Okay okay!

Guys I'm so very sorry about not posting in the past week. I sort of taken a break from my computer and i had to focus on God. So i plan on keeping it up to date now. The past week and a half has been full of boring days and super busy days. However God has constantly reminded my that I need to seek His face even more then I "thought" I have been. I have really been caught up in myself and my selfish desires, and that is one of the things that took presidents over many things including this blog. Since the time that i have been here He has kept showing me thing after thing that i need to change in my life. Simple things like when I'm bored i could be reading the bible or a book that would strengthen my walk. But instead I have been wasting time watching movies and playing video games, and trying to justify it was i go along. So I can honestly tell you that I haven't completely accomplished this... and i probably wont completely do so. But i know that it is something that the Lord really lad on my heart.

I'm excited to go back to the states, to go back to Murrieta. I want to see my other friends and family so badly. But i honestly LOVE it here, there is just something about this place, this place full of evil and lack of the Word of God. This place is truly beautiful and so are the people.

I believe this place is preparing me for the mission field. I am getting excited for what the Lord has in store for my life. and for those who actually read this please pray for me and my ministry what ever that might be. There are so many times when I feel lost and out of place. also there are times when I feel like I'm not good at anything and i have nothing to offer God... Trust me I know that i have something to offer but I can't seem to shake that feeling.

This past weekend I did so much traveling it was absolutely crazy! Me, Topher, David, Kenny, and Steve went all over northern Israel. We started out leaving Friday and going to Caesarea and sleeping on the beach there. The next day we went to Nazareth then Galilee and onward to mount Hermon. The day was full of David chasing cows to getting lost and driving in circles. We ended that night off by sleeping on the Mount. of Beatitudes! The following day we went to Jericho where we chased donkeys and took a picture with a Palestinian Guard! Okay mind you that we did all of these things in three days. Now we come to Monday. We then hit Massada, the dead sea and En gadi!

So my life is pretty good, I mean traveling and learning about God there is not to many thing better. There has been a change in my life that happened really recently and that is i have really got into listening to sermons! So far the ones that really changed my life is Paul Washer on courting! I know, courting but it was amazing it completely changed my life in such a radical way.

Pictures:
1- Jesus fish and the sea of Galilee
2- We found a random tank
3- Sleeping on the Mount of Beatitudes
4- Me and the Guard
5- Me and a camel

Prayer Request:
- Campus'
- Ramsey
- Me and my walk
- My parents
- The peace of Israel

Day 29, 30, 31 in Israel

I'm sorry guys, this past weekend has been really busy. Here at the hotel we have a group of college kids from California. They all go to a christian college also which is really cool. I forgot which one, its really cool because they are traveling around the world studying languages and history. We also got a chance to go worship with them also at Ben Yehuda.

Day 29: Saturday

We had class, but what was really interesting was that Topher (one of the students) taught the second part of class (the 2 hour class in the afternoon). Kenny is finally here, and he made it just in time to go to Ben Yehuda. So we also have started a tradition of before we go worship we go to a near by park to play kickball!

Worship was so intense we had so much persecution it was insane, we were cussed out yelled at and even threatened! Man it was awesome, what could be better then to be persecuted for the sake of Jesus Christ! We also got to talk to a lot of Christian believers from all around the world. It was truly an amazing night to worship the Lord God almighty.

Day 30: Sunday

Sunday was absolutely jam packed we started off the day at 8:30 going to the temple institute, where in deed they have started to build the items that will be used in the third temple. Basically we were watching prophecy being fulfilled right in front of our eyes. After that interesting experience we had a even greater adventure stand before us... Sifting through the temple mount! This fulfilled one of my childhood dreams. Obviously we were not allowed to keep the things that we had found but it was so much fun. Doug Jr. found some rare glass, one of the girls found a roman coin that was in really good condition. I found a piece of a pot that the crusaders used, and also another piece of a pot but it dated back to the first temple era! It was so much fun I'm definitely going back there.

