Year of Change

One year ago yesterday, I was walking onto the stage in Century Link Field to receive my college diploma.  Four years of academic endeavors, challenges, plenty of tests, and achievement led to this exciting hallmark of life.  The "rest of life" at my fingertips, I was excited for what life held next.  It is amazing how quickly a year flies by, and it is an interesting feeling to think back to a time filled with so much reflection, reminiscing and thanksgiving.  That being said, this past year has exceeded my expectations and leaves me once again with so much to be thankful for.  

One day ago last year

Upon moving to Jackson, Wyoming, I expected to have a great year working in a church and with the people here in the community of Jackson.  I also thought that there was no way I would be staying here longer than right now.  Wow, was I wrong.  The beautiful and picturesque scenery of Jackson is absolutely breathtaking, but it does not even compare to the friendships that I have developed this past year, the learning that I have experienced, and God's daily provision in my life.  Numerous people have come into my life at exactly the right time that support me, challenge me, and teach me valuable lessons about life.  As expected, these relationships have resulted in a large amount of joy and memorable times.  To think that a community of people would welcome me as I have been welcomed is very humbling, and prompts me to do the same for others.  

About a month ago I had an internal crisis.  It was centered around the question: Have I learned anything of value this year???  A year removed from college graduation, I wanted to check myself to make sure I was still being proactive about learning in my daily life.  After much thought and reflection, I came to a conclusion.  While I haven't been in a classroom this year, I have learned many lessons and skills that I would not have learned anywhere else.  I am so thankful for these lessons, and am confident that they will continue to serve me for the rest of this life here on earth and life into eternity.  

Perhaps the largest lesson that I have learned this year is that GOD is in control, is always working whether or not we choose to acknowledge it, and works in ways that we do not always understand.  While this thought might be somewhat unnerving and belittling, it provides much comfort at the same time.  Knowing that we can truly "not be afraid; [do] not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go" according to Joshua 1:9 allows us to be comforted at all times that God is on our side.  

I am not sure where God will call me to after another year here in Jackson.  While this uncertainty is not always easy to live with, I think that God calls us to live with a little uncertainty in our lives.  Uncertainty gives God room to work, and provides Him with room to lead us where He has for us to go.  Beyond this, all we must do is this:

"Be strong and very courageous. Be careful to obey all the law my servant Moses gave you; do not turn from it to the right or to the left, that you may be successful wherever you go. Keep this Book of the Law always on your lips; meditate on it day and night, so that you may be careful to do everything written in it. Then you will be prosperous and successful. Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be afraid; do not be discouraged, for the Lord your God will be with you wherever you go."  

Joshua 1: 6-9

Stay tuned for a post in the next couple of weeks about my summer gig leading our new "Middle School Explorers" program through my church's JOY (Jesus Oriented Youth) Summer Camp.  Preview picture is above.  Also, pray for us as we leave for our High School Mission Trip to New Jersey tomorrow morning to help with Hurricane Sandy relief efforts.  

And the road of life keeps rolling on.  Take a minute and count your blessings today.  You might be surprised at how many you come up with...

A Nicaraguan (learning) Experience!

A few weeks ago, I was blessed with the opportunity to travel with 11 other friends from my church on a service trip to the Agros village that we support in the mountains of Nicaragua.  My short answer to anyone who asks me about this trip is "That it was a great learning experience, and we have much to learn from the village of Las Cuarenta!"  Hopefully I will be able to communicate some of this statement in the next few paragraphs.  

For those of you who aren't familiar, Agros International is a non-profit organization based out of Seattle that is focused on conquering the cycle of poverty in today's world (currently focused in Central and South America).  In a nutshell, Agros purchases large sections of otherwise unused real estate in Central and South America and "loans" it to people who are experiencing poverty.  These people are then given the means to build homes on the land and work it.  Eventually, Agros villagers are able to support themselves by their agricultural production, and as a result have a life-sustaining income and a home.  It is truly an incredible process to hear and learn about - so I was understandably excited to get a chance to see an Agros village firsthand. 

Spending a week visiting the village of Las Cuarenta in the mountains of Nicaragua definitely did not disappoint.  In a village that has been in existence only a little bit more than a year, houses line the hills. There is an irrigation system with running water to almost every one of these houses.  In addition to houses and running water, there are many budding crops eager for the rainy season (my personal favorite being red pepper fields with a drip-irrigation system in place).  While this sort of rapid development might seem unlikely and almost impossible, the people of Las Cuarenta showed us the benefits of a concerted, focused, and unified effort.  They live in harmony with each other, smile, and appreciate the simple joys of life.  It was quite impressive for me to see the development of the village, but I was even more impressed by the villagers' hospitality and love that they showed us throughout our visit.  Not only did they welcome us with open arms and smiles, they allowed us to experience part of their lives by working in the fields with them.  Personally, I was touched by the fact that they would even consider allowing us to plant some of their crops (that provide them with both sustenance and income).

