Monday, February 12, 2007
Am I lost? Where is the time?
How some Christian think that their real Christian, but really not. They would say, "Yes, I'm a Christian... I go to church to bible study weekly and gets involve with church related activities." But are they really a true Christian? Only themselves and God would know that. Honestly I use to be one of those people before I really got a chance to know who God really is and that being a Christian is not all about that. Its more to it than I thought it would be. Also what the true feeling is being born again. I use to thought that once you believe in God than you don't have to worry about it. You wouldn't lose Him because he will always be there. When time goes by... That's actually not true. I always ask myself: How hard is it to keep God and not lose Him? Or Why does it have to be so hard to know God?
Lately, I feel like I'm fading away from God. The reason would probably be that I'm not spending enough time to get to know Him or maybe because I've been in autopilot every time. Everyday seems like the same to me. You would get up go to school, work (maybe), homework, eat, and sleep. It seems like its so hard to fit God into the schedule. I know that you can always find the time for God. Now I just want to pray for God's guidance and timing. With everything that has been going on around the world I find life very difficult.
Its sort of like the game my youth and I played at church Friday night. When your trying to avoid the Romans to find the light and before that I would think how hard it might be, but once you it. Its obvious that the light is there. I always thought that it was impossible to get through the Romans to find the light, especially in the dark where you totally have to have faith in God. With miracles happening along the ways we can totally came through. I saw that how powerful it can be with God on your side and to follow the light nothing get stop you getting close to God. I mean nothing can stop you, not even the Romans or any other evil things out there.
So basically I just need to find the time for God and there will always be a time careless on what's happening around! For me, I think that getting to know God through praise and worship is an awesome way. Its awesome how there is an opportunity every time to get to know God more and more all depending on how you uses it.
How some Christian think that their real Christian, but really not. They would say, "Yes, I'm a Christian... I go to church to bible study weekly and gets involve with church related activities." But are they really a true Christian? Only themselves and God would know that. Honestly I use to be one of those people before I really got a chance to know who God really is and that being a Christian is not all about that. Its more to it than I thought it would be. Also what the true feeling is being born again. I use to thought that once you believe in God than you don't have to worry about it. You wouldn't lose Him because he will always be there. When time goes by... That's actually not true. I always ask myself: How hard is it to keep God and not lose Him? Or Why does it have to be so hard to know God?
Lately, I feel like I'm fading away from God. The reason would probably be that I'm not spending enough time to get to know Him or maybe because I've been in autopilot every time. Everyday seems like the same to me. You would get up go to school, work (maybe), homework, eat, and sleep. It seems like its so hard to fit God into the schedule. I know that you can always find the time for God. Now I just want to pray for God's guidance and timing. With everything that has been going on around the world I find life very difficult.
Its sort of like the game my youth and I played at church Friday night. When your trying to avoid the Romans to find the light and before that I would think how hard it might be, but once you it. Its obvious that the light is there. I always thought that it was impossible to get through the Romans to find the light, especially in the dark where you totally have to have faith in God. With miracles happening along the ways we can totally came through. I saw that how powerful it can be with God on your side and to follow the light nothing get stop you getting close to God. I mean nothing can stop you, not even the Romans or any other evil things out there.
So basically I just need to find the time for God and there will always be a time careless on what's happening around! For me, I think that getting to know God through praise and worship is an awesome way. Its awesome how there is an opportunity every time to get to know God more and more all depending on how you uses it.
Sunday, July 16, 2006
Not everything in this journal I remember about the trip, but I do whatever I can... If something doesn't come out straight just bare with me... Thanks!! Comments we welcome if you have any.
