apo211's Xanga

Saturday, April 26, 2008

Sat, 26 Apr 2008 17:45:51 GMT

What an awesome trip! I was so blessed to be with my Dad, Johnny, and a group of friends from church back home help with a Children’s Institute in Georgia for a week and a half. It was great to have the Ceausu family and part of the Waltman family with us as well….getting to know them and their family. The Basic Seminar and CI took place in a Romanian Baptist Church there in Atlanta, and families from the church had us stay in their homes while we were there which was wonderful. The Lord really blessed our time there and it was so meaningful and encouraging in many different ways...I'm not sure that I can describe it in words. One of the things that meant a lot to me was simply being with everyone there, serving together, spending time together…it was like being home, away from home. A great experience and memory...

There were a number of us taking pictures throughout the trip which was nice, and Darleen Waltman took some great pictures with her Canon 40D as well.

Waiting in the airport. I flew down from headquarters in Chicago, and arrived there several hours before the group, so I got to know Atlanta Airport a little bit ;).

Gwinnett Romanian Baptist Church

Teacher Training

The sanctuary, where the Basic was held

Large Group time

Kevin and Kyle in the Dr. Schplatt skit

Kendra Iorga and I with our team one evening.

Making hats...

Kayleen Waltman and Johnny's team

After the seminar Sunday evening, we drove to the Ceausu's home in Knoxville, TN and spent two days there with them which was really nice. We had a great time and it was nice having a short break in between the Seminar and CI.

First day we took a short hike up to Abram's Falls in the Smokey Mountains.

At the falls

Having breakfast at Cracker Barrel the next morning

Fort Loudoun

We almost got to ride together

Out on the lake with the Ceausu's boat...

The Waltman family had us all over at their home for dinner that evening which was great. Here we were playing a game of catch phrase.

On the porch in the morning at the Ceausu's

We also had some good times of devotions and singing together

Andrew and I on the way back to Georgia

Playing ultimate frisbee at the church before the CI on Thursday evening. Those games were so much fun.

The Hockenstock skit

Kevin, Kyle, and Johnny

My Dad, Johnny, and I stayed with the Harasemiuc family while we were in Georgia. A wonderful family, and we really enjoyed our time together with them. Here is Mr. Harasemiuc with my Dad.

Driving to the church

Basic Seminar session

Saturday, March 29, 2008

Sat, 29 Mar 2008 13:54:35 GMT

A week ago, on Saturday evening during staff meeting, we watched a powerful message by Paul Washer which was very good. It is close to an hour long, though I encourage you to watch it when you have some time. You can watch it here.

This Thursday, I will be going to Atlanta, GA for almost two weeks and be helping out with a CI which I'm really looking forward to. I know that many of you who are reading this will be there, and I'm just so thankful to be able to go and be there with all of you. I am sure that it will be a great time and a great blessing. Sorry for no pictures, hopefully I will have some another time. God bless.

Thursday, March 06, 2008

Thu, 06 Mar 2008 00:14:23 GMT

It's hard to imagine that whole month has already passed....time really flew by. Thank you all very much for continuing to pray for me, it's been good to be back here and a great encouragement seeing everyone again. I haven't taken that many pictures lately, yet I thought I would just share a few from the last few days and weeks here. It actually has "warmed up" here a bit, believe it or not, within the last couple of days. These pictures were taken before most of the snow melted away, so just thought I'd let you know in case you were wondering....

Staff Center

I was able to take a few pictures of the lunar eclipse two weeks ago. One of the guys let me use his tripod, so that was nice. Even though the picture is cropped, it turned out better than I thought it would.

The home I am staying in right now with few other guys

A group of us took a trip downtown two Saturdays ago and went ice skating. While we were traveling on the train, one of the guys led someone to the Lord which was neat.

Sears Tower

The Bean in Millenium Park

Every Saturday, there is usually a game of ultimate frisbee in the afternoon on the field.

Something that I have been reminded of, is that the Lord is working everything together for our good.

Though we may not fully understand right now the purpose for wherever we are, or for whatever we are doing, He is working ALL things together for our good, if we love Him. We need only to trust.

Here is a simple song I came across some time ago that encouraged me....

