around the world with Jesus

During intern training, our team watched the movie, Born Into Brothels. In the Oscar winning documentary, kids from Calcutta’s Red Light District are given cameras and taught to use them. Out of the project, an organization called Kids with Cameras was born. We liked the idea.

Here’s how we used it: after school, 12 girls from Bangladsh go to Uttam’s Place, an oasis they can see from their home in the slums. There, they study, learn, play, laugh, eat, shower, wash their clothing and smile a lot.  Now, they’re kids with cameras who love to take pictures.

A key lesson they’re learning? There’s no one on earth like them…they’re unique, special, and there’s a pretty fantastic plan in the works for their lives. They’re learning some other key things too…

Our interns spent last week with them. We played, did crafts, shared songs and stories, ate and got to know them.

Getting to know the girls was insightful. One told me how her father is crippled. Another talked about her uncle recently dying. They’re all have their stories. They’re unique and they’re beautiful. They’re learning and having a blast at this special place.

Last week, they learned about photography and how like photos, each of them is unique and special. Smiles, laughter, interest, concentration, and joy infected each of these special girls. They took many, many photos and look forward to learning more.

The most frustrating part of the week? The stomach flu all 10 of us got. We’re better now, but not done with Uttam’s Place! The team goes back the next week…and even next month. I’ll post some of their photos when I get them.

We’ve taught the basics of taking pictures…and just started with a few details before getting sick.  Anything you think we should include in our future lessons?

Note: Many thanks Fred & friends at Lawrence Photo in Springfield, Mo.  They donated/gave great deals on cameras we took to the center that helps the girls.

In Armenia just over a year ago, we worked with some wonderful people in the plateaus of the Caucasus Mountains. These Yezide Kurds are amongst the poorest people groups of the region. Those we met are hard working, wonderful people who earn very, very little money. We felt bad knowing they heat their homes and cook their food with bricks made of dried cow poop.  This photo shows a mound of hay which the animals can eat during the winter and mounds of cow poop to use in cooking/heating.

Their region provides very little wood for fires and they use the resources available to them.

A pastor with whom we worked said if he and the people of his church could help their neighbors utilize something besides the norm for their fuel it would make a huge difference.

Chad, one of Convoy of Hope’s former interns, is in Armenia right now. Among his various projects, he’s helping these Yezide Kurds use something much better than cow poop to use as fuel. Coffee.

Java Logs are bricks made of coffee ground.  They’re not a new thing, but they are in the plateaus of the Caucas Mountains. Chad’s using local resources, including coffee grounds from area hotels and restaurants to test java logs with these great people.

He’s still working on the best local resource for the wax that helps keep the java logs together, but from what I’ve heard from him, overall things are going well.  Pray for the right wax combination and source so the project can spread across the area…

I love innovation.

What are some innovative things you’ve seen to help people where you live or around the world?

In Moldova, Thanksgiving isn’t so much a day on the calendar, as it is something they make sure they do.  Each church I’ve seen has an annual “Thanksgiving” service.  It’s not on a certain date, but is during the harvest.  Everyone (and that’s pretty much a literal statement) in Moldova has a garden…it’s where they get their food.  Without the food from their garden, it would be tough to get enough food to eat.  Gardens grow and man gives thanks.

The churches have people bring some of their best produce to the altar of the church where they display it for all to see.  There’s then  a service with music, stories, preaching (sometimes by numerous people) and more music.  They thank God for what He’s provided, then they share what’s been brought with the people present.

Here’s Troy Darrin from last year’s service in Mihaileni.  That’s some BIG cabbage!

We got to be a part of numerous Thanksgiving services this year, like at this one in Beltsi (say it like, “Belts”):

I miss Moldova!

I think life should get more exciting, adventurous, purposeful and more as we get older…

Most of our interns fall into the category often referred to as “young adults.”  Lola’s one of 2 over-40 interns we’ve had and she’s a great lady…and as far as I”m concerned, a young adult.  Last week, she became one of 2 “over-50″ interns as she spent her birthday helping people in Picayune, MS.

Here she is on her birthday.

Picayune, MS, is the site of the first Katrina response from Convoy of Hope.  The pastor and others in the city are wonderfully hospitable.  As we spent time in the city, we also saw extreme need…Lola is helping.

