Golley in Puerto Rico

What fun it is to get to do YL for a job...

2011-08-17T16:12:00.001-07:00

This summer has been such a ridiculous blessing! I can barely believe that this is what I get to do for a living!

It is officially fall...and with that, it is time to get back to the big work of planning the semester, club, campaigners, leadership training, art class, coaching, conferences, meetings, fundraisers... And, so happy to announce special discipleship training time for some of my close guys and gals who went to camp with us this summer.

This is going to be a big year...

Stay tuned...

Summer is here...time to start blogging again....

2011-07-11T09:59:00.000-07:00

Yep...it's been months...

Since we last caught up, the school year ended, Lindsay left, my admin moved back stateside, and we went to camp... It's been a busy couple months...

Here is an update from camp.

We did it! We are through Young Life Puerto Rico's first big camp trip...and it was absolutely incredible!!!

As you know, we were diverted from our original plans of going to Crooked Creek in Colorado. In the 6 hours that we spent in the Charlotte airport, the decision was made to go to Windy Gap, which is only three hours from there. After a great many hours on the phone, I got our plans set as best as I could, and off we went on our newly rented bus, driving into the hills! From the first few minutes on property, I knew that we were meant to be there. This was the week that God planned for us! Our students had never seen anything like this place, and honestly, neither had I! As if the beauty of the property wasn't enough, the staff, volunteers, and other campers, went out of their way to make us feel like family!

I have been on a lot of camp trips, and I can honestly say that this was one of the best! Windy Gap was already full before we got there, so they had to fit us in where they could. This meant that the girls got to stay in an upscale assign team housing, and the boys and I stayed in a room meant for only ten people. Eight of us slept on mattresses on the floor! Looking back, we would not have it any other way! It was perfect!

Additionally, during all of the travel fiasco, I had camp supplies, and volunteer leaders meeting us in Colorado. To my surprise and great joy, one of these leaders, Austin, flew from Denver to Ashville to spend the week with us and bring all of our supplies!

Through the course of the week our students were given the opportunity to hear the Gospel of Jesus presented in a way that was easy to understand and relate to. As days went by, Susan, Austin, and I got the chance to spend one on one time with each of our students, which is always some of my favorite parts of the week. During these times, and at various other points, many of our students made the decision to accept the free gift of true life through relationship with Jesus. Scripture tells us that there is rejoicing in heaven when one person comes to know God...while we were at Windy Gap, heaven had some serious parties going on!

Since returning to San Juan, I have met with the majority of our campers EVERY DAY! We have been walking through a book that goes for thirty days. The faithfulness of these campers has been so exciting to see! Every morning we meet for breakfast, read through the days message, and have a great time of discussion, questions, and prayer. These past two weeks of meeting with our campers have been some of my favorite since I left doing direct ministry with students in Austin!

Thank you for your support of Young Life in PR! Thank you for your support of me! Thank you for believing in what God is doing in San Juan and around the island! I am truly thankful for your friendship, and your support!

Please check out the attached printable update letter for a few pictures of our group at Windy Gap!

Please pray for us as we continue to walk through the next 15 days together.

Also, please pray for our finances as we continue to look over our budgets and pay off our extra camp costs that we incurred during this big trip. If you feel called to help with these costs, I would love to go into further detail personally. Feel free to call or email me directly.

If you feel led to financially support our continued work in Puerto Rico please follow the link to our Website:

Give to Young Life in Puerto Rico

All my love,

Matt

Matching Fund

2011-05-24T15:09:00.001-07:00

Dear Friends and Family,

I am writing you today from my native city of Houston, Texas! I am on the road to do some fundraising before our big summer events begin. As of now, I have 20 high school students signed up to go with us to Crooked Creek Ranch, a premier (and my favorite) Young Life property in Colorado. That trip will happen in late June. Then, we have another trip in late August for at least 12 of my kids who do not speak any English, to our Latino Week at Saranac Village in the Adirondack Mountains. These two trips, and our summer camp follow up activities, will be life changing experiences for our kids and new volunteer leaders! I am so excited to see what God does through this summer!

As you know, I have been living in San Juan for over a year and a half now. What an adventure it has been! The foundation that we are being able to build for a lasting ministry is incredible! However, this past year has not been without it's hardships and heartbreaking discoveries. For many, Puerto Rico is primarily seen as a tourist or resort destination, but it can be an entirely different world outside the hotel door. Though I have rarely felt in extreme personal danger, I am very aware of the violence that is happening all around me. Last year there were close to 1,000 violent murders on our island. The Daily Sun spoke of this in an article written this past December,

"Police data shows that as of Dec. 25, there have been 962 reported violence deaths, 72 more than in 2009 and on pace to creep to the thousand plateau.

By comparison, in 2009, there were 13,600 murders in the entire United States, including its territories.
That’s mean that Puerto Rico accounts for almost 8 percent of all violence deaths in the U.S. despite having less than a fraction of one percent of its population."

This year the death toll has already risen past 340 in just a few months. I tell you this not to scare you, or make where I live seem overly dangerous, but to inform you that our sunny island is not an easy place for our students to grow up. Puerto Rico is known throughout the Latin community as one of the most over sexualized places in the world. Every type of media outlet is teaching our kids that they should find their worth through sex. Sexual imagery is everywhere! On top of all of that, drugs and alcohol usage is commonplace. I know that this is no new concept for those of us who work with high school students, but unlike in the states where it is somewhat criticized and overseen, here there is little to no law enforcement regulation. Additionally, and possibly the most heartbreaking for me, is that though Puerto Rico has a great many church buildings, there is a dramatic absence of people demonstrating what a Christian life should really look like. Sadly, most of our churches are filled with kids and adults who believe that Christianity is just about rules and what "not to do" or "where not to go," instead of presenting freedom, and teaching people to love those around them.

As I live on the road this week, I will be attempting to raise money to help build a lasting Young Life program in PR, to give our students, their families, and their communities, hope. I believe in the way that Young Life reaches teens, and I have seen God change families through Young Life. I know that great things are yet to come in our city, and throughout our island.

This week I have an incredible opportunity. I have a donor, and friend of Young Life, in San Juan who believes in what we are doing. Young Life is new to him, but he is excited about how we are reaching teens in San Juan, and is wiling to put up his own finances to help us. This man has agreed to match, dollar for dollar, what I raise this week for Puerto Rico. This is where I need your help.

For those of you who are supporters of our ministry through your prayers and finances, Thank You! Thank you for believing in our vision to reach kids for the Gospel of God, and to see their lives transformed.

For all who are reading this, whether you give monthly, a few times a year, or are not a financial partner with YLPR, we need your help this week. If you can find a way to give to Young Life Puerto Rico this week, we will have every dollar matched! Please pray about your involvement with our ministry. I would love to share more with you about our needs, and where the money will be used. Feel free to email or call me. Know that a major need is for camp. I will be spending over $15,000 this summer to take kids to camp alone!

If you would like to be a part of this matching gift, please visit the Donor page on our website, and follow the link.

http://sites.younglife.org/sites/PuertoRico/Donors.aspx

You can give by using a Credit Card, or EFT (electronic funds transfer from a bank account). When you give, please write "MATCH" in the special designation box, so that I know what gifts we can have matched.

This is a rare and incredible opportunity to double any gift you would make this year. Please think and pray this through. We need your support.

Thank you for being my friends! Thank you for supporting Young Life!

I cannot wait to tell you all that happens this summer through your support!

God bless,

Matt

Time to catch up...grab your reading glasses and a cold drink...this is going to be a long one...

2011-01-24T18:46:00.000-08:00

Well I'm back...back from Christmas break...back from Winter Training...back from a couple day vacation...back to work...and now, back to blogging...

...But before we get to all of that...

we need to play a little bit of catch up from the end of last semester.

That's right, I'm going to pull a Marty McFly here and cruise on back to Nov. and Dec. of 2010. I think the best place for us to start, is with Christmas club. We had a blast!!! A bunch of our high school friends came out

to the last club of the year, where we sang some great Christmas songs, had a White Elephant gift exchange, ate pizza, heard a bit from the Gospel, and the leaders put on a particularly exciting skit. (Long story short, I had to drink spit...yeah...gross...kids keep talking about it...even a month later...)

A couple of days later, Lindsay and I played the proud and excited hosts of our VI staff friends, and our new interim Regional Director, and his wife. The seven of us spent a couple of days together talking over our vision for the Caribbean Region, and our own personal work happening on each of our islands. Having Scott (RD) here was a huge encouragement

to me. He is flying us out to Virginia (his region) for their annual Leader/Committee weekend in February...we are really excited!!!

In this photo are a couple of people you will probably recognize...Melissa and Seth Rogati (our St. Thomas staff) are there to the left of me, Reid Klopp (St. Croix) is to my immediate right, followed by the girl we all know and love, Lindsay Reese (ignore how tiny she looks).

I am really looking forward to this

next semester, and the times that we are planning as a region to get together and mutually encourage each other. I miss having other staff close at hand...even though these people are less than 100 miles from where I sit right now...travel between islands is not the cheapest thing...which makes it less frequent than we all wish it could be.

Once the staff left, Lindsay and I jet-setted back to the states for some stateside work, and some time with our families over the Christmas break. I ended up in Denver, where my family congregates to celebrate Christmas, and co-habitate the house of my Aunt, Uncle, and twin cousins (my second home). While in Denver this year, a freak storm came through and kept the temps down around 4 degrees F...let me just say, I do not care for the cold...(this is only the first blizzard type experience of the break...just warning you...)

I spent New Years up in Ft. Collins with one of my best friends in the world, my brother Joe Guido. Joe and I have known each other since my freshman year in high school...and do our best to see each other as much as possible, which unfortunately is only once or twice a year.

