Dimensions Photography

Good morning Salem. Good to see your moody.

2012-02-07T10:53:00.001-08:00

Eureka-grammy

2012-02-06T20:47:00.001-08:00

My Super Bowl Party.

2012-02-05T20:06:00.003-08:00

My Super Bowl Party.

2012-02-05T20:06:00.001-08:00

All my worldly possessions except my car, camera (bag), and bike. Honestly ready to set on fire and downsize a little. Can I get an amen!

2012-02-04T22:40:00.001-08:00

Last game in the house. I won. Haa.

2012-02-04T22:22:00.001-08:00

Moving day came faster then I thought. Have to be out by tomorrow. It was a good run however.

2012-02-04T16:48:00.001-08:00

I was teasing Luba for having so many shoes... I guess I don't have room to talk. Have however used each pair at least once this year so far. to talk.

2012-02-03T22:19:00.001-08:00

Coons trying to run! Weeee Yooo! Coongrammy!

2012-02-03T12:26:00.001-08:00

Life is better in the sun. Right? Thats what I hear at least. #salem #sun #oregon #ywam

2012-02-02T15:35:00.001-08:00

If you see this guy writhing in pain win insufficient breathing patterns, pay no mind to him. 1 he is there because he loves self indulged pain 2. Why else would you do it?

2012-02-01T22:53:00.001-08:00

A continuation of my instagramy instagram photos. Feel the mood.

2012-01-22T12:49:00.001-08:00

Untitled

2012-01-12T14:16:00.001-08:00

via TweetDeck

Untitled

2012-01-12T10:01:00.001-08:00

via TweetDeck

Energy Dwindling...Faith Growing.

2011-10-28T00:07:00.001-07:00

I feel like I have been going for years at this point...Good?Bad? Good cause I love hitting my pillow everynight completely exausted...Bad because I need to take care of my body. I type this and its almost midnight, but I know I am just going to keep typing....haha...habits.

This last week I was able to finish my PP1 for RescueNetUS. Quickly, its a disaster response team that tries to be on the ground within 24-48 hours after a disaster in which the country need international aid. Essentially, I get to run in when when everyone else is running out...sounds fun but on the same token very serious.

Below is a video that I shot throughout the course and is kind of a glimps of my heart and how I want to be able to serve my team...in anything that I am doing. Granted this is just a "We spent two weeks together where is the video of it?" sort of footage, it really shows off what is possible. Though its 8 minutes long, enjoy.

All that to say, I have some new things I need to be saving my money for...I need to have a GO BAG specificly for when a disaster happens...that means 10 days worth of medical, food, shelter, AND camera gear.

I will be starting to support raising for that and some other projects that are coming up in the future. RescueNet will be put into a seperate bank account so I can grab the money and buy a ticket within 24 hour departure time...plus all the gear that I need for it.

The other ones are for next year, I have a chance to go back to Brazil and build on some new Ropes Courses and then I also would like to travel over to Thailand/Burma to film some footage for YWAM Salem here....kind of a Communications Office outreach....again, these are all still in the very biginning stages of planning. So, be praying with me.

Until next time....I have got some big news coming up....I am sure that most of you can guess what it is though....

This Photo is taken of Ciao, a fellow friend from Brazil. Don't worry, his eye isn't really hanging out. It was part of the sceneario for RescueNet....always a fun time!

Finishing NIKO and Wisdom

2011-09-25T00:03:00.001-07:00

Today was the last night of NIKO for the season...its always bitter sweet for me. The groups of people that we have come through every year have an impact on me, every time. Why do I continue to hike around the same stupid hills in the coastal range? Well, its not the beautiful vistas or the pristine lakes. On the contrary...I don't even get to dip in the cold cold lake...bummer. I do it cause God shows up in peoples lives EVERY SINGLE TIME.

This year I had the chance to act as the Director, which means I was where the buck stopped. Final decisions were made through me. If I saw something was not safe or the risk/benifit was too high...I made the call...crazy to think of. It was more of a challenge then what I originally thought it was going to be. Not only was I taking teams out backpacking but I was making the staff my main priority so they could give all they could to the teams. Anyways, needless to say this is why I haven't been around so much on the blog....I have been busy.

In the off times of NIKO I have been plugging away here Directing the Communications Office and making sure all of the Marketing and Advertising of YWAM Salem is going well and also that the internet stays turned on...oh yeah, also showing people how to use the Blue E on their computers...(aka. trouble shooting through Google.com)

The office here has finally stepped out into more Video/Filming stuff for the base Promos...I am truly excited about what all is happening and the direction we are going here within in the last six months we have been able to purchase a Camera, Crane, and a Glide Track with all the audio that we need to create some pretty BA stuff. :)

In fact in the next few hours I will be heading up to Washington to meet up with some of the greatest people currently in Puyallup, Washington, Jordan, Ruth, and Henry...to test some of it out on my own and figure out how to use them...We had one plan but the weather kind of looks crummy up North...so maybe something else will come out of it...all in all I will be stoked to meet this new kid on the block.

Right now is pretty exciting for me...kind of a wrap up from one season and an opening into another...

There are a handful of things I am praying about right now for the near future. Just off the top of my head is the fact that I haven't been overseas on "outreach" in a long time. I have two different areas that I would love to take advantage of before too long. Brazil may be happening in the biginning of the year and the other part would be Thailand again...this time it would mainly be a film crew overseas...shooting promo and footage for the different ministries we have going on. :) People, this stuff makes me excited....I get to show you and the rest of the world what this Jesus Guy is doing...totally makes my job worth it. :) Thank you to all who have been there monthly for me supporting the dreams that God has placed in my heart. YOU.ARE.THE.BEST.

As for other things in my life God is really challenging me to recognize the difference between Leadership and Wisdom....its not that hard what God says about it. Its all over the first few chapters of Proverbs...I think I have subconsciously placed this thing called leadership above just plain ol getting wisdom...but the thing is if I just go for wisdom...leadership will follow, no problem...weird concept huh?

One of the things I want to be in any relationship is a strong leader, and if I choose to go for that "leadership" role and not wisdom, I will fail a lot of the time.

So, bring on the relationships. Bring on the Wisdom.

Wow...done...that was quick....

My First Go for a timelapse. Woot!

2011-08-18T02:00:00.001-07:00

Welcome to my first attempt at creating a timelapse. A few weeks ago I went on a little outing with the EARS course here at YWAM Salem and was able to capture this at one of our campsites near the headwaters of the Metolous River. Beautiful, beautiful country...I loved every minute of traveling, driving, taking footage at every moment and still trying to save my batteries, all the while not knowing anything of what I was doing video wise. I have been trying to figure out what to update on the thing for the last few weeks and every time I start I get either distracted or its just meh...I mulled through my twitter feed to find different things that I thought were pretty fun and I found some great stuff but most of it is just me stuck in an attic pulling cable for internet here at the base or me faking being a network and server administrator (Thanks Josh)

Speaking of me administering all of this, Josh, my trusted friend, IT guy, and workhorse left a few months ago and left me to administer everything. I don't know what I am doing....so, he and his wife have moved down to LA to work and go to school. Josh, if your reading this, I am proud of you, you really do awesome at all you put your hands/brain to.

So while I fake my way through knowing anything network or server wise, I also get to continue administering the YWAM Salem Website/Promos/Advertising/Marketing for the base and also a little bit of NIKO and Ropes Course is mixed in there as well....busy is an understatement. Infact, this next week I am the Director of the NIKO...which means more then I actually thought it did...sorry Sue and Rho! :-)

Well, This is going to have to be it...its 2:00 in the morning and tomorrow I get to film interviews for the EARS Course and figure out how to put it all together....Good Night

Where has the time gone.

2011-06-20T01:58:00.001-07:00

So much for trying to update consistantly through my TESOL...dang.

For your information I did graduate form that silly TESOL Course. It was an awesome time of learning and streching for me. The instructors had a lot of grace/patience/creative solutions for this guy in the long run. I have lots of respect for all of them. Thanks guys!

So I was trying to remember what were some of the things that I did since TESOL and remembered why I had such a hard time remembering....I ended up breaking my Coccyx yeah, no fun at all. You can see in the video of where I did that. (around mark 0:52). That little trip out to the coast was all for my friend Marcello (and madien voyage of my car WhiteLighting), he came and did a TESOL via South Africa and honestly is way smarter than most americans about the english language...he is pretty great.

Needless to say I spent an unfortunate amount of time on my butt in pain and wished ever moment it would change. To no avail I couldn't do anything about it...my Coccyx was busted....sad times.

However...I was able to fly down to Colorado Springs for a Communications Confrence put on by YWAMICN.org as the Communications Director here I it was really awesome to meet so many different individuals who thought and talked like me...Get this, I even told jokes around these people I wouldn't normally say in any setting and they laughed about them...things like using comic sans for all my designs. It truly was a great gathering of people who had the same vision and passion for seeing the kingdom come. I think there were about 17 people there that were from bases from across the North America. I am still going over the notes that were taken and trying to figure out how to implement all of it in to my Department...which consists of me at this point. Hopefully that will change someday.

NIKO Season is almost here. The first one of the season starts on the 27th of this month. I have been out to the site to help get it ready and have even gotten poision oak! It feels SO good.

Well, I am going to throw some video and photos up here and head to bed...I gots work tomorrow. Enjoy!

See the full gallery on Posterous

Tesol and my future.

2011-05-10T14:35:00.001-07:00

Tesol finished up last week and to say the least...it was tough. I haven't delibritly put myself throught that much pain and turmoil in a long time...My brain is so tired! All that to say, I would do it again. Why? find out after the jump. Why would I do TESOL and mess with my brain again? One simple reason I can think of off the top of my head is because I already know english (then again, I learned how much I really didn't know also.) and now I can go anywhere in the world and with lots of creativity and dedication I can teach a group of other people the langauge that I speak...I can give oppertunity, hope, and a future to an indivudual that is seemingly stuck in a hopeless situation.

Teaching, Teachers and Education...wow, never thought I would talk about this.

2011-04-04T20:25:00.001-07:00

I admit it. I am not a great teacher at all. I don't like teaching. I don't like the classroom setting. I don't like dumb "Activities." If I do any kind of teaching it from a script because I don't have confidence in what I am teaching, and if I do have that said confidence I still doubt in my abilities to teach it properly.

Is this because of my teachers in the past? Did I not enjoy their teaching style so much that I don't ever want to be like them? Why am I even in TESOL? What can I change?

I am kind of on the fence about the stuff...God has challenged me take this school of teaching english, and to be honest about it...I hate Teaching...and...English. I hate both of the things that is the basis of all of this training! The only thing that ties those things together are the people. It's an open door for sharing the gospel and speaking Truth into peoples lives.

I guess the style of teaching is what I have a problem with...I am ok having a conversation with someone and teaching them what I know through that...in a classroom, ehh...not so much. So, I find myself in a balancing act of "Learn all I can of all different teaching styles that have been tested through out the last century." or, "Teach in a my own way with no concrete direction..." It's obviously the former is the better choice (and what I will do). Better to have some sort of foundation then nothing at all. But, I guess I am all up in questions about Education in General as the video above shares with you. We are in a different day then the Intellectual Culture of Enlightenment.

I guess I have had this on my brain the last little while.

Now...discuss.

From the Archive

2011-04-02T22:19:00.001-07:00

I am sitting here cherishing the last few moments of my time in the communications office...Monday Tesol starts and I am going to be overwhelmed with homework of the English type...I still will be around to do all my work in the office but it will be limited to being studious just a few more things I need to do within 24 hours...:) Though I have mentioned many times that I am nervous and really scared about why I am even doing this. I will tell you that I know its something that God has said. I have dreamed up my own ideas for why he may want me to do this, and some of those things might be true...however, He has the ultimate plan.

Maybe this next month will be full of updates, maybe it will be completely silent I would love to do a daily blog about it but....who knows. I may also be posting a lot of photos from the Archive. The Archive is just a bunch of photos I haven't published yet or I haven't taken any good photos as of late. But don't fear! I was able to take some photos of the KDTS this last week so, I did take some good photos...now don't judge me on the process of the photos...its what people want. Thats all I am saying. So here they are.

See the full gallery on Posterous

Stuck in my office since Christmas...

2011-03-26T17:09:00.001-07:00

If you recal a few months back or follow my twitter feed at all, you might remember that we have taken on quite a different roll here at YWAM Salems Communications Dept...it started with a massive Network and Sever overhaul, and to be honest it still makes me scared. Scared for a few reasons, 1. I am not a huge Computer Nerd. Yeah I sit infront of a computer day in and day out sometimes (ok, a lot lately) and I think thats why people think that I am great with computers. Frankly this is why I use a Mac...it just works. I don't have to know what a bunch of stuff is...it. just. works. So, all that to say, its been running and been much smoother then I imagined. I have learned a few things about being a network administrator and also setting up and running a server. Almost all of this has been done by Josh Brown (@joshuab86) the stuff I have learned has been through osmosis (aka Josh talking through the problems, and me nodding my head in confusion.) Well, Josh is gone now. He is on outreach with a team in India and Nepal. So, now I am stuck here as a network administrator not knowing a lick about networks....just a little scared. This summer when we have over 400 people on base at one time wanting to use the internet....yeah....just a little scared.

So, the whole time Josh has been working on that I am have been re creating the base promo material. I am not all the way finished with it but I am done with a good chunk of it. Most of this is me messing around with things I am learning on tutorials online and some others are directions from the people I am designing it for. Its been a huge learning experience, almost being locked in my office through the weeks, but now I have a good set of designs I have been able to put together. Here are a few samples of what I have done.

See the full gallery on Posterous

In other news, I have been accepted to our upcoming TESOL...again excited and scared about this...first off, its English and Grammer....thats though enough as it is. Second off ITS ENGLISH and Grammer! Plus I haven't put together classrooms and lesson plans in, well, ever! The Way that I look at it is I am doing this for a month straight...then it will get me into countries I want to go. Its another tool in my belt of "Yeah, I can do that!" Heres hoping! One month of streaching my brain in areas it hasn't been used in years!

Speaking of TESOL its going to cost me some money. I know this is something God has laid on my heart to do and don't understand exactly why I am doing this way but I am here. The normal price is $1000 bones. Since I live here on the base and am already paying money for houseing the price is cut in half...that brings it to.....carry the one...$500 bones. All that means is thats $500 bucks I don't have so I am going to be emailing and calling a lot of people to ask for some money. This doesn't mean I think you have gobs and gobs of money I figured if I have every person on facebook give me one dollar I could have 983 dollars...just like that. Granted not everyone who is on facebook is an actual person (business and ministries) but there is a good percentage there. Class starts on the 4th of April and ends on the 30th I believe. Its going to be great.

Ok...enough for now.

Say hello to ywam Salem's outreach teams to Thailand

2011-03-22T19:28:00.001-07:00

via twidroyd

Last few days before the DTS leaves for outreach the sun comes out to play for a while. Here are some of the kids.

2011-03-22T13:42:00.001-07:00

via twidroyd

Kids enjoying the sunshine and rocks today here in Salem.

2011-03-22T13:36:00.001-07:00

via twidroyd

Today I am at Minto Brown Park working with the Dts from @ywamsalem. I love it.

2011-03-20T14:54:00.001-07:00

via twidroyd

Untitled

2011-03-20T00:59:00.001-07:00

See the full gallery on Posterous

I was just going through my Drafts in my blog and came across this set...Don't have much to say about it other then Some of the DTS Students and I were hiking at Silver Creek Falls one day and it was one of those days where I had been in the office hours and hours and hours...Well, we had the chance to get out of dodge and get on the ground. We did a few mile hike and got to run around the a few waterfalls. Well, its #3 update this week, its not much but here it is. Enjoy.

At Minto Brown Park setting up a little scavenger hunt for the current #DTS.

2011-03-18T10:29:00.001-07:00

via twidroyd

Fixn old White Lightning today with Matt and Ryan

2011-03-14T15:37:00.001-07:00

via twidroyd

On the road again.

2011-03-05T22:49:00.001-08:00

See the full gallery on Posterous

So I have noticed that I don't write much when I am in my office all the time. Infact, I don't write at all. I can't tell you how many times I have sat down to write a blog post and I always come up short on the word part of everything for a proper update.

