It's almost time!

Winter Conference starts on Tuesday evening!
In less than 12 hours, my friend Heather and I will be driving down to San Diego, as staff are showing up to Conference one day early to set up and prepare.
A LOT of work on the part of a lot of people has gone into getting ready for this week, and we are so excited (but a bit nervous) to see how it will all play out.
Please be praying that God would be in control, that this would be His conference, that it would glorify Him, that students' hearts would be opened to hearing from Him this week, and that our preparations would be blessed by the Holy Spirit as He uses them to make for a spectacular few days of life-change.

Family reunion

The Doubletree Hotel in Orange, CA is fast becoming a home away from home away from home. In April of 2008, I spent a weekend there to go through CCC's intern kickoff/training. In October 2009, I spent another weekend doing Winter Conference planning with the program team. The next month, I spent a week there with Winter Conference planning, Fall Staff Conference, and Crossroads Conference. And this year, from 11/17-11/22, I was once again checked in for this year's Winter Conference planning and Crossroads Conference. So it's becoming a home away from home away from home in the sense the classic sense of spending a TON of time there. But there's more to it- when you're home, you're usually with family. And let me tell you- any time I'm at the Doubletree, it's a family reunion.

The Winter Conference programming team feels like family. WC is an annual highlight for many, and getting to do so much of the behind-the-scenes work, planning the programming that we've seen God use to transform lives year after year, is not only a fulfilling experience- it's also a huge bonding experience. We definitely come away from these times feeling like a family unit.

Doodles, sketches, notes, computers, spread all over the table... And ideas, schedule drafts, conference "storyboards" all over the walls. It's so much work that it can definitely be an "Are we there yet??" situation... :D

Coming up with great ideas and being super excited about it! haha

The occasional creative exercise helped get our innovative juices flowing. Justin's prouder of his creation than Jake is of his. Sibling rivalry.

Honestly, it was really hard work- having meetings from 930am-9pm. Sometimes we just needed a break. If only there was a TV in front of this couch. It would be like movie night!

Our fearless leader (dad?), Bob Fuhs.

And then the rest of the staff from the Pacific Southwest Region started showing up to prepare for the students who would be arriving for Crossroads Conference in a few hours. Seriously, any time the PSW gets together, it's a big family reunion. The term "staff family" gets thrown around a lot that it almost becomes cliche, but it's true! Getting to see and spend time with people who are doing the same work as you, people with whom you went through summer projects or new staff training classes, people with whom you previously worked on other campus, etc, is just SO refreshing! They all have a passion for serving the Lord and it's definitely contagious.

Everyone in this picture, except the one in the green, was at one time part of the USC family. L to R: Matt, staff Fall 07-Fall 09. Jon Whitmore, staff Fall 03-Spring 07. Kristen Whitmore- staff Fall 06-Spring 07. Laura Reynolds, staff Fall 07-Spring 09. Christina Eads, Class of 2007.

I've always referred to Laura as being my "big sis" on the USC staff team. And Casey Hogue (USC class of 09 and now USC staff) and I have always treated each other like competing siblings, pulling rank on each other all the time, but definitely loving each other too! :)

Cayla (Hatter, staff in the regional office working with our overseas partnerships) has played a big part in my heart for Japan- she helped brief and debrief the first Project I went on back in 07, and was the one who challenged me to direct the Project in 09. Heather (Brainerd, USC class of 09, now USC intern) is one of my best friends- we've been to Japan together three times, directed a summer project together, and served on the USC staff team as interns together.

The four newest members of the UC Berkeley staff family

The family is always growing, too, with additions like cute little Lucy Joy Whitmore.

I am so blessed with family. My biological family is amazing, my staff family in Hawaii is awesome, and the PSW staff family is really the coolest group of co-workers you could ever ask for! But what makes it even better is that we're also part of God's family, because He, the Creator of the universe, came to our planet to live as a person, to walk in perfection, and to die a most brutal and gruesome death, for the sake of reconciling us rebellious human beings to Himself as our Father and adopting us forever as His dear children. SO AMAZING! That's what we're celebrating this Christmas season. :) If you're not part of this family yet, you definitely should be- God is extending the invitation to you right now!

Random Recommendation #1

I used to do a "Random Recommendation of the Month" on my ministry update newsletter, but now that I've strictly limited that to a single page per issue, it doesn't fit anymore! So I thought I'd start doing random recommendations here once in a while.

"Has God Forgotten Me" by Tim Chaddick on Reality LA Podcast

This is the October 3, 2010 sermon from the church I went to for my last few months living in SoCal. And boy do I miss it! The biblical teaching at Reality LA is just ROCK-solid, and the worship is powerful and passionate yet reverent and worshipful. If you haven't been, check it out. Sunday services are at 9am and 12noon at Helen Bernstein High School- 1309 Wilton Pl in Hollywood.

