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When it comes to hospitality one country that has it down is Spain, according to one of our own students, Brianne McCuistion. She went to Spain as an exchange student her junior year and was nervous about not making friends, but the friends she has developed have become close and very dear.

Brianne had a few surprises once she reached her destination in Villaviciosa, Astorias a city of 14,360 people, “I expected to use, ‘usted’, ‘senor’ and ‘senora’ (all formal titles used for those in authority) but they called their teachers by their first names as well as their parents. To me that was weird.”

Brianne had always expressed that she was interested in other cultures even as a child, but her desire to live out her interests came out on paper one day. “When I was a freshman my dad asked me to think about my future and what I wanted to do. I wrote a timeline out and I placed the option of going to Spain my sophomore or junior year. I like the language very much and the idea of staying in a different county really enchanted me,” said Brianne.

This led Brianne and her family to contact AFS, American Field Services, which is an organization that prepares school students for the different cultures, and prepares them for the exchange student experience. The organization does this so that the students can best represent their country.

Brianne loves being an exchange student, even though it was lonely at first. “I did feel isolated from my family. My year in Spain has been a wild ride. The first thing that hit me was the change in ‘family’. My family is extremely important to me; I love them very much and value their opinion. When they were suddenly gone I almost shut down. In Spain many people tend to yell, shout, scream and any other loud volatile sounds more than I am used to at home. Sometime I feel nervous or even scared to enter the house or leave my room,” said Brianne.

Despite the expense (almost $12,000), Brianne believes it was well worth the price. “Being an exchange student is an awesome experience. I have grown so much. The trip was totally worth it.”

Brianne gets back home July 2, 2010. Her family is excited that she is coming home now.

It’s not everyday that a former Presidential running mate visits the sleepy town of Turlock, California, so you would think the town would be jumping for joy…but not everyone is jumping.

On June 25, 2010, CSU, Stanislaus will celebrate their 50th Anniversary Gala on Friday with a black-tie fundraising event, hosted by the CSU Stanislaus Foundation. The event begins at 6 p.m. with a five-course dinner, and guest speaker former Governor and Presidential running mate, Sarah Palin, finishing up the evening with a dance.

So what’s the problem with that?  People think that the university is going to use public funds to put this event on. Matt Swanson, the president of the California State University Stanislaus Foundation Board of Directors reassures that, “While the gala fundraiser will benefit a public university, no public funds are being used on the gala. Ticket sales and sponsorships are paying for all costs, including Gov. Palin’s speaking fee. All net profits from the gala will benefit university programs and student services.”

Nevertheless, the reactions remain mixed. Some Turlock citizen’s remain disgruntled, believing that regular donor dollars have been wastefully allocated, or that scholarship monies have disappeared as a result of the event. Yet, others remain hopeful that a national personality will draw money to the area by way of commerce. A position that Swanson supports, “We engaged Governor Palin because she is a compelling public figure who will help raise money for the university at a time when fundraising is especially difficult.”

Regardless of what people think the event promises to be well attended.  According to Swanson, “The event is sold out and is on target to raise a considerable amount for the university.”

As far as the controversy is concerned, well that’s just politics!

Last Easter was Valentino’s first Easter so we had to do an Easter Egg Hunt. I love Easter Egg Hunts especially when the eggs are hidden well and you have to look hard for them. The harder the hunt the greater the prize that is inside them. That year my friend Angie and her family spent Easter with us and she put money inside a few of them making the prize even greater and the desire to find it more intense.

It made me wonder, how hard do I seek after Jesus and his will in my life? Sometimes we ignore the desire to investigate God. What would it be like if we read the Bible expecting to find an egg on every page?

There was one egg that had $10 in it, but Angie had buried it. My older sister, Tonya, found it and she was excited. God, however, does not hide his truth, but the joy should still be the same. The satisfaction of finding something that you worked hard to discover.

Seeking God is more than just reading the Bible but as the song says, “It’s how you lived.” When you seek after God you are striving to be like him. In Psalm 119:2 we read, “Blessed are they who keep his statutes and seek him with all their heart.”

Seeking him doesn’t have to be as difficult as searching for well hidden eggs either. Deuteronomy 4:29 says, “But if from there you seek the LORD your God, you will find him if you look for him with all your heart and with all your soul.”

