feel as though you are a part of the story. It is awesome that the same man who wrote these books also wrote Mere Christianity and several other great Christian works. The Narnia books are very much Christian alegory, with the Lion Aslan being Lewis' representation of Jesus Christ.

I could go on about the books forever, but for the sake of time I will leave you with two of my favorite passages.

From the fourth book, Prince Caspian: "He led them to the right of the dancing trees - whether they were still dancing nobody knew, for Lucy had her eyes on the Lion and the rest had their eyes on Lucy..."

The context of this passage is that Aslan is leading Lucy and the other children through an unfamiliar territory on a dark night. Lucy is the only one that can see Aslan. It struck me that we need to block out all distractions and keep our eyes on Jesus, because others have their eyes on us, and many times, we may be the only ones that can see where to follow.

I cannot find one of my other favorites quotes right now, but I remember in one of the earlier stories one character asking another if Aslan was a tame lion. The response was, "Tame, no. But he's good."

This theme of Aslan not being a "tame" lion is reinforced throughout the stories. Many times in life, we look for things that are tame. We want a life we can predict and control. The life Jesus has planned for us is not that way. It is not tame, but it is good. If we look at the life of Jesus it is the same, and He promises that to us. Just like in Narnia, where characters constantly speak of "accepting the adventure Aslan sends our way," we need to accept and embrase the untamed and adventurous life Jesus sends our way.

Well, I have more books to read, and I need to get the house picked up. Tomorrow, I am securing the hurricane shutters and heading north. I would kind of like to stay and ride out the Category 5 Wilma, but I have work to do in Kentucky. Oh well, maybe some other time.

Dios les bendiga,

Josh

Chicago Marathon 2005 - Mission Accomplished!

2005-10-10T00:36:00.000-04:00

Well, today was one of those days that you don't soon forget. Along with my good friend Matt, I completed my first marathon, the LaSalle Bank Chicago Marathon. Although it was challenging, and I am still having a little trouble walking, I enjoyed every minute of it. The marathon route took us all over the city, through many neighborhoods, and past landmarks like Lake Michigan, Millenium Park, U.S. Cellular Field (home of the White Sox), and the United Center (home of the Bulls). I got to see Greek Town, Little Italy, Chinatown, and an area I call Little Mexico (I don't think this is the official name). By far my favorite part of the course was running through Lincoln Park. The spectators lined the streets three and four people deep for two to three miles, giving high fives, cheering you on, and handing out everything from Gatorade and water to free doughnuts. We had our names on the front of our shirts, so many of the fans would yell "Go Josh!" as I ran by. This always made me run a little faster. From the very beginning all the way through the finish line it was an awesome experience, and I hope to be able to run it again sometime soon.

I have to brag on my friend Matt for just a minute. The man ran a 3:46 marathon. That is very impressive. I only stayed with him for about the first five miles. I ended up running a 4:18. I was pleased with my time, as I wanted to break 4:20, but I will try to break four hours the next time I run. I learned a lot, and enjoyed myself immensely. There is not much quite like the feeling of setting a goal, putting a lot of hard work into preparing to meet that goal, and then accoplishing what you set out to do. I thank God that He allowed me to take part in this marathon, and gave me the strenght and endurance to finish strong.

I will attempt to post a picture or two later this week. Stay tuned. If you want to look up my splits, go to www.chicagomarathon.com and click on 2005 race results. You can search for a runner and enter my name. If you don't know my last name, that is intentional. Shoot me an email, and I will send you what you need to know. Thank you to my parents, who drove to Chicago with me and were a great source of encouragement during the race.

The Great Commissioning

2005-10-03T00:46:00.000-04:00

I have just finished a very special and significant night in my life. Tonight I was commissioned for missionary service by my home church in Kentucky. As I listened to my pastor, my friends, and my family all share tonight, I was once again reminded of just how much God has blessed my life. I have so much to be thankful for.

I just want to thank God for the numerous people he has put in my life that have made such a profound impact on me. My family has always been my number one support group, and I was so proud to have them standing beside me tonight as I was commissioned. My three-year-old nephew layed his hands on my shoulder as we prayed, and reached up and wiped away a tear from my cheek when I just couldn't hold it anymore. As much as I will miss my parents, grandparents, and my sister and her family, it is because of who they are that I am even in a position to do this. Thank you! It was also a special treat to have my Uncle Ed drive from out of state to be present for the occasion.

