Huh?...What?...Why?

Today has been one of those days that I ask myself..."Why was that just put in my head?"...

So, last night I was driving back home to Danville, Kentucky. It has always been a quite ride from Morehead to Danville, especially when I am by myself. Whenever I drive I like to let my emotions fly. Sometimes I find myself yelling at the windshield, singing at the top of my lungs, thinking out loud, or just being quite without the radio on. It all depends on the mood that I am in. Last night was a little different than most. I just had a little bit of every emotion showing. One particular part stands out from them all. I was listening to Air1 95.3 when I was arriving into the big city of Lexington when a guy was talking about the band Needtobreathe (If you haven't checked those guys out, you should). He was so hyped up about the fact that Needtobreathe was going to be the opening act for Taylor Swifts new tour. For some odd reason, I was pumped. If you know anything about me, I am not a fan of female country singers. This was different. I wanted to see Needtobreathe really bad, I didn't care if Taylor was going to be there or not. I figured this was my chance to catch Needtobreathe in concert.

When I got home, I immediately got my computer out of my backpack. Looked up Taylor Swifts upcoming concert dates (quick side note: I am listening to kutless on youtube and Taylor Swift is being publicized on the side. Crazy, I know). To my surprise, I wasn't interested in the Louisville date. What caught my eye out of all the dates was July 9th. Atlanta, Georgia will be the destination for that date. After wondering out loud, I couldn't figure out why in the world I would rather go see that concert in Ga than I would in Ky. Waking up this morning, I had two other places that was laid on my heart. Savannah, Georgia and Cumming, Georgia. Also to my surprise there was a couple dates with them, July 8th and July 10th. I don't know if that was my mind just throwing a couple things together but since I have had that on my mind I have had the same thought...Huh?...What?...Why?...

I do know people in all three of those cities, but I think it is more than that. I believe it has to do with The Church and also Prayer. Normally I would just pray about this, but I believe this brings up something cool to talk about. Whether this is my mind throwing dates and places together or God saying pack your bags, it is very important. At times I believe this happens to people a lot and they don't even know it or want to realize it. Some times we get these ideas in our head and we think, "that would be impossible." Which then, gives us no motivation. If nothing has a chance, then why think about it?... This can really go for anything going on in life, it doesn't have to be a trip.

I think this is where "Faith" comes in to play. In Paul's 2nd letter to the Corinthian Church, Paul writes that "we live by faith, not by sight" (2 Corinthians 5:7). The way that we look at some extraordinary things in the world seem impossible to us. What we need to realize and I mean truthfully come to an understanding is that "with God all things are possible" (Matthew 19:26). We need to realize that every thought that may seem impossible to make happen, CAN happen as long as it Glorifies God and is in His plan. He has a plan! The next time that something may seem "impossible." Realize that "impossible is not a word, it is just a reason for someone not to try"-Kutless. Like noted earlier, Nothing and I mean NOTHING is impossible with God on our side being the pilot of our life.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=u1JBSQMkQEo

Background

Writing my thoughts tonight is coming a little harder than normal...Usually, I am able to write and not have as much writer block as I am tonight. Lately there has been a lot of things going on in my life. Some stuff I love where its at and others I am not for sure what is going on. It has been one long and confusing ride. You know, trying to to figure out what the next step is something that I have been struggling with. I don't want to make a move that I am going to regret but at the same time I don't want to be stuck in the quick sand. I feel like a lot of people go through this feeling at times, or maybe its just me...but I feel pretty sure about others feeling this same feeling.

Play the background...

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LHnZRZiCYHE

Thanks Lecrae, I needed this one!

Make War (part #2)

MAKE WAR. MAKE WAR. MAKE WAR. MAKE WAR. I don't know how many people watched the video posted on "Make War (part 1)". If you haven't I will need you to do so before you read on. Honestly, some people may watch that video and not want to read the rest of this post. You may watch the video and automatically think that John Piper (Pastor) is one of those guys who stand on the side of the streets and screams that you are going to hell for all of your little imperfections. You know the guy I'm talking about, the one with the bull horn. The one that no one likes to talk to because he is just going to tell me that I am going to hell and going to burn. The one who I believe gives a bad name to Christianity. I don't agree at all with that style of witnessing. I won't go into full detail about that right now, but I don't agree with it...Where is the love?

Recently, I have been watching a lot of John Pipers videos on Youtube. I have come to realize that I really like him. If you haven't seen his video's, you should check them out. John Piper really brings the pain in his talks. He is very very passionate about what he talks about, thus leading him to turn a notch up on his volume. He reminds me a lot of Paul in the Bible.