-30 June, 2006- Friday
I woke up that morning all ready to go. I was so excited that I can't wait. I took a shower and prepare and make sure that I won't forget to get anything. I stopped by QT to grab some snacks and gums to snack on in the car or something. Got back home and ate a little breakfast and waited for Mrs. Chang (David's mom) to come pick me up. So I got everything ready and waited in my garage. Once they came I was so ready to pack everything into the car and leave. So I got to Billy's house waited forever and finally we got to leave and head to New Mexico. I was in the black SUV with Mike, Matt, Billy, David, Richard, JoJo. We stopped a couple of time to eat, gas, and bathroom. I remember that we stopped at the border area saying welcome to New Mexico. Sam showed us the signs and the symbols around New Mexico like the Sun. New Mexico is a place full of wierd things and people worship many false God. After that we headed toward Tucumcari, NM at a slightly well hotel. All of us picked our room and I'm in the far room with Billy, Richard, JoJo, and Mike than David switched with Mike. After everyone is settled in, We went to have Dinner at a Mexican restaurant and everyone at my table ordered quesadillas. It was so Good and I was so full. Than we came back and rest a little. Later that night Lisa lead Bible Study. Spoke about Psalms 51, how if God is not guiding our journey, then we journey on our own in vain. And how we really need to learn to let go because where we go will be in vain if it is not where God wants us to go or be. Like how important it is to follow God. We also had a bit of a worship and I got really tired later and everyone went to bed.
-1 July, 2006- Saturday
We had breakfast at the Hotel. Than we load up and head to look for campsites. Failed a couple of time, but God worked it all out and find one even better. So we end up finding a pretty awesome RV park, christened by Mike and Sam as like Jellystone national park. Once we got there I was spinning on the merry-go-round and end up stepping on the mud which that was pretty stupid. so I had to go wash it off. Than we head up to our camp and slept there. After awhile we had freetime and some of us can't wait to go swimming. Oh yeah... there was a swimming pool at the bottom of the camp place. So some of us swam for like an hour or so. Than we had pizza for dinner. I actually end up looking at the sunset and a little quiet time sorta with David and Billy away from the camp place. It was great because David was playing with is guitar and just so nice to spend a little quiet time with God. After dinner we cleaned up and Ruth lead Bible study that night. She talked about what does it mean to be broken and how we're like called to it. Later we had our skit practice and it was actually pretty awesome. God was like totally there to work things out. I was actually amazed by how good some of us had gotten. It was good though. Yeah for sure it was. That was a pretty good day to start of with.
-2 July, 2006- Sunday
In the morning after having coffee, bacon and eggs for breakfast we left the campsite for the day to go somewhere in albuquerque, NM to visit the market place and other small villages. People there are controlled by demons. They would do things with significances they don't even know about, like worship fetishes or submit their lives to things like sacrifices to evil spirits or things of the sort. Pretty scary and wierd. We walked around and went to shops and I saw some scary painting and dolls figure that just gives me the creeps. At a moment I felt kind of dizzy or like not myself. I didn't really think much. At lunch we ate at a Mexican restaurtant there and it was full of people some of us sat outside and some inside I sat inside and order a sandwhich because I didn't really feel like eating mexican food. Not quite sure why though. Than we rushed over to the Indian History Museum because the food took awhile to get here and we're kind of on a tight schedule. We kind of missed out on most of the beginning of the Pow wow so that was kind of bad. When we got there they were about done with the Indian dance. Than there was this tour guy which freaked Jeff out, showed us around. I didn't pay much attention though. I was just looking around into somewhere else, thinking of other random things. Than we went out to eat at Arby's and that was pretty good. We took a short hike around the Rio Grande and than head toward back to the camp place. Everyone was kind of tired and didn't do much and went to bed. Billy and I were in the van talking about what we had been learning and just shared our thoughts. Later David, Jeff and Yang joined us. Than we head for our tent. After that night in the van I totally felt confident that I think that it is the right time that I'm going to lead Bible study. So I found a time the next day and talked to Mike about it.
