tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-92148931405486118912024-03-18T20:27:42.006-07:00You will never go where God is not.A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.comBlogger22125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-86090938678963614052011-09-11T21:15:00.000-07:002011-09-11T21:33:48.101-07:00West Coast To The South<div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">It has been such a blessing learning from my work at PATH last year, living in an intentional community in California, spending time with neighborhood kids and the youth group of FPCH, and God's work in me at First Presbyterian Church, Hollywood. I know I will carry these experiences with me forever and hope to share these memories with others. The time I got to spend with my neighborhood kids taking them to movie premieres, TV shows, and teaching them how to surf, and just learning about each one of them, and trying to be an example for them, were just a few of the ways God blessed me and helped me grow in my walk with him. </span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnY-gbOgQVxf_Z-zMIMthHlFl_EILH5qBCbrCzkA03odUfgqWMDQQZmD70wj1Lt07nOrv1SXrpayqkaO_RY_6UB5Z7HKjMkJFe8zd5sHrIulvFlQBxN8aHZwnEy0yQHfKHIj2t_xrxdgl/s1600/tessa+pic_41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhEnY-gbOgQVxf_Z-zMIMthHlFl_EILH5qBCbrCzkA03odUfgqWMDQQZmD70wj1Lt07nOrv1SXrpayqkaO_RY_6UB5Z7HKjMkJFe8zd5sHrIulvFlQBxN8aHZwnEy0yQHfKHIj2t_xrxdgl/s320/tessa+pic_41.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The Neighborhood kids with my surfer friends</div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Wftli8QPBWhe-3phMUSY_eoemQL8iHBJZrcM-tn5IermwyLQQN03Qu0wknl08tQzSN-6DMXV77_u5OIPPFidSt8Dz8VXea07S79n6s4gzoEUp6kPUAajIhkKbej2G7PrwgFBWgwD5B1Q/s1600/IMG_1515.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="180" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi8Wftli8QPBWhe-3phMUSY_eoemQL8iHBJZrcM-tn5IermwyLQQN03Qu0wknl08tQzSN-6DMXV77_u5OIPPFidSt8Dz8VXea07S79n6s4gzoEUp6kPUAajIhkKbej2G7PrwgFBWgwD5B1Q/s320/IMG_1515.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">My CA roommates</div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">The people I met from PATH (People Assisting the Homeless), First Presbyterian Church of Hollywood, friends from different areas of LA, and from the Door organization have also affected my life. They welcomed me with open arms and trusted me to do what they asked, and to ask if I needed their help. Working with the Youth leaders, I learned from their examples and their dedication to Christ and the youth in that church. Thanks Nick, Bethany, and David.</span></span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircppsD-ztUdaEE05eqM00nZ9M8_lMupm9SazdmRPYwKS7oE_3j-LdQqEl2bUXdgp0TGSLgZvUOu5JZMSho98RCmew9_4hNFfWBEmkY7z3nwKGAlBDMm86n8M__RdNia2qGBo1b6-krf2i/s1600/IMG_1644.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEircppsD-ztUdaEE05eqM00nZ9M8_lMupm9SazdmRPYwKS7oE_3j-LdQqEl2bUXdgp0TGSLgZvUOu5JZMSho98RCmew9_4hNFfWBEmkY7z3nwKGAlBDMm86n8M__RdNia2qGBo1b6-krf2i/s320/IMG_1644.JPG" width="320" /></a> </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The youth group of FPCH</div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">The man in the sky pushed me through different trials and I learned from my trials. I have become a stronger christian because God showed me his graces this past year when I was away from home. Being on my own caused me to lean on God more, and take opportunities when God gave them to me. My year in Hollywood has been eye opening, and I am so thankful for the experience. I met some stars, I learned to surf, and I actually became friends with Joel McHale, Those experinence was not in my plan when I came to CA. However I do believe these experiences were part of God's plan for me. God wants the best for his children. Thank you to Matthew (my leader), Brandon (my prayer partner), Josh, Brady, Alyana, Alex, and Robert (my housemates), the west coast life was awesome. God is great!</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Colossians 4:5-6</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><b><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></b></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>Walk in wisdom toward those who are outside, redeeming the time. Let your speech always be with grace, seasoned with salt, that you may know how you ought to answer each one.</b></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMe-jDtCAtX3Vb-MKaU32kuFF9OAqyKHNNaQTuDwhaZKYhHWclq1MbnR4nVH4T4thiz61SJAaAZpVuuLOjwBRVmsyqnAEV5qVgE7aDuowcrhCP7BpBMAxWoZK7IAzU5Bf5rONceMaVOTEC/s1600/pic+09-39-41.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="210" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhMe-jDtCAtX3Vb-MKaU32kuFF9OAqyKHNNaQTuDwhaZKYhHWclq1MbnR4nVH4T4thiz61SJAaAZpVuuLOjwBRVmsyqnAEV5qVgE7aDuowcrhCP7BpBMAxWoZK7IAzU5Bf5rONceMaVOTEC/s400/pic+09-39-41.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><br />
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</div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">I am back in TN. It was good to spend time with my family and friends for a week, before I left for YAV orientation in NY. It was good catching up with old friends and making new ones. While we were in NY, we battled through the rain and winds of Hurricane Irene during orientation. </span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Now I moved to East Nashville, and have 4 other roommates in the house that I live in, and also have three others in our group that live in another part of Nashville. We are now working for our agencies, 32 hours a week, and I will soon begin to work for my appointed church. I am working in the education area at “Room In The Inn”. Room In The Inn is agency that helps homeless clients. It is very similar to my CA agency PATH. I will explain what I will be doing at the church in my next blog. </span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA6C1r2zKK_J9dO6xHvuow-tR3iMU-ULG2pX8aqqBDVyDsIHz6uYVF0LIw1s2Ltwg11j4mDp_W85-fz60iVWpjwoTM84QIT9WoRx1rd6hu7LNO8Rn9vtZ_dTXVJbUtlbSfrDOr6yHZILJ/s1600/yavs+nashville.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhuA6C1r2zKK_J9dO6xHvuow-tR3iMU-ULG2pX8aqqBDVyDsIHz6uYVF0LIw1s2Ltwg11j4mDp_W85-fz60iVWpjwoTM84QIT9WoRx1rd6hu7LNO8Rn9vtZ_dTXVJbUtlbSfrDOr6yHZILJ/s320/yavs+nashville.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">My TN roommates</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: xx-small;">Reverse Culture Shock (a.k.a. "Re-entry Shock", or "own culture shock") may take place — returning to one's home culture after growing accustomed to a new one can produce the same effects. The affected person often finds this more surprising and difficult to deal with than the original culture shock. Everything was so expensive in California that we really had to budget for everything, including food, and in Nashville we have a dishwasher! I have my own truck here and in California I was dependent on my feet, the bus, subway, or one van shared by 6 people, to go anywhere. Again, I learned to get along with others, give in sometimes and stand up for myself sometime, but most of all I learned to trust in the one that is in charge. I have to say that to myself often. God will take care of my needs and I need a lot less than I have. I want to fix problems, but I know I should let go and <b>"Let God</b>". </span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">” Value judgements reflects our beliefs of how life can best be served. Moralistic judgments that imply wrongness or badness on the part of people who don’t act in harmony with our values. The experience I had last year dealing with different people or issues had taught me be more mature in judging. Now I am not saying I am judging all the time. Everybody judge. All I am saying that I am more relax and at peace with dealing with issues. I just give it to God the whole thing and let him take it. No more worry if it gonna be fix or do I need to talk to somebody, etc. God wants to take our problems and sometime our problems end up being little silly stuff. I come to realized that not everybody gonna get what they want or they always gonna be happy if I do everything with them. I let it be and let God work on it. Now if someone need to talk to me about issues, I will be more than happy to listen. Now speaking on this judgement stuff, being back home for a week after leaving CA, it seem that my childhood people seems showing the same behavior like always. Nothing wrong with that but my behavior have change so its not similar to others anymore. Its just weird. I am at peace now and I am in a spot where I do feel weird of what my friends say about others. I am just more into saying positive stuff about people than something that don’t need to be brought up. So that is what going on with me right now, trying to get used to being back home. I am thankful to be back home. Looking forward of what God got plans ahead for me and other YAVs this year. Please pray for me as I try to deal with the culture shock and the new YAVs at their sites. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">James 4:11, 12</span></b></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></b></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Do not speak evil of one another, brethren. He who speaks evil of a brother and judges his brother, speaks evil of the law and judges the law. But if you judge the law, you are not a doer of the law but a judge. There is one Lawgiver, who is able to save and to destroy. Who are you to judge another?</span></b></span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 18.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;">G<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">od is Great!</span></span></div><div style="font: 16.0px Arial; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Kyle</span></span></div>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-80203206482211655242011-06-28T00:32:00.000-07:002011-06-28T00:32:27.248-07:00A Pause In Life.<div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">“</span></i><a class="sqq" href="http://thinkexist.com/quotation/the_act_of_putting_pen_to_paper_encourages_pause/216927.html" style="text-decoration: none;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The act of putting pen to paper encourages </span></i></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><b>pause</b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> for thought, this in turn makes us think more deeply about life, which helps us regain our equilibrium.</span></i></span></a><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">”</span></i></div><div style="text-align: center;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was watering the garden in the yard of the community house, and I heard voices of kids on the other side of the fence. I continue to water the plants as the voices get louder and closer. "Kyle! Kyle! Can I water the garden?" one of the 3 girls said. I smiled and said yes. They quickly came and watering the areas that I haven't got to yet. They were giggled and smiling as they take turns to water the plants. They acted like they were gonna get me wet with the hose in their hand. Then a girl got one of the girls really wet. All of them giggled loudly and for the girl that was wet, played along like nothing happened and giggled the whole time. They was living in the moment of enjoying life with no worries. </span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It was like the girls put all the worries away and enjoy what God provide them at that moment. A pause to enjoy God.</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>At my church on 2 Sunday ago during worship, a stranger came down to the 2nd row and rudely interrupted the service. He yelled out loud of his worries on his mother's health and other things. The pastor was sitting in the front row and motioned to the worship leader to silence the music. The stranger with a mental illness was tried to escorted out. Then the pastor said a prayer in front of the congregation for this stranger and his worries. The music begins to play again. The stranger continue to be louder with his concerns and calling the police. The music stopped again. Few people in the congregation came down and sat near him. Gave him water. Then the pastor opened up prayer time where a number of people in the sanctuary prayed out loud. Someone read out "Isaiah 43" from the bible. He ended up being escorted out. When I witnessed this happening, I was thinking what is going on? Who is this man? But when the people prayed out loud, I felt full of God's grace with no concern of what just happened suddenly. In the sanctuary, God was showing me to pray for him deeply and to love him with faith that God provide me to use regardless of what the stranger rudely did few mins ago. In that moment me and others stacking up of prayers and showing the love of God to the stranger. I had no worries of the past or the future, just the present of the moment in prayer. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><br />
</i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i>I had a pause moment in the garden and in the church. Since then I kept reminding myself don't worry of what the past or the future, just enjoy God now and watch his plans unfolded before me. Love life and learn what God is showing to you in the moment. HIS MOMENT. HIS TIME. When you pause for sec, look around and God is showing you something, just catch it. He been waiting on you to listen to him since you been born. Do you have time for him? In the church and the garden there was pause moments for me where I just felt God and he was teaching me in a way that I can't explain it. </i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b>God Is Incredible. </b></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><br />
</b></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"></span></b></span></i></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><h4><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Isaiah 43</span></h4></b></span></i></span><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><i><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-18504" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> But now, thus says the LORD, who created you, O Jacob,<br />
And He who formed you, O Israel:<br />
<br />
“ Fear not, for I have redeemed you;<br />
I have called </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> by your name;<br />
</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">are</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> Mine</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">."<br />
</span><sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-18505" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> When you pass through the waters, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">will be</span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> with you</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">;<br />
And through the rivers, </span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">they shall not overflow you.</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
When you walk through the fire, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">you shall not be burned</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">,<br />
Nor shall the flame scorch you. </span></span></b></i></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></i></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', sans-serif;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-style: normal; font-weight: normal;"><br />
</span></b></span></i></span></div>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-39584298910143581592011-06-17T01:44:00.000-07:002011-06-17T01:44:57.566-07:00Faithful<blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></blockquote><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-28505" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">1 Corinthians 7 :17</sup></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-28505" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">17</sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;">But as God hath distributed to every man, as the Lord hath called every one, so let him walk. And so ordain I in all churches.</span><br />
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" Wherever we are called, we are to be faithful."<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><b>3 John 1:6</b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-30665" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">6</sup>Which have borne witness of thy charity before the church: whom if thou bring forward on their journey after a godly sort, thou shalt do well:</span></b></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></b></span></span><br />
<b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The church needs people who will go out and preach the gospel so that the nation will hear the glorious good news. But the church also needs senders who stay behind and raise the money and send them out in a God-glorifying way. The kingdom of God has no second class citizens. We are called to honor God whether we go and spread or stay and send. </span></span></b><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Back in May I had a opportunity to do a new project or a series of projects in the same structure. I am now interviewing clients while I film at the same time to catch their story of what their life was before being homeless, being homeless, and what their plans now after being helped by PATH. I have done little video work back in college but I am still learning new things to do with video. Its a new adventure for me. My favorite part out of the whole thing is listening to the client's stories. One client had a job and kids. She was doing great until she got caught up with drugs and alcohol. So she lost custody of the kids and her job. She ended up staying at her mom until things got too complicated so she moved to couch to couch. It got to the point where she knew she needed help so she went to rehab for awhile and heard about PATH while she was there. She was homeless and what she gonna do after rehab? Maybe get back into her bad habits and out in the street. She didn't want that. So she went to PATH after rehab. She end up doing few sessions with different departments that PATH have, to help their client with their program. She said she learning to get back on her two feet again and knowing how to handle financial problems. She been there few months now at PATH and she is in a waiting process to get a fresh start but she have to finish off the rest of her sessions before she is done. Her goal is to be a mother again for her kids and see her kids graduate in few years. A few days later after I interviewed her, I saw her and she told me that she got to talk to one of her kids and her kid will be getting a driver license soon. Its been awhile since she talked to them. Her kid want to come down and see her. She told them what have happened to her and what she is doing now. Her kids told her to keep going on with program and that they are proud of her knowing that she is trying to get better. Then she said I am so glad to hear that from my kids. That will keep me pushing for that goal. Almost every morning I see her as I walked to my office area and she will be talking other clients and then she will give a biggest hello out of the group to me. She is one of the few clients that I have been interviewing with. My coworker Paul and Cali been giving me suggestions and my boss Jeremy thought I should try do this new direction. So It feel good that I have a group of people who trust me of the work I am doing to do for PATH. I am really excited to take on a new challenge beside doing with design and photo-work for PATH. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">I<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">ts funny how God do things in your life when you at least expect it. When I first started working at PATH, I was suppose to do design work in morning then work with clients in afternoon. I end up working with development team for the rest of time and now I am doing both but still using my major to work with clients and development team. So I am so thankful and faithful of what God taught me through different trials in this YAV life in Hollywood this year. In about 2 month or less, I will be in Nashville for a year doing YAV again. I am looking forward to that but not looking forward to saying goodbye to my CA families and friends. God had me in CA for a reason and I believe I will be back in CA later on in life. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">Only worry about today and not tomorrow, God will take care of the rest. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px;">A few weeks ago, my parents came here to check out what I have experience here in CA. I had a great time with my parents and it was good to catch up with them and eat down home country food. We did a lot of sightseeing and introducing my parents to pretty much everybody. LOL. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSZ4p39TmZdmdGY4Jzf26OR5GRhc-S-m4AY7bdOwKLILof-GeyzquhSt7AGk-MFTOFc9CdEBnMiBoOONTbjYnoACuud_EyYsdG6wtRv69OuHFLLeDhyphenhyphen09HuGrcVyMjR7GV-aDF-oNG4NT/s1600/DSC_4262.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="212" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEihSZ4p39TmZdmdGY4Jzf26OR5GRhc-S-m4AY7bdOwKLILof-GeyzquhSt7AGk-MFTOFc9CdEBnMiBoOONTbjYnoACuud_EyYsdG6wtRv69OuHFLLeDhyphenhyphen09HuGrcVyMjR7GV-aDF-oNG4NT/s320/DSC_4262.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b>Please Pray for </b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><b><br />
