One cool element of my return to the Philippines has been the presence of a World Race squad that I’m sharing meals and a room with. I’ve talked for hours already with several members of this group and it has been such an incredible blessing. These guys are on month four of their year journey and already have some incredible stories to tell. They spent the first few months in Central America and have no made the jump to Southeast Asia. It’s still just the beginning.
I have also worked with Campus Crusade for Christ at ASU for the past 3.5 years now. I lead the greatest small group in the world, North Nation! These men and women of God have shaped me to be the man I am today, and sharpen me like iron! God has answered my prayers in so many fantastic ways, and I boast in Christ for the hearts that he has put here in the students at ASU, to bring the Kingdom of God to ASU! This is where I invest my life!
I am also a runner, and have been for some years now. I started my junior year of high school and although I know that I am not what I do, I definitely recognize that God has blessed me with a passion, gift and love that allows me to experience Him in exactly the way He designed me to encounter His love, in a place where no one else but He and I can be. I rejoice that I was so fearfully and wonderfully made to enjoy Him in this way, my spiritual act of worship is in my enjoyment of Him through running!
I have a heart for ministry, especially college students. College ministry is definitely something that I have entertained the idea of doing for some time now, provided God leads so. I see college, in particular freshman year, one of the most pivotal, and often times overlooked time in a person’s life. I recognize, had it not been for the older college guys in my life when I was a freshman, I would not be where I am today.
I have grown up in a very loving, and Christ centered family. My parents Ray and Alene and my lil’ sis Lauren are the greatest family I could ever ask for, and more! Even though my upbringing was extremely loving and grace filled, I can honestly say that I did not learn to live out of the love of Jesus until I was a sophomore at ASU. I would not say I was a bad kid up until this point, in fact, I would much more likely consider myself like the elder son in the parable of the prodigal son, I did all the “right” things hoping to earn favor in the eyes of my heavenly Father, not ever considering the possibility that there is absolutely nothing I could ever do, say or feel that would lead Him to love me any more or any less. I was predestined, called, justified and glorified in His book, and I pray that out of that knowledge, I would be led to speak boldly, live freely, and love recklessly!
I believe in miracles, because I am one. Hardened by years of “Christian” education, Christ led me to the place of humility, which I find I am constantly needing to be led back to, in my pursuit of the prize in Him. I would rather live simply and be moved by the blunt power of the cross than know all the theology and apologetics in the world. I want to seek the truth, but never at the sake of forgetting to remain humble. I want to just abide in God’s love as his adopted son! He is my Abba!
Some Random Facts About Me:
– I recently started rock climbing
– I love photography
– I think I’m a pretty outgoing person
– I have a favorite state, starts with O, ends with regon
– My favorite food is a restaurant called Chino Bandido’s (it’s Mexican/Chinese food, if you’ve eaten here, we’re probably already friends”
– I ran with a friend and a baby jogger (to carry our stuff in) from Mexico to Canada, staying with strangers, watching God perform miracles, and living completely dependent on Him for 3 months over the summer
– I’ve been to a certain unmentionable East Asian country for a mission trip with Campus Crusade
– My favorite color is navy blue
– I used to coach track for Phoenix College
– I LOVE downhill longboarding
– At heart, I’m kind of a nerd, I love computer games, if you play Battlefield Bad Company 2, I’ve prolly killed you =P
– When I was in high school, I owned an LLC called Moana Surf Company, who knew surf companies aren’t meant to survive in Phoenix…
– I lived in the same house for the first 17 years of my life
– I forgot to eat lunch today
– I live in a house owned by Campus Crusade and on any give day, there can be up to 120 people here, no joke
– My little sister can beat me in basketball, I wish I was kidding, I also wish I could say it was because I didn’t care about basketball
– I’m not a big fan of sports, but I love anything running related, it makes my stomach all butterfly-like
– I want to meet you, too!
