Piedras Negras

The San Antonio Border Ministries Board offered a challenge to the churches involved to donate 500 toys. The toys would go towards a few Christmas parties held at orphanages and Methodist churches in Piedras Negras, Mexico. Alamo Heights United Methodist Church committed to trying to collect at least 150 toys to send to the effort. Over the two weeks that we collected toys for this event we ended up collecting more than 190 toys!!! Thank you so much to this amazing community for making Christmas special for the children of Piedras Negras!

On Saturday, December 4, Wendy and Dave Meaden and myself set off at 6:45 for the two and a half hour drive into Eagle Pass. Once there we met up with the delegations from several other San Antonio churches and crossed the border into Piedras Negras. The first church that we visited was called Senor de Senores. We worshipped with the children and church members for several songs and then went into a back room to prepare the lunches that we had also brought for the kids. When all was ready we handed out toys and lunches and played with the kids. At the next church, San Pablo, even more children greeted us with smiles. They brought the team to the front and prayed over us before we had distributed the toys and lunches. Seeing each of those children with their eyes closed and hands extended towards us in prayer to our G-d warmed my heart.

Next we visited the church that AHUMC has been a long time supporter of, Aleluya Church. Unfortunately, the children in this area of the city were suffering from a chicken pox outbreak and we weren’t able to spend time with them. We did leave them their toys in the hands of Pastor Hector. Without the children there, we were able

to spend much time in conversation with Pastor Hector and the family that cares for the community at Aleluya, Flavio and Mari. These people are amazing! They are devoted to loving G-d and their neighbor and you can feel it in the way they talk and live. The cross ministry of this church is still running str

ong. If you are interested in supporting this ministry please visit http://aleluyaministries.blogspot.com/.

Lastly, we visited the House of Mercy orphanage and the missionary there, David Smith. They had just finished their December birthday celebration and the children were helping clean up. They received Christmas toys from us as well, but are waiting a little longer to distribute them. David expressed how deeply thankful that he is for all of the help that we at AHUMC have contributed to the orphans that he cares for.

The day was absolutely beautiful. Once again, thank all of you for supporting our neighbors in Piedras Negras. Even amid safety concerns that have prevented us from sending groups of missionaries to these locations, we have still been able to help these people spread the love of our Father. We are continuing to evaluate the situation in this town and look forward to the time that we are able to begin again to send missionaries to our brothers and sisters in Christ. Please pray for all of these ministries and for more opportunities for us to serve them!

Fishing Under the Bridge

I recently listened to a radio program in which the hosts asked several visitors from third world countries what the most surprising and absurd thing was about America. The majority of the respondents replied that homeless shelters and assisted living centers for the elderly were among the most mind-boggling things that they had seen. People from third world countries could not understand the need for a soup kitchen.

On Sunday, a group of us went down to Haven for Hope, to volunteer in the kitchen and serve lunch. Kathie Love has led this ministry for some time now and started under the Commerce Street bridge across from the emergency SAMM shelter. The venue has recently changed due to the new Haven for Hope facility off of Frio St. We now spend time preparing the meal in Haven’s kitchen and then serving the residents in a Luby’s type serving line.

I stayed in the back during the serving time and let the folks that have not worked with people that are homeless before take the positions at the counter. My place at the fry station had a great view of the left side of the serving line. The residents began lining up at the doors about fifteen minutes prior to serving time. A few minutes later I saw a few of the folks usher up a very young man. This guy was about 18 years old and carried a cane. He was blind. He stood there, in front of the glass paned door with his head down. I could not figure out if perhaps that was just his typical stance or maybe he just kept his head down from a feeling of dejection. Then it dawned on me that perhaps he was praying… My heart had already warmed at the sight of the other guests leading him to the front of the line, and now my heart melted. When the doors were finally opened he stepped up to the lady at the register and handed her his ID with a subtle but noticeable smile. He moved down the line and I lost sight of him. His image is burned in my mind, and I can’t help but think that he has no way of knowing that that downward tilt of his head and soft smile had effected somebody so greatly. I prayed for him at that moment and am still praying for him. We served somewhere around 400 meals.

Where are we that an 18-year-old blind boy must spend his days and nights in a multi-million dollar homeless shelter? Are there really no other solutions? Why do we have homes specifically for the elderly to go when they have aged beyond the point of our own comfort? Should these folks not be in our own homes? We are caring for them and helping them, but is it in a way that takes some of their human dignity from them? I am not saying that these forms of aid and care should be done away with, I even ask you to support them. But please do pray about how we can make our own backyard a better world for its inhabitants. Ask G-d to show us how we can better love our neighbors.

