Quick Update

Sorry I haven't written lately. Things are going good. I got a job at Starbucks, so now I think I am working too much. But, I will be quiting the job doing the after school thing when school is over and just work at Starbucks. The bible studies are going good. The Mary one is going strong and the BSC one is still lacking, but I think we need to just give it time. I am trying to have the Mary students become doers and not just hearers. We are going through James right now. Pray for Dakota Hills because an opportunity has come up for us to share a building with some others. So, pray that that will all go through. Also, pray that God would bring us a worship leader. I guess that is all. Here is a video we made for Jody's message on when Jesus told Peter to go and catch a fish and there was a coin in it's mouth.

Prayer Answered

The Nervous Smile Before The First Preaching Gig Ever
A Pic of Praise and Worship

Well the prayer worked. My message was longer than 15 minutes and I didn't forget anything I wanted to say even though I had no notes. Also, my mom's surgery went well so is the recovery. Pray for the woman at the coffee shop we frequent to get online. She is the owner and Ben and I spent last night talking to her. She seems stretched thin with working everyday and the business not doing well. Pray that we would be a witness to her.

Ben's Junk spread out over the place.
Tim towed Ben's truck the whole way.

Ben finally made it. They let Friday night and got in Monday evening. They had an adventure. Tim left the next day for New York and drove 1000 miles in one day. He is an animal. The Mary bible study is still going strong. The BSC one on the other hand is hurting. The past couple times we have had only 1 person show up. She is new and seems like she wants to learn. So I need to figure out a way to get more to come so that she will have a bible study to go to. My mom is having a stint and heart cath done today. So pray for her and I am preaching tomorrow for the first time. Also pray that Ben finds a job soon. I also want to thank the FBC Oviedo college group for the Nintendo Wii. It will allow us to get some guys or girls over to play and fellowship.

World Record Holders

No, he isn't the tooth fairy, but a snow angel.
Everybody getting ready

I am proud to say that I was part of breaking the world record for making the most snow angels at a time. It wasn't too cold outside, but after an hour it got pretty cold. I heard they had 8,911 people. Here is a video of a wave they were doing.

Bible Study Party

Here are some pics from the party I had for the Bible Studies. Unfortunately nobody from BCS came. But, the last Bible study I had with them would be the best yet and we actually had 2 new people there. Keep praying for the Bible studies. I also have a picture of my pride and joy. You can see the Mr. T painting in the background.

Prayer

Hey everyone. Just wanted to give yall some prayer request. 1. For the Bible studies. The U Mary one is growing every time. The Bismarck State one is starting to get momentum. 2. Pray for a guy who was a leader in one of the Bible studies when I wasn't here and now is into some stuff he shouldn't be. We talked for 40 min last night and he said he wasn't coming anymore. Pray that God would heal the pain he is trying to escape. His initials are JL. 3. Pray for Dakota Hills and the changes that are going to be made in the next month. Lastly 4. Pray for Ben Dewitt, who is coming up the 23rd with Tim. Ben will be moving up here for good. I guess that is all. Snowed about 4 inches today. Really enjoying it here.

The Drunk Neighbor

So Sunday night as I was about to go to bed there was a knock, knock, knocking at my door. I put on some clothes and it was my neighbor I had talked to a couples times. He was obviously drunk and wanted me to come over. I said ok and got dressed and walked down to his place. But I was ready for anything so I called my friend and told him to call back in about 10 minutes so that if it was bad I could act like he was my girlfriend or something and I had to go. If I had a girlfriend I would ask her. To make a long story short, we talked a lot about church and religion, I am sure he doesn't remember any of it. But, the assistant manager was there too and he wasn't drunk and said he really liked what he heard. So, pray that I will be able to build meaningful relationships with both of them.

I'm Legit

I finally got my North Dakota driver license. I made sure I got a hair cut so I would look good in it. I must say I do look good. Also I got a job finally. I will be working at a local elementary school after school for about 4 hours a day taking care of underprivileged kids. A good chance to invest in some lives. Also pray for the Bismarck State College (BSC) bible study tonight. I am having it at my place now, and I have made some more contacts and having a couple more solid christians come so, maybe these people in it will step up.