MAKE WAR! John talks about MAKING WAR against our sin. He says in there that we need to have a mean streak in our Christian walk. Hear him out, not violence against any one or any thing. But a violence against "every impulse in our soul to be violent to other people". Yes, you heard him right...MAKE WAR against OURSELVES. This goes for every desire in ourselves that we have that leads to sin. The closet sins that we have, that we don't want to tell anyone all the way to the sins that are directly in front of others. MAKE WAR! You really need to take the time to check this video out. This video is something that I try to listen to at least once a day for a reminder. A reminder to MAKE WAR! The last thing that I will point out that John Piper mentions in his talk is something that I find my self guilty of at times.

Piper Mentions:

"If you feel like you are a mean person against others, a harsh person, a critical person...You know your problem...You haven't learned how to MAKE WAR! (piper goes on)...You complain of it and talk about it...but have YOU made war 24/7..."

Seriously, if you haven't watched the John Piper video. Scroll down just a little and copy and paste the URL on Make War (part #1)...

Friends,

MAKE WAR!

Shout out to Tedashii:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vs1Sq7M7cIU&feature=related

&

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XfgpOie9zfw&feature=related

MAKE WAR (part 1)

Make War...part 1. More to come. This video...this video right here...Says enough for now.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wrY0h33coR4

Break My Heart For What Breaks Yours

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FiicZMV98tY

More to come later on everything that is going on with me. But just as 10 minutes ago I had realized why..."Break my heart for what breaks yours Lord!"

try it...if you dare

Hosanna

Hosanna...Hosanna in the Highest...

This past summer I got the privilege to have a night of worship with the Australian worship band Hillsong. My Mom, Sister, and Lindsay were present to feel the spirit of God moving. As with any "concert" everyone leaves with a song that they enjoyed the most. The particular song that I was moved by was the song Hosanna. I can remember as if I am sitting at the concert with my Mac and they are playing it in front of us while I am writing this, and to be honest I am listening to the song on repeat as I write. There was two acoustic guitars and one of the female vocalists. As they went through the song I was quickly reminded why I love that song so much...the lyrics. Don't get me wrong, the music side of the song is absolutely amazing but I believe the lyrics are unbelievable. While we could talk about this song and have a very long post, I would just like to focus on the bridge part of the song.

Heal my heart and make it clean

Open up my eyes to the things unseen

Show me how to love like you have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks yours

Everything I am for your kingdoms cause

As I go from nothing to

Eternity

This past week I got to speak at chapel for Lakeside which is a Christian school in Morehead, KY. I made a reference to this song during my talk where I told the students that I prayed God "break my heart for what breaks yours" while I was in the Dominican Republic. After I was done talking I didn't think much about it until I walked to hand the microphone back to the lady in charge when she started playing the song for the students who were there and possibly have never heard it. During the song I was talking to a good friend of mine. We talked about the bridge of this song and were pondering on the words and thinking how powerful those words really are. I look at that phrase now and sometimes I feel scared to pray those words to God. Thinking of what God could open my eyes to. At the same time I feel that it is right for us to pray those words. If we want to make a difference in the world we have to be obedient and ask for guidance from God. I think a way to ask for guidance is this bridge. Heal my heart and make it clean...Open up my eyes to the things unseen...Show me how to love like you have loved me...BREAK MY HEART FOR WHAT BREAKS YOURS....Everything that I am for your Kingdoms cause...As I walk from earth into eternity. I know those are powerful words and God could seriously show us some unbelievable things but God promises that he will never give us something that we can not handle and with God on our side, think about it...Who can be against us....

Listen and look closely to this song:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AQGJdTpMUcU&feature=related

Lyrics:

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest

I see the King of glory
Coming down the clouds with fire
The whole earth shakes, the whole earth shakes

I see His love and mercy
Washing over all our sin
The people sing, the people sing

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

I see a generation
Rising up to take the place
With selfless faith, selfless faith

I see a near revival
Stirring as we pray and seek
We're on our knees, we're on our knees

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna

Heal my heart and make it clean
Open up my eyes to the things unseen
Show me how to love like You have loved me

Break my heart for what breaks Yours
Everything I am for Your kingdom's cause
As I walk from earth into eternity

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest

Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna, hosanna
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest
Hosanna in the highest

