San Felipe and back again

So last week was Spring Break (don't panic mom and dad, it's only a henna tattoo!). It was a good break. One day we even got to serve a local missionary by helping him move as after 7 years he has to move back to the US to be with family in poor health. (His name is Bob if you want to keep him in your prayers as it is a hard time for him to leave his ministry and move on.) I got to hang out with some precious people but a lot of stress has still been on my heart lately with school. One of my friends is in the same position I am, but he has joined the army knowing his scholarship is gone.

I am trying everything I can to stay at ASU next year and study hard. This is going to be an intense week for me. Yesterday morning my hardrive crashed so Katy drove me around to buy me a new one and after over 6 hours I finally am back up and running for my classes tomorrow. So for the past year I have been reading straight through the Bible and last week I was at II Kings 23:22-23. I love how immedietly as Josiah hears from the Book of the Law he takes action right away as his eyes are enlightened. Talk about Ecc. 5:4 and not delaying when making a vow to God! Josiah took action on what he knew to be true and he didn't waste a minuate in it! This is the focus I am praying for as this semester goes on. I still have 2 tests, 2 presentations, 2 photo assignments, art sketches, a critique, the study for the girl I am discipling, and preparing for next weeks tests in the next few days alone. But i am aware of the situation I am in and need to keep at it. A friend of mine actually complemented me the other day as I walked her to my car about my ability to know what I need to do and doing it. It was nice to know people can see my heart and how much I yearn to stay in the land I love here in Tempe. Funny...two years ago I would've never dreamed those words would come from my mouth! I love the way God works...sometimes i wish he'd give me a sneak peak at the future though!

Here is a photo of Katy in my amazing cowboy hat missionary Bob gave me, DJ, myself, Heather, and Sara Bedient. Mexico really was a good time to just relax and get to know the freshman girls better!

every fork has its day

i would just like the world to know, this is the end result of the Goliath fork. But alas, the hot glue was too much for my poor skin to handle, so Nurse Katy came to the aide. I guess Dr. Garcia doesn't make out of state calls. But my finger is bandaged and hope of pain decreasing is at last here.

Did i mention there are only 3 more days to San Felipe? I think i can sleep well tonight.

wisdom is knowing what time it is...ecc. 3

I haven't posted on the blog in a while becasue i am so confussed and wondering i don't know what to do right now.

Psalm 27:14 says, "Wait for the LORD; be strong and take heart and wait for the LORD."

I love how God gets the fact that we don't get it. The first and last thing in this verse is to wait on the LORD. We tend to like the being strong part and the taking heart but the waiting...not so much. And yet God has to put it in one verse twice! Just as he talked to Moses about freeing his people, God reminds Moses the staff is in his hand. God constantly tells me, i'm here, right here. I'm accesable for you and want to work through things and future plans with you. Just relax.

But it's hard to do when you are left waiting.

I'm tired of giving things up to God and then pulling the little kid routine pulling on his pant leg asking him to let me in on His plans. I wish the whole waiting thing were easier.

I have built a monster...

9 feet and 10 inches. The fork structure is finished. I bought 7 cans of spray paint so my weekend will be spent transporting the beast across campus to the paint booth before the final photo shoot. Not quite as large as Golaith but i will still call the fork by that name!

Myers-Briggs. INFP

Based on the answers you submitted, the program has determined your personality type. It is important to confirm these results using the buttons below the picture. INFP.
I - Introversion
N - Intuition
F - Feeling
P - Perception

General Description:INFPs value harmony and want their work, friends and home to reflect this value. INFPs are quiet and adaptable. They will not easily share their inner self (or their sense of humour) with others unless they have built a trusting relationship with them. INFPs are creative and complex so they get bored quickly by routine jobs. Career Insights:INFPs need to believe in their work; they need their work to reflect their values of harmony, unity and friendship. Their careers often reflect their ability to improve other people's lives through verbal skills. They work best when they have the freedom to respond creatively to the needs of the moment for short periods of time. The type of careers that honour these traits include fine arts, counselling, writing, teaching (art, music and drama), library work and entertainment.

attempting to figure things out...

