Life in the sand

As time is passing here at L.P (week four out of nine is over) I am learning a lot. I am coming to realize just how good we really have it. Working at McDonalds is a wonderfully humbling experience. It's a job that not many people would ever want to have, yet at the same time the only job many people do and ever will have. Also, the fact that almost nobody hear even knows what Auburn is humbles me greatly, strongly reinforcing my realization after first semester that it's not about being the perfect Auburn man; pursing the top SGA cabinet positions, the perfect fraternity or sorority, making the perfect grades, it's about being a man who is running with everything in his being after God, it's about straining to have more of him and less of myself.

One thing that goes hand in hand with this realization is my realization of who I feel like God has created me to be, living in him fully. Romans 11:29 says, "For the gifts and calling of God are irrevocable." To me, this means laying down my gifts of leadership, acceptance of new situations, people skills, service, laying them all down at his feet because I would not even have them without him so desiring me to. So, I've been asking, how? I know the answer. Missions. When I am in the mission field is when I feel the most complete. I am living at all times fully for Christ. I am starting to feel more and more that I am called to live my life as a missionary. I contacted MTW (missions to the word PCA organization) four days ago and have an interview today for an internship in Peru this next summer. It is all happening so quickly and smoothly it has to be providential. Today, I am fasting because it is a day of pagan festivals and worship in Peru. The MTW missionaries annually face spiritual attacks this day and while I am not in Peru with them, my heart is. So, as I go a mere 24 hours without food I can't help but think of Gideon, Rildo, Vlady, Erwin, Michael, Aldo, and all the other boys in Peru who went multiple days with nothing but glue to sniff for their "food" and it absolutely breaks my heart and makes me all the more motivated to return to Peru. I am hoping to be able to do so soon. So as the day go goes on, let my hunger be a constant reminder of the struggles of those in Peru today.

Updates from L.P. 2

Week two of working under the golden arches has officially ended. Today was a great day at work, one lady I work with named Kaitaria Rodreguez asked for a Bible this week and Phillip and myself purchased one for her and got to give it to her today. It was awesome. Today was exactly what I feel evangelism should be. I got to give her the Bible because we already have a good relationship from working 8 hours a day with her. When I gave her the bible she told me she had lost hers and really needed a new one because she was worried about her kids going to hell, (they are 3 and 5 and speak only Spanish right now) and that opened up a window and I got to share my testimony with her. We continued talking and God was definitely present, it was great. All glory be to God! That is how I believe evangelism should be handled. To be corny and quote wicked, "People come into our lives for a reason."

Today we are going and doing beach evangelism which I still don't completely know how I feel about it. Walking up to strangers and instantly striking up spiritual conversations, to me, just seems like it could be potential "Bible Beating." But, if God is present then of course it works! We are merely his mouthpiece but why can we not be his mouth piece to people in our lives now? Maybe some are called to this type of evangelism more than others? I think we are all called to different types of evangelism. We HAVE to plant the seed but nothing more. Praise be to God! Tonight is group date night two! We are pool hoping and serving a surprise dinner! Finally, after all of this we are SLEEPING! More updates to come!

Updates from L.P.

So, today is the first day since I have left that I have got to really have me time. Leadership Project is quite the experience. As I left Huntsville for my big adventure into South Carolina I had no idea what to expect.

After a pit stop in Greenville to stay the night and see the beautiful town there we left to head onwards to our final destination, Myrtle Beach. As we pulled in everyone was dressed up in tye-dye and screaming and jumping and blaring Christian rap music. My friends who really know me know I very rarely feel extremely intimidated or overwhelmed. Never have I ever felt so out of my element. At first, being the new guy from Alabama was hard. It felt like every single person here had at least three other best friends here with them that they were always with, luckily I had Suzanne and Laura but branching out was a necessity seeing as I can't spend all my time with them.

Thankfully the people here are welcoming and I've made some great friends already. My room is me and four other guys (Josh Austin, Vaughn Volious, Jason Brown, and Chris Yoos) and everyone in my room is awesome in different ways. As the first week went by the awkwardness died out and as more time went along I ended up with a mohawk.

But, all that aside I've learned some good lessons from being the new guy. Inclusion is Important. Making people feel like you really value them and actually taking the time to get to know them and to really actually value them is important. Everyone wants to be loved. A smile can do wonders, it really is a gift to whomever you smile at. That lesson proves itself true daily at work. I'm front line cashier at McDonalds while on Leadership Project and let me tell you, it is for sure harder than most assume.

And every night after work we have some sort of meeting (evangelism training, bible study training, prayer training, d-group, project meal, project social) so lots of being taught while here. It is helping me really form my opinions on a lot of things. All in all I am definitely glad I am here, I think everyone needs an experience like this at some point in their life. More updates to come!

Nerves

Tension crunches across my skin as the moment becomes truth,

every corner a hostile new sharp prick of apprehension.

Drawing closer the brittle tension smolders and melts into a liquid fear.

My body is fluid, lucid to the untrained eye, I leave no proof,

bubbles drift up and pop, twitches and nervous laughter for the oncoming collision.

Calming the surface again, with smiles and cool phrases, I feel it draw near.

Eruptions as the boiling point itself melts, the moment is now,

but, as the unknown becomes known the water dissipates.

Why the fear? Why the surprise? Why the rigidity every time?

To the unknown, to change we all unwillingly bow,

No training or smiles can mask the fear in which we participate.

Yet, that feeling of total discontrol is human emotion in its prime.

What you cling to in these moments reveals you as you,

your faith, your valued chosen, how you believe the world will turn,

the unknown moments are the testing pots in which we are truly identified.