The love in his eyes.

Love is a powerful thing. It can change one persons life. It can open up to a bigger world, bigger place. It can make someone feel like something. A lot of us take the word 'love' for granted. People say it without even putting a meaning behind it. In the world we live in today, love is more important than it was yesterday. We need to remember to love... and to put a meaning behind it.


I met some pretty cool people on Sunday. A few of us did this homeless outreach thing in Ocean Beach. At first there were about 10 people who lived on the streets and about 10 of us from Invisible Children. It was awesome, there was this one man who played guitar. So he would play and I would sing and dance along. His name was Bucky and he never took his smile off his face. He actually told me that his favorite thing to do was hug. So throughout the day, I think I got about 5 hugs. I literally saw the love in his eyes for life. He just looked sooo happy getting to talk and hang out.
A few hours later, I went for a walk and these two homeless kids about 17 years old... asked me for some money. I told them to follow me because we were putting on a barbeque in the park for the homeless. So they did and they also got a few more of their friends to come. As we were walking over there, the lifegaurd stopped us and told Beans (one of the kids that asked me for money) that he couldn't have his dog on the beach and park area until 6. So he said ok and we kept walking to the park. Since he couldn't come hang out with us because of his dog, he hung out right by the street. The lifegaurd then walked up to him and gave him a $300 ticket because his dog was sitting on the curb. There was sooo much I wanted to say to that lifegaurd but it really wasn't my place. I was so mad. I mean, honestly, how is a homeless kid going to pay for a $300 ticket? And it really wasn't his fault. Besides that whole deal, we had a pretty good time just all hanging out, eating hotdogs, and getting to hear all these kids stories. I can honestly say that I met some really rad people that day. I do feel for them because most of them had some serious drug problems. So I ask you (whoever happens to read this) to just pray for them. Pray that somehow, they get their lives back on track. Pray that they realize that their lives are way more important than any drug can ever be. Pray that they find that love that I found for Jesus Christ.

Today I was inspired by Jason Russel.

First of all, let me update ya'll on my last couple days. Every morning, we wake up and have to be at work at 9. You would think it would be a little hard getting ready because I have 55 rooomates and everyone is showering, washing their face, making breakfast, or sitting on the porch doing their daily devotions, but I love it. And I love every minute of it. We are like one big family. So anyways, we drive the big "invisible children" vans to work and arrive at 9. Then we go to the conference room to train. This first week is all about training and getting to know the staff and each other.
Today Jason Russel, one of the founders of Invisible Children gave us a very inspiring talk. It was probably one of the best hours in my life. I can honestly say that when it was over, I walked out of that room feeling more important as a human being than I did when I walked in there. He first began by telling us about growing up and how he did not know who he was. He was the loner in school with no friends. Jason began telling us about "how to find your individualality." He was saying how each and every one of us are specifically designed differently. We are like snowflakes; Every one you find is different but yet, still beautiful. We are to live our lives to the fullest. And this I believe: that the free, exploring mind of the individual human is the most valuable thing in the world. And this I would fight for: the freedom of the mind to take any direction it wishes, undirected... as long as you find Jesus Christ first. Your real, new self will not come as long as you are looking for it. It will come when you are looking for Him. Look for yourself, and you will find in the long run only hatred, loneliness, despair, rage, ruin, and decay. But look for Christ and you will find Him, and with Him everything else thrown in. God created us to make a difference. He wants us to stand out, stand pride, and stand up.

Some of that was written by C.S. Lewis and Jason Russel, and myself.

I am unbelievably lucky to be here where I am. I am now a part of a movement. I am now a part of the Invisible Children team. No one deserves to be invisible. We are too important to Jesus, to go unoticed. So to finish up, rememeber, you ARE someone. You are more then you think. You mean the world to me.

Officially moved in.

Hello! So this is my first official blog of the tour. I moved in the house yesterday. I have about 55 roomates. It is completely crazy but I love it. It is the greatest experience I have ever had. Last night, about 25 of us went for a walk to the gas station to get gatorade (apparently, it is a "roadie" tradition.) When we got back to the house, we told scary stories in our basement. Some of the stories that some told were actually quite scary and unfortunetly true. The roadie house includes 7 bedrooms, 4 bathrooms, 2 living rooms, 2 kitchens, 1 attic, 1 basement, and 2 deck/ balconies. It is amazing.
The next morning, we all woke up at about 7 because we had to leave by 8:30 to be at the office. When we got to the office, we met the Invisible children staff, had a tour of the office, and learned about the history of Africa. Yes, I did get to meet the founders of Invisible Children and it was amazing to finally meet them in person. While they were telling us about the war in Africa, they decided to surprise us by bringing Jolly (the "Ugandan mother" who was actually in the Invisible Children Rough Cut documentary.) So it was a privledge to get to meet her. I actually had tears in my eyes from excitement.
After work, all 55 of us drove the IC vans back to our house and watched tv together. It is truly amazing to get to know all of these people and hear their "IC story." I am becoming great friends with everyone due to the fact that we were all specifically picked to be roadies. We all share the passion and love to make a difference in Northern Uganda. I am very excited for the next 4 and 1/2 months of my life.