</b></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">My roommate Josh and FPCH team as they go to Iraq for 2 week mission trip. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Schmitt family as they prepare for changes in their location. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Homeless people, clients in shelters, and agencies that help them.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">My Grandma Willie Harvey </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Current YAV folks who about to finish up their year around the world and for upcoming YAV folks as they prepare to start their new journey with God. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Me as I teach a bible study with FPCH youth group of middle and high school kids this Sunday.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">My housemates as they prepare to pray of what to do after this YAV program end. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Thanks for prayers and checking up on my blog. I hope you have a great day! God bless! </span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></b></span></span><br />
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</span></b></span></span></div></span></b></span>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-16023229459148515182011-05-10T01:02:00.000-07:002011-05-10T01:03:19.534-07:00The Border of US / Mexico - Part 2If you haven't read Part 1 yet. Then don't read this <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PART </span>2 till you read the previous blog of <b>"The Border of US / Mexico - Part 1"</b><br />
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While we were in Tucson, AZ we had a opportunity to go across the border to Mexico and visit few organizations that help immigrants who just recently been deported by the US government. One organization help immigrants get clothes or stuff they need. Another organization helped paid half for bus ride to take the immigrants back home after they got sent back into Mexico. There was a church who set up a housing place for immigrants to spend a night and have free dinner. <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8Ldzumac2Uzo33mHkZwUZTpQbODEoKEoOhQMzQce9JUVJfpsj3rPtCVbVsmRriM4X-P8JzK0D_9-m9niPYIdqKGmabwfvxKFzKIgGR6p9CPs1qXGMpvzX07FQplKE95JQ1bAdEcpPJyT/s1600/AZ_89.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="211" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEji8Ldzumac2Uzo33mHkZwUZTpQbODEoKEoOhQMzQce9JUVJfpsj3rPtCVbVsmRriM4X-P8JzK0D_9-m9niPYIdqKGmabwfvxKFzKIgGR6p9CPs1qXGMpvzX07FQplKE95JQ1bAdEcpPJyT/s320/AZ_89.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
We got to talked to few immigrants as we waited for dinner being prepared. All of us did mix of different things to fill our time at the church. Few of us did a hacky sack game, some played a guitar , some danced, some talked and listened to the people. I talked to a young man with a help of my interpreter Stevie. The young man had a cell phone and showing me pictures of his large family and his job. As he was showing me pictures, he was speaking so full of love and peace, no anger. I never seen so many pictures or videos in my life that was coming out of his cell phone. When dinner was ready, I sat beside a immigrant woman and immigrant man in front of her. Stevie joined us as well. After dinner, all the immigrants left and went to their sleeping area. We talked to a guy who was in charge of the shelter and did Q/A with us. I got to see the guy's office and he had a cross with Bob the builder on it.<br />
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The next day we went to church and head back to the US. Oh yeah, we got stopped when we crossed the border because we had a friend with us who just came from Germany to do internship at borderlinks in AZ for few months. Correna was questioned and the border police just wanted to know why she was here, etc. After 12 mins, they let us go to US. <br />
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Monday morning we went to a place called CrossStreets ministry in Tucson at 6:00 am which help homeless people and provide them food and jobs if a opportunity arises. Few of us serves the food and rest of us just talked to people. I served little then started taking photos and talking to people.<br />
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I met a man who is around 63 years old. He volunteer now at the church and volunteered at other places. He told me his story of trials he been through of drugs, drinking, and being homeless. He been sober since 1989. He said he stopped because he realized he have better things to do than doing drugs. So he try to be a example of helping people and giving them encouragement. He is homeless now but that don't stop him from helping other people. He said "It drives me crazy when people get angry or complained cause their free food is not warm or whatever it don't suit them." I was just like them but now I am pleased of what I get and I hope of my actions now will be seen by other people around me. When he was young ,he went to school to learn to be a computer programer but didn't finished due to his bad habit. Now he goes around Tucson and volunteer at places and sometime get a temporary job for a quick pay.<br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE5Qdw0GP2PWexBw8tVHfNRmkLe_QuJ7q9-OQx2WEQfzs4l0Er32jpXqn-8zHVTBMnuRBYy0GbQMhMJF7OVIAONT9XOa9RkOpBo5LH6V4I07jSlaQ0FqozljxnvV8mWhrJpStLfgnZ37a/s1600/AZ_7.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="246" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEieE5Qdw0GP2PWexBw8tVHfNRmkLe_QuJ7q9-OQx2WEQfzs4l0Er32jpXqn-8zHVTBMnuRBYy0GbQMhMJF7OVIAONT9XOa9RkOpBo5LH6V4I07jSlaQ0FqozljxnvV8mWhrJpStLfgnZ37a/s320/AZ_7.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></u></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We got to listened and talked to "ICE" agents around lunch time. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(Immigration and Customs Enforcement is the principal investigative arm of the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">U.S. Department of Homeland Security) </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Work on counterterrorism. Lead task forces. Training to detect narcotics and weapons smuggling, border violence.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #444444; line-height: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Helvetica Neue', Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Landscape - vast, hot dangerous. Majority of work is related to narcotics, addictions, human slave labor, etc. </span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Cyber crime investigation. Child abuse, sex crimes. Developing intelligence on gang members. Prosecution of illegal, alien gang members. Money laundering, commercial fraud. Identify criminal orgs producing counterfeit goods. Ready for the challenge? Recruitment bit.</span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></span></span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Customs investigated narcotics smuggling, money laundering, customs fraud, and illegal exports. Stemming the flow of firearms going to Mexico. The purpose of th</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">e organization of ICE: border patrol, officers at ports of entry. </span></span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Up above is overview of what ICE agents do. I can't show questions and answers due to their request . it was interesting and they really didn't answered a lot of our questions about the deaths in desert. Its seems like they were only limited to say what look good for their government. </span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">http://www.ice.gov/index.htm Check it out.</span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Well that is pretty much the overview of what we learned while we were in AZ.</span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;">Starting this week, I am switching jobs at PATH but working at two different position on different days. On Tuesday and Wednesday I will be working with Path in Hollywood with outreach team. We be reaching out to homeless people out in the street and I will be doing little filming / photo taking while I am out there. On Thursday and Friday I be back at Path Mall in LA taking those photos / videos and making into a video story to post on the PATH website. Please pray for the neighbors and the community house as it continue to grow. </span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">God is Good!</span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></span></div></span></span>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-28595301716401140932011-05-05T02:01:00.000-07:002011-05-05T02:01:03.960-07:00The Border of US / Mexico - Part 1<div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Recently I was in Tucson, AZ for a retreat with my housemates, my director, and Tucson dwellers who live there. For the 4 days, I have learned about the problem in the border, the </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">migrants</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, ICE agents, operation streamline, shelter for migrants, </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">NAFTA free trade</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;">, and visa issues. I have my thoughts about the border issues before I came. During the 4 days stay, I developed mix feelings about all these issues that I learned. </span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> was at a US court with the group to witness 60 migrants get sentenced for illegal entry into U.S. This system is called Operation Streamline</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">. </span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Operation Streamline -</span></span></span></b></span><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> is a Bush Administration program implemented in 2005 ordering federal criminal charges for every person who crosses the border illegally. In other words, it is a “</span></span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">zero tolerance</span></span></span></b><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">” border enforcement program that targets even first time undocumented border-crossers. Instead of routing non-violent individuals caught crossing the border into civil deportation proceedings, Operation Streamline forces undocumented migrants through the federal criminal justice system and into U.S. prisons. Those who are caught making a first entry are prosecuted for misdemeanors punishable by up to 6 months in prison, and those who reenter after deportation may be prosecuted for felonies punishable by up to 20 years in prison. Under this fast-track program, a federal criminal case with prison and deportation consequences is resolved in 2 days or less.</span></span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span> </span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I was sitting in the front row on the right side of the court. When the migrants get their sentences, they walked around the lawyer desk then toward us. I saw their faces before they walked out to the door 4 feet away from us. You could heard their hand cuffs and ankle cuffs </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">jingling. As I listened over and over of the judge reading their rights, public defender or public lawyers telling suggestions to their clients, and seeing the federal marshall making smirks at the immigrant's confession to the court. 2 to 7 immigrants at a time come up to face the judge as their lawyers stand behind them. Here is one example of 6 men. One Guatemalan and 5 mexicans standing while being read of their rights by the judge. One man said "I am guilty, i have been away from home for 15 days and my family doesn’t know where I am." They got sentenced for illegal entry in U.S. Each 59 immigrant got mix number of days in prison then deportation back to Mexico. One was a minor so he was sent to detention and be deported later. Every now and then the prosecutor would stand up and say "The US Government submit." as the judge read migrant's present crimes and sometime past crimes. I</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> felt that these people have the right to be sentenced and send back to Mexico for illgeal entry. I just don't agree with harsh behavior that border police treating them with. I did not feel good as the immigrants walked up to my direction and I just couldn't just stare at them long enough for them to make their exit as I looked in a difference direction. I just wonder what they were thinking at the moment? Maybe these examples?</span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;">Why there are a group of white kids watching us getting sentenced?</span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What did I get myself into?</span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">What my family going to do without me?</span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I don't understand what going on here, I wish someone will tell me.</span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">We got to listened to several guests who worked with in the border areas. A man named Mike who put out water stations 9 years ago out on his tribal lands reservation to help immigrants. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Humane Borders publishes a death map at the end of every year. It has red dots on each place where a dead human was found. I started to see a cluster of red dots on my reservation. I thought that it is my moral obligattion to do something. I put water on the migrant trails. in recent years. 42% of all migrant deaths in the Arizona lands are on tribal lands. My battle is how do I compel my tribal govt to accept its moral responsibility to fight these deaths. Its justification is that if we let these people come to put out water, then it will encourage migrants to come through the tribal lands. Now over the years it has transitioned. it follows the homeland security scenario. we dont know who is crossing. “ they may be terrorists” we dont want to give any aid that may be assissting terrorists in our tribal nation. we share 75 miles of land with the border. when I was the pastor out there, there was no humanitarian effort. Nobody was or is doing anything about migrant deaths. Migrant deaths have become common, and they have become accepted. that is my tribal governments position. there is no discussion about migrant deaths. they just want to talk about the criminality of the issues coming across. A lot of drugs are coming through. that is my tribal govts position. My issue is how to compel them to see that is our moral obligation to care about the migrant deaths."</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> Mike said. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">" </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I can travel back and forth between the countries, because my tribal land is on both sides. So i have a water station 10 meters inside the Mexican border. People may be walking back and forth for days before they can find my water station. I have some big tanks of water and lots of little 1 gallon jugs that i take on my truck. I saw that my tribe had bought a 2000 gallon water tanker. I saw it drive past and water was sloshing out the top because the cap was not on. He said that it was actually a 4000 gallon water tanker. Guess who there water is for. Cows. they were filling up these water tankers to fill up to take to the cattle so that cows wouldn’t suffer and die, and yet they do nothing about humans, men, women, children, pregnant women, and infants dying in the desert. so they spent half a million dollars to buy a truck to water cows but dont care about humans dying. they have a moral responsibility, and yet we have a tradition of hospitality among the tribes. are tradition is that we should always offer hospitality. I continue to put out water as a humanitarian."</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #4c1130;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="background-color: white;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">He said. There is </span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">race-based issues in arizona legislatiion. there is a new law that has made high schools and colleges in Arizona stop studying Ethnic studies. Ethnic cleansing has been a part of American history. And this is trying to make people forget about this. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The focus is on progams in high schools, like native american studies, mexican american studies, black american studies. the legislature has banned the teaching of these studies. they say that these classes teach people to overthrow the government and they are race-based. but what they really fear is the liberal education taking place. After Mike finished his Q/A with us, we found out from a text message that said Bin Laden is dead. We started to reflect on what Mike told us about immigrant's death in the desert and Bin Laden's death. We watched the news for little bit on Bin Laden. I was not happy with seeing so many people almost like praising that Bin Laden is dead. Maybe that is patriotic for them. We shared our thoughts about our Country killing Osama Bin Laden and what are our feelings about the situation. Here is few people's thoughts </span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">"I felt a sense of hopelessness. Its been like we have been after this man for so long. we have now proven that one person has been killed. our govt will shift to, now we got one lets get the next person. Our govt will not know when to stop. there will be another one to kill."</span></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="font: normal normal normal 18px/normal Helvetica; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">"Why do we believe that American lives are more sacred than any other of another nationality? </span></span></span><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">There is a bumper sticker that says: Why do we kill people that kill people, to prove to other people that killing people is wrong? T</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">he tv was interviewing people who had relatives in 911 and soldiers. and it was like they were saying that killing Osama has made it all ok." </span> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;"> </span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">"Why do we believe that some lives are more valuable? We believe that Jesus’s death made our deaths not so bad. It feels like the media is saying that Osamas death is making these other peoples death not so bad." </span></span></span></div><div><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><br />
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<span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Proverbs 24:17</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Do not rejoice when your enemy falls. Do not let your heart be glad when he stumbles.</span></span></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span style="letter-spacing: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">-</span>-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">-</span></span></span></div></span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;">We went to Mexico for 2 days and 1 night. We got to learned about a farmer making a garden so they will have food to eat. The farmer have said "There are some people think that I am crazy doing this." "I feel the need to do this to help and show other in my community that there is a solution to survive on." They hardly have any rain so they use water from a tank to water the garden. He also told us other ways he do to get water like making a ditch and he create large square bricks to sell. He also shared his thoughts on the borders. </span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">We learned about a coffee place where the coffee is being made from beans of farmers in Mexico. All the money to buy their coffee product goes to the farmers, not to the company. When they first started it, they sold over 300 lbs of the first year, last year they sold over 50,000 lbs of coffee. Their coffee is amazing! I support this message. </span></div><div style="font: 18.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 22.0px;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">We learned about free trade and did a skit with our group out in the plaza area. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: xx-small;">I had to acted </span><br />
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</span></b></span></div>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-3267008482511976392011-04-13T10:49:00.000-07:002011-04-13T10:49:40.015-07:00Which way to go?<h3 class="innerUnderlined" style="background-color: white; border-bottom-color: rgb(151, 179, 202); border-bottom-style: dotted; border-bottom-width: 1px; border-left-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-left-width: 0px; border-right-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-right-width: 0px; border-top-color: rgb(255, 255, 255); border-top-width: 0px; color: #57585b; font-family: Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 1.2em; line-height: 18px; margin-bottom: 13px; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; margin-top: 10px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px; width: 410px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal; line-height: normal;"> </span></h3> "The Road Not Taken"<br />
<blockquote class="quotation" style="font-family: Helvetica, Verdana, Arial, sans-serif; font-size: 14px; font-style: italic; line-height: 18px;">Two roads diverged in a yellow wood<br />
And sorry I could not travel both<br />
And be one traveler, long I stood<br />
And looked down one as far as I could<br />
To where it bent in the undergrowth; <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">5</span><br />
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Then took the other, as just as fair<br />
And having perhaps the better claim,<br />
Because it was grassy and wanted wear;<br />
Though as for that, the passing there<br />
Had worn them really about the same, <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">10</span><br />
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And both that morning equally lay<br />
In leaves no step had trodden black.<br />
Oh, I kept the first for another day!<br />
Yet knowing how way leads on to way,<br />
I doubted if I should ever come back. <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">15</span><br />
