Today I've been in the states for nearly a week. (In Chicago). It's hard to leave the people I have grown to love as family and to once again walk out of an environment that I've grown accustom to. If I didn't have my family to go to, I don't know what I'd do.
From the teaching in Africa God showed me "Hey, being a servant IS hard work."
I have always seemed to think that Mother Teresa was just so happy to be working with diseased, crazy, and sick people that she never had a hard day, but just tightened her belt and kept working.
God has also been teaching me about forgiveness. As I return home from Africa I am being re-introduced into our culture. The billboards, the television, and many other provocative things are everywhere. I had begun to hate myself for being so fallible. I was praying to God saying "How can you forgive such a hypocrite as me? God please take me from this earth that I won't continue to sin against you and so dishonor your name in myself!"
Though I felt like a complete scum bag, I felt drawn to keep putting my trust in the word of God. "I'll either be condemned or redeemed by what I read." I read about Solomon in 1Kings. Then I thought of King David murdering for Bathsheba. "God can forgive me." What did they do to be forgiven? They asked. A simple thing to do, but at times it is impossibly difficult.
Gisele took me to hang out with some of her friends. As I warmed up and began to talk I met Jesse and John. Both students of seminary and extremely deep in thought. We talked about many things but one thing that has caught me in particular is when Jesse talked about the book of James. The theme of the first chapter is Perseverance. Jesse said "If you view the other books of the new testament in the light of Perseverance then they will make a lot more sense."
You should persevere in asking forgiveness. Repentance in Greek is "Agreement". So repentance is agreeing with God that you are a sinner and agreeing that Jesus has cleansed you. God loves you and as John (mentioned above) would say, "Yeah man, it's not a one and done type of deal!" We HAVE to persevere in all things because (Romans 5:3b-5) we know that suffering produces perseverance; perseverance, character; and character, hope. And hope does not disappoint us, because God has poured out his love into our hearts by the Holy Spirit, whom he has given us.
Lastly I would like to say thank you to everyone who was willing to let me go out and be a tool for The Lord. Thank you to everyone who has been following me on this blog.
I pray that this may in some way influence you to step out in faith and show God's love to those who are right under your noses. Those who you may not know because the Ideal of serving others has over-stepped them in search of "The right" others.
Psalm 136 all
Please don't live your life on this earth for God because someone has said, "The bible says... and if you don't do that then your faith is dead." but read the word to fall in love with your creator. What better testament to love is there if you have lost the world but trust in The Lord even then to fill your cup.
Love produces actions that astound the world, THAT is what we should strive for as people. Not to fulfill some duty to the man up stairs but to lay down our lives (Everything) to the one who loves so much that his love became flesh.
God bless you. Amen.
Wednesday, July 18, 2007
Sunday, July 15, 2007
Coming Home
Hi everyone, I'm in Chicago and have a few good stories to share about how I got here. (This post is just a story of how I got home... the next one is the more serious and in focus one.)
My story begins last Sunday when I was dropped off at the airport by my missions team with Gloria Shin and Ron Dillon who were also headed home. We stood in all the necessary lines but when I spoke to the British Airways representative to validate my ticket he told me that my name wasn't in the system... Hmm... I'm not too worried yet.
I was sent to the main BA (British Airways) office in the airport. After talking to the lady in that office I was informed that when American Airlines messed with my ticket in Utah a month ago they forgot to reschedule my return ticket from Africa to London. "It's not a problem." Her confidence gave me peace when she said that. "Well just send a message to BA's office in London and we'll get you on this flight, just wait outside for ten minutes." OK, no big deal.
As I was waiting a man who had helped me find the office and was part of BA leaned over and wagged his finger for me to lean in and listen. "Hey, sometimes they won't really help you unless you give them a bribe!" His eyes going big to show me just how serious he was. My stomach went sour and I immediately went on the defensive.
"How much money do you have on you? I can go in and talk to the lady in there." He asked. When I spoke to him I raised my voice just enough so that the other people in the dark hallway could hear.
"Hey I don't have any money for a bribe! and no my friends don't have any money on them either." He started shushing me and kept prodding me for money so I told him that I'd talk to the lady myself. He disappeared before I got into the office. I talked to the lady and she was indignant that he would say something like that. She was getting really chapped off that someone had said that too me. She also assured me that as soon as she knew anything she'd contact me.
I waited five more minutes in the hall before she called me into the office and informed me that the BA office in London had closed and not sent any message to her. I could be put on standby but the Nigerian office had already over booked the flight so I wouldn't get on.
Wow! that was unexpected. Gloria and Ron who had been watching my luggage downstairs only had another 20 minutes to head into customs so that they'd board on time. None of us had the number for Haven of Hope or John our director's number. I was stuck at the airport. Not before long Gloria and Ron were forced to depart and say goodbye.
