Happy Anniversary!

I had to write about this to tell you all about how sweet my fiance is. The 24th of October 2007 is when we began to "date" or whatever you want to call it (its complicated haha). So our one year anniversary was yesterday, and Jazmin sent me these pictures she took. The first one is of the dinner she made us, with one place setting for her, the other one for me. Of course I couldnt be there so I allowed her little brother to eat my porcion. The second photo is of her with the meal she cooked. It still takes my breath away how beautiful she is... not to mention she looks amazing. Thats right, she has such a beautiful heart and personality, I have been truely blessed. So I just wanted to make this blog, even though she wont see it, to let her and you know how much I love her and appreciate what she does for me!

encontre algo!!!

Well to my surprise, I am already finding a Spanish ministry to work in here! I went to a gun show a week ago and was talking to a minister at the DeBarr Church of Christ in Anchorage, Alaska, about 40 miles south of where I am. He was talking about how on every Thursday he runs an emergency pantry where he gives out 6 bags of groceries to every family who needs them. He told me that most of the families are Spanish speaking and understand English but either arent able to communicate or are to shy to reply in English. So I volunteered to help him with that. I will at first be getting to know some of the families, then asking them about the Bible, offering to study with them, then possible a Sunday morning class, and then if the Lord wills that some of them be baptized, a Spanish congregation might need to be started! So please pray for this new ministry that I have become a part of here. The picture is of one of the ladies at the church getting some food for a family.

blogging while you work

Hey everyone. Im at the church office right now, on Thursdays I have a block from 9am to about 2 pm, and so I have decided to put up a little message while Im here studying and answering the phone. Im reading a book right now called "Our God is Awesome" by Tony Evans. In the first chapter he is talking about how much time we choose to spend in school, anywhere from 12-18 years, and says "If we are willing to spend that kind of energy to have a decent career, isnt it more important that you spend time knowing God so you can have a decent life?" Although I am by no means against schooling and having a career, and am actually planning on getting some higher learning myself, I do think that we need to be aware of how much time we are spending on the "study of God" in our own lives. Its easy to lose sight of God when we are studying and working so hard that we have no time to study the One who made us and has given us the ability to have a job. I hope that encourages someone out there to spend some more time in the Word, some more time talking w/ God, and more time worshipping Him. Because when we begin to see God for who He is, we begin to see ourselves for who we are, and the more we understand who we are, the more we understand how much we NEED Him.

family time

I love Alaska and just the whole lifestyle which is the norm here. This weekend we went blueberry picking up at Hatchers Pass to try and find some of the last "trophy" size berries of the season. While we were up there, it began to snow and I realized I was watching two seasons at once, down in the valley it was still autumn w/ the leaves yellow and orange, but up in the mountains it was already winter! I cant wait until Jazmin is up here and is able to experience all of these things, I cant help but think that her relationship with God will grow just from seeing a change of scenery for once!! Just a little update, I am now working part time at my congregation here, I am taking two sunset classes, preaching and teaching when I have the chance, and mainly doing visits with different people from the church and also with the lost. In the early mornings (1a.m. to 5:30a.m.) I deliver the local newspaper, and this is only 3 times a week. My ministry at the church here isnt really a "job" per say, but more of my passion and my life. My job with the paper allows me to be able to preach and serve the Lord full time. Isnt it great how the Lord provides? I know that I will need more money come next June after the wedding, but im in a safe, comfortable place right now and for that I am thankful. I love you all and God bless - Ben

good to be home

hey everyone, sorry its been a while since i have posted. i made it back safely to Alaska and its been really nice to be in one place, where i know i will stay for more than a few weeks, months, or years. i can finally "settle down" for a while and start planning my life with Jazmin here, according to Gods will of course. so basically i am working at the Valley Church of Christ, its the congregation that i grew up in and im really excited to start my ministry here. the body is loving and very tight knit but i know that there is always room to grow in Christ and hone our abilities and gifts that are given to us by God. not only is the church body here of a good size already, but there are still so many people here in Alaska who are yet to know about Jesus! we are one of the most unchurched states in the Union, so that is a task in itself. i cant wait to see what kind of fruit God starts producing here. i will keep updating as more things start to happen, but right now im just taking it easy. love you all and God bless - Ben

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.