On My Mind

My life has been kind of crazy lately. I miss running with other people. I'm also looking around for a small group at my church. I'd prefer a challenging group that pushes me and strengthens me. I should be alseep, but I keep doing interviews with people over in Russia. I also got a lot more books again. Book sales distract me. At the ice arena I was asked a few too many times by some of the girls there to try the ice dancing so I'm trying it. Let's just say that dancing isn't my strong point. It's fun though. I also had a guy suggest to me that I should date his daughter at church. How awkward would that be to go up to some girl that you don't even know and say, "I think that we should consider dating." I wouldn't do it that way. You have to get to know the girl first. Besides that a girl could be the most attractive girl in the whole world, but if her heart isn't in the right place then there is no point. There is nothing like a girl with a pure heart that earnestly seeks after God. I better get going. I'll keep people updated on the whoel Russia ordeal. I just wish I knew know. All I can tell you is that in God's timing I'll be in Russia!

~The Plan ~мой план~

For those that have been wondering here is what I'm thinking. I'm planning on being in Russia by the fall of 2011, because I won't have the money until then, and there are a lot of things here that I need to take care of first. Besides that there was a time in my life where I had no job and no place to go. As a result I couldn’t afford to pay my loans and the government banned me from leaving the country until they are paid in full. I also have a super high payment because I didn't pay right away. So starting in Jan. I'll have about 1000 a month extra that I never had before. That's what I'll save for school if I choose to go that route. I'm also waiting on people in Ulan Ude. I've been praying a long time at where God wants me to go . At first I told almost everybody that I was going to St. Petersburg instead of Voronezth since I have a lot more friends and people that I know there. Though after looking at all of my journals and things since I left Ukraine and praying a ton I'm not sure. I could go to St. Petersburg, or Voronezh easily, but Ulan Ude intrigues me. Besides the fact that I've been praying for the right place to go and that I'm willing to go anywhere my heart lies in reaching more of an unreached area. Anyways they contacted me out of nowhere and told me that they think that I should go there and gave me an opportunity to work with some of the villages around that area. The weird thing is that I don’t really know any of them there other then the person that contacted me there and one of my friends that is from America that used to be a missionary there. Other then that I basically know nobody. Currently I’m looking for a school to teach at, or to go to there. I was told that there are schools there and how much they cost, but they didn’t tell me the name of it. Overall my heart is torn between different places. I could totally see my self going to St. Petersburg , or Voronezth, and being with some of my friends and their awesome ministries. Though I could also see myself following my heart and going to a group of people that I don't know at all and going from there. Overall, where ever I end up as long as I have food, shelter, and water I'm good. I also know that God has been working in my life and allowing certain things to happen even if it took my ex gf breaking up with me, a semi-world wide flood (well at least of my city), somebody dying in my immediate family, and so many other crazy things to get to this point. Sometimes I just like to say one way is the only way, but God knows my heart, and he knows what is best even though I may be stubborn at times. I know that through working like crazy the last few years selling a ton of what I had and so much more I'm incredibly close to paying off all of my debts. I would gladly risk everything for the chance of changing a child, or person’s life even if it's somebody I don't know. There is nothing like changing a person's heart from what may seem completely hopeless to showing them the true hope found in Christ and Christ alone! So in a nutshell I’m hoping to find the perfect place where I can teach/go to school for about a year, or more, and learn the Russian language a ton. With this I hope to use everything that I went to school for and what God has gifted me in to follow my dreams. In the long run I would love to do all, or a combination of the following in the future:
1. Help with a small village in the more unreached areas of Russia, or if God calls me elsewhere and start a church program that focuses on bringing troubled youth, orphans, etc. into the church and leads them to Christ.
2. Maybe do something like what Hudson Taylor did. My heart is really in this area. I never truly knew it until God changed me forever one summer with the help of a little foster child. My whole focus, major(s), etc. were changed forever. Though they were always focused on Russia and Ukraine I never truly knew how amazing working with the adoption and foster care system in an inner-city could be!

