I Have Not Forgotten You

Four years ago, I was in Nicaragua with my church on a mission trip. I was absolutely in love with the country, the people, and their way of life. However, I was not expecting to fall in love with a boy.

The first time I met Christopher, he came running at me, waving a stick, and yelling at me in rapid, unintelligible Spanish. I had no idea what this four year old was yelling at me, but it seemed pretty fierce. When he finally slowed down, Christopher pointed at himself saying, "Davíd," and then pointing at me saying, "Goliat," while then preceding to hit me with the stick.

For the next few days that we stayed at the orphanage, I was with Christopher constantly. We played David and Goliath almost constantly, taking a break only so we could play caballos, with Christopher jumping on my back and commanding me to take him places. At night, when all the children sat down to read a bible story and have worship together, Christopher would climb into my lap and fall asleep there.

Christopher Pérez Dávila was born to a prostitute and an abusive and alcoholic father who would abuse his mother in front of Christopher. He lived with his grandmother until he was three when he was discovered, uncared for and given only ice cream and a piece of bread to eat for meals. In spite of this, Christopher has grown strong, loving to give hugs and with a big imagination for beating up giants. Christopher was the youngest in the orphanage at Casa Mephibosheth, yet his personality, his affection and most definitely his imagination was one of the greatest.

The next year, I went back to Nicaragua, just so I could play with Christopher again. I cannot describe to you the peace that came back into my being. Of forgetting about all the problems in the world and knowing only of love. He had grown since the year before, yet his smile was still the same as was his love for fighting giants.

Christopher turns eight years old today. On this day, there is only one place where I wish that I could be, at Casa Mephibosheth, playing with Christopher and the rest of his buddies. To hug my brother and tell him that he taught me so much, how amazed I am that one who is so small and has been through so much, can have such a love for life and for others. I pray for my brother all the time, hoping that he is safe and well.

It's been two years since I last saw Christopher, as I pray for the day that I can go back and be with him.

Christopher, I have not forgotten you.

May you continue to fight the giants with the same passion as the day I met you.

Simple Reminder

As the days have become more hectic with papers, I have succumbed to being on Facebook more to distract me from the horrors of impeding exams.

So I was just sitting in my room, drinking a 2 liter of coke, facebook stalking everyone I know (probably you too), when a random friend popped up on chat.

Kinda wierd, since we hadn't talked in about 3 years, I figured he had a random question about something way back, and that was it.

But he did have a question, he wanted to know if there was anything he could pray about for me.

He's not an overtly religious person, he just loves Jesus and felt like that was what he was supposed to do.

So I dumped on him, telling him that I really need to find a house soon, that I was incredibly nervous about going to Thailand, and that I'm yearning to get closer to God.

We were never close, I just learned tonight that he moved to Kentucky about a year ago, but the fact that I spilled my worries and fears to him showed that it wasn't about how close we were, it was just that someone straight out asked.

I didn't have to say anything, but I did because I just wanted someone to listen.

And that says everything about who we are and what we desire.

For someone to listen.

For someone to care.

We desire to know that someone will help us shoulder our burdens, we are social animals not meant to be alone.

And who else but the church should listen to our worries and fears about life, and comfort us that the sun will shine again tomorrow?

Maybe we just need to break the silence, tear down the mask hiding our burdens, be the person that admits that life isn't a perfect, happy little life.

So, this may be too straightforward, but I'd really like some prayer. I have no idea where I'm living next semester, and I have fears about this summer, both going overseas to Thailand and working at Deer Run again.

And I'd like sometime to hear about your life, not just the basic things about life, but everything, the great things and the lame things. Sorry for being a jerk and not asking sooner.

Spring Break 2010: You Really Can Have Fun In Cleveland!

Until Wednesday, I stayed in Cleveland for Spring Break to work with The Nehemiah Project in Chattanooga for a community revitalization project which included landscaping, painting, playing with dogs and being human ladders:

During the night, the amazing Tempest Tibet and I attempted to conquer the land of Super Mario (the old school Super Nintendo version) and sat on the edge of our seats while we watched Indiana Jones fight off snakes.

While we were renting some movies from the public library, we realized

that movies weren't the only thing you can rent:

That's right, if you got some folks coming over that you wanna impress, just head on out to the Cleveland Public Library and for 90 days, that buffalo painting can be yours!

We also went to authenticate the myth of the Mars plant in Cleveland giving out huge bags of candy:

Unfortunately, you have to be related to someone to be able to tour the plant. Lame.

Devastated by the trauma of being rejected by the M&M guys, we headed out to the closing sale of Hollywood Video, where all the movies were going on sale, including this little morsel:

By the time we were done, we went out searching for a bite to eat, which turned out to be a game called, "Sketchfest or Not?" and we stopped at this place:

Yes, it looks like a perfect 10 on the Sketchfest scale, but as we entered in and sampled some of their delicioso food and talked to the people working behind the counter, we realized to never judge a restaurant by their dimly-lit sign.

And so, these are just a few things that one can do in Cleveland while bored on a spring break--provided it's before 5:00.

Numbers (Count Count Would Be So Proud)

A rundown of my most boring week because I've been sick:

200+: Amount of tissues used

60: Cough Drops I've become addicted to

20: Alias episodes I've watched in a week

9: Days I've been sick so far

3: Boxes of medicine used up so far

2: Cartons of orange juice I've drunk

1: Assignment I've done all week

In other news, I've been checking out Kanye West's new book: Thank You And You're Welcome, a fantastic 52 page book (some pages left blank because he couldn't think of anything to write) showing us how our culture's intelligence is slowly depleting. Please enjoy some quotes:

"Sometimes people write novels and they just be so wordy and so self-absorbed."