I love the story in Joshua 14 where Caleb, a man I picture as quite grizzled who’s the kind of guy that would eat beef jerkey for breakfast, tells Joshua what he thinks about his future,

¹⁰ “Now then, just as the LORD promised, he has kept me alive for forty-five years since the time he said this to Moses, while Israel moved about in the desert. So here I am today, eighty-five years old! ¹¹ I am still as strong today as the day Moses sent me out; I’m just as vigorous to go out to battle now as I was then. ¹² Now give me this hill country that the LORD promised me that day. You yourself heard then that the Anakites were there and their cities were large and fortified, but, the LORD helping me, I will drive them out just as he said.”

Lola’s not Caleb’s age…she’s got a long way to go, but I love it when people get stronger, more determined and more adventurous as they age. I want to be that way.

God called her, she stepped out in faith, her church is supporting her dream, and it’ll be fun to see what’s next for her.  Happy Birthday Lola!

So it wasn’t exactly a sit-down interview…but he was on Jay Leno’s show.  The fall ‘09 intern team served at an outreach in Hagerstown, MD, then spent a couple of days in DC prior to heading out to Moldova.  While there, D.L. Hughley did a Jaywalking-style man on the street interview with our very own Cody.  He’s a great guy who’s been focusing on helping people like those at the camp he helped run near Canada during the summer of ‘09.  He’s  now in Moldova helping people and still not learning anything about anyone’s healthcare plan.

He laughed about all of this.  We love Cody.

Here’s the link:

Both Jorel and Chad ate 10 pupusas on Easter.  Crazy.

Pupusas are to El Salvador what hamburgers are to the USA or Fish & Chips is to the U.K. or Cuy (pictured below) is to Peru…well not exactly that, but close enough.

We had fun making them on Easter evening at Pastor Fabricio’s house.  Great day.  They’re made of rice or flour and are then stuffed with cheese, beans, loroco (a plant) or even fried pork…chicharon.  You can read more on wikipedia…the best source for news

Here are a few photos of the team, with a nice video for your viewing pleasure.

Yep…I’m in Guatemala.  About 48 hours ago, our trip to another country was abruptly cancelled.  Not an April fool’s joke either.  Still getting word as to reasons, but it’s beyond our control.  It’s a beautiful place full of special people…I hope I can get there someday.

Ever had a change of plans?  Ever stood there knowing things would work out, but you had no idea how or where or why or what or whatever?  Me…Monday night.

Prayer (over hot wings with Paul Walker…where I was when I got the call)

Understanding that God wasn’t shocked.

Cell phones, websites…surfing the web for airfares/etc. (with help from OneHope’s Kathryn and Shannon from our staff)

Prayer

Within two hours we booked a flight for the team to Guatemala.  We arrived an hour ago or so. We’ll have a short spiritual retreat while we coordinate with the Convoy of Hope staff in El Salvador, then we’ll head to that country.  It’s working out better than I could ever hope.  In a few days we’ll be working with refugees, a new church plant and in other places.  Thank God for God.

BTW:  The retreat will be here…a beautiful place for a team that’s been working very, very, very hard in Haiti to soak in what He’s been doing.  Please pray it will be a holy time that brings a much greater depth to each of our lives.  Sometimes when there’s day after day of work in a foreign place, we don’t stop and let what’s happening soak in and affect us like it should.  I’m praying that’s what happens over these few days.  We head to El Salvador Saturday.

 Life with Jesus isn’t boring.

 Here’s another shot of one of my favorite places on the planet…

At Convoy of Hope we talk often about meeting physical and spiritual needs.  Here’s a great example of how it works.  Our interns are in Haiti (I’ll soon join them in Cuba).  Here’s a portion of a note I got from Bethany this week…

“This morning, we will be doing a short Bible skit about the 4 soils and passing out seed kits to 50 students.  Those 50 students will be responsible for planting their seeds at home and caring for their garden.  After harvest time, the students will be required to bring back a certain number of seeds to give back to the program!!!!! The students will be learning about growing and sharing… being good stewards of their resources!!!  Also, we will be cultivating a garden for only the school’s use. ”

That’s how it can work…a good combination of meeting physical and spiritual needs.  Here’s Bethany with a couple of little guys in Haiti.

It was the top story for a few days, and spent many days on the front page…the Assemblies of God World Missions did a great story on our fall ‘09 interns.

Click here for the story. 

Here’s the last photo before they headed out. Most slept little last night as they packed and cleaned, but they’re likely asleep now (except for Karen, the driver).

Please keep them in prayer as they’ll be gutting homes in Galveston, Tx, while working with local churches to help those in the community. It’s still a devasted area.