06.24.08
Desert Heat
This past weekend, Katie and I took a trip to Palm Springs. I had never been there and although I had a head knowledge that it was in the desert, I did not really understand what that meant until we got there. Palm Springs is in the desert! Sand, dirt, hot as blazes… I am still somewhat baffled at how Palm Springs even came into existence? I cannot imagine why someone would want to live there but it must have a draw for desert lovers and heat seekers…or golfers. I will have to Wikipedia that one tomorrow.
Anyway, we wanted to go hiking on Mount San Jacinto State Park. To get there, we rode a totally sweet action cable car up the mountain! I do not remember the elevation at the base station but you travel up about 5000-6000 feet in elevation in a giant rotating cable car! It was amazing! The car could hold up to 80 people and I must admit that on the journey up, I freaked myself out a little when I thought about how much weight was being held up by a cable I could wrap my hands around! YIKES!! The top station is around 8500 ft I think and it is about 30 degrees cooler at the top (it was mid 70s at the top so what does that tell you about the desert floor?!?) There were lots of trails and we hiked for several hours and it was super. I highly recommend it. Below are some photos from the day. You can appreciate the view from the top and get and idea of the cable car route.
By the way, when we got back to the car (which had been sitting out in the parking lot working on its tan this whole time) there were two plastic coffee cups in the front that were melted! Craziness!
Palm Springs and Coachella Valley from Mount San Jacinto
Other side of the mountain
Palm Springs Aerial Tramway
Mount San Jacinto
Agua Limpia para Managua!
If you keep up with this blog, you will have known that I went to Nicaragua twice on short-term mission trips with my church in Virginia. I worked as a driller on both occassions, part of a team operating a small mud rotary drill and we drilled wells for two villages that did not have access to clean water.
The church has sent another team to Nicaragua drilling and doing community health evangelism. I must say I am quite jealous and when a friend texted me with some old drill slang like “rawhide the bore-hole” I felt a pang of sentimentality. Nicaragua will always hold a warm place in my heart 
Anyway, I have a number of great friends on the team and they are doing great work outside Managua, Nicaragua. If you want to keep up on the action, the team blog is HERE!
06.13.08
David Brainerd
Many of you familiar with mission or Christian circles will be familiar with David Brainerd. He was one of the first American cross-cultural missionaries, going to the Native Americans in the 1740s. His journals and memoirs were published by his also well-known friend Jonathan Edwards. His journals are amazing to read as you join with him in his efforts to spread the Gospel amongst the unreached Native Americans all whilst struggling with and eventually dying from tuberculosis.
Anyway, on a continuation from my post about missionary blogs, David Brainerd’s Blog is a great find put together by a Canadian woman who has written Brainerd’s journal entries in blog format. It is really neat to read!
Missionary Blogs
On this blog I write frequently about my experiences on short-term mission trips as well as my long-term desire to serve the Lord overseas. Not only do I enjoy sharing this passion with you but I also enjoy reading other blogs written by missionaries and missions minded people. It is so encouraging and challenging to read about how God is working all over the world and how He uses men and women devoted to Him to do His work. I am fond of a site called Missionary Blogs. It is basically a directory of blogs from missionaries from all over the world and it is excellent for browsing for the reasons above. Please check it out and see what God is up to in other places!
Also, you will notice a selection of Missionary Blogs on the sidebar. These are friends of mine who are serving the Lord overseas so go ahead and check those out too!
How, then, can they call on the one they have not believed in? And how can they believe in the one of whom they have not heard? And how can they hear without someone preaching to them? And how can they preach unless they are sent? As it is written, “How beautiful are the feet of those who bring good news!” – Romans 10:14-15
06.05.08
Eurovision
For those uninitiated in Eurovision, below are some links to videos so you can catch a flavour of the monster sweet action! I am including below some pre-show commentary based on early video releases provided by my bro Adam. His astute and scintilating observations I’m sure will captivate you!
