@ The Bronson Home – Perfect close for a rough week

Today was Memorial Day and it was the most unique that I have had. I was invited to a lunch in Hickory Grove Cemetery to remember those that had died. We walked to a few graves where the Sager family had some members buried, then we walked to Chad’s girlfriend Amber that died in a car accident with Chad while he was in high school. We then went to another grave site in a different cemetery to see Kamie and Bailee’s friend Alex that died 4 years ago.

I had a great close to a mediocre week. I caught fireflies with Kamie tonight. I didn’t even think about doing it, until I saw the fireflies outside her house light up and then I instantly went into little kid mode. Both her grandmother Kitty and Kamie herself thought I was acting like a little child, but I was just having a lot of fun, and was thoroughly amused. I think that was one of the things on my bucket list, so I feel accomplished. Now I just have to wake up and call Leggett and Platt tomorrow and find out if I can get an interview that day or soon after. Otherwise I’m going to have to resort to dong a Skype interview of some sort. I will then leave hopefully towards Shreveport, Louisiana and spend a day with the VanEaton’s. Then off to Albuquerque New Mexico or Amarillo Texas (which ever I am feeling up to going to) and then hopefully arrive back in Chandler on June 4th.

@ The Bronson Home - Trying to be patient

Mikeschair – Here With Me

When my world is crashing down

Left in pieces on the ground

I will stand knowing you are here with me

With my hands reaching for sky

I can feel you holding tight

I’m stepping out on water knowing you are

Here with me

You take the broken and the weak

And use them for your glory

So help me to believe

That you will do the same for me

When everything is going wrong

I will trust in you

I need God more than anything else right now. I am so frustrated with what is happening to me. I want to stay here locally in the Missouri/Oklahoma area, but the reason I wanted to, has become the thing that makes me want to leave fast, quick and in a hurry. At the very least, I need to go back to Arizona and find out what is happening with my dad’s health. But I really now could see myself coming back here to the Midwest to see my friends out that I have invested in at Ozark.

On another note, I have worked for Katherine doing data recovery and various computer things. She runs a photography business http://www.photographybykat.com. It has been the biggest financial blessing that I have had this semester. I started helping her in January with data recovery after a business could not do what I did. I then helped her recover the same data again when the external that I put everything on failed. I archived and consolidated her older data to yet another external and helped her network her computer and fix various stuff. The most unexpected thing was that she hugged me right away on Tuesday when I met her face to face for the first time. She has brightened my passion for computer work and for now moving that passion to a professional career. I one day dream to have my own business doing exactly what I was doing for Katherine, those type of odd job computer things. I wish to have a large enough clientele where I can live comfortably off the income and do something different every day. I also want to do computer work as a ministry for a church and serve the community in which I live. Oh my dreams and future, I just hope that I put those in the Lord’s hands to steer me ever so diligently. To do this I have to remember to follow the Lord’s direction, instead of selfishly leading my life.

@ The Bronson Home - Fruits of the Spirit

Yesterday at Delaware Baptist Church Chad talked about the fruits of the spirit in Galatians 5:22-23. It was such a needed lesson, because it reminded me of many things to continue doing. I also realized that Gentleness can be an attitude toward those with Love. Self-control really needs to come before the rest of the fruits of the spirit to be able to control the rest and keep them in check. Joy can be a choice or it can be given from God. I was also reminded of my Dad’s goodness that he has. I know firsthand that everything in me is not good, but that the good in me comes from God. My dad has that goodness in him, and I thank God for that.

@ The Bronson Home - Freaking about application questions

I am filling out an Application and Career History form for Leggett and Platt, and there are questions that are freaking me out.

What qualifications, abilities, and strengths will help you succeed in this job?
What are your career objectives?
Amount of overnight travel acceptable?

I have not thought that far ahead, and it's forcing me to. I'm scared what is next.

@ Ozark - Amazing Day

Today was a really great day. I feel like I almost aced my Luke final exam, I hung out with my life group leader and got many free gifts. The dinner with the Life Group was the best part. We decided to go eat out somewhere, and Cliff treated us too food. So we ended up trying the little hole in the wall El Rey. I ordered a Burrito California, and it was stupid big. I mean El Vellarta and Chipotle have nothing on this burrito. And the owner gave Cliff a free hat, and I laughed because it was a trucker hat, but then he gave me and Adam one as well. Adam and I traded, so that I could get the maroon and gold one to match the hoodie I was wearing.

We started walking around after we obliterated those burritos, because it was the Third Thursday in Joplin. So we are walking around with our matching El Rey hats on and getting compliments left and right. Everyone wanted to know where bought the hats, so we pointed down the street where we came from. We walk around and see people we all know because everyone is out along Main Street. We asked each other where all these people came from, because Joplin is kinda small townish. After we were done walking around and checking out the art and listening to the music, we went back to Cliff’s house. He gave me a graduation present, along with some dress pants, dress shirt and a tie; all of which he couldn’t fit into or didn’t wear anymore. So I scored big I guess. Today was a great day because I just let life happen and it was Awesome!

