October in Pasadena

"Urine Trouble"

Let’s see where I left off, I started playing on a co-ed flag football team with other students from school.  My team is called, “Urine Trouble” and our team color is yellow.  We haven’t won a game yet, but we’re having fun.  In our game yesterday, we scored our first touchdown of the season, it took three games, but we finally got some points.  Playing football is a lot of fun!  I rediscovered that I am much better at defense than I am offense.  Although at one point yesterday, I was playing on the offensive line guarding a guy who had to have been 6’4” 250 lbs.  Good think contact is not allowed!  

Team Urine Trouble: Donny, Les, Chad, Jeff, Stephanie, Katharina, me, Terry, Paul, Naomi, Danielle, and Cara (photo from Sarah Keay)

 Eaton Canyon Waterfall & the Flat Tire

Two weeks ago, after the football game, I met up with my friend Sarah and Jeanine and went hiking to Eaton Canyon Waterfall.  It was a beautiful hike; we followed a path back and forth across the creek using stepping stones to cross.  The closer to the waterfall we got, the more lush it got.  I was surprised that it was Jeanine’s first time hiking, but she absolutely loved it!  I also couldn’t believe how many people were hiking!  I had no idea that there would be places to hike in Pasadena, and that they would be so popular. 

As we pulled out of the parking lot, a high school boy waved us down to tell us that we had a flat tire.  So, I pulled over to evaluate the situation.  I was on the phone with AAA, when a police man pulled over (in the parking lot) to see if we needed help.  He was going to put my spare tire on for us, but we found an air compressor in my car tool kit.  That gave us enough air to get to a gas station, so that we could get home.  The next morning, my tire was flat again, so I repeated the same process, minus the cop’s help.  I ended up spending five hours at Sears.  They fixed it once, but it didn’t work, so I went back later in the day and they deemed the tire “un-repairable” and had me get a new tire.  By the end of my time there, I was on a first name basis with the manager and a few other employees.  Too bad the Sears Auto waiting area was not conducive to studying.  The good news is I don’t have to worry about it anymore. 

Me, Jeanine, and Sarah along the trail (photo from Sarah)

Sarah, Jeanine, and me at the waterfall. (photo from Sarah)

 The Best Parts of my Busiest Week Yet

Week four was my busiest week yet.  I had two papers and a quiz, in addition to my usual assignments.  I made it through, barely.  My quiz was on Thursday of that week, so I spent all day on Wednesday preparing and felt ready for it.  When I got into class the professor asked us if any of us felt that we needed to feel God’s grace and goodness, so I raised my hand remembering that I had to read a whole book and write a paper on it later that day.  She led us in prayer and asked that we pray for those around us who raised their hands.  After prayer, she had us raise our hands again and gave us our quizzes first.  Then she got out a second stack of quizzes and passed those out to the other students.  I wasn’t sure what that meant, but when we were able to turn our quiz over, the question was crossed out and below it said something along the lines of, “You do not have to take this quiz.  Simply write your name on the top and you will receive 100%.”  I was shocked!  The more I thought about it, the more I was able to connect this act with the material that we were being quizzed on.  We had read about God’s giving and forgiving.  It was such a blessing in the midst of this crazy week!  When the quiz finished, we went on to look at the parable of the vineyard workers (Matthew 20:1-16).  There are some workers that start at the beginning of the day, and some that the owner brings to work right when the day ends.  The owner pays the late-comers first, and pays them all the same wage.  Those working from the beginning complain that how they were paid was not fair.  The lesson here with the quizzes was that sometimes what we believe, as Christians, offends people and also that salvation isn’t based on a fairness principle.  The whole thing gave me energy to get working on my paper after class.

Buster Bluth

After eating lunch on that same day, I walked over and said hi to some friends.  One of them pointed out Tony Hale, the actor who plays Buster Bluth on Arrested Development.  Apparently, he comes to campus on a fairly regular basis.  He walked into the library, which I headed to shortly after.  I ended up sitting across from him.  I was super excited!  I didn’t talk to him, since the library is a really quiet place and I assume he went there to get some work done quietly.  Maybe someday, we’ll become friends…if that happens, I hope he’s not too creeped out that I named two cats, which didn’t belong to me, after his character.  

Me and Buster II this summer.  The best cat that ever adopted me.

That next weekend wasn’t quite as busy.  I spent Saturday morning in a meeting for the SISGU Cabinet, a group of student leaders within my program.  I joined as a member of the Community Building Team.  I visited two churches with friends on Sunday, and went to a movie at the local $3 theater with my friend Priscilla. 

Searching for a Church Home

I have to say finding a new church home has been more challenging that I expected.  I have visited six churches that ranged from huge congregations to small, rocker style worship to traditional pipe organs, Baptist to Four Square, etc.  As of this morning, I think I may have found a church that I’d like to come back to.  It is called Epicenter Church.  It is here in Pasadena and a few of my friends from school go there.  I felt really welcomed (which was true for a few of the other churches too).  They have a pretty diverse congregation and an outreach ministry to international students studying at the local community colleges; it sounds like that ministry focuses on building relationships with the students.   They also had lunch together after the service, so I was able to meet up with my friends and also meet some others who go to church there.  I am excited to go back!

House Warming Party

On Friday, Christina and I hosted a housewarming/costume party.  She was Cinderella and I was a cat (inspired by Kaylee of course).  We had about 30 people come.  It was a great chance for me to meet more of Christina’s friends and for her to meet more of my friends.  From what I have heard, everyone enjoyed themselves and a lot of people made new friends, which was great!  A highlight from the evening, was when several of the guests spontaneously broke out into song.  They sang “Time of your life,” “Bohemian Rhapsody,” and “Don’t stop believing.’”  It was quite entertaining.  

 Well, I suppose that is all for now. 

Christina and me - Stephanie and Sarah (mimes) in the background.