Vittee's Blog

It's all a matter of perspective.

2011-07-22T15:22:00.000-06:00

I just got back from a week of summer camp, at Snow Mountain Ranch near Winter Park Colorado, with an amazing group of students. It was tiring, but absolutely worth the loss of sleep. Once again I am truly amazed by how God works through people and in peoples lives. The students openness and passion is awesome.

One of my personal little learning moments happened very early in the week. I had five middle school boys in my cabin. All amazing young men. It didn't take long before our room was an absolute mess. I'm not making excuses but I remember camp at that age and it is to be expected. By morning the wet bathroom floor was covered in dirty undies. Initially I just shook my head and was put off by how messy they were. But after a little bit of thought I've determined this is not necessarily all bad. If you change your perspective you can conclude that firstly, they are showering and secondly, they are changing there underwear. In my book that is a win!

Awesome video!

2011-07-12T10:20:00.002-06:00

So much of this video is where we where. I stood in many of these spots. This clip just brings a whole new dimension to everything we saw.

Jerusalem | Filmed in Imax 3D from JerusalemGiantScreen on Vimeo.

This is an upcoming IMAX 3D film scheduled for release in 2013. You can bet I'm going to go see it.

Pictures posted

2011-06-29T22:58:00.000-06:00

My Israel & Jordan photo album is available for viewing. I chose about 200 photos from over 1500 shots. I hope you enjoy the pictures.

Thursday June 16th

2011-06-17T18:00:00.005-06:00

Today is the last full day of our trip before we start our return home. We left the hotel with bags packed because we fly out in the early AM hours of Friday morning. But that does not mean we did not accomplish anything today. Our guide kept us on a strict schedule and wanted to make sure we saw as much as we could with our few remaining hours.

We started by going south wall excavations. These ruins are just adjacent to the south wall of the Old City. From there we talked about Jesus' final week. At the southern wall there is a sealed entrance that was the public entrance into the temple mount.

South Wall Excavations

Our guide said with more certainty than anywhere else in all of Jerusalem, Jesus must have been at this very spot. From here we could follow his path from the upper room (the last supper), to the Mount of Olives (were Jesus was captured after he went their to pray), back up to to where he was tried and sentenced. We really got a sense of that final week there.

From there we walked just down the hill a little bit to the ongoing excavations at the City of David. The City of David is King David's Palace. From here you can stand at his roof and looked down on the dwellings beneath him. This is where he more likely than not he saw Bathsheba.

View from the roof top of David's palace

You can also see the wall reconstructed by Nehemiah. They are making significant discoveries here on an ongoing basis. This sight, as so many others, is currently being excavated. Within the last couple years they have found seals with the names of scribes that are recorded in the book of Jeremiah. Our guide is absolutely convinced of the historicity of the Bible. He was not convinced of this as recently as 10 years ago, but now he believes you can't adequately understand what you find without the Bible. As here has stated many times the Bible is a treasure map. This says a lot coming from a man

Jerusalem is city of layers built upon layers. Every time something is built is it is built the ruble of whatever is beneath it. To dig here, as with many other places throughout Israel, one must overcome political obstacles. Many times our guide said everything in Israel is politics. For example they have found solid evidence of Jewish tombs under land occupied by Palestinians. Many sights are not excavated due to the implications that might result. The Dome of the Rock is a primary example. This is the location of the Temple Mount, but it is under the control of the Muslims (interesting side note...it is owned by the Jordanians) and it is off limits.

We concluded our time in Jerusalem with a visit to the garden tomb. From here you can view what is purported to be Golgotha, the location of Jesus' crucifixion. From there it is a short walk to what is thought to be the garden tomb of Jesus.

Garden Tomb

As Christians everything we believe in revolves around the empty tomb. That He is who He claimed to be. He is the Christ, the Son of the living God. We had the opportunity to reflect on our experiences the last 11 days. We sang songs of praise and took communion there. This was and ideal way to conclude our time there.

From there we started our drive back to Tel Aviv to catch our flight home. Along the way we stopped at Emmaus. On the road to Emmaus Jesus, after his resurrection, spoke with two travelers. After some discussion with them about all that had happened in Jerusalem the prior week, Jesus revealed himself to them. Jesus did not die, He is alive. We continued driving through the area in the fields where David met and defeated Goliath. Finally we were transported back to the 21st century to start our trip home. This was a trip of a lifetime!

Wednesday June 15th

2011-06-15T23:06:00.003-06:00

To start today I would like wish you a happy St. Vit day, and happy birthday to my dad! Last night we finished our day by hearing from some young missionaries (oops...I can't use that word here because it is against the law to proselytize here) and today we started by going to a ministry called “Bridges for Peace”. This organization is like a food closet but does far more. Often among the Jews and Arabs they try to reach it is difficult if not an impossible for them to accept aid from Christians. It is a wonderful ministry.

From there we went to the Israeli Museum. We saw a scale model of ancient Jerusalem. It must have been something to behold back in Jesus' time. The temple mount would have been impressive even today.

Jerusalem model in Jesus' time

The historic relic we were able to see was some of the scroll fragments that were found at Qumran (near the dead sea...see blog post from day 6). Portions of the Isaiah scroll was on display. This is called the shrine of the book.

After our brief visit we continued to the holocaust museum. We spent a short amount of time there but is was very impacting.

Hall of Remembrance at the Holocaust Museum

The whole trip our guide has been teasing us with the meaning and origin of the Star of David symbol (this is the double triangle star found on the Israeli flag). One night when I had internet access I google'd it and it did not give a definitive answer. Actually the symbol has no Jewish significance. Up until the holocaust the symbol was largely unknown. Hilter used it to identify the Jews. So the symbol on the Jewish flag is a Nazi design borrowed from India (FYI the swastika is also a symbol taken from India). Our guide told us most Jews don't even know this.

Then we went to Bethlehem. Our guide left us because as a Jew he is not allowed to go there. Bethlehem is located in the Palestinian occupied territories.

Bethlehem

The political situation here is difficult. There is no easy solution. The Palestinian occupied territories are surround by a large concrete wall and there is a check point to pass through. I've never been to Berlin but it reminded me of the Berlin wall.

In Bethlehem we went to the Church of the Nativity. This is the “location” of Jesus' birth.

They even have memorial to the “spot” of the birth. But the church was built some 6 centuries after Jesus' birth. It was meaningful from the point to know that Jesus was born somewhere here. From there we went to the Shepard's field. This is were the Shepard left to go see the baby Jesus.

Jerusalem is a very unique city. A lot of cultures clash here. The city goes by over 70 different names. Everything here, regardless of who you are (Muslim, Jewish or Christian) is so religious. People make relics and idols out of everything. I don't even like the term religious. I think of religion as a man made system that is all about dos and don’ts and about man trying to please God. I think “true religion” is God reaching down to us, to our level to save us. That is exactly what Jesus has done. It is up to us to either accept it or reject it.

Tuesday June 14th

2011-06-15T08:22:00.007-06:00

Today is our first full day in Jerusalem, and it will be impossible to encapsulate it all.

Jerusalem

I will try to cover some of the highlights. Overall we have been extremely blessed that the crowds are very light. We are getting everywhere so easily so our wonderful guide keeps adding more and more items to our itinerary.

First thing this morning we returned to the Wailing wall. It is customary to write a prayer on a piece of paper an stick it into a crack in the wall.

Wailing Wall

My prayer was something that Ron shared earlier, that I have been thinking about frequently on this trip. The prayer is the same as Peter's answer when Jesus asked who do you think I am. It is something I know I do not acknowledge as much as I should. “You are the Christ, the son of the living God”.

From there we went to the Dome of the Rock. Inside the structure there is a rock that is said to be the alter upon which Abraham placed his son Isaac. Later Solomon built the temple on this sight. The Holy of Holies, the place of offerings, was built over this rock.

Dome of the Rock

This is the most holy sight for the Jews and now there is a mosque built upon this spot. Up until recently this sight was inaccessible by visitors. For the Muslims this is a very holy spot also, because they say Mohammed ascend here. There is a lot of tension because of this. More then ever I have realized how unimportant this physical spot is to us as Christians, because the true temple is in our hearts where the Holy Spirit resides.

In my small group we have been studying the book of John. We are familiar with a lot of the occurrences in that book. We went to the pool of Bethesda where Jesus healed a crippled man on the sabbath. We studied this recently and now I visited the spot.

