I write to prolong the inevitable. The dreaded shower after a day of getting sunburned. My whole body is doing that thing where you shake and get goosebumps. Perhaps I should get some Nyquil just to put me out. Just kidding.
I played a pick up game of soccer tonight with some great folks. Even Hillary Ford and Danielle Presley were there!
Ended up scoring because of some "nice touches" between me and Victor. I had introduced myself early on because he had passed it to me and I um.. I don't remember what happened. But it was probably stupid. Er..
I told him that I'm not much of a soccer player, so I wouldn't be offended if he took the next one on his own.
But then I started getting the hang of it, and sure enough.. GOOOOAAAALLLL!!! I might have celebrated by running down the middle of the field looking like an eagle. Caw!!
During a water break, I got to chat with him some more. Turns out he went to my high school.
"When did you graduate?" I asked.
"Oh-nine."
"Oh-eight!" pause. "I mean um.. I graduated from college in oh-eight, from Lewisville in oh-four."
He was appalled that I am 24. "Yeah, I get that reaction all the time. It's twice as fun when I tell 'em I'm hispanic!"
Any way, after more chatting it also comes to the surface that Victor is from Kenya. He moved here when he was seven. Currently, he's working to become a paramedic, who happens to love the game of soccer.
"I just wish it wasn't so hot when we played."
I suggested California, and he said most likely.
So nothing too crazy about this one. It was just cool to meet a pretty great soccer player not from these parts, and to hear about his dreams (He said he wanted to be a paramedic because he wanted to help make a difference. He couldn't stand sitting back and watching).
Saturday, June 19, 2010
Friday, June 18, 2010
Deborah
I just wrote a thank you note to Mrs. Debbie Blue.
I met Debbie at a conference within the Covenant Church and was simply astounded by her. She has white hair that she wears in a bun, dark chocolate skin, and the type of voice that you want reading to your children at night.
The reason for our meeting was because she was on the prayer team at the conference, and I was in need of some major prayer (who isn't? But I think you know what I mean). She listened to me--the type of listening where you know the other person cares and isn't just nodding while checking the time on his or her wristwatch. Then she prayed a passionate, and spirit-filled prayer.
Surely I was already emotional, but I like to think that the prayer was so fitting and true, that I couldn't help but cry.
She hugged me, and then I had to catch my ride home.
I ended up seeing Debbie several times afterward, as I kept going to the seminars under the Justice and Mercy theme. I was at the conference to learn more about youth ministry, but couldn't help being attracted to the immigration and racial righteousness focused ones. Her passions as well.
In other words, I got to pick her brain some more, and she offered me her email in order to stay in touch. We have been in touch since, as I am compelled to pray for her and the ministry for which she works. I was blown away that she even gave toward my ministry overseas. What a woman!
I met Debbie at a conference within the Covenant Church and was simply astounded by her. She has white hair that she wears in a bun, dark chocolate skin, and the type of voice that you want reading to your children at night.
The reason for our meeting was because she was on the prayer team at the conference, and I was in need of some major prayer (who isn't? But I think you know what I mean). She listened to me--the type of listening where you know the other person cares and isn't just nodding while checking the time on his or her wristwatch. Then she prayed a passionate, and spirit-filled prayer.
Surely I was already emotional, but I like to think that the prayer was so fitting and true, that I couldn't help but cry.
She hugged me, and then I had to catch my ride home.
I ended up seeing Debbie several times afterward, as I kept going to the seminars under the Justice and Mercy theme. I was at the conference to learn more about youth ministry, but couldn't help being attracted to the immigration and racial righteousness focused ones. Her passions as well.
In other words, I got to pick her brain some more, and she offered me her email in order to stay in touch. We have been in touch since, as I am compelled to pray for her and the ministry for which she works. I was blown away that she even gave toward my ministry overseas. What a woman!
Monday, June 14, 2010
Stan
Stan I met on the first day of the mission trip. He came near the very end of the line and I had already gone around offering seconds and refills to those who had gotten their free food first. He sat down by himself, and so I just sat across from him and asked the how d'you'do? You know, the usual get-a-conversation-started type of question.
He was a messy eater. As he talked I kept seeing streaks of mayonnaise or ketchup stream from the corners of his mouth. And he would talk. At times he'd stop to ask, "Am I boring ya?"
Honestly, I was never bored, but I could imagine my face looking so as I was intrigued by all he had to say. That is, stories of all the places he'd been as a youngster. But he also went on a rant as to how I should be a flight attendant so that I could see all the places I wanted to. "You're young, and that would be the cheapest way!" He smiled.
