Jamaica

Altotonga, Mexico -- About 15 minutes ago, I determined that my gas tank is about empty. How did I come to that conclusion? Well, my hot shower was a lukewarm shower. So, I went downstairs to see if my juice I was making was done, and in the process confirmed my hypothesis. The flame on the stove was lower than I can get the "low flame" to go. So, I hope my juice is done.

Off-hand fact... did you know that the island nation of Jamaica is named after a flower? Yes, indeed. It's named after the flower "jamaica" (habiscus)-- pronounced huh-my-kuh, which is a reddish color, and when its dried petals are boiled makes a juice. The juice is really bitter, until you add some sugar. Then, it's pretty good. Anyway, it's a popular drink here and I believe even Propel water has a jamaica flavored drink.

Anywho, back to what is more interesting than drinks and cold showers. These last two weeks have been very complicated. I won't really get into that, other than to say it's definitely kept my head very busy thinking. Chris says thinking is good for you. I just reply that I'm getting too good at it.

I have had the opportunity to have some really good conversations with unexpected girls. There's a particular girl, who's 17, sweetest thing-- I'm thinking she may be ready to start a discipleship process. We made that "click" and she's accepted Christ. But there's another aspect that I need to gauge first. Perhaps it may not make sense reading this, but the situation is one that needs it. Anywho, I'm planning on taking her out for coffee next Wednesday night, which she doens't know yet, but I think tomorrow and Sunday will give a good clue.

With Rosa, who I continue to disciple, we had a great talk last Wednesday afternoon. It's hard to get with her anymore because she's dating Aaron, Chris's son. But she maintains her walk, and I'm proud of her for all the many difficult situations she's made it through since becoming a Christian. Maybe I'll try to get an interview with her on video for everyone. Anyhow, we were talking about 1 Timothy 4 and got onto the baptism of the Holy Spirit. We're getting ready to go into that study, and I'm excited to see what God's going to do with her!

I also have talked to one of the youth leaders and we're working on putting together a website for the youth here. It'll have everything from pictures and calendars of events to blogs and spaces for ideas and blah blah blah. He's showed me the prelim stuff he has, and the page looks great. So, I've been working on writing blogs about stuff that teenagers deal with-- and have enlisted the help of Chris. It's a long job-- each blog takes about 1 hour, for something quality. I'm mostly using a book by Josh McDowell-- The Handbook on Counseling Youth. So, we're writing blogs on everything from drugs and alcohol to anorexia/bulimia (which I'm currently working on) and guilt and inattentive parents and unexpected pregnancy. So, I'm excited to launch this new effort to reach kids with the Gospel. Kids here, well, I guess back home too, are always online. But anyhow, we want to give kids a place that they can look for help with dealing with problems that they might be ashamed to admit to. And it's not just a social site-- this website is very evangelistical in nature. I'm doing blogs on "what is salvation for/is it necesary?" and "understanding God's love" and will be posting what we talk about on Saturdays for the blogs. So, it's not a socialistic outreach. Julio, who's working on the website, is going to do a blog on "Does God exist?" He's very good on philosophical issues. So, he'll get to participate in the content, not just the design and maintenance.

Anywho. Well, I'm gonna go. I'm going to try to finish this one blog I'm working on. And, I just realized that I have to finish a video for tomorrow. But that shouldn't take too long. And I need to be ready at 8am tomorrow because the gas truck passes around at 8am sharp. I really hate having to buy gas. What I hate about it is that the poor guy has to climb up to the roof. Up one, two flights of stairs. And then, up a narrow spiral staircase, that gives me like an inch on each side of my hips. And he has to drag a really heavy tank up there. Like I said, I always feel bad asking the guy to do that. But he'll get a good tip. It would be very wrong not to tip. Anywho, back to work I go.