La Primera Semana

One week since I left the 619, the West Coast, the U.S.A.

One week since I have entered this new environment of being in a place away from my place of comfort.

As portrayed in my few photos, the money, the people, the cars, the streets, the language, the food...its all different.

Completely being honest, the only word that I can use to describe my time here so far-

BLESSED

Living with a local pastor and his wife, being an intern for a missionary, speaking fluently with the locals and joking around with them as I do with family relatives, working/laboring to physically build up needy churches to better serve their impoverished communities, reconnecting with old friends who have encouraged and challenged me without words, serving nonstop, and continually being humbled by how God is using me in different and bigger ways... sigh... it all is a truly huge blessing.

There is no other way that I can explain or understand why God is doing what He is doing in my life right now... I dont deserve any of this at all... I have not earned any of this.

Blessing. It is all a blessing.

I am sure that I am coming across as quite scattered perhaps, but much has happened in this first week.

/A Bit About The Pictures Above/

1- Colones. Huge coins that constitute my bus money. No big spending for me thanks very much.

2- Josa. A pastors son in one of the work sites that I have been at all week long as the lead for the missions work team. Humbled by this guys heart of giving when he gave me a Costa Rican soccer jersey when I commented on how nice the one he was wearing. This church is within a very poor and unsafe area of town, yet he insisted on giving me this jersey to show support the soccer team.

3- A typical intersection of criss-crossing traffic and unmarking lanes. The background of the cathedral shows how life is busied about here and the true nature and vision of the church here is all too easily pushed back.

4- The great presence of the heavens that few seem to actually notice and appreciate... My God, you are everywhere.

5- Two things that I need to do always during this exile from the life I know and always forevermore-

***to serve God and to spend time with God***

--- to serve always in a way that I put myself last,

where I seek to bless and help others and kill the desire of being comfortable and pampered,

realizing that I truly dont need anything,

that I truly dont want anything, that my Father is caring for me in all ways and blows my mind away when I open up my heart to His will...

the only thing I truly need, want, and desire... Jesus Christ glorified in me.

I cant lose focus.

I cant lose heart.

This is what I was called to.

This is what I seek to do.

Step by step. Where ever I am led.

There at my side is my Father to lift and love.

Thank You for whatever prayer you mentioned me in.

God Bless You and I hope that you let him change you beyond belief.

Whatever.

As always- No Worries.

PEACE

Waiting. Arrived to Denver and will be boarding a full red-eye flight to SanJose,CR arriving arnd 530am... i started reading The Pursuit Of Holiness

written by jerry bridges. indeed a book i need to read. i am thankful for text msg blogging, the ridiculously few people in the airports, farewell text msgs

from friends, and simply being blessed to get away in order to serve and be literally set apart to listen and survey the path ahead for the next steps to take.

One thing im sure to take away from all this-a renewed & transformed heart & mind to walk in spirit and take away dead weight of the flesh-THE NEED 4 CHANGE.

Flying Away...Getting Away...Getting Closer

I'm off to missions in Costa Rica.
5weeks.
I'm going to be serving as a intern for a missionary that I know there.
I hope to update my blog while there at some point and share insights from what I experience, do, and learn.

My only request of you: Please Pray. for safety, strength, health, wisdom, peace, enlightenment.

Thank you for reading and caring. God Bless You...I'll be back...;)

WHAT IS LOVE?!*....

*As in the song from A Night at the Roxbury.

God is Love. This weekend has shown me how He expresses his vast agape love to me through friends and family.

Me and my backpacker hippie older brother.
Pretty much the person who led me to the path of a true intimate relationship with Christ.

We're different. We're special.

We're the Cuellar Kids.
It's God that keeps us together.

L&L. Sriracha. LOVE.

my seeester.
Always there for me.

The old couple that helped bring me
into this physical life.

I love seeing them make each other laugh.

Always praying for me.

La Familia Cuellar

Proud of the Colombian blood in me.

Brothers (and a sister;) from other mothers
who have blessed me through their friendship and memories shared centered on
what God is teaching us.


Suave Love. Mejor Amigo Para Siempre.
MAPS.


Indeed, they will be in my wedding.

GRADUATED.
Looking Forward.
I can't do this on my own.
Through Friends and Family.
How the Lord's Love is shown.

more to come...

TAKE FIVE

5-Green Day's song 'knowing your enemy' is an embarrassment compared to the first and original Rage Against The Machine track titled also 'Know Your Enemy'- a Solid piece of Rock music that is all contained within a span of 4:54...way to be original doods.

4- Finally finished my last SDSU International Business-related report...Only one final remains...

3- I love having Reed and Melee as my roommates...tho they are more like an old married couple that constantly bicker, fight, and hit eachother...oh, love.

2- South American food with Richard- best pre- Graduation dinner yet...I feel obligated to take my parents to this hole in the wall.

1- Spread the Blogging Spirit! I'm enlightening people about the goodness of blogging and its deepness. Facebook/Myspace- why stay shallow? go deep and go blog...
Don't have a blog? create it in like 5minutes.
Have a blog? good. Use it, please, and impact people unknown to you.
More in the YOUTUBE below:




GoodNight and GodBless you.

