Thought I would write a blog sense I have some time.

As of right now its 8:36pm on April the 17th and my flight leaves in about an hours or so. Excited about going home but will miss Kenya. Just got some tea. It will be my last time drinking tea in Africa! Its sad but I know God has a plan for me and He will tell me whats next when the timing is right. I am really going to miss Kenya, Africa. I made friends who became family. Didn't know I could love a different culture and people so much! I thank God for that! It is such a blessing being able to adapt and love a culture that it totally different! God has His plan for that place and he had me play a very very small part of it and I am eternally grateful and will never be the same again!

Some might say "Its was such a sacrifice to go there, live and be taking out of your own culture!" My response is "Thank you for that but it was not a sacrifice it was a privilege to serve God, be apart of His family and follow Him."
Yes, it was hard, difficult, and wanted to give up sometimes. Life is not easy if it was it wouldn't be called life. That is the adventure of it don't know whats around the corner until you go there. Taking that step of faith not knowing whats around the corner, knowing that its the right choose and right way but you have never been there.

Over the past 24 hours I have talked to 4 totally different people all with their own story. One of them was a South Korean guy who works with a company that sells cranes, has an office in Montgomery, Alabama and travels a LOT, his name was Sonny or Jang Hwan Seon! Another man is a Nigerian and is an actor and director for plays. He was on his way to Germany to start directing one. This man helped me out so much and was super nice. This is just a little example of what happens in life you never know who is going to pop up and help you or sometimes even make your day worse. We just need to keep our eyes focused on the Main Goal and when good things happen praise the Lord for it and when bad things happen keep praising the Lord.

God made people different and its beautiful cause no one is same!

Tomorrow is a new day and today will never be like the rest or the others like today!

:D

As some have known that we (Jason, Jo, Nate, Tim and I) got a chance to climb Mount Kenya and it was awesome!!!! And that does not even come close to what the experience was like. It was hard physically climbing to around a 2 mile high peck in 3 days when you are use to being 300ft above sea level. LOL I felt like I was smoker for a 100 years. LOL HAHA
But spiritually it was the greatest awakening in me. I was so astonished after ever tree, corner, bush, rock, flower, etc. That I just could not stop being excited and full of joy and I wanted to shout with ALL my might and tell the whole world how stink-in beautiful and amazing this is. I just had this cringing filling to share everything that was going on and everything I saw. Thinking of people that I wanted to share this with and wanting them so badly to be there.
And then....
BAM it hit me like a ton of bricks, God said to me “How much more the Gospel?!”
Then I thought and said to myself “This is so true, if I want to share this experience so badly with everybody in the world then why don’t I want to share the Gospel that much more.”
So I want to challenge you (along with myself) with this “How much more the Gospel?!” How much more will God take over our lives? How much more will we let Him take over? How much more are we willing to be on our faces in AWE of God? How much more are we willing to get out of the way and left God work through us? How much more are we willing to give our lives into the hands of the Creator’s?
“How much more the Gospel?!”

All Because Of Christ

I am a beloved child of God.
I am saved through grace by faith.
My died flesh is destroyed and will not resurrect.
I am Clean!

Screaming and singing freedom.
Screaming and singing dependent.
Screaming and singing with Angels.

Screaming and singing because there is no chains on me.
Screaming and singing for I cannot do this on my own.
Screaming and singing in a high place where I dont deserve.

Satan doesnt have a grip on me.
I am a beloved child of God.
I am save through grace by faith.
My died flesh is destroyed and will not resurrect.
I am clean.

All because of Christ.
He came and emptied Himself.
To the point of death.
Not regarding equality to God.
Bridging that gap.

All because of Christ.
Looking at the eternal out come.
Not at that day of torture.
Placing Satan under His feet.
The death maker was defeated.
Tearing the vail for communion.

All because of Christ.
We are free!

Screaming and singing freedom.
Screaming and singing dependent.
Screaming and singing with Angels.