<br />
I shall be telling this with a sigh<br />
Somewhere ages and ages hence:<br />
Two roads diverged in a wood and<br />
I took the one less traveled by,<br />
And that has made all the difference. <span class="small-caps" style="font-variant: small-caps;">20</span> </blockquote> - <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">Robert Frost </span><br />
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</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;">We have termites and our house is being tented and fumigated. So all of us went our separate ways to stay at a co-worker, a friend, a grandparents while we wait for this process to be over. We are home - less for few days. </span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWr1CVaBJrOcufr8FNmFh_R7qAn58KMCM66UeL7YcgUG42OQ62lHR4XUkYq8CQbFTCWsJ4tRowGDdVmg3ZgRMHrTbaRDADmZubVpeNuxdPKSOZqsDEyGtwoTJHAs0I4uN2IJ938QmwhZub/s1600/PATH_1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiWr1CVaBJrOcufr8FNmFh_R7qAn58KMCM66UeL7YcgUG42OQ62lHR4XUkYq8CQbFTCWsJ4tRowGDdVmg3ZgRMHrTbaRDADmZubVpeNuxdPKSOZqsDEyGtwoTJHAs0I4uN2IJ938QmwhZub/s400/PATH_1.jpg" width="400" /><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-text-decorations-in-effect: none; color: black;"></span></a><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzsMpG7JHwA8zriY7QzvzLi2aBiwhXa-q-4HCDOoYNU4dDew_rWyJXl2NqKmlMWvK_GVegU8ynDi-xb0SaFIvsmUveTjYbB1qZGOiGQqTcQMFuGPZ5E4JjJ-8AipCz3brVDqXdp9XdMu5/s1600/PATH_4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="300" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEivzsMpG7JHwA8zriY7QzvzLi2aBiwhXa-q-4HCDOoYNU4dDew_rWyJXl2NqKmlMWvK_GVegU8ynDi-xb0SaFIvsmUveTjYbB1qZGOiGQqTcQMFuGPZ5E4JjJ-8AipCz3brVDqXdp9XdMu5/s400/PATH_4.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I stayed at former YAV's apartment just down the street and it was good to catch up with Becky and her husband. I am jealous of them right now because they about to go to Nicaragua tonight. I want to go back to Nicaragua!! It was nice to have a 2 days break away from my housemates but I miss community times with kids. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> A few weeks ago, a teen did some poor misbehaving at the house. I didn't accept that behavior at all. I gave a fair warning and the behavior of the teen kept getting worse. Finally I sent the teen home. I didn't want to kick the teen out of the house but I didn't want the teen's misbehavior to be a example of how to act in front of the little kids. I was sad. The next day I talked to the teen one and one about the issue. "You have a good heart and you are setting a example to the kids how to act." "Do you want the kids to act right or be rude?" I said. You are role model just like the other teens that comes here. It was a good talk with the teen. We both come to agreement. After that week, the teen seem happier now. It was hard for me to give any kid or teen a punishment of their actions at community house. I had to go on the road that was less traveled. I love the kids. So after that talk, it seem like we bonded closer. That made a big difference in 2 ways. One is the older kids know to <b>try</b> to set a <b>good example of a role model </b>to the kids. The other one is that we bonded closer. GOD is AWESOME. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">----------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Also a few weeks ago, 2 guests from Homeboy Industries came to speak at the community house. The guests was 2 former gang members and spoke about their past and how their lives changed after being involved with Homeboy Industries. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">Homeboy Industries </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">assists at-risk, formerly gang-involved youth and the recently incarcerated to become contributing members of our community through a variety of services in response to their multiple needs. Their free programs - including counseling, education, tattoo removal, job training, and placement - enable young men and women to redirect their lives and provide them with hope for their futures. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"> </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Check out their website</span></span> <a href="http://www.homeboy-industries.org/index.php">Homeboy-Industries website</a> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"> </span></span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"></span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"> I strongly recommended to get "Tattoos On The Heart" book. Its about gang member's lives, how they changed, and how Homeboy industries got started. It is one of my top 10 favorite books. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTUpVSjarl4-uWnwotkVneH2P2n4gCfd2icOawsnn2TwmxI5p31gxuJojskiUg2ijybs20S_jRUIPzFdH9jtvxAQGW2clfApea5UndWZks9V3QjF54eYBqafZO0GhgMCaDIxklm2hOho8/s1600/Tattoos+on+the+Heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiTTUpVSjarl4-uWnwotkVneH2P2n4gCfd2icOawsnn2TwmxI5p31gxuJojskiUg2ijybs20S_jRUIPzFdH9jtvxAQGW2clfApea5UndWZks9V3QjF54eYBqafZO0GhgMCaDIxklm2hOho8/s320/Tattoos+on+the+Heart.jpg" width="204" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There was a lot of neighborhood teens and group of teens from Oasis came to listen to the guest speakers. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nGI7xCCVzLHfab94kmiZ5l56M5IG6G4xgNXWqyx5Qm86OX6M4bV2_2Sf6GP6Db50FqW6RMbmkg62aqjM3T1_xTOtv6avTh7QiDB8bg5_TR-gDpI9spJnopdvTb_m5wCLkdtTz9Nzunt7/s1600/picture_32.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg0nGI7xCCVzLHfab94kmiZ5l56M5IG6G4xgNXWqyx5Qm86OX6M4bV2_2Sf6GP6Db50FqW6RMbmkg62aqjM3T1_xTOtv6avTh7QiDB8bg5_TR-gDpI9spJnopdvTb_m5wCLkdtTz9Nzunt7/s400/picture_32.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cuqn9Sb8RJ2psK_iEAhxd2HHF5aim4ShJLTIy64qt0SEhyOJwxPfBMRDmfj7fiMSHYQLWZuuLFPVIBnI-1w69yRpHWI14qZREIcBhU4vPdsDckELEYFLKJ2V-wBs3Y_fXpnM5lR32Tfi/s1600/picture_44.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="218" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh8cuqn9Sb8RJ2psK_iEAhxd2HHF5aim4ShJLTIy64qt0SEhyOJwxPfBMRDmfj7fiMSHYQLWZuuLFPVIBnI-1w69yRpHWI14qZREIcBhU4vPdsDckELEYFLKJ2V-wBs3Y_fXpnM5lR32Tfi/s400/picture_44.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I am really pump up for this week. A good college buddy Lauren is coming up to visit plus me and intern youth pastor David taking the FPC high school kids to LA Dodger game this friday night. It will be great to get to know the high school group more outside of church. Hope everybody have a great weekend! God bless!</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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</span>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-60687575350642786522011-03-30T00:47:00.000-07:002011-03-30T08:55:07.531-07:00God already knows.<h4 style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;">John 1:1-3,10,11,12</h4><h4 style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-26046" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></sup></span></h4><h4 style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-26046" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">1</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">In the beginning was the Word, and the Word was with God, and the Word was God. </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-26047" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">2</span></span></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">The same was in the beginning with God.</span></span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-26048" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">3</span></span></sup></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">All things were made by him; and without him was not any thing made that was made.</span></span></span></h4><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-26055" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; font-weight: normal;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></sup></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-26055" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">10</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">He was in the world, and the world was made by him, and the world knew him not.</span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-26056" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">11</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">He came unto his own, and his own received him not.</span></span></div><div style="text-align: center;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-26057" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">12</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">But as many as received him, to them gave he power to become the sons of God, even to them that believe on his name:</span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">It is amazing of how extraordinary God is. He is the father of us. He is the one who created heaven and earth at the beginning. The earth was plain. So God said "let there be light: and there were light." Then he divided light from darkness. On the 2nd day, he created land as water divided around the dry land. God brought plants, grass up to life. You know the rest of the story in Genesis 1:1-31. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> <div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I remembered learning that story when I was little from my Sunday school teacher. It was almost like fairy tale. At that young age, I was like " God made the earth, light, darkness, made everything and he named them of his creation. Cool. That's it. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span> </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">As I got older, I got into details of God's creations, not just basic of what he created mentioned in the bible. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Nanobes</span></b> are thought by some to be the smallest known organism, about one tenth the size of the smallest known bacteria. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><br />
</div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b>Eriophyid mites</b> are among the smallest of all arthropods, measuring only 125 to 250 μm in length. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b>Humpback whale</b> is one of the larger <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">rorqual</span> species, adults range in length from 39–52 ft and weigh approximately 79,000 lb.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><b>Jupiter</b> is the largest planet within the Solar System.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">Have you ever thought about these tiny or big creations that God made? Try to think of things that God created, not as a whole but the inside. </span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">God created those things. I was amazed when I saw a humpback whale out in the ocean few days ago so close to the beach. The people who live in the area, told us, they never seen a whale so up close. One in the lifetime opportunity.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaf7cwTKFVZ74E-iF-XRzs3I30yKB94XzR5hL1GPldhFydx904cWt2bM-u2oWmB8jon5idLaPB6Mn1oF5MpnbX6_1k1aXHIlcK9QBD6CgpVhTF5KlsiIHEuyKbIiMie-Jb3cEEu8_yIiM/s1600/picture_95.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="236" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjeaf7cwTKFVZ74E-iF-XRzs3I30yKB94XzR5hL1GPldhFydx904cWt2bM-u2oWmB8jon5idLaPB6Mn1oF5MpnbX6_1k1aXHIlcK9QBD6CgpVhTF5KlsiIHEuyKbIiMie-Jb3cEEu8_yIiM/s320/picture_95.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM4DXvUySdu_f0hGVkWiLzLIV-JeFAR7GwZZ1j0tUwrF79uMGcUCRHAuIKkcRzl8mbu-ZuaYKoGQ7YuPuWdiJn5XMVJDFiPjeim8nrBtpD9CHBZXGEkp-upRK0hk3Kh2mFsRTj80XVvX-/s1600/picture_83.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="167" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgYM4DXvUySdu_f0hGVkWiLzLIV-JeFAR7GwZZ1j0tUwrF79uMGcUCRHAuIKkcRzl8mbu-ZuaYKoGQ7YuPuWdiJn5XMVJDFiPjeim8nrBtpD9CHBZXGEkp-upRK0hk3Kh2mFsRTj80XVvX-/s320/picture_83.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> The weather, nature, tiny organism hardly see by a naked eye, trillion of cells in our body, the mountains, the stars in the sky, 206 different bones of shapes and sizes in the human body. God did it. God is so incredible and is the smartest of us all. Think of this way, God have all the degrees that exist now from college to the end. How God know to create from 125 um in length mite, red veins in our eye balls, elephant, clouds,</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> ________, ________, </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">and many more</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 21px;"> (fill in those blank) </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> I have one answer. <b> </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;"><b>He is God.</b></span><b> </b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;">This past month, Scott and Chad came to visited at different times, it was a blast. One of my favorite times of both visit, is that we talked about God, life, and the future. God put the words out of our mouth. I learned something new from Scott and Chad. I guess they would say the same thing of me. God planned this and still planning. He knows what already gonna happen in 2 secs before I finished typing this sentence. God picked Mary to give birth to Jesus. Why Mary? God is God. He is the creator above all of his creations. How God knows Jesus was the one? God is God.</span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"> I ask that you give a moment for God. Six days of creations and on the seventh day God rested. Amazing! Thank God, look around you as you quietly talk to God, give him your thoughts. He already know what you gonna say or do. If you wanna hear God laugh, tell him your plans. </span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 14px; line-height: 21px;"></span></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: medium;"><h4 style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; line-height: normal; text-align: center;">John 1:31</h4><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-31" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">31</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">And God saw every thing that he had made, and, behold, it was very good. And the evening and the morning were the sixth day.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; line-height: normal; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: large;">GOD IS GOOD.</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">As a christian, I still fail to be example of Christ. Everybody does. People say "God don't give you many chances to do good deed." They are wrong. God give me and you a lot of opportunities to serve him. Sometime we just failed by not realizing God is here for us and we are here for him. Sure, we get wrapped up with busy work and its simple to lose thought to do good deeds for God. God created everything in 6 days and he rested on the 7th. God had time to do that for us. Don't think that God is God and he can do whatever he wants of what he did with his creations of the 6 days. God did this cause <b>he love us</b> and for us to enjoy the creations he created. Adam and Eve failed to listen of God's word. We do the same things. We not perfect but we can try to do better. Scratch try out. We need to make great efforts to have God in front of us and our worries behind us. If you can do that, then you will be in good hands with God. God created the world, he gave us lessons in the bible, and gave his only son to die for us. So next time you are out in the world at work, hiking, or hanging out with friends, just look around you at God's creation and thank him for his awesome love.</span></span><br />
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</span></div></span></span></span></span>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-81124813223636252752011-03-14T03:16:00.000-07:002011-03-14T03:16:54.654-07:00“Nobody can go back and start a new beginning, but anyone can start today and make a new ending.”<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">PATH's Outreach Team helped out to move Doc & Jon, two homeless Veterans, into their new apartment last Tuesday. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">This is really great news for the men & for PATH because the outreach team been talking to the men for few months about getting them an apartment. So Jon & Doc decided to do it & since they were war veterans, they have benefits to help them out. They didn't have to go through a 6 - 9 months program at PATH. So the outreach team got them off the street,</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> Doc & John came by the Path Mall to get cleaned up Tuesday morning. The whole process started off with haircuts and shaves at the PATH Mall. My boss Jeremy did video interview with both men while I took pictures of the men during the interview and getting their hair cut. My housemates Josh & Robert took the 2 men to their new apartment that afternoon. God is Good. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCX96QFsyk-McY0HORFIg6B8eaDhTWGkqg_COx3cPTIvkSWfdr1Q2B8GQqV4v5Wv4ltBm6VwlJ1dfX4BjlEhTsKkMankl8PhjPvlP4NPJ8-GgQt1ZCQd9LnUEi6GRyMOlRON2bbeFeHgE5/s1600/190444_10150167957891788_33832481787_8979385_4051770_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="195" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiCX96QFsyk-McY0HORFIg6B8eaDhTWGkqg_COx3cPTIvkSWfdr1Q2B8GQqV4v5Wv4ltBm6VwlJ1dfX4BjlEhTsKkMankl8PhjPvlP4NPJ8-GgQt1ZCQd9LnUEi6GRyMOlRON2bbeFeHgE5/s320/190444_10150167957891788_33832481787_8979385_4051770_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNaG86RTdodv_1QL43B7i4u1dVf5xcXhMHobdJMkGmo4U9NL6MgrAEE4Vdier0UNUIWx-jWOcDhOaiNeARso4Whiu7EPA70VRUn0m7HBlFV3MMhkzs4TyC1bokEy_Pc_u_XFalgAf5nsQ/s1600/188232_10150167957976788_33832481787_8979387_3509907_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="174" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjoNaG86RTdodv_1QL43B7i4u1dVf5xcXhMHobdJMkGmo4U9NL6MgrAEE4Vdier0UNUIWx-jWOcDhOaiNeARso4Whiu7EPA70VRUn0m7HBlFV3MMhkzs4TyC1bokEy_Pc_u_XFalgAf5nsQ/s320/188232_10150167957976788_33832481787_8979387_3509907_n.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;">Click the blue link below for more pictures. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><a href="http://files.epath.org/gallery/galleries/ribbon_fullsize/index.php?gallery=3&theme=dark">Picture slideshow of Doc & Jon getting cleaned up. </a> </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;">The winter shelters in LA will be closed on Wednesday till next winter comes. So where all the homeless people go to? Parks, alleys,, cardboard boxes, corners of buildings. They could go to PATH shelters but they have to apply for it and enter in the 6-9 months program. These homeless who go to winter shelters, just want to go for short term housing, not a long term housing like PATH. So please pray for them and for programs who help homeless clients to find a better way to help homeless even when the winter shelters is not available.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #990000;"> </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">On March 3, I had opportunity to go back to TN for few days. Thursday night, I spoke on MTSU campus at PSF to college students about Young Adult Volunteers Program & my experiences in LA. Each year, a YAVs from Nashville site come to PSF to talk about their experiences so this time, I joined them. I am the first one from PSF to do YAV and proud to say 2 of my college buddies are joining YAV program for this coming year. It was good to catch up with PSF alumni, my campus pastor, college friends, 3 Nashville YAVs, Nashville site Director & of course my parents & Nanny for a 2 day stay. I enjoyed listening my Nashville YAVs's stories of their stay here & their experience of their workplace in Nashville helping the homeless. At the end of the speaking event, Pastor John gathered the group and asked for us to pray in turns whoever wants to. Several of us prayed for Current YAVs in the states & out of the country as they have 5 months left to go. Future YAVs for the coming year, PSF's mission trip with 15 students to NC to rebuild homes. The crimes/violence at MTSU. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytZdn2N1WjFVxsUB29IYjzGLRHpt6RtPEcivg_0QjDFlTWkDf4JHUJAqOkHwwcRwDc5LqmoWJNlPjfRKBqeSxph0NZ0FilhEuBq-W_vdzzL0ft11Il8RifkQ2XNJIWjQa7uIf4OQnsaQl/s1600/IMG_0741.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="181" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhytZdn2N1WjFVxsUB29IYjzGLRHpt6RtPEcivg_0QjDFlTWkDf4JHUJAqOkHwwcRwDc5LqmoWJNlPjfRKBqeSxph0NZ0FilhEuBq-W_vdzzL0ft11Il8RifkQ2XNJIWjQa7uIf4OQnsaQl/s400/IMG_0741.JPG" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Over 30 students / </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">alumni at PSF</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">After the event, me & my friends went to donut shop and hang out for few hrs. I talked to Lauren & Chad which they just joined YAV program. I am really happy for them & I told everybody, if you do YAV program, you will be truly blessed. </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Lauren done the interview with Hollywood & New Orleans site & She chose to be a part of New Orleans. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Chad have not done interviews yet with the sites but checking out Northern Ireland & South Korea site. This past week, a new site director Antonio from Denver came to Hollywood to shadow Matthew "Hollywood Site director" At the end of the week, Antonio said to me, do you know Chad? I said yes. Then he said well he is checking out Denver site. Such a small world. AWESOME! </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">I ask that you pray for Chad, Lauren & upcoming YAVs as they start to prepare this new journey with this program. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">. </span><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX23w6t7xTm5uhrhjUi5nYD6y1uCDB51T1xceu3HfmHkKXBBIgxDnrSmRAp7w6-_CtgZYV6o20X2ZDR3XOnREZNWzkMWeN_7CnEAkIOCGGUWYj5UEtBru47GfVhEcYrY4MA7k-LfvVq1lc/s1600/IMG_0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="208" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX23w6t7xTm5uhrhjUi5nYD6y1uCDB51T1xceu3HfmHkKXBBIgxDnrSmRAp7w6-_CtgZYV6o20X2ZDR3XOnREZNWzkMWeN_7CnEAkIOCGGUWYj5UEtBru47GfVhEcYrY4MA7k-LfvVq1lc/s320/IMG_0749.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgX23w6t7xTm5uhrhjUi5nYD6y1uCDB51T1xceu3HfmHkKXBBIgxDnrSmRAp7w6-_CtgZYV6o20X2ZDR3XOnREZNWzkMWeN_7CnEAkIOCGGUWYj5UEtBru47GfVhEcYrY4MA7k-LfvVq1lc/s1600/IMG_0749.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Lauren Kyle Chad</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">My buddy Scott came to visit me this past week and I had blast catching up with him and showing him around Los Angeles. It was nice to have a break. We did a lot of stuff from </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Eating lunch in the press box at LA Dodger Stadium (paid by the LA Dodger)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">3rd row seats to Conan & saw Pee Wee Herman & got free tour at WB. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Gave a tour at my work of PATH for Scott</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Hiking up to Hollywood Sign</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Played with neighborhood kids</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Visited the Community set & hang out with Joel</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Went to Point Dume Beach, El Matador Beach, & Venice Beach</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Checked out buildings in Downtown LA & Chinatown</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Ate at LA's popular hangout at PINKs (Hot Dog place)</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">& other stuffs.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I worked from 8 to 12 each day at PATH then hang out with Scott for the rest of the afternoon. </span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4kJvoDsnas1HhIxNcdkhhLPTDsfSXd7JsN0d6_omHCYasxPbY4GBX4IJ5Nc7zCv5SsoJ91iG-9cET-1HSHykFPqzbzyEuKqCbrSieHr8hL_xzPr7af2aWwn4P5uKD0Tk53bRSyuFbgVm/s1600/picture_28.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="193" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiz4kJvoDsnas1HhIxNcdkhhLPTDsfSXd7JsN0d6_omHCYasxPbY4GBX4IJ5Nc7zCv5SsoJ91iG-9cET-1HSHykFPqzbzyEuKqCbrSieHr8hL_xzPr7af2aWwn4P5uKD0Tk53bRSyuFbgVm/s400/picture_28.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px;">I am looking forward to the next couple months, 2 of my friends </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;">Chad, Lauren </span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px;"> & my parents coming up to visit. (Different dates/times, not together) I am sad that its only 5 months left to complete this program. I am still praying over what I am going to do after this. I am seeking advice with my coworkers, my parents, church members, and my site director about what the next best step. </span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>Here is a prayer list I would like for you to pray for. It will just take few mins of your time. </b></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b><br />
