i'm finally able to upload a picture!! these are just some random kids i was hangin out with in botswana. i would do a little dance and then they would try to copy me. much fun!
Saturday, March 17, 2007
Friday, March 16, 2007
a simple blog by a simple person
we're still in the city of mafikeng, south africa
working in the local schools. next week, we head to
Midrand, south africa and will hopefully get to work
at a few of the local orphanages and hospitals there
and in Rustenburg. i'm excited and little nervous at
the same time. it will be good just to be able to
give the kids the love and attention they were created
to receive. though book of hope isn't normally
directly involved in the humanitarian side of things,
we desperately believe in humanitarian aid and
unconditional love and giving. that is why we partner
with other organizations such as worldvision, who
tackle those types of poverty and sickness issues that
jesus talked about. so, we're excited to have the
chance to work in orphanages and hospitals for a week
or so, and have the chance to help with food
distribution and warehouse organization (somebody's
gotta do it).
anyway, it's great to be able to minister to hundreds
of kids at a time, but we truly believe in being
personal with as many individuals as we can. kinda
like when jesus was surrounded by the mob, he took the
time to stop and call out the lady who touched him.
that lady meant something to him. he had compassion
on her individually, and she left changed forever. i
met this homeless guy name eduard yesterday. i'm
pretty sure he has AIDS, though he would be ashamed to
admit it. he reached out his hand hoping i would give
him some money, and to his surprise, i actually sat
down next to him, looked him in the eye and talked
with him about his life. i didnt have much to offer -
an apple, a half-drunk bottle of juice, and a couple
dollars, but i dont think that mattered to him. in
that moment, we were the same. just a couple guys
sitting on the sidewalk talking about the hardships of
life, and the hope of something better. he let me
pray for him at the end, and then i left. i'll
probably never see him again, but i'll remember him.
i'll pray for him. when i'm having a bad day, i'll
think about eduard, who lost his parents at a young
age, is homeless now, resorted to begging for a living
because his body is being punished by a disease.
i met a guy named billy at KFC. he's 23, unmarried,
and just lost his 5 month old daughter to sickness.
he has dreams of being a singer and a dad again. we
talked about life and God, and i prayed for him at the
end. he was glowing with delight as i left, and i got
the chance to see him again a few days later. i gave
him a book of hope that afternoon, and when i drove
back by KFC that night, i saw him sitting outside
reading intently. billy is a random security guard
working at a south african kfc. billy is my friend.
george sits outside the grocery store everyday playing
his guitar or keyboard, and sings songs hoping that
people will come by and put some change in his jar.
george is blind, has been his whole life. i heard him
singing the song "burdens are lifted at calvary" and i
asked him if he knew jesus. he said he did, and i
smiled when i thought that the first thing he'll see
someday is the face of jesus.
those are the simple things that i cherish. it was
fun to speak to 1100 kids today at a high school about
values and making good choices. it was encouraging to
watch them laugh at our funny presentations and see
them silenced in our serious illustration about AIDS,
drugs, family, and true love. i knew that lives were
being effected as my friend jeremy gave his testimony
about his near death experience with alcohol
poisoning, and how God gave him a purpose and a hope
in life. but i also know that lives are being
effected everyday, as you and i walk around the
office, the store, the street. i pray for george, for
billy, for eduard, and for everyone who has taken the
time to read this simple blog by a simple person named
kyle.
kyle
working in the local schools. next week, we head to
Midrand, south africa and will hopefully get to work
at a few of the local orphanages and hospitals there
and in Rustenburg. i'm excited and little nervous at
the same time. it will be good just to be able to
give the kids the love and attention they were created
to receive. though book of hope isn't normally
directly involved in the humanitarian side of things,
we desperately believe in humanitarian aid and
unconditional love and giving. that is why we partner
with other organizations such as worldvision, who
tackle those types of poverty and sickness issues that
jesus talked about. so, we're excited to have the
chance to work in orphanages and hospitals for a week
or so, and have the chance to help with food
distribution and warehouse organization (somebody's
gotta do it).
anyway, it's great to be able to minister to hundreds
of kids at a time, but we truly believe in being
personal with as many individuals as we can. kinda
like when jesus was surrounded by the mob, he took the
time to stop and call out the lady who touched him.