Before I tried to sleep on the cold metal bench in the airport I explored the people a bit and met a guy named Roy who was the night-shift fireman for the airport. He said that he'd take me over to the BA's main office in town when he got off work around 7:30 a.m.
I slept pretty well and kept waking up to make sure that my luggage was still there. I was finally woken by Roy who took me to the BA office and bought me porridge and a sandwich from some street vendors.
The main office was supposed to get me a flight that morning but they told me that I'd have to wait till Wednesday for a flight. It was Monday. Roy took me back to the airport.
I was upstairs just outside the restaurant reading when I decided that I was going to find my way back to Haven of Hope. I remembered that it was in a place called Nsawam and the TroTro stopped at a place called Midea. I went into the restaurant to ask and was introduced to the owners (Two ladies in the back) who instructed me on the proper TroTro's to take, but after they found out that I only had 30,000 Cedis ($2.80 American currency) they decided to take me straight to the last TroTro I needed to take.
I threw my baggage into the back of their truck and after we had done all of their errands in Accra they put me onto the right TroTro (A van with at least 10 people shoved in) to Nsawam and I got off at Midea. From Media I walked halfway down the 4mile dirt road to Haven of Hope before caving and hailing a cab.
Needless to say, John and the rest of the people at Haven were surprised to see me. I was able to stay there for two more days helping out and such before being driven back to the airport and having everything work out fine. I'm now in Chicago as I said before and God has made himself evident as my provider and protector through all of these events.
God bless you all. My next post will come before I get home.
My story begins last Sunday when I was dropped off at the airport by my missions team with Gloria Shin and Ron Dillon who were also headed home. We stood in all the necessary lines but when I spoke to the British Airways representative to validate my ticket he told me that my name wasn't in the system... Hmm... I'm not too worried yet.
I was sent to the main BA (British Airways) office in the airport. After talking to the lady in that office I was informed that when American Airlines messed with my ticket in Utah a month ago they forgot to reschedule my return ticket from Africa to London. "It's not a problem." Her confidence gave me peace when she said that. "Well just send a message to BA's office in London and we'll get you on this flight, just wait outside for ten minutes." OK, no big deal.
As I was waiting a man who had helped me find the office and was part of BA leaned over and wagged his finger for me to lean in and listen. "Hey, sometimes they won't really help you unless you give them a bribe!" His eyes going big to show me just how serious he was. My stomach went sour and I immediately went on the defensive.
"How much money do you have on you? I can go in and talk to the lady in there." He asked. When I spoke to him I raised my voice just enough so that the other people in the dark hallway could hear.
"Hey I don't have any money for a bribe! and no my friends don't have any money on them either." He started shushing me and kept prodding me for money so I told him that I'd talk to the lady myself. He disappeared before I got into the office. I talked to the lady and she was indignant that he would say something like that. She was getting really chapped off that someone had said that too me. She also assured me that as soon as she knew anything she'd contact me.
I waited five more minutes in the hall before she called me into the office and informed me that the BA office in London had closed and not sent any message to her. I could be put on standby but the Nigerian office had already over booked the flight so I wouldn't get on.
Wow! that was unexpected. Gloria and Ron who had been watching my luggage downstairs only had another 20 minutes to head into customs so that they'd board on time. None of us had the number for Haven of Hope or John our director's number. I was stuck at the airport. Not before long Gloria and Ron were forced to depart and say goodbye.
Before I tried to sleep on the cold metal bench in the airport I explored the people a bit and met a guy named Roy who was the night-shift fireman for the airport. He said that he'd take me over to the BA's main office in town when he got off work around 7:30 a.m.
I slept pretty well and kept waking up to make sure that my luggage was still there. I was finally woken by Roy who took me to the BA office and bought me porridge and a sandwich from some street vendors.
The main office was supposed to get me a flight that morning but they told me that I'd have to wait till Wednesday for a flight. It was Monday. Roy took me back to the airport.
I was upstairs just outside the restaurant reading when I decided that I was going to find my way back to Haven of Hope. I remembered that it was in a place called Nsawam and the TroTro stopped at a place called Midea. I went into the restaurant to ask and was introduced to the owners (Two ladies in the back) who instructed me on the proper TroTro's to take, but after they found out that I only had 30,000 Cedis ($2.80 American currency) they decided to take me straight to the last TroTro I needed to take.
I threw my baggage into the back of their truck and after we had done all of their errands in Accra they put me onto the right TroTro (A van with at least 10 people shoved in) to Nsawam and I got off at Midea. From Media I walked halfway down the 4mile dirt road to Haven of Hope before caving and hailing a cab.
Needless to say, John and the rest of the people at Haven were surprised to see me. I was able to stay there for two more days helping out and such before being driven back to the airport and having everything work out fine. I'm now in Chicago as I said before and God has made himself evident as my provider and protector through all of these events.
God bless you all. My next post will come before I get home.
Thursday, June 28, 2007
Pondering and purpose
This may be the last time I get to talk to you... Short I know. BUT! I thank all of you for allowing me to have this experience.