From Colorado, I headed to Sharptop Cove, a YL property in Georgia...where we had Winter Training this year. I was enrolled in the Pastoral Counseling class this

year, and absolutely loved it! The first few days of WT are an International Staff Pre-Confrence time...which is my favorite part of this almost two week affair. I had the beautiful opportunity to spend time with friends of mine from all over the globe, who are doing YL, loving kids, trying to find and train leaders, fundraise, build committees, miss Chic-fil-a, and all the other things I go through...it is great to know that I am not alone...at least not in some of the struggles and hardships.

After the first few days, about 250 of our US staff arrive, which is a blast...overwhelming at times...but so great. One of my other best friends, Matt Schwab was there unexpectedly...which was a blessing I can hardly describe. To got to spend time with brothers and sisters who are some of the most fun, creative, brilliant, and loving people on the face of the globe. Then...a couple days before we were all supposed to take off and fly/drive/walk back to our areas...snowpocalypse 2k11 descended on us...and stranded us up in Jasper, Georgia for a couple more days than expected. (Second freak blizzard of my few weeks out of the caribbean...who knew!) Honestly, it was great extra days with people I love, sitting by fires, drinking coffee, reading, playing games, hustling people in fooseball, and playing in the snow. (Notice the biggest snowman I have ever seen...built by a couple of Texas boys late one night...)

Once the cold had finally chilled me to the bone...and the Georgia highways had thawed out enough to allow us to get out of property, and make it to the airport...we took our chances and headed out.

I was planning on having to spend the night in the airport...but thankfully, I found my way onto a flight that left that day, and get me back to San Juan late that night. (This was not without me having to be the guy dead sprinting through the Miami airport, to make my connecting flight...and then arriving in San Juan, without my bag meeting me at baggage claim...honestly, I was just happy to be home on my island.)

I think this brings us up to the past few weeks...(finally...thanks for bearing with me.) Lindsay and I have had a blast beginning to plan out how we are going to tackle this thing called Young Life, this spring. Lets just say that we have some big plans...

Once of the first weekends we got back, was Festival Calle San Sebastion...aka, "Las Calles"...just imagine Mardi Gras, but crazier...then add a couple more thousand people...so its shoulder to shoulder rivers of people making their way through the tiny streets of Old San Juan. (I guess the Spanish didn't have this festival in mind when they designed and built the city in the 1600's...they should have though ahead...) Anyway, you might be thinking...what a strange place to find YL leaders on a Friday night...well we are committed to going where kids are...and they were ALL there...so we were too! It actually was a blast!

Last week I had some incredible time with kids at their schools, and out after school over coffee. It has been incredibly encouraging to get home after being gone for a couple of weeks, and to be met with grace and favor everywhere I turn. It has been story after story of students reaching out to us, and just being our friends (which is all we ask). I am very thankful...and very excited to be here!!!

So, also...football is starting again! It's time to spend my Saturdays back on the field with my boys...its going to be a fun season. I'll write more about our current adventures, and future plans, soon. Till then...hope all is well with you!

Cuidate...

Matt

3 clubs down...

2010-11-03T12:11:00.000-07:00

Hola gente! We are through the third week of YL clubs here in San Juan!!! What a blast we are having!!! This past week was our Costume Party Club, and we had kids come out in all different types of costumes! At one point we had a bunch of guys show up in different types of "costumes" which all apparently required them to be shirtless... whatever...we rolled with it.

Here is a pre-club message from me...that show the club room we were using...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TEmU3DxMRdM

Here are some pictures...

Lindsay is there on the right...dressed as a hippie...

Richie as a penquin....walking the red carpet...workin' it for the judges....

Me in the middle of a bunch of my football players...singing along...

Jettie, Lindsay, Me, and our Guitar player Edda...

Also, last week was Spirit week at Baldwin...which is a blast for students...and requires a ton of prep work. Each class has a different theme to decorate a hall at the beginning of the week. This hall competition takes over for the weekend before...which means that for Friday, Sat., and Sunday of that weekend, Lindsay and I hung out at the school and helped different classes "construct" their hallways. Lindsay helped with the sophomore class, as they turned their hallway into the temple of Zues. I worked with the Junior class as they transformed their hallway into a Mayan temple. On Monday morning, during the judging of the hallways, each class dresses up and "lives" out their theme. My Mayans did a human sacrifice in the middle of the school....yeah, it was intense!

A couple of my "mayan" friends...yes, they go all out!!!

Some of our sophomore friends...

We are working sooo hard...and getting a ton done! In fact, as I am trying to finish this before our Leadership Training class for our new volunteer leaders... We have things ever night of the week...its crazy!!!

With all the work...we are still having a blast though! Check out this video...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=raGuaXxKzyo

One Year Today!!!!

2010-10-27T12:46:00.001-07:00

Hello friends, it is true...1 year anniversary is being celebrated today!!! And by celebrated, I mean, my car battery died...so I got a new one of those, and have been doing admin work all day! YAY!!!

But in seriousness, I am absolutely blown away that it has been a year already! I mean, when I look at all the work that God has allowed me to do in the past year, it is unbelievable, actually, considering all that has happened here in just a year...it kinda feels like its been three years!

Last week we had our first ever YL club!!! Here is the update from that night:

There were over 25 students there! It was a good night....we had some technical difficulties...but we had fun! This past week we had our second club...and though we had less kids (hard week with sports play offs, sickness, tests, etc...) we had a blast!!! Lindsay and I both agreed that this was one of the most fun clubs we have ever been a part of!

We have new volunteers in training, and a friend of mine has agreed to play guitar for us for club! So much going on!!! Thank you for your love and support!!! Please continue to pray...

We are still trying to raise money to buy an area vehicle...this is such a HUGE need for us!!! If you can pray for this it would be great...thank you!

First Club!!!!

2010-10-21T20:45:00.000-07:00

Here is the event poster for our first club!!!

Campaigners....and a thought...

2010-10-04T20:20:00.000-07:00

So after campaigners Lindsay and I were dropping off kids...pretty usual deal for us to make the rounds of taking kids home...which can some times take a couple of hours...but tonight, after dropping the last one off, we were driving down a jungle enclosed mountain road, and I had a thought... A year ago I didn't know any of these kids... A year ago I had no idea about any of this. Tonight we had such a sweet time with nine students (we have consistently had 7 to 9 kids coming out to campaigners...its been sweet), playing games, hanging out, and then reading the Bible, and really getting into who Jesus is...it was so genuine and gorgeous. A year ago, I guess I knew this was possible...but I didn't know that it would ever really happen. I am here...living here...sharing my life...my time...my finances...my joy...everything with these kids.

I have an incredible life...

It is definitely hard. I miss my family, my friends, my community in Texas. I miss the ease of living in the US. (Side note...I didn't have running water for three days last week...I took a shower with a bucket, and water from our cistern... Also, it took me over half an hour just to make a simple deposit at the bank today...) I miss financial security... I miss a lot of things...but there is no question that I am supposed to be here. I love these kids so much! I have been gifted relationships with so many students...a gift from the Lord. And not only do I get to have friendships with these young peeps...but I get to share the freedom and joy of Christ with them...

What an amazing thing it is to sit back and think about the past three years of preparation that went into getting to nights like this...

Thank you to all of you who have helped me get here. Thank you God...Thank you.

Big Event...

2010-09-28T15:56:00.000-07:00

So we had our big event....it was a blast! Not as many kids came as we had all hoped...but it was still a great time! This will really build momentum for our first club in a couple of weeks!!! Thanks for praying!

Here is my September update....

Things are happening....

2010-09-19T21:24:00.000-07:00

YLPR is actually getting off the ground!!! Last Friday, my close friend and fellow Young Life aficionado, Lindsay, moved here to work and help with YLPR!!! It is such a blessing to have her here! This is a photo of us working side by side this afternoon, planning our big event for next week...

Speaking of our big event...we are having a Young Life Movie Night here on Monday the 27th...we have arranged for a movie theatre to allow us to get together around 150 high school students and have an incredible time. This will be a perfect time for us to get to tell PR kids about who we are...and prep them for our first YL Club, which is planned for a couple of weeks from now.

Here is the poster for our big event...

Football and Campaigners...

2010-09-13T18:56:00.000-07:00

Hello friends and family! So the water has been off all day...and from the looks of things it will be off tomorrow as well... There is a huge hole in the road, down the street from my house, full of water...with a couple men working on something...I assume a broken water pipe. These men will take deep breaths, dive under to work...then resurface...not really sure how that works.

Anyway, just got back from campaigners. Great time getting into the Bible with kids! There is a family here who opens their house to us each week, gives us a place to hang out, play pool, talk, and they even feed us dinner some nights...its unbelievable! Two of my volunteer leaders came tonight to see YL campaigners first hand.

Football has been rough...we have been losing...and Saturday after the game a fight broke out with kids and adults from the other team... It got a little sketchy there for a bit...the cops came with drawn guns and put people on the ground....definitely a different world some days. Here are a couple photos of my reality...

A couple of my boys before the first game.

Me and YL volunteer Jettie at our first game.

Tropical Sunset over the football field.

There are so many other incredible things happening here that I wish that I could tell you all about...however, for the sake the work we are attempting to do in different high schools here...I can not be specific at this time. Please continue to pray for more volunteers, for our financial budget, and for favor with high school administration.

Ps- Lindsay, a close friend of mine, and fellow YL leader is officially moving here on Friday, and will help me to train leaders, and do work with girls as we start club! YAY!!!

Long break from blogging...

2010-08-27T11:22:00.000-07:00

Hello friends and family!

I hope all is well with you! I have been a terrible blogger for the past many weeks....for that I apologize. Thank you for caring what is going on in my life, and in the life of the fledgeling ministry of YL here. Really the most I can report is pretty normal stuff.... (Quick aside...how great is it that "normal stuff" includes going to high schools, doing regular contact work, coaching football, having weekly campaigner meetings...etc....? A year ago I didn't even live here! And now normal stuff is YL stuff! So great!!!) ...along with all that I have spent a lot of time, energy, and effort, to plan our semester out.

