Grace

Hello to all!

Greetings once again from the Academy! It has been such a long time since I have written. I decided I should write a nice complete blog to update everyone on what is happening here at the Academy as well as take this opportunity to post some photos I've taken since I've been here. I enjoy photography and was given the opportunity to use a very nice camera and I took the chance.

Truly I have enjoyed my stay at the Honor Academy. I have really come to love the family, the community, and the spirit of Teen Mania. I feel like I have been very blessed in the past five months. I know I will continue to grow as I finish my full year, and that God will continue to guide my steps.

I think I really enjoy the attitude that many have here to just serve God and seek after him. You can often find people reading their Bible and sometimes just singing together.

I love to talk to those who are deep in thought and spark a conversation about what God has done and is doing. What they have been learning and how they have been applying it. I just like the atmosphere of a family.

I feel like God has been teaching me so much too, sometimes I feel like this whole year is a crash course. Many things I thought were important seem of little importance to me, and vice versa. I've noticed how much God has yet to change in me.

I realized that many areas I thought I had completely mastered I had only begun to scratch the surface of. As the months have rolled by I've found so many issues that needed to be settled within me.

As I found myself struggling with many unsettled issues, at first I wondered if the Academy was doing more damage than good. After all, I seemed to be well-off before I came. I found the opposite to be true. There is so much inside of me that has come to the surface but has been in my heart all along. It's amazing to see what comes out when we are under pressure.

I'm so thankful for the opportunity to change and grow and see those areas within me that need work. I've got a long way to go and I'm still learning to apply those things which have been taught to me.
I have learned so much not only from the classes, but from the day-to-day opportunity I have to apply all the lessons that are taught to me.

I find I'm most thankful for God's grace and compassion in my life. He has miraculously provided for me! I recently hit a deadline and I was going to need to go home on a fund raising trip, and then $1,000 were anonymously put into my account so that now I am able to stay another two months. God has even provided for my clothes, and every need that I've had. I'm really learning to trust God completely even when the situation feels hopeless.

I believe at times we find ourselves "unworthy" for God to do anything in our lives; at least I know I did. We fail to realize there is nothing we can do to merit his favor. It is Christ that the Father sees in our place and is well-pleased. We are made worthy only through the Lamb.

God has given me the opportunity to take computer classes in Dallas which have been hosted by Teen Mania. It was an amazing learning opportunity and experience. I can't thank God enough for everything He has been doing in my life.

In the middle of finances, and personal growth, I've been set up as the Assistant Core Adviser in my room, which is a position of leadership in my room. Leading a room with four other guys that have totally different personalities is sometimes a challenge, yet such a growing experience. I really am attempting to model correctly for others to follow as well as making myself available to them.

We've been working hard at Teen Mania to continue to reach our generation. Everyday we make hundreds of phone calls encouraging pastors, youth groups, and individuals to do their part in reaching our generation. The BattleCry events are growing and more and more people are coming to know Jesus Christ as their personal Lord and Savior.

I am amazed to watch my roommates and friends call day in and day out. It is amazing to hear some of the individual stories of how God moves and touches a person during a phone call, and they are encouraged to continue to go on.

I feel privileged to be working in IT. We have a lot to do, but I love it. Not only do am I acquiring experience in the field, but I know I am making a difference for the kingdom of God.

I am praying for all of you to the best of my abilities. I have seen God move and answer prayers and I am excited for the things that He is bringing to the body of Christ. I would love to hear your prayer requests so that I can keep you all in prayer. Feel free to e-mail me.

Thank you so much for supporting me in prayer and financially! I am indebted to all of you for the growth I am experiencing here and I cannot thank you all enough.

In Christ,
Pablo Aizpiri

ESOAL 2006

Hello Everyone,

I pray all is well for all of you! Here at the Honor Academy we're moving right along and recently finished ESOAL. I am learning many, many new things and God is teaching me to humble myself before Him and seek Him like never before.

ESOAL, (Emotionally Stretching Opportunity of A Lifetime), was incredible! Not just because it was the longest ESOAL that the Honor Academy hosted, but because of the lessons learned through it. During ESOAL, we were placed under very stretching situations, really challenging all sorts of areas of our lives, especially emotionally. We were allowed to "ring out" at any time, but we knew that the through perseverance we would learn much. It is amazing how much one can learn through series of physical, tiring, and repetitive tasks!

I feel that the top 3 biggest lessons I learned in ESOAL were in teamwork, perseverance, and trust. I realized how I would have not made it if it was not for the unity and encouragement of my team. I realize this even more so having finished ESOAL, once I realized I was the only guy in my core, (which includes 2 rooms), to have completely finished ESOAL. I realize how important unity, teamwork and encouragement are now and I try to apply those principles everyday.

Everyday going through hard physical challenges, and working under little sleep, I thought I would never make it. But every day continuing forward, and realizing God's grace was enough for me, I made it. Perseverance really paid off. I have a whole new concept of perseverance now, and I am so glad I did persevere to the end of ESOAL.

