The sun is shining very brightly today, not hot, but comfortable, one could almost say its "Perfect Weather." Just enough clouds to make it look picture perfect. The town is really crowded today, everyone seems to be moving around in the market place today, either getting vegetables and fruits or stopping by the butchery to get some meat for the week.
I've come into town today because I've been invited. I received an invitation a few hours earlier to come to the Sculptor's house, for the unveiling of his new piece. I've never really been to too many unveilings; actually this is probably the first. I don't know why I came today, except that I knew, somewhere in the pit of my stomach, that this was going to be important.
I mosey around a bit, checking out the new wares at the import shop, picking up a few things to check out the quality, I put them back down then walk out. I guess I should probably head over to the Sculptor's place.
Finding it isn't hard; I've been there plenty. Actually, this past year I've been visiting him a lot. There's something about him, that I can't put my finger on, but he's a great guy. He gives out some good advice, a bit odd, but always good. Actually it's usually better after doing what he says then just listening.
Knocking on his door, he immediately answers. With a great big smile, he invites me in to come sit down. I do, he inquires about how my day is going. I tell him I wasn't really doing anything today and then got his invitation to see his new piece. He smiles with a twinkle in his eye. He tells me that I'm really going to like this one. He stands up and beckons me to come outside with him. So, I follow.
Outside is a huge something covered with a sheet. He asks me if I'm ready to see what's he's been working on for the past 20 years. "20 years!" I exclaim. "How come I never saw you work on it?" I ask. "Oh I'm sure you have, you may have never really paid much attention to it though." I try and think what this could be; surly I would have seen him working on something for that long. I shrug and tell him I'm ready, because I can't guess what it is.
He unveils the artwork, by sliding the sheet off; I notice the bottom, of what's holding up a statue at first glance. The most beautiful piece of marble I've ever seen. An amazing round cylinder that seems to have no rough edges in it whatsoever. Carved on it in bold print is the word "LIFE." Looking up on what's on the marble basin is a pair of feet in solid gold. The detail is amazing, like whomever the piece was based off was put on the pedestal and gold molded onto him. Continuing to look up, I look up in shock. The rest of the statue is a person, but more than that, it's me.
I look questionly at the Sculpture. "Sir," I ask, "I don't quite understand this piece of art. That is me on it isn't it?" He smiles at me. "Yes Jonathan, that is you." "Then, what is the point of the statue? If you can see me whenever you like?"
"You see Jonathan, this pedestal, with the word "LIFE" on it, has been your life up until now. I make a pedestal for each and every person that I know." I look around and notice all the different pieces of marble that are finished or still being chipped at, I guess I've never really seen them before when I came to visit. "It takes a while for some of them to be finished, some unfortunately never get finished. But you, yours has been finished. And it is time that the real art goes on top of the pedestal." I glance back at the me with my feet covered in gold. "You see, this is how I see you. You are now going to be covered in gold, pure and perfect. The reflective image of my son. Slowly, little by little and for the rest of your life, you will continue to be made into the image of my son."
Well, this is a short story of a somewhat of a vision I had when I was contemplating why I had been in Africa, one of the last days I was there. I was praying and journaling, feeling a little bit defeated wishing I would have done more, or done a few things different, when I asked God the question of "What did I really accomplish here, what did I do?" And with a really big response, he showed me this picture of me as a statue, with my feet covered in gold. He told me that he has been working in my life, which is the pedestal, but now, this past year has grabbed a hold of me, making me want to follow the Lord for the rest of my life no matter what. This life of following the Sculptor is something I can call my own, it is no longer what others have told me, or my parent's faith, and it truly is my own. I am rooted in Christ, and will slowly and for the rest of my life be transformed into the image of him. Something that I truly desire, of that dying to self and living in and for Christ. The lord responded to me with, "It's not what you've done, but what I've done in and through you."
This is was probably one of the most encouraging encounters I had with the Lord.
So this is one part of what I wanted to share with everyone about my time in Africa. There should be a bit more to come.
*My apologies if some of the analogies aren't completely accurate. I don't think it's possible to ever get a complete picture if you're copying it; the only complete picture is the original.
