Summer '08

Summer's almost over, and school starts soon.
I don't think you can even begin to imagine how amazing and crazy my summer has been. Who could have know so much could happen in such a small amount of time?

My summer started right after school was over. I know that's pretty obvious, but I mean, my summer got kicking before the night was even out. As soon as I finished, I was packing my bags to go on a trip with my best friend Cheizi. I was at her house that night. We stayed up late watching movies and that morning we were off to the airport. Her family invited me on a trip to Orlando, Florida with them as our last big get-together before Cheizi left for college to live out her dream in Australia.

We have friends in Florida who have come down to the Dominican Republic twice now. We decided to get together and have a Prom for Cheizi. So we got all dolled up and had prom in Downtown Disney. Cheizi had pictures, a date, corsage and everything. We had a great time. I would go into detail, but, I have the rest of the summer to tell you about.

I was scheduled to fly back home alone (my first time) the same day that the Bethel Team would be flying in. Do you see what I mean about crazy amazing, now? Luckily, despite certain obstacles I had to overcome, I made it home alive. And I happily found Kirstin, Kaleigh, Travis, John, and my dad waiting for me as I came out of the terminal.

That week, the Bethel team worked with us on Restoration Ranch digging the septic tank and filling in the foundation of the second building. As well as some other chores the guys found for us. We carried wood and logs that would hold up the ceiling for pouring the roof in (which I witnessed a few weeks later). Some others bent and cut iron bars that would hold the ceiling. You can go here to check out more stuff on that.
Point is, I had a great week. I got to see old friends and make new ones. And even though it seemed like the team was never going to get home (that's a whole story in itself) it all worked out great. We had the time of our lives. I love those guys.

A few days later, Tom and Cindy Darnell came to stay at our house for a month. They are wonderful people of God. They helped in so many ways, I can't even name them all. But one huge thing they helped us with was moving. Yup, in the midst of summer chaos, we were moving too. So we had about a week of packing before another team was coming in. (Oh, and during that, my dad turned 40!) We would be housing a team from Texas who would be joining us for our annual campamento. Every year, our youth group has a camp. This year, we would have 15 Americans joining the fun group. Oh yeah, it was going to be epic.

This year the theme was "Arde in Alabanza y Adoracion", or "AAA" for short. To translate, it was about true praise and worship. Since worship time during camp was already slamming, I was extremely excited to see how it would turn out this year. And I would be a part of it!
Needless to say, the camp was amazing. I had a wonderful time. And then we did outreach with the Texas team for a few days after that. We went to an orphanage, Genesis, and Zona Colonial. We just has a terrific time and it was hard saying goodbye to those guys.
The Millers stayed a week longer, and we had the chance to hang out with them one more time before they left. By that time, another team had arrived. A small one from Florida. Bits and pieces of our beloved BCS team came to help us with moving. So Jesse and Jen tagged along for the "going away party".

Oh...did I mention I got my haircut? I think you can tell a pretty huge difference between the group prom picture and this one above. I decided to do Locks of Love. There's the link if you want to check out the program.
So, the last team of the summer was the smaller version of BCS who came and stayed in March. We had a great time painting, organizing, hanging out, trying out corn flavored ice cream (I kid you not.), and just drawing closer. They even got to see Restoration Ranch since they last saw it in March. And for Jen, it had been a year. She was amazed to see all the progress.

Well, it's been a crazy year. I wish I could tell you more, but those are stories that should be told face to face. This summer was great. I don't think I could have asked for a better one. I met and got to know some awesome people. Friends I'll keep for the rest of my life. So, as the summer comes to a close and the school year starts, I'd just like to thank God for all the opportunities and memories He has blessed me with. I couldn't ask for more.

I love you, Jesus.

Dirty Mop Water

If you know me, you know that God has given me this funny ability to find a lesson in the most random things. For example: [link] Learning a lesson from a leaf bug. Well, I've got another one for you guys. And, you guessed it, it's about dirty mop water.
________
An excerpt from my journal...
o6.14.o8

This morning, I woke up early to sweep and mop my room so that I would have more time to do school work before the party with my youth group that night. So, I went downstairs to grap the supplies. A blue bristled broom and dustpan, along with a heavy red bucket of water, cleaner, and one of those old school "spaghetti hair" mops.
I swept and then squeezed the new water from the mop and began cleaning at the back of my room. But, something smelled funny. The mop! It was dry when I had gotten it from the downstairs closet, so I had assumed it was clean. So I went to rinse it in the water that I had in the bucket. I mean, it had cleaning stuff in it, right? That should take care of it. But that water was already contaminated. The new, fresh water that I had just gotten to mop with was already soiled before I even started.
I had to rinse the smelly mop in the tub. I used some soap to clean it off, and hopefully get rid of that smell (and I did...at least on the outside I did). Then I poured the nasty water out of the bucket, rinsed it, and refilled it. I put some cleaner in and started over.
But again, I smelled something weird. I got down on my knees and the newly mopped floor smelled like the mop had. Next step, check the mop. Yup, it had only been a superficial clean. It hadn't gotten down to the "root". Just a great way to start way too early in the morning. Hard labor and supplies that don't want to cooperate.
This silly mop was not only causing me trouble, but it was contamination everything around me! (Hopefully you know where I'm going with this.) While I'm writing this, I'm letting it soak in the water. When I had gotten frustrated, my heart looked for a lesson in all of it. Suddenly, it clicked. I could almost hear Him saying to me softly, "You keep going back to that dirty mop water like it's going to be clean. I am the pure river of Living Water..."