Finally, I believe my biggest lesson was in trust. I learned to trust God more as I realized the whole event was in His hands. Not just this event, but my life too. It's one thing to say it- but totally completely different to have this become a revelation to me and a part of me. I find myself praying God's will over all of my desires now, even if it involves stepping out of my comfort zone I almost look forward to challenges, because with this new trust in God I realize that through challenges we can learn much.

I am so glad to be here at the Academy and so thankful for all of you supporting me in prayer and financially. I pray God would continue to bless you all and guide all of you in His steps. Feel free to write to me or call me! I look forward from hearing from all of you!

In His Grip,
Pablo

Life is precious.

Hello Everyone,


About two nights ago I had an eventful evening that I don't think I will ever forget. Me and my friend Barry decided to go to Wall Mart to get some items we needed. Barry would go get his grape juice and myself some stamps and a belt. We would be back in 20 mins. Or so we thought.

Me and Barry left at around 9 pm for Wall Mart, which is about a 15 min drive from the Honor Academy. We were talking about our testimonies, and trusting God, it was almost ironic that these were our topics. As we got off the highway and turned into a 6-lane road, we see a truck with an extremely long trailer begin to also turn into the road and head to the far left. Once it was there, it began to slow down and we thought it was about to turn to the left across the street. All the while we were beginning to speed up turning into this road.

All of a sudden the truck begins steering to the right, and hence the trailer began blocking all 3 lanes. Me and Barry were on the far right lane, in his coupe, and at this point confused but reacting quickly to being closed in, Barry slammed on the brakes. We were well-under the speed limit, but it was raining, and it felt as if he never did. He slammed the steering wheel to the right and with only about a few feet left before we collided Barry closed his eyes, and we hit the trailer.

I was watching all of this, in unbelief-it didn't seem real. At the same time for some reason I felt calm, and I saw Barry doing all of this, and the windows on his side shatter. Thank God he was not cut in any way except his finger.

We we're both OK for most part, or so we felt- just really shook up. It was later that I realized I hit my left leg against the dashboard and Barry apparently has a hurting neck at the moment. I'm feeling much better today, and I think I will be alright. I think Barry should get his neck checked out, but other than that he seems to be fine.

After speaking with the police, he mentioned we could of gone under the trailer. It was good Barry had made that hard right, or I don't think we would of been here. As I walked up my dorm with him, I realized we could both be standing in God's presence. I was awestruck. For a moment, I want to say the thought was almost comforting. I can't wait to meet my saviour. But yet I thought of my work here on earth, and how I know God has laid out for my life. I wouldn't want to meet God without having done what He has called me to do.

I believe one of the reasons why I was so calm during the accident was because I realized I was in the middle of God's will-and that is the safest place. Being in God's will, I knew I would not die unless that was His specific will. I had a peace which I felt during the whole ordeal, realizing God is not finished with me on this earth.

At the same time, I have a totally different perspective to life. I feel a lot closer [than before] to Barry, and I feel like I have no time to waste. God's heart is people, and we must do everything in our power to bring them closer to Him. May His will reign in our lives, and may we do everything in our power to spread the Gospel, and the love of Jesus Christ. Persevering and fighting the good fight of faith until the end.

In His Grip,
Pablo

Greetings from the Honor Academy!

Hello everyone!

I want to start this newsletter by thanking and praising God for all He’s done! I also want to thank all of you that have been part of my ministry here by supporting me through prayer, finances, and both- your support is very much appreciated!

I am so excited to begin to relate what God is doing here. I’m glad to find some time to write down all this- our schedule is packed! Beginning at 4:45 am we wake up and do corporate exercises from 5-6 am we then have breakfast, showers, a quiet time and we’re off to our ministry placement and/or classes. God has blessed me with the opportunity to work under Information Technologies, as a web developer. I am learning much about the IT field, something I’ve wanted to do for a long time, and at the same time I am also learning much from the classes here.

God has been breaking me and revealing things in my life I never before knew were even there. He is molding me and shaping me and establishing me in solid ground! (Psalms 1) This month at the Honor Academy has been stretching, to say the least, but it has been one of the fastest growth periods in my life. It’s amazing how God can take situations that we view negatively and completely turn them around for His benefit. Through everything I’m experiencing here at the Academy, God has been showing me how to become steadfast in Him, seek Him diligently, and hunger for Him. I have learned to grab hold of God and not let go, I realize I cannot make it another day without Him.

During this coming month there is more ahead. Among the various LTE’s- (Life Transforming Events)- here, God is shaping our perspective. The most recent coming up now is the Fasting LTE where we will seek God in prayer and fasting for His guidance. Also coming up soon is ESOAL, (Emotional Stretching Opportunity of a Lifetime), which I believe we will be a time in which we will be physically, and emotionally tested and humbled. I have to admit I’m a little anxious, yet trusting in God for His direction and will. I pray I will get exactly what God wants me to get out of it.

I would like to close up by saying that I am extremely blessed to be here. I wouldn’t be here without the help of all of you who support me or have done so both financially and in prayer. God is opening doors and I am learning to trust Him for my provision. I ask for your prayers towards my life in the areas of trust, guidance, obedience, and sensitivity in the spirit towards God. I will continue to keep all of you in prayer and look forward to writing again soon and hearing from all of you!

God Bless!
Pablo Aizpiri