Bible verse is first today and it comes from Psalm 18
Psalm 18: 2
"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
God has been good and has provided me with many things this week including: Guidance, Wisdom, Healing, and Love.
STORY:
Yesterday we visited the house of Chris. Chris is one of our Ghanaian teaching partners. while we were there he served us with lunch. Lunch of course was a doughy ball of banku and a half a fish staring at me. It was the best I've ever had. We had it with a bean soup that tasted like lasagna.
Later, Christ handed out gifts and we relaxed for a while. Here's what makes the story valid. I snuck out back and sat on a plastic lawn chair and thought a while. The scene was beautiful! There was a breeze, the area we were at had minimal litter, and there were amazing clouds guilded with palm leaves. That's when God opened my mind and said... "Travis, this isn't for you. You are called to be a revolutionary, and that is in Utah. You are called to have revolutionary love! That can happen in Utah." I realized that, Sure, This place is beautiful but it doesn't suit me. I thought, "Where can I help most?" and it's right where God had me.
Utah is my Ireland.
If you know the story of Saint Patrick, He was taken to Ireland as a child and raised among a Multi-diety culture and eventually ran away. After studying for quite some time he went back to the people of ireland and you probably know most of the three leaf clover story.
I feel that I've been captive in my mission field the whole time but God has used this mission to teach me and then retourn me to that place.
Many people here have thier African name and their Christian name. My english name is Travis and my new christian name is Patrick (Seeing as Patrick is not in the bible it's not legitimate but it's good enough for me)
God has given me a gift today and it is the gift of being tounge tied. I want to say many deep and profound things to show off how much I'm learning and doing in Africa but I'm befuddled. I know that I've learned these things, and I know that I'm falling deeper in love with God every day, so I'll just let you see the difference in my life when I get back.
I want to say one last thing before I go.
Teaching these children has been one of the most difficult and testing things that I've ever done mentally and nearly as much physically (heat, dehydration, sickness). Many of our classes ages range from 14-21 and I'm supposed keep their attention and keep them involved in the lesson.
I ask God "Lord, how am I making a difference in these kids lives? Am I really helping them to build good character? Have any of them truly given their lives to Jesus and to You?" and he answered me through Cheryll (our american team leader). I tossed some of these questions her way and she pretty much told me... "Well Travis, you never know, but you have to do what your called to do!" Cheryll has been a teacher/bus driver for nearly 30 years, and she told me that you can never truly know if you've made a difference but you leave that to God and just DO what he asks you to DO.
Frustrating, but an area that I'm giving to The Lord.
Ok, Thanks for following me and my journey to Africa. I will try to post again before I come home and maybe once when I'm there for the hind sight aspect but till then, only God knows.
May God grant you a vision for the future, and may you be wise enough to follow it.
Amen
Bible verse is first today and it comes from Psalm 18
Psalm 18: 2
"The Lord is my rock, my fortress and my deliverer; my God is my rock, in whom I take refuge. He is my shield and the horn of my salvation, my stronghold."
God has been good and has provided me with many things this week including: Guidance, Wisdom, Healing, and Love.
STORY:
Yesterday we visited the house of Chris. Chris is one of our Ghanaian teaching partners. while we were there he served us with lunch. Lunch of course was a doughy ball of banku and a half a fish staring at me. It was the best I've ever had. We had it with a bean soup that tasted like lasagna.
Later, Christ handed out gifts and we relaxed for a while. Here's what makes the story valid. I snuck out back and sat on a plastic lawn chair and thought a while. The scene was beautiful! There was a breeze, the area we were at had minimal litter, and there were amazing clouds guilded with palm leaves. That's when God opened my mind and said... "Travis, this isn't for you. You are called to be a revolutionary, and that is in Utah. You are called to have revolutionary love! That can happen in Utah." I realized that, Sure, This place is beautiful but it doesn't suit me. I thought, "Where can I help most?" and it's right where God had me.
Utah is my Ireland.
If you know the story of Saint Patrick, He was taken to Ireland as a child and raised among a Multi-diety culture and eventually ran away. After studying for quite some time he went back to the people of ireland and you probably know most of the three leaf clover story.
I feel that I've been captive in my mission field the whole time but God has used this mission to teach me and then retourn me to that place.
Many people here have thier African name and their Christian name. My english name is Travis and my new christian name is Patrick (Seeing as Patrick is not in the bible it's not legitimate but it's good enough for me)
God has given me a gift today and it is the gift of being tounge tied. I want to say many deep and profound things to show off how much I'm learning and doing in Africa but I'm befuddled. I know that I've learned these things, and I know that I'm falling deeper in love with God every day, so I'll just let you see the difference in my life when I get back.
I want to say one last thing before I go.
Teaching these children has been one of the most difficult and testing things that I've ever done mentally and nearly as much physically (heat, dehydration, sickness). Many of our classes ages range from 14-21 and I'm supposed keep their attention and keep them involved in the lesson.
