Training in Pasadena

I'm writing from Pasadena in the midst of a very busy but productive week of teacher training. This may the only opportunity that I might have to write to you. Today is Saturday (3pm) and this is the first extended break we've all week. Our days lastfrom 8:00am to 9:00pm. My team mate Steve and I have begun to practiceteaching during our training session. Steve is a few years older than I'm and this is his first trip overseas. I'm looking forward to experience the Chinese culture with him as we will be one of the few English teachers at our school.Our collective team plans to depart from Los Angelesand on to Beijing. We will spend three days on tours and meeting our hosts. We are planning to visit the Great Wall and the City among many other sites. I may even write and see if any of my friends from Xiamen University (China trip 2003) might be in Beijing so that I could see them. My friend LeAnne (English name)may be attending Beijing University at the time we depart for the U.S.We'll depart Beijing for Baotou for our teaching assignment. It looks like our first class will takeplace on the 4th of July. Please forgive me in advance for the late or delayed writing of email. I intend to post as soon as it is possible for me to acquire access.

Teaching in China Journal

From now until I return to the United States in August this will my China trip journal. I will be adding stories and experiences as I see them while I'm teaching English in Baotou, China. There may be spaces of days or weeks that I may not have a opprtunity to post here but I assure you as a reader that I'm thinking of something to write about.

Thank for taking time to read my blog and I look forward to sharing about the China that I will see, feel, and touch this summer.

This side of Heaven

What does it take to be close to you, Lord?
I search for you but you’re always there.
Your love is what I need to survive this race
day by day having you by my side.

In the morning I wake to your beauty outside my window,
as the day goes on I sense your guidance.
Seeing you, touching you, and looking for those moments
I can sense your presence.

Faith is a five letter word I don’t live out often and yet
you allow me to say the right words at the right time.
Dear Lord, give me a sign I can find when I’m lost
and confused of what you’ve given me to survive this
side of heaven.

As the sun sets, the night brings reflections of my day,
you give me so much to enjoy that I forget to thank you.
My friends how I wish they knew of you like I do
Near and far I call to them to join me on the run toward you.

As I fall asleep from a full day of interacting with your creation
I think of the moments I saw you in my daily walk.
Good night Lord and thank you for keeping me safe,
I trust my heavenly dreams with be a blessing from you.


____________________________________________________
I wrote this poem in a Christian Ministries class at George Fox University
in the spring of 2004. Dr. Roger Newell was my instructor and this poem
was a class assignment.

Baotou, China.

I received my China teaching assignment this week and I’m pleased to shared this news with you. I will be teaching English at the Baotou Iron and Steel Company. Baotou is located west of the capitol city of Beijing. On June 30th after my team and I have completed training in Pasadena we will fly to Beijing. We will have a brief in-county orientation before we are split into our respective cities. I won’t be alone as I’ve been matched with one male teacher. God surely has Baotou and the other cities in his hand and I’m excited to be under His watch this summer.

Are you nervous?

This question was asked of me two different times this afternoon from classmates that were with me during my first trip to China. One asked “ Are you nervous about returning to China?” Yes, I’m nervous because I want to the best job of representing my Ventura and Newberg churches, my family and friends and the students who I will be entrusted with in a few weeks. I’m nervous because I’m returning to China (with E.S.I) in a different role and will be expected to teach well and represent E.S.I. I also nervous because I will be representing the United States inside and outside the classroom. I’m sure I will be the first American “my” students will meet and interact with. I was nervous the first time I was in China because I never been to China before. If I’m nervous, I wonder how my future students will be feeling knowing that there will be a strange American entering their classroom environment.

I’m praying that my future students and I will become friends and the teacher-student relationship will be built on trust and patience.

B.F.C Missions

The following individuals and families will be participating in summer short term mission project from Bible Fellowship Church in Ventura, Ca. As you will see I’m included on this list so it’s truly a privilege to represent BFC (my home church) this summer along with this people.

Kim Mayner & Lisa Harvill: These ladies will be traveling to France to assist with cooking for a Refresh Conference. Refresh is a organization that is led by Drs. Larry and Lois Dodd’s, a missionary couple from our church that has served as medical missionaries in Peru. Joining Kim and Lisa will be Dr. and Mrs. Daniel Hahn who serve BFC as pastors.

Eloise Johnson and Dottie Green: These fine ladies will be traveling to Guatemala with the Campus Crusade International School Project. The group will be networking with people in Guatemala through the displaying of the “Jesus Film.” If you want witness a excellent example of serving hearts and positive attitude, talk with Eloise and Dottie about their experiences.

Navajo Team: This team will be traveling to Page, Arizona to conduct a Vacation Bible Camp and renovation on a Navaho Church. This team of High School Students will be led by Pastor Jason Freehauf, Pastor Jimmy Limneos, and Jim and Debi Gloyd. Joining these leaders will be Anne Gloyd, one of Biola's newest and brightest graduates. This team will be living and working on the Navajo reservation for one week. The location of this project is near Lake Powell.

Dan and Stacy Eckstrom: This couple will travel to Costa Rica to visit the Joe Jr. and Lori Pent who are one of our missionary families. Dan and Stacy along with their children will be visiting and assisting with Joe Jr. and Lori as they minister to the youth of Costa Rica.