I am so stoked to start club in October!!! It is going to be amazing! We are in the process of finalizing a location...but because our urbanizations (neighborhoods) are all gated and secure, it makes it hard to plan club at a kids house....then other locations aren't safe for parking or for loitering around outside....so it is very possible we will be having club in a hotel ballroom, or a movie theater type local... Also, I have been looking around for a place for our winter weekend camp...Polar Bear Weekend...I think it will be happening on the south east side of the island at a little resort we are going to rent out.

In other news...a couple of weeks ago...two of my best friends came down to the island. Josh, an author and speaker, came down to speak at an even here...Josh, Kristen (his wife), and I got to spend a week together. It is such an incredible blessing to have people who I love come to visit me. They have been a part of my life for many years...and have supported my moving here from the beginning...for them to get to see where I live, and meet people I love here, and kids who I hang out with...was, to say the very least, a gift! Its safe to say I miss having them here, now that they are gone... They are such wise people...I can hardly imagine what my life would look like without their love, support, wisdom, and advice. Here is a link to Josh's book...check it out for sure!!!

http://joshriebock.com/

In St. Thomas for the "week"....

2010-07-20T07:41:00.000-07:00

Here is a video of our journey back up from a remote beach in St. Thomas, after we had to make alternate plans for Wyld Life beach camp....

So originally the plan was for me to come over to St. Thomas to do program for their Wyld Life beach camp. Wyld Life is the junior high side of Young Life. We have both YL and WL running on St. Thomas. There is an incredible couple here, Seth and Melissa, who I now count as great friends! We shared cabins with them and their YL kids at Lake Champion this summer...so I got to know them fairly well there. Anyway, I flew over on Sunday morning...and was supposed to be here, on the beach, camping, doing program (skits, games, relays, etc...) but once I got here, and we drove down the treacherous "road" to this secluded beach...it became very clear that this camp was not going to happen. There were some serious safety concerns....which if you look at your weather channel today, you will see the big green, yellow, and red patch sitting over our islands...just to specify one issue of many.

Do not be alarmed...we made it off the beach before the road, surely, completely washed out...and got back to the house to dry out, and make the new plan. I am proud to say that the Wyld Life kids here are still going to have a great time this week, and they will still get to hear about the great love and freedom found in Jesus.

In other news, I got one of the best surprises ever on Friday!!! One of my best friends in the world, Sarah Baxter, called me, and let me know that her and my other best friends, her husband, Andy, had a multi-hour lay over in San Juan on Saturday! Thats right! I got to spend a couple hours with the Baxters, in my city!!! Such a joy!!!

Also, last week football started again! I am getting to run conditioning practice two times a week...Tuesday and Thursdays I'm out on the field, again, with my boys! I didn't realize how much this was going to be a direct part of my job here in San Juan.

I'm currently sitting in a coffee shop in St. Thomas, with my regional director, getting some work done. I wont find out till later if my plane is going to be allowed to fly me back to San Juan today or not...

Hope all is well with you...

Big Puerto Rican Weekend....

2010-07-12T08:53:00.000-07:00

Hello friends! Monday morning here in San Juan...and I wanted to tell you about my weekend! So last week...along with normal work stuff...I had a coaches meeting, and I will be the official special teams/strength and conditioning coach for our Varsity and JV high school club teams this fall! It seems that our field goal to win the game against the Dolphins last spring clinched me this position! We are going to start conditioning practice tomorrow! I am not so pumped about running with my boys during the heart of the afternoon...but I am stoked to get to hang with a bunch of kids from a ton of different high schools....also, three of these guys are the boys who went to camp with me, and are really excited about YL. So, as I continue to build relationships, and these guys share how fun YL is...we will have a great football presence at our first club this fall!

So I had a fun island weekend! Saturday we had a football clinic, where I got to see all my players for the first time in a couple of months! It was so great to see these guys! God is doing huge things in allowing me to be a part of their lives! That evening/night I went to a pool party/concert at a hotel here! I am proud to say that I have now experience a reggaeton concert, and been a part of that who deal! Many people probably think it is ridiculous for me to be at places like there...here is the deal though...for me to live here, and be a part of this culture, I want to understand the culture...I want to experience things first hand. If I was doing YL in rural Colorado, where kids hung out at small town rodeos, I would put on chaps and a hat and join them...here I am going to go where kids are. Obviously I am being wise about my interactions, and I live by the statutes of being "in the world...but not of the world" so please do not worry about me. However, there are VERY few people, if any, who walk the line between believers and non-believers here....so for me to hang out with people who don't know Jesus, in their world...become friends...then invite them into my life, where I can allow them to see my sincere and honest faith...it is totally new to this island! Pretty exciting!!!

Yesterday, after church, I went with some friends to a house to watch the game. There were probably 25 of us in an unairconditioned living room! I was lying on the tile between other friends who were also lying there uncomfortably. It was perfect! I had the thought....I could be at an tourist sports bar, or in my house watching this game, speaking in english...not sweating profusely...but what fun would that be? I love my life, and I adore the adventure of living outside my comfort zone...and allowing God to make me into the man that he wants me to be.

Camp Follow Up!

2010-06-24T08:45:00.000-07:00

I have been back on island for a couple of days now...but the recovery process from camp has been a little taxing... I am back on my feet...hanging with kids, and back to work! Camp was amazing!!!

Seriously! I have been on a lot of camp trips...but it is something altogether new and exciting to watch a bunch of kids who have no concept of what YL is, go to one of our properties and completely fall in love with people, club, YL, each other, and our God!!!

By day 2 I saw changes already taking place in the way these high school friends of mine interacted with one another, me, and people from other areas! It truly was the best week of their lives...and one of the absolute best weeks of mine! Three of our kids met Jesus in radical and beautiful ways!

I had many moments at camp where I would sit back...tear up...and think about the two years that it took to get to this point...and know that I am exactly where I am supposed to be...and furthermore that everything I have sacrificed along the way is worth it! Everything it has taken to get here and start YL in PR is worth it. There are hard days...there are lonely days...there are cultural hardships...there are homesick times...there are financial woes...there are a lot of humbling moments...and it is all completely and without a doubt, worth it!

Seeing kids look me in the eye and tell me how much they love our God...and seeing their excitement to follow him...it is all worth it.

We had so much fun at camp!!! Thank you for making it possible for us to go! Thank you for making it possible for me to be here!!! Last night we had a follow up time...sort of a first campaigners...and today we are going to a guys house to play ultimate frisbee. What a joy it is to know these high school kids, and become part of their lives and their families!

Here are some photos!

Our female YL leader Lindsay with a high school friend on 50's night.

Two high school guys living it up!

After I got pied in the face at the carnival.

A high school buddy after he got blobbed into the lake!

Me and some guys at their first every YL Club!!!

Our group on the last day!

Girls on banquet night!

The men folk on banquet night...we made PR look good!

Thank you for all of your support!!! It is worth it!!!

Getting ready for camp

2010-06-09T12:28:00.000-07:00

It is Wednesday afternoon...I am currently sitting in Starbucks in Guaynabo, tracking down kids and their camp forms...always a good time. That being said, I am so excited about camp! It is going to be so unbelievably great to get to see these high school students experience a YL camp! They are going to have the best of their lives...and get a chance to see what it looks like to have a relationship with Christ.

Last night a good friend of mine from Austin, sent me a large monetary donation for our camp expenses. I did not even know how to begin to thank him! I am so blessed to have people like him in my life. Not only does his friendship mean a lot, and the time I get to spend with him is refreshing, but he believes in what God is orchestrating here on the island...and that means so much to me!

For all of you who have been helping to support us, and specifically have sent money for kids to go to camp...thank you!!! This would not be happening without you love, faith, and support!

Can't wait to bring you back some camp stories!!! Till then!

Fundraising Stateside

2010-05-20T15:23:00.001-07:00

I am currently sitting across the kitchen table of one of my best friends in the world...Josh Riebock. He is working on his new book, and I filling out a ministry support application of a church I really admire. I have been in the US for two weeks now...I know, that is a long time!!!

The first couple of days of my trip were spent in San Francisco. One of my closest YL kids of old graduated from college on the 8th! I can not remember ever being so proud of someone!!! I moved him out to this school, where he played lacrosse, four years ago...I prayed he would do well, but I had no idea the way his life would unfold. Well, that day I sat with his family as we watched him onstage as the undergrad keynote speaker! He was top of his class academically, captain of the lacrosse team for the past two years, an RA, active member in many community organizations, and student body president!!!

Here I am with Conrad, after he walked out with his diploma!

From San Fran, I flew to Houston, where I surprise my mom on Mother's day, which was also her birthday!!! The next morning I rented a car, and proceeded to get on the road and visit a different city every night...to meet with people and do some serious fundraising!

Here I am at a meeting in College Station, Texas. There were a ton of people packing out this house's living room for a worship night, and YLPR presentation. These are a few of my old YL kids...a lot of them don't even go to school in College Station...the drove in from other cities to see me! I am really blessed!!! (Notice Taylor and me doing the old Mcneil Maverick cheer of "Hoof'em"....that is why we look like that....just thought I should explain...)

A couple nights later I was in Waco, at Common Grounds. Though it did not go exactly as I was hoping...it was such a great night for me! I got to hang out with another of my old YL kids...here he is playing on stage for the event, with some of his talented friends....he is the one on the far right.

From there I was in Dallas, Houston, Austin, San Antonio, and Kerrville...I get to stay around Austin for the next few days...thankfully! On Sunday I drive back to Houston to have a few small meetings and see my parents one more time before I fly home on Monday.

Sorry for the silent blog...It has been a lot of driving...sometimes up to 7 hours a day...I'm looking forward to getting back home...but for now I am really enjoying getting some much needed face to face time with my friends...