Break Every Chain

Recently I have been doing a lot of thinking about everything that is going on in my life at the moment and to be honest it has been a crazy whirl wind. I just don't know if I am holding on to things that I should just let go. Here is a song that has recently spoken to me and thought I would share. This band is called New Pursuit Band and I came across them from a couple of friends while I was down in the Dominican Republic.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mohyR5xowFw

Team Jeffrey

Not this past sunday, but the sunday before was an emotional roller coaster for myself. After worshipping at Trinity, I had to make a quick trip down to my hometown of Danville, KY. There waiting for me was a benefit supporting one of my very good friends from high school. Just over a year ago he was in a car wreck that has left him paralyzed. After going through surgeries and coming to a stable condition, the doctors proceeded to tell him that if he didn't walk in the next year then he will not walk again. Jeffrey, who is a father and also found himself in that wreck is not ready to accept it. Just like the Jeffrey I have always known, he doesn't give up.

A benefit was put on trying to raise $30,000 that would cover all of his cost for rehabilitation. Pulling up to the fair grounds I remember being a little nervous. To be honest I don't know what came over me, I never get this way. Pulling into the fair grounds it was almost like I wanted to just let the tears of joy just run down my face. I just couldn't believe what I was witnessing. What looked like 500 vehicles parked outside of the pavilion where the benefit was being held, children running around playing on the equipment assembled some many years ago and smoke coming from the many grills outside was reassuring. Walking inside I luckily caught Jeff giving his speech to the people there at supporting him at the benefit. When he was finished, the unthinkable happened. Coach Little was asked to come and pray over the food. If you know who Coach Little is, then you know he isn't little at all. It is very ironic that his last name is little. To be honest with you, Coach Little stands about 6'4 it seems and as I don't know his weight, lets just say that he is a big boy that you wouldn't want to see in a back alley at anytime let alone past midnight. What he had to say was absolutely amazing. Getting up giving the motivational speech that beats a lot of motivational speeches that I have ever heard, including any movie you may think of. Speaking out of Job, Coach Little made it known that this man. A man of God, was robbed of everything. His family, land, wealth...absolutely everything. After talking in much detail about the situation. Coach Little described Jeff as a modern day Job. Although not everything was stolen from Jeff as in Job, but a lot of it was gone (for the moment). Coach made it known that Jeff was in need, and it was up to us. Black, White, Asian, what ever race you may be, it is time for us to come together as one and help a brother in Christ. This was one of those times that I wish I could have recorded everything that Coach Little had to say. Talking to Jeff after eating what was probably the best BBQ that I have ever eaten, I was reminded the heart that this guy has. One of the biggest hearts that I know. If anyone, and I do mean "anyone" is going to walk after something tragic like this...It will be him. I believe 110% that Jeff will walk again and will be able to coach his son.

After that was over and headed back to the house, I decided that I was going to stay around for a little while. Everyone came over and we had a good sunday meal. As you can imagine I was very full after that sunday was over with. To my surprise, and probably to your surprise (if anyone ever reads this) Extreme Home Makeover came on. Of which I am a HUGE fan of. I love that show. It makes me want to turn the faucet on again and let the tears of joy run down my face. In this particular episode, there was a young man who was a football coach. He was married and had a little boy and a girl. He was recently diagnosed with ALS and wasn't able to do what he use to be able to. All during this episode which was featuring the true Michael Oher and his foster family (The movie Blindside) they gave this man a helping hand, a lift so to say. But I noticed something during this episode. With what this man was going through, he didn't seem to let what was being a hinderance physically, get him down emotionally or spiritually. He just lived for the day. Took one day at a time and what ever came with it, he dealt with it. He reminded me a lot of my friend Jeffrey, who I spoke about earlier. Here is two guys that have been robbed of of walking fluently and they still fight, living for the day and filling up every little second. They don't go through the day feeling bad for themselves, or getting depressed. Not saying that, they are perfectly fine and the thought of never walking again doesn't affect them, because I am sure it does. What I am saying is this. People who are fortunate that we don't have to go through something tragic like this needs to take a lesson from these two. We need to live life, we only get one. We need to take a day at a time, we don't need to worry. We go through our days, our busy days and we miss a lot. We sit on the past and worry about the future thus making us miss what is right in front of us at times. I don't think God programmed us like that honestly. I could be wrong, but to be honest with you. I don't think that I am. Jesus speaks in Matthew stating that:

"So then, do not worry about tomorrow, for tomorrow will worry about itself. Today has enough trouble of its own"

We need to start taking a day at a time before we miss out on something big. Who knows what that may be. But I know one thing. The two that I mentioned, they aren't going to miss out. They are living life to the fullest, a lesson we should take from them and start living like they do. As for my buddy Jeff. From what I heard, he got what he needed and then some. So sit back and pray. Watch a miracle about to happen!

