Daily Bread

It has been incredible to see my perspectives change after traveling to a foreign country seeing the daily lives of others through my own eyes. To catch a glimpse of how selfish I am about my own future. I have always dreamed of having the perfect family, a nice house, a nice car, money to support and make my family happy. These are all nice things to acquire, but who am I to assume this is what God has planned for me. A verse I keep returning to in Proverbs sums it up best, "Give me neither poverty nor riches, but give me only my daily bread. Otherwise, I may have too much and disown you and say, 'Who is the Lord?' Or I may become poor and steal, and so dishonor the name of my God." (Proverbs 30:8-9 NIV) I never believed God would ever call me to the mission field, mostly it just wasn't appealing to me because of the living conditions it would bring. After spending 2 weeks with orphans in Ukraine a piece of my heart has been forever left in the eyes of every child I came in contact with. A Love so deep has been instilled within my heart for these fatherless children; I don't believe any words could explain. At the moment I feel God is calling me back to where the pieces of my heart have been scattered throughout the country of Ukraine. It doesn't matter what kind of living conditions I must pertain to as long as I am with those whom I love. For ultimately that these orphans will come to realize thier Father who loves so unconditionally awaiting for them to come running into his arms. A Father they can always count on being there when no one else is around to comfort them. For now I have no idea what God has planned for me in the next minute, day, and the rest of my life; I find beauty in that. I pray it is not my own selfish ambition, but to glorify the Father whatever my future brings in that only my daily bread may be provided.

Hume Lake

It is a beautiful sunny morning staring out into God's beautiful creation known as Hume Lake. For the first time since i have been up here it has been a pretty decently warm morning, which i am so thankful for. I am loving every moment of working with the Hume staff especially in the coffee shop "Hume n' Beans" where we have the most awesome staff. It has been such a blessing working with people who love Jesus and share my same joking sarcasm. I'm really enjoying the contact we get with the campers and the counselors with there daily routine of coffee or smoothies. Most of all God is working through my life in a way that has been more tangible than ever before. Through my morning devotions, prayer, and just listening to what God is trying to tell me in my everyday life. As much as I wish I could jump on a plane and head right back to Ukraine where I left a piece of my heart; God has brought me to realize he has put me right where I am for a reason. He has me in the palm of his hand guiding my every path. God-willing one day I hope to return to that place I grew to love "Ukraine" , but until then I need to focus on this moment in time where God has me and what He wants to do with me.

Ukraine thoughts...

Its been nearly a week since our return home from Ukraine. The kids stories and faces replay over and over again in my mind and run vivid through my dreams. All i can do being so far away is the memories and continued prayer for them. One story that broke my heart a boy named shasha told about his childhood. At the age of five his mother got so drunk he took his three month old brother to the police and convinced them his little brother should not be living at home. His little brother Dima, then was sent to an orphanage. A couple years ago his mother died in a fire while drunk, then about six months ago he lost his father. Shasha went to join his brother at the orphanage at the age of 16. He told our translator Yuri the reason he smoked was because he knew for every cigarette he smoked he was closer to death to be reunited with his mother. These kids are left with no one to love them and no one they can depend on, they are left alone. Even for the three weeks we had to love on the kids we still had to leave and once again they were left alone. If only they knew of how much our Heavenly Father loves them and desires them. A God who will not let them down and will be by there side every second of the day. I hope one day to return to the orphanages, maybe getting the chance to share that love God has for them. If only they could understand who this Creator of the Universe is that desires to hold them in the palm of his hand. Here is a song I have written for these orphans I cant get off my mind.

Another story, another tear streams right down your face
So much hurt , so much pain you try to hold it in
Your broken and dry trying to hide from this world

Theres a love that you can hold on to waiting with open arms
A father who seeks you for his own to restore your broken heart
Come and drink and you will never thirst again

Fatherless, where to go? filled with emptiness
Left alone in the darkness with a longing to be found
Your broken and dry trying to hide from this world

With his touch you will find peace
In his love you will find mercy and grace

Hope you enjoy GOD bless

Huntington Hall Lock Down

With the thought of summer around the corner excitement, yet a little sadness resides in the hearts of our fellow floor mates. With finals coming to an end all that's left is spending our last few days with the amigos before embarking on our summer journeys wherever they may be. Tonight could have set forth a tradition to be carried out the remainder of our years at Vanguard University. The last week of school has been known for its pranking for some time now, which has been made known to our courageous campus safety. Acquiring this knowledge our thoughts came together with the idea to parade around the campus with hoodies and earplugs to catch the eye of campus security. With security on high alert it didn't take long for them to notice our fairly large group of guys running around campus looking extremely suspicious. The most hilarious part we were doing absolutely nothing! The security separated two in the vehicle, one on a Segway, one on foot, and a reliable report placed another on lookout in a tree in search of the crazy hooligans who seemed to be up to no good. It was our goal to get caught seeing how we had done nothing wrong, so eventually we ran straight into a member of the squad of campus security. We then went through their procedure of giving them our names followed by our I.D. numbers. After the exchange of information we made our way back with the laughs of everything that took place of the chase. Approaching our living space known as Huntington Hall, we came to find the stairwell had been locked for some apparent reason. Checking the next stairwell it also had been locked while around the corner another campus security stood awaiting in return of the parading hooligans. Huntington Hall was put on Lock Down! This was made possible because we decided to go for a little run for fun in our hoodies.

