i feel it coming back again, like a rolling thunder chasing the wind...

sooner rather than later, i will be boarding that big jet plane to make my way back to the frontier, back to Alaska. its bittersweet, leaving one home to go to the next. i have a new chapter in life to look forward to, my girlfriend Jazmin and I are planning on getting married next June. i have something to work for, a place to prepare for us in Alaska, but nonetheless I will be working for God, preaching Christ and letting Him work through me. some awesome news, I got to baptize Jazmins uncle, Javier, last Sunday. its great for her to have another Christian in her family of Catholics, and next I think her mom's heart will be opened to the Word. Please pray for the lost here in Leon, Mexico. even though I will be leaving on Sept. 8, i will always be connected to the people here, not only through my girlfriend and future wife, but through Christ. God bless.

robbers

Hi everyone! Well I have some good news. The good news is that Jesus loves us. The bad news, some robbers broke into our apartment last Wednesday and stole 3 laptop computers (including mine), 2 digital cameras, and a wallet. Thankfully, no one got hurt because we werent home. So I have limited access to the internet right now, but im here in a cyber cafe typing this. This situation reminds me of 2 things, 1. how blessed we really are to be missionaries who have unlimited communication through the internet, and 2. how unimportant ¨stuff¨ really is. For example, right now because I have no computer, I am getting more time to spend reading the Bible and studying it. I have already learned so much more just from this time and I am enjoying the closeness that I have with God. So my encouragement to you is, forget the computer or the email or whatever ¨stuff¨ you have blocking your communication with God, and talk with Him for a while, or read his Word.

sad but true

I know that usually, missionaries put the success stories of the work on their blogs.... but the sad truth of the matter is that things dont always work out that great. Someone once said that "The life of a Christian isnt easier, it just isnt lonely" and also that "Christianity isnt a religion that gets you out of a bad situation, it just gets you through it." Today I went out to my friend Davids house, and got to visit with him, his mom Isabel (to the left), and his little sister Maribel. David is growing up in a house with no manly influence, and is confused about a lot of things, doesnt have a lot of motivation, and the motivation that he does have is for the wrong reasons. Maribel is either oblivious to the familys situation, or chooses to ignore it, as she often seems in her own little world. Isabel is the single mother who takes care of the family, but she just started working again after a long period of time not working at all. She had borrowed money from a money lending company here in Leon, but because she didnt pay back the money, they took away her stove. So when I was at her house, she explained to me that they are forced to buy food that you dont need to cook on a stove. I have to admit, ever since I have gotten here, her situation has gotten worse and worse. It breaks my heart to see it, but its the truth. The only thing that she really has in life is Jesus, and sometimes I'm not even sure if she realizes it, wants it, or care about it. Please pray for my friends, our brothers and sister in Christ, who dont have as good of a life as we do.