-3 July, 2006- Monday
Everyone woke up got ready for breakfast, and Sam showed us how to use the maps and sorts. Lydia lead Bible study later that morning before we left the camp place. She mentioned about great things, even anointings (they are called) that we are called to, about preaching the Gospel to the lost and showing the way to all of these people that are broken. We later stopped by Waffle House to have lunch and some of us went to McDonalds instead. The Van Lisa was driving had broke down so we had to go 3 other places to find a new one. Which we did with 4 wheel drive so pretty awesome. The super troops: Lisa, Aileen, Billy, David, Jeff, Lydia, and I quickly swiched van. It was great because it didn't take us that long. Than it starts raining so we stopped my Starbucks to dodge the rain. We had another skit practice there which was awesome, even though we didn't get quite finished. The rain stopped than all of us headed to Santa Fe, NM in a nice hotel there with a swimming pool and a hot tub. We had hours of freetime and some of us went straight down to the pool and hot tub. For Dinner that night we had a 28in. Pizza and a Greek Pizza. The Pizza was so huge and so tasty. After Pizza, David lead Bible study that night. He talked about being right with God being more important than being right with man, but most people only got out of it how if we really understood God's love for us, then we would hardly do any of the things that we do. Than we all slept happy for the rest of the night. That night I also spoke to Mike on about me leading Bible study and I was totally ready. Its awesome that I got to lead Bible study on the 4th of July. Also I got a chance to pranked JoJo, Richard, Billy, and especially David... For stealing my Lay's BBQ-spicy chip which I nevered got a chace to eat. I wrote "Slp Mode" on all their ankle and wrote some wierd message on David's cup.
-4 July, 2006- Tuesday
We had breakfast at the hotel place and load up our vans and end up a some local random park. That is where I lead Bible study that morning. I mainly talked about worriness and thanksgiving. I also mention the song "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns. After I led bible study we had a little worship time. That was great and later we turned around and saw a giant cloud cross in the sky. That was pretty amazing that it happened. We stopped by Wal-Mart and ate at subways there in Wal-Mart for lunch that day. We got a chance to hike up to Pankey Peak and had an awesome worship and ate MRE's for dinner up there. Worshipping on top of the moutain felt so alive and free. I felt like there was nothing else there that can stands my way to get close to God. It felt like as if God was there right besides me. That closeness that I never felt before. After the moment to get to know God we went back to the hotel. We swam a little, and some of us trying to head to Coldstone, but it was closed so we went to Sonic instead. Than it started to rain really badly so we stayed there until it didn't rained as bad. Than we came back in the rain. Me... bring a couple of food back to David and Richard to Billy because they didn't go with us. Than I thought... Hey! David and Billy would totally need some food from Sonic. So, Richard ended to bring back some Pop corn Chicken to Billy and I ended up giving my Oreos Shake and half of my Pop corn Chicken to David. Stayed up pretty late and fell asleep. Knowing that David wrote something back on my ankle for pranking them before and trying to wash it off and went back to bed.
-5 July, 2006- Wednesday
After breakfast we loaded up and left to do Laundry. I went to check out the laundry mat with Sam, Ruth, Lydia, and Aileen and we stayed there for hours and finally the other came. Than I was told to go to Smith's for groceries with Mike and Lisa. for like an hour than we ate at Carl's Jr. for Lunch and head back to the laundry mat the the laundry was done or at least almost done. We started to head for Backwood camp after a half mile hike. Once we're there we gathered woods and get the fire ready. We learned how to make Hobo Sandwhich/Burger as David called it. Basic ingrediants and other things: Potatoe, Meat, Celeries, Carrots, Cabbage, Garlic, Onion, Salt, Pepper, Aluminum Foil, Pocket knife, and Fire. Than we also had S'mores. Billy lead Bible study that night. He mentioned about how he thinks he has struggled in his faith for the past semester and how we all have these kinds of struggles, but we really need to press on. Then that late I couldn't really sleep so I went out to play and talked to Phobos and Tromos and ended up with 2 demerits from Lisa for being too loud. And yeah.. I got my first 2 at the first or second hike I think for talking JoJos responsibility or sort of I kind of wanted to see the map, but I guess that was a pretty bad idea. But yeah, I ended up went back to the tent and slept.
-6 July, 2006- Thursday
I would have to say this would be my worst day during this trip. And here is the reason why: Everyone end up in a tent with a couple people. I ended up in a green tent with David and Jeff which is awesome. Finally getting some rest after a half mile hike to Backwood campsite. While in the tent I hear rain drops coming down hitting our tent. I was actually worry about if the tent will leak. Well, it actually did. We soke up around 5:00am or mabye even earlier because our tent was flooded. When we go out, I felt cold and very muddy also it was still raining. I wasn't sure what do do at that moment because everyone else seems to be still sleeping quite well. And so I just sort of walked around asking for Gods help until someone wakes up. After awhile everyone woke up and we get fo leave, ending up doing another laundry trying to dry our wet sleeping bag and clothes. Later that day we meet Johanna who hiked up to Pecos National Park/Forest with us. It was like a two mile hike. That night around the campfire she shared her testimony about how she became a missionary. We also ate Hobo sandwhich/burger again for dinner. So actually the day got better towards the end. So its acutally no the worst day. I didn't really know what to expect that day. I wasn't sure what was going to happen or what we're going to do next. I just left it all to God. I kno whe made everything right. The day acutally did get better and so God did what He intended to do and yeah, praise God for that.