If anybody has any questions feel free to ask me and I’ll be happy to tell you. Don’t forget the fact that every kid needs a parent, or someone to look up to! You never know maybe God maybe calling you to a ministry like that! Stop, pray and try new things. You never know where your spiritual gifts may lye until you truly try anything and everything!

Russia!!!!!!!!!!!

RUSSIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Super tired but just want to scream RUSSIA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! Anyways after getting super tired and helping my grandma answer questions about how to use facebook and skype for countless hours on end I was just about ready to go to bed and then RUSSIA!!!!!!!! Ok so maybe it's my favorite word and I'm super tired at 2 something in the morning. Anyways well I was half way asleep and just closing my laptop down for the night one of the people that was answering questions for me and helping me with Russian stuff in Buriyatiya actually got online. So I got to talk about RUSSIA!!!!! I feel like I should be saying now what's the magic words kids so everybody can scream RUSSIA!!!!!! Anyways I found out alot more about it and some of the things about it that are really attractive! My grammatical errors in this post won't be by the time I'm done with this. Anyways after talking awhile I've decided that I;m going to make my decission Januaray 1st about RUSSIA!!!!! So please pray that I look over everything carefully and choose based on where God wants me and needs me the most. At the moment my heart is toren between 3 places and I'm not quite sure what place is best. Overall, I think that it's best to stop, drop, and pray and try to slow down the devil with God in command. Pray that God shows me which is best as I look into St. Petersburg, Voronezth, and the Buriyatiya Region. In the long run God will send me where he wants me. Also if you look at my facebook tonight and see a status that I like about Russia and translators please ask around and help the girl if you know of anybody that can help translate in the area that she is asking about!!!!!

The Rose

I've been thinking a ton about Russia lately and a lot of other things. I have a few friends going there and some leaving from there. I'm also getting super excited and nervous since 2 different friends that I've been praying for for almost 3 years every day are actually getting to do what I prayed for. Also since I'm not sure where I'm going yet I'm going to just stick to writing an old article that a few of my friends requested that I post. Here's the article:






Lately, I keep running into people that keep asking me questions about relationships and what not. I'm not an expert at all. However, every relationship that I have ever had ever been in has failed. I can tell you though after helping so many people through their issues and thinking a ton about articles that I have written on the subject from my marriage and counseling training to be a pastor I can tell you girls to remember this: Your love is precious. Don't give it away to someone undeserving. You can't rescue a man. He has to be happy on his own before you can be happy together.You're not Cinderella, so don't think that you need a man to rescue you. In God's timing the right man will come along. Also after thinking about the relational stuff I have come to the following conclusion of what I would want my future wife to think. I expressed it in the following poem that I wrote.

The Rose

As my cane sprouts out of the ground.

I'm something that you have found.

Something that my creator has made to remind you of Him.

Then a sucker grows out of the ground. This you must trim.

As I start to be formed to fit his plan.

I must remember that I was made perfect for just one man.

For I know as my heart blossoms and unfolds

Other then my Savior I'm made just for one man to kiss and hold.

For I may start a new bud in my life

Just to try to attract the right man who wants me as His wife

Then my Savior comes along to disbud

Just so I can find the perfect stud.

For if He is not looking for just the right grade

I better make sure that I'm reflecting the beauty of Christ that does not fade.

For I'm striving to be a number one

In the image of God's son.

For God has created from my parents the perfect hybrid.

The kind that doesn't need a little cupid.

For in his time God may bring a person to love me even when I look like a withered mass.

And with this person we shall make joyful memories that will always last.

So don't worry about trying to be something you're not

Because in God's perfect plan He placed you in just the right spot.

So if you're waiting for just the right mate.

Wait for Him to take the leadership and ask you out on a date.

Don't forget! It is never too late.

Because if you truly love God you will wait.