I was so blessed to have several members of the college and young adult ministry there with me. It has been an immense privilege to serve with them over the last year and a half. I am sure that I have learned more from all of them than I have taught in Bible study or Sunday school. I will miss the fellowship and friendships.

I was surrounded by several men who have accompanied me on short-term mission trips to Mexico. They have seen first-hand the way God has worked on my heart as He has prepared me for the mission field, and they have been a constant source of encouragement. I expect to see them again in Mexico, this time with me serving as the translator. :o)

I was surrounded by my pastor and other ministers from my church, who have always provided a Godly example of leadership, and who work hard to minister to my needs and support my growth and development as a Christian. I am so thankful for my church, it's leadership, and their commitment to Jesus. I pray that my ministry will be as effective as that I have witnessed at home.

Finally, I was so blessed to have so many people from my church who hugged me, encouraged me, and committed to pray for me. Prayer is the greatest gift you can give any missionary. I covet your prayers. It means the world to me to know that you are thinking about me, and lifting me up to God on a daily basis. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.

I really didn't know what to expect from tonight. God has given me an incredible sense of humility. It's like the Casting Crowns song In Me says: "How refreshing to know you don't need me. How amazing to know that you want me." That is how I feel before God - so blessed and awed that He would call me to go to a foreign land and be His ambassador. I pray that I will always approach this mission with humility, respectful of the great honor and privilege that it is to be in the service of our Lord, Jesus Christ.

I thank everyone for making me feel so loved and encouraged tonight and every night, and I thank God for providing such amazing people to share my life with. Dios les bendiga!

Reunion

2005-09-26T23:13:00.000-04:00

This past weekend, I attended a cheerleading reunion in Lexington, home of the University of Kentucky Wildcats. For those of you who don't know me very well, I was the Wildcat mascot for three years while in college. Kentucky Cheerleading is a great example of a dynasty. The team has won 10 of the last 11 national championships, with 14 overall. At the reunion, there were people representing teams from the present all the way back to the 1950's. It was pretty cool. When the group was recognized at the first timeout of the UK/Florida football game, about 250 former cheerleaders and mascots took the field to a standing ovation from the Kentucky fans.

It was really good to see a lot of the people that I had spent so much time with in college, and it was somewhat comical to notice that very few, if any, of them had really changed. I started thinking on the way home and it struck me that most people never change. Regardless of the results, most people continue to do what they have always done. While it was good to catch up with people, I was burdened by the fact that most continue to live like they are lost in a maze. They may have found a section of the maze that is comfortable, but they are still lost. I realized that the only way people change is if they are changed by a relationship with Jesus Christ. While all people will seek to fill their lives with everything from sports to money to love, the only thing that will satisfy, the only thing that will fill the void in our hearts, is Jesus.

Romans 12:2 says, "Do not conform any longer to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind." The only way we can change, the only way our lives can be transformed, is if we allow ourselves to be renewed by Jesus Christ. I pray that I can become a more effective witness of this fact.

Why I Go.

2005-09-16T22:39:00.000-04:00

Well, today was my last day of work at Cinergy. I just got home and the realization hit me that I won't be going to "work" anymore. So this is what unemployed people feel like? Seriously, while I am very excited about going onto the mission field, there are definitely some things I will miss about the corporate world. The thing I will miss most is the people I have worked with over the last three years. I have been truly blessed. I really hope that I can keep in touch with many of my co-workers. One thing that I will not miss is spending several hours a day in a cubicle. While we have a tendency to make our cubicles our homes away from home, I just couldn't take too much more of the confinement.

All in all, I had a great job. I had a job that most people would love to have. I liked my co-workers, got to work on some interesting projects, and was paid pretty well for my efforts. So, why am I leaving? A lot of people have asked me how I can leave such a good job and a nice home for something so "unsecure." It boils down to this: In life, I believe you should do whatever you are most passionate about. If you are passionate about what you are doing, the vast majority of the time you are going to be successful. If you are passionate about something, it doesn't matter how much money you make. If you are passionate about what you do, it isn't going to feel like work. It will be enjoyment. You will love what you do. The problem with most people is that they have settled for something they are not passionate about. I used to be one of those people.