31"When the Son of Man comes in his glory, and all the angels with him, then he will sit on his glorious throne. 32Before him will be gathered all the nations, and he will separate people one from another as a shepherd separates the sheep from the goats. 33And he will place the sheep on his right, but the goats on the left. 34Then the King will say to those on his right, 'Come, you who are blessed by my Father, inherit the kingdom prepared for you from the foundation of the world. 35For I was hungry and you gave me food, I was thirsty and you gave me drink, I was a stranger and you welcomed me, 36 I was naked and you clothed me, I was sick and you visited me, I was in prison and you came to me.' 37Then the righteous will answer him, saying, 'Lord, when did we see you hungry and feed you, or thirsty and give you drink? 38And when did we see you a stranger and welcome you, or naked and clothe you? 39And when did we see you sick or in prison and visit you?' 40And the King will answer them, 'Truly, I say to you, as you did it to one of the least of these my brothers, you did it to me.'”
Matthew 25:31-40

To find out more about volunteering for Fishing Under the Bridge, please e-mail Ryan Jacobson.

To find out more about Haven for Hope and service opportunities at this facility, please click here.

Holy Moments

Yesterday, I was on my way to The Foundry for an afternoon coffee and to get some work done while spending some time with the folks there.  As I exited 281 at Mulberry, I noticed a green SUV in the right lane with the hood up, door opened, and the hazards flashing.  I went around the SUV and like any good rubbernecker, craned around to get a look at the people in trouble.  In the grass on the side of the road were two young women and two young children.  They were sitting on a blanket and looked like they had been sitting there for a while.  I turned right...

G-d asked where I was going.  I said, "I guess to the next place that I could turn around and get back to them."  So that's what I did.  I pulled up behind the SUV and turned on my own hazards.  I opened the door and climbed out and walked around my car.

"Can I help you with anything or give you a lift to a gas station?"
"No, my sister's on her way.  It overheated and we think a hose broke"
"Well, I will never be mistaken for a mechanic, but I do have a cold A/C in my car.  Would you all like to just sit in there until your help arrives?"

The two young women and the two young boys piled in as I moved stuff out of the way.  We made a little small talk about where we lived and I looked at pictures of one of the boys spiderman toy that he was taking with his aunt's camera.

I talked about my recent travels and how much I loved a gig where my job is to do things to help people.
They asked me a few times, "Do you need to be somewhere or have something your supposed to be doing?"
"Nope.  The cool thing about my job is that this is part of it."
I thought to myself... this really is part of it! How awesome is that!  This is where I'm supposed to be and this is what I am supposed to be doing!

The two girls were very worried about my time, and I thought how nice it was just to be sitting and offering some comfort.  Their sister arrived and I helped push the truck up the road and out of the way.

Time, such an interesting thing.  I am usually a very task and goal oriented type of person.  Time must be spent and invested in some purpose.  This can quickly become a very unhealthy way to live.  It has been unhealthy for me before.  I have prayed a lot about it though and have been trying to learn more about sabbath.  G-d has helped me out in this, but I still have a ways to go.  I started reading a book last night by one of the most influential spiritual hearts in contemporary times.  It's called simply The Sabbath.  Abraham Joshua Heschel was a rabbi born in 1907.  He lived to 1972 and his writings are very highly regarded by Christians and Jews.  The Sabbath was originally published in 1951 and I only recently picked it up.  Because of my lack of time management skills, I have only just begun to read it.  The book is only about 100 pages long, but after I read the first three paragraphs for the fifth time I realized that the weight of the book is much more than it appears.  The language is not hard to understand, but the ideas and concepts while easily grasped are mind bending and the implications for our everyday life are astounding.

"Technical civilization is man's conquest of space.  It is a triumph frequently achieved by sacrificing an essential ingredient, namely, time.  In technical civilization, we expend time to gain space.  To enhance our power in the world of space is our main objective.  Yet to have more does not mean to be more.  The power we attain in the world of space terminates abruptly at the borderline of time.  But time is the heart of existence."

This is just the first paragraph of the prologue!  In the bible, the very first thing to be called Holy is a day.  It is not a rock, a mountain, a person, or even G-d himself.  It is a specific unit of time: the seventh day.  And this day has no influence from the material world.  It marks a ceasing of being engulfed by the material.  Time and space are inricately connected in our world, but the G-d who created and transcends both first designates time as holy and the designation of a holy place only comes at the request of misguided man.

Helping a few stranded motorists and taking the time out of my day from what I had intended to be doing taught me something very valuable.  I can use time for my own gain.  I could have been getting stuff done.  I, instead, sat for an hour in an unmoving car waving other cars past me and telling stories of how G-d has been helping orphans in Africa and how I was lucky enough to be involved.  I have no clue what those girls and the children are doing today and I didn't ask them if they had Jesus in their lives or even ask them to pray with me.  I do know that just the chance to share what G-d has done for me is amazing.  I do know that those people were touched by G-d's love and that I got to be part of it.  I know that that time was precious and holy even though I didn't get anything tangible done.  I rejoice in that, even though I feel somewhat uncomfortable sharing it.

Back Home!