Pool of Bethesda

Adjacent to this sight is the Church of St. Ann. We went in and sang some hymns. This place had the most perfect acoustics imaginable. It made a bunch of novices, like us, sound like a heavenly choir. I'm sure regardless of how we think we sound, this is what God hears coming from our heart.

In the evening we had the privilege to go to the tunnels under the western wall. This allowed us to understand how the temple Solomon built originally looked. We were able to follow the western wall, a continuation of the wailing wall, underground for practically the entire length of the temple. We were at the very base of the wall where it blends into the bedrock of Mount Moriah.

In addition to the above we also visited: King David tomb, the upper room (sight of the last supper), the Via Delarosa, the prison of Christ, Church of the Holy Sepulcher, Mount of Olives, garden of Gesthemeny, Church of Agony, several of the gates into the old city, Absalom's tomb, Zachariah's tomb, and several other items. This day was definitely and overload on information.

We finished the evening listening to a group young people who are here in Jerusalem reaching the Jews and the Muslims with the good news of Christ.

Monday June 13th

2011-06-15T08:21:00.005-06:00

This morning we got an early start because we had to drive north again for several hours, to return to the same border crossing to go back into Israel. We were hoping for it to go more smoothly than when we entered Jordan. Once again I was selected for special screening. I'm convinced it has to do with my Egypt Visa. Additionally my baggage was deemed suspicious because of stone tile mosaic I purchased in Jordan. There was some waiting but it went pretty smooth and we made in through in about half the time.

From there we went to Qumran. Our guide said this a very poor archeological sight except for the fact that it did yield one of the most significant finds ever discovered. The Dead Sea Scrolls were found here. We did not spend much time here because there really isn't much to see. The scrolls are the oldest copy of the Old Testament in existence. He said the entire Old Testament, except for the book of Ester, is found in the scrolls and it is 99.9% the same as the writings we have today. This find just adds to the credibility and reliability of the bible.

Afterward we drove down to the southern end of the Dead Sea and went to Masada.

Masada

Masada is a fortress on the top of a plateau. It is the last bastion of Jewish freedom fighters against the Romans. The Romans built a giant ramp that ascended to the top of Masada and attacked the fortress from there. The leader of the Jewish community convinced some 960 members that it would be better to take their own lives rather than to live in shame and fall into the hands of the Romans and become slaves.

Structures at Masada

That is the traditional account but there are some alternate theories to this because suicide is completely contrary to Jewish beliefs. At the end of our stay a couple of us guys decided to hike down from the top of Masada.

From there we drove a back to the north side of the Dead Sea and took a swim. The Dead Sea is the lowest point on earth. My GPS showed 1360 feet below sea level. The Dead Sea is shrinking and large portions of what used to be submerged are now dry ground. The Jordan river flows into the Dead Sea, but not at a rate that will sustain its level due to evaporation. Israel dammed up a portion of the Jordan river. Water is such a scarce resource that they cannot allow it to be wasted.

Covered in Black Mud from the Dead Sea

I was able to completely cover myself in the black mud of the Dead Sea. It is supposed to be good for the skin and I can report that my skin is softer. I think it just acted as an exfoliate. Swimming in the Dead Sea is an experience. The water does not feel any different but you are extremely buoyant. The water contains one third minerals and hence it is much more dense than regular sea water. You don't even have to make an effort and you just float.

That pretty much ended our program for the day. We started driving west through the Judean wilderness were Jesus was tempted for 40 days. We went through a tunnel that goes under the Mount of Olive and than all of Jerusalem was reveal to us in a moment. It was a breathtaking sight to see.

Once we were settled into our hotel and we finished dinner. A couple of us decided to go for a walk. We were pointed in a direction and just started walking. We walked though a Muslim district and tried to soak in the entire experience. We walked through an opening and to our surprise to the left we had stumbled into the Wailing wall. This was something I was really looking forward to. I was able to go up and touch the wall. It was quite an amazing experience. I think I'm going to walk every night just to soak in as much as I can. We will stay in Jerusalem for the next 3 nights until our departure.

Sunday June 12th

2011-06-12T13:29:00.002-06:00

We spent the night in Wadi Mousa. This name of this city translates as “Valley of Moses”. One of the major reason I chose to go on this trip was to see Petra and it is located in Wadi Mousa. Most of you are probably familiar with Petra, if not by name by sight. You will recognize it because it was in the movie “Indiana Jones and the Last Crusade”. Toward the end of the movie Indiana Jones enters a temple carved into the side of a mountain, to look for the holy grail. Well that is the Treasury in Petra. This is how I first learned of Petra.

Petra treasury

Petra appears to be mentioned by name in the bible but not by its current name (2 Kings 14:7). Also right across the street from our hotel is Moses spring. Tradition says this is were Moses struck the rock and water flowed from it (Numbers 20:10-11).

I had high expectations for Petra and was worried that I might be disappointed. Petra did not disappoint! This is definitely one of the most impressive things I have ever seen. It is absolutely amazing. Words and pictures just cannot do it justice. After our guide finished with his program he let us wander. I tried to visit as many points and features in Petra as I could manage in our allotted time.

Royal tombs at Petra

I skipped lunch and I had a couple bottles water and started to hoof it. I hiked back to the monastery and then up to the royal tombs and peaked in to as many crevices as I could find.

Monastery at Petra

The colors here are absolutely fascinating. The ancient kingdom of Moab is just to the south of here. After seeing the colors and the landscape I can understand how the name Moab was chosen our Moab in Utah. I was surprised by how large Petra is. It is a vast complex that stretches far more than I have seen. I was also surprised by how much roman influence is present. Petra flourished during Nabataean rule from the 3rd century BC to the early 2nd century AD, when it was occupied by the Roman Empire. To see Petra in its heyday must have been something amazing. To go from the barren desert to this must have been like leaving the ends of the earth arriving at it's heart.

Wisdom from an 11 year old

Today while walking through Petra I received wisdom from an 11 year old. I started a conversation with a little girl who was selling trinkets and post cards. A sweet little soul. We were just chatting and she asked if I had a daughter. I told her I have no daughter...I have no wife. She look at me with a somber look and said, “No wife, no life”. We all were laughing so hard at her earnest comment.

After Petra a few of us were hanging out in the pool cooling off. I made the comment that while we were on top of Mt. Nebo looking into the promised land, it did not look so promising. It is essentially the same desert on that side of the Jordan river as the desert on this side of the river. I think that during that time maybe the Jordan valley was much more lush and appealing than it is now. One of the gentlemen here said that maybe after this barren land here anything looked good. In any case it was a very desirable plot of land.

Our lesson for tonight was to think about the promises made in this land, and tomorrow as we go over the Samaritan pass and get our first view of Jerusalem to think about God's promises to us. We have a promise that has been given to every generation since Isaac. It is the same promise he gave Moses:

Joshua 1:5 - No one will be able to stand against you as long as you live. For I will be with you as I was with Moses. I will not fail you or abandon you.

As we have today:

Matthew 28:20 - Teach these new disciples to obey all the commands I have given you. And be sure of this: I am with you always, even to the end of the age.”

We have assurance that he will always be with us.

Satuday June 11th

2011-06-11T21:21:00.006-06:00

Today we spent several hours on the road and made a border crossing at the Allenby Bridge in to the Hashimite Kingdom of Jordan. So we did not see as much as in previous days. In the morning we before we left Israel we went to Bet She'an.

Bet She'an

I have only visited a few sites with Roman ruins but these were the most impressive I've seen. After that we we drove a little further south and crossed the border in to Jordan. We spent more time there than we anticipated. We had some problems getting a few people in our group across the border into Jordan because they were not on the list provided to the Jordanians. After a couple hours that was resolved and we were allowed to enter. We ended up cutting one thing out of our Jordan schedule, but we did go to Mount Nebo.

Looking over the promised land from the top of Mt. Nebo

This is the mountain were Moses was shown the promised land before he died.

Deuteronomy 34:1 Then Moses climbed Mount Nebo from the plains of Moab to the top of Pisgah, across from Jericho. There the LORD showed him the whole land—from Gilead to Dan, 2 all of Naphtali, the territory of Ephraim and Manasseh, all the land of Judah as far as the Mediterranean Sea, 3 the Negev and the whole region from the Valley of Jericho, the City of Palms, as far as Zoar. 4 Then the LORD said to him, “This is the land I promised on oath to Abraham, Isaac and Jacob when I said, ‘I will give it to your descendants.’ I have let you see it with your eyes, but you will not cross over into it.”