Just because I like to throw a photo up. This was taken when I was at Ecola.
First off, my apologies for never actually getting my "thoughts essay" up here. I started while I was at work one day, then it just never got anywhere. Then things got hectic for the last week and half with the kids. Now, I have so much time at the house, I don't do anything worthwhile and I just have never done anything about finishing it.
But I have now had some renewed energy on the subject and am hoping to get something out on my one-year anniversery of blogging. (Aug 7, I believe)
It's tough, but encouraging looking over my journals and thoughts from this past year. I miss it a lot. But knowing what I know now, it was totally worth it.
So, (Grandma, and everyone else) if I don't get it out by the end of the week, email me incessantly until I put it.
Here's a picture of me and a guy from church named Raoul. We did a small camping trip 2 weekends ago, about 30 miles south of Delta, it was supposed to be a big church thing, but we were the only ones to show up, which was kinda cool, cause I didn't know the guy at all, so this was really neat getting to find out who he was. We saw a bunch of mama and baby mooses while we were trekking through the wilderness. It really kind of felt like Into The Wild, hiking on unmarked paths, getting soaked, swarmed by little demons called Mosquitoes and getting to Praise the Lord with my fellow brother it was a good time.
Greetings to all from the land of endless light! Even though summer solstice is up, it is still incredibly crazy sunny at all hours of the day.
Well I guess I owe everyone an apology who was keeping track of these blogs and found out they ended in the airport and never got updated since. I appreciate all of you who took time this year to stay in touch and keep tabs on me while I was in Africa and especially those of you who would lift up my prayer requests, they meant so much to me, and I can't wait to be in heaven chillin' with Jesus and having Him tell me when someone prayed and how it affected my time over there. It'll be a good ole' awesome time.
Well quick update in JB's life. I am currently working at UAF with Native Alaskan High School students who come in from rural villages and try to improve their school skills and hopefully after they graduate from high-school move onto college. So I live in the dorm with 37 students and have been enjoying my job immensely, even with all the struggles that come with being in charge of students. We've had many students go to the hospital for 2 apenndix removals, one with some cist problems, another breathing stuff, it has been really crazy. In my 3 years of working this job this has been the craziest in that aspect.
It's been good though to see some of my returning students from last year and one that has been there for all 3 years. It's great to see how they come in and some are really struggling not only in the school aspect but socially, and at the end of the program seeing how far they've come. I started my job June 1 and it's already been a month! So we only have 2 1/2 weeks left of the program.
Other news, it looks like I will be going back to school in the fall here in Fairbanks. After praying about it, it seems to be the right thing, and what I feel most peaceful about. Even though I had other plans for the fall, I feel like this is where God is leading me right now and the next season of my life will be spent in Fairbanks, enduring the freezing cold winter when it comes.
So I'm waiting to finish writing a "paper" on how I think the trip has affected me overall and will post that when I finish it hopefully in the next week or so, and I hope you have time to check it out, and will be able to understand some of my thoughts and the processes that God has brought me through in my perspective and what not.
But also I just wanted to let everyone know that if you are ready to let go of these updates, there should be a un-subscribe link when you get the emails, that will take you off the list.
I would like to update this every once in awhile, just to keep everyone informed on how life is spinning.
But I wanted to take this time and just thank everyone for all the blessings that they showed to me and bestowed on me by allowing me to go over to Safrica and Swaziland and represent my fellow Fairbanksians, and all my other brothers and sisters in Christ in the rest of America.
I'm waiting for my flight to Paris with Ashley, Chelsea and Michelle. We board in about 30 min. But I'm just wasting a few minutes. But just to let all you know that most of the team have boarded on their way home. So prayers for their saftey as well as mine would be great. I want to write a longer blog this week or maybe next week when I have time about debrief because it was great. Can't wait to be in the US in 6 days!!!
This is huge because there is a lot to say and a lot of pictures that I want to put up.