While in Nicaragua, God placed a passage from Ephesians 4 on my heart: 

"As a prisoner for the Lord, then, I urge you to live a life worthy of the calling you have received.  Be completely humble and gentle; be patient, bearing with one another in love.  Make every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace.  There is one body and one Spirit, just as you were called to one hope when you were called; one Lord, one faith, one baptism; one God and Father of all, who is over all and through all and in all.  But to each one of us grace has been given as Christ apportioned it."                                                                                                          -Ephesians 4:1-7

I think that God put this passage on my heart for a number of reasons.  In Las Cuarenta, I was able to witness the "Body of Christ" that Paul is addressing in his book to the Galatians in another part of the world.  The villagers were united because they all shared the hope of Christ.  They shared with us that life is not always easy, but that they can always trust in the Lord to provide for them in the ways that He sees fit.  They have few material possessions, but that doesn't matter - the have Jesus and His gift of salvation!  I was so encouraged by the fact that these villagers shared the same hope that I possess in my heart!  My teammates and myself also learned about this passage on our trip.  We learned how it truly takes "every effort to keep the unity of the Spirit through the bond of peace".  Through this entire trip, I can say that I made friends both in Nicaragua and friends that I will continue to be with in Jackson!

Above all of this, God and His Son Jesus Christ reign supreme.  They can accomplish more than we ever can comprehend - and do this in ways that we might not always understand.  I thank the LORD for this opportunity, and am sure that He will continue to teach me more every day!

Thanks for reading this somewhat lengthy post, if you made it this far enjoy some pictures of the trip :)

View from our hotel in Matagalpa, Nicaragua

Some of the houses of Las Cuarenta

The red peppers with a drip irrigation system

Welcome party for our team!

2 of my buddies: Eri and Jorlin

Hanging out under some Passionfruit plants

With Rich, Felipe (our interpreter), and Victor.  We helped Victor dig his Eco-Toilet

Me, Darwin, Charlie, and Chris

A bunch of buddies!

Looking over the bay above San Juan del Sur on a morning run to top of mountain

Statue that Charlie and myself ran to on the top of the mountain

Canyoneering and Disciples

A couple of weeks ago, I was lucky enough to travel with four friends to Southern Utah and spend the week canyoneering (i.e. hiking and climbing through canyons).  It was an absolutely incredible time spent with some good friends all in a gorgeous, remote and very unique area of the country.  If you aren't familiar with slot canyons, they are huge chasms in the earth that have been carved out over thousands of years due to wind and water.  In order to get through these canyons, you must sometimes rappel down 50-100 foot drops deeper into the canyon, and have to climb and squeeze through very tight sections of rock.  

This being my second year doing this trip, I was excited to pick up where I left off in my experience with canyons.  While processing an experience that definitely stretched my comfort levels last year, I began to compare following Jesus with canyoneering.  The idea behind this comparison is that once we start on a journey following Jesus, we have two choices: we can stop where we are, or we can continue (even though we are not sure what is around the next bend).  In order to continue through the canyon, we must trust that the next portion of the canyon will be passable.  I think that this is often how it feels to follow Jesus.  We are on a beautiful and terrific path, and we must trust that God has a plan and will not test us with something that we cannot overcome (with His help, of course).  

Upon returning from my trip this year, I was studying Jesus' teaching on the requirements of being His disciple in Luke 14:25-35.  This passage convicted me, and showed me the difference between being a mere follower of Jesus, and being one of His disciples.  Being a follower is not as big of a commitment as being a disciple is.  Being a disciple of Jesus is being a student of Him - actively learning what it means to deny yourself, give up everything you have, and prioritize Jesus first in your life - with the intention of becoming more like Christ every day.

I was happy when I realized that my canyon metaphor could also work for contrasting following Jesus with being His disciple.  In order to safely rappel in a canyon, you need to know how to tie knots, build and secure an anchor, and prepare the rope correctly for the task at hand.  This year, I had to choose between learning how to do these things from my experienced climbing friends, or to sit and relax while they worked on setting up the rappel.  Obviously, the former of these two options is smarter and more beneficial.  

In order to learn, we need to make an active effort!  It is not a passive process.  Whether we are  learning how to set up a rappel in a canyon or how to be a disciple of Jesus...it requires a concerted effort.  If we are putting a concerted effort into being a student of Jesus, we can ask Him to help us, and He will!

Fear vs. Faith

When reading Luke 8 this morning, the stark contrast between fear and faith kept resurfacing.  This distinction is clearly made by Jesus in multiple times in Lk. 8 (Jesus calming the storm, Jairus' daughter, and the woman with hemorrhages), and is present in many other parts of the three Gospels.  In this chapter specifically, those who chose faith invited Jesus to act and redeem the situation.  Those who chose fear didn't tap into this incredible, powerful redemption (even though Jesus still worked in situations where fear was present).