Back in the States

I am sitting here trying to write a blog with words that will never be able to express my feelings. I am back safely in the United States and I sit here and wonder selfishly if anyone will read the blog that I am going to post. Honestly at this point, I don't know what I am going to type. I am just going to let my mind spill out on the keys of the Macbook as I look into the white computer screen with words originating in my head appearing in form through a black font.

Coming back into the states was hard for me. Mentally, physically, emotionally and spiritually.

-Physically because everything that I tried to eat for the first couple days back made me sick. The first meal I had was at cracker barrel and did it ever put a hurting on my stomach. Later on that day I found out that I had lost 6 pounds after thinking that I put on 6. Plus, freezing myself out of my house because of the A.C. on full blast. Things that I never had to worry about for the month in the D.R.

-Emotionally because I left a place that has grown on me tremendously over the month that I was there. In the Dominican Republic for so long, pouring into kids the love of Christ will really get you addicted to everything about it. It is something that I will think about everyday that I wake up in the world that I live in. A world that the "dream" is to make the most money that you can and show it off by buying the most expensive things in life. One thing (of many) that I noticed living in a country like the Dominican Republic, is that someone is not judged by what they possess. Sure, there are some people who live in the Dominican culture and judge people by what they have but just like America there are those people who judge by not worldly views but personal views. The more and more that I think about this, I get lead to a verse in Matthew.

"Do not store up for yourselves treasures on earth, where moth and rust destroy, and where thieves break in and steal. But store up for yourselves treasures in heaven, where moth and rust do not destroy, and where thieves do not break in and steal. For where your treasure is, there your heart will be also." - Matthew 6:19-21

I believe that verse sums up everything on the emotional part. It is a struggle for me to not look into the "treasures" on earth, but it is also a fight that I am not alone in.

-Mentally I have changed a couple views on the way that love should be expressed. As you know, I really had a struggle on my hands the first few days that I was in the Dominican Republic. Really struggling with pouring into the kids. "Is what I am doing really making a difference, am I showing the love that I need to?" That question I asked myself a lot. I really felt useless for a while because I couldn't speak any spanish, the language of the Dominican side of the Island. During the end of the days of struggle I found a verse that would really be the rock of which the trip would be built on. It is awesome how God can use one sentence, one verse, 16 words to impact a mans life. There is absolutely nothing like it found in this world. Words that have been compiled that will forever change my view on a four letter word. A verse that I will end the mentally changed part because it says absolutely everything to answer the question I would ask myself.

"Dear children, let us not love with words or tongue but with actions and in truth"

-1 John 3:18

-Spiritually my life has been absolutely rocked. Everyone says that when you go outside of the country into a third world you come back changed. For me, I really saw what God hurts for. As I prayed and prayed, I asked God to break my heart for what broke His and did He ever. If you ever get a chance to sit down with me and chat about everything that I went through ask me questions about it. I would be glad to answer any question that comes to mind it is just way to much to type on here. Spiritually I came back changed in more than one way, and that really goes for all the areas that I have pointed out. Its just that these really have left a print inside of me on my heart. It is a little ironic that I point this verse out in this sequence but this is really how I found it in the D.R. After meditating on 1 John 3:18, I over looked another huge verse that would play a role. It is found right before 1 John 3:18.

"If anyone has material possessions and sees his brother in need but has no pity on him, how can the love of God be in him."

-1 John 3:17

For me, reading this verse was a gut check. And I pray, that it checks your gut also.

As I post this I pray that what's on my mind is now found on this blog. If anyone has been trying to comment on any of the blogs and couldn't I am sorry. There is good news, you should be able to now.

-Jacob

Times Like These

The band "Foo Fighters" has a song out called "Times Like These". Some of you may think, why in the world did I use that as my title of this blog. To be honest with you it has no significance to what I wanted to write about. I wanted this blog to come from the heart, that of which it will. But at the same time I didn't know how I should start it and what the Title of it should be.

I have been in the Dominican Republic now for 3 weeks and 1 more week to go. It is hard to believe this is my last week in the Dominican Republic and even more crazy to think about this time next week I will be back home in Kentucky. As I am sitting here writing on a computer infested with ants walking around on the computer screen and keys, I didn't know what to say or how to start but I believe I have an idea now.