So the last two months I ha e been in my office drawing and designing new promo material for YWAM Salem. I can show you what I have done when we take everything to print. Until then, hold your horses.

With all that said, you can only imagine I am on the road. I am currently on the road with the mobile team and we are traveling through Seattle area putting on Experiencing Injustice with different groups. EI for short is where we (the team) set up different stages of Social Injustices currently happening in our world today. Thing like Sex Trafficking, Child Soldiers ,Unclean Water, and Abortion. The teams are brought into a room and are presented a specific injustice and are then brought back together to talk and debrief what was presented. Its a pretty powerfull tool to be taken on the road. Mostly its been churchs and youth groups we have worked with but once this trip we have worked with Seattle Pacific University, a Christian university but in the realm of education this is a first.

I am working with a pretty cool team but yet again its mostly all girls. 8-9 girls and 2 guys. This seems to be my life when I go on any sort of outreach. Either the only Guy or the Fifth Wheel. Sometimes both.

Well tomorrow is our last day on the trip and its been pretty great. We have seen many peoples eyes opened to the injustices that are going on around the world and we've also seen hearts changed for the people involved in those injustices. God really is good.

New Year. New Students

2011-01-29T19:47:00.001-08:00

Well, its the new year and work has been busy. The new students have come and made themselves at home...Josh and I are working on the networking stuff and hopefully we will be done switching everything over by by the end of this next week. I really want to commend Josh for all of his hard work. None of this would have been possible if it wasn't for him. I think we both had the dream, but he was able to actually make it happen...boys gots some brains.

See the full gallery on posterous

So, since I am just talking about work apparently in this update...I have quite a job ahead of me. Some of the leadership came to me and asked if I could go through all the base promo and re do it. (Its got some old information on it). Honestly I am pretty excited about this just for the simple fact that they are using me for what I want! Crazy huh? I need to have it done before Feb 20 and I already have some pretty good stuff inline to print. Maybe I will be able to show you what going on when I get it all finished up. Honestly my goal for this next month is to pick my camera up a little bit more...enough of running an office, I need to move and get moving. People are out there with stories that I want to help them share.

Not much for this update but its what I have.

You Can't Shovel Rain...

2010-12-20T00:54:00.001-08:00

Its been a pretty uneventful few days back here in Twin though Sunday came around and I was invited to go up to Wood River Assembly of God to see ol' friends and meet some new ones. My Dad used to pastor at this church many years ago and to be honest, this church family has never quite disappeared...which is good.

The morning started off pretty early at Six in the morning case we had to travel up to Hailey (75 mi away) in order to go...well, needless to say about 20 seconds after getting out of the car I had my boots on and I was clearing the walkways...It was great.I would say about 10'' to 12'' fell that morning/evening. Mom, Dad, and I later went up to Ketchum to just walk around and re visit the city we all lived and worked in...its really hard being a tourist in your home town. We aimlessly walked around for a few hours as Dad and I laughed at Mom for slipping all the time in her "nice" boots.

Eventually we ended up back down in Hailey at church shoveling snow and serving a Christmas Dinner to who ever walked in the doors.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

All in all it was a great time up there...good to visit.

PS. I really want to get back on the slopes.

It's Always Sunny in Sun Valley Episode 2 from Mark Oliver on Vimeo.

Untitled

2010-12-17T23:28:00.001-08:00

[[posterous-content:pid___0]]

Kinda running through memory lane here in Idaho...First off I got to host Phil, Luba, and Malissa here at my house for one night...had stories running through my head of stupid stories that didn't matter. Stories like, when I would sneak into a hotels swimming pool nights we would play "Rambo" on the streets in the middle of the summer night...you know, things that only friends that were there understand but ones that weren't would just get tired listening to...thats what was going through my head.

So, tonight I walk into my parents house and whats on TV? A local TV stations Christmas Celebration...well, the last few years before I left Twin Falls, I was asked to be involved in the BTS (Behind the Scenes) coverage of the evening...mainly to document the director /producer and to work onset with the whole crew taking pictures. Tonight I got to see the last 10 years, footage of close friends singing and acting, using their talents, all of us in a transition into life. Some of those people are now touring the US singing, others are working full time acting in NYC.

Though I come back to Twin and its can sometimes be weird going back to the same places seeing the same faces in the same seat I think I have realized that a lot has been invested not only my friends but also to me. I really am grateful to the (The Director) for sticking his neck out and trusting his reputation on a bunch of motley kids like me and my friends. I know I wouldn't have the experience if it wasn't without him. By the way, if you want to hear/buy/download a few of those people you can do that here.

Thinking about doing that and where I am today...I have had the fortunate opportunity to pursue a little film (moving pictures) the last few years in Salem/Portland area I have done gaffing, rodeoing, lighting, and eventually stepping in front of the camera and doing a little acting myself. (No lines yet, but I have died a few times and even done my own stunts.) In fact is all has been soldier/swat related...maybe cause I need a mask over my face, who knows.

See and download the full gallery on posterous

One, other thing I wanted to say was thank you to @ywamissionary he was the one that brought me all the way from Salem to Twin Falls...Good times. Thanks Man.

By the way...I am home until the 29th and have no schedule call me. l have this weekend booked but there are still days left to hang out. Find me.

New @Ungerwhere dot net

2010-12-11T20:11:00.001-08:00

Thanksgiving came and went with no words on my end....my plans that I had 3 times fell through...3 times and then I eventually just stayed here. I am glad I stayed but so wish I could have gone up to Washington to spend it with Trent, Nicole, and Ily. But, I do get to see them for Christmas. Speaking of Chirstmas...I will be in Idaho for just a few days. I am thinking from the 17th till the 29th, and I should have my bike so if you want to meet up I can do it.

So, I don't really have much to say on this update other than I hope this new site works out great for my supporters...I still have to put different links on the site but I can hash that out where ever I go....Ok. I must continue to finish this thing.

Late night shoot with Monica and Thanksgiving With the Akimoffs

Making sure this works.

2010-12-10T18:09:00.001-08:00

Just testing this out to make sure its for me.

2010-10-28T12:38:00.000-07:00

So, as most of my blog posts open...its been a while......this time there is a good reason. I have been gone leading teams and training...Ok what in the world am I doing with my life.

Here goes the last month. It all started on Oct 3rd. I jumped on a plane and was heading for the High Sierras. My job, help lead 70 people in the back country for a few days...no, problem. My trip started off pretty good...bought lunch and ate it in the car I rented. (I had to drive from Sacramento all the way to Fresno, get picked up and taken into the mountains.) Now, this job is pretty great, I enjoy taking people out...I get to work with them at their most basic times in life...they may have all the right gear, and say all the right things...they might even know how to get bearings on a compass and build a fire from scratch...(the last two are things I know I suck at.)

Anyways, disaster strikes the first night early in the morning at about 3:30. I get woken up by thunder and lighting right in my face! It was the craziest thing to yell as loud as I could to kids 2 feet in front of me any they couldn't hear a word I was saying because it was so loud. First the rain, wind, and soon sleet pounding against a tiny mega mid on an exposed ridge....Awesome!! In one moment I have never been so pushed by nature for the safety of my participants and so awe struck by the beautiful power of Gods hand. Fortunately nothing to extreme happened that couldn't be fixed...we dodged things for sure, but that goes without saying...one of the biggest things was cold kids, which could be fixed, and 70 sopping wet sleeping bags plus clothes....this was slightly more of a hassle. However, eventually I was able to talk to the local resort to let us use their commercial sized dryers...(oh yeah, I am reading this book right now called You Can Negotiate Anything...this came into play during that :) haha). We eventually got everything dry and camps moved down about 4k feet...sad cause I wanted to run around in the high country but smart cause these kids weren't fully prepared for what the weather was like at those altitudes. After a night of not knowing exactly what was gong on and playing the "Ring Master" for 70 people we aka, Jordan pulled a little something together.

Let me stop here for just a second...Jordan is an amazing man...I had the privilege to walk beside him part of the time all this was going down...just imagine over 3 months worth of planning down the drain in just a few hours, and we have still have 70 people waiting to see what's going to happen....logistically what we did shouldn't have happened but I believe with Jordans attitude of not giving up and not wanting to take people into an uncalculated enviroment really speaks well about his heart. Way to go man...Ok, so after playing ring master the next day we went out on our hikes that we planned the the the rest of the trip was somewhat uneventful. Don't get me wrong it was great to see the things we saw...for example the picture with all the lady bugs...I have never seen so many in one place! Walk around the corner and there is more! So beautiful...

It ended up being kind of a hard ending to a backpacking trip because of the deeper friendships I made with the staff and the ones which I am not sure when I will see next.

And then RescueNet! RescueNet is a team of people from around the world being trained in First Response in a disaster such as an earthquake, tsunami, ect...The last 4 years I have been involved with the training (and have been trained) in Wilderness First Responder...a WFR. I am just taking that experience and moving that to an even more dynamic environment here or overseas...or within 24 to 48 hrs of an event like this.

So we had 10 days worth of training in class and also scenarios of things we had learned that day...little things like sucking chest wounds, flailed chests, broken bones, shock, and all this plus more and how to work with an Aid Organization or Government that is set up in that area for that time. I spent most of my time in a class room typing away on this computer taking notes (and once in a while doing some work for the communications office in Salem.) I am excited where this might lead me. I really hope to get out there and document this organization, help them out with media on their website and ultimately motivate other people to get up and do something in the physical realm.

Right now, I am currently in San Diego praying about what this next step has for me. I have done this training, I know I can mold myself into a team and perform the proper medical techniques, part of that time I can document and do that aspect of the job...but whats next? Whats going on with the Communications Office? Niko? YWAM? A few days ago I was talking to my friend in Salem and she asked if I was asking YES or NO questions to God....hummm go figure...sometimes I forget that this Jman really is simple....so, I have that and a few other things just to ask myself...here is kind of a list I am going through right now...careful its what has been in my head the last few days....

Where am I? and Where am I going?

What areas of my life do I want to grow in right now....(character, competencies, behavior, activity, production...can all these be goal oriented?)

What attitudes, behaviors, or beliefs are holding me back?

What is holding me back that is NOT within my control?

What is holding me back that IS within my control?

What is one small step I can take to bring about this change?

Whatever consumes my attention most determines my actions; what currently consumes my attention and thought life?

What person, situation, or source is most influencing my thinking right now?

What am I taking to God in prayer?

What is God telling me these days?

What lessons am I learning currently?

What is my biggest felt need?

Where do I want to see change take place? (not self). What’s within my range to influence; what do I have to let go?

What is one small step I can take to bring about this change?

P.S. thanks Mario for the motivation to ask hard questions.

All this reminds me of my One on One when I first got here to Salem...Ryan Hale and him always asking me...Ok...thats good but what is some sort of Action...what can you do about this? Bahhh!!!Ryan! Oh well, it is for the best.

Well, its been a long time in posting this and my brain is really tired....I need to stop and start listening to God...hear what he has to say about all of this...maybe tomorrow I can update all those questions......(yeah right.)

At the bottom you will find a quick synopsis of the photos..check em out.

The First one is me eating my meal driving from the airport to Fresno.

The Second is my team in the back country after all the drama out there

The Third and Fifth is the mountains we were backpacking in....great stuff!

The Fourth is a bunch of Lady Bugs we saw on EVERYTHING...so amazing.

The Sixth...one stop along the way out of the back country so I could get to RescueNet. Thanks Greyhound

The Seventh and the last is the bay bridge on the water front

and the numbers 8,9, and 10 are random photos found through out San Francisco.

I am sorry this post is so long...if I could have posted one every day I would have...but I will have to filter the next few...enjoy...oh yeah...the photos have all been taken on my droid...not my best work but "The best Camera is the one you have with you." Chase Jarvis

Must Get Some Pictures Up!!!!

2010-09-23T00:26:00.000-07:00

So, I am understanding quickly I can't update much if I don't have any pictures to talk about...so here are some pictures of the last part of the summer. Lots of projects going on and lots of work....all these photos I took except one of them...the one thats of me as a soldier. Shawn Nelson capture this on the RED Camera I had the priveledge of dying on camera...something I have never done before. To be honest I really enjoyed it, hope to help out again sometime. The other photos are snapshots of my surroundings this last summer. NIKO, Hiking, and lots of Stars when laying on my back...really am priveledged to do what I do thanks guys. OK. Off to bed. The Fall DTS begins tomorrow and I have lots of pictures to take of the incoming students. I love my Job.

more to come guys and soon...I need to at least let some people out there what I am doing more then once every 6 months....Night.

Finding Time

2010-07-08T22:29:00.000-07:00

The last few months I have been a little shy on the blog end...not because things aren't happening quite the opposite...lots of things are happening. But I did realize something...I like to update when things are going crazy...or at the end of one...lots of things have happened since...March....wow....

So...last time you heard I inherited the Communications office...that transition has been a good one...one that has required me to use some of my business skills and others patience....and mostly loss of sleep. (Gpa always said "Sleep is for the birds!") It really has been great to step into a postion that needed help on the end of finances...I don't know what this says about me....I am not good at math but understand that if the money isn't there....DON'T SPEND IT!

So a few weeks ago I finished helping with the WFR (Wilderness First Responder Course) and had another 96 hours worth of medical training for when I have teams out in the Wilderness. lots of fun stuff happened...

(Insert 1.5 week break between typing this....I am no good at this part)

Lots going on in my head right now...I have a plan...but I don't know what it is....I am tired of sitting in this office....however, I want to make it better, smoother, more self-sufficient which is going to take more of my time....I want to be able to leave and be able to take care of things....umm....remotely. My fire really burns when I am out behind the camera taking photos....sorry, not just Facebook photos but stories...I want to become a storyteller....I have been looking for a little outlet to run to and take photos...I think why I loved working at the paper so much was because I was given an assignment, I did it, and the story was told....I have been following lots of people lately online. Herber Vega, Macro Ryan and Focus for Humanity, David duChemin, Jeffrey Chapman, Tom Bourdon, Nick Onken, Gary S Chapman....just to name a handfull....I know these guys have taken a lot of work to get where they are, I want it. These guys are pure inspiration for me. You can find me late at night looking through there stuff...one thing stands true in my life and every photographer out there...If your not where the story is you don't have the photos, in other words if I want to be taking these photos I need to be in the midst of them...I want to be documenting what

is happening. I can read about it, I can bring awareness to it, I can even document my side of the story about what people are doing here (in my world) about it, but I am tired of playing the part of a old piece of photographer that has been tossed out of the game because he has a back and a yes face that will do anything for you at anytime of the day or night....Life lessons here? I think so. I think the underlying point here is I NEED TO SHOOT. I am not at all disappointed with where I am right now in life, in fact I believe I have the best job in the world. I am way privileged to be and do what I am right now. I love it.

So my prayer for this next season of my life....I want excellence to everything I put my hands to. I want to finish them with not just my touch but a deeper one that can only be given my the J Man himself.

I am

done with all that now...must post pictures want to show the stuff I have been doing.

Here it is.

and GO!

Part 2 of this post is going up without any editing...just words on a screen.

Time is ticking away

2010-03-22T23:42:00.001-07:00

OK....its been a few months....again.

What has been going on? Weddings, Receptions, Traveling, Work, Work, Work.

So right after I got back from New York I had the privilege to shoot Aaron and Emilys Wedding down in Bishop. What a great wedding! I know it was a while ago n0w but still perfect....as you can see from the photo...a fresh blanket of snow across the valley and blue skies! So great!

After that I came home for a little while and headed down to Flordia...for Aaron and Emilys Wedding Reception. Great time down there lots of great photos and also was able to try surfing for the first time.....Yeah! Good stuff.

Fast forward a little bit and Jason calls me from Idaho and tells me I need a vacation....so, I ended up going to Idaho for a few days to go hot springing! Great times! Oh, man! I spent the whole week naked snow shoeing into the hot springs...staying the night...back out and to the next hike in for another hot spring...great stuff! Loved it.

And now fast forward to now.

