It is now nearly the end of 2009. I recently sent out my Christmas letter to family and a few friends. Here it is, in its entirety:
2009 has been a busy year for me! I began the year still working at FedEx Office in Turlock, and leading worship for the CGCC college group and Sunday mornings at Denair Friends Church. In January the worship band I led played at a Jr. High/High School retreat in the mountains. It was a great time to become closer as friends, and we had a wonderful time with the Lord there also. We ended up recording a few songs after we came back, which was a lot of fun. We also got a chance to play a few more times outside of our normal college group gig, and we always had a great time.
I was fortunate enough to get out on a few hikes this year including Half Dome and the Hetch Hetchy area in Yosemite, and Mt. Tallac (overlooking Tahoe). I also got a bit of time outdoors at the annual Donner Lake family reunion, though most of that was spent on the golf course... Not that I am complaining. I was lucky enough to be a part of two weddings of close friends this summer, and both of those experiences were wonderful.
In July I began transitioning out of my role in the band and college group, with the intention of being completely finished within 2 months. In August I traveled to Cambodia for two weeks. It was by far the best experience of my life. I made new friends on the trip, and experienced amazing things. It definitely changed me in good ways, and I would love to go back someday. I made an effort on that trip to not say no to anything... I was able to experience more and do things that made me a bit uncomfortable (in a good way).
Shortly after I came back I was offered a position at a Friends church plant in downtown Sacramento and I decided to say yes to that. Inside of two months I moved in with Kristin and Andrew in Elk Grove, transferred to a position at a FedEx Office near their home, and began working with the church plant downtown. It has been a crazy time of transition. It was very hard to leave people and situations in Turlock, but I feel like I am doing what I am supposed to. I was able to spend Thanksgiving with wonderful friends in Turlock, and my cousin John was even able to join me. My mom and dad will be joining us here this Christmas, and I am very excited! I am sure things will continue to change in the new year, and I am eager to see what God has in store. I hope your Christmas is amazing, and that your new year is full of wonderful times with good people and the Lord.
Anyways, that's how my year went. Hopefully this year I will be more consistent about my blogging. Peace!
