I wish I could, but I can't...


This is Jesse and Kyle. They are students at WSU and came last week on a vision trip to Rijeka. It was great having them around. So, Jesse had an interesting experience that Kyle was repeating during this picture. I can't tell the story, but imagine something great; something amazing. Let's just say he had an interesting sensation while sitting. So, let you imagination run wild... really wild!

I promise I actually do work...

So, two weeks ago, I got a new piece of artwork put permanently on my body. As you can see, I now have a cross/fish tattoo on the side of my calf. This is a design I created myself over the summer. I'm really happy with it, which is good since it's never coming off.

It has actually been really cool because I have used it in conversations with students. I didn't really think of it as a tool for ministry here in Croatia. Probably the best thing about it is that I had to shave my leg to get it done. It is so smooth now! I guess I'll let it grow back.

As related to the title of this blog. I have heard that people might be thinking that this is just a vacation for me, but I am actually working and hanging with students. I'm loving talking with people about Jesus for most of my day. Please disregard potential comments from my fellow Americans here. They are just jealous of my superior intellect and beauty! They just wish they were as cool as me...

Two post that you must check out for you enjoyment:

This summer during our briefing John had an accident on one afternoon's man-adventure.

Check it out here!

Another post from John about a mysterious sighting near the sea in Croatia.

Check it out now!

All of the great things in the world revolve around this! You might think that this is a grand statement that can't possibly be true. But you don't know what I am talking about. What I am talking about is "Tambitar". For those of you non-informed people, Tambitar is the band that my sister Amy and I have started. "Have" is a very relative term. We have never recorded, written, or... I guess even played any music together playing these instruments solely. As most of you know, I play guitar and sing, but did you know that my sister is a world famous tambourine player. I guess to clarify, by "world famous" I actually mean she once played a tambourine at a bar against the bands wishes and she often plays it in her car as she is driving and listening to music.

The inspiration for this blog was last night. My roomy John and I were out with a couple students to a club/bar in Rijeka. There was a band that I believe was just a guitar and some percussion, including a tambourine at times. It was great and the crowd was really into it. It got me reminiscing of the good old days when the thought of Tambitar was a real concept. I hope that it is not a dead thought and might actually happen. I will keep you posted about any upcoming tour we might have this summer when I arrive back home.

Clearly, I am a real duck. Even in Slovenija, ducks come to me. I was sitting on the shore of Lake Bohinj, reading, when a whole flock (can I use flock for ducks?) of ducks came up to be friends with me. Unfortunately, I did not have any bread to give them. They stayed for a little while and then moved on. I liked them.



If only I had my duck hat here. They would have immediately accepted me into their flock. I would have been able to join their community and live with them. Who knows? I can always wonder...

What if I had my duck hat?

I miss this doggy...

This last weekend, my team and I were in Bohinj, Slovenia for a weekend of relaxation and celebrate what God has done in the time we have been here. As I was sitting by the lake reading and drawing, I started processing more of my last two months in Croatia. One of the things that came to mind was all the stuff involving my mom back in Oregon City. As I was sitting there I started writing…

This is written almost two months after my mom got sick and went to the hospital for the first time. It is still hard for me at times to think of. I want to be there and care for her. I don’t question my being here and I know this is exactly where I must be to be in God’s will. I don’t even think that I would choose home over here right now… but it has still been hard.

My natural reaction to people that are sick is to be there and care for them. This is a good reaction. I know that if I had been home, that is exactly what I would have done. I would have been at the hospital. I would have missed work or classes to be there. But I have realized that this would have been the wrong first reaction. God has definitely been teaching me through this. In a big way. Since I am so far away and cannot be there, the only thing I can do is pray. I use the term “only” very loosely here, because I know there is a lot of power in prayer. I believe that my prayers for comfort and healing for my mom moved God to act. I know that my prayers for comfort and peace for my dad and sisters and others moved God to act. And He did.

So, with the knowledge that my mom was sick, I prayed. I didn’t want to at times, because I was scared and angry, but I still prayed. My team prayed, other Christians in Croatia prayed, I told students about it, which moved me to pray. My mom is better now and she is continuing to get better because God moved and healed her. Even in the midst of this frustrating and scary circumstance, God provided. People were praying for me and I felt it.

It is still hard being away, but it is easier now. Thank God that my mom is better and thank God that He continues to teach me each day.

It was interesting sitting there and thinking about all this. I know I have been so blessed to know that God answers those prayers and provides exactly what we need. I know there are a lot of people back home that have been praying for me and wondering how I have been doing with this all. So, know that it is only God that has provided for me to be at this point with these thoughts. Thanks for you prayers. They have meant more than any of us really understand.

Hebrews and brews...

John and I have started a great tradition tonight; hopefully one that will last for many generations. We have been going through the book of Hebrews in the Bible each week, a chapter at a time. John's thought was since we are reading Hebrews, we should probably drink a brew at the same time. Makes sense... right? "A great idea!" I responded. So it has happened. Great conversation and great beer. Tonight, the pick was Kilkenny Irish Beer. In three weeks, when the WSU boys arrive, hopefully we can enjoy our Hebrews with a few local Northwest brews that we are requesting.

In the words of the Simpsons:

Homer: Got any of that beer that has candy floating in it? You know, Skittlebrau?
Apu: Such a beer does not exist, sir. I think you must have dreamed it.
Homer: Oh. Well, then just give me a six-pack and a couple of bags of Skittles.

The Sunflower
Simon Wiesenthal

I have been reading a new book lately. It is called The Sunflower. It is a book centered on forgiveness and social responsibility involving forgiveness. The book is written by a Jewish man that was in a concentration camp in Poland during WW2. The story is about him being brought to a dying Nazi SS troop in a hospital. The Nazi starts telling him all of the horrible things he has done toward the Jews. In the end, he says that he does not want to die with the burden of his sins and asks the Jewish man to forgive him. He thinks about it and then turns and leaves without saying a word.

He is then struck with the thought that he did not make the right choice. The man dies without being forgiven. The author then leaves the question: "What would you do in my situation?" for us to answer.

There is an interesting dilema created by this question. Did the Jewish man, even if he wanted to, have the right to forgive the man. Since the Nazi did not harm the Jewish man personally, could the author forgive him on account for his whole subculture (Jews)?

The book has the narrative of the author in the first half of the book and then a series of essays written by 5o+ people of different religions, occupations, eras and social circles answer to that previous question stated by him. I have been struck by some of the responses and highly recommend reading this book. One quote that especially struck me was the following:

"My own thoughts are firm. Simon should, and could, not forgive on behalf of those so cruelly murdered. Further, in asking for a Jew to hear his confession Karl perpetuated the Nazi stereotype. Jews were not individuals with souls, feelings, aspirations, and emotions. Rather, they were percieved as an amorphous, undifferentiated mass. Bring me a Jew, was the dying Nazi's request. Any Jew will do. Karl has learned nothing. His desire is to "cleanse" his soul at the expense of the Jew." (Wiesenthal 119)

Great book. Makes you think and definitely challenges your notions on the act of forgiveness.

Clearly not a time that I want to live in

I'm not sure if Europeans just don't realize that the time above does not really exist. There is no 0:14. It does not exist! I'm sure it is just some sick joke by them to confuse people like me, but no can do; I figured it out.

"This must mean 12:14, not 0:14. I'm sure they were just mistaken" (heavily laden with sarcasm). If there were a just and loving people, they wouldn't allow this kind of thing to happen!!

Nay to them... Nay to them...