that lady meant something to him. he had compassion
on her individually, and she left changed forever. i
met this homeless guy name eduard yesterday. i'm
pretty sure he has AIDS, though he would be ashamed to
admit it. he reached out his hand hoping i would give
him some money, and to his surprise, i actually sat
down next to him, looked him in the eye and talked
with him about his life. i didnt have much to offer -
an apple, a half-drunk bottle of juice, and a couple
dollars, but i dont think that mattered to him. in
that moment, we were the same. just a couple guys
sitting on the sidewalk talking about the hardships of
life, and the hope of something better. he let me
pray for him at the end, and then i left. i'll
probably never see him again, but i'll remember him.
i'll pray for him. when i'm having a bad day, i'll
think about eduard, who lost his parents at a young
age, is homeless now, resorted to begging for a living
because his body is being punished by a disease.
i met a guy named billy at KFC. he's 23, unmarried,
and just lost his 5 month old daughter to sickness.
he has dreams of being a singer and a dad again. we
talked about life and God, and i prayed for him at the
end. he was glowing with delight as i left, and i got
the chance to see him again a few days later. i gave
him a book of hope that afternoon, and when i drove
back by KFC that night, i saw him sitting outside
reading intently. billy is a random security guard
working at a south african kfc. billy is my friend.
george sits outside the grocery store everyday playing
his guitar or keyboard, and sings songs hoping that
people will come by and put some change in his jar.
george is blind, has been his whole life. i heard him
singing the song "burdens are lifted at calvary" and i
asked him if he knew jesus. he said he did, and i
smiled when i thought that the first thing he'll see
someday is the face of jesus.
those are the simple things that i cherish. it was
fun to speak to 1100 kids today at a high school about
values and making good choices. it was encouraging to
watch them laugh at our funny presentations and see
them silenced in our serious illustration about AIDS,
drugs, family, and true love. i knew that lives were
being effected as my friend jeremy gave his testimony
about his near death experience with alcohol
poisoning, and how God gave him a purpose and a hope
in life. but i also know that lives are being
effected everyday, as you and i walk around the
office, the store, the street. i pray for george, for
billy, for eduard, and for everyone who has taken the
time to read this simple blog by a simple person named
kyle.
kyle
Wednesday, March 14, 2007
we are in Mafikeng, South Africa and have been traveling around in this city for about the last week and a half. it's been great, because we've had the opportunity to go way out into the african bush and visit a few different village schools. these are places where the kids have probably never seen a white person in their lives. i say this not because they told me, but because i tried to shake their hands and they all would run away and hide behind each other. but eventually they warm up to us and realize that we're not lethal or poisonous, and we have a great time with them. it is definitely eye-opening to travel around in these villages and see what the kids face each day. the more i think about it, though, the more my perspective changes. sometimes we look at what they have and say, man, i feel bad for them because they don't have anything. but i say that through my american materialistic perspective. i think many people who live in villages like this are receiving love and friendship and acceptance, and they can live even happier lives than us. seems like we get depressed a lot and feel lonely, even with all the stuff we have. so maybe i should say, man, i feel bad for us because we have so much and we miss out on the simple but transcendent things of life. that doesnt take away from the fact the many of the kids are suffering, though, from hunger and sexual abuse and loneliness. i just dont think that material things are the answer. and when we go into the schools, we really dont have those material things to offer anyways. i so wish that we could give every kid a warm meal and a cold drink, but we can't. i could never imagine how many kids are in this town we're in, much less the world. i'm amazed at the sheer number of kids we get to be with and love on each day. it's insane! and sometimes i feel so helpless. but i see that the kids are hungry not just for food, but for truth, for love, for hope. i can see it in their little eyes when they look at me. and so like peter in Acts, when he told the guy he had no money but he could give him something much better, we're believing that we're doing that everyday. that's not to say that we shouldn't feed our brothers and care for widows and orphans and the poor in general. i just know that we all get hungry again in our physical bodies. every person that jesus raised from the dead died again. our life is short here, like a mist. and though things seem hopeless in our world, this guy named jesus came and said that he had water that would cause us never to thirst again, and he mentioned something about having a food that we dont know about.