So, I am back in the States, finished with this summer's world tour. Recovery is slow. We had three more days in Israel since my last post. Places traveled were Mt. Carmel, Caesarea, and Jerusalem. The climb at Carmel is grueling but well worth it when you hear the faith lesson at the top about Elijah's fiery passion. Caesarea was yet another location that demonstrated the ultimate futility of living life like Herod. All of his architecture has crumbled, his riches are gone. The Kingdom of Heaven is still here. Jerusalem was amazing, and there was so much to see and learn. Hezekiah's tunnel, the pools of Siloam and Bethesda, the Western Wall, and the Mt. of Olives are just a few places that we visited.

So what is next? At AHUMC we will be focusing on both local and international mission. Fishing Under the Bridge and the Foundry are a couple of great opportunties for those of you who would like to impact the world in our own backyard. We will also be gathering information for future mission trips to Piedras Negras, Mexico and Los Guidos, Costa Rica. Please send me an email if you would like to be connected to any of these ministries or have any questions.

rjacobson@ahumc.org

"Is not this the fast that I choose:
to loose the bonds of wickedness,
to undo the straps of the yoke,
to let the oppressed go free,
and to break every yoke?"

Isaiah 58:6

Catching Up

Wow. It’s only been a few days since I posted anything, but the days are so full here that I feel far behind. You are just going to have to ask me about these experiences for me to really be able to communicate to you the learning and blessing that we are all receiving. Here’s a quick list…

Qumran – We learned about the dedication behind the transcription of the scripture. The people group likely here were Essenes who were extremely devout. Their faithfulness is amazing, but they are shut off from the rest of the world. A very tough climb!!

Ein Gedi – The desert oasis. David spent time here while running from Saul. The faith lesson was on the reality of living water in the desert and what it means when Jesus tells us that he is the living water. If you know Travis Wert, ask him about the awesome gift he gave us here! We are so proud of this young man!

Capernaum – Here we learn about where Jesus claims to derive his authority, or as the rabbis call it, smicha.

Korazim – Community!!! We study the communal way of life of the first century Jewish community that Jesus was a part of. The families were close knit and lived in what was essentially one home with a central courtyard

Bethsaida – Peter, Andrew, Phillip, James and John are from this tiny fishing village. We think of them as children and the potential that our own children have. We also learn of the dedication that they grew in and here the story of the martyrdom of Phillip.

Tagbha – a small spring on the shoreline of the Galilee. This is likely the spot that the disciples were fishing when Jesus meets them at the shore.

Gamla – Home of a group of Jewish zealots. Their story is powerful and sad. This is the passion that Jesus draws on. He calls at least one and perhaps two identifiable zealots to join his disciples.

Caesarea Phillippi – One of my favorite teachings. Disgusting worship of the pagan god Pan was centered here and Jesus proclaims that on this rock he will build his church. Inspiration and an invitation to go to the tough, hard, perhaps nasty places and show them some true love.

Jordan River – We learn of John’s baptism of repentance and the necessity to approach the world with wet feet.

Beit She’an – One of the cities of the pagan Decapolis. We learn to appreciate G-d’s created beauty and not our own faulty creations. We get a taste of the Hellenistic world that Jesus’ message seems to denounce at every turn.

Susita – Another city of the Decapolis. Here we discuss the absolute necessity of each of us telling our own story trough a study of Jesus with the demon processed man on the other side.

Mt. Arbel – Another very tough climb. We learn the power and importance of prayer, especially prayer guided by G-d’s own words.

Nazareth Quarry – A long walk from here to the next location. We learn of ancient boundaries, uncut corners, and a couple of tectons from nearby Nazareth.

Zippori – Another taste of the culture of Hellenism in this world. We also study the strange interactions within the Herodian family and how Jesus uses the present stories around him in his ministry.

Tonight closed with an awesome boat ride from the eastern shorline to our kibbutz on the western shoreline. The wind was blowing and the sea sprayed all over us. We were soaked and exhilarated by it.

Bless G-d for his awesome creation and his willingness to let us inhabit it. Bless G-d for the story he told us through his word, and the story tells everyday through each of us.

Time in the Desert

I have a feeling this may be a short post. We have been wandering in the desert for the last few days and it has been absolutely amazing. The trip has been eye opening and promise-fulfilling and I am pretty well tired. Not exhausted, but very tired.

Yesterday began in Arad, where we learned how ancient covenants were cut between two men. G-d made his covenant with Abraham and walked the blood path for his part of the agreement, and then walked through again for Abraham's part. That moment condemned Jesus to die when we failed to live up to our end of the bargain. Arad also has a smaller version of Solomon's temple. We learned the layout. The temple here is strange for a couple of different reasons. First, it is a temple to the Lord that is not the Jerusalem temple. This already should throw up a flag or two and questions should be raised why sacrifice and worship of G-d was happening here. The second peculiarity, and the much more alarming, is that two masabot, standing stones, were found in the Holy of Holies. The second stone is thought to represent Asherah as the Lord's wife. This was scary to think about as we stood there staring at the stones. Lunch was with a group of Bedouins and it was an amazing experience to feel the love and hospitality from these people that have next to nothing. The day finished at Masada, one of Herod's strongholds. We explored part of Herod's story and heard the story of the final days of the final zealots to fight against Rome 70 years later.