I ask God "Lord, how am I making a difference in these kids lives? Am I really helping them to build good character? Have any of them truly given their lives to Jesus and to You?" and he answered me through Cheryll (our american team leader). I tossed some of these questions her way and she pretty much told me... "Well Travis, you never know, but you have to do what your called to do!" Cheryll has been a teacher/bus driver for nearly 30 years, and she told me that you can never truly know if you've made a difference but you leave that to God and just DO what he asks you to DO.
Frustrating, but an area that I'm giving to The Lord.
Ok, Thanks for following me and my journey to Africa. I will try to post again before I come home and maybe once when I'm there for the hind sight aspect but till then, only God knows.
May God grant you a vision for the future, and may you be wise enough to follow it.
Amen
Tuesday, June 26, 2007
Sickness and Speedy Healing
Hello everyone!
I have much more too say and once again: little time to say it.
This last weekend we headed back to the orphanage for our Rest and Relaxation. Many of our group held off thier sickness till we got into the orphanage then they were bed ridden... luckily God healed them within the next day! Yay God moment.
I began to talk to the friendly local Solomon. I found out that he's my age and is finishing Junior Secondary School. He's a really nice guy. He invited me to go to Kotoko with him for lunch so I agreed and we headed out around 1:30. Little did I know, Kotoko was about 15 minutes away on bike. *chuckles* I borrowed the local childrens pastor's bike and Solomon took the local seamstress' bike. Aparently he's on good terms with her.
We rode into town on the dirt road full of potholes and sandy areas and all the kids that saw me once again yelled "Yevu Yevu Bon Sua!" which means "White Man White Man...the rest is in french" and so I asked Solomon what Black man is in his language and he said "Amebo" with an "EH" sound on the E. The next kids we saw I called out "Amebo Amebo Bon Sua!" and they laughed really hard. I also score points with locals by counting to five.
Back to the story. We rode into town and Solomons friend the cloth maker made us some FuFu soup and we bought goat meat from the market along with some Tea bread. We went to her house to eat it and Solomon taught me that you are not supposed to chew it, but swallow it whole. I had a rough time to say little. The mixture is like tapioca with sand in it. It is a dough mixture containing either: Corn flower, Corn flower and kasava root, or made purely of kasava root. Ours was the pure Kasava root.
After eating, solomon and I rode back to the orphanage. We got there just in time to join the kids annual dance time. Childrens Pastor, Sammi, had a boom box and the kids were dancing the traditional african dances to christian praise music. It was a blast, and regina taught me some sweet moves.
The next day we departed to Aflao but I wasn't feeling good. The goat didn't sit well in my stomach. By the time we got the hotel I was better but Lo' and behold, 2 o'clock in the morning the goat wanted to be let out of the pen. I'll cut that part of the story short and just tell you that I wasn't feeling up to teaching that morning.
The sick feeling I had was soo familiar, then it clicked! I have E Coli. ARGH! As I lay in bed I finished reading the book I 'd brought (The Hobbit). I then thought about the conversation I had with Stacy this weekend. We talked about how we were still kind of in the dark as far as the old testament goes, because it seems just like a list of rules and names for Jewish laws and genealogy. I looked at the list of books and was surprised to find that this was quite the opposite. From Joshua to Job it's all a story.
I'm gonna read it!
So, back to the sick travis in the Makavo Hotel. I began to read the Old testament and I'm now through Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and am finishing 1st samuel. it's really neat to see all of the stories (like samson and delilah) in context, and to read about the history of God's people.
Also, while I was laying in bed my teaching partner Julious kept teaching and at many of the schools, the kids asked about me and julious told them that my body had broken down and that they should pray for me, so I have about 600-700 kids prayers on me. Those are only half of those we're teaching. Still, 600 prayers will do a lot to a person.
Today is my second day of E.Coli and I'm feeling much better than I thought I would. I ate bread today, and for dinner had some veggie soup. I can't believe how fast I'm healing and how interesting the Old Testament is.
God is good. I also finished reading an amazing book called "How Good is Good Enough" It really legitimatelyi shows that the "Good people go to heaven" theology is bogus, and tells the world that there is no way other than Jesus. It made me want to make a shirt that says "Good People Don't go to Heaven" and on the back it'd say "Ask Me Why" with a little John 3:16 quoted below it. It's so amazing how much God has given us through the death and ressurection of Christ! How unfair God is to give us what we don't deserve. Life. Thank you lord for your love.
I think that shirt (or something like it) could be a great help with witnessing. Many of my friends back home think that good works and improving the world will earn them a spot in heaven. What I want to ask them is "How good is good enough?" and many questions similar to that because nobody can tell you.
Ok, I've only got like 10 minutes left, but I love you all and thank you soo much for your prayers. they've been helping soo much.
God bless.