The last few weeks I have inherited the remains of the communications office here at the base. (The picture that has a bunch of lines and dots...this is my mouse tracks from a 12 hour period. The Dots, lunch and different times my mouse was still.) Previously I was sharing responsibilities with another person but, in the end...Josh had to leave and staff the current DTS. So, I think I am in a great phase right now...I secretly enjoy making things go faster and smoother...its been great to see things get finished and out the door to the different ministries here. Don't worry there is a flip side...I made a to do list this week currently there are 15 things on the first page....I was able to get 7 things done among everyone coming in for help with different things. Good times anyway eh?

Here are a few photos from the last few months.....I am done talking. Enjoy.

Update from New York till now.

2010-02-03T20:54:00.000-08:00

Well...I made it back from New York...almost a month ago.

So, just going through my pictures of last month...I want to show you a few things that I did...I hope this won't be a wordy blog...just photos. Here goes.

I was able to shoot a movie with some friends that I spent Christmas with in Seattle....here is that if you haven't seen it....

First on is the pyro behind the scene picture of the video shoot

Here I am sleeping on the subway in New York City

Me on a train in somewhere between New Jersey and New York

At a FREE live Jazz lounge in NYC

A dress from a wedding I recently shot

And Pastor Ruth...the wonderful lady I stayed with in NYC

Death Valley....flooded

and Princeton University

New York Tomorrow Hopefully!

2009-12-25T23:12:00.000-08:00

So, a few pictures before I head to New York. I am not really sure when or where I will be able to update my blog….I am sure I can find free wireless in New York no problem….Just want to do these photos before I leave.

Christmas was a good one. Its the 25th and things are winding down. It seems we went from party to party to party here in Port Orchard area and kept on eating and eating. Good thing I am almost en-route to New York….who knows what I am going to be eating over there :) (its only 2 weeks mom….) Anyways Josh and Ashley's family were great and want to say thank you very much for letting me crash your house over Christmas.

So What do I know about New York so far? What are my plans? Well….I don’t know. I do know that my flight leaves tomorrow night at 2240 from Seattle with United. (thanks for the free ticket btw) and I am routed through DC….if I have any luck at all I am hoping to have horrible weather and long layovers...I would love to see our nations capital in the middle of the night and take some pretty sweet photos...and maybe another free ticket in there if possible United...thanks. Then from there its to JFK in the morning….

On to some of my goals for this trip. (In my opinion the most important part of this trip….) Since I have no agenda and no plans on this trip at all I kind of get to fly by the seat of my pants...I like doing this, thus doing my Job….Ministry. I am stoked to see what God has for this trip….I have found when I become a person who looks for all kinds of opportunities to speak life in to people I want to do that...this last year has been a lot of that. When Jesus has someone to say yes cool things can happen. I am positive more stories will come from this...I look forward to this.

Another thing...Photography. Yeah go figure, right? Me taking pictures. So a while ago I was “inspired” by Zack Arias to do a little project that he talks about over on his blog about talking to people and getting better photos from that. It may come as a surprise but I really hate walking up to people and asking them if I can take their photo. It just seems weird to me. So, this will explain kind of what I want to do...another side project I want to do is have a question or stamp on my trigger finger and ask people to read what is written o it....so then I would take their picture when they stick their face right in the camera...gunna try it Karsten...might as well.

Goal 3...I am going to try and see a Broadway show. I know that costs money but you can be sure I am going to try and get in somehow maybe I can help backstage….or something...We’ll see what happens...any suggestions of what I should see? I have no idea so I am all ears.

Then other then that I am game for almost anything...and if your in town. Call me. You should be able to find my number somehow...or email me and I’ll find you.

Now for the photos

The First one is me on the train for the first time in the States...Second. the Skyline over one of the bridges in PDX

And just more shots of the trip up from Salem to Tacoma for the holidays...Well, good night..

Plains, Trains, and Automobles

2009-12-24T00:23:00.000-08:00

Times after the trip...I didn’t expect the time after the last trip to be very busy...it wasn’t...at all. I got back to the base and there were a few people around...not very many but a few. The whole reason I came back to the base was because I needed a few different things done...meetings and cleaning. Since I didn’t have very many meetings and only my room to clean….I really had a lot of time on my hands...to much. Everyday more people left and pretty much it was just Rob (my roommate) and I on the base, I spent most of it walking in the rain between my office and my room doing different things..very uneventful. By day two I needed to be back on the road, itching to get back on the road. It had almost seemed like forever since I had the pressures of the travel schedule...its almost an addiction...the push and rush of everything...good stuff.

So finally that day came along. It was my first time on a train in The States...ended up getting a few good photos along the way up here to Port Orchard. Welcomed with Ice Cream and a comfy bed to sleep on Ashley parents have opened their home to me during this time. Thanks guys.

Day 2 up here...we shot a movie...Josh, Ashley, Chet and I….a sequel to a previous movie they shot. Here is the one we just finished...hope you enjoy.

Let me introduce to you

Gary Lomaxx - Professional Gnome Hunter II (The Sequel) "Till Death Do Us Part"

Gary Lomaxx - Professional Gnome Hunter II (The Sequel) "Till Death Do Us Part" from Joshua Brown on Vimeo.

If you look close enough I am in this movie...yeah thats right busting out my camera style.

Next stop? New York…last year when I was coming back from Brazil I ended up getting a free ticket with United and so….now is the best time then any to go….So, the next time I update is from New York.

Night all.

Home At Last! Home At Last! Dear God Almighty I am HOME AT LAST!

2009-12-14T00:48:00.000-08:00

Wait, what am I thinking? I am only here for a few hours...

We made it home to Salem last night just in time for church the next day and this morning (the 14th) we leave again for a small road trip up to Portland. Just a few more interviews and we are done with that part.

Some thoughts on the Canada part of the trip....

Canada, is Beautiful! Dood. Amazing. I wasn't even able to even look around the city but I could see the Mountains from everywhere....freekin sweet. Must go back if not just for photos..and snowboarding...and backpacking....and climbing....and some other stuff that would be really cool. Really cool stuff.

and....Melissa, the girl on the street. We first saw Melissa on the street corner dancing, "showing off" and well, we stopped. I wanted to at least talk to her, maybe film her for the story. All we could do is ask.
So, we walked up to here...very seedy block (obviously) and we happened to meet behind a school bus, there were some people selling things on the sidewalks some guys walking by, and I said hello.

This isn't the first prostitute I have ever talked to...this is however one of the first times I have went out and "looked" for a prostitute. Completely different from saying "No Thanks" I actually wanted to talk to her.

Everything went on like a normal conversation...you know, Hey I saw you on the corner back there....blah blah blah....somewhere in the middle of that conversation I introduced myself, and shook her hand, thanked her for letting us talk to her even though we didn't have a toke or want her for her "services".

Getting back into the car we went over what just happened out there...the adrenaline rush that we just had....talking to another human being. It was said in the conversation that when I reached out and introdced myself and gave her my hand it became a point of humanizing her...putting a name, face, voice, smell, touch to this otherwise "thing" that I would never in my life be seen around. Melissa. Ratty long blond hair, Short skirt with a blanket draped around her in the -4c, white high heels and she is just bairly taller then my chest. Cold hands shaking my warm hands. Willing to do anything for $5 dollars....just for her next fix.

Humans...think about it. People who feel, look, think, just like you. Humans who are just like us.

It was also weird to talk about how each of us felt just in the simple act of talking to Melissa. Everyone knew (assumed) why we were there. They though we were there for sex. This was normal for that area...Just thinking about the judgment that was passed on not just to the girl, but to me...It was then when I wondered about all the judgment that Jesus got when he would hang out with the prostitutes...what people thought of him and the guilt for the "appearance of evil."

Crazy stuff if you ask me. Honestly, I love my life. Way over privileged and I really thank God for everything I get to do. Its really great to work with a team of people as we're running down the street and mid stride we are having an audable conversation almost yelling at God....GOD BE WITH US RIGHT NOW...PLEASE! Such good stuff.

Its late and I need sleep...farewell.

The photos are both in Seattle on the Ferry....which one? Not sure.

Late night Processing

2009-11-28T01:21:00.000-08:00

I just updated the justice blog and was typing...came across some things that I hadn't thought about didn't think I should put it on that blog but I have all the liberty to put it on my personal one here. So, some thoughts I had...

What is God doing in the big plan of my life? The thing is I know he is Faithful and True. I KNOW what he has said and I KNOW that if I knew what it was completely he has for my life...I would crap my pants. Open doors always come. Dreams are fulfilled and new dreams are birthed.
I have said it before, I seem to be my cameras passenger...almost like it takes me everywhere....Kind of what spurred this thinking was about when Josh and Ashley left our team for a few days for Thanksgiving. They are a huge asset to our team Josh with his Filming skills (not to mention bowstaff skills) and Ashley who loves to plan things and set everything up...crossing i's and dotting all the t's (wait switch that) They both make an great team and love working with them. In contrast with me...I want to be a valuable and respected person...(this isn't a pitty party) I want to know what else I can do to make my team stronger. I'll be the first to admit, I haven't been completely open with anyone about the "skills" if you will that I have...frankly cause people can be leeches...and, I don't want to get sidetracked by something else that I am good at (or could improve at). I know I have these gifts and abilities but when do I bust them out. I guess sometimes on this trip I would love to disappear and watch the team dynamics with out me...am I even usefull? Am I really doing anything...everyone has a camera and frankly taking better pictures than I am, which I am very glad for.

On a more Optomistic look of everything...I have an amazing team we really have blended well together and almost have a non verbal communication when we are out on the street. There have been a few times when there was some communication breakdowns...(me driving in SF and I thought Ro was telling me to go left but she actually told me to go straight...this happened for three blocks :) ha Ro, I really am sorry...my bad.) This is just normal stuff though that you would get driving in a car...ANYWAYS, God is really doing something in my heart...I still want to go overseas...I still want to reach the unreached...I still want to market missionaries....I love networking...I love marketing...I love Trusting everyday to see Gods provision in my life...I love telling people the Good News of my Jesus...and I love being that hand of God in their life...but there is another puzzle piece somewhere in this trip that has struck a chord with my heart. Who knows, these are just words that are coming out of my fingertips...and its late. Could be different tomorrow, though I hope not. I love dreaming with Jesus.

Now to finish up this blog so I can go to bed finally I will repeat what I said on the other site of things I am thankfull for. Some things I am really thankful for is the team I am on, the passions we all have for the lost and enslaved, the vision of what we are doing and where we are going, and the dedication. Malissa, even though we have had an amazing past (remember when I was 4 yrs old?) I am glad that we can actually call each other friends. Josh, (this is the part I really have to think.) Your an inspiring motovater, and the toughest boss to work under thanks for sharing the Credit Card. Ashley, I have said this many times over but your a woman of patience and grace even when the schedual doesn't go as planned. And Ro, thanks for asking me to come on this trip, thanks for your trust, and motovation. I really look up to and respect all that your doing in and out of ministry. Maybe I am the first to always say how amazing you are at things because well, you really are awesome at them. With that I think we all should take over the world.

I have had enough sappy emotional processing for one year...don't even know where that came from....wait, just realized...Caleb Collins is playing his latest album on my ipod...that what it was...bahhh! Gets me every time. Speaking of which you should get his CDs he has a Christmas CD and the latest album is Dream...along with his first album Classic...if you remember I shot the CD art for his first cover...Good stuff Caleb. Love you man.

Sorry I don't have more pictures but...well, thanksgiving was a littel busy..didn't even pick up my camera.

Night all.

A sucessful trip so far.

2009-11-23T23:10:00.000-08:00

Here is the team. Ro, Malissa, Josh, Ashley and Me. This is the crew out on the trip to raise awareness of human trafficking. The Documentary. The trip so far has consisted of traveling through different cities and doing interviews and some "undercover" work with my team. The cities we have been through have been as follows....Tijuana, Las Vegas, LA, and finally this morning eairly we woke up at 4:30 and drove all the way up to San Francisco, Ca....long day today...left without any food in the stomach and spent the whole day in that same fashon. Empty and tired. I get to man the cameras, lighting, and audio this week. Josh and Ashley are heading up to Seattle for thanksgiving and Ro, Malissa and I will be spending it together in Sacramento...with somebody we know through someone else. :) (This is my life and I love it. People are so kind and amazing. Just give them a chance.) If you guys have any questions on what we are doing please follow me on Twitter or check out my Facebook. I am constantly updating my Twitter just to let people know what is going on where ever I am.

Today we had the chance to interview some people who run a John outreach, people have have been convicted of "trafficking" aka. prostitution...same thing in my opinion. (though it may change by the end of this month. Who knows.) Anyways, the people who run this program are people who have been trafficked before...pretty amazing stories.

On a completely separate note. I am going to bed....its been a long day since 4:30 and I just decided to do it right now...you got something out there tonight. Have fun with it...Night all.

Mexico and Justiceinitiatives.org

2009-11-15T23:16:00.000-08:00

Its only been 3 days...but its felt like a week. The first day we woke up at an ungodly hour and started our trec from a Rainy Salem, Or. made our way from Oregon into California with just a little bit of snow...and all the way down to LA....forgot how long but its a nice little stretch.

After arriving in LA...it was our last real "break" we got to see some old friends from the Salem Base and reconnect over a quick little conversation before we grabbed the camera that was shipped there and headed for the border.

When we got to the base in TJ we ended up having a meeting right a way with the leadership and

other

interested in what we were doing on the base. (I am excited to see what God does with the different ministries they are doing.) Anyways. Meetings when we got there...just a few minutes to

regroup and talk about the meeting...and ready to jump into the next meeting about what we were doing that night....whew!

On to the first introduction to the Redlight District in TJ. Some events of the evening as follows.

Found out that I could get a few 13 yr old girls for 72hrs for just what he said started out at $500 bucks...the price went down from there.

Offered any kind of Drug that I wanted....anything...Oh, and any kind of girl.

Interviewed about some Organ harvesting among other things.

Very interesting stuff. God is really bringing more a perspective on who he is (again) in my life. Man I love Him. So good to me.

So good.

On to the Photos.

TJ/Border

Some Lady Man Ladies

and the 3+hr interview we had yesterday.

Good stuff I love the Jman.

Night all. MTK

Made it to Mexico

2009-11-14T09:20:00.001-08:00

I am here posting this on the porch overlooking the beach in TJ. Waiting for an interview with a man that has lived in the redlight district the last few years. Last night we (my team Ro, Melissa, Josh and Ashley) went down town to scope the town out. After leaving we came back together to share stories. Like I said. This will be an interesting trip. We got some good info and leads tonight.

- Posted using BlogPress from my iPhone

Bishop Ca.

2009-10-14T09:42:00.000-07:00

So in my last post I mentioned I was going to be in Bishop Ca. Well, that is where I am at right now. I really enjoy it down here. I have some great friends that love to dream, act on those dreams, and run with them. The Base here is going the a huge transition and a few people will be leaving/going on sabbatical...but, God is Still good.
The backpacking that I was able to help out with was with a school just outside of LA. 61 students and 5 days out in the back country. Let me tell you how excited I was to be tromping around in these places...So beautiful, amazing photos, great times. Let me back up a little and share about getting down here this time.

Erik picked me up from the airport and we left from there and went straight to Yosmite (we had to drive through there to get to Squoia) This was my first time ever in yosmite and Erik wanted to go climbing. Who was I to argue...I just happened to have my climbing stuff also. (this is my job) Anyways. we stayed a dreadfully cold night in his car, woke up with frost on the inside of his Subaru and drove to the trailhead in the park...then started the apporach to Cathedral Peak. We had chosen to climb a 5.6 mulitpitch Trad route. click here for a picture of it. (not my picture) unfortunally I didn't bring my camera and the the one we did have died right on the peak...looking down on 5 lakes with a colorful sunset...bahhh! Oh well. next time.

The next day I got to drive through the valley and most of what I was thinking was getting on the Big Walls around there..I guess you have to be a real climber to hang out in the valley...maybe someday. The other half of me was thinking this is where John Muir and Ansel Adams would hang out hiking around or taking pictures....now off to Sequoia National Forrest.

When we got there we ended up having Staff Orientation and then Aaron and I hiked off into the mtns over to Twin Peaks. This is where he and I were stationed for the next few days, taking teams up and down this peak...tied into ropes and hanging out inches away from a few hundred foot drop. So good. I have some pictures.