"Has God Forgotten Me" deals with doubt, despondency, abandonment and despair. Looking at Isaiah 49:13-16, Tim uses the Israelite people's cry of doubt and God's response to them to teach on God's nourishing, intimate, and unconditional love. Whether you are in a difficult season of life, feeling abandoned by God and sitting in despair, or are in a joyful and vibrant period in your relationship with God, this is an important message- for the sake of being prepared to deal with doubt and despair for yourself, but also to know how to effectively minister to others who may be going through "the darkness of despair".

All I could say in response was "God's love is mind-blowing."

Download it free on iTunes. Search "reality la forgotten"

Maybe this is gonna be an annual thing...

About a year ago, I wrote a post about how packed the last month and a half of the year would be for me. Here I go with another one.

About two weeks ago, I flew back to CA for 3 days of Winter Conference planning (it was SO good! aaah I'm so excited about it! get more info at sdwinterconference.com)

followed by a weekend of Crossroads Conference where more than 200 juniors and seniors from around the region learned about making life/career decisions in a God-honoring way as graduation approaches (don't even get me started on how incredible the speakers were at delivering God's word and inspiring us to have the right perspective about all aspects of our life). Then it was Thanksgiving, and then yesterday I came back to Hawaii. On Wednesday I will finally move into my place. Tomorrow-Fri, and then next Mon and Fri make up our last days on campus for 2010, as next Tues-Thurs will be staff planning for the spring semester. And then that Sunday (12/12) is my flight back to CA. The next 14 days will be finishing up Winter Conference planning, working on finishing up my online seminary class (it's so intense! but so good too!), Christmas with the family, and hopefully breathing a little. Cuz then from 12/27-1/1, I will be in beautiful San Diego, CA, emceeing and helping run (and for sure enjoying) our annual Winter Conference!


PLEASE know that this isn't a complaint post. I actually love being busy, and all the stuff that I've been doing and will be doing is stuff that I absolutely love to do! All this stuff invigorates me. But I do ask that you pray for me in this time- that I don't get burned out, that I would be able to live in the present faithfully, that I wouldn't rely on adrenaline to get through the busyness but that I would fully rely on the Holy Spirit to lead me through it as I surrender myself in Christ Jesus to the intimate arms of my loving Father. It's the only way to live, and I don't want the busyness to distract me from that.

Also, happy birthday to my little sister Umi! (well... it's still her birthday for another 40 minutes or so here in Hawaii) Can't believe she's 15 already... But she's an awesome sister and I love her! Can't wait to see what Jesus has for her this coming year. :) Speaking of sister, random side note: I had an AMAZING time getting to spend some QT with both my sisters (Gin's the older of the two) and my mom. I love all these women!

(From L to R- My mom, birthay girl Umi, Gin, my aunt Delia, me)

Arigatai

My friend and fellow CCC staff member Bob Fuhs said it (well... Tweeted it, really) best:
"Thankful today for Gods grace in my life. I am a redeemed mess."

On top of that, this year I'm particularly thankful for the chance to celebrate with my family and friends in beautiful, cool, crisp Southern California. And I'm thankful that I'm going back on Sunday to my new residence in gorgeous Honolulu, HI, where I'm thankful for all the many blessings from the Lord I've been experiencing as I transition to island life.

Happy Thanksgiving day, everyone! Praises to the One who alone deserves our deepest, sincerest, lifelong gratitude.

EXCITING Opportunity

Actually, let's make it exciting opportunitIES.

First, right now I'm in Maui! Shaun, Ed and I are here with a double purpose.
1) To just have a staff guys' retreat. We're taking the weekend to hang out and relax as the guys.
2) More importantly, we're here to help a student named Austin start a Cru movement at the local college (Maui College, formerly Maui Community College). We also met a pastor today who talked with us for a couple of hours about how we can partner to reach West Maui for Christ.
Really exciting stuff!

Second, what I was originally gonna post:
Official as of this past week, I will gain get to serve as emcee of the San Diego Winter Conference!If you followed my blog last year, you know how amazing an experience that was for me last time. I feel so honored, blessed, and excited to again get to not only serve on the programming team, but to also guide the hundreds of students attending through all the content.

Please be praying for both our trip to Maui and our prepping for Winter Conference! Especially as the bulk of programming planning will be happening this coming week.

Cool opportunity?

Why do I always forget that God directs my life and that nothing that happens is a surprise to Him? Silly Gen...

I was on the phone with my dear friend Sarah from SC last night. We were catching each other up on different goings-on in our lives, and I obviously was telling her that I had yet to find a place to live, and explained that I had just been couch surfing for the last four weeks (speaking of which- as of yesterday I've now been in Hawaii for four weeks!) with my director Shaun, my fellow staff team member Jamie, and my fraternity brother Justin. Her response was surprising:
"That's cool! You're living like the disciples and the early believers- what a great opportunity for them to show you hospitality, and for you to live in total dependence on God to provide for you through the generosity of His people!"

