Minneapolis

I am really starting to love this city. On Friday night, since there is no Bible Study, no Praise and Worship to do, I decided to walk around downtown Minneapolis. It was beautiful. The building light up, the air crisp and cool, and the people are nice. My favorite part of the night was when I saw a girl leaving a club. She walked out of the club at 10:30 pm and strapped on her helmet, jumped on her bike, excuse me, bicycle, and ride into the night. Oh, I forgot that she was wearing some red heels too. Who does that? That is something I expect in Nebraska but not in Minneapolis. I laughed so hard I almost got in an accident.
Minneapolis is a really beautiful city. There is a 40% population of Muslims in the city. I thought that was funny...Sometimes we ask God to reach the nations and he puts them right in front of us. We just have to speak up.

To my little X

Oh Xander, I miss Xander. Ate Aimee sent me videos on my phone to watch of him and I just wanted to squeeze him! He is so cute! I was watching him laugh on the video and he looked exactly like his Father, but his father is not as cute. I love that boy and I pray for him whenever I think of my family back home. I pray that he and his hippie cousin will be great men of God. Men that will push, strive and yearn for God. I picture my little Xander boy playing his little high tech computer and running sound system for church. One day I will see this come true, Lord willing and his little woman (Braveheart) will next to him all cute together. I praise God for that kid because even though he probably forgot uncle Yek... he still brings so much joy to my heart. I love you Xander...and your little brother in your mommy's womb (I hope its a boy).

What do you take me for...granted?

Being 1,903 miles away from home shows you how much you take things for granted. There are many things that I take for granted out there. The one I want to focus on is, mainly for CFBC members, potluck. After church today I was dying to get some food but having to be a good steward of God's money I decided to go home and cook for myself. I forgot how long it takes to make a meal. I am cooking the rice right now in my little cooker but boy is it taking forever. It is 2 o'clock and I still have not eaten anything.
I praise God for CFBC and the amount of food that we consume. We have food at almost every event and don't even give it a second thought of where it came from. It came from the Father of Lights, where all good and perfect gifts come from. Next Sunday I will prepare my food before I leave so that way I can heat it up and enjoy the blessing. Right now the Lord is giving me another blessing...it's called a lesson of patience!

"Holding the hand that holds the world"

Albert Zaporteza called me a few days ago and warned me about the shock of being out of your hometown and being put in a situation where you sink or swim. I didn't know that it would be this hard. But for how much tribulation there is always enough grace. God was not going to let me do this alone, just without Filipinos. He is holding my hand. I just had my head turned around towards home that I couldn't even see him. jumping in the truck and driving 1900 miles is probably the best thing I could have done for my walk with the Lord. I realized how much I was dependent on the people around me. I wouldn't have caught such idolatry had it not been for this journey. Yeah, I miss everyone like crazy and I wish you guys can see the grace that is out here but, in gaining perspective, there is an eternity that all who believe in the Lord Jesus will enjoy together in Him. Amen!!! What's 3 years? I encourage anyone who will read this to journey out of their comfort zone and see the grace of holding the hand that holds the world.

Lonliness

This is where the true challenge awaits me. No more Mike. No more Lou. Just the quietness of the room and the loudness of my own thoughts questioning if I'm going to make it out here. I've never felt alone like I do right now. I can hear each step shake the whole 3rd floor of the building that used to be drowned out by the laughs and giggles of Mike and Lou. My heart plummeted as I dropped them off at the airport. My eyes watered when I saw the text that they were okay to go on the flight. Selfishly I didn't want it to work out but for them to catch a later flight. This is by far the hardest thing I ever have done in my life. I don't know anyone and I don't know what to do for the next few days out here by myself with no work, no church...nothing...nothing.

First Week

This is my first blog. People try to sound all sophisticated on this stuff but that just wouldn't be me. not that I'm all dumb but...you know.

God sent me here to learn and absorb from Bethlehem Baptist Church. O what a joy it has been only on my first Sunday! God is working in me and I now have more visions for the church. I prayed with Piper and I was nervous. It's Piper; the man who has taught me so much about loving the Lord and not wasting my life! If it were not for this man and his insight then I wouldn't be here studying to preach the word. He prayed for me adjusting here and getting used to the weather which I'm very scared of.

Last night, I cried. Out of nowhere. I started thinking about Elijah and how much I missed him and I cried. I am so scared that he will run away from me when I try to carry him and turn his body the other direction when I try to carry him. It hurts to think that I can take him from anyone now but in a few months he will not care who I am. I am getting watery eyed just thinking about it. O the sacrifices one must make to serve the Lord.

I love you Elijah as if you are my son. I know you can't read but one day you will and you will know that uncle loves you more than you'll ever know.