Its so good when people (of all ages) gets pushed into something completely uncomfortable its at that moment when you can speak life into their lives and really impact people.

One of our days on the peak consisted of waking up at six and finishing the day at almost 10:00 in the evening...long day but soo good.

After all the kids left the staff went to the local resort and debriefed everything and then stayed the night...hot tub, buffet and beds...soo good.

Well....the photo...here it is...I have many more photos to share....but it is currently 4 in the morn....g'night!

Bishops first Snow this year...so good.

Heading South...then North East.

2009-09-06T23:14:00.000-07:00

Well, its been another month that I haven't updated...a few more things are going on here in Salem...the Fall DTS just arrived here tonight and I was able to play some games with them on the course tonight...Go Giant Swing!

Anyways, other things that are going on...if you follow me at all on Twit ter you will know that we have started a new little competition here at YWAM Salem. That's right! Beards For Bucks. This one is a little different then ones that I have done before...this time your paying me to keep my beard...so far we have a $2500 goal between 5 contestants. My advice for you at this time is to go to BeardsForBucks.com and vote for your favorite Beard...(mine) and donate some money. Really it goes for a good cause.

Now for what is happening with me this next month...I think. The end of this week will be me leading the next NIKO here at the base...if you don't know what that is....check it out. I get the chance to facilitate almost 30 participants and and I think 14 staff on an Outdoor Leadership Training Program. Its going to be a lot of fun. That's next week.

I am back for a while after that (2 weeks) and then I travel down to Bishop Ca. to help facilitate a backpacking expedition with YWAM Bishop I will be there for almost 2 weeks...and then! from I hope/believe around the 12th of October I will be back in Twin Falls for a month.

SO. If your reading this and your checking up on me through this WWW thing and you would like to hang out...maybe talk about how you can support me in what I am doing...I would love to do that. I have a bill hanging on my shoulders well, honestly I don't really want. I have been almost 7 years debt free and don't want to start a habit like this at all.
I am not going to go into that anymore but if you would like to help out contact me and I can get you pointed in the right direction to help me help you :) Good? Good. Enough of that.

Now for some of the photos that I have been taking as of late.

The First one of course is a little Scare tactic for Beards For Bucks.com Its Game On fellas!

The next few are some of Megan. She always has the opportunity as the stand in for my lighting experiments so patient.

And the one of Phil is for one of the Ads we are putting together for our ELC...English Language Culture.

By the way Phil...I am going to miss you bro. Have fun in Nairobi. See ya there someday.

Have a good day.

New Plans, No Plans, My Plans

2009-08-03T23:54:00.000-07:00

Lots of photos of me on this one...I can do that cause its my blog.

Lets Go!

So, the last month ish has been exactly that...I have had a few newsletters written out...but haven't sent any of them because well, plans change. Right now my life is an ish. Normally I am ok with it but this last time it really messed with me. I was supposed to be back down in Bishop Ca to staff the DTS that is coming in....that was a 6 month chunk of time out of this next year that I had planned....not anymore...it canceled. My thought on it? Its alright, I think it may have needed to happen for the dynamics of the base down there but why when I was supposed to be there...bahhh! Just saying I hope I get a Re invite...hint hint, wink wink YWAM Bishop.

So I have been back in Salem now for 2 months...ok, ish. I have been over to YWAM Wyoming to work with them and their

Niko for a few we

eks. That was a lot of fun being over there. I had to shave my face into a foo man cho

o just to be accepted by the wrangler toten cowboys over there...you have no idea what I had to go through...22oz steak, sleeping in a nice cabin, that was just for the first night...the rest of it was NIKO which with this whole year in consideration...I actually sleep better on my Thermarest then I do anywhere else...includin

g my own bed at home...I love my life.

So, if you guys still follow my blog at all and know what my next step is...let me know I would love to hear from you.

Now just a few photos....enjoy, its been a while.

So, just going through the photos of the last few weeks I have found quite of few of me...and I am not always the one taking pictures...so, this time you get to see some of what I am doing...weekends, workdays, everyday. I'll try and explain the photos...

So this was my 4th of July...and 5th...I was able to go Climbing with Jouni, Mari, and Petra. Fins and Germans...later on we met up with England and another German...the English guy g

ave me a beer and said hap

py Forth of July from England! Nice.

The nap was much needed...this is what happens when its really hot outside and you don't chase the shade at Smith Rock.

..you want to sleep. Great day though..

.we ended up climbing late into the evening...thats when we met the other guys.

The next day was at a friends wedding..I wasn't shooting it but sometimes I just can't help myself....it just happens. I told myself I was not going to take very man

y pictures...I only took about 200...not much.

Then flower was taken in Wyoming when I was there working with NIKO...isn't it just purdy?

Ok, enough for tonight...ma

ybe I

will update it again tomorrow...that would be weird...

Night all, or morning where ever you are.

Ryan

HomeFree

2009-06-05T23:27:00.000-07:00

I made it. I made it back to Salem alive and in one piece. The last 9 months of my life have been spent living out of my backpack. Do I love it? YES. Just thinking back I have had experiences with Brazilian SWAT teams, stayed in sketchy hotel rooms in un-known cities in Brazil, been welcomed in by multiple families in Brazil, built a Ropes Course, God provided a ride from Reno Nv. to Bishop Ca...soo cool, backpacked with a team of people in the Eastern Sierras, shot a movie for YWAM Bishop, learned a lot about mountaineering, glisaded 2,500 ft down a coular on my butt, compleated a WFR (recertification) been caught in a lightning/hail/sleet/wind storm on the 3rd pitch of a route at Smith Rock. (that was just 2 days ago!) we bailed on that one, almost got hypothermia....

The coolest thing about all this is I have been able to invest every single day into someones life. Honestly, I have been more blessed to be able to meet and hang out with such great people and partner and do some ministry...so much fun.

So I want to make this one a really quick post...with some sweet photos....here it is. First photo is in Bishop (this is where we had the lecture part of the course....the bottom is me climbing in Bishop. We had one day off within the 200 some odd hours we worked so climbing comes in handy...

Ok

Goodnight!

Have you lost Weight!

2009-05-06T00:31:00.001-07:00

So with every thing I have been doing this last month I haven't had time to update my blog cause well, I have been in the back country in the Sierra Nevadas just a short drive out of Bishop Ca...Where did this all come from?

Well, when I was down in Brazil earlier this last year Aaron, one of the staff emailed me and asked if I would like to come with them on a few of their trips and document everything that they do in this school. Here is the Website. Of course I said yes!

So just a few things of what we did...a few days of Mountaineering, skills involved with that such as using an ice ax, learning Self Arrest, setting up protection climbing on ice, and how to walk down hill on ice...From there we were able to go Desert Canyoneering, so we went near Death Valley and found a mtn to climb up and repel down 11 waterfalls. Pretty amazing! This whole time I took photos of everything....I mean everything...it was pretty much a dream come true, very cool. So, before I was to come back home (to Salem) I was asked if I could stay longer and help out the DTS with a promo video....of course I said yes again and was able to help Jordan out with some production stuff, I ended up shooting some....wasn't infront of the camera but thats ok...it was a great learning expeience for me I had never shot a movie before...can't wait to see it. I'll be sure and share it when I can.

So, before the rock climbing and everything wears off until I go next time I wanted to get some photos off so you can see some stuff.

On a compleatly seperate note...It looks like my plans are going through this year. I think that I will be haveing a very interesting year...some things God and I talked about in Brazil are actually formulating....just not how I invisioned it...all that for another time to post.

I have been in this amazing office that you see here in photos and the last week I have been back in the office trying to publish all these photos....kind of drastic but, I think I can handle. Back to working in the middle of the night.

So..in order to save time I am going to bed right now...and sleep so I can work tomorrow.

Good day.

A quick updated with photos!

2009-04-09T12:10:00.001-07:00

So, I can say this has been THE most strenuous and physically demanding photo shoot I have had in my entire life thus far.

Let me back up

just a little bit and

tell you how I got here...kind of a long story but I will shorten it up....But, thank you so much all of you who were part of this...God is in you!

Twin Falls, I need to so

me how make it down to Bishop Ca on the 24th ish of March. One of my friends was leaving to go work overseas and asked if they could help any by flying me as close as possible to bishop on the

ir flight miles! Of course I said

yes it would at least get me halfway there! So, Vegas here I come! I was able to visit family and friends down there for a few days and it was an amazing time just to relax and get some much needed work done...at this time I am still trying to figure out how I am am going t

o get to Reno 8 hrs North, to catch THE only bus that runs into Bishop...So,

I get on Craigslist to find a rideshare and come to find out one of my uncles friends was driving there the day that I needed! Check! 8 hrs in the truck what a great time! Really it was fun, great conversation! Just watch out for the alie

ns in the Nevada Desert! I needed a place to stay that night

ht and then be dropped off at the airport in Reno on that Wed. to catch the bus...Ended up getting in contact

with some old friends that are pastoring a church in Reno, they let me crash on their floor for the evening...wha

t a wonderful time catching up and actually seeing where life takes people! God has some amazing stories! Next afternoon to the airport in Reno to catch the bus...I showed up 1.5 hrs early to make sure everything was good...come to find out the lady that I talked to told 3 other people that the bus was running that day and it never showed up! So, here I am stuck in Reno! I looked into renting a car...but couldn't cause non of the car companies had any extra or they don't service one ways to Bishop. Great! So let me give you a picture....I have all my luggage with me...backpacking, climbing, camera and nothing extra...I had

been wearing the same cloths for a few days and my uncle gave me a shirt that was too small on him. SO. I ended up asking ever

yone going through Reno if they were heading in the direction of Bishop, just so I could get a way down there! After almost 4.5 hours of asking people if they were going I almost gave up and was about to call my contacts from the night b

efore, or get a hotel room...the last half hour was me just telling myself "just one more person" Finally that one more person paid off. A lady and 2 other people were standing waiting for their luggage I rolled up there with my little luggage cart way overfilled and asked if they were heading down to Bishop...No (again) then the lady asks why I need to be down there...told them about the photo shoot and the situation that I was in, she ended up calling her house sitter and asked him is he wanted to drive

down to Bishop Ca tonight she mentioned YWAM and he said YES. The lady brought me to her house set me in front of her TV with some Sparkeling Water....and I wait...45 minutes pass and I am still all by myself in her home! What a trusting woman! God is soo good! (By the way March Madness was on so I was happy) Finally my ride gets there and we picked up another car with friend and we were on the road, heading to Bishop Ca. Finally! Amazing time driving down there with these guys in the middle of the night. We ended up pulling into Bishop at around 11 at night...and they turned around and went back! I wanted to pay them but they wouldn't have it at all! God answered a lot of dreams that night mine and theirs! Mine was a ride, theirs was to help someone out!

So Now I am in Bishop for a few weeks and we did some Mountaineering, and ended up climbing close to 13,000 ft. Never in my life have I wanted to quite so bad....I just couldn't breath going up the steep mountain! But, I am so glad I kept on going....trust me the pay off was amazing...I have some pictures of it. It was a good summit/pass.

Unfortuanaly one of the staff ended up getting sick and we had to cancel the rest of the trip...we were out 5 days....I think, and we had 3 more to go. I ended up doing some things like learning how to Self Arrest and build snow caves and a bunch of different things, such a great time.

Anyways, I need to get going but tomorrow we head out to Death Valley to go Desert Canyoneering. We will be hiking for 1.5 days to the top of a canyon...Rappel down to the river and continue getting out of the canyon...a total of 13 Rappel stations! Some places will be up to our neck in water! and I have to keep all my gear Dry! Ha! This is going to be awesome! So.

The photos...

Big Day in Bishop Ca

2009-03-27T01:29:00.000-07:00

Today as of right now...when I post this...I will be doing one of the hardest thing ever in my life...I will be heading out with me and my camera to document a little school here in Bishop called SOAR...look it up under YWAM Bishop. We will be spending 8 days out in the Mtns outside Bishop Ca and one of these days we will summit at 14,000 ft. Lots of snow in this area. Great times! I really am looking forward to it but really covet your prayers....it is going to be exausting...last time I weighed my bag it was 73 lbs...or 33.1 Kg. It will be an experience that I wont soon forget. After that we will be going into the desert to do some exercises out there. Well, its past 1:30 in the morn...and I kind of need my good sleep...Ciao.

The Pictures are some from my time at home last month...training...or snowshoeing, same thing.

Enjoy!

Just a few photos from Brazil.

2009-03-15T16:26:00.000-07:00

So I am here in Boise right now, and the last few days here have been great! I got to summit a little climb in Idaho City with a good friend and it literally kicked my butt...I am so out of shape for this next month!! Its going to be amazing!

Well, as I promised here are some photos from Brazil.

2009-03-09T19:40:00.000-07:00

I know I know...but I thought it was a blog that updates automatically. Opps.

So, my current location is Twin Falls Idaho. I am

here for a few days on vacation and well, so far its been pretty good. I have seen a few people, not everyone I want to see but I am getting there.

The last 3 days as of the 9th...I have gone snowshoeing everyday...It has been amazing...everything ranging from a S

unday stroll after church to an all day hike up and around the mtn...just to get to the top and snowboard down in power up to the knee...its been a great week so far.

So in this time I have had some time to process some photos. Actually I need to take time cause my work horse (Powerbook G4) is getting a little slow the

se days...I am proud to say that it is still going though. I am really excited to share some photos, it seems like forever...I know, it has been.

So just for the sake of getting photos up. Here are a few. Enjoy. I will have a more Brazil specific one soon.

First post of 09´ with pictures!

2009-01-17T06:21:00.000-08:00

A few photos taken of some of the work I have been doing down here. NOTE: The photos taken are not MY photos. they are a member of the team that was down here Brian, also a great photog. Thanks Brian for leaving some photos behind down here.

From Dimension

Luba learning how to throw things at my head.

From Dimension

Dirk and I in the trees...I am on the left.

From Dimension

Jorg and I in another tree. Passing him the drill.

From Dimension

Drilling the Flying Squirrell

From Dimension

Taking photos of the pamper pole being put up.

From Dimension

A few days on Honey Island, hanging out with some of the guys.

From Dimension

Trying to get the bolt in with my mind. I finally got it.

From Dimension

Camron Diaz...apparently I look like her.

From Dimension

Short hike to the top of some rocks a few minutes walk from the base.

From Dimension

On top of that big rock...looking out.

From Dimension

Back to training on the course.

From Dimension

Teaching knots...Thanks Rex!

From Dimension

How I climb trees...I guess.

From Dimension

First attempt on the Zip Line...our participant had just a few broken legs...I mean bottles.

From Dimension

Another tree...Giant Swing I believe.

From Dimension

Platform for The Giant Swing

From Dimension

Another look out. running around with some of the kids from the neighborhood.

From Dimension

Calling it a day.

From Dimension

Working with my brother...err...Ivo. (and Hanna)

From Dimension

Brad and I. Literally my sanity :)

From Dimension

I guess I just like to hang out at the tops of trees and poles...this one I had to wait for a while...I fell asleep.

Christmas in Brazil

2008-12-25T10:59:00.000-08:00

Merry Christmas all...I was just thinking about my blog and how long I have been updating it and its coming up on a 3 year birthday if you will here at the new year.

its been an interesting time here in Brazil on Christmas. Let me give you a little update on whats been happening before...

Part 6...

God has his own timing for everything. If you were to ask me to explain how it works well, I don't know. Pretty much you plan and

do everything you can to make things work smoothly and he is still in control....which doesn't really have anything to do with time.

So the rest of our team got here 3 guys from Latvia and a few others from here in Brazil. Each day we would do all we could do with very little tools we literally didn't have a normal hammer...it had a broken head on it...and was a finishing hammer. There was plenty of things for us to do before the container got here Jorg, Dirk, and I were the main team up in the air for the first part drilling holes up in trees with no bolt to put them in which meant we had to climb the trees again.

Other places around the course it was ground work. So in other words it was a lot of prep work for when the container got here.

The night that the container got here was an exciting one. It was about 23:00 and we had a whole bunch of people helping unload, almost 35 people! Pretty Amazing.

