Free Geek

Free Geek.

My mom may have called Free Geek back in the year 2000 or so. Back in that year or around that time, a van came to our trailer in Forest Grove. They picked up some of our electronics, so that they could recycle our junk. Some of the people were children around 8 to 16 years old and there may have been a woman and other adults. It may have been a family. They may have been volunteers of Free Geek or another organization.

After flying from my second college in West Virginia to my home in Oregon in early May 2007, I think my mother insisted that I hop on a bus heading to Portland, Oregon. Before leaving my college in West Virginia, I bought a laptop for $50 from my friend Matt Manehan. He could have asked for $2,000. It was a good laptop. I looked up the address for Free Geek. I would try to find wifi at the Pacific University and library and I was able to find free wifi while in my room in my trailer that I was raised in, you know, in Forest Grove.

When I made it to Portland, I got lost because I was kind of going the wrong direction and it was hot sunny day, but I made it and took a tour and eventually began volunteering and going through their programs. You learn how to recycle and take apart computers, printers, and other electronics. Later, I began learning how to build computers. The 5 computer you can take home with you for free.

In June, I went to Camp Kuratli to be a Wilderness Counselor. After that, I attended my first Western Youth Institute (WYI) at the Camp Redwood Glen in Scotts Valley, California USA, and WYI is a week-long young-adults retreat for those associate with The Salvation Army.

During the second or so week of August 2007, I started returning to Free Geek, and one day, as I was going there, as I was walking, Lincoln Hawk called my cell phone (which was my first mobile phone ever that I got May 2007, which was my sisters or Jesse's or my dad's or Savannah Larson, or somebody). I never gave him my number. I met Lincoln at WYI. That was the first WYI I ever attended. I also attended WYI in 2008 and 2010 at Camp Arnold in Washington (state) USA.

Lincoln suggested that I call Rob Noland. I had an application to apply for Revolution Hawaii but I already threw that away. I ended up filling out an application on my laptop. I talked to Rob on the phone. I emailed Rob the application. The deadline was already passed. The team members are suppose to fly to Hawaii in the next 3 or so days. I was accepted on like a Wednesday and I made it into Hawaii Friday, which was like the 31st of August 2007. Rob told me that he wouldn't have let Crazy Oatmeal join RevHI but Joey Arnold could. When I talked to Rob on the phone, Rob was only able to hear the voice of Joey. I did not talk to Rob at WYI, except to compare him to pancakes and apple-sauce, or something, which he thought was crazy that I do things like that.

While I was in Hawaii, I sent a letter to Free Geek.

In October or so of 2008, when I started going back to Free Geek, they told me that they got my letter. I was kind of popular. I could not tell how they felt about it, since most of them seem to be not Christians. I eventually made my 5th box that I was able to take home. Like the next year or so, I made a second take-home box that I was able to take home as well. I think I only took home only 2 computers. You are allowed to take home one computer per twelve months. I met people here that are interesting people. You can get free coffee, bread, snacks, here, as well. You can learn many things here.

They do not use Microsoft Windows here.

They use Linux's Ubuntu (Operating-System: OS).




May 2007
22 years old
Freek Geek: Portland, Oregon, United States
Joey Arnold, The Original Oatmeal

To Save My Mother

To Save My Mother

I am always thinking about my mother. My father was having affairs, for decades, and he was leaving her and living other places. After my one year at my second college, the Appalachian Bible College in Bradley, West Virginia USA, 2006 - 2007, I returned back to the same trailer that I was born and raised in, which is at Rose Grove "Ghetto" Mobile Trailer Park Community: 3839 Pacific Avenue Space Unit # 163 in Forest Grove, Washington County, Oregon, United States of northern America.

I gave my mother the money (almost $2,000 USD) that I earn from the Camp Kuratli during that summer of the year 2007, when I was 22 years old. I was there to save the life of my mother (Marilyn Mitchell of Restore Main Street).

I promised to stay with my mom for at least a year, so that I could support her. I felt conflicted when I saw the opportunity to do Revolution Hawaii. I told my mother about my conflict and I said that I would still honor my commitment to her, but she told me that she would be fine. So, I ended up doing Revolution Hawaii after getting the blessing and approval of my mother.

My mom reunited with her high school friend, Bill Williams Cunningham, and they moved all of her things to his house in Shelton, Washington, United States. My dad helped carry things out of the house. My dad ended up living there after my mom moved out. My dad still lives there. My mom marries Bill in November of 2008. I walked her down the aisle. Bill died in 2011 I think. My mom married Larry Mitchell in 2012. I was not there for that.


2007
22 years old
Forest Grove, Oregon, United States
Boring, Oregon, United States
Honolulu, Hawaii, United States
Joey Arnold

West Virginia

For my Christmas Break of the year 2006, when I was 21 years old, I lived with a family in West Virginia, miles from my 2nd and current college at that time, which was the Appalachian Bible College.

I watched movies and had discussions with the family members, especially with the father who was encouraging me to be more flexible in my life. He would suggest that I am not as picky when I eat. I should eat whatever people give me instead of asking too many questions that may hurt the feelings of others.

