Stop 40 - Houston, Texas

(http://www.ualbanyhillel.org/pictures/2004-04-18_holocaust/005.jpg)

Paperwork, paperwork, the joy of paperwork. After stopping in Houston to help a friend resolve a passport issue, I looked past the paperwork maze to see a higher purpose in our trip. With a trip to the Holocaust Museum (see above) near Houston's beautiful Hermann Park, I received fresh perspective on my bureaucratic encounters. My minor troubles with red tape, pale in comparison to the mass spilling of red blood by utopia craving regimes. Furthermore, my civic conscience mandates that I actively stand for justice, righteousness, and life in my country. A 'final solution' to mass murder involves living the truth that God gives every human equally built-in value that transcends their 'productivity' and 'race'.

From my experience, I ask the following question: What can you do to promote the value of life and justice where you live?

Stop 39 - Wimberley, Texas

Upon graduating from YWAM's training school, I decided to celebrate with yet another trip down roads. Traveling with two friends from South Korea (see picture above), a Japanese car, and American coffee we are hitting the road (nonviolently). Our goal is to show God's love, serve the needy, visit friends, and adventure daily.

Our eclectic car full of people stopped first in Wimberley, Texas to see a friend from YWAM. On the first evening we watched a picturesque Texas sunset to the musical accompaniment of a local rodeo. While sojourning we hope to serve others, many people have showered our team with hospitality, meals, and true friendship. As Wimberley has planted seeds of generosity in my life, I pray God pours out a harvest of blessing and peace on the town.

If you want a visit from our ragamuffin band then please call me.

Stop 38 - Tyler, Texas

Back into the land of big cars, big homes, and enormous gas station soft drinks. Upon passing United States customs, I was thankful to come back into a land with freedom to speak opinions and pursue dreams. The grandiose luxury of the United States was secured by the God's mercy and the sacrifice of almost a million military men and women. While enjoying the Memorial Day holiday, I want to thank God for blessing my country and honor the thousands in the Armed Forces who gave blood, sweat, and tears in defense life, liberty and the pursuit of happiness.

Stop 37 - Poas, Costa Rica

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XlLs7U5DJYo

Go tell it on the mountain! Following the hymns directive, my YWAM team traveled to the mountainous countryside of Costa Rica to give a message of hope. Using more than mere words our team utilized a children program, music, and theater. My theatrical career started in playing the role of the devil in a drama named Clincher (see link above for example of performance by a German team). While acting, the included fight scene resulted in many kicks and punches to the face (with numerous scars and scabs as proof)

When not pounding on the face of a friend for the enhancement of the theatrical arts, our team used physical labor to spread the message of hope. In response to the recent natural disaster, many hours were spent rebuilding homes, pouring concrete, and repairing strawberry fields (see above picture). While impersonating a farmer, my thanksgiving increased for the hard work of my forefathers who scraped a living out of the red Oklahoma mud.

In contrast to the trembling of the earthquake, the message of hope resounded throughout the Poas region. What can you do to bring hope to hurtingpeople?

Stop 37 - Costa Rica (Tico Tierra)

Coffee in a juicebox is a invention of world resounding magnitude. The picture above shows me slurping down a cappuccino in a child-like juice box. Overall the coffee in Costa Rica has set a new standard in caffeinated excellence.

Besides enjoying local cuisine, my YWAM (Youth With a Mission) team of 17 people has worked for two full weeks to serve the people of San Jose, Costa Rica. Our work has included building roads, assissting low-income childcare, giving food to the homeless, and having our women befriend (and pray for) local prostitutes. Although our work apears to be a small pebble falling into a giant lake of needs, I believe the resulting effect can travel like waves around the world.

Although our team has only 17 young people, God can take our small acts of love and permenantly divert someone for death to life.

Next we plan to travel to the mountians outside the captital to help rebuild areas devestated in a recent earthquake.

What can you do to serve devestated people right outside your front door?

Stop 36 - Oklahoma City

While finishing a whirlwind tour of the Midwest, I stopped for a time of reflection at the Oklahoma City Memorial (see picture). Despite the tragedy of many people (including children) being murdered in a car bomb, thoughts of redemption floated to the surface of my mind. Two beautiful memorials in the area glimmered with hope on the once blood stained ground. Upon leaving the hollowed grounds, my soul remembered a God who understands and redeems the toughest of times.

Stop 35 - Wichita, Kansas

Blizzards for beginners. While on my outreach with a nonprofit called YWAM, we were temporarily immobilized by a snowstorm. With two roommates from Texas and one from Burma, my friends had were enthralled by their first heavy snowfall. The result was childlike antics and merriment. Despite our snowman being closer in appearance to a pyramid, we had many laughs in the winter wonderland of Kansas.

After the snow turned to a slushy grey, we continued our work with local churches and a homeless shelter in Kansas. In contrast to the icey outdoors, our goal is to offer the spring of new hope to people's hearts.

How can you encourage someone with new hope today?