Stop 43 - St. Louis (family oasis)

Homecoming is a tremendous blessing to many family members (old and new). With two friends from YWAM in tow, returning to my native land (or state) was a celebration of fun.

Stop 42 - Oklahoma City (camping trip)

Lacking a place to stay the night while journeying to Kansas City was a beneficial problem. On a map, I noticed a massive Lake Thunderbird near Oklahoma City. For only a few dollars, our adventuring team was able to camp on a lakeside peninsula and watch an amazing sunset and sunrise. With prayer and improvisation a perplexing housing problem was transformed into a scenic blessing.

What unwanted problems in your life can God flip into desires fulfilled?

Stop 41 - Tyler, Texas

Turning lemons to lemonade can happen in everyday life. With a wedding to attend, we continued our road trip to Youth With a Mission's Ranch in Tyler, Texas. We were delayed from leaving Tyler due to lack of housing at our next roadtrip stop. Despite the sour lemons of logistics, our stop in Tyler was turned into a sweet oasis. In order to redeem the time, we volunteered for YWAM, spent quality time with friends, and soaked in the immense beauty of rural Texas. The irksome logistical delay transformed into an enjoyable chance to serve.

My experiences applied the concept my Father taught me that, 'all things can be turned to good for those that love Him.' A friend's food art pictured above expresses my view on the time spent in Tyler, Texas.

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?