CIT update...

So being my weird self, i took it upon my self to stand on the sign and have a picture taken.  don't know why but I'm impulsive so it is ok....  

Now that i am settled in a little more here at CIT things are starting to take shape, classes are making more sense of why i need to take them, Jesus is teaching me a lot already and i know it is going to be a lot more soon, in a good way.  

A lot of really awesome families are here, all of them are going to some amazing places. such as...

• Thailand
  
• Japan
• Germany
• Estonia 
• Uruguay
  
• Peru
• Sudan
• Kenya
• DR Congo
• France
• Nepal 
• Spain

I have been reading a lot which is difficult for me but i know it is something that I have to do.  I am telling my self that i have to push my self in order to gains something from this.  I am also having to work on my thoughts about what I'm reading and know that it will benefit me, and i have to look at it positively.  

So things are going well, enjoying my time here.  Making people laugh... DUH! and understanding this call that God has put on my heart.  A thought that has been coming to my head and heart a lot lately has been about being put in the fire(forge) and folded and pounded on over and over and over again, a lot like Proverbs 27:17 as Iron sharpens Iron as one man Sharpens another... I am being put in the fire and getting to that white hot heat and then hammered on by God and people around me and his word.  It is difficult but i know that it is making me stronger,  That is also why I love being a blacksmith, these things just make more sense...

I don't think that i will be dipped into the water yet to cool off i am still simmering in the heat of the word and the teachers here.  But the cooling off processes is a very important step in being forged... it helps cure the metal and keeps it from burning away.  Or as we call it getting burnt-out.  

It is awesome to have your mind being consumed with Jesus and the people your going to be helping once your in the field continuously (that is what it is like here), but the sad thing is, it is difficult for us to get to that point.  For me i needed that kick in the pants to get there.  when it should be something that is easy to do, but satan and the world around us likes us not to think one track and forget about somethings around us for a bit that just take up space for Jesus.

The Book or books I am reading are interesting, Ministering Cross-Culturally 2nd edition which I am in now, and the other that i haven't started yet is Cross-Cultural Connections.

Here is a little blip from Ministering Cross-Culturally:

If we are to follow the example of Christ , we must aim at incarnation! Jesus said, "if anyone would came after me, he must deny himself" (matt. 16:24).  These acts of self-denial are in fact the first steps of freedom in Christ.  We must consciously release our attachments to home, income, security, convenience, significance in work or ministry, and even comfort of family.  

It is freeing and amazing to see this work.  God really is alive here and present at this little place.  

Things you can be praying for:

• my time here at CIT, that my ears are open to something new and different.
• the other families that are here with kids that they can stay sane, and focused on things.
• My good buddy Brandon Holmes that his support will come in quickly and fast. and starting to prepare his heart for service.
• My heart, and my pride.
• also the attitudes with people here just so no animosity is building between people.

Thanks I love you all. 

PEACE from the  M O O S E!

Leaving on a Jet plane... aka my JEEP!

This is part of the university, the first building built.

one of the many classrooms that they have at the University...

This is some open space on the campus that looks like a prime spot for my hammock...

I believe this is the street that i am going to be living on, on the right there are walls with razor wire we will be behind that...

So I am sitting in my room packing and getting excited that my journey is about to begin, well it had begun a long time ago but i am doing something other than sitting in Charlotte, so to me it feels like I am doing something.  I also just wanted to laod some pictures so you can see what Africa is going to be like where I am going... Enjoy and i hope and pray that you all are doing well.

This is a main intersection in Beni...

More pictures will come later.

Things you can be praying for:

• My time at CIT
• my brain as i jump back into the school college mode for a bit.
• the other Missionaries that are there training
• My buddy Brandon Holmes who is going to be joining me in the Congo, that his money can come in quickly, and his path to get there is short and quick.

ok that should be great for now.

PEACE from the M O O S E

Better late than never...

SOOOOO I had a great Christmas and new years, it was full of hanging out with people and family, all of the family was in town.  So at this point of the game we are supposed to make some new year resolutions... yeah that's what I thought. Good job if you did i give you some cookies, i mean health bars ;-)

So for all of those coke drinkers or Cheerwine drinkers, you would have been proud.  I went another year and ten days without drinking one, so of course i had one or two or TWELVE! Cheerwines in celebration, ( and no not all at once, just over a thirty minutes time frame.) It makes me think immediately of Camp Rockmont every time, drinking that Nectar of the gods, felt so right.  