-7 July, 2006- Friday
I woke up pretty early in the morning and climb on a tree and just sat there. It was amazing because that is another way to spend time with God without any distraction. So the day at Pecos National Park/Forest was pretty interesting. Some people went out to find more woods and and breaking them. Than Richard lead Bible study talking about how it is important to not put people down and he talked a little about 2 Timothy 4:12 and how it's important to set a good example and I thought he showed a lot of humility in saying that it was something he struggled with because he said he knew he wasn't a very good example. Sometime during lunch Cynthia lead Bible study mentioning how it is important to get rid of self-seeking in our lives and really kind of devote to others. Couple of people later went out tring to fish. David, Jeff, and I stayed behind trying to rap "JoJo Wake Up" and it went pretty well. Than we tried to look for the others, but it didn't work so well, so we came back in the rain. No one fished anything so we end up eating hotdogs and MRE's for Dinner instead of Fish. Than Yang lead Bible study at night after dinner talking about how we are really fighting a battle and it is incredibly important that we know who we are fighting and that we are not split up internally and that we take a stand. Than we spent time to think of ideas to stop our tent from leaking in which it didn't go so well.
-8 July, 2006- Saturday
I would have to say this is the best day of all time during the trip and here is why: After a long hike to Pecos National Park/Forest everyone spent the day there basicly to relax. And on this day we hiked back to get ready to leave. We're in the car heading toward Taos, NM to a super 8 Motel. unloaded things and went to Angelfire, NM. There we met Shelly and Ruby. The are amazing people. WEnt into their house and got some Hawaiian Punch and some Coca Cola and Moutain Lighting drinks to cool ourself down. Shelly showed us around the house and shared a little about herself. Than went on to do yard work for them in the rain which was awesome. We also helped someone move stuff into their home. So that whole thing took a couple of hours... until dinner. We went out to eat at a restaurant called "Zebadiah." Well, the guys where there first and than later the girls came from doing laundry. We also saw Johanna there too. I ordered a Texas chicken Fried Steak. So I barely got a chance to get started eating and I had a horrible stomache ache.and I didn't feel like eating anymore or doing anything. So Mike came over and prayed for me than I left to the restroom and later David came in and prayed for me. After he left I did some wierd things to help me get better. Such like running in place for like 5 min. or so. Well, it actually worked and amazingly I got way better than before. I guess God did some amazing miracle of me that night. And it was a great experience for me. Thank you so much to Mike and David for praying for me. Also for everyone else who was worring about me. So i was totally ready to come back out to finish my dinner. But they had took it way already, So I think that fine, but its just such a waste. So I just end up eating like a plate of brownies instead, which Shelly made for us. they were so good. I wish I had some right now. than Shelly shared her testimony and than Ruby and her starts baptizing people in the Holy Spirit. I'm not sure about everyone else but at that moment I felt a lot of things. After Shelly and Ruby prayed for me, I started to share tears to God and Lisa came over and prayed for me and after she left I started to praise God and speaked in tongue to Him. I totally felt that the Holy Spirit was around. And how amazing God is in the way he do things around people. After the restaurant we head back to the Hotel. I was so tired that I felt asleep in the car and once we got back I felt very relaxed and went straight off to bed without thinking or doing anything else.