Day 31: Monday

Alright today was a day set aside to do some well needed homework that I am behind on... and i managed to get only one done. Well I was really tired and wanted to sleep. Because the night before I talked to one of the students from the other christian college for like 4 hours. We talked till 3 in the morning, it was really awesome being able to encourage another person. I really encouraged her to read her bible and to really seek Him and His plans, rather then her own. It turned out to be an awesome time of fellowship. She later told be that she had been reading her bible and that it had become much more interesting. Praise the Lord for He is GOOD...


Pictures:
1- Topher and David before we started
2- We had a lot of people this time
3- Me, Rayn and two others form the Cristian college
4- Steve talking with some of the people that wanted to fight us
5- The piece of the pot that dated back to the first temple period


Prayer Request:
- Ramsey
- The other students from California and that their journey would be a safe one
- Me to be more diligent
- The other Campus'
- My parents could always use prayer

Days 25, 26, 27, and 28

Sorry everyone! Went through some turbulence spiritually and physically. Thanks for the prayers, because i sure did help. Well the past three days were quit boring, due to the fact i really didn't do anything at all. I kind of wasted a bunch of time, however the Lord really spoke to me through all of it. To basically sum it all up the Lord told me not to wast my time; and to do what He tell me to the first time.

Day 25: Tuesday

We had our M1's pretty much all day cleaning the hotel, it was really fun. for those of you that don't know what that is, it's a class but it is serving people. Like we could go out in the streets and clean up trash or help at the class room or even at Christ Church across the street. We have to work 90 hours and we get two credits for it.

Cameron also is now teaching chapel which is cool he is taking us through 1 kings.

Day 26: Wednesday
I studied my butt off for my study and was so nervous yet the Lord really used me. PTL! I taught on peter rebuking Jesus and Jesus rebuking all if the disciples. It was really an awesome experience teaching part of a class. Not much else happened, besides the fact me getting rocked with spiritual warfare! But thankfully I have God on my side!

Day 27: Thursday

Didn't get a whole lot of sleep, and i wasn't in the greatest mood. But it ended up being one of the best nights of my life. The day started out with Mars bars and Redbull (part of every nutritious breakfast), class was good still have more question then answers. But its all good, right?

There is this thing called "Roman times" and it is where the whole Christian quarter of Jerusalem has people come in and do stuff that happened during roman times. This is one of the best nights of my life like i said earlier. The reasons being I really do have some good friends here and not only that but dancing with weird lady's all dressed up is so much fun! God really did bless me with so much stuff and friends.

Day 28:
Okay, Okay today there hasn't been to much that happened (oh, and its not over yet so, yeah). Kenny comes tomorrow, and Doug Sr. finishes his part of class. I got to tell you Doug really is a great teacher i really like the way he teaches. Tomorrow we are meeting up with another group that is traveling around the world and we are all going to go worship JESUS CHRIST! I really can't wait till tomorrow its going to be absolutely amazing!


Pictures:
1- Me and Ryan
2- Fireworks setting on my camera is so awesome (oh right the picture is a guy dancing with fire)
3- Dancing with the lady
4- Me and Ryan after dancing
5- The group


Prayer:
- Ramsey
- The other Campus'
- Us here, I could really use some
- The peace of Israel

Day 24 in Israel

24 days in Israel, it feels so weird to live here. Almost surreal in a way, like "oh my goodness that's where _______ lived or did this or that". I thank God every day because this is such a huge blessing to be living here. I also want to thank all of you who have been praying for me, it's such a blessing. If you guys need prayer just Facebook me and let me know.

The Day:

So today we went to Beth-Shan, and let me tell you it was incredible. It has to be one of the few places in the world that is in such good condition (of course I'm talking about the ruins). This was the cities Joshua defeated, later it would hold the dead, beheaded body of king Saul, David would take it back and Solomon would make it one of the 12 important cities in Israel. It was so very cool walking around and imagining what took place. After Beth-Shan we were going to go to a water park and got lost and when we finally found it, it was closed. It was a major disappointment, we were looking forward to it because it was so hot; however, a guy told us that 2 kilometers away there was another water park. So we decided to go for it, little did we know when we got there that it was a private community. The Lord blessed us with a man that lived there seeing us and after talking with us. He said that we could be his guest and go swimming! It was so beautiful, the water was cooled and a beautiful turquoise color.