South Carolina

South Carolina.

After attending my first college in New York, I ventured to my second college in West Virginia. For the Thanksgiving break, which is around 7 to 10 days long, I went with a friend to his house in South Carolina (SC). That was my only time, so far, that I have ever been to SC. I am writing this on a Thursday: the 25th of July 2013. We will see what the future holds.

There are like red fire ants down here. This is the most south that I have ever been. My friend's name is like Jared or something. I like the way his father talked. The dad would tell me that while hunting deer that you say that "I'm 'bout da bust one" or something like that. I like their church. i watched the Matrix with the subtitles on at their house. Most of the time, I was just watching movies during my break. I was not wasting my time. I recorded notes on the computer and safe it to like my email or to a thumb drive or something. I studied films, since I am an actor and producer and a jack of many trades.

November 2006
21 years old
Friend's House: South Carolina
Joey Arnold, The Original Oatmeal

Appalachian Bible College

Appalachian Bible College

I started attending the Appalachian Bible College (ABC) in Bradley, West Virginia, United States, in August 2006 when I was 21 years old. I met many inspirational friends like Sawyer Frye and Jen Moore and others. I loved my classes. I major in Pastoral Greek. I worked in the cafeteria, in food-prep, server, dishwasher,& maintenance. I worried about the money, the finances. I took out my one and only student Stafford loan in November or December of 2006 and I am still paying that back in the year 2013 still. It was my only loan so far. I started getting bad grades, due to increasing accelerating distractions. I started thinking about my mother as well, since my dad was leaving her and my mom needed help and I wanted to help her.

August 2006
21 years old
Bradley, West Virginia, United States
Joey Arnold

2nd Summer As A Ranch Counselor

2nd Summer As A Ranch Counselor.

What was different about my second summer working at the Ranch, from the first summer, was the special snack bar thing that they had for the counselors. On a certain day, each week, at night, you would go to a building to fellowship with other counselors, worship God, have snacks, drinks, and somebody usually gave an inspirational sermon to keep the counselors focused.

June - August 2006
21 years old
Word Of Life's Camp: The Ranch: Pottersville, New York, United States
Joey Arnold, The Original Oatmeal

WOLBI 2nd Year

Rachel Gasser was not originally going to attend a second year at WOLBI, the Word Of Life Bible Institute. Weeks before the new school year, she wrote to a few of her friends on Xanga. She announced her plans to return. I saw the news on Xanga. She quickly removed her comments because she wanted to keep this a secret so that she could surprise her gal friend with her return.

For me, I have thought about attending WOLBI since I was like 6 years old or so, and why stop half way? I was inspired and encouraged by the 2nd year students during my first year there and I was very interested in getting deeper into social services, ministry, into diving deeper into God's Word. I have wanted to help people since I was 8 years old. I need to dig into my journals and dig out more details about this era in my life.

25 years old

West Coast Counselor

West Coast Counselor.

I was able to send letters to people I knew. I asked them to give me money. I needed around $400 to around $800 USD or so, or more, or something, so that I could fly from my first college, the Word Of Life Bible Institute (WOLBI) in Pottersville, New York USA, to the Word Of Life's West Coast Camp (WCC). I raised enough money. People mailed in money or I at least thought people did. I was able to fly in an airplane to the camp. I was able to be a counselor. I use to go to this same camp each year when I was younger as a camper from the years of 1999 to the year 2003, which was 5 strait years.

July 2006
21 years old
West Coast Camp: California, United States
Joey Arnold, The Original Oatmeal

Home-Made Birthday Cake

Home-Made Birthday Cake.


This girl, who was friends with my friend Chris Zuagg, made me a Home-Made Birthday Cake, for my birthday, which was on Friday, the 11th of February 2005 in Pottersville, New York, United States. I think she made me a cake. I also went on yard sales hunting with Aaron Rysemus and I ended up buying a Power Rangers poster. This was while I was still a student at the Word of Life Bible Institute in Pottersville, New York, USA. I also worked 15 miles away at the Word Of Life Inn in Schroon Lake, New York USA.



Friday: 11th of February, 2005
20 years old
Pottersville & Schroon Lake, New York, United States
Joey Arnold

Timothy Knight

Timothy Knight.

In January 2005, in the mist of the snow, from the depths of Australia, came Timothy Knight. He was one of my favorites and he was my unit leader at the Ranch 2006 I think.

January 2005
19 years old
Word Of Life Bible Institute: Pottersville, New York, United States
Joey Arnold, The Original Oatmeal

Food Prep

Food Prep.

Two weeks after graduating high school in Forest Grove, Oregon USA, I flew to Pottersville, New York USA, to work in food-prep at the Word Of Life Bible Institute's camp: The Ranch. It was my first time doing food prep. I had a cooking class during 10th grade of high school. I was known as the box smasher. Mt RA was Chris Zuagg.

June 2004
19 years old
The Ranch: Word Of Life Bible Institute: Pottersville, New York, United States
Joey Arnold, The Original Oatmeal