So, of course after that night the rest of the time the team was here was spent swedgeing, putting bolt in, drilling more holes, pre

tty much we put the course together in under a week...backwards. I never thought I would say this but...math works. NOT for me mind you but it still does...I guess.

So since all the team has left except Luba and the Metcalfs we are now the official make things look good team. We still need to build a platform for the Zip Line and tighten Guy Wires, finish working on the High Circuit and then the important part is to train people how to facilitate on the ropes course.

New years is here and we have just a few more days to relax and take off...its been nice but way to much time to do nothing.

So the Photos. The first one is a picture that Brain, a guy on our team took...maybe it was Petra...anyway....if you look close enough you might be able to find Dirk and I.

The next photo is me on the Giant Swing tree drilling away...look over my right shoulder and you can see someone on the ground way...way down there.

And the last photo is of a girl in one of the homes in the slum behind the base...with us getting all the ground work done before the container got here we had spare time to do some ministry around the neighborhood...this place we ended up raising enough money just in our team to replace the roof(or lack there of) of one of the guys homes that was helping us. We were also able to buy furniture and a stove for him and his family as well. Cool Stuff.

Well until next time...who knows when.

keep praying...I come home on the 12th of Feb 09.

Brazil

2008-11-26T15:11:00.000-08:00

So its been 1 week here in Brazil and I am not sure which story to tell. My adventures have consisted of 3 days of couch surfing, being lost in a city of 19 million. Trying to find my way through the bus system in that city, driving through other cities, my lack of speaking Portuguese, literally bush whacking through a jungle. Helping teach with a team of people a group from one of the local churches and meeting up with 25 friends from around the world. Today I got to sit down

(lay down) in a hammock and look over

parts of a city and just realize how privileged I am to be living my life. Though the work days start Monday

on building the Ropes Course, and I hopefully will be hanging out in the tops of trees, its really been a time to remember.

The team I met up with consists of:

Jeff, his wife Sue and Loral his daughter (he is the guy I went to Germany and Latvia with)

Sal and his family. (They were in Sa

lem for just over a year training on the Ropes Course so we could bring it down here to his city of curitiba. He has 3 daughters.)

Dirk and Patty and their family (They have worked on the ropes course the last 3 seasons and have 2 daughters Kendra and Kylie. They will be staying here for 6 months at the base.

Jorg and his family (They were a family I met in Germany when I was there last year, a family of 4 boys! Only 3 minutes into seeing them tonight I was already being tackled by 3 of them! Good times)

Brad and Kendra (Both are on staff at

YWAM Salem and have worked on the Ropes Course this last year. They are dating.)

Brian and Petra (Brian just finished his CDTS a few weeks ago and Petra I met in Germany last year...she came over here to work on Ropes and met Brian there. They just got engaged.)

Bill (I worked with Bill on the Ropes Course the last first 2 years and has an incredible knack for intelligence coupled with an amazing testimony.)

Luba (Luba is from Ukraine and has worked on the Ropes Course the last 2 years. She will be here 3 months just like me.)

Jesse (Jesse is the YWAM Salems Base Director and will be here for 2 more weeks. He is one of the guys I got to go and teach with this last weekend)

Hanna (She is a girl that just arrived today (26th) from Germany. She is working with the Ritter family and is working on the ropes course there.)

And for some people that we are still waiting on

Ivo, Rivas and Ritus (All from Latvia, I got to work with Ivo and his family one year on the Ropes Course in Salem and then I met up with all of them last year in Latvia)

Cory and Kevin (Right now they are still in Salem waiting for their visas to come into Brazil. They will be here for almost I year I think doing a DTS here and then going back to Salem.

So thats the clan I get to live and work with, most will be here a month working on the course and a few of the others will stay a bit longer like me and help out where needed.

ON TO THE STORIES!

So my first day in Brazil I spent walking a total of 18 miles in and around Sao Paulo. I was offered a bike to ride around on but was encouraged to take the public transit system (faster and easier.) First of all I want to say that the couch surfing family I stayed with was amazing! I couldn’t ask for a better home to stay in they were minutes within Brazils “Wall Street” and wanted only the best for me. They provided a key to the house and let me come and go as I pleased such a great time with these people.

Anyway, so I decided to walk that day and went to a few different places...the cemetery being one of those places...let me tell you this place was cool! Its a very Catholic cemetery, so lots of tombs (is that the right word?) Got a few good pictures there and then the rest of the day was me walking around all the different galleries one place must have been about 60 acres total and 4 stories up....very cool!

So the pictures.

I am having to pick and choose what photos to put on here and for some reason I can't get vertical photos...vertical...go figure.

So here are just a few

The first 2 are just some photos of the first few days and the Sunday afternoon I got to relax on the deck. The first photo is in Sao Paulo couch surfing and the next is where I'll be most of my time at the YWAM base.

the 3rd photo is of Jorg and I working up in the trees just hanging there with big drills...no big deal.

Its 23:00 I am going to bed...NIGHT!

Brazil and Couches

2008-11-11T23:22:00.000-08:00

So, there is a rumor going around that I am going to Brazil. Well, let me tell you...I am. Its been a long month since my last post. We (Ropes Team) applied for 2 different visas to Brazil and got denied both times...this was of course after the fact that I had already bought my ticket to Brazil, a whopping $1289.83 or something like that...who is counting anyway. So, It hasn't been until the last few weeks after the 3rd application to Brazil did we ALL (25 people) get our visas...I got a 5 year visa! Amazing! God is so good.
Anyway, all this time has been caught up working (hanging out) with the current DTS, planning for this trip to Brazil, working on maintenance here at the base, working in communications, I think sometime in there was a trip down to San Fransisco (apply for visas) Seattle (Photoshop siminar) my Aunts Wedding, and everything else that comes when you only have a few days to do everything, good stuff. I still need to figure out what,where, and how I am going to take everything I need down there...I have 2 backpacks that I can carry on. (You can see those here and here.) Camera gear, 3 months worth of "gear that I need to bring, all my climbing gear for building, and stuff Sal has bought for us all to enjoy bringing down to him. I am going to try and get this all as carry on...good times. Then other stuff like finances, calling people, making sure I am not forgetting anything you know, travel stuff.
So, I just noticed a few things. One, I have never talked about couchsurfing and Two, I have never talked about couchsurfing. Personally, I think its is such a great concept. Invite people from all over the world to stay at your house for free and your only payment is a new friends and a better connection with the world...sharing, hospitality at its finest. I have hosted a few people on my couch in Idaho and also a few more people here in Salem. I have also done it well, all over the world literally. Boise, Portland, Seattle, Nashville, L.A., Berlin, and on the 17th...Sao Paulo. This round of couchsurfing includes a couple in Sao Paulo, they have literally given me the keys to their house...man I am so blessed and privileged. I will be there at their house for a few days until the rest of the team gets into Brazil and then we go further south and begin building. So the first few days I will be thrown into a brand new culture, new language, and new surroundings without knowing hardly any Portuguese, and my first task is to make it all the way across a HUGE city without any problems. (Jessica I'll be thinking about you when we finally make it on to The Amazing Race!)
So, I guess an important detail that I forgot to mention was I am also coming back to the states on my very own Birthday, February the 13th I'll be mid-air...man I hope they have a cake for me. Ok, I kid. I don't enjoy cake unless its free, and then sometimes not.
When I am down there I don't know when I am going to be able to up date this blog. The first month I will be up in a tree mainly hanging out like I was doing in Germany and Latvia (good times) then the next 2 months after that are still in the process of planning but that will be the main bulk of when I am taking photos...

So the Photos.

The first one is of Ruthie. I work with here here at the base in Salem. Its just a random photo I found in my archive. I like it. Its all sunlight.

The other Photos are some experiments I am doing with bubbles. Its a fun project...I am actually learning a lot through it...

We'll good night for me right now.

Africa and New School

2008-10-10T00:08:00.000-07:00

So, one of my really good friends (person A) left last week for Africa (soon) and to be honest I haven't felt so bitter towards YWAM, someone (person A), Jesus, all of the above for leaving in a long time. I know I am going to see him (person A) again, I am confident in that, but seriously! Did you have to leave without me? BLAH! I am really stoked to see and hear what unfolds in the next few years for my friend(s) who are over there...really excited. I am sure all of them will be gracing the end of my lens someday. Have fun.

In other news. The Fall DTS is in session, and I am doing a little something different during this school. Most of the time I might get to know a few of the students...maybe. But God really challenge me to not just "do my thing" but to actually connect with the students. Normaly I would just connect with the people who would come back on staff and get to know them then...but thats now how my friend (person A)...or Jesus would do it. You see, Person A even when he knows he only has 3 weeks with a person, he invests as much as he can into the person and tries to disciple them. I am pretty sure the J man would do the same thing...wait, he did. Anyway, I am making time to hang out with the school cause I only have until November 16th before I leave for Brazil and I want them to experience as much of God as possible. So, that makes me excited about what God will be doing in their lives. Go God.

On the Photo side of things I have been doing a few different things around here. We have a "studio" if you will...more like a cave with 2 strobes in it...(it works so much better then not having one) but, I have been shooting quite a few "seamless backgrounds" for this look.
I don't think I quite have it down consistently but I am working on it. I am thinking Staff photos.
This next Monday I get 2 soft boxes to work with and frankly I am really enthusiastic about that. Its going to be great!

I have also been seeing some things in my head that I am going to try and get down on "film" some design stuff and some painting stuff...yeah thats right, I said painting...I don't know how I am going to accomplish that...it didn't turn out so well in High School...but all that to say I still have something in my head for an ad ish background for something...I don't know yet.

So for the photos...Well, I shaved again...currently its all gone. But just as a warning, its beard time, who knows how far I am going to take this one. I am sure I'll give updates on that.

The 2nd and 3rd photos were of a Sunday Drive I took with a friend at church its at the Silverton Reservoir.
4th photo is a building up in Portland.
5th Photo of some students. Saturday I took a few of the girls up to Portland to hang out. Get this, we went to some Art Galleries and they didn't complain one bit! Amazing. In fact we also just walked around and they didn't say a thing. (I guess I was the only one complaining on that trip.)

6th Photo is the next day (Sunday) and the school went to the beach. Well, we kind of got lost and then found it. A little rainy but not to bad for the Oregon Coast. All in all its been a great time. Next time I update I have to write something about what is going on with our Visas for Brazil. That's a whole other blog post...I'll give you a hint. I went to San Fran for a day and a half...OK! Off to Bed.

See ya when ever.

What the Brown!

2008-09-20T22:33:00.000-07:00

I slept in today...it was wonderful. Then went for a random drive with the new DTS Students up to Portland...Apple Store, REI,Powells Books, Deek and Brians...well, sort of. We stood on the outside and talked to a homeless man that we (8 guys) were able to help out. Not much is happening that I can think of right now. Newsletters will be heading out this next week. Again, if you missed it on the last post, I am going to Brazil and am spreading the word about it cause, I have ohhh, 33 bucks in my account and need to raise $1000 dollars by November 16th.

The Photo is a picture of one of the Students in the DTS. It's one photo in a group of 65 photos put into an animation...once he is done putting it together I'll be sure and post it on here.

oh yeah...I also have my newsletter here. Go ahead and read it.

Have a good week. Oh, yeah. Here is my newsletter.

Quick Wrap Up.

2008-09-14T22:53:00.000-07:00

I have had one heck of a summer...well, spring summer. Since the April, I have been consistently going somewhere or coming back from doing something. Last week was the last Niko on the schedule and I am "grounded" for 2 months...maybe one month cause there are talks of me going on another mobile trip to document it for the Galilee Project. This ends only 9 days before I leave to go to Brazil for 3 months. Currently, my plans for the trip consist of helping build a Ropes Course for the YWAM Base down there for the first month, take a little vacation for Christmas and New Years, and then start on kind of a personal project with my photography. Now, I say kind of cause it involves my sister (RIP) and it also involves me documenting mission/missionaries where ever I am. Just a quick background...I had a sister that died of SIDS before I was born and my parents set up a fund in her name...well, part of the funds if I remember correctly went to a missionary that was stationed in Brazil. Now, unfortunately he has since moved away to Africa and is working over there full time...but I get to go and document what he/and his family has done over there over the years, along with kind of a legacy of what has become of my sister...so, a work/personal project. I will be flying back from Brazil on my birthday the 13th of February...so Happy Birthday to me.
Right now, I am currently working on raising support for the time I am on the ground in Brazil. I had enough money saved up from the last time I was home and had enough for the plane ticket...but I had a little hic-up with on of my lenses...last May when I was in California I ended up breaking a lens...it wouldn't zoom or focus anymore. I have worked with it since then and last month when I was at a camp for foster kid in the area the lens literaly exploded in my hand...pretty amazing. Check out the photos. ANYWAY, I ended up having to buy a new lens. Luckly I have put money away each month to save up for it and I am a proud new owner of a Nikon 17-55 2.8 lens YEAH! For those of you who are checking up on the price of the lens, I got it for 5/8ths the price...thanks Craigs List, $800 bucks! WHOO!

SO, the Price I am budgeting for on the ground in Brazil will be $1000.00 food, travel, all that.

Now on to the pictures of the last few months....actually, these are just within the last few week.

The First two photos are of some staff here at the base. Ethan and Mekisha (forgive me for the spelling) and the other is Angela. The Next two are for the Freedom Project...some promotional stuff that I am helping with in Latvia. Of course the next is my broken lens.

By the Way. The Pano Photos are up and moving on the YWAM Website Here is the link.

Forever and Counting

2008-08-19T23:22:00.000-07:00

By the Way. The Pano Photos are up and moving on the YWAM Website Here is the link.

So, for the requested update I give you some photos...these are panoramic shots of the base...flat on my blog...but soon to be interactive pano shots on here. Not as of yet though. This week I should have a few minutes to update on my life...its been a busy one. Anyways, here they are. Enjoy.

A little Over Due

2008-07-09T09:43:00.000-07:00

Well. It happened, 2 months just got away from me and I am left here trying to recap every thing that I did. Right now I am sitting in the Boise Airport just about ready to embark on another wedding...One more of my friends getting hitched...Go Andrew. Anyways, the time that I left you I was just beginning a month long mobile trip down to California and Mexico. Here is an example of some of the things that I did for the "marketing" for this trip. I will say I had a great person to work with in the photos and design process, fun stuff. Over all that experience was really great just to go and speak with people and try to motivate them to do something for God, and build relationships with different churches that we have been to before...it was kind of cool to see us as a group go from talking about doing something productive (like serving other people)to just serving people. It was great to see how God worked.

So I have other stroies about that trip but frankly...that was a month ago...And I am still one month behind.

When I got back from that trip in California a day later I was in a vehicle driving up to Spokane, Wa. for a Ropes Course Training for a TRAC Camp that I am on the Leadership Board with. Good times there.

Ok Now I am back in Salem and my next stop is Staffing a NIKO...I am 3 minutes late for the bus...drove out to the NIKO Site and had an interesting time with Jr. High Students from a local Mennonite Church here in the Valley...Good times.

Got back from that and ended up doing a little bit of work for NIKO and going to Manditory meetings for a Royal Family Kids Camp that I would be a counselor at, at a later date. Plus Building and Training for this TRAC Camp...little busy.

Next I shot Mel and Sammys Wedding at the base. Thats when I found out that I had broken one of my lenses...So I got to rent the lens I have been saving up for. Nikon 17-55 2.8 Only 1400 bucks.

Weddings done at 2 in the morning and 10 the next morning I am on my way to church packed and ready to go for a week long kids camp through my church for Foster Kids who have been abused and neglected...Lets just say it was at that point in church when I sat there and realized I haven't taken a day off to relax since the first of May...so tired. Not a good way to start a Kids Camp. Well, I had fun there. One morning I woke up at 3 and had to bring a child back to his bed....good times.

And now. I just got back from this camp last Saturday and right as I drive on base I am reminded that I have kitchen duties for that day....(they had updated the schedule when I was gone) I was told not to worry about it today but I could cover whoever had it on Sunday...my first official day off. It wasn't a bad thing I actually enjoyed getting back in the kitchen for a little while.