continue to pray that we would speak life and truth into these precious little lives through our words, smiles, hugs, high fives, and testimonies and that the Holy Spirit would guide the kids into all truth.
when we were at victoria falls in zambia, there was a moment that i will never forget until i see the true glory of God. we were approaching a bridge in front of the falls when we realized that we werent crossing this bridge without getting soaked. so we tried to run across, but it didnt matter. we got drenched. finally, we accepted it and for the next few minutes, we danced and ran and jumped and screamed and enjoyed being in the presence of this might waterfall. the power of the waterfall literally took my breath away! when i would look at the waterfall, all i could see was bright light, the sun shining through the water that was pelting us. all i could imagine was that i was looking at the face of God. it was too beautiful for me to look at very long. i imagined that God's glory was drenching me and all i could do was laugh and dance and worship and shout. at that point nothing else mattered. not my problems, not the world's problems. all i could do was enjoy the Lord. that's going to be a lot of fun someday.
i wish i could write more, but my time is up. thanks so much for the prayers, emails, encouraging words, and love. i think about my friends and family everyday and you are all in my prayers.
kyle
continue to pray that we would speak life and truth into these precious little lives through our words, smiles, hugs, high fives, and testimonies and that the Holy Spirit would guide the kids into all truth.
when we were at victoria falls in zambia, there was a moment that i will never forget until i see the true glory of God. we were approaching a bridge in front of the falls when we realized that we werent crossing this bridge without getting soaked. so we tried to run across, but it didnt matter. we got drenched. finally, we accepted it and for the next few minutes, we danced and ran and jumped and screamed and enjoyed being in the presence of this might waterfall. the power of the waterfall literally took my breath away! when i would look at the waterfall, all i could see was bright light, the sun shining through the water that was pelting us. all i could imagine was that i was looking at the face of God. it was too beautiful for me to look at very long. i imagined that God's glory was drenching me and all i could do was laugh and dance and worship and shout. at that point nothing else mattered. not my problems, not the world's problems. all i could do was enjoy the Lord. that's going to be a lot of fun someday.
i wish i could write more, but my time is up. thanks so much for the prayers, emails, encouraging words, and love. i think about my friends and family everyday and you are all in my prayers.
kyle
Friday, March 2, 2007
Adventures and Thoughts
yesterday, we arrived in livingstone, zambia to stay for a couple of days. we have a couple days off and so we all decided to head to victoria falls, one of the seven wonders of the world!! we slept on the floor of a church in francistown, botswana for the night and then headed here to zambia. crossing the border yesterday was a chore, which it usually is in africa. but this was crazy! to cross the border, we had to drive our trusty land rover up on a big barge and float to the other side. the thing is, in africa, there are no signs, no one looking the least bit official, and usually everyone trying to tell you what to do. so we drive up and realize that we have to cross this river. bystanders are yelling directions at us and we reluctantly drive up on the barge and hope that this is right. so we cruise over to the other side and drive off the barge into complete chaos. semi trucks were everywhere, vying for position to get on the barge and we got blocked into a corner more than once. finally we make it through the semis and then have to jump through a few hoops to make it through the zambia border. crossing the border in africa can be a challenge because the people can basically do what they want and you pretty much have to listen. for instance, if they dont like my shoes, they can fine me for it. or if i forget to say thank you, i have to move to the back of the line (i just made that up, but some things seem that outrageous. in fact this lady tried to ticket us for stopping 2 feet past a stop sign instead of right at the stop sign. they take bribes, too, which is something we won't do). so we finally made it and realized that we got a great deal, because the place we're staying at helps to wave the $100 visa we're supposed to pay to get into zambia. so we got in free! thanks God.
