Lent Day 34

Jacksonville, OR

On Saturday I shot some photos of my friend Alicia and all her siblings.  This was my main purpose for traveling to Medford.  Alicia is awesome, she does cool stuff like this for her mom when mother’s day rolls around.  Alicia comes from a really diverse family with a lot of half and step siblings.  I would think that this would present a challenge when organizing something like a photo-shoot but she was able to pull it off with ease.

Alicia is one of a handful of people I am privileged to say that I lead to Jesus, she attended a Bible study that I lead for several years.  I sometimes can’t believe that we have stayed friends with all of the changes that have taken place in both our lives but we remain in touch to this day and even better… her and Kendra have become pretty dang good friends, too.

I admire Alicia’s strength, she has definitely weathered a storm or two in her day.  I think it was good to see her while I was in Medford because it reminded me that sometimes the influence we have on earth and the times we share our faith do last.

Justice toward others.

Lent Day 33

Medford, OR

I would like to apologize for the lack of content over the past several days, I was sick with the flu during days 30-32 and have been in Medford for days 33-36.  This is the home stretch of my little challenge and it has been more challenging than ever now that it’s almost over.  The next few posts will be some “catch-up” from my time in Medford.  There was a lot going on while I was down there and I wanted to give my friends and family my full attention.  Also, I didn’t have access to the internet, or rather I chose to not access it, which was nice.

The photo above is a plate of carne asada nachos from Muchas Gracias in Medford.  This place holds some special memories for me, not only because the food is really tasty but because of the many conversations I have had with friends over plates of nachos or burritos.  This day was no different, I was at Muchas Gracias with one of my best friends, Joey Perez who you will read about more in a later post.

I love how you can see the steam coming off of the chile that this guy is cooking.  The whole restaurant smells of cooking tortillas, onions and grease.  The novelty is that they serve taco-truck food at a sit down restaurant.  For me, the main course is nostalgia and conversation, if you get a chance you should check out the Muchas Gracias in Medford all of the other restaurants in the chain fall short.

Justice toward self.

transition

I have been terrible about updating this blog.  There has been so much going on in my life and I haven’t taken the time to chronicle the journey.  

It’s been a crazy season in my life.  Shortly after Kendra and I got engaged I was offered a job in Oregon City working for a Christian ministry called Eternal Impact.  This job came about at what I think is the perfect time, I have been looking for the last few months to expand my professional life, I even began looking in the Portland area for work in the video/media industry.  The job that I finally landed was not posted on any website however, it came by coincidence through an old friendship.  I find it odd that as I was trying to find a good job, that the perfect job happened to find me.  

This move to the Portland area marks the fifth move for me since last December, if you remember reading my thoughts on home and identity, then you know how excited I was to move into my current home.  If there’s one thing I’ve learned in this last year of transition it is that God knows how to shake things up in my life.  

On one hand this is kind of a scary time for me, to move to a new city where I don’t really know anyone, to start a new job and have a new home… It’s definitely something I’m looking forward to, but I can’t help but feel ill-prepared for the adventure that lies ahead of me.  On the other hand I think it will be really exciting to go and prepare a new home for Kendra and I to start our lives together.  Kendra will be taking winter and spring term off from school so that she can work more and save up some money for the move (she will be moving up with me after the wedding).  I wish I could express with words to you, my readers, just how wonderful she is.  Some of you know her, so there is no need for explanation, but for those of you who don’t, I’m sorry to say that you are missing out on a wonderful treat.  

So, a lot of people have been asking me what I’ll be doing in this new job of mine.  To be completely honest, I’m not sure of exactly everything that I will be doing.  I do know, however, that a lot of my time will be spent writing, designing graphics, shooting and editing video, and doing photography.  A big part of Eternal Impact is what they call Impact Festivals, these are large gatherings that are put on at college campuses around east Africa, specifically Uganda.  I believe I will be traveling there from time to time to shoot video and take pictures at the Impact Festivals.  This is a really exciting opportunity for me because it’s a great job that encompasses many of my passions: design, photography, video/editing, writing, and travel.  I could not have been blessed with a better opportunity.

I will be traveling back and forth between Portland and Medford a lot over the next 5 months to spend time with my lovely lady and to help her with the preparation of our wedding.  It’s definitely going to be a time of stretching and growth for the both of us, so I would ask those who are willing, to please keep us in your prayers, that we would take all of this change in stride, and that it would strengthen our relationship with each other and with God also.  

If you read this and live in the Portland area, leave a comment and I’ll get in touch with you.  It would be nice to have some friends to hang out with when I get there.  Thanks.

we are engaged.

So, I said that I would update this blog after my trip with Kendra up to Friday Harbor… I am sorry it has taken me this long!

So, heres the scoop for those of you who don’t know:  Kendra and I spent 4 days having adventures and good food around the San Juan Island area in Washington state.  It was so much fun.  

While there, I got to know Kendra’s dad with the intention of asking his permission to propose to Kendra.  I did just that and she said YES!!! WOOH!!!

Kendra and I are now engaged and have set a date for our wedding of May 30th 2009.

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Columbia River Gorge, Portland, Oregon