Bar Hopping

So, last week, two nights in a row I went to bars with a friend of mine. What was interesting was the amount of people there and how it is culture here to go to a bar. All of his friends I talked to said that this is what North Dakotans do. Go to bars and drink. They were all cool to me and didn't mind that I didn't drink and I was there to start a church. I really think the best place to engage the lost is at the bars here, because it is where everyone goes. Pray that I will make lasting relationships with people that I meet.

Bible Study Update and Prayer

I would first like to say my buddy Nick in the picture all bundled up is not a undercover cop. It was a joke. Tomorrow is the Bible study for the University of Mary. We are meeting at my apartment. We think we will have about 10 peeps there and I think they will be a solid group. The type to be leaders. So, pray for that and that God would give me the words to say and give me wisdom in teaching them. Also, pray for the BSC Bible study. The people there really don't seem like they want to reach others and it only seems like one is really into it. So, we are moving that off campus next week and pray that I would be able to find some strong Christians at BSC to join the Bible study.
Lastly, pray for Dakota Hills church. The church I am going to and my buddy Jody is the pastor of. The church has been around a couple years and pretty much stayed at 15-20 people. We are trying to make some changes. But, with a small one we made with software, there seemed to be some resistance. So, pray that the people there would see that change is needed to reach people.
Other than that I am enjoying it up here and think that I am getting a job doing after school care for underprivileged kids at a local elementary school. It is through the YMCA and a government program. They seem to be the only ones that want me to work. All the other jobs I applied for I haven't heard anything. I guess God wants me to be there.

Snow Pictures

My Car with some snow on it
Some pretty big snowflakes. So, after it snowed in the morning it got up to the 40's and everything started to melt. Weird how can be so cold in morning then heat up.

Sledding and Prayer

Nick and I are about to go sledding. He's an undercover cop so he can't be seen in the public. Kinda a pain when he wears it while we are eating at a restaurant.

Prayer - Starting a Bible study in a couple week at the University of Mary on Wednesdays.
-That I find a job
-Ben sells his truck so he can finally move up here

More Pics

The plug to keep my car warm when it is -30 and your oil gels up.

Outside my apartment
Yes it is -5 today. But, it is a dry cold.
The Capitol building. The largest building in North Dakota. No building can be built bigger by law.
Yes sledding is a dangerous sport and you could be killed.

What's Going On

Here is an update and some prayer request for yall. Everything is going great with my car, which is a blessing. My apartment is almost ready to have be posted on the blog, I still need some more furniture, so pray that I'll find some good deals on them. Also, the peeps before me had a cat and it smells like a litter box in some places, I'm talking to the manager tomorrow and have them do their cleaning stuff on it.
I haven't been able to get out to the college yet. But, I think other than getting a Bible study started on the U. Mary campus, I am also going to find a place to rent once a week to do an open mike night or karaoke night. A lot of the students go home on the weekends because there isn't anything to do in Bismarck. I'm trying to give them a reason to stay. Also underage drinking is the highest here out of any area. Pray I will find a place, funding, and that people will come. I have realized I need to network and really just meet people first before I get too much started. Pray for the networking, today I was able to meet some people and get some contacts, God was good in answering my prayers this morning about that.
Also pray for the church I am at now my buddy, Jody is the pastor of. In the next couple weeks we are casting a vision and figuring out how to implement it. Pray that God will bring peeps to his church and that he will provide a worship leader and band. I guess that is all. Tonight it is supposed to get down to -30.

Going Going Gone

Wed. the 3rd I am leaving with my father for the 2000 plus mile trip to Bismarck. We are going to try to get to Minneapolis in 24 hours and stay there for a day with family and then head to Bismarck. Should take 6-8 hours from there. Pray for safe travel and good roads.

A Few Pics

Here are a few pics from my first visit. It snowed a little while I was there and was -20 when I first got there. It was a good time though.