Imperishable Inheritance

Ok, well a short update. We have started the leg of the project, following Perspectives, that focuses on various world religions and some other miscellaneous topics. First, we learned about chronological Bible teaching and spiritual warfare. In Bridges, we did Chronological Bible teaching, but we didn't do it nearly as thoroughly as the speaker described. It took him almost a year to get through the gospel! He answered criticism to the idea that it takes to long by saying that God took 4,000 years, and he is right! We heard a speaker on spiritual warfare who was very charismatic. I've often heard the topic of spiritual warfare, but he was very explicit in how he described demonic possession. It just kinda freaked me out.

Then we went to the Mosque, and they actually let us go into the prayer room (called a "musjeet" phonetically, but I don't know the exact spelling). We went on Friday, which is their holiday day, during their "holy" service in the early afternoon. The Imam did a Q & A, and he managed to contradict himself at least half a dozen times. We also went to a Hare Krishna temple, which I had never even heard of that religion before this trip. It is a cult of Hinduism, and the service was really freaky. We also had a Q & A, and the guy who talked to us tried to get us to do the Hare Krishna chant which they recite over 1,700 times a day! They are truly devoted to their faith, and they would be awesome Christians (no fake believers there).

I got to see my dad also. He came out to do some work, and we got to hang out of and on for three days. He went to our weekly service, and he also went on our community night (we went glow-in-the-dark putt putt golfing!). Him and I then went down to San Diego by ourselves stopping by Venice Beach to walk around (I wanted to see the muscle beach). We went to a great Thai restaurant in downtown San Diego, which is very beautiful for a big city downtown, and then he dropped me off at a church we stayed at.

At that church we did a tribal focus where we met a guy who went to an unreached people group, the Iteri tribe, in Papua New Guinea. He spent twenty years there translating the Bible and teaching the Word. It was so inspiring. And he also gave me some encouraging words as to the acceptance I've received from certain members of my family. He also taught us how to surf; well, he tried to show me, but I just kept falling off. And I also managed to get burned all along my chest and tops of my arms/shoulders. I know, you're envious.

What else? Oh yes, I went to Tijuana for my small group weekend; and it was a dump. But I can say that I've been to Mexico! On the way back up I got to visit Christy Thede who is staying in San Diego for the summer. It was neat to see her 4,000 miles away from where I met her!

Lastly, I miss my family. Perry sent me a great card that brightened my week! It has pictures of us growing up, and that is surely a treasure. He got approved to live in the park that we currently are with Miriam (a new home). It'll be weird to go back, and help my brother move out on his own. Wow, I have to plan a bachelor party when I get back.

My significant other I miss terribly. I look forward to coming back and seeing her again. It was very weird to start a relationship and only a month into it be gone for 50 days. I now have 10 days left until I see her again. It's definitely been a challenge working this out so far away, but it looks as though we might actually make it. I wasn't sure it was going to last at some points of the trip, but we somehow made it through. I just miss being close to her. ~sigh~