Hope all is well...don't be afraid to be awesome!

Part of the community

2010-05-03T09:26:00.000-07:00

Yesterday was just a normal Sunday for me...but now that my place within this community is becoming more legit...my "normal" days are full of seeing high school kids...which for a Young Life leader, is pretty cool!

Yesterday I got to spend a great time at Starbucks with a high school student, just talking about his life, aspirations, and our mutual love for photography. After this great hang out time, I was feeling pretty good about the way God was allowing me into this community. Then, later that evening, I was going to a movie (yes a movie on Sunday night...) and I ran into a bunch of seniors from the high school where I volunteer.

I know these things may sound lame to other people...but to me...as it has only been a couple months working in schools, it is really fun and exciting for me to feel accepted and welcomed by high schoolers on their own turf.

That is all...

Oh...forgot...please be praying for tonight...we are planning on skyping into the All City Club in Ausitn, Tx, tonight. This will be a great time for my leaders in training to see what a club looks like. So please pray the technology will work well!

May Update

2010-05-02T16:53:00.001-07:00

Here is the May newsletter...

If you are not on my update list, and would like to be...please let me know what your email is...

25 years old....

2010-05-01T12:12:00.001-07:00

Well it's true...I had a birthday one week ago! I am now currently 25 years old! I actually had the enormous blessing of flying home to be with my family for a couple days over my birthday! That is something about living here on the island that so helpful...though I am doing cross-cultural minsitry in what sometimes feels like an entirely different world...I am close enough to take the weekend and see my parents, a couple friends, my quickly growing niece, and go to my old church, surouned by family and grown-up Young Life kids.

Last weekend was so good for my spirit! It's pretty hard to take time off while I'm here in San Juan. Just getting a couple days with family gave me new energy and renewed excitement for my ministry, and my life here.

Since being back on the island...I have gotten the blessing of spending time at the high school...having some great meetings, that I know will progress our ministry here...and we even had another girl sign up for camp!!!

Last Wednesday night's leadership training was a lot of fun! I am really enjoying getting to know my new volunteers!

I am really excited about this Monday night...we are going to have a live feed into the All City Club going on in Ausitn, Texas! My new leaders are going to get to watch an actual YL club....its going to be great!

Hope all is well in your part of the world!

Another great week...hard...but great

2010-04-22T22:55:00.000-07:00

So, I know it's been over a week...but here is my reasoning...

Last week I had my boss over from St. Thomas, and my friend Lindsay down from Austin. Lindsay wasn't just here to visit...in fact, the real reason for her trip was to check out YL here in PR, and see if she felt called to be a part of all that God is doing! That would mean her possibly working with me her on the island!!! It was really great for me to have her here...sadly, we only really got a couple of hours on one day to do touristy things...I had her working with me the rest of the time. I am so proud of the way that she has grown up over the past few years that I have known her. She is truly an amazing woman of the Lord, who we would be blessed to have work with us here on the island.

Me, Lindsay, and Krystel. (Lindsay stayed with Krystel while she was here...and yes I am blessed to say that I am dating miss Krystel Sotero...its true! I should probably write a blog post just about that...maybe I will soon. For now, just know that she is amazing!!!)

Me and Lindsay...and yes I have a sweet beard!

Anyway...along with these work related visits...I have been running around trying to track down kids and get them excited for camp. Thats right...as of now, we are taking 5 boys and 1 girl from PR to Lake Champion in June!!! I am really excited for these kids to get to see a real YL for what it really is!!!

Thank you for being interested in whats going on here....keep praying for more kids to get signed up for camp!

Till next time...

Contact work...

2010-04-09T08:16:00.000-07:00

I have spent the morning just in awe of the things that God is doing here to start Young Life! It has not even been six months that I have been living here, and the Lord is soooo good! Not only has He given me friends, purpose, goals, leaders, committee support, and schools to work in...He has given me kids to hang out with!

Last night I took a kid to dinner to talk about life and get to know him. Through our conversation, he got really excited about camp! I am going to talk to his dad, and get him all signed up today! Also, we are hanging out this afternoon, and going to try to get a lot of his friends signed up with him!

Last night as I waited for him to get home so I could go pick him up...I just drove around and killed time...it reminded me of the good old days about 6 years ago in Austin. Last night I called a couple of my old YL kids, who are all grown up now with YL clubs of their own...but the whole situation just made me realize how much I missed them. They were the ones I used to wait on...I used to take out to dinner...I used to pray that God would give me favor with them and their familes...and used to pray for patience to wait on them...especially the days they flaked on me. I guess the big realization here is that, I am excited to have this unique opportunity again. There is great joy for me in the fact that over the next four to six years I am going to get the opportunity to see kids here in PR step into relationships with Jesus, and from there have their lives transformed! That all starts with simple dinners...with a lot of prayer...and sometimes a couple hours of waiting....

Camp...ahhhhhh

2010-04-08T13:17:00.000-07:00

So as a lot of you know, we have a couple spots for camp this year. God willing, I will be taking kids from PR to Lake Champion. I am so excited for the opportunity to take kids from the island up to beautiful New York state, where they will have the best week of their lives! As of now I have one boy signed up! That means, regardless, I am going to take this one guy up to camp, and it will be great....however, I am praying for at least four more guys, and five girls... This is totally possible, but needs to happen really soon! We have to finalize plane tickets...which is never fun...

Also, just a thought...but if you know of anyone who would be willing to help with sending PR kids to camp...please let me know...it is expensive, and we need all the help we can get!

I just me with another potential YL volunteer! It is such a cool thing to have so many people excited about Young Life!!!

RAIN!!!

2010-04-06T08:19:00.000-07:00

It is finally raining!!! I have needed a change in the weather for weeks now! Today is cloudy, cool, and raining! I know to those of you not living here this sounds stupid...but I am still adjusting to no seasonal changes...so days like this are really great for me! Plus, I just really like the rain!

Had some amazing time with the Lord this morning...got some admin work done around the apartment...now off to spend a day hanging out with kids wherever I can! I also have to prepare for our day 1 of new leader traing (round 2) tomorrow...and get ready for a presentation I am doing at a public school in Caguas.

Hope you have a great day!

He Has Risen!!! (and mass photo update...)

2010-04-05T10:10:00.000-07:00

Happy Easter!!! He Has Risen...He has risen indeed... Yes, I got to say that yesterday to a congregation at the ESPN (English Speaking Pastors Network) united sunrise service in El Morro. I got to be a part of the service and do the closing prayer! Huge blessing, and really fun to be a part of this group of churches and various ministries!

I've had a great last week! I have to admit, even though I have some additional time now, with football being over, I do miss being on the field with my players during the week. This past week was the first one in 9 weeks that I didn't see my players 3 to 5 times.

Got to spend some great time at the high school before they closed their doors for Semana Santa, and spring break. Also, last thursday I went to the driving range with a senior who I know well. It is so good to get to spend time with high school students again. I love my job, and I love that my role has a lot to do with trainging leaders, building support and favor for our ministry...but what I really love is just getting to be with students, in their world!

I have started signing kids up for camp!!! We are going to take kids from here to Lake Champion in June!!! I have one 9th grade boy signed up already...this week I am going to try to fill at least 5 more spots. Please be praying for this!!! Also, please pray for financial blessing...I would really like to pay at least part of most kids trip, this being our first camp trip from PR. The kids who we take will not only get to meet Jesus, but will see YL in excellence! Then, in the fall, these students will be very pivital in helping start YL clubs.

It really has been a great last week! Thank you for those of you who were concerned with my last post...sometime I do get homesick...but I have a strong sense of purpose and joy for my life here...which out weighs everything else!

Here are a bunch of photos from the past couple of months...enjoy!

El Morro easter morning before the surise service....

Closing prayer at the sunrise service in El Morro.

Coaching during the last of our games...

Me teaching a "Sex Ed" sermon/class at a local youth group....thank you to Austin Life Guard for preparing me for this!!!

Pastor Bob presenting Young Life with a check for $5,000 from 2nd Union Church!!!

Two close friends and pastors...Bob of 2nd Union, and Charlie formerly of 1st Union. These two men have been so helpful in my ministry...and have adopted me as family!

My niece with me at a football game in early Feb...

Football Season over...

2010-03-29T06:54:00.001-07:00

So last Saturday we had the Championship game...and sadly we lost. It was really tough to see my boys hurting after the game...but as one of the moms said...this is where my job comes in. Now that the season if over I get to start planning "young life" events to hang out with these guys.

I am going to try to take a lot of my players to camp this summer! I am just going to need to raise a lot of campership money... Anyway, this is going to be the first week in 9 weeks that I do not have to be at the field 3 to 4 afternoons a week...and most of the day on Saturday! I am definately going to miss the time I got to spend with the players, coaches, and familes every week...but I am pretty excited to be able to use those hours for hanging out with other kids, and training our new leaders!

Its officially been 5 months since I've lived here! That in itself is crazy!!! Please continue to pray for me...even though God has opened countless doors, given me amazing friends, and provied beyond my wildest dreams...it is not always easy to live here. Yesterday I had a hard time...I just wanted it to be easy...I just wanted to be where everyone knows me and where I dont have to try...I got to talk to my great friend Josh Riebock who gave me a lot of support and words of encouragement. Don't get me wrong...I love it here! I love my life! I love my job! I honestly cannot image doing anything else...it just gets hard some days.

I love you all. Please pray for a college freshman in Texas. He is a football player at Tarlton University in Stephenville....His name is Zach...he is in the ICU...from what I know he had a blood vessle burst in his brain, and he is not doing well. Please pray for healing...and for God to use this to change the team and school.

PR Holidays are amazing!

2010-03-22T10:39:00.000-07:00

So its Emancipation Day here on my island!

