So tomorrow I get on a plane and leave for Sacramento.
I am going to 'Head Start' and 'Jump Start', programs both with different purposes but both at the Maranatha Volunteers International Office in Roseville, CA, a suburb city just outside of Sacramento.
First to explain just what all of that previous sentence just meant, I will say that Maranatha Volunteers Int., receives requests from all over the world to construct various buildings. While their primary construction involves churches and schools, they have also built orphanages, clinics, homes, and hospitals. Once they accept a request, they go on the coordinating process of construction plans and managing volunteers for each project.
When a project is confirmed and scheduled, Maranatha announces the opportunity to volunteers through Maranatha print publications, membership email newsletters, and the website. Everyone is invited to volunteer, and there are specialized projects available for various types of groups, such as families, teenagers, or young adults. Each year, an average of 3000 people sign up on a Maranatha project. The result of a single trip is an unforgettable experience of cultural and a christian spiritual growth.
With that all said, Maranatha has an annual mission project called the Ultimate Workout held every summer for teenagers who are within the age range of 14-18 years old. (Freshmen to Seniors in High School). It is a two week mission trip where these young people come together from all over the world and find new friends as they work together on construction projects, medical clinics and with many other local ministries.
Originally created as a way to give our youth spirituality a workout – to keep us healthy – The Ultimate Workout continues to strengthen young people each year. Adult staff members facilitate the project and encourage teens to grow socially, spiritually and as leaders among their peers. Projects typically take place in Latin America where the young people construct churches or schools, teach Vacation Bible School, provide medical clinics, and participate in community service activities. Participants stay with their new family groups in campgrounds close to their respective building projects. Daily worship times, construction work, interaction with local people and bonding with new friends make The Ultimate Workout a life changing experience for many.
Tomorrow as I leave for Sacramento, 'Head Start' is a leadership training for this Ultimate Workout program as I am looking forward to being a leader [possibly a site pastor] for this coming summer's Ultimate Workout. Head Start will take place Friday morning and starting Friday evening, 'Jump Start', a program to give teenaged participants a preview of what Ultimate Workouts are like. I will not only be attending both, but I will be speaking and leading out in a breakout session with another leader-in-training such as myself. I will also be lugging my guitar up north to help contribute to our praise sessions! :)
I'm looking forward to this weekend trip! I'm excited and I hope to meet a lot of new people! Follow me on twitter [aaronnakamura] for throughout the weekend updates as to what I will be doing! Until next time! Happy New Year!!!
Wednesday, December 30, 2009
Tuesday, December 29, 2009
Christmas Las Vegas Trip!
So for Christmas I went to Las Vegas with the parents to visit my grandpa who lives over there. We left Christmas eve around 1pm-ish and it was my longest drive behind-the-wheel as I drove the whole way there. It was an awesome drive! There is nothing but you, the road ahead of you, and lots of time to reflect back on many things that have happened in the past and things that have yet to pass.
Being a church leader and being active with the youth at my church, I often times don't have time to take off on vacations or decide to visit another church whenever I want. And for the very few times that I do get to take off for some time away it is during the winter holidays or a couple weeks out of the summer. This long 5 day get away was a good breather to step back and just relax for a while and be in a stress-free without worry status. Not to say that being a church leader is stressful or worrisome at all! It isn't! It's just nice to meet new people and get away from the 'normal crowd' and 'normal situations' every now and then; the exact meaning of vacation.
We also visit my grandpa in Vegas quite often (we try at least 2 times a year) as a way of witnessing and outreach to him. Y'see, he's a heavy smoker, a heavy drinker, and a heavy gambler: The Big Bad Three. And so every time we go there we try to be the best christian examples as me and my parents could possibly be. With that said, we stayed with him and being the heavy smoker that he is, his condo smells like smoke all the time and although he cleans a lot and tries to air out the place every time before we come, it of course still smells like smoke. Aside from dry throats and constant thirst, this usually doesn't bother me that much every time we stay there, however this time it really got to me. Before we left for Vegas, my allergies had been slightly bothering me and although I thought it would get better by the time we got to Vegas, it got worse...
A full on allergy attack is what I had the whole time being in Las Vegas!!