-9 July, 2006- Sunday
We ate breakfast at the lobby and started to load our things and heading back towards Black Mesa, OK. It was quite a long trip back to Black Mesa. We probably did stop for lunch or maybe even dinner, but I'm not sure where. But we got to Black Mesa around evening and found a campsite there very similar to the very first campsite. Well, it doesn't really matter to me because David, Jeff and I was going to boycott our tent to trying to pull an all-nighter. Than after we set up the tents we went Hiking in the dark to Black Mesa. It was a rough hike because it was in the dark and the only thing we depended on was the moon. and the terrian was pretty tough once we reached the verticle part of the hike. Than I heard some sound thinking that it was just the bird and never thought about it much. Than I heard that it was the coyote which I never knew thats what the sound was. We just stopped and ate Sandwhiches. Than later it was really late and decided to come back down from Black Mesa. When we got back some of us did a mini like bible study at the van and some worship songs.. eventually everyone else feel asleep except David and I stayed awake the whole night actually. That was pretty awesome. I got so tired the next day though. While in the Van we shared our thoughts and I just mentioned that it doesn't matter what kinds of things that can pulled away us from God, but by prayer it will eventually make everything right again. Or something along the line about prayer.
-10 July, 2006- Monday
David and I stayed up all night than he ended up running somewhere that morning and when I came back out from the shower I felt like running which I did to somewhere else and spend like 30min alone with God listening to my praise and worship songs on my I-Pod and eventually ran back. We had Oatmeal, Coffee, and Peanut butter jelly sandwhiches. Than we had to clean our boots and polished other peoples boots. Than Sam told us about "Service" I'm not really sure I'm I did pay much attention because I kinda half asleep when that happened. And well, we finally left Black Mesa and had a super long drive back to Tulsa, OK. We stopped at a Mexican restaurant for dinner I think than stopped at a couple of gas station to get gas. Than late at night like the next morning at ate at Mickey Ds aka... McDonalds. Than straight back to Tulsa at around 4:00am in the morning. Got back safely and super tired. Even I slept in the car. It great we all got back safely. With God guilding us along the whole trip. Praise the Lord.
-30 June, 2006- Friday
I woke up that morning all ready to go. I was so excited that I can't wait. I took a shower and prepare and make sure that I won't forget to get anything. I stopped by QT to grab some snacks and gums to snack on in the car or something. Got back home and ate a little breakfast and waited for Mrs. Chang (David's mom) to come pick me up. So I got everything ready and waited in my garage. Once they came I was so ready to pack everything into the car and leave. So I got to Billy's house waited forever and finally we got to leave and head to New Mexico. I was in the black SUV with Mike, Matt, Billy, David, Richard, JoJo. We stopped a couple of time to eat, gas, and bathroom. I remember that we stopped at the border area saying welcome to New Mexico. Sam showed us the signs and the symbols around New Mexico like the Sun. New Mexico is a place full of wierd things and people worship many false God. After that we headed toward Tucumcari, NM at a slightly well hotel. All of us picked our room and I'm in the far room with Billy, Richard, JoJo, and Mike than David switched with Mike. After everyone is settled in, We went to have Dinner at a Mexican restaurant and everyone at my table ordered quesadillas. It was so Good and I was so full. Than we came back and rest a little. Later that night Lisa lead Bible Study. Spoke about Psalms 51, how if God is not guiding our journey, then we journey on our own in vain. And how we really need to learn to let go because where we go will be in vain if it is not where God wants us to go or be. Like how important it is to follow God. We also had a bit of a worship and I got really tired later and everyone went to bed.
-1 July, 2006- Saturday
We had breakfast at the Hotel. Than we load up and head to look for campsites. Failed a couple of time, but God worked it all out and find one even better. So we end up finding a pretty awesome RV park, christened by Mike and Sam as like Jellystone national park. Once we got there I was spinning on the merry-go-round and end up stepping on the mud which that was pretty stupid. so I had to go wash it off. Than we head up to our camp and slept there. After awhile we had freetime and some of us can't wait to go swimming. Oh yeah... there was a swimming pool at the bottom of the camp place. So some of us swam for like an hour or so. Than we had pizza for dinner. I actually end up looking at the sunset and a little quiet time sorta with David and Billy away from the camp place. It was great because David was playing with is guitar and just so nice to spend a little quiet time with God. After dinner we cleaned up and Ruth lead Bible study that night. She talked about what does it mean to be broken and how we're like called to it. Later we had our skit practice and it was actually pretty awesome. God was like totally there to work things out. I was actually amazed by how good some of us had gotten. It was good though. Yeah for sure it was. That was a pretty good day to start of with.