And maybe someday God will bring you and that special someone together

As your withered memories live on in your hybrid forever

Tell me what you think of it and do yourself a favor. Make sure that before you get married that the other person is going for your Christ-like qualities and not the worldly qualities that simply wither away and cause your marriage to stumble. Also remember what 1 Samuel 16:7 says, "... man looks at the outward appearance and the Lord looks at the heart..." You should be striving to be like the Lord and strive for an inner-beauty that does not fade!

http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2010/04/12/earlyshow/main6387514.shtml has been on my heart lately all day since I heard about it. Please pray for the boy and the whole situation about American and Russian adoptions. Right now the Russian government has temporarily suspended Americans from adopting Russian children and that isn't very cool at all. Every child deserves a good home and a loving and caring family!!!

What's Up With Russia and My Life

Originally my plan was to make it to Russia, or Ukraine within 2 years of graduation. So 4 years after graduation I'm still not there. In the long run I know that God will put you in the right place at the right time even though you may not agree with him at the moment. Currently in my Post Non-Russian Days I have kept myself busy playing basketball and averaging 15.1 pts a game in a league against former college basketball players, running skating parties for little kids and falling when they ask me to show them certain tricks (hey who could resist attempting something knowing that u cant do it), working on my Russian daily, hanging out with a kid that I mentor every once in a while (by the way he finally had his father return from jail and I'm really happy about that. I get really excited when kids get to have their father back in there life after so many years.), and volunteering at church with the youth group. Overall I'm busy about 5-6 nights a week and it's good. As for Russia I have no idea yet what is happening. Maybe it's best to keep my mouth closed and let God do the work. One of my friends that is around the Huntsville, Alabama area wants me to go to Voroneth. I really like the opportunities there, but I'm not sure. Another one of my friends suggested a school in Moscow that I could teach at, but wait my degree only covers social work type of stuff and Christian Schools only for teaching. That's still an option but it would require extra school and extra debt. It pays well, I could teach, and work with orphan kids. So I could have the best of both worlds. Another option that one of my friends Jessica told me about is in o so cold Siberia about an hour from where she is leaving from today. The place is close to Ulan Ude and I think that it starts with a z or something like that. Who knows maybe some other letter, but I'm a tired Adam and it's irrelevant. Other then that I have some of my Saint Petersburg connections where most of my friends are. I'm not sure. Since I'm getting really tired I think that I'm going to end the blog now. P.S. as I was stocking butter a few days ago and was reminded of the fact that no matter if I live with in 20 miles from Amish Country Blue Bonnett isn't Amish. I even have a letter from the company stating that from the company. She is a lady that they had come in and model for them, but they refuse to reveal her name to me. Anyways have a great night and look for a way to change a teen, child, or persons life today! Imagine what the world would be like if every person tried to help at least one person in something everyday!!!

So lately it seems like it takes forever to know where I will end up in Russia as I wait on a few people to call me back. Russians take longer then Americans and I realize that. I'm not super time oriented either. Though I do like knowing things so I can plan ahead and have a long term plan. Though constantly through this all I'm always reminded that no matter what your plans are the Lord will direct your steps. Who knows I might not make it to Russia in Januaray 2010. I will tell you this though that God keeps some people in some places for a reason. When my time comes it will come. I've waited 9 years already. Though on the positive side there are a few really cool things that have happened to me while God has kept me here. Here are just a few:

1. I was able to work with a kid that had no father in his life through elementary and middle school and mentor him through those years. It's really amazing that his father finally got out of jail this fall finally! Though he is doing pretty well so far.
2. I was able to get training in a lot of areas that will be useful when I get there.
3. I learned a lot of crazy lessons the hard way (e.g.
A. When I pray God always answers things in his way (I prayed that he would help me get rid of a few things and my house started flooding the next day. Eventually things were getting destroyed by water and I had to get rid of a ton.)
4. I know that I wasn't fully ready for the missions field when I wanted to go awhile ago and God has been molding my heart in so many different ways after I wanted to be mad at God in someways for having the best gf that I ever dated break up with me. Though I knew that it wasn't good to be mad at God and it's best to pray about everything. So from there I started praying a ton more like crazy and things like my house flooded, someone in my immediate family died, my grandpa died, and so much more then I could ever imagine. I wanted to be discouraged about a lot of that but prayer and friends really help. Especially some of my bffs. I also think that God had a bunch of certain things happen to me so I could realize what certain things were like in certain situations. He also brought other people into my life that I was able to share a ton when they we're going through some of the same situations.
5. I was able to improve on my Russian more and more everyday.
6. I will be able to get all of my loans and everything paied in full by December 2010. So if anything happens money won't be holding me back. That also means that where ever God wants me I can truely go and money doesn't matter. Just give me food, shelter, water, and a ministry where I can change young adults and teens lives and I'm there.
7. With everything that has happened to me God has been bringing my heart more and more back to where it was before Feburary 2007. I absolutly love working with people and helping them through their problems, teaching them more about God, working with the homeless and so much more. I truely missed that after not working for a mission where I counseled troubled kids in the foster care and adoption system. One of the most amazing jobs in the world!!! If you're not mentoring a kid think about it. They will change your life more then you ever imagined too!!! Anyways there is so much more, but I better get going to bed. If anything from this post pray for my friend Alex that I just finished talking to for over an hour. He really needs prayer about certain things!!!