Aside from the typical dry throat and constant thirst. I developed a runny nose and every time I drove, which I did every time we went somewhere cause I played taxi driver for my family, my eyes began to water often. The constant blowing of my nose mixed with the cold weather started to dry the skin under my nose and I sounded like I was sick! I felt perfectly fine though. It was just allergies so I don't actually FEEL sick, I just SOUND sick.
On Saturday, I visited the Mountain View Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Las Vegas surprisingly just down the street from where my grandpa lives and it was interesting to see their more..... laid-back way of just running things? People there find wearing jeans and a nice top okay to wear and just the whole attitude is more laxed. There the discussions are more life testimonial and more... i don't know. It's hard to explain. At my church in Temple City, CA, it's a very conservative church where you get all dressed up shirt and tie or atleast dressy slacks and a dressy shirt. The discussion is a lot of bible lesson and more conservative. At Mountain View, there are some people with ear piercings (more than Temple City), more casual wear, and the discussion is more life realistic like "What if this happened in my life" or "I get mad very often and tend to be very impatient everyday at my work, to what extent is it a sin?" At Temple City, you'll get a sermon on Matthew 5:20. But you get the point I hope.
Sunday we visited a outlet center and I can get into all the details but what I really want to get at is the calling that I received during this trip...
Ever since I was an up and coming, fast learning and willing youth leader my freshman year in high school, I had always liked Steve Case and his writings in the Insight Magazine, a Christian Magazine for youth ranging within the High school age range. Steve Case, works with Maranatha's Ultimate Workout Youth World Mission program and has his own youth ministry called Involve Youth formerly known as Piece of Pie Ministries. I read a couple of his books and even saw him speak at a couple youth leadership conferences in Texas. I loves his ministry! His writings and teachings were a basis I would use as a resource for my leadershipping at my church.
Just this past summer I went on a mission trip as part of the Ultimate Workout program and sure enough Steve Case was there. Here I was, a guy who loved Steve Case's books and column in a youth magazine and here he was passing Steve almost every day in a small city in Ecuador.
After the offer of being a possible staff pick for next summer's Ultimate Workout, all I could do was wait... Wait until this month where I am supposed to find out more info about this up coming mission trip and whether or not I would be called to be a staff member/leader for this exciting new adventure.
The time came and Jump Start is right on my heels. Steve and I have been e-mailing each other these past two weeks just about bringing my guitar as I fly up to Sacramento. Of course willing, he then brings another issue to another up and coming leader and myself. He mentions that someone who was supposed to lead out in a break-out session at the Jump Start/Head Start program will not be able to make it and was wanting to know if this other participant and I could fill in with the topic being "First Timers".
WOW! Can you imagine? Here I am, a young youth leader, an admirer and Steve Case's works and now I'm being asked to help out in speaking and leading out a discussion at a Maranatha event? I was just sitting on grandpa's couch in las Veags with no internet. On my little phone checking my e-mail and I get the e-mail asking if we could fill in!
I'm not quite sure the specifics but I do know that it is a calling and it is definitely something I will be preparing for. I'm excited and I know I will grow spiritually from this. It will also help me grow as a young youth leader and I am looking forward to it.
I'll let you know when I know more on the topic. But until then, Head Start/Jump Start, up north in Roseville, CA at the Maranatha International Volunteers' office January 1-2, here I come! Happy New Year Everyone!
Being a church leader and being active with the youth at my church, I often times don't have time to take off on vacations or decide to visit another church whenever I want. And for the very few times that I do get to take off for some time away it is during the winter holidays or a couple weeks out of the summer. This long 5 day get away was a good breather to step back and just relax for a while and be in a stress-free without worry status. Not to say that being a church leader is stressful or worrisome at all! It isn't! It's just nice to meet new people and get away from the 'normal crowd' and 'normal situations' every now and then; the exact meaning of vacation.
We also visit my grandpa in Vegas quite often (we try at least 2 times a year) as a way of witnessing and outreach to him. Y'see, he's a heavy smoker, a heavy drinker, and a heavy gambler: The Big Bad Three. And so every time we go there we try to be the best christian examples as me and my parents could possibly be. With that said, we stayed with him and being the heavy smoker that he is, his condo smells like smoke all the time and although he cleans a lot and tries to air out the place every time before we come, it of course still smells like smoke. Aside from dry throats and constant thirst, this usually doesn't bother me that much every time we stay there, however this time it really got to me. Before we left for Vegas, my allergies had been slightly bothering me and although I thought it would get better by the time we got to Vegas, it got worse...