Alot of people come back from oversea's mission trips and they always say the same thing. "It has definitely had more of an impact on me than any other thing in my life." With that, I wanted to say that it is the truth. Being down here and living on the Orphanage property, my eyes have been open to many things. I have definitely been humbled, ALOT. Taking cold showers, sleeping in a tent, and enduring with no A/C has been crazy don't get me wrong but at the same time it was the best thing that has ever happened to me. It has made me realize that we in America are blessed to have what we have.

Seeing the Dominican's down here and partaking in their culture has been a blast. These people are the nicest people that anyone will ever meet. But aside from the Dominican people out in the towns I want to talk about my Dominican Brothers, all 24 of them. Coming down here they have had a huge part of my life. a HUGE part. These kids have suffered loss in their life time at some point. That of which they will never forget. Seeing someone they absolutely love and adore (like their Mother and Father) walk out on them and turn them over to a new place. Instead of these kids having a poor attitude or their spirit being down from their loss, they have the heart of a lion. These kids have the biggest heart. You can't tell that they are sad. They Laugh, they Love, and the play just like any other kid that we find in America. This week for me is going to really hard, having to leave these kids. Some I have grown attached to more than others, but at the same time its going to be hard to leave each of these kids.

As I go into the last week, I just want to throw a couple prayer request. The first is simple, just to pray for the group to finish the race. There is 102 people here this week, that of which we will be going to a bunch of neighborhood churches. There is a lot of interns that are leaving out this week, and a lot of week volunteers. I just pray that we can finish the race this week like Paul talks about to Philippi and to the Church in Corinth. The second is the recent attack on Uganda. For those who may not have heard, last week during the world cup soccer match there was a bombing that took place at a restaurant in the capital of Uganda. It was an act of terriorism that took place and took lives. That of which was 1 american and injured 5 more. I have heard from a recent volunteer, a team leader from a church in New York that those could have been missionaires. I would like to keep them and their families in Prayer because I am sure that is a hard time that they are going through. We don't know why God allows things like these, but we do know that with everything God does, it is for the best. I am sure all kinds of questions will come from this so I pray that people can almost look past the heart ache and still trust in God with everthing.

I am signing off now and going into my last week here at the orphanage. I miss everyone and can't wait to see all of you.

Much Love from the DR,
Jacob

Relationships and Journeys

I have been in the Dominican Republic just over two weeks now, and I am trying to figure out where the last two weeks have gone. This past week at the orphanage we did a camp at a church in a small village called Laguna Salada. It was located in a little white church building, one of the churches that you see in the movies. I am at this point trying to figure out where the last week has gone. That week was the fastest week that I have ever encountered in my life. It is unbelievable to think that I am going into my third week here in the D.R. and this time in 2 weeks I will be at my home in Danville, Kentucky. As we keep on striving to be imitators of Christ I ask you to keep us in your prayers as we continue our journey. Pray that God gives us the energy that we need to finish these next 13 days strong.

Going into what God has shown me recently I hope and pray the remainder of this blog makes sense. I know that I am guilty at this and you better believe that I am going to change this every chance that I get. Don't worry if you are confused, it will all make sense in a minute.

This past week I have been hearing a lot of life stories. Just four of us sitting around getting to know each others past, what they are feeling in the present, and what they would like their life to look like in the future. One thing that I quickly noticed was how much of life is shaped and formed by relationships. By relationships, I don't necessarily mean an intimate relationship. I am meaning more along the lines of your relationship with your friends, the relationship with your family, the relationships that have gone bad and the ones that are still going strong. Relationships are so crucial because they will be the trial and errors that form a persons life and also the base of what people use when they go to look for their spouse. It can literally tear someone down and have them build a wall so big that can not be broken down. Relationships are the chapters of our Journey. By Journey I mean our life story. After hearing different journeys, I have felt like I am on another level of friendship with those people. After hearing people's Journeys, you will find out what makes them happy, what makes them sad, what ticks them off, and what can lift them up on a bad day. The list really goes on and on because you hear their trials and errors but you also hear the good things that have gone on in someones life.

God intended on us to have realtionships and with the relationships I believe he has given us our Journeys. A journey that is supposed to be told. I was the guy that didn't look that far into the past of peoples lives. I never was interested in what happened to you when you were little or the boyfriends/girlfriends you may have had in High School. The divorce your parents went through or the mess that your life has been. I just wanted to be the one to tell the person "life will get better" and wanted to know what cool stuff we can do in the present and future.