I love the fact that we have holidays all the time...well except for the fact that the mail doesn't run, and I can get official work done...but in the future it will really open up more time to be with kids.

This past weekend the Steelers won against the Redskins, to put us into the Championship game this Saturday! It would be really cool to go undefeated and be the champions of A division football on the island!

Also, last Sat. night I spoke at the Youth Group of Torre Fuerte in Caguas. Youth Groups are different here...they are not just for high school and below...they actually have members through their twenties... Anyway, I got to speak about YL and tell my drams for ministry here in PR. Since then I have already had three people tell me they want to be volunteer leaders! I am meeting with these peeps this week! Praise Jesus!

I just put up a website through the YL server for YL in PR. I haven't really made it personal yet, but a great thing about it is people can contact me through it...and donate directly to YLPR with the push of a button...so great!

www.puertorico.younglife.com

Ok off to get some work done...hope you're having a great day!

New Volunteers!!!

2010-03-17T14:12:00.000-07:00

Hey friends...its Wednesday in San Juan...well actually I guess its Wednesday everywhere else too...anyway, I just got done with an incredible meeting with a guy who is going to start training with me next week as a volunteer leader!

His name is Javier, and he is incredible! I met him when I was at a local university seeing a friend speak to a Christian group on campus. She introduced me and told them a little about Young Life...Javier was there...and as he told me today, as soon as he heard about YL, he felt that the Lord touched him...and that he knew he was supposed to be a part of YL! I met with him once before today, to tell him more about the ministry and myself...and to hear his story. I was excited about the possibility of his presence in YL on that day...and today am so encouraged by his heart for Jesus and for high school students! Javier has such a passion for the youth of his home town of Caguas, that I am really curious to see what God is going to do through this young man!

SO...anouncement number two!!! This past Sunday night I went to Metalica with my friend Ada...thats right I said Metalica! So while at the concert, Ada, who has been thinking about how to get involved with YL for a couple months now, volunteered to help out in an Admin type role! This is such a blessing!!! First off, Ada is an incredible friend and sister in Christ! She is so encouraging to me on a daily basis...its ridiculous! Second, this is such a needed position right now...though it will not be many hours a week...having someone else to help out with this, will free me up to do direct ministry with kids...continue putting a committee together...and train leaders...

This is Ada and me before the Metalica concert...my first one...she got me that shirt to wear! HAHA! So awesome...

How great is our God, that through concerts and random university visits YL is being blessed with amazing people who get the vision of our ministry and want to give their lives to kids!

Ring Ceremony for the class of 2011

2010-03-06T07:49:00.000-08:00

Last night I got to attend the "ring ceremony" for a the YL school here. That is where the juniors (class of 2011) get their class rings. It was really fancy...big presentation, then a formal dinner. Really great to be there with kids who I have been getting to know over the past few months. While there I got to meet a lot of parents, and make awkward spanish/english conversations...always a good time!

Here I am with one of my juniors!

These are two of my closest friends in PR...both are teachers at the high school.

Thats right...tie and everything...and for those of you who are wondering...I even wore my dress shoes, not my usual converse. Just sacrificing my personal style for the Gospel!

Hope you have a great weekend!

Worst blogger ever!!

2010-03-03T17:54:00.000-08:00

so here's the deal...I get excited to share my life with you all through my blog...however, I really want to be able to attach pictures to every post...well, until this past week I have been without a digital camera, besides my pro equipment, which I don't carry around to all events. So I wait to get copies from other people, then a week has gone by...then another....

Anyway, I figured I should at least keep you posted on what has been going on over the past couple weeks, then I can post photos soon.

The weekend of valentine's day, my family came to visit me!!! My parents, sister, bro-in-law, and baby niece all made the trip down to my island. They were only here a couple of days, but it was such a blessing to be able to see them, and show them around my life...

Oh, fun YL Puerto Rico story! The Friday my family got here, I dropped them off at the hotel, and after hanging out for a bit, I was driving home. On the way home, in traffic, I look over and saw a bunch of seniors from the high school where I am starting YL...I try to call one of them, but he doesn't pick up...so I make the block and turn around to say hi. As I am driving back to find them, I start hearing gun fire, and people start scrambling all over the place!!! My kids weren't invloved, and everyone is fine...but it was crazy! There were police with M-16s all over the streets!

Anyway, it was great to have my family here! That Sunday, the 14th, they went with me to Second Union Church in Guynabo...where I was asked to say a little about YL, and presented with an incredibly generous support check of $5000!!! (and yes, that is in american money!)
Such a huge blessing!!!! (photo to follow)

During the week has been really busy!!! I actually haven't taken any days off in a while. I know, I will soon! (I took a sweet nap this afternoon!) Two weekend's ago, after our football game (we are still undefeated, by the way) I got to take part in Family Day, for the high school where I am starting YL. I got to run an artsy sculpture building contest. It was really great for me to be there and meet a bunch of parents! I was introduced around by dear friends of mine...Pastor Bob, from 2nd Union, and his wife Christi. They have been such an incredible blessing to me, I do not even have words!

Last week besides giving talks at Youth Groups, helping with trips and events, I gave blood at a local high school. Berto went with me, along with one of his youth, who was acting as his intern for the week. The youth, Josh, was giving blood also, and halfway through looks up at me and tells me he feels dizzy....I do what any guy would do, and tell him he's fine! Next thing I know he's passed out and the nurses are all freaking out! It was a good a day!

This past weekend after football, and atending a high school play to see a kid that I know, from a different high school...my boss, Don, came over from St. Thomas. Don arrived on Sunday, in time to check him into his hotel, get lunch, and head to our first informational/possible committee/parent meeting. The meeting was at pastor Bob and Christi's house (once again, amazing blessing!!!) and I feel like it went really well. We got to explain YL to a handful of parents from a couple different schools. Actually, the dad of the kid in the play from the night before was at the meeting. Before he left, he told everyone how excited he was to have me in his son's life...the his son was intrigued by the way that I have fun and love Jesus! Also, he told the group how touched he was, that after the play I waited around for 3o minutes just to say hi to his son and give him a hug. What a huge thing for other parents to hear!!!

Anyway...so Don has been here until this afternoon. It was really great to have him here...we got a ton of work done in a few short days...including 63o a.m. prayer meeting this morning. Nothing like pulling a few 14 hour days in a row! Speaking of, I have the opportunity to give a Sex ED talk tomorrow morning at a high school. (different one...that makes 4 different schools i've mentioned in this post!) The only bad part is I have to be there by 7:45...yikes!

Thanks for being patient with my posts! I'll update pictures soon! God bless!

Photo Update....

2010-02-11T05:39:00.001-08:00

Pictures from my life!!!! So last Sat. night was the Walk-a-thon deal at a local high school...it was raising money to stop slavery in Haiti. I got to be a volunteer...and as I explained before, this means I was there all night! It was great time with highschool kids from a bunch of different schools from all over the area. Here are some photos!

This is a shot of the soccer field! Each "team" of kids had an area with tents...

This is one of my football players!!! I had no idea he would be there!

So around 2a.m. everything gets a little crazy...I ended up teaching a ridiculous dance to a bunch of high school student from the high school where YL is starting....this is a sweet shot of us doing the "star dance"....I'll explain it further some other time...

Now when I walk onto campus students I don't know come up to me to show me that they learned the "star dance"....which is amazing!!!

Rested after a big weekend!

2010-02-09T06:16:00.001-08:00

Good morning from San Juan! Yesterday was an incredible day of rest for me! I got to drive around and photograph a bit with a good friend of mine...which may not sound like rest, but is something that gives me life!

I had a huge weekend! Friday night I went to see a friend preach at the youth group of a local church in Caguas. It was incredible! It was all in spanish, but in an incredible act of the Spirit, I was able to understand everything that was said! So great!

Saturday we had our second football game, which we won! 12-0! I have practice today, and am going to run the boys...we need conditioning! Teams don't condition here like they do in the states, so if we can get them in better shape, we will have a huge advantage. After the game, I had the all night deal at the high school. It was intense, but really great! I litterally hung out with high school students from 4 different high schools that I have a connection with, from 6pm til 4:30am. One of my football players was there with his school group! It was really cool to get to sit on the soccer field with him and his friends from school and just hang out. Really great shared experience time of just sitting around and talking for hours on end! I am about to head to the high school right now...and am really excited to got to see some of the students that I hung out with Sat. night.

This morning I openned the scripture to Psalms...and this is where I will try to keep my mind today as I move through my day..."Teach me to do your will, for you are my God! Let your good Spirit lead me on level ground!" psalm 143:10.

I am constantly amazed at the gorgeous ways that God's hand is in every move that He allows me to make here. In expected and unplanned ways!

Feeling good

2010-02-04T07:54:00.000-08:00

Happy Thursday! Well, with this weekend bringing a 35-40 hour marathon of being awake and social...I have elected to take it easy today and tomorrow. Instead of going to the high school today, I took the morning to go running, work out, and get a bunch of much needed admin work done. Tomorrow will be super busy, and then Saturday, after our football game, I am a volunteer at an all night charity event hosted by a local high school! I am stoked to get to be a part of this deal, and hang out with high school students; however, it is going to be a long night! I think I have to check in by 5pm, and then I wont leave until after 6am on Sunday morning...yikes!!!

Anyway, yesterday, after pastor's prayer and leading a discussion on the radio here WBMJ...I met up with one of my friends who might also end up being a volunteer leader. Such a blessing to have friends! Later in the afternoon between other YL phone calls and work, I squeezed in the time to go into old san juan with a couple new artist friends. One of the friends is a painter, and needed to get some photo shots of the city for the painting she has been comminsioned to do. In the process of walking around and shooting, we ended up by one of the fishing docks where we met some of the local fisherman. I'm sure if it had been just me, the fishermen would have taken no notice, but since I was with two girls, we were invited down to the dock, and introduced around. One of the men really took interest in us and gave me his number so that we can call him next week and go out on the water with him. He is going to take us around the bay so that we can photograph the city from the water!

