ROAD TRIP CONCLUSION !

WESTERN NEW YORK
WEATHER:    COLD, COLORFUL

It was hard to leave the Dewittville, Bemus Point & Jamestown area.  Seems like every where i go i begin to attach myself to my surroundings.  I don't know if it was the people that made it hard for me to leave, the atmosphere or maybe just the area itself that made it difficult.  Loved it !

PORT HURON, MI
WEATHER:   COLD, RAINY

Great place to live and good people to live with.  My time there was with a good friend Ryan Dankenbring and all the people he's affiliated with up there.  I got to help out with a few projects like cooking, cleaning, car maintenance and a bit yard work.  Ryan and I have always Challenged ourselves when we get together.  Thanks Ryan & Euphoria.

Elk Rapids, MI
WEATHER:   ICE BALLS FALLING FROM THE SKY
OH BOB,
Bob came and stayed with me when i was in India.  He stayed for about 2 weeks working in several different ministry's.  While in India we had amazing conversation early in the morning over fresh "crushed" coffee.  Bob's visit encouraged me to give him  a visit.  While with Bob i was stretched in many different area's of my life.  It was a refreshing time with Bob and even though we didn't get many early morning coffee conversations we managed, i think one of the phrases were "an all day interactive bible study"  Thanks Bob. 
Also, Special thanks to everybody who helped me when i was down and out with my car troubles. 

Grand Rapids, MI
WEATHER:  COLD, WINDY
While in Grand Rapids i got to visit a friend of the family that had visited South Alabama a time (or 2). She did a show in our backyard (which was great by the way.)  Now she's marry to a nice guy, that's right Alex your alright.  My next stop was just 20 min east to the Barnett's place.  Liz Barnett was female staff chaplain and co CIT (Counselor In Training.) director. We had one last project to work on to call the summer complete.  One of the assignment we had was for the CIT's to write out there Testimonies.  Just about 2 months later we sent letters to them encouraging them and reminding them of the Power of G-d working in there life.  Thanks Barnett family and Hosts : )

Williamsburge, IA
WEATHER:  SNOW, SNOW, & MORE SNOW.  3 FT OF SNOW (I've got pictures)
Oh the Family
So i got a few distant cousin that live WAY UP IN IOWA and sense i was a VERY YOUNG LAD last i visited Iowa, i figured it was time.  It was good spending time with them in Iowa, could've done without the snow but.......

Kansas City, MO
WEATHER:    not as COLD,  WINDY
IHOP....   no not International House of Pancakes but Prayer. 1999 the prayer room was opened and started a 24/7 Prayer and worship and has continued ever sense.  It was great to be in the presents of some many believers committed to prayer.  The spiritual vibes there were so real, i mean when you walk in the building the whole atmosphere changes.  If you haven't been i encourage you to check it out.  IHOP.org

Springs, TX
WEATHER:   HOT, LIKE SUMMER HOT : )

 Thank you G-d for the heat and boy was it hot.  Being in Texas was a good time for me.  I was able to hangout with a good friend and his lovely wife.  I got to go and see what the did and see just how hard they actually work.  Andrew & I met many years back but weren't really living right.  Years later we meet Jesus and start hanging out together.  It has been a Great friendship, i owe much to him,
(My own personal sharping stone)

True Worth
I spent about a month and a week on the road and Boiiiii  was it AMAZING !!!
VALUE was "the biggest" thing i learned on this journey.  The moment we Understand our own value, our Worth in Yahweh's eyes, a new door is opened in our lives.
Experience your true Worth !  
What i learned i will remember for ever and it's even safe to say I will be practicing it for a life time.
Jay-Ma-See   

Where ever the "πνεῦμα" blows

Before i  left New York a friend of mine said to me,  " You just move around with the wind."     

I told her about this song but she had never heard it before.  

 I love it and yea it 's probably got something to do

 with the fact that is does kinda talk a bit about my life.  

 Native Indians believed that the wind were like spirits some even said that "The Great Spirits" voice was carried by the wind.  So many other religions and different belief systems have quotes, poems, songs, dances about the wind and the power of it.  In the bible it talks of wind 123ish times.  Like Natural winds, Satanic wind, Prophecy in wind.

    I like John 3:8 "The wind blows where it wishes and you hear the sound of it, but do not know where it comes from and where it is going; So it is with everyone born of the Spirit.” 

                      HUMMMMM  that's interesting.  

NOMAD (A member of a people who have no permanent home but move about according to the seasons, a wonder.)

Pretty interesting definition, think i might can relate.

To me the term Nomad it used for those who like to travel from place to place, roaming if you will. Having only a destination in mind but letting the journey be a mystery, "an adventure !" From my experience, IT'S GREAT! Sometimes can be a little lonely in long distance travel which in turn can make it a little scary cause every hitchhiker you see you wanna pick up, unless your the hitchhiker.