Today began at Timna. The place is stunning and imposing. We learned much of the Israelites wanderings and the 40 year road of recovering from centuries of slavery. We explored where we are still enslaved personally and communally and asked our Father to free as as he did his children then. Finally, we hiked down the Wadi Zohar. Again the terrain is breathtaking. We talked more about slavery, and explored more deeply the idea of G-d's overwhelming love and power and will to take people out of it.

The desert has been amazing thus far, and we still have a little more time in it. G-d dwells in the desert and it is his. When we experience desert times in our lives he is holding us, shaping us, and growing us. At the end of the desert is a promise. It could be the promised land as with the Israelites, or it could be something else deeply powerful and personal for us. It is a gift from G-d and a promise that we can trust will be good and would probably blow us away if we realized his true intentions and will for us.

Thank you, Father, for forming and defining us in the desert. We would not be who we are without it. Thank you for when we emerge from the desert. Thank you for your promise at the end.

First Fruits in the Holy Land

It has been an exhausting travel time thus far. We should have been landing in Tel Aviv about three hours ago, but the delay in Charlotte prevented that. The delay was caused by bad weather in North Carolina and exacerbated by a few grumpy passengers. One was escorted off of the plane in Charlotte before we even took off and another was arrested upon arrival in New York. Add to these a number of commuters that shouted to be let off of the plane as we taxied to our gate and we were having a regular ole hootin good time. With how much I’ve been on planes in the last few weeks, I was somewhat annoyed by the fact that we would be missing some daylight in Israel, but knew that I wasn’t in control nor would I ever be so I might as well roll with the punches.

We entered the chapel in the New York airport for a quick word from Scott and prayer. We then moseyed over to the synagogue and were greeted by an enthusiastic rabbi. He gave us a very quick synopsis on the present reality of the Kingdom of G-d and the meaning behind the use of the word Holy three times so often in our text and exaltation of the Lord, as in Isaiah 6. “Kodosh! Kodosh! Kodosh!” is said to mean, Holy on earth, and holy in the heavens, and holy forever and ever. The man was articulate and passionate. Bless G-d for such a gift!

The company of folks on this trip are amazing and we will be returning with a lot of exciting new and deepened old relationships. Through the delay in Charlotte I can only imagine what the other passengers thought of us. We were able to preserve our joy and we let it ring pretty loudly at times. I hope that it resonated from us and into some of our fellow passengers. Smiles are abundant in this group as are random outbursts of song and prayer. Absolutely beautiful.

At the initial security checkpoint, I was the last one of our group through. I ended up surrounded by a number of the El Al workers for one reason or another and heard Scott from a few yards away say that I should share with them. I replied that I was trying to understand the Hebrew they were speaking and that every other word wasn’t quite enough. This brought some smiles to the faces of the rather young Israeli security team. They asked about my studies and the meaning of my necklace. I wear a pendant that has the Mogen David (Star of David) set around the cross. Perfect! I told them that I follow Jesus as my Rabbi and that I love to study the world in which he walked. I told them that as such, I greatly appreciated the life that our messiah led as a Jew in the first century world of Israel. I love the aspect of my faith that is found in these Jewish roots. I am just a wild branch grafted in, and try my hardest not to become arrogant at this favor from the Lord. The team around me smiled more, and I couldn’t tell if they genuinely appreciated my words or if they were just thinking, “What a naïve little Christ follower!” Either way they were kind and I pray that G-d blesses them. We finally made our way onto the plane to Tel Aviv. The plane lifted off at midnight New York time, much later than our originally planned 7:00 pm departure. Oh well. G-d will bless this trip and will pour out on each of us and each of you who have followed us in heart and spirit. He really has already begun.

DAY 1

We unloaded in Tel Aviv quickly and met with our Israeli guide and Scott’s fellow Ray Vaander Laan talmid, Tim Becksvoort. We got on the tour bus and headed to Gezer. We are asked the questions, “Who are you? Why are you here?” We will soon find out. There are dead stones in Gezer. Standing, yet the story they tell has been long forgotten. For us to be living stones as Peter tells us that we are, we need to tell the story: the story that G-d has told for centuries and the story that he is telling today through each of our individual lives and especially through our relational and communal lives.

Bless G-d for this beginning. He is good and his love endures forever.

DAY 2

Today started pretty early. Ben and I woke up pretty early and were able to take our time getting ready for the day. After breakfast we went down to do our morning devotional. We discussed ho G-d sometimes asks us to push an immovable rock. He doesn’t ask us to move it, but just to push. In this way something mundane and regular may be strengthening us for whatever purpose G-d has for us, and even when we may tire of the mundane task at hand.

