My Host Family!

Dear friends, tonight was one of the most important nights of my life, tonight I recieved an email from my host sister in Lima who informed me I will be a part of her family next year in Surco  Perú. Words cannot begin to describe my fellings for this moment and I must say that the power of all of this and realizing the significante of another family taking me in for several months is just incredible. I am so thankful for everything and I know that the Castillo family and I are going to never be the same after this trip and I hope that I will always remember the connections I make these next few months. Thank you to all of my supporters and please help me celebrate this exciting moment for a Rotary student. Blessed and blessed again, thanks again  to all of you who have been there for me. Para siempre……¡Vivá Perú!

One last time…

In my life there have been plenty of “last” moments for me. Some of them, in fact most of them, have not compared well to that I experienced today. For the past 5 years I have played on the same football team with the same coach. I am the oldest relative person on the team so I have over those years taken the role of a veteran and I have never quite met a group of people like my team. Every single one of them has the potential to do great things and their hearts truly are in the right place. Today was the final game I would ever play with them because of my trip and so with the action today came plenty of reflective thought about my last time walking on to that field, the fields I have known forever. My coach, my fellow players are all dedicated to making this community better in support of the local league we play in. The championship game was today, and today I walked off the field for the final time with a win to my name. My thoughts and expressions are only captured by the live memories I have with these people. They became my family and I know that wherever life takes them they will find great peace and blessing. One more time, one more game, one more memory…. Thank you Coach Greg and all of you guys, I will never be able to forget my time with you…

View from Juan Pablo 2012

This picture was taken in a small area of Alajuelita Costa Rica this past year. My mission trips to Costa Rica have been two of the most motivating experiences in my life and so you can definitely expect more from these tremendous oppurtunities. To be used for a greater purpose by the most basic acts we Americans take for granted  really shows me a gratitude for what I have. I love Costa Rica and this picture, I can assure you, is the first of many. A vibrant country with amazing people. Pura Vida 2012

The Golden Dome.

Last summer my family and I traveled to my home town of Elkhart in order to visit the University of Notre Dame. A beautiful school, Notre Dame is a well recognized academic insitution and the history behind this private school. It was a truly awe inspiring event and I would love to see such a sight again.