This Coming August

As of Friday February 22, 2008 I was accepted into The Bethlehem Institute! The program starts in August, which means 2-3 school years later I will be headed home to California if the Lord wills. I am extremely excited to see what God is going to sculpt out of me through this. I am also Lou-esque nervous because I feel inferior to the other student that were accepted. It's comforting that lot of them feel the same way. For those of you that prayed for me, thank you. Our prayers are answered and please continue to do so for sustaining grace through the program and while I wait. I have been extremely tired because of the two jobs that I have. I work from 8am to 10:30pm right now so that I can save up for school and rent.

I am also asking you if you read this to help me out financially. I have to give a $200 deposit for the school by March 15 showing that I want to be in the school. I ask unashamed because the Lord will provide if it his will. Right now I am living check to check so I do not have the extra $200. If the Lord moves your heart to help a brother out please do. Thank you for your help.

Update

Sorry y'all. I know its been a while.

Nothing has changed. I still miss home. Still miss my nephews. I miss Grama so much.

While in the middle of writing this I had my second interview for the school. An elder of the church and the school called me and I had a phone interview. I think it went rather well but its hard to show what you can bring to the table over the phone. I think that it is much easier to have someone right in front of you because you can judge how it went by the demeanor of the interviewer. Anyway, if I don't get it I will move around into different areas of the country and see what the Lord will do with me. I'm looking into moving to NY, KY, or DC once my lease is done from here. If I do get into the school then I will be working my tail off so that I can save money and use it for school in August.

Please pray for the Lord to pull some strings for me and get me in the school. Also pray for Scott, Karl's roommate. Karl is the one I shared the gospel with lately and have been discipling recently. We had a discussion in Scott's presence and he got into it with us but he is an agnostic. Pray that the Lord will open his eyes and that God will breathe in him new life that the Gospel brings.

Ps. I miss True and Sabrina too!

Dang it's cold!

Ok don't need to say much...

It was -40 today with the wind chill and my eyelids were freezing shut. I could barely open my eyes. I miss home very much in this type of weather. I'm getting sick again. Please pray for me while I go through the last month and a half of this horrible winter.

It's been a while...

I just wanted to update you guys on my life out here...

I shared to the gospel to a friend that used to work at Best Buy with me and it seemed to have went really well. His name is Karl. He has been going with me to the church and he is asking a lot of questions. I have been discipling him and it has been working out great so far. It is really convicting because he seems to be a lot more hungry for the word than me. Not that it is a race or competition but I don't want to lose a hunger for the word.

My interview went went well for those of you that didn't know. I talked with him for a while and we were laughing and just having a good conversation. It didn't feel much like an interview. I also got another job out here. I work at Macaroni Grill in the evenings now. God has just been faithful to answer prayers. I'm not sure if you guys prayed but if you did I hope your faith is strengthened because he answered the prayers.

I do miss you guys a lot. Not that I get lonely anymore but the difference in the level of friendship is not even close. There are no Lous, Arts, Rubys, Jennifers (This list can go on forever so please don't feel left out). Being out here really makes me appreciate my Homies back home.

Answered prayer

I am almost over my sickness and colds. There is but a remnant of mucus left (pretty nasty, huh). I have been trying really hard to pray and not pray aimlessly but to see the Lord's faithfulness in answering them. I have been praying for my cold to go away and the Lord has slowly helped me recover. Today was my first day back in the gym. I am so thankful for the gym and how it releases stress for me. It helps me put away for a while how much I miss you all back home and how I wish I were there with you.

For those of you that will actually pray for me, here's some things that I have been lifting to the Lord and I pray that you will join me in...

1. Diligence in studying and reading the word.

2. That prayer becomes as much apart of me as breathing

3. Another job. Not that I don't like where I am but I want to get into a job that I can have during the program.

4. Getting into the program. My first interview is on Jan 14th (happy birfday, Neen!)

5. My struggle with loneliness and being away from my Family and y'all.

Thank you to those of you that read this and actually comment back. I really do get excited when I have comments. If you do read this please pray for these things because I want to see the Lord's faithfulness and the joy that I will receive from Him. Love y'all.

Yek's Attire for Minnesota Weather

Many of you ask me how cold it is out here followed by what I wear to deal with the madness. Well, today I decided that since it was 6 degrees below zero today, I would show you what it takes for Yek to be a Minnesotan. I'll show you one by one.

I didn't want to start off in my underwear because y'all might stumble (j/k) so I am showing you the bottom part all at once... Boxer briefs, thermal pants, jeans and a wife beater.

Next is the tight long sleeve shirt...
T-shirt for work...

The light fleece jacket. This is a must!

The winter everyday jacket...

The ear warmers are awesome...

The beanie and the face mask that I was telling some of you about...

Last but not least are my wool socks, leather gloves, and waterproof boots.

Those of you that are complaining about the cold in Cali are insane. Come out here during the winter and see if you can hang out for a week. It's so intense over here. This would be a good time to pray for me and this madness. Oh yeah, this is me in the apartment...

Back Home?

I'm so confused about which place to call home. I was calling Minneapolis Home when I was in Cali but when I am here in MN, Cali is home. I figure none of them are home. Heaven is home and one day we will be home. We are citizens of heaven.

Well, I was very blessed by most of you. I was glad that I got to hang out with many of you while I was out there. Those of you who say they missed me and did not attempt to hang out with me are liars and the truth is not in you...j/k. I enjoyed my stay with you all and the talks that I had with many of you were very encouraging and fruitful. I wish I didn't have to come back here but the Lord has different plans for me right now. I feel refreshed though. I am not as homesick as I thought I'd be. The new count down for when I will see you starts. Please call me if you get a chance because I got a new phone and I don't know anyone's numbers.

I love my little nephews! They are so cute.