No Earthquake Yet

“Life will ALWAYS punch you in the face so we have a tendency to convince ourselves that we need to avoid this at all cost. Life does not care, it will keep punching you in the face, so instead I recommend you develop yourself in such a way that your jaw isn't made of glass. You have taken a few on the chin, there is no doubt about that. Whenever we did weapons training in the Coast Guard we constantly practiced what to do in the case of a weapon malfunction....and there are many ways weapons and ammo malfunction. At the end of every drill the slogan was ...and get back in the fight. Get back in the fight Chris, your work there isn't done. I love you, if you tell anyone I said that I will Old Testament kill you.”

A Brother’s Love

Justin Dallas

I watched as a storm rolled across the ridge facing my house. The smell of rain filling the air and a desperate need to watch it build into something beyond words. I can remember cowering at the sight of this back home, fearing the development of something deadly. That was gone and simply replaced with admiration. I used to think that immense fear was a byproduct of accepting my own mortality and how fragile life is. Coming out here, I see that it was about living in routine and missing the mark, only to be snuffed out all too soon. I was afraid of missing out on life. I craved a story built on the foundation of my faith. To spend it reaching out and cultivating relationships and allowing myself to grow in response. I have been made prosperous. It had nothing to do with the destination and everything to do with being tested. To face a challenge and prevail. I missed a gun fight by a few moments on the strip in Las Vegas, prevented two fist fights, driven through LA like I stole the car, learned to make pasta by hand, met some tremendous people, laughed over dinner and drinks with friends (new and old), and found an awesome church home. The story continues to build. I don’t know what happens next. Only that I crave to take the adventure further and further. I want to experience all that God offers and to live as an ambassador. I desire that freedom.

Steps

“There comes a time when you have to leave all that is familiar, and go into the unknown with God.”

-John Eldredge

Wild at Heart

It began with continuous prayer. I had the support of many friends and family members to uproot my life in search of answers. Standing on this side, I see now, I could not have made a better decision. What surprised me most, was how easy everything fell into place. I picked up the phone, spoke to a recruiter, filled out some paperwork, and then sifted through some of the job offers. I battled with the decision to leave a job that I had known since graduation, in pursuit of something I wasn’t able to clearly articulate. I just knew that I needed this. Six weeks and 1,700 miles later, I notice the subtle changes in who I am.  

To summarize the trip here: the worst turbulence I’ve experienced on a flight, a friendly and lengthy conversation with a very large and tattooed Russian (who may or may not have been a member of the mob), and arctic winds when I landed in an overcast Sacramento. My first thoughts were of purchasing a ticket back to Texas and wondering why I was making my way over to the car rental place instead of heading back into the airport. Driving to my destination, clouds began to break and sunbathing hills rose up. I could see the mountains in the distance and noticed I had been smiling. Some childlike joy filled my chest and the promise of adventure beckoned. I had never seen such beautiful landscape. There was poetry in that drive. I still find myself thanking God for that moment and for the courage provided.

Sonora is filled with kind people. I was convinced that I would wake up and realize that it was riddled with angry citizens not unlike those I had met on various trips, but that never happened. I’ve actually met several Christians here and some of them helped me to find a church home. I don’t think I could have been blessed with a better travel assignment.

My hope is in detailing out the remainder of my traveling experiences for family and friends that want to be kept in the loop. Sorry this is running so late.