-2 July, 2006- Sunday
In the morning after having coffee, bacon and eggs for breakfast we left the campsite for the day to go somewhere in albuquerque, NM to visit the market place and other small villages. People there are controlled by demons. They would do things with significances they don't even know about, like worship fetishes or submit their lives to things like sacrifices to evil spirits or things of the sort. Pretty scary and wierd. We walked around and went to shops and I saw some scary painting and dolls figure that just gives me the creeps. At a moment I felt kind of dizzy or like not myself. I didn't really think much. At lunch we ate at a Mexican restaurtant there and it was full of people some of us sat outside and some inside I sat inside and order a sandwhich because I didn't really feel like eating mexican food. Not quite sure why though. Than we rushed over to the Indian History Museum because the food took awhile to get here and we're kind of on a tight schedule. We kind of missed out on most of the beginning of the Pow wow so that was kind of bad. When we got there they were about done with the Indian dance. Than there was this tour guy which freaked Jeff out, showed us around. I didn't pay much attention though. I was just looking around into somewhere else, thinking of other random things. Than we went out to eat at Arby's and that was pretty good. We took a short hike around the Rio Grande and than head toward back to the camp place. Everyone was kind of tired and didn't do much and went to bed. Billy and I were in the van talking about what we had been learning and just shared our thoughts. Later David, Jeff and Yang joined us. Than we head for our tent. After that night in the van I totally felt confident that I think that it is the right time that I'm going to lead Bible study. So I found a time the next day and talked to Mike about it.
-3 July, 2006- Monday
Everyone woke up got ready for breakfast, and Sam showed us how to use the maps and sorts. Lydia lead Bible study later that morning before we left the camp place. She mentioned about great things, even anointings (they are called) that we are called to, about preaching the Gospel to the lost and showing the way to all of these people that are broken. We later stopped by Waffle House to have lunch and some of us went to McDonalds instead. The Van Lisa was driving had broke down so we had to go 3 other places to find a new one. Which we did with 4 wheel drive so pretty awesome. The super troops: Lisa, Aileen, Billy, David, Jeff, Lydia, and I quickly swiched van. It was great because it didn't take us that long. Than it starts raining so we stopped my Starbucks to dodge the rain. We had another skit practice there which was awesome, even though we didn't get quite finished. The rain stopped than all of us headed to Santa Fe, NM in a nice hotel there with a swimming pool and a hot tub. We had hours of freetime and some of us went straight down to the pool and hot tub. For Dinner that night we had a 28in. Pizza and a Greek Pizza. The Pizza was so huge and so tasty. After Pizza, David lead Bible study that night. He talked about being right with God being more important than being right with man, but most people only got out of it how if we really understood God's love for us, then we would hardly do any of the things that we do. Than we all slept happy for the rest of the night. That night I also spoke to Mike on about me leading Bible study and I was totally ready. Its awesome that I got to lead Bible study on the 4th of July. Also I got a chance to pranked JoJo, Richard, Billy, and especially David... For stealing my Lay's BBQ-spicy chip which I nevered got a chace to eat. I wrote "Slp Mode" on all their ankle and wrote some wierd message on David's cup.
-4 July, 2006- Tuesday
We had breakfast at the hotel place and load up our vans and end up a some local random park. That is where I lead Bible study that morning. I mainly talked about worriness and thanksgiving. I also mention the song "Who Am I" by Casting Crowns. After I led bible study we had a little worship time. That was great and later we turned around and saw a giant cloud cross in the sky. That was pretty amazing that it happened. We stopped by Wal-Mart and ate at subways there in Wal-Mart for lunch that day. We got a chance to hike up to Pankey Peak and had an awesome worship and ate MRE's for dinner up there. Worshipping on top of the moutain felt so alive and free. I felt like there was nothing else there that can stands my way to get close to God. It felt like as if God was there right besides me. That closeness that I never felt before. After the moment to get to know God we went back to the hotel. We swam a little, and some of us trying to head to Coldstone, but it was closed so we went to Sonic instead. Than it started to rain really badly so we stayed there until it didn't rained as bad. Than we came back in the rain. Me... bring a couple of food back to David and Richard to Billy because they didn't go with us. Than I thought... Hey! David and Billy would totally need some food from Sonic. So, Richard ended to bring back some Pop corn Chicken to Billy and I ended up giving my Oreos Shake and half of my Pop corn Chicken to David. Stayed up pretty late and fell asleep. Knowing that David wrote something back on my ankle for pranking them before and trying to wash it off and went back to bed.
