A Summer of Change

It has been many months since I last posted an update on what I've been up to lately--over six to be exact-- and in that span of time, I can guarantee you that I have been up to quite a lot lately. That's right ladies and gentlemen, this kid has been working and playing extremely hard through thick and thin times these past months have held.

To catch you up to date, the Ultimate Workout mission project in Mexico I went on this past summer that I mentioned in my last post went extremely well. We built numerous churches, provided just as many dental and medical clinics, and provided Vacation Bible School programs for the local children at each of the six different locations we were at. On top of that and most importantly though, the participants connected with a God that finally became real to some while others simply made their connection even stronger. New families were formed and I even found a relative I never knew I had; a cousin from New York!

Aside from that mission project, the rest of the summer was filled with many travels for me. In fact, I have never flown on an airplane so many times in one summer, or any other span of time that close together, ever before in my life. (See my 2011 summer airport list here!) Although all of my travels were within the United States, each trip had something for me to gain and every location had something to teach me about life, love, happiness, or the one and only Almighty God.

Summer of 2011 is one I will remember forever. I went through some of the greatest moments of my life and even roughed it through one of the lowest moments in my life. I met amazing new people, made new friends, reconnected and learned a lot more than what I already knew about old ones, and even went through a summer romantic encounter all in which, have helped me grow and mature as a person. If you ask me, this summer not only housed one of the most productive and eventful summers for me, but this summer has changed my life completely and has set me on a new track full of hope, happiness, and a bright future.

We all want to see ourselves move forward toward success. We all go through life's clear, sunny days its cloudy, stormy ones with the hope that at the end, we pull through to make it to our goals. We want to live without the worry of not being able to provide financially for our family both now and in the future. We want to go on a vacation with our family and friends whenever we want and we never want to feel guilty about rewarding ourselves with that brand new pair of shoes or nice jacket because we might now have enough money to pay for the water bill at the end of the week. We would like to have enough money to buy the gifts we would like to get for those we want to get them for.

Enough about the money. We want to be healthy to live long enough to see our children and even grandchildren grow a little. We want to look good enough to wear that bikini or pair of board shorts with confidence wherever  and whenever we want to take a little dip. We want happiness, true health and true wealth.

This is what I want because I want to be the best and healthiest in all aspects of life Christian I can be. With this desire and goal in mind, I feel that God has led me to lead and live a healthier life. Better yet, I feel that He has led me to help others live a healthier life so that they can live happier and longer. It is my great pleasure to announce that over the summer, I have opened up my own Health & Wellness business helping others achieve true health and true wealth.

This adventure has filled me with excitement, joy, and motivation to be the best and healthiest person I can be for everyone around me. It has been going extremely well since it's start and what I love most about this venture is that I am always constantly learning wonderful things about myself, the industry, and those that I have the amazing opportunity to work with. I work with people I never thought or even dreamed about even meeting let alone working with! I can't wait to share more about my business with you. Things are looking bright and I'm excited for the future!

Mission Project Mexico: Ultimate Workout 21

Mission and charity work are big passions of mine. Whether it's supporting a music concert or a 5k run for a charity organization that is local to me here in Los Angeles, building a school in Ecuador, or even sending care boxes to those in need in the Philippines, I love being able to help those who are in need in every and any way I can.

In a little over two months, I'll be flying down to to the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez in the southeastern tip of Mexico for my third consecutive Ultimate Workout summer mission project with Maranatha Volunteers International. Like last year, I have kindly been asked to return this year as a staff member for one of the five different site locations. Each site will consist of about anywhere from 20 to 35 high school-aged participants from all over the world, most of whom, have never met. 

In less than two weeks, each site will build a Christian Seventh-Day Adventist Church for their assigned community for a total of five churches--And that's just the beginning! There will be a medical team consisting of professional medical physicians, dentists, and student volunteers who will conduct clinics at each of the five sites providing much needed care to men, women, and children of all ages. Special programs will also be held at each site for the local children where they'll sing songs, hear stories, and participate in games and arts & crafts.

With all of the things that are accomplished on this two-week mission project, lives are definitely changed. Many of the local people we will meet in Mexico have and never will leave their home country. In fact, in most cases, they rarely leave the isolated state they live in. Seeing total strangers from far away countries is a miracle to some of them already, but to come to their small dot on the planet map to build a much needed, prayed-for church, is a true, joyful blessing. It is something that they'll never forget.

It won't just be an unforgettable, life-changing event for the people in Mexico, but it will change the lives of the teenaged participants as well. Most or all of the sites the participants will be staying at will be without some of the things that most of them consider essential in their daily, modern way of living. They can expect their homes for two weeks to be without hot water, clean bathrooms, bed mattresses cell phone reception, and you can forget about having a computer connected to the Facebook or Twitter. That's right, little to no electricity. 

The participants will be disconnected from such a digitally connected lifestyle that they will get to see things in ways they have never seen before. For some participants who have never left the boundaries of their own home, they'll make new friends whom they'll form family-like bonds with by the end of the project. They will get to reflect on their own lives  and see those of others and things taken for granted back home on a daily basis. 

This project will be an amazing experience for the staff, participants, and for the people of Mexico. Ultimate Workout will be a workout for every mental, physical, emotional, and spiritual aspect of everyone that will be involved and it will help enable them to see and appreciate the little things in life including life itself. 

This year will be another great year and I am looking forward to it.

A New Powerhouse NHL Team: The Los Angeles Kings

For over ten years now, I've watched Los Angeles Kings hockey games and I can truly say that tonight's win against the San Jose Sharks proved that they are capable of winning the Stanley Cup Championship this year.

Over the past ten or so years, I've seen the Los Angeles Kings at their high and low points in that span of time and I have never seen such a great team like the one the Kings have right now. In my opinion, we have the best coach we've ever had who knows what it's like to coach a championship team. In 2008, he took a group of fresh, young, promising players and turned the team into a top, world-class team. He has improved our team's every aspect of play and the results are showing.

Tonight's game against the San Jose Sharks was a possible playoff matchup for the Los Angeles Kings for there is a fairly large possibility they could see San Jose in the first round in the Stanley Cup Playoffs. Although tonight's victory was not an easy one for the Kings, tonight was a great way to see what the LA Kings are truly made of.

The game took much discipline, great composure, and a hunger like none other than a team that wants the cup--like the Kings displayed tonight. There was teamwork, hard fights along the boards and extremely hard effort put in by a team with great depth.

With the Western Conference tighter than ever in the history of the National Hockey League, one little point could be the deciding factor on whether or not you'll be in the postseason or not. 

The Kings started the season 8-0 holding first place in the Western Conference and have been looking absolutely great all season long currently sitting at 5th place. Out of all the years I have been watching the Kings, I can truly say that this team is a Stanley Cup Championship team. It isn't just because I am a fan. I truly believe this team has it in them to make it. Even if they don't win the cup this season, we're looking at a new powerhouse team in the National Hockey League for the next few seasons--The Los Angeles Kings.