The choice between fear and faith is one that we make every single day of our lives.  We discussed this in our young adult group a couple months ago, and it stuck with me.  In the Gospels, Jesus challenges many times to live in faith alone.  Personally, I wonder how many times I have had true, unadulterated faith.  By acting in faith, we tap into the power of God (one that we will never fully understand), and incredible, even miraculous things can happen.  

This sentiment (and many other factors) have aided me in making the decision to stay in my current position of Children, Youth, and Young Adult Ministry Intern in Jackson for another year.  While it is difficult to make another year commitment at this age, I have faith that God will continue to provide, and need to act on this.  God has been teaching me very much in my current position, and I am confident that He will continue to do this for another year.  My passion for sharing God's love to those here in Jackson seems to grow each week.  I have also been blown away by the way that people in Jackson have reached out and embraced me with open arms.  It is so exciting that we don't have to rely on our own devices, but can faithfully rely on the LORD each and every day for our sustenance.  

"Have you not known?  Have you not heard?  The LORD is the everlasting God, the Creator to the ends of the earth.  He does not faint or grow weary; His understanding is unsearchable.  

He gives power to the faint, and strengthens the powerless.  Even youths grow faint and weary, and the young will fall exhausted; but those who wait for the LORD shall renew their strength, they shall mount up with wings like eagles, they shall run and not be weary, they shall walk and not be faint" 

Isaiah 40:28-31

Think about how you can wait for the LORD in true faith every day of your life...you might be surprised at how He sustains your soul and provides for you in every way!  Thanks again for all of your prayers!

Picture collage made by our Youth Group at last weekend's 30 Hour Famine (which was very successful).  The pictures portray sin in the world, and the cross shines through, illustrating how the work of Jesus conquered (and still conquers!) all sin.

Family

I recently enjoyed a wonderful (and slightly impromptu!) visit from my parents, Peter and Tadd this past Saturday through Tuesday!  It was an absolute joy to spend time with them, and give them a little taste of what my life is like here in Jackson - with some especially tasty tastes of Elk, Buffalo and local Trout.  My parents, brothers and I were able to experience some of the outdoor attractions that Jackson has to offer, come to church (both on Sunday morning and at youth group), and meet some of the people who are a part of my life here in Jackson.  Most importantly, we got to spend valuable time catching up on life and just being with each other!

Having family come visit reminded me of many things.  First of all, how thankful I am to have a family that loves and cares about me.  Secondly, that it is a priority to continue to family them a significant part of my life, and show that through my actions.  Finally, I was reminded that even though it isn't always easy to say goodbye to family and loved ones, we must continue to follow the path that God has called and is calling us to daily.  

Two Scripture passages have encouraged me in this in the past few days:

"Enter through the narrow gate; for the gate is wide and the road is easy that leads to destruction, and there are many who take it.  For the gate is narrow and the road is hard that leads to life, and there are few who find it" (Matthew 7:13-15)

and

"Come to me, all you that are weary and are carrying heavy burdens, and I will give you rest.  Take my yoke upon you and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.  For my yoke is easy, and my burden is light" (Matthew 11:28-30)

 I do not believe that God is calling us to an "easy" life here on earth.  He wants us to lose our lives (and re-order our priorities) to follow Him.  The first Matthew passage is pointing out that following Jesus is the uncommon thing to do, and it is not easy.  That being said, we are not alone on this journey.  Jesus helps us carry our load if we choose to follow Him, learn from Him, and enter into a relationship with Him.  While it is easy to longingly look back at the past, we must strive forward on this new journey with confidence that we have a companion that will never, ever leave our side!  Then, and only then will you find true rest and satisfaction.  

Some pictures from the visit...

The bros at dinner

At youth group with our Oreo creation

All of the Guys with Patty (and Roxie!)

Dad and myself

All of the guys snowshoeing

Mom and Dad on the trail!

Humbled

"For what can be known about God is plain to them, because God has shown it to them.  Ever since the creation of the world His eternal power and divine nature, invisible though they are, have been understood and seen through the things He has made." 

Romans 1:19-20a

Recently I have been absolutely awestruck by the beauty of where I live.  While my initial default is the prideful response of "look at what I get to do", or "my life is so amazing", I was convicted to think about how to respond to this in a humble and reverent fashion.  The above passage from Romans reminded me that this beauty pales in comparison to the "eternal power and divine nature" of it's Creator.  Spend some time and think about what the words "eternal" and "divine" mean when compared to this world.  After this, think about things in your life that give you a glimpse of your Creator, - whether that be people, nature, music, academia, or something else - simply give thanks, and grow in your awe of the Author of all things!

New Address!

I almost forgot, my new address in Jackson is:

PO Box 1432

Jackson, WY 83001

Please send any mail to this address as of now, thanks!