The "other" senior year...
Hello all. Since i have time, i'll update y'all in my fashion, about what i've been up to since -- however far back is exciting enough to type about. Uh, yay!
Well, i was going to talk about summer, but let's go back to Spring Break. I went on a mission trip to Puerto Rico and had a great time. This was my first mission experience, and maybe i had a wrong perception to what a mission trip is, so it wasn't quite what i expected. We worked hard throughout the day in the raging (but cooling) wind under the hot rays of the sun. I was pleased with the construction that our team of mostly girls got done. I was truly impacted by this trip; here's why, for the most part:
We went to church 2 or 3 times that week and i got to meet and play with a few amazing kids, Antony and Miguel. They liked to play basketball and so did i! It was fun and kinda freeing. Antony immediately warmed up to me, enough to take my sunglasses off my head while i dribbled the ball right in front of him. I let him wear them and he looked very cool :-). At one point he jumped on my back while i was dribbling, so i put an arm around him to make sure he stayed on while i attempted to do a lay up. It was a lot of fun. The thing is, the sunglasses are sentimental to me, but they're only sunglasses. It wasn't like Antony was a kid looking to steal something he liked, but was more of a way of communicating, breaking that barrier of English and Spanish, of which i know a little...i think enough to get me by. The actual interaction with the kids during basketball, sitting with them during service, and whatever other games we played (Pirates vs. Ninjas, and some kind of game with chairs where if you've done something the person says, you have to find a new chair) really impacted me.
The other part was the single van ride a few of us took through the Barrio. We saw the neighborhood. Our guide was an American who moved down here with her husband to provide a Church and youth camp opportunities. She explained to us that some of these kids came to camp years ago, and now they're into sex and drugs. The neighborhood is close quarters and looks normal, but you can never tell the rich houses from the poor houses. That's not to say the poor houses looked nice -- they didn't. They all seemed to have metal bars around their doors, windows, and porches, much like you would see barred windows in a major city -- but in Puerto Rico their houses are barred. My heart sank. I thought about Antony. I wanted to protect him, to get him outta there, as if i could teach him a better life. I thought about the chances for adoption, and if Antony was ever in trouble i wouldn't stand for it. He is an amazing boy, and i hate to think of the things this world -- his neighborhood -- could do to him.
I expected more interaction with the kids, the people. And to be honest, before i met them, i would have rather worked all day than to make a condensed one-week relationship that would only be temporary. Then we interacted and i would've rather worked on the relationships, but for the most part we worked on construction. What a flop, huh?
In May i went to China for 3 weeks. My brother in Christ and former roommate, Nate, was with me and we had a great time. I love the Chinese. I was happy to interact with them...well, the ones that had seen an American before, because the others really weirded us out. Like, seriously. I'll have to talk about China some other time.
So, summer of 2008 i worked on campus from the moment i got back from China, tired and slightly sick, until school started back up in September. I got closer to Matt, my metal brother in Christ, and increased my hope of working on a metal project with that dude. It was a decent summer. I made money and spent more money on cds than i ever have, which is good. I went home for a week and got to see a free metal show!!! Well, sorta. The gas to drive the 2 hours made up for it. Why couldn't they have just played in Nashville? I got to see The Showdown for the first time, and thus far the only time!!! I'd do whatever i could to be in that band...but anyway. Inhale Exhale played as well (sweet!) and A Plea For Purging. The Showdown totally owned though. Toward the end of the show this kid was hardcore dancing and just so happened to hardcore break my nose. Thanks kid. I say kid because it was so ridiculous how it happened and i refuse to acknowledge he has any maturity. Blood went everywhere. I told him not to worry about it and to enjoy the rest of the show. Little did i know i would have to drop a couple hundred bones at the ER that night. You can still see the scar. The good thing is i took my cousin and got to spend time with him and show him The Showdown!
School started up and was immediately sucked in by Dustin to do BandFire. I got excited, but didn't realize how much time it would take from my schedule. I got the old band together (in May we performed at Talents For Christ Chapel) and this time we chose a name. Dusty suggested Beauty From Ashes, which he got from Isaiah. We went with it. I basically headed the band by communicating with everyone and practicing with everyone one on one to make sure we were ready. I even suggested what songs to perform. You can watch them on Youtube by looking up Beauty From Ashes. It was sweet to do, but stressful. I'm still behind in schoolwork now.