Lauren Zahner: Lauren will be traveling to Sarajevo, Bosnia with Global Mission Project. Lauren will be teaching English at the University of Sarajevo. There will be 13 teachers that will be traveling with Lauren.

Brian Cottrell: I will travel to Baotou, China to teach conversational English at Baotou Iron and Steel Company. I’m traveling to China with Educational Services International based in Arcadia, Ca.

As you see my fellow church members and I will be busy this summer traveling and serving God in a variety of countries. Lord willing, I pray that everyone that attends BFC will be serving God as missionaries this summer in their workplaces, schools, and homes. It’s an honor and privilege to be included on this list and I hope I can represent our church family well as I travel to China.


Bible Fellowship Church: www.bfconline.org

Colin Powell's Rules

It ain’t as bad as you think. It will look better in the morning.

Get mad, then get over it

Avoid having your ego so close to your position that when your position fails, your ego goes with it.

It can be done!!

Be careful what you choose. You may get it.

Don’t let adverse facts stand in the way of a good decision.

You can’t make someone else’s choices. You shouldn’t let someone else make yours.

Check small things.

Share credit.

Remain calm. Be kind.

Have a vision. Be demanding.

Don’t take counsel of your fears or naysayers.

Perpetual optimism is a force multiplier.



These are from Colin Powell’s biography “My American Journey.” General Powell’s journey has certainly taken him through historical times. Colin is one of my heroes not only for his military service but for his demeanor and how his service to our nation has been a example to me. Not only has he lived the "American Dream" in several capacities but has done each of them with distinction.

Persico, Joseph E. My American Journey
Ballantine Books, New York, NY. 1995

Words to live by.

The safe way is the sure way
Show initiative
Always look for improvement
Don’t procrastinate
Perfection not speed
Quality not quantity
Do it right the first time
Learn from your mistakes
Don’t shoot silver bullets unless your bullet proof
Be contended, you finish second.


These phrases were handed down to me from Larry Wemette while we worked alongside each other on the U.S.S. Dwight D. Eisenhower. (CVN-69) I believe Larry retired from the U.S. Navy as an Aviation Storekeeper Senior Chief. (E-8) Larry was and is an excellent worker and supervisor who went to bat for me on several occasions with our officers. The Eisenhower was also and still is a outstanding ship that serves our country in domestic and foreign settings. The
IKE, has we called her, was the ship that took me on my first and second overseas deployments to the Mediterranean, North Atlantic, Red Sea, and the Persian Gulf. As Larry Wemette went to bat for me, USS Eisenhower went to bat for the United States on several occasions to represent our nation. One of those occasions was our presence in the Red Sea during the early days of Operation Desert Shield. Our Battle group was the first Navy units from the Atlantic Fleet to report to the Red Sea soon after the Invasion of Kuwait occurred.

identity theft

Identity theft has become a major news issue in the past few years. Losing ones identity must be discouraging as a person must reclaim items that were stolen or tampered with.

What about losing your national identity when you travel overseas as either as a tourist, military member, missionary, or as a new citizen? I understand this as I've been overseas as three of this titles. I will learn to understand what it means to hold on to national identity when I return to China as a teacher/ missionary. I'm proud to be a American and the freedom we have to pursue our dreams. I lived one of those American dreams when I served in the U.S. Navy. I also proud to share about what it means to be from America and what freedom means for my heritage. I also understand and respect that I'm the visitor when I visit to a foreign country. It's a challenge to represent our country in a overseas setting because some countries don't seem to welcome Americans into their country. I also represent my Church and God so the privilege is met with extra diligence in what I say to people I meet.

Identity theft can take place not only in financial situations but in other settings as I've seen and will see again in a few weeks.

God's Home

5 bedrooms
Garage
Kitchen
Living room
paved driveway
located behind church
block from park
space for four flag posts
3 baseball fields and Boy's and Girls Club nearby
active neighboorhood
1 mile from 16 screen movie theater

and 26 years of memories.

This describes our Ventura home that was sold. Their planning to move to the Boise, Idaho area to be near our family that lives in Oregon and Nevada. Wise decision...

Silver Star medal, Bronze Star medal, Purple Heart medal.

I saw these medals pinned to members of the "Greatest Generation." I attended the ceremony that was held on Memorial Day over at the Ivy Lawn cemetery. The event was impressive as the flags were out, graves were decorated, and salutes were given. The gentleman that was sitting next to me was wearing the Bronze Star and Purple Heart medals. The gentleman directly behind me was wearing a Silver Star ribbon on his cap.

The Purple Heart is received whenever someone is wounded during a armed conflict. The Bronze Star is also received during a armed conflict with most of the medals awarded to prolonged time in a battle setting. The Silver Star is our nations 4th highest medal and it's received for heroic actions that are rendered in a armed conflict.

I didn't ask any of these two gentlemen where or how their medals were received because I thought it wasn't the right setting during the ceremony to ask them. I wear a ribbon on my American Legion cap that denotes service in Operation Desert Shield/ Storm. I rarely get asked about my service experince during that time in our nations history. I guess talking about conflict is something that should approached in the right setting and with the right words.

I hope to tell my stories here and share what my service ribbon means to me and what it represents.