First off back on Tuesday, Ben and I climbed the highest point of Swaziland (or at least as far as we could see). We talked about this earlier in the semester but never had an opportunity to do it, and it was something that we really wanted to do before we left. So early Tuesday we took a koombie to the area we chose to start off on, close to where we do bible study. It was a pretty cloudy day and never got any better, but up and up we went. Until we met 2 makes (the Swazi word for mother/middle age woman, and sounds like ma-gays) who were picking grass to make baskets to sell at the market. We were able to find out that they've been doing it for over 10 years climbing about an hour and half to get a certain type of grass. So that was kind of cool. Then we kept on climbing, always stopping every once in a while to admire the view. We saw some cool caves that we went in, found bones and cat prints. So we assumed that a wild cat must live around that area. When we finally got to the top we stopped and prayed for the country, something that was really cool being able to see all the way from Manzini to Mbabane and farther. Then as we were coming down we found out that making your own way down is a lot harder than coming up. Almost falling a few times we eventually made it down into a thick thicket, that would have been nice to have a machete with, but whatev's. Then we got down to a small soccer field where as soon as the kids there saw us coming out of the bushes, they took off running and screaming. It was kind of funny. Eventually one of the older ones came back and we asked him why they all ran off. He said that they thought we were cannibals (and pointed at me when he said it) it was pretty hilarious. He took us down to the road so we could catch a ride back. It was good time. Ben and I about to start Overlooking Swaziland
Wednesday was probably the last time I hand out sandwiches in Africa. So Ben and I went around to the 12 or 14 of the people we see and gave them sandwiches and said goodbye to them. Then it was time for our last bible study. It was pretty awesome, but kind of tough saying goodbye to the guys that don't show up on Friday for youth group. We took pictures with each of them that I gave the guys on Friday to hand out to the rest of them. So I think that was a pretty good farewell present to them. Bible Study Group
Thursday was an amazing day. After praying about this for basically the whole semester, I told Gogo Abna at SACRO that I want to support Sandziso, who is one of my favorite guys there, I wanted to support his brother Zolani too, but did not know if I could do both, so God answered that in that Melissa wanted the same thing but chose Zolani, so we both told Gogo Abna on Thursday that it was official that we wanted to sponsor them to go to school, and any extra funds to go to their house to give them food.
Both of their parents have died from AIDS, and both are currently infected with HIV but I pray everyday that God will take that away. They live with their Gogo and 2 other siblings; their sister who is under 14 is a prostitute, who uses her body to get food, which is just horrible. Their other sibling is 2. Sandziso, Zolane and their Gogo
So after telling Gogo Abna she pulled Sandziso and Zolani in to tell them. It was hilarious seeing them come in; they looked like they had gotten into trouble as soon as they got into the office. She spoke in SiSwati to them, and asked them if they were in trouble. They didn't know what to say to that. It was really funny to watch their little faces confused. Then she asked if they wanted to go to school. They still didn't understand what was going on so she asked again and they both raised their hands slowly. She then asked if they wanted to go next year. Finally she told them that Melissa and I were going to send them to school. It was awesome to see their faces just brighten up like that. Sandziso got up on a bench and gave me a big hug. So then we told them that we wanted to get them some clothes before we left. So we took them out to get some shoes and some warm clothes, then out to KFC for lunch, which they loved, and got them ice cream as a final treat. We took them back, with them proudly wearing their new shoes and coats. It was funny seeing them going around showing them off to all their buddies. Then Gogo Abna took us to their house so that the Gogo could thank us personally. So we drove up there and met the family. And as soon as their gogo heard that we were sending them to school next year she started crying and the other women around started up a Swazi hymn. It was really neat. Taking Sandziso Shopping Sandziso in his new coat Trying On Shoes
Friday was one of the hardest days being here. We had to say goodbye to all the SACRO kids. We started off by cooking all morning for the kids. One of the biggest meals that most of them have ever had. So while we did that the kids watched some movies. Then it was lunchtime, where they had chicken, rice, gravy, coleslaw, salad, potato salad, jello and pudding, and cookies. Most of the money came from supporters that answered Michelle's request when she asked for support for the center. It was really neat. Also an amazing thing happened. Carrie was told by God to pay for all of her students at her school's fees that couldn't pay. Which when she added up over $4000. It was crazy but God provided. And she raised over $5000, so all of the rest of the kids at SACRO that weren't supported yet, are now going to go to school next year because of the extra funds. After lunch we showed a slide show of our time at SACRO that the kids loved. They love seeing themselves on the projector. Then it was time for our farewells. Michelle, Michael and I all told the kids that we love them and loved being with them and that we'll be praying for them. Then we gave some gifts to the Gogo's and Sicle, a college student who permantley volunteers there. Then the Gogo's were saying goodbye and had Sandziso come up and give me a hug and at that point I broke down, and held on to the kid for the rest of the time there, both of us crying. It was really emotional. Then we walked out for the last time, which was tough. Handing out food for the lunch
Sandziso and I
So that was my week. We said goodbye to the youth on Friday nite that won't show up on Sunday.
