Since Graduation

Since graduation a lot has happend. I went to Egypt, Costa Rica, Have had a wedding with two more to come, gone home to California, and God gave me the vision to start and orphan ministry. With all of that going on I have managed to find some alone time and think about all that has happened. The Mission to Egypt was great as they usually are but this one was different. In being my second time leading an overseas mission I have become used to and accustomed to all of the customs of short term missions. They are necessary and helpful. They create a servent mindset and teach obedience along with providing the framework needed to focus 12 people to accomplish one mission. One thing I found this time though was my desire for more. I wanted to live life there, with the people not just in our provided housing. I wanted to go out and just have coffee with friends and walk through the city after our outreaches. In a sense I wanted to be myself. Not to say I wasn't me durring the trip but I wanted to really be me. At times I felt like I was a movie star being escorted around Egypt by the police and other times like I was unwanted. I desired to break off and just go with two or three people wherever we were called to go but I knew better. God had called me to lead a team and to provide the environment that cultivates a love for missions and the world. Which I will have to say is not my own framework, its New Life's and theMill's. This structure has been developed over the years by the staff and it is great. Without the teaching of the Mill I may have never experienced the life changing events I have had on missions. With all that being said, I am finding that I have entered a new season in life where my job is changing, my relationships are changing, and what missions will look like is changing. I am greatful for all that God has done over the last 5 years while I have lived in Colorado Springs and am ready for what is next. I am anxious in some areas but that is just the way life is and we must learn to pursue God and give up our worries on a daily basis.

The orphan ministry has been excited and challenging. I am ready to get to work on it all but there is so much to do and it all cost money....lol. I have taken care of a couple of the Items and am working on the remaining ones. God has provided a few great people who have come along side and help with a lot of the work. Aaron Norris is the man and has give a lot of his time and effort to all of this and made it possible. Also all the people who have given me words of encouragement you are one of the reasons I am still going! I have come to points where I dont see how this will work but your word and the Holy Spirit has kept me going. One thing the Academy has taught me is you never give up. There is no way I will give up. I will do what God has called me to do. I will not leave it to someone else. The main focus of the ministry right now will be to reach out to already functioning orphanages that Church's are working with and providing support for them. Some day it may expand but for now that is the focus. There is a lot of need out there and I wont try to compartmentalize what each orphanage will need. We will be open to whatever it is God wants to use us for in each orphanage.

Now Costa Rica, let me just say beautiful. I am living on the beach and have surfed almost every day. I have road dirt bikes, Quads, gone zip lining, and touched crocodiles. My favorite part though was last night. I just sat out looking at the Ocean thinking and talking with God. The things I realized was the beauty of this world is not on the beaches of Costa Rica or in the Rocky Mountains of Colorado but in our daily lives. That we see Gods glory and beauty in the people around us and our jobs. I dont want to live hear on the beach to stare at the physical beauty of Gods creation when there is a spiritual beauty in our everyday lives that is far more glorifying than an ocean view. So I am ready to come home....lol.

I feel like I have been blessed to go all around the world to all these great places and I think I see one of the many things God wants to show me in that. The beauty of the world cannot compair to the worship that our lives our. Giving our lives to God and living the boring times to their fullist is what is beautiful. I love the world and what God has made and want to continue to travel and see it all but it has made me appreciate what I have at home and has helped me see what God sees as beautiful.

Next im off to Del Rio Texas on July 25th for Pilot Training! Something I have dreamed of for a long time. It is bitter sweet to go but more sweet than bitter. My time in Colorado has been the most rewarding of my life and I have experienced my most memorable moments along with my most painful. I have a feeling I may never forget them but that is ok cause they make up who I am. God has made me who I am through all of you in Colorado. I look forward to coming back and see you all over the years. Never be a stranger!

Love you all
Mike

OrphanReach

I just got back from Egypt and am excited about what God reveled to me what i need to do next in the starting of the non-profit orphanage mission he has for me. while in Egypt I went to an orphanage that took care of mentally disabled and then some extremely impoverished areas with egyptians and with Sudanese refugues. God showed me that starting out would be me working with some contacts in Egypt to help these people and orphanages. eventually i see me opening up orphanages and working other countries. I feel like its time to start it all and get to work. essential the company will rely on donors and supporters to donate monthly or one time giving. as of right now i would be the only worker for the company on this end of the world. im not sure how big it will grow or what but i do know that this is something God has called me too! I cant wait to see what God does!

Perspective

I was thinking just the other day how my perspective is narrow and that I’m missing out on much of the world around me. I tend to look at what is right in front of me, this causes problems for me and stresses me out. I feel like I’m trapped at the Academy or that there is nothing else going on. I see it as the cures of the Academy mainly cause when I leave and am out in the Springs I don’t feel that way. I feel like I can take on the world. Many of my worries don’t bother me quite as much when I m out. I guess you could say I feel just a little bit more free. I will admit there are many things that I worry about and dwell on, that may be in part to how much I care about those things. There are some things in my life that I care/dwell on to much, they don’t include the Academy, my car, my classes, or even what I will do for the rest of my life. They include the close things of my hart, my relationships, my freedom, and just plane and simple the one thing God has control of…sorry u don’t get to know what that is! Those things consume my thoughts, there are times when I will dwell on them for hours at a time. I know that is not good but I do. When I leave the academy they don’t bother me quite as much, I guess that is cause I see the rest of the world and all the great things of life. I’m trying to get better at it and am learning not to dwell on them as much. To trust God takes more than just saying the words, you can go through scripture and read all about how we can trust in him and that he is in control.

Psalm 31:15

Colossians 1:17

2 Corinthians 9:10

You can read about how we are told to trust in the Lord, that he will give us all the desires of our heart if we trust in him (psalm 37:4). These are all truth’s from the word of God, we can take comfort and bank in them. They will never lead us astray but one thing is for sure, the distance from the head to the heart is a long way! To actually know that he will care for us is much harder to understand and believe. It has taken me well over a year to even understand this. I have not done it alone and have had many walking me though this process that I call life. Now to believe is another story, I guess I would be the last month or so that I have begun to believe, which is more of me asking God to change my heart. I have asked him to give me his eyes and just see his reality and to have a little bit of his perspective on life. Many pastors would call it a Kingdom perspective but I like to think of it as his eyes in my body! This has helped a lot but by no means could I say that I have things under control. Life is a challenge and I am trying to enjoy life just the way it is. My hope and prayer is to have a better perspective on life, and to not allow that cures I talked about earlier control my life. Freedom comes from letting go of the things I want the most and to be content with what God has given me. Well at least to me and at this point in my life.

He is the Reason

I made this blog so to express what i am thinking and share what Christ has placed on my heart.