Screaming and singing because there is no chains on me.
Screaming and singing for I cannot do this on my own.
Screaming and singing in a high place where I dont deserve.

All because of Christ!

Betrayed By A Kiss:

Betrayed by a kiss,
Betrayed by a kiss You were
Knowing fully well that You were going to be tortured.
Nailed and Pierced
Nailed and Pierced You were
To a tree with the last gasp of breath
You whispered ‘It is finished’
Then the blood and water fell.

 

This is a blog that was inspired when we were preparing for our Turkey Day feast (Thanksgiving). I though of a really cool name, so i thought I would write about our preparation, our feast, and experience.Honestly Turkey Day is not the same without your immediate family, the food tastes different, and what your used to, just is not there no matter how hard you try.

BUT, this is the GREATEST thing about being part of God’s family, no matter how uncomfortable, lonely, or hard situation your in, He is always there and He provides more comfort than your mother and more protection than your father can, cause He was our first love, He was there before our parents beginning and there parents begging and so on and so on. HECK GOD IS THE BEGINNING AND WAS THERE BEFORE TIME. (Really meditate, focus, repeat on that saying and read John 1:1, it will BLOW YOUR TOP!)

So we first started out by slaughtering the turkeys, we did it a new way i have never seen before which takes the head right off without spilling blood everywhere, it very intriguing and cool. When we were gutting them we found all the different types of stages of eggs, we even found one that was fixin to come out of the turkey and was hard and everything. Thats enough for the detail. lol!

(This is me [of cource] with 2 fully undeveloped turkey eggs, which only have the yoke in them) 

Then the next day our awesome leaders here, cook the turkey and some sides and really tried to make it fill homey. Man, they really love Jesus, they show it so much and really love us interns like one of their own. They do so much for us not even seen, just so we can get the most out of what God has us here for. :D

(This is Jason Witt he is a very good cook [and he can kick my butt at Halo] and he is one of our leaders.)

(This is Bekah Witt she is Jason's wife and another one of our leaders [plus she can make killer deserts].)

One thing they did was rapped the table in paper and wrote,“I Am Thankful For” and we wrote on it things that we are thankful for. And when I started thinking “what am I thankful for?” It hit me I am very thankful for my family and how much God has given me a love for them, and how much He is FAITHFUL even when I do not put faith in Him. And How He loved me first, THAT GETS ME ALL THE TIME! :D
“There is no fear in love; but perfect love casts out fear, because fear involves punishment, and the one who fears is not perfected in love. We love, because He first loved us.” 1 John 4:18-19

(Lets just say it was a good looking table of thanks!)

Also another thing i realized was that I am truly blessed to have a team of like minded people that I am with. Cause honestly this would be harder if I was by myself.
This Thanksgiving was also fun because we had 3 different cultures represented. We an Indian couple fromSouthern India (who have an awesome story), we had 2 Kenyans there who work with us and of course us Americans.
He all had a great time, Praise the Lord for letting us do this and have the ability to be a American sometimes. :D
THANK YOU FOR YOUR BLESSINGS GOD!
For most times I dont even recognize them. Your to good to me!

(Time and I injoying our Thanksgiving meal!)

"When the blood fell and stained the sand, Satan was beaten.
When the blood fell, the wrath of God was satisfied.
When the water fell and claimed the land, purity cleansed the hearts.
When the water fell, salvation penetrated souls.
When the blood fell and stained the sand, the Law was fulfilled.
When the blood fell the Truth of prophecy came to pass.
When the water fell and claimed the land the cup of righteousness was pouring over.
When the water fell, pure refining gold was complete.
When the blood and water fell the earth was baptized with the drink offering.
When the blood and water fell it was time for resurrection, a time for sanctification.
When the blood and water fell and stained the sand, demons stood and screamed.
When the blood and water fell and stained the sand, people were redeemed.
When the blood and water fell, it stained the sand."