Saturday we picked up local school kids to come to our house and play games with.
Today was our last Sunday School. So we had cakes that we baked for them and showed them Extreme Days, which they really liked.
Thank you everyone for your prayers. You have no idea what it means to me. I guess I really be able to express my thanks in heaven when you get to see the results of the work that God appointed me to do, and that you supported me in.
I don't know when I'll blog again. This week is used as getting ready for leaving, packing and cleaning and any last minute projects etc.
Friday we drive down to South Africa for our debrief. One day in Krueger Game Park and the rest at a backpackers lodge. Then we are on the plane on the 15th.
There are a few of us who are going to Paris for a few days on our way home. So I will return to the states on the 21st where I'll spend a few days in Seattle and Portland before heading home on the 26th. Which I am so looking forward to. Right Before Leaving the Center
Sorry this is quick. And apologies if you get this twice. I threw the rest of the pictures up that I wanted to put up but never got to the other day.
This past weekend (Friday-Monday) was spent in a really sweet spot about 20 minutes outside of Mbabane with the IC youth group. We had the youth retreat at a camp that was incredibly nice. There were about 35 youth that attended. I was the "counselor" for the Jr. High boys, which was 8 of them, and we got this pretty sweet looking cabin to stay in.
It was great to get to finish our time with the youth this way. Michael, Chelsea and I were basically the camp directors. So we led bible studies, came up games, basically ran the camp the whole time.
We also said goodbye to Pastor Raymond, the youth pastor, who is going to bible school for a month in Zambia.
If you can be praying that this last week finishes up well.
I almost put "2 Weeks Left of Ministry" but that's not very optimistic, and there is still much to be done.
We are finished with ministry sites on the 5th which is a Monday two weeks away. The next few days after that are getting packed and cleaning up, then off to South Africa for debrief. Dennis (our bus rank friend) and Us, after not seeing him for a week.
Quick note to anyone who has emailed me in the last 3 or 4 weeks. Sorry I have not responded but there is a good reason for that, I have not received them. After getting worried from not hearing anything from my family in the last month, they finally called and said that they have been responding to my emails, so I don't know what is wrong with my gmail account, but maybe if you want to email me send it to fro_man_jon@hotmail.com or facebook me or something because gmail is a bit sketchy. If anyone else has had those problems give me a heads up.
So this week was pretty good. I spent the night with the Swazi team on Monday to say goodbye to Elisa and Jamie who took off on Wed, so Tuesday was spent with Jamie and the guys getting one last man time together. Then having our going away party for Tessa that night. It was sad saying goodbye, but I know she's gonna have a good time back home. She did make it home by the way. We got a call Wednesday night from her saying that she's enjoying Starbucks and her family. Last Team K 08 picture together. Tessa and I
Wednesday, Ben and I went out with sandwiches around Mbabane again, and awesomely it went really well. I got to talk to a few more people and we had a good time praying with people. I also took Alek, the guy who I met, who helps translate for me, out to lunch since his birthday was on Monday. Then we had our guys bible study in Ludzeludze which was awesome, we're gonna meet with the guys around 11 in the morning this week and go all day, since we alway run out of time with them, so it should be awesome. We're going over John 3 and 4.
Thursday I was feeling pretty sick, I'm still trying to get over it, along with a few other team members, so I was only at the center for a bit, before calling it a day and sleeping most of the rest of the day. Doing Math with the Kids Friday wasn't any better, I decided to stay home and rest up, which defenitly helped.