Her comment left me speechless for about three seconds. She was SO right! I completely trust and believe that the Lord will provide a place for me to live- a sweet place of rest where I can go to at the end of a long day of ministry. And I will continue to faithfully keep on looking for a place. But until the search is over, I also need to totally trust that this time of homelessness is also an intentional part of God's provision. Sarah went on to say that she believes our culture has ingrained in all of us a strong sense of independence and self-sufficiency. We don't know how to live with each other anymore. And yet, in the New Testament, we are exhorted over and over to practice true hospitality, to live in harmony with one another, to bear one another's burdens, to share what we have with those who are lacking. And Jesus Himself commanded His disciples to depend on the hospitality of people of peace when going on mission. Obviously Sarah wasn't saying that we shouldn't ever try to have our own place to live or be able to support ourselves. But I think she has a point- I've HATED having to couch surf, and it's not because it's inconvenient for me, but because it drives me crazy to have to be such a bother to people. I don't know how to let people be generous to me. The people I've stayed with have told me repeatedly that they really are happy to help and that I am not at all a burden or a nuisance. Yet I want to rob them of their joy in helping me by resisting their hospitality.

What a humbling season... but in an AWESOME way! What an attitude shift to go from faithlessness, anxiety, and frustration at my lack of success in house-hunting, to trusting in God's timing and rejoicing in the opportunity to grow in the Lord and learn humility in relying on God's people to bless me!

Put ourselves out of a job

The goal in the campus ministry of CCC is not to have a big movement completely (no matter how well or poorly) run by staff. These are campus movements we are working to launch all around the world, and we want to raise up students to take ownership of what's going on and have it become more and more student-led/student-run. Staff will stick around for continued coaching/training/discipling, etc., but in a way, we want the students to put us out of a job. We want them to make it so we have less and less to do. Not so that we become lazy- but so that we can be freed up to focus mainly on coaching and training and encouraging, while students themselves can get in there and change their campuses for Christ.

Of course, this process can (and usually does) take years, or even yeaaars. But it's always really exciting when you catch a glimpse of the gradual shift towards student ownership.

Today has been that kind of day.

Every Thursday, we have what we call "Talk Story". It's just a time set aside for staff and students to go out onto campus in pairs, find people to talk to, and strike up spiritual conversation with them through spiritual interest surveys/straight-up intentional conversation/evangelism tools, etc. Well, today, Peter- a freshman who is the most consistent student at Talk Story... he's there every week!- went with Jesse- a sophomore transfer- for his first time ever to go do spiritual surveys. Then Donna- a sweet, sweet student girl who also comes consistently to Talk Story- took Hannah- a freshman girl from Virginia- on her first time!

Then I was supposed to meet Gilbert- the student leader at Kapionali Community College, where I work on Tuesdays- and he told me to meet him outside because he had run into Marion- a student at UH who came to Christ at the beginning of the semester. I met up with them, and let them finish their conversation, but it was really cool to get to listen in because it was basically Gilbert getting to speak words of encouragement from the Bible to Marion.

I love it when students feel confident and bold in the Holy Spirit and just go for it! :)

If I were a hermit crab...

At least I'd have a place to live.
Those are hermit crabs right? The ones that carry their shell around as a home and can "move" to a different shell home when they out-grow their old one?

Yeah, I'm definitely glad I'm a human being (made in God's image, and now brought into a personal relationship with Him through Jesus Christ). But IF I were a hermit crab, I'd have an advantage on me in ONE category- having a place to live.

Yup, I'm two days away from 4 weeks living in Hawaii, and I have yet to find a place to live. It definitely has been frustrating and trying for my faith/patience/joy... But God is good. He knows what He's doing. His timing is perfect. He hasn't allowed me to find a place yet because it's not the time yet.

At the very least, I know that, when He does, I'll be dang grateful for it. Praying that during this time, He draws me to rely on Him so fully that even when I have a place to live, my place of comfort/safety- my "home"- isn't my apartment/house, but my quiet moments of intimacy with Him.

I guess I DO like my job...

So the Hawaii Cru team is mostly based at UH Manoa, but we actually also work on a few different smaller universities/community colleges. I'm specifically assigned to go to Kapiolani Community College every Tuesday with two other staff members, and this past Tuesday was my first day on "KCC". It's a beautiful campus, just above the base of Diamond Head, and there are some really nice views of the ocean. But what was really exciting was that Natalie (Intern with EPIC- the Asian-American movement of CCC) and I showed up a couple of hours early and got to go out "sharing". That's just what we call it when we go out onto campus, meet students we don't know and try to have spiritual conversation with them. So we spent about an hour and a half and got to have some legit spiritual conversations with 3 students.

