This is it! My last week at UNM starts now. It is still surreal to think that so soon I will be leaving the people and campus that I love so dearly. As I am taking some time to reflect, I am also preparing for my “Last Lecture”. I have the opportunity to address our last Nav Night on Wednesday to humbly pass on the lessons that I have learned over of the past years. One thing that I hope to pass on is the importance of priorities. In Matthew 6:33, Jesus says to his followers, “Seek first [God’s] kingdom and his righteousness, and all these things (physical needs) will be given to you as well” (parentheses mine). It is important to not only have good priorities, but to know your priorities and evaluate them. As I look back on my college years, I am glad I had people in my life to help me choose right priorities, as well as challenge me when I was not living according to my stated priorities.
As I am wrapping up the school year, I am both saddened and excited. I am incredibly sad to be leaving my New Mexico family. A lot has happened in my time here, and I am so very grateful for this past year of ministry. Spending a year investing in college students is one of the most enjoyable and fulfilling things I have ever done. Seeing growth in the guys I am meeting with one-on-one, the guys in my Bible study, and everyone in our ministry encourages me that UNM will be just fine without me. This leads me into the excitement coming up in my future. For anyone that doesn’t know, I will be working with students this summer in Colorado at the regional Summer Training Program (STP). This starts at the end of the month and will take me through the end of July when I move to Grand Forks, North Dakota to begin medical school. I have been greatly impacted by STPs in the past, attending as both a student member and student leader. This summer I will have the opportunity to work as Navigator staff discipling (mentoring) the student leaders, as well as helping the program to run smoothly for everyone.
Spending a summer in the beautiful Colorado mountains may be one of the easiest sacrifices I have made to date, but it does mean that I will be sticking with the Navigators about as long as possible. Thanks to many of you, I am in a great spot financially to finish well, but I would ask that you continue and even increase your prayer for me. I know this summer it could be easy to mentally transition to medical school prep mode, but this is not what I want! I want to give the students, and my fellow staff, my best. So would you all support me through your prayer that details for my move and transition to medical school work themselves out, so that those things are not pressing on my mind. I also want to give you all the unfortunate news that I do not have plans to return to California until the end of the calendar year. Because of my summer assignment, and a quick five day trip to ND to set up housing and finalize some details for my upcoming move I will be staying east of the Rockies through the summer. You are always welcome to contact me with questions, concerns, or encouragements via: calls, emails, texts, letters, carrier pigeons, and smoke signals (though something might be lost in translation with this method as Albuquerque Springs bring gusting wind). On that note, I am planning on sending out a physical letter soon so if for any reason you think I might need an updated/ current address please follow the link and fill out the form: Address Form.
I am very thankful for you all!