People sometimes tell me things like, "If I could do anything, I would start a restaurant." A guy the other day told me he wanted to be a bounty hunter. He spends his days sitting in a cube dreaming about chasing down bad guys. I used to sit and think, "If I could do anything, I would be a missionary." Well, here is a NEWS FLASH: You can do anything. If that is what you are passionate about, go out and do it. If you have to go back to school, do it. If you need to sell your big house and put up some money, do it. Quit wasting your time, and start pursuing whatever it is that you have a passion for.

My live has been radically changed by Jesus Christ. I have been blessed beyond measure, and I want to share that blessing with other people. I have a passion for telling people how Jesus can change their life. That is why I am leaving my great job. That is why I am going to Mexico. That is why I am leaving everything I know and stepping out of my comfort zone. I am pursuing my passion, and if you want to be satisfied, that is what you will do too.

Dios les bendiga!

A few updates.

2005-09-14T16:38:00.000-04:00

I have been extremely busy over the last two weeks, and haven't had very many opportunities to post. Fortunately, things are starting to settle down a bit. Friday will be my final day of work at Cinergy, and then I will be spending the next two weeks working on my condo, getting it ready to sell, and packing all of my things. I also plan to have a massive yard sale.

Update on the marathon training...on Saturday, I ran 22 miles. That is the furthest I have ever gone. I felt very strong, and I think I could have run the entire 26.2 had I needed to. I ran again last night, and didn't feel any ill effects from Saturday. I will be taking it a little easier over the next four weeks in preparation for the race on October 9th. I can't wait.

Update on leaving for the field...as I have already mentioned, this is my last week of work. On October 2nd, my church (Florence Baptist) is having a commissioning service for me. I am really looking forward to that night. I will be out of town most of the month of October, visiting friends and family that I am not going to see for a few years. I will then be leaving for missionary orientation at the end of October. I will be in Virginia until the middle of December. I will be spending Christmas in Kentucky, and then heading to Mexico right around New Years.

Update on email...I have a new email address that corresponds to this blog. The address is joshonamission@yahoo.com. After Friday I will not be receiving email from my Cinergy account, so please change my address to the new one. Thanks.

Update on technology...I went to Best Buy this weekend and walked out with half the store. Since I am turning in my company laptop at the end of the week, and the computer at my house thinks it's function is freezing in place (it is from 2000), I decided I needed a new computer (and a few other things). I ended up getting a new lap top (AMD Turion 64 processor - I'm pretty pumped about that), an HP printer/scanner/copier/fax, and a JVC 20GB hard-drive camcorder. I told you I went crazy in there. Seriously, I am really excited about how I am going to be able to use these tools in my ministry in Mexico, especially with the video editing software that I picked up. I will keep you updated on my progress with this stuff.

Update on church...this weekend kicks off a revival at my church (Florence Baptist). I am really excited about the things God is going to do during this time. Please pray for the lives that are going to be changed over the next week and a half. Also, my church has just agreed to sell our Christian Life Center, and this will help us begin the move to a new property that we have been waiting on for several years. When I return from Mexico, my church will hopefully be in a completely new and different place, with an expanded reach and ministry in the community.

Well, I need to get a few things finished. Dios les bendiga!

Josh

It's official!

2005-09-01T23:51:00.000-04:00

I am on my way to Monterrey! Yeah!

I received a letter today from the mission organization that I will be working through and it confirmed that I am cleared to serve in Mexico. I am pretty excited, thankful, and very blessed. I keep thinking of the lyrics of the Casting Crowns song "In Me." It says "How refreshing to know you don't need me. How amazing to find that you want me." That is how I feel, so blessed and amazed that God would want to use me as a missionary to carry His message to people in another country. Continuing the same song, "So I'll stand on your truth, and I'll fight with your strength, until you bring the victory, by the power of Christ in me."

