do trains really talk?

you know i have only been home for 12 days....seems like it should be more than enough time to unpack my bags and my brain, don't you think? But it seems like I hit the ground running again, which is not highly unusual for me. My boss here calls before i arrive home to inform me that it seems I am in demand for the Christmas party at our campus...you see for the past 4 years I have been the official Master of Ceremonies/Stand up Comic...and this year is to be no exception so welcome home you have a week to prepare..so, be funny now...how will I do this? I look at my situation, all that I just came out of and all I can say is WHAT IS SO FUNNY? You know what I came up with, the fact that he would even ask me to do this...that is what was so funny. I mean, really, I have been crying buckets...not little tears,randomly, here and there...but BUCKETS....since early September, even in preparation for my endeavor in Washington...most of which you all know about! (army med center :( , reconciliation time with my daughter Krysta, not certain if it would go good or bad, being away from my family here for weeks, son in Iraq at war) so you tell me...WHAT IS SO FUNNY? Then I thought, it is funny that God constantly asks us to do the very opposite of what we feel like doing...and this is a classic example for me...I want very much to cry and he is asking me to make people laugh....you know I think he is having a good laugh right now....as i think of "the little train that could" heading up the mountain, with the faint puffs of steam sporatically shooting out from the engine, as he slowly climbs to the top of mountain shouting "I think I can, I think i can, I think I can"....I am hoping for inspiration but all I can wonder is do trains really talk?

some faces....

this is Henry, we met him in Juvenile Hall. He did really good in our weekly outreach, and when he was released called right away...actually it was under poor circumstances. Rival gangs were trying to kill him, missed him, but hit the two people he was standing with. So he went into hiding, has been ever since. That was in September. Henry wants to go into the Army, get his eligibility for GI Bill so he can go to culinary school. Henry has plans now, when we first met him, he was in survival mode like the rest. He has been working at night and then he lays low, he can't go to his mom's house at all, it would jeopardize the whole family. The army says Henry has to cover the gang tattoo on his arm before he will be accepted, that is the only thing holding him back. Henry got this tattoo when he was 11 years old! It goes from the elbow to the shoulder and would cost over $600 to cover up! So Henry has been very discouraged, trying to pay for a car to go to work, insurance (to be legal, yippee) and pay for this tattoo. Well, the students here at the YWAM campus took an offering and paid for his tattoo, so Henry could move forward, because the Army has given him a deadline. This really got Henry's attention, that total strangers would do this for him has blown his mind! Henry said " I never thought I would get out of my gang at such a young age, but it is happening, I can't believe it." Henry is 18 years old, has his life ahead of him and he knows he has God to thank for this second chance!

This is angel..he's 12 years old and is on the Freedom Project, our team first started working with him at Jeopeardy, a gang intervention program. Angel comes from a broken home (everyones story here) has gotten into trouble and is on probation, but after being on the team since last spring and traveling all the way up to Canada this past summer with us, he has been doing better. Angel loves to go to church when he can get there, likes to dance, and hang out with the Freedom Project. They are a strong, positive influence on him and his family. His attendance has not been consistent and that makes it hard, so pray that he will be able to get here each week and we will be able to pick him up on Sundays for church!

me & krysta...

here is a pic of me and krysta, just playing with the cell phone waiting for dinner and watching the Raiders lose football again....by the way my dream job, coaching Raider football!

my girls

these are my beautiful girls...I just gotta post these beauties! Kelsie's favorite animal is a pig..why?because it's pink..and that is her favorite color! isn't that cute?

counsel anyone?