Today, I did "Talk Story" (Hawaii Cru's weekly version of going out sharing) and got to go with a junior girl named Donna. She had gone out sharing with Karisa (our girl director) before but had never initiated. Well, today was her chance! After having me initiate in a conversation with a buddhist hapa girl from LA, she was ready and I got to accompany her as she initiated conversation by doing a spiritual survey with an agnostic local girl who'd done her undergrad studies at Harvard. It was a fanTAStic conversation, and Donna said she had a lot of fun doing it!

Honestly, a few years ago I never would've imagined myself saying this, but I'd really missed going out sharing. Because of the busy schedule during support raising, I hadn't done it since New Staff Training back in July! And that was just twice- once at Daytona Beach, and once University of Central Florida's campus.

It felt so good to go out onto campus as an ambassador for Christ, meeting and developing relationships with students and helping them along in their spiritual journey. I love that it's part of my job, and I love that I love doing it. Thank You, Lord, for this blessing :)

Just for "kicks"

I've never actually compiled all of my heel-click jump pictures...
The collection has grown quite a bit so I thought I'd post my inventory thus far.
I understand this post has absolutely nothing to do with ministry or being in Hawaii or anything.
It's really just for kicks...

Starting with the Disney Parks (where this all began):

Disneyland- Main Street, U.S.A. 2007.
[The pic that started it all... with my SC friends Molly and Arthur]


Disneyland- Sleeping Beauty Castle. Nov 2008
[Every year around Christmas time I use a festive picture taken at Disneyland for my facebook profile picture. This is the one from 2 years ago.]


Tokyo DisneySea- Port Discovery. Jun 2008
[First one not at Disneyland. Taken while visiting the 2008 Summer Project]


Magic Kingdom- Cinderella Castle. Jan 2009
[During my first visit to Walt Disney World (right after Summer Project directors' training)]


Tokyo Disneyland- Cinderella's Castle. Jun 2009


Disneyland- Main Street, U.S.A. Dec 2009


Disney's Hollywood Studios- The Sorcerer's Hat. Jul 2010
[During and after New Staff Training, I visited each of the four parks at Walt Disney World- all of them for the first time, except for Magic Kingdom.]


Magic Kingdom- Cinderella Castle. Jul 2010


Disney's Animal Kingdom- Everest. Jul 2010


Epcot- Spaceship Earth. Jul 2010
[Considering how exhausted I was after a long, hot day, and trying this picture 15 times before we finally got it right (thanks for your patience, Heather), I'm pleasantly surprised at how it turned out.]

The collection of heel-click jump pics from random places around the country/world is pretty new, so there are only a few. More to come, hopefully!!

Victoria, Australia- The Twelve Apostles. Mar 2009
[The 12 Apostles are a beautiful rock formation off southeastern coast of Australia. I got to see them on our free day during the spring break mission trip to Melbourne.]


Tokyo, Japan- Odaiba. Jun 2009


Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic- Universidad Autonoma de Santo Domingo. Mar 2010
[The campus where we did ministry during our spring break mission trip to the DR]


Santo Domingo, Dominican Republic- Columbus Park. Mar 2010
[Plaza in the Colonial Zone of the city, dedicated to Christopher Columbus. Behind me is his statue and behind him is the oldest church in the Americas.]


Winter Park, Florida- Rollins College. Jul 2010
[In front of our dorm building at New Staff Training]


Estes Park, Colorado- YMCA of the Rockies. Oct 2010

Yes, I'm weird.

Perks

I know that I talked a lot about how scared I was to move all the way to Hawaii- how ministry was going to be hard, how different the culture was going to be, how far away from everything/everyone I've known I was going to be... And we'll see how those things end up going. But let's be honest- there are some major perks to working here on Oahu.

Case in point, check out some scenes from our Fall Getaway that happened this past weekend on the North Shore (We really did have meetings with biblical teaching and worship and spiritual growth and stuff! But that's not the point of this post. So please realize that the following isn't ALL that happened haha):

Gorgeous green mountains in the background

Students having their morning quiet times right outside their cabins



The beach in front of the campground

Not bad, huh? :)

I love/miss my NST friends

I was in Estes Park, CO, from 10/3-6 with 25 of my New Staff Training friends, going through the west coast version of the support raising training follow-up conference. It was a much smaller group than the one we experienced in Orlando this summer, but it was suuuuuch a good time! I think the smaller, more intimate group, in the more secluded and nature-filled setting made for really good community. I'd forgotten how much I loved and missed these people. It was such a blessing getting to spend 3 and a half days with these people enjoying God's creation, being goofballs and having fun, having one-on-one time with trainers and coaches who gave us pointers in support raising as well as personal financial stewardship, hearing from wise men and women about Spirit-filled living, and just getting away from it all.

Some highlights:

Lots of wildlife! Animals aren't scared of people at the YMCA of the Rockies, apparently

I know it's hard to see but that's a family of deer

There were at least 4 bull elk on the grounds, sometimes even fighting each other with their antlers!