A full on allergy attack is what I had the whole time being in Las Vegas!!
Aside from the typical dry throat and constant thirst. I developed a runny nose and every time I drove, which I did every time we went somewhere cause I played taxi driver for my family, my eyes began to water often. The constant blowing of my nose mixed with the cold weather started to dry the skin under my nose and I sounded like I was sick! I felt perfectly fine though. It was just allergies so I don't actually FEEL sick, I just SOUND sick.
On Saturday, I visited the Mountain View Seventh-Day Adventist Church in Las Vegas surprisingly just down the street from where my grandpa lives and it was interesting to see their more..... laid-back way of just running things? People there find wearing jeans and a nice top okay to wear and just the whole attitude is more laxed. There the discussions are more life testimonial and more... i don't know. It's hard to explain. At my church in Temple City, CA, it's a very conservative church where you get all dressed up shirt and tie or atleast dressy slacks and a dressy shirt. The discussion is a lot of bible lesson and more conservative. At Mountain View, there are some people with ear piercings (more than Temple City), more casual wear, and the discussion is more life realistic like "What if this happened in my life" or "I get mad very often and tend to be very impatient everyday at my work, to what extent is it a sin?" At Temple City, you'll get a sermon on Matthew 5:20. But you get the point I hope.
Sunday we visited a outlet center and I can get into all the details but what I really want to get at is the calling that I received during this trip...
Ever since I was an up and coming, fast learning and willing youth leader my freshman year in high school, I had always liked Steve Case and his writings in the Insight Magazine, a Christian Magazine for youth ranging within the High school age range. Steve Case, works with Maranatha's Ultimate Workout Youth World Mission program and has his own youth ministry called Involve Youth formerly known as Piece of Pie Ministries. I read a couple of his books and even saw him speak at a couple youth leadership conferences in Texas. I loves his ministry! His writings and teachings were a basis I would use as a resource for my leadershipping at my church.
Just this past summer I went on a mission trip as part of the Ultimate Workout program and sure enough Steve Case was there. Here I was, a guy who loved Steve Case's books and column in a youth magazine and here he was passing Steve almost every day in a small city in Ecuador.
After the offer of being a possible staff pick for next summer's Ultimate Workout, all I could do was wait... Wait until this month where I am supposed to find out more info about this up coming mission trip and whether or not I would be called to be a staff member/leader for this exciting new adventure.
The time came and Jump Start is right on my heels. Steve and I have been e-mailing each other these past two weeks just about bringing my guitar as I fly up to Sacramento. Of course willing, he then brings another issue to another up and coming leader and myself. He mentions that someone who was supposed to lead out in a break-out session at the Jump Start/Head Start program will not be able to make it and was wanting to know if this other participant and I could fill in with the topic being "First Timers".
WOW! Can you imagine? Here I am, a young youth leader, an admirer and Steve Case's works and now I'm being asked to help out in speaking and leading out a discussion at a Maranatha event? I was just sitting on grandpa's couch in las Veags with no internet. On my little phone checking my e-mail and I get the e-mail asking if we could fill in!
I'm not quite sure the specifics but I do know that it is a calling and it is definitely something I will be preparing for. I'm excited and I know I will grow spiritually from this. It will also help me grow as a young youth leader and I am looking forward to it.
I'll let you know when I know more on the topic. But until then, Head Start/Jump Start, up north in Roseville, CA at the Maranatha International Volunteers' office January 1-2, here I come! Happy New Year Everyone!
Thursday, December 17, 2009
My Christmas List
Hello again!
So it has been a LONG while since my last post being that I was still in high school in an Economics class! But I thought to start writing here on my blogsite again...
This year is the first year in all of my life that everything on my Christmas list is EXPENSIVE! And when I say expensive I'm talking in the hundreds to thousands of dollars making this Christmas the year where I'll probably not get any of my Christmas wish list items... haha If not, only one.. Here is my wish list and their estimated prices!
