The Fashion of Theology and Hearts

Engagement: Erik + Krissy from Nathanael Sims on Vimeo.

Home is not found in a house, but in a someone.

I don't always feel the need to explain the headlining quotes but i can't help but mention that the character Dack stated this to Luke Skywalker, who replied, "yea, i know what you mean", being as it were, that he did just take on the whole empire and survived, whereas, Dack does not survive the next scene. so what was the difference between them? i'm sure there was plenty of variables, but even Luke was merely a young farmboy when he helped to destroy the Deathstar. The only real difference is Luke was guided by the Force, and Dack, had only his own means. i'm not necessarily all for and supportive of using movies for spiritual truths, but this one was just so easy and pliable that i can't ignore. The only difference between me and the guy who falls into sin and darkness forever and never resurfaces to the light of God is the Holy Spirit that i submit myself to consistently. so with no further to do, this is what my life is looking like currently: on February 21, i had a dream. For some people, that it not abnormal. For me to have a vivid dream and be able to recollect all it's imagery, details, and sequences is highly unusual. i wrote it down upon awakening, and this is the exact transmission, with no corrections. it's rather long, but don't feel obligated to read the entirety, seeing as i will explain it afterwards.

last night i had a dream . it was odd b ecause most dreams i don't remember having, even barely remembering the fact that i did dream, just the feeling that my body has een shaken up by some resonance of emmittance through my body's ore. this particular, drea or nightmare, when i awoke i was still inside the dream, vividly, the feeling of dreaming is still on my optical sensors. this is all fascinating because the synopsis of my dream was that i'm dying. i'm dying at a steady pace of something much like cancer if not worse, because the basis of the dream is me recognizing that i'm going to be slipping away very soon, and trying to set in ordser my affairs and things, because we have to euthanizeme *apparently it was better to go out one way before the disease got too rampant, before it consumed me) -i can't tremember all the details and i'm starting to fully come back to cognitive reassoning and betraying the subconscious memory of the details of my dream, but i remember thre instances. one, at my house in my mother'sbedroom, trying to figure out how or who to tell and explain this very seemingly untimely edeath. the other situation was on a public announcement, it might have actually been a funeral, a living funeral for myself, and that one was actually qutie funny. my subconscious is quite thesharp and snappy fellow. during the living funeral, it kept coming time for me to acwtually do it, to inject the serum that would make me sleep the eternal sleep. and i remember me and people talking although i was on stage, and i would get choked up, and not wanting to do it, then right about to but something else would distract me, then at one point, somebody decided to run some sort ofcommercial for their thing, their company or something, and i remember feeling disdain and offense, and some of my closer friends looking at me knowing exactly what i was going to say, we had this meeting tos i could orate my will, aso i stood up and yelled, yea, if anyone else has any more commercials to share, how about we just save them for the end, after i'm dead, eh? maybe the transimission of this dream 's part isn't funny, but in my dream is definitely got earnest chuckles and laughs, despite the grim circumstance, and i think that situation got me thinking, both subconsciously and cognitively. i think that's when i realised that in my dream i was very much trying to shy away from death, that i almost didn't beleive it and i know i had s much more to do, and if i ended it now, i would miss out on so much, but if i wanted[waited] for the sickness to arrive in full array, i would be completely lost to you[its] drunken power. i was sad angry hurt and brimming with disbelief, but a very msall, yet potent part of me was excited. when i think of those mental images of the small circular glass container of the serum that would slow me down until i could slow no more, and the syringe that was designated specifically for me, i have a sense of horror, disbelief, but when i think about preparing my arm, i have a very minute yet bright residual feeling of excitement, the opportunity to be involved and initiating of one's end is very rare, and soon the mysteries of the end of time will all be revealed to me. and yet, there's still a great deal of tragedy in my heart and in my mind everytime i look at the two counterparts of inducing the final rest. there's still other feelings, impatience, like i'm going to just snap it all off at a split moment before anyone can even thinkingand just accomplish the deed and be through with it all, before ayone including myself can thinik otherwise. there's sorrow, maybe regret, but an overwhelming inclination to do it, as if many people desired suicide and now i have been absolved of moral, ethical, biblical responsibility, i can just carry the task and drift forever, there's odd euphoria with that, but there's still that depression, every time i think of the serum and myself, the epople i'm going to miss, the things i have left to do, the mistakes that i have done -there's hurt, everytime i picture it, there's hurt, and loneliness, maybe pity, and that' deep aching of pain, "does anyone care about me?" maybe it's fear. in any regard, the ultimate part of my dream before i awoke because of physical things transpiring in the real world were translating into my dream, throwing ti's projedtions off. the alst part was me with i think a friend and maybe my brother but it's hard to say for certain. but we were at my house in alaska, very specific, and there were cars out from but i didn't recognize them, i think the friend was just, although i didn't realize it at thsi point int he story, until he offered t put something in my car, and i was like, oh, i didn't even knmow i had acar, so id nd't really say anything to justin, just let me[him?] search around to find my car, out of the 3 or 4 there, through the bit of slushly snow still about on the ground. then i went to see my mom in her rom, because i din't think i ever actually got to talk to her andexplain the whole thing. but there was nobody there, but somebody in the bathroom, sioi knock and two "friends" open the door, i can vividly picture these epople, but moreso i cansay that they are not realy epople, projections of my mind, complitations of real people's featukerws. the first was a tall think and slender man, but more so a young mnan, with a bit of facial hair that was unattended to in the msot adolescent way possible, and a big curley afro that wasn't brushed but very thick and unchartered, as it were. he was wearing a ppolor that accentuated his pequite neck and his protruding adam's apple that, i would most commonly associate with nerds. i think these guys are more friends of my brother than i, i know them, but i'm the shocked to see them, not as in disbelief, but in oh... suddenly i have lostof communication skills and desire, not out of interest, but sheer out of backgound relation. the toher young man, was very average, where the other friend had very paticular facial features that were distinctly ethnic other than caucasian purely, this one was very typical european descendent. white, goatee, blue eyes, sout, not tall, if not even a lil' short, kinda soft, unattampted hair, just standard unhop uncultured combling job, and he was just wearing his qhite shirt, with the critical eyes, and the braod lower mandible, although reality is, he probably is just more shy than critical and stern. i forget that sometimes peple are as prone to misunderstrand me and i am to misjudge them and mistrust them as if they are out to get me, a complex from my childhood that i still carry slightly off my shoudlers sometimes. ain any regards, they were just hanging out, if not housesitting for my mother, and we were talkign and they had no lclue that i was passing away, and i had no clue to indicate this to them, the first fellow wasdefinitely more aware and considerate of who i was, his slightly more sleek brown eyes alight with social inclination,and his aquiline -birdnose that gie his eyes a dim drawn back look couldn't even stop that. taht's reallyall i can remember, the final thought of having to find my mother to tell her that i would soon be gone was the resonating thought cefore iactually awoke. that and the burning residing feeling that i was cancerous and lost and there's a dim dark type f hope, in knowing that you can change your outcome, but it's not all so bad, so you can just bear through it, and let the boat steer itself unto the enxt adventure, as i said, it's dim, it's like a lamp that just depletes all the warm colors from life, and it's dark, like a depressing tone of weather and atmosphere constantly around, but there's a bit of beauty in that hope, you just have to tell yhour standards to shove off and your expecations to get over it. there's some poetic beauty in the darkest and colorless of stories. What if life wasn’t so different from dreams – erik mason.