when i found out i was coming to the east coast i became almost single minded to the point of being obsessed on one thing...hearing this Pastor preach, someone I had heard speak, at a conference, a few years back . He lives here on the East Coast and honestly, I was at a point where I thought I needed to get the "word of the Lord". I have been pioneering, leading, breaking new ground in my life and in the city for years. So while I was making a million plans to be with my daughter and playing out in my mind over and over again everything that I thought would happen between us( not one of those scenarios played out by the way), I was also planning this secret obsession of getting this amazing revelation from God on the next season of my life. Long story, short...once I arrived I quickly realized nothing was going to play out like I had imagined....isn't it funny how we travel so far in our minds and yet we never get there unless God wants us to go? Ps 16 vs 2 "You are my Lord" ... He is my Lord, but isn't it hard to keep him Lord and not take over? Yet in his mercy, he forgives....
Psalms 16 - vs 5-8 Lord, you have assigned me my portion and my cup; you have made my lot secure. The boundary lines have fallen for me in pleasant places; surely I have a delightful inheritance. I will praise the Lord, who counsels me;
Alas! Good news...it's the Lord who gave me a word. It didn't come from man, it came from Him, God himself, His way, not mine. It didn't come the way I imagined it would, but isn't that everyone's story. I hope you like the pic of me and Reid...it's a bonus! love ya'all...

CHL

these are kids from the CHL, in Kathmandu. Since our trip last summer we were able to raise some support for these little ones. When we first arrived here they could barely even make rent and were at risk of losing thier home. The house parents are Saji and Hannah, and they have been at CHL for two years. They were given charge of this home when the American woman who founded this orphanage fell ill suddenly and died. There is an orphan crisis in Nepal, and they fear these children will be orphaned again. So pray as we are working to get the video out to help raise support for this home. aaawww....aren't they cute!

LillyBug

this little cutie is my youngest grand-baby Lilly. I have some pics of Kelsie I am trying to post too but those are not working today....anyways...Both these little girls live close enough i get to see them at least once a week and i love it...people are always saying being a grandparent is the best...but when it happens...you go "yes this is great" ..my biggest prayer is that they will know they are loved, loved by God and by thier family!

This is Micah!

thought you would like to see a picture of Micah.. he looks a little different now he has a little moustache. This picture was at Easter time when he was hanging out with us playing games...we had so much fun that day. He had never had that kind of family time before in his life. Being in and out of jail, mostly in since he was 13..in a gang and living a life of survival on the streets....you just don't get family game night. Micah wanted to go to school and play football. Maybe when this is all over, he can. God put those desires in his heart, i pray he can fulfill them. Micah is doing well so far, reading his Bible alot. They move him around often. It seems like each place is worse than the last. He is still waiting on sentencing, his last court date, yesterday the 8th. Once there is decision, then he can began to look at a release date and what he can do from there. Micah is holding onto hope, but most days are a struggle on the inside. He sleeps alot...I pray he dreams of Jesus.

Natalie & Gabe

this is thier wedding day and it was such a beautiful wedding...I know they will be happy, they are lovers and they are friends!

up and running...what's new!

Hi there! It's me, keeping up with all of you. It's fall here on the East coast and I must admit, besides for the fact that Monday night football doesn't start until 9:00 pm, it's not all that bad! The leaves are taking on the most amazing colors, the air is crisp and clean, it's a change and for today, that's ok! I putting together this blogspot so I can keep you up-to-date on my coming and going. I guess "So Cal Life" doesnt quite fit for now....but that's alright it's the end! Krysta continues to get better and we take a little time each day to do physical therapy, explore the city and see our new friends here when possible. Reid is back at school and hitting it hard! No surprise, and if anyone was worried at all, his Ghecko is doing just fine! My little grand-angels are getting bigger by the minute and were the cutest little trick or treaters, sweeter than anything in thier bucket! Mikal is still in Iraq, so send up big prayers for him as he celebrates his first wedding anniversary in the middle of a war. Micah is still going to court, nothing goes quickly in LA County...from one court date to another. It's all good, because God is taking him through a process of trusting him during his time. If he was sentenced now, there would be no crying out. Micah has been clinging to him, and praying for others in the process. This has been a growing time for Micah to be reading the Word of God and hearing His voice, just please be praying over his sentence, which will be up and coming. Henry, seems to waver. He takes big steps forward and then seems to freeze or even step back...The team back in LA is "holding down the fort" for them it can be discouraging, at times. They are truly working on frontlines with many youth! We have always been a people who are impatient...It is not easy to remember He is the Lord of the Harvest, we must wait on Him and trust HIm! Well I gotta run for now, and don't forget whatever you endeavor to do today, place it all in His hands, for He cares for you! 1 Peter 5:7