This is the land the Jews wandered in the wilderness for 40 years.

Me peeking into a Bedouin tent

Friday June 10th

2011-06-10T13:04:00.001-06:00

The entire day today we spent to the north of Tiberias. We visited a couple nature preserves. First, in the morning went to the Tel Dan nature preserve and walked the ancient Dan trail. It takes its name from the tribe of Dan. The Dan springs are the major source of water for the Sea of Galilee. The water is fed from Mount Hermon in Syria and that is a point of contention for Syria. The spring water flows down the Dan river into the Sea of Galilee, down the Jordan river, and ultimately ends in the Dead Sea. This is a major source of water for this dry arid environment. Later in the day we went to the top of Mount Bental. On mount Bental we were given a “modern history” lesson about the 6 day war that happened in 1967. During this conflict Israel took possession of the Golan Heights, West Bank, and Gaza Strip. Our history lesson dealt with the Golan Heights since that is where we were spending our day.

Damascus valley from Mt. Bental

On the top of Mount Bental we stood in former Syrian bunkers. I got the impression that the Israelis are divided on whether they should retain control over the Golan Heights or settle on a peace for land trade. It is obvious how important this land is to Israel and for its own security. The whole day we skirted the borders of Lebanon and Syria and passed along side active mine fields.

In between our nature stops we stopped at Caesarea Philippi.

Caesarea Philippi

While there we stopped reflect on what significant biblical event happened there. You can read the event in Matthew 16:13-16. Jesus asks his disciples who do they think He is? We focused on Peters answer. His response was not just simple a single statement, his answer was a three phase statement. Peter identified Jesus as the Messiah, as the Son, as coming from the living God. We were challenged to think more intently on Peter's response and the deep meaning in his response.

Today I had my most ethnic meal yet and definitely the most enjoyable. It was fairly simple but very tasty. We were in a Druze village. We had a Druze pita with lebane (sour cheese) and olive oil. It was fantasitic! It was a hot day (over 100°F) so I enhanced the meal with a cold Coke and Ice cream for dessert.

Using a fig leaf to cover my shame

I have to make a comment on our guide. He is absolutely fantastic. He has a PhD in archeology and teaches it at a university. He leads tours as extra work. He views archeology through the bible. Even though he is not a Christian he is constantly reading from the bible at the sights as proof of how the Bible and archeology are so closely tied together.

Thursday June 9th

2011-06-09T13:12:00.002-06:00

Last night I had my first full night of sleep so I am all adjusted now. We started the day fairly early. We went to Ginosar and boarded a boat for a ride out on the Sea of Galilee.

Sea of Galilee

We stopped the boat and cast a net. There were no fish on either side of the boat. We stopped for a moment to reflect about the many biblical events that happened around the Sea of Galilee, such as the feeding of the 5000 and the Sermon on the Mount. Ron talked about the many times Jesus had crossed this lake. That this entire area of Galilee was his platform for preaching. We focused on the apostles and their reaction to the time when Jesus was sleeping on the boat and the apostles were fearful for their lives during a storm. As in a previous lesson Jesus was once again reminding the Apostles not to be afraid and to have faith. We returned to port and they had a actual 2000 year old boat that was found on the shores of Galilee. This would have been a boat from Jesus' time

From there we went on the the Mount of Beatitudes. We had another brief lesson on the Sermon on the Mount. I took the time to re-read the Sermon on the Mount (Matthew 5-7) while sitting on the mountain from which it was originally preached. It was quite amazing to think I was reading the same sermon that was preached by Jesus on this same hillside nearly 2000 years ago. This was a very moving experience.

We continued to Capernaum. This is the location of Jesus' synagogue and Peter's house. It is the most mentioned place in the bible in reference to Jesus.. Many of the miracles Jesus preformed occurred at Capernum. I just never stopped to think that just like I have my home church, Jesus also had his home synagogue.

Jesus' Synagogue

The synagogue that stands there now dates to the 4th century. But it is built on top the synagogue that would have been there during Jesus' time. Just to know I am walking the same grounds as our savior is quite an experience. I am so thankful that I can reflect and enjoy on the historical significance of a place without worshiping the site itself.

For lunch I had St. Peters fish. It is kind of a touristy thing to do to eat a fish from the Sea of Galilee. It was very boney, but not bad. The other food I've had while being here was better than the fish.

After lunch we went down to the river Jordan at the south end of the lake. Four of the people in our group chose to be baptized in the river. Two weeks ago I was watching an old 8mm film with my dad of him being baptized in the Jordan and now I and here in the same spot.

Our day ended with a non historical stop but a current event that is making an historical impact. The group I am with is an organization called HCJB global. Their ministry is spreading the gospel through media. We visited a company, here in Tiberius, called Galtronics that has a close working relationship with HCJB. They produce small solar powered hand held radios that are given away so that people can hear the Gospel. It is amazing to think that through a company in the region of Galilee that the Gospel is still being heard world wide. They are also producing a small inexpensive digital media player with the entire spoken bible, in different languages, for distribution to the third world where the majority of people can not read. But they can still have the word of God.

Wednesday June 8th

2011-06-08T13:48:00.005-06:00

Last night at sundown a holiday started to commemorate God giving the Torah to Moses, so today should be a relatively quite day due to the holiday.

The hotel in which we are staying has a Shabbat elevator. My understanding is that “Shabbat” means sabbath. I understand the concept of not working on the sabbath, but I'm not sure I understand the reasoning behind the shabbat elevator. On the Shabbat elevator you don't push any buttons and it stops on only odd floors and pauses for a minute and a half at each floor. I would think that if walking up one flight of stairs is more work, why not stop at every floor. Apparently the minute and a half pause on each floor has something to do with using electricity. Maybe the effects of it have to wear off. The explanation I was given does not make much sense to me.

We started the day by driving north through the Sharon forest to Caesarea Maritima. Caesarea Maritima was a major deep water port during biblical times, built by King Herod. There is an ruins have amphitheater and a hippodrome which reflect how big and important of a place it was.

Caesarea Hippodrome

This is where books of Luke and Acts were written. This is the port from which Paul left when he was sent to Rome to face charges. It is a beautiful example of Roman architecture.

From there we went to Mount Carmel. This is where Isaiah challenged the prophets of Baal a showdown to demonstrate to the people who is the real God of Israel (1 Kings 18). Isaiah prayed and God accepted his offerings and proved to all the people He is the one and only God.

After this we went to Mount Megiddo. Megiddo is where Solomon had a great fort (1 Kings 9:15). It is also the place in Revelation 16:14-16 that speaks of the “final battle” - Armageddon.

Then we went on to Nazareth. Nazareth is where Jesus grew up and spent most of his life. In the city we went to the Church of the Annunciation. This is where tradition holds that annunciation occurred to Mary, by the Angel Gabriel, about the virgin birth of Jesus. The Basilica is built right on top of the ruins of ancient Nazareth. Our guide told us more than any other spot in all of Israel this location is the most definite as to where Jesus actually walked. More likely than not, as a child he ran through these streets and played in the town square.

From there we drove through Cana (the sight of Christ's first miracle of turning water in wine (John 2) to Tiberias. Tiberias is a city on the western shore of the Sea of Galilee. We will make our home here for the next three nights. After dinner I walk down to the Sea of Galilee just to enjoy and reflect on where I am.

Travel day

2011-06-08T09:33:00.000-06:00

Traveling day - First off, thank you Jenny for taking me to the airport this morning. I am currently sitting on a plane bound from Denver to New York. I met up with a portion of our group at DIA before we boarded the plane. It was nice to see some faces I haven't seen in over a dozen years. I also met my roommate for the next 11 days. At JFK airport in New York we will meet up with the remainder of our group. We are a group of 33 people in total and for once I am not among the oldest in the group. From here we have a 9 hour, overnight flight, directly to Tel Aviv with ELAL. We arrive late afternoon local time on Tuesday.

Beyond the spiritual experience I am looking forward to the cultural, historical and of course the gastronomical experience.
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Well now I am through security at JFK and I am sitting at the gate waiting to board the flight to Tel Aviv. During check in with ELAL I was pulled aside for questioning. They did not like the fact that I had a VISA from Egypt in my passport. Then after further investigation I don't think they liked the additional stamps in my passport from Uganda, Ethiopia, and Russia. They wanted to know if I still communicate with anyone in Egypt, where in Egypt I visited, whether I went to Muslim sights, the purpose of all my trips and my reason for going Israel. I think they were just trying to correlate stories from different people on our trip. Security was courteous but thorough.