that was the dream. i received interpretations in two parts, one directly from Spirit of God, and one from a well-meaning friend that had no clue what he was referring to, just saying what God had put on his heart, and the Lord revealed it later to be another part of my dream. I know that right now i can share one part, and not the other. it is the glory of God to conceal a matter. the matter i can share is the dying and euthanizing, seeing as they don't allude to future matters, but now, transpired events. Dying isn't bad in dreams. For a christian, death isn't bad, it's new life, it's the flesh dying, the opening of new opportunities and chapters of life. without servicing every detail of the dream, my dying state was an allusion to my situation in North County San Diego. i didn't feel alive there (not because of anyone or anything, just me). i felt myself dying out to the ministries i was a part of, to the people i was a part of, and to my overall situation. the cancerous disease was a reference to not only how i felt, but that God was divining the situation to lead to an end, and i could either euthanize promptly, or carry on and make things worse for everyone, especially myself. it's so odd because if you read that part of the dream, everything i was dealing with, exemplified itself in the dream: the fear, the depression, the uncertainty, the excitement. I received the interpretation on the day before i moved up to Santa Barbara, right after i had carried out the first part of the dream, without even realizing it. so, i live in santa barbara, i'm part of a small church named Isla Vista Church (IVC), i couchsurf and stay wherever i can, and i have a family here and the Peace of the Lord is in me. i feel alive, and the Lord is just calling me to trust Him He tells me everyday, that He is doing crazy things that i'm uncomfortable and it's so different from any adventure i've ever had, and yet He just asks, "Do you trust Me? Do you trust me with this, even with this?" I trust Him. He's been so faithful and His dreams and plans have been so much bigger than mine, and i have no doubt that they will continue to be that way.

It may be meagerly interesting to notice that one year ago, i first created this blog.
Upon that either immense or minute fact, i can base many observations.

Primarily, i want to explain the heading of this post, not necessarily the Star Wars insinuation, but why i chose it.