So I sat in my office the last two days and tidied up a little bit. Made a few books and edited Photos from the last wedding I shot and all of a sudden I am sitting here in Boise, Idaho waiting for my ride to get here and am up dating this thing...all I have to say is its about time. Geez.

As always enjoy the photos...I hope to make a few more these next few days.

2008-05-07T13:34:00.001-07:00

The beginning of this month I had the oppertunity to leave the base and go on a mobile trip with 5 other people Megan, Brittany, Ruthie, Andrew, Luke and I. Already, we have seen a lot of cool things happen, things that we prayed for before we left are happening, people are being really receptive, and I am getting to live out what I have dreamed of...This morning I got to speak in front of a a middle school class here in California and challenged them to make a difference where they are at now in their lives...so the first few minutes of it was just a little slide show going on in the background and all the kids were ewwing and awing...kind of cool. It killed the time :) I had about 10 or 15 minutes, so it was much needed.

Anyway, I am on the road for a whole month and I just confirmed today that I will be going to Mexico for about 2 days to work along side a youth group that wants us to show them how to do the evangelism side of things.

Today was the first day I feel like I ended up getting some decent photos of everyone...even though they are still just talking in front of people. There must be a way to spice these photos up a little in order to make it more exciting....maybe not. We will be having "ministry" time more in the future so I'll get some action shots of them all working.

Anyways, If you (who ever reads this) would like to pray for a few things on this trip. Here are a few things.

Pray that the things we share and show will continue to motivate the people we speak to. That it won't be just a passing thing but a transforming thing.
Safety...in driving...oh, and good gas miledge. We are driving a White Chevy 15 Passenger Van...so.
More on the team dynamics...creativeness.

I am really working with a great team and am excited to see exactly what is going to happen.

I don't have any photos right now on this computer...but as soon as I do I'll put up some photos. I think that this is officially the second time I have posted something without any photos....I feel like I am not doing you justice...sorry.

So be blessed and if your reading this and your in the LA area....we have about 5 days I think where we don't know where we are staying...its going to be great to see how God pulls through.

Be blesssed.

Now for a real post.

2008-04-08T23:26:00.000-07:00

Ok so I admit...I was a little tired on the last post...what, three weeks ago. When its early in the morning it just struck me funny.

So whats been going on to make me so busy... just for starters. WFR is going on. If you don't remember what the WFR is check out my last post here. Just this time I am on the other side of the notes...thank the Lord. I am pretty confident that none of the students are going to find this by Thursday- Saturday. So pretty much what I have been doing is setting up a few different catastrophic scenes. The first one started on Monday, I went to the local airport and picked up the body of an Airplane...good times. I remember last year. Second, I will be involved in turning a van on its side down a ravine. that will be lots of fun...I have always wanted to flip a car. Then there is going to be an earthquake and a class 5 hurricane...all in a few hours. Thursday, Friday, and Saturday is when that is going on.

Among other things. I am getting some ideas together for the Freedom Project here at the base. I kind of view it as a (inter)national Marketing Campaign to stop Human Trafficking. I have quite a few great ideas already in the works towards that...a lot of the stuff I am coming up with deals with a large budget...which, we all know I am not on that end of the spectrum. Maybe someday though. So Chase Jarvis, if you read this you should email me and we could talk about ideas....thats a good idea.

So, I am getting restless...I need to move. Go. Document.

So whats the J man been doing in my life lately...He is challenging me to go to be by 12...at the latest...its after that right now. Anyway, its really tough. I guess thats good though.

I guess since I am at it. Another video...I think this video really speaks into the generations coming up and also the way business are going to be run in the future...its kind of interesting.

Now for the photo. It was shot last week for the project mentioned above...but this wasn't one of my concepts...mine are a little more confusing on the lighting end....I think.

Anyways, enjoy.

Until next time.

Easter. Steven Curtis Chapman and Girls With Gang Signs.

2008-03-23T00:09:00.000-07:00

Its been a while, I know. To long. Almost to the point of me putting it off longer...not that it hasn't been busy around here. On the contrary, it has been really busy. I have actually taken a lot of photos and quite a few things have been going on here at the base.

Today is Easter. I am also in a performance at church. Steven Curtis Chapman. Need I say more? I think it should be on youtube here in a few days. You all can laugh at me. Well, I need to get to bed. I wanted to post something so it would motivate me another time in the near future to post again. Trust me its coming. But until then, for those of you who enjoyed the mustache video...this one made me laugh as well. Just the irony of it all.

The other photos are of some students that are here. I made a ring flash just for this shoot. I think it turned out really well. I love the photos.

Have a great day. (No matter what day it is when you read this.)

Be Blessed

Photo Videos.

2008-03-02T23:57:00.000-08:00

A lot has been going on here at the base. Even though I am sitting in front of this computer most of the time now...I still don't have any time to update this thing...it has been a while.
The week of my birthday I spent up in Portland going back and forth from the Airport...Picking up and dropping off Students....Then the rest of that week was spent making slide shows of all the photos that were brought back from outreach....great stuff. I was able to edit and show a variety of photos...

So, I am really tired right now. It is currently 12:22 and I am going to bed but, before I do that I want to introduce a new little thing I am going to do....Since I am trying to find a balance between a "Photo Blog" and a blog that people can come to and find out what I am doing. I am going to Post some of my favorite photo videos that I come across on the internet. This will give you a little insight to the things that I consistently think about. When ever I enter a room I can almost tell you what kind of exposure it will need "in" camera for what I imagine. Anyway, Thats going to be part of my geeky side coming out in this world. So for my first movie...enjoy.

This First movie is one of a respected Photog up in Seattle/Paris area. Chase Jarvis.

So Sit back and enjoy this whole process of work by Chase.

The News!!

2008-02-18T23:33:00.000-08:00

First off. It has been such a long week for me. Most of it was sitting behind a wheel driving between the airport and where ever I spent the previous night. I had the great pleasure of meeting up with YWAM Portland. Great bunch of people. They took me out for a Birthday Breakfast and it was the best BnG...good stuff.

After I almost had a heart attack cause of that BnG I was off to see the city of Portland with my eyes behind the camera...well, that hardly happened cause 2 brothers that were at the PDX Base we ended up hanging out and eating some great grub from a place downtown.

Later that afternoon I picked up a student that flew in from Sudan. Great news there also! Man its been a busy week!

That was my Birthday.

The next day I preceded to pick up more students from the airport....next day I shot a music video for a local artists. She was a lot of fun to work with and I think I turned out with some pretty solid images. (not bad shooting at ambient...1/40th of a sec @ 2.8) I was a little nervous. After the whole shindig is a whole other story...God and Divulge Records is a huge blessing...thats another story...

NOW for the NEWS that some of you have been waiting for.

About a week and a half ago, Eddy, Jess, and I sat down for dinner here at the base and he preceded to tell me (over and over again) to get out of here, to get up off my butt and get going.
Well, a few things have been happening to refine my vision lately and this was part of it.

I guess I am just going to drop it, instead of just lead you on...(even if you have read this far)

I would like to publish a book by this time next year...like 10,000 copies. OF WHAT? Well, I have come to realize that not a lot of people are going to pick up a book about missionaries...come on would you? Personally, I never go out of my way to look at images of missionaries out in "the field" its just boring. Crappy photos, crappy story (not all the time) Oh, and crappy photos. Maybe I am just looking at the wrong books but I haven't seen anything really captivating...thats just me. Thats why I want my part in this transformation.

Where am I going to get these photos? Well, again I am still refining...still in a process. I would love to be able to volunteer on say Mercy Ships or something like that so I can document what the doctors are doing...actively. Maybe for a month. (Man, Eddy your smart.) Present to the doctors what exactly I am doing. (With my books, and maybe their photos in a book.) And whoever else wants to see what they are doing.

Now I know publishing costs are expensive...very. Doctors don't have all the money in the world but if they buy into what my vision is maybe they could invest into the publishing costs through a foundation, grant, personal contribution, ect.

Now if you remember not a lot of people are going to pick up a book about a missionary...but they will with a social issue...say Human Trafficking. I could present a Problem (Human Trafficking) and present part of a solution (Jesus, Freedom Project.) to the problem. THUS the missionaries that I document will be able to receive more support through the pages dedicated to them.

Upon my return to Salem I then go to the different areas that YWAM Salem focus on as a base. Document (the Problem) and offer part of a solution. This helps out with the vision of the base. It helps with the mobilization of people. (aka marketing) and a documentation of what YWAM Salem's inheritance is...I still learn more about this base every day I had no Idea about before...

All this of course means...I need more money...I have no idea how in the world I am going to do it...its out of my range. Really far out. I never used to think of myself publishing a book but I guess the J-Man see it all different, he is the one stretching the $300 buck I get a month. He is SO Faithful.

I would love to hear anything of what you guys, (the now 10 or so of you that read this on a regular basis...thank you) think of this refined vision...critics, anything...remember I can't do this on my own. I have to rely on you and other people that don't read this blog.

Well, to all. Its getting really late...1:51 according to my computer...good night and I'll see you next time.

By the way. God is good.

Happy Birthday to me.

2008-02-12T00:39:00.000-08:00

Its that time of the year again...my birthday. 26 yrs old. Its been good times, never thought I would make it this far...surprising, I keep on surviving. God is good.

This last week at the base has been full of adventures. First off the outreach teams are coming back from overseas...and we have been doing construction all week to prepare the dorms...they are "more" livable. So lots of things going on and that means a lot of pictures, and work. I did a little bit of everything. Where ever I could help. All I have to say is thanks Josh for teaching me properly how to roll a wall. No roller lines!

I also took a few more pictures of smoke. I really kind of enjoy doing this cause I never know what I am going to get. Hope you enjoy.

Tune in next time...I have news that has been brewing the last few days and I would really like some response on it...If you don't mind.

Wedding Engagement

2008-02-10T02:11:00.000-08:00

Not mine. Sorry to get your hopes up...I know.

I spent Saturday with a couple here on the base. Mel and Samuel are getting married in the next few months and i get to document their wedding! We ended up going in to Salem to take a few photos down town...
Anyway, enjoy.

Alien Bee800...I think I am in love

2008-02-01T00:06:00.000-08:00

I had an real photo shoot today with all the staff on the base. It was a lot of fun. I learned a lot with placement of lights, power, working with models...Man, I have so much to learn if I ever try to work in a "studio".
However, even though I am excited about doing that throughout the day...I had even more fun...getting all my work done! I had decided to bring my computer up with me so I could download and edit throughout the day AND work on all my other projects that need to get done...I am a little worried for tomorrow. What am I going to do? I sat there in the Prayer Chapel and asked myself why and how I got all of this work done...then I realized. I didn't have the internet...even when I am working this thing wastes my time. It reminds me of this video I saw (just a little bit more to waste your time.)

Today, taking all of these photos for the base, I learned how much I should have made...just for todays work. Lets just say I am glad I am doing exactly what I love. God is good. Now hopefully, with these photos they (the missionaries) can maybe send these out to there supporters...I hope I did good enough to be put on the fridge :) of their supporters.

The Ropes Course team left today for a confrence in Portland. Seems to be a pretty big deal. Man, I really miss Ropes. I love working outside, with teams, with the crew we have right now. I know that I am going to be working more in communications but that fresh air every day...I guess I could go take photos...thats how I'll get out. Take pictures. God is good.

For all my supporters (prayer, financial, or those who agree with what I am doing) out there that read this...I don't know who. Thank You. So far its been 2 years, and its been seriously the ride of my life. It is honestly such a blessing when I see your name every month knowing that you still remember me. It feels good. This year will be different with my contact with you. I really want it to be more. So, be ready. I know how to find you.

Well, I am really tired. Its currently 1:44 in the morn and I'll be back in the office at 8 in the morn. Good night to you.

Photo info.

First photo is Phil...I won't tell you what he is doing.

Second is Ethan and Mekeisha "Flying Ladies"

Third is Jason and Trisha

And Fourth is Mike and Nikki

I really enjoyed the family photos a lot this time great people to work with also. So, again good night.

Dreams and Missions

2008-01-23T22:42:00.000-08:00

The last few days have been something I could never had dreamed in a long time...First off...I actually enjoyed myself at a missions convention....kind of weird. I went there with a two part reason.
1. To see/meet old friends. Unfortunately, I don't have any photos of this whole week....kind of sad. And,
2. To actually learn something of what is going on in the "World of Christian Missions."
I made a few different contacts this last week that I will be stirring around for a while in my head to figure out what do to with them.
Honestly, there was so much information thrown out at this convention that it was like trying to drink water from a fire hydrant.

A lot of good things came out of this weekend though. Jeremy and Keri Brown along with Katelynne came to the conference in Portland and were able to come with their friends down to the base here in Salem and experience all that I have been doing the last 2 years. I'll tell you what, having them here was a blast from the past for sure and, they left me wondering if what had happened was real or not. Its always different when someone from "home" visit and see what your doing. To actually experience with them what your dreams are is just amazing. To do that in the physical, so cool. Thank you guys for coming.

On Tuesday I had the opportunity to display my photos in a "mini convention" held here at the base to show people exactly what we are doing here and overseas as well.
I had my own booth to show my work and display all the things that I want to see happen just in my own little ministry...good times. Some photos are finally framed and I have an idea of better ways to do things next time. It was a great crash course. And I can't wait to see what is around the next corner.

Its late and I was going to post some photos that I just took but I think that will come next time...maybe.

But the photo at the top was taken during Christmas in Vegas...my Uncle and I went down to feed the homeless...good times filled with people from all over the world and burning the tips of your fingers on coffee.

Good night.

YWAM SALEM

2008-01-17T22:38:00.000-08:00

I made it home. Josh and I left Twin Falls around 10:30 and pulled into Boise with perfect time to get something to eat and fly on my way back to Salem. This flight however was maybe the most painful I have ever experienced. Just a few days before, I started to get sick. Nothing bad. On the plane however, I got the worst plugged ears EVER! I felt the plane go from 30,000 feet to about 12,000 All in my head! I thought I heard a baby screaming on the plane but I am convinced it was my sub-conscious. This hurts. I have never had a problem with this because I can "pop" my ears pretty simply without making a scene. I just yawn and it seems to work for me. (I can even do it with my mouth closed.) I don't know if thats cool or not but whatever. This time I actually had to pop my ears. Crazy! Anyways, now I can understand babies a little more.

On a total separate note. Today, I got to climb a tree on the course that we have just added stuff to. Its called a Staple Climb. I wish I had some photos but I was too excited, I just grabbed my harness out of my room. Anyways, all you do on this one is climb up a tree (on belay) to the top of the tree! It is so cool! On the way up there are mainly only 10 staples or so the rest your climbing on tree branches. A lot of the ones that are near the ground are cut off to about 8 or 12 inches but once you pass that thresh hold its like when your a little kid again, You get a feeling that you are much safer just because there are branches around and your climbing on and around them. Eventually, I climbed so high that EVERYTHING crystallized almost instantly. All the needles on the tree were green with a layer of ice on top of it. Spiderwebs you could see every detail!

I finally reached the top and looked behind me. I could see above all the other trees on the base and see all the other trees with ice christals throughout the valley. I looked over to my right and could see I-5...to the left was the vineyard. Amazing!

This reminded me of when I was growing up there were different trees all over my neighborhood, (which consisted of miles and miles of forest and farming land in Oregon.) and there were trees that I loved to climb. I would always find a way to climb. (I think about it now and its weird how everything works together.) These were some of my favorite times growing up I think. I could climb a tree and be away from everyone and not be bothered. I could hide and no one could see me. I look at it now and these were probably the times when The J-Man and I would talk the most, where I got the most rest, where I looked and listened.

Fast forward however many years and I find myself climbing same sort of trees in the same area and strangely enough the same safe feeling that I had when I was a kid. The last 2 years I have been up in trees and have been able to minister to people that are now in the same tree as me. Its so cool to see what God has in mind for a persons life. I had so many different ideas of what I was going to do with my life, back when I was a kid maybe my concern was to always have fresh dirt between my toes running down Marion Berry rows. Today, its a little different then that but, I still love to get my hands/feet dirty...I still love to climb trees. I am not always positive about this but I heard a voice that I am all too acquainted with, maybe my ears are bigger up there...I don't know.

Good times today.

So for the Photos.