so this is a good couple days off to be refreshed, but i do miss working with the kids. i read don miller's Searching For God Knows What on the way here, and he said that we all have a deep longing to be loved and accepted and valued. i agree with that. it seems that we lost our true identity in the garden where we were naked and unashamed and ever since have been looking for others to validate us and give us worth. since then, it has been a competition of who is the best and most beautiful and most successful. so, the ugly are frowned upon. the sick are deemed worthless. and we play along like it was supposed to be that way. we look to others to tell us who we are. so we try to fit in and buy nice clothes and do note-worthy things to receive praise from people. the age-old lie: our stuff, looks, and accomplishments define us. Don also said that one of the best things a person can do is look someone in the eye and tell them that they are worth something. it made me feel good because that's exactly what we are doing everyday. i know that don miller's opinion shouldn't dictate what i do, but he is very right. life boils down to the question of: who am i? everyone asks themself that deep down, and we usually look to friends, family, and pop culture to give us the answer. but i'm realizing that this answer is only found in christ, not through a biblicial formula or 5 steps to receiving jesus, but through a deep relationship with christ. he created us to be in relationship with him. he is looking for an intimate, passionate relationship. the mysteries of God are far too deep for us to mentally ascribe to. paul said that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him - but God has revealed these things to us by his Spirit. the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God and reveals them to us (my paraphrase). what the heck! what are the deep things of God?! that sounds scary. but paul also encouraged the ephesians to know a love that surpasses knowledge and prayed that the colossian believers would have a revelation of the knowledge of God. it appears to me that there is some knowledge going on here that doesn't refer to book knowledge, but rather a knowledge that come from relationship and encounter. and this is what our souls long for, an encounter with the uncreated God. biblical formulas and steps and doctrines might be good to an extent, but they are also a little weird because they try to define God. we cannot define God. he just is. sometimes i try to think about him for a few minutes and it hurts my mind. he's frightening. but he's also good and loving. john piper says that God would not be loving unless he upholds and displays and magnifies his glory for our everlasting enjoyment. he is the only reality that can fully satisfy the human heart. and that's it, i think. we were created to enjoy God, to glory in like paul said the depths and the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. if we are bored with God, it's not because he is boring, but because we are boring. he is awe-inspiring. just ask the angels who sit around him and cant help but worship him continually.
wow, i just wrote a lot. i don't know why i wrote all that, but i suppose it's that human thing inside to have people validate me and like me and say, "great thoughts, way to go, we're proud of you". but whether anyone reads this or thinks these thought were good or not, i hope i can find my true identity in who God says that i am (but i still like it when you're proud of me, dad).
anyway, i had a great talk with this guy named Obed the other day. he took me buy the hand (cause that's what they do here and it's not considered gay even though it felt weird) and asked if i would walk with him. he expressed his gratitude for us being here and was amazed at our love for the kids. he mentioned that we were a Godsend and we inspired him in his life to go all out for God. people have told us that a lot here. one girl went as far to say that her life would never be the same, and she didnt laugh afterwards. she was serious. i dont understand. i guess it show that people are desperate for love and attention and passion. i dont feel like i'm doing anything incredible and i know that i'm not. but i have realized that a smile, a hug, or a meaningful conversation can change someone's life. i'm so grateful to God for allowing me to be here and experience the sights and sounds of africa. some of the sights are worthy of mourning. but some are worthy of laughter and joy and dancing. i dont take anything for granted. seeing the smiles in kids' faces, hearing their laughs at our presentations, watching their minds turn in deep thought at the notion that they are valued and loved by God is worth it all.
barbara's mom is a witchdoctor. her mom used to cast spells on her so she would do well in school. the product of this was massive headaches all the time. barbara heard the gospel through her window one night through an outdoor church meeting. she decided to give her life to jesus, and she did. when asked how she knew that jesus was the truth, barbara said that her headaches went away and never came back once she gave her life to christ. barbara's mom is still a witchdoctor, but barbara is a christ-follower. a few days ago, i watched as barbara told her testimony of what the lord had done in her life to 600 school kids. i watched as the kids listened intently, and then we got love on the kids and hand out the story of jesus and his love for them. their earthly fathers have most likely let them down, but their heavenly father will never let them down. the end.
kyle
p.s. i can't tell you how much the prayers and emails mean. thanks so much. God is opening up some crazy doors.