But this year I am doing all water, and a few adult beverages here and there.  nothing too crazy, but I thought before I embark on the Journey of the MOOSE, I should get used to just bottled water and be happy with that, an occasional brew, ( at least that is what I hear).  

Enough about that...

Life is Great! Jesus is the man as always and is looking on me with much favor.  The support is rolling in and God is providing.  I am not far from my goal but still a few speed bumps to roll over and things to take care of before I can tell Carol(my mother) to do the Victory dance, but she would argue that she is already doing the victory dance.  But needless to say God is faithful and is plenty in this time of little.  I am so grateful for ever contribution that I receive, i do pray that God blesses you for your giving TEN FOLD!  

The next step for me is moving to Union Mills Co. to C.I.T for training, I will be enrolling in a Cross Cultural course.  ( i thought i was done with school) It covers the basics that you need to know when moving to the field and dealing with another culture for the first time.  basic language, DO's and DONT's, places you should and shouldn't be, they think of everything.  I hear really good things about this course.  

Life is still in a weird state for me.  Being done with something(college) that was filling up so much of my mental, spiritual, and emotional self for so long, then feeling like I have being thrown out of a fast moving ride will take some time to get used to I'm not superman, or MacGyver, or Michael Haun. ( but i am trying) I am just waiting for the dust to settle(if ever).  While i wait, i try to practice good habits because I know it will be that much more difficult when i am all alone, and no one telling me to do something...  But this whirl wind that I am in is preparing me for something I can not see, but I do know that it is great.  Maybe the the dust won't settle for a reason. Maybe I am not supposed to be getting comfortable.  Things are about to change! do I know that? REALLY? DO I? 

God still is being amazing, so is my family and friends and people who are supporting me. 

Things you can be praying for:

• DR Congo (Beni)
• the people that are already over there
• Brandon Holmes my good buddy and room mate of four years, who is in that in between place with me.  that he can find his calling, and some direction.
• August Short another one of my past room mates who was seriously sick with some fluid in his lungs (pulmonary edema).  He is doing better now but still pray.
• my heart
• MY WIFE! duh! yes you can pray for her
• and my family 

That should be good for now.

PEACE  from the 

M O O S E

Reality!? and Disciplines? and things that I love to love

What really is meant, when someone says "thats reality".  what is reality?  This is the question that is currently bouncing around in my head.  Along with what kind of disciplines do I have?  I have been asked to think about what is my interpretation or take on reality, and in a way i have writers block or thinking block whatever you want to call it block.  I am thinking to my self... "self, how can you prepare for what your journey ahead is going to bring?" I would try to answer, but i got nothing.  There are the obvious that you normally go to; prayer, time in the word, talking about it with others who have been where you are going spiritually and physically.  But ultimately I believe that it has to be something you learn for yourself. I know that God will not put us in a situation that we can't handle, it will be hard but we can handle it.  It should make us fully reliant on God, knowing that we can not do it alone and we need his guidance to set us on the path he has for us... I know this questions might not be answered yet but I can be patient and wait.  

My dad gave me this really cool book called; Disciplines for the inner life,  it is crazy how Gods timing brings you something you need to hear or read, this is a little blurb from that exact thing i needed to hear: 

" God guides us, despite our uncertainties and our vagueness, even through our failings and mistakes.  He often starts us off to the left, only to bring us up in the end to the right; or else he brings us back to the right, after a long detour, because we started off by mistake to the left in the belief that we were obeying him.  He leads us step by step, from event to event.  Only afterwards, as we look back over the way we have come and reconsider certain important moments in out lives in the light of all that has followed them, or when we survey the whole progress of our lives, do we experience the feeling of having been led without knowing it, the feeling that God has mysteriously guided us.

It was he who made us meet this man, made us hear that remark, read that book, with all the decisive consequences they have bad on our lives.  We did not perhaps know it at the time. Time has had to elapse to enable us to see it.  Thus, the disciples on the Emmaus road talked with Jesus without recognizing him (luke 24:13-35).  It was he who brought us up short be means of a dream which at first we did not understand, a serious illness, a strange hesitation, or a painful failure.  It was he also who guided us by means of a success, and so opened up a new and unexpected horizon to us.  Ah, that is the true answer to our perplexing problem of success and failure!

