What things have transpired in two months

I have not posted a blog in nearly TWO MONTHS! Shame on me. At this point, my first semester of my junior year at CSUN has just come to an end. I cannot be anymore relieved, thankful, and elated. In case anyone is interested, a few things have transpired over the last few months that are noteworthy.

The most significant thing is our decision to go to India.
Sergio and I have decided to serve the Lord in India for eleven days at an annual pastor's conference. We will be doing a VBS for the pastor's children during the conference. Sergio will be leading worship. He and I have been designated to minister to the teenagers and we're both very excited about it. So you might immediately ask, "Why are Americans flying to the other side of the world to do a Sunday school?" Very simply put, to serve our brothers and sisters in India.

India is a very suppressive nation for the gospel. Conversion to Christianity means being ostracized from your entire community, friends, and, very often, your entire family. Proselytizing is illegal and, if caught evangelizing, there could be legal ramifications. This specific type of persecution felt by believers and pastors is exponential compared to that of Americans. The conference provides a time where men dedicated to ministry and their wives gather for a time of edification, fellowship, bonding, and rejuvenation with other believers who can relate to their struggles all for the glorification of their Savior. The people behind the conference requested a team to go down there to serve them so that our siblings in India can freely commit themselves to the acquisition of truth and knowledge with the comfort of knowing that their children are also being ministered to. Many men and their families make long and arduous journey to partake in the fellowship provided by the conference. Our wish, along with the wish of those putting the conference together, is that each individual that can attend the conference does. Such things are not as readily accessible there as they are here, and we are immensely blessed to know that we are serving the global church as they serve the Lord in environments more hostile to the gospel than we do.

If you want more information on the trip or about how you can support us financially, or through prayer, please email me.

Also, our first year of marriage is coming to an end. Being married has been so wonderful. I would highly recommend it for people who have the right view of marriage. As our first Christmas approaches, we are inundated with reminders of God's grace in marriage. Everything from our limited gift budget to our little Charlie brown Christmas Tree, we're surrounded by reminders of God's unending love towards us and our contentment in him.

I am in search of graduate schools. Staying in Los Angeles pretty much leaves me with UCLA and USC. It seems to me that if I am to pursue a MA, I might as well pursue a Ph.D. UCLA and USC would allow me to do both at the same time. Now, it's just a matter of getting in. While I am considering other graduate schools in the nation, we're very limited because it would have to be a place where both Sergio and I can pursue our endeavors. With Sergio considering seminary and there being few seminaries with solid theology and doctrine, our choices are few in number.

The reading list for the winter includes John Piper's Desiring God, which is taking me a while to finish, and a C.S. Lewis book that is yet to be determined. It will probably be the Great Divorce, but we shall see.

I think that's all for now. :)