I had my first minor scare. I thought I forgot the power supply for my laptop. Fortunately I did not, otherwise my blog updates would have ended after my this entry. There is no free wifi at JFK. It's kinda of funny you have to pay to access “free public wifi”. Hmm...sound fishy to me. Well this post will have to wait until I arrive in Israel. Hopefully I'll get several hours of sleep on the flight.
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Tuesday ended with us arriving in Tel Aviv in the late afternoon. After dinner a couple of us walked down to the beach. I was able to soak my feet in the Mediterranean Ocean and walk down the boardwalk. I hope to be able to post this soon.

Israel & Jordan trip!

2011-06-06T00:07:00.002-06:00

It has been far too long since my last post. I got lazy over the winter months. Since my last post I have spent time with my brothers family, skydiving in Moab, snowboarding, and volunteering with the youth at my church.

In February I received an email from HCJB Global that they will be offering a trip to Israel & Jordan. This immediately caught my attention because I've always wanted to make a trip to Israel, but I always wished if I had the opportunity that I could also go to Jordan. This trip was perfect, because it offered both.

The trip will be full of bible teachings at biblical sights, lead by Dr. Ron Cline. My desire during this trip is that I gain a deeper understanding of the bible and the period it was written in. I hope that the truth within moves from the pages and I see it in a more real manner than I have ever experienced it before.

I started packing with less than 12 hours till my departure. Please follow along with me for the next 11 days as I journey and I hope to let you share some of my experiences.

God bless!

MOAB Boogie

2010-09-26T18:00:00.008-06:00

A weekend of fun at the 2010 MOAB Boogie. Most of the video is from my helmet cam, so you really don't see much of me.

This was the first year I was eligible to make off airport skydives. I jumped into Castle Valley & Caveman Ranch. These were some of the most picturesque and fantastic jumps I have ever made.

Amazing skydiving weekend!

2010-08-21T23:08:00.010-06:00

Well last weekend after camp I made my 300th skydive. A wonderful milestone to reach but this weekend surpassed that. Today I jumped four times into a small regional airfair. I made several level 1 open field demo jumps in front of spectators. I have to admit it kinda felt weird to get applause, but to be able to talk to the kids about skydiving made it all the more enjoyable. To top it all of I was able to jump from a very historic aircraft. We jumped a C-47 named Southern Cross. The C-47 is the military designation for a DC-3.

This particular aircraft saw service in WWII. It was surreal to be in a plane that helped defend our country so many years ago. The plane had several patched holes in the fuselage that were caused by damage while in service. Thanks to all of you who served and continue to serve to defend our great country. God bless!

God sent another mini blessing my way, after packing I went to the flight line to talk with the kids about skydiving. I noticed a father and son who happened to be adopted from Ethiopia. It was my privilege and joy to talk to them and share my experiences there just a few weeks ago.

Canaan's Children Home Video

2010-08-19T21:45:00.004-06:00

This is a short video of the time we spent at Canaan's Children Home in Uganda. Thank you to the Chlebanowskis for putting this video together! Visit their blog: Give. Share. Serve.

Worlds Apart

2010-08-17T23:17:00.011-06:00

I still think about my experience in Africa quite frequently. After coming back I had a brief week at work and then I was off for a week of summer camp with the youth from our church. We went to Wyoming and had an absolutely amazing time. God wanted me to take notice of Him. It was not so much a revelation but gentle reminder about how big He is. Central Africa and central Wyoming are worlds apart in just about every way. To see that within a week of each other made the contrasts even more vivid. How beautiful it is to be reminded that He is the same God who moves there who moves here. He is wholly concerned the well being of His children whether they are orphans in central Africa or our youth kids relaxing in central Wyoming. He knows each of us intimately though we may be worlds apart. To top it all off, we were able see the Milky Way Galaxy on a moonless night in its full splendor. Then to realize that the same God who created those worlds cares more about each of us, than we can ever imaging, is absolutely awe inspiring. I think I need these little reminders so that I never under value God's greatness!

Lion Chasers Manifesto

2010-08-09T21:13:00.005-06:00

The best book I've read in the last couple years is “In a Pit with a Lion on a Snowy Day: How to Survive and Thrive When Opportunity Roars” by Mark Batterson. This is an amazing book that will motivate you to act despite your obstacles. The book examines the life and actions of a man named Benaiah. He is briefly mentioned a couple times in the Old Testament. Benaiah took risks and did not let obstacles stand between him and his destiny. The book really brings this story to life. It has changed the way I look at the opportunities God places before me. Put this at the top of your list of books to read! Here is an excerpt from the book:

Lion Chasers Manifesto
Quit living as if the purpose of life is to arrive safely at death. Grab life by the mane. Set God-sized goals. Pursue God-ordained passions. Go after a dream that is destined to fail without divine intervention. Keep asking questions. Keep making mistakes. Keep seeking God. Stop pointing out problems and become part of the solution. Stop repeating the past and start creating the future. Stop playing it safe and start taking risks. Expand your horizons. Accumulate experiences. Consider the lilies. Enjoy the journey. Find every excuse you can to celebrate everything you can. Live like today is the first day and last day of your life. Don't let what's wrong with you keep you from worshiping what's right with God. Burn sinful bridges. Blaze a new trail. Criticize by creating. Worry less about what people think and more about what God thinks. Don't try to be who you're not. Be yourself. Laugh at yourself. Quit holding out. Quit holding back. Quit running away.
Chase the lion.

This was my prayer for the missions trip and I want this to be my personal manifesto as well!

Another photo album

2010-08-07T15:49:00.002-06:00

Here are a couple more photo albums from our trip: Trip Album & Fistula Hospital Album. Photos of people it honestly catches something more than just an image, they capture soul. Carrie thank you for the pictures...you're an amazing photographer!

Chasing the jump plane in my wingsuit!

2010-08-07T15:26:00.003-06:00

This is my first post that really has nothing to do with the trip. I am so blessed that God allows me to have some fun that is completely frivolous. I was recently reminded of the following verse (from another blog post):

Luke 12:48b (NLT) From everyone who has been given much, much will be demanded; and from the one who has been entrusted with much, much more will be asked.

This is something I must take to heart and live by! I am working on some final thoughts. I'm gone next week because I am going with our students to summer camp up in Wyoming. You can't really put a final stop on this experience...it will be with me the rest of my life. Those thoughts will have to wait until I get back. God bless!

Missions Trip Videos

2010-08-07T08:47:00.002-06:00

These girls were singing so they could hear their own voices recorded. Return Ministries in Kampala, Uganda.

Jenn singing Amazing Grace with the ladies at Canaan's Children Home in Jinja, Uganda.

Singing at the feeding program with Amazima Ministries in Jinja, Uganda

Or just check out VitteeVit's YouTube Channel.

The Village of Korah - A short documentary

2010-08-06T08:13:00.003-06:00

The Village of Korah - A short documentary from Keith Bolling on Vimeo.

Our team was blessed to spend time with Sammy. His testimony is amazing!

My photo album is finally posted!

2010-08-05T21:35:00.004-06:00

It took me a while to sort through my photos. I've selected what I like the most. I hope you enjoy my photo album!

Final Day

2010-08-01T14:14:00.001-06:00

I am writing this entry as I am flying over the Atlantic Ocean on my way home. I have to start this post with my experience of spending the night near the dump at Kore with Project 61 and the children there. I was a little apprehensive about it, but it was unforgettable time. When we left the relative comfort of the guest house where we were staying it was raining. The rain was a bit disturbing because I knew the muck and mire I was about to head into. Our arrival was greatly anticipated. As soon as we were a bit situated in their surroundings their hospitality was on full display. They had prepared a large tray popcorn and cookies for us. Apparently popcorn is a favored treat by many Ethiopians. I am guessing because it is inexpensive and filling. Then I had one of the experiences I had been anticipating since arriving in Ethiopia. An Ethiopian coffee ceremony.

