Pictures?

Well, we had our first official meeting today. Floyd just cast vision what we're going to be learning and why. He went a little into his (and Sally's) story on how they came to where they are now in life - training up people to be and create simple churches among neglected peoples in the earth. A lot of practicals were addressed too. I love my fellow students and the staff. We represent many countries and nations in the world in a rainbow of beautiful skin color. We are mostly young people, there are teenagers, 20 something singles, 30 something singles, married couples and couples with children. We all seem to have similar stories prior to joining the school. A call of God to tell people about Jesus in the world, an dissatisfaction with the status quo, a wanting of a life full and abundant - something the American Dream could never fully provide and a bulldogged commitment to follow what God has said to us. All of us have stories of how God has provided for us to be here. Funds have showed up in some miraculous ways for some, confirmation over and over (10 times in one week for one couple), some couples with kids I have talked to have extricated themselves from their work situations to answer very clear calls from God to go through this program fully relying on Him for funds and seeing Him meet their every need. God is faithful to keep His word. This week is kinda orientation week for us. We're going out to some pretty picnic area somewhere tomorrow for a cool team building exercise all day. I realized pictures were in order. I'm going to have to figure out a host site to dump photos so I can put them on there and give you, the reader, the link if you want to look at more photos than just what I post here or on facebook.

Fish Hoek beach - about a 15 minute drive from All Nations

Two awesome men - Papa Shayne and Cedrick

Pat holding baby Cole

Two hilarious guys Vuyani and Valentine cracking themselves up

Some peoples chilling during the welcome dinner

Big papa Shayne

A bunch of students bonding and cooking pap

A typical view around All Nations property

More Fish Hoek Beach

The grounds at All Nations

More pap!

Real people

Now I know that the LORD rescues his anointed king. He will answer him from his holy heaven and rescue him by his great power. Psalm 20:6 (NLT).

     I have been in ghettos and the projects of different cities. I had and took an opportunity to go with a friend to one such place here in Cape Town. It had all the similar feelings, smells and sights you see in such places. Walking up a flight of stairs to knock on a door there were stares directed in our direction, some baleful and some genuinely curious at these well off white people in a place you wouldn't normally sight one. (There were three of us, my friend the driver, my long time friend from back home and myself.) We met with a man who was a long time friend of my friend, he warmly welcomed us into his home and then started weeping. My words, any words really I think, would be insufficient to describe what he has gone through and must go through still. It was surprising the freedom this man felt in pouring his heart to his friend in the presence of a couple of strangers.
     My friend gave wise counsel and was simply there for our host. The other two of us sat in silence listening and empathizing as best as possible. This man loves Jesus like few I have ever seen. He encountered the raw love of God a few years ago when his world was coming down on him and has since then been discipled by my driver friend. He has clung to the promises and goodness of God and can honestly say that God has met him in all the loss and despair giving him a sense of identity, purpose and just day to day encouragement. As our time with our host drew to a close we asked if we could pray for him. He said of course so we waited on the Lord. Let me tell you, the presence of God invaded that small living room. All of the pressure of being a single father for two small sick children, the pain of losing most of his wife and parents in a year's time, the haunting of a gang involved past not dedicated to Jesus (that he really does realize has been dealt with at the cross) and the stress of men that are looking for an opportunity to kill him fell off his face. He literally looked different - better - as we prayed together and then had to leave. As we left my new friend said that the atmosphere changed as we walked into his house and now there was so much joy and hope in his heart. I hope to spend time with this guy, when he talks to God he speaks with power like I've never heard before. I don't think he realizes yet how much influence he has on Daddy's heart and the authority he has to speak to people and situations around him.

Get excited family, God is moving and CPx hasn't even started yet. It is Saturday, today and Sunday are our last "free days." The rest of the students will show up today and tomorrow and school starts Monday. I am deeply grateful to all of you who have contributed to make this experience possible. I am still doing some fund raising so if you're interested in giving lemme know!

