One Year Today

Exactly one year ago today I arrived in Manaus. It has been an amazing time for me. I have enjoyed it to the fullest. There have been rough moments and wild adventures but through it all I have grown and learned so much. Ministry is my life and my life is ministry. I love being a missionary and being on the mission field. I am up to anything God has for me. This year down here has been very special to me because it's the year that changed my life. God has given me a wife. We will be getting married July 15th. I am very excited about it. God's timing in it all is perfect.

wedding

Getting real close to my wedding day. It's all happenin' July 15th. Really looking forward to it. It's been amazing how God has been providing so far for everything. I've come to a huge realization first hand that weddings are not cheap. Even in third world countries. But God sees our needs and has been providing. Sometimes I get nervous because it's so close but then I let God worry about it for me. He'll take care of it. God is good.

Youth

The youth ministry here is not easy. Well, I don't think it's easy anywhere. But sometimes I feel like we're not going forward. Like we're just maintaining what we got and not expanding and reaching new levels. But I was encouraged recently by the youth camp. We had such a great time. I was able to see the youth go to a new level with God. I was encouraged to see them worshipping and surrending to God. Intimacy with God is where it all starts. I also realized that God is the one in charge. He is the only one that can change people. He is the only one that can heal their hurts and the only one that can make them draw closer to Himself. All I need to do is be obedient to what he would have me do. I thank God for the youth here. They have encouraged me without them knowing it.

God is Good

I don't even know how to start. God has just been doing amazing things in my life lately. I've have been blessed with more support. I don't deserve it. I didn't ask for it. God just blessed me with it. Then today I received some great news. I've been praying about going to States and my ticket has been paid for. God is awesome. I can see God's hand in it all. I can see His grace being poured out to me. All I can do is serve Him more and continue to give my life completely to Him.

Focus

Every day life seems to pick up its pace. I tend to get busier and do more things during a day. Life is just getting more hectic with more things to do and more things to distract me. I work in ministry full time. The same thing can happen in the church. I tend to get busy with a lot of stuff. Do this, do that, plan this plan, plan that; work in the office all day long. I can do all these things and call it ministry, but where's my focus. Sometimes I need to remember the basics. What's ministry? What does it mean to work for God? When things seem to be overwhelming me I need to keep my focus. It's not what I do, it's about people. There are lives that God wants to change. There are lives that God wants to touch. There are people that God wants as His children. And my focus should be on God, to listen to what He is saying. To listen to the Holy Spirit when He is telling me to go talk to somebody in need. To be available for God's use.

First Time

This past Saturday I spoke at the youth service for the first time since I've been down here. At first I was a little nervous but it was great. The whole service was great. I've been enjoying it very much working with the youth here at HPC Manaus. They are awesome people and are hungry for God. I'm not all the way brazilian so I thought it would be hard for them to see me as one of them. But thank God I've built relationships with them and some of them have I've become good friends with. There's not too much difference between the youth here and the youth in the states. Well, in terms of material goods, there is a big difference, but in terms of emotional and spiritual needs, it's all the same. Inspite of their difficulties, they love God and seek to know Him more.

dry dry dry

It's hard to believe that the amazon river is going throuhg a dry spell. But it is. A lot of lakes are drying up and a lot of fish are dieing. My parents just got back from a trip to the interior. It was great. Some communities in the region are running out of food because the rivers and lakes are so low. The fish are dieing and the water is being contaminated. The people that live in these areas depend on the fish and water from these lakes and rivers. A few years back, God put it on my dad's heart to start digging wells in the communities we've been working with. Now that this dry season is here, these wells have saved a lot of people from contaminated water. There are still many more that can be dug but the people that have them, are very greatful for the hard work that my dad has put into digging the wells.

Tough times

Tough times build character. Lately I've been going through some pretty rough waters. It hasn't been easy nor enjoyable. I can look at it from a human standpoint and say my life is just bad right now. Or I can see it through God's eyes and see that in the end I will be closer to God. In the end of this season I will overcome and be victorious and my walk with God will be stronger through it all. It's not easy, it's not fun, but if I put my hope in the Lord, He will renew my strength. In every situation I go through I try to see what God is teaching me through it. Sometimes we only learn something about God, going through a hard situation. Through it all, God is glorified.

Mr. Dan Ohlerking

I've never had a blog before. Had never really seen one till recently. But it's a great way to keep in touch. Mr. Dan is just an awesome friend. I coached his son in soccer and got to know him a little bit. He has a servant's heart and is a great person to talk to. He's always there when I need help, and even though I'm a few thousand miles away, he makes me feel like I'm part of the great HPC family. Thanks man. You've made a bigger impact in my life than you think.