The Beginning of an Exciting Adventure

I first started this blog when I was student teaching in China. What an amazing experience that was. I was young and adventurous and luckily not much has changed. On August 15, 2014 I will be leaving for Doha, Qatar where I will be teaching 4th and 5th grade general music for the next two years.

I've decided to start this blog a little early as my summer has turned into something rather unexpected. Quite frankly the Lord has been up front with me. He has been revealing to me non-stop that I am a mess of a human being who is in desperate need of Him. In the last 4-5 months I have been rather obsessed with myself. It's nice to be the guy in the room who is moving to the other side of the world. You instantly become the most interesting person in the room, and that is satisfying, at least for a moment. However, God in His mercy and grace has been tearing down my defenses and distractions. He is showing me that I cannot be arrogant in Qatar and I will need to rely on Christ far more than I do now. As I have been studying Islam and what life as a Christian in an Islamic country looks like the only thing I can say now is that I need prayer.

This summer has taught me two things. First, that I am a broken and wounded man in desperate need of salvation. Second, that there are wounds deep in my heart and things in my life that haunt me and when I am faced with those things I run. I look for anything and everything to distract me. Yet Christ has been teaching me to deal with these things head on and though at times I am struggling I can see Christ teaching me to dig into the pain of my past and confront it. And by His grace I find peace.

There is one more thing I want to write today. I need your help. I need prayer. I need people who will lift me up in prayer as I prepare to leave for Qatar. I am convinced that prayer is the single most valuable action any person can do for another. To implore the hand of God to move for someone other than myself has been one of the greatest joys I have experienced thus far.

These are the needs of my heart (as far as I know):
1.) This summer I have realized that I have a lot of baggage from my past that I haven't dealt with properly and it is hurting the relationships I have now, both with family and friends. Please pray that I will have the courage to examine this baggage closely and invite Christ in, to mend these wounded parts of my soul.

2.) I am moving to Qatar in 3.5 weeks. And I have no idea what I am walking into. Please pray that I will be able to find a network of friends on which I can rely for the next two years of my life.

3.) I have started my Masters in Music Education. It is a summer program and it is kicking my butt. I have never had this much work to do in my life and I feel like I am about to lose my mind. If you could pray that I could get everything done for this summer session I would be most grateful!

Lastly, I wanted to say thank you. Thank you to my friends in Prescott who have been by my side challenging me and keeping me accountable. You all made me feel so loved, and at the time I didn't want to accept it because I was too proud. But I see now just how much you all cared for me and I am so grateful.

Thank you to my family. You continue to amaze me with your steadfast love. Truly I am blessed beyond measure.

And to my closest friends who have spent time listening to me rant about my crazy ideas and my ridiculous thoughts and all my silly shenanigans. Thank you for your advice. Thank you for listening to me and being there for me when I have needed you most. Clearly I am more loved than I realize.

Will you pray for me?

I can't promise I will be any less intense in my following posts, but I hope to do about once a month from here on out. Stay tuned and let me know what you think.