- Electronic Grand Piano ($699 - $1899)
- New Small Sound Mixer/Sound Board with USB output capabilities ($149.99)
- J. Ferrar Mixed Wool Jacket ($200 on sale at JCPenney for $99.99)
- Fully-loaded 2010 Audi S5 ($55k)
- Extension of about 6 feet of my enclosed Patio ($40k)
- New Full Sized Pool Table ($2k-$3k)
- My own House -Particular areas in mind- ($600k-$1.8mil)
Happy.... Holidays?
-aaron nakamura
Friday, May 8, 2009
30 Days - Illegal Immigration
Hey guys,
So today in my Economics class we watched an episode of 30 days, a show where they take a person, couple, or small group of people and put them through some sort of hardship they are not used to in their daily lives. This episode was about how a man named Frank, a minuteman, who gathers a small group of other minutemen every weekend to head to the U.S. and Mexican border to help patrol it and to report any sightings of Mexican citizens trying to illegally cross the border to the border patrol. Frank, a legal immigrant from Cuba as a child, when pulled aside to explain his viewpoints, stated that he firmly believes that it is his and his wife's job as United States citizens to protect our nation's citizenship from illegal immigrants. He claimed that if people in other countries want to become U.S. citizens, they should do it the legal way. Point made. Frank was assigned a task to live with a family of 7 in Los Angeles, CA in which, 5 are undocumented. He was to leave all forms of identification behind at home. Upon the first few days staying witht he family, He found that a father, mother, and 5 children ages ranging from 7 to 18 shared a small one bedroom apartment. He stood firm in his beliefs stating to the eldest daughter (18yrs, undocumented) that if he could, he would probably call the INS and have the family picked up right away. It was intense! Now some may agree or disagree on the topic of illegal immigrants but I am not trying to get political.
15 days into the stay, Maria and Rigo, parents of the 5 children, started talking to Frank on how it is hard living in a foreign country trying to make a living when they have the rest of their family back in Mexico who really dont have a living. Like all immigrants, although they wish to someday go back to visit their family relatives and most of all their parents before their passing, the fear always lingers of leaving the U.S. and not being able to come back. So they decided to send Frank to visit their family in Mexico. So he did! He was able to see the house that Maria and Rigo lived in. Met their parents, brothers, and sisters. He realized that the house they used to live in wasn't even a house. It wasn't livable. It was worse than a shack! It had no roof and their water supply came from either a hose that was topped off from an untreated water source or from a well that had the dirtiest water he or even I have ever seen. He saw the hardships that his family had to go through and that by coming to the U.S. they were simply seeking a better life.
The point I am trying to make is that when I go to Ecuador, I will be going into probably one of the poorest parts of the country where people don't even have sneaking across the border into the U.S. for hopes of a better life as an option. They live just to survive each day and barely survive each day just to live. Living without most of the very basic things we don't care to cherish about, these people strive & struggle just to meet what their daily lives need. It is a hard life for them especially when individual heads-of-thehouseholds must support a whole family! Live is hard and yet, they still find the strength to carry on. I hope I can make a difference in the lives of local villagers of Ecuador. Imagine when we all get to heaven and there will be no more struggling to live each day and where we will have everything we need to be happy and live a sinless life!
So today in my Economics class we watched an episode of 30 days, a show where they take a person, couple, or small group of people and put them through some sort of hardship they are not used to in their daily lives. This episode was about how a man named Frank, a minuteman, who gathers a small group of other minutemen every weekend to head to the U.S. and Mexican border to help patrol it and to report any sightings of Mexican citizens trying to illegally cross the border to the border patrol. Frank, a legal immigrant from Cuba as a child, when pulled aside to explain his viewpoints, stated that he firmly believes that it is his and his wife's job as United States citizens to protect our nation's citizenship from illegal immigrants. He claimed that if people in other countries want to become U.S. citizens, they should do it the legal way. Point made. Frank was assigned a task to live with a family of 7 in Los Angeles, CA in which, 5 are undocumented. He was to leave all forms of identification behind at home. Upon the first few days staying witht he family, He found that a father, mother, and 5 children ages ranging from 7 to 18 shared a small one bedroom apartment. He stood firm in his beliefs stating to the eldest daughter (18yrs, undocumented) that if he could, he would probably call the INS and have the family picked up right away. It was intense! Now some may agree or disagree on the topic of illegal immigrants but I am not trying to get political.