I can't even express how awesome it is to know that I get to spend all of my time telling people about what Jesus has done for me. I have spent the majority of my life tyring to find significance and a purpose in so many things, and have come to realize that there is no significance and no purpose outside of Jesus Christ. I can't wait to go share that with people who are still searching. I am so blessed to be able to go onto the mission field with one purpose, to tell people about Jesus full-time, without the distractions and divided interests that I have lived with for so long. Thank you God!

Please keep me in your prayers as I prepare for this mission, and check back here often for updates, pictures, and to hear how God is working in my life and the lives of others.

Dios les bendiga!

Bad internet service and Marathon training.

2005-08-31T15:48:00.000-04:00

There are few things as frustrating as writing a high-quality post for your new blog, and then having your internet service go down when you attempt to publish. That happened to me last night for the first time. I hope it is the last, but I have a feeling it wont be. Anyway, I will try to reproduce my thoughts, but I was in one of those grooves that doesn't come along every day. Oh well.

It's been a while since I last posted, and I apologize. I have been really busy. Taking up most of my free time has been my training for the Chicago marathon, which I am running on October 9th. I did 12 miles last night, and 20 miles on Saturday morning. I am feeling pretty strong, and I just got a sweet new pair of shoes, so I am in business. I feel like I have finally gotten over the hump, and my long runs have gone from dreaded pain sessions to near-enjoyable workouts.

Several projects around my condo have also been occupying my time lately. I just finished painting the baseboards in my garage last night. I know most garages don't have baseboards, but I painted the floor in my garage, and then made some big fat seven-inch baseboards that look pretty sweet. I still need to clean the place up, but it has been transformed into another room of the house. This will definitely come in handy when I go to sell it next month.

Yesterday I got the new Casting Crowns CD, Lifesong. I am actually listening to it right now. I got a great deal by pre-ordering it at Family Book Store. The CD is excellent. I listened to the whole thing during my run last night, and I would say there are about 8 great songs on it. "While You Were Sleeping" had me crying in the middle of mile four, and I am going to have to learn how to play it on the piano. It is powerful. The title song, Lifesong, could be just that, the theme song for our lives. I would definitely recommend the purchase.

Finally, I wanted to share a little bit of what I read last night before bed. I was in Hebrews 11.
The chapter is all about faith.

1 Now faith is being sure of what we hope for and certain of what we do not see.
2 This is what the ancients were commended for.

6 And without faith it is impossible to please God, because anyone who comes to him must believe that he exists and that he rewards those who earnestly seek him.

After recounting the stories of several heroes of faith, we hit verse 13.

13 All these people were still living by faith when they died. They did not receive the things promised; they only saw them and welcomed them from a distance. And they admitted that they were aliens and strangers on earth.
14 People who say such things show that they are looking for a country of their own.
15 If they had been thinking of the country they had left, they would have had opportunity to return.
16 Instead, they were longing for a better country - a heavenly one. Therefore God is not ashamed to be called their God, for he has prepared a city for them.

There are more examples of heroes who lived by faith, and then we hit verse 36.

36 Some faced jeers and flogging, while still others were chained and put in prison.
37 They were stoned; they were sawed in two; they were put to death by the sword. They went about in sheepskins and goatskins, destitute, persecuted and mistreated -
38 the world was not worthy of them. They wandered in deserts and mountains, and in caves and holes in the ground.
39 These were all commended for their faith, yet none of them received what had been promised.
40 God had planned something better for us so that only together with us would they be made perfect.

I love in verse 13 where it says "they admitted they were aliens and strangers on earth." That is the mindset we must have if we want to be effective for Christ. True faith is believing that our home is in heaven, and that God has planned and prepared something for us that is so much better than we could ever experience on earth. As evidence in verses 36 and 37, we are promised that following Jesus is not going to be easy. It may cost us everything, including our lives, but will be worth it, because if we live sold out to Jesus Christ, this world will not be worthy of us (verse 38).

So be sure of what you hope for, and certain of what you cannot see (verse 1). Have faith. This pleases God (verse 6), who has something so much better planned for you (verse 40).

Dios les bendiga!

