I received an email a week ago about a professor at Cal who committed suicide. I clicked on a link to an article and there was a big picture of him on the right side of my screen; he had a smile on his face. As I read the article, my heart broke. People who knew him wrote about how he was a delightful person…talented, enthusiastic, outgoing, down-to-earth, and excited. But according to him, he was depressed. I sat down and prayed right there in my cubicle at work. It was early in the morning and not many people were around. I knew there were people like him all around me – looking chipper on the outside but feeling hollow and depressed on the inside. I know, because I was once like that. I prayed for all those people who have thought about or are thinking about suicide, that God would have mercy on them. I kept thinking about this as I interacted with people that day. This burden kept gnawing at me throughout the week.

At prayer meeting yesterday, I prayed again for those people out there on the Berkeley campus that are like this professor. God is the only one that knows who they are, and I prayed that somehow they would come to know Jesus. I hope to find those people so I can tell them about the hope I have found in Jesus. Indeed, apart from God, the Author and Source of life, the world seems so dark and cold. I want to continue praying for those people who seem to have lost all hope in themselves and this world… that one day, they would be able to experience life where God is their hope and Heaven is their destiny.

I met an old man who was a World War II vet, who served with the Navy in the Pacific, from 1941-47. He wasn't a crabby, crusty old guy. On the contrary, he was very pleasant and had a nice smile. "You know," I said, "I consider you and your generation heroes for responding to the nation's call and going overseas." With the humility characteristic of his generation, he said, "Only some of us were heroes--those of us who didn't come back." It was a moment in our conversation, and we talked about family, people he loved, our rich nation full of poor individuals who don't know how to have relationships, and much more.

Thinking about this man, standing on a Navy ship in a sharp white uniform, fighting in a war whose outcome would determine the course of history, and seeing him now, his stooped form in the chair before me, I couldn't help but recognize the brevity of life. Moreover, I realized time is so short to share with people what matters most to us as Christians.

I had been an Impact driver the past several months. But I wasn't a team lead, and didn't know a lot of the kids very well. On the SF Zoo trip, I joined one of the teams, led the children from place to place, and walking with the kids, I was struck by how trusting they were and how eager they were to form bonds. One girl who had gone to the Joyland FTS Retreat was telling me about her experience. She told me how much she had learned about God and sin. I couldn't believe she could remember so much from a retreat that seemed so long ago. She told me how much she loved Joyland and really liked learning more about God. I couldn't help but be struck that this was coming from a child who just a couple months ago didn't have any idea about God, but is now enjoying Joyland and Impact, and is there to learn about God and form friendships.

As an Element staff member, I proudly watched our 8th to 12th graders spend the whole year working hard to raise money for their summer mission trip to Ensenada, Mexico. Every student going was able to get significant subsidies toward the total cost of the trip! We went with the well-known organization “Youth with a Mission” and with the theme of “Detox” we spent the first few days hearing the word of God through messages and devotions – and the praise just rocked! Our students were also trained in skits and the Mexican culture, and we were ready for outreach! We presented the gospel to people in the city, worked with a local church to put on a children’s program, visited an orphanage, and even spent time at a drug rehabilitation center. Overall, we were blessed to be the hands and feet of God to engage the world lovingly. Oh, and we miss the amazing tacos!