so this is a good couple days off to be refreshed, but i do miss working with the kids. i read don miller's Searching For God Knows What on the way here, and he said that we all have a deep longing to be loved and accepted and valued. i agree with that. it seems that we lost our true identity in the garden where we were naked and unashamed and ever since have been looking for others to validate us and give us worth. since then, it has been a competition of who is the best and most beautiful and most successful. so, the ugly are frowned upon. the sick are deemed worthless. and we play along like it was supposed to be that way. we look to others to tell us who we are. so we try to fit in and buy nice clothes and do note-worthy things to receive praise from people. the age-old lie: our stuff, looks, and accomplishments define us. Don also said that one of the best things a person can do is look someone in the eye and tell them that they are worth something. it made me feel good because that's exactly what we are doing everyday. i know that don miller's opinion shouldn't dictate what i do, but he is very right. life boils down to the question of: who am i? everyone asks themself that deep down, and we usually look to friends, family, and pop culture to give us the answer. but i'm realizing that this answer is only found in christ, not through a biblicial formula or 5 steps to receiving jesus, but through a deep relationship with christ. he created us to be in relationship with him. he is looking for an intimate, passionate relationship. the mysteries of God are far too deep for us to mentally ascribe to. paul said that no eye has seen, no ear has heard, no mind has conceived what God has prepared for those who love him - but God has revealed these things to us by his Spirit. the Spirit searches all things, even the deep things of God and reveals them to us (my paraphrase). what the heck! what are the deep things of God?! that sounds scary. but paul also encouraged the ephesians to know a love that surpasses knowledge and prayed that the colossian believers would have a revelation of the knowledge of God. it appears to me that there is some knowledge going on here that doesn't refer to book knowledge, but rather a knowledge that come from relationship and encounter. and this is what our souls long for, an encounter with the uncreated God. biblical formulas and steps and doctrines might be good to an extent, but they are also a little weird because they try to define God. we cannot define God. he just is. sometimes i try to think about him for a few minutes and it hurts my mind. he's frightening. but he's also good and loving. john piper says that God would not be loving unless he upholds and displays and magnifies his glory for our everlasting enjoyment. he is the only reality that can fully satisfy the human heart. and that's it, i think. we were created to enjoy God, to glory in like paul said the depths and the riches of the wisdom and knowledge of God. if we are bored with God, it's not because he is boring, but because we are boring. he is awe-inspiring. just ask the angels who sit around him and cant help but worship him continually.
wow, i just wrote a lot. i don't know why i wrote all that, but i suppose it's that human thing inside to have people validate me and like me and say, "great thoughts, way to go, we're proud of you". but whether anyone reads this or thinks these thought were good or not, i hope i can find my true identity in who God says that i am (but i still like it when you're proud of me, dad).
anyway, i had a great talk with this guy named Obed the other day. he took me buy the hand (cause that's what they do here and it's not considered gay even though it felt weird) and asked if i would walk with him. he expressed his gratitude for us being here and was amazed at our love for the kids. he mentioned that we were a Godsend and we inspired him in his life to go all out for God. people have told us that a lot here. one girl went as far to say that her life would never be the same, and she didnt laugh afterwards. she was serious. i dont understand. i guess it show that people are desperate for love and attention and passion. i dont feel like i'm doing anything incredible and i know that i'm not. but i have realized that a smile, a hug, or a meaningful conversation can change someone's life. i'm so grateful to God for allowing me to be here and experience the sights and sounds of africa. some of the sights are worthy of mourning. but some are worthy of laughter and joy and dancing. i dont take anything for granted. seeing the smiles in kids' faces, hearing their laughs at our presentations, watching their minds turn in deep thought at the notion that they are valued and loved by God is worth it all.
barbara's mom is a witchdoctor. her mom used to cast spells on her so she would do well in school. the product of this was massive headaches all the time. barbara heard the gospel through her window one night through an outdoor church meeting. she decided to give her life to jesus, and she did. when asked how she knew that jesus was the truth, barbara said that her headaches went away and never came back once she gave her life to christ. barbara's mom is still a witchdoctor, but barbara is a christ-follower. a few days ago, i watched as barbara told her testimony of what the lord had done in her life to 600 school kids. i watched as the kids listened intently, and then we got love on the kids and hand out the story of jesus and his love for them. their earthly fathers have most likely let them down, but their heavenly father will never let them down. the end.
kyle
p.s. i can't tell you how much the prayers and emails mean. thanks so much. God is opening up some crazy doors.
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)