Anyway, off to meet with my committee chair here, and then see Mariella to pray and discuss life and ministry. Hope all is well in your world!

Running out the door...busy....

2010-02-03T05:48:00.000-08:00

Good morning! It's a sunny winter Wednesday in San Juan...meaning probly about 80 degrees already! Anyway, I am about to run out the door to get to the WBMJ radio station where we have our monthly ESPN (english speaking pastors network) prayer time, and discussion. This morning I am leading the discussion...yikes! I am piggy backing on the class I taught on Sunday morning...and bringing up different styles of evangelsim, so that as a collective ministry unit here on the island, we can begin a dialouge on how we can help each other over the next few weeks, months, and years here.

Yesterday was incredible! I got up at 4:30am to pick up Berto and go to Caguas for a prayer meeting at Iglesia Torre Fuerte. It was early for sure, but such a blessing. Obviously it was all in spanish, which I actually love! My spanish is getting better, and I am going to start doing roseta stone so that I can kick this habit of speaking English. After that I had a great time at the high school, and football practice. I am so blessed to be a part of these schools and team! It is getting overwhelming doing YL admin work, setting new meetings, looking for leaders, and doing this contact work....but I know there is purpose in it all!

Thank you for those of you who leave comments...it is really nice for me to know that you are following along with my life. I miss all of you a ton, and would love to share more details about what is happening here over personal email or phone calls...

Ok i'm off....pray for more leaders here...thank you!

Steelers win 27-0!!!

2010-01-31T20:16:00.000-08:00

So busy here...and so tired!!!

It's Sunday night around 11pm and I just got home. To back it up a bit, Friday night I spoke at Xrossroads, the youth group at Christian Community Church. They are doing a series on sex...so I spoke about a lot of the stuff I used to teach when I was a Sex-Ed teacher in Austin.

Saturday we had our first football game...and yes, we won!!! My boys are incredible! I am having the best time getting to know these guys and their families! We usually don't kick field goals or extra points in our division...but the boys I taught to long snap, hold, and kick went in during the game and made ever point we asked them to kick! (one field goal and three extra points!)

This morning I had to be at Christian Community Church at 7:30, to teach a class on relational evangelism. I spoke during both services...which turned out to be really great! I feel like God will use this for a lot of good. Also, I think I may have met some people who could be great volunteer YL leaders. Today and tonight I got to hang out with some friends from church and thier friends...such a blessing! I ended up at a fashion show on the beach, talking about art and ministry with incredible people! I am tired...but feel great!

Till tomorrow!

2010-01-29T19:24:00.000-08:00

Hello! So it has officially been three months since I got on the ground here!!! I promised that I would try to write on this blog at least four times a week...so here it goes.

To catch you up on what has been going on...I was in Georgia at on of our YL properties until the 12th when I came home to San Juan. Time at Winter training was amazing! I loved getting to be with my YL staff friends from all over the nation...and all over the world. While there I took a theology class...that now I have to write papers for...yikes!

This is a photo of me and my dear friend Fluffy, who is on staff in Tanzania...

Since coming home I volunteered to help out at the 2nd Union church youth retreat...which was camping on the beach. Though it rained...all but the last day, it was great time to be with kids...some of who go to the main high school I am working with here!

Here is a photo of me with the boys on the retreat during small group time....

I have been on the high school campus at least two days a week...and am now coaching american football! I am the recievers/backs/special teams coach for a group of 14 and 15 year old kids! We actually have our first game tomorrow!!! I'll let you know how it goes...hopefully I'll have some pictures of my team soon.

Tonight I spoke again at Xrossroads, the youth group at Christian Community Church...they are doing a sex series...so I took some of my well honed sex ed teaching skill from my old job with Austin Lifeguard and spoke tonight.

There is plenty more to catch you up on...but that will have to come with time...till tomorrow...

International Pre-Confrence

2010-01-04T12:57:00.000-08:00

Hello from incredibly cold Georgia. I am currently sitting amongst great friends from all over the world, who are part of Young Life International...yes, including you, Fluffy. This morning as I sat outside...before my pen froze (literally)...I was moved by how gorgeous the sunrise was, and the music of the running stream under the bridge I was sitting on.

I began to think about how incredible it is that the creator of the universe, is so huge, yet still knows me, and made me in his image....so I wrote this...

Lord, you set the boulders into place,
you made the mountains,
and yet you know my name...

You thought up clouds,
and how rain would fall,
and yet you know my name...

You thought up feathers,
and designed hollow bones for birds,
and yet you know my name....

You set apart the seasons,
and set the earth on its perfect tilt,
and yet you know my name....

You masterminded our redemption,
after the fall,
to Abraham,
to Moses,
to David,
to you Son,
and yet you know my name...

You see the acts of wickedness in my mind,
and the lusts of my heart,
and yet you call my name...

You know that I am selfish,
and that I desire to live for my name,
and yet you let me call on yours....

Merry Christmas!!!

2009-12-26T21:22:00.001-08:00

So it's Saturday night the 26th of December...I have not been posting for a couple of weeks, because my life has been overwhelmingly crazy! My last couple of days on the island were absolutely intense! I have been trying to get a registration dealy for my car...and it has been over the top difficult! Finally a couple of days ago my good, dear, amazing friend went and took care of it for me...thank the Lord in heaven! Plus just trying to get everything wrapped up for my absence is always hard.

I flew back to the states on the 17th of December, to Houston, where I got to see my parents and connect with some friends. The next morning I drove to Austin for the wedding of two of my best friends, Andy and Sarah Baxter. The whole wedding weekend was sooo good for me spiritually and emotionally...but sadly staying up for weeks before this kind of weekend is not good for me physically...so I got sick. Just so tired and miserable...but the show (life) must go on...so Sunday night I drove back to Houston...spent the night...and was at the airport by 6a.m. to fly to New Mexico to meet up with my Grandmother in Santa Fe.

The next morning she and I drove to Denver, where we met up with the rest of my family for the Christmas holiday. So as of right now I am in Denver. Christmas was amazing as always...great time with my family, including my 9 month old niece...she rules my world! I will be leaving here for Houston on Monday morning...from there I will be officiating a wedding on the 2nd of January, then jet setting to Georgia to meet up with other YL staffers on one of our camp properties...sharptop cove, for winter training. Then on the 12th of Jan. I will fly from Atlanta back to my home on the Isla.

I know that was a ton of info...but I always want to keep you posted....all my love!

Xrossroads Youth Group Talk

2009-12-10T06:59:00.000-08:00

Success!!! I finally figured out how to upload my talk...it is a "video" but not really...just a photo I took here along with the audio of my talk from last Friday night.

I hope you enjoy!

Youth Group Talk...and weekly update

2009-12-07T18:59:00.000-08:00

Friends and Family!!!

I hope you have had a great Monday! This past week and weekend have been a crazy blur of work and fun... I actually took yesterday and today off and tried to not check email, or do things that would take me away from relaxing. It was amazing! I had a friend in town from Texas, which turned out to be a huge blessing!!! I got to do tourist things and run around town like I was on vacation here...it was great!

Anyway, last week was huge! I got to spend a lot of time on the high school campus here! Tuesday and Thursday I went up to school and volunteered in the art room, helping to build lamps and doing fun art projects. Through this process I am getting to meet high school students of all different ages...it is great!!!

Wednesday, I went to the monthly pastor's radio prayer deal here...(see pics from last month on the previous blog entry)...then went to lunch with new friend who is very connected with the government and one of the local churches I am friends with. He told me that he and his family are excited for YL to be here, and if I need any help, that he would love to be there for me. It looks like YL may be able to get into another school here with his connections. Also, it looks like he may be able to connect me to some financial support in the near future!

Friday, I had the blessing of speaking at Xrossroads, the youth group at Christian Community Church in Guaynabo. It was incredible! I am working on finding a way to post the sound clip...I'll let you know when I do, and how to listen to it...if you so choose.

I hope you are having a great week!

Thanksgiving update...a couple days late...sorry....

2009-11-30T14:20:00.001-08:00

So last night I was driving back to my house...it was around 9pm...I had just spent the afternoon and evening with a group of friends out on the beach in Dorado, celebrating Andy's (a close friend) birthday. I had my windows down, and Bon Jovi cranked up...and at that moment, on a dark, potholed highway in Puerto Rico, I realized that this is home. That, even though its only been a few weeks, that I am still getting settled, and that I have only scratched the surface of what YL will look like here...at somepoint over the past couple of days, or weeks, this became my home. Then I spent the entire night and morning sick as a dog....haha...sucked!

Anyway, I haven't "blogged" lately, because I was super busy last week, and then believe it or not, I took a much needed personal day on Saturday and chilled out!

So last Thursday, thanksgiving, Don, my boss, came over from St. Thomas to spend a couple days with me. We went to have dinner at Pastor Zoba's house, with his family...it was such a blessing to be there, and be part of their family! After, Don and I spent the evening watching Texas beat the Aggies, and then met contacts, visited schools, and prayed together, over the next few days.

These past five weeks have flown by! I am looking forward to being stateside in a couple of weeks for Christmas and the wedding of two of my best friends; however, it will truly be difficult to leave the island and postpone the work that I am doing here.

Today was supposed to be the first day of my spending time as a YL leader on a high school campus...but since I was so sick this morning, I had to put it off until tomorrow. So, tomorrow will be the first day! It is really exciting for me to be back in the world of high school kids, doing all I can to show them the love of our one true God and father!

Pictures coming soon....

Big week 4 in PR!

2009-11-22T17:41:00.001-08:00

So on Tuesday of this week it will be four weeks that I have lived here...which is crazy! Some days it feels like I have been here for a day...others it feels like I have been here for three years. Anyway, to catch you up to speed on the past week...it was incredible!