James 1:2-6 --Consider it pure joy, my brothers, whenever you face trials of many kinds, because you know that the testing of your faith develops perseverance. Perseverance must finish its work so that you may be mature and complete, not lacking anything. If any of you lacks wisdom, he should ask God, who gives generously to all without finding fault, and it will be given to him. But when he asks, he must believe and not doubt, because he who doubts is like a wave of the sea, blown and tossed by the wind.

So i've always enjoyed the book of James. My New Testament professor was always eager to remind us that it is 'an epistle of straw!', but that doesn't mean i agree with him. I'm at this point in life where I am asking God for something and I just have to keep the faith and believe it is all going to work out. That's a hard thing to do. I feel like i keep giving up my burden to God and telling him to take it away but as He does I am pulling on his pant leg like a little child asking him to let me in on what His will is for my life and what my future holds. This isn't who at faith is supposed to look like. But it's hard to just let God work as we blindly follow. But i keep trying to remind myself that 'the Christian life is like driving at night. you can only see as far as the headlights reach but you can make the entire trip that way.' And we still do have directions. God has given us His word to instruct us and teach us. To encourage us and remind us of His promises. That doesn't mean life will be easy. It doesn't mean everything is going to work it out as I want. But it means i'm safe. I'm accepted. I'm loved and cared for. I know He knows what's best for me but I have to trust in that knowledge and believe, truly believe, that if He wants me to remain at ASU next year i'll be here and there is nothing i can do to stop that. I pray that is His will.

"if sin was blue, we'd all be smurfs!"

so it looks like i'm not going to pine cove for the summer after-all. I wonder if maybe God doesn't want me there because it is still within my comfort zone. Working with mid-schoolers and photography at a place i love. I was thinking about that last week and decided i'd be ok with whatever answer God provided. So after seeing Katy's play again and a venture to Sonic, I walked in the door and checked my e-mail first thing. I saw the address was from pine cove and prayed mentally that'd i'd be ok with whatever the e-mail said. maybe it is the little pessism in me but i wasn't too shocked it said no. less than 25% of the applications were needed. I pray God uses the counslers there for His glory for i know i am not there for some reason.

So now the question is...what's next? I'm currently looking for a job in Arizona. I will be moving into a house most likely in May but i am fine if God wants me to take some time off and serve him. The oppotunity to go to Russia has been on the table for almost 2 years now and i think i may look more and pray more into it. I am also thinking about a nav trip to Turkey. I have no idea anymore. time to wait. Normally when you think of a time to do something you think that you have to take action right then. Like, time to go to work or time to get up or eat. But no, God says it's time to wait. Time to trust. Time to pray.

Perspectives on Missions

Last night at Navs was really an awakening experience for me. Sometimes I forget the things I truly value and care about in life. I get distracted from my heart's passions. I think my senses just needed to be dulled by the world in order for me to be awakened. There were four people from a group called The Traveling Team that spoke. The last time i heard from teh traveling team was the closing night of my Perspectives course my Junior year of high school. It was the night everyone finally figured out I wsan't in college but high school. I was deciding about Holland at the time. Todd Aaron (I find it so weird that i can actually remember his name!) spoke on taking what we learned in the course from head to heart and talked about a lot of reasons why people don't go into missions. Reasons such as fund-raising is not anti-biblical but anti-american. As well as people's different roles in missions as a go-er, supporter, mobilizer, and prayer warrior. I've always wondered which one I am. I could see myself in various areas at various times. I used to be on the youth missions sub-committee at Crossroads and i loved getting to talk to different missionaries and see what God was doing in the world. I missed that. I need an outlet for this rediscovered passion of mine.
I've had the typical problems that college students deal with...majors. I am a photography major and i like it for what it is but i don't like having to fit my work into the genre of fine art and being knocked if i tell my reasoning and purpose behind a photo in a photojournalistic manner. I've had the issue of dealing with the tyranny of the urgent and giving things in my life importances they really don't carry. So I've had to ask myself where my passion truly lies...i know it is people..i've always known that. But now, this important NavNite has sparked an idea. I have been blessed with lots of facts and informations on God's heart for the world. Who am i to keep it to myself? So I am praying about starting a 'mission's course' for siblings here at ASU. I don't know what it will look like and yet i am sure this is what needs to be done. I ask for prayers and support. If you want to help...my funds as a college student are limited and we would like to go through a few books together including Operation World and possibly God's Heart for the Nations. If you would like to help by providing these you can send them to my address here in Arizona. I would like to start within the next few weeks. For as Ecc. 5:4 says, "when you make a vow to God, do not delay in fulfilling it." So i am jumping into the pool headfirst and working not for God, but with Him in this. I couldn't be more joyful about this. This subject matter just really excites me.