</b></span></div><ul><li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>Lauren, Chad, Upcoming YAVs</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>Current YAVs and my housemates as we start to complete our program.</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; font-size: 11px;"><b>The people & the victims in Japan, Hawaii, & in the United State's west coast of the </b></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>tsunami </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>effect </b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>Homeless people out in the street & Path's clients </b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>The new site director Antonio from Denver</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>My site director Matt and his family</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>People who doing Lent </b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>My family</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>Mrs. Compton & her child </b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>My prayer partner Brandon & his family</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>Joel as he take a break from touring for awhile to spend time with his sons. </b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>My friends who about to graduate in May</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>People who are lost with their faith</b></span></li>
<li><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><b>Neighborhood kids </b></span></li>
</ul><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; font-weight: bold;">Matthew 7:7-8 (KJV)</span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><div class="result-text-style-normal"><br />
<div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-23324" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">7</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Ask, and it shall be given you; seek, and ye shall find; knock, and it shall be opened unto you:</span></span></div><div style="text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"> </span></span><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-23325" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">8</span></span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">For every one that asketh receiveth; and he that seeketh findeth; and to him that knocketh it shall be opened.</span></span></div></div></span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: left;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="border-collapse: collapse; color: #333333; font-family: 'lucida grande', tahoma, verdana, arial, sans-serif; font-size: 11px;"><br />
</span></div>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-9553414231932203792011-02-04T01:15:00.000-08:002011-02-04T01:15:09.521-08:00Homelessness can be fiXed......<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Homelessness</span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> is the condition and social category of people without a regular house or dwelling because they cannot afford, or are otherwise unable to maintain regular, safe, and adequate housing, or lack "fixed, regular, and adequate nighttime residence.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 21px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">The term </span><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><b>homelessness</b></span></i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> may also include people whose primary night-time residence is in a </span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Homeless_shelter" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #0645ad; text-decoration: none;" title="Homeless shelter"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">homeless shelter</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">, in an institution that provides a <u>temporary residence</u> for individuals intended to be institutionalized, or in a public or private place not designed for use as a regular sleeping accommodation for human beings.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">In CA, there is 159,732 homeless people across the state. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">based on 2007 census).</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">In TN, there is 8,700 to 11,000 homeless people across the state.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">(</span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">based on 2009 census).</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><br />
</span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">82,000</span> people are homeless on <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">any given night </span>in Los Angeles.</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">At my work "PATH"'s goal is to end the homelessness. </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><div style="color: #1a1a18; font: 10.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"></div><div style="color: #1a1a18; font: 10.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">PATH Mission: “To break the cycle of homelessness by empowering people with the tools for self-sufficiency” </span></span></div><div style="color: #1a1a18; font: 10.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="color: #1a1a18; font: 10.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">PATH Approach: </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">To help homeless individuals and families find work, save money, secure housing, and empower their lives.</span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"></span></span></div><div style="color: black; font-family: Times;"></div><br />
<div style="color: #1a1a18; font: 10.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="color: #1a1a18; font: 10.0px Helvetica; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">PATH’s strategic approaches to ending homelessness are resulting in successful outcomes and the creation of model programs that have been replicated in many other communities. PATH proven track record of getting individuals off of the streets is one of the many reasons why one former PATH client referred to PATH as “the prime-rib of supportive services.” By providing homeless and low-income individuals with the full range of resources they need to achieve self-sufficiency, PATH is working toward the ultimate goal of eliminating homelessness throughout Los Angeles and America.</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font: 12.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; text-align: justify;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Each year PATH serve approximately 4,000 homeless individuals and families, providing them with access to the housing and supportive services they need to break the cycle of homelessness and achieve self-sufficiency. In the past year, the PATH Mall has achieved the following successes:</span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">P</span></span></b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">ATH'S FACTS</span></b></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">- Provided 13,047 case management and referral services to 3,111 unduplicated clients through the PATH Mall Access Center, linking homeless individuals to the supportive services they need to overcome their barriers to self-sufficiency</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">- Provided 23,843 basic services, including showers, lunches, and clothing</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">- Through the PATH Finders Job Center in the PATH Mall, PATH provided academic support, job training, and employment assistance services to <b>410</b> individuals, <b>101</b> of whom secured full-time, living wage employment. </span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">- Improved the housing stability of the homeless, as measured by providing referrals to emergency, transitional, and permanent housing to <b>958</b> individuals</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">- Improved the health of the homeless as measured by providing <b>3,099</b> service visits to <b>1,260</b> homeless adults and children through the JWCH Institute Medical Clinic in the PATH Mall</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px; min-height: 16.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">- Helped the homeless cope with mental illness, as measured by<b> 1,400 </b>individuals who received mental health care services through Gateways Hospital in the PATH Mall</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">Pretty amazing....... </span></span></div><div style="font: 14.0px 'Times New Roman'; margin: 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px 0.0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">When I first arrived at the army shelter in Glendale with Mark, Christina, and Alayna there was a line from the end of the street to the doors of the shelter. We walked around and talked to folks in line. A man who work for the shelter yelled and said " I am sorry but we have no blankets for tonight. We have pillows and sheets. No blankets. Again I am sorry. If you come tomorrow night, there will be blankets." Some of the people seem to be disappointed by the news but others just shook the chip off their shoulder knowing they going to be in shelter tonight. A young man from Michigan walked up to me, asking me about my cohear implants. I answered his questions and we ended up having a discussion on how technology helping people then I asked "What brought you here?" He said" I wanted to get away from Michigan and start new life here." Did you have a job when you first came here? I asked. He said I was looking for one but couldn't find the job. I ran out of money. So here I am but I am still looking for jobs. He asked for a sweatshirt to me and Mark. Later that night, brand new sweatshirt showed up for the Michigan boy and tons of blankets. Where did those come from?? Mark had connections. He called few places and delivered to help these people. Mark is the founder of Invisible People. He experienced being homeless and turned his life around and now he is a top representative role model to speak on homeliness to people. He have been across the US to spread the word on homeliness. Check out his blog </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">http://invisiblepeople.tv/blog/about/ </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Later on that night, I was sitting on a army bed cot listening to a man who was in his mid 60s. He worked for construction for 37 years. He lost his home after he got laid off. Not enough money to retire. He stayed at friend's apartment for few months but he knew it was time to go. No job. No money. "Its hard to get accepted for a job at his age and a type of work he does" He said. I have no computer skills, if I had that, I will be ok finding a job. Then he just smile and then said "I stay here tonight and be hopeful for tomorrow."</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">A man came and sat in front of me as he ate his dinner food. We both did our quick hi and names. Then he said "I am here now and can get some rest tonight." I replied "Yes sir." He just kept on eating as he stare at me like he is waiting on me to ask him something. "How was your day today" I asked. "Well its the first day." he said. I was puzzle of what he meant by that. Then he said "I am drug addict" I stopped the last time that I did it. I said good. Then he said "I don't know how long that will last. I have been unsuccessful of staying away from it. All the homeless shelters I try to get into, have been hard on drug addicts. They don't allowed me to stay the night, I have to stay clean to come in the shelter. I had different type jobs in the past but the choices got me here now. So its the first day. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYgMaON35WIdWl6RtzUgikmizKOPgKUqgVFBIvn6xnyBKyZC6Qgctf5a9oHaKRngBv8Tj6ykR_ZcOkEb1PQ2Fyp7SRM__HN8tP2k5HqirxmhnDWCxz2ZAgZ2u8bLWwQ39p0XjR9Ecic8b/s1600/DSC_0126.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="265" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfYgMaON35WIdWl6RtzUgikmizKOPgKUqgVFBIvn6xnyBKyZC6Qgctf5a9oHaKRngBv8Tj6ykR_ZcOkEb1PQ2Fyp7SRM__HN8tP2k5HqirxmhnDWCxz2ZAgZ2u8bLWwQ39p0XjR9Ecic8b/s400/DSC_0126.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">That night after listening to their stories. I gave them encouragement, suggestions and information on Path's Glendale Achieve shelter in Glendale. Glendale Achieve shelter help you find jobs, teach free classes from computer skills to art, a place to help you start off better after you finished Glendale's program. Most of the homeless I talked to, said they will check into it, some just ignore it.</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">There is nothing I can do but just let them know the choices are available. </span></span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxIerOFbESUPYqOcx2Y4xICnGbmLVwYwDX9GNfMXnBf0cACv7w8_fX71MlOduF5LUwWgV-2KeK1JMQ-VE2Y44fe1N5z-mcJLgo1oyxC8Uqpsj1_zq3sTxFNcMn6K-gnz-6pZhfG6pTbuj/s1600/fix_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="187" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiAxIerOFbESUPYqOcx2Y4xICnGbmLVwYwDX9GNfMXnBf0cACv7w8_fX71MlOduF5LUwWgV-2KeK1JMQ-VE2Y44fe1N5z-mcJLgo1oyxC8Uqpsj1_zq3sTxFNcMn6K-gnz-6pZhfG6pTbuj/s400/fix_5.jpg" width="400" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><br />
</span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">About a week ago we just did a homeless count in certain part of LA. This homeless count program asked for volunteers to do the count for 3 nights from 8pm to 1am. The staff split up the volunteers in teams and go to certain area that they were asked to go to, to count. There was police and Path outreach staff involved in this program and offer assistance to the volunteers. They haven't gathered the total count yet. The only places volunteers didn't count was in Glendale and Long Beach.</span></span></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"></span></div><h2 id="passage_heading" style="font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">Hebrews 13:2 (King James Version)</h2><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-30244" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">2</sup>Be not forgetful to entertain strangers: for thereby some have entertained angels unawares.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">What this mean is do not forget to show hospitality to strangers and some people have shown hospitality to others without knowing it. Jesus wants us to treat others like our own brother or sisters. Its hard for me to leave the shelter after I listened to their stories and want to do more. But I can't The best thing we can do is listen and lift their spirit up. Let them know that you are noticing them. Help them feel not invisible as they have been walked by so many people ignoring them. We are all the same in Christ. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; font-size: x-small;">People (YOU) need to know that the homeliness people out in the street that could be dirty, sick, or whatever come to your mind when you first see them. <b>I don't see that.</b> I see the people in the street that can get <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">chances</span> to start over. God give us chances to ask forgiveness..... Why don't we start offering and noticing the people out in the street. We need to let them know there is places to help them out. Short or long term housing. Nobody deserves to stay out in the streets, alleys, abandon cars, or trees. PATH is here to not only help the homeliness but to spread the word of this problem and solve the problem by ending the homeliness. Nobody chose to be homeless... Its just happened to people. Its stinks. <b>But it can be fix. </b>God got a plan and he had and will guide me as I continue to reach out to our brothers and sisters. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">Please pray for my housemates and I as we started a new schedule at community house with kids. Pray for the kids to become understanding of the new schedule. Pray that the new volunteers and neighbors to keep connecting with us and the community house as we develop stronger friendships with neighbors and kids. Please pray for the people and the government in Egypt that violence or ignoring the suggestions is not the answer to end their problem. Pray for my family, Matt's family, and my housemates's families. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif;">God bless!</span></span></div>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-85948329254529768002011-01-23T19:55:00.000-08:002011-01-23T19:55:00.696-08:00A Roller Coaster ride in December.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">If you have been blessed, it's your responsibility to bless others with what you've been given. God hasn't given those gifts just for your own good but for the good of others as well</span>. Early in my childhood, my parents have taught me that it is important to help and care for people who are in need. Its in my blood, to help, listen, care, entertain, and lift someone's frown into a smile. I know what talents what God have given me to use and I am truly blessed that God have given me experiences with my talents in past mission trips and now in CA. I see it as my responsibility, but also my privilege, to be generous with what God had entrusted to me. <br />
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A few days before I left for Christmas break, there was a break in at the community house. A part of a door frame was torn apart when the door was kicked in. In the room was full of leftover toys and gifts for the kids buy for their parents for Christmas. Nothing was taken in the room except for the missing door frame was ripped off. At that time, I was disappointed and thinking "Who would do this?" A week before that, there was blue paint splattered all over outside bulletin board and outside walls of the community house. In the month of December, it seems to have its up and down. We had a Posada event with the neighbors and two kids dressed up as Mary and Joseph. We all walked together singing Christmas carols in spanish and in english. We went to 3 different houses, Mary and Joseph knocked on each door and asked "Is there room for us?" All three owners replied no room available. The fourth house, we went to, was the community house, the host let us in as we saw Mary and Joseph put plastic baby Jesus on the table as other kids acted as wise men standing around Jesus. After that, we spend time with kids and talked to their parents at after-party. God is Good!<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Posada event</td></tr>
