Guatemala cont.

Well, time has passed and a new year has arrived!! I started a continuation of Guatemala and lost it....I guess I am starting over. This year I am starting over as well. I am hoping to send my teenager to Tewantin-Queensland Austalia. This adventure is with Teen Missions Int'l in Merritt Island Florida. They have the 2 weeks of boot camp and then the teens go to their chosen Country/mission. This one happens to be a skateboard team. The teens will help with various jobs around the bibleschool and spend their afternoons at the local skateparks with the Aussie teens-youth. They get to hold competitions and barbeques. How fun to share Jesus and enjoy your passion while you're doing that! My son loves skateboarding and expressing himself. He is struggling right now with his faith and self confidence. I know being with other teens also stuggling, will give him a chance he otherwise might not get, to find God for himself. I know it won't be easy, it will be downright hard to adjust to spending 8 weeks with teens you just met, becoming a team, depending on each other, learning you are not on the throne..... God is a personal God. We generalize Him because we really don't know Him. Once He gets personal in your life, you really begin to grown in Him. I am giving up doing things "my way." I haven't gotten any further these last years than losing my job amd watching a decline of satisfaction in myself and what I am doing to help my son in his growth. I am working but not at what I enjoy and talented in. God is pushing me out of my safety zone and the only way is by Faith....Noone really understands, they even try to stop you but the voice calling me out is stronger than the fears of failing. I haven't signed on the dotted line yet, but going as an assistant leader, is getting more and more desirable to do. My son is feeling the nervous panicky feeling like he should run from it all instead of running to God.

Christmas can be exciting and it can be a a painful reminder of what you left behind. Brandon spent Christmas with his sister and her husband. He also visited his dad and grandma and other relatives.
His sister is overcoming her life of addictions she never understood until now. Brandon had to see how his dad just gave up trying and his life is behind closed doors living in a world of darkness and alcohol. He can make a choice and pick himself up and get the help he needs, or remain in the destitute state of emptiness.... Brandon knows he is talented, creative, can do all things thru Christ so why not give it your best shot! He has ridden his dirtbike with the adults on trails and the testosterone ladden men couldn't keep up with or at least couldn't pass Brandon. Now that Brandon has hit puberty he has strengths that give him a feeling of boundless energy! I always tell him no matter if he is snowboarding, dirtbiking or skateboarding be asking for grace that you don't have any accidents!

Teenagers are so difficult to raise by yourself. It seems they can be defensive, sensitive, rebellious and loving all at the same time.... I can only hope for something in his young life to give him the identity he is seeking but in a uplifting way. There are no "geeks", "jocks", or "nerds" just different kids expressing themselves. My daughter used to stick up for the underdog to the point of defending a little 85lb. girl in front of a class of rich defiant girls. They were looking for a fight but would have to get thru my Jessica to get to the girl they wanted to harm. Colorado is good for problem charter schools. My son will not get to experience that, thank God! So, my solution is to get a teenager to join Brandon on this adventure that doesn't mind rules and has a desire to get away from home... I have just the nephew, God willing, in mind. I may go just to keep it all together. I have learned all to well how plans not securely made, unravel all too fast. We have to raise money before June 2008, but then again faith can move mountains. This last Christmas I felt blessed by alot of clients who just wanted to give, I really have never recieved so many generous tips from working class people that just wanted to give. I realize self sacrifice really isn't sacrifice at all. Every time I give for a good reason it just comes back to me! Giving of yourself you only get blessed in seeing the fruit in someone else's life. So Brandon, this one's for you.......