It didn't always use to be like that, just traveling around. The Nomadic people got there name from traveling yes but not just for traveling but for the lifestyle they lived. They traveled looking for land for there animals to feed, to trade merchandise, to work, farm, make a living of some kind. There's an estimated 35ish million in the world still today that live like this, mostly in other countries of course. None of this sort live in the us. So the AMERICA NOMAD just goes from place to place trying to find a place to stay and food to eat. Mostly using as little as possible for survival. Like i said it's an adventure.

I mean i help out and have somewhat worked in each place I've been to, so i guess that makes me a traditional Nomad as well as a modern day Nomad,     sweet. Haven't sold anything yet, i keep giving stuff away if that counts.
Tried selling a few animal crackers but that didn't work out so well, Taste pretty good though.

ROAD TRIP

View Driving directions to 218w Violet Ave. Foley Al 36535 in a larger map

Road Trip

Well now i'm in Alto Michigan, which is 20 min's out of Grand Rapids. I'm here visiting a Co-worker and her family. Pulled up to a huge bonfire so i knew things were getting kicked off on the right foot. We worked at camp MM together as Staff Chaplain's and CIT Directors. We have a little project just not quite done with yet. Also it's was a pretty good stopping point to Iowa. I will be leaving tomorrow to head to Iowa to see some family for a day or so.
The weather has been really good (considering i'm in the North). So far the Snow has held back and if it could hold back a little long that would be GREAT. Oh and in IOWA !

G........SUS

New York (Western)

Ok so i learned that when your talking bout NY you have to be pretty specific about what part of NY your talking about. I was in the "Western New York", so every time i said NY i had to say Western first. I had a great time while there and was even able to bring a few friends up with me.

Tom, Dillon, Jesse, Me

Tom is a good friend that worked with us that summer. Dillon, Jesse, and I drove up the first week of May, Dillon left 1/2 way through, Jesse finished the summer and whet home and I well i left October 16th (3 days ago). My Job there was to help CO-Lead the Counselors in Training (C.I.Ts) program as well as the Staff Chaplain for the male staff members, what an experience. I learned a ton and hopefully helped with a few learn as well. What i love about being put in a position that's new is the chance that I get to grow and learn new things. I find out what i'm good at and areas that need a little attention.

My job didn't let me be to involved directly with the kids but it was good to be able to hang out with them in my free time. For the Staff that i was able to connect with, we had a really good time.

Peace & Love

ISRAEL

So where i worked this summer there is this unique place just across the lake called The Chautauqua Institution. Now the place itself is rather interesting but I'm not gonna share about the place but about a place that's just inside the gates. They have a Walk through style replica of Israel, Amazing place. I've never been to Israel and being able to go out and walk around was amazing.
I've never been to Israel(yet)but man this was a great experience to have had.

It started with Kayaking for about half an hour across the lake (praying it wasn't windy) resting for a min so you can feel your arms again.

There's a little metal plaque right when you walk up that explains what's it's all about and little history nugget.

Here just a few of the "Mini Cities" that were there.

I'll see if i can put a Video of it up.

The Nazarite Vow

In my times of reading and studying the bible, a greater understanding of what it means and what i am to do comes out. New ideas and view points come from within the pages, a desire to learn and grow more. A while back a fellow student of mine, a (ywammer)took a Nazarite Vow, VERY INTERESTING I THOUGHT. Didn't do much studing into it but had mad respect for him. He couldn't shave and had to eat curtain things, Crazy right.
A few years ago by and more reading takes place and BAM there it is. I find myself reading more about it, then do a little study, intriguing stuff. About a year goes by and much thought goes into this "NAZARITE VOW" and i thought to myself, "wonder what that would be like?"

In the Bible, a Nazarite refers to a person (man or woman) who takes a vow,(Numbers 6:1-21.) The word "Nazirite" is from the Hebrew word nazir (נזיר) meaning "consecrated" or "separated".

This vow requires you to:
Abstain from wine, vinegar, grapes, raisins, liquors.
Not to cut the hair on your head
And to Avoid corpses and graves, even those of family members.



So here i am on the road to separation, a consecration to the Lord. I started about a week and a half back and so far i am in Love with the idea. Everything i do i'm reminded of why i'm doin it. What i eat, who i'm with, where i am, even how i look. The minimum for a Nazarite vow it 30 - 100 days HUH? I wonder how Long this will be ?



Agape & Shalom
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Tzitzit

Numbers 15:37-41
37And the LORD spake unto Moses, saying,

38Speak unto the children of Israel, and bid them that they make them fringes in the borders of their garments throughout their generations, and that they put upon the fringe of the borders a ribband of blue:

39And it shall be unto you for a fringe, that ye may look upon it, and remember all the commandments of the LORD, and do them ; and that ye seek not after your own heart and your own eyes, after which ye use to go a whoring:

40That ye may remember, and do all my commandments, and be holy unto your G-d.

41I am the LORD your G-d, which brought you out of the land of Egypt, to be your G-d: I am the LORD your G-d.


