First Month Back

I’ve been back for almost a month now. It was a little bit of a transition at first and I’m still working out some things like getting a steady job and such. I do have a place to move into soon though which is pretty awesome!! I’ve been working a few side jobs lately. One was tying re-bar mattes for concrete work. It was a pretty good job for the money but short term. I have also helped out my friends dad do some renovating and remodeling work for his duplexes. The past few days I’ve had the opportunity to make some money doing under-layment. That has been really cool. First of all I’m working with my best friend Rolland and the work is kind of fun to do. I like it. I’m really thinking about going back to school. Honestly what I’d really like to do is start my own Photography Studio. That would be sweet. God has been so good to me though. I’m truly blessed with an amazing girlfriend, awesome parents and a truly wonderful brother. My friends are pretty stinking amazing too!!! The thing that has been the hardest since I’ve been back is being consistent with my quiet times. There is so much that distracts me. I could fill my whole day up and not make time for Jesus if i don’t seize each day and take advantage of my time. I do look forward to sharing new stories with all of you about my experiences and travels. I would like to conclude this with saying that I hate flying. I don’t like it, but I’ll do it.

Washington

I’m back in Washington.  I got back here on the 11th of March.  Its been so great to be back home here in this most beautiful place ever.  I love how green it is where i live.  I’m so blessed.  The Lord has blessed me with a side job right away working with my best friend.  Thats awesome.  I lost my wallet the night I picked Nathan up from the airport.  I prayed along with my family and friends and a few days later I got a call from my bank saying that someone dropped my wallet off there.  When i got my wallet there wasn’t anything missing.  What an answer to prayer.  The Lord is so awesome and good at taking care of me even with the small things.

Back in Christchurch NZ

Well its been a while since i last posted.  I flew out of Bangkok Thailand on the 29th of February and Arrived in Christchurch NZ on the 1st of March.  I was so happy to arrive on solid ground and just relax.  I would like to point out i turned 23 when i arrived to NZ.  It was cool.  Going through customs was crazy.  I ended up getting heckled for over an hour.  They searched through all my stuff- every bag was taken apart and all my stuff was on a table as they scavangered through my belongings trying to find something on me.  I figured out they stereotyped me for my dreads.  They kept asking me questions related to drugs.  I was just honest and very patient with them.  I wish i wasn’t so exhausted though when arriving.  They made a cake for me and had some ice cream later that night to celebrate my birthday.  All the teams arrived back except one that arrived the following day.  My whole school minus that one team sang happy birthday to me.  It was rad.  I was so so tired though.  My last week was debrief and I graduated from DTS on Friday.  It was really cool.  Now being graduated I’m in Christchurch with a few buddies hanging out.  I fly out in two days.  Thank you so so much for keeping me in your prayers for those who are.  I just want to say i hate flying so so much.  I get all anxiety like before i fly.  Its horrible because I’m unable to sleep on planes.  I’ll be home soon though.  Thank You.

Kha Phi Phi

I’m south of Thailand right now on one of the Islands.  I’ve been south here for over a week now.  It has been so cool but totally different as well.  I was in “Krabi” for a few days ( beach town in south Thailand) for three days and then our team went to “Ra Leigh” beach ( a cove off of the main land- only way to get there is by boat) which was so cool.  I got to hike to a lagoon there and have met some backbackers from all over the world.  Right now the team is here on “Kao Phi Phi”.  There is a small island in eye sight of us where they filmed the movie “the beach”.   Crazy.  I’ve got to meet different backpackers and am looking forward to more awesome conversations leading into my love for Jesus.  A big thing i’ve found out since i’ve been in thailand is thai boxing.  Its so big here.  Way big.  Well i’ve been able to watch some really cool fights here on the island.  There is a boxing ring in one of the reggae bars here.  We’ve met some cool people while there.  A few days ago was an amazing day for me.  I got to see the snake i’ve wanted to see for three years.  KING COBRA!!  There was a snake show the other night in Ra Leigh.   IT was at night and it was free.  FREE IS SWEET!!  I saw a jumping snake, a 10 foot python, and the King cobra.  There were snake trainers playing with each snake one at a time.  IT was crazy all the stuff they did and how close they would get to them.  It was so unsafe.  THe cobra was so huge.  It had to be ten feet long.  I was so surprise how big it was.  Whats crazy during this whole show is how all these snakes were just trying to get away.  This was the tiniest stage on the beach at night.  I was like right up there in this chair.  Closest one on my team to sit to these snakes.  I like Cobras.  LOL.  Well it was just cool seeing these snakes.  My quiet times with Jesus have been so amazing.  I finished reading Genesis recently.  What an amazing book and story.  Such an awesome book.  I’ve been going through Exodus.  It’s been so awesome.  I love Jesus Christ so so much.  He is so amazing.  The Lord has been teaching me the importance of spending time with him and how faithful he is with bringing people to me when i ask.  The water is so gorgeous here.  Swimming is so amazing.  The fish are sweet too.  I’m suffering for Jesus right now.  :)  I miss everyone and appreciate your prayers.  Praise the Lord.

-Bryan

Cambodia

I’ve been in Cambodia for a few days now. “Siem Reap” is the name of the city i’m at. I would have to call this land the “city of dust”. The streets are so dirt and there is a haze of dust that feels the air like smog. It has been cool to be in a different place and country for the most part. Today we went to the Angkor Waht Temples. It was pretty cool. They are ancient ruins and the largest temples in the world. Lots of pictures i took today. I’ve been doing well. I’ve been going through the book of Genesis. Its been amazing. I also just finished reading a book called “the final quest”. That book was awesome and so encouraging to my spirit. I appreciate all the prayers from family, friends and friends families. Jesus is so amazing.