We traveled first to Zorah, the birthplace of Samson. The hike was not too rough to start with. We discussed the mistakes that Samson made, the mistakes the tribe of Dan made in moving from this land of Shephelah. The comparison of the response of the perpetrators of these two sins has some real implications. Samson makes the hall of the faithful in Hebrews 11 despite his reckless and selfish life because of one small turn at the end. Dan, however, appears to be lost as they are left out of the sealed tribes in the book of Revelation.

From there, we made our way to Azekah. Azekah over looks the valley of Elah, the location of the famous fight between David and Goliath. We learned that David’s use of a sling was an everyday mundane activity for a sheperd boy, and how that activity became immensely valuable in the face of the 6 cubit tall Philistine. We made our way down into the valley and were each able to find 5 smooth white stones in the very wadi in which David found his. Ask me about all of the implications of the numbers used in this passage!!

The day closed at Lachish. We saw yet another result of what happens when a mighty man mocks the almighty G-d and what happens when a small man opens his heart to G-d’s will.

The day ended with a drive south into the desert. Upon entering the Negev, I could not help but to let some tears fall. The desert is where G-d defined his chosen people. Today G-d uses deserts in each of our lives to define and grow us. I have recently been in my own desert, and was overcome with joy at the transformation resulting from the experience, but also somewhat afraid of transformation is yet to come. We wander out tomorrow.

The final bit of the evening was blessed by a dip in the Dead Sea. Let me just tell you that it was absolutely amazing.

Bless G-d for quirky creations, quirky people, and the quirky situations that we find ourselves in. He has blessed us more than any of us will ever know.

United Team/ Conflicting Worlds

The imposed rule that I have set is that the first cryer of the day is responsible for writing the blog. This is usually in place by breakfast and today was no exception. The long day yesterday was a great way to gel the group but also wiped us out. The clinic took us way into darkness last night. What we planned to do in 2-3 days the local doctor tried to force into 1. The group did an amazing job. As the sun set the mosquitoes came out in FORCE so I took a break to see what was happening in the back of the house and lather in bug spray. Among the amazing sites: Blake taking blood pressure and pulse, Tamara working hand in hand with 2 doctors giving assessments and shots, Amanda giving mouth exams and photographing the many decayed teeth and Nicole doing eye exams in the DARK with flashlight on either end. The exhaustion has brought us to a new place in the trip..

There is a point in every trip here when the realization of how we are perceived here comes crashing on you in a very real way. For Ugandans we are called Mazungu. This term of endearment is one (mostly) of respect. There are very few white people in the villages so we stand out from a distance. In many ways our presence is celebrated. We are invited to sit and visit with strangers, we are invited to shop or buy from any vendor, and we are greeted by most who see us on the street - nearly always from the children. From the surface this word Mazungu has an endearing quality. Translated; however, the word means rich white person. In Uganda rich and white are indistinguishable.

This is the point in the trip where the cross of cultures hits home. I stood in John's (out sponsor child) room yesterday for about 20 minutes. The colored concrete floor had been hand swept before I arrived and I stepped over several pair of flip flops in my muddy running shoes to sit on one of the beds. The room has a standard size locally made metal door and a small window. The walls are plaster taped with notes, report cards and occasionally etched with some art and markings of one of the residents. The wood rafters holding the tin roof are covered with running shoes, back packs, drying clothes and lanyards of the mosquito nets that drape the 3 metal bunk beds. At 2 in the afternoon it was mostly dark in the room and there is no lighting or power. I sat and cried for a while at the contract of our worlds. This room would be unsuitable back home for 2 prisoners. Here six boys were proud to call it home. Proud because in this part of the world a plastered wall and a metal roof are nicer than the street or a mud hut. Proud to have a 4" piece of foam they call a mattress to sleep on. Proud because they come from the streets. I sat there thinking about the house I am building at home... 1 bed for every kid and a bathroom for each sex... A castle to anyone in this country. I was embarrassed. As I stood to leave the room I read the sign at the bottom of the door neatly written "Please remove your shoes".

