Mexico

This past weekend Liz and I were invited to go on ARM's (Arizona Reservation Ministries) staff retreat.

I can't tell you how thrilled I was to be invited. We thought "should we go?" After just a short time we said yes.

We went to "Las Palomas" resort in Puerto Peñasco, it's on the top of the Gulf of California (Gulf of Cortez if you're from Mexico). By the way this picture was taken from our balcony. As you can see it was a beautiful place. It was quiet, it was hot and it was HUMID! My glasses fogged up as soon as I left a room that had air conditioning. I mean humid. You know when you see a movie, that reminds me the guys killed the girls at "Scene-it", anyway, when you see a movie with someone in Mexico and he has that light cotton shirt and it's sweaty and dirty. You know, the guy with the dirty white straw hat. Yeah that guy. That's how humid it was. I was the guy in the white straw hat. (I didn't really have a straw hat I was just painting the picture.)

Well, we got to talk with the staff, pray with and for the staff and we got to hang out with and get to know the staff. It truly was an amazing time.

Not too far away is this neighborhood that reminded me of Llantes in Mexico City. We made a wrong turn and ended up in this little town and it tore at my heart. On one side of the train tracks was your typical Mexican cinder block houses and dirt streets on the other was "Shacks" built out of whatever these people could get their hands on. Off in the distance was the resort area. Here are people living in these shacks and I'm sleeping in a really nice, comfortable and cool place. I didn't feel real good right then. But, God reminded me, just as I learned when I was in Australia, there is poverty everywhere. There are people everywhere that need the love of Jesus. This is why He is sending us to Arizona. That is why He wanted us in Mexico last weekend. He wanted us to relax, unwind and just have some fun. But He also didn't want us to forget that there is work everywhere we go.

My work? In Arizona? Not yet! He has me in Anaheim for a reason. Before I can go to Arizona God will use me here. Before I can go to Arizona I must listen and do what He has me here to do.

I don't understand why God wants to use me, why He speaks to me. I don't understand...But I'm glad he does.

In Him

Robert

Addendum

After writing my last post (good day) I spoke with a friend about that day and he said something amazing. He said, "Wow, God is amazing." I said "Huh?"
He said with me going to Arizona in around a year (YIKES! A year?) God made sure I wouldn't have to worry about my car. It's like brand new.
I was just happy I got my Jeep back. There are more blessings than we know.
Look around, I'm sure God has blessed you more than you realize.

It's still a good day.

Robert

What a good day!

Yesterday, (Thursday, August 14, 2008), was a very good day.

A few weeks ago during, community assistance, a person (deliberately vague) said they were thinking about suicide. We called for a mental health worker and they said they would be here in three days. I at first thought what's the point. Well, she came and hung around hoping to see this person. It didn't happen. Fast forward to yesterday afternoon, The health worker sat with Mike and talked about her coming every Thursday to be here in case someone needs to talk to her. She really liked what we are doing. Good day.

We picked up my Jeep, it had been at Don-A-Vee Jeep for 3 weeks. Now, no oil leak, no clicking sound and a brand new engine, no charge (under warranty!), Good day.

I had dinner with Liz, just her and I, at Mexicasa. This restaurant is a hole in the wall. It has no ambiance, the service is not great but the food is very very good. And it's cheap. $16 for both of us and we started with a large bowl of guacamole. We were able to sit and talk. Not about anything major just her and I enjoying each others company. Good day.

Last night Liz and I watched Nastia Liukin win the All around gold medal at the Olympics in gymnastics. What drama. Just so you know I hate the way gymnastics is scored. Everything is subjective. And there is always controversy. The announcers are always saying things like "That should have been higher" or "That was too high" or "What were the judges looking at there?" It's the same with diving. Look, we know who the best swimmer of a particular race is (Michael Phelps) because he is the first to touch the wall. It's not subjective. We know who wins a basketball game. The team(you know) that scored more points. But gymnastics scoring is a joke. You have three judges sitting right next to the apparatus and if some lady sitting higher up (OK, she's the head of all these officials) doesn't like what the judges gave she calls them on the phone and tells them to change it. Now that you know how I feel about gymnastics back to the competition. I watched the whole thing. I couldn't turn away. When Nastia performed her floor routine I literally cheered. As they raised the American flag (which NBC didn't show) and we saw Nastia Liukin (gold) and Shawn Johnson (silver) I felt a great sense of pride. Not only in them but in my country. USA!

