Straight Outta Chatsworth

My pops and I be comin back from Blue Ridge Georgia on our great day of delivering goods to the greater metropolitan area. On the return trip we hit some snow, thats right snow, Wet as evrthn (everything) but it was still white enough to be snow. The Pops had to get back to the Chatty first church to make some chow, and I was cracka lacking for time, cuz I be havin' a slate of jazz back at the crib. So he be jivin so loudt he be givin' all us peopizzles dat nervousness. So we be moving down the route in da benz (chevy van). den all of da sudden boom! the benz (chevy van) starts a rattalin' and a shakin'. Pops looks over and axes me, "yo g, you be frontin me"? I was like na dog, da ca be clacking back at cha. Excuse me, just lost my mind for a second. So we took the van into this quick lube place. Sputtering into this place we found a mechanic to bail us out (Pictured) this guy was straight outta chatsworth but he was a kind soul. It made sense we had to wait awhile, so they fixed it and we went on our merry way. 228 dollars later. Oh and somewhere in there we visited a convenient store with friendly pakistani's, and then I thought about this article I read in the time magazine about how pakistan isn't even a frenemy anymore they are just an enemy. And I wondered why they would even be in chatsworth anyways? And I thought what if I ever went to pakistan, I think I would visit the osama bin laden death place and remember that picture of Hillary Clinton looking terrified. Then all of the sudden I thought where could Chelsea Clinton be nowadays? Then I remembered some network took a chance that she would be nothing like her mother and hired her as a correspondent. Then I thought about Chelsea the football team and how it would be neat if Chelsea lately were their team spokeswoman. Then I thought, she is so funny they should put her on the field, maybe at goalie, she would crack up every player so they couldn't make a shot. Then I thought of the flu vaccine and how it should be just a pill, and I thought hey why don't they have a vaccine for every incurable disease? Then I thought maybe the patent was pending on that? Then I started to think about how many movies about General Patton were in existence, then I thought probably just one: Patton. Then I left.

Good Vibrations

Can we get this done!? The thought occurred when some of my fellow compadres talked about quitting so close to the end. Working hard on a muggy Early August Tennessee day is afternoon is not my idea of fun, or enjoyable work. 5 people had started the day working, and with 25 incessantly heavy bed frames to haul up stairs into a storage room, 3 amigos left. It got me thinking how nice it is to have the power of numbers. Me and Aldo tried to make the best of it, but the best of it left around 2 PM. Dude its 5 PM. THESE THINGS ARE SO BENT! Forget it, I am not carrying these anymore, wheres the dolly!? Watch the wall! LOOK OUT ITS FALLING! The annoyance, apathy, and agitation was mounting. And in one quite moment it all changed, I realized that I was working hard, all day, for decent wages. It was a place I hadn't been consistently in the last 7 months, still without a full time worth while job I was content with working late into the evening. Being tired at the end of the day felt alarmingly fresh. Life was good.......until Aldo drove my car over the curb. STAY AWAY FROM MY CAR!


Buying a car can be rewarding, being someone who has owned my car for awhile now, it feels good to be where I am at. I take it for granted that I have albeit an older car, but a car to call my own. Andrea has been car less now for about 2 months. She has needed a good, dependable car for 9 years. Monday Andrea was able to purchase a car down in Atlanta. Thankfully, she didn't have to buy a Malibu or Stratus, Yikes. Thanks to Rod (Who was a pretty average car salesmen, performing the usual act, playing dumb on what the car has and doesn't have, with the occasional blatant lie tossed in other than that he seemed like a straight shooter) she was able to find a car to suite her fancy; that car was a Pontiac Vibe. Andrea has had a tough time with her vehicles in the past, lets hope those days are behind her, I believe they are.



GOTTA PUT THIS ONE FAIR. The cagey umpire uttered to me. SHACRACK!!!!!!! A shot rang out in the near midnight sky, free at last I thought, as the ball cruised over the fence. No one was on, but it didn't matter. We were playing the one team that proved it could push us around, and thanks to that homerun we were now tied 8 - 8. We went on to win 21-14, but it signified a somewhat significant turning point in my life. Although I was sulking inside about not being able to play Short Stop that night, you couldn't see it on the field. I went 3 for 3 with an additional walk, 3 put outs and even threw a runner out going home on the last play (kind of, our catcher got ran over by the runner, but it was an automatic out). The turning point was this, although I was told I was incapable I didn't shy away, I looked adversity square in the face and succeeded.

5 Things I think I think.

1. Green Bananas are the worst excuse for fruit in this world.
2. Farmers tans are an inevitable result unless you are an exhibitionist or gay.
3. I am finally well, and I am not looking back.
4. If the Braves win the world series this year I will never ask for a world series again.
5. I think I am ready for cooler temps.