15 days into the stay, Maria and Rigo, parents of the 5 children, started talking to Frank on how it is hard living in a foreign country trying to make a living when they have the rest of their family back in Mexico who really dont have a living. Like all immigrants, although they wish to someday go back to visit their family relatives and most of all their parents before their passing, the fear always lingers of leaving the U.S. and not being able to come back. So they decided to send Frank to visit their family in Mexico. So he did! He was able to see the house that Maria and Rigo lived in. Met their parents, brothers, and sisters. He realized that the house they used to live in wasn't even a house. It wasn't livable. It was worse than a shack! It had no roof and their water supply came from either a hose that was topped off from an untreated water source or from a well that had the dirtiest water he or even I have ever seen. He saw the hardships that his family had to go through and that by coming to the U.S. they were simply seeking a better life.
The point I am trying to make is that when I go to Ecuador, I will be going into probably one of the poorest parts of the country where people don't even have sneaking across the border into the U.S. for hopes of a better life as an option. They live just to survive each day and barely survive each day just to live. Living without most of the very basic things we don't care to cherish about, these people strive & struggle just to meet what their daily lives need. It is a hard life for them especially when individual heads-of-thehouseholds must support a whole family! Live is hard and yet, they still find the strength to carry on. I hope I can make a difference in the lives of local villagers of Ecuador. Imagine when we all get to heaven and there will be no more struggling to live each day and where we will have everything we need to be happy and live a sinless life!
Thursday, May 7, 2009
Location Change & Already Life Changes
Maranatha has been carefully monitoring the situation in Mexico in regard to The Ultimate Workout. The recent outbreak of the H1N1 influenza virus (commonly known as the swine-flu)has caused doubt about the safety of travel to Mexico in July. Some families have been very worried about going there, others have not. There aren’t many reliable facts right now about how long it will last. In order to form all the careful plans required for a mission project of this magnitude, it is important to make a decision immediately about the location for Ultimate Workout. Because of these factors, Maranatha has made the decision to move The Ultimate Workout 19 project to Ecuador. The project will take place during the original dates, July 14-27, 2009 in Puyo, Ecuador. As far the original project for building 6 churches goes, Maranatha has not yet released updated information on what the new project assignment calls for. I do know that we will be assisting in constructing a Seventh-Day Adventist school which will aid in teaching both local chilren and adults in the skills of reading of writing. Of course.... also spreading the word of God!
At the time of submitting my application, I thought of ways of how to prepare for this trip. I prayed and asked God to give me the knowledge and patience I need to be a leader for his works as well as to the prepare me mentally, physically, and spiritually for this trip.
Physically Prepared! - Think about it... You will be building a church or school... You will be lifting and laying blocks. You will need some muscle for this trip! Being a senior in high school with the priviledge to go off for lunch, I have gotten really REALLY lazy eating out almost every day. P.E. isn't a requirement and with "senioritis" always whispering in my ear, I havent been getting any daily exercise. Well in preperation for this trip, for the past two weeks, I have been making it a top priority to run a mile every day and hit the weight room to get back into shape! Now I must admit I haven't made it everyyyy single day, but the minimum is 3 days a week where I will run 1 mile and then hit the weight room with intensive floor and weight excercises to.... well.. get some muscle! whoo!
Mentally Prepared! - Mentally prepared? What... I have to go to a psychologist to prepare for this trip?! Of course not! But think again... You will not just be going to Ecuador for a vacation. There is no luxury hotel or fancy beaches with all you can eat buffets. You will be in a shaggy, dirt roaded village, where people live in houses made of straw and sometimes dung! For church, people gather in a simple wooden structure that looks like it could fall with just a push of our pinky. The people where you will be are poor. They do not speak your language and may not have basic needed items to live day to day. It is just like those poor biographies you see on poor countries on TV. Only you will be living there for two weeks! You use a solar shower (Google it..) and probably only get to take one every 2 or 3 days! You will be challenged and put in an environment where you are not used to. There is no toilet. There is no comfy bed to sleep in or a big screen tv to watch the Lakers game on. NOTHING. This will take mental preparation. Having an open mind and being put in situations where you are totally uncomfortable with living situations is soemthing to look forward to. You are also with a bunch of teenagers you don't even know. No cell phones no parents... NOTHING... i think I'll stop here....