The Wager

Let me start of by saying that i have some amazingly talented friends.

Ryan's clarinet recital and then val's percussion concert and today, Katy's musical. It was really cool to see it all come together. In two more days The Wager's worldwide premier will come to a close, but today it was all onstage and alive! It was really amazing to see my friend happy in her element. Plus she has an amazing voice so it was a treat to be in the audience anyway! I do have to admit, I am looking forward to having my friend back around though. After all, where is a Carlos without a Joe close by!

The Day After Valentines...

and what an interesting day it has been!

Today hasn't been ridiculous but it has been odd. I accomplished a lot and saw both my honors and photography advisors. I left class early on the verge of death but managed to make it through my next course before coming back to the room and getting a phone call from someone i haven't heard from in a month or so. I found out how this person's life is doing and their future goals. It was a nice chat, granted a little awkward but nice. Then, after watching the office and grey's i just feel antsy. Have you ever felt that way? You have done stuff for the day and accomplished a lot and yet it feels like you still have a ton of energy to burn! *sigh* i don't know. Maybe it's time for a shower. too bad Ultimate frisbee isn't on Thursdays too!

Photographer: Alicia D. Garcia

I got my first cover of the State Press Special publications in the school paper today! i know it may sound a little selfish but i really enjoy seeing my name in print. Granted, the paycheck isn't bad either but i love writting and photographing knowing it isn't just for an assignment but for people to see. As a result of the publication, i recieved 2 e-mails today asking me to work for them as a photographer. I said yes to one and will be organizing the photos for the walter cronkite village! My first major test of the semester is tomorrow! Then another wed, monday and tuesday! Pray for diligence in studying and remembering what i need to!

I read this verse the other day and i truly enjoy it.

Moses said to the LORD, "You have been telling me, 'Lead these people,' but you have not let me know whom you will send with me. You have said, 'I know you by name and you have found favor with me.' If you are pleased with me, teach me your ways so I may know you and continue to find favor with you. Remember that this nation is your people."

Ex. 33:12-13

scrub-a-dub dub

Jesus answered, "A person who has had a bath needs only to wash his feet; his whole body is clean. And you are clean, though not every one of you." John 13:10

Do you remember the last time you scrubbed your feet? I mean went away at them with a bar of soap to get every last piece of dirt off? Do you remember the last time you showered? A little bit of a different time span I assume. I don't remember the last time i truly scrubbed away before tonight. I went through John 13 with the Navs talking about servanthood. But Peter has always stuck out to me as i feel like him at times. Getting to be so blessed by God and then not living up to my full potential. Letting that bit of dirt get between the skin of my foot and holy ground. God's love and acceptance is unconditional. There is nothing we can do to change who he is yet we try to picture Him with our broken, human definitions that can't even fathom perfection.

So we scrub.

We try to get a picture of God from His word and our relationship with him. We take a snap-shot but cannot even decided where to start taking our 2-d image and transforming it into a 3-d animation.

So we stare.