Enjoyable travel thought of the week.

Miami, Florida.
Never had the urge to go there, until I found out that I was going there. My friend Paulo Tenorio asked me to be a groomsmen in his wedding in March, and it is in Miami. Nice getaway at the tail end of winter, and for a good reason too, couldn't be more happy for two people.

A sure cure for the summertime blues & an anniversary to forget

Summertime for many is the best season of the year. Well its a distant 3rd for me. I am not what you would call an extreme guy. So extreme heat is not for me, I get the blues easy when its this hot. But I have found the perfect cure; playing softball and winning. It was a tough first few games but our team is on the right track, winning our last three games in blowout fashion. I have had two home-runs in two games since buying batting gloves which maybe the purchase of the year. Softball is fun, but is funner when you win. Another cure for the summertime blues is a picnic on a mountain. Me Andrea and my family went to Chilhowee this last weekend, and it was a blast. We were able to take James swimming, and inevitably he thought he really could swim. It took awhile to get there, and it rained before and was a little foggy and muggy when we got there, but it was a blast.

Its been 1 year now since I left for Africa, I have been recalling the emotions and vivid memories of the day of my departure which Andrea cares to forget, which I don't blame her, that was the worst day of my life. However when I look back on my time in Africa I only feel joy and happiness. The separation of this day was the worst part, and its something I will never forget as long as I live, the sting, and the hope. It felt like I was dealing with someone dying that day. Its been a year, and I hope this is the only time I remember this anniversary to forget.

5 Things I think I think

1. I think that P90x might kill me, but I want to dance with it as long as I can. I was struck with sickness the first time I did it, and I reverted back to similar form the second time. I missed today in effort of trying to rid myself of whatever it is that I have.
2. Me and Andrea may never be well again. First I was sick, then her, now me again, now her still. Aye.
3. I think the Braves better get their act together or they are going to lose the division. Aye.
4. I think I am finally tired of P.F. Changs, didn't know that was possible. Aye
5. I think my car will go atleast 200K. It turned over 160K this week, and I feel like a proud papa. Keep on Keeping on.

Enjoyable Travel Thought of the Week

Bora Bora, Tahiti

Not that I actually watch the batchelorette, but when I casually joined Andrea to watch it this week they were in Tahiti.
Pretty nice looking, I was thought Tahiti was a fantasy land like El Dorado, or Shangri la, it probably is.

5 Best and Worst Decisions from the last decade.

Being in a transitional stage of my life has forced pensiveness as I look back. I wanted to throw down some of the best and worst decisions over the past 10 years. Of course like so many people, I like to hear the bad news and then the good news.

5 Worst Decisions

Not Being Outgoing in High School - For so many High School is an awkward time, all I wanted to do was play sports and avoid homework, big groups of people and girls that were uh hum, good looking. I regretted many of the decisions I made in
High School, but as a famed idiot once told me; my social fears are holding me back!

Never Working At Camp - I will forever hate on people who insist on talking obnoxiously about when they worked at camp. Very seldom do I find something that bugs me more. Some of this is because I never worked at camp, but most of it is because people keep bringing it up. I had one chance to work at camp, and I chose the mountains. Oh well.


Playing for the Rebels - 4 years, 4 championships, it would appear that there is not much to regret with that stat line. However the Rebels were a symbol of a moral failure on my part. I was asked several times a year to play with different teams, a lot of those teams that asked me would have been more fun to play with. However I put winning over fun in my list of priorities. Not that all the guys were bad or anything, but I felt the general team attitude was something I never fit into.

Not Going To School Abroad - Going to Ethiopia was an amazing experience. I wish that I had gone abroad while in college to study. I thought about it many times, going to Italy or Spain, but inevitably I said adios to the opportunity.


My X's and Lack of O's - I traveled around blindly on this earth for 23 odd years, and no years were more meaningless then the years I spent with women I should never have been with. I believe its a good sign when the person your with is not that into you. Hind sights always 20/20.

5 Best Decisions


Finding a Rose Among thorns - It took awhile to find the right girl for me (See Above) but I finally found her two years after meeting her. And 4 years after love at first sight (lol). From those first few months of talking up the beauty and singing "Cracklin' Rosie" till the post Africa days its been a long but beautiful road with Andrea.


Working For the National Park Service - I never thought I would actually look back on my days in the Smokies so fondly, even after the first year. But to this point it was the best job I ever had. I worked in the Smoky Mountains for crying out loud. The work was hard, time was a little more difficult, but it was an amazing experience. One I will always look back on with great memories.


