Our Day of Travel | 13:31 November 19, 2004

Is this really happening to me, am I really sitting on a 747 on my way over to east asia? To think that God is so large that he could send me here, when a month ago it wasn?t even something I was planning on. Being able to watch the lord provide the prayer needed, the logistics, the other team members, the finances, and the refinement within our hearts preparing us for what we?re flying head long through this darkness into.

The first two flights went very smoothly, even for Katie who had never been on a plane before today. My body clock is also shifted around quite well, Wednesday morning I didn?t go to bed until 4:30 am and was up by 8 without my alarm? It?s quite unreal to think that after being awake for 20 hours I woke up after only three and a half hours of sleep. Naturally? Not at all, hehehe, Go JC. Took a nap that afternoon from what would have been similar to 3am until 6:30am in east asia. Stayed awake all night and then slept the first two flights, and the first four hours on our plane to east asia from the states. Here is the thing though, it?s called mechanical problems.

Before we ever got out of the gate at SFO they discovered a mechanical glitch with a fan that was cooling some electronics. For us that means that we were over four hours late for take off. While I did sleep the whole time it still would have been nice to get over there sooner, now we won?t be getting to our hotel until around midnight. Bleh, I only pray that we are able to get on campus that late at night… with all of the security it could be interesting to say the least.

Waiting to see what?s in store,
~paul

Party! | 19:53 November 21, 2004

Last night we held a party for a bunch of freshmen where we talked about thanksgiving and why it?s a holiday in the states. It was a lot of fun, though we felt it was pretty stupid most of the students really enjoyed it. Anne and I explained the story behind it, then got into a little of the idea of religious freedom that the pilgrims were seeking in coming to the ?new world? and it was quite successful. After that we had a little bit of group discussion and then came back to the whole group and brought people up on stage to act out the story. Haha it was great to watch about 60 Asian students act out the parts of the Pilgrims and the Native Americas. I got to talk to a large group (13) more one-on-one for a while and then broke up again once pete came over in a smaller group of about 5 students. It was interesting to hear what they were thankful for. I?m going to try to hang out with a couple of them more tomorrow. Sunday was just a day that was very needed to refocus myself on the Lord and why I?m here. I got a lot of questions answered today as well, for the direction my life/ministry is headed.

I?m really feeling led into a more teaching/motivating/unifying role at wherever the Father places me. I have the ability to really reach out to people across a group and bring them into a stronger body and encourage them to really live their lives out for the God. Speaking of the man, time for me to head off to a bible study. More later

Grateful for everything He?s done,
~paul

Ongoing Ministry | 14:16 November 24, 2004

I got called handsome again today… by a male security guard at the entrance of the men?s dorm. It was awkward but so amusing to me at the same time. Quick catch up, saw some more sights of the city today, was a lot of fun to tour one of the palaces and to get some pictures of traditional asian architecture. I love how they used to make things here, so beautiful. Also have had a lot of time to do ministry

Last night Josh and me got to go out sharing together. So awesome, First time I?ve gotten to go sharing with someone from stout and I really enjoyed it. It really is awesome to be in that one-on-one with someone who you already know, seeing them in a different light. To see God moving and working in our friend, how God was using both Josh and myself, so awesome and inspiring. I have been in a bit of a rut here just letting satan play with my mind and have me feel as though I can?t do this, that I can?t do this ministry, that I just can?t do it. Truth is that he?s right, but as I continue to empty myself more and allow the light of Christ to resonate through my being the footholds of satan will crumble and shadows see light. Watching God?s light penetrate into our friends life, his self-constructed walls around him falling faster then Jericho, and being witness to the spirit preparing the heart of someone who?s heart and soul desires to know the Lord.

Standing affront an english classroom in Asia full of bright faces all look at you, desiring to know you and what you have to tell them. Today we went into of an English class to talk about thanksgiving (of which I told the story, lets here it for Squanto!!), then Jamie talked about traditions (kind of, it was a little weird) and finally Cheri talked about college life. After that we had some question and answer time where the students wrote their questions in English on the back of the hand turkeys they drew. They were really straightforward questions that worked out really well for the time. Two students got into a fight during the break, was pretty stupid. After break we broke out into groups and then we talked for the rest of the time (was a two hour class with about fifty minutes left) and then took out group out for lunch. I?m still feeling lunch over two hours later. Eating some animal crackers to try to settle my stomach down, it?s working pretty well. Probably going to take a nap here in a couple minutes to try to feel better.

It?s hard to think that in three days I will be on a plan for home. God please move here, they need you so much and are so ready to hear what it is you have to tell them. May this country sing your praise from every mountain top and every valley. Millions crying out in your name, please God become real to them.

Trying to become less so they can also believe,
~paul

After it all was done | 12:08 December 1, 2004

I?ve been back for a couple days now and it?s weird to be here. Weird to think that a week ago I was in asia doing ministry. There isn?t a lot left to write, which is why the entries stopped. Things kept going on and the lord kept using us in our roll over there. I?m looking forward to finally getting to sleep in on Saturday? it?s been so long, something like three or four weeks. I keep sleeping through classes here and I really shouldn?t be. Blah!

God Bless,
~paul