</tbody></table>The next day after the Posada, we had a Toy store for the kids for 3 afternoons to buy or do chores around the community house to get any gifts they want to get it for their family members. We had baby toys, kid books, adult watches, women make-up stuff, men's tool stuff, sport supplies, and digital cameras. My roommate Brady's friend donated money for us to buy all this stuff that the kids requested to get for their parents. This was the first time that the dwellers did it, it went very well with neighbors. The kids got to wrapped their gifts and write letters to their family. After I came back from xmas break, some of the kids told me, that their parents enjoyed their gifts.<br />
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<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Toy Store</td></tr>
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It seems at some moment, we get closer with our neighbors with events involving with the neighbors but then when the break-in or bad stuff happened, I feel weird. I am not scared but am concerned for kids out in the street. I wondered if we are doing something wrong or offensive to the neighbors? Its is not hard to continue to do good things for the people but sometime I wondered is it the reason that is making whoever did this bad stuff at community house mad? I don't understand of why bad stuff happened after we done good stuff? I pray that the neighbors know that we are here to serve God and be there for them and their kids. We are not here to interpret the routine of the neighborhood's life. We are here to lift someone's frown into smile, make them laugh, listen to their stories, give them guidances and the words of the bible and many more reasons of why God put us here.<br />
With the first paragraph I put up on the top of this blog, is my talents being put into good use to the kids or the neighbors? I don't know. I thought it was, but then why this stupid break in happened? Its hard to figure out. Its all in God's hands and he will lead us and the neighbors through this road.<br />
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The night before I left for Christmas break, I was taking pictures at Path Mall of a holiday event where celebrities show up and spend time with the kids and families who is on a verge of starting new life after being homeless. Pat O Brien (All Access Reporter), Tommy Davidson (Living Colors), a kid from TV show "LOST" and few others was there. Tommy Davidson was homeless at a young age and he understands the stages that these families face. It was interesting to hear his life story from poor to famous. It was really awesome to see the kid's faces brighten up when they got their gifts. <br />
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While I was home in TN for Christmas, it was good catching up with my parents, friends, and church friends. I beat my Mom and Dad in a blokus game (12 times) that I got for them for Christmas. I am the champ. They probably will not admit that fact. lol <b>I have more stuff to post so there will be another blog in a few days</b>. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">God bless!</span>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-16615507283615397962010-12-17T12:48:00.001-08:002010-12-17T12:55:03.393-08:00Imaginary Feast Slideshow<a href="http://files.epath.org/slideshows/IF2010/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;"><b>Slideshow for PATH </b></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">(click on this)</span></a><br />
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This is a project I am doing for PATH fundraising event. This project is about Mayra and Wilbur who is staying at Path's family center. Its just a min and 25 sec video. Check it out!<br />
: ) Maybe you could donate some money toward this fundraising event.A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-70457033193977299022010-12-17T11:03:00.000-08:002010-12-17T17:12:38.533-08:00People's faith and taste buds changes.<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">I am eating cucumbers, dipping chips in guacamole</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">drinking egg nog</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">, and </span></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Georgia, 'Times New Roman', serif;">my relationship with God</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px;"> have gotten closer after the last 4 months in LA. In the previous blogs, I have mentioned how I am so thankful that God gave me opportunity to serve him and be a witness to others and he is teaching me new stuff that I never thought of. I never though in this mission (YAV) program that I will do mission work and design work together and I have been told it was very unlikely to find that dream in this program. I never lost faith in God but I allowed to listen to negative information from people. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px;">God proved us all wrong. I am doing the dream. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px;"> God listens and God already knows what best for you in <b>HIS</b> own time and <b>HIS</b> way, not our own time or our own way. I have listened to people's stories and God opened the gates for me to understand what they are saying. For some reason, I still have a hard time understanding my roommates, but have no problems understanding the people outside the apartment from homeless people to the people I just met randomly. God opened my ears. God knows blueprint of my life, I don't. My faith have grown stronger from the lessons I have learned from God for the last 4 months. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px;">Nobody and I will never will understand the entire mystery of God but we can gain stronger relationship with him through our daily lives. My friends back home have asked me "Am I scared, homesick, bored in LA?" The answer is No. Of course I miss my family and friends back home. But I have been welcomed since I have arrived in LA. God had this plan and he gave me a trail to meet and form friendships with people. I have a LA family, church friends, and friends from work or sport games. They have offered help if I needed it. I am so happy here. I have always been independent back home and here that have tested my boundaries in a foreign land that I never been before. God gave me directions and a mouth to speak clear to ask people for advice if I got stuck. I am truly </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px;">comfortable in this environment. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px;">God gave me opportunities to enjoy and have fun while I am here in LA. I never thought I would talk to Robert Dowery Jr or shook hands with Denzel Washington 2 months ago. But the real celebrities are the people who have <b>prayed</b> for me, <b>supported</b> for me, and <b>leaned</b> a hand. My director, his family, my family, my LA family, my prayer partner, my church from home and in LA, my friends in LA and back home. The number one celebrity is God of all times. He listened and still listens. In the first sentence, of this paragraph, I mentioned cucumbers, dipping chips in guacamole and drinking egg nog, I hate those things but since I been in LA, my taste buds have changed. I love guacamole, egg nog, and cucumbers now. So 2 things changed for me, a closer relationship with God and taste buds. </span><br />
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<a name='more'></a>On Thursday, I worked with outreach team. Me and Reggie went to a church where they were giving away food to the homeless. There was a 83 year old homeless man sitting on a bench surrounding by church staff. The staff have been trying to find out information of where he stayed the night before so he could be home before it rained. Reggie asked mix of questions to the man to get any information to help him. The homeless man's named was Webber. He had on a cap that said Marines. He was a marine in World War 2. He was stationed in Honduras and was expert in some kind of gun that shot enemies's planes. He have a son that is a pilot in GA. He haven't talk to his granddaughters in awhile. He was telling me those stories while I kept him company while Reggie went to talk to staff in private. I noticed that he could have Azheimer's. He tend to forget the same questions that me and Reggie kept asking him to get good information. He said he did't have any IDs to Reggie. 10 mins later, after he got done telling me the story of his son in GA, he mentioned that he have a picture with him. Then I said can I see it? I was hoping he will have a wallet and maybe find some form of a ID while he get his picture. He did had a wallet and I found a insurance card but no ID. I gave that to Reggie and Reggie started to make some phone calls to get information and maybe find his relatives. 2 people and Reggie called different agencies to find information on him. Finally our outreach boss Rudy came in and talked to Webber. Same questions asked. Webber couldn't give us address to where he stay the night before but he said he have a home he brought a long time ago. Me, Reggie and Rudy was puzzled cause with Webber being in the marines, he should have some benefits. So Rudy decide to take Webber to our office and keep him company as we wait for information to come in. So I got his clothes on the bench as he finished up his leftover of lunch. Me and Reggie took Webber to the police station first to see if the housing department will take him and maybe file a missing person on Webber. We had to wait to find out information from police so we left and went to the Path office and the rest of the outreach team kept Webber company while me and Reggie get a quick lunch break. Reggie end up finding out that Webber have benefits and he get plenty of money a month. So why was he out in the street? That what we were trying to figure out. So he wasn't homeless. I did a search for former marines online hoping to gather some information of him. Robert found some names that Webber mentioned to Reggie about his family. We left messages but no answers. So Rudy decided to keep Webber at the Path shelter for the night while we wait for answers from the agencies. Webber kept thanking us and wanted to pay each of us for helping him. I said, no money, we are your buddies and we want to help you out. Then Webber said well then, if you help me out, then I will help you out too. This morning, I found out from Rudy that an agency found his daughter and asked her about Webber. She said she didn't know him. Again the agency asked her again to make sure and then she said I have nothing to do with him! So it seem she did know him and didn't want help him out. That the expression the agency got from it. The agency gave outreach team some information on his address. So Reggie have gone out to a house where Webber suppose to live and talk to people around the area to find out more information about Webber. If things don't work out, we are hoping the agency that is helping us get information, will take him to a place to take good care of him.<br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: x-small; line-height: 19px;">God is Good.</span><br />
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</span>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-83510713052085940102010-12-06T02:50:00.001-08:002010-12-06T02:50:15.244-08:00God knows best.<div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-23846" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: normal;"></span></span></sup></div><h2 id="passage_heading" style="font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><i>Matthew 21:16-22 KJV</i></span></h2><br />
<div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-23846" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">19</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">And when he saw a fig tree in the way, he came to it, and found nothing thereon, but leaves only, and said unto it, Let no fruit grow on thee henceforward for ever. And presently the fig tree withered away.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-23847" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">20</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">And when the disciples saw it, they marvelled, saying, How soon is the fig tree withered away!</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-23848" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">21</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Jesus answered and said unto them, Verily I say unto you, If ye have faith, and doubt not, ye shall not only do this which is done to the fig tree, but also if ye shall say unto this mountain, Be thou removed, and be thou cast into the sea; it shall be done.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-23849" style="font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">22</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">And all things, whatsoever ye shall ask in <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">prayer</span>, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">believing</span>, ye shall <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: purple;">receive</span>.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">At Hollywood First Presbyterian church, I started to get involved with the youth group about in late October. Well me and youth pastors decided it was right time to tell my story to kids after they seen me few times. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> I gave my </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">testimony</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> to the middle school and high school kids along with adults in the room on Sunday morning. I had a power point set up and was little nervous of the kids might not understand me. I done lot of praying before this, asking God to speak his words, not mine and teach me to speak slow as I talk. After I gave my testimony, I asked if there was any questions? Kids and adults started to raise their hands and asked me about my hearing, mission work, what I am learning so far from God in LA, and etc. It was all great questions. I understood everyone's questions. : ) There was some answers that came out of my mouth that I never thought of it before I spoke as I was answering their questions. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I didn't realize that during the testimony. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I truly knew it was from words of God. My director Matt asked some good questions about my hearing so I could explain clearly about differences of hearing aids and implants and my struggles with it in the past and how God helped me with it. Some asked me missionary questions. At the end, David (co-youth pastor) asked to pray for me and kids surrounded me and put their hands on me as David prayed. I will keep on being a helper and christian leader throughout the year with the high and middle school kids of the church. I enjoy every minute! Oh yea, David told me that a boy came up to him and asked why do I talk funny? David thought of telling him in his own words about it but then he said Kyle will be talking that today and you can ask him questions. Then David said to me it was the right time for you to tell your story to the kids. The kids are noticing you more at events and on Sunday mornings. God is Good and God knows what is best. </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">POSADA (<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 5px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 5px; font-family: Arial; font-size: 13px;">A Christmas festival originating in Latin America that dramatizes the search of Joseph and Mary for lodging.)</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On December the 13th we are having POSADA event. </div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">So we and neighbors will go to 3 houses in the neighborhood and knock on their doors and ask if there is room available for us? (All the 3 owners of their houses will say no) The fourth house we show up will be the community house and the host will let us in. We will see 2 of our neighbors dress up as Mary and Joseph and plastic baby Jesus. (</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;">we reenacting the birth of the baby Jesus) </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Calibri, sans-serif; font-size: 15px;"></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">We will have desserts and sing Christmas carols in Spanish afterward. The dwellers from the past years, done that every year. Last year, they had over 40 neighbors showed up and walked with them as they knock on the doors. I am really looking forward to that. </span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Gift Store </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are having a gift store at the community house for kids to buy something for their parents on Dec. 14, 15, and 16 in the afternoon. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">We are purchasing many of these items, and will open a store for the kids to buy them at a reduced price or with service. We are asking for volunteers to help us out to help the kids wrap presents, make sweet letters from the kids to the parents, and help with the budget. Last week, we talked to the kids and been finding out what they want to give to their family if they could afford it. So we going shopping this week to get the stuff and have it at the store when the kids come. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 15px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">I ask that will you please pray that POSADA and Gift store event go well and bring this neighborhood closer together for Christmas and bring joys to their families. Also please pray for me, my housemates , Matthew, and volunteers as we try to get all of this ready to go before the deadline. </span></span></span><br />
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</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Saturday night, Me and my housemates went to Matthew and Darcie's Christmas party. A lot of my church friends was there. We chatted, sang songs, told jokes. Good times! About a month ago, we discovered that Matthew (our director) was in a music video few years ago with Five For Fighting on youtube. So we been planning on what will be the best way to tell Matt that we seen it. So on that night at the party, Josh played his guitar and I played the bongos and rest of the housemates sang 100 years by Five For Fighting in front of Matt. It went great. Matt was laughing about us singing the whole song. The adults was asking about why we were singing that song to Matt and we told them. LOL</span></div><div style="font-family: Times; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Courier New', Courier, monospace;">Just click on it and at 0:44, 0:59 you can see Matt on the tree.</span> </span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tR-qQcNT_fY">!00 years by Five for Fighting</a></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I hope y'all are doing well! God bless!</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: medium; margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-80341233181043083242010-11-30T10:24:00.000-08:002010-11-30T10:24:42.050-08:00Thankful For Opportunities<div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">2 Timothy 1:7</span><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-NKJV-29813" style="line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: xx-small;">7</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"> For God has not given us a spirit of fear, but of power and of love and of a sound mind.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Last Wednesday, I worked with the outreach team from PATH. The outreach team goes out in certain parts of LA and find homeless people. So at 8am I arrived at the office with my 2 housemates Josh and Robert which they been a part of outreach team since September. We found out that someone who is a huge supporter of PATH, brought few hundred jackets along with gloves to give away to the homeless. Her name was Mrs. Getty, I recalled of hearing good things of what she have done for PATH and she was one of the 32 honorees we honored at PATH's gala event this past October. So we went to a church called Blessing Sacrament where the jackets going to give away. The church gives away free breakfast 4 times a week to the homeless. On Wed, they are normally closed but on the 24th(Last Wednesday), they opened up to give away jackets and food. There was about 120 homeless or more lining up outside the fence waiting to get in. There is a school on the church property and the kids from the school helped out give away jackets as we (outreach team) helped the homeless find their way out of the church as they got their jacket, gloves, and food. Each homeless person that came out of the back door of the church, we greeted them. Sometime we started a conversation with them. I seen mix emotions of the homeless people's faces as they walked out. Some excited, sad, or frustrated. Some didn't want the jackets, so they just got the food. There was a friendly cop that was with us and he asked one homeless fella, why didn't you get a jacket? The homeless fella said you will find me too easy. Too big of a jacket! Ha Ha. Some were thrilled to get jackets. Some came in with shopping cart filled with trash bags full of stuff or a backpack with stuff tied on the ropes of the backpack. I was introduced to a homeless man who worked for a long long time. PATH did some research on some stuff for him awhile back and ended up getting some benefits for him cause he worked for so long. So this week he will have his own apartment and paid for because the benefits. God is Good. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">Thursday morning, Thanksgiving day I went to PATH building of Hollywood to take the homeless to Pink Taco for Thanksgiving. When the homeless was lining up, I hand them a waiver paper to sign so we can take pics, etc at this event. If they didn't sign it, they couldn't get on the bus. Over 100 homeless people went to Pink Taco. Pink Taco was a mexican restaurant.(Not a Taco Bell type) This was the 2nd time Pink Taco did this for PATH. It turned out to be great. While I was there, I took pics and talked to most of the homeless there. I listened to their stories. Some of them have said life is gonna get better soon. I know it, they said. They enjoyed the food. There was 2 guys was giving me a hard time for being for the Saints while they were for the Cowboys while we watched the game for little bit. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71H7lkBA4L3kRF4BpLmlXmwYEjoL82smz95P50ZbYhz7anDAhjt0_PlScs5sDzSiJ1j19Ba_yqkvbi-mao5Cjdoebwd9raJQKoSos7R9vqtssgHMNbwJoSOHIPpzdlFNG2MdWrKZP0TJy/s1600/IMG_0216.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="184" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh71H7lkBA4L3kRF4BpLmlXmwYEjoL82smz95P50ZbYhz7anDAhjt0_PlScs5sDzSiJ1j19Ba_yqkvbi-mao5Cjdoebwd9raJQKoSos7R9vqtssgHMNbwJoSOHIPpzdlFNG2MdWrKZP0TJy/s320/IMG_0216.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">They are enjoying the food and the conversation.</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVZcmLMBSKQ4xXfZFkOP4P0BqWyDwzopNRagKlpUnxCoB478XEjhWtFMIgHa_0EmSJFNRyMr3A18A3bAhgglOJweLDb8UwXjEmBfq__fCxvfqajMRMc6iCYoT4awn3I-D5ykDJWRi2eOI/s1600/IMG_0223.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="185" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZVZcmLMBSKQ4xXfZFkOP4P0BqWyDwzopNRagKlpUnxCoB478XEjhWtFMIgHa_0EmSJFNRyMr3A18A3bAhgglOJweLDb8UwXjEmBfq__fCxvfqajMRMc6iCYoT4awn3I-D5ykDJWRi2eOI/s320/IMG_0223.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">People lining up to get back on the bus to head home. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">About 3:30 I came home, and met up with the rest of my housemates and neighbors for thanksgiving. My housemate Alex threw a thanksgiving party for the neighbors from 1pm to whenever. Over 40 people came. </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I met new and old friends from the neighborhood. </span><br />