We remember the good old times and try to see past the muck we shove in our own eyes to see something better. To see God's glory in our lives.

i'm a xanga person

check my xanga for the latest update. www.xanga.com/frizbe21

nope

i couldn't make it to church last sunday. we pulled up and i lost it so we turned around and drove home. i need time.

oddities but awesomeness of life

hello everyone. i know it's been a while since i've updated the blog since i am turning more and more to xanga but i didn't want you to feel left out. things are interesting int he way God works. I started questioning whether ideas are God-inspired in my life and just as i began to doubt my ASU Navs to Holland in summer 2008 idea. I get a call from one fo the Nav evangelism leaders basically saying it's on and the Navs have had God put that area on their hearts. How cool is God. seriously.

Quotes

It is interesting to find books such as Psalms or Songs of Solomon in the Bible. They are so poetic they are inserted so out of place.

Jesus was not all that original

-Dr. Emerson Prof. of ASU Religious Studies 371 New Testament Class




on a lighter note..this one from Ariel Hays, "America is the land of anti-persperant"

But the voice of truth..tells me a diff. story...

I've been bying into lies since coming back here to ASU. I listened to voices telling me I haven't grown and should've gone elsewhere instead of Holland. I'm being told my 24/7 scheduale still isn't enough. I'm being told because one of my friends reads the Bible faster than I that I am inadequate. I am being told who i thought was my close friend was really just looking for someone better than I all along. I'm being told to be liked I must act differently than I feel. I'm being told nothing is of value that i do and i am not good at or for anything. I am being told i have been foolish thinking people would even bother to care for me.

I know it's all lies in my head but sometimes my heart says otherwise...just stick with me guys as i work through it. This song by Casting Crowns is my plea right now. I'm feeling like no one gets me for me and perhaps that is because i don't even get me right now or why i say things i don't really want to say.
----------
Oh what I would do to have
The kind of faith it takes
To climb out of this boat I'm in
Onto the crashing waves

To step out of my comfort zone
Into the realm of the unknown where Jesus is
And He's holding out His hand

But the waves are calling out my name
And they laugh at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The waves they keep on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy, you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

Chorus:
But the voice of truth tells me a different story
The voice of truth says, "Do not be afraid!"
The voice of truth says, "This is for My glory"
Out of all the voices calling out to me
I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Oh what I would do to have
The kind of strength it takes to stand before a giant
With just a sling and a stone
Surrounded by the sound of a thousand warriors
Shaking in their armor
Wishing they'd have had the strength to stand

But the giant's calling out my name
And he laughs at me
Reminding me of all the times
I've tried before and failed
The giant keeps on telling me
Time and time again. "Boy you'll never win!"
"You'll never win!"

But the stone was just the right size
To put the giant on the ground
And the waves they don't seem so high
From on top of them lookin' down
I will soar with the wings of eagles
When I stop and listen to the sound of Jesus
Singing over me

I will choose to listen and believe the voice of truth

Holland 2006

while in Holland i will be using the team's site at www.cbcteamholland06.blogspot.com for updating. I may also use the xanga dependant on computer access and how much i have to say. Please pray for the team. Our flight takes off this wed. afternoon. May He continue to bless you each to be a blessing.

Just in case...

In case you still don't know of these awesome sites of mine!

www.staffphotography.com
www.xanga.com/frizbe21

Just in case...

In case you still don't know of these awesome sites of mine!

www.staffphotography.com
www.xanga.com/frizbe21

full swing

let me just say...i really love rain. yeah sure, it is as craig said today, 'proof of the sin of man.' as no rain exisited until The Fall but still. I haven't seen even a hint of rain since before going tp PA over spring break. Katy, Josh, Ryan, Jodi, Amber and I went to In-and-Out and spent the day together with a bunch of Navs.

Tonight there is a storm. Lightning...thunder..flooding. I haven't seen a good storm in over a year and i was in Holland then! Speaking of which...i miss my dutch family. i miss my ASU family too. one of the main things that helps me out right now is looking forward to seeing all of you guys again. Soon?