A view from the Mohawk Trail in northwestern Massachusetts, circa 1998.
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I was born and raised in the Western Massachusetts town of Easthampton. Most of my fondest memories come from over there, especially those of dear friends and beloved relatives. However, on May 21, 1999, my dad and I made the journey to Houston, Texas just because we both felt we needed the change. I didn't know it then, but the move to Houston was all a large part of God's plans for my life. Of course I wouldn't have known it back then- I didn't even know God back then, even though I thought I did. Growing up, I dealt with some form of Attention Deficit Disorder. I believe this was one thing that adversely affected my social life. Besides my disorder, I was also frequently lost in my own imagination. I would from time to time act out or speak out my imaginative thoughts, which often led to my peers making a mockery of me. I was very lonely growing up, but I chose to be that way. Sure, I was shy, but it was mostly due to my own doing. However, I had a major problem with depression. I believe my obsession with video games and fantasy role-playing games was my escape. However, these things helped me to develop my problem of a hot temper. Every time I lost to a video game, I used to throw major fits of rage. My rage was always caused by either games or computers, but never by people except on one or two very rare occasions. My wrath was the cause of many pieces of furniture being destroyed. |  
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Apart from the occasional battles with wrath, depression, loneliness, and escapism, I lived a fairly normal life. I used to enjoy bike riding and long hikes in the woods. I, like many adolescents, had my mind flooded with thoughts of girls. I had a lot of crushes, but never anything serious until at least my college years. I never did play any sports, but I had my fair share of hobbies.
My interest in God & religion started about the 8th grade. I attended a Lutheran church in town, and I really enjoyed it. I didn't fully trust in Christ as my personal savior back then, since I still had constant doubts about my salvation. I didn't know that it was His death on the cross and resurrection that paid for my sins, and I wasn't trusting in Christ for any form of an afterlife. I instead used to form my own weird theories and philosophies regarding the afterlife. Of course, these theories were a bit out to lunch, but I always believed that something had to happen after death. |
 
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The years following high school brought about many changes in my life. However, nothing could prepare me for my move down to Houston, Texas. God brought me all the way down here just so that He could reveal Himself to me and draw me into a relationship with Him. What an honor for Almighty God, creator of the entire universe to do all that just for me!! I entered into a relationship with God through His Son Jesus Christ. I trusted in Christ as my Savior, the one who specifically died on the cross and rose again from the dead to pay the penalty for my sins. Ever since doing so, my goals in life have changed from that of living for myself and getting a good career, to that of serving God no matter where I go or what I do in life. God has matured me both through trials and through the wisdom of His Word, the Bible. However, my greatest trial was yet to begin.
I made the decision to commit my life entirely to the Lord and to live for Him as a full-time missionary back in the spring of 2001. However, not long after moving in to be trained, I started going by my feelings, and not by the promises of God. My feelings told me that I was depressed and intimidated about living for the Lord. Rather than refuting these feelings and going by God's will for my life, I chose to drop out of full-time service. This led to my greatest spiritual low since becoming a Christian. I went back to my old sinful habits and stopped living for Him completely, except for going to church on Sundays. Finally, as I saw how unfulfilled my life had become, I finally started to see how living for God first truly does bring fulfillment and joy. |
 
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 Here, three missionary groups affiliated with Campus Christians converged for Spring Break 2001. These three groups represent San Jacinto College (Pasadena, Deer Park, Southeast Houston), University of Houston (greater Houston/southeast Texas), and El Paso. Back row: Me (San Jac.), David S.(Houston), Dameon (San Jac.), Harold (Houston), and Glenn (Pastor- Houston). Middle row: Kenneth (San Jac.), Anil (Deceased), Juan (El Paso), Mike (Pastor- El Paso), Marvin (Nicaragua). Front row: Don (Pastor- San Jac.) and Paul (Houston). |
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In my life, the Lord God has become my top priority. I will not do anything in life that would go against His will. My moral standard is becoming conformed to His own. My purpose in life is slowly but steadily becoming His for me- seeking and saving the lost, building up other believers spiritually, and growing personally in Christ-likeness in character. I am slowly learning to trust Him more and more for my daily needs as well as for the strength and perseverance to get through trials. God sent some great godly Christian friends into my life, and they are having a great positive effect on my life (as it says in 2 Timothy 2:22). A daily time of Bible reading, once considered a burden, is quickly becoming a reality in my life. I am developing an eternal perspective, looking ahead to the heavenly goal where Christ is, seated at the right hand of God the Father.
My hobbies include travel, bowling, and archery. I also enjoy computer work, and maintaining this site has become a long-term hobbyist project of mine. I enjoy music and am learning to play guitar now. I've got the chords down, but I'm still nowhere near good. Job-wise, I "serve good quality coffee to good quality people" working at a Seattle's Best inside a Borders book store. |
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