An update on my life…

Hello friends.  I got motivated recently just to give a quick update on my life and what’s going on. 

In May I graduated from Northwest Nazarene University up in Nampa, Idaho, just outside of Boise.  Those four years flew by so fast!  I made some good friends there and it was sad to say goodbye!  I had some awesome experiences there such a mission trip to Guatemala and a mission trip to Mexico.  The trip to Guatemala was especially impactful because while we were there in October of 05, Hurricane Stan it.  We could have easily lost our lives as we traversed a road where mudslides were falling all around us, and were wiping out whole villages right around us.  Somehow God protected our bus as we ventured through that state of emergency.  Somewhere around 1000 - 1400 people I believe were killed. 

The mission trip to Mexico was awesome because four of us students and a prof planned it and led it.  We built two houses while we were down there, and saw God in a completely different culture.  Also while at NNU I was able to be an RA and be in the BRICK house.  Both of those experiences were great and taught me a lot about myself and others.  I made friends through those times that will last a lifetime. 

For the past three and a half years I worked at Valley Shepherd Church of the Nazarene in Meridian, Idaho.  It was such a blessing to have such a caring church home, and to be able to work with some of the best teens on the planet.  For the three years I was there I worked mainly with the youth, worked with the kids some, and also helped with a Saturday night service.  Those teens changed my life! I was given many chances to preach, particularly this past summer as the old youth pastor transitioned out.  I definitely feel more prepared to preach and the experience was great.  Over the years we had some great bonding experiences on mission trips and camps.  I’ll never forget all I learned there.  I worked under one amazing youth pastor.  He cared greatly that the mission of Jesus be spread into the hearts and lives of those teens.  He became one of my best friends as we spent two summers together and also some weekdays during the school year together. 

I was also privileged to have a former Nazarene District Superintendent and now associate pastor at Valley Shepherd as my mentor.  He taught me so many fantastic things, and the experience I had under him will effect my life and ministry forever.  He became a great, great friend and ping pong partner. 

At the end of August I moved to Kansas City, MO to attend Nazarene Theological Seminary.  I am looking into getting a Masters of Divinity with an emphasis in Inter-Cultural Studies.  I just started last week, but have really been enjoying classes and friends so far.  Kansas City itself is a great place too.  We live in a very non-white area of town, which is nice.  Just down the street is the starlight theater.  It’s a massive outdoor theater.  During the summer Broadway shows come and tour through it.  Last week we saw Mama Mia.  It was pretty amazing stuff. 

Last week I went to my friend Phil DeJong’s wedding.  It was surreal to see one of my RVA friends get hitched.  But it was also amazing to be with him and other friends who I haven’t seen in a while.  I love the friends I made there…  Unforgettable people…

That’s basically an update on my life…  I’d love to hear how the rest of you are doing too.  Drop me a line sometime.  Or give me a ring…