For Fall Break, i went down with Walter (wow...speechless) to Georgia where we met up with Kelly who drove back with us, thank goodness. I got to see Erin and the rest of the Dixons, as well as the theatre kids...and NICK!!! Man, i miss Nick. I literally jumped him when i saw him. It was amazing to spend time with everyone down there. I made some new friends and now have a better relationship with everyone i just mentioned. I plan on going back to Georgia sometime in January since i have no class and i'll be home, which is a few hours from Georgia. I felt very comfortable there, since i've always lived in a similar environment, but i'm excited to go back.
I also auditioned for "Baptist" the musical, directed by Dr. Patton. I got the role of Disciple James, who started out with John the Baptist and then went with Jesus. Patton has said i did my best work with this role. What a compliment! However, more of my time was taken up and i got more behind.
Besides that, i've had my most philosophical and thought-provoking time of my life this semester. I thoroughly enjoy Core400 and Film Theory. I've been buying lots of things on eBay such as movies and video games mostly. I now have North By Northwest which i could not be more excited about. I finally get to see the ending! I'll have to do that once i get back from Thanksgiving Break at my roommate's.
I'm deadly serious about working with a band next semester. Over December and January i plan to write lots of music and play shows with my band Spring semester. Which leads me to getting a new guitar. I need to be able to do more things with my guitar, one of which is to use the Floyd Rose for more tremolo action! When i have a better guitar with better pick ups and a Floyd Rose, i'll be in major business! So i guess that's it for now. I'm in a hurry. I love Jesus. I love my God, our God. I love all of you. I miss you, too. I'm working on being more Christ-like, and if i can help it, i will start referring to myself as Christ-like rather than a Christian, as a reminder to live and act more Christ-like. "Christian" now carries a different connotation, one i never thought it would take. But that is the work of Satan. I pray for endurance and joy for all of us.
One love.
Shalom.
~Jacob
Well, i was going to talk about summer, but let's go back to Spring Break. I went on a mission trip to Puerto Rico and had a great time. This was my first mission experience, and maybe i had a wrong perception to what a mission trip is, so it wasn't quite what i expected. We worked hard throughout the day in the raging (but cooling) wind under the hot rays of the sun. I was pleased with the construction that our team of mostly girls got done. I was truly impacted by this trip; here's why, for the most part:
We went to church 2 or 3 times that week and i got to meet and play with a few amazing kids, Antony and Miguel. They liked to play basketball and so did i! It was fun and kinda freeing. Antony immediately warmed up to me, enough to take my sunglasses off my head while i dribbled the ball right in front of him. I let him wear them and he looked very cool :-). At one point he jumped on my back while i was dribbling, so i put an arm around him to make sure he stayed on while i attempted to do a lay up. It was a lot of fun. The thing is, the sunglasses are sentimental to me, but they're only sunglasses. It wasn't like Antony was a kid looking to steal something he liked, but was more of a way of communicating, breaking that barrier of English and Spanish, of which i know a little...i think enough to get me by. The actual interaction with the kids during basketball, sitting with them during service, and whatever other games we played (Pirates vs. Ninjas, and some kind of game with chairs where if you've done something the person says, you have to find a new chair) really impacted me.
The other part was the single van ride a few of us took through the Barrio. We saw the neighborhood. Our guide was an American who moved down here with her husband to provide a Church and youth camp opportunities. She explained to us that some of these kids came to camp years ago, and now they're into sex and drugs. The neighborhood is close quarters and looks normal, but you can never tell the rich houses from the poor houses. That's not to say the poor houses looked nice -- they didn't. They all seemed to have metal bars around their doors, windows, and porches, much like you would see barred windows in a major city -- but in Puerto Rico their houses are barred. My heart sank. I thought about Antony. I wanted to protect him, to get him outta there, as if i could teach him a better life. I thought about the chances for adoption, and if Antony was ever in trouble i wouldn't stand for it. He is an amazing boy, and i hate to think of the things this world -- his neighborhood -- could do to him.