Many hours later...

It is currently 5:30am on a Thursday morn. I am safe, I am on the All Nations property, praise God. I tried to work it so I wouldn't really be jet lagging but I must be a little because I'm not really feeling the need to sleep anymore.

Before you ask, no, I didn't get really any photos of traveling. It was dark and stormy most everywhere and you know, no one wants to see the "tail of the plane I flew in shot as I walk down boarding ramp" shot. No, of course I didn't take that shot.

I got on the plane in Austin leaving my mommy trying very VERY hard not to cry. Learned some interesting things in transit the last couple(?) of days.

First, it is important to love the lady next to you on the plane (from Austin to DC) even if she refuses to be loved.

There's this white stuff that was on the ground that the pilot of our flight called "snow." Apparently it falls from the sky and stuff. Crazy.

It's kind of a scary feeling to be horcking down some fuddruckers and hear "we're now boarding all passengers on (insert your flight here)" when you thought you still had 30 minutes till you got on. No, that totally didn't happen to me, yes I threw my mostly finished meal in the trash as fast as possible and got my behind on my flight, shut up.

The flight from DC to Dakar to Joburg was vaguely uneventful. I sat next to a little Hungarian lady from Toronto who farted the farts of death and awkwardness (in that order) fairly regularly. Watched some fun movies like Megamind. It's an animation about a super villain who basically has a midlife crisis and it is wonderful.

Joburg airport workers expect tips when you ask for directions to terminal D.
Flights from terminal D are apparently rescheduled at whim without announcement so it is important to keep an eye on the flight boards so you can run your behind to gate E2 when you and several other people look around in the waiting area and realize that you should be boarding but no one else is there. No, that totally didn't happen either.

I had some fun people to sit next to on the 2 hour flight from Joburg to Cape Town. A South African business man and a little lady from Colorado who had torn ligaments in her thumb in a skiing accident. Totally laid hands (gingerly) on her hand and asked God for healing. Nothing happened right away but the Spirit was a little heavy (I felt the nearness of God) as I prayed, so I told her not to be surprised when it didn't hurt anymore later.

I was picked up by some All Nations employees at the airport (whew), was brought to the (from what I can tell - it was dark) lovely property, was shown around a little, met a couple of people and was dropped off in the dorm. I was trying to turn off a light - hit the panic alarm button - and had the other residents on the property up and out of bed in a hurry. Suffice to say I won't do that again. Everybody was laughing and said it happens quite a bit to new guys.

Yay. I shall try to sleep some more now. Today's schedule is to get everything ready for the other incoming students and buy a chip for my phone. Hopefully it will work then.

Tomorrow I leave

Yup, tomorrow I finally get on a plane #no.snakes.plz.k.thx.

I would like to thank those who have donated to this trip. Everyone from anonymous donors, named donors and group donors, like at the Iron Chef competition - thank you. Your gift has made this opportunity possible. All the funds came in for me to walk in to the bank last week and wire the money to pay for the school. I leave about noon tomorrow (Tuesday 1) and get to Cape Town 9:30pm Wednesday 2. Cape Town is 8 hours ahead of home so that'll be fun - flying into the future and stuff.

Ok, gotta get stuff done now and stop procrastinating. Next post coming to you live from South Africa!

12 days out

Update time! It's 12 days till I leave and I'm having a blast! I've been a little blindsided by some push back and resistance (i.e. getting sick as a dog with no insurance to cover costs) but God has shown up in the weird circumstances so I can honestly say it's all good. I would like to take a moment to thank my bosses at my (now former) job. My managers have been amazing people to work for and have sent me out well. So, if any of yall are reading this, thank you for being who you are.
The big Iron Chef competition is on Saturday. The funds raised are in support of the trip, there will be fun food and fun people, I cannot wait. We're scrambling to get one or two things we still need for it but I'm sure it'll work out. Oh, and the shirts have arrived and we are selling those also. Sadly, there is no picture of them to attach to this post yet.