Little bunnies EVERYWHERE!

I was half hoping I would find Aslan in there somewhere...

Training times!



Stephen (new staff with Keynote- CCC's music/arts ministry) and Jenny (new staff from ASU, going to Cal Poly SLO) leading worship for us!

Community time!

Back to dining hall life :)

Ah, how I've missed playing Ninja

Breathtaking views on a hike

Tribute to the YMCA camp. During a hike with my friends Stephen, Jake (new staff to Montana State), and Chris (new staff to our regional office)

Such a good, refreshing, needed time. Except... now my awareness of how much I love and miss my friends from NST has been renewed. :(

Thank You, Lord, for bringing these awesome brothers and sisters in Christ into my life!

I missed it by an HOUR!!!!

So Sunday and Monday in LA were heinously hot. I know everyone's tweets and facebook statuses talked about it, so I feel like I'm just being a bandwagoner. But I have a slightly frustrated perspective on it.

Now, first, let me remind you all that I cannot stand heat. I don't know how I'll survive in Hawaii and I'm pretty sure God started prepping me for the adjustment in climate by having me go on a week-long trip to the Dominican Republic over spring break (up to that point, the hottest/most humid/most miserable weather I'd ever experienced) and then by spending five weeks in Orlando this summer for New Staff Training (now, the hottest/most humid/most miserable weather I've ever experienced).

But even with my absolute dislike of heat and my passionate love of semi-cold weather, I'm really mad that I MISSED THE HOTTEST DAY IN LOS ANGELES HISTORY (see the LA Times story here that proves Angelenos weren't just being whiny about it getting a little warmer than our usual year-round 75F with no humidity)! UGH! I love records! I love being able to say "I was there for that"! And yet, on Monday, I left Los Angeles at 11:10 am (when it was already well into the triple digits) for a support trip to Phoenix (which, quite ironically, turned out to be an escape from the LA heat), and an hour and five minutes later, the thermometer in downtown Los Angeles FOR THE FIRST TIME SINCE TEMPERATURES HAVE BEEN RECORDED hit 113 degrees Fahrenheit!!

BY ONE HOUR AND FIVE MINUTES! COME ON!!!!!!!!!

I got to Phoenix and found out that the high that day was only 106. Weaksauce.

Sigh... Maybe I just have to be alive for another 120 years or so and maybe, just maybe, I'll be there when LA hits 114. :)

Letting go

A couple of months ago, God put it on my heart to pray that He would reveal idols in my life, so that He could remove them. I had NO idea how intense a prayer I was praying!

A week or two later, there were three weeks IN A ROW where the speaker at Reality LA mentioned idolatry and explained it in a way that stabbed at my heart in a different (yet equally severe) way each time. Who knew I had so many things that I wasn't willing to let go of?

I mean, it's fairly easy, after a while, to recognize "obvious" idols- money, prestige, (both heavily tied to) career, etc.

But it gets trickier when it becomes things like social status/popularity in spiritual communities, talents, even spiritual gifts! Or aesthetic things like the beauty of nature, gorgeous music, God-given talent in sport/dance/performance, etc. Like most other idols, these are not, in and of themselves, bad things. In fact, a lot of them are things given to us by God to help us worship Him better. But it can actually be sneaky and turn into the very thing we worship. YIKES.

When you're getting ready to leave a state you've lived in for 17 years, and are coming face to face with leaving behind just about everything, you really start to see what things you hold on to too tightly... and I've been discovering that these "security blankets", these things I say that "I can't live without", are IDOLS. All I truly need, is God. And He is a jealous God- He doesn't like there being anything other than Him at the center of my life. Because, really, if I'm saying that I NEED other things, that I can't live without them, that it would hurt too much to lose them, I'm basically saying they are part of my life source, my GOD. No bueno.

It's a really freeing experience, but boy does it hurt! I'm just glad my God is a God who cares deeply for me and walks right beside me/ahead of me leading me as I go through these experiences, comforting me, healing me, filling the holes left by the idols, and satisfying and fulfilling me in ways that nothing else could ever even attempt to pretend to act like they could.

When God commanded in the Ten Commandments to not have any idols, I know that a big part of it was because He is God and refuses to have His people worship anything else... but I also thing that a big part of it was that He KNEW how much idols were hazardous to our health, and becausee He KNEW just how good it would be for us to be wholly given over to Him.

"You shall have NO other gods before Me."

NOM

Like I've said, it's been a blast meeting with a bunch of people and getting to tell them about the ministry I'm involved in and such. The conversations have all been so refreshing and encouraging. But there's another perk to this support-raising period of my life: FOOD.