Spiritually Prepared! - You are going here to help spread the Word of God to the surrounding villagers. You are here where everyone looks up to you being the christian and yes... even being the "American!". In order to teach The Word, You must know The Word. Therefore, although reading of the bible has always been a daily routine, I have thoroughly been studying the bible and praying to have the spiritual stamina needed for this trip.
So you see, this trip calls to be prepared in 3 big ways. I have already began preparing in these three categories and ask you to pray for me and for those of you who don't pray, well.. send your good luck charms on me :] All will help in my preparations for going to Ecuador as part of Ultimate Workout 19. These, are my 'Next-Steps'.
At the time of submitting my application, I thought of ways of how to prepare for this trip. I prayed and asked God to give me the knowledge and patience I need to be a leader for his works as well as to the prepare me mentally, physically, and spiritually for this trip.
Physically Prepared! - Think about it... You will be building a church or school... You will be lifting and laying blocks. You will need some muscle for this trip! Being a senior in high school with the priviledge to go off for lunch, I have gotten really REALLY lazy eating out almost every day. P.E. isn't a requirement and with "senioritis" always whispering in my ear, I havent been getting any daily exercise. Well in preperation for this trip, for the past two weeks, I have been making it a top priority to run a mile every day and hit the weight room to get back into shape! Now I must admit I haven't made it everyyyy single day, but the minimum is 3 days a week where I will run 1 mile and then hit the weight room with intensive floor and weight excercises to.... well.. get some muscle! whoo!
Mentally Prepared! - Mentally prepared? What... I have to go to a psychologist to prepare for this trip?! Of course not! But think again... You will not just be going to Ecuador for a vacation. There is no luxury hotel or fancy beaches with all you can eat buffets. You will be in a shaggy, dirt roaded village, where people live in houses made of straw and sometimes dung! For church, people gather in a simple wooden structure that looks like it could fall with just a push of our pinky. The people where you will be are poor. They do not speak your language and may not have basic needed items to live day to day. It is just like those poor biographies you see on poor countries on TV. Only you will be living there for two weeks! You use a solar shower (Google it..) and probably only get to take one every 2 or 3 days! You will be challenged and put in an environment where you are not used to. There is no toilet. There is no comfy bed to sleep in or a big screen tv to watch the Lakers game on. NOTHING. This will take mental preparation. Having an open mind and being put in situations where you are totally uncomfortable with living situations is soemthing to look forward to. You are also with a bunch of teenagers you don't even know. No cell phones no parents... NOTHING... i think I'll stop here....
Spiritually Prepared! - You are going here to help spread the Word of God to the surrounding villagers. You are here where everyone looks up to you being the christian and yes... even being the "American!". In order to teach The Word, You must know The Word. Therefore, although reading of the bible has always been a daily routine, I have thoroughly been studying the bible and praying to have the spiritual stamina needed for this trip.
So you see, this trip calls to be prepared in 3 big ways. I have already began preparing in these three categories and ask you to pray for me and for those of you who don't pray, well.. send your good luck charms on me :] All will help in my preparations for going to Ecuador as part of Ultimate Workout 19. These, are my 'Next-Steps'.
Ultimate Workout 19
Maranatha Volunteers International, a non-profit Seventh-Day Adventist Christian organization founded in 1969 implements and organizes the contruction of urgently needed buildings all over the world. While churches and schools are its primary contruction, buildings such as clinics, orphanages, homes, and even hospitals have also been built in desperately needed areas around the world thanks to Maranatha.
In 1991, Chris Blake, editor of Insight Christian Youth Magazine was running alongside his friend Mark Ford on a treadmill. It was there they began discussing the importance of excercising their faith as christians as well as... well... just excercising! Soon after they were able to put together a small group of youth (12 girls & 2 guys) together and head over to Honduras where Ultimate Workout was created. Ultimate Workout, a program by Maranatha, is an annual project where teenagers ages 14-18 get together in one location on the globe, coming together from all over the United States to excercise, build, and share their faith. Some projects call for building a church. Some call for building a schools, clinics, or houses. Whatever it is, it is definately a life changing experience.
