goals for 3.7 - 3.13

The Temper Trap

I can NOT stop listening to these guys. The Temper Trap is where it's AT. You'll probably recognize their song "Sweet Disposition" from a current Diet Coke commercial or from the movie soundtrack for "500 Days of Summer". Check 'em out.

Anyway, the point of this blog: I've decided to start publishing a list of my tangible, reachable goals for each week in an attempt to make them more real, more concrete in an attempt to feel even more motivated to strive to achieve them. Feel free to keep me accountable. I plan on giving a progress report at the end of the week (provided I have internet access).

• have a quiet time with God everyday at 8am or earlier
• memorize 3 verses of scripture and/or one section of 3 or more verses
• eat out no more than 2 times (in this case, "eat out" does not include fast-food)
• no fast-food
• put the debit card down and live on a set amount of cash
• blog at least every other day
• go to the gym 3 times (minimum)
• attempt to have a lucid dream and keep records of any dreams that I can remember from this week

(I know that last one may seem weird, but I am currently fascinated by the idea of having a lucid dream. Perhaps I will blog about that soon.)

It's also important to note that this Tuesday is "Fat Tuesday" or, as they say in French, "Mardi Gras." Following this day, I will be giving up carbonated beverages and fast-food both as a way of showing God my desire to follow Him more fervently by sacrificing things I like in order to depend on Him in a greater way and also as an attempt at making my diet a little healthier.

Wish me luck, but, better yet, pray for me - because who believes in luck anyway? And like I said, keep me accountable. Text me, call me, email me and ask me how I'm doing. I want you to.

Haiti Mission Trip - Countdown: 9 days

This spring break (March 12-19), I'll be headed down to Haiti for a mission trip with Calvary Baptist Church. Much planning and praying has been done and our plans are slowly but surely coming together.

I really don't know what to expect upon our arrival. I've heard of the current conditions and seen the pictures of the immense damage, but I'm sure that a first-hand encounter of the wreckage will be something that can't be accurately described through media channels. 

The team on which I will be serving will be working in Thomazeau, Ouest, Haiti. 

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As you can see, it is fairly close to the capital, Port-au-Prince. In Thomazeau, we will have two or three sub-teams. One team will be a construction group which will be building a house for a family in Thomazeau, the other two teams will be working with kids either at the town's orphanage or at the new Christian school that has just recently been built.

I'm really pumped about being able to go to Haiti and help out with rebuilding the buildings and lives that were so suddenly destroyed by the earthquake that hit just a little over a year ago. I almost feel like the dark reality of it all will, in a way, break me down as well. I'm so comfortable here in America and I'm craving the discomfort and the reality of a life that doesn't revolve around the pursuit of financial security.

Here's a prayer list of things that you can be praying for now and while we are in Haiti. We can use all the prayer we can get, but don't forget that the Haitian people need your prayers daily.

• pray for the three major teams: one is a medical team in Port-au-Prince, one will be in the DR, and one in Thomazeau
• pray that our travel to, from and in Haiti will be safe and that the things we take with us that we need while working in Haiti will not be lost along the way
• pray that God would prepare our hearts to do His work in Haiti
• pray for that our team members will remain healthy while in Haiti and will not contract any diseases
• pray for the people that we will encounter - that their hearts would be open to hearing the gospel
• pray that God will work through us in these places and that His name will be made more famous and that His glory will shine in Haiti

I'm sure I'll think of some more prayer concerns, so check the posts that will be coming up as the countdown to Haiti gets closer. Thanks for your prayers.