-5 July, 2006- Wednesday
After breakfast we loaded up and left to do Laundry. I went to check out the laundry mat with Sam, Ruth, Lydia, and Aileen and we stayed there for hours and finally the other came. Than I was told to go to Smith's for groceries with Mike and Lisa. for like an hour than we ate at Carl's Jr. for Lunch and head back to the laundry mat the the laundry was done or at least almost done. We started to head for Backwood camp after a half mile hike. Once we're there we gathered woods and get the fire ready. We learned how to make Hobo Sandwhich/Burger as David called it. Basic ingrediants and other things: Potatoe, Meat, Celeries, Carrots, Cabbage, Garlic, Onion, Salt, Pepper, Aluminum Foil, Pocket knife, and Fire. Than we also had S'mores. Billy lead Bible study that night. He mentioned about how he thinks he has struggled in his faith for the past semester and how we all have these kinds of struggles, but we really need to press on. Then that late I couldn't really sleep so I went out to play and talked to Phobos and Tromos and ended up with 2 demerits from Lisa for being too loud. And yeah.. I got my first 2 at the first or second hike I think for talking JoJos responsibility or sort of I kind of wanted to see the map, but I guess that was a pretty bad idea. But yeah, I ended up went back to the tent and slept.
-6 July, 2006- Thursday
I would have to say this would be my worst day during this trip. And here is the reason why: Everyone end up in a tent with a couple people. I ended up in a green tent with David and Jeff which is awesome. Finally getting some rest after a half mile hike to Backwood campsite. While in the tent I hear rain drops coming down hitting our tent. I was actually worry about if the tent will leak. Well, it actually did. We soke up around 5:00am or mabye even earlier because our tent was flooded. When we go out, I felt cold and very muddy also it was still raining. I wasn't sure what do do at that moment because everyone else seems to be still sleeping quite well. And so I just sort of walked around asking for Gods help until someone wakes up. After awhile everyone woke up and we get fo leave, ending up doing another laundry trying to dry our wet sleeping bag and clothes. Later that day we meet Johanna who hiked up to Pecos National Park/Forest with us. It was like a two mile hike. That night around the campfire she shared her testimony about how she became a missionary. We also ate Hobo sandwhich/burger again for dinner. So actually the day got better towards the end. So its acutally no the worst day. I didn't really know what to expect that day. I wasn't sure what was going to happen or what we're going to do next. I just left it all to God. I kno whe made everything right. The day acutally did get better and so God did what He intended to do and yeah, praise God for that.
-7 July, 2006- Friday
I woke up pretty early in the morning and climb on a tree and just sat there. It was amazing because that is another way to spend time with God without any distraction. So the day at Pecos National Park/Forest was pretty interesting. Some people went out to find more woods and and breaking them. Than Richard lead Bible study talking about how it is important to not put people down and he talked a little about 2 Timothy 4:12 and how it's important to set a good example and I thought he showed a lot of humility in saying that it was something he struggled with because he said he knew he wasn't a very good example. Sometime during lunch Cynthia lead Bible study mentioning how it is important to get rid of self-seeking in our lives and really kind of devote to others. Couple of people later went out tring to fish. David, Jeff, and I stayed behind trying to rap "JoJo Wake Up" and it went pretty well. Than we tried to look for the others, but it didn't work so well, so we came back in the rain. No one fished anything so we end up eating hotdogs and MRE's for Dinner instead of Fish. Than Yang lead Bible study at night after dinner talking about how we are really fighting a battle and it is incredibly important that we know who we are fighting and that we are not split up internally and that we take a stand. Than we spent time to think of ideas to stop our tent from leaking in which it didn't go so well.