The First one is kind of obvious....Moms Christmas Gift that she hasn't gotten yet fully. Trust me its coming. One Happy Family there. Mom, Dad, Rob, and Ryan. (Christmas was good. I got to see my brother.)

Photo #2
Just a little more light painting I did with my little cousins in Vegas. (AKA Teaching Them/Goofing around.) Fun times.

Photo #3
My ride up to Boise with Telcia, Orren, and his dad Troy off on the far right. His wife Bonnie is sitting shotgun. This ride was such a blessing to hang out with Tel* for a few days.

Trents Wedding.
Trent got lucky (thats what she said) and married Nicole. There wedding was a blast and I am excited to see how I get to work along side of them in the future...You may remember Trent from another post...then again. Maybe not. Congrats man.

2008-01-12T00:47:00.000-08:00

I came away from this video speechless...I know exactly what this guy is going through...except the flat note that he hits later in the video. So next time you see me with just a mustache, you know.

On a separate note. The ads to the right, I don't control what is being advertised over there. If I could they would probably be different. Anyways, just thought I would tell you guys, google is the one who picks and chooses what is shown. On my computer they are always one thing...today I saw another thing on another computer.

New Years has come! (and gone!)

2008-01-10T02:32:00.000-08:00

Thats right, I am sorry for not showing up here like I said I was. Its been a different "New Years" for me. A good one. I am not complaining. At all. In fact it has been most enjoyable the different experiences I have had thus far this year. Ranging from getting back from Christmas and spending the New Years with friends/the hospital. (NOT ALCOHOL RELATED). Traveling up to Boise and participating in Trents wedding and spending a few days after trying to meet up with people in Boise. Some of which happened but most didn't (which sucks). Only a few days left here in Idaho and I am back into the game of things in Salem. I am really excited to go back. I really hope to pick up the ball and get things rolling (faster) for the base.

So I kind of want to share a little experience with you that I had in Boise.

I had spent the wedding night at the hotel room with the Beckers (his family, not the new ones) and woken up to a few inches of snow out side the window. Thats fine. I love snow. Nice and fluffy. Well, I had packed everything that I had with me and asked the Beckers to drop me off at REI cause I wanted to go look around.

Now, I don't have a ride after they drop me off. Once I step out of the car I am on my own. I did have a few people that I wanted to meet up with and talk to but some of them didn't even know I was in Boise at the time....anyways. I am giving you a play by play of the day. I'll skip to the funny part.

After I bought a jacket from REI later that day my backpack in position and my winter hat on I was walking to Trents house cause thats where I was staying. It was turning dark by this time and I was getting hungry (I hadn't eaten since breakfast) and I decided to walk into a Mongolian BBQ. Before I went in I had decided to only pay five dollars at the very most for dinner that night. When the man told me the prices for the meal I told him thank you and began to leave. He stopped me when I was halfway through the door and said, "Wait, I'll give you a deal!" Well, needless to say I became interested. He gave me half off the $10 menu which means....oh, $5...awesome. AND to top it off halfway through dinner someone from the back of the house (kitchen) came out and gave me two oranges!

So I ate more then my fill and topped it off with 2 oranges and 2 fortune cookies. God is amazing!

Now, don't get me wrong, I was sooo thankful for all they had given me (literally)
but when I sat down to eat I started thinking to myself why I got this "DEAL"
There are a few options here that went through my head.

A. I was their 100th customer that day.
B. He was giving deals out to people wearing backpacks
C. They thought I was homeless
or D. God was hooking me up...again.

I like to think it was D. but with the way they treated me I am not quite sure.

I had just gotten my beard/hair trimmed and my hair was tucked up under my hat. Thinking back on it I remember the cloths I was wearing my Kuhl pants, NorthFace down Jacket, Merrell shoes and my Osprey backpack. Not at all what I Imagen a homeless person to be wearing.

I think this Jesus person is funny the way he takes care of his people. He is faithful.

So, another story for another post but I made it back home (to Twin Falls) just fine and I will be going to bed now.

And So It Begins.

2007-12-25T13:04:00.000-08:00

Christmas, that is. The day is in full swing and I keep thinking of something that I read just yesterday. This comes from my friends over at The Amazing Adventures of Munchy and the Squirrel. This is something that I have been thinking about for quite a while...what is the point. Anyways.

If your checking this thing regularly. Thanks. I plan on updating a few times a week hopefully with new photos every time of what I am doing. For those of you that want to know about the technical side of things I will have that. For those of you who want to know what I am doing period. Well, thats just going to come along with everything that I do....

Well, off to Christmas dinner.

Leaving...again...for Christmas...in Vegas.

2007-12-22T01:09:00.000-08:00

This photo is one of my personal favorites from Prague. It was something I saw and actually ended up conveying at least in the photo "look".
I don't know why it happens every time. But its going to be 3:00 in the AM by the time that we leave. At least. thats the goal. Why do we force ourselves to drive in the middle of the night EVERY single time. As ol' Johnny put it, "my bags are pack'd I'm ready to go." You know I even have my passport on me just in case I need to leave the country...that would be nice right about now.
The last few days I have been laying low doing some different things I have needed to do for a while...and just plain old wasting time. Its been nice. But its time to change. I have that hunger inside to go and document. I really need to run...with my dream. Its time. The horn has sounded and its time to get moving.
Maybe this time in Vegas will be different. Maybe I can go do something for my photography. Do something that I want. I am not sure what it is, landscape is nice...everyone has landscapes of Vegas. Family portraits are nice...those only go so far. I don't know what it is but maybe I can document something important. Not just another trip. I looked at photos from Christianity Today coming from Burma...it fueled more of the fire. I want to GO.
Well, I am going to Vegas tonight. Maybe something will happen this next week. Lets see.

A few Changes

2007-12-18T20:00:00.000-08:00

So just for the record the bottom 2 photos aren't the best...but they sure are funny...(Do you want to be freeeee.) You have to say it with an Elvis touch. Oh, and your thumbs down. By the way its Jason. A guy I work with.

I have been home for a few days now and if I haven't called you I am sorry. Things have been a little hectic. There have been a few changes around this place...some for good and some for, not as good. As I mentioned in my last post I have really been wanting to figure out a way I could attract more people to my site and get them more engaged in what I am doing. My supporters, friends, random people. (If you fit into any of these categories thanks for coming by.)
So the apparent changes are obvious. I got a new header...look up, I have updated my side panel look over there --> and somewhere else over there I added a news reel of sorts, different topics that I look into that may or may not catch your eye. Also I will be adding...I am kind of ashamed to admit this. Google Ads. I figured I might as well try and add some revenue to this site for 2 reason.

1.) I need it.
2.) Blogger is a great service to let other people know what I am doing. I am sure they benefit from it in some way and they don't charge.

So I feel as though I am now prostituting myself out there with Google names everywhere. But. Oh well. As far as I know you didn't come here as a refuge to relieve stress of advertising...I don't think.

Please, if anyone has any advice on making this site better I am all ears, or I mean eyes, or maybe fingers seeing how I am typing right now. The more advice that I have the better.

Here is my deal. I want to be more consistent in updating this thing so you know what is going on in my life. (I say you like someone reads this.) My life being in missions...as a photographer and also updating about random things. I have realized that just like running a business I also need to figure out what my focus is going to be. Is this thing going to be strictly a photo blog where I post about the process of the photos? Is it going to be about updating my supporters and friends on what goes on every day in my life? I like the optimistic view of a healthy balance. There has to be. Well more to come later. I have to get to bed now. Night.

1:30 can't sleep

2007-12-10T01:26:00.000-08:00

So I am laying in bed tonight after spending a day packing...(waisting time) because I am moving here in...2 days. I am going back to Idaho for about a month to do a little support raising and thoughts are just running through my brain. Lots of thoughts. How am I going to get around when I am over there. Currently I am really used to my bike and I would love to take it over there but I don't see checking it as luggage at the airport. I am also thinking of how can let more people know about what I am doing here at the base. (Warning: I have hit support raising mode.) I know this blog goes all over the world...I have seen the statistics. But, its only to one or 2 people a day...and one of those people is me. I want to share with people whats going on over where I am and also share pictures but if no one visits then its kind of pointless. I don't know what I am going to do but I need to kind of market myself. One way, that I have seen is from my friend Mike he sends out emails whenever he updates. I like it when he does that...maybe I'll try it. Another way is to give valuable information kind of like this guy. I know I visit his site ever day multiple times, because he has such great information coming out of it. Granted, he has an audience I am sure is hitting over a million with many more each day but he also has a direct focus...
How can I get a message out to my friends and family of how I am doing and also direct it towards my goal in life right now (forever) Missions Photography. How can I use this blog as a tool to have missionaries find me to document what they are doing? I guess I'll be emailing this guy to pick his brain a little.
Another thought. Tomorrow I have a meeting at 1:30 to talk about frontier missions...I think thats what its called. They had a meeting a few weeks before I was supposed to go to Sudan and I actually stumbled upon the meeting. The conversation was directed towards taking care of the full time missionaries that "we" as YWAM Salem have out there right now. I didn't know this but we have a full time team in Tanzania right now! Who are these people and why don't I know about them? I guess its the problem with this beast we call YWAM. People get forgotten. Period. Its always been something with me to, "Not just take pictures, but to put the camera down and affect the people that I am with at the time." To get my hands dirty and build relationships. I want to do a little of that for these people that I document out in the "field" (What is that anyways? Where is that?) to do a little...I think its officially called Pastoral Care. My terms would be to make sure anything and everything is done to help out the missionaries.
Other thoughts are what is going to happen when I get home. My phone doesn't work anymore. Partly my fault for not checking my voice mail. The people who pay for the phone left a message that I got hours before it went out of service to give them a call. So, I either meet up with them before I leave and who knows what? Or, I make a phone call to them to see what the deal is. Another thing when I get home is I can't be lazy about raising support. I have to meet with people.
Just a few more things I promise.
When I get back here I have no idea what is going on. I was supposed to be leaving for Asia...Uhh I hate this. 3 or 4 major trips have been set up this year to go take pictures and all of them have fallen through. I hate saying I will go somewhere and eventually go somewhere else. That happened this summer. I was supposed to go to Sudan...didn't get enough money to go but, someone gave me a certain amount of money which I took as money for Sudan. Where does the money go then?
I also have no idea what this next year has in store for me. Jeff really wants me to do Ropes again. Jason really wants me to be in communications/out taking photos. I love working with people on the course and investing what I have learned/learning in my life with them about teamwork. I love seeing people over come their "I cant's" and realizing they can and they are worth something. And the teams that I have been on have always been the best. I love the connection that I have with Jeff. On the flip side...I want to go out and document. Someone told me this last week that they have heard me for 2 years now...(thats how long its been!) talking about what I want to do. He said he is tired of seeing me around the base and wants to see me out there. Why don't I just go! Get out of here? It has been 2 years. (He meant all of this in the nicest way) Jason wants to see me out there running after my dreams/taking on new ones. Chris and I have been talking for a long time now about all of this. When is all going to happen? Its got to be soon. I hope.

Its 2:43 right now I have to upload some photos to this blog other wise it will be naked. The first one is in Prague, the other one is my last night in Berlin. Good times and Good night.

P.S.
Expect a mass email every time I update.

Be Blessed.

Ok now I am tired...up at 6:00!

Just in Time To Leave

2007-12-08T21:57:00.000-08:00

So this last week Communications received some Alien Bee Flash Strobes...now I am not much of a Studio guy at all but, its great to be able to control (some) of the light that you work with. Right now I have 2 800's in pretty much a small closet and it is way too much light...but its much better then no light at all.
Anyways, I/we just got them a few days ago, and I am leaving on Wednesday for Idaho...a whole months with out trying things out with these lights. Oh well. Here are some "self portrait" I took. I tried smiling...but it never worked.

Well, have a few good days until I get to Idaho...after that. Have an even better time.

I am sending support letters out and if you would LOVE to support me, I would LOVE it too. Email me and I'll send you one.

A very long week.

2007-12-02T00:27:00.000-08:00

This last week was quite an experience. Tuesday mornig we (Phil) and I were given a $2,600 advertising project for a popular Christian magazine...It had to be done by Thursday 1:30. So, starting in the morning we worked through the night...quite about 4:30 in the morning...slept for 5 hours...kept working until 1:30 the next morning. We had worked a total of 39 hours and were a little exhausted. We turned in the ad to the agency and they sent a quick reply back..."its not up to our 'creative standards', were not publishing it." Needless to say we were a little tired and just a little upset. They replied back with something that took maybe 10 minutes to make and that wanted us to OK it...Well, to make a long story short we ended up going with what they wanted...cause they wouldn't publish it. We did use one of my photos though. But, its still a sad thing, almost 40 hrs. in 2 days gone down the drain.

On other news, I have been going through some of my photos again that I kind of like and ran them through some pretty cool photoshop actions and just goofing around with some others. Kind of some cools stuff I think.

The Seattle shot I took was a few days before Thanksgiving when Phil and I were up there spending time with one of his friends/supporters. This is what happens when you make a wrong turn in Seattle with a little curiosity and a camera. It's a little park that we found. There were some guys there putting Christmas lights on the ground...it spelled WILL YOU MARRY ME? Kind of a cool thing.

On the way up to Seattle Phil and I saved someones life. Some guys brakes were literally on fire for about 30 miles. We came up to the Semi with Sparks and Flames coming out of the back of the truck...Oh I forgot to mention....it was a gas tanker...full of Petro! We finally stopped the guy and tried to put the fire out. Crazy!

So, it is about 1:15 right now. I am going to go home and sleep. See ya next time.

Time is drawing neigh.

2007-11-26T21:20:00.000-08:00

It's almost time for me to go "home" (that is relative) and do a little support raising. Just for the 4 or 5 people who check out my blog. I will be going home around the 10th ish to be home for Christmas, see friends, oh and Mom and Dad...can't forget them. Anyways, I think the plan so far is to go down to Vegas to see my Aunt and Uncle then be back for my friend Trents wedding...AND THEN hopefully go to South East Asia for a few months...thus support raising. The price has gone up a little to get over there and around...I was just told. About 4 grand. I will be over there for about 4-5 months and about 7-8 countries. That is being generous I really don't see how this could happen but, who knows. I have even started looking for a job that I can get on a ship say from Hong Kong to Seattle or LA so maybe I can work for 3 weeks on a ship on my way back to America...that would be so much fun! Relax, I probably won't do it...but it would still be fun :)

On a completely different note. I hope your Thanksgiving was pleasant. Mine was different. Maybe one of the most "traditional" thanksgivings in a long time.

One thing I learned about my self this year is I couldn't wait to get back to work. 4 days off KILLED me. I am glad I am here.

Enjoy the photos.

Another installment of photos.

2007-11-09T16:04:00.000-08:00

This week is winding down and tomorrow is the last day of the ropes course. It closes down for about 4 months. This gives me a little bit of time to take a breath and jump into support raising and some other opportunities for documenting. I am currently making a book for Jeff and his supporters. This will be the first "book" that I have made in chasing after my dream. It feels kind of surreal...my dreams are actually happening. Kind of cool.

So just a few more pictures of my trip here they are.
The First picture is of me in Latvia flying on the Giants Swing...I didn't take the picture. The other is in Germany on the ropes course that was built last year at this time.

A few Photos of my trip.

2007-11-04T20:42:00.000-08:00

I really want to share all of the things that has been going on this last month but I hope my photos tell a better story. I really had a great time, all the time. I feel very privileged to be asked by Jeff to go with him to these countries and do a little work up in the trees. I mentioned in my last post about my luggage...man, it seems such a long time ago. Eventually, we got our luggage and continued working that week up in the air. Latvia, we built a Pamper Pole of sorts, except it was just a tree with a little platform on it. Very fun. The time that I spent there was great with Ivo and Kristine and I met many new friends.
On to Germany.
Jeff and I spent a lot of time working on the course there. We ended up building (the beginnings of) a Pamper Pole, a Burma Bridge, Giants Ladder, and a Multi Vine. LOTS of work. It was so much fun though. I got to spend hours and hours in my harness the last few weeks and I have enjoyed every minute of it. (except when I was cold)
On the Flipside when I wasn't in the Air or working on the course I got to continue to live out my dream and document what was going on. I went with Jeff so I got to document what he was doing. Yes, I loved it. I wish I had a little more time on the ground to take pictures but I ended up getting about 70 good images out of it all. I have been editing the images the last few nights. Next step is to get it published somehow for Jeff and his supporters...how am I going to do that...:) I will be fun.