I kept trying to get to the heart of matters for him though. He talked about how he currently works on computers which helps him get by. He doesn't have a degree, but he learns quickly, apparently. So I kept prying, trying to hear what his passion is--what he wants to do. More than just get by. You know?
But that's a tough question.
We ran out of time, but he was eager to see if I would be there next week. I told him I would be gone by that time, but that it was a pleasure to meet him.
He was a messy eater. As he talked I kept seeing streaks of mayonnaise or ketchup stream from the corners of his mouth. And he would talk. At times he'd stop to ask, "Am I boring ya?"
Honestly, I was never bored, but I could imagine my face looking so as I was intrigued by all he had to say. That is, stories of all the places he'd been as a youngster. But he also went on a rant as to how I should be a flight attendant so that I could see all the places I wanted to. "You're young, and that would be the cheapest way!" He smiled.
I kept trying to get to the heart of matters for him though. He talked about how he currently works on computers which helps him get by. He doesn't have a degree, but he learns quickly, apparently. So I kept prying, trying to hear what his passion is--what he wants to do. More than just get by. You know?
But that's a tough question.
We ran out of time, but he was eager to see if I would be there next week. I told him I would be gone by that time, but that it was a pleasure to meet him.
Sunday, June 13, 2010
Walter
The other man we met in Civic Center Park was 62 year old Walter. I could have sworn that he was 45, maybe, but then again, he could have sworn that I was only 16. Surprise, surprise. He says he looks so young because he used to run every day at least 10 miles or so.
Like Manny, Walter is a Vietnam War veteran. I later found out that one in every four single homeless persons is a Vietnam veteran, and that slowly, Afghanistan veterans are joining them. Vietnam veterans are so, how do I say it, popular, because the war they fought in wasn't. They already got negative flack for being in a war most of America didn't want them to fight, but then they came back to a not-so-great economy too. Two strikes against them.
The third strike was that these young men were drafted at the age they should/could have been going to college. When they came back, they had been educated in another way, and probably didn't want any more.
Walter was kind. He talked about his daily routine of hitting up a coffee shop with the change he had collected the day before, and then waiting at a street corner. He appreciated us taking the time to feed him, to talk with him and to pray for him. He returned the favor of prayer before telling us that he was going to take a nap now. I like the way he thinks!
Like Manny, Walter is a Vietnam War veteran. I later found out that one in every four single homeless persons is a Vietnam veteran, and that slowly, Afghanistan veterans are joining them. Vietnam veterans are so, how do I say it, popular, because the war they fought in wasn't. They already got negative flack for being in a war most of America didn't want them to fight, but then they came back to a not-so-great economy too. Two strikes against them.
The third strike was that these young men were drafted at the age they should/could have been going to college. When they came back, they had been educated in another way, and probably didn't want any more.
Walter was kind. He talked about his daily routine of hitting up a coffee shop with the change he had collected the day before, and then waiting at a street corner. He appreciated us taking the time to feed him, to talk with him and to pray for him. He returned the favor of prayer before telling us that he was going to take a nap now. I like the way he thinks!
Saturday, June 12, 2010
Manny Ramirez
I can't believe it's taken me this long to write here again. Perhaps this summer will help change things.
I finally thought of a specific person to write about, but now a flood of others comes to mind as I remember the purpose of this blog. I shall start with Manny, and then hopefully I'll get around to the others.
Manny was sitting in Civic Center Park. He loves the Rockies, and was listening to the game when I and three junior high types came and offered him a sandwich. He gladly took it and then I asked if we could sit and talk with him.
"Oh no, I'm okay," he said.
"Are you sure?" I asked. "We'd love to get to know you."
He paused. "You couldn't handle me. I would just pick your brain."
"Well bring it," I responded by sitting indian style before him.
Dramatic pause. "All right then," Manny said. "Who is God?"
Dramatic pause again. I thought about what his angle might be. Was he just trying to pick a fight? Was he a hardcore atheist who knew we were church people and wanted to deflate us? Or was he truly questioning?
I admit to being afraid at this point especially because of the three kids with me. I didn't want this to get messy. I just wanted to encourage, and to show how you can get to know strangers. So I began to talk about how I believed that God made the world. I talked about the first two people on the earth and how they messed up, but that God cared so much about people that he sent Jesus to--
"Oh good," Manny interrupted. "I was just making sure you knew. I believe that too!"
