Well the last few days have been pretty crazy and I havnt been able to update the blog, either the Internet isnt working or im just ehausted. Merry Christmas to you all and I miss everyone back home. Today was a really fun day we went to Pastor George's house for a Christmas meal, and there we Slaughtered a Goat (We video taped it!) Kenyanian families are awesome, the way that families interact is different than in the states. They sit around and eat until you can eat anymore and because there isnt a whole lot to do they sit around and talk. They also walk everywhere so they can eat as much as they want and won't get fat. Yesterday we went to an orphanage and it really was amazing. The kids kept touching paige and I hands and arms because the cant believe the color of our skin (white people are called "Muzungos"). But these kids were absolutely awesome. I would write more but I have to be up early and my Internet time is about to run out. Keep praying for us, mission trips arnt easy

So today was my first day in Kenya and boy has it been an experience! I arrived last night around two O'clock in the morning because my flight from Amsterdam was delayed due to a snow storm. The problem is that when I arrived the other three members of my group had not made it her yet. Paige, Maxwell, and Richard had to land in Germany because of the snow storm and probably wont make it here until Wednesday, so in the mean time im just chillin out. I have now experienced what I want to call "new country syndrome". Basically it means that I got here and was extremely exhausted but because of the change in weather, strange noises outside, the mosquito net that wouldnt stay closed, weird smells and the fact that my friends arent here, I had the hardest time falling a sleep last night. But im about to make up for it in a few hours. Today I went drive around with Pastor George! He is absolutely hilarious. We drove around town for a while and then decided to head out to See part of the Great Rift Valley, which was really cool. What I soon found out is that on Christmas it is Kenyian tradition to slaughter a goat and fix it for dinner. Well guess what we are going to be doing Christmas day, slaughtering a goat. I would say that this Christmas will be quite a bit different from previous ones. Anyway, I thought I was going to die today! When my dad and I went to Costa Rica this summer I thought the drivers there were crazy, they are kinder gardeners compared to the Kenyians! The are absolutely nuts, for an example to day played chicken with an eighteen wheeler and we ended up have to swerve off the side of the road. I was the only one who was on edge in the car, everyone else just laughed. Anyway please pray for Paige, Maxwell and Richard because Chirs McCandless said that life and adventures should be shared and I agree with him.

Hey guys so it has been a while since I have been on here. I have been doing well just in the Mac computer lab at my school, The Macs here run on windows (for those of you who know what that means I think that might be classified as a sin haha). Yesterday as I made my way out of the financial aid office, I came to the conclusion that all financial aid people are in a bad mood all the time, however, I learned that I still have HOPE. You know the scholarship, which is really good news because I swore it was gone forever. Apparently I made a 'B' in my history class last semester which threw me through a loop, but I'm not going to complain.

So last Thursday my grandfather passed from this life to the next. It was the first death in my family that I have had to experience. I learned that funerals are no fun, but they do provide me with questions. Questions such as, is this all real? Am I really saved? Whats going to happen when I die? How is the Gospel affecting my life? I have learned a lot through my grandfathers death, the Gospel as come to life I can now apply it to reality. Before I felt as though I treated the Gospel as just something that I'm studying and I hate to say this but it almost seem like something in just a story book. Its more than that, It's LIFE! I believe that now it has become more alive in my life. Im not saying that now I'm saved, that happened when I was seven, but God's grace is becoming more clear to me. It's amazing to know that even with this body of flesh, God chose us not based on anything that we have done, we didn't choose him. Even when we were all deserved of God's wrath, he sent his son Jesus Christ, God in the flesh to absorb the wrath of sin when he was crucified on the cross so that we may now have eternal life. Not only did he take on all the sins of the world when he was crucified but he defeated sin by rising three days later from the dead. What a savior we serve. Last fall I prayed that God would help me understand and fall in love with the doctrine of grace. Through this past year he has done just that. He helped me understand why we are in such need of his grace, that without it we would be perish. Now through the Holy Spirit and Christ sitting as the mediator on the right hand of the father we can have a relation with a almighty savior. Glory to God!