I've been meeting with people all over Southern California, and they all have local places that they like that they've been taking me to. So I'm getting to discover some sweet socal finds. Here are just a few:

- The Counter: These gourmet build-your-own burgers are out of this world. All the ingredients are super fresh, the meat is sustainable, hormone/antibiotic-free yumminess, and the choices are endless. Choose from 12 different cheeses (like Tillamook cheddar, Gruyere, soft-ripened Brie), 21 toppings (like awesome grilled onions, roasted green chiles, hard boiled eggs), 21 sauces (like chipotle aioli- SO GOOD, horseradish mayo, ginger soy glaze), and even 5 buns and 5 meats. The sweet potato fries are also legit. The Surprise-I'm-Awesome Award goes to the veggie patty. It's the best veggie burger I've had. Thanks, Lisi Keye.

- The Habit: Apparently LA is becoming one of America's top burger hot spots. This Santa Barbara-born joint makes super fresh, charbroiled burgers. It's not so much variety- just quality. A good, solid, tasty, fresh burger with a side of hefty onion rings makes for a great lunch! Thanks, Will Liu.

- Alcove: I hate driving to Los Feliz, but once I'm there, I'm in love. It's a trendy neighborhood, lined with cool cafes and bars. Alcove is simultaneously cute and cool. Everyone there's definitely hipster and the menu is super west coast with its selection of paninis, salads, breakfast dishes, most with fresh and healthy ingredients (lots of fruits and veggies). And yet it's a small building with a big front patio area with garden lights and "cute" seating. My apple and brie panini was yummy. And I hear they have a great bakery. Thanks, Lana Sanfilippo.

- House of Breakfast: Kind of a hole-in-the-wall place on Olympic and 5th. The place is owned by a Japanese-American family. Classic breakfasts with a slight Hawaiian twist- spam and eggs, Portuguese sausage, etc. And REALLY good pancakes. Don't know what it is about them- they're just good. Thick, fluffy, and totally tasty. Friendly service too. And it's so close to where I live! Thanks, Dave Kleinknecht.

- Shoops: It's half European market (Swedish, Danish, German imported goods) half delicatessen. Lots of heart and healthy options. The place feels very local- it's on Main St in Santa Monica and doesn't feel at all like a snooty tourist trap kind of place. Urth Caffe (which is also great) is across the street but it has such a different, more pretentious feel. I loved Shoops' feel, service, and food- the wraps are great. Thanks, Jed Bunkowski.

Plenty others... these are just a few of the places I've tried out in the last couple of weeks. Check them out! :)

Life is a highway

Yeah, I know the song is about the fast-paced, unpredictable nature of life, and about taking chances and all... and I can definitely relate with that in this period of my life.

But right now, I mean it literally. So much of my time these days is spent on the 10, the 110, the 405... It's all for a great reason- meeting up with people to share with them what all God is doing in the ministry and what all I'm excited about in going to Hawai'i (and getting to catch up with these people I rarely get to see!). So I'm not complaining- I love what I do. But take this week for example- already I have something like 330 miles of driving planned JUST with appointments in the next four days. Life is a highway.

The thing is, back when I was skating, I was driving a good 70 miles a day, most of which was during rush-hour traffic. And back then, I loved it! It was so easy for me to just sit in traffic, roll my windows down, feel the nice breeze, and just talk with God. Silence was golden- it was some of my best times with Him. I'm realizing now that I'm rather out of shape in spending quality time with God. I spend solid time in the Word and in prayer every day, but I guess I've forgotten a little bit how to just be with God. No bueno.

So I'm grateful for these opportunities to spend hours each day in my car, by myself, to remember again how to just enjoy the company of my Creator, my Savior, my Lord, my Father, my Friend. It might be a little bit awkward and uncomfortable at the beginning... but I know it's so worth it. HE's always been there wanting to hang out in deep, intimate fellowship. It's just me who hasn't been very present in our times together.

Relationships take work, right? Well, this is one relationship I'd be a fool not to invest in and work on. So bring on the long drives! Cuz really, driving the highway of life with God is one exciting and adventurous ride. Some parts are bumpy, some are long stretches of what looks like nothingness, and some parts have sharp, unexpected turns. But they're all SO good. Especially knowing the destination that the road is getting us to.
Life is a highway...

Starbucks is smart

I used to not go to Starbucks that much.
No longer the case. At all.

Here are the reasons why:
1) I'm working on support, which means that between appointments, I have a lot of emails, phone calls, logistics, letters, updates, etc to work on, and I'm just not as productive in my own home.
2) Starbucks now has a trick called "Treat Receipt," where, if you get a drink before 2pm, you come back in the afternoon with your "Treat Receipt" and can get any GRANDE drink for $2! UGH. I definitely wouldn't have gotten a 2nd drink in one day, like, ever. But for $2?
3) Starbucks now has free wi-fi for everyone. I'd used their wi-fi before with my Starbucks gift card but it was a pain that I had to make sure I'd used the card in the last month, and that the card was registered online. Now it's just free wi-fi for everyone. And I get a cheap drink (in the afternoon, after I've paid for a not-so-cheap drink in the morning)
4) I discovered their Caramel Light Frappuccino. It still tastes so good but less intense (which I like) and it's only 125 calories and 1g of fat for a Tall! Compare that to, say, a tall Java Chip Frappuccino (SO yum) with 255 calories and 7g of fat (5g saturated, as opposed to 0g saturated for the CLF)! Yeah, the Caramel Light Frappuccino is quite the find.