-8 July, 2006- Saturday
I would have to say this is the best day of all time during the trip and here is why: After a long hike to Pecos National Park/Forest everyone spent the day there basicly to relax. And on this day we hiked back to get ready to leave. We're in the car heading toward Taos, NM to a super 8 Motel. unloaded things and went to Angelfire, NM. There we met Shelly and Ruby. The are amazing people. WEnt into their house and got some Hawaiian Punch and some Coca Cola and Moutain Lighting drinks to cool ourself down. Shelly showed us around the house and shared a little about herself. Than went on to do yard work for them in the rain which was awesome. We also helped someone move stuff into their home. So that whole thing took a couple of hours... until dinner. We went out to eat at a restaurant called "Zebadiah." Well, the guys where there first and than later the girls came from doing laundry. We also saw Johanna there too. I ordered a Texas chicken Fried Steak. So I barely got a chance to get started eating and I had a horrible stomache ache.and I didn't feel like eating anymore or doing anything. So Mike came over and prayed for me than I left to the restroom and later David came in and prayed for me. After he left I did some wierd things to help me get better. Such like running in place for like 5 min. or so. Well, it actually worked and amazingly I got way better than before. I guess God did some amazing miracle of me that night. And it was a great experience for me. Thank you so much to Mike and David for praying for me. Also for everyone else who was worring about me. So i was totally ready to come back out to finish my dinner. But they had took it way already, So I think that fine, but its just such a waste. So I just end up eating like a plate of brownies instead, which Shelly made for us. they were so good. I wish I had some right now. than Shelly shared her testimony and than Ruby and her starts baptizing people in the Holy Spirit. I'm not sure about everyone else but at that moment I felt a lot of things. After Shelly and Ruby prayed for me, I started to share tears to God and Lisa came over and prayed for me and after she left I started to praise God and speaked in tongue to Him. I totally felt that the Holy Spirit was around. And how amazing God is in the way he do things around people. After the restaurant we head back to the Hotel. I was so tired that I felt asleep in the car and once we got back I felt very relaxed and went straight off to bed without thinking or doing anything else.
-9 July, 2006- Sunday
We ate breakfast at the lobby and started to load our things and heading back towards Black Mesa, OK. It was quite a long trip back to Black Mesa. We probably did stop for lunch or maybe even dinner, but I'm not sure where. But we got to Black Mesa around evening and found a campsite there very similar to the very first campsite. Well, it doesn't really matter to me because David, Jeff and I was going to boycott our tent to trying to pull an all-nighter. Than after we set up the tents we went Hiking in the dark to Black Mesa. It was a rough hike because it was in the dark and the only thing we depended on was the moon. and the terrian was pretty tough once we reached the verticle part of the hike. Than I heard some sound thinking that it was just the bird and never thought about it much. Than I heard that it was the coyote which I never knew thats what the sound was. We just stopped and ate Sandwhiches. Than later it was really late and decided to come back down from Black Mesa. When we got back some of us did a mini like bible study at the van and some worship songs.. eventually everyone else feel asleep except David and I stayed awake the whole night actually. That was pretty awesome. I got so tired the next day though. While in the Van we shared our thoughts and I just mentioned that it doesn't matter what kinds of things that can pulled away us from God, but by prayer it will eventually make everything right again. Or something along the line about prayer.
-10 July, 2006- Monday
David and I stayed up all night than he ended up running somewhere that morning and when I came back out from the shower I felt like running which I did to somewhere else and spend like 30min alone with God listening to my praise and worship songs on my I-Pod and eventually ran back. We had Oatmeal, Coffee, and Peanut butter jelly sandwhiches. Than we had to clean our boots and polished other peoples boots. Than Sam told us about "Service" I'm not really sure I'm I did pay much attention because I kinda half asleep when that happened. And well, we finally left Black Mesa and had a super long drive back to Tulsa, OK. We stopped at a Mexican restaurant for dinner I think than stopped at a couple of gas station to get gas. Than late at night like the next morning at ate at Mickey Ds aka... McDonalds. Than straight back to Tulsa at around 4:00am in the morning. Got back safely and super tired. Even I slept in the car. It great we all got back safely. With God guilding us along the whole trip. Praise the Lord.