I expected more interaction with the kids, the people. And to be honest, before i met them, i would have rather worked all day than to make a condensed one-week relationship that would only be temporary. Then we interacted and i would've rather worked on the relationships, but for the most part we worked on construction. What a flop, huh?
In May i went to China for 3 weeks. My brother in Christ and former roommate, Nate, was with me and we had a great time. I love the Chinese. I was happy to interact with them...well, the ones that had seen an American before, because the others really weirded us out. Like, seriously. I'll have to talk about China some other time.
So, summer of 2008 i worked on campus from the moment i got back from China, tired and slightly sick, until school started back up in September. I got closer to Matt, my metal brother in Christ, and increased my hope of working on a metal project with that dude. It was a decent summer. I made money and spent more money on cds than i ever have, which is good. I went home for a week and got to see a free metal show!!! Well, sorta. The gas to drive the 2 hours made up for it. Why couldn't they have just played in Nashville? I got to see The Showdown for the first time, and thus far the only time!!! I'd do whatever i could to be in that band...but anyway. Inhale Exhale played as well (sweet!) and A Plea For Purging. The Showdown totally owned though. Toward the end of the show this kid was hardcore dancing and just so happened to hardcore break my nose. Thanks kid. I say kid because it was so ridiculous how it happened and i refuse to acknowledge he has any maturity. Blood went everywhere. I told him not to worry about it and to enjoy the rest of the show. Little did i know i would have to drop a couple hundred bones at the ER that night. You can still see the scar. The good thing is i took my cousin and got to spend time with him and show him The Showdown!
School started up and was immediately sucked in by Dustin to do BandFire. I got excited, but didn't realize how much time it would take from my schedule. I got the old band together (in May we performed at Talents For Christ Chapel) and this time we chose a name. Dusty suggested Beauty From Ashes, which he got from Isaiah. We went with it. I basically headed the band by communicating with everyone and practicing with everyone one on one to make sure we were ready. I even suggested what songs to perform. You can watch them on Youtube by looking up Beauty From Ashes. It was sweet to do, but stressful. I'm still behind in schoolwork now.
For Fall Break, i went down with Walter (wow...speechless) to Georgia where we met up with Kelly who drove back with us, thank goodness. I got to see Erin and the rest of the Dixons, as well as the theatre kids...and NICK!!! Man, i miss Nick. I literally jumped him when i saw him. It was amazing to spend time with everyone down there. I made some new friends and now have a better relationship with everyone i just mentioned. I plan on going back to Georgia sometime in January since i have no class and i'll be home, which is a few hours from Georgia. I felt very comfortable there, since i've always lived in a similar environment, but i'm excited to go back.
I also auditioned for "Baptist" the musical, directed by Dr. Patton. I got the role of Disciple James, who started out with John the Baptist and then went with Jesus. Patton has said i did my best work with this role. What a compliment! However, more of my time was taken up and i got more behind.
Besides that, i've had my most philosophical and thought-provoking time of my life this semester. I thoroughly enjoy Core400 and Film Theory. I've been buying lots of things on eBay such as movies and video games mostly. I now have North By Northwest which i could not be more excited about. I finally get to see the ending! I'll have to do that once i get back from Thanksgiving Break at my roommate's.
I'm deadly serious about working with a band next semester. Over December and January i plan to write lots of music and play shows with my band Spring semester. Which leads me to getting a new guitar. I need to be able to do more things with my guitar, one of which is to use the Floyd Rose for more tremolo action! When i have a better guitar with better pick ups and a Floyd Rose, i'll be in major business! So i guess that's it for now. I'm in a hurry. I love Jesus. I love my God, our God. I love all of you. I miss you, too. I'm working on being more Christ-like, and if i can help it, i will start referring to myself as Christ-like rather than a Christian, as a reminder to live and act more Christ-like. "Christian" now carries a different connotation, one i never thought it would take. But that is the work of Satan. I pray for endurance and joy for all of us.
One love.
Shalom.
~Jacob