I feel like I am the last person to be on the blog... oh well, better late then never. So,

Who am I?

My name is Joshua Bresler. Most people call me Josh. I graduated highschool in Pierce, Nebraska, but I am from all over. I'll give you the low down on my life story and testimony. I was born in Fort Hood, TX (yea I'm military too), and moved to Souix City, Iowa shortly after. When I was really little, my parents divorced and I continued to go to school in Souix City. That, however, changed very soon. While in the first grade, my mom got engaged to a wealthy Mexican man named Carlos. We (My mom, my brother Zack, and I) moved to Guadalajara city for 2 months and then Cancun for 6 months. Carlos was abusive, so Zack and I told my mom we had to move back in with Dad.

To make a long story short: My dad couldn't afford us, but took us in anyway. We moved to Omaha, NE for a month, then my dad got evicted. We (now my Dad, brothers Zack, Michael, and Tyler, and my step mom Lani) moved to Lincoln, NE and were introduced to the church. A, sort of, religious view to christianity to say the least. We went to church on Sunday and thought about other things during the week. We were far below the poverty line, but somehow we survived (praise Jesus)! My dad got a job in Norfolk, NE which is in Northeast Nebraska. I attended church at First Christian in Norfolk where I got a realistic view on why I need a relationship with the God who loves me. I wasn't ready...

I went to church to please my parents, but I wasn't ready to actually hear the message and live the life. I went through highschool partying on saturdays and waking up on Sundays to go to church - a hypocrite. Not only that, but I was deeply addicted to pornography. Oh how God can change us.

After graduating highschool at Pierce High (15 minutes north of Norfolk), I chose to attend the University of Nebraska at Omaha. There I met my roommates who invited me to church. It was a service unlike any I had ever seen. The worship was so real! Walking in to the sanctuary, I could tell that people really loved God! "I thought to myself, how can anyone be so unashamed of how they act? Why are they dancing, and singing so loud? People are watching." The corporate worship continued and the sermon was great! This pastor was on fire for God, and during the whole thing I felt so convicted. God saved my life that night. He showed me that He loved me, and that it wasn't He who left me. It was I who left him. 

After a year of ups and downs at UNO, I decided to leave that campus and come to the big campus at UNL - to reach out and make new friends, to be young and experience something new. And over the past couple of months God has really been working on my heart a passion for ministry in the mission field. With that a door opened up through AIM and here I am.

If that wasn't long enough for you:

My favorite food is Pizza. I am a full time student waiting tables on the side. I am 6'3". I have 2 dogs (Cairn Terriers) I play volleyball, basketball, and I sing and do drama. My favorite color is green. I have never been on a mission trip out of the country so this is new to me, but I know God will provide for me and that this trip will help, not only the communities and places we see, but also my growth in relationship with Jesus! I feel the love and forgiveness of God everyday, but one goal I have is to truly have to need the Lord - to be able to focus solely on him. In this world we live in, it is so easy to put God on the back burner and live for material things. I pray that every morning I wake up, I give thanks to God for letting me be alive.

I am so excited to read everyone's bios and meet all of you in person!

Joyfully and with much excitement,

Joshua Bresler