"Beauty of Simplicity"

Today a song came on the radio I haven't heard in a very long time. It was one of those songs that always seemed to make me think and calm my thoughts simultaneously. It was the song I would sing in the on deck circle before every at bat during my High School Baseball career. "Its the Beauty of Simplicity, that brings me down to my knees", are the words that would repeat over and over in the back of my mind. These words are so deep and powerful describing God's gift of his son death in order that we may have life, this simple yet so unfathomable love astonishes me everyday. This is the reason I have come to love my Father because He first loved me and for that, worthy of my praise. Gods "Beauty of Simplicity", is found so often when looking around at his marvelous creation to the everyday works God is doing in our lives. All it takes is to take a step back, take a breath, and look around at the blessings He has provided us with and the growth taking place within ourselves. It all brings us back to the idea that God loves us so much; He longs for our recognition of that fact! There is so much beauty found in our Loving Creator when just taking a look. Take a look for yourself of what God has done and placed in your lives and be thankful for his unending grace He freely gives. Rest in the "Beauty of Simplicity" our Father provides us with.

"Let us therefore come boldly unto the throne of grace, that we may obtain mercy, and find grace to help in time of need."
Hebrews 4:16

"Secret Place"

There is nothing more comforting than the feeling I get when picking up my guitar and singing praises to our Wonderful Creator. When all around me is hectic with school, friends, family, relationships I know there is one place I can find rest. A friend of mine once described this place of peace to me as that "Secret Place". A place you know all your worries and burdens are placed at the foot of the cross, taken by Jesus with his open arms. Though this last semester has had its up and downs like a roller-coaster that "Secret Place" has created a straight path soothing to my soul. Jesus came and died so that He could be the mediator between God and man as described in 1 Timothy 2:5- "For there is one God, one mediator also between God and men, himself man, Christ Jesus" This is so that we may acquire the opportunity to have a relationship with the Creator of our universe. God wants us to draw nearer deepening a relationship so that we may know him more and more. This is how we may become more like our loving Father who cares for our every thought, by getting to know him spending time in his presence. I encourage you to find that "Secret Place" of yours that God has provided for you to come in and lay your heavy loads at his feet so he may give you rest. I leave you with this verse God welcomes us with...

"Come to me, all you who are tired and have heavy loads, and i will give you rest. Accept my teachings and learn from me, because I am gentle and humble in spirit, and you will find rest for your lives." Matthew 11:28-29

Clayton's Impact On My Life

Clayton was a friend of mine I met at Hume Lake Camp one summer through a close friend of mine. He was one of those people who being around made life so enjoyable. I barely met him and hanging out with him felt like we had been best friends for some time. Since meeting, It has now been three summers we have spent together hanging out at the incredible camp known as Hume Lake. "Love" was not just a word to this high school student, it was an action he had lived out in his life. Anyone who had been around him even for a minute knew this about him. His life of faith and testimony has opened my eyes to really sit back and meditate on areas of my life.

This is Clayton's Story that has greatly impacted my life:

Clayton was born on April 26, 1990. He liked to wrestle as a kid. When he was experiencing soreness in his bones he just thought it was from wrestling. He also got sick but thought it was just because of the flu season. His mother however thought wise to take him to a doctor. At age seven, Clayton was diagnosed with leukemia. If he hadn't gone to the doctor for another week, he would have been dead. Clayton underwent two and a half years of Chemo-Therapy and eventually his cancer went into remission. But that was not the end. One night, when Clayton was 12 years old, he woke up with excruciating back pain. His Leukemia had relapsed. He was given the option of another round of Chemo-Therapy or a bone marrow transplant. His siblings were tested to see if their bone marrow matched his despite the very low odds. Surprisingly, both his siblings matched him. The doctors pegged the odds of that at 1 in 1,000,000.
Clayton received a bone marrow transplant from his older brother Zack, and once again, his cancer went into remission. But that was not the end. His junior year of high school, Clayton woke up again with the same back pain and told his mother that he knew the Leukemia was back. They went to the doctors and for the third time, the doctors had to tell Clayton's mother that he had cancer. Luckily, Clayton's sister Samantha was a match for Clayton's bone marrow.
Clayton received a bone marrow transplant from his then 14 year old sister, and once again, his cancer went into remission. But that was not the end. For a while, Clayton was cured. However, five months and three days ago, the doctors had to tell Clayton's mother for the fourth time, that he had cancer. The doctor's said that they could try again to do Chemo-Therapy or another bone marrow transplant to cure the Leukemia. Clayton McDonald chose not to receive any treatment for his final diagnosis. Clayton is at peace with his life. He says this: "If you’re where God wants you to be, that’s the best place you can be. Because God is perfection, and perfection has no flaws." The doctors gave Clayton three months to live, plus or minus two or three. It has been five months and three days since then. Clayton knows that his time is coming soon and that is why he is living his life the way he is. Clayton told us that he is sorry for us. Clayton knows he is going to die soon. He says we don't have that liberty. We get distracted. We think we will be around forever. He knows his time is short. Because of this, he lives every day like it is his last, because it really might be. He has been going around to different churches and groups and sharing his story and the gospel of Jesus. A ton of people have given their lives to Jesus because of his story. Because of the story of an 18 year old kid.(This story was composed by Ryan Benander, student of Cal Poly San Louis Obispo)

His testimony is an amazing story I myself can dwell on for hours. It has really made me really look into how I am living my life and the impacts I may have on people with my actions. His love toward everyone was so incredible it was obvious God was living inside him. "Life is so short", Clayton often quoted which drastically opened my eyes to the thought of not knowing when my last day would be. He made me realize how much I need to be thankful for the everyday things such as my friends, family, and even every breath of air God provides me with. Only God knows if there will be a tomorrow, why not be focused on our surroundings and not what tomorrow might bring. Because of this 18 year old kid God brought into my life at Hume Lake Christian Camp my life has been forever impacted.