Something that the LORD showed me while i was walking back from the central bus station was, He wants to hear from me. I was walking/praying just talking with God as I was going and asking questions and prayer for people. It was a supernatural experience, because I was like "GOD SHOW ME SOMETHING!" and when i got done saying that all I heard was the sound of chirping crickets. It was amazing I in all honesty could not explain to the fullest typing or for that matter speaking it either.

Pictures:
1- Mount Gilboa and the valley
2- Doug chillin on the grass
3- Steve Getting us lost
4- Beth-Shan
5- Me

Prayer Requests
- Ramsey and the Lord's will for his life
- Faith on my part(in fact pray for your faith, cause it can't hurt right)
- The other Campus'
- The peace of Israel

Days 22 and 23 in Israel

Sorry, about the late posts. I wasn't able to get internet last night and i was really busy this morning/ afternoon. Man i really hate how in life you go through the ups and downs of life. I suppose that what ever mountain God has for you there is a equally low valley. Right now I am in that valley, its really difficult sometimes. I really feel like I'm worthless (i know that I'm not), yet i can't shake off this feeling. Everyone here is so amazing in their own little way and i feel so insignificant. Thats the latest "Drama" in my life.

Day 22 Saturday:

Class is going really well, Doug Sr. is doing an amazing job of putting more questions in our heads then answering them. The best saying he says by far is " Ask God" its simple and when we don't have or know an answer asking God is the best way to go. I love this way of teaching, it makes me think and study harder its very neat.

Highlight:
So we had worship again in the street. I'm telling you right now that even if Ryan wasn't able to lead worship because he was sick God still used us. It was incredible, to see fellow Christians worshiping from all around the world in one place.

Day 23 Sunday:

Okay, today we went to Hezekiah's Tunnel, and walked in it. I was completely blow away by the craftsmanship of the whole thing. We walked, under ground, for about a quarter of a mile. The water was freezing but it was well worth it. We also had another birthday party today this one was for Nancy. It was really awesome because it was a dress up sort of party. We had to dress up as things with the letter "N"
I was a Ninja (as seen in the picture). We have a huge day tomorrow so i need sleep, please keep me in prayer.

Highlight: Right before we went into Hezekiah's tunnel, we watched a 15 min. video on Jerusalem... There was a scene where it showed Solomon's temple with the glory of God in it... It made me cry, because it was so beautiful. And yet the people still turned away from God. It was truly one of the most beautiful things I have ever scene.

Pictures:
1 Worship
2 I run into the cutest kids
3 Topher as Nathaniel
4 Jessica as a newly wed
5 Me as a ninja

Prayer Request
- Ramsey
- I'm teaching part of the class Wed.
- My heart (Spiritually)
- The other Campus'
- The peace of Israel
- The sick and needy

Day 21 in Israel

sorry about the late post, my computer was not getting any internet last night. So instead of waiting twenty minutes I decided to go to bed for some much needed sleep.
21 day in Israel it almost feels surreal/fake in a sense; I honestly don't think its going to hit me until I leave Israel, that it is going to hit me that I had lived here. Because every now and then me or one of the other students just stops looks around and says "Hold up guys wait just a second... We are in Israel!" Its a pretty awesome feeling to know that we are living in the same place where Christ was raised, where He breathed, and where He died.

Day 21:

So what is interesting about this section of our study's is that Doug (Our teacher for this block) has given all the guys an opportunity to teach a section. This is like a dream come true man, i love teaching, studying, finding the meaning of a passage. I chose the passage where Jesus foretells His death, but Peter (being my favorite character besides Jesus in the bible) Rebuking Jesus. So if you will please pray for me in that regard.

We also had a birthday party for Yesenia Garcia. It was full of fun filled laughter! We also played a pretty awesome game of Mafia(if you don't know how to play i can't really explain over the internet) where Doug Jr. dominated with Kate and killed the towns people.

Pictures:
1-Schwarma
2-Arty photo of a schwarma
3-Skype is good
4-The birthday girl
5-Super funny


Prayer Request
- All of the students here
- Ramsey and what ever is going on in Jordan
- The worship nights on Saturdays here
- All of the other Campus'
- My heart to seek His face as long as I live