Stepping into the Mission Field - From my first mission trip in 2001 to the Dominican Republic till my recent 5 month expedition to Abyssinia the mission field changed my life. Its going to be something I take part in for the rest of my life in some way shape or form.



Going to College - I've heard the arguments for and against going to college and particularly Southern, but I am very blessed to have a degree. Because it represents so much more than a piece of paper or a job, it represents so much hard work, growing and fun. I am glad I never gave myself the option to quit.


Choosing Christianity - I have come a long way spiritually, and I am still learning and growing. But serving and choosing Jesus was the best choice I could have made in the last 10 years, I pray that he will continue to bless me and be with me on this journey.

Worst Decision Someone I knew Made

Austin and Katrina moving to New Hampshire. I ask myself at-least every week why? You can't make decisions for the people you love, and you definitely don't know what's best for them. It was probably the best decision they could make for themselves, but to me, all time worst.

Best Decision Someone I knew Made

Andrea took the time to hear me out and give me a second (or was it a third?) chance after I stupidly turned away from her. Her decision is definitely a memory that will never fade.

5 Things I think I think


1. I think that my hand may never get back to normal size, its a good two times larger right nowwith no sign of getting smaller soon. Yikes.
2. Starting P90X this week, I don't doubt that I will throw up every day, and I don't doubt that itwill be hard, but I do doubt my resolve when the tough gets going. Oh boy.......
3. Andrea needs to work less. Overtime can be fun, except when it means the therapy department where she works is extremely inefficient, and she is extremely tired.
4. I think I need to finish this book Soccernomics. Its a good book, but I have been reading it for 4 weeks now.
5. I think the Braves are going to give the pennant a good run, but they will try their best to blow it. Phillies are coming back strong.

Enjoyable Travel thought of the week.


Hawaii: Andrea has been talking about it everyday like its her long lost home. Wouldn't it be nice?
Its probably as hot there as it is here though. Only difference is they have beaches, and Milk is
10 dollars a gallon.

World Cup Slip Up; The Value of Avoiding the Big Mistake

The premiere sports event occurs once every 4 years; The FIFA World Cup & it occurred this last month in South Africa.
It is an event of much anticipation, in fact this event is more anticipated by the participants than their wedding day.
And why not? After all these fellows lives revolve around soccer, it's literally how they make a living, & this is the ultimate
Football experience. The chance to play the sport you love and be able to play for your country, it doesn't get any better.

But the biggest reason the world cup is so popular because it means so much to the FANS. In America we really don't
have an equivalent to the world cup, even the US participating in the world cup is no where near the excitement Mexicans, Italians, Spaniards, or the Dutch feel. We have the olympics to be proud of, but even for the most passionate fan it is only a matter of months of anticipation and its only for niche gimmicky sports like ice dancing, sailing, or rowing. This IS the World's
Game, and these are the worlds best teams.

4 years of anticipation are rolled into 4 weeks of utter nerve racking insanity & fun. But the fans are what really make this come to life, picture your favorite football team be allowed the chance to win the super bowl once every four years and you have scratched the surface. Imagine your alma matter being given the opportunity to win the national championship only once every 4 years, and you are still far away. The way Kobe Bryant felt the 6th time he rose the finals trophy pails in comparison to Iker Casillas the Spanish captain raising the World Cup trophy. The reason for this is the fact you have taken the worlds best shot. Compare it to winning a state sailing championship race to winning the Boston Marathon. The Sailing winner is pretty good at what he does sure, but how many people in the world sail compared to how many people in the world run? And how many competitors is the sailing winner going against compared to the marathon winner?

All this pressure being put on the shoulders of a few extraordinary gentlemen can lead to utter chaos.

The Stadium; Soccer City in Johannesburg South Africa. The game; THE FIFA World Cup Final
The game pits two of the most unluckiest national teams of all time; Spain vs. Holland. More on the game later....

Spain mind you has never once even sniffed the trophy, albeit that has never taken away from their overall success and confidence as a football team. The closest Spain had been before was forth place 60 years ago. However recently they have been on a tear with several players on the team who are considered the best player in the world at their position. They have lost only twice in the last 4 years, and they feel like this truly is their year. The Dutch? They are the unluckiest team in World Football History. For nearly 8 years they were the darlings of World football, the epitome of tactical genius, rich with talent, confidence and flare. Johann Cruyff one of the best footballers of all time was the heart and soul of that team. Sadly while reaching the finals in 1974 and 1978 they ran into really good host nation team both times (West Germany '74 & Argentina '78). But as of late they had put together a top 5 team. With the likes of Sniejder, Robben, Van Persie, Kuyt, Von Bronkhorst, and Von Bommel. But the deck was stacked against them yet again, with the best team in the last 4 years and ultimately one of the best teams of all time standing in their way of the trophy.