You are good always
And in all ways
You are working all things
Together for our good
You are good always
In big and small ways
I know I can trust You
In everything You do

With the hard winds of life
Blowing out of control
It can feel like I'm all on my own
But You've given me Your word
And I know You'll never leave
And I've never faced a single storm alone

I can't say it's always
Been a smooth open road
Or turned out the way I'd prefer
But one thing I'm sure of
You've been faithful to me
And I live to give You all that You deserve.

Wednesday, January 30, 2008

Wed, 30 Jan 2008 21:23:16 GMT

Our family and our cousins, the Iorga's, took a trip to Colorado a little over a week ago, and we had a great time up there. We enjoy going places together every now and then, and we usually would go up to a cabin in Big Bear for a few days. This year we thought we'd do something different and go for a week to Colorado. Some friends of ours from California were gracious and offered us to stay at their home in Clifton, which was a tremendous blessing. We went snowboarding and skiing for three days at Powderhorn which was a lot of fun. For a long time I had wanted to go snowboarding again, so this was really nice and Powderhorn has some amazing scenery. It also snowed up on the mountains while we were there, so we got to experience and enjoy some fresh powder. It was so good to have some time to spend together, talk, and just enjoy the mountains.

Driving along the way through Utah.

A canyon in Utah

Brian and I waiting at the lift.

Our family at Powderhorn

Johnny and I on the lift...

Brian ready to ride

This picture was actually taken through my goggles from the chair lift. I wanted to see if I could take a picture of exactly how everything looked through the goggles, so I put the goggles in front of the camera. It actually looked a little different than this, but it still adds a neat effect.

Jimmy at the bottom

Joshy after having reached the summit of....a pile of snow.

Brian and Jimmy on the chair lift

Christeen all bundled up. Joshy took this picture which I thought was really cute.

Warming up with some hot chocolate...

Some aspens

Johnny after a ride down

It was Joshy's first time skiing and he did so good. He picked it up really quick.

Christeen was given a free ride down part of the mountain on a snowmobile. She was happy.

Here are the four of us on one of the runs.

Johnny riding the lift.

Me and Brian

It was a great blessing to have been home during these past weeks in December and January. I was able to spend a lot of time at home with my family, with friends, and get to do many different things which was really good and refreshing. Tomorrow morning I will be leaving again to IBLP headquarters in Chicago for a few months to serve on staff there. In a way, I know that it won't be easy to leave home again and go back, knowing how it was hard for me at times last year while I was there. Yet the Lord really used that time for me to grow, and I know that it will definitely be good for me. It seems clear that this is where the Lord wants me right now, and so I am looking forward to being there again, knowing that the Lord has a plan and a purpose in it. Hope you all have a great rest of the day and whenever you remember...please pray for me.

Bike Trip

Sun, 06 Jan 2008 01:57:12 GMT

Last Saturday, I was able to go on a good ride from Oceanside down to San Diego with my brother Johnny and four great guys from church: Jonathan McIntire, Kevin Orman, Kevin and Stephen Weston. Most of the guys set out Friday morning from Huntington Beach, and rode down to Oceanside for the first day. I had planned on going, but was not feeling well..so I stayed home. Thank the Lord by Saturday morning I was doing much better and was able to join them with Kevin Orman on day two. It was also great having my Dad drive along with us to San Diego. He took some really good pictures and helped navigate us as we entered downtown SD. We had an awesome time...just riding along the coast...enjoying that California breeze.

Kevin riding....

Jonathan...our leader.

Here is Johnny...pushed all the way...two straight days.

Kev All The Way....

Stephen pressing on....

Torrey Pines ahead....hardest and longest hill on the trip.

Downtown San Diego train station. Our destination.

Loading the bikes...

Home for Christmas

Thu, 20 Dec 2007 19:36:32 GMT

Well, I just got back from Chicago last Friday, and it is so good to be home again with my family. It was great to see many of you this last week, and I am really looking forward to the weeks that I will be here. It's so nice to just....be home. Lord willing, I will be going back to IBLP Headquarters in January.

Hope you all have a Merry Christmas!

Friday, December 07, 2007

Fri, 07 Dec 2007 08:50:35 GMT

Just some pictures from HQ....

The "PC"

One Saturday, few of us from HQ went ice skating in downtown Chicago. While there, we also got to talk to a few people about the Lord which was really good.

One Friday, just about all of us from Publications Distribution and a few others worked till about 2 am, collating Wisdom Booklets and Character Sketches down in the warehouse. We had a great time, and got a lot of work done. Here we are around 2 in the morning, still with energy.