For those of you who don't know, I don't like coffee nor do I care much for the aroma. I knew I had to try it. It starts with the roasting of the beans in a little pan over an open coal flame. Then the beans were pounded in a mortar and pestle until it was a fine powder. I tried my hand at pulverizing the beans. For the full experience I tasted a roasted bean. Then they boil some water. They carefully measure out the proper amount of coffee grounds and added the boiling water. They let the grounds settle in the pot and mixed the coffee with sugar. They gave me a small cup. I have to admit it was actually really good. It was not harsh or bitter at all. I also asked to try the coffee black and even that was pretty good. I have it on good authority from several avid coffee drinkers that it was the best cup of coffee they had ever tasted. I was so thrilled that my coffee experience was as authentic as I could have ever hoped for, and that I actually enjoyed it. I still don't think I am going to become a coffee drinker.

They entire evening was filled with joy. We talked, sang, danced and ate more food. I was hand fed by some of the kids. In their culture to be hand fed by someone is an honor. We shared pictures. They were absolutely fascinated when I shared with them that I jump out of planes. I showed some videos and they were all crowded around in amazement. I was just happy that my frivolous activity brought them some joy. The ladies were getting their hair braided in corn rows. I also shared some of the pictures on my digital camera. They were particularly interested when I got to pictures of the Mercado. When I got to the pictures of people sleeping in the gutter they were eager to add that they used to sleep there. They were most interested in pictures they could directly relate with. Some of the other boys added that they used to sleep in the dump with hyenas. There was no way I could relate with these boys on this level. All I could do I was express how sorry I was. Their response was amazing. They just how good God is, how He loves them and that He brought them to this place. In the midst of what I would consider misery there was real joy and happiness. Later we busted out the glow sticks. They were a big hit! We shut off the lights and they jumped around in utter joy with their glowing bracelets and necklaces. It looked like a rave...not that I have any idea what one looks like since I've never been to one.

Then when I finally thought things were slowing down and we were getting ready for bed we started a movie. The night was not over until a little after one in the morning. I was already running on empty but every moment of was worth the experience. I slept with the guys in the boys room. They gave up one of their bunks for me and doubled up. Their room is very simple. There was a single fluorescent bulb in their musty room with no light switch. They just covered their heads with their blankets and went to sleep. Their living conditions were, we as Americans, would consider far below acceptable. My mind was just full of thoughts of how this is infinitely better than how they were sleeping only a few short months before. I stopped and realized that the next time I lay down in a bed, I will be in my own bed half a world away and they will still be here. This is an experience I never want to forget.

Saturday was filled with our final plans but with a group of 30 it is difficult to make last minute adjustments. Time flew by and before we knew it time was running out. We had a final team meeting just to debrief and talk about all our experiences. It is hard to believe that after all the months of anticipation and preparation the trip is essentially over. The one thing I think we all walked away with is that it is now our responsibility to share this experience with others. Even though we may be gone physically their need is still there. Not everyone will have the privilege to personally have an experience like this so it is up to us to continually advocate for these people, the ministries, and the missionaries who are in the midst of following God's calling.

As I sit here on the plane...only a few rows ahead of me is an American family who is taking their newly adopted son home. I am giddy inside just thinking of the homecoming that is awaiting them in just a few short hours. I can't help but seeing my brother, his wife and their little Jo some two short years ago in exactly the same place. Time after time this last week I met people who are getting ready to meet the child are adopting for this first time or experiencing the new addition to their family. What a joy it is. I don't think everyone is called to adopt but I do believe we are all called to act on the behalf all of God's Children.

At the airport

2010-07-31T11:38:00.002-06:00

Well I'm at the airport in Addis Ababa. Our flight leaves in about 2 hours. This trip was amazing and I'll have a lot more to post when I get home. Thank you for your prayers. Our overnight with the kids at Kore was a blast! God bless!

A Hope House

2010-07-30T10:02:00.002-06:00

Today will be a short post. Tonight I have the opportunity to spend the night at the dump with Project 61. Only six of us are allowed to go on this sleep over. We will spend the night in their facility. The kids will join us and it will be like a slumber party. I did not realize that this ministry is so new. It has only been in existence for the last 5 months. What a neat opportunity it is to minister to these kids.

Today we went to the A Hope House. This is another HIV orphanage. This is where I left a large donation of medical supplies. Thanks again to St. Joseph Hospital in Denver. Your gift was greatly appreciated. While here we split into two groups. The A Hope House has two different buildings. One for the younger kids and another for the older kids. I went with the group to the older kids. We had fun just spending time with them. We played H-O-R-S-E, finger painted, made bracelets, played games and other fun activities. The kids are just precious. One boy led me around the facility. He was so proud to show me his room and his bed. They just craved our time and attention. It was so sad when they asked when we are coming back and we had to tell them we are not coming back because we leave for home tomorrow.

After leaving there we went to the Piaza for some shopping. Surprisingly a guy I met yesterday in a different part of town show up there. When we were finished there we drove through the Mercado.

This is the largest open air market in all of Africa. It was very large and busy. It was interesting but there was really no reason to get out. The market was primarily for commerce, there really was nothing for us to do there but take in the madness. From there we went to the post office. This is not a post office, it is another shopping district. I picked up the last of my gifts and souvenirs.

Well this will probably be the last chance I have to make a posting before we start the journey home. I will finish up blogging about the trip from home home.

God's Plans

2010-07-29T14:50:00.002-06:00

We had our schedule for today but God changed that for us. We were planning to go to the New Life Vision Association. This is an HIV orphanage with about 200 children in their care. We arrived at the orphanage to the surprise of the director. They were not expecting our visit. There were no children at the house. They were all in school. There was some sort of miss communication but even that was God ordained. The director was very sorry that the children were not there so that we could spend time with them. He is a very sweet
gentle man and would love to have Visiting Orphans come back. Even though this did not go according to our plan this was still a very encouraging meeting. He seemed very encouraged by our visit. We left the donations we had planned to give them. He is a Christian converted from Islam. He asked us to pray for him that he stays strong in continuing this ministry.

We scrambled for a little while to come up with plan B. In actuality it was always God's Plan A. One of our guides here used to work for another ministry. He made a few call and we made a visit to a ministry called The Forsaken Children. This is a ministry that minister directly to the children who live on the streets of Addis
Ababa.

These children find themselves on the streets for various reasons. Some are run aways, some are sent here to make money for the family back in their village, some are send here on business and never make it back home. Some of the young ladies in under their care as young as 9 years old have been raped. This ministry is their for them. They house some children. They have even reconnected some children with their families who long ago assumed they were dead. When we arrived we received a welcome that very much reminded us of the welcomes in Uganda. We had a wonderful time with the children. We sang songs played games and made personal connections with the kids. This was something that lifted everyone's spirits. Praise God that we followed what He had planned for us all along.

We went out to a nice dinner again. Afterward we came back to the guest house and listened to the testimony of a local man who works with the ministry in the dump where we visited a couple days ago. He told us about the history of those people. It is an amazing story. Our time here is wrapping up soon and I'm praying for many more amazing experiences. It is getting late and I am exhausted.

Orphanage Visits

2010-07-28T15:30:00.003-06:00

Today was kind of a hectic day. I think a bit of fatigue is starting to set in for a few. We split into three groups. Each group visited a different place. The group I was in visited the AWA Transitional Home. This is a home where orphans who have been matched with a family go to stay during the adoption process. My niece, Jo, was at this home before my brother and his wife flew here to finalize the adoption. I took some pictures of Jo for her former nanny. Unfortunately she was not working today. I left the pictures with the staff and they will get them to her. Part of the group spent time with the kids there. The rest started painting a seascape mural on two adjoining walls. Our time there was short and we were not able to complete the mural. We got a good start on the major part of the drawings. A group may go back tomorrow to try to complete it. I spent a little time doing both activities. The other group split between Kids Care and Kingdom Vision Orphanage.

Afterward we all met at the Hilton Hotel. I purchased a beautiful hand painted storyboard depicting the story of King David's rise to prominence. This was nice little break and time to refresh.