Last Tuesday I had the big meeting at Baldwin School (an elite secular private school) to see about my access to the campus. Though it is a closed campus, YL was met with open doors and open arms! I am going to start volunteering in the art department and hopefully as an assistant coach...so I can get to meet students. This is a huge step for YL here!!!

Through the rest of the week, I got to continue training Mariela, and even met a friend of hers who may also be interested in being a YL volunteer leader. Last night I went to a Thanksgiving potluck dinner at a church here and was approached by a member who wants to talk about our finances, and ways that the church may be able to help! Please pray for this...it could be a huge blessing to me and YL.

Today I got to check out another church on the island and then go spend time with a group of friends from Christian Community Church. It is almost unbelieveable to me that after four short weeks, so much has happened and gotten done...and I have friends! Praise him!

There will be more pictures later this week....thank you for your love...give me a call this week...

YL leader roadtrip!!!

2009-11-15T15:26:00.001-08:00

Happy Sunday riends and family! Yesterday I needed to drive to the south side of the island to check out a camp property. There was a high school youth group retreat going on at the camp, which included the youth pastors from a couple local churches, my best friends on the island.

Mariela, my volunteer leader, tagged along to see the property and to get time to go over some of our training material. The good thing for me, was that after we checked out the camp and connected with the youth pastors, she (being a local) took me to a sweet beach on the south west corner of the island.

It was a full day, a great chance to get to know our newest YL volunteer better, and a good day to see more of my new home island.

My car (Rexy) on the road back to San Juan.

Me and Mariela on the road to Cabo Rojo.

Radio Show and First Training

2009-11-09T19:08:00.000-08:00

Hello All...

So a lot has been going on over the past couple of days!

Last week I got the opportunity to go on one of the Christian radio stations here, with some of the English speaking pastors from across the city. They go on the radio the first week of every month to record a thirty minute prayer session and a thirty minute discussion time.

There are even talks about the possibility of me having a weekly spot to talk about youth ministry...could be cool!

Also...BIG NEWS!!!!!....tonight I had my first official Young Life volunteer leader training with my new volunteer...Mariela Lajara. Mariela is an incredible woman of God, who has a heart for lost teenagers. We will be meeting and going through a Young Life training manual for the next couple of weeks. I are really excited t0 having a committed leader working with me here!

Please continue to pray for more leaders to be raised up all over the island.

All my love.

MHG

I guess I'm putting down roots!

2009-11-04T14:02:00.000-08:00

Well it finally happened! I bought a car!

He's not much to look at...and he may be the color "wine," but I think he's pretty great!

Who knew that after driving trucks for so long, I could own a car!

Seriously though, this car is perfect for what I'm doing...he has an incredible warranty, amazing gas milage, and I got a great deal! So thanks be to God!

Apartment Tour!!!

2009-11-02T15:00:00.001-08:00

Welcome to my home!

Here are a couple outside views from the gated patio...

Front Door...

Thats the kitchen....and there is my living room (same room)

Bedroom and closet...

Here is my sweet Bathroom!

The futon folds out...come visit!!! There is plenty of room!

Monday...no water...still no car...but internet in my apartment!!!

2009-11-02T14:44:00.000-08:00

Hello all!

So I woke up this morning and went to shower up and get my day started...but nothing came out of the shower...or sink.... Turns out a major water pipe broke and we will be out of water for a bit...the good new is, the property I live on has a water tank, so I can get water out of there to fill the toilet tank and thus, flush the toilet. Big plus!

Anyway, I had a great yesterday! I got to go to Christian Community Church down in Guaynabo, where I actually have some friends! There was a young adult hang out time after the service...which was great for me to get to connect with other people around my age. There is huge potential for ministry here within the college campuses, not just the high schools. I am really excited to go and spend time with some of these new friends around where they live and go to school.

Today, after continuing my car search, I had an incredible lunch with a friend who is a youth pastor in the area. We are both excited to work side by side in our different ministries...to live in community, encouraging each other, learning from each other, and most importantly showing kids God's love through our friendship.

Good stuff!!!

Happy Halloween!

2009-10-31T10:18:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends! So it is Halloween here...but the big costume parties were going on last night...no, sadly I did not partake this year. Anyway, you wouldn't really know that it's halloween today, because there are already Christmas decorations (lights, santas, fake snowmen, ect...) up all over the city! It's intense!

So yesterday I spent the day with my pastor friend again, going all over the island looking at cars... Seriously, all over! We drove around for hours, even made it down to Ponce, which is the big city on the south side of the island. I have not found a car yet...sad I know. But, yesterday was so fun! It is so good for me to be with my friend! He is such an amazing man of God and minister!

Oh...big news! I got to move into my apartment early!!! I moved in last night! I went to dinner with a friend of mine down here, and a high school student and got a call from my landlord that I could move in...so exciting! I unpacked my two bags last night, and am oficially a resident of San Juan!!!

I still don't have internet there...so right now I am at a Starbucks....I know lame...but three things that are a plus for Starbucks here:
1. Free Internet
2. Good Coffee (not puerto rican which is dumb...but still good)
3. Air Conditioning...big plus!!!

I am wearing a longhorn polo becuase its game day...so fellow horns be proud!

Anyway, thank you for praying! I will continue to look for a car today...and am going grocery shopping to stock my fridge. (by the way, this is the first time I've had my own fridge, and permanent residence in over a year!)

All my love!

Ps- forgot to mention I went stand up paddle boarding this morning, out on the lagoon...amazing!

Morning of Day 2...

2009-10-29T06:56:00.000-07:00

Good morning!!! It is a gorgeous day here in San Juan! (so the spell check isn't working right now...so I apologize for the misspellings...)

I sat outside for only a couple of minutes with my landlords this morning and was covered in sweat by the time I got into my rental car to come spend time in the Word and get some email work done....gross I know. Its hot here...

So yesterday after I updated the blog some absolutely incredible things happened. Let me backtrack a bit...

So the day before I left Texas, I was in a little coffee shop that I frequented over the past few months...there was a new woman working the counter...she saw my bible and asked me about it, and myself. I told her about Young Life and ministry and my big move. She responds with, "I lived in PR for a little while and you need to meet my Pastor there!" So immediately I'm thinking suuuuure, thats great...maybe I'll hear from these people again...but probably not...

Well I get an email from her less than a few hours later, giving me his name and phone number and telling me to call him...

So, yesterday after getting work done and dropping by a couple of churches down in Guaynabo I have some time before a meeting back in Condado, so I give this guy a call. Turns out I am right by his house...and he asks if he can take me out for authentic Puerto Rican coffee and pastries, which I obviously accept.

Turns out he is one of the most incredible men I have ever met! He gets relational outreach ministry better than anyone I know! He has been working here as a pastor for four years and in that time has built a church and built into the community. He knows everyone because he loves everyone like Christ loves. He plays baseball and basketball with teenagers and then through building relationships with them, introduces them to who Jesus is.

He has offered me so much help and acceptance that I am blown away! I am actually about to go meet up with him again, because he has been trying to find a car for me!

I am so blessed to know him, and begin to do life with him and his family! How great is our God that through a chance meeting and conversation in the back of the Woodlands, my life looks different here, and my ministry will be changed forever! Praise him!

Anyway, as if that could be topped...yesterday afternoon I met with a woman who is Puerto Rican born, and just moved back from New York. We were connected by a group of mutual-ish friends in NYC who know my friends who are on YL staff there. So she and I had talked about her desire to be involved through email...but I was blown away by the way her heart beats for ministry with students, and how she understands and is excited about Young Life! She loves her island and wants to see healing here...I will adore the time I get to spend with her.

There is a lot going on here already!!! Its a good time...

Til tomorrow...

Day 1....

2009-10-28T06:40:00.000-07:00

So...I'm here! I got in last night, and of course it was storming...the two bags I have got soaked, which is awesome. I got to go over to the house where I am staying for a bit to drop my stuff, then go visit and reconnect with some friends.

I am so happy to be here! I actually have a late lunch meeting today with a potential female leader! Just doing what I can...

Till later...

Deployment Day is here!!!

2009-10-27T09:21:00.001-07:00

Well friends...It is actually happening...

I am currently at the airport waiting on my plane to board. I would be lying if I said that this all felt a little fake...its just been a dream for so long, that it is hard to wrap my mind around. I left my house this morning with two large duffel bags containing everything I own in life that I need to move. (Well, besides my two long boards and a couple of books which are being shipped down in a week or so...)

Over the last two weeks I got to be with some of my best friends all over Texas and a couple of other states! It was a huge blessing...I feel like I am leaving well. If I didn't get to see you face to face to say goodbye I am sorry. I love all and I am so thankful for you! Thank you for your prayers and your support!!!

My phone is same for a while...same number. Please don't hesitate to call! The next couple days will be a bit business trip like...I don't actually move into my apartment until the 1st, so that gives me about 5 nights staying with my landlord and/or friends around the city. Regardless I will be "home".

Till tomorrow.

Deployment just around the corner!

2009-10-05T21:48:00.000-07:00

Hello Friends and Family!!!

So its really happening!!! I deploy officially on October 27th! I am flying out of Houston and landing in San Juan! I will be living in an apartment behind the house of a friend, in a neighborhood called Ocean Park...

The last trip down to PR was unreal! Over the past 4 or 5 trips to the island the Lord has blessed me with friends and contacts all over the city...each trip has brought new contacts and new opportunities. This past trip was the tipping point...I was introduced to school directors, pastors, families, possible leaders...it was unbelievable!

The work that I have gotten to do over the past year...with each trip to San Juan, set this up! Now, when I get back to San Juan (on Oct. 27th) I can start YL!

Don't get me wrong...there is still a ton of grass-roots background work to do...a ton of foundation laying, leader training, committee set up...but as for getting involved in the community...people are getting to know me and YL and are all around excited for the ministry.

