Well it’s about time for another post!
Everything is going well here up in the sticks of Santa Cruz. God continues to be faithful, we continue to need his faithfulness, and I go surfing whenever I can.
Easter was great. We invited over twenty people up to the Ranch and, I think, 19 people showed up. It was amazing to see the diversity of people who showed up. We had a 22yr old co-worker of mine, a guy who works for Adobe, his PhD wife (evolutionary Biology), their two kids, two of Rachel’s Latino co-workers, the boss and family of Rachel’s other job, our white Native American neighbors (we met them through a Salsa outreach, a retired contractor and his girlfriend/wife(?) who gives us free firewood (we give him free coffee), and two Christians from a popular local church who were amazed at the amount of people we met in such a short period of time. The PhD got right to business asking me “so you’re the pastor of the church?” I wanted to talk with her, and am sure I will, since we believe radically different things. I know she wants to help me with my erroneous superstition, and Lord knows I’m always willing to be helped. I guess we’ll keep giving her Holy Spirit infused Salsa! Take that! The 22yr old and I had some great conversation. He was blown away we are a church and I’m the pastor. Why is it that so many people are surprised I’m a pastor? I should be nicer I guess. Anyways, I told him all about our church, what we want to do, who we worship, why we worship, etc. He was intrigued, so we’ll see what happens. Our next meal will be an Indian dinner for our college student babysitters and anyone else.
Surfing has been great. I invited somebody from the Coffee shop to go, and he was stoked to learn how to surf. Most surfers don’t want anyone else to learn how to surf, since that would mean less waves for the, so finding someone who wants to take you surfing, has the equipment, and will teach you is a treat. Laben and I invited him again this last Friday, but he go another job. Sounds like we need to start surfing on another day.
We are having an ISI (International Students Inc.) training night at our house Sunday. Peggy, who leads the ministry, will come up with one of her students, and anyone else, to teach us how to hang out with international folks. After we go through the training we can all get an international friend, whom we are then supposed to share God’s love with. Hello!! Alana already has a friend named Mimi from China. I was joking that we could start a Sunday service downtown and have the team and 20 Chinese students. Janine and Alana are getting more involved with this. Janine is excited to go shopping in San Jose with the students and then have them over for a Jesus Feast. We’ll see where all this goes, but Peggy is pretty cool and she wants to see international students see God’s love. Square hole, meet my friend square peg; I think you’ll get along.
The job scene is working out. Here’s where I work Mon-Thur (4-10’s). I’m the grunt worker, but I don’t have to do a lot of crazy stuff (I did move 5000lbs of bricks before lunch). I get paid $35hr, which is clearly too much, but it’s helping out around here. Amazingly I still wonder what God is going to do after this job! I think, “Cool God, 2007 is a wrap, but what about 2008?” Oh, my little wandering heart.
I’m the youngest guy on the job (everyone’s over 50), which makes things really interesting. They used to call me Lad, but now I have a new nickname: Preacher! Believe it or not, but I’ve always wanted that nickname because of one of my favorite movies: Pale Rider starring Clint Eastwood. He rides a white horse and is called Preacher. He was one bad dude.
Anyways, the one guy who drives me nuts always asks me what I preached on. “So, Preacher, what’d you preach on yesterday?” I just go for it and tell him everything I spoke on, sharing the gospel with him. What’s more is Laben and I are going to go Kayak fishing with him; a relationship has started.
Jeff got a job with Bethany University as the manager of their bookstore. On his first day he runs into a guy who went to high school with Jeff. Jeff takes him out to lunch and ministers to him. Since Jeff is a surfer now it sounds like they’re gonna’ hit the waves pretty soon.
Anyways, still don’t know what God’s gonna’ do, but from the looks of it, he’s gonna’ do what he’s always wanted to do through a bunch of misfits like us. And remember: Early morning+strong coffee+the Bible+the Holy Spirit=a great perspective on an otherwise typical day!
Blessings.
