10 Month Review

I been here for 10 months! I remember when I unpacked my suitcase of clothes, and sorted out my mind of uncertainty. Pretty warm for October compared to the Eastern states. 10 months and it is now July. I could not even compile a list, though I can attempt (and won't do here ;] ) of subjects, insights, and stages of my life that unfolded here in St. Louis at the Temple Corp. Reminds me of Dr. Sesus's book "Oh the places you'll go." Instead of such a an author I have a more famous one- GOD. His penmanship is unmatched, writing a book that I couldn't see, reading pages in hindsight, being fully human and afraid of what is next. Not only is HE the author, but he is the master editor. Just like everyone else I am flawed. Often times the tragic instances of immediate gratification and sin adds its ugly words upon my story book. And certainly he doesn't erase it, but lets it flow beautifully into a another stream. Yes! You can see the blotches of ink that forced its way on a page, but it's trivial to what the rest of the book reads. I'll wait and see :)

For now my place is here in St. Louis. Being an intern at Temple Corp. And possibly leaving for college in New York in the next couple months. For now I have struggled and learned. For now I am learning. Imagine all the things God can teach you in a year. Away from home. In a new state. New people.

The word fresh comes to mind.
Merriam Webster defines Fresh as:   having its original qualities unimpaired

How perfect!
original struggles and unimpaired joys 

Till next time 
Jesse- 

Walk On Wednesday

Taco's from the most infamous Mexican restaurant in Benton Park West  La Vallesana

Street Art. And good question: Where are you going? 

Mexican Ice cream. Who can deny? 

Look up more than down. See more than say. Listen more than speak. Hope more than dread. Believe more than criticize. Yes more than no. No more than maybe. Laugh more than cry. Love more than hate. See. More. See.
Unknown-

I Spy

All the happiness that God provides 

                      

                                                              Till next time 

A New Year

And surely it is the first month of 2013 :) As an intern at Salvation Army I am learning so much and growing greatly in God. I have high hopes for the community in which I serve in. I have faith in God, a faith for this New Year.
I have a few pictures of last year that I didn't get a chance to post. You want to see them you say?
Say no more :)

28 And having come in, the angel said to her, “Rejoice, highly favored one, the Lord is with you; blessed are you among women!” 29 But when she saw him, she was troubled at his saying, and considered what manner of greeting this was. Luke 1:28-29 NKJV

Reading the Christmas story this break I took special notice of Mary's confusion when the angel of the Lord appeared to her. How could Mary, a common teenage girl, in a common town, be highly favored by God. If  I was in her shoes I would be confused just the same. Well, after I got over the fact that an Angel of the Lord was in my room, telling me that I should rejoice.
At the corp, those who we help  are the "commoners", the ones less fortunate, the ones who live out their common life of paycheck to paycheck. And though we might not be a sector of the Lord's angels, our message is just the same. "Come, you who are most highly favored. We come to feed you, clothe you, bring you comfort and joy. To show you that Christmas is not about fancy glittered ornaments, but baby Jesus himself." Perhaps in their mind, they are just like Mary. Confused that we might want to pray with a family and not just hand them our donated toys and let them be on their way. Perhaps they are confused why we would open our doors a little later than usual, so those who are struggling can get a few extra cans of corn and beans for Christmas dinner. Perhaps it is confusing that someone, who does not know them, willingly shows them an example of Christ, an example of LOVE. I pray this Christmas that  not one person who walked through the doors of the Temple Corp, were confused about the meaning of this holiday. To painting our little girls nails at our Christmas party, to packing food bags for the last food pantry of the year, our holiday programs are more than just programs. They are to celebrate the greatest man who ever lived. Who's Mother, though confused about an angel's greeting, was just like you and me.

We need alot Pizza breaks doing all this work :)

Happy Birthday Jesus