~From Reflections by Paul Tournier

God does things to help us and guide us, I believe that we will never fully understand everything immediately that happens but we will see the fruit appear and know that why we had that suffering period and even that joyful period.  

The goal, in prayer, is to give oneself away.  The Lord loves us- perhaps most of all, when we fail and try again.~Emily Griffin.  keep praying hard, and be consistent in doing that.  

Things that i love:

• Jesus
• Family
• my dog mocha
• a freshly opened jar of peanut butter
  
• snow, it makes me very happy
• a movie that makes me feel good
• quality hang out time with friends
• aspen trees
• the sound of leafs being stepped on
• making peoples day/laugh /smile
• making cookies from scratch 
• a big bone fire 

The list can go on and on.  I even love to love.  

until next time 

PEACE from the M O O S E 

What now!?

So i am that guy... living with the parents out of college, no food, no job, my pet's head isn't falling off (he does have a huge tumor though) and i do have food a lot of it actually.  But yeah i still have no job.  Things are going pretty well.  Jesus is always amazing and understanding.  Still it is an interesting transition for me living in Charlotte and waiting to move to Africa.  While i wait i try to spend my time wisely as my parents have taught me... doesn't always go to plan.  So i have been trying to force my self to read more.  Read King Leopold's Ghost very interesting, a man of greed that never had enough and pillaged and plundered The Congo(Zaire) for years, and using it as his personal play ground killing anyone the rebelled.  Not that far into it but working on it.  I am also reading the Shack again.  really good i recommend it for all.  But as my time here in the US is getting shorter every day I ask my self what is God teaching me before i go.  these thoughts come to my head... How am I really spending my time, what am i thinking of most? is it surfing the internet(facebook/you-tube), playing mindless games, watching TV how about reading the bible, if you could rate your top ten things in numerical order 1 being, doing it the most, and 10 being the least, in your daily agenda where would your time with God fall or getting in the word... i know my is not were it should be.(very thought provoking) that was put into my thought process by my mother.  Other things are what do i have to offer the the people that i am going to be working with?  How is God going to use me in further his kingdom?  these are all thoughts that i try to fill my head with, as my mother would say fill your mind with things that are edifying and things that honor God. 

something great to ponder on: from Streams in the Desert:

November 13

I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children. Genesis 18:19

God chooses people He can depend upon. He knew what to expect from Abraham and said of him, "I have chosen him, so that he will direct his children... that the LORD will bring about for Abraham what he has promised him."  God knew Abraham would"  direct his children." The Lord can be depended upon, and he desires for us to be just as reliable, determined, and stable.  This is simply the meaning of faith.

God is looking for people on whom He can place the weight of His entire love, power, and faithful promises.  And His engines are strong enough to pull any weight we may attach to them.  Unfortunately, the cable we fasten to the engine is often too weak to handle the weight of out prayers.  Therefore God continues to train and discipline us in His school of stability and certainty in the life of faith. May we learn our lessons well and then stand firm.

God knows that you can withstand your trial, or else He would not have given it to you. His trust in you explains the trials of your life, no matter how secure they may be.  God knows your strength, and He measures it to the last inch.  Remember, no trial has ever been given to anyone that was greater than the person's strength, through God, to endure it.

Well life is good and God is always good, I do pray that God speaks to your heart in some form or fashion and you follow your dreams that he has placed in your heart, with that said, i recommend listening to Erwin Mcmanus's podcast from a few weeks ago in his wide awake series titled Dream, and Discover.  That dude has got it going on... 

Things you can pray for: 

• The fighting in the Congo where i am going to work its self out.
• My heart as i am going to serve and that i can be fully devoted to God and in turn what i am doing, (mind,body, soul)
• Pray for my attitude towards a lot of things.
• The missionaries that are already serving and pouring out onto others.
• My family( my wife and future family, don't know who they are yet, but they are pretty amazing from what i hear)
  

That should hold me over for a while.  Thanks love you all.

PEACE from the M O O S E