A new dependence...

    Today, I had a harsh realization about my generation..the more and more we advance in one thing, the more and more retarded we get in another. I get this because exactly a week ago, one of my roommates called me out and posed the challenge of neither of us using facebook for one week, seven days. I just ended the seven day fast and within the last two minutes of it ending I really realized how dependent on it. In those last two minutes, I felt an excitement that my online social entourage would be reunited in just a matter of a couple minutes.
    I couldn't help but feel a pit in my stomach because of the excitement that arose inside of me. How socially immature and dependent do we have to be that we get excited to look at pictures, write on someone's cyber-wall, or chat with them when they're just a floor above you or a building over? Because this is more convenient. The conveniency of social networks such as facebook has morphed the way we go about our relationships with people. Interpersonal communication has taken a big step backwards. I realized how much I had stepped back. It puts a pit in my stomach. My generation is a generation that's the one that should be making some of the most astounding advancements..instead we're making our social abilities degenerative towards each other.
    I hate to think about how socially impaired my children and grandchildren will be if the advancement of our sociality keeps at this rate..

Back to Reality

    So I've been home now for a little less than a week. It's been quite the shock to get back into the swing of things. From getting used to kids running around screaming to the crazy 90 degree Nebraska heat. But I guess this is reality for the most part. I don't feel like I've walked away from Men's Project with a spiritual high like some high school kid getting home from Church Camp.

    Thats what really set's this sort of thing apart from like church camps. I wasn't meant or expected to walk away with just a spiritual high. This is something that was supposed to change me, transform me..and I think, no I know, it has..I've walked away with more new knowledge than I think I can rattle. Knowledge that I have to share with other men, younger and older. I've been made aware of why God has placed me on my campus.

    It started about 3 weeks ago. Staff's gone and Projects starting to slow down, getting ready to come to a close. Everyone in my room was all asleep and I was just lying there awake, staring off into space. I'm a pretty depressed and sad about leaving in just a few days...and out of nowhere God spoke to me. I heard him say "take this knowledge and spread it". So in a matter of seconds, I went from being depressed to purposeful. For the first time in a long time, I feel like I've found my mission, my calling to Wayne State College.

  There are men young and old on my campus who are desiring, yearning to learn what I've learned, to know what I know, to have what I've been given. And it's my responsibility to put it in their grasp. To share this knowledge that me and these other men are to live by if we truly desire to be authentic men of Christ.

  Another idea that was sort of recommended to me by some of our Project staff was discipling a guy or two this semester. At first, I was kind of hesitant toward the idea, because I always pictured "mondo-mega-Christian" being a discipler...but now I'm really starting to see that it's not just an opportunity for the one BEING discipled..but also for the one DOING the discipling.

Another thing thats really been laid on my heart is the idea of going on STINT with Campus Crusade sometime..sooner than later too. There are two potential opportunities ahead of me that both have extreme potential to take another leap of faith with and another opportunity to "do it big" for Christ..yes, that was a men's project reference :) So pray that I'd find discernment with those opportunities or even just with any opportunity to go on STINT if I DO get the "Go Ahead" from the Big Guy.

 Idk...I just have all this knowledge I could just spill onto this page..but I only have enough battery left on my Mac to get it to my room to charge it. But i'll try to be more consistent from now on...until then. G'night world!

In His grasp,
Andrew

Hellooooo Out There!!!

   Hey guys n gals. Sorry I've been really inconsistent with blogging regularly. But I'll stay up a little late...because you're all just that awesome.

    Ok, so alot has happened since last time I left off. Works going ok, but gets frustrating sometimes because our jobs are supposed to be our main missions field. But with my job, I work with men in their fifties...because of that wide generation gap, its really hard to sort of relate to them. And when we're assigned by our director to find a time to hang out with them, it gets hard because I feel it'd be a little weird for a 22 year old guy ask a 50 something year old guy to go hang out or go fishing...don't get me wrong, I'm trying my hardest to seek the opportunities to minister to them...but honestly I've found myself being amazed by THEM and THEIR outlook on life.

