apparently I've stepped on some toes...but HEY, i'm comin' home...

broken record or not, here we go...
Will I sound like a broken record? Maybe, but please hear me out one more time (or many more times). I know...I know this may getting old for some of you but honestly, I feel I must write what is really on my heart; is that not what you want? I can't do a water-downed version, that's not Who is in me. I'm not 100% sure what I'm going to do, but it is my hope that many of us at home come together as a united body with hearts and actions that help us become more of that beautiful bride for Jesus. Our hearts should be burdened and broken. But are they? Some of you already give much money and time to the poor, good on ya! But let's face it, you don't deserve any special award (Luke 17:7-10); and you probably already know that. If you already give much of yourself to the poor, then I'm probably preaching to the choir when it comes to informing you that you're just fulfilling your duty as a Christian when you go above and beyond the 'typical' and into the 'radical' when helping the poor (it shouldn't even be considered the radical but more the norm...unfortunately, it ends up being the 'radical' when you give MUCH to others because many of us are so stuck in our mundane and complacent ways). Above and beyond? HA! And we shouldn't get stuck on the words...we can call it our duty or responsibility or proof that we have the Spirit in us; really, we can call it whatever we want. At the end of the day, it's all the same-->we are called to a higher standard so we better start realizing that, and realize it soon!!!

most of us don't give enough to the poor
I wish I could say that the majority of us give 'too much' to the poor and therefore, I should be focusing more on how we 'can't give everything away because then we'll all become the poor and needy'. YES, I've heard those EXACT words.  Seriously, if the church was struggling because she gave 'too much' and ended up being needy, I'd take that problem over the current problem we're facing...where the church doesn't give more than their comfortable giving. And talking about being 'needy', we are all needy in one way or another; but that's besides the point. Let's all agree right now: most of us don't give enough to the poor, whether it be our time or moneys or stuff or shoulders to cry on. Most of us would rather spend another $40 on yet another pair of shoes (because afterall, our other 10pairs are out of style and they definitely don't match well with our 40 outfits) or $40 on yet another video game (because instead of reading our Bibles and being in community, we'd rather spend 4hours a night on the net/tube) than help those in need.

We don't even know how far that money (your $20 bills) could go in helping our brothers, sisters and fellow man in Kenya! We don't even understand how a Jesus-centred conversation could change someone's future in eternity. If we did understand, I think we'd give and share much, MUCH MORE!!!

what's next?
I hope when I return to Canada (or before) the church will rally around each other and take action. What is next? Well, I plan on raising awareness (ie. encouraging people to read their Bibles) and raising money. I hope all of you message me and 'jump on board' RIGHT NOW so we can start the planning NOW. I ask that you think of things you can 'downgrade' or give-up RIGHT NOW, so when I return we can do this thing together! Remember, I assure you that  100% of your money is going to the poor; ONE HUNDRED PERCENT! We shall raise money together and then ship it to the people who actually need it...ship it to the people who are actually making a difference...ship it in the name of Jesus. Ship it wisely! 

We can't save the whole world, and we don't need to
I have been told that I can't save the whole world, and I agree with that; but I know Someone who has brought salvation to the whole world and if we did a better job at following His Words, this world wouldn't be such a mess. And yes, I know I know...I know this world is not going to be perfect until Jesus returns, but that should NOT stop us from trying to bring the One Who is Perfect to other imperfect people like ourselves. Oh friends and family, we've done such an awful job at sharing this message! How can there still be tribes who have never met Jesus? How can children be sent home because they have no money for school funds? How can we allow this endless downward spiral to continue when we know it puts others in deeper poverty and makes them absolutely drenched in hopelessness? How can we be so blind to the needs of others when we've been blessed with so much? Wealth and prosperity, and our stupid pride and 'rights' have destroyed us! 

Have a debt? So do I! Too busy? So am I! You already help the poor or some other NGO? As do I! HELP MORE! Let's not stop and be content with this made-up and mediocre Jesus. I'm not saying give up everything (maybe you should consider it though), but I'm asking us, as a church, to do more. I'm asking us to do THE something we've been told to do in the Scriptures (read the Bible or my previous post to find out what that is...hint: it has something to do with the poor)!