The game was set up to be a classic battle, 2 high flying offenses, 2 World Cup starved nations.
It was becoming an amazingly physical game, 4 yellow cards for Spain & 6 yellow cards for the Dutch. With just a few minutes left in extra time I just felt like the team with the yellow card advantage would accomplish soccer's dumbest magic trick and turn two yellows into a red sometime soon. And then, it happened. Holland had been holding the skilled dribblers of Spain away from the goal for sometime now, with only a handful of "descent" chances afforded the Spanish. The Dutch had 2 chances to put the game away earlier but just like so many inferior teams in the past have done, they blew them (I guess thats why they are inferior).

John Heitinga the 26 year old dutchmen commited his second clattering offense and off to the locker room he went, to finish the game of his life by himself, ultimately and utterly alone. He did the right thing I guess, since Spain would have had a pretty clear shot on goal in the penalty box if he hadn't. But the Spaniards had blown every descent opportunity they had to this point. However the foul turned out to be the turning point in the game, as the rapidly fleeting flying dutchmen who were fighting for their world cup hopes virtually the whole game lost their grip for good.

I shockingly watched the 35 year old Dutch captain of Indonesian descent Giovanni Van Bronckhorst come off the field with only a few minutes left. And it was a sad moment to watch. This "Old Guy" in soccer years was set to retire after the match. He was hoping to be on top of the world, just like he had been just a few days ago when as the commentator Ian Darke put it he fired "an absolute fire cracker" of a goal against Uruguay in the Semifinals. A goal which for most was the goal of the tournament. He was a heroic figure playing in this game but yet as he came off he was powerless to stop the final events of this scrappy match. The manager took two defensive players (De Jong, & Von Bronkhorst) out in favor of 2 players with more offensive initiative. This decision proved to be the fatal flaw that was the catalyst to the slip up of the tournament.

Rafael Van Der Vaart the late substitution made the mistake of letting Andres Iniesta roam free onside, and Iniesta like the cagey vet that he is hammered home the winner with 3 minutes to go. With only three minutes to go the team that had never once been world champions blew the opportunity to become just that, world champions. It is always a sad day for soccer when a tournament of this magnitude is determined by such a big mistake. But thats what it really is isn't it? Avoiding the big mistake to give your team the best chance to win. Somebody has to make the mistake ultimately and that is a sad price to pay for a team and country that could taste the victory they have strived for.

My Top 5 Moments in the 2010 FIFA World Cup

5. The South African Tsambalala scores the first world cup goal with an amazing cross shot to the right corner. Viva Africa.
4. Maradona Loses. Poor Messi, but its hard to root against a guy (Maradona) who once said "I hate everything that comes from the United States". Hopefully your buddies Castro and Chavez will have simpathy for you because I don't.
3. An Absolute FIRECRACKER! Gio Von Bronckhorst fires a laser into the net off the right post from 40 yards out to jump start the Dutchmen into the final.
2. Bradley's sliding toe poke into the back of the net against Slovenia. This was quite a feat, America had never come back from a 2-0 deficit to force a tie and this was against a top class keeper. Bradley rescued the Americans from the clutches of elimination and set them up nicely for a historic come from behind win, but thats another story.....
1. Donovan puts it into the back of the net with vigor and purpose for the win, to send America into the round of 16. Not the most amazing goal, since it was a quick thundering slash from about 10 yards out but the entire game built up to it, plus with everyone falling down all around the ball it made for one of the greatest moments in American Sports history. Too bad they couldn't do something like that again in the next round.

5 Things I Think I Think

1. My Nephew is challenging my will to become a parent. He's a good kid but wow, I mean kids....yikes.
2. I think Austin and Katrina should name their (Guaranteed) Son Donovan, we need more purposeful names in this world after people we greatly admire. Just finding a name that is rare is not cutting it anymore. I'm talking to you Graysons of the world.
3. I think that Softball will be fun this year, my team isn't the best, nor is it the worst (yet to be determined actually) but we have cool guys on our team. And after so long playing to win, its a breath of fresh air to simply play with people you like (what an idea), and its hard to like a Pirate sometimes.
4. I think the rain was amazing this morning until I heard the games tonight were cancelled. Softball players wonder why people make fun of softball and this is why, it rained 8 hours before the games were set to start and they were cancelled. Why?
5. I think Andrea is going to be the best PTA ever.

