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I am in the LA airport now headed to Myrtle Beach! I will be home just in time for mommmas day! I will be in South Carolina for a couple weeks before I leave for summer.

In the past few months I have sought the Lord concerning my future through fasting, prayer and seeking wise counsel, In January, I asked myself some serious questions about my goals, surfing and ministry. I came to a point of surrendering my surfing ambitions to God. After this time of surrender, an opportunity opened to begin training with surf coach Kevyn Dean, one of the best trainers in California. He is also a Christ follower committed to using his influence to lead other surfers to Jesus. Those of you who know me know that I am passionate about two things: Jesus Christ and surfing, in that order. As a follower of Jesus Christ, I believe it is my responsibility to do what I do with excellence. Surfing to me is simply an avenue to reach people for Jesus Christ. To do so, I need to be like the 1924 Olympic Gold Medalist Eric Liddell who said, “God made me fast. And when I run, I feel His pleasure.” For me, “God made me to surf. And when I surf, I feel His pleasure.” I am pursuing a professional career in surfing, and I want to surf by God’s grace and for His glory. The surfing community is a closed community to outsiders. There are many surfers on tour who will not hear the gospel or get to see it close up and relationally unless someone goes to them. In my experience with surfers, it is a me centric industry. Me doing well in contests, me getting all the girls and the money and whatever else comes with this path. My heart is to see people like that come to have faith in Jesus Christ as their Savior and to realize it is not about me, it is about Him. I have used surfing as a platform for the gospel over the past several years. I have spoken to youth groups in Hawaii and Puerto Rico. While in Hawaii this year after surfing Pipeline, I was able to pray with my new friend who lives in Hawaii and happens to be on the Hawaiian surf team. In the mornings, before we would go surf together, he would see me reading my Bible and ask me to read out loud so he could hear too. Jesus taught, "It is not the healthy who need a doctor, but the sick. I have not come to call the righteous, but sinners.” Jesus was hands on, relational, and loved the tax collectors and sinners. God calls us all to go out into the world and make disciples of all nations, and that is exactly what I am doing, a surfboard is simply my pulpit that provides access into the lives of fellow surfers. In June, I start competing on the World Qualifying Series for the pro tour. My pastor, Joey Buran, was a pro surfer. He and I have mapped out five events for me to compete in from June - September. These events are in Peru, Chile, France, Virginia, and Spain. We have budgeted $15,000 to cover airfare, lodging, food, board baggage fees, contest fees, etc. Amongst all of these competing opportunities I am getting to go to Indonesia with a ministry called Surfing the Nations to do local outreach through surfing in July. David Bishop has agreed to serve as my travel mentor and manager. I am asking that you partner with me in prayer and funding for this journey.

WQS

I got back from mexico on sunday and had an excellent time! Praying for that Nation. I am now praying and seeking the Lord for an opportunity this summer. My pastor who was a pro surfer has been showing me some contest on the World Qualifying Series that he suggest I do this summer. I am working on raising funds for all of the events, so that I can be a missionary light on this pro surf tour. If this worked out then I would be going to south america as well as europe to compete, in addition to my indonesia trip with surfing the nations. Please pray that if this is the route needed, for me as my next step that God would make it clear and guide my steps. I am very excited for whatever God is doing in the world, and am excited to be involved and join him where he is. Any way please pray for guidance, as well as patience as I am finishing this semester of school before I can begin the tour. ND

Please pray for me trying to figure and let everything fall into place for next year not being in school after this summer. Just feeling a little anxious for where I will be living, how I will be paying for travel for surf contest and details like that.

Change

Lately I have been really praying and searching to make sure that my dreams and aspirations of surfing are not really mine, but God's and completely are what he has in in store for my life. I had to come to a point where I was not selfishly holding on to my surfing, but came to a point where if God brought me in a direction opposite surfing I would be able to hold with him and be faithful. After much prayer and listening I feel that I need to continue to pursue surfing and be all in, in that direction. Currently my time is divided between school and surfing. After much prayer and thought, I have decided, with my parents backing and support to take the next couple of years off of school so that I can really run with the dream that God has given me. I recently began working with a new coach and physical trainer named Kevyn Dean. He trains a group of competitive surfers in the area and is a strong believer in Jesus. He films a lot of my sessions surfing and helps critique and break down ways to improve. We also do surf related training in the gym. I will continue training with him and try to continue to improve my surfing and advance the kingdom of Christ in these next couple years off of school. Through Kevyn, I have been introduced to a surfboard shaper out of San Clemente named Hamish Graham who has worked with some other top surfers in the industry. I am now sponsored by Hamish's boards called Superstix, and I ordered my first board from him today. Taking time off school is obviously not what I am "supposed" to do based on society and what is typically culturally accepted. I definitely feel that education is extremely valuable and is needed. I do however feel that doing what God is calling you to do is even more important, and I believe that this direction is where I am to go in this season of life. I can always go back to school, but will not always be able to pursue surfing as I get older. I am excited to see how God uses this decision and I am faithfully walking with him into the unknown. Whatever the outcome, I will serve God and I commit all that I do to Jesus. I am stepping out in faith by the Grace of God and for the Glory of God. To him be the glory. -ND

Hawaii

When I first bought my plane ticket to Hawaii, I had no place to stay or anything lined up. Thankfully, God was faithful and provided a place to stay and beyond. My dads friend knew someone who knew Larry Garret, who is a pastor on the North Shore of Oahu. Larry blessed me with a place to stay at his church. I was staying 1 mile from pipeline. My daily schedule included biking to surf, surfing, and eating crappy hot pockets because that was the cheapest easiest thing to eat. After eating 2 weeks worth of hot pockets, I will be happy if I never have to eat another one in my life. The pastor Larry was friends with a local kid my age who is a very good surfer. He helped me get used to the Hawaiian waves and taught me what to do and what not to do. I got to speak with and encourage him about Jesus. Another highlight of the trip was getting to speak at the youth group of the church I was staying at. I got to meet people at Surfing the Nations which is a Christian run Humanitarian organization that uses surfing for outreach. I am praying about going to Indonesia with them on a mission trip this summer. On my last night I got to go to my friends sisters 1 year birthday party. I was the only white guy there, the rest were all Hawaiian and it was a great experience. There was some excellent food, the people were all super friendly,  and they did some hula dancing. I met so many awesome people in Hawaii and made some great connections, I can not wait to go back. I thank God for providing for me on that trip and making it so great. I can not wait to go back, Thanks 7th ave saints for your prayer and support!!

Hawaii

I finished my first semester of college with a 4.0. I am on Christmas break, and got to spend the first half of it at home in Myrtle Beach, and am spending the half of it in Hawaii. I am now in the LA airport waiting to board my flight to Hawaii.  From having to be away from home so much, I have really learned how much I love to be with my family. There were nights while at home when the whole family would just be laying around in the living room, not doing anything except simply being. The times that I have with my family are limited, so I am very content just hanging out, just being with them was such a blessing. I thank everyone from 7th ave. saints so much for praying for me on my travels and supporting me in all I am doing. In Hawaii I will be staying with a Pastor friend, and will get to speak to the youth group at his church. I am so excited as I embark on my first trip to Hawaii. Thank you for your support and prayers. More updates to come.