This poem was inspired by God in me!

([{This is a blog about what it’s like to live in the contacts that I am living in}])

p.S: It may sound that I am against how people in America live during this blog, I am not against it at all. And I am NOT discriminating against this culture or there beliefs. 

I just want to confess before I start that I really like wearing man skirts.
(Which is called a Kikoy)

The Culture I live in is almost a complete opposite of how American’s live, minus some of the culture in the South, lol. The culture is based off relationships, talking and spending time with people, its more important than doing things and getting thinks done.  It really kind of cool, they value family so much, and people are more important than anything. Its okay to be late, in fact its implied that you be late, when they say be there at 4:00pm people probably wont show up until 5:00pm or 6:00pm. I like that! :D The culture is also very hospitable and they respect elderly people way more than we do in the states.
I honestly think we in the states could really learn from this culture.
The temperature here is hotter than most parts of the states, very dry and not a lot of wild life that you would typically think of when thinking of Africa. I have seen giraffes, wort hogs, crocodile or alligator (i can never remember the difference) [dont tell my dad he might disown me, lol haha jk], hippos, lots of donkeys*, lots of goats*, camels*, chickens*, cows* and different types of monkeys. (The ones with stars on them are the animals I see daily)
The basis of what I eat is rice, beans, wheat/starch, and some meat.
I live in a concrete house with 3 other men; Nate Hadravah, Tim Kopylov, and Harrison Akubala (he teaches us Swahili and works for BCOM [the college I am in])
I walk almost everywhere, which is great.
There are many different tribes that live here, all with their own way of living and traditions. They all have a basis thats the same but not all are alike. I mostly live among Salamis, Kikuyu, Kambas, Bantus, Ormas and some others that I cannot remember.
There are three main religions that are followed/practiced here:

1. Islam= The study/practice of the Quran and Hadith, believing in Allah (God) and his last prophet Mohammed.
2. African Traditional Religion (ATR)= There is no specific name for it because in different tribes there are different ways of practicing and believing. Most of them have a basis of witchcraft, ancestral worship, and believing in a spirit world; all of some type.
3. Christianity= The study/practice of the Bible, believing in Jesus Christ who came from the creator of all, God.

Some times all three of these beliefs are combined in a way. If ones does not work they might go try another. For example: if someone goes to the doctor in town and does not get better, they will go to the witchdoctor and if that does not work, then they will pray to Mohammed and might do some ritual, and then if that does not work they will pray to Jesus Christ. (Just an example does not always happen)
Last P.S.:
Not all of Kenya or all of Africa is like this, these cultures and beliefs are just are in the area were I live!
Tty when I wright again!

([{To fully understand this picture you need to fathom that on marking your property here in Kenya is a wall that is about 6-10 feet high and around 5 inches think, that is was marks your land, keeps your privacy, and helps with random people coming in.}])

So this past week we were helping to do some improvements on a school that we have taught at and played with the kids. A one of the things we were doing was putting three new tire swings up for the kids so they can play on. I got the privilege (it was flipping awesome) to climb the trees that the tire swings were going to be on. [This was probably the coolest thing because, A. I felt like a kid cause I was climbing something and B. I also felt like a man cause I was doing labor with my hands that I new how to do, plus I got nicked and scratched from the trees! :D] The last tree I got the climb was a tree that branched out enough that I could see outside the school compound and got to see the world go on doing it’s business.
A thought came to my head when I saw these two totally different worlds, that were 5 inches away from each other. The thought was “WOW, look how much 6 inches can determine on how you look at the world.” (I thought it was 6 inches until I measured it)
Immediately after that I saw two totally different worlds, a world of Bondage that was bound by fear of the truth but at the same time it was curious what was on the other side. Also I saw a world that was full of Freedom going any direction the land can take it. The Bound world knew that if they tasted or experiences the Freedom that was just 5 inches away they would never want to go back into a world surrounded by walls. They could even hear people laughing, loud music, and movements of motion. At the same time they are thinking, “Why leave? We have everything we need here and we don’t know whats really out there, were safe here.” Still the curiosity of wanting to know “What is out there?” and to see what they hear everyday. The world of Freedom is so welcoming to share its liberty and joy.
He has his arm’s wide open, waiting for your arrive to the land of liberation.
Freedom is that close all you need to do is to step 5 inches from the Bondage.