For awhile now I've read about and studied the Art of the Tzitzit (Tassels or Fringes)the meaning behind them and the reason for them. Wow what an eye opener.
I lived in India for a while, made me some Tzitzit and wore them around "as a reminder" it was harder then i thought. I was constantly being reminded of G-d and His ways. How He wants me to live and how i was Actually living.
Everything i did i was being reminded. As i walked, as i sat down, a slight glimpse of the Tzitzit out the corner of my eye, a brush against my hand. WHAT A REMINDER. I begun to be convicted of how i was living. Don't get me wrong I don't speak of conviction in a bad way. I speak of conviction in a way for us to learn and to grow, but this was constant. I wore them for a little over 3 months then "had to" take them off.
You know it's easy to try to be that "Christian" with a shirt that has some catchy Jesus phrase or a bumper sticker talking about Christ but when that stuff's not around are you the same?

I started wearing Tzitzit again and have had them a little over a week now. This time with a little more understanding of who i am and who "I Am" is. It's nice to be reminded of who you are and who He is. Of what He has done for you and what you can do for him. As well it opens the eyes of others to G-ds word through you, good witnessing tool.


Shalom & Agape

OH CANADA OH CANADA ; )

  Well after much complaints to the company and Blogger people, the Blog is back up and running.  I'm not sure what happen but nothing was working.  I wrote blog after blog and it wouldn't save, post NOTHING. 
      So it's our third day here in Toronto.  Haven't seen any moose, snow, mounties, igloos, dog sleds, polor bears, canadian geese (only regular geese) Drank some Dry the other day, see they don't call it Canadian dry ONLY DRY !!! 

   What i'm getting at is all the crazy little things and ideas that i had before coming here have been completly changed. Oh Canada.  

Summer Camp here we are

Well it's been about, no it has been exactly 2 months sense i've posted. I'm now in New York working at Mission Meadows summer camp. Many events have taken place in my life prior to returning to New York, Trials that only show me how to persevere and to be faithful with where God has me.

Contagious

~ JOY~

Man these last few days have been great. I feel good and have an overwhelming joy inside that's hard to control at times. I'm not sure if my body is blocking the fact that i'm leaving a place that i have called home for nearly a year or what. I just know a week after i leave i'm going to be dying to come back. I've noticed my pace while walking has slowed down, i'm not in a hurry all the time and i can just sit and smile. SO back to joy. I sit i smile someone walks by they smile, WOW.

Think about it when your upset you carry that vibe with you to everyone you meet and works the same with Joy. Ever been with a group of friends, happy and having fun then one person walks up "mad at the world" and COMPLETELY changed the feeling of the group.

Well maybe it's just me.

Next time your feeling Joyful, Happy or just in a good mood try sharing it, YOU MIGHT LIKE IT.

Peace & Love

COUNT DOWN BEGINS

20 days then a long flight to a land of "comfort"

People have asked

"What's the first thing you gonna do when you get back?"

Well sense there will still be snow on the ground i'm just gonna try and stay warm the first few days. :)

New year so far

WOW 2011

I know I know i can't believe it either. To me it seemed like 2010 FLEW by, a year in a place where you don't anybody, every things different, smells, sights, sounds, EVERYTHING. At first it seems very slow being here but the longer you stay the faster it flys by. With my departure date getting closer and closer i'm feeling pulled from 2 angles. One, my love for being here, I know i gonna miss this place too much but the other is returning home to see my friends and family.

I've experienced many new things while being here and have been able to share a few of my own. Eating pumpkin doesn't seem that bizarre but seriously how many time have you been out to the Field and picked a pumpkin, peeled it, Boiled it and started eating? That's what i thought. Baking the seeds is what we did growing up but not here, we just eat the whole dang thing.

In Alabama we have Elephant ears and never once have i ever thought of eating them but here, no hesitation. All cauliflower is edible if you cut it into tiny pieces and put many spices in the mix.

Growing up in an Area were Hurricanes are seasonal, learning to sleep through them became normal. Seeing how and were people sleep here it almost makes it unbelievable, I thought i could sleep through anything.

This is where i spent most of my time

while here, yep at ah train station. Known for being the busiest train station in the world and largest in India. Not only a train station, for some it's a home, a getaway, a hangout and for some it's the only thing they got. There's not many trains in south Alabama so this was all new for me. I've been here before but wasn't really able to see what really goes on until i was able to spend some time there. One of the most dangerous places in this city becomes a safe haven for young boys that are rejected, thrown out or just put out for the day, by their parents, if they have any.

The bridge is a famous symbol of Kolkata and West Begal. It's a very unique designed bridge and the finest of it's kind in the world. Finished in 1943 with an over all cost of 25 million Rupees. This eight-lane , 26,500 metric ton high - tensile steel bridge carries approximately 80,000 vehicles, more than 1,000,000 walkers and somewhere around a thousands or so cattle every day.

We spend many days crossing this same bridge, seeing the same children and family's in the station. IT'S TIME FOR A CHANGE !

Peace & Love