Our kids eat 3 meal a day. For breakfast they eat porridge - a spiceless watered down version of our oatmeal made from corn. For lunch and dinner (everyday) they eat pinto beans and posho - cornmeal stewed into a mash. At the house we have been eating at a large wooden table covered with 2 table clothes. It takes the whole room to feed the 13+ of us leaving minimal room for a fridge, computer table, floor mounted fan and a cupboard with all of the plates, silverware and coffee mugs. There is a large window facing the front yard that has old white sheets with a blue floral print neatly sewn together and hung on a strip of bailing wire attached to a wooden window frame by 3 temporary drywall screws. Our meals have been different from the kids. WE have been treated to many favorites from here and home. Mac and cheese, fresh fruit and vegetables, fish, chicken, goat, beef and eggs. TO drink we have ice cold bottled water or a selection of Cokes and local sodas. At night when we eat we close the window sheets. I am told that it is to keep the neighbors from looking in. I have my doubts... I am fairly confident that the 6 foot tall plastered courtyard wall keeps their views blocked. Closing them seems to be a bad idea too since it stops the only real airflow into the room. Nevertheless, we close them. I HAVE noticed that they do a fairly good job of disguising what we are eating from the orphans playing on the other side in the front yard. I am not sure they would really mind or be surprised. The only place to wash food is in the back courtyard that connects the house to their rooms and their outdoor unplumbed bathroom. The only way into the house from the courtyard is through a see thru screened door that leads into the kitchen. Needless to say, I am sure they are aware of what we eat. Sitting in the dining room this morning, I really felt like an American as I "earned" the right to blog today. I felt like an American doing our part to "help" the needy hiding behind a transparent sheet.

The truth of our trip is that we have become more aware of what we have and what people here don't. By the time we leave I will have many new and strengthen Ugandan relationships, 11 new American friends and many stories to tell. My hope is that we can look beyond the things we "have" a gain an appreciation for what matters when you don't... Pride for what you do have, thankfulness, and a clinging to God's provision as though life depends on it. It really does regardless of what you "have". My prayer is that both cultures can find genuine discipleship in the process.

Your Kingdom Come

Brian

Side Effects

Wow, I am tired!!! The days are getting long, but no less interesting. Mefloquine is an anti-malarial medication that I am taking while I am here, and if you look it up on Google, you will see that there are some interesting side effects. I have been experiencing some very strange and lucid dreams. At about three this morning, I woke myself and a few others in my room up when I shouted, "Stop!" I was dreaming that we were playing with the children and Colton comes running up and starts spraying me with pesticide. These dreams are so strange...

I woke up at about 6 this morning and again watched most of the sunrise from the front yard. I prepared my lesson for VBS this afternoon and waited for the others to wake. Jaimie, Colton and I went for a pretty good walk through town and were able to interact with a few locals. Everybody in Africa is 'fine' if you ask them. Just before breakfast Jaimie and I went back out and bought some chappatti from a sidewalk (closer to side dirt) vendor. Chappatti is pretty much an extra thick fried tortilla and it is delicious! Breakfast ended up lasting almost until lunch, so the post holes we were planning on digging didn't end up dug. There is this funny concept here that we are told is called Africa Time. Nothing is on time and agendas and schedules are absolutely worthless. A doctor may tell you that he will be over at 9 in the morning and if he shows up after lunch it is no big deal.

After lunch was time for VBS. So much fun! We started by teaching them the song and motions to "River of Life," and I think that most of the non english speaking children learned it faster than I did. I followed this with a teaching introducing Paul to the kids. I then taught about the free gift of love and grace from G-d that Paul discusses in Romans 6 and how this love naturally changes everything within us as we learn to let more of ourselves be given to G-d as explained in Romas 12. The children are very smart. Phil and the New Grace school have done a wonderful job teaching the children. We finished VBS by learning a number of African games and making name tags for the children. Next, we took a trip to a small house that many widows call home that Phil and Hope Africa have been helping along with all of our orphans. The widows welcomed us, danced, and sold a lot of us some beautiful floor mats.

The highlight of my day was definitely meeting a new family member. I have sponsored a child by the name of Paul Munyes. He is 12, loves math, and would love to be a bank manager after finishing school. My BS was earned in mathematics, and I worked at a bank so we do start with something in common. He was very shy when I first met him today, but was soon opening up and smiling a lot. The relational customs here, as I mentioned before, are much more comfortable with little need for personal space. It is completely natural for the boys of any age to come up and just hold my hand. As Munyes became more comfortable, he was soon holding mine.

Blessed are you, Lord, our G-d, King of the universe for giving us life, for sustaining us, and for bringing us to this moment.

Pancakes, Praise, and Pizza

Iganga. Day 2...or is it day 3? Either way, the saga continues! I don't think my new Riverside family realizes just how long winded this gal can be when I was nominated as blogger this morning. So get comfy, you might want to grab a snack and some water.

This morning we were greeted by Colton helping make banana pancakes to the musical stylings of Jack Johnson. That's right folks, Banana Pancakes. Double thumbs up.

Sunday. Worship day! After our lovely breakfast, donning our Sunday accoutrement, we piled into the vehicles. Aza, one of the boys who's crippled from Polio, had been left behind and needed someone to push his wheelchair. Brian promptly volunteered and started the trek towards the church. After we were all finally locked and loaded and headed down the way, we came upon Brian and Aza. Susan promptly raced toward Brain's, ahem, rear, honking. Completely unphased, he promptly sat on the hood as she came to a stop. When they started up again, Aza started turning the chair back and forth so they moved in a serpentine pattern while Brian stuck out his tukus and wagged it about. I'm scarred for life. Thank goodness we were headed for church. Everyone in that car, not to mention within visual distance, needed LOTS of prayer. It became follow the leader. Get a picture: wheelchair, Brian (whose hips don't lie), and a car following very closely, honking the whole way; are you with me here?