Ack.

Back to School

Nick (guy I used to disciple at USC- now a senior on Shepherd Team) called me the other day, asking a question about some beginning-of-the-year stuff that USC Cru does, because he was working on some planning with Casey (USC class of '09, now on staff). Then on Saturday, I was texting with Jared (another guy I used to disciple at USC- now a senior on Lead Team) when I realized that he was at the Lead Team overnighter when all the student leaders at USC get together with the staff to go through some vision casting, planning, on final logistics before the Fall starts.

And it hit me- I'm not there.

The beginning of the school year at USC is something I've been a part of since 2004, and now, for the first time in years, I didn't even know that stuff was going on until someone told me as it was going on. It feels WEIRD.

On Tuesday, Shaun (director at UH) called me and was just telling me about how their team was going into Fall planning as well, and was asking for prayer as he begins leading the staff team that day and then the students, as classes are about to start on Monday (tomorrow). It made me want to be there so much!

Ministry partner development is an awesome time of trusting God and getting to have really encouraging times with friends and family, getting to tell them about the ministry. But at the same time, it is hard not being on campus when I know that ministry is already going on- on both the campus that I've been at for the past 6 years, and on the one I will be at for the next few.

It's ok. God has a plan for me during this time too, and I'm excited to see what happens :)

Miss the blessing

My friend Mitch from Tennessee just texted me the other day with a line from a Charles Spurgeon devotional. Here is the paragraph, with the line he texted me in italics:

Satan is sure to hinder us when we are earnest in prayer. He checks our importunity, and weakens our faith in order that, if possible, we may miss the blessing. Nor is Satan less vigilant in obstructing Christian effort. There was never a revival of religion without a revival of his opposition. As soon as Ezra and Nehemiah begin to labour, Sanballat and Tobiah are stirred up to hinder them. What then? We are not alarmed because Satan hindereth us, for it is a proof that we are on the Lord’s side, and are doing the Lord’s work, and in his strength we shall win the victory, and triumph over our adversary.

Satan's such a dirty worm. And how appropriate is this warning for those of us who are trusting God for provision right now?? Thanks, Mitch, for the text. But even more, praise God that this warning comes with comforting encouragement- the reminder that, as members of God's family and Kingdom, we WILL (not "might") have victory over the enemy! YEAH! Let's not miss the blessing, eh?

Not alone

Support raising can be such a lonely time. I absolutely love meeting with people and getting to hear about their lives and getting to share some of my vision for the ministry with them. But in-between those meetings is hours, sometimes days, of very little human interaction. It's a lot of administrative work, and a lot of time with self to think about things. In the midst of this not-so-easy season of ministry though, I have to remember that I am NOT alone... at all.

First, God is with me! He promised that He will never leave me- that He would always be with me, even unto the end of the age. He dwells inside of me and is my constant Companion.

Second, God blesses me with community! He's given me brothers and sisters in Christ who encourage me whenever I get to spend time with them, and He's provided ~115 other new staff all around the country who are going through the exact same thing I'm experiencing right now! How comforting to know that what I'm going through is being shared by others all around the world. Last night, I got to have a mini-reunion with 6 of the 8 who joined staff this summer from the Pacific Southwest Region (CA,HI, AZ, Las Vegas). It was SUCH a refreshing and fun time of just catching up and encouraging each other. Thank You, Lord, for times like that to remind me of how not alone I am.


L to R (Alma mater, assignment):
Casey Patrick (USC, Cal Poly SLO), Christina Carey (USC, Melbourne, Australia), Chris Bernetich (CSULB, Regional Office), Courtney Sterk (Cal Poly SLO, UCSD&SDSU), Jeff Pauls (UCSB, Middle East), Me (USC, UH)

LA Bucket List time

I have no idea when I'll be moving to Hawaii. All I know is that it will be when I finish raising my support. It could be in a year or two. It could be in a month. Who knows? Well... God does. :)

But there always is that possibility that it will be very soon. So I want to take advantage of all the perks of being a Southern California resident. It's time I start checking things off of my LA Bucket List. To do that, I should probably create an LA Bucket List. :-D

So here it is, the start of Gen's LA Bucket List (not all of these are gonna be easy... some may be impossible haha):
- Watch the Phil at Walt Disney Concert Hall
- Get into Club 33
- Grab dessert at Syrup
- Check out the Grammy Museum
- Attend a play at Mark Taper
- Eat at the House of Blues
- Visit Pepperdine's campus
- Dine at Encounter
- Attend a service at Rock Harbor Church
- Have a quiet time at the beach
- Fly out of Long Beach airport

Any other ideas?