As for my next couple of weeks, I am going to get to spend this next week on the road with my old college roommate, driving with him back from Indiana...then I will get to spend some time in Austin with dear friends. Next week I am blessed to get to tag along with one of my best friends on a couple of his speaking engagements as he travels around speaking about his new book.

I am so excited to get to be with friends and rest in my old community, before moving full time to the island.

Please don't hesitate to call...I'd love to catch up over the next couple of weeks.

All my love,

MHG

End of July Update!

2009-07-22T15:03:00.000-07:00

So first of all I need to apologize to all of my blog followers out there...all three of you...you know who you are, and sorry about my absence as of the past month or so.

I have been in the state of Texas...my former full time home. While here I have been in a couple of weddings (I was actually a bridesMAN in my best friend Jordan's wedding), been doing fundraising work, and working for Young Life. I was incredibly blessed to be flown up to Crooked Creek Ranch (one of our YL camps) to work as a head leader on property. I actually got to be with kids and leaders again! It's been over a year since I have done actual Young Life ministry...and not just fundraised for it.

As of today I am at a Starbucks in The Woodlands, Texas. Right now we are looking at only needing a couple thousand more dollars in pledges. This may sound like a lot...but when you divide it out into monthly pledges it is completely possible...even in today's economy.

I will be more intentional about updating this blog...

As of now, please continue to pray for Young Life Puerto Rico....pray for the last bit of funding...and for the actual move to go smoothly.

Thank you for everything.

All my love,
Golley

San Juan Day 6...

2009-05-25T19:43:00.001-07:00

Hello to all!

I don't have a lot of time to write, we are about to meet a friend out in Old San Juan...

Today was gorgeous! It finally stopped raining, and we got to feel a little sun on our faces!

Mark and I spent a lot of much needed time in the Word this morning, and later this afternoon. It is such a blessing for me to have him here to encourage and support me and this ministry! Between that we looked at some apartments, filmed another interview, and had an incredible hour or more of prayer, driving around in the rain (before it stopped) praying for different parts of the city.

Thank you for all of your support! Tomorrow will be a big day...my regional director is coming over to the island to meet with some of our contacts, with me. Also, we have three or four more interviews scheduled for the video, and some more apartments to look at.

I have so much peace about living here! I love it! I cannot wait to be back full time!

Till tomorrow!

San Juan Day 5!!!

2009-05-24T18:20:00.000-07:00

Happy Sunday!

Today was so tiring, but incredibly blessed!

We went to the Union Church this morning and ended up making some amazing contacts! I got to meet and talk to a couple families who have kids in the schools where we are praying to be allowed into.

After church, Mark and I went to lunch with Charlie, his darling wife, and Troy, a member of the church. (who also helps with their youth ministry) Apparently Troy knows everyone! Including Waylin Jennings...but that is a different story...

After our extended lunch, Mark and I went into Old San Juan to do a little exploring and filming, but we had no idea that God was going to introduce us to some great people! We were in a store and I began to talk to the owner....when he asked about what I do, I got to explain the ministry to him...he loved it! He began to talk about the huge need for people to go after the youth San Juan! He gave me his card and offered to help out with whatever I needed. So...I asked him if we could interview him on film about the need in San Juan for outreach ministry. He agreed and we got an amazing interview! Also, he gave us one of his albums...thats right he is a reggae musician. (we rocked out to his jams all the way home)

Since the first day I got here, I have been so blessed by the people here.

We enjoyed dinner down in Old San Juan, but when we were ready to leave, it took over an hour to get through the traffic caused by the Cruise ship traffic down town.

Its been a long day...a lot more walking...a lot of talking about Young Life...

My regional director comes over from St. Thomas tomorrow, and we have a ton of work and meetings to do tomorrow and Tuesday.

Until then!

All my love!

San Juan Dias 3 and 4! oops...

2009-05-23T16:27:00.001-07:00

For anyone following along daily...I'm sorry, totally slipped my mind to "blog" last night, still new at this.

Well, starting with yesterday, Mark got in fine...but in typical laid back island style...there were no rental cars available anywhere in San Juan yesterday! So instead of driving around, I had to cancel a meeting down in Caguas, and Mark and I walked around town. We looked at one of my maps and figured out that we walked a bit over eight miles through the course of day.

We got a lot of shooting done around Condado and Old San Juan. Luckily it didn't rain too much! Its been raining off and on here for the past couple of weeks, and this week was not supposed to be an exception to that.

Well, today we got our car! Finally!!! After picking it up, and a quick brunch...we spent the majority of the morning (and into the afternoon) shoot my interview for the video. You would think this would be quick and easy, but apparently I am not really that great at making serious videos that will be seen by potential donors around the world...It took me a lot of takes to say pretty simple stuff...oh well...we got it done!

We took the car out this afternoon and drove out east of the city to El Yunque, which is a national rainforest park. Our little Toyota Yaris made pretty easy work out of the mountain roads...sort of... Anyway, we got to shoot in the rainforest, which was incredible!!! We experienced some unbelieveable breathtaking views of the island!

This day has had three highlights, they are as follows:

1.) My good friend Lauren called on a teaching job I found for her down here, and she got it!!! With any luck she will be here in a couple months! I am stoked!!! Not only to have a friend, but to have community with another believer who I can possibly even use as a volunteer leader at some point!

2.) Mark and I hiked down into the rainforest and found a gorgeous waterfull and swimming hole! It was incredible!!!

3.) On the way back to San Juan, we decided to take a smaller highway that follows the coast...we had no idea that we were going to find a beautiful and relaxing beach! We swam in the ocean for the first time this week and watch the pelicans glide over our heads and dive for fish!

Truly a blessed day!!! Please pray for tomorrow...we are going to Charlie's church where I will get a chance to meet some families that go to both of the private schools where we are looking to start YL. Also, there are some members of the congregation who are on the school board there...which could be a huge advantage for us, and may make the difference in where we begin our ministry.

I love you all...thanks for reading...

San Juan Day 2!

2009-05-21T17:47:00.000-07:00

Good Evening!

So another day here, and the Puerto Rican hospitality has yet to fail!

This morning I was picked up by a guy named Carlos who has a couple properties in Hato Rey that I wanted to look at. We looked over the apt. and then he took me around the neighborhood to some local places I never could have found on my own! We went to a little bakery that makes amazing garlic bread.

I spent some time at a coffee shop, where I met some college students down from Oregon on a school credit trip. I am in awe of the way I get to share truth about Christ everytime I get asked about why I'm here, and what I do.

After walking around the Ocean Park neighborhood, I had lunch with Charlie Pridmore, the pastor of the Union International Church. Charlie and I talked about life, family, ministry, and our love for the Lord. Charlie is a huge blessing in the way he encourages our ministry, and in the fact that he has important contacts for me on the island. I am going to be going to his service on Sunday so that I can meet people who may be able to open doors for YL here.

This evening I was picked up by another islander apartment owner who drove me around to look at a couple of her properties. Once again I got to talk about my life, and the way that I love and am loved by Jesus.

When she dropped me off at my building, I was realizing how hungry I was, so I walked down the block to a local convenience store. The owner met me and after we talked for a little while, he made me a sandwich and sat with me while I ate. When I tried to pay, he wouldn't let me, he just shook my hand and told me that he was glad to know me and "good luck."

I am overwhelmed by the love here! I am excited to move here...scared yes...but very excited!

Mark gets here in a couple of hours...

Till tomorrow...

San Juan Trip Day 1!

2009-05-20T16:16:00.000-07:00

Hola! Day 1 for my week in San Juan, and it's not without its setbacks... I got here today and jumped in a cab to the rental car office. Now, I should give you a back story on my license...recently my drivers licensce expired, but I renewed it online. It's been over a month and I still don't have a new DL! I have a paper reciept saying I am legal, which works in the states, but apparently not in Puerto Rico!

PR is an amazing island, full of wonderul similarities and differences in the laws. For example, drinking and gambling age here is 18 (which should make high school ministry extra interesting), the speed limits are in MPH but distance is marked in KPH, and paper TX issued temp permits are not valid.

Anyway, so there I am sitting in the rental office, with no car, and no way to get to the condo I rented for the week. I was not really excited about my predicament, but God came through as always, and the warmth of the PR culture showed through. The rental car office manager offered to take me to my condo, and even though its out of his area, come pick me up on Friday when Mark gets here. So Mark will have to be my driver for the rest of the week...sorry Mark...(I haven't told him yet...and he might be reading this)

So I get to the condo, which is great, and then took a long walk around the area. I am in Miramar, a part of the city I am not very familiar with, but an area where I have been calling on apartments, so its good to get a firsthand look around...on foot.

I had an apointment to meet with a man and look at some places down in Hato Rey tomorrow morning, before my lunch with Charlie, which is about 15 minutes away. I called to cancel, because of the no car deal, but he offered to come pick me up! We are going to spend the morning together and then he is going to drop me off for my meeting, which is also not close. I am blown away by how caring and generous people have been!

Thank you all for praying for this trip! I will keep you updated on what God does here each day...

Please pray for opportunities with people here to share about the YL ministry, and more importantly about Christ.

Hope all is well with all of you! All my love!

First Blog...New Territory for me!

2009-05-18T11:54:00.000-07:00

Well, this is my first blog...as many of you know, I have been fundraising to start Young Life on the island of Puerto Rico. I have been working toward this goal for well over a year now, and it actually look like the deployment time may be drawing near.

For those of you who have been supporting me, I want to thank you with all of my heart! Thank you!

I am writing today from my parents house in The Woodlands, Texas. On Wednesday, I will be going down to the island to meets with people concerning the ministry, look for a place to live, and to make a video to raise awareness about the need for relational ministry in Puerto Rico.

It has not been an easy past year...but God has truly blessed me in ways that I could never have dreamed! Thank you for your prayer in my life, and for YLPR.