Some out of town friends came in to town to see me and it was wonderful. Their arrival was a big surprise and just awesome because I thought that I wouldn't be able to see them before I left. It's good to have many friends that you can call family.

I want to brag on God for a minute here. My birthday is 5 days before Christmas and when you work at FedEx that is the craziest time of the year. I was a part time Pick Up Courier, meaning I clocked in in the afternoon and didn't so much deliver boxes as I did pick them up. During Christmas rush we volunteer and clock in in the morning to help deliver. Sometimes we get called in and sometimes not depending on the amount of freight there is that day. I woke up on my birthday and was just tired. My memory is I had been going in early for a few days and that had run me down, we were told that day (the 20th) was going to be one of the heaviest days; so I woke up and just wanted to sleep some more. I asked God for a birthday present - I said "God, I'm tired and worried about today. I want a birthday present from you. I want to not have to clock in until the afternoon and I want to have an easy day." That day I was told not to come in until the afternoon and had one of the easiest days I have ever had at FedEx even though everyone got killed that day. What's hilarious is that during my route I realized and said to myself that "pizza would be great for dinner today," realized that it wouldn't happen and moved on. Guess what was waiting for us when we got off the road that night? Yes, management went and picked up pizzas for everyone because that's what they do every now and then to show their appreciation. Yes, it was an awesome birthday.

One more thing. Something that has been on my mind the last few months is how we are the bride of Christ. It blows my mint to realize that THAT is the level of affection He has for us, how much He is emotionally invested in us; and it makes me lovesick. So it really frustrates me when I see those who say they are Christians who go yell and hate people and say that "hate and judgment is how Jesus does things."      *Gets off soapbox.*      Anyway. Recently me and God were hanging out and He said something that turned me into a puddle. Ironically I was headed to the gun show to meet friends there when He said it. I had felt a real nearness of His presence all day and was loving it. He said "Hey, you know what I want you to do in your life?" I said "What?" He said "I haven't called you to go tell people how they're living and acting in a way that YOU think is wrong. We don't go yell at people. We hand out wedding invitations. I want you to tell people that I am lovesick for them. I want you to give them my wedding invitations."
I love how God puts things into perspective.

The next hurdle cleared

Hey guys, time for an update! In the words of Professor Farnsworth: "good news everyone!" I received my visa from the South African Embassy! (This makes three exclamation points in a roll! (Or, four now.)) The speed that this came about made my head spin (right round.) It was something like a week and a half from when I sent off my application to when I got my passport back with said visa stapled to it. Prolly woulda gotten it sooner but I received a very courteous phone call from a very friendly individual at the embassy saying that I had forgotten something and could I send it to them ASAP? Needless to say that I FedEx-ed (the first part AND the part I forgot) it to them post haste.


I am not sure if I have permission to use the man's full name on my blog currently so I shall just use his first name Joe. Joe, this guy of whom I wish to speak, is a wonderful man, from Scotland and one of the most prophetic people I know. He and his wife spoke at our church last Sunday and prayed for peoples after wards, it was a ton of fun. I happened to hear that he will be with us at CPx for a whole week, in March I believe, very exciting. I talked to him briefly and asked him to pray with me after church and he heard a fun word from God for me. The relevant part is that he heard God say that "hope and freedom" are kind of the theme for me on this trip to South Africa. Not only will I experience hope and freedom in my preparation to go but that it will be something I release to others as I minister. This is totally confirmation as that a friend of mine, Bill, felt God say something similar a few weeks ago. Bill just heard God say that there are things about me, the way He made me, that He is going to use to build up the team at CPx and the fun peoples we will be reaching with the gospel.

I have learned that when God says something more than once it is important to listen. Am I right?