A farewell letter

Dear Florida,
It's been a great run. I never expected 37 days together to go by so fast... I had an absolute blast. It mostly wasn't due to you- it really was about the awesome people I got to meet at New Staff Training, and the awesome Christian Theology and Bible Study Methods classes I got to take, and the spiritual growth I got to go through as God really revealed so much more about Himself to me (often in rather painful ways...). Yeah... you had very little to do with it. But you did offer beautiful lakes, awesome wildlife, Disney World, and help preparing me for the humid heat I'll face in Hawaii. And, if nothing else, you can claim that you were the setting for 5 profoundly life-changing weeks for me... that God truly used our 5 weeks together to bring me into both a greater realization of how desperately I need saving and a deeper understanding of His indescribably, vastly, incomprehensibly perfect nature which happens to completely fill that need. So thanks for being used in that way.

I wouldn't be surprised if I got to see you again... After all, the international headquarters for the organization I work with is in your very heart- Orlando. I will miss a lot of the fun times we had together. But I can't say I will miss you. It'll be good to see you again, but I won't miss you... I think you and I just wouldn't work out- we're not compatible. I think you're more built for people who love intolerable humidity and heat, and lizards running around everywhere. It's not you- it's me. I hope you're not too hurt.

Still, I can sincerely sign this as
Gratefully,
Gen

Honolulu I am coming back again...

On May 8th, I went to my littlest sister's dance recital. She was AWESOME- jazz, hiphop, contemporary, tap, ballet... she rocked them all! But my favorite dance that she did was a beaaaautiful hula to "Honolulu I Am Coming Back Again." In case you're not familiar with it, it's a nostalgic song whose chorus says:

I seem to hear the Pali calling me
I seem to hear the surf at Waikiki
And from Pacific Heights I seem to see the lights
Of a city that is very dear to me

I seem to see the waving sugar cane
The coco palms all nodding in the rain
In fancy I am led Back to dear old Diamond Head
Honolulu, I am coming back again
Honolulu, I am coming back again

Well, at the time, I had just come back from my awesome week-long vision trip to Honolulu three and a half weeks prior. I felt really called to do ministry there, but since I hadn't been given my assignment yet, I was thinking to myself, "I sure hope the song applies to me!" Well, like I said in my previous post, I can now say to the capital city of Hawaii, "Honolulu, I am coming back again" :) It will definitely be an intense adjustment once my support gets raised and I actually move over there. Ministry there's not easy. Life there is surprisingly not easy. The move will be hard. But I'm so excited for what God has in store for me there. And a lot of that excitement comes from what I experienced during my vision trip. Here are some highlights...

I just love the staff team. Shaun, the director (the shaggy one), has been a friend of mine for a while now and it was great getting to stay at his place all week and get to know him a lot better. Tricia (2nd from right) won't be there anymore after 5 years of helping lead the movement, but she was sooo encouraging to me on this entire journey of figuring out whether I was supposed to go to Hawaii or not. Ed and Lynee (bookends) had just reported to UH and eagerly showed me around campus and were also very encouraging all week. Jamie (2nd from left) wasn't there yet when I went but she just got to report a few weeks ago, and she's been fun to get excited about Hawaii with. And Kent (next to Shaun), who is the director at the movement in Hilo on the Big Island, is a wise man whose insight I just soaked up as I got to have dinner with him and the other guys one night.



The students are great! It's still a baby movement... very small, but intimate. I got to go their equivalent of a weekly meeting, which was very casual- sitting on the ground outside a building. And I even got to join in the leadership team's end-of-the-year meeting where the current leaders AND next year's leaders got together to cast some vision for next year. They're so eager and excited to do God's work at UH and it was an honor getting to know them and join in this meeting.





Justin, a really good buddy of mine from USC (we were in AGO together) is from Honolulu and is currently living there, planning to stay for another year or so. We got to hang out and catch up one afternoon, and it was so refreshing to spend time with my brother. If I get to report to campus within the year, I am very excited to have him be a part of my life out there!



Let's be honest- it's a beautiful place. I got to spend a day away from the team, away from campus, away from the city, just exploring the island by myself and spending time with the Lord to see what He would say to me about my future. It was a hard afternoon of wrestling with God on a lot of things, really coming to the realization that, should He call me there, I would be leaving so much behind in LA. But in the end, it was such a needed time to process with Him, and I got to do it in some spectacular settings :)





So there you go... just a glimpse into what my week out there looked like. It was a busy week, and it was almost an information/emotional overload. But in the end, it made me feel more called to go, and now that it's been confirmed that Honolulu is my placement, I'm so much more ready to just be all out excited for this next chapter of my life! It's all in His hands... It's His work, His calling, His blessing.

I love it.