My Hunt for the Donald Miller's New Book

Donald Miller, Author of "Blue Like Jazz" has a new book coming out this fall. This book has yet been published and he is going to be having a book tour this September. Before he publishes the book, Don thought it would be fun to have a book hunt for some of the manuscripts.

Don has printed 60 individual copies of his new book and has placed them in 60 different locations all around the sates. As I fallow him on Twitter I have found out that he is giving two locations a day with a small hint to find the manuscript. Today is the story of one of the California locations:

It started as I woke up at 7:40AM to check the @donmilleris twitter account to see where today's location was. As I noticed it was in California and near my city (it was in Azuza) I decided to go on the hunt.

I left the house around 8:00 and traveled in an Hour worth of traffic until I arrived at APU. After getting to the University I was looking for the book. As Don sent more hints through twitter I noticed they were picture hints. I was unable to look at them on my phone since I do not have Internet, so I decided to go find Internet to see the picture. I asked APU to help me out and they did. I was able to see the picture from one of their computers. I noticed that the picture most likely lead me to the bookstore so that is where I went to go look.

When I got to the bookstore I noticed there were like 25 other people in there looking for it too. Well, with major luck I was able to spot the book before they did and I got it! Yeah that is right, I found one of the 60 manuscripts that Don Miller wrote for his new book, to be clear it was number 24.

This was the journey that I had this morning as I started my day. What a story for my kids! Peace, all

-Peace, Pat

It's about time....

So it is about time that I write another blog....It has been almost three weeks since I have been home since my fun summer in PA. A lot has taken place since I have been back in California. One thing is that my fight with humidity is over (praise God). I am not the biggest fan of 90 degree weather, however its way better than what was in PA.

Since I have been back, I have had three friends stay over that are not from California. One of them was Alex (yes the host brother that I spent my summer with). He was able to come out for a week, and we spent sometime together. Although that was not his reason fro coming we did spend time and that was great! He loved it, at least I hope he did :)

After he left, I had two friends spend four days with me. One of them, her name is Emily, is going to the Czech Republic for a year to teach English. She was staying in Cali for training, and then her boyfriend Dru, came out here for her days off before she left. It was such a blast having them come out. Be praying for Emily that God would use her and protect her. Also pray for Dru as he will have to be apart from her for a long time.

Work is going well for me. I was transferred to another store and was able to get some hours, so that is great! School does not start until the end of September so I have some time on my hands. I will continue to update my blog and let the world and my fans know what I am doing. If any of you want to meet and talk about my trip, I would love to share more about it so just e-mail me or give me a call.

Things to Pray for: Continue to pray for all the people I was able to reach in PA and that God will continue to keep us close. Also pray for Emily and Dru, I will post her blog soon.

-Peace, Pat

MHC

MHC camp was in Ohio. The camp was located 45 minutes outside of Dayton. I was there for 8 days, and I was asked to be a Counselor. Mike Holland was asked to be one of the main speakers therefore I was asked to come as well. My time out there was fun, as well as important for me in my spiritual walk as well.

I was asked to help lead a devotional group of eleven 16 year old. I was able to help them grow in their walk with Christ as well as help them in their walks in life. I really fell for all the boys there at the camp. They all have had a large part in my heart and I will continue to pray for them daily.

The camp was a lot of fun! We did a lot of cool things with the kids. We played laser tag, bowling, skating, and had some water games too. All of these activities were fun because we bonded with the kids as well as had fun playing.

There is so much that I want to write about my time at MHC but I just can't put it into words. If any of you wish to know about my time, e-mail me or let me know and I would love to tell you about it! Thanks!!

-Peace, Pat

God's work

I have yet to blog about God's work in my life since I have been in PA. He has really been doing a lot in my life and I'm really excited because it has stared to make me really think of my life in a different way. Before I came out here I had an idea of what i wanted to do, but since my time out here I have really been thinking that I don't have a clear idea anymore. It has given me time to think and pray and see what God wants to do with me.