This post was suppose to be a journal entry almost half a year ago, i believe when we first arrived to El Salvador, or right before then. I wanted to write concerning those internal emotional feeling of being inside a sphere of chaos, that feeling that the destination of peace and arrival is a constant fleeting object, just always brushing against the fingertips but never within reach of a possessing grasp.
That was the thought many months ago, and although i don't notice it as vividly currently in my life, i think i would be a fool to think that somewhere in the twisted networking of my mind and the shrouded corridors of my heart that particular thought doesn't still exist, and not only exist; but reign that segmented territory.
I'm amazed, but not shocked to see how much has changed in a year and how much i have not changed since i first initiated this journal domain (the word "blog" still leaves a disgusted taste in my mouth, evidence of one puerile thing that has not changed about me). So many things have changed in my daily life and surroundings, forcing my to change the particular manners that i do things, but so many little things about me have not changed. Such as this desire, this desire to be perfected.
Now, quickly will i say that the desire to be perfected cannot be an innately evil one. Being that we are made in the Image of God, i would find that desire, that want, that fascination, to be quite natural for many reasons. Reasons such as: the absolving of hurt and sorrow, the completion of purpose and meaning, the fulfilling of ineptitude and mortality, and definitely a multitude of other things that i could never quite pin down. But i know that, just like all gifts and imputations of God, can certainly be taken out of its original intent and direction of purpose, and twisted and tainted in accordance to the extension of the flesh.

i am so tired.
my heart feels so heavy, and my mind, so dark sometimes.
i can feel so dead, that no spark of joy or life runs through these veins; instead of warm blood that is the life, exchanged for lifeless fluid, mixed with all sorts of sorrow and despondence.

1-For we know that if the tent that is our earthly home is destroyed, we have a building from God, a house not made with hands, eternal in the heavens.
2-For in this tent we groan, longing to put on our heavenly dwelling,
3- if indeed by putting it on we may not be found naked.
4-For while we are still in this tent, we groan, being burdened—not that we would be unclothed, but that we would be further clothed, so that what is mortal may be swallowed up by life.

5-He who has prepared us for this very thing is God, who has given us the Spirit as a guarantee.
6-So we are always of good courage. We know that while we are at home in the body we are away from the Lord,

7-for we walk by faith, not by sight.
8-Yes, we are of good courage, and we would rather be away from the body and at home with the Lord.

9-So whether we are at home or away, we make it our aim to please him.

i know that this is not the way things were and are suppose to be, but i can be so selfish in my desire for perfection. my self-righteousness take away the glory of Christ's perfecting work. my fear of hurt and brokenness can deride the appointed use of being contrite and broken. my anger and self-hatred and pity demotes the beautiful act of being completed in Christ.
if my desire to be perfect, as God is perfect, is not based on the foundation that my aim is to please Him, then i corrupt something holy and make it profane. i take all the power of God and minimize it to my own insufficiency, instead of His Ability and Grace.

this year is different, and His mercies are new every day, and this is a new year to aim to please my Lord, despite my depraved inability and overwhelming desire to escape this humanity.

His promise to love us, is more than enough to keep going in our daily walk with Him.

it's all about His perfect love, and His perfect work in us; in Him, we are perfect, completely.

"when Christ, Who is your life, is revealed, you will be revealed with Him, in Glory.

the rest of the boards!
this is my other 6'4 Lucas - almost exactly the same as the other swallow tail, quad fin, future fin set up. but thinner, and wider than the other, this one has some current damage that needs to be repaired (minor) and has had repair already.

Hey, everyone, just selling some stuff, trying to survive and all. surfboards, electric guitar, and gear - check it out

this little guy is a 5'10 swallow with wings, FCS fin set up, repaired and needs some repairs (mostly on tail), very thin but very wide - 70$?

why, hello, charles haddon.

“And they took knowledge of them, that they had been with Jesus.”
- Act_4:13
A Christian should be a striking likeness of Jesus Christ. You have read lives of Christ, beautifully and eloquently written, but the best life of Christ is his living biography, written out in the words and actions of his people. If we were what we profess to be, and what we should be, we should be pictures of Christ; yea, such striking likenesses of him, that the world would not have to hold us up by the hour together, and say, “Well, it seems somewhat of a likeness;” but they would, when they once beheld us, exclaim, “He has been with Jesus; he has been taught of him; he is like him; he has caught the very idea of the holy Man of Nazareth, and he works it out in his life and every-day actions.” A Christian should be like Christ in his boldness. Never blush to own your religion; your profession will never disgrace you: take care you never disgrace that. Be like Jesus, very valiant for your God. Imitate him in your loving spirit; think kindly, speak kindly, and do kindly, that men may say of you, “He has been with Jesus.” Imitate Jesus in his holiness. Was he zealous for his Master? So be you; ever go about doing good. Let not time be wasted: it is too precious. Was he self-denying, never looking to his own interest? Be the same. Was he devout? Be you fervent in your prayers. Had he deference to his Father’s will? So submit yourselves to him. Was he patient? So learn to endure. And best of all, as the highest portraiture of Jesus, try to forgive your enemies, as he did; and let those sublime words of your Master, “Father, forgive them; for they know not what they do,” always ring in your ears. Forgive, as you hope to be forgiven. Heap coals of fire on the head of your foe by your kindness to him. Good for evil, recollect, is godlike. Be godlike, then; and in all ways and by all means, so live that all may say of you, “He has been with Jesus.”

i wanna be like a master, above all else.

good to know someone else loves star wars as much as me.