It was a good day indeed.

Robert

Mystery Shop

Any of you who have ever worked in retail may know what I am talking about. When I was a bank manager my paycheck was greatly affected by mystery shoppers. They randomly come to your business, posing as a customer, and judge your customer service skills, building maintenance, length of time to be assisted, etc. When I left that job 4 years ago I looked into becoming a mystery shopper(I had plenty of experience!). I have been doing this for over 2 years now and I for the most part enjoy it. I have done everything from shopping for a TV, appliances and various clothing items, to casual dinners and fast food to evaluating parking lot attendants. There is a nominal fee usually or a “free” dinner involved with answering lots of questions and/or lengthy essays describing your experience. (Sometimes timed to the second!)
This weekend I took on one I knew would be a challenge but it was the only way we could afford to do a “mini” vacation with our kids this year. I did a mystery shop for a local amusement park we had never been to. We all had a blast acting like kids, especially Wayne and KC! We rode several rides and saw a couple of shows, it was a full day. We stayed overnight in a local hotel (thanks to some rewards points we had) and walked around Old Town the next day and had some freshly handmade tortillas!!
The best part always for me is hanging out with my family. I am so blessed that even as the kids get older, they still enjoy hanging out with Robert and I. I know that won’t always be the case so I am going to take advantage of it as long as I can.
The shop took me about 2 – 2 ½ hours to complete but looking back it was worth it. We had a great weekend and some good, fun time together.

It's just a stupid little cork board.

In the front office of KACC there is a little cork board. On this little cork board are the word "Quote Wall". The ladies in the office have decided to put up quote worthy words when they happen. As I was reading and there are some funny ones; "We are all girls here" Ron Gallaher, "I forgot Josh" Kathy May and "(Kathy May) Mmmmmm... (Mike H) Kathy, you need to engage your mind before you engage your mouth", anyway, as I was reading I realized not one quote from me. Me! I say funny things, don't I? OK, funny but are they quote worthy? Ah, that's the question.

So I thought about it last night. Do I really want to be on the quote wall? The answer I came up with was, YES! Yes I want to be on the quote wall. They have "I love being first". Is that really quote worthy? I don't think so. OK, "It's not like Smart and Final is on the moon"(referring to chunky coffee creamer) belongs there. I get that one.

Shoot! Now I can't think of anything that should be up there. Maybe I'm trying too hard. I know, I won't worry about it and then the magic will happen. Or, better yet, I don't think I really care all of a sudden. It's only a stupid little cork board. It doesn't define me. No, it's just a stupid little cork board.

You know, for a while I really wanted to be up there. But now I don't care.

Yes I do. CRAP!

Shebrews

At Knott Ave. Christian Church we have this event called "Shebrews". I know , the name sounds kinda corny, but it's a "coffee house" for the women of the church to bring their "non" Christian friends and have some entertainment. They have special music or a comedienne, things like that.

Well this past Friday the Women's Ministry dept. decided to have a Shebrews/Hebrews night. Women could bring their significant others or any friend. I was asked to perform some illusions. Dawn Hammontre did some of her comedy. One word on her, HILARIOUS! Matt Whelchel and Jessica Rallis sang a few songs, they are an "item" you know. They were very very good. The last song they sang was "Psalm 62", WOW was that great.

I know what you are thinking, "How did they illusions go?" I was as nervous as I have ever been. This was a group of over 300 people. OK, I was scared, I didn't want to go on. I kept thinking how to get out of it. If I could have I would have made myself disappear. Liz and I started off with Houdini's "Metamorphosis", a hit with the crowd. Then later I did a "Chinese Linking Ring " routine, I'll get back to this in a second. During the next segment I did my "Eggbeater" trick and finished up with the "Rubber Bands."

Back to the "Rings". This routine is the newest in my act. I have only performed it once, and that was during "Missions Week". Our Missionaries were on my side before I started so that made me comfortable. The Shebrews crowd on the other hand were a bunch of people who didn't know me from Adam (not Adam Young, you know what I mean.) I brought up this woman and she was perfect. She went along with all the jokes and I think it went really well.

So on the way home I thought God is amazing. I mean, as scared as I was, as worried as we all were about that evening God took care of us all. I walked out of the auditorium with a big smile on my face. Not because people liked what I did but because each time I perform I know that I am not alone on stage. I know God is there, and that comforts me.

So at the end of "Shebrews" all I can say is; Thank you God, for a wonderful night.

Robert