June 27, 2008

The Falls






Yesterday, I spent the morning at Chapters book store and cafe doing some updating and working on upcoming conferences and camps.  We then took a car ride out to some falls.  We spent the afternoon hiking up the falls.  It was about a mile hike or so to the top, which had a some steepness at some times.  We had to carry Michael and Zoe up, mostly on our shoulders.  It was tough.  After a few rests we finally made it to the top.  The descent wasn't so bad, but took a little longer than I thought because Uncle Clyde had to point out every weed, flower and moss and tell us all the names, species and genus.  It was good for Michael, but I am worried he is going to ask me what things are now.  

I was up late last night as God was pouring into me what He was wanting me to share at CSBY.  CSBY stands for Cambodian Southern Baptist Youth, which also includes young adults, up and past my age, which I will not divulge at this time.  I am getting excited about what God is asking me to share.  

I think we are going to have a couple of days of relaxation here as some of the Thomas Family is driving 6 hours away to help move Grandma and Grandpa Thomas back to this area.  That leaves a few of us up to our own devices, which won't be as much action since we do not know the area quite as well.

I will try and continue to add pictures to my picasa web page.

June 26, 2008

Relaxing on the beach












Hanging out on the west coast.  Enjoying ourselves.  I have had a chance to meet a lot of new family.  It is so cool to see that my kids have generations of Christ Followers on both sides of the family.  I am beginning to get back to "normal", whatever that is.  My energy level is returning some.  The kids are starting to adjust to the time change.  We are still out pretty late in the evenings, and up in early in the mornings.  We are currently staying at a family house that has been donated and used by and on George Fox University Campus.  It has been really cool.  

I got to meet a couple of directors at a camp called Twin Rocks yesterday.  The yearly meeting office is just a couple of blocks away, so I will eventually make it over there to talk with a few people.  

LIFE is good.  I have some video to show, but my camera is not being very helpful as of this moment.  Hopefully it is ok.

God did amazing things at camp last week.  I had a chance to read a note of one of the students that they journalled and put online.  It was pretty cool.  It is always nice to read the response of those I have come in contact with.  

GOD is GOOD.  


June 20, 2008

Final 2 days in San Diego

I am now sitting in the San Diego airport flying to Portland, OR with a connecting flight in San Francisco.  I got here at  8:30 am and will be finally arriving in Portland at 8:30.  What a crazy day.  Camp finished up very well.  

As I was sitting in Panara Bread on Coronado Island, I had a chance to not talk at all for a couple of hours.  The problem was, when it was time to begin again, it would not come out right.  I lost my voice.  I think that with all the yelling and screaming that I have been doing, by voice decided that once it got a break, it was going to keep it.  I have been drinking a lot of green tea with honey in it.  I had to do some yelling when I spoke because I was competing with the sound of the Ocean.  I did not have any amplification, so it was up to me and my big mouth.  I was able to speak well enough to do what God wanted me to say.  

God was amazing.  I worked really hard to remember everyone's names and I think I did a pretty good job, but it is still something that I need to work on.  The Holy Spirit was moving in ways that were so awesome during the week.  There were times in my talks that I had to hold back tears because of the heartbeat that God had for these teens.  The teens and adults connected really well with me.

The weather was pretty rough.  Monday and Tuesday were nice, which means we got to go surfing and swimming.  Wednesday and Thursday were very foggy and misty on the beach.  It made it very chilly and caused the lifeguards to shut down the beach because they could see out well enough to keep people safe.  I really wanted one more crack at surfing.  And believe me, I actually needed quite a few more than that.  

I am ready for some sleep on a bed.  I was thinking that sleeping on the beach would be nice because sand would kind of conform to your body.  In the words of Jessie from Seattle, "wrong".  It was actually like sleeping on concrete.  I would not recommend it.

Please continue to pray for me and my health.  I am going from one San Diego with people to Portland, OR with family members that I have not spent much time with.  This means more people.  Being a people person, I get energy from people, but it also means that I cannot turn myself off while around people.  I need to get away to relax and recoup, but will not have the opportunity this time.


June 18, 2008

Half way through San Diego



The trip is going great.  I have had a chance to connect with the teens in different ways.  We had a 6 hour bus trip which made it easy.  Sand Volleyball time, oh yea.  Surfing... well, laying on a board and getting to my feet for like a couple of seconds.  I WILL GET IT.  

The spirit of God is moving.  Last night I actually had a hard time finishing.  I was talking about accountablility and God prompted me to ask anyone that had pain and suffering in their life and felt alone to raise their hand.  I was  a little choked up praying for them.  God is good.  I have a couple more days.

Please pray for me about rest.  I have not had very much.  We are camping on the beach.  I thought it wouldn't be bad on sand, but it seems to be a lot like concrete.  It hurts.  I ask that God will give me the strength to finish strong.

Here are some photos I have taken with the old handy, dandy Treo.  


This is Ty Godwin's House.  He is the Youth Pastor at New Life church in Pheonix, AZ.  Check out the yard.  All rocks with some flowers and bushes in them.  It is real.
This is the Bus's front windshield after we hit a huge bug on the way to CA.  I had to get a picture.





These are the big energy mills that we saw in CA on our way by bus from AZ to San Diego.

      
From San Diego Trip