Do not give up searching for Jesus our golden egg, He’s right in front of you.

• What have you found out about God that surprised you?

• Try reading a passage of scripture and remain open to find the egg God has for you in its pages today.

With Valentine’s Day here and gone, the question of true love comes to mind, especially with all the “chick flick” movies currently featured at nearby multiplexes. One of my favorites is A Walk to Remember.

The two main characters in the movie, a boy, Landon Carter, and a girl, Jamie Sullivan, are two opposites who can barely stand being near each other. But Carter’s need to practice in the school play forces the two together and love ensues. But Carter’s infatuation with her beauty and talent becomes so much more. Carter learns that Jamie has a terminal illness. Carter’s love grows deep. He becomes selfless and unconditional in his love for Jamie. He goes to his father who was a doctor for help and stays by her side when she is hospitalized.

This movie made me think about God’s love that is to be shown through actions and not words alone. In 1 John 3:18 it says, “Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth.” In the movie Landon builds a telescope into the night so that Jamie can fulfill another one of the things she wants to do before she dies.

It comes down to will. Will you love this man or women? My dad says, “You choose to love someone and you are lucky if you have a loving feeling.” John 3:16 “For God so loved the world that he gave his one and only Son, that whoever believes in him shall not perish but have eternal life.” This shows that God has love, but it says nothing about feeling.

You show love when you give your mom a hug in the morning, listen to them when they have been brought down. You express love by calling unexpectedly to see how they are feeling when they are sick. I see love from my friend, Angie, who cares for her oldest daughter who has diabetes. At three in the morning Angie has to get up and make sure that her daughter got the shot she needed. Her love is a sacrifice.

Sure it’s fun to watch some of the silly love stories that hit the theater this time of year, but in the end love is really more than kissing, holding hands, saying mushy lines, it is about connecting on a level that is not whishy washy. It means having intelligent conversations that you can not have with anyone else.

My dad has often expressed that he did not marry his girlfriend, but his best friend. Love is to build, bring out the best in others, and to gently correct their flaws. Love is an action that should not be taken lightly.

For those with boyfriends and girlfriends look at him or her and ask yourself, “Are you building this person up or setting him or her up to be crushed?” For those who are thinking about marriage, “Are you marrying your best friend?”

When it comes to love, you want your walk to be one that’s worth remembering.

Last Christmas I got an awesome early Christmas present…his name was Valentino. When I was younger I always wanted a sibling that was a lot younger than me; I like holding babies. My nephew was a dream came true for me, but his arrival was not part of God’s best for my brother and his fiancée, Tina. Valentino was born out of wedlock.

When we found out about the pregnancy my parents counseled that even though their premarital act was sin, they shouldn’t commit another sin by killing their baby through abortion. It reminded me of how often we as humans find it easier to cover up our sins.

Take King David for example. King David committed adultery with Bathsheba and displeased the Lord further by having her husband, Uriah, killed and taking Bathsheba as his wife. When Nathan confronted King David of his sins, he did not try to deny it and have Nathan killed too. David repented of his sins and came to be known as a man after God’s own heart.

Personally covering up our sins might seem easier than having them exposed. But there’s a better way. This time of year we remember the birth of our Savior, who came to take away our sins and throw them “as far as the east is from the west” Psalm 103:12.

Christmas has become a time when I thank God for his love and his mercy, because without that, I would not be able to enjoy my little boy who is just now learning to walk.

Has there been a time when you thought you needed to cover up a sin?

Maybe this Christmas is your time to come before the Lord and confess your sins. Let God wash you “as white as snow.” Isaiah 1:18.

Tis’ the season to send sweets to your friends and help those in need at the same time. Candy cane sells begin December 7-11 during lunch. You can buy as many as you want for .50 cents each, and include a saying or jingle on the card provided to send to the person of your choice. These “sweet grams” will then be delivered by senior volunteers. This 20-year tradition has allowed TC faculty and students to donate funds to help the needy in our community.

“One year we gave the money to a man who had a brain tumor and it was a real blessing for the family because the gift was unexpected,” said Tony Campos, fundraiser co-leader. Mrs. Piper, advisor for the fundraiser, reminisced of a similar story. “Years ago, the seniors blessed a single mom. She was so surprised and delighted, that she shared a portion with another single mother.”

