Come and listen...

Hola mis amgios,

I know I have not updated in a while. I have just been busy with school and Praise God that this semester is over with. I now officially have 2 more semesters in my college career. Woot...Woot!! I have to honestly say that I am just blown away and overwhelmed with the grace, mercy, and unfailing love of Our Abba Father. He is just flippin awesome and amazing! I cannot comprehend of how many times I screwed up and God just welcomed me back in His family with open arms. Gloria a Dios! I am very thankful for what He has done in my life and what He will be doing in my life. He has got me through the past almost 7 years of school. He poured down His incredible strength on me to get through each day. It is because of Him I am alive and breathing today. Gloria a Dios! And when I least expected it, God sent an unbelievable woman in my life. It is actually funny and rockin of how we met. A little over 6 weeks ago one of my friends from LU called one Saturday afternoon and told me that she has a friend that she wanted to hook me up with. I actually could not believe me ears. I told my friend Jessica that she knows how I feel about dating right now in my life and I do not know about "getting hooked up." So, Jessica told me to just look her friend (Jamie Benedict) on facebook. I did what she asked and Jamie later confirmed our friendship on facebook a couple of hours later or so. We started talking on facebook chat for a day or so, then we went to talking on instant messenger for another couple of days, then we finally moved to the phone. We had phone conversations of 2 hours, then 3 hours, then 4 1/2 hours. I have to say that I have never met or known a person of the opposite sex that can talk with me that long. Our conversations were not awkward at all. We actually had things to talk about. It was great and rockin!! We talked on the phone every night and it was also rockin. And then it came to one random day where Jamie had a spontaneous idea. The great and spontaneous idea was to finally meet each other after almost 4 weeks of talking on the phone. My first response was yes, then I started being analytical and told her that I had my 2 last finals in 4 days. After we got off the phone I started thinking and praying about it and finally decided that I would take that spontaneous trip to Winston-Salem, NC to finally meet the woman that I had been talking to. It was a great place to meet because my brother, Eric Barbour lived there and such. We finally met each other and I have to tell you that I think I met a woman who was walking around in my dreams. She looked differently in person. She looked very beautiful and lovely. We decided to go and get coffee in downtown Winston-Salem. Of course we both got Fair Trade Coffee and talked for two hours or so. It was something else looking into her beautiful eyes. After that we went and walked in a few stores and art galleries and even watch some of the Christmas parade. It was a great way to kick off the night. We went back to Barbour's house, at pizza, talked, and played wii. I am pretty sure I beat her on bowling by 3 points. Rock it on! After that day things have been very great. We are now officially dating and I have to honestly say that Jamie Benedict is the most amazing person I have ever met on this earth. I have never met anyone who had the same childhood experience as I did, and the same passions that I have; especially for missions and Africa. Every day I learn new things about her and realize we have so much in common and it feels like I have known her forever. I appreciate her friendship and our relationship. I honestly feel that my relationship with Jamie is the most God-centered one that I have ever had. God is the center of ALL our conversations. I pray that He continues to be the center of our relationship. I am still amazed of how God allowed Jamie and I to meet. She is one rockin chica. I think Jamie is one of the very few persons that actually and truly understands my heart and passions in life. Praise God for that!! I just wanted to share a story with you all of how God is just incredible, amazing, and awesome!!! Thank you for allowing me to share with you all. I give Our Abba Father all the praise and glory!! Amen. Ciao mis amigos.

-Chandler