   They're really some of the nicest people I've ever met. I'm truly honored and often times humbled by these men and their character and personality.

   I feel I've been having a hard time mourning my father. I've been struggling alot lately. It's not just a "having a bad day". I've noticed guys don't mourn like that. We're more of a "having a bad moment" kind of people that can get triggered by anything that may spark a fond memory. And I've been having quite a few of those moments the last couple weeks. So to those of you out there who're reading this and are on project with me, I apologize if you think I've been having a poor attitude, I'm just having a rough time. I'm not sure how many people know. I know staff does and my roommates, and some of the other students on project. I don't know why, but just letting the whole project know and sort of call myself out feels like it'd be some sort of weight lifted off my chest.

Just because I'm having a rough time with that doesn't mean Gods not working in my life though. I've noticed immense change in myself. I've noticed that the small things really don't matter anymore. I've discovered how fun and freeing it is to go with the flow and to not fret about every detail in life.

It's crazy to think that we have only 3 weeks left of project. I'm not ready to leave these friendships, relationships, I'm not ready to leave this brotherhood or fraternity. But I'm excited still, to go back and put into practice that which I'm learning. I think thats all I'm going to write.
You guys n gals are awesome!!

In His Grasp,
Andrew

I think Relient K has it down to a T...

  Sunny with a high of 75 since you took this heavy heart and and made it light..this is mostly pertaining to the amazing weather here in Juneau. I'm sitting on the balcony of the Lodge enjoying another beautiful day in Juneau, Alaska. Today's Fathers Day and like I foresaw, it's been a really hard day. My church group was invited over to a congregation members house and when reminded to "not to forget to call your fathers today!!", I couldn't help but feel that gap in my heart just kinda stretch a little more open. If they only knew... It's already been almost six months since my dad died and it still feels like just yesterday that I got "that call" to come home. I've only told maybe 11 of the 30 something guys up here. It's not one of those things that you can bring up in casual conversation like "hey guess what happened in January". So thats been real hard to deal with.

  So Juneau is amazing! I'm starting to meet some staff for the Alaska Transformation (our little sister project). It's crazy who you meet thousands of miles away from home! Last night I met a guy who's from Rockport, MO which is only about an hour from home and was also on Project Charlie with a couple friends from WSC..and I guess there's some staff coming up for the AT who're on Alpha Project who might know a few more friends.

   I started work this week...finally!!! I'm working at Fred Meyer aka Freddy's. Picture walmart, but bigger and better. I work in the Meat Department which is kinda lame because I'd love to work outside of like food products for once. I stock meat, check expiration dates, wrap it and label it. I've also done some cutting which has actually been fun because I feel like a legit butcher for a few minutes which doing so.

This weekend we had the "Man-Maker" camp out. It sounds hard-core...but it was really just a bunch of guys hiking and camping..which was still awesome though. I could go on, but I'm getting a bit tired so I'm gonna leave ya from here.

In His grasp,
Andrew

  

It's been awhile..

 So, I know I've been inconsistent in my posting...but I'm working on it ;) But I'm gonna keep this one a tad short. God Is Good!!! It's amazing to see how he uses the smallest of things to open up your eyes! I've been finding it easier and easier to let him handle life instead of do it on my own terms...and let me tell you, it's FREEING!!! I'm still everyday amazed by the community of students and staff here in Juneau. There is no sense of superiority whatsoever between the staffers and students! I've been realizing more and more how fleeting life and things of this world really is. I was standing inside of a glacier this past Tuesday, this glacier loses ten feet a day due to climate changes. It's everyday fleeting just like this world.

 I'm done putting my concerns on things of this Earth. My pursuit of a financially stable job, a girl, just a materialistic life in general. I'm ready to consume my desires with the desires that God has for me and my life. I'm ready to be stretched, even to the point that it hurts.