O LORD I need You

Capture me again

Steal me away

Take me deeper to Your heart

Surround me with Your love

And hold me close

And never let me go

So close that I can feel Your every breath

Until my heart begins to dance with Yours

Never let me go

Won’t You take me to a new place

To a realm of mercy and grace

Where love

Love flows heavy

Like a waterfall of honey

Let Your love be poured out on me

Overcome me

Overcome me

(-Waterfall - United Pursuit Band)

GOD WE NEED YOUR PRESENCE LIKE WATER TO OUR SOULS.

So i write from a different and unusual perspective and a different world.

- i'm at home, that in itself is unusual, being that i do have a home.

"there she is"














- i'm writing from my very own laptop, which is different, and a little intimidating.

- i'm lying down, unable to move extensively because of a snowboarding injury (no comment).

-and i'm thinking.

Now, thinking isn't so unusual for me, i often find myself contemplating mindlessly, much like Fyodor Dostovesky's character from Brothers Karamazov, Smerdyakov (except without the murderous temperament, of course) - but i'm thinking about the future, about plans and details, ideas and issues, and this is not very normal for me.
but it's necessary, although i don't enjoy it.

it's necessary now because RHYTHM is over, and we are preparing for out different sections of ministry outreaches.
i myself, along with Tonya Thomas, will be leading an outreach excursions to North India, initially commencing in Leh, i believe.
and usually, i just do things, on whims, and hunches, and feelings, and figure out details and plans along the way. i'm sure there will be room for this, but right now, it makes me feel a bit stuck and a bit hopeless, but ever hopeful of the greatest underlying theme, of course.

as far as being back, it's a struggle with issues of all sorts, but i still rather enjoy the time of being back. i don't know where to live or where to go currently, but that's always been a part of the adventure, and i'm learning to rely on faith in Christ and His Power, and not on my personal enjoyment of a horrible inconvenience.
but the one thing that i can affirm as always, an undying theme in the dying lives of Christians,

we all must grow and continue to grow

if we think we have reached some sort of apex, we have missed the path altogether and shall never find our way until we have ruined ourselves so much that the beauty of our brokenness will be mathematically translated from an initial number, representing our brokenness, but being an output of exponential increase, as the beauty of brokenness, leading us to intimacy with God.
we cannot stop excelling in what God has given us, not now, with the new year upon us, we should resolve ourselves to grow steadily in godliness, which culminates very many things.
Jesus is coming back, so we can't stop now, i realize numerous people consider 2012 to be humanity's final year. although i cannot comply with this idea, we should be living like this is our last year, that each and every moment is precious and a chance to redeem the time.

so, i'm icing and heating my foot between two buckets of hot and cold water, and it's rather excruciating, but maybe next time, i will be more cautious of how i attempt Aeriel stunts in snowboarding. yet i'm learning, growing, changing, through success and mistakes, and prevalence and failure. that's all we can really do at the end of the day.

God bless, pray for me and for S.E.N.D, and i hope we can continue growing in all areas of life this new year

Hey, i apologize for the lack of my updates. our "team" computer breathed its last and left me unable to say anything, but let me say this.

We have safely arrived back in California, and i write from North County California, sitting where i had once written in months past concerning the truth that has just now come to fruition.

Despite seeing numerous countries, meeting hundreds of peoples and being involved in their lives, and thousands of spanish errors, we have arrived to our destination

-but

we are not finished yet.
soon we will be split up and some of our 9 group will go to Texas, to tell churches out there about our experiences, and about S.E.N.D. ministries, and the pathways of God's opportunities for our lives concerning missions; while the rest of us stay in Southern California visiting several churches and sharing God's heart with our brethren in the Body of Christ about His desire for His beloved to wake up, to be awakened to the Heart of Jesus.

although, we rest today, and visit dearly missed friends and family, we are still in the middle of this adventure; soon, we'll be whisked away again to far-away countries, wherever the Spirit may carry us, and we'll have more stories, and more jokes, and more adventures, and hopefully, we all and everyone we come into contact with will have more of Christ in their hearts.

we still need help in support of prayer and finances, and i will still communicate and transcribe, to the best of my abilities and availability, the stories that consists of this blog.

before i go and find something meaningless to do, i do want to mention our friend James Chapman - his family has recently experiences a tradegy, that although i don't have right to disclose details, it should be said that prayer for comfort will not go unheard. so please consider them in your times with the Lord

well, i'm tired of using computers, and the sun is setting, literally, and i want to be a part of it in some way or form

thank you all, and i will re-update the past adventures, whenever the surf is bad.

Nicaragua, Managua City, 9/18 - 9/28

Although, we had enjoyed ourselves in El Salvador, we carried on into Nicaragua, which I was excited for, but a bit apprehensive for the sake of the team. I’ve heard a lot of great stories about Nicaragua, but I’ve also heard all the different horror stories. Every place has its horror stories; where there are people, there are troubles. I’ve seen Nicaragua before and I was excited to spend some real time in the city that many of my friends has spent part of their lives there.