This year the group hopes to raise $150 to impact the lives of those in need.

“Passing, passing, passing,” is the mantra coming from Varsity Soccer Coach Mike Burnam. The new soccer coach’s goal is to win eleven out of twenty four games. Of course they want to go to playoffs, and both Team Captain Kyron Loving and Coach Burnam are optimistic about their chances. But the Turlock Christian Eagle Boy’s Soccer team is doing more than play a game, they are learning about life.

Last month the team decided to forfeit a game due to unfair calls on behalf of the referee, believing it was a matter of principle. After that the Eagles lost two more games, but made a comeback playing Delhi with a 1-0 win. Loving says, “You can’t give up on life just like in the game.”

Another challenge the team had to overcome is getting past the football handicap. “The team has a culture of football,” explained Burnam. “In football the main concept is to go forward, but in soccer you sometimes need to go backwards. That is all part of the game.”

Kyron and Coach Burnam both feel that, overall, the team has improved and has potential. Coach Burnam noticed the freshmen are working hard, and that Nick has improved his over all game. Also exhibiting strength is Erick Amaya, proving to be a strong goalie. Jonathan Boren on defense, and forward, Loving, are also having a good season.

Although Burnam wants to teach them how to play like winners, it’s more about technique. “Passing is the key for playing an excellent game,” he says.
Since having a good attitude also part of a winning game Coach Burnam is asking the boys to reconcile with their teammates if any conflict arises between them. “I want them to handle problems between each other the ‘Bible way’. I don’t want them to come straight to me, but go to the person they have a conflict with, and try to work it out on their own first.”

Sometimes though the scoreboard doesn’t show a teams’ transformation. After a tough battle with Denair under the lights resulting in a score of Denair winning 2-1, Coach Burnam stood proud. “They are improving on trusting each other on the soccer field and even though we didn’t win tonight we played a good game.”

Mission trips in general are great to go on. Geoffrey Retemyer says, “They put you out of your comfort zone so God can use you to serve others.”

This past summer a team of Turlock Christian students traveled with Students International serving for two weeks the people of the Dominican Republic.

For Kristin Tillotson, who worked with preschoolers on the trip, this was her first time serving with Students International. She was amazed by the disparity of behaviors between U.S. children and those of the DR, “They weren’t afraid of a thunder storms, but once we closed the windows they got cabin fever,” she said.

Mrs. Piper, who attended last year, also worked with the preschoolers and helped out in the hospital. She says, “I have always been fascinated by medicine, so being in the hospital, operating room was very comfortable for me. If I ever decide to leave teaching, I think I’d like to be a mid-wife.”

One student found that sometimes serving means tapping into your existing skills for God’s use. Retemeyer, who played third base for the TC Baseball team was able to use his talent on the mission field. “The most memorable thing that happened to me was having the opportunity to play baseball with the Dominican kids everyday and just hanging out with them for two weeks.”

Sometimes though the students found themselves being stretched beyond their abilities for instance Tillotson thought that she would not be able to eat anything, and have a hard time communicating, even though she has had three years of Spanish. But after awhile she adjusted, enjoying the food and the language.

Morgan Andre who went on the DR trip and helped out in the art site painting murals. “The trip humbled me and showed me how selfish I was and helped me to be thankful for things like school and not to complain much,” says Andre.

Mrs. Piper, who at first worried about things like sleeping on the floor and bugs, found her cultural biases were challenged. “I didn’t realize how much not speaking Spanish would trouble me. I mean, knowing laves los manos, doesn’t cut it! I had always resented hearing Spanish in Turlock, waiting to dial 1 for English, and on things like documents. After going to the DR, I now hear Spanish as God’s language of love. It is a beautiful language and the people of the DR are dearly loved by God.”

Students who attended DR Trip:

Morgan Andre, Zach Bailie, Megan Brown, Laurie Ford, Oliver Greenbarg, Jeannie Hamilton, Kyle Horjus, Anders Jerner, Kurt Lemos, Kyron Loving, Emily MacLaren, Jason Mast, Haley Meyer, Alana Navarro, Geoffrey Retemeyer, Hiliary Sharp, Corey Souza, Kristen Tillotson, Jacob Williams, Daniel Wright, Garret Yagi.