So today was one of those crazy days. The kind that every skater would have fun with. Though at the same time some days I feel like it would be cool to be a kid from the 60's, or late 70's. I think that being a hippie would be quite the adventure! Though due to the fact that my hippie clothes were dirty I decided to go with the 80's skating look to help out at the skating event in Cedar Rapids today and tomorrow. For the first time ever we're hosting the U.S. Figure Skating Semi National Figure Skating Championships. The winners go to nationals with a chance to represent the U.S (tickets cost $40 dollars each). Overall it was quite fun being assigned to help the University of Wisconsin's Figure Skating team with all of their questions, the club team from Cleveland, OH, and the team from Phoenix, Arizona. I really liked the Cleveland team's out fit color combos. I also thought that the Phoenix Team had a totally radical flower child theme going on. After helping them I had quite an interesting job most of the day. I ended up being in charge of over 2,000 female skaters, talking to them and explaining the rules before and after they entered the ice. So basically after each team entered on and off the ice I would also get to show them where the photographer was so they could get their team pictures taken. Overall it was a pretty great day. Kind of interesting having so many different girls ask so many different questions at once too. Other then that I ended up talking to my coach and letting her know that I couldn't do the Iowa Figure Skating Competition that I qualified for where you can qualify for nationals if you get the top 2 with the alternate. Personally, I'm not that good, but I'm in a pretty low level for now. Other then the whole skating thing I really thought that it was cool getting to hear from my good friend Laurin as he talked about what was happening in Russia as he's going to school in St. Petersburg. It was really encouraging to hear from him about how his wife (Nura) and him were able to be used by God with helping out a lady from his own town adopt a little boy. One thing that struck me about it was that before when the boy was going to be adopted 2 previous times the parents to be backed out. Personally, I think that that would be really disappointing and incredably hard on a kid. Being told multiple times that somebody wants you and then getting within a month of being adopted multiple times can feel incredably hopeless. I went through something like that when I was younger. Though at the same time You gotta give a kid credit for not giving up hope. Eventually this really nice Christian lady decided to adopt him and Laurin and his wife helped her learn more about her kid and bring them into the program at their church. That's one place that I'm looking into going to. I really like their ministry and another churches ministry that I know of from one of my old teachers. Around Feburary 1st give, or take a day I got a call today telling me that I would be interviewed about going there so pray for that. There is also a minstry in Voronezth that I'm interviewing at, and one in Moscow that I'm looking into. All have positives and negatives to them. So pray about that. Ultimately God will put me where he wants me in his timing. In the long run I thought a ton about that today and what Kurt Warner said in his interview. You should look it up on espn. He had some really good points about the subject, he came from my home town, and had the same job that I had. His family is super great and it's pretty amazing how he always draws everything back to God and how if it wasn't for him he wouldn't be where he is at now. Anyways I have to get going to bed, but before I do if you ever think about adopting consider everything before doing it. Finally, if you ever end up feeling like you're not getting somewhere quickly just keep on pressing on and in the end God will work out everything for the best. He will determine your steps!!!!

Sometimes God Works In Mysterious Ways.. Figure Skating?!?!?!?!?!