First off, Nicaragua actually is the poorest country (so we are told) in the western Hemisphere: apparently, Haiti was the most economically declined, but after the recent relief efforts that internationally have been contributed, now Nicaragua has slipped into that unfortunate positioning. Nicaragua also is a war-torn country, whereas El Salvador has a stable government but rebels and gangs that continue the unrest, Nicaragua has its political parties to rip apart their own country. Socialism is the governing power now, and has been in the past, which has inherited all the problems that one reads about in their “Government” class. War and rebellion is in the air, “viva la revolucion” is painted on every corner, and the statues to commemorate Nicaragua’s accomplishments are revolutionist leaders toting their assault rifles.

But that is life for some countries, and the people are rather apathetic about it all, as long as they can survive and have a television set.

As for us, we were quite busy: in the morning, we did service projects or taught english at the school nearby; evening, we went out into the streets to talk with people and pass out tracts and invite them to church; and at night, we helped with the services, whether it was playing the songs for worship or teaching.

It was a sweet time for us a team and with our contacts there. Despite all the things that Nicaragua has to go through on a daily basis, they are sweet people and our team loved Managua and our time there. It’s a place where I will have dear friends for a long time. it's amazing to see a church with so many youth in Central America; especially, young and older men of God whose hearts are for God and for their people, it's truly a rare thing. they fight a battle that no one else understands and can only come along side of them and help lift them up and push them forwards. i love them dearly and i saw how much the Lord loves them and cherishes their presence.

and so, R&R time

After Managua, we went to San Juan Del Sur for our time of rest.
And I surfed for the first time in a few months.
Yeeeaaaaaa, daaaaaah
More about that when I update again!

Honduras

I’m trying desperately to be responsible in the area of recovering from my irresponsibility of updates.
So, here is Roatan, Honduras.

Actually, I have to back up a little bit (just a tad) and state the type of adventure we had trying to get from Guatemala City to La Ceiba/Roatan, Honduras: horrible, that’s the type, just straight up horrible.
Okay, maybe that’s a bit exaggerated, but it was trying anyways. We had a small window of time to traverse across both countries and get to the port that taxis across the Caribbean to Roatan (for Roatan is an island, if you didn’t guess already), and as soon as we got on the bus, we found out that it was completely impossible to get there in time for the ferry.
That was a bad start. From there, it got worse. We didn’t have any money on us because of a withdraw limit we have on our team credit/debit card, and we were told by several people and the customs/borders website that traveling from Guatemala and Honduras is free, so we didn’t bring any money because we thought we’d be fine. Well, it wasn’t free, so we had to scramble enough money to pay, and on top of that, the border guard purposely over-charged us and I even called him on it and he just left his post and went on break.
After several other problems (lost bus tickets, malfunction ATM’s, unenjoyable bus movie viewing), we arrived in La Ceiba (the port city) far too late, and already at nightfall. The hotel that we were referred to was full, so we found one close to the port, so we couldn’t miss it. After get “robbed” by the taxi drivers (if you can help it, never get into a taxi without an established rate), we stayed in a hostile... Hostel... (ha.) which, at least, had air-conditioning, so it was nice eve despite the countless cockroach killings that were required to sleep in peace.

So, that was a lot more than I intended to write. So, without further to do:
Roatan, Honduras

A small, 7 mile, Caribbean island that is about 32 miles away from the coast of Honduras, Roatan is an extremely diverse place. The Islanders that originate from there speak “English” that almost sounds exactly like Kriol, and only a few years in recent history was the island given to Honduras and thus, the spanish speaking government moved in and enforced their spanish ways.
Roatan is also considered paradise, you probably even know somebody that went there for vacation, seeing as it’s the Caribbean, tropical, and based around the 2nd largest barrier reef in the world (I know, quite the place for missions work).
It’s also quite a dysfunctional little island with too much inflation economically, with retired rich americans and giant european companies running the tourism that makes up all the economy, while the majority of the residents, live in poverty. Poverty is, interestingly enough, usually only a financial state and not cultural/enjoyment condition, but because of the racist divide between the Islanders and the Hondurans, there is a constant state of unrest and mistrust. Unfortunately, this had led to all sorts of drug related problems, between the two groups, and as well as for the upper-class business owners who support the problematic state of drug affairs and discrimination.
We stayed with the Sonrise Missionary Hotel which is ran by a pastor, his son, and their families. There were plenty of ministries at the church that we were involved with, but the majority of our work was construction projects, mostly, working on a house for one of the ladies of the church. We were able to do house visits in the spanish community, worship and teaching for the services, and basically, had a lot of the fun with the families and their several wonderful kids. One of the kids happened to be an enthusiastic Star Wars fan, and therefore, was my best friend.
It was an interesting time for our team as it was the time of the most medical conditions we have had, nearly everyone got some sort of affliction. But I think we can look back on Roatan, and think of all the hilarious times we had, as well as the work we were able to spend ourselves to encourage the believers there.

Well, that’s about all I can say towards Roatan. It’s beautiful, and hot. And our friends there were delightful know-it-alls. But now we are about to leave El Salvador,
and so I’m almost caught up on updates. Kudos to me.

this is me playing catch up on updates:

Guatemala

So I must apologize for how inconsistently I have been updating. I realize that I’ve only fully updated one out of the four countries that we are currently en-route, onwards to the remaining countries of Central America.