God has also been using me to hear Him more clearly. I have been practicing hearing His voice on a more regular basis. Doing this has really helped me depend on God and it has been teaching me a lot about Him as well. I have really never taken time to do this, however I feel that threw my time here God has really helped me come closer to Him.

My prayer life has also been really encouraged. I have been praying for many people, and God is using me through my prayer life. I have really felt connected to Him in many ways, and to be honest really when I pray with the older people at Grantham church.

Over all, God is teaching me a lot, and my relationship with Him is growing. Continue to pray for me and ask God to help keep me focused on Him and not on other things. Thank you friends, and family for reading this and walking with me in my life!

-Peace, Pat

New York, New York

Well, my time here has been one of great enjoyment. I have been able to do a lot and I have seen a lot as well. It has really been a great time. Yesterday I was able to go to New York. Our main reason for going there was to see the UDC (Urban Discipleship Center) that is located in the heart of the Bronx. This was such a great time! We participated in a VBS that was held in the park. I was able to play basketball with a bunch of boys and then we all went to VBS, it really was a great time.

After the VBS we went back to the main home and we were able to go out and enjoy New York. I took the subway and we went straight to the Statue of Liberty, after some minor issues on the fairy we were able to make our way to Time Square. I was in aw. I had never seen anything like this. Living in LA has some major advantages but even LA does not look like this. I saw where the ball drops at new years and I was also able to see the main parts of New York city. It was so amazing.

We got home really late, it was around 4 in the morning. I also had to be at work at 8, naturally I was a bit late. Today was a good day as well tho. We were able to really get a lot done. We had an orientation for a missions outreach. We visited a local Mosque and we were really able to connect with the small team going out. I have really looked at this missions thing in a different light now. I love serving people, however I really like sending teams out too. This is such a good trip for me!

I can not wait to see how God will continue to use my time here. Amazing summer!!

-Peace, Pat

What a good Day!

Since my last post I was given a great surprise in the mail. When I came home after work on Tuesday I was shocked to see a giant card in the mail with my name on it. Now a giant card is not an overstatement, it was a giant card. To my understanding after I read it, Jeff my best friend, was able to get many people from my life to sign the card and write on it. To be honest when I opened it, I could not read the card my self. I had to get one of my room mates here to do it. She was willing to help, and then that is when the tears started to roll. This was a perfect gift and was completely needed. I want to thank Jeff and everyone at GracePoint for the lovely messages you all wrote. My family also wrote on it so that was so much fun to read.

On another note, which is not to good, my camera broke today. After taking a video I turned it off. Then about 30 min later I opened it again and it would not fully open and now it wont fully close. I'm hooping that Best Buy can fix it...I'm really upset because tomorrow I'm going to New York. I will pray. Well I must end this journal and get started on something else. Thanks again for your prayers and e-mails. All of you are helping me along this journey. Take care my friends!

-Peace, Pat

Happy 4th of July

So yesterday was out Nations Birthday and it was a wonderful one at it. I was able to go out to Mrs. Hollands sisters house and spend the day there with their whole family. There were close to 20 people, we had tons of food, drinks and then watched some local fireworks. The day over all was one that was a lot of fun. The whole Holland family was really nice and helpful in making me feel like family during a time when my family was not with me.

Today the Sunday after the 4th is a really pretty day here in PA. I went to church and meet a lot of cool people. The worship service was really great, the pastor that spoke was someone who I had never meet, but I hope to hear again. He was really powerful.

I can't believe that it has already been 2 weeks since I have been here. These next 4 weeks are going to be fun, yet hard since I know that my days here will soon end.

One thing I forgot to talk about was my Thursday and Friday of this past week. I was able to go down to Chambersburg PA for a Missions training with Priority 1. There I helped send of a team of 12 to both the Bahamas and Canada. Megan, a member of my youth was there and it was a lot fun to see her since I had not seen anyone from home. I also meet a young man named Russ who really bonded with me fast. He and I shared a lot and I will be praying for him for the years to come.

I will write again soon. Take a look at Facebook, by the end of today I should have pictures up of my weekend! Take care, thanks for the prayers!!

-Peace, Pat

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