In late March 2009, I applied for Maranatha's Ultimate Workout 19 in Villahermosa, Mexico where 6 churches were desperately needed in villages far out and away from society. The project also called for outreach programs such as Vacation Bible School (VBS) where the teen volunteers lead out in singing songs, games, basic reading & writing lessongs, as well as powerful life changing messages.
I applied simply because I wanted to rekindle and to renew my relationship with God. All leaders whether spiritual or not are always looked up to by soneone and always have eyes watching them on every action they make. Most leaders in the church always seem to be doing well in their works whether leading out in song, speech, or activity. They can look like the brightest angel and the perfect "christian" type of person. However, a lot of times leaders get caught up in what I like to call 'The works of God' and forget 'The God of the works'. To be honest, I have found myself in this position many times. (That's right! I'm not perfect! haha) In fact, I think many leaders come in and out of this phase and it is really a test of how strong your faith with God is.
Being a senior in high school, I am at a point in my life where I am making decisions I have never made before. Growing up, starting a new chapter of life in college, exploring what career path to go down, and even dealing with your typical teenaged drama that your ordinary teenager goes through can be tough without having God in your life. During this trip I hope to find a spiritual renewal as well as what career path God has planned out for me. God has a plan for everybody and if you "Commit your plans and decisions to the Lord," "...under His guidance you will succeed." (Proverbs 16:3; CW) As leaders in our church and communities, we sometimes get caught up in our leading and teaching and forget who's leading us and who our teacher is. You probably heard of the saying "You must learn to follow before you can lead." This is a true statement for all leaders in the church. You must learn and follow Jesus' teachings before you can go out and preach them yourself. These are things I hope to rekindle and find during Ultimate Workout 19.
These, are my 'Next-Steps'...
In 1991, Chris Blake, editor of Insight Christian Youth Magazine was running alongside his friend Mark Ford on a treadmill. It was there they began discussing the importance of excercising their faith as christians as well as... well... just excercising! Soon after they were able to put together a small group of youth (12 girls & 2 guys) together and head over to Honduras where Ultimate Workout was created. Ultimate Workout, a program by Maranatha, is an annual project where teenagers ages 14-18 get together in one location on the globe, coming together from all over the United States to excercise, build, and share their faith. Some projects call for building a church. Some call for building a schools, clinics, or houses. Whatever it is, it is definately a life changing experience.
In late March 2009, I applied for Maranatha's Ultimate Workout 19 in Villahermosa, Mexico where 6 churches were desperately needed in villages far out and away from society. The project also called for outreach programs such as Vacation Bible School (VBS) where the teen volunteers lead out in singing songs, games, basic reading & writing lessongs, as well as powerful life changing messages.
I applied simply because I wanted to rekindle and to renew my relationship with God. All leaders whether spiritual or not are always looked up to by soneone and always have eyes watching them on every action they make. Most leaders in the church always seem to be doing well in their works whether leading out in song, speech, or activity. They can look like the brightest angel and the perfect "christian" type of person. However, a lot of times leaders get caught up in what I like to call 'The works of God' and forget 'The God of the works'. To be honest, I have found myself in this position many times. (That's right! I'm not perfect! haha) In fact, I think many leaders come in and out of this phase and it is really a test of how strong your faith with God is.
Being a senior in high school, I am at a point in my life where I am making decisions I have never made before. Growing up, starting a new chapter of life in college, exploring what career path to go down, and even dealing with your typical teenaged drama that your ordinary teenager goes through can be tough without having God in your life. During this trip I hope to find a spiritual renewal as well as what career path God has planned out for me. God has a plan for everybody and if you "Commit your plans and decisions to the Lord," "...under His guidance you will succeed." (Proverbs 16:3; CW) As leaders in our church and communities, we sometimes get caught up in our leading and teaching and forget who's leading us and who our teacher is. You probably heard of the saying "You must learn to follow before you can lead." This is a true statement for all leaders in the church. You must learn and follow Jesus' teachings before you can go out and preach them yourself. These are things I hope to rekindle and find during Ultimate Workout 19.
These, are my 'Next-Steps'...
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