@ Ozark - Helping the homeless

Helping the homeless was one of the most enlightening experiences I have had in awhile. Today at Watered Gardens we washed the homeless people’s feet, and then gave them new socks and shoes to put on and keep. I first met a man named Mike, he said he was 63, I believe, and I was talking with him about Arizona, and his life and what I came to Missouri for. I asked him what he was doing after this and he said he was headed over to the social security office and then had nothing planned. I then helped out a man named John, he was more of a scruffy looking guy, whereas Mike looked older and pretty well kept. John had some very dirty, old, and unkempt feet, and it was interesting washing in-between his toes. All I know is that some dirt or whatever came from in-between his toes. It was a great experience to just ask him what he was doing after and just asking him if I was tickling his feet, or providing any discomfort. With both men, we also gave soap, shampoo, deodorant, toothpaste and a toothbrush. I didn’t really have Godly conversations with my guys like some others did, but I still know that God has touched them and provided for their needs. I need to remember just like 1 Corinthians 3:7-8 explains, that God is the one who changes and grows people, we don’t have that power.

I just hung around waiting for more people, but none really came so I helped move some food upstairs to downstairs and talk to fellow students. When I was leaving, a man named Moses pointed me out and wanted to talk. He noticed I had my Arizona State hoodie on and asked if I went there. I told him that I graduated from there and now I am here. He was telling me that he helped build the 101 Freeway and that he also did work in Tucson. He moved to Missouri on a whim that he was in love with his girlfriend. But when he got down here her and her son stole his car and wrecked it. So he has been struggling ever since. He got some good work out here doing concrete and house building work, so the money was good and he bought trucks, a boat, 4 wheelers and just fun things. But then there was all of a sudden no work because of the economy, so he ended up having to sell most everything to pay the bills. Now he is living on 7 acres of land that another friend of his owns and is living in a 14x22’ storage shed with electricity. He is just living life, but was out at Watered Gardens to try to get groomed and find some work around here so he could help his friend that has been blindly providing for his needs. He was such a great role model for me when I was talking with him. Even as I am writing this I’m getting shivers because of the conversation we had. We were both pouring out hearts out to each other. Eventually we started talking about Offroading and the kinds of things he and his buddy had put together and the KOH – Something something hammer racing events that were about 2 hours away from Joplin that is a stress rally for offroading. He was telling me about all the vehicles that were used and what to have in them so you can lock up the back tires together or separately with a single lever (apparently making them non street legal). He poured out his heart and said if they can have power lifters doing what they do, but Glorify God with it, then someone can have offroading clubs and demonstrations that lift up God and promote his Kingdom. I believe that is something that has been put on his heart, and I told him about my dream with computers and making an outreach with that as well. Ugh… there are just so many good ideas that “could” work, but who knows what kind of Church would help fund that kind of dream.

It really hit me as I was talking to Moses, I am just so blessed and he was too. I started tearing up while I was talking to him and started choking up while I was headed back to my car. I am so blessed and I often don’t recognize it. Thank you Lord for your patience with me

@ Ozark - Applying for Jobs

I found some jobs here locally for Leggett & Platt. I had never heard of the company prior to moving out here to Joplin, Missouri. Apparently they have a large presence here in Carthage, Missouri. The two jobs that I stumbled on were Network Security Analyst and Logistics Systems Analyst. From the descriptions both sound like amazing opportunities to start with. Because there is no listed experience required, it’s safe to assume that I might have a chance.

Writing a cover letter for jobs is some serious business. Since each one has to be tailored to the specific position, the reusability of them is nonexistent. I am learning along the way, with Arizona State recommended websites, to write this little tidbit to send off with my résumé.

I’m checking out: http://www.quintcareers.com/cover_letters.html

I hope it allows me to stand out more.

@ Ozark - Being vulnerable and following

Today in Chapel we had student speakers that were preaching their BTh sermons and the first one was teaching about Honor. Her passage was 1 Timothy 5. The message was about treasuring what we honor. In that she read 1 Timothy 5:8 "If anyone does not provide for his relatives, and especially for his immediate family, he has denied the faith and is worse than an unbeliever." (NIV)

The scripture struck me right in the heart. God's Word does not do this as much as it should in my life, but I immediately felt an example in my life. I knew that I needed to give it up to God. At that moment I started tearing up. I fought it for the sake of not trusting myself (with a false motive), by wanting people to notice what was going on. So I fought this, but just focused on God and what he was teaching me in that moment, and putting my faith in Him. I started shaking because of the crying, then the nose ran and then the tears just started falling. At that moment I completely lost control. I continued reading the scripture the best I could and it got worse. God really stirred in me during the rest of chapel, and I'm so glad that it happened. It let's me know that God is in control and that I can let Him take care of my needs and wants. But more importantly it reminds me that I must be there for my family like none other. Things will be different...

@ Ozark - Direction

God, I need some direction, my emotions are getting the best of me with my girlfriend, school, surgery, and loneliness. Has nobody gone through what I am currently going through. The dynamic is frightening. Let me embrace this change.