I would like to take a time out and say that I am really and truly trying to move and live and speak in humility. I am not someone who can do something without God. Everything that God wants to do through me will be through His power and by His grace. If I come across as arrogant or something I apologize in advance and ask say that that might be a good opportunity to lovingly confront me on the issue and at least hear where I'm coming from.

Anyhoodle, I have a couple of fund raising opportunities in the works. One of these being I may be able to sell long sleeve t-shirts as a fundraiser. Honestly, who doesn't want a cool shirt supporting a good cause? I was reference to someone who does shirt design and I'm hopeful about it. I've been trying to come up with a design to put on the shirts but nothing is really coming to me. I'm sure something will hit me.

Work has been a bit stressful. Getting back in the groove has proved a challenge, I freak out easily about not having enough time to get to the amount of stops that I need to get to on time. I can do it if I buckle down and work, it's just a matter of confidence. The ol' hip injury is kind of a roller coaster but no where near as painful as it's been in the past. There is a wonderful, beautiful, grandmotherly woman who I get to interact with occasionally on my route who totally rocked my world this past Monday and prayed for me while I was picking up packages at her stop. Every time she speaks you can hear her character in her voice. She is a woman of integrity, grace, love and humility. Seeing her from time to time these three years on the job has been a huge blessing. She considers me better than something simply human, often I get treated as something significantly less than that by some I serve in a day. If you have the opportunity to, tell a delivery man or woman bringing something to you thank you. I don't mean throw out a "oh hey thanks;" your point will be driven home if you look that man or woman in the eye and say from the bottom of your heart "thank you very much." That will definitely make someone in my line of work feel good.

Long entry this...I shall sign off to you my assumed and imagined audience by saying that you are loved, God is fun and that Truth is a freeing thing. Often when I see truth with a capitol "T" I get a sinking sensation because I think of rigid rules and regulations. Then I remember that God is a God of freedom and He "breaks the heavy yoke."
A friend of mine recently said "Judgment is not a fruit of the Spirit."

First post...FTW!

Ok guys, first post! I figured since I sent out my support letters with this address in them I might as well get something in here to read.
I'll update you as to what is going on currently in the process of going to South Africa and all that kinda thing.

I have sent in all (well, most) of my paperwork to the South African Embassy. They only require a couple more minor things more from me. So I will get those in the mail (er, Fedex) so they will get there tomorrow so they can get the ball moving for my visa! I am trusting God for finances for this trip. He has spoken pretty strongly regarding this trip and I have no doubt that I am called to go and since I don't have all of the resources for it on my own I know that He WILL make a way. (I will probably spend more time next time explaining a little about this trip is and why I'm going and just giving background and context to everything.) :)

If you don't know already my hip was injured on the job back in July and I have been unable to work (and sometimes unable to walk) because of it. Workers comp is doing good at keeping me afloat, it's just not what I usually make in a week. I am happy to announce that in the last two weeks I have been doing much much better overall. I had an appointment with the doctor this morning and he said that it looked like I can return to full duty now. This is good news because it's been a four month process of not working, going to doctors, going back to work, then not being able to work again and more doctors. During this process I asked for people to just pray for me for healing. A lot of the time the people praying would hear God say "it's not time to be healed yet," and "this is more to this hip thing than it simply being an injury." As you can imagine that was a little frustrating to hear but encouraging at the same time. All that to say that although I don't feel 100% yet I feel good enough to start back on the job.

That, I believe, is that. If I could ask you guys to be discreet about the whole me going to South Africa thing on facebook for the time being. I will have to give my employer a two week notice when the time comes and they don't know anything about me going anywhere currently and I just want to honor them and keep my job secure for the last couple of months that I am there.

Quick prayer points:
1. That God will provide the funds for this trip that He has put on my heart
2. Smooth process to get my visa
3. Continued healing in my hip
4. Favor and energy at work, 4 months of not working will take a toll on me
5. That God will continue to reveal His heart to me as I prepare to go to South Africa

Thanks guys, more to come...