Then we went to Mother Theresa HIV orphanage. This is a fairly large institution. I am not saying anything bad about them because they are still being faithful to God's calling to love these children. It really makes me appreciate what several of the directors of the smaller orphanages in Uganda said. They did not want a larger
institution for an orphanage but a smaller home that is more structured like a family. From what I've seen this certainly seems to be the better option. The difficult thing about this is it needs more people to run it. Canaan's Children Home is an example where a larger orphanage works but still has a family feeling to it. Canaan's had an open door to the community during the day but after a certain hour, only the orphans in the program were in the facility. Today's orphanage really had a feeling of a warehouse. It was a striking contrast. It may be because this an orphanage with 450 children where nearly all of them have HIV. Because of this it is still is not
treated on an equal footing as other orphanages. The children here looked more sickly than anywhere else we've been. The kids were just as loving and craved your attention. We toured the entire place. The visited the different dormitories for the boys and girls and different age groups. Finally we went into the ward with sick children. There was this tiny premature baby who was born a month ago and still looks like she is still a month shy of normal development. Back in the US this baby would be in the ICU hooked up to all sorts of monitors, here this poor child is just in a crib. Fortunately her mother was there constantly at her side. There were also two tiny frail little malnourished girls who had tuberculosis who struggled for every breath. About all you could do was comfort them with a gentle touch and pray over them. They were literally to weak to move. Praise God for these people who have not forgotten any of God's children.

In the evening we went out for a traditional Ethiopian dinner. The food was very good. It is served family style and you eat with your hands. It is rude to lick you fingers and belching at the table is acceptable. The food on the common dinner plate is very colorful. I tried just about everything that we were served. During dinner a
traditional Ethiopian band was playing. After dinner the music was accompanied by traditional dance. The dancing was extremely energetic and told a story. It was very enjoyable to see how rich the culture is here.

Today photographs were forbidden at both locations so I am including a couple photos of everyday life in Addis Ababa.

Kore Dump

2010-07-27T13:35:00.003-06:00

Today was the day I was anticipating to be the most impact full day of the entire trip. I have felt that so far we have seen the lucky kids who actually made it to an orphanage. Today we went to a section of town called Kore. While there we visited a ministry called Project 61. This name comes from a reference found in Isiah 61:1

The spirit of the sovereign LORD is upon me, because the LORD has chosen me. He has commissioned me to encourage the poor, to help the brokenhearted, to decree the release of captives, and the freeing of prisoners.

Kore is a district on the outskirts of Addis Ababa where approximately 130,000 people live. The people who live here are viewed as outcasts. The "refuse" of society live in a shanty town right next to a dump. Project 61 ministers to the children of this community. The people who live here, live in extreme poverty. Daily many go to the dump to scavenge for food and supplies. We were able to go directly into the dump amongst the people. It is so sad to see them rush the trucks as they arrive to get the "best" pickings as they dump the trash.

The stench is indescribable. I have a pretty strong stomach and it did not make me feel ill. To see people so desperate for garbage is heartbreaking. This is by far is the worst conditions I've ever seen a person inhabiting. For years I've said that at the point of desperation a person will stoop to any level...today I saw that. A portion of the team split and was able to go into their homes and spend time with the people on a more personal level. Even in this filth and mire the Good News of Christ is reaching the people. We were able to see the children sing His praises. We were able to love on them. I hope they were to the see the love of Christ through us! I made a special little friend today.

Her name is Beza, and if I could take her home I would. Her smile was enough to melt my heart. Another special young lady I met was handicapped and was just so happy that I spent time with her. The day was filled with hugs and kisses.

We did something very special for the kids of Project 61. Before we set out we went to the market and the whole team purchased six sheep for the ministry. They were tied up and thrown them into the trunk of
the bus. Once there, two sheep were slaughtered for the meal. The other four were kept for another meal later. One of our team members was able to slit the sheep's throat.

I have to admit I was a bit jealous. I would just like to be able to experience everything I can, but it was not meant to be. So I was able to document the whole thing. I just set my camera to shoot 7 frames per second and caught every detail. I took about 70 pictures of the slaughter and skinning. First we served all of the children. Afterward we asked if we could try it. They happily obliged and made us a bountiful plate. The meal was absolutely amazing! Of everything I've eaten so far on this trip, this was by far the best food I've had. I enjoy flavorful food, and the meat was extremely well spiced. I am so happy that they will be able to enjoy several more meals.

I got home and took a shower and shaved. I put on my dirty shorts but that was preferable to wearing my dump cloths. This experience was so impact full. It was not fun experience but I do not regret it. Except for the ant. While at the dump I felt a sting in my crotch. I had to wait to get back to the project and find a restroom. I found the little bugger and summarily squashed him. You can learn more about these people and the amazing ministry at: http://www.help4korah.blogspot.com/

Fistula Hospital

2010-07-26T13:24:00.005-06:00

Today was our first full day in Ethiopia. We started kinda casually. Part of the group went to exchange money and then to the market. I went with out fearless team leader, Kari Gibson, on a special mission. Kari adopted a baby girl from Ethiopia several years back. You can read all about her experiences on her blog at: http://mycrazyadoption.com. Her daughter was born in Addis Ababa. Kari did have some documentation on her. We tried to trace her steps in hopes of finding her birth mother. We did find a health clinic and some records that show she was there and received some of her vaccinations. It was just so special for Kari to be were her child and the birth mother were together. Other than seeing the excitement on Kari face this excursion was an amazing trip. We were able to get off of the main streets and into the alleys where the people live. I'm sure not too many white get to see this side of the city. The people were all very kind and curious as to why we where there. I had to be careful to get approval before taking pictures. But when they could see themselves many were happy to pose for a shot. The city as a whole is pretty much what I expected. It is busy, dirty, many street vendors, open air butchers, fruit stands and traffic follows no rules. Addis definitely has much more of a Muslim influence than anything we saw in Uganda.

In the afternoon we went to the Fistula Hospital. This hospital deals with womens health issues that I was completely unaware that even existed. I wont go into detail but you can learn about about the fistula procedure at: http://www.hamlinfistula.org. Some women have walked over a 1000 km from Sudan to be treated and all over Ethiopia to be treated. This is pretty much their only chance to once again lead a somewhat normal life. All photographs were strictly prohibited but we got special permission for one person to take pictures and Kari has permission to post about the people and the hospital on her blog site (referenced above). We were able to give each of the patients a special care package. They each received a hand bag with some bracelets, necklaces, candy, fingernail polish and other goodies. Each of us was able to individually deliver these gifts to the ladies. They were incredibly grateful for just someone to touch them and kiss them on the cheek. One lady even got down on her knees in thankfulness praying for us. I have to admit this is the most uncomfortable I've been on this trip.

Watch A Walk to Beautiful, a documentary on Obstetric Fistula and the Fistula Hospital in Addis Ababa.

Bye Bye Muzungu! (Part 2)

2010-07-26T13:18:00.004-06:00

A picture of me with Pastor Isaac (Pastor Rebel) from Canaan's Children Home. Read Pastor Issac's story.

Bye Bye Muzungu!

2010-07-25T15:24:00.002-06:00

Well today was our final day in Uganda. We were scheduled to do Sunday School and the church service. Our flights changed slightly so we had to leave earlier than originally planned. But we were able to teach the Sunday School Classes. I along with two other ladies taught the Jr. High boys and girls. We talked about the fruits of the spirit. They all already knew about the fruits. I hope were are able to further their view of what the that only health trees produce fruits. We had a brief goodbye and it was a difficult one. When you live in an orphanage for four days you start to know the kids personally. There were lots of tears as we left. As we left the compound we could see the village children chasing the bus and in their sweet little voice we would hear the yelling, "Bye Bye
Muzungu!".

The drive from Jinja to Entebbe was not the most comfortable for me. My seat was atilt. But we all made it safely to the airport several hours early. We had a few problems checking in. But nothing out of the normal for what you can expect when traveling in this part of the world. We all arrived safely in Addis Ababa and everyone's luggage also arrived.

I have to admit I was anticipating the Ethiopia part of the trip much more than Uganda part simply because that is were my niece is from. God so far exceed anything I could have expected in Uganda! I can't imagine it getting much better. But I should know never to underestimate what God has in store to teach me. I think this half of the trip will be quite different that the Uganda portion. There we were in a much more rural surrounding and here we are more in an urban setting. We are settled into our guest house here and will be staying in the same place while we are here. Tomorrow the second half of our adventure begins.

Amazima Feeding Program

2010-07-25T15:22:00.003-06:00

Today's program was spent with the Amazina Feeding Program. This is a program that goes on every Saturday. This is located walking distance from the Canaan's Children Home. All the local children from the surrounding village are invited to attend. There is no distinction made between Christian and Muslim children. All are invited are invited to attend.