Reunion

2005-08-22T10:23:00.000-04:00

This weekend my church had a reunion of our youth choir to celebrate our music minister's 20th anniversary at the church. It was a really good time, and I was pretty impressed with how good the choir sounded after only practicing for a couple of hours. We sang in both services on Sunday morning, and then did a mini-concert for the Sunday night service. The best part was getting to see everyone that used to be in the choir, and share old memories and stories from summer trips and choir tours. The reunion had a great turnout, and I was really happy to see so many people show up to say "thank you" to Philip, our music minister. He led the youth choir from 1986 to 2002. It was great to see the number of lives he touched and and have those people come back and participate.

1 Corinthians 9:24-27

2005-08-16T22:34:00.000-04:00

"Do you not know that in a race all the runners run, but only one gets the prize? Run in such a way as to get the prize. Everyone who competes in the games goes into strict training. They do it to get a crown that will not last; we do it to get a crown that will last forever. Therefore I do not run like a man running aimlessly; I do not fight like a man beating the air. No, I beat my body and make it my slave so that after I have preached to others, I myself will not be disqualified for the prize."

This is my favorite Bible passage. It has had special meaning to me since I first read it in high school, but lately it has taken on even more significance.

We are all engaged in a race. The race is life. There is only one way to win the race, and that is to live for Jesus Christ. Everyone who competes is trying hard to win something. Most are aiming for prizes that do not last. Whether it be success in finance, athletics, politics, business, or relationships, all of these are temporary prizes. They do not last. Paul encourages us to live for prizes that last forever. The only things that last forever are those things that we accomplish for God, most importantly living for Jesus and leading other people to Him.

Paul tells us that he does not run aimlessly or fight like a man beating the air. He is telling us to stay focused and not waste our time on things that are not forwarding our cause. A man who runs aimlessly has no destination, no goal. Paul encourages us to stay focused on the prize. A fighter who beats the air is expending a lot of energy, without having any effect. Paul tells us to make sure our punches are connecting so that we do waste our time and efforts on ineffective activities.

Finally, Paul says that he beats his body and makes it his slave, so that after preaching to others he is not disqualified from the prize. He is telling us that we must become disciplined and exhibit self-control. We need to gain control over our bodies so that we do not fall into temptations and get sidetracked by distractions that keep us from the eternal prizes we seek. If we can discipline ourselves and stay focused on Christ, we will live life to its fullest, running to win the prize, and we will be eternally rewarded at the finish line.

Mount up, and ride to the sound of the guns!

2005-08-15T00:31:00.000-04:00

I heard an interesting quote this weekend that I have been thinking about quite a bit. The quote is "Don't wait for orders from headquarters. Mount up, and ride to the sound of the guns." Althought this quote is probably most known for being used by Pat Buchanan, specifically after winning the 1996 Republican primaries in New Hampshire, it is widely attributed to one of Napoleon's generals, possibly during the Battle of Waterloo. (I have been to Waterloo!) From there it spread, and apparently became a widely used cavalry phrase, even quoted during the American Civil War. Anyway, although the quote undoubtedly has military origins, I believe it also has a good application in our spiritual lives.

In battle during the time period of our phrase, it was often difficult to communicate with commanding officers, and therefore orders from headquarters were often delayed, or sometimes never made it to their intended recipients. The terrain, gun smoke, night or weather conditions, and the confusion of battle were all factors that may have made it impossible for soldiers to know specifically what their commanding officers wanted them to do. By telling them not to wait, but to instead, "Mount up, and ride to the sound of the guns," they were being told to go toward the action, stay engaged in the battle, and not to be aimlessly wandering around the countryside. Many times a large battle consisted of several fronts, with skirmishes and smaller battles raging across a wide area. When a line was broken, a strategic point taken, or a skirmish won or lost, officers wanted their troops to rejoin the battle at another point. The goal was to keep the soldiers constantly engaged, presenting the full fighting force to the enemy, and to prevent any soldiers from getting lost or misdirected.