To those of you who read this, Grace, mercy and peace be with you through our Lord Jesus Christ

So I have been pretty lazy with my blog posts, sorry. God works in mysterious ways and sometimes within our walk with Christ, God throws roadblocks in the way. Due to our sinful nature we are sometimes blinded and don't realize that WE don't make plans God does! But when we are completely consumed and in Love with God's sovereign grace we can take joy in our suffering which we can read in the book of Ephesians is according to the will of our heavenly father. "In him we have obtained an inheritance, having been predestined according to the purpose of him who works all things according to the counsel of his will, so that we who were the first to hope in Christ might be to the praise of his glory." (Ephesians 1:11-12) I have heard so many people say they believe things happen in their lives for a reason, the answer is yes things do happen for a reason because God has his hand in everything we do. Its a humbling thought that I truly have a hard time wrapping my head around but seeing a glimpse of God's glory and majesty puts me on my knees in worship. Our God is an awesome God! 

About a week ago my mother called and asked me to come over because she had something to tell me. To be completely honest, the past few months I have not been honoring my mother the way that she deserves. Through prayer and the Holy Spirit, I knew that I need to spend more time with my mom and love on her. This was three weeks ago, two weeks later when my mom had asked me to come ever I was in the car and knew that either two things had happened; First that she lost her job or second that she has cancer. By the time I pulled into the driveway I knew she had cancer, and sure enough she sat me down on the couch and told me the news, She has cancer. God is sovereign! Because of my moms relationship with God she has taken joy in her sufferings. She has realized that she cant heal herself, only God can! It has been an amazing few weeks. Please be praying for her and if you know her your encouragement would be appreciated. If you are going through trials in your life pray that God may give you understanding and joy that the tomb is empty and we have a risen savior!     

So I know what you are thinking! Is he seriously making a post about Chacos, well the answer is yes, I'm a dork. Last night I went into my dad's room and the first thing that came out of his mouth was "NO SHOES ON THE CARPET!" Of course I'm not going to argue with a cranky father but I began to wonder, am I doing more harm than good by taking off my Chacos in the house? For those of you who are frequent Chaco users, you found out that by the first week or so of wearing this strange "Moses" Sandals that they have this certain stench that is quite unique. Those of who that dont have Chacos, I don't know how to describe the smell in words so... I guess you'll have to take a trip to your local REI and get a pair. They are highly recommend (Channing says they are orthopedic approved). You will have healthy stinky feet. Anyway after a days use of my Chacos, my feet reek and accumulate some nasty junk on the bottom of my foot, I'm not really sure what it is. One night, as I was coming in from work, I took them off and left a black imprint of my foot on the carpet, nasty I know! This is not the most wonderful sight for my dad see as he came in from work. No matter what if I take my Chacos off I hear crap and if I leave them on I hear more crap. So this is my stance on the subject of Chaco cleanliness, taking off your Chacos to help with the tracking in of dirt is a waste of time and actually causing more harm than good! But I would love to hear what you have to say so leave me a comment expressing your opinion...

So I got one of these Blog things! I have never done this before so we will see how it goes. You are probably wondering why the title of my page says Marsh Dweller, well I was trying to come up with a creative title so... I googled the meaning of my name and this certain website stated that the name Carson means "the son of a marsh dweller!" Welcome to my life a Marsh Dweller! Well I'm sitting here at the Daily Grind coffee house drinking their house blend trying to figure out how in the world I'm going to pass my political science test tomorrow morning. Please keep my grades in your prayer as well as every other college student taking finals this week. We are all pretty much freaking out! I never really understood test anxiety until this semester and I have been told that it doesn't get much better. Yesterday I read 2 Peter and was slightly confused. God is sovereign!