We started with a tour there. They were in the process of building a large playground for the children. It is being built by Ugandans. They feel it is very important for them to build the facility. The children need to see they can do things themselves rather than any time something need to be done a white man comes and does it for them. We actually met with another team and there were too many muzungus for all to participate in the preparation of the meal. So we were able to spend out time loving on the children. Soon after we had a lesson time taught by a wonderful Ugandan man. Again it is important for the kids to see a man set up and do the duty assigned to him. He was very animated and the children were very responsive. This was followed by a feeding line. All the kids received a very healthy portion of rice, beans, and chicken. There was plenty of food left and we were able to eat with them. The food was extremely good, but we did have to eat with our fingers...thank you God for hand soap! All the children are also sent home with a bag of rice and beans to supplement their food for the coming week. There were about 250+ children in attendance. I was able to distribute the cars from Toys for God's Kids here.

Every child left with their own car. Considering their condition I'm certain for many it is the first real toy any of these children has ever owned. They were absolutely thrilled. This was such a personal blessing since this is the donation I was most excited about. The kids were so grateful.

I have to tell you a little about the lady who runs this ministry. She is a young lady from Tennessee. She is only 21 and has been doing this for three years. I can't imaging at the age of 18 going half way around to world to do something so bold. But there is nothing his workers cannot do if they go out in faith. She also runs a home for 12 girls. She also has a very special ministry to a class of people here who are considered outcasts by society. It is not wise to mention this group by name for fear of sort of repercussions. But you can read about here amazing story at: http://kissesfromkatie.blogspot.com/

This evening we were scheduled to dinner at King Fisher Lodge. We invited the Pastor Isaac, his wife, and the kitchen staff to join us for dinner. It was so nice to serve them, they went out of their way to make us comfortable.

We returned home to a special program of singing and dancing by all the children. Each age group had their own performance for us. Finally Pastor Isaac had a few final words for us. He said they do not house orphans...Canaan is their family. I can't help but look at these kids and see they are they are the lucky one who make it here. Being an orphan is a stigma they need not carry. I have a special kinship with Pastor Isaac. I will never forget him. He is truly a father to the fatherless as God is our father. I love this man!

Well I've already surpassed the total number of pictures I thought I would take and have broken all sorts of personal record. At the moment I stand at 1100+ pictures and some video.

Amani Babies Cottage

2010-07-25T15:18:00.002-06:00

Friday was a slightly more relaxed day for us. It was a day to process what we have experienced.

The children in school at Canaan's start their day at 7 am. The first thing they do everyday is physical education. This morning I got up to watch the children do their morning exercises. The count and do the ABCs while exercising. All the teachers here are so amazing. The children are extremely respectful of authority and listen to directions very well. After PE they head of to class. At mid-morning they have porridge. Followed by more classes. They go home for a short time around noon and then they come back for more classes. The young children are done with classes at 2 pm and the older ones finish school at 6 pm. The typical class is very crowded. There are four students to a small desk and a room can accommodate up to 50+. Their classes are arranged slightly differently here. Here at the orphanage the preschool and low elementary grades are taught. There is also another Canaan school down the road a bit. Their older children are taught. They call it primary school. At the moment they have to combine several classes together because of room. Their dream is to have a separate classroom for each level. The current building has four rooms. There is room to double that by building a second floor. After primary school they go to senior school. These students take a bus to class. Learning English is mandatory as it is the official language in Uganda.

Late morning we went into Jinja and did some shopping. I picked up some gifts and souvenirs. I actually came back a second time later in the day because it was my only opportunity to post some blogs.

After that we went to the Amani Children Cottage. This a home for infants and toddlers. We arrived to a chorus of crying babies. The first thing we saw was row after row after row of diapers drying on cloths lines. These precious little ones were very well taken care of.

They all looked very well fed and taken care of. We all had the opportunity to hold the babies. It was sad to find one wall with the pictures of the babies that passed away. The good news is that this orphanage is one of the very first approved for international adoption
from Uganda.

In the late afternoon we were back at Canaan's Children Home to spend the afternoon playing with kids again.

Their joy in the simple things is enviable. Today we broke out the bubbles and silly string. When I return home I will post a large number of photos on my Picasa photo album.

Canaan's Children Home

2010-07-23T07:27:00.002-06:00

Today we woke up to the sound of the call to prayer by a local mosque at about 5:30 am. I was still able to get plenty of sleep afterward. The orphanage here is run very differently than the previous two we visited. This is a much larger facility and the children are housed in dormitories. Canaan's Children Home also runs a school. But one thing in common is we were told that the children need to know that they are loved. That is far more important than anything we can do for them physically. A simple touch or hug means more to them than I'll ever know. We were told by pastor Issac that one of the little girls was crying because she didn't believe she could be loved by white people.

When we finally got up the children had finished their morning session and were having recess. We stepped out are were absolute mobbed.

We were able to play with them before breakfast. I stepped into an impromptu game of soccer. The only reason I was any good was I was three times bigger than any of them (I didn't play in the late afternoon game, that was a bit more serious and required a referee). After breakfast we were able to walk out of the compound and into the village. We were able to talk to the people and give out candy to the local kids who are not in the orphanage. I got some great pictures of local life (when I was allowed to...I always asked if it was OK to take a picture).

We were then able to go to the schools run by Canaan. The educate approximately 500 students from primary school through graduation. The school run by Canaan is not exclusive to the orphans. The local children can also attend the school. After school another team member and I were able to ride a boda-boda (a local motorcycle taxi) back to the compound.

Since the school accepts students from the community Canaan's Children Home can make some income to supplement the operation costs of the orphanage. The neighborhood has a large Muslim presence. This has caused some tension in the past. Some time ago the Muslim community burnt down one of the dormitories in an unprovoked action. The police found that the dormitories also housed Muslim children. They asked if they wanted to press charges. The people here at Canaan refused to press any charges because because they said God will treat everyone justly.

In mid-afternoon we were able to take a boat ride on the Nile river. We were right at the mouth of the White Nile as the water flows out of Lake Victoria. We were able to go to mile marker 0, the official start of the river (now I've been on both ends of the Nile). The Nile is the only major river that flows from south to north, and is the longest river in the world (the Amazon is the largest by a huge margin when measured by flow rate).

After we got back, we played with the kids some more. I taught them some stupid tricks at which they were amazed. Then several of us played games and danced with a group of children ranging from preschool to about second grade (for those of you who know my rhythmic disability take note...I was told by a black man that he liked my dancing...or maybe he was amused because he had never seen anything like that).

The evening was capped of with the person testimony of Pastor Isaac. He told us how God called him to minister to orphans and start Canaan's Children Home. Today I listened to a true spiritual giant! I am welling up just trying to relate what he went through. He was sentenced to death by the Muslim ruling party for being a "traitor" (pastor) under the brutal rule Idi Amin. He was the only one to survive a firing line of 42 people (all pastors) and thrown into a mass grave. God rescued him and ultimately brought him home to Uganda to start a home for His children. I just cannot do justice to his story. You can read his full testimony at: http://www.canaanchildrenshome.org/. I am humbled to even be in the same company as this man.

Muzungu & My Fathers House

2010-07-23T07:15:00.002-06:00

I surely do not know where to start to explain today. Today is probably one of the most amazing and impact-full days of my life. I am sad I probably wont be able to post this message for about 4 to 5 days because we do not have internet access where we are staying for the remainder of our time in Uganda.

As I said in last blog post, in the morning we went back to the Return Worship Center, in Kampala, to continue spending time with the children there. We were able to make our time a bit more focused by splitting up into groups. We played games, sang song, put on skits, and yes I even danced with the children. They are all far more capable than me, but like I said before your inhibitions wain in this atmosphere. The children and us had so much fun. Today I learned that I am a muzungu. And we are greeted everywhere in this manner. This term basically means white person. In case I forget I can even buy a t-shirt that reminds me and everyone else around me that I am a muzungu. Pastor Samuel and his team do an amazing job with these children.

After lunch we left for another orphanage called My Fathers House. This home is run by a young lady from Texas named Rebecca. This home has twelve children living there. She has been living in Kampala since 2007. She has a very similar vision for these children as Pastor Samuel. She does not consider her home an orphanage but a house filled with love. She also does not want to see a large orphanage but rather a group of these smaller homes where the children are individually loved. When we arrived the children were still in school. We walked there through the local village and were ultimately greeted at the school in a manner that I know was far beyond our expectations (watch the video). We were treated as honored guests of the highest degree. We entered through an aisle of children singing in celebration of our arrival.