Khao San RD. Bangkok

I’ve been here in Bangok on khao San RD. for almost five days now. Its been pretty cool meeting new people and watching the Lord work. Last night our team had worship on the roof and two of the girls on our team invited a lady they’ve been hanging out with. It was such an amazing time of worship. I love Jesus Christ so much and what he is doing. I met a man yesterday also who had really long dreads. IT was cool talking to him and so i got my dreads redone by him and gav him some business. The Lord is so faithful and all my trust is in him. I leave soon for cambodia so i’m way stoked. Thankyou so much for the prayers and support.

Chiang Mai

So today is my second day in Chang Mai. It was a 3 1/2 bus ride south from Chiang Rai. This city is huge. Its got over a million people here and is the second largest city in Thailand. I like my room a lot more than the last one i stayed in when in Chaig Rai. The one back there was musty and mildewy which was making me have a runny nose and be sick. Here my room is super clean and i slept so well last night. I met a cool man about my age back in Chiang Rai that I wish i could have spent more time with. He was so cool and ended up being from Hawaii. Way sweet!! May my Lord Jesus Christ bless that man and continue to show himself to him. Here in Chiang Mai the city is bigger like i was saying earlier. We even have a starbucks coffee house right next to our hostel. Last night I went to a night market and saw a elephant on the sidewalk. I could have touched it. It was so cool seeing one that wasn’t behind glass or bars. Way sweet. I really have been enjoying meeting different backpackers and sharing the Love of Jesus Christ. That has been so amazing. Right now i’m at an internet cafe on one of the main strips of town. Its pretty cool. The food here has been great. I’ve seen as far as travelers go are a majority of retired couples and single college age backpackers. My heart goes out to backpackers because they are on a journey, a quest to find themselves. I want to show them Jesus while they are on this search. Most backpackers i’ve talked to have been pretty open in conversation as well as talking about spiritual things. Jesus is the key. I appreciate the prayers from all my family and friends along with family friends. I thank all of you. Jesus Christ is never changing and is here in this country. May I lift his name higher.

Chiang Rai

I’m in Thailand now. Whooooot!! I have been able to write a new post as of lately. I was in Bangkok for about four days and then our team made our way up to the mountains right outside of Chiang Rai. There we helped out an Orphanage dedicated to helping Ahka children from getting pushed into the lives of prostitution and drug lifestyles. It was really awesome. We spent nine days there and by the time we had to leave, the little kids were so attached to us emotionally along with our team towards them. Before we left we had the chance to travel to the remote Ahka villages and hang out with the people. I along with the time were met with hospitality right away. We ended up relaxing and visiting in one of there huts. They prepared for us mango, peanuts and hot tea. The tea tasted more like the kettle it was made in but i wouldn’t of traded the experience. They are such a beautiful and loving people. Right now I’m in the City of Chiang Rai. Its heavy in certain areas spiritually. Now our team is planning on going to Chiang Mai. I’m excited to start ministering to the traveling backpackers and sharing the love of Christ Jesus. This country is beautiful in certain parts but still dirty in the cities. Jesus has been teaching me so much and has been working in me to overcome the fear of man. I want to be free to share what the Lord has laid on my heart especially when the Spirit is leading. I appreciate your prayers so much. They are so important. I’ll write soon.

Mt. Cook

Recently i went to Mt. Cook for the weekend with three other guys.  Mt. Cook is supposed to be the highest mountain in all of New Zealand and one of the reasons that draws people to the Islands.  I had an awesome experience.  I finished reading the New Testament for the first time there with Ephesians.   Jesus has been so amazing.  That weekend us four guys ended up hiking up to the top of the Mountain where Mueller Hut resides.  It was quite an intense hike for me but a beautiful experience of God’s beauty and creation.  I ended up developing a blister on the way to the top and when i started my descent The skin ripped off of it.  The blister was about the size of a half dollar coin.  I really enjoyed the hike even though it was anoiing dealing with the blister. I leave soon for outreach with unnamed dates.  I’m excited though.  Jesus is so amazing and I’m excited to be cultivated into the disciple he has me to be.  Last night my friend Eirik and I caught a hedgehog really late at night and brought it into our base lounge.  It was funny trying to pick it up and chase it around on the floor.  It was treasure of a night.  Thank you all for your prayers.  I really appreciate them.

Two Weeks

Jesus has been so faithful. Everyday he’s always there for me picking me up and providing me with strength. I just finished reading the Gospel of Luke. It was so wonderful. The Spirit spoke to me so much when reading it. I could hardly manage setting it down. I only have 6 more books left of the New Testament. I’m so excited in drawing closer to Jesus. I want to use the wisdom i’ve been learning to bless those around me. Jesus is so faithful. My small group and i went to the beach this monday. I really enjoyed it. We all went body surfing. Pretty cool. Last weeks lectures were so awesome. It was on the Holy Spirit. I really enjoyed my time learning. This week has been good too. The lectures this week are on “missions”. Its been really cool looking into the Gospels on the different disciples ministries. Its going to be a little strange this Christmas not experiencing winter for the first time. We will probably have a BBQ on the beach to celebrate Jesus. Its Summer here right now, so the weather has been beautiful. I leave for outreach in soon. I’m going to Thailand and Cambodia. I’ll be there for two months and then will slowly make my way back home. Thank You all for keeping me in your prayers .

-Bryan