And in case you were lost on the dirty mop water thing, think about it like this. The mop? That's our flesh. The water is our spirit/soul. And the floor represents our surroundings. Sometimes we've only done a superficial "cleansing" of ourselves. We did it ourselves instead of letting God handle it. So there's no way we could get to the root. (If you've read "The Dawn Treader" by C.S. Lewis, it's kind of like that moment by the pool of water with Eustace and Aslan. He kept peeling off the layers, always getting a little closer, but he would always find another layer beneath it. Only Aslan could get down to his heart.) "Whatever the body does, effects the spirit." If we don't allow God to cleanse us to our hearts, our "mops" are going to contaminate our "waters". And eventually, our "floors". So what's the cure? Let go and let God. Only He has water fresh enough. Only He can cleanse deep enough.

-*-*-

And today? I heard it again.
Kind of connects, now that I think about it.
During praise and worship, I was feeling bad for always coming before the Lord feeling so dirty and unworthy. Just like I was kneeling down with all this filth and shame every Sunday. (Understand it's not the only time I spend with Him, but there's something about being in His House that helps you let things go and be refreshed..) Then I hear Him again, whilst singing. "Why do you think it is so bad to come before Me and be washed often? Don't you cleanse your body daily? Why does your soul deserve any less? Sometimes it's not something bad that you've done that has made you dirty or tired, but effects of the work you've done or where you have been."
He always knows just what to say.


So if your mop is clean, but you're cleaning up dirty floors, your going to get dirty, even if you're doing the right thing. Living in this world and in this flesh, it's inevitable. So go to that pure flow, and let Him cleanse you again.

A Short Review

The Pulse Podcast - touching the heart beat of today's generation.


The Pulse is a new podcast that just started this year in South Carolina, run by two youth pastors (Javin Proctor and Brandon Goff) in the Camden-Lugoff area.
Here's a little bit of information from their myspace (www.myspace.com/thepulsepodcast):

"Monthly Javin Proctor and Brandon Goff get together to discuss current events, share how God can change your life, and laugh a lot! This is a podcast experience that can and will help change your life, your attitude and maybe even show people that God is a pretty fun God."

Next, they share a bit about themselves. But I think, at least knowing what I know from being in the youth group under Pastor Javin, and all the nice things I have heard about Brandon from him, that I will try to add on a little bit about them.

Pastor Javin - Lovingly nicknamed PJ. Pastor Javin has served as the youth pastor of High Intensity Student Ministries at Bethel Worship Center in Camden, SC. for 7 years now. His sense of humor (or is it sarcasm?) is positively hilarious. It is said that he has an "unhealthy appetite" for picking on Brandon. He is not just armed with a quick wit, but is overflowing with words of knowledge and advice. He's got a lot to share, and this guy knows what he's talking about.

Pastor Brandon - New to the youth pastor scene. At least...to old guys like PJ he is. He has been a youth pastor of Impact Student Ministries at Highway PH Church in Elgin, SC. for a year now. Apparently there is a debate going on whether or not Brandon looks like an ostrich. Or..there was a poll on it on their site. Pastor Brandon is a fun guy full of new ideas to get this generation on fire for God. Full of laughs and good advice, he does well putting up with Pastor Javin's teasing.

These guys are fantastic. They allow people to send in questions for discussion and bring in people for different perspectives. Not only do they hit on tough issues like abortion, cursing and other things teens deal with daily, but they are able to manage to throw in some smiles.

Click here to listen to their promo.
C'mon, you know you want to check them out.

World Dance Day

^{Courtesy of cid-unesco.org.}

International Dance Day (World Dance Day) has been celebrated on April 29 through promotion by the International Dance Council (CID).

The holiday was introduced in 1982 by the International Dance Committee of the UNESCO International Theatre Institute.

Among the goals of the Dance Day are to increase the awareness of the importance of dance among the general public, as well as to persuade governments all over the world to provide a proper place for dance in all systems of education, from primary to higher.

According to the CID, this year's Dance Day is dedicated to the children.

The CID believes that caring for children is the cornerstone of human progress. Our primary goal is to overcome the obstacles that poverty, violence, disease and discrimination place in a child’s path. Thus we advance the cause of humanity.

Dance is a basic component of personal and societal development. We recommend quality basic education in dance for all children with an emphasis on gender equality and eliminating disparities of all kinds.

No child should be left without the opportunity to learn and to practice dance. Access to the art constitutes a right for every person and children in particular. This right should be protected, in order to help meet their basic needs and reach their full potential.

Have a wonderful day full of dance!
Dance for the children.


"Then maidens will dance and be glad, young men and old as well. I will turn their mourning into gladness; I will give them comfort and joy instead of sorrow."
^{Jeremiah 31:13}

"David, wearing a linen ephod, danced before the Lord with all his might..."
^{2 Samuel 6:13-15}

"They send forth their children as a flock; their little ones dance about. They sing to the music of tambourine and harp; they make merry to the sound of the flute."
^{Job 21:11-12}

"I will build you up again and you will be rebuilt, O Virgin Israel. Again you will take up your tambourines and go out to dance with the joyful."
^{Jeremiah 31:3-5}

"[There is] a time to weep and a time to laugh,
a time to mourn and a time to dance."
^{Ecclesiastes 3:4}

2008 is the year of Jubilee!
Celebrate!