What I did this summer...

Sorry it's been a while since I've blogged.  I love the start of the school year.  But it is hectic.

So, here are some thoughts on the recently concluded summer break:

- Four medals for USA Volleyball (3 golds, 1 silver).  The gold medal match of for the men's indoor tournament has to be one of the best of all time.  Hugh McCutcheon modeled the reward that is possible when we endure in trial.

- Steubenville San Diego was special.  Special because God was there.  Special because He made us all one.

- I'm going to be an uncle.  That's pretty cool.

But, by far the highlight was going to the Dominican Republic on "vacation".  There are no words I can use to accurately describe how God jolted me for eight days so that I could see His face clearly and without distraction.  However, this video that the Holy Spirit helped me put together may give you a small glimpse of how He re-affirmed for me true meaning of being blessed.

C'mon ride the train

When I was a student at UCSD, the only way I could get to my parent's house in Glendale was by train. As an impetuous 18 year old, I hated giving up my power as a driver to sit in a mode of transportation that I thought was for old people.

Well now that I am older and maturer, and because gas is so expensive, and because Friday rush hour traffic is ridiculous, I have selected the old people transportation to go home this weekend.

What a great decision I made!

I get to enjoy the view of the beach, work on my Mission trip video and not stress. Sounds like a good gig to me.

My family and I will be celebrating, well, family this weekend. That's reason enough to have a party, huh?

Call me Uncle Pat

My family is about to have a new addition. My brother Andrew (the one in the middle without hair) and sister-in-law Grace (the other one in the middle WITH hair and the white dress) are expecting their first child!

This makes me very happy!

We pray for the healthy development of the baby and that our family will prepare our hearts to love unconditionally.

Oh happy day

I am a huge fan of the Olympics.  These are some of my highlights so far:

• Gymnastics is ridiculous.  Like X Games ridiculous.  Some of the tricks the dudes do now are unreal.
  
• Michael Phelps is a beast.  Hopefully he'll be as good as a sober driver as he is in the pool.
  
• Team USA Men's Basketball looks good.
  
• Volleyball in all it's forms is my favorite sport.  Maybe because I used to play.  Maybe because all the US teams will contend for medals.
  

Here's a silly video from my mission trip to the DR:

But, this is the best news of the day for me: I now live exactly 8 minutes from an Apple Store!!!!!!

Why Crossroads

I'm listening to a live version of "Why Georgia" right now. This may not seem that out of the ordinary. But I have not turned on my iPod for twelve days.

And the funny thing is that I haven't missed it.

For the last twelve days I have been part missionary, part retreatant, part student of true joy.

Thanks to the Maloys, Blake Wagner and the people at the Crossroads ministry, we worked among the poor Haitian refugees of the Dominican Republic.

I'll be posting more about our adventures in ministry this week.

But you should know this. I understand now why God prefers the poor. Because in poverty, God's mercy can flow.

My life will not be the same after this trip. The Haitians may have wanted material things from me. But I want something from them: joy in poverty.

Why Crossroads,why...

Blessed are the poor

Our days of rest and relaxation end today. We're packing up our stuff and headed to Crossroads to begin our week of missionary work with the poor of the Dominican Republic.

I'm praying for lots of humility this week so that all 24 people in our group, especially me, can encounter the face of God in the other. And that we will all be changed. For the better.

That we may rejoice in knowing our spiritual poverty, and how blessed indeed that we may be.

Blessed Mother Teresa, pray for us.