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</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOzI3Cr_RRTm0vCJeNB69r0SJR1SKN5Sk2DHS4frFNE-XlOxXGgrR2DK13FlzKqTm7hbPaMtRfM_oI3y1CN9NPeS1zR3zx5yn_rh_XychuqSKCKf-vbwfB2Tyye8gtXXXEiIXWmopdWs3/s1600/IMG_0230.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfOzI3Cr_RRTm0vCJeNB69r0SJR1SKN5Sk2DHS4frFNE-XlOxXGgrR2DK13FlzKqTm7hbPaMtRfM_oI3y1CN9NPeS1zR3zx5yn_rh_XychuqSKCKf-vbwfB2Tyye8gtXXXEiIXWmopdWs3/s320/IMG_0230.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNv9ZHBHNWKaLCWIY8qYTMku-rZAW1v2SULBmMNkrluvE0rZn3Npjrk_tXctJ_2uOLlvW2San-XJn4HCatrLnyPmMHD2VSkT1OhrzLMioNCfywyqw_r2Wtp5Oy0oQcN5YDZSA-afEHnD4/s1600/IMG_0250.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgxNv9ZHBHNWKaLCWIY8qYTMku-rZAW1v2SULBmMNkrluvE0rZn3Npjrk_tXctJ_2uOLlvW2San-XJn4HCatrLnyPmMHD2VSkT1OhrzLMioNCfywyqw_r2Wtp5Oy0oQcN5YDZSA-afEHnD4/s320/IMG_0250.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I made my nanny's peach cobbler for the event. We had ton of food from church friends and neighbors beside the dishes we made on our own. My parents sent in few boxes of cans and my housemates's families wired in money so we could use it for thanksgiving event for the neighbors. God is Awesome!</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I am thankful for opportunities that God have given me here in LA. He taught me to see things in a new way. Everybody take things for granted and I know I have. I have seen homeless lived out in the dirty streets where they face no protection from weather, lack of food, lack of friends, lack of shelter, lack of money or job. All they need is a shelter, a job, and food. We need a cell phone but certain kind of cell phone or grape juice but certain kind of grape juice. We take things for granted in ridiculous ways. Its stupid. Some of you might argue at the fact that we worked hard to get good things and we deserve to have stuff that we can enjoy. Yes but think of this, do we need it to survive? Are we gonna get to take it to Heaven with us? No. Does this mean, I am going to get rid of my macbook or my truck or stop using it for awhile? No. But since mid September I started to not take things for granted seriously and I am thankful for God showing me this in a deeper way. In past mission trips where I have seen poverty for a week and felt the effects from their stories. But that tend to wear off after few weeks after the mission trip. Now I am seeing poverty every day and seeing the people out on the street asking for food or money. I have better understanding for poverty now and want to find a cure to fix this. Christmas is coming up, we all be at home catching up with families and friends and be warm while there are people who will be sleeping or staring at the traffic while on the street in cold weather. My stomach hurts when I think about that. I wish I can just clap my hands and all the sudden, everybody in the world have a home, food, and families. The reality part is that there gonna be people out in the street no matter what. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I ask you please to pray for homeless that they find warmth, shelter, food, and love through the holiday season. Pray that the homeless shelter help them start fresh again in their lives. Pray for the people who are volunteering their time to help out at the food banks, homeless shelters, fundraising, and helping the homeless during their holiday free time. Pray for the people who gonna travel during the holiday to their families safely and for the ones staying at home. Pray for my friends who are in other countries doing mission work for a year. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: x-small;">I am thankful for my parents who raised me in church and taught me that God is first before anybody or anything. I am thankful for opportunities that God have given me to see his glory shine. I am thankful for my housemates, my director Matthew, Matt's family, my FPH church friends, my prayer partner Brandon and LA friends that I met this year. I am thankful that God still listens. I am thankful whoever made sweet potato pie with pecans for Thanksgiving and its was good. I hope you guys had a wonderful Thanksgiving! God bless! </span></div>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-72153755347179203322010-11-08T00:04:00.000-08:002010-11-08T00:46:42.177-08:00Listen to the People<h2 class="entry-title" id="single" style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: arial; line-height: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;">Hello friends and family! </span></span></h2><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Its been 2 weeks since I typed my last blog. I have been praying for few days of what I should type on this blog. So here it is. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">On Oct. 28, Me and my housemate Robert was heading to West Hollywood to check out a free movie that I won through a contest. As we were getting there, Robert was telling me about his job with PATH. He is on a outreach team which go out in LA and search for homeless people. What they do is, offer a ride to hospital if they are hurt , offer advices, give a bag of food, and let the homeless know that there is a shelter called PATH that willing to help them start a 2nd chance at life. They do alot of thing to help the people. Robert brought up something I never thought about. A lot of homeless have lost their self esteems or lack of courage to seek a job. Why? What if you been out on the street for months or years, and people stare at you as they walk by or never talk to you and just ignore you. You will feel hopeless and think that if I try to get a job, that boss will ignore me just like the people walk by me on the street. So one of the things the outreach team do is meet the homeless and start a conversation with them. That will help their heart heal and become stronger and realize that not everybody is the same. The outreach team try to see the same homeless person few times every month so that person know that the outreach team haven't forgot about them. So the homeless will gain confidence and make a effort to get a job. There is some homeless that are lazy, some who can't help that they are in this situation, and some who are trying but not aware of shelters like PATH who willin to help them out. LA is a big city and its our job not only help the homeless but spread the word about us and what we offer to help the homeless a 2nd chance at life. As we were getting close to the movie theater, we saw homeless man walked by at a stoplight in West Hollywood. Robert said a lot of homeless people come up to West Hollywood in the morning cause there is churches who give away coupons, gift cards, breakfast sandwiches for free every morning. Then after that, they go back to hollywood or downtown LA. </span><br />
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A few weeks ago, there been 10 or 15 homeless people living the hills of Hollywood near the Hollywood Bowl. There are houses on those hills. There been complaints that the homeless is starting to build fire on the hill. There is trash forts that they build on the hills. Basically, the people with houses on the hills can't get fire insurance because of what the homeless is doing on the hills. So the sheriff and his team was going to take down the homeless shelters down and force homeless to move or accept help from the PATH's outreach team. So the outreach team was with sheriff and his team. The sheriff team took down shelters and 11 out of 15 homeless seek help from outreach team and they took 11 to PATH shelter and helped them get clean up. Please check out this article about this homeless situation from my friend Joel who is a CEO of Path. This will tied in with this story. <i>Just copy and paste. </i></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: #333333; font-family: arial, verdana;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small; line-height: 18px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black; font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;"><br />
</span></span></span></span></div><h2 class="entry-title" id="single" style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: arial; font-size: 21px; font-weight: bold; line-height: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">The War Against Homeless Sweeps</h2><br />
<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><h2 class="entry-title" id="single" style="color: #3a3a3a; font-family: arial; line-height: 1.1em; margin-bottom: 7px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-weight: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">http://www.povertyinsights.org/2010/11/01/the-war-against-homeless-sweeps/</span></span></h2><br />
<div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> </span>My housemates and I have changed the schedule around tutoring and recreation with neighborhood kids about 2 weeks ago. Instead of all 6 of us being there on Tues., Wed., and Thurs. from 5 to 8. We ended up doing where 2 of us will have our own afternoon to do tutoring and recreation with kids one day a week. For example, Me & Robert in charge of Wed afternoon from 5-7:30, Alex & Brady in charge of Thurs., etc. My housemates like it that way, I don't care either way. I love being with the kids even if it not my afternoon to be with the kids. My director told me back in May in the interview chat, that he wanted us to have our own time to rest and do what you like to do for fun because there will be a time where we will get frustrated or fill up with emotions of what we do every day helping the homeless. I haven't reach that point and I hope I won't. I love every minutes I have spent with the kids and with people in my office at PATH. I enjoyed learning from them and hearing their stories. </div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>God is Amazing!</b> </span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">At PATH, I have finished up adding over 900 names or businesses </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">that donated items/money to PATH</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> into a software program called SAGE. The program organize the names with addresses, phone #, email, etc. Its help us and my bosses so when PATH do another project or fundraising event, we have that data where we just sent out emails or letters to the ones who have helped PATH in the past. I also been working with my media design partner Paul, where we created a few logos for PATH's partners and I come up with ideas to make that logo pop out from colors, texture, sizes, pictures, fonts, 3-D or art. Its been great learning new stuff from Paul and he have been teaching me how to work with a new program called Firework which design websites. I normally used dreamweaver or basic HTML to make websites. I am learning the trade and tools from this job. Its have been a blessing! This past week, my housemate Brady who work in the same building as I do, his boss Andrew saw me the other day, and told me that he heard that I am the best of what I do in computer stuff. I laughed and said I don't know if I am the best, but I try my best. He just smiled and said good, I talked to your boss Jeremy and he is okay that I can borrow you for now. So the next day I had papers of signed names of homeless people who have used our program for showers, meals, phone calls, etc. As I was reading the names and list of things they used at PATH and I was typing at the same time. There are some people that can't write. There was names that you couldn't even read. Andrew said just come up with best name that you think might fit in the names you can't read. So if you ever writing a letter or signing your name with info for something, write good, not horrible. Sometime someone will have to read all those names and type it into the computer. It will make that person's eyes little easier to read as they type. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Let me explain this Doors / Young Adult program require us to do for year. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">- Complete 32 hours a week with agency </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">- Start a tutoring /recreation program in afternoons with neighborhood kids. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">- Read over 6 books related to christian stuff over a year and teach of the 2 books out of 6 to the housemates.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-Be involve in a church every Sunday.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">-Do community service with your housemates once a month in the neighborhood. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I don't have the whole list what Doors require but here is some of the important ones above.</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">One of the cool things, my director Matthew has done is that we all have a prayer partner that we meet few times a month. We had a dinner with few possible prayer partners to get to know them about a month ago. Few weeks after that, me and my housemates deicded that Matthew should make a decsion on who is best for who. Matthew picked Brandon to be my partner and we connected. He actullay go to Hollywood Pres. so I see him every Sunday. He is carpenter and does frame work and finshes on furniture and stuff. He have worked for Extreme Home Makeover Edition for 2 years and traveled with them. We have a lot of stuff in common and we shared our testimony last Tuesday afternoon and it was awesome. His wife is from TN and a UT grad so finally somebody I can talk to about UT Vols. lol </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My director Matt had given us a month and half to search for a church. I have checked a few churches. LA Reality, Ecclesia , and Hollywood Pres. Church. I have prayed and seek advice from my parents and my director Matt. I have decided to go Hollywood Pres. church. About 2 weeks ago, I knew how the routine schedule was going to be week after week for me. I have been praying and thinking about being a part of a younger youth group of middle or high school kids. I had a chance to be in a position of a leader role with youth group at FPC of M'Boro for a year when I was in college. I loved it and enjoyed being with the kids. I had that feeling in my heart that God wanted me to do that again. So I done few emails and conversations with 3 youth pastors at Hollywood Pres. and did a final meeting with them last Thursday. I will be a part of the youth group as a leadership role helping out the middle and high school kids on Sunday mornings and random events on Friday nights. My pastors want me to try for a month as a trial to be sure that I am not overwhelm as I do have responsibly with Doors program. I am very excited and so are my youth pastors. I have met few kids Sunday morning and started few conversation with what they like to do. I ask you to pray for me and my communication that the kids will understand me. </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>God is Good!</b> </span><br />
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</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">We had our Fall Festival at the community house to welcome families and kids in. We had games set up, paint faces, pose goofy behind a sign as a clown, give-away prizes, art drawings, and fill up plastic glove with popcorn. It went great. I printed 62 flyers out in the neighborhood and came back with 4 left in my hands. We been planning for this for 2 weeks. It was successfully well done and prepared. There was more new kids and families that came than the regulars. Which that was great. Few kids bob for apples!</span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><b>God is Awesome!</b> </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2skkuOWjkcp5fLR_9g_2O4I-Em2jrK3ZwVOTtkogG74nVwfJABBNgZaNgITWXHC3E5z_MJOBHCRjRhg11CRCXLhFbyx6bvW_4s4A-nZPaWdVThtdVkbFp17whNpWazT1GmTm9rI4vgfJO/s1600/doors_31.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEh2skkuOWjkcp5fLR_9g_2O4I-Em2jrK3ZwVOTtkogG74nVwfJABBNgZaNgITWXHC3E5z_MJOBHCRjRhg11CRCXLhFbyx6bvW_4s4A-nZPaWdVThtdVkbFp17whNpWazT1GmTm9rI4vgfJO/s320/doors_31.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">The entrance to the Fall Festival</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eB17PobqAu0vs8iBA0VIrPYyOxyZXYZQKpKyjykgX037mGPUjbdKJHfWxtYAp3wKI48KeoLK7cGJ5-Zl89FYuVCHXYLTmE1kxsFoItQhgsymWPvVl4REBl9TafxcmTSR816iN4mksCG3/s1600/doors_111.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="292" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-eB17PobqAu0vs8iBA0VIrPYyOxyZXYZQKpKyjykgX037mGPUjbdKJHfWxtYAp3wKI48KeoLK7cGJ5-Zl89FYuVCHXYLTmE1kxsFoItQhgsymWPvVl4REBl9TafxcmTSR816iN4mksCG3/s320/doors_111.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBtWHYvgvGPqFWTT5767XYzPZn7yuw-pwK3xDVZLgxCCb3vFS4N43fW_ae_vwLHBSv37oStEU4gib7cnMmWRPZ4JNeSOsg7kIfFnTjP6AqCM9gIj7sjtyg_Eorc4EOIviaylcNZX93Glu/s1600/doors_94.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjfBtWHYvgvGPqFWTT5767XYzPZn7yuw-pwK3xDVZLgxCCb3vFS4N43fW_ae_vwLHBSv37oStEU4gib7cnMmWRPZ4JNeSOsg7kIfFnTjP6AqCM9gIj7sjtyg_Eorc4EOIviaylcNZX93Glu/s320/doors_94.jpg" width="186" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">She won a guitar. Oh yeah, that is my roommate Brady behind her as a banana boy. </div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Almost every weekend, Me and my housemate Josh go to a park and play </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><em style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ultimate Frisbee </span></em></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">with friends that we met at the park and other places. Its had been a blast meeting new people. Last Saturday, we played for 3 hours. About a hour before it was over, there was no more players in white t-shirt left to take our spot if we need to catch our breath. So we ran back and forth for hour with no sub. Lol I had a blast. Josh's feet hurts so bad, he was limping for the rest of the evening. </span><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztbL2HvVLOUvjaMT-cawMwmUMCxTBIG1DG5bSU71pVwB2mcJRIdt-Nc5xOo1qsdIpmWYuEtqyG6lstrqYI9eFzoirwyHmpp4fI8zbGhm5B9QoBgiCIAyGHP8OCAkPeiGCnaDxXBD7LwCE/s1600/doors_5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgztbL2HvVLOUvjaMT-cawMwmUMCxTBIG1DG5bSU71pVwB2mcJRIdt-Nc5xOo1qsdIpmWYuEtqyG6lstrqYI9eFzoirwyHmpp4fI8zbGhm5B9QoBgiCIAyGHP8OCAkPeiGCnaDxXBD7LwCE/s320/doors_5.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> The park where we play </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 15px;"><em style="font-style: normal;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Ultimate Frisbee. </span></em></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></div><div>On Halloween night me and few of my housemates and friends went to West Hollywood to a free halloween festival. We saw a lot of crazy costumes. Over 150,000 people was there. The police closed down sunset blvd for few miles for this event. It was fun but that was my one time experience for me and won't do it again.<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9K7mz5Wwi8sKlWlljxLd0fk4_yAJHZQ1akIvkStBNkS8UWPQtZNReSB9QMqET3Cr0w5JQ0cc2RdLRIREH0dKMEmPJa4-vL3hBesjjv2QCg6aAGsHQe5rEXrowO73YbeMj-V_wJOW-xjp/s1600/IMG_0064.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="283" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiA9K7mz5Wwi8sKlWlljxLd0fk4_yAJHZQ1akIvkStBNkS8UWPQtZNReSB9QMqET3Cr0w5JQ0cc2RdLRIREH0dKMEmPJa4-vL3hBesjjv2QCg6aAGsHQe5rEXrowO73YbeMj-V_wJOW-xjp/s320/IMG_0064.JPG" width="320" /></a></div> Here is us as somebody else for one night. </div><br />