Saturday was team ministry at the hospital, we made balloons for the kids and their moms, then watched some movies with them and brought them popcorn that we made the night before, it was good.
Today, I taught Sunday School, and taught on God's love, because that was what he's been teaching me this week. I used my main verses on John 3:16-18, which are amazing, and just really spoke to me this week, and then read a rendition of my own version of the Parable of the Lost Son. But I just felt like I couldn't connect my points and it was a bit frustrating, but I guess if God wants to get through to the students He will.
So that basically sums up the week.
Update on Treasure, she is back to her normal bubbly self, so thank you so much for those of you who prayed for her. I haven't heard anything on Carrie's dad, he had to go back into the hospital last week, but I'm not sure how he is doing for sure, so if you can continue to keep him in your prayers. And of course for these last few weeks. That miracles would happen, and that we wouldn't have our minds set on coming home yet, but remaining here and putting all we can into the Swazi people. For the Ladies... Yeah this is us in Swazi Traditional Wear
Saturday: We went to SACRO for our team ministry. It was a blast; the pictures are all from it. We played with the kids, chasing them around, carrying them, and made necklaces with them, and did outlines of them, that they will color on Tuesday. The kids, ah man, I wish you all could have been there to see their faces when 14 of us popped out of the van and were there to spend time with them. I'm not usually a very sentimental guy, but these kids just touch your heart. But it was awesome. I loved it, and I know that it meant something to the kids.
The Kids doing Some Beading The Kids Using Me as a Jungle Gym Mndenni and I Musa, Me and Sandziso Zolani being traced Sandziso being traced
Friday: Went around town to give out sandwiches. How it went down is, before going out, I went to stop in a fabric shop to pick up some yarn to crochet with, and started talking to this one dude, about Rastafarianism, (Yeah it's usually how most conversations start with strangers) and explained to him that I only had the dreads, and nothing else, then got to talk to him about how I could be a Christian and have dreads, which was cool, then I asked if there was a spot around town where a bunch of bums live, he consulted with the ladies in the shop, and told me that he would take me around. So I followed this man, whose name is Alek, and he helped translate for me, because of the 10 people I handed sandwiches out to only 1 knew any English and that was mainly thank you and hello. So what's gonna happen is that since most are disabled, I met one blind man, 2 paralyzed and in wheelchairs and one without a wheelchair, is that since most have their own spot go back and see them on Wednesday, with Alek and I think Ben is going to come with me, and we'll do the same thing, hand out sandwiches and pray for them, and then hopefully by then, I'll have time to get a hold of a Zulu bible that Alek could read out of to the people. So yeah, prayer for that would be awesome.
Other news: Real Life Team takes off on Wednesday, and leave for back home on Friday. Prayer for their safety would be awesome.
Other sad news: Tessa from our team is taking off on Wednesday. She's gonna go home to be with her sister who's getting married soon and wants to be a part of that. So if you can keep her in you prayers about safety and getting adjusted back to Stateside that would be much appreciated. And Elisa from the Manzini Team is leaving also on Wednesday. She's going back to her family who just lost her grandma, and to patch some things up back home, so all the same prayer requests for her too.
Well, the time is winding down for me and the rest of the team… A month from Tuesday and we'll be in the Jo-Berg airport. Man, time flies. I can't believe 4 months have almost gone by.
Oh good news, I can't remember if I shared it or not, but God blessed me by allowing me to get my summer job back at UAF working with the Native Alaskan high school students, which starts up on the 1st of June, which will give me about 5 days to get readjusted to being back home before starting up with that. But I do have something when I get home. So, that's an awesome praise.
God bless, and as I've started praying be "blindsided by blessings." Let God reveal His majesty to you in ways you never saw coming. Yeah.
We just found out today that last night Carrie's dad's appendix burst, and had to go to the hospital. Which means that they won't be able to come over here, which is a huge bummer for Carrie. She's pretty down today, so if you won't mind shooting up a quick prayer for her and defenitly for her dad's recovery, that would be awesome.
Also, I completley forgot to mention this yesterday, Treasure (she is a local Swazi teen, who lives with the Manzini team, and goes with whoever to translate for them) had to have her appendix removed early Saturday morning, so if you can keep her in your prayers too that would be great and for the hospital bill to be covered, so far our leaders Kate and Cassie have payed out of their own pockets.