When we sat down we were treated to a very special program of song and dance. Their voices are amazing and the unmistakable presence of the Spirit was evident in their authenticity during worship and praise. Just as the program completed a torrential down pour hit us. In their culture it is considered good luck for it to rain when you have guests. This gave us an opportunity as a team just to love on the kids. Words are simply not adequate to explain what we experienced there. I had a chance to talk briefly with Rebecca. Her ministry is not fully funded. She trusts that she is doing what the Lord is calling her to do and somehow they manage with what they have. The school is very basic but they are getting far more than just a quality education. They are truly loved! They sent each of us on our way with letters they had written and bracelets they had made for us. Life for them is not easy. The young ladies, at the school, live with the constant fear of rape and the contraction AIDS. Rebecca is an amazing young lady and she is being used in a way that leaves me speechless. It was such sad departure because none of us wanted to leave these kids who touched us all so deeply.

Once we left we drove a couple hours, through standard third world traffic, to Jinja. Jinja is located at the very northern most end of Lake Victoria. Lake Victoria is the head waters of the Nile river. We are currently staying at an orphanage called Canaan's Children Home. This is quite a larger and secure place. We are blessed to be able to stay here with them. The team is amazing in all regards.

My mind is just a mess of thoughts and emotions right now I hope this makes some sense.

Return Worship Centre

2010-07-20T14:28:00.002-06:00

On Tuesday we had a late brunch and were briefed by Pastor Samuel about the Return Worship Center. Samuel runs this orphanage for about 15 children. He explained that being an orphan is a condition of the heart. The children just need to be loved. There are plenty of orphans in this world who have parents. His children are not orphans. His goal is not to create an institution but many homes where children are loved. This was certainly the case once we arrived there. Even though only 15 children live at this orphanage there were about 200 kids there from the neighborhood. We were mobbed by the kids.

The day was filled with lots of hugs and games. I found that you kind of loose your inhibitions when you just love on the kids. We are going back tomorrow for more organized activities. So our first full day was absolutely amazing. I'm sure God has much more amazing
thing in store for us over the rest of our stay.

Thank you for praying for me and out team. The team is very flexible which was evident with the patience exhibited with our luggage. God truly brought together who he wanted on this team.

Team, Flight & Arrival

2010-07-20T14:26:00.004-06:00

I am part of a larger team with whom I can going to share this experience. Other than a couple team conference calls prior to departure many on our team have never met. The team composed of people that literally come from all corners of the entire United States. We are a diverse group ranging in age from high school to retired. We all gathered in Washington DC for our flight to Africa. Meeting for the first time was a flurry of introductions. I have a hard time remembering names so my goal is to get to know everyone on this trip before it ends. One thing that immediately unites us is our faith in God. He is calling each of us individually to be on this adventure together. I am currently writing this entry on the plane flying from Rome to Addis Ababa, Ethiopia (at the moment we are flying over the southwest corner of Egypt). We will be on this plane for 14 by the time we arrive in Ethiopia. We will be there for a couple hours before we board another plane to our final destination Entebbe, Uganda. We will arrive there approximately 1 am Tuesday morning and then catch up on some sleep.
…
well we made it safely to Entebbe. Of our 60 plus bags only about half of them arrived with us. I finally got to my room at about 4 am on Tuesday. I slept until 10. The following evening all of our remaining bags arrived.

Check-in

2010-07-18T08:03:00.001-06:00

Well this is my first post made from on the road. I am waiting to board my flight to DC. Check in was a fiasco. First they did not have all the e-ticket information to get me checked in. The kind lady finally was able to get the information she needed and checked my baggage all the way through to Entebbe, Uganda. So hopefully I will see them there. I was still overweight and there was nothing they could do. I had to take some items out of one of my bags. I took out some liquids because they are quite heavy. I gave it to the information counter here at DIA and they will give it to a local homeless shelter. Thanks for the prayers I am on the road. God bless!

Ready … Set … GO

2010-07-17T22:45:00.001-06:00

My bags are all packed. One more nights sleep and then I set out. I had to reduce the items I am taking with me. I was significantly overweight with my luggage. Now I only have one bag a bit overweight. Any donations made that I am unable to take with me will be given to a local ministry to help people in our community in need. I was a little anxious earlier today but now I am more at ease.

Once again I had an unexpected encounter that was a blessing. I was at Walgreens printing some family pictures to share and the guy at the register was an Egyptian who grew up in one of the world's largest orphanages. He grew up in the Lillian Trasher Orphanage in Asyut, Egypt. He is a Christian because of the love and care he received while there.

Packing and Supplies

2010-07-17T07:31:00.002-06:00

Departure is less than 24 hours away and I am officially over the weight limit for my baggage. I received some incredible items today. Thank you so much to everyone at St. Joseph Hospital in Denver! Your extremely kind gift of all the medication and medical supplies will go a long way. Once again God's timing is perfect ... today I had my semi annual dental cleaning. My dentist gave me a box of toothbrushes and some toothpaste. The personal donations of hygiene and school supplies is amazing. Also to those of you that gave directly to the orphanages monetarily...Thank you! I am expecting to pick up another donation this afternoon. I am trying to keep my personal items to a bare minimum.

Ethiopian airlines is quite strict with their carry on weight restrictions, so I can't redistribute too much weight there either. Please pray that God arranges a encounter with an airline check in agent who allows me to take all the supplies provided without charging a penalty for being over weight on my check in luggage.

Perfect send off concert

2010-07-16T11:23:00.002-06:00

Last night I got to go see the David Crowder Band in concert. They are absolutely amazing! It was so enjoyable to be able to sing along as loud as you want and not be able to hear yourself. For a reserved person like me that is about as much as I let myself go. Worship is so much more gratifying when you can remove yourself form it. Thank you Lord for the perfect concert to send me off on my trip.

My three favorite concerts, that I've attended are: David Crowder, David Crowder, and David Crowder.

Toy's for God's kids

2010-07-14T22:57:00.000-06:00

For those who doubt God has this all figured out ahead of time. Yesterday I had a providential encounter with another wonderful ministry. I received an email from a lady in the small group I attend asking if I've ever heard of Toys for God's Kids. Their mission is to provide handmade, sturdy, attractive, wooden toys free to God's children everywhere. In God's perfect timing he decided to have an article published this last weekend in the Denver Post. Sure enough this article ultimately made its way to me. I contacted the ministry and informed them about my upcoming trip to Uganda and Ethiopia. I arranged to meet at their workshop. I was able to learn a little about why they do this. They have made over 289,000 toys to give away. So in a matter of less than 12 hours I had 445 toy cars.

Watch NBC Nightly News Making a Difference segment: 1 2 3

I was so excited I could hardly contain myself! To see their excitement in knowing where these toys are going was a blessing in itself. Now that blessing will be carried and delivered to those who probably have never even owned a toy. I must add the cars are absolutely amazing. This is a huge shout to everyone who is involved with Toys for God's Kids. Thank you so much for what you do! If you would like to like make a huge impact on a child by a small action on your part I hope you consider giving to this cause.

And here I was starting to worry if I'm going to have enough items to fill my bags. Oops...my bad.

Uganda & Ethiopia Missions Trip 2010

2010-07-13T22:58:00.003-06:00

Welcome to my blog. This is my first attempt at anything like this, so I hope you find it interesting. My hope with this blog is to keep you informed about the missions experience I am about to embark upon. On July 18^th I am going with a group organized by Visiting Orphans to Uganda and Ethiopia. Visiting Orphans is a Christian non-profit organization that seeks to help orphans in their distress. I was invited to go on this trip because of the connections I made through my brother and his families amazing adventure. They felt the calling of God to adopt a little girl to add their clan. Through their faithfulness I am now an uncle for the fourth time. I am blessed that they listened to God's call.

Jo, my adopted niece, and me in Branson

I also know several other families, at church, who have adopted multiple children. Those families have also been blessed with kids from China and Ethiopia, and with special needs. I think over the last several years God has been telling to more closely look at the plight of the orphans. There are 147 million orphans in this world. That is a disgustingly large number, but no so large that if the body of Christ took on the challenge we could make a huge dent in that figure. My reason for going on this trip is first and foremost to do my best to show the love of Christ and let them see they are truly God's children. I am excited to see what God has planned to teach me.