As the sun is awakening from his sleep, it starts to shine his light on the darkness. Things become visible, sin is left to creep back into the sewers where it belongs. People want to be in the light where they can see but really, what is their heart crying out to do? It is torn between wanting to see, so it's able to do things of the day and getting in the darkness so it may do what it fills without exposing it's self. Even though the sun will begone and come back the next day, it wants to be in the dark. Thinking it will be satisfied, the longer in the dark the more it depends and gets held down by the heavy burden, craving a need for more and more. Just as it has had enough and can't take the height of the darkness, dawn starts to brake along the horizon, and it sees hope and redemption coming out of the valley. Once it catches the rays of the sun, it's restored, redeemed, cleansed, and a new. As it soaks up the radiant light its gets distracted by the thought of "night is coming" and it cannot stop it. Panicking frantically, running around not knowing what to do. Peace hit him and came over him saying "The dark will come, temptation will be knocking, creatures will be around the corner wanting and waiting to devour you. But, YOU MUST HOLD FAST and grip strongly to the truth and satisfaction of the coming light, for it is coming and we cannot stop. Even now in the darkness seems never-ending, painful, heavy, and thirsting. You have been restored, redeemed, cleansed, and made a new by the light. Again hold fast and push through for the sun will come again and utterly destroy the darkness. When it has devoured the darkness, the darkness will be obliterated. If ever in doubt look up to the moon is shows the coming of the light. The sun is coming quickly its just beyond the horizon, when it comes it will never leave. Darkness will be no more and light will prevail, no more suffering and torment for it is lost and forgotten. When in doubt look the the moon."

So I read this passage out of Nehemiah about a month ago and the Lord has really pressed on my heart to share about it. I dont know why but He is!
So let me set up the background of the story Nehemiah got told by his brother Hanani and people from Judah (Ch.1:2-3) that, “The remnant there in the province who survived the captivity are in great distress and reproach and the wall of Jerusalem is broken down and its gates are burned with fire.” Through this Nehemiah gets a bunch of people to go with him to Jerusalem to rebuild the wall. This may not sound exciting but this hit me. (what i am fixin to tell you)
So while they were rebuilding the wall the people were getting discourage from people feeding lies down their backs. (Ch.4:2-3) But then Nehemiah gets up to alert the people and to encourage the people he says (vs14) “Do not be afraid of them; remember the Lord who is great and awesome, and fight for your brothers, your sons, your daughters, your wives and your house.” After the enemy herd that they knew what was going on and that God destroyed their plan they returned to the wall but they were ready for war at any moment. (vs.16-) “From that day on, half of my servants carried on the work while half of them held the spears, the shield, the bows, and the breastplates; and the captains were behind the whole house of Judah. Those who were rebuilding the wall and those who carried burdens took their load with one hand doing the work and the other holding a weapon. As for the builders, each wore his sword girded at his side as he built, while the trumpeter stood near me.”
I am stressing the bolded parts because they were ready for battle at any moment ready to go to war!
We need to be ready for war at anytime, even when we are busy, think we are busy, or when we get lazy. We need to be flexible, alert, and ready to what God is going to call us to do, what He has called us to do, or what He will call us to do.  
BE READY FOR WAR AT ALL TIMES!
Ephesians 6:12 “For our struggle is not against flesh and blood, but against the rulers, against the powers, against the world forces of this darkness, against the spiritual forces of wickedness in the heavenly places.”