Please no one send me anymore news about appendix's ;)
I hope your week was filled with excitement and joy and whatever else God may have blessed you with.
A few cool things from this week.
I did get to go to Manzini house for a few days and got to go to work with Marcus. Which was what I needed, some hard physical labor, and just to be next to a buddy/brother who was there to encourage me. We spent Tuesday hoeing out weeds in the Spinach rows for about 6-7 hours, and Marcus was just bringing it in the Spirit to his co-worker. There were only 4 of us out there that day. The one guy Sinela, who speaks English really well, and Kosa who is an older man and never learned English. So Marcus has spent the last few months with these guys and pretty much since week 1 he's explained to these guys why he's here and he told me almost everyday the Lord gives him a word to speak to the guys, and always gets a discussion going with them. So Tuesday when I was there, he was talking (preaching is more like it) about Jesus' character and how it seems like we've changed it to fit our own desires and wants. And Sinela was just totally into it and bouncing questions off Marcus and me. It was awesome. Then spending the night at the Swazi house was a great time to just be with the other team who is a bit crazier than mine and just a fun group to be around. Wednesday I went back with Marcus and this time we went to work on a water pump generator about 4 km from the farm that pumps water up from the river to the farm, and had been busted for the last couple days. So we went with Marcus's boss, Robert, who is a solid Christian man, and helped him out, which meant handing tools and just keeping his ears busy while he tinkered around with it. It was funny though, when we first got there I looked over into the river and told Marcus I thought I saw a pig, and he looks and tells me he doesn't think so, and I look again and I'm really sure it is, then all of a sudden a cow lifts up it head with a huge pink water bucket stuck on it. It was hilarious, so we had to go down and get the bucket off. Saturday we went out to Timbutini, which is a rural area that some of the Manzini team works at in orphanages and schools, and there's a church that some of them go to. Anyways, Erin and Bailey wanted to do something for their kids that they work with, and any other kids in that area, so what that looked like was setting up a little carnival, with face painting, musical chairs, and a bouncy castle that I helped run. The kids loved it, there were over 150 that showed up, and we shared the gospel message with them, and gave them lunch, then at the very end, set up a ghetto slip and slide, which the kids just loved. Then Sunday, I thought I was going to go camping with the guys as one last outing, but it got cancelled, and sitting after church trying to figure out what to do, I get a call from Ben asking if I wanted to go see the Swaziland Soccer Championship. So a few of us went out there and watched the Malanti Chiefs play the Royal Leopards. The Leopards are all policemen, it's one of the requirements to be on the team, and they won the championship last year, but this year, the Chiefs took it 2 to 1. It was fun time, and just like any big game in America, drunk people everywhere. But we were safe and it was just fun to finally catch a real soccer game.
Prayer requests: We go to South Africa on Wednesday, and Denise is going to have trouble getting in, because somehow the whole visa thing is not working out to allow her to get into South Africa, I'm not sure what the whole deal is, but the Embassy here in Mbabane won't help her and said the only way to fix it is to fly to Johannesburg, so prayers that she'll be able to get in somehow. Also, Marcus needs to get his a day early than what the team was planning on leaving, so Ben and I have opted to go with him, and get our "man-time" on Tuesday and spend the night over in South Africa and meet up with the team on Wed morning. So safety for us would be excellent. One more, God has placed on my heart a new ministry idea, which looks like once or twice a week preaching in a local park to some of the homeless and bums and giving them a lunch of peanut butter and jelly. So this week I'm gonna go try and find some in Mbabane and tell them that if they want another sandwich to come to the park on Friday for a message and lunch and a time of hanging out. It's something that God spoke to me when I first got here, but I was too afraid to do it then, and then pushed the idea away, but He has brought it up again, so I'm not sure exactly how all that is going to look like, but prayer would be awesome. And one more thing, Carrie's parents are flying in on Thursday to spend about a week with her, so a safe journey for them and blessed time with their daughter. I hope everyone is doing well, that the weather is getting warmer, the green is starting to come out and brighten everything up.