But despite all else, here is Guatemala:

In Belize, I had the opportunity to spend a few days in a spanish speaking community and while I was there, I was told about how terrible Guatemala is. “Mala” is spanish, actually is translated as bad, so it’s an unfortunate pun for Guatemala, to have the word “Bad” in its name. Within all this, I was told what an awful, dangerous, and unpleasant place Guatemala, and specifically, Guatemala City is.
It’s no great secret that Guatemala is known to be an excessively dangerous place, with Guatemala City being the apex of its precariousness. Look it up. It’s in the news, on the internet, and ask anyone that’s been there. Even one of my relatives has an unsettling story of what happened to her and her group of volunteers in Guatemala, just to show you how common and how close to home these things happen. Not convinced yet? Try this: everyone in Guatemala owns several cellphones; now, there are many countries where the people own several cellphones, but not for the same reason as Guatemala. Guatemalans own, at least, two phones so that when they get robbed at gunpoint, that they can give up their less-preferred phone without too much trouble from their gunman. A lady from a church in a particularly dangerous zone (Guatemala City is divided into zones) told us that we should leave because of how dangerous it is, especially when the sun starts to set.

Look, I could talk for an extended amount of time about it, but the point is: even in the darkest of places, God wants His light to shine.

Some of the most generous people, inviting and friendly, are Guatemalans, and exponentially more for the Christians of the Calvary Chapel Guatemala that we were working with. It’s thus far true, that everywhere we go, we connect hearts with people there to the extent that it hurts to leave them, which I think it’s a good sign of how the Church as a Body of Christ should work. To the degree that I could mention the dangers of the city of Guatemala, I could spend a much larger degree of time mentioning the endless love and enjoyment that we had in Guatemala with our brothers and sisters of the small church there, who constantly pour themselves out into their community, such as the poverty-stricken areas like Santa Lucia in the mountains, or Zona 18 where the drug dealers reign over the law.

The Light will always outshine the darkness, eventually and eternally.

So needless to say, Guatemala was amazing for us. We were blessed to be involved with the church, being able to do worship for them, to go into the city and passing out flyers and sharing the gospel, and to do construction work and social work in Santa Lucia, leading up to a outreach there with the entire community.

My time in Guatemala had its own struggles for me, being that I was the leader of our team of 9 people during that time (to hear more about that, email me at rootsofxistence@hotmail.com and ask for me email updates), and majority of the people we worked alongside did not speak very much english. Most of our team does not speak very much spanish, so I had to spend a lot of time figuring out what was going on, despite all the miscommunications, but we survived, and made our way to Roatan, Honduras, after a sketchy taxi ride and a shady hotel. But that - is a different story for a different update, but I leave you with one quote.

While we were passing out flyers, Corey Grueter managed to give a flyer to a jogger passing by; as the jogger passed by the pastor Francisco, and Francisco comically fake-ran after him, and Corey stated that he had already got the jogger, to which Francisco replied in his limited English, as dry as can be, “You save my life”.

They just great people who sincerely like to have fun and take seriously all aspects of life, including enjoying their lives. Guatemala was a trip, literally.

and so now i write you from El Salvador 2 days away from our departure to Nicaragua. we are still in dire need of financial support, but God has made out time in Nicaragua possible, just in the knick of time, so we are still looking to Jesus for the rest of the trip.

next update - Honduras

A fond hello to you all, please read this entire message, eh?
eh?

Basically, this is not so much as an update as it is an importance notice of request, both urgent and relevant.

As most of you may know, if you have been reading my blog (www.myallyistheforce.blogspot.com) or reading my email updates or even facebook status updates, i, along with the RHYTHM team of S.E.N.D ministries of 8 other people, are approximately halfway through our excursion throughout all of central america. Currently, i am writing you from Potter's Field Ranch of San Martin, of El Salvador, but this information i will share for an update.

this is where the importance comes in:
i state this somewhat shamefully
as i have never been able to do such things easily
but we left california with tickets from Tijuana Mexico to Chetumal by the border of Belize, and we have plane tickets from Panama City, Panama back to LA, California, on October 31st.
we left with half of the money that we estimated that we needed for the whole trip.
we obviously, are halfway through our trip.
that meaning, we have ran out of financial support.
i want to say that none of us are freaking out.

we may individually have certain anxiety, fears, worries, or whatever else, but we are trusting in God in all things, including this.

in 10 days we are scheduled to go to Nicaragua, we have enough money to arrive there

and then, nothing more, at all.

and i desperately need to say two things: the first being that i truly do have a hard time asking for money, in any scenario, i hate that feeling, it's just the reality of it, and the second thing is, i am not writing this to scare anyone into giving money.

i can expand on both these issues with one idea (two birds, one stone, always preferred method)