I believe this quote presents a great application to our spiritual lives. As Christians, we must realize that we are constantly engaged in a spiritual war. Every day there are different fronts being formed and many battles being fought. The problem with most Christians is that they have disengaged the enemy, and have engaged themselves somewhere away from the front, away from the sound of the guns. They are wondering around the countryside, hearing the sound of gunfire in the distance, but hesitating because the are waiting for orders that have already come. God has given us our "Mount up" instructions many times in Scripture, of which I believe the Great Commission is the best example (Matthew 28:19). As Christians, we need to re-engage in the battle, and quit using excuses such as saying that we are just waiting for God to give us our "orders" and show us what to do. There is "gunfire" all around us. There are people to witness to, ministries to get involved in, churches to support, prayers that need to be fervently offered by dedicated prayer warriors, and lives that need to be touched by soldiers who realize there is a war going on. There is a reason Ephesians 6 tells us to put on the full armor of God. He intends for us to fight. He intends for us to be constantly engaged in the battle. If our lines are broken, we are to "Mount up, and ride to the sound of the guns," where we will regroup with our fellow soldiers and reinforce our lines for the next charge. If we take a hill, we are to continue on so that we can take the next hill. Whether the conflict we are engaged in seems won or lost, we are to be fully in the thick of it, because that is what we have been told to do.

When Christians do not stay engaged in the spiritual battle, there are several consequences. One, we are not presenting our full fighting force against the enemy. Why have weapons if you are not going to use them? We need every Christian engaged in the battle so that we can win more of them. Two, we lose sight of the enemy. When we are not engaged in the battle, we take our eyes of the "enemy," or the temptations, distractions, and stumbling blocks that seek to defeat us spiritually. When we are engaged, we are on the lookout for these things, and we have other soldiers around to watch our backs and provide cover. This is also know as accountability. Three, we may be confused with the enemy. One of the greatest tragedies of war is when soldiers are killed due to friendly fire. When a Christian is not engaged in spiritual warfare, but instead watches the battle from afar, they may have difficulty determining who is on what side. Just as it is sometimes difficult for soldiers to determine who is friend or foe, unengaged Christians can experience the same thing. Anyone who has been involved in a church long enough has seen the damage that can be done when Christians take each other out of the battle through "friendly fire." Because they are not unified and engaging the enemy together, they engaged one another in battle. Unfortunately, this behavior can often split families, churches, communities, and entire denominations. We need to stay engaged and ride to the sound of the guns so that we avoid these pitfalls, and remain active and effective soldiers in the service of God.

I encourage you as a Christian and fellow soldier in the army of the Lord: "Don't wait for orders from headquarters. Mount up, and ride to the sound of the guns!" Stay constantly engaged in the battle of winning lost souls to Jesus Christ! Be strong and courageous (Deuteronomy 31:6), put on the full armor of God (Ephesians 6:10), and ride confidently ahead, for our Lord goes out before us (Deuteronomy 9:3).

Dios les bendiga!

Great day!

2005-08-14T03:59:00.000-04:00

Today was a great day. It started early, as Matt and I were up at 5:30 to start our 19 mile run. Despite feeling horrible on miles 16-18, we finished pretty strong. It was an excellent beginning to the day. After getting cleaned up, drinking gallons of water and Gatorade, and trying to stretch, we went to Perkin's to have some lunch. There is nothing like sitting down to French Toast after running for three and a half hours. Anyway, after lunch I took a well-deserved four hour nap. We then went to see my little neice and nephew, but Baby Neva was already in bed, and Baby Walton was in one of those "I don't know" moods, where he won't answer any questions or do anything to show off how smart he is. After visiting my parents, we went down to the Levee for dinner at Cafe Istanbul. It was my first time there and I love the food! The chicken kebabs are awesome! Anyway, Matt fell in love with our Polish waitress and decided he needs to move up here so he can go there for dinner more often. My old college roommate Jeff met us at the restaurant, and then we met up with Chris and went to see the movie Four Brothers. Despite a few cheesey scenes it was a pretty good movie. There was a lot of action, the characters were decently developed, and there were several unexpected twists. I enjoyed it, but not as much as Matt. The dude raved about the movie all night. After leaving the Levee we met Grimes and Jay at Cassidy's for some high-quality karaoke. You can't beat good karaoke! We closed the place down with God Bless the USA at about 2 a.m. Jeff had four lady-friends meet him there, and Grimes wife Amanda came by as well. It was a great ending to a really fun day. Oh wait, that's not the end. Thompson (Matt) and I came back to the house, and while I tried to clean the place up we watched a DVD on Ronald Reagan. I love that guy! By far the best president in recent memory. He makes today's politicians, Republican and Democrat, look like a bunch of chumps. Fair assessment. Anyway, I need to get some sleep so I am coherent for church in the morning. Also, the fantasy football draft is at noon, and I need to be at the top of my game. After the night he had tonight, we definitely don't need to worry about Jay being much of a factor. Well, off to bed. God Bless!