I have much more too say and once again: little time to say it.
This last weekend we headed back to the orphanage for our Rest and Relaxation. Many of our group held off thier sickness till we got into the orphanage then they were bed ridden... luckily God healed them within the next day! Yay God moment.
I began to talk to the friendly local Solomon. I found out that he's my age and is finishing Junior Secondary School. He's a really nice guy. He invited me to go to Kotoko with him for lunch so I agreed and we headed out around 1:30. Little did I know, Kotoko was about 15 minutes away on bike. *chuckles* I borrowed the local childrens pastor's bike and Solomon took the local seamstress' bike. Aparently he's on good terms with her.
We rode into town on the dirt road full of potholes and sandy areas and all the kids that saw me once again yelled "Yevu Yevu Bon Sua!" which means "White Man White Man...the rest is in french" and so I asked Solomon what Black man is in his language and he said "Amebo" with an "EH" sound on the E. The next kids we saw I called out "Amebo Amebo Bon Sua!" and they laughed really hard. I also score points with locals by counting to five.
Back to the story. We rode into town and Solomons friend the cloth maker made us some FuFu soup and we bought goat meat from the market along with some Tea bread. We went to her house to eat it and Solomon taught me that you are not supposed to chew it, but swallow it whole. I had a rough time to say little. The mixture is like tapioca with sand in it. It is a dough mixture containing either: Corn flower, Corn flower and kasava root, or made purely of kasava root. Ours was the pure Kasava root.
After eating, solomon and I rode back to the orphanage. We got there just in time to join the kids annual dance time. Childrens Pastor, Sammi, had a boom box and the kids were dancing the traditional african dances to christian praise music. It was a blast, and regina taught me some sweet moves.
The next day we departed to Aflao but I wasn't feeling good. The goat didn't sit well in my stomach. By the time we got the hotel I was better but Lo' and behold, 2 o'clock in the morning the goat wanted to be let out of the pen. I'll cut that part of the story short and just tell you that I wasn't feeling up to teaching that morning.
The sick feeling I had was soo familiar, then it clicked! I have E Coli. ARGH! As I lay in bed I finished reading the book I 'd brought (The Hobbit). I then thought about the conversation I had with Stacy this weekend. We talked about how we were still kind of in the dark as far as the old testament goes, because it seems just like a list of rules and names for Jewish laws and genealogy. I looked at the list of books and was surprised to find that this was quite the opposite. From Joshua to Job it's all a story.
I'm gonna read it!
So, back to the sick travis in the Makavo Hotel. I began to read the Old testament and I'm now through Joshua, Judges, Ruth, and am finishing 1st samuel. it's really neat to see all of the stories (like samson and delilah) in context, and to read about the history of God's people.
Also, while I was laying in bed my teaching partner Julious kept teaching and at many of the schools, the kids asked about me and julious told them that my body had broken down and that they should pray for me, so I have about 600-700 kids prayers on me. Those are only half of those we're teaching. Still, 600 prayers will do a lot to a person.
Today is my second day of E.Coli and I'm feeling much better than I thought I would. I ate bread today, and for dinner had some veggie soup. I can't believe how fast I'm healing and how interesting the Old Testament is.
God is good. I also finished reading an amazing book called "How Good is Good Enough" It really legitimatelyi shows that the "Good people go to heaven" theology is bogus, and tells the world that there is no way other than Jesus. It made me want to make a shirt that says "Good People Don't go to Heaven" and on the back it'd say "Ask Me Why" with a little John 3:16 quoted below it. It's so amazing how much God has given us through the death and ressurection of Christ! How unfair God is to give us what we don't deserve. Life. Thank you lord for your love.
I think that shirt (or something like it) could be a great help with witnessing. Many of my friends back home think that good works and improving the world will earn them a spot in heaven. What I want to ask them is "How good is good enough?" and many questions similar to that because nobody can tell you.
Ok, I've only got like 10 minutes left, but I love you all and thank you soo much for your prayers. they've been helping soo much.
God bless.
Tuesday, June 19, 2007
Long Time No Talk
Hello everyone! I'm sorry for taking soo long to post. I have not been able to visit an internet cafe until now.
One of the quotes that our leader taught us is "Be Fexible" I'm sure you can cope as I have.
WELL... Where to start!
My first week was training at the Haven of Hope orphanage. The training was hard but the kids there are so beautiful that it kept me going strong. I tried not to have favorites with the kids but a few have captured my heart. Regina is the most beautiful little girl who always sticks by my side and was shy at first but by the end of my stay she was bringing me books to read to her, and she told me who her crush was... I cant tell you or I'd be betraying her confidence.
Anywho, I also met Immanuel who our church's childrens group is sponsoring. The other Kids call him quasy (the "s" doesn't make the "z" sound). Quasy is a leader among the kids and is very mature. He is also great on the bongo's. I saw him play while the kids were practicing their traditional dance lessons. Quasy kept wanting to hold my watch because his has not worked for some time now, and he keeps begging me to call his sponsor and tell them that he wants a new one. I told him I'd tell them.