After I have talked with any and all the churches that will have me, I will turn to my friends who are also reading this to assist where they can! 

where can you start helping today?
Remember, if you aren't in the Word everyday, you'll have no idea what God is telling you...so if you wanna know where you can begin helping, start by talking/listening to God. 

you...you....you
Going into the developing world is not something you do because you can't find a job at home or you're an outcast in your society so you look elsewhere to feel a sense of belonging. It's not something you do because you think it's adventurous or you want to 'see the world'. And it's certainly not something you do so you can check off another box on your Christian bucketlist. It's not about you! It is a sacrificial decision; it's about Jesus. Some other things might come into play, but at the end of the day, it's ALL ABOUT JESUS. It's not always going to be an easy decision, and we may never hear the audible voice from God telling us to do (fill in the blank)...but the message TO GO OUT INTO THE WORLD and TO LOVE THE POOR will always be as clear as an audible voice if we just read our Bibles! I met people who left popularity and riches and family; who gave up their 'rights' to serve the poor...to serve Jesus. SOO, DO NOT THINK you are being sacrificial by giving what you can 'afford' while you're still living like everyone else in North America. WAKE UP PEOPLE! Seriously, wake up! I have been told by some of you that you are the 'stay at home and support the missionaries' type. If that's the case, I sure HOPE you're doing more than an annual offering!!! I HOPE it's a sacrifice for you to give! I also HOPE you GIVE OF YOURSELF not to please people, or even to be 'thanked', (I assure you, there is very, very little thanks in rural Kenya...), but to please God...and God alone (Gal 1:10).

Let's change gears for a bit in this next section so you can digest what's been said, but believe you me, I'm not done yet... ;-).

the beauty i'll soon be leaving... 
I honestly don't think any picture, video or description I take home with me will EVER do justice in describing the beauty of rural Kenya. I can honestly say --and this is no exaggeration-- that Kapsowar is the most beautiful place I've ever seen in my life. The magnificent natural environment of this small village makes me wonder if this is how the garden shined back in Genesis. Whether it be the rolling hills in front of distant mountains or the tiny huts surrounded by animals roaming freely...

orrrr the extremely thick forest that surrounds the village and is home to many animals including MONKEYS!!! ;-)...

orrrrrrrr the powerful lightning and thunderstorms that happen almost every night during Kenya's June/July rainy season (i looove free light shows put on by God!!!)...

orrrrrrrrrrrrr the waterfall and rolling hills we visited the other afternoon which was just mind-boggling amazing...

orrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr  the...the...the...eee...oh man, I feel like I could keep going...but yes, no picture could ever do this place justice in revealing it's God-given beauty. It's beautiful...

the real beauty is in the people
Kapsowar is beautiful not only because of its natural environment, but more because of the many people, friends, brothers and sisters in Christ that I have been blessed to meet. I mentioned before how I'll be coming home with many pictures, but I really don't think any one picture ever captured the pure and beautiful interactions I had with Kenyans. It was when the camera wasn't rolling that I feel I had the most meaningful 'pictures'. I don't think I could write words right now (or even later) to truthfully describe or capture all these moments...I think these moments will be the ones that will always be tucked away in my heart until I go Home. Even today as I was walking down some dirt roads, my heart was being tugged as children were playfully wanting to get a response from me. Their requests are always so simple: they just want to touch my skin or my hair or my hand or sometimes they want to be lifted up into my arms...and other times, they just want me to take notice of them. It captures my heart every time. Whether it be the children or the adults, people can be beautiful; and that is true in both Kenya and Canada. 

open ears: do we let the hope in Jesus guide us?
I haven't shared many specifics on this blog of what I've been doing in Kenya, but rather, I've been sharing what I have been learning and needing to share with all of you, my friends and family. I'm sure I'll share a bit more of what I have been doing later in this blog or at church...maybe. This past Sunday I preached to hundreds of high-school girls (in typical Kenyan fashion, I had all of two days to prepare....if that...;-)...). I share this because I want to share the message, the response and the worship service with you in hopes that the Spirit teaches you something; just as He taught me and the many Kenyans this past Sunday morning. I spoke on the hope we have in Jesus. I spoke about how this hope isn't a stale and dead hope that is only temporary, but it's a vibrant, alive and deep hope that is rooted in expectancy and security in our future with God! And this hope isn't a hope that makes us not care for this life on Earth...nor is it a hope that ONLY has benefits for the future, but rather, it's a hope that allows us to have great impact in the HERE AND NOW! The hope we have in Jesus is one that moves us and pulls us; it's a hope that mobilizes us to GO OUT INTO ALL THE WORLD (and out into our backyards... ;-)...)! It's a hope that should make us rejoice (Roman 5:1-11), give us boldness (2Cor 3:12), a hope that needs to be maintained (Song of Solomon 2:15, Phil 2:12), a hope that cures worry, anxiety and fears (Phil 4:4-20), a hope that is needed because we will suffer much (Hebrews 11), but in suffering, we will live the most abundant life (John 10:10, Phil 4:11) as we present our lives as a sacrifice to God (Eph 5:8, Phil 4:18). ((Friends, this 'sacrifice-business' may sound a bit cult-ish and primitive, but I assure you...it's a beautiful thing))! 
I mentioned to the Kenyan girls how this hope isn't one that is just found in the strong, the wealthy and the powerful but if anything, it's more found in the weak, the sick and the poor...Jesus came to heal the sick/humbled (Matt. 9:9-13). The weak (1 Cor. 1:26-31) and those who give up control of their lives/'rights' (1Cor 9:19-23) are the ones who will truly follow Him. The message was very counter-cultural to the junk Canada and many of its churches feed us!