God is Almighty. if you read this and don't be believe in God (which is an issue all to it's own), you must still understand that the idea of God is completely functional on the fact that He is Almighty, theology doesn't work unless God is Almighty (in regards to power, knowledge, presence, and beyond - infiniteness)

so i write all these things to let you know of the truth of the situation, the facts - if you feel obligated by some other convicting power other than God and the Holy Spirit, then disregard that obligation.
i don't need your money
i, and the team i am with, we need support, it's true, but we want God's Provision.
The israelites in the Bible were reprimanded by God for going to Egypt for resource, help, and protection, instead of God - i don't intend to make the same mistake

if we don't get the financial support, we will be forced one way or another to go home
i'm okay with this fact; i don't think, however, that's what God wants to do, but if it is, this is okay with me.

if you support, and i pray that those whom God asks, will, i don't want it out of obligation - because i could probably raise the money, or steal it, or sell a kidney or something outrageous, but that is not what God is calling me or this team to do, He's calling us to trust him, in all things, and to press in and ask Him to provide the impossible (at this point, the money we need is quite implausible and i hesitate to even say; IF YOU WANT TO KNOW THE FINANCIAL NEED, CONTACT ME VIA EMAIL AT THIS ADDRESS OR FACEBOOK)
In the Bible is a story of a wise leader of the Sanhedrin of Jews, Gamaliel (acts 5:33-39) where Gamaliel tells the people to leave the apostles of Christ alone and stop trying to persecute them, because if it is a work of God through the Apostles, then the people will find themselves fighting and striving against God, rather than just the men.
in a similar fashion, if you gain the money outside of God's provision, then i, and whoever gives financially out of obligation because i made them feel bad, might be striving against something God might want to do.

i'm really not worried, but i really do need financial support, but i really don't want it unless God provides it

so, please, step back, get with the Lord, and pray, and ask concerning this issue (this you should feel obligated to do). Ask the Lord if this is an issue that you need to support (there are thousands of missionaries in the world, who all need support, we SHOULD be supporting someone, no matter what)
and at the very least and most, please pray for us, if you have already, please do! write to me, ask me how's its going, let me tell you stories of what God is doing

if you want to support, and are lead to do so
please visit my blog, and find the support button via PAYPAL (www.myallyistheforce.blogspot.com)
OR
you can send cash or checks to SEND MINISTRIES - Erik Mason at this address


Send Ministries
885 Vista Way
Vista,Ca 92084

with fastings, and prayer, and sincere needs, i write these, hope to write you in 10 days telling you how God did a miracle for us, God bless you all, and us.

with dire and urgent, and a slightly embarrassed regards
ERIK JAMES MASON

So i've decided for sake of simplicity, and also desiring to write an email update for some people, i devised to use this blogspot as a summary of each country, as well as either urgent, important, emergency, or just relevant updates. if you would like to be on my email updates, please, just write me at rootsofxistence@hotmail.com and i would love to be able to update you there.

without further adieux

Belize


we arrived in Chetumal, Mexico, and met Pastor Joel Meyers there along with his 9-year old son Elias and we drove from Chetumal, into the Country of Belize, and specifically Belize City. we spent three weeks in Belize, two in Belize City, and the other week in Punta Gorda, Machaca, which is near the border of Guatemala.
it was an amazing time. Kriol (creole) is an awesome language that i've really grown to enjoy hearing, as well as i've really grown to love Belizean culture and people. although it is extremely diverse, i'd still say that belizean are of their own, whether they are mayan or asian, or carribbean.
we spent a lot of time Port Loyola, which is a small town with big problems (movie quote), and we helped out with the Calvary Chapel there, by playing worship, and sharing devotions, prayer walks, evangelizing, and a lot of just being there to hang out with the children.
it's a hard thing to see how innocent children will adapt aggressive survival styles, according to their environment, yet all the while they are still precious innocent children, who want and need loving attention that a negligent or absent parent should be providing.
one of my favorite stories concerning this, is the day of the "hurricane/thunderstorm". basically, it rains a lot and this particular day, i saw lighting strike just about a hundred yards away from me and my companion, Mark. it was some of the heavier rain for that area, and for most of us in general. we were attempting to work on the church that day, but the rain made it quite impossible to do anything constructive for the church on the outside building. some kids, we noticed, grabbed a ball and kicked it across the already-flooded (in about 5 minutes time) futbol (soccer) field, and thus with that one kick from a child's unclothed feet, started a massive game of futbol involving about 20 children, a few older belizeans, and a bunch of white people from america (me and my group). you couldn't even kick the ball properly because it was floating off the group in a few inches (sometimes and some places... several inches) off the ground, so you have to scoop it with your foot or baby it along the water. occasionally, lightning would strike and all the children would fall to the ground and duck. i'm not sure if they understand physical science just yet, but i thought it was funny to watch and it gave me an opportune chance to make a goal.
there's a lot of stories like that, it was adventurous there in Port Loyola.
we also, spent 3 days fully carrying out Matthew 10 literally. that's right, we were given enough money for a bus, a lil extra for maybe a bus ride home, and told to not return to belize city until 3 days after. we were separated into 3 groups, and we went to 3 different places throughout Belize. my group went to a spanish speaking part called Belmopan. i would love to share all the details of the story, but simply to say, we got to an area called Salvapan, then we prayed. then i had to use the restroom, but we were in a neighborhood (salvapan isn't a city or anything, it's just a residental side) but this one family, and specifically the mother Blanca, insisted that i use their household restroom. i was humbled. through that experience, we met a pastor, who arranged for us to have a place to stay, and we helped with the church and got to meet several people in the area, and be involved with their church service. we never went hungry, we never went unsheltered, and God provided in abundance.
the last week was Machaca.
Machaca is beautiful, and beyond that it was a youth camp (although youth is somewhat relative, a lot of the "kids" were older than me). so i was a counselor and small group leaders for a while. i have so many stories about that, but it was an awesome and tiring time, keeping up with those kids. but it was amazing to be able to pour into their lives and pray for them and love them as a shepherd loves his sheep.
there's countless stories to tell.
not enough time to tell.
but now we're in guatemala, and watching already how the Lord provides for us.
please keep us in your prayers.
and write me so i can tell you more stories!