Big weekend.

2005-08-12T18:10:00.000-04:00

As I prepare for the weekend, there are several things to be excited about. Tonight, my friend Matt, one of my best friends from college, is coming to town. We have been training for the Chicago Marathon on October 9th, and we will be doing a 19 mile training run in the morning. I can't wait until 6 a.m. so we can get started! Sunday is the fourth annual draft day for our fantasy football league. There will be nine football-crazed lunatics at my house at noon to pick their teams for the next season. I have swung a pretty good trade to move up to the #3 overall pick, and I am pretty confident in my strategy.

Aside from the fun I will be having this weekend with my friends, I pray that God shows me how to best honor him in my activities, and that I have many opportunities to witness to my buddies. I have been praying lately that I will stay focused each day, looking to turn every conversation into a chance to talk about Jesus.

I will also be trying to get some work done around my house this weekend. With missionary orientation rapidly approaching, I need to finish a few home improvement projects so I can sell my condo. I would really like to get all of the necessary financial transactions wrapped up ASAP, so I can prepare to leave without having to mess with money issues. I know that God will provide at the proper time, I just hope it is sooner, rather than later. I know, so typical. :o)

Well, I am going to go get something to eat. I am thinking pasta is a good option for tonight, considering the run I have coming up in the morning. I look forward to posting tomorrow and letting you know how it went. God Bless!

Much will be required.

2005-08-12T03:28:00.000-04:00

It is 3:30 in the morning and I am contemplating having another bowl of Frosted Flakes. The last two were really good. I think I have gotten this whole blog thing figure out - it really isn't that difficult. Anyway, considering I have to work in the morning, I should probably be in bed, but those things can wait.

I really feel blessed tonight. Lately, God has really been showing me all the things that He has given me. Maybe it is because I am thinking about what it is going to be like to leave the country for a couple of years. It also could be that being away from things and people you love makes you appreciate them even more. One way or the other, I can't get over how much God has done for me, and all that He has given me in this place where I am.

This is a good thing, but it also has me thinking about why God has blessed me so much. Aside from the fact that He loves me, and therefore wants to bless me, I keep feeling this enormous sense of responsibility. My entire life my mother has told me "To whom much is given, much is required." This is from Luke 12:48. My small group leader at the missions screening conference told me the exact same thing (word for word) during our one-on-one session. I can't help but think that God has given me so much because He is going to require a lot out of me. In the last two years, God has brought me to the point where I look at money and material possessions in that way - that He has given them to me to use for Him. It also hasn't been difficult for me to look at my talents and abilities like that. More and more, I am beginning to look at my life like that as well. Christ came to earth as the perfect example to us, and what did he do? He gave his life away. I am not trying to sound crazy, or like I think I am going to die on the mission field or something, but I believe that God calls each one of us to give our lives away. For me right now, that means giving up a lot of the things I have come to love and be comfortable with. I will be required to give myself completely to people I haven't yet met, so that some of them can come to know Christ. It reminds me of the old Michael W. Smith song that says "Love isn't love until you give it away." Christ provided the ultimate example of this idea, and told us that we are not worthy to follow Him unlesss we are willing to give up everything else as well. So, blessings are great, but I am learning that the reason I am blessed is so I can give it away - not just to a charity or to make myself feel good, but so that people would see the love of Christ and be drawn to Him. This is what true discipleship requires!

Have a great night, and by the way, that third bowl of Frosted Flakes was even better than the first two. Dios les bendiga!

First Post

2005-08-12T02:51:00.000-04:00

Okay, I am now officially a blogger. I have started "joshonamission" because my name is Josh and I am preparing to become a missionary. This blog will allow me to share my adventures with my family and friends back home, as well as those scattered around the world on their own adventures. It will also allow me to keep in touch with everyone and provide a regular log of what is going on in my life. This is exciting!