I told this to people who had nothing by the world's standards but they seemed to have responded. It fell on open ears and hearts. It was a message received by girls who blew me away in their worship to Jesus. Yes, the sheer volume of their singing physically moved me back a couple inches as I stood and worshiped with them before the sermon. Their worship to Jesus in song was almost deafening...but oh-so beautiful!!! SOO BEAUTIFUL!!! A couple times I closed my eyes and listened to them; listening to them was how I worshiped for many minutes during that service.

MY QUESTION: Is this blog falling on the same type of ears and hearts...or is this blog falling on cold and hardened hearts that are shut off from reality?

I know time will tell..really, time will tell. I plan on raising money for these children and for the people of Kapsowar and beyond. We'll see if the church of Canada responds.

But yes, back to the people. The worship service blew me out of my shoes (NOT flip-flops ;-)...see previous post...). The singing was almost deafening and I knew I was actually in a heartfelt worship service to a LIVING GOD...it was so beautiful!!! I wish everything about this place was beautiful...

...unfortunately, sin has left it's stench yet again....

slums...diseases...cast-outs

I mentioned no words or pictures could ever capture the beauty in Kapsowar, whether it be the people or the nature. But no word or picture could ALSO ever accurately describe to you:

• the smells, the sights and the sicknesses that fills every corner of the African slums...
• the preventable diseases that are killing thousands and thousands of children and Kenyans every year...
• how the culture rejects the 'unwell' and these cultural 'cast-outs' are left to die a lonely death without ever meeting a Man named Jesus...
• how looking into a child's eye isn't about capturing a photo for memory's sake, but it's about how AIDS and poverty is putting a stranglehold on his young life; even to the point of suffocating him from any 'promising future'...
• the corruption that exists: the rich get richer...the poor get poorer. 

i wish... 

I haven't been in Kenya long but there are many aspects of Kenya that I wish didn't exist. There are many things I wish were impossible for me to witness and hear about in rural Kenya, but such is not the case. 

Sin certainly exists. I wish it didn't, but it does.

I also wish that Canadian Christians aren't going to be absolutely shocked by their LACK OF ACTION... but once again, unfortunately, I think Matthew 7:21 will be a reality for more 'members' of American churches than we'd like to admit... 

hammering
Have I hammered my message home enough...? I don't think so. I think it's gunna take a lot of hammering for us to loosen up our grip on our current gods/idols. I hope all of us who stay among the wealthy and the rich -- ie. all of us who stay in Canada -- will continue to get this message out until our churches are no longer evaluated by the numbers...(ie. how many people are in our congregation)...but when the church is empty of all its fakers and only TRUE followers remain--> those who will preach the TRUE Message to the sick. I don't think having people show up to our churches who are 'questioning' or 'seeking' Truth is a bad thing, but I do think having leaders of the church who are NOT 'seeking' and 'following' is a very bad thing; in fact, it's a downright scary thing! It shames me that the place I call home rejects people because of the clothes they wear...or because of how they're groomed... or because they don't fit into our pre-conceived and DEMONIC ideals of what a Christian should look like. REALLY? Is this Jesus' bride? Does His bride reject the hurting, the lost and the poor; did He ever reject the outcasts? Why do we gravitate more towards the popular, the educated and the groomed and all the while we forget the forgotten?  


I'm not sure we are any different than the world...unless much has changed since I left Canada 6weeks ago.


I wish this was all just trivial...but sadly, it's not.


I think I've stepped on enough toes for now...



James 4:17 
Need I type more?

still open, are you?
I'm not sure where I'm going to end up when it's all said and done, but it appears I'm heading to a foreign country; right now, I'm planning to come back and live in Africa. I'll finish my schooling in Canada with the mindset that I'll be returning to these people. Maybe I won't return to Africa (only God knows and I'll trust Him with all these things), but as I mentioned in an earlier post, I'm ohhh-so open to coming back; and you also should be open to all these things!!! Remember, we've been given NO promises to say that we'll always be comfortable in this lifetime, so it's OK to feel a little (or a lot) uneasy when considering doing third world (or working with any of the poor and forgotten of this world) missions.
comin' home, comin' home...
Looking forward to seeing you all!!! Wahooooooo!!! Pray for safety as I travel back to Canada. Pray for the orphans, widows and the poor (1John3:16-18). Pray that we step up and do what we ARE CALLED TO DO!