Africa Riverside church is part of the school, New Grace, and the service was amazing. I've never seen worship like that. And it had nothing to do with the singing, dancing, clapping, prayer, or sermon, it was their hearts. What a contrast: those with comparatively so little had the most passionate, heart-adoration in their worship of our Lord. The minute the entire congregation sang together, I instantly had a vision of worshipping together in heaven. This visit isn't really a visit; it's an introduction. These are brothers and sisters we'll spend eternity with. I cried. I did that a lot today. I shared during our morning devotion that God continues to bring perspective to my heart. It's a common saying that for those who are lost, this life is the most heaven they'll ever see, while for those who are saved, this is the most hell they'll ever see. What an amazingly vivid picture that is here. That made me the first cryer of the day. And thus, the blogger. Watching them, it's evident the joy of the Lord is their strength; He is their comfort, their provider, their all in all. Here it's more than a concept, more than a Bible lesson. It is very literally visible in their daily lives. In short, church was wonderful: singing, dancing, preaching, sweating, crying, sweating, praying, did I mention sweating?

Next on the agenda? Lunch. We had an extraordinary treat; Phil and Susan took us to a local resort to eat, and word had it that the whole fish was the way to go. Several of us, including me, went for it. I took pictures, and I'm very sad our internet connection prohibits uploading. I can just imagine y'all reading this as you're enjoying breakfast, and BAM! Fish head. Sadly, that awesomeness cannot come to fruition. It. Was. Delicious. We had an opportunity to eat, relax, an enjoy the scenery of the resort.

Susan requested homemade pizza for dinner, and a rumor was spreading that Nicole had the 411 on making some. So we headed into town on the way home to pick up ingredients. The market, which was more like a large convenience store, was an experience; mostly local stuff, and several name brands – even Johnson & Johnson bath products. No mozzarella, so sharp cheddar fit the bill. Let me tell you, Nicole was sweating the thought of making said pizza from scratch. Not Sandra Lee's Semi-Homemade, homemade homemade. She worked tirelessly for hours prepping all the toppings: bell peppers, mushrooms and Iganga breakfast sausage, and making and cooking the dough. I swear I saw her twirling that dough like a native Italiano. Mama mia! I don't know what she was so worried about; mega awesome pizza.

We spent time with Phil's kids and the neighborhood kids; lots of games, and tickling, and laughing, and hugging, and pictures. Colton and Ryan even had the kids singing “I want candy!” at the top of their lungs. Awesomeness.

After such a day, I was sure it was done and I sat to start my blog. Then I heard guitars and singing. Colton, Liz, Kayla and I went out front to discover Ryan sitting in a group of kids in the almost dark, singing with them. We joined in the fun. The girls got us to sing and dance with them. They tried to teach me a dance they do. They laughed hysterically. I can't imagine why, it was perfection. There were two little girls that I put my arm around while we sat and sang, and they didn't let go. They clung to me so gently and lovingly. I had my arm around the torso of a smaller girl, probably 7 or so, and she just kept rubbing the hair on my arm with her hands and face. I'm sure she was just fascinated with a hairy muzungu, but it was so sweet. I used to do something similar to my Mom when I was little; I loved to rub and smell the hair on her arm. You guessed it, I cried as stealthily as possible when I made the connection.

When our time was over, I came inside and started the blog. I got about as far as church when Phil called us out to come and see the dancing. All of the girls were gathered on their back porch singing and dancing so energetically. Which might I add just proves my theory that we're all born with an allotted amount of energy and expend the vast majority of it in our youth. Blake was cutting a rug when I first arrived (I ran for my camera as quickly as possible), then they began selecting us to take turns, yours truly included. Such fun, it was. We were all hootin' and a hollerin' and dancing away. Don't worry, blackmail-worthy photographic evidence will make it back to the states.

Since this will likely be my only blog, I have one final thought. As we all sat around the table tonight, cutting yarn for VBS crafts tomorrow, prepping medical charts, uploading pictures, and me blogging away, I realized something; we are all exhausted long before 8:00PM, but we continually stay up until almost midnight. It's not just the activities or preparations, it's the fellowship. It's the time we have together that we can talk and laugh and recharge. God is so good. He put together a motley crew of Jesus-lovers who love each other too. Each and everyone of them have indelibly marked me, and I can only hope I do the same for them. We genuinely like and enjoy one another, and that's quite a statement.

Africa is not what I expected in almost every way; I have so much yet to share, but that will have to wait for another time. Although I'll be coming home after a while, most of my heart will stay in Africa.

Everyone sends much love, hugs, and kisses to everyone back home. Thank you for holding the rope while we got in the basket. We love you!!!