Spain …un-freakin-belieavble
Russia the 2008 winner…political voting baby!
Greece …apparently an American?
Ireland …my personal fave but unfortunately did not make it to the final. That’s right…it is a turkey puppet.
France …I love the bearded back-up singers
Bosnia & Herzegovina ..what the heck?
Adam’s Comments:
Bosnia & Herzegovina: “No description of this performance can ever do it justice. At no point did I feel comfortable watching as the freakish pantomime unfolded in front of me. Reminiscent of an incredibly terrifying drug trip, performer and songwriter Elvir Lakovic Laka obviously draws his/her influences from heroin. I remain uncertain if Elvir is the man or the woman.”
France: “Next in line is Sécastien Tellier of France. This singer/songwriter kicks off the song with some rad synthesizer and some heavily chorused “bop-she-bopbops”. Obviously with nowhere for his musical idea to develop, this filthy French Beegee breaks it down near the end to almost nothing for a few heart-stopping seconds, to rock back in with the synth. This man is truly a marvel.”
Ireland: “I can only pray that they make it into the finals, as this is probably the most hilarious act I have ever seen. Dustin the Turkey presents his priority track “Irlande Duze Pointe”. This EuroVision satire is in everyway pure genius. Beginning with the European folk music, over which the bird puppet sings “Oh I come from a nation what knows how to write a song,” straight into the techno dance beats. It would be a crime for Ireland to be denied a performance.”
Spain: “His name is Rodolfo Chikilicuatre. I only wish my knowledge of Spanish was adequate enough for me to understand his lyrics. Rodolfo, following up Spain’s two-year running Euro “champs” Las Ketchup, brings us his original track, “Baila El Chiki Chiki”. For some reason I was reminded of “Ooh, cheeky cheeky!” from the Cheeky Girls, but on a new plain [sic] of incredible…ness… You will be pleased to hear that Spain is through to the final so we can look forward to seeing Rodolfo perform live in May!”
Back from England
Katie and I got back last week from England where we were visitng my family. Her sister came up from France to be with us and Aaron and Jo came from Scotland so it was a big crazy time! We visited some fun places and had a lot of great family time. By a stroke of crazy awesome luck, we happened to be there during the annual Eurovision Song Contest and got to soak up all the delectable Euro music. Oh how I miss it! Another cool highlight was the visit to the Prime Meridian in Greenwich. Also found out that my folks will be moving to Virginia to where I living up to a few months ago! Crazy! I am excited to have them on my side of the ocean for a change. Below are some choice photos. For more photos, check out Katie’s blog.
Stuffs Happening in SoCal
Wow, a lot has been going on and I haven’t posted in a beats long time! Things are great and Katie and I are enjoying the time here in California while the Lord has us here. Some highlights over the past couple months:
Baptism – I was baptized on 4 May in a sweet outdoor service at church. I was baptised as an infant but had been thinking and praying about being baptized now as an adult and a believer. It was a struggle with my own pride and in the end I just submitted in obedience to Christ and I am so happy to have been able to demonstrate my love and obedience to Jesus in that way!
Great growth in the Lord and enjoyment of my new church family – church missionary group and SIM prayer meetings are a big encouragement to both Katie and myself as we continue to pursue the Lord in this direction; fun and craziness helping out with the Junior High group at church; online theological courses; new service opportunities with a ministry to international students; new friends
Sweet trips and local adventures – Oregon to visit Katie’s family; Ensenada, Mexico; hiking all around SoCal; visiting old Spanish missions; England to visit my family (see other post); the beach; kayaking and lots of other fun times
I have posted a few photos below as a visual summary of the sweet action! My blog is way outdated and I realize if I just wrote more frequently my posts could be shorter and easier to write…lets see if I can do it!
The LORD is my strength and my song; he has become my salvation. He is my God, and I will praise him, my father’s God, and I will exalt him. – Exodus 15:2
