On Monday I will begin my journey down to the more popular parts of California, see my friends and then head across the desert and pretend I'm Gram Parsons till I reach Flagstaff. Today I am telling myself I won't eat fast food.
It's Saturday, I am going to try and run with my brother. I am a runner. I will run, the people driving up Meder Rd will look at my strangely and one day I will be physically fit and worthy of worship!
These are the highlights (at least the ones I'm allowed to write about from the last couple of weeks)
1. Working at the Arab-American Learning Center down in Sacramento. I'm learning so much about Jesus just being there, having fellowship with the believers there and making friends with the refugees that come! I was invited to have an Arabic style tea with my friend Mohammad and met his wonderful family. I've also begun learning how to take care of kids. I'm awful at it, but making progress. I have a hard time being firm with kids (in general) but especially kids who aren't mine and only speak Arabic.
Either way, I love it. All the things I think make me special culturally simply don't, and that's an exciting-freeing feeling.
2. The end of every day has felt like coming home, things are familiar and things are safe.
3.The sexiness of my decision not to drink has worn off with those around me. Attention! Come back!
4.I gave a talk at Cold Springs Youth Group earlier this week. That was exciting, getting to talk to 30ish middle and high schooler's about John 10:10 and the promise of having life to it's full if we follow Jesus. There were so many emotions ranging from, "I need to wear this shirt to be more culturally relevant and postmodern" t0 "I hope I can drink water when I'm speaking with out looking inept". And yes, those are emotions. There's also the "I hope they take me serious/like me" and in that sense it's like the first day of high school or a first date.
I had a lot of fun doing it! Nick and the other leaders are great, and to be a part of that ministry in any sense was an honor. It's kind of a bummer that the part of my talk that got the biggest reaction seemed to be when I talked about baby's going to the bathroom on the sidewalk in China. Poop jokes, my go to.
That said, I know that God was there, and working in the hearts of the kids there and that it had really nothing to do with how "well" or "poorly" I did. Cause He's good like that = ).
5. My best friend is getting married, I get to wear a rockin suit, and eat all the cupcakes I want. (He works here http://www.icingonthecupcake.com/). Also-cupcakes, that's the next big thing.
6. I'm suddenly excited to give some girl some flowers, and by some girl I mean some girl someday if I'm ever doing the relationship boogie. Flowers, or so I'm told, are something girls love. Who knew. I like Rice Chex.
7. I just finished Son of Hamas. Read it, great book!
8. I got to share my testimony last week, and ideally it sounded like this,
"But whatever were gains to me I now consider loss for the sake of Christ. What is more, I consider everything a loss because of the surpassing worth of knowing Christ Jesus my Lord, for whose sake I have lost all things. I consider them garbage, that I may gain Christ and be found in him, not having a righteousness of my own that comes from the law, but that which is through faith in Christ-the righteousness that comes from God on the basis of faith. I want to know Christ-yes, to know the power of his resurrection and participation in his sufferings, becoming like him in his death, and so, somehow, attaining to the resurrection from the dead."
Philippians 3:7-11
Like I said, ideally.
Now I'm off into something beautiful and most likely a few shades of green!
-Geoff
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