It's hard to write long messages on an iTouch so I'm just going to say two things:
We're in Guatemala city, and I and Lindsay Gries are leading the team for the next two weeks.

Guatemala city is big.
Sorry, three things then.

Okay, four but no more:
Belize is great and we love it there

Belize City.
Belize is just one of those countries that majority of us could never find on a map, that's just the way it is.
it's a beautiful world, tainted and twisted in full effect of the Fall of Sin in the World.

Rape.
Domestic Abuse.
Murders.
Drug abuse.
Child Abuse.
Poverty.
Thievery.

Come one, Come all.

statistics say that belize city has one of the highest murders rates per capita.
Port Loyola is considered to be one of the highest density of crime for Belize city, a part of town that is rival to another neighborhood. that's where the Calvary Chapel is.
But people nowadays don't quite understand the reality of statistics, we're desensitized.
so here's some physical evidence:
we missed a drive-by shooting, that transpired only a few minutes before we drove into town.
While witness to a guy a lil older than me, i saw 3-5 drug deals, and at least 2 instances of illicit drug use.

those are just some examples.

this is what we do, since we do not war against flesh and blood.
We wake up to Jesus, and spend time hearing from Him and speaking to Him
We have time as a group, getting into His Word and worshipping Him.
We go to Port Loyola and spend time, working on the church, playing with kids, walking around asking people if they want prayer and telling them not just about Jesus, they know a lot of Jesus. What they don't know is a lot about what He said, such as, "pick up your cross, deny yourself, and follow Me".
We pray and intercede for these people.
We hear the voice of the Lord concerning them.
We uplift other missionaries with encouragement.
We also play futbol in lightning storms with dozens of kids, to prove them that we love them, and to prove to them that God loves them.

We're not crazy, nor special, most of the time we're just people that move dirt around.
But we do it for the Lord, and we do it to see these people come to a deep relationship, intimate with their Creator.

that's just a small bit of what's going on.
but i think that all requires another update, perhaps in guatemala, or at least not 2 in the morning, besides, i think there's a rat in the house that i have to go kill before he gets in our bags (coincidently, i just watched Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles - i'm sorry, splinter!!)

week one, day 2, saturday, july 24
- well, i've been in belize long enough to make my first landmark. but not of land. but of time. but i'm too tired to remember the word.
i'm going to try to explain the schedule here, for Rhythm, hence the lack of eloquent descriptive element.
Belize, Belize City
-Sunday, we split into two groups, a smaller group goes to South Belize (Seine Bight) where the Pastor of Port Loyola (which is where we are based out of here while being here in Belize) is currently teaching at a smaller church and a school in a smaller village in those areas, covering for another pastor who is away.
-last monday, we had a very different mission, but which will require more information, so i'll skip it, but we typically will do work projects on monday through wednesday,
        -have a fun night with the church group called VOLUME,
        -and eat dinner with some of the creole(kriol) families from the church,
        -then have the actual service on wednesday.
-thursday is our fun day, to go explore belize and do something... tourist-y. it's kinda sweet, but then i feel kinda tourist-y which isn't sweet. but who can complain about seeing mayan ruins? well, i can. it was hot and the monuments were way too high.
-friday can be either going door to door evangelism in Port Loyola (did i mention that Belize city is one of the most dangerous cities per capita in the world and Port Loyola is one of the two most dangerous areas? food for thought) or a work day before we do an evangelic small outreach in the area.
-saturday is our team day, to come together, and to intercede for the country, and to just get stuff done.

at the end of our time here in Belize, we will actually go south, to Bible Boot Camp, which is a conference for people to study and grow in the scriptures, They are going through Acts, and through Judges, as well as doing a worship class, and an Inductive Bible Study class, among a few others. we are going to help facilitate and basically be camp counselors.
from there it's Guatemala, which we have only heard bad things about, ever.
i'll write another blog later with some of the stories and descriptions, and hopefully i'll regain my sense and my writing flair which apparently dissipates with extreme heat and humidity.
-erik mason