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</h2>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-82711699311568331872010-10-18T00:00:00.000-07:002010-10-18T00:00:32.963-07:00Greater thing have yet to come And greater things are still to be done in this City.<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Hello friends and family! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My roommates and I have a group of college or high school students come visit and do mission work for a week or a weekend. A group of students come mostly in the spring and in the summer to do mission work in LA. Just last week, a group of girls came and stayed at the community house. They were from a boarding school in Texas. These girls had been in trouble with law or with their family in the past. Most of the girls I talked to, told me that their mom or dad had no choice but send them to boarding school or to jail. A girl named Dorothy have saw my corlear implants, and sat beside me as I was talking to Paul which he was a director or the boss of these girls. She started to sign language to me, I laughed and said hey, I don't do sign language. I read lips very well and can hear. So we open a conversation over deaf stuff and corlear implant stuff. She have told me that she had a hard time studying foreign languages in school, so she took sign language and love it! She deicided to do volunteer work at deaf school somewhere in Texas and communicate with deaf students. She did that for a year and half. That was the first night they stayed at the community house. So every morning and after work, I see the girls and talked to them. They had worked at homeless shelter folding clothes one day and another day, they served food to homeless on skid row. One of the girls, she want to be a part of the YAV/Doors program like me and my roommates are doing. They asked us questions, why we doing this, why LA, and they think it is so awesome that we are given a opportunity to do this. I answered their questions and heard small part of their life story from the past and how boarding school helping them out and get a 2nd chance at life again. At boarding school, they don't get no internet, if they want to email their family, they have to type their email letters, then give their disc drive to the staff, and the staff will take that disc drive and email the letters to the parents. No phone calls, a few visits, and no communication with their friends from outside. Back to Dorothy, On the last night before she left, She opened up about her past. She had hit her mom and was with the wrong crowd. She didn't wanna be with her parents all the time and get in trouble with the law. When her mom decided to sent her to boarding school, Dorothy hated her. She said after the first week, she missed her mom so badly. She wanted to call her. The staff wouldn't let her. As a few weeks goes by, she regrets what she have done and wished she could be with her family all the time. She finally got to email and call her parents every now and then. She said boarding school have a church and she got involve with it. She felt closer to God and understand that she didn't have to do what she did in the past. It was pointless. There is more to this story than what I am typing. She will graduate in Dec. and want to go to community college close to home for a year and then transfer to a big college to do journalism. She said when she go back home, she knows her friends will be there, but she knows what is right in her heart and family come first. Sadly, I couldn't leave any contact info for her to keep in contact with her. The staff wouldn't allowed it. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVX-gm2Dywb-7p9o89uOhCYsGdMi2itn6Hgr20PXcLJnw1ddMqWO3_DNLmzHJyxH06qRBBFZgZdRDEZA_zGSmtrwh23VEGN4Yqbqg9lKowSPpcDzh6x3bPm-eh9ypKR2V9-a_j_nHPrQsn/s1600/doors_2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="123" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVX-gm2Dywb-7p9o89uOhCYsGdMi2itn6Hgr20PXcLJnw1ddMqWO3_DNLmzHJyxH06qRBBFZgZdRDEZA_zGSmtrwh23VEGN4Yqbqg9lKowSPpcDzh6x3bPm-eh9ypKR2V9-a_j_nHPrQsn/s320/doors_2.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> The girls and the staff</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">A few weeks ago, when PATH had a gala event in Beverly Hills, we raised over <b>280,000</b> dollars to help the homeless. Gala event was successful. Me and Paul did the photo shoot during the event and I did the slideshow. Here is a video slideshow of the gala event. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><i> http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JePp6XHQ9rs (</i>Copy and paste it on the browser.)</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Last weekend. my roommates and I went to Forest Hills on a retreat with Hollywood Pres. Church. It was amazing meeting people and listened to their stories. The guest pastor Scott Scruggs spoke on trusting God, knowing who hold your future, and God loves you. He provided me notes of the sermons of the 4 sessions he had. The last night, Pastor Scruggs talked about getting rid of your sins. Start a new path. No sins from the past will hold you down. Let it go! God got greater plans for you than you know. So after the sermon, we all got a small wood pad and wrote of our sins on there. After that, we all went to a outdoor theater where there was a fire, and we threw the wood pads into the fire as we sang hymn songs. </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43zPIwqjF4_n5D542Qo1_hHagfpjHvp7pyCqc0kJqVakDALiQUJd7jEcwB2fkNog-KWICMavluFswsu6E6pzFeWtNmGZbj4MnH2HPR8gtZusdPnYDlWyllzzGO42FHz7V7R89nLJBvR1G/s1600/IMG_0294.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="240" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj43zPIwqjF4_n5D542Qo1_hHagfpjHvp7pyCqc0kJqVakDALiQUJd7jEcwB2fkNog-KWICMavluFswsu6E6pzFeWtNmGZbj4MnH2HPR8gtZusdPnYDlWyllzzGO42FHz7V7R89nLJBvR1G/s320/IMG_0294.JPG" width="320" /></a></div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">I bounded with my roommates closely and God closer. During the day, we did rock climbing, high adventure trail, hiking, and freesbie golf. We listened to my director's wife Darice's testimony. It was uplifting of hearing her story of how she overcome the mountains. As we was coming back home from the mountains, we got a flat tire. We got 4 brand new tires after 3 hours of waiting. Awesome! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">My work at Path and community tutoring with the kids is going great! In the previous blog, I talked about the young man who was doing bible study at the community house. Well me and him had wonderful conversation about God and how he works in mysterious ways the other day. At the end of the conversation, we both mention the names of who do you want to pray for. I mentioned of the Chinen miners and he wanted me to pray for his family. The next day, is when the few of miners finally got out of the hole. I am glad they are safe! God is good!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Every Monday, we have a community day with roommates and the director. During the day, we do small part of worship, then discuss on the book that we been reading currently, then we do some activity from going to the beach to preparing food for the aids victims. Last Monday was our personal day off, I felt God was speaking to me to do something for the homeless on my day off during the previous weekend. So on Monday morning, I went to grocery store and got 1 loaf of bread, peanut butter, snacks, and 10 mini bottles of water. So I got 10 bags of peanut butter sandwiches with snacks and a water bottle each. I also put a paper in there that had a story of <u>Matthew 14:22-34</u> It was about Jesus walking on water and Peter sinking cause he lost his trust in Jesus. I put a paragraph at the end talking about trusting in Jesus and that God loves you so much, that he gave his only son to die for us. No matter what you done in the past, God still love you. Just trust him! So I went out and gave away 3 bags to the homeless that was out on the streets on Hollywood, Sunset, Vine, Gower, and Santa Monica Blvd. All 3 of them thanks me and one of them look at me and said what am I doing? I said here is some food. He kept staring at me like he was puzzled about this moment. I just smile back at him and said God bless you. As I walked away, I turned my head to look at him, his face buried inside the brown bag. One homeless lady was so excited, she couldn't wait to open the bag. It was almost like Christmas day opening presents. The rest of the 7 bags, I took one each day to work, just in case, I see a homeless on my way to give a bag to them. I don't know why God was speaking to me over the weekend to do that. But I know this, those people who got the bag, at least they have a meal and a bible lesson on that day. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">God is Awesome!</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">There is greater things have yet to come to this city and I have already seen so many things of God's glory since I been here. I know there is more greater things to come to this city! God is good! I am learning so much from the people I have met from homeless, neighborhood kids, my bosses, church members, and more! </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"> Please pray for my dad's family and my Aunt Linda. My uncle and my Dad's brother in law passed away this weekend. </div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;"><br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">God is Good</div><div style="margin-bottom: 0px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px;">Kyle </div>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-79944150199647613982010-09-29T00:09:00.000-07:002010-09-29T00:09:56.795-07:00God is loveThere was a young man sitting at a park right after he got out of jail. He got in trouble for a few problems that he did in the past. As he was sitting there thinking, a tourist just sat down beside him. The tourist and the young man started a conversation. The tourist was talking about God to the young man. The young man just listened to him. At the end of the conversation, young man got a bible from the tourist. The tourist left and the young man decide to read the bible and give it a try. He could not put it down after he started reading it. The young man started to realize that God is always there and will heal your heart, heal your relationship with family and friends no matter what you have done in the past. That was a year and half ago. The young man has changed. He has accepted Christ when he was little but after jail, God got to him. Every Tuesday, this young man comes to the community house and has a bible study for neighbors and anybody is welcome to join. Last night, I heard his life story and he tied in his life story with the bible story of Psalm 27: 1-9. He explained clearly and made sure everybody was on track with him.. I saw God's glory all around him. He was full of happiness and praising the Lord. We need more people like him in this world. I listened to him asking the people questions, have you ever been afraid? He will bring up bible verses without even reading the bible. God has done great things for him since he opened his eyes to see God's light. The young man decided to start having bible studies last year at the community house and people came. Last night was the first start of bible study. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"> (I won't mention his name just in respect for him. )</span><br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyN-1nCZnOn4dCHBNz2SwZItU3JMQxVU3vQlTDIyzfiXe3CdpUXbfmPPOSLEhyphenhyphen93a2Lo_wD9WyyRxu3FMNW9cujzrhRPjIy9aZV3zHGathxUt27vT94085b7V1yAfMqftth9s74LcnWM6/s1600/god+is+love.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="214" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhUyN-1nCZnOn4dCHBNz2SwZItU3JMQxVU3vQlTDIyzfiXe3CdpUXbfmPPOSLEhyphenhyphen93a2Lo_wD9WyyRxu3FMNW9cujzrhRPjIy9aZV3zHGathxUt27vT94085b7V1yAfMqftth9s74LcnWM6/s320/god+is+love.jpg" width="320" /></a></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
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At the community house, we have tutoring and recreation time on Tuesday, Wednesday, Thursday, and Sunday from 5:00 to 8:00 for the kids and teens. There will be kids already there once we get back from work. All of us work at different locations with same agency except for one. I have been meeting new friends from young kids to teens. They all like to play basketball or soccer. I been playing 2 on 2 in basketball with new friends. I won every time with my teammate. : ) When its about closing time, we walk the kids home. Almost everyday, I been greeted by a neighbor or one of their kids as I head for work or whatever I was going at that moment. I only been here for few weeks and getting to know everybody on the block. God is great. There is gang problems and drug problems in the neighborhood. This neighborhood have a community house they can come to and hang out with their friends and us and feel safe and enjoy life. <br />
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<h2 id="passage_heading" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;"> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> Matthew 22:37-39 </span></h2><div class="result-text-style-normal" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-23910" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">37</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">Jesus said unto him, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy mind.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-23911" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">38</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">This is the first and great commandment.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;"> </span><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-23912" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">39</span></sup><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">And the second is like unto it, Thou shalt love thy neighbour as thyself.</span><br />
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In my past blog, I have talked about the agency I have been working with called PATH. (People assist the homeless) For right now, I am doing graphic design, website design, and photography work in the administration office at PATH with the development team. This year is the 25th anniversary for PATH so they are having a gala event to celebrate PATH and honor the people who have helped PATH. We have a online auction set up for people to bid on items from electric guitar signed by maroon 5, vacation trips, lakers tickets, etc. We also having a live auction at the gala event too. All the money go to PATH to help the homeless. Me and my teammate Paul that is also a designer have been doing all sort of work from making ads for corporate business, make pictures and upload pictures of items to the auction website, typing the detail of the items, fix typo stuff on internet, etc. Guess what??? I love it!!!! I will be at the office doing graphic design stuff everyday till the Gala event is over. After that, I just be doing graphic design stuff at office in the morning and in the afternoon, work behind the desk registering homeless people in, doing paperwork with them and interacting with them. I am looking forward to that. The workers and my bosses at PATH have been so good to me. God is incredible. <br />
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For the last few weeks, I have done a lot of talking to God, praying, singing christian music and praising the Lord. Last friday, me and my roommate Alex, we went to Beverly Hills that night to check things out and get to know each other more. As we got into the crowded metro bus to go to Beverly Hills, it was full. After a first stop, there was seats available, Me and Alex sat whatever we could find a empty seat. Shorty after that, there was a old lady with shopping bags came up and about to hold the metal bars with one hand and using the other hand holding the bags as the bus about to move. I got up without thinking, and let the lady know she can take my seat. The bus was full again. There was a lady came on the bus after 3rd stop, standing along with me. There was a drag queen that was sitting there, got up and let the lady took his or her seat. At the next stop, there was a old man came on and a young man around my age, got off his seat and offer his seat to the old man. So there was me, the drag queen, and the young man standing with one hand on the metal bar, I was grinning ear to ear after what I witnessed of what those strangers did for the old strangers. I started praising the Lord in silence as I stare at out the window. I was thinking of the lyrics of "How great is our God" and "indescribable" till I got to the final stop in Beverly Hills. I am praising more and more to God than ever. I am not in the habit of it, I am just <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">thirsty</span> of God's <span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: red;">love</span> and wanting to know what God going teach me in this journey in CA. I am not here because of me, I am here because of God. God called me here to do mission work. I already seen God's glory in the neighborhood, at work and out in the streets. I know I am here for right reasons.<br />
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One of my fears, is that I might fall off God's path and understand my own ways and not his. I hope it will never come to that, but if it does, God will guide me and help me overcome that mountain. He done that before and I witnessed God did that to my friends and strangers. God is always there. At this moment, I am gonna to pray and gonna put this in writing so you can see what my heart is feeling. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">This life is not my own. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">To you alone, be the Glory</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">To you alone, be the praise</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Everything I say and do</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Let be all for You, God.</span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">God please watch over my roommates and my new friends and the people that i will meet . </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">God please keep us safe and on your track. Please continue to take care of my family and friends back home. Amen </span><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;"><br />
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</span></span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">God is great! </span></div><div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; font-size: 12px;">Kyle </span></div></div>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-46608056526280277062010-09-14T00:13:00.000-07:002010-09-14T00:13:42.058-07:00I randomly met a stranger who is now a friend.I just came out of the bank heading back to my house. I got lost and realized I was going the wrong way. I retrace my steps back to the bank and found my way to the right direction. I asked 2 different people where was Rosemont street? They both pointed out in 2 different areas and not explained in words how to get there. I was sure I was going the right way but wanted make sure by checking with someone. I asked the 3rd person for direction to Rosemont street. He said its just a street over. I told him thank you. As I about to walk over the street with my bike, the man walked along with me and started to talk about God. He said God is always been good to me and I know his spirit live in me. I quickly smile at him and said yes sir. He kept praising about how great God was as he kept up pace walking beside me. He told me that he been looking for a job. He been out of work for 8 months. He have a place to stay but need to find job, so he can keep up the rent and buy food to eat 3 meals a day. Then he said but today is a beautiful day that God created and I am glad to be in it. He asked me am I looking for a job? I told no sir, I have a job at PATH that help homeless people. I just moved in to LA last week to do mission work for a year here. He asked me where I am from and why I came here? I replied back that I am from TN and felt God called me here to do help people. He started to thank me and thanking God for me to come here to help people who need it. I stopped walking and introduced myself to him and he introduced himself to me. His name was Bob. I told Bob that Path have a department that help people find jobs. I couldn't promise that he will get one, but it wouldn't hurt if he will check Path out. Bob started to get emotional and told me his friends couldn't help him out much more and he was glad that I told him about Path and that I became his friend. Bob said God got a plan for everybody and God put you here in this moment to help me out. "Praise the Lord!", Bob said. I told him God is always good and he knows what best for us and he knows how many hairs we have on our head. He is our king, our father, and the one that gave his only son Jesus to died for us. Bob said yes sir, I believe in Jesus Christ! Bob continued to talk about Jesus and God as he walked with me all the way to my house where I gave him a Path card and house phone number for him to call. We talked for another hour outside of the house sitting on picnic table. I listened to him talked about his life story and the history of Abe Lincoln on how he freed the slaves. Bob always smile every time when he finished a sentence and you can see the holy spirit in him. I asked him how is he able to survive for last 8 months? He said God kept me going. My friends did helped me but probably won't be able helped me much longer cause they need the money too. Bob said I am short, have few missing tooth, 61 years old and a muslim. It is hard to find a job at this age, but no matter what I have been through for last few months, I have prayed every night and keep God first. Bob quickly smiled and I smiled. Bob said he noticed that I have the holy spirit in me and sees that I have done great things for the Lord and he will continue to put me in right track. One of my roommates Alayna came in and I introduced Bob to her and he was thanking her for being here to help people. Bob continue to praised God and talked about how great God is. I noticed I had to go to a board meeting in a hour so I quickly stop him and told me we have to go get ready for a meeting. Bob took my hand and put his forehead to my hand and said may God bless you. He said he will check out Path on Monday and he will call if he need help finding direction. That was on Friday. Monday morning, my roommate Robert told me that Bob called this morning wanted better direction to get to Path and Robert helped him out. Bob wanted to talk to me but I was not able to hear on the phone. At least I know he is trying to get to Path this morning and I hope Path will be able to help him.<br />