After this week, I have a different opinion. I know that I may have jumped in friendships with people in the past but now I literally want to know their Journey. I want to know everything about it. It is one thing to have a friendship with someone, but it is another to have a relationship with them and the best way to move from friends to a true friendship in the form of a relationship (once again I dont mean bf/gf) is getting to know Journeys.

Like I said, I am guilty at rushing friendships. I think I am not alone in this boat though. I will be making changes when I get back in the states, and if I dont know your Journey, be ready to sit down and have a cup of coffee with me. We are going to exchange Journeys. If you are in the same boat as I. Reach out and get to know someones Journey. Be that person to climb over the wall that has been built up and if you can't climb, start digging because eventually you will see the side of someone that not alot of people have. Like I said, some of my best friends that I have, I don't truthfully know their Journeys. After exchanging stories, I think you will be glad that you set and listened and told.

I hope this blog made sense. I know alot of people would like to know what is going on down here with the kids, and the biggest tarantula that I have seen but their will be time for that when I get back in the states. So with saying that, I challenge you to reach out and get to know someones life story this week. Go get a meal with someone, buy their meal for crying out loud. People love to be talked to and people love to tell their Journey.

Much Love!
Jacob

Ps. Dad, I left you out last time and I just wanted you to know that soon we will be out jumping ponds stabbing frogs! Can't wait!

Also, if you go to orphanage-outreach.org today and scroll down to the photo of the day. It should be captioned "Susan teaching english to some campers" or something like that but if you look in the background towards the right side of the picture you will see me. haha

Suffering and Surprises

It has been over a week since I have been down in the Dominican Republic, and I will be the first to say that it has been full of suffering and surprises. Suffering in such a way that has made me lean on God more than ever and surprises to hear God speak. As I mentioned before, the week was full of suffering, suffering that I couldn't understand.
I don't know what hit me earlier in the week. It was almost like I had a feeling of unworthy. I didn't know what to do, and I just felt like I was a chicken with it's head cut off running around the Orphanage. I believe the main problem that I had was the lack of spanish that I speak. It is very hard for myself to talk to the children without a translator and even harder to listen to a child speak in spanish and not be able to understand them, while they are getting frustrated about the fact that you can not understand any of the words they tell you.
Along with the lack of spanish, I definetly had culture shock to the max. I went from having air conditioning in every building that I would enter in America, to thinking something is wrong if I stop sweating. I came from America at which a broom is something that you buy at a store like wal-mart or any other superstore to a place where the broom is a stick with a bush taped to the end of it. It is little stuff like that, that made me start thinking and feeling worse. Almost like I was here but I couldn't do anything about it because of the lack of spanish that I speak.
Those were mostly the problems that I encountered while fighting through the first few days of the first week. At the same time they were the reasons that I stuck around. As I read through the first few days of my journal I see the heartache that I endured but through alot of prayer and prayer from others I can see a change from the first couple days to the end of the week. One of the best things about the journal that I am journaling in is the verse on the outside of the cover. Joshua 1:9. That verse really describes this trip in a nut shell.

"Be Strong and Courageous. The Lord your God will be with you wherever you go"
-Joshua 1:9

I felt weak every night that I fought through the suffering. I was a very easy target for satan to hit. Which he did. He through a lot on my plate that I will have to share when I get back to the States. I never could let it get me to down because of the verse on the top of the journal. After reading that and reading that I got stronger and stronger to the point where I was finding ways around the language problem. God actually provided a child from the first camp that we ran last week that was from Rhode Island who spoke english and was used as my translator through out the day. Sometimes I sit back and think "wow, we serve a God who provides in the most beautiful unexpected ways".
As each day passed I found myself searching for more and more. After a night of just playing around on the guitar, I quickly found out that we were lacking the time of worship. After confuring with a couple of the leaders down here, we now have set aside a time of worship of which I will have the privledge to lead along with some great people.
Also after hanging out in the with the boys, I am taking the role of teaching english to two children that speak spanish and creole which is similar to french of which I can speak a little of. Here english is very essential for the children to succeed and without it they almost dont have anything to succeed with.
As my time is nearing to an end on the Computer, I just wanted to say that the first week is down and three more to go. 20 days and I will be back in the states ready to tell all the stories that has happened to me in the D.R. I would like to throw a shout out to Lindsay for picking the perfect journal, like you knew what I was going to go through before I did. I thank you and appreciate that more than you will ever know! Miss you guys and I will soon be back.
P.S. Russ - They do have Mcdonald ice cream cones here!
Mom, Kaitlyn and Lindsay - 22 days till an amazing night of worship with hillsong
-Love all you guys,
Jacob