Top Secret Student Info...

...Psst! Hey you!,  yeah YOU!. Want to know the secret to being a student/intern and work a part-time job?? You must be sworn to secrecy, but here you go:

 ...that's right. Get a roommate who works for Starbucks, and he'll give you tons of free "Via", which is Starbucks' instant coffee!! They come three to a pack, so you're looking at 21, make that 20 cups. I'm drinking one as I blog....

Day Three...

Man, it was HOT today!! Especially riding my bike around these hills!!! I attempted to get a Washington License today, but there were about 925 people at the DMV, sweating like it was a Turkish Bath! Needless to say, I split, and decided to ride down by the water and take some pics of my journey. Here you go, although once class starts next week and my internship and working, I don't imagine I'll get many chances to just be a tourist like I was today. But when I get visitors from the South, I'll know where to take you all...(hint-hint!)

 One of the main streets around here, still hard to pronounce!

The line to get on the Vashon Island Ferry....

Side view of the ferry as I began my ride down the beach...

...riding with no hands and taking a picture of it!

Some pics of the beach near Lincoln Park (not the band, that's Linkin Park!)...

more beach....

see the ferry out there?...

more of the same beach, as I'm heading to....

...the Mars Hill intern/student local pub!! They have couches and it's a very cool atmosphere inside. Mars Hill members frequent this establishment to discuss theology over good beer! Now THAT'S, Reformed!!...

...and I was hot and sweaty from my ride, and I decided to have one beer, seeing as how I won't be able to afford another one for a loooong time. This was a great beer, it's called a "Whistling Pig Hefeweizen", from the Leavenworth Brewery, where our Colville team stopped last week. (the town, not the brewery...)

See you tomorrow!!

End of Day Two...

Today was  a really good day, I rode my bike to Target to get 30 hangars, found a dresser for free at "The City", and am praying it can be delivered, met and talked with Deacon Eric Henrikson, who said that they are all excited to have me here, to which I replied, "probably not nearly as excited as me to BE here!". I helped install a speaker, which I will have pictures up tomorrow, and learned how to speed-read with comprehension, enabling me to read a chapter of a book at around 4 minutes, AND understand what I just read. I posted the article for those who wish to try. And like I mentioned earlier, I am more determined than ever to finish my internship, finish school, and try to find a part-time job somehow. My biggest concern financially is my tuition payment, which the first one is due Sept 1st. But God is way bigger than that, and He has so clearly brought me through thus far, and do not doubt He will not only make a way, but it will CLEARLY glorify Him who sent me and who is my Shepherd through this wilderness.....

Just two pics, one of the dedication stone on the church, and another one of the whole front of the church from across the street. Good night all, I love you and miss you all....~Michael.

Praying to Jesus, my ESV, a cup of coffee, and my MacBook Pro...

...and answering about 15 emails, is how I began my day. 

I started going over some recent posts at "The City", which is our social networking site for Mars Hill. I came across this article, which I pray will help me greatly. Thought I'd share it with all of you:

http://www.fourhourworkweek.com/blog/2009/07/30/speed-reading-and-accelerated-learning/

One thing I found out yesterday, which didn't discourage me, but rather cemented my determination even more to finish the race and the course set before me. Quite a few students last year did NOT make it through ReTrain, especially the ones who were interning full-time as well. 

I will NOT be one of those who drops out. I will starve first. I will complete my internship. I will complete my year of school, WITH good grades. I will glorify Jesus Christ by completing everything that He has set before me. It is in His strength and in the Power of the Holy Spirit that I am able to do any of this. My Lord and my God will never leave me nor forsake me. Amen.

Now, to learn how to speed-read and start my day....more later!

My bed/study area/prayer closet/sanctuary. Yes, I took the bunk beds apart so there are two beds next to each other. Much safer! And the bedding and new pillow are awesome Dave, thanks!! Best night of sleep I've had in YEARS! No headache when I woke, and I slept like a baby, (minus a diaper and no pacifier, of course!)

Thus ends my first day away..

Whew. A lot has led up to today, and I feel the weight of it all.  After a 2 mile bike ride and a 3.5 mile walk looking for food, I finally decided to eat at the pizza place across the street from the church. I live in a very nice residential neighborhood, but not so good for little restaurants. Unless I just went down the wrong streets. Either way, Red Star Pizza had a Monday special large pizza for $5.99, which is a great deal anywhere you go. Great pizza too! (maybe I'll get a deal for plugging them on this blog!) Anyways, Puget Sound looks beautiful with the sun going down on it, and I just wanted to take a minute and thank Jesus for all He has brought me through my entire life to get to to where I'm sitting as I type this.
 
   Lord Jesus, I thank You for Your Sovereign Control over my life, even when I felt all alone, You were leading me and letting me wander to where I would eventually come back to You with all my heart. You let me see that there is nothing that this life has to offer me, only You bring true joy, true satisfaction, and only in You will I ever find true rest and peace. I love You Jesus, with all of my heart and all of my strength, and I pray that I will be a blessing and not a burden to all those you place in my path. I pray that I will boldly proclaim Your gospel in this city and to the ends of the earth, as long as You give me breath, I pray that I will live and breathe for Your glory and that my humble life will be a pleasing sacrifice unto You. In Your holy and precious Name I pray, Amen.

Here's some more pics from today...

...you mean I came all the way to Seattle to live near Portland and California? It's actually funny, because I took this sign as a "sign" that I am exactly where God wants me. I grew up in California for most of the first 20 years of my life, and lived in Portland for the better part of the last 20 years, so the combination of my last 40 years culminated right at this intersection, where I am now serving my Lord Jesus Christ with all that I am. Pretty cool, huh?

 The sun setting on Mars Hill...

My first dinner...alone, as my only roommate is at a Deacon's meeting. Oh well. I ended up eating half of it (it's a large!) and that's Cherry Coke, not coffee....

...and I may not have access to a hot tub anymore, but look at this awesome shower head!!! Good night everyone....I love you and miss you all.
~Michael

I have landed...at Mars Hill West Seattle!!

Today begins Day One of my journey that Jesus has called me to embark upon for His glory, and for His kingdom, and to further spread the love of Christ and the gospel of my risen Savior. Thank you to Dave Buhrmaster and Brian and Andrew Cole for bringing me up here,  and for the fellowship, and blessings they bestowed upon me, and for the prayers as they were leaving. I will miss you and your families and all my brothers and sisters at WPC in Vancouver. Thanks also to Sarah and Sabina for helping me pack this morning! The before pictures were taken by Sarah, and the Mars "landing" pictures were taken by Brian Cole and myself. I will try to post a little each day. Thank you all for your prayers and support.

First, the take-off photos...

 Andrew, me, Kyle, Dave and Brian

Dave, me, Sabina & Zoe, we're going to Photoshop in Ike under my hand and Mattea next to Zoe!

...here I am in front of the church

 ...a wider shot

 ...and my new home for the next year. For those wishing to write or visit, the address is:

3520 SW Ida Street, Seattle, WA 98126

Thank you all...

Wow. My brothers and sisters in Christ at Westminster Presbyterian Church totally blew me away today, by showing me their love and support of what I'm about to go do in Seattle; lay down my life to serve my God and my King, Jesus Christ. I was given a new guitar and case, financial support, school supplies, and given a charge by my Pastor and our Elders and it was all so humbling and an awesome display of the fact that we are all family in Christ and that I am loved by my family dearly. 

I will miss you all so very much, but know that I go to do the Lord's work, and will see you all again soon. I love you all as your brother in Christ. 

Thank you all so very much!