Peter Baehr. Really neat guy.

Staff Center

Sunday evening staff meeting with Mr. Gothard.

Here I am with Marty Moore. Great guy and good friend.

Thursday, November 22, 2007

Thu, 22 Nov 2007 14:50:42 GMT

Well, I'm back home now. You know after traveling for almost two weeks, Headquarters is beginning to feel like home in some ways.

During the past couple of weeks my Dad and I were with twelve Police Chiefs from Romania that came to visit IBLP Headquarters, and Police Departments in other states. It was a great blessing for me to have been able to go on a trip like this, it really was. I also was able to spend more time with my Dad, which was really good. We had a great time. My Dad was the translator, and at times I helped to interpret as well. It was a good oppurtunity for me to practice my Romanian and I enjoyed it.

The group arrived at Headquarters on Saturday November 3rd. Monday morning we went to staff meeting, and afterwards got a quick tour of the Production Center. Before we left, Mr. Gothard was able to share the Gospel with these men, and when asked if they would like to pray and accept Christ, they agreed. Whether they truly believed and whether it was sincere, only the Lord knows. Nevertheless, a seed was planted, and we should pray that the Lord would continue to work in their hearts.

On the trip we visited Police Departments in Chicago IL, Lexington, KY, Dorchester County, SC, and King's Mountain, NC. The group then flew back to Romania on the 11th from Charlotte, NC. On our way driving back to Chicago, we were able to stop and visit my Uncle, Aunt, and Cousins in Knoxville, TN for a few days. It was so good to see them, and we had a wonderful time. It definitely was a great trip, a great experience, and the Lord blessed.

Sunday morning we had a good meeting with Mr. Gothard and part of the staff.

We were given a special tour of the Chicago Police Headquarters.

When we arrived in Lexington, we had a meeting with the Chief of Police and his staff. After everyone was introduced, there was a presentation followed by a good time of discussion.

We then went to the Lexington Police Firearms Training Facility where we met their Emergency Response Unit. The way one of the guys put it, "When people have a problem, they call the Police, when the Police have a problem,they call us".

They had a range there and we were able to shoot an M4 and MP5.

Lexington Police

On the road....

I was given one of the Institute's cameras to use on this trip which was really nice of them. It was a lot of fun.

In South Carolina we had a very good time with Sheriff Nash. He is an amazing man, a good friend, and a believer in the Lord.

He put together a program called Police Dynamics, which he is teaching throughout the US, and that has given very good results. He gave us a short presentation of the program and it went really well.

At Folly Beach, South Carolina.

Carriage ride through Old Charleston was neat.

This is Sheriff Nash's Charger; awesome car.

Visited Francis Beidler Forest and went for a nice walk. There are many swamps and there are crocodiles, though we didn't see any.

Friday night, right after we arrived in King's Mountain, Chief Proctor and the Mayor took us to a basketball game. It was Charlotte vs. Indiana and Charlotte won 96-87.

In King's Mountain with the Mayor and Chief Proctor, both of them are Christians.

On Veteran's Day they had a parade, and we were able to be apart of it.

The parade went to the King's Mountain Cemetery where the Mayor gave a speech honoring those who had given their life for our Country, and those who have served.

In the afternoon, we visited the King's Mountain Police Department and had a good conference call with Mr. Gothard.

Mr. Marinescu presenting Chief Proctor with a gift from Romania.

Timmy, Benny, and me.

On the way driving back, we spent a few days with my uncle, aunt, and cousins in Knoxville, TN which was really nice.

Journey to the Heart

Sat, 03 Nov 2007 20:54:52 GMT

Thank you all for praying for me while I was on the Journey; the Lord has really been working in my life. I'm not sure that I could put into words what I experienced up there. The Lord really used that time to draw me closer to Him, and has given me a deep desire to love Him with all my heart. It was a great time and the Lord is so good.

Sunrise on Wolf Lake

Bond Falls

L-R: Aaron Dodson, Peter Ort, and me.

Leaving....

Fri, 05 Oct 2007 01:31:53 GMT

I know that most of you know this, but I will be leaving tomorrow morning to IBLP Headquarters in Chicago to attend the Journey to the Heart. As of right now, it looks like I will be staying at HQ right after JTTH to help with different things, possibly even some translating. I am not sure for how long I will be there, but I'm sure I will find out once I am there. Please be praying for me, I know that I will definitely need it.