Oh, I forgot to tell you that when I first met quasy and told him that my church was sponsoring him His eyes went huge and he gave me a bear hug. He saw the picture and was so surprised to learn that there were soo many people sponsoring him. The other kids thought that he had like 20 sponsors.
Since last sunday my group has left the orphanage and is now in Aflau. We taught for the first time yesterday and things were rough because I had not gotten much sleep. The night we came in to our hotel, there was a muslim funeral in the hotels veranda area and their music was soo loud that you could feel it. I thought the bumping was going to knock the fan off the ceiling.
I was soo discouraged my first day that I began to question the legitimacy of coming to Africa.
"How can a white man make a difference if he cannot speak the language?"
"Maybey I'm not meant to be here."
But God reminded me that this is not about me, it is about him, and I should be serving him with all of my heart no matter where I am. Whether I'm in utah or I'm in Africa I should follow him full heartedly.
Today is the second day of teaching and I felt that it went much better. When I presented salvation and Jesus through our teaching tools, the kids responded with amazed looks and furrowed brows. Some had never heard of him, and when they heard that He is the ultimate sacrifice for their sins (some are traditional worshipers and sacrifice is a big thing out here) they became soo intent on what I was saying that my heart leaped for joy.
Teaching is hard work, and I have a new appreciation for those who put up with me all through junior and senior high.
My teaching partner's name is Julius and lives here in Aflau. He is kind hearted and is always trying to buy me food and teach me songs. The only problem is that he sing soo much that my ears ring and he likes to preach to me. I had to remind him the other day that I was saved because he had been preaching to me alone about grace for nearly half the day. I love Julios and know that he has such a strong desire to serve God that he cant help but talk about him... I just get frustrated when he doesn't talk with me, but talks at me.
Things are amazingly cheap here. I bought: a loaf of bread, three bananas, three 1foot long omellete sandwiches, two soy kebabs, and a 1.5 litre bottle of water for under 20,000 cedis which is about two and a half dollars. I am also amazed by the marketplace, and roadside stands.
Not many people know this but I have thought for a very long time that "Once I'm on an international mission, that's when my relationship with God will be strongest and that's when sinners will turn from their ways!" but God has shown me a few verses.
Psalm 51: all
and Proverbs 24:11-12
the verse in proverbs says "Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say 'But we knew nothing about this,' does not he who weighs the heart percieve it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?"
and God showed me that I have a lot of work to do in Utah.
God is good, God is everlasting, and God is giving me the only strength I have. May he bless you with a heart of compassion and eyes that search for ways to help others. I also pray that you will not wait to serve God, but do it where you're at.
I have soo much more to say, but my time on the computer is almost up.
With love
Travis
One of the quotes that our leader taught us is "Be Fexible" I'm sure you can cope as I have.
WELL... Where to start!
My first week was training at the Haven of Hope orphanage. The training was hard but the kids there are so beautiful that it kept me going strong. I tried not to have favorites with the kids but a few have captured my heart. Regina is the most beautiful little girl who always sticks by my side and was shy at first but by the end of my stay she was bringing me books to read to her, and she told me who her crush was... I cant tell you or I'd be betraying her confidence.
Anywho, I also met Immanuel who our church's childrens group is sponsoring. The other Kids call him quasy (the "s" doesn't make the "z" sound). Quasy is a leader among the kids and is very mature. He is also great on the bongo's. I saw him play while the kids were practicing their traditional dance lessons. Quasy kept wanting to hold my watch because his has not worked for some time now, and he keeps begging me to call his sponsor and tell them that he wants a new one. I told him I'd tell them.
Oh, I forgot to tell you that when I first met quasy and told him that my church was sponsoring him His eyes went huge and he gave me a bear hug. He saw the picture and was so surprised to learn that there were soo many people sponsoring him. The other kids thought that he had like 20 sponsors.
Since last sunday my group has left the orphanage and is now in Aflau. We taught for the first time yesterday and things were rough because I had not gotten much sleep. The night we came in to our hotel, there was a muslim funeral in the hotels veranda area and their music was soo loud that you could feel it. I thought the bumping was going to knock the fan off the ceiling.
I was soo discouraged my first day that I began to question the legitimacy of coming to Africa.
"How can a white man make a difference if he cannot speak the language?"
"Maybey I'm not meant to be here."
But God reminded me that this is not about me, it is about him, and I should be serving him with all of my heart no matter where I am. Whether I'm in utah or I'm in Africa I should follow him full heartedly.
Today is the second day of teaching and I felt that it went much better. When I presented salvation and Jesus through our teaching tools, the kids responded with amazed looks and furrowed brows. Some had never heard of him, and when they heard that He is the ultimate sacrifice for their sins (some are traditional worshipers and sacrifice is a big thing out here) they became soo intent on what I was saying that my heart leaped for joy.
