I'd be safe and warm. . . if i was in L.A.

i apologize for the lack of blogs. i couldn't blog in L.A. because im not Josh and i don't have a phone i can update from, i guess i live in the stone age.

anywhoooo. . .Los Angeles. wow, what a trip. It was just splendid, with the best group of people you could ever want to go and serve with. We had TWENTY SIX people, and the heart and attitude of everybody AMAZED me. blew me away. everyone had such a servant's heart and was so willing to do whatever was asked of them. wether it was t-barry cleaning some nasty pooooo out of a hole in the streets, or Sarah, Faith, and Phillip Kelly unloading and bagging food in a hot truck to hand out to people on the streets, to Tyler and Josh just serving it up talking to homeless people and praying for them. This team was amazing. When you took a look at our team and then the other churches that were there, you knew our heart. You could see that this wasn't our first rodeo, that we were accustomed to serving it up and came from a church that has a heartbeat for the hurting.

Before we left, we had prayer every morning at 6 for a month our from the trip. First of all, can i tell you how amazing it is that a a bunch of high school kids are willing to sacrifice their sleep for a month of their summer to go and pray and prepare to go and serve, We have the most amazing youth group. no lie.
Anyway, I could just really see the prayers of unity and safety working while we were there. There was no fighting and barely any complaning. Not even with 6 girls in a tiny old hospital room with bunk beds, a sheet and a pillow, annnddd NO AC. yeah, Glory has to go to God. Instead of complaining about some of the small things, we saw it as a chance to grow.
Not to mention, we got to spend a day at the Santa Monica Pier and the beach, and a little shopping. Got to drive down Rodeo drive, Some of our people met Hannah Montana, and see some of the highlights of the city.

great trip, here are some pictures. . .


lauren and I on the roof of the dream center.


man sleeping on the santa monica beach

sarah spitting some spanish to a man to invite him to church and get a free meal

this woman was just sleeping in the park we were walking in

- We did a lemonade outreach, just like our good old water outreaches. this was one of my favorites, felt like home. Paul held up this sign and counted how many honnks we got throughout the outreach

yeahyaaaa, >4

This is Sir William. we met him while walking down Hollywood Blvd. and got to talk to him for awhile. i love hearing people's life stories. even got to hook him up with some yogurt and a hot dog.

Basically, i thought i would let everybody know that HPC was well represented by this group of crazy young people who are obsessed with Jesus.
I learned so much about ministry and life. i would go back in a heartbeat

BUT the big question is. . . where to next?