As much as thank you notes seem like a hassel, after writing a few I decided they are wonderful because you get to write things to people who love you. Yeah, I thought it was neat too.

So Brad, Sarah and I finally met! And let me tell you, we were like level 10 productive, it was truely amazing. We planned the pre-bonding London trip, which I do not think I have mentioned up to this point. The three of us are going a few days early to London to hang out and then the group from Rochester, MI will meet us there and we will all go to Uganda together. I've never been out of the country besides our wonderful neighbor Mexico.

What am I going to find in East Africa? I have no idea and I am so excited about that. I am so excited about seeing what the brethern there, MY BROTHERS AND SISTERS, whom I've never met yet already have the strongest bond with . . . seeing what they are up to. SMILE. I'm sitting on my bed thinking that in the next blink I will be sitting on the dirt floor of an Africa hut. I hope I can catch everything God has to say.

You and I were created in God's image. Why do we settle for mediocracy? Why do I run my life according to the schedual of sporting events? Why would I ever settle for a B, especially when I know I can do better? Why does excessive TV consume time that could be used on relationships or anything else?

God has given us minds that are so incredible. We can think. We can feel. We can love. Granted not all of us are going to be brilliant and come up with a cure to a disease, but we can do so much. If our skill is simply encouraging, why not love on every person we come in contact with? We do not lack skill and brilliance, however, take on the attribute of laziness.

In the same way, as Chrisitans, we have inside of us the Holy Spirit! This Spirit contains the power to do anything. I cannot comprehend this, but I am working on it because it seems like a pretty intense thing that is avaliable and promised to us. Let's explore what the Spirit of God can really do! Not to test, but to believe in the fullness of the statement and gift God has given us.

If I'm settling for mediocracy you have the right to slap me on the head. "We were meant to live for so much more."

GOD IS SO GOOD! Isn't it great that can be a daily realization and never lose it's greatness. I still don't understand how it is true in the mist of pain and suffering, yet it is. However, right now I find myself in the happy go lucky state, loving life.

I graduated a year ago, it seems like 10 years. What a huge transition! Self-discovery is amazing. Am I like in warp discovery mode right now and does it slow as I age or does the learning about myself and God keep on truckin'?

Brad and I felt what it's going to take to carry only one of our three luggage boxes for Uganda and it frightened me. Pretty big loads at 70 pounds a pop for two and then the carry on. That will be an interesting feat.

Because of y'all I get to serve and praise God in Africa. Thanks!

Su Doku

So the title has nothing to do with anything, but I need to start putting headings on posts I think. Another question to anyone, if anyone (smile), reads these. How long should they be? I understand that there is email and a million things to check and read on the internet and I was wondering if they could/should be longer or shorter. Anyways. . .

I was able to hang out with my friend, Garrett East, today in the hospital. He just had his appendix taken out because of appendicitis. Naturally, we talked about everything and the subject of the incarnation came up. Why would God place himself in a feeble human body. It put us in awe, yet again, of his amazing selflessness and perfectness to do whatever it takes.

I also thought about having an appendix malfunction on the trip. That would not be good. So any prayers for appendi (yeah thats my made up plural) would be greatly appreciated.

I am about to head off to Hearne, Texas to my cousins graduation. Lately, I have been more and more excited about seeing family. Family is so good. Garrett made a comment about people visiting him and said, "It's so great to have family," refering to the body of Christ. When the church acts out its churchness I get really excited about what God can do with people here and what the kingdom will look like to come.

One reason I have not posted everyday is the idea that God is not teaching me something daily because I am not in Africa yet. Obviously, I have found my error and hope that everyday will have value, which includes learning daily from God. Anyways. . .

I am a spoiled brat. It's really a wonderful gig. Today Reid and I were grilling pork chops and corn that we shucked I might add and when we finished we looked at what our hands did and were excited and appreciative of the meal. One of the most ungreatful areas of my life is probably towards mom constantly cooking food. Granted, I figured this out slightly when getting to come back to wonderful home cooked meals, which blow the bean out of this world. Anyways, I began to connect the thought to Africa. Many of the families and tribes will offer us meat while we are there. The people do not necessarily eat meat very often if ever, yet will offer it to us. That amazes me. I have so much to be greatful for and grilling is really fun.

Allow my day to make you jealous. It started with a faulty alarm that failed to go, forcing me to sleep until 1:15. Upon waking, I fixed myself a nighthawk steak and corn TV dinner and watched a Dolly Parton movie, 9 to 5. At this point, I felt like an unemployed/retired person and felt like summer was truely in session enjoying my first lazy day. At this point I worked out, so that I could have that feeling when you work out that something was accomplished during the day. After that I began to write thank you notes and rediscovered how great life is, how good people are and how God delivers. It is so neat to reflect on how the love of God reaches you daily, but especially when your in need and asking God to come through.

My family and I then celebrated my mom's 20th birthday, interestingly enough since my 20th is coming up this year. Heather received her yearbook today so after going through that, my dad cracked out some old pictures and history of how he dominated the earth, especially his high school and those tiny basketball shorts of old. Next, we went to church where Jeff gave a message to me from God. Then the magnificent spurs won game 5 and played like the world champions yet again. Well done. Finally, I hung out with my buds and loved life and relationships. This ended with me and a single bud under the INCREDIBLE moon of tonight (in which I hope y'all saw it) and under the clear night sky and spread of stars. We talked about life and enjoyed listening and being close friends. I highly recommend the practice.

In class tonight, Jeff talked about how God calls us a lot of time to wait. To not be the same fork that is always used at the dinner table, but being used when the time is appropriate. This was a HUGE struggle for me this year. Especially being used to leadership in the youth group, coming to Christian college meant taking the back seat to upperclassmen and amazing professors. The non-Christian also gets small FAST. Obviously, those reasons are not excuses that should be made, however, the fact remains that ministry opportunities were most scarce and I have been anxious for them. I understand that ACU is a preparation place for me to gain life knowledge and wisdom, but it is SO hard to wait. I even thought about the trip to Africa being a learning experience more than a ministry opportunity. It will serve as both, but I understand that God may be telling me to wait and let the ravens (or Spencer Bogle) to send me food and soul food as he prepared me for the work he has for me. Giving control to God, what a crazy notion. I was never great at the patience game, but if it still involves having meaningful conversations with people then I can be cleaned and purified before being put to work again. I went to the World Mission Workshop in the fall semester and our conference song said, "If you say go, I will go. If you say wait, I will wait." It's just a hard thing for a Bible major to swallow that he/she is not God's special tool.

On another note it was interesting being back in the high school class. How much humble pie I have had to eat in a major where most of my fellow students preached at their church or have WRITTEN BOOKS. God is so good. It is so good to get out of ruts. I love random thought. I saw two shooting stars tonight, which makes my soul smile because it reminds me how God is wonderful.

Ah, one more point that I almost forgot once again. Me and my roommate CJ are really into reflecting on time and everything going on in life, so in thinking about what was the coolest most important part of college and life for that matter is relationships. They are all that matter. Obviously, our relationship with God. And our relationships with each other. Everything else is trivial. Relationships are the only thing that matter.

Yet again, my apologies for my inconsistancy. The end of school was naturally crazy and now I am back home in Round Rock.

I am most definitely excited about the time I get to spend here, first of all relaxing and then getting into people's lives here, but of course I am starting to get antsy to go to Uganda. Just wanted to give a quick update. Until next time.