Pleasant Travel Thought of the Week
My thoughts are focused on Australia. With this dry hot weather we have been having its hard not to think about the Outback. How pleasant it would be to check out the Sydney Opera House, or Ayers Rock. The pictures are pretty amazing in themselves.

Questioning a Missionaries Purpose. Am I Missing the Point?

"I sure hope not" I said to myself queitly when I wondered whether I could come to Africa dn be a missionary here, buy yet miss my calling. Our church service this morning made me question the way I have gone about living out my missionary experience. Is it possible that I am cheating myself out of a blessing? Am I not living up to my full potential as a missionary? Deep questions beckon deep searches, I thought to myself this afternoon whether I should be more open minded about my job here, my hope is that I won't miss out on what God is trying to tell me, or what he has brought me here for.
This place is not heaven, this experience is not perfect, I am finding out first hand that the mission field has many if not more challenges than the world I left called home. I am not naive enought to think that this mission land I am living in is the real world, while my home I left is somehow a secluded bubble that has no problems. If you human, breathing, and made of dirt, you are no doubt part of the real world, a world full of sin, death, disappointment, and pain. Satan simply never lets you rest, no matter if you are exposed to the world without anyone on your side, and no matter if you are living in a bubble where things appear peachy. Satan is no respector of persons, he will seek you out to destroy you, and he is resilient and persistent. The good news is God is no respector of persons either; he treats and loves all of us equally, and he too is resilient and persistent, even more so than Satan.
After I contemplated the purpose of life deeply, I came around full circle with my original thought of contemplating my purpose. Am I in the right place at the right time? Did I make the right choice in coming to Ethiopia? The food doesn't taste amazing, should I have gone to Thailand or maybe Mexico to be a student missionary? They love soccer here, but should I have gone to a country where they are even crazier about soccer, maybe Brazil or Cameroon? I found my thoughts getting shallower and shallower as I finally came to the conclusion while reading chapter 21 in the desire of ages. The chapter was about Bethesda and the Sanhedrin, this chapter describes in great detail the Jewish leaders questioning Jesus' mission on this earth. I thought it scary and yet preposterous that I could be acting in the same way the Sanhedrin did. For when Christ came in a manner contrary to their expectations, they would not receive Him. As a missionary I am essentially Christ's hands and feet, I am living out his mission here in this country. So whenever I doubt my purpose here because it is contrary to my expectations, then I doubt purpose here as well. Scary thought. Because the next step for the Jewish leaders after not Christ's purpose here was to prove him as a deceiver. "Is this what I have been doing" I asked myself silently; it was scary to think that I could be proving him as a deciever. By me doubting, or becoming bitter about my assignment here I am putting in question God's purpose, and honor. It is ok to become depressed, sad, homesick or discouraged here, but if I reject this mission in my heart after I have originally fel God's calling and accepted it as my mission, than I am headed for a world of hurt, and essentially missing a tremendous blessing as well as neglecting important work that God wants me to accomplish. This epiphany challenged me, and has given me renewed focus at Gimbie Adventist Hospital. I am leaving here in a little more than 2 months, that time will come very soon, therefore I must get my act together and live purposefully every second, this is not an opportunity that I can squander, and it is not a blessing that I can miss. I didn't come here to have a good time, or assist the administrator or the CFO in their duties; I came here to serve God, and that is a purpose that I will not reject.

1 Week

With one week remaining in my homeland of The United States of America, I took a look back on my life and see what I have accomplished. I have a college degree, I preached a set of meetings in Africa, I have worked for the National Park Service and I have been baptized.  Those are my greatest accomplishments, this next experience that I will be partaking of will extend the list of my lifelong accomplishments.  But as I consider my accomplishments, its hard for me to be boastful of them, and its also hard for me to long for selfish desires.  I do not, I repeat, do not care to make tons of money in this world. I do not long to work in a high up position, or become the boss.  I simply want to do God's will, if he wants me to clean toilets the rest of my life because he thinks it will make me happy I will do that, although I really hope he doesn't want that. This journey to Africa is going to be the most challenging thing that I have ever done.  Leaving my loved ones is the hardest thing I will ever do.  It is not a natural thing to live without your loved ones, it is very difficult, thats why this journey is only for a short time.  The Irony of living away from you loved ones is that if you do you are either very stupid or very noble.  It has appeared for awhile that I will fit into the stupid bracket, but after analyzing the situation for awhile I now understand that this opportunity is a gift, and if it was any other experience than this one it would be stupid for me to leave.  Of course now it would be stupid if I stayed, this experience is going to bring me so much joy, mission, purpose and fulfillment in my life. With God, it seems like the more you sacrifice the more you will be blessed, and I think that will be the situation here. I am risking a lot, but God is going to reward a lot.