A beautiful reminder

Well it was our first Sunday worshipping in our new home in Ontario, California and it was a strange amazing experience. It is still a little strange sensation meeting new people and telling them how we came to be here. If you're not a Christian then nothing about what we did makes any sense because we gave up our home, family and practically everything we own to come here because we trust that our God knows best and so when He calls we answer.

I am happy to say that we do officially have a couch to sit on, a bed to sleep on and food in our fridge. There are still several boxes around the apartment to unpack and we're still trying to decide if and where we want to "hang" a few things on the wall. And by "hang" I mean use command strips because we are still living by our no holes, no paint policy. I still need to get a few of our utilities switched over to our name as we approach being here for 1 full week but we have finally gotten internet at the apartment which is what allows me to finally post a new blog since we used up almost all our data driving accross the country.

Here's some of the biggest updates since my last post: Friday was New Student Orientation was Friday and it went very well. I got to meet several other seminary students, some with beards and sadly some without. We toured the campus again and most importantly I got to hear first hand the hearts of some of the staff at Gateway like Jeff Iorg (the President), Adam Groza, Shane Tawnigawa and a couple others as well. It was so refreshing to hear them all have such a common heart for sharing the Gospel, planting churches and placing priority on family and church service. It has me very excited for classes (not tomorrow but on the 30th, oops, so yay an extra week before class).

Next update is that we've been experiencing our yearly supply of rain over the course of the next 2 days. It started on Friday, we got a break from it yesterday and it has continued again today and at least for all day tomorrow. Prayers would be appreciated as we are on the lower floor and California does not necessarily have proper irrigation. I have bought some portable water blockers to keep water away from our door and so far they seem to be working. The last update is that we got to go worship for the first time on the west coast at a church plant called The Vine. It was a wonderful experience and we are looking forward to visiting others and making as many connections as possible. You can pray for this as well that the Lord would direct us to where He wants us to serve and get connected.

I still haven't fully gotten used to being here yet. As I drive around doing different errands I still can't help but notice this giant beautiful mountain everywhere I look. If you're not familiar with the geography of Ontario, CA there is a mouintain called Baldy that you can see from almost anywhere in the citry and surrounding areas. It is gorgeous (when you can see it, sometimes smog blocks it from sight) but it's also a very beautiful reminder that I am not home. I can be walking around a Walmart, a Lowes or whatever and it could just so easily be a Walmart or Lowes that I would frequent in good ole Charlotte, NC on a fairly regular basis (sometimes mulitple times a day) but then I step outside and there it is...that beautiful reminder...that I am not home. In fact, I am on the other side of the country and 3 hours behind all my family and east coast friends. It is definitely going ot take some getting used to. My sweet and beautiful wife has finally been able to make us some home cooked meals and in fact is doing so as I type. Please continue to pray for us, as they are needed and very much working. We miss you all so very much. Feel free to email us or even better send us a card. Our address is 1536 E. Princeton St. Apt 11 Ontario, CA 91764. Until the next one :)