Teaching is hard work, and I have a new appreciation for those who put up with me all through junior and senior high.
My teaching partner's name is Julius and lives here in Aflau. He is kind hearted and is always trying to buy me food and teach me songs. The only problem is that he sing soo much that my ears ring and he likes to preach to me. I had to remind him the other day that I was saved because he had been preaching to me alone about grace for nearly half the day. I love Julios and know that he has such a strong desire to serve God that he cant help but talk about him... I just get frustrated when he doesn't talk with me, but talks at me.
Things are amazingly cheap here. I bought: a loaf of bread, three bananas, three 1foot long omellete sandwiches, two soy kebabs, and a 1.5 litre bottle of water for under 20,000 cedis which is about two and a half dollars. I am also amazed by the marketplace, and roadside stands.
Not many people know this but I have thought for a very long time that "Once I'm on an international mission, that's when my relationship with God will be strongest and that's when sinners will turn from their ways!" but God has shown me a few verses.
Psalm 51: all
and Proverbs 24:11-12
the verse in proverbs says "Rescue those being led away to death; hold back those staggering toward slaughter. If you say 'But we knew nothing about this,' does not he who weighs the heart percieve it? Does not he who guards your life know it? Will he not repay each person according to what he has done?"
and God showed me that I have a lot of work to do in Utah.
God is good, God is everlasting, and God is giving me the only strength I have. May he bless you with a heart of compassion and eyes that search for ways to help others. I also pray that you will not wait to serve God, but do it where you're at.
I have soo much more to say, but my time on the computer is almost up.
With love
Travis
Thursday, June 7, 2007
Powerful Providence of the Provider! (Post #2)
Story Of The Day:
When I decided to follow Jesus I chose give up my everything. I made this choice willingly but didn't quite grasp how much I was giving up. God is constantly watching over me, and reminding me of this commitment.
Yesterday I was meeting with some friends from High school. After talking to them for nearly two hours I finally saw how far out of "The Circle" I had always been. I'd spent nearly two years of my life with some of these people in school yet hadn't spent one day of it outside of school. My friends told me of all the huge parties everyone had been at (With the exception of me) and they confessed that they always hid loads of stuff from me because I was constantly talking about Jesus and always had my bible with me.
When I returned from Snow College I was getting depressed because none of my friends wanted to hang out and wouldn't even return my calls. God used this conversation to show me that by accepting him I had become his property and that by having him in my life I was protected from the diseases that now plague nearly every one I knew in High School. Alcoholism, Marijuana use, Prescription drug abuse, and many other things that I would have been exposed to had I not been a Jesus Freak.
I thanked God today for guiding my paths, and giving me this hindsight to show me how much he has provided for me. I also ask that you pray for those people and their reconciliation to the Lord.
More Providence:
Money. AHHHH! Just the mention of the word gets my stomach doing back flips inside of me. I hate taking it, I hate spending it, and most of all I hate asking for it. I'd rather be lost in the wilderness without any survival equipment than do a fund raiser, so you can understand my difficulty in preparing for this trip.
At first I thought to myself... OK, well if I just fast, and have enough faith in God I will not have to ask ANYONE for money but just let God provide.
Though I had good intentions God wanted me to trust in his church body, and be willing to step out of my comfort zone for him. So I did.
I expected God to provide the money in the first week, so when I was 300 dollars short on my last day of fund raising I knew that God was going to provide for me, I just didn't know how. God chuckled, bent down, and said "Watch this!"
...
So I watched.
I received an email from Every Child Ministries(ECM) with my account portfolio. I was still two hundred dollars short. Needless to say, I was a little flustered. I was giving God the little elbow nudge that says "Hey, any time now!" and God nudged me back and said "Chill out, I got this."
The next day I was called by ECM and told that I had raised about three hundred dollars more than was necessary. I knew he was gonna provide the entire time, but God used this to increase my faith in him.
It's been a week and God has also provided me with spending money so I can buy food for the kids on the street.
Praise God!
Prayer Requests:
Verse(s):
Proverbs 16:3 - Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:9 - In his heart a man plans his course but the lord determines his steps
Proverbs 19:21 - Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
When I decided to follow Jesus I chose give up my everything. I made this choice willingly but didn't quite grasp how much I was giving up. God is constantly watching over me, and reminding me of this commitment.
Yesterday I was meeting with some friends from High school. After talking to them for nearly two hours I finally saw how far out of "The Circle" I had always been. I'd spent nearly two years of my life with some of these people in school yet hadn't spent one day of it outside of school. My friends told me of all the huge parties everyone had been at (With the exception of me) and they confessed that they always hid loads of stuff from me because I was constantly talking about Jesus and always had my bible with me.