~Amanda

Arrival in Iganga

When I arrived at the airport a few days ago, my wolf pack was just one lone wolf. It quickly grew to twelve. This is the story of how it grew even further.

What a day! We travelled from Entebbe to Iganga. The distance would probably take only a couple of hours on I-35, but this journey took about six hours. We stopped in Kampala at the Walmart of Uganda, called Game, and a supermarket. We bought snacks and toured the stores for a rather long time while Phil went to secure our hotel reservations for the trip back into town. We continue… Kampala is crazy. Motorcycles, vans, and trucks litter the underdeveloped but massive city and drivers vie for position. We also stopped at Phil’s mechanic’s shop and visited for a while. It was here that I began to learn the hand shaking customs of Uganda. The men softly hold your hand for an extended amount of time. Even knowing this coming in, I couldn’t help but feel somewhat awkward the first time. The men will even walk hand in hand and arm in arm. Colton wouldn’t go for it.

We got back on the road and stared out the windows. The land is beautiful with much more vegetation than I expected. The people are friendly and the children laugh and wave at a van full of muzungus (white people). The driving is hilariously fun. At one point Phil, in the truck ahead, went to pass a big truck and trailer. We follow. Suddenly a Toyota Corona (no typo) passes us as well. Here we are, three wide on a two lane road, and I look up to see the grill of a large Mercedes truck bearing down on us. We avoided catastrophe and I could not stop laughing!

We stopped in a forest at a roadside market. The vehicles were surrounded with men and women holding out chicken on a stick and roasted bananas. We begin with the chicken, which a few of us were admittedly a little alarmed at the appearance. It as insanely delicious! We then begin to see the rest of the “on a stick” specials: livers and gizzards, beef and I think a lizard. The roasted bananas that we were each looking forward to actually terrible and I ended up with Kayla’s half chewed first bite on my lap as she frantically dug for money to buy some beef on a stick to wash out the flavor of the dried out corpse of a banana. We continued down the road.

Entering Iganga we drove through a stretch of bars and restaurants in little mud-brick shacks. The televisions inside were so loud that we could hear the vuvuzelas from the street. We arrive at Phil’s home to children yelling “Phillipo!” We emerge from the van to what seems like thousands of smiling and laughing faces. Children run, spin, and dance to us to hug and to say thank you before we have done anything. The tears were impossible to hold back. My final initial greeting was a darling little boy staring up at me with somewhat timid eyes but also full of curiosity. I crouch and hold his chubby little body close.

After unloading, we come out to play. We spend an hour arm wrestiling, roaring, dancing, singing, hugging and holding hands. At one point I think I had fifteen little hands in each of mine. My wolf pack had grown. We howled like a pack of twelve year old Ugandans and a bunch of happy muzungus. Eventually, it was time to say farewell for the night Thank yous are amazing and tears come again. Dinner and laughter say goodnight.

Father, thank you for more safe travelling, for good meals, and great company. Thank you for opening our eyes and breaking our hearts only slowly- any faster and we may be blinded. Please give us hearts for all we meet. Please give us hands to do your work. Please give us feet to walk the path. Please give us eyes that see like yours. Please give us ears that hear the cries. Father, please continue to protect us. Please continue to break our hearts. Please continue to hold our family’s hearts in yours. In Jesus name.

Genesis

Well... So I am brand new to this whole blogging thing. I have read many a blog before, but have not actually ever made my own contribution to the cacophony of the internet's most eloquent voices.

So, I guess the first question is, "who am I?" I am Ryan Jacobson. I started as the Missions Coordinator at Alamo Heights United Methodist and New Heights Community Church roughly a month ago. I come by way of a couple years at USAA and the years previous to that earning a Math degree.

How did I get here? I think that the best way to answer that question is to let my story unfold slowly as I learn the story of the new place that I find myself. The way that the stories of this new community, the people within it, and my story begin to interact with and entwine with each other will be an adventure for me and I hope for many others along the way.

Tomorrow, I embark on the beginning of five weeks of amazing travel. I will be heading to Iganga, Uganda with a crew from Riverside Community Church. The Riverside Community has for several years supported an orphanage in Iganga. Under the leadership of an amazing man named Phil, the orphanage has provided food, shelter, education, and support for hundreds of children. I am honored to continue our relationship with these people and greatly look forward to spending time with our children there. We will be doing a VBS, medical testing and inoculations, and vocational training. Most importantly though, we will spend time loving on hundreds of kids that need it.

Following the two weeks in Iganga, I will return home for a few days and then leave again for Israel. I will be following Pastor Scott Heare as we hike the country from the desert to the Galilee, learning the historical, geographical, and cultural context of the Bible.

I look forward to getting to know everyone in this new community. I look forward to telling you my story, but mostly I look forward to hearing yours.

Check out these links for more info...
http://www.supporthopeafrica.org/
http://www.followtherabbi.com/