 I start my job on Monday which is exciting because I'm ready to stop moping around our apartment and actually do something productive...not that climbing a mountain or doing a service project isn't productive. I'm just ready for consistency. I'm excited to see what me and 10 other college kids can do to impact this job....I know it was short, but I've had only 4 hours of sleep the last two days..and I need more. I promise I'll write more next time!

In His grasp,
Andrew

Update!!! I know it's long over due!!

Hey gang! It's been awhile since I last posted, but amazing things have happened since then. Here's an update (bear with me, it might be a little long but amazing things have happened!)

Day 1) We left Nebraska last Tuesday (the 18th) and continued on our trek to Alaska. We'd gotten about 5 hours away from Nebraska when we started experiencing car troubles. We drove for about a mile or so to see if the problems would wear off..well, they didn't. We thought it was maybe a problem with a fan belt, so we decided to go to the next town we could get to so we could get it looked by a mechanic. That town ended up being Kadoka, SD. So we dropped the car off thinking it was the fan belt, went and played some frisbee until the mechanic had a verdict for us...well..we got it. It ended up being a melted piston!! If you're not at all familiar with automechanics, that basically means 1) buy a new car..or 2) $$$$ up the whazoo to fix it. So there we were stranded in Small Town, South Dakota. One of our project members family was so awesome enough to drive up another vehicle to us. Blessing #1!! So through random conversation with our mechanic, it turns out he'd gone to bible college with my pastor back home!!!! It was so awesome and crazy how that worked out. Later that night, he and his wife would invite myself and the four others that were with me to his church to listen a choir that was performing (the church happened to be the one that my pastor back home preached at!!) It was so awesome to meet some of the old congregation that my pastor had worked along with!! And this is only day number 1! So I ended up sleeping in a random van me and another found in the auto mechanics scrap yard, while two others slept in our van.

Day 2) We reached Canada!! For some reason, I was excited because I actually got to put my passport to use. Canada was quite interesting. We pulled many a illegal traffic violations late at night and it's by God's grace there were no police (or mounties?) around. We got lost in about every city we encountered. Edmonton, Calgary, and every which one we went through. We did so much driving that I'm in a daze about which cities we hit when.

Day 3) We hit a narly snow storm atop a mountain and had to wait it out for a couple hours only to find that it was clear as day a mile down the mountain lol. The wild-life was crazy in a small town sort of way. In the U.S. we see deer or rabbits or even a coyote standing on the side of the rode.. In Canada, you see bears, moose, elk, or buffalo just standing on the side of the road grazing. It felt like I was at the zoo but only I didn't have a protective glass pane shielding me, but only my common sense to not open the door!We're here!!! We finally got to Alaska!!! We stopped and ate an an amazing mexican restaurant with a view of the bay and mountains in the background!

Day 4) We get to Juneau and meet with out project director Robert and another staffer and they show us around a little and point out spots to where we can stay and stuff. So we're camping out and enjoying some good ole' man time (the girl who drove with us stayed with a project staffer).

Day 5) We start to explore the town Juneau and start the job hunt! The job outlook in Juneau looks quite promising. There are so many awesome places here in Juneau! I'm stoked to see which one I work at! We explored and ended up playing a real legit game of ultimate with most of the staffers, that was probably one of the most fun games I've played so far because of the atmosphere and the fact that there was a huge mountain around me every direction I threw the frisbee.
Day 6) we spent the day filling out job applications and met up with some project guys and so yea..now..now we wait for tomorrow when project officially starts..awesome..!

So thats a lengthy, but still short compared to how much I left out, update thus far. I ask that you all continue to keep us in your prayers as we set out to begin Project Golf. Thank you and have a fantastic evening!
In His grasp,
Andrew

Change in the name

So...as you may have noticed, there is a change in the name of my blog. In late May, I'll be venturing on up to the town of Juneau, Alaska and spend 11 weeks of my summer there on a project with Campus Crusade for Christ. Be praying for me as I'm trying to raise support to cover the cost of the project and any materials I may need that are necessary for my summer in Juneau.