When I returned from Snow College I was getting depressed because none of my friends wanted to hang out and wouldn't even return my calls. God used this conversation to show me that by accepting him I had become his property and that by having him in my life I was protected from the diseases that now plague nearly every one I knew in High School. Alcoholism, Marijuana use, Prescription drug abuse, and many other things that I would have been exposed to had I not been a Jesus Freak.
I thanked God today for guiding my paths, and giving me this hindsight to show me how much he has provided for me. I also ask that you pray for those people and their reconciliation to the Lord.
More Providence:
Money. AHHHH! Just the mention of the word gets my stomach doing back flips inside of me. I hate taking it, I hate spending it, and most of all I hate asking for it. I'd rather be lost in the wilderness without any survival equipment than do a fund raiser, so you can understand my difficulty in preparing for this trip.
At first I thought to myself... OK, well if I just fast, and have enough faith in God I will not have to ask ANYONE for money but just let God provide.
Though I had good intentions God wanted me to trust in his church body, and be willing to step out of my comfort zone for him. So I did.
I expected God to provide the money in the first week, so when I was 300 dollars short on my last day of fund raising I knew that God was going to provide for me, I just didn't know how. God chuckled, bent down, and said "Watch this!"
...
So I watched.
I received an email from Every Child Ministries(ECM) with my account portfolio. I was still two hundred dollars short. Needless to say, I was a little flustered. I was giving God the little elbow nudge that says "Hey, any time now!" and God nudged me back and said "Chill out, I got this."
The next day I was called by ECM and told that I had raised about three hundred dollars more than was necessary. I knew he was gonna provide the entire time, but God used this to increase my faith in him.
It's been a week and God has also provided me with spending money so I can buy food for the kids on the street.
Praise God!
Prayer Requests:
- Good health (I'm feeling a little queasy from all the new meds in my body)
- Safe travel (Flying out 2:45 this Sunday to Chicago, then to London, then to Ghana)
- My friends here in Utah (Especially Casey: Who is searching for the Lord)
- Submission to the Lord (That I will daily give my: Family, Future, Friends, Struggles, and life to him)
My Prayer:
Lord, I pray for blessings upon all those who have been supporting me spiritually, financially, and emotionally. God I thank you for all that you have provided me in these last few weeks and how you've taught me to trust in your church body. Holy Holy Holy are you Lord almighty, God I pray for those struggling with faith Lord, that you would reveal your ever guiding hand to them and that you would lead the lost to you and strengthen those that already belong to you. Thank you for this trip and the miraculous things that have already happened.
God I pray that when I go to Ghana that I will be transparent to these people and that all they would see is you shining from me in actions, speech, and thought. Father please watch over my family while I'm gone and comfort my parents who I'm sure will worry about me.
I ask these things in the name of the Father, the Son, and the Holy Spirit. Amen.
Verse(s):
Proverbs 16:3 - Commit to the Lord whatever you do and your plans will succeed.
Proverbs 16:9 - In his heart a man plans his course but the lord determines his steps
Proverbs 19:21 - Many are the plans in a man's heart, but it is the Lord's purpose that prevails.
Sunday, May 20, 2007
Prelude to Parting (Post #1)
Hello everyone, and welcome do my Blog!
I will be using this web site as my Online Journal to keep everyone up to speed.
At the end of each Post I will have a prayer list and hopefully a special bible verse and/or quote. Please look over them and support me with your prayers. I'm gonna need every one.
Prayer Requests:
I will be using this web site as my Online Journal to keep everyone up to speed.
At the end of each Post I will have a prayer list and hopefully a special bible verse and/or quote. Please look over them and support me with your prayers. I'm gonna need every one.
Prayer Requests:
- Yellow Fever Shot (I'm taking a medication that dulls my immune system. The medication may render my shots ineffective or even cause me to contract yellow fever from them.)
- Focus as I prepare to leave (Also: to know everything I will be teaching backwards and forwards)
Verse/Quote:
Matthew 28: 16-20
Then the eleven disciples went to Galilee, to the mountain where Jesus had told them to go. When they saw him, they worshiped him; but some doubted. Then Jesus came to them and said, "All authority in heaven and on earth has been given to me. Therefore go and make disciples of all nations, baptizing them in the name of the Father and of the Son and of the Holy Spirit, and teaching them to obey everything I have commanded you. And surely I am with you always, to the very end of the age."
A Prayer of Saint Patrick
"Christ protect me today from burning, from wounding, from drowning, from poisoning that I may have an abundance of reward in you!
Christ be with me,
Christ above me
Christ below me
Christ before me
Christ behind me
Christ to my right
Christ to my left
Christ when I sit down
Christ when I lay down
Christ when I get up
Christ in the quiet
Christ in the danger.
Christ in the eyes of every man who sees me. Christ in the ears of every man who hears me. And Christ in the mouth of every man who speaks of me.
Christ be with me... Amen!"
I've made this prayer part of my life because it's all about Christ and all things being done through him, and for him.
God bless you All
love -Travis-
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