Currently I am home safe. (If you haven't gathered that yet.) I got home on the 30th and still have yet to experience Jet Lag. I didn't even have it coming from Thailand last year...I think its a myth. Anyways.

Here are a few of my favorite photos from the trip. Mostly Black and white. Its how I have been seeing lately. Its a good thing...enough of the color to distract me, brings me back to learning photography and looking at different tones.

So I just decided that I am going to only post...4 pictures of my time...that way it will force me to continue to update my blog. (And hopefully bring you and more visitors back here to my blog) So. enjoy the pictures and see you next time.

So many titles so little space...My Trip.

2007-10-15T22:00:00.000-07:00

Currently I am sitting in a classroom just before class is to start. I have been in Latvia for about 4 days now...I think. Its all been a blur. The first two days I have been in 5 countries, 6 airports, and countless rooms where I don't understand the language...I LOVE IT! Though I would rather not have some of the experiences that came along with the travels it has all added up to be a very...interesting, fun, never again do I want to do it, experience.

The quick run down is as follows.

Jeff and I left Portland late. Chicago we left late. London was full of people trying to rebook flights...just like us...London lost our luggage. London sent us to Brussles...Brussles sent us to Berlin. Berlin we missed our flight to Latvia. Went to a hotel...no room in the inn. Slept on the airport floor. We had to re-buy tickets to Latvia cause no airline would take fault for being late. 30 some odd hours we made it into Latvia.

So currently, I find myself in Europe with just my Camera Bag, Bible, and Chacos. Life is good. I have actually been able to wear Ivos cloths for the first two days because he had taken me to a wedding...Latvia/Irish style...It was so much fun.

On a side note, Just got word that Jeff and my luggage is en route. Thank the Jesus. Anyways, its time to start class soon. Oh and I have pics too.

No pictures on this one.

2007-09-19T23:26:00.000-07:00

So the last few months have been really busy...just like last year at this time. huh. Just a quick up date all of my futile attempts of traveling the country/world have all been denied...in one way or another. BUT, I just received word that I am going to Germany and Latvia here on the 10th of Oct - the 30th Yeah!! I have never been there it should be fun. Anyways, I don't feel right updating this thing without any pictures and for that I am really sorry. I'll go take some right now.

The Rising!! (I think I am back)

2007-08-02T09:53:00.000-07:00

So yeah, its been a few months. I know I am sorry. I have worked a lot on Ropes...Shot a few weddings...have a chance to go to Sudan, but the window is closing quickly and I am a little sad about that.

I did take some photos the other day (ok a month or so back) of smoke! Really cool stuff.

Back by popular demand

2007-05-13T13:04:00.000-07:00

I have kind of hit a busy time here at the base trying to balance the Ropes Course and Communications at the same time. Its not working very well. But, a lot has happened here with in the last few weeks since April. Sorry its been so long.

I think I am going to start this off with some activities that occured just to wind down, to relax, to DESTROY!

Sounds fun huh?

Dave (my roomate) and I were hanging out one night at our house and a few nights prior I had recieved a pinata at a friends bachlor party. Well, the night was young and we had already broken in to the candy after a few days and I felt the need to "get rid of" the English looking soccer player. So. Some how (don't ask me) this litlle guy ended up outside covered, and I mean COVERED in White Gas, then all of a sudden it was ingulfed in flames! I swear I could hear some laughter off in the distance.

After all the evedence was distroyed I found a chair that needed to go to the dumpster....it got there...in about 12 chunks...

Man it felt good.

Mobileizing

2007-04-24T23:58:00.000-07:00

I wanted to show you (I speak like I know who visits this.) the latest flier sent out by our mobile team. I had a hand in the creation of this ad (the photoshop part....not the creative part). Megan was wanting a flier to give out to different people and Candyce created a drawing, and I got to take a picture of it and play with it in photoshop....Good times. Tell me what you think. She also did the buttons.

Now for the ABCs

2007-04-07T00:49:00.000-07:00

After a long night in the hills we finally rescued all of the people.

First off, there were 6 teenagers lost in the hills and we had to go do a search and rescue...humm sounds familiar. We found 5 of them and a dog all were injured and needed to be evacuated from the elements becasue of hypothermia. The sixth one finnaly came around and was stoned out of his mind.

When the rescue flight came to life flight all of the victims out of the area and to local hospitals THEY ended up crashing higher up on the field and thus creating more victims in the area that we needed to evacuate.

All in all I made 3 trips down to the bottom and one RUN to the very top with my full pack on....I was soooo tired. Anyways.
No pics from that night but here are a few that were taken.

NIGHT!

Trafficking and the ABCs

2007-03-31T00:10:00.000-07:00

Lots of good news on my end over here. I have been taking lots of pictures of some different events here at the base (Freedom Day) and am currently involved in a WFR (Wilderness First Response) and it mainly deals with first aid when you don't have any "medical" facilities near by.

Let me start here.

Freedom Day. One of my friends Ro, has wanted to raise awareness of an issue that some (or a lot) of us don't know much about. Human Trafficking. To quickly sum it up, plain and simple, its slavery. Slavery. Its still exists. A lot of what is involved in this trafficking is sex, usually with children starting at the age of 5-8 sometimes....yeah, I know. Sick. 5-8. Boy or Girl. Multiple boys, or multiple girls. And literally all this can happen for just a few dollars.

SOOO, Freedom Day was a rally that we had on the 23rd on the capitol steps for an after noon. many people came by and supported what we were talking about. We were there to support a bill that was in process then, to make trafficking illegal, and punishable in the state of Oregon.
On a side note. Oregon is a huge trafficker because of I-5 and where it runs.

On to a lighter note of People bleeding to death and not breathing.
This last week I have been involved in a program that teaches HANDS ON FIRST AID TRAINING. I have already stopped bleeding on a gushing artery during my lunch break and also taken care of a victim who had an Ice Ax 2 inchs into his leg...LOTS OF BLOOD! Anyways, I am not really taking pictures this week of it but I am learning soo much...I will have some pictures of me in action in a few days.

I need to go to bed now its an early morning tomorrow. 6:00a.m. - 10:00 p.m. Every Day. Good Stuff. Good night.

Oh, all of the pics were taken at freedom day.

Home (for at least 2 years)

2007-03-16T18:43:00.000-07:00

For those that don't know I can now call Salem 'home' for at least 2 years now. I have signed on as a full time volunteer and in my time, here I will be working in the Communications Office and as a Ropes Course Facilitator. I am excited about this opportunity to work along the people here at the base. I have already grown close to quite a few of the staff here. Many people that were in my school from last year came back and I have grown to enjoy spending time here with the individuals that were on staff all summer.
On to my normal apology for not updating. It has been a while. I think that it is partly due to being so busy working and to the sun coming out from behind the clouds. It is almost springtime! It sure felt like it today.
So my last week here (my starting week) I had the pleasure to work along side the Chi Alpha group from ISU in Pocatello. My friend Daniel is the one of the campus missionaries there and it was such a joy to work along side him and the students. They really have a great group of students there at Chi Alpha. We did everything from lectures (in class) to Action washing feet of homeless people, feeding them, one of the students and I even had the opportunity to baptize one in the Willamette River…(ewww.) Anyway, it was a great time this week being able to see and hang out with someone who I really look up to.

Also one Thursday for base intersession we were able to put flags back up that had been taken down and burned on our front drive…Yes they were still in the drive way when we found out what happened. So, its been a few months and we were able to get the money together for more flags. I was able to document that and had a great time doing it. It almost reminded me of The Times News when I worked there. It was fun.

I will be updating either once a week (if I am working in comm.) or as much as possible (if I am working Ropes Course). I am glad to dive in head first into a new era in my life. SEE YA!

Oh yeah, the countries flag in the photo is Myanmar.

Once Blind Photography

2007-03-01T20:25:00.000-08:00

Chris came up here to hike around this last week with my friend Jason in Hells Canyon. If I remember correctly they hiked a total of 90 some odd miles in 4 days...Crazy! I was invited just over a month ago to go but I backed out right at the last minute, you I couldn't justify being here for a month to support raise and then going on a backpacking trip. Now there are a lot of excuses that I could have used that would have made myself feel better about it, but I came here to support raise. It was one of the hardest things to say no, because at the time the trip was going to be 160 miles!...that is something I have always wanted to do but...no such luck.

Anyways, I got to hang out with Chris the last 2 days here in Boise. We went to the Old State Pen and froze our butts off. It was so cold especially in the concrete buildings with no heating. We did get some good images. I got one that I hadn't gotten before. It was great having Chris be there to take pictures. It confirmed even more that Chris and I both will be working together in the future. I am excited about that. Chris is a great inspiration and photographer. I would like to show you some of his recent work but he is kind of like me in a way of getting images out to people. Jason is still waiting for backpacking pictures from a few years ago. Good Times.

All in All the last few days in Boise have been very beneficial. I love being able to meet up with people and dream with them. Chris and I are working toward a goal with our photos to share what God is doing in the Christian Community. I am really excited about what God has in store for us.

The picture is taken in 'Siberia' (solitary confinement) Kind of different then anything else I have gotten before.

See ya

In response to ymmiJ

2007-02-26T12:16:00.000-08:00

Jimmy, a quick description of my ministry is; I work along side Missionaries and document what they do and give them something better then cheesy business cards for support. Through my images and stories that come along side of them.

Another aspect to this is; when I am out "in the field” what/where ever that is, I document what is going on in that culture. Thus creating books, magazines, articles, ect. so people can look at the images/articles (whatever) and then maybe I can give them inspiration to get up and do something about it themselves.... Chris T has always said, “I can't change the world with 1 picture but one person can change the world who sees my picture. (Something like that).

ALSO. I don't just want to take pictures where ever I am so, I am a facilitator on a Ropes Course (Challenge Course like at CSI) and I bring games with me where ever I go and I can a.) play games with people and b.) teach things I believe Christ would have us live our life by. (Trust, communication, goals, integrity..."fruits of the spirit") things like that.

So in short that is my "ministry" and it is just in the beginning I keep on getting more ideas its kind of cool. Its going from the morphing stage to something that I can begin to show people...pretty sweet having these dreams and they are actually playing out in my life.

So in response to your other question about donations:

I am currently learning (thanks to my parents)...let me begin like this.
I don't like to "use" people. I know lots of different people and have a lot of "connections" but for along time, (Almost a year) I didn't "use"? these people in order for help. I thought I could do it all on my own. Cause that’s they way we are all supposed to do it, so I can call it "MINE." So I can be the big dog. I don't need any Stinking help!
This last year has been a time of learning for me. I can start up my ministry (my way of life) by myself and I am sure I'll do OK at it. But, if I can work along side other people who see my dream also we can go further.

Two quotes that I remember from this last year.

"I can build a house all by myself and be happy with it. But, if I work along side hundreds of other people I can build the Empire State Building." - Me.

Another is

"If you want to go fast, go by yourself. If you want to go far, take someone with you." - Jeff Nelson (Ropes Course Director)

I have huge dreams and goals that I know are impossible for just me to accomplish, period. But with the help of people I can take that dream and accomplish something that we all can be proud of.

So in short (maybe long), That is why I have a donation button at the top of the page. And I think that I am trusting God with everything that I have. I am just giving the opportunity to somebody who may not have any other way to help out with my goal. Just taking advantage of what I have at my fingertips.

Thank You Jimmy for asking me those questions I have needed to get those written down for some time now. Not just for you but also for the other 4 people that read my blog.

Thanks
By the way, the picture is of the ropes course going on one of our Mandatory fun days…rock climbing. This is when I did my first Mulit-pitch…good times. I had a lot of fun.

Thanks for reading this much...oh I have glasses now.

2007-02-25T01:38:00.000-08:00

So being home for a few days has been nice. I have been able to relax (not too much) and support raise (hard work). Things have been really challenging, I guess I am not quite used to having to ask for money from people who sometimes don't always have the money to support me. I do know that God has a way of blessing people though, he provided for ALL my needs at EVERY moment in my life. Although, I could argue that point with God it is still true.
I was talking to my parents about how we (human culture) run the world and how it is totally contrary to what Christ would have us live by. (You can thank Tobias for this one). And we live on a buy and sell mentality where Christ lives with a give and recieve...STILL interesting.
Anyways, its early and I am going to bed. I have church tomorrow here was a few weekends ago snowboarding.

2007-02-13T12:53:00.000-08:00

My friend shared this video the other day with me and I think it is so funny.

Have fun

More pictures to come I promise...(Gross is that leprosy!!)

2007-02-12T13:59:00.000-08:00

So I am sitting here at the airport in San Francisco. The last time I was in this area I was heading back to Twin to take pictures of Adam and Steps wedding. Just over 1 year ago I was on a plane. Not exactly but I can say that I have been consistently traveling for a whole year now…I do kind of feel accomplished. Like I have done something. Like I am doing something. I am mentioned it before to people but I love to fly…just the experience of going through security in a rush, panicking, worrying whether or not your going to make your flight (not that I experience that at all. I have only had one close call this last year…actually more cancellations and delays, but that’s been ok so far in my travels. I haven’t had really any Pressing deadline flights to make they have all been kind of stress free (for me at least).

Side note. A flight just came in from somewhere and EVERYONE was baked like a lobster. I laugh! HA! (We are so vain)

Anyways, I guess what was trying to say is God really knows how to bless me. Just by stepping on a plane and taking off landing meeting people where ever I go, being that annoing person on the flight that tries to make conversation and just try to be friendly to everyone that I come in contact with. I LOVE IT!
Today at PDX I was sitting there after they canceled my flight and I was waiting I looked up and saw a familiar face in the crowd of people. One of the leaders on the base was flying if from San Fran and she stopped and chatted with me for a few minutes. I really was the best.

On a separate note: Last night (the 8th) I was hanging out with Jen and she took hours and hours out of her schedule of sleep and helped me in my procrastination of sending out some of my support letters. She had already spent a whole day at work, waking up at an ungodly hour and she helped me finish off the letters. Thanks.

So I have had a question come up in my life. I have been asking myself lately (as of last night…thanks Jen). Why do I think that I am going to make such a great missionary? I don’t know what makes or breaks a missionary. I don’t even know the personality traits of a missionary. Why do I think that I am going to make a difference? I handed in THE paper to be a full time volunteer at the base, pretty much sealed the deal. I am in it and I don’t want to back out. Paul writes in the Bible to the Phil 4 the famous verse about I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me…I think that is v.11. but before that he talks about being content. That’s one of the things that I have found in my life is I try to be content in everything in plenty and in nothing. I really try to be happy where ever my life takes me in whatever situation I am put in. I can hear people already saying that I take that too far to where I seem emotionless. I don’t know how to explain it but I really am just content with the “things” in my life.
I was walking down a road with Mindy this summer and as we were walking by the houses I looked at them, and one after another, each one had the same red deck, the same hot tub, the same trampoline, the same barbeque. I thought to myself. I would love to have all of this stuff in this house! That would be great, the American dream! I then thought about my age and how I should have a few kids by now with a white picket fence and I could be chillin out in my house with my slippers on in my Lazyboy all the while my wife cooks food for our family. You know I actually see myself a little more content sleeping on a red dirt floor that stains my skin because I am so sweaty after a long day working out in the sun or busy taking pictures working under a deadline to get images of the environment that I am in so things could change in that culture...for Christ.
On the flipside, I guess I am not really content at all with where this world is (here and overseas) or where I see my peers. I want to continue pushing and challenging the people that I am in contact with everyday. Push them to be something better then what they ever dreamed they could be.

I am not quite sure how to wrap this up. Its been a long time since I have updated. I just typed up a lot of info and different random stuff. I think I’ll have more later but until then...

To explain the picture...I went hiking Sunday evening with a friend and well to put it in laymans terms...OUCH! Blisters on both heels same size and pain. How ever I did have a great time and I'll be talking about that time here soon.