MY WEIRD TOP 10*

It's has been a long week. Weird. It will stay that way up until Thursday afternoon once I'm done with my Religions of India Final. blah. Weird. Here's some top 10 weird random things that have been on my mind lately. (*respect and credit to the idea of David Letterman)


10. Weird how classic Metallica has gotten me through many a late night/early morning. Currently listening to The Call of Ktulu.

9. I am thankful for 100% Colombian Coffee;) NOT Weird.


8. Not worried about anything. So Wierd Cuz' everything's gonna be alright. I love you Bob Marley. I'd play soccer with him in Jamaica if we were contemporaries. Joshua1.

7. I look forward to lounging and catching up with atleast my brother Cesar while we enjoy some fine exotic hookah. soooon. Wierd to have him back in Cali since his trip down south in mid-2007.

6. Feeling more sensitive as to the tug and pull of the Holy Spirit- especially when I don't want to do it. wierd.

5. Costa Rica. Not a vacation-weird, rather I go to do work and serve. I can't wait. Airfare has been purchased. Gotta pray that I can get some sponsorship from the fraternity missionary account.

4. Realized that the only international business that I will do is that of Humanitarian/Relief Non-profit Orgs. Weird how I'm definitely not gonna be a businessman that in it for 'profit'. Gained clarity and now know that I am called to have an uncomfortable life but that will glorify Cristo.

3. Weird. I've been craving pho noodles and spring rolls for like two weeks now (I refuse to eat out solo). want to join?

2. Blows me away how I tend to get along/relate with all sorts of people. Wierd! A gift that I need use more and more.

1. I can't give up on people. God doesn't give up on me. I guess I'm learning to love...just as we all are. For God is Love.

Weird! That's all for now...

God Bless You and forget not to PRAY.
PRAY til you die!

weird BUT if we are not living to the death for this....then what to?

THAT AZN COOKIE...

it spoke to me...it spoke truth...do what the cookie says...and no-I'm not drugged.
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|
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>>2 research papers and 3 finals- they lie between me and my degree...
- so close...
- failure is not an option.

>>I've been researching so much on Buddhism and Jainism that I think I could play the part.
- karma. karma. and more karma.

>>PRAY
- it can change the world if we all do it and live it.
-this place needs it.
- join in and PRAY HARD.


'when ignorance reigns, life is lost!'
~Z. De la Rocha


~Vaya con Dios~

God Put A Smile Upon Your Face

It was this Coldplay song that simply spoke to me lately especially when choosing it as the song for the graduating senior section of the AGO Banquet video... I have realized that looking forward beyond this semester, the summer, this year- I really have no idea of what or where God will place me...I've realized that it's not my worry or concern to try to figure all that out. Rather, looking at how God has worked in my life in order to bring me to the place I am now, it is clear that we will never quite know the big master plan. I can say or convince myself that I am being called to live as a missionary in South America or that I want to enroll in seminary and seek to be a pastor- but honestly, what the heck do I know? God knows it all and His ways are mysterious.
Thinking that things need to be a certain way, whether its being in a relationship with a certain girl, living in a certain country, or having a certain job title- I have found that it all isn't up to me to figure those things out or to try to make them happen.
Thinking that way has led me down paths of pain, disappointment, anger, frustration.
Know your role before the ALMIGHTY.
I now know that God grants me vision and that I need to seek it out. But in the details, my only expectation is for God to take care of it all. I can't put any expectation before that.

Whatever tomorrow brings, I'll be there. With open arms and open eyes. - Incubus

I thank God for being able to smile when I think about life. When I think about those special people in my life and the memories made. No matter how bad it was or how ridiculously blessed it was, in the end, God put a smile upon my face. He has and I know that He will keep doing so as long as I stay faith-full.

PROS
-typing a lengthy letter in spanish via email to my family updating them about life and God in my life.
-learning to not worry about myself- that I am blessed though I deserve less than nothing.
-realizing the need for more deep prayer.
-knowing that my brother is back home safe and that soon I hope to have the deep talk about 'holy things' (Nacho Libre voice)
-wanting to be down for whatever God wants me to be down for
-knowing that this place is not my home...


P E A C E

Worth More Than A 1000 Words

1. Color Me Black and DirtyGhettoRed

2- No more shots of bean juice for me...

3. Too Much DGR

4. Mi Hermana

5. DINKO

6. soon to be alumni

*It's late- I'll post a legit entry sooner than later. And...Blogs are the way to go.


FBK?...meh.

NEARING THE END- PEERING INTO THE NEW START

Soon. Very soon. My little sister, Sandra, will be flying into town. For those in ADX, AGO and/or will be present at AGO banquet (she's my date!), hopefully you will be able to meet her...
Oh, banquet. The last one as an active is one that every guy in the Fraternity dreams and looks forward to; it is quite analogous to the wedding day for girls- but not.
Will I get the suicidal souffle award again for taking shots of bean juice?...I wouldn't be surprised. Anything goes at this point.
I'm usually a man of few words. But I'm sure I will be sharing quite a bit during my speech...just breathe.


However with all seriousness, I have found myself just stopping amidst all the busyness of this semester and point in life- and my head asks (quoting LOTR):

"How did it come to this?"



_With Obedience Comes Understanding_
.this is my peace. this is my life.