Road Trip: Part One, Escape to LA

Tomorrow at 4:30am I will be playing the ultimate game of tetris, as I try to fit and eventually cram everyone's luggage into three rental vans. My teammates, Jamie and Derrik, and myself will be driving 17 UCCS students to sunny California for their spring break. I hope I survive.

This year's trip is really unique. Our theme is "Super-Cali-Fellowship," with an emphasis on the fellowship. 1 John 1:7 says, "If we walk in the light as he is in the light, we have fellowship with one another, and the blood of Jesus purifies us from all sin." Over the next seven days we will learn what real fellowship is through devotionals, service projects, and playing on the beach.

This entire trip has been bathed in prayer and the students are thinking about more than coming back with a tan. I really believe they are excited to take Jesus into Los Angeles and take steps forward in their personal fellowship with God and with others. I can only imagine our love for each other will be tested by the first brave soul who nervously asks, "Can we stop? I have to go to the bathroom." I hope we don't have an casualties due to small bladders. What a sad way to go.

I found this website designated to praying for L.A. I printed out some of their prayer points to give to students, because, well, shoot, I bet people in L.A. have a better idea of what to pray for! I'd love for you to join me in praying some of these things in addition to things like safety driving, unity, and well, sanity.

Pray for L.A.

1. A revival in Los Angeles

Pockets of people seek God as best they can, yet the majority of the city sleeps. We need to wake up! We need to be revived! We need to have the sleep rubbed from our eyes.

2. Pray for "prodigals" to return home

Prodigal people are recklessly extravagant. They leave wisdom behind and expend all their resources wastefully. Many in Los Angeles have become a prodigal generation. Many have left God to pursue the things of this world.

3. Conquering spiritual strongholds

A stronghold is a place of security. There are strongholds for both Christ and Satan. In Los Angeles, many strongholds are obvious and many are hidden. Therein lies much danger. Since Los Angeles impacts the world, the strongholds here are indeed strong and massive.

(These were taken from http://www.prayforla.org/ visit me for more info!)

I'm excited to spend time with the students, especially some of the girls in the ministry that I really want to invest in, but, alas, I lack the time. I'm sure a 20hour road trip will do wonders for our relationships.

Cactus garden at The Getty Center overing looking a smoggy day in Los Angeles.