So the night started out as an ordinary night. One where I got to talk to the Russians, get my skates on, and get ready to fall... well maybe just sometimes. Anyways while I got onto the ice I did my regular warm up plus pulled off about the normal 10 or so new moves. Eventually I watched a few of the people that actually can afford to pay for individual lessons hoping to pick up a new trick or 2 to try. After awhile a lot of the public skaters started coming and that's when the fun began. Some watch me and some of the other skaters from my club. A lot of them try to shy away from different things, but I always try to talk to them and see how I can help them. Random conversations facinate me and I love talking to people in general! You never truely know where somebody is at in life unless you open yourself up to them and meet them where they're at. Anyways as I talked to more and more people I noticed that some random girls kept staring at me. This was kind of wierd because I swear that I knew them but I had no idea. Eventually some of them came up to me and asked me if I could help them. As I was helping them they kept asking me about how to do different moves. One of them could even do a mohawk. They told me that they thought that they knew me and kept talking to me. So the whole time I kept thinking well maaaaaaaaaayyyy...be! After talking enough I found out that some of them were kids that I used to work with many years ago. About that time that I had left to go to the Urussian area. So as a result we mostly just talked and they were telling me about some of the ideas that they had and things that they remembered that I had taught them. They were actually using them and this excited me quite a lot! Currently they are doing outreaches which start new churches and bringing in young college students. Also some of them wanted me to see if I could help teach them a ton more. I'm deffinatly considering it. Though at the time when I was teaching many years ago I never really thought that kids that young would listen and put things into practice. So in the long run be careful what you say and think about what you do because it could turn into something beyond your wildest dreams. God always works in amazing ways!!!!

Random Stuff

Pretty soon I will be writing more about Russia when I get closer to knowing more. At the moment I do know more things but I'm still waiting on a few people to get back to me. Hopefully in about a week, or 2 I'll have a blog up explaining all of my final options. In the mean time I have been involved in a few different things that are new to me and not so new. For instance I've been learning to play basketball smarter before the season begins by playing with one other guy on my team and taking on 6-7 other guys. Sometimes we win too!!! I also got involved in figure skating recently after coming up with a bet among some of my guy friends and it's actually quite fun. It's one of the only sports that I swear I face death daily and I like it!!! It's just one of those sports where you have to listen closely, lean in wierd angles and allow yourself to pull away from all fear, or you may never pull off the move. I think that I like it a lot becasue it's something that pushes me a ton and causes me to have to stop and think what did I do wrong after I just fell 50 times in a row. At the same time there have been so many unexpected opportunities out of figure skating that I never imagined. For instance, there was a family of adopted kids that I ran into and the parents were absolutly amazing. Personally I think that it would be hard when you already have 3 kids to take on 4 more just so you don't break up the entire sibling set. At the same time to be able to control the kids in such a way that each one knows that they are equally loved is best! It was also super cool knowing that some of the kids really young and some were in high school (which is a huge need for adoption). I've always had loving and caring parents, but I used to work at a home conseling fostered and adopted kids and many times that demografic of kids are the ones that are usually left. Those kids and their stories will touch your heart if your willing to open yours! Just think about it!!!! It's on of the areas that I was looking at in the future in Russia about 9 hours from St. Petersburg, but I can't get the right type of visa to go there yet. However, I have been developing friendships with some of the kids there and they are amazing. I'll go more into it in my Russia post! Hopefully I can make it to Russia by Januaray 2011! At the same time I know that I've been waiting to go back to the area after being gone for 8-9 very long years. Even though that may seem like a long time I think that you always have to remember that God has you in the right place at the right time and he will always direct your paths. I also try to remind myself quite frequently that in God's eyes a 1,000 years are like a day and a day is like 1,000 years in the Lord's eyes! Anyways I better get going to bed and if you want to know anything about opportunities in Russia, good books on conseling troubled youth/ working with kids with no parents, ways you can get involved with changing a kids/young adults life, or you just have a general question about the Bible just ask me and I'll see what I can do. If all else fails just stop and look around you. There are so many different people with needs if you only open your eyes and your heart!