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As I been thinking about meeting this 61 years old short muslim man and he told me which way to go but I was already sure I knew I was going in the right direction. Why did I stop to ask the third person? I can't answer that for now. Why did Bob started to talk about God to complete stranger that just ask for directions? I do know that God had planned for Bob and me to meet. The way Bob was praising God and how glad he is to be in God's world. Bob influence me on how happy he was, even he didn't have a job and no food to eat because he had no money and <u>he didn't let that problem rained down on his faith for God and Jesus</u><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"><u>.</u> </span></span>Bob said he prayed every night<u>.</u> There are people that I met, who don't have a job or who are in trouble but hardly ever heard them praising the Lord or try to keep their faith running strong. Everybody is different in the own way with their faith. Some are private or open to the people about their love for God. Its just neat that once he told me where to go, he started to talk about how great God is. <br />
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This story kind of tag into the story of what Jesus told to the lawyer in Luke 10: 25-37. <br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="-webkit-border-horizontal-spacing: 2px; -webkit-border-vertical-spacing: 2px; font-size: 13px;"></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px; font-weight: bold;">Luke 10:25-37 </span><br />
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<sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25389" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">25</sup>And, behold, a certain lawyer stood up, and tempted him, saying, Master, what shall I do to inherit eternal life?<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25390" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">26</sup>He said unto him, What is written in the law? how readest thou?<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25391" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">27</sup>And he answering said, Thou shalt love the Lord thy God with all thy heart, and with all thy soul, and with all thy strength, and with all thy mind; and thy neighbour as thyself.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25392" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">28</sup>And he said unto him, Thou hast answered right: this do, and thou shalt live.<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25393" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">29</sup>But he, willing to justify himself, said unto Jesus, And who is my neighbour?<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25394" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">30</sup>And Jesus answering said, <b>A certain man went down from Jerusalem to Jericho, and fell among thieves, which stripped him of his raiment, and wounded him, and departed, leaving him half dead.</b><br />
<b> </b><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25395" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><b>31</b></sup><b>And by chance there came down a certain priest that way: and when he saw him, he passed by on the other side.</b><br />
<b> </b><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25396" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><b>32</b></sup><b>And likewise a Levite, when he was at the place, came and looked on him, and passed by on the other side.</b><br />
<b> </b><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25397" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><b>33</b></sup><b>But a certain Samaritan, as he journeyed, came where he was: and when he saw him, he had compassion on him,</b><br />
<b> </b><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25398" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><b>34</b></sup><b>And went to him, and bound up his wounds, pouring in oil and wine, and set him on his own beast, and brought him to an inn, and took care of him.</b><br />
<b> </b><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25399" style="font-size: 0.65em; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;"><b>35</b></sup><b>And on the morrow when he departed, he took out two pence, and gave them to the host, and said unto him, Take care of him; and whatsoever thou spendest more, when I come again, I will repay thee.</b><br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25400" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">36</sup>Which now of these three, thinkest thou, was neighbour unto him that fell among the thieves?<br />
<sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-25401" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">37</sup>And he said, He that shewed mercy on him. Then said Jesus unto him, Go, and do thou likewise.</div><br />
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I went to 3 different people to asked directions. The third person helped me and I end up helping him too at the end. I smile cause I know La is the right place for me and if I wasn't here, who will help 61 years old man find a job? God is always good and God got a plan for everyone. It doesn't mean you gonna be helping somebody right this moment but God knows the time and the place that you might end up influence someone by your christian faith and your love for God. Just open your heart to God and let him in. <br />
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PS I understood every words Bob said. : ) God is GOOD!<br />
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KyleA city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-76920861102206892072010-09-08T15:18:00.000-07:002010-09-08T15:18:09.223-07:00Week 1 & 1/2 in LAHello!!!<br />
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For the last week and half, we have been busy meeting people and getting to know how to get around in LA. Last week, our Hollywood director went over our handbook of rules, expectations, logistic consensus decision stuff. Two new roommates joined us few days later. Alayna from SD and Josh from Indiana. So there is 6 of us living together in LA! They are awesome christians! <br />
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm3GWSVRU0CmiBT-OBkaVhOiRi5j1Z6F4eGQGh5STChlqqRVuCnOOOXx4CC4mDiYX2omFQLqoNxvlPJk1qak0q_PMxi84X-HSwDDbWOwLfC5QJpls-ZkMuNYmdExTfDCEPaTBow71_XoC/s1600/IMG_0118.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimm3GWSVRU0CmiBT-OBkaVhOiRi5j1Z6F4eGQGh5STChlqqRVuCnOOOXx4CC4mDiYX2omFQLqoNxvlPJk1qak0q_PMxi84X-HSwDDbWOwLfC5QJpls-ZkMuNYmdExTfDCEPaTBow71_XoC/s320/IMG_0118.JPG" /></a></div><br />
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We all did interview with agency. I had a interview with 2 agencies. (Convant & Path) I did a interview with Convant that help homeless teens. The interview went well but I did not feel like it was the right part for me to do. Basically, the position they had for me to do was computer work 90% of the time and <i>maybe</i> I might work with teens 10% of the time. So if I did do it, I would be organizing of the people who donate to the Convant in the computer program. Me and my director Matthew talked about it and I told him I will have to pray about it and see if God is challenging me to do something different than what I expected to do. Shortly after the interview, Matthew got email from PATH, that there was a position needed for someone to work on their website in the morning and do tutoring with kids and helping the women in the afternoon. I quickly grinned and said that is it! Next day, I met with my new boss at Path and gave me more details of what I will be doing. I will be a part of development Path team and coming up with ideas how to bring the word out about PATH with using their website, twitter, facebook, etc, and working with kids and women in the afternoon! I will start working on the <b>14th.</b> My boss gave me a tour of the Path building and explain what their goals and desires to do. Path agency help homeless people <u>who want to start living a better life</u>. There are 3 floors. There are beds and 2 kitchens on 3rd and 2nd floors for men and women. There are 91 beds altogether. Path give them 6 to 9 months to live there and help them start living a better life. There is few departments on the 1st floor to assist the homeless for those who living at Path or those who come in from the outside. There is a clinic, barbershop, pathfinder (find jobs), and few other departments. All of those are free to homeless. I am really excited to interact with children and the women in the afternoon!!! God is amazing!<br />
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On 9/3 I drove the van with my roommates and Matthew to Griffin Park. Matthew show us where the city of LA is, ocean, Laure Canyon, etc. <br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRsbUMIU1hGlMnWhQREpTRhFUebpXjdJoW_4ZeUXBnpaaSc77qk-elXDmGTHLaeOlA9C9AvkSErBXChDwFewBAirpiCbaui3MKEFHMWUSdJlP7iYhNdKb5xNOX5wADivdeEFyqnHb9m2y/s1600/DSC_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRsbUMIU1hGlMnWhQREpTRhFUebpXjdJoW_4ZeUXBnpaaSc77qk-elXDmGTHLaeOlA9C9AvkSErBXChDwFewBAirpiCbaui3MKEFHMWUSdJlP7iYhNdKb5xNOX5wADivdeEFyqnHb9m2y/s320/DSC_0034.JPG" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKRsbUMIU1hGlMnWhQREpTRhFUebpXjdJoW_4ZeUXBnpaaSc77qk-elXDmGTHLaeOlA9C9AvkSErBXChDwFewBAirpiCbaui3MKEFHMWUSdJlP7iYhNdKb5xNOX5wADivdeEFyqnHb9m2y/s1600/DSC_0034.JPG" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"></a>Hollywood sign</div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzsh4B2_cqnLJKviNIKkRsWOOQpY22yicCBc5BF8KGdMwIlrvCy20NI4Qa53znAfH-6riXOllYfWzCPk3vvYv-ulMy5jq4s2F7ALWpV5Yzb40aFQpwS7uJRvmFM2wLaaQ1klMM_4AvO8j/s1600/DSC_0037.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhvzsh4B2_cqnLJKviNIKkRsWOOQpY22yicCBc5BF8KGdMwIlrvCy20NI4Qa53znAfH-6riXOllYfWzCPk3vvYv-ulMy5jq4s2F7ALWpV5Yzb40aFQpwS7uJRvmFM2wLaaQ1klMM_4AvO8j/s320/DSC_0037.jpg" /></a></div><br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2_vDGZg84HEiwG4z-I_y1hfzP4Ibi176gqySC68FOoKJH6KhYR5i2pIjW0HbNF23ckqsPq-n59mKU6D8FDuePPX4gKq0Ng7hw3v8jmLo2lO2uGOJcspAUZVw2KIbSZYU3OHvOC6CyshR/s1600/DSC_0038.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgk2_vDGZg84HEiwG4z-I_y1hfzP4Ibi176gqySC68FOoKJH6KhYR5i2pIjW0HbNF23ckqsPq-n59mKU6D8FDuePPX4gKq0Ng7hw3v8jmLo2lO2uGOJcspAUZVw2KIbSZYU3OHvOC6CyshR/s320/DSC_0038.jpg" /></a></div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">City of LA</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">After the site seeing, we had picnic at the park and listened to Matthew's testimony. It was a great story and learned how Matthew overcome mountains in his life. God is great!</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><br />
</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">For the last few days, me and my roommates been learning the street names and knowing how to get there from there. We been to the beach. Sunset and Hollywood blvd is just few blocks away from where we live. We been eating dinner with few guests that invited us to join them for last few days. Eating dinner with Kerr family was amazing! They are a part of Presbyterian hollywood church and they support of what we do. They have traveled across countries to preach and help people all their lives. It was great listening to their stories. After dinner, Mrs. Kerr asked us to read a part of the chapter in romans. It was about serving God. Mrs. Kerr asked us what we think about it and what do we accept the hardest will be for us? Each of us told our part. I told the Kerr family that I hope I become more closer to God each day and stay on his path and understand his ways, not mine. Then I was trying to tell her the verse of Proverbs 3: 5-6. I didn't even give her a clue and she just said </div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-16461" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">5</sup>Trust in the LORD with all thine heart; and lean not unto thine own understanding.</span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"> <sup class="versenum" id="en-KJV-16462" style="font-size: 0.65em; font-weight: bold; line-height: normal; vertical-align: text-top;">6</sup>In all thy ways acknowledge him, and he shall direct thy paths.</div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Then I said yes, that is it. She just smiled and went on listening to rest of them. Then she did a prayer for us and remembered each of our names and our concerns as she prayed for each of us to grow stronger in God. It was great to get to know the Kerr family. The next day, 2 former young adult volunteers invited us to eat dinner with them. They live on the same street as us. They told stories about what they did few years ago and gave us tips as well. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Matthew showed us around this past Tuesday by subway and train to chinatown and downtown LA. We went to a organization called Home Boy that help former gang members to get a new start in life. The Home Boy organization have classes of certain majors for gang members to learn and graduate with degree. They also have cafe and bakery where former gang members make the food. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">This morning, we went to Project Angel Food service that prepare food into TV dinners for people who have aids and problems in their lives. We worked from 8 to 12. I did all sort of stuff. I cut up 14 pans of lasagnas, seal the sarawrap over 400 TV dinners. There was few deaf men there helping. I worked with one of them and he was thrill to communicate with me with sign language. Even I only know little of sign language but I was able to figure out what he was signing. I think there is a deaf school in LA. I been seeing some deaf people in the area. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Please pray for me and my roommates as we start to work with our agency on the 14th. </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">God is Good!</span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Kyle </span></span></div><div style="font-family: 'Charis SIL', charis, Verdana, Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;"><br />
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</div>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-67740104093399731922010-09-01T07:23:00.000-07:002010-09-01T07:23:57.354-07:00<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">Young Adult Volunteers of 10-11</div><div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzExL_6Lq7h2KOjsJnateDOROdt2MzH9nkQbGxp8XDGdI7thJluO4Ipljqp5YpmvUkgYYbqhaB58XcWL10RtPuoYduq0S7GJixoKQdJW7SnZH8O2lEC-lHYE9JArLPZk2NohXTrgc99m_/s1600/45921_433022317374_508312374_4879015_3622790_n.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgPzExL_6Lq7h2KOjsJnateDOROdt2MzH9nkQbGxp8XDGdI7thJluO4Ipljqp5YpmvUkgYYbqhaB58XcWL10RtPuoYduq0S7GJixoKQdJW7SnZH8O2lEC-lHYE9JArLPZk2NohXTrgc99m_/s320/45921_433022317374_508312374_4879015_3622790_n.jpg" /></a></div>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-83113043191947084562010-08-31T08:06:00.000-07:002010-08-31T08:06:45.869-07:00YAV orientation in New YorkHello guys! The orientation in NY went great! There was 78 grad students there being prepare for their journey to Kenya, Peru, South Korea, Northern Ireland, India and in the United States like Miami, New Orleans, Nashville, Tucson, San Antonio, and Los Angeles. We stay at this place called Stony Point.<br />
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Our schedules each day was bible study, morning/night worship, topic discussions related to what we might experience, and we have small group. Small group was that everybody split up in a small group and discuss what we thought about today lessons etc. There was a YAV staff person for each group to talk to and listen. Each of those staff have done YAV mission in the past. My staff person was Becca. She ask these questions to us like what was the lowest point, highest point, do you agree with the today lesson, etc.We all shared our views. We were the smallest group than the other groups, which it went great for me. In my small group, there was 4 people from different sites (Tucson, San Antonio, Miami, Orleans, and me LA.<br />
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We had different topic lessons each day. There was pastors and missionary speakers that spoke of the sermon and gave us questions to discuss in small group later on.<br />
Discernment 101 (twice)<br />
Race and Power in Mission<br />
Interpretation of your experience<br />
What make you tick?<br />
Partnership and cross-cultural experience<br />
Globalization<br />
Communication and conflict<br />
Culture Shock and gender issues<br />
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On Wednesday, we had seminar fair and I got some great advices from employees of different seminaries. As most of you know that I got accepted to go to Louisville seminary this fall but I felt that God was calling me to do mission work first and hopefully he will help me make a decision when this mission almost over. There is not a missionary degree but there is a master of Divinity for 3 years. There is a new degree called Religion of Arts or Master of Arts that is a 2 years. I am glad I got to talk to with different people and speak to few YAV staff that is already in seminary and get their ideas.<br />
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In Morning and night worship we learned how to sing few songs in different languages. For example EWE THINA (E~WE THI~NA) meaning we walk his way. When the music being, we started repeating EWE THINA over and over. At first, I thought it was weird, but after that first day, we sang it again and started to get that burst of energy saying EWE THINA. Its kept remind me, we will walk in Jesus's step. We going to do it God's way, not ours. So on the last day heading to the airport to depart, I got up in front of everybody in a full school bus. I said we got 5 mins before we hit the airport, let sing EWE THINA! So we did. EWE THINA, EWE THINA, EWE THINA. <br />
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On Sunday morning, me and my roommates for LA went to a small Presbyterian church about 45 mins away from our retreat. Each of us spoke about where we from, what our degrees, what is YAV program is, why we going to Hollywood, and what we going to be doing there. We got commissioning. They welcome us with open arms. The church had lunch for us. It was delicious! It remind me of my church luncheon! <br />
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On Monday leaving from NY to Chicago to LA was a long ride. I got to know more of my roommates. Just before we landed in LA, I told Brady that was a long flight. He said yep, Then I said "but the good news is that I save a bunch of money on car insurance by switching to Geico!" Ha Ha<br />
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Thank you for those who are sending me emails, comments on facebook, and keeping me in your prayers for the last few weeks! Please continue to do so, that makes my day! : ) Hope you have a wonderful day!<br />
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God is Good!<br />
KyleA city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-9214893140548611891.post-71344446648225933572010-08-06T20:43:00.000-07:002010-08-06T20:44:04.285-07:00A funny story<div id="yiv1840022466" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span id="yiv1840022466role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"></span><br />
<span id="yiv1840022466role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial;"><div><div id="yiv1840022466ecxyiv1442896825"><div><div><div class="yiv1840022466ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The light turned yellow, just in front of him. He did the right thing, stopping at the crosswalk, even though he could have beaten the red light by accelerating through the intersection. </span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">The tailgating woman was furious and honked her horn, screaming in frustration, as she missed her chance to get through the intersection, dropping her cell phone and makeup.</span></span></div></div></div><div class="yiv1840022466ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;"><br />
</span></span></div><div class="yiv1840022466ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">As she was still in mid-rant, she heard a tap on her window and looked up into the face of a very serious police officer. The officer ordered her to exit her car with her hands up. He took her to the police station where she was searched fingerprinted, photographed, and placed in a holding cell. </span></span></div></div><div class="yiv1840022466ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">After a couple of hours, a policeman approached the cell and opened the door. She was escorted back to the booking desk where the arresting officer was waiting with her personal effects.</span></span></div></div><div class="yiv1840022466ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-bottom: 12pt; margin-left: 0.5in; margin-right: 0in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">He said, ''I apologize for this mistake. You see, I pulled up behind your car while you were blowing your horn, flipping off the guy in front of you and cussing a blue streak at him. I noticed the 'What Would Jesus Do' bumper sticker, the 'Choose Life' license plate holder, the 'Follow Me to Sunday-School' bumper sticker, and the chrome-plated Chris tian fish emblem on the trunk, so naturally...I assumed you had stolen the car.''</span></span></div></span></div><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span id="yiv1840022466role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, sans-serif;"><span id="yiv1840022466role_document" style="color: black; font-family: Arial; font-size: x-small;"><div class="yiv1840022466ecxMsoNormal" style="margin-left: 0.5in;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: medium;">Priceless</span></i></span></div></span></span>A city on our knees.http://www.blogger.com/profile/06104835972171749292noreply@blogger.com0