Enter sigh of relief. From there the conversation was about who this man was and what life for him was like. As he wore shiny Aviators, I asked if he would take them off so we could see his eyes. They were a light brown, and his face sort of had an ape look to it. He was wiping tears from his eyes.
"Can I ask you to pray for something for me?" he asked.
"Of course," all four of us said in unison.
Manny's girlfriend had just passed away a couple months ago. Recently he's really been struggling with the loss as they had been close friends for twelve years by the point of her death. He hasn't had many he could talk to about it, and he told us that our presence meant so much to him. "You give me a chance to talk about what's been burning inside me," he said.
"I know God loves me though," he said. "A lot of hard things have happened to me lately, but God has also given me the opportunity to finally live in a home again." Manny will be living in Section 8 housing within the next couple of weeks.
Manny also talked about his few belongings. His bike was propped up against the nearby tree, and he had a backpack with a pair of clothes.
"I also carry around my Bible, the book of Mormon, and Harry Potter," he said.
My mind raced. Uh-oh.
"Why do you have the book of Mormon?" I pried.
"Oh, they come around here all the time. I have it so that they won't give me another one and won't bother me. If they think I believe the crap they do, then they leave me alone."
Sorry, but this moment definitely deserves a chuckle. Well said!
But the best moment, well, other than the fact that we prayed as a group (holding hands) not once but twice, was the time where Manny was sharing something from the Bible that he loved. He was mid-sentence when he said, "Excuse me," got up, and peed at a nearby tree. When he sat down he picked back up right where he started. That takes skill!
Any way, I met Manny Ramirez, 54, and that is my story. Pray for him as he is preparing to pull his life together after the loss of a loved one. He hopes that getting housing will help him get prepared to go back to college.
I finally thought of a specific person to write about, but now a flood of others comes to mind as I remember the purpose of this blog. I shall start with Manny, and then hopefully I'll get around to the others.
Manny was sitting in Civic Center Park. He loves the Rockies, and was listening to the game when I and three junior high types came and offered him a sandwich. He gladly took it and then I asked if we could sit and talk with him.
"Oh no, I'm okay," he said.
"Are you sure?" I asked. "We'd love to get to know you."
He paused. "You couldn't handle me. I would just pick your brain."
"Well bring it," I responded by sitting indian style before him.
Dramatic pause. "All right then," Manny said. "Who is God?"
Dramatic pause again. I thought about what his angle might be. Was he just trying to pick a fight? Was he a hardcore atheist who knew we were church people and wanted to deflate us? Or was he truly questioning?
I admit to being afraid at this point especially because of the three kids with me. I didn't want this to get messy. I just wanted to encourage, and to show how you can get to know strangers. So I began to talk about how I believed that God made the world. I talked about the first two people on the earth and how they messed up, but that God cared so much about people that he sent Jesus to--
"Oh good," Manny interrupted. "I was just making sure you knew. I believe that too!"
Enter sigh of relief. From there the conversation was about who this man was and what life for him was like. As he wore shiny Aviators, I asked if he would take them off so we could see his eyes. They were a light brown, and his face sort of had an ape look to it. He was wiping tears from his eyes.
"Can I ask you to pray for something for me?" he asked.
"Of course," all four of us said in unison.
Manny's girlfriend had just passed away a couple months ago. Recently he's really been struggling with the loss as they had been close friends for twelve years by the point of her death. He hasn't had many he could talk to about it, and he told us that our presence meant so much to him. "You give me a chance to talk about what's been burning inside me," he said.
"I know God loves me though," he said. "A lot of hard things have happened to me lately, but God has also given me the opportunity to finally live in a home again." Manny will be living in Section 8 housing within the next couple of weeks.
Manny also talked about his few belongings. His bike was propped up against the nearby tree, and he had a backpack with a pair of clothes.
"I also carry around my Bible, the book of Mormon, and Harry Potter," he said.
My mind raced. Uh-oh.
"Why do you have the book of Mormon?" I pried.
"Oh, they come around here all the time. I have it so that they won't give me another one and won't bother me. If they think I believe the crap they do, then they leave me alone."
Sorry, but this moment definitely deserves a chuckle. Well said!
But the best moment, well, other than the fact that we prayed as a group (holding hands) not once but twice, was the time where Manny was sharing something from the Bible that he loved. He was mid-sentence when he said, "Excuse me," got up, and peed at a nearby tree. When he sat down he picked back up right where he started. That takes skill!
Any way, I met Manny Ramirez, 54, and that is my story. Pray for him as he is preparing to pull his life together after the loss of a loved one. He hopes that getting housing will help him get prepared to go back to college.
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