"I am not a fan of books. I would never want a book's autograph."

"My mom taught me to believe in my flyness and conquer my shyness."

"I feel like to misuse, overuse or abuse someone is negative. To use is necessary and if you can't be used, then you are useless."

Are You Aslan? Cause You Just Melted This Heart Of Stone

Happy Valentine's Day!!

Even though I've always been single on V-Day, I've still managed to have amazing Valentine's Days. I enjoy the day of February 14.

Mainly cause I get to use this opportunity to practice my pick-up lines :D

Which in case no one got their fill today, here's some great ones throughout history:

Adam: Let's hide from Mr. Nosey up there, and have some fun. What's the worst that could happen?

Noah: There's room for one more!

Homer: Date me, or I'll bore you to death.

Socrates: Date me, or I'll confuse you to death.

Plato: Date me, or I'll prove you don't exist.

Alexander the Great: Do you know that I'm often called "The Great"? And I have no ideawhat the men call me, heh, heh, heh.

Julius Caesar: I came. I saw. I'm asking.

Michelangelo: I feel like before I met you, everyone I'd ever known was made of stone.

Leonardo da Vinci: I find your smile absolutely intriguing.

Martin Luther: Haven't you heard? Turns out we wouldn't have to go to confession at all!

Galileo: Other men may tell you they can bring you the moon. But look through this.

Sir Isaac Newton: Tell you what: You date me, and I'll let you borrow my wig.

William Shakespeare: Forsooth! Gway'ne ferbernitch won myryacle portenieth! Fie uponst thou eyre'nt hisslyp! Wait! Come back!

George Washington: I cannot tell a lie. Martha is my sister. From Nevada.

Benjamin Franklin: You know, in France I'm considered quite the catch. I am, too! Stop laughing.

Napoleon: My dear, I could bring you the world on a platter. Seriously. By, like, this Thursday.

Abraham Lincoln: I know when you look at me, all you see is my gargantuan nose, ears, lips, chin, cheekbones, and eyebrows. And my Amish beard. And my stovepipe hat. And my mournful expression. And my ill-fitting clothes. You know what? Forget it.

Vincent Van Gogh: Ear's lookin' at you!

Sigmund Freud: As far as I'm concerned, there's just you and my mother--I mean, and no other.

Thomas Edison: I know you've never heard this phrase before, but trust me: You turn me on.

Albert Einstein: I know this sounds crazy, but I'm late for an important awards ceremony. Do you happen to have a comb or hairbrush on you that I could borrow?

Pablo Picasso: So, here come do often you?

Adolph Hitler: Hi, I'm Adolph Hit ... come back!

Mahatma Gandhi: I've been watching you watching me. And I think we both know that, deep down, you want to rub my head.

Winston Churchill: I've been watching you watching me. And I think we both know that, deep down, you want to rub Mahatma Gandhi's head. I can arrange that!

John Fitzgerald Kennedy: Next!

For real through, on Valentine's Day, I like to read this book:

The Missing Piece Meets The Big O

Outpouring of Quotes, Articles and Other Things My Mind Enjoys

"If a man is called to be a street sweeper, he should sweep streets even as Michelangelo painted, or Beethoven composed music, or Shakespeare composed poetry. He should sweep streets so well that all the hosts of heaven and earth will pause to say, 'Here lived a great street sweeper who did his job well.'" --Martin Luther King Jr

Millionaire Gives Away Fortune Which Made Him Miserable

Austrian millionaire Karl Rabeder is giving away every penny of his £3 million fortune after realising his riches were making him unhappy. (Click on heading for the whole article)

"No, life cannot be understood flat on a page. It has to be lived; a person has to get out of his head, has to fall in love, has to memorize poems, has to jump off bridges into rivers, has to stand in an empty desert and whisper sonnets under his breath... We get one story, you and I, and one story alone. God has established the elements, the setting and the climax and resolution. It would be a crime not to venture out, wouldn't it?"

--Donald Miller

I'm not the only one who hopelessly trying to become a Youtube sensation:

Saga of My Life Pt. II

As last time I shared about my life so far, this is what I plan to do with my life after I graduate college:

After arriving to Lee University, I decided to become a Middle Grades Education Major, so that I can bless the younger generations with my presence and instill in them greatness. I plan on finishing my novel while here at Lee as well as directing a future award-winning movie.

However, my plans after graduation aren’t as clear. As one who has achieved such greatness so young, the future holds many opportunities. After I win an impressive amount of money on Jeopardy, I will use the winnings to provide housing to an entire village in the jungles of Guatemala, then travel around the world going on many adventures, zip-lining through the Jungles of Thailand, canoeing down the Amazon, reenacting the Circle of Life in Africa and hang-gliding with eagles.

After winning the Nobel Peace Prize, I plan on settling down and running a foster home for children and youth and inspiring them to lead fantastic lives like I have. But settling down will not signify that my life will become the least bit dull. By the time I reach my middle-aged years, I will have completed learning ten different languages fluently and fixing the age-old problem as to why hot dog buns are sold in packs of eight and hot dogs are packaged in packs of ten.

I don’t want to set my future into stone, but I know that my life will be well-lived out. I plan on meeting many interesting people and hearing their stories. I will create memories and go to bed at night happy about all that has been done that day. I will do great things and yet still make time